Notebook computer and module of electronic device combinable with the same

• US 20090021903A1
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First International Computer Incorporated (FIC Global Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First International Computer Incorporated (FIC Global Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hsu, Chuan-Yu, Chen, Wen-Hsing, Chen, Wen-Hsiang, Hsu, Hung-Wen, Huang, Wei-Te, Lin, Ming-Wang, Hsieh, Lin-Hsiang
• Granted Patent: US 7,595,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.550
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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

Abstract

A notebook computer includes a housing, a CPU, a memory, a display, a storage device, a detachable battery pack and a keyboard module. The notebook computer is characterized in that the housing includes a predefined space and a connection interface disposed in the predefined space. The connection interface is electrically connected to the CPU. The notebook computer includes a plurality of electronic device modules. Each electronic device module includes a casing portion and a main body portion, and the main body portion includes a transmission interface. The size of each electronic device module may correspond to the size of the predefined space. Each electronic device module may be secured in the predefined space for combination with the housing, and the transmission interface is electrically connected to the connection interface for power or data transmission. The plurality of electronic device modules are capable of combining individually with the housing for replacing different functions.

Claims

1. A notebook computer comprising:

a housing, a CPU, a memory, a display, a storage device, a detachable battery pack and a keyboard module, characterized in that;

the housing comprises a predefined space and a connection interface disposed in the predefined space, the connection interface electrically connected to the CPU; and

the notebook computer includes a plurality of electronic device modules, each electronic device module having a casing portion and a main body portion, the main body portion including a transmission interface, the size of each electronic device module corresponding to the size of the predefined space, each electronic device module secured within the predefined space for combination with the housing, and the transmission interface is electrically connected to the connection interface for power or data;

wherein the plurality of electronic device modules are capable of combining individually with the housing for replacing different functions.

2. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an upper housing, a lower housing, a first pivot and a second pivot, and the upper housing and the lower housing are connected to each other via the first pivot and the second pivot.

3. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predefined space and the connection interface are disposed in the upper housing.

4. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predefined space and the connection interface are disposed in the lower housing.

5. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein two sides of the predefined space each comprises a protrusion, a plurality of indentations are disposed correspondingly on the casing portion of the electronic device module to engage with the protrusions.

6. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined space further comprises at least one fastening member, at least one engaging slot is disposed correspondingly on the electronic device module to engage with the at least one fastening member such that the electronic device module may secure into the predefined space.

7. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one fastening member is an L-shaped hook corresponding to at least one L-shaped engaging slot on the electronic device module.

8. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one fastening member is a cylinder corresponding to at least one inverted hook-shaped engaging slot on the electronic device module.

9. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper housing further comprises an ejecting device and a linking structure, the linking structure having a first moving element and a second moving element, the first moving element connected to the ejecting device, and one end of the first moving element forming a first oblique guiding side which contacts a second oblique guiding side of the second moving element.

10. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one fastening member is attached onto the second moving element of the linking structure.

11. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the linking structure comprises a first spring, one end of the first spring connected to the upper housing, and the other end connected to the first moving element;

wherein the linking structure comprises a second spring, one end of the second spring is connected to the upper housing, and the other end is connected to the second moving element.

12. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the linking structure comprises a first spring, one end of the first spring pressing against the upper housing, and the other end pressing against the first moving element;

wherein the linking structure comprises a second spring, one end of the second spring pressing against the upper housing, and the other end pressing against the second moving element.

13. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection interface includes a plurality of elastic pins which can eject the electronic device module from the predefined space.

14. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an MP3 player module including control buttons and a screen.

15. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 14, wherein the housing further comprises a switch for switching power between the notebook computer and the MP3 player module.

16. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 14, wherein the housing further comprises a memory card slot for accepting a memory card to be read by the MP3 player module.

17. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control buttons and the screen are disposed in the lower housing.

18. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body portion of each the electronic device module is selected from a group consisting of VOIP devices, GPS devices, calendar devices, web-cam devices and digital TV devices or a combination thereof.

19. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device module detaching from the notebook computer can be used independently.

20. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the notebook computer further comprises a speaker module, the speaker module placed between the first pivot, the second pivot and the detachable battery pack.