Patent ID: 6895445

Claim:
A docking station for handheld electronic devices, comprising: a housing; an infrared (IR) signal emitter disposed within the housing; a cradle formed within the housing, wherein the cradle is configured to removably receive a handheld electronic device therein, wherein the cradle comprises a floor and a first peripheral wall extending outwardly from the floor in a direction transverse to the floor, wherein the first peripheral wall is permeable to IR signals; a second peripheral wall that surrounds the first peripheral wall in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship, wherein the first and second peripheral walls define a peripheral area, and wherein the second peripheral wall comprises an IR-reflective inner surface; and a lens positioned within the peripheral area, wherein the lens is configured to receive IR signals from the IR emitter and scatter the IR signals throughout the peripheral area, and wherein the IR-reflective surface is configured to reflect the scattered IR signals through the IR-permeable first peripheral wall and into the cradle.