Peripheral Device Storage

• US 20130335903A1
• Filed: 09/05/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Bingham Jr
• Inventors: Raken, Jan, Hill, Andrew W., Bingham, Robert J. Jr., Kyriacou, Peter, McLaughlin, Robyn Rebecca Reed
• Granted Patent: US 9,063,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

Peripheral device storage techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a computing device includes a housing and a power connection port that is configured to form a physical coupling to a peripheral device sufficient to retain the peripheral device against the housing and form an electrical coupling configured to receive power at the computing device from a power adapter.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a housing; and

a power connection port that is configured to;

form a physical coupling to a peripheral device sufficient to retain the peripheral device against the housing; and

form an electrical coupling configured to receive power at the computing device from a power adapter.

2. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the power connection port is configured to form the physical coupling to the peripheral device using magnetism.

3. A computing device as described in claim 2, wherein at least one of the power connection port or the peripheral device includes a magnet.

4. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the power connection port is configured to receive the power from the power adapter to charge a battery disposed within the housing.

5. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the power connection port is configured to receive a protrusion of the peripheral device within the port.

6. A computing device as described in claim 5, wherein the protrusion is configured to be selectable by a user to initiate a function of the computing device.

7. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the power connection port is configured to provide power to the peripheral device.

8. A computing device as described in claim 7, wherein the power is provided to the peripheral device to charge a battery of the peripheral device.

9. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the power connection port is not configured to provide power to the peripheral device.

10. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the housing is configured accordingly to a mobile form factor that is configured to be grasped by one or more hands of a user.

11. A stylus comprising:

a housing of a computing device configured to be grasped by a hand of a user; and

a protrusion disposed on the housing, the protrusion configured to form a physical coupling to a power connection port of the computing device that is sufficient to retain the housing against the computing device.

12. A stylus as described in claim 11, wherein the power connection port of the computing device is configured to receive power from a power adapter to charge a battery of the computing device.

13. A stylus as described in claim 11, wherein the housing is configured to mimic a form factor of a pen.

14. A stylus as described in claim 11, wherein the housing includes a portion that is configured to provide one or more inputs to a display device of the computing device that has touchscreen functionality.

15. A stylus as described in claim 11, wherein the protrusion has a shape that is configured as complementary to a shape of the power connection port.

16. A stylus as described in claim 11, wherein the protrusion is configured to avoid contact with one or more pins of the power connection portion, the one or more pins configured to support an electrical coupling between the power connection portion and a power adapter.

17. A system comprising:

a device having a protrusion; and

a computing device having a power connection port that is configured to form;

a magnetic physical coupling to the protrusion of the device sufficient to retain the stylus against the computing device; and

an electrical coupling configured to receive power at the computing device from a power adapter.

18. A system as described in claim 17, wherein the power connection port is also configured to form a magnetic physical coupling with the power adapter, but not simultaneously with the protrusion of the device.

19. A system as described in claim 17, wherein the device includes a passive oscillating circuit configured to receive power from the power connection port.

20. A system as described in claim 17, wherein the device is configured as peripheral device that is configured for operation with the computing device.