Docking station for patient monitor or other electronic device
First Claim
1. A docking station for a portable electronic device comprising:
- a housing comprising a support surface;
a plunger penetrating said housing;
a member which is movable between first and second positions and which is operatively coupled to said plunger; and
an extension spring having one end operatively coupled to said member and another end which is fixed inside said housing, said spring urging said member from said first position toward said second position, wherein said member is locked in said first position when said plunger is in an up position and is free to move toward said second position under the influence of said extension spring when said plunger is in a down position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A docking station for a portable electronic device, such as a portable patient monitor of the type used in health care facilities. In particular, the docking station can be installed at a bedside location in a health care facility. The docking station is designed to provide electrical and mechanical connection of AC power and communication devices to the portable electronic device. An intuitive, top-down mounting mechanism locks the electronic device in place without user input. A front facing security lever on the docking station, which can be operated with one hand, provides engagement of electrical connectors and positive locking of the electronic device to the docking station. The docking station combines and provides AC power to the electronic device'"'"'s AC mains connector, Ethernet signals to communicate with a local area network (LAN), DC power, and asynchronous communication signals to communicate with ancillary devices. A reverse action of the front facing security lever will disconnect the electronic device from these connections and indicate that the electronic device can be safely separated from the docking station. Once the electronic device has been separated from the docking station, the status of the docking station is set to accept the next electronic device.
14 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A docking station for a portable electronic device comprising:
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a housing comprising a support surface;
a plunger penetrating said housing;
a member which is movable between first and second positions and which is operatively coupled to said plunger; and
an extension spring having one end operatively coupled to said member and another end which is fixed inside said housing, said spring urging said member from said first position toward said second position, wherein said member is locked in said first position when said plunger is in an up position and is free to move toward said second position under the influence of said extension spring when said plunger is in a down position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
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19. A docking station for an electronic device, comprising:
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a housing comprising a support surface for supporting an electronic device;
a lever which is pivotable about a fixed pivot point located inside said housing; and
first and second clamps which are coupled to said lever, said first and second clamps moving from respective retracted positions, whereat an electronic device is not clamped in place, to respective extended positions, whereat an electronic device is clamped in place, as said lever is pivoted from a first position to a second position.
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22. A docking station for an electronic device, comprising:
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a housing comprising a support surface for supporting an electronic device;
a main lever which is pivotable about a fixed pivot point located inside said housing;
a platform which is vertically displaceable inside said housing;
an electrical connector mounted to said platform; and
a mechanical subassembly for converting pivoting of said main lever into upward vertical displacement of said platform, wherein said housing comprises an opening, and said electrical connector protrudes through said opening and outside said housing when said platform is displaced vertically upward from a first elevation corresponding to a first position of said main lever to a second elevation corresponding to a second position of said main lever. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of using a portable electronic device, comprising the steps of:
- transporting an electronic device to a site where a docking station is situated;
placing the electronic device on the docking station in a predetermined positional relationship; and
manipulating an actuator of the docking station which causes the electronic device to be connected to an electrical power source via the docking station. - View Dependent Claims (33, 35, 37)
- transporting an electronic device to a site where a docking station is situated;
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34. A docking station for an electronic device, comprising:
- a housing for supporting the electronic device in a predetermined position;
a release mechanism which is activated by the weight of the electronic device in said predetermined position; and
a spring-loaded clamping mechanism held in a non-clamping state prior to said release mechanism being activated and changed to a clamping state under the influence of said spring loading in response to activation of said release mechanism, wherein the electronic device is clamped by said clamping mechanism in said clamping state.
- a housing for supporting the electronic device in a predetermined position;
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36. A docking station for an electronic device, comprising:
- a housing for supporting the electronic device in a predetermined position;
a platform which is vertically displaceable inside said housing;
an electrical connector mounted to said platform; and
a lever assembly coupled to said platform and comprising a user-operable device protruding external to said housing, wherein said platform is displaced upward in response to a predetermined movement of said user-operable device, whereby said electrical connector is mated with an electrical connector of the electronic device.
- a housing for supporting the electronic device in a predetermined position;
Specification