Electrical apparatus and operation of peripheral devices therewith

The invention which is the subject of this application relates to electrical apparatus and the operation of peripheral devices therewith, and particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to electrical apparatus in the form of broadcast data receivers with devices known as Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral devices which can be selectively connected with the apparatus.

USB devices can take a number of different forms, and can include devices such as printers, scanners, keyboards, digital cameras and/or the like. These USB devices can be selectively connected to the electrical apparatus via a communication port on the apparatus. Conventionally, power for a USB device must be supplied through the communication port of the apparatus for the device to be operable.

In order for the apparatus to detect the presence of a USB device, power must first be supplied to the device to enable it to communicate with the apparatus and indicate its presence. This means that power must be supplied to the communication port of the apparatus all the time, even in the absence of a USB device, such that if a USB device is connected, the power supply is immediately available. However, when the USB device is first attached to the apparatus, with the apparatus communication port power supply present, large inrush currents into the USB device can occur initially. This can generate glitches or faults on the apparatus power supply rails which, in turn, can adversely affect other parts of the apparatus operation.

Current attempts at solutions to the abovementioned problem use large value electrolytic capacitors positioned on the apparatus communication port power rails to attempt to smooth out these surges. However the capacitors are large and relatively expensive, thereby adding to the cost of the apparatus which, typically, is at a premium.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a means of allowing electrical apparatus to determine the presence of a USB device at a communication port thereof without the need to provide a continuous power supply to the communication port.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided electrical apparatus, said electrical apparatus provided with at least one communication port for the selective connection of a USB device thereto, said apparatus provided with a power supply to provide power to the USB device through the communication port when the USB device is engaged with the port, and characterised in that detection means are provided in the apparatus for detecting when a USB device is connected to the communication port and, on detection of a USB device connection, the power supply to the communication port, which is normally switched off, is switched on.

Preferably the detection means includes a power supply circuit provided in the apparatus with at least one resistor which is monitored, such that a detected change in condition of the resistor indicates the attachment of the USB device to the communication port, whereupon the power supply to the USB device is commenced.

Preferably the at least one resistor that is monitored in the power supply circuit is a pull- up resistor.

Preferably the resistor is connected to the positive supply rail of the communication port power supply.

Further preferably the positive power supply rail is connected to an input of an apparatus control system which monitors the condition of the resistor. In this manner it becomes possible to determine when the USB device is connected to the communication port without being required to provide a continuously switched on power supply. The power supply to the communication port is therefore required to be switched on only when the presence of the USB device is detected.

By being able to switch on the power supply once the USB device is connected to the communication port of the apparatus, a USB power switch can be used to soft start the USB device. This prevents or at least minimises the occurrence of the glitches or faults which occur in the conventional continuous power supply system.

Use of the term "soft start" refers to the method of switching power to the device. If the power is applied instantaneously to a device then a large inrush current can occur due to the internal capacitance of the device. This can be prevented if power is applied more gradually using a soft start circuit. USB power switches implement this by turning the output FET (field effect transistor) on slowly using a charge pump circuit.

Preferably the input of the apparatus control system or the power detect input detects the current from the resistor. When the current is detected as being high from the resistor, no USB device is connected to the communication port and when the current is detected as being low from the resistor, a USB device is connected to the communication port.

Preferably the electrical apparatus is a broadcast data receiver.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided electrical apparatus, said electrical apparatus provided with at least one communication port for the selective connection of a USB device thereto, said apparatus provided with a power supply to provide power to the USB device through the communication port when the USB device is engaged with the port, and characterised in that the power supply to the communication port is normally switched off until a USB device is connected thereto and a power supply circuit is provided in the apparatus with at least one resistor which is monitored, such that a detected change in condition of the resistor indicates the attachment of the USB device to the communication port, whereupon the power supply to the USB device is commenced.

According to a yet further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of connecting a USB device to an item of electrical apparatus, said USB device being connected to the apparatus via a communication port, said method comprising the steps of monitoring the condition of a power supply to the communication port of said apparatus for the USB device with the power supply switched off, connecting the USB device to the communication port, and wherein said USB device connection is detected as a change in condition of the power supply, whereupon the power supply to the USB device is switched on.

Preferably the change of condition of at least one resistor in a power supply circuit of the power supply is monitored.

Preferably the at least one resistor which is monitored is a pull-up resistor.

Thus, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing inrush current to USB peripheral devices without using high value electrolytic capacitors. The invention has the advantage that it allows the presence of a USB device at a communication port of electrical apparatus to be determined by the apparatus without the need to provide a continuous power supply to the communication port.

A specific embodiment of the system is now described with reference to the accompanying diagram, wherein:- <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of a circuit diagram of a communication port and power supply of the apparatus for connection of a USB device thereto.</li></ul>

In the figure there is illustrated the apparatus, such as a broadcast data receiver 2 and a USB device 4.

A broadcast data receiver (BDR) typically receives digital data from a broadcaster at a remote location and processes and decodes said data to provide video, audio and/or auxiliary data for display on a television screen or for listening via speakers forming a part of the BDR or connected thereto.

In the BDR 2 there is provided a communication port 6 for connection of USB device 4 thereto. A power supply 8 and apparatus control system 10 for controlling the USB device are also provided.

In accordance with the embodiment, a resistor 12 is positioned in the apparatus as shown, such that it is connected to the positive supply rail of the USB communication port and to a power detect input 14 of the host or apparatus control system 10. For example, a 100k resistor can be connected between the positive USB communication port power rail and +5V and to the control system.

The apparatus control system 10 also includes conventional data input and output connections 16, 18 and a power supply connection 20 to a USB Power switch 22, which, when enabled by the apparatus power supply connection 20, switches the power supply on to the port 8.

In accordance with the invention, the port power supply 8 is normally switched off and the power detect input 14 in the control system 10 detects that the current from the resistor 12 is high. This indicates that no USB devices are deemed to be connected to the port 6.

Upon connection of the USB device 4 to the communication port 6, the condition of resistor 12 changes and the power detect input 14 detects that the current from the resistor is now low. This results in a change in condition of the power detect input 14. The port power supply 8 is still switched off. The control system 10 determines that a USB device must have been connected to the communication port 6 to have caused the change in condition of the power detect input 14. The change in condition indicates that the port power supply 8 should be switched on to the device. Thus a signal is emitted from the power output 20 to enable the USB power switch 22 to supply power to the communication port in a controlled, soft start manner.

If the USB device is subsequently removed from the port the apparatus control system (host controller) detects its removal by the absence of USB communications thereto via inlet and outlet 16, 18 over a predetermined period of time and the control system then selects to disable the port power supply 8 via switch 22.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, there is provided in the apparatus, reduced component cost and increase space as high value electrolytic capacitors are no longer required to smooth inrush currents, and the problem associated therewith are removed. The problems can vary but may include, for example, video lock occurring when a USB device is first connected to the broadcast data receiver.

Thus, rather than adapt the conventional solution of fitting a relatively expensive and large value electrolytic capacitor across the USB port power rails; the present invention does not require the same capacitor value to be used and can instead use a capacitor of minimum value required by the USB device specification, thereby reducing size and cost significantly.

While the operation of USB devices and communication ports is controlled by a standard International specification there is nothing in the specification for implementation to prevent this invention being adopted and so the present invention represents a practical and efficient solution to the problem.