Huyen B Tran

US Patent:

60444223, Mar 28, 2000

Filed:

May 7, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/307103

Inventors:

Huyen B. Tran - Houston TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1314
G06F 902

US Classification:

710 69

Abstract:

A laptop computer contains a built-in modem and has a phone jack for connection to a telephone line while the computer is being operated in a stand-alone mode. A docking station into which the laptop computer may be docked allows the combined unit to be operated in a desk-top mode. The docking station may have a full-sized keyboard and display so that the laptop functions as the main computer a user may employ in the office or home. A telephone connection is already in place at the docking station so that the user need not make a phone line connection to invoke the docked mode, but instead merely nests the laptop in the docking station. In one embodiment, the only components of the modem that are duplicated in the docking station are the phone jack itself and an isolation and 2-to-4 wire converter, so the plug-in connector ordinarily employed between a laptop and a docking station may be of a low-voltage, spike voltage protected form, whereby the coupling used for computer logic and control levels is compatible. The possibility of damage to computer circuits due to the proximity of high-voltage telephone line connections is thus avoided.

US Patent:

59319291, Aug 3, 1999

Filed:

Dec 31, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/775593

Inventors:

Huyen B. Tran - Houston TX
Robin T. Castell - Spring TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1314
G06F 902

US Classification:

710 69

Abstract:

A laptop computer contains a built-in modem and has a phone jack for connection to a telephone line while the computer is being operated in a stand-alone mode. A docking station into which the laptop computer may be docked allows the combined unit to be operated in a desk-top mode. The docking station may have a full-sized keyboard and display so that the laptop functions as the main computer a user may employ in the office or home. A telephone connection is already in place at the docking station so that the user need not make a phone line connection to invoke the docked mode, but instead merely nests the laptop in the docking station. In one embodiment, the only components of the modem that are duplicated in the docking station are the phone jack itself and an isolation and 2-to-4 wire converter, so the plug-in connector ordinarily employed between a laptop and a docking station may be of a low-voltage, spike voltage protected form, whereby the coupling used for computer logic and control levels is compatible. The possibility of damage to computer circuits due to the proximity of high-voltage telephone line connections is thus avoided.

Address:

2686 Murworth Dr APT 1501, Houston, TX 77054

VIN:

3N1BC13E99L390287

Make:

NISSAN

Model:

VERSA

Year:

2009