Connector, electronic component, and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11095071-B2
Application number	US-201716498384-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2017
Priority date	Mar 29, 2017
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A connector is configured to connect a first electronic component and a second electronic component, and includes: an enclosure, where a through-hole is disposed on the enclosure; a pin assembly disposed in the enclosure, the pin assembly is movable relative to the enclosure; a flexible printed circuit board, where one end of the flexible printed circuit board is connected to the pin, and the other end is configured to be connected to a circuit board in the first electronic component; a plug structure configured to be detachably connected to the second electronic component; and a driving assembly, where when the second electronic component is connected to the plug structure, the driving assembly is able to drive the pin assembly to move relative to the enclosure in a direction close to the through-hole, so that the pin extends out of the through-hole and is connected to the second electronic component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector, configured to connect a first electronic component and a second electronic component, the connector comprising:
an enclosure, wherein a through-hole is disposed on the enclosure;
a pin assembly disposed in the enclosure, wherein the pin assembly is movable relative to the enclosure, the pin assembly comprises a fixing frame, and a pin is disposed on the fixing frame;
a flexible printed circuit board, wherein one end of the flexible printed circuit board is connected to the pin, and another end of the flexible printed circuit board is configured to be connected to a circuit board in the first electronic component;
a plug structure configured to be detachably connected to the second electronic component; and
a driving assembly, wherein when the second electronic component is connected to the plug structure, the driving assembly is configured to drive the pin assembly to move relative to the enclosure in a direction close to the through-hole, so that the pin extends out of the through-hole and is connected to the second electronic component,
wherein the driving assembly comprises a first magnet fixed on the fixing frame; the first magnet is configured to match a second magnet in the second electronic component the through-hole is opened on an upper cover of the enclosure; and when the second electronic component is connected to the plug structure, attractive force between the first magnet and the second magnet is able to drive the first magnet and the pin assembly to move close to the through-hole, and
wherein a magnetic attraction component is disposed on a position that is corresponding to the first magnet and that is on a lower cover of the enclosure; and when the second electronic component is connected to the plug structure, the attractive force between the first magnet and the second magnet is greater than attractive force between the first magnet and the magnetic attraction component.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein an elastic component is disposed between the pin assembly and the enclosure; one end of the elastic component is connected to the upper cover of the enclosure, and another end of the elastic component is connected to the fixing frame; and when the pin on the fixing frame extends out of the through-hole, the elastic component is in a compressed state.

3. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein an elastic component is disposed between the pin assembly and the enclosure; one end of the elastic component is connected to the lower cover of the enclosure, and another end of the elastic component is connected to the fixing frame; and when the pin on the fixing frame extends out of the through-hole, the elastic component is in a stretched state.

4. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein a linear guide structure is disposed in the enclosure, and the linear guide structure is configured to guide the fixing frame in moving in a direction perpendicular to the upper cover.

5. The connector according to claim 4 , wherein the linear guide structure comprises a guide frame fixed on a lower surface of the upper cover, a side wall of the guide frame extends in a direction perpendicular to the upper cover, and the fixing frame is disposed in and matches the guide frame.

6. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing frame is hinged to the enclosure by a rotating shaft, and the driving assembly is configured to drive the fixing frame to rotate close to the through-hole and is configured to drive the fixing frame to rotate away from the through-hole.

7. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the plug structure comprises a limiting rod disposed on the fixing frame, the limiting rod is in parallel with the pin, and a length of the limiting rod is greater than a length of the pin.

8. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the plug structure comprises a positioning groove disposed on the upper cover, the pin is disposed in the positioning grove, and the positioning groove is configured to match a lower end of the second electronic component.

9. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the second magnet is an electromagnet; a Hall switch is disposed in the second electronic component; and when the first magnet enters a sensing range of the Hall switch, the Hall switch sends a signal to a control circuit of the electromagnet, so that the control circuit of the electromagnet is powered on.

10. An electronic component, comprising the connector according to claim 1 .

11. An electronic device, comprising:
a first electronic component; and
a second electronic component, wherein the first electronic component and the second electronic component are connected via a connector, wherein the connector comprises:
an enclosure, wherein a through-hole is disposed on the enclosure;
a pin assembly disposed in the enclosure, wherein the pin assembly is movable relative to the enclosure, the pin assembly comprises a fixing frame, and a pin is disposed on the fixing frame;
a flexible printed circuit board, wherein one end of the flexible printed circuit board is connected to the pin, and another end of the flexible printed circuit board is configured to be connected to a circuit board in the first electronic component;
a plug structure configured to be detachably connected to the second electronic component; and
a driving assembly, wherein when the second electronic component is connected to the plug structure, the driving assembly is configured to drive the pin assembly to move relative to the enclosure in a direction close to the through-hole, so that the pin extends out of the through-hole and is connected to the second electronic component,
wherein the driving assembly comprises a first magnet fixed on the fixing frame; the first magnet is configured to match a second magnet in the second electronic component the through-hole is opened on an upper cover of the enclosure; and when the second electronic component is connected to the plug structure, attractive force between the first magnet and the second magnet is able to drive the first magnet and the pin assembly to move close to the through-hole;

wherein a magnetic attraction component is disposed on a position that is corresponding to the first magnet and that is on a lower cover of the enclosure; and when the second electronic component is connected to the plug structure, the attractive force between the first magnet and the second magnet is greater than attractive force between the first magnet and the magnetic attraction component.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein the first electronic component includes the connector.

13. The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein
the first electronic component is a keyboard, and the second electronic component is a tablet computer; or
the first electronic component is a tablet computer, and the second electronic component is a keyboard.

14. The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein an elastic component is disposed between the pin assembly and the enclosure; one end of the elastic component is connected to the upper cover of the enclosure, and another end of the elastic component is connected to the fixing frame; and when the pin on the fixing frame extends out of the through-hole, the elastic component is in a compressed state.

15. The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein an elastic component is disposed between the pin assembly and the enclosure; one end of the elastic component is connected to the lower cover of the enclosure, and another end of the elastic component is connected to the fixing

Assignees

• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Chiengchang
• He Pan
• Chen Yong

Classifications

• H01R13/629 Primary

  Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} · CPC title

• H01R13/639

  Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} · CPC title

• H01R13/6205 Primary

  Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet · CPC title

• H01R13/635

  by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force · CPC title

• G06F1/1662

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title