Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – Cell or battery charger structure – For handheld device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2001-04-03
Tso, Edward H. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
Cell or battery charger structure
For handheld device
C320S163000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06211649
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable for connecting an external apparatus such as a mobile phone with a USB port of a PC (Personal Computer). More particularly the invention relates to a USB cable which can charge a battery of an external apparatus connected with a PC via the USB cable, and a method for charging a battery of an external apparatus by using the USB cable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, a PC has one or more USB ports as a standard specification. The USB provides a function for connecting a device (an external apparatus) in the tree structure, a function for supporting two transmission speeds of 12 megabits per second and 1.5 megabits per second, a function for supporting PnP (Plug and Play), a function for supplying power to a connected device, and a function for supporting hot plug (which enables to connect and disconnect with a running PC).
A method for supplying power to a display device through a USB is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. JP10-326128. In this method, the power is saved effectively by supplying power to a display device through a USB at a power-saving mode.
In general, a keyboard, a mouse and the like, which need to be supplied low-level power, are connected with the USB port having such functions. Also as the USB port supports the transmission speed of 12 megabits per second, a printer, a scanner and the like can be also connected.
On the other hand, as Internet and a mobile phone have been popularized, the mobile phone is usually used as a communication medium while being connected with the Internet.
Moreover, as the memory function and the display function of the mobile phone have been improved, the mobile phone is capable of recording data not only telephone numbers but also addresses, names and ringing melodies concerned with the telephone numbers in the memory and is capable of displaying the data.
Also, software for reading and editing the data recorded in the memory of the mobile phone and for recording the data in the memory of the mobile phone, by connecting the mobile phone with the PC, is sold.
Like the above, a variety of apparatuses are connected with the USB port of the PC, and the mobile phone is generally used while being connected to the PC. Also, as the opportunity to send and receive electronic mails via the Internet increases, the mobile phone is generally used while being connected to the PC.
In the conventional cable for connecting the mobile phone and the like with the PC, however, there are disadvantages in that the battery of the mobile phone needs to be recharged at the time of starting to use the mobile phone while connecting to the PC, because the batteries of the mobile phone and the like are charged by a special battery charger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a USB cable, which is capable of transmitting data and charging a battery simultaneously for an external apparatus having a rechargeable battery such as a mobile phone connected with a USB port of a PC and a method for charging a battery of an external apparatus by using the USB cable.
According to the first feature of the invention, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable for charging a battery of an external apparatus comprises a first connector connected with a USB port of a personal computer, a second connector connected with a connector of an external apparatus, a cable for connecting the first connector and the second connector, and charging means, which is situated between the first connector and the second connector, for charging a battery of the external apparatus by using power supplied from the USB port.
According to the second feature of the invention, a method for charging a battery of an external apparatus connected with a USB port of a personal computer by using a USB cable comprises the steps of (A) regulating a voltage of USB power (a voltage value V
0
) supplied from the USB port of the personal computer to be a predetermined voltage (a voltage value V
C
), (B) outputting the regulated voltage (the voltage value V
C
) to the external apparatus and charging the battery of the external apparatus with the regulated voltage (the voltage value V
C
), (C) detecting the regulated voltage (the voltage value V
C
), (D) detecting whether the detected voltage value V
C
is in the range of a predetermined threshold or not, (E) generating a voltage interrupt signal in case where the detected voltage value V
C
is out of the range of the predetermined threshold and (F) interrupting the charging process of the step (B) in accordance with the voltage interrupt signal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5510691 (1996-04-01), Palatov
patent: 5723970 (1998-03-01), Bell
patent: 10-326128 (1998-12-01), None
Sourcenext Corporation
Tso Edward H.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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