DOCKING STATION FOR MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20100318709A1
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Merz, Nicholas G.L., Bell, Jory, Betts-LaCroix, Jonathan, Prichard, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/868,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318709A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A docking station is disclosed for use with a mobile computing device. The form factor of the docking station may be similar to that of a conventional computer, such as a laptop computer or tablet computer. A mobile computing device, which may have the form factor of a personal digital assistant, may be docked in the docking station by connecting connectors on the docking station and the mobile computing device. The combined docking station and mobile computing device may form a computer which has a form factor and provide functionality similar to that of a conventional computer, such as a laptop computer or tablet computer. The docking station may, for example, include a cavity into which the mobile computing device may be inserted to dock the mobile computing device in the docking station.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a docking component comprising an upper component, a lower component hingedly coupled to the upper component, and a first connector;

a core component comprising a comprising a first processing subsystem, a first input subsystem, a first output subsystem, a first storage subsystem, a first power subsystem, and a second connector;

wherein the docking component and the core component are adapted to form a computer when the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper component comprises a display screen.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower component comprises a keyboard.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first input subsystem comprises a touch pad.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first input subsystem comprises a touch screen, and wherein the first output subsystem comprises the touch screen.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the docking component further comprises a cavity including the first connector, and wherein the cavity is adapted to enclose the core component when the first connector is connected to the second connector.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the docking component further comprises means for exposing at least some of the first input subsystem when the first connector is connected to the second connector.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the lower component of the docking component comprises an exterior surface, and wherein the means for exposing comprises a gap in the exterior surface.

9. A system comprising:

a core component comprising a first processing subsystem, a first input subsystem, a first output subsystem, a first storage subsystem, a first power subsystem, and a first connector;

a docking component comprising a cavity and a second connector, wherein the cavity is adapted to enclose the core component when the first connector is connected to the second connector;

wherein the docking component and the core component are adapted to form a computer when the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the docking component further comprises means for exposing at least some of the first input subsystem when the first connector is connected to the second connector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the docking component comprises an exterior surface, and wherein the means for exposing comprises a gap in the exterior surface.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a display screen;

a first user input device;

a first connector;

a cavity adapted to enclose a first computer having a second connector adapted for coupling to the first connector;

wherein the apparatus and the first computer are adapted to form a second computer when the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first computing device comprises a second user input device, and wherein the docking component further comprises means for exposing at least some of the second user input device when the first connector is connected to the second connector.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an exterior surface, and wherein the means for exposing comprises a gap in the exterior surface.