Electronic device with keyboard removably mounted over lid providing access to circuit board with detachably held electronic component and with two cord storing portions

• US 5,448,446 A
• Filed: 01/06/1994
• Issued: 09/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Honda, Masami, Takada, Masaaki, Miura, Yousuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/178,965
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 312/223.2, 361/680-687, 361/752, 361/807, 361/809
• 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 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• 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 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• 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 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 174/34 PCB in box or housing

Abstract

A personal computer includes a main body having a stepped portion formed in a front portion of an upper surface of the main body. The stepped portion has a bottom surface lower in level than the upper surface. A keyboard is detachably placed in the stepped portion so that when a display rotatably mounted on the main body is rotated to its closed position, it is clamped between the display and the bottom surface of the stepped portion. The keyboard is arranged in such a manner that when it is removed from the stepped portion it is capable of being used by an operator. The keyboard is connected electrically to the electronic components in the main body and a storage portion is provided in the keyboard and the lid for storing the extensible cord. A circuit board is arranged in the main body to oppose the upper surface and has a holding portion for detachably holding a CPU. The main body has an opening formed in the bottom surface to allow access to the holding portion, and a lid detachably disposed on the bottom surface to close the opening.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a main body having an upper surface and a stepped portion formed in a front portion of the upper surface, the stepped portion having a bottom surface lower in level than the upper surface;

a display arranged on the main body and rotatable between a closed position where the display covers the upper surface and the stepped portion, and an opened position where the upper surface and the stepped portion are exposed;

a keyboard removably placed in the stepped portion so that the keyboard is capable of being used when removed from the stepped portion;

a circuit board arranged in the main body to oppose the upper surface, said circuit board having a holding portion for detachably holding an electronic component;

an extensible cord electrically connecting the keyboard to the circuit board; and

wherein the main body has an opening formed in the bottom surface to allow access to the holding portion, and a lid detachably disposed on the bottom surface to close the opening, and the keyboard and the lid having storing portions for storing the cord when the keyboard is placed in the stepped portion.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said holding portion comprises a socket which is fixed to said circuit board and switchable between a lock position where the electronic component is locked, and a release position where the electronic component is allowed to be attached to and detached from the socket.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said circuit board comprises a connector arranged at a position opposite to the opening, and a card-like electronic part detachably connected to the connector.

4. A device according the claim 1, wherein said cord has a curled portion.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said storing portions include recesses formed between the keyboard and the lid, respectively, to define a storing space when the keyboard is placed in the stepped portion.

6. An electronic device comprising:

a main body having an upper surface and a stepped portion formed in a front portion of the upper surface, the stepped portion having a bottom surface lower in level than the upper surface;

a display arranged on the main body and rotatable between a closed position where the display covers the upper surface and the stepped portion, and an opened position where the upper surface and the stepped portion are exposed;

a keyboard removably placed in the steppede portion without using fastening means so that the keyboard is capable of being used while being removed from the stepped portion and the keyboard is clamped between the display and the bottom surface, when the display is rotated to the closed position; and

supporting means arranged in the stepped portion, for supporting the display rotated to the closed position.

7. A device according to claim 6 including a circuit board arranged in the main body to oppose the upper surface, said circuit board having a holding portion for detachably holding an electronic component and wherein the main body has an opening formed in the bottom surface to allow access to the holding portion, and a lid detachably disposed on the bottom surface to close the opening.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said holding portion comprises a socket which is fixed to the circuit board and switchable between a lock position where the electronic componenet is locked, and a release position where the electronic component is allowed to be attached to and detached from the socket.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein said circuit board comprises a connector arranged at a position opposite to the opening, and a card-like electronic part detachably connected to the connector.

10. A device according to claim 7, wherein said supporting means includes a protruding portion which protrudes from the bottom surface of the stepped portion and has an abutment portion for contacting with the display rotated to the closed position.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said keyboard has a storing portion through which the protruding portion extends when the keyboard is placed in the stepped portion.