TWI515541B - External input device - Google Patents

Description

External input device

The present invention relates to an external input device, and more particularly to an external input device having a flexible connector.

With the development of technology, users' requirements for portable electronic devices such as tablet computers have also increased. For example, in order to facilitate the user to input a message, an external keyboard of the tablet computer has been developed for the user to use.

However, the connector of the current tablet computer and the connector of the external keyboard are electrically connected to the external keyboard through the snapping manner, so that it is easy to combine or disassemble the tablet computer and the external keyboard because the user's force is improper. The connector that causes the phase plug is bent due to the force, which causes a problem of poor contact of the connector.

In view of the above problems, the present invention relates to an external input device for solving the problem in the prior art that the connector is easily damaged by combining or disassembling the tablet with an external keyboard, thereby causing poor contact of the connector.

An external input device for inserting a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. The external input device includes an input housing, a flexible connector, and a support member. The input housing is provided with an input module. The input housing has a receiving groove. The accommodating groove has a first side and a second side opposite to each other. The first side is closer to the input module than the second side. The soft connector is electrically connected to the input Module. The flexible connector has a fixed end and a movable end. The fixed end is connected to the first side of the accommodating groove. The support member is pivoted on the second side of the receiving groove. The support member pivots relative to the input housing with a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the support covers the receiving slot to shield the flexible connector. In the open position, the support member is deployed relative to the input housing to reveal the receiving slot. When the support member is in the open position and the portable electronic device is inserted into the first side of the accommodating slot, the flexible connector is flexed to attach and electrically connect the movable end to the portable electronic device, and The support member resists the portable electronic device.

In one embodiment, the movable end of the flexible connector has a first magnetic member. The portable electronic device has a display surface. The portable electronic device has a second magnetic member opposite to one side of the display surface. When the portable electronic device is inserted into the first side of the receiving slot, the movable end of the flexible connector is flexed toward the portable electronic device, and the first magnetic member is attracted to the second magnetic member.

In an embodiment, the receiving slot further has a limiting slot. The limiting slot is adjacent to the first side. The limit slot is used for plugging in the portable electronic device.

In an embodiment, the external input device further includes a bracket. The bracket is disposed in the receiving slot and is disposed between the fixed end of the flexible connector and the movable end.

In an embodiment, the support member has an opposite pivot end and a resisting end. The pivot end is pivotally connected to the second side. There is a first fastener between the pivot end and the resist end. The input housing has a second fastener. When the first fastener is engaged with the second fastener, the first fastener and the second fastener maintain the support in the closed position. When the first card fastener is unlocked from the second card firmware, the support member is pivotable relative to the input housing to the open position.

In an embodiment, the limiting slot is located between the input module and the bracket.

In an embodiment, the input housing has at least one third magnetic member. The portable electronic device has at least one fourth magnetic member. When the support is in the closed position and the portable electronic device is stacked outside When connected to the input device, the third magnetic member is attracted to the fourth magnetic member.

In an embodiment, the movable end of the flexible connector has at least one first electrical contact. The portable electronic device has a second electrical contact. When the portable electronic device is inserted into the external input device, the first electrical contact contacts and is electrically connected to the second electrical contact.

In an embodiment, the external input device further includes an expansion slot. The expansion slot is placed on the support. The expansion slot is electrically connected to the input module.

In an embodiment, the input module is a keyboard.

According to the external input device disclosed in the above embodiments of the present invention, since the external input device and the portable electronic device press the flexible connector through the portable electronic device, the flexible connector is attached to the portable electronic device. The device is electrically connected, that is, the flexible connector and the portable electronic device are not electrically connected through the buckle manner, thereby avoiding the combination or disassembly of the external input device and the portable electronic device. The connector is bent due to improper application. In this way, the problem that the connector is easily damaged by the combination or disassembly of the tablet and the external keyboard in the prior art is solved.

The above description of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments of the present invention are intended to illustrate and explain the principles of the invention.

10‧‧‧External input device

100‧‧‧ input housing

110‧‧‧ accommodating slots

111‧‧‧ first side

112‧‧‧ second side

113‧‧‧ Limit slot

120‧‧‧Second card firmware

130‧‧‧ Third magnetic parts

200‧‧‧Soft connector

210‧‧‧Fixed end

220‧‧‧ active end

221‧‧‧First electrical contact

222‧‧‧First magnetic parts

300‧‧‧Support

310‧‧‧ pivot end

320‧‧‧Resistance

330‧‧‧First card firmware

400‧‧‧ input module

500‧‧‧ bracket

600‧‧‧Expansion slot

20‧‧‧Portable electronic devices

21‧‧‧Second electrical contacts

22‧‧‧ Display surface

23‧‧‧Second magnetic parts

24‧‧‧4th magnetic piece

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of an external input device stacked on a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the external input device separated from the portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of an external input device and a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2A is a side view of the external input device of Figure 1A.

Figure 2B is another side view of the external input device of Figure 1A.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the insertion process of the external electronic device inserted into the external input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the external electronic device inserted into the external input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3C is a perspective view of Figure 3B.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention. The objects and advantages associated with the present invention can be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The following examples are intended to describe the present invention in further detail, but do not limit the scope of the invention in any way.

First, please refer to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C and FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of the external input device stacked on the portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the external input device separated from the portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of an external input device and a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2A is a side view of the external input device of Figure 1A. Figure 2B is another side view of the external input device of Figure 1A. The external input device 10 is configured to be inserted into a portable electronic device 20. In the following description, the external input device 10 is An external keyboard is used as an example, and the portable electronic device 20 is illustrated by a tablet computer, but is not limited thereto.

The external input device 10 includes an input housing 100, a flexible connector 200, and a support member 300. In this embodiment and some other embodiments, the external input device 10 further includes a bracket 500, but is not limited thereto. The input housing 100 is provided with an input module 400. The input module 400 is, for example but not limited to, a keyboard.

The input housing 100 has a receiving slot 110. The accommodating groove 110 has a first side 111 and a second side 112 opposite to each other. The first side 111 is closer to the input module 400 than the second side 112. In this embodiment and some other embodiments, the receiving slot 110 further has a limiting slot 113. The limiting slot 113 is adjacent to the first side 111. The limiting slot 113 is used for inserting the portable electronic device 20 and providing an effect of limiting the portable electronic device 20.

The flexible connector 200 is electrically connected to the input module 400. In detail, the flexible connector 200 has a fixed end 210 and a movable end 220. The fixed end 210 is connected to the first side 111 of the accommodating groove 110. On the other hand, the movable end 220 of the embodiment further has at least one first electrical contact 221 , and the first electrical contact 221 corresponds to the second electrical contact 21 of the portable electronic device 20 . That is, the external input device 10 and the portable electronic device 20 are electrically connected through the first electrical contact 221 and the second electrical contact 21 .

In this embodiment and some other embodiments, the movable end 220 of the flexible connector 200 further has a first magnetic member 222, such as but not limited to a magnet. On the other hand, the portable electronic device 20 has a display surface 22. The portable electronic device 20 has a second magnetic member 23 corresponding to one of the first magnetic members 222 opposite to one side of the display surface 22, and the second magnetic member 23 is, for example but not limited to, a magnet.

The support member 300 is pivotally disposed on the second side 112 of the accommodating groove 110. In detail, the support member 300 has an opposite pivot end 310 and a resisting end 320. The pivoting end 310 is pivotally connected to the second side 112 of the receiving slot 110, and the abutting end 320 is pivoted by the pivoting end 310 as a pivoting center. Thereby, the support member 300 pivots relative to the input housing 100 to have a closed position (as shown in FIG. 2A) and an open position (as shown in FIG. 2B). In the closed position, the support member 300 covers the receiving slot 110 to shield the flexible connector 200 (as shown in FIG. 2A). In the open position, the support member 300 is deployed relative to the input housing 100 to expose the receiving slot 110 (as shown in FIG. 2B).

In addition, in this embodiment and some other embodiments, a first fastener 330 is further disposed between the pivot end 310 and the resisting end 320. The first card fastener 330 corresponds to one of the second fasteners 120 of the input housing 100. The first card firmware 330 and the second card firmware 120 are, for example, a push-push type push-back card structure. In detail, when the first fastener 330 is unlocked from the second fastener 120, the support 300 can be pivoted relative to the input housing 100 to the open position. When the first fastener 330 is engaged with the second fastener 120, the first fastener 330 and the second fastener 120 maintain the support 300 in the closed position.

The bracket 500 is disposed between the fixed end 210 of the flexible connector 200 and the movable end 220 , and the limiting slot 113 is located between the input module 400 and the bracket 500 .

The following describes the operational relationship when the portable electronic device 20 is inserted into the external input device 10 of the embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C. FIG. 3A is a side view of the insertion process of the external electronic device inserted into the external input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a side view of the external electronic device inserted into the external input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3C is a perspective view of Figure 3B. When the user needs to insert the portable electronic device 20 into the external input device 10 for use, the user can first unlock the first card firmware 330 and the second card firmware 120. Next, the user pivots the support member 300 again in the direction F1 to the open position. Then, the portable electronic device 20 is inserted into the limiting slot 113 of the first side 111 of the receiving slot 110 along the direction F2, and the portable electronic device 20 is abutted against the bracket 500. At this time, the portable electronic device 20 presses the flexible connector 200. Under the pressure of the portable electronic device 20, the flexible connector 200 flexes toward the portable electronic device 20 along the direction F3, and transmits the magnetic force between the first magnetic member 222 and the second magnetic member 23. A magnetic member 222 is attracted to the second magnetic member 23, so that the movable end 220 of the flexible connector 200 can be accurately attached to the portable electronic device 20. As a result, the first electrical contact 221 of the active end 220 is electrically connected to the second electrical contact 21 of the portable electronic device 20 , and the support member 300 is resisted by the portable electronic device 20 .

It should be noted that the above support member 300 includes the first fasteners 330 and the input housing 100 includes the second fasteners 120 is not intended to limit the present invention. In other embodiments, the support member and the input housing can be magnetically fixed to achieve a fixed and separate effect.

As shown in FIG. 1A, in order to improve the convenience of the external input device 10 of the present invention, the input housing 100 of the present embodiment further has at least one third magnetic member 130. On the other hand, the portable electronic device 20 further has at least one fourth magnetic member 24. When the support member 300 is in the closed position and the portable electronic device 20 is stacked on the external input device 10, the third magnetic member 130 is attracted to the fourth magnetic member 24. In this way, the user can stack the portable electronic device 20 on the external input device 10 for carrying.

In addition, in order to allow the user to plug in other electronic devices according to their usage habits, the external input device 10 of the present embodiment further includes an expansion slot 600, such as but not limited to a USB slot. The expansion slot 600 is disposed on the support member 300. The expansion slot 600 is electrically connected to the input module 400. Thereby, the user can insert different electronic devices according to their needs to operate.

According to the external input device disclosed in the above embodiment of the present invention, due to external connection Between the device and the portable electronic device, the flexible connector is attached to the portable electronic device through the portable electronic device, and the flexible connector is electrically connected, that is, the flexible connector and the portable electronic device. The electrical connection is not made by the snapping method, so that when the external input device is combined or disassembled with the portable electronic device, the connector is bent due to improper force application. In this way, the problem that the connector is easily damaged by the combination or disassembly of the tablet and the external keyboard in the prior art is solved.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the portable electronic device also has a second magnetic member since the flexible connector also has a first magnetic property. Therefore, when the portable electronic device is inserted into the first side of the accommodating slot, the movable end of the flexible connector is flexed toward the portable electronic device, and the first magnetic member is attracted to the second magnetic member. Thereby, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact have a better alignment effect.

In addition, in some embodiments, since the input housing further has a third magnetic component, the portable electronic device further has at least a fourth magnetic component, so when the portable electronic device is stacked on the external input device, The three magnetic members are attracted to the fourth magnetic member for the convenience of the user.

In addition, in some embodiments, since the external input device further includes an expansion slot, the user can insert different electronic devices to operate according to the requirements.

Although the embodiments of the present invention are disclosed above, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art, regardless of the spirit and scope of the present invention, the shapes, structures, and features described in the scope of the present application. And the spirit of the invention is subject to change. Therefore, the scope of patent protection of the present invention is subject to the scope of the patent application attached to the specification.

10‧‧‧External input device

130‧‧‧ Third magnetic parts

20‧‧‧Portable electronic devices

24‧‧‧4th magnetic piece

Claims (9)

An external input device for inserting a portable electronic device, the external input device comprising: an input housing, and an input module, the input housing having a receiving slot, the receiving slot Having a first side and a second side, the first side is closer to the input module than the second side; a soft connector is electrically connected to the input module, and the soft connector has an opposite one a fixed end and a movable end, the fixed end is connected to the first side of the receiving groove; and a support member is pivotally disposed on the second side of the receiving groove, the support pivoting relative to the input housing Having a closed position and an open position, the support member covers the accommodating groove to shield the flexible connector, and in the open position, the support member is unfolded relative to the input housing to expose the accommodating slot Wherein, when the support member is in the open position and the portable electronic device is inserted on the first side of the receiving slot, the flexible connector is flexed to attach and electrically connect the movable end to the movable end The portable electronic device and the support member Holding the portable electronic device; wherein the movable end of the flexible connector has a first magnetic component, the portable electronic device has a display surface, and the portable electronic device is opposite to the display surface The side has a second magnetic member, and when the portable electronic device is inserted on the first side of the receiving slot, the movable end of the flexible connector is flexed toward the portable electronic device, and the The first magnetic member is attracted to the second magnetic member. The external input device of claim 1, wherein the accommodating slot further has a limiting slot, the limiting slot is adjacent to the first side, and the limiting slot is configured for the portable electronic device to be inserted. The external input device according to claim 2, further comprising a bracket disposed in the receiving slot and interposed The fixed end of the flexible connector and the movable end. The external input device of claim 3, wherein the support member has an opposite pivot end and a resisting end, the pivot end is pivotally connected to the second side, the pivot end and the abutting end Between the first card firmware and the second card firmware, the first card firmware and the second card firmware enable the first card firmware to be engaged with the second card firmware. The support member is maintained in the closed position, and the support member is pivotable relative to the input housing to the open position when the first fastener is unlocked from the second fastener. The external input device of claim 4, wherein the limiting slot is located between the input module and the bracket. The external input device of claim 5, wherein the input housing has at least one third magnetic member, the portable electronic device having at least one fourth magnetic member, wherein the support member is in the closed position and the When the portable electronic device is stacked on the external input device, the third magnetic member is attracted to the fourth magnetic member. The external input device of claim 6, wherein the movable end of the flexible connector has at least one first electrical contact, and the portable electronic device has a second electrical contact, wherein the When the portable electronic device is inserted into the external input device, the first electrical contact contacts and is electrically connected to the second electrical contact. The external input device of claim 7 further includes an expansion slot disposed on the support member, the expansion slot being electrically connected to the input module. The external input device of claim 8, wherein the input module is a keyboard.