Patent ID: 9690729
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: B60R,G06F,G09G

Claim:
1. A tablet computer dock comprising a tablet receiver defining a compartment sized to receive a tablet computer, the compartment accessible through a slot, and positioning means for moving a tablet computer removably inserted into the compartment through the slot from a use position in which an interface portion of the tablet computer is exposed outside the compartment and a supported portion of the tablet computer is received in the compartment to a stowed position in which the entire tablet computer is received inside the compartment so that the tablet computer is supported for operation by a user when the positioning means moves the tablet computer to the use position and so that the tablet computer is enclosed in the tablet receiver to discourage theft of the tablet computer when the positioning means moves the tablet computer to the stowed position, wherein each component of the positioning means is located entirely within the compartment during movement of the tablet computer to each of the insert/eject, use, and stowed positions, wherein the positioning means includes a controller, a sensor unit coupled to the controller and configured to detect when a tablet computer is inserted through the slot into the compartment, and a drive coupled to the controller, the drive coupled to the tablet receiver and arranged to engage a tablet computer inserted into the compartment through the slot, wherein the drive includes a drive roller arranged inside the compartment to engage a tablet inserted into the compartment through the slot and a motor coupled to the drive roller, wherein the sensor unit includes a drive sensor coupled to the motor and configured to detect electrical current in the motor created by rotation of the drive roller in response to a tablet computer being pushed into or pulled out of the compartment by a user.