Port for a computing device
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsJoshua Moore, Craig Eric Ranta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A port is provided in a housing of a computing device. The port uses a common installation volume in the housing to provide the functionality of a first component and a second component in a single, combined port. The port functions as an audio output port in a first mode, and as a charging and/or data communication port in a second mode. A front volume of an audio output device extends between an audio driver and a receptacle of the port for output of audio content via the receptacle in the first mode. An interface device may be provided in a void defined by a wall portion of the receptacle, to facilitate connection with a charging plug selectively insertable into the receptacle for charging of the computing device and/or wired data communication in the second mode.
Claims16
A computing device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a port included in the housing, the port including a receptacle accessible from an outside of the housing, the receptacle including:
- an audio output portion in communication with an audio driver received in the housing;
- and
- an interface portion configured to removably receive a plug of an external cable, the interface portion including at least one interface device,
- wherein
- in a first mode, the audio output portion of the port is configured to output audio content generated by the audio driver;
- and
- in a second mode, the interface portion of the port is configured to provide for at least one of:
- charging of a power storage device received in the housing via the plug of the external cable received in the receptacle, or
- exchange of data with an external device via the plug of the external cable received in the receptacle.
A computing device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a port included in the housing, the port including a receptacle accessible from an outside of the housing;
- an audio output device received in the housing, the audio output device including:
- an audio driver;
- and
- a front volume arranged between the audio driver and the receptacle;
- a power storage device received in the housing and connected to at least one interface device provided in the receptacle to provide for charging of the power storage device in response to coupling of a plug of an external cable to the at least one interface device;
- and
- a data communication module received in the housing and connected to the at least one interface device in the receptacle and configured to exchange data with an external device connected to the computing device via a plug of an external cable connected between the at least one interface device in the receptacle and the external device.
A computer implemented method, comprising:
- detecting, by a sensing system of a computing device, an operating mode of the computing device;
- operating in a first mode in response to detection of a plug of an external cable received in a receptacle portion of a multi-functional port of the computing device, including charging a power storage device of the computing device with power provided from an external power source via the plug received in the receptacle portion of the multi-functional port;
- and
- operating in a second mode in response to detecting that the plug is not received in the receptacle of the multi-functional port, including outputting audio signals generated by an audio output device of the computing device via the receptacle portion of the multi-functional port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.