Information processing unit having a slot, information processing method for an information processing unit, and program that controls an information processing unit
US6877058B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 5, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An information processing unit is adapted to connect a USB device provided on a board to a USB host controller only when it is actually used. Based on a signal regarding an n-th pin received from a USB MEMORYSTICK slot provided in a board, a monitoring program detects whether a MEMORYSTICK has been inserted. The monitoring program causes a hardware bus switch to turn ON if the presence of the MEMORYSTICK is detected, or causes the hardware bus switch to turn OFF if the absence of the MEMORYSTICK is detected. If the hardware bus switch is turned ON, the USB host controller is electrically connected to a USB MEMORYSTICK slot through a USB bus; therefore, the USB host controller detects the USB MEMORYSTICK slot. If the hardware bus switch is turned OFF, the USB host controller is electrically disconnected from the USB MEMORYSTICK slot, so that it does not detect the USB MEMORYSTICK slot.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.