Automatic computer docking station having a motorized tray, cammed side connectors, motorized side connectors, and locking and unlocking guide pins

An automatic docking station for a portable computer having first and second connection means comprising:

• a housing for holding said portable computer therein, said housing having connection means for coupling a computer monitor and a keyboard, said connection means including first and second connecting means,
• a tray adapted to receive said portable computer thereon, said tray being slidably mounted to said housing, and
• drive means coupled between said housing and said tray for driving said tray and said portable computer into and out of said housing and automatically mating said first connecting means of said housing to said first connection means on said portable computer;
• and
• said drive means includes a first drive mechanism for driving said tray in a first direction and a second drive mechanism coupled to a first connector system of said connection means on said housing for driving said first connector system in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction to mate or unmate with said second connection means on said portable computer.

An automatic docking station for a portable computer comprising:

• a housing for holding a portable computer therein, said housing having connection means for coupling a computer monitor and a keyboard,
• a tray adapted to receive said portable computer thereon, said tray being slidably mounted to said housing, and
• drive means coupled between said housing and said tray for driving said tray and said portable computer into and out of said housing and automatically mating said connection means of said housing to connection means on said portable computer;
• said housing includes a connector bus half for connection to a connector bus half in said personal computer when said personal computer is driven in said first direction and said first drive means includes means for indicating when said tray with said personal computer is near said housing connector bus half for stepping said drive means slowly and wherein said housing includes guide means for guiding said computer so said bus halves mate;
• said guide means includes guide pins on either side of said housing connector bus half and said personal computer includes alignment holes on either side of said personal computer bus half;
• and
• said guide means includes means for locking and unlocking said guide pins and means responsive to the personal computer being and the tray being such that the guide pins are in the holes for unlocking said pins allowing the first drive motor to continue stepping the bus halves together.

An automatic docking station for a portable computer comprising:

• a housing for holding a portable computer therein,
• a tray adapted to receive said portable computer thereon, said tray being slidably mounted to said housing, and
• drive means coupled between said housing and said tray for driving said tray and, said portable computer into and out of said housing;
• and
• said tray includes a tray camming means along one side thereof and a spring mounted connector on said housing with a pin means is coupled to said tray camming means for coupling said connector to the side of said personal computer when said tray moves said computer into said housing.

An automatic docking station for a portable computer having a connector on a first side thereof comprising:

• a housing for holding said portable computer therein, said housing having a first connection means;
• a tray adapted to receive said portable computer thereon, said tray being slidably mounted to said housing;
• first drive means coupled between said housing and said tray for driving said tray and said portable computer into and out of said housing in a first direction;
• and
• a second drive mean coupled to said first connection means for driving said first connection means in a direction orthogonal to said first direction automatically mating said first connection means of said housing to said connector on a side of said portable computer.