Switching device configured to couple a first computer to a first peripheral device and one or more second peripheral devices and method of manufacturing same

• US 7,769,940 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wiler, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US12/030,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 710 8- 12, 710 62- 64, 710 72- 74, 710300-317
• US Class Current: 710/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes

Abstract

In some embodiments, a switching device is configured to couple a first computer to a first peripheral device and one or more second peripheral devices. The switching device is further configured to couple a second computer to a third peripheral device and the one or more second peripheral devices. The switching device includes: (a) a switch configured to couple to the one or more second peripheral devices; (b) a first hub including: (1) a first upstream port configured to couple to the first computer; (2) a first downstream port configured to couple to the first peripheral device; and (3) at least one second downstream port coupled to the switch; (c) a second hub including: (1) a first upstream port configured to couple to the second computer; (2) a first downstream port configured to couple to the third peripheral device; and (3) at least one second downstream port coupled to the switch. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A switching device configured to couple a first computer to a first peripheral device and one or more second peripheral devices, the switching device is further configured to couple a second computer to a third peripheral device and the one or more second peripheral devices, the switching device comprising:

a switch configured to couple to the one or more second peripheral devices;

a first hub comprising;

a first upstream port configured to couple to the first computer;

a first downstream port configured to couple to the first peripheral device; and

at least one second downstream port coupled to the switch;

a second hub comprising;

a first upstream port configured to couple to the second computer;

a first downstream port configured to couple to the third peripheral device; and

at least one second downstream port coupled to the switch;

a first electrical connector coupled to the first downstream port of the first hub and configured to couple to the first peripheral device;

a second electrical connector coupled to the first downstream port of the second hub and configured to couple to the third peripheral device; and

one or more third connectors coupled to the switch and configured to couple to the one or more second peripheral devices.

2. The switching device of claim 1, wherein:

the switch comprises;

one or more output ports; and

each of the one or more output ports is configured to couple to one of the one or more second peripheral devices.

3. The switching device of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more third electrical connectors comprise at least one universal serial bus connector and a video connector.

4. The switching device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third hub comprising;

a first upstream port configured to couple to the switch; and

one or more downstream ports configured to couple to the one or more second peripheral devices.

5. The switching device of claim 1, wherein:

the switch comprises a keyboard, video, mouse switch.

6. The switching device of claim 1, wherein:

the first hub comprises a universal serial bus hub; and

the second hub comprises a universal serial bus hub.

7. The switching device of claim 1, wherein:

the switch comprises;

a cross-point switch coupled to the at least one second downstream port of the first hub and the at least one second downstream port of the second hub.

8. The switching device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first emulation device configured to emulate at least one of the one or more second peripheral devices,

wherein;

the first hub further comprises;

a third downstream port coupled to the first emulation device.

9. The switching device of claim 1, further comprising:

a selection device configured to allow a user to select which of the first computer and the second computer controls the one or more second peripheral devices.

10. The switching device of claim 1, wherein:

the first electrical connector is directly coupled to the first downstream port of the first hub; and

the second electrical connector is directly coupled to the first downstream port of the second hub.

11. The switching device of claim 2, further comprising:

a fourth electrical connector coupled to the first upstream port of the first hub and configured to couple to the first computer; and

a fifth electrical connector coupled to the first upstream port of the second hub and configured to couple to the second computer.

12. The switching device of claim 11, wherein:

the fourth electrical connector and the fifth electrical connector are universal serial bus connectors.

13. The switching device of claim 8, further comprising:

a second emulation device configured to emulate at least one of the one or more second peripheral devices,

wherein;

the second hub further comprises;

a third downstream port coupled to the second emulation device.

14. The switching device of claim 9, wherein:

the selection device comprises a physical switch.

15. An electronic switchbox configured to switch a keyboard and a mouse between two or more computers and couple the two or more computers to two or more peripheral devices, the electrical switchbox comprising:

a keyboard switch configured to couple to the keyboard;

a mouse switch configured to couple to the mouse; and

two or more hubs,

wherein;

each hub of the two or more hubs is configured to couple a computer of the two or more computers to the keyboard switch and the mouse switch; and

each of the two or more hubs is further configured to couple the computer of the two or more computers to at least one peripheral device of the two or more peripheral devices without using the keyboard switch or the mouse switch.

16. The switch box of claim 15, further comprising:

a video switch configured to couple to a video monitor;

wherein;

each hub of the one or more hubs is further configured to couple the computer of the two or more computers to the video switch; and

each of the two or more hubs is further configured to couple the computer of the two or more computers to the at least one peripheral device of the two or more peripheral devices without using the video switch.

17. The switchbox of claim 15, wherein:

each hub of the one or hubs comprises;

an upstream port configured to couple to one of the two or more computers; and

one or more downstream ports;

the keyboard switch comprises;

a first multiplexer coupled to a first one of the one or more downstream ports of each hub of the two or more hubs, the first multiplexer is further configured to couple to the keyboard; and

the mouse switch comprises;

a second multiplexer coupled to a second one of the one or more downstream ports of each hub of the two or more hubs, the second multiplexer is further configured to couple to the mouse.

18. The switchbox of claim 15, further comprising:

an emulator configured to emulate the keyboard and the mouse to at least one of the two or more computers.

19. The switch box of claim 15, wherein:

each of the two or more hubs is further configured to directly couple to the computer of the two or more computers; and

each of the two or more hubs is further configured to directly couple to the at least one peripheral device of the two or more peripheral devices.

20. The switch box of claim 16, wherein:

the keyboard switch, the video switch, and the mouse switch are integrated into a single switch.

21. The switchbox of claim 18, wherein:

the emulator comprises;

one or more emulation modules;

each of the one or more emulation modules configured to emulate the keyboard and the mouse to one of the two or more computers; and

each of the one or more emulation modules is coupled to one hub of the two or more hubs.

22. An apparatus configured to switch one or more first peripheral devices between at least two computers, the apparatus is also configured to couple a first computer of the at least two computers to one or more second peripheral devices and to couple a second computer of the at least two computers to one or more third peripheral devices, the apparatus comprising:

a switch configured to couple to the at least two computers and the one or more first peripheral devices;

a first connector configured to couple to the first computer of the at least two computers;

a second connector directly coupled to the first connector and configured to couple to the one or more second peripheral devices;

a third connector configured to couple to the second computer of the at least two computers; and

a fourth connector directly coupled to the third connector and configured to couple to the one or more third peripheral devices.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a fifth connector coupled to the switch and configured to couple to the first computer of the at least two computers;

a sixth connector coupled to the switch and configured to couple to the second computer of the at least two computers; and

a seventh connector coupled to the switch and configured to couple to one of the one or more first peripheral devices.

24. A method of manufacturing a switching apparatus, the switching apparatus configured to electrically couple one or more peripheral devices to two or more computers, the method comprising:

providing a first hub with an upstream port and two or more downstream ports;

providing a second hub with an upstream port and two or more downstream ports;

providing a switch;

electrically coupling a first port of the two or more downstream ports of the first hub to the switch;

electrically coupling a first port of the two or more downstream ports of the second hub to the switch;

providing three or more output connectors configured to couple to the one or more peripheral devices;

electrically coupling a second port of the two or more downstream ports of the first hub to a first output connector of the three or more output connectors;

electrically coupling a second port of the two or more downstream ports of the second hub to a second output connector of the three or more output connectors; and

electrically coupling the switch to a third output connector of the three or more output connectors.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

providing two or more input connectors configured to couple to one of the two or more computers;

electrically coupling a first input connector of the two or more input connectors to the upstream port of the first hub; and

electrically coupling a second input connector of the two or more input connectors to the upstream port of the second hub.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein:

providing the three or more output connectors comprises;

providing the three or more output connectors to comprise three or more universal serial bus connectors.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

providing a third hub with an upstream port and two or more downstream ports;

electrically coupling a first port of the two or more downstream ports of the third hub to the switch; and

electrically coupling a second port of the two or more downstream ports of the third hub to a fourth output connector of the three or more output connectors.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

electrically coupling a third port of the two or more downstream ports of the first hub to a fourth output connector of the three or more output connectors.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein:

electrically coupling the second port of the two or more downstream ports of the first hub comprises;

directly coupling the second port of the two or more downstream ports of the first hub to the first output connector of the three or more output connectors; and

electrically coupling the second port of the two or more downstream ports of the second hub comprises;

directly coupling the second port of the two or more downstream ports of the second hub to the second output connector of the three or more output connectors.