EMC enhanced peripheral device

• US 6,307,538 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bacon, Glade B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anyaso, Uchendu O.
• Application Number:
  US09/098,967
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/901, 345/156, 345/158, 345/159, 345/161, 345/163, 345/167, 345/168, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.07, 439/131, 439/680, 439/344, 710/129, 463/37, 463/38, 463/36, 463/44, 463/45
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6581 Shield structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence

Abstract

An input device capable of being connected to a computing device includes a housing having transducer electronics capable of manipulating an electrical signal to indicate movement of a portion of a user. At least one but fewer than four conductors are connected to the transducer electronics, and are each capable of carrying an electrical signal related to the input device. Each of the conductors is coupled to a connector that is capable of being coupled to the computer.

Claims

1. An input device capable of being connected to a computing device, the input device comprising:

a housing;

transducer electronics located in the housing and capable of manipulating an electrical signal to indicate movement of a portion of a user;

at least one but fewer than four conductors connected to the transducer electronics, each conductor capable of carrying an electrical signal relative to the input device; and

a connector, coupled to each of the conductors and capable of being coupled to the computing device.

2. The input device of claim 1 wherein there are two conductors connected between the connector and the transducer.

3. The input device of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a connector integrated circuit capable of providing an interface between the computing device and the conductors.

4. The input device of claim 3 wherein the connector integrated circuit comprises a microcontroller.

5. The input device of claim 4 wherein the microcontroller comprises:

a serial interface engine coupled to the computing device; and

an internal integrated circuit coupled to the conductors.

6. The input device of claim 3 wherein the connector integrated circuit comprises a state machine.

7. The input device of claim 3 wherein the connector integrated circuit is capable of providing power to the input device along the conductors.

8. The input device of claim 7 wherein the transducer electronics comprises a storage network capable of storing power received from the connector integrated circuit.

9. The input device of claim 8 wherein the transducer electronics are capable of acquiring power from the storage network when the connector integrated circuit is not providing a power signal along the conductors.

10. The input device of claim 8 wherein the storage network comprises a capacitor.

11. The input device of claim 3 wherein the connector further comprises electromagnetic shielding generally surrounding the connector integrated circuit and capable of protecting the integrated circuit from electromagnetic radiation.

12. The input device of claim 11 wherein the electromagnetic shielding is capable of protecting input lines to the computing device from electromagnetic radiation.

13. A peripheral device capable of being connected to a computer, the peripheral device comprising:

a device housing;

at least one conductor mounted within a cable that is external to the computer, the conductor having a first end terminating in the device housing and a second end;

a connector housing separate from the device housing, the second end of the conductor terminating in the connector housing; and

an integrated circuit located within the connector housing and coupled to the second end of the conductor through an isolation device, the integrated circuit capable of being coupled to the computer.

14. The peripheral device of claim 13 wherein the connector housing provides a uniform serial bus connection.

15. The peripheral device of claim 13 wherein the connector housing is capable of shielding the integrated circuit from electromagnetic interference.

16. The peripheral device of claim 13 wherein only two conductors extend from the device housing to the connector housing.

17. The peripheral device of claim 13 further comprising a device integrated circuit located within the device housing.

18. The peripheral device of claim 17 wherein the device integrated circuit operates at a lower frequency than the integrated circuit located within the connector housing.

19. The peripheral device of claim 13 wherein the isolation device comprises at least two optical transceivers that are optically coupled together but electrically isolated from each other.

21. The peripheral device of claim 19 wherein the connector electronics comprise an integrated circuit.

22. The peripheral device of claim 19 wherein the connector housing shields the connector electronics from electromagnetic interference.

23. The peripheral device of claim 19 wherein the connector housing shields input/output lines to the computing device from electromagnetic interference.

24. The peripheral device of claim 21 wherein the device electronics operate at a lower frequency than the connector electronics.

25. The peripheral device of claim 19 wherein at most two conductors extend between the device electronics and the connector electronics.

20. A peripheral device capable of being coupled to a computing device, the peripheral device comprising:

a device housing;

device electronics located in the device housing;

a conductor having a first end coupled to the device electronics and a second end;

a connector housing; and

connector electronics located in the connector housing and coupled to the second end of the conductor, the connector electronics and device electronics capable of time multiplexing a power signal from the connector electronics with a data signal.