Computer having electric conductive portion contacting with electric conductive portion of card, and card receiver device having electric conductive portion contacting with electric conductive portion of card

• US 5,526,227 A
• Filed: 12/12/1994
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Katumaru, Satou, Youji
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/356,773
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76, 439/92, 439/101, 439/108, 439/159, 439/607, 439/638, 439/931, 439/76.1, 235/492, 364/708.1, 273/148 B, 273/435, 400/191, 400/692, 174/35 R, 174/51, 361/684, 361/686, 361/737, 361/783, 361/753, 361/816, 361/818, 361/728-730
• US Class Current: 361/679.32
• 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 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0295 having ejection mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0807 Sliding and hooked end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0862 Swinging and hooked end, multiple head

Abstract

A card can be removably stored in a computer. The card has a first half portion that includes a first end portion having a first connector, a second half portion including a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, and a first electrically conductive portion disposed in the second half portion. The computer includes an upper portion including a data input device and a flat panel display device coupled to the upper portion. A side portion, continuous with the upper portion, has a card insertion opening for receiving the card. A card storing portion, disposed within the computer, stores the card when the card is received into the card insertion opening. A second connector, disposed in the card storing portion, removably connects to the first connector when the card storing portion stores the card so as to electrically connect the card with the computer. A second electrically conductive portion, disposed in the card storing portion near the card insertion opening, contacts the first electrically conductive portion when the card storing portion stores the card.

Claims

1. A computer in which a card can be removably stored, wherein the card comprises a first half portion including a first end portion having a first connector, a second half portion including a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, and a first electrically conductive portion disposed in the second half portion, said computer comprising:

an upper portion including a data input device;

a flat panel display device coupled to the upper portion;

a side portion, continuous with the upper portion, having a card insertion opening for receiving the card;

a card storing portion, disposed within the computer, that stores the card when the card is received into the card insertion opening;

a second connector, disposed in the card storing portion, that removably connects to the first connector when the card storing portion stores the card so as to electrically connect the card with the computer; and

a second electrically conductive portion, disposed in the card storing portion near the card insertion opening, that contacts the first electrically conductive portion when the card storing portion stores the card.

2. A computer as in claim 1, wherein the second electrically conductive portion comprises an elastic portion for elastically contacting the first electric conductive portion of the card when the card storing portion stores the card.

3. A computer according to claim 1, wherein the card storing portion comprises a card side portion, and the second electrically conductive portion is disposed in the card side portion.

4. A computer according to claim 1, further comprising:

a card ejector for ejecting the card from the card storing portion.

5. A computer in which an interface card can be removably stored, wherein the interface card includes a first end portion having a first connector, a second end portion having a second connector removably connected to an interface cable, and a side portion having a first electrically conductive portion, said computer comprising:

a main body including a side wall having an opening, the opening being for receiving the interface card;

a guide wall disposed in the main body that guides the side portion of the interface card when the interface card is received into the main body;

a third connector disposed in the main body that connects to the first connector when the interface card is received into the main body;

a second electrically conductive portion disposed in the guide wall that contacts the first electrically conductive portion so as to electrically connect the interface card with the main body when the first connector is connected to the third connector; and

a release member for releasing the connection between the first and the third connectors.

6. A computer according to claim 5, wherein the guide wall includes a first end portion disposed near the third connector and a second end portion disposed near the opening, and the second electrically conductive portion is disposed near the second end portion.

7. A computer according to claim 5, wherein the second electrically conductive portion includes an elastic portion for elastically contacting the first electrically conductive portion.

8. A computer in which a card device can be removably stored, wherein the card device includes a first end portion having a first connector, a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, and a first and second lateral surfaces having first and second electrically conductive portions, respectively, wherein a distance between either the first or second electrically conductive portions and the first end portion is longer than a distance between either the first or second electrically conductive portions and the second end portion, said computer comprising:

a side wall including an opening for receiving the card device into the computer;

a pair of guide walls for guiding the lateral surfaces of the card device when the card device is received into the computer, respectively;

a second connector which is removably connected to the first connector when the card device is received into the computer; and

a third and fourth electrically conductive portions disposed in the guide walls, respectively that contact the first and second electrically conductive portions, respectively, of the card device when the first connector is connected to the second connector.

9. A computer according to claim 8, wherein the third and fourth electrically conductive portions include elastic portions elastically contacting the first and second electrically conductive portions, respectively, when the third connector is connected to the first connector.

10. A portable computer in which an interface card can be removably stored, wherein the interface card device includes a first end portion having a first connector, a second end portion having a second connector, and first and second side walls having first and second electrically conductive portions, respectively, said computer comprising:

a flat panel display device;

a main body including an upper portion having a connection portion mechanically connected to the flat panel display device, a keyboard, an upper surface, and a side portion including an opening for receiving the interface card device, the side portion being continuous with the upper surface;

first and second guide walls for guiding the first and second side walls, respectively, of the interface card device when the interface card is received into the opening of the main body side portion;

a third connector removably connected to the first connector when the interface card is received into the opening of the main body side portion; and

third and fourth electrically conductive portions disposed in the guide walls, respectively, that contact the first and second electrically conductive portions, respectively, when the first connector is connected to the third connector.

11. A portable computer according to claim 10, wherein a distance between the opening of the main body side portion and either of the third or fourth electrically conductive portions is shorter than the distance between the third connector and either of the third or fourth electrically conductive portions.

12. A portable computer according to claim 10, wherein the third and fourth electrically conductive portions include elastic portions for elastically contacting to the first and second electrically conductive portions, respectively.

13. A card receiver device for removably connecting an interface card to an electronic apparatus, the interface card including a first end portion having a first connector, a second end portion having a second connector, and first and second lateral portions having first and second electrically conductive portions, respectively, said card receiver device comprising:

first and second guide walls for guiding the first and second lateral portions of the card, respectively;

a third connector removably connectable to the first connector of the card; and

third and fourth electrically conductive portions disposed in the first and second guide walls, respectively, that elastically contact the first and second electrically conductive portions, respectively, when the first connector is connected to the third connector.

14. A card receiver device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a release member for releasing a connection between the first and third connectors.

15. A card receiver device according to claim 14, wherein the release member includes a pair of end walls for pushing the first end portion in a release direction for releasing the connection between the first and third connectors.

16. A card receiver device according to claim 15, wherein the release member includes an interconnection wall interconnecting the pair of end walls.