Docking system for enhancing computer functionality

• US 5,394,552 A
• Filed: 07/17/1992
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shirota, Hironao
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Application Number:
  US07/910,275
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 395/750, 395/325, 364/708, 364/707, 364/550, 371/66, 307/22, 307/23
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence

Abstract

A docking system comprising a first detecting element 13 which detects combination states of a personal computer 2 and a station 1. A second detecting element 14 is provided which detects a separation of the personal computer 2 from the station 1. The docking system also includes a combination holding element for holding a combination state of the personal computer side connector 33 and the station side connector 12. Furthermore, the docking system includes a switching element 32 for switching the personal computer side electric power source 39 to the station side electric power source 18. A third detecting element 34 is provided which detects placement of the personal computer 2 on the station 1. A control unit is provided which has three functions. First, it cuts the personal computer side electric power source 39 after performing backup processing of an execution program under a first set of predetermined conditions. Second, it supplies electric power from the station side electric power source 18 to the personal computer 2 by switching element 32 under a second set of predetermined conditions. Third, it cuts the electric power source under a third set of predetermined conditions. Each set of conditions is determined by the detecting elements.

Claims

1. A docking system having a personal computer provided with a personal computer side connector and a personal computer side electric power source portion and a station provided with a station side connector and a station side electric power source portion, comprising:

(a) a first detecting means for detecting combination states of said personal computer and said station;

(b) a second detecting means for detecting separating operation of said personal computer from said station;

(c) a combination holding means for holding a combination state of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector;

(d) a switching means for switching said personal computer side electric power source portion to said station side electric power source portion;

(e) a third detecting means for detecting a state of placement of said personal computer on said station; and

(f) a control unit, coupled to the first, second and third detecting means, the combination holding means, and to the switching means, which;

(1) cuts said personal computer side electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer side electric power source portion is in a conductive state when said third detecting means detects a state of placement;

(2) supplies electric power from said station side electric power source portion to said personal computer by means of said switching means when said first detecting means detects a state of said station side connector being combined with said personal computer side connector; and

(3) cuts the electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer is in an actuation state when said second detecting means detects separating operation of said personal computer.

2. The docking system according to claim 1 wherein a locking means for preventing or fixing combination of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector is further provided.

3. The docking system according to claim 2 wherein said locking means prevents combination of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector when the electric power source is connected to said personal computer when said second detecting means is switched to ON state, and fixes combination of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector when the electric power source is connected to said personal computer when said second detecting means is switched to ON state.

4. The docking system according to any one of claims 2, 3 or 1 wherein said personal computer is formed to have a rectangular cross section, and said station is formed to have an L-shaped cross section by means of a mounting wall and a mounting surface, to form a box configuration when docking said personal computer with said station.

5. The docking system according to claim 4 wherein said personal computer side connector is provided at a rear end surface of said personal computer, said station side connector is provided at said mounting wall of the station, and said personal computer side connector is electrically connected with said station side connector when said personal computer and said station form a box configuration.

6. The docking system according to claim 5 wherein connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector is performed by sliding said personal computer from a position where said personal computer is placed on said mounting surface of the station toward said mounting wall of the station.

7. The docking system according to claim 6 wherein said combination holding means is provided with a first engaging member which is formed at said mounting surface of the station, and a second engaging member which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer and engages with said first engaging member.

8. The docking system according to claim 7 wherein said first engaging member is constituted by a fastening member projecting from said mounting surface of the station, and said second engaging member is constituted by a fastening groove which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer to receive said fastening member.

9. The docking system according to claim 8 wherein a guide projection is formed at said mounting surface of the station in order to allow said personal computer to slide toward the wall surface of said station, and a guide groove corresponding to said guide groove is formed at the reverse side of said personal computer.

10. The docking system according to claim 8 wherein said second detecting means becomes ON state when said fastening member is pushed by pressure to cancel a holding state of the connector.

11. The docking system according to claim 9 wherein said third detecting means is provided at the bottom portion of said guide groove, which becomes ON state when said guide projection of the station is inserted into said guide groove of the personal computer.

12. The docking system according to claim 4 wherein said first detecting means is provided at said mounting wall of the station.

13. In a docking system having a personal computer provided with a personal computer side connector and a personal computer side electric power source portion and a station provided with a station side connector and a station side electric power source portion, a first detecting means for detecting combination states of said personal computer and said station, a second detecting means for detecting separating operation of said personal computer from said station, a combination holding means for holding a combination state of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector, a switching means for switching said personal computer side electric power source portion to said station side electric power source portion, a third detecting means for detecting a state of placement of said personal computer on said station, and a control unit, coupled to the first, second and third detecting means, the combination holding means, and to the switching means, which cuts said personal computer side electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer side electric power source portion is in a conductive state when said third detecting means detects a state of placement, supplies electric power from said station side electric power source portion to said personal computer by means of said switching means when said first detecting means detects a state of said station side connector being combined with said personal computer side connector, and cuts the electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer is in an actuation state when said second detecting means detects separating operation of said personal computer;

wherein said personal computer is formed to have a rectangular cross section, and said station is formed to have an L-shaped cross section by means of a mounting wall and a mounting surface, to form a box configuration when docking said personal computer with said station; and

wherein said personal computer side connector is provided at a rear end surface of said personal computer, said station side connector is provided at said mounting wall of the station, and said personal computer side connector is electrically connected with said station side connector when said personal computer and said station form a box configuration; and

wherein connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector is performed by sliding said personal computer from a position where said personal computer is placed on said mounting wall of the station toward said mounting wall of the station; and

wherein said combination holding means is provided with a first engaging member which is formed at said mounting surface of the station, and a second engaging member which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer and engages with said first engaging member; and

wherein said first engaging member is constituted by a fastening member projecting from said mounting surface of the station, and said second engaging member is constituted by a fastening groove which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer to receive said fastening member; and

wherein a guide projection is formed at said mounting surface of the station in order to allow said personal computer to slide toward the wall surface of said station, and a guide groove corresponding to said guide groove is formed at the reverse side of said personal computer, a method comprising the steps of;

(a) placing said personal computer on said mounting surface of the station to insert said guide projection of the station into said guide groove of the personal computer, and

(b) connecting said personal computer side connector with said station side connector by sliding said personal computer toward said mounting wall of the station by maintaining placement of said personal computer on said station.

14. The docking method according to claim 13 wherein said third detecting means becomes ON state by means of said guide projection inserted into said guide groove in said first step, and said first detecting means becomes ON state by means of said personal computer slided toward said mounting wall of the station in said second step.

15. In a docking system having a personal computer provided with a personal computer side connector and a personal computer side electric power source portion and a station provided with a station side connector and a station side electric power source portion, a first detecting means for detecting combination states of said personal computer and said station, a second detecting means for detecting separating operation of said personal computer from said station, a combination holding means for holding a combination state of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector, a switching means for switching said personal computer side electric power source portion to said station side electric power source portion, a third detecting means for detecting a state of placement of said personal computer on said station, and a control unit, coupled to the first, second and third detecting means, the combination holding means, and to the switching means, which cuts said personal computer side electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer side electric power source portion is in a conductive state when said third detecting means detects a state of placement, supplies electric power from said station side electric power source portion to said personal computer by means of said switching means when said first detecting means detects a state of said station side connector being combined with said personal computer side connector, and cuts the electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer is in an actuation state when said second detecting means detects separating operation of said personal computer;

wherein said personal computer is formed to have a rectangular cross section, and said station is formed to have an L-shaped cross section by means of a mounting wall and a mounting surface, to form a box configuration when docking said personal computer with said station; and

wherein said personal computer side connector is provided at a rear end surface of said personal computer, said station side connector is provided at said mounting wall of the station, and said personal computer side connector is electrically connected with said station side connector when said personal computer and said station form a box configuration; and

wherein connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector is performed by sliding said personal computer from a position where said personal computer is placed on said mounting wall of the station toward said mounting wall of the station; and

wherein said combination holding means is provided with a first engaging member which is formed at said mounting surface of the station, and a second engaging member which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer and engages with said first engaging member; and

wherein said first engaging member is constituted by a fastening member projecting from said mounting surface of the station, and said second engaging member is constituted by a fastening groove which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer to receive said fastening member; and

wherein a guide projection is formed at said mounting surface of the station in order to allow said personal computer to slide toward the wall surface of said station, and a guide groove corresponding to said guide groove is formed at the reverse side of said personal computer, a docking cancellation method comprising the steps of;

(a) separating said fastening member from said fastening groove of the personal computer by pushing said fastening member of the station by pressure;

(b) canceling connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector by sliding said personal computer in a direction separating from said mounting wall of the station; and

(c) separating said guide projection of the station from said guide groove of the personal computer to separate said personal computer from said station.

16. The docking cancellation method according to claim 15 wherein said second detecting means becomes ON state by means of said fastening member pushed by pressure in said first step, said first detecting means becomes OFF state by sliding the personal computer in a direction separating from said mounting wall of the station in said second step, and said third detecting means becomes OFF state by separating said guide projection from said guide groove.