Modular electronic device system with a detachable display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9253379-B2
Application number	US-201213730969-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2012
Priority date	Dec 29, 2012
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device, such as a notebook computer or laptop, that includes a circuit board coupled to a plurality of electronic components (which includes any type of components, elements, circuitry, etc.). One particular example implementation of the electronic device may include means for establishing a first electrical connection between a first base and a lid portion; and means for establishing a second electrical connection between a second base and the lid portion. The lid portion is removably coupled to a selected one of the first base and the second base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a plurality of electronic components;
a first base having one or more connectors;
a second base that is different from the first base; and
a lid portion removably coupled to a selected one of the first base and the second base, the lid portion having a display at a first side of the lid portion and having a second side opposite the first side, wherein the lid portion further includes a substantially rectangular notch extending through the first side and the second side of the lid portion configured to mate with the one or more connectors of the first base, wherein a width of the substantially rectangular notch is greater than a width of a majority of the display.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the lid portion is coupled to the first base by a circuit board interconnector.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein after the lid portion is removed from the first base, the lid portion is to communicate with the first base using a wireless module.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the wireless module is a Wi-Fi module.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the lid portion is to operate as a tablet.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first base includes a keyboard.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the lid portion is to operate as a touch display.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the lid portion contains a camera and a microphone.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the lid portion is to attach to the first base with a magnet assembly.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the magnet assembly comprises a row of magnets.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the magnet assembly comprises two or more magnets.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the magnet assembly comprises alternating magnetic orientations.

13. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the magnet assembly comprises a backing configured to reduce stray magnetic fields.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second base comprises a battery pack and a wireless module.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein power and data is to flow between the first base and the lid portion when the first base and the lid portion are coupled together.

16. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the lid portion may be coupled to the first base in a clamshell configuration of the electronic device.

17. An electronic device, comprising:
a plurality of electronic components;
a lid portion including a substantially rectangular notch, the lid portion having a display at a first side of the lid portion and having a second side opposite the first side, wherein a width of the substantially rectangular notch is greater than a width of a majority of the display; and
a base having one or more connectors, wherein one or more connectors of the base are to mate with the substantially rectangular notch of the lid portion with the first side of the lid portion facing away from the base for a first configuration of the electronic device, and wherein one or more connectors of the base are to mate with the substantially rectangular notch of the lid portion with the second side of the lid portion facing away from the base for a second configuration of the electronic device, wherein the substantially rectangular notch extends through the first and second sides of the lid portion.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the first configuration is a tablet configuration.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein one or more connectors of the base are coupled to a hinge of the base to allow the lid portion to rotate relative to the base.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the hinge is to allow the lid portion to rotate relative to the base for the second configuration of the electronic device.

21. The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the second configuration is a notebook configuration.

22. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the hinge is to allow the lid portion to rotate relative to the base for the first configuration of the electronic device.

23. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein one or more connectors of the base includes an elongated connector to mate with the substantially rectangular notch of the lid portion.

24. An electronic device that includes at least one processor, comprising:
means for establishing a first electrical connection between a first base and a lid portion, the first base including one or more connectors, and the lid portion having a display at a first side of the lid portion and having a second side opposite the first side, wherein the lid portion further includes a substantially rectangular notch extending through the first side and the second side of the lid portion configured to mate with the one or more connectors of the first base, wherein a width of the substantially rectangular notch is greater than a width of a majority of the display; and
means for establishing a second electrical connection between a second base and the lid portion, wherein the lid portion is removably coupled to a selected one of the first base and the second base.

25. The electronic device of claim 24 , wherein the lid portion is coupled to the first base by a circuit board interconnector.

26. The electronic device of claim 24 , wherein after the lid portion is removed from the first base, the lid portion is to communicate with the first base using a wireless module.

27. The electronic device of claim 24 , wherein the wireless module is a Wi-Fi module.

28. The electronic device of claim 24 , wherein the lid portion is to operate as a tablet.

29. The electronic device of claim 24 , wherein the first base includes a keyboard.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Lam Hue
• Daskalakis George
• Jensen Kimi
• Nguyen Ky

Classifications

• H04N23/51 Primary

  Housings · CPC title

• G06F1/1654 Primary

  the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use · CPC title

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• H04N5/2252 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic