Portable computer docking station

• US 20060061958A1
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, Jonathan, Solomon, Mark, Massaro, Kevin, Faulk, Brett
• Granted Patent: US 7,502,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.430
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A portable computer docking station comprises a cradle coupled to a docking base where the cradle is adapted to receive a portable computer. The docking station also comprises a wireless receiver adapted to communicate a wireless input signal received by the docking station to the portable computer.

Claims

1. A portable computer docking station, comprising:

a cradle coupled to a docking base, the cradle adapted to receive a portable computer; and

a wireless receiver adapted to communicate a wireless input signal received by the docking station to the portable computer.

2. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising at least one connector element adapted to communicatively couple the portable computer to the docking base.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is disposed on the cradle.

4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is adapted to communicate the wireless input signal to the portable computer via the docking base.

5. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising at least one retractable connector element adapted to communicatively couple the portable computer to the docking base.

6. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the cradle is pivotably coupled to the docking base.

7. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising at least one actuation element adapted to releasably secure the cradle in at least one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to the docking base.

8. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the cradle is adapted to support the portable computer in a display-open position.

9. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a non-skid element disposed in the cradle and adapted to contact the portable computer while in the cradle.

10. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the cradle comprises a J-shaped cradle.

11. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a bubble-type wireless receiver.

12. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver extends above an adjacent mounting surface thereof.

13. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising an interchangeable drive assembly removably couplable to the docking base.

14. A portable computer docking station, comprising:

means for coupling a cradle to a docking base, the cradle adapted to receive a portable computer; and

means, disposed on the cradle, for receiving a wireless input signal.

15. The docking station of claim 14, further comprising means for releasably securing the cradle in at least one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to the docking base.

16. The docking station of claim 14, wherein the coupling means comprises means for pivotally coupling the cradle to the docking base.

17. The docking station of claim 14, further comprising means retractably coupled to the cradle for communicatively coupling the cradle to the docking base.

18. The docking station of claim 14, wherein the means for receiving a wireless input signal comprises means extending above an adjacent surface of the cradle for receiving a wireless input signal.

19. A portable computer docking station, comprising:

a cradle pivotally coupled to a docking base, the docking base adapted to be communicatively coupled to a portable computer disposed in the cradle, the cradle adapted to support the portable computer in a display-open position.

20. The docking station of claim 19, further comprising at least one actuation element adapted to releasably secure the cradle in at least one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to the docking base.

21. The docking station of claim 19, further comprising a wireless receiver disposed on the cradle.

22. The docking station of claim 19, wherein the docking base comprises at least one audio speaker.

23. The docking station of claim 19, further comprising a retractable connector element adapted to communicatively couple the docking base to the portable computer.

24. The docking station of claim 23, wherein the cradle comprises a recessed area adapted to store the retractable connector element in a retracted position.

25. The docking station of claim 19, further comprising a wireless receiver adapted to communicate a wireless signal to the portable computer.

26. The docking station of claim 19, wherein the docking base is adapted to communicate a wireless signal received by a wireless receiver disposed on the cradle to the portable computer.

27. The docking station of claim 19, wherein the cradle comprises a J-shaped cradle.

28. The docking station of claim 19, further comprising an interchangeable drive assembly removably couplable to the docking base.

29. A portable computer docking station, comprising:

a cradle pivotally coupled to a docking base, the cradle adapted to receive a portable computer;

at least one connector element adapted to releasably engage the portable computer to communicatively couple the portable computer to the docking base; and

at least one actuation element adapted to releasably secure the cradle in at least one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to the docking base.

30. The docking station of claim 29, wherein the at least one actuation element is adapted to be actuated by a single hand of a user of the docking station.

31. The docking station of claim 29, wherein the cradle is adapted to support the portable computer in a display-open position.

32. The docking station of claim 29, further comprising a non-skid element adapted to contact the portable computer while the portable computer is disposed in the cradle.

33. The docking station of claim 29, wherein the cradle comprises a J-shaped cradle.

34. The docking station of claim 29, wherein the at least one connector element comprises at least one retractable connector element.

35. The docking station of claim 29, wherein the cradle comprises a recessed area adapted to store the at least one connector element in a retracted position.

36. The docking station of claim 29, wherein the docking base comprises at least one audio speaker.

37. The docking station of claim 29, further comprising an interchangeable drive assembly removably couplable to the docking base

38. A portable computer docking station, comprising:

a cradle coupled to a docking base, the cradle adapted to receive a portable computer; and

at least one retractable connector element adapted to releasably engage the portable computer to communicatively couple the portable computer to the docking base.

39. The docking station of claim 38, wherein the cradle comprises a recessed area adapted to store the connector element while in a retracted position.

40. The docking station of claim 38, wherein the cradle is adapted to support the portable computer in a display-open position.

41. The docking station of claim 38, wherein the docking base comprises at least one audio speaker.

42. The docking station of claim 38, wherein the docking base is adapted to communicate a wireless input signal received by a wireless receiver to the portable computer.

43. The docking station of claim 38, wherein the cradle comprises a J-shaped cradle.

44. The docking station of claim 38, further comprising an interchangeable drive assembly removably couplable to the docking base.

45. A portable computer docking station, comprising:

a cradle coupled to a docking base, the cradle adapted to receive a portable computer; and

an interchangeable drive assembly removably couplable to the docking base.

46. The docking station of claim 45, wherein the cradle comprises a J-shaped cradle.

47. The docking station of claim 45, wherein the docking base comprises at least one audio speaker.

48. The docking station of claim 45, further comprising at least one connector element adapted to communicatively couple the portable computer to the docking base.

49. The docking station of claim 45, wherein the drive assembly comprises a housing element adapted to cooperate with a housing of the docking base to facilitate removal of the drive assembly from the docking base.

50. The docking station of claim 45, wherein the drive assembly is adapted to be slidably inserted into the docking base.