Combined power and control signal cable

• US 7,591,673 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gonzalez, Donald, Pennington, John William Jr., Chan, Kenneth, Lee, Peter K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Truc T
• Application Number:
  US11/624,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20080176444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 439/638
• US Class Current: 439/502
• 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 power/control cable for transmitting control signals and power is described. The power/control cable comprises a first connector comprising a first control signal conductor and a first electrical charge conductor, a second connector comprising a second control signal conductor communicatively connected with the first connector by at least one wire, and a third connector comprising a second electrical charge conductor electrically connected with the first connector by at least one wire.

Claims

1. A power/control cable for transmitting control signals and power from a computer system to a printer, the computer system comprising a controller and a power converter, the power/control cable comprising first and second ends and comprising:

a first connector for the computer system located at the first end of the power/control cable proximate to the computer system and comprising a universal serial bus (USB) connector for the computer system for electrically connecting a first control signal conductor to the controller of the computer system and a power plug for the computer system for electrically connecting a first power conductor to the power converter of the computer system; and

the second end located distal from the computer system and proximate to the printer and split into a first leg and a second leg,

wherein the first leg comprises a control connector for the printer for transferring the control signals from the computer system to the printer, the control connector for the printer comprising a USB connector for the printer for interfacing with a printer USB connector, and

wherein the second leg comprises a power connector for the printer for transferring the power from the computer system to the printer without using a separate power supply.

2. The power/control cable of claim 1, wherein the first leg of the power/control cable located at the second end distal from the computer system comprises a second control signal conductor communicatively connected with the first control signal conductor.

3. The power/control cable of claim 1, wherein the second leg comprises an electrical connector arranged to transfer at least one of 32 volts and 0.9 amperes.

4. The power/control cable of claim 1, wherein the power/control cable connects the power connector of the printer directly to the computer system.

5. The power/control cable of claim 1, wherein the single power/control cable provides both the control signals and the power from the computer system to the printer.

6. The power/control cable of claim 2, wherein the second leg of the power/control cable located at the second end distal from the computer system comprises a second power conductor electrically connected with the first power conductor.

7. A computer system and a cable for connection with a printer, comprising:

a computer system comprising a power converter and a controller; and

a power/control cable comprising first and second ends, wherein the power/control cable is arranged to transmit a control signal and power from the computer system to the printer, and comprising;

a first connector for the computer system located at the first end of the power/control cable proximate to the computer system and comprising a universal serial bus (USB) connector for the computer system for electrically connecting a first control signal conductor to the controller of the computer system and a power plug for the computer system for electrically connecting a first power conductor to the power converter of the computer system; and

the second end located distal from the computer system and proximate to the printer and split into a first leg and a second leg,

wherein the first leg comprises a control connector for the printer for transferring the control signals from the computer system to the printer, the control connector for the printer comprising a USB connector for the printer for interfacing with a printer USB connector, and

wherein the second leg comprises a power connector for the printer for transferring the power from the computer system to the printer without using a separate power supply.

8. The computer system and cable of claim 7, wherein the first leg of the power/control cable located at the second end distal from the computer system comprises a second control signal conductor communicatively connected with the first connector by at least one wire.

9. The computer system and cable of claim 7, wherein the second leg of the power/control cable located at the second end distal from the computer system comprises a second power conductor electrically connected with the first connector by at least one wire.

10. The computer system and cable of claim 7, wherein the computer system comprises

a first power converter arranged to provide current to the computer system;

and

a secondary power converter arranged to provide current to the first power conductor.

11. The computer system and cable of claim 7, wherein the first connector of the power/control cable is a combined connector, wherein the USB connector for the computer system and the power plug for the computer system are located adjacent to each other on a same combined plug, and wherein the computer system comprises a combined receiver that receives the combined plug of the power/control cable.

12. The computer system and cable of claim 9, wherein the second leg comprises an electrical connector operatively connected with the second power conductor.

13. The computer system and cable of claim 12, wherein the electrical connector is arranged to transfer at least one of 32 volts and 0.9 amperes.

14. The computer system and cable of claim 10, wherein the secondary power converter is arranged to provide at least one of 32 volts and 0.9 amperes.

15. The computer system and cable of claim 10, wherein the secondary power converter is arranged to drive a supply current of a size to operate a printer.

16. The computer system and cable of claim 10, wherein the secondary power converter is arranged to drive a direct current supply current to the first power conductor.

17. A printer and a power/control cable connectable between the printer and a computer system, comprising:

a printer comprising a printer power connector and a printer control connector;

a power/control cable for transmitting a control signal and power from the computer system to the printer, the power/control cable comprising first and second ends and comprising;

a first connector for the computer system located at the first end of the power/control cable proximate to the computer system and comprising a universal serial bus (USB) connector for the computer system for electrically connecting a first control signal conductor to the controller of the computer system and a power plug for the computer system for electrically connecting a first power conductor to the power converter of the computer system; and

the second end located distal from the computer system and proximate to the printer and split into a first leg and a second leg,

wherein the first leg comprises a control connector for the printer for transferring the control signals from the computer system to the printer, the control connector for the printer comprising a USB connector for the printer for interfacing with the printer control connector, and

wherein the second leg comprises a power connector for the printer for transferring the power from the computer system to the printer without using a separate power supply, the power connector for the printer interfacing with the printer power connector.

18. The printer and power/control cable of claim 17, wherein the printer control connector is a USB connector.