Cradle for use with a portable electronic appliance and a portable electronic appliance set including the cradle

• US 20070152633A1
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kwang-youb
• Application Number:
  US11/524,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152633A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A cradle for use with a portable electronic appliance. The cradle includes a frame, including a mounting portion in which the portable electronic appliance is mounted, a temperature sensor to measure a temperature around the portable electronic appliance, a fan to cool down the portable electronic appliance, a power supplying unit to supply electric power to the fan, and a controller. The controller drives the fan when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is determined to be equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature according to measurements of the temperature sensor.

Claims

1. A cradle for use with a portable electronic appliance, the cradle comprising:

a frame, including a mounting portion in which the portable electronic appliance is mounted;

a temperature sensor to measure a temperature around the portable electronic appliance;

a fan to cool down the portable electronic appliance;

a power supplying unit to supply electric power to the fan; and

a controller to drive the fan when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is determined to be equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature according to measurements of the temperature sensor.

2. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature when the controller drives the fan is within a range of approximately 45°

C.˜

60°

C.

3. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the power supplying unit includes a direct current (DC) port to receive a DC voltage from an exterior of the cradle.

4. The cradle according to claim 3, wherein the power supplying unit includes a connector that is connected to the portable electronic appliance, a primary, and/or a secondary battery.

5. The cradle according to claim 4, wherein the power supplying unit receives power from the primary and/or the secondary battery when the power supplying unit does not receive the DC voltage through the DC port.

6. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the power supplying unit includes a connector that is connected to the portable electronic appliance, a primary, and/or a secondary battery.

7. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the power supplying unit includes a primary and/or a secondary battery to provide power thereto.

8. The cradle according to claim 1, further comprising a bracket that is elastically biased in a direction of attaching the portable electronic appliance to the mounting portion.

9. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein an air path, through which the fan blows air, is formed between a rear surface of the portable electronic appliance and a surface of the frame facing the portable electronic appliance.

10. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor disposed on the frame proximate to the portable electronic appliance.

11. A portable electronic appliance set comprising:

a portable electronic appliance; and

a cradle in which the portable electronic appliance is mounted,

wherein the cradle for the portable electronic appliance comprises;

a frame, including a mounting portion in which the portable electronic appliance is mounted;

a temperature sensor to measure a temperature around the portable electronic appliance;

a fan to cool down the portable electronic appliance;

a power supplying unit to supply electric power to the fan; and

a controller to drive the fan when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is determined to be equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature according to measurements of the temperature sensor.

12. The portable electronic appliance set according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined temperature when the controller drives the fan is within a range of approximately 45°

C.˜

60°

C.

13. The portable electronic appliance set according to claim 11, wherein the power supplying unit includes a direct current (DC) port to receive a DC voltage from an exterior of the cradle.

14. The portable electronic appliance set according to claim 13, wherein the power supplying unit includes a connector that is connected to the portable electronic appliance, a primary, and/or a secondary battery.

15. The portable electronic appliance set according to claim 11, wherein the power supplying unit receives power from the primary and/or the secondary battery when the power supplying unit does not receive the DC voltage through the DC port.

16. The portable electronic appliance set according to claim 11, wherein the power supplying unit includes a connector that is connected to the portable electronic appliance, a primary, and/or a secondary battery.

17. The portable electronic appliance set according to claim 11, wherein the power supplying unit includes a primary and/or a secondary battery to provide power thereto.

18. The portable electronic appliance set according to claim 11, further comprising a bracket that is elastically biased in a direction of attaching the portable electronic appliance to the mounting portion.

19. The portable electronic appliance set according to claim 11, wherein an air path, through which the fan blows air, is formed between a rear surface of the portable electronic appliance and a surface of the frame facing the portable electronic appliance.

20. The portable electronic appliance set according to claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor disposed on the frame proximate to the portable electronic appliance.

21. A cradle for use with a portable electronic appliance mounted therein, the cradle comprising:

a temperature sensor to measure an ambient temperature in a vicinity of the portable electronic appliance so as to generate a signal that indicates a temperature of the portable electronic appliance;

a fan to generate an air flow that cools the temperature of the portable electronic appliance when operated; and

a controller to operate the fan when the signal indicates that the temperature of the portable electronic appliance is equal to or higher than a first temperature, and to stops the fan when the signal indicates that the temperature of the portable electronic appliance is equal to or lower than a second temperature.

22. The cradle according to claim 21, wherein the first temperature is within a range of approximately 45°

C.˜

60°

C. and the second temperature is lower than the first temperature.

23. The cradle according to claim 21, wherein the power supplying unit includes a connector that is connected to the portable electronic appliance, a primary, and/or a secondary battery.

24. The cradle according to claim 23, wherein the power supplying unit receives power from the primary and/or the secondary battery when the power supplying unit does not receive the DC voltage through the DC port.

25. The cradle according to claim 21, wherein the power supplying includes a primary and/or a secondary battery to provide power thereto.

26. The cradle according to claim 21, further comprising:

a mounting portion in which the portable electronic appliance is mounted; and

a bracket that elastically biases the portable electronic appliance to remain mounted to the mounting portion.

27. The cradle according to claim 21, further comprising a frame of the cradle to support the mounting of the portable electronic device in the cradle, wherein an air path, through which the fan blows air, is formed between a rear surface of the portable electronic appliance and a surface of the frame facing the portable electronic appliance.