Portable docking station for a portable computing device

• US 8,630,088 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Collopy, Thomas Kevin, Gill, Manjit Singh, Tessitore, Ronald J., Pineda, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US12/644,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20100246119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.55, 710/303, 710/304
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675

Abstract

A portable computing device (PCD) docking station is disclosed and may include an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion coupled to the upper housing portion. A PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion of the PCD docking station may be configured to removably receive a PCD. The PCD docking station may further include a keyboard incorporated into the lower housing portion, a display incorporated into the upper housing portion and a battery. The PCD docking station may be configured to allow access to a PCD via the keyboard when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station.

Claims

1. A portable computing device (PCD) docking station, the PCD docking station comprising:

an upper housing portion;

a display incorporated into the upper housing portion;

a lower housing portion coupled to the upper housing portion;

a keyboard incorporated into the lower housing portion;

a battery; and

a PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion,

wherein the PCD docking pocket is configured to removably receive a PCD, and

wherein the PCD docking station is configured to allow access to a PCD via the keyboard when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station.

2. The PCD docking station of claim 1, wherein the PCD docking station is configured to receive a display signal at the display from a PCD when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station.

3. The PCD docking station of claim 2, wherein the PCD docking station is configured to receive a PCD as a touch mouse device when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station.

4. The PCD docking station of claim 1, wherein the PCD docking pocket is an open-faced, closed-ended PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion.

5. The PCD docking station of claim 4, wherein the PCD docking pocket is configured to receive a PCD through an open upper face of the PCD docking pocket.

6. The PCD docking station of claim 5, further comprising:

a locking mechanism adjacent to the PCD docking pocket,

wherein the locking mechanism is configured to retain a PCD within the PCD docking pocket when the PCD is installed within the PCD docking pocket.

7. The PCD docking station of claim 6, wherein the PCD docking pocket is configured to allow physical access to a PCD when the PCD is installed within the PCD docking pocket.

8. The PCD docking station of claim 1, wherein the PCD docking pocket is an open-faced, open-ended PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion.

9. The PCD docking station of claim 8, wherein the PCD docking pocket is configured to receive a PCD through an open end of the PCD docking pocket.

10. The PCD docking station of claim 9, wherein the PCD docking pocket is configured to allow physical access to a PCD when the PCD is installed within the PCD docking pocket.

11. The PCD docking station of claim 1, wherein the PCD docking pocket is a closed-faced, open-ended PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion.

12. The PCD docking station of claim 11, wherein the PCD docking pocket is configured to receive a PCD through an open end of the PCD docking pocket.

13. A portable computing device (PCD) docking station, comprising:

an upper housing portion;

a lower housing portion coupled to the upper housing portion; and

a PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion,

wherein;

the PCD docking pocket is configured to removably receive a PCD;

the PCD docking pocket is a closed-faced, open-ended PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion;

the PCD docking pocket is configured to receive a PCD through an open end of the PCD docking pocket; and

the PCD docking pocket is configured to prevent physical access to a PCD when the PCD is installed within the PCD docking pocket.

14. A portable computing device (PCD) docking station, the PCD docking station comprising:

a housing comprising an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion;

a keyboard incorporated into the lower housing portion;

a display incorporated into the upper housing portion;

a battery; and

a PCD support tray extending from the housing,

wherein the PCD support tray is configured to removably receive a PCD, and

wherein the PCD docking station is configured to allow access to a PCD via the keyboard when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station.

15. The PCD docking station of claim 14, wherein the PCD docking station is configured to receive a display signal at the display from a PCD when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station.

16. The PCD docking station of claim 14, further comprising:

an upper housing portion; and

a lower housing portion coupled to the upper housing portion,

wherein the PCD support tray is configured to extend from the lower housing portion.

17. A portable computing device (PCD) docking station, the PCD docking station comprising:

a housing comprising;

an upper housing portion; and

a lower housing portion coupled to the upper housing portion; and

a PCD support tray extending from the housing, wherein the PCD support tray is configured to extend from the lower housing portion and to removably receive a PCD, and wherein the PCD support tray comprises;

a support plate;

a central opening formed in the support plate; and

a support arm hingedly disposed within the central opening of the support plate.

18. The PCD docking station of claim 17, wherein the PCD support tray is movable between an open position in which the PCD docking support tray is extended from the PCD docking station and a closed position in which the PCD support tray is retracted into the PCD docking station.

19. The PCD docking station of claim 18, wherein the support arm is movable between a first position in which the support arm fits into the central opening of the support plate and a second position in which the support arm may form an angle with respect to the support plate.

20. The PCD docking station of claim 19, wherein the support arm is configured to receive and support a PCD in the second position.

21. A portable computing device (PCD) docking station, the PCD docking station comprising:

a housing comprising;

an upper housing portion; and

a lower housing portion coupled to the upper housing portion; and

a PCD support tray extending from the housing, wherein the PCD support tray is configured to removably receive a PCD and to

extend from the upper housing portion.

22. The PCD docking station of claim 21, wherein the PCD support tray comprises:

a support plate; and

a support lip formed along a bottom of the support plate,

wherein the support lip is configured to receive and support a PCD.

23. The PCD docking station of claim 22, wherein the PCD support tray is movable between an open position in which the PCD support tray is extended from the PCD docking station and a closed position in which the PCD support tray is retracted into the PCD docking station.

24. The PCD docking station of claim 23, wherein the PCD support tray is configured to receive and support a PCD in the open position.

25. A portable computing device (PCD) docking station, the PCD docking station comprising:

a housing means having an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion;

a keyboard means incorporated into the lower housing portion;

a display means incorporated into the upper housing portion;

a battery means disposed within the housing means; and

a PCD engagement means within the housing,

wherein the PCD engagement means is configured for removably engaging a PCD, and

wherein the PCD docking station is configured to allow access to a PCD via the keyboard when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station.

26. The PCD docking station of claim 25, wherein the PCD engagement means comprises:

a PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion,

wherein the PCD docking pocket is configured to removably receive a PCD.

27. The PCD docking station of claim 26, wherein the PCD docking pocket is an open-faced, closed-ended PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion.

28. The PCD docking station of claim 27, wherein the PCD docking pocket is configured to receive a PCD through an open upper face of the PCD docking pocket.

29. The PCD docking station of claim 26, wherein the PCD docking pocket is an open-faced, open-ended PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion.

30. The PCD docking station of claim 29, wherein the PCD docking pocket is configured to receive a PCD through an open end of the PCD docking pocket.

31. The PCD docking station of claim 26, wherein the PCD docking pocket is a closed-faced, open-ended PCD docking pocket formed in the lower housing portion.

32. The PCD docking station of claim 31, wherein the PCD docking pocket is configured to receive a PCD through an open end of the PCD docking pocket.

33. The PCD docking station of claim 25, wherein the PCD engagement means comprises:

a PCD support tray extending from the housing,

wherein the PCD support tray is configured to removably receive a PCD.

34. The PCD docking station of claim 33, wherein the PCD support tray is configured to extend from the lower housing portion.

35. The PCD docking station of claim 33, wherein the PCD support tray is configured to extend from the upper housing portion.

36. The PCD docking station of claim 35, wherein the PCD support tray comprises:

a support plate; and

a support lip formed along a bottom of the support plate, wherein the support lip is configured to receive and support a PCD.

37. The PCD docking station of claim 36, wherein the PCD support tray is movable between an open position in which the PCD support tray is extended from the PCD docking station and a closed position in which the PCD support tray is retracted into the PCD docking station.

38. The PCD docking station of claim 37, wherein the PCD support tray is configured to receive and support a PCD in the open position.

39. A portable computing device (PCD) docking station, the PCD docking station comprising:

a housing means having an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion;

a keyboard means incorporated into the lower housing portion;

a display means incorporated into the upper housing portion;

a battery means disposed within the housing means; and

a PCD engagement means within the housing, wherein the PCD engagement means is configured for removably engaging a PCD, and further comprises;

a PCD support tray extending from the housing, wherein the PCD support tray is configured to removably receive a PCD, and is further configured to extend from the lower housing portion, and

wherein the PCD support tray comprises;

a support plate;

a central opening formed in the support plate; and

a support arm hingedly disposed within the central opening of the support plate.

40. The PCD docking station of claim 39, wherein the PCD support tray is movable between an open position in which the PCD support tray is extended from the PCD docking station and a closed position in which the PCD support tray is retracted into the PCD docking station.

41. The PCD docking station of claim 40, wherein the support arm is movable between a first position in which the support arm fits into the central opening of the support plate and a second position in which the support arm may form an angle with respect to the support plate.

42. The PCD docking station of claim 41, wherein the support arm is configured to receive and support a PCD in the second position.