Docking station with moveable connector for hand-held electronic device

• US 8,323,040 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Prest, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US12/205,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20100062615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439/341, 439/165, 439/142, 361/679.01, 36167941-47844
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/44 Means for preventing access to live contacts making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/00 Flexible or turnable line connectors , i.e. the rotation angle being limited rotary current collectors, distributors H01R39/00

Abstract

A dock includes a moveable connector to allow connection to a handheld electronic device. Generally, the connector moves between a closed position and an open position where the connector is placed in at least one substantially upright position for receiving a handheld electronic device. The connector may be hidden from view or lie flush relative to the body of the dock, thereby making the dock more portable and easily organized with other objects, e.g. in stacking. Various motions can be used to move the connector. Examples include one or more rotations, translations, and/or the like. Various retention mechanisms may be employed to retain the connector in an open position when connected to the media player. Also, various electrical mechanisms can be used to couple the movable connector to a fixed printed circuit board (PCB) contained inside the body of the dock.

Claims

1. A docking station for receiving a hand-held electronic device, the hand-held electronic device having a receptacle connector, the docking station comprising:

a housing;

a connector bay formed in the housing; and

a connector assembly that is configured to reside in the connector bay and that includes a connector plug configured to connect to the receptacle connector of the hand-held electronic device, and

wherein the connector plug is movable between a closed position in which the connector plug is entirely disposed within the connector bay and at least one open position in which an end of the connector plug is exposed for coupling with the receptacle connector, wherein a first force profile for moving the connector plug from the at least one open position to the closed position includes a maximum between the at least one open position and the closed position.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the connector plug has electrical contacts at a first end for connecting with the receptacle connector of the hand-held electronic device, further comprising:

a circuit board electrically coupled with the electrical contacts of the connector plug.

3. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a retention mechanism configured to hold the connector plug in the at least one open position when connected with the hand-held electronic device, wherein the at least one open position occurs at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the closed position, and wherein the retention mechanism includes a stopper that prevents the connector plug from rotating further when the electronic device is connected with the connector plug.

4. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a retention mechanism configured to hold the connector plug in the at least one open position when connected with the hand-held electronic device, and wherein the retention mechanism includes a releasable locking mechanism that is associated with each open position and that holds the connector plug in a respective open position when the locking mechanism is in an unreleased state.

5. The docking station of claim 4, wherein the number of open positions of the connector plug is continuous.

6. The docking station of claim 4, wherein the releasable locking mechanism includes a ratchet that is releasable via an element accessible on the housing.

7. The docking station of claim 4, further comprising a pivot mechanism coupled with the connector plug, wherein the releasable locking mechanism includes an element with fingers that lock into holes of the pivot mechanism during an unreleased state.

8. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a pivot mechanism coupled with the connector plug, wherein the pivot mechanism includes at least one peg on a side of the connector plug and at least one corresponding slot through which the at least one peg slides during a rotation of the connector plug.

9. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the first force profile is created by magnetic detents.

10. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the first force profile is at a minimum in the at least one open position.

11. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the first force profile is at a minimum in each open position.

12. A docking station as in claim 1, wherein the connector plug moves between an open position and the closed position via one or more rotations and/or translations.

13. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

a spring that biases the connector plug toward the closed position or the at least one open position.

14. The docking station of claim 13, further comprising a latch that locks the connector plug into the closed position or the at least one open position.

15. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a switch coupled to the connector plug, wherein the switch is activated when the connector plug is in the closed position.

16. A docking station for receiving a hand-held electronic device, the hand-held electronic device having a receptacle connector, the docking station comprising:

a housing;

a connector bay formed in the housing;

a connector assembly that is adapted to reside in the connector bay and that includes a connector plug adapted to connect to the receptacle connector of the hand-held electronic device; and

a force element that includes a rolling mechanism coupled with the connector plug, wherein the rolling mechanism moves over an undulated surface when the connector plug rotates,

wherein the connector plug is movable between a closed position in which the connector plug is entirely disposed within the connector bay and at least one open position in which an end of the connector plug is exposed for coupling with the receptacle connector, wherein a first force profile for moving the connector plug from an open position to the closed position includes an increase in the force profile.