Docking device for a portable computer and a method for docking a portable computer to the docking device

摘要

A docking device for a portable computer includes a body adapted to receive a portable computer. The body encloses a number of electronic components adapted to be connected to a portable computer via a number of signal lines. A connector is provided in the body which mechanically connects the number of signal lines within the body to a corresponding number of signal lines within the portable computer. The docking device also includes a signal connection means interposed between the portable computer and the electronic components for selectively electrically interconnecting the particular ones of the signal lines within the body to corresponding signal lines among the number of signal lines within the portable computer in response to an operating state of said portable computer. A preferred embodiment of the docking device further includes a control means for controlling the selective electrical interconnection of the particular ones of the number of signal lines by the signal connection means. In this preferred embodiment, the control means electrically interconnects the particular ones of the number of signal lines within the body to corresponding signal lines within the portable computer in response to an acknowledgment by the portable computer of a request by the control means to electrically interconnect the particular ones of the number of signal lines.