Computer stylus cable system and method

• US 20060197755A1
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bawany, Muhammad Ali
• Application Number:
  US11/070,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20060197755A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• 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 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

Disclosed is a cable assembly having a connector for coupling to at least one of a stylus and a display assembly, the cable assembly having at least one conductor for providing charging power to a rechargeable power supply of the stylus from a power supply of the display assembly.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a cable assembly having a connector for coupling to at least one of a stylus and a display assembly, said cable assembly having at least one conductor for providing charging power to a rechargeable power supply of said stylus from a power supply of said display assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said cable assembly comprises a coiled cable portion.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said cable assembly comprises a cable portion adapted to interface with a retractable cable storage mechanism.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said cable assembly comprises a cable portion having a length to enable manipulation of said stylus over all relevant portions of a display of said display assembly.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said connector provides sufficient resistance to detachment from a corresponding connector when coupled thereto to prevent unintended separation during normal use of said stylus.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said connector comprises a locking mechanism to prevent unintended separation of said stylus from said display assembly.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said cable assembly further has a second connector for coupling to at least one of a stylus and a display assembly, wherein said connector couples said cable assembly to one of said stylus and display assembly and said second connector couples said cable assembly to the other one of said stylus and display assembly.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said connector comprises a mini-USB connector and said second connector comprises a USB-Type-A connector.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said connector comprises an industry standard connector configuration.

10. A system comprising:

a stylus having a rechargeable power supply; and

a cable assembly having a connector for coupling to at least one of said stylus and a display assembly, said cable assembly completing a charging circuit between said rechargeable power supply and a power supply of said display assembly when coupled to said stylus and said display assembly.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said display assembly comprises a tablet computer.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said cable assembly is substantially permanently coupled to said display assembly.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said display assembly comprises a retractable cable storage mechanism coupled to said cable assembly and operable to store at least a portion of said cable assembly.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said display assembly comprises an industry standard interface for coupling said display assembly to a plurality of devices, and wherein said connector is selected to interface with said industry standard interface.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said stylus further has a charge status indicator.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said charge status indicator is coupled to at least one of said rechargeable power supply and said recharging circuit to provide output of a charge status of said rechargeable power supply.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said charge status indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said charge status indicator comprises a liquid crystal display.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said charge status indicator comprises an audio output device.

20. The system of claim 10 wherein said stylus further has a connector to interface with said connector of said cable assembly, wherein said connector of said stylus is disposed such that an axis of interface with respect to said connectors is not aligned with an expected axis of tension expected to be experienced by said cable assembly.

21. The system of claim 10 wherein said stylus comprises a recharging circuit.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said recharging circuit comprises reverse current circuitry to prevent discharging the rechargeable power supply through the display assembly.

23. A method comprising:

coupling a cable assembly between a stylus and a corresponding display assembly; and

providing charging power from said display assembly to said stylus to recharge a rechargeable power supply of said stylus.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said coupling comprises:

coupling a connector of said cable assembly to an interface of said display assembly provided for coupling said display assembly to a plurality of devices.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said coupling comprises:

withdrawing at least a portion of said cable assembly from a retractable cable storage mechanism.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein said coupling comprises:

engaging a locking mechanism of a connector.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

providing output showing a status of said providing charging power.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

determining if said rechargeable power supply is fully charged.

29. A system comprising:

means for electrically coupling a stylus to a corresponding display assembly; and

means for charging a rechargeable power supply of said stylus using power from said display assembly.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said means for electrically coupling comprises:

means coupling said display assembly to each of a plurality of devices.

31. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

means for retracting at least a portion of a cable assembly of said means for electrically coupling into a cable storage mechanism.

32. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

means for providing output showing a status of said charging said rechargeable power supply.