Abstract:
Disclosed is an adapter piece for retaining an external connector and to be used with a docking station for an electronic device, the adapter piece comprising a main body, a cavity in the main body forming an inner portion sized to match the dimensions of the external connector, a first opening to the cavity on the main body for receiving the external connector, a second opening to the cavity on the main body allowing a portion of the external connector to protrude therefrom, and an outer portion sized to match the dimensions of a slot on the docking station.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/306,960 filed Nov. 29, 2011 which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/306,956 filed Nov. 29, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,419,479 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/562,121 filed Sep. 17, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,105,108. All of the aforementioned patents and applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The embodiments of the invention relate to a docking station for an electronic device, and more particularly, to a docking station for laptop computers. Although embodiments of the invention are suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for facilitating the rapid connection of external devices to a laptop computer. 
       DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    A docking station for electronic devices refers to a peripheral which facilitates the connection of external connectors to a portable device. Such docking stations usually contain electronic connectors integrated into the body of the docking station that mate with the ports on the docked device. Output ports on the main body of the docking station essentially replica e the ports on the electronic device. The user can then attach connectors for external devices to the output ports of the docking station. Such docking stations are useful because they facilitate the easy insertion and removal of an electronic device without the need to individually connect and disconnect cables for external devices. 
         [0004]    Despite the time-saving efficiencies of prior art docking stations, certain plugs and connectors can be expensive and mechanically complicated thereby increasing the materials costs and manufacturing labor costs. Additionally, certain proprietary connectors, by virtue of manufacturer&#39;s patent rights, cannot be manufactured without a license. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are directed to a docking station for portable electronics with an improved electrical interface that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0006]    An object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a docking station with spring pins to interface with certain expensive or proprietary connectors. 
         [0007]    Another object of embodiments of the invention is to provide an improved retention mechanism for certain expensive or proprietary connectors. 
         [0008]    Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of embodiments of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the embodiments of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0009]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of embodiments of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the docking station for an electronic device with improved electrical interface includes a main body, a plurality of ports on the main body, a plurality of plugs protruding from the main body, the plurality of plugs positioned to interface with the electronic device, a plurality of pins protruding from the main body, a first pin of the plurality of pins positioned to interface with a first contact of a port of the electronic device, a second pin of the plurality of pins positioned to interface with a second contact of the port of the electronic device. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, a docking station for electronic device with an improved electrical interface includes a main body, a first port on the main body for attaching a first external connector, a second port on the main body for attaching a second external connector, a first plug on the main body positioned to interface with a first port on the electronic device, a second plug on the main body positioned to interface with a second port on the electronic device, a first pin on the main body positioned to interface with a first electrical contact of a third port of the electronic device, and a second pin on the main body positioned to interface with a second electrical contact of the third port of the electronic device. 
         [0011]    In yet another aspect, a docking station for an electronic device having an improved electrical interface includes a main body, a data plug protruding from the main body, the plug positioned to interface with the electronic device, a data port on the main body electrically connected to the data plug, a plurality of pins protruding from the main body, a first pin of the plurality of pins positioned to interface with a first contact of a port of the electronic device, a second pin of the plurality of pins positioned to interface with a second contact of the port of the electronic device, and a power port on the main body electrically connected to the first pin and the second pin. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, a docking station for an electronic device having an improved electrical interface includes a main body, a first port on the main body for accepting a first external connector, a second port on the main body for accepting a second external connector, a first plug on the main body positioned to interface with a first port on the electronic device, a second plug on the main body positioned to interface with a second port on the electronic device, an adapter piece for accepting and retaining a third external connector, a slot in the main body for receiving the adapter piece and for positioning the third external connector to interface with a third port of the electronic device, and a retention mechanism in the main body for retaining the adapter piece. 
         [0013]    In yet another aspect, a docking station for an electronic device having an improved electrical interface includes a main body, a first port on the main body for accepting a first external connector, a second port on the main body for accepting a second external connector, a first plug on the main body positioned to interface with a first port on the electronic device, a second plug on the main body positioned to interface with a second port on the electronic device, a slot in the main body for slidably receiving a third external connector and for positioning the third external connector to interface with a third port of the electronic device, and a retention mechanism in the main body for retaining the third external connector. 
         [0014]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of embodiments of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a docking station for an electronic device; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2A-2D  are assembly views of an external connector and a chicklet; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  is an assembly view of docking station and chicklet; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  is an assembly view of docking station and chicklet; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a docking station for an electronic device; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 5A-5D  are assembly views of a chicklet and external connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 6A-6C  are isometric views of a docking station according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a top cross-sectional view of a docking station according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is an isometric assembly view of a docking station and an electronic device; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of docking station according to exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled the art. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a docking station for an electronic device. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a docking station  100  for an electronic device includes a main body  110 , a plurality of ports  120  on the main body, and a plurality of plugs  130  protruding from the main body. The main body  110  also includes a slot  140  for retaining external connector  150 . The external connector  150  can be enclosed in a shroud called a chicklet  160 . The external dimensions of the chicklet  160  are sized to easily slide into the slot  140 . The internal dimensions of the chickiet  160  are sized to match the dimensions of the external connector  150 . The slot  140  shown in  FIG. 1  has openings on the rear face and right face of the main body  110  of the docking station. However, “slot” can be construed broadly to include any opening in the main body  110  of the docking station  100  sufficient to receive the chicklet  160 . 
         [0028]    In comparison to the docking station  100 , the chicklet  160  is relatively inexpensive. In a retail environment, the docking station  100  can come with a variety of chicklets (not shown). The chicklets can have different internal dimensions to match a variety of potential external connectors. In this way, product configurations can be simplified by providing a docking station which can be easily adapted to be compatible with a variety of external connectors simply by using an inexpensive chicklet. 
         [0029]    The chickiet  160  can have a protrusion (not shown) which engages a cutout  170  on the main body  110  of the docking station  100 . When the protrusion (not shown) engages the cutout  145 , the chickiet is locked in place. In an alternative embodiment, the cutout  145  can be formed as a depression on the interior of the slot  140 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 2A-2D  are assembly views of an external connector and a chicklet. As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2D , the assembly  200  includes an external connector  210  and a chicklet  220 . The external connector  210  can be a rectangular-style, first-generation, MagSafe adapter compatible with certain Apple computers. The internal dimensions of the chicklet  220  are sized to receive and retain a specific external connector  210 . The external dimensions of the chicklet  220  are sized to be compatible with a docking station (not shown). The chicklet  220  can include an interior rear wall  230  which supports a rear face  235  of the external connector  210 . The rear wall  230  can maintain the external connector  210  at a desired depth in the chicklet  220 . The chickiet  220  can also include interior side walls  250  which can support a side face  255  of the external connector  210 . The side walls  250  can maintain the external connector  210  at a desired horizontal and vertical orientation in the chicklet  220 . 
         [0031]    The chicklet  220  can have a protrusion  225  which engages a matched cutout (not shown) of a docking station. When the protrusion  225  engages the cutout, the chicklet is locked in place. 
         [0032]    The chicklet  220  can also include a slot  240 . The slot  240  can allow passage for the cable of an external connector  210  so that the external connector  210  can be introduced into the chickiet and be held in place by the interior rear  230  and side wails  250 . The slot  240  can also allow the chicklet  220  to expand slightly thereby facilitating the introduction of an external connector  210  into the chicklet  220 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3A  is an assembly view of docking station and chicklet. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the assembly includes a docking station  300  having a main body  310 , a chicklet  320 , and an external connector  330 . The docking station  310  includes a slot  340  which is sized to receive and retain the chicklet  320 . The external connector  330  is partially enclosed in the chicklet  320 . The chicklet  320  includes a raised locking portion  325 . The main body  310  of the docking station  300  includes a recess  345 . The chicklet  320  can be introduced into the slot  340  in the docking station  310 . The walls of the slot  340  can retain the exterior walls of the chicklet  320  and can prevent the chicklet  320  from expanding along the slot ( FIG. 2 ,  240 ) in the chicklet thereby securing the external connector  330  in the chicklet  320 . The raised locking portion  325  of the chicklet  320  engages the recess  345  of the slot  340  thereby securing the chicklet  320  in the slot  340 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3B  is an assembly view of docking station and chicklet. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the assembly includes a docking station  300  having a main body  310 , a chicklet  320 , and an external connector  330 . The docking station  310  includes a slot  340  which is sized to receive and retain the chicklet  320 . The external connector  330  is partially enclosed in the chicklet  320 . The main body  310  of the docking station  300  includes a hole  347  which extends through to the slot  340  and is sized to receive a setscrew  348 . The chicklet  320  can be introduced into the slot  340  in the docking station  310 . The walls of the slot  340  can retain the exterior walls of the chicklet  320  and can prevent the chicklet  320  from expanding along the slot ( FIG. 2 ,  240 ) in the chicklet thereby securing the external connector  330  in the chicklet  320 . After the chicklet  320  is inserted into the slot  340 , the setscrew  348  can be introduced and tightened in the hole  347 . The set screw  348  can engage the chicklet and secure the chicklet  320  into the slot  340 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a docking station for an electronic device. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the docking station  400  includes a main body  410 , a chicklet  420  which holds an external connector  430 , a plurality of ports  455 , and a plurality of plugs  450 . The chicklet  420  can be positioned in a slot  440  in the main body  410  of the dock  400 . The chicklet  420  can include a raised portion (not shown) on the body of the chicklet. The raised portion (not shown) of the chicklet  420  can engage a depression  415  in the main body  410  of the docking station  400 . The plurality of plugs  450  can be positioned in the main body  410  of the docking station  400  so as to correspond to the locations of a plurality of ports (not shown) on an electronic device  460 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 5A-5D  are assembly views of a chicklet and external connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D  an external connector  500  can be inserted into a chicklet  510 . The external connector  500  can be a barrel-style MagSafe adapter compatible with certain Apple branded computers. The chicklet  510  can include a slot  520 , a rear wail  530 , and side wails  540 . The slot  520  can allow the chicklet  510  to deflect temporarily to facilitate the insertion of the external connector  500  into the chickiet  510 . Once inserted into the chicklet  510 , the rear wall  530  can prevent the external connector  500  from being pushed too deeply into the chicklet  510 . The rear watt  530  can be positioned so as to hold the external connector  500  at a depth where the plug-portion of the external connector  500  protrudes from the chicklet  510 . Referring to  5 B, the side walls  540  of the chicklet  510  can secure the external connector  500  from horizontal and vertical movement. The chicklet  510  can include a raised portion  560  which can serve as a locking portion when inserted into a receiving slot of a docking station (not shown). 
         [0037]      FIGS. 6A-6C  are isometric views of a docking station according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C , a docking station  600  includes a main body  610 , a plurality of plugs  620 , and a plurality of ports  630 . The docking station can include a slot  640  sized to accept an external connector  650 . Referring to  FIG. 6A , the external connector  650  can be introduced into the slot  640 . The slot  640  can deflect slightly to facilitate entry of the external connector  650 . The slot  640 , can have a real wall (not shown) and side walls  645  which secure the external connector  650 . Referring to  FIG. 6C , the plurality of plugs  620  and the slot  640  holding the external connector  650  can be positioned within the main body  610  to correspond to the ports (not shown) of an electronic device  660 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is atop cross-sectional view of a docking station according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, As shown in  FIG. 7 , a docking station  700  includes a main body  710 , a plurality of plugs  720 , a plurality of spring pins  730 , and a plurality of ports  740 . The plurality of plugs  720  can be positioned within the main body  710  to match the location of ports on an electronic device (not shown). The spring pins  730  can be positioned to match the location of specific pins of a port on the electronic device (not shown). The docking station  700  can include an AC/DC converter  750  for converting AC power to DC power for use by the docking station  700  or the electronic device (not shown). The docking station  700  can be powered by an external DC power supply (not show)). The AC/DC converter  750  can include a circuit to monitor the charging status of the batteries in the electronic device. 
         [0039]    It is not necessary for each of the plurality of spring pins to correspond to a pin on a port of the electronic device. According to embodiments of the invention, there are fewer spring pins on the dock than there are pins of a port on the electronic device. In embodiments of the invention, multiple spring pins connect to pins in separate ports of an electronic device,. 
         [0040]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, there can be four or five spring pins. These pins can correspond in location to the pins of a power port on an electronic device. The power port on the electronic device can be designed to accept a proprietary power plug. The power port can have electrical contacts for sending and receiving electrical signals. In embodiments of the invention the port on the electronic device can be a MagSafe power port. The spring pins on the docking station can be positioned to connect to the electrical contacts of a power port on the electronic device such as the electrical contacts of a MagSafe power port. The spring pins  731 - 734  can be electrically connected to the AC/DC converter  750 . DC power can be provided through pins  731  and  734 . A charge monitoring circuit can be connected to spring pins  732  and  733 . When an electronic device (not show is abutted to the spring pins  731 - 734 , the spring pins  731 - 734  can electrically interface with the contacts of a port on the electronic device (not shown). The spring pins can compress slightly to create a reliable electrical connection. In use, AC electrical power can be applied to the AC/DC converter  750 . DC power from the AC/DC converter  750  can be applied to the plurality of spring pins  730  to provide DC power to a connected electronic device (not shown). 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is an isometric assembly view of a docking station and an electronic device. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the docking station  800  includes a main body  810 , a plurality of plugs  820 , and a plurality of spring pins  830 . The main body  810  can also include a plurality of ports  850  for connecting peripheral devices. The positioning of the plurality of plugs  820  can correspond to a positioning of a plurality of ports (not shown) on the electronic device  840 . The position of the plurality of spring pins  830  corresponds to the position of a plurality of contacts (not shown) of a port (not shown) on the electronic device  840 . When docking station  800  and the electronic device  840  are pressed together, the plurality of plugs  820  on the main body  810  of the docking station  800  can interface with the plurality of ports (not shown) on the electronic device  840 . Similarly, when the docking station  800  and the electronic device  840  are pressed together, the plurality of spring pins  830  on the main body  810  of the docking station  800  can interface with contacts (not shown) of a port (not shown) on the electronic device  840 . 
         [0042]    Some electrical connectors or ports on an electronic device such as the electronic device  840  do not exert sufficient friction on a plug to hold the plug in place with friction alone. Some such plugs, such as the Apple MagSafe adapter, rely on magnetic forces rather than friction to hold a plug in contact with a port on the electronic device. It can be costly to produce these proprietary ports and connectors as companies owning rights to such a design may demand prohibitively high licensing fees to allow third parties o manufacture the port or connector. Accordingly, in exemplary embodiments of the invention the necessary electrical contacts of a third-party proprietary connector are provided as spring pins and the proprietary body and magnetic features of the connector are omitted. When an electronic device is interfaced with the docking station, the spring pins compress slightly and press back on predetermined contacts of a port on the electronic device. The assembly can be held in place by the friction force created by adjacent plugs pressed into ports. Alternatively, the assembly can be held in place by mounting the docking station to a base member having a retention mechanism (not shown) for the electronic device. Alternatively, the assembly can be held in place by gravity using the weight of the electronic device to press down against the plurality of plugs and plurality of spring pins. In a gravity-coupling system, the electronic device and corresponding electrical contacts can be positioned above the plurality of spring pins. The weight of the electronic device provides the force to keep the electrical contacts and the spring pins joined. 
         [0043]    The plurality of plugs  820  on the main body  810  of the docking station  800  can be electrically connected to a plurality of ports  850  on the also on the main body  810  of the docking station  800 . The plugs  820  and ports  850  can be in one-to-one correspondence where each port is electrically connected to one and only one plug in a pass-through configuration. When an electronic device  840  is introduced into the docking station  800 , the each of the plurality of ports  850  is connected through the plurality of plugs  820  to individual ports (not shown) on the electronic device  840 . The electrical connections between the docking station  800  and the electronic device  840  can be severed in a single motion by separating the electronic device  840  from the docking station  800 . Similarly, electrical connections can be formed between the docking station  800  and the electronic device  840  in a single motion. A user may connect a plug (not shown) from a variety of peripheral devices not shown to the plugs  850  which will electrically connect through the docking station  800  to the electronic device  840 . This saves a user the hassle and time of individually positioning and inserting each of the plugs (not shown) from the peripheral devices (not shown) into the electronic device  840 . 
         [0044]    In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, there is not a one-to-one correspondence between the plurality of plugs  820  and the plurality of ports  850 . In such a configuration, there may be a one-to-many setup where one of the plurality of plugs  820  corresponds to many of the plurality of ports  850 . In exemplary embodiments the main body  810  can have an embedded USB hub  860 . One of the plurality of plugs  820  can be a USB plug connected to an embedded USB hub  860 . The embedded USB hub  860  can provide multiple USB ports such as some of the plurality of ports  850  on the main body  810  of the docking station  800 . 
         [0045]    The docking station  800  can include an embedded USB audio device  870 . The USB audio device  860  can connect to the electronic device through a USB plug which can be one of the plurality of plugs  820 . The USB audio device  870  can connect to an embedded USB hub  860  as described in the preceding paragraph. The USB audio device can provide an ⅛″ audio port on the main body  810  of the docking station  800 . The ⅛″ audio port can be one of the plurality of ports  850 . Such a configuration is desirable as it obviates the need for the docking station  800  to provide a plug to interface with an audio port of the electronic device. The benefits are two-fold in that the act of docking and undocking the electronic device is easier because there is less friction by way of few connectors. Second, on many electronic devices, there is an internal switch which disables audio through speakers embedded in the device when an external audio connector is introduced into the electronic device. By using a USB audio device  870  embedded in the docking station  800 , a user can use a software program to select an appropriate audio device (embedded speakers or external audio). 
         [0046]    Embodiments of the invention have been described as having a plurality of ports and a plurality of plugs positioned to match the location and orientation of a plurality of ports on an electronic device. The selection of the individual plugs which form the plurality of plugs can be dependent on the electronic device for which the docking station is designed. Similarly, the position and orientation of the plurality of plugs in the docking station can be dependent on the electronic device with which a docking station is designed to work. It is not essential to provide a plug for each port on the electronic device. In embodiments of the invention, fewer plugs are provided than ports on an electronic device. Similarly, the plurality of ports  850  on the docking station  800  is not dependent on the plurality of plugs  820  or the ports on the electronic device  840 . There can be more ports  850  on the docking station  800  than there are plugs  820  on the docking station  800 . The docking station  800  can include embedded devices such as a USB hub  860 , an audio device  870 , video devices, network devices, storage and other devices which operate on USB, Firewire, Thunderbolt, Ethernet, or other general purpose I/O technology. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of docking station according to exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the docking station  900  includes a main body  910  a plurality of spring pins  920  and a plug  930 . The spring pins  920  are positioned to match the location of electrical contacts (not shown) on an electronic device  940 . The plug is positioned to match the location of port (not shown) on the electronic device  940 . When the plug  930  is introduced into the electronic device  940  friction can hold the plug  930  in connection with the electronic device. In embodiments of the invention, the spring pins  920  and mating electrical con acts (not shown) of the electronic device  940  cannot a one maintain secure electrical contact. Instead, the spring pins  920  can rely on the friction connection between the plug  930  and a port (not shown) on the electronic device  940  to maintain proximity to the electronic device and secure electrical connection. In embodiments of the invention the plug  930  can include a locking tab (not shown), such as the tab on an Ethernet plug, to maintain electrical connection with the electronic device  940 . 
         [0048]    Inside the docking station  900 , the plurality of spring pins  920  can be electrically connected to an external port  925 . The port  925  can accept AC or DC power. The docking station can include an internal AC/DC adapter  950  to accept AC power from port  925  and provide DC power to the spring pins  920 . The AC/DC adapter  950  can also include a charge monitoring circuit. The plug  930  can be electrically connected to the port  935 . The electrical connection can be a pure pass-through where the docking station  900  does not have internal electronics which manipulate the electrical signal. 
         [0049]    While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described as having a single block comprising a plurality of plugs, it is contemplated that the invention may also be embodied as two or more blocks comprising one or more plugs. These blocks can be mounted on a chassis including a lever system or electromechanical actuators which can engage and disengage the blocks. Accordingly, this invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments but also covers embodiments having multiple blocks of one or more plugs. Such a configuration can be useful for interfacing with at electronic device which has connectors on one or more sides. 
         [0050]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the docking station for an electronic device having an improved electrical interface without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that embodiments of the invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.