Connecting a hand-held device to peripheral devices

• US 20010034803A1
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ALST Technical Excellence Center
• Original Assignee: ALST Technical Excellence Center
• Inventors: Fridental, Ron, Vitsnudel, Ilia, Sorek, Noam
• Application Number:
  US09/780,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034803A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A peripheral module for a hand-held computing device having a device electrical port at a device surface thereof. The module includes a first electrical port receiver at a first surface of the module, configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device, and a first peripheral electrical port, of substantially identical shape and electrical functionality to the device electrical port, at a second surface of the module, opposite the first surface. The first peripheral electrical port is available to mate with a further peripheral module having a second electrical port receiver that is also configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device. Circuitry, coupled between the first electrical port receiver and the first peripheral electrical port, is adapted to carry out an application function in association with the computing device while the first electrical port receiver is mated with the device electrical port of the computing device.

Claims

1. A method of communication with a hand-held computing device having a device electrical port at a device surface thereof, the method comprising:

providing a first peripheral module having a first electrical port receiver at a first surface thereof, configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device, and a first peripheral electrical port, of substantially identical shape and electrical functionality to the device electrical port, at a second surface thereof, opposite the first surface;

coupling the first peripheral module to the computing device by bringing the first surface of the module into proximity with the device surface of the computing device and connecting the electrical port receiver of the peripheral module to the device electrical port, so that the first peripheral electrical port at the second surface of the first peripheral module is available for communication with a second peripheral module having a second electrical port receiver that is also configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device; and

conveying electrical signals between the hand-held computing device and the first peripheral module through the connected port receiver and electrical port.

2. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein coupling the first peripheral module to the computing device comprises fixing the computing device to the first peripheral module such that the first surface of the module contacts the device surface.

3. A method according to

claim 1

, and comprising inserting the first peripheral module into a cradle that is adapted to receive the computing device, while the first peripheral module is coupled to the computing device.

4. A method according to

claim 3

, wherein conveying the electrical signals comprises conveying the signals through the cradle between a computer and at least one of the first peripheral module and the hand-held computer device.

5. A method according to

claim 1

, and comprising:

providing the second peripheral module having the second electrical port receiver; and

coupling the second peripheral module to first peripheral module by connecting the second electrical port receiver of the second peripheral module to the first peripheral electrical port of the first module,

wherein conveying the electrical signals comprises conveying the signals between the hand-held computing device and the second peripheral module through the first peripheral module.

6. A method according to

claim 5

, wherein coupling the second peripheral module to first peripheral module comprises stacking together the computing device, the first peripheral module and the second peripheral module.

7. A method according to

claim 5

, wherein the second peripheral module has a second peripheral electrical port, of substantially identical shape and electrical functionality to the device electrical port, in a position on the second peripheral module that is opposite the second electrical port receiver, so that the second peripheral electrical port is available for communication with a third peripheral module having a third electrical port receiver that is also configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device.

8. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein conveying the electrical signals comprises charging a battery of the hand-held device through the first peripheral electrical port while the first peripheral module is coupled to the computing device.

9. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein conveying the electrical signals comprises providing electrical power to the peripheral module from a battery in the hand-held computing device.

10. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein conveying the electrical signals comprises conveying data regarding an application of the peripheral module between the module and the computing device.

11. A peripheral module for a hand-held computing device having a device electrical port at a device surface thereof, comprising:

a first electrical port receiver at a first surface of the module, configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device;

a first peripheral electrical port, of substantially identical shape and electrical functionality to the device electrical port, at a second surface of the module, opposite the first surface, which first peripheral electrical port is available to mate with a further peripheral module having a second electrical port receiver that is also configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device; and

circuitry, coupled between the first electrical port receiver and the first peripheral electrical port, which is adapted to carry out an application function in association with the computing device while the first electrical port receiver is mated with the device electrical port of the computing device.

12. A module according to

claim 11

, wherein the first surface of the module is shaped so as to fixedly contact the device surface of the computing device when the first electrical port receiver mates with the device electrical port.

13. A module according to

claim 12

, wherein the second surface of the module is shaped in a manner substantially similar to the device surface of the computing device, so as to fixedly contact the further peripheral module.

14. A module according to

claim 11

, wherein the first peripheral electrical port is adapted to be received by a cradle that is designed to receive the computing device.

15. A module according to

claim 14

, wherein when the first peripheral electrical port is received by the cradle while the first electrical port receiver mates with the device electrical port of the computing device, the circuitry is operative to pass electrical signals through the cradle between a computer and at least one of the first peripheral module and the hand-held computing device.

16. A module according to

claim 11

, wherein when the first peripheral electrical port mates with the second electrical port receiver of the further peripheral module while the first electrical port receiver mates with the device electrical port of the computing device, the circuitry is operative to convey electrical signals between the further peripheral module and the hand-held computing device.

17. A module according to

claim 16

, wherein the peripheral modules are shaped and configured so as to be stacked together in communication with the computing device.

18. A module according to

claim 11

, and comprising a battery, which provides power to at least the circuitry in the peripheral module.

19. A module according to

claim 18

, wherein the circuitry comprises a battery-charging circuit.

20. A module according to

claim 11

, wherein the circuitry is coupled by the first electrical port receiver to draw power from a battery in the computing device.

21. Computing apparatus, comprising:

a hand-held computing device having a device electrical port at a device surface thereof; and

a first peripheral module, which comprises;

a first electrical port receiver at a first surface of the module, configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device;

a first peripheral electrical port, of substantially identical shape and electrical functionality to the device electrical port, at a second surface of the module, opposite the first surface, which first peripheral electrical port is available to mate with a second peripheral module having a second electrical port receiver that is also configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device; and

circuitry, coupled between the first electrical port receiver and the first peripheral electrical port, which is adapted to carry out an application function in association with the computing device while the first electrical port receiver is mated with the device electrical port of the computing device.

22. Apparatus according to

claim 21

, wherein the first surface of the module is shaped so as to fixedly contact the device surface of the computing device when the first electrical port receiver mates with the device electrical port.

23. Apparatus according to

claim 22

, wherein the second surface of the module is shaped in a manner substantially similar to the device surface of the computing device, so as to fixedly contact the second peripheral module.

24. Apparatus according to

claim 21

, and comprising a cradle, which is adapted to receive individually both the computing device and the first peripheral module, and which comprises a cradle electrical port receiver, which is adapted to mate individually with both the device electrical port and the first peripheral electrical port.

25. Apparatus according to

claim 24

, wherein when the first peripheral module is received by the cradle while the first electrical port receiver mates with the device electrical port of the computing device, the circuitry is operative to pass electrical signals through the cradle between a computer and at least one of the first peripheral module and the hand-held computing device.

26. Apparatus according to

claim 21

, wherein when the first peripheral electrical port mates with the second electrical port receiver of the second peripheral module while the first electrical port receiver mates with the device electrical port of the computing device, the circuitry is operative to convey electrical signals between the second peripheral module and the hand-held computing device.

27. Apparatus according to

claim 26

, wherein the peripheral modules are shaped and configured so as to be stacked together in communication with the computing device.

28. Apparatus according to

claim 21

, wherein the first peripheral module comprises a battery, which provides power to at least the circuitry in the peripheral module.

29. Apparatus according to

claim 28

, wherein the circuitry comprises a battery-charging circuit.

30. Apparatus according to

claim 21

, wherein the computing device comprises a battery, and wherein the circuitry is coupled by the first electrical port receiver to draw power from the battery in the computing device.

31. Apparatus according to

claim 21

, wherein the computing device comprises a palmtop computer.

32. Apparatus according to

claim 21

, wherein the computing device comprises a cellular telephone.