Back Surface Docking Platform for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing docking systems for mobile electronic devices are inconvenient for transport due to increased size and limited compatibility with various shapes and sizes of accessories, as they often require edge openings and fixed attachment points, restricting the ability to attach multiple accessories simultaneously and independently without increasing the device's effective dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A docking platform integrated into the back face of mobile electronic devices, featuring a recessed docking accessory cavity with multiple detachable connectors that allow for simultaneous and independent attachment of variously shaped and sized accessories, enabling them to expand and rotate without significantly increasing the device's size, and without requiring edge openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If docking connectors are housed on the edge of a mobile electronic device, then power and data transmission between the device and docking accessories is enabled, but the effective magnitude of the device dimensions increases significantly, rendering the system inconvenient for transport
Solution Approach 1:
The docking connector is relocated from the edge of the device to the back surface, utilizing a different spatial dimension for the docking interface. This dimensional transition allows the docking accessory cavity to be formed on the back surface, enabling accessories to attach without extending the device's length or width significantly, thus resolving the contradiction between docking functionality and compact transport dimensions
2Reliability
If docking accessories are rigidly attached to the device edge, then stable connection is achieved, but the system size increases and becomes inconvenient for transport
Solution Approach 1:
The docking accessory is nested within a cavity formed on the back surface of the device, with the accessory cavity accommodating the accessory body. This nesting arrangement allows the accessory to be securely held within the device's footprint rather than extending outward, maintaining connection stability while minimizing the system's external dimensions for convenient transport
3Length of stationary object
If a recessed cavity is formed on the device edge to accommodate docking accessories, then the effective carrying size is minimized, but the cavity must be open at the edge, reducing available space for other features
Solution Approach 1:
The docking accessory cavity is relocated from the edge surface to the back surface of the device. This dimensional relocation allows the cavity to be formed on the back surface where space is more abundant, eliminating the need to reduce edge openings for other features while still achieving compact accessory integration that minimizes the device's effective carrying size
4Device complexity
If the docking connector position is fixed, then simple attachment is achieved, but the ability to attach multiple accessories simultaneously and independently is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The docking connector system is segmented into multiple independent docking connectors positioned at different locations on the back surface within the accessory cavity. Each docking connector can independently attach to a separate docking accessory, enabling multiple accessories to be attached simultaneously and independently while maintaining relatively simple individual attachment mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Docking platforms formed in one of the largest-surface-area surfaces (the back surfaces) of mobile electronic devices (1, 32). Such a docking platform comprises a docking accessory cavity (3, 41, 51, 60) having a docking connection system (49) comprising one or more docking connectors (4, 5, 42, 52, 56, 58) formed within the cavity, and optionally two or more electrical contacts (19) within the cavity, the contacts electrically connected to electronics within the electronic device and constructed and arranged to allow electrical connection to detachable docking accessories (6, 8, 27, 30, 31, 33, 36, 45, 61). The docking connection system is operable to form detachable attachments to multiple independent docking accessories simultaneously. The cavities of the docking platforms are shaped to accommodate a broad range of docking accessories that are specially adapted to sit in a generally flush manner with the back surface of the mobile electronic device while attached to the docking connectors. One type of accessory (8, 27, 33) forms an assembly with an expandable accordion (10) attached to the docking platform.