Modular docking station for enclosing mobile devices

• US 8,811,008 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Selkirk, Reed, Wittliff, William W. III, Fish, James
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US13/492,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/566, 455/545, 455/575.1, 455/412.1, 455/575.3, 455/67.7, 455/573, 455/557, 455/521, 349/58, 349/59, 349/64, 349/65, 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.22, 361/679.27, 361/679.3, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.21, 361/679.07, 361/679.26, 361/679.09, 361/679.41, 361/679.2, 361/679.43, 361/679.08, 361/679.03, 361/679.44, 361/679.53, 361/679.46, 345/698, 345/102, 345/600, 345/660, 345/211, 345/99, 345/100, 345/690, 345/179, 248/351, 248/70, 248/206.5, 248/301, 248/541, 248/311.2, 312/334.1, 312/323, 312/293.1, 312/237, 312/319.2, 312/231.1, 312/231.2, 312/245, 312/265.6
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

A modular docking station for receiving a mobile device is disclosed. The docking station includes a base component having a plurality of modular apertures configured to receive hardware to perform a specific function. The docking station also includes a receiving component having a protective enclosure configured to receive and protect the mobile device in from environmental containment. The docking station further includes a coupler for coupling the receiving component to the base component.

Claims

1. A modular docking station, comprising:

a base component comprising a plurality of modular apertures, wherein each of the plurality of modular apertures is configured to receive a hardware to perform a specific function;

a receiving component configured to receive a mobile device, wherein the receiving component comprises a protective enclosure configured to surround the mobile device in order to protect the mobile device; and

a coupler configured to couple the receiving component to the base component.

2. The modular docking station of claim 1, wherein the base component further comprises an inputting component.

3. The modular docking station of claim 1, wherein the base component further comprises a plurality of connecting ports configured to connect to a plurality peripheral devices.

4. The modular docking station of claim 3, wherein the plurality of connecting ports comprises at least one of the following:

a universal serial bus (USB) port, an Ethernet port, an IEEE 1394 interface port, a parallel port, a PS/2 connector port, a serial port, a video graphics array (VGA) port, a direct attached storage (DAS) port, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus port, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a digital visual interface (DVI) port, a small computer system interface (SCSI) port, and an analog signal port.

5. The modular docking station of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of modular apertures is connected by a connector.

6. The modular docking station of claim 5, wherein the connector comprises at least one of the following:

an industry standard architecture (ISA) bus (PC/104), a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, a parallel bus, and a serial bus.

7. The modular docking station of claim 1, wherein the receiving component further comprises an adapter for connecting the mobile device.

8. The modular docking station of claim 7, wherein the adapter comprises at least one of the following:

a serial port, a USB port, an infrared port, and an RS 232 port.

9. The modular docking station of claim 1, wherein the protective enclosure comprises a transparent display portion that corresponds to a display of the mobile device.

10. The modular docking station of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of connection leads to connect to a plurality of peripheral devices.

11. The modular docking station of claim 1 further comprising a communication interface circuitry that generates one or more communications protocol to communicate with a vehicle.

12. A modular docking station, comprising:

a base component comprising a plurality of modular apertures, wherein each of the plurality of modular apertures is configured to receive a hardware to perform a specific function;

means for receiving a mobile device configured to surround the mobile device in order to protect the mobile device; and

means for coupling configured to couple the means for receiving to the base component.

13. The modular docking station of claim 12, wherein the base component further comprises an inputting component.

14. The modular docking station of claim 12, wherein the base component further comprises a plurality of connecting ports configured to connect to a plurality peripheral devices.

15. The modular docking station of claim 14, wherein the plurality of connecting ports comprise at least one of the following:

a universal serial bus (USB) port, an Ethernet port, an IEEE 1394 interface port, a parallel port, a PS/2 connector port, a serial port, a video graphics array (VGA) port, a direct attached storage (DAS) port, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus port, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a digital visual interface (DVI) port, a small computer system interface (SCSI) port, and an analog signal port.

16. A modular docking station, comprising:

a base component comprising a plurality of modular apertures, wherein each of the plurality of modular apertures is configured to receive a hardware to perform a specific function;

a receiving component configured to receive a mobile device, wherein the receiving component comprises a protective enclosure configured to surround the mobile device in order to protect the mobile device;

a coupler configured to couple the receiving component to the base component; and

a connection lead configured to be in circuit communication with a vehicle diagnostic system, wherein the connection lead communicatively couples the mobile device to the vehicle diagnostic system.

17. The modular docking station of claim 16, wherein the connection lead is a data link connector (DLC).

18. The modular docking station of claim 16, wherein the base component further comprises an inputting component.

19. The modular docking station of claim 16, wherein the base component further comprises a plurality of connecting ports configured to connect to a plurality peripheral devices.

20. The modular docking station of claim 19, wherein the plurality of connecting ports comprise at least one of the following:

a universal serial bus (USB) port, an Ethernet port, an IEEE 1394 interface port, a parallel port, a PS/2 connector port, a serial port, a video graphics array (VGA) port, a direct attached storage (DAS) port, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus port, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a digital visual interface (DVI) port, a small computer system interface (SCSI) port, and an analog signal port.