Detecting a presence of a device

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for detecting a presence of a device that includes providing a clock driver having a pair of differential clock signal lines capable of connection to a device, providing a presence detection signal for transmission through the pair of differential clock signal lines, determining whether the presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines, and identifying the presence of the device if the presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines.

1 . A method for detecting a presence of a device, the method comprising:
 providing a clock driver having a pair of differential clock signal lines capable of connection to a device;   providing a presence detection signal for transmission through the pair of differential clock signal lines;   determining whether the presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines; and   identifying the presence of the device if the presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the presence of the device if the presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines further comprises disabling the presence detection signal through the pair of differential clock signal lines when the presence of the device is identified. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the presence of the device if the presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines further comprises enabling differential clock signals through the pair of differential clock signal lines when the presence of the device is identified. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising notifying a system management module of the presence of the device. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising identifying the absence of the device if no presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein identifying the absence of the device if no presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines further comprises enabling the presence detection signal on one of the differential clock signal lines when the absence of the device is identified. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein identifying the absence of the device if no presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines further comprises disabling the differential clock signals through the differential clock signal lines when the absence of the device is identified. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising notifying a system management module of the absence of the device. 
   
   
       9 . A system for detecting a presence of a device, the system comprising:
 means for providing a clock driver having a pair of differential clock signal lines capable of connection to a device;   means for providing a presence detection signal for transmission through the pair of differential clock signal lines;   means for determining whether the presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines; and   means for identifying the presence of the device if the presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein means for identifying the presence of the device if the presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines further comprises means for disabling the presence detection signal through the pair of differential clock signal lines when the presence of the device is identified. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein means for identifying the presence of the device if the presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines further comprises means for enabling differential clock signals through the pair of differential clock signal lines when the presence of the device is identified. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising means for identifying the absence of the device if no presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines. 
   
   
       13 . A clock driver having device presence detection capabilities, the clock driver comprising:
 a pair of differential clock signal lines capable of connection to a device;   a presence detection signal line that provides a presence detection signal for transmission through the pair of differential clock signal lines; and   a control module that identifies the presence of the device when a presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines.   
   
   
       14 . The clock driver of  claim 13  further comprising a switching circuit that disables the presence detection signal through the pair of differential clock signal lines when the control module identifies the presence of the device. 
   
   
       15 . The clock driver of  claim 13  further comprising a switching circuit that enables differential clock signals through the pair of differential clock signal lines when the control module identifies the presence of the device. 
   
   
       16 . The clock driver of  claim 13  wherein the control module notifies a system management module of the presence of the device. 
   
   
       17 . The clock driver of  claim 13  wherein the control module identifies the absence of the device when no presence detection signal is received through the pair of differential clock signal lines. 
   
   
       18 . The clock driver of  claim 17  further comprising a switching circuit that enables the presence detection signal on one of the differential clock signal lines when the control module identifies the absence of the device. 
   
   
       19 . The clock driver of  claim 17  further comprising a switching circuit that disables the differential clock signals through the differential clock signal lines when the control module identifies the absence of the device. 
   
   
       20 . The clock driver of  claim 17  wherein the control module notifies a system management module of the absence of the device.