Docking station for a laptop computer

• US 6,772,265 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhogal, Kulvir S., Sidhu, Mandeep, Baweja, Baljeet S., Ishmael, Nizamudeen Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mason, Donna K.
• Application Number:
  US09/734,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 345/905, 345/501, 353/119, 710/303, 710/1
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A laptop computer and a docking station are disclosed. The laptop computer includes a microprocessor and a first video card in electrical communication with the microprocessor. The docking station includes a projector and a second video card in electrical communication with the projector. Upon a mounting of the laptop on the docking station, an electrical communication is established between the microprocessor and the second video card, and an electrical communication is established between the projector and the first video card. The microprocessor selectively provides control signals to either the first video card or the second video card. The first video card provides video signals to the projector in response to the control signals, and the second video card provides the video signals to the projector in response to the control signals. The projector provides video images in response to the video signals as received from either the first video card or the second video card.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a docking station including

a projector operable to provide a plurality of video images in response to a plurality of video signals, and

a first video card operable to provide said plurality of video signals to said projector in response to a plurality of control signals; and

a laptop computer including

a second video card operable to provide said plurality of video signals to said projector in response to said plurality of control signals, and

a microprocessor operable to selectively provide said plurality of control signals to either said first video card or said second video card.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

said docking station further includes a housing, said projector mounted within said housing, and said first video card inserted within said housing.

3. The system station of claim 2, wherein

said first video card is removably inserted within said housing to thereby facilitate a replacement of said first video card with a third video card.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cable,

wherein said projector includes a video input connector, said first video card includes a video output connector, and said cable electrically couples said video input connector and said video output connector to thereby facilitate said provision of said plurality of video signals from said first video card to said projector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said laptop computer further includes a computer program product including

a means for operating said microprocessor to compare a first performance capability of said first video card and a second performance capability of said second video card;

a means for operating said microprocessor to provide said plurality of controls signals to said first video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are equivalent; and

a means for operating said microprocessor to provide said plurality of controls signals to said second video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are dissimilar.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein

said computer program product further includes a means for providing said plurality of controls signals to said first video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are dissimilar.

7. A computer program product in a computer usable medium, comprising:

a means for comparing a first performance capability of a first video card, and a second performance capability of a second video card;

a means for providing a plurality of controls signals to said first video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are equivalent; and

a means for providing said plurality of controls signals to said second video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are dissimilar.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

a means for providing said plurality of controls signals to said first video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are dissimilar.

9. A method of selectively operating a first video card and a second video card, said method comprising:

comparing a first performance capability of a first video card and a second performance capability of a second video card;

sending a plurality of control signals to said first video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are equivalent.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending said plurality of control signals to said second video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are dissimilar.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a selection signal indicative of a selected utilization of either the first video card or the second video card when the first performance capability of the first video card and the second performance capability of the second video card are dissimilar;

sending said plurality of control signals to the first video card in response to said selection signal indicating a selected utilization of the first video card; and

sending said plurality of control signals to the second video card in response to said selection signal indicating a selected utilization of the second video card.

12. A method of operating a projector, said method comprising:

sending a plurality of control signals to a first video card when a first performance capability of said first video card and a second performance capability of a second video card are equivalent;

sending a plurality of video signals from said first video card to the projector in response to a receipt of said plurality of control signals by said first video card;

sending said plurality of control signals to said second video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are dissimilar; and

sending said plurality of video signals from said second video card to the projector in response to a receipt of said plurality of control signals by said second video card.

13. A method, comprising:

providing a docking station including a projector; and

providing a laptop computer including a microprocessor and a video card, said laptop computer being mountable upon said docking station, said microprocessor in electrical communication with said video card; and

establishing an electrical communication between said projector and said video card when said laptop computer is mounted upon said docking station.

14. A method of operating a projector, said method comprising:

operating a microprocessor to compare a first performance capability of a first video card and a second performance capability of a second video card;

operating said microprocessor to provide a plurality of control signals to said first video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are equivalent; and

operating said first video card to provide a plurality of video signals to the projector in response to said plurality of control signals.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

operating said microprocessor to provide said plurality of control signals to said second video card when said first performance capability of said first video card and said second performance capability of said second video card are dissimilar; and

operating said second video card to provide said plurality of video signals to the projector in response to said plurality of control signals.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

operating said microprocessor to receive a selection signal indicative of a selected utilization of either said first video card or said second video card when said first performance capability of said first video card is and said second performance capability of said second video card are dissimilar;

operating said microprocessor to provide said plurality of control signals to said first video card in response to said selection signal indicating a selected utilization of said first video card;

operating said first video card to provide said plurality of video signals to the projector in response to said plurality of control signals;

operating said microprocessor to provide said plurality of control signals to said second video card in response to said selection signal indicating a selected utilization of said second video card; and

operating said second video card to provide a plurality of video signals to the projector in response to said plurality of control signals.