Abstract:
A docking station for a portable electronic device comprises a device receiving recess including a device receiving bottom surface and at least one device guiding structure sized to slidingly receive therein a device to be docked in the docking station and to guide the device toward, and maintain the device in, a desired position within the device receiving recess in which an electrical connector of the device mates with an electrical connector of the docking station and a well formed in the bottom surface of the device receiving recess, the well extending downward from the electrical connector of the docking station to a drainage opening formed at a lower-most point of the well in combination with a first lumen extending from the drainage opening to an outlet at an exterior of the docking station.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     As mobile computing devices are more and more heavily relied on, minimizing device downtime has become increasingly important. However, battery life remains limited and the recharging process is a periodic and unavoidable source of downtime. In addition, over time employees increasingly take these devices for granted and spills and other accidents further increase device downtime. As businesses become more reliant on these devices, the negative impact of downtime due to recharging and accidents, etc. is increased.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to a docking station for a portable electronic device including a rechargeable battery, the docking station comprising a device receiving recess including a device receiving bottom surface and at least one device guiding structure sized to slidingly receive therein a device to be docked in the docking station and to guide the device toward, and maintain the device in, a desired position within the device receiving recess and an air flow channel which, when a device is received within the device receiving recess, is adjacent to a battery of the device, the air flow channel extending from an open top end to the device receiving bottom surface in combination with a first lumen extending through the device receiving bottom surface to establish fluid communication between the air flow channel and an exterior of the docking station.  
         [0003]     The present invention is further directed to a docking station for a portable electronic device comprising a device receiving recess including a device receiving bottom surface and at least one device guiding structure sized to slidingly receive therein a device to be docked in the docking station and to guide the device toward, and maintain the device in, a desired position within the device receiving recess in which an electrical connector of the device mates with an electrical connector of the docking station in combination a well formed in the bottom surface of the device receiving recess, the well extending downward from the electrical connector of the docking station to a drainage opening formed at a lower-most point of the well in combination with a first lumen extending from the drainage opening to an outlet at an exterior of the docking station. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a docking station according to the present invention with a mobile device inserted therein;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the docking cradle of  FIG. 1  with no device received therein;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of the mobile device of  FIG. 1  with a battery received in a battery charging station thereof;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of the a docking station of  FIG. 1  with the mobile device of  FIG. 1  received therein;  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of the docking station of  FIG. 1  with the mobile device inserted therein;  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the docking station of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  shows a front view of the mobile device of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 8  shows a bottom view of the mobile device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The present invention will be described in regard to docking stations for personal digital assistants (“PDA&#39;s”). However, those skilled in the art will understand that the docking cradle according to the present invention is equally suited for any mobile electronic device relying on a rechargeable battery.  
         [0013]     As shown in FIGS.  1  to  8 , a mobile device, in this case a PDA  10 , is received within a first recess  14  of a docking station  12  according to the invention with a bottom surface  38  of the PDA  10  including a connector  28  thereof facing a lower-most surface  18  of the recess  14 . The lower-most surface  18  includes a power/data connector  20  sized and shaped to mate with the connector  28  of the PDA  10 . The PDA  10  includes a battery  22  received within a battery receiving recess (not shown) in a rear portion  24  of the PDA  10 . The battery  22  is held in place within this battery receiving recess by a cover  26 . Those skilled in the art will understand that the PDA  10  may include a male power/data connector with the docking station  12  including a mating female connector or vice versa and that these connectors may take any form without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0014]     As can be seen most clearly in  FIGS. 1, 4  and  5 , when received within the recess  14 , a lower portion of the PDA  10  is entirely surrounded on three sides with a front face  25  of the PDA  10  exposed except for a bottom edge and lateral portions thereof which are covered by projections  27  of a wall  29  surrounding the recess  14 . A lower portion of the portion of the PDA  10  holding the battery  22  is completely surrounded by the walls of the recess  14 . However, as can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the recess  14  includes a channel  30  which extends rearward from a back surface of the PDA  10  to form an open space behind the PDA  10  extending to the lower-most surface  18  of the recess  14 . Those skilled in the art will understand that this channel  30  will not only serve to increase air flow around the adjacent portion of the PDA  10 , but may also receive a hand strap, or other accessory attached to the PDA  10 . Projections  32  grip the rearward edges of the PDA  10  to provide positive guidance of the PDA  10  and the connector  28  into alignment with the connector  20  as the PDA  10  is inserted into the recess  14 . Those skilled in the art will understand that additional guiding features may be included in the docking station  12  according to the invention for mating with corresponding features on the device(s) to be received therein to further ensure proper alignment of the connectors  20  and  28 . Extending rearward from the center of the wall  29  is a battery latch  31  which maintains a battery  22  in the desired position within a battery receiving station  52  which will be described below.  
         [0015]     When the battery  22  of the PDA  10  is charged, heat is generated. This is a limiting factor in reducing the charging time as increasing the charging current to speed the charging involves a proportionate increase in the heat generated. For most mobile devices such as the PDA  10 , when the battery  22  heats to a predetermined level, the device will shut down the recharging process to prevent damage thereto. For example, many devices include a thermal sensor which directs the device to stop charging when a predetermined temperature is reached. When additional guiding features sufficient to ensure proper mating of the connectors  20  and  28  are included in the docking station  12 , portions of the walls of the recess  14  and, specifically, of the channel  30 , not necessary to support these guiding features may be omitted to enhance cooling of the battery  22 .  
         [0016]     In addition, liquids spilled into the docking station  12  may short out the docking station and/or the PDA  10  further increasing downtime. To reduce spill related downtime and decrease the occurrence of overheating, the lower-most surface  18  may also include a well  34  extending downward from a contoured surface  36  which may, for example, correspond to a shape of the bottom surface  38  of the PDA  10 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the bottom surface  38  extends generally along a part of a curved surface (e.g., a cylinder) with the connector  28  extending along a substantially flat, substantially centered portion of the bottom surface  38 . Behind the connector  28 , a surface extending below the battery  22  includes a recess  40  with vents  42  to the battery receiving recess. Thus, the well  34  provides an air space below the vents  42  to promote circulation therethrough. In addition, the well  34  includes an opening  44  to a channel which extends to an opening  46  in a bottom surface  48  of the docking station  12 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4  and  6 , the docking station  12  includes four (4) feet  50  which raise the bottom surface  48  off the surface on which the docking station  12  is placed. Thus, the channel  30  is fluidly connected to the space beneath the docking station  12  and air circulation through the channel  30  is promoted via the opening  44  and the open, top end of the channel  30 . In addition, as all portions of the lower-most surface  18  slope downward to the well  34  and the opening  44  is in the lowest part of the well  34 , any liquid spilled into the docking station  12  will drain therefrom via the opening  44  and the channel. Those skilled in the art will understand that, if the docking station  12  is supported on a surface which is not horizontal (e.g., if it is wall mounted), the channel will preferably extend from the opening  44  to a lower surface of the docking station  12  whether or not this surface forms a base of the docking station  12 .  
         [0017]     As seen in  FIG. 3 , the docking station  12  includes a battery receiving station  52  located behind the channel  30 . Specifically, the battery receiving station  52  is formed as a recess  58  in a rear portion of the docking station  12  configured to receive the battery  22  when it has been removed from the battery receiving recess of the PDA  10 . That is, while a PDA  10  including a battery  22  is charging in the recess  14 , a spare battery  22  may be charged in the battery receiving station  52 . Thus, a lower-most surface  54  of the battery receiving station  52  includes a connector  56  similar to that included within the battery receiving recess of the PDA  10  for electrically coupling the battery  22  to the PDA  10 . Those skilled in the art will understand that the connector  20  is coupled to the one or more ports (not shown) on the docking station  12  which may be coupled to sources of power and/or data via external cabling while it is necessary only to connect the connector  56  to a port supplying power. The recess  58  is preferably sized to allow a gap around the entire perimeter of the battery  22  when received therein with fins  60  maintaining a separation between the battery  22  and the walls of the recess  58 . In addition, the lower-most surface  54  includes an opening  62  extending via a channel to an opening  64  in the bottom surface  48  of the docking station  12 . Thus, air can circulate through the channel to the space between the battery  22  and the walls of the recess  58  to aid in cooling the battery  22  during charging. In addition, the opening  64  is preferably formed at the lowest point on the lower-most surface  54  so that, if liquid is spilled into the recess  58 , it will drain therefrom via the opening  64 .  
         [0018]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the structure and the methodology of the present invention, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.