JPH04263304A - Electronic information equipment and its docking station - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the key operations for an electronic information equipment after the docking, as well and also to facilitate the visual confirmation of the docking operation by securing the connection between the electronic information equipment and another external device after the docking. CONSTITUTION:An electronic information equipment 2 can be connected to a docking station 1 which can improve the ability and the performance of the equipment 2. A connector 26 which is directly connected to a connector 13 of the station 1 is provided on the front side face of a key operating part 22 of the main body of the equipment 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is applied to electronic information equipment such as personal computers (hereinafter referred to as "personal computers") and word processors, and to expand the capabilities or improve the performance of these electronic information equipment. This relates to a docking station for connection.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, laptop computers and the like have been provided with optional docking stations to expand their capabilities or improve their performance during desk work.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional docking station 40.
This shows the state in which the computer 50 and the computer 50 are docked. The entire external shape of the docking station 40 is “L” when viewed from the side.
The computer 50 is placed in a stepped position on the front side of the mounting part 41, on which the computer 50 is placed in a positionable manner. A raised abutment portion 42 is provided. A circuit board 43 on which a circuit for functional connection with the personal computer 50 is formed is provided within the contact portion 42, and a station side connector 44 is attached to this circuit board 43. This connector 44 extends in front of the contact portion 42 and is used to electrically connect to the personal computer 50.

On the other hand, the personal computer 50 has a keyboard 52 on the front side on which a large number of keys 51 are arranged, and a display 53 which also serves as a lid is attached so that it can be opened and closed. A main circuit board 54 is provided inside the personal computer 50 in the length direction thereof, and connectors are arranged at the rear end of the main circuit board 54. A plurality of these connectors are arranged in order to make electrical connections with printers, hard disk drives, and other external devices.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a personal computer side connector into which the station side connector 44 is inserted to electrically connect the docking station 40 and the personal computer 50.

In the above configuration, the front side of the mounting section 41 of the docking station 40 is open, and the personal computer 50 is slid from the front side of the mounting section 41 to the rear side. With this sliding movement, the rear end surface of the personal computer 50 comes into contact with the contact portion 42 of the docking station 40, and the station-side connector 44 and the personal computer-side connector 55 are connected to perform docking.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional docking station 40 has a structure in which it is connected to the rear end side of the personal computer 50, other connectors for connecting to external devices are hidden behind the docking station 40. There was an inconvenience that after docking with 40, it was not possible to connect with other attached devices.

[0007] Furthermore, when the computer 50 is docked with the docking station 40, the keyboard 52 of the personal computer 50 is raised, which poses an operational problem in that it is difficult to operate the keys. Furthermore, since the personal computer 50 is slid to the back and docking is performed at the rear of the personal computer 50, it is difficult to visually confirm the docking.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and it is possible to connect an electronic information device with other external devices after docking, and also to prevent key operations on the electronic information device after docking. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic information device and a docking station thereof, which can be easily operated and visually checked during docking operations.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides an electronic information device that can be connected to a docking station that expands the capabilities of the electronic information device or improves its performance. It is characterized by having a connector directly connected to the connector of the docking station on the front side of the key operation unit.

[0010] The invention of claim 2 provides a docking station to which the electronic information device according to claim 1 is connected; It is characterized in that it includes a connector that is provided at the end of the movement and that is directly connected to the connector of the electronic information device by sliding movement.

[0011] In this case, an extension part is further provided on the front side of the placement part and extends in front of the electronic information device, and the height of the extension part is higher than the placement surface of the placement part; It is preferable that the height is lower than the top surface of the key operation section of the electronic information device.

[0012] Furthermore, in that case, the upper surface of the extension part is inclined diagonally downward to the front, or the lower surface of the mounting part is inclined so that the electronic information device placed thereon is inclined diagonally downward to the front. It is preferable that

[0013]

[Operation] In the structure of claim 1, since the front surface of the device body is provided with a connector to be connected to the docking station, the rear surface of the device body is provided with a plurality of connectors for connecting to other external devices. be able to.

[0014] In the second aspect of the invention, the electronic information equipment is mounted by sliding it from the back side to the front side, that is, pulling it towards the mounting part. If the docking station is lightweight, dock it by holding it in front of your body and holding it in your arms. In this docking, the connector is connected on the front side, and the connector of the electronic information device is provided on the front of the device body, so that accurate connection can be visually confirmed.

[0015] In this case, by providing an extension part extending in front of the electronic information device on the front side of the placing part, this extension part can accommodate tall components, and
Used as a palm rest. Further, a functional palm rest is constructed by slanting the top surface of the extension part diagonally downward toward the front, or by slanting the bottom surface of the mounting portion so that the electronic information device is tilted diagonally downward toward the front.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a state in which a personal computer 2 is docked to a docking station 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The personal computer 2 is portable, and has minimal functions such as a power supply and a floppy disk drive built into its case 20, and functions as a so-called laptop computer. A keyboard 22 (key operation unit) on which 21 are arranged is provided on the front side of the top surface, and a display 2 that also serves as a lid body is provided.
3 can be opened and closed. Further, a main circuit board 24 is provided inside the case 20. Reference numeral 25 denotes a plurality of connectors (only one is shown in the figure) for connecting external devices electrically connected to the main circuit board 24, and when a plurality of connectors 3 from the corresponding external device are inserted, the printer can be connected to the main circuit board 24. It is possible to connect to external devices such as , hard disk drives, communications, and CRTs. Also,
A docking station 1 is provided at the front end of the main circuit board 24.
A connection pattern for making a docking connection with the computer is formed as the personal computer side connector section 26.

The docking station 1 includes a power supply unit, a hard disk drive, an expansion unit, an IC card, etc. (all not shown) inside a case 10. As a result, station 1 can expand the functions of PC 2 installed therein or improve its performance.
It is said to be multi-functional and comparable to a normal desktop computer.

This docking station 1 has an inverted "L" shape as a whole when viewed from the side, with a loading section 11 located at the back and an extension section 12 at the front of the loading section 11.
are installed in succession. The mounting unit 11 has a computer 2 on its top surface.
is mounted in a positioned state, the back side is released, and the personal computer 2 is slid and mounted from this released back side. The extension part 2 connected to the front side of the placing part 11 is raised in a stepped manner and protrudes from the placing part 11, and tall components such as a power supply unit are arranged inside. ing. Then, this extension part 12 and the mounting part 1
The main circuit board 2 in the personal computer 2 is located at the boundary between the
A station-side connector 13 corresponding to the personal computer-side connector section 26 on the front side of 4 is provided. This station side connector 13 connects to the circuit board 1 inside the case 10.
4, and is electrically connected to the extension part 12 and the mounting part 11.
It protrudes rearward from the rising portion 15 that forms the boundary between the two. When the station-side connector 13 is inserted into the personal computer-side connector 26 of the personal computer 2, the personal computer 2 and the docking station 1 are electrically connected.

In order to dock the personal computer 2 and the docking station 1 with the above configuration, the personal computer 2 is slid from the back side of the released mounting section 11 to the front side. In other words, it pulls the computer 2 toward you, and as a result of this sliding movement, the front part of the computer 2 comes into contact with the rising part 15 that is the boundary between the mounting part 11 and the extension part 12, and the station of the docking station 1. The personal computer side connector 26 of the personal computer 2 is inserted into the side connector 13, and docking is completed.

In this docking, the station-side connector 13 and the personal computer-side connector part 26 for electrical connection are located on the front side, so the connection can be made by receiving the docking station 1 with the body, and the operation can be performed easily. Visual visibility allows for reliable docking. Further, after docking, the external device connection connector 25 provided on the rear side of the personal computer 2 is not hidden, so that the personal computer 2 can be connected to an external device. That is, the personal computer 2 can be connected to an external device with its functions expanded by docking. Further, the extending portion 12 provided in series on the front side of the mounting portion 11 of the docking station 1 can be used as a palm rest during key operations, thereby facilitating key operations on the keyboard 22.

In this case, the extension part 1 as a palm rest
2 has its top surface lower than the top surface of the keyboard 22 of the computer 2, making key operations even easier.
It can be done easily. In addition, the height of the extension part 12 as a palm rest is 30 mm from the top surface of the keyboard.
The following is good ergonomics.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the same elements as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and correspond to each other, thereby omitting redundant explanation. In the docking station 1 of this second embodiment, the placing part 1 serves as a palm rest.
The upper surface of the extending portion 12 connected to the front side of the housing 1 is inclined. That is, the extension part 12 is inclined diagonally downward toward the front so that it becomes lower as it goes from the computer 2 side toward the front side, and this inclination further increases the function as a palm rest.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention, in which identical elements are designated by the same reference numerals. In the docking station 1 of this third embodiment, the bottom surface 16 of the case 10 is continuously inclined. This slope is such that the front side of the case 10 is thinner than the back side. The bottom surface 16 of the case 10 is placed on a desk or the like, and by being inclined in this way, when the docking station 1 is placed on the desk, the entire docking station 1 is lowered on the front side and higher on the back side. is inclined. That is, the personal computer 2 is tilted diagonally downward toward the user. Therefore, when the extension part 12 is used as a palm rest, key operations can be performed without difficulty.

[0024]

[Effect of the invention] As described above, according to the invention of claim 1,
Since a connector for connecting to a docking station is provided on the front of the device, multiple connectors for connecting to other external devices can be provided on the back of the device, further increasing functionality. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the electronic information device is slid from the back side to the front side with respect to the mounting portion, docking can be easily and reliably performed.

Furthermore, by providing an extension on the front side of the placing section, this can be used as a palm rest to improve the operability of the keys. Furthermore, the operability of the keys can be further improved by slanting the upper surface of the extension part diagonally downward toward you, or by slanting the lower surface of the mounting section so that the electronic information device is tilted diagonally downward toward you. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a connection state between an electronic information device and a docking station according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a connection state between an electronic information device and a docking station according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a connection state between an electronic information device and a docking station according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a connection state between a conventional electronic information device and a docking station.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Docking station 2...PC 10...Case 11...Placement part 12...Extension part 13...Station side connector 16...Bottom surface 22...Keyboard 26...PC side connector

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In an electronic information device that can be connected to a docking station that expands the capabilities or improves the performance of the electronic information device, the device is directly connected to a connector of the docking station on the front surface of the device body on the key operation section side. An electronic information device characterized by being equipped with a connector. 2. A docking station to which an electronic information device is connected according to claim 1, comprising: a mounting section on which the electronic information device is mounted by sliding movement from a back side to a front side; and a terminal end of the sliding movement. What is claimed is: 1. A docking station for electronic information equipment, characterized in that the docking station for electronic information equipment is provided with a connector that is provided on a portion of the electronic information equipment and that is directly connected to the connector of the electronic information equipment by the sliding movement. 3. Further comprising an extension part extending forward from the electronic information device on the near side of the mounting part, the height of the extension part being higher than the mounting surface of the mounting part. 3. The docking station for electronic information equipment according to claim 2, wherein the docking station is high and lower than the top surface of a key operation section of the electronic information equipment. 4. The docking station for electronic information equipment according to claim 3, wherein the upper surface of the extension portion is inclined diagonally downward toward you. 5. The docking station for electronic information equipment according to claim 3, wherein a lower surface of the mounting portion is inclined so that the electronic information equipment placed thereon is inclined diagonally downward toward the user. .