Adapters, computer systems, and methods that utilize a signal pass-through

• US 6,786,764 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Megatrends International, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Sivertsen, Clas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/355,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20040152357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 439/638
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

Adapters, computer systems, and methods utilize a signal pass-through for input devices to the computer system. The pass-through occurs through an adapter for the computer system that provides a housing having a first and second connector. The first connector can be connected to the input connector of the computer, such as a PS/2 connector. The second connector can be connected to a connector of the input device, such as another PS/2 connector. A cable extends from the housing so that signals from the input device are transferred through the second connector and away from the housing while signals to the computer are transferred to the housing and ultimately through the first connector to the computer. Another device, such as a network device, may be connected to the other end of the cable to receive the input device signal, receive input signals from other sources such as a network, and then deliver an input signal back to the computer through the cable and first connector.

Claims

1. An adapter for use between a computer and a computer input device, comprising:

a first connector housing;

a first connector on a first end of the housing, the first connector including at least one conductor and being connectable to a connector of a computer;

a second connector on a second end of the housing, the second connector including at least one conductor not connected to the first connector and being connectable to a connector of a computer input device; and

a cable extending from the first connector housing, wherein the cable includes a first wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the first connector and wherein the cable includes a second wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the second connector.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the second connector is a mate to the first connector.

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the first connector and second connector are PS/2 connectors.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the first connector has a reference for controlling a connection position of the first connector relative to a first connector of the computer and wherein the cable extends from a point at the first connector housing that is at an angle relative to the reference such that when the first connector is connected to the first connector of the computer, the cable extending from the housing will not interfere with a second connector of the computer that is positioned proximate to the first connector along a horizontal or vertical axis extending through the first connector.

5. The adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a second connector housing;

a third connector on a first end of the second connector housing, the third connector including at least one conductor and being connectable to a second connector of a computer;

a fourth connector on a second end of the second housing, the fourth connector including at least one conductor and being connectable to a second connector of a computer input device; and

a second cable extending from the second connector housing, wherein the second cable includes a first wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the third connector, wherein the second cable includes a second wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the fourth connector, and wherein the first cable and second cable are fixed together at at least one point.

6. The adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a device connector at the end of the cable opposite the first connector housing, wherein the device connector has at least a first and second conductor and wherein the first wire of the cable is in electrical continuity with the first conductor of the device connector and the second wire of the cable is in electrical continuity with the second conductor of the device connector.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a computer having at least one input connector;

an input device having at least one connector;

an adapter that comprises;

a first connector housing;

a first connector on a first end of the housing, the first connector including at least one conductor and being connected to the at least one connector of the computer;

a second connector on a second end of the housing, the second connector including at least one conductor not connected to the first connector and being connected to the at least one connector of the input device; and

a cable extending from the first connector housing, wherein the cable includes a first wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the first connector and wherein the cable includes a second wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the second connector.

8. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising:

a network device connected to a network and including a connector that receives first input signals through the connector and sends third input signals through the connector, and wherein the network device receives second input signals through the network; and

wherein the adapter further comprises a third connector on a second end of the cable opposite from the first end with a first conductor of the third connector in electrical continuity with the first wire of the cable and a second conductor of the third connector in electrical continuity with the second wire of the cable, and wherein the third connector is connected to the connector of the network device such that the first input signals are generated by the input device and are transferred through the second wire of the cable to the network device and the third input signals from the network device is transferred through the first wire of the cable to the input connector of the computer.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the second connector is a mate to the first connector.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the first connector and second connector are PS/2 connectors.

11. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the first connector has a reference for controlling a connection position of the first connector relative to the input connector of the computer and wherein the cable extends from a point at the first connector housing that is at an angle relative to the reference such that when the first connector is connected to the first connector of the computer, the cable extending from the housing will not interfere with a second connector of the computer that is positioned proximate to the first connector along a horizontal or vertical axis extending through the first connector.

12. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising:

a second input connector of the computer;

a second input device having a connector; and

wherein the adapter further comprises;

a second connector housing;

a third connector on a first end of the second connector housing, the third connector including at least one conductor and being connected to the second input connector of the computer;

a fourth connector on a second end of the second housing, the fourth connector including at least one conductor and being connected to the connector of the second computer input device; and

a second cable extending from the second connector housing, wherein the second cable includes a first wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the third connector, wherein the second cable includes a second wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the fourth connector, and wherein the first cable and second cable are fixed together at at least one point.

13. A method of passing input signals between a local input device, an external device, and a computer, comprising:

providing an adapter having a first housing with a first connector, a second connector, a cable with a first wire associated with the first connector and a second wire associated with the second connector, wherein the first connector is connected to an input connector of the computer, wherein the second connector is connected to a connector of the input device, and wherein the first wire and second wire are in electrical continuity with circuitry of the external device;

transferring an input signal from the local input device through the second connector to only the second wire; and

transferring an input signal from the external device through the first wire to only the first connector.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second connector is a mate to the first connector.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first connector and second connector are PS/2 connectors.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

inserting the first connector into the input connector of the computer, wherein the first connector has a reference for controlling a connection position of the first connector relative to the connector of the computer upon the first connector being inserted and wherein the cable extends from the first connector housing at an angle relative to the reference such that when the first connector is connected to the first connector of the computer, the cable extending from the housing will not interfere with a second connector of the computer that is positioned proximate to the first connector along a horizontal or vertical axis extending through the first connector; and

inserting the connector of the input device into the second connector.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the external device is a network device that receives a signal from a network and generates the input signal transferred through the first wire from the signal from the network.

18. An adapter for use between a computer and a computer input device, comprising:

a first connector housing;

a first connector on a first end of the housing, the first connector including at least one conductor and being connectable to a connector of a computer;

a second connector on a second end of the housing, the second connector including at least one conductor and being connectable to a connector of a computer input device;

a cable extending from the first connector housing, wherein the cable includes a first wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the first connector and wherein the cable includes a second wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the second connector;

a second connector housing;

a third connector on a first end of the second connector housing, the third connector including at least one conductor and being connectable to a second connector of a computer;

a fourth connector on a second end of the second housing, the fourth connector including at least one conductor and being connectable to a second connector of a computer input device; and

a second cable extending from the second connector housing, wherein the second cable includes a first wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the third connector, wherein the second cable includes a second wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the fourth connector, and wherein the first cable and second cable are fixed together at at least one point.

19. A computer system, comprising:

a computer having at least one input connector;

an input device having at least one connector;

an adapter that comprises

a first connector housing,

a first connector on a first end of the housing, the first connector including at least one conductor and being connected to the at least one connector of the computer,

a second connector on a second end of the housing, the second connector including at least one conductor and being connected to the at least one connector of the input device, and

a cable extending from the first connector housing, wherein the cable includes a first wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the first connector and wherein the cable includes a second wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the second connector;

a network device connected to a network and including a connector that receives first input signals through the connector and sends third input signals through the connector, and wherein the network device receives second input signals through the network; and

wherein the adapter further comprises a third connector on a second end of the cable opposite from the first end with a first conductor of the third connector in electrical continuity with the first wire of the cable and a second conductor of the third connector in electrical continuity with the second wire of the cable, and wherein the third connector is connected to the connector of the network device such that the first input signals are generated by the input device and are transferred through the second wire of the cable to the network device and the third input signals from the network device is transferred through the first wire of the cable to the input connector of the computer.

20. A computer system, comprising:

a computer having at least a first and second input connector;

a first and second input device, each having at least one connector; and

an adapter that comprises

a first connector housing,

a first connector on a first end of the housing, the first connector including at least one conductor and being connected to the first input connector of the computer,

a second connector on a second end of the housing, the second connector including at least one conductor and being connected to the at least one connector of the first input device,

a cable extending from the first connector housing, wherein the cable includes a first wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the first connector and wherein the cable includes a second wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the second connector,

a second connector housing,

a third connector on a first end of the second connector housing, the third connector including at least one conductor and being connected to the second input connector of the computer,

a fourth connector on a second end of the second housing, the fourth connector at least one conductor and being connected to the at least one connector of the second input device, and

a second table extending from the second connector housing, wherein the second cable includes a first wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the third connector, wherein the second cable includes a second wire in electrical continuity with the at least one conductor of the fourth connector, and wherein the first cable and second cable are fixed together at at least one point.