Abstract:
A docking station provides supporting functions for portable electronic devices, such as music players, satellite radio receivers, and video game players. The supporting functions may include providing power, an audio amplifier, speakers, and a video or audio display. The docking station includes a base portion and a connector slidably engaged with the base portion for centering the portable electronic device with respect to the base portion. The base portion includes circuitry for processing signals from the portable electronic device. The connector can be attached to a circuit board that is slidably disposed between the base portion and an attachment portion removably connected to the base portion. The docking station can recognize the type of device connected and configure itself to accommodate the requirements of the portable electronic device. The docking station can include a display portion perpendicular to the base portion.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/265,331, filed on Nov. 2, 2005, entitled “Versatile Docking Station for Portable Electronic Devices”, the contents of which are fully incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The embodiments of the present invention relate generally to docking stations, and more particularly, to docking stations for portable electronic devices.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Portable entertainment devices, such as audio and video players, have become popular in recent years. Portable players may use MP3, RealAudio, MJPEG, MPEG, and other audio and video compression formats. Moreover, as the cost, size, and power consumption of non-volatile memory devices decrease, use of uncompressed files in players may become more feasible. Both audio and video players may also use storage media such as compact discs (CDs) and digital video discs (DVDs). Portable radio devices are also popular among consumers. These portable radios include conventional radios with amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) receiver bands, as have been know for many years, along with satellite radio devices, such as those offered by Sirius® Satellite Radio Inc. and XM® Satellite Radio Inc. There are a variety of other portable electronic devices that can be used for entertainment, communications or other informational exchange, including, without limitation, television sets, dedicated game devices, game consoles, cellular telephones, portable digital assistants (PDAs), and voice recorders/players.  
         [0004]     In part due to the popularity of portable audio and video devices, companies have started to produce “docking stations” for portable electronic devices to supplement the capabilities of the portable devices. A docking station allows its user to enjoy “non-portable” performance from a portable device. This is the case, for example, with the iPod® music players, which can be plugged into a docking station. Docking stations are typically designed for compatibility with a single product or with a line of products of a single manufacturer. Consequently, a user may be required to purchase, and manufacturers may be required to develop, manufacture, and inventory multiple docking stations for use with portable devices of different manufacturers, or even for use with different product lines of the same manufacturer. This approach is inconvenient, expensive, and leads to inefficient use of space and manufacturers&#39; resources. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a docking station that can be used with portable devices from various manufacturers.  
         [0005]     One drawback of conventional docking stations however, is the lack of mobility of the connector on the docking station, which connects to the connector on the portable device to removably secure the portable device to the docking station. While some portable devices employ a connector located at the same location as other portable devices, other portable devices have a connector located at a different location. Because of this difference in the location of the connector portion on the portable device, the alignment of the portable device on the docking station will vary depending on the location of the connector on the portable device. While the resulting variation may be unnoticeable with some devices, the variation due to other devices may be significantly recognizable depending on the size of the portable device in relation to the docking station. With docking stations that are designed to center the portable device in relation to the docking station, or a display attached to the docking station, a significant misalignment of the portable device and the docking station can have a substantial negative effect on the desirability of the docking station with consumers.  
         [0006]     Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a docking station for portable electronic devices that allows for connection of various audio and video devices having connectors located in various regions of the device, as well as allows the portable device to be centrally located with respect to the docking station, and any displays connected thereto, once the device is attached to the docking station.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to a docking station comprising a base portion having circuitry therein for processing signals from at least one portable electronic device connected to the base portion, and a connector slidably engaged with the base portion for connecting a portable electronic device to the base portion. The connector includes a first pin configuration for communicating with portable electronic devices of a first type. A user can removably secure the at least one portable electronic device to the connector to allow electrical communication between the docking station and the portable electronic device, and can connect the portable electronic device to the base portion such that the portable electronic device is centrally located with respect to the base portion. In another embodiment, the docking station can include a display portion connected to the base portion, the display portion being substantially perpendicular with the base portion. The connector allows a user to connect the portable electronic device to the base portion such that the portable electronic device is centrally located with respect to the display portion.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, the docking station also includes a cradle removably attached to the base portion. The cradle has an opening therein wherein the connector is disposed therethrough. The opening is configured to cause the connector to translate along an axis with respect to the base portion to alter the location of the portable electronic device with respect to the base portion, and if present, the display portion. In another embodiment, the connector is coupled to a circuit board, the circuit board being disposed between the base portion and the cradle such that the circuit board is slidably engaged with respect to the base portion. The circuit board is removably secured to the cradle by a screw or other attachment means.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, the docking station can also include a stationary connector coupled to the base portion. The stationary connector includes a second pin configuration for communicating with portable electronic devices of a second type. The docking station can also include a device recognizer configured to recognize the type of portable electronic device connected to the docking station through the connector and the stationary connector, and provide a signal to the portable electronic device corresponding to the determined type of portable electronic device. The device recognizer can be configured to recognize a plurality of portable electronic devices such as satellite radio enabled portable electronic devices, music player portable electronic devices, game console portable electronic devices, and video player portable electronic devices.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, the docking station includes a configurable power supply module capable of providing power to the at least one portable electronic device through the connector. The power supply module is configured responsive to the determined type of portable electronic device. In another embodiment, the docking station includes an audio amplifier configured to receive an audio signal from a portable electronic device through the connector, wherein the audio amplifier is configured responsive to the determined type of portable electronic device. In this embodiment, the display portion comprises an audio display having at least one speaker. The docking station can also include a digital rights management module configured selectively to enable playback of the audio signal depending on availability at the docking station of rights to content represented by the audio signal. In another embodiment, the docking station can also include an audio amplifier configured to receive an audio signal from portable electronic devices through the connector, wherein input impedance of the audio amplifier is configured responsive to the determined type of portable electronic device.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment, the display portion includes a video display, wherein the connector comprises video input for driving the video display with one or more video signals. The video display can span the entire display portion or can encompass only a portion of the display portion. The docking station can also include a digital rights management module configured selectively to enable playback of the one or more video signals depending on the availability at the docking station of rights to content represented by the audio signal. In another embodiment, the docking station includes circuitry for allowing the docking station to be wirelessly controlled via a remote control. The docking station can also be equipped to wirelessly interact with external speakers.  
         [0012]     These and other features and aspects of the embodiments of the invention will be better understood with reference to the description, drawings, and appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCIRPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of the versatile portable electronic device docking station with slidable connector, showing the portable device cradle detached from the base portion.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of an embodiment of the versatile portable electronic device docking station with slidable connector, showing the portable device cradle attached to the base portion.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a detailed view of the connector portion of the docking station with the cradle detached from the base portion and the slidable connector in a first position contacting the right edge of the slidable connector opening.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of the connector portion of the docking station with the cradle detached from the base portion and the slidable connector in a second position contacting the left edge of the slidable connector opening.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  shows a detailed view of the connector portion of the docking station with one embodiment of the cradle attached to the base portion and the slidable connector in a second position contacting the left edge of the slidable connector opening.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a detailed view of the connector portion of the docking station with another embodiment of the cradle attached to the base portion, the slidable connector in a second position contacting the left edge of the slidable connector opening.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  shows a front perspective view of the docking station with a portable electronic device removably attached thereto, the portable electronic device being centrally located with respect to the base portion.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a front view of the docking station with a portable electronic device removably attached thereto, the portable electronic device being centrally located with respect to the base portion.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  shows a detailed front perspective view of the base portion of the docking station with the top housing removed, with the cradle housing detached therefrom.  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  shows a front view of another embodiment of the versatile portable electronic device docking station with slidable connector.  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  shows a front view of another embodiment of the versatile portable electronic device docking station with slidable connector, with one type of portable electronic device attached thereto.  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  shows a front view of another embodiment of the versatile portable electronic device docking station with slidable connector, with another type of portable electronic device attached thereto. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. The drawings are in a simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as, top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, may be used with respect to the accompanying drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. Furthermore, in descriptions and in claims, “couple,” “connect,” and similar words with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily import an immediate or direct connection, but include connections through mediate elements within their meanings.  
         [0026]     Referring more particularly to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of an embodiment of the versatile portable electronic device docking station with slidable connector  10 . Docking station  10  includes a base portion  20  and a display portion  50 . Base portion  20  includes a lower housing  22 , an upper housing  24 , and a cradle housing  26 . Lower housing  22  and upper housing  24  contain circuitry  23  therein (see  FIG. 9 ) for processing various signals from at least one portable electronic device and providing corresponding output. Cradle housing  26  includes an opening  27  (see  FIG. 9 ) wherein a fixed connector  28  is disposed therethrough, and an opening  33  (see  FIG. 9 ) wherein a slidable connector  30  is disposed therethrough. Fixed connector  28  and slidable connector  30  are preferably configured to communicate with portable electronic devices having connectors with different pin configurations. However, it is to be recognized that fixed connector  28  and slidable connector  30  can comprise connectors having similar pin configurations. Fixed connector  28  and slidable connector  30  can have various pin configurations to interface with various types of connectors for various types of portable electronic devices as would be recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0027]     A cradle  32  is designed to fit within cradle housing  26  and to cover either fixed connector  28  or slidable connector  30 . Cradle  32  is preferably designed to snap into cradle housing  26 . However, cradle  32  can also be designed to be secured to cradle housing  26  by a screw or other attachment means. In this figure, cradle  32  is detached from cradle housing  26 . Referring now to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of docking station  10  with cradle  32  secured to cradle housing  26  (not shown). Cradle  32  is designed to cover fixed connector  28  and make slidable connector  30  available. A portable electronic device  60  (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) can be removably positioned within cradle  32  and connected to slidable connector  30  to allow electrical communication between docking station  10  and portable electronic device  60 . Cradle  32  can comprise various designs to accommodate the different sizes and shapes of various portable electronic devices. Cradle  32  is preferably comprised of a polymer based material, but can be comprised of various other materials as recognized in the art.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a detailed view of the central portion of base portion  20 , with cradle  32  detached from cradle housing  26 . In  FIG. 3 , slidable connector  30  is in a first position contacting the right edge  35  of a slidable connector opening  33 . In  FIG. 4 , slidable connector  30  is in a second position contacting the left edge  37  of the slidable connector opening  33 . The position of slidable connector  30  will vary depending on the particular cradle  32  attached to base portion  20 . For example, a cradle  32  with one particular portable electronic device  60  located therein, may position device  60  such that the connector portion on device  60  (not shown) requires slidable connector  30  to be in the first position contacting right edge  35 . A user can secure slidable connector  30  in the first position (contacting right edge  35 ) by inserting a screw (not shown) into screw hole  39 . A user can secure slidable connector  30  in the second position (contacting left edge  37 ) by inserting a screw (not shown) into screw hole  38 .  
         [0029]     Slidable connector opening  33  is preferably dimensioned to allow slidable connector  30  to translate along one axis with respect to display portion  50 , namely horizontally (i.e. movement along an X-axis). However, slidable connector opening  33  can be dimensioned to allow slidable connector  30  to translate along more than one axis with respect to display portion  50 , such as a depth translation (movement along a Y-axis). In other embodiments, slidable connector opening  33  can be dimensioned to allow slidable connector  30  to translate vertical vertically with respect to base portion  20  (movement along a Z-axis). Slidable connector opening  33  can vary in size and dimension depending on the size of slidable connector  30  and the range of movement desired in relation to display portion  50 .  
         [0030]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show detailed views of connector region  26  with a cradle attached to base portion  20 . In these views, slidable connector  30  is in a second position contacting left edge  37 .  FIG. 5  shows one embodiment of a cradle  32  for use with a portable electronic device having a narrow base, such as that seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 .  FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of a cradle  34  for use with a different portable electronic device having a wider base region. The cradles  32  and  34  shown in no way encompass all of the variations that may exist in cradle design, as many other shaped and sized cradles may be attached to base portion  20  and still remain within the scope of this invention. Further, although as shown cradles  32  and  34  are connected to the base portion  20 , in other embodiments cradles  32  and  34  may be secured to any portion of display portion  50 , preferably the lower region.  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 ,  FIG. 7  illustrates a front perspective view and  FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of docking station  10  with a portable electronic device  60  removably attached thereto. In these figures, portable electronic device  60  is centrally located with respect to display portion  50  and base portion  20 , regardless of the location of the connector portion on portable electronic device  60 . For example, if the connector portion on portable electronic device  60  was located near right edge  35  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ), the cradle  32  used for that portable electronic device  60  would cause slidable connector  30  to be positioned to contact right edge  35  such that when portable electronic device  60  was placed on slidable connector  30 , portable electronic device would be centrally located with respect to both display portion  50  and base portion  20 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 9  shows a detailed front perspective view of base portion  20  of docking station  10  with the top housing  24  removed, exposing circuit board  40 , with cradle housing  26  detached from base portion  20 . Circuit board  40  contains circuitry for the various functions and features of docking station  10 , including power supply, device detection and recognition functions, digital rights management circuitry, and audio and video signal processing. Such circuitry can comprise traditional components for such purposes as would be recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art. Circuit board  40  can also include circuitry for processing wireless signals from a remote control (not shown), to allow a user to operate docking station  10  via a remote control. Docking station  10  is preferably configured to receive infrared signals, but may also receive radio signals, Bluetooth signals, or other wireless communication signal. Additionally, circuit board  40  can contain transmitting circuitry for wirelessly sending signals to one or more external speakers (not shown) located at a particular distance from docking station  10 , which can range from within several feet to throughout an entire house or small office space. Circuit board  40  has a fixed position within base portion  20  by being screwed or otherwise fastened to lower housing  22 . Cradle housing  26  is designed to fit over fixed connector  28  and slidable connector  30 . Cradle housing  26  serves to provide an attachment point to cradle  32 , cradle  34 , or any other cradle embodiments. Cradle housing  26  can be attached to base portion  20  by screws or other fastening device.  
         [0033]     Slidable connector  30  is fixedly secured to movable circuit board  42 . Movable circuit board  42  is designed to fit within the opening  44  formed by circuit board  40 . Movable circuit board  42  can translate freely with respect to base portion  20 , thus allowing slidable connector  30  to translate accordingly. The ability of movable circuit board  42  to translate is restricted by opening  33  and/or opening  44 . Generally however, opening  33  and opening  44  will be sized such that the movement of movable circuit board  42  will be equally restricted by openings  33  and  44 . To prevent movement of movable circuit board  42 , a user can place a screw (not shown) through either screw holes  38  and  39 , which match up with screw holes  46  and  48  respectively in movable circuit board  42 , to secure movable circuit board  42  to cradle housing  26 . Because cradle housing  26  is fixedly secured to base portion  20 , the screws prevent movable circuit board  42  from translating with respect to either base portion  20  or display portion  50 .  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIGS. 10-12 , there is shown another embodiment of the versatile portable electronic device docking station with slidable connector  100 . Docking station  100  includes a base portion  110 , a support portion  120 , a cradle region  130 , and a slidable connector  140 . Base portion  110  can contain similar circuitry and circuit boards as base portion  20  of docking station  10 , such circuitry performing similar functions such as device recognition and configuring of docking station  100  to suit the particular type of device attached thereto. Further, slidable connector  140  is similarly engaged with base portion  110  as slidable connector  30  in docking station  10 , namely attached to a movable circuit board located within base portion  110 . This allows portable electronic devices, such as devices  150  and  160 , to be centralized with respect to base portion  110 . Support portion  120  serves to stabilize the portable electronic devices  150  and  160  that can be secured to base portion  110  via connector  140 . Similar to docking station  10 , docking station  100  can be shaped to fit various types of portable electronic devices and can be comprised of various different materials as would be recognized in the art.  
         [0035]     This document describes the inventive devices for the connection of portable electronic devices to a docking station. This is done for illustration purposes only. Neither the specific embodiments of the invention as a whole, nor those of its features limit the general principles underlying the invention. The specific features described herein may be used in some embodiments, but not in others, without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth. Many additional modifications are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed in the absence of a corresponding use of other features. The illustrative examples therefore do not define the metes and bounds of the invention and the legal protection afforded the invention, which function is served by the claims and their equivalents.