Peripheral device storage

• US 9,063,693 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2012
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Raken, Jan, Hill, Andrew W., Bingham, Robert J. Jr., Kyriacou, Peter, McLaughlin, Robyn Rebecca Reed
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US13/603,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20130335903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.08, 361/679.09, 361/679.2, 361/679.3, 36167926-67929, 36167937-67939, 361/679.4, 36167941-67944, 36167955-67959, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

Peripheral device storage techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a computing device includes a housing and a power connection port that is configured to form a physical coupling to a peripheral device sufficient to retain the peripheral device against the housing and form an electrical coupling configured to receive power at the computing device from a power adapter.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a housing; and

a power connection port, formed as a recess within the housing, that is configured to;

form a physical coupling to a stylus sufficient to retain the stylus against the housing, the stylus extending along a central long axis, the physical coupling being such that when the stylus is coupled to the power connection port, the central long axis extends entirely along the outside of the computing device; and

form an electrical coupling configured to receive power at the computing device from a power adapter.

2. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the power connection port is configured to receive the power from the power adapter to charge a battery disposed within the housing.

3. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the power connection port is configured to receive a protrusion of the stylus within the port.

4. A computing device as described in claim 3, wherein the protrusion is configured to be selectable by a user to initiate a function of the computing device.

5. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the power connection port is configured to provide power to the stylus.

6. A computing device as described in claim 5, wherein the power is provided to the stylus to charge a battery of the stylus.

7. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the power connection port is not configured to provide power to the stylus.

8. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the housing is configured accordingly to a mobile form factor that is configured to be grasped by one or more hands of a user.

9. A method comprising:

forming a physical coupling to a stylus by a power connection port formed as a recess within a housing of a computing device using magnetism that is sufficient to retain the stylus against the housing of the computing device, the stylus extending along a central long axis, the physical coupling being such that when the stylus is coupled to the power connection port, the central long axis extends entirely along the outside of the computing device; and

forming an electrical coupling using the power connection port that is configured to receive power at the computing device from a power adapter.

10. A method as described in claim 9, wherein at least one of the power connection port or the stylus includes a magnet.

11. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the power connection port is configured to receive the power from the power adapter to charge a battery disposed within the housing.

12. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the power connection port is configured to receive a protrusion of the stylus within the port.

13. A method as described in claim 12, wherein the protrusion is configured to be selectable by a user to initiate a function of the computing device.

14. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the power connection port is configured to provide power to the stylus.

15. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the power is provided to the peripheral device to charge a battery of the stylus.

16. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the power connection port is not configured to provide power to the stylus.

17. A computing device comprising:

a housing; and

a power connection port formed as a recess within the housing that is configured to;

form a physical coupling to a stylus that is sufficient to retain the stylus against the housing using magnetism, the stylus extending along a central long axis, the physical coupling being such that when the stylus is coupled to the power connection port, the central long axis extends entirely along the outside of the computing device; and

form an electrical coupling configured to receive power at the computing device from a power adapter.

18. A computing device as described in claim 17, wherein at least one of the power connection port or the stylus includes a magnet.

19. A computing device as described in claim 17, wherein the power connection port is configured to receive the power from the power adapter to charge a battery disposed within the housing.

20. A computing device as described in claim 17, wherein the power connection port is configured to receive a protrusion of the stylus within the port.

21. A computing device as described in claim 20, wherein the protrusion is configured to be selectable by a user to initiate a function of the computing device.

22. A computing device as described in claim 17, wherein the power connection port is configured to provide power to the stylus.

23. A computing device as described in claim 22, wherein the power is provided to the stylus to charge a battery of the stylus.

24. A computing device as described in claim 17, wherein the power connection port is not configured to provide power to the stylus.

25. A computing device as described in claim 17, wherein the housing is configured accordingly to a mobile form factor that is configured to be grasped by one or more hands of a user.