Charging and communication cable system for a mobile computer apparatus

• US 6,980,204 B1
• Filed: 10/14/2001
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Skillman, Peter, Hawkins, Jeffrey Charles, Townsend, Karl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/977,867
• Time in Patent Office: 1,535 Days
• Field of Search: 345/211, 345/173, 345/1.1, 345/2.1, 345/3.1, 375/340, 320/111, 320/114, 320/115, 320/128, 455/557, 455/573, 455/566, 455/572, 710/62
• US Class Current: 345/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A charging and communication cable system for a handheld computer system is disclosed. The charging and communication cable system includes a first interface for connecting to the handheld computer system, a second interface for connecting to another computer system, and a third interface for coupling to a charger system. In one embodiment, the third interface used to coupled to a charger system is the same as the interface on the handheld computer system such that the charger may be coupled to the charging and communication cable system or directly to the handheld computer system.

Claims

1. A power and communication system for a handheld computer system, said handheld computer system having a first interface for receiving power and data communication signals, said power and communication system comprising:

a power system for supplying electrical power, said power system having a second interface for coupling with said first interface; and

a data communication and power cable, said data communication and power cable separable from said power system, said data communication and power cable comprising

a third interface for coupling to said handheld computer system,

a fourth interface for coupling to a second computer system, and

a fifth interface for coupling to said second interface of said power system,

such that said handheld computer system may be used with said power system, said data communication and power cable, or both said power system and said data communication and power cable simultaneously.

2. The power and communication system of claim 1 wherein said fourth interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus interface.

3. The power and communication system of claim 1 wherein said fourth interface comprises a standard serial interface.

4. The power and communication system of claim 1 wherein said third interface comprises a small connector for coupling to said first interface of handheld computer system.

5. The power and communication system of claim 1 wherein said third interface comprises a docking cradle for coupling to said first interface of handheld computer system.

6. The power and communication system of claim 1 further comprising:

a docking cradle, said docking cradle including a sixth interface for coupling to said third interface.

7. The power and communication system of claim 6 wherein said docking cradle comprises a seventh interface, said seventh interface for coupling to said first interface on said handheld computer system.

8. A method of providing power and data communication signals to a handheld computer system, said handheld computer system having a first interface for receiving power and data communication signals, said method comprising:

coupling a second interface on a data communication and power cable to said first interface of said handheld computer system, said data communication and power cable further comprising a third interface for receiving data signals and a fourth interface for receiving power; and

a power system for supplying electrical power, said power system separable from said data communication and power cable, said power system having a fifth interface for coupling with said first interface on said handheld computer system or said fourth interface on said data communication and power cable,

such that said handheld computer system may be used with said power system, said data communication and power cable, or both said power system and said data communication and power cable simultaneously.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said third interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus interface.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said third interface comprises a standard serial interface.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said second interface comprises a small connector for coupling to said first interface of handheld computer system and includes a button.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said second interface comprises a docking cradle for coupling to said first interface of handheld computer system.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

dropping said handheld computer system into a docking cradle comprising a sixth interface for coupling with said first interface.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

coupling a seventh interface to said second interface, said seventh interface on said docking cradle coupled to said sixth on said docking cradle.