US6407914B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Docking system for portable computer
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 2000-04-11
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Granted: 2002-06-18
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Expires: 2020-04-11
Abstract
Abstract The present invention of a docking system is embodied in a portable computer receiving tray and interface cable having the capability to connect a large variety of portable computers, such as, for example, laptops, notebooks, palmtops or handheld computers, to a remote expansion and upgrade box, such as a cable dock. The interface cable can be used with or without the receiving tray, and as such, it can connect directly to the receiving tray, or to the portable computer on one end, and to the cable dock on the other end. Further, both the receiving tray and the interface cable may have at least one integrated auxiliary connector for directly connecting peripherals. In addition, the receiving tray may have at least one internal computer peripheral expansion bay either integrated into the tray, or provided via a removable tray expansion module.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques H Helot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1632
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A docking system for receiving a portable computer, comprising: a tray having a first communications interface coupled to the tray; an interface cable having a first end connected to the first communications interface; a remote expansion and upgrade box having a second communications interface connected to a second end of the interface cable, thereby establishing a communications pathway between the tray and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable; and latches releasably securing the interface cable to the tray.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A docking system for receiving a portable computer, comprising: a tray having a first communications interface coupled to the tray; an interface cable having a first end connected to the first communications interface; a remote expansion and upgrade box having a second communications interface connected to a second end of the interface cable, thereby establishing a communications pathway between the tray and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable; and latches releasably securing the interface cable to the tray.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The docking system of claim 1 wherein the tray has a third communications interface that connects to a portable computer to establish a communications pathway between the portable computer and both the tray and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The docking system of claim 1 wherein the interface cable has a fourth communications interface that connects to a portable computer to establish a communications pathway between the portable computer and both the tray and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The docking system of claim 1 wherein the interface cable has at least one auxiliary connector that attaches at least one peripheral device directly to the interface cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The docking system of claim 4 wherein the at least one peripheral device attached to the interface cable is controlled by the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The docking system of claim 1 further comprising a tray expansion module which is connected to the tray via a fifth communications interface that is coupled to the tray expansion module to establish a communications pathway between the tray expansion module, the tray, a portable computer, and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The docking system of claim 6 wherein the tray expansion module has at least one expansion bay for the addition of at least one peripheral device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The docking system of claim 7 wherein the at least one expansion bay has a communications interface that connects each at least one peripheral device to the tray expansion module to establish a communications pathway between the peripheral devices, the tray expansion module, the tray, a portable computer, and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The docking system of claim 1 wherein the tray further comprises at least one auxiliary connector that attaches at least one peripheral device directly to the tray.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The docking system of claim 9 wherein peripheral devices that are attached to the tray are controlled by the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The docking system of claim 1 further comprising latches releasably securing a portable computer to the tray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
An interface system for coupling a portable computer to external devices comprising: an interface cable removeably coupled between the portable computer and a remote expansion and upgrade box to establish a communications pathway between the portable computer and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable, and including at least one auxiliary connector that removeably couples the external devices directly to the interface cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
An interface system for coupling a portable computer to external devices comprising: an interface cable removeably coupled between the portable computer and a remote expansion and upgrade box to establish a communications pathway between the portable computer and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable, and including at least one auxiliary connector that removeably couples the external devices directly to the interface cable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The docking system of claim 12 where the auxiliary connectors comprise at least one PS2 type connector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The docking system of claim 12 where the auxiliary connectors comprise at least one USB type connector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The docking system of claim 12 where the auxiliary connectors comprise at least one IEEE 1394 type connector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
A docking system comprising: a portable computer receiving tray having at least one expansion bay for at least one peripheral device; an interface cable removeably coupled to the receiving tray that connects the receiving tray to a remote expansion and upgrade box to provide a communications pathway between the tray and the remote expansion and upgrade box; and a first communications interface coupled to a surface of the receiving tray that connects the portable computer to the receiving tray to provide a communications pathway between the portable computer and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
99 words
A docking system comprising: a portable computer receiving tray having at least one expansion bay for at least one peripheral device; an interface cable removeably coupled to the receiving tray that connects the receiving tray to a remote expansion and upgrade box to provide a communications pathway between the tray and the remote expansion and upgrade box; and a first communications interface coupled to a surface of the receiving tray that connects the portable computer to the receiving tray to provide a communications pathway between the portable computer and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The docking system of claim 16 , wherein at least one auxiliary connector is coupled to a surface of the receiving tray, and wherein each auxiliary connector provides a communications pathway between peripheral devices and the portable computer via the first communications interface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The docking system of claim 16 wherein at least one auxiliary connector is coupled to a surface of the interface cable, and wherein each auxiliary conector provides a communications pathway between peripheral devices and the portable computer via the first communications interface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
The docking system of claim 16 further comprising a tray expansion module which is connected to the receiving tray via a second electrical communications interface that is coupled to the tray expansion module to establish a communications pathway between the tray expansion module, the receiving tray, the portable computer, and the remote expansion and upgrade box via the interface cable.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The docking system of claim 19 wherein the tray expansion module has at least one expansion bay for the addition of at least one peripheral device.
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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) | 2005-06-17 | 2005-12-17 | 2006-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-17 | 2009-12-17 | 2010-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-17 | 2013-12-17 | 2014-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |