Docking system for portable computer
First Claim
1. A docking system for receiving a portable computer, comprising:
- a tray having a first communications interface coupled to the tray;
an interface cable having a first end connected to the first communications interface;
a remote expansion and upgrade box having a second communications interface connected to a second end of the interface cable, thereby establishing a communications pathway between the tray and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable; and
latches releasably securing the interface cable to the tray.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention of a docking system is embodied in a portable computer receiving tray and interface cable having the capability to connect a large variety of portable computers, such as, for example, laptops, notebooks, palmtops or handheld computers, to a remote expansion and upgrade box, such as a cable dock. The interface cable can be used with or without the receiving tray, and as such, it can connect directly to the receiving tray, or to the portable computer on one end, and to the cable dock on the other end. Further, both the receiving tray and the interface cable may have at least one integrated auxiliary connector for directly connecting peripherals. In addition, the receiving tray may have at least one internal computer peripheral expansion bay either integrated into the tray, or provided via a removable tray expansion module.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A docking system for receiving a portable computer, comprising:
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a tray having a first communications interface coupled to the tray;
an interface cable having a first end connected to the first communications interface;
a remote expansion and upgrade box having a second communications interface connected to a second end of the interface cable, thereby establishing a communications pathway between the tray and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable; and
latches releasably securing the interface cable to the tray. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An interface system for coupling a portable computer to external devices comprising:
an interface cable removeably coupled between the portable computer and a remote expansion and upgrade box to establish a communications pathway between the portable computer and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable, and including at least one auxiliary connector that removeably couples the external devices directly to the interface cable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A docking system comprising:
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a portable computer receiving tray having at least one expansion bay for at least one peripheral device;
an interface cable removeably coupled to the receiving tray that connects the receiving tray to a remote expansion and upgrade box to provide a communications pathway between the tray and the remote expansion and upgrade box; and
a first communications interface coupled to a surface of the receiving tray that connects the portable computer to the receiving tray to provide a communications pathway between the portable computer and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification