Abstract:
An apparatus and method are presented for making the cable connectors of a docking port more easily accessible for coupling and decoupling peripheral devices to the docking port. An advantage of the present invention is that it provides for easier accessibility with a minimum of moving parts and mechanisms by providing for the rotation of part of the docking port to make the port&#39;s connectors more easily accessible to a computer user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates in general to computer systems and more specifically to docking apparatuses used in conjunction with portable computers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Computer systems are information-handling systems that can be designed to give independent computing power to one user or a plurality of users. Computer systems may be found in many forms including, for example, mainframes, minicomputers, workstations, servers, personal computers, internet terminals, notebook or portable computers, and embedded systems. Personal computer (“PC”) systems, such as International Business Machines-compatible PC systems, include desktop, floor standing, or portable versions. A typical PC system includes a microprocessor (or simply “processor”), associated memory and logic control, and a number of peripheral devices that provide input and output for the system. Such peripheral devices may include display monitors, keyboards, mouse-type input devices, floppy and hard disk drives, printers, network cards, terminal devices, modems, televisions, sound devices, voice recognition devices, electronic pen devices, and mass storage devices such as tape drives, CD-R drives, or DVDs. 
     Portable computers (including laptop or notebook computers) have become increasingly popular due to their light weight and small size. Such computers can be easily hand-carried in briefcase-sized cases and may be used by business travelers in cramped spaces, such as on airline seatback trays. In addition, portable computers typically can be battery-powered or powered from an AC-to-DC converter. Portable computers typically incorporate a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display or other small display that can be, for example, built into its lid portion. Portable computers typically include a keyboard built into its main body portion. The modem portable computer may also have incorporated hard and floppy disk drives, system RAM memory, and a system processor. A portable computer can be a fully self-contained computer system able to be used conveniently in situations and locations in which the use of a much larger desktop computer is not feasible. 
     A docking station allows a portable computer to be used as a desktop computer for use in the home or office. Docking stations typically make easier the operable coupling of the system processor and memory of the portable computer to peripheral devices either housed in the docking station (e.g., a CD-ROM drive) or operably coupled to the docking station (e.g., an external mouse, keyboard, monitor, or printer). Such peripheral devices, which are operably coupled to connectors located on the docking station housing, are typically left at the home or office when the portable computer is removed for use outside the home or office. Docking station housings are typically designed to be set on a desktop. However, some docking station housings may be floor standing as well. One example of a docking station is the PORT REPLICATOR II sold by DELL COMPUTER CORP. 
     A challenge presented by the design of most common docking stations is that it is often very difficult to access the back of the docking station when connecting peripheral cables because of the position of the cable connectors at the rear of the docking station. 
     What is needed is an apparatus and method for making the cable connectors of a docking port more easily accessible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, an improved docking station for use in conjunction with a portable computer is presented. In one embodiment, the docking station has a receiving area for placement of a portable computer such that a connector or connectors for peripherals on the outer surface of the portable computer couple to a connector or connectors within the docking port receiving area when the portable computer is placed into the receiving area. The receiving area has guiding rails to guide the personal computer to make easier coupling the portable computer connectors and the base member receiving connectors. The docking port has a rotating member that has peripheral connectors that are coupled to the connectors in the receiving area. The rotating member can be rotated such that the rotating member peripheral connectors are more accessible to the computer user than they would be if they faced away from the user on the outer surface of the docking port. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention includes a latching mechanism that holds the rotating member substantially stationary relative to the member with the receiving area (the “base member”) when the user does not want the rotating member rotated for easier access to the rotating member&#39;s peripheral connectors. When rotating is desired, the user can release the latch and rotate the rotating member. The latching mechanism remains released during rotation of the rotating member to, while the rotating member is positioned at, and during rotation of the rotating member from the position of easier accessibility and re-engages when the rotating member is returned to its original latched position. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention uses friction to hold the rotating member in place relative to the member with the receiving area. Surfaces of the rotating member and the base member with the receiving are in contact with each other, and friction between some or all of these contacting surfaces is sufficient in this embodiment to hold the two members substantially stationary relative to each other unless and until the friction is overcome by the user in moving the rotating member to another position. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention uses a combination of the latching mechanism described above and the friction mechanism described above to hold the rotating member in place relative to the member with the receiving area at every point in the rotating member&#39;s range of motion. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides for easier accessibility to a docking port&#39;s cable connectors with a minimum of moving parts and mechanisms. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention may be better understood, and its numbers objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element. 
     FIG. 1 shows an exterior side view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B show cross-sectional views of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B show cross-sectional views of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following sets forth a detailed description of a mode for carrying out the invention. The description is intended to be illustrative of the invention and should not be taken to be limiting. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an exterior side view of a first embodiment of the present invention  100  is shown. Base member  110  is the member with which a portable computer (not shown) docked to the invention will be in physical contact. To dock a portable computer, the computer is placed in receiving area  117 , indicated approximately for purposes of illustration by a phantom line in FIG.  1 . Base member  110  includes one or more base member peripheral connectors  115  for coupling peripheral devices (not shown) to the portable computer through the docking station  100 . Solid lines depict rotating member  120  in the position to be used when a user is not coupling or decoupling peripheral devices to the rotating member peripheral connectors (not shown). Phantom lines depict rotating member  120  in the position for connection of peripheral devices to one or more rotating member peripheral connectors (not shown). With rotating member  120  in the position shown by solid lines, a user would dock a portable computer to this embodiment  100 , connecting one or more peripheral connectors on the outer surface of the portable computer to one or more base member peripheral connectors  115 . The user would then rotate rotating member  120  to the position shown by phantom lines for easier access to one or more rotating member peripheral connectors. After coupling the desired peripheral devices to the rotating member peripheral connectors, the user could rotate the rotating member  120  back to the position shown by solid lines and use the portable computer. The user could also rotate rotating member  120  to the position shown by phantom lines for easier access to one or more rotating member peripheral connectors, couple peripherals to the rotating member peripheral connectors, and then dock a portable computer to the docking station  100 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2A, a cross section of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. Rotating member  120  is shown in a position corresponding to the position shown by solid lines in FIG.  1 . Interconnecting member  130 , which couples one or more base member peripheral connectors  115  with one or more rotating member peripheral connectors  125 , is represented for purpose of illustration by a flexible cable. The phantom line depicting part of the curved surface of rotating member  120  represents an opening  127  in rotating member  120  through which interconnecting member  130  runs to couple connectors  115  to connectors  125 . Opening  127  permits interconnecting member  130  to couple connectors  115  to connectors  125  throughout the range of motion of rotating member  120 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2B, another cross section of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. Rotating member  120  is shown in a position corresponding to the position shown by phantom lines in FIG.  1 . Interconnecting member  130 , which couples one or more base member peripheral connectors  115  with one or more rotating member peripheral connectors  125 , is represented for purpose of illustration by a flexible cable. The phantom line depicting part of the curved surface of rotating member  120  represents an opening  127  in rotating member  120  through which interconnecting member  130  runs to couple connectors  115  to connectors  125 . Opening  127  permits interconnecting member  130  to couple connectors  115  to connectors  125  throughout the range of motion of rotating member  120 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3A, a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention  200  is shown. Referring to FIG. 3B, a cross sectional view of part of the second embodiment  200  along the line AA in FIG. 3A is shown. This embodiment includes a latching mechanism that holds the rotating member  120  substantially fixed relative to the base member  110  when the user does not want the rotating member  120  rotated for easier access to the rotating member peripheral connectors  125 . When rotating is desired, the user can release the latch  116  by pressing button  117 , overcoming the holding force exerted by spring mechanism  118  (not shown in FIG.  3 A), and rotate rotating member  120 . When rotating member  120  is at the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 1, the latch is engaged while placed in indentation  119  (not shown in FIG. 3A) on the inner surface of rotating member  120  such that rotating member  120  is held substantially fixed relative to base member  110 . Indentation  119  surrounds latch  116  such that when rotating member  120  is in this position, motion by rotating member  120  into and out of the plane of the cross-section is restricted. When the user presses button  117 , overcoming the holding force exerted by spring mechanism  118 , the latch is removed from indentation  119  and rotating member  120  is free to rotate. During rotating to and from the position shown by phantom lines in FIG. 1, and while rotating member  120  is positioned at the position of easier accessibility shown by phantom lines in FIG. 1, the latch presses against the inner curved surface  126  of rotating member  120  without catching, such that rotating member  120  is free to rotate. After coupling the desired peripheral devices to the rotating member peripheral connectors, the user could rotate the rotating member  120  back to the position shown by solid lines in FIG.  1 . In this position, the latch would catch when spring mechanism  118  forced latch  116  back into indentation  119 , holding rotating member  120  substantially fixed relative to base member  110 . 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that the foregoing components and devices in FIGS. 1,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A, and  3 B are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications are common. Consequently, as used herein the specific exemplars set forth in FIG. 1,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A, and  3 B are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar herein is also intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of such specific devices in the foregoing list should not be taken as indicating that limitation is desired.