Modular Universal Parts and Personality Parts of a Docketing System

• US 20110103002A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ady, Roger W., Woodhull, Charles B., Pierce, Paul M., Slaby, Jiri, Voss, Karl R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,139,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

The disclosed docking systems for an electronic device may provide any accessory function and may include more than one connector such as a battery charger connector, a USB hub, a memory card hub, an audio boom box connector, and the like. A modular universal part is configured with at least a one connector that is configured to interface with an electronic device connector. A personality part, specific to the electronic device, is configured to receive both the electronic device and the modular universal part so that the modular universal part connector is capable of interfacing with the electronic device connector. In this way, the personality part can align the electronic device connectors with any number of modular universal part connectors. In this way, an accessory part including a modular universal part could be reuseable with different electronic devices since the personality part is specific to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A docking system for an electronic device, the electronic device including at least one electronic device connector, comprising:

a modular universal part configured with at least a one modular part connector configured to interface with an electronic device connector;

a personality part configured to receive the electronic device, to receive the modular universal part and to receive at least one modular universal part connector so that a modular universal part connector is capable of interfacing with the electronic device connector; and

wherein when the modular universal part is received by the personality part, the modular universal part, from at least one viewing angle, is obscured by the personality part.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the modular universal part and the personality part are configured so that when the modular universal part is received by the personality part, the modular universal part and the personality part together rest on the same plane.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the modular universal part and the personality part are configured so that when the modular universal part is received by the personality part, the modular universal part and the personality part together form an orthogonal configuration.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein personality part is configured for resting self-support and the modular universal part is configured to provide further resting support to the personality part.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the modular universal part is configured to provide resting support to the personality part.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the modular universal part is configured to receive a connector from an auxiliary accessory.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the personality part comprises:

at least one identifier configured to provide at least one type of information to the electronic device regarding a function of a modular universal part received by the personality part or situational information regarding the situation of the docking system.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the identifier is at least one of a magnet or a code.

9. A docking system for an electronic device, the electronic device including at least one electronic device connector, comprising:

a modular universal part configured with at least a one modular part connector configured to interface with an electronic device connector;

a personality part configured to receive the electronic device, to receive the modular universal part and to receive at least one modular universal part connector so that a modular universal part connector is capable of interfacing with the electronic device connector; and

wherein the modular universal part and the personality part are configured so that when the modular universal part is received by the personality part, the modular universal part and the personality part together rest on the same plane.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein when the modular universal part is received by the personality part, the modular universal part, from at least one viewing angle, is obscured by the personality part.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein personality part is configured for resting self-support and the modular universal part is configured to provide further resting support to the personality part.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the modular universal part is configured to provide resting support to the personality part.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the modular universal part is configured to receive a connector from an auxiliary accessory.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the personality part comprises:

at least one identifier configured to provide at least one of information to the electronic device regarding a function of the modular universal part received by the personality part or situational information regarding the situation of the docking system.

15. A docking system for an electronic device, the electronic device including at least one electronic device connector, comprising:

a modular universal part configured with at least a one modular part connector configured to interface with an electronic device connector;

a personality part configured to receive the electronic device, to receive the modular universal part and to receive at least one modular universal part connector so that a modular universal part connector is capable of interfacing with the electronic device connector; and

wherein the modular universal part and the personality part are configured so that when the modular universal part is received by the personality part, the modular universal part and the personality part together form an orthogonal configuration.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein when the modular universal part is received by the personality part, the modular universal part, from at least one viewing angle, is obscured by the personality part.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein personality part is configured for resting self-support and the modular universal part is configured to provide further resting support to the personality part.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the modular universal part is configured to provide resting support to the personality part.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the modular universal part is configured to receive a connector from an auxiliary accessory.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the personality part comprises:

at least one identifier configured to provide at least one of information to the electronic device regarding a function of the modular universal part received by the personality part or situational information regarding the situation of the docking system.