Keyboard dock and computer system

• US 8,937,803 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Hung, Ming-Hua, Wu, Wen-Chin
• Primary Examiner(s): Haughton, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US13/404,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20120307441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.08, 361/679.21, 361/679.22, 361/679.26, 36167927-6793, 36167955-67958, 361/679.33, 361/679.41, 710303-305, 345168-172
• US Class Current: 361/679.08
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials

Abstract

A keyboard dock and a computer system are provided. The computer system includes a portable computer and the keyboard dock. The keyboard dock includes a base, a supporting plate, a first bracket, a sleeve and a second bracket. The base has a keyboard module. The supporting plate is used for supporting the portable computer. Ends of the first bracket are pivotally connected to the base and the supporting plate respectively. The sleeve is movably assembled to the first bracket. One end of the second bracket is pivotally connected to the sleeve, and another end of the second bracket is pivotally connected to the base or the supporting plate. The second bracket is shorter than the first bracket. The supporting plate covers the base in a first state. The supporting plate obliquely stands on the base in a second state, and the keyboard module is not covered by the supporting plate.

Claims

1. A keyboard dock, comprising:

a base having a keyboard module;

a supporting plate used for supporting a portable computer;

a first bracket, two ends of the first bracket pivotally connected to the base and the supporting plate respectively;

a sleeve movably assembled to the first bracket;

a second bracket, an end of the second bracket pivotally connected to the sleeve, and another end of the second bracket pivotally connected to the base or the supporting plate, wherein the second bracket is shorter than the first bracket, in a first state the supporting plate covers the base, in a second state the supporting plate obliquely stands on the base and the keyboard module is not covered by the supporting plate; and

a pin set, disposed beside the keyboard module of the base and electrically connected to the keyboard module, wherein in the second state the pin set is used to electrically connect to the portable computer on the supporting plate.

2. The keyboard dock as claimed in claim 1, wherein an end of the first bracket is pivotally connected to a middle of a width direction of the supporting plate.

3. The keyboard dock as claimed in claim 1, wherein an end of the first bracket is pivotally connected to a side of the base distant from the keyboard module.

4. The keyboard dock as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first torsion spring and a second torsion spring, used to drive the keyboard dock to transform from the first state to the second state, wherein the first torsion spring is disposed between the first bracket and the base, the second torsion spring is disposed between the second bracket and the supporting plate.

5. The keyboard dock as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a compression spring, an end of the compression spring connected to the sleeve, another end of the compression spring connected to the end of the first bracket which is pivotally connecting the base, used to drive the keyboard dock transform from the first state to the second state.

6. The keyboard dock as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material of the first bracket, the sleeve and the second bracket is metal.

7. The keyboard dock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pin set has a magnet used to magnetically attract the portable computer on the supporting plate in the second state.

8. The keyboard dock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base further has a stopping portion, and the supporting plate leans against the stopping portion in the second state.

9. A computer system, comprising:

a portable computer;

a keyboard dock, comprising;

a base having a keyboard module;

a supporting plate used for supporting the portable computer;

a first bracket, two ends of the first bracket pivotally connected to the base and the supporting plate respectively;

a sleeve movably assembled to the first bracket;

a second bracket, one end of the second bracket pivotally connected to the sleeve, and another end of the second bracket pivotally connected to the base or the supporting plate, wherein the second bracket is shorter than the first bracket, in a first state the supporting plate covers the base, in a second state the supporting plate obliquely stands on the base and the keyboard module is not covered by the supporting plate; and

a pin set, disposed beside the keyboard module of the base and electrically connected to the keyboard module, wherein in the second state the pin set is used to electrically connect to the portable computer on the supporting plate.

10. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein an end of the first bracket is pivotally connected to a middle of a width direction of the supporting plate.

11. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein an end of the first bracket is pivotally connected to a side of the base distant from the keyboard module.

12. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the keyboard dock further comprises a first torsion spring and a second torsion spring, used to drive the keyboard dock to transform from the first state to the second state, wherein the first torsion spring is disposed between the first bracket and the base, the second torsion spring is disposed between the second bracket and the supporting plate.

13. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the keyboard dock further comprises a compression spring, an end of the compression spring connected to the sleeve, another end of the compression spring connected to the end of the first bracket which is pivotally connecting the base, used to drive the keyboard dock transform from the first state to the second state.

14. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein a material of the first bracket, the sleeve and the second bracket is metal.

15. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pin set has a magnet used to magnetically attract the portable computer on the supporting plate in the second state.

16. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base further has a stopping portion, and the supporting plate leans against the stopping portion in the second state.