Docking Cable

• US 20070279875A1
• Filed: 07/17/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OQO LLC
• Inventors: Bell, Jory, Betts-LaCroix, Jonathan, Ward, Mindy, Chin, Vance
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/747
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

A cable is disclosed which include a first connector, a second connector, a primary flexible cable segment coupled to the first connector at a first location on the primary flexible cable segment and to the second connector at a second location on the primary flexible cable segment, and a third connector coupled to the primary flexible cable segment at a third location between the first and second locations on the primary flexible cable segment.

Claims

1. A cable comprising:

a video connector;

a power connector;

a primary flexible cable segment coupled to the video connector at a first location on the primary flexible cable segment and to the power connector at a second location on the primary flexible cable segment; and

a third connector coupled to the primary flexible cable segment at a third location between the first and second locations on the primary flexible cable segment.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the first location is a proximate end of the primary flexible cable segment, wherein the second location is a distal end of the primary flexible cable segment, and wherein the third location is a location between the proximate and distal ends of the primary flexible cable segment.

3. The cable of claim 1, further comprising:

a first secondary flexible cable segment coupled between the third connector and the third location on the primary flexible cable segment.

4. The cable of claim 1, wherein the power connector is affixed to the primary flexible cable segment at the second location on the primary flexible cable segment, and wherein the third connector is affixed to the primary flexible cable segment at the third location on the primary flexible cable segment.

5. The cable of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one additional connector coupled to the primary flexible cable segment at at least one additional location between the second location and the third location on the primary flexible cable segment.

6. The cable of claim 5, further comprising:

a first secondary flexible cable segment coupled between the third connector and the third location on the primary flexible cable segment; and

a second secondary flexible cable segment coupled between the at least one additional connector and the at least one additional location on the primary flexible cable segment.

7. The cable of claim 5, wherein the at least one additional connector is affixed to the primary flexible cable segment at the at least one additional location.

8. The cable of claim 1, wherein the primary flexible cable segment comprises:

first signal transmission means for transmitting a first signal from the video connector to the power connector; and

second signal transmission means for transmitting a second signal from the video connector to the third connector.

9. The cable of claim 8, wherein the second signal transmission means does not include means for transmitting the second signal to the power connector.

10. The cable of claim 9, wherein the first signal transmission means does not include means for transmitting the first signal to the third connector.

11. The cable of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second and third connectors includes means for converting a signal received at the at least one of the second and third connectors from a first protocol to a second protocol.

12. The cable of claim 11, wherein the means for converting comprises means for converting the signal from a Universal Serial Bus signal to an Ethernet signal.

13. The cable of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises:

a female output connector;

a male output connector disposed orthogonally to the female connector; and

a housing including the female connector and the male connector.

14. A cable comprising:

a video connector;

a power connector;

a primary flexible cable segment coupled at a proximate end to the video connector and at a distal end to the power connector; and

a third connector coupled to the primary flexible cable segment at a first position between the proximate and distal ends of the primary flexible cable segment, wherein the third connector is not a power connector;

wherein the primary flexible cable segment comprises;

first signal transmission means for transmitting a first signal from the video connector to the power connector; and

second signal transmission means for transmitting a second signal from the video connector to the third connector.

15. A video connector comprising:

a female VGA video output connector;

a male VGA video output connector; and

a housing including the female connector and the male connector.

16. The video connector of claim 15, wherein the female and male video connectors comprise digital video connectors.

17. The video connector of claim 15, wherein the female connector is orthogonal to the male connector.

18. A connector comprising:

a female output connector;

a male output connector disposed orthogonally to the female connector; and

a housing including the female connector and the male connector.

19. The connector of claim 18, wherein the female and male connectors comprise video connectors.

20. The connector of claim 19, wherein the female and male video connectors comprise VGA video connectors.

21. The connector of claim 19, wherein the female and male video connectors comprise digital video connectors.

22. The connector of claim 18, wherein the female and male connectors comprise serial connectors.

23. A cable comprising:

a first connector;

a second connector;

a primary flexible cable segment coupled to the first connector at a first location on the primary flexible cable segment and to the second connector at a second location on the primary flexible cable segment; and

a third connector coupled to the primary flexible cable segment at a third location between the first and second locations on the primary flexible cable segment;

wherein at least one of the second and third connectors includes means for converting a signal received at the at least one of the second and third connectors from a first protocol to a second protocol.

24. The cable of claim 23, wherein the means for converting comprises means for converting the signal from a Universal Serial Bus signal to an Ethernet signal.