PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE DOCKING STATION

• US 20130205060A1
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Targus Group International Incorporated (Targus International LLC)
• Original Assignee: Targus Group International Incorporated (Targus International LLC)
• Inventors: Benhard, Ryan Gordon, DeCamp, Ron
• Application Number:
  US13/786,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20130205060A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A docking station for a portable electronic device includes a body. The docking station includes a power receiving interface coupled to the body and configured to receive electrical power from a power supply. The docking station includes a universal data interface configured to communicatively couple the docking station with the portable electronic device. The docking station includes a power providing interface in electrical communication with the power receiving interface and configured to deliver electrical power to the portable electronic device.

Claims

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

a body;

a power receiving interface coupled to the body and configured to receive electrical power from a power supply;

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

a power providing interface in electrical communication with the power receiving interface and configured to deliver electrical power to the portable electronic device.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the power providing interface is configured to wirelessly deliver electrical power to the portable electronic device.

3. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising an accessory interface configured to simultaneously communicatively couple the docking station with a plurality of accessory devices.

4. The docking station of claim 3, wherein the accessory interface comprises a wireless accessory interface to communicatively couple the docking station wirelessly with the plurality of accessory devices.

5. The docking station of claim 3, wherein the power providing interface is further configured to deliver electrical power wirelessly to one or more of the plurality of accessory devices.

6. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the universal data interface is configured to support a communication standard used by a plurality of manufacturers of portable electronic devices.

7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the power providing interface is configured to provide power of about 5 watts or more of power to the portable electronic device.

8. The docking station of claim 7, wherein the portable electronic device comprises one or more of a laptop, a netbook, an ultrabook, a hybrid tablet/laptop, and a tablet computer.

9. The docking station of claim 1, wherein two or more of the universal data interface, the power providing interface, and an accessory interface are integrated into a single universal interface.

10. The docking station of claim 1, wherein docking station does not comprise an accessory.

11. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the docking station does not comprise a computer monitor.

12. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the docking station is portable.

13. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the docking station comprises a battery.

14. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the power receiving interface is configured to receive conditioned electrical power from the power supply, wherein the power supply is external to the body.

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

a body;

a power receiving interface coupled to the body and configured to receive electrical power from a power supply;

an accessory interface configured to simultaneously communicatively couple the docking station with a plurality of accessory devices;

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

a power providing interface in electrical communication with the power receiving interface and configured to deliver electrical power to the portable electronic device.

16. The docking station of claim 15, wherein two or more of the universal data interface, the power providing interface, and the accessory interface are integrated into a single universal interface.

17. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the power providing interface is configured to wirelessly deliver electrical power to the portable electronic device in the form of electromagnetic waves.

18. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the power providing interface comprises a primary coil configured to wirelessly provide electrical power to a secondary coil in a portable electronic device.

19. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the power providing interface is configured to provide power to the portable electronic device without direct contact between the power providing interface and the portable electronic device.

20. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the portable electronic device is a smartphone.

21. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the portable electronic device comprises one or more of a laptop, a netbook, an ultrabook, a hybrid tablet/laptop, and a tablet computer.

22. 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 wirelessly 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.

23. The docking station of claim 22, wherein the body is further configured to mechanically retain the portable electronic device.

24. The docking station of claim 22, wherein the body is configured to store cables, the cables associated with one or more of:

an accessory interface of the plurality of accessory interfaces; and

the power receiving interface.

25. The docking station of claim 22, wherein the docking station is configured to store a plurality of power tips associated with one or more of the universal data interface, an accessory interface, the power providing interface, and the power receiving interface.

26. The docking station of claim 22, wherein the docking station includes a lock slot configured to secure the body to a secure object.

27. The docking station of claim 22, wherein the body is configured to store accessories associated with the portable electronic device.

28. The docking station of claim 22, wherein the universal data interface further 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.

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

a body configured to receive the portable electronic device;

a battery;

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 wirelessly 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.

30. The portable docking station of claim 29, wherein the power providing interface is configured to deliver electrical power to one or more of the portable electronic device and an accessory of the plurality of accessory devices when the portable docking station is not plugged in.