Methods and apparatuses for docking a portable electronic device that has a planar like configuration and that operates in multiple orientations

• US 20070035917A1
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Pabon, Gus, Hotelling, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,352,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.560
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a portable electronic device capable of operating in multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal. The docking system also includes a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device in any of its multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal.

Claims

1. A docking system, comprising:

a portable electronic device capable of operating in multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal; and

a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device in any of its multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal.

4. The docking system as recited in claim 1 wherein the portable computing device includes a full screen display.

5. The docking system as recited in claim 1 wherein the docking station includes a planar platform for receiving a substantially planar backside of the portable electronic device.

6. The docking system as recited in claim 1 wherein the docking station includes a first interface mechanism and the portable electronic device includes a second interface mechanism, and wherein the first and second interface mechanisms communicate with each other when the portable electronic device is docked with the docking station, the first and second interface mechanism being rotationally symmetric so as to ensure communication therebetween when the portable electronic device is positioned horizontally or vertically relative to the docking station.

7. The docking system as recited in claim 6 wherein the interface mechanisms are configured to transfer data between the portable electronic device and the docking station.

8. The docking system as recited in claim 6 wherein the interface mechanisms are configured to transfer power between the portable electronic device and the docking station.

9. The docking system as recited in claim 6 wherein the interface mechanisms are configured to transfer data and power between the portable electronic device and the docking station.

10. The docking system as recited in claim 6 wherein the interface mechanisms are contact based.

11. The docking system as recited in claim 6 wherein the interface mechanisms are non contact based.

2. The docking system as recited in claim I wherein the portable electronic device is a handheld computing device.

3. The docking system as recited in claim 2 wherein the handheld computing device is a tablet PC.

12. A docking system, comprising:

a portable electronic device having a front side and substantially planar back side opposite the front side and including a full screen display at the front side, and a power transfer mechanism at the substantially planar back side, the full screen display being configured to display content in an upright manner whether the portable electronic device is used horizontally or vertically; and

a docking platform having a substantially planar front side configured to support the substantially planar backside of the portable electronic device thereon, and including a power transfer mechanism at the substantially planar front side,

wherein the power transfer mechanism of the portable electronic device and power transfer mechanism of the docking platform are aligned along an axis and juxtaposed relative to one another when the portable electronic device is supported by the docking platform, and wherein the power transfer mechanism of the portable electronic device and the power transfer mechanism of the docking platform are rotationally symmetric about the axis such that they maintain communication with one another whether the portable electronic device is placed horizontally or vertically on the docking platform.

13. The docking system as recited in claim 12 wherein the power transfer mechanisms are embodied as electrical contacts.

14. The docking system as recited in claim 12 wherein the power transfer mechanisms are embodied as inductors.

15. The docking system as recited in claim 12 wherein the portable electronic device further includes a data transfer mechanism, and wherein the docking platform further includes a data transfer mechanism.

16. The docking system as recited in claim 15 wherein the data transfer mechanism of the portable electronic device and the data transfer mechanism of the docking platform are aligned along an axis and juxtaposed relative to one another when the portable electronic device is supported by the docking platform, and wherein the data transfer mechanism of the portable electronic device and the data transfer mechanism of the docking platform are rotationally symmetric about the axis such that they maintain communication with one another whether the portable electronic device is placed horizontally or vertically on the docking platform.

17. The docking system as recited in claim 15 wherein the data transfer mechanisms are separate from the power transfer mechanisms.

18. The docking system as recited in claim 15 wherein the data transfer mechanisms are integrated with the power transfer mechanisms.

19. The docking system as recited in claim 15 wherein the data transfer mechanisms are embodied as electrical contacts.

20. The docking system as recited in claim 15 wherein the data transfer mechanisms are embodied as inductors.

21. The docking system as recited in claim 15 wherein the data transfer mechanisms are embodied as transceivers.

22. The docking system as recited in claim 12 wherein the docking platform includes alignment features for aligning the power transfer mechanism of the portable electronic device and the power transfer mechanism of the of the docking platform along the axis.

23. The docking system as recited in claim 22 wherein the alignment features are configured to only support one orientation of horizontal and one orientation of vertical.

24. The docking system as recited in claim 22 wherein the alignment features are configured to support multiple orientations of horizontal and vertical.

25. The docking system as recited in claim 22 wherein the alignment features are configured to support all orientations through 360 degrees.

26. The docking system as recited in claim 12 wherein the power transfer mechanism of the portable electronic device includes a primary inductive coil and the power transfer mechanism of the docking platform includes a secondary inductive coil, the primary inductive coil and the secondary inductive coil cooperating to form a two part transformer when the portable electronic device is docked to the docking platform.

27. The docking system as recited in claim 26 wherein the primary and second inductive coils are rotationally symmetric through 360 degrees.

28. The docking system as recited in claim 26 wherein the primary and second inductive coils are rotationally symmetric at orientations of 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees.

29. A docking station, comprising:

a platform that allows a substantially planar portable electronic device to be docked in multiple orientations about an axis; and

an interface mechanism located at the platform and configured to interface with a corresponding interface mechanism of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is docked to the platform in any of its multiple orientations.

30. The docking station as recited in claim 29 wherein the platform is arranged as a easel and wherein the platform includes a substantially planar front side configured to receive a substantially planar backside of the portable electronic device.

31. The docking station as recited in claim 29 wherein the interface mechanism of the platform is rotationally symmetric with the corresponding interface mechanism of the portable electronic device so as to ensure communication therebetween when the portable electronic device is positioned on the platform in any of its multiple orientations.

32. The docking station as recited in claim 31 wherein the interface mechanisms are configured to transfer data between the portable electronic device and the docking station.

33. The docking system as recited in claim 32 wherein the interface mechanisms are inductively based interface mechanisms.

34. The docking system as recited in claim 31 wherein the interface mechanisms are configured to transfer power between the portable electronic device and the docking station.

35. The docking system as recited in claim 34 wherein the interface mechanisms are inductively based interface mechanisms.

36. The docking system as recited in claim 31 wherein the interface mechanisms are configured to transfer data and power between the portable electronic device and the docking station.

37. The docking system as recited in claim 36 wherein the interface mechanisms are inductively based interface mechanisms.

38. The docking station as recited in claim 29 wherein the interface mechanisms each include a transceiver for transferring data between the portable electronic device and the docking station, and an inductor for transferring power between the portable electronic device and the docking station.

39. A docking station, comprising:

a substantially planar platform for receiving a substantially planar portable electronic device thereon, the substantially planar platform receiving the portable electronic device in a plurality of orientations about an axis, the plurality of orientations including at least a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation;

an interface mechanism disposed in the substantially planar platform and having a center located at the axis, the interface mechanism communicating with a corresponding interface mechanism disposed in the substantially planar portable electronic device when the substantially planar portable electronic device is placed on the substantially planar platform in any of the plurality of orientations; and

one or more alignment features for aligning a center of the corresponding interface mechanism of the substantially planar portable electronic device with the axis when the substantially planar portable electronic device is placed on the substantially planar platform in any of the plurality of orientations.

40. The docking station as recited in claim 39 wherein the interface mechanisms each include a power transfer mechanism, and wherein the power transfer mechanisms are inductively based.

41. The docking station as recited in claim 40 wherein the power transfer mechanism of the platform includes a primary inductive coil, and wherein the power transfer mechanism of the portable electronic device includes a secondary inductive coil.

42. The docking station as recited in claim 41 wherein the primary and secondary inductive coils are circular in order to ensure rotationally symmetry about the axis.

43. The docking station as recited in claim 39 wherein the one or more alignment features only support one orientation of vertical and horizontal.

44. The docking station as recited in claim 39 wherein the one or more alignment features support multiple orientations of vertical and horizontal.

45. The docking station as recited in claim 39 wherein the one or more alignment features support all angles through 360 degrees.

46. A portable electronic device configured to operate in multiple orientations including horizontal and vertical orientations, the portable electronic device displaying content in an upright manner in both the horizontal and vertical orientations, the portable electronic device having a substantially planar back side for placement on a planar front side of a docking platform in each of its multiple orientations, the substantially planar portable electronic device including an interface mechanism located at the backs side of the portable electronic device and configured to interface with a corresponding interface mechanism located at the front side of the docking platform when the portable electronic device is placed on the docking platform in any of its multiple orientations.

47. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 46 wherein the interface mechanism includes an inductive coil for transferring power.

48. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 46 wherein the interface mechanism includes an inductive coil for transferring data and power.

49. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 46 wherein the portable electronic device is a handheld computing device with a display located at its front side.