US6297963B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Security docking cable for computer docking system
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1999-09-13
•
Granted: 2001-10-02
•
Expires: 2019-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A docking cable, used to interconnect a computer with a clocking station, has an integrated cabling structure that bundles at least one electrically conductive line (e.g., signal, ground, or power line) together with a security cable. The security cable may be implemented as a strand or alternatively as a grounded tube that wraps around the conductive line to provide both structural security as well as a shield to protect from external electro-magnetic interference. The integrated cabling structure preferably has an anchor portion that allows affixation of the docking cable to a fixture (e.g., desktop, chair, wall, etc.). The docking cable preferably has a computer-side connector coupled to one end of the integrated cabling structure for connection to the computer and a station-side connector coupled to the other end of the integrated cabling structure to interface with the docking station. The computer-side connector preferably has a locking mechanism for locking onto the computer. It also preferably has an undocking button to enable a user to request that the computer be undocked from the docking station and preferably an indicator light to indicate when it is safe to undock the computer from the docking station.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven L Fogle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1632; E; E05; E05B; E05B73/00; E05B73/0005; E05B73/0082; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A docking cable to interconnect an electronic device with a docking station, comprising: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the electronic device and the docking station; and a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure; wherein the security cable surrounds the electrically conductive line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A docking cable to interconnect an electronic device with a docking station, comprising: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the electronic device and the docking station; and a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure; wherein the security cable surrounds the electrically conductive line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A docking cable as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrically conductive line is selected from a group comprising a signal line, a ground line, and a power line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A docking cable as recited in claim 1 , further comprising signal and power lines bundled together with the security cable in the integrated cabling structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A docking cable as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: a first connector to connect the cabling structure to the computer electronic device; and a second connector to connect the cabling structure to the docking station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A docking cable as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an anchor portion of cable to connect the cabling structure to a fixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A docking cable to interconnect an electronic device with a docking station, comprising: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the electronic device and the docking station; and a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure, wherein the security cable surrounds the electrically conductive line and is grounded to form a shield to protect the electrically conductive line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A docking cable to interconnect an electronic device with a docking station, comprising: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the electronic device and the docking station; and a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure, wherein the security cable surrounds the electrically conductive line and is grounded to form a shield to protect the electrically conductive line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A docking cable to interconnect an electronic device with a docking station, comprising: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the electronic device and the docking station; a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure; and a locking mechanism to secure the cabling structure to the electronic device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A docking cable to interconnect an electronic device with a docking station, comprising: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the electronic device and the docking station; a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure; and a locking mechanism to secure the cabling structure to the electronic device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A docking cable to interconnect an electronic device with a docking station, comprising: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the electronic device and the docking station; a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure; and an undocking button to enable a user to request that the electronic device be undocked from the docking station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A docking cable to interconnect an electronic device with a docking station, comprising: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the electronic device and the docking station; a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure; and an undocking button to enable a user to request that the electronic device be undocked from the docking station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A docking cable to interconnect an electronic device with a docking station, comprising: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the electronic device and the docking station; a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure; and an indicator light to indicate when it is safe to undock the electronic device from the docking station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A docking cable to interconnect an electronic device with a docking station, comprising: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the electronic device and the docking station; a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure; and an indicator light to indicate when it is safe to undock the electronic device from the docking station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer system, comprising: a docking station; a computer; and a docking cable to interface the computer with the docking station, the docking cable having: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the computer and the docking station; and a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer system, comprising: a docking station; a computer; and a docking cable to interface the computer with the docking station, the docking cable having: at least one electrically conductive line configured to electrically connect the computer and the docking station; and a security cable bundled together with the electrically conductive line to form an integrated cabling structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
A docking cable to electrically connect a computer with a docking station, comprising: an integrated cabling structure having at least one electrically conductive line bundled together with a security cable; a computer-side connector coupled to one end of the integrated cabling structure to alternately connect to and disconnect from the computer, the computer-side connector having a locking mechanism to lock the computer-side connector onto the computer; a station-side connector coupled to another end of the integrated cabling structure to interface with the docking station; and the integrated cabling structure further having an anchor portion of cable to enable affixation of the integrated cabling structure to a fixture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
107 words
A docking cable to electrically connect a computer with a docking station, comprising: an integrated cabling structure having at least one electrically conductive line bundled together with a security cable; a computer-side connector coupled to one end of the integrated cabling structure to alternately connect to and disconnect from the computer, the computer-side connector having a locking mechanism to lock the computer-side connector onto the computer; a station-side connector coupled to another end of the integrated cabling structure to interface with the docking station; and the integrated cabling structure further having an anchor portion of cable to enable affixation of the integrated cabling structure to a fixture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A docking cable as recited in claim 11 , wherein the security cable surrounds the at least one electrically conductive line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A docking cable as recited in claim 11 , wherein the computer-side connector has an undocking button that enables a user to request that the computer be undocked from the docking station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A docking cable as recited in claim 11 , wherein the computerside connector has an indicator light to indicate when it is safe to undock the computer from the docking station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A docking cable as recited in claim 11 , wherein the computer-side connector has a solenoid, actuatable by signals received from the computer, that alternately allows and prevents the locking mechanism to be unlocked.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer system, comprising: a docking station; a computer; and a docking cable to interface the computer with the docking station, the docking cable having: an integrated cabling structure having at least one electrically conductive line bundled together with a security cable; a computer-side connector coupled to one end of the integrated cabling structure to alternately connect to and disconnect from the computer, the computer-side connector having a locking mechanism to lock the computer-side connector onto the computer; a station-side connector coupled to another end of the integrated cabling structure to interface with the docking station; and the integrated cabling structure further having an anchor portion of cable to enable affixation of the integrated cabling structure to a fixture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer system, comprising: a docking station; a computer; and a docking cable to interface the computer with the docking station, the docking cable having: an integrated cabling structure having at least one electrically conductive line bundled together with a security cable; a computer-side connector coupled to one end of the integrated cabling structure to alternately connect to and disconnect from the computer, the computer-side connector having a locking mechanism to lock the computer-side connector onto the computer; a station-side connector coupled to another end of the integrated cabling structure to interface with the docking station; and the integrated cabling structure further having an anchor portion of cable to enable affixation of the integrated cabling structure to a fixture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer system, comprising: a docking station; a computer; and a docking cable to interface the computer with the docking station, the docking cable having: a locking mechanism that securely fastens to the computer; a cabling structure that bundles an electrically conductive line together with a security cable; and a cable anchor to affix the cabling structure to a fixture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer system, comprising: a docking station; a computer; and a docking cable to interface the computer with the docking station, the docking cable having: a locking mechanism that securely fastens to the computer; a cabling structure that bundles an electrically conductive line together with a security cable; and a cable anchor to affix the cabling structure to a fixture.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the docking cable has an undocking button to enable a user to request that the computer be undocked from the docking station.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the docking cable has an indicator light to indicate when it is safe to undock the computer from the docking station.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-01 | 2005-04-02 | 2005-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-01 | 2009-04-02 | 2009-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-01 | 2013-04-02 | 2013-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |