Portable computer and docking station having an electromechanical docking/undocking mechanism and a plurality of cooperatively interacting failsafe mechanisms
First Claim
1. A computing system comprising:
- a portable computer comprising at least a central processing unit, .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a system address/data bus coupled to the central processing unit.[., random access memory coupled to the system bus, hard disk data storage coupled to the system bus, a liquid crystal display coupled to the system bus, a power controller coupled to the system bus, and a battery coupled to the power controller.].; and
a docking station detachably coupled .[.via electrical connector means.]. to the portable computer .[.to provide increased video display capability and increased data storage.]., the docking station comprising at least an electromechanical docking/undocking means including an electric motor assembly for mechanically and electrically docking and undocking the portable computer to and from the docking station.[., floppy disk data storage means coupled through the electrical connector means to the system address/data bus for providing additional data storage when the portable computer is docked to the docking station, the electrical connector means coupled to the system address/data bus for displaying data from the portable computer on a cathode ray tube display when said portable computer is docked to the docking station,.]. and .[.a plurality of failsafe mechanisms.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.disposed within the portable computer and the docking station and cooperatively interacting for protecting the portable computer and docking station from damage as docking and undocking occurs.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A first embodiment of the present invention comprises a fully functional portable computer with central processing unit, hard disk drive data storage, and liquid crystal display and a docking station having at least a floppy disk drive, video random access memory and video controller. A motorized docking/undocking mechanism automatically docks and undocks the portable computer and docking station after the user has inserted the portable computer into the docking station or after the user has requested that the units be undocked. Numerous mechanical and electrical safeguards prevent the docking or undocking of the units if such docking or undocking is likely to lead to the loss of data or damage to the components of either unit. The internal mechanical construction of the docking station allows the user to place a large cathode ray tube display monitor directly atop the docking station without hindering the docking or undocking of the portable computer.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A computing system comprising:
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a portable computer comprising at least a central processing unit, .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a system address/data bus coupled to the central processing unit.[., random access memory coupled to the system bus, hard disk data storage coupled to the system bus, a liquid crystal display coupled to the system bus, a power controller coupled to the system bus, and a battery coupled to the power controller.].; and a docking station detachably coupled .[.via electrical connector means.]. to the portable computer .[.to provide increased video display capability and increased data storage.]., the docking station comprising at least an electromechanical docking/undocking means including an electric motor assembly for mechanically and electrically docking and undocking the portable computer to and from the docking station.[., floppy disk data storage means coupled through the electrical connector means to the system address/data bus for providing additional data storage when the portable computer is docked to the docking station, the electrical connector means coupled to the system address/data bus for displaying data from the portable computer on a cathode ray tube display when said portable computer is docked to the docking station,.]. and .[.a plurality of failsafe mechanisms.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.disposed within the portable computer and the docking station and cooperatively interacting for protecting the portable computer and docking station from damage as docking and undocking occurs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computing system comprising:
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a portable computer comprising at least a central processing unit, a system address/data bus coupled to the central processing unit, random access memory coupled to the system bus, hard disk data storage coupled to the system bus, a liquid crystal display coupled to the system bus, a power controller coupled to the system bus, and a battery coupled to the power controller; and a docking station detachably coupled via electrical connector means to the portable computer to provide increased video display capability and increased data storage; the electrical connector means comprising; a docking connector allowing access to the portable computer'"'"'s system address/data bus and a docking connector cover having a first position covering the docking connector and a second position uncovering the docking connector, the docking station further comprising a door block for detecting whether the docking connector cover is in the first position, said door block not permitting the portable computer to be docked to the docking station if the docking connector cover is in the first position, the door block permitting docking if the docking connector cover is in the second position; the docking station comprising; at least an electromechanical docking/undocking means including an electric motor assembly for mechanically and electrically docking and undocking the portable computer to and from the docking station, floppy disk data storage means coupled through the electrical connector means to the system address/data bus for providing additional data storage when the portable computer is docked to the docking station, the electrical connector means coupled to the system address/data bus for displaying data from the portable computer on a cathode ray tube display when said portable computer is docked to the docking station, .[.a plurality of failsafe mechanisms.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.disposed within the portable computer and the docking station and cooperatively interacting for protecting the portable computer and docking station from damage as docking and undocking occurs, and lock means disposed within said docking station for cooperatively securing insertion and removal of said portable computer from said docking station, said lock means having an unlocked position and a locked position, the lock means preventing the portable computer from being removed from the docking station if the portable computer is docked to the station and the lock means is in the locked position, said lock means further preventing the portable computer from being docked on the docking station when the portable computer is not docked to the station and said lock means is in the locked position by turning off the electromechanical docking/undocking means.
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15. A portable computer and docking station wherein the portable computer is usable without being docked to the docking station and when docked to the docking station has increased data storage capabilities and increased video display capabilities, the portable computer comprising
a central processing unit; -
a system bus for transmitting data and instructions coupled to the central processing unit; random access memory coupled to the system bus; liquid crystal display coupled to the system bus; main system controller coupled to the system bus; power controller coupled to the main system controller for controlling power usage in the portable computer and for controlling battery charging; keyboard coupled to the power controller; read only memory for storing system instructions coupled to the system bus; and first docking connector coupled to the system bus and power controller; and
the docking station comprising;second docking connector for connecting to the first docking connector and allowing access to the portable computer'"'"'s system bus; electromechanical docking/undocking means including an electric motor assembly for electrically and mechanically coupling the first and second docking connectors together once the portable computer has been placed into the docking station; docking station address and data bus coupled to the second docking connector; video display system coupled to the docking station bus for display data processed in the portable computer on a cathode ray tube display; on input/output (I/O) bus subsystem and protocol controller coupled to the docking station bus for allowing installation and use of I/O bus subsystem extension cards in the docking station; floppy disk drive coupled to the docking station bus for allowing access to data stored on floppy disks by the portable computer when the portable computer is docked to the docking station; and a plurality of electromechanical docking/undocking safety interlocks disposed within the portable computer and the docking station and cooperatively interacting for preventing the docking and undocking of the portable computer to and from the docking station if such docking and undocking would damage components in the docking station and the portable computer and cause the loss of data stored in the portable computer and the docking station. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A portable computer and docking station wherein the portable computer is usable without being docked to the docking station and when docked to the docking station has increased data storage capabilities and increased video display capabilities;
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the portable computer comprising; a central processing unit; a system bus for transmitting data and instructions coupled to the central processing unit; a random access memory coupled to the system bus; a liquid crystal display coupled to the system bus; a main system controller coupled to the system bus; a power controller coupled to the main system controller for controlling power usage in the portable computer and for controlling battery charging; a keyboard coupled to the power controller; a read only memory for storing system instructions coupled to the system bus; a first docking connector coupled to the system bus and power controller; a docking connector door having a first position covering the first docking connector and a second position uncovering the first docking connector; the docking station comprising; a second docking connector for connecting to the first docking connector and allowing access to the portable computer'"'"'s system bus; a docking connector door block disposed on said docking station for preventing docking of the portable computer when the docking connector door is in the first position, said docking connector door block further permitting docking of the portable computer when the docking connector door is in the second position; electromechanical docking/undocking means including an electric motor assembly for electrically and mechanically coupling the first and second docking connectors together after the portable computer has been placed into the docking station; a docking station address and data bus coupled to the second docking connector; video display system coupled to the docking station bus for display data processed in the portable computer on a cathode ray tube display; an input/output (I/O) bus subsystem and protocol controller coupled to the docking station address and data bus for allowing installation and use of I/O bus subsystem expansion cards in the docking station; a floppy disk drive coupled to the docking station address and data bus for allowing access to data stored on floppy disks by the portable computer when the portable computer is docked to the docking station; a plurality of electromechanical docking/undocking safety interlocks disposed within the portable computer and the docking station and cooperatively interacting for preventing the docking and undocking of the portable computer to and from the docking station if such docking and undocking would damage components in the docking station and the portable computer and cause loss of data stored in the portable computer and the docking station, and locking means for cooperatively securing insertion and removal of said portable computer from said docking station, the locking means preventing the portable computer from being docked to the docking station if the locking means is in the locked position by preventing the electromechanical docking/undocking means from turning on to dock the portable computer, said locking means further preventing the portable computer from being removed from the docking station when the portable computer is docked to the station and said lock means is in the locked position. .Iadd.
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29. A computer system comprising:
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a portable computer comprising at least a central processing unit, and a system address/data bus coupled to the central processing unit; a docking station detachably coupled via at least one electrical connector to the portable computer, the docking station comprising at least an electromechanical docking/undocking means including an electric motor assembly for mechanically and electrically docking and undocking the portable computer to and from the docking station; and cooperative means disposed in the docking station cooperatively interacting with the portable computer for protecting the portable computer and the docking station from electrical damage as docking and undocking occurs. .Iaddend..Iadd. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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32. Iaddend..Iadd.38. The docking station of claim 37 wherein the electromechanical docking/undocking means in response of a eject signal causes the electric motor assembly to start and move the portable computer from the finish-docking position to a finish-ejecting position substantially coincident with the begin-docking position. .Iaddend..Iadd.39. The docking station of claim 38 further comprising electronic braking means coupled to the electric motor assembly to rapidly stop a rotating shaft within the electric motor assembly whereby stopping the portable computer substantially at the begin-docking position.
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34. computer. .Iaddend..Iadd.48. The docking station of claim 47 wherein the data storage controller means supports at least one data storage unit. .Iaddend..Iadd.49. The docking station of claim 48 wherein the at least one data storage unit operates on a magnetic medium. .Iaddend..Iadd.50. The docking station of claim 49 wherein the at least one data storage unit includes a floppy disk drive internal to the docking station, the floppy disk drive being coupled to the portable computer for providing additional data storage for the portable computer while the portable computer is docked to the docking station. .Iaddend..Iadd.51. The docking station of claim 44 wherein the data I/O controller means includes data communications controller means operating cooperatively with the portable computer. .Iaddend..Iadd.52. The docking station of claim 51 wherein the data communications controller means supports at least a communications protocol used for data transmission and data reception while the portable
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35. computer is docked to the docking station. .Iaddend..Iadd.53. A method for operatively coupling a portable computer to a peripheral device external to the portable computer, the method comprising:
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providing a docking station including the peripheral device and at least one electromechanical docking/undocking means having an electric motor assembly for mechanically and electrically docking and undocking the portable computer to and from the docking station, and a receiving area structure adapted for receiving the portable computer for docking; manually positioning the portable computer beyond a begin-docking position in the receiving area structure; operating the electromechanical docking/undocking means to drive the manually positioned portable computer for operative engagement with the peripheral device in the docking station, said operating including sensing whether the portable computer is "on" as docking occurs, and controlling the portable computer to ensure no electrical damage occurring as the portable computer docks with the docking station. .Iaddend..Iadd.54. The method of claim 53 wherein the controlling includes turning off the power to at least a portion of the portable computer if the portable computer is "on" when docking occurs. .Iaddend..Iadd.55. The method of claim 54 wherein the at least a portion of the portable computer includes a central processing unit. .Iaddend..Iadd.56. A method for operatively coupling a portable computer to a peripheral device external to the portable computer, the method comprising; providing a docking station including the peripheral device and at least one electromechanical docking/undocking means having an electric motor assembly for mechanically and electrically docking and undocking the portable computer to and from to the docking station, and a receiving area structure adapted for receiving the portable computer for docking; manually positioning the portable computer beyond a begin-docking position in the receiving area structure; and operating the electromechanical docking/undocking means to drive the manually positioned portable computer for operative engagement with the peripheral device in the docking station, said operating including sensing whether the portable computer is firmly docked to the docking station, and turning on the power to the portable computer when the portable computer is firmly docked to the docking station. .Iaddend. - View Dependent Claims (31, 33)
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Specification