Charging and communication cable system for a mobile computer apparatus

• US 7,376,846 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey Charles, Skillman, Peter, Townsend, Karl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao; Chun
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US11/047,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 320/23, 320/108
• US Class Current: 713/300
• 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

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 charging circuit for a handheld computer system, said charging circuit comprising:

a battery for operating the handheld computer system;

a first transistor coupled to the battery for charging said battery using an external power source;

a charging control circuit coupled to the first transistor for controlling said first transistor;

an indicator circuit for indicating to a user at least a charging status of the battery and coupling of the charging circuit to the external power source, said indicator circuit coupled to the battery via the first transistor and coupled to the external power source, the indicator circuit powered by said battery using current from the battery passing through said first transistor responsive to said first transistor being turned off by the charging control circuit and the charging circuit disconnected from the external power source; and

a processor coupled to a second transistor in a path of the current to switch on and off the indicator circuit.

2. The charging circuit of claim 1 wherein said indicator circuit comprises a light emitting diode.

3. The charging circuit of claim 1 wherein said first transistor comprises a field effect transistor.

4. A handheld computer system operated by a rechargeable battery, the handheld computer system comprising a charging circuit for charging the battery, the charging circuit comprising:

a first transistor coupled to the battery for charging said battery using an external power source;

a charging control circuit coupled to the first transistor for controlling said first transistor;

an indicator circuit for indicating to a user at least a charging status of the battery and coupling of the charging circuit to the external power source, said indicator circuit coupled to the battery via the first transistor and coupled to the external power source, the indicator circuit powered by said battery using current from the battery passing through said first transistor responsive to said first transistor being turned off by the charging control circuit and the charging circuit disconnected from the external power source; and

a processor coupled to a second transistor in a path of the current to switch on and off the indicator circuit.

5. The handheld computer system of claim 4 wherein said indicator circuit comprises a light emitting diode.

6. The handheld computer system of claim 4 wherein said first transistor comprises a field effect transistor.