Notebook computer docking station having floating connector interface structure

摘要

A docking station structure is used to operatively connect a notebook computer to desktop computer peripheral devices. In response to manual insertion of the computer into the interior of the docking station a motorized travel structure drives the computer further into the docking station and forcibly interconnects pin type connectors carried by the computer and the docking station. The docking station connector is supported for translational movement by a specially designed floating connector interface structure which permits the docking station connector to translationally shift, in response to forcible engagement by the computer connector portion when there is a misalignment between the computer and docking station connectors, in order to precisely align the two connectors before they are telescopingly mated with one another. The connector interface structure is spring biased toward a ready-for-docking position thereof, and incorporates therein an anti-rotation structure that prevents the docking structure connector from being rotated into an undesirable pivotally buckled relationship with the incoming computer connector portion.