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:
Jul. 09, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 06, 1999
Damon W. Broder, Austin, TX (US);
Jefferson Blake West, Austin, TX (US);
Dell Products Inc., Round Rock, TX (US);
Abstract
A system and method for one touch operation of a docking station for a portable computer are disclosed that provide significant advantages over prior developed techniques. The disclosed embodiments provide an easily implemented and relatively inexpensive technique for adding security to a portable computer docking station. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include a docking station that has a latching mechanism and an ejection tab. The latching mechanism may be operable to releasably secure a portable computer to the docking station by moving from an unlocked orientation into a locked orientation. The ejection tab may be operable to eject the portable computer from the docking station by moving into an eject orientation. The system may also include a lever that has an unlocked position, a locked position, and an eject position. The lever may be operable to move the latching mechanism from the unlocked orientation into the locked orientation by moving from the unlocked position to the locked position. The lever may be further operable to move the ejection tab to an eject orientation by moving into an eject position.