Interfacing between a computer and audio/video equipment

• US 7,572,143 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, Jonathan R., Solomon, Mark C., Massaro, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US11/240,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 439/950
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/005 Intermediate parts for distributing signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/95 Electrical connector adapted to transmit electricity to mating connector without physical contact, e.g. by induction, magnetism, or electrostatic field

Abstract

Embodiments for interfacing between a computer and audio/video equipment are provided. One embodiment comprises a cable that includes a docking cable having a docking connector for communicating signals to and from a computer, an output cable, the output cable having at least one audio/video connector, and an interface module. The interface module is coupled to the docking cable and the output cable. The interface module includes at least one infrared receiver for receiving input to be transmitted to the computer over the docking cable. The interface module provides a path for communicating signals from the docking cable to the at least one audio/video connector. Other embodiments comprise media cables, docking stations and cable management devices that enable interfacing between a computer and audio/video equipment.

Claims

1. A cable for interfacing between a computer and audio/video equipment, the cable comprising:

a docking connector for communicating signals to and from a computer;

an output cable coupled to the docking connector, the output cable having at least one audio/video connector, for communicating output signals from the computer to audio/video equipment;

where the output cable includes at least one splitter positioned intermediate the docking connector and the at least one audio/video connector, the splitter for passing audio signals to at least one audio cable and video signals to at least one video cable;

a cable management device with a first member coupled to the at least one audio cable and a second member coupled to the at least one video cable, where the first member of the cable management device has a tongue, and the second member of the cable management device has a slot for receiving the tongue of the first member to make a flush joint; and

an infrared receiver coupled to the docking connector for communicating input signals to the computer.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio/video connector comprises at least one of a component video connector, an S-video connector, a composite television connector, an audio connector, and a digital audio connector.

3. The cable of claim 1, wherein the infrared receiver is adapted to fit in an opening of a docking station.

4. The cable of claim 1, wherein the at least one video cable includes a video splitter coupled to a plurality of video cables extending from the video splitter, each video cable terminating in at least one connector for delivering video in a selected format.

5. The cable of claim 4, wherein one of the at least one video cables includes a splitter that divides the video signal for a plurality of component video cables.