Electronic device system with a modular second housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9729683-B2
Application number	US-201414498812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2014
Priority date	Sep 26, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device, such as a tablet, 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 a first housing and a second housing removably coupled to the first housing, where the second housing is configured to function as a stand for the first housing. The stand configuration can allow for user desired viewing of a first display located on the first housing and of a second display located on the second housing. Further, the second housing can be removed from the first housing and replaced with a different second housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a first housing, wherein the first housing includes a body;
a second housing with a keyboard rotatably coupled to a distal end of the first housing using a first hinge; and
a third housing removably coupled to the first housing using a second hinge with a rotation means to limit a rotation angle to less than ninety (90) degrees, wherein the third housing is configured to function as a stand for the first housing, wherein the first housing includes a first display visible from a first direction and the third housing includes a second display visible from a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction,
wherein the second hinge is located around a middle portion of the body of the first housing between the first hinge and a top edge of the first housing.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the stand configuration allows for user desired viewing of the first display and of the second display.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first housing is a standalone tablet.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an interconnect to electrically couple the first housing and the third housing.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the third housing can be removed from the first housing and replaced with a different third housing.

6. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the third housing is a standalone electronic device.

7. An electronic device, comprising:
a first housing, wherein the first housing includes a body and a first display facing a first direction;
a second housing rotatably coupled to a distal end of the first housing using a first hinge, wherein the second housing includes a keyboard; and
a third housing removably coupled to the first housing using a second hinge with a rotation means to limit a rotation angle to less than ninety (90) degrees, wherein the third housing includes a second display, wherein the third housing is configured to function as a stand for the first housing such that the stand configuration allows for the first display to be visible from a first direction and the second display to be visible from a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction
wherein the second hinge is located around a middle portion of the body of the first housing between the first hinge and a top edge of the first housing.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising:
an interconnect to electrical couple the first housing and the third housing.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the third housing can be removed from the first housing and replaced with a different third housing.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first housing is a standalone tablet.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the third housing is a standalone electronic device.

12. A system, comprising:
a first hinge for rotating a second housing away from a first housing, wherein the first hinge is coupled to a distal end of the first housing, wherein the first housing includes a body and a first display visible from a first direction, wherein the second housing includes a keyboard; and
a second hinge with a rotation means to limit a rotation angle less to than ninety (90) degrees, wherein the second hinge rotatably couples a third housing to the first housing, wherein the second hinge is located around a middle portion of the body of the first housing between the first hinge and a top edge of the first housing, wherein the third housing includes a second display to be visible from a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction, wherein the hinge is configured for adjusting the angle of rotation of the third housing such that the third housing acts as a stand for the first housing and allows for user desired viewing of the first display and of the second display.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first housing is a standalone tablet.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the hinge is configured to allow for removing the third housing from the first housing, wherein an interconnect electrically couples the first housing and the third housing.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the hinge is configured to allow for replacing the third housing with a different third housing.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the third housing is a standalone electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the third housing includes a depth sensor.

18. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the different third housing includes a depth sensor.

19. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the third housing can be stored in a recessed portion of the body of the first housing in a storage configuration.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein in the storage configuration, the first housing has a relatively flat profile.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Okuley James M

Classifications

• H04M1/0202 Primary

  Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03) · CPC title

• G06F1/166

  related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

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

• H04M1/04

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• H04M1/0254 Primary

  comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules · CPC title