U.S. patent application number 12/234432 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-08 for electronic apparatus having a connector connecting a disk drive.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba. Invention is credited to Hironori Motoe.
Application Number | 20090009955 12/234432 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36596541 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090009955 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Motoe; Hironori |
January 8, 2009 |
ELECTRONIC APPARATUS HAVING A CONNECTOR CONNECTING A DISK DRIVE
Abstract
An electronic apparatus includes a main body having a
receptacle, and a disk drive accommodated in the receptacle. A
connector is provided in the receptacle. The connector is rotatable
between an accommodated position and a standing position. The disk
drive is removably connected to the connector and rotatable
together with the connector. The receptacle is covered with a
removable lid.
Inventors: |
Motoe; Hironori; (Ome-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLAKELY SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN LLP
1279 OAKMEAD PARKWAY
SUNNYVALE
CA
94085-4040
US
|
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
36596541 |
Appl. No.: |
12/234432 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11294131 |
Dec 5, 2005 |
|
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12234432 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 33/124 20130101;
H01R 35/02 20130101; G06F 1/187 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/685 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 20, 2004 |
JP |
2004-367459 |
Claims
1. An electronic apparatus comprising: a main body having a
receptacle; a support shaft positioned within the receptacle so as
to avoid contact with any peripheral wall of the receptacle; a disk
drive accommodated in the receptacle and coupled to the support
shaft, wherein both the disk drive and the shaft are rotatable
between a first position and a second position; and a shock
absorbent member provided between the receptacle and the disk
drive.
2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a lid
positioned over an opening of the receptacle to hold the disk drive
within the receptacle.
3. The electronic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shock absorbent
member includes a first shock absorbent member located on the
receptacle and a second shock absorbent member located on the
lid.
4. The electronic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the disk drive is
contained within the receptacle when placed in the first position
and is at least partially removed from the receptacle when the disk
drive is placed in the second position.
5. The electronic apparatus of claim 4, wherein the disk drive is
elastically held between the first shock absorbent member and the
second shock absorbent member when the disk drive is accommodated
in the receptacle.
6. The electronic apparatus of claim 5, wherein the support shaft
is apart from the receptacle when the disk drive is held between
the first shock absorbent member and the second shock absorbent
member.
7. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shock absorbent
member to support the disk drive within the receptacle so that the
support shaft can avoid contact with any peripheral wall of the
receptacle.
8. An electronic apparatus comprising: a main body having a
receptacle; a support shaft floatingly supported within the
receptacle thereby avoiding contact with a peripheral wall of the
receptacle; a connector rotatably coupled to the support shaft, the
connector adapted to pivot between a first position and a second
position; a disk drive accommodated in the receptacle and coupled
to the connector, the disk drive being moveable between the first
position in which the disk drive is contained within the receptacle
and the second position in which the disk drive is at least
partially removed from the receptacle; and a first shock absorbent
member provided between the receptacle and the disk drive.
9. The electronic apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a lid
positioned over an opening of the receptacle; and a second shock
absorbent member provided between the lid and the disk drive.
10. The electronic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first shock
absorbent member is located on the receptacle, and the second shock
absorbent member is located on the lid.
11. The electronic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the disk drive is
elastically held between the first shock absorbent member and the
second shock absorbent member when the disk drive is accommodated
in the receptacle.
12. An electronic apparatus comprising: a main body having a
receptacle; a disk drive accommodated in the receptacle and
removably connected to a support shaft, the disk drive being
rotatable between an accommodated position and an unaccommodated
position; a lid which is removably put on the receptacle; a first
shock absorbent member provided between the receptacle and the disk
drive; and a second shock absorbent member provided between the lid
and the disk drive, wherein the shaft is rotatable between the
accommodated position and the unaccommodated position as a pivot,
and floatingly supported in the receptacle.
13. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first shock
absorbent member is located on the receptacle, and the second shock
absorbent member is located on the lid.
14. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the disk drive is
elastically held between the first and second shock absorbent
members when the disk drive is accommodated in the receptacle, and
the support shaft is apart from the receptacle when the disk drive
is held between the first and second shock absorbent members.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/294,131 filed Dec. 5, 2005, now U.S. Pat.
No. ______, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority
from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-367459, filed Dec. 20,
2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus,
such as notebook computers, with a connector connecting a disk
drive.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Notebook computers have a hard disk drive (hereinafter
referred to as "HDD") which stores, for example, information input
from a keyboard. The HDD is fabricated as a separate unit. This
kind of HDD is removably accommodated in a housing of the
computer.
[0006] Computers from which an HDD is removable have a receptacle
in the bottom of its housing. The receptacle is formed of a recess
having a size corresponding to an HDD, and having an opening
portion opened in a bottom surface of the housing. The opening
portion of the receptacle is covered with a removable cover.
[0007] The HDD has a first connector at one end. The receptacle of
the housing has a second connector corresponding to the first
connector. The first connector is engaged with the second connector
when the HDD is accommodated in the receptacle of the housing. This
engagement enables electrical connection between the HDD and the
computer and transmission/reception of data between them.
[0008] In conventional computers, the HDD is dropped into the
receptacle, and then the HDD is slid toward the second connector.
This slide makes the first connector of the HDD engaged with the
second connector. However, in the conventional computers, it is
necessary to secure a space for allowing slide of the HDD between
the second connector and the HDD. This increases the size of the
receptacle and is against recent demands for more compact
computers.
[0009] Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Pub. No. 5-289776 discloses a
computer in which a rotatable connector is provided in a receptacle
of a housing. According to this computer, an HDD rotates together
with the connector, and thus the HDD is easily removed from the
receptacle. However, this computer still has a problem in respect
of shock resistance of the HDD.
[0010] Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Pub. No. 11-242881 discloses an HDD
to which shock absorbent members are attached. Although this
invention increases the shock resistance of the HDD, it decreases
in workability in fitting the HDD into the receptacle and removing
the HDD from the receptacle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in the
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention, and together with the general description given
above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a notebook computer
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the notebook computer
according to the embodiment, illustrating a state where an HDD is
accommodated in a receptacle of a housing.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the notebook computer
according to the embodiment, illustrating a state where the
receptacle is covered with a lid.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the notebook computer
according to the embodiment, illustrating the state where the HDD
is accommodated in the receptacle of the housing.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the notebook computer
according to the embodiment, illustrating a state where the HDD is
removed from the receptacle of the housing.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment, illustrating
a state where a second connector is rotated to an accommodating
position (first position).
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment, illustrating
a state where the second connector is rotated to a standing
position (second position).
[0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the notebook computer of
the embodiment, illustrating the state where the second connector
is rotated to the accommodating position (first position).
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the notebook computer of the
embodiment, illustrating the state where the second connector is
rotated to the standing position (second position).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] An embodiment of the present invention is explained on the
basis of drawings, in which the present invention is applied to a
notebook computer.
[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a notebook computer 1 being an
example of an electronic apparatus. The notebook computer 1
comprises a main body 2 and a display 3. The main body 2 has a
housing 4. The housing 4 has a flat box shape and has a top wall
4a, a bottom wall 4b, left and right side walls 4c and 4d, a front
wall 4e and a rear wall (not shown).
[0023] The housing 4 is formed of a base 5 and a top cover 6. The
base 5 has the bottom wall 4b, the left and right side walls 4c and
4d, the front wall 4e and the rear wall. The top cover 6 has the
top wall 4a. The top wall 4a supports a keyboard 7.
[0024] The display 3 has a liquid crystal display panel 8. The
display 3 is connected to a rear end portion of the housing 4 via a
pair of hinge portions 9a and 9b. The display 3 is rotatable
between a closed position in which the display 3 lies on the
housing 4 to cover the keyboard 7, and an open position in which
the display 3 stands to expose the keyboard 7.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 4 accommodates an HDD 11 and
a printed circuit board 12. The HDD 11 is an example of a disk
drive. The HDD 11 is fabricated as a separate unit. The HDD 11 has
a flat rectangular box shape, and has a first connector 13 at one
end. As shown in FIG. 4, an eject ribbon 14 is attached to a bottom
surface of the HDD 11. The eject ribbon 14 is held by fingertips
when the HDD 11 is removed from the housing 4. The eject ribbon 14
is located on the other end of the HDD 11, which is opposite to the
end where the first connector 13 is located.
[0026] FIGS. 3 to 7 illustrate states where the base 5 of the
housing 4 are viewed from the bottom. As shown in FIG. 4, a
receptacle 15 which accommodates the HDD 11 is provided in a bottom
portion of the housing 4. The receptacle 15 is a recess having
almost the same size as that of the HDD 11, and is formed as one
unitary piece with the base 5. The receptacle 15 has a rectangular
opening portion 16 opened in the bottom wall 4b of the base 5, a
ceiling wall 17 which faces the opening portion 16, and three
peripheral walls 18 surrounding the opening portion 16.
[0027] The opening portion 16 is used to drop the HDD 11 in and
take it out of the receptacle 15. A receiving portion 19 is formed
in an opening edge portion of the opening portion 16. The receiving
portion 19 is more depressed than the surface of the bottom wall
4b, and has a screw hole 20. The opening portion 16 of the
receptacle 15 is covered with a removable lid 21. The lid 21 is
placed, at its peripheral portion, on the receiving portion 19. The
lid 21 is held by the receiving portion 19 with a screw 22. The
screw 22 is screwed into the screw hole 20 through the lid 21.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, four first shock absorbent members
23a, 23b, 23c and 23d are provided on the receptacle 15. The first
shock absorbent members 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d are formed of, for
example, rubber, and have elasticity such that shock is not easily
transmitted to the HDD 11. The first shock absorbent members 23a,
23b, 23c, and 23d are arranged in four corners of the receptacle 15
to correspond to four corner portions of the HDD 11.
[0029] Each of the first shock absorbent members 23a, 23b, 23c and
23d has a first portion 24 and a second portion 25. The first
portions 24 are provided on the ceiling wall 17 of the receptacle
15 in such a manner of contacting a top surface of the HDD 11. The
second portions 25 are provided on the peripheral walls 18 of the
receptacle 15 in such a manner of contacting peripheral surfaces of
the HDD 11. Therefore, the first shock absorbent members 23a, 23b,
23c and 23d are configured to be interposed between the receptacle
15 and the HDD 11 and absorb shock transmitted from the housing 4
to the HDD 11.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of second shock absorbent
members 27 are provided on an internal surface of the lid 21. The
second shock absorbent members 27 are formed of, for example,
rubber, and have elasticity such that shock is not easily
transmitted to the HDD 11. The second shock absorbent members 27
are stuck to the internal surface of the lid 21 by adhesive tape
(not shown) to correspond to the four corner portions of the HDD
11. The second shock absorbent members 27 contact a bottom surface
of the HDD 11 to absorb shock transmitted from the lid 21 to the
HDD 21, when the lid 21 is secured to the receiving portion 19 of
the receptacle 15.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 7, a second connector 30 is
provided in the receptacle 15. The first connector 13 of the HDD 11
is removably connected to the second connector 30. The second
connector 30 is located at one end of the receptacle 15, and held
by a connector base 31. The connector base 31 has a pair of guide
pins 32a and 32b. The guide pins 32a and 32b are engaged with the
first connector 13 prior to the second connector 30, when the first
connector 13 is connected to the second connector 30. This
engagement determines relative positions of the first connector 13
and the second connector 30, and the connectors 13 and 30 are
smoothly connected.
[0032] Further, the second connector 30 is electrically connected
to the printed circuit board 12 by a cable 33. The cable 33 is
guided inside the housing 4 along the ceiling wall 17 of the
receptacle 15. The cable 33 is covered with an insulator sheet 34
from a direction of the receptacle 15. The insulator sheet 34 is
interposed between the top surface of the HDD 11 and the ceiling
wall 17 of the receptacle 15, when the HDD 11 is accommodated in
the receptacle 15.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 8, the connector base 31 extends
in a depth direction of the housing 4 and along the right side wall
4d of the base 5. The connector base 31 has a support shaft 35 in
its distal end portion. The support shaft 35 extends in a
longitudinal direction of the connector base 31.
[0034] The base 5 has an extending portion 36, which horizontally
projects from the side wall 4d toward said one end of the
receptacle 15. A first engaging piece 37 extending toward the
ceiling wall 17 of the receptacle 15 is formed on a distal end of
the extending portion 36. A support member 38 is provided on said
one end of the receptacle 15. The support member 38 is interposed
between the base 5 and the top cover 6 to correspond to the
extending portion 36. The support member 38 is secured to the
receptacle 15 by a screw (not shown).
[0035] The support member 38 has an L-shaped cross section. An end
portion 38a of the support member 38 is pressed against the
internal surface of the base 5. The other end portion 38b of the
support member 38 is opposed to the extending portion 36. A second
engaging piece 39 is formed on a distal end of the other end
portion 38b of the support member 38. The second engaging piece 39
extends toward the extending portion 36 and is opposed to the first
engaging piece 37.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 8, the extending portion 36 of the base 5
and the support member 38 form a space 41 in cooperation with each
other. The space 41 is located at said one end of the receptacle
15. The support shaft 35 of the connector base 31 movably enters
the space 41. In other words, the support shaft 35 of the connector
base 31 is floatingly supported by the housing 4 with the space 41.
Thereby, the second connector 30 supported by the connector base 31
is rotatably held by the receptacle 15 between an accommodated
position being a first position and a standing position being a
second position, with the support shaft 35 used as a pivot.
[0037] More specifically, FIGS. 4, 6 and 8 illustrate a state where
the second connector 30 is rotated to the accommodated position.
The term "accommodated position" indicates the position of the
second connector 30 when the HDD 11 is accommodated in the
receptacle 15. In the accommodated position, the second connector
30 falls down to extend along the ceiling wall 17 of the receptacle
15, and is opposed to the first connector 13 of the HDD 11
accommodated in the receptacle 15.
[0038] On the other hand, FIGS. 5, 7, and 9 illustrate a state
where the second connector 30 is rotated to the standing position.
The term "standing position" indicates the position of the second
connector 30, in which the HDD 11 is removed from the receptacle 15
or connected to the second connector 30. In the standing position,
the second connector 30 stands in a direction perpendicular to the
ceiling wall 17 of the receptacle 15, and is directed to the
opening portion 16 of the receptacle 15.
[0039] Therefore, in the state where the lid 21 is removed from the
opening portion 16, the HDD 11 is rotatable between the
accommodated position and the standing position, together with the
second connector 30.
[0040] When the HDD 11 is to be accommodated in the receptacle 15
in the embodiment having the above structure, first, the lid 21 is
removed to expose the opening portion 16 of the receptacle 15.
Next, the second connector 30 is rotated to the standing position,
and the first connector 13 of the HDD 11 is connected to the second
connector 30.
[0041] In this state, the second connector 30 is rotated from the
standing position to the accommodated position together with the
HDD 11. By this rotation, the HDD 11 enters the receptacle 15
through the opening portion 16, and the top surface and the
peripheral surfaces of the HDD 11 are brought into contact with the
first shock absorbent members 23a to 23d.
[0042] Lastly, the lid 21 is put on the opening portion 16 and
secured to the base 5 by the screw 22. Thereby, the second shock
absorbent members 27 are brought into contact with the bottom
surface of the HDD 11. In other words, the HDD 11 is held between
the first shock absorbent members 23a to 23d and the second shock
absorbent members 27. As a result, the position of the HDD 11 to
the receptacle 15 is fixed, and connection between the first
connector 13 and the second connector 30 is maintained.
[0043] In the state where the HDD 11 is accommodated in the
receptacle 15, the support shaft 35 of the connector base 31 is
held in a state of floating in the space 41 without contacting the
base 5 and the support member 38. Therefore, the second connector
30 is also floatingly held with respect to the base 5 to avoid
receiving shock from the base 5.
[0044] The second connector 30 located in the receptacle 15 is
rotatable between the accommodated position and the standing
position. Therefore, when the HDD 11 is removed from the receptacle
15, the second connector 30 is rotated from the accommodated
position to the standing position together with the HDD 11.
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, a part where the HDD 11 and
the second connector 30 are connected can be pulled out of the
receptacle 15, and the HDD 11 can be easily removed.
[0045] In the same manner, when the HDD 11 is connected to the
second connector 30, the second connector 30 can be pulled out of
the receptacle 15. This enables easy connection between the HDD 11
and the second connector 30.
[0046] Further, in the state where the HDD 11 is accommodated in
the receptacle 15, the HDD 11 is held between the first shock
absorbent members 23a to 23d and the second shock absorbent members
27. Therefore, shock is not easily transmitted from the housing 4
to the HDD 11. In addition, the second connector 30 is also
floatingly held in the receptacle 15. This prevents transmission of
shock between the housing 4 and the second connector 30, and
transmission of shock from the second connector 30 to the HDD 11.
This improves the shock resistance of the HDD 11.
[0047] Furthermore, the HDD 11 is held in the receptacle 15 by
securing the lid 21 to the base 5. This eliminates the need for a
dedicated screw for securing the HDD 11 to the receptacle 15. This
enables easy assembly of the computer 1 and reduction of the cost
of the computer 1.
[0048] The electronic apparatus according to the present invention
is not limited to notebook computers. For example, the present
invention is also applicable to PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant)
having no display.
[0049] Further, the disk drive is not limited to HDDs, but may be
an optical disk drive, for example.
[0050] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its
broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and
representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *