Multi-position computing device docking station
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMemphis Zhihong Yin, Glen A Oross
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Abstract
A docking station that accepts a portable computing device is disclosed. The docking station comprises a first surface that supports a bottom surface of the portable computing device. The first surface includes a means for restricting the movement of the portable computing device. The docking station additionally includes a body or a trunk that interfaces the portable computing device with an external device. The docking station additionally includes a hinge which joins the first surface to the body or trunk, in which the hinge permits the portable computing device to be rotated between a horizontal and a vertical orientation as well as various acute angles.
Claims14
A docking station comprising:
- a first surface supporting a bottom surface of a portable computing device, said first surface including means for restricting movement of said portable computing device;
- a body that interfaces said portable computing device with an external device;
- and
- a hinge which joins said first surface to said body, said hinge permitting said portable computing device to be rotated between a horizontal and a vertical orientation, wherein
- said first surface supporting said portable computing device is adjustable to a vertical orientation so that the desktop area consumed by said body and said first surface supporting said portable computing device is substantially less than the desktop area consumed by the body and a horizontally-oriented portable computing device.
A docking station adapted to position a computing device to a vertical orientation, comprising:
- means for receiving said computing device on a horizontal surface;
- means for retaining said computing device on said horizontal surface;
- and
- means for rotating said computing device and said horizontal surface to a vertical orientation, wherein
- the desktop area consumed by said substantially vertically-oriented horizontal surface retaining said computing device and a body of said docking station is less than the desktop area consumed by said body of said docking station and a horizontally-oriented computing device.
A method for positioning a computing device in a multi-position docking station, the method comprising:
- sliding said computing device along a substantially horizontal surface of said multi-position docking station;
- retaining said computing device on said horizontal surface;
- and
- rotating said computing device and said substantially horizontal surface to a substantially vertical orientation by way of a hinge that couples said substantially horizontal surface to a body, wherein
- said body interfaces said portable computing device to an external device, and wherein
- the desktop area consumed by said body and said vertically-oriented horizontal surface retaining said portable computing device is substantially less than the desktop area consumed by the body and a horizontally-oriented portable computing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.