CN100489825C - Expansion module and expansion method for universal sequence bus connection port - Google Patents

An expansion module of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection port, applied to a native system device with a program control unit, comprising: several USB interface connection units, a switching unit and a power switch unit. The USB interface connection units are respectively used for connecting a peripheral device and outputting a detection signal to the program control unit for judgment, the switching unit switches the peripheral device according to a first control signal output after the judgment of the program control unit, and the power switch unit switches the voltage required by the peripheral device according to a second control signal output after the judgment of the program control unit. Therefore, the single USB connecting port of the local system device can use a plurality of peripheral devices through the switching of the switching unit so as to achieve the purpose of expanding the USB connecting port.

通用序列总线连接端口的扩充模块及扩充方法 Expansion module and expansion method of universal serial bus connection port

技术领域 technical field

本发明涉及一种扩充模块及扩充方法是指一种用以扩充通用序列总线连接端口的模块及方法。The invention relates to an expansion module and an expansion method, referring to a module and a method for expanding a universal serial bus connection port.

背景技术 Background technique

由于通用序列总线(USB)的硬件设计较简易且规格可灵活应用于多种产品上，例如储存装置、便携式媒体播放装置、网络界面装置、各种I/O装置、甚至是数字电视接收装置等，越来越多产品都是采用USB当作数据存取的界面。并且目前使用的USB 2.0规格，在传输速度上更是可符合多数产品的要求。Because the hardware design of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) is relatively simple and its specifications can be flexibly applied to a variety of products, such as storage devices, portable media player devices, network interface devices, various I/O devices, and even digital TV receivers, etc. , more and more products are using USB as the data access interface. And the currently used USB 2.0 specification can meet the requirements of most products in terms of transmission speed.

而也由于USB外围产品的普及且日益增多，在USB主机端(如计算机、多媒体播放装置)的连接端口数量上往往不敷使用，因此最常见的扩充连接端口方式是透过USB Hub来达到扩充效果，而再者就是透过各种界面的USB扩充卡来增加USB主机端的连接端口，然而这些扩充方式都将会反映在成本上，且增加使用者额外的花费。除此之外，现今主机端系统有越做越小的趋势，再加上一般多媒体播放装置讲究的就是轻薄且不占空间，若是外接USB扩充装置，则势必产生较多的不便利性；若是采用内建USB Hub芯片的方式则又会增加成本。And because of the popularity and increasing of USB peripheral products, the number of connection ports on the USB host side (such as computers and multimedia playback devices) is often insufficient. Therefore, the most common way to expand the connection ports is to achieve expansion through the USB Hub. Moreover, the connection ports of the USB host end are increased through USB expansion cards with various interfaces. However, these expansion methods will be reflected in the cost and increase the additional cost of the user. In addition, today's host-side systems tend to be smaller and smaller. In addition, general multimedia playback devices are thin and light and do not take up space. If an external USB expansion device is connected, it will inevitably cause more inconvenience; if it is Using a built-in USB Hub chip will increase the cost.

因此，如何在花费较少的成本下，能有效地达到扩充USB连接端口，并且在使用上能拥有简易的操作以进行切换，便是成为目前值得改善的问题。Therefore, how to effectively expand the USB connection port at a relatively low cost, and how to have a simple operation for switching in use has become a problem worth improving at present.

发明内容 Contents of the invention

有鉴于此，本发明所要解决的技术问题，在于不使用USB Hub芯片而利用精简的硬件线路并搭配软件控制，来进行电源及数据总线的切换，用以解决多组USB外围装置无法共享同一USB连接端口的问题。In view of this, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to switch the power supply and data bus by using simplified hardware circuits and matching software control without using USB Hub chips, so as to solve the problem that multiple sets of USB peripheral devices cannot share the same USB Problem with connection port.

为了解决上述问题，根据本发明所提出的一种方案，提供一种通用序列总线连接端口的扩充模块，是应用于一具有程控单元的本机系统装置，其包括：数个USB界面连接单元、一切换单元及一电源开关单元。其中USB界面连接单元是分别用以连接一外围装置，并于所述外围装置的一插入USB界面连接单元后，该外围装置输出一侦测信号给程控单元；而切换单元是电性连接于USB界面连接单元与本机系统装置之间，以根据该程控单元所输出的一第一控制信号来切换选择所述外围装置，另外电源开关单元是根据该程控单元所输出的一第二控制信号来开关所述外围装置所需的电压。In order to solve the above problems, according to a solution proposed by the present invention, a universal serial bus connection port expansion module is provided, which is applied to a local system device with a program control unit, which includes: several USB interface connection units, A switch unit and a power switch unit. Wherein the USB interface connection units are respectively used to connect a peripheral device, and after one of the peripheral devices is inserted into the USB interface connection unit, the peripheral device outputs a detection signal to the program control unit; and the switching unit is electrically connected to the USB Between the interface connection unit and the local system device, the peripheral device is switched and selected according to a first control signal output by the program control unit, and the power switch unit is switched according to a second control signal output by the program control unit switch the voltage required by the peripheral.

为了解决上述问题，根据本发明所提出的另一种方案，提供一种通用序列总线连接端口的扩充模块运作方法，一种通用序列总线连接端口的扩充方法，其特征在于，应用于一本机系统装置，其步骤包括：提供数个USB界面连接单元连接于一切换单元；判断所述USB界面连接单元是否有连接至少一外围装置；当所述USB界面连接单元连接有该外围装置时，该本机系统装置接收该外围装置产生的一侦测信号；该本机系统装置根据该侦测信号输出一第一控制信号给该切换单元，并且根据该侦测信号输出一第二控制信号給一电源开关单元，而该电源开关单元是用以控制该本机系统装置输出给与所述USB界面连接单元连接的外围装置的一第一电压，并且进一步根据该第二控制信号来开启或关闭该第一电压；及该切换单元根据该第一控制信号来切换所述USB界面连接单元之一与该本机系统装置进行数据传输。In order to solve the above problems, according to another solution proposed by the present invention, a method for operating an expansion module of a universal serial bus connection port is provided, a method for expanding a universal serial bus connection port, which is characterized in that it is applied to a machine A system device, the steps of which include: providing several USB interface connection units connected to a switching unit; judging whether the USB interface connection unit is connected with at least one peripheral device; when the USB interface connection unit is connected with the peripheral device, the The local system device receives a detection signal generated by the peripheral device; the local system device outputs a first control signal to the switching unit according to the detection signal, and outputs a second control signal to a a power switch unit, and the power switch unit is used to control the local system device to output a first voltage to the peripheral device connected to the USB interface connection unit, and further turn on or off the power switch according to the second control signal a first voltage; and the switching unit switches one of the USB interface connection units to the local system device for data transmission according to the first control signal.

以上的概述与接下来的详细说明及附图，都是为了能进一步说明本发明为达成预定目的所采取的方式、手段及功效。而有关本发明的其它目的及优点，将在后续的说明及附图中加以阐述。The above summary, the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings are all for the purpose of further explaining the ways, means and effects of the present invention to achieve the intended purpose. Other purposes and advantages of the present invention will be described in the subsequent description and accompanying drawings.

附图说明 Description of drawings

图1是本发明通用序列总线连接端口的扩充模块较佳实施例方块图；Fig. 1 is the preferred embodiment block diagram of the expansion module of universal serial bus connection port of the present invention;

图2是本发明通用序列总线连接端口的扩充方法较佳实施例流程图；Fig. 2 is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the expansion method of the universal serial bus connection port of the present invention;

图3是本发明所提供的一应用实施例方块图；及Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an application embodiment provided by the present invention; and

图4是本发明所提供的一应用实施例流程图。Fig. 4 is a flowchart of an application embodiment provided by the present invention.

符号说明Symbol Description

本机系统装置 10               第一电压 101Local system device 10 First voltage 101

第二电压 102                  程控单元 11Second voltage 102 Program control unit 11

第一控制信号 111                  第二控制信号 112First control signal 111 Second control signal 112

切换单元 20                       USB界面连接单元 30Switch unit 20 USB interface connection unit 30

侦测信号 301                      电源开关单元 40Detection signal 301 Power switch unit 40

电压调节器 50                     便携式媒体播放装置 60Voltage Regulator 50 Portable Media Player 60

SD卡连接器 70                     USB连接端口 80SD card connector 70 USB connection port 80

具体实施方式 Detailed ways

请参考图1，是本发明通用序列总线连接端口的扩充模块较佳实施例方块图，如图所示，本发明提供一种USB连接端口的扩充模块，是应用于一具有程控单元11的本机系统装置10，其包括：一切换单元20、数个USB界面连接单元30及一电源开关单元40。其中USB界面连接单元30可例如是以USB连接端口或者存储卡连接器(Socket)的型态呈现，而分别用以连接一外围装置(图未示)，此外在多个USB界面连接单元30中，可通过程控单元11设置其中之一为具高权位USB界面连接单元(图未示)，以拥有第一使用的优先顺位。Please refer to Fig. 1, which is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the expansion module of the universal serial bus connection port of the present invention. The computer system device 10 includes: a switch unit 20 , several USB interface connection units 30 and a power switch unit 40 . Wherein the USB interface connection unit 30 can for example be presented in the form of a USB connection port or a memory card connector (Socket), and are respectively used to connect a peripheral device (not shown in the figure), in addition, in a plurality of USB interface connection units 30 , one of them can be set as a high-power USB interface connection unit (not shown) by the program control unit 11, so as to have the priority of the first use.

并且当任一外围装置插入USB界面连接单元30后，即会产生出一侦测信号301给程控单元11，进而程控单元11会通过判断该侦测信号301而输出一第一控制信号111及一第二控制信号112。而电性连接于USB界面连接单元30与本机系统装置10之间的切换单元20便是根据程控单元11所输出的第一控制信号111来切换选择所述外围装置，以及通过电源开关单元40依据程控单元11所输出的第二控制信号112来开关外围装置运作时所需的电压，其中切换单元20是一数据总线切换组件，用以切换连接外围装置的数据信号；而外围装置运作时所需的电压是由主机系统装置10所提供的一第一电压101，并且还可再透过一电压调节器50来将第一电压101转换输出为一第二电压102，以供应不同的外围装置运作时的所需。And when any peripheral device is inserted into the USB interface connection unit 30, it will generate a detection signal 301 to the program control unit 11, and then the program control unit 11 will output a first control signal 111 and a first control signal 111 by judging the detection signal 301. The second control signal 112 . The switching unit 20 electrically connected between the USB interface connection unit 30 and the local system device 10 switches and selects the peripheral device according to the first control signal 111 output by the program control unit 11, and through the power switch unit 40 According to the second control signal 112 output by the program control unit 11, the voltage required for the operation of the peripheral device is switched, wherein the switching unit 20 is a data bus switching component for switching the data signal connected to the peripheral device; The required voltage is a first voltage 101 provided by the host system device 10, and a voltage regulator 50 can be used to convert and output the first voltage 101 into a second voltage 102 to supply different peripheral devices required for operation.

此外，程控单元11除了透过判断侦测信号301而来输出第一控制信号111及第二控制信号112之外，更可通过接收一应用程序界面或一遥控器的选择，来控制所输出的第一控制信号111及第二控制信号112以切换到使用者所欲使用的外围装置。In addition, in addition to outputting the first control signal 111 and the second control signal 112 by judging the detection signal 301, the program control unit 11 can also control the output by receiving a selection from an application program interface or a remote control. The first control signal 111 and the second control signal 112 are used to switch to the peripheral device that the user wants to use.

请参考图2，是本发明通用序列总线连接端口的扩充方法较佳实施例流程图，如图所示，本发明提供一种USB连接端口的扩充模块运作方法，其是应用于本机系统装置10，且其步骤包括：首先判断该扩充模块是否连接至少一外围装置(S201)，若判断的结果为是，即表示有外围装置连接于USB界面连接单元30，而本机系统装置10会提供一第一电压101，并且本机系统装置10中的程控单元11会输出第二控制信号112以导通电源开关单元40进而得以供应第一电压101给所述外围装置，其中USB界面连接单元30可例如是以USB连接端口或存储卡连接器的型态呈现。随后再进行确认USB界面连接单元30中，一设置为高权位USB界面连接单元是否已连接有外围装置(S203)，若确认的结果为是，则程控单元11输出一第一控制信号111以控制切换单元20的数据总线切换给该具有高权位的USB界面连接单元(S205)，以使得连接于其上的外围装置可以与本机系统装置10进行数据传输。其中切换单元20是一数据总线切换组件，是透过切换以连接所述USB界面连接单元30的数据总线。Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the expansion method of the USB connection port of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the present invention provides an operation method of an expansion module of the USB connection port, which is applied to the local system device 10, and its steps include: first judge whether the expansion module is connected to at least one peripheral device (S201), if the result of the judgment is yes, it means that a peripheral device is connected to the USB interface connection unit 30, and the local system device 10 will provide A first voltage 101, and the program control unit 11 in the local system device 10 will output a second control signal 112 to turn on the power switch unit 40 so as to supply the first voltage 101 to the peripheral device, wherein the USB interface connection unit 30 It may, for example, be in the form of a USB connection port or a memory card connector. Then confirm in the USB interface connection unit 30, whether one is set as a high-power USB interface connection unit connected with a peripheral device (S203), if the result of confirmation is yes, then the program control unit 11 outputs a first control signal 111 to The data bus of the control switching unit 20 is switched to the high-power USB interface connection unit ( S205 ), so that the peripheral device connected thereto can perform data transmission with the local system device 10 . The switching unit 20 is a data bus switching component, which is connected to the data bus of the USB interface connection unit 30 through switching.

接着，再进一步判断是否接收应用程序界面或遥控器的选择来进行切换所述已连接的外围装置(S207)，若判断结果为是，则控制切换单元20的数据总线以切换给使用者所选择的外围装置使用的USB界面连接单元30(S209)；反之若步骤(S207)的判断结果为否，则至步骤(S205)以维持原本切换单元20的数据总线的状态，而切换在具有高权位的USB界面连接单元。Then, it is further judged whether to receive the selection of the application program interface or the remote controller to switch the connected peripheral device (S207), if the judgment result is yes, then control the data bus of the switching unit 20 to switch to the user selected The USB interface connection unit 30 (S209) used by the peripheral device; otherwise if the judgment result of the step (S207) is no, then go to the step (S205) to maintain the state of the data bus of the original switching unit 20, and switch the status of the data bus with the high power bit USB interface connection unit.

而若步骤(S201)的判断结果为否，即表示没有任何外围装置连接在USB界面连接单元30上，此时程控单元11便通过输出的第二控制信号112来关闭电源开关单元40，以阻断本机系统装置10所提供的第一电压101(S211)，而达到省电的效果。另外，若步骤(S203)的确认结果为否，则控制切换单元20的数据总线以切换在目前使用中的USB界面连接单元30(S213)，之后便再进一步判断是否接收应用程序界面或遥控器的选择来进行切换使用所述已连接的外围装置(S215)，若判断结果为是，则同样执行步骤(S209)以控制切换单元20的数据总线给所选择的外围装置使用的USB界面连接单元30；相反的，若判断结果为否，则至步骤(S213)以同样维持原本切换单元20的数据总线的状态。And if the judgment result of step (S201) is no, it means that there is no peripheral device connected to the USB interface connection unit 30, and now the program control unit 11 turns off the power switch unit 40 through the output second control signal 112 to prevent the The first voltage 101 provided by the local system device 10 is turned off (S211), so as to achieve the effect of power saving. In addition, if the confirmation result of the step (S203) is no, then control the data bus of the switching unit 20 to switch the USB interface connection unit 30 currently in use (S213), and then further judge whether to receive the application program interface or the remote control Select to switch and use the connected peripheral device (S215), if the judgment result is yes, then perform step (S209) to control the data bus of the switching unit 20 to the USB interface connection unit used by the selected peripheral device 30; On the contrary, if the determination result is negative, go to step (S213) to maintain the original state of the data bus of the switching unit 20 as well.

另外，每当在第一控制信号111控制切换单元20以进行切换数据总线之前，第二控制信号112会先控制关闭电源开关单元40以阻断第一电压101的导通，等到切换单元20切换数据总线完成后，再控制开启电源开关单元40以导通第一电压101。In addition, whenever the first control signal 111 controls the switch unit 20 to switch the data bus, the second control signal 112 first controls the power switch unit 40 to be turned off to block the conduction of the first voltage 101, and waits until the switch unit 20 switches After the data bus is completed, the power switch unit 40 is controlled to be turned on to turn on the first voltage 101 .

请同时参考图3及图4，是本发明所提供的一应用实施例方块图及流程图，其是应用于一便携式媒体播放装置60，其中首先透过程控单元11判断便携式媒体播放装置60是否处于光盘播放模式(S401)，若判断结果为否，则再通过侦测信号301来判断是否在SD卡连接器70上连接有SD卡或者在USB连接端口80上连接有USB装置(S403)。而在本实施例中，是设定以SD卡连接器70为较高权位，因此在步骤(S403)的判断结果为是之后，则进行确认SD卡已插入SD卡连接器70中(S405)，若确认结果为是，便透过程控单元11所输出的第一控制信号111来控制切换单元20，以将切换单元20的数据总线切换给SD卡连接器70(S407)；反之，若步骤(S405)的确认结果为否，则将切换单元20的数据总线切换给USB连接端口80(S409)。而在步骤(S407)及(S409)之后，分别再判断是否使用者欲透过应用程序界面或遥控器的选择以在不同的模式或外围装置间做切换(S411)及(S413)，若步骤(S411)及(S413)的判断结果为是，则控制切换单元20的数据总线给SD卡连接器70或USB连接端口80，或者将模式直接切换为光盘播放模式(S415)。Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 at the same time, which are a block diagram and a flow chart of an application embodiment provided by the present invention, which are applied to a portable media player device 60, wherein first, the program control unit 11 is used to determine whether the portable media player device 60 is Be in disc playing mode (S401), if the judgment result is no, then judge whether SD card is connected on the SD card connector 70 or USB device is connected on the USB connection port 80 through detection signal 301 (S403). And in the present embodiment, be to set with SD card connector 70 as higher authority position, so after the judgment result of step (S403) is yes, then confirm that SD card has been inserted in SD card connector 70 (S405) ), if the confirmation result is yes, then control the switching unit 20 through the first control signal 111 output by the program control unit 11, so as to switch the data bus of the switching unit 20 to the SD card connector 70 (S407); otherwise, if If the confirmation result of the step (S405) is negative, switch the data bus of the switching unit 20 to the USB connection port 80 (S409). After steps (S407) and (S409), it is judged whether the user wants to switch between different modes or peripheral devices (S411) and (S413) through the selection of the application program interface or the remote control respectively. (S411) and (S413) the judgment result is yes, then control the data bus of switching unit 20 to SD card connector 70 or USB connection port 80, or the mode is directly switched to CD playing mode (S415).

其中每当在第一控制信号111控制切换单元20以进行切换数据总线之前，程控单元11会透过第二控制信号112来先关闭电源开关单元40以阻断第一电压101的导通，等到切换单元20切换数据总线完成后，再控制开启电源开关单元40以导通第一电压101。并且可再透过电压调节器50以将第一电压101转换为第二电压102，以供应SD卡所需的运作电压。Wherein, before the first control signal 111 controls the switch unit 20 to switch the data bus, the program control unit 11 will first turn off the power switch unit 40 through the second control signal 112 to block the conduction of the first voltage 101, and wait until After switching the data bus, the switch unit 20 controls to turn on the power switch unit 40 to turn on the first voltage 101 . Furthermore, the voltage regulator 50 can be used to convert the first voltage 101 into a second voltage 102 to supply the required operating voltage of the SD card.

而原先若步骤(S401)的判断结果为是，则第二控制信号112会关闭电源开关单元40以阻断第一电压101，并直接进行播放光盘(S417)。而在步骤(S403)的判断结果为否，即表示未插入任何SD卡或USB装置，于是便将第一电压101关闭(S419)以达省电效果。However, if the judgment result of the step ( S401 ) is yes, the second control signal 112 will turn off the power switch unit 40 to block the first voltage 101 , and play the optical disc directly ( S417 ). If the judgment result in step (S403) is negative, it means that no SD card or USB device is inserted, so the first voltage 101 is turned off (S419) to achieve power saving effect.

但是，以上所述，仅为本发明的具体实施例的详细说明及附图而已，并非用以限制本发明，本发明的所有范围应以权利要求为准，任何熟悉该项技术人员在本发明的领域内，可轻易思及的变化或修饰都可涵盖在以下本案所界定的保护范围内。However, the above description is only a detailed description and accompanying drawings of specific embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. All scopes of the present invention should be based on the claims. Within the field of the invention, easily conceivable changes or modifications can be covered within the scope of protection defined in this case below.