Electronic device docking system

• US 20080270665A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.), Validity Sensors Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Validity Sensors Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gralewski, William A., Senatori, Mark D.
• Application Number:
  US11/799,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270665A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033

Abstract

An electronic device docking system, comprising an electronic device having a touch pad and a recessed area, the touch pad and recessed area disposed on a working surface of the electronic device, the recessed area configured to receive an input device.

Claims

1. An electronic device docking system, comprising:

an electronic device having a touch pad and a recessed area, the touch pad and recessed area disposed on a working surface of the electronic device, the recessed area configured to receive an input device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device is usable while disposed within the recessed area.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a plurality of input interfaces each configured to provide input to the electronic device in a manner corresponding to a plurality of input interfaces disposed on the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises at least an alphanumeric keypad and a touch pad.

5. The docking system of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to releasably secure the input device to the electronic device.

6. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a connector member for communicative engagement with a corresponding connector member disposed on the input device.

7. The docking system of claim 1, further comprising a retractable extension configured to secure the input device to the electronic device.

8. The docking system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises an infrared transmitter to facilitate wirelessly communications between the input device and the electronic device.

9. A method of manufacturing a docking system for an electronic device, comprising:

providing a touch pad and a recessed area, the touch pad and recessed area on the electronic device disposed on a working surface of the electronic device, the recessed area configured to receive a detachable input device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising configuring the recessed area such that the input device is usable while disposed within the recessed area.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a plurality of input interfaces each configured to provide input to the electronic device in a manner corresponding to a plurality of input interfaces disposed on the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing at least an alphanumeric keypad and a touch pad on the input device.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a locking mechanism configured to releasably secure the input device to the electronic device.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a connector member on the input device for communicative engagement with a corresponding connector member disposed on the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a retractable extension configured to releasably secure the input device to the electronic device.

16. An electronic device docking system, comprising:

an input device having at least two different input interfaces, the input device insertable within a recessed area disposed on a working surface of an electronic device, the at least two input interfaces configured to provide input to the electronic device in a manner corresponding to at least two input interfaces disposed on the electronic device.

17. The docking system of claim 16, wherein the at least two different input interfaces comprises at least two of a touch pad, an alphanumeric keypad and a plurality of media input buttons.

18. The docking system of claim 16, wherein the input device is usable while disposed within the recessed area.

19. The docking system of claim 16, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to releasably secure the input device to the electronic device.