Recharging system for wireless input devices

• US 7,755,324 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: O'Neil, Daniel G., Odell, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US11/698,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/107, 320/110, 320/111, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 361/600, 361/679.08, 361/679.11
• US Class Current: 320/115
• 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: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charging device for charging a rechargeable power store is discussed. The charging device includes a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface. The charging device has a ledge extending from the top surface. The charging device also includes a power source and a pair of charging terminals positioned under the ledge and connected to the power source. The charging device is configured to engage terminals on a wireless input device.

Claims

1. A charging device for charging a rechargeable power store, comprising:

a housing having a main portion with a top surface and a bottom surface and a ledge extending from the main portion along one of the top and bottom surfaces;

a power source provided within the housing; and

a first pair of charging terminals positioned on the ledge and connected to the power source, for engaging terminals on a first wireless input device, wherein the top surface of the main portion of the housing remains free from engagement with the first wireless input device when the first pair of charging terminals are engaged with the terminals on the first wireless input device.

2. The charging device of claim 1 and further comprising:

second and third pairs of terminals connected to the power source and positioned on the top surface of the housing to engage terminals on a second wireless input device.

3. The charging device of claim 2 and further comprising:

a locating feature on the top surface of the housing positioned between the second and third pairs of terminals and configured to engage the second wireless input device.

4. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the charging device is configured to receive wireless communication signals from the first wireless input device.

5. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the charging device comprises:

at least one magnet positioned in the ledge.

20. The charging device of claim 1 and further comprising:

a second pair of terminals connected to the power source and positioned on the top surface of the housing to engage terminals on a second wireless input device.

6. In combination with a wireless keyboard having a rechargeable power store, a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a pair of electrical terminals at a location on the first surface, a charging element configured to rest on a supporting surface, the charging element comprising:

a housing having a main portion and a ledge having top and bottom surfaces cantilevered from the main portion between a first side and a second side of the housing;

a power source provided within the housing;

a pair of terminals coupled to the power source and positioned along a bottom surface of the ledge;

wherein a distance between the bottom surface of the ledge and the support surface is about the same as a distance between the first surface and the second surface at the location of the terminals on the keyboard; and

wherein a portion of the keyboard is positioned between the ledge and the support surface when the pair of terminals on the keyboard are in contact with the pair of terminals on the charging element and the charging element is positioned on a support surface.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the charging element comprises:

a first pair of magnets disposed within and spaced apart at a first distance along the ledge.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the keyboard comprises:

a second pair of magnets spaced apart at a second distance different from the first distance and positioned within the keyboard so that when the pair of terminals on the keyboard are in contact with the pair of terminals on the ledge, the second pair of magnets are attracted to the first pair of magnets.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the portion of the keyboard that is configured to be positioned between the ledge and the support surface has a width generally equal to a width of the charging element and a height lower than an adjacent portion of the keyboard.

10. The combination of claim 6, wherein the keyboard comprises:

a plurality of keys; and

a light source positioned behind at least one of the plurality of keys.

11. A method of charging a wireless input device having a pair of exposed terminals attached to a power store, comprising:

providing a charging element having opposing first and second major surfaces and a first pair of exposed terminals adjacent a front edge of the charging element disposed between the first and second major surfaces when the charging element is positioned on a generally flat support surface so that the exposed terminals of the wireless input device can be engaged with the exposed terminals on the charging element that is positioned on a support surface by moving the wireless input device toward the charging element along the support surface until the exposed terminals on the front edge of the charging element are engaged with the exposed terminals on the wireless input device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing a charging element further comprises providing a charging element having an engagement feature on the first major surface capable of engaging a second wireless input device thereon.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein providing a charging element further includes providing a charging element having an engagement feature on the first major surface including second and third pairs of exposed terminals.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein providing a charging element further comprises providing a charging element having an engagement feature capable of engaging the second wireless input device so that exposed terminals on the second wireless input device are in contact with the second pair of exposed terminals.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein providing a charging element further comprises providing a charging element having an engagement feature capable of engaging the second wireless input device so that exposed terminals on the second wireless input device are in contact with the third pair of exposed terminals.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein providing a charging element having exposed terminals adjacent a front edge includes providing terminals that are oriented to face the support surface when the charging element is positioned on the support surface.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing a charging element having exposed terminals adjacent a front edge includes providing terminals that are oriented to face in a direction generally normal to the support surface.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein providing a charging element includes providing a charging element that requires exerting a force on the wireless input device to urge the wireless input device to engage the charging element to maintain contact with the exposed terminals on the charging element.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the charging element includes providing a charging element capable of receiving wireless signals from a wireless input device.