EP0432803A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Function expanding apparatus and connector unit for compact electronic device
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1990-12-14
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2010-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A function expanding apparatus for a compact electronic device includes a casing (11) having a supporting portion (21), and a supporting plate (31) attached to the casing to be movable in a predetermined direction. A pair of retaining portions (35) are formed on the supporting plate. The rear portion of the electronic device is mounted on the supporting portion and is positioned in its width direction by a pair of positioning members (20) provided at the supporting portion. The front end portion of the electronic device is mounted on the supporting plate and, the retaining portions engage the front edge of the electronic device so as to restrain the movement of the electronic device in the depth direction thereof. The position of the retaining portion is adjusted by moving the supporting plate, in accordance with the depth of the mounted electronic device.
Inventors
- 👤 Takaichi C/O Intel. Property Div. Kobayashi
- 👤 Kazuya C/O Intel. Property Div. Shibasaki
- 👤 Takashi C/O Intel. Property Div. Hosoi
- 👤 Masami C/O Intel. Property Div. Honda
- 👤 Kazuyoshi C/O Kel Corporation Takahashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1632; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus associated with a substantially rectangular compact electronic device and adapted to expand the function thereof, said compact electronic device having a rear face with a connector thereon and a front edge portion opposing the rear face, said apparatus characterized by comprising: a casing (12) containing therein a circuit board (16) for function expansion, said casing having a supporting portion (21) for bearing the rear portion of the electronic device (1) in a manner such that the front portion of the electronic device, including the front edge portion, extends in a predetermined direction from the casing; an apparatus-side connector (81) provided at the casing, connected electrically to the circuit board, and removably connected to the connector (6) of the electronic device set on the supporting portion; and means for holding the electronic device on the supporting portion while the connector of the electronic device is connected to the apparatus-side connector, said holding means including a retaining portion (35) for engaging the front edge portion of the electronic device on the supporting portion to restrain the movement of the electronic device in said predetermined direction, said retaining portion being connected to the casing to be movable in said predetermined direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said casing (12) includes means for positioning the rear portion of the electronic device (1) set on the supporting portion (21) with respect to the casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said positioning means includes a pair of positioning members (20) provided at the supporting portion (21), for individually engaging two opposite side faces of the electronic device (1) on the supporting portion so as to restrain the width-direction movement of the electronic device with respect to the casing (12).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said positioning means includes a step portion (14a) formed on the casing (12), for engaging the rear face of the electronic device (1) on the supporting portion (21).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said holding means includes a supporting plate (31) mounted on the casing (21) for movement in said predetermined direction, and said retaining portion (35) is disposed on the supporting plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said supporting plate (31) is movable between a retracted position in which the supporting plate is concealed under the casing (21) and a desired drawn-out position reached when the supporting plate is drawn out in said predetermined direction from the casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said holding means includes locking means for locking the supporting plate (31) to the retracted position and the desired drawn-out position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said locking means includes a plurality of engaging portions (60, 61) formed on the supporting plate (31) and arranged at predetermined intervals in said predetermined direction, a stopper (50) provided on the casing (21) so as to face the engaging portions and being engageable each engaging portion, and an urging member (55) urging the stopper toward the supporting plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said locking means includes means for releasing the stopper (50) from the engagement with the engaging portion (60, 61), said releasing means including a cam member (57) provided on the casing (12) to be movable between a release position, in which the stopper is allowed to move to a position off the engaging portion, and a locked position off the stopper, a second urging member (45) urging the cam member toward the locked position, and a release switch for moving the cam member to the release position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said holding means includes at least one index (63, 64) provided on the supporting plate (31) and indicative of the distance of draw-out of the supporting plate (31) from the casing (12).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said holding means includes urging means (62) for applying an urging force in the draw-out direction to the supporting plate (31) when the supporting plate is moved to the retracted position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for supporting said apparatus-side connector (81) on the casing (12) so that the apparatus-side connector is movable in the direction to approach and leave the connector (6) of the electronic device on the supporting portion (21).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said supporting means includes a connector holder (72) mounted on the casing (12) and a slider (74) supported for movement in the direction to approach and leave on the connector holder and holding the apparatus-side connector (81).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that said supporting means includes an operating portion (76) for moving the slider (74), said operating portion being operable from the outside of the casing (12).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that said connector holder (72) is removably mounted on the casing (12).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that said casing (12) has a fitting hole (18), and said connector holder (72) includes a plurality of fitting pieces (94) engaging the edge of the fitting hole, each said fitting piece being formed of a material capable of elastic deformation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, characterized by further comprising a signal cable (95) extending from the apparatus-side connector (81) into the casing (12) through the connector holder (72) and the fitting hole (18), and a protection cover (114) attached to the connector holder, for preventing the signal cable from being caught in between the fitting pieces (94) and the edge of the fitting hole.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said protection cover (114) is in the form of a substantially semicylinder having a pair of end portions fixed to the connector holder (72) and a through hole (116) formed between the end portions, and said signal cable (95) extends between the end portions and through the through hole.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus associated with a substantially rectangular compact electronic device and adapted to expand the function thereof, said compact electronic device having a rear face with a connector thereon and a front edge portion opposing the rear face, said apparatus characterized by comprising: a casing (12) containing therein a circuit board (16) for function expansion, said casing having a supporting portion (21) for bearing the electronic device (1); an apparatus-side connector (81) provided at the casing, connected electrically to the circuit board, and removably connected to the connector (6) of the electronic device set on the supporting portion; and means for holding the electronic device on the supporting portion, said holding means including a retaining portion (35) for engaging the front edge portion of the electronic device on the supporting portion to restrain the movement of the electronic device in a direction such that the connector of the electronic device is disengaged from the apparatus-side connector, said retaining portion being connected to the casing to be movable in said direction.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus associated with a substantially rectangular compact electronic device and adapted to expand the function thereof, said compact electronic device having a rear face with a connector thereon and a front edge portion opposing the rear face, said apparatus characterized by comprising: a casing (12) containing therein a circuit board (16) for function expansion, said casing having a supporting portion (21) for bearing the electronic device (1); and a connector unit (71) provided on the casing to face the rear face of the electronic device set on the supporting portion, said unit including an apparatus-side connector (81), connected electrically to the circuit board and removably connected to the connector (6) of the electronic device on the supporting portion, and means for supporting the apparatus-side connector for movement depending on the position of the connector of the electronic device on the supporting portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
98 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that said connector unit (71) includes a holding portion (118) housing at least part of the apparatus-side connector (81), said supporting means includes first and second supporting members (120a, 120b) opposed to each other in the holding portion, and said apparatus-side connector is held between the first and second supporting members to be slidable in the direction to approach and leave the connector (6) of the electronic device (1) on the supporting portion and in the direction parallel to the rear face of the electronic device on the supporting portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that said first and second supporting members (120a, 120b) are formed of a material capable of elastic deformation, and said apparatus-side connector (81) is movable in the height direction the electronic device (1) on the supporting portion (21) as the first and second supporting members undergo elastic deformation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that each of said first and second supporting members (120a, 120b) is formed of a leaf spring extending substantially parallel to the rear face of the electronic device (1) on the supporting portion (21).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
103 words
A connector unit associated with an external apparatus to which an electronic device having a connector is connected, said connector unit characterized by comprising: a connector holder (72) mountable on the external apparatus; a slider (74) supported on the connector holder for reciprocation in a predetermined direction; a connector body (81) supported on the slider, connected electrically to the external apparatus, and movable between a retreated position and an advanced position in which the connector body is engageable to the connector (6) of the electronic device (1); and operating means (76) connected to the slider, for moving the slider in said predetermined direction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A unit according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising means for supporting said connector body (81) for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
A unit according to claim 25, characterized in that said connector holder (71) has a pair of side walls (72a) facing each other, and a bottom wall (72b) connecting the side walls, and said slider (74) extends between the side walls and has a pair of end portions supported by the side walls to be movable in said predetermined direction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
74 words
A unit according to claim 26, characterized in that said connector body (81) is situated between the slider (74) and the bottom wall (72b) of the connector holder (72), and said supporting means includes a first elastic member (82) disposed between the connector body and the slider and a second elastic member (83) disposed between the bottom wall and the connector body, said connector body being held between the first and second elastic members.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A unit according to claim 27, characterized in that said slider (74) has a through hole (87), and said connector body (81) includes an engaging portion (88) penetrating the first elastic member (82) and fitted into the through hole.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A unit according to claim 28, characterized by further comprising positioning means for positioning the connector body (81) with respect to the slider (74).
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
A unit according to claim 29, characterized in that said positioning means includes a positioning portion formed in the through hole (87) and means (86) for urging the engaging portion (88) of the connector body (81) toward the positioning portion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
63 words
A unit according to claim 26, characterized in that said operating means includes a pair of rocking arms (77) and a handle (76) connecting the rocking arms, said rockable arms being rockably attached individually to the side walls (72a) of the connector holder (72) and individually engaging the end portions of the slider (74) so as to be rockable as the slider moves.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A unit according to claim 31, characterized by further comprising means for locking said connector body (81) to the advanced position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
A unit according to claim 32, characterized in that said locking means includes a locking member (100) engageable with one of the arms (77) to restrain the arm from rocking, when the connector body (81) is moved to the advanced position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A unit according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising means for removably mounting the connector holder (72) to a mountable portion of the external apparatus.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
A unit according to claim 34, characterized in that said mounting means includes a plurality of fitting pieces (94) protruding from the connector holder (72), for engaging the mountable portion, each said fitting piece being formed of a material capable of elastic deformation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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