US 10,762,018 B1Granted

Method and apparatus for increasing the number of USB root hub ports

AssigneeSynopsys, Inc.

InventorsShaori Guo, Jun Cao, Fei Ren

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to a USB hub configured for supporting multiple data transfer speed protocols. The USB hub comprises a plurality of protocol/LINK layer components; and a physical layer component shared among the plurality of protocol/LINK layer components and supporting at least two USB connection ports. The physical layer component is in communication with each of the plurality of protocol/LINK layer components. A buffer system (including RX/TX buffers) is shared among the plurality of protocol/LINK layer components and a USB host controller component is in communication with the buffer system. The physical layer component is configured for operating in a first mode to support one of the at least two USB ports in a first operating mode; and operating in a second mode to support the at least two USB ports in a second operating mode.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A USB hub comprising:

one or more physical layer components;
a plurality of protocol/LINK layer components comprising:
a first protocol/LINK layer component configured for supporting the one or more physical layer components while the one or more physical layer components are operating in an operating mode selected from:
a first operating mode and a second operating mode;
and
a second protocol/LINK layer component configured for supporting the one or more physical layer components while the one or more physical layer components are operating in the second operating mode;
and
at least two USB connection ports connected with the one or more physical layer components;
and
wherein the one or more physical layer components are each configured for operating in a first mode to support one of the at least two USB connection ports in the first operating mode, wherein the first operating mode corresponds with activation of the first protocol/LINK layer component;
and operating in a second mode to support the at least two USB connection ports in the second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode corresponds with activation of both the first protocol/LINK layer component and the second protocol/LINK layer component.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/266,922Filed 4 Feb 2019 · us provisional application
Priority: 6 Feb 2018
Granted: 1 Sep 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G06F 13/387
Using universal interface adapter: for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters…
G06F 13/4031
Using bus bridges: with arbitration
G06F 13/4059
Where the bridge performs a synchronising function: where the synchronisation uses buffers, e.g. for speed matching between buses
G06F 13/42
Information transfer, e.g. on bus: bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation