Adjustable height docking station and computing device for use therewith

• US 6,556,435 B1
• Filed: 10/31/1997
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, David A, Croft, Daniel I, Helot, Jacques H
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US08/961,580
• Time in Patent Office: 2,006 Days
• Field of Search: 361/686, 361/683, 364/708.1, 395/281-283, D14/107
• US Class Current: 361/679.45
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2023/049 Desk stand for laptop computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A height adjustable docking station and a mobile computing device for use therewith. The docking station includes a structure for receiving the screen of a mobile computing device. This structure is coupled to a docking station body in such a manner that the height and viewing angle of the screen of a mobile computing device mounted in the structure can be adjusted. A mobile computing device with a flip around screen and a port configured for docking when the screen is flipped around is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A docking station, comprising:

a docking station body having a replicated port formed in at least a first wall thereof;

a receiving port electrically coupled to said replicated port, wherein said receiving port is capable of interfacing to a docking port on a mobile computing device having a housing and a keyboard on a first surface of the housing, wherein said docking port on said mobile computing device is formed on same said first surface of said housing as said keyboard; and

means coupled between said docking station body and said receiving port the permits movement of said receiving port relative to said replicated port.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein said body includes a platform for stability.

3. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a receiving tray in which said receiving port is located for providing support to a mobile computing device docked at said receiving port.

4. The docking station of claim 3, wherein said receiving tray is capable of movement between a non-extended position in which said tray is located proximate said body and disposed generally horizontally and an extended position in which said tray is extended above said body and disposed at an angle approaching vertical.

5. The docking station of claim 4, wherein said relative movement permitting means includes a pivotal arm mechanism coupled between said docking station body and said receiving tray.

6. The docking station body of claim 4, wherein said receiving port is configured in said receiving tray in such a manner as to receive said docking port of said mobile computing device at least when said receiving tray is in said non-extended position.

7. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising means for undocking said mobile computing device docked at said receiving port.

8. The docking station of claim 3, further comprising adjustable arm means coupled between said body and said receiving tray for supporting said receiving tray in a manner that permits adjustment of the height of said receiving tray relative to said body.

9. The docking station of claim 8, wherein said adjustable arm means and said receiving tray are coupled such that the viewing angle of a screen of said mobile computing device docked at said docking station is adjustable.

10. A docking station, comprising:

a docking station body having a replicated port formed in at least a first wall thereof; and

a receiving port electrically coupled to said replicated port, wherein said receiving port is capable of interfacing to a docking port on a mobile computing device having a housing and a keyboard on a first surface of the housing, wherein said docking port on said mobile computing device is formed on same said first surface of said housing as said keyboard; and

wherein said receiving port is capable of movement between a non-extended position in which said port is disposed proximate said body and an extended position in which said port is extended above said body.

11. The docking station of claim 10, further comprising a receiving port support structure coupled between said body and said receiving port and an adjustable arm mechanism coupled between said body and said receiving port support structure for supporting said receiving port support structure in such a manner that permits adjustment of the height of said receiving port support structure relative to said body.

12. The docking station of claim 10, wherein said receiving port support structure is coupled to said body in such a manner that the viewing angle of a screen of said mobile computing device docked at said docking station is adjustable.

13. The docking station of claim 10, wherein said body includes a platform for stability.

14. A docking station, comprising:

a docking station body having a replicated port formed in at least a first all thereof;

a receiving port electrically coupled to said replicated port, wherein said receiving port is capable of interfacing to a docking port on a mobile computing device having a housing and a keyboard on a first surface of the housing, wherein said docking port on said mobile computing device is formed on same said first surface of said housing as said keyboard;

a mechanism that is capable of receiving a screen of said mobile computing device when docked at said docking station; and

means coupled between said docking station body and said screen receiving mechanism that permits adjustment of the height of said screen receiving mechanism relative to said docking station body.

15. The docking station of claim 14, wherein said screen receiving mechanism is coupled to said body in such a manner that the viewing angle of said screen therein is adjustable.