Computer ducking station with internal microprocessor

• US 6,029,215 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Kevin, Grimm, Thomas R., Verdun, Gary, Watts, LaVaughn F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue, Larry D.
• Application Number:
  US08/813,136
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/686, 395/281, 395/750.02, 710/101, 713/310, 713/308
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

The described embodiments of the present invention provide a computer docking station having connection means for connecting a portable computer to the docking station, the docking station having an internal microprocessor.

In preferred embodiments, the microprocessor of the docking station: performs processing to the portable computer and applications across a communications bus between the microprocessor and said portable computer; controls the means by which the portable computer is mechanically connected to the docking station; controls the means by which the portable computer is electrically connected to said docking station; controls the means by which the portable computer is mechanically and electrically connected to said docking station; controls the power to the portable computer, connects the portable computer to the docking station from a software point of view; ejects the portable computer to from the docking station from a software point of view; controls processing across the bus; controls the function of free form switches on the docking station; and controls itself under a first mode of operation and is under at least partial from a central processing unit in said portable computer under a second mode of operation.

Claims

1. A computer docking system, comprising:

a portable computer having a central processing unit; and

a docking station having connection means for connecting said portable computer to said docking station, said docking station having an internal microprocessor which controls itself under a first mode of operation and is under at least partial control of said central processing unit in said portable computer under a second mode of operation.

2. The computer docking system of claim 1, in which said microprocessor performs processing to the portable computer and applications across a communications bus between said microprocessor and said portable computer.

3. The computer docking system of claim 1, in which said microprocessor controls the means by which the portable computer is mechanically connected to said docking station.

4. The computer docking system of claim 1, in which said microprocessor controls the means by which the portable computer is electrically connected to said docking station.

5. The computer docking system of claim 1, in which said microprocessor controls the means by which the portable computer is mechanically and electrically connected to said docking station.

6. The computer docking system of claim 1, in which said microprocessor controls the power to the portable computer.

7. The computer docking system of claim 1, in which said microprocessor controls the function of free form switches on the docking station.

8. The computer docking system of claim 1, in which said microprocessor controls itself under a first mode of operation and is under at least partial from a central processing unit in said portable computer under a second mode of operation.

63. The computer docking system of claim 1, in which said microprocessor controls processing across a bus.

9. A computer docking station, comprising:

connection means for connecting a portable computer to said docking station, said docking station having an internal microprocessor which, when said portable computer is connected to said docking station, controls itself under a first mode of operation and is under at least partial control of a central processing unit in said portable computer under a second mode of operation.

10. The docking station of claim 9, in which said microprocessor performs processing to the portable computer and applications across a communications bus between said microprocessor and said portable computer.

11. The docking station of claim 9, in which said microprocessor controls the means by which the portable computer is mechanically connected to said docking station.

12. The docking station of claim 9, in which said microprocessor controls the means by which the portable computer is electrically connected to said docking station.

13. The docking station of claim 9, in which said microprocessor controls the means by which the portable computer is mechanically and electrically connected to said docking station.

14. The docking station of claim 9, in which said microprocessor controls the power to the portable computer.

15. The docking station of claim 9, in which said microprocessor controls processing across a bus.

16. The docking station of claim 9, in which said microprocessor controls the function of free form switches on the docking station.

30. The computer docking system of claim 16, in which said central processing unit in said docking station sends information to and receives information from said portable computer via a communication bus between said central processing unit and said portable computer.

31. The computer docking system of claim 30, in which said central processing unit in said docking station controls processing across said bus.

32. The computer docking system of claim 30, in which said a central processing unit in said portable computer controls processing across said bus.

33. The computer docking system of claim 30, in which said central processing unit in said docking station and a central processing unit in said portable computer control processing across said bus.

34. The computer docking system of claim 30, in which said information is data.

35. The computer docking system of claim 30, in which said information is applications.

36. The computer docking system of claim 30, in which said information is data and applications.

37. The computer docking system of claim 16, in which said central processing unit in said docking station logically disconnects said docking station from said portable computer while maintaining an electrical connection between said central processing unit and said portable computer.

38. The computer docking system of claim 16, in which said central processing unit in said docking station logically disconnects said docking station from said portable computer while maintaining an electrical connection between said central processing unit and said portable computer.

39. The computer docking system of claim 37, in which said central processing unit in said docking station logically connects said docking station to and disconnects said docking station from said portable computer while maintaining an electrical connection between said central processing unit and said portable computer.

17. A computer docking system, comprising:

a docking station having a central processing unit and a mechanism connecting said docking station to a portable computer, said central processing unit controlling itself under a first mode of operation and being at least partially controlled by a central processing unit in said portable computer under a second mode of operation.

18. The computer docking system of claim 17, in which said mechanism mechanically connects said docking station to said portable computer.

19. The computer docking system of claim 17, in which said mechanism electrically connects said docking station to said portable computer.

20. The computer docking system of claim 17, in which said mechanism electrically and mechanically connects said docking station to said portable computer.

21. The computer docking system of claim 17, in which said mechanism mechanically connects said docking station to and disconnects said docking station from said portable computer.

22. The computer docking system of claim 17, in which said mechanism electrically connects said docking station to and disconnects said docking station from said portable computer.

23. The computer docking system of claim 17, in which said mechanism electrically and mechanically connects said docking station to and disconnects said docking station from said portable computer.

24. The computer docking system of claim 21, in which said central processing unit in said docking station controls said mechanism.

25. The computer docking system of claim 22, in which said central processing unit in said docking station controls said mechanism.

26. The computer docking system of claim 23, in which said central processing unit in said docking station controls said mechanism.

27. The computer docking system of claim 24, in which said central processing unit in said docking station is under software control.

28. The computer docking system of claim 25, in which said central processing unit in said docking station is under software control.

29. The computer docking system of claim 26, in which said central processing unit in said docking station is under software control.

40. A computer docking station, comprising:

a central processing unit and a mechanism for connecting said docking station to a portable computer, said central processing unit controlling itself under a first mode of operation and being at least partially controlled by a central processing unit in said portable computer under a second mode of operation when said docking station is connected to said portable computer.

41. The docking station of claim 40, in which said mechanism mechanically connects said docking station to said portable computer.

42. The docking station of claim 40, in which said mechanism electrically connects said docking station to said portable computer.

43. The docking station of claim 40, in which said mechanism electrically and mechanically connects said docking station to said portable computer.

44. The docking station of claim 40, in which said mechanism mechanically connects said docking station to and disconnects said docking station from said portable computer.

45. The docking station of claim 40, in which said mechanism electrically connects said docking station to and disconnects said docking station from said portable computer.

46. The docking station of claim 40, in which said mechanism electrically and mechanically connects said docking station to and disconnects said docking station from said portable computer.

47. The docking station of claim 44, in which said central processing unit in said docking station controls said mechanism.

48. The docking station of claim 45, in which said central processing unit in said docking station controls said mechanism.

49. The docking station of claim 44, in which said central processing unit in said docking station controls said mechanism.

50. The docking station of claim 47, in which said central processing unit in said docking station is under software control.

51. The docking station of claim 48, in which said central processing unit in said docking station is under software control.

52. The docking station of claim 49, in which said central processing unit in said docking station is under software control.

53. The docking station of claim 40, in which said central processing unit in said docking station sends information to and receives information from said portable computer via a communication bus between said central processing unit and said portable computer.

54. The docking station of claim 53, in which said central processing unit in said docking station controls processing across said bus.

55. The docking station of claim 53, in which said central processing unit in said portable computer controls processing across said bus.

56. The docking station of claim 53, in which said central processing unit in said docking station and a central processing unit in said portable computer control processing across said bus.

57. The docking station of claim 53, in which said information is data.

58. The docking station of claim 53, in which said information is applications.

59. The docking station of claim 53, in which said information is data and applications.

60. The docking station of claim 40, in which said central processing unit in said docking station logically connects said docking station to and disconnects said docking station from said portable computer.

61. The docking station of claim 40, in which said central processing unit in said docking station logically disconnects said docking station from said portable computer while maintaining an electrical connection between said central processing unit and said portable computer.

62. The docking station of claim 60, in which said central processing unit in said docking station logically connects said docking station to and disconnects said docking station from said portable computer while maintaining an electrical connection between said central processing unit and said portable computer.