Expansion unit for an electronic device

• US 7,933,118 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Huang-Lin, Chiu, Chih-Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards; Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/191,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20090231793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.43, 361/679.44, 361/679.05
• US Class Current: 361/679.44
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/025 having a flexible conductor wound around a rotation axis
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

An expansion unit detachably assembled to an electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a device connector on one side thereof. The expansion unit for the electronic device includes a base, a pivoting mechanism, and an expansion unit connector. The pivoting mechanism is located on one side of the base, and includes a shaft and a bearing fitting therewith. The expansion unit connector is disposed in the shaft and rotated along with the shaft in the bearing, and is detachably and electrically connected to the device connector. When the expansion unit connector is connected to the device connector, the position of the electronic device relative to the base may be adjusted by the pivoting mechanism.

Claims

1. An expansion unit for an electronic device adapted to be detachably assembled to the electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a device connector on one side thereof, the expansion unit for the electronic device comprising:

a base;

a pivoting mechanism located on one side of the base and comprising a shaft and a bearing fitting therewith, wherein the shaft is rotated about a rotation axis relative to a bearing on the electronic device; and

an expansion unit connector disposed in the shaft and rotated along with the shaft relative to the bearing fitting, and being detachably and electrically connected to the device connector along a movement axis that is substantially parallel to the rotation axis and further comprising another shaft disposed on another side of the base for fitting the bearing disposed on another side of the electronic device;

wherein when the expansion unit connector is connected to the device connector, the position of the electronic device relative to the base is adjusted by the pivoting mechanism.

2. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission line connected to the expansion unit connector and extending into the base, wherein a section of the transmission line winds around the shaft.

3. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the pivoting mechanism further comprises a housing for accommodating the shaft and the transmission line.

4. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a keyboard module disposed on the base and electrically connected to the device connector of the electronic device through the transmission line and the expansion unit connector.

5. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a battery module disposed in the base and electrically connected to the device connector of the electronic device through the transmission line and the expansion unit connector.

6. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft provides a torsion relative to the electronic device and the expansion unit.

7. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the other shaft provides a torsion relative to the electronic device and the expansion unit.

8. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an adjusting mechanism disposed between the pivoting mechanism and the base for adjusting a distance between the pivoting mechanism and the base.

9. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 8, the adjusting mechanism comprises:

a slide rail disposed on the base;

a slide member slid along the slide rail between an extended position and a retracted position; and

a reset member disposed between the slide rail and the slide member for forcing the slide member to slide towards the extended position.

10. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the adjusting mechanism further comprises:

a stop member disposed on the slide rail for defining a sliding range of the slide member relative to the slide rail.

11. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the adjusting mechanism further comprises:

a trigger pivotally disposed on the slide rail for buckling the slide member at the retracted position; and

another reset member disposed between the trigger and the slide rail.

12. The expansion unit for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the movement axis coincides with the rotated axis.