# US 10,503,207 B1 · Dock for a multi-form factor information handling system (IHS)

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- Number: US 10,503,207 B1
- Document ID: US10503207B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/218,234
- Filed: 2018-12-12
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-12
- Assignees: Dell Products L.P.
- Applicants: Dell Products, L.P.
- Inventors: Michiel Sebastiaan Emanuel Petrus Knoppert; Mark R. Ligameri
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503207B1

## CPC

- G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations}
- G06F 1/3265: {Power saving in display device}
- G06F 1/1618: {the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure}
- G06F 1/1641: {the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence)}
- G06F 1/1643: {the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615)}
- G06F 1/1647: {including at least an additional display (G06F1/1692 takes precedence)}
- G06F 1/166: {related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle}
- G06F 1/1669: {Detachable keyboards}
- G06F 1/1677: {for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment}
- G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)}
- G06F 1/1694: {the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer}
- G06F 1/203: {for portable computers, e.g. for laptops}
- G06F 1/3206: Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
- G06F 1/3215: Monitoring of peripheral devices
- G06F 1/3262: {Power saving in digitizer or tablet}
- G06F 2200/1632: Pen holder integrated in the computer
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

Embodiments of a dock for a multi-form factor Information Handling System (IHS) are described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a dock may include: a base, a plateau configured to receive an IHS, and an arm coupling a distal edge of the base to a proximal edge of the plateau, where the arm rotates with respect to the base around a first axis to lift the plateau, where the plateau rotates with respect to the arm around a second axis to tilt the plateau, and where the second axis is parallel with respect to the first axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dock, comprising:
a base;
a plateau configured to receive an Information Handling System (IHS), wherein the plateau comprises a positioning nib;
a first row of terminals disposed in parallel with respect to a proximal edge of the plateau alongside a given edge of the positioning nib;
a second row of terminals disposed perpendicularly with respect to the first row of terminals alongside another side of the positioning nib; and
an arm coupling a distal edge of the base to the proximal edge of the plateau, wherein the arm rotates with respect to the base around a first axis to lift the plateau, wherein the plateau rotates with respect to the arm around a second axis to tilt the plateau, and wherein the second axis is parallel with respect to the first axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dock of claim 1, wherein the plateau further comprises a magnetic device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The dock of claim 2, wherein the magnetic device is positioned in the plateau in a direction perpendicular to the proximal edge of the plateau.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The dock of claim 1, wherein the IHS further comprises a first display coupled to a second display via a hinge.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The dock of claim 4, wherein the second display comprises a second magnetic device positioned to mate with the magnetic device and a second positioning nib positioned to mate with the positioning nib in the plateau when the plateau receives the IHS in laptop mode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The dock of claim 5, wherein the first display comprises a third magnetic device positioned to mate with the magnetic device in the plateau when the plateau receives the IHS in dual-display mode in a portrait orientation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The dock of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a graphical processor configured to the coupled to the IHS in response to the IHS being received by the plateau.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The dock of claim 1, wherein the IHS further comprises:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: identify a docking state of the IHS.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The dock of claim 8, wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to, based on the identification, produce a corresponding User Interface (UI) feature on the first or second displays.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The dock of claim 8, wherein the docking state is selected from the group consisting of: dual monitor mode, book mode, and laptop mode.

### Claim 11

A method, comprising:
coupling an Information Handling System (IHS) to a plateau of a dock, wherein a proximal edge of the plateau is coupled to a distal edge of a base via an arm, wherein the arm rotates with respect to the base around a first axis to lift the IHS, wherein the plateau rotates with respect to the arm around a second axis to tilt the IHS, and wherein the plateau comprises a magnetic device and a positioning nib;
collapsing the arm into the base to enter a book mode; and
extending the arm away from the base to enter a dual monitor mode, wherein the IHS comprises a first display coupled to a second display via a hinge, wherein the second display comprises a second magnetic device positioned to mate with the magnetic device and a second positioning nib positioned to mate with the positioning nib when the IHS is in laptop mode.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first display comprises a third magnetic device positioned to mate with the magnetic device when the IHS is in dual-display mode.

### Claim 13

A hardware memory device having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor of an Information Handling System (IHS), cause the IHS to:
identify a state of the IHS relative to a dock, wherein the dock comprises:
a base;
a plateau configured to receive the IHS; and
an arm coupling a distal edge of the base to a proximal edge of the plateau, wherein the arm rotates with respect to the base around a first axis to lift the plateau, wherein the plateau rotates with respect to the arm around a second axis to tilt the plateau, wherein the second axis is parallel with respect to the first axis, and wherein the plateau comprises a magnetic device and a positioning nib;
a first row of terminals disposed in parallel with respect to the proximal edge of the plateau alongside a given edge of the positioning nib;
a second row of terminals disposed perpendicularly with respect to the first row of terminals alongside another side of the positioning nib; and
based on the identification, enable a connector between the plateau and the IHS.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The hardware memory device of claim 13, wherein the IHS further comprises a first display coupled to a second display via a hinge, and wherein the second display comprises a second magnetic device positioned to mate with the magnetic device and a second positioning nib positioned to mate with the positioning nib when the IHS is in laptop mode.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The hardware memory device of claim 14, wherein the first display comprises a third magnetic device positioned to mate with the magnetic device when the IHS is in dual-display mode.