Importance

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Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for docking a piece of portable equipment, such as a portable computer, with another device, such as a peripheral device. In particular, there are a plurality of different pieces of equipment, essentially similar in function but different in design particulars, such as a manufacturer's line of different portable computer models. The docking apparatus includes a first module which has standard interfaces for peripheral devices, and is designed to couple with one of a set of second modules. Each one of the second modules is customized for a respective one of the pieces of equipment. For instance, if each of the portable computers has an external monitor interface, but the monitor interfaces are located at different positions on the different portable computers, then the respective second modules are designed to accommodate the monitor interfaces at the different positions, but to enable all of the monitor interfaces to couple with the external monitor, preferably through the first module. The pieces of equipment and the docking stations, then, must be EMI compliant when docked together. In accordance with the invention, the second module bears EMI shielding and coupling structures for making the overall docked system EMI compliant.

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First Claim