Communications display base system and method

• US 7,555,581 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2005
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• 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: Warren, Morten, Drew, Paul L., Martin, Randall W., de Saulles, Stephen, Woodley, Nick, Quijano, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai; Henry W. H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nam; Hyun
• Application Number:
  US11/253,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 710/62, 710/72, 710/303, 361/681, 312/237
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor

Abstract

A communication apparatus for an electronic system is provided in accordance with the presently disclosed techniques. Specifically, in one embodiment, the apparatus includes a display base. The display base includes a body having a bay configured to receive a first electronic device and a recessed portion configured to receive a second electronic device. The display base also includes one or more cable routing features disposed within the body. One of the cable routing features is configured to route a cable connected to the first or second electronic device through a portion of the base. A system and a method for facilitating communication via a display base are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus, comprising:

a base adapted to couple to and support a display, the base comprising;

a body comprising a top wall, a left wall, a right wall, and a bottom wall extending between the left and right walls;

wherein the body includes a first bay configured to receive a first electronic device, the body having at least one surface including a recessed portion configured to receive a second electronic device, wherein the recessed portion includes a top opening extending through the top wall and positioned above the bottom wall; and

at least one of a first cable routing feature disposed in the body and configured to route a first cable coupled to the first electronic device from the first bay into the recessed portion and a second cable routing feature configured to route a second cable coupled to the second electronic device from the recessed portion through a display stand coupled to the body.

2. The communication apparatus of claim 1, comprising the first electronic device.

3. The communication apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first electronic device comprises a memory drive.

4. The communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein the memory drive comprises an optical drive, or a magnetic drive, or a memory chip drive, or a combination thereof.

5. The communication apparatus of claim 1, comprising the second electronic device.

6. The communication apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second electronic device comprises a communication hub comprising a plurality of communication ports.

7. The communication apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of ports comprises a USB port, or a FireWire port, or a network port, or a wireless access point, or a combination thereof.

8. The communication apparatus of claim 6, comprising the first electronic device disposed in the first bay in the left or right wall and coupled to a communication port of the communication hub.

9. The communication apparatus of claim 1, comprising a cover coupled to the top opening over the recessed portion opposite from the bottom wall, wherein the cover is configured to at least partially enclose the recessed portion.

10. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cover comprises a flexible edge extending along a front wall of the body, and the flexible edge is configured to contact a second cable coupled to the second electronic device.

11. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cable routing feature comprises a cable channel extending between the first bay and the recessed portion.

12. The communication apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

the first electronic device, the first electronic device comprising an optical drive; and

the second electronic device, the second electronic device comprising a communication hub comprising a plurality of communication ports.

13. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body further includes:

a second bay configured to receive a third electronic device, wherein the first and second bays are disposed opposite from one another in the left and right walls or the right and left walls; and

a third cable routing feature disposed in the body and configured to route a third cable coupled to the third electronic device from the second bay into the recessed portion.

14. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body includes an integral connection port.

15. The communication apparatus of claim 14, wherein the integral connection port comprises an audio port.

31. The communication apparatus of claim 1, comprising the second electronic device disposed in the recessed portion, wherein the second electronic device comprises a Firewire hub.

32. The communication apparatus of claim 1, comprising the second electronic device disposed in the recessed portion, wherein the second electronic device comprises a network hub.

33. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cover is flush with the top wall while the cover is in a closed position over the top opening, and the recessed portion is completely enclosed by the cover, the bottom wall, and lateral walls of the body while the cover is in the closed position.

42. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second cable routing feature comprises a cable channel through the display stand and extending between the recessed portion and a port through a wall of the display stand.

43. The communication apparatus of claim 13, wherein the third cable routing feature comprises a cable channel extending between the second bay and the recessed portion.

16. A system, comprising:

a display base, comprising;

a first bay configured to receive a first electronic device;

a recessed portion configured to receive a second electronic device, wherein the recessed portion comprises a top opening and a bottom wall opposite from the top opening;

a cover removably coupled to the top opening over the recessed portion opposite from the bottom wall, wherein the cover comprises a flexible edge;

a display stand coupled to the display base; and

at least one of a first cable routing feature disposed in the display base and configured to route a first cable coupled to the first electronic device from the first bay into the recessed portion and a second cable routing feature configured to route a second cable coupled to the second electronic device from the recessed portion through the display stand.

17. The system of claim 16, comprising the first electronic device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first electronic device comprises an optical drive.

19. The system of claim 16, comprising the second electronic device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second electronic device comprises a communication hub comprising a plurality of communication ports.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the cover is flush with a top wall of the display base while the cover is in a closed position over the top opening.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the flexible edge is configured to contact a second cable coupled to the second electronic device while the cover is in the closed position.

23. The system of claim 16, further comprising a display coupled to the display.

24. The system of claim 23, comprising a computer capable of being communicatively coupled to the display.

25. The system of claim 24, comprising a peripheral device capable of being communicatively coupled to the computer.

26. The system of claim 25, comprising the second electronic device, wherein the second electronic device is disposed within the recessed portion of the display base directly above the bottom wall, and the peripheral device is communicatively coupled to the computer via the second electronic device.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the peripheral device is communicatively coupled to the computer via a connection port integral with the display base.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein the recessed portion is completely enclosed by the cover, the bottom wall, and lateral walls of the display base while the cover is in the closed position.

44. The system of claim 23, wherein the display comprises a flat panel display.

28. A method for facilitating communication with a display base, the method comprising:

receiving an optical drive within a first bay in a first side wall of a display base;

receiving a communication hub through a top opening into a recessed portion of the display base, wherein the recessed portion comprises a bottom structure to support the communications hub; and

routing at least one of a first cable extending from the optical drive through a first cable routing feature to the communication hub, wherein the first cable routing feature extends between the first bay and the recessed portion, and a second cable extending from the communication hub through a display stand coupled to the display base, wherein the second cable routing feature extends between the recessed portion and a port through a wall of the display stand.

29. The method of claim 28, comprising receiving a cover over the top opening to at least partially enclose the recessed portion such that a connection port of the communication hub is at least partially concealed.

30. The method of claim 28, comprising:

receiving a second optical drive within a second bay in a second side wall of the display base, wherein the first and second side walls are opposite from one another; and

routing a third cable extending from the second optical drive through a third cable routing feature to the communication hub, wherein the third cable routing feature extends between the second bay and the recessed portion.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the cover is flush with a top wall of the display base while the cover is in a closed position over the top opening.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the recessed portion is completely enclosed by the cover, the bottom structure, and lateral structures of the display base while the cover is in a closed position over the top opening.

37. A system, comprising:

a display base, comprising;

a top receptacle in a top surface;

a bottom wall directly below the top receptacle;

a top cover removably disposed over the top receptacle opposite from the bottom wall;

a left wall comprising a first drive bay;

a right wall comprising a second drive bay;

a flexible strip configured to at least partially cover a first cable passing to the top receptacle; and

at least one of;

a first cable routing feature disposed in the display base and configured to route a second cable between the first drive bay and the top receptacle;

a second cable routing feature disposed in the display base and configured to route a third cable between the second drive bay and the top receptacle; and

a third cable routing feature extending between the top receptacle and a port through a display stand coupled to the display base and configured to route a fourth cable from the top receptacle through the port.

38. The system of claim 37, comprising a flat panel display coupled to the display base.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the flexible strip extends along an edge of the top cover.

40. The system of claim 37, comprising a first drive disposed in the first drive bay, a second drive disposed in the second drive bay, and an electronic device disposed in the top receptacle.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the electronic device comprises a communication hub having a plurality of ports.