JP2005182393A - Extension system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an extension system which is connected to an electronic device on which battery projected from the back of the electronic device is mounted and which has various sizes. <P>SOLUTION: In a main body 2, projection parts 13a and 13b projected from an upper wall 3 are separately installed. A slide board 8 provided to the upper wall 3 can slide between a pair of the projection parts 13a and 13b, and a pair of constraint walls 9a and 9b are separately arranged. The constraint walls 9a and 9b abut on the back of the electronic device. An aperture 11 is formed in the center of an upper surface of the slide board 8. A control lever 12 which locks on/unlocks sliding of the slide board 8 is installed in this aperture 11 so that it can turn up and down. The slide board 8 is slidable between a first position slid in a connector direction and a second position located between a pair of the projections 13a and 13b in a state the control lever 12 is unlocked. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an expansion device that can be connected to an electronic device, and more particularly to an expansion device that can be selectively connected to electronic devices of different sizes.

Electronic devices such as notebook computers are small and light, and are excellent in portability and transportability. However, notebook computers are inferior in scalability compared to desktop computers in order to be small and light. Extensibility is the expansion of computer functions such as printers, modems, speakers, etc. In order to connect these peripheral devices, it is necessary to provide a connector with a shape suitable for each, and miniaturization is required. In the present situation, it is not possible to secure the arrangement space for the notebook type personal computer used. Therefore, a function expansion device is currently available as an optional device for notebook computers. When using a notebook computer indoors, various peripheral devices are connected by connecting to the function expansion device. Can be extended. Function expansion devices are usually prepared for each type of notebook personal computer according to the shape of the notebook personal computer. In recent years, two or more types of notebook personal computers with different sizes have been prepared. Has also been developed (Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-67085 (FIGS. 1 to 7)

  In Patent Document 1, it is necessary to form a recessed groove portion along the rail of the expansion device on the back surface of the notebook computer, which not only hinders downsizing but also is not good in terms of design. In recent years, a large battery can be attached behind an electronic device instead of a standard battery. Such a battery protrudes rearward from the back surface of the electronic device, and needs to be attached to the expansion device in this state, but cannot be attached to the expansion device described in Patent Document 1.

  In Patent Document 2, electronic devices having different sizes from the expansion device connector to the back surface of the main body of the electronic device can be handled, but a large-capacity battery (projecting from the back surface of the electronic device) is attached to the electronic device. The case is not completely compatible.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an expansion device that can be connected to an electronic device having various occasions in which a battery protruding from the back surface of the electronic device is mounted.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an expansion device in which batteries protruding from the back surface can be mounted and selectively connected to a plurality of electronic devices having different sizes, A main body having an upper wall on which the electronic device can be placed; a connector disposed on the upper wall; and electrically connected to the electronic device when the electronic device is placed on the upper wall; When a slide plate that is selectively movable between a first position that is close to the connector on the wall and a second position that is far from the connector, and the electronic device is placed on the upper wall, And a pair of regulating walls provided in contact with the back surface of the electronic device and spaced apart from the slide plate so that the battery is positioned therebetween.

  The expansion device of the present invention can be connected to electronic devices having various occasions in which a battery protruding from the back surface of the electronic device is mounted.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the expansion device with the slide plate in the first position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the expansion device with the slide plate in the second position. FIG. 3 is a side view of the expansion device.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the expansion device 1 that can be connected to an electronic device has a main body 2. The main body 2 has an upper wall 3 on which an electronic device is placed and a left end 2a and a right end 2b located on the left and right of the main body 2. A connector (second connector) 4 that can be connected to an expansion device connector (first connector not shown) disposed on the bottom surface of the electronic device is disposed on the upper wall 3.

  A pair of engaging members 5 a and 5 b and an engaging member 5 c located in front of the connector 4 are arranged on the upper wall 3 with the connector 4 interposed therebetween. These engaging members 5a to 5c are engaged with the bottom surface of the electronic device in a state where the first connector of the electronic device is connected to the second connector 4 to lock the connection state of the electronic device. Further, a pair of eject members 6 a and 6 b are arranged on the upper wall 3 with the connector 4 interposed therebetween. The eject members 6a and 6b operate an ejector lever (not shown) to push out the bottom surface of the electronic device in the fitting release direction of the connector 4 and the connector of the electronic device. In conjunction with the operation of the eject lever, the engagement members 5a to 5c are disengaged from the electronic device. Further, on the upper wall 3, conductive portions 7a and 7b are disposed adjacent to the electronic device adjacent to the pair of eject members 6a and 6b.

  Protrusions 13a and 13b protruding above the upper wall 3 are provided at the left end 2a and the left end 2b of the main body 2 so as to be separated from each other. For example, when the electronic device to be placed is a pen input type electronic device, the pair of protrusions 13a and 13b are provided with hole portions 14a and 14b into which an attached pen can be inserted. Further, the projecting portions 13a and 13b are provided with operation buttons 15a and 15b for operating the functions of the expansion device (for example, a power button of the expansion device and an eject switch for performing an electrical process before operating the eject lever).

  The upper wall 3 of the main body 2 is provided with a slide plate 8 that can slide back and forth on the upper wall 3. The slide plate 8 has a size that can slide between the pair of protrusions 13a and 13b. A pair of restricting walls 9a and 9b projecting upward from the slide plate 8 are provided at both left and right ends of the slide plate 8 apart from each other. The regulating walls 9a and 9b are in contact with the back surface of the electronic device placed on the upper wall 3. An opening 11 is provided at the approximate center of the upper surface of the slide plate 8, and an operation lever 12 for locking / unlocking the slide of the slide plate 8 is provided in the opening 11 so as to be pivotable up and down. The slide plate 8 is in a state where the operation lever 12 is unlocked, a first position slid in the connector direction, a second position located between the pair of protrusions 13a and 13b, and the first position. And a third position between the second position and the second position are freely slidable. The main body 2 is provided with a plurality of engagement portions (to be described later) in which the operation lever can be fitted to the slider plate 8 at the first to third positions.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cross-sectional line AA in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of B of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the slide plate 8 is guided by a pair of guide grooves 16 a and 16 b and a pair of guide grooves 17 a and 17 b provided on the upper wall 3. It can slide between positions.

  FIG. 5 illustrates one guide groove 16b and 17b out of the pair of guide grooves 16a and 16b and the pair of guide grooves 17a and 17b. The upper wall 3 is provided with guide grooves 16b and 17b. A boss 19a extending downward from the slide plate is provided. A guide member 19b is fixed to the boss 19a by screws 22. A pair of regulating ribs 20 a and 20 b for guiding the guide member 19 b are formed on the inner surface of the upper wall 3 so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the main body 2. The ribs 20a and 20b guide the guide member 19b when the slide plate 8 is slid back and forth. A support member 21 that supports the guide member 19b from below is provided below the guide groove 16b. The support member 21 extends substantially in the same length as the ribs 20a and 20b and before and after the main body 2.

  The restriction wall 9 b extends below the slide plate 8 and has a protrusion 18 that is guided by the guide groove 17. When the slide plate 8 is slid back and forth, the protrusion 18 is guided by the guide groove 17b. A support plate 24 that supports the support member 21 and the like is provided below the mounting 3, and the gap between the instruction plate 24 and the upper wall 3 is maintained by a rib 23 that projects downward from the upper wall 3. . As a result, even when the electronic device is placed on the upper wall 3, the pressing of the slide plate 8 is restricted.

  6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cross-sectional line CC in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the slide plate 8 has an opening portion 11, and an operation lever 12 is disposed in the opening portion 11, and the operation lever 12 can be rotated up and down about a shaft 28 as a center. Is supported by the slide plate 8. The operation lever 12 has an operation unit 25. An arm portion 26 that extends downward integrally from the operation portion 25 is formed, and a hook 27 is integrally formed at the tip of the arm portion 26. The hook 27 is tapered and has an engagement surface 27a. The upper wall 3 is formed with engaging portions 3a, 3b and 3c into which the hooks 27 enter. Engagement surfaces 29a, 29b, and 29c that engage with the tapered surface 27a of the operation lever 12 are formed in the respective engagement portions 3a to 3c. As shown in FIG. 6, in a state where the hook 27 is engaged with any of the engaging portions 3 a to 3 c (lock position), the operation portion 25 is substantially flush with the upper surface of the slide plate 8.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the operation lever is released. As shown in FIG. 7, when the operating unit 25 is pushed downward (in the direction of the upper wall 3), the operating lever 12 is pivoted about the shaft 28 and the hook 27 is released from the engaging unit 3a (unlocked). Position). In this state, the slide plate 8 is slid in the front-rear direction of the main body 2. A pair of arm portions 26 extending from the operation lever 12 are provided at both left and right ends of the operation lever 12, and a pair of engagement portions 3a, 3b, and 3c are provided. In this embodiment, three engaging portions 28 are provided in the front-rear direction, but the engaging portions may be further finely provided.

  FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which the electronic device of the first size is connected. FIG. 9 is a side view of the expansion device in a state where the electronic device of the first size is connected. The electronic device 30 has a small distance from the connector arranged on the bottom surface to the back surface 31 of the electronic device. A large capacity battery 40 having a larger capacity than the standard battery is attached to the back surface 31 of the electronic device 30. A standard battery (not shown) is generally substantially flush with the back surface 31 of the electronic device 30, but in the case of a large-capacity battery, the standard battery protrudes rearward from the back surface 31. The slide plate 8 is locked in a state (first position) slid forward in the main body 2. When the electronic device 30 is placed on the main body 2 in this state, the pair of regulating walls 9a and 9b on the back surface 31 serves as a stopper, and the electronic device connector and the connector 4 can be easily aligned. Further, the battery 40 protruding from the back surface is interposed between the pair of regulating walls 9a and 9b.

  Next, a case where an electronic device having a greater distance from the connector to the back surface than the electronic device described with reference to FIG. 8 is described. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which an electronic device of the second size is connected. FIG. 11 is a side view of the expansion device in a state where the second size electronic device is connected. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the lock of the slide plate 8 is released by the operation lever 12, and the slide plate 8 is slid rearward of the main body 2 so as to be positioned between the pair of projecting portions 13a and 13b (second second). Position of). Also in this case, the pair of restriction walls 9a and 9b abuts on the back surface 51 of the electronic device 50, and the fitting position between the connector of the electronic device and the connector 4 is facilitated. In this case as well, the large-capacity battery 41 protruding from the back surface 51 of the electronic device 50 is interposed between a pair of regulating walls.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment as long as it does not depart from the gist of the present invention.

The perspective view of the expansion apparatus in which a slide plate exists in a 1st position. The perspective view of the expansion apparatus in which a slide plate exists in a 2nd position. The side view of an expansion device. Sectional drawing in sectional line AA of FIG. The enlarged view of B of FIG. Sectional drawing in sectional line CC of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state which released the operation lever. The top view which shows the state which connected the electronic device of the 1st size. The side view of the expansion apparatus of the state which connected the electronic device of the 1st size. The top view which shows the state which connected the electronic device of the 2nd size. The side view of the expansion apparatus of the state which connected the electronic device of the 2nd size.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Expansion apparatus, 2 ... Main body, 3 ... Upper wall, 4 ... Connector, 5a, 5b, 5c ... Engagement member, 6a, 6b ... Eject member, 7a, 7b ... Conductive part, 8 ... Slide plate, 9a, 9b ... Regulating wall, 11 ... Opening part, 12 ... Operating lever, 13a, 13b ... Protruding part, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b ... Guide groove, 18 ... Protruding part, 19a ... Boss, 19b ... Guide member, 20a, 20b ... Restriction rib, 21 ... support member, 23 ... rib, 25 ... operation part, 26 ... arm part, 27 ... hook, 27a ... engagement surface, 3a, 3b, 3c ... engagement part, 29a, 29b, 29c ... engagement Surface, 30, 50 ... Electronic equipment, 31, 51 ... Back, 40, 41 ... Battery

Claims (8)

An expansion device in which batteries protruding from the back surface can be mounted and selectively connected to a plurality of electronic devices having different sizes,
A main body having an upper wall on which the electronic device can be placed;
A connector disposed on the upper wall and electrically connected to the electronic device when the electronic device is placed on the upper wall;
A slide plate that is selectively movable between a first position on the upper wall that is closer to the connector and a second position that is further away from the connector;
When the electronic device is placed on the upper wall, a pair of regulating walls provided in contact with the back surface of the electronic device and spaced from the slide plate so that the battery is positioned between the electronic device and
An expansion device comprising: The expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the upper wall is provided with a pair of protrusions, and the slide plate is slidable between the pair of protrusions. The upper wall has an engagement portion at a position corresponding to the first position and the second position of the slide plate, and the slide plate has a hook that can be engaged with the engagement portion. The expansion device according to claim 1, wherein: The slide plate has an operation lever that moves between a lock position where the hook is engaged with the engagement portion and a lock release position where the hook is released from the engagement portion. Item 3. The expansion device according to item 3 The expansion device according to claim 4, wherein the operation lever and the hook are integrally formed. 3. The expansion device according to claim 2, wherein a hole portion into which a data input pen used in the electronic apparatus can be inserted is provided in at least one of the projecting portions. The expansion device according to claim 1, wherein a battery of the electronic device placed is placed on the slide plate. 2. The expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the upper wall is provided with a pair of guide grooves for guiding the slide plate, and the slide plate is provided with a guide member guided by the guide groove.

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