Electronic device including coupling structure

• US 10,203,728 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Koo, Younggwon, Park, Jinyoung, Lee, Seungwoon, Hwang, Jinseon
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawyer, Steven T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shrestha, Sagar
• Application Number:
  US15/387,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20170177037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

An electronic device having a first housing including a first surface and a second surface at a rear surface opposite of the first surface and a coupling structure disposed on the first surface. A second housing for coupling to the first housing has a third surface, a fourth surface opposite of the third surface, and a side member enclosing a space between the third and fourth surfaces. The coupling structure is connected to the side member when the second housing is coupled to the first housing, and the coupling structure comprises a recess and a moving member. When the second housing is coupled to the first housing, the moving member performs a pivotal movement about a shaft. A retainer system may enable the second housing to at least partially stay within the moving member at the recess when the second housing is not coupled to the first housing.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a first housing comprising a first surface and a second surface at a rear surface opposite of the first surface and a coupling structure disposed on the first surface; and

a second housing configured to be coupled to the first housing, wherein the second housing comprises a third surface, a fourth surface at a rear surface opposite of the third surface, and a side member that encloses space between the third surface and the fourth surface,

wherein the coupling structure is connected to a portion of the side member of the second housing, when the second housing is coupled to the first housing,

wherein the coupling structure comprises a recess, a moving member and a retainer system,

wherein when the second housing is coupled to the first housing, the recess extends in a first direction along a portion of the side member and the moving member is configured to perform a pivotal movement about a shaft extended in the first direction,

wherein the retainer system comprises a protrusion member that is connected to the moving member, a first magnet located within the protrusion member, and a metal material magnetically coupled to the first magnet, when the second housing is not completely coupled to the first housing,

wherein the first housing comprises a cover configured to cover at least a portion of the second housing,

wherein the second housing comprises a camera module having a protruding camera module portion at the fourth surface,

wherein the cover comprises a hole corresponding to the protruding camera module portion,

wherein the protruding camera module portion and the hole have a binding force to each other, when the cover and the fourth surface of the second housing are coupled,

wherein the hole comprises a first deco that is configured to form a direct wall,

wherein the protruding camera module portion comprises a second deco configured to form another direct wall, and

wherein the protruding camera module portion and the hole have a binding force with coupling of the first deco and the second deco, when the cover and the fourth surface of the second housing are coupled.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the moving member comprises an electrical connector.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the electrical connector comprises a plurality of movable conductive pins.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the side member comprises a second magnet that is coupled to the first magnet when the second housing is coupled to the first housing.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein a magnetic force between the first magnet and the second magnet is greater than a second magnetic force between the first magnet and the metal material.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first housing comprises a keyboard disposed at the first surface.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second housing comprises a display disposed at the third surface.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the retainer system comprises a pogo structure, wherein the pogo structure comprises the protrusion member having a socket included therein.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the side member comprises:

a recessed member extended in at least a partial direction; and

a pogo pin member included within the recessed member and having at least a portion exposed to the outside,

wherein the socket and the pogo pin member are coupled and the protrusion member and the recessed member are coupled, when the second housing is coupled to the first housing.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a magnet protrusion structure, and

wherein the second housing comprises a magnet push button configured to be coupled to the magnet protrusion structure at the fourth surface.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the retainer system comprises a hook protrusion member,

wherein the second housing comprises a hook receiving member that configured to be coupled to the hook protrusion member in at least a portion of the side member, and

wherein the hook protrusion member and the hook receiving member are hook coupled, when the second housing is coupled to the first housing.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the second housing is configured to move in various angles.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the protrusion member of the first housing comprises an extended hook protrusion member.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the second housing comprises an extended hook receiving member.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the magnet protrusion structure and the magnet push button comprise opposite magnet polarity.

16. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the pogo pin member comprises a plunger portion configured to be inserted into the socket.