Asymmetric computer tablet and docking system

Abstract

A system for docking a computer tablet with a docking station. The computer tablet has an asymmetrical edge that is adapted to rest in a cradle portion of the docking station. While resting in the docking station the computer tablet may be rotated to various angles and still maintain electrical connectivity to the docking station.

Claims

1. A tablet computer having a cross-section along one of said tablet computer's edges that is substantially thicker than all cross-sections of all other edges of said tablet computer, wherein all other edges have a substantially equal thickness cross-section, and wherein the tablet computer's front surface is substantially flat while the greater cross-section extends substantially opposite the front surface, such that it shifts the center of gravity of said tablet computer away from the tablet computer's geographical center and toward said tablet computer's edge having said substantially greater cross-section, such that to provide increased stability of said tablet computer when at least a portion of said tablet computer's edge having said substantially greater cross-section sits on a resting surface.

2. The tablet computer of claim 1, wherein the substantially thicker cross-section has a shape that is substantially circular such that to enable smooth rotation of the tablet computer about a longitudinal axis of the edge having the substantially thicker cross-section when the tablet computer is adjusted by a user through a plurality of preferred viewing angles with respect to the resting surface.

3. The tablet computer of claim 2, wherein said shape is configured to provide a projection extending substantially perpendicularly to said tablet computer's back surface.

4. The tablet computer of claim 3, wherein the projection is configured for use as a hand grip by the user to prevent slip from said user's hand when the user is carrying said tablet computer in the user's hand.

5. The tablet computer of claim 2, wherein the shape of said tablet computer's edge having said substantially thicker cross-section has a plurality of sprockets and is configured to fit closely into a recess portion of a docking station.

6. The tablet computer of claim 1, wherein the substantially thicker cross-section has a polygonal shape.

7. The tablet computer of claim 5, wherein said edge having said substantially thicker cross-section comprises a first plurality of electrical connectors configured to maintain electrical contact with a corresponding second plurality of electrical connectors of said docking station.

8. A tablet computer comprising at one edge means for shifting the center of gravity of said tablet computer away from the tablet computer's geographical center and toward said tablet computer's edge having the means for shifting, such that to provide increased stability of said tablet computer when at least a portion of said tablet computer's edge having the means for shifting sits on a resting surface, wherein the tablet computer's front surface is substantially flat and wherein all other edges of the tablet computer have a substantially equal thickness cross-section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features, objectives, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a graphic representation of the present invention showing the tablet computer, the docking station and a recessed computer keyboard.

(3) FIG. 1.A. is a bottom view of the computer tablet this is subject of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 1.B. is a top view of the computer tablet that is subject of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 1.C. is a right side view of the computer tablet that is subject of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 1.D. is a left side view of the computer tablet that is subject of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 1.E. is a front view of the computer tablet that is subject of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 1.F. is a right side view close up of the bottom of the computer tablet this is subject of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 1.G. is a left side view close up of the bottom of the computer tablet this is subject of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 1.H. is the back view of the computer tablet that is subject of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 1.I is the back view of the computer tablet that is subject of the present invention with the display kickstand extended.

(12) FIG. 1.J. is a front view of the computer tablet this is subject of the present invention with the stylus removed from the computer tablet.

(13) FIG. 2.A. is a top down view of the docking station that is subject of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 2.B. is a front view of the docking station that is subject of the present invention.

(15) FIG. 2.C. is a side view of the docking station that is subject of the present invention.

(16) FIG. 2.D. is a cross-sectional view of the docking station that is subject of the present invention.

(17) FIG. 2.E. is a back view of the docking station that is subject of the present invention with the printer paper feed door opened.

(18) Other features and advantages of the present invention will immediately be recognized by persons of ordinary skill in the art with reference to the attached drawings and detailed description of exemplary embodiments as given below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(19) Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

(20) As used herein, the term “Bluetooth” refers without limitation to any device, software, interface or technique that complies with one or more of the Bluetooth technical standards, including Bluetooth Core Specification Version 1.1 (ratified as IEEE Standard 802.15.1-2002) Version 1.2 (ratified as IEEE Standard 802.15.1-2005), Version 2.0, and Version 2.1+ EDR, each of the foregoing being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and any subsequent versions thereof.

(21) As used herein, the term “computer program” or “software” is meant to include any sequence or human or machine cognizable steps which perform a function. Such program may be rendered in virtually any programming language or environment including, for example, C/C++, Fortran, COBOL, PASCAL, assembly language, markup languages (e.g., HTML, SGML, XML, VoXML), and the like, as well as object-oriented environments such as the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), Java™ (including J2ME, Java Beans, etc.), Binary Runtime Environment (BREW), and the like.

(22) As used herein, the term “memory” includes any type of integrated circuit or other storage device adapted for storing digital data including, without limitation, ROM. PROM, EEPROM, DRAM, SDRAM, DDR/2 SDRAM, EDO/FPMS, RLDRAM, SRAM, “flash” memory (e.g., NAND/NOR), and PSRAM.

(23) As used herein, the terms “microprocessor” and “digital processor” are meant generally to include all types of digital processing devices including, without limitation, digital signal processors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computers (RISC), general-purpose (CISC) processors, microprocessors, gate arrays (e.g., FPGAs), PLDs, reconfigurable compute fabrics (RCFs), array processors, secure microprocessors, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Such digital processors may be contained on a single unitary IC die, or distributed across multiple components.

(24) As used herein, the terms “network” and “bearer network” refer generally to any type of data, telecommunications or other network including, without limitation, data networks (including MANs, PANs, WANs, LANs, WLANs, micronets, piconets, internets, and intranets), hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks, satellite networks, cellular networks, and telco networks. Such networks or portions thereof may utilize any one or more different topologies (e.g., ring, bus, star, loop, etc.), transmission media (e.g., wired/RF cable, RF wireless, millimeter wave, optical, etc.) and/or communications or networking protocols (e.g., SONET, DOCSIS, IEEE Std. 802.3, 802.11, 802.20, ATM, X.25, Frame Relay, 3GPP, 3GPP2, WAP, SIP, UDP, FTP, RTP/RTCP, H.323, etc.).

(25) As used herein, the term “network interface” refers to any signal, data, or software interface with a component, network or process including, without limitation, those of the FireWire (e.g., FW400, FW800, etc.), USB (e.g., USB2), Ethernet (e.g., 10/100, 10/100/1000 (Gigabit Ethernet), 10-Gig-E, etc.), MoCA, Serial ATA (e.g., SATA, e-SATA, SATAII), Ultra-ATA/DMA, Coaxsys (e.g., TVnet™), radio frequency tuner (e.g., in-band or OOB, cable modem, etc.), Wi-Fi (802.11a,b,g,n), WiMAX (802.16), PAN (802.15), or IrDA families.

(26) As used herein, the term “USB” refers to a serial bus standard to interface devices to a host computer without limitation to USB 0.7, USB 0.8, USB 0.9, USB 1.0 (Full-Speed USB), USB 1.1, USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed USB), USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB), and wireless USB Specification Rev 1.0 each of the foregoing being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and any subsequent versions thereof.

(27) As used herein, the term “Wi-Fi” refers to, without limitation, any of the variants of ANSI/IEEE-Std. 802.11 (“Information technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications”) or related standards including 802.11 a/b/e/g/n/y, each of the foregoing being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

(28) As used herein, the term “wireless” means any wireless signal, data, communication, or other interface including without limitation Wi-Fi™, Bluetooth™, 3G, HSDPA/HSUPA, TDMA, CDMA (e.g., IS-95A, WCDMA, etc.), FHSS, DSSS, GSM, PAN/802.15, WiMAX (802.16), MWBA (802.20), narrowband/FDMA, OFDM, PCS/DCS, analog cellular, CDPD, satellite systems, millimeter wave or microwave systems, acoustic, and infrared (i.e., IrDA).

(29) Overview

(30) The preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention provides for an asymmetrical configuration of the frame of a tablet computer. One of the lengths of the tablet computer's frame has a different cross section than the other sides. The asymmetric geometry of the tablet frame creates at least two distinctive advantages over prior art.

(31) The increased cross section can be used as a hand grip for the user when the user is carrying the tablet computer. Furthermore, the mass in the increased cross section shifts the center of gravity of the computer tablet from the geographical center of the computer tablet. This feature provides greater stability to the tablet computer when docked in the docking station.

(32) The computer tablet cross-section is coordinated with the geometry of the recess of the docking station. The docking station cradles the computer tablet. In one embodiment, the outer radius of the tablet frame is the same as the inner radius of the of the docking station cradle. While resting in the cradle of the docking station, the tablet can be adjusted through a variety of viewing angles to accommodate the individual user's preferred viewing angle. In another embodiment, the increased cross-section has sprockets and the cradle of the docking station has a series of indentations designed to accept the sprockets. As such, the viewing angles available are predetermined and not continuous. In yet another embodiment, the increased cross-section can be that of a hexagon, decagon, or other similar polygon shape; the geometry of the recess is correspondingly adjusted to accommodate those cross-sections.

(33) While resting in the cradle of the docking station, the tablet is operationally and electrically connected to the docking station. These connections are located and sized to allow the tablet and the docking station to maintain electrical connectivity through out the various angles at which the tablet can rest in the docking station cradle.

(34) Detailed Description of the Exemplary Embodiments

(35) While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. The foregoing description is of the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. This description is in no way meant to be limiting, but rather should be taken as illustrative of the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

(36) FIG. 1. shows the tablet computer 100 docked in the docking station 200, and the physical QWERTY style keyboard 300. FIG. 1.A. is the bottom of the computer tablet. The tablet computer has a microprocessor and memory inside it making it capable of running computer programs. The tablet computer also has wireless communication capability. The tablet computer has Electrical connections 102 located along the outside of the tablet. These connections allow for the tablet computer to electrically interface with the docking station. Due to the length and placement of the connections, the tablet computer can maintain the electrical connection with the docking station at a variety of angles. Another electrical connection 104 allows the tablet computer to be charged via a cable plugged into a wall outlet or connected to a computer via a USB port. FIG. 1.B is the top down view of the computer tablet 100.

(37) FIG. 1.C and FIG. 1.D. most readily show the asymmetric cross section of the computer tablet. In this preferred embodiment the bottom edge of the computer tablet has a circular cross section. The diameter of the circular cross section is greater in length than the thickness of the computer tablet 100. FIG. 1.E is a front view of the computer tablet 100.

(38) FIG. 1.F is a close-up view of the asymmetrical portion of the computer tablet. The increased volume of the asymmetric portion of the computer table is adapted to house a stylus 106. The other side of the asymmetric portion of the computer table shown in FIG. 1.G has a threaded cap 108 which allows the user to access a battery that powers the computer tablet.

(39) FIGS. 1.H and 1.I show that the computer tablet 100 has a retractable stand 110. FIG. 1.H shows the stand retracted where FIG. 1.I shows the retractable stand extended to allow the computer tablet to be set on a desk or other surface for viewing.

(40) FIGS. 2. A, 2.B, and 2.C are the docking station 200 from various angles. There is a power button 202 located on the top of the docking station. The computer tablet 100 communicates with the docking station 200 via WiFi or Bluetooth technology. The interface between items using these two technologies is readily apparent to one skilled in the art. Furthermore, when the computer tablet 100 rests in the cradle 204 of the docking station 200, the electrical connectors 102 connect to the electrical interfaces 206.

(41) FIG. 2.D is a cross section of the docking station 200 showing a circular cross section of the cradle 204. The preferred embodiment of the cradle cross section is circular, but need not be. In another embodiment of the invention, the cradle cross section is half of a polygon configuration that corresponds to a polygon configuration of the asymmetrical portion of the computer tablet. There is a portion of space inside 206 the docking station 200 which allows for the physical QWERTY keyboard 300 to be recessed when not in use. The physical QWERTY keyboard 300 is wirelessly connected to the docking station 200 and computer tablet via Bluetooth connection.

(42) It should be noted that the docking station disclosed herein may be configured to incorporate accessories such as speaker(s), clock(s), wireless router(s), and other accessories that may complement or be necessary for the operation of the docking system.