Portable cell phone docking system

• US 20020103007A1
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Jaggers, Christopher M., McMahan, Robert L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,013,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A docking station for a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone. The docking station includes a cradle for the cellular phone and comprises an associated LCD that enhances the video display capabilities of the cellular telephone. When docked, the cellular telephone draws power from a voltage supply provided by the docking station. While the cellular telephone is docked, a charging circuit recharges the cellular telephone battery. The docking station may be disconnected from an AC outlet so that the docked cellular telephone retains both enhanced display capabilities, which prove to be highly desirable for applications such as Internet access, as well as its inherent portability. Even in the portable mode, where the docking station is disconnected from the AC outlet, the docking station recharges the cellular telephone battery.

Claims

1. A docking station for a cellular telephone, the docket station comprising:

a support structure including a first surface on which is disposed a display device and a cradle;

a station power source;

charging means coupled to the station power source for charging the station power source;

a first connector assembly for coupling the station power source to an external source of electrical energy;

a second connector assembly coupled to the charging means for selectively coupling the charging means to the cellular telephone for charging the cellular telephone; and

a switch for selectively coupling the station power source to the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is positioned in the docking station.

2. A docking station for a wireless communication device, the docking station comprising:

a docking housing having a planar first surface;

a display device mounted on the planar surface;

cradle means for supporting the wireless communication device, the cradle means disposed on the docking housing;

a connector for electrically coupling the docking station to the wireless communication device;

an internal voltage source;

a charging circuit for charging a voltage source; and

a switch for selectively coupling the charging circuit to the internal voltage source.

3. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 2, wherein the connector comprises a first terminal coupled to the internal voltage source.

4. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 3, wherein the connector comprises a second terminal selectively coupled to the charging circuit through the switch.

5. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 4, wherein the connector comprises a third terminal coupled to GND.

6. A docketing station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 5, wherein the first terminal is for selective coupling to a B⁺ bus in the wireless communication device and the second terminal is for coupling to a wireless communication device voltage source.

7. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 4, wherein the switch has a pole coupled to the charging circuit and has a first terminal selectively coupled to the first terminal of the connector.

8. A docking station for a wireless communications device as defined in claim 7, wherein the switch has second terminal selectively coupled to the second terminal of the connector.

9. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 8, wherein the first terminal is for selective coupling to a B⁺ bus in the wireless communication device and the second terminal is for coupling to a wireless communication device voltage source.

10. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 8, wherein when a wireless communication device is positioned in the docking station, the switch operates to couple the charging circuit to the second terminal of the connector so as to enable the charging circuit to charge the wireless communication device voltage source.

11. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 8, wherein when a wireless communication device is not positioned in the docking station, the switch operates to couple the charging circuit to the docking station internal voltage source.

12. A docking station for a wireless communication device, as defined in claim 2, further comprising a video interface coupled to the display device and operable to transform a video signal generated by the wireless communication device into a video signal that is compatible with the display device.

13. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 12, wherein when a wireless communication device is positioned in the docking station, the switch is operable to couple the charging circuit to the wireless communication device voltage source so as to enable the charging circuit to charge the wireless communication device voltage source.

14. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 13, wherein when a wireless communication device is not positioned in the docking station, the switch operates to couple the charging circuit to the docking station internal voltage source.

15. A docking station for a wireless communications device as defined in claim 2, further comprising means for determining whether a wireless communications device is docked at the station and for providing status information as a result of the determination.

16. A docking station for a wireless communications device as defined in claim 15, wherein the switch is operable in a response to status information to selectively couple the charging circuit to the station power source when a wireless communications device is not docked and to selectively couple the charging circuit to a power source of the wireless communications device when a wireless communications device is docked.

17. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 16, further comprising a video interface coupled to the display device and operable to transform a video signal generated by the wireless communication device into a video signal that is compatible with the display device.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the first terminal of the switch is electrically coupled to the first terminal of the connector and the second terminal of the switch is electrically connected to the second terminal of the connector.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the switch operates to connect the pole terminal to the first terminal in response to status information indicating that a communications device is not docked at the docking station, whereby the charging circuit then charges the station power source.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the second terminal of the connector is configured to be coupled to the wireless communications device power source when the device is docked and wherein the switch operates to connect the pole terminal to the second terminal of the switch in response to status information indication that a wireless communications device is docked at the docking station, whereby the charging circuit then charges the wireless communications device power source.

18. In a docking station for a wireless communications device, an apparatus for selectively supplying power to the communications device, the apparatus comprising:

a connector for electrically coupling the docking station to the communications device, the connector having at least first and second terminals;

a switch having a pole, a first terminal, and a second terminal, the switch operable in response to status information indicating whether a communications device is docked at the docking station;

a charging circuit coupled to the pole of the switch;

a station power source coupled to the first terminal of the switch; and

means for determining whether a communication device is docked at the station and for providing status information as a result of the determination.

22. A method of enhancing the capabilities of a wireless communications device for information acquisition applications, the method comprising the steps:

mounting the wireless communications device on a docking station that comprises;

(a) a cradle for the wireless communications device,

(b) a display device,

(c) a connector for effecting an electrical interface to the wireless communication device,

(d) a station power source,

(e) a charging circuit, and

(f) a switch operable in response to information indicating whether or not a wireless communications device is docked at the docking station;

coupling a video output from the wireless communications device to the display device;

causing the station power source to be coupled to the wireless communications device; and

causing, in response to information that the wireless communication device is docked a the station, the charging circuit to charge the wireless communications device.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein, in response to information indicating that a wireless communications device is docked at the docking station, the switch couples the charging circuit to a voltage source included with the wireless communications device, and in response to information indicating that a wireless communications device is not docked at the station, the switch couples the charging circuit to the station power source.

25. An assembly as defined in claim 24, wherein the enhanced display device is mounted on a planar surface of the housing.

26. An assembly as defined in claim 25, wherein the support for the housing is a stand having a base portion and an oblique back portion.

27. An assembly as defined in claim 25, wherein the support is rotatably attached to the housing.

28. An assembly as defined in claim 25, wherein the detachable means includes a line cord and a plug for insertion into an AC outlet.

29. An assembly as defined in claim 24, wherein the switch is operable in a response to status information to selectively couple the charging circuit to the station power source when a WCD is not docked and to selectively couple the charging circuit to a power source of the WCD when a WCD is docked.

30. An assembly as defined in claim 29, further comprising a connector for effecting an electrical connection between the assembly and the WCD, the connector comprising a first contact coupled to the internal chargeable power source and a second contact coupled to the switch means.

24. An assembly for docking a wireless communication device (WCD) so as enhance the capabilities of the device, the assembly comprising:

a housing having a receptacle for the WCD;

an enhanced display device;

an internal chargeable power source;

a charging circuit;

switch means, responsive to a predetermined status of the assembly, for selectively coupling the charging circuit to the internal chargeable power source;

detachable means for coupling the charging circuit to a source of electrical power;

a video interface circuit for coupling the video output of the WCD to the enhanced display device;

a connector for electrically coupling the docking station to the WCD; and

a support for the housing.

31. A method for using a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

mounting the wireless communications device on a docking station that comprises;

(g) a cradle for the wireless communications device,

(h) a display device,

(i) a connector for effecting an electrical interface to the wireless communication device,

(j) a station power source,

(k) a charging circuit, and

(l) a switch operable in response to information indicating whether or not a wireless communications device is docked at the docking station;

causing the station power source to be coupled to the wireless communications device; and

causing, in response to information that the wireless communication device is docked a the station, the charging circuit to charge the wireless communications device.

32. A method as defined in claim 31, further comprising:

using the docking station in a portable mode; and

continuing to cause the station power source to be coupled to the wireless communication device and to cause the charging circuit to charge the wireless communication device.