USB connector device

An electronic device comprising:

• a first Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector couplable to a first device;
• a second USB connector couplable to a second device;
• a first controller circuit configured to:
• operate the first USB connector as a host device connector in response to the second USB connector being disconnected and the first USB connector being coupled to a first host device, and
• operate the second USB connector as a host device connector in response to the second USB connector being coupled to a second host device;
• a second controller circuit being a dual role device (DRD) and configured to:
• operate the first USB connector as a host device connector in response to the first USB connector coupled to the first host device or a third host device and the second USB connector coupled to the second host device, and
• operate the first USB connector as peripheral device connector in response to the first USB connector coupled to a first peripheral device;
• a UTMI (USB Transceiver Macrocell Interface) switch coupled between the first and second controller circuits and the first USB connector;
• and
• an interface circuit configured to determine whether the device is to operate as a host device or a peripheral device so that the UTMI switch can couple one of the first controller circuit or the second controller circuit to the first USB connector, the interface circuit configured to provide data and power exchange between the first USB connector and the second controller circuit through the interface circuit.

A method of operating a first device, the method comprising:

• transmitting a first interrupt signal from a connector control circuit to a controller, the first interrupt signal comprising information that a first connector of the first device has been connected to a connector of a second device;
• generating, based on information from the second device, a first signal indicative of whether the first device is to operate as a host device or a peripheral device in the connection with the second device;
• providing the first signal to the controller configured to select between a first controller circuit and a second controller circuit;
• determining a selected controller circuit by selecting, according to the first signal, between the first controller circuit and the second controller circuit;
• and
• managing, by the selected controller circuit, an operation of the connector of the first device to establish a connection configured to exchange data and power between the first device and the second device, the managing comprising operating the first device as a host device when the first signal indicates that the first device is to operate as a host device and operating the first device as a peripheral device when the first signal indicates that the first device is to operate as peripheral,
• wherein a second connector of the first device is disconnected and the first connector is coupled to a first host device and, in response, the first controller circuit operates the first connector as a host device connector,
• wherein the second connector is coupled to a second host device and, in response, the first controller circuit operates the second connector as a host device connector,
• wherein the first connector is coupled to the first host device or a third host device and the second connector is coupled to the second host device and, in response, the second controller circuit operates the first connector as a host device connector, the second controller circuit being a dual role device (DRD), and
• wherein the first connector is coupled to a first peripheral device and, in response, the second controller circuit operates the first connector as a peripheral device connector.