Flexible I/O connection system and method

• US 7,540,748 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Doczy, Paul J., Tracy, Mark S., Yin, Memphis-Zhihong
• Primary Examiner(s): HARVEY, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US11/786,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20080254684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 439 13- 24, 439/27, 439/131, 439/928.1
• US Class Current: 439/131
• 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 1/1656 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: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

A flexible input/output (I/O) connection system comprises an electronic device having a housing with at least one I/O window for receiving a connection to an external device, and a hub disposed in the housing and having a plurality of I/O connectors, the hub movable within the housing to position a select one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a housing;

a display connected to the housing; and

a hub in the housing and including a plurality of different input/output (I/O) connectors that are accessible through an I/O window, wherein the hub is rotatable within the housing to position one of the plurality of different I/O connectors in the I/O window to connect the computer to an external electronic device.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different I/O connectors includes a universal serial bus (USB) connector and an alternating current (AC) connector.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein the hub has eight sides.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the computer is a notebook computer.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the hub is manually rotatable about a post by a user of the computer to select one of the plurality of different I/O connectors in the I/O window.

6. The computer of claim 1, further comprising at least one locking element configured to releasably secure one of the plurality of different I/O connectors in the I/O window.

7. The computer of claim 1, further comprising at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the hub in a particular position relative to the housing.

8. A method, comprising:

providing a computer having a display and a housing with at least one input/output (I/O) window that connects to an external device; and

disposing a hub in the housing and having a plurality of I/O connectors, the hub movable within the housing to position a select one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the hub in a particular position relative to the housing.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the select one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising positioning the hub on a post to facilitate rotation of the hub within the I/O window.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring the hub with at least two different types of I/O connectors.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling the hub to the housing to enable manual actuation of the hub by a user of the computer to place one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window.

14. A computer, comprising:

a housing;

a display connected to the housing; and

a hub including a plurality of input/output (I/O) connectors that are accessible through an I/O window, wherein the hub is movable within the housing to position one of the plurality of I/O connectors in the I/O window to connect the computer to an external electronic device.

15. The computer of claim 14, wherein the hub is rotatable within the housing.

16. The computer of claim 14, wherein the hub has different I/O connectors on three different side faces.

17. The computer of claim 14, wherein the hub is manually actuatable by a user of the computer to place one of the plurality of I/O connectors facing outwardly from the housing.

18. The computer of claim 14, further comprising at least one locking element configured to releasably secure one of the plurality of I/O connectors facing outwardly from the housing.

19. The computer of claim 14, further comprising at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the hub in a particular position relative to the housing.

20. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing with a display; and

a hub including a plurality of different input/output (I/O) connectors that are accessible through an I/O window, wherein the hub is movable within the housing to position different ones of the plurality of different I/O connectors in the I/O window to connect the electronic device to external electronic devices.

21. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the plurality if different I/O connectors includes an alternating current (AC) connector.

22. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the hub is manually rotatable by a user of the electronic device.

23. The electronic device of claim 20, further comprising at least one locking element configured to releasably secure the hub in at least one of the at least two different positions.

24. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein at least two of the plurality of I/O connectors comprise different types of I/O connectors.