Logo connector

• US 8,740,630 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fujino, Takane, Yonemochi, Kenshin, Andoh, Norihiro, Kobayashi, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US13/356,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20130189857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 439/67, 439/76.1, 439/700
• US Class Current: 439/76.1
• 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: H01R 12/523 by an interconnection through aligned holes in the boards or multilayer board
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/59 for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence

Abstract

An electronic device with a connector system is provided to give a user an improved appearance, functionality, and aesthetics. A connector system may comprise a housing, a circuit board mounted within the housing, and a plurality of externally accessible connectors. The housing may have a front side and a back side. The plurality of externally accessible connectors may be mounted directly on the circuit board within the housing, so that the plurality externally accessible connectors may extend substantially perpendicular from the plane of the circuit board and face the back side of the housing. The plurality of externally accessible connectors may comprise substantially flat metal plate.

Claims

1. A connector system, comprising:

an electronic computing device having a housing having a front side and a back side;

a circuit board mounted within the housing; and

a plurality of externally accessible connectors mounted on the circuit board within the housing, so that the plurality of externally accessible connectors extend from a plane of the circuit board and face the back side of the housing, wherein the plurality of externally accessible connectors are arranged into at least one pattern comprising a logo, wherein the plurality of externally accessible connectors comprise a substantially flat metal plate, and wherein the plurality of externally accessible connectors comprise at least a first set of externally accessible connectors.

2. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of externally accessible connectors are separated by insulated materials.

3. The connector system of claim 2, wherein the insulated materials form a plurality of channels.

4. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of externally accessible connectors include a second set of externally accessible connectors.

5. The connector system of claim 4, wherein the first set of externally accessible connectors are arranged into a first pattern and the second set of externally accessible connectors are arranged in a second pattern.

6. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the circuit board comprises a flexible printed circuit board.

7. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the second pattern comprises a second logo.

8. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of externally accessible connectors are configured to releasably couple to a power supply and a data communicator.

9. The connector system of claim 1, wherein the front side of the housing is adapted to receive a display screen.

10. A computer tablet apparatus comprising:

a plurality of connectors disposed at an exterior surface of a housing of the computer tablet apparatus, the plurality of connectors being substantially flat including at least a first set of connectors disposed at a first place of the external surface of the housing, and a second set of connectors disposed at a second place away from the first place of the external surface of the housing, wherein the plurality of connectors are arranged into a product logo,

wherein the plurality of connectors are externally accessible, and

wherein the first set of connectors are arranged into a first pattern, and the second set of connectors are arranged into a second pattern.

11. The electronic computing apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a first circuit board, wherein the first set of connectors are mounted on the first circuit board directly.

12. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a housing having a front side and a back side, wherein the front side is adapted to receive a display screen; and

a plurality of externally accessible connectors mounted on the back side of the housing, wherein the plurality of externally accessible connectors are arranged into a plurality of patterns, wherein at least one of the plurality of patterns comprise a logo, wherein the plurality of externally accessible connectors are adapted to transfer power, wherein the plurality of externally accessible connectors include at least a first set of externally accessible connectors.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of externally accessible connectors include a second set of externally accessible connectors.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 13, wherein the first set of externally accessible connectors are connected to a first circuit board.