CONVENIENT RECHARGING OF A CHARGE STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20090091290A1
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Larsen, Glen C., Schweers, Michael R., Marshall, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,888,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

The convenient recharging of a charge storage device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises a portable device accessory with a charge storage device holding mechanism and a recharging circuit. The system also comprises a portable device with an interface at which the portable device and the portable device accessory are connectable. A charge storage device-switching mechanism is disposed within the portable device accessory or the portable device. The charge storage device-switching mechanism is actuatable to switch a first charge storage device in the portable device with a second charge storage device in the charge storage device holding mechanism of the portable device accessory by mechanically connecting and/or disconnecting the portable device from the portable device accessory.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a portable device accessory comprising a charge storage device holding mechanism and a charge storage device recharging circuit;

a portable device comprising an interface at which the portable device and the portable device accessory are connectable; and

a charge storage device-switching mechanism disposed within the portable device accessory or the portable device and actuatable to switch a first charge storage device in the portable device with a second charge storage device in the charge storage device holding mechanism of the portable device accessory by mechanically connecting and/or disconnecting the portable device to and/or from the portable device accessory.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable device is a wireless computer input device and wherein the device accessory comprises a wireless receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge storage device-switching mechanism comprises a turntable disposed within the portable device and configured to hold two or more charge storage devices.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the charge storage device-switching mechanism further comprises a sliding tray to which the turntable is rotatably coupled and which is configured to slide relative to a body of the portable device.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a rotation post coupled to the turntable and a pawl coupled to the body of the portable device, the pawl being configured to engage the rotation post when the portable device accessory is inserted into the interface such that movement of the sliding tray away from an opening of the interface causes rotation of the tray, and also being configured to swing out of a path of the rotation post when the portable device accessory is removed from device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the pawl further comprises a pawl guide and wherein the sliding tray comprises a face with a pawl groove within which the pawl guide travels as the sliding tray is moved.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the pawl groove comprises a notch configured to retain the sliding tray in a portable device accessory storage position when the pawl guide is located in the notch, and wherein the sliding tray can be pushed to cause the pawl guide to move from the notch and to allow the sliding tray to move to a portable device accessory removal position closer to an opening of the interface.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising an over-rotation prevention mechanism comprising a circular member having one or more protrusions, and an arm configured to contact the protrusions as the circular member rotates.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge storage device holding mechanism comprises a charge storage device holder engagable with a latch on the portable device accessory.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the charge storage device holding mechanism further comprises one or more of a one-dimensional joint structure configured to connect to a complementary structure on the charge storage device holder.

11. A wireless device accessory, comprising:

a body;

a wireless receiver circuit disposed within the body;

a battery holding mechanism configured to couple a battery to the body;

a connector configured to connect the accessory to a powered device; and

a battery recharging circuit configured to recharge a battery coupled to the body by the battery holding mechanism when the accessory is connected to a powered device.

12. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the accessory is configured to receive a signal from a wireless computer input device.

13. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the battery holding mechanism comprises a battery holder and a latch mechanism to detachably hold the battery holder to the body.

14. The accessory of claim 13, wherein the battery holding mechanism further comprises a one-dimensional joint to hold the battery holder to the body.

15. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the battery holding mechanism comprises a housing having a curved surface with a curvature configured to match a curvature of a battery-switching mechanism in a complementary wireless transmitting device.

16. A system, comprising:

a portable wireless input device comprising a portable device accessory interface;

a portable device accessory connectable to another device and comprising a wireless receiver circuit, a battery holding mechanism and a recharging circuit; and

a battery-switching mechanism disposed within the input device and configured to be actuated to switch a battery in the battery holding mechanism of the portable device accessory with a battery in the input device by an insertion of the portable device accessory into and/or removal of the portable device accessory from the interface.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the battery-switching mechanism comprises a turntable disposed within the input device, the turntable being configured to hold two or more batteries.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the battery-switching mechanism further comprises a sliding tray assembly onto which the turntable is rotatably mounted and which is configured to slide relative to a body of the input device.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a rotation post associated with the turntable; and

a pawl associated with the body of the input device, the pawl being configured to engage the rotation post when the portable device accessory is inserted into the portable device accessory interface such that movement of the sliding tray assembly away from an opening of the interface causes rotation of the tray, and also being configured to move out of a path of rotation post when the portable device accessory is removed from the input device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the device further comprises a portable device accessory storage area accessible via the interface, wherein the pawl further comprises a pawl guide, wherein the sliding tray assembly comprises a face with a pawl groove within which the pawl guide travels as the sliding tray assembly is moved, wherein the pawl groove comprises a notch configured to retain the sliding tray assembly in a portable device accessory storage position when the pawl guide is located in the notch, and wherein the sliding tray assembly can be pushed to cause the pawl guide to move from the notch and to allow the sliding tray assembly to move to a portable device accessory removal position closer to an opening of the interface.