Charging system incorporated in computer for charging and resetting wireless peripheral devices

• US 6,684,337 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transpacific Electronics LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Behavior Tech Computer (USA) Corporation (Behavior Tech Computer Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuo, Shyh-Ren, Kuan, Leo, Wang, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): DU, THUAN N
• Application Number:
  US09/604,409
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320, 713/340, 345/157, 345/163, 345/168, 345/169, 455/572-575, 455/90
• US Class Current: 713/300
• 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 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A charging system is incorporated in a computer communicable through a predetermined communication channel with a wireless peripheral device having a predetermined identification code. The charging system includes a charging device mounted to and in electrical connection with the computer. The charging device has a positive terminal, a negative terminal and a reset terminal. A rechargeable device is mounted in the wireless peripheral device. The rechargeable device includes a positive terminal, a negative terminal and a reset terminal corresponding to and engageable with the terminals of the charging device. The wireless peripheral device is selectively attached to the computer with the terminals engage each other to conduct an electrical current from the computer to the rechargeable device of the peripheral device and to reset/identify the communication channel and the identification code.

Claims

1. A charging system incorporated in a computer communicable through a predetermined communication channel with a wireless peripheral device having a predetermined identification code, the charging system comprising:

a charging device mounted to and maintained in electrical connection with the computer, the charging device comprising at least three first electrical terminals, at least one of the first electrical terminals forming a dedicated reset terminal; and

a rechargeable device mounted in the wireless peripheral device, the rechargeable device comprising at least three second electrical terminals corresponding to the first electrical terminals;

wherein the wireless peripheral device is a computer user interface device attachable to the computer with the first and second terminals engaging each other to conduct an electrical current from the computer to the rechargeable device of the peripheral device and to reset/identify the communication channel and the identification code.

2. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is selected from a group of computer peripheral devices comprising a keyboard, a mouse, a writing pad, and a joystick.

3. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminals of both the charging device and the rechargeable device comprise a positive terminal and a negative terminal for conducting an electrical current from the computer to the peripheral device and a reset terminal for resetting/identifying the communication channel and the identification code.

4. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral device comprises a casing with the second terminals formed on the casing.

5. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first terminals form a plug and the second terminals form a socket.

6. The charging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second terminals are formed on a remote end of a cable extending from the peripheral device.

7. The charging system as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of the wireless peripheral devices, the wireless peripheral devices being concurrently operable and including a wireless keyboard and a wireless pointing device.

8. A charging system incorporated in a computer communicable through a predetermined communication channel with a wireless keyboard device and a wireless mouse device each having a predetermined identification code, the charging system comprising:

a charging device mounted to and maintained in electrical connection with the computer, the charging device including at least three first electrical terminals, at least one of the first electrical terminals forming a dedicated reset terminal; and

a plurality of rechargeable devices respectively mounted in the wireless keyboard and mouse devices, each of the rechargeable devices including at least three second electrical terminals corresponding to the first electrical terminals;

wherein each of the wireless keyboard and mouse devices is attachable to the computer with the corresponding first and second terminals engaging each other to conduct electrical current from the computer to the rechargeable device of the wireless device and to reset and identify the communication channel and the identification code.