# US 2017/0288668 A1 · Voltage tolerant termination presence detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0288668 A1 - Document ID: US20170288668A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/087,462 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Applicants: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Amit Kumar Srivastava - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288668A1 ## CPC - H03K 19/0005: {Modifications of input or output impedance} - G06F 13/4086: {Bus impedance matching, e.g. termination} - H03K 19/017509: {Interface arrangements} - G06F 13/4072: {Drivers or receivers (G06F13/4086 takes precedence; for multistate logic circuits H03K19/0002)} - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Apparatuses and methods associated with voltage tolerant termination presence detection for universal serial bus type-C connectors are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an apparatus to enable voltage tolerant termination presence detection may include sensor circuitry to determine whether a device coupled to the sensor circuitry is to operate in host mode or device mode based on a signal on a configuration channel between the device and the sensor circuitry. In embodiments, the apparatus may further include termination circuitry to bias the configuration channel in accordance with the host mode or the device mode based on the determination of whether the device is to operate in the host mode or the device mode. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus to enable voltage tolerant termination presence detection, comprising: sensor circuitry to determine whether a device coupled to the sensor circuitry is to operate in a host mode or a device mode based on a signal on a configuration channel between the device and the sensor circuitry; and termination circuitry to bias the configuration channel in accordance with the host mode or the device mode based on and after the determination of whether the device is to operate in the host mode or the device mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising pull-down circuitry to set the configuration channel to a voltage associated with the device mode, wherein, in response to a determination by the sensor circuitry that the device is to operate in the device mode, the termination circuitry is to enable the pull-down circuitry to set the configuration channel to the voltage associated with the device mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein to set the configuration channel to the voltage associated with the device mode includes to couple the configuration channel to ground by the pull-down circuitry. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising pull-up circuitry to set the configuration channel to a voltage associated with the host mode, wherein, in response to a determination by the sensor circuitry that the device is to operate in the host mode, the termination circuitry is to enable the pull-up circuitry to set the configuration channel to the voltage associated with the host mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry is to determine whether the device is to operate in host mode or device mode based on a voltage of the signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry is further to identify an occurrence of a maximum voltage on the configuration channel, and wherein the apparatus further comprises voltage clamping circuitry to limit voltage of the configuration channel to the maximum voltage in response to the occurrence of the maximum voltage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the maximum voltage is selected based on a maximum operational voltage of electrical components within the apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the clamping circuitry includes circuitry to sink current from the configuration channel in response to identification of the occurrence of the maximum voltage on the configuration channel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is located within a system on chip. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is located on a die. ### Claim 11 A system for termination presence detection, comprising: a die; sensor circuitry, located on the die, to determine whether a device coupled to the sensor circuitry is in a low power condition based on a signal on a configuration channel between the device and the sensor circuitry; and termination circuitry, located on the die, to bias the configuration channel based on the determination of whether the device is in the low power condition, the sensor circuitry to determine whether the device is in the low power condition prior to the configuration channel being biased. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising pull-down circuitry, located on the die, to couple the configuration channel to ground in response to determination, by the sensor circuitry, that the device is in the low power condition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising pull-up circuitry, located on the die, to set the configuration channel to a logic high level in response to determination, by the sensor circuitry, that the device is not in the low power condition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor circuitry is further to identify an occurrence of a maximum voltage on the configuration channel, and wherein the system further comprises voltage clamping circuitry, located on the die, to limit voltage of the configuration channel to the maximum voltage in response to the occurrence of the maximum voltage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the maximum voltage is selected based on a maximum operational voltage of electrical components with the system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the clamping circuitry includes circuitry to sink current from the configuration channel in response to identification of the occurrence of the maximum voltage on the configuration channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises a system on chip, wherein the die is located within the system on chip. ### Claim 18 An apparatus for voltage tolerant termination presence detection, comprising: means for determining whether a device is to operate in a host mode or a device mode based on a voltage present on a configuration channel associated with the device; and means for biasing the configuration channel at a voltage corresponding to either the host mode or the device mode based on the determination of whether the device is to operate in the host mode or the device mode, wherein the means for determining is to determine whether the device is to operate in the host mode or the device mode before the means for biasing biases the configuration channel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for biasing the configuration channel at the voltage corresponding to either the host mode or the device mode includes means for biasing the configuration channel at a voltage corresponding to the device mode in response to a determination, by the means for determining, that the device is to operate in the device mode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for biasing the configuration channel at the voltage corresponding to either the host mode or the device mode includes means for biasing the configuration channel at a voltage corresponding to the host mode in response to a determination, by the means for determining, that the device is to operate in the host mode. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: means for determining that the voltage present on the configuration channel is equal to or greater than a maximum voltage; and means for clamping the configuration channel to the maximum voltage in response to determination that the voltage present on the configuration channel is equal to or greater than the maximum voltage. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the maximum voltage is selected based on a maximum operational voltage of electrical components of the apparatus. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for clamping the configuration channel to the maximum voltage includes means for sinking current from the configuration channel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is located within a system on chip. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is located on a die.