Automated selection between a USB and PS/2 interface for connecting a keyboard to a computer
First Claim
1. An external user input device adapted to selectively couple and communicate user input data through at least one of a universal serial bus (USB) port and an alternative port of a host computing device, comprising:
- (a) at least one data switch capable of being activated by a user to determine data that are transmitted to a host computing device;
(b) a power sense circuit that determines whether electrical power is being supplied to the external user input device from an alternative port of a host computing device and produces a signal indicative thereof; and
(c) a state switch, coupled to the power sense circuit and said at least one data switch, to receive the signal produced thereby, and in response upon detecting a change in state to said signal indicating that an alternative port is supplying the electrical power indicative thereof, enabling the host computing device to receive data transmitted from said at least one data switch through an alternative port, and otherwise enabling the host computing device to receive data transmitted from said at least one data switch through a USB port.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A keyboard selectively operable to convey data to and from a host or personal computer (PC) through a universal serial bus (USB) port and/or a personal system/2 (PS/2) port. The keyboard is preferably connected to both the USB port and PS/2 port on the host or PC, if available. Preference is given to communicating data from the keyboard to the host or PC through the PS/2 port. However, if the PS/2 port is unavailable, not connected, or inoperative, the keyboard data are communicated to the host or PC through the USB port (assuming that it is available, operative, and connected). As soon as the PS/2 port on the host or PC is again connected to the keyboard, such data will again be communicated through the PS/2 port. In addition, the keyboard includes auxiliary USB ports to which USB-capable peripheral devices can be connected. USB data can then be communicated between the PC and the USB-capable peripheral devices via the keyboard and its connection to the USB port on the host or PC. Power supplied from the PS/2 port on the host or PC is monitored to determine whether that port is connected to the keyboard, and in response, to cause data arising from the user actuating keys on the keyboard to be supplied to the host or PC through the PS/2 port.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An external user input device adapted to selectively couple and communicate user input data through at least one of a universal serial bus (USB) port and an alternative port of a host computing device, comprising:
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(a) at least one data switch capable of being activated by a user to determine data that are transmitted to a host computing device;
(b) a power sense circuit that determines whether electrical power is being supplied to the external user input device from an alternative port of a host computing device and produces a signal indicative thereof; and
(c) a state switch, coupled to the power sense circuit and said at least one data switch, to receive the signal produced thereby, and in response upon detecting a change in state to said signal indicating that an alternative port is supplying the electrical power indicative thereof, enabling the host computing device to receive data transmitted from said at least one data switch through an alternative port, and otherwise enabling the host computing device to receive data transmitted from said at least one data switch through a USB port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
(a) a USB port connector adapted to connect to a USB port on a host computing device; and
(b) an alternative port connector adapted to couple to an alternative port on a host computing device.
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11. An external keyboard adapted to couple to a universal serial bus (USB) port on a host computing device, if available, and to a personal system/2 (PS/2) port on the host computing device, if available, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of data switches that produce data signals when actuated by a user;
(b) a keyboard circuit that is coupled to the plurality of data switches to receive the data signals, said keyboard circuit being adapted to selectively format the data signals in a USB format and in a PS/2 format;
(c) a power sense circuit that determines whether the external keyboard is coupled to a PS/2 port of a host computing device by sensing an electrical potential supplied from a PS/2 port of a host computing device if the external keyboard is coupled thereto, said power sense circuit produces a signal indicative of whether said electrical potential has been sensed;
(d) a data source switch that is coupled to the external keyboard circuit and to the signal produced by the power sense circuit, said data source switch selectively determining whether the data signals formatted in the USB format and in the PS/2 format are respectively coupled to a USB port and a PS/2 port on a host computing device, as a function of the signal produced by the power sense circuit; and
(e) a hub circuit having an auxiliary port adapted to connect to an external peripheral device, said hub circuit enabling transfer of data between an external peripheral device and the host computing device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
(a) a USB port connector adapted to connect to a USB port on a host computing device; and
(b) a PS/2 port connector adapted to couple to a PS/2 port on a host computing device.
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18. A method for enabling an external user input device to be selectively coupled to communicate data signals produced as a result of user interaction with the external user input device, with either a USB port on a host computing device or an alternative port on the host computing device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an external user input device capable of automatically coupling to a host computing device using either of two ports provided on the external user input device, said two ports including the USB port and the alternative port;
(b) sensing whether a preferred one of the USB port and the alternative port is coupled in communication with the external device user input device; and
(c) if the preferred one of the USB port and the alternative port on the host computing device is coupled to the external user input device, enabling communication of the data signals between the external user input device and said preferred one of the USB port and the alternative port on a host computing device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A external device adapted to selectively couple and communicate data through at least one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and an alternative port of a host computing device, said external device receiving electrical power from the host computing device through at least one of a USB port and an alternative port of the host computing device, comprising:
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(a) at least one of a data switch capable of being activated by a user to determine data that are transmitted to a host computing device, and an indicator that indicates a condition of the external device; and
(b) circuit means for determining whether electrical power is being supplied to the external device from an alternative port of a host computing device, and for enabling external device data to be transferred through;
(i) an alternative port of a host computing device in response to determining that an alternative port is supplying electrical power to the external device; and
(ii) a USB port of a host computing device in response to determining that an alternative port is not supplying electrical power to the external device. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An external user input device adapted to selectively couple and communicate user input data through at least one of a universal serial bus (USB) port and an alternative port of a host computing device, comprising:
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(a) a USB connector adapted to couple to a USB port of a host computing device and to selectively transmit data thereby;
(b) an alternative connector adapted to couple to an alternative port of a host computing device and to selectively transmit data thereby;
(c) at least one data input element, which when activated by a user, produces user input data for transmission to a host computer device;
(d) a power sense circuit coupled to said alternative connector, said power sense circuit determining whether electrical power is being supplied to said external user input device from an alternative port of a host computing device to which said alternative connector is coupled, said power sense circuit producing a signal indicative thereof; and
(e) a state switch coupled to said power sense circuit and to said at least one data input element such that said state switch receives said signal produced by said power sense circuit, and in response to said signal, selects one of said USB connector and said alternative connector that said external user input device will employ to transmit said user input data to a host computer device, when said external user input device is coupled to a host computing device using one of said USB connector and said alternative connector. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An external keyboard adapted to couple to one of a universal serial bus (USB) port and a personal system/2 (PS/2) port on a host computing device, comprising:
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(a) a USB connector adapted to couple to a USB port of a host computing device and to selectively transmit data to the-host computing device thereby;
(b) a PS/2 connector adapted to couple to a PS/2 port of a host computing device and to selectively transmit data to the host computing device thereby;
(c) a plurality of data switches that produce data signals when actuated by a user;
(d) a keyboard circuit that is coupled to the plurality of data switches to receive the data signals, said keyboard circuit being adapted to selectively format the data signals in a USB format and in a PS/2 format;
(e) a power sense circuit that determines whether the external keyboard is coupled to a PS/2 port of a host computing device by sensing an electrical potential supplied from a PS/2 port of a host computing device if the external keyboard is coupled thereto, said power sense circuit producing a signal indicative of whether said electrical potential has been sensed; and
(f) a data source switch that is coupled to the external keyboard circuit to receive the signal produced by the power sense circuit, said data source switch selectively determining whether the data signals formatted in the USB format or in the PS/2 format are transmitted to the host computing device using a corresponding one of the USB connector and the PS/2 connector, as a function of the signal produced by the power sense circuit.
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33. A method for enabling a external user input device that includes both a USB connector adapted to couple to a USB port of a host computing device and an alternative data connector adapted to couple to an alternative data port of a host computing device, to selectively determine which of the USB connector and the alternative data connector to utilize to transmit user input data to a host computing device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining if the alternative data connector is coupled in communication with an alternative data port of a host computing device; and
(b) if the alternative data connector is coupled in communication with an alternative data port of a host computing device, enabling communication of the user input data between the external user input device and the host computing device using the alternative data connector, and otherwise, enabling communication of the user input data between the external user input device and the host computing device using the USB connector. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification