Computing device cable

• US 20070042637A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OQO LLC
• Inventors: Bell, Jory, Croix, Jonathan Betts-La
• Granted Patent: US 7,462,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

In one embodiment, a cable connects a computing device to both an external power source and one or more peripheral devices. The cable may include a docking module including an AC adaptor for connecting to an external AC power source, and a DC-DC charger, coupled to the AC adaptor, for transmitting power to the computing device over a segment of the cable. The docking module may also include one or more connectors adapted to connect to one or more peripheral devices. In another embodiment, a device connects a computing device to an external power source. The device includes a first cable segment and a DC-DC charger suitable for transmitting power to the computing device over the first cable segment. The device includes a second cable segment connecting the DC-DC charger to an AC adaptor suitable for connection to an external power source.

Claims

1. A cable comprising:

a cable segment;

at least one first connector coupled to the cable segment, and adapted to connect to a port of a computing device;

a docking module, coupled to the cable segment, the docking module comprising;

an AC power adaptor suitable for connection to a power source;

a DC-DC charger coupled to the AC adaptor; and

at least one second connector adapted to connect to at least one port of at least one peripheral device.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable segment comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the at least one first connector is coupled to the first end of the cable segment, and wherein the docking module is coupled to the second end of the cable segment.

3. The cable of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC charger comprises a step-up converter.

4. The cable of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC charger comprises a step-down converter.

5. The cable of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC charger comprises means for transferring power from the computing device to the at least one peripheral.

6. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable segment comprises:

power signal transmission means for transmitting a power signal from the external power source to the computing device; and

I/O signal transmission means for transmitting an I/O signal from the at least one peripheral to the computing device.

7. The cable of claim 6, wherein the I/O signal comprises a data signal.

8. The cable of claim 6, wherein the I/O signal comprises a control signal.

9. The cable of claim 6, wherein a single line comprises the power signal transmission means and the I/O signal transmission means.

10. The cable of claim 1, wherein the at least one second connector comprises at least one of a Universal Serial Bus connector, an audio connector, an IEEE standard 802.3 connector, and a Video Graphics Array connector.

11. The cable of claim 10, wherein the at least one second connector comprises a plurality of connectors.

12. The cable of claim 11, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises a Universal Serial Bus connector, an audio connector, an IEEE standard 802.3 connector, and a Video Graphics Array connector.

13. A method comprising:

(A) receiving, at a docking module coupled to a segment of a cable, a first power signal from a power source and an I/O signal from at least one port of at least one peripheral device;

(B) transmitting the first power signal through the cable segment to a port of a computing device connected to a first connector coupled to the cable segment; and

(C) transmitting the I/O signal through the cable segment to the port of the computing device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein (A) comprises receiving an AC power signal from the power source, and wherein (B) comprises:

(B)(1) converting the AC power signal to a direct current power signal;

(B)(2) performing a step-down conversion of the direct current power signal from a first voltage to a direct current power signal at a second voltage;

(B)(2) and transmitting the direct current power signal at the second voltage to the computing device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

(D) transmitting a second power signal from the computing device to the at least one peripheral device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein (C) comprises transmitting a data signal through the cable segment to the port of the computing device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein (C) comprises transmitting a control signal through the cable segment to the port of the computing device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein (B) comprises transmitting the first power signal through a single line of the cable segment, and wherein (C) comprises transmitting the I/O signal through the single line of the cable segment.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein (A) comprises receiving the I/O signal through at least one connector selected from the group consisting of a Universal Serial Bus connector, an audio connector, an IEEE standard 802.3 connector, and a Video Graphics Array connector.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein (A) comprises receiving the I/O signal through a plurality of connectors comprising a Universal Serial Bus connector, an audio connector, an IEEE standard 802.3 connector, and a Video Graphics Array connector.

21. A device comprising:

a first cable segment;

at least one first connector coupled to the first cable segment, and adapted to connect to a port of a computing device;

an AC adaptor suitable for connection to a power source;

a second cable segment coupled to the AC adaptor; and

power signal transmission means, coupled between the first cable segment and the segment cable segment, for transferring a power signal from the AC adaptor to the port of the computing device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the power signal transmission means comprises a DC-DC charger.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the DC-DC charger comprises a step-up converter.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the DC-DC charger comprises a step-down converter.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the power signal transmission means further comprises a docking module, coupled to the cable segment, the docking module comprising at least one second connector adapted to connect to at least one port of at least one peripheral device.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the DC-DC charger comprises means for transferring power from the computing device to the at least one peripheral.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the docking module further comprising:

I/O signal transmission means for transmitting at least one I/O signal from the at least one peripheral to the computing device.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the I/O signal comprises a data signal.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the I/O signal comprises a control signal.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein a single line comprises the power signal transmission means and the I/O signal transmission means.

31. The device of claim 25, wherein the at least one second connector comprises at least one of a Universal Serial Bus connector, an audio connector, an IEEE standard 802.3 connector, and a Video Graphics Array connector.

32. The device of claim 25, wherein the at least one second connector comprises a plurality of connectors.

33. The device of claim 25, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises a Universal Serial Bus connector, an audio connector, an IEEE standard 802.3 connector, and a Video Graphics Array connector.

34. The device of claim 21, wherein the power signal transmission means includes a second connector, and wherein the second cable segment includes a third connector detachably coupled to the second connector.

35. A method comprising:

(A) receiving, at an AC adaptor coupled to a power source, an AC power signal;

(B) at the AC adaptor, converting the AC power signal into a first DC power signal;

(C) transmitting the first DC power signal over a first cable segment coupled to the AC adaptor;

(D) receiving the first DC power signal at power signal transmission means coupled to the first cable segment;

(E) at the power signal transmission means, performing one of a step up or step down conversion of the first DC power signal into a second DC power signal; and

(F) transmitting the second DC power signal to a computing device over a second cable segment coupled to the power signal transmission means.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the power signal transmission means comprises a DC-DC charger.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the power signal transmission means further comprises a docking module, coupled to the first cable segment, the docking module comprising at least one connector adapted to connect to at least one port of at least one peripheral device, and wherein the method further comprises:

(G) at the docking module, receiving at least one I/O signal from the at least one port of the at least one peripheral device; and

(H) at the docking module, transmitting the at least one I/O signal to the computing device over the second cable segment.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

(I) at the docking module, transmitting a second power signal from the computing device to the at least one peripheral device.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein (F) comprises transmitting the second DC power signal through a single line of the second cable segment, and wherein (H) comprises transmitting the I/O signal through the single line of the second cable segment.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein (G) comprises receiving the at least one I/O signal through at least one connector selected from the group consisting of a Universal Serial Bus connector, an audio connector, an IEEE standard 802.3 connector, and a Video Graphics Array connector.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein (G) comprises receiving the at least one I/O signal through a plurality of connectors comprising a Universal Serial Bus connector, an audio connector, an IEEE standard 802.3 connector, and a Video Graphics Array connector.