The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 02, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 23, 1991
Gregory J May, Corvallis, OR (US);
Steven L Harper, Corvallis, OR (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
The apparatus allows the connection of two peripherals to a host device through one port and switching between them. The apparatus includes a sensor for sensing a data signal from the second peripheral device and a switch responsive to the sensor. The switch in a default, first state connects the first peripheral device to the host device and in a second state disconnects the first peripheral device therefrom. If a second peripheral device is connected to the apparatus, the sensor senses a data signal from the device and communicates this sensing to the switch. The switch responds by disconnecting the first device from the host device, leaving the second device solely connected to the host device. If the second peripheral device is disconnected from the apparatus, the switch reconnects the first peripheral device to the host device.