Function expanding apparatus for compact electronic device

• US 5,182,698 A
• Filed: 12/14/1990
• Issued: 01/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KEL Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Shibasaki, Kazuka, Takahashi, Kazuyoshi, Honda, Masami, Kobayashi, Takaichi, Hosoi, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHANG, YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US07/627,738
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 361/390, 361/391, 361/392, 361/393, 361/394, 361/395, 361/399, 361/415, 340/700, 364/708, 364/900, D14/100, D14/107, D14/113, D14/115, D18/1, D18/7, D18/11, D18/12
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A function expanding apparatus for a compact electronic device includes a casing having a supporting portion and a supporting plate attached to the casing to be movable in a predetermined direction. A pair of retaining portions are formed on the supporting plate. The rear portion of the electronic device is mounted on the supporting portion and is positioned in its width direction by a pair of positioning members provided at the supporting portion. The front end portion of the electronic device is mounted on the supporting palte and the retaining portions engage the front edge of the electronic device so as restrain the movement of the electronic device in the depth direction thereof. The position of the retaining portion is adjusted by moving the supporting plate, in accordance with the depth of the mounted electronic device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for expanding function of an electronic device, said electronic device including a rear portion having a connector thereon and a front portion having a front edge portion opposing the rear portion, said apparatus comprising:

a casing containing therein an expanding device for function expression, said casing having a supporting portion for bearing the rear portion of the electronic device while the front portion of the electronic device extends in a predetermined direction from the casing;

an apparatus-side connector providing at the casing, connected electrically to the expanding device, and removably connected to the connector of the electronic device set on the supporting portion; and

means for holding the electronic device on the supporting portion while the connector of the electronic device is connected to the apparatus-side connector, said holding means including a retaining portion for engaging the front edge portion of the electronic device on the supporting portion to restrain the movement of the electronic device in said predetermined direction, said retaining portion being connected to the casing to be moveable in said predetermined direction.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said casing includes means for positioning the rear portion of the electronic device set on the supporting portion with respect to the casing.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said positioning means includes a pair of positioning members provided at the supporting portion, for individually engaging two opposite side faces of the electronic device on the supporting portion so as the restrain the width-direction movement of the electronic device with respect to the casing.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said positioning means includes a step portion formed on the casing, for engaging a rear face of the electronic device on the supporting portion.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding means includes a supporting plate mounted on the casing for movement in said predetermined direction, and said retaining portion is disposed on the supporting plate.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said supporting plate is movable between a retracted position in which the supporting plate is concealed under the casing and a desired drawn-out position reached when the supporting plate is drawn out in said predetermined direction from the casing.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said holding means includes locking means for locking the supporting plate to the retracted position and the desired drawn-out position.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said locking means includes a plurality of engaging portions formed on the supporting plate and arranged at predetermined intervals in said predetermined direction, a stopper provided on the casing so as to face the engaging portions and being engageable each engaging portion, and an urging member urging the stopper toward the supporting plate.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said locking means includes means for releasing the stopper from the engagement with the engaging portion, said releasing means including a cam member provided on the casing to be movable between a release position, in which the stopper is allowed to move to a position off the engaging portion, and a locked position off the stopper, a second urging member urging the cam member toward the locked position, and a release switch for moving the cam member to the release position.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said holding means includes at least one index provided on the supporting plate and indicative of the distance of draw-out of the supporting plate from the casing.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said holding means includes urging means for applying an urging force in the draw-out direction to the supporting plate when the supporting plate is moved to the retracted position.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises means for supporting said apparatus-side connector on the casing so that the apparatus-side connector is movable in the direction to approach and leave the connector of the electronic device on the supporting portion.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said supporting means includes a connector holder mounted on the casing and a slider supported for movement in the direction to approach and leave on the connector holder and holding the apparatus-side connector.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said supporting means includes an operating portion for moving the slider, said operating portion being operable from the outside of the casing.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said connector holder is removably mounted on the casing.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said casing has a fitting hole, and said connector holder includes a plurality of fitting pieces engaging the edge of the fitting hole, each said fitting piece being formed of a material capable of elastic deformation.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, which further comprises a signal cable extending from the apparatus-side connector into the casing through the connector holder and the fitting hole, and a protection cover attached to the connector holder, for preventing the signal cable from being caught in between the fitting pieces and the edge of the fitting hole.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said protection cover is in the form of a substantially semicylinder having a pair of end portions fixed to the connector holder and a through hole formed between the end portions, and said signal cable extends between the end portions and through the through hole.

19. An apparatus for expanding function of an electronic device, said electronic device including a rear portion having a connector thereon and a front portion having a front edge portion opposing the rear portion, said apparatus comprising:

a casing containing therein an expanding device for function expression, said casing having a supporting portion for bearing the rear portion of the electronic device;

an apparatus-side connector providing at the casing, connected electrically to the expanding device, and removably connected to the connector of the electronic device set on the supporting portion; and

a slidable stopper slidably connected to the casing and engaging the front edge portion of the electronic device on the supporting portion to restrain the movement of the electronic device in a direction such that the connector of the electronic device is disengaged form the apparatus-side connector.

20. An apparatus for expanding function of an electronic device, said electronic device including a rear portion having a connector thereon and a front portion having a front edge portion opposing the rear portion, said apparatus comprising:

a casing containing therein an expanding device for function expression, said casing having a supporting portion for bearing the electronic device; and

a connector unit provided on the casing to face the rear portion of the electronic device set on the supporting portion, said connector unit including an apparatus-side connector, connected electrically to the expanding device and removably connected to the connector of the electronic device on the supporting portion, and means for supporting the apparatus-side connector for movement depending on the position of the connector of the electronic device on the supporting portion.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said connector unit includes a holding portion housing at least part of the apparatus-side connector, said supporting means includes first and second supporting members opposed to each other in the holding portion, and said apparatus-side connector is held between the first and second supporting members to be slidable in the direction to approach and leave the connector of the electronic device on the supporting portion and in the direction parallel to the rear face of the electronic device on the supporting portion.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said first and second supporting members are formed of a material capable of elastic deformation, and said apparatus-side connector is movable in the height direction the electronic device on the supporting portion as the first and second supporting members undergo elastic deformation.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein each of said first and second supporting members is formed of a leaf spring extending substantially parallel to the rear face of the electronic device on the supporting portion.

24. An apparatus for expanding function of an electronic device, said electronic device including a rear portion having a connector thereon and a front portion having a front edge portion opposing the rear portion, said apparatus comprising:

a casing containing therein an expanding device for function expansion, said casing having a supporting portion for bearing the electronic device, and a fitting portion; and

a connector unit fitted to the fitting portion of the casing to face the rear portion of the electronic device set on the supporting portion, said connector unit including an apparatus-side connector, connected electrically to the expanding device and removably connected to the connector of the electronic device on the supporting portion, and fitting members detachably fitted to the fitting portion so as to allow the connector unit to be detached from the fitting portion when an excessive force is applied to the connector unit.