Notebook computer docking station having floating connector interface structure

• US 5,552,959 A
• Filed: 03/29/1994
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• 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: Inkman, Bill, Schlesener, Carmen, Penniman, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/219,607
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 439/246-248, 364/708.1, 361/686
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• 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. In response to manual insertion of the computer into the interior of the docking station a motorized travel structure drives the computer further into the docking station and forcibly interconnects pin type connectors carried by the computer and the docking station. The docking station connector is supported for translational movement by a specially designed floating connector interface structure which permits the docking station connector to translationally shift, in response to forcible engagement by the computer connector portion when there is a misalignment between the computer and docking station connectors, in order to precisely align the two connectors before they are telescopingly mated with one another. The connector interface structure is spring biased toward a ready-for-docking position thereof, and incorporates therein an anti-rotation structure that prevents the docking structure connector from being rotated into an undesirable pivotally buckled relationship with the incoming computer connector portion.

Claims

1. Connector apparatus for use in operatively and electrically coupling a first electrical connector structure carried by a portable computer to a docking station structure having a receiving area into which the portable computer may be inserted in a first direction toward a docked orientation of the computer, said connector apparatus comprising:

a second electrical connector structure telescopingly engageable with the first electrical connector structure; and

floating support means for supporting said second electrical connector structure within the receiving area in a manner such that said second electrical connector structure will be forcibly engaged by the first electrical connector structure as the computer approaches its docked orientation within the receiving area,

said floating support means being operative to resiliently bias said second electrical connector structure toward a ready-for-docking position, permit said second electrical connector structure to be translated away from said ready-for-docking position and into precise telescopingly mateable alignment with the first electrical connector structure in response to a forcible, misaligned engagement of said second electrical connector structure by the first electrical connector structure as the computer moves in said first direction toward its docked orientation, and substantially prevent rotation of said second electrical connector structure relative to the first electrical connector structure, said floating support means including;

first and second facing wall structures spaced apart in a first direction,

first and second cylindrical members disposed between said first and second facing wall structures, spaced apart in a direction transverse to said first direction, and having first ends slidably engaging said first wall structure,

third and fourth cylindrical members respectively and telescopingly engaged with said first and second cylindrical members for axial movement relative thereto,

a base member extending between and anchored to said third and fourth cylindrical members for movement therewith, said second electrical connector structure being fixedly secured to said base member for movement therewith, and

first and second springs biasing said first and second cylindrical members toward engagement with said first wall structure, and biasing said third and fourth cylindrical members toward engagement with said second wall structure.

2. The connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said first and second springs are cylindrically coiled compression springs, with said first spring being coaxially and captively retained within the telescoped first and third cylindrical members, and said second spring being coaxially and captively retained within the telescoped second and fourth cylindrical members.

3. The connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said third and fourth cylindrical members have end portions facing said second wall structure and having conically tapered interior side surfaces,

said second wall structure has a pair of conically tapered sections projecting toward said first wall structure, said conically tapered sections being complementarily configured relative to said conically tapered interior side surfaces of said third and fourth cylindrical member end portions and receivable in said end portions, and

said first and second springs bias said conically tapered interior side surfaces of said third and fourth cylindrical members into complementary abutment with said pair of conically tapered sections of said second wall structure.

4. The connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said first ends of said first and second cylindrical members are transversely enlarged relative to the balances of said first and second cylindrical members and have peripheral rib portions that slidingly engage said first wall structure.

5. The connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said second electrical connector structure has a spaced pair of outwardly projecting guide pins disposed thereon and having tapered outer ends, and

the first electrical connector structure has a spaced pair of guide sockets adapted to receive said guide pins, the guide sockets each having outwardly flared outer end surfaces.

6. A docking station structure for removably connecting a portable computer to external computer peripheral devices, such as a monitor, keyboard and mouse, the computer having on a rear side thereof a first electrical connector structure, said docking station structure comprising:

a housing having a receiving area into which the computer may be placed and through which the computer may be slidingly moved, rear side first, rearwardly toward a docked position in which said rear side of the computer is adjacent a rear side portion of said receiving area;

a second electrical connector structure operatively associatable with the peripheral devices and telescopingly engageable with said first electrical connector structure; and

floating support means for supporting said second electrical connector structure at said rear side portion of said receiving area in an initial orientation in which said second electrical connector structure is generally aligned with the first electrical connector structure as the computer approaches its docked position within said receiving area, said floating support means being operative to;

(1) resiliently bias said second electrical connector structure toward said initial orientation thereof,

(2) permit said second electrical connector structure to be translated away from said initial orientation, into a precisely aligned telescopable orientation with the first electrical connector structure, and thereafter permit said second electrical connector structure to telescopingly engage the first electrical connector structure, in response to a forcible engagement of said second electrical connector structure by the first electrical connector structure while the first electrical connector structure is misaligned with said second electrical connector structure during movement of the computer toward its docked position, and

(3) prevent appreciable rotation of said second electrical connector structure relative to the first electrical connector structure, said floating support means including;

a first wall structure,

a second wall structure facing and generally parallel to said first wall structure and forwardly spaced apart therefrom,

first and second spaced apart cylindrical members disposed between said first and second facing wall structures and having first ends slidably engaging said first wall structure,

third and fourth cylindrical members respectively and telescopingly engaged with said first and second cylindrical members for axial movement relative thereto,

a base member extending between and anchored to said third and fourth cylindrical members for movement therewith, said second electrical connector structure being fixedly secured to said base member for movement therewith, and

first and second springs biasing said first and second cylindrical members toward engagement with said first wall structure, and biasing said third and fourth cylindrical members toward engagement with said second wall structure.

7. The docking station structure of claim 6 wherein:

said first and second springs are cylindrically coiled compression springs, with said first spring being coaxially and captively retained within the telescoped first and third cylindrical members, and said second spring being coaxially and captively retained within the telescoped second and fourth cylindrical members.

8. The docking station structure of claim 6 wherein:

said third and fourth cylindrical members have end portions facing said second wall structure and having conically tapered interior side surfaces,

said second wall structure has a pair of conically tapered sections projecting toward said first wall structure, said conically tapered sections being complementarily configured relative to said conically tapered interior side surfaces of said third and fourth cylindrical member end portions and receivable in said end portions, and

said first and second springs bias said conically tapered interior side surfaces of said third and fourth cylindrical members into complementary abutment with said pair of conically tapered sections of said second wall structure.

9. The docking station structure of claim 6 wherein:

said first ends of said first and second cylindrical members are transversely enlarged relative to the balance of said first and second cylindrical members and have peripheral rib portions that slidingly engage said first wall structure.

10. The docking station structure of claim 6 wherein:

said second electrical connector structure has a spaced pair of outwardly projecting guide pins disposed thereon and having tapered outer ends, and

the first electrical connector structure has a spaced pair of guide sockets adapted to receive said guide pins, the guide sockets each having outwardly flared outer end surfaces.

11. A docking module for use in a portable computer docking station, said docking module comprising:

a generally rectangular guide tray for slidably receiving a portable computer, said guide tray having an open top side, a bottom wall, a rear end wall, and a pair of opposite side walls projecting upwardly from said bottom wall and extending forwardly from said rear end wall;

a docking station electrical connector configured to telescopingly engage a complementarily configured computer electrical connector carried by a portable computer slidably receivable in said guide tray;

floating support means for associating said docking station electrical connector with said rear end wall of said guide tray in a manner (1) resiliently biasing said docking station electrical connector forwardly toward an initial, ready-for-docking position, (2) permitting said docking station electrical connector to be translationally deflected from said initial, ready-for-docking position in a rearward direction and in a direction parallel to said rear end wall, and (3) substantially preventing rotation of said docking station electrical connector relative to said guide tray while said docking station electrical connector is in its initial, ready-for-docking position or is being translationally deflected therefrom and

a support wall disposed behind said rear end wall of said guide tray in a generally parallel, facing relationship therewith,

said floating support means including;

first and second spaced apart cylindrical members disposed between said support wall and said rear end wall of said guide tray, and having first ends slidably engaging said support wall,

third and fourth cylindrical members respectively and telescopingly engaged with said first and second cylindrical members for axial movement relative thereto,

a base member extending between and anchored to said third and fourth cylindrical members for movement therewith, said docking station electrical connector being fixedly secured to said base member for movement therewith, and

first and second springs biasing said first and second cylindrical members toward engagement with said support wall, and biasing said third and fourth cylindrical members toward engagement with said rear end wall of said guide tray.

12. The docking module of claim 11 wherein:

said guide tray is formed from a precision molded plastic material, and

said docking module further comprises a generally rectangular sheet metal support tray nestingly receiving said guide tray, said support tray having a rear end wall defining said support wall.

13. The docking module of claim 11 wherein:

said first and second springs are cylindrically coiled compression springs, with said first spring being coaxially and captively retained within the telescoped first and third cylindrical members, and said second spring being coaxially and captively retained within the telescoped second and fourth cylindrical members.

14. The docking module of claim 11 wherein:

said third and fourth cylindrical members have end portions facing said rear guide tray end wall and having conically tapered interior side surfaces,

said rear guide tray end wall has a pair of conically tapered sections projecting toward said support wall, said conically tapered sections being complementarily configured relative to said conically tapered interior side surfaces of said third and fourth cylindrical member end portions and receivable in said end portions, and

said first and second springs bias said conically tapered interior side surfaces of said third and fourth cylindrical members into complementary abutment with said pair of conically tapered sections of said rear guide tray end wall.

15. The docking module of claim 11 wherein:

said first ends of said first and second cylindrical members are transversely enlarged relative to the balances of said first and second cylindrical members and have peripheral rib portions that slidingly engage said support wall.

16. The docking module of claim 11 wherein:

said docking station electrical connector has a spaced pair of forwardly projecting guide pins disposed thereon and having tapered front end portions.

17. The docking module of claim 11 wherein:

said bottom wall of said guide tray has an opening therein, and

said docking module further comprises a travel plate member supported beneath said bottom wall, in a parallel relationship therewith, for motor-driven movement relative to said bottom wall toward and away from said rear end wall of said guide tray, said travel plate member having a transverse tab portion projecting upwardly through said opening in said bottom wall of said guide tray.

18. Computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having a rear side, a bottom side, a pair of opposite side wall portions extending forwardly from said rear side, and a first electrical connector structure carried on said rear side; and

a docking station structure for removably connecting said portable computer to external peripheral devices, such as a monitor, keyboard and mouse, said docking station structure including;

a housing having an exterior opening through which said portable computer may be rearwardly inserted into the interior of said housing,

a generally rectangular guide tray, disposed in the interior of said housing and extending rearwardly from said opening therein, said guide tray having an open top side, a bottom wall, a rear end wall, and a pair of opposite side walls projecting upwardly from said bottom wall and extending forwardly from said rear end wall, said guide tray being configured to receive said computer with said opposite side wall portions of said computer slidingly engaging and being guided by said pair of opposite side walls of said guide tray,

a second electrical connector structure configured to telescopingly engage said first electrical connector structure,

floating support means for associating said second electrical connector structure with said rear end wall of said guide tray to be telescoping engaged by said first electrical connector structure as said computer is moved, rear side first, through said guide tray, said floating support means being operative to (1) resiliently bias said second electrical connector forwardly toward an initial, ready-for-docking position, (2) permit said second electrical connector structure to be translationally deflected from said initial, ready-for-docking position in a rearward direction and in a direction parallel to said rear end wall, and (3) substantially prevent rotation of said second electrical connector structure relative to said guide tray while said second electrical connector structure is in its initial, ready-for-docking position or is being translationally deflected therefrom and

a support wall disposed behind said rear end wall of said guide tray in a generally parallel, facing relationship therewith,

said floating support means including;

first and second spaced apart cylindrical members disposed between said support wall and said rear end wall of said guide tray, and having first ends slidably engaging said support wall,

third and fourth cylindrical members respectively and telescopingly engaged with said first and second cylindrical members for axial movement relative thereto,

a base member extending between and anchored to said third and fourth cylindrical members for movement therewith, said docking station electrical connector being fixedly secured to said base member for movement therewith, and

first and second springs biasing said first and second cylindrical members toward engagement with said support wall, and biasing said third and fourth cylindrical members toward engagement with said rear end wall of said guide tray.

19. The computer apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

said guide tray is formed from a precision molded plastic material, and

said docking station structure further comprises a generally rectangular sheet metal support tray nestingly receiving said guide tray, said support tray having a rear end wall defining said support wall.

20. The computer apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

said first and second springs are cylindrically coiled compression springs, with said first spring being coaxially and captively retained within the telescoped first and third cylindrical members, and said second spring being coaxially and captively retained within the telescoped second and fourth cylindrical members.

21. The computer apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

said third and fourth cylindrical members have end portions facing said rear guide tray end wall and having conically tapered interior side surfaces,

said rear guide tray end wall has a pair of conically tapered sections projecting toward said support wall, said conically tapered sections being complementarily configured relative to said conically tapered interior side surfaces of said third and fourth cylindrical member end portions and receivable in said end portions, and

said first and second springs bias said conically tapered interior side surfaces of said third and fourth cylindrical members into complementary abutment with said pair of conically tapered sections of said rear guide tray end wall.

22. The computer apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

said first ends of said first and second cylindrical members are transversely enlarged relative to the balances of said first and second cylindrical members and have peripheral rib portions that slidingly engage said support wall.

23. The computer apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

said second electrical connector structure has a spaced pair of forwardly projecting guide pins disposed thereon and having tapered front end portions, and

said first electrical connector structure has a spaced pair of guide sockets disposed therein and configured to removably receive said guide pins, said guide sockets having tapered outer end portions.

24. The computer apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

said docking station structure has a motherboard disposed in said housing, and

said second electrical connector structure is operatively connected to said motherboard by a flexible ribbon cable connector.

25. The computer apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

said portable computer is a notebook computer.