Computer system employing docking bay with spring loaded connector pins and file coherency method

• US 5,579,528 A
• Filed: 04/03/1995
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Register, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, CUAN
• Application Number:
  US08/416,550
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 395/800, 395/325, 364/419, 364/708
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A macro-system which includes at least one portable computer and at least one stationary computer. The stationary computer includes a docking bay into which the portable computer is physically inserted whenever the user has returned with it to his primary work area. This docking station includes contact probes which automatically make contact to a small number of contacts on the back of the portable computer whenever it is stuffed into the docking station. The portable computer preferably includes soft power switch logic, so that an activation signal, received when the portable computer is docked, can be used to wake up the portable computer and bring it up active in a slave operating mode. Appropriate software routines can then be triggered to maintain file coherency.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first computer system, including, in one or more physical housings, at least one central processing unit (CPU), program memory, at least one input device, and a display;

a second computer system, including, in a single hand-portable housing, at least one central processing unit (CPU), program memory, at least one input device, and a display, said housing of second computer system being smaller in overall size than housings of said first computer system;

a docking bay, comprising a recess which is large enough to accept insertion of said housing of said second computer system, and which is complementary to the external shape of said housing of said second computer system, and which is shaped to constrain said housing of said second computer system to a single direction of motion during insertion;

wherein said first and second computer systems are each separately operable as fully programmable stand-alone computer systems;

and wherein said docking bay includes spring-loaded, pogo-type pins mounted in the interior thereof, said pins being positioned to be axially compressed in said single direction when said housing of said second computer system is inserted within said docking bay;

and wherein said pins of said docking bay are connected to provide a data interface to said first computer system;

and wherein said second computer system includes contact pads, in the exterior thereof, which are connected to provide a serial data interface to said CPU of said second computer system;

and wherein said first and second computer systems are configured to automatically detect a connection between said pins and said contact pads, and to automatically call a data transfer program in response to a detection of said connection for transferring files bidirectionally between said first and second computer systems to thereby maintain file coherency.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said housing of said second computer system is foldable into a compact configuration, and said docking bay is complementary to said housing of said second computer system in said compact configuration.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said second computer system includes presence detect logic which is configured and connected to detect connection between said pins and said contact pads.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first computer system is a desktop system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said single direction is substantially horizontal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said single direction is substantially vertical.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said pins of said docking bay are connected to a multistrand cable which is removably connected to said first computer system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said first computer system has a basic CPU clock rate which is more than 50% greater than that of said second computer system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first computer system has more than twice as much maximum available memory bandwidth as said second computer system.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said first computer system has more than three times as much on-line mass storage capacity as said second computer system.