Electronic system having portable electronic apparatus and external expansion unit for expanding function of electronic apparatus

• US 5,592,362 A
• Filed: 08/17/1994
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Hiroshi, Matsuda, Kazuyuki, Ishikawa, Kenichi, Ito, Hironori, Sekine, Shigeru, Shibasaki, Kazuya, Gibo, Moriya, Kobayashi, Takaichi, Ohgami, Keizo, Shimohira, Tadamichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/291,906
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/680-686, 361/724, 312/223.2, 439/374, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• 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 1/1635 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 1/166 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 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• 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: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033

Abstract

An electronic system includes an electronic apparatus body and an external expansion unit. The electronic apparatus body has a bottom surface and a rear surface. A first connector is arranged on the rear surface. The external expansion unit has a first surface opposing the bottom surface, and a second surface opposing the rear surface. The external expansion unit has a second connector which is detachably connected to the first connector. The external expansion unit has an engaging device. The engaging device is movable between the first position where the engaging device is separated from the bottom surface and the second position where the engaging device is engaged with the bottom surface to pull the electronic apparatus body toward the second surface. The external expansion unit has an operation mechanism for selectively moving the engaging device to the first and second positions.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic apparatus body having a bottom surface and a rear surface continuous with the bottom surface, and having a first connector arranged on the rear surface;

an external expansion unit having a first surface opposing the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body, and a second surface opposing the rear surface of said electronic apparatus body, said electronic apparatus body being detachably coupled to said external expansion unit, said external expansion unit having a second connector on the second surface, and said second connector being detachably connected to said first connector;

engaging means arranged on the first surface of said external expansion unit, said engaging means being movable between a first position where said engaging means is separated from the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body and a second position where said engaging means is engaged with the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body to pull said electronic apparatus body toward the second surface; and

an operation mechanism for selectively moving said engaging means to the first and second positions, said operation mechanism connecting said first connector to said second connector upon moving said engaging means to the second position.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said engaging means retracts from the first surface into said external expansion unit when said engaging means is moved to the first position.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said engaging means presses the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body in a direction away from the second surface during movement from the second position to the first position.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said external expansion unit has a plurality of connectors and ports for connection of peripheral devices for expanding a function of said electronic apparatus body, said connectors and ports being electrically connected to said second connector.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic apparatus body has a side surface continuous with the rear surface, the side surface having another expansion connector arranged thereon.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said engaging means has first and second engaging pawls, said first and second engaging pawls being arranged on left and right sides of said second connector on the first surface.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body has first and second engaging holes with which said first and second engaging pawls can be engaged.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said electronic apparatus body has ground terminal pieces exposed to the first and second engaging holes, and said first and second engaging pawls have conductivity and are brought into contact with said terminal pieces when said first and second pawls are engaged with the first and second engaging holes.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body has front and rear half portions, and the first surface of said external expansion unit has a size corresponding to the rear half portion of the bottom surface.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic apparatus body has an upper surface substantially parallel to the bottom surface, and input means for inputting information is arranged on the upper surface.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the first surface of said external expansion unit has a rear edge portion continuous with the second surface, and a front edge portion located closer to an operator than the rear edge portion, the first surface being inclined downward from the rear edge portion to the front edge portion.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein said electronic apparatus body has a pair of legs which cause said electronic apparatus body to tilt up such that an operator side of said electronic apparatus body is lower in level than the other side, said legs being arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a lateral direction of said electronic apparatus body, and the first surface of said external expansion unit is open to left and right sides of said external expansion unit, the first surface having a width in the lateral direction which is set to be smaller than a distance between said legs.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said external expansion unit has a bottom surface located below the first surface, and a distance from the bottom surface to the first surface is set to be larger than a height of said legs when said electronic apparatus body is caused to tilt up.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said external expansion unit has a housing for housing said operation mechanism, said housing having a lower housing for supporting said engaging means and said second connector, and an upper housing fitted on said lower housing and having the first surface formed thereon.

15. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member detachably engaged with said electronic apparatus body, for positioning said electronic apparatus body and the first surface, said guide member being mounted on said external expansion unit to be slidable between a first guide position where said guide member is located on the first surface and a second guide position closer to the second surface than the first guide position, and said guide member being always biased by a spring toward the first guide position.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said guide member has a first guide surface for receiving the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body, and a second guide surface for receiving the rear surface of said electronic apparatus body, and engaging projection detachably engaged with the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body is arranged on the first guide surface.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body has opening portion with which said engaging projection is detachably engaged.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said electronic apparatus body includes a bottom case having the bottom surface, and a top cover fitted on said bottom case, said bottom case and said top cover being coupled to each other via a screw, the bottom surface of said bottom case having a through hole allowing the screw to be inserted, and the through hole open to the bottom surface having opening end also serving as the opening portion.

19. A system according to claim 6, wherein

said operation mechanism comprises a slide plate for sliding said first and second engaging pawls in a direction away from the second surface, an operation lever supported on said external expansion unit to be pivotal in a vertical direction, a toggle link for converting pivoting movement of said operation lever into linear movement and transferring the movement to said slide plate, and toggle springs for biasing said first and second engaging pawls toward the first position via said slide plate,

so that said toggle link is pivoted to a posture substantially parallel to said slide plate against a biasing force of said toggle springs, when said first and second engaging pawls are moved to the second position, and a coupling portion between said toggle link and said slide plate and a coupling portion between said toggle link and said operation lever are arranged in a line along a sliding direction of said slide plate when said toggle link is pivoted.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the biasing force of said toggle springs is set to be smaller than a fitting force between said first and second connectors.

21. A system according to claim 19, wherein said operation lever is supported on said external expansion unit to be pivotal between a release position where said first and second engaging pawls are moved to the first position and a coupling position where said first and second engaging pawls are moved to the second position, and said operation lever has an outer surface which becomes continuous with said external expansion unit on the same level when said lever is pivoted to the coupling position.

22. An external expansion unit for expanding a function of an electronic apparatus having a body having a rear surface on which there is a first connector and a bottom surface, comprising:

a body having a mounting portion on which the electronic apparatus body is mounted, the mounting portion having a first surface opposing the bottom surface of the electronic apparatus body and a second surface opposing the rear surface of the electronic apparatus body, said second surface having a second connector for detachably connecting to said first connector;

engaging means arranged on the first surface and movable between a first position where said engaging means is separated from the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body and a second position where said engaging means is engaged with the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body to move said electronic apparatus body toward the second surface;

an operation mechanism for selectively moving said engaging means to the first and second positions, said operation mechanism connecting said first connector to said second connector when said engaging means moves to the second position; and

a positioning member arranged on said mounting portion, for positioning said electronic apparatus body and said mounting portion upon connecting said first connector to said second connector, and being movable between a third position projecting to said mounting portion and a fourth position retracting from said mounting portion.

23. An external expansion unit according to claim 22, wherein said body has a plurality of connectors and ports for connection of peripheral devices for expanding a function of said electronic apparatus body, said connectors and ports being electrically connected to said second connector.

24. An external expansion unit according to claim 22, wherein said positioning member has a first guide surface for receiving the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body, and a second guide surface for receiving the rear surface of said electronic apparatus body, and an engaging projection detachably engaged with the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body is arranged on the first guide surface.

25. An external expansion unit according to claim 22, wherein said positioning member is always biased by a spring toward the third position.

26. An external expansion unit according to claim 22, wherein said second connector has a center line extending in the depth direction of said first surface,

said engaging means having first and second engaging members arranged to oppose each other across the center line in the width direction of said first surface, the distance from said first engaging member to said center line and the distance from said second engaging member to said center line being set approximately the same.

27. An external expansion unit for expanding a function of an electronic apparatus having a body having a rear surface on which there is a first connector and a bottom surface, comprising:

a body having a mounting portion on which said electronic apparatus body is mounted, said mounting portion having a first surface opposing the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body and a second surface opposing the rear surface of said electronic apparatus body, said second surface having a second connector for detachably connecting to said first connector, said second connector having a center line extending in the depth direction of said first surface;

a pair of engaging members arranged on said mounting portion and movable between a first position where said engaging members are separated from the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body and a second position where said engaging members are engaged with the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body to move said electronic apparatus body toward the second surface, said engaging members being arranged to oppose each other across said center line in the width direction of said mounting portion, the distance between one engaging member and said center line and the distance from the other engaging member and said center line being set approximately the same; and

an operation mechanism for selectively moving said engaging members to said first and second positions, said operation mechanism connecting said first connector to said second connector upon moving said engaging members to the second position.

28. An external expansion unit according to claim 27, further comprising:

first and second guide members, detachably engaged with the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body and being arranged on said first surface, for positioning said electronic apparatus body and said mounting portion upon connecting said first connector to said second connector, said first and second guide members being movable between first guide position projecting to said mounting portion and second guide position retracting from said mounting portion in the depth direction of said mounting portion, said first and second guide members being biased toward said first guide position via a spring.

29. An external expansion unit according to claim 28, wherein said engaging members retract from the first surface into said body when said engaging members are moved to the first position.

30. An external expansion unit according to claim 27, wherein said first and second guide members have a first guide surface for receiving the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body, a second guide surface for receiving the rear surface of said electronic apparatus body and an engaging projection detachably engaged with the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body.

31. An external expansion unit for expanding a function of an electronic apparatus having a body having a rear surface on which there is a first connector and a bottom surface, comprising:

a body having a mounting portion where said electronic apparatus body is mounted, said mounting portion having a first surface opposing the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus body and a second surface opposing the rear surface of said electronic apparatus body, said second surface having a second connector for detachably connecting to said first connector;

a pair of engaging members, arranged at said mounting portion, movable between first position separated from the bottom surface of said electronic apparatus and second position where said electronic apparatus body is moved toward the second surface of said body and said first connector is connected to said second connector; and

an operation lever for selectively and simultaneously moving said engaging members to first and second positions.

32. An external expansion unit according to claim 31, further comprising:

a toggle device for amplifying the operating force of said operation lever and transferring the force to said engaging members.

33. An external expansion unit according to claim 32, wherein said operation lever is rotatably supported to said body, said toggle device having a slide plate coupled to said engaging members, a toggle link for converting rotating movement of said operation lever into linear movement and transferring the movement to said slide plate and toggle springs for biasing said engaging members toward said first position via said slide plate.