Docking cable

• US 20050245115A1
• Filed: 02/03/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OQO Incorporated (Audiotone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bell, Jory, Betts-LaCroix, Jonathan, Ward, Mindy, Chin, Vance
• Granted Patent: US 7,285,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/165
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

A cable is disclosed which include a first connector, a second connector, a primary flexible cable segment coupled to the first connector at a first location on the primary flexible cable segment and to the second connector at a second location on the primary flexible cable segment, and a third connector coupled to the primary flexible cable segment at a third location between the first and second locations on the primary flexible cable segment.

Claims

1. A cable comprising:

a first connector;

a second connector;

a primary flexible cable segment coupled to the first connector at a first location on the primary flexible cable segment and to the second connector at a second location on the primary flexible cable segment; and

a third connector coupled to the primary flexible cable segment at a third location between the first and second locations on the primary flexible cable segment.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the first location is a proximate end of the primary flexible cable segment, wherein the second location is a distal end of the primary flexible cable segment, and wherein the third location is a location between the proximate and distal ends of the primary flexible cable segment.

3. The cable of claim 1, wherein the second and third connectors are of different types.

4. The cable of claim 3, wherein the type of each of the second and third connectors is selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, IEEE 1394, video, audio, and power connector types.

5. The cable of claim 1, further comprising:

a first secondary flexible cable segment coupled between the third connector and the third location on the primary flexible cable segment.

6. The cable of claim 1, wherein the second connector is affixed to the primary flexible cable segment at the second location on the primary flexible cable segment, and wherein the third connector is affixed to the primary flexible cable segment at the third location on the primary flexible cable segment.

7. The cable of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one fourth connector coupled to the primary flexible cable segment at at least one fourth location between the second location and the third location on the primary flexible cable segment.

8. The cable of claim 7, further comprising:

a first secondary flexible cable segment coupled between the third connector and the third location on the primary flexible cable segment; and

a second secondary flexible cable segment coupled between the at least one fourth connector and the at least one fourth location on the primary flexible cable segment.

9. The cable of claim 7, wherein the at least one fourth connector is affixed to the primary flexible cable segment at the at least one fourth location.

10. The cable of claim 1, wherein the primary flexible cable segment comprises:

first signal transmission means for transmitting a first signal from the first connector to the second connector; and

second signal transmission means for transmitting a second signal from the first connector to the third connector.

11. The cable of claim 10, wherein the second signal transmission means does not include means for transmitting the second signal to the second connector.

12. The cable of claim 11, wherein the first signal transmission means does not include means for transmitting the first signal to the third connector.

13. The cable of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second signals is of a type selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, IEEE 1394, video, audio, and power signals.

14. The cable of claim 10, wherein the first and second signals are of different types.

15. The cable of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second and third connectors includes means for converting a signal received at the at least one of the second and third connectors from a first protocol to a second protocol.

16. The cable of claim 15, wherein the means for converting comprises means for converting the signal from a Universal Serial Bus signal to an Ethernet signal.

17. A cable comprising:

a first connector;

a second connector;

a primary flexible cable segment coupled at a proximate end to the first connector and at a distal end to the second connector; and

a third connector coupled to the primary flexible cable segment at a first position between the proximate and distal ends of the primary flexible cable segment;

wherein the second and third connectors are of different types; and

wherein the primary flexible cable segment comprises;

first signal transmission means for transmitting a first signal from the first connector to the second connector; and

second signal transmission means for transmitting a second signal from the first connector to the third connector.

18. A connector comprising:

a shell defining a cavity to receive a translucent plug to which the connector mates;

a light source within the cavity to illuminate the plug.

19. The connector of claim 18, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources corresponding to a plurality of connection statuses.

20. The connector of claim 18, wherein the connector comprises an Ethernet connector and wherein the plug comprises an Ethernet plug.

21. The connector of claim 18, wherein the light source comprises an LED.

22. A video connector comprising:

a female video connector;

a male video connector; and

a housing including the female connector and the male connector.

23. The video connector of claim 22, wherein the female and male video connectors comprise VGA video connectors.

24. The video connector of claim 22, wherein the female and male video connectors comprise digital video connectors.

25. The video connector of claim 22, wherein the female connector is orthogonal to the male connector.

26. A connector comprising:

a female connector;

a male connector disposed orthogonally to the female connector; and

a housing including the female connector and the male connector.

27. The connector of claim 26, wherein the female and male connectors comprise video connectors.

28. The connector of claim 27, wherein the female and male video connectors comprise VGA video connectors.

29. The connector of claim 27, wherein the female and male video connectors comprise digital video connectors.

30. The connector of claim 26, wherein the female and male connectors comprise serial connectors.