Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 100110775, filed on Mar. 29, 2011. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a notebook computer docking station, and more particularly to a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station for a notebook computer to be transversely inserted. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In recent years, the mobility, simplicity, and multifunctional properties of portable computers and notebook computers have provided users an alternative to conventional tabletop computers. Because of notebook computers, many docking devices have been developed to extend the battery life of notebook computers. The docking devices also have other functions, such as a multi-media function. Thus, notebook computers which have become smaller and therefore have a restricted battery life, causing a restriction in the functions of the notebook computers, can be accompanied with a docking device to overcome those problems. Docking equipment, such as an external speaker, an external CD drive, an external battery, or a connecting port, will usually be combined to form a docking station. 
         [0006]    Currently, docking stations can be divided to two types. One type is U-shaped as shown in  FIG. 10A , and another type is a vertical insertion type docking station shown in  FIG. 10B . Using the U-shaped docking station as an example, because the shapes of different notebook computers vary, specific sized docking stations are required. Also, after a notebook computer is inserted in the docking station, the host of the notebook computer is still placed on the table, taking up space. The other vertical insertion type docking station takes up less space, but if the notebook computer is big (the taller the computer, the heavier), when the notebook computer is inserted vertically into the docking station, the notebook is prone to topple from its own weight. Also, it is difficult for the user to insert and pull out the notebook computer vertically. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention is directed to a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station for a notebook computer to be transversely inserted. Notebook computers with varied sizes can be transversely inserted into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station. 
         [0008]    In order to achieve the aforementioned and other objects, the invention provides a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station for a notebook computer to be transversely inserted. The transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station includes a body, wherein the body has a bottom support surface, an inner side surface, a first side surface, and a connecting port. The bottom support surface, the inner side surface, and the first side surface connect to each other, and normal directions of the bottom support surface, the inner side surface, and the first side surface are perpendicular to each other. The connecting port is disposed on the inner side surface. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of the invention, the body further includes a bottom surface separated from the bottom support surface by a distance. The extensions of the bottom support surface and the first side surface respectively form an acute angle with the bottom surface. In addition, the body further includes an inclined surface. The inclined surface, the bottom surface, and the first side surface form a triangular structure, and a center of gravity of the body is in the triangular structure. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment of the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of the invention, the body further includes a second side surface facing the first side surface. The second side surface is connected to the inner side surface and the bottom support surface, and the first side surface and the second side surface are located on the opposite sides of the inner side surface and the bottom support surface. In addition, the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station further includes a pair of positioning elastic pieces disposed on the bottom support surface and used to clasp the notebook computer. Alternately, the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station further includes a positioning sliding piece. The bottom support surface includes a pair of sliding tracks, and the positioning sliding piece is slidably disposed on the pair of sliding tracks. Thus, the notebook computer is adapted to rest on the sliding piece so that the notebook computer moves relative to the inner side surface through the positioning sliding piece and the sliding tracks. The positioning sliding piece can further include a pair of holding portions, used to clasp the notebook computer. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment of the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of the invention, a pair of side wings are further disposed on the two opposite sides of the body. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment of the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of the invention, the embodiment further includes a plurality of wheels, disposed parallel to each other on the body. A portion of the wheels are exposed to serve as a portion of the bottom support surface, and an axis of the wheels are perpendicular to a direction the notebook computer is inserted. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment of the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of the invention, the embodiment further includes a pair of wheels, disposed on the body, and the bottom support surface is a surface of a belt disposed on the wheels. 
         [0014]    Based on the above, the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of the invention is for a notebook to be transversely inserted. This way, not only is there more space on a table, since the notebook computer is transversely inserted, the problem of a bigger and heavier notebook computer falling over because of an unstable center of gravity when it is vertically inserted can be avoided. 
         [0015]    In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures are described in detail below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The accompanying drawings constituting a part of this specification are incorporated herein to provide a further understanding of the invention. Here, the drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a notebook computer transversely inserted into a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station in  FIG. 1  from another perspective. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a fifth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a sixth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a seventh embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of an eighth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10A  is a schematic view of a conventional U-shaped docking station. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10B  is a schematic view of a conventional vertical insertion type docking station. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a notebook computer transversely inserted into a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a first embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station in  FIG. 1  from another perspective. Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300  is for a notebook computer  400  to be transversely inserted. In detail, the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300  includes a body  100 , wherein the body  100  has a bottom support surface  110 , an inner side surface  120 , a first side surface  130 , and a connecting port  140 . The bottom support surface  110 , the inner side surface  120 , and the first side surface  130  connect to each other, and normal directions N 1 , N 2 , N 3  of the bottom support surface  110 , the inner side surface  120 , and the first side surface  130 , respectively, are perpendicular to each other. The connecting port  140  is disposed on the inner side surface  120 . 
         [0029]    In further detail, the body  100  further includes a second side surface  150  facing the first side surface  130 . The second side surface  150  is connected to the inner side surface  120  and the bottom support surface  110 , and the first side surface  130  and the second side surface  150  are located on opposite sides of the inner side surface  120  and the bottom support surface  110 . Thus, the bottom support surface  110 , the inner side surface  120 , the first side surface  130 , and the second side surface  150  form a slot (not shown) for the notebook computer  400  to be inserted. The top and right side (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the slot (not shown) is open. The notebook computer  400  can be transversely inserted into the body  100  of the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300  along the right side of the slot (not shown) towards the inner side surface  120 . 
         [0030]    Specifically, the notebook computer  400  includes a pair of long edges  412  and  414 , a pair of short edges  422  and  424 , and a second connecting port (not shown). The second connecting port (not shown) is disposed on the short edge  422 . When the notebook computer  400  is transversely inserted into the body  100  of the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300  along the right side of the slot (not shown) towards the inner side surface  120 , the long edge  412  of the notebook computer  400  rests and moves on the bottom support surface  110 , and the second connecting port disposed on the short edge  422  faces the inner side. When the first connecting port  140  of the body  100  connects with the second connecting port, the notebook computer  400  and the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300  are electrically connected, expanding the functions of the notebook computer  400 . 
         [0031]    Contrary to a conventional U-shaped docking station, the body of the notebook computer will take up space on the table. The transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300  allows the notebook computer  400  to be transversely inserted. Thus, less table space is required. In addition, since the notebook computer  400  is transversely inserted into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300 , the notebook computer  400  has a low center of gravity, and is closer to the table. Therefore, the problem of a bigger and heavier notebook computer  400  falling over because of an unstable center of gravity when it is vertically inserted can be avoided. Since the long edge  412  of the notebook computer  400  rests and moves horizontally on the bottom support surface  110 , the user does not have to hold the entire notebook computer  400 , thus saving effort. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0032]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a second embodiment of the invention. The embodiment is approximately identical to the first embodiment, and same or similar reference numerals used in the embodiment and in the first embodiment represent the same or similar elements. The difference is that in the embodiment, a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   a  further includes a pair of side wings  200  disposed on opposite sides of the body  100 . Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 . In order to increase the stability of the notebook computer  400  transversely inserted into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   a  on a table, the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   a  further includes a pair of side wings  200  disposed on the two opposite sides of the body  100 . Thus, the notebook computer  400  will not fall over when it is bumped or being inserted into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   a.    
         [0033]    The following descriptions are improvements to facilitate the flow of inserting the notebook computer into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station or to provide stability to the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station. In order to clearly describe the improvements, the following figures do not show the first side surface and the second side surface, and only shows the bottom support surface, the inner side surface, and the components or structures disposed on the bottom support surface. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0034]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a third embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , the embodiment is approximately identical to the first embodiment. The difference is, in the embodiment, a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   b  further includes a pair of positioning elastic pieces  310  disposed on the bottom support surface  110  of the body  100 , used to clasp the notebook computer  400 . Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , the pair of positioning elastic pieces  310  of the embodiment is disposed on the bottom support surface  110  near the inner side surface  120 . However, the pair of positioning elastic pieces  310  can be disposed in any location on the bottom support surface  110  according to need. The pair of positioning elastic pieces  310  are disposed so that when the notebook computer  400  is transversely inserted into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   b , it clasps the notebook computer  400 , allowing the first connecting port  140  and the second connecting port (not shown) to align with more precision, and increase the stability between the notebook computer  400  and the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   b.    
       Fourth Embodiment 
       [0035]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a fourth embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 , the embodiment is approximately identical to the first embodiment. The difference is, in the embodiment, a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   c  further includes a positioning sliding piece  320 . The bottom support surface  110  includes a pair of sliding tracks  112 , and the positioning sliding piece  320  is slidably disposed on the pair of sliding tracks  112 . Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 , the sliding tracks  112  and the positioning sliding piece  320  are disposed so that the notebook computer  400  is adapted to rest on the sliding piece. This way, the notebook computer  400  moves relative to the inner side surface  120  through the positioning sliding piece  320  and the sliding tracks  112  and is inserted in the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   c.    
       Fifth Embodiment 
       [0036]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a fifth embodiment of the invention. The embodiment is approximately identical to the fourth embodiment. The difference is, in the embodiment, a pair of holding portions  322  is disposed on the positioning sliding piece  320  away from the inner side surface  120 , used to clasp the notebook computer  400 . 
       Sixth Embodiment 
       [0037]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a sixth embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7 , the embodiment is approximately identical to the first embodiment. The difference is, in the embodiment, a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   d  further includes a plurality of wheels  330 , disposed parallel to each other on the body  100 . A portion of the wheels  330  are exposed to serve as the bottom support surface  110 , and an axis A of the wheels  330  are perpendicular to a direction I the notebook computer  400  is inserted. 
         [0038]    The wheels  330  are disposed so that after the notebook computer  400  is inserted into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   d  along the direction I, when the long edge  412  of the notebook computer  400  contacts the wheels  330 , the wheels  330  rotate to facilitate the insertion movement of the notebook computer  400 , thereby saving energy. 
       Seventh Embodiment 
       [0039]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of a seventh embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 8 , the embodiment is approximately identical to the sixth embodiment. The difference is, in the embodiment, a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   e  includes a pair of wheels  340  disposed in the body  100 , and the bottom support surface  110  is a surface of a belt disposed on the wheels  340 . The wheels  340  and the belt form a transfer mechanism. Compared to the sixth embodiment, after the notebook computer  400  contacts the belt surface (bottom support surface  110 ), the belt drives the wheels  340  to rotate, and the wheels  340  in turn rotate to move the belt. Thus, the notebook computer  400  is transversely inserted into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  300   e.    
       Eighth Embodiment 
       [0040]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of an eighth embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 9 , a body  510  of a transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  500  of the embodiment includes a bottom support surface  512 , an inner side surface  514 , a first side surface  516 , a first connecting port  518 , and a bottom surface  511 . The bottom surface  511  is suitable to rest on the table, and is separated from the bottom support surface  512  by a distance. The bottom surface  511  is not parallel or perpendicular to the bottom support surface  512 . The bottom support surface  512 , the inner side surface  514 , and the first side surface  516  are connected. The normal directions N 1 ′, N 2 ′, and N 3 ′ of the bottom support surface  512 , the inner side surface  514 , and the first side surface  516 , respectively, are perpendicular to each other. In addition, the extensions of the bottom support surface  512  and the first side surface  516  respectively form an acute angle with the bottom surface  511 . Furthermore, the body further includes an inclined surface  513 . The inclined surface  513 , the bottom surface  511 , and the first side surface  516  form a triangular structure, and a center of gravity of the body  510  is in the triangular structure. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 9 , when the user transversely inserts the notebook computer  400  into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  500 , the bottom surface (not shown) of the notebook computer  400  leans on the first side surface  516 . Then, the notebook computer  400  moves along the opposite direction of the normal direction N 2 ′ of the inner side surface  514 , so that the second connecting port (not shown) of the notebook computer  400  connects through insertion with the first connecting port  518 . Compared to previous embodiments, the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  500  of the embodiment does not include a second side surface opposite to the first side surface  516 . Therefore, it is easier for the user to assemble the notebook computer  400  with the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  500 . In addition, the notebook computer  400  is inclined with respect to the table, by using the shape of the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station  500 . This allows the entire assembly to have a lower center of gravity, reducing the chance of falling over. 
         [0042]    In summary, the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station of the invention is for a notebook to be transversely inserted. This way, there is more space on a table, and so a notebook computer that is transversely inserted into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station saves more space on a table compared to a conventional tabletop computer. In addition, for a notebook computer that is transversely inserted into the transverse insertion type notebook computer docking station, the problem of a bigger and heavier notebook computer falling over because of an unstable center of gravity can be avoided. 
         [0043]    Although the invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiment may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the attached claims not by the above detailed descriptions.

Technology Category: 3