Patent Application
20100287387
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a docking station for a host computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
As used herein the term “docking station” means a peripheral device having a plurality of ports, which may or may not be of the same type, via which the computer can communicate with other peripheral devices. Docking stations were introduced shortly after laptop computers so that a multiplicity of connections could be made in a single operation, without the need to plug several cables into the computer. Generally they comprised a substantial base onto which the computer was placed and locked in position, with a single multi-contact connection being made. The computer could be unlocked for use remote from the docking station. Contact was provided amongst other things for a power supply to the computer.
Connection was two way in that not only could data be down-loaded as to a printer, it could be up-loaded as well as from a mouse, a keyboard separate from that of the laptop and a network cable.
As laptop computers developed, docking stations, which were expensive, became less popular. At the same time, USB—Universal Serial Bus—connection became available, whereby connection to many peripheral devices became possible via a single cable and a hub, that is to say a peripheral device having a single cable connection with a computer and a plurality of connections with peripheral devices. Where these hubs included dedicated mouse and keyboard ports, they were variously known as port replicators or docking stations, since they replicated conventional ports provided on the computer and provided the functions of a docking station, except that they were not physically locked to the computer in the way that original docking stations were.
As used herein the term “docking station” is used to mean a hub or port replicator without necessarily any physical connection with a host computer, but providing at least one port for connection to other peripheral devices. Again, one or more peripheral device may be incorporated within the docking station.
As laptops have developed, they have become smaller. A laptop of the latest generation is not known as a laptop at all, but a “netbook”. It is intended primarily for wireless web browsing. It does not have a hard drive. It can benefit from a docking station to increase its flexibility when being used in the office. For the avoidance of doubt, netbook docking stations are available. Further for the avoidance of doubt, we refer to laptop and netbook computers, which have their own batteries, as “portable computers”.
Peripheral devices, such as a flash memory module or a CWUSB module or a telephone module which are pluggable into a docking station or indeed a computer are referred to herein as pluggable peripheral modules. Prior such modules have usually been provided with a USB Type A plug.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved docking station for a host computer which will normally be a portable computer.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a docking station for a host computer comprising:
Normally the pre-determined voltage will be 5.0 volts, which is the standard USB voltage. However it could be 3.3 volts, another standard voltage increasingly used. The lower voltage will be chosen in accordance with the processing chip or chips to be used in a downstream pluggable peripheral module. This may be 3.3 volts (where the predetermined voltage is 5.0 volts) or alternatively any one or more of 2.5, 2.2, 1.8, 1.0, 0.9 and 0.7 volts.
The upstream, serial-bus data-connection means can be a wireless serial-bus connection, in particular using the standard Certified Wireless USB protocol. In this case, the docking station will be provided with its own power supply, for powering:
Alternatively, the upstream serial bus data connection can be a wired USB connection via a USB cable, that is to say the upstream serial bus data connection preferably comprises:
Insofar as this USB port—typically a USB2.0 port—will provide 5.0 volts to the docking station, it may provide power for the docking station as such. However, where the docking station is provided with a plurality of downstream ports and/or one or more peripheral devices, it is preferable to provide the docking station with its own power supply.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a serial-bus pluggable peripheral device including:
Normally, the pluggable peripheral device will be a self-contained module, typically having its circuitry housed in a single casing to which its connectors are attached. However, some pluggable peripheral devices can include:
a plug having the complementary connectors,
a lead and
the device per se at the remote end of the lead.
Typically such device could be a touch-sensitive, visual-display unit.
Preferably the connectors and the complementary connectors are pins and sockets.
The ports can be provided with male pins, but are preferably provided with female sockets, with the complementary connectors being pins.
In preferred embodiments, the or each downstream, serial-bus port has the following contact numbering:
1. Ground
2. Serial Bus data +ve
3. Serial Bus data −ve
4. Ground
5. 3.3 volts
6. 2.5 volts
7. 2.2 volts
8. 1.8 volts
9. 1.2 volts
10. 1.0 volts
11. 0.9 volts
12. 0.7 volts
13. Spare
14. 5.0 volts.
The pluggable peripheral modules are preferably provided with contact sockets 1 to 4 and 5 or 14, together with anyone of contact sockets 6 to 12 as required for voltage to operate their electronic device(s). Nevertheless, it is conceivable that contact sockets 1 to 4 together with 14 only or 5 only may be provided, where the circuitry of the module does not require a voltage lower than the predetermined voltage.
It will be appreciated that provision of the power supply for the downstream power supply in the docking station, enables to the pluggable peripheral modules to simple without the'need for their own power supplies.
To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the drawings, a portable computer 101 has a downstream USB 2.0 port 102, connected to a docking station 103 of the invention via a USB cable having a Type A plug 104 in the port 102 and a Type B plug 105 plugged into an upstream port 106 in the docking station. This has a housing 107, in which is mounted hub circuitry 108, connected to the upstream port 106, a hard drive 109 and a plurality of downstream ports 1101, 1102, . . . 110n−1, 110n. Peripheral devices 1111, 1112, . . . 111n−1, 111n are plugged into the ports 1101, 1102, . . . 110n−1, 110n. Thus the computer can enumerate and communicate with the hard drive 109 and the peripheral devices 1111, 1112, . . . 111n−1, 111n.
The peripheral device 1111 is touch-screen visual-display unit 11111 connected via a lead 11112 to a plug 11113; whilst the peripheral devices 1112, . . . 111n−1 are modules having internal circuitry 11121 with a plastics material case 11122, which supports pin contacts 11123 in a rectangular array 11124. Certain of the modules have antennae 11145 to enable them to communicate wirelessly. Typically, the circuitry will include circuitry for modulating a data stream onto a carrier frequency, which will use low voltage components and oscillation and transceiver circuitry which will use a higher voltage. These voltages will be supplied to the circuitry by respective ones of the socket contacts 11123. The port 110n is a conventional USB2.0 port enabling a conventional USB module 111n, which the user may have already possessed, to be used.
The downstream ports 1101, 1102, . . . 110n−1 have socket contacts 11011 arranged in a seven by two rectangular array as shown in
The peripheral modules 1112, . . . 111n−1 have only those of the 14 possible supports pin contacts 11123 provided in their plugs 11126 such as to enable data and the voltages that they require for operation to be supplied.
The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance, docking station may be provided with additional peripherals either permanently or as plug in modules. For instance a DVD drive can be built into the housing or a slot for one may be provided.
Further as shown in the
This application takes priority from and claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/215,691 filed on May 8, 2009 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61215691 | May 2009 | US |
