Patent Publication Number: US-2011075349-A1

Title: Notebook computer docking station

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 98132757, filed on Sep. 28, 2009. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a notebook computer docking station, and more particularly, to a notebook computer docking station which is convenient for using. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The modern electronic products always are in pursuit of light-slim-short-small shape design to meet the requirements of the users. In terms of a notebook computer, a plurality of recently-launched subnotebooks are featured by the carry convenience. On the other hand, due to a smaller volume of a subnotebook, the function parts able to be equipped therein are limited as well, so that the functions and the expansivity thereof are accordingly limited, and a subnotebook has much less functions in comparison with a desktop computer with larger operation space. For example, in order to equip an optical disc drive (ODD) with a subnotebook, the ODD must be disposed outside the subnotebook and externally electrically connected to the subnotebook, which is totally unlike a desktop computer where the ODD can be disposed at the host thereof. 
     To improve the functions and the expansivity of a subnotebook, a docking station is provided in the related art, which has a plurality of connectors so that a user can dispose peripheral devices such as an ODD in the docking station. When a user needs to operate the peripheral devices, the docking station must be joined with the subnotebook, so that the subnotebook is electrically connected to the peripheral devices. In this way, the user not only can enjoy the light and handy feature of a subnotebook, but also can be free from the annoyance of putting in/out for connection or disconnection between the subnotebook and the peripheral devices, and moreover, the user can get the same functions and the expansivity as the ones of a desktop computer. 
     However, as mentioned above, the peripheral devices can be driven and operated only after electrically connecting the ODD disposed in the docking station to the subnotebook. In particular, although some designs enable the ODD to be detachable from the docking station for the user to easily change the computer type, but the detached ODD then can not be connected to the subnotebook for operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a notebook computer docking station which is convenient for using. 
     The present invention provides a notebook computer docking station, which includes a body and a first connecting port. The body has a first recess and a second recess, wherein the first recess is for accommodating a notebook computer and the second recess is for accommodating peripheral devices. The first connecting port is located in the second recess and electrically connected to the peripheral devices. 
     In an embodiment of the notebook computer docking station of the present invention, the above-mentioned second recess has four side walls, and at least one of the side walls is taller than another side wall and functions to guide the peripheral devices and assist in position-limiting the peripheral devices. 
     In an embodiment of the notebook computer docking station of the present invention, the above-mentioned notebook computer docking station further includes a plurality of positioning pillars located in the second recess, and the height of the positioning pillars is greater than the height of the first connecting port. 
     In an embodiment of the notebook computer docking station of the present invention, the above-mentioned notebook computer docking station further includes a plurality of cushions, which are disposed in at least one of the first recess and the second recess. In addition, the notebook computer docking station further includes a second connecting port disposed in the first recess, a plurality of positioning pillars located in the first recess and a plurality of third connecting ports disposed outside the first recess, wherein the height of the positioning pillars is greater than the height of the second connecting port. 
     In an embodiment of the notebook computer docking station of the present invention, the above-mentioned notebook computer docking station further includes an auxiliary base disposed under the body, wherein the length of the auxiliary base is less than the length of the body, but the width of the auxiliary base is greater than the width of the body. 
     In an embodiment of the notebook computer docking station of the present invention, the above-mentioned body further has a heat-sinking hole, which is correspondingly located under the notebook computer. 
     The notebook computer of the present invention has a recess for accommodating the notebook computer and another recess for accommodating the peripheral devices, wherein the peripheral device detached from the recess can be individually connected to the notebook computer for use. In comparison with the prior art, the notebook computer docking station of the present invention is advantageous in saving the utilization space and convenient for using. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a notebook computer docking station provided by an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of a notebook computer docking station with the peripheral device is detached therefrom. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing the notebook computer and a peripheral device connected thereto. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top view of a notebook computer docking station. 
         FIG. 4B  is a side view of the notebook computer docking station of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is a right view of the notebook computer docking station of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4D  is a left view of the notebook computer docking station of  FIG. 4A . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a notebook computer docking station provided by an embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 2  is a diagram of a notebook computer docking station with the peripheral device is detached therefrom. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a notebook computer docking station  100  includes a body  110  and a first connecting port  120 . The body  110  has a first recess  112  and a second recess  114 , wherein the first recess  112  is for accommodating a notebook computer  200  and the second recess  114  is for accommodating a peripheral device  300 , and the peripheral device  300  is for example, an ODD or other peripheral devices such as an external hard disk drive or a mouse. The first connecting port  120  is located in the second recess  114  and electrically connected to the peripheral device  300 . The notebook computer  200  and the peripheral device  300  are uprightly and respectively inserted into the first recess  112  and the second recess  114 , so that the notebook computer  200  is electrically connected to the peripheral device  300  and expanses functions thereof through the notebook computer docking station  100 . The upright layout of the present invention can further save the utilization space in comparison with the conventional docking station where a notebook computer  200  is horizontally disposed on the docking station.  FIG. 3  is a diagram showing the notebook computer and a peripheral device connected thereto. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the peripheral device  300  is detached from the second recess  114 , and the detached peripheral device  300 , as shown by  FIG. 3 , can be connected to the notebook computer  200  via a transmission wire  400  for use. With the above-mentioned configuration, the peripheral device  300  can work as well to expanse functions of the notebook computer  200 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a top view of a notebook computer docking station and  FIG. 4B  is a side view of the notebook computer docking station of  FIG. 4A . Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 A and  4 B, the notebook computer docking station  100  of the embodiment further includes a plurality of positioning pillars  130  located in the second recess  114 , wherein the height of the positioning pillars  130  is greater than the height of the first connecting port  120 , and the peripheral device  300  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) has a plurality of corresponding positioning holes  302  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). As the peripheral device  300  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) is inserted into the second recess  114  of the body  110  of the notebook computer docking station  100 , the positioning pillars  130  are aligned with the positioning holes  302  first so as to position the positioning pillars  130  and to hereby electrically connect the connecting port (not shown) of the peripheral device  300  to the first connecting port  120  of the notebook computer docking station  100  correspondingly, which is advantageous in avoiding a direct hit between the first connecting port  120  and the connecting port (not shown) of the peripheral device  300  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to cause damage as the peripheral device  300  is inserted into the body  110  of the notebook computer docking station  100 . In addition, the peripheral device  300  is uprightly inserted into the second recess  114  of the body  110  of the notebook computer docking station  100 , which is advantageous in saving space. 
       FIG. 4C  is a right view of the notebook computer docking station of  FIG. 4A . Referring to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C, the first recess  112  of the notebook computer docking station  100  also disposes a second connecting port  150  and a plurality of positioning pillars  170  therein, and a plurality of third connecting ports  160  are further disposed outside the first recess  112 . The first connecting port  120 , the second connecting port  150  and the third connecting ports  160  herein can be the same or different from each other; they are, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an IEEE-1394 interface or a SATA (serial advanced technology attachment) connector depending on the requirement. The notebook computer  200  employs connecting ports (not shown) and positioning holes (not shown) as well, wherein, as the same as the depiction above, the height of the positioning pillars  170  is greater than the height of the second connecting port  150  so that the positioning pillars  170  and the positioning holes (not shown) are inserted by each other for guiding the notebook computer  200  when the user is going to insert the notebook computer  200  into the first recess  112  of the notebook computer docking station  100 . With the above-mentioned guiding, the connecting ports (not shown) of the notebook computer  200  and the second connecting port  150  in the first recess  112  are correspondingly inserted by each other. It should be noted that the third connecting ports  160  disposed outside the first recess  112  can be also an interface for network connection socket, a power socket or an audio source socket selected according to the application requirement to facilitate the user to further externally connect the computer to other electronic devices and to expanse functions of the notebook computer  200 . 
     When the notebook computer  200  is inserted into the notebook computer docking station  100 , the notebook computer docking station  100  is electrically connected to a power to feed the notebook computer  200  with electricity. In addition, the connecting port of the notebook computer  200  and the connecting port  150  of the body  110  of the notebook computer docking station  100  are inserted by each other and the third connecting ports  160  are disposed on the body  110  of the notebook computer docking station  100 , therefore the notebook computer  200  can be electrically connected to other display, keyboard and mouse via the body  110  of the notebook computer docking station  100 . With the configuration, the combination of the notebook computer  200  and the notebook computer docking station  100  is equivalent to a traditional desktop computer host; i.e., the user can operate the notebook computer  200  by using the keyboard and the mouse, while the display gives the operation results. In comparison with the desktop computer host, the combination of the notebook computer  200  and the notebook computer docking station  100  provide by the present invention occupies a smaller volume and saves more space in comparison with the desktop computer host. 
     Besides, the notebook computer docking station  100  further includes a plurality of cushions  140 , and the first recess  112  and the second recess  114  respectively employ the cushions  140  therein (as shown in  FIG. 4A ), wherein the cushions  140  are for buffering the impact between the notebook computer  200 , the peripheral device  300  and the body  110 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 A, the notebook computer docking station  100  further includes an auxiliary base  180  disposed under the body  110 , wherein the length of the auxiliary base  180  is less than the length of the body and the width of the auxiliary base  180  is greater than the width of the body. When the notebook computer  200  and the peripheral device  300  are inserted into the notebook computer docking station  100 , the auxiliary base  180  can keep the balance of the body  110  so as to prevent the notebook computer docking station  100  from leaning and collapsing. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , the body  110  further has a heat-sinking hole  116 . When the notebook computer  200  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) is inserted into the notebook computer docking station  100 , the heat-sinking hole  116  is correspondingly located under the notebook computer  200  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) so as to dissipate heat of the notebook computer  200  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 4D  is a left view of the notebook computer docking station of  FIG. 4A . Referring to  FIG. 4D , the second recess  114  has a plurality of side walls  114   a  and  114   b , wherein the side wall  114   a  taller than the side wall  114   ab    114   a  is used to guide and assist in position-limiting the peripheral device  300  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). In other words, in the embodiment, the second recess  114  has no need to dispose the positioning pillars  130  therein. The side wall  114   a  and the positioning pillars  130  can together enhance the effects of guiding and position-limiting the peripheral device  300 . In the embodiment, the taller side wall  114   a  and the shorter side wall  114   b  are joined by each other almost vertically, wherein the side wall (not shown) located between the first recess  112  and the second recess  114  and joined to the side wall  114   a  is taller than the side wall  114   a , i.e., is the tallest side wall. Among the four side walls, the one joined to the tallest side wall and the side wall  114   b  almost vertically and located between the tallest side wall and the side wall  114   b  is the shortest side wall. The heights of the four side walls are designed according to the real requirement, which the present invention is not limited to. 
     In summary, the notebook computer docking station of the present invention enables the notebook computer and the peripheral device to be uprightly inserted into the notebook computer docking station and thereby the combination of the notebook computer and the notebook computer docking station is advantageous in saving utilization space in comparison with the traditional desktop computer host. After the peripheral device is detached from the second recess of the body of the notebook computer docking station, all the above-mentioned parts are easily carried with the mobile user. When the user needs to operate the peripheral device, only a transmission wire is needed to connect the notebook computer to the peripheral device. In this regard, the notebook computer docking station of the present invention expanses functions of the notebook computer. 
     In addition, the positioning holes disposed in the notebook computer and the peripheral device and the positioning pillars disposed in the recesses of the body of the notebook computer docking station enable the notebook computer and the peripheral device to be aligned with the body of the notebook computer docking station so that the connecting ports of the notebook computer and the peripheral device are easily, correspondingly and electrically connected to the connecting ports of the notebook computer docking station, which can avoid a hit between the connecting ports to cause damage if the notebook computer and the peripheral device have not been aligned with the body of the notebook computer docking station. Moreover, the user can use a keyboard and a mouse externally connected to the notebook computer docking station to operate the notebook computer instead of making the notebook computer serve as an external hard disk drive. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.