U.S. patent application number 15/401485 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-15 for docking station for a mobile electronic device and operating method for the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is USI ELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Ming-Jen CHEN, Yu-Chen CHU, Chang-Cheng LIN, Kuo-Kuang LIU.
Application Number | 20180074548 15/401485 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58169117 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180074548 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHU; Yu-Chen ; et
al. |
March 15, 2018 |
DOCKING STATION FOR A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND OPERATING METHOD
FOR THE SAME
Abstract
A docking station for a mobile electronic device is provided. It
utilizes a transmission unit and a release unit to control the
positioning of a connection unit. The transmission unit includes a
horizontal displacement member abutted against a floating cover for
horizontal displacement upon a downward movement of the floating
cover, and a pivot member mounted at the connection unit and
connected to the horizontal displacement member, so that the
connection unit can connect the mobile electronic device upon a
downward movement of the floating cover. The release unit includes
a swing arm connected with the pivot member and a button abutted
against the swing arm. When the button is pressed, the swing arm is
pushed to drive the connection unit to disengage from the mobile
electronic device via the pivot member. Thus, the mobile electronic
device can be removed.
Inventors: |
CHU; Yu-Chen; (NANTOU
COUNTY, TW) ; LIU; Kuo-Kuang; (NANTOU COUNTY, TW)
; CHEN; Ming-Jen; (NANTOU COUNTY, TW) ; LIN;
Chang-Cheng; (NANTOU COUNTY, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
USI ELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD. |
SHENZHEN |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
58169117 |
Appl. No.: |
15/401485 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1632
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 14, 2016 |
CN |
201610822877.8 |
Claims
1. A docking station for a mobile electronic device, comprising: a
base; a floating cover mounted on said base and movable up and down
relative to said base; a connection unit horizontally movably
mounted at said base and located at one lateral side relative to
said floating cover; a transmission unit comprising a horizontal
displacement member, a first return spring, a pivot member and a
second return spring, said horizontal displacement member being
horizontally movably mounted at said base and abutted against a
bottom side of said floating cover and displaced horizontally by a
downward force from said floating cover, said first return spring
having two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to said
base and said horizontal displacement member and adapted for
providing an elastic restoring force to said horizontal
displacement member, said pivot member being pivotally mounted at
said connection unit and detachably engaged with said horizontal
displacement member for carrying said connection unit to move upon
displacement of said horizontal displacement member, said second
return spring having two opposite ends thereof respectively
connected to said connection unit and said pivot member and adapted
for providing an elastic restoring force to said pivot member; and
a release unit comprising a swing arm, a button and a third return
spring, said swing arm being connected to said pivot member and
having one end thereof pivotally coupled to said base, said button
being mounted at said base and pressable by an external force to
push said swing arm in moving and disengaging said pivot member
away from said horizontal displacement member and carrying said
connection unit in direction away from said horizontal displacement
member, said third return spring being mounted between said base
and said button and adapted for providing an elastic restoring
force to said button.
2. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
horizontal displacement member comprises a first upright wall
located at one end thereof; said pivot member comprises a first
hook portion located at one end thereof and detachably engaged with
said first upright wall of said horizontal displacement member.
3. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said swing
arm comprises a second upright wall; said pivot member comprises a
second hook portion located at one end thereof and engaged with
said second upright wall of said swing arm.
4. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said swing
arm has one end thereof pivotally mounted on said base and an
opposite end thereof provided with a bearing portion; said button
comprises a protruding portion located at a bottom side thereof;
said release unit further comprises a biasing member pivotally
mounted at said base; said biasing member comprises a first
extension portion abutted against said protruding portion of said
button and a second extension portion abutted against said bearing
portion of said swing arm.
5. The docking station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
connection unit comprises a push-on seat movably mounted in said
base, a terminal block having a bottom side thereof mounted on said
push-on seat, and a connection terminal mounted at a top side of
said terminal block; said pivot member has a middle part thereof
pivotally connected to said push-on seat; said two ends of said
second return spring are connected to said push-on seat and said
pivot member respectively.
6. An operating method for disposing the docking station as claimed
in claim 1, comprising the steps of: a) placing the mobile
electronic device on said base; b) enabling said horizontal
displacement member moving to an end position by said mobile
electronic device; said horizontal displacement member carrying
said connection unit to move to a connection position
simultaneously via the engagement of said horizontal displacement
member and said pivot member so that said connection unit can be
electrically connected to said mobile electronic device, and said
swing arm rotates with the moving of said connection unit. c)
pressing said button to bias said swing arm toward said mobile
electronic device and to simultaneously carry said pivot member and
said connection unit, biasing said pivot member to a disengagement
position where said horizontal displacement member is disengaged
from said pivot member and moving said connection unit to a release
position where said mobile electronic device is disconnected from
said connection unit; and d) removing said mobile electronic device
from said base for enabling said horizontal displacement member to
move back to an original initial position and engage with said
pivot member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to docking station, and more
particularly, to a docking station for a mobile electronic device
for user-friendly operation. The invention relates also to a method
for operating the docking station.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] With the development of technology, the creation of mobile
electronic device (such as notebook computer) brings great
convenience to human's life, and it becomes indispensable
paraphernalia. In order to facilitate a user carrying the mobile
electronic device, the common method adopted nowadays is to remove
some functional modules of the mobile electronic device (such as
CD-ROM) or to reduce the number of connection ports so as to
achieve the effect of reduced size and weight, in addition, a
corresponding docking station is provided for allowing user to
choose the desired expansion functions.
[0003] On the conventional technology, a docking station uses a
laterally retractable connection unit for connection to a mating
connection port of the mobile electronic device. When the user is
going to install the mobile electronic device on the docking
station, push back the connection unit of the docking station by
hand, and then place the mobile electronic device on the docking
station, and then manually plug the connection unit into the mating
connection port of the mobile electronic device to complete
connection between the mobile electronic device and the docking
station. If the user wants to take the mobile electronic device
from the docking station, the user needs to push the connection
unit backwardly by hand so as to release the connection
relationship between the docking station and the mobile electronic
device, allowing removal of the mobile electronic device from the
docking station. According to the aforesaid prior art technique,
the user needs to achieve connection or disconnection between the
mobile electronic device and the docking station manually. For the
user, the entire operation process is troublesome and not
human-friendly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is an object of the present invention to
provide a docking station for a mobile electronic device, which
makes the connection between the docking station and the mobile
electronic device more user-friendly and enhances the convenience
in operation.
[0005] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention,
a docking station is provided to comprise a base, a floating cover,
a connection unit, a transmission unit and a release unit. The
floating cover is mounted on the base and movable up and down
relative to the base. The connection unit is horizontally movably
mounted at the base and located at one lateral side relative to the
floating cover. The transmission unit comprises a horizontal
displacement member, a first return spring, a pivot member and a
second return spring. The horizontal displacement member is
horizontally movably mounted at the base and abutted against a
bottom wall of the floating cover, and the horizontal displacement
member is displaced horizontally by exerting a downward pressure on
the floating cover. The first return spring has two opposite ends
thereof respectively connected to the base and the horizontal
displacement member for providing an elastic restoring force to the
horizontal displacement member. The pivot member is pivotally
mounted at the connection unit and detachably engaged with the
horizontal displacement member for carrying the connection unit to
move upon displacement of the horizontal displacement member. The
second return spring has two opposite ends thereof respectively
connected to the connection unit and the pivot member for providing
an elastic restoring force to the pivot member. The release unit
comprises a swing arm, a button and a third return spring. The
swing arm is connected to the pivot member, having one end thereof
pivotally coupled to the base. The button is mounted at the base
and abutted against another end of the swing arm. When the button
is pressed by an external force, the swing arm is pushed in moving
and disengages the pivot member away from the horizontal
displacement member. The pivot member will drive the connection
unit to disconnect the mobile electronic device. The third return
spring is mounted between the base and the button and adapted for
providing an elastic restoring force to the button.
[0006] Thus, when the user places the mobile electronic device on
the floating cover and it presses the floating cover downward, the
connection unit will extend out and plug into the mobile electronic
device. When the user wants to remove the mobile electronic device
from the docking station, the user presses the button first to
release the connection relationship between the connection unit and
the mobile electronic device, and then the user can take the mobile
electronic device out of the floating cover. Upon the user removes
the mobile electronic device and further release the button, the
horizontal displacement member will be pushed back into the
original engagement with the pivot member by the elastic restoring
force of the first return spring.
[0007] In the present invention, the horizontal displacement member
comprises a first upright wall located at one end thereof and the
pivot member comprises a first hook portion located at one end
thereof. When the pivot member is disposed in an engagement
position, the first hook portion of the pivot member is engaged
with the first upright wall of the horizontal displacement member.
When the pivot member is disposed in a disengagement position, the
first hook portion of the pivot member is disengaged from the first
upright wall of the horizontal displacement member.
[0008] In the present invention, the swing arm comprises a second
upright wall. The pivot member comprises a second hook portion
located at one end thereof and engaged with the second upright wall
of the swing arm, so that the swing arm can carry the pivot member
to bias when it is driven by the button.
[0009] In the present invention, the swing arm has one end thereof
pivotally connected to the base, and an opposite end thereof
provided with a bearing portion. The button comprises a protruding
portion located at a bottom side thereof. The release unit further
comprises a biasing member pivotally mounted at the base. The
biasing member of the release unit comprises a first extension
portion abutted against the protruding portion of the button, and a
second extension portion connected with the bearing portion of the
swing arm. Thus, when the button is pressed by an external force,
the biasing member is forced by the button to bias and to further
drive the swing arm to move the pivot member.
[0010] In the present invention, the connection unit comprises a
push-on seat movably mounted in the base, a terminal block having a
bottom side thereof mounted on the push-on seat, and a connection
terminal mounted on a top side of the terminal block. The pivot
member has a middle part thereof pivotally connected to the push-on
seat. The two ends of the second return spring are connected to the
push-on seat and the pivot member. Thus, by means of the push-on
seat, the connection unit is movable.
[0011] Other and further benefits, advantages and features of the
present invention will be understood by reference to the following
specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference characters denote like elements of
structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention,
mainly illustrating that the connection unit is in the release
position.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the internal
structure of the docking station after removal of the upper part of
the base.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view illustrating the horizontal
displacement member in the initial position and the pivot member in
the engagement position without the presence of the connection
terminal.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a plain view of the release unit, illustrating the
button in the non-pressed position.
[0016] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the horizontal
displacement member in the end position without the presence of the
connection terminal.
[0017] FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the connection
unit in the connection position.
[0018] FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the button in the
pressed position.
[0019] FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the horizontal
displacement member in the end position and the pivot member in the
engagement position without the presence of the connection
unit.
[0020] FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, illustrating the push-on seat
of the connection unit in the release position without the presence
of the connection terminal.
[0021] FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9, illustrating the first upright
wall of the horizontal displacement member touching and pushing the
first hook portion of the pivot member without the presence of the
connection terminal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The terminology used in the description of the present
invention is intended to be illustrative in the art to which the
ordinarily skilled artisan can understand. The various terms used
in the specification are simply for describing a particular
embodiment of the present invention but not intended to limit the
scope of the present invention. The quantifiers used in the claims
of the present invention all include the meanings of the plural,
for example, "one component" refers to one or more components and
includes equivalents that are obvious to a person having ordinary
skill in the art. All conjunctions used under similar conditions
should also be understood as having the broadest meaning. Further,
the particular shapes, cross-sections, and structural features or
technical terms described in the specification are to be construed
to include equivalent alternative constructions or technical teams
for the functions that may be achieved by a particular structure or
technical term.
[0023] The technical content and features of the prevent invention
will now be fully understood by way of an example with reference to
the annexed drawings. First of all, it is to be noted that the
present invention can be applied to various mobile electronic
devices, such as notebook computer, tablet computer or mobile
phone, therefore, the scope of the claims is not limited to the
description in the specification. Further, the direction terms of
"front", "upward", "downward", "back", "top", "bottom", "clockwise"
and "counter-clockwise" described in the specification are based on
the normal usage but not intended to limit the scope of the
invention.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a docking station 10 in
accordance with the present invention is shown. The docking station
10 comprises a base 20, a floating cover 30, a connection unit 40,
a transmission unit 50, and a release unit 60.
[0025] The base 20 is used to be placed on a tabletop as a
support.
[0026] The floating cover 30 is mounted on the base 20 and movable
up and down relative to the base 20 for bearing a mobile electronic
device 2.
[0027] The connection unit 40 is disposed at one lateral side
relative to the floating cover 30, comprising a push-on seat 42, a
terminal block 44, and a connection terminal 46. The push-on seat
42 is horizontally movably mounted in the base 20. The terminal
block 44 has a bottom side thereof affixed to the push-on seat 42.
The connection terminal 46 fixedly mounted at a top side of the
terminal block 44. Thus, the connection terminal 46 is movable with
the push-on seat 42 horizontally between a connection position P1
(see FIG. 6) and a release position P2 (see FIG. 1). When the
connection unit 40 is in the connection position P1 shown in FIG.
6, the connection terminal 46 is pushed out of one lateral wall 32
of the floating cover 30 and plugged into the mobile electronic
device 2 to make the connection unit 40 electrically connect the
mobile electronic device 2. When the connection unit 40 is in the
release position P2 shown in FIG. 1, the connection terminal 46 is
retracted back inside the lateral wall 32 of the floating cover 30
and disconnected from the mobile electronic device 2, releasing the
connection between the connection unit 40 and the mobile electronic
device 2.
[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transmission unit 50
comprises a horizontal displacement member 51, a first return
spring 53, a pivot member 54, and a second return spring 56.
[0029] The horizontal displacement member 51 is horizontally
reciprocatably mounted in the base 20, comprising a first upright
wall 512 located at one end thereof adjacent to the connection unit
40. The horizontal displacement member 51 comprises an opposite end
thereof remote from the connection unit 40 which is stopped against
a bottom side of the floating cover 30 by a push rod 52 (see FIG. 1
and FIG. 6). Thus, by means of pressing the floating cover 30, the
horizontal displacement member 51 can be moved from an initial
position P3 (see FIG. 3) in direction away from the connection unit
40 to an end position P4 (see FIG. 5). The horizontal displacement
member 51 further comprises two position-limiting sliding slots 514
which are spacedly arranged and respectively coupled to a
respective position-limiting guide rod 21 of the base 20 so that
the horizontal displacement member 51 is constrained to move
between the initial position P3 and the end position P4.
[0030] The first return spring 53 (see the tension spring shown in
FIG. 2), having two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to
a first locating portion 22 of the base 20 and a second locating
portion 516 of the horizontal displacement member 51 to provide an
elastic restoring force that pulls the horizontal displacement
member 51 in direction toward the initial position P3.
[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pivot member 54 comprises a
first hook portion 542 and a second hook portion 544 respectively
located at two opposite ends thereof. Further, a screw 55 is
inserted through a middle part of the pivot member 54 to make the
pivot member 54 pivotally connect to the push-on seat 42 of the
connection unit 40, allowing the pivot member 54 to rotate about
the screw 55 between an engagement position P5 and a disengagement
position P6. When the pivot member 54 is in the engagement position
P5, as shown in FIG. 3, the first hook portion 542 of the pivot
member 54 is engaged with the first upright wall 512 of the
horizontal displacement member 51. On the contrary, when the pivot
member 54 is in the disengagement position P6, as shown in FIG. 8,
the first hook portion 542 of the pivot member 54 is released from
the first upright wall 512 of the horizontal displacement member
51.
[0032] The second return spring 56 (see the tension spring shown in
FIG. 3), having one end thereof connected to the push-on seat 42 of
the connection unit 40 to face toward the first hook portion 542 of
the pivot member 54 and an opposite end thereof connected to the
pivot member 54 adjacent to the first hook portion 542. Thus, the
second return spring 56 provides an elastic restoring force to
rotate the pivot member 54 about the screw 55 toward the engagement
position P5.
[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the release unit 60
comprises a swing arm 61, a button 62 and a biasing member 63. The
swing arm 61 has one end thereof pivotally connected to the base
20, and an opposite end thereof stopped against the push-on seat 42
and provided with a bearing portion 612. The swing arm 61 further
has a second upright wall 614 adjacent to the bearing portion 612,
and the swing arm 61 is engaged with the second hook portion 544 of
the pivot member 54 by the second upright wall 614. The button 62
is mounted on the base 20 and can be moved downward by an external
force from a non-pressed position P7 (see FIG. 4) to a pressed
position P8 (see FIG. 7). Further, the button 62 has a protruding
portion 622 located at a bottom thereof. The biasing member 63 is
pivotally connected to the base 20, comprising a first extension
portion 632 and a second extension portion 634. The biasing member
63 bears the protruding portion 622 of the button 62 via the first
extension portion 632, and connects the bearing portion 612 of the
swing arm 61 via the second extension portion 634. The release unit
60 further comprises a third return spring 64 (see the compression
spring shown in FIG. 2). The third return spring 64 is mounted
between the base 20 and the button 62 to provide an elastic
restoring force that pushes the button 62 toward the non-pressed
position P7.
[0034] When a user places the mobile electronic device 2 on the
floating cover 30, the floating cover 30 will be forced by the
weight of the mobile electronic device 2 and the force from the
user to move downward. During downward movement of the floating
cover 30, the floating cover 30 will move the horizontal
displacement member 51 from the initial position P3 shown in FIG. 3
to the end position P4 shown in FIG. 5 via the push rod 52. During
the horizontal displacement of the horizontal displacement member
51, the pivot member 54 remains in the engagement position P5 shown
in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 (i.e., the first hook portion 542 of the pivot
member 54 is engaged with the first upright all 512 of the
horizontal displacement member 51) Thus, the pivot member 54 will
move horizontally with the horizontal displacement member 51, when
the pivot member 54 moves horizontally, as shown in FIG. 5. On one
hand, the pivot member 54 carries the swing arm 61 to bias
counterclockwise by means of the engagement relationship between
the second hook portion 544 and the second upright wall 614 of the
swing arm 61. On the other hand, the pivot member 54 carries the
connection unit 40 from the release position P2 toward the
connection position P1 subject to its pivot-connection relationship
with the push-on seat 42, and thus, when the connection unit 40
reaches the connection position P1, as shown in FIG. 6, the
connection terminal 46 is capable of being electrically connected
to the mobile electronic device 2.
[0035] When the user prepares to remove the mobile electronic
device 2 from the docking station 10, the user pushes the button 62
to the pressed position P8, as shown in FIG. 7. At this time, the
button 62 will push the first extension portion 632 of the biasing
member 63 via the protruding portion 622, causing the biasing
member 63 to bias. During biasing of the biasing member 63, the
second extension portion 634 pushes the bearing portion 612 of the
swing arm 61, causing the swing arm 61 to swing in a clockwise
direction. During the swinging action of the swing arm 61, as shown
in FIG. 8, the swing arm 61 moves the second hook portion 544 of
the pivot member 54 via the second upright wall 614, causing the
pivot member 54 to bias from the engagement position P5 shown in
FIG. 5 to the disengaged position P6 shown in FIG. 8 (i.e. the
first hook portion 542 of the pivot member 54 is separated and
disengaged from the first upright wall 512 of the horizontal
displacement member 51.) At the same time, the second hook portion
544 of the pivot member 54 is biased at an angle, enabling the
second upright wall 614 of the swing arm 61 to touch a bearing
portion 43 of the push-on seat 42. When the swing arm 61 keeps
swinging and pushing the push-on seat 42 leftward, the connection
unit 40 is forced back to the release position P2 shown in FIG. 1,
releasing the connection relationship between the connection
terminal 46 and the mobile electronic device 2. At this time, the
mobile electronic device 2 is still kept on the floating cover 30,
and thus, the horizontal displacement member 51 remains in the end
position P4, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0036] Thereafter, release the pressure from the button 62, enable
the button 62 to be pushed back to the non-pressed position P7 by
the elastic restoring force of the third return spring 64, as shown
in FIG. 4. At this time, the swing arm 61 releases its leftward
pushing force from the push-on seat 42, and the pivot member 54 is
pushed back to the engagement position P5 by the elastic restoring
force of the second return spring 56, as shown in FIG. 10.
Thereafter, remove the mobile electronic device 2 from the floating
cover 30. After removal of the mobile electronic device 2 from the
floating cover 30, the floating cover 30 returns to its previous
position and releases the downward force toward the horizontal
displacement member 51. At this time, the horizontal displacement
member 51 is forced by the elastic restoring force of the first
return spring 53 to move toward the pivot member 54. As the pivot
member 54 is disposed in the engagement position P5 during movement
of the horizontal displacement member 51, the first upright wall
512 of the horizontal displacement member 51 will touch and push
the first hook portion 542 of the pivot member 54, causing the
pivot member 54 to bias to the initial position P3 shown in FIG. 3.
As soon as the pivot member 54 reaches the initial position P3, the
first hook portion 542 of the pivot member 54 is engaged with the
first upright wall 512 of the horizontal displacement member 51
again, and thus, the original state of use is restored.
[0037] In conclusion, when the user places the mobile electronic
device 2 on the floating cover 30 of the docking station 10 and
pushes the mobile electronic device 2 downwards, the connection
unit 40 will be automatically connected to the mobile electronic
device 2 to achieve signal connection. When the user wants to
remove the mobile electronic device 2 from the docking station 10,
the user simply needs to press the button 62. When the user presses
the button 62, the connection unit 40 will be automatically
disconnected from the mobile electronic device 2, allowing removal
from the floating cover 30 of the docking station 10. Compared to
the conventional art technique (i.e. push back the connection unit
by hand first, place the mobile electronic device, and finally move
the connection unit into connection with the mobile electronic
device), the invention reduces the process of hand operation and
makes the connection between the docking station and the mobile
electronic device more user-friendly and ergonomically, achieving
the purpose of enhancing the convenience of operation.
* * * * *