Methods and apparatuses for docking a portable electronic device that has a planar like configuration and that operates in multiple orientations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A docking system, comprising:
- a portable electronic device capable of operating in multiple orientations including a first orientation and a second orientation, the portable electronic device including a first electrical interface; and
a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device in any of its multiple orientations, the docking station including a second electrical interface and a third electrical interface, the first electrical interface being different from the second electrical interface;
wherein;
the second electrical interface is configured for coupling with the first electrical interface along the first orientation;
the third electrical interface is configured for coupling with the first electrical interface along the second orientation; and
the first orientation and the second orientation are different.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a portable electronic device capable of operating in multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal. The docking system also includes a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device in any of its multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal.
216 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A docking system, comprising:
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a portable electronic device capable of operating in multiple orientations including a first orientation and a second orientation, the portable electronic device including a first electrical interface; and a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device in any of its multiple orientations, the docking station including a second electrical interface and a third electrical interface, the first electrical interface being different from the second electrical interface; wherein; the second electrical interface is configured for coupling with the first electrical interface along the first orientation; the third electrical interface is configured for coupling with the first electrical interface along the second orientation; and the first orientation and the second orientation are different. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A docking system, comprising:
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a portable electronic device including a front side and a substantially planar back side opposite the front side, the front side including a full screen display, the substantially planar back side including a first power transfer mechanism, the full screen display being configured to display content in an upright manner whether the portable electronic device is used horizontally or vertically; and a docking platform including a substantially planar front side configured to support the substantially planar backside of the portable electronic device thereon, the substantially planar front side including a second power transfer mechanism; wherein; the first power transfer mechanism and the second power transfer mechanism are aligned along an axis and juxtaposed relative to one another when the portable electronic device is supported by the docking platform the first power transfer mechanism includes a first power transferring interface; the second power transfer mechanism includes a second power transferring interface and a third power transferring interface, the second power transferring interface and the third power transferring interface being arranged rotationally symmetric about the axis such that the first power transfer mechanism and the second power transfer mechanism maintain communication with one another whether the portable electronic device is docked horizontally or vertically with the docking platform; the second power transferring interface is configured for coupling with the first power transferring interface horizontally; and the third power transferring interface is configured for coupling with the first power transferring interface vertically.
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9. A docking station, comprising:
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a platform that allows a substantially planar portable electronic device to be docked in multiple orientations about an axis; and an interface mechanism located at the platform, the interface mechanism including a first electrical interface and a second electrical interface; wherein; the first electrical interface is configured for coupling with a corresponding electrical interface located at the portable electronic device along a first orientation; the second electrical interface is configured for coupling with the corresponding electrical interface located at the portable electronic device along a second orientation; and the first orientation and the second orientation are different. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A docking station, comprising:
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a substantially planar platform for receiving a substantially planar portable electronic device thereon, the substantially planar platform configured to couple with the portable electronic device in a plurality of orientations about a platform axis, the plurality of orientations including at least a first orientation and a second orientation, the first orientation and the second orientation being different; a first interface mechanism including a first electrical interface and a second electrical interface, the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface each disposed in the substantially planar platform, including a center located at the platform axis, and configured to communicate with a second interface mechanism disposed in the substantially planar portable electronic device; and one or more alignment features for aligning the first interface mechanism and the second interface mechanism along the platform axis in the first orientation and for aligning the first interface mechanism and the second interface mechanism along the platform axis in the second orientation; wherein the first interface mechanism is configured to form a transfer mechanism with the second interface mechanism if the substantially planar portable electronic device is coupled with the substantially planar platform in the first orientation, and is further configured to form the transfer mechanism with the second interface mechanism if the substantially planar portable electronic device is coupled with the substantially planar platform in the second orientation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification