Electronic device with unfoldable connector module

• US 10,615,538 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Hyun-Je
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leigh, Peter G
• Application Number:
  US15/957,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20180309232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 439 39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/60 Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet

Abstract

An electronic device including an unfoldable connector module is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including a first surface facing in a first direction and a second surface facing in a second direction which is an opposite direction of the first direction, a recess formed in a side of the first surface and opened at least in the first direction, and a connector module disposed in the recess of the housing and having at least a portion unfoldable to an outside of the recess to electrically connect with an external electronic device. The electronic device has the connector structure placed inside the recess formed in one side thereof to avoid a cut shape from being shown on the outside surface, ensuring a simple and tidy design along with a better grip when carried.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing including;

a first surface facing in a first direction,

a second surface facing in a second direction which is an opposite direction of the first direction, and

a recess formed in a side of the first surface and opening at least in the first direction; and

a connector module disposed in the recess of the housing and having at least a portion unfoldable to an outside of the recess to electrically connect with an external electronic device,

wherein the connector module includes;

an unfoldable part having a first portion coupled to an inside of the recess and a second portion unfolded to the outside of the recess as at least one rotating part rotates,

a magnet disposed in the unfoldable part,

at least one metal piece disposed in the unfoldable part opposite the magnet and inducing a magnetic coupling with the magnet, and

a connector part exposed to the outside of the recess to connect with the external electronic device when the unfoldable part is unfolded.

2. The electronic device of claim 1,

wherein the unfoldable part includes a plurality of portions supporting the connector module and a plurality of rotating parts formed between the plurality of portions, and

wherein each of the rotating parts unfolds at least part of the connector module to the outside of the recess and reverses a position of the connector part as unfolded multiple times.

3. The electronic device of claim 1,

wherein the connector part is disposed in a first area of the connector module, and

wherein the magnet is disposed in each of second areas positioned at both sides of the first area of the connector module.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the connector module performs at least one of:

a first unfolding operation in which the connector module expands from the recess and the connector part is exposed to be coupled to the external electronic device, or

a second unfolding operation in which the second portion of the connector module is rotated around one axis and separated and an angle between the separated second portion is adjusted.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the connector module further includes a support for:

supporting at least the first portion of the unfoldable part to be fastened to an inside of the recess, and

calibrating a height with respect to internal parts of the connector module.

6. The electronic device of claim 5,

wherein the unfoldable part includes a first unfoldable part including the at least one metal piece and exposed to the outside, and a second unfoldable part extending from the first unfoldable part, and

wherein the first unfoldable part forms an inner space where the magnet and the connector part are mounted.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the first unfoldable part includes:

a first portion coupled with the support,

a second portion extending from the first portion and rotating about the first portion through a first rotating part,

a third portion extending from the second portion and rotating about the second portion through a second rotating part, and

a fourth portion coupled with the second unfoldable part.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the second unfoldable part includes:

a first portion coupled with the fourth portion of the first unfoldable part,

a second portion extending from the first portion and having at least one hole exposing a contact part of the connector part, and

a third portion extending from the second portion and coupled with the support.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the first unfoldable part and the second unfoldable part are formed of a material including plastic or fabric.

10. The electronic device of claim 9,

wherein the first unfoldable part includes a first virtual axis disposed in a lengthwise direction of the first rotating part,

wherein the second portion rotates around the first virtual axis relative to the first portion, and has a second virtual axis disposed in a lengthwise direction of the second rotating part, and

wherein the third portion rotates around the second virtual axis relative to the second portion.

11. The electronic device of claim 10,

wherein the first unfoldable part includes a third virtual axis disposed in a lengthwise direction of a third rotating part, and

wherein the fourth portion rotates around the third virtual axis relative to the third portion.

12. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein, in the first unfolding operation, the second portion or the third portion of the first unfoldable part is positioned on a same plane as the second surface of the housing, and the connector part disposed on an upper surface of the second portion is exposed to face in the first direction.

13. The electronic device of claim 12,

wherein, in the second unfolding operation, the second unfoldable part forms an inclined angle to have a predetermined slope with respect to the second portion of the first unfoldable part, and

wherein at least one magnet disposed inside the second portion of the first unfoldable part is spaced apart from a magnet disposed inside the second unfoldable part.

14. The electronic device of claim 6,

wherein the at least one metal piece includes a first metal piece disposed inside the first unfoldable part and a second metal piece disposed on an upper surface of the recess, and

wherein the first metal piece and the second metal piece are disposed opposite each other with the magnet disposed therebetween.

15. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the connector part includes:

a printed circuit board to provide an electrical connection with the external electronic device, and

a contact part disposed on the printed circuit board and projecting to an outside of the connector part.

16. The electronic device of claim 15,

wherein the contact part includes a plurality of contacts for forming an electrical contact with the external electronic device, and

wherein at least part of the second unfoldable part is formed with at least one opening in a position facing the plurality of contacts to expose the plurality of contacts to the outside of the connector part.

17. The electronic device of claim 15,

wherein the magnet is disposed over the first area and the second areas to induce a magnetic attraction with a first metal piece at least partially disposed in the first area of the connector module, and

wherein second metal pieces are disposed in the second areas positioned at both sides of the first area.

18. The electronic device of claim 17,

wherein the first unfoldable part and the second unfoldable part are disposed over the first area and the second areas to correspond to a lengthwise direction of the recess, and

wherein the first metal piece is disposed inside the first unfoldable part over the first area and the second areas.

19. An electronic device comprising:

a housing including a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a second direction which is an opposite direction of the first direction, and a recess formed in a side of the first surface and opening at least in the first direction; and

a connector module disposed in the recess of the housing and having at least a portion unfoldable to an outside of the recess to electrically connect with an external electronic device,

wherein the connector module includes;

an unfoldable part having a first portion coupled to an inside of the recess and a second portion unfoldable to the outside of the recess as at least one rotating part rotates,

a first magnetic body disposed in the unfoldable part,

a second magnetic body disposed opposite the first magnetic body and inducing a magnetic coupling with the first magnetic body, and

a connector part exposed to the outside of the recess to connect with the external electronic device when the unfoldable part is unfolded, and

wherein at least one hole is formed in an area abutting the recess in the first surface of the housing.

20. An electronic device comprising:

a first electronic device including a display;

a housing including a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a second direction which is an opposite direction of the first direction, and a recess formed in a side of the first surface and opening at least in the first direction; and

a connector module disposed in the recess and having at least a portion unfoldable to an outside of the recess to electrically connect with the first electronic device,

wherein the connector module includes;

an unfoldable part partially unfolding to the outside of the recess as at least one rotating part rotates,

a magnet disposed in the unfoldable part,

at least one metal piece disposed opposite the magnet and inducing a magnetic coupling with the magnet, and

a connector part exposed to the outside of the recess to connect with the first electronic device when the unfoldable part is unfolded.