DOCKING STATION FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20090322278A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Franks, Michael Edward, Kim, Young Soo, Bathiche, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,497,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A docking station for an electronic device includes a magnet that holds the electronic device in a mated orientation relative to the docking station. The docking station may include a mounting surface with two or more different charge-contact regions, each charge-contact region electrically coupled to a terminal of an electric power source and positioned to form an electrical connection with a charging terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device mates with the mounting surface.

Claims

1. A docking station for an electronic device, comprising:

a convex mounting surface to selectively mate with the electronic device;

a first charge-contact region on the convex mounting surface electrically coupled to a first terminal of an electric power source and positioned to form an electrical connection with a first charging terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device mates with the convex mounting surface;

a second charge-contact region on the convex mounting surface electrically coupled to a second terminal of an electric power source and positioned to form an electrical connection with a second charging terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device mates with the convex mounting surface; and

a magnet to magnetically hold the electronic device in a mated position relative to the convex mounting surface.

2. The docking station of claim 1, where the convex mounting surface is a spherical cap.

3. The docking station of claim 2, where the magnet is configured to hold the electronic device in a plurality of different mated orientations relative to the spherical cap.

4. The docking station of claim 2, where the first charge-contact region occupies an outer spherical segment of the spherical cap and the second charge-contact region occupies an area interior the outer spherical segment of the spherical cap.

5. The docking station of claim 1, where the first charge-contact region occupies a first hemisphere of the convex mounting surface and the second charge-contact region occupies a second hemisphere of the convex mounting surface.

6. The docking station of claim 1, where the convex mounting surface is a cylindrical cap.

7. The docking station of claim 6, where the magnet is configured to hold the electronic device in a plurality of different mated orientations relative to the cylindrical cap.

8. The docking station of claim 6, where the first charge-contact region occupies a first segment of the cylindrical cap and the second charge-contact region occupies a second segment of the cylindrical cap.

9. The docking station of claim 1, where the magnet includes an electromagnet, and where the docking station further comprises a switch to selectively decrease an electromagnetic hold on the electronic device.

10. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic shield to selectively decrease a magnetic hold on the electronic device.

11. The docking station of claim 1, where a magnetic hold on the electronic device is decreased responsive to a user touching one or more of the electronic device and the docking station.

12. The docking station of claim 11, further comprising a capacitive sensor to detect a user touching one or more of the electronic device and the docking station.

13. The docking station of claim 1, where a magnetic hold on the electronic device is decreased responsive to a user moving within a release distance of one or more of the electronic device and the docking station.

14. The docking station of claim 13, further comprising a proximity sensor to detect a user moving within the release distance of one or more of the electronic device and the docking station.

15. The docking station of claim 1, where a magnetic hold on the electronic device is decreased responsive to a pressure on one or more of the electronic device and the docking station exceeding a release threshold.

16. The docking station of claim 15, further comprising a pressure sensor to detect a pressure on one or more of the electronic device and the docking station exceeding the release threshold.

17. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a release control selectively switchable between a hold state and a release state.

18. The docking station of claim 17, where a magnetic hold on the electronic device is decreased responsive to activation of the release control.

19. A docking station for an electronic device, comprising:

a mounting structure to selectively mate with the electronic device;

a first charge-contact region on the mounting structure electrically coupled to a first terminal of an electric power source and positioned to form an electrical connection with a first charging terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device mates with the mounting structure;

a second charge-contact region on the mounting structure electrically coupled to a second terminal of an electric power source and positioned to form an electrical connection with a second charging terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device mates with the mounting structure;

an electromagnet to electromagnetically hold the electronic device in a mated position relative to the mounting structure; and

a switch to selectively decrease an electromagnetic hold on the electronic device.

20. A docking station for an electronic device, comprising:

a mounting structure to selectively mate with the electronic device;

a first charge-contact region on the mounting structure electrically coupled to a first terminal of an electric power source and positioned to form an electrical connection with a first charging terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device mates with the mounting structure;

a second charge-contact region on the mounting structure electrically coupled to a second terminal of an electric power source and positioned to form an electrical connection with a second charging terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device mates with the mounting structure;

a magnet to magnetically hold the electronic device in a mated position relative to the mounting structure; and

a magnetic shield to selectively decrease a magnetic hold on the electronic device.