Flexible I/O connection system and method

• US 20080254684A1
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark S. Tracy, Memphis-Zhihong Yin, Paul J. Doczy
• Original Assignee: Mark S. Tracy, Memphis-Zhihong Yin, Paul J. Doczy
• Inventors: Doczy, Paul J., Tracy, Mark S., Yin, Memphis-Zhihong
• Granted Patent: US 7,540,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/620.21
• 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 1/1656 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 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

A flexible input/output (I/O) connection system comprises an electronic device having a housing with at least one I/O window for receiving a connection to an external device, and a hub disposed in the housing and having a plurality of I/O connectors, the hub movable within the housing to position a select one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

Claims

1. A flexible input/output (I/O) connection system, comprising:

an electronic device having a housing with at least one I/O window for receiving a connection to an external device; and

a hub disposed in the housing and having a plurality of I/O connectors, the hub movable within the housing to position a select one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hub is rotatable within the housing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of I/O connectors comprise different types of I/O connectors.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a notebook computer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hub is manually actuatable by a user of the electronic device to place the select one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the select one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the hub in a particular position relative to the housing.

8. A method for manufacturing a flexible input/output (I/O) connection system, comprising:

providing an electronic device having a housing with at least one I/O window for receiving a connection to an external device; and

disposing a hub in the housing and having a plurality of I/O connectors, the hub movable within the housing to position a select one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the hub in a particular position relative to the housing.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the select one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein disposing the hub in the housing comprises rotatably coupling the hub to the housing.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring the hub with at least two different types of I/O connectors.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling the hub to the housing to enable manual actuation of the hub by a user of the electronic device to place the select one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

14. A flexible input/output (I/O) connection system, comprising:

an electronic device having a housing; and

a hub disposed in the housing and having a plurality of I/O connectors, the hub selectively positionable within the housing to locate a select one of the plurality of I/O connectors facing outwardly from the housing.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the hub is rotatable within the housing.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein at least two of the plurality of I/O connectors comprise different types of I/O connectors.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the hub is manually actuatable by a user of the electronic device to place the select one of the plurality of I/O connectors facing outwardly from the housing.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the select one of the plurality of I/O connectors facing outwardly from the housing.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the hub in a particular position relative to the housing.

20. A flexible input/output (I/O) connection system, comprising:

an electronic device having a housing; and

a hub having a plurality of I/O connectors, the hub operably coupled to the housing and rotatable to at least two different positions within the housing, each of the at least two different positions locating a different one of the plurality of I/O connectors in an I/O window of the housing.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the electronic device comprises a notebook computer.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the hub is manually rotatable by a user of the electronic device.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the hub in at least one of the at least two different positions.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein at least two of the plurality of I/O connectors comprise different types of I/O connectors.