US5411416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Docking connector unit
Assignee: Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corp
•
Filing: 1994-07-29
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Granted: 1995-05-02
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Expires: 2014-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A docking connector unit for connecting portable personal computers to various peripheral input/output (I/O) devices such as keyboard, monitor, printer, modem and mouse, comprises, in a first mode, two docking unit assemblies, one of which connects to the I/O ports of a computer, and comprises matching I/O ports and one component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector; the other of which comprises the other component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector, and I/O ports which duplicate the I/O ports of the computer. In a second mode, the first docking unit assembly is in effect permanently installed in the computer, so that the I/O ports of the computer are consolidated as one component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector. In the second mode, the docking connector unit of the invention comprises a component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector to match the component permanently installed in the computer, and I/O ports which substitute for the I/O ports of the computer. In either event, a high-density (at least about 25 conductors per square centimeter) consolidated electrical connector is preferred for use. The device provides for ease of disconnecting a collection of peripheral I/O equipment from a computer, and reconnecting either the same or another similarly configured computer to the same collection of peripheral I/O equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary D. Balon
- 👤 Ira J. Wells
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/06; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1632; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R12/724; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A docking connector unit for connecting a personal computer provided with input/output ports to input/output devices, comprising: (a) a proximal docking unit assembly, comprising (1) input/output ports which match the input/output ports of the computer, and (2) a first component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector, the matching input/output ports being permanently physically and electrically connected to the first component of the two-component consolidated electrical connector; and (b) a distal docking unit assembly, comprising (1) the second component of the two-component consolidated electrical connector, and (2) input/output ports which duplicate the input/output ports of the computer, the second component of the two-component consolidated electrical connector being permanently physically and electrically connected to the duplicating input/output ports; the permanent electrical connections of the proximal and distal docking unit assemblies being arranged in such a manner as to electrically connect each conductor of each input/output port which duplicates an input/output port of the computer, to the corresponding conductor of the corresponding duplicated input/output port of the computer, when the two components of the two-component consolidated electrical connector are connected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A docking connector unit for connecting a personal computer provided with input/output ports to input/output devices, comprising: (a) a proximal docking unit assembly, comprising (1) input/output ports which match the input/output ports of the computer, and (2) a first component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector, the matching input/output ports being permanently physically and electrically connected to the first component of the two-component consolidated electrical connector; and (b) a distal docking unit assembly, comprising (1) the second component of the two-component consolidated electrical connector, and (2) input/output ports which duplicate the input/output ports of the computer, the second component of the two-component consolidated electrical connector being permanently physically and electrically connected to the duplicating input/output ports; the permanent electrical connections of the proximal and distal docking unit assemblies being arranged in such a manner as to electrically connect each conductor of each input/output port which duplicates an input/output port of the computer, to the corresponding conductor of the corresponding duplicated input/output port of the computer, when the two components of the two-component consolidated electrical connector are connected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A docking connector unit according to claim 1, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector is a high-density electrical connector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A docking connector unit according to claim 1, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector has a conductor density of at least about 50 conductors per square centimeter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A docking connector unit according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector has at least 50 conductors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A docking connector unit according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector has at least 100 conductors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A docking connector unit according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector has at least 198 conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A docking connector unit according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector has 198 conductors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
178 words
A docking connector unit for connecting a personal computer provided with a first component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector as a consolidated input/output port for a plurality of peripheral input/output devices, comprising: (a) a matching component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector, which matches the component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector provided as the consolidated input/output port for a plurality of peripheral input/output devices of the personal computer; and (b) input/output ports which match the input/output ports of a plurality of peripheral input/output devices, which are to be connected to the computer, the matching component of the two-component consolidated electrical connector being permanently physically and electrically connected to the matching input/output ports; the permanent electrical connections of the docking unit being arranged in such a manner as to electrically connect each conductor of each input/output port which matches an input/output port of a peripheral input/output device to be connected to the computer, to the corresponding conductor of the consolidated input/output port of the computer, when the two components of the two-component consolidated electrical connector are connected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
A docking connector unit for connecting a personal computer provided with a first component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector as a consolidated input/output port for a plurality of peripheral input/output devices, comprising: (a) a matching component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector, which matches the component of a two-component consolidated electrical connector provided as the consolidated input/output port for a plurality of peripheral input/output devices of the personal computer; and (b) input/output ports which match the input/output ports of a plurality of peripheral input/output devices, which are to be connected to the computer, the matching component of the two-component consolidated electrical connector being permanently physically and electrically connected to the matching input/output ports; the permanent electrical connections of the docking unit being arranged in such a manner as to electrically connect each conductor of each input/output port which matches an input/output port of a peripheral input/output device to be connected to the computer, to the corresponding conductor of the consolidated input/output port of the computer, when the two components of the two-component consolidated electrical connector are connected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A docking connector unit according to claim 8, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector is a high-density electrical connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A docking connector unit according to claim 8, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector has a conductor density of at least about 50 conductors per square centimeter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A docking connector unit according to one of claims 8, 9 or 10, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector has at least 50 conductors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A docking connector unit according to one of claims 8, 9 or 10, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector has at least 100 conductors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A docking connector unit according to one of claims 8, 9 or 10, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector has at least 198 conductors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A docking connector unit according to one of claims 8, 9 or 10, wherein the two-component consolidated electrical connector has 198 conductors.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-05-01 | 1998-10-31 | 1999-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-05-01 | 2002-10-31 | 2003-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-05-01 | 2006-10-31 | 2007-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |