Communication controller short protection

A circuit, comprising:

• a configuration channel (CC) terminal short circuit protection circuit configured to:
• close a first switch to apply a first constant current to a CC1 terminal coupled to a ground terminal via a first resistor to determine an amount of resistance present at the CC1 terminal;
• close a second switch to apply a second constant current to a CC2 terminal coupled to the ground terminal via a second resistor to determine an amount of resistance present at the CC2 terminal;
• and
• open the first switch and the second switch;
• a bus voltage (VBUS) terminal short circuit protection circuit configured to:
• close a third switch to apply a third constant current to a VBUS terminal coupled to the ground terminal to determine an amount of resistance present at the VBUS terminal;
• and
• open the third switch;
• and
• a processing element configured to:
• control the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch to close after determining that a plug has been inserted into a receptacle that includes the CC1 terminal, the CC2 terminal, and the VBUS terminal;
• measure a voltage present at the CC1 terminal to determine the amount of resistance present at the CC1 terminal;
• measure a voltage present at the CC2 terminal to determine the amount of resistance present at the CC2 terminal;
• measure a voltage present at the VBUS terminal to determine the amount of resistance present at the VBUS terminal;
• control the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch to open;
• and
• prevent application of a VBUS signal to the VBUS terminal when the determined amount of resistance present at the CC1 terminal and the determined amount of resistance present at the CC2 terminal, or the determined amount of resistance present at the VBUS terminal indicates that a short circuit condition exists.

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a communication port having a configuration channel (CC1) terminal, a second configuration channel (CC2) terminal, and a bus voltage (VBUS) terminal;
• and
• a communication controller configured to facilitate communication by the processor via the communication port, wherein the communication controller includes:
• a first current source having first and second terminals;
• a first switch coupled between the second terminal of the first current source and the CC1 terminal;
• a first resistor coupled between the CC1 terminal and a ground terminal;
• a second current source having respective first and second terminals, its first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first current source;
• a second switch coupled between the second terminal of the second current source and the CC2 terminal;
• a second resistor coupled between the CC2 terminal and the ground terminal;
• a third current source having respective first and second terminals, its first terminal coupled to the respective first terminals of the first and second current source;
• a third switch coupled between the second terminal of the third current source and the ground terminal and coupled to the VBUS terminal;
• and
• a processing element coupled to and configured to control the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch.