Portable computer docking station with movable electrical interface

• US 6,898,080 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2003
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Esterberg, Dennis R, Yin, Memphis Zhihong
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/678,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20040057204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/686, 710/303, 710/304
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A docking station for a portable computer includes a housing, and an electrical interface supported by the housing and configured to electrically couple the docking station and the portable computer. The electrical interface is movable between a first position and a second position angularly displaced from the first position.

Claims

1. A docking station for a portable computer, the docking station comprising:

a housing including a first surface and a second surface adjacent the first surface; and

an electrical interface supported by the housing,

wherein the electrical interface is movable between a first position and a second position angularly displaced from the first position, wherein the electrical interface is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first surface when in the first position and oriented substantially perpendicular to the second surface when in the second position, and wherein the electrical interface is configured to electrically couple the docking station and the portable computer when in each the first position and the second position.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the first position includes a substantially horizontal position and the second position includes a non-horizontal position.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the housing is substantially vertical and the second surface of the housing is angled relative to the first surface.

4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the electrical interface of the docking station is configured to mate with a corresponding electrical interface of the portable computer to electrically couple the docking station and the portable computer.

5. The docking station of claim 4, further comprising:

an undocking system adapted to displace the portable computer relative to the housing when the docking station and the portable computer are electrically coupled.

6. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the undocking system includes at least one ejector adapted to project from the housing and contact the portable computer when the decking station and the portable computer are electrically coupled.

7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion supporting the first housing portion, the first housing portion supporting the electrical interface and being movable relative to the second housing portion to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface.

8. The docking station of claim 7, wherein the first housing portion is rotatable relative to the second housing portion to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface.

9. The docking station of claim 7, wherein the electrical interface constitutes a first electrical interface supported by the first housing portion, and further comprising:

a second electrical interface supported by the second housing portion and electrically coupled to the first electrical interface,

wherein the second electrical interface is configured to electrically couple a peripheral device with the docking station.

10. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first electrical port and a second electrical port angularly displaced from the first electrical port, wherein the electrical interface is selectively positionable in the first electrical port and the second electrical port to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface.

11. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the electrical interface constitutes a first electrical interface supported by the housing, and further comprising:

a second electrical interface supported by the housing and electrical coupled with the first electrical port and the second electrical port,

wherein the second electrical interface is configured to electrically couple a peripheral device with the docking station.

12. A method of docking a portable computer including an electrical interface with a docking station including a housing and an electrical interface supported by the housing, the housing including a first surface and a second surface adjacent the first surface, the method comprising:

moving the electrical interface of the docking station between a first position and a second position angularly displaced from the first position, including orienting the electrical interface substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the housing when in the first position and orienting the electrical interface substantially perpendicular to the second surface of the housing when in the second position; and

electrically coupling the electrical interface of the portable computer with the electrical interface of the docking station when the electrical interface of the docking station is in each the first position and the second position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein moving the electrical interface of the docking station between the first position and the second position includes moving the electrical interface between a substantially horizontal position and a non-horizontal position.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

undocking the portable computer from the docking station after electrically coupling the electrical interface of the portable computer with the electrical interface of the docking station, including displacing the portable computer relative to the housing of the docking station.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein displacing the portable computer relative to the housing of the docking station includes contacting the portable computer with at least one ejector.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the housing of the docking station includes a first housing portion supporting the electrical interface of the docking station and a second housing portion supporting the first housing portion, wherein moving the electrical interface of the docking station between the first position and the second position includes moving the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein moving the first housing portion relative to the second housing pardon includes rotating the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion to establish the hint position and the second position of the electrical interface.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the housing of the docking station includes a first electrical port and a second electrical port angularly displaced from the first electrical port, wherein moving the electrical interface of the docking station between the first position and the second position includes selectively positioning the electrical interface of the docking station in the first electrical port and the second electrical port to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface.

19. A computer system, comprising:

a docking station including a housing and an electrical interface supported by the housing, wherein the electrical interface of the docking station is movable between a first position and a second position angularly displaced from the first position, and is oriented substantially perpendicular to a first surface of the housing when in the first position and oriented substantially perpendicular to a second surface of the housing adjacent the first surface of the housing when in the second position; and

a portable computer including an electrical interface configured to mate with the electrical interface of the docking station and electrically couple the portable computer with the docking station when the electrical interface of the docking station is in each the first position and the second position.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the first position includes a substantially horizontal position and the second position includes a non-horizontal position.

21. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the docking station further includes an undocking system adapted to displace the portable computer relative to the housing of the docking station when the portable computer is electrically coupled with the docking station.

22. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the housing portion of the docking station includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion supporting the first housing portion, the first housing portion supporting the electrical interface of the docking station and being movable relative to the second housing portion to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface of the docking station.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the first housing portion is rotatable relative to the second housing portion to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface of the docking station.

24. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the housing of the docking station includes a first electrical port and a second electrical port angularly displaced from the first electrical port, wherein the electrical interface of the docking station is selectively positionable in the first electrical port and the second electrical port to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface of the docking station.

25. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the electrical interface of the portable computer is provided on a side of the portable computer, wherein the electrical interface of the portable computer is configured to mate with the electrical interface of the docking station when the electrical interface of the docking station is in the first position.

44. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the electrical interface of the portable computer is provided on a bottom of the portable computer, wherein the electrical interface of the portable computer is configured to mate with the electrical interface of the docking station when the electrical interface of the docking station is in the second position.

26. A computer system, comprising:

a docking station including a housing and an electrical interface supported by the housing, wherein the electrical interface of the docking station is movable between a first position and a second position angularly displaced from the first position, and is oriented substantially perpendicular to a first surface of the housing when in the first position and oriented substantially perpendicular to a second surface of the housing adjacent the first surface of the housing when in the second position; and

a portable computer including an electrical interface configured to mate with the electrical interface of the docking station and electrically couple the portable computer with the docking station,

wherein the electrical interface of the portable computer is provided on a bottom of the portable computer, wherein the electrical interface of the portable computer is configured to mate with the electrical interface of the docking station when the electrical interface of the docking station is in the second position.

45. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the first position includes a substantially horizontal position and the second position includes a non-horizontal position.

46. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the docking station further includes an undocking system adapted to displace the portable computer relative to the housing of the docking station when the portable computer is electrically coupled with the docking station.

47. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the housing portion of the docking station includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion supporting the first housing portion, the first housing portion supporting the electrical interface of the docking station and being movable relative to the second housing portion to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface of the docking station.

48. The computer system of claim 47, wherein the first housing portion is rotatable relative to the second housing portion to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface of the docking station.

49. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the housing of the docking station includes a first electrical port and a second electrical port angularly displaced from the first electrical port, wherein the electrical interface of the docking station is selectively positionable in the first electrical port and the second electrical port to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface of the docking station.

27. A docking station for a portable computer, the docking station comprising:

a housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion supporting the first housing portion, the first housing portion having a surface and the second housing portion having two adjacent surfaces; and

an electrical interface supported by the first housing portion,

wherein the first housing portion is movable relative to the second housing portion to establish a first position of the electrical interface and a second position of the electrical interface angularly displaced from the first position,

wherein the surface of the first housing portion is substantially aligned with one of the two adjacent surfaces of the second housing portion when the electrical interface is in the first position and substantially aligned with another of the two adjacent surfaces of the second housing portion when the electrical interface is in the second position, and

wherein the electrical interface is configured to electrically couple the docking station and the portable computer when in each the first position and the second position.

28. The docking station of claim 27, wherein the first position includes a substantially horizontal position and the second position includes a non-horizontal position.

29. The docking station of claim 27, wherein the electrical interface is oriented substantially perpendicular to one of the two adjacent surfaces of the second housing portion when in the first position and oriented substantially perpendicular to another of the two adjacent surfaces of the second housing portion when in the second position.

30. The docking station of claim 27, wherein the electrical interface of the docking station is configured to mate with a corresponding electrical interface of the portable computer to electrically couple the docking station and the portable computer.

31. The docking station of claim 30, further comprising:

an undocking system adapted to displace the portable computer relative to the housing when the docking station and the portable computer are electrically coupled.

32. The docking station of claim 31, wherein the undocking system includes at least one ejector adapted to project from the housing and contact the portable computer when the docking station and the portable computer are electrically coupled.

33. The docking station of claim 27, wherein the first housing portion is rotatable relative to the second housing portion to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface.

34. The docking station of claim 27, wherein the electrical interface constitutes a first electrical interface supported by the first housing portion, and further comprising:

a second electrical interface supported by the second housing portion and electrically coupled to the first electrical interface,

wherein the second electrical interface is configured to electrically couple a peripheral device with the docking station.

35. The docking station of claim 34, wherein the first electrical interface is electrically coupled to the second electrical interface by an electrical circuit.

36. The docking station of claim 35, wherein the electrical circuit includes a flexible wire connector having a first end electrically coupled with the first electrical interface and a second end electrically coupled with the second electrical interface.

37. The docking station of claim 35, wherein the electrical circuit includes a first electrical contact electrically coupled with the first electrical interface and a second electrical contact electrically coupled with the second electrical interface and configured to contact the first electrical contact.

38. A method of docking a portable computer including an electrical interface with a docking station including a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion supporting the first housing portion and an electrical interface supported by the first housing portion, the method comprising:

moving the electrical interface of the docking station between a first position and a second position angularly displaced from the first position, including moving the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion, and substantially aligning the surface of the first housing portion with one of two adjacent surfaces of the second housing portion when the electrical interface is in the first position and substantially aligning the surface of the first housing portion with another of the two adjacent surfaces of the second housing portion when the electrical interface is in the second position; and

electrically coupling the electrical interface of the portable computer with the electrical interface of the docking station when the electrical interface of the docking station is in each the first position and the second position.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein moving the electrical interface of the docking station between the first position and the second position includes moving the electrical interface between a substantially horizontal position and a non-horizontal position.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein moving the electrical interface of the docking station between the first position and the second position includes orienting the electrical interface substantially perpendicular to one of the two adjacent surfaces of the second housing portion when in the first position and orienting the electrical interface substantially perpendicular to another of the two adjacent surfaces of the second housing portion when in the second position.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

undocking the portable computer from the docking station after electrically coupling the electrical interface of the portable computer with the electrical interface of the docking station, including displacing the portable computer relative to the housing of the docking station.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein displacing the portable computer relative to the bowing of the docking station includes contacting the portable computer with at least one ejector.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein moving the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion includes rotating the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion to establish the first position and the second position of the electrical interface.