Abstract:
Concepts for forming an electrical connection between devices are disclosed. A cord for transferring electrical power and signals can be provided to connect a first device to a second device. One or more magnetic couplings can be provided to exert magnetic forces between the cord and the first device and/or between the cord and the second device. The one or more magnetic couplings can allow transfer of electrical power and signals therethrough.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Forming an electrical connection between devices can be useful in many situations. For example, computing systems such as personal computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multi-processor systems, set top boxes, network PCs, mini computers, and the like typically receive input from a user via a device such as a keyboard and/or a mouse. These types of input devices can be attached to a processing unit of the computing systems by a wired connection. Signals generated by operations such as pressing an actuable switch on a mouse are provided via the wired connection so that the computing device can process the inputs provided by a user. 
         [0002]    In another situation, an input device includes data stored in memory that is transferred to a computing system. These devices can include watches, mobile devices, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones and cameras. The data can be transferred via a wired connection to the computing system such that the data can be stored and/or manipulated by the computing system. If desired, the computing system can transmit electrical signals to these devices for purposes of synchronization. 
         [0003]    Furthermore, input devices may include a rechargeable power store for powering the input devices. The internal power store located within the devices has a finite amount of energy stored therein. When the devices are unconnected to any type of external device under normal operation, normal usage of the devices will dissipate the energy stored within the power supply. Eventually, it may be necessary to replenish or recharge the power store in order for a user to continue to use the devices. 
         [0004]    The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Concepts presented herein relate to forming an electrical connection between devices for charging and/or communication. Electrical power and data signals can be supplied by a first device through a cord to a second device. The cord can be adapted to form a magnetic coupling with the first device and/or the second device. When the cord is connected to both the first device and the second device, transfer of electrical power and data signals between the devices can be provided. In addition, one of the devices can be adapted to transmit wireless signals to the other device and remain in operation while coupled to the cord. 
         [0006]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an electrical connection system. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of components in an electrical connection system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a dongle. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a cord. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a magnetic coupling between a dongle and a cord. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an isometric bottom view of an input device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a magnetic coupling between a cord and an input device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an isometric bottom view of an input device having a cord attached thereto. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a side view of an input device having a cord attached thereto. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an input device  100  that interfaces with a computer  102 , which also operates as a charging and/or communication device for input device  100 . Input device  100  includes several components for interfacing with computer  102  to perform various tasks. Input device  100  is illustrated as a mouse, although other input devices can also be used such as game controllers, keyboards, scanners, sensors, watches, cameras, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, etc. and any other devices that can receive and/or transmit input as well as receive power from computer  102 . Likewise, computer  102  is illustrated as a laptop computer although other devices used for communication with and/or charging input device  100 , such as, but not limited to desktop computers, mobile devices, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, memory storage units, etc. 
         [0017]    Input device  100  can communicate wirelessly through a transceiver dongle  104  that is directly coupled to computer  102 . In addition, transceiver dongle  104  can be adapted to transmit power from computer  102  to input device  100  through a cord  106 . When input device  100  and transceiver dongle  104  are coupled through cord  106 , transceiver dongle  104  can transfer electrical power (i.e. energy) to input device  100  in order to recharge a power store within input device  100 . Additionally, signals can be transferred from input device  100  to computer  102  through cord  106 . In alternative embodiments, computer  102  can be configured to transmit signals to input device  102 . 
         [0018]    During recharging of the power store, device  100  and cord  106  are configured to allow operation of input device  100  as in normal operation. For example, cord  106  can be positioned within a recess provided in input device  100  such that cord  106  moves therewith and a position of device  100  can still be sensed by a sensor within input device  100  and transmitted to transceiver dongle  104 . Furthermore, computer  102  can be adapted to provide an indicator such as an icon displayed thereon that indicates electrical power and/or signals are being transferred between input device  100  and computer  102 . The input device  100  can also then be configured to operate in a wired mode such that actuation of components of the input device  100  are sent to computer  102  through cord  106 . This wired mode can be useful in situations for added security or when wireless devices are prohibited such as in airplanes or hospitals. Although herein illustrated as an external component of computer  102 , a transceiver to communicate wirelessly with input device  100  can be an internal component of computer  102 . Furthermore, a connector for receiving cord  106  can be integrated into a form factor of computer  102 , as desired. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  provides a more detailed diagram of internal components illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , input device  100  includes a processing module  200  coupled to a power store  202 , which is adapted to provide power to the processing module  200 . In one embodiment, power store  202  includes a rechargeable battery and is coupled to a connector  203  to receive power provided through cord  106 . Input device  100  also includes a set of keys  204  positioned on a top surface  206  of input device  100  and a position tracking sensor  208  positioned on a bottom surface  210  of input device  100 . The positioning of keys  204  and position tracking sensor  208  is illustrative only, and can be positioned in several locations as desired. 
         [0020]    Keys  204  can be any form of input mechanism such as buttons, wheels, balls, switches, pads, etc. that can be actuated by a user. Upon actuation of any of the keys  204 , processing module  200  provides a signal indicative thereof to a transceiver  214 . Transceiver  214  can be any type of wireless communication module that transmits signals to transceiver dongle  104  that is directly coupled to computer  102 . In one embodiment, transceiver  214  is a Bluetooth® compatible transceiver for wirelessly transmitting signals to and receiving signals from transceiver dongle  104 . Other types of transceivers include wireless USB. 
         [0021]    Position tracking sensor  208  can be any type of tracking sensor such as a track ball, optical sensor, etc. Relative movements of input device  100  or a portion thereof correspond to movements of a cursor in a plane as detected by position tracking sensor  208 . Transceiver  214  can send a signal indicative of movement sensed by position tracking sensor  208  to transceiver dongle  104 . For example, when surface  210  is positioned on a flat surface such as a table top, sensor  208  tracks the position of device  100  on the table top. If sensor  208  is a track ball sensor, movement of the track ball relative to a device housing is sensed to provide the position. 
         [0022]    Transceiver dongle  104  includes a connector  216  that is adapted to be coupled to a corresponding connector  218  on an input device interface  220  of computer  102 . Input device interface  220  receives signals from input device  100 , in particular from transceiver dongle  104  that are received from transceiver  214 . Computer  102  also includes a processing unit  222 , memory  224  and a video interface  226 . Memory  224  can include one or more applications, such as applications  228 A-B. Additionally, video interface  226  is coupled to a monitor  230  to display images thereon. By operating input device  100 , a user can interact with any of the applications  228 A-B for display on monitor  230 . 
         [0023]    To form an electrical connection between input device  100  and computer  102 , cord  106  can be coupled to transceiver dongle  104  and input device  100 . Transceiver dongle  104  includes a connector  232  that mates with a corresponding connector  234  provided on cord  106 . Cord  106  also includes second connector  236  that interfaces with connector  203  on input device  100 . When coupled to transceiver dongle  104  and connector  203  of input device  100 , electrical power transmission can be provided to recharge power store  202 . Additionally, transfer of electrical signals can be provided between input device  100  and computer  102 . Connector  203  is recessed from surface  210  to allow connector  236  to be connected thereto such that connector  236  can be flush with or recessed from surface  210 . As a result, a user is still able to operate input device  100  while power store  202  is being recharged. If desired, signals sent by transceiver  114  can instead be sent via cord  106 , for example when wireless communication between input device  100  and computer  102  is prohibited. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of transceiver dongle  104 . Transceiver dongle  104  includes a housing  300  with connectors  216  and  232  positioned on either end of the housing. Housing  300  includes transceiver circuitry positioned therein that is adapted to communicate wirelessly with transceiver  214  of input device  100 . Furthermore, housing  300  includes electrical wiring adapted to transfer electrical power and signals from connector  216  to connector  232 . In one embodiment, connector  216  is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, although other types of connections can be used. 
         [0025]    Connector  232  includes a plurality of electrical interface elements, herein connector pins  304 A,  304 B and  304 C. These connector pins  304 A- 304 C are adapted to interface with corresponding pins on connector  234  of cord  106  to form an electrical connection from connector  216  through wires in housing  300  and to connector  234 . Connector  232  also includes a magnet  306  adapted to attract a corresponding magnet on connector  234  and a cup-shaped recess  308  extending inwardly from housing  300  to receive an outwardly extending protrusion from connector  234  of cord  106 . Cup-shaped recess  308  includes a central rectangular recessed surface surrounded by four beveled surfaces adjacent thereto. The beveled surfaces aid in forming a cup shape to receive connector  234 . If desired, the cup-shaped recess  308  can be asymmetrical to aid a person in aligning connector  234  with connector  232 . For example, one of the beveled surfaces can be longer than a beveled surface on the opposite side of the recess  308  to provide a physical guide for aligning connector  232  with connector  234 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of cord  106 , which includes an elongated cable  400  extending between connectors  234  and  236 . Connector  234  includes a housing  402 , a plurality of interface elements, herein connector pins  404 A,  404 B and  404 C that are adapted to be coupled to pins  304 A,  304 B and  304 C, respectively, of connector  232 . Additionally, connector  234  includes a magnet  406  and an outwardly extending protrusion  408 . Protrusion  408  includes a central rectangular protruding surface with four beveled surfaces adjacent thereto. The beveled surfaces are configured to mate with corresponding surfaces in recess  308  of connector  232 . As such, these beveled surfaces can also be asymmetrical to match the surfaces of recess  308 . 
         [0027]    Connector  236  includes a housing  410  with connector pins  412 A,  412 B and  412 C and includes a magnet  414 . Housing  410  is disc shaped and adapted to fit within a recess in input device  100 . Connector pins  404 A-C are electrically coupled to connector pins  412 A-C, respectively, through wires provided within cable  400 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a magnetic coupling  500  between connector  232  of transceiver dongle  104  and connector  234  of cord  106 . As illustrated, cup-shaped recess  308  of transceiver dongle  104  is aligned to mate with protrusion  408  of connector  234 . For example, surfaces  308 A,  308 B and  308 C of recess  308  are adapted to mate with surfaces  408 A,  408 B and  408 C of protrusion  408 . If desired, one of the beveled surfaces of recess  308  and a corresponding surface of protrusion  408  can be of a different length and/or angle than the other beveled surfaces of recess  308  and protrusions  408 . For example, both surfaces  308 A and  408 A can be of a longer length and a different angle than surface  308 C and  408 C, respectively. This asymmetric arrangement can provide a more visual alignment mechanism for a user when connecting connectors  232  and  234 . In addition to physical alignment of the recess  308  and protrusion  408 , connectors  232  and  234  can include other mechanisms to aid in aligning and connecting pins  304 A- 304 C with pins  404 A- 404 C. For example, pins  304 A- 304 C include concave end portions  501  to receive convex end portions  502  of pins  404 A- 404 C. 
         [0029]    A magnetic coupling is also used to secure connectors  232  and  234  together and form an electrical connection from transceiver dongle  104  to cord  106 . Magnetizing pins  304 A-C and  404 A-C with magnetic forces having opposite polarization can aid in ensuring that pins  304 A-C and  404 A-C are attracted and drawn towards each other and in a proper orientation. Additionally, the magnetization of the pins can resist being separated once they are engaged. Magnet  306  includes a magnetic orientation where North is in a direction toward pin  304 A and magnet  406  includes a magnetic orientation where North faces away from pin  404 A. As a result, magnetization of pin  304 A can be oriented in a direction where a North pole is proximate recess  308  and magnetization of pin  404 A is oriented in a direction where a South pole is proximate protrusion  408 . Pins  304 B and  304 C will be oriented in a magnetic direction opposite of pin  304 A such that pins  304 B-C include a South pole proximate recess  308 . Likewise, pins  404 B and  404 C will be oriented in a magnetic direction opposite of pin  404 A such that pins  404 B-C include a North pole proximate protrusion  408 . 
         [0030]    When brought in close proximity and in proper alignment, pins  304 A-C and  404 A-C will be brought into contact due to the magnetic force of the pins as well as magnets  306  and  406 . When in an improper alignment, magnetization of the pins and magnets  306  and  406  will repel connection of the pins. While connected, convex end portions  502  of pins  404 A-C are secured in concave portions  501  of pins  304 A-C, respectively. The North pole of pin  304 A is aligned with and connected to the South pole of pin  404 A. Likewise, the South poles of pins  304 B-C are aligned with and connected to the North poles of pins  404 B-C, respectively. The connection between the pins allows for the transfer of electrical power that can be sent to power store  202 . Pins  304 A-C and  404 A-C can be drill rods that are formed of a ferrous material such as steel and have copper plating near end portions  501  and  502 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of bottom surface  210  of input device  100 . Bottom surface  210  includes a connector receiving portion  600  that includes a connector recess  602  and a cable recess  604 . Connector recess  602  receives connector  236  and cable recess  604  receives cable  400  such that connector  236  and cable  400  can be flush with or recessed from surface  210  so as to not interfere with positioning of device  100 . Additionally, connector  203  is illustrated that includes electrical interface elements, herein connector pins  606 A,  606 B and  606 C that connect to pins  412 A,  412 B and  412 C of connector  236 , respectively. Pins  606 A-C are electrically coupled to power store  202  within device  100 . Connector  203  also includes a magnet  608  to aid in forming a magnetic coupling with magnet  414  of connector  236 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a magnetic coupling  700  between connector  203  of input device  100  and connector  236  of cord  106 . To connect connector  203  with connector  236 , a user can position input device  100  over connector  236  such that housing  410  can enter recess  602  and cable  400  can enter recess  604 . Accordingly, pins  606 A-C include convex end portions  701  that are received by concave end portions  702  of pins  412 A-C. When brought in close proximity and in proper alignment, magnetic forces can bring pins  412 A-C in contact with pins  606 A-C, respectively. When in an improper alignment, magnetic forces will repel connection between connectors  203  and  236 . As illustrated, magnetic orientation of magnet  414  is in an opposite orientation from magnet  608 . Magnet  414  has a magnetic North orientation in a direction away from pin  412 A and toward pins  412 B-C. This orientation causes pin  412 A to have a South pole facing connector  203  while pins  412 B-C have North poles facing connector  203 . Magnet  608  is used to magnetically orient pins  606 A-C as well. Magnet  608  has a North orientation in a direction toward pin  606 A, causing pin  606 A to have a North pole facing connector  236  and pins  606 B-C having South poles facing connector  236 . Magnetic forces in the pins cause connection of connectors  203  and  236  such that end portions  701  are disposed in end portions  702 . Thus, an electrical connection is formed between pins  412 A-C and pins  606 A-C, respectively. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of cord  106  connected to device  100  and  FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of cord  106  connected to device  100 . While connected, cord  106  is flush or recessed from surface  210  of device  100  to allow cord  106  to move with device  100 . Thus, a user can operate device  100  while keys  204  and position tracking sensor  208  remain operational. 
         [0034]    Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.