# US 2016/0259372 A2 · Electronic locking mechanism for a docking station > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0259372 A2 - Document ID: US20160259372A2 - Status: Published application - Kind: A2 - Application number: 14/784,280 - Filed: 2013-04-15 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-15 - Assignees: Draeger Medical Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Draeger Medical Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Clifford Mark RISHER-KELLY; Bernd ROSENFELDT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160259372A2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations} - G06F 1/3231: Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users - G06F 13/4081: {Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging (current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004)} - G06F 13/409: {Mechanical coupling (back panels H05K7/1438)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A docking station for a patient monitoring device and method of locking the patient monitoring device in the docking station is provided. A housing selectively supports a patient monitoring device thereon and a first port positioned on the housing receives a patient monitoring device therein. A sensor senses one of a presence and absence of the patient monitoring device within the first port. A locking mechanism mechanically locks the patient monitoring device within the first port, wherein the locking mechanism maintains the docking station and patient monitoring device in a mechanically locked state in response to sensing the presence of the patient monitoring device within the first port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A docking station for a patient monitoring device comprising a housing that selectively supports a patient monitoring device thereon; a first port positioned on the housing for receiving the patient monitoring device therein; a sensor that senses one of a presence and absence of the patient monitoring device; a locking mechanism that mechanically locks the patient monitoring device to the first port, wherein the locking mechanism maintains the docking station and patient monitoring device in a mechanically locked state in response to sensing the presence of the patient monitoring device within the first port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The docking station according to claim 1, further comprising a connector positioned within the first port that mates with a corresponding patient monitoring device connector enabling the patient monitoring device to receive power from the docking station and communicate data between the docking station and the patient monitoring device when the locking mechanism locks the patient monitoring device within the first port ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The docking station according to claim 2, further comprising an unlock signal generator that causes the locking mechanism to partially disengage the locking mechanism from the patient monitoring device in response to user activation thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The docking station according to claim 3, wherein upon activation of the unlock signal generator and sensing a change in presence of the patient monitoring device by the sensor, the connector is disconnected from the mating connector in the patient monitoring device and the locking mechanism is fully disengaged from the patient monitoring device thereby enabling removal of the patient monitoring device from the docking station. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The docking station according to claim 3, further comprising a controller coupled to the connector, sensor and locking mechanism, the control controls operation of the locking mechanism and the connector in response to receipt of an input signal from the sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The docking station according to claim 5, wherein the controller simultaneously controls the locking mechanism to secure the mechanical lock and connect the connector to the mating patient monitoring device connector in response to receiving the input signal from the sensor indicating the presence of the patient monitoring device within the first port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The docking station according to claim 5, wherein the controller controls the locking mechanism to partially disengage the mechanical lock in response to receiving an unlock signal from the unlock signal generator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The docking station according to claim 7, wherein the controller initiates a timer for a predetermined time period to determine if the sensor has sensed a change in position of the patient monitoring device within the first port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The docking station according to claim 8, wherein the controller determines that the docking station is to be removed when the sensor senses the change in position of the patient monitoring device during the predetermined time period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The docking station according to claim 8, wherein the controller fully disengages the locking mechanism and disconnects the connector when the sensor senses a change in position of the patient monitoring device during the predetermined time period. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The docking station according to claim 5, wherein the controller automatically re-engages the locking mechanism at the conclusion of the predetermined time period if the sensor has not sensed a change in position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The docking station according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is an electromechanical locking mechanism. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The docking station according to claim 1, wherein the connector includes at least one of (a) a pin connector; (b) an optical connector and (c) a magnetic connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The docking station according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is at least one of (a) a pressure sensor; (b) an electronic sensor and (c) an optical sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The docking station according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned at least one of (a) within the first port; (b) adjacent the first port; (c) on a side of the housing that contacts the patient monitoring device. ### Claim 16 A method of securing a patient monitoring device within a docking station comprising the activities of receiving a patient monitoring device within a first port on a housing of the docking station; sensing, by a sensor, one of a presence and absence of the patient monitoring device; mechanically locking the patient monitoring device within the first port using a locking mechanism; and maintaining the docking station and patient monitoring device in a mechanically locked state in response to sensing the presence of the patient monitoring device within the first port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, further comprising connecting a connector positioned within the first port a corresponding patient monitoring device connector enabling the patient monitoring device to receive power from the docking station and communicate data between the docking station and the patient monitoring device when the locking mechanism locks the patient monitoring device within the first port. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, further comprising partially disengaging the mechanical lock of the locking mechanism from the patient monitoring device in response to user activation of an unlock signal generator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein upon activation of the unlock signal generator and sensing a change in presence of the patient monitoring device by the sensor, further comprising disconnecting the connector from the mating patient monitoring device connector; fully disengaging the locking mechanism from the patient monitoring device thereby enabling removal of the patient monitoring device from the docking station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising controlling, by a controller coupled to the locking mechanism, connector and sensor, operation of the locking mechanism and the connector in response to receipt of an input signal from the sensor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, further comprising simultaneously controlling the locking mechanism to secure the mechanical lock and connecting the connector to the mating patient monitoring device connector in response to receiving input signal from the sensor indicating the presence of the patient monitoring device within the first port. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising controlling the locking mechanism to partially disengage the mechanical lock in response to receiving an unlock signal from the unlock signal generator. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, further comprising initiating a timer for a predetermined time period to determine if the sensor has sensed a change in position of the patient monitoring device within the first port. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, further comprising determining, by the controller, that the docking station is to be removed when the sensor senses the change in position of the patient monitoring device during the predetermined time period. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, further comprising fully disengaging the locking mechanism and disconnecting the connector when the sensor senses a change in position of the patient monitoring device during the predetermined time period. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, further comprising automatically re-engaging the locking mechanism at the conclusion of the predetermined time period if the sensor has not sensed a change in position.