Inductive Peripheral Retention Device

• US 20160077843A1
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jakoboski, Timothy Allen, Ng, Shiu Sang, Standing, William H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,424,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

Inductive peripheral retention device techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes a plug configured to removably engage a communication port of a device to form a communicative coupling with the device. The plug is securable to and removable from the device using one or more hands of a user. The apparatus also includes a peripheral securing portion connected to the plug and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via an inductive element formed as a flexible loop and configured to form a communicative coupling between the peripheral device and the device, which may be used to support charging of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plug configured to removably engage a communication port of a device to form a communicative coupling with the device, the plug is securable to and removable from the device using one or more hands of a user; and

a peripheral securing portion connected to the plug and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via an inductive element formed as a flexible loop and configured to form a communicative coupling between the peripheral device and the device.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the communicative coupling is configured to charge the peripheral device using power received by the plug from the device.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the communicative coupling is configured to communicate data between the device and the peripheral device.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the flexible loop is formed from a metal and has a sinusoidal trace pattern and elliptical perforations such that the flexible loop is both flexible and stretchable.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the flexible loop is covered with a fabric.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a stylus.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the inductive element is configured to substantially surround at least a portion of a housing of the peripheral device.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein flexing of the flexible loop is detectable using inductance by the device to control an amount of power to be provided via the communicative coupling.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

10. A method comprising:

detecting inductance of a flexible element configured to transfer power to a peripheral device via inductance;

responsive to a determination that the detected inductance is above a first threshold, utilizing a first power mode in which a first amount of power is provided to the flexible element; and

responsive to a determination that the detected inductance is below a second threshold, utilizing a second power mode in which a second amount of power is provided to the flexible element that is less than the first amount of power.

11. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the first amount of power is sufficient to cause charging of the peripheral device and the second amount of power does not provide power to the flexible element.

12. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the determination that the detected inductance is:

below the second threshold is indicative that the flexible element is in a collapsed state such that opposing sides of the flexible element are disposed proximal to each other; and

above the second threshold is indicative that the flexible element is not in the collapsed state.

13. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the flexible element is formed as a loop.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a single ferrous element formed as a single integral piece having a middle portion having a diameter about an axis that is less than a diameter of opposing ends of the single ferrous element along the axis; and

a coil wrapped around the middle portion such that the coil and the single ferrous element form an inductive coil that is substantially rotationally invariant around the axis.

15. An apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein the single ferrous element is shaped to mimic a barbell.

16. An apparatus as described in claim 14, further comprising a housing that contains the single ferrous element and the coil, the housing configured to be held by one or more hands of a user to interact with a computing device.

17. An apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the housing is a stylus.

18. An apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein the inductive coil is configured to support communication of data using induction between a computing device and a peripheral device.

19. An apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein the inductive coil is configured to support transfer of power using induction between a computing device and a peripheral device.

20. An apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein the inductive coil is included as part of a flexible hinge and is configured to supply power to charge a device.