Portable wireless communication device docking system

• US 7,013,163 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Jaggers, Christopher M., McMahan, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Application Number:
  US09/769,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/554.2, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/566, 455/573, 455/574, 455/575.1, 455/575.4, 455/90.3, 455/90.1, 361/679, 361/681, 361/682, 361/683, 361/687, 361/727, 361/724, 245/124.2, 245/121
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A docking station for a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone. The docking station includes a cradle for the cellular phone and comprises an associated LCD that enhances the video display capabilities of the cellular telephone. When docked, the cellular telephone draws power from a voltage supply provided by the docking station. While the cellular telephone is docked, a charging circuit recharges the cellular telephone battery. The docking station may be disconnected from an AC outlet so that the docked cellular telephone retains both enhanced display capabilities, which prove to be highly desirable for applications such as Internet access, as well as its inherent portability. Even in the portable mode, where the docking station is disconnected from the AC outlet, the docking station recharges the cellular telephone battery.

Claims

1. A docking station for a wireless communication device, the docking station comprising:

a support structure;

a cradle situated in the support structure to receive the wireless communication device;

a display situated in the support structure to display information received by the docking station from the wireless communications device;

an energy source internal to the docking station which supplies energy to the docking station and to a rechargeable energy source in the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is received in the cradle, the internal energy source having more charge capacity than the rechargeable energy source, sufficient to supply energy to the wireless device when the docking station is mobile;

an electrical interface between the docking station and the wireless communications device including multiple contacts, one of the contacts coupled to accept a video signal from the wireless communications device; and

a video interface circuit coupled to convert the video signal to drive the display.

2. A docking station for a wireless communication device, the docking station comprising:

a docking housing;

a display device, situated in the docking housing, that displays information received from the wireless communication device;

a cradle, disposed on the docking housing, that receives the wireless communication device;

a connector, situated in the cradle, that electrically couples the docking station to the wireless communication device;

an energy source internal to the docking station which supplies energy to the docking station and to a rechargeable energy source in the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is received in the cradle, the internal energy source having more charge capacity than the rechargeable energy source, sufficient to supply energy to the wireless device when the docking station is mobile;

an electrical interface between the docking station and the wireless communications device including multiple contacts, one of the contacts coupled to accept a video signal from the wireless communications device; and

a video interface circuit coupled to convert the video signal to drive the display device.

3. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 2, wherein the connector comprises a first terminal coupled to the internal energy source.

4. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 3, wherein the connector comprises a second terminal selectively coupled to a charging circuit in the docking housing via a switch.

5. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 4, wherein the connector comprises a third terminal coupled to GND.

6. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 4, wherein the switch has a pole coupled to the charging circuit and has a first terminal selectively coupled to the first terminal of the connector.

7. A docking station for a wireless communications device as defined in claim 6, wherein the switch has a second terminal selectively coupled to the second terminal of the connector.

8. A docking station for a wireless communications device comprising:

a display device that displays information received from the communications device;

a cradle in the docking station that receives the communications device; and

an apparatus that selectively supplies power to the communications device, the apparatus including;

a connector for electrically coupling the docking station to the communications device, the connector having at least first and second terminals;

a switch having a pole, a first terminal, and a second terminal, the switch operable in response to status information indicating whether the communications device is docked at the docking station;

a charging circuit coupled to the pole of the switch;

a detector that determines whether the communications device is docked at the station and provides status information as a result of the determination;

an energy source internal to the docking station which supplies energy to the docking station and to a rechargeable energy source in the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is received in the cradle, the internal energy source having more charge capacity than the rechargeable energy source, sufficient to supply energy to the wireless device when the docking station is mobile;

an electrical interface between the docking station and the wireless communications device including multiple contacts, one of the contacts coupled to accept a video signal from the wireless communications device; and

a video interface circuit coupled to convert the video signal to drive the display device.

9. A docking station as defined in claim 8, wherein the first terminal of the switch is electrically coupled to the first terminal of the connector and the second terminal of the switch is electrically connected to the second terminal of the connector.

10. A docking station as defined in claim 9, wherein the switch operates to connect the pole terminal to the first terminal in response to status information indicating that the communications device is not docked at the docking station, whereby the charging circuit then charges the internal energy source.

11. A method of enhancing the capabilities of a wireless communications device for information handling, the method comprising:

mounting the wireless communications device on a docking station that comprises;

(a) a cradle for the wireless communications device;

(b) a display device that displays information received from the wireless communications device;

(c) a connector for effecting an electrical interface to the wireless communication device;

(d) an energy source internal to the docking station which supplies energy to the docking station and to a rechargeable energy source in the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is received in the cradle, the internal energy source having more charge capacity than the rechargeable energy source, sufficient to supply energy to the wireless device when the docking station is mobile;

(e) a charging circuit; and

(f) a switch operable in response to information indicating whether or not a wireless communications device is docked at the docking station;

providing the electrical interface between the docking station and the wireless communications device including multiple contacts, one of the contacts coupled to accept a video signal from the wireless communications device; and

coupling a video interface circuit to convert the video signal to drive the display device.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein, in response to information indicating that a wireless communications device is docked at the docking station, the switch couples the charging circuit to the rechargeable energy source included with the wireless communications device, and in response to information indicating that a wireless communications device is not docked at the station, the switch couples the charging circuit to the energy source internal to the docking station.

13. An assembly for docking a wireless communication device (WCD) so as to enhance the capabilities of the device, the assembly comprising:

a docking station housing having a receptacle for the WCD;

a display device that displays information received from the WCD;

an energy source internal to the docking station which supplies energy to the docking station and to a rechargeable energy source in the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is received in the cradle, the internal energy source having more charge capacity than the rechargeable energy source sufficient to supply energy to the wireless device when the docking station is mobile;

a charging circuit;

a switching circuit, responsive to a predetermined status of the assembly, that selectively couples the charging circuit to the internal energy power source;

an electrical interface between the docking station and the WCD including multiple contacts, one of the contacts coupled to accept a video signal from the WCD;

a video interface circuit for coupling the video output of the WCD to the display device;

a connector for electrically coupling the docking station to the WCD; and

a support for the housing.

14. An assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein the display device is mounted on a planar surface of the housing.

15. An assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein the support for the housing is a stand having a base portion and an oblique back portion.

16. An assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein the support is rotatably attached to the housing.