Electronic apparatus and electronic system with expanding apparatus having interlock, ejector, grounding, and lock mechanisms, for expanding function of electronic apparatus

• US 5,504,648 A
• Filed: 11/08/1994
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawabata, Kazuaki, Arai, Satoru, Honda, Masami, Takada, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/336,823
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 439/92, 439/95, 439/108, 439/133, 439/152, 439/153, 439/155, 439/159, 439/160, 439/352, 439/371, 439/540, 439/638, 439/639, 439/928, 439/929, 439/540.1, 439/928.1, 361/212, 361/220, 361/679, 361/683-686, 361/741, 361/740, 361/724-727, 361/732, 361/733, 361/753, 361/754, 361/756, 361/759, 361/798, 361/799, 361/801, 361/802 , 361/816, 361/818
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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 1/1679 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 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling

Abstract

A personal computer includes a box-shaped body having a rear surface provided with a first connector. The box-shaped body is mountable on an expanding apparatus having a second connector, in a manner which joins the first and second connectors, to expand the functions of the personal computer. The expanding apparatus includes an ejector mechanism for pushing the box-shaped body away from the expanding apparatus so that the first and second connectors are disconnected. A lock mechanism locks the box-shaped body to the expanding apparatus when the first and second connectors are connected. An interlock mechanism unlocks the lock mechanism when the ejector mechanism is operated. The expanding apparatus includes a grounding mechanism which moves a metal fitting into contact with the box-shaped body when the first and second connectors are connected and moves the metal fitting out of contact with the box-shaped body when the first and second connectors are disconnected.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic apparatus including a box-like body which has a bottom, a rear surface provided with a first connector and a pair of lateral side faces having engaging portions, respectively; and

an expanding apparatus for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus;

said expanding apparatus comprising;

a body case having a bearing surface on which electronic apparatus is placed and a connector setting surface opposing the rear surface of the electronic apparatus placed on the bearing surface;

a second connector provided on the connector setting surface, for being removably connected to the first connector as the body of the electronic apparatus is slidingly moved to a predetermined connecting position on the bearing

expanding means disposed within the body case and connected to the second connector, for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus;

an ejector mechanism for pushing the rear surface of the body so as to disconnect the first connector from the second connector, the mechanism including a push lever which is arranged in the body case adjacent to the second connector ant is movable between a pushing position where the lever projects outward from the connector setting surface and a retracted position where the lever is retracted within the body case;

a lock mechanism for locking the body of the electronic apparatus in the connecting position, the lock mechanism comprising a pair of fixing members disposed near respective lateral ends of a front end portion of the body case, each of the fixing members being movable between a locking position where the fixing member engages with the corresponding engaging portion of the body and a release position where the fixing member is disengaged from the engaging portion; and

an interlocking mechanism for interlocking the operations of the ejector mechanism and the lock mechanism so that the fixing members are moved to the locking position as the push lever is moved to the retracted position and the fixing members are moved to the release position as the push lever is moved to the pushing position.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said ejector mechanism comprises a pair of pushing levers arranged on respective lateral sides of the second connector.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said expanding apparatus comprises a grounding mechanism for electrically connecting the body to the body case for grounding when the body of the electronic apparatus is moved to the connecting position;

said grounding mechanism comprises a grounding terminal metal fitting disposed on the bearing surface and positionable in contact with the bottom of the body, and urging means for urging the metal fitting away from the bottom of the body;

said interlocking mechanism comprises an actuating section for lifting the metal fitting to a position where the fitting touches the bottom of the body when the push lever is moved to the retracted position.

4. An expanding apparatus capable of expanding the functions of an electronic apparatus including a housing having a keyboard, a first surface and a first connector disposed on the first surface, and a display unit rotatably connected to the housing between an opening position wherein the keyboard is exposed and a closing position wherein the keyboard is covered by the display unit, the expanding apparatus comprising:

a body including a mounting portion on which the electronic apparatus is mounted and a second surface opposing the first surface of the electronic apparatus mounted on the mounting portion;

a second connector provided on the second surface, being removably connected to the first connector as the electronic apparatus is set on the mounting portion;

expanding means disposed within the body and electrically connected to the second connector, for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus; and

a pair of ejecting members provided on the second surface for pushing the first surface so as to disconnect the first connector from the second connector, the second connector being located between the ejecting members, the ejecting members being movable between a pushing position where the ejecting members project outward from the second surface and a retroactive position where the ejecting members are retracted within the body.

5. An expanding apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising a first operating member provided on the body and connected to the ejecting members, for moving the ejecting members between the pushing position and the retractive position.

6. An expanding apparatus, according to claim 5, further comprising a pair of locking members provided on the body, for locking the electronic apparatus on the mounting portion, and for holding the connections between the first and second connectors.

7. An expanding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the electronic apparatus includes a pair of lateral side surfaces having engaging portions, respectively, the locking members being movable between a locking position where the locking members engage the engaging positions and a releasing position where the locking members are released from the engaging positions, respectively.

8. An expanding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the locking members are connected to the first operating member and movable in interlock with the first operating member.

9. An expanding apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a second operating member arranged on the body adjacent to the first operating member, for moving the locking members.

10. An expanding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the mounting portion has a mounting surface on which the electronic apparatus is placed and which is substantially perpendicular to the second surface, and the ejecting members are arranged on a line extending substantially in parallel to the mounting surface.

11. An expanding apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second connector is arranged on said line.

12. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic apparatus including a body having a first surface, a first connector provided on the first surface, and an engaging portion; and

an expanding apparatus for expanding the function of the electronic apparatus;

the expanding apparatus comprising;

a body case having a mounting portion on which the electronic apparatus is mounted, and a second surface opposing the first surface of the electronic apparatus mounted on the mounting portion;

a second connector provided on the second surface, for being removably connected to the first connector as the body of the electronic apparatus is set on the mounting portion;

expanding means disposed within the body case and electrically connected to the second connector, for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus;

an ejecting member provided at the second surface, for pushing the first surface of the body so as to disconnect the first connector from the second connector, the ejecting member being movable between an ejecting position where the ejecting member projects from the second surface and a retractive position where the ejecting member retracts in the body case;

a locking member provided on the body, for holding the body of the electronic apparatus set on the mounting portion, the locking member being movable between an engaging position where the locking member engages the engaging portion and a releasing position where the locking member is released from the engaging portion; and

an operating member provided on the body, for operating the ejecting member and the locking member so that the ejecting member is moved to the ejecting position from the retractive position and the locking member is moved to the releasing position from the engaging position when the operating member is operated, respectively.

13. An electronic system according to claim 12, wherein the body of the electronic apparatus has a first front portion on which the engaging portion is provided, and the body case of the expanding apparatus has a second front portion on which the locking member is provided.

14. An electronic system according to claim 12, wherein the body of the electronic apparatus has a pair of lateral side surfaces, the engaging portion is provided on at least one of the side surfaces, and the body case of the expanding apparatus has a pair of guide walls, the locking member is provided on at least one of the guide walls.

15. An expanding apparatus capable of expanding the functions of an electronic apparatus having a rear surface, a first connector provided on the rear surface, and an engaging portion provided on the electronic apparatus, the expanding apparatus comprising:

a body including a first mounting portion on which the electronic apparatus is mounted, and a second mounting portion which has a connector setting surface opposing the rear surface of the electronic apparatus mounted in the first mounting portion;

a second connector provided on the connector setting surface, for being removably connected to the first connector as the electronic apparatus is set on the mounting portion;

expanding means disposed within the body and electrically connected to the second connector, for expanding the unctions of the electronic apparatus;

an engaging member provided on the first mounting portion, and movable between an engaging position where the engaging member engages the engaging portion of the electronic apparatus and a released position where the engaging member is released from the engaging position; and

a locking member provided on the body, for locking the engaging member in the engaging position, the locking member being movable between a locking position where the locking member locks the engaging member in the engaging position and an unlocking position where the locking member is released from the locking position; and

operating means provided on the body, for operating the locking member.

16. An expanding apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the operating means includes an operating lever, and a link mechanism connecting the operating lever and the locking member.

17. An expanding apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first mounting portion has a pair of guide walls each of which has an opening, the engaging member is movable through the opening between the engaging position and the releasing position.

18. An expanding apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first mounting portion includes a substantially horizontal mounting surface on which the electronic apparatus is removably placed and which extends substantially perpendicular to the connector setting surface.

19. An expanding apparatus capable of expanding the functions of an electronic apparatus including an engaging portion having a conductive portion, a rear surface, and a first connector provided on the rear surface, the expanding apparatus comprising:

a body including a first mounting portion on which the electronic apparatus is mounted, and a second mounting portion which has a connector setting surface opposing the rear surface of the electronic apparatus mounted on the first mounting portion;

a second connector provided on the connector setting surface, for being removably connected to the first connector as the electronic apparatus is set on the mounting portion;

expanding means disposed within the body and electrically connected to the second connector, for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus;

an engaging member provided on the first mounting portion and formed of a conductive material, the engaging member being movable between an engaging position where the engaging member engages the engaging portion of the electronic apparatus and a releasing position where the engaging member is released from the engaging portion, so that the expanding apparatus is electrically connected to the electronic apparatus through the conductive portion of the engaging portion and the engaging member; and

an elastic member provided on the first mounting portion, for urging the engaging member toward the engaging position.

20. An expanding apparatus capable of expanding the function of an electronic apparatus including a first surface, a first connector provided on the first surface, and an engaging portion provided on the electronic apparatus, the expanding apparatus comprising:

a body including a mounting portion on which the electronic apparatus is removably mounted, and a second surface opposing the rear surface of the electronic apparatus mounted on the mounting portion;

a second connector provided on the second surface, for being removably connected to the first connector as the electronic apparatus is set on the mounting portion;

expanding means disposed within the body and electrically connected to the second connector, for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus;

an engaging member provided on the mounting portion, and movable between an engaging position where the engaging member engages the engaging portion of the electronic apparatus and a releasing position where the engaging member is released from the engaging position;

a pair of ejecting members provided at the second surface for pushing the first surface so as to disconnect the first connector from the second connector, the ejecting members being movable between a pushing position where the ejecting members project outward from the second surface and a retractive position where the ejecting members are retracted within the body;

an operating lever pro,tided on the body, for operating the ejecting members, the operating member being movable between a first position where the operating lever moves the ejecting members in the pushing position from the retractive position and a second position where the operating lever moves the ejecting members to the retractive position; and

a link mechanism linking the engaging member, the ejecting members and the operating lever so that the ejecting members are moved to the pushing position from the retractive position and the engaging member is moved to the releasing position from the engaging position through the link mechanism when the operating lever is moved to the first position from the second position.

21. An expanding apparatus capable of expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus having a rear surface, a first connector provided on the rear surface and an engaging portion provided on the electronic apparatus, the engaging portion having a first bottom surface and a first side surface, the expanding apparatus comprising:

a body including a first mounting portion on which the electronic apparatus is mounted and a second mounting portion having a connector setting surface opposing the rear surface of the electronic apparatus mounted on the mounting portion;

a second connector provided on the connector setting surface, for being removably connected to the first connector as the electronic apparatus is set on the mounting portion;

expanding means disposed within the body and electrically connected to the second connector, for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus;

an engaging member provided on the first mounting portion, and movable between an engaging position where the engaging member engages with the engaging portion of the electronic apparatus and a releasing position where the engaging member releases from the engaging position, the engaging member having a second bottom surface contacted to the first bottom surface and a second side surface contacted to the first side surface; and

a locking member for locking to the engaging member at the engaging position, and movable between a locking position where the locking member locks to the engaging member in the engaging position and an unlocking position where the locking member releases from the locking position.