Electronic device system including a portable electronic device having a handwriting input device locked to an expansion station when the power switch of the portable electronic device is turned on

• US 5,619,397 A
• Filed: 07/31/1995
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Miura, Yosuke, Honda, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/509,617
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 439/157, 439/159, 439/160, 439/352, 439/923, 220/4.02, 220/691, 220/683, 220/693, 364/708.1, 292/341.16, 70/283, 395/281, 395/283, 395/800, 361/681, 361/686
• US Class Current: 361/679.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

An electronic device system comprises a portable computer including an input surface through which information is input, a power switch manually turned on or off, and a first connector electrically connected to the power switch, and an expansion station having an expansion device for expanding a function of the computer and an input section connected to a power supply. The expansion station include a main body containing the expansion device and the input section, a stand supported by the main body and removably holding the computer, and a second connector arranged in the stand and connected to the first connector when the computer is held by the stand. The stand includes a pair of engaging members movable between a first position, in which they hook the computer, and a second position, in which they are released from the computer, when the first and second connectors are connected to each other, and lock means movable between a lock position, in which the engaging members are inhibited from being moved from the first position to the second position, and a lock release position, in which the engaging members are allowed to move from the first position to the second position. The lock means is maintained in the lock position, when the computer is connected to the power supply through the first and second connectors and the power switch is turned on.

Claims

1. An electronic device system comprising:

a portable electronic device including an input surface through which information is input, a power switch manually turned on or off, and a first connector electrically connected to the power switch; and

an expansion station having an expansion device for expanding a function of the electronic device and an input section connected to a power supply, the expansion station including;

a main body containing the expansion device and the input section;

a stand supported by the main body and removably holding the electronic device, the stand maintaining the main body together with the input surface in a stand-up state; and

a second connector arranged in the stand, the second connector being electrically connected to the expansion device and the input section, and connected to the first connector when the electronic device is held by the stand, wherein

the stand includes;

a pair of engaging members movable between a first position, in which they hook first and second ends in a width direction of the electronic device, and a second position, in which they are released from the first and second ends of the electronic device, when the first and second connectors are connected to-each other; and

lock means movable between a lock position, in which the engaging members are inhibited from being moved from the first position to the second position, and a lock release position, in which the engaging members are allowed to move from the first position to the second position; and

the lock means is maintained in the lock position, when the electronic device is connected to the power supply through the first and second connectors and the power switch of the electronic device is turned on.

2. The electronic device system according to claim 1, wherein the stand is supported by the main body via a horizontal shaft so as to be rotatable upward and downward.

3. The electronic device system according to claim 2, wherein the expansion station has a leg portion, put across the stand and the main body, for supporting the stand from a back side, a first end of the leg portion being rotatably coupled with the stand and a second end thereof being engaged with the main body so as to be movable in a depth direction of the main body.

4. The electronic device system according to claim 1, wherein:

the electronic device includes means for outputting a signal to the first connector, when the power switch is turned on; and

the lock means includes;

a pair of link members slidable in directions so as to be closed to and removed from each other in accordance with movement of the engaging members;

a stopper movable between a first position, in which it is inserted in a space between the link members so as to prevent the link members from sliding, and a second position, in which it is retracted from the space so as to allow the link members to slide; and

an electromagnetic solenoid, electrically connected to the second connector, for selectively moving the stopper to the first or second position, the electromagnetic solenoid being excited upon reception of a signal representing that the power switch of the electronic device is turned on, so as to move the stopper from the second position to the first position.

5. The electronic device system according to claim 4, wherein the lock means includes a spring for maintaining the link members in contact with the engaging members, so that the engaging members are held at the first position by the contact between the link members and the engaging members.

6. The electronic device system according to claim 1, wherein the engaging members include lever portions projecting outwards from the stand.

7. The electronic device system according to claim 1, wherein:

the engaging members include claw portions; and

the first and second ends of the electronic device have recess portions in which the claw portions are removably inserted, and shaft portions which is arranged within the recess portions, and with which the claw portions are engaged, when the engaging members are moved to the first position.

8. The electronic device system according to claim 1, wherein:

the electronic device has a flat case having an upper surface including the input surface, a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface, and a side surface in which the first connector is arranged; and

the stand of the expansion station has an opening through which an end portion of the case is removably inserted and a holding portion in which the second connector is arranged at a position opposing to the opening, the case of the electronic device being inserted in the opening with the first connector directed to the second connector, so that the case can be held by the holding portion.

9. The electronic device system according to claim 8, wherein the holding portion comprises:

a pair of plungers slid in accordance with insertion of the electronic device;

linkage means operating in accordance with movement of the plungers, such that the linkage means is engaged with the engaging members and forces the engaging members to move from the first position to the second position, when the electronic device is being inserted in the opening, and disengaged from the engaging members, when the electronic device is completely inserted; and

a spring for biasing the electronic device via the plungers so as to be pressed out of the holding portion.

10. The electronic device system according to claim 8, wherein the holding portion has a front panel and a rear panel fitted with the front panel, the front and rear panels having edges which are engaged with each other and range to the opening, and end portions of the edges being coupled with each other by clips arranged across the front panel and the rear panel.

11. The electronic device system according to claim 8, wherein:

the electronic device has a stylus pen for inputting information to the input surface;

the case of the electronic device has a pen storage portion for storing the stylus pen; and

the holding portion of the stand has a cut portion for exposing the pen storage portion, when the case is held by the holding portion.

12. The electronic device system according to claim 11, wherein the pen storage portion has a recess formed in the upper surface of the case and a pen cover rotatable between a closed position in which the recess is closed and an open position in which the recess is opened, the pen cover facing the cut portion, when the case is held by the holding portion.

13. The electronic device system according to claim 8, wherein:

the case of the electronic device has a card inserting port through which a card-like electronic part is inserted; and

the holding portion of the expansion station has a cut portion through which the card inserting port is exposed.

14. A computer system comprising:

a portable computer having a pen for inputting information, an input surface pressed by the pen, a power switch manually turned on or off, a controller for outputting a signal, when the power switch is turned on, and a first connector to which the signal from the controller is supplied;

an expansion station having an expansion device for expanding a function of the computer and an input section connected to a power supply, the expansion station including;

a main body containing the expansion device and the input section;

a holding portion supported by the main body and removably holding the computer, the holding portion maintaining the main body together with the input surface in a stand-up state; and

a second connector arranged in the holding portion, the second connector being electrically connected to the expansion device and the input section, and connected to the first connector when the computer is held by the holding portion, wherein

the holding portion includes;

a pair of engaging members movable between a first position in which they hook the computer and a second position in which they are released from the computer, when the first and second connectors are connected to each other; and

lock means movable between a lock position, in which the engaging members are inhibited from being moved from the first position to the second position, and a lock release position, in which the engaging members are allowed to move from the first position to the second position; and

the lock means is maintained in the lock position, when the computer is connected to the power supply through the first and second connectors and the lock means receives the signal output from the controller through the first and second connectors.