Back to results
US 2012/0233489 A1Published application
Circuitry for active cable
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsWilliam P. Cornelius, William O. Ferry, James E. Orr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow signals that are compliant with multiple standards to share a common connector on an electronic device. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a connector that provides signals compatible with a legacy standard in one mode and a newer standard in another mode.
Claims19
An active cable comprising:
- a cable;
- a first plug connected to a first end of the cable and comprising:
- a first clock and data recovery circuit to retime signals received at an input of the first plug;
- a second clock and data recovery circuit to retime signals received from the cable;
- and
- a first microcontroller to configure the first clock and data recovery circuit and the second clock and data recovery circuit;
- and
- a second plug connected to a second end of the cable and comprising:
- a third clock and data recovery circuit to retime signals received at an input of the second plug;
- a fourth clock and data recovery circuit to retime signals received from the cable;
- and
- a second microcontroller to configure the third clock and data recovery circuit and the fourth clock and data recovery circuit
9 more elements
A cable assembly comprising:
- a cable;
- a first plug coupled to a first end of the cable and comprising first circuitry to receive and transmit signals;
- and
- a second plug coupled to a second end of the cable and comprising second circuitry to receive and transmit signals,
- wherein when the cable conveys signals consistent with a first protocol, the first circuitry and the second circuitry are powered, and when the cable conveys signals consistent with a second protocol, the first circuitry and the second circuitry are not powered.
2 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a connector including a plurality of pins;
- a first output circuit coupled to a first pin in the plurality of pins and comprising:
- a selection circuit coupled to the first pin;
- a first driver AC coupled to the selection circuit;
- and
- a second driver AC coupled to an attenuator, the attenuator coupled to the selection circuit.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.