Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090095804 | RFID FOR CONNECTED ACCESSORY IDENTIFICATION AND METHOD - A connector system, includes a first connector having a number of connection paths adapted to connect with a second connector, and an RFID reader adapted to receive information identifying at least one characteristic of such second connector. The connector system may be used in portable electronic equipment that includes operating circuitry, a display, an input apparatus, a connector adapted for connection to an accessory, and the an RFID reader adapted to receive information identifying at least one characteristic of an accessory and/or of an accessory connector, and wherein said operating circuitry is responsive to such identification or lack of such identification to determine settings for the portable electronic equipment. A method of identifying an accessory to electronic equipment uses RFID communication between such accessory and such electronic equipment to identify such accessory to such electronic equipment. | 04-16-2009 |
20090098780 | CONNECTOR SYSTEM WITH DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING INDUCTION - An electrical connector provides both electrically conductive connection and inductive connection, and includes at least one electrically conductive member adapted to provide electrically conductive connection to another electrically conductive member, an inductive electrical member adapted to provide inductive coupling with another inductive electrical member, and wherein the at least one electrically conductive member and the inductive electrical member being held in positional relation to each other to be positioned with respect to a further electrical connector for electrically conductive connection and inductive coupling with respect thereto. A method of connecting electrical signals uses a pair of electrical connectors, each having an electrically conductive connection portion and an inductive connection portion to provide for both electrically conductive connection and inductive coupling between the electrical connectors. | 04-16-2009 |
20090107827 | ELECTRICAL VOLUME CONTROL USING CONTACTS ON ROTATABLE CONNECTOR, AND METHOD - Electronic equipment control of a parameter of electronic equipment includes contacts on relatively movable connectors to provide control output for the electronic equipment, a connector member connects electrically with a further connector members, and a direction decoder receives inputs from the contacts representing relative motion between the further connector member and the connector member to provide such control output. A method of adjusting a parameter of electronic equipment includes effecting relative movement between connected parts of an electrical connector, and using a number of contacts on the connected parts obtaining a representation of such relative movement adjusting such parameter. | 04-30-2009 |
20090108837 | MAGNETIC AUDIO VOLUME CONTROL, CONNECTOR SYSTEM WITH MAGNETIC AUDIO VOLUME CONTROL, AND METHOD - Electronic equipment control of a parameter of electronic equipment includes magnetic encoder responsive to magnetic input to provide control output for electronic equipment, a connector member connects electrically with a further connector member; the magnetic encoder receives magnetic input representing relative motion between the further connector member and the connector member to provide such control output. The further connector member has an electrical terminal connectible with the connector member, a magnet positioned relative to the electrical terminal for movement therewith providing magnetic output representing such movement, and the magnet and magnetic encoder are in proximity for magnetic coupling to provide the magnetic encoder magnetic force representing relative movement of the connector member and further connector member. A method of adjusting a parameter of electronic equipment includes effecting relative movement between connected parts of an electrical connector, and using magnetic force representation of such relative movement adjusting such parameter. | 04-30-2009 |
20090108848 | ADDITIONAL PINS ON A USB CONNECTOR - An electronic device includes a receptacle for communicating information via a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit different from the first communication circuit, the receptacle including a plurality of electrically conductive contacts having a predefined arrangement. The electronic device further includes a detection circuit and a configuration circuit. The detection circuit is operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of contacts, and the detection circuit is operative to detect an electrical state of the at least one contact. The configuration circuit is operatively coupled to a first group of contacts of the plurality of contacts, and the configuration circuit is operative to communicatively couple the first group of contacts to the first communication circuit or the second communication circuit based on the detected state of the at least one contact. | 04-30-2009 |
20090108854 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE UTILIZING IMPEDANCE AND/OR RESISTANCE IDENTIFICATION TO IDENTIFY AN ACCESSORY DEVICE - A device and method for identifying an accessory device connected to a first port and a second port of an electronic device by determining an impedance of the accessory device across the first port and the second port is provided. The electronic device generally includes a first port (e.g. a universal serial bus) configured to receive a first connector from an associated accessory device and a second port (e.g. an audio port) configured to receive a second connector from the associated accessory device. The electronic device includes circuitry coupled to the first port and the second port for determining an impedance associated with the accessory device as measured across the first port and the second port. An identification of the accessory device is then made based on the impedance of the electronic device. | 04-30-2009 |
20090109117 | AUTOMATIC ANTENNA IDENTIFICATION AND CONFIGURATION, AND DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - An automatic antenna identification system is provided that includes a connector to which a plurality of different antennas tuned to different respective frequencies or frequency bands may be connected. In addition, the system includes circuitry that automatically identifies which antenna of the plurality of different antennas is connected to the connector based on the respective frequency or frequency band of the antenna. | 04-30-2009 |
20090111320 | ENHANCED UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS CONNECTOR - An electrical connector (male and female) that support conventional Universal Serial Bus (USB) signals and includes additional contacts to enable advanced communications and/or functionality between electronic devices and/or accessory devices. In one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a contact support member housed at least partially within a housing. A plurality of first contacts are mounted on a contact support member, wherein each of the plurality of first contacts is configured to electrically connect with the associated connector along a first plane parallel to a plane of insertion for the associated connector into the port. At least one second contact is also mounted on the contact support member, wherein the at least one second contact is configured to electrically connect with the associated connector along a second plane perpendicular to the plane of insertion for the associated connector into the port. | 04-30-2009 |
20090111336 | SPLIT CONNECTOR AND METHOD - A connection system for signals includes an electrical connector and a receptacle. The electrical connector includes an elongated plug portion having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged thereon, wherein a first and a second electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts are arranged circumferentially adjacent to one another, and a third electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts is arranged axially adjacent to first and second electrical contacts. The receptacle includes first, second and third electrical conductors arranged to electrically couple to the first, second and third electrical contacts of the electrical connector when the plug portion is inserted in the receptacle. | 04-30-2009 |
20090111533 | UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS CONNECTOR WITH ANTENNA CAPABILITIES - An electrical connector (male and female) that support conventional Universal Serial Bus (USB) signals and includes one or more additional compact coaxial connectors to enable advanced communications and/or functionality between electronic devices and/or accessory devices. In one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a contact support member housed at least partially within a housing. A plurality of first contacts are mounted on a contact support member, wherein each of the plurality of first contacts is configured to electrically connect with the associated connector along a first plane parallel to a plane of insertion for the associated connector into the port. At least one compact coaxial connector is located adjacent the housing to receive one or external antennas. The male connector includes an elastic member coupled to the one or more compact coaxial connectors, so that the male connector can be secured to a compliant female adapter and a conventional USB connector (e.g., a female USB connector not having one or more coaxial connectors positioned adjacent the housing. | 04-30-2009 |