Docking station for portable computer

• US 20070127205A1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kuo, Szu-Wei
• Granted Patent: US 7,573,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.90
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A docking station for a portable computer includes a connector and a keyboard. The connector is disposed on a bottom portion of the docking station for communicating with the portable computer, and the keyboard is disposed on a top portion of the docking station.

Claims

1. A docking station for a portable computer, the docking station comprising:

a connector disposed on a bottom portion of the docking station configured for communicating with the portable computer; and

a keyboard disposed on a top portion of the docking station.

2. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the docking station defines a groove therein, for receiving a part of the portable computer.

3. The docking station as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connector depends into the groove from the docking station for electrically connecting with the portable computer.

4. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein a movable fixing portion is installed in the docking station for holding the portable computer.

5. The docking station as claimed in claim 4, wherein a switch is mounted on the docking station for driving the fixing portion to move outward to and inward from the docking station.

6. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of expansion ports is disposed in sidewalls of the docking station configured for connecting peripheral equipment.

7. An assembly comprising:

a portable computer comprising a base unit; and

a docking station removably attachable on the base unit, the docking station comprising a keyboard functioning as an input device for the portable computer.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein a connector is installed in a top portion of the base unit, and a connector depends from a bottom portion of the docking station for mating with the connector of the base unit.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein a bottom portion of the docking station defines a groove therein, for receiving a part of the base unit.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base unit defines a fixing hole, the bottom portion of the docking station forms a sidewall adjoining the groove, and a movable fixing portion protrudes from the sidewall to engage in the fixing hole of the base unit.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein a switch is mounted on the docking station for driving the fixing portion to move outward to and inward from the sidewall.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein a plurality of expansion ports is disposed in sidewalls of the docking station configured for connecting peripheral equipment.