Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20040075980?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=7,181,690
Timestamp: 2014-07-29 18:59:58
Document Index: 551811460

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 15', 'art 45', 'arts 41', 'arts 41', 'art 71', 'art 45', 'arts 43', 'art 29', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'arts 41', 'arts 43', 'arts 45', 'arts 43', 'art 23', 'arts 45', 'art 43', 'art 43', 'art 43', 'art 43', 'art 45', 'art 45', 'art 43', 'art 71', 'art 43', 'art 43', 'art 45', 'art 45', 'art 45', 'art 45', 'art 45', 'art 65', 'art 65', 'art 71', 'art 71', 'art 23', 'art 71', 'art 43', 'art 45', 'art 43', 'art 45', 'art 41']

Patent US20040075980 - Docking station and notebook computer using the same - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA docking station is detachably installed to a computer body and cooperates with the computer body, including a case, a pair of detachable parts disposed in opposite sides of the case to allow the case to be coupled to or detached from the computer body, a link slidably installed in the case and sliding...http://www.google.com/patents/US20040075980?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20040075980 - Docking station and notebook computer using the sameAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20040075980 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/374,722Publication dateApr 22, 2004Filing dateFeb 27, 2003Priority dateOct 16, 2002Also published asUS6898079Publication number10374722, 374722, US 2004/0075980 A1, US 2004/075980 A1, US 20040075980 A1, US 20040075980A1, US 2004075980 A1, US 2004075980A1, US-A1-20040075980, US-A1-2004075980, US2004/0075980A1, US2004/075980A1, US20040075980 A1, US20040075980A1, US2004075980 A1, US2004075980A1InventorsWoo ParkOriginal AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Of Republic Of KoreaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (10), Classifications (5), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetDocking station and notebook computer using the sameUS 20040075980 A1Abstract A docking station is detachably installed to a computer body and cooperates with the computer body, including a case, a pair of detachable parts disposed in opposite sides of the case to allow the case to be coupled to or detached from the computer body, a link slidably installed in the case and sliding in contact with the pair of detachable parts, and a rotating part rotatably coupled to the case and adhering closely to one end part of the link to slide the link. Thus, a docking station allows the computer body to be detachably coupled with the docking station by only one lever and a notebook computer using the same. Images(8) Claims(41)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0033] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. [0034]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a computer body and a docking station of a notebook computer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top plan view partially illustrating an inner part of the docking station of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating a main portion of FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, a notebook computer according to an embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a computer body 11 equipped with a central processing unit (CPU), a display part 15 receiving a picture signal generated from the computer body 11 and displaying it thereon, a docking station 21 detachably installed on a lower part of the computer body 11 and cooperating with the computer body 11. Also, the notebook computer according to the present invention further comprises a lock 81, such as, by way of example only, a Kensington lock, coupled to the docking station 21 to prevent the docking station 21 and the computer body 11 from being lost or stolen. Other types of locks may be usable as well. Herein, the Kensington lock 81 is selectively applied to the notebook according to the present embodiment. [0035] In the computer body 11 are provided a keyboard part and a touch pad (not shown) that are used to transmit an input signal into the computer body 11. On the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11 there are a pair of hook grooves 13 allowing hooks 49 of a holder part 45 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B), to be described below, to be inserted into, or released from, the corresponding hook grooves 13. [0036] The docking station 21 comprises a case 23, a pair of detachable parts 41 allowing the case to be coupled to or detached from the computer body 11, a link 55 slidably installed in the case 23 to slide in contact with the pair of detachable parts 41 and a rotating part 71 to slide the link 55. [0037] The case 23 has a rectangular box shape. On opposite sides of a top plate 23 a of the case 23 is formed a pair of hook-passing holes 25 through which the hooks 49 of the holder part 45 pass. A pair of lift-passing holes 27 is formed adjacent to the hook-passing holes 25, through which lift parts 43 (to be described later) pass. On the top plate 23 a of the case 23 is also provided an interface part 29 receiving and transmitting data between the docking station 21 and the computer body 11. The open lock hole 31 is formed on the front plate 23 b of the case 23, through which a lock member 83 (to be described later) of the Kensington lock 81 passes. In an inner part 23 c of the case 23 is provided a plurality of guides 33 guiding the sliding of the link 55. Each guide 33 is disposed along the lengthwise direction of the link 55. Also provided in the inner part 23 c of the case 23 is a spring supporter 35. A spring 67 (to be described later) is coupled to both the spring supporter 35 and the link 55. [0038] The detachable parts 41 comprise a pair of lift parts 43 and a pair of holder parts 45. The pair of lift parts 43 are disposed on opposite sides of the inner part 23 c of the case 23 and ascend or descend according to the sliding of the link 55, to thereby press on or release from the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11. The pair of holder parts 45 move forward and backward according to the sliding of the link 55, to thereby be coupled to and uncoupled from the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11. [0039] Each lift part 43 has a rod shape and abuts a lift slope 57 (to be described later) of the link 55. The lower part of the lift part 43 has a predetermined slope 57 a corresponding to the lift slope 57 and accordingly the lift part 43 ascends relative to the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11 along the lift slope 57, sliding in contact with the lift slope 57, according to the sliding of the link 55. Also, the upper part of the lift part 43 is supported to be able to ascend through the lift-passing holes 27 of the case 23. [0040] Each holder part 45 comprises a rod 47, to move forward and backward with one end part thereof abutting a holder slope 59, and a hook 49 bent from an end part of the rod to be extended and coupled to and uncoupled from the hook groove 13 of the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11. The hook 49 is supported to be able to slide in the hook-passing hole 25. In the other end part of the rod 47, an auxiliary spring 51 elastically biases the rod to an original frontward position. One end part of the auxiliary spring 51 is supported by the rod 47 and the other end part is supported by the inside of the front plate 23 b of the case 23 not to interfere with the rib 61 (to be described later) of the link 55. Accordingly, the rod 47 of the holder part 45 always contacts the holder slope 59 of the link 55, and slides along the holder slope 59 according to the sliding of the link 55. The rod 47 moves forward or backward along the holder slope 59 relative to the front plate 23 b of the case 23, so that the hook 49 is coupled to or uncoupled from the hook groove 13. Also, the hooks 49 can slide along the hook-passing holes 25 of the case 23 by the elastic force of the auxiliary spring 51, so that the computer body 11 is mounted onto the docking station 21 while the docking station 21 is locked by the Kensington lock 81 (to be described later). [0041] The link 55 has a rod shape and is installed slidably as shown by an arrow in FIG. 2. The lift slopes 57, with which the lift part 43 slidingly contacts, are located on opposite sides of the link. The lift slope 57 protrudes from the plate of the link 55 along the lengthwise direction thereof. The lift slope 57 has a slope 57 a ascending toward the lever 75 of the rotating part 71 (to be described later). If the link 55 slides to the left of the arrow in FIG. 2, the lift part 43 slidingly ascends along the slope 57 a of the lift slope 57 toward the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11 to press the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11. Conversely, if the link 55 slides to the right of the arrow in FIG. 2, the lift part 43 descends relative to the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11 to release from the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11. [0042] In a part adjacent to each lift slope 57 of the link 55 is provided the holder slope 59 with which the rod 47 of the holder part 45 slidingly contacts. The holder slope 59 is partially cut from the plate of the link 55 across the lengthwise direction, that is, toward the front plate 23 b of the case 23. The holder slope 59 has a slope 59 a inclined toward a rear plate of the case 23. If the link 55 slides to the left of the arrow of FIG. 2, the rod 47 of the holder part 45 slides along the slope 59 a of the holder slope 59 toward the front plate 23 b of the case 23 to unlock the hook 49 of the holder part 45 from the hook groove 13. Similarly, if the link 55 slides to the right of the arrow in FIG. 2, the rod 47 of the holder part 45 slidingly retreats from the front plate 23 b along the slope 59 a of the holder slope 59 by the elastic force of the auxiliary spring 51 to lock the hook 49 of the holder part 45 to the hook groove 13. [0043] Also, the rib 61 is extended into the link 55 to open/close the lock hole 31 of the case 23 according to the sliding of the link 55. In the free end of the rib 61, an accommodation hole 63 is formed to accommodate the lock member 83 of the Kensington lock 81. If the lock member 83 of the Kensington lock 81 is accommodated in the accommodation hole 63, the sliding of the link 55 is not only restricted, but also the computer body 11 and the docking station 21 are locked. [0044] In the middle part of the link 55 is a spring joint part 65 coupled to the spring 67. The spring 67 connects the spring supporter 35 of the case 23 with the spring joint part 65 and elastically biases the lever 75 rotated to separate the computer body 11 from the docking station 21, to restore an original position of the lever 75. [0045] The rotating part 71, rotatably coupled to the case 23 and sliding the link 55 is located in one end part of the link 55. The rotating part 71 includes a rotation shaft 73 and the lever 75 sliding along the link 55. [0046] The rotation shaft 73 has a bar shape and is installed in an upright position in the inner part 23 c of the case 23. To the rotation shaft 73 is rotatably coupled the lever 75. One part of the lever 75 abuts an end part of the link 55, and the other part thereof is protruded from a side part of the case 23, to be gripped by a user. [0047] The lock member 83 of the Kensington lock 81 that is used to prevent the docking station 21 and the computer body 11 from being stolen or lost is accommodated in, and is coupled to, the lock hole 31 of the case 23 and the accommodation hole 63 of the rib 61, so that the sliding of the link 55 is restricted to locking/unlocking the computer body 11 and the docking station 21. [0048] Also, although not shown, within the rear of the docking station 21 are installed peripheral devices such as a CD-ROM drive and a floppy disk drive, and in the rear plate of the case 23 are openings through which CDs and floppy disks are inserted. [0049] With this configuration, it is described below how the computer body is mounted on or separated from the docking station according to the present invention. [0050] After the lock member 83 of the Kensington lock 81, accommodated in and coupled to the lock hole 31 of the case 23 and the accommodation hole 63 of the rib 61, is unlocked as shown in FIG. 5, the lock member 83 of the Kensington lock 81 is separated from the lock hole 31 of the case 23 and the accommodation hole 63 of the rib 61 as shown in FIG. 4A. As shown in FIG. 4B, if the lever 75 of the rotating part 71 is rotated counterclockwise, the link 55 slides to the left and the lift part 43 slidingly ascends along the slope 57 a of the lift slope 57 of the link 55 and accordingly contacts the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11 to press the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11. At the same time, the rod 47 of the holder part 45 slides along the slope 59 a of the holder slope 59 of the link 55 to advance toward the front plate 23 b of the case 23, and simultaneously, the hook 49 also advances to be unlocked from the hook groove 13 of the computer body 11. Thus, by using only one lever 75, a separation of the computer body and the docking station 21 is performed conveniently. [0051] In the meantime, after the computer body 11 and the docking station 21 are separated, if the rotated lever 75 is not gripped, the link 55 slides to the right of the case 23 by an elastic force of the spring 67, and the lever 75 abutting one end part of the link 55 is rotated clockwise by the sliding of the link 55, returning the lever 75 to the original position. As the link 55 slides to the right of the case 23, the lift part 43 slidingly descends along the slope 57 a of the lift slope 57, slides off the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11 and cannot press the lower plate 11 a of the computer body 11. At the same time, by the elastic force of the auxiliary spring 51, the rod 47 of the holder 45 abuts the holder slope 59 of the link 55 and returns to its original position. Also, the hook 49 simultaneously recedes from the front plate 23 b of the case 23. [0052] After the lock member 83 of the Kensington lock 81 is accommodated in and coupled to the lock hole 31 of the case 23 and the accommodation hole 63 of the rib 61, when the computer body 11 is to be mounted on the docking station 21 with the docking station 21 locked by the Kensington lock 81, the hook 49 of the holder part 45 slides along the hook-passing hole 25 by the elastic force of the auxiliary spring 51 such that the computer body is mounted on the docking station even when the docking station 21 is locked by the Kensington lock 81. Because the sliding of the link 55 is limited by the lock member 83 of the Kensington lock 81 when the computer body 11 is mounted on the docking station 21 by a Kensington lock 81, the computer body 11 and the docking station 21 are locked and are prevented from being stolen or lost. [0053]FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state that the computer body 11 and the docking station 21 are fastened to a table by a Kensington lock 81, by way of example. [0054] Accordingly, by operating the detachable part 41 provided in the docking station 21 and coupled to/detached from the computer body 11, the computer body 11 is coupled detachably with the docking station 21. Also, by a Kensington lock 81, for example, the Kensington lock, the computer body 11 and the docking station 21 are locked and are prevented from being stolen or lost and the computer body 11 can be mounted on the docking station 21 even when the docking station 21 is locked by the Kensington lock 81. [0055] As described above, the present invention provides a docking station allowing a computer body to be coupled detachably with the docking station by only one lever and a notebook computer using the docking station. Also, the present invention provides a docking station allowing a computer body and the docking station to be fastened to be prevented from being stolen or lost by a lock, such as a Kensington lock, the computer body to be mounted on the docking station even when the docking station is locked by the Kensington lock, and a notebook computer using the docking station. [0056] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7085132 *Nov 24, 2003Aug 1, 2006Dell Products L.P.Vertically docking an information handling system to a media sliceUS7414836 *Dec 2, 2005Aug 19, 2008Quanta Computer Inc.Auto-extending replicatorUS7857541 *Sep 27, 2007Dec 28, 2010Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LlcConnecting/disconnecting mechanism and composite apparatusUS8223486Feb 11, 2008Jul 17, 2012Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Electronic device restraint mechanismUS8430103 *Jul 10, 2008Apr 30, 2013Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LlcFixing/releasing mechanism and the base using such mechanismUS20090013731 *Jul 10, 2008Jan 15, 2009Bo WeiFixing/releasing mechanism and the base using such mechanismEP1612645A2Jun 13, 2005Jan 4, 2006LG Electronics Inc.Port replicatorEP1876507A1 *Apr 27, 2005Jan 9, 2008Fujitsu Ltd.Function enhancement unit for electronic deviceEP2163964A1 *Sep 16, 2008Mar 17, 2010Amtek System Co. Ltd.Light docking station applied to a portable electronic deviceWO2014058620A1 *Sep 26, 2013Apr 17, 2014Thomson LicensingDocking mechanism for locking and undocking multiple electronic instruments* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification361/679.43International ClassificationG06F1/16, G06F1/00Cooperative ClassificationG06F1/1632European ClassificationG06F1/16P6Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 18, 2012FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Oct 23, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Aug 8, 2006CCCertificate of correctionJun 13, 2003ASAssignmentOwner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OFFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PARK, WOO-NAM;REEL/FRAME:014181/0809Effective date: 20030529Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. 416 MAETAN-DONG, PALFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PARK, WOO-NAM /AR;REEL/FRAME:014181/0809RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google