Combination Weather Station And USB Hub With Heat Sink

• US 20090177431A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Royal Consumer Information Products Incorporated (Mafcote Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Royal Consumer Information Products Incorporated (Mafcote Incorporated)
• Inventors: Robinson, Robert J., Repp, Timothy C.
• Application Number:
  US12/048,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/130
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/20 Compensating for effects of temperature changes other than those to be measured, e.g. changes in ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0278 of USB type details relating to connectors H01R27/00

Abstract

A combination weather station and USB hub having an AC power source and a heat sink. The heat sink serves to dissipate heat generated by the AC power source and the internal components of the hub, in order to prevent the temperature readings of the weather station'"'"'s thermometer from being compromised.

Claims

1. An electronic hub device comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a microprocessor within the housing, which microprocessor is coupled to a data memory which stores time, date, and/or temperature data;

c) an input arrangement coupled to the microprocessor, for entering time and/or date data into the data memory via the microprocessor;

d) a thermometer within the housing and coupled to the microprocessor, for measuring the ambient temperature of an environment surrounding the device, and for providing corresponding temperature data to the data memory, via the microprocessor;

e) a display coupled to the microprocessor, for visually displaying temperature, time, and/or date data recalled from the data memory via the microprocessor;

f) a heat sink within the housing, for drawing heat generated within the housing away from the thermometer;

g) at least one USB port coupled to the microprocessor, for attaching one or more electronic peripheral components to the microprocessor;

h) means for electrically connecting the microprocessor to a host computer; and

i) a power source.

2. The electronic hub device of claim 1 wherein the input arrangement comprises at least one depressible key at a surface of the housing.

3. The electronic hub device of claim 1 wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display.

4. The electronic hub device of claim 1, wherein the heat sink extends outwardly from the housing.

5. The electronic hub device of claim 1 wherein the heat sink comprises aluminum, copper, steel, tungsten, molybdenum, ceramics, or combinations thereof.

6. The electronic hub device of claim 1 which further comprises at least one memory card slot, for coupling a memory card to the microprocessor.

7. The electronic hub device of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises an AC power source.

8. The electronic hub device of claim 1 which further comprises a backlight within the housing which is capable of backlighting the display

9. The electronic hub device of claim 1 which further comprises an audio component capable of emitting and/or recording sounds.

10. The electronic hub device of claim 1 wherein the data memory is further capable of storing photograph and/or video data, and wherein the display is further capable of displaying photographs and/or videos.

20. The electronic hub device of claim 1 wherein the thermometer extends outwardly from the housing, via a vented cover extending outwardly from the housing.

11. A method of drawing heat generated by a power source away from a thermometer within an electronic hub device, which comprises:

I) providing an electronic hub device comprising;

a) a housing;

b) a microprocessor within the housing, which microprocessor is coupled to a data memory which stores time, date, and/or temperature data;

c) an input arrangement coupled to the microprocessor, for entering time and/or date data into the data memory via the microprocessor;

d) a thermometer within the housing and coupled to the microprocessor, for measuring the ambient temperature of an environment surrounding the device, and for providing corresponding temperature data to the data memory, via the microprocessor;

e) a display coupled to the microprocessor, for visually displaying temperature, time, and/or date data recalled from the data memory via the microprocessor;

f) a heat sink within the housing, for drawing heat generated within the housing away from the thermometer;

g) at least one USB port coupled to the microprocessor, for attaching one or more electronic peripheral components to the microprocessor;

h) means for electrically connecting the microprocessor to a host computer; and

i) a power source;

II) powering the at least one USB port via the power source such that heat is thereby generated;

III) drawing heat generated within the housing away from the thermometer via the heat sink.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the power source comprises an AC power source.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the heat sink extends outwardly from the housing.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the heat sink comprises aluminum, copper, steel, tungsten, molybdenum, ceramics, or combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the electronic hub device further comprises a vented cover positioned adjacent to the heat sink, and extending outwardly from the housing of the electronic hub device.

16. A combination weather station and USB hub, comprising:

a) a housing comprising front and rear panels which are joined together at a top edge, a bottom base, and left and right concave parabolic side panels;

b) a microprocessor within the housing, which microprocessor is coupled to a data memory which stores time, date, and/or temperature data;

c) at least one depressible key at a surface of the housing, which is coupled to the microprocessor for entering time and/or date data into the data memory via the microprocessor;

d) a thermometer within the housing and coupled to the microprocessor, for measuring the ambient temperature of an environment surrounding the device, and for providing corresponding temperature data to the data memory, via the microprocessor;

e) an LCD display coupled to the microprocessor, for visually displaying temperature, time, and/or date data recalled from the data memory via the microprocessor;

f) a heat sink within the housing, for drawing heat generated within the housing away from the thermometer;

g) a vented cover positioned adjacent to the heat sink, and extending outwardly from the housing of the electronic hub device;

h) at least one USB port coupled to the microprocessor, for attaching one or more electronic peripheral components to the microprocessor;

i) at least one memory card slot, for coupling a memory card to the microprocessor;

j) a port and an external wire for electrically connecting the microprocessor to a host computer; and

k) an AC power source.

17. The combination weather station and USB hub of claim 16, wherein the heat sink extends outwardly from the housing.

18. The combination weather station and USB hub of claim 16, wherein the heat sink comprises aluminum, copper, steel, tungsten, molybdenum, ceramics, or combinations thereof.

19. The combination weather station and USB hub of claim 16, which further comprises an audio component capable of emitting and/or recording sounds.