Patent ID: 7591673

Claim:
A power/control cable for transmitting control signals and power from a computer system to a printer, the computer system comprising a controller and a power converter, the power/control cable comprising first and second ends and comprising: a first connector for the computer system located at the first end of the power/control cable proximate to the computer system and comprising a universal serial bus (USB) connector for the computer system for electrically connecting a first control signal conductor to the controller of the computer system and a power plug for the computer system for electrically connecting a first power conductor to the power converter of the computer system; and the second end located distal from the computer system and proximate to the printer and split into a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg comprises a control connector for the printer for transferring the control signals from the computer system to the printer, the control connector for the printer comprising a USB connector for the printer for interfacing with a printer USB connector, and wherein the second leg comprises a power connector for the printer for transferring the power from the computer system to the printer without using a separate power supply.