Patent Description:
In general, a notebook computer can be placed on a docking station and docked to electrical connectors of the docking station, such that the functions of the notebook computer can be expanded when expansion sockets of the docking station are connected to external devices.

In order to facilitate the connection between the notebook computer and the electrical connectors of the docking station, the electrical connectors of the docking station are disposed on a floating carrier of the docking station, and the floating carrier is positioned on a casing of the docking station via screws. However, a plate for the screws to be screwed thereto is made of plastic material, and thus the plate may be easily damaged at positions where the screws are screwed due to a downward force when the notebook computer is placed on the docking station or another external force. Therefore, how to solve the aforementioned issue is one of the crucial topics in this field. <CIT> discloses a docking device for portable computers. <CIT> discloses a connection device and a floating connection assembly.

The disclosure provides a docking station which is capable of preventing the plate from being damaged at positions where the screws are screwed due to the external forces.

One embodiment of the disclosure provides a docking station as defined in appended claim <NUM>. The docking station includes a casing, a floating seat, a circuit board and at least one electrical connector. The casing has an accommodation space, at least one first through hole and at least one second through hole. The first through hole and the second through hole are connected to the accommodation space. The floating seat includes a metal substrate, a support plate and at least one fastener. The metal substrate is located in the accommodation space of the casing, the support plate is located outside the accommodation space, the fastener is disposed through the support plate and the first through hole of the casing and is screwed into the metal substrate, and a size of the first through hole is greater than a size of the fastener. The circuit board is fixed to the metal substrate of the movable seat. The electrical connector is disposed on the circuit board and disposed through the second through hole of the casing and the support plate, and a size of the second through hole is greater than a size of the electrical connector.

According to the docking station as disclosed in the above embodiment, the fastener is disposed through the support plate and the first through hole of the casing and is screwed into the metal substrate, the size of the first through hole is greater than that of the fastener, the electrical connector is disposed through the second through hole of the casing and the support plate, and the size of the second through hole is greater than that of the electrical connector, such that the electrical connector can be moved relative to the casing via the floating seat. Moreover, the structural strength between the fastener and the metal substrate can be ensured to be strong enough since the fastener is screwed into the metal substrate, thereby preventing the metal substrate from being damaged at positions where the fastener is screwed due to the external forces.

The present disclosure will become better understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not intending to limit the present disclosure and wherein:.

In addition, the terms used in the present disclosure, such as technical and scientific terms, have its own meanings and can be comprehended by those skilled in the art, unless the terms are additionally defined in the present disclosure. That is, the terms used in the following paragraphs should be read on the meaning commonly used in the related fields and will not be overly explained, unless the terms have a specific meaning in the present disclosure.

Refer to <FIG>, where <FIG> is a perspective view of an electronic device <NUM> and a docking station <NUM> according to one embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is an exploded view of the electronic device <NUM> and the docking station <NUM> in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a partial exploded view of the docking station <NUM> in <FIG>.

In this embodiment, the docking station <NUM> is configured for the electronic device <NUM> to be docked thereto. The electronic device <NUM> is, for example, a notebook computer.

The docking station <NUM> includes a casing <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM> and two electrical connectors <NUM>. In addition, the docking station <NUM> includes a floating seat <NUM>.

Then, refer to <FIG>, where <FIG> is a top view of the docking station <NUM> in <FIG>, <FIG> is a partial rear view of the docking station <NUM> in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a partial cross-sectional view of the docking station <NUM> in <FIG> taken along a line <NUM>-<NUM>.

The casing <NUM> includes a base <NUM> and a cover <NUM> assembled with each other, and the base <NUM> and the cover <NUM> together form an accommodation space <NUM>. The cover <NUM> includes a support portion <NUM>. The support portion <NUM> has an upper surface <NUM>, an outer circumferential surface <NUM> and four protrusion structures <NUM> and <NUM>. The upper surface <NUM> faces away from the accommodation space <NUM>, and the outer circumferential surface <NUM> is connected to a periphery of the upper surface <NUM>. The outer circumferential surface <NUM> has a front part 1212a, a rear part 1212b and two lateral parts 1212c. The front part 1212a is located opposite to the rear part 1212b, and the two lateral parts 1212c are located opposite to each other and are connected to the front part 1212a and the rear part 1212b. The four protrusion structures <NUM> and <NUM> protrude from the upper surface <NUM>. The two protrusion structures <NUM> are located opposite to each other and extend along a direction from the front part 1212a towards the rear part 1212b of the outer circumferential surface <NUM>. The two protrusion structures <NUM> extend along a direction from one of the lateral parts 1212c to the other and are connected to the two protrusion structures <NUM>. The two protrusion structures <NUM> and the two lateral parts 1212c of the outer circumferential surface <NUM> form two recesses <NUM>, respectively, and the protrusion structures <NUM>, one of the protrusion structures <NUM> and the rear part 1212b of the outer circumferential surface <NUM> form another recess <NUM>, where a depth D1 of each of the recess <NUM> is greater than a depth D2 of the recess <NUM>. In addition, the four protrusion structures <NUM> and <NUM> together form another recess <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the protrusion structures <NUM> are the same in structure, and thus the following descriptions merely introduce one of them. The protrusion structure <NUM> has a wide portion 1213a, a tapered portion 1213b and a narrow portion 1213c. The wide portion 1213a is located closer to the front part 1212a of the outer circumferential surface <NUM> than the tapered portion 1213b and the narrow portion 1213c. The tapered portion 1213b is located between and connected to the wide portion 1213a and the narrow portion 1213c. A width W1 of the wide portion 1213a is greater than a width W2 of the narrow portion 1213c, and the width W2 of the narrow portion 1213c is, for example, smaller than a half of the width W1 of the wide portion 1213a, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. A width of the tapered portion 1213b gradually decreases along a direction from the wide portion 1213a towards the narrow portion 1213c. In addition, the protrusion structure <NUM> further has a side surface 1213d. The side surface 1213d is, for example, an inclined surface. The side surface 1213d is connected to the upper surface <NUM> and extends from the wide portion 1213a to the narrow portion 1213c. The side surface 1213d has a first straight part 12131d, a turning part 12132d and a second straight part 12133d. The first straight part 12131d, the turning part 12132d and the second straight part 12133d respectively correspond to the wide portion 1213a, the tapered portion 1213b and the narrow portion 1213c. The first straight part 12131d is connected to the second straight part 12133d via the turning part 12132d. The first straight part 12131d and the second straight part 12133d extend along a same direction, and the extension direction of the turning part 12132d is non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the extension surfaces of the first straight part 12131d and the second straight part 12133d.

In this embodiment, the support portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> further has an accommodation recess <NUM> and a first positioning protrusion <NUM>. The accommodation recess <NUM> is recessed from the bottom of the recess <NUM>, and the first positioning protrusion <NUM> is located in the accommodation recess <NUM>. Moreover, the cover <NUM> further includes two outer positioning portions <NUM>. The two outer positioning portions <NUM> are respectively located at two opposite corners of one side of the support portion <NUM>, and each of the outer positioning portions <NUM> is connected to the rear part 1212b and one of the lateral part 1212c of the outer circumferential surface <NUM> and protrudes from the upper surface <NUM>. Each of the outer positioning portions <NUM> has a second positioning protrusion <NUM>. Distances from the first positioning protrusion <NUM> to the two second positioning protrusions <NUM> are different from each other; that is, one of the second positioning protrusions <NUM> is located closer to the first positioning protrusion <NUM> than the other. The first positioning protrusion <NUM> and the two second positioning protrusions <NUM> are configured to roughly position the electronic device <NUM> during the placement of the electronic device <NUM> onto the casing <NUM>, which will be further introduced in the later paragraphs.

In this embodiment, the support portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> further has a plurality of first through holes 1220a, a second through hole 1220b and two third through holes 1220c. The first through holes 1220a are in an array arrangement. The second through hole 1220b is located between two rows of the first through holes 1220a, and the two third through holes 1220c are respectively located at two opposite sides of the second through hole 1220b. The first through holes 1220a, the second through hole 1220b and the third through holes 1220c are located between and connected to the accommodation recess <NUM> and the accommodation space <NUM>.

The floating seat <NUM> includes a metal substrate <NUM>, a support plate <NUM> and a plurality of fasteners <NUM>. In addition, the movable seat <NUM> further includes two positioning components <NUM>.

The metal substrate <NUM> is partially located in the accommodation space <NUM>. The metal substrate <NUM> has a plurality of fastening structures <NUM>, and the fastening structures <NUM> are, for example, female threaded pillars. The fastening structures <NUM> are respectively located in the first through holes 1220a, and sizes of the fastening structures <NUM> are respectively smaller than sizes of the first through holes 1220a.

A size of the support plate <NUM> is slightly smaller than a size of the accommodation recess <NUM>. The support plate <NUM> is movably located in the accommodation recess <NUM>. The support plate <NUM> has a through hole <NUM>, a plurality of first openings <NUM>, two second openings <NUM> and two third openings <NUM>. A size of the through hole <NUM> is greater than a size of the first positioning protrusion <NUM>, and the first positioning protrusion <NUM> is disposed through the through hole <NUM> of the support plate <NUM>. The first openings <NUM> respectively correspond to the first through holes 1220a, the second openings <NUM> correspond to the second through hole 1220b, and the third openings <NUM> respectively correspond to the third through holes 1220c.

The fasteners <NUM> are, for example, screws or bolts. Each of the fasteners <NUM> has a fastening portion <NUM>. The fastening portions <NUM> are respectively disposed through the first openings <NUM> of the support plate <NUM> and screwed into the fastening structures <NUM> of the metal substrate <NUM>.

The circuit board <NUM> is located in the accommodation space <NUM> and fixed to the metal substrate <NUM>. The two electrical connectors <NUM> are disposed on the circuit board <NUM> and are disposed through the second through hole 1220b of the support portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> and the two second openings <NUM> of the support plate <NUM> so as to be exposed to outside. A size of the second through hole 1220b of the support portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> is greater than an overall size of the two electrical connectors <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a height H1 of the second positioning protrusion <NUM> relative to the top surface 1213e of the protrusion structure <NUM> is greater than a height H2 of the electrical connector <NUM> relative to the top surface 1213e of the protrusion structure <NUM>. Preferably, the height H1 may be above three times greater than the height H2. For example, the height H1 may be about <NUM>, and the height H2 may be about <NUM>.

The positioning components <NUM> are, for example, pillar made of metal material. The positioning components <NUM> and the metal substrate <NUM> are, for example, made of a single piece. The positioning components <NUM> are respectively disposed through the third through holes 1220c of the support portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> and the third openings <NUM> of the support plate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the docking station <NUM> includes a plurality of buffering components <NUM>, and the metal substrate <NUM> has a plurality of through holes <NUM>. Each of the buffering components <NUM> includes a screw <NUM> and a spring <NUM>. Sizes of the through holes <NUM> of the metal substrate <NUM> are greater than sizes of the screws <NUM>. The screws <NUM> are respectively disposed through the springs <NUM> and the through holes <NUM> of the metal substrate <NUM> and are screwed into the support portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. Two opposite ends of each of the springs <NUM> respectively press against one side of the metal substrate <NUM> located opposite to the circuit board <NUM> and a head portion of one screw <NUM>. The springs <NUM> are configured to force the metal substrate <NUM> to move away from the base <NUM> for lifting up the metal substrate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the sizes of the first through holes 1220a are greater than the sizes of the fastening structures <NUM> which are configured for the fastening portions <NUM> of the fasteners <NUM> to be screwed therein, the size of the second through hole 1220b is greater than the overall size of the two electrical connectors <NUM>, and the sizes of the through holes <NUM> of the metal substrate <NUM> are greater than the sizes of the screws <NUM>, such that the floating seat <NUM>, the circuit board <NUM> and the electrical connectors <NUM> on the floating seat <NUM> can be moved relative to the casing <NUM> along directions A and B which are perpendicular to a normal line N of the upper surface <NUM> for helping the electronic device <NUM> to be mounted on the docking station <NUM>. In addition, the buffering components <NUM> enable the floating seat <NUM>, the circuit board <NUM> and the electrical connector <NUM> on the floating seat <NUM> to be movable relative to the casing <NUM> along a direction C which is parallel to the normal line N of the upper surface <NUM> for helping the electronic device <NUM> to be mounted on the docking station <NUM>. The following paragraph will introduce the placement process of the electronic device <NUM> on the docking station <NUM>.

Firstly, two opposite corners of one side of the electronic device <NUM> are moved towards the two second positioning protrusions <NUM> to be in contact with the two second positioning protrusions <NUM> in an inclined manner, then the electronic device <NUM> is laid on the docking station <NUM>, such that the first positioning protrusion <NUM> is inserted into a positioning recess <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>. Then, the electronic device <NUM> is slightly moved, such that the two positioning components <NUM> are respectively inserted into two positioning insertion holes <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>. As a result, the placement process of the electronic device <NUM> on the docking station <NUM> is completed.

In this embodiment, the height H1 of the second positioning protrusion <NUM> relative to the top surface 1213e of the protrusion structure <NUM> is greater than the height H2 of the electrical connector <NUM> relative to the top surface 1213e of the protrusion structure <NUM>, such that the position of the second positioning protrusion <NUM> can be easily to be seen, thereby helping the electronic device <NUM> to be mounted on the docking station <NUM>.

Furthermore, the cooperation of the first positioning protrusion <NUM> of the support portion <NUM> and the second positioning protrusions <NUM> of the outer positioning portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> can roughly position the electronic device <NUM> during the preliminary of the installation of the electronic device <NUM> on the docking station <NUM> for helping the electronic device <NUM> to be accurately positioned in the later process. Note that the first positioning protrusion <NUM> and the second positioning protrusions <NUM> are optional structures and may be omitted in some other embodiments.

In this embodiment, the floating seat <NUM>, the circuit board <NUM> and the electrical connector <NUM> on the floating seat <NUM> can be moved relative to the casing <NUM>, and the relative positions of the two positioning components <NUM> and the two electrical connectors <NUM> are stationary, such that the movable seat <NUM> can absorb an assembling tolerance between two electrical connectors <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> and the two electrical connectors <NUM> of the docking station <NUM>. Therefore, after the two positioning components <NUM> are respectively inserted in to the two positioning insertion holes <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, the two electrical connectors <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> are accurately docked to the two electrical connectors <NUM> of the docking station <NUM>.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the fasteners <NUM> are screwed into the metal substrate <NUM>, the structural strength between the fasteners <NUM> and the metal substrate <NUM> can be ensured to be strong enough, thereby preventing the metal substrate <NUM> from being damaged at the positions where the fasteners <NUM> are screwed due to a downward force when the electronic device <NUM> is placed on the docking station <NUM> or another external force.

In this embodiment, the buffering components <NUM> enable the floating seat <NUM>, the circuit board <NUM> and the electrical connector <NUM> on the floating seat <NUM> to be moved towards the base <NUM> to absorb an impact during the placement of the electronic device <NUM> on the docking station <NUM>. Therefore, the two electrical connectors <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> can be more stably docked to the two electrical connectors <NUM> of the docking station <NUM>.

Note that the positioning components <NUM> are optional components and may be omitted in some other embodiments.

In addition, the support plate <NUM> of the floating seat <NUM> is not restricted to being movably located in the accommodation recess <NUM> of the support portion <NUM> of the casing <NUM>. In some other embodiments, the support portion of the casing may not have the accommodation recess, and the support plate may be directly and movably located in the recess <NUM> formed by the four protrusion structures <NUM> and <NUM>. Furthermore, the two protrusion structures <NUM> are optional structures and may be omitted in some other embodiments, and the support plate may be directly and movably located at the upper surface of the support portion of the cover.

In this embodiment, the protrusion structures <NUM> protrude from the upper surface <NUM> of the casing <NUM>, and each protrusion structure <NUM> has the wide portion 1213a with larger width and the narrow portion 1213c with smaller width, such that the structural strength of the casing <NUM> can be enhanced so as to prevent the casing <NUM> supporting the electronic device <NUM> from being deformed due to the weight of the electronic device <NUM>. Therefore, the electronic device <NUM> is ensured to be accurately docked to the electrical connectors <NUM>, and the lifespan of the docking station <NUM> can be elongated.

Moreover, the first straight part 12131d and the second straight part 12133d of the side surface 1213d of the protrusion structure <NUM> extend along the same direction, and the extension direction of the turning part 12132d of the side surface 1213d of the protrusion structure <NUM> is non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the extension directions of the first straight part 12131d and the second straight part 12133d, such that an area of the side surface 1213d of the protrusion structure <NUM> can be increased. Therefore, the support portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> can have a stronger structural strength to resist the weight of the electronic device <NUM>, and the lifespan of the docking station <NUM> can be further elongated.

Note that the extension direction of the turning part 12132d is not restricted to being non-perpendicular to the extension directions of the first straight part 12131d and the second straight part 12133d; in some other embodiments, the extension direction of the turning part may be perpendicular to the extension directions of the first straight part and the second straight part; that is, the protrusion structure may merely have the wide portion and the narrow portion but without the tapered portion.

Note that the protrusion structures <NUM> of the support portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> are optional structures and may be omitted in some other embodiments.

Note that the quantity of the electrical connectors <NUM> is not restricted and may be modified to be one.

According to the docking station as disclosed in the above embodiment, the protrusion structures protrude from the upper surface of the casing, and each protrusion structure has the wide portion with larger width and the narrow portion with smaller width, such that the structural strength of the casing can be enhanced so as to prevent the casing supporting the electronic device from being deformed due to the weight of the electronic device. Therefore, the electronic device is ensured to be accurately docked to the electrical connectors.

Moreover, the first straight part and the second straight part of the side surface of the protrusion structure extend along the same direction, and the extension direction of the turning part of the side surface of the protrusion structure is non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the extension directions of the first straight part and the second straight part, such that an area of the side surface of the protrusion structure can be increased. Therefore, the support portion of the cover can have the stronger structural strength to resist the weight of the electronic device, and the lifespan of the docking station can be elongated.

Furthermore, the cooperation of the first positioning protrusion of the support portion and the second positioning protrusions of the outer positioning portion of the cover can roughly position the electronic device during the preliminary of the installation of the electronic device on the docking station for helping the electronic device to be accurately positioned in the later process.

In addition, the floating seat, the circuit board and the electrical connector on the floating seat can be moved relative to the casing, and the relative positions of the two positioning components and the two electrical connectors are stationary, such that the floating seat can absorb an assembling tolerance between two electrical connectors of the electronic device and the two electrical connectors of the docking station. Therefore, after the two positioning components are respectively inserted into the two positioning insertion holes of the electronic device, the two electrical connectors of the electronic device are accurately docked to the two electrical connectors of the docking station.

Since the fasteners are screwed into the metal substrate, the structural strength between the fasteners and the metal substrate can be ensured to be strong enough, thereby preventing the metal substrate <NUM> from being damaged at the positions where the fasteners are screwed due to a downward force when the electronic device is placed on the docking station or another external force.

The buffering components enable the floating seat, the circuit board and the electrical connector on the floating seat to be moved towards the base to absorb an impact during the placement of the electronic device on the docking station. Therefore, the two electrical connectors of the electronic device can be more stably docked to the two electrical connectors of the docking station.

Claim 1:
A docking station (<NUM>), comprising:
a casing (<NUM>), comprising a base (<NUM>) and a cover (<NUM>) assembled with each other, wherein the base (<NUM>) and the cover (<NUM>) together form an accommodation space (<NUM>), the cover (<NUM>) has at least one first through hole (1220a) and at least one second through hole (1220b), the at least one first through hole (1220a) and the at least one second through hole (1220b) are connected to the accommodation space (<NUM>);
a floating seat (<NUM>), comprising a metal substrate (<NUM>), a support plate (<NUM>) and at least one fastener (<NUM>), wherein the metal substrate (<NUM>) is located in the accommodation space (<NUM>) of the casing (<NUM>), the support plate (<NUM>) is located outside the accommodation space (<NUM>), the at least one fastener (<NUM>) is disposed through the support plate (<NUM>) and the at least one first through hole (1220a) of the cover (<NUM>), and a size of the at least one first through hole (1220a) is greater than a size of the at least one fastener (<NUM>);
a circuit board (<NUM>), fixed to the metal substrate (<NUM>) of the floating seat (<NUM>);
and
at least one electrical connector (<NUM>), disposed on the circuit board (<NUM>) and disposed through the at least one second through hole (1220b) of the cover (<NUM>) and the support plate (<NUM>), wherein a size of the at least one second through hole (1220b) is greater than a size of the at least one electrical connector (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the at least one fastener (<NUM>) is screwed into the metal substrate (<NUM>), and
the docking station (<NUM>) further comprises a plurality of buffering components (<NUM>), each of the buffering components (<NUM>) comprises a screw (<NUM>) and a spring (<NUM>), the screw (<NUM>) is disposed through the spring (<NUM>) and one of a plurality of through holes (<NUM>) of the metal substrate (<NUM>) and is screwed into the cover (<NUM>), two opposite ends of the spring (<NUM>) respectively press against one side of the metal substrate (<NUM>) located opposite to the circuit board (<NUM>) and a head portion of the screw (<NUM>).