USB Hosted Sensor Module

• US 20110025504A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lyon, Geoff M., McReynolds, Alan A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,390,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

A USB hosted sensor module, comprising: a substrate; a sensor mounted on the substrate; and a USB connector extending from the substrate, the USB connector capable of electrically coupling to a USB port of a host device, the USB connector capable of drawing power from the USB port of the host device to provide electrical power to the USB hosted sensor module; and a processing device mounted on the substrate, the processor capable of supporting a first communication channel and a second communication channel, wherein the first communication channel is between the USB hosted sensor module and an external communication device, wherein the second communication channel is between the USB hosted sensor module and the host device.

Claims

3-1. The USB hosted sensor module recited in claim 1 wherein the USB hosted sensor module further includes light emitting devices.

10. A USB hosted sensor module, comprising:

a substrate;

a sensor mounted on the substrate; and

a USB connector mounted to the substrate, the USB connector capable of electrically coupling to a USB port of a host device, the USB connector capable of drawing power from the USB port of the host device to provide electrical power to the USB hosted sensor module; and

a processor mounted on the substrate, the processor capable of supporting an optical communication channel between a light emitting device on the USB hosted sensor module and an external optical reading device.

11. The USB hosted sensor module recited in claim 10 further including a wireless subsystem mounted to the substrate.

12. The USB hosted sensor module recited in claim 11 further including a wireless communication channel between the USB hosted sensor module and an external wireless communication device.

13. The USB hosted sensor module recited in claim 10 further including a wired USB communication channel between the USB hosted sensor module and the host device.

14. The USB hosted sensor module recited in claim 12 further including a wired USB communication channel between the USB hosted sensor module and the host device.

15. The USB hosted sensor module recited in claim 10 wherein the USB hosted sensor module further includes light receiving devices.

16. The USB hosted sensor module recited in claim 15, including both a first optical communication channel and a second optical communication channel, wherein a first optical communication channel exists between a first optical reading device and the light emitting device of the USB hosted sensor module and a second optical communication channel exists between the USB hosted sensor module and the a second optical reading device.

17. The USB hosted sensor module recited in claim 16, wherein the location USB hosted sensor module is calculated using triangulation.