Computer docking station with means for automatically selecting between external monitor, external keyboard, and monitor and keyboard of docked portable computer

• US 6,243,727 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1994
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Watts, LaVaughn F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, CHUONG D
• Application Number:
  US08/336,040
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 364/704, 364/708.1, 708/100, 708/104, 708/105, 710/2
• US Class Current: 708/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/12 Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62905 comprising a camming member H01R13/62933 and H01R13/641 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel

Abstract

The described embodiments of the present invention provide a docking station having connection means for coupling to an external monitor, an external keyboard, and means for connecting the portable computer to the docking station. The docking station further includes means for determining whether or not the external monitor is coupled to the docking station, automatically displaying on the external monitor when the external monitor is coupled to the docking station and displaying on the display of the portable computer when said external monitor is not coupled to said docking station. The docking system defaults to a default setting configured in a setup program of the portable computer if no external monitor is coupled to said docking station. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of a top housing cover of the docking station is moveable to facilitate opening of the portable computer to permit user access to the internal display and keyboard of the portable computer.

Claims

1. A computer docking station, comprising:

connection means for coupling to an external monitor and an external keyboard, and means for connecting a portable computer to said docking station; and

means for determining whether or not said external monitor is coupled to said docking station, automatically displaying on said external monitor and disabling the monitor of the portable computer when said external monitor is coupled to said docking station and displaying on the display of said portable computer when said external monitor is not coupled to said docking station.

2. The computer docking station of claim 1, in which said docking station defaults to a default setting configured in a setup program of the portable computer if no external monitor is coupled to said docking station.

3. The computer docking station of claim 1, further including means for determining whether or not said external keyboard is coupled to said docking station, automatically enabling said external keybard and disabling the keyboard of the portable computer when said external keyboard is coupled to said docking station and enabling the keyboard of said portable computer when said external keyboard is not coupled to said docking station.

4. The computer docking station of claim 1, further including a housing for holding said portable computer therein, said housing having connection means for coupling said docking station to said portable computer.

5. The docking station of claim 4, further including a tray adapted to receive said portable computer thereon slidably mounted to said housing.

6. The docking station of claim 5, further including drive means coupled between said housing and said tray for driving said tray and said portable computer into and out of said housing and automatically mating said connection means of said housing to said connection means on said portable computer.

7. The docking station of claim 5, in which a portion of said docking station can be moved to facilitate opening of the portable computer to permit user access to the internal display and keyboard of the portable computer.

8. The docking station of claim 5, in which at least a portion of a top housing cover of the docking station is moveable to facilitate opening of the portable computer to permit user access to the internal display and keyboard of the portable computer.