Portable computer docking station having modular motorized docking/undocking structure
US5933321A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 18, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 3, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 18, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/1632
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A portable computer docking station has incorporated therein a motorized docking/undocking module which is releasably latched to a housing wall portion of the docking station. The module includes a housing within which a small electric drive motor is operatively mounted, with wall portions of the module housing translationally and rotationally restraining the motor body without the use of screws or other separate fastening members. A docking control system, upon sensing the manual placement of a portable computer on a receiving area adjacent the module energizes the module motor which rotates a cammed worm gear portion of the module which is drivingly linked to latching and ejection portions of the module. The motor-driven latching portion of the module connects to the computer and docks it by forcibly drawing it toward the module in a manner mating facing connectors on the computer and docking station. When it is desired to undock the computer, a signal is transmitted to the control system which, in turn, energizes the module motor to cause the latching portion to release the docked computer, and the ejection portion to push the computer away from the module to thereby forcibly de…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.