JP2005242476A - Usb connector and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a USB connector for surely discriminating the connection state of a USB and a reproducing device equipped with the USB connector. <P>SOLUTION: A switch 45 is installed on the internal wall of a shell 44 of a USB connector 4. This switch 45 is inclined from the opening side of the USB connector 4 to the opposite side of the opening, and when a USB plug 1 is inserted, the top end part of a metallic board 14 being the outline of the USB plug 1 is butted to the inclined face of the switch 45. Then, according as the USB plug 1 is pushed into the USB connector, the switch 45 is pushed up along the inclination, and when the USB plug 1 is pushed into the USB connector to the depth, the switch 45 is turned into an ON state (such a state that the insertion of the USB plug is detected). This switch 45 is turned into an OFF state when the USB plug 1 is half-pulled out of the USB connector so that the connection state of the USB can be judged on the basis of the output of the switch 45. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a USB connector and a playback device including the USB connector.

  An interface called USB (Universal Serial Bus) exists as a general-purpose interface for connecting a personal computer and an external device. USB is a serial interface for PCs that was introduced to replace medium- and low-speed interfaces such as serial ports and parallel ports. It connects various peripheral devices (nodes) around a single personal computer (PC). Take the form of USB supports plug-and-play and does not require settings for each connected device. Furthermore, in recent years, a standard called On-The-Go has appeared as a USB standard, and it has become possible to connect peripheral devices without using a PC.

  The USB specification is established by the USB Implementers Forum. The USB core specifications prescribe common specifications for USB hosts, hubs, devices, and transmission paths. Specifically, USB communication overview, functions, physical and electrical specifications such as bus driver, connector, transmission path, protocol specifications, common standard device requests (command and response specifications) that all USB devices should have, etc. Is described.

  The USB specification also defines the state of signal lines. One of the signal line states is called a suspended state. The suspend state is a state of a signal line that occurs during idling. When the host and the client are communicating, the host outputs a signal called SOF to the client every 1 ms. The SOF is a signal for synchronizing communication between the host and the client. In the suspended state, the host stops the output of the SOF, and switches the output of the signal line D + to H and the output of the signal line D− to L. The client monitors the state of the signal line, and detects that the USB has entered the suspended state when the output of the signal line D + is H and the output of the signal line D− is L for 3 ms or more.

  The host makes a transition to the suspend state with the occurrence of a suspend interrupt from the application as a trigger. A typical application that generates a suspend interrupt is an OS (Operating System). The OS generates a suspend interrupt when instructed by the user to safely remove the USB device, at the time of standby when the host is started, or when entering the sleep state.

  In addition to the case described above, the signal line transitions to the suspended state even when the user inserts the USB or after the USB is pulled out. As described above, the suspend state may be caused by USB insertion / removal, or may be caused by processing on the host side, but the output of the signal lines D + and D− is the same in any suspend state. Therefore, it is not possible to determine whether the suspension is due to extraction or suspension due to a suspend interrupt only by the output of the signal lines D + and D−. Therefore, the conventional device monitors the output of the signal line VBus in addition to the signal lines D + and D−, and suspends by a suspend interrupt when the VBus is connected, and suspends by pulling out when the VBus is not connected. It is determined that

  However, when the USB is in a half-drawn state or when the USB is pulled out slowly, the signal lines D + and D- are disconnected and the signal line VBus is connected. It may not be possible to determine whether the suspension is due to interrupt or suspension due to an interrupt.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a USB connector that can reliably determine a USB connection state, and a playback device including the USB connector.

  The USB connector according to the present invention includes a switch that detects the presence of the tip portion at a position where the tip portion of the USB plug reaches when the electronic device is attached and the USB plug is connected.

  The reproducing apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a reading means for reading information recorded on the magneto-optical disk, a reproducing means for reproducing the information read by the reading means, and a USB connector. A switch for detecting the presence of the tip portion is provided at a position where the tip portion of the USB plug reaches when connected.

  In the present invention, since a switch for detecting the connection of the USB plug is provided, it is possible to detect half-drawing or slow pull-out of the USB plug based on the output of the switch. Thereby, it is possible to avoid a determination error of the suspend generation source in the USB device.

  Hereinafter, a USB connector and a USB plug to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 shows the structure of a USB plug. The USB plug is a terminal provided at both ends of the USB cable, and three shapes are defined. The USB plug 1 shown in FIG. 1A is a type (A type) inserted into the host side and the lower port of the hub, and the USB plug 2 shown in FIG. 1B is inserted into the device side (B type). Type. In USB, by providing plugs of different shapes at both ends of the USB cable, the end user is prevented from making an incorrect connection. The USB plug 3 shown in FIG. 1C is called a mini-B type, and has a smaller shape than the B-type. The mini-B type is applied to a handheld computer or mobile device having a small casing.

  FIG. 2 is a projection view showing the configuration of the A type USB plug 1 and the USB connector 4, and FIG. 3 is a front view and a side view of the A type USB connector 4. The USB connector 4 is attached to the housing of the device. The USB connector 4 and the USB plug 1 have a male and female relationship. The USB plug 1 is a male terminal, and the USB connector 4 is a female terminal. The USB connector 4 is provided with an insertion port for inserting the USB plug 1.

  The USB connector 4 is provided on the substrate of the device, and is connected to a copper wire printed on the substrate via a contact. This copper wire is connected to a terminal of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the device and can transmit / receive information to / from a chip on the substrate. The USB connector 4 includes a shell 44 that forms an insertion port for the USB plug 1 and a terminal plate 41 that is formed inside the shell 44. The terminal board 41 includes a flat insulator 42 and a signal line 43, and the signal line 43 is attached to the surface of the insulator 42. The terminal board 41 extends from the bottom surface of the recess for inserting the USB plug toward the opening.

  FIG. 4 is a front view and a side view of the A type USB plug 1. The USB plug 1 is drawn on the left side of FIG. The USB plug 1 is formed of a terminal plate 11 and a metal plate 14 surrounding the terminal plate. The terminal board 11 includes an insulator 12 and a signal line 13, and the signal line 13 is attached to the surface of the insulator 12. The metal plate 14 is in contact with the three surfaces of the terminal plate 11 where the signal line 13 is not attached, and the surface where the signal line 13 is attached and the metal plate 14 are spaced apart from each other. Forming. This space serves as an insertion port for the terminal plate 41 of the USB connector 4. When the USB plug 1 is inserted into the USB connector 4, the signal line 43 of the terminal 41 and the signal line 13 of the terminal plate 11 are connected to transmit a signal.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the signal line 13 provided in the USB plug 1 includes a VBus signal line 13a (1 pin), a D− signal line 13b (2 pin), and a D + signal line 13c as a power source from the PC. (3 pins) and four pins of the GND signal line 13d (4 pins) are arranged in order. Of these, the two signal lines VBus 13a and GND 13d are longer than the other signal lines by a length d. Therefore, when the USB plug 1 is pulled out from the USB connector 4, the signal lines (VBus, GND) at both ends become longer in connection time by the length d than the inner signal lines (D-, D +).

  By the way, in the USB standard, a signal state called suspend is defined. Suspend is when the host PC is on standby, when it is possible to safely remove the USB from the host, when a switch interface command is issued, when the USB plug 1 is inserted, or when the USB plug 1 is pulled out It is a signal state that occurs in There are two types of suspending: suspending by physically plugging / unplugging the USB plug 1 and suspending triggered by software processing.

  A conventional host or client device monitors the output of the VBus, and when there is no VBus output, it is determined that the suspension is based on physical insertion and removal, and when there is an output of the VBus, it is determined that the suspension is software. However, with this determination method, it is not possible to detect half extraction or slow extraction of the USB plug 1. This is because the signal line of the USB plug 1 has a long VBus and GND, and a short D + and D-. When the USB plug 1 is pulled out slowly or when the USB plug 1 is half-cut, the VBus and GND are This is because they may be connected and D + and D− may be disconnected. The mechanical switch 45 provided in the USB connector 4 has a function of detecting half-drawing or slow removal of the USB plug 1.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the switch 45 is provided on the inner wall of the shell 44 of the USB connector 4, and is pushed in by the force received from the metal plate 14 of the USB plug when the USB plug 1 is fully inserted. The switch 45 is inclined from the opening side of the USB connector 4 toward the side opposite to the opening. When the USB plug 1 is inserted, first, the tip portion of the metal plate 14 comes into contact with the inclined surface of the switch 45. Then, as the USB plug 1 is pushed in, the switch 45 is pushed up along the inclination, and when the USB plug 1 is pushed all the way into the switch 45, the switch 45 is in an ON state (a state where it is detected that the USB plug 1 is inserted). Further, when the USB plug 1 is pulled out, the switch 45 is gradually pushed back, and the switch 45 is in an OFF state (a state where it is detected that the USB plug 1 is not inserted).

  As described above, the USB connector 4 to which the present invention is applied is provided with the switch 45 on the inner side wall of the shell 44 to detect half removal of the USB plug 1. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether the suspend generation source is the insertion / removal of the USB plug 1 or the suspend by software processing.

  Here, another example of the mounting position of the switch 45 will be described with reference to FIG. The switches 45a and 45b are provided on the inner wall of the shell 44 of the USB connector. When the USB plug 1 is inserted, the switches 45a and 45b are pushed outward by the USB plug 1 and the switches are turned on. The switch 45c and the switch 45d are provided at a position in contact with the tip of the metal plate 14 of the USB plug 1, and the switch is turned on when the USB plug 1 is inserted.

  The switches 45a to 45d described above are provided at positions where the insertion of the USB plug 1 is detected. In the present invention, the position of the switch may be provided at a place other than that shown in FIG. Further, the switch may be a switch composed of a piezoelectric element or an optical switch composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The present invention can also be applied to B-type or mini-B-type USB connectors and USB plugs.

  Next, an example in which the above-described USB connector 4 is applied to an MD (registered trademark: minidisc) player will be described. FIG. 8 shows an internal block of the MD player 20. The MD player 20 includes a media drive unit 21, a memory transfer controller 22, a nonvolatile memory 23, a RAM 24, a USB connector 4, a USB device controller 26, a system controller 28, and an audio processing unit 29. The MD player is connected to the PC 100 via the USB cable 111. A USB plug 1 provided at the tip of the USB cable 111 is inserted into the USB connector 4.

  The media drive unit 21 performs recording / reproduction for each MD 90 such as a conventional MD or a next generation MD loaded therein. Conventional MD is MD for the purpose of recording music information, and the modulation method is EFM. The next generation MD includes a recording area as a storage medium of a PC in addition to a recording area for music information. The modulation method of the next generation MD is RLL (1-7) PP, which has a higher density than the conventional MD.

  The USB device controller 12 performs USB transmission control. The RAM 24 buffers data read from the data track of the MD 90 by the media drive unit 21 in units of high-density data clusters based on the control of the system controller 28. The RAM 24 stores various management information and special information such as UTOC data, FAT data, unique ID, and hash value read from the MD 90 by the media drive unit 21 based on the control of the system controller 28.

  The system controller 28 can communicate with the PC 100 connected via the USB, performs communication control with the PC 100, receives commands such as write requests and read requests, status information, etc. The necessary information is transmitted, and the entire MD player 20 is comprehensively controlled.

  For example, when the MD 90 is inserted into the media drive unit 21, the memory transfer controller 22 instructs the media drive unit 21 to read management information from the MD 90, and stores the read management information such as PTOC and UTOC in the RAM 24. To store.

  The memory transfer controller 22 can grasp the track recording state of the MD 90 by reading the management information. Further, by reading the FAT, the cluster structure in the data track can be grasped, and the access request to the data track from the PC 100 can be handled.

  Also, the disk authentication process and other processes are executed based on the unique ID and the hash value, or these values are transmitted to the PC 100, and the disk authentication process and other processes are executed on the PC 100.

  The memory transfer controller 22 transfers the data stored in the RAM 24 to the media drive unit 21 as recording data. At this time, the media drive unit 21 modulates the recording data by the EFM modulation method if the mounted medium is the conventional MD, and by the RLL (1-7) PP modulation method if the medium is the next generation MD1 or the next generation MD2. Write.

  In the MD player 20 shown as this specific example, the recording / reproduction control described above is control when recording / reproducing data tracks, and data transfer when recording / reproducing MD audio data (audio tracks) is performed by audio processing. This is performed via the unit 29.

  The audio processing unit 29 includes, for example, an analog audio signal input unit such as a line input circuit / microphone input circuit, an A / D converter, and a digital audio data input unit as an input system. The audio processing unit 29 includes an ATRAC compression encoder / decoder and a compressed data buffer memory. Further, the audio processing unit 29 includes an analog audio signal output unit such as a digital audio data output unit, a D / A converter, and a line output circuit / headphone output circuit as an output system.

  An audio track is recorded on the MD 90 when digital audio data (or an analog audio signal) is input to the audio processing unit 29. Linear PCM audio data that is input as linear PCM digital audio data or analog audio signals and then converted by an A / D converter is subjected to ATRAC compression encoding and stored in a buffer memory. Thereafter, the data is read from the buffer memory at a predetermined timing (data unit corresponding to the ADIP cluster) and transferred to the media drive unit 21.

  In the media drive unit 21, the transferred compressed data is modulated by the EFM modulation method or the RLL (1-7) PP modulation method, and written in the MD 90 as an audio track. When reproducing the audio track from the MD 90, the media drive unit 21 demodulates the reproduction data into the ATRAC compressed data state and transfers it to the audio processing unit 29. The audio processing unit 29 performs ATRAC compression decoding to obtain linear PCM audio data, which is output from the digital audio data output unit. Alternatively, line output / headphone output is performed as an analog audio signal by a D / A converter.

  The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is an example. For example, when the MD player 20 is connected to the PC 100 and used as an external storage device that records and reproduces only the data track, the audio processing unit 29 is unnecessary. .

  As shown in FIG. 8, the MD player 20 includes a USB connector 4 and can be connected to the PC 100 via the USB cable 111. The next-generation MD can be used as an external storage such as a PC. That is, the USB connection between the PC 100 and the MD player 20 can be established by inserting the USB plugs 1 at both ends of the USB cable 111 into the USB connector 4 of the MD player 20 and the USB plug of the PC 100. The USB system supports plug and play, and the PC 100 automatically recognizes peripheral devices by simply inserting the USB plug 1 into the USB connector 4.

  The USB-connected PC 100 manages MD data. The MD has a secure area that specially stores music data and a FAT (File Allocation Table) area as storage of the PC 100. The PC 100 is installed with music management software for managing secure area data and file management software for managing FAT area data. As a typical file management software, there is an Explorer of Windows (registered trademark). A typical music management software is Sonic Stage. The user connects the PC 100 and the MD player 20 with the USB cable 111 and edits the MD data on the PC 100.

  By the way, in the USB standard, a signal state called suspend is defined. Suspend means that the state in which the USB signal line D + is H and D- is L continues for 3 ms or more. In the suspend, the generation source includes software processing and the user's USB insertion / removal. The MD player 20 of the present invention determines the suspend generation source and performs processing according to the generation source.

  The MD player stops the operation of the MD player when the suspend generation source is software processing. Software suspend occurs when the PC 100 shifts to the sleep state, when the start menu is on standby, or when the user instructs the PC 100 to shift to the “safe removal state”.

  Note that the MD player records the setting information in the nonvolatile memory 23 before stopping its own operation. Therefore, even if the information stored in the RAM 24 is reset, the setting information stored in the nonvolatile memory 23 can be used to quickly return to the state before suspending (referred to as resume).

  In addition to the suspend described above, there is a physical suspend. When a transition is made to a physical suspend state due to the USB being pulled out, the MD player 20 does not stop its own operation. This is because there is a high possibility that the user will continue to use the USB after extracting it. The MD player 20 to which the present invention is applied is provided with a switch on the USB and reliably determines whether or not the USB is inserted or removed. Then, using this determination result, the internal processing of the MD player 20 and the PC 100 is determined.

  Hereinafter, the processing of the MD player 20 when the signal line state is in the suspended state will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Suspend means a state in which the state of the signal lines D + = H and D− = L continues for 3 ms or more. When the MD player 20 detects the suspension of the signal line (step S11), it first detects whether or not its own drive power supply is only VBus. When the own drive power source is only VBus (step S12; YES), the MD player 20 starts processing for stopping the operation of the MD player 20. In this process, the system controller 28 first records the current setting information stored in the RAM 24 in the nonvolatile memory 23 (step S13). Then, the MD player 20 is turned off (step S14). This state is called a standby state of the MD player 20. Also, turning on the power again to the MD player 20 in the standby state is called “resume”. The MD player 20 starts the resume when receiving the resume interrupt from the PC 100 or the system controller 28 (step S15). The system controller 28 reads the setting information recorded in the non-volatile memory 23 when resuming, and restores the state before suspending (step S16).

  On the other hand, when its own drive power supply exists in addition to VBus (step S12; NO), the MD player 20 starts a process of determining the suspend generation source. The suspend generation source includes a software generation source such as a command from the PC 100 and the system controller 28 and a physical generation source such as USB extraction. The system controller 28 determines whether or not the suspend generation source is physical extraction, and determines that software processing is the generation source when it is not physical extraction. There are two methods for determining that suspend has occurred due to physical pull-out: a method for detecting the output of VBus and a method for detecting the output of the switch. The MD player 20 determines the suspend generation source by using both of these two methods.

  The two methods may be started from either method, but in this embodiment, VBus is first detected. The system controller 28 waits for several tens to several hundreds ms after the signal line enters the suspended state (step S17), and then detects the VBus. The reason for waiting for detection of VBus is based on the following reason. As described above, the signal line D + and the signal line D- are shorter than the VBus and GND by the length d. Therefore, even when the connection between the signal line D + and the signal line D− is disconnected, there is a time during which the VBus remains connected. This time is about several tens to several hundreds ms. The system controller 28 waits for this time, and detects whether or not the VBus is supplied at the timing when the USB is completely removed. Here, when the VBus is supplied, the USB is physically connected. When the VBus is not supplied, it can be said that the USB is pulled out. If the USB is physically connected, it is determined that the software is suspended. If the USB is not physically connected, it is determined that the USB is suspended. The MD player 20 ends the first determination in this way (step S18).

  In the first determination, when the USB is half-drawn or when the USB is slowly pulled out, it is not possible to detect the USB pull-out. Therefore, in the second determination method, the switch provided on the USB connector 14 on the device side detects a half-drawn state or a slow removal (step S19).

  When the system controller 28 detects that the VBus is supplied in the first determination and the USB is connected in the second determination (step S18; YES, step S19; NO), the system controller 28 is suspended by software processing. It is determined that it has moved to. When the system controller 28 determines that the suspend has occurred by software processing (step S20), the system controller 28 shifts the processing to step S13 and stops the operation of the MD player.

  On the other hand, when the system controller 28 detects that VBus is not detected in the first determination and the USB is extracted in the second determination (step S18; NO, step S19; NO), the suspend generation source is USB. It is determined that the power supply has been pulled out (step S21), and the power supply source is switched from VBus to another power supply (step S22). Other power sources include built-in batteries and power cables. When the power is supplied, the system controller 28 performs MD system read (step S23). When the MD system read is completed, the MD can be reproduced, recorded, edited, and the like. Thus, in this MD player 20, when the user pulls out the USB, the operation of the MD player 20 itself is not stopped, but the MD player 20 separated from the PC 100 is made ready for use by the user.

  On the other hand, when the system controller 28 detects that the VBus is connected in the first determination and the USB is extracted in the second determination (step S13; YES, step S14; NO), the USB is in a half-removed state or It is determined that it has been slowly pulled out (step S21). In this case, assuming that the USB has been removed, the system controller 28 proceeds to step S22 to make the MD player 20 usable.

  As described above, in the MD player 20 to which the present invention is applied, when the USB signal state is in the suspended state, is this suspension caused by USB extraction or by software processing? Judging. Then, the control of the MD player 20 is determined according to the determination result.

  In the MD player 20 to which the present invention is applied, the USB connector 4 is provided with a switch 45 for determining a suspend generation source. As a result, it is possible to reliably detect half-drawing or slow drawing that could not be detected only by monitoring the signal line 13.

  Further, in the present invention, when the suspend due to the pulling out of the USB plug 1 occurs, the MD player 20 is made usable. This is because it is highly possible that the USB plug 1 is pulled out and used as it is after editing the MD on the PC 100. However, since the specification is tailored to the user's request, it may be changed according to a change in the user's request.

It is a figure which shows the type of USB with which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the structure of a USB connector and a USB plug. It is a figure which shows the front and side of a USB connector. It is a figure which shows the front and side of a USB plug. It is a figure which shows the signal wire | line provided in the USB plug. It is a figure which shows the cross section which shows the state of the switch at the time of insertion of a USB plug. It is a figure which shows the cross section which shows the example of attachment of a switch. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of MD player. It is a flowchart which shows the process of MD player at the time of suspend generation | occurrence | production.

Explanation of symbols

1 USB plug, 4 USB connector, 11 terminal board, 12 insulator, 13a VBus, 13b D-, 13c D +, 13d GND, 14 metal plate, 20 MD player, 21 media drive unit, 22 memory transfer controller, 23 non-volatile Memory, 24 RAM, 26 USB device controller, 28 System controller, 29 Audio processing unit, 41 Terminal board, 42 Insulator, 43 Signal line, 44 Shell, 45 Switch

Claims (9)

In USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectors attached to electronic devices,
A USB connector comprising a switch for detecting the presence of a tip portion at a position where the tip portion of the USB plug reaches when the USB plug is connected.   2. The USB connector according to claim 1, wherein the switch is provided on an inner side wall of the USB connector, protrudes inward from the inner side wall, and is pushed back in the outer direction when the USB plug enters. 3.   2. The USB connector according to claim 1, wherein the switch receives a force in an entry direction when the USB plug enters, and is pushed in the entry direction of the USB plug. Reading means for reading information recorded on the magneto-optical disk;
Reproducing means for reproducing the information read by the reading means;
With a USB connector,
The USB connector is
A playback device comprising a switch for detecting the presence of a tip portion at a position where the tip portion of the USB plug reaches when the USB plug is connected.   5. The playback apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a control unit that determines that the USB plug is not connected when the switch detects that the tip portion is not present. The control means includes
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein when it is determined that the signal line of the USB connector is in a suspended state and the USB plug is not connected, it is determined that the suspended state is generated by pulling out the USB plug. Playback device. The control means includes
If it is determined that the suspend state has occurred due to the USB plug being pulled out,
The reading means causes the management information of the magneto-optical disk recorded on the magneto-optical disk to be read out so that the information recorded on the magneto-optical disk can be reproduced based on the management information. The playback apparatus according to claim 6. The control means includes
If it is determined that the suspend state has occurred for a reason other than pulling out the USB plug,
7. The playback apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control means stores setting information used during communication via the USB connector in the storage means, and then stops the operation of the playback apparatus. The control means includes
When a resume interrupt signal is generated on the signal line, the playback device is activated, and setting information stored in the storage unit is read out so that communication is possible via the USB connector. Item 9. The playback device according to Item 8.

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