Docking station and electronic device

• US 8,913,380 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Enomoto, Minoru, Kohmoto, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US13/417,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20120275107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.41
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a docking station includes: a first support; a second support; a second connector; a cover; and a second mark. The first support supports a second face of an electronic device so that a display screen of the electronic device is positioned in an inclined manner. The second support supports a side portion of the electronic device in the state. The second connector is exposed outward from an area positioned in the second support, and to be connectable to a first connector of the electronic device in the state. The cover covers at least a part of the first face in the state. The second mark is capable of being a guide corresponding to the first mark. The second mark guidably indicates to the operator to move the electronic device to a position at which the electronic device is connected while the display screen is inclined.

Claims

1. A docking station comprising:

a first support configured to support an electronic device, the electronic device comprising;

a housing configured to house a display comprising a display screen;

a first face comprising a first mark indicating a position at which the housing is connected to the docking station;

a second face on an opposite side of the first face;

a side portion between the first face and the second face; and

an electronic device connector on the side portion, wherein the first support is configured to support the second face of the electronic device such that the display screen is inclined;

a second support configured to support the side portion of the electronic device such that the display screen is inclined;

a docking station connector, protruding outward from the second support, configured to connect to the electronic device connector of the electronic device;

a cover configured to cover at least a part of the first face; and

a second mark corresponding to the first mark, the second mark guidably indicating the position at which the electronic device is connected to the docking station,

wherein;

the docking station connector protrudes higher than the cover,

the first support comprises the second mark, and

the second mark comprises a part extending in a direction of connection of the electronic device connector and the docking station connector at a position above the docking station connector when the part is viewed in a direction facing the first face of the electronic device while the electronic device is supported by the docking station.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first mark and the second mark forms at least a part of a logo.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the second docking station connector comprises the second mark.

4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first mark and the second mark comprises a boundary portion of a pattern.

5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first mark and the second mark comprises a functional component.

6. The docking station of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first mark and the second mark comprises a plurality of functional components or an area between the functional components.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a first support configured to support a second face of a second electronic device, the second electronic device comprising;

a first face comprising a display screen and a first mark;

the second face on an opposite side of the first face;

a side portion between the first face and the second face; and

an electronic device connector on the side portion, the first support comprising a second mark corresponding to the first mark;

a second support from which a docking station connector, configured to connect to the electronic device connector in a state corresponding to the first mark, protrudes, the second support configured to support the side portion; and

a cover configured to cover at least a part of the first face,

wherein;

the docking station connector protrudes higher than the cover, and

the second mark comprises a part extending in a direction of connection of the electronic device connector and the docking station connector at a position above the docking station connector when the part is viewed in a direction facing the first face of the other electronic device while the other electronic device is supported by the electronic device.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a first support configured to support a back face of an external device comprising an electronic device connector on a side portion thereof;

a docking station connector configured to connect to the electronic device connector of the external device;

a mark configured to indicate a position of the external device in a state in which the electronic device connector and the docking station connector are connected with each other; and

a cover configured to cover at least a part of a front face of the external device,

wherein;

the docking station connector protrudes higher than the cover, and

the mark comprises a part extending in a direction of connection of the electronic device connector and the docking station connector at a position above the docking station connector when the part is viewed in a direction facing the first face of the external device.