Charging device for removable input modules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10348108-B2
Application number	US-201715621229-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2017
Priority date	Nov 25, 2014
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A charging device for one or more input modules for a touch-screen device is described. The charging device comprises a charging mechanism and portions which are shaped to receive an input module. The charging mechanism comprises a power input and a power output. The power input is configured to receive power from an external power source and the power input is configured to provide power to one or more input modules which are attached to the charging device.

First claim

We claim:

1. A charging device, comprising:
a charging mechanism including:
a power input interface configured to receive power from an external power source; and
a power output interface configured to provide power to an input module for controlling a computing device; and

a body portion comprising an attachment portion defined on the body and shaped to receive at least a portion of the input module to form a single composite device separate from the computing device.

2. The charging device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a communication element configured to receive commands from the computing device; and
a processor configured to control an output device, an input control, or a sensor responsive to commands received from the computing device.

3. The charging device of claim 1 , further comprising a communication element configured to communicate user input data to the computing device, the user input data being generated in response to user input via input controls on the single composite device.

4. The charging device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to store user data and a communication element configured to communicate the user data to the computing device directly or via the input module.

5. The charging device of claim 1 , wherein the charging mechanism further comprises a battery configured to provide power to the input module via the power output interface.

6. The charging device of claim 5 , wherein the power input interface is electrically connected to the battery to enable the battery to be charged when the power input interface receives power from the external power source.

7. The charging device of claim 1 , wherein the power output interface comprises a plurality of electrical contacts on the attachment portion, and wherein the attachment portion comprises one or more electrical contacts for data communication between the charging mechanism and the input module.

8. A user input device for a computing device, comprising:
an input module comprising:
an input control configured to receive a user input and to control a computing device based on the user input; and
an attachment mechanism; and

a charging device configured to charge the input module, the charging device comprising:
an attachment portion for removable attachment of the attachment mechanism of the input module to form a single composite device, the attachment portion being shaped to receive at least a portion of the attachment mechanism; and
a charging mechanism comprising a power input interface configured to receive power from an external power source and a power output interface configured to provide power to the input module.

9. The user input device of claim 8 , wherein one or both of the input module or the charging device comprises a communication element configured to communicate with the computing device.

10. The user input device of claim 9 , wherein the communication element is a wireless communication element.

11. The user input device of claim 9 , wherein the charging device further comprises at least one of an input control, a sensor, or an output device.

12. The user input device of claim 8 , wherein the charging mechanism further comprises a battery configured to provide power to the input module via the power output interface.

13. The user input device of claim 8 , wherein the input module is configured to communicatively link with the computing device by providing an identifier to the computing device.

14. The user input device of claim 8 , further comprising a touch-screen device, wherein the power output interface is further configured to provide power to the touch-screen device.

15. A user input device for a computing device, the user input device comprising:
a removable input module comprising:
an input control configured to receive a user input and to control a computing device based on the user input;
a communication element configured to wirelessly communicate with the computing device; and
an attachment mechanism; and

a charging device configured to charge the removable input module, the charging device comprising:
a power input interface configured to receive power from an external power source;
a battery;
a power output interface configured to provide power from the power input interface or the battery to the removable input module; and
an attachment portion shaped to receive the attachment mechanism of the removable input module,
wherein the charging device is configured as a single composite input device when coupled with the removable input module, the single composite input device being separate from the computing device.

16. The charging device of claim 15 , wherein the communication element is further configured to receive commands from the computing device; and the charging device further comprising:
a processor configured to control an output device, an input control, or a sensor responsive to the commands received from the computing device.

17. The charging device of claim 15 , wherein the communication element is further configured to communicate the user input to the computing device.

18. The charging device of claim 15 , further comprising a memory, the memory configured to store user data,
wherein the communication element is further configured to communicate the user data to the computing device.

19. The charging device of claim 15 , wherein the power input interface is electrically connected to the battery to enable the battery to be charged when the power input interface receives power from the external power source.

20. The charging device of claim 15 , wherein the power output interface comprises a plurality of electrical contacts for data communication between the charging device and the removable input module.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Hodges Stephen E
• Taylor Stuart
• Helmes John Franciscus Marie

Classifications

• H02J2105/44

  Portable electronic devices · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title