Electronic apparatus with keyboard module which can be rotated and hidden

• US 6,700,774 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Wu-Yung, Chien, Chung-Chi, Cheng, Chih-Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Yean Hsi
• Application Number:
  US10/073,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20030151888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679-686, 361/724-727
• US Class Current: 361/679.2
• 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 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

Electronic apparatus with keyboard module which can be rotated and hidden. The electronic apparatus includes an electronic apparatus main body and a keyboard module. One side of the main body is provided with pivot notches. The keyboard module is pivotally connected with the side of the main body via bracket members freely pivotally inlaid in the pivot notches. The keyboard module can be turned rearward to attach to back face of the main body and hidden behind the main body for easy carriage. In addition to the virtual keyboard on the operation panel of the electronic apparatus, a user can alternatively pivot the keyboard module toward the operation panel for quickly keying in data.

Claims

1. Electronic apparatus with keyboard module which can be rotated and hidden, the electronic apparatus comprising an electronic apparatus main body and a keyboard module, one side of the main body being provided with pivot sections,

wherein a front face of the main body is provided with an operation panel, one side of the keyboard module being pivotally connected with one side of the main body via the pivot sections, a set of keys being arranged on the front face of the keyboard module, the keyboard module being pivotable on one side of the main body, whereby the keyboard module can be turned forward and supported by a certain angle from the operation panel of the main body or the keyboard module can be turned rearward to attach to a back face of the main body and hidden behind the main body, and

wherein the other side of the main body is also provided with pivot sections for pivotally connecting with a support cover, the support cover being overlaid on the back face of the main body, whereby the keyboard module is arranged to be hidden between the support cover and the back face of the main body.

2. Electronic apparatus with keyboard module which can be rotated and hidden as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot sections provided on said one side of the main body are composed of a pivot notch and a pivotable bracket member inlaid in the pivot notch.

3. Electronic apparatus with keyboard module which can be rotated and hidden as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot section is composed of a pivot notch and a pivotable bracket member inlaid in the pivot notch.

4. Electronic apparatus with keyboard module which can be rotated and hidden as claimed in claim 3, wherein a fixed end of a first rotary shaft is pivotally positioned in a lateral side of the pivot notch, a movable end of the first rotary shaft extending into the pivot notch and being connected with a connecting section of the bracket member.

5. Electronic apparatus with keyboard module which can be rotated and hidden as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bracket member has a connecting section and a fixing section respectively at two ends, a linking plate being connected between the connecting section and the fixing section.

6. Electronic apparatus with keyboard module which can be rotated and hidden as claimed in claim 5, wherein an engaging section projects from a front face of the linking plate, a free end of the engaging section being formed with an inclined cut face, whereby the cut face can correspondingly abut against an inner side of the pivot notch of the main body so as to firmly support the keyboard module.