Universal USB charging accessory

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for supplying power to electronic devices, comprising a housing, an electric power source connector coupled to the housing, an electronic circuit enclosed in the housing and electrically coupled to the power source connector, and a universal serial bus connector coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, wherein the connector is capable of supplying electrical power to one or more electronic devices for battery charging. The electronic circuit is capable of controlling the charging of the batteries of more than one device and can be enabled to provide data communication between data devices. The apparatus may receive power from a utility power outlet or from another electronic device through the USB connector.

1. An electronic charging apparatus, comprising:
 a housing; 
 an electric power source connector coupled to said housing; 
 an electronic circuit enclosed in said housing and coupled to said electric power source connector; and 
 a plurality of universal serial bus connectors coupled to said housing, wherein said connectors are operable to supply electrical power to electronic devices and wherein said electronic circuit is enabled to control recharging of batteries of said electronic devices. 
 
     
     
       2. An electronic charging apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said electric power source connector is a utility power plug. 
     
     
       3. An electronic charging apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said electric power source connector is a male universal serial bus connector. 
     
     
       4. An electronic charging apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of universal serial bus connectors are female universal serial bus connectors. 
     
     
       5. An electronic charging apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said electronic circuit comprises an electronic data hub. 
     
     
       6. An electronic charging apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said electronic circuit is operable to control the recharging of multiple battery-powered devices. 
     
     
       7. An electronic charging apparatus as described in  claim 6 , wherein said multiple battery-powered devices comprise computing devices. 
     
     
       8. A method for charging battery-powered devices, comprising:
 providing electrical power to an electronic charging apparatus comprising a plurality of universal serial bus connectors; 
 coupling said battery-powered devices electronically to respective universal serial bus connectors of said electronic charging apparatus; 
 supplying electrical power for charging said battery-powered devices from an electrical power source via said universal serial bus connectors; and 
 controlling said electrical power for charging to an appropriate power level by means of circuitry resident in said electronic charging apparatus. 
 
     
     
       9. A method as described in  claim 8 , further comprising communicating data between said battery-powered devices over said universal serial bus connectors. 
     
     
       10. A method as described in  claim 8 , wherein said electrical power source is a utility power outlet. 
     
     
       11. A method as described in  claim 8 , wherein electrical power from said electrical power source is utility power. 
     
     
       12. A method as described in  claim 8 , wherein said electrical power source is a universal serial bus port. 
     
     
       13. A method as described in  claim 8 , wherein electrical power from said electrical power source is computer bus power. 
     
     
       14. A system for charging a rechargeable battery-powered portable electronic device, comprising:
 an electrical power source; 
 an electronic charging apparatus for electrically coupling with said electrical power source and comprising a pluralty of universal serial bus connectors, said electronic charging apparatus for supplying battery charging power; 
 a cable electrically coupled with said electronic charging apparatus and for accepting power from one of said plurality of universal serial bus connectors; and, 
 a rechargeable battery-powered portable electronic device electrically coupled with said cable, wherein said battery-powered portable electronic device is enabled to accept said battery charging power from said electronic charging apparatus by said universal serial bus connector. 
 
     
     
       15. A system as described in  claim 14 , further comprising a computer network. 
     
     
       16. A system as described in  claim 14  wherein said electrical power source is a utility power outlet. 
     
     
       17. A system as described in  claim 14  wherein said electrical power source is a computer. 
     
     
       18. A system as described in  claim 14 , wherein said battery charging power is at a universal serial bus voltage. 
     
     
       19. A system as described in  claim 14 , wherein said battery-powered portable electronic device is a laptop computer. 
     
     
       20. A system as described in  claim 14 , wherein said battery-powered portable electronic device is a computer peripheral device. 
     
     
       21. A system as described in  claim 14 , wherein said electronic charging apparatus is enabled to communicate data between said plurality of universal serial bus connectors. 
     
     
       22. A system as described in  claim 14 , wherein said electronic charging apparatus is a computer network hub. 
     
     
       23. An electronic charging apparatus, comprising:
 an enclosure;   an electric power source connector coupled to said enclosure;   an electronic circuit enclosed in said enclosure and coupled to said electric power source connector, wherein said electronic circuit is enabled to control recharging of a battery-powered device; and   a universal serial bus connector coupled to said enclosure, wherein said universal serial bus connector is operable to supply electrical power to said battery-powered device.    
     
     
       24. The electronic charging apparatus of claim 23, wherein said electric power source connector is a utility power plug.  
     
     
       25. The electronic charging apparatus of claim 23, wherein said electric power source connector is a male universal serial bus connector.  
     
     
       26. The electronic charging apparatus of claim 23, wherein said electronic circuit is operable to control recharging of a battery of an electronic device.  
     
     
       27. The electronic charging apparatus of claim 23, wherein said universal serial bus connector is a female universal serial bus connector.  
     
     
       28. The electronic charging apparatus of claim 23, wherein said electronic circuit comprises an electronic data hub.  
     
     
       29. The electronic charging apparatus of claim 23, wherein said battery-powered device comprises a computing device.  
     
     
       30. A method for charging battery-powered devices, comprising:
 receiving electrical power for distribution by an electronic charging apparatus, said electronic charging apparatus comprising at least one universal serial bus connector for electrically coupling to at least one battery-powered device;   supplying electrical power for charging said battery-powered device from an electrical power source via said universal serial bus connector; and   controlling said electrical power for charging said battery-powered device to an appropriate power level by circuitry resident in said electronic charging apparatus.    
     
     
       31. The method of claim 30, wherein a host device is electrically coupled to said electronic charging apparatus and further comprising communicating data between said battery-powered device and said host device using said universal serial bus connector.  
     
     
       32. The method of claim 30, wherein said electrical power is supplied from a utility power outlet.  
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32, wherein said electronic charging apparatus comprises a power connector to receive said electrical power from said outlet.  
     
     
       34. A system for charging a rechargeable battery-powered portable electronic device, comprising:
 an electronic charging enclosure for electrically coupling with an electrical power source and comprising an electronic circuit and at least one universal serial bus connector, said electronic charging enclosure for supplying battery charging power, wherein said electronic circuit is enabled to control said battery charging power; and   a rechargeable battery-powered electronic device electrically coupled with said electronic charging enclosure and wherein said rechargeable battery-powered portable electronic device is enabled to accept said battery charging power from said electronic charging enclosure by said at least one universal serial bus connector.    
     
     
       35. The system of claim 34 further comprising a cable electrically coupled with said electronic charging enclosure and for accepting power from said at least one universal serial bus connector and wherein said rechargeable battery-powered electronic device is electrically coupled with said electronic charging enclosure via said cable.  
     
     
       36. The system of claim 35, further comprising a computer network.  
     
     
       37. The system of claim 35, wherein said electrical power source is a utility power outlet.  
     
     
       38. The system of claim 35, wherein said electrical power source is a computer.  
     
     
       39. The system of claim 35, wherein said battery charging power is at a universal serial bus voltage.  
     
     
       40. The system of claim 35, wherein said rechargeable battery-powered electronic device is a laptop computer.  
     
     
       41. The system of claim 35, wherein said rechargeable battery-powered electronic device is a portable computer peripheral device.  
     
     
       42. The system of claim 35, wherein said electronic charging enclosure is enabled to communicate data between said at least one universal serial bus connector and a host computer coupled to said electronic charging enclosure.  
     
     
       43. The system of claim 35, wherein said electronic charging enclosure is a computer network hub.  
     
     
       44. The system of claim 35, wherein said electronic charging enclosure further comprises a connector for coupling to a host computer.  
     
     
       45. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   an electrical power source connector for connecting to a source of electrical power and coupled to said housing;   universal serial bus connector coupled to said housing and electrically coupled to said electrical power source connector, said universal serial bus connector operable to supply electrical power for recharging a battery; and   an electronic circuit coupled to said universal serial bus connector and said electrical power source connector, wherein said electronic circuit is enabled to control said recharging of said battery.    
     
     
       46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said electrical power source connector is a utility wall outlet connector.  
     
     
       47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said electrical power source connector is operable to connect with an electronic transformer.  
     
     
       48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said battery is disposed within a portable electronic device.  
     
     
       49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said universal serial bus connector is a female style connector.  
     
     
       50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said universal serial bus connector is a male style connector.