Custom docking tray for EMI reduction

• US 6,160,719 A
• Filed: 10/26/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Vu, Richard, Van Brocklin, Andrew L., Cole, James R., May, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, TUAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/178,880
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 361/736, 361/737, 361/816, 361/818, 361/685, 361/686, 439/159, 174/35 R, 174/35 GC, 174/51, 395/827, 235/472
• US Class Current: 361/816
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for docking a piece of portable equipment, such as a portable computer, with another device, such as a peripheral device. In particular, there are a plurality of different pieces of equipment, essentially similar in function but different in design particulars, such as a manufacturer'"'"'s line of different portable computer models. The docking apparatus includes a first module which has standard interfaces for peripheral devices, and is designed to couple with one of a set of second modules. Each one of the second modules is customized for a respective one of the pieces of equipment. For instance, if each of the portable computers has an external monitor interface, but the monitor interfaces are located at different positions on the different portable computers, then the respective second modules are designed to accommodate the monitor interfaces at the different positions, but to enable all of the monitor interfaces to couple with the external monitor, preferably through the first module. The pieces of equipment and the docking stations, then, must be EMI compliant when docked together. In accordance with the invention, the second module bears EMI shielding and coupling structures for making the overall docked system EMI compliant.

Claims

1. A docking apparatus or coupling one of a set of pieces of equipment to an interface through an interface coupling, the apparatus comprising:

a first module including the interface coupling; and

a second module, selected from a set of respective second modules, the second modules corresponding with respective ones of the pieces of equipment, the selected second module corresponding with the one of the different pieces of electronic equipment for coupling to the piece of equipment, each of the pieces of equipment having a respective electromagnetic property, each of the second modules including an electrical structure which, cooperatively with the respective piece of electronic equipment, brings about a desired electrical characteristic;

whereby when the one of the pieces of equipment is docked with the first module and the selected second module, the desired electrical characteristic is achieved;

and

wherein the second module has a surface, and the electrical structure includes a conductive foil disposed on the surface.

2. A docking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the desired electrical characteristic includes one of (i) compliance with electromagnetic interference (EMI)requirements, and (ii) electrostatic discharge (ESD).

3. The docking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the set of pieces of equipment includes a set of different models of portable computers; and

the interface includes a standard interface to a computer peripheral device.

4. The docking apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein each of the set of second modules includes a tray structure for holding the respective one of the portable computers, each of the tray structures including with the first module.

5. The docking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the conductive foil has an adhesive surface for adhering to the second module surface.

6. The docking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the conductive foil has a label thereon, the label bearing user-readable information.

7. A docking apparatus for coupling one of a set of pieces of equipment to an interface through an interface coupling, the apparatus comprising:

a first module including the interface coupling; and

a second module, selected from a set of respective second modules, the second modules corresponding with respective ones of the pieces of equipment, the selected second module corresponding with one of the different pieces of electronic equipment for coupling to the piece of equipment, each of the pieces of equipment having a respective electromagnetic property, each of the second modules including an electrical structure which, cooperatively with the respective piece of electronic equipment, brings about a desired electrical characteristic;

whereby when one of the pieces of equipment is docked with the first module and the selected second module, the desired electrical characteristic is achieved; and

wherein the second module has a surface, and the electrical structure includes conductive paint disposed on the surface.

8. A docking apparatus for coupling one of a set of pieces of equipment to an interface through an interface coupling, the apparatus comprising:

a first module including the interface coupling; and

a second module, selected from a set of respective second modules, the second modules corresponding with respective ones of the pieces of equipment, the selected second module corresponding with one of the different pieces of electronic equipment for coupling to the piece of equipment, each of the pieces of equipment having a respective electromagnetic property, each of the second modules including an electrical structure which, cooperatively with the respective piece of electronic equipment, brings about a desired electrical characteristic;

whereby when one of the pieces of equipment is docked with the first module and the selected second module, the desired electrical characteristic is achieved; and

wherein the electrical structure includes a planar structure for providing capacitive coupling.

9. A docking apparatus for coupling one of a set of pieces of equipment to an interface through an interface coupling, the apparatus comprising:

a first module including the interface coupling; and

a second module, selected from a set of respective second modules, the second modules corresponding with respective ones of the pieces of equipment, the selected second module corresponding with one of the different pieces of electronic equipment for coupling to the piece of equipment, each of the pieces of equipment having a respective electromagnetic property, each of the second modules including an electrical structure which, cooperatively with the respective piece of electronic equipment, brings about a desired electrical characteristic;

whereby when one of the pieces of equipment is docked with the first module and the selected second module, the desired electrical characteristic is achieved; and

wherein the electrical structure includes a pattern for providing inductive coupling.

10. The docking apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the electrical structure further includes an electronic component.

11. The docking apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the electrical structure further includes an antenna.