Latch apparatus for portable electronic devices

• US 20080021634A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Diaz, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US11/640,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021634A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings

Abstract

The latch apparatus for portable display devices has a pin portion and an actuator. The latch apparatus has an opening into which the pin portion is inserted to secure the display device in a device mount. The actuator applies force to release the pin to remove the display device from the device mount. Both the actuator and the pin portion have ramps that are designed to make contact with each other and slide as force is exerted to the actuator. Due to the ramps, the pin portion moves to withdraw from the opening of the display device as force is applied to the actuator. Biasing means maintains the position of the pin such that the pin portion securely holds the display device in the device mount unless the actuator is pressed for releasing the pin portion.

Claims

1. A latch apparatus positioned between a display device and a device mount wherein the display device is slidably inserted in the device mount, comprising:

a pin having a pin ramp and an actuator contact ramp, the pin being connected to a biasing means that applies force to move the pin toward an opening formed on the display device, one end of the biasing means being attached to the device mount; and

an actuator having an actuator ramp, the actuator ramp contacting the actuator contact ramp of the pin to cause the pin to retract from the opening formed on the display device when the actuator is pressed.

2. A latch apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the pin is moved to either an engaged position where the pin fits in the opening of the display device thereby attaching the display device to the device mount or a disengaged position where the pin retrieves from the opening, wherein the biasing means urges the pin to the engaged position and the actuator urges the pin to the disengaged potion.

3. A latch apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator positioned over the pin so that the actuator ramp and the actuator contact ramp contact with one another when the actuator is moved downwardly.

4. A latch apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the pin ramp is formed at an end of the pin to allow a surface of the display device slides on the pin ramp when the display device is inserted in the device mount.

5. A latch apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the pin is horizontally biased toward a direction opposite to the device mount thereby allowing the pin ramp to enter the opening of the display device when positions of the opening and the pin ramp match with one another.

6. A latch apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the actuator positioned over the pin so that the actuator ramp and the actuator contact ramp contact with one another when the actuator is pressed down in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal bias of the pin, and wherein the pin retracts to a direction opposite to the display device when the actuator is further pressed down.

7. A latch apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator ramp on the actuator and the actuator contact ramp on the pin have substantially flat surfaces.

8. A latch apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the actuator ramp and the actuator contact ramp are angled such that their surfaces substantially overlap with each other when the actuator is pressed down.

9. A latch apparatus of claim 1, wherein either one of the actuator ramp or the actuator contact ramp has a smooth surface, or both of the actuator ramp and the actuator contact ramp have substantially rough surfaces.

10. A latch apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the biasing means is a spring where one end of which is connected to the pin and another end of which is connected to the device mount.

11. A latch apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the actuator has a contact pad that protrudes from the device mount to apply force to the actuator by pressing down the contact pad to move the pin to the disengaged position.

20. A navigation system as defined in claim 1, wherein the biasing means is a spring where one end of which is connected to the pin and another end of which is connected to the device mount.

12. A navigation system for guiding a user to a destination, comprising;

a display device having a navigation antenna which is movable between an operational position and a non-operational position;

an antenna positioning sensor for determining the position of the navigation antenna in either the operational position or the non-operational position; and

a device function controller for controlling an operation of the display device;

a device mount that receives the portable display device and established electrical communication with the display device; and

a latch apparatus positioned between the display device and the device mount wherein the latch apparatus includes a pin having a pin ramp and an actuator contact ramp, the pin being connected to a biasing means which is attached to the device mount, and an actuator having an actuator ramp, the actuator ramp contacting the actuator contact ramp of the pin to cause the pin to retract from an opening formed on the display device;

wherein the device function controller is in communication with the antenna positioning sensor such that the device function controller changes functions of the display apparatus depending on the position of the navigation antenna.

13. A navigation system as defined in claim 12, wherein the device mount has a stopper that is configured and positioned to prevent the display device from entering therein when the navigation antenna of the display device is in the non-operational position.

14. A navigation system as defined in claim 12, wherein the navigation antenna is rotatably attached to the display device such that navigation antenna is capable of changing its angle to receive signals.

15. A navigation system as defined in claim 12, wherein the pin is moved to either an engaged position where the pin fits in the opening of the display device thereby attaching the display device to the device mount or a disengaged position where the pin retrieves from the opening, wherein the biasing means urges the pin to the engaged position and the actuator urges the pin to the disengaged potion.

16. A navigation system as defined in claim 12, wherein the actuator positioned over the pin so that the actuator ramp and the actuator contact ramp contact with one another when the actuator is moved downwardly.

17. A navigation system as defined in claim 12, wherein the pin ramp is formed at an end of the pin to allow a surface of the display device slides on a surface of the pin ramp when the display device is inserted in the device mount.

18. A navigation system as defined in claim 17, wherein the pin is horizontally biased toward a direction opposite to the device mount thereby allowing the pin ramp to enter the opening of the display device when positions of the opening and the pin ramp match with one another.

19. A navigation system as defined in claim 18, wherein the actuator positioned over the pin so that the actuator ramp and the actuator contact ramp contact with one another when the actuator is pressed down in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal bias of the pin, and wherein the pin retracts to a direction opposite to the display device when the actuator is further pressed down.