External module electrical and mechanical attachment mechanism and method

• US 20070279856A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Portals Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Portals Incorporated
• Inventors: Bragg, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,554,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/732
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a electrical and mechanical attachment mechanism for coupling a peripheral module to a computing device. The attachment mechanism includes a set of pawls that engage with a receiving chamber thereby mechanically coupling the module to the device. The attachment mechanism also includes a set of electrical signal coupling pins. The receiving chamber includes a set of electrical signal coupling pads which interface with the electrical signal coupling pins and thereby establish electrical connectivity between the module and the device. The mechanism further includes a set of buttons for locking the pawls into a retracted position to allow the user to more easily align and couple the module to the device. The pawls are automatically released from their retracted position by a lock release pin being pressed inwardly as the module attached to the device. The locking portions on the pawl and the receiving chamber may be designed with different angles depending on a desired pullout force.

Claims

1. An electrical and mechanical attachment mechanism for coupling a module to an electrical device comprising:

at least one pawl receiving chamber within the electrical device;

a plurality of moveable pawls disposed on the module and configured to be inserted in the at least one pawl receiving chamber to engage a surface of the at least one pawl receiving chamber;

at least one signal coupling pin projecting from the module and having a predetermined spatial relationship to the plurality of pawls; and

at least one signal coupling pad disposed within the receiving chamber and configured to interface with the at least one signal coupling pin and thereby electrically couple signals between the module and the electrical device.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising at least one button mechanically coupled to the plurality of pawls having a resilient bias along a first axis of the module in a first direction, the at least one button being configured to displace the pawls along the first axis in a second direction that is opposite the first direction in response to a force being applied to the at least one button.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 further comprising a locking mechanism that locks the position of the at least one pawls once the pawls have been moved to a retracted position.

4. The mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a lock release pin projecting from the module and resiliently biased along a second axis, the lock release pin being configured to release the pawls from the retracted position in response to the lock release pin being pushed into the module along the second axis a predetermined distance and thereby allowing the resilient bias along the first axis to move the pawls in the first direction.

5. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the surfaces of the pawls that engage the at least one pawl receiving chamber are angled to allow the pawls to be removed from the at least one pawl receiving chamber with a pullout force corresponding to the slope of the angle.

6. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the electrical device comprises a computer.

7. The mechanism of claim 6 wherein the electrical device comprises a display cover for a computer.

8. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the at least one pawl receiving chamber is positioned on the display cover of the computer at a location that is spaced from edges of the display cover.

9. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the module comprises a video camera module.

10. A module configured to electrically and mechanically couple to an electrical device, the module comprising:

a plurality of moveable pawls having a resilient bias in a first direction;

at least one button configured to displace the pawls along in a second direction that is the opposite the first direction in response to a force being applied to the at least one button;

at least one electrical contact pin projecting from the module, the at least one contact pin being resiliently biased away from the module and being displaceable into the module; and

a lock release pin projecting from the module, the lock release pin being resiliently biased away from the module and being displaceable into the module, the lock release pin being configured to release the pawls and allow the resilient bias to move the pawls in the first direction when the lock release pin has been displaced into the module a predetermined distance.

11. The module of claim 10 wherein the pawls have engagement surfaces are angled to provide the pawls with a pullout force corresponding to the slope of the angle.

12. The module of claim 10 wherein the module comprises a video camera module.

13. A method for coupling a module having a plurality of pawls to an electrical device having at least one receiving chamber, the method comprising:

locking the pawls in a retracted position to permit insertion of the pawls into the chamber;

aligning the pawls with the receiving chamber;

moving the module relative to the electrical device such that the pawls move into the receiving chamber; and

automatically releasing the pawls and moving the pawls to a position in which the pawls engage surfaces of the at least one receiving chamber once the pawls have been moved into the receiving chamber.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the act of automatically releasing the pawls comprise pressing a lock release pin projecting from the module onto a surface of the device with sufficient force so that the lock pins is pressed into the module to release the pawls.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising electrically coupling the module to the electrical device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the act of electrically coupling the module to the electrical device comprises pressing at least one conductive pin extending from a surface of the module against a respective conductive pad within the receiving chamber.