Patent EP0530453A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0530453A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic apparatus, card-type electronic component used with the electronic apparatus, and electronic system with expanding apparatus for expanding function of electronic apparatus
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1992-06-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A personal computer includes a box-shaped body (1) having a card storing section (108) for storing a memory card. An operating opening portion (105) is formed by cutting an edge of the body to a given size and externally accessible by a finger, and the storing section communicates with the opening portion through an inlet opening (107). An ejector mechanism (115) for ejecting the card from the card storing section includes a card receiver (116) arranged in the storing section for receiving the card inserted through the inlet opening. A drawer member (125) is mounted on the card receiver and has an operating end portion. The operating end portion is located within the operating opening portion when the drawer member is moved to its pushed-in position while the card receiver is in its first position and outwardly projects through the operating opening portion when the drawer member is moved to its drawn-out position while the card receiver is in its first position. When the drawer member is drawn outside the body form its drawn-out position, the card receiver along with the received card is moved from its first position to its second position in accordance with the movement of the drawer member.
Inventors
- 👤 Youji C/O Intellectual Property Division Satou
- 👤 Katumaru c/o Intellectual Property Div. Sasaki
- 👤 Shigeru C/O Intellectual Property Div. Sekine
- 👤 Tetsuo c/o Intellectual Property Div. Makino
- 👤 Sadao c/o Intellectual Property Div. Makita
- 👤 Ryo c/o Intellectual Property Div. Hosoya
- 👤 Masami c/o Intellectual Property Div. Honda
- 👤 Satoru c/o Intellectual Property Div. Arai
- 👤 Kazuaki c/o Intellectual Property Div. Kawabata
- 👤 Masaaki c/o Intellectual Property Div. Takada
- 👤 Koichi c/o Intellectual Property Div. Kaji
- 👤 Kanji c/o Intellectual Property Div. Inoue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1615; G06F1/1616; G06F1/1632; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1637; G06F1/1656; G06F1/1675; G06F1/1679; G06F1/1683; H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0256; H05K5/0286; H05K5/0295; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/946
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
353 words
An electronic apparatus comprising: a box-shaped body (1); a card-shaped electronic device (97, 100) to be loaded in the body; an operating opening portion (105) formed by cutting an edge of the body to a given size and externally accessible by a finger; a card storing section (108) formed in the body and having an inlet opening (107) open to the operating opening portion, for storing the card-shaped electronic device inserted through the inlet opening; and an ejection mechanism (115) for ejecting the card-shaped electronic device from the card storing section; characterized in that: said ejection mechanism (115) includes: a card receiver (116) arranged within the card storing section (108), for receiving the card-shaped electronic device inserted through the inlet opening, the card receiver having a pressing portion (117, 164) for abutting against a front end of the card-shaped electronic device received by the receiver and being movable in an insertion direction of the card-shaped electronic device between a first position wherein the card-shaped electronic device received by the receiver is stored in the card storing section and a second position wherein a rear end portion of the card-shaped electronic device received by the receiver projects outward from the inlet opening and the operating opening portion; a drawer member (125) attached to the receiver and movable in the insertion direction between a pushed-in position and a drawn-out position, the drawer member having an operating end portion allowing a finger to be hooked, the operating end portion being located within the operating opening portion when the drawer member is moved to its pushed-in position while the card receiver is in its first position and outwardly projecting through the operating opening portion when the drawer member is moved to its drawn-out position while the card receiver is in its first position; and connecting means for engaging the card receiver and the drawer member when the drawer member is moved to the drawn-out position so as to move the card receiver from the first position to the second position in accordance with the movement of the drawer member from the drawn-out position toward the inlet opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said card receiver (116) is realized in the form of a tray and includes a bottom wall having a size substantially equal to that of the card shaped electronic device (97, 100) and a pair of lateral walls extending in the insertion direction of the card-shaped electronic device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said card receiver (116) is made from a conductive metal plate and electrically connected to the body (1) and each of the lateral walls of the card receiver has a contact portion (124) projecting toward the other lateral wall, said card-shaped electronic device (97, 100) comprises a conductive portion (160) for contacting the contact portion as the device is received in the card receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said body (1) comprises a flat wall section (81) constituting a bottom of the card storing section, and a pair of guide walls (109) standing from the wall section and extending in the insertion direction, and said card receiver (116) is slidably arranged on the wall section and between the pair of guide walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said card-shaped electronic device (97, 100) comprises a connector (156) disposed on the front end with respect to the insertion direction, and by further comprising a connector (110) mounted the wall section (81), for engaging with the connector of the card-shaped electronic device when the card receiver (116) receiving the device is moved to the first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said connector (110) of the body (1) comprises an upper surface substantially parallel to the wall section (81), and said pressing portion of the card receiver includes a pair of projections (117) for abutting against the front end of the card-shaped electronic device (97, 100), and a connecting member (164) connecting the projections to each other and extending toward the connector of the body, the connecting member having a given width so that the connecting member slides on the upper surface of the connector of the body when the card receiver is moved from the first position to the second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said ejection mechanism (115) comprises restricting means (118) for limiting the movement of the card receiver (116) between the first and second positions, said restricting means having recesses (120) formed in the respective guide walls (109) and projections (119) projecting from the respective lateral walls of the card receiver into the corresponding respective recesses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
145 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said card receiver (116) comprises a pair of slits (128) formed in the bottom wall and extending in the insertion direction of the card-shaped electronic device (97, 100), and said drawer member (125) is made from a flat sheet and comprises an operating section (125a) including said operating end portion and mounted on the bottom wall of the card receiver so as to be slidable in the insertion direction, an elongated aperture (130) formed in the operating section and extending in the insertion direction, and a pair of hook portions (127) projecting from the operating section in opposite directions through the respective slits, said card receiver comprising a guide pin (131) fixed to the bottom wall of the card receiver and running through the elongated aperture, said hook portions and guide pin constituting said connecting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
A card-shaped electronic device used with an electronic apparatus, said device characterized by comprising: a rectangular flat box-like main-body to be inserted into and taken out of the portable electronic apparatus in a given insertion direction, the main-body having a pair of lateral sides extending in the insertion direction; a pair of shield plates (154) fixed to the main-body to cover the upper and lower surfaces of the main-body; and a conductive portion (160) arranged on the lateral side of the main-body and electrically connected to the shield plates, for conducting the shield plates with the electronic apparatus when the main-body is loaded in the electronic apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electronic device according to claim 9, characterized in that said main-body comprises a substantially rectangular circuit board (152) mounted with semiconductors (150) and a rectangular mold frame (153) fitted to the periphery of the circuit board to form the lateral sides of the main-body, said conductive portion (160) being disposed on the mold frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electronic device according to claim 10, characterized in that said mold frame (153) includes recesses (157) formed on the lateral sides and each of said shield plates (154) is made from a metal fixed to the mold frame and includes bent portions (159) which are fitted in the recesses and constitute the conductive portion (160).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic device according to claim 10, characterized by further comprising a connector (156) adapted to be connected to the electronic apparatus, the connector being fixed to a front end of the mold frame (153) with respect to the insertion direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronic device according to claim 12, characterized by further comprising a second connector (99) to which an external device is to be connected, the second connector being fixed to a rear end of the mold frame (153) with respect to the insertion direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electronic device according to claim 10, characterized in that said shield plates (154) are electrically connected to the circuit board (152), and said conductive portion (160) is made from a metal piece fixed to a lateral side of the mold frame and electrically connected to the circuit board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electronic device according to claim 10, characterized in that said shield plates (154) are electrically connected to the circuit board (152), and said conductive portion (160) is made from a metal piece fixed to a lateral side of the mold frame and includes an extension extending to the shield plates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
121 words
An electronic apparatus capable of incorporating a card-shaped electronic device, said apparatus comprising: a flat box-like body (1); a keyboard (60) arranged on a front portion of an upper surface of the body; and a display (2) rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the body (1); characterized in that: said display (2) includes a pivotal portion (3) rotatably mounted on a rear end portion of the upper surface of the body; and a card storing section (108) for storing the card-shaped electronic device is formed within the body and located between the keyboard (60) and the pivotal portion of the display, the card storing section having a card inlet opening (107) open to a lateral side face of the body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
149 words
An electronic apparatus comprising: a flat box-like body (1); and a display (2) rotatably mounted on the body; characterized in that: said display (2) includes: a display main-body having a substantially rectangular bottom case (11), and a cover (12) attached to the bottom case with a given space therebetween and having an opening (12b); a flat plate-like liquid crystal display section (17) arranged within the display main-body and opposite to the opening; and an elongated fluorescent lamp (24) for illuminating the liquid crystal display section, the fluorescent lamp being arranged within the display main-body and extending along a lateral edge of the display section; said display main-body including a rib (34) projecting from the inner surface of the bottom case toward the cover and extending along the fluorescent lamp to protect the fluorescent lamp, the rib having a height of projection greater than a diameter of the fluorescent lamp.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said display (2) comprises a drive unit (20) for driving the liquid crystal display section (17), the drive unit being arranged within the display main-body between the liquid crystal display section and the fluorescent lamp (34).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said display (2) comprises a connecting member (27) for connecting the liquid crystal display section (17) and the drive unit (20) by clamping edge portions of the display section and drive unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
287 words
An electronic apparatus comprising: a flat box-like body (1); a keyboard (60) arranged on a front portion of an upper surface of the body; a display (2) having a pivotal portion attached to a rear end portion of the upper surface of the body and rotatable between a closed position where the display covers the keyboard and an opened position where the display exposes the keyboard, the display comprising a main body which includes a substantially rectangular bottom case (11) having a lateral wall (11a) erected along a peripheral edge of the bottom case and a cover (12) fitted to the bottom case with a given space therebetween, and a liquid crystal display section arranged within the display main body; and a latch mechanism (40) for holding the display in the closed position; characterized in that: said latch mechanism (40) comprise: an operation knob (41) slidably disposed on an outer surface of the lateral wall (11a) of the bottom case (11); a hook (44) projecting from the operation knob into the bottom case through the lateral wall; a slider (47) arranged inside the lateral wall so as to oppose the operation knob and movable integral with the control knob, the slider including a slider main body having a through hole through which the hook passes, an engaging portion (54) engaged with the hook, and a latch claw (48) projecting from the slider main body through the cover; a projection (56) protruding from the cover and abutting against the hook, for preventing the hook from moving in a direction for disengaging from the engaging portion; and a latch portion (57) provided at the body, for engaging the latch claw when the display is rotated to the closed position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that said slider main-body comprises a tubular member having a inner bore constituting said through hole, said engaging portion (54) includes a projection protruding from the tubular member into the inner bore, said slider (47) comprises a pair of guide rods (49, 50) projecting from the slider main-body in opposite directions in the direction of movement of the operation knob, and a pair of receiving portions (51, 52) formed on the inside of the lateral wall (11a) of the bottom case (11) for guiding the guide rods.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
121 words
An electronic apparatus comprising: a flat box-like body (1) including an upper case (1a) having an opening and a lower case (1b) fitted to the upper case; a keyboard (60) fixed to the upper case and located within the opening; and a display (2) rotatably mounted on an outer surface of the upper case; characterized by further comprising: a mount plate (67) fixed to an inner surface of the upper case (1a) to cover the underside of the keyboard (60); a memory device (71) mounted on the mount plate; a circuit board (75, 76) fixed to the mount plate and mounted with a number of electronic elements; and a connecting cable (78a) for electrically connecting the display and the circuit board.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that said mount plate (67) is conductive and constitutes a shield plate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electronic apparatus comprising: a flat box-like body (1); and a keyboard (60) arranged on the body; characterized in that: said keyboard (60) includes a number of keys (63) arranged with predetermined intervals to constitute a key array having a substantially rectangular outline as a whole, each of the keys, except those ones which constitute the outermost lines of the key array, having a rectangular top face (63a) and four slanting faces (63c) which extend obliquely from the respective sides of the top face with a predetermined angle to the top face so as to spread downward, and each of the keys, which constitute the outermost lines, includes a rectangular top face and four slanting faces obliquely extending downward from the respective sides of the top face with the predetermined angle to the top face except for the slanting surface on the outline of the key array, the tilt angle of the slanting face (63e) on the outline of the key array being greater than the predetermined angle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that that slanting surface (63e) of each of the keys (63) which is located on the outerline of the key array is perpendicular to the top surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electronic apparatus comprising: a box-like body (1) having a bottom wall; and a plurality of electronic elements arranged within the body, said electronic elements including highly heat-radiating elements disposed adjacent to the bottom wall of the body; characterized by further comprising: a number of projections (1d) arranged on that area of an outer surface of the bottom wall which is in the vicinity of said heat-radiating elements, for preventing fingers from directly touching the outer surface of the bottom wall.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that said projections (1d) are arranged with intervals which prevent insertion of fingers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that said projections (1d) are elongated and arranged substantially in parallel with one another.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that each of said projections (1d) has a shape of a prism.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
228 words
An electronic system comprising: an electronic apparatus including a box-like body (1) which has a rear surface provided with a first connector (207) and an engaging portion arranged on an front end portion of the body; and an expanding apparatus (215) for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus; characterized in that: said expanding apparatus comprises: a body case (216) having a bearing surface (219) for bearing the electronic apparatus; a second connector (227) provided on the body case to face the rear surface of the body of the electronic apparatus placed on the bearing surface and adapted to be releasably connected with the first connector when the body is moved to a predetermined connecting position on the bearing surface; expanding means (217) arranged within the body case and connected to the second connector, for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus; a fixing member (170) arranged on the body case and movable between a projected position wherein the fixing member engages the engaging portion of the body of the electronic apparatus located at the connecting position so as to restrict the movement of the body and a retreated position wherein the fixing member is disengaged from the engaging portion of the body; urging means (172) for urging the fixing member to the projected position; and a lock mechanism for locking the fixing member at the projected position.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
81 words
A system according to claim 30, characterized in that said body case (216) comprises a pair of guide portion having a pair guide surface for slidingly contact with the respective lateral sides of the body, and said fixing member includes a pair of fixing claws (170) arranged on the respective guide portions and movable between a projected position wherein each fixing claw projects from the guide surface and a retreated position wherein each fixing claw is retreated inside the guide portion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
72 words
A system according to claim 30, characterized in that the body (1) of said electronic apparatus is provided with a pair of front legs (91) formed on a bottom of the body and extending to the respective lateral sides of the body, and said engaging portion includes a pair of engaging grooves (92a) formed on the respective front legs of the body and open to the respective lateral sides of the body.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 32, characterized in that said fixing claws (170) are made of a conductive material and electrically connected to the body case (216) and the inner surface of each of the engaging grooves is coated with a conductive film (92b) electrically connected to the body.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
115 words
A system according to claim 30, characterized in that said lock mechanism comprises a lock plate (175) arranged in the body case (216) and movable between a first position wherein the lock plate is engaged with the fixing member located at the projected position and a second position wherein the lock plate is separated from the fixing member, a lock key including a key cylinder (185) which has a key hole (185a) open to the lateral side of the body case and rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and an interlocking mechanism for moving the lock plate between the first and second positions in interlock with the rotation of the key cylinder.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
354 words
An electronic system comprising: an electronic apparatus including a box-like body (1) which has a rear surface provided with a first connector (207) and a pair of lateral side faces having engaging portions, respectively; and an expanding apparatus (215) for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus; characterized in that: said expanding apparatus comprises: a body case (216) having a bearing surface (219) on which the electronic apparatus is placed and a connector setting surface opposing the rear surface of the electronic apparatus placed on the bearing surface; a second connector (227) provided on the connector setting surface, for being removably connected to the first connector as the body of the electronic apparatus is slidingly moved to a predetermined connecting position on the bearing surface; expanding means (217) disposed within the body case and connected to the second connector, for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus; an ejector mechanism for pushing the rear surface of the body so as to disconnect the first connector from the second connector, the mechanism including a push lever (241a, 241b) which is arranged in the body case adjacent to the second connector and is movable between a pushing position where the lever projects outward from the connector setting surface and a retrieved position where the lever is retreated within the body case; a lock mechanism for locking the body of the electronic apparatus in the connecting position, the lock mechanism comprising a pair of fixing members (261a, 261b) disposed near respective lateral ends of a front end portion of the body case, each of the fixing members being movable between a locking position where the fixing member engages with the corresponding engaging portion of the body and a release position where the fixing member is disengaged from the engaging portion; and an interlocking mechanism for interlocking the operations of the ejection mechanism and the locking mechanism so that the fixing members are moved to the locking position as the push lever is moved to the retreated position and the fixing members are moved to the release position as the push lever is moved to the pushing position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 35, characterized in that said ejector mechanism comprises a pair of pushing levers (241a, 241b) arranged on the respective lateral sides of the second connector (227).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
116 words
A system according to claim 35, characterized in that said expanding apparatus comprises an grounding mechanism for electrically connecting the body to the body case for grounding when the body of the electronic apparatus is moved to the connecting position; said grounding mechanism comprises a grounding terminal metal fitting disposed on the bearing surface and capable of touching the bottom of the body, and urging means for urging the terminal metal fitting to leave the bottom of the body; said interlocking mechanism comprises an actuating section for lifting the terminal metal fitting to a position where the fitting touches the bottom of the body when the push lever is moved back to the said retrieved position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
110 words
An expanding apparatus for expanding functions of an electronic apparatus characterized by comprising: a main body (216) having a bearing section (219) for bearing the electronic apparatus and expanding means (217) for expanding the functions of the electronic apparatus; a plug-in type connector (227) provided on the body case and electrically connected to the expanding means, for removably receiving a matching plug-in type connector (207) of the electronic apparatus loaded on the bearing section; and a support assembly for supporting the connector of the expanding apparatus to allow the connector of the expanding apparatus to move in a direction for engaging and disengaging from the connector of the electronic apparatus.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus according to claim 38, characterized in that said support assembly comprises a connector holder (328) holding the connector (227) of the expanding apparatus, a support member for supporting the connector holder to be movable in the direction of engagement and disengagement between a stand-by position and a pushed-in position, and urging means fixed to the main body, for urging the connector holder toward the standby position.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
144 words
An apparatus according to claim 39, characterized in that said support member is provided with a plurality of guide holes, and said support assembly comprises a plurality of guide sleeves (352) extending from the main body in the direction of engagement and disengagement and extending through the respective guide holes, each of said guide sleeves having a base portion rigidly fixed to the main body, a tip portion extending from the main body, and a stopper (352a) provided on the tip portion, for abutting the connector holder in its stand-by position to limit the movement of the connector holder, each of said guide sleeves being tapered from the tip portion to the base section, the tip portion having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the guide holes, and the base portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the guide holes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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