USB to multiple connect and support bays for peripheral devices

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a docking station for computer peripherals is provided, comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) communication link adapted to connect to a USB node; translator circuitry coupled to the USB communication link; a serial communication link coupled to the translator circuitry; and a docking bay adapted to physically support and electrically connect a serial computer peripheral device to the serial communication link.
The translator circuitry is adapted to translate serial code to USB code and USB code to serial code in a bi-directional manner between the serial communication link and the USB.
In some embodiments there are multiple docking bays each coupled by serial communication link to the translator circuitry.
The multiple docking bays may be each connected to a multiplexer and the translator circuitry connected to the multiplexer by a single serial link and select-signal lines, and serial communication may thus be switched on a rotating basis to the docking bays in these embodiments.
One or more power pins may also be provided to charge on-board storage cells in docked devices.
In some embodiments as well there may be at least one adapter configured to plug into any one of the docking bays and to provide a physical interface and an electrical connector to support a specific serial peripheral device.
Such adapters may comprise a charge adapter circuit adapted to accept power from a docking port at one voltage and to provide power therefrom to the electrical connector at a second voltage required by the specific serial peripheral device.
The docking station in a preferred embodiment is a USB keyboard.
The invention in its various embodiments provides an apparatus and method whereby a PC user can connect several serial-compatible peripheral devices to a USB node connected to his/her computer without the trouble and expense of expansion cards and multiple serial cables and switches.
This invention makes it unnecessary for manufacturers of relatively inexpensive peripherals to make their peripherals compatible with USB, while still retaining the market target of USB users