Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-27
2003-04-29
Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S726000, C361S754000, C361S801000, C439S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06556436
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a function extending apparatus for information processing devices, and more particularly, to a function extending apparatus for an information processing device having a detachment mechanism for dislodging the apparatus from the information processing device safely and stably.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the use of a portable device having a CPU associated with memories and carrying out various processes such as information processing has been greatly increased. Accordingly, the use of a function extending apparatus for such a portable information processing device, which is optionally associated with the information processing device has also been increased. The function extending apparatus possesses functions which are not provided with the information processing device, and is attached to the information processing device when the functions contained in the function extending apparatus are desired. Therefore, it is preferable that the function extending apparatus has a structure by which it is easily attached to and separated from the information processing apparatus.
FIGS. 1 and 1A
are diagrams showing a conventional function extending apparatus
10
together with a notebook-type portable information processing device
11
.
In
FIG. 1
, the function extending apparatus
10
includes knobs
12
, screw portions
13
, an upper surface
14
, a connector
15
, and projecting portions
19
. The knobs
12
, located on right and left sides, respectively, of the apparatus
10
, are provided with the screw portion
13
as indicated in
FIG. 1A
, and the screw portion
13
is projected from the upper surface
14
of the function extending apparatus
10
. The connector
15
is provided on the upper surface
14
of the function extending apparatus
10
.
Also, as shown in
FIG. 1
, the information processing device
11
has screw holes
16
, each of which is located at a position corresponding to the screw portion
13
of the knobs
12
, and a connector
17
, which is engaged with the connector
15
of the function extending apparatus
10
, provided on a lower surface of the device
11
. In addition, holes
18
are provided on a side surface of the information processing device
11
.
The information processing device
11
may be used singularly or in combination with the function extending apparatus
10
. When the device
11
is used with the function extending apparatus
10
, each of the holes
18
of the information processing device
11
is engaged with the respective projecting portion
19
and then the connector
17
of the device
11
is engaged with the connector
15
of the apparatus
10
. After that, each of the knobs
12
is rotated a certain number of times so that the respective screw portion
13
may be driven into the screw hole
16
. In this manner, the function extending apparatus
10
is attached to the information processing device
11
.
When the function extending apparatus
10
is dislodged from the information processing-device
11
, each of the knobs
12
is rotated a certain number of times so that the respective screw portion
13
is unscrewed from the screw hole
16
and the connector
15
is separated from the connector
17
by applying a force to the function extending apparatus
10
and the information processing device
11
.
However, the number of pins used in the connector
15
(or connector
17
) has been increased in accordance with an improvement in function of the function extending apparatus
10
. For instance, the number of pins used to be about 26 in a normal connector but it is increased to about 200 these days. Thus, as a consequence, a large force of about 2-4 kg is required for disconnecting a connecter of a function extending apparatus from a connector of an information processing device, and hence it is not easy to separate the function extending apparatus from the information processing device.
Also, if such a strong force is applied to the connectors of the function extending apparatus and the information processing device in a faulty manner when the apparatus and the device are separated, there is a danger that the connectors of both may be damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a function extending apparatus in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a function extending apparatus which may prevent a destruction of connectors provided with the apparatus and the information processing device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachment mechanism for detaching a connector of a function extending apparatus which may be easily and readily operated by a user.
The objects described above are achieved by a function extending apparatus for an information processing device, including at least one connector, which connector is provided on a mounting surface of the function extending apparatus for mounting the information processing device, to be connected with at least one corresponding connector of the information processing device, which connector is provided on a lower surface of the information processing device, the connector of the function extending apparatus being connected to the connector of the information processing device when the information processing device is mounted on the function extending apparatus, the function extending apparatus comprising a pushing member which is moved in an upper direction so as to push up the information processing device mounted on the function extending apparatus from the function extending apparatus, an operation member which is operated to separate the information processing device from the function extending apparatus, and a push-up mechanism which moves the pushing member in the upper direction in connection with the operation of the operation member.
The objects described above are also achieved by the function extending apparatus for an information processing device, wherein the push-up mechanism moves the pushing member at a height sufficient for disconnecting the connector of the information processing device from the connector of the function extending apparatus.
According to the above function extending apparatus for an information processing device, since a pushing member moved in an upper direction so as to push up the information processing device from the function extending apparatus, an operation member operated to separate the information processing device from the function extending apparatus, and a push-up mechanism which moves the pushing member in the upper direction in connection with the operation of the operation member are provided and the push-up mechanism may move the pushing member at a height sufficient for disconnecting the connector of the information processing device from that of the function extending apparatus, the disconnection operation for the connectors may be easily performed by operating the operation member with no necessity to apply a strong force. Therefore, the information processing device may be separated from the function extending apparatus by simply holding up the device after the operation of the operation member. That is, the operation is simplified compared with a conventional function extending apparatus, in which screws are required to be unscrewed to separate it from an information processing device, and the operability of the step may be improved.
The objects described above are achieved by a function extending apparatus for an information processing device, including at least one connector, which connector is provided on a mounting surface of the function extending apparatus for mounting the information processing device, to be connected with at least one corresponding connector of the information processing device, which connector is provided on a lower surface of the information processing device,the connector of the function extending apparatus being connected to the connector of
Duong Hung Van
Fujitsu Limited
Schuberg Darren
LandOfFree
Function extending apparatus for information processing device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Function extending apparatus for information processing device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Function extending apparatus for information processing device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3025971