Docking system for enhancing computer functionality

Claim 2

A docking system having a personal computer provided with a personal computer side connector and a personal computer side electric power source portion and a station provided with a station side connector and a station side electric power source portion, comprising: (a) a first detecting means for detecting combination states of said personal computer and said station; (b) a second detecting means for detecting separating operation of said personal computer from said station; (c) a combination holding means for holding a combination state of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector; (d) a switching means for switching said personal computer side electric power source portion to said station side electric power source portion; (e) a third detecting means for detecting a state of placement of said personal computer on said station; and (f) a control unit, coupled to the first, second and third detecting means, the combination holding means, and to the switching means, which; (1) cuts said personal computer side electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer side electric power source portion is in a conductive state when said third detecting means detects a state of placement; (2) supplies electric power from said station side electric power source portion to said personal computer by means of said switching means when said first detecting means detects a state of said station side connector being combined with said personal computer side connector; and (3) cuts the electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer is in an actuation state when said second detecting means detects separating operation of said personal computer.

Claim 3

The docking system according to claim 1 wherein a locking means for preventing or fixing combination of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector is further provided.

Claim 4

The docking system according to claim 2 wherein said locking means prevents combination of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector when the electric power source is connected to said personal computer when said second detecting means is switched to ON state, and fixes combination of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector when the electric power source is connected to said personal computer when said second detecting means is switched to ON state.

Claim 5

The docking system according to any one of claims 2, 3 or 1 wherein said personal computer is formed to have a rectangular cross section, and said station is formed to have an L-shaped cross section by means of a mounting wall and a mounting surface, to form a box configuration when docking said personal computer with said station.

Claim 6

The docking system according to claim 4 wherein said personal computer side connector is provided at a rear end surface of said personal computer, said station side connector is provided at said mounting wall of the station, and said personal computer side connector is electrically connected with said station side connector when said personal computer and said station form a box configuration.

Claim 7

The docking system according to claim 5 wherein connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector is performed by sliding said personal computer from a position where said personal computer is placed on said mounting surface of the station toward said mounting wall of the station.

Claim 8

The docking system according to claim 6 wherein said combination holding means is provided with a first engaging member which is formed at said mounting surface of the station, and a second engaging member which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer and engages with said first engaging member.

Claim 9

The docking system according to claim 7 wherein said first engaging member is constituted by a fastening member projecting from said mounting surface of the station, and said second engaging member is constituted by a fastening groove which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer to receive said fastening member.

Claim 10

The docking system according to claim 8 wherein a guide projection is formed at said mounting surface of the station in order to allow said personal computer to slide toward the wall surface of said station, and a guide groove corresponding to said guide groove is formed at the reverse side of said personal computer.

Claim 11

The docking system according to claim 8 wherein said second detecting means becomes ON state when said fastening member is pushed by pressure to cancel a holding state of the connector.

Claim 12

The docking system according to claim 9 wherein said third detecting means is provided at the bottom portion of said guide groove, which becomes ON state when said guide projection of the station is inserted into said guide groove of the personal computer.

Claim 13

The docking system according to claim 4 wherein said first detecting means is provided at said mounting wall of the station.

Claim 14

In a docking system having a personal computer provided with a personal computer side connector and a personal computer side electric power source portion and a station provided with a station side connector and a station side electric power source portion, a first detecting means for detecting combination states of said personal computer and said station, a second detecting means for detecting separating operation of said personal computer from said station, a combination holding means for holding a combination state of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector, a switching means for switching said personal computer side electric power source portion to said station side electric power source portion, a third detecting means for detecting a state of placement of said personal computer on said station, and a control unit, coupled to the first, second and third detecting means, the combination holding means, and to the switching means, which cuts said personal computer side electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer side electric power source portion is in a conductive state when said third detecting means detects a state of placement, supplies electric power from said station side electric power source portion to said personal computer by means of said switching means when said first detecting means detects a state of said station side connector being combined with said personal computer side connector, and cuts the electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer is in an actuation state when said second detecting means detects separating operation of said personal computer; wherein said personal computer is formed to have a rectangular cross section, and said station is formed to have an L-shaped cross section by means of a mounting wall and a mounting surface, to form a box configuration when docking said personal computer with said station; and wherein said personal computer side connector is provided at a rear end surface of said personal computer, said station side connector is provided at said mounting wall of the station, and said personal computer side connector is electrically connected with said station side connector when said personal computer and said station form a box configuration; and wherein connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector is performed by sliding said personal computer from a position where said personal computer is placed on said mounting wall of the station toward said mounting wall of the station; and wherein said combination holding means is provided with a first engaging member which is formed at said mounting surface of the station, and a second engaging member which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer and engages with said first engaging member; and wherein said first engaging member is constituted by a fastening member projecting from said mounting surface of the station, and said second engaging member is constituted by a fastening groove which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer to receive said fastening member; and wherein a guide projection is formed at said mounting surface of the station in order to allow said personal computer to slide toward the wall surface of said station, and a guide groove corresponding to said guide groove is formed at the reverse side of said personal computer, a method comprising the steps of: (a) placing said personal computer on said mounting surface of the station to insert said guide projection of the station into said guide groove of the personal computer, and (b) connecting said personal computer side connector with said station side connector by sliding said personal computer toward said mounting wall of the station by maintaining placement of said personal computer on said station.

Claim 15

In a docking system having a personal computer provided with a personal computer side connector and a personal computer side electric power source portion and a station provided with a station side connector and a station side electric power source portion, a first detecting means for detecting combination states of said personal computer and said station, a second detecting means for detecting separating operation of said personal computer from said station, a combination holding means for holding a combination state of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector, a switching means for switching said personal computer side electric power source portion to said station side electric power source portion, a third detecting means for detecting a state of placement of said personal computer on said station, and a control unit, coupled to the first, second and third detecting means, the combination holding means, and to the switching means, which cuts said personal computer side electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer side electric power source portion is in a conductive state when said third detecting means detects a state of placement, supplies electric power from said station side electric power source portion to said personal computer by means of said switching means when said first detecting means detects a state of said station side connector being combined with said personal computer side connector, and cuts the electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer is in an actuation state when said second detecting means detects separating operation of said personal computer; wherein said personal computer is formed to have a rectangular cross section, and said station is formed to have an L-shaped cross section by means of a mounting wall and a mounting surface, to form a box configuration when docking said personal computer with said station; and wherein said personal computer side connector is provided at a rear end surface of said personal computer, said station side connector is provided at said mounting wall of the station, and said personal computer side connector is electrically connected with said station side connector when said personal computer and said station form a box configuration; and wherein connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector is performed by sliding said personal computer from a position where said personal computer is placed on said mounting wall of the station toward said mounting wall of the station; and wherein said combination holding means is provided with a first engaging member which is formed at said mounting surface of the station, and a second engaging member which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer and engages with said first engaging member; and wherein said first engaging member is constituted by a fastening member projecting from said mounting surface of the station, and said second engaging member is constituted by a fastening groove which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer to receive said fastening member; and wherein a guide projection is formed at said mounting surface of the station in order to allow said personal computer to slide toward the wall surface of said station, and a guide groove corresponding to said guide groove is formed at the reverse side of said personal computer, a method comprising the steps of: (a) placing said personal computer on said mounting surface of the station to insert said guide projection of the station into said guide groove of the personal computer, and (b) connecting said personal computer side connector with said station side connector by sliding said personal computer toward said mounting wall of the station by maintaining placement of said personal computer on said station.

Claim 16

The docking method according to claim 13 wherein said third detecting means becomes ON state by means of said guide projection inserted into said guide groove in said first step, and said first detecting means becomes ON state by means of said personal computer slided toward said mounting wall of the station in said second step.

Claim 17

In a docking system having a personal computer provided with a personal computer side connector and a personal computer side electric power source portion and a station provided with a station side connector and a station side electric power source portion, a first detecting means for detecting combination states of said personal computer and said station, a second detecting means for detecting separating operation of said personal computer from said station, a combination holding means for holding a combination state of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector, a switching means for switching said personal computer side electric power source portion to said station side electric power source portion, a third detecting means for detecting a state of placement of said personal computer on said station, and a control unit, coupled to the first, second and third detecting means, the combination holding means, and to the switching means, which cuts said personal computer side electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer side electric power source portion is in a conductive state when said third detecting means detects a state of placement, supplies electric power from said station side electric power source portion to said personal computer by means of said switching means when said first detecting means detects a state of said station side connector being combined with said personal computer side connector, and cuts the electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer is in an actuation state when said second detecting means detects separating operation of said personal computer; wherein said personal computer is formed to have a rectangular cross section, and said station is formed to have an L-shaped cross section by means of a mounting wall and a mounting surface, to form a box configuration when docking said personal computer with said station; and wherein said personal computer side connector is provided at a rear end surface of said personal computer, said station side connector is provided at said mounting wall of the station, and said personal computer side connector is electrically connected with said station side connector when said personal computer and said station form a box configuration; and wherein connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector is performed by sliding said personal computer from a position where said personal computer is placed on said mounting wall of the station toward said mounting wall of the station; and wherein said combination holding means is provided with a first engaging member which is formed at said mounting surface of the station, and a second engaging member which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer and engages with said first engaging member; and wherein said first engaging member is constituted by a fastening member projecting from said mounting surface of the station, and said second engaging member is constituted by a fastening groove which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer to receive said fastening member; and wherein a guide projection is formed at said mounting surface of the station in order to allow said personal computer to slide toward the wall surface of said station, and a guide groove corresponding to said guide groove is formed at the reverse side of said personal computer, a docking cancellation method comprising the steps of: (a) separating said fastening member from said fastening groove of the personal computer by pushing said fastening member of the station by pressure; (b) canceling connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector by sliding said personal computer in a direction separating from said mounting wall of the station; and (c) separating said guide projection of the station from said guide groove of the personal computer to separate said personal computer from said station.

Claim 18

In a docking system having a personal computer provided with a personal computer side connector and a personal computer side electric power source portion and a station provided with a station side connector and a station side electric power source portion, a first detecting means for detecting combination states of said personal computer and said station, a second detecting means for detecting separating operation of said personal computer from said station, a combination holding means for holding a combination state of said personal computer side connector and said station side connector, a switching means for switching said personal computer side electric power source portion to said station side electric power source portion, a third detecting means for detecting a state of placement of said personal computer on said station, and a control unit, coupled to the first, second and third detecting means, the combination holding means, and to the switching means, which cuts said personal computer side electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer side electric power source portion is in a conductive state when said third detecting means detects a state of placement, supplies electric power from said station side electric power source portion to said personal computer by means of said switching means when said first detecting means detects a state of said station side connector being combined with said personal computer side connector, and cuts the electric power source after performing backup processing of an execution program when said personal computer is in an actuation state when said second detecting means detects separating operation of said personal computer; wherein said personal computer is formed to have a rectangular cross section, and said station is formed to have an L-shaped cross section by means of a mounting wall and a mounting surface, to form a box configuration when docking said personal computer with said station; and wherein said personal computer side connector is provided at a rear end surface of said personal computer, said station side connector is provided at said mounting wall of the station, and said personal computer side connector is electrically connected with said station side connector when said personal computer and said station form a box configuration; and wherein connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector is performed by sliding said personal computer from a position where said personal computer is placed on said mounting wall of the station toward said mounting wall of the station; and wherein said combination holding means is provided with a first engaging member which is formed at said mounting surface of the station, and a second engaging member which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer and engages with said first engaging member; and wherein said first engaging member is constituted by a fastening member projecting from said mounting surface of the station, and said second engaging member is constituted by a fastening groove which is formed at the reverse surface of said personal computer to receive said fastening member; and wherein a guide projection is formed at said mounting surface of the station in order to allow said personal computer to slide toward the wall surface of said station, and a guide groove corresponding to said guide groove is formed at the reverse side of said personal computer, a docking cancellation method comprising the steps of: (a) separating said fastening member from said fastening groove of the personal computer by pushing said fastening member of the station by pressure; (b) canceling connection of said personal computer side connector with said station side connector by sliding said personal computer in a direction separating from said mounting wall of the station; and (c) separating said guide projection of the station from said guide groove of the personal computer to separate said personal computer from said station.

Claim 19

The docking cancellation method according to claim 15 wherein said second detecting means becomes ON state by means of said fastening member pushed by pressure in said first step, said first detecting means becomes OFF state by sliding the personal computer in a direction separating from said mounting wall of the station in said second step, and said third detecting means becomes OFF state by separating said guide projection from said guide groove.