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Docking system for portable computing device

  • US 10,281,955 B2
  • Filed: 10/10/2018
  • Issued: 05/07/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A docking system comprising:

  • a base mount; and

    a case mount for receiving a portable computing device, wherein the case mount releasably docks and locks with the base mount in any of a plurality of different docking position orientations, wherein each docking position orientation corresponds to a different rotational orientation of the case mount relative to the base mount;

    wherein the case mount comprises a plurality of case mount electrical contacts that are organized into a plurality of case mount contact groups;

    wherein the base mount comprises a plurality of base mount electrical contacts;

    wherein the case mount contact groups are arranged in a pattern on the case mount that permits a physical connection between the base mount electrical contacts and a different one of the case mount contact groups for each of the different docking position orientations, wherein each of the physical connections provides a communication path for the portable computing device with a network via the case mount and the base mount;

    wherein the case mount further comprises a plurality of notches;

    wherein the base mount further comprises a plurality of latches and an actuator;

    wherein the notches and latches are positioned on the case mount and base mount respectively to permit engagement between the notches and the latches when the case mount is docked and locked with the base mount in any of the different docking position orientations;

    wherein the actuator, in response to an actuation of the actuator when the case mount is docked and locked with the base mount in any of the different docking position orientations, causes the latches to move in a manner that permits disengagement of the case mount from the base mount to an undocked position for the case mount if an undocking force is applied to the case mount;

    wherein the case mount further comprises a metallic element and a case mount circuit;

    wherein the base mount further comprises a magnet and a base mount circuit;

    wherein the base mount is rotatable relative to an axis;

    wherein the case mount circuit and the base mount circuit are configured for data communication with each other through an interface that includes a data communication connection through the physical connection; and

    wherein the different docking position orientations further include a magnetic attraction between the magnet and the metallic element that holds the case mount in place with the base mount.

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