Docking digital picture displays

• US 6,717,798 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, Cynthia S., Hardy, Gregg E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Datskovsky, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/814,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/681-683, 361/685-687, 361/724-727, 361/730, 361/825, 361/829, 439/157, 439/159, 439/160, 439/352, 439/923, 439/919-921, 439/917, 439/125.7, 439/125.1, 345/901, 345/903-905, 345/169, 345/173, 345/175, 345/102, 345/104, 341/21-24, 248/917-923, 312/223--22, 360/97.01, 163/29--42
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/142 Supporting legs or feet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display

Abstract

A digital picture display system may operate through a wireless connection to a remote processor-based display. The system may operate in a portable and/or a fixed mode. In the portable mode, a portable display device may be wirelessly coupled to the processor-based system and may function using its own onboard battery source. In a fixed mode, the portable device may be plugged into a display station, which not only provides an AC power supply, but also aesthetically frames the display device, providing a picture framing function as well.

Claims

1. A docking frame for a portable processor-based display device, said frame comprising:

a receptacle to removably receive said device;

a frame element coupled to the receptacle to frame the device; and

a power supply to provide power to the device when the device is received in the receptacle.

2. The frame of claim 1 wherein said receptacle removably receives a battery powered processor-based display device.

3. The frame of claim 2 wherein said receptacle includes inductive contacts to communicate power to said device.

4. The frame of claim 1 wherein said power supply includes a power cord to connect to a wall power supply.

5. The frame of claim 1 wherein said frame element slidingly receives said device.

6. The frame of claim 1 including a stand coupled to said frame element to orient said frame element at an angle for viewing.

7. The frame of claim 6 wherein said receptacle includes a U-shaped slot shaped to receive said device, said receptacle positioned on the back of said frame element.

8. The frame of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is defined within the interior of said frame element, said receptacle adapted to slidingly receive said device.

9. The frame of claim 1 wherein said frame element includes an opening to display the display of said processor-based display device.

10. The frame of claim 1 wherein said frame element is adapted to pluggingly receive said device in a direction transverse to the plane of said frame element.

11. The frame of claim 10 wherein said frame element includes a front surface for displaying said display device and a back surface, said receptacle being accessible from the front surface of said frame element.

12. The frame of claim 11 including an opening in said receptacle to enable said device to be removed from said receptacle.

13. The frame of claim 1 including a hinged connection between said receptacle and said frame element, such that said frame element may be rotated atop of said receptacle when said device is positioned within said receptacle.

14. The frame of claim 13 including a stand connected to said receptacle.

15. The frame of claim 13 including a receptacle having a planar surface and a recessed portion to receive said device, said planar portion being covered by a matte material, said matte material being sandwiched between said frame element and said receptacle.

16. A system comprising:

a portable processor-based display device;

a receptacle to removably receive said device;

a frame element coupled to the receptacle to frame the device; and

a power supply to provide power to the device when the device is received in the receptacle.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said receptacle is shaped to slidingly receive said display device.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said display device is a battery powered display device.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said device and said receptacle include mating electric contacts for electrical communication between said device and said receptacle.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said contacts are inductive contacts.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein said power supply includes a power cord to connect to a wall power supply.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein said frame element is adapted to pluggingly receive said device in a direction transverse to the plane of said frame element.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said frame element includes a front surface for displaying said display device and a back surface, said receptacle being accessible from the front surface of said frame element.

24. The system of claim 16 including a hinged connection between said receptacle and said frame element, such that said frame element may be rotated atop of said receptacle when said device is positioned within said receptacle.

25. The system of claim 24 including a receptacle having a planar surface and a recessed portion to receive said device, said planar portion being covered by a matte material, said matte material being sandwiched between said frame element and said receptacle.

26. A method comprising:

providing a receptacle to slidingly receive a battery powered processor-based display device; and

providing a frame element coupled to the receptacle to frame the display of the processor-based display device.

27. The method of claim 26 including enabling the receptacle to communicate wirelessly with a remote processor-based system.

28. The method of claim 26 including enabling the battery of said device to be charged when said device is positioned in said receptacle.

29. The method of claim 26 including enabling the processor-based display device to wirelessly communicate with a remote processor-based device while being charged via a receptacle connected to a frame element that frames the display of said device.

30. The method of claim 29 including enabling the processor-based display device to display pictures using battery power when said device is not received in said receptacle and when said device is received in said receptacle to display pictures using power supplied by said receptacle.