Computer docking system with means for allowing a microprocessor in a docking station to talk to a central processing unit in a docked portable computer

• US 5,627,974 A
• Filed: 11/08/1994
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Watts, LaVaughn F. Jr., Tonsing, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): AUVE, GLENN ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/336,133
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 395/281, 395/283, 361/686, 361/683, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 710/304
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/12 Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62905 comprising a camming member H01R13/62933 and H01R13/641 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel

Abstract

The described embodiments of the present invention provide a computer docking system having connection means for connecting a portable computer to a docking station, and means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to underlying software in the central processing unit (CPU) of the portable computer. In a preferred embodiment, the means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to underlying software in the central processing unit (CPU) of the portable computer sets up and doses Windows applications, closes DOS applications, and closes files.

Claims

1. A computer docking system, comprising:

a portable computer;

a docking station having connection means for connecting said portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means sets up and closes operating system applications.

2. The computer docking system of claim 1, in which said means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer allows the system to be locked through a communications port which the CPU uses to send instructions to the docking station.

3. The computer docking system of claim 1, in which said microprocessor in the docking station examines key lock status and will not allow ejection until the key lock is in an "unlocked" position.

4. A computer docking system, comprising:

it portable computer;

a docking station having connection means for connecting said portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means closes disk operating system applications.

5. A computer docking system, comprising:

a portable computer;

a docking station having connection means for connecting said portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means closes files.

6. A computer docking system, comprising:

a portable computer;

a docking station having connection means for connecting said portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means sets up and closes operating system applications and closes files.

7. Tile computer docking system of claim 6, in which said means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer allows the system to be locked through a communications port which the CPU uses to send instructions to the docking station.

8. The computer docking system of claim 6, in which said microprocessor in the docking station examines key lock status and will not allow ejection until the key lock is in an "unlocked" position.

9. A computer docking system, comprising:

a portable computer;

a docking station having connection means for connecting said portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means will not allow the system to shut down and disconnect the portable computer until all preprocessing is done.

10. The computer docking system of claim 9, in which said means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer allows the system to be locked through a communications port which the CPU uses to send instructions to the docking station.

11. The computer docking system of claim 9, in which said microprocessor in the docking station examines key lock status and will not allow ejection until the key lock is in an "unlocked" position.

12. A computer docking system, comprising:

a portable computer;

a docking station having connection means for connecting, said portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means allows the disabling of an eject switch to prevent accidental ejection.

13. A computer docking system, comprising:

a portable computer;

a docking station having connection means for connecting said portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means sets a time for automatic shut down of the system.

14. The computer docking system of claim 13, in which said means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer allows the system to be locked through a communications port which the CPU uses to send instructions to the docking station.

15. A computer docking system, comprising:

a portable computer;

a docking station having connection means for connecting said portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means wakes up the system and facilitates manual or automatic resume.

16. The computer docking system of claim 15, in which said means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer allows the system to be locked through a communications port which the CPU uses to send instructions to the docking station.

17. A computer docking station, comprising:

connection means for connecting a portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means sets up and closes operating system applications.

18. The docking station of claim 17, in which said means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer allows the system to be locked through a communications port which the CPU uses to send instructions to the docking station.

19. The docking station of claim 17, in which said microprocessor in the docking station examines key lock status and will not allow ejection until the key lock is in an "unlocked" position.

20. A computer docking station, comprising:

connection means for connecting a portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means closes disk operating system applications.

21. A computer docking station, comprising:

connection means for connecting a portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means closes files.

22. A computer docking station, comprising:

connection means for connecting a portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means sets up and closes operating system applications and closes files.

23. The docking station of claim 22, in which said means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer allows the system to be locked through a communications port which the CPU uses to send instructions to the docking station.

24. The docking station of claim 22, in which said microprocessor in the docking station examines key lock status and will not allow ejection until the key lock is in an "unlocked" position.

25. A computer docking station, comprising;

connection means for connecting a portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means will not allow the system to shut down and disconnect the portable computer until all preprocessing is done.

26. The docking stahon of claim 25, in which said means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer allows the system to be locked through a communications port which the CPU uses to send instructions to the docking station.

27. The docking station of claim 25, in which said microprocessor in the docking station examines key lock status and will not allow ejection until the key lock is in an "unlocked" position.

28. A computer docking station, comprising:

connection means for connecting a portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means allows the disabling of an eject switch to prevent accidental ejection.

29. The docking station of claim 28, in which said means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer allows the system to be locked through a communications port which the CPU uses to send instructions to the docking station.

30. A computer docking station, comprising:

connection means for connecting a portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means sets a time for automatic shut down of the system.

31. A computer docking station, comprising:

connection means for connecting a portable computer to said docking station; and

means for allowing a microprocessor in the docking station to talk to a central processing unit (CPU) in the portable computer, wherein said means wakes up the system and facilitates manual or automatic resume.