Docking station
Encyclopedia
A Docking station or port replicator or dock provides a simplified way of “plugging-in” an electronic device such as a laptop computer to common peripherals. Because a wide range of dockable devices--from mobile telephones to wireless mice
--have different connectors, power signaling, and uses, docks are not standardized and are therefore often designed with a specific make and model of a device in mind.
A dock can allow some laptop computers to become a substitute for a desktop computer
, without sacrificing the mobile computing
functionality of the machine. Portable computers can dock and undock hot, cold or standby, depending on the capabilities of the system. In a cold dock or undock
, one completely shuts the computer down before docking/undocking. In a hot dock or undock
, the computer remains running when docked/undocked. Standby docking or undocking, an intermediate style used in some designs, allows the computer to be docked/undocked while powered on, but requires that it be placed into a sleep mode
prior to docking/undocking.
, except that they are plugged in and unplugged together through the docking port. Some also include electrical adaptors to change from one pinout
to another (e.g., Micro-DVI
to normal DVI
connector.)
Most companies that produce laptops with such breakout ports also offer simpler adapters that grant access to one or two of the busses consolidated in them at a time.
-based, they incorporate a range of converters such as USB display adapters
, audio chipsets, NICs
, storage enclosures
, modem
s and memory card readers connected through an internal USB hub
to give the host computer access to extra connections it did not previously possess. Simpler “docking stations” consist of nothing more than a hub inside a stand.
As they tend to use non-proprietary connections, converter docks are usually vendor neutral and supplied by third parties.
have adopted mobile computing
and hence wish to have their vehicles fully equipped as mobile field-offices. Some of the industries currently using mobile docking stations include (for example): law-enforcement, electricity, telcos, military, EMS, fire, construction, insurance, real-estate, agriculture, oil, gas, transportation, warehousing, food-distribution, surveying, and landscape companies.
Some mobile docking stations are specially designed to withstand the rigors of travel and have MIL-STD 810E construction-specifications for vibration and impact.
Mobile docking stations usually come mated to an armature, laptop desk or standard rack
in order to provide the ability to position the computer in the vehicle in a safe and ergonomic position. As with all docking stations, a mobile docking station will provide the user a means to quickly and easily dock and/or undock the computer. In addition, some mobile docking-stations provide a security-lock to protect the computer from theft.
Mouse (computing)
In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
--have different connectors, power signaling, and uses, docks are not standardized and are therefore often designed with a specific make and model of a device in mind.
A dock can allow some laptop computers to become a substitute for a desktop computer
Desktop computer
A desktop computer is a personal computer in a form intended for regular use at a single location, as opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer. Early desktop computers are designed to lay flat on the desk, while modern towers stand upright...
, without sacrificing the mobile computing
Mobile computing
Mobile computing is a form of human–computer interaction by which a computer is expected to be transported during normal usage. Mobile computing has three aspects: mobile communication, mobile hardware, and mobile software...
functionality of the machine. Portable computers can dock and undock hot, cold or standby, depending on the capabilities of the system. In a cold dock or undock
Coldplug
Computer components are usually described as coldpluggable if the computer system must be powered down to add or remove them. The opposite term is hotpluggable; hotpluggable components can be added or removed without powering down the computer....
, one completely shuts the computer down before docking/undocking. In a hot dock or undock
Hot swapping
Hot swapping and hot plugging are terms used to describe the functions of replacing computer system components without shutting down the system...
, the computer remains running when docked/undocked. Standby docking or undocking, an intermediate style used in some designs, allows the computer to be docked/undocked while powered on, but requires that it be placed into a sleep mode
Sleep mode
Sleep mode refers to a low power mode for electronic devices such as computers, televisions, and remote controlled devices. These modes save significant electrical consumption compared to leaving a device fully on and idle, but allow the user to avoid having to reset programming codes or wait for a...
prior to docking/undocking.
Port replicator
Port replicators (also called passthroughs) are functionally and logically identical to a bundle of extension cablesExtension cord
An extension cord, power extender, or extension lead is a length of flexible electrical power cable with a plug on one end and one or more sockets on the other end . The term usually refers to mains extensions but is also used to refer to extensions for other types of cabling...
, except that they are plugged in and unplugged together through the docking port. Some also include electrical adaptors to change from one pinout
Pinout
In electronics, a pinout is a cross-reference between the contacts, or pins, of an electrical connector or electronic component, and their functions.- Purpose :...
to another (e.g., Micro-DVI
Micro-DVI
The Micro-DVI port is a video connection port used by the Asus U2E Windows Vista PC and Early 08 Apple MacBook Air laptop computers. It is smaller than the Mini-DVI port used by its MacBook sister models. To use the port for displaying video on a monitor or television that has a different-style...
to normal DVI
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...
connector.)
Breakout dock
A breakout dock is conceptually a breakout box in the form of a dock. It is an extension to a typical port replicator in that it not only replicates existing ports already on the computer, but also offers additional ports. Modern computers most often accomplish this by using a special, often proprietary, connector that consolidates the signals from many concealed traces from onboard external buses into one connector. As such, the dock can offer a greater number of ports than is physically present on the computer. This allows the basic unit to have fewer physical ports while still allowing users a way to access to the full range of features of its motherboard.Most companies that produce laptops with such breakout ports also offer simpler adapters that grant access to one or two of the busses consolidated in them at a time.
Converter Dock
Similar to a breakout device, some docking stations produce multiple connections from one port, only instead of extracting them from internal chipsets, they create them inside the dock using converters. They are functionally identical to a hub with various converters plugged in. Typically USBUniversal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
-based, they incorporate a range of converters such as USB display adapters
Video card
A video card, Graphics Card, or Graphics adapter is an expansion card which generates output images to a display. Most video cards offer various functions such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors...
, audio chipsets, NICs
Network card
A network interface controller is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network....
, storage enclosures
Disk enclosure
A disk enclosure is essentially a specialized chassis designed to hold and power disk drives while providing a mechanism to allow them to communicate to one or more separate computers. Drive enclosures provide power to the drives therein and convert the data sent across their native data bus into a...
, modem
Modem
A modem is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data...
s and memory card readers connected through an internal USB hub
USB hub
A USB hub is a device that expands a single USB port into several so that there are more ports available to connect devices to a host system.USB hubs are often built into equipment such as computers, keyboards, monitors, or printers...
to give the host computer access to extra connections it did not previously possess. Simpler “docking stations” consist of nothing more than a hub inside a stand.
As they tend to use non-proprietary connections, converter docks are usually vendor neutral and supplied by third parties.
Computer stands
Computer stands are sometimes also called docking stations, although they do not connect to the computer in any way. They are an inert accessory designed merely to physically support a computer that is placed on it, typically to raise its screen up to a more ergonomic height, provide cooling, or just to conserve desk space.Mobile Docking stations
Mobile docking stations operate in vehicles. Many industriesIndustry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
have adopted mobile computing
Mobile computing
Mobile computing is a form of human–computer interaction by which a computer is expected to be transported during normal usage. Mobile computing has three aspects: mobile communication, mobile hardware, and mobile software...
and hence wish to have their vehicles fully equipped as mobile field-offices. Some of the industries currently using mobile docking stations include (for example): law-enforcement, electricity, telcos, military, EMS, fire, construction, insurance, real-estate, agriculture, oil, gas, transportation, warehousing, food-distribution, surveying, and landscape companies.
Some mobile docking stations are specially designed to withstand the rigors of travel and have MIL-STD 810E construction-specifications for vibration and impact.
Mobile docking stations usually come mated to an armature, laptop desk or standard rack
19-inch rack
A 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is wide, including edges or ears that protrude on each side which allow the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws.-Overview and history:Equipment designed...
in order to provide the ability to position the computer in the vehicle in a safe and ergonomic position. As with all docking stations, a mobile docking station will provide the user a means to quickly and easily dock and/or undock the computer. In addition, some mobile docking-stations provide a security-lock to protect the computer from theft.