Patent ID: 7715187

Claim:
A docking system, comprising: a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device including a first electrical interface; and a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device, the docking station including: a platform having a surface for receiving a backside of the portable electronic device, the platform including a second electrical interface; and a leg that supports the platform, wherein the leg is configured to support the docking station such that the portable electronic device is in an upright position when its backside is being received by the surface of the platform, wherein the portable electronic device is capable of interfacing with the docking station in multiple orientations relative to the platform, wherein the orientations are upright and include a first orientation and a second orientation, and wherein: the second electrical interface is configured for transferring power to the first electrical interface when the portable electronic device is in the first orientation; the second electrical interface is further configured for transferring power to the first electrical interface when the portable electronic device is in the second orientation; and the first orientation and the second orientation are different relative to the platform, and wherein the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface are aligned along an axis and juxtaposed relative to one another when the portable electronic device is respectively supported by the platform in the first orientation and in the second orientation, the docking station further comprising: one or more alignment features for aligning the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface along the axis in the first orientation and along the axis in the second orientation, wherein the alignment features include a first alignment system for the first orientation, wherein the first alignment system includes first horizontal and vertical alignment features, and wherein a spacing of the first vertical alignment features of the first alignment system coincide with a length of the portable electronic device, and wherein the alignment features include a second alignment system for the second orientation, wherein the second alignment system includes second horizontal and vertical alignment features, and wherein a spacing of the second vertical alignment features of the second alignment system coincide with the width of the portable electronic device.