CN218350865U

CN218350865U - Docking station

Info

Publication number: CN218350865U
Application number: CN202222280987.XU
Authority: CN
Inventors: 宋建成
Original assignee: Anker Innovations Co Ltd
Current assignee: Anker Innovations Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-08-26
Filing date: 2022-08-26
Publication date: 2023-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-26

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a docking station, which comprises a docking module, an Ethernet module, a control module, a switching module and a shell; the expansion module is electrically connected with an external upper computer and expands a multipath transmission signal interface; the Ethernet module is used for connecting Ethernet; the control module is provided with an operating system and is used for running the operating system; the switching module is electrically connected with the Ethernet module, the control module and the expansion module and is used for communicating the Ethernet module with the expansion module or communicating the Ethernet module with the control module; the shell is provided with a containing cavity, and the extension module, the Ethernet module, the control module and the switching module are all arranged and contained in the containing cavity. Because the docking station of the embodiment of the application can realize the alternative networking of the control module or the upper computer through the switching module, the cost can be saved. And because the control module can select the module with lower specification, the cost can be further reduced.

Description

Docking station

Technical Field

The application relates to the field of computer external equipment, in particular to a docking station.

Background

The docking station is an external device for a computer, and is generally used for expanding a port of a notebook computer so that the notebook computer can be conveniently connected with a plurality of accessories or external devices. The docking station can increase the number of usable ports of the notebook computer and the types of the usable ports, so that the use flexibility of the notebook computer is greatly improved.

In the related art, the docking station can achieve autonomous internet access to complete downloading and updating of firmware, but a local area network switch is required, which results in high cost.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The embodiment of the application provides a docking station, which can solve the technical problem of higher cost in the related technology.

The embodiment of the application provides a docking station, which comprises a docking module, an Ethernet module, a control module, a switching module and a shell; the expansion module is electrically connected with an external upper computer and expands a multipath transmission signal interface; the Ethernet module is used for connecting Ethernet; the control module is provided with an operating system and is used for running the operating system; the switching module is connected with the Ethernet module, the control module and the expansion module and is used for communicating the Ethernet module with the expansion module or communicating the Ethernet module with the control module; the shell is provided with an accommodating cavity, and the expansion module, the Ethernet module, the control module and the switching module are all arranged in the accommodating cavity.

In some exemplary embodiments, the control module includes: a memory storing the operating system; and the processor is electrically connected with the memory and the switching module and sends an enabling signal to the switching module so as to enable the processor to be connected with the Ethernet through the Ethernet module to update the operating system or enable the expansion module to be connected with the Ethernet through the Ethernet module.

In some exemplary embodiments, the switching module is in bidirectional communication with each of the ethernet module, the control module, and the expansion module.

In some exemplary embodiments, the memory comprises: a first storage unit storing the operating system; a second storage unit storing a driver for causing the processor to communicate with the Ethernet module.

In some exemplary embodiments, the mobile terminal further comprises a Type-C uplink interface, wherein the Type-C uplink interface is electrically connected with the extension module, and the extension module is electrically connected with an upper computer through the Type-C uplink interface.

In some exemplary embodiments, the expansion module comprises: a USB expansion chip; and the USB interface is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip.

In some exemplary embodiments, further comprising at least one of: the Type-C downlink interface is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip; the video chip is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip; the audio chip is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip; and the charging chip is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip and is used for charging the upper computer.

In some exemplary embodiments, the switching module comprises a USB3.0Switch chip.

In some exemplary embodiments, the control module has a USB2.0 pin, and the USB2.0 pin is electrically connected to the USB3.0Switch chip.

In some exemplary embodiments, the ethernet module comprises a network card.

In some exemplary embodiments, the docking station further comprises a crystal head interface communicatively coupled to the ethernet module.

Has the advantages that: because the docking station of the embodiment of the application can realize that the control module or the upper computer is connected with the Ethernet through the switching module, a switch does not need to be arranged, and the cost can be saved. And because the control module can choose the USB switch module with lower specification, the cost can be further saved.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art to obtain other drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a docking station in one embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a block diagram of a docking station in another embodiment of the present application.

Description of the reference numerals: 100. a docking station; 110. an expansion module; 111. a USB expansion chip; 112. a USB interface; 113. a Type-C downlink interface; 114. a video chip; 115. an audio chip; 116. a charging chip; 120. an Ethernet module; 121. a network card; 130. a control module; 131. a memory; 132. a processor; 140. a switching module; 141. USB3.0Switch chip; 150. a Type-C uplink interface; 160. a crystal head interface; 200. and an upper computer.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more apparent, the present application is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application.

In the related art, as shown in fig. 1, the docking station includes an MCU, a lan switch, and a network card chip. The network card chip is used for connecting the local area network switch.

The switch is provided with at least three data exchange interfaces which are respectively connected with the network card chip, the MCU and the computer, so that the MCU and the computer are simultaneously connected with the Internet.

However, in actual use, the MCU only needs to be networked in a small number of scenes such as updating firmware, and does not need to be networked in most of the time, so the cost for setting the local area network switch is high, and the MCU needs to support the connection switch, which leads to a relatively high specification of the selected MCU and further increases the cost.

As shown in fig. 2, the present embodiment provides a docking station 100, which includes a docking module 110, an ethernet module 120, a control module 130, a switching module 140 and a housing.

The expansion module 110 is used for being electrically connected with an external upper computer 200 and expanding a multipath transmission signal interface so as to realize an expansion function. The upper computer 200 may be a mobile phone, a tablet, a computer, or the like, generally speaking, the upper computer 200 is often limited in number of interfaces for pursuing lightness and thinness, and is inconvenient to use, and the expansion module 110 may expand the number of interfaces, so as to conveniently connect the upper computer 200 to more external electronic devices.

The ethernet module 120 is used to connect ethernet. The ethernet module 120 may connect to the ethernet through a network cable and transmit the network data to the switching module 140.

The control module 130 has an operating system, and the control module 130 is configured to run the operating system. The user can set the docking station 100 through the operating system, and the operating system can be adapted to the host computer 200 loaded with different systems, so that the docking station 100 can be adapted to various systems such as macOS, windows, iPadOS, linux OS, chrome OS, and the like. Because the requirement of the control module 130 on the network speed is not high, the control module 130 only needs to support USB2.0, that is, the control module 130 may select a module with a lower specification.

The switching module 140 is connected to the ethernet module 120, the control module 130 and the expansion module 110, and the switching module 140 is used to communicate the ethernet module 120 with the expansion module 110 or communicate the ethernet module 120 with the control module 130. That is, the switching module 140 may perform line switching, so that the control module 130 is connected to the ethernet module 120 through the switching module 140 to implement networking, or the expansion module 110 is connected to the ethernet module 120 through the switching module 140, so that the upper computer 200 implements networking through the ethernet module 120.

The housing has a containing cavity, and the expansion module 110, the ethernet module 120, the control module 130 and the switching module 140 are disposed in the containing cavity. The housing may be made of plastic or metal.

In summary, the docking station 100 of the embodiment of the present application can realize that the control module 130 or the upper computer 200 is connected to the ethernet through the switching module 140, so that a switch is not required to be arranged, and the cost can be saved. And because the control module 130 can select a module with a lower specification, the cost can be further reduced.

As shown in fig. 2, in some embodiments, the control module 130 includes a memory 131 and a processor 132. The memory 131 stores an operating system, and the memory 131 is preferably configured to be rewritable to facilitate updating of the operating system (i.e., firmware). The operating system can be an embedded system, so that under the condition of meeting the operation requirement, the occupied capacity is saved, and the calculation force requirement is reduced. The processor 132 is electrically connected to both the memory 131 and the switching module 140, the processor 132 is used for running and updating the operating system, and the processor 132 can send an Enable signal (EN) to the switching module 140 and send a switching signal to the switching module 140. When the expansion module 110 is in the operating mode, the processor 132 is disconnected from the ethernet module 120, and the processor 132 communicates with the upper computer 200 and other external electronic devices. When the expansion module 110 is in the update mode, the processor 132 is communicatively connected to the ethernet module 120, and the processor 132 is disconnected from the upper computer 200 and other external electronic devices.

The operating system may be updated by the way that the processor 132 periodically sends the enable signal EN to the switching module 140, the switching module 140 switches the ethernet module 120 to be in communication connection with the processor 132, the processor 132 connects to the ethernet and logs onto a preset server to detect whether there is a firmware update package, if there is a firmware update package, the processor 132 downloads the firmware and writes the downloaded firmware into the memory 131 for operating system update, after the update is completed, the processor 132 sends the enable signal EN to the switching module 140, and the switching module 140 switches the ethernet module 120 to be in communication connection with the extension module 110. If the firmware update package is not detected, the processor 132 directly sends the enable signal EN to the switching module 140, and the switching module 140 switches the ethernet module 120 to be in communication with the expansion module 110.

Of course, the docking station 100 may also be configured to log on to a predetermined server through a manual mode to detect whether there is a firmware update package. By updating the operating system, the stability of the operation of the docking station 100 can be optimized, new setting modes can be added, and the like.

In some embodiments, the memory 131 includes a first storage unit and a second storage unit. The first storage unit stores an operating system. The second storage unit stores a driver for enabling the processor 132 to communicate with the ethernet module 120. The first storage unit and the second storage unit may be a first storage and a second storage, respectively, which are independent of each other. The first storage unit and the second storage unit may be two virtual storage units in one memory 131. The memory 131 may further include a third storage unit, a fourth storage unit, and the like, and the third storage unit and the fourth storage unit may be used to store drivers of other hardware. It is understood that the drivers stored in the first storage unit, the second storage unit, the third storage unit and the fourth storage unit may also be updated to optimize the degree of adaptation to the corresponding hardware.

As shown in fig. 2, in some embodiments, the switching module 140 is in bidirectional communication connection with the ethernet module 120, the control module 130 and the expansion module 110, that is, the ethernet module 120 can transmit data to the control module 130 or the expansion module 110, or the control module 130 or the expansion module 110 can transmit data to the ethernet module 120, so as to implement bidirectional transmission of communication data.

As shown in fig. 2, in some embodiments, the docking station 100 further includes a Type-C uplink interface 150, the Type-C uplink interface 150 is electrically connected to the expansion module 110, and the expansion module 110 is electrically connected to the upper computer 200 through the Type-C uplink interface 150. The Type-C interface does not need to be distinguished, the occupied space is small, the transmission bandwidth is large, the data transmission and charging functions can be simultaneously met, and the application is wide. And some notebooks only reserve the Type-C interface for pursuing lightness and thinness, so the Type-C uplink interface 150 is arranged to be used as an interface with the upper computer 200, and the practicability is high. The docking station 100 with Type-C as the connector generally complies with the standard USB PD protocol, and is compatible with Type-C interfaces of different brands of computers. Of course, the Type-C docking station 100 can be used on a tablet computer and a mobile phone as well as a notebook computer.

As shown in fig. 2, in some embodiments, the expansion module 110 includes a USB expansion chip 111 and a USB interface 112, the USB expansion chip 111 is electrically connected to the Type-C uplink interface 150, and the USB interface 112 is electrically connected to the USB expansion chip 111. The USB expansion chip 111 can expand a plurality of USB interfaces 112, the USB expansion chip 111 is preferably a USB3.0 expansion chip, and the USB interface 112 is preferably a USB3.0 interface. Compared with the USB2.0, the USB3.0 has higher transmission speed, can be downward compatible with the USB2.0, can greatly improve the transmission efficiency, and has better power supply capability than the USB2.0 for the USB 3.0. Generally, the number of USB interfaces 112 extended by the USB expansion chip 111 is limited, and when a larger number of USB interfaces 112 need to be extended, a plurality of USB expansion chips 111 can be connected in series to extend a larger number of USB interfaces 112.

As shown in fig. 2, in some embodiments, the expansion module 110 further includes at least one of a Type-C downlink interface 113, a video chip 114, an audio chip 115, and a charging chip 116.

The Type-C downlink interface 113 is electrically connected with the USB extension chip 111 and can be used for extending a Type-C interface connected with external electronic equipment, so that the external electronic equipment with an adaptive Type-C interface can be connected, and the external electronic equipment with the Type-C interface is in communication connection with the upper computer 200.

The video chip 114 is electrically connected to the USB expansion chip 111, the video chip 114 can be connected to a video interface for outputting or inputting video signals, and the video interface can be an HDMI2.0 interface, a VGA interface, a DVI interface, a DP1.4 interface, or the like.

The audio chip 115 is electrically connected to the USB expansion chip 111, the audio chip 115 may be connected to an audio interface to output or output an audio signal, and the audio interface may be a TRS interface, an RCA interface, a coaxial interface, an optical fiber interface, a 3.5mm earphone interface, or a 3.5mm microphone interface.

The charging chip 116 is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip 111, the charging chip 116 may be electrically connected with a charging interface, and the charging interface is connected with an external charger. The charging interface can supply power to the docking station 100, or supply power to the upper computer 200, or supply power to the docking station 100 and the upper computer 200 simultaneously. The charging interface is a Micro USB interface 112 or the Type-C downlink interface 113. It can be understood that an indicator light can be arranged at each interface to indicate the working state of each interface. It should be noted that the extension module 110 may also directly extend the Type-C downlink interface 113, the video interface, the audio interface, and the charging chip 116, without extending the USB3.0 interface first and then converting the USB3.0 interface.

As shown in fig. 2, in some embodiments, the switching module 140 includes a USB3.0Switch chip 141, and the USB3.0Switch chip 141 may be a high-speed double-pole double-throw USB analog Switch, and the line switching of the USB3.0Switch chip 141 is controlled by an enable signal EN. The enable signal EN may be sent by the processor 132 or by the upper computer 200. The USB3.0Switch has a faster transmission speed than the USB2.0 Switch, and can reduce the influence on the network transmission speed.

In some embodiments, the control module 130 has a USB2.0 pin, and the USB2.0 pin is electrically connected to the USB3.0switch chip 141. Although the USB3.0Switch supports the USB3.0 transport protocol, the control module 130 only needs to be networked in the scene of updating firmware and the like, and the requirement of the control module 130 on the network speed is not high, so the control module 130 only needs to support the USB2.0, that is, the control module 130 can select a module with a lower specification, so as to save the cost.

In some embodiments, the ethernet module 120 includes a network card 121. The communication between the network card 121 and the ethernet is performed in a serial transmission manner through a cable or a twisted pair, the communication between the network card 121 and the computer is performed in a parallel transmission manner through an I/O bus on a computer motherboard, and the network card 121 may perform serial/parallel conversion. The network card 121 may be a network card having functions of cross detection, auto-calibration, polarity calibration, etc. to achieve adaptive equalization, crosstalk cancellation, echo cancellation, timing recovery, and error correction. It should be noted that, in order to enable the upper computer 200 to use the network card 121 to access the internet, the upper computer 200 also needs to install a corresponding driver.

In some embodiments, docking station 100 further includes a crystal head interface, i.e., RJ45 interface 160, RJ45 interface 160 communicatively coupled to Ethernet module 120. And the RJ45 interface is wide in application and good in adaptability. Compared with the upper computer 200 which uses the wireless network to surf the internet, the wired network has more stable transmission and smaller delay.

The same or similar reference numerals in the drawings of the present embodiment correspond to the same or similar components; in the description of the present application, it should be understood that if there is an orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc., based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, it is only for convenience of description and simplification of the description, but it is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed in a specific orientation and operate, and therefore the terms describing the positional relationship in the drawings are only used for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting the present patent, and the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific situation by those skilled in the art.

The above description is only exemplary of the present application and should not be taken as limiting the present application, as any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A docking station, comprising:

the expansion module is electrically connected with an external upper computer and expands a multipath transmission signal interface;

the Ethernet module is used for connecting the Ethernet;

a control module having an operating system;

the switching module is connected with the Ethernet module, the control module and the expansion module and is used for communicating the Ethernet module with the expansion module or communicating the Ethernet module with the control module; and

the shell is provided with an accommodating cavity, and the expansion module, the Ethernet module, the control module and the switching module are all arranged in the accommodating cavity.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises:

a memory storing the operating system; and

and the processor is electrically connected with the memory and the switching module and sends an enabling signal to the switching module so as to enable the processor to be connected with the Ethernet through the Ethernet module to update the operating system or enable the expansion module to be connected with the Ethernet through the Ethernet module.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the switching module is in bi-directional communication with each of the ethernet module, the control module, and the expansion module.

4. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a Type-C uplink interface, wherein the Type-C uplink interface is electrically connected to the expansion module, and the expansion module is electrically connected to an upper computer through the Type-C uplink interface.

5. The docking station of claim 1, where the switching module comprises a usb3.0switch chip.

6. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the control module has a USB2.0 pin, the USB2.0 pin electrically connected to the USB3.0Switch chip.

7. The docking station of claim 4, wherein the expansion module comprises:

the USB expansion chip is electrically connected with the Type-C uplink interface; and

and the USB interface is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip.

8. The docking station of claim 7, wherein the docking module further comprises at least one of:

the Type-C downlink interface is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip;

the video chip is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip;

the audio chip is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip; and

and the charging chip is electrically connected with the USB expansion chip and is used for charging the upper computer.

9. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the ethernet module comprises a network card.

10. The docking station of any of claims 1-9, further comprising a crystal head interface, the crystal head interface being in bi-directional communication with the ethernet module.