Inductive peripheral retention device

• US 9,424,048 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Ng, Shiu Sang, Jakoboski, Timothy Allen, Standing, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US14/486,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20160077843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 439527-531, 439/638
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

Inductive peripheral retention device techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes a plug configured to removably engage a communication port of a device to form a communicative coupling with the device. The plug is securable to and removable from the device using one or more hands of a user. The apparatus also includes a peripheral securing portion connected to the plug and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via an inductive element formed as a flexible loop and configured to form a communicative coupling between the peripheral device and the device, which may be used to support charging of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plug configured to removably engage a communication port of a device to form a communicative coupling with the device, the plug is securable to and removable from the device using one or more hands of a user; and

a peripheral securing portion connected to the plug and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via an inductive element formed as a flexible loop and configured to form a communicative coupling between the peripheral device and the device, the flexible loop comprising perforations such that the flexible loop is both flexible and stretchable.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the communicative coupling is configured to charge the peripheral device using power received by the plug from the device.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the communicative coupling is configured to communicate data between the device and the peripheral device.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the flexible loop is formed from a metal.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the flexible loop is covered with a fabric.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a stylus.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the inductive element is configured to substantially surround at least a portion of a housing of the peripheral device.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein flexing of the flexible loop is detectable using inductance by the device to control an amount of power to be provided via the communicative coupling.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

10. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the flexible loop has a sinusoidal trace pattern.

11. A peripheral retention device comprising:

a plug configured to removably engage a communication port of a computing device to form a communicative coupling with the computing device; and

a peripheral securing portion connected to the plug and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via an inductive element formed as a flexible loop and configured to form a communicative coupling between the peripheral device and the device, the flexible loop having a sinusoidal trace pattern.

12. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11, wherein the communicative coupling is configured to charge the peripheral device using power received by the plug from the computing device.

13. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11, wherein the communicative coupling is configured to communicate data between the computing device and the peripheral device.

14. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11, wherein the flexible loop is formed from a metal.

15. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11, wherein the flexible loop is covered with a fabric.

16. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11, wherein the peripheral device is a stylus.

17. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11, wherein the inductive element is configured to substantially surround at least a portion of a housing of the peripheral device.

18. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11, wherein flexing of the flexible loop is detectable using inductance by the computing device to control an amount of power to be provided via the communicative coupling.

19. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11, wherein the port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

20. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11, wherein the flexible loop includes perforations such that the flexible loop is both flexible and stretchable.