Abstract:
This document generally describes docking stations for portable computing devices with one or more of a variety of features, such as a near horizontal tray into which a portable computing device can be placed (e.g., a tray with an angle between 5-25 degrees from horizontal), embedded microphones and/or speakers, and/or input jacks for external microphones and/or speakers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/530,939, filed Sep. 3, 2011, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/611,572, filed Mar. 16, 2012, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document generally relates to docking stations for portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, mobile computers, and/or other hand-held computing, communication, and/or data enabled devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Portable computing devices, such as cell phones and/or data enabled portable electronic communication devices (e.g., smartphones), are commonly used today. In the last decade, such devices have found widespread acceptance for personal and business use. Some of the latest advances have resulted in such devices including computation/graphics intensive functionality that rivals the functionality of personal computers (PCs) and similar electronic devices. Docking stations have been developed to interface with portable computing devices through one or more physical connections with portable computing devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     This document generally describes docking stations for portable computing devices with one or more of a variety of features, such as a near horizontal tray into which a portable computing device can be placed (e.g., a tray with an angle between 5-25 degrees from horizontal), embedded microphones and/or speakers, and/or input jacks for external microphones and/or speakers. Additional and/or alternative features are described below. 
     Various implementations can provide one or more advantages. For example, the disclosed docking stations can allow users to more readily use and interact with portable computing devices that have been placed into (“docked”) trays of the docking stations. Portable computing devices are generally designed for manual operation while being grasped by the user. However, portable computing devices are frequently placed in mechanical and/or electrical engagement with other compatible electronic devices and apparatus for charging the portable computing device, exchanging data, and/or otherwise supplementing the operation of the portable computing device. In many such instances, the external apparatus can significantly restrict or constrain the portability of the portable computing device. For example, the mobile computing device may be tethered to a wall socket for re-charging, physically connected to or disposed in substantial proximity to a stationary system such as a desktop computer, an entertainment system, and/or game console to allow interaction between the mobile computing device and these peripheral systems. In other instances, it may be desirable to operate the mobile computing device in a substantially hands-free manner such as while driving an automobile, while in the shower, the kitchen or the workshop. In such situations, it can be advantageous for the portable computing device to be docked in a docking station in a manner that allows features of the portable computing device (e.g., touchscreen of the portable computing device, keyboard of the portable computing device) to be at a near horizontal angle so that users can view and/or provide input to the portable computing device while docked and interfaced with some other external devices. Such a configuration can allow users to retain the ability to operate the portable computing device in hands-free and/or externally supported modes of operation in substantially the same manner as when the device is handheld and in a mobile mode of operation. 
     The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  depict an example docking station. 
         FIGS. 2A-C  depict an example docking station and an example portable electronic device. 
         FIG. 3  is a front isometric view of an example dock base and dock cover. 
         FIGS. 4A-G  depict an example dock base. 
         FIGS. 5A-I  depict example components of a docking station. 
         FIGS. 6A-P  depict an example upper sub-assembly portion. 
         FIGS. 7A-E  depict an example docking tray for a portable electronic device. 
         FIGS. 8A-D  depict an example top cover. 
         FIGS. 9A-B  depict an example base housing. 
         FIGS. 10A-D  depict an example adapter insert. 
       FIGS.  11  and  11 A-E depict example circuitry. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1A-1E  depict alternative views of an example docking station  10 .  FIG. 1A  is a front isometric view of docking station  10 . Directions of arrows  12 ,  13 , and  14  in  FIG. 1A  represent directions “front”, “right side” (lateral), and “top” respectively. Directionality descriptors “rear” (or “back”), “left side” (lateral), and “bottom” (not illustrated) refer to directions that are opposite the directions pointed to by arrows  12 ,  13  and  14 , respectively. Depending on the orientation of the docking station with regard to the vantage point of the viewer, different directionality descriptors can be used to describe the docking station  10 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict a front isometric view of the docking station  10  of  FIG. 1A  with an example portable electronic device  20  suitable for operation with the docking station  10 . The portable electronic device  20  can be any of a variety of appropriate portable electronic devices, such as smartphones, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and/or tablet computing devices.  FIG. 2A  depicts the portable electronic device  20  fully docked in the docking station  10  while  FIG. 2B  depicts the portable electronic device  20  partially supported but not fully docked within the same docking station. Docking station  10  is capable of mechanically receiving device  20 , guiding it into detachable secured engagement and placing it into electrically connected relationship with a mechanical interface  30  of docking station circuitry so that the portable electronic device  20  is in a “fully docked” configuration wherein it is ready for being placed in operation with or is interoperating with the docking station  10  as will be described hereinafter. Mechanical interface  30  is depicted in the illustrations of  FIG. 1A . 
     Besides securing and providing electrical connectivity, docking station  10  supports the portable electronic device  20  in an ergonomically near horizontal position (e.g., between 5-25 degrees from a plane on which the docking station  10  is sitting) that provides a user with a better viewing angle of the portable electronic device  20 . This viewing angle can allow a user to access many of the features and functionality available in the normal hand-held mode of operation of the portable computing device  20 , such as use of a touchscreen of the portable computing device  20 . Docking station  10  also provides electrical connectivity to a power source as well as to other electronic devices and/or peripherals that enable normal charging and/or synching operations, extend and add to the features and functionality natively supplied on the portable electronic device  20 . 
     Portable electronic devices  20  can include any of a variety of appropriate portable devices, such as mobile (including “smart”) phones and multi-function devices exemplified by, for instance, the IPHONE, the IPOD, and the IPAD manufactured and sold by APPLE, Inc., SAMSUNG GALAXY® cell phones, BLACKBERRY® smartphones, portable navigation units relying on the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite data, portable media players, tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video game players, hand-held computers, Internet appliances, electronic book readers as well as other portable devices. The portable electronic device  20  of the illustrations of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  may be a mobile telephone or a smart-phone sized for operation while cradled in the palm of a user&#39;s hand. Some or all of the electrical and mechanical components that singly or in combination provide the features and functionality of device  20  may be housed within or mounted on a substantially closed device housing  40 . Some of the aforementioned electrical and mechanical components can include those that facilitate or enable a user&#39;s interaction with the device i.e. enable user input/output (I/O). Examples include buttons, key-structures, touch-sensitive surfaces, display-areas, switches and other such mechanical, electrical, or electro-mechanical actuation mechanisms some of which may be designed to trigger software that in turn implements an action. Likewise, device housing  40  may include apertures or openings that can facilitate I/O to or from device  10 . For example, transparent windows can facilitate the passage of light to a camera sensor or emission of light from a light emitting diode (LED) mounted within the device housing enclosure or the transparent window can be a camera lens; grille openings located on the device housing above microphone, speaker and such other components supported within the device housing enclosure can facilitate the passage sound to or from the microphone and speakers; suitably shaped and sized apertures on the device housing can allow one or more connectors or ports disposed on the device housing or within the device housing enclosure to be mated with external, complementary connectors operably coupled to external peripheral devices which can facilitate the exchange of data and/or communication signals between the device and the external peripheral devices. 
     The example portable computing device  20  is housed in an enclosure that generally resembles a rectangular prism  40  with radiused corners, as depicted in the illustration of  FIG. 2C . 
     The rectangular prism  40  is depicted as including a device housing enclosure  45  bounded by an upper exterior surface  50  circumscribed by a periphery  55 , a lower exterior surface  60  circumscribed by a periphery  65  and a peripheral surface  70 . Each periphery  55  ( 65 ) is generally rectangular in shape and characterized by a length dimension  75 , a width dimension  80  and radiused corners  85 . Upper exterior surface  50  is disposed opposite lower exterior surface  60  and spaced apart from it by a distance characterized by a height dimension  90 . Peripheral surface  70  depends from periphery  65  and extends along the height dimension to periphery  55 . The periphery  55  ( 65 ) can have other types of polygonal shapes. 
     Upper exterior surface  50  can include a display area portion, a touch-sensitive portion adapted to receive touch-based input as well as display information, physical and/or software-implemented, iconized touch-sensitive buttons and such other user-manipulated controls. Upper exterior surface  50  may also include a first transparent window  52  to allow light transmission to or from device housing enclosure  45 . 
     Lower exterior surface  60  can be configured to be supported on the palm of a user&#39;s hand and overcome slippage from the user&#39;s grasp during hand-held operation such as where the user is performing touch-based actions on the user display surface  50 . Lower exterior surface  60  may also include a second transparent window  62  to allow light transmission to or from device housing enclosure  45 . 
     Peripheral surface  70  includes top surface portion  110  opposite bottom surface portion  115 , and left-lateral surface portion  120  opposite right-lateral surface portion  125 . Top surface portion  110  can include an opening defining a port  72  for a headset jack, and one or more buttons, switches or other user manipulable structures  77  attached to or extending from it. Left-lateral surface portion  120  and right-lateral surface portion  125  can be equipped with one or more buttons, switches or other user manipulable structures  83  attached to and flush with the surfaces or protruding outward and away from the surfaces and from device housing enclosure  45 . In the depicted exemplary device  20 , bottom surface portion  115  has grille openings for speakers and a microphone and is equipped with at least one opening  130  through which an electrical device connector  135  mounted within device housing enclosure  45  can be mechanically and electrically mated to a complementary external connector such as mechanical interface  30 . Mobile device  20  can be charged or synched to an external device by appropriately connecting the electrical device connector  135  to a power source or an external device. In a specific implementation, device connector  135  may be a dock connector for the IPHONE 4S mobile phone manufactured by APPLE, Inc of Cupertino Calif. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1A , the docking station  10  includes a dock base  150  and a dock cover  155 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded front isometric view of docking station  10  depicting some components station  10 .  FIG. 3  is a front isometric view of dock base  150  and dock cover  155 . As described more fully hereinafter, dock base  150  and dock cover  155  can be assembled into the docking station  10 , as depicted in  FIG. 1A  and shown in exploded front isometric view in  FIG. 3 . 
     The specific structure of the dock base  150  and the dock cover  155  will now be examined in greater detail.  FIGS. 4A-4G  depict alternative views of dock base  150 .  FIG. 4A  is a front isometric view dock base  150 .  FIG. 4B  is a bottom isometric view of dock base  150 . Dock base  150  includes a base housing  160  that houses dock circuitry and other componentry, main board  165 , and I/O daughterboard  170 . As more fully described hereinafter and depicted in  FIG. 3 , I/O daughterboard  170  can be urged into detachable electrical and mechanical connection with main board  165  and main board  165  can be reversibly fastened to base housing  160  so as to discourage relative movement between the base housing  160 , main board  165 , and I/O daughterboard  170  in the resulting assembled dock base  150 . 
       FIGS. 4C and 4D  illustrate respective front isometric and side isometric views of base housing  160 .  FIG. 4E  is the bottom view of base housing  150 .  FIG. 4G  and  FIG. 4F  illustrate respective front and right side views of base housing  150 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4D-4F , base housing  150  includes a floor plate  175  and continuous peripheral sidewall  180 . Floor plate  175  has an exterior surface  180  which operably contacts and supports docking station  10  on any suitable external surface  182  (not depicted) upon which the docking station  10  can be stably rested and operated. Exterior surface  180  may be contoured or otherwise adapted to conform to the surface geometry of any desired external surface  182 , such as a table, desk, countertop, and/or floor surface. 
     Floor plate  175  also includes an interior surface  185  opposite exterior surface  180 . Each first portion of interior surface  185  is oriented along a first direction  190  that is 180 degrees removed from the orientation of a corresponding first portion of exterior surface  180 . Furthermore, each first portion of interior surface  185  is separated from each corresponding first portion of exterior surface  180  by a plate material thickness  195 . In some implementations, such as those illustrated in  FIGS. 4G and 4F , floor plate  175  is substantially planar and of a constant plate material thickness  195 . Accordingly, in the some implementations, the interior surface  185  and exterior surface  180  can be both substantially flat and disposed substantially parallel to each other. 
     Outermost boundary of floor plate  175  defines a peripheral edge  200  characterized by at least one peripheral dimension  210  such as, for instance, a length of a segment of the peripheral edge  200 . Peripheral edge  200  defines a shape of floor plate  175  that has a size defined by the at least one peripheral dimension  210 . Floor plate  175  may have any suitable shape and is sized to ensure that docking station  10  can rest stably and be capable of being operated in a grasp-free mode when placed upon any suitable external surface  182  with the portable electronic device  20  docked within it. For example, floor plate  175  may be shaped in the form of a square, a trapezoid, a rectangle or other n-gon or even an ellipse or a circle. 
     In the illustrated embodiments, floor plate  175  has a generally rectangular shape with radiused corners as depicted in the illustration of  FIG. 4E . Peripheral dimension  210 - 1 , which represents a length of the rectangular shape, (without the radiused corners) defines respective first and third linear segments  215 ,  218  of peripheral edge  200  and is aligned with the direction of arrow  12  in the illustration of  FIG. 1A . Peripheral dimension  210 - 2 , which represents a width of the rectangular shape, (without the radiused corners) defines respective second and fourth linear segments  220 ,  223  of peripheral edge  200  and is aligned with the direction of arrow  13  in the illustration of  FIG. 1A . As depicted in the illustration of  FIG. 4E , linear segment pairs  215 - 220 ,  220 - 218 ,  218 - 223 , and  223 - 215  are connected and blended at radiused corners that define respective first, second, third and fourth arcuate segments  225 ,  227 ,  229  and  230  of peripheral edge  200 . In some implementations, radiused corners have a radius of curvature 0.4375 inches. 
     Referring again to the illustrations of  FIGS. 4D-4F , floor plate  175  is provided with a structure defining first and second aperture sets  240  and  250  respectively. First aperture set  240  includes four identical apertures, identified by reference numerals  245 - 1  thru  245 - 4 , disposed proximate first, second, third and fourth arcuate segments  225 ,  227 ,  229  and  230  of peripheral edge  200  respectively. Second aperture set includes six identical apertures, identified by reference numerals  255 - 1  thru  255 - 6 , arranged in a spatial pattern  260  on floor plate  175  as depicted in the illustration of  FIG. 4E . Each of the apertures  245 - 1  thru  245 - 4  and  255 - 1  thru  255 - 6  extend through plate material thickness  195  placing exterior surface  180  in fluid communication with interior surface  185  as depicted in the illustrations of  FIGS. 4G and 4F . As described in more detail hereinafter, apertures in the first aperture set  240  are adapted to receive and guide threaded fasteners into threaded engagement with complimentary apertures in dock cover  155  to cause dock base  150  to be removably secured to dock cover  155  during assembly of docking station  10 . Each aperture in the second aperture set  250  is shaped and sized to receive and securely retain a first portion of a standoff  265  with a friction fit while a second portion of the standoff is simultaneously placed in abutting relationship with the interior surface  185 . As detailed elsewhere in the description, standoffs  265  are operative for removably mounting main board  165  within dock housing  150 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 4C and 4D , base housing  150  includes a continuous peripheral sidewall  180  which depends from peripheral edge  200 . Continuous peripheral sidewall  180  has an inner peripheral surface  182  that is proximate the interior surface  185  spaced apart by wall thickness  183  from an outer peripheral surface  184  which is the flip side of inner peripheral surface  192 . As depicted in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4C , peripheral sidewall  180  extends outwardly from interior surface  185  and away from exterior surface  180  in the direction of arrow  14  to terminate in a continuous peripheral wall edge  280 . In the specific embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , peripheral sidewall  180  generally follows the contour of the peripheral edge  200  and includes opposing base front and base rear side walls  310 ,  320 , opposing base right lateral and base left lateral side walls  330 ,  340 , and base arcuate side walls  345 ,  347 ,  348 , and  350 . Base front side wall  310 , base rear side wall  320 , base left lateral side wall  330  and base right lateral side wall  340  extend from respective second, fourth, first and third linear segments  220 ,  223 ,  215 ,  218  of peripheral edge  200  to terminate at respective upper linear edges  313 ,  323 ,  333 , and  345 . Furthermore, first, second, third and fourth base arcuate side walls  345 ,  347 ,  348 , and  350  extend from first, second, third and fourth arcuate segments  225 ,  227 ,  229  and  230  of peripheral edge  200  to terminate at respective upper curvilinear edges  355 ,  357 ,  358  and  360 . First, second, third and fourth base arcuate side walls  345 ,  347 ,  348 , and  350  join and blend base side wall pairs  330 - 310 ,  310 - 340 ,  340 - 320 , and  320 - 330  into a continuous peripheral sidewall  180  that terminates at a continuous peripheral wall edge  280  located distally from interior surface  185 . Continuous peripheral wall edge  280  is defined by segments including upper linear edges  313 ,  323 ,  333 , and  345  interconnected by upper curvilinear edges  355 ,  357 ,  358  and  360  as depicted in  FIG. 4C . 
       FIGS. 4C ,  4 D,  4 F and  4 G illustrate peripheral dimensions of continuous peripheral side wall  180 . In the illustrated embodiments, floor plate  175  is substantially planar and so are the exterior and interior surfaces  180 ,  185 . For ease of description, the docking station  10  is presumed to be resting on a substantially planar surface which is in contact with substantially the entire exterior surface  180 . In this configuration of the docking station, as depicted in  FIG. 4C , continuous peripheral sidewall  180  is generally vertical—in that it extends along direction arrow  14 . With the continuous peripheral sidewall  180  disposed vertically, each portion of peripheral wall edge  280  can be associated with its vertical height above exterior surface  180 . Vertical heights define a shape of the continuous peripheral sidewall  180 . In some implementations, base housing  150  is a single integral unit in that it is machined from a single block of material such as aluminum, steel, wood or a custom material. In other implementations, base housing  150  may be constructed as a single unit by injection molding or some other thermo-forming process from a polymer component such as polycarbonate, ABS and so forth. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4C , the upper linear edge  313  of base front side wall  310  can be located at a first vertical height  410  above exterior surface  180 . Base front side wall  310  is rectangular with a length dimension defined by second linear segment  220  of peripheral edge  200  and a width dimension defined by first vertical height  410 . 
     Base rear side wall  320  is bounded between fourth linear segment  223  of peripheral edge  200 , upper linear edge  323  and a second vertical height  420  of upper linear edge  323  from exterior surface  180 . Upper linear edge  323  has three segments  323 - 1 ,  323 - 2 ,  323 - 3  having linear extents UL 1 , UL 2 , and UL 3  respectively. Segments  323 - 1  and  323 - 2  are located at the same second vertical height  425  from exterior surface  180 . Segment  323 - 2  is located at a third vertical height  430  from exterior surface  180 . Third vertical height  430  is smaller than second vertical height  425  by a height difference  435 . Base rear side wall  320  includes three rectangular areas; the first rectangular areas is defined by a length UL 1  and a width defined by second vertical height  425 ; the second rectangular area is defined by a length UL 2  and width defined by third vertical height  430 ; and the third rectangular area is defined by a length UL 3  and width defined by second vertical height  425 . In effect, base rear side wall  320  can be envisaged as a rectangle of length defined by fourth linear segment  223  of peripheral edge  200  and width defined by second vertical height  425  but with a “U” shaped cut-out  440  at second segment  323 - 2 . “U” shaped cut-out has a length dimension defined by linear extent UL 2  of segment  323 - 2  and a depth dimension defined by the height difference  435 . 
     Base right lateral and base left lateral side walls  330 ,  340  have the same trapezoidal shape in that respective upper linear edges  343 ,  333  taper continuously from a rear height  450  proximate base arcuate side walls  348 ,  350  at the rear of base housing  150  to a front height  455  proximate base arcuate side walls  347 ,  345  at the front of base housing  150  as depicted in  FIGS. 4C and 4F . Upper linear edges  343 ,  333  subtend an angle  460  with respective third and first linear segments  218 ,  215 . In effect, upper linear edges  343 ,  333  are inclined at an angle  460  with the exterior surface  180 . 
     Base front side wall  310  is located at a first vertical height  410  above exterior surface  180 . Base front side wall  310  is rectangular with a length dimension defined by second linear segment  220  of peripheral edge  200  and a width dimension defined by first vertical height  410 . 
     Base front side wall  310  is provided with a structure defining a slot BJ 16 , and an aperture BD 7 . Slot BJ 16  is shaped and sized to accommodate a SD card and provide access to a SD card connector on the docking station  10 . Aperture BD 7  is designed to allow light from a dock status indicator LED to shine through. 
     Base rear side wall  320  can be provided with a structure defining variously shaped and sized apertures BJ 17 , BJ 12 , BJ 6 , BJ 8 A, and BJ 8 B through which suitable external connectors may be mated with respective High Definition Media Interface (HDMI), speaker jack, Universal Serial Bus (USB) type B connector, and/or first and second USB type A stacked connectors provided in docking station  10 . Additional and/or alternative structures on base rear side wall  320  can define openings BJ 7  and Bsw 1  respectively. Opening BJ 7  provides access for an external power jack J 7  to be connected to the docking station  10 . Aperture sw 1  provides access to a reset switch on docking station  10 . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are respectively front and right side views of the example base housing  160 . The base housing  160  can be dimensioned as depicted in the illustrations of  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B. 
     Inner peripheral surface  182  of continuous peripheral sidewall  180  and the interior surface  185  define a cavity  490  suitable for housing the mechanical and electrical devices and components that cooperate to provide the features and functionality of docking station  10 . The illustration of  FIG. 4A  depicts an example printed circuit board (PCB) assembly  505  that includes main board  165 , and I/O daughterboard  170  which are mounted to a portion of the base housing  160  within cavity  190 . Main board  165 , and daughterboards such as I/O daughterboard  170  have mounted thereon integrated circuits, and other electronic devices that operate to provide the features and functionality of docking station  10 . Connectors and other similar structures mounted on main board  165  can facilitate signal and data transfer within and outside the docking station  10 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a front perspective view and  FIG. 5C  is a left-side bottom perspective view of an example printed circuit board assembly  505 .  FIG. 5D  is a front isometric exploded view of PCB assembly  505 .  FIG. 5D  depicts the example docking station  10  having a printed circuit board such as main board  165 . As depicted in the illustration, main board  165  has mounted thereon HDMI connector J 17 , speaker jack J 12 , USB type B connector J 6 , first and second USB type A stacked connectors J 8 A, J 8 B, external power jack J 7 , reset switch Sw 1 , SD card connector J 16  and Dock status indicator D 7 . Depending on the functionality and features supplied by the docking station  10  other connectors may be included or existing connectors de-populated on main board  165 . Main board  165  can include other connectors  515  and  520  to facilitate connectivity of main board  165  to external daughter boards such as and I/O daughterboard  170 . Additionally, main board  165  includes guide pins  525  and an array of openings  530 . Openings  530  are sized and located to correspond to and align with standoffs  265  fitted into second aperture set  250  when main board  165  is assembled within base housing  150 . Main board  165  can then be fastened to standoffs  265  using screw fasteners thereby securely anchoring main board  165  to base housing  150  and causing HDMI connector J 17 , speaker jack J 12 , USB type B connector J 6 , first and second USB type A stacked connectors J 8 A, J 8 B, external power jack J 7 , reset switch Sw 1 , SD card connector J 16  and Dock status indicator D 7  on main board  165  to be aligned with respective apertures BJ 17 , BJ 12 , BJ 6 , BJ 8 A,  8 J 8 B,  8 J 7 , BSw 1  on base rear side wall  320  and slot BJ 16  and aperture BD 7  respectively on base front side wall  310  as depicted in the illustration of  FIG. 4A . 
       FIGS. 5F-5I  depict various views of an example I/O daughterboard  170 . I/O daughterboard  170  can have a trapezoidal shape as depicted in  FIG. 5F , which depicts a side view of daughterboard  170 . Upper edge  565  subtends a wedge angle  570  with lower edge  560 . Switches sw 2 , sw 3  and sw 4 , headphone jack J 11  and USB type A port connector  110  are mounted to daughterboard  170  so that their datum is defined by a plane passing through upper edge  565 . Connector  600  mounted proximate lower edge  560  provides a conduit for communications between daughterboard  170  and the main board  165 . Support and guide block  580  can be securely fastened to daughterboard  170 . Block  580  can provide bearing support for headphone jack J 11  and the USB port connector J 10 . Block  580  can be provided with a structure that defines guide openings  590  on a lower surface  610  of guide block  580 . During assembly of daughterboard  170  on main board  165 , openings  590  on guideblock  580  can be brought into sliding engagement with guide pins  525  on main board  165  ensuring that connector  600  on daughterboard  170  is brought into engagement with connector  520  on main board. When surface  610  abuts main board, connectors  600  can be brought into mating relationship with connector  520 . 
     An example structure for the dock cover  155  will now be examined in greater detail.  FIGS. 6A-D  depict alternative views of an example upper sub-assembly portion  150 .  FIG. 6A  is a front isometric view,  FIG. 6B  is a bottom isometric view of one embodiment of the example dock cover  155 .  FIG. 6C  is an exploded view of the example dock cover  155  illustrated in  FIG. 6A .  FIG. 6D  is an exploded view of the example dock cover  155  illustrated in  FIG. 6B . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6C , the example dock cover  155  can include an adapter-insert  710 , a top cover  715 , and/or a dock-connector board  720 . 
     Top cover  715  can include an outer surface  725 , an inner surface  735  and an intermediate lateral surface  745  extending between outer surface  725  and inner surface  735 , as depicted in  FIGS. 6C and 6D . 
     Continuous peripheral wall edge  280  of base housing  160  defines an opening  444  bounded by Inner peripheral surface  182  of continuous peripheral sidewall  180 . Continuous peripheral wall edge  280  can have a thickness  555  corresponding to wall thickness  183  of continuous peripheral side wall  180 . Opening  444  can have substantially the same shape as floor plate  175  of base housing  160 . Outer surface  725  of top cover  715  can be appropriately dimensioned to sit upon and substantially conform to the outer dimensions of continuous peripheral wall edge  280 . Outer surface of top cover  715  can be substantially rectangular with radiused corners as depicted in the illustrations. 
     Intermediate lateral surface  745  can have an outer periphery  748  that is appropriately dimensioned so that at least a portion of the intermediate lateral surface  745  can be slidingly received into opening  444  and remain in contact with inner peripheral surface  182  upon assembly of dock cover  155  and base housing  160 . Inner surface  735  can be provided with a structure defining threaded apertures  763  proximate radiused corners of top cover  715 . Upon assembly of dock cover  155  on base housing  160 , threaded apertures  763  can be brought into axial alignment with apertures in first aperture set  240  in dock base  150 . Threaded fasteners may be guided through apertures  240  and brought into threaded engagement with complimentary threaded apertures  763  to cause dock base  150  to be removably secured to dock cover  155  during assembly of docking station  10 . 
     Inner surface  735  and intermediate lateral surface  745  can be recessed to define first and second “U” shaped cavities  765 ,  775  below outer surface  725 .  FIGS. 6I and 6J  depict one embodiment of cavities  765 ,  775 . Portions of outer surface  725  directly over cavity  775  can be provided with a structure defining apertures BJ 10 , BJ 11 , BSw 4 , Bsw 3 , Bsw 2  through which cavity  775  is placed in fluid communication with outer surface  725 . Some of these apertures are locations on outer surface  725  for user operable controls Sw 4 , sw 3  and sw 4  on I/O daughterboard  170 . Some of the other apertures, BJ 10  and BJ 11  are locations on outer surface  725  from which connectors BJ 10  and BJ 11  on I/O daughterboard  170  respectively may be accessed by external connectors once the docking station  10  is assembled. 
     Outer surface  725  of top cover  715  can be recessed proximate a rear end of docking station  10  to define a “U” shaped recessed portion  800  as seen in  FIGS. 6C and 6E . “U” shaped recessed portion  800  has peripheral surface  803  and a support surface  806 . Peripheral surface  803  has lateral-right and lateral-left segments  807 ,  809  and a basal segment  811  which extends along a base of the “U” shaped recessed portion  800 . Basal segment  811  can have a structure defining a slot  814  which places recessed portion  800  in fluid communication with first “U” shaped cavity  765  as depicted in  FIG. 6D . Recessed portion  800  can be shaped and sized such that upon assembly of dock cover  155  on base housing  160 , a “mouth”  814  of the “U” shaped cavity  765  defined by edges of lateral-right segment  807 , basal segment  811  and lateral-left segment  809  is flush with “U” shaped cut-out  440  in base rear side wall  320  as depicted in  FIG. 1A . 
     Adapter-insert  710  can be shaped and sized to be received within “U” shaped recessed portion  800  and be fixedly attached to lateral-right and lateral-left segments  807 ,  809  so that the insert occupies the region enclosed by peripheral surface  803  and support surface  806 . Inner region of insert  710  can be adapted to receive and snugly retain portable electronic device  20  by, for example, choice of material of construction—a tacky material creates more friction and makes for better retention or structural features such as tabs  816  and  817  which prevent the portable electronic device  20  from being urged out of engagement from within insert  710  without sliding it out from the insert along direction of arrow  12 . Inner region of insert may be dimensioned to receive a specific mobile device. Outer dimensions of insert enable it to be received within “U” shaped recessed portion  800  and thus are docking station dependent. Adapter-insert includes insert-slot  874  that aligns with slot  814  to allow mechanical interface  30  to protrude there-through. 
       FIG. 10A  is a top view of an example adapter-insert  710 .  FIG. 10D  is the front view,  FIG. 10B  is the rear view and  FIG. 10C  is the right-side view of the example adapter-insert  710 . The example adapter-insert may be dimensioned according to the dimensions depicted in the illustrations of  FIG. 10A-D . 
     Portions of outer surface  725  directly over cavity  765  can be provided with a structure defining grille apertures  900  through which cavity  765  is placed in fluid communication with outer surface  725 . Dock-connector board  720  can be removably mounted within cavity  765  such that speakers LS 300  and LS 301  and microphone MIC  300  are located directly below grille apertures  900  to facilitate passage of acoustic waves to and from docking station  10 . Dock connector board  720  provides a dock connector J 18  representing mechanical interface  20  described before. Upon assembly of connector board  720  within cavity  765 , dock connector J 18  protrudes through slot  814  and insert-slot  874  for mating with complimentary connector on portable electronic device  20 . Connector J 22  on connector board  720  can be connected to connectors  515  on main board  165  thereby placing dock connector J 18  and any portable electronic device  20  connected to it in mechanical and electrical communication with the docking station. 
       FIG. 8A  is a top view of an example top cover  715 .  FIG. 8B  is a side view of the example top cover  715 .  FIG. 8C  is a side view of the example top cover  715  and  FIG. 8D  is a bottom view of the example top cover  715 . The top cover  715  may be dimensioned as shown in the illustration of  FIGS. 8A-C . 
     Circuitry 
     An example internal configuration of the circuitry of docking station  10  is depicted in the schematic of  FIG. 11 . In the depicted example, the circuitry of docking station  10  can be categorized into five blocks including USB and SD Card reader related circuitry (A), audio related circuitry (B), video related circuitry (C), microcontroller circuitry (D) and power related circuitry (E) each of which will be described in detail below. Circuit components and devices are designated using alphanumeric identifiers that are also used in the illustration of  FIG. 11 . 
     USB and SD Card Reader Circuitry 
     Referring to  FIG. 11B , the depicted example USB circuitry can include at least one USB 2.0/3.0 4-port primary hub U 1 , USB 2.0 2-port secondary hub U 26 , a SD Card Controller U 28 , USB data selectors U 27 , U 37 , U 41  and U 42  and port power controllers U 2 , U 3 , U 4  and U 5 . 
     Primary hub U 1  can transfer bi-directional USB data between upstream port connector J 6  through data selector U 41  and three downstream port connectors J 8 A, J 8 B and J 10 . Secondary hub can transfer bi-directional USB data between a primary hub downstream port, connected to its upstream port and the SD Card Controller U 28 , connected to one downstream port through data selector U 37  and the docked device connector J 18  connected to the other downstream port through data selectors U 27  and U 42 . 
     USB data can be routed by four USB data selectors under control of microcontroller U 34 . Data selector U 27  can select either data selector U 42  output or the microcontroller U 34  as the data source/sink for the docked device connector J 18 . Data selectors U 41  and U 42  can select the data path between the upstream USB port connector J 6  and data selector U 27 . One example data path can be through the USB primary hub U 1  and secondary hub U 26 . Another example data path can be a direct connection between upstream USB port connector J 6  and data selector U 27  which bypasses the USB primary and secondary hubs. 
     SD Card Controller U 28  can transfer bi-directional data between the data selector U 37  and SD Card connector J 16 . Data selector U 37  can select either the USB secondary hub U 26  or the docked device connector J 18  as the data source/sink for the SD Card reader. 
     Port power controllers U 3 , U 4  and U 5  can supply current-limited 5 volt DC power to the USB Vbus pin on downstream port connectors J 8 A, J 8  Band  110  respectively. Port power controller U 2  can supply current-limited 5 volt DC power to the docked device connector  118 . Port power controllers U 3 , U 4  and U 5  can also have the capability to turn the Vbus power on and off and turn USB 2.0 data lines on and off. For power controllers U 3 , U 4  and U 5 , this feature can be controlled by USB hub U 1 . In the case of power controller U 2 , this feature can be controlled by either USB hub U 26  or the microcontroller U 34 . 
     Docked Device Host Computer Sync Mode 
     An example docked device USB interface on docked device connector J 18  can be connected to upstream USB port connector J 6 , either directly or through the USB hubs U 1  and U 26  for synchronizing data between the docked device and host computer. 
     Docked Device Dock Audio/Video Record/Playback Mode 
     An example docked device USB interface on docked device connector J 18  can be connected to microcontroller U 34 &#39;s USB interface for authentication and initialization processes to enable the docked device to transfer analog and digital audio and analog video through docked device connector J 18 . 
     Audio Circuitry 
     Referring to  FIG. 11D , the depicted example audio circuitry includes an audio processor U 33 , an audio amplifier U 49 , a microphone MIC 300 , two loudspeakers LS 300 , LS 301  and six audio path selectors U 43 , U 44 , U 45 , U 46 , U 47  and U 48 . Audio selectors can be controlled by microcontroller U 34 . Audio selectors U 43  and U 45  can select either the docked device connector J 18  or the microphone as the source for the left channel input of audio processor U 33 . Audio selectors U 44  and U 46  can select either the docked device connector J 18  or the microphone as the source for the left channel input of audio processor U 33 . Audio selectors U 47  and U 48  can select either the internal microphone or the external microphone pin in speaker jack J 12  as the source for the microphone input. 
     Docked Device Analog Audio Playback 
     Referring to  FIG. 11B , the depicted example audio processor U 33  can receive left and right analog audio signals from docked device connector J 18 . If the received analog audio is not accompanied by video, audio processor U 33  can send left and right analog audio signals to headphone jack J 11 , through normally closed switches in headphone jack J 11  to speaker jack J 12  and through normally closed switches in speaker jack J 12  to audio amplifier U 49 , which drives loudspeakers LS 300  and LS 301 . 
     If a headphone plug is inserted into headphone jack J 11 , switches in J 11  can open and turn off the audio signal to the speaker jack J 12  and the audio amplifier U 49 . If a speaker plug is inserted into speaker jack J 12  the switches in J 12  can open and turn off the audio signal to audio amplifier U 49 . If the analog audio is accompanied by video, audio processor U 33  can convert the analog audio signals from dock connector J 18  to digital audio data and sends digital audio data through an I2S (I squared S) serial interface to the HDMI transmitter U 31 . The audio processor can control the volume of the analog audio signals sent to headphone jack J 11 , speaker jack J 12  and audio amplifier U 49  as commanded by the microcontroller U 34  in response to Volume Down switch SW 3  and Volume Up switch SW 4 . 
     Docked Device Digital Audio Playback 
     Digital audio data can be sent from the docked device connector J 18  through a USB interface to the microcontroller U 34 . Digital audio data can be sent from the microcontroller U 34  through an I2S serial interface to the audio processor U 33 . If the digital audio is not accompanied by video, the audio processor U 33  can convert the digital audio to analog audio and sends it to the headphone jack J 11 , speaker jack J 12  and audio amplifier U 49 , which drives loudspeakers LS 300  and LS 301 . If the digital audio is accompanied by video, the audio processor U 33  can send the digital audio data through an I2S serial interface to the HDMI transmitter U 31 . 
     Docked Device Microphone Audio Record 
     Audio processor U 33  can convert the analog audio signal from the microphone to digital audio data and sends the digital audio data through an I2S serial interface to the microcontroller U 34 . The microcontroller U 34  can send digital the audio data through a USB interface to the docked device connector J 18 . 
     Video Circuitry 
     Referring to  FIG. 11E , the depicted example video circuitry includes a video A-D converter U 30  and an HDMI transmitter U 31 . Video A-D converter U 30  can receive analog video signals from the docked device connector  118 , can convert the analog video signals to digital video data and can send the digital video data to the HDMI transmitter U 31 . The HDMI transmitter can receive digital audio data from audio processor U 33  and digital video data from video A-D converter U 30 , formats the digital audio and video data in HDMI format and sends the HDMI formatted data to HDMI connector J 17 . 
     Microcontroller Circuitry 
     Referring to  FIG. 11C , operation of a dock can be controlled by a firmware program running in an example microcontroller U 34 . Microcontroller U 34  can perform initialization and configuration of the USB hubs U 1  and U 26  through an SMB serial interface and can perform initialization and configuration of the Authentication Coprocessor U 40 , SD Card controller U 28 , audio processor U 33 , video A-D converter U 30  and HDMI transmitter U 31  through an I2C serial interface upon power-up or closing of the Reset switch SW 1 . 
     In Docked Device Dock Audio/Video Record/Playback Mode, microcontroller U 34  can communicate with the docked device through a USB interface to perform authentication and initialization processes with the docked device and transfer digital audio data to and from the docked device. The microcontroller U 34  can communicate with the Authentication Coprocessor U 40  through an I2C serial interface to compute authentication data during the authentication process. 
     Microcontroller U 34  can control the USB data path configuration through USB data selectors U 27 , U 37 , U 41  and U 42  in response to closures of the USB Mode switch SW 2 . The microcontroller U 34  can monitor the state of the Volume Down switch SW 3  and Volume Up switch SW 4  and sends data to the audio processor U 33  through an I2C serial interface to control the volume of the analog audio signals sent to headphone jack J 11 , speaker jack J 12  and audio amplifier U 49 . Microcontroller U 34  can control audio selectors U 43 , U 44 , U 45 , U 46 , U 47  and U 48  to select the source of the audio processor analog audio inputs and to select the source of the microphone input. 
     The microcontroller can light combinations of the LEDs in the tri-color LED D 7  to indicate various operating modes and conditions of the dock. 
     Power Circuitry 
     Referring to  FIG. 11A , the depicted example power circuitry is includes a power input jack J 7 , power selector U 24 , 3.3 volt regulator U 20 , 1.8 volt regulator U 23  and 1.1 volt regulator U 22 . Power input jack J 7  can receive 5 volt DC power from an external wall plug power supply and supplies power to the power selector U 24 , 3.3 volt regulator U 20 , 1.8 volt regulator U 23  and 1.1 volt regulator U 22 . Regulator U 20  can convert the 5 volt DC power to 3.3 volt DC power and supplies power to USB hubs U 1  and U 26 , SD Card Controller U 28 , audio processor U 33 , video A/D converter U 30  and microcontroller U 34 . Regulator U 23  can convert the 5 volt DC power to 1.8 volt DC power and supplies power to video A/D converter U 30  and HDMI transmitter U 31 . Regulator U 22  can convert the 5 volt DC power to 1.1 volt DC power and supplies power to USB hub U 1 . The power selector U 24  can supply 5 volt DC power from power input jack J 7  to the docked device when the dock is not connected to a host computer through the upstream USB port connector J 6 . Power selector U 24  can supply USB Vbus 5 volt DC power from the USB upstream port connector J 6  to the docked device when the dock is connected to a host computer through the upstream USB port connector J 6 . 
     Although a few implementations have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. Moreover, other configurations, components, and/or features can be included in a docking station. Other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.