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US 5,493,542 AGranted
Arrangement for portable computers
AssigneeLogIn Europe AB
InventorTomas Odelid
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention generally relates to an arrangement for docking a portable computer (100) against a number of peripheral units. Provision is made, e.g. at the rear side of the computer, of a multi-pole docking connector (19) whose poles correspond signalwise to the poles of conventional peripheral connectors (118a-f) of the computer (100). At the same time, access to the peripheral connectors (118a-f) is maintained, optionally in the form of copies (18a-f), signalwise and with respect to type, so that peripheral units can be connected to the computer (100), either in a docking station via the docking connector (19), e.g. in stationary use of the computer (100), or in conventional manner directly via the peripheral connectors (118a-f) or via the above copies (18a-f) thereof, e.g. when the computer (100) is used in the field.
Claims13
An ancillary device for a portable computer (100) having a first plurality of outer peripheral connectors for connecting peripheral units to the computer (100), the ancillary device including:
- a frame (10) having a mounting side and a docking side and being designed to be attached on the outside of the computer (100) for mounting the ancillary device,
- a second plurality of peripheral connectors (18a-f) supported by said frame (10),
- at least one docking connector (19) supported by said frame (10) and designed to be connected, by the docking of the computer (100) in an associated docking station (200), to a matching connector (206) of the docking station (200) for connection of peripheral units to the computer (100) via the docking station (200), and
- a circuit means (20a-f, 21) for establishing an electrical connection between the peripheral connectors (118a-f) of the computer (100) and the peripheral connectors (18a-f) of the ancillary device and between the peripheral connectors (118a-f) of the computer (100) and the docking connector (19) of the ancillary device,
- whereby the peripheral connectors (18a-f) of the ancillary device enable conventional connection of peripheral units to the computer (100) when the latter is not docked in the docking station (200).
2 more elements
A portable computer (100) having a plurality of outer peripheral connectors (118a-f) for connecting peripheral units to the computer (100), wherein:
- the computer (100) further supports at least one outer docking connector which has a number of poles at least equal to the total number of signal-carrying poles of the peripheral connectors (118a-f) of the computer, and
- at least the main part of the signal-carrying poles of the peripheral connectors (118a-f) of the computer are electrically connected to a respective pole of the docking connector,
- the docking connector being adapted to be connected, by the docking of the computer (100) in an associated docking station (200), to a matching connector (206) of the docking station for connection of peripheral units to the computer (100) via the docking station, the peripheral connectors (118a-f) being substantially inaccessible when the computer is docked in the docking station (200).
A combination including:
- a portable computer (100) having a first plurality of outer peripheral connectors for connecting peripheral unit to the computer (100):
- a docking station (200) for receiving the portable computer (100) equipped with an ancillary device;
- said ancillary device including:
- a frame (10) having a mounting side and a docking side and being designed to be attached on the outside of the computer (100) for mounting the ancillary device,
- a second plurality of peripheral connectors (18a-f) supported by said frame (10),
- at least one docking connector (19) supported by said frame (10) and designed to be connected, by the docking of the computer (100) in an associated docking station (200), to a matching connector (206) of the docking station (200) for connection of peripheral units to the computer (100) via the docking station (200), and
- a circuit means (20a-f, 21) for establishing an electrical connection between the peripheral connectors (118a-f) of the computer (100) and the peripheral connectors (18a-f) of the ancillary device and between the peripheral connectors (118a-f) of the computer (100) and the docking connector (19) of the ancillary device,
- whereby the peripheral connectors (18a-f) of the ancillary device enable conventional connection of peripheral units to the computer (100) also when the latter is not docked in the docking station (200)
- wherein the docking station includes a receiving space (205) which is open at the front and into which the computer (100) is insertable to interconnect the docking connector (19) of the ancillary device and a matching connector (206) of the docking station (200) arranged in the receiving space (205) for connecting peripheral units to the computer (100) via the docking station (200), at least a main part of the peripheral connectors (18a-f) of the ancillary device being substantially inaccessible in the receiving space (205) of the docking station (200) when the computer (100) is docked.
6 more elements
A combination including:
- a portable computer (100) having a first plurality of outer peripheral connectors for connecting peripheral unit to the computer (100), said computer (100) further supporting at least one outer docking connector which has a number of poles at least equal to the total number of signal-carrying poles of the peripheral connectors (118a-f) of the computer, and
- at least the main part of the signal-carrying poles of the peripheral connectors (118a-f) of the computer are electrically connected to a pole of their own amongst the poles of the docking connector,
- the docking connector being adapted to be connected, by the docking of the computer (100) in an associated docking station (200), to a matching connector (206) of the docking station for connection of peripheral units to the computer (100) via the docking station, the peripheral connectors (118a-f) being intended not to be used when the computer is docked in the docking station (200);
- a docking station (200) for receiving said portable computer (100) the docking station including a receiving space (205) which is open at the front and into which the computer (100) is insertable to interconnect the docking connector of the computer (100) and a matching connector (206) of the docking station (200) arranged in the receiving space (205) for connecting peripheral units to the computer (100) via the docking station (200), all or at least the main part of the peripheral connectors (118a-f) of the computer (100) being substantially inaccessible in the receiving space (205) of the docking station (200) when the computer (100) is docked.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.