US-12625537-B2 - USB-C wireless wide area network dongle

US12625537B2US 12625537 B2US12625537 B2US 12625537B2US-12625537-B2

Abstract

An apparatus can include Universal Serial Bus Type C (USB-C) connection circuitry. The apparatus can also include input/output (I/O) circuitry coupled to the USB-C connection circuitry. The I/O circuitry can receive a power signal over the USB-C connection circuitry. The apparatus can include baseband circuitry to initiate wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication responsive to receiving a wake signal from the I/O circuitry. The WWAN communication can include messages received from the USB-C connection circuitry. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are described.

Inventors

ARVIND SUNDARAM
Santhosh Ap
Shailendra Singh CHAUHAN
Nagalakshmi Shashidhara Guptha
Nirmala BAILUR
Mythili HEGDE

Assignees

INTEL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220323

Claims (17)

1 . An apparatus comprising: Universal Serial Bus Type C (USB-C) connection circuitry having sideband use (SBU) pins; input/output (I/O) circuitry coupled to the USB-C connection circuitry, the I/O circuitry configured to receive a power signal over the USB-C connection circuitry; a power delivery (PD) controller coupled to the USB-C connection circuitry and to the I/O circuitry, the PD controller configured to assert a wake signal to baseband circuitry after reception of a PD power-source-ready message (PS_RDY) and to inhibit baseband wake while the apparatus is in USB-PD Sink Standby, the PD controller to control the apparatus to enter a standby mode responsive to receiving power profile information over the USB-C connection circuitry, and to exit the standby mode responsive to sensing a negotiated power level at the USB-C connection circuitry; and baseband circuitry coupled to the USB-C connection circuitry and to the I/O circuitry and configured to initiate wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication responsive to receiving the wake signal, the WWAN communication including messages received from the USB-C connection circuitry, the SBU pins repurposed to perform I2C operations after the baseband circuitry boots, and the I2C operations include configuring the I/O circuitry to support M.2 features comprising at least one of Wake on WWAN, service aggregation router (SAR) functions, or module power control.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the I/O circuitry is configured to perform power negotiations responsive to a connection signal received at source-to-sink connector pins of the apparatus.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the PD controller is configured to request power profile information responsive to receiving a power capabilities advertisement signal over the USB-C connection circuitry.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the signals from the USB-C connection circuitry comprise source-to-sink connector pin signals.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more antennas, wherein the one or more antennas comprise printed antennas on a radio front end (RFE) circuit board.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the one or more antennas comprises a surface mount device (SMD).
7 . An apparatus comprising: Universal Serial Bus Type C (USB-C) connection circuitry comprising sideband use (SBU) pins; input/output (I/O) circuitry coupled to the USB-C connection circuitry, the I/O circuitry configured to receive a power signal over the USB-C connection circuitry; a power delivery (PD) controller coupled to the USB-C connection circuitry and to the I/O circuitry, the PD controller configured to assert a wake signal to baseband circuitry after reception of a PD power-source-ready message (PS_RDY) and to inhibit baseband wake while the apparatus is in USB-PD Sink Standby, the PD controller to control the apparatus to enter a standby mode responsive to receiving power profile information over the USB-C connection circuitry, and to exit the standby mode responsive to sensing a negotiated power level at the USB-C connection circuitry; and baseband circuitry coupled to the USB-C connection circuitry and to the I/O circuitry and configured to initiate wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication responsive to receiving the wake signal, the WWAN communication including messages received from the USB-C connection circuitry, the SBU pins repurposed to perform I2C operations after the baseband circuitry boots.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising source-to-sink connector pins of the apparatus, a first source-to-sink connector pin of the source-to-sink connector pins coupled to a pull-down resistor.
9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a current level of 900 milliamps (mA), 1.5 amps (A), 3 A, or 5 A is provided to the I/O circuitry.
10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising one or more surface mount device (SMD) antennas.
11 . A method comprising: detecting, by at least one processing circuitry, a connection signal at Universal Serial Bus Type C (USB-C) connection circuitry; receiving power profile information and a PD power-source-ready message (PS_RDY) over the USB-C connection circuitry; controlling entry into a standby mode of operation responsive to receiving the power profile information, and exit from the standby mode of operation responsive to sensing a negotiated power level at the USB-C connection circuitry; asserting a wake signal to baseband circuitry after reception of the PS_RDY; inhibiting baseband wake while the at least one processing circuitry is in USB-PD Sink Standby; detecting whether the connection signal is received from a wireless wide area network (WWAN) device; and providing I2C signals to the USB-C connection circuitry over sideband use (SBU) pins after the baseband circuitry boots, if the connection signal is received from a WWAN device, otherwise providing sideband use (SBU) signals.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising loading WWAN device drivers responsive to determining that the connection signal is from a WWAN device.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising performing power negotiations responsive to the detecting of the connection signal.
14 . A method comprising: detecting, by at least one processing circuitry, a connection event at Universal Serial Bus Type C (USB-C) connection circuitry; controlling entry into a standby mode of operation responsive to receiving power profile information over the USB-C connection circuitry, and exit from the standby mode of operation responsive to sensing a negotiated power level at the USB-C connection circuitry; receiving a PD power-source-ready message (PS_RDY): asserting a wake signal to baseband circuitry after reception of the PD power-source-ready message (PS_RDY); inhibiting baseband wake while the at least one processing circuitry is in USB-PD Sink Standby; receiving a wake signal over the USB-C connection circuitry; and initiating wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication responsive to receiving the wake signal, the WWAN communication including messages received from the USB-C connection circuitry, with sideband use (SBU) pins repurposed to perform I2C operations after baseband circuitry boots to configure support of M.2 features comprising at least one of Wake on WWAN, service aggregation router (SAR) functions, or module power control.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising performing power negotiations responsive to the detecting of the connection event.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the power negotiations comprise: receiving a power capabilities advertisement signal; and requesting power profile information responsive to receiving the power capabilities advertisement signal.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising: providing an instruction to enter a standby mode responsive to receiving the requested power profile information; and providing an instruction to exit the standby mode responsive to sensing a negotiated power level at the USB-C connection circuitry.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD Aspects of the disclosure pertain to computer hardware devices for performing wireless communications. More particularly, aspects relate to dongles for connecting to a computing device to perform wireless wide area network (WWAN) communications. BACKGROUND Computer manufacturers have been slow to adopt integrated wireless wide area network (WWAN) solutions due to cost and power concerns. Instead, it is more common to find a WWAN modem integrated into a PC as a Universal Serial Bus Type A (USB-A) dongle. However, USB-A-based solutions are limited by a lack of power device negotiation capability. Furthermore, it has become increasingly common for computer systems to use Type C USB (USB-C) connectors, and therefore, USB-A dongles are becoming less useful. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. Some aspects are illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which: FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary USB-C WWAN apparatus (e.g., “dongle”) with a power device (PD) controller according to some aspects. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary USB-C WWAN apparatus (e.g., “dongle”) without a PD controller according to some aspects. FIG. 3 illustrates a signal diagram for USBC WWAN device identification with a PD controller according to some aspects. FIG. 4 illustrates a signal diagram for USBC WWAN device identification without a PD controller according to some aspects. FIG. 5 illustrates a method for connection of a USBC dongle according to some aspects. FIG. 6 illustrates a method for initiating WWAN communication with a USBC WWAN dongle according to some aspects. FIG. 7 illustrates an external M.2 WWAN dongle according to some aspects. FIG. 8A provides an overview of example components for a computer that can connect to apparatuses according to some aspects. FIG. 8B provides a further overview of example components within a computing device according to some aspects. FIG. 9A illustrates a horizontal WWAN dongle according to some aspects. FIG. 9B illustrates a vertical WWAN dongle according to some aspects. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustrate specific aspects to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other aspects may incorporate structural, logical, electrical, process, and other changes. Portions and features of some aspects may be included in, or substituted for, those of other aspects. Aspects set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalents of those claims. Wireless technology advancements (e.g., 5G and millimeter-wave technology) have led to improved performance in terms of latency reduction and increase in bandwidth. Client PC users have therefore shown an interest in using wireless wide area network (WWAN) technology with their devices to take advantage of these advancements. However, manufacturers of client PC systems have been slow to integrate WWAN due to the high cost of WWAN modules. Some manufacturers have attempted to integrate WWAN modems using USB dongles. However, the power usage of such dongles has increased to as high as 15 watts or even more with usage of 5G and mmWave communications. Traditional type-A USB based solutions seems to be limiting the solution space due to lack of power device (PD) negotiation capability. Furthermore, USB-C has become the connection of choice in most PC systems today and therefore USB-A is becoming less commonly-used. In summary, therefore, there is a need to support 5G, mmWave modem features on USB-C interfaces. In general, WWAN can integrate into client PC systems either through modem down solutions in the PC mother board or as an M.2 module in the client PC system, or as a USB plug and play module. When WWAN is integrated into the client PC system as an M.2 module, the height of the PC is increased, and this therefore is a less desirable solution. On the other hand, soldered WWAN solutions can provide thinner and lighter PCs, but are very costly and furthermore provide an always-on solution that may not be desired by customers. Aspects of the disclosure address these and other concerns by providing a USB-C WWAN device, referred to hereinafter as a “dongle.” A dongle comprises a piece of computer hardware that connects to a port of another device to enable additional functionality on that device. In the context of aspects described herein, a dongle can comprise a device that connects into a laptop USB-C port or other computer device USB-C port to provide WWAN functionality to that laptop or other computing device. USB-C WWAN dongles as provided in aspects of the disclosure can provide advantages of 5G connectivity during travel time or mobility time with a laptop or other computing device. Further, the