Universal docking station for hand held electronic devices

• US 20060250764A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarth, Richard P., Hobson, Phillip M., Crooijmans, Wim
• Granted Patent: US 7,719,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.410
• 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 docking station is disclosed. The docking station has an adjustable opening that accommodates portable electronic devices with differing sizes and shapes. The opening is capable of expanding to accommodate larger devices and retracting to accommodate smaller devices while still supporting the portable electronic device in its proper position within the docking station.

Claims

1. A universal docking station, comprising:

a base including a recess that forms an opening for receiving a handheld device, the recess having sides that surround the sides of the handheld device when the handheld device is received by the opening;

one or more adjustable members disposed at least partially within the recess, and having the ability to change the size and shape of the opening for handheld devices of various sizes and shapes.

2. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more adjustable members expands or retracts within the recess to change the size and shape of the opening in order to accommodate handheld devices of with varying thicknesses.

3. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more adjustable members expands or retracts within the recess to change the size and shape of the opening in order to accommodate handheld devices of with varying widths.

4. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more adjustable members expands or retracts within the recess to change the size and shape of the opening in order to accommodate handheld devices of with varying heights.

5. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more adjustable members expands or retracts within the recess along a first axis to change the size of the opening in a first direction thereby accommodating a first dimension of the handheld devices, and wherein the one or more adjustable members expands or retracts within the recess along a second axis to change the size of the opening in a second direction thereby accommodating a second dimension of the handheld devices, the first axis being orthogonal to the second axis.

6. The universal docking station as recited in claim 5 wherein the first and second dimensions are selected from thickness, width and height.

7. The universal docking station as recited in claim 6 wherein the first dimension is the width of the handheld device, and the second dimension is the thickness of the handheld device, and wherein the adjustable members are configured to accommodate widths of between substantially 2.0 inches and about 2.4 inches, and thicknesses of between substantially 0.5 inches and about 0.75 inches.

8. The universal docking station as recited in claim 6 wherein the first dimension is the width of the handheld device, and the second dimension is the height of the handheld device, and wherein the adjustable members are configured to accommodate widths of between substantially 2.0 inches and about 2.4 inches, and heights of between substantially 3.6 inches and about 4.1 inches.

9. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more adjustable members are sliding members that slide relative to the base in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying sizes and shapes.

10. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more adjustable members are flexure members that bend in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying sizes and shapes.

11. The universal docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more adjustable members are conforming members that deform in order to accommodate handheld devices with varying sizes and shapes.

12. A universal docking station, comprising:

a base having an opening that is partially recessed in the base, the opening being configured to receive a hand held electronic device, the opening including an interface that operatively couples the hand held electronic devices to the docking station when the hand held electronic device is inserted into the opening, the base including one or more adjustable members that have the ability to change the dimensions of the opening, the adjustable members expanding the opening outwardly to accommodate larger hand held devices and retracting the opening inwardly to accommodate smaller devices.

13. The universal docking station as recited in claim 12 wherein the docking station is a stand alone unit that operatively couples to an external electronic device through wired or wireless connections.

14. The universal docking station as recited in claim 12 wherein the docking station is integrated into an electronic device.

15. The universal docking station as recited in claim 12 wherein the one or more adjustable members are located on only one side of the opening.

16. The universal docking station as recited in claim 12 wherein the one or more adjustable members are located on multiple sides of the opening.

17. The universal docking station as recited in claim 12 wherein the one or more adjustable members are located on all sides of the opening.

18. The universal docking station as recited in claim 12 wherein the base includes a first adjustable member located on a first side of the opening and a second adjustable member that is located on a second side of the opening opposite the first side.

19. The universal docking station as recited in claim 18 further including a third adjustable member located on a third side of the opening and a fourth adjustable member located on a fourth side of the opening opposite the third side.

20. The universal docking station as recited in claim 12 wherein the one or more adjustable members are selected from sliding members, bending members, conforming members, rotating members, or pivoting members.

21. The universal docking station as recited in claim 12 wherein the docking station includes a door to cover the opening when the hand held electronic device is not inserted therein.

22. A universal docking station for a handheld device, comprising:

a base with a recess;

at least one sliding member at least partially located within the recess, and being configured to slide relative to the base along a first axis, the sliding member sliding between a retracted position that forms a large opening in the recess for receiving larger handheld devices, and an expanded position that forms a small opening in the recess for receiving smaller handheld devices.

23. The universal docking station as recited in claim 22 wherein the sliding member is located on a first side of the recess, and wherein the sliding member is configured to move linearly towards a second side of the recess that is opposite the first side in order adjust the distance of the opening.

24. The universal docking station as recited in claim 22 further including a second sliding member at least partially located within the recess, and being configured to slide relative to the base along the first axis, the second sliding member sliding between a retracted position that forms a large opening in the recess for receiving larger handheld devices, and an expanded position that forms a small opening in the recess for receiving smaller handheld devices, the second sliding member cooperating with the first sliding member in order to adjust the distance of the opening.

25. The universal docking station as recited in claim 24 wherein the first sliding member is located on a first side of the recess and the second sliding member is located on a second side of the recess opposite the first side, and wherein the first and second sliding members move along the first axis in directions towards and away from one another in order adjust the distance of the opening.

26. The universal docking station as recited in claim 25 wherein the first and second sliding members span the width of the opening, and are configured to move forwards and backwards along the first axis in order to accommodate hand held electronic devices with varying thicknesses, the first and second sliding members setting the maximum distance of the opening when they are both placed in the retracted position, the first and second sliding members setting the minimum distance of the opening when they are both placed in the expanded position.

27. The universal docking station as recited in claim 22 wherein the sliding member takes the form of a flange having a substantially horizontal upper section and a substantially vertical lower section, the upper section being seated within a recessed portion in a surface of the base next to the recess, the lower section extending into the recess such that it drapes around a side of the recess, the lower section acting as a wall of the recess and providing a reference surface for supporting the hand held electronic device when the electronic device is inserted into the recess.

28. The universal docking station as recited in claim 22 wherein the docking station includes a locking device for holding the position of the sliding member.

29. The universal docking station as recited in claim 22 wherein the docking station includes a positioning mechanism for moving the sliding member to a position between the retracted and expanded positions.

30. The universal docking station as recited in claim 22 wherein the docking station includes one or more spring elements for biasing the sliding member in the expanded position.

31. A universal docking station, comprising:

a first adjustable member located on a first side of an opening and a second adjustable member located on a second side of the opening, the second side being opposite the first side, the first and second adjustable members cooperating to adjust the size of the opening in order to accommodate handheld electronic devices of various sizes.

32. The universal docking station as recited in claim 31 wherein the first and second adjustable members move along a first axis in a linear direction towards and away from one another.

33. The universal docking station as recited in claim 32 wherein the first and second adjustable members are spring biased in a direction towards one another.

34. The universal docking station as recited in claim 31 further including a third adjustable member located on a third side of the opening and a fourth adjustable member located on a fourth side of the opening, the fourth side being opposite the third side.

35. The universal docking station as recited in claim 34 wherein the first and second adjustable members move along a first axis in a linear direction towards and away from one another, and wherein the third and fourth adjustable members move along a second axis in a linear direction towards and away from one another, the first and second axis being orthogonal.

36. The universal docking station as recited in claim 35 wherein the first and second adjustable members are spring biased in a direction towards one another, and wherein the third and fourth adjustable members are spring biased in a direction towards one another.

37. A sound system, comprising:

a base with an integrated universal docking station, the docking station being configured to receive handheld music players, the universal docking station including an adjustable opening for accommodating handheld music players of various sizes and shapes; and

one or more speakers connected to the base.

38. The sound system as recited in claim 37 wherein the adjustable opening adjusts along a first axis to distances between about 0.5 inches to about 0.75 inches.

39. The sound system as recited in claim 38 wherein the adjustable opening adjusts along a second axis to distances between about 2.0 inches to about 2.4 inches.

40. The sound system as recited in claim 37 wherein the adjustable opening adjusts along a first axis to distances between about 3.6 inches to about 4.1 inches.

41. The sound system as recited in claim 40 wherein the adjustable opening adjusts along a second axis to distances between about 2.0 inches to about 2.4 inches.