# US 12,761,692 B2 · Dockable expansion device for minicomputer

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- Number: US 12,761,692 B2
- Document ID: US12761692B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 19/032,754
- Filed: 2025-01-21
- Published: 2025-11-20
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2024-05-14
- Assignees: Vecow Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Vecow Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Chia-Hsiu Hsu; I-Feng Su; Cheng-Chu Hu; Po-Yang Huang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761692B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A dockable expansion device for a minicomputer is provided. The minicomputer includes a thermal module, a motherboard, and a first connector. The thermal module is positioned on one side of the motherboard, and the first connector is mounted on another side of the motherboard opposite the thermal module. The dockable expansion device includes a casing and a Mobile PCI Express Module (MXM) expansion board. The MXM expansion board includes a slot for connecting an MXM graphics module, and a second connector. The second connector is compatible with the first connector and installed facing an opening of the casing. The first connector is exposed from a bottom surface of the minicomputer, and the second connector is configured to align with the first connector when the minicomputer is docked with the dockable expansion device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dockable expansion device for a minicomputer, the minicomputer comprising a first thermal module, a motherboard, and a first connector, the first thermal module being disposed on a side of the motherboard, and the first connector being disposed on another side of the motherboard opposite the first thermal module, the dockable expansion device comprising:
a housing having an opening; and
a Mobile PCI Express Module (MXM) expansion board, comprising:
a slot configured to connect to an MXM graphics module, the slot being located on the opposite side of the MXM expansion board relative to the opening, the MXM graphic module being stacked on the opposite side of the MXM expansion board relative to the opening and substantially parallel to the MXM expansion board; and
a second connector compatible with the first connector and disposed facing the opening,
wherein the first connector is exposed from a bottom surface of the minicomputer, and the second connector is configured to align with the first connector when the minicomputer is docked with the dockable expansion device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dockable expansion device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises:
a containing space located on the side of the MXM expansion board away from the opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The dockable expansion device of claim 2, wherein the housing has dimensions equal to or greater than 117 mm×112 mm×50 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The dockable expansion device of claim 3, wherein the containing space has dimensions equal to or greater than 102 mm×90 mm×35 mm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The dockable expansion device of claim 2, further comprising:
a second thermal module disposed within the containing space and configured to dissipate heat from the MXM graphics module.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The dockable expansion device of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises a high-speed signal female connector, the second connector comprises a high-speed signal male connector, and the second connector protrudes through the opening from a top surface of the dockable expansion device by a first height.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The dockable expansion device of claim 6, further comprising:
a male alignment element protruding in a facing direction of the opening from the top surface by a second height,
wherein the second height is greater than the first height.