IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,013,163
Granted Patent B2
US 7,013,163 · App. 09/769,943 · Granted Mar 14, 2006

Portable wireless communication device docking system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,013,163
App. No.
09/769,943
Granted
Mar 14, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A docking station for a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone. The docking station includes a cradle for the cellular phone and comprises an associated LCD that enhances the video display capabilities of the cellular telephone. When docked, the cellular telephone draws power from a voltage supply provided by the docking station. While the cellular telephone is docked, a charging circuit recharges the cellular telephone battery. The docking station may be disconnected from an AC outlet so that the docked cellular telephone retains both enhanced display capabilities, which prove to be highly desirable for applications such as Internet access, as well as its inherent portability. Even in the portable mode, where the docking station is disconnected from the AC outlet, the docking station recharges the cellular telephone battery.

Claims (57)

1. A docking station for a wireless communication device, the docking station comprising:

a support structure;

a cradle situated in the support structure to receive the wireless communication device;

a display situated in the support structure to display information received by the docking station from the wireless communications device;

an energy source internal to the docking station which supplies energy to the docking station and to a rechargeable energy source in the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is received in the cradle, the internal energy source having more charge capacity than the rechargeable energy source, sufficient to supply energy to the wireless device when the docking station is mobile;

an electrical interface between the docking station and the wireless communications device including multiple contacts, one of the contacts coupled to accept a video signal from the wireless communications device; and

a video interface circuit coupled to convert the video signal to drive the display.

2. A docking station for a wireless communication device, the docking station comprising:

a docking housing;

a display device, situated in the docking housing, that displays information received from the wireless communication device;

a cradle, disposed on the docking housing, that receives the wireless communication device;

a connector, situated in the cradle, that electrically couples the docking station to the wireless communication device;

an energy source internal to the docking station which supplies energy to the docking station and to a rechargeable energy source in the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is received in the cradle, the internal energy source having more charge capacity than the rechargeable energy source, sufficient to supply energy to the wireless device when the docking station is mobile;

an electrical interface between the docking station and the wireless communications device including multiple contacts, one of the contacts coupled to accept a video signal from the wireless communications device; and

a video interface circuit coupled to convert the video signal to drive the display device.

3. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises a first terminal coupled to the internal energy source.

4. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 3 , wherein the connector comprises a second terminal selectively coupled to a charging circuit in the docking housing via a switch.

5. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 4 , wherein the connector comprises a third terminal coupled to GND.

6. A docking station for a wireless communication device as defined in claim 4 , wherein the switch has a pole coupled to the charging circuit and has a first terminal selectively coupled to the first terminal of the connector.

7. A docking station for a wireless communications device as defined in claim 6 , wherein the switch has a second terminal selectively coupled to the second terminal of the connector.

8. A docking station for a wireless communications device comprising:

a display device that displays information received from the communications device;

a cradle in the docking station that receives the communications device; and

an apparatus that selectively supplies power to the communications device, the apparatus including:

a connector for electrically coupling the docking station to the communications device, the connector having at least first and second terminals;

a switch having a pole, a first terminal, and a second terminal, the switch operable in response to status information indicating whether the communications device is docked at the docking station;

a charging circuit coupled to the pole of the switch;

a detector that determines whether the communications device is docked at the station and provides status information as a result of the determination;

an energy source internal to the docking station which supplies energy to the docking station and to a rechargeable energy source in the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is received in the cradle, the internal energy source having more charge capacity than the rechargeable energy source, sufficient to supply energy to the wireless device when the docking station is mobile;

an electrical interface between the docking station and the wireless communications device including multiple contacts, one of the contacts coupled to accept a video signal from the wireless communications device; and

a video interface circuit coupled to convert the video signal to drive the display device.

9. A docking station as defined in claim 8 , wherein the first terminal of the switch is electrically coupled to the first terminal of the connector and the second terminal of the switch is electrically connected to the second terminal of the connector.

10. A docking station as defined in claim 9 , wherein the switch operates to connect the pole terminal to the first terminal in response to status information indicating that the communications device is not docked at the docking station, whereby the charging circuit then charges the internal energy source.

11. A method of enhancing the capabilities of a wireless communications device for information handling, the method comprising:

mounting the wireless communications device on a docking station that comprises:

(a) a cradle for the wireless communications device;

(b) a display device that displays information received from the wireless communications device;

(c) a connector for effecting an electrical interface to the wireless communication device;

(d) an energy source internal to the docking station which supplies energy to the docking station and to a rechargeable energy source in the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is received in the cradle, the internal energy source having more charge capacity than the rechargeable energy source, sufficient to supply energy to the wireless device when the docking station is mobile;

(e) a charging circuit; and

(f) a switch operable in response to information indicating whether or not a wireless communications device is docked at the docking station;

providing the electrical interface between the docking station and the wireless communications device including multiple contacts, one of the contacts coupled to accept a video signal from the wireless communications device; and

coupling a video interface circuit to convert the video signal to drive the display device.

12. A method as defined in claim 11 , wherein, in response to information indicating that a wireless communications device is docked at the docking station, the switch couples the charging circuit to the rechargeable energy source included with the wireless communications device, and in response to information indicating that a wireless communications device is not docked at the station, the switch couples the charging circuit to the energy source internal to the docking station.

13. An assembly for docking a wireless communication device (WCD) so as to enhance the capabilities of the device, the assembly comprising:

a docking station housing having a receptacle for the WCD;

a display device that displays information received from the WCD;

an energy source internal to the docking station which supplies energy to the docking station and to a rechargeable energy source in the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is received in the cradle, the internal energy source having more charge capacity than the rechargeable energy source sufficient to supply energy to the wireless device when the docking station is mobile;

a charging circuit;

a switching circuit, responsive to a predetermined status of the assembly, that selectively couples the charging circuit to the internal energy power source;

an electrical interface between the docking station and the WCD including multiple contacts, one of the contacts coupled to accept a video signal from the WCD;

a video interface circuit for coupling the video output of the WCD to the display device;

a connector for electrically coupling the docking station to the WCD; and

a support for the housing.

14. An assembly as defined in claim 13 , wherein the display device is mounted on a planar surface of the housing.

15. An assembly as defined in claim 14 , wherein the support for the housing is a stand having a base portion and an oblique back portion.

16. An assembly as defined in claim 14 , wherein the support is rotatably attached to the housing.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL USA L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →