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The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to a docking station for charging batteries used in portable electronic devices and/or for transferring data to or from portable electronic devices. The docking station is adapted to receive a rechargeable battery either directly and/or through its p

The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to a docking station for charging batteries used in portable electronic devices and/or for transferring data to or from portable electronic devices. The docking station is adapted to receive a rechargeable battery either directly and/or through its portable electronic device, which can be fitted with or without a cover case. For example, the docking station has a receiving area configured to receive and hold a portable electronic device including a rechargeable battery and/or a rechargeable battery after being removed from the corresponding portable electronic device. The invention also relates to a removable device adapter for use with a docking station to receive a rechargeable battery directly and/or through its portable electronic device fitted with or without a cover case. For example, the device adapter can be removably used in a docking station during a charging operation of a rechargeable battery and/or a data transferring operation of a portable electronic device.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A docking station operable for charging a battery and transferring data to or from a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising: a docking base having an adapter receiving area and an adapter contact port formed in the adapter receiving area; andat least one device adapter configu

1. A docking station operable for charging a battery and transferring data to or from a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising: a docking base having an adapter receiving area and an adapter contact port formed in the adapter receiving area; andat least one device adapter configured to be removably fit in the adapter receiving area of the docking base, the device adapter comprising: a main adapter body having a base portion configured to be received and supported in the adapter receiving area on the docking base, the main adapter body having a device receiving area configured to receive and support at least a portion of the portable electronic device;a device contact port formed in the device receiving area for electrically contacting a contact port formed on the portable electronic device; anda docking contact port formed on the base portion for electrically contacting the adapter contact port on the docking base, the docking contact port being electrically connected to the device contact port in the device receiving area;wherein the docking contact port is configured to electrically contact the adapter contact port on the docking base to charge the portable electronic device and to transfer data to and from the portable electronic device, when the device adapter is fit in the docking base;wherein the device adapter is configured to operate in a stand-alone mode where the device adapter electrically connects to an external power source to charge the portable electronic device, when the device adapter is removed and separated from the docking base. 2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the adapter receiving area in the docking base is configured to receive and support a portion of the portable electronic device. 3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the adapter receiving area is formed as an adapter receiving chamber surrounded by a tapered surrounding wall, the surrounding wall having a top edge at least partially formed to conform to the shape of the portion of the portable electronic device. 4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the device adapter comprises a skirt portion joined with the main adapter body, the skirt portion having a bottom edge configured to support the device adapter in the adapter receiving area on the docking base. 5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the adapter contact port, the device contact port, and the docking contact port are a USB type port. 6. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising an adapter insert, wherein the adapter insert has an exterior portion configured to be received and supported in the device receiving area on the main adapter body; andwherein the adapter insert has an interior portion configured to receive and support the portable electronic device. 7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the adapter receiving area of the docking base is configured to directly receive the portable electronic device free of a cover case; andwherein the device receiving portion of the device adapter is configured to receive the portable electronic device fitted with a cover case. 8. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the docking base comprises a plurality of adapter receiving areas each being formed with an adapter contact port. 9. The docking station of claim 8, wherein the at least one device adapter comprises a plurality of device adapters configured to be received and supported in the plurality of adapter receiving areas of the docking base; andwherein at least two of the plurality of device adapters are configured to have different device receiving areas for receiving different portable electronic devices. 10. The docking station of claim 8, wherein the at least one device adapter comprises a plurality of device adapters, the base portions of the plurality of device adapters being the same; whereby the plurality of device adapters can be interchangeably received and supported in the plurality of adapter receiving areas of the docking base. 11. A docking station operable for charging a battery and transferring data to or from a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising: a docking base having an adapter receiving area and an adapter contact port formed in the adapter receiving area; andat least one device adapter configured to be removably fit in the adapter receiving area of the docking base, the device adapter comprising: a main adapter body having a base portion configured to be received and supported in a docking station, the main adapter body having a device receiving area, which is larger than the base portion of the main adapter body and is configured to receive and support at least a portion of a portable electronic device;a device contact port formed in the device receiving area for electrically contacting a contact port formed on the portable electronic device;a docking contact port formed on the base portion for electrically contacting a contact port on the docking station; andwherein the docking contact port on the base portion is electrically connected to the device contact port in the device receiving area and configured to charge the portable electronic device and to transfer data to and from the portable electronic device, andwherein the device receiving area of the main adapter body is larger than the adapter receiving area in the docking base,wherein the device adapter is configured for at least one of: use in a stand-alone position andto connect to a standard power source,whereby, during a normal use of the device adapter, the device receiving area is capable of receiving and supporting at least a portion of a portable electronic device that has a larger size than the base portion of the main adapter body. 12. The device adapter of claim 11, wherein the device contact port and the docking contact port are a USB type port. 13. The device adapter of claim 11, wherein the main adapter body has an additional device receiving area configured to receive and support an additional electronic device. 14. The device adapter of claim 11, further comprising an adapter insert, wherein the adapter insert has an exterior portion configured to be received and supported in the device receiving area on the main adapter body; andwherein the adapter insert has an interior portion configured to receive and support the portable electronic device. 15. The device adapter of claim 11, further comprising an external contact port configured to charge the portable electronic device and to transfer data to and from the portable electronic device. 16. The docking station of claim 1, wherein an external contact port is configured to charge the portable electronic device and to transfer data to and from the portable electronic device. 17. The device adapter of claim 11, wherein the device receiving area of the main adapter body is elevated from the base portion of the main adapter body. 18. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the device adapter is configured to support the electronic device in a substantially upright position in the stand-alone mode.