Accessory communication over power pins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016190840-A1
Application number	US-201514818239-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 4, 2015
Priority date	Aug 4, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Simplified interfaces for charging and communication between accessories and docking stations. One example may provide an interface for charging and communication between an accessory and docking station where data and a charging voltage are provided over the same pins. An accessory may determine that it is in a powered docking station by receiving a charging voltage. The accessory may determine that it is in an unpowered docking station by providing a voltage to the unpowered docking station, where the unpowered docking station uses the voltage to power an oscillator. The oscillator signal may be received by the accessory, which may use the presence of the signal to determine that it is in an unpowered docking station.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of detecting that an accessory is docked in a docking station, the method comprising, with the accessory:
determining whether a voltage above a threshold is received at a first pin of the accessory, and if it is, then determining that the accessory is docked in a powered docking station, otherwise; providing a voltage at the first pin of the accessory; and determining whether a voltage waveform is received at the first pin of the accessory, and if it is, then determining that the accessory is docked in an unpowered docking station, otherwise determining that the accessory is not docked in a docking station.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein when the accessory determines that the accessory is docked in a docking station, the accessory enters a docked state.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the docked state is a low-power state.

4 . The method of claim 2 wherein a transmitter on the accessory is turned off in the docked state.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether a voltage waveform is received at the first pin of the accessory is done using an envelope detector.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein when a voltage above a threshold is received at a first pin of the accessory, the accessory negotiates with the docking station such that the docking station further continues to provide the voltage at the first pin.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the accessory provides authentication information to the docking station.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein if the accessory does not provide authentication information to the docking station, the docking station does not continue to provide the voltage at the first pin.

9 . A method of detecting that an accessory is docked in a docking station, the method comprising, with the docking station:
when the docking station is receiving power from either a battery or an external power source: providing a current to a first pin of the docking station; comparing a resulting voltage to a threshold voltage after a first duration; and if the resulting voltage is higher than the threshold voltage, then determining that no accessory is docked in the docking station; and otherwise determining that an accessory is docked in the docking station.

10 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
when the docking station is not receiving power from either a battery or an external power source:
if the docking station is receiving power at the first pin, then providing a signal waveform at the first pin, otherwise not providing a signal waveform at the first pin.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the signal waveform is generated by an astable multivibrator.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the current is provided using a current source.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein comparing a resulting voltage to a threshold voltage after a first duration is done using a comparator.

14 . A method of transmitting data between an accessory and a docking station, the method comprising:
generating an intermediate-frequency signal; providing a bit having a first polarity by modulating a first voltage with the intermediate frequency signal for a first bit-time; and providing a bit having a second polarity by not modulating the first voltage with the intermediate frequency signal for a second bit-time.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the first voltage is a charging voltage provided by the docking station to the accessory.

16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the intermediate frequency is spread-spectrum modulated.

17 . The method of claim 14 wherein the docking station transmits data using a first intermediate frequency signal at a first frequency, and the accessory transmits data using a second intermediate frequency signal at a second frequency.

18 . The method of claim 14 wherein the accessory and docking station communicate using full-duplex communication.

19 . The method of claim 14 wherein the docking station may communicate with a second accessory.

20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the accessory and the second accessory may communicate via the docking station.

21 . The method of claim 14 wherein the first bit time is equal to the second bit time.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Rich Zachary C
• Naito Daniel S
• Kalinichev Kirill
• Minoo Jahan C
• Mcpeak James L
• Brinsfield Jason W

Classifications

• H04M1/72412

  using two-way short-range wireless interfaces · CPC title

• H04M1/72409

  by interfacing with external accessories (hands-free H04M1/60) · CPC title

• H02J2105/44

  Portable electronic devices · CPC title

• H02J7/47

  Arrangements for checking compatibility or authentication between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source · CPC title

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title