Motorized portable computer/expansion chassis docking system

• US 5,991,838 A
• Filed: 02/17/1994
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• 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: Swindler, Dan E., Shu, Thomas, Durkin, Michael D., Busch, John P., Westmoreland, Derek, Ozias, Orin, Kocis, Thomas J., Jones, Pearce R., Penniman, Mark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): AUVE, GLENN ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/164,076
• Time in Patent Office: 2,105 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 395/325, 395/281, 361/686, 361/683, 710/101, 710/102, 710/103
• 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. Computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein, said docking station structure being configured to support said portable computer in a first manually positioned orientation relative thereto;

cooperating means carried by said portable computer and said docking station structure and being forcibly interengageable with one another to operably and releasably couple said first and second operating components; and

motorized drive means carried by said docking station structure and operative to drivingly move the supported portable computer relative to said docking station structure from said first orientation to a second orientation in a manner forcibly interengaging said cooperating means.

2. Computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure;

cooperating means carried by said portable computer and said docking station structure and being forcibly interengageable with one another to operably and releasably couple said first and second operating components; and

motorized drive means carried by said docking station structure and operative to drivingly translate the manually inserted portable computer within the interior of said docking station structure in a manner forcibly interengaging said cooperating means.

3. Computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted, in a first direction, at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure to a receiving position therein;

cooperating means carried by said portable computer and said docking station structure and being forcibly interengageable with one another to operably and releasably couple said first and second operating components; and

motorized drive means carried by said docking station structure and selectively operative to;

(1) drivingly translate the manually inserted portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in said first direction, from said receiving position to a docked position in a manner forcibly interengaging said cooperating means, and

(2) drivingly translate the manually inserted portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in a second direction opposite from said first direction, from said docked position to an ejection position in which said cooperating means are disengaged from one another.

4. Computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted, in a first direction, at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure to a receiving position therein;

cooperating means carried by said portable computer and said docking station structure and being forcibly interengageable with one another to operably and releasably couple said first and second operating components;

motorized drive means carried by said docking station structure and being operable in;

(1) a first mode in which said motorized drive means drivingly translate said portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in said first direction, from said receiving position to a docked position in a manner forcibly interengaging said cooperating means with one another, and

(2) a second mode in which said motorized drive means drivingly translate said portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in a second direction opposite from said first direction, to an ejection position in which said cooperating means are disengaged from one another;

first switch means carried by said docking station structure and being manually operable to initiate operation of said motorized drive means in said first mode thereof; and

second switch means carried by said docking station structure and being manually operable to initiate operation of said motorized drive means in said second mode thereof.

5. A docking station structure for removably receiving a portable computer having first operating components therein and a connection area through which external operating components may be operatively coupled to the first operating components, said docking station structure comprising:

a housing having second operating components therein and an opening through which the portable computer may be manually inserted at least partially into the interior of said housing;

second operating components disposed in said housing;

connection means supported within said housing in the insertion path of the portable computer, said connection means being operative in response to forcible engagement thereof with the portable computer connection area to operatively and removably couple the first and second operating components; and

motorized drive means carried within said housing and operative to translate the manually inserted portable computer relative to said housing in a manner moving the portable computer connection area into forcible engagement with said connection means.

6. A method of electrically coupling first operating components within a portable computer with second operating components in a docking station structure, said method comprising the steps of:

providing said portable computer and said docking station structure with cooperatively interengageable means for electrically coupling said first and second operating components;

manually inserting said portable computer into said docking station structure to a receiving position in which said cooperatively interengageable means are in a spaced apart, facing relationship; and

using a motorized portion of said docking station structure to mechanically drive the manually inserted portable computer relative to said docking station structure in a manner forcibly interengaging said cooperatively interengageable means.

7. A method for 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; and

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 where said secured portable computer is operatively engaged with said docking station.

8. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components;

a docking station structure having second operating components, said docking station structure being configured to receive said portable computer in a first manually positioned orientation relative thereto;

means connected to said portable computer and said docking station structure for cooperatively coupling said first and second operating components; and

means including a motor carried by said docking station structure for moving the supported portable computer relative to said docking station structure from said first orientation to a second orientation in a manner interengaging said coupling means.

9. The computer apparatus of claim 8 further including means for detecting whether said portable computer is powered-up.

10. The computer apparatus of claim 9 further including means responsive to said detecting means for aborting the interengaging of said cooperating means.

11. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure;

means including a motor carried by said portable computer and said docking station structure for coupling said first and second operating components; and

means carried by said docking station structure for translating the manually inserted portable computer within the interior of said docking station structure in a manner forcibly interengaging said coupling means.

12. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted, in a first direction, at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure to a receiving position therein;

means including a motor carried by said portable computer and said docking station structure for cooperatively coupling said first and second operating components; and

means carried by said docking station structure and selectively operative for;

(1) drivingly translating the manually inserted portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in said first direction, from said receiving position to a docked position in a manner forcibly interengaging said cooperating means, and

(2) drivingly translating the manually inserted portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in a second direction opposite from said first direction, from said docked position to an ejection position in which said cooperating means are disengaged from another.

13. A docking station structure for removably receiving a portable computer having first operating components therein and a connection area through which external operating components may be operatively coupled to the first operating components, said docking station structure comprising:

a housing having second operating components therein and an opening through which the portable computer may be manually inserted at least partially into the interior of said housing;

means supported within said housing in the insertion path of the portable computer, said means being operative in response to forcible engagement thereof with the portable computer connection area for operatively and removably coupling the first and the second operating components; and

motorized drive means carried within said housing and operative to translate the manually inserted portable computer relative to said housing in a manner moving the portable computer connection area into forcible engagement with said coupling means.

14. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted, in a first direction, at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure to a receiving position therein;

means carried by said portable computer and said docking station structure for operably and releasably coupling said first and second operating components;

means including a motor carried by said docking station structure for operating in;

(1) a first mode in which said operating means drivingly translate said portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in said first direction, from said receiving position to a docked position in a manner forcibly interengaging said coupling means with one another, and

(2) a second mode in which said operating means drivingly translate said portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in a second direction opposite from said first direction, to an ejection position in which said coupling means are disengaged from one another;

first means carried by said docking station structure for manually initiating operation of said motorized drive means in said first mode thereof; and

second means carried by said docking station structure for manually initiating operation of said operating means in said second mode thereof.

15. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein, said docking station structure being configured to support said portable computer in a first manually positioned orientation relative thereto;

a first mating structure carried by said portable computer and a second mating structure carried by said docking station structure and being interengageable with one another to operably and releasably couple said first and second operating components; and

a motor assembly carried by said docking station structure and operative to move the supported portable computer relative to said docking station structure from said first orientation to a second orientation in a manner interengaging said first and second mating structures.

16. The computer apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first mating structure and said second mating structure comprise a mating pin connector structure.

17. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure;

a first mating structure carried by said portable computer and a second mating structure carried by said docking station structure and being interengageable with one another to operably and releasably couple said first and second operating components; and

a motor assembly carried by said docking station structure and operative to drive the manually inserted portable computer within the interior of said docking station structure in a manner interengaging said first and second mating structures.

18. The computer apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first and second mating structures comprise a mating pin connector structure.

19. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted, in a first direction, at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure to a receiving position therein;

a first mating structure carried by said portable computer and a second mating structure carried by said docking station structure and being interengageable with one another to operably and releasably couple said first and second operating components; and

a motor assembly carried by said docking station structure and selectively operative to;

(1) drive the manually inserted portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in said first direction, from said receiving position to a docked position in a manner interengaging said first mating structure and said second mating structure, and

(2) drive the manually inserted portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in a second direction opposite from said first direction, from said docked position to an ejection position in which said first mating structure and said second mating structure are disengaged from one another.

20. The computer apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first mating structure and said second mating structure comprise a mating pin connector structure.

21. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted, in a first direction, at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure to a receiving position therein;

a first mating structure carried by said portable computer and a second mating structure carried by said docking station structure and being interengageable with one another to operably and releasably couple said first and second operating components;

a motor assembly carried by said docking station structure and being operable in;

(1) a first mode in which said motor assembly drives said portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in said first direction, from said receiving position to a docked position in a manner interengaging said first mating structure and said second mating structure with one another, and

(2) a second mode in which said motor assembly drives said portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in a second direction opposite from said first direction, to an ejection position in which said first mating structure and said second mating structure are disengaged from one another;

a first switch carried by said docking station structure and being manually operable to initiate operation of said motor assembly in said first mode thereof; and

a second switch carried by said docking station structure and being manually operable to initiate operation of said motor assembly in said second mode thereof.

22. The computer apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first mating structure and said second mating structure comprise a mating pin connector structure.

23. A docking station structure for removably receiving a portable computer having first operating components therein and a connection area through which external operating components may be operatively coupled to the first operating components, said docking station structure comprising:

a housing having second operating components therein and an opening through which the portable computer may be manually inserted at least partially into the interior of said housing;

a connector supported within said housing in the insertion path of the portable computer, said connector being operative in response to engagement thereof with the portable computer connection area to operatively and removably couple the first and second operating components; and

a motor assembly carried within said housing and operative to translate the manually inserted portable computer relative to said housing in a manner moving the portable computer connection area into engagement with said connector.

24. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components;

a docking station structure having second operating components, said docking station structure being configured to receive said portable computer in a first manually positioned orientation relative thereto;

a first connector coupled to said portable computer and a second connector coupled to said docking station structure for cooperatively coupling said first and second operating components; and

a motor assembly carried by said docking station structure configured to move the supported portable computer relative to said docking station structure from said first orientation to a second orientation in a manner interengaging said first connector and said second connector.

25. The computer apparatus of claim 24, wherein said first connector and said second connector are electrical connectors.

26. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure;

a first connector carried by said portable computer and a second connector carried by said docking station structure for coupling said first and second operating components; and

a motor assembly carried by said docking station structure configured to translate the manually inserted portable computer within the interior of said docking station structure in a manner interengaging said first connector and said second connector.

27. The computer apparatus of claim 26, wherein said first connector and said second connector are electrical connectors.

28. A computer apparatus comprising:

a portable computer having first operating components therein;

a docking station structure having second operating components therein and an opening through which said portable computer may be manually inserted, in a first direction, at least partially into the interior of said docking station structure to a receiving position therein;

a first connector carried by said portable computer and a second connector carried by said docking station structure for operably and releasably coupling said first and second operating components;

a motor assembly carried by said docking station structure configured to operate in;

(1) a first mode in which said motor assembly drives said portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in said first direction, from said receiving position to a docked position in a manner interengaging said first connector and said second connector with one another, and

(2) a second mode in which said motor assembly drives said portable computer relative to said docking station structure, in a second direction opposite from said first direction, to an ejection position in which said first connector and said second connector are disengaged from one another;

a first switch carried by said docking station structure for manually initiating operation of said motor assembly in said first mode thereof; and

a second switch carried by said docking station structure for manually initiating operation of said motor assembly in said second mode thereof.