Docking station adapter for computer media modules

Claim 1

A docking station adapter a computer media module to an expansion bay of a computer docking station, the docking station adapter comprising: a housing comprising a top and a bottom and left, right, front, and rear walls extending between said top and said bottom; a flexible printed circuit comprising first and second complementary connectors connected by a set of conductors; a fan for cooling a media module disposed within said housing, wherein said fan is powered via a connection to a main board of said docking station; air intake and exhaust vents located in one or more of said walls of said housing; at least one EMI spring clip disposed on a surface said housing; a springboard flexibly connected to a floor of said expansion bay and extending through an aperture in said bottom, thereby causing an obstruction in said aperture and securing said docking station adapter within said expansion bay; wherein said first connector is affixed to an interior surface of said rear wall, said first connector removably matingly engaging an obstruction in said aperture and securing said docking station adapter within said expansion bay; wherein said first connector is affixed to an interior surface of said rear wall, said first connector removably matingly engaging a complimentary connector of said media module; and wherein said second connector is affixed to an exterior surface of said rear wall, said second connector removably matingly engaging a complimentary connector of said docking station disposed within said expansion bay.

Claim 30

A method of adapting a media module to an expansion bay of a docking station, the method comprising: inserting a docking station adapter into said expansion bay, said docking station adapter comprising a housing configured to receive said media module therein, a first connector affixed to an interior surface of a rear wall of said housing and a complementary second connector affixed to an exterior surface of said rear wall of said housing and electrically connected to said first connector via a set of conductors, such that when said docking station adapter is inserted into said expansion bay, said second connector matingly engages a connector of said expansion bay; inserting said media module into said docking station adapter such that a connector of said media module matingly engages said first connector of said docking station adapter; securing said docking station adapter within said expansion bay; and securing said media module within said docking station adapter providing a cooling fan within said docking station adapter for cooling said media module, wherein said fan is powered via a connection to a main board of said docking station-two; providing means for aligning said docking station adapter within said expansion bay; providing an EMI spring clip on a surface of said housing; wherein said securing said docking station adapter within said expansion bay comprises providing a springboard flexibly connected to a floor of said expansion bay, wherein a portion of said springboard projects through and provides an obstruction within an aperture through a floor of said docking station adapter, thereby securing said docking station within said expansion bay.

Claim 31

A method of adapting a media module to an expansion bay of a docking station, the method comprising: inserting a docking station adapter into said expansion bay, said docking station adapter comprising a housing configured to receive said media module therein, a first connector affixed to an interior surface of a rear wall of said housing and a complementary second connector affixed to an exterior surface of said rear wall of said housing and electrically connected to said first connector via a set of conductors, such that when said docking station adapter is inserted into said expansion bay, said second connector matingly engages a connector of said expansion bay; inserting said media module into said docking station adapter such that a connector of said media module matingly engages said first connector of said docking station adapter; securing said docking station adapter within said expansion bay; and securing said media module within said docking station adapter providing a cooling fan within said docking station adapter for cooling said media module, wherein said fan is powered via a connection to a main board of said docking station-two; providing means for aligning said docking station adapter within said expansion bay; providing an EMI spring clip on a surface of said housing; wherein said securing said docking station adapter within said expansion bay comprises providing a springboard flexibly connected to a floor of said expansion bay, wherein a portion of said springboard projects through and provides an obstruction within an aperture through a floor of said docking station adapter, thereby securing said docking station within said expansion bay.