HK1161664B - Docking station with rotation mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Docking station with rotation mechanism

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional application serial No. 61/100,147 filed on 25/9/2008. The entire disclosure of this application is incorporated herein by reference.

Background

Portable electronic devices such as DVD players, radios, cassette recorders, CD players, personal media players (e.g., the PMP 4320 portable media player by Coby Electronics), and digital music playback (MP3) devices (e.g., the iPod MP3 player by apple inc.) enable users to receive, transmit, or play their desired content substantially anytime and anywhere. Accordingly, users may use these devices at home or while traveling, and may hold the devices, pin the devices on clothing, or associate the devices with a docking station.

When a portable electronic device is associated with a docking station, a user can enjoy the output of his device without using his hands, and by connecting the portable electronic device to a speaker group housed in the docking station, higher quality sound is obtained. Unfortunately, sound quality has so far been a major concern in improving docking stations, with little other effort being made to optimize other features of the docking station to improve the user experience. As portable devices become more functional (e.g., higher quality video features), consumers still need to use their devices in a more preferred manner. The present invention addresses this need.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to a docking station for a portable electronic device, such as an iPod. The docking station has the following features: the portable electronic device can be rotated relative to a support base of the docking station. Further, in some embodiments, the docking station has additional features, such as a clock with or without alarm clock functionality, and a backlight or other lighting feature.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a docking station for a portable electronic device, wherein the docking station comprises: (a) an engagement member, wherein the engagement member is capable of engaging a portable electronic device; and (b) a rotation mechanism, wherein the rotation mechanism is capable of rotating the portable electronic device relative to the support base of the docking station. The invention also provides a method of using such a docking station.

Drawings

FIG. 1A is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention in which a portable electronic device is engaged by a docking station, the portable electronic device being oriented in a portrait position. FIG. 1B is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention in which a portable electronic device is engaged by a docking station, the portable electronic device being oriented in a landscape position.

Fig. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention without a portable electronic device.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention wherein the docking station has a clock display.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of another embodiment of the present invention in which the docking station has a clock display.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of another embodiment of the present invention in which the docking station has a clock display.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention in which a backlight is shown.

Fig. 7 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention in which a speaker grill is shown.

Fig. 8 is an illustration of a rotary mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Any feature of each embodiment described herein may be used with a feature described in connection with any other embodiment disclosed unless explicitly stated or otherwise evident from the context. Accordingly, features described in connection with different embodiments, or specific embodiments, should not be construed as unsuitable in connection with other embodiments disclosed herein unless such exclusivity is expressly stated or implied from the context.

According to one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a docking station for a portable electronic device, wherein the docking station comprises: (a) an engagement member, wherein the engagement member is capable of engaging a portable electronic device; and (b) a rotation mechanism, wherein the rotation mechanism is capable of rotating the portable electronic device relative to the support base of the docking station.

The portable electronic device may be any device that a user wishes to reversibly associate with the docking station and is capable of producing audio, visual and audiovisual output. For example, the portable electronic device may be a portable media player. Examples of portable electronic devices include, but are not limited to, the apple iPod and the portable electronic devices manufactured by Palm.

The engagement element is part of a docking station that allows the portable electronic device to be reversibly associated therewith; the engagement elements may be located in a structure called a dock base, which is capable of supporting the engagement elements. The phrase "reversibly associate" refers to being able to associate and disassociate multiple times without negatively impacting the functionality of the docking station or portable electronic device. By way of non-limiting example, the engagement elements may include one or more of the following elements: a female or socket end of a snap, a socket housing or housing inner surface for a USB connection, a pin or plug, a prong, a magnet, and/or a latch or hook of a latch hook system (e.g., Velcro). Regardless of the system employed on the docking station, the interactive elements should be part of the portable electronic device.

In some embodiments, the engagement elements may comprise or consist of communication links, which are interconnects for communicating data. Examples of communication links that may be part of (or form) the engagement element include, but are not limited to, one or more of electrical wires, cables, and optical fibers. In other embodiments, the communication link exists but is not part of the engaging elements, e.g., wireless or non-wireless technologies that allow for the exchange of information, but may or may not create a strong enough association between the dock and the portable electronic device to keep no association between the dock and the portable device, and additional measures for maintaining the association. In some embodiments, the engagement element is a USB port that also functions as a communication link.

In addition to the communication link, there may be a power connection so that the portable electronic device may draw power through the power connection. The power may provide a source of energy for the portable electronic device to operate the portable electronic device or to charge a battery of the portable electronic device. The energy source may be, for example, a battery within the docking station or an external source connected to the docking station.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that many portable electronic devices include rectangular or substantially rectangular digital screens. Some portable electronic devices may be designed to recognize whether supported in a vertical direction or a lateral direction. "vertical" position or orientation means that the width dimension of a face is parallel or substantially parallel to the horizontal. As used herein, the length dimension is defined as a dimension on the front surface that is longer than the other dimensions of the front surface (i.e., the width dimension). Furthermore, it will be clear to the person using the portable electronic device that the device can also be used when the viewing surface is tilted forwards or backwards, but still with the width or length of the device at least substantially parallel to the horizontal.

In some configurations, when supporting the device in a vertical direction, the device will automatically switch the display from vertical to horizontal after the face of the device has rotated a predetermined number of degrees (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the starting position as the user moves the device toward a horizontal position.

In some embodiments, the docking station of the present invention may be configured such that when not in use or when initially in use, the docking station is in a first position in which the docking station is capable of receiving a portable electronic device in an orientation in which the portable electronic device can display a portrait image. To facilitate this operation, the engagement member may be located at the bottom of the turntable. (alternatively, the default position may be a position that enables the docking station to initially receive the portable electronic device in an orientation that enables the portable device to display a landscape image.)

When the portable electronic device is engaged by the docking station, if the user desires to rotate the portable electronic device, the user may activate the rotation mechanism, thereby rotating the turntable and engagement member to a second position, such as 90 degrees from the first position. The phrase "turntable" refers to the portion of a rotating mechanism that rotates when a portable electronic device is rotated. The rotation may be clockwise or counter-clockwise. In some embodiments, the docking station is configured to rotate only on predetermined quadrants, e.g., the docking station may be configured to rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise from a resting state and rotate back the same 90 degrees clockwise when properly activated. In other embodiments, the docking station is configured to rotate only 90 degrees clockwise from an initial state and rotate back 90 degrees counterclockwise when properly activated. In other embodiments, the user may select whether to move from the initial upright position to the landscape position by clockwise or counterclockwise movement. If the portable electronic device is engaged by the engaging member, the portable electronic device is also rotated together with the engaging member and the turntable.

The turntable may be, for example, a member which is partially hidden by the portable electronic device when the user views the device in a state where the portable electronic device is engaged by the engaging member. The turntable may be of any regular or irregular shape, e.g. circular, square, triangular oval, elliptical, etc. Further, the docking station may be designed such that when the portable electronic device is engaged, the back of the portable electronic device is in contact with the turntable, or there may be some spacing between the back of the portable electronic device and the turntable, for example, less than 1cm, less than 9mm, less than 8mm, less than 7mm, less than 6mm, less than 5mm, less than 4mm, less than 3mm, less than 2mm, or less than 1 mm.

In some embodiments, the front face of the turntable has a flat or substantially flat surface that is oriented at 30 to 90 degrees from horizontal. In some embodiments, the front face of the turntable has a substantially flat surface that is oriented from 40 degrees to 80 degrees from horizontal. In some embodiments, the front face of the turntable has a surface that is 50 to 70 degrees from horizontal. In some embodiments, the front face of the turntable has a surface that is 70 to 90 degrees from horizontal. In some embodiments, the face of the turntable may be concave. If the turntable is angled from horizontal, the docking station may be configured such that the engagement member causes the portable electronic device to be angled from horizontal as well.

The rotation mechanism may be activated by an input element that causes the rotation mechanism to move the turntable from the first position to the second position. The input element may for example be a single button that moves the rotational element from any position that is currently present to another position. Alternatively, there may be a separate input element for each position, or there may be a switch movable between two or more positions. Further, while in some embodiments there are only two possible positions, in other embodiments there may be three, four, five, six or more possible positions at which the turntable may stop. The input mechanism may also be a graphical user interface such as a touch screen.

It is also possible to devise a rotation mechanism of the docking station that is configured to orient the personal electronic device in other directions relative to a first position, such as a first vertical (or upright) position. By way of example, these other directions may be approximately 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees, 35 degrees, 40 degrees, 45 degrees, 50 degrees, 55 degrees, 60 degrees, 65 degrees, 70 degrees, 75 degrees, 80 degrees, 85 degrees, 90 degrees, 95 degrees, 100 degrees, 105 degrees, 110 degrees, 115 degrees, 120 degrees, 125 degrees, 130 degrees, 135 degrees, 140 degrees, 145 degrees, 150 degrees, 155 degrees, 160 degrees, 165 degrees, 170 degrees, 175 degrees, or 180 degrees. The docking station may also be designed such that the range of motion is limited to a subset of positions, e.g., the docking station may be rotated to one or more positions between 45 degrees and 135 degrees, between 45 degrees and 90 degrees, between 75 degrees and 105 degrees, between 80 degrees and 100 degrees, and between 85 degrees and 95 degrees from a starting position relative to the starting position.

When the docking station is designed so that the devices can be arranged in multiple orientations, there must be a means of controlling the rotation mechanism to stop rotating when it reaches other positions. This can be accomplished in connection with the present invention using any method known and recognized to be useful by those skilled in the art, including but not limited to dials or touch screens.

As described above, in some applications, positioning a personal electronic device in one of two locations has only a binary state. When there is a button for causing rotation between two positions, in some embodiments, the rotation mechanism remains locked in one of these positions until the activation button is pressed again. Thus, attempts to physically manipulate the rotating turret manually may be hindered. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the turntable may be moved by applying a physical force on the handle and moving the handle. Accordingly, physical forces and/or electrical circuitry may be utilized to control rotation.

Regardless of how many different possible positions the turntable may stop moving, the personal electronic device may be rotated by any of a number of well-known methods of rotating the object a fixed number of degrees, including but not limited to using a motorized mechanism and/or gears that may be activated by a button as described above. The speed of rotation may be defined by an electric machine. For example, the time to move from a first position to a second position 90 degrees from the first position may be less than 30 seconds, less than 25 seconds, less than 20 seconds, less than 15 seconds, less than 10 seconds, less than 5 seconds, or less than 3 seconds.

Furthermore, although in some embodiments the turntable rotates with the engagement element, in other embodiments the apparatus may be designed such that the engagement element and its associated support rotate a desired number of degrees along the circumference of, for example, a circular element.

The docking station may also include a support base. Support base refers to the non-rotating portion of the docking station. Thus, the support base is part of the docking station relative to which the rotation mechanism is caused to rotate. Within the support base there may be components for receiving data, for example, which enable the projection of sound according to the needs of the user. The support base may also be within a housing containing structural elements that give the support base the desired shape; also contains the components needed to implement the clock display (if present), the alarm clock function (if present), any lighting features (if present); and any central processing unit containing instructions necessary to carry out any of the functions described herein. In addition, the central processing unit is preferably also operatively coupled to each of the components required to implement the desired functionality.

As mentioned above, the docking station of the present invention preferably further comprises a port for a communication interface with the portable electronic device. The communication interface may be a link that allows information to be exchanged between the dock and the portable electronic device. In some embodiments, the port provides services for the dual function of engaging elements and transferring data to personal electronic devices. In other embodiments, there is a separate engagement element in addition to the communication port. For example, there may be a USB port located in the engagement support structure. Through the USB port, both the docking station and the portable electronic device remain associated while both are engaged and communicating due to the resistance caused by the USB port.

The docking station may also include one or more stabilizing elements for stabilizing the portable electronic device. The stabilizing element is particularly useful when the device is rotated more than 45 degrees (e.g., 90 degrees) from the first vertical position. In one embodiment, the stabilizing element is a peg (peg) extending from the plane of the turntable, the peg being located at a position such that the portable electronic device touches the peg when engaged by the docking station, or the point closest to the peg is less than 5mm, or less than 4mm or less than 3mm or less than 2mm or less than 1mm from the peg. If the docking station is designed to rotate counter-clockwise, it is preferable to have at least one stabilizing peg located in the left half of the turntable so that the peg is underneath the portable electronic device when the turntable is rotated from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation. Similarly, if the docking station is designed to rotate clockwise, it is preferable to have at least one stabilizing nail on the right half of the turntable so that when the turntable is rotated, the nail is under the portable electronic device. In some embodiments, there is at least one stabilizing element disposed on each side of the portable electronic device. If the portable electronic device is disassociated from the engagement element, the stabilizing element will prevent the portable electronic device from falling (or from falling a distance greater than the distance between the device and the stabilizing element) and being damaged.

The docking station may also be configured to include a light emitting element. The light emitting elements may have the function of displaying light in response to volume and/or rhythm or auditory output such as music. The light emitting element may be part of the turntable and/or part of some or all of the rest of the docking station. Techniques for displaying light in response to music are well known to those skilled in the art and may be implemented, for example, by using a mini-computer chip.

In one embodiment, the docking station includes a two-channel speaker system, a motorized rotary dock console for viewing video on, for example, an iPod touch, iPhone, Nano, and other similar portable electronic devices. The docking station may further include: a dimming light responsive to music, power button, volume, light, and rotation, an input mechanism, an iPod 30 pin connector, and auxiliary and DC inputs. The output power may be, for example, 20-60W, or 30-50W, or 40W, and the unit size may be, for example, 16X 7.4X 4.55 inches +/-0.5 inches or 1 inch in any dimension.

In some embodiments, there is also a remote control and an AC adapter.

In some embodiments, the docking station includes a single or multiple speakers. In addition, the docking station includes a sound grill for improving sound quality.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the following drawings. In fig. 1A, a dock floor 5 is shown, the dock floor 5 being provided with or comprising an engagement element to remain associated with the portable electronic device 8. In or in association with the dock floor, a communication interface may also be provided, which may be of the form, for example: an appropriate number of pins to allow communication between the electronic device and the docking station.

The turntable behind the personal electronic device is capable of displaying light 2. The docking station also has at least one speaker 1 for projecting sound and a stand 4. On top of the docking station are buttons for rotating the console (rotation mechanism) 3. Here, the portable electronic device is in a vertical orientation.

Fig. 1B shows the same docking station with a turntable, a personal electronic device 8 and a dock base 5, the dock base 5 containing engagement elements wherein the portable electronic device is rotated 90 degrees from the orientation shown in fig. 1A. In fig. 1B, the portable electronic device is in a landscape orientation.

FIG. 2 shows a docking station without a portable electronic device. The dock base 6 appears at the bottom of the turntable and the stabilizing element 7 appears at the left part of the turntable.

Fig. 3 shows a docking station of an embodiment of the invention, which also comprises a clock display 9. The clock display of fig. 3 is made up of a plurality of lights that are controlled by the central processing unit of the docking station. The output of the clock display may be dependent on an internal clock of the docking station or a clock housed within the portable electronic device. In some embodiments, the display device of fig. 3 only becomes active when the portable electronic device has been engaged and displaced (i.e., rotated) by a threshold number of degrees (e.g., at least 10 degrees, at least 20 degrees, at least 30 degrees, at least 40 degrees, at least 50 degrees, at least 60 degrees, at least 70 degrees, at least 80 degrees, or at least 90 degrees, or precisely the aforementioned number of degrees) as shown.

In fig. 4, the device has a different clock display 11. The clock display function of fig. 4 may be in addition to or in place of the clock display feature of fig. 3. As shown in fig. 4, when the portable electronic device is not engaged and the engagement element is horizontal, the clock display appears in the orientation existing for the dock. As shown in fig. 4, the clock display covers an area that may be partially covered by the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is engaged. The docking station may be designed such that the clock is only displayed when the portable electronic device and docking station are not engaged.

In some embodiments, the docking station may have exactly two or at least two clock display features, such that the time display of FIG. 4 exists when not engaged with the electronic device and the clock display of FIG. 3 exists when engaged with the electronic device or rotated a specified number of degrees or angular range. Further, the central processing unit of the docking station may contain one or more algorithms that cause the clock display to be switched by a pre-specified number of degrees, for example, 30, or 35, or 40, or 45, or 50, or 55, or 60, or 65, or 70 degrees of rotation of the rotating element.

Similar to fig. 4, fig. 5 is a clock display that is visible when the electronic device is not engaged. However, time 17 is displayed in the form of an analog clock, rather than a digital display as in the previous two figures. Alternatively, the display feature may be an option that exists in addition to the display feature of FIG. 4, such that the user may select their desired display mode, including selecting not to display. Alternatively, the clock display of FIG. 5 may replace the clock display of FIG. 4 and be combined with the clock display of FIG. 3 or not combined with the clock display of FIG. 3.

Any of the foregoing clock features may be coupled with an alarm clock feature and/or a ringing feature.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention in which there is a backlight 12 visible around the circumference of the rotating element. In some embodiments, the backlight 12 is in an optional or default continuous display mode. In some embodiments, there is a light display function that randomly displays one or more color light images. In some embodiments, there is a light display function that displays one or more color light images in response to an audio track or signal emitted from the electronic device (e.g., may be in response to a beat).

When the light display is dependent on the sound of the electronic device, data from the electronic device may be transmitted to the central processing unit of the docking station over the communication link. The central processing unit may execute a series of commands that cause the light pattern to be displayed.

Fig. 7 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention showing the portable electronic device engaged with the support base of the engagement element 16. The horizontal axis 14 and the vertical axis 15 of the portable electronic device are shown for reference. The device may be rotated counterclockwise, for example, by about 90 degrees in the transverse direction. Also shown are grill holes 13 through which sound is propagated from the loudspeaker to improve sound quality. When used, the grid apertures may be covered by, for example, a mesh cover.

Fig. 8 is an illustration of an example of a rotary mechanism of the present invention. Thus, FIG. 8 shows the internal portions of the docking station. The rotation mechanism may be activated by pressing an input button 19, said button 19 being operatively coupled to a motor 25 and capable of activating the motor 25, the motor 25 rotating the first gear 20, the first gear 20 rotating the second gear 21, the second gear 21 rotating the third gear 22, the third gear 22 rotating the fourth gear 23, the fourth gear 23 being connected to the turntable 24 and thereby capable of rotating the turntable 24, by rotating the rubber band 26. The turntable will rotate until the stop lever 27 reaches the stop pin 28 when activated. The use of a stop lever and stop pin is well known to those skilled in the art. The interaction means controls rotation in the other direction. Although not shown, on the other side of the wheel, the portable electronic device is stationary when engaged by the engagement element.

By way of further example, in other embodiments, the docking station is about 30cm to about 50cm (from side to side) at its longest, about 8cm to about 12cm (from front to back) at its widest, and about 16cm to about 20cm (from top to bottom) at its tallest. The turntable may have a diameter of, for example, 13-16cm or 14-15cm, wherein the turntable is part of a rotating element that may rotate the portable electronic device or around which the portable electronic device may rotate. When the device is not in use, the engagement element may be located in a lower portion of the turntable, adjacent to a face of the turntable in a portion defined by a circular chord having a length of from about 8cm to about 12 cm. There may also be a post (stabilizing element) that extends from about 1cm to about 3cm from the face of the turntable.

There may also be, for example, controls along the top of the device that include one or more input mechanisms that allow control of rotation, volume, power, auxiliary activation, and lights. By activating the rotation feature, rotation can be caused to occur. When there are only two possible states, pressing the rotation button once causes the rotation mechanism to cause a rotation, which is performed to a position not occupied by the device before activation. When there are more than two rotational stop positions, a single button may be used to effect movement to the next state and the device may be configured such that successive pressing of the button causes movement.

The secondary activation feature may be used to cause activation of a connection with the portable electronic device. For example, the docking station may be configured such that the communication link does not become active until the secondary activation input is activated. In other embodiments there may be no secondary activation button, and the communication link becomes active if the portable electronic device is engaged with the docking station.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that to use various embodiments of the present invention, a user may, for example, turn on their portable electronic device, insert the device into the engagement member, activate the rotation mechanism and play music. As the device is rotated 90 degrees, the video image will be in landscape format. Furthermore, in a suitably configured device, a light display may appear around the circumference of the turntable, reflecting the rhythm of the music.

Claims (9)

1. A docking station for a portable electronic device, the docking station comprising:

(a) an engagement element, wherein the engagement element is capable of engaging the portable electronic device; and

(b) a rotation mechanism including a motor capable of rotating the portable electronic device relative to the support base of the docking station without disassociating the portable electronic device from the engagement element; and

(c) a stabilizing element for stabilizing the portable electronic device and preventing the portable electronic device from disengaging from the engagement element during rotation.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the rotation mechanism is capable of rotating the portable electronic device from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is 90 degrees from the first position.

3. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising: the activation element is rotated.

4. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising: a light emitting element.

5. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising: a loudspeaker.

6. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising: a communication interface, wherein the communication interface allows information to be exchanged between the dock and the portable electronic device.

7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is capable of displaying a visual image.

8. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is capable of playing audio files.

9. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising: a clock display.