IP Library Granted Patent US 9,424,048
Granted Patent B2
US 9,424,048 · App. 14/486,381 · Granted Aug 23, 2016

Inductive peripheral retention device

Inventors: Timothy Allen Jakoboski (Woodinville, WA); Shiu Sang Ng (Kirkland, WA); William H. Standing (Kirkland, WA)
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
G06F9/4413G06F1/266G06F3/03545G06F13/102H01R31/065H02J7/0042H02J7/025H02J50/10G06F2200/1632
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,424,048
App. No.
14/486,381
Granted
Aug 23, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Inductive peripheral retention device techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes a plug configured to removably engage a communication port of a device to form a communicative coupling with the device. The plug is securable to and removable from the device using one or more hands of a user. The apparatus also includes a peripheral securing portion connected to the plug and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via an inductive element formed as a flexible loop and configured to form a communicative coupling between the peripheral device and the device, which may be used to support charging of the apparatus.

Claims (24)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plug configured to removably engage a communication port of a device to form a communicative coupling with the device, the plug is securable to and removable from the device using one or more hands of a user; and

a peripheral securing portion connected to the plug and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via an inductive element formed as a flexible loop and configured to form a communicative coupling between the peripheral device and the device, the flexible loop comprising perforations such that the flexible loop is both flexible and stretchable.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the communicative coupling is configured to charge the peripheral device using power received by the plug from the device.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the communicative coupling is configured to communicate data between the device and the peripheral device.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the flexible loop is formed from a metal.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the flexible loop is covered with a fabric.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is a stylus.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the inductive element is configured to substantially surround at least a portion of a housing of the peripheral device.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein flexing of the flexible loop is detectable using inductance by the device to control an amount of power to be provided via the communicative coupling.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

10. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the flexible loop has a sinusoidal trace pattern.

11. A peripheral retention device comprising:

a plug configured to removably engage a communication port of a computing device to form a communicative coupling with the computing device; and

a peripheral securing portion connected to the plug and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via an inductive element formed as a flexible loop and configured to form a communicative coupling between the peripheral device and the device, the flexible loop having a sinusoidal trace pattern.

12. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11 , wherein the communicative coupling is configured to charge the peripheral device using power received by the plug from the computing device.

13. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11 , wherein the communicative coupling is configured to communicate data between the computing device and the peripheral device.

14. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11 , wherein the flexible loop is formed from a metal.

15. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11 , wherein the flexible loop is covered with a fabric.

16. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11 , wherein the peripheral device is a stylus.

17. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11 , wherein the inductive element is configured to substantially surround at least a portion of a housing of the peripheral device.

18. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11 , wherein flexing of the flexible loop is detectable using inductance by the computing device to control an amount of power to be provided via the communicative coupling.

19. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11 , wherein the port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

20. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 11 , wherein the flexible loop includes perforations such that the flexible loop is both flexible and stretchable.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2015
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 039025/0454 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2014
From: JAKOBOSKI, TIMOTHY ALLEN; NG, SHIU SANG; STANDING, WILLIAM H.
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033741/0551 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160077843A1 · Mar 17, 2016