Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DOCR:ING STATION : -
Backqround of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer
docking stations and particularly to adaptors by which
"pocket" computers may be coupled to various items of
peripheral equipment. More specifically, this invention
is directed to a receiver having a physical structure
and electrical connectors which are complementary to a
pocket computer whereby the pocket computer may be
inserted in the receiver and data thereafter exported
from or imported to the computer via the receiver.
Accordingly, the general objects of the present
invention are to provide novel and improved apparatus of
15 such character. -
2. Descri~tion of the Prior Art -~
As a consequence of their compactness and high
performance, so-called pocket computers are increasingly
used today in mobile applications where, as in the case
of desk-top personal computers, they considerably
simplify the processing and handling of business events.
Compactness, o f course, also precipitates certain
challenges, particularly with regard to the importing of
data from external sources and the exporting of data to
peripheral equipment and other data processors. Such
import and export of data, i.e., so-called E-Mail, can
be accomplished in the case of a pocket computer through
the use of plug-in connectors which, typically through
cabling, couple the computer to a modem, a PC or some
other peripheral device. Because of space
considerations, such plug-in connectors will ordinarily
permit a pocket computer to be associated with only one
external device at a time. This limitation, in
practice, has resulted in very heavy use of the built-in
connectors of the pocket computer. The conneQtors are
thus subiect to considerable stress which can lead to
early failure.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention overcomes the above-briefly
discussed and other deficiencies and disadvantages of
the prior art by providing a novel and improved docking
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station particularly well suited for pocket computers.
A docking station in accordance with the invention
defines a receptacle, i.e., a recess, having a size and
shape complementary with the computer with which it will
be used. This receptacle has, located in the side
wall(s) thereof, connector(s) which are complementary to
the connectors provided on the exterior of the computer.
The docking station includes a switchable internal
interface, at least one built-in piece of peripheral
equipment in modular form, and at least one connector
for coupling to an external data source or user. The
switchable internal interface, in a preferred
embodiment, may be used to selectively establish
communication between any two of the computer, the
~5 built-in peripheral and the external connector.
The present invention, in the preferred embodiment,
is thus a docking station for a pocket comput~r which
provides a switchable data flow path from the computer
to either an inbuilt function element or to at least one
external interface whereby data transfer between the
computer and another device may be accomplished. The
switchable connection is thus an internal interface
which selectively closes or interrupts the data flow
path between a docked pocket computer and at least one
of a number of communication partners which are
simultaneously connected to the pocket computer via the
docking station. The internal interface will isolate
the built-in function element, docked computer and
external interface from one another in a manner
consistent with the communication mode which has been
selected. In the preferred embodiment, this isolation
ensures that parallel data ~low paths cannot be
established.
Brief Description_of the Drawinqs
The present invention may be better understood and
its numerous objects and advantages will become apparent
to those skilled in the art by reference to the
accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals
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refer to like elements in the several figures and in ~i
which:
Figure 1 is a schematic showing of a docking
station i~ accordance with a preferred embodiment of the -
invention;
Figures 2a - 2d schematically illustrate various
open and closed data flow pa~hs which may established
within the docking station of Figure 1;
Figures 3a and 3b are respectively top plan and
side elevation views of the docking station of Figure 1;
and
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the docking
station of Figures 1 and 3 with a pocket computer
received therein.
Descri~tion of the Disclosed Embodiment
With reference to the accompanying drawings, a
docking station in accordance with the invention is
indicated generally at 1. Docking station 1 is
configured so as to define a recess 4 in the top surface
thereof. This recess is commensurate in size and shape
with a pocket computer 2. As will be obvious to those
skilled in the art, taking into account the small size
of the pocket computer 2, docking station 2 will also be
portable so that it may be transported along with the
computer thus enabling the docking station 2 to function
as a mobile communications station.
The docking station 1 comprises a housing 3 which
has the above-mentioned recess 4 for accommodating
computer 2. Within the area of recess 4, specifically
in a side wall portion, docking station 1 is provided
with a first external interface which is indicated
schematically at 5. Interface 5 will be in the form of
a connector which is complementary to the connector
which defines a data port on computer 2. The first
external interface 5 is positioned such that it is
aligned with the cooperating interface of computer 2 ~ ;
when the computer is inserted into recess 4. T-hus,
insertion of computer 2 into recess 4 establishes a data
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and instruction transfer relationship between computer
2 and docking station 1.
Doc~ing station 1 also has at least a second
external interface, indicated schematically at 6, on
housing 3. The second external interface 6 is
preferably a standard Rs232 connector, i.e., a serial
data port, of the type conventionally employed to couple
computers to peripheral devices or other computers.
As schematically represented in Figure 1, docking
station 1 has a modular internal configuration. A first
module 7 of docking station 1 includes an interface
switch 8 for selectively establishing communication
between the three data flow paths which have been
generally indicated at I, II and III. In each
operational mode of switch 8, certain communication
paths are interrupted, i.e., opened, while others are
closed. Switch 8 also has a state in which all
communication paths are open.
Continuing to refer to Figure 1, the data flow path
I extends from a first connector, indicated
schematically at 9, of the interface switch 8 to the
first external interface, i.e. the connector or port 5.
Data flow path I thus includes serially connected
conductors 10, 11 and 12. Data flow path II extends
from a second connector 13 on interface switch 8 to a
"function element" module 16 which is integrated into
docking station 1. Thus, data flow path II includes
serially connected conductors 14 and 15. The third data
flow path III extends between a third connector 17 of
interface switch 8 to the second external interface 6
and thus includes serially connected conductors 18 and
19. For purposes of illustration, the interface switch
8 has been schematically shown as including a physically
movable switch member 20 which selectively establishes
electrical connections between any two of the connectors
9, 13 and 17. The various modes of operation which may
be established by means of interface switch 8 are
illustrated in Figure 2 and will be briefly discussed
below.
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It is to be understood that, while the interface
switch 8 has ~een schematically represented as a
mechanical switching device including the switching
member 20, in actual practice interface switch 8 will be
an electronic switch which operates under software
control. Control over the mode of operation of
interface switch 8 may be achieved through use of the
computer 2 and, for this purpose, command signals will
be transmitted to switch 8 from the first external
interface 5 via serially connected conductors 21 and 22.
In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the
"function element" 16 is in the form of a radio modem
having an antenna 23. Antenna 23 is connected to the
radio modem via a connector, indicated schematically at
24, in the housing 3 of docking station 1. The use of
a radio modem and antenna 23 allows wireless
communication between the pocket computer 2 and other
apparatii. As an alternative to a modem, function
element 16 may be a hard disk which functions as an
external memory for computer 2.
The internal interface of docking station 1, i.e.,
the electronics module 7 which includes the inter~ace
switch 8, may also have a driver which conditions the
data to be exported to the form required by the second
external interface 6 or a peripheral device connected to
interface 6.
Docking station 1 is further provided with a interface adapter or
converter 25 for data conditioning which is connected between modul 7 and
the first external interface 5. Since the standard of the interface on
the pocket computer 2 may differ from that of the communications partners
included in or ~pled to docking station 1, a converter 25 may be
required to condition data for transmission between computer 2 and switch
8. Thus, as schematically illustrated, the converter 5, when provided, is
connected in data flow path I and is also in series with conductors 12
3s and 22.
The electronics within docking station 1 are
provided with operating power via a power supply 26
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which provides current at the appropriate regulated
voltage(s) on conductors 27, 28 and 29. Power supply 26
is also preferably coupled to computer 2 via conductor
30 and a plug-in connector 31 which mates with the
external power supply input connector on computer 2 when
the computer is mounted in the docking station. Power
supply 26 may be connected to a suitable external power
source via a plug-in connector 32 on housing 3. As
noted, docking station 1 is preferrably also a portable
device and thus may be provided Wt th a rechargable
battery 33 which provides operating power. When
connected to the docking station, the rechargable
batteries in computer 2 may be recharged via power
supply 26 if the docking station is itself connected to
an external power source.
Referring to Figures 2a to 2d, the various possible
combinations for setting up communication paths using
docking station 1 will now be described. The modular
configuration of docking station 1 allows the
communication partners, i.e., the computer 2, the
function element 16 and the external interface 6, to be
addressed individually. In Figure 2 for purposes of
explanation, the external interface 6, i.e., the Rs232
port, is used to couple the docking station 1 to a PC
34. Also, in Figure 2 the function element 16 is a
modem.
As represented in Figure 2a, when data switch 8
establishes a data flow path between its connectors 9
and 13, communication is established between the pocket
. . .
computer 2 and the modem 16. In this operating state of
switch 8, the pocket computer 2 and modem 16 are
isolated from PC 34. Accordingly, data may be exported
from or imported to the pocket computer 2 via the modem
16. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art,
modem 16 may be either a radio modem, as schematically
represented in Figure 1, or a modem which is connected
to a telephone line via a cable which plugs into
connector 24.
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Referring to Figure 2b, when switch 8 establishes
a data flow path between its connectors 9 and 17, the
pocket computer 2 is coupled to PC 34 and isolated from
modem 16. In this state of switch 8, data may be
exchanged between pocket computer 2 and PC 34.
In the Figure 2c state of switch 8, the connectors
13 and 17 of the switch are connected and two way data
co~munication is thus established between modem 16 and
PC 34. Under these conditions, the pocket computer 2 is
isolated from both the PC 34 and modem 16. In the
Figure 2c state of switch 8, the pocket computer cannot
transmit or receive data but can, via conductors 12, 22
and 21, exercise control over switch 8.
Finally, switch 8 may be caused to assume the state
depicted in Figure 2d where the pocket computer 2, modem
16 and PC 34 are respectively isolated fro~ one another.
In the Figure 2d state, both of the pocket co~puter 2
and the PC 34, or other device connected to external
interface 6, can be employed in a stand alone mode.
As will also be obvious to those skilled in the
art, docking station 1 may be provided with a further
external interface, similar to interface 6, which can be
employed to establish communications with other
peripheral devices such as, for example, a printer,
-- 25 monitor or full size keyboard. If such a further
external interface is provided, the docking station 1
will be provided with a fourth data flow path and the
switch 8 will be employed to selectively establish
communication with such a fourth data flow path. It is
also to be noted that, rather than employing a modem 16
and hard disc as alternatives, the docking station 1 may
have both devices as built-in modules.
As described above, the internal interfaco o~
docking station 1, i.e., the module 7 with its switch 8,
allows a docked pocket computer to communicate with
other electronic devices, such as modems, PCs or
peripheral devices, without complex connecting and/or
detaching of cablings. The switchable internal
interface can also be employed to selectively establish
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communication between the associated electronic devices
under the control of the docked computer. Further, the
switchable internal interface can isolate the electronic
devices from one another so that each can operate
independently. The doc~ing station l, particularly if
provided with both a modem and hard disc, or if in the
configuration of Figure 2b with a peripheral device
having data storage capability coupled to external
interface 6, can function as an electronic mailbox for
pocket computer 2.
As described above, in the preferred embodiment of
the invention, the function element 16 is a modem,
particularly a radio modem with attachable antenna,
which provides for remote transmission of data from or
to pocket computer 2. Accordingly, doc~ing station 1
may function as a mobile communication instrument by
means of which data can be transmitted, received and
processed by pocket computer 2 at virtually any time or
place, i.e., the computer 2 and docking station 1 form
a mobile unit which can communicate, location and time
independently, with other communication partners such as
a s'cationary PC or a facsimile machine.
While preferred embodiments have been shown or
described, various modification and substitutions may be
~ ~ 25 made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood
that the present invention has been described by way of
illustration and not limitation.
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