PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE DOCKING STATION

• US 20120203949A1
• Filed: 02/03/2012
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Targus International LLC
• Original Assignee: Targus Group International Incorporated (Targus International LLC)
• Inventors: Benhard, Ryan Gordon, DeCamp, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 8,990,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/00 Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00 architectures of general purpose stored program computers G06F15/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/14 Handling requests for interconnection or transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/38 Information transfer, e.g. on bus G06F13/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

A universal docking station for portable electronic devices is disclosed. In some embodiments, the docking station may utilize a universal interface to communicatively couple a portable electronic device to one or more inputs, displays, and/or accessory devices. In some embodiments, the universal interface may be a high-speed and/or super-speed universal data interface. In further embodiments, the universal docking station may be configured to provide electrical power to a portable electronic device. By utilizing a universal data interface, the universal docking station may be utilized with any portable electronic device having the universal data interface regardless of the manufacturer of the portable electronic devices.

Claims

1. A docking station for a portable electronic device comprising:

a body configured to receive the portable electronic device;

a power receiving interface configured to receive electrical power from a power supply;

a plurality of accessory interfaces configured to communicatively couple the docking station with a plurality of accessory devices;

a universal data interface configured to communicatively couple the docking station with the portable electronic device; and

a power providing interface configured to deliver electrical power to the portable electronic device.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the universal data interface and the power providing interface are integrated into a single universal interface.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the body is further configured to mechanically retain the portable electronic device.

4. The docking station of claim 3, wherein the body further comprises a spring loaded mechanical clamp configured to mechanically retain the portable electronic device.

5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the universal data interface comprises a standardized non-propriety interface.

6. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the universal data interface further comprises a high speed interface.

7. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the universal data interface comprises an interface selected from the group comprising:

a high speed USB interface, an IEEE 1394 interface, a LightPeak™

interface, a CopperPeak™

interface, an Ethernet interface, an eSata interface, an HDMI interface, a DVI interface, a VGA interface, a ThunderBolt™

interface, and a Display Port interface.

8. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the docking station further includes a reset button configured to reset the universal data interface.

9. The docking station of claim 8, wherein the reset button is further configured to reset the plurality of accessory interfaces.

10. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the docking station further includes a power button configured to control the electrical power delivered to the portable electronic device by the power providing interface.

11. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to store cables associated with the plurality of accessory interfaces.

12. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to store cables associated with the power receiving interface.

13. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the docking station includes a lock slot configured to secure the body to a secure object.

14. The docking station of claim 13, wherein the lock slot includes a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the body to the secure object.

15. The docking station of claim 14, wherein the locking mechanism is further configured to selectively lock the body to the secure object using a cable.

16. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer.

17. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a smartphone.

18. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a tablet computer.

19. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to store accessories associated with the portable electronic device.