Power off method for wireless peripheral device

• US 6,970,955 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cliff Chen
• Original Assignee: Cliff Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Cliff
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Alan S.
• Application Number:
  US10/614,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20050009496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 710/16, 710/17, 710/18, 710/19, 710/14, 710/67
• US Class Current: 710/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A power off method for a wireless device is proposed. A battery is installed in the wireless device as the power supply. When the power source is connected to the wireless device, an identification process is conducted between the wireless device and the wireless receiver connected to a computer. After the completion of successful identification process, the control chip within the wireless device stores a set of ID code that can be identified by the wireless receiver. In order to prevent wireless devices from being inadvertently reactivated, these devices are usually turned off during traveling. The present invention provides a power off method that terminates power to all parts of the wireless device except the control chip by a certain operation on the connect button. Therefore, an individual power switch is not required while the device can be turned off, and resume the normal operation on the next power on.

Claims

1. A power off method for a wireless device, the wireless device comprising at least one peripheral circuit, a control chip and a power source providing power to the control chip and the peripheral circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

pressing a button of said wireless device;

terminating the power to said at least one peripheral circuit of said wireless device and maintaining the power to said control chip responsive to said button being pressed, hence bringing said wireless device into a power off mode; and

said control chip maintaining an active ID code during the power off mode for use at a next turn on mode for saving connection time of said wireless device.

2. The power off method for a wireless device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step to determine whether said button has been pressed longer than a preset period of time T or not.

3. The power off method for a wireless device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a power off function is enabled if said button is depressed for a period exceeding said time T.

4. The power off method for a wireless device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a function of changing a new ID code is enabled if said button is pressed for a period shorter than the preset time T.

5. The power off method for a wireless device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of setting proper I/O configurations before entering into power off mode so as to reduce power consumption.

6. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said wireless device has to be resumed by pressing said button again, if said wireless device has been put in the power off mode through said method.

7. A power off method for a wireless peripheral device, comprising the steps of:

initiating a synchronization process to uniquely identify said wireless peripheral by selecting one of a plurality of ID codes by a control chip for use in communications with a computer;

pressing a key of said wireless peripheral;

terminating power supplied to all other parts of said wireless peripheral except said control chip responsive to said key being pressed to define a power off mode, said control chip maintaining said selected ID code during said power off mode for subsequent communications with the computer;

pressing said key of said wireless peripheral while in said power off mode; and

reinitiating supplying power to said other parts of said wireless peripheral responsive to said step of pressing said key of said wireless peripheral while in said power off mode, said control chip continuing to use said selected ID code without repeating said synchronization process.

8. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step to determine whether said key has been pressed over a preset period of time T or not.

9. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of terminating power is initiated responsive to said key being pressed for a period of time exceeding said time T.

10. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said synchronization process is initiated responsive to said key being pressed for a period of time not exceeding said time T.

11. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of terminating power further includes the step of configuring I/O pins to minimize power consumption.

12. A power off method for a wireless peripheral device, wherein said wireless peripheral device emits wireless signals to a wireless receiver which is connected to a computer, a control chip of said wireless peripheral device storing a selected one of a plurality of ID codes after the completion of an identification process between said wireless peripheral device and said wireless receiver, wherein the signal emitted from said wireless peripheral device is received by said wireless receiver and said power off method comprises the following steps:

pressing a key of said wireless peripheral device; and

maintaining power supplied to said control chip and terminating power supplied to all other parts of said wireless device, said control chip maintaining said selected ID code during said power off mode for during a subsequent turn on mode to save connection time between said wireless peripheral device and said wireless receiver.

13. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a step of determining whether said key has been pressed for a time that exceeds a preset time T.

14. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said step of maintaining power supplied to said control chip and terminating power supplied to all other parts of said wireless device is initiated responsive to said key being pressed for a period of time exceeding said preset time T.

15. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the identification process is initiated responsive to said key being pressed for a period of time shorter than preset time T.

16. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of maintaining power supplied to said control chip and terminating power supplied to all other parts of said wireless device includes the step of configuring I/O pins to minimize power consumption.

17. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of pressing said key a subsequent time in order to restore power supplies to said all other parts of said wireless peripheral device.

18. The power off method for a wireless peripheral device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said wireless peripheral device is a wireless mouse or a wireless keyboard.