Housing with electrical contacts

Abstract

An exemplary device includes a first hinge, a first housing having a hinge area and a support panel, wherein the support panel extends from the hinge area. The device also includes: a first display device, the first display device is rotatably coupled to the support panel via the first hinge; a second housing, the second housing having a set of external electrical contacts to provide power to a removable input device; a second hinge, the second hinge is used to rotatably couple the first housing to the second housing; and a second display device, the second display device is fixedly coupled to the second housing.

Description

Background Art

[0001] A laptop computer is a computing device. The laptop computer may have a clamshell configuration, wherein the laptop computer has a first housing and a second housing connected together. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] Some examples of the present application are described with respect to the following drawings:

[0003] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an electronic device having a set of electrical contacts to provide power to an input device according to one example;

[0004] Figure 2 According to an example Figure 1 A perspective view of an electronic device that receives an input device;

[0005] Figure 3A According to an example, a Figure 2 A perspective view of a set of electrical contacts on a device holder of an input device of FIG.

[0006] Figure 3B According to an example Figure 1 A perspective view of the set of electrical contacts of an electronic device;

[0007] Figure 4 According to an example Figure 1 Electronic devices and Figure 2 Functional block of the input device;

[0008] Figure 5A-5B According to an example Figure 2 The input device is folded in half to Figure 1 repositioning the input device on the electronic device; and

[0009] Fig. 6A According to an example Figure 1 A display device of an electronic device, the display device rotating to change the configuration of the electronic device; and

[0010] Figure 6B Shown in a forward pull configuration according to one example Figure 1 electronic device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] A laptop computer may include a single display device in one of the housings of the laptop computer. To provide additional display area, the laptop computer may include an additional display device in another housing of the laptop computer. However, due to the limited amount of space in the housing, the additional display device may replace a physical input device, such as a keyboard, of the laptop computer. Examples described herein provide a method of enabling a laptop computer to receive input from a physical input device while providing power to the input device.

[0012] In one example, a device may include a first hinge, a first housing having a hinge area and a support panel, wherein the support panel may extend from the hinge area. The device may also include a first display device, the first display device being rotatably coupled to the support panel via the first hinge. The device may also include a second housing having a set of external electrical contacts to provide power to a removable input device. The device may also include a second hinge to rotatably couple the first housing to the second housing. The device may also include a second display device, the second display device being fixedly coupled to the second housing.

[0013] In one example, a device may include a first housing and a second housing, the second housing including a first set of electrical contacts. The device may also include a second hinge to rotatably couple the first housing to the second housing. The device may also include an input device disposed on the second housing, wherein the input device may include a device holder. The device holder may include a body portion to hold an accessory device. The device holder may also include a second set of electrical contacts disposed on the body portion, and wherein the input device may receive power from the first set of electrical contacts via the second set of electrical contacts.

[0014] In one example, a device may include a keyboard. The keyboard may include a wireless communication device to exchange data with a controller of an electronic device. The keyboard may also include a device holder. The device holder may include a body portion that defines a channel to hold an accessory device. The device holder may also include a set of electrical contacts disposed on the body portion. The keyboard may receive power from the electronic device via the set of electrical contacts. Thus, the examples described herein may increase the available display area in a laptop computer while maintaining the flexibility of receiving input from a physical input device, compared to a laptop computer with a single display device.

[0015] Figure 1A perspective view of an electronic device 100 having a set of electrical contacts to provide power to an input device according to an example is shown. The electronic device 100 may be, for example, a laptop / notebook computer, a tablet computer, or any other type of computing device having two housings.

[0016] The electronic device 100 may include a first housing 102, a second housing 104, a first hinge 106, a first display device 108, a second display device 110, a first set of electrical contacts 112, and a second hinge 114. The first hinge 106 and the first display device 108 may be disposed in the first housing 102. The first set of electrical contacts 112, the second hinge 114, and the second display device 110 may be disposed in the second housing 104. The first housing 102 may be rotatably coupled to the second housing 104 via the second hinge 114.

[0017] The first housing 102 may include a hinge area 116 and a support panel 118. The second hinge 114 may include a first end 120 and a second end 122. The first end 120 may be disposed in the hinge area 116, and the second end 122 may be disposed in the second housing 104 to enable the first housing 102 to rotate relative to the second housing 104. The support panel 118 may provide structural support for the first display device 108. The first display device 108 may be rotatably coupled to the support panel 118 via the first hinge 106. Figure 6A-6B As described in more detail in , the first display device 108 can be rotated via the first hinge 106 to change the configuration of the electronic device 100. In some examples, the second display device 110 can be fixedly coupled to the second housing 104. That is, the second display device 110 may not be able to rotate relative to the second housing 104.

[0018] During operation, content (e.g., images, graphical user interfaces, data, videos, etc.) may be displayed on the first display device 108, the second display device 110, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the first display device 108, the second display device 110, or a combination thereof may include a touch sensor. Thus, the first display device 108 and / or the second display device 110 may receive physical touch as input. For example, a virtual input device (e.g., a graphical keyboard) may be displayed in the first display device 108 and / or the second display device 110. The user may provide input via the virtual input device to control the operation of the electronic device 100. In order to provide a user with stronger tactile feedback when the user provides input, the electronic device 100 may receive a removable input device that is removable when the user provides input. Figure 2 Described in more detail in .

[0019] Go to Figure 2 , Figure 2 According to an example Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device 100 that receives an input device 200. The input device 200 may be a keyboard. The input device 200 may include a keyboard portion 202, a touch pad portion 204, and a device holder 206. The keyboard portion 202 may include a plurality of buttons or keys. The touch pad portion 204 may include a touch pad 208 to receive touch input.

[0020] The device holder 206 may include a body portion 210 and a second set of electrical contacts ( Figure 2 210). The main body portion 210 may be shaped to define a channel 212 to hold an accessory device. In some examples, the accessory device may be a stylus, a pen, or any other instrument for providing input to the electronic device 100. In some examples, the main body portion 210 may be made of an elastic or stretchable material, such as a fabric material. In some examples, the main body portion 210 may be made of a rigid material, such as metal or plastic. Figure 3A As described in more detail in , a second set of electrical contacts can be disposed on the body portion 210 to enable the input device 200 to receive power from the electronic device 100 .

[0021] Go to Figure 3A-3B , Figure 3A According to an example, a Figure 2 200 of the input device 200. The second set of electrical contacts 300 can be disposed on the bottom of the body portion 210 so that when the input device 200 is disposed on the second housing 104, the second set of electrical contacts is oriented toward the second housing 104. Figure 3A As shown, stylus 302 may be held by device holder 206 .

[0022] Go to Figure 3B When the input device 200 is disposed on the second housing 104, the first set of electrical contacts 112 can be connected to the second set of electrical contacts 300 ( Figure 3B Thus, power can be transmitted from the electronic device 100 to the input device 200 via the set of electrical contacts 112 and 300. In some examples, the first set of electrical contacts 112 and the second set of electrical contacts 300 can be implemented using spring-loaded electrical contacts, such as spring-loaded pins.

[0023] Figure 4 According to an example Figure 1 The electronic device 100 and Figure 2 The functional blocks of the input device 200. Figure 1In addition to the components described in the electronic device 100, the electronic device 100 may also include a controller 400, a wireless communication device 402, and a battery 404. The controller 400 may control the operation of the electronic device 100. The wireless communication device 402 may send data from the electronic device 100 to another device. The wireless communication device 402 may also receive data from another device. The battery 404 may provide power to the electrical components of the electronic device 100. The power from the battery 404 may also be used to power the input device 200.

[0024] Apart from Figure 2 In addition to the components described in the above, the input device 200 may further include a controller 406 and a wireless communication device 408. The controller 406 may control the operation of the input device 200. The wireless communication device 408 may send and / or receive data for the input device 200.

[0025] During operation, when the input device 200 is disposed on the second housing 104, the first set of electrical contacts 112 may mate with the second set of electrical contacts 300, and power from the battery 404 may be provided to the input device 200 via the electrical contacts 112 and 300. The electronic device 100 may wirelessly exchange data with the input device 200 via the wireless communication device 402. The input device 200 may exchange data with the electronic device 100 via the wireless communication device 408.

[0026] In some examples, controllers 400 and 406 can each be implemented using a central processing unit (CPU), a semiconductor-based microprocessor, and / or other hardware devices suitable for retrieving and executing instructions stored in the corresponding devices 100 and 200. In some examples, wireless communication devices 402 and 408 can each include a transmitter and a receiver to perform communication via radio waves. Different wireless communication technologies can be used to perform communication. In some examples, devices 100 and 200 can exchange data using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol. In some examples, devices 100 and 200 can exchange data using short wavelength ultra-high frequency radio waves such as Bluetooth.

[0027] Figure 5A-5B According to an example Figure 2 The input device 200 is folded in half to Figure 1 Reposition the input device 200 on the electronic device 100. Go to Figure 5AIn some examples, when the input device 200 is disposed on the second housing 104, the input device 200 may overlap with the second display device 110. Therefore, the user may not be able to use the second display device 110. In order to maintain the use of multiple display devices, the input device 200 may be folded in half along the intersection between the keyboard portion 202 and the touchpad portion 204. In some examples, the input device 200 may implement a living hinge at the intersection to enable folding. In some examples, the input device 200 may include a third set of electrical contacts 500 at the top of the body portion 210 so that the input device 200 can also receive power from the electronic device 100 in the folded configuration.

[0028] Go to Figure 5B , the input device 200 can be in a folded configuration, wherein the keyboard portion 202 can be above the touch pad portion 204. The input device 200 can be disposed on the lower half of the second housing 104. Thus, the input device 200 can overlap half of the second display device 110. The other half of the second display device 110 can be used to display content. The user of the electronic device 100 can still utilize both the display devices 108 and 110 while using the input device 200 to provide input.

[0029] Although the folded configuration shows the keyboard portion 202 above the touch pad portion 204 , it should be understood that the input device 200 can be in a different folded configuration in which the touch pad portion 204 is above the keyboard portion 202 .

[0030] Fig. 6A According to an example Figure 1 The first display device 108 of the electronic device 100 is rotated to change the configuration of the electronic device 100. In some cases, the user of the electronic device 100 can reposition the first display device 108 so that the first display device 108 rests on the second housing 104. The user can pull the first display device 108 toward the second housing 104. When the first display device 108 is pulled, the first display device 108 can be moved via the first hinge 106 ( Fig. 6A ) rotates and moves away from the support panel 118. In some examples, the first hinge 106 may include a first end and a second end ( Fig. 6A (not shown). The first end may be provided in the support panel 118, and the second end may be provided in the first display device 108 so as to be rotatable. Fig. 6AAs shown, the hinge area 116 has a greater thickness than the support panel 118 to cope with the thickness of the first display device 108. Therefore, when the first display device 108 is disposed above the hinge area 116 and in contact with the support panel 118, the first display device 108, the support panel 118, and the hinge area 116 may appear to have a consistent thickness.

[0031] Figure 6B Shown in a forward pull configuration according to one example Figure 1 The electronic device 100. Figure 6B As shown, when the electronic device 100 is in the forward pull configuration, the first display device 108 can rest on the second housing 104. When the input device 200 is disposed on the second housing 104, the first display device 108 can rest on the input device 200, between the keyboard portion 202 and the touchpad portion 204.

[0032] The use of "comprises," "including," or "having" are synonymous and variations thereof herein are meant to be inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising: First hinge; a first housing having a hinge region and a support panel, wherein the support panel extends from the hinge region; a first display device rotatably coupled to the support panel via the first hinge; a second shell; a second hinge, the second hinge being used to rotatably couple the first housing to the second housing; a second display device fixedly coupled to the second housing; and a removable input device disposed on the second display device to overlap the second display device, the second housing having a first set of external electrical contacts to provide power to the removable input device; Wherein, the removable input device comprises a device holder, wherein the device holder comprises: a main body portion for holding accessory devices; and A second set of electrical contacts is disposed on the body portion, and wherein the removable input device is operable to receive power from the first set of external electrical contacts via the second set of electrical contacts.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The first hinge includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is disposed in the support panel, and wherein the second end is disposed in the first display device.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The hinge area has a greater thickness than the support panel.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The second hinge comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is arranged in the hinge area, and wherein the second end is arranged in the second housing.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The first display device is disposed above the hinge area.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: When the input device is disposed on the second housing, the second set of electrical contacts is oriented toward the second housing.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The electronic device further comprises: Controller; and A wireless communication device, and wherein the controller is used to exchange data with the input device via the wireless communication device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The input device further includes a key portion and a touch panel portion.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The second set of electrical contacts is disposed on a bottom portion of the body portion.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The second set of electrical contacts is a set of spring loaded electrical contacts.

11. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein: The wireless communication device is used to exchange the data via ultra-high frequency radio waves.

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