Docking Station And Device Adapter For Use In A Docking Station

• US 20110134601A1
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shuang SA
• Original Assignee: Shuang SA
• Inventors: SA, Shuang
• Granted Patent: US 10,148,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to a docking station for charging batteries used in portable electronic devices and/or for transferring data to or from portable electronic devices. The docking station is adapted to receive a rechargeable battery either directly and/or through its portable electronic device, which can be fitted with or without a cover case. For example, the docking station has a receiving area configured to receive and hold a portable electronic device including a rechargeable battery and/or a rechargeable battery after being removed from the corresponding portable electronic device. The invention also relates to a removable device adapter for use with a docking station to receive a rechargeable battery directly and/or through its portable electronic device fitted with or without a cover case. For example, the device adapter can be removably used in a docking station during a charging operation of a rechargeable battery and/or a data transferring operation of a portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A docking station operable for charging a battery and/or transferring data to or from a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a docking base having an adapter receiving area and an adapter contact port formed in the adapter receiving area;

at least one device adapter configured to be removably fit in the receiving area of the docking base, the device adapter comprising;

a main adapter body having a base portion configured to be received and supported in the adapter receiving area on the docking base, the main adapter body having a device receiving area configured to receive and support at least a portion of the portable electronic device;

a device contact port formed in the device receiving area for electrically contacting a contact port formed on the portable electronic device; and

a docking contact port formed on the base portion for electrically contacting the adapter contact port on the docking base, the docking contact port being electrically connected to the device contact port in the device receiving area;

when the docking contact port on the base portion is electrically connected to the adapter contact port on the docking base, the device contact port on the device adapter is electrically connected to the adapter contact port on the docking base.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the adapter receiving area in the docking base is configured to receive and support a portion of the portable electronic device.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the adapter receiving area is formed as an adapter receiving chamber surrounded by a tapered surrounding wall, the surrounding wall having a top edge at least partially formed to conform to the shape of the portion of the portable electronic device.

4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the device adapter comprises a skirt portion joined with the main adapter body, the skirt portion having a bottom edge configured to support the device adapter in the adapter receiving area on the docking base.

5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the adapter contact port, the device contact port, and the docking contact port are a USB type port.

6. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising an adapter insert,

wherein the adapter insert has an exterior portion configured to be received and supported in the device receiving area on the main adapter body;

and

wherein the adapter insert has an interior portion configured to receive and support the portable electronic device.

7. The docking station of claim 1,

wherein the adapter receiving area of the docking base is configured to directly receive the portable electronic device free of a cover case;

and

wherein the device receiving portion of the device adapter is configured to receive the portable electronic device fitted with a cover case.

8. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the docking base comprises a plurality of adapter receiving areas each being formed with an adapter contact port.

9. The docking station of claim 8,

wherein the at least one device adapter comprises a plurality of device adapters configured to be received and supported in the plurality of adapter receiving areas of the docking base;

and

wherein at least two of the plurality of device adapters are configured to have different device receiving areas for receiving different portable electronic devices.

10. The docking station of claim 8, wherein the at least one device adapter comprises a plurality of device adapters, the base portions of the plurality of device adapters being the same;

whereby the plurality of device adapters can be interchangeably received and supported in the plurality of adapter receiving areas of the docking base.

11. A device adapter comprising:

a main adapter body having a base portion configured to be received and supported in a docking station, the main adapter body having a device receiving area configured to receive and support at least a portion of a portable electronic device;

a device contact port formed in the device receiving area for electrically contacting a contact port formed on the portable electronic device; and

a docking contact port formed on the base portion for electrically contacting a contact port on the docking station;

wherein the docking contact port on the base portion is electrically connected to the device contact port in the device receiving area.

12. The device adapter of claim 11, wherein the device contact port and the docking contact port are a USB type port.

13. The device adapter of claim 11, wherein the main adapter body has an additional device receiving area configured to receive and support an additional electronic device.

14. The device adapter of claim 11, further comprising an adapter insert,

wherein the adapter insert has an exterior portion configured to be received and supported in the device receiving area on the main adapter body;

and

wherein the adapter insert has an interior portion configured to receive and support the portable electronic device.

15. The device adapter of claim 11, further comprising a power cable having one connecting end formed for electrically contacting the docking contact port on the base portion.

16. An accessory kit for use in a battery charging and/or data transferring operation of a portable electronic device, the accessory kit comprising:

a device adapter comprising;

a main adapter body having a base portion configured to be received and supported in a docking station, the main adapter body having a device receiving area configured to receive and support at least a portion of a portable electronic device;

a device contact port formed in the device receiving area for electrically contacting a contact port formed on the portable electronic device; and

a docking contact port formed on the base portion for electrically contacting a contact port on the docking station;

wherein the docking contact port on the base portion is electrically connected to the device contact port in the device receiving area; and

at least one of an adapter insert and a cover case for the portable electronic device;

wherein the adapter insert has an exterior portion configured to be received and supported in the device receiving area on the main adapter body and an interior portion configured to receive and support the portable electronic device.

17. The accessory kit of claim 16, wherein the adapter insert comprises a plurality of stackable adapter inserts.

18. The accessory kit of claim 16, further comprising a docking base,

wherein the docking base comprises an adapter receiving area and an adapter contact port formed in the adapter receiving area;

and

wherein the adapter receiving area in the docking base is configured to receive and support the base portion of the main adapter body.

19. The accessory kit of claim 16, further comprising a docking base,

wherein the docking base comprises an adapter receiving area and an adapter contact port formed in the adapter receiving area;

and

wherein the adapter receiving area in the docking base is configured to receive and support a portion of the portable electronic device.

20. The accessory kit of claim 16, further comprising a power cable having one connecting end formed for electrically contacting the docking contact port on the base portion of the device adapter.