US 6,357,011 B2Granted

Bus-powered computer peripheral with supplement battery power to overcome bus-power limit

AssigneeGateway, Inc.

InventorTimothy G. Gilbert

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Abstract

A computer system typically includes a central computer and several peripherals, such as a mouse and a printer, which communicate with the computer via a communications channel known as a serial bus. The serial bus may also supply a limited amount of power to some peripherals. Unfortunately, the power limit compels high-power peripherals to include independent power supplies, an arrangement which increase their complexity and cost. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention provides a bus-powered peripheral that includes a controller, a rechargeable battery, and a voltage regulator or recharge circuit. The recharge circuit monitors data on a serial bus, recharges the battery during inactive periods, and allows the battery to supplement bus power during active periods, thereby overcoming the power limit of the serial bus.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a computer;
a bus having at least a pair of data lines for communicating data and at least a pair of power lines for supplying power according to a predetermined power limit;
and
a peripheral coupled to the computer via the bus to receive data and power, the peripheral including:
a rechargeable battery;
a communications port having two power terminals for coupling to the pair of power lines and having two data terminals for coupling to the pair of data lines;
a voltage regulator coupled to the power terminals and the rechargeable battery;
a primary-function module coupled to the voltage regulator;
and
a controller coupled to at least one of the two data terminals and to the voltage regulator, the controller responsive to signals at the data terminals, indicating an inactive period, to switch the voltage regulator to a charge mode during which it charges the rechargeable battery and responsive to signals at the data terminals, indicating an active period, to switch the voltage regulator to a battery supply mode during which it transfers energy from the rechargeable battery and from the power lines to the primary-function module, thereby providing the primary-function module power in excess of the predetermined power limit.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.