AESTHETICALLY PLEASING UNIVERSAL DOCK

• US 20140293530A1
• Filed: 06/12/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Terlizzi, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,535,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An aesthetically pleasing universal dock may support a variety of electronic devices of different shapes and designs while appearing to be customized to individually support each electronic device. The universal dock may support an electronic device using a support layer that may include any suitable material, including, for example, an array of vertical members, an elastic sponge-like substance, or any other suitable material. The compression of the support layer may be retained for future use with the electronic device, or the compression may be relieved, once the electronic device is removed from the universal dock.

Claims

1. A dock comprising:

a housing;

a connector coupled to the housing; and

a deformable support layer coupled to the housing, the deformable support layer having an exterior surface that at least partially surrounds the connector and deforms in a same direction as a force exerted by the electronic device when the electronic device is mated with the connector.

2. The dock of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the deformable support layer moves from a first position to a second position when the electronic device is connected to the connector, the second position disposed below the first position and in a same direction as the force exerted by the electronic device when the electronic device is being connected to the connector.

3. The dock of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the deformable support layer conforms to a bottom surface of the electronic device when in the second position.

4. The dock of claim 3, further comprising a second portion of the deformable support layer that remains in the first position when the electronic device is connected to the connector.

5. The dock of claim 4, wherein the second portion of the deformable support layer provides lateral support to the electronic device when it is connected to the connector.

6. The dock of claim 1, further comprising circuitry coupled to the connector to detect the electronic device attached to the connector and to operate the electronic device.

7. The dock of claim 2, wherein the first portion and the second portion are coplanar prior to the electronic device being connected to the connector.

8. The dock of claim 1, wherein deformable support layer comprises an array of compressible vertical members.

9. The dock of claim 8, wherein each of the vertical members includes a top portion, and wherein at least some of the top portions are interconnected using at least one of a webbing and a Teflon sheet.

10. A method for supporting a plurality of differently-shaped electronic devices in a dock that includes a compressible support layer positioned at least partially about a connector, the method comprising:

attaching an electronic device to the connector of the dock;

compressing at least a first portion of the compressible support layer with at least a portion of the bottom of the electronic device when the electronic device is attached to the connector; and

supporting at least a portion of a side of the electronic device with at least a second portion of the compressible support layer when the electronic device is attached to the connector.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving with a sensor from an external device an instruction to control the electronic device;

transmitting the instruction from the sensor to the dock; and

controlling the electronic device in response to the sensor transmitting the instruction.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

depressing a button of the dock; and

ending the attachment between the electronic device and the connector in response to the depressing of the button.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising relieving the compression of the at least the first portion of the compressible support layer in response to the depressing of the button.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the compressible support layer is at least partially comprised of at least one of an elastic material and an array of vertical members.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the compressible support layer is at least partially comprised of an array of compressible vertical members.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the vertical members includes a top portion, and

wherein at least some of the top portions are interconnected using at least one of a webbing and a Teflon sheet.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising compressing a first subset of the first portion of the compressible support layer more than a second subset of the first portion of the compressible support layer.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the compressible support layer moves from a first position to a second position when the electronic device is connected to the connector, the second position disposed below the first position and in a same direction as the force exerted by the electronic device when the electronic device is being connected to the connector.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the compressible support layer conforms to a bottom surface of the electronic device when in the second position.

20. A method for supporting a plurality of differently-shaped electronic devices in a dock that includes a support layer positioned at least partially about a connector, the method comprising:

detecting an electronic device;

determining the make of the electronic device in response to the detecting the electronic device;

adjusting at least a first portion of the support layer to support at least a portion of the bottom of the electronic device in response to the determining the make of the electronic device;

attaching the electronic device to the connector; and

adjusting at least a second portion of the support layer to support at least a portion of a side of the electronic device when the electronic device is attached to the connector.