Patents Assigned to VIA LABS, INC.
  • Patent number: 11308016
    Abstract: A USB integrated circuit includes three TX connecting component pairs and three RX connecting component pairs. The first TX connecting component pair and the first RX connecting component pair are respectively coupled to the first TX pin pair and the first RX pin pair of the first USB connector. The second TX connecting component pair and the second RX connecting component pair are respectively coupled to the first TX pin pair and the first RX pin pair of a second USB connector. The third TX connecting component pair is coupled to the second TX pin pair of the first USB connector or to the second TX pin pair of the second USB connector. The third RX connecting component pair is coupled to the second RX pin pair of the first USB connector or to the second RX pin pair of the second USB connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Wen-Yu Tseng, Wen-Hao Cheng, Terrance Shiyang Shih
  • Patent number: 11176074
    Abstract: A chip and an interface conversion device are provided. The chip includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pads. The first and second pads are coupled to first and second SBU pins of a USB connector respectively. The fourth and the sixth pads are coupled to first and second pins of an AUX channel of a DP connector respectively. When the chip operates in a first mode, first and second AUX channel signals generated by the chip are transmitted to the third and fifth pads respectively, a voltage of the fourth pad is weakly pulled down, and a voltage of the sixth pad is weakly pulled up. When the chip operates in a second mode, one of the first and second pads is connected to the fourth pad, and the other one of the first and second pads is connected to the sixth pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Yun-Tien Liu, Cheng-Chung Lin, Hsiao-Chyi Lin, Shao-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 11151069
    Abstract: A USB hub and an operating method thereof are provided. The USB hub includes a first USB connector coupled to a first device, a second USB connector coupled to a second device, a first power switch, a second power switch, a power converter, and a third power switch. The first power switch has a first end coupled to a power pin of the first USB connector. The second power switch has a first end coupled to a second end of the first power switch, and a second end coupled to a power pin of the second USB connector. The power converter has an input coupled to the second end of the first power switch. The third power switch has a first end coupled to an output of the power converter, where a second end of the third power switch is coupled to the power pin of the second USB connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Li-Feng Pan
  • Publication number: 20210271754
    Abstract: A hardware Trojan immunity device and an operation method thereof are provided. The hardware Trojan immunity device is disposed in a data transmission path between an output terminal of a first circuit and an input terminal of a second circuit. The hardware Trojan immunity device includes a multiplexer, an arbitrary pattern generator (APG) and a monitoring circuit. A first input terminal of the multiplexer is coupled to the output terminal of the first circuit. An output terminal of the multiplexer is coupled to the input terminal of the second circuit. The APG is coupled to a second input terminal of the multiplexer to provide pseudo-random data. The monitoring circuit is coupled to a control terminal of the multiplexer. The monitoring circuit is configured to monitor a data activity of the data transmission path and to control a routing of the multiplexer according to the data activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Ying-Chieh Ho, Chin-Hao Yang, Teng-Yen Tang
  • Publication number: 20210271620
    Abstract: A connection interface conversion chip, a connection interface conversion device and an operation method are provided. The connection interface conversion chip includes a USB interface circuit, a DP interface circuit, a USB core circuit and a switching circuit. The USB interface circuit is suitable for coupling to a USB connector. The DP interface circuit is suitable for coupling to a DP connector. In a first operation mode, at least one USB signal pair received by the USB connector is transmitted to the USB core circuit through the USB interface circuit. The USB core circuit decodes the USB signal pair and generates DP data. The DP data is transmitted to the DP connector by the DP interface circuit. In a second operation mode, the DP data received by the USB connector is transmitted to the DP connector through the USB interface circuit, the switching circuit and the DP interface circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Lin, Hsiao-Chyi Lin, Yi-Shing Lin, Chien-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11031803
    Abstract: A start-up apparatus for a battery management circuit and a battery management system having the same are provided. The start-up apparatus for the battery management circuit includes a transformer, a switch circuit, a control circuit, and a rectifier circuit. The transformer includes a primary winding, an auxiliary winding, and a secondary winding. A first terminal of the primary winding is coupled to a first external power path. A first terminal of the switch circuit is coupled to a second terminal of the primary winding, and a second terminal of the switch circuit is coupled to a second external power path. The control circuit is coupled to the auxiliary winding for receiving power and controls a conduction state of the switch circuit. The rectifier circuit is coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer and supplies power to the battery management circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Tze-Shiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11018498
    Abstract: An eMarker device is used in a cable electrically connected between a first port and a second port, wherein the cable includes a configuration channel communication wire. The eMarker device comprises: a first eMarker disposed near the first port and including a first active protection module coupled to the configuration channel communication wire, wherein the first eMarker is electrically connected to a first power pin of the first port and a second power pin of the second port; and a second eMarker disposed near the second port and including a second active protection module coupled to the configuration channel communication wire, wherein either of the first active protection module and the second active protection module changes an electric characteristic of the configuration channel communication wire to have the first port detect a disconnecting status of the second port when a specified event happens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Feng-Kuan Su, Yu-Lung Lin, Yi-Te Chen
  • Publication number: 20210117355
    Abstract: A chip and an interface conversion device are provided. The chip includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pads. The first and second pads are coupled to first and second SBU pins of a USB connector respectively. The fourth and the sixth pads are coupled to first and second pins of an AUX channel of a DP connector respectively. When the chip operates in a first mode, first and second AUX channel signals generated by the chip are transmitted to the third and fifth pads respectively, a voltage of the fourth pad is weakly pulled down, and a voltage of the sixth pad is weakly pulled up. When the chip operates in a second mode, one of the first and second pads is connected to the fourth pad, and the other one of the first and second pads is connected to the sixth pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Yun-Tien Liu, Cheng-Chung Lin, Hsiao-Chyi Lin, Shao-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 10977057
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus and an operation method thereof are provided. The electronic apparatus includes a nonvolatile memory, a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit. The nonvolatile memory stores the first firmware code of the first integrated circuit and the second firmware code of the second integrated circuit. The first integrated circuit is coupled to a memory access interface of the nonvolatile memory to read the first firmware code and the second firmware code. The first integrated circuit has an emulation memory access interface to emulate an emulation memory. The second integrated circuit is coupled to the emulation memory access interface of the first integrated circuit. The second integrated circuit reads the second firmware code from the first integrated circuit via the emulation memory access interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Terrance Shiyang Shih, Chin-Sung Hsu
  • Publication number: 20210098343
    Abstract: An integrated circuit chip has an active surface and a chip pad arrangement on the active surface. The chip pad arrangement includes four pairs of chip pads arranged in two rows along a side edge of the active surface. Two pairs of chip pads are a first transmission differential pair chip pad and a first reception differential pair chip pad respectively. Positions of the two pairs of chip pads are not adjacent to each other and are in different rows. The other two pairs of chip pads are a second transmission differential chip pad and a second reception differential chip pad respectively. Positions of the other two pairs of chip pads are not adjacent to each other and are in different rows. In addition, a package substrate corresponding to the integrated circuit chip and an electronic assembly including the package substrate and the integrated circuit chip are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Sheng-Yuan Lee
  • Patent number: 10955888
    Abstract: The present invention provides a universal serial bus (USB) device and an operating method thereof. The USB device includes a plurality of Downstream Facing Ports (DFPs) and a control circuit. When a first external device is connected to the first DFP and the second DFP is not connected to any external device, the control circuit maintains the first DFP as one of a power source port and a power sink port according to the first external device, and maintains the second DFP as other one of the power source port and the power sink port regardless of whether the second DFP is connected to a second external device later until the first external device is removed from the first DFP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Tze-Shiang Wang, Chi-Yuan Kao
  • Publication number: 20210064558
    Abstract: A USB integrated circuit includes three TX connecting component pairs and three RX connecting component pairs. The first TX connecting component pair and the first RX connecting component pair are respectively coupled to the first TX pin pair and the first RX pin pair of the first USB connector. The second TX connecting component pair and the second RX connecting component pair are respectively coupled to the first TX pin pair and the first RX pin pair of a second USB connector. The third TX connecting component pair is coupled to the second TX pin pair of the first USB connector or to the second TX pin pair of the second USB connector. The third RX connecting component pair is coupled to the second RX pin pair of the first USB connector or to the second RX pin pair of the second USB connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Wen-Yu Tseng, Wen-Hao Cheng, Terrance Shiyang Shih
  • Patent number: 10915142
    Abstract: A dock and an operation method therefor are provided. The dock is suitable for propping up a mobile communication device. The dock includes an audio-receiving circuit, a rotating module, a communication circuit, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is coupled to the audio-receiving circuit, the rotating module, and the communication circuit. The controller circuit transmits at least one of a plurality of audio signals generated by the audio-receiving circuit to the mobile communication device through the communication circuit, and determines an audio direction of an audio source according to the plurality of audio signals. The controller circuit controls the rotating module to rotate according to the audio direction, so as to bring the mobile communication device face toward the audio source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Chin-Sung Hsu, Chih-Long Ho, Nai-Chuan Hung, Chih-Hsien Lin, Hung-Chih Chiu
  • Patent number: 10901934
    Abstract: A USB integrated circuit (IC) includes a first USB port and a second USB port. The first USB port includes a first connecting component pair and a second connecting component pair. The second USB port includes a third connecting component pair and a fourth connecting component pair. The USB IC outputs a first differential signal pair and a third differential signal pair to the outside via the first connecting component pair and the third connecting component pair, and receives a second differential signal pair and a fourth differential signal pair from the outside via the second connecting component pair and the fourth connecting component pair. The first connecting component pair is disposed between the second connecting component pair and the third connecting component pair, and the third connecting component pair is disposed between the first connecting component pair and the fourth connecting component pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Ming Tu, Hsiao-Chyi Lin
  • Patent number: 10866920
    Abstract: For adjusting a signal transmission direction in a cable, which is configured to be electrically coupled between a first interface port and a second interface port, an electric characteristic on at least a first pin of the first interface port is detected. Then a signal transmission direction of at least one pair of differential signal transmission channels in the cable is controlled to change from a first direction to a second direction different from the first direction, provided that a communication protocol between the first interface port and the second interface port is changed from a first communication protocol to a second communication protocol, and the electric characteristic complies with a first condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Lung Lin, Hsuan-Jui Chang
  • Patent number: 10860517
    Abstract: A terminating resistor circuit of a USB port and an operation method thereof are provided. The terminating resistor circuit includes a terminating resistor, a terminating switch, and an energy storage control circuit. The terminating resistor and the terminating switch are connected in series between a configuration channel pin of the USB port and a first reference voltage, and the energy storage control circuit is coupled to a control end of the terminating switch. During a charging period in a configuration detection period, the energy storage control circuit stores charge from the configuration channel pin to obtain a stored electrical energy, and during a discharging period in the configuration detection period, the energy storage control circuit turns on the terminating switch by using the stored electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Wei-Yu Wang, Yu-Chung Wei
  • Publication number: 20200371980
    Abstract: A USB hub and an operating method thereof are provided. The USB hub includes a first USB connector coupled to a first device, a second USB connector coupled to a second device, a first power switch, a second power switch, a power converter, and a third power switch. The first power switch has a first end coupled to a power pin of the first USB connector. The second power switch has a first end coupled to a second end of the first power switch, and a second end coupled to a power pin of the second USB connector. The power converter has an input coupled to the second end of the first power switch. The third power switch has a first end coupled to an output of the power converter, where a second end of the third power switch is coupled to the power pin of the second USB connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Li-Feng Pan
  • Patent number: 10819111
    Abstract: A multi-port power supply apparatus and a power supplying method thereof are provided. The multi-port power supply apparatus includes a power supply circuit, a plurality of connecting ports, a plurality of power converters, and a common control circuit. The power supply circuit is configured to provide a source electric energy to the power converters. Any one of the power converters converts the source electric energy into an output electric energy and outputs the output electric energy to the corresponding connecting port. The common control circuit dynamically adjusts the source electric energy by controlling the power supply circuit according to a plurality of voltage demands and a plurality of power demands of the connecting ports, so as to enhance voltage conversion efficiency of the multi-port power supply apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Tze-Shiang Wang, Sheng-Hsien Yen
  • Patent number: 10817450
    Abstract: A USB apparatus and an operation method thereof are provided. The USB apparatus includes a USB connector, a terminal resistor circuit, and an overvoltage protection circuit. The terminal resistor circuit includes a terminal resistor and a terminal switch connected to each other in series. The terminal resistor and the terminal switch jointly provide a current path between a configuration channel (CC) pin of the USB connector and a reference voltage. The terminal switch is turned on during a configuration detection period. During a power saving period after the configuration detection period ends, the overvoltage protection circuit controls the terminal resistor circuit to turn off the terminal switch. The overvoltage protection circuit detects an overvoltage event at the CC pin. When an overvoltage event occurs at the CC pin, the overvoltage protection circuit controls the terminal resistor circuit to turn on the terminal switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Yu-Chung Wei
  • Publication number: 20200311009
    Abstract: A USB integrated circuit (IC) includes a first USB port and a second USB port. The first USB port includes a first connecting component pair and a second connecting component pair. The second USB port includes a third connecting component pair and a fourth connecting component pair. The USB IC outputs a first differential signal pair and a third differential signal pair to the outside via the first connecting component pair and the third connecting component pair, and receives a second differential signal pair and a fourth differential signal pair from the outside via the second connecting component pair and the fourth connecting component pair. The first connecting component pair is disposed between the second connecting component pair and the third connecting component pair, and the third connecting component pair is disposed between the first connecting component pair and the fourth connecting component pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Ming Tu, Hsiao-Chyi Lin