Method and system for a connector with integrated shield detection

摘要

A connector comprising one or more circuits and/or processors is operable to determine characteristics of an attached corresponding connector, an attached cable and/or a channel established via the corresponding connector and/or cable. The characteristics are stored in a register on the connector and/or communicated via a pin connection to a host and/or upstream device. Ganged connectors may communicate via a shared pin. Sensing pins in the connector detect presence of a shield on the cable. Cable diagnostics are run on the attached corresponding connector and cable by a PHY device that may be integrated within the connector. The connector may determine characteristics such as cable length, cable grade, presence of shielding, channel characteristics and/or crosstalk on the attached corresponding connector and/or cable. Based on the determined characteristics, a data rate is determined, transmission parameters are auto-negotiated and/or data may be communicated.

主权项

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:
performing by one or more processors or circuits in a connector:
determining characteristics of an attached corresponding connector or a cable, by initiating and completing one or more cable diagnostic tests when said corresponding connector or said cable is attached to said connector to create a communication channel;detecting a presence or absence of a shield on said attached cable by sensing a sense signal flowing between pin connections; andconfiguring operation of said created communication channel based on said determined characteristics.