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. 13, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 28, 2003
Donald J. Stavely, Windsor, CO (US);
Amy E. Battles, Windsor, CO (US);
Amol S. Pandit, Greeley, CO (US);
Robert F. Yockey, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Miles K. Thorland, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Daniel J. Byrne, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
Apparatus comprising an appliance having three appliance contacts disposed on its bottom surface and an appliance docking tray that allows transfer of power and data. The appliance docking tray has a grid of electrical contacts disposed on its top surface, and switching apparatus, such as a processor and switch matrix, coupled to the electrical contacts of the grid. The switching apparatus electronically switches between the electrical contacts to determine which of the electrical contacts touch the appliance contacts when the appliance is disposed on the top surface of the docking tray.