Portable computer stand with integral communication method and apparatus

• US 20040190238A1
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Allyn Hubbard
• Original Assignee: MDS Advertising, Inc.
• Inventors: Hubbard, David Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 7,038,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules

Abstract

A stand providing a communication path between peripheral devices and portable devices and providing ergonomic viewing positions to portable devices such as a portable computer. In an exemplary embodiment, a stand generally includes an anchor movably coupled to the base to form a recess to receive a portable device, a support coupled to the base, and an electrical connector incorporated in the stand. The anchor may be formed to engage the portable device when a desktop portion of the portable device is disposed in the recess of the base. The support may be moved to extend upwardly from the base for holding the display portion of the portable device. The electrical connector may provide a communication path between at least one peripheral device and the portable device. The stand may also include a transmitter and receiver housed in the anchor for providing a wireless communication path between at least one wireless peripheral device and the portable device.

Claims

1. A stand adapted to support a portable device in a substantially vertical orientation, the portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, the stand comprising:

a base;

an anchor movably coupled to the base to form a recess between the anchor and the base, the anchor formed to engage the portable device when the desktop portion of the portable device is disposed in the recess;

a support moveably coupled to the base, the support being moveable to extend upwardly from the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device; and

an electrical connector incorporated in the stand for providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device and a portable device disposed in the recess.

2. The stand of claim 1, the electrical connector comprising a port replicator.

3. The stand of claim 2, the port replicator being selected from the group consisting of:

a parallel port, a serial port, a PS/2 port, a USB port, and an Ethernet connection.

4. The stand of claim 1, the electrical connector comprising a hub.

5. The stand of claim 4, the hub comprising a USB hub.

6. The stand of claim 1, the electrical connector comprising an external media bay.

7. The stand of claim 6, the external media bay being selected from the group consisting of:

a CD-RW drive, a CD drive, a DVD drive, a ZIP drive, and a 3.5 floppy drive.

8. The stand of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted for coupling to the desktop portion of the portable device.

9. The stand of claim 8, the at least one electrical cable comprising a USB port cable adapted for coupling to a USB port of the desktop portion.

10. The stand of claim 8, the at least one electrical cable comprising a parallel port cable adapted for coupling to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

11. The stand of claim 8, the at least one electrical cable comprising a serial port cable adapted for coupling to a serial port of the desktop portion.

12. The stand of claim 8, the at least one electrical cable comprising a power cable adapted to power the portable device.

13. The stand of claim 8, the at least one electrical cable routed from the base up the support of the stand.

14. The stand of claim 1, further comprising a motor mounted on the stand coupled to extend the support from the base and coupled to move the anchor relative to the base.

15. The stand of claim 1, further comprising at least one detachable module coupled to the stand, the at least one detachable module providing the communication path between at least one peripheral device and the portable device.

16. The stand of claim 15, the at least one detachable module comprising a port replicator.

17. The stand of claim 16, the port replicator being selected from the group consisting of:

a parallel port, a serial port, a PS/2 port, a USB port, and an Ethernet connection.

18. The stand of claim 15, the at least one detachable module comprising a hub.

19. The stand of claim 18, the hub comprising a USB hub.

20. The stand of claim 15, the at least one detachable module comprising an external media bay.

22. The stand of claim 15, the at least one detachable module further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted for coupling to the desktop portion of the portable device.

23. The stand of claim 22, the at least one electrical cable comprising a USB port cable adapted for coupling to a USB port of the desktop portion.

24. The stand of claim 22, the at least one electrical cable comprising a parallel port cable adapted for coupling to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

25. The stand of claim 22, the at least one electrical cable comprising a serial port cable adapted for coupling to a serial port of the desktop portion.

26. The stand of claim 22, the at least one electrical cable comprising a power cable adapted to charge the portable device.

27. The stand of claim 22, the at least one electrical cable is routed from the at least one detachable module up the support of the stand.

28. The stand of claim 15, further comprising a motor mounted on the at least one detachable module coupled to extend the support from the base and coupled to move the anchor from the base.

29. The stand of claim 1, the portable device being supported at an angle between 60°

and 90°

relative to the base when the portable device is disposed in the recess.

30. The stand of claim 1, an angle between a plane of the display portion of the portable device and a plane of the desktop portion of the portable device being in the range of between 160°

and 195°

when the portable device is disposed in the recess.

31. The stand of claim 1, the at least one peripheral device being selected from the group consisting of:

a keyboard, a mouse, a speaker, an earphone, a printer, a scanner, a digital camera, a pointing device, a microphone, a PC camera, a gamepad, a joystick, a game wheel, and a digital pen pad.

21. The stand of claim 21, the external media bay being selected from the group consisting of:

a CD-RW drive, a CD drive, a DVD drive, a ZIP drive, and a 3.5 floppy drive.

32. A stand adapted to support a portable device in a substantially vertical orientation, the portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, the stand comprising:

a base;

an anchor movably coupled to the base to form a recess between the anchor and the base, the anchor formed to engage the portable device when the desktop portion of the portable device is disposed in the recess;

a support moveably coupled to said base, the support moveable to extend upwardly from the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device; and

a transmitter and a receiver housed in the anchor, the transmitter and receiver coupling at least one wireless peripheral device and a portable device disposed in the recess of the base.

33. The stand of claim 32, the transmitter and receiver comprising a radio frequency transmitter and receiver.

34. The stand of claim 33, the receiver is adapted to receive signals simultaneously from at least two wireless peripheral devices.

35. The stand of claim 33, the transmitter and receiver operating at a frequency between 27 MHz and 916.5 MHz.

36. The stand of claim 32, the transmitter and receiver comprising an infrared transmitter and receiver.

37. The stand of claim 36, the transmitter and receiver operating at a wavelength between 850 nm to 950 nm.

38. The stand of claim 37, the receiver is adapted to receive signals simultaneously from at least two wireless peripheral devices.

39. The stand of claim 32, the transmitter and receiver further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted to couple to the desktop portion of the portable device.

40. The stand of claim 39, the at least one electrical cable comprising a USB port cable adapted to couple to a USB port of the desktop portion.

41. The stand of claim 39, the at least one electrical cable comprising a parallel port cable adapted to couple to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

42. The stand of claim 39, the at least one electrical cable comprising a serial port cable adapted to couple to a serial port of the desktop portion.

43. The stand of claim 32, the at least one wireless peripheral device being selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, a wireless speaker, a wireless earphone, a wireless printer, a wireless scanner, a wireless digital camera, a wireless pointing device, a wireless microphone, a wireless PC camera, a wireless gamepad, a wireless joystick, a wireless game wheel, and a wireless digital pen pad.

44. A stand adapted to support a portable device in a substantially vertical orientation, the portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, the stand comprising:

a base;

an anchor movably coupled to the base to form a recess between the anchor and the base, the anchor formed to engage the portable device when the desktop portion of the portable device is disposed in the recess of the base;

a support moveably coupled to said base, the support moveable to extend upwardly from the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device;

a transmitter and a receiver housed in the anchor, the transmitter and receiver coupling at least one wireless peripheral device and a portable device disposed in the recess of the base; and

an electrical connector incorporated in the stand for providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device and a portable device disposed in the recess of the base.

45. The stand of claim 44, the transmitter and receiver comprising a radio frequency transmitter and receiver.

46. The stand of claim 45, the receiver is adapted to receive signals simultaneously from at least two wireless peripheral devices.

47. The stand of claim 45, the transmitter and receiver operating at a frequency between 27 MHz and 916.5 MHz.

48. The stand of claim 44, the transmitter and receiver comprising an infrared transmitter and receiver.

49. The stand of claim 48, the transmitter and receiver operating at a wavelength between 850 nm to 950 nm.

50. The stand of claim 49, the receiver is adapted to receive signals simultaneously from at least two wireless peripheral devices.

51. The stand of claim 44, the transmitter and receiver further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted to couple to the desktop portion of the portable device.

52. The stand of claim 51, the at least one electrical cable is a USB port cable adapted to couple to a USB port of the desktop portion.

53. The stand of claim 51, the at least one electrical cable is a parallel port cable adapted to couple to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

54. The stand of claim 51, the at least one electrical cable is a serial port cable adapted to couple to a serial port of the desktop portion.

55. The stand of claim 44, the at least one wireless peripheral device being selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, a wireless speaker, a wireless earphone, a wireless printer, a wireless scanner, a wireless digital camera, a wireless pointing device, a wireless microphone, a wireless PC camera, a wireless gamepad, a wireless joystick, a wireless game wheel, and a wireless digital pen pad.

56. The stand of claim 44, the electrical connector comprising a port replicator.

57. The stand of claim 56, the port replicator being selected from the group consisting of:

a parallel port, a serial port, a PS/2 port, a USB port, and an Ethernet connection.

58. The stand of claim 44, the electrical connector comprising a hub.

59. The stand of claim 58, the hub comprising a USB hub.

60. The stand of claim 44, the electrical connector comprising an external media bay.

61. The stand of claim 60, the external media bay being selected from the group consisting of:

a CD-RW drive, a CD-drive, a DVD drive, a ZIP drive, and a 3.5 floppy drive.

62. The stand of claim 44, further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted for coupling to the desktop portion of the portable device.

63. The stand of claim 62, the at least one electrical cable comprising a USB port cable adapted for coupling to a USB port of the desktop portion.

64. The stand of claim 62, the at least one electrical cable comprising a parallel port cable adapted for coupling to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

65. The stand of claim 62, the at least one electrical cable comprising a serial port cable adapted for coupling to a serial port of the desktop portion.

66. The stand of claim 62, the at least one electrical cable comprising a power cable adapted to power the portable device.

67. The stand of claim 62, the at least one electrical cable is routed from the base up the support of the stand.

68. The stand of claim 44, further comprising a motor mounted on the stand coupled to extend the support from the base and coupled to move the anchor relative to the base.

69. The stand of claim 44, further comprising at least one detachable module coupled to the stand, the at least one detachable module providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device and the portable device.

70. The stand of claim 69, the at least one detachable module comprising a port replicator.

71. The stand of claim 69, the port replicator being selected from the group consisting of:

a parallel port;

a serial port, a PS/2 port, a USB port, and an Ethernet connection.

72. The stand of claim 69, the at least one detachable module comprising a hub.

73. The stand of claim 72, the hub comprising a USB hub.

74. The stand of claim 69, the at least one detachable module comprising an external media bay.

75. The stand of claim 74, the external media bay being selected from the group consisting of:

a CD-RW drive, a CD-drive, a DVD drive, a ZIP drive, and a 3.5 floppy drive.

76. The stand of claim 69, the at least one detachable module further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted for coupling to the desktop portion of the portable device.

77. The stand of claim 76, the at least one electrical cable comprising a USB port cable adapted for coupling to a USB port of the desktop portion.

78. The stand of claim 76, the at least one electrical cable comprising a parallel port cable adapted for coupling to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

79. The stand of claim 76, the at least one electrical cable comprising a serial port cable adapted for coupling to a serial port of the desktop portion.

80. The stand of claim 76, the at least one electrical cable comprising a power cable adapted to charge the portable device.

81. The stand of claim 76, the at least one electrical cable is routed from the detachable module up the support of the stand.

82. The stand of claim 69, further comprising a motor mounted on the at least one detachable module coupled to extend the support from the base and coupled to move the anchor relative to the base.

83. The stand of claim 44, the at least one peripheral device being selected from the group consisting of:

a keyboard, a mouse, a speaker, an earphone, a printer, a scanner, a digital camera, a pointing device, a microphone, a PC camera, a gamepad, a joystick, a game wheel, and a digital pen pad.

84. The stand of claim 44, the portable device is being supported at an angle between 60°

and 90°

relative to the base when the portable device is disposed in the recess.

85. The stand of claim 44, an angle between a plane of the display portion and a plane of the desktop portion being in the range of between 160°

and 195°

when the portable device is disposed in the recess.

86. A method for supporting a portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, comprising:

providing a stand having,

a base;

an anchor moveably coupled to the base to form a recess between the base and the anchor, the anchor for engaging the desktop portion in the recess;

a support moveably coupled to the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device;

an electrical connector incorporated in the stand for communicating between at least one peripheral device and the portable device;

interposing the desktop portion of a portable device in the recess for ergonomically positioning the portable device; and

moving the anchor relative to the base to support the portable within the recess.

87. The method of claim 86, the electrical connector comprising a port replicator, the method further comprising communicating between at least one peripheral device coupled to the port replicator and a portable device supported within the recess.

88. The method of claim 87, the port replicator housed in a detachable module for attaching to the stand, the method further comprising providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device coupled to the detachable module and the portable device.

89. The method of claim 86, the electrical connector comprising a hub, the method further comprising communicating between at least one peripheral device coupled to the hub and the portable device supported within the recess.

90. The method of claim 89, the hub housed in a detachable module for attaching to the stand, the method further comprising providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device coupled to the detachable module and a portable device supported in the stand.

91. The method of claim 86, further comprising providing an electrical cable adapted for coupling the electrical connector to the desktop portion of the portable device.

92. A method for supporting a portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, comprising:

providing a stand having,

a base;

an anchor moveable relative to the base for forming a recess between the base and the anchor, the anchor for engaging the desktop portion in the recess;

a support moveable coupled to the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device;

a transmitter and receiver housed in the anchor for communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device and the portable device;

interposing the desktop portion of a portable device in the recess for ergonomically positioning the portable device; and

moving the anchor relative to the base to support the portable with the recess.

93. The method of claim 92, the transmitter and receiver comprising a infrared transmitter and receiver, the method further comprising communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device coupled to the infrared transmitter and receiver and the portable device.

94. The method of claim 92, the transmitter and receiver comprising a radio frequency transmitter and receiver, the method further comprising communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device coupled to the radio frequency transmitter and receiver and the portable device.

95. The method of claim 92, further comprising providing an electrical cable adapted for coupling the transmitter and receiver to the desktop portion of the portable device.

96. A method for supporting a portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, comprising:

providing a stand having,

a base;

an anchor moveable relative to the base for forming a recess between the base and the anchor, the anchor for engaging the desktop portion in the recess of the base;

a support moveable relative to the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device;

an electrical connector incorporated in the stand for communicating between at least one peripheral device and the portable device;

a transmitter and receiver housed in the anchor for communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device and the portable device;

interposing the desktop portion of a portable device in the recess for ergonomically positioning the portable device; and

moving the anchor relative to the base to support the portable with the recess.

97. The method of claim 96, the electrical connector comprising a port replicator, the method further comprising communicating between at least one peripheral device coupled to the port replicator and a portable device.

98. The method of claim 96, the port replicator housed in a detachable module for attaching to the stand, the method further comprising providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device coupled to the detachable module and the portable device.

99. The method of claim 96, the electrical connector comprising a hub, the method further comprising communicating between at least one peripheral device coupled to the hub and the portable device.

100. The method of claim 99, the hub housed in a detachable module for attaching to the stand, the method further comprising providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device coupled to the detachable module and the portable device.

101. The method of claim 96, the transmitter and receiver comprising a infrared transmitter and receiver, the method further comprising communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device coupled to the infrared transmitter and receiver and the portable device.

102. The method of claim 96, the transmitter and receiver comprising a radio frequency transmitter and receiver, the method further comprising communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device coupled to the radio frequency transmitter and receiver and the portable device.

103. The method of claim 96, further comprising providing at least one electrical cable adapted for coupling the transmitter and receiver to the desktop portion of the portable device. 104. The method of claim 96, further comprising providing an electrical cable adapted for coupling the electrical connector to the desktop portion of the portable device.