Electronic system having a portable electronic apparatus and an extention unit for extending functions of the portable electronic apparatus

• US 5,684,673 A
• Filed: 09/29/1994
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ninomiya, Ryoji, Shibasaki, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/314,762
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/684, 361/686, 361/679, 361/726, 361/685, 361/727, 439/152, 439/153, 439/928, 439/929
• US Class Current: 361/679.42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

An electronic system comprises an electronic apparatus having a keyboard and a first connector, and an extension unit containing an extension device. The extension unit comprises a mount surface on which the electronic apparatus is detachably mounted, a second connector provided on the mount surface, the second connector being movable between a first position where the second connector adjoins the electronic apparatus placed on the mount surface and a second position where the second connector is away from the electronic apparatus, the second connector being coupled to the first connector when the second connector is moved to the first position, an engaging section provided on the mount surface, the engaging section being movable between a lock position where the engaging section is engaged with the electronic apparatus and thereby holds the electronic apparatus on the mount surface, and an unlock position where the engaging section is disengaged from the electronic apparatus, and a driving unit for moving the engaging section between the lock position and the unlock position and moving the second connector between the first position and the second position.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic apparatus including a rear surface having a first connector, and right and left side surfaces continuous with said rear surface; and

an extension unit having a second connector detachably coupled to said first connector, wherein said extension unit comprises;

a mount portion on which said electronic apparatus is detachably mounted,

engaging means placed on said mount portion having first and second engaging sections, said first and second engaging sections being rotatable between a lock position where the first and second engaging sections are engaged with the right and left side surfaces of said apparatus and thereby holds said electronic apparatus on said mount portion, and an unlock position where the first and second engaging sections are moved away from said right and left side surfaces, and

driving means for moving said first and second engaging sections between the lock position and the unlock position.

2. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said extension unit includes an extension device for extending the function of the electronic apparatus, said extension device being connected to said second connector.

3. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said extension unit includes a plurality of extension connectors coupled to said second connector.

4. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said extension unit includes detection means for detecting whether the electronic apparatus is placed on the mount portion, and when said detection means has detected the presence of the electronic apparatus, said driving means moves the first and third engaging sections to the lock position.

5. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second engaging sections have lengths covering the entire lengths of the side surfaces of the electronic apparatus.

6. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second engaging sections have tapered claw portions, and said right and left side surfaces of the electronic apparatus have recess portions in which said claw portions of the engaging sections are detachably engaged.

7. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second engaging sections have support portions which are put in contact with a bottom surface of said electronic apparatus when said first and second engaging sections are rotated to the unlock position.

8. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic apparatus having a first connector on a rear surface thereof;

an extension unit having a mount portion on which said electronic apparatus is detachably mounted, said extension unit having a connector housing, said connector housing being movable between a position where the connector housing is moved towards said mount portion and a position where the connector housing is moved away from the mount portion, said connector housing having a connector mount surface opposite the rear surface of said electronic apparatus when said electronic apparatus is mounted on said mount portion, a second connector being disposed on said connector mount surface, said second connector being connected to said first connector when said connector housing is moved toward said electronic apparatus mounted on said mount portion; and

driving means for moving said connector housing toward and away from said electronic apparatus placed on said mount portion, said driving means including an electric motor and an interlock mechanism for interlocking said electric motor and said connector housing.

9. The electronic system according to claim 8, wherein said extension unit includes an extension device for extending the function of the electronic apparatus, said extension device being connected to said second connector.

10. The electronic system according to claim 8, wherein said extension unit includes a plurality of extension connectors coupled to said second connector.

11. The electronic system according to claim 8, wherein said extension unit includes detection means for detecting whether the electronic apparatus is placed on the mount portion, and when said detection means has detected the presence of the electronic apparatus, said driving means moves the connector housing toward the electronic apparatus.

12. The electronic system according to claim 8, wherein said extension unit has a slide surface continuous with said mount portion, said connector housing being movably supported by said slide surface.

13. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic apparatus having a first connector on a rear surface thereof;

an extension unit having a mount portion on which said electronic apparatus is detachably mounted, said extension unit including a second connector movable toward and away from the electronic apparatus placed on the mount portion, said second connector being coupled to said first connector when said second connector is moved toward the electronic apparatus; and

driving means, contained in said extension unit, for moving said second connector toward and away from the electronic apparatus, said driving means including an electric motor and an interlock mechanism for interlocking said electric motor and said second connector.

14. The electronic system according to claim 13, wherein said extension unit includes an extension device for extending the function of the electronic apparatus, said extension device being connected to said second connector.

15. The electronic system according to claim 13, wherein said extension unit includes detection means for detecting whether the electronic apparatus is placed on the mount portion, and when said detection means has detected the presence of the electronic apparatus, said driving means moves the second connector toward the electronic apparatus.

16. The electronic system according to claim 13, wherein said extension unit has a slide surface continuous with said mount portion and a connector housing situated on said slide surface, said connector housing is slid between a position where the connector housing is approached to the mount portion by means of said driving means and a position where the connector housing is moved away from the mount portion by means of said driving means, and said connector housing has a connector mount portion opposed to the rear surface of the electronic apparatus, said second connector being disposed on said connector mount portion.

17. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic apparatus having a first connector on a rear surface thereof;

an extension unit having a mount portion on which said electronic apparatus is detachably mounted, said extension unit including a second connector movable toward and away from the electronic apparatus placed on the mount portion, said second connector being coupled to said first connector when said second connector is moved toward the electronic apparatus;

driving means, contained in said extension unit, for moving said second connector toward and away from the electronic apparatus, said driving means including an electric motor and an interlock mechanism for interlocking said electric motor and said second connector; and

detection means for detecting whether the electronic apparatus is placed on the mount portion, and when said detection means has detected the presence of the electronic apparatus, said driving means moves the second connector toward the electronic apparatus.

18. The electronic system according to claim 17, wherein

said electronic apparatus has a bottom surface continuous with said rear surface, said mount portion having a mount surface on which said bottom surface is superposed, said detection means being disposed on said mount surface.

19. The electronic system according to claim 17, further comprising engaging means provided on said mount portion, said engaging means being movable between a lock position where the engaging means is engaged with the electronic apparatus and thereby holds the electronic apparatus on the mount portion, and an unlock position where the engaging means is disengaged from the electronic apparatus, said engaging means being moved to said lock position before said second connector is moved toward said electronic apparatus.

20. An extension unit for extending a function of an electronic apparatus having a first connector on its rear surface comprising:

a casing having a mount portion on which said electronic apparatus is detachably mounted;

a connector housing supported by said casing, said connector housing being movable between a position where the connector housing is moved towards said mount portion and a position where the connector housing is moved away from the mount portion, said connector housing having a connector mount surface opposite the rear surface of said electronic apparatus when said electronic apparatus is mounted on said mount portion;

a second connector disposed on said connector mount surface, said second connector being connected to said first connector when said connector housing is moved toward said electronic apparatus mounted on said mount portion; and

driving means for moving said connector housing toward and away from said electronic apparatus placed on said mount portion, said driving means including an electric motor and an interlock mechanism for interlocking said electric motor and said connector housing.

21. The extension unit according to claim 20, wherein said casing includes detection means for detecting whether the electronic apparatus is placed on the mount portion, and when said detection means has detected the presence of the electronic apparatus, said driving means moves the connector housing toward the electronic apparatus.

22. An extension unit for extending a function of an electronic apparatus having a first connector on its rear surface comprising:

a casing having a mount portion on which said electronic apparatus is detachably mounted;

a second connector provided at said casing, said second connector movable toward and away from the electronic apparatus placed on the mount portion, said second connector being coupled to said first connector when said second connector is moved toward the electronic apparatus; and

driving means, contained in said casing, for moving said second connector toward and away from the electronic apparatus, said driving means including an electric motor and an interlock mechanism for interlocking said electric motor and said second connector.

23. The extension unit according to claim 22, wherein said casing includes an extension device for extending the function of the electronic apparatus, said extension device being connected to said second connector.

24. The extension unit according to claim 22, wherein said casing includes detection means for detecting whether the electronic apparatus is placed on the mount portion, and when said detection means has detected the presence of the electronic apparatus, said driving means moves the second connector toward the electronic apparatus.

25. An extension unit for extending a function of an electronic apparatus having a rear surface having a first connector and right and left side surfaces continuous with the rear surface comprising:

a mount portion on which said electronic apparatus is detachably mounted;

engaging means placed on said mount portion having first and second engaging sections, said first and second engaging sections being rotatable between a lock position where the first and second engaging sections are engaged with the right and left side surfaces of said apparatus and thereby holds said electronic apparatus on said mount portion, and an unlock position where the first and second engaging sections are moved away from said right and left side surfaces; and

driving means for moving said first and second engaging sections between the lock position and the unlock position.

26. An extension unit for extending a function of an electronic apparatus having a first connector on its rear surface comprising:

a casing having a mount portion on which said electronic apparatus is detachably mounted;

a second connector provided at said casing, said second connector movable toward and away from the electronic apparatus placed on the mount portion, said second connector being coupled to said first connector when said second connector is moved toward the electronic apparatus;

driving means, contained in said casing, for moving said second connector toward and away from the electronic apparatus, said driving means including an electric motor and an interlock mechanism for interlocking said electric motor and said second connector; and

detection means for detecting whether the electronic apparatus is placed on the mount portion, and when said detection means has detected the presence of the electronic apparatus, said driving means moves the second connector toward the electronic apparatus.

27. The extension unit according to claim 26, wherein

said electronic apparatus having a bottom surface continuous with said rear surface, said mount portion having a mount surface on which said bottom surface is superposed, said detection means being disposed on said mount surface.

28. The extension unit according to claim 26, further comprising engaging means provided on said mount portion, said engaging means being movable between a lock position where the engaging means is engaged with the electronic apparatus and thereby holds the electronic apparatus on the mount portion, and an unlock position where the engaging means is disengaged from the electronic apparatus, said engaging means being moved to said lock position before said second connector is moved toward said electronic apparatus.

29. A method for installing an electronic apparatus in an extension unit having a mount portion on which the electronic apparatus is detachably mounted and a second connector movable towards or away from the electronic apparatus mounted on the mount portion, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting the electronic apparatus on the mount portion of the extension unit;

detecting whether an electronic apparatus is mounted on the mount portion and outputting a signal when an electronic apparatus is mounted on the mount portion; and

moving the second connector towards the electronic apparatus by using an electric motor driven in accordance with the signal and connecting the first connector to the second connector of the electronic apparatus.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein the electric apparatus mounted on the mount portion is held in a fixed position of the mount portion before the second connector is moved towards the apparatus, whereby the second connector and the first connector are aligned.

31. A method according to claim 29 further comprising a fourth method for detecting the position of the second connector and stopping the electric motor when the first connector and the second connector are connected.