Motorized portable computer/expansion chassis docking system

• US 5,313,596 A
• Filed: 01/05/1993
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozias, Orin, Kocis, Thomas J., Swindler, Dan E., Shu, Thomas, Jones, Pearce R., Penniman, Mark B., Durkin, Michael D., Busch, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Michael R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AUVE, GLENN ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/000,858
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708, 364/231.1, 364/231.2, 364/DIG. 1, 364/708.1, 361/391, 361/392, 361/393, 361/394, 361/395, 361/680, 361/681, 361/682, 361/725, 361/727, 395/325
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438

Abstract

A docking station structure is used to operatively connect a notebook computer to desktop computer peripheral devices. The docking station has an internal receiving chamber into which the portable computer may be manually inserted, an electrical connector positioned within the receiving chamber, a travel plate movably carried within the receiving chamber, a motorized drive system operative to drive the travel plate toward and away from the electrical connector, and a latch structure carried by the travel plate for movement therewith. With the travel plate in a wait position thereof, the portable computer is rearwardly inserted into the receiving chamber. In response to such insertion, the latch structure automatically locks the computer to the travel plate, and the drive system rearwardly moves the travel plate to mate the electrical connector with a corresponding connector on the computer, thereby operatively linking the computer to the peripheral devices. To remove the computer, the drive system is operated to forwardly move the drive plate and the computer to an ejection position in which the computer and docking station electrical connector structures are disconnected from one another, and the computer is unlocked from the travel plate. Upon insertion of the computer into the docking station opposite side portions of the computer are slidingly received in docking station track indentations operative to maintain the computer in a precisely aligned relationship with the docking station electrical connector during driven movement of the computer.

Claims

1. A motorized portable computer/docking station system comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein and a first electrical connector structure disposed on a rear side of said portable computer and connected to said first operating components;

a docking station housing having an internal chamber and an external opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted rearwardly into said internal chamber, said internal chamber having a rear side wall portion;

second operating components disposed within said housing and being connectable to external peripheral computer devices;

a travel member carried within said internal chamber for forward and rearward movement relative to said housing between;

(1) a receiving position in which said travel member is disposed generally intermediate said housing opening and said rear side wall portion of said internal chamber and is oriented to underlie said portable computer in response to manual insertion thereof into said internal chamber through said housing opening,

(2) a docking position in which said travel member is rearwardly shifted relative to its receiving position and disposed adjacent said rear side wall portion of said internal chamber, and

(3) an ejection position in which said travel member is forwardly shifted relative to its receiving position,

said travel member being configured to forwardly drive said portable computer when said travel member is forwardly moved from said docking position to said ejection position;

motor means connected to said travel member and selectively operable to forcibly drive it between said receiving, docking and ejection positions thereof;

a second electrical connector structure supported adjacent said rear side wall portion of said internal chamber, said second electrical connector structure being connected to said second operating components and being releasably interengageable with said first electrical connector structure to operatively connect said first and second operating components;

latch means carried by said travel member for movement therewith, said latch means being operative to;

(1) lock said portable computer to said travel member, for driven rearward movement therewith, in response to manual insertion of said portable computer into said internal chamber while said travel member is in said receiving position thereof, and

(2) unlock the inserted portable computer from said travel member in response to driven movement of said travel member from said docking position toward said ejection position;

cooperating means carried on said portable computer and in said internal chamber for maintaining said first and second electrical connector structures in facing alignment with one another as said portable computer is moved through said internal chamber; and

control means for operating said motor means to;

(1) drive said travel member, with the inserted portable computer locked thereto by said latch means, from said receiving position to said docked position to forcibly interengage said first and second electrical connector structures, and

(2) subsequently drive said travel member from said docking position to said ejection position to thereby disengage said first and second electrical connector structures from one another and facilitate the manual removal of said portable computer from said internal chamber.

2. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 1 wherein said portable computer is a notebook computer.

3. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 1 wherein:

said control means are operative to cause said motor means to drive said travel member from said receiving position thereof to said docking position thereof in response to locking of said portable computer to said travel member by said latch means.

4. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 1 wherein:

said internal chamber has a pair of opposite side wall portions positioned on opposite sides of said housing opening, and

said cooperating means include a pair of externally projecting guide rail portions formed on opposite sides of said portable computer, and a facing pair of track indentations extending along said opposite chamber side wall portions, said facing pair of track indentations being configured to slidingly receive said guide rail portions.

5. The motorized portable computer docking station system of claim 1 wherein:

said travel member is a travel plate having a body portion which, when said travel plate is in said receiving position thereof and said portable computer is inserted into said internal chamber, underlies a bottom side portion of said computer in a generally parallel relationship therewith, said body portion having an upturned rear side edge portion adapted to forcibly engage said rear side of said portable computer as said travel plate is driven forwardly from said docking position thereof toward said ejection position thereof.

6. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 5 wherein:

said portable computer has an indentation in a bottom side portion thereof,

said travel plate body portion has an opening therein positioned to underlie said indentation,

said latch means are carried on an underside portion of said travel plate body portion and are movable relative to said travel plate body portion between first and second positions, and

said latch means have a first portion that moves upwardly through said travel plate body portion opening to lockingly enter said indentation when said latch means are moved from said first position thereof to said second position thereof, and moves downwardly through said travel plate body portion opening, in a manner withdrawing said engagement portion from said indentation, when said latch means are moved from said second position thereof to said first position thereof.

7. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 6 wherein:

said latch means have a second portion adapted to be forcibly contacted by said portable computer, when said portable computer is inserted into said internal chamber while said travel plate is in said receiving position thereof, and operative when forcibly contacted by said portable computer to move said latch means from said first position thereof to said second position thereof,

said internal chamber has a bottom side wall portion underlying said travel plate and having a downwardly projecting portion, and

said latch means have a third portion cooperatively engageable with and drivable by said downwardly projecting portion to move said latch means from said second position thereof to said first position thereof in response to movement of said travel plate from said docking position thereof toward said ejection position thereof.

8. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 5 wherein:

said portable computer has an indentation in a bottom side portion thereof,

said travel plate body portion has a first opening therein spaced forwardly apart from said upturned rear side edge portion of said travel plate body portion and positioned to underlie said indentation, and a second opening disposed rearwardly of said first opening and positioned forwardly adjacent said upturned rear side edge portion,

said latch means are carried on the underside of said travel plate body portion and include;

a flipper plate supported on said travel plate body portion for vertical pivotal movement relative thereto between first and second positions, said flipper plate having an engagement tab which extends upwardly through said first travel plate body portion opening, to lockingly enter said indentation, when said flipper plate is upwardly pivoted from said first position thereof to said second position thereof, and is downwardly spaced apart from said first travel plate body portion opening when said flipper plate is downwardly pivoted from its second position to its first position,

a release plate supported on said travel plate body portion for horizontal pivotal movement relative thereto between first and second positions, said release plate having a contact tab which extends upwardly through said second travel plate body portion opening and is positioned above said travel plate body portion to be contacted and rearwardly driven by said portable computer, when said portable computer is manually inserted into said internal chamber while said travel plate is in said receiving position thereof, to rearwardly pivot said release plate from said first position thereof to said second position thereof, said release plate in said first position thereof overlying said engagement tab, and blocking its upward movement through said first travel plate body portion opening when said flipper plate is in said first position thereof, said release plate, when pivoted from its first position to its second position, permitting said flipper plate to be pivoted from said first position thereof to said second position thereof, and

spring means interconnected between said flipper plate and said release plate, said spring means pivotally biasing said flipper plate toward said second position thereof, and pivotally biasing said release plate toward said first position thereof, and

said motorized portable computer/docking station system further comprises means for pivoting said flipper plate from said second position thereof to said first position thereof in response to driven movement of said travel plate from said docking position thereof toward said ejection position thereof.

9. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 8 wherein:

said internal chamber has a bottom side wall portion, and

said means for pivoting said flipper plate include cooperatively engageable portions of said flipper plate and said bottom side wall portion of said internal chamber.

10. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 9 wherein said cooperatively engageable portions of said flipper plate and said bottom side wall portion of said internal chamber comprise a downwardly projecting portion of said bottom side wall portion of said internal chamber and a downwardly and forwardly sloping tab portion of said flipper plate.

11. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 1 wherein, with said travel member generally in said receiving position thereof prior to manual insertion of said portable computer into said internal chamber, said control means are operative to cause said motor means to forwardly drive said travel member to a calibration position thereof, sense the attainment by said travel member of said calibration position, and then cause said motor means to rearwardly drive said travel member precisely to said receiving position thereof.

12. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 1 wherein:

said docking station housing has a removable top cover portion which, when installed, overlies an open top side of said internal chamber, and

said control means include means for precluding operation of said motor means while said top cover portion is removed.

13. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 12 wherein said means for precluding include:

a cover detect switch carried within said housing and operatively connected to said motor means, and

a portion of said top cover portion adapted to forcibly contact said cover detect switch when said top cover portion is installed.

14. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 1 wherein:

said docking station housing has a removable cover section having a wall portion outwardly overlying a chassis wall portion of said system, said housing cover section and chassis wall portions having aligned access openings therein, and

said motor means have a rotatable shaft drivingly connected to said travel member and having a portion positioned to be contacted and manually rotated using a tool inserted inwardly through said aligned access openings.

15. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 14 further comprising:

locking means for releasably locking said removable housing cover section to said chassis wall portion.

16. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 15 wherein said locking means include:

a locking opening formed in said chassis wall portion, and

a locking member disposed inwardly of said locking opening and secured to said cover section wall portion for key operable rotation between a first position in which outward removal of said locking member through said locking opening is precluded and said locking member blocks tool insertion inwardly through said aligned access openings, and a second position in which said locking member permits tool insertion inwardly through said aligned access openings and may be moved outwardly through said locking opening to permit removal of said housing cover section.

17. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 1 wherein said control means include:

means for precluding said travel member from being driven by said motor means from said receiving position to said docking position if said portable computer is not inserted into said internal chamber or, if so inserted, is turned on.

18. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 17 wherein:

said portable computer has a "power on" indicating light thereon, and

said means for precluding include a first switch positioned to be contacted by said portable computer during manual insertion thereof into said internal chamber, and a second switch positioned within said internal chamber and operative to photoelectrically detect the energization or non-energization of said "power on" indicating light.

19. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 1 wherein:

said portable computer has a PCMCIA card slot disposed in a side portion thereof,

said housing has a card insertion opening, aligned with said card slot when said portable computer is carried by said travel member to said docking position, through which a PCMCIA card may be operatively inserted into said portable computer via said card slot therein, and a sliding door plate movable between an open position in which it uncovers said card insertion opening, and a closed position in which it covers said card insertion opening, and

said control means include switch means for detecting the position of said sliding door plate and precluding said motor means from driving said travel member from said docking position thereof toward said ejection position thereof if said sliding door plate is in said open position thereof.

20. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 1 wherein:

said portable computer has an I/O port structure recessed within an opening on a rear side thereof, and a sliding door plate movable between an open position in which it uncovers said rear side opening, and a closed position in which it covers said rear side opening, and

said control means include means for contacting said I/O port structure through said rear side opening, and electrostatically discharging said I/O port structure, during movement of said portable computer by said travel member from said receiving position toward said docking position.

21. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 20 wherein said control means include:

means for terminating rearward movement of said portable computer by said travel plate from said receiving position toward said docking position, prior to contact between said first and second electrical connector structures, when said sliding door plate is closed.

22. The motorized portable computer/docking station system of claim 21 wherein:

said means for contacting and electrostatically discharging include a resiliently deflectable contact member supported rearwardly of said travel member and having an end portion positioned to enter said rear side opening and contact said I/O port structure, when said sliding door plate is in said open position thereof, said end portion being rearwardly deflectable by said sliding door plate in said closed position thereof during rearward movement of said travel member, and

said control means further include a switch contactable by the rearwardly deflected contact member end portion and operative when contacted thereby to terminate further rearward movement of said travel member.

23. A docking station structure for removably connecting a portable computer to external computer peripheral devices, such as a monitor, keyboard and mouse, said docking station structure comprising:

a housing having operating components disposed therein, said operating components being operatively connectable to the external computer peripheral devices, said housing having a receiving area into which the portable computer may be manually placed;

connection means disposed within a rear portion of said receiving area and being forcibly engageable by the portable computer to operatively connect the portable computer to said operating components and thus to the external computer peripheral devices;

a travel member disposed within said receiving area for forward and rearward movement relative to said housing between;

(1) a docking position adjacent said rear portion of said receiving area,

(2) a receiving position forwardly shifted relative to said docking position, and

(3) an ejection position forwardly shifted relative to said receiving position; and

operating means, including motor means connected to said travel plate and latch means carried by said travel plate, operative to sequentially;

(1) cause said latch means to lock the portable computer to said travel member in response to manual insertion of the portable computer into said receiving area while said travel member is in said receiving position,

(2) cause said motor means to drive said travel member from said receiving position to said docking position in a manner forcibly engaging the portable computer with said connection means to operatively connect the portable computer to said operating components,

(3) cause said motor means to drive said travel member from said docking position to said ejection position to forwardly move the portable computer out of engagement with said connection means and, during movement of said travel member toward said ejection position, cause said latch means to unlock the portable computer from said travel member, and

(4) cause said motor means to drive said travel member from said ejection position back to said receiving position.

24. The docking station structure of claim 23 wherein:

said receiving area is disposed internally within said housing, and

said housing has an opening therein through which the portable computer may be manually inserted rearwardly into said receiving area.

25. The docking station structure of claim 23 further comprising:

alignment means disposed within said receiving area and configured to slidingly engage opposite side portions of the portable computer and hold the portable computer in a predetermined, precisely aligned relationship with said connection means during movement of the portable computer through said receiving area.

26. The docking station structure of claim 23 wherein:

said travel member is a travel plate having a body portion which, when said travel plate is in said receiving position thereof and the portable computer is manually inserted into said receiving area, underlies a bottom side portion of the portable computer in a generally parallel relationship therewith, said body portion having an upturned rear side edge portion adapted to forcibly engage the rear side of the portable computer as said travel plate is driven forwardly from said docking position thereof toward said ejection position thereof.

27. The docking station structure of claim 23 wherein:

said latch means are movable between a first position in which they are operative to unlock the portable computer from said travel member, and a second position in which they are operative to lock the portable computer to said travel member, and are resiliently biased toward said second position thereof, and

said operating means further include means responsive to the insertion of the portable computer into said receiving area, for moving said latch means from their first position to their second position, and means, responsive to movement of said travel member from said docking position toward said ejection position, for moving said latch means from their second position to their first position.

28. The docking station structure of claim 27 wherein:

travel member has first and second openings therein,

said latch means are carried on the underside of said travel member and include;

a flipper plate supported on said travel member for vertical pivotal movement relative thereto between first and second positions, said flipper plate having an engagement tab which extends upwardly through said first travel member opening when said flipper plate is upwardly pivoted from said first position thereof to said second position thereof and is downwardly spaced apart from said first travel member opening when said flipper plate is downwardly pivoted from its second position to its first position,

a release plate supported on said travel plate body portion for horizontal pivotal movement relative thereto between first and second positions, said release plate having a contact tab which extends upwardly through said second travel member opening and is positioned above said travel member to be contacted and rearwardly driven by the portable computer, when the portable computer is manually inserted into said receiving area while said travel member is in said receiving position thereof, to rearwardly pivot said release plate from said first position thereof to said second position thereof, said release plate in said first position thereof overlying said engagement tab, and blocking its upward movement through said first travel member opening when said flipper plate is in said first position thereof, said release plate, when pivoted from its first position to its second position, permitting said flipper plate to be pivoted from said first position thereof to said second position thereof, and

spring means interconnected between said flipper plate and said release plate, said spring means pivotally biasing said flipper plate toward said second position thereof, and pivotally biasing said release plate toward said first position thereof, and

said operating means further comprises means for pivoting said flipper plate from said second position thereof to said first position thereof in response to driven movement of said travel member from said docking position thereof toward said ejection position thereof.

29. The docking station structure of claim 28 wherein:

said receiving area has a bottom side wall portion, and

said means for pivoting said flipper plate include cooperatively engageable portions of said flipper plate and said bottom side wall portion of said receiving area.

30. The docking station structure of claim 29 wherein:

said cooperatively engageable portions of said flipper plate and said bottom side wall portion of said receiving area comprise a downwardly projecting portion of said bottom side wall portion of said receiving area and a downwardly and forwardly sloping tab portion of said flipper plate.

31. The docking station structure of claim 23 wherein, with said travel member generally in said receiving position thereof prior to manual insertion of the portable computer into said receiving area, said operating means are operative to cause said motor means to forwardly drive said travel member to a calibration position thereof, sense the attainment by said travel member of said calibration position, and then cause said motor means to rearwardly drive said travel member precisely to said receiving position thereof.

32. The docking station structure of claim 23 wherein:

housing has a removable top cover portion which, when installed, overlies an open top side of said receiving area, and

said operating means include means for precluding operation of said motor means while said top cover portion is removed.

33. The docking station structure of claim 32 wherein said means for precluding include:

a cover detect switch carried within said housing and operatively connected to said motor means, and

a portion of said top cover portion adapted to forcibly contact said cover detect switch when said top cover portion is installed.

34. The docking station structure of claim 23 wherein:

said housing has a removable cover section having a wall portion outwardly overlying a chassis wall portion of said docking station structure, said housing cover section and chassis wall portions having aligned access openings therein, and

said motor means have a rotatable shaft drivingly connected to said travel member and having a portion positioned to be contacted and manually rotated using a tool inserted inwardly through said aligned access openings.

35. The docking station structure of claim 34 further comprising:

locking means for releasably locking said removable housing cover section to said chassis wall portion.

36. The docking station structure of claim 35 wherein said locking means include:

a locking opening formed in said chassis wall portion, and

a locking member disposed inwardly of said locking opening and secured to said cover section wall portion for key operable rotation between a first position in which outward removal of said locking member through said locking opening is precluded and said locking member blocks tool insertion inwardly through said aligned access openings, and a second position in which said locking member permits tool insertion inwardly through said aligned access openings and may be moved outwardly through said locking opening to permit removal of said housing cover section.

37. The docking station structure of claim 23 wherein said operating means include:

means for precluding said travel member from being driven by said motor means from said receiving position to said docking position if the portable computer is not inserted into said receiving area or, if so inserted, is turned on.

38. The docking station structure of claim 37 wherein:

the portable computer has a "power on" indicating light thereon, and

said means for precluding include a first switch positioned to be contacted by the portable computer during manual insertion thereof into said receiving area, and a second switch positioned within said receiving area and operative to photoelectrically detect the energization or non-energization of the "power on" indicating light.

39. A method of operatively connecting a portable computer to desktop computer peripheral devices, such as a monitor, keyboard and mouse, the portable computer having first operating components therein, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a docking station structure having;

a housing,

a receiving area structure into which the portable computer may be manually placed, said receiving area structure having a spaced apart pair of opposite side sections with facing, parallel elongated indentations formed therein,

second operating components disposed within said housing and externally connectable to the desktop computer peripheral devices,

a plug-in electrical connector structure disposed within said receiving area and releasably engageable with a portion of the portable computer to operatively connect said first and second operating components, and

a motorized drive system;

connecting said second operating components to the desktop computer peripheral devices;

manually positioning the portable computer in said receiving area structure in a spaced apart relationship with said electrical connector structure, said manually positioning step including the step of positioning opposite side portions of the portable computer in said receiving area structure indentations; and

operating said motorized drive system to drive the manually positioned portable computer within the receiving area structure and toward said electrical connector structure, in a manner bringing the portable computer into operative engagement with said electrical connector structure, thereby operatively connecting said second operating components to the desktop computer peripheral devices, in response to the manual placement of the portable computer within said receiving area structure; and

causing a portion of the portable computer to slidingly engage a portion of said receiving area structure, during driven movement of the portable computer toward said electrical connector structure, in a manner maintaining a predetermined, precisely aligned relationship between the portable computer and said electrical connector structure.

40. A method of operatively connecting a portable computer to desktop computer peripheral devices, such as a monitor, keyboard and mouse, the portable computer having first operating components therein, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a docking station structure having;

a housing,

a receiving area structure into which the portable computer may be manually placed,

second operating components disposed within said housing and externally connectable to the desktop computer peripheral devices,

a plug-in electrical connector structure disposed within said receiving area and releasably engageable with a portion of the portable computer to operatively connect said first and second operating components, and

a motorized drive system, said motorized drive system including a travel member carried within said receiving area structure for movement therein toward and sway from said electrical connector structure, and an electric motor drivingly connected to said travel member;

connecting said second operating components to the desktop computer peripheral devices;

manually positioning the portable computer in said receiving area structure in a spaced apart relationship with said electrical connector structure;

operating said motorized drive system to drive the manually positioned portable computer within the receiving area structure and toward said electrical connector structure, in a manner bringing the portable computer into operative engagement with said electrical connector structure, thereby operatively connecting said second operating components to the desktop computer peripheral devices, in response to the manual placement of the portable computer within said receiving area structure, said operating step being performed by utilizing said electric motor to drive said travel member toward said electrical connector structure; and

causing a portion of the portable computer to slidingly engage a portion of said receiving area structure, during driven movement of the portable computer toward said electrical connector structure, in a manner maintaining a predetermined, precisely aligned relationship between the portable computer and said electrical connector structure.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein:

said travel member has latch means carried thereon for movement therewith, and

said releasably locking step is performed by causing said latch means to releasably lock the portable computer to said travel member in response to the manual insertion of the portable computer into said receiving area structure.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein:

said operating step is performed automatically in response to the releasable locking of the portable computer to said travel member by said latch means.

43. For a docking station having mechanical drive means for driving a portable computer manually inserted into a non-operative engagement with said docking station into an operative engagement therewith, a system board comprising:

a first electrical connector structure for receiving an electrical connector structure of a portable computer in operative engagement therewith;

processor means for controlling the driving of said portable computer, when non-operatively engaged with said docking station, into operative engagement therewith and into non-operative engagement with said portable computer, when operatively engaged therewith; and

a system bus for electrically connecting said first electrical connector structure and said processor means.

44. The system board of claim 43 wherein said docking station further includes a peripheral device, and said system board further comprises:

a second electrical connector structure for electrically connecting said peripheral device with said system bus;

wherein

said portable computer is electrically connected with said peripheral device via said first electrical connector structure, said system bus and said second electrical connector structure.

45. The system board of claim 44 wherein said docking station further includes a first switch for determining a first condition for said docking station, said processor means further comprising:

means for controlling the driving of said portable computer into or out of operative engagement with said docking station based upon said first determined docking station condition.

46. The system board of claim 45 wherein said docking station further comprises a lower housing portion for at least partially receiving said portable computer when manually inserted into said docking station and a cover portion which covers said lower housing portion when mounted thereon, said first switch detecting whether said cover portion is mounted to said lower housing portion, said processor means further comprising:

means for disengaging said mechanical drive means when said cover portion is not mounted to said lower housing portion.

47. The system board of claim 45 wherein said first switch detects whether said portable computer has been manually inserted into said non-operative engagement with said docking station, said processor means further comprising:

means for controlling the driving of said portable computer into operative engagement with said docking station upon detecting said non-operative engagement of said portable computer with said docking station.

48. The system board of claim 45 wherein said docking station further comprises means for securing said portable computer in said non-operative engagement with said docking station and wherein said first switch detects whether said portable computer has been secured in said non-operative engagement with said docking station, said processor means further comprising:

means for controlling the driving of said portable computer into operative engagement upon securement of said non-operative engagement of said portable computer with said docking station.

49. The system board of claim 45 wherein said first switch detects said non-operative engagement of said portable computer with said docking station and said docking station further comprises means for securing said portable computer in said non-operative engagement with said docking station and a second switch for detecting whether said portable computer has been secured in said non-operative engagement with said docking station, said processor means further comprising:

means for controlling the driving of said portable computer into operative engagement with said docking station upon detecting, in sequence, the insertion of said portable computer into said non-operative engagement with said docking station and the securement of said portable computer in said non-operative engagement.

50. The system board of claim 45 wherein said docking station further comprises a travel plate, drivable by said mechanical drive means between a first position in which said portable computer may be secured thereto in a non-operative engagement with said docking station, a second position in which said portable computer is secured to said travel plate and in operative engagement with said docking station, and a third position in which said portable computer is neither secured to said travel plate nor operatively engaged with said docking station and a third switch for detecting when said travel plate is in said third position, and wherein said processor means further comprises:

means for determining the position of said travel plate and means for driving, upon determining that said travel plate is in said third position, said travel plate into said first position.

51. The system board of claim 45 wherein said docking station further includes a second switch for determining a first condition for said portable computer, said processor means further comprising:

means for controlling the driving of said portable computer into or out of operative engagement with said docking station based upon said first determined portable computer condition.

52. The system board of claim 51 wherein said portable computer further includes a power-on LED, said power-on LED being illuminated whenever power is supplied to said portable computer, said second switch of said docking station being a light sensitive switch for detecting illumination of said power-on LED whenever said mechanical drive means is driving said portable computer into operative engagement with said docking station and wherein said processor means further comprises:

means for driving said portable computer into non-operative engagement with said docking station upon detection of illumination of said power-on LED.

53. The system board of claim 51 wherein said portable computer further comprises door means slidable to expose said electrical connector structure of said portable computer for engagement with said first electrical connector structure and wherein said second switch of said docking station detects whether said door means is positioned to expose said electrical connector structure while said mechanical drive means is driving said portable computer into operative engagement with said docking station, said processor means further comprising:

means for driving said portable computer into non-operative engagement with said docking station upon detection of said door means failing to expose said electrical connector structure of said portable computer for engagement with said first electrical connector structure.

54. The system board of claim 51 wherein said mechanical drive means drives said electrical connector structure of said portable computer into an operatively engageable position relative to said first electrical connector structure and wherein said docking station further includes a third switch for confirming operative engagement between said docking station and said portable computer when said portable computer is in said operatively engageable position, said processor means further comprising:

means for controlling the driving of said portable computer out of said operatively engageable position relative to said docking station based upon said third switch confirming operative engagement between said docking station and said portable computer.

55. A docking station for mechanically driving a portable computer manually inserted therein into an operative engagement therewith, said docking station comprising:

a first electrical connector structure;

a travel plate movable between a first position in which a portable computer having electrical connection means may be manually secured thereto in a non-operative engagement with said docking station, a second position in which said portable computer is secured to said travel plate and said electrical connection means is in operative engagement with said first electrical connector structure, and a third position in which said portable computer is neither operatively engaged with said first electrical connector structure nor securable to said travel plate;

mechanical drive means for driving said travel plate between said first, second and third position;

processor means for controlling the operation of said mechanical drive means to drive said travel plate between said first, second, and third positions; and

a system bus for electrically connecting said first electrical connector structure and said processor means.

56. The docking station of claim 55 and further comprising:

a peripheral device; and

a second electrical connector structure for electrically connecting said peripheral device with said system bus;

wherein

said portable computer is electrically connected with said peripheral device via said first electrical connector structure, said system bus and said second electrical connector structure.

57. The docking station of claim 55 and further comprising:

a first switch for determining a first condition for said docking station;

said processor means further comprising means for controlling the driving, by said mechanical drive means, of said portable computer, when secured to said travel plate, into or out of operative engagement with said docking station based upon said first determined docking station condition.

58. The docking station of claim 57 and further comprising:

a lower housing portion for at least partially receiving said portable computer when manually inserted into said docking station;

a removable cover for covering said lower housing portion;

said first switch detecting whether said cover portion is mounted to said lower housing portion; and

said processor means further comprising means for disengaging said mechanical drive means when said cover portion is not mounted to said lower housing portion.

59. The docking station of claim 57 wherein said first switch detects whether said portable computer has been manually inserted into said non-operative engagement with said docking station, said processor means further comprising:

means for controlling the driving of said portable computer into operative engagement with said docking station upon detecting said non-operative engagement of said portable computer with said docking station.

60. The docking station of claim 57 and further comprising:

latch means for securing said portable computer in said non-operative engagement with said docking station;

said first switch detecting whether said portable computer has been secured in said non-operative engagement with said docking station;

said processor means further comprising means for controlling the driving of said portable computer into operative engagement upon securement of said non-operative engagement of said portable computer with said docking station.

61. The docking station of claim 57 wherein said first switch detects whether said portable computer has been manually inserted into said non-operative engagement with said docking station, and further comprising:

means for securing said portable computer in said non-operative engagement with said docking station; and

a second switch for detecting whether said portable computer has been secured in said non-operative engagement with said docking station;

said processor means further comprising means for controlling the driving of said portable computer into operative engagement with said docking station upon detecting, in sequence, the insertion of said portable computer into said non-operative engagement with said docking station and the securement of said portable computer in said non-operative engagement.

62. The docking station of claim 61 and further comprising:

a third switch for detecting when said travel plate is in said third position,

said processor means further comprising means for controlling the driving of said travel plate, when detected in said third position, into said first position.

63. The docking station of claim 55 and further comprising:

a first switch for determining a first condition for said portable computer;

said processor means further comprising means for controlling the driving of said portable computer into or out of operative engagement with said docking station based upon said first determined portable computer condition.

64. The docking station of claim 63 wherein said portable computer further includes a power-on LED, said power-on LED being illuminated whenever power is supplied to said portable computer, said processor means further comprising:

means for controlling the driving of said portable computer into non-operative engagement with said docking station upon detection of illumination of said power-on LED;

said first switch being a light sensitive switch for detecting illumination of said power-on LED whenever said mechanical drive means is driving said portable computer into operative engagement with said docking station.

65. The docking station of claim 63 wherein said portable computer further includes door means slidable to expose said electrical connector structure of said portable computer for engagement with said first electrical connector structure, said processor means further comprising:

means for driving said portable computer into non-operative engagement with said docking station upon detection of said door means failing to expose said electrical connector structure of said portable computer for engagement with said first electrical connector structure;

said second switch of said docking station detecting whether said door means is positioned to expose said electrical connector structure while said mechanical drive means is driving said portable computer into operative engagement with said docking station.

66. The docking station of claim 55 and further comprising:

a first switch for confirming operative engagement between said docking station and said portable computer when said travel plate has been driven into said second position, said processor means further comprising;

means for controlling the driving of said travel plate out of said second based upon said first switch confirming operative engagement between said docking station and said portable computer.

67. A method of operatively engaging a portable computer with a docking station comprising the steps of:

determining whether said portable computer has been manually inserted into a non-operative engagement with said docking station;

determining whether said manually inserted portable computer has been secured, at a first position, in said manually inserted, non-operative engagement with said docking station;

upon determining that said manually inserted portable computer has been secured in said manually inserted, non-operative engagement with said portable computer, mechanically driving said secured portable computer, from said first position, into a second position wherein said secured portable computer is operatively engaged with said docking station;

determining, during said mechanical driving of said secured portable computer from said first position to said second position, whether said portable computer is powered-on; and

upon determining that said portable computer is powered-on, and prior to operative engagement with said docking station in said second position, driving said portable computer into a third position wherein said portable computer is released from said secured, non-operative engagement with said docking station.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein said manually inserted portable computer is releasably secured to a travel plate driveable between said first, second and third positions and further comprising the step of:

upon determining that said portable computer secured to said travel plate is in said third position, driving said travel plate into said first position.

69. The method of claim 67 wherein said portable computer further comprises exposable electrical connection means for operative engagement with said docking station and further comprising the steps of:

determining, during said mechanical driving of said secured portable computer from said first position to said second position, and after the determination as to whether said portable computer is powered-on, whether said electrical connection means is exposed for operative engagement with said docking station; and

upon determining that said electrical connection means is not exposed for operative engagement with said docking station, driving said portable computer into said third position where said portable computer is released from said secured, non-operative engagement with said docking station.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein said manually inserted portable computer is releasably secured to a travel plate driveable between said first, second and third positions and further comprising the step of:

upon determining that said portable computer secured to said travel plate is in said third position, driving said travel plate into said first position.

71. The method of claim 69 and further comprising the steps of:

confirming, after mechanically driving said portable computer into said second position, operative engagement of said portable computer and said docking station; and

upon determining that said portable computer, after being driven into said second position, is not in operative engagement with said docking station, driving said portable computer into a third position where said portable computer is released from said secured, non-operative engagement with said docking station.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein said manually inserted portable computer is releasably secured to a travel plate driveable between said first, second and third positions and further comprising the step of:

upon determining that said portable computer secured to said travel plate is in said third position, driving said travel plate into said first position.

73. A method for ejecting a portable computer releasably secured to and operatively engaged with a docking station, said docking station having a depressible switch for initiating an ejection of portable computer and a PCMCIA door for inserting a card therethrough for operative engagement with said portable computer, comprising the steps of:

depressing said switch to initiate said ejection of said portable computer;

determining whether said PCMCIA door is closed;

upon determining that said PCMCIA door is closed, operatively disengaging said portable computer and said docking station by mechanically driving said portable computer from a first position to a second position;

upon driving said portable computer to said second position, releasing said non-operative securement of said portable computer and said docking station to eject said portable computer.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein said portable computer is releasably secured to a travel plate driveable between said first, second and a third position and further comprising the step of:

upon determining that said portable computer secured to said travel plate is in said second position, driving said travel plate into said third position.