Method and apparatus for providing a high-speed communications link between a portable device and a docking station
US7890688B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 15, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 9, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/385
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A docking station is provided with a SerDes component, one or more peripheral device I/O ports, and at least one high-speed serial I/O port for interfacing the docking station with a high-speed serial communications link. A portable device that can be docked on the docking station is also provided with a high-speed serial I/O port. A high-speed serial communications link is provided between the high-speed serial I/O port of the docking station and the high-speed serial I/O port of the portable device to enable serial data to be communicated between the portable device and the docking station. Providing the serial communications link obviates the need for a large connector with a high pin count for interfacing the portable device with the docking station. In addition, the inclusion of the SerDes component in the docking station eliminates the need for a southbridge IC on the motherboard of the portable device, or at least enables a southbridge IC having less complexity to be used on the motherboard of the portable device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.