JP2000305656A - Extension unit for notebook-sized pc and computer system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an extension unit for a notebook-sized PC capable of relieving impact to a notebook-sized PC and protecting it even when the impact applies owing to fall, etc., with the notebook-sized PC is docked with the extension unit and a computer system using it. SOLUTION: This extension unit 1 for a notebook-sized PC is for an extension unit of a notebook-sized PC which is connected integrally with a notebook- sized PC 11 to be used in order to add various functions to the PC 11 consisting of a displaying part 13 and a system main body 12. In this unit 1, an outer wall 2 is formed by erecting it from the unit 1 at the outer peripheral part of the unit 1. Thus, when connected integrally with the PC 11, at least the side of the body 12 of the PC 11 can be protected by the wall 2 and the PC is protected from being damaged. Also, a computer system is organized by connecting the PC 11 integrally with the unit 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a notebook PC extension unit for adding various functions to a thin and lightweight notebook PC comprising a display unit and a system body, and a computer system using the same. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a thin and lightweight notebook PC, a notebook PC is added to a notebook PC in order to add various functions.
In general, it is common to use and carry an extension unit that incorporates various subsystems such as a DVD and a CD separately from each other by integrally connecting (hereinafter, also referred to as docking). FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing a state in which a notebook PC and an extension unit are docked in a conventional example. 6 and 7, reference numeral 51 denotes a display unit, and 52, a system main body. The display unit 51 and the system main body 52 constitute a notebook PC 53. An extension unit 54 includes various subsystems such as a DVD and a CD. 6 and 7
In the description, interfaces and bays of various subsystems provided in the system main body 52 and the expansion unit 54 are omitted.

[0003]

In the conventional expansion unit 54 having the above-described structure, when docked with the notebook PC 53, the volume occupied by the notebook PC 53 is increased.
4 and the notebook PC 53 is exposed to the outside except for the surface in contact with the extension unit 54. Therefore, when the user accidentally drops the notebook PC, there is a high possibility that the notebook PC itself hits a structure such as a floor. As a result, very expensive notebook PCs were more likely to be damaged. Particularly, in a notebook PC pursuing thinness and lightness, such as a notebook PC targeted by the present invention, a material containing rigid carbon fiber or glass fiber is used as a material of a housing. Has a fragile property to large impacts, and it is highly likely that the notebook PC will be damaged if hit at that point.

In addition, when the extension unit is docked to a thin and lightweight notebook PC, rattling tends to exist between the notebook PC and the extension unit. Therefore, as described above, when the user accidentally drops, the shock applied to the notebook PC is doubled due to the backlash, and when the user is docked, the energy of the shock is doubled as compared to the notebook PC alone. But note P
C was likely to be damaged.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
Provided is a notebook PC extension unit that can reduce the impact on the notebook PC and protect the notebook PC even when an impact is applied by dropping while the notebook PC and the extension unit are docked, and a computer system using the same. It is assumed that.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An extension unit for a notebook PC according to the present invention is used by being integrally connected to the notebook PC in order to add various functions to the notebook PC comprising a display unit and a system body. This is intended for a notebook PC expansion unit to be used. In this expansion unit, the outer wall
The extension unit is formed upright on the outer periphery of the extension unit. Thus, when the notebook PC is integrally connected, at least the side surface of the system main body of the notebook PC can be protected by the outer wall, and damage to the notebook PC can be prevented. Further, the computer system of the present invention is configured such that the notebook PC extension unit having the above-described configuration is integrally connected to the notebook PC.

In a preferred embodiment, when the outer wall covers the interface of a notebook PC which is not used because the outer wall is docked to use the interface of the extension unit, erroneous attachment of the external device can be prevented. Further, when the outer wall is provided at least outside the HDD built-in portion of the system main body, it is possible to more effectively protect the HDD that is vulnerable to impact. In addition, note P
By making the rigidity lower than C, the outer wall can more effectively absorb the impact. In addition, by using the connector having the floating structure, when the notebook PC and the extension unit are docked, the positioning can be performed by the notebook PC and the extension unit, and rattling can be reduced. Further, by taking the ground for the notebook PC with the positioning pin, the ground can be made good.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an example of an extension unit for a notebook PC according to the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an extension unit that mounts various subsystems such as a DVD, FDD, battery, and CD as in the conventional case. 2), the outer wall formed by 3-1 to 3-
Reference numerals 4 are positioning pins 4 provided near the outer peripheral portion of the extension unit 1 and used for positioning when docking with the notebook PC. Each of the positioning pins 4 is configured to serve as a ground (GND) when docking with the notebook PC. Positioning pins 4 and notebook P for docking with notebook PC
Floating-structure connectors 5-1 and 5-2 for making an electrical connection with C are latches for releasably fixing the notebook PC when docking with the notebook PC. The features of the notebook PC expansion unit according to the present invention include forming a predetermined outer wall 2, using a connector 4 having a floating structure, and using predetermined positioning pins 3-1 to 3-4 for grounding. That is. Hereinafter, those configurations will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, the outer wall 2 is connected to the notebook PC 1 shown in FIG.
As can be seen from the state where the notebook PC 1 and the extension unit 1 are docked, when the notebook PC 11 is docked, at least the side surface of the system main body 12 of the notebook PC 11 is covered and protected. The outer wall 2 is not provided in a portion where the connector of the notebook PC 11 needs to be used in the docked state,
The connector on the notebook PC 11 is used. In FIG. 2, the height of the outer wall 2 from the surface of the extension unit 1 is substantially the same as the height of the system main body 12 of the notebook PC 11, and almost the entire system main body 12 is covered by the outer wall 2. In this state, the display unit 13 can be opened and closed in the docked state and cannot be used, and this state is generally used. Further, the outer wall 2 is provided so as to cover at least the outside of the HDD built-in portion (not shown here) of the system main body 12. This is because the outer wall 2 absorbs a shock, thereby more effectively protecting an HDD that is vulnerable to a shock.

The material of the outer wall 2 is not particularly limited. The outer wall 2 plays a role of absorbing shock as long as the outer wall 2 is present. Preferably, the rigidity of the outer wall 2 is lower than the rigidity of the housing of the notebook PC 11. The outer wall 2 can effectively absorb the impact. Specifically, when the housing of the notebook PC 11 is made of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin) containing carbon fiber or glass fiber, the outer wall 2 is made of ABS which does not contain various fibers.
The thickness of the outer wall 2 is not particularly limited as long as it can withstand an impact. The cross section as wide as the root may be triangular as indicated by 2b in FIG.
May have a uniform thickness as shown by 2a in a cross section along the line AA. In FIG. 3, for the sake of simplicity, only the notebook PC 11 is shown with the system main body 12 and the display unit 13, and a detailed configuration inside the notebook PC 11 and a detailed configuration inside the expansion unit 1 are not shown here.

Next, in the present invention, a connector 4 having a floating structure is used as a connector for making an electrical connection with the notebook PC 11. The floating structure, that is, the connector 4 itself in which the connector is slightly movable after connection is known, but in the present invention, the connector 4 is used when the extension unit 1 is docked to the system main body 12 of the notebook PC 11 by using the connector. Expansion can be facilitated, and rattling between the notebook PC 11 and the expansion unit 1 after docking can be eliminated.

In the present invention, the positioning pins 3-1 to 3-1 are used.
According to 3-4, when the notebook PC 11 and the extension unit 1 are docked, the notebook PC 11 and the expansion unit 1 take the ground (GND). Here, 3-1 and 3-2 are positioning pins provided on the outer wall 2, and 3-3 and 3-4 are positioning pins provided upright from the extension unit 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the positioning pins 3-1 to 3-
4 is electrically connected by means of providing an electrode or the like, and a good ground can be obtained by taking ground using these positioning pins 3-1 to 3-4.
Failures such as MI can be effectively prevented.

As described above, the extension unit for a notebook PC according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, has positioning pins 3-1 to 3- on the top cover and the outer wall 2 of the extension unit 11.
There is a structure in which the position of the notebook PC 11 is determined by using them and fixed by the latches 5-1 and 5-2. The connector 4 of the extension unit 1 is a notebook PC.
A floating structure is adopted so that stress is not applied even if the position of the system body 11 is shifted from the system body 12. The top cover is provided with an outer wall 2 which is not provided in the conventional extension unit. When the notebook PC 11 is docked by the outer wall 2, at least the periphery of the system body 12 of the notebook PC 11 is covered by the outer wall 2 as shown in FIG. Thus, even if the user drops or hits the docked notebook PC 11 and the extension unit 1 in the docked state, the probability of the notebook PC 11 directly colliding directly is greatly reduced, and the damage is reduced by that much. In addition, since the possibility of directly hitting the notebook PC 11 is reduced in this manner, the possibility that a doubled impact is applied to the subsystem of the extension unit 1 is also reduced. Further, since the lower portion of the expansion unit 1 is a bottom cover having an angled wall, the probability that the expansion unit 1 having the outer wall 2 directly hits as shown in FIG. The connection between the notebook PC 11 and the extension unit 1 without looseness is achieved by using the connector 4, so that the shock that is doubled by the connection through the connector is increased.
The likelihood of getting

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of another example of the notebook PC expansion unit of the present invention. As in FIG. 3, FIG.
It is a figure which shows the cross section along the -A line in a simplified form. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the outer wall 2
1 is docked, not only the entire side surface of the notebook PC 11, that is, the display unit 13 but also the side surface of the system main body 12.
Is also configured to cover the side surface of the vehicle. Of course, as in the above-described example, the external wall 2 is not provided in a portion where the connector or the like of the notebook PC 11 needs to be used in a docked state, and the connector or the like on the notebook PC 11 can be used. When the outer wall 2 is configured to cover the entire side surface of the notebook PC 11 as shown in FIG.
C11 can be protected.

[0015]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the extension unit is provided with an outer wall and the extension unit and the notebook PC are docked, the outer wall protects the side surface of the notebook PC. Because it is composed,
Even if the user drops the docked notebook PC and the extension unit and receives an impact, the notebook PC can withstand the impact and the possibility of damage to the notebook PC can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an example of a notebook PC extension unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a notebook PC expansion unit according to the present invention.
It is a figure which shows an example of the state docked with C.

FIG. 3 is a simplified view showing a cross section taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a notebook PC expansion unit according to the present invention.
It is the figure which assumed the case where it dropped in the state docked with C.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of another example of the notebook PC extension unit of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an example of a conventional notebook PC extension unit.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional notebook PC expansion unit as a notebook PC.
FIG. 4 is a diagram assuming a case where the camera is dropped while docked.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Expansion unit, 2, 2a, 2b outer wall, 3-1 to 3
-4 Positioning pin, 4 connector, 5-1, 5-2 Latch, 11 Notebook PC, 12 System body, 13
Display

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Takahashi 1623-14 Shimotsuruma, Yamato-shi, Kanagawa Pref. Within the Yamato Office of IBM Japan, Ltd. (72) Takayuki Morino 1623 Shimotsuruma, Yamato-shi, Kanagawa 14 Inside the Yamato Office of IBM Japan, Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeru Ishii 1623, Shimotsuruma, Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Claims (7)

[Claims] In order to add various functions to a notebook PC composed of a display unit and a system main body, an external wall of an extension unit for a notebook PC used integrally connected to the notebook PC is provided. Characterized in that at least a side surface of the system body of the notebook PC can be protected by an outer wall when the notebook PC is integrally connected to the notebook PC. . 2. The notebook PC expansion unit according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall covers an interface of the notebook PC not used when connecting the notebook PC expansion unit, and fulfills a function of preventing erroneous attachment of an external device. 3. The notebook PC expansion unit according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall is provided at least outside the HDD built-in portion of the system main body to protect the HDD built-in portion. 4. The notebook PC expansion unit according to claim 1, wherein the rigidity of the outer wall is lower than the rigidity of the notebook PC so that the outer wall absorbs a shock. 5. The notebook PC expansion unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector for electrically connecting the notebook PC when integrally connected is a connector having a floating structure. 6. The expansion unit for a notebook PC according to claim 1, wherein a grounding for the notebook PC is established by a positioning pin used when integrally connected to the notebook PC. 7. A computer system, wherein the notebook PC expansion unit according to claim 1 is integrally connected to the notebook PC.