External peripheral attachment device for use as a hub or computer

• US 6,424,525 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stratos Product Development, LLC
• Original Assignee: Stratos Product Development, LLC
• Inventors: Tempel, Mark, MacLeod, Sean M., Yamamoto, Jerry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/648,670
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680-683, 361/686, 361/725-727, 361/741, 361/754, 361/756, 361/802, 361/600, 361/679, D 6/396, D 6/397, D14/100, D14/114, 312/223.1, 312/223.2
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

The present invention is a system that enables a plurality of external peripheral devices to be easily connected to a conventional personal computer, or other computing device. The system can include the computer, or can alternatively be configured as a hub. In either configuration, the system includes an arcuate-shaped interface surface, on a base. One end of the interface surface includes an upright chassis, which includes a plurality of bays. Rails extend longitudinally along the interface surface, toward each bay. An external peripheral device is slid over a rail, which provides attachment and stability to the device and aligns it with the bay. Each bay includes an alignment pin, a power connection, and a data connection. Adjacent to each rail is a latch for securing an external peripheral device in a bay. The top of the chassis includes a marking to provide a visual reference that aids in attaching an external peripheral device to a bay. The rails can provide an electrical ground and/or include an element that provides electro-static discharge protection. In one embodiment, the rails are configured to provide electrical contact for coupling power into a peripheral device, and/or coupling to a data port on an external peripheral device.

Claims

1. Apparatus adapted to support a plurality of external peripheral devices thereon and for connecting the plurality of external peripheral devices to a computing device, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base; and

(b) a plurality of bays defined on the base, each bay interfacing with an external peripheral device and each bay including;

(i) a data connection for directly coupling to a data port on an external peripheral device;

(ii) a power connection for supplying electrical power directly to a power port on an external peripheral device; and

(iii) a rail providing alignment of an external peripheral device in the bay, said rail being adapted to mechanically engage an external peripheral device so as to attach an external peripheral device to the base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each rail has a cross-sectional configuration that is generally one of a C-shape and a T-shape.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each rail comprises a plurality of non-contiguous sections.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each bay further includes a visual alignment element to aid in properly positioning an external peripheral device with respect to the bay.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each bay further includes an alignment pin that guides an external peripheral device to ensure that said data connection and said power connection of the bay properly couple to a data port and a power port, respectively, on an external peripheral device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said data connection comprises at least one of a USB 1.X interface, a USB 2.X interface, an IEEE 1394 interface, an SCSI interface, a PCI interface, a PCMCIA interface, and an IRDA interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power connection includes a component that senses the power requirements of any external peripheral device coupled thereto, and automatically provides a required voltage and a required current thereto.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a computing device is coupled to each data connection, such that an external peripheral device coupled to the data connection is thereby coupled to said computing device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each data connection is adapted to couple to an external computing device, such that when said data connection is coupled to an external computing device, an external peripheral device coupled to the data connection is thereby coupled to an external computing device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base further includes a latching mechanism for each bay to secure an external peripheral device within the bay.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rails in adjacent bays are generally parallel to each other.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base has a surface that is arcuate in shape.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the latching mechanism for each bay includes a release, enabling an external peripheral device secured within the bay to be selectively released.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the latching mechanism includes a lock that can be set to prevent the external peripheral devices from being unlatched.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said base further comprises an alignment pin, adapted to facilitate aligning a data port and a power port of an external peripheral device to said data connection and said power connection on the base.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said base further comprises a visual alignment marking, adapted to facilitate aligning an external peripheral device being coupled to said data connection and said power connection on said base.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said base further comprises a latch, adapted to secure an external peripheral device to said base.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said power connection senses power requirements of an external peripheral device coupled thereto, and automatically provides a required voltage and current to energize the external peripheral device.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one of said data connection and said power connection comprises a rail, said rail being adapted to align an external peripheral device relative to said base, and to attach an external peripheral device thereon.

23. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a computing device disposed within said base and internally coupled to said data connection.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a computing device disposed within the base and internally coupled to said data connection in each bay, such that an external peripheral device coupled directly to the data connection is thereby coupled to said computing device.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said data connection in each bay is adapted to couple to an external computing device, such that when said data connection is coupled to an external computing device, any external peripheral device coupled to said data connection is thereby coupled to said external computing device.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said rail is further adapted to provide electrostatic discharge protection.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of sliding one of the plurality of external peripheral devices over one of the plurality of rails to couple the data port and the power port of the external peripheral device to the structure.

15. Apparatus for supporting a plurality of external peripheral devices so that they can be connected to a computing device, comprising:

(a) a base having a data connection adapted to couple directly to a data port on an external peripheral device, to convey data between an external peripheral device and a computing device without using any external cable extending between the external peripheral device and the computing device, said base comprising a rail having a size and shape generally corresponding to a receiver opening in a housing of an external peripheral device, said rail being thereby adapted to align an external peripheral device relative to the base and to mechanically attach an external peripheral device to the base; and

(b) a power connection for coupling directly to a power port on an external peripheral device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a surface of said base is arcuate in shape.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said rail is adapted to align an external peripheral device relative to at least one of said data connection and said power connection.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the base includes an upright portion extending above said surface, at least one of said data connection and said power connection being disposed within the upright portion.

25. Apparatus for coupling a plurality of external peripheral devices to a computing device, comprising:

a base having an arcuate surface and an upright portion disposed adjacent one end of the arcuate surface, said base including a plurality of bays, each bay including a data connection adapted to couple directly to a data port on an external peripheral device and a power connection adapted to couple directly to a power port on an external peripheral device, each bay further including a rail disposed on the arcuate surface of the base, said rail serving to align an external peripheral device with at least one of said data connection and said power connection and to attach an external peripheral device to the base in the bay, at least one of the data connection and the power connections for each bay being disposed within the upright portion of the base.

29. A method for coupling a plurality of external peripheral devices to a computing device, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a structure that both supports a plurality of external peripheral devices and electrically couples to a data port and a power port on each of the plurality of external peripheral devices, said structure thereby providing a connection from each of the plurality of external peripheral devices to the computing device; and

(b) providing a plurality of rails on the structure that are adapted to mechanically attach the plurality of external peripheral devices to said structure, with the data port and the power port of each external peripheral device coupled to the structure.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing the computing device within the structure.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing power to the power port of the external peripheral device through the rail on which the external peripheral device is attached to the structure.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing data to the data port of the external peripheral device through the rail on which the external peripheral device is attached to the structure.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing an alignment pin for each external peripheral device that is supportable by the structure.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing a visual indicator to facilitate aligning each external peripheral device with the structure.

36. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of coupling the structure to an external computing device through a data cable.

37. Apparatus for supporting a plurality of external peripheral devices so that they can be connected to a computing device, comprising:

(a) a data connection adapted to couple directly to a data port on an external peripheral device, to convey data between an external peripheral device and a computing device without using any external cable extending between the external peripheral device and the computing device;

(b) a power connection for coupling directly to a power port on an external peripheral device; and

(c) a base comprising a rail adapted to align an external peripheral device relative to the base, wherein at least one of said data connection and said power connection is disposed on said rail.

38. Apparatus for support a plurality of external peripheral devices thereon and for connecting the plurality of external peripheral devices to a computing device, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base; and

(b) a plurality of bays defined on the base, each bay interfacing with an external peripheral device and each bay including;

(i) a data connection for directly coupling to a data port on an external peripheral device;

(ii) a power connection for supplying electrical power directly to a power port on an external peripheral device; and

(iii) a rail providing alignment of an external peripheral device mounted in the bay, wherein at least one of said data connection and said power connection is disposed on said rail.

39. Apparatus for supporting a plurality of external peripheral devices so that they can be connected to a computing device, comprising:

(a) a base including;

(i) the computing device disposed within said base;

(ii) a data connection adapted to couple directly to a data port on an external peripheral device, to convey data between an external peripheral device and said computing device without using any external cable extending between the external peripheral device and the computing device; and

(iii) a power connection for coupling directly to a power port on an external peripheral device.

40. Apparatus adapted to support a plurality of external peripheral devices thereon and for connecting the plurality of external peripheral devices to a computing device, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base comprising having the computing device disposed within said base, said base defining a plurality of external bays, each bay interfacing with an external peripheral device and each bay including;

(i) a data connection for directly coupling to a data port on an external peripheral device, said data connection being electrically coupled to said computing device;

(ii) a power connection for supplying electrical power directly to a power port on an external peripheral device; and

(iii) a rail that aligns an external peripheral device within the bay, said rail engaging an external peripheral device and aligning an external peripheral device to couple with said data connection and said power connection.