Docking station with moveable connector for hand-held electronic device
First Claim
1. A docking station for receiving a hand-held electronic device, the hand-held electronic device having a receptacle connector, the docking station comprising:
- a housing;
a connector bay formed in the housing; and
a connector assembly that is configured to reside in the connector bay and that includes a connector plug configured to connect to the receptacle connector of the hand-held electronic device, andwherein the connector plug is movable between a closed position in which the connector plug is entirely disposed within the connector bay and at least one open position in which an end of the connector plug is exposed for coupling with the receptacle connector, wherein a first force profile for moving the connector plug from the at least one open position to the closed position includes a maximum between the at least one open position and the closed position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dock includes a moveable connector to allow connection to a handheld electronic device. Generally, the connector moves between a closed position and an open position where the connector is placed in at least one substantially upright position for receiving a handheld electronic device. The connector may be hidden from view or lie flush relative to the body of the dock, thereby making the dock more portable and easily organized with other objects, e.g. in stacking. Various motions can be used to move the connector. Examples include one or more rotations, translations, and/or the like. Various retention mechanisms may be employed to retain the connector in an open position when connected to the media player. Also, various electrical mechanisms can be used to couple the movable connector to a fixed printed circuit board (PCB) contained inside the body of the dock.
87 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A docking station for receiving a hand-held electronic device, the hand-held electronic device having a receptacle connector, the docking station comprising:
-
a housing; a connector bay formed in the housing; and a connector assembly that is configured to reside in the connector bay and that includes a connector plug configured to connect to the receptacle connector of the hand-held electronic device, and wherein the connector plug is movable between a closed position in which the connector plug is entirely disposed within the connector bay and at least one open position in which an end of the connector plug is exposed for coupling with the receptacle connector, wherein a first force profile for moving the connector plug from the at least one open position to the closed position includes a maximum between the at least one open position and the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A docking station for receiving a hand-held electronic device, the hand-held electronic device having a receptacle connector, the docking station comprising:
-
a housing; a connector bay formed in the housing; a connector assembly that is adapted to reside in the connector bay and that includes a connector plug adapted to connect to the receptacle connector of the hand-held electronic device; and a force element that includes a rolling mechanism coupled with the connector plug, wherein the rolling mechanism moves over an undulated surface when the connector plug rotates, wherein the connector plug is movable between a closed position in which the connector plug is entirely disposed within the connector bay and at least one open position in which an end of the connector plug is exposed for coupling with the receptacle connector, wherein a first force profile for moving the connector plug from an open position to the closed position includes an increase in the force profile.
-
Specification