Docking Station for Providing Digital Signage

• US 20120293924A1
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dolci, Dominic E., Villarreal, Cesar Lozano, Spielmann, Victoria A., Mariano, Ricardo A., Kwan, Alexander M., Smeenge, James G., De luliis, Daniele G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,659,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

Various embodiments of digital signage systems and docking stations are described. In one embodiment, a digital signage system includes an electronic device having a rear surface and an opposing front surface at which a display of the electronic device may be viewed. The system also includes a body for supporting the electronic device. A recessed region is formed in the body from a top surface of the body, and the electronic device is positioned within the recessed region such that the rear surface of the electronic device fits entirely within the recessed region and the front surface of the electronic device is substantially flush with a portion of a top surface of the body that surrounds the recessed region. An aperture may be formed at least partially through the recessed region for receiving a cable assembly operable to connect to the electronic device. An elongated cutout may also be formed, extending from the aperture to an edge or edge surface of the body, and sized so that an insulated wire of the cable assembly can extend from the aperture to the edge or edge surface of the body.

Claims

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

a body having a recessed region formed at its upper surface; and

an aperture formed at least partially through the body from the recessed region toward a bottom surface of the body, the aperture being sized to receive a cable assembly operable to connect to the electronic device when the electronic device is mounted within the recessed region.

2. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising an elongated cutout extending from the aperture to an edge or edge surface of the body, the elongated cutout being sized so that a cable of the cable assembly can extend from the aperture to the edge or edge surface of the body when the cable is arranged within the elongated cutout.

3. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the recessed region is shaped to receive the electronic device such that, when the electronic device is mounted within the recessed region, an exposed surface of the electronic device is substantially flush with a portion of the upper surface that surrounds the recessed region.

4. The docking station of claim 3 wherein the recessed region is further shaped to receive the electronic device such that, when the electronic device is mounted within the recessed region, side surfaces of the electronic device abut a surface of the recessed region.

5. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the recessed region is sloped upwards from a front surface of the body to a back surface of the body with respect to the bottom surface of the body.

6. The docking station of claim 2 wherein the aperture is formed at least partially through the body from the recessed region to the bottom surface of the body.

7. The docking station of claim 6 wherein the elongated cutout extends along the bottom surface of the body or extends within the body.

8. The docking station of claim 1 wherein the aperture includes a first portion extending from the recessed region and a second portion extending from the bottom surface of the body, the first portion having a diameter greater than a diameter of the second portion.

9. The docking station of claim 8 wherein the first portion is recessed from the recessed region such that, when the aperture receives the cable assembly, a top surface of a connector base of the cable assembly is flush with a surface of the recessed region.

10. The docking station of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional cutout formed at least partially through the body from the upper surface of the body toward the bottom surface of the body and between the recessed region and an edge of the body, each additional cutout sized to receive a stand for an additional electronic device.

11. The docking station of claim 10 wherein each additional cutout includes a plurality of notches for engaging with coupling portions of the stand.

12. A digital signage system comprising:

an electronic device having a rear surface and an opposing front surface at which a display of the electronic device may be viewed;

a body for supporting the electronic device, the base having a front surface, a back surface, and top and bottom surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces;

a recessed region formed within the body from the top surface; and

an aperture formed at least partially through the body for receiving a cable assembly operable to connect to the electronic device;

wherein the electronic device is positioned within the recessed region such that the rear surface of the electronic device fits entirely within the recessed region and the front surface of the electronic device is substantially flush with a portion of the top surface that surrounds the recessed region.

13. The digital signage system of claim 12 further comprising at least one additional cutout formed partially through the body from the top surface of the body toward the bottom surface of the body and between the recessed region and an edge of the body.

14. The digital signage system of claim 13 further comprising, for each additional cutout, an additional electronic device and a stand for mounting the additional electronic device on the body.

15. The digital signage system of claim 14 wherein the additional cutout includes a plurality of notches and the stand includes a corresponding plurality of coupling portions, the plurality of coupling portions being operable to engage the plurality of notches such that the stand remains mounted in the additional cutout when the additional electronic device is removed from the stand.

16. The digital signage system of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of pads arranged between the electronic device and the recessed region, wherein at least one of the pads is flexible and located proximate to a button provided on the electronic device.

17. The digital signage system of claim 12 further comprising a cable assembly including:

a plug housing sized for insertion into the electronic device and designed to accommodate a plurality of pins;

a cable coupled to the plug housing, the cable having a plurality of conductive traces that correspond to and are electrically coupled to the plurality of pins;

a connector base, mechanically coupled to the plug housing by the cable, the connector base having a plurality of connection pads electrically coupled to respective ones of the plurality of conductive traces; and

an insulated wire coupled to the connection pads.

18. The digital signage system of claim 17 wherein the cable is arranged between the electronic device and the recessed region and extends from the aperture to an edge of the electronic device.

19. The digital signage system of claim 18 wherein the plug housing is coupled to an end of the cable proximate to the edge of the electronic device.

20. The digital signage system of claim 17 wherein the connector base is arranged in the aperture.

21. The digital signage system of claim 17 wherein the insulated wire is arranged in an elongated cutout extending from the aperture to an edge or edge surface of the body.

22. A docking station for mounting an electronic device, the docking station comprising:

an acrylic body having a substantially rectangular recessed region formed from its upper surface, the recessed region having a curved surface and being sloped upwards from a front surface of the body to a back surface of the body with respect to a bottom surface of the body; and

an aperture formed at least partially through the body from the recessed region toward the bottom surface of the body, the aperture being sized to receive a cable assembly operable to connect to the electronic device when the electronic device is mounted within the recessed region;

wherein the recessed region is shaped to receive the electronic device such that, when the electronic device is mounted within the recessed region, an exposed surface of the electronic device is substantially flush with a portion of the upper surface that surrounds the recessed region.

23. The docking station of claim 22 wherein the recessed region is further shaped to receive the electronic device such that, when the electronic device is mounted within the recessed region, side surfaces of the electronic device abut a curved surface of the recessed region.

24. The docking station of claim 22 wherein the aperture is formed at least partially through the body from the recessed region to the bottom surface of the body.

25. The docking station of claim 22 further comprising at least one additional cutout formed partially through the body from the upper surface of the body toward the bottom surface of the body and between the recessed region and an edge of the body, each additional cutout sized to receive a stand for an additional electronic device.