Charging and communication cable system for a mobile computer apparatus

• US 20050134581A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Charles Hawkins, Karl A. Townsend, Peter Skillman
• Inventors: Skillman, Peter, Hawkins, Jeffrey Charles, Townsend, Karl A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

A charging and communication cable system for a handheld computer system is disclosed. The charging and communication cable system includes a first interface for connecting to the handheld computer system, a second interface for connecting to another computer system, and a third interface for coupling to a charger system. In one embodiment, the third interface used to coupled to a charger system is the same as the interface on the handheld computer system such that the charger may be coupled to the charging and communication cable system or directly to the handheld computer system.

Claims

1. A charging and communication system for a handheld computer system, said handheld computer system having a first interface for receiving power and data communication signals, said charging and communication system comprising:

a charger system for supplying electrical power, said charger system having a second interface for coupling with said first interface; and

a data communication and charging cable, said data communication and charging cable comprising

a third interface for coupling to said handheld computer system,

a fourth interface for coupling to a second computer system, and

a fifth interface for coupling to said second interface of said charger system.

2. The charging and communication system of claim 1 wherein said fourth interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus interface.

3. The charging and communication system of claim 1 wherein said fourth interface comprises a standard serial interface.

4. The charging and communication system of claim 1 wherein said third interface comprises a small connector for coupling to said first interface of handheld computer system.

5. The charging and communication system of claim 1 wherein said third interface comprises a docking cradle for coupling to said first interface of handheld computer system.

6. The charging and communication system of claim 1 further comprising:

a docking cradle, said docking cradle including a sixth interface for coupling to said third interface.

7. The charging and communication system of claim 6 wherein said docking cradle comprises a seventh interface, said seventh interface for coupling to said first interface on said handheld computer system.

8. A method of providing charging power and data communication signals to a handheld computer system, said handheld computer system having a first interface for receiving power and data communication signals, said method comprising:

coupling a second interface on a data communication and charging cable to said first interface of said handheld computer system, said data communication and charging cable further comprising a third interface for receiving data signals and a fourth interface for receiving power; and

a charger system for supplying electrical power, said charger system having a fifth interface for coupling with said first interface on said handheld computer system or said fourth interface on said data communication and charging 11 cable.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said third interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus interface.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said third interface comprises a standard serial interface.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said second interface comprises a small connector for coupling to said first interface of handheld computer system and includes a button.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said second interface comprises a docking cradle for coupling to said first interface of handheld computer system.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

dropping said handheld computer system into a docking cradle comprising a sixth interface for coupling with said first interface.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

coupling a seventh interface to said second interface, said seventh interface on said docking cradle coupled to said sixth on said docking cradle.

15. A charging circuit for a handheld computer system, said charging circuit comprising:

a battery;

a first transistor for charging said battery;

a charging control circuit for controlling said first transistor; and

an indicator circuit, said indicator circuit powered by said battery using leakage current passing through said first transistor when said transistor is turned off.

16. The charging circuit of claim 15 wherein said indicator circuit comprises a light emitting diode.

17. The charging circuit of claim 15 wherein said first transistor comprises a field effect transistor.

18. The charging circuit for a handheld computer system of claim 15, said charging circuit further comprising:

a second transistor for controlling said indicator circuit.

19. The charging circuit for a handheld computer system of claim 15, said charging circuit further comprising:

a processor for controlling said charging control circuit.

20. The charging circuit for a handheld computer system of claim 18, said charging circuit further comprising:

a processor for controlling said second transistor.