Portable electronic device docking system

• US 5,544,010 A
• Filed: 04/17/1995
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Danielson, Arvin D., Bunte, Alan G., Schultz, Darald R., Jaeger, Robert B., Sherman, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/423,239
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 439/638, 439/928, 361/686, 361/679-685, 361/724-727, 361/741, 361/756, 312/223.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10574 Multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10841 Particularities of the light-sensitive elements semiconductor devices H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 : using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 : Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 : by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 : with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 : by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 : Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 : Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 : the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 : the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 : Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

An improved device for docking a first electrical apparatus, having a first apparatus connector, such as a portable interchangeable data terminal, to a second electrical apparatus having a second apparatus connector, such as a vehicle mount. The device includes a portable dock for selectively receiving the data terminal. The dock includes a laterally extending base having a first dock connector, a second dock connector, and first guides extending transversely from each end of the base. Similarly, the second electrical apparatus has transversely extending second guides. The first guides are configured to operably guide the first dock connector to matingly connect with the first apparatus connector as the first apparatus is received by the dock and, similarly, the second guides are configured to operably guide the second dock connector to matingly connect with the second apparatus connector as the dock is received by the second electrical apparatus, such that information is processable between the first electrical apparatus and the second electrical apparatus.

Claims

1. A docking system comprising:

(a) a first electrical apparatus having opposing first sides and a first electrical connector;

(b) a second electrical apparatus having a pair of extending side panels and a second electrical connector;

(c) a dock having;

(1) a first connecting mechanism for physically and electrically connecting said dock to said first electrical apparatus wherein said first connecting mechanism is releasably and matingly engageable with said first electrical connector,

(2) a second connecting mechanism for physically and electrically connecting said dock to said second electrical apparatus wherein said second connecting mechanism is electrically connected with said first connecting mechanism and is releasably and matingly engageable with said second electrical connector, and

(3) a first guide mechanism for guiding said first connecting mechanism into said mating engagement with said first electrical connector wherein said guide mechanism includes a pair of opposing side pieces adapted to extend along said opposing first sides of said first electrical apparatus, and a second guide mechanism for guiding said second connecting mechanism into mating engagement with said second electrical connector; and

(d) wherein said pair of extending side panels are adapted to extend along sides of said dock.

2. The docking system according to claim 1, wherein said second guide mechanism includes at least one set of locators comprising a cooperating pin and opening.

3. The docking system according to claim 1 wherein said first electrical apparatus includes a keyboard and said dock is adapted to provide operable access to said keyboard as said first electrical apparatus is connected to said dock.

4. The docking system according to claim 1 wherein said first electrical apparatus includes a scanner and said dock is adapted to provide operable access to said scanner as said first electrical apparatus is connected to said dock.

5. The docking system according to claim 1 wherein said first electrical apparatus includes a magnetic reader and said dock is adapted to provide operable access to said magnetic reader as said first electrical apparatus is connected to said dock.

6. The docking system according to claim 1 wherein said dock includes a battery.