# US 2018/0020829 A1 · Wireless Keyboard Module, Portable Electronic Device And Methods For Charging And Pairing A Wireless Keyboard Module To A Portable Electronic Device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0020829 A1 - Document ID: US20180020829A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/712,331 - Filed: 2017-09-22 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-24 - Assignees: Xplore Technolgies Corp. - Applicants: Xplore Technolgies Corp. - Inventors: Bradford E. Vier; Kevin Bosse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020829A1 ## CPC - F16M 11/2021: {around a horizontal axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence)} - F16M 11/10: around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)} - F16M 13/00: Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)} - G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]} - G06F 1/166: {related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle} - G06F 1/1669: {Detachable keyboards} - G06F 3/0208: {Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of a keyboard, e.g. pivoting legs (for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1667)} - G06F 3/0231: {Cordless keyboards} - F16B 2200/83: Use of a magnetic material - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A wireless keyboard module, portable electronic device and methods for charging and pairing a wireless keyboard module to a portable electronic device are provided herein. According to one embodiment, the wireless keyboard module includes a wired connector configured to electrically connect to a wired connector on a back surface of the portable electronic device when the wireless keyboard module is mounted onto the back surface of the portable electronic device. Upon connecting the wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and the portable electronic device, the wireless keyboard module is configured to receive a charging signal from the portable electronic device and configured to transmit a pairing code to the portable electronic device across the wired connectors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wireless keyboard module for use with a portable electronic device, the wireless keyboard module comprising: a wired connector configured to electrically connect to a wired connector on a back surface of the portable electronic device when the wireless keyboard module is mounted onto the back surface of the portable electronic device; wherein upon connecting the wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and the portable electronic device, the wireless keyboard module is configured to receive a charging signal from the portable electronic device and configured to transmit a pairing code to the portable electronic device across the wired connectors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wireless keyboard module as recited in claim 1, further comprising a battery and a charging circuit coupled for charging the battery upon receiving the charging signal from the portable electronic device via the wired connectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The wireless keyboard module as recited in claim 2, further comprising a microcontroller configured to automatically initiate and run a pairing subroutine once the wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and the portable electronic device are connected and the battery is charged to at least a minimum threshold level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The wireless keyboard module as recited in claim 3, wherein once the battery is charged to at least the minimum threshold level, the microcontroller is configured to transmit a keyboard ready signal to the portable electronic device and configured to receive an asserted connect signal from the portable electronic device across the wired connectors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The wireless keyboard module as recited in claim 4, wherein upon receiving the asserted connect signal from the portable electronic device, the microcontroller is configured to transmit the pairing code to the portable electronic device across the wired connectors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The wireless keyboard module as recited in claim 5, wherein if pairing is unsuccessful, the microcontroller is configured to transmit a new pairing code to the portable electronic device across the wired connectors a number of times until pairing is successful or an error condition occurs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The wireless keyboard module as recited in claim 5, wherein if pairing is successful, the microcontroller is configured to receive a de-asserted connect signal from the portable electronic device across the wired connectors, wherein the de-asserted connect signal causes the microcontroller to enter a deep-sleep power state until input data is supplied to the wireless keyboard module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wireless keyboard module as recited in claim 1, further comprising radio frequency (RF) circuitry and an antenna configured to communicate with the portable electronic device via a wireless channel of communication once the pairing code is used to pair the wireless keyboard module with the portable electronic device and the wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and the portable electronic device are disconnected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wireless keyboard module as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more thermal intake vents positioned to allow air to pass through the keyboard module into the portable electronic device when the keyboard module is mounted onto the back surface of the portable electronic device. ### Claim 10 A portable electronic device configured to communicate with a wireless keyboard module, the portable electronic device comprising: a wired connector configured to electrically connect to a wired connector of the wireless keyboard module when the wireless keyboard module is retained on a back surface of the portable electronic device; wherein upon connecting the wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device is configured to transmit a charging signal to the wireless keyboard module and configured to receive a pairing code from the wireless keyboard module across the wired connectors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, further comprising interface circuitry coupled for receiving a keyboard docked signal when the wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and the portable electronic device are connected, and in response to the keyboard docked signal, supplying the charging signal to the wireless keyboard module via the wired connectors to charge a battery within the wireless keyboard module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, further comprising firmware configured to receive a keyboard ready signal from the wireless keyboard module via the wired connectors once the battery is charged to at least a minimum threshold level. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The portable electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein upon receiving the keyboard ready signal, the firmware is configured to supply a connect signal to the wireless keyboard module and receive the pairing code from the wireless keyboard module across the wired connectors to pair the wireless keyboard module with the portable electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, further comprising an antenna and radio frequency (RF) circuitry configured to communicate with the wireless keyboard module via a wireless channel of communication once the pairing code is used to pair the wireless keyboard module with the portable electronic device and the wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and the portable electronic device are disconnected. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, further comprising one or more magnetic structures arranged on the back surface of the portable electronic device for aligning with and magnetically adhering to magnetic structures on a detachable easel, which is configured to retain the wireless keyboard module on the back surface of the portable electronic device when the detachable easel is in a closed position. ### Claim 15 A method for charging and pairing a wireless keyboard module to a portable electronic device across wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and portable electronic device, the method comprising: transmitting a charging signal to the wireless keyboard module via the wired connectors to charge a battery within the wireless keyboard module, wherein the charging signal is transmitted upon connection of the wired connectors; receiving a keyboard ready signal from the wireless keyboard module via the wired connectors once the battery is charged to at least a minimum threshold level; transmitting a connect signal to the wireless keyboard module via the wired connectors in response to receiving the keyboard ready signal; receiving a pairing code from the wireless keyboard module via the wired connectors to pair the wireless keyboard module with the portable electronic device in response to receiving the connect signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising receiving a keyboard docked signal from the wireless keyboard module via the wired connectors upon connection of the wired connectors, and transmitting the charging signal to the wireless keyboard module in response to receiving the keyboard docked signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising communicating with the wireless keyboard module via a wireless channel of communication once the pairing code is used to pair the wireless keyboard module with the portable electronic device and the wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and the portable electronic device are disconnected. ### Claim 18 A method for charging and pairing a wireless keyboard module to a portable electronic device across wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and portable electronic device, the method comprising: receiving a charging signal from the portable electronic device via the wired connectors to charge a battery within the wireless keyboard module, wherein the charging signal is received upon connection of the wired connectors; transmitting a keyboard ready signal to the portable electronic device via the wired connectors once the battery is charged to at least a minimum threshold level; receiving a connect signal from the portable electronic device via the wired connectors in response to the keyboard ready signal; and automatically running a pairing subroutine in response to receiving the connect signal to pair the wireless keyboard module with the portable electronic device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step of automatically running a pairing subroutine comprises transmitting a pairing code to the portable electronic device across the wired connectors to pair the wireless keyboard module with the portable electronic device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method as recited in claim 19, wherein if pairing is unsuccessful, the method further comprises transmit a new pairing code to the portable electronic device across the wired connectors a number of times until pairing is successful or an error condition occurs. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising communicating with the portable electronic device via a wireless channel of communication if pairing is successful and the wired connectors of the wireless keyboard module and the portable electronic device are disconnected.