System and method for selectively communicatively coupling and transmitting power between an electronic device and a peripheral component

• US 6,881,098 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Jeansonne, Jeffrey K., Moore, Earl W., Zhang, Tim L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US10/413,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 439/378, 439/638, 439/502
• US Class Current: 439/638
• 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: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A system comprises an electronic device, a peripheral component and a cable. The cable couples the peripheral component to the electronic device. The cable further comprises a connector end for connection to a standard port on the electronic device. The connector end has an abutment feature designed to prevent engagement of the connector end with certain ports.

Claims

1. An apparatus for coupling a peripheral component to a device via a universal serial bus (USB) port, comprising:

a cable having a first connector end and a second connector end, the first connector end comprising a series A USB connector and an abutment adjacent the series A USB connector, wherein the series A USB connector is adapted to couple to a USB port having higher power than USB standard, wherein the abutment is adapted to prevent coupling the series A USB connector to a standard USB port having standard power.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second connector end comprises a series B USB connector.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second connector end comprises a series B USB connector and a separate power connector.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the separate power connector comprises a barrel connector.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the abutment comprises a post.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first connector end comprises an overmold from which the series A USB connector and the abutment extend an approximately equal distance.

7. A system, comprising:

an electronic device comprising a powered USB port and a device connection feature, the powered USB port having more than USB standard power available;

a peripheral component having power requirements greater than the USB standard; and

a USB cable to couple the peripheral component and the electronic device, the USB cable having a connector end with a USB connector and a corresponding connection feature that cooperates with the device connection feature to enable insertion of the USB connector into the powered USB port, and to prevent insertion of the USB connector into a standard USB port.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the electronic device comprises a portable computer.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the peripheral component comprises an external multibay.

10. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the peripheral component comprises a mass storage device.

11. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the peripheral component comprises an optical drive.

12. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the peripheral component comprises a hard drive.

13. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the corresponding connection feature comprises a post and the device connection feature comprises an opening sized to receive the post.

14. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the USB cable comprises a second end having a series B USB connector and a separate power connector.

15. A method, comprising:

providing an electronic device with a standard input/output port;

supplying power to the standard input/output port at a higher level than required by a port standard; and

coupling a peripheral component to the electronic device via a connector that blocks coupling to other similar standard input/output ports without power supplied at the higher level.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein providing comprises forming the standard input/output port as a USB port.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein providing comprises providing a portable computer.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein coupling comprises connecting the peripheral component to the electronic device via a cable having the connector.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising forming the connector with a series A USB connector and an abutment.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising forming the connector with a series A USB connector and an adjacent post extending from an overmold.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein coupling comprises coupling a mass storage device to the electronic device.

22. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein coupling comprises coupling an external multibay to the electronic device.

23. A system, comprising:

means for connecting a peripheral component to a USB port of an electronic device; and

means for preventing such connection to any USB port having insufficient power available to power the peripheral component.

24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the means for connecting comprises a USB cable.

25. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the means for preventing comprises an abutment post.

26. An electronic device, comprising:

an input/output port having higher power than a standard power for the input/output port, wherein the input/output port is adapted to couple with an input/output connector; and

a first connection feature adjacent the input/output port, wherein the first connection feature is adapted to cooperate with a second connection feature adjacent the input/output connector to facilitate coupling of the input/output connector with the input/output port, such that the input/output connector is prevented from coupling to an input/output port having a standard power.

27. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the input/output port is a USB port, the input/output connector is a USB connector, and the standard power is standard USB power.

28. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the first connection feature is a receptacle adapted to receive the second connection feature, wherein the second connection feature is a post.

29. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the first connection feature is a post adapted for insertion into the second connection feature, wherein the second connection feature is an opening.

30. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the electronic device is a portable computer.