The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 11, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 03, 1993
Thomas Shu, Austin, TX (US);
Dell USA, Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A docking detection and suspend circuit for portable computer/expansion chassis docking system. A first circuit within the portable computer is capable of detecting an impending electrical coupling of the portable computer to a corresponding docking station and generating a signal indicating the impending coupling. A second circuit within the portable computer and coupled to the first circuit is capable of receiving the signal and placing the portable computer in a suspend mode at least until the portable computer fully electrically couples to the docking station. The present invention relieves a computer user of the task of manually placing the portable computer in the suspend mode prior to docking with the docking station. The present invention protects components within both the portable computer and the docking station from being damaged by docking the portable computer when in a normal operational mode and prevents the user's data from being corrupted.