IP Library Granted Patent US 10,185,359
Granted Patent B2
US 10,185,359 · App. 15/648,751 · Granted Jan 22, 2019

Docking unit and electronic apparatus system

Inventor: Fusanobu Nakamura (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
G06F1/1632G06F1/206G06F13/4081
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,185,359
App. No.
15/648,751
Granted
Jan 22, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide a docking device capable of securing heat dissipation performance of a portable information apparatus while extending the function of an electronic apparatus in which an extension unit is mounted on the portable information apparatus, and an electronic apparatus system having the docking device. A docking unit that has a docking portion capable of docking an electronic apparatus in which a mounting surface of an extension unit is detachably mounted on a back surface of the portable information apparatus, a holding portion holding the portable information apparatus at a predetermined position in a docking direction when the electronic apparatus is docked with the docking portion, and a forcibly moving portion forcibly moving the extension unit in the docking direction when the electronic apparatus is docked with the docking portion.

Claims (28)

1. A docking unit comprising:

a docking portion capable of docking of an electronic apparatus in which a mounting surface of an extension unit is detachably mounted on a back surface of a portable information apparatus;

a holding portion holding the portable information apparatus at a predetermined position in a docking direction when the electronic apparatus is docked with the docking portion; and

a forcibly moving portion forcibly moving the extension unit in the docking direction when the electronic apparatus is docked with the docking portion to thereby separate the extension unit from the portable information apparatus held with the holding portion to form a gap between the back surface of the portable information apparatus and the mounting surface of the extension unit.

2. The docking unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an air supply fan; and

an air supply path causing air supplied from the air supply fan to flow into the gap between the back surface of the portable information apparatus and the mounting surface of the extension unit.

3. The docking unit according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a power transmission device capable of supplying power to a battery unit of the extension unit docked with the docking portion; and

another air supply path circulating the air supplied from the air supply fan to the power transmission device.

4. The docking unit according to claim 1 , wherein:

a mounting magnet is on the mounting surface of the extension unit; and

a sticking target material to which the mounting magnet can be stuck is on the back surface of the portable information apparatus;

the docking portion has a concave shape into which the electronic apparatus can be inserted along the docking direction; and

the forcibly moving portion has an attracting magnet on a bottom surface of the docking portion and attracts the mounting magnet from a side of the back surface of the extension unit.

5. The docking unit according to claim 4 , wherein:

the forcibly moving portion has a repulsion magnet on a side surface of the docking portion and generates repulsion force to the mounting magnet.

6. The docking unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an extrusion mechanism for pressing and moving the extension unit docked with the docking portion in a direction opposite to the docking direction.

7. The docking unit according to claim 6 , wherein:

the extrusion mechanism moves the extension unit over a distance equal to or larger than a distance of the gap.

8. An electronic apparatus system, comprising:

a docking unit having:

a docking portion capable of docking of an electronic apparatus in which a mounting surface of an extension unit is detachably mounted on a back surface of a portable information apparatus;

a holding portion holding the portable information apparatus at a predetermined position in a docking direction when the electronic apparatus is docked with the docking portion; and

a forcibly moving portion forcibly moving the extension unit in the docking direction when the electronic apparatus is docked with the docking portion to thereby separate the extension unit from the portable information apparatus held with the holding portion to form a gap between the back surface of the portable information apparatus and the mounting surface of the extension unit,

the portable information apparatus, and

the extension unit.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LTD
Reel/Frame 049844/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2017
From: NAKAMURA, FUSANOBU
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 042998/0874 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-82812 · Apr 19, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180307274A1 · Oct 25, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,461,567