Docking system for a portable computer

• US 6,654,826 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Woo-Jong, Shin, Hyun-Kuk
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/709,731
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 710/303, 710/304, 710/104, 710/62, 710/65, 710/64, 710/69, 710/70, 710/71, 361/686, 361/683, 713/2, 713/1, 713/100
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

In a docking system for a portable computer, the bus sharing structure between the portable computer and a docking station and the structure of the docking station are improved so that the real time execution of a program and the sharing of data and peripheral devices are possible. The docking system of the portable computer includes: a docking station including an auxiliary storage device wherein a first operating system is stored, I/O devices, a plurality of extension slots and a plurality of ports, but excluding a microprocessor and a memory; a portable computer including a ROM wherein a second operating system is stored, a microprocessor, a memory wherein commands and data are stored in an electronic manner, and a docking controller for selecting one of the first and second operating systems according to whether or not the portable computer is docked at the docking station; and first and second signal transmitting units provided at the portable computer and the docking station, respectively, for performing transmission and reception of data between the portable computer and the docking station.

Claims

1. A docking system for a portable computer, comprising:

a docking station including an auxiliary storage device wherein a first operating system is stored, I/O devices, a plurality of extension slots and a plurality of ports, and excluding a microprocessor and a memory;

a portable computer including a read-only memory (ROM) wherein a second operating system is stored, a microprocessor, a memory wherein commands and data are stored, and a docking controller for selecting one of the first and second operating systems according to whether the portable computer is docked at the docking station; and

first and second signal transmitting units provided at the portable computer and the docking station, respectively, for performing transmission and reception of data between the portable computer and the docking station.

2. The docking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the docking controller detects a docking state between the first signal transmitting unit and the second signal transmitting unit, stores the detected state in the memory, and resets the microprocessor to make the portable computer use the first operating system when the first and second signal transmitting units are connected.

3. The docking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first signal transmitting unit comprises:

a first light emitting portion for converting a first input electric information signal to a first optical information signal, and for transmitting the first optical information signal to the second signal transmitting unit as emitted light;

a first driver for driving the first light emitting portion by receiving a transmission signal output from the portable computer and producing the first input electric information signal;

a first light receiving portion for receiving a second optical information signal input from the second signal transmitting unit, and for converting the received signal to a first electric information signal; and

a first amplifier for amplifying the first electric information signal from the first light receiving portion to produce a first signal output; and

wherein the second signal transmitting unit comprises;

a second light emitting portion for converting a second input electric information signal to the second optical information signal, and for transmitting the second optical information signal to the first signal transmitting unit as emitted light;

a second driver for driving the second light emitting portion by receiving a transmission signal output from the docking station and producing the second input electric information signal;

a second light receiving portion for receiving the first optical information signal input from the first signal transmitting unit, and for converting the received signal to a second electric information signal; and

a second amplifier for amplifying the second electric information signal from the second light receiving portion to produce a second signal output.

4. The docking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein optical signals are transmitted between the first and second signal transmitting units via one of a free space and an optical fiber.

5. The docking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first signal transmitting unit further comprises:

a first serial converter connected to an input of the first driver for receiving a parallel transmission signal output from the portable computer, and for converting the received parallel transmission signal output to a first serial signal; and

a first parallel converter for converting the first signal output of the first amplifier from a serial signal to a parallel signal; and

wherein the second signal transmitting unit further comprises;

a second serial converter connected to an input of the second driver for receiving a parallel transmission signal output from the docking station, and for converting the received parallel transmission signal output to a second serial signal; and

a second parallel converter for converting the second signal output of the second amplifier from a serial signal to a parallel signal.

6. The docking system as claimed in claim 5, wherein optical signals are transmitted between the first and second signal transmitting units via one of a free space and an optical fiber.

7. The docking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first signal transmitting unit comprises:

a first serial converter for receiving a parallel transmission signal output from the portable computer, and for converting the received parallel transmission signal output to a first serial signal; and

a first parallel converter for converting a second serial signal received from the second signal transmitting unit to a first parallel signal, and

wherein the second signal transmitting unit comprises;

a second serial converter for receiving a parallel transmission signal output from the docking station, and for converting the received parallel transmission signal output to the second serial signal; and

a second parallel converter for converting the first serial signal received from the first signal transmitting unit to a second parallel signal.

8. The docking system as claimed in claim 7, wherein signals are transmitted between the first and second signal transmitting units via an electrical connector.

9. The docking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein signals are transmitted between the first and second signal transmitting units via one of a free space, an optical fiber, and an electrical connector.

10. A docking system for a portable computer, comprising:

a docking station including first storage means for storing a first operating system;

a portable computer including second storage means for storing a second operating system, and a docking controller for selecting the first operating system for use by the portable computer when the portable computer is docked at the docking station, and for selecting the second operating system for use by the portable computer when the portable computer is not docked at the docking station; and

first and second signal transmitting units provided at the portable computer and the docking station, respectively, for performing transmission and reception of data between the portable computer and the docking station.

11. The docking system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the docking controller detects a docking state between the first signal transmitting unit and the second signal transmitting unit, stores the detected state, sets the portable computer to use the first operating system when the first and second signal transmitting units are connected, and sets the portable computer to use the second operating system when the first and second signal transmitting units are not connected.

12. The docking system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first signal transmitting unit comprises:

a first light emitting portion for converting a first input electric information signal to a first optical information signal, and for transmitting the first optical information signal to the second signal transmitting unit as emitted light;

a first driver for driving the first light emitting portion by receiving a transmission signal output from the portable computer and producing the first input electric information signal;

a first light receiving portion for receiving a second optical information signal input from the second signal transmitting unit, and for converting the received signal to a first electric information signal; and

a first amplifier for amplifying the first electric information signal from the first light receiving portion to produce a first signal output; and

wherein the second signal transmitting unit comprises;

a second light emitting portion for converting a second input electric information signal to the second optical information signal, and for transmitting the second optical information signal to the first signal transmitting unit as emitted light;

a second driver for driving the second light emitting portion by receiving a transmission signal output from the docking station and producing the second input electric information signal;

a second light receiving portion for receiving the first optical information signal input from the first signal transmitting unit, and for converting the received signal to a second electric information signal; and

a second amplifier for amplifying the second electric information signal from the second light receiving portion to produce a second signal output.

13. The docking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein optical signals are transmitted between the first and second signal transmitting units via one of a free space and an optical fiber.

14. The docking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first signal transmitting unit further comprises:

a first serial converter connected to an input of the first driver for receiving a parallel transmission signal output from the portable computer, and for converting the received parallel transmission signal output to a first serial signal; and

a first parallel converter for converting the first signal output of the first amplifier from a serial signal to a parallel signal; and

wherein the second signal transmitting unit further comprises;

a second serial converter connected to an input of the second driver for receiving a parallel transmission signal output from the docking station, and for converting the received parallel transmission signal output to a second serial signal; and

a second parallel converter for converting the second signal output of the second amplifier from a serial signal to a parallel signal.

15. The docking system as claimed in claim 14, wherein optical signals are transmitted between the first and second signal transmitting units via one of a free space and an optical fiber.

16. The docking system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first signal transmitting unit comprises:

a first serial converter for receiving a parallel transmission signal output from the portable computer, and for converting the received parallel transmission signal output to a first serial signal; and

a first parallel converter for converting a second serial signal input received from the second signal transmitting unit to a first parallel signal, and

wherein the second signal transmitting unit comprises;

a second serial converter for receiving a parallel transmission signal output from the docking station, and for converting the received parallel transmission signal output to the second serial signal; and

a second parallel converter for converting the first serial signal received from the first signal transmitting unit to a second parallel signal.

17. The docking system as claimed in claim 16, wherein signals are transmitted between the first and second signal transmitting units via an electrical connector.

18. The docking system as claimed in claim 10, wherein signals are transmitted between the first and second signal transmitting units via one of a free space, an optical fiber and an electrical connector.