Single line dock status autoidentification

Abstract

A single line docking station characteristic identifier is disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable computing device can include a dock detector circuit having an interface pin configured to be coupled to a docking station via a single line dock connection, where the dock detector circuit is configured to determine a characteristic of the docking station using a passive component in the docking station when the portable computing device is connected to the docking station via the single line dock connection. The dock detector circuit can include a resistor and a Schmitt trigger, while the passive component in the docking station can include a capacitor, for example.

1 . A portable computing device, comprising: 
 a dock detector circuit having an interface pin configured to be coupled to a docking station via a single line dock connection, wherein the dock detector circuit is configured to determine a characteristic of the docking station using a passive component in the docking station when the portable computing device is connected to the docking station via the single line dock connection.    
     
     
         2 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the dock detector circuit comprises a resistor and a Schmitt trigger.  
     
     
         3 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the passive component in the docking station comprises a capacitor.  
     
     
         4 . The portable computing device of  claim 3 , wherein the capacitor is configured to be discharged via the single line dock connection when the portable computing device is coupled to the docking station.  
     
     
         5 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the dock detector circuit comprises a calibration capacitor.  
     
     
         6 . The portable computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic comprises a type of the docking station, and wherein the characteristic is configured to be determined by sampling a voltage level of the single line dock connection, wherein the voltage level is related to an RC-time constant of a resistor in the dock detector circuit and a capacitor in the docking station.  
     
     
         7 . The portable computing device of  claim 6 , wherein the sampling is configured to be performed after a predetermined time.  
     
     
         8 . The portable computing device of  claim 6 , wherein the resistor is coupled to a power supply.  
     
     
         9 . A method of determining a characteristic of a docking station, the method comprising: 
 connecting a portable computing device to the docking station via a single line dock connection, wherein the portable computing device comprises a dock detector circuit coupled to the single line dock connection;    placing the single line dock connection in a reset state using the dock detector circuit; and    determining the characteristic by sampling the single line dock connection at a predetermined time.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dock detector circuit comprises a resistor and a Schmitt trigger.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the connecting comprises coupling a capacitor in the docking station to the single line dock connection.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the placing the single line dock connection in the reset state comprises discharging the capacitor using an NMOS device.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the determining the characteristic by the sampling comprises using an RC-time constant of a resistor in the dock detector circuit and the capacitor.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the characteristic comprises a type of the docking station.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the portable computing device comprises an embedded controller coupled to the single line dock connection.  
     
     
         16 . A system of determining a characteristic of a docking station, the system comprising: 
 a single line dock connection coupled to the docking station; and    a portable computing device having a dock detector circuit, wherein the dock detector circuit is coupled to the single line dock connection, and wherein the dock detector circuit is configured to determine the characteristic using a passive component in the docking station when the portable computing device is connected to the docking station via the single line dock connection.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the dock detector circuit comprises a resistor and a Schmitt trigger.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the passive component in the docking station comprises a capacitor.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the characteristic comprises a type of the docking station, and wherein the characteristic is configured to be determined by sampling a voltage level of the single line dock connection, wherein the voltage level is related to an RC-time constant of a resistor in the dock detector circuit and a capacitor in the docking station.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the capacitor is configured to be discharged via the single line dock connection upon connection to the docking station.