# US 2014/0197696 A1 · Interchangeable power and signal contacts for io connectors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197696 A1 - Document ID: US20140197696A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/995,594 - Filed: 2011-10-17 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-17 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Stephen R. Mooney; Howard L. Heck; James E. Jaussi; Frank T. Hady; Bryan K. Casper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197696A1 ## CPC - G06F 13/385: {for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices} - G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips} - H01H 9/54: Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere - H01R 13/6658: {on printed circuit board (H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence)} - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Systems and methods of interconnecting devices may include an input/output (IO) connector assembly having a voltage regulator, one or more signaling circuits, a first set of contacts, a second set of contacts connected to the one or more signaling circuits, and logic to receive a configuration command. The logic may also connect the first set of contacts to the voltage regulator if the configuration command corresponds to a first protocol. If the configuration command corresponds to a second protocol, on the other hand, the logic can connect the first set of contacts to the one or more signaling circuits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a host device including host logic to issue a configuration command; a power supply; and an input/output (IO) connector assembly having a voltage regulator connected to the power supply, one or more signaling circuits, a first set of contacts, a second set of contacts connected to the one or more signaling circuits, and connector logic to, receive a configuration command, connect the first set of contacts to the voltage regulator if the configuration command corresponds to a first protocol, and connect the first set of contacts to the one or more signaling circuits if the configuration command corresponds to a second protocol. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the IO connector assembly further includes: a housing; a substrate including the first and second sets of contacts, wherein the first and second sets of contacts are disposed within the housing; and a semiconductor package coupled to the substrate, wherein the semiconductor package includes the voltage regulator, the one or more signaling circuits and the connector logic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the connector logic includes a multiplexer to selectively connect the first set of contacts to at least one of the voltage regulator and the one or more signaling circuits. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of contacts includes one or more interchangeable contacts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, therein the second set of contacts includes one or more IO contacts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the IO connector assembly further includes a third set of contacts coupled to the voltage regulator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the third set of contacts includes one or more power contacts. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the host logic is to, detect a connection of a device to the IO connector assembly, and conduct a protocol analysis with respect to the device, wherein the configuration command is to be issued based on the protocol analysis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the protocol analysis includes a determination as to whether power is to be applied to the device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the host device is coupled to the voltage regulator and the host logic is to set an output voltage of the voltage regulator based on the protocol analysis. ### Claim 11 An input/output (IO) connector assembly comprising: a voltage regulator; one or more signaling circuits; a first set of contacts; a second set of contacts connected to the one or more signaling circuits; and logic to, receive a configuration command, connect the first set of contacts to the voltage regulator if the configuration command corresponds to a first protocol, and connect the first set of contacts to the one or more signaling circuits if the configuration command corresponds to a second protocol. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The IO connector assembly of claim 11, further including: a housing; a substrate including the first and second sets of contacts, wherein the first and second sets of contacts are disposed within the housing; and a semiconductor package coupled to the substrate, wherein the semiconductor package includes the voltage regulator, the one or more signaling circuits and the logic. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The IO connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the logic includes a multiplexer to selectively connect the first set of contacts to at least one of the voltage regulator and the one or more signaling circuits. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The IO connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the first set of contacts includes one or more interchangeable contacts. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The IO connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the second contacts includes one or more IO contacts. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The IO connector assembly of claim 11, further including a third set of contacts coupled to the voltage regulator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The IO connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the third set of contacts includes one or more power contacts. ### Claim 18 A computer implemented method comprising: issuing a configuration command to an input/output (IO) connector assembly; connecting a first set of contacts of the IO connector assembly to a voltage regulator of the IO connector assembly if the configuration command corresponds to a first protocol; and connecting the first set of contacts to one or more signaling circuits of the IO connector assembly if the configuration command corresponds to a second protocol. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further including: detecting a connection of a device to the IO connector assembly; and conducting a protocol analysis with respect to the device, wherein the configuration command is issued based on the protocol analysis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the protocol analysis includes a determination as to whether power is to be applied to the device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further including setting an output voltage of the voltage regulator based on the protocol analysis. ### Claim 22 A computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions which, if executed by a processor, cause a computer to: detect a connection of a device to an IO connector assembly; conduct a protocol analysis with respect to the device; and issue a configuration command to the IO connector assembly based on the protocol analysis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The medium of claim 22, wherein the protocol analysis includes a determination as to whether power is to be applied to the device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions, if executed, further cause a computer to set an output voltage of a voltage regulator of the IO connector assembly based on the protocol analysis.