Mobile device expansion system

• US 20060190652A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lerner, Matthew R., Nuttall, Michael, Keely, Leroy B., Ohta, Seiya, LeFors, Jon, Stoddard, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules

Abstract

An expansion device is provided for expanding the functionality of a mobile electronic device while in a mobile mode and/or in a desktop mode. The expansion device may be a media slice that provides multimedia functionality to a mobile electronic device. The media slice may be configured to receive an electromechanical interface from the mobile electronic device and to replicate the electromechanical interface for connecting to another expansion device, such as to a docking station or a port replicator. The expansion device and the mobile electronic device may be connected via a latch mechanism that easily couples and de-couples the devices. An expansion system is also provided that includes a support stand for providing orientation and support features for a computing device and/or an expansion device.

Claims

1. An expansion unit for providing expanded functionality to a mobile computer while bridging a connection from the mobile computer to a docking device, the expansion unit comprising:

a first peripheral device providing expanded functionality to the mobile computer when electrically connected to the mobile computer;

a first connector permitting the mobile computer to interface with the first peripheral device when the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the mobile computer;

a second connector electrically connected to the first connector and permitting the mobile device to interface with the docking device via the first and second connectors when the second connector is electrically connected to the docking device.

2. The expansion unit of claim 1, wherein the docking device includes one of a computer docking station and a port replicator.

3. The expansion unit of claim 1, wherein the first connector mates with a third connector of the mobile computer when the expansion unit is electrically connected to the mobile computer, and the second connector replicates the third connector.

4. The expansion unit of claim 1, wherein the first peripheral device is a media drive.

5. The expansion unit of claim 4, wherein the media drive is a DVD player.

6. The expansion unit of claim 1, further comprising a supplemental battery unit for powering the peripheral device.

7. The expansion unit of claim 1, further comprising a latch mechanism for automatically securing the computer to the expansion unit when the expansion unit is connected to the mobile computer.

8. The expansion unit of claim 7, wherein the latch mechanism indicates the connection state between the mobile computer and the expansion unit.

9. The expansion unit of claim 7, wherein the latch mechanism automatically disconnects an electrical connection between the mobile computer and the expansion unit when actuated by a user.

10. The expansion unit of claim 1, wherein the docking station includes a computer stand and the expansion unit is configured to be disposed between the mobile computer and the computer stand when the first connector is electrically connected to the mobile computer and the second connector is electrically connected to the docking station.

11. The expansion unit of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a connector selected from the group consisting of a small computer systems interface (SCSI) connector, a universal serial bus (USB) port connector, a serial port connector, a parallel port connector, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) connector, a PCI express connector, an industry standard architecture (ISA) bus connector, and a wireless transmitter/receiver.

12. The expansion unit of claim 11, wherein the first connector is a PCI express connector.

13. The expansion unit of claim 1, wherein the expansion unit is a computing device operating independently of the mobile computer while in a stand-alone mode disconnected from the mobile computer and providing expanded functionality to the mobile computer when connected thereto, the expansion unit further comprising:

a storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for operating the computing device in the stand-alone mode;

an input device connector for interfacing with an input device;

a video adaptor for providing display information to a monitor; and

a processor in communication with the storage medium, the input device connector, and the video adaptor, the processor configured to perform steps comprising;

receiving user input via the input device connector;

executing instructions stored in the storage medium; and

providing display instructions to the video adaptor.

14. The expansion unit of claim 13, wherein the expansion unit comprises a media slice, the first peripheral device comprises a media player, and the computer-executable instructions comprise instructions for operating the media player independently of the mobile computer while in the stand-alone mode.

15. A media slice for a portable computer, the media slice comprising:

a media player;

an audio speaker in communication with the media player;

a first connector configured to connect with an expansion connector of the portable computer and to permit the portable computer to interact with the media player; and

a second connector configured to replicate the expansion connector of the portable computer, the second connector electrically connected with the first connector to enable an expansion device connected to the second connector to interface with the portable computer while the portable computer is connected to the first connector.

16. The media slice of claim 15, wherein the media player is an optical drive for playing digital video disks (DVDs).

17. The media slice of claim 16, further comprising:

a recess formed in a base of the media slice for receiving a portion of the portable computer when the first connector is connected to the personal computer;

an integrated unit that combines the media player, the audio speaker, the media player, the first connector, the second connector, the recess and the base in a single unit;

a carrying case having a storage cavity for retaining the integrated unit in a storage mode; and

DVD storage sleeves attached to the carrying case and disposed in the recess of the base in the storage mode.

18. The media slice of claim 15, wherein the media player is configured to play media in a stand-alone mode while disconnected from the computer and to provide media player functionality to the personal computer when connected thereto, the media slice further comprising:

a storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for operating the media player;

a processor in communication with the storage medium and the media player; and

an input device for receiving media player instructions from a user.

19. A portable computing device expansion system for providing expanded functionality to a portable computing device, the system comprising:

a first expansion device comprising;

a first peripheral device;

a first connector configured to connect with an expansion connector of the portable computing device and to permit the portable computing device to interface with the first peripheral device; and

a second connector configured to replicate the expansion connector of the portable computing device, the second connector electrically connected with the first connector; and

a second expansion device connected to the first expansion device, the second expansion device comprising;

a second peripheral device; and

a third connector configured to connect with the second connector of the first expansion device and to permit the portable computing device to interface with the second peripheral device via the first expansion device.

20. The portable computing device expansion system of claim 19, wherein the first expansion device is configured to be disposed between the portable computing device and the second expansion device when the portable computing device is connected to the first expansion device.