Connectivity hub with a stationary base station and a removable second hub

• US 7,899,970 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mori, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cerullo; Jeremy S
• Application Number:
  US11/951,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 710/313, 710/303, 710/306, 710/314
• US Class Current: 710/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]

Abstract

A connectivity hub enabling multiple peripheral devices to be connected with a computer includes a stationary base station functioning as a connectivity hub and a removable connectivity hub functioning by itself as a travel connectivity hub. The removable travel hub can be plugged into the stationary base station by connecting an upstream port of the removable hub to a downstream port of the base station. Thus, a user of the connectivity hub achieves the functionality of a full-featured connectivity base station as well as that of a small, easily transportable travel hub without having to purchase multiple units.

Claims

1. A connectivity hub comprising:

a hub body comprising a first hub portion and a selectively removable second hub portion, wherein the first hub portion comprises;

a first plurality of surfaces;

a first plurality of port connectors on a first one of said first plurality of surfaces comprising at least one upstream port connector for connecting to a computer and at least one downstream port connector for connecting to a peripheral device and at least one other downstream port connector on a second one of said first plurality of surfaces adapted to connect to the second hub portion;

at least one electrical circuit, operatively coupled to the plurality of port connectors and the at least one other downstream port connector, and adapted to permit signals to flow between the plurality of port connectors and the at least one other downstream port connector;

at least one power circuit adapted to supply power to the at least one downstream port connector and to the second hub portion; and

a rim portion on the second one of said first plurality of surfaces and substantially surrounding the at least one other downstream port connector;

wherein the second hub portion comprises;

a second plurality of surfaces; and

a second plurality of port connectors comprising at least one upstream port connector on a first one of said second plurality of surfaces for connecting to the at least one other downstream port connector of the first hub portion, and at least one downstream port connector on a second one of said second plurality of surfaces for connecting to the peripheral device;

wherein said rim portion fixes in place the second hub portion such that the at least one upstream port connector of the second hub portion can be disconnected from the at least one other downstream port connector of the first hub portion by pulling the second hub portion away from the rim portion of the first hub portion; and

wherein the second hub portion further comprises a rotation interface plate adapted to fix the position of the at least one upstream port connector and to permit rotation of the at least one upstream port connector from a first position to at least a second position, said first position being on said first one of said second plurality of surfaces and parallel to the at least one downstream port connector, and said second position being on said first one of said second plurality of surfaces and orthogonal to said at least one downstream port connector.

2. The connectivity hub of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first and second port connectors comprises at least one of a USB port, a FireWire port, a serial port, a parallel port, and a power port.

3. The connectivity hub of claim 1, wherein the first hub portion further comprises:

a stand adapted to stabilize the connectivity hub on a work surface; and

a substantially flat back portion adapted to fix in place at least one of the first plurality of port connectors; and

a mating surface located within the rim portion and adapted to fix in place the at least one other downstream port connector for connecting to the second hub portion.

4. The connectivity hub of claim 1, wherein the first hub portion further comprises a cable connected to the at least one electrical circuit of the first hub portion and to the at least one upstream port connector of the first hub portion.

5. The connectivity hub of claim 1, wherein the first hub portion further comprises an input DC power connector and an output DC power connector wherein the at least one power circuit is adapted to route power from the input DC power connector to the at least one downstream port and to the output DC power connector.

6. The connectivity hub of claim 5, wherein the second hub portion further comprises a secondary DC input power connector adapted to connect to the output DC power connector of the first hub portion.

7. The connectivity hub of claim 1, wherein the first hub portion is further adapted to include an LED indicator light, wherein the indicator light is adapted to illuminate when the at least one upstream port of the first hub portion is connected to the computer.

8. The connectivity hub of claim 7, wherein the LED indicator light is further adapted to display a first color and a second color, wherein the first color is displayed when the at least one upstream port of the first hub portion is connected to the computer, and wherein the second color is displayed when the at least one downstream port of the first hub portion is connected to the peripheral device.

9. The connectivity hub of claim 1, wherein the first one of said first plurality of surfaces is a side surface of the first hub portion, and the second one of said first plurality of surfaces is a top surface of the first hub portion.

10. The connectivity hub of claim 1, wherein the first one of said second plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface of the second hub portion, and the second one of said second plurality of surfaces is a top surface of the second hub portion.

11. The connectivity hub of claim 9, wherein the first one of said first plurality of surfaces is a back surface of the first hub portion, the first one of said second plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface of the second hub portion, and the second one of said second plurality of surfaces is a top surface of the second hub portion.

12. A connectivity hub comprising:

a hub body comprising a first hub portion and a selectively removable second hub portion, wherein the first hub portion comprises;

a first plurality of surfaces;

a first plurality of port connectors on a first one of said first plurality of surfaces comprising at least one upstream port connector for connecting to a computer and at least one downstream port connector for connecting to a peripheral device and at least one other downstream port connector on a second one of said first plurality of surfaces adapted to connect to the second hub portion;

at least one electrical circuit, operatively coupled to the plurality of port connectors and the at least one other downstream port connector, and adapted to permit signals to flow between the first plurality of port connectors and the at least one other downstream port connector;

at least one power circuit adapted to supply power to the at least one downstream port connector and to the second hub portion;

an input DC power connector operatively connected to the power circuit, and an output DC power connector for connecting to the second hub portion;

a stand adapted to stabilize the connectivity hub when placed on a work surface;

a substantially flat back adapted to fix in place at least the first plurality of port connectors and the input DC power connector; and

a rim portion on the second one of said first plurality of surfaces and substantially surrounding the at least one other downstream port connector,

wherein the rim portion further comprises a mating surface adapted to fix in place the at least one other downstream port connector for connecting to the second hub portion;

wherein the second hub portion comprises;

a second plurality of surfaces; and

a second plurality of port connectors comprising at least one upstream port connector on a first one of said second plurality of surfaces for connecting to the at least one other downstream port connector of the first hub portion, and at least one downstream port connector on a second one of said second plurality of surfaces for connecting to the peripheral device, and a secondary input DC power connector for connecting to the output DC power connector of the first hub portion;

wherein said rim portion fixes in place the second hub portion such that the at least one upstream port connector of the second hub portion can be disconnected from the at least one other downstream port connector of the first hub portion by pulling the second hub portion away from the rim portion of the first hub portion; and

wherein the second hub portion further comprises a rotation interface plate adapted to fix the position of the at least one upstream port connector and to permit rotation of the at least one upstream port connector from a first position to at least a second position, said first position being on said first one of said second plurality of surfaces and parallel to the at least one downstream port connector, and said second position being on said first one of said second plurality of surfaces and orthogonal to said at least one downstream port connector.

13. The connectivity hub of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second plurality of port connectors comprises at least one of a USB port, a FireWire port, a serial port, a parallel port, and a power port.

14. The connectivity hub of claim 12, wherein the first hub portion further comprises a cable connected to the at least one electrical circuit of the first hub portion and to the at least one upstream port connector of the first hub portion.

15. The connectivity hub of claim 12, wherein the first hub portion is further adapted to include an LED indicator light, wherein the indicator light is adapted to illuminate when the at least one upstream port of the first hub portion is connected to the computer.

16. The connectivity hub of claim 15, wherein the LED indicator light is further adapted to display a first color and a second color, wherein the first color is displayed when the at least one upstream port of the first hub portion is connected to the computer, and wherein the second color is displayed when the at least one downstream port of the first hub portion is connected to the peripheral device.

17. The connectivity hub of claim 12, wherein the first one of said first plurality of surfaces is a side surface of the first hub portion, and the second one of said first plurality of surfaces is a top surface of the first hub portion.

18. The connectivity hub of claim 12, wherein the first one of said second plurality of surfaces is a bottom surface of the second hub portion, and the second one of said second plurality of surfaces is a top surface of the second hub portion.