Detection circuit and detecting method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016277266-A1
Application number	US-201514660181-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 17, 2015
Priority date	Mar 17, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A detection circuit is used to detect a connection state between a first signal port of an electronic device and a first external device. The detection circuit includes a signal generator, a switch module, a signal detector, and a processing unit. The signal generator generates a test signal. During a test process, the signal generator is electrically connected to the first signal port by the switch module, such that the test signal is sent to the first signal port to test the connection state of the first signal port. The signal detector produces a detection signal according to the connection state of the first signal port. The processing unit determines the state of connection between the first signal port and the first external device by comparing the voltage of the detection signal with a threshold value.

First claim

1 . A detection circuit for detecting a state of connection between a first signal port of an electronic device and a first external device, the detection circuit comprising:
a signal generator, a switch module, a signal coupling circuit, a signal detector and a processing unit, wherein the signal generator, the switch module, the signal detector and the first signal port are electrically connected with the processing unit, the signal generator is electrically connected with the switch module, the switch module is electrically connected with the signal coupling circuit, and the signal coupling circuit is electrically connected with the first signal port and the signal detector; and wherein:
upon receiving a start signal by the processing unit, the processing unit sends an enable signal to the signal generator and a control signal to the switch module,
upon receiving the enable signal, the signal generator is enabled and sends
a test signal to the switch module,
upon receiving the control signal, the switch module is turned on to receive the test signal from the signal generator, and sends the received test signal to the signal coupling circuit, and the signal coupling circuit then sends the test signal to the first signal port,
upon receiving the test signal from the signal coupling circuit, the first signal port generates a reflect signal according to the received test signal, and sends the reflect signal through the signal coupling circuit to the signal detection circuit
upon receiving the reflect signal, the signal detector generates a detection signal and sends the detection signal to the processing unit, and
upon receiving the detection signal, the processing unit determines the state of connection between the first signal port of the electronic device and the first external device by comparing the detection signal with a predetermined threshold value.

2 . The detection circuit of claim 1 , wherein, when the processing unit determines that the voltage of the detection signal is larger than the threshold value, the processing unit sends an alert message indicative of the abnormal connection state.

3 . The detection circuit of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit converts the detection signal into a digital signal value, and the processing unit sends an alert message indicative of the abnormal connection state when the processing unit determines that the digital signal value is larger than the threshold value.

4 . The detection circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit for storing the threshold value, and after retrieving the threshold value from the storage unit, the processing unit determines the state of connection between the first signal port and the first external device according to the detection signal and the threshold value.

5 . The detection circuit of claim 1 , wherein, after determining the state of connection between the first signal port and the first external device, the processing unit sends a disable signal for shutting down the signal generator and turning off the switch module, such that the signal generator fails to turn on the first signal port and thereby ends the test process.

6 . The detection circuit of claim 1 , further comprising
a wireless signal transceiving circuit electrically connected to the first signal port through the signal coupling circuit.

7 . The detection circuit of claim 6 , wherein the wireless signal transceiving circuit is a wireless network module, a mobile network module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, or a combination thereof.

8 . The detection circuit of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second signal port adapted to electrically connect with a second external device; and a signal coupling circuit coupled among the second signal port, the first signal port, and the signal detector.

9 . The detection circuit of claim 8 , wherein the signal coupling circuit comprises:
a first coupler coupled between the second signal port and the switch module; and a second coupler coupled among the first coupler, the first signal port, and the signal detector.

10 . The detection circuit of claim 8 , wherein the first external device and the second external device are provided in form of an external antenna and a wireless signal transceiving circuit of an external electronic device, respectively, wherein the wireless signal transceiving circuit is a wireless network module, a mobile network module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, or a combination thereof.

11 . The detection circuit of claim 8 , wherein, after the processing unit determines the state of connection between the first signal port and the first external device, the processing unit further controls the switch module to turn on the signal generator and the second signal port; meanwhile the signal detector further receives a reflection signal attributed to the test signal reflected off the second signal port, and then the processing unit compares the voltage of the reflection signal with the other threshold value to determine a state of matching between the second signal port and the second external device.

12 . The detection circuit of claim 11 , wherein, after determining that, the processing unit sends an alert message indicative of the abnormal matching state when the processing unit determines that the voltage of the reflection signal is larger than the other threshold value.

13 . The detection circuit of claim 11 , wherein, after determining the state of the matching between the second signal port and the second external device, the processing unit sends a disable signal for shutting down the signal generator and turning off the switch module, such that both of the first signal port and the second signal port fail to turn on the signal generator, and thereby ends the test process.

14 . A detecting method for detecting a state of connection between a first signal port in an electronic device and a first external device, the detection circuit comprising a signal generator, a switch module, a signal coupling circuit, a signal detector and a processing unit, and the detecting method comprising the steps of:
generating, by the signal generator, a test signal; sending the test signal, by the signal generator and via the switch module and the signal coupling circuit, to the first signal port and test the state of connection of the first signal port in a test process; producing a detection signal, by the signal detector, according to the state of connection of the first signal port; and determining, by the processing unit, the state of connection between the first signal port and the first external device according to a result of comparison between a voltage of the detection signal and a threshold value.

15 . The detecting method of claim 14 , wherein the determining step further comprises:
comparing the voltage of the detection signal with the threshold value; and sending an alert message indicative of the abnormal connection state when the voltage of the detection signal is larger than the threshold value.

16 . The detecting method of claim 14 , wherein the determining step further comprises:
converting the detection signal into a digital signal value; comparing the digital signal value with the threshold value; and sending an alert message indicative of the abnormal connection state when the digital signal value is larger than the threshold value.

17 . The detecting method of claim 16 , further comprising, after the determining step, stopping generating the test signal such that the first signal port is tur

Assignees

• Getac Technology Corp

Inventors

• Chen Hung-Tu

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

• H04M1/72527

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L41/06

  Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications · CPC title

• H04L43/0811 Primary

  by checking connectivity · CPC title