Connection assembly of computer and port replicator

Details Connection assembly of computer and port replicator Connection assembly of computer and port replicator

1999-06-15

2001-03-27

Ngo, Hung N. (Department: 2874)

Optical waveguides

With disengagable mechanical connector

Structure surrounding optical fiber bundle-to-bundle connection

C385S134000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06206578

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connection assembly of a computer and a port replicator through which signals can be transmitted using light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a notebook computer
10
has a plurality of ports
11
at the rear side thereof for connecting external peripheral devices such as a monitor, a printer, a mouse, a keyboard, and an external hard disk drive. Also, card slots for connecting PCMCIA cards are provided inside the notebook computer
10
. The notebook computer
10
is usually used at different places, for example, at home and at office. Accordingly, whenever connection to a LAN, a printer, or a keyboard is required, the corresponding external peripheral devices are inconveniently connected to the ports
11
.
A port replicator
20
, connected to a portable computer such as a notebook computer, receives signals of multiple channels generated from the notebook computer and distributes the signals to each of the peripheral devices. The port replicator
20
has been developed to compensate for the above disadvantage of the portable computer. The port replicator
20
has a connector
25
connected to the notebook computer
10
for transmitting signals, and a plurality of ports
21
connected to the peripheral devices.
To connect the notebook computer
10
and the port replicator
20
by means of a mechanical connection, a conventional connection assembly of a computer and a replicator includes first and second connectors
15
and
25
installed at the computer
10
and the port replicator
20
, respectively, and a coupling means
30
installed at the rear surface of the port replicator
20
for coupling the port replicator
20
to the notebook computer
10
.
The coupling means
30
includes a groove
31
formed at the rear surface of the notebook computer
10
and a hook member
33
installed on the replicator
20
at a position corresponding to the groove
31
for pivoting. Accordingly, by positioning the port replicator
20
to the rear of the notebook computer
10
and pivoting the hook member
33
, the hook member
33
is coupled to the groove
31
so that the port replicator
20
can be locked to the notebook computer
10
.
The first connector
15
has pins of about
240
units for transmission of signals output from a PCI bus, a video port, a print port, a mouse, and a COM port. The second connector
25
has a number of pin holders that corresponds to the number of pins of the first connector
15
so that each of the pins of the first connector
15
can be connected to the corresponding pin holder of the second connector
25
. Here, the pins and pin holders are formed of a metal such as copper (Cu) exhibiting superior electrical conductivity. Therefore, repeated connections and disconnections between the first and second connectors
15
and
25
may damage the pins and the pin holders and cause a connection defect therebetween, thus lowering the reliability and shortening the life span of products. Furthermore, the transmission of signals, such as electrical signals, has been an obstacle to reduction of electromagnetic interference (EMI).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a connection assembly of a computer and a port replicator in which signals between the computer and the port replicator can be transmitted using light by a non-contact method.
Accordingly, to achieve the above objective, there is provided a connection assembly of a computer and a port replicator which distributes a plurality of signals generated from the computer to each of a plurality of peripheral devices which comprises a first optical connecter installed at the computer for transmitting input signals using light; a second optical connecter installed at the port replicator to correspond to the first optical connecter for transmitting input signals using light; and means for coupling the first and second optical connecters to communicate with each other.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4653845 (1987-03-01), Tremblay et al.
patent: 5394503 (1995-02-01), Dietz, Jr. et al.
patent: 62-6709 (1987-01-01), None
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patent: 7-281801 (1995-10-01), None
patent: 9-5580 (1997-01-01), None
patent: 9-237942 (1997-09-01), None

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