Docking station for an electronic device

• US 8,578,081 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aquatic AV, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aquatic AV, Inc.
• Inventors: Fils, Robert Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): DALEY, CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US12/915,967
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 710/303, 710/72, 381/86, 455/348
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a housing unit, which allows an electronic device such as a portable digital audio player to be substantially hermetically sealed within an audio device. The electronic device is controllable by a user while housed with the housing unit. The audio device is able to be used in a vehicle such as a car, a camper, or a boat or in other common consumer products.

Claims

1. A mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device, comprising:

a. a cavity to accept the electronic device;

b. a connector located within the cavity to couple with the electronic device; and

c. a front cover movable between an open position and a closed position and coupled to the apparatus, wherein the electronic device is inserted into or removed from the cavity when the front cover is in the open position;

wherein when the front cover is in the closed position and the electronic device is in the cavity a front face of the electronic device faces a back of the front cover and further wherein when the front cover is in the closed position, the cover seals the cavity to be waterproof.

2. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a controller interface, wherein the controller interface couples to the housing unit to define the sealed enclosure, and wherein the controller interface comprises a user interface for controlling the electronic device when the electronic device is housed in the housing unit.

3. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted on a flat surface.

4. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 3, wherein the housing is removably mounted to the flat surface.

5. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a connector which connects to one or more of an amplifier and speakers.

6. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 1, wherein the cavity is an electronic device specific form-fitting opening.

7. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 1, wherein the opening is an electronic device generic opening, wherein the opening accommodates a number of different sized electronic devices, and wherein the enclosure is an electronic device generic enclosure which accommodates a number of different sized electronic devices.

8. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connector is selected from among RCA cables, multi-pin connectors, 8P8C connectors, DE-9 connectors, USB connectors, and 30-pin connectors.

9. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a receiver for receiving wireless transmissions; and

a wireless remote with a transceiver, wherein the transceiver sends wireless information to the receiver, and wherein the wireless information controls the electronic device contained within the housing unit.

10. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 9, wherein the receiver and transceiver utilize wireless transmission technologies selected from among IEEE 802.11 standard wireless technology, Bluetooth®

wireless technology, Infra-red transmission technology, and Radio Frequency technology.

11. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 9, wherein the cover is configured to allow the transmission of wireless transmission technologies therethrough.

12. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 2, wherein the controller interface comprises controls coupled to a steering mechanism.

13. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 2, the controller interface further comprising a display screen.

14. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 13, wherein the display screen displays video files selected from among DivX Media, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video files.

15. The mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device of claim 2, wherein the controller interface detachably couples with the housing.

16. An apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device, comprising:

a. a housing unit comprising;

i. an enclosure for holding the electronic device;

ii. a connector for coupling with the electronic device; and

iii. a cover movable between an open position and a closed position and coupled to the apparatus, wherein the electronic device is inserted into or removed from the enclosure when the front cover is in the open position, and further wherein when the cover is in a closed position, the cover seals the enclosure to be waterproof;

wherein a back of the housing unit is mounted flush with an exterior surface.

17. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the cover comprises a user interface for controlling the electronic device when the electronic device is housed in the housing unit.

18. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the apparatus removably mounts to the mountable surface.

19. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a connector which connects to one or more of an amplifier and speakers.

20. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the enclosure is an electronic device specific form-fitting enclosure.

21. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the enclosure accommodates a number of different sized electronic devices.

22. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the connector is selected from among RCA cables, multi-pin connectors, 8P8C connectors, DE-9 connectors, USB connectors, and 30-pin connectors.

23. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the user interface further comprises:

a receiver for receiving wireless transmissions; and

a wireless remote control device with a transceiver, wherein the transceiver sends wireless information to the receiver to control the electronic device contained within the housing unit.

24. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the receiver and transceiver utilize wireless transmission technologies selected from among IEEE 802.11 standard wireless technology, Bluetooth®

wireless technology, Infra-red transmission technology, and Radio Frequency technology.

25. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the user interface comprises controls coupled to a steering mechanism.

26. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen.

27. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 26, wherein the display screen displays video files selected from among DivX Media, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video files.

28. The apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the user interface detachably couples from the housing unit.

29. A method of coupling a removable electronic device to an audio apparatus, comprising:

coupling a removable electronic device within a housing unit, wherein a back of the electronic device is placed flat against a back of the housing unit and a front cover is closed over a front of the electronic device thereby defining a sealed waterproof enclosure, wherein the electronic device is inserted into or removed from the housing unit when the front cover is in an open position; and

controlling the electronic device from outside the housing unit when the electronic device is sealed within the housing unit.

30. The method of coupling a removable electronic device to an audio apparatus of claim 29, further comprising coupling a user interface to the housing unit.

31. The method of coupling a removable electronic device to an audio apparatus of claim 29, further comprising broadcasting signals from a remote control having a transceiver to the user interface, wherein the user interface is configured with a receiver for receiving wirelessly broadcasted signals.

32. The method of coupling a removable electronic device to an audio apparatus of claim 29, wherein the user interface is coupled to steering controls, and wherein the steering wheel controls are used to control the electronic device when the electronic device is sealed within the housing unit.

33. The method of coupling a removable electronic device to an audio apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

displaying video content from the electronic device on a display screen.

34. An apparatus for housing and controlling a removable electronic media player comprising:

a. a housing unit comprising;

i. a sealable waterproof enclosure configured to house a removable electronic media player;

ii. an opening configured to accept the electronic media player;

iii. a connector located within the sealable enclosure for coupling with the electronic media player; and

b. a cover for covering the opening and comprising a control interface for controlling the electronic media player while it is housed within the apparatus,

wherein the electronic media player is inserted through the opening when the cover is in an open position and into the sealable waterproof enclosure in order to couple with the connector.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the cover rotates from a closed position to an open position in order to insert the electronic media player through the opening to couple with the connector.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the cover is completely removed in order to insert the electronic media player through the opening to couple with the connector.

37. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the electronic media player is controlled by a user interface coupled to the housing unit.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the user interface is located on the cover.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the interface is located on a surface of the housing unit.

40. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the electronic media player is controlled by a remote control.

41. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the electronic media player sits in a vertical orientation when it is coupled with the connector.

42. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the electronic media player sits in a horizontal orientation when it is coupled with the connector.

43. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising an accessory connector which connects to one or more of an amplifier and speakers.

44. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the enclosure is an electronic media player specific form-fitting opening.

45. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the opening accommodates a number of different sized electronic devices, and wherein the enclosure accommodates a number of different sized electronic devices.

46. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the removable electronic media player is selected from the group consisting of a portable music player, Mp3 player, music telephone, Mp4 player, or DivX Media format player.

47. A system for housing and controlling a removable electronic media player comprising:

a. a housing unit comprising;

i. a sealable waterproof enclosure configured to house a removable electronic media player;

ii. an opening configured to accept the electronic media player;

iii. a connector located within the sealable enclosure for coupling with the electronic media player;

b. a separately movable cover that is movable in order to allow access to the opening, wherein the electronic media player is inserted into or removed through the opening when the separately movable cover is in an open position and further wherein the separately movable cover comprises a control interface for controlling the electronic media player while it is coupled within the housing; and

c. an accessory connector which connects to one or more of an amplifier and speakers.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the cover is moved to an open position by rotating the cover about an edge of the housing unit.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein the cover is removed from the housing unit in order to access the opening.

50. The system of claim 47 wherein the electronic media player is controlled by a user interface coupled to the housing unit.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the user interface is located on the cover.

52. The system of claim 50 wherein the user interface is located on a surface of the housing unit.

53. The system of claim 47 wherein the electronic media player is controlled by a remote control.

54. The system of claim 47 wherein the electronic media player sits in a vertical orientation when it is coupled with the connector.

55. The system of claim 47 wherein the electronic media player sits in a horizontal orientation when it is coupled with the connector.

56. The system of claim 47 further comprising a connector which connects to one or more of an amplifier and speakers.

57. The system of claim 47 wherein the enclosure is an electronic media player specific form-fitting opening.

58. The system of claim 47 wherein the opening accommodates a number of different sized electronic devices, and wherein the enclosure accommodates a number of different sized electronic devices.

59. The system of claim 47 wherein the removable electronic media player is selected from the group consisting of a portable music player, Mp3 player, music telephone, Mp4 player, or DivX Media format player.

60. A method of removably coupling an electronic media player with a housing for controlling and playing the electronic media player comprising:

a. inserting the electronic media player through an opening and into a sealable waterproof enclosure of the housing;

b. coupling the electronic media player with a connector located within the sealable waterproof enclosure; and

c. closing the opening of the sealable enclosure

wherein the electronic media player is able to be played once it is coupled within the sealable waterproof enclosure.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein closing the opening of the sealable enclosure comprises rotating a cover in a downward direction or an upward direction and over the opening.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein closing the opening of the sealable enclosure comprises removably coupling the cover with the housing and over the opening.

63. The method of claim 60 wherein the removable electronic media player is selected from the group consisting of a portable music player, Mp3 player, music telephone, Mp4 player, or DivX Media format player.

64. The method of claim 60 further comprising controlling the electronic media player with a user interface coupled to the housing unit.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the user interface is located on the cover.

66. The method of claim 64 wherein the user interface is located on a surface of the housing unit.

67. The method of claim 60 further comprising controlling the electronic media player with a remote control.

68. A mountable housing for removably holding an electronic device, comprising:

d. a cavity to accept the electronic device;

e. a connector located within the cavity to couple with the electronic device; and

f. a front cover coupled to the apparatus;

wherein when the front cover is in a closed position and the electronic device is in the cavity a face of the electronic device faces a back of the front cover and further wherein when the front cover is in the closed position, the cover seals the cavity to be waterproof, wherein the electronic device is inserted into or removed from the cavity when the front cover is in the open position.