Computing device including a printed circuit board and a docking port

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9547620-B2
Application number	US-201114356402-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2011
Priority date	Dec 7, 2011
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

A computing device including a printed circuit board. A docking port coupled to the printed circuit board. Wherein the docking port can receive a docking connector that either passes through an aperture in the printed circuit board or passes by the edge of the printed circuit board.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing device comprising:
a printed circuit board including an aperture through the printed circuit board; and
a docking port coupled to the printed circuit board and at least partially in the aperture through the printed circuit board, to receive a docking connector from a docking station,
wherein if the computing device is coupled to the docking station the docking connector extends through the aperture in the printed circuit board.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising circuitry to charge a battery in the computing device, wherein the circuitry is connected to the docking port.

3. The computing device of claim 2 , further comprising input/output (I/O) circuitry wherein the I/O circuitry is connected to the docking port.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing enclosing the printed circuit board and the docking port.

5. The computing device of claim 4 , wherein the housing includes an opening aligned with the docking connector.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a contact swipe distance that is greater than a distance between the bottom of the computing device and the printed circuit board.

7. A computing device comprising:
a housing including a top and a bottom;
a printed circuit board between the top and the bottom, wherein the printed circuit board includes an aperture between the top and an opening in the bottom; and
a docking port disposed in the aperture, the docking port to receive a docking connector from a docking station,
wherein if the computing device is coupled to the docking station, the docking connector extends through the aperture in the printed circuit board.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the docking port in the aperture is electrically connected to logic on the printed circuit board.

9. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the top of the housing contacts a docking connector received by the docking port.

10. The computing device of claim 7 , further comprising an input device in the top.

11. The computing device of claim 7 , further comprising a display in the top.

12. A computing device comprising:
a housing including a top and a bottom includes an opening;
a printed circuit board with an edge, wherein the printed circuit board is between the top and the bottom; and
a docking port attached to the edge of the printed circuit board and aligned with the opening, the docking port to receive a docking connector from a docking station,
wherein if the computing device is coupled to the docking station, the docking connector extends into the docking port past the printed circuit board.

13. The computing device of claim 12 , further comprising a battery connected to the docking port to receive power from the docking station.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , further comprising a hub connected to the docking port.

Assignees

• Moore Earl W
• Walker Paul N
• Hewlett Packard Development Co Lp

Inventors

• Moore Earl W
• Walker Paul N

Classifications

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• 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

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F13/4068 Primary

  Electrical coupling · CPC title