Remote docking station device

• US 20050060467A1
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wieck, Brian C.
• Application Number:
  US10/646,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060467A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system

Abstract

A remote docking station which has a remote docking station body is disclosed. Within the remote docking station body, there is a power converter having an input side, which is adapted to receive electrical power input from a power supply via a power input cable and a power input interface, and an output side configured to deliver electrical power at a desired power level to a computer via an output connector interface and a multipurpose interface cable. The remote docking station has at least one peripheral connector interface configured to receive input from a peripheral device. The peripheral connector interface is in electrical communication with the output connector interface, such that electrical signals from the peripheral connector interface pass to the output connector interface. The multipurpose interface cable connects the output connector interface to the computer, thus the multipurpose interface cable delivers electrical power and electric signals from a peripheral device to the computer. The multipurpose interface cable end may connect to a computer, such as a portable computer, via a single multipurpose connection interface or a plurality of conventional connection interfaces.

Claims

1. A remote docking station apparatus comprising:

a remote docking station body,

a power converter contained within said remote docking station body, wherein said power converter has an input side and an output side,

an externally accessible power input connector interface, said power input connector interface configured to connect to a power input cable and is in electrical communication with said input side of said power converter,

at least one externally accessible peripheral connector interface,

an externally accessible output connector interface, wherein said output connector interface is in electrical communication with said output side of said power converter and is in electrical communication with each of said at least one peripheral connector interface; and

a multipurpose interface cable configured to connect said output connector interface to a computer.

2. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said computer is a portable computer.

3. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said power input cable comprises:

a first power input cable end configured to connect to a power supply source; and

a second power input cable end configured to connect to said power input connector interface.

4. The remote docking station of claim 3, wherein said first power input cable end is configured to connect to a standard electrical socket.

5. The remote docking station of claim 3, wherein said first power input cable end is configures to connect to an automotive power supply socket.

6. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said power converter comprises:

means for selecting a power output level,

said selecting means being externally accessible to said remote docking station body.

7. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said power converter comprises an AC to DC power converter.

8. The remote docking station of claim 7, wherein said AC to DC power converter further comprises:

means for selecting a DC power output level,

said selecting means being externally accessible to said remote docking station body.

9. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said power converter comprises a DC to DC power converter.

10. The remote docking station of claim 9, wherein said DC to DC power converter further comprises:

means for selecting a DC power output level,

said selecting means being externally accessible to said remote docking station body.

11. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said multipurpose interface cable comprises:

a first multipurpose interface cable end configured to connect to said output connector interface, and

a second multipurpose interface cable end configured to connect to said computer.

12. The remote docking station of claim 11, wherein said second multipurpose interface cable end is configured to connect to said computer via a single multipurpose connection interface.

13. The remote docking station of claim 11, wherein said second multipurpose interface cable end is configured to connect to said computer via a plurality of conventional connection interfaces.

14. The remote docking station of claim 11, wherein said second multipurpose interface cable end comprises at least one auxiliary input interface configured to receive an input signal and transmit said input signal to said computer.

15. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said multipurpose interface cable comprises electromagnetic interference shielding configured to prevent electromagnetic interference from affecting electric signals in said multipurpose interface cable.

16. The remote docking station of claim 1, further comprising electromagnetic interference shielding inside said docking station body configured to prevent electromagnetic interference from affecting electric signals in said docking station body.

17. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive a network input.

18. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive a modem input.

19. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive a serial input.

20. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive a parallel input.

21. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive a USB input.

22. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive a PS2 input.

23. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive a IEEE 1394 input.

24. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive a video input.

25. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive an audio input.

26. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive a video output.

27. The remote docking station of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral connector interface is configured to receive an audio output.