# US 7,412,610 B2 · System and method for power delivery to computing terminals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,412,610 B2 - Document ID: US7412610B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/131,811 - Filed: 2005-05-18 - Published: 2006-11-23 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2005-05-18 - Assignees: Symbol Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Kenneth Rivalsi; Christopher R. Paul - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7412610B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/28: Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - G06F 1/30: Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations (for resetting only G06F1/24) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Described is a method wherein a computer terminal is coupled to a power supply through a docking arrangement. The docking arrangement includes a protection circuit. A current supplied to the computing terminal is detected. When the current is greater than a predetermined value, the computer terminal is decoupled from the power supply. After the computer terminal is decoupled from the power supply, the computer terminal is recoupled to the power supply, and the method repeats beginning with detecting the current supplied to the computing terminal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: (a) coupling a computer terminal to a power supply through a docking arrangement, the docking arrangement including a protection circuit; (b) detecting a current supplied to the computing terminal; (c) when the current is greater than a predetermined value, decoupling the computer terminal from the power supply; (d) after step (c), recoupling the computer terminal to the power supply; and (e) performing steps (b), (c) and (d), wherein a time between subsequent performances of step (b) increases after each performance of step (e). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: (f) delaying step (d) for a predetermined time after step (c). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing terminal is one of a portable barcode scanner, a PDA, a cell phone and a laptop. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is one of a battery and a line voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the docking arrangement is a cradle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the cradle includes a plurality of docking arrangements for receiving a plurality of computing terminals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time is one of 100 milliseconds (“ms”), 600 ms and 25 seconds. ### Claim 8 A docking arrangement, comprising: a cradle for receiving a computing terminal; a power supply providing a current to the terminal; a protection circuit detecting a current supplied to the computing terminal when the terminal is coupled to the power supply via the cradle, wherein, when the current is greater than a predetermined value, the protection circuit decouples the terminal from the power supply, and wherein the protection circuit recouples the terminal to the power supply to periodically monitor the current after recoupling, wherein a time period between subsequent instances of recoupling and monitoring increases as the protection circuit continues to detect that the current is greater than the predetermined value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The docking arrangement of claim 8, further comprising: an indicator indicating that the terminal has been decoupled from the power supply. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The docking arrangement of claim 8, wherein the protection circuit delays the recoupling the terminal to the power supply for a predetermined time after the terminal is decoupled. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The docking arrangement of claim 8, wherein the computing terminal is one of a portable barcode scanner, a PDA, a cell phone and a laptop. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The docking arrangement of claim 8, wherein the power supply is one of a battery and a line voltage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The docking arrangement of claim 8, wherein the docking arrangement is a cradle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The docking arrangement of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of cradles for receiving a plurality of computing terminals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The docking arrangement of claim 8, wherein the predetermined time is one of 100 milliseconds (“ms”), 600 ms and 25 seconds. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The docking arrangement of claim 9, wherein the indicator is one of a light-emitting diode and a speaker. ### Claim 17 A system, comprising: a docking arrangement for coupling a power supply to a computing terminal, the power supply supplying power to the computing terminal; and a circuit detecting a current being supplied to the computing terminal, wherein, when the current is greater than a predetermined level, the circuit decoupling the power supply from the computing terminal for a predetermined time, wherein, after the decoupling, the circuit coupling the power supply to the computing terminal to monitor the current wherein the predetermined time increases as the circuit continues to detect that the current is greater than the predetermined level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the circuit delays the recoupling the terminal to the power supply for a predetermined time after the terminal is decoupled. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the computing terminal is one of a portable barcode scanner, a PDA, a cell phone and a laptop. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the power supply is one of a battery and a line voltage. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the docking arrangement is a cradle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the docking arrangement further comprises: a plurality of cradles for receiving a plurality of computing terminals. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined time is one of 100 milliseconds (“ms”), 600 ms and 25 seconds.