Mobile docking station

• US 20030198015A1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Inventors: Vogt, Edwin
• Application Number:
  US10/126,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20030198015A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.03
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

The invention provides a modular computer unit that contains all of the conventional components of a general-purpose computer disposed in a single housing with has only a single interface connector on one end of the computer unit. The unit is non-functional unless mated with either a docking stations or connector plate through a reciprocal connector with provides the computer unit with access to power and peripheral devices. The computer unit can be a wearable computer.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a computer unit comprising a computer motherboard containing essentially all the components of a general purpose computer system, said components including a CPU, volatile and non-volatile storage, I/O controller, audio controller and video controller all in electrical contact and all contained within a single enclosure;

said enclosure having therein a single interface connector disposed on one end of said enclosure said interface connector in electrical contact with said computer motherboard.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is absent any additional ports.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said computer unit is a wearable or user supported computer.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said interface connector consists of about 160 pins.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said computer unit is sealed.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said computer unit has the capability for communicating and interacting with a communication module selected from the group consisting of cellular telephones, hard line telephones, infrared transceivers, two-way radio means and mixtures thereof.

7. A computer system comprising:

a computer unit comprising a CPU, non-volatile memory, hard drive, rechargeable battery all in electrical contact and all contained within a single enclosure;

said enclosure having therein a single interface connector disposed on one end of said enclosure;

a connector plate with a reciprocal interface connector that when mated with said computer unit provides said computer unit with peripheral computer ports.

8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the peripheral computer ports comprises communication, serial, parallel, and display.

9. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the display ports are selected from the group consisting of neck hung, wrist mounted, head mounted, and mixtures thereof.

10. The computer system of claim 7 where in the computer unit is sealed.

11. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the computer unit is a wearable or user supported computer.

12. The computer system of claim 7 wherein said computer unit has the capability for communicating and interacting with a communication module selected from the group consisting of cellular telephones, hard line telephones, infrared transceivers, two-way radio means and mixtures thereof.

13. A computer system comprising:

a computer unit comprising a CPU, non-volatile memory, hard drive, rechargeable battery all in electrical contact and all contained within a single enclosure;

said enclosure having therein a single interface connector disposed on one end of said enclosure;

a docking station with a reciprocal interface connector that when mated with said computer unit provides said computer unit with peripheral computer ports.

14. The computer system of claim 13 wherein the peripheral computer ports comprises communication, serial, parallel, and display.

15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the display ports are selected from the group consisting of neck hung, wrist mounted, head mounted, CRT, LCD, and mixtures thereof.

16. The computer system of claim 13 wherein the computer unit is sealed.

17. The computer system of claim 13 wherein the computer unit is a wearable or user supported computer.

18. The computer system of claim 13 wherein said computer unit has the capability for communicating and interacting with a communication module selected from the group consisting of cellular telephones, hard line telephones, infrared transceivers, two-way radio means and mixtures thereof.