Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
  • H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
  • H04B1/3816—Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
  • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K5/00—Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus
  • H05K5/02—Details
  • H05K5/0256—Details of interchangeable modules or receptacles therefor, e.g. cartridge mechanisms
  • H05K5/0286—Receptacles therefor, e.g. card slots, module sockets, card groundings
  • H05K5/0295—Receptacles therefor, e.g. card slots, module sockets, card groundings having ejection mechanisms

Definitions

• the invention relates to a power transmission mechanism for moving an electronic component in a portable electronic device, a component adapter for an electronic component comprising a power transmission mechanism, a portable electronic device comprising a power transmission mechanism and a housing for a portable electronic device comprising a power transmission mechanism.
• the components In portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, electronic components are often employed that are installed temporarily into the portable electronic device and/or that may need to be detachable.
• the components usually include an electrical or mechanical adapter via which the electronic component is coupled to the portable electronic device, but which requires a tight and possibly accurate adaptation to the adapter of the portable electronic device to ensure its reliable operation.
• the detachment of the electronic component from the adapter of the portable electronic device may require much power, and in some cases the operating position of the electronic component may be located deep in the structures of the portable electronic device, whereby the component is not directly accessible to the user. Accordingly, it is useful to study means for enabling the displacement of an electronic component in portable electronic devices.
• the object of the invention is to provide a power transmission mechanism, a component adapter for an electronic device, a portable electronic device and a housing for a portable electronic device in a manner achieving easy displacement of the electronic component in the portable electronic device.
• a power transmission mechanism for moving an electronic component in a portable electronic device, the power transmission mechanism comprising: a driving part for receiving driving force of the power transmission mechanism and for converting the driving force into impulsive force; and an impulsive force conductor for conducting the impulsive force from the driving part to the electronic component, the impulsive force conductor being adapted to glide in a guiding structure of the portable electronic device during use and to adapt at least partly to the curvature of the guiding structure thus causing a change in the direction of the impulsive force.
• a component adapter for an electronic component in a portable electronic device comprising a power transmission mechanism for moving the electronic component in the component adapter, the power transmission mechanism comprising: a driving part for receiving driving force of the power transmission mechanism and for converting the driving force into impulsive force; and an impulsive force conductor for conducting the impulsive force from the driving part to the component, the impulsive force conductor being adapted to glide in a guiding structure of the portable electronic device during use and to adapt at least partly to the curvature of the guiding structure thus causing a change in the direction of the impulsive force.
• a portable electronic device comprising: a component adapter for adapting an electronic component into the portable electronic device; and a power transmission mechanism for moving the electronic component in the component adapter, the power transmission mechanism comprising: a driving part for receiving driving force of the power transmission mechanism and for converting the driving force into impulsive force; a guiding structure; and an impulsive force conductor for conducting the impulsive force from the driving part to the electronic component, the impulsive force conductor being adapted to glide in the guiding structure during use and to adapt at least partly to the curvature of the guiding structure thus causing a change in the direction of the impulsive force.
• a housing for a portable electronic device comprising a power transmission mechanism for moving an electronic component in the housing, the power transmission mechanism comprising: a driving part for receiving driving force of the power transmission mechanism and for converting the driving force into impulsive force; a guiding structure; and an impulsive force conductor for conducting the impulsive force from the driving part to the electronic component, the impulsive force conductor being adapted to glide in the guiding structure during use and to adapt at least partly to the curvature of the guiding structure thus causing a change in the direction of the impulsive force.
• Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
• the invention is based on conducting impulsive force originating from a user's fingers, for example, in the power transmission mechanism by means of an impulsive force conductor to the inside of a portable electronic device, wherein the direction of the impulsive force is controlled in a manner allowing the electronic component of the portable electronic device to be displaced into the desired location by means of the impulsive force.
• the power transmission mechanism, the component adapter for an electronic device, the portable electronic device and the housing for a portable electronic device according to the invention provide a plurality of advantages.
• An advantage is the achievement of the displacement of an electronic component within a portable electronic device without the user touching the electronic component.
• Figure 1 shows a first example of the structure of a portable electronic device and an electronic component
• Figure 2A shows a first example of the structure of a power transmission mechanism according to an embodiment
• Figure 2B shows a second example of the structure of a power transmission mechanism according to an embodiment
• Figure 3A shows a third example of the structure of a power transmission mechanism according to an embodiment
• Figure 3B shows a fourth example of the structure of a power transmission mechanism according to an embodiment
• Figure 3C shows a fifth example of the structure of a power transmission mechanism according to an embodiment
• Figure 4A shows a first isometric view of an embodiment of a portable electronic device
• Figure 4B shows a first sectional view of an embodiment of a portable electronic device
• Figure 5A shows a second isometric view of an embodiment of a portable electronic device
• Figure 5B shows a second sectional view of an embodiment of a portable electronic device
• Figure 6 shows a sixth example of a power transmission mechanism according to an embodiment
• Figure 7 shows a seventh example of a power transmission mechanism according to an embodiment.
• the portable electronic device 10 comprises a housing 100, a component adapter 106 and an opening 104 for the component adapter.
• Figure 1 further shows an electronic component 102.
• the housing 100 may be a plastic housing made by the compression moulding technique, for example.
• the housing 100 is at least partly of metal.
• the component adapter 106 is typically a structure that extends inside the portable electronic device 10 and comprises a guiding structure for guiding the electronic component 102 through the opening 104 for the component adapter into an operating position, and electronic contact means for establishing an electrical contact between the portable electronic device 10 and the electronic component 102.
• the component adapter 106 is a modular type of part of the portable electronic device 10 and it can be manufactured separate from the other parts of the portable electronic device 10 and installed into the portable electronic device 10 at the manufacturing stage of the portable electronic device 10.
• the electronic component 102 is typically a device operating in connection with the portable electronic device 10.
• the electronic component 102 may be an accessory of the portable electronic device 10, and it can be detached from the portable electronic device 10 and connected to the portable electronic device 10 in the direction of directional arrow 108.
• the electronic component 102 is a component displaceable inside the portable electronic device 10, such as a memory card or a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module).
• the SIM card may have for instance two slots in the portable electronic device 10.
• the electronic component 102 is a memory card wherein digital data may be stored.
• the portable electronic device 10 may for instance read data from the memory card and/or write data thereto. In this case, the detachability enables data transfer between the portable electronic device 10 and an external device.
• the electronic component 102 is a power source, such as a battery.
• the power source may be detached for charging in an external charging device and replaced with a charged power source.
• the portable electronic device may be a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a portable computer, a camera and/or an audio player, for example.
• PDA Personal Digital Assistant
• the solution presented is not restricted to the examples presented, but can be applied to any portable electronic device 10 that utilizes a detachable and/or displaceable electronic component 102.
• a power transmission mechanism 200A, 200B comprises a driving part 206 and an impulsive force conductor 202 coupled to the driving part 206.
• the driving part 206 receives the driving power of the power transmission mechanism 200A, 200B, which originates from an operator and/or a motor 222.
• the motor 222 is for instance a step motor and the driving part may be for instance a toothing provided in the impulsive force conductor 202 and adaptable to the drive gear of the motor 222.
• the driving part 206 is for instance a projection provided in the impulsive force conductor 202 and it may have a through hole through the housing 100 of the portable electronic device 10 in a manner allowing the user access to the driving part 206.
• the driving part 206 converts the driving force received into impulsive force and transfers the impulsive force into the driving force conductor 202.
• the power transmission mechanism 300A, 300B may comprise a guiding structure 208 wherein the impulsive force conductor 202 glides and which guides the driving part 206 in the direction indicated by directional arrow 216 when the impulsive force conductor 202 is being moved.
• the guiding structure 208 is a groove.
• the guiding structure 208 may be provided in the housing 100 of the portable electronic device 10 or in a rail 204 arranged for the guiding structure 208. In an embodiment, the rail 204 is integrated into the component adapter 106.
• the guiding structure 208 is integrated into the framework or the housing of the portable electronic device 10 for minimizing the number of parts and the price.
• the framework or the housing may be made from a plastic material by injection moulding, for example.
• the impulsive force conductor 202 glides and adapts to the curved structures of the guiding structure 208 causing a change in the direction of the impulsive force depending on the location of the end of the impulsive force conductor 202 in the guiding structure 208.
• the impulsive force at the end of the impulsive force conductor 202 is in the direction of directional arrow 218, which is in the direction of the travel path 220 of the electronic component 102 when the electronic component is being detached from the component adapter 106.
• the impulsive force is typically a force that causes compression of the impulsive force conductor 202 in the longitudinal direction.
• the non- compressibility of the impulsive force causes the transfer of the impulsive force to the end of the impulsive force conductor 202 on the side of the electronic device 10.
• the impulsive force conductor 202 conducts the driving force from the driving part 206 to the electronic component 102, which impulsive force conductor 202 is adapted to glide in the guiding structure 208 of the portable electronic device 10 during use and to adapt at least partly to the curvature 214 of the guiding structure 208 thus causing a change in the direction of the impulsive force.
• the impulsive force conductor 202 is typically a band-like flexible structure that adapts to the curvature 214 of the guiding structure 208 of the portable electronic device 10 when the impulsive force conductor 202 is being glided in the guiding structure.
• the adaptability of the impulsive force conductor 202 typically depends on the thickness of the impulsive force conductor 202 and the material used.
• the required stiffness of the impulsive force conductor 202 may be determined by the force required for moving the electronic component 102 and the smallest curvature of the guiding structure 208 of the electronic device 10.
• the solution presented is not restricted to a band-like structure, but the profile of the impulsive force conductor 202 may be any shape, as long as the guiding structure 208 is designed in a manner allowing the guiding structure 208 to sufficiently support the impulsive force conductor 202 thus preventing the folding of the impulsive force conductor 202.
• the impulsive force conductor 202 is of a flexible plastic, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or a mixture thereof.
• the thickness of the impulsive force conductor 202 may be about 1 millimetre and the width about 3 to 30 millimetres.
• the dimensions presented are only examples, and the width and thickness of the impulsive force conductor 202 employed in applications depend on the dimensions of the electronic device and the curvature of the guiding structure 208.
• the solution presented does not set limits on the length of the impulsive force conductor 202, but the length may be limited by the frictional force between the guiding structure and the impulsive force conductor 202, the force being proportional to the contact surface area between the impulsive force conductor 202 and the guiding structure.
• the impulsive force conductor 202 allows driving force to be conducted to the inner structures of the portable electronic device 10, whereby the electronic component 102 may be pushed off its operating position in such a manner that the user does not have to touch the electronic component 102 with his fingers. In this way, less dirt passes to the component adapter 106, and the edges of the opening of the component adapter 104 do not have to be provided with structures for facilitating the access of the user's fingers to the edges of the electronic component.
• the portable electronic device 10 comprises an electrical switch 210 for controlling the electrical coupling between the electronic component 102 and the portable electronic device 10.
• the electrical switch 210 may be coupled for instance to the circuit board of the portable electronic device 10, from where the electrical switch 210 has a connection to the control circuits of the portable electronic device 10. Accordingly, the electrical switch 210 may control for instance the writing and reading of the electronic component 102 via the control circuits.
• the electrical switch 210 is part of the component adapter 106.
• the power transmission mechanism 200A, 200B comprises a mechanical switch element 212 coupled to the impulsive force conductor 202 for changing the position of the electrical switch 210 during movement of the impulsive force conductor 202.
• the mechanical switch element 212 has not passed the electrical switch 210, which is in a switching position for the electronic component 102 and the portable electronic device 10.
• the mechanical switch element 212 has passed the electrical switch 210, which has switched off the coupling between the electronic component 102 and the portable electronic device 10.
• the electronic component 102 is control- lably detachable from the portable electronic device 10.
• the mechanical switch element 312 may be a projection or slot provided in the impulsive force conductor 308. In an embodiment, the mechanical switch element 312 is integrated into the impulsive force conductor 308 at the manufacturing stage of the impulsive force conductor 308.
• the driving part 306 is located in the vicinity of the opening of the component adapter of the housing, the movement of the driving part 306 being perpendicular relative to the direction of movement of the electronic component 102 in accordance with directional arrow 314.
• the impulsive force conductor 308 is adapted to conduct the impulsive force to the rear of the component adapter and to change the direction of the impulsive force to the direction of movement of the electronic component 102.
• the electronic component 102 is in its operating position, and in the example of Figure 3B, the electronic component 102 is switched off its operating position. In its operating position, the electronic component 102 is electrically coupled to the portable electronic device.
• impulsive force at the end of the impulsive force conductor 308 is in the direction of directional arrow 316.
• the end of the impulsive force conductor 308 is in the direction of directional arrow 320, and the impulsive force is in the direction of the path of movement of the electronic component 102.
• the impulsive force is in the direction of directional arrow 318.
• the power transmission mechanism 300A comprises a cover element 324 coupled to the driving part 306 and adapted to cover the opening 104 of the component adapter of the portable electronic device when the electronic component 102 is in its operating position and to open the opening of the component adapter 104 when the electronic component 102 is being displaced from its operating posi- tion.
• the cover element 324 reduces the access of for instance dirt and other harmful factors to the component adapter 106.
• the cover element 324 is automatically withdrawn from the opening 104 of the component adapter 106 when the electronic component 102 is being removed from the component adapter 106 by means of the power transmission mechanism and closes the opening 104 of the component adapter 106 when the electronic component 102 is inserted into the component adapter 106.
• the final closing of the cover element 324 may be carried out by the user by means of the driving part 306.
• the cover element 324 may be integrated as part of the impulsive force conductor, whereby the driving part 306 may be located at the end of the cover element 324. In this case, no separate through hole is required for the driving part 306 in the portable electronic device.
• Figures 3A and 3B also show an electrical switch 310 and a mechanical switch element 312.
• the guiding structure 304 of the power transmission mechanism 300C may be completed with an upper rail 322 for reinforcing the impulsive force conductor 308.
• Figure 3C further shows positioning structures 326, 328 for positioning the electronic component 102 in the component adapter 106 in the desired manner.
• the upper rail 322 and/or the positioning structures 326, 328 may be integrated into the structures of the portable electronic device, such as the housing 100.
• the radius of curvature of the curvature of the guiding structure may be in the order of the external angle of the portable electronic device. Depending on the embodiment, the radius of curvature of the curvature may be 2 mm to 10 cm.
• the solution presented is not restricted to the numbers presented, but the radius of curvature depends on the structure of the portable electronic device 10, the impulsive force required, and the structure and material of the impulsive force conductor 202, 308.
• the rail 302, the upper rail 322 and/or the positioning structures 326, 328 are integrated into the component adapter 106.
• a portable electronic device 400A may comprise a through hole 408 provided in the housing 100, through which hole the driving part 406 extends from the interior of the portable electronic device 400A to the outside of the portable electronic device 400A.
• the electronic component is in the operating position, and the cover element 402 covers the opening 104 of the component adapter.
• Directional arrow 410 shows the path of movement of the driving part 406 when the electronic component is detached from the component adapter 106.
• the cross-section 400B of the electronic device 400A according to Figure 4A is studied at level 404.
• the driving part 406 is displaced in the direction of directional arrow 410
• the impulsive force conductor 412 conducts the impulsive force into the rear of the electronic component 416 and changes the impulsive force to the direction of directional arrow 414.
• the radius of curvature of the curvature of the guiding structure is in the order of half the thickness of the portable electronic device 400A.
• Figure 5B the cross-section 500B of the portable electronic device 500A of Figure 5A will be studied at level 404.
• Figure 5B shows the guiding structure 418, which is a groove provided in the housing 100, for example.
• the end of the impulsive force conductor 412 abuts on the electronic component 416 and it has pushed the electronic component into view from the opening of the component adapter.
• the impulsive force conductor 614 constitutes a sliding cover for a portable electronic device 600, 700.
• the driving part 606 When the driving part 606 is displaced in the direction of directional arrow 608, the impulsive force conductor 614 glides in the guiding structure 612 of the housing 602, the cover element 604 is withdrawn from the opening of the component adapter, and the part of the impulsive force conductor 614 that bends to the inside of the portable electronic device 600, 700 pushes the electronic component 610 into view.
• the transfer mechanism inside the electronic device 600, 700 according to Figures 6 and 7 may resemble the structures presented in Figures 4B and 5B considering that the separate through hole 408 for the driv- ing part 606 is not required.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
• Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34630159

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (1)

Citations (12)

• 2005
  • 2005-05-13 FI FI20055223A patent/FI119494B/fi not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2006
  • 2006-05-12 WO PCT/FI2006/050189 patent/WO2006120304A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (12)

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