DE19950006C2 - System consisting of a portable computer and a connection station - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a system consisting of a portable Computer and a connection station with the characteristics of The preamble of claim 1.

Portable computers have been state of the art since known for a long time and are characterized by high mobili computer. In particular, size and ge more and more diminished to the functionality and To increase usability for a user.

Because of the small size of the portable computer the associated and integrated keyboards if very small. Therefore, portable Com puter often with the help of connecting stations, too be referred to as a docking station, used to e.g. a bigger screen and a normal keyboard as well Connect stationary printers and other peripheral devices to be able to eat. This turns the portable computer into an egg a desktop computer, which makes the functionality significant is improved.

Based on the fact that the most expensive element egg Nes portable computer is the flat screen and that the screen is also expensive for desktop computers Element represents the flat screen of the portable  Computers often also when used as a table com computer, for example with a normal keyboard connected to it, used as a monitor.

As with conventional portable computers, the flat screen screen is pivotally connected to the housing and the front of the flat screen in a first Swivel position when the keyboard is closed is flat, the flat screen from the user be tries to look behind the keyboard in one direction adjusted angle arranged. Will now be sent directly to the portable computer or via a connection station large keyboard connected, so the portable Compu ter with his keyboard behind it, so that on the one hand the work area around the large keyboard around and on the other hand the distance between is too big for the user and the flat screen. Therefore are the functionality and ergonomics of the portable Com puters considerably when used as desktop computers limited.

From DE 196 18 325 A1, US 5,808,862 and from DE 197 00 875 A1 discloses portable computers whose Flat screens can be pivoted so that in folded state of the computer the flat screen screen is visible to the outside. The state of the art Portable computers known in the art are used for data input both via the keyboard and using a Pen on the pressure-sensitive top of the screen. Around easier input of data using the pen and the pressure-sensitive surface of the flat screen enable, the flat screen is in the previously described  Brought swivel position in which this in folded state is visible to the outside.

DE 42 14 388 A1 describes a holding device for known a portable computer. The unit from on terminal station and portable computer and, if necessary other peripherals can be easily from egg brought to and from one location Locations can be optimally served. In the up The position taken by the portable computer are screen and keyboard accessible from the outside to a usual input enable data.

The invention is based on the technical problem that system known from the prior art from the tragba ren computer and the connection station to continue training the and design that functionality and ergo nomie of the portable computer when used as fixed computer is improved.

The technical problem outlined above is solved by a System according to claim 1 with its characteristic note paint solved.

It was first recognized that the flat screen on a portable computer by a simple ver pivot can be arranged so that the flat screen of the portable computer in the closed state is visible to the outside. This results in a com compact element, that as a computer on the one hand and as a moni tor can serve without the keyboard unnecessary occupies space.  

Preferably the front of the flat is umbrella in the second pivot position essentially aligned parallel to the keyboard. That means that the portable computer assumes a closed state and thus occupies a volume that corresponds to the volume of a norma folded portable computer speaks. The difference, however, is that despite the flat screen closed to the outside is visible. There are basically two options to arrange the flat screen. On the one hand, the Back of the flat screen in the second swivel po sition on the keyboard so that in the second Swivel position the keyboard is covered and the Flat screen is visible to the outside. On the other hand the second swivel position can be the back of the flat screen against the bottom of the case. There through are on one side of the portable computer the flat screen and on the other side the key door accessible from the outside.

The way the panning of the flat screen can be realized, is exemplified in the description of exemplary embodiments given below explained in detail.

By a connection station according to claim 1, the in the special design of the portable computer swiveling flat screen ergonomic egg properties implemented. For example, if the portable computer used as desktop computers, so take fiction according to the recording means the portable computer with the Flat screen in its second swivel position, so  visible to the outside, with the receiving means portable computer in an essentially upright position Hold position. The system takes over from the connection station and portable computer the function of the actual Chen computer and the screen, for example a desk. Then to the connection station a keyboard and possibly other peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, speakers and drives for Storage media connected. Since the keyboard of the tragba computer is not opened, this is largely hidden and does not occupy the work area on the Table. Therefore, in addition to an ergonomic improvement also achieved an aesthetic improvement since none components or elements not required are visible.  

The receiving means are preferably as one Indentation inside the housing of the connection station formed, the recess at least partially to the Adapted outer shape of the housing of the portable computer is. The portable computer can be placed in the recess sets or be plugged in, so that the portable Compu ter is held in an upright position and the externally visible flat screen to a user turns. This results in an external appearance image, which is close to a conventional table flat screen comes, namely in the form of a base, here as a housing trained, and as a flat screen, here as a portable Computer trained.

More preferably, are in the receiving means the interfaces formed so that by an attachment zen, or plugging the portable computer directly Connection between the connection station and the portable Computer emerges. The interfaces are preferred for this designed as plug contacts. Thus, one use completely avoided by cables. In more preferred The receiving means are on a pivotable arm arranged, the pivotable arm with the housing of the Connection station is pivotally connected. Thus, the Align the portable computer with the outside visible flat screen aimed at the user become. This is particularly advantageous because the flat screens are often a preferred line of sight require.

A more preferred is at least one peripheral Device integrated in the housing of the connection station. At for example, two speakers can serve so that in addition to optical signals, acoustic signals from the  Unit consisting of connection station and connected portable Computers can be generated. Since an increasing inte generation of telecommunications, television and computers done, is therefore an application of the portable computer conceivable as a second television. The portable Compu ter with its flat screen visible to the outside in an appropriately trained connection station turned on through which a television signal is fed to the computer leads and processed by this, namely via the Flat screen and the speakers are played. Thus, the portable computer when it is for the daily work is no longer used as a television or for playing video films, e.g. using a DVD, be used. The functionality and ergonomics of the portable computers along with the corresponding out formed connection station are thus further increased.

The invention is based on execution examples explained in more detail, reference being made to the drawing is taken. Show in the drawing

Fig. 1a-d, a first embodiment of a portable computer,

FIGS. 2a-e, a second embodiment of a portable computer,

Fig. 3a shows a third embodiment of a computer-f,

Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of an inventive terminal station with inserted portable computer and tem

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a connection station according to the invention with inserted portable computer.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a portable computer, which is generally marked with 2, with a housing 4 and a 4 arranged in the hous se 6 . Furthermore, a flat screen 8 is provided, which is angeord net in a cover 10 which is pivotally connected to the housing 4 . In a first pivoting position, which is shown in FIG. 1 a, the front of the flat screen 8 faces the keyboard 6 . The first swivel position therefore speaks the usual closed position of the portable computer 2 . In Fig. 1d, the second pivot position is shown, in which the front of the flat screen 8 is arranged facing away from the keyboard 6 . As Fig. 1d shows, both the keyboard 6 and the flat screen 8 are each arranged outward tet.

It also follows from Fig. 1d that in the second pivoting position the front of the flat screen 8 is oriented substantially parallel to the keyboard 6 , the back of the flat screen 8 , that is, the back of the cover 10, abuts the underside of the housing 4 .

In order to enable the pivoting between the pivot positions previously shown with reference to FIGS. 1a and 1d, two pivot joints 12 and 14 aligned parallel to one another are provided, the axes of which are aligned parallel to the rear edge 16 of the housing 4 . Both swivel joints 12 and 14 allow pivoting by at least 180 ° and the swivel joints 12 and 14 are connected to one another by a web 18 . Furthermore, the first swivel joint is connected to the flat screen 8 or to the cover 10 and the second swivel joint 14 to the housing 4 . For this purpose, either a pair of pivots 12 , 14 in the With te the rear edge 16 of the housing 4 is provided, or two pairs of pivots 12 , 14 are provided, which are spaced along the rear edge of the housing 4 angeord net.

Based on the starting position shown in Fig. 1a, the lid 10 with the flat screen 8 around the first pivot 12 can be given away or folded up so that the portable computer 2 can be used in a conventional manner. If there is a further pivoting of the cover 10 around the second swivel joint 14 , as shown in FIG. 1c, the cover is pivoted in the direction of the underside of the housing 4 . A further pivoting of the lid 10 around the first pivot joint 12 , see Fig. 1d, then brings the Dec angle 10 or the flat screen 8 into the previously described second pivot position. The cover 10 thus pivots by essentially 360 ° and comes into contact with its rear side facing away from the flat screen on the underside of the housing 4 .

The pivoting has previously been illustrated in such a way that either pivoting about the first pivot joint 12 or about the second pivot joint 14 takes place. This was only for simplification. Of course, simultaneous pivoting about both pivot joints 12 and 14 is also possible.

As a comparison between FIGS. 1a and 1d shows, the computer 2 has a folded and thus compact state in both swivel positions, the flat screen 8 being arranged on the inside and being protected against damage from the outside. On the other hand, the flat screen 8 is visible from the outside in the two-th swivel position, although the computer 2 is closed.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a portable computer, wherein the same reference numerals designate the same element as that described above in relation to the first embodiment. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, two pairs of pivots 12 and 14 are provided, which in the side view in Fig. 2, however, can only be seen as a pair of pivots 12 and 14 . In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the swivel joints 12 are not connected along the edge of the cover 10 , which is assigned to the rear edge 16 of the housing 4 , but the swivel joints 12 are connected to the cover 10 essentially centrally along the transverse edge of the latter. The two swivel joints 12 and 14 are each connected to one another via a web 18 . Overall, the pivoting of the cover 10 shown in FIGS. 2a-e is thereby possible.

First of all, starting from the closed position in FIG. 2a, the cover 10 with the flat screen 8 is folded up, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2b. So with a position of the flat screen is reached, which is usually occupied by portable computers during use. As FIG. 2c shows, the cover 10 is then pivoted by 180 ° about the swivel joints 12 , so that the flat screen 8 subsequently points to the left in FIG. 2d. A renewed pivoting of the lid around the pivot joint 14 in the opposite direction, as has been described with reference to FIG. 2b, leads to the lid again resting on the side of the housing 4 facing the keyboard 6 . However, due to the pivoting about the axis of the hinge 14, the flat screen 8 is arranged on the outside of the portable computer shown in FIG. 2e above. Thus, the back of the flat screen 8 is in the second pivot position shown in FIG. 2e on the keyboard. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard 6 is thus covered in the portable computer 2 with the flat screen 8 arranged in the second swivel position, and only the flat screen 8 faces the outside.

In Fig. 3, a third embodiment is shown a portable computer. Here, too, the same reference numerals designate the same elements as have been described in relation to the preceding exemplary embodiments.

The computer 2 has a first swivel joint 20 for pivoting the flat screen 8 together with the cover 10 about a first axis of rotation. This axis of rotation is aligned essentially parallel to the rear edge 16 of the housing 4 . Furthermore, a second swivel joint 22 for giving away the flat screen 8 together with the Dec kel 10 is provided about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation being oriented substantially perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the two rotary joints 20 and 22 engage one another and are formed integrally with one another.

With the help of the pivot joints 20 and 22 , the flat screen 8 can be pivoted together with the cover 10 in the following manner. Starting from the first pivot position of the flat screen 8 shown in FIG. 3a, in which it faces the keyboard 6 , the flat screen 8 with the cover 10 according to FIG. 3b is brought into a substantially vertical position, which is the usual pivot position of the flat screen speaks ent when using a conventional portable computer. As shown in Fig represent. 3c in a side view and Fig. 3d in a plan view, then a pivoting of the lid 10 is carried out including the flat screen 8 around the rotational axis of the rotary joint 22 through a rotation angle of approximately 180 °. This position is shown in Fig. 3e, the flat screen 8 is now directed outwards, in Fig. 3e to the left. By pivoting back the cover 10 about the first swivel joint 20 , the cover 10 comes to rest on the keyboard with its side facing away from the flat screen 8 , see FIG. 3f. In this second swivel position, the flat screen is visible from the outside, the back of the flat screen 8 , that is to say the cover 10 , abutting the keyboard.

From the previously given description of the third exemplary embodiment, it follows that the first swivel joint 20 and the second swivel joint 22 are arranged essentially in the middle of the rear edge 16 of the housing 4 .

In all of the previously described exemplary embodiments of a portable computer, the electrical connections between the computer arranged in the housing 4 and the flat screen 8 are guided through the swivel joints 12 and 14 or 20 and 22 .

Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of an inventive terminal station for a portable computer ter, as he has been explained in detail using three embodiments. In all Ausführungsbei play the portable computer applies that in the second pivoting position of the flat screen 8 in the folded state of the portable computer 2 is visible to the outside.

The first embodiment of a connection station 24 according to the invention shown in FIGS . 4a-e has a housing 26 that on the one hand interfaces 28 for connecting the computer 2 and on the other hand interfaces 30 for connecting peripheral devices. Furthermore, a receptacle designed as a recess 32 within the housing 26 is provided, with which the portable computer 2 with a flat screen 8 visible to the outside can be received. Fig. 4 shows how he disposed in the recess 32 of the computer 2, and is therefore added. The computer 2 has the flat screen 8 in its second Schwenkpo position, that is, the computer 2 is closed, but the flat screen 8 can be seen to the outside.

The contour of the recess 32 for receiving the portable computer 2 is adapted in its shape to the outer shape housings 4 of the portable computer 2 . This can be seen clearly in FIGS. 4a to 4c. Furthermore, these figures show that the recess 32 ter 2 holds the portable Compu in a substantially upright position and thus use of the flat panel 8 allows the portable computer 2 as a anzuord on a table nenden flat screen.

As shown in Figures 4a show. To 4d, the recess 32 is formed in a part 26 a of the housing 26, which is arranged on a pivotable arm 34 can be such that the Reg processing of the flat screen 8 by pivoting the pivoting arm 34 is set , as shown in FIGS. 4a to 4c for different pivot positions. For this purpose, the pivotable arm 34 is connected to a support arm 38 via a swivel joint 36 .

As shown in FIGS. 4a to 4c, the receiving means 32 , that is to say the recess in part 26a , have the interfaces 28 , which are designed as plug contacts for direct connection to the portable computer 2 , for which purpose the portable computer 2 has correspondingly designed plug contacts 40 has.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 4e, the flat screen 8 takes up most of the surface of the connection station 24 visible to the user, that is to say the part 26 a of the housing 26 . The impression that this is a portable computer 2 is almost completely eliminated. Rather, it creates the impression of a conventional flat screen.

In FIGS. 5a and 5b, a further embodiment is shown of a terminal station according to the invention for a portable pe ren computer 2. Again, the same reference numerals designate the same elements as those previously described for the other embodiments.

Also, Fig. 5 shows a termination station 24, in which receiving means 32, a portable computer 2 with exposed outward flat panel 8 is used. In contrast to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, no pivotable arm is provided in this embodiment. It is therefore a free-standing device that carries the portable computer 2 with its flat screen 8 facing outwards in a fixed position. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 5a, a pair of loudspeakers 42 are additionally provided in order to be able to display acoustic information in addition to visual information. Thus, the connection station shown in FIG. 5 can be used in particular for the use of a portable computer 2 as a screen for a television unit or for a unit for playing video or of films stored on a DVD. In this embodiment of the connection station, a peripheral device, namely a pair of loudspeakers 42, is also integrated in the housing 26 . However, other peripheral devices such as a DVD drive can be integrated in the housing 26 .

Claims (6)

1. system comprising a portable computer and a terminal station,
the portable computer ( 2 )
a housing ( 4 ),
a keyboard ( 6 ) arranged in the housing ( 4 ) and
one which can be pivoted to the housing ( 4 ) and which has a flat screen ( 8 ),
the front of the flat screen ( 8 ) facing the keyboard ( 6 ) in a first pivoting position and
the front of the flat screen ( 8 ) facing away from the keyboard ( 6 ) in a second pivoting position,
the connection station ( 24 )
a housing ( 26 , 26 a),
Interfaces ( 28 ) for connecting the computer ( 2 ),
Interfaces ( 30 ) for connecting peripheral devices and
Has receiving means ( 32 ) for receiving the portable computer ( 2 ),
characterized by

• - That the recording means ( 32 ) record the portable computer ( 2 ) with outwardly visible flat screen ( 8 ) and
• - That the receiving means ( 32 ) keep the portable computer ( 2 ) in a substantially upright position.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving means ( 32 ) as a recess inside the housing ( 26 , 26 a) of the connection station ( 24 ) are formed, the recess at least partially to the outer shape of the housing ( 4th ) of the portable computer ( 2 ) is adapted. 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiving means ( 32 ) on a schwenkba ren arm ( 34 ) are arranged. 4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receiving means ( 32 ) have the interfaces ( 28 ). 5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the interfaces ( 28 ) are formed as plug contacts for direct connection with the portable computer ( 2 ). 6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one peripheral device, preferably at least one speaker ( 42 ), is integrated in the housing ( 26 , 26 a).