Electrical connection between devices

• US 7,722,358 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chatterjee, Monique, Shiff, Victor E., Odell, Daniel L., Manzanedo, Carlos, Selph, William J., Murzanski, Chris A., French, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon; Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US11/763,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20080311765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 439/503, 439/505, 439/289, 439/923, 439/956, 439 38- 40, 439/52
• US Class Current: 439/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

Concepts for forming an electrical connection between devices are disclosed. A cord for transferring electrical power and signals can be provided to connect a first device to a second device. One or more magnetic couplings can be provided to exert magnetic forces between the cord and the first device and/or between the cord and the second device. The one or more magnetic couplings can allow transfer of electrical power and signals therethrough.

Claims

1. A system for forming an electrical connection, the system comprising:

a transceiver dongle;

an input device communicatively coupled to the transceiver dongle through a wireless connection, the input device having a transceiver, a processing module, and a power store, the power store providing power to the processing module and to the transceiver;

a cord having a first connector and a second connector, the first connector electrically coupled to the transceiver dongle, the second connector electrically coupled to the input device, the cord forming an electrical connection between the transceiver dongle and the input device, the input device receiving power to charge its power store through the electrical connection;

a first magnetic coupling exerting magnetic forces between the first connector and the transceiver dongle; and

a second magnetic coupling exerting magnetic forces between the second connector and the input device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver dongle includes a wireless transceiver that receives data from the input device, and wherein the power store of the input device is a rechargeable battery.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second connector of the cord is disc shaped and fits flushly within a recess of the input device.

4. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a position tracking sensor on a bottom surface of the input device, the position tracking sensor sending a signal indicative of moment to the transceiver dongle through the input device transceiver.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the position tracking sensor is an optical sensor.

6. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:

a computer with a display, the display having an icon that indicates that electrical power and signals are being transferred between the computer and the input device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the input device includes at least one user actuable button positioned on a top surface thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first connector of the cord has a first magnet and a first set of magnetic pins, wherein the transceiver dongle has second magnet and a second set of magnetic pins, and wherein the first magnetic coupling comprises a magnetic coupling between the first and the second magnets and between the first and the second sets of magnetic pins.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first set of magnetic pins have convex ends, and wherein the second set of magnetic pins have concave ends.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the first and the second sets of magnetic pins are made of a ferrous material.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first and the second sets of magnetic pins are copper plated.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the second connector of the cord has a third magnet and a third set of magnetic pins, wherein the input device has a fourth magnet and a fourth set of magnetic pins, and wherein the second magnetic coupling comprises a magnetic coupling between the third and the fourth magnets and between the third and the fourth sets of magnetic pins.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the third set of magnetic pins have concave ends, and wherein the fourth set of magnetic pins have convex ends.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein for each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth sets of magnetic pins, each set includes at least two pins that have opposite magnetic orientations.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the first connector of the cord has an outwardly extending protrusion that fits within a cup-shaped recess of the transceiver dongle.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the cup-shaped recess of the transceiver dongle includes a central rectangular recessed surface surrounded by four adjacent beveled surfaces.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the cup-shaped recess of the transceiver dongle is asymmetrical.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the cup-shaped recess of the transceiver dongle is asymmetrical in that one of the four adjacent beveled surfaces is longer than another one of the four adjacent beveled surfaces.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the first magnet has a magnetic orientation that is perpendicular to magnetic orientations of the first set of magnetic pins, wherein the second magnet has a magnetic orientation that is perpendicular to magnetic orientations of the second set of magnetic pins, wherein the third magnet has a magnetic orientation that is perpendicular to magnetic orientations of the third set of magnetic pins, and wherein the fourth magnet has a magnetic orientation that is perpendicular to magnetic orientations of the fourth set of magnetic pins.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the magnetic orientation of the first magnet is opposite of the magnetic orientation of the second magnet, and wherein the magnetic orientation of the third magnet is opposite of the magnetic orientation of the fourth magnet.