Abstract: A docking station for a portable electronic device, such as a portable patient monitor of the type used in health care facilities. In particular, the docking station can be installed at a bedside location in a health care facility. The docking station is designed to provide electrical and mechanical connection of AC power and communication devices to the portable electronic device. An intuitive, top-down mounting mechanism locks the electronic device in place without user input. A front facing security lever on the docking station, which can be operated with one hand, provides engagement of electrical connectors and positive locking of the electronic device to the docking station. The docking station combines and provides AC power to the electronic device's AC mains connector, Ethernet signals to communicate with a local area network (LAN), DC power, and asynchronous communication signals to communicate with ancillary devices.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for informing a system user of the remaining battery terminal voltage as the battery approaches the fully discharged condition. One horizontal fuel gauge icon for each battery is displayed on the host system display panel. The fuel gauge is displayed as two overlapping rectangles which are left justified. The first layer is a solid outline, always the same width, representing the full charge capacity of the battery. The second layer is a filled-in rectangle representing the present (actual) charge capacity as a percentage of the full charge capacity in a charge depletion mode and representing the battery terminal voltage in a voltage mode. The fuel gauging switches from the charge depletion mode to the voltage mode is response to detection of a battery terminal voltage threshold greater than a shutdown voltage threshold.