Universal serial bus docking station
First Claim
1. A docking station for a universal serial bus, comprising:
- a hub having an upstream connector, and a plurality of downstream connectors;
said hub being disposed generally in a horizontal plane;
a docking housing coupled to said hub, said docking housing being adapted to receive at least one USB module, said docking housing having disposed therein a first connector, said first connector being electrically coupled to said hub;
said module carrying a mating first connector configured to electrically connect to said first connector when said module is inserted into said housing, whereby said module is automatically connected to said hub without use of a separate cable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Universal Serial Bus docking station is provided in which a USB hub includes a housing which may receive at least one additional USB module which is connected to the USB hub without the use of an additional cable. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, up to three USB modules may be inserted into the housing in stacked arrangement. In addition, each USB module maybe used as a stand alone unit by snapping a sleeve onto the rear of the module. Still further, a USB connector is adapted for use standing vertically from a circuit board and being retained by spring clips extending through the circuit board in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A docking station for a universal serial bus, comprising:
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a hub having an upstream connector, and a plurality of downstream connectors; said hub being disposed generally in a horizontal plane; a docking housing coupled to said hub, said docking housing being adapted to receive at least one USB module, said docking housing having disposed therein a first connector, said first connector being electrically coupled to said hub; said module carrying a mating first connector configured to electrically connect to said first connector when said module is inserted into said housing, whereby said module is automatically connected to said hub without use of a separate cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A docking station for a universal serial bus, comprising:
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a hub having an upstream connector, and a plurality of downstream connectors; said hub being disposed generally in a horizontal plane; a docking housing coupled to said hub, said docking housing being adapted to receive at least one USB module, said docking housing having disposed therein a first connector, said first connector being electrically coupled to said hub; said module carrying a mating first connector configured to electrically connect to said first connector when said module is inserted into said housing, whereby said module is automatically connected to said hub without use of a separate cable; said docking housing comprises a printed circuit board extending in a vertical plane, said printed circuit board carrying said first connector, said first connector being disposed within said docking housing so as to engage said mating first connector when said module is inserted into said housing; said first connector carries a shoulder; and said docking housing comprises a retainer and support element having an aperture for receiving said connector and disposed adjacent said circuit board so as to retain said connector by capturing said shoulder between said circuit board and said retainer and support element.
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10. A USB module, comprising:
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a housing containing USB interfacing circuitry; a connector disposed on the rear of said housing; one or more first retaining elements carried on said housing; a sleeve adapted to cover a portion of said housing, said sleeve having one or more second retaining elements adapted to engage corresponding ones of said first retaining elements, whereby said sleeve is removably retained on said housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A USB connector comprising:
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an elongated sleeve; a plurality of electrical contacts carried in said sleeve; a plurality of electrical connector pins extending from said sleeve in and parallel with a longitudinal axis of said sleeve; a pair of retainer arms extending from said sleeve in a direction generally parallel to said longitudinal axis;
each of said retainer arms being of resilient material and having a portion bent angularly such that when said connector is mounted onto a circuit board, said retainer arms exert retaining forces against said circuit board to retain said connector;a shoulder disposed on said sleeve proximate said retainer arms, said shoulder providing surfaces that may be captured between a circuit board and a retainer plate disposed parallel to said circuit board.
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15. A docking station for a universal serial bus (USB) comprising:
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a housing having a first portion; a USB hub located at least partially within said housing, said USB hub comprising an upstream connector and a plurality of downstream connectors at a first portion of said USB hub, said upstream connector and said plurality of downstream connectors exposed at the first portion of said housing; and a first USB module located at least partially within said housing, said first USB module comprising at least one connector at a first portion of said first USB module, the at least one connector exposed at the first portion of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification