Docking unit for portable electronic device and locking method of docking unit

• US 6,366,458 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1998
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Karasawa, Akio, Yoshida, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US09/104,282
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/724, 361/725, 361/727, 710/102
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A docking unit for a portable electronic device with which it is possible to establish electrical connection of a portable electronic device surely and easily. A docking unit for electrically connecting a portable electronic device to external devices by having the portable electronic device set engage/disengageably thereon using a connector has a base part for supporting the portable electronic device, positioning means for positioning the portable electronic device in a predetermined position on the base part as the portable electronic device is moved over the base part, and operating means, having and engaging part for engaging with the portable electronic device means, for holding the positioned portable electronic device using the engaging part.1

Claims

1. A docking unit for having a portable electronic device engageably/disengageably set thereon and electrically connecting said portable electronic device to an external device, said docking unit comprising:

an actuator, said actuator preventing the manual removal of said portable electronic device from said docking unit until said portable electronic device completes shut-down processing of applications being processed by said portable electronic device; and

a base part for supporting said portable electronic device, said base part being tilted from a horizontal position.

2. The docking unit according to claim 1, wherein said portable electronic device is a portable computer.

3. The docking unit according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is a solenoid.

4. The docking unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

an engaging member, said engaging member holding said portable electronic device against said docking unit; and

a positioning member, positioning member positioning said engaging member to hold said portable electronic device against said docking unit.

5. The docking unit according to claim 4, wherein said engaging member engaging a rear portion of said portable electronic device.

6. The docking unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a processor, said processor sending an indication to said actuator that said shut-down processing is complete.

7. The docking unit according to claim 6, further comprising:

a switch, said switch sending an indication to said processor that said portable electronic device is to be removed from said docking unit.

8. The docking unit according to claim 6, wherein said processor receives an indication from said portable electronic device that said portable electronic device can be removed from said docking unit.

9. The docking unit according to claim 6, wherein said indication from said portable electronic device is a user input.

10. The docking unit according to claim 1, wherein said base part is tilted about 7.5 degrees from said horizontal position.

11. The docking unit according to claim 1, wherein said base part includes a projecting part, said projecting part engaging a positioning hole located on the front bottom surface of said portable electronic device.

12. A docking unit for having a portable electronic device engageably/disengageably set thereon and electrically connecting said portable electronic device to an external device, said docking unit comprising:

an engaging member, said engaging member holding said portable electronic device against said docking unit;

a positioning member, positioning member positioning said engaging member to hold said portable electronic device against said docking unit;

an actuator, said actuator preventing the manual removal of said portable electronic device from said docking unit until said portable electronic device completes shut-down processing of applications being processed by said portable electronic device;

a processor, said processor sending an indication to said actuator that said shut-down processing is complete; and

a base part for supporting said portable electronic device, said base part being tilted from a horizontal position.

13. The docking unit according to claim 12, further comprising:

a switch, said switch sending an indication to said processor that said portable electronic device can be removed from said docking unit.

14. The docking unit according to claim 12, wherein said processor receives an indication from said portable electronic device that said portable electronic device is to be removed from said docking unit.

15. The docking unit according to claim 14, wherein said indication from said portable electronic device is a user input.

16. The docking unit according to claim 12, wherein said base part is tilted about 7.5 degrees from said horizontal position.

17. The docking unit according to claim 12, wherein said base part includes a projecting part, said projecting part engaging a positioning hole located on the front bottom surface of said portable electronic device.

18. A docking unit for having a portable electronic device engageably/disengageably set thereon and electrically connecting said portable electronic device to an external device, said docking unit comprising:

an actuator, said actuator preventing the manual removal of said portable electronic device from said docking unit until said portable electronic device completes shut-down processing of applications being processed by said portable electronic device; and

a base part for supporting said portable electronic device, said base part including a projecting part, said projecting part engaging a positioning hole located on the front bottom surface of said portable electronic device.

19. The docking unit according to claim 18, wherein said portable electronic device is a portable computer.

20. The docking unit according to claim 18, wherein said actuator is a solenoid.

21. The docking unit according to claim 18, further comprising:

an engaging member, said engaging member holding said portable electronic device against said docking unit; and

a positioning member, positioning member positioning said engaging member to hold said portable electronic device against said docking unit.

22. The docking unit according to claim 21, wherein said engaging member engaging a rear portion of said portable electronic device.

23. The docking unit according to claim 18, further comprising:

a processor, said processor sending an indication to said actuator that said shut-down processing is complete.

24. The docking unit according to claim 23, further comprising:

a switch, said switch sending an indication to said processor that said portable electronic device is to be removed from said docking unit.

25. The docking unit according to claim 23, wherein said processor receives an indication from said portable electronic device that said portable electronic device can be removed from said docking unit.

26. The docking unit according to claim 23, wherein said indication from said portable electronic device is a user input.

27. A docking unit for having a portable electronic device engageably/disengageably set thereon and electrically connecting said portable electronic device to an external device, said docking unit comprising:

an engaging member, said engaging member holding said portable electronic device against said docking unit;

a positioning member, positioning member positioning said engaging member to hold said portable electronic device against said docking unit;

an actuator, said actuator preventing the manual removal of said portable electronic device from said docking unit until said portable electronic device completes shut-down processing of applications being processed by said portable electronic device;

a processor, said processor sending an indication to said actuator that said shut-down processing is complete; and

a base part for supporting said portable electronic device, said base part including a projecting part, said projecting part engaging a positioning hole located on the front bottom surface of said portable electronic device.

28. The docking unit according to claim 27, further comprising:

a switch, said switch sending an indication to said processor that said portable electronic device can be removed from said docking unit.

29. The docking unit according to claim 27, wherein said processor receives an indication from said portable electronic device that said portable electronic device is to be removed from said docking unit.

30. The docking unit according to claim 29, wherein said indication from said portable electronic device is a user input.