Module tray for a computer docking system

• US 6,407,915 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Derocher, Michael D, Helot, Jacques H
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lea-Edmonds, Lisa
• Application Number:
  US09/547,116
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679-686, 361/724-727, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 710/69, 710/303, 710/304, 713/322, 439/638, 439/639
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A system and a method for expanding the functionality of a computer docking system while also facilitating the use of the docking system with a variety of portable computer models. The present invention adds functionality to the docking system without any duplication of functionality already present, thus providing an efficient and inexpensive alternative to peripherals such as external drives and docking stations. The computer docking system includes a docking platform, a computer and a module tray. The module tray contains a non-redundant functionality module that adds a functional device to the docking system that is missing from the docking platform and computer. In addition, the module tray does not contain a duplication of the plurality of connections contained the docking platform and computer. The present invention also embodied in a method for adding non-redundant functionality to a docking system while providing adaptation of the computer to the system.

Claims

1. A module tray removeably coupled to a computer and a docking platform, comprising:

a non-redundant functionality module that provides an additional functional element missing from the computer and the docking platform without any replication of connections;

a connector that provides coupling to the docking platform;

a first attachment system, that attaches the module tray to the docking platform; and

a second attachment system, that attaches the module tray to the computer.

2. The module tray of claim 1, wherein the second attachment system adapts the computer, selected from a set of computers, to the docking platform.

3. The module tray of claim 1, wherein the connector is a tray connector that connects to both the docking platform and the computer.

4. The module tray of claim 1, wherein the additional functional element is a drive module.

5. A docking system that interfaces to a computer selected from a set of computers, comprising:

a port replicator having a plurality of connections; and

a module tray, selected from a set of module trays, that adapts the selected computer to the docking platform without duplication on the module tray of the plurality of connections contained on the port replicator and the selected computer, the module tray including a non-redundant functionality module that provides a device absent from the docking station and the selected computer.

6. The docking system of claim 5, wherein the device is a drive module.

7. The docking system of claim 5, wherein the module tray further comprises:

a first attachment system that attaches the module tray to the port replicator; and

a second attachment system that attaches the module tray to the computer.

8. The docking system of claim 7, wherein the module tray attaches to the port replicator and the computer such that the module tray is sandwiched between the port replicator and the computer.

9. A docking system that interfaces to a computer selected from a set of computers, comprising:

a docking platform;

a module tray, selected from a set of module trays, that adapts the selected computer to the docking platform without duplication of connections contained on the docking platform and the selected computer;

a first attachment system, that attaches the module tray to the docking platform; and

a second attachment system, that attaches the module tray to the computer.

10. A method that expands the functionality of a computer device having a plurality of connections and functional devices, comprising:

providing a module tray having a non-redundant functionality module that adds a first functional device that is not contained in the plurality of functional devices;

attaching the module tray to the computer device using an attachment system;

connecting the first functional device to the computer device to expand the functionality of the computer device; and

attaching the module tray to a docking platform so that the module tray is connected to both the docking platform and the computer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer device is at least one of:

(a) a docking platform;

(b) a computer.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the module tray does not duplicate the plurality of connections contained on the computer device.

13. A method that expands the functionality of a computer device having a plurality of connections and functional devices, comprising:

providing a module tray with an additional functional element missing from the computer without any replication of connections;

coupling the computer to a docking platform;

attaching the module tray to the docking platform; and

attaching the module tray to the computer.