IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0610832
(2012-09-11)
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등록번호 |
US-8721356
(2014-05-13)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Webb, Michael J.
- Colahan, Ian P.
- Thompson, Paul J.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
34 인용 특허 :
48 |
초록
▼
Docking stations having a connector with a compliant mount to provide improved durability and flexibility are provided herein. The compliant mount may couple a connector to a base of a docking station and may include at least a first and second flexure disposed therebetween. The first and second fle
Docking stations having a connector with a compliant mount to provide improved durability and flexibility are provided herein. The compliant mount may couple a connector to a base of a docking station and may include at least a first and second flexure disposed therebetween. The first and second flexure may be configured to have flexural movement in along transverse direction so that, in combination, the flexural movement pivots the connector about a virtual pivot point a distance away from the flexures. The first and second flexures may be configured to project the virtual pivot point to a location on the connector where the connector protrudes from an opening in a docking housing, thereby minimizing the clearance required between the connector and docking housing, while providing controlled movement of the connector relative the dock.
대표청구항
▼
1. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising: a base;a connector movably coupled to the base; anda compliant mount coupling the connector to the base, the compliant mount being configured to support the connector in an upright position,wherein the compliant m
1. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising: a base;a connector movably coupled to the base; anda compliant mount coupling the connector to the base, the compliant mount being configured to support the connector in an upright position,wherein the compliant mount includes at least a first and second flexure hinge between the base and connector such that flexural movement of the first and second flexure hinge, in combination, moves the connector about a pivot point projected a distance away from either hinge. 2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexure hinges are configured to support the connector in the upright position when in a non-displaced state such that the first and second flexure hinges provide a biasing force towards the upright position that increases with flexural displacement of the first and second hinges. 3. The docking station of claim 2, wherein the connector is configured to receive and electrically couple to a receptacle connector of the portable electronic device, the station further comprising electronic circuitry electronically coupled with a plurality of contacts of the connector, wherein the compliant mount further includes a flexible circuit that electrically couples the moveable connector with the electronic circuitry. 4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the first flexure hinge moves flexurally along a first flexure axis and the second flexure hinge moves flexurally along a second flexure axis, the first flexure axis being transverse to the second flexure axis. 5. The docking station of claim 4, wherein the first and second flexure hinges are configured such that a normal axis of the first flexure axis intersects a normal axis of the second flexure hinge at the projected pivot point. 6. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexure hinges are configured so that the projected pivot point is located at or near where the connector couples to the compliant mount. 7. The docking station of claim 6, wherein the base includes an outer shell having an opening through which the connector protrudes, and wherein the first and second flexure hinges are configured so that the projected pivot point is located on the connector at or near where the connector protrudes through the opening. 8. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the connector is coupled to the compliant mount between the first and second flexure hinges. 9. The docking station of claim 8, wherein the first flexure hinge inclines toward the connector from a front of the base and the second flexure hinge declines from the connector toward a rear of the base. 10. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the first flexure hinge is disposed between the connector and a front of the base and the second flexure hinge is disposed between the connector and a rear of the base such that when the connector is tilted forward towards the front of the base, the first flexure hinge flexes in a downward, rear direction and the second flexure hinge flexes in an upwards, rear direction. 11. The docking station of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second flexure hinge comprises undulating segments adapted to provide resilient flexure along their respective flexure axis. 12. The docking station of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second flexure hinges comprises four s-shapes undulations. 13. The docking station of claim 11, wherein the first and second flexure hinges are coupled to one another by one or more beams extending therebetween, wherein the connector is rigidly coupled to the one or more beams. 14. The docking station of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second hinges is mounted to the body by a mounting plate and extends from the mounting plate upwards towards the connector. 15. The docking station of claim 1, wherein opposing ends of each of the S-shaped undulations extend between the base and the connector. 16. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexure hinges are configured with sufficient flexure to allow a forward angular displacement of the connector from a mounting plane through which the connector extends when in the upright position when a forward displacing force is applied to the connector. 17. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the first and second hinges are configured with sufficient stiffness to inhibit the angular displacement beyond a maximum angle within a range of about 10 to 45 degrees. 18. The docking station of claim 17, wherein the first and second hinges are configured with sufficient elasticity so as to resiliently return the connector to the upright position when the displacing force is removed. 19. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the virtual pivot point is at a substantially fixed location relative to the base. 20. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the virtual pivot point is within a range of locations near where the connector attaches to the compliant mount. 21. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the first and second hinge are disposed in series on the compliant mount between the connector and the base. 22. The docking station of claim 21, wherein the first and second hinge comprise first and second cantilevers. 23. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising: a base including an outer shell having an opening;a compliant mount coupled to the base within the outer shell; anda connector coupled to the compliant mount and protruding through the opening in the outer shell of the base, the connector having a first section below the outer shell and a second section above the outer shell, the second section being configured to receive and electrically couple to a corresponding connector of the portable electronic device, the first section being rigidly attached to the compliant mount,wherein the compliant mount comprises a first flexure and a second flexure, the first flexure flexurally movable along a first flexure axis and the second flexure flexurally movable along a second flexure axis, the first flexure axis being transverse to the second flexure axis, such that flexural movement of each along their respective flexure axes moves the connector about a virtual pivot point projected a distance away from the first and second flexure axes. 24. The docking station of claim 23, wherein the first section is attached to one or more rigid beams extending between the first and second flexures. 25. The docking station of claim 24, wherein one or both of the first and second flexure comprises undulating segments adapted to provide resilient flexure along their respective flexure axis. 26. The docking station of claim 25, wherein each of the first and second flexure comprises four s-shapes undulations. 27. The docking station of claim 26, wherein opposing ends of each of the S-shaped undulations extend between the base and the connector. 28. The docking station of claim 23, wherein the first and second flexure are configured with sufficient stiffness to inhibit the angular displacement beyond a maximum angle within a range of about 10 to 45 degrees. 29. The docking station of claim 28, wherein the first flexure inclines toward the connector from a front of the base and the second flexure declines from the connector toward a rear of the base. 30. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising: a base having an outer shell, the outer shell having an opening;a movable connector that protrudes through the opening in the outer shell, the movable connector having a first section below the outer shell and a second section above the outer shell; anda compliant mount coupled to each of the base and the movable connector, the compliant mount having at least a first and second flexure point such that flexural movement about the first and second flexure, in combination, pivot the connector coupled thereto about a virtual pivot point at a location on the connector at or adjacent to the opening in the outer shell.
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