Tablet computing device with three-dimensional docking support

• US 6,856,506 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Motion Computing Incorporated (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Doherty, John, Steigerwald, Todd W., Altounian, David, Leveridge, Philip, West, Jefferson Blake, Cutherell, David
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/175,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20030235029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/755, 361/686, 361/679, 361/685, 361/730, 248/122.1, 248/346.1, 248/346, 248/918, 248/489, 248/510, 248/289.1, 248/296, 248/278, 248/279, 248/459, 248/124.1, 312/235.A, 312/223.3, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 364/702.1, 163/29, 163/30, 163/34, 163/41, 163/42, 745/30, 403/93, 403/94, 403/97, 403/106, D14/106, 345/169, 345/905
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a tablet computer and a docking station assembly. This docking station comprises a docking assembly for positioning with three degrees of freedom and having a data connector for mechanically supporting and interfacing with the tablet computer. A support member couples the docking assembly to an expansion base. The base includes a number of ports for interfacing with a variety of peripheral devices or power supplies. These varieties of ports mount to a printed circuit board contained within the expansion base. A flexible printed circuit (FPC) combines the signal pathways for the variety of ports, allowing the signal pathways to travel from the printed circuit board and to the data connector. The tablet computing device has a plurality of contact or touch points positioned on the right and left edges of the tablet to facilitate aligning the tablet to the docking assembly in either a landscape or portrait mode.

Claims

1. A docking station for a tablet computer, said docking station comprising:

a docking assembly operable for positioning with three degrees of freedom, bearing a data connector for interfacing with said tablet computer;

a support member for coupling said docking assembly to a base assembly, wherein said base assembly comprises a plurality of ports for interfacing with at least one peripheral device, and further wherein said plurality of ports are mounted on a printed circuit board;

a flexible printed circuit for combining signal pathways for said plurality of ports and associating with said printed circuit board and said data connector.

2. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of contact points positioned on an edge of said tablet computer for aligning said portable computing device to said docking assembly.

3. The docking station of claim 2, wherein said support member attaches to said base assembly with first joint and further wherein said support member attaches to said docking assembly with a second joint.

4. The docking station of claim 3, wherein said first joint comprises a hinge, and for supporting a movable brace support member.

5. The docking station of claim 3, wherein said second joint comprises a rotating socket.

6. The docking station of claim 3, wherein said flexible printed circuit routes through said first joint and said second joint.

7. The docking station of claim 3, wherein said docking assembly comprises a channel for receiving said portable computing device.

8. The docking station of claim 7, wherein said docking go assembly forms an “

L”

, “

J”

, or “

U”

shape.

9. The docking station of claim 8, wherein an upright tapered channel of said “

L”

, “

J”

, or “

U”

shape receives an upright edge of said portable computing device, when said computing device is operated in a landscape mode.

10. The docking station of claim 8, wherein a horizontal tapered channel of said “

L”

, “

J”

, or “

U”

shape receives a lower edge of said portable computing device, when said computing device is operated in a landscape mode.

11. The docking station of claim 1, wherein a display of said portable computing device reorients upon rotation of said docking assembly.

12. The docking station of claim 11, wherein'"'"'said display of said portable computing device automatically reorients upon rotation of said docking assembly by 90 degrees.

13. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said display of said portable computing device reorients when a user activates a function key on said portable computing device.

14. The docking station of claim 6, wherein said flexible printed circuit association with said docking generates minimal tearing stresses as said first and second joint flex.

15. The docking station of claim 1, wherein separation zones prevent cross-contamination of signals within said flexible printed circuit.

16. The docking station of claim 15, wherein said signals within said flexible printed circuit comprise a plurality of signals.

17. The docking station of claim 16, wherein said plurality of signals comprise signals selected from the group consisting essentially of:

DC power, AC power, VGA, USB, analog audio, digital audio, analog video, digital video, LAN, WAN, and IEEE 1394.

18. A carrying case for holding a tablet computer, the carrying case being foldable between a closed position and an open position, the case comprising:

an upper portion divided into at least three stiffened sections;

an uppermost section having at least one tab;

an upright section; and

a horizontal section;

a lower portion coupled to said upper portion; and

a frame assembly for retaining the tablet computer, the frame assembly connectable to either said upper portion or said lower portion by a retaining piece, and wherein said frame assembly further comprises at least one track operable for receiving said at least one tab, said at least one tab repositionable in said at least one track.

19. A method for holding a tablet computer, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the-tablet computer in a carrying case, said carrying case comprising;

an upper portion divided into at least three stiffened sections;

an uppermost section having at least one tab;

an upright section; and

a horizontal section; and

a lower portion coupled to said upper side, wherein said lower portion is operable to retain an input device in communication with the tablet computer; and

retaining the tablet computer in a frame assembly, the frame assembly connecting to either said upper portion or said lower portion by a retaining piece, and wherein said frame comprises at least one track operable to receive said at least one tab, and positioning said at least one tab in said at least one track.