Computing device and dock assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12386389-B2
Application number	US-202217877965-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2022
Priority date	Jul 31, 2022
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

An assembly can include a clamshell computing device that includes a display, a keyboard and a side connector; and a clamshell dock that includes an auxiliary display and a side connector that mates with the side connector of the clamshell computing device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
a clamshell computing device that comprises a display, a keyboard and a side connector, wherein the clamshell computing device comprises a display housing for the display and a keyboard housing for the keyboard coupled via a hinge assembly that defines a folding axis; and
a clamshell dock that physically couples, side to side, to the clamshell computing device and that comprises an auxiliary display and a side connector that mates with the side connector of the clamshell computing device, wherein the clamshell dock comprises a display housing for the auxiliary display and a base housing coupled via a hinge assembly that defines a folding axis that aligns with the folding axis of the clamshell computing device, and wherein the base housing of the clamshell dock is physically coupled, side to side, to the clamshell computing device, the auxiliary display is angularly adjustable in unison with the display via a magnetic connection force and, upon overcoming the magnetic connection force, is angularly adjustable independent of an angle of the display.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamshell dock comprises a human input device.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the human input device comprises a digitizer pad.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamshell dock comprises a network interface.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the clamshell dock comprises a flip phone.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a bottom to top dimension of the display and a bottom to top dimension of the auxiliary display are within 10 mm of each other and wherein a side to side dimension of the display is greater than a side to side dimension of the auxiliary display.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamshell dock comprises a rectangular folded footprint, wherein a front to back dimension exceeds a side to side dimension.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamshell dock comprises a processor, memory and processor-executable instructions stored in the memory that are executable to establish an operating system environment.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamshell dock comprises a battery.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamshell dock comprises at least one serial port.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one serial port comprises a side serial port and a back serial port.

12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one serial port comprises a left side serial port and a right side serial port.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamshell computing device comprises opposing sides and wherein the clamshell dock is attachable to either of the opposing sides of the clamshell computing device.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly of the clamshell dock comprises a 360 degree hinge assembly.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the hinge assembly of the clamshell computing device comprises a 360 degree hinge assembly.

16. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the display housing and the base housing of the clamshell dock are coupled by a central pivot hinge for at least 180 degree rotation of the display housing between a front facing position and a back facing position.

17. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamshell dock comprises a camera.

18. An assembly comprising:
a clamshell computing device that comprises a display, a keyboard and a side connector; and
a clamshell dock that comprises an auxiliary display and a side connector that mates with the side connector of the clamshell computing device, wherein the clamshell computing device comprises opposing sides and wherein the clamshell dock is attachable to either of the opposing sides of the clamshell computing device, and, wherein the clamshell dock comprises opposing sides that comprise magnets, wherein the clamshell dock is attachable to either of the opposing sides of the clamshell computing device via a magnetic connection force, and wherein the auxiliary display is angularly adjustable in unison with the display via the magnetic connection force and, upon overcoming the magnetic connection force, is angularly adjustable independent of an angle of the display.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Perelli Thomas
• Ent Ali

Classifications

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• G06F1/1633 Primary

  Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626 · CPC title

• G06F1/1683

  for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling · CPC title

• G06F1/1649

  the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user · CPC title