FUNCTIONAL EXPANSION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING ELECTRONIC APPARATUS TO THE FUNCTIONAL EXPANSION APPARATUS

• US 20030227746A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Masahiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,952,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/686
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A functional expansion apparatus for connecting an electronic apparatus having a first connector, to an external apparatus that expands a function of the electronic apparatus includes a frame movable between a first position and a second position, a connector cover including a second connector connectible to the first connector, the connector cover moving with the frame so that the first and second connectors are connected to each other when the frame is located at the first position, and the first and second connectors are disconnected from each other when the frame is locate at the second position, and a lock part for locking the electronic apparatus when the frame is located at the first position, and for unlocking the electronic apparatus when the frame is located at the second position.

Claims

1. A functional expansion apparatus for connecting an electronic apparatus having a first connector, to an external apparatus that expands a function of the electronic apparatus, said functional expansion apparatus comprising:

a frame movable between a first position and a second position;

a connector cover including a second connector connectible to the first connector, said connector cover moving with said frame so that the first and second connectors are connected to each other when said frame is located at the first position, and the first and second connectors are disconnected from each other when said frame is locate at the second position; and

a lock part that locks the electronic apparatus in a case where said frame is located at the first position, and for unlocking the electronic apparatus in a case where said frame is located at the second position.

2. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lock part includes:

a provisional lock that is adapted to be movable between a third position and a fourth position, and engaged with the electronic apparatus when located at the third position;

a forcing member that forces the provisional lock to the third position; and

a fixing member, movable with said frame, which locks the provisional lock at the third position when said frame is located at the first position, and unlocking the provisional lock when said frame is located at the second position.

3. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lock part includes:

a claw movable with the frame and engaged with the electronic apparatus when said frame is located at the first position; and

a lock mechanism which locks said frame at the first position,

wherein said lock mechanism includes;

a first engagement part engageable with said frame;

a second engagement part provided on said frame and engageable with the first engagement part; and

a forcing member which forces the first engagement part in a direction that allows the first engagement part to be engaged with the second engagement part on said frame when said frame has moved to the first position.

4. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a unlock mechanism which releases a lock by said lock mechanism by moving the first engagement part against a force by the forcing member.

5. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame has a groove that moves said connector cover close to and apart from the electronic apparatus, and said connector cover has a projection that moves along the groove.

6. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing that accommodates said frame,

wherein said connector cover exposes the second connector from said housing when said frame is located at the first position, and said connector cover accommodates the second connector in said housing when said frame is located at the second position.

7. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding mechanism that holds said frame at the second position.

8. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said holding mechanism includes:

a first engagement part fixed relative to said frame; and

a second engagement part provided on said frame and detachably engaged with the first engagement part.

9. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing that accommodates said frame, the housing having an opening through which said connector cover projects and retreats; and

a first positioning member, provided around the opening and engageable with the electronic apparatus, which positions the electronic apparatus.

10. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a pair of side guides, provided around the opening, which holds a pair of side surfaces of the electronic apparatus; and

a second positioning member, provided on each side guide and engageable with the electronic apparatus, which positions the electronic apparatus.

11. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the side guide is used to mount and incline the electronic apparatus when the electronic apparatus is to be attached to said functional expansion apparatus.

12. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a spacer member that maintains a distance between the electronic apparatus and said functional expansion apparatus.

13. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus has a LAN connector, and said functional expansion apparatus further comprises a shield member that covers the LAN connector when the electronic apparatus is attached to said functional expansion apparatus.

14. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a base connectible to the external apparatus; and

an electronic apparatus fixing part that fixes the electronic apparatus, said electronic apparatus fixing part being adapted to be rotatable around said connector cover relative to said base.

15. A method that attaches an electronic apparatus having a first connector to a functional expansion apparatus that connects the electronic apparatus to an external apparatus that expands a function of the electronic apparatus, the functional expansion apparatus including a connector cover having a second connector connectible to the first connector, a housing having an opening through which the connector cover projects and retreats, and a positioning member, engaged with the electronic apparatus, which positions the electronic apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

engaging the positioning member with the electronic apparatus; and

connecting the first connector to the second connector after said engaging step.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the functional expansion apparatus further includes:

a frame movable between a first position and a second position;

a claw movable with the frame and engaged with the electronic apparatus when the frame is located at the first position; and

a lock mechanism that locks the frame at the first position,

wherein said lock mechanism includes;

a first engagement part engageable with the frame;

a second engagement part provided on the frame and engageable with the first engagement part; and

a forcing member that forces the first engagement part in a direction that allows the first engagement part to be engaged with the second engagement part on the frame when the frame has moved to the first position, and

wherein said method further comprises, between said engaging step and said connecting step, the step of locking the frame at the first position through the lock mechanism and engaging the claw with the electronic apparatus.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the functional expansion apparatus further includes:

a frame movable between a first position and a second position; and

a lock mechanism that locks the electronic apparatus when the frame is located at the first position, and holding the electronic apparatus movably when the frame is located at the second position, and

wherein said method further comprises, between said engaging step and said connecting step, the step of holding the electronic apparatus movably.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of locking the electronic apparatus after said connecting step.

19. A functional expansion apparatus that connects an electronic apparatus having a first connector, to an external apparatus that expands a function of the electronic apparatus, said functional expansion apparatus comprising:

a base connectible with the external apparatus; and

an electronic apparatus fixing part that is connectible to the electronic apparatus, and includes a second connector connectible to the first connector, said electronic apparatus fixing part being coupled to said base rotatable around the second connector.

20. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said electronic apparatus fixing part includes:

a housing to which the electronic apparatus is attached;

a stopper formed on said housing; and

an approximately annular friction plate that is fixed onto said housing and has plural elastically deformable first projections, and

wherein said base includes;

a second projection that contacts the stopper and restricts a movement of the stopper, the second projection having a concave part engageable with the first projection; and

a stand onto which the second projection is fixed, said stand being fixed rotatably onto the friction plate.

21. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the friction plate has a hollow part, through which a cable that connects the second connector and the base to each other passes.

22. A function expansion apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the stopper includes three first stoppers that are annularly arranged at an interval of 120 degrees, and three second stoppers that are annularly arranged at an interval of 120 degrees, wherein the first and second stoppers are offset by 90 degrees.

23. A functional expansion apparatus that connects an electronic apparatus having a first connector, to an external apparatus that expands a function of the electronic apparatus, said functional expansion apparatus comprising:

a housing to which the electronic apparatus is attached;

a guide that enables the electronic apparatus to be attached to said housing by mounting the electronic apparatus and allowing the electronic apparatus to fall toward said housing; and

a second connector, provided on a surface on said housing toward which the electronic apparatus falls, said second connector being connectible with the first connector.

24. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

a base connectible to the external apparatus; and

an electronic apparatus fixing part that includes the guide and the second connector, said electronic apparatus fixing part being coupled to said base rotatable around the second connector.

25. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said guide, movable between first and second positions, which guides a first electronic apparatus when said guide is located at the first position, and guides a second electronic apparatus different in length from the first electronic apparatus when said guide is located at the second position.

26. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said housing includes an opening through which the second connector projects and retreats,

wherein said guide is provided so as to enclose the opening, said guide being one of a pair of side guides that holds a pair of side surfaces of the electronic apparatus.

27. A functional expansion apparatus that connects first and second electronic apparatus having different lengths, to an external apparatus that expands a function of the electronic apparatus, said functional expansion apparatus comprising:

a guide, movable between first and second positions and used to mount and incline the electronic apparatus in an attempt to attach the electronic apparatus to the functional expansion apparatus, said guide guiding the first electronic apparatus when said guide is located at the first position, and guiding the second electronic apparatus when said guide is located at the second position; and

a holding part that holds said guide at the first and second positions.

28. A functional expansion apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the first and second electronic apparatuses include different battery parts with different lengths.