Electronic device, combining device, and detaching method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9690332-B2
Application number	US-201414316102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2014
Priority date	Oct 9, 2013
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a first part, a second part, a third part, and a combining portion. The second part is connected with the first part and configured to move between a first position and a second position. The combining portion is configured to combine the third part with the second part when the second part is positioned within a combining interval defined within an interval between the first position and the second position, and to separate the third part from the second part when the second part is position at a third position defined at the second position or defined at a position between the combining interval and the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a base;
a docker connected to the base and configured to move between a first position and a second position;
an electonic terminal;
a combining portion configured to combine the electronic terminal with the docker when the docker is positioned within a combining interval that is a part of an interval between the first position and the second position, and to separate the electronic terminal from the docker when the docker is positioned at a third position, the third position including the second position and positioning between an end of the combining interval and the second position, the combining portion configured to move between a combining position at which the combining portion is capable of combining the electronic terminal with the docker and a separating position at which the combining portion is capable of separating the electronic terminal from the docker;
a first moving portion configured to apply a force to move the docker positioned at the third position to a position within the combining interval; and
a second moving portion configured to apply a force to move the combining portion from the combining position to the separating position when the docker is positioned at the third position.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the docker comprises is provided with the combining portion.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein
the combining portion is configured to be positioned at the combining position when the docker is positioned within the combining interval, and
the combining portion is configured to be positioned at the separating position when the docker is positioned at the third position.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a third moving portion configured to apply a force to move the combining portion from the separating position to the combining position.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second moving portion is configured to move the combining portion from the combining position to the separating position while the docker is moving from the combining interval to the third position.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the second moving portion comprises a cam configured to push the combining portion.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein
the cam comprises a first cam member fixed to the base and a second cam member fixed to the combining portion, the second cam member configured to be brought into contact with the first cam member, and
the first cam member is configured to move the combining portion by pushing the second cam member while the docker is moving from the combining interval to the third position.

8. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the second moving portion comprises a bevel gear and a rack-and-pinion configured to move the combining portion by rotating with respect to the bevel gear in accordance with a move of the docker.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein
the bevel gear comprises an engaging portion comprising a plurality of teeth, and
the engaging portion comprises a first area provided with the teeth and a second area with no teeth.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second moving portion is configured to move the combining portion from the combining position to the separating position when the docker is positioned at the third position.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein
the combining portion comprises a first magnet, and
the second moving portion comprises a second magnet configured to face the first magnet and to repel the first magnet to move the combining portion when the docker is located at the third position.

12. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the combining portion comprises a hook configured to engage with the electronic terminal.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the combining portion is configured to be pushed from the combining position to the separating position by the electronic terminal moving toward a position in which the electronic terminal is combined with the docker when the docker is positioned within the combining interval, and to receive a force to move from the separating position to the combining position by the third moving portion when the electronic terminal is combined with the docker.

14. An combining device comprising:
a base;
a docker connected to the base and configured to move between a first position and a second position;
a electronic terminal;
a combining portion configured to combine the electronic terminal with the docker when the docker is positioned within a combining interval that is a part of an interval between the first position and the second position, and to separate the electronic terminal from the docker when the docker is position at a third position, the third position including the second position and positioning between an end of the combining interval and the second position, the combining portion configured to move between a combining position at which the combining portion is capable of combining the electronic terminal with the docker and a separating position at which the combining portion is capable of separating the electronic terminal from the docker;
a first moving portion configured to apply a force to move the docker positioned at the third position to a position within the combining interval; and
a second moving portion configured to apply a force to move the combining portion from the combining position to the separating position when the docker is positioned at the third position.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Liu Stan
• Lin Vic
• Chiu Brad
• Huang San

Classifications

• G06F1/1654

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

• G06F1/1681 Primary

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• G06F1/1679

  for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1669

  Detachable keyboards · CPC title