Apple inc. (20240106230). DISCONNECT DETECTION CIRCUITRY FOR UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB) COMPLIANT ELECTRONIC DEVICES simplified abstract

DISCONNECT DETECTION CIRCUITRY FOR UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB) COMPLIANT ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Organization Name

apple inc.

Inventor(s)

Christine M. Krause of Santa Cruz CA (US)

DISCONNECT DETECTION CIRCUITRY FOR UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB) COMPLIANT ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240106230 titled 'DISCONNECT DETECTION CIRCUITRY FOR UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB) COMPLIANT ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes systems, methods, and apparatuses for detecting disconnection of an electrical cable between a source device and a sink device, such as USB devices, by monitoring peak voltage swings of data signals.

• Peak voltage swings of data signals are monitored between the source device and the sink device.
• The peak voltage swing is at a first value when the cable is connected and switches to a second value greater than the first when disconnected.
• Detection of the second value indicates disconnection of the cable.

Potential Applications

This technology can be applied in various industries where reliable data transmission is crucial, such as:

• Consumer electronics
• Automotive
• Industrial automation

Problems Solved

The technology addresses the issue of undetected cable disconnections, which can lead to data loss or device malfunction.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include:

• Improved reliability of data transmission
• Early detection of cable disconnections
• Prevention of data loss or device damage

Potential Commercial Applications

"Detecting Disconnection of Electrical Cables in USB Devices" can be utilized in various commercial applications, such as:

• USB cable manufacturers
• Electronics companies
• Data transmission equipment suppliers

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be the use of physical indicators on cables to show connection status, but this technology provides a more advanced and automated solution for detecting disconnections.

How does this technology impact power consumption in devices?

This article does not address the potential impact of the monitoring system on the power consumption of the connected devices. It would be interesting to know if there are any power efficiency considerations with this technology.

Are there any limitations to the distance between the source and sink devices for accurate disconnection detection?

The article does not mention any limitations regarding the distance between the source and sink devices. It would be beneficial to understand if there are any distance constraints that could affect the effectiveness of the disconnection detection system.

Original Abstract Submitted

systems, methods, and apparatuses can detect whether an electrical cable between a source device and a sink device has become disconnected. the source device and/or the sink device can be compliant with a version of a universal serial bus (usb) standard, for example, usb 3.x. these systems, methods, and apparatuses can monitor peak voltage swings of data signals flowing between the source device and the sink device. the peak voltage swing of these data signals can be at a first value when the electrical cable is connected to the source device and the sink device or at a second value greater than the first value when the electrical cable is disconnected from the source device or the sink device. the peak voltage swing can switch from the first value to the second value in response to the electrical cable being disconnected from the source device or the sink device. as such, these systems, methods, and apparatuses can determine that the electrical cable has become disconnected from the source device or the sink device in response to detecting the second value for the peak voltage swing of the data signals flowing from the source device to the sink device.