Dock with moveable connector for display device

• US 8,223,483 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hayashida, Jeff, Frazier, Cameron, Sanford, Emery
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US12/652,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20110164375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.41
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

Docking stations with a moveable connector that is more durable are provided. For example, when a portable electronic device, coupled with the connector, is pushed forward, the connector is designed to move (e.g. rotate), thereby reducing an impact of strain resulting from such a push. The rotatable connector may be biased to keep the portable electronic device in an upright position such that the electronic device is supported by a rear reference surface of the docking station, thereby preventing undue strain on the rotatable connector in the upright position and inhibiting movement forward. The rotatable connector may be partly below an outer shell of the docking station, and pivot at the outer shell, thereby reducing possible damage to parts below the outer shell. The rotatable connector may also retract when rotated, thereby removing a force that can break the connector at a position of full rotation forward.

Claims

1. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a base;

a rotatable connector coupled to the base and biased toward an upright position, the rotatable connector configured to receive and electrically couple to a receptacle connector of the portable electronic device;

a rear reference surface mechanically coupled to the base and adapted to support the portable electronic device when the electronic device is coupled to the rotatable connector in its upright position;

a biasing mechanism that biases the rotatable connector to reside in the upright position, wherein the biasing mechanism includes at least one spring that provides a biasing force that increases as the rotatable connector moves farther form the upright position; and

electronic circuitry electronically coupled with contacts of the rotatable connector, wherein the at least one spring includes a flexible circuit that electrically couples the rotatable connector with the electronic circuitry.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein a length of the at least one spring reduces when the rotatable connector rotates away from the upright position.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein during rotation, the rotatable connector pivots at a point above an external surface of the base.

4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the base includes an outer shell, and wherein during rotation, the rotatable connector pivots at the outer shell.

5. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a base including an outer shell having an opening; and

a rotatable connector coupled to the base and protruding through the opening in the outer shell of the base, the rotatable connector having a first section below the outer shell and a second section above the outer shell, wherein the rotatable connector is configured to receive and electrically couple to a receptacle connector of the portable electronic device,

wherein during at least a portion of a rotation, the rotatable connector pivots about a point of contact between a surface of the rotatable connector and the outer shell, and wherein a bottom end of the first section and a top end of the second section of the rotatable connector move when the rotatable connector pivots about the point of contact.

6. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the outer shell includes:

a first section on a first side of the opening, the first section including a first edge, wherein the rotatable connector pivots at the first edge when the rotatable connector rotates in a first direction; and

a second section on the opposite side of the opening, the second section including a second edge, wherein the rotatable connector pivots at the second edge when the rotatable connector rotates in the opposite direction.

7. The docking station of claim 6, wherein the first edge is at a same height as the second edge.

8. The docking station of claim 6, a biasing mechanism that is coupled to a section of the connector beneath the outer shell and that biases the rotatable connector toward an upright position, wherein the rotatable connector forms a seal in the opening of the outer shell of the base when the rotatable connector is in the upright position, wherein the seal is formed by the rotatable connector contacting the first edge and contacting the second section.

9. The docking station of claim 6, wherein the first section of the outer shell includes a first surface facing towards the rotatable connector, the first surface being below the first edge and angling away from the rotatable connector when the rotatable connector is in a vertical position and

wherein the second section of the outer shell includes a second surface facing towards the rotatable connector, the second surface being below the second edge and angling away from the rotatable connector when the rotatable connector is in the vertical position.

10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein the rotatable connector contacts the first edge when the rotatable connector is in an upright position, wherein the angle of the first surface below the first edge is greater than the angle of the second surface below the second edge.

11. The docking station of claim 9, wherein a part of the first surface above the first edge also angles away from the rotatable connector when the rotatable connector is in the vertical position.

12. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the rotatable connector includes at least one curved part at a bottom of the rotatable connector, and further comprising:

at least one guiding surface that is in contact with the at least one curved part and that guides a position of the rotatable connector during rotation.

13. The docking station of claim 12, wherein the at least one guiding surface includes detents that stabilize the rotatable connector in one or more upright positions.

14. The docking station of claim 5, further comprising:

a biasing mechanism that is coupled to a section of the connector beneath the outer shell and that biases the rotatable connector toward an upright position.

15. The docking station of claim 14, further comprising:

electronic circuitry; and

an electrical connection between the rotatable connector and the electronic circuitry, wherein the biasing mechanism includes;

a first spring coupled with the rotatable connector at a first edge on a first side of the electrical connection; and

a second spring coupled with the rotatable connector at a second edge on a second side of the electrical connection.

16. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a base having an outer shell, the outer shell having an opening;

a rotatable connector that protrudes through the opening in the outer shell, the rotatable connector having a first section below the outer shell and a second section above the outer shell, wherein the rotatable connector is configured to receive and electrically couple to a receptacle connector of the portable electronic device;

at least one guide post coupled with the first section of the rotatable connector; and

at least one guiding surface that is in contact with the at least one guide post and that guides a position of the rotatable connector during rotation, wherein the at least one guide post moves along the at least one guiding surface during rotation.

17. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the at least one guiding surface includes:

a first guiding surface below the at least one guide post, the first guiding surface providing a force upwards on the rotatable connector when the rotatable connector rotates toward a vertical position; and

a second guiding surface above the at least one guide post, the second guiding surface providing a force downwards on the rotatable connector when the rotatable connector rotates toward a horizontal position.

18. The docking station of claim 17, further comprising:

a biasing mechanism in contact with the at least one guide posts, wherein the biasing mechanism provides a biasing force in a direction to rotate the rotatable connector toward an upright position.

19. The docking station of claim 18, wherein the biasing mechanism includes:

one or more springs that reside between the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface.

20. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the at least one guide post is coupled with a bottom end of the first section of the rotatable connector.

21. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the at least one guiding surface includes detents that stabilize the rotatable connector in one or more upright positions.

22. The docking station of claim 16, further comprising a flexible circuit electrically coupling the rotatable connector with electronic circuit in the docking station, wherein the flexible electrical circuit acts as a biasing mechanism that biases the rotatable connector towards an upright position.

23. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a base having a bottom surface and a top outer shell, the top outer shell having an opening;

a rotatable connector that protrudes through an opening in the top outer shell, the rotatable connector having a first section below the top outer shell and a second section above the top outer shell, wherein the rotatable connector is configured to receive and electrically couple to a receptacle connector of the portable electronic device; and

a retraction mechanism that causes the second section of the rotatable connector that is above the outer shell to decrease as the second section of the rotatable connector rotates from a position perpendicular to the bottom surface towards a front of the docking station, wherein a bottom end of the first section of the rotatable connector moves toward a back of the docking station as the second section of the rotatable connector rotates towards the front of the docking station.

24. The docking station of claim 23, wherein the retraction mechanism ejects the rotatable connector from the receptacle connector of the portable electronic device when the rotatable connector is rotated forward towards the front of the docking station.