Portable computer stand with integral communication method and apparatus

• US 7,038,906 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Allyn Hubbard
• Original Assignee: MDS Advertising, Inc.
• Inventors: Hubbard, David Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pape, Zachary
• Application Number:
  US10/693,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20040190238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 710/303, 710/304
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules

Abstract

A stand providing a communication path between peripheral devices and portable devices and providing ergonomic viewing positions to portable devices such as a portable computer. In one embodiment, a stand includes an anchor movably coupled to a base to form a recess to receive a portable device, a support coupled to the base, and an electrical connector incorporated in the stand. The anchor may be formed to engage the desktop portion of the portable device, and the support may be moved to extend upwardly from the base to hold the display portion of the portable device. The electrical connector may provide a communication path between at least one peripheral device and the portable device, and the stand may also include a transmitter and receiver for providing a wireless communication path between at least one wireless peripheral device and the portable device.

Claims

1. A stand adapted to support a portable device in a substantially vertical orientation, the portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, the stand comprising:

a base;

an anchor movably coupled to the base to form a recess between the anchor and the base, the anchor formed to engage the portable device when the desktop portion of the portable device is disposed in the recess, an angle between a plane of the display portion of the portable device and a plane of the desktop portion of the portable device being in the range of between 160° and

195°

when the portable device is disposed in the recess;

a support moveably coupled to the base, the support being moveable to extend upwardly from the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device; and

an electrical connector incorporated in the stand for providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device and a portable device disposed in the recess.

2. The stand of claim 1, the electrical connector comprising a port replicator.

3. The stand of claim 2, the port replicator being selected from the group consisting of:

a parallel port, a serial port, a PS/2 port, a USB port, and an Ethernet connection.

4. The stand of claim 1, the electrical connector comprising a hub.

5. The stand of claim 4, the hub comprising a USB hub.

6. The stand of claim 1, the electrical connector comprising an external media bay.

7. The stand of claim 6, the external media bay being selected from the group consisting of:

a CD-RW drive, a CD drive, a DVD drive, a ZIP drive, and a 3.5 floppy drive.

8. The stand of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted for coupling to the desktop portion of the portable device.

9. The stand of claim 8, the at least one electrical cable comprising a USB port cable adapted for coupling to a USB port of the desktop portion.

10. The stand of claim 8, the at least one electrical cable comprising a parallel port cable adapted for coupling to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

11. The stand of claim 8, the at least one electrical cable comprising a serial port cable adapted for coupling to a serial port of the desktop portion.

12. The stand of claim 8, the at least one electrical cable comprising a power cable adapted to power the portable device.

13. The stand of claim 8, the at least one electrical cable routed from the base up the support of the stand.

14. The stand of claim 1, further comprising a motor mounted on the stand coupled to extend the support from the base and coupled to move the anchor relative to the base.

15. The stand of claim 1, further comprising at least one detachable module coupled to the stand, the at least one detachable module providing the communication path between at least one peripheral device and the portable device.

16. The stand of claim 15, the at least one detachable module comprising a port replicator.

17. The stand of claim 16, the port replicator being selected from the group consisting of:

a parallel port, a serial port, a PS/2 port, a USB port, and an Ethernet connection.

18. The stand of claim 15, the at least one detachable module comprising a hub.

19. The stand of claim 18, the hub comprising a USB hub.

20. The stand of claim 15, the at least one detachable module comprising an external media bay.

21. The stand of claim 20, the external media bay being selected from the group consisting of:

a CD-RW drive, a CD drive a DVD drive, a ZIP drive, and a 3.5 floppy drive.

22. The stand of claim 15, the at least one detachable module further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted for coupling to the desktop portion of the portable device.

23. The stand of claim 22, the at least one electrical cable comprising a USB port cable adapted for coupling to a USB port of the desktop portion.

24. The stand of claim 22, the at least one electrical cable comprising a parallel port cable adapted for coupling to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

25. The stand of claim 22, the at least one electrical cable comprising a serial port cable adapted for coupling to a serial port of the desktop portion.

26. The stand of claim 22, the at least one electrical cable comprising a power cable adapted to charge the portable device.

27. The stand of claim 22, the at least one electrical cable is routed from the at least one detachable module up the support of the stand.

28. The stand of claim 15, further comprising a motor mounted on the at least one detachable module coupled to extend the support from the base and coupled to move the anchor from the base.

29. The stand of claim 1, the portable device being supported at an angle between 60°

and 90°

relative to the base when the portable device is disposed in the recess.

30. The stand of claim 1, the at least one peripheral device being selected from the group consisting of:

a keyboard, a mouse, a speaker, an earphone, a printer, a scanner, a digital camera, a pointing device, a microphone, a PC camera, a gamepad, a joystick, a game wheel, and a digital pen pad.

31. A stand adapted to support a portable device in a substantially vertical orientation, the portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, the stand comprising:

a base;

an anchor movably coupled to the base to form a recess between the anchor and the base, the anchor formed to engage the portable device when the desktop portion of the portable device is disposed in the recess, an angle between a plane of the display portion of the portable device and a plane of the desktop portion of the portable device being in the range of between 160° and

195°

when the portable device is disposed in the recess;

a support moveably coupled to said base, the support moveable to extend upwardly from the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device; and

a transmitter and a receiver housed in the anchor, the transmitter and receiver coupling at least one wireless peripheral device and a portable device disposed in the recess of the base.

32. The stand of claim 31, the transmitter and receiver comprising a radio frequency transmitter and receiver.

33. The stand of claim 32, the receiver is adapted to receive signals simultaneously from at least two wireless peripheral devices.

34. The stand of claim 32, the transmitter and receiver operating at a frequency between 27 MHz and 916.5 MHz.

35. The stand of claim 31, the transmitter and receiver comprising an infrared transmitter and receiver.

36. The stand of claim 35, the transmitter and receiver operating at a wavelength between 850 nm to 950 nm.

37. The stand of claim 36, the receiver is adapted to receive signals simultaneously from at least two wireless peripheral devices.

38. The stand of claim 31, the transmitter and receiver further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted to couple to the desktop portion of the portable device.

39. The stand of claim 38, the at least one electrical cable comprising a USB port cable adapted to couple to a USB port of the desktop portion.

40. The stand of claim 38, the at least one electrical cable comprising a parallel port cable adapted to couple to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

41. The stand of claim 38, the at least one electrical cable comprising a serial port cable adapted to couple to a serial port of the desktop portion.

42. The stand of claim 31, the at least one wireless peripheral device being selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, a wireless speaker, a wireless earphone, a wireless printer, a wireless scanner, a wireless digital camera, a wireless pointing device, a wireless microphone, a wireless PC camera, a wireless gamepad, a wireless joystick, a wireless game wheel, and a wireless digital pen pad.

43. A stand adapted to support a portable device in a substantially vertical orientation, the portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, the stand comprising:

abase;

an anchor movably coupled to the base to form a recess between the anchor and the base, the anchor formed to engage the portable device when the desktop portion of the portable device is disposed in the recess of the base, an angle between a plane of the display portion and a plane of the desktop portion being in the range of between 160° and

195°

when the portable device is disposed in the recess;

a support moveably coupled to said base, the support moveable to extend upwardly from the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device;

a transmitter and a receiver housed in the anchor, the transmitter and receiver coupling at least one wireless peripheral device and a portable device disposed in the recess of the base; and

an electrical connector incorporated in the stand for providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device and a portable device disposed in the recess of the base.

44. The stand of claim 43, the transmitter and receiver comprising a radio frequency transmitter and receiver.

45. The stand of claim 44, the receiver is adapted to receive signals simultaneously from at least two wireless peripheral devices.

46. The stand of claim 44, the transmitter and receiver operating at a frequency between 27 MHz and 916.5 MHz.

47. The stand of claim 43, the transmitter and receiver comprising an infrared transmitter and receiver.

48. The stand of claim 47, the transmitter and receiver operating at a wavelength between 850 nm to 950 nm.

49. The stand of claim 48, the receiver is adapted to receive signals simultaneously from at least two wireless peripheral devices.

50. The stand of claim 43, the transmitter and receiver further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted to couple to the desktop portion of the portable device.

51. The stand of claim 50, the at least one electrical cable is a USB port cable adapted to couple to a USB port of the desktop portion.

52. The stand of claim 50, the at least one electrical cable is a parallel port cable adapted to couple to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

53. The stand of claim 50, the at least one electrical cable is a serial port cable adapted to couple to a serial port of the desktop portion.

54. The stand of claim 43, the at least one wireless peripheral device being selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, a wireless speaker, a wireless earphone, a wireless printer, a wireless scanner, a wireless digital camera, a wireless pointing device, a wireless microphone, a wireless PC camera, a wireless gamepad, a wireless joystick, a wireless game wheel, and a wireless digital pen pad.

55. The stand of claim 43, the electrical connector comprising a port replicator.

56. The stan of claim 55, the port replicator being selected from the group consisting of:

a parallel port, a serial port, a PS/2 port, a USB port, and an Ethernet connection.

57. The stand of claim 43, the electrical connector comprising a hub.

58. The stand of claim 57, the hub comprising a USB hub.

59. The stand of claim 43, the electrical connector comprising an external media bay.

60. The stand of claim 59, the external media bay being selected from the group consisting of:

a CD-RW drive, a CD-drive, a DVD drive, a ZIP drive, and a 3.5 floppy drive.

61. The stand of claim 43, further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted for coupling to the desktop portion of the portable device.

62. The stand of claim 61, the at least one electrical cable comprising a USB port cable adapted for coupling to a USB port of the desktop portion.

63. The stand of claim 61, the at least one electrical cable comprising a parallel port cable adapted for coupling to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

64. The stand of claim 61, the at least one electrical cable comprising a serial port cable adapted for coupling to a serial port of the desktop portion.

65. The stand of claim 61, the at least one electrical cable comprising a power cable adapted to power the portable device.

66. The stand of claim 61, the at least one electrical cable is routed from the base up the support of the stand.

67. The stand of claim 43, further comprising a motor mounted on the stand coupled to extend the support from the base and coupled to move the anchor relative to the base.

68. The stand of claim 43, further comprising at least one detachable module coupled to the stand, the at least one detachable module providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device and the portable device.

69. The stand of claim 68, the at least one detachable module comprising a port replicator.

70. The stand of claim 68, the port replicator being selected from the group consisting of:

a parallel port;

a serial port, a PS/2 port, a USB port, and an Ethernet connection.

71. The stand of claim 68, the at least one detachable module comprising a hub.

72. The stand of claim 71, the hub comprising a USB hub.

73. The stand of claim 68, the at least one detachable module comprising an external media bay.

74. The stand of claim 73, the external media bay being selected from the group consisting of:

a CD-RW drive, a CD-drive, a DVD drive, a ZIP drive, and a 3.5 floppy drive.

75. The stand of claim 68, the at least one detachable module further comprising at least one electrical cable adapted for coupling to the desktop portion of the portable device.

76. The stand of claim 75, the at least one electrical cable comprising a USB port cable adapted for coupling to a USB port of the desktop portion.

77. The stand of claim 75, the at least one electrical cable comprising a parallel port cable adapted for coupling to a parallel port of the desktop portion.

78. The stand of claim 75, the at least one electrical cable comprising a serial port cable adapted for coupling to a serial port of the desktop portion.

79. The stand of claim 75, the at least one electrical cable comprising a power cable adapted to charge the portable device.

80. The stand of claim 75, the at least one electrical cable is routed from the detachable module up the support of the stand.

81. The stand of claim 68, further comprising a motor mounted on the at least one detachable module coupled to extend the support from the base and coupled to move the anchor relative to the base.

82. The stand of claim 43, the at least one peripheral device being selected from the group consisting of:

a keyboard, a mouse, a speaker, an earphone, a printer, a scanner, a digital camera, a pointing device, a microphone, a PC camera, a gamepad, a joystick, a game wheel, and a digital pen pad.

83. The stand of claim 43, the portable device is being supported at an angle between 60°

and 90°

relative to the base when the portable device is disposed in the recess.

84. A method for supporting a portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, comprising:

providing a stand having,

a base;

an anchor moveably coupled to the base to form a recess between the base and the anchor, the anchor for engaging the desktop portion in the recess;

a support moveably coupled to the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device;

an electrical connector incorporated in the stand for communicating between at least one peripheral device and the portable device;

interposing the desktop portion of a portable device in the recess for ergonomically positioning the portable device;

moving the anchor relative to the base to support the portable device within the recess; and

adjusting the desktop portion and the display portion whereby an angle between a plane of the display portion and a plane of the desktop portion is in the range of between 160° and

195°

when the portable device is disposed in the recess.

85. The method of claim 84, the electrical connector comprising a port replicator, the method further comprising communicating between at least one peripheral device coupled to the port replicator and a portable device supported within the recess.

86. The method of claim 85, the port replicator housed in a detachable module for attaching to the stand, the method further comprising providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device coupled to the detachable module and the portable device.

87. The method of claim 84, the electrical connector comprising a hub, the method further comprising communicating between at least one peripheral device coupled to the hub and the portable device supported within the recess.

88. The method of claim 87, the hub housed in a detachable module for attaching to the stand, the method further comprising providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device coupled to the detachable module and a portable device supported in the stand.

89. The method of claim 84, further comprising providing an electrical cable adapted for coupling the electrical connector to the desktop portion of the portable device.

90. A method for supporting a portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, comprising:

providing a stand having,

a base;

an anchor moveable relative to the base for forming a recess between the base and the anchor, the anchor for engaging the desktop portion in the recess;

a support moveable coupled to the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device;

a transmitter and receiver housed in the anchor for communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device and the portable device;

interposing the desktop portion of a portable device in the recess for ergonomically positioning the portable device;

moving the anchor relative to the base to support the portable device within the recess; and

adjusting the desktop portion and the display portion whereby an angle between a plane of the display portion and a plane of the desktop portion is in the range of between 160° and

195°

when the portable device is disposed in the recess.

91. The method of claim 90, the transmitter and receiver comprising a infrared transmitter and receiver, the method further comprising communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device coupled to the infrared transmitter and receiver and the portable device.

92. The method of claim 90, the transmitter and receiver comprising a radio frequency transmitter and receiver, the method further comprising communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device coupled to the radio frequency transmitter and receiver and the portable device.

93. The method of claim 90, further comprising providing an electrical cable adapted for coupling the transmitter and receiver to the desktop portion of the portable device.

94. A method for supporting a portable device having a desktop portion and a display portion, comprising:

providing a stand having,

a base;

an anchor moveable relative to the base for forming a recess between the base and the anchor, the anchor for engaging the desktop portion in the recess of the base;

a support moveable relative to the base for holding the desktop portion of the portable device;

an electrical connector incorporated in the stand for communicating between at least one peripheral device and the portable device;

a transmitter and receiver housed in the anchor for communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device and the portable device;

interposing the desktop portion of a portable device in the recess for ergonomically positioning the portable device;

moving the anchor relative to the base to support the portable device within the recess; and

adjusting the desktop portion and the display portion whereby an angle between a plane of the display portion and a plane of the desktop portion is in the range of between 160° and

195°

when the portable device is disposed in the recess.

95. The method of claim 94, the electrical connector comprising a port replicator, the method further comprising communicating between at least one peripheral device coupled to the port replicator and a portable device.

96. The method of claim 95, the port replicator housed in a detachable module for attaching to the stand, the method further comprising providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device coupled to the detachable module and the portable device.

97. The method of the claim 94, the electrical connector comprising a hub, the method further comprising communicating between at least one peripheral device coupled to the hub and the portable device.

98. The method of claim 97, the hub housed in a detachable module for attaching to the stand, the method further comprising providing a communication path between at least one peripheral device coupled to the detachable module and the portable device.

99. The method of claim 94, the transmitter and receiver comprising a infrared transmitter and receiver, the method further comprising communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device coupled to the infrared transmitter and receiver and the portable device.

100. The method of claim 94, the transmitter and receiver comprising a radio frequency transmitter and receiver, the method further comprising communicating between at least one wireless peripheral device coupled to the radio frequency transmitter and receiver and the portable device.

101. The method of claim 94, further comprising providing at least one electrical cable adapted for coupling the transmitter and receiver to the desktop portion of the portable device.

102. The method of claim 94, further comprising providing an electrical cable adapted for coupling the electrical connector to the desktop portion of the portable device.