Reconfigurable connector

A reconfigurable connector for a peripheral device, said reconfigurable connector having a first standard configuration in which data is sent and received and having a second configuration in which data is sent and received and in which power is supplied to an interfaced device through a predefined signal pin on said reconfigurable connector, said reconfigurable connector comprising:

• an optical sensor which includes a continuously radiating light beam, said optical sensor sensing a break in the continuously radiating light beam caused by the interfaced device;
• and
• a controller which, in response to a sensed break in the continuously radiating light beam, alters a configuration of said reconfigurable connector from the first standard configuration to the second configuration;
• wherein, when said reconfigurable connector is in the first standard configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to provide to the interfaced device a signal which indicates that the peripheral device is supplied with power, and wherein, when said reconfigurable connector is in the second configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to supply power to the interfaced device.

A printer connectable to an interfaced device that provides the printer with print data, the printer comprising:

• a printer engine for generating images based on the print data received from the interfaced device;
• a parallel port connector having a plurality of signal pins through which the print data is received from the interfaced device and provided to the printer engine, said parallel port connector further having a predefined signal pin which signals to the interfaced device that the printer is supplied with power or which provides power to the interfaced device, and at least two standard isolated ground pins which ground the parallel port connector with the interfaced device;
• a controller connected to said at least two standard isolated ground pins for sensing a predetermined signal received by said least two standard isolated ground pins, which, in response to receipt of the predetermined signal, outputs a control signal to configure said predefined signal pin from a first standard configuration to a second configuration;
• and
• a power switch which switches the predefined signal pin from the first standard configuration to the second configuration upon receiving the control signal from said controller,
• wherein, when said predefined signal pin is in the first standard configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to provide to the interfaced device a signal which indicates that the printer is supplied with power, and wherein, when said predefined signal pin is in the second configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to supply power to the interfaced device;
• and
• wherein, when the predefined signal pin is in the first standard configuration, the power switch is open so as to prevent power from passing through the predefined signal pin, and, when the predefined signal pin is in the second configuration, the power switch is closed so as to supply power from the printer to the interfaced device.