Horizontal loading docking station with uninterrupted power supply

• US 6,072,695 A
• Filed: 10/30/1997
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Kinser, Ralph W., Helot, Jacques H., Croft, Daniel I., Steiger, Gerald W., Hollon, Richard Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reed, John D.
• Application Number:
  US08/960,736
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/724, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1427 Housings

Abstract

A manually activated docking station that readily receives a generally horizontally inserted mobile computing device. Movement of a manual activation member causes engagement fingers to positively engage a mobile computing device and pull the port of the computing device onto the port of the docking station. Also disclosed are a unique locking method that impedes movement of the manual activation member and an uninterrupted power supply.

Claims

1. A docking station, comprising:

a docking station body configured to receive a mobile computing device that is generally horizontally inserted into said docking station body;

a receiving port formed on a first side of said body and configured to receive the mobile computing device;

a replicated port formed on a second side of said docking station body and electrically coupled to said receiving port;

alignment means for positioning the mobile computing device such that a port of the mobile computing device aligns with said receiving port;

engagement means for positively engaging the mobile computing device having a port aligned with said receiving port;

means for manually mounting an aligned port of the mobile computing device to said receiving port; and

an activation member coupled to said engaging means and said mounting means, wherein movement of said activation member through a first range of motion causes said engagement means to positively engage the aligned mobile computing device and further movement of said activation member through a second range of motion causes said mounting means to mount a port of that mobile computing device to said receiving port thereby creating a docked mobile computing device, and wherein said engagement means includes means for preventing mounting of the port of the mobile computing device to said receiving port without movement of said activation member by an operator.

2. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising means for preventing undocking of a port of the docked mobile computing device from said receiving port without movement of said activation member by an operator.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said engaging means further comprises:

cam means coupled to said activation members;

an engagement finger; and

an engagement finger control mechanism coupled to said cam.

4. The docking station of claim 3, wherein said engagement finger control mechanism includes a first member coupled to said cam and said engagement finger for causing said finger to move when said activation member is moved through said first range of motion.

5. The docking station of claim 4, further comprising:

a second member coupled between said cam and said engagement finger;

wherein said first and second members and said cam are configured such that said first and second members move relative to one another during said first range of motion, said relative movement causing said finger to move between an engaged and a non-engaged position.

6. The docking station of claim 5, wherein said first and second members and said cam are further configured such that said first and second members do not substantially move relative to one another during said second range of motion.

7. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising an uninterrupted power supply mechanism.

8. The docking station of claim 7, further comprising means for generating a signal to said receiving port to indicate to the mobile computing device docked at said receiving port that the source of power thereto has changed.

9. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

an alternative power supply mechanism that has the potential to supply power;

a power supply port formed in said docking station body;

means for sensing the presence of power from said power supply port;

a switch for switching between an output of each of said alternative power supply mechanism and said power supply port; and

switch control means coupled to said sensing means and said switch for switching said switch from said power supply port to said alternative power supply mechanism when power from the power supply port is not present.

10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein said alternative power supply mechanism includes a battery charging mechanism.

11. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

a recession and a slot proximate to said activation member; and

a locking mechanism attachment means provided in said recession and said slot;

wherein said first range of motion and said second range of motion are contiguous and said locking mechanism attachment means prevents movement of the activation member, and

wherein both the docking station alone and the docking station with the docked mobile computing device together are capable of being secured with said locking mechanism attachment.

12. A docking station, comprising:

a docking station body configured to receive a mobile computing device, said docking station body having a recession and a slot;

a receiving port coupled to said docking station body and configured to receive a port of the mobile computing device;

a replicated port coupled to said docking station body and electrically coupled to said receiving port;

means for mounting a port of the mobile computing device on to said receiving port thereby creating a docked mobile computing device;

a manual activation member having a range of motion of activation proximate to said recession and said slot, said manual activation member coupled to said mounting means to provide manual activation of said mounting means; and

security means provided in said recession and said slot within said range of motion of activation of said activation member.

13. The docking station of claim 12, wherein said security means includes a locking mechanism attachment means, and wherein both the docking station alone and the docking station with the docked mobile computing device together are capable of being secured with said locking mechanism attachment.

14. The docking station of claim 12, wherein said security means facilitates impeding movement of the activation member.

15. The docking station of claim 12, wherein said security means facilitates impeding movement of the activation member in both a direction that would mount the mobile computing device to the docking station and in a direction that would unmount the mobile computing device from the docking station.

16. A docking station, comprising:

a docking station body;

a power supply formed in said docking station body;

a receiving port coupled to said docking station body and configured to receive a port of a mobile computing device;

a replicated port coupled to said docking station body and electrically coupled to said receiving port;

means for mounting the port of the mobile computing device on to said receiving port thereby creating a docked mobile computing device;

a manual activation member having a range of motion of activation that is coupled to said mounting means to provide manual activation of said mounting means, wherein said means for mounting includes engagement means for engaging the mobile computing device wherein the engagement means prevents mounting of the port of the mobile computing device to said receiving port without movement of said manual activation member by an operator;

an alternative power supply mechanism that has the potential to supply power;

a switch coupled between the outputs of said power supply port and said alternative power supply mechanism; and

means for switching said switch from the power supply port to the alternative supply mechanism output when power is not present at said power supply port.

17. The docking station of claim 16, wherein said alternative power supply mechanism is a battery charging mechanism.

18. A computing system, comprising:

a mobile computing device having a port;

a docking station, comprising;

a docking station body configured to receive the mobile computing device that is generally horizontally inserted into said docking station body;

a receiving port formed on a first side of said body and configured to receive the mobile computing device;

a replicated port formed on a second side of said docking station body and electrically coupled to said receiving port;

alignment means for positioning the mobile computing device such that a port of the mobile computing device aligns with said receiving port;

engagement means for positively engaging the mobile computing device having a port aligned with said receiving port;

means for manually mounting an aligned port of the mobile computing device to said receiving port; and

an activation member coupled to said engaging means and said mounting means, wherein movement of said activation member through a first range of motion causes said engagement means to positively engage the aligned mobile computing device and movement of said activation member through a second range of motion causes said mounting means to mount a port of that mobile computing device to said receiving port thereby creating a docked mobile computing device, and wherein said engagement means includes means for preventing mounting of the port of the mobile computing device to said receiving port without movement of said activation member by an operator.