Portable apparatus having a voltage converter unit removable from a base unit having a removable display unit

• US 5,166,893 A
• Filed: 03/19/1992
• Issued: 11/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hosoi, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Tan V.
• Application Number:
  US07/853,854
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708, 361/393, 361/394
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling

Abstract

The portable electronic apparatus includes a body, a display unit, rotary shaft and a slide shaft. The body includes a keyboard, a main power supply for supplying a voltage, a first connector electrically connected to the main power supply and a top cover having a connector hole for exposing the first connector. The display unit includes a second connector electrically and mechanically connected to the first connector and a flat panel display supplied the voltage from the main power supply through the first connector and the second connector. The rotary shaft rotates the display unit between a first position for covering the keyboard and a second position for operating the keyboard. The slide shaft engages the rotary shaft and mechanically connects the display unit to the body in a third position and releases the engagement and mechanical connection between the display unit and the body in a fourth position. The apparatus has good carrying ability and portability when the display unit is detached from the body, is excellent in producibility of the apparatus, and has less chance of electric shock to the operator and less electric shock to the apparatus.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus comprising:

a base unit comprising main power supply means for supplying a low voltage, a first electrical connector electrically coupled to the main power supply means, and a base upper portion having a display connecting portion and a connector hole exposing the first electrical connector to the base upper portion;

a voltage converter unit, removably mounting to the base upper portion, comprising means for converting the low voltage supplied by the main power supply means to a high voltage, a second electrical connector electrically coupled to the converting means and removably coupled to the first electrical connector, and means for securing the second electrical connector to the voltage converter unit, the low voltage being supplied form the main power supply means through the first and the second electrical connectors; and

a display unit, removably mounting to the base upper portion and rotatably connecting to the securing means, the display unit being electrically coupled o the converting means to receive the high voltage and comprising a leg portion having a base connecting portion removably connecting to the display connecting portion an a storing portion for rotatably storing the securing means, the display unit being pivotal in relation to the base unit and the voltage converter unit when the base connecting portion connects to the display connecting portion, the display unit being removable from the base unit and removing the voltage converter unit from the base unit when the base connecting portion disconnects form the display connecting portion.

2. A portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base unit further comprises a keyboard and the display unit pivots between a closed position for covering the keyboard and an open position for exposing the keyboard.

3. A portable apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the base unit further comprises a rear upper surface and the voltage converter unit further comprises a converter upper surface being substantially flush with the rear upper surface when the voltage converter unit is mounted to the base upper portion.

4. A portable apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display unit further comprises a display upper surface being substantially flush with the rear upper surface and the converter upper surface when the voltage converter unit is mounted to the base upper portion.

5. A portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit further comprises a plasma display, the high voltage supplied from the converter circuit driving the plasma display.

6. A portable apparatus, comprising:

a base unit comprising a keyboard, main power supply means for supplying a low voltage, a first electrical connector electrically coupled to the main power supply and an indented portion defining opposing inside side surface, the indented portion including a display receiving portion having a first display connecting portion, a voltage converter receiving portion and a connector hole exposing the first electrical connector to the indented portion;

a voltage converter unit removably mounting to the base unit in the voltage converter receiving portion and comprising a second electrical connector electrically and removably coupled to the first electrical connector, voltage converting means, electrically coupled to the second electrical connector, for converting the low voltage to a high voltage, the low voltage being supplied form the main power supply means through the first and the second electrical connectors, and a second display connecting portion; and

a flat panel display unit, removably mounting to the base unit in the display receiving portion, the flat panel display unit being electrically coupled to the voltage converting means to receive the high voltage and comprising a converter connecting portion rotatably connecting to the second display connecting portion of the voltage converter unit and a base connecting portion rotatably connecting to the first display connecting portion of the base unit when the display unit is mounted to the base unit in the display receiving portion, the display unit pivoting between a closed position for covering the keyboard and an open position for exposing the keyboard when the display unit is mounted to the base unit, the display unit being removable from the base unit and removing the voltage converter unit from the base unit when the base connecting portion releases from the first display connecting portion.

7. A portable apparats according to claim 6, wherein the base connecting portion further comprises means for rotatably and removably connecting the display unit to the base unit.

8. A portable apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display unit further comprises a display upper surface and the voltage converter unit further comprises a converter upper surface, the display upper surface being substantially flush with the converter upper surface when the display unit is in the closed position.

9. A portable apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display unit further comprises a plasma display, the high voltage supplied form the voltage converting means driving the plasma display.

10. A portable apparatus, comprising:

a base unit comprising main power supply means for supplying a low voltage, a first electrical connector electrically connecting to the main power supply and a base outer surface having a connector hole exposing the first electrical connector to the base outer surface;

a display unit removably and rotatably connected to the base unit; and

a voltage converter unit removably connected to the base unit and comprising a second electrical connector removably and electrically connecting to the first electrical connector, means for converting the low voltage supplied from the main power supply to a high voltage for driving the display unit, a first cable electrically coupling the converting means to the second electrical connector, a second cable electrically coupling the converting means to the display unit and duct means, rotatably connecting to he display unit, for holding the second electrical connector and guiding the first cable and the second cable;

the display unit being rotatable relative to the base unit and the voltage converter unit when the display unit is connected to the base unit and removing the voltage converter unit form the base unit when the display unit is removed form the base unit.

11. A portable apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display unit further comprises a plasma display, the high voltage driving the plasma display.