MOTORIZED DOCKING SYSTEM

摘要

A docking station structure (14) is used to operatively connect a notebook computer (12) to desktop computer peripheral devices (48, 50, 52). The docking station (14) has an internal receiving chamber (60) into which the portable computer (12) may be manually inserted, an electrical connector (44a) positioned within the receiving chamber (60), a travel plate (108) movably carried within the receiving chamber (60), a motorized drive system (operative to drive the travel plate (108) toward and away from the electrical connector (44a)), and a latch structure (130) carried by the travel plate (108) for movement therewith. With the travel plate (108) in a wait position thereof, the portable computer (12) is rearwardly inserted into the receiving chamber (60). In response to such insertion, the latch structure (130) automatically locks the computer (12) to the travel plate (108), and the drive system rearwardly moves the travel plate (108) to mate the electrical connector (44a) with a corresponding connector (44) on the computer, thereby operatively linking the computer (12) to the peripheral devices (48, 50, 52). To remove the computer (12), the drive system is operated to forwardly move the drive plate (108) and the computer (12) to an ejection position in which the computer (12) and docking station electrical connector (44a) structures are disconnected from one another, and the computer (12) is unlocked from the travel plate (108). Upon insertion of the computer (12) into the docking station (14) opposite side portions (28) of the computer (12) are slidingly received in docking station track indentations (104) operative to maintain the computer (12) in a precisely aligned relationship with the docking station electrical connector (44a) during driven movement of the computer (12).