Connecting component, protective sleeve assembly and electronic device

Abstract

The invention provides a connecting member, a protective sleeve assembly and an electronic device, the connecting member can be applied to the protective sleeve assembly and the electronic device, and the connecting member comprises a first insulating cover plate, a circuit board and an elastic sheet; wherein the first insulating cover plate is provided with an accommodating groove and a first through hole, and the accommodating groove is used for accommodating the circuit board and the elastic sheet; the circuit board is fixedly connected with the first insulating cover plate and is provided with a second through hole; the elastic piece penetrates through the second through hole and is electrically connected with the circuit board, and at least part of the elastic piece penetrates through the first through hole and is exposed. In the application, the connecting component can comprise a first insulating cover plate, a circuit board and an elastic sheet, during specific design, a second through hole can be formed in the circuit board, and the elastic sheet can penetrate through the second through hole and is electrically connected with the circuit board, so that the elastic sheet can reduce the thickness of the whole connecting component by means of the thickness space of the circuit board, and the connecting component is more compact. When the connecting component is applied to the protective sleeve assembly and the electronic device, the light and thin development requirement of equipment can be met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electronic device accessories technology, and in particular to a connecting member, a protective sleeve assembly, and an electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Consumer electronics such as smartphones and tablets can be used with leather keyboard cases, allowing for keyboard input similar to that of a laptop. Currently, devices are trending towards ultra-thin and lightweight designs, creating an increasing demand for thinner and lighter leather keyboard cases. Traditional leather keyboard cases use a back-mounted Pogo module for power connection to the device. However, the Pogo module's thickness contributes to the overall thickness and weight of the keyboard case, failing to meet the trend towards thinner and lighter devices. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a connecting member, a protective sleeve assembly, and an electronic device. By designing a thin and light connecting member and applying it to the protective sleeve assembly and the electronic device, the demand for thin and light devices can be met.

[0004] In a first aspect, a connecting member is provided, comprising: a first insulating cover plate, a circuit board, and a spring; the first insulating cover plate has a receiving groove and a first through hole, the receiving groove being used to receive the circuit board and the spring; the circuit board is fixedly connected to the first insulating cover plate, the circuit board having a second through hole; the spring passes through the second through hole and is electrically connected to the circuit board, at least a portion of the spring passes through the first through hole and is exposed, the spring being used for electrical connection.

[0005] For example, the circuit board can be fixedly connected to the first insulating cover plate by means of bonding, etc., and the spring can be fixedly connected to the circuit board by means of welding, etc.

[0006] In this embodiment, the connecting member may include a first insulating cover plate, a spring contact, and a circuit board. Specifically, a first through hole can be provided on the first insulating cover plate, and a second through hole can be provided on the circuit board. The spring contact can pass through the second through hole and be electrically connected to the circuit board. A portion of the spring contact can also pass through the first through hole on the first insulating cover plate, allowing the spring contact to utilize the thickness of the first insulating cover plate and the circuit board, thereby reducing the overall thickness of the connecting member. When the connecting member is applied to protective sleeve assemblies and electronic devices, it can meet the demand for thinner and lighter devices. Furthermore, the connecting member provided in this application has a simple structure, low manufacturing cost, and good compatibility with electronic devices.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the circuit board includes a first printed circuit board and a first flexible circuit board, one end of the first flexible circuit board being electrically connected to the first printed circuit board, and the other end of the first flexible circuit board extending outside the first insulating cover plate, the first printed circuit board having the second through hole. Exemplarily, a spring clip can be fixedly connected to the first printed circuit board.

[0008] In this embodiment of the application, the circuit board may include a first printed circuit board and a first flexible circuit board. The first printed circuit board may be located in the receiving groove of the first insulating cover, and the first flexible circuit board may be partially located in the receiving groove of the first insulating cover. One end of the first flexible circuit board may be electrically connected to the first printed circuit board, and the other end of the first flexible circuit board may extend out of the first insulating cover to achieve electrical connection with the keyboard body.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the circuit board includes a second flexible circuit board, the second flexible circuit board including a first part and a second part, the first part being connected to the second part, the first part of the second flexible circuit board having a second through hole, and the second part of the second flexible circuit board extending outside the insulating cover.

[0010] In this embodiment of the application, the circuit board may include a second flexible circuit board, which may include a first part and a second part connected together. The first part may be located in the receiving groove of the first insulating cover, and the second part may extend out of the first insulating cover to achieve electrical connection with the keyboard body.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the connecting member further includes a first reinforcing plate located on the side of the circuit board away from the first insulating cover plate, the first reinforcing plate serving to support the circuit board.

[0012] In this embodiment, by providing a first reinforcing plate on the side of the circuit board away from the first insulating cover, the circuit board can be supported, thereby giving the connecting components better stability.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the first reinforcing plate can be disposed on the side of the first printed circuit board away from the first insulating cover plate, and the first reinforcing plate can serve to support the first printed circuit board.

[0014] In another possible implementation, the first reinforcing plate may be disposed on the side of the first portion of the second flexible circuit board away from the first insulating cover plate, and the first reinforcing plate may be used to support the first portion of the second flexible circuit board.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the spring includes a base plate, an elastic arm, a contact, and a bending portion, the bending portion being connected between the elastic arm and the base plate, a gap being present between the elastic arm and the base plate, the contact being connected to the side of the elastic arm facing away from the base plate, and at least a portion of the contact passing through the first through hole and being exposed.

[0016] In this application embodiment, a possible design structure for a spring contact is provided. Using this design, the spring contact has a simple structure and is easy to mass-produce. Furthermore, the contact of the spring contact can pass through a first through-hole in the first insulating cover plate and be exposed outside the first insulating cover plate, thereby enabling electrical connection with a contact socket on the electronic device, thus realizing the electrical connection between the connecting component and the electronic device.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the base plate has a cutout area located below the contact.

[0018] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of this application, a hollow area may be provided on the base plate, and the hollow area may be located below the spring contact, so that the spring contact can move towards the base plate when it is squeezed.

[0019] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the length direction of the bent portion is perpendicular to the length direction of the circuit board, or the length direction of the bent portion is parallel to the length direction of the circuit board.

[0020] In this embodiment, the spring can be arranged along the length direction of the circuit board or along the width direction of the circuit board. Different arrangement methods can be selected when using different protective sleeve components. For example, when the length of the connecting member or the circuit board is limited, the length direction of the bent portion of the spring is parallel to the length direction of the circuit board; when the width of the connecting member or the circuit board is limited, the length direction of the bent portion of the spring is perpendicular to the length direction of the circuit board.

[0021] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the spring includes a first spring, a second spring, and a third spring, the first spring, the second spring, and the third spring are arranged side by side along the length direction of the circuit board, and the length direction of the bent portion of the first spring, the second spring, and the third spring is perpendicular to the length direction of the circuit board.

[0022] In this embodiment, to increase the electrical connection stability of the connecting member, the number of spring contacts can be set to at least three. For example, the three spring contacts can be arranged side-by-side along the length of the circuit board, thereby reducing the overall width of the connecting member. This arrangement is suitable for connecting members located in the frame of an electronic device.

[0023] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the circuit board includes a first end and a second end disposed opposite to each other, the distance between the first end and the contact of the first spring is greater than the distance between the second end and the bent portion of the third spring, and the portion of the circuit board extending out of the first insulating cover is connected to the portion between the first end of the circuit board and the contact of the first spring. For example, a first flexible circuit board may be connected to the portion between the first end of the circuit board and the contact of the first spring.

[0024] In this embodiment of the application, the portion between the first end of the circuit board and the contact of the first spring can be used to connect the outwardly extending portion of the circuit board. The outwardly extending portion of the circuit board can be a first flexible circuit board or a second part of a second flexible circuit board, mainly used for electrical connection with the keyboard body.

[0025] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, one end of the spring is fixedly connected to the circuit board, the other end of the spring abuts against the first insulating cover plate, and the spring is in a compressed state.

[0026] For example, in the connecting member, the spring is fixed in the space between the circuit board and the first insulating cover plate. The spring can be in a compressed state, that is, the spring can have a pre-compression amount, so as to ensure the tight fit of the spring in the connecting member.

[0027] In a second aspect, a protective sleeve assembly is provided, comprising: a keyboard body and a connecting member as described in the first aspect and any implementation thereof, wherein the circuit board of the connecting member is electrically connected to the keyboard body.

[0028] It should be understood that this protective case assembly can be used with electronic devices. That is, an electrical connection between the electronic device and the keyboard body can be achieved through the connecting components.

[0029] In this embodiment, the connecting member in the protective case assembly can be electrically connected to the keyboard body, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the protective case assembly and the electronic device. This enables the electronic device to supply power to the protective case assembly and / or communicate with it. Furthermore, the spring clip of the connecting member can utilize the thickness of the circuit board, thus reducing the overall thickness of the connecting member. When the connecting member is used in the protective case assembly, it meets the demand for a thinner and lighter design. Additionally, the protective case assembly provided in this application has good compatibility with electronic devices.

[0030] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the protective sleeve assembly further includes a first support member and a second support member, the first support member being connected to the second support member, the first support member being used to fit against the back of the electronic device, the second support member being rotated relative to the first support member at a certain angle and forming a first angle with the back of the electronic device, the second support member being connected to the keyboard body, and the connecting member being used to form an electrical connection with the electronic device; the first support member having a third through hole, the connecting member being disposed within the first support member and at least a portion of the connecting member passing through the third through hole and protruding.

[0031] In this embodiment, when the electronic device is placed on the protective case assembly, the first support member can fit against the back of the electronic device, and the connecting member can be located within the first support member. This back-mounted connection design does not require increasing the thickness of the electronic device, which is beneficial for achieving a thinner and lighter design. Furthermore, when the electronic device is supported on the protective case assembly, the connecting member can be hidden between the electronic device and the first support member. The connecting member is concealed by the electronic device, so that the user cannot see the connecting member from the front of the electronic device, thereby improving aesthetics and user experience.

[0032] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first insulating cover includes a decorative panel and an adhesive portion, the adhesive portion being located on the outer periphery of the decorative panel, the decorative panel and the adhesive portion forming the receiving groove; the decorative panel passes through the third through hole and is exposed.

[0033] In this embodiment of the application, by passing a portion of the first insulating cover plate (such as a decorative plate) through the third through hole on the first support member and exposing it, the thickness of the protective cover assembly can be further reduced by utilizing the thickness of the first support member, which is beneficial to the thinning of electronic devices.

[0034] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the side of the first insulating cover away from the circuit board is flush with the surface of the first support member.

[0035] For example, the side of the decorative panel away from the circuit board is flush with or nearly flush with the surface of the first support member.

[0036] In this embodiment of the application, the first insulating cover plate of the connecting member can pass through the third through hole on the first support member and be exposed. The exposed side of the first insulating cover plate is flush or nearly flush with the surface of the first support member, so as to avoid the appearance of depressions or protrusions on the surface of the first support member as much as possible. This allows the first insulating cover plate to reduce the thickness of the protective sleeve assembly by utilizing the thickness space of the first support member, while also ensuring the aesthetic appearance of the protective sleeve assembly.

[0037] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the keyboard body includes a key core, a keyboard connection area, and / or a touchpad; or, the keyboard body includes a key core and a keyboard connection area; or, the keyboard body includes a key core and a touchpad.

[0038] In the embodiments of this application, the protective case assembly has a simple structure, good compatibility with electronic devices, and can enhance product competitiveness.

[0039] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, when the electronic device is placed on the protective case assembly, the connecting member contacts the back of the electronic device, and the connecting member forms an electrical connection with the electronic device, wherein the back of the electronic device is opposite to the display screen of the electronic device.

[0040] In this embodiment, the protective case assembly has a simple structure and good compatibility with electronic devices, thus enhancing product competitiveness. Furthermore, when the electronic device is supported on the protective case assembly, the connecting member can be attached to the back of the electronic device. The connecting member is concealed by the electronic device, preventing the user from seeing it from the front, thereby improving aesthetics and user experience.

[0041] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, when the electronic device is placed on the protective sleeve assembly, the connecting member contacts the frame of the electronic device, and the connecting member forms an electrical connection with the electronic device.

[0042] In this embodiment, the protective case assembly has a simple structure and good compatibility with electronic devices, thus enhancing product competitiveness. Furthermore, when the electronic device is supported on the protective case assembly, the connecting member can be connected to the frame of the electronic device. The connecting member is concealed by the electronic device, making it invisible to the user from the front of the device, thereby improving aesthetics and user experience.

[0043] It should be understood that the connecting members provided in this application have various shapes and can contact different locations on the electronic device to achieve electrical connection with the electronic device. In some examples, the connecting member can be located on a first support member or a second support member. In other examples, the connecting member can directly contact the back of the electronic device (such as the bottom of the back). In still other embodiments, the connecting member can directly contact the edge of the electronic device.

[0044] The size of the first insulating cover plate of the connecting member can vary depending on its configuration. For example, when the connecting member contacts the back of the electronic device or the frame of the electronic device, the size of the first insulating cover plate is relatively large. Conversely, when the connecting member is located within the first or second support member, the size of the first insulating cover plate is relatively small.

[0045] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the connecting member further includes an interior trim and an exterior trim, the first insulating cover and the exterior trim forming a receiving cavity, and the spring, the circuit board and at least a portion of the interior trim located within the receiving cavity.

[0046] In this embodiment, the connecting member may further include an interior trim and an exterior trim, which can be sandwiched on both sides of the portion of the circuit board extending toward the keyboard body, thereby serving a decorative purpose. Furthermore, the exterior trim and the first insulating cover can form a receiving cavity, which can accommodate at least a portion of the spring, the circuit board, and the interior trim, and also serves to protect the spring and the circuit board.

[0047] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the connecting member further includes a concealer plate located within the receiving cavity. Exemplarily, the concealer plate is located between the circuit board and the outer trim piece.

[0048] In this embodiment, the connecting member may further include a concealer plate, which may be located within the receiving cavity formed by the outer trim and the first insulating cover plate. The concealer plate may serve to decorate and support the spring and circuit board.

[0049] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the side of the interior trim piece near the first insulating cover is flush or nearly flush with the side of the concealer plate near the first insulating cover.

[0050] In the embodiments of this application, the interior trim and the concealer occupy the same or nearly the same thickness, so that the concealer or the interior trim does not occupy space in the thickness direction, thereby further reducing the thickness of the connecting components, which is conducive to the trend of thinner and lighter protective cover assemblies.

[0051] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the sidewall of the first insulating cover includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the first insulating cover being fitted with the interior trim and the second portion of the first insulating cover being fitted with the exterior trim.

[0052] In this embodiment, the sidewall of the first insulating cover can be partially attached to the interior trim and partially attached to the exterior trim. The first insulating cover covers the surfaces of the interior trim and the exterior trim, and the first insulating cover, the interior trim, and the exterior trim can form a closed receiving space, in which springs, circuit boards, concealers, etc. can be located.

[0053] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the side of the interior trim piece away from the first insulating cover is flush or nearly flush with the side of the second portion of the first insulating cover piece near the exterior trim piece.

[0054] In this embodiment, the interior trim can utilize the thickness space of the first insulating cover to prevent it from occupying space in the thickness direction, thereby further reducing the thickness of the connecting components and contributing to the trend of thinner and lighter protective sleeve assemblies.

[0055] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the connecting member further includes an outer skin that covers the side of the first plastic cover plate away from the outer trim.

[0056] In this embodiment, the connecting member may further include an outer skin that covers the side of the first plastic cover plate away from the outer trim, thereby serving a decorative purpose.

[0057] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the connecting member further includes a magnet located within the receiving cavity. Exemplarily, the magnet may be disposed around a circuit board or spring.

[0058] In this embodiment of the application, by making the connecting member magnetic, it is easy to make the connecting member magnetically attracted to the electronic device to achieve flexible assembly and disassembly of the protective case assembly and the electronic device.

[0059] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the keyboard body is connected to the connecting member.

[0060] For example, the keyboard body includes a key core; or, the keyboard body includes a key core and a touchpad.

[0061] In the embodiments of this application, the protective case assembly has a simple structure, good compatibility with electronic devices, and can enhance product competitiveness.

[0062] Thirdly, an electronic device is provided, comprising: an electronic device and a protective sleeve assembly as described in the second aspect and any implementation thereof, wherein the electronic device is electrically connected to a connecting member of the protective sleeve assembly.

[0063] In the embodiments of this application, the electronic device may include an electronic device and a protective case assembly. The protective case assembly and the electronic device can be electrically connected through a connecting member. The connecting member has a small thickness and weight, so when it is applied to the electronic device, it is beneficial to the development of the electronic device to be thinner and lighter.

[0064] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the electronic device includes a connector socket that is electrically connected to the connecting member.

[0065] In this embodiment, the electronic device may be provided with a connector female, and the protective sleeve assembly may be provided with a connecting member. Through the electrical connection between the connecting member and the connector female, the protective sleeve assembly and the electronic device are electrically connected, so as to enable the electronic device to supply power to the protective sleeve assembly and / or the electronic device to communicate with the protective sleeve assembly.

[0066] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the connector female base includes a second insulating cover plate, a female base contact, a third flexible circuit board, and a second reinforcing plate, wherein the third flexible circuit board is located between the second insulating cover plate and the second reinforcing plate; the second insulating cover plate has a fourth through hole, one end of the female base contact is electrically connected to the third flexible circuit board, and the other end of the female base contact passes through the fourth through hole and is electrically connected to the connecting member.

[0067] For example, the second flexible circuit board includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is located between the second insulating cover and the second reinforcing plate, and the second portion is located outside the second insulating change and is electrically connected to the main circuit board of the electronic device.

[0068] In this embodiment of the application, the female contacts of the connector can contact the contacts of the connecting member to realize the electrical connection between the connecting member and the connector, so that the protective sleeve assembly can establish an electrical connection with the electronic device, thereby enabling the electronic device to supply power to the protective sleeve assembly and / or the electronic device to communicate with the protective sleeve assembly.

[0069] In conjunction with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the shape of the female contact point is circular or a custom character shape.

[0070] In this embodiment, the appearance of the female contact can be a circular contact or a custom character shape. Compared with the circular contact solution, the use of a custom character shape (such as a logo character shape) eliminates the need to add connecting component contacts to the surface of the electronic device, resulting in a simpler and more aesthetically pleasing appearance. Attached Figure Description

[0071] Figure 1 and Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application from different perspectives.

[0072] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A partial structural diagram of the electronic device shown.

[0073] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the exploded structure of an electronic device.

[0074] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of a connector female seat provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0075] Figure 6 These are schematic diagrams of various forms of the connector female base provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0076] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the back-mounted connector provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0077] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the connector provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0078] Figure 9 and Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the spring provided in the embodiment of this application.

[0079] Figure 11 This is an assembly schematic diagram of a portion of the structure of the back-mounted connector provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0080] Figure 12 and Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application from different perspectives.

[0081] Figure 14 yes Figure 12 A partial structural diagram of the electronic device shown.

[0082] Figure 15 yes Figure 14 A schematic diagram of the exploded structure of an electronic device.

[0083] Figure 16 and Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of another electronic device provided in the embodiments of this application from different perspectives.

[0084] Figure 18 yes Figure 16 The diagram shows the exploded structure of the electronic device.

[0085] Figure 19 yes Figure 18 A schematic diagram of the exploded structure of an electronic device.

[0086] Figure 20 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hidden connector and keyboard body provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0087] Figure 21 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the concealed connector provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0088] Figure 22 This is an exploded structural diagram of the concealed connector provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0089] Figure 23 This is an exploded structural diagram of the concealed connector provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0090] Figure 24 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the insulating cover plate provided in the embodiment of this application.

[0091] Figure 25 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the connector female seat provided in the embodiment of this application.

[0092] Figure 26 This is a partial structural diagram of the concealed connector.

[0093] Figure 27 This is a partial structural diagram of the contact portion between the connector female seat and the concealed connector provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0094] Figure 28 and Figure 29 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of another electronic device provided in the embodiments of this application from different perspectives.

[0095] Figure 30 yes Figure 28 An exploded structural diagram of a portion of the electronic device shown.

[0096] Figure 31 yes Figure 30 The diagram shows the exploded structure of the electronic device.

[0097] Figure 32 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the bottom connector provided in the embodiment of this application.

[0098] Figure 33 This is an exploded structural diagram of the bottom connector provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0099] Figure 34 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the female connector and the bottom connector provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0100] Figure 35 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of some components of the bottom connector provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0101] For ease of understanding, the relevant technical terms involved in the embodiments of this application will be explained and described below.

[0102] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more. The terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as implying or suggesting relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0103] The term "connection" should be interpreted broadly. "Connection" can refer to mechanical connections, including detachable and non-detachable connections, and can include direct connections and indirect connections via an intermediate medium. "Connection" can also refer to electrical connections in an electrical sense. An electrical connection is a form of connection between different components in a circuit structure via a physical line (such as a wire or copper foil on a printed circuit board) capable of transmitting electrical signals, where there is physical contact between the connected components. The components in an electrical connection can be non-detachable, such as the electrical connection between a circuit board and its soldered components; or they can be detachable, such as the electrical contact between contacts. Electrical connections can also include coupling connections, where different components are electrically coupled, but there is no physical medium between them, and no physical contact exists.

[0104] The word "fixed" should also be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean directly fixed or indirectly fixed through an intermediary.

[0105] The directional terms mentioned in the embodiments of this application, such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "side," "back," and "front," are only for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings. These directional terms are used to better and more clearly explain and understand the embodiments of this application, and are not intended to explicitly or implicitly suggest that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, etc., and therefore should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application.

[0106] In the description of the embodiments in this application, unless otherwise stated, "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone.

[0107] It should be noted that "A and B are aligned" in the embodiments of this application can be understood as A and B being close to or approximately aligned. That is to say, the height difference or thickness difference between A and B is within a certain error range. From the surface, A and B are in a state of being close to or approximately aligned.

[0108] The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1 to 11 This application provides a detailed description of an electronic device 10, which will be combined with... Figures 12 to 15 A detailed description of another electronic device 20 provided in this application will be provided in conjunction with Figures 16 to 27 A detailed description of another electronic device 30 provided in this application will be provided in conjunction with Figures 28 to 35 This application introduces another electronic device 40.

[0109] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of an electronic device 10 from different viewing angles, provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 This is a partial structural diagram of electronic device 10. Figure 4 yes Figure 3 An exploded view of the electronic device 10. Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of the female connector. Figure 6 These are schematic diagrams showing various forms of the female connector. Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of the back-mounted connector. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the connector structure. Figure 9 and Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the shrapnel structure. Figure 11 This is an assembly diagram of a portion of the back-mounted connector.

[0110] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this application embodiment provides an electronic device 10, which may include an electronic device 100 and a protective case assembly 200. The electronic device 100 can be supported on the protective case assembly 200 and electrically connected to the protective case assembly 200. At this time, the user can input on the electronic device 100 through the keyboard of the protective case assembly 200. The user can also remove the electronic device 100 from the protective case assembly 200.

[0111] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the electronic device 100 may have a plate-like shape. The electronic device 100 includes, but is not limited to, electronic products such as tablet computers and mobile phones. A display screen 110 may be provided on the front of the electronic device 100, and its back side 100a is disposed opposite to the display screen 110.

[0112] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the protective case assembly 200 may include a support portion and a keyboard portion, which can be connected together or separated, i.e., the protective case assembly 200 has a split design. The support portion can position and support the electronic device 100, and the keyboard portion can be electrically connected to the electronic device 100.

[0113] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the bracket portion may include a first support member 210 and a second support member 220, which are rotatably connected. In some embodiments, the bracket portion may further include a pivot shaft connecting the first support member 210 and the second support member 220, which are hinged together.

[0114] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the first support member 210 can be substantially flat. The first support member 210 can be magnetic, for example, it can have a built-in magnet, and the first support member 210 can be magnetically attracted to the magnet in the electronic device 100; and / or, the edge of the first support member 210 can be provided with a retaining structure, such as a buckle or a claw, and the first support member 210 can be engaged with the electronic device 100.

[0115] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the second support member 220 can be substantially flat. The second support member 220 can rotate relative to the first support member 210 at a certain angle and rest on a surface (e.g., a desktop), thus placing the support portion in a supported state. At this time, the back surface 100a of the electronic device 100 can be placed on the first support member 210, and the second support member 220 and the back surface 100a can form a first angle, allowing the support portion to position and support the electronic device 100. Since the second support member 220 can rotate continuously, the first angle can change continuously. This application embodiment does not limit the value of the first angle.

[0116] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the keyboard portion may include a keyboard body 230, which may include key cores 231 and a keyboard connection area 232. The keyboard connection area 232 is connected to the key cores 231 and may also be connected to a second support member 220. That is, the keyboard connection area 232 may be connected between the key cores 231 and the second support member 220. The key cores 231 may include multiple keys. In other embodiments, the keyboard body 230 may also include a touchpad for user touch input.

[0117] In some embodiments, the keyboard body 230 may further include a built-in battery and a wireless communication module. The battery stores electrical energy and powers the wireless communication module. The wireless communication module is used to communicate wirelessly with the electronic device 100 to input user operations on the key core 231 into the electronic device 100. The wireless communication module includes, but is not limited to, Bluetooth modules, Wi-Fi modules, infrared (IR) modules, etc.

[0118] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the support portion also includes a back connector 300, and the electronic device 100 also includes a connector female 400. The back connector 300 can be electrically connected to the connector female 400, thereby realizing the electrical connection between the electronic device 100 and the protective sleeve assembly 200. In the electronic device 10, the back connector 300 can be located on the first support member 210 of the protective sleeve assembly 200. In other electronic devices, the back connector 300 can be located on the second support member 220 of the protective sleeve assembly 200.

[0119] like Figure 4 As shown, the bracket portion can be composed of multiple layers. For example, the bracket portion may include a bracket interior component 201, a bracket body 202, and a bracket exterior component 203. The bracket body 202 is located between the bracket interior component 201 and the bracket exterior component 203. The bracket interior component 201 is in contact with the back surface 100a of the electronic device 100, and the bracket exterior component 203 is away from the back surface 100a of the electronic device 100. The bracket body 202 is wrapped with interior and exterior components, namely the bracket interior component 201 and the bracket exterior component 203. The bracket interior component 201 and the bracket exterior component 203 can be polyurethane (PU), non-woven fabric, etc., to achieve a flexible connection between the first support member 210, the second support member 220, and the bending area of ​​the keyboard body 230.

[0120] The bracket interior trim 201 may include upper and lower parts, the bracket body 202 may include upper and lower parts, and the bracket exterior trim 203 may include upper and lower parts. The upper part of the bracket interior trim 201, the upper part of the bracket body 202, and the upper part of the bracket exterior trim 203 together form the first support member 210, and the lower part of the bracket interior trim 201, the lower part of the bracket body 202, and the lower part of the bracket exterior trim 203 together form the second support member 220.

[0121] For example, a through hole 201a may be provided on the bracket interior trim 201, through which a part of the back connector 300 (e.g., the decorative plate 3111 of the insulating cover 311 described below) may pass and be electrically connected to the connector female 400 located on the electronic device 100.

[0122] like Figures 4 to 6As shown, the connector female base 400 may include a female base body 410, which may include an insulating cover plate 411, female base contacts 412, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 413, and a reinforcing plate 414. The FPC 413 is located between the insulating cover plate 411 and the reinforcing plate 414, forming a sandwich structure. In some examples, the connector female base 400 may also include a host magnet 420, which can magnetically attract with a magnet on the protective sleeve assembly 200 (such as the connector magnet 330 described below). It should be understood that the connector female base 400 may also be fixedly connected to the back-mounted connector 300 by other means (such as by setting a snap-fit).

[0123] In some examples, FPC 413 may include two connected parts. The first part of FPC 413 is sandwiched between the insulating cover plate 411 and the reinforcing plate 414, and the second part of FPC 413 may be located outside the insulating cover plate 411 and the reinforcing plate 414 and electrically connected to the circuit board of electronic device 100. It should be understood that the female contact 412 can be connected to FPC 413 by soldering, conductive adhesive, etc., and FPC 413 can be clamped, positioned, and thermocoupled by the reinforcing plate 414.

[0124] For example, the insulating cover plate 411 may have a through hole, through which the female contact 412 can pass. One end of the female contact 412 is electrically connected to the FPC 413, and the other end is electrically connected to the back connector 300. For example, the female contact 412 and the FPC 413 can be electrically connected by means of soldering, conductive adhesive, or other methods.

[0125] like Figure 6 As shown in (a) and Figure 6 As shown in (b), the appearance of the female contact 412 can be a circular contact or a logo character. Compared with the circular contact solution, the electronic device 100 with the logo character design does not need to add back-mounted connector contacts, and the appearance is simpler and more beautiful.

[0126] For example, the material of the female contact 412 can be a conductive metal, including but not limited to copper, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. In some examples, a metal plating layer can be added to the surface of the female contact 412 to achieve corrosion and oxidation resistance. For example, gold, platinum, nickel, silver, etc. can be plated on the surface of the female contact 412. This application does not limit the process of plating the metal layer, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD). In some examples, ceramic can be plated on the connector female head (female contact 412) using PVD. In this case, a laser engraving removal process is required on the mating surface of the female contact 412 (such as logo characters) and the FPC 413.

[0127] Combination Figure 8 It is understood that the back-mounted connector 300 may include an insulating cover plate 311, a spring contact 312, and a circuit board; the insulating cover plate 311 has a receiving groove and a through hole 311a, the receiving groove is used to receive the spring contact 312 and the circuit board; the circuit board is fixedly connected to the insulating cover plate 311, the circuit board has a through hole 313a, the spring contact 312 passes through the through hole 313a and is electrically connected to the circuit board, at least a portion of the spring contact 312 (such as the contact portion of the spring contact 312) can pass through the through hole 311a and be exposed, the spring contact 312 is used to realize the electrical connection.

[0128] In some examples, the circuit board may include a printed circuit board (PCB) 313 and an FPC 320, the FPC 320 being electrically connected to the PCB 313, and the PCB 313 having a through-hole 313a, which will be discussed in conjunction with the following. Figure 7 and Figure 8 Detailed explanation.

[0129] In other examples, the circuit board may include a flexible circuit board comprising a first portion and a second portion connected to the second portion. The first portion of the flexible circuit board has a through-hole, and the second portion of the flexible circuit board extends beyond the insulating cover 311 for electrical connection with the keyboard body 230. The first portion of the flexible circuit board may have a through-hole for a spring to pass through.

[0130] For example, the back connector 300 may further include a reinforcing plate located on the side of the circuit board away from the insulating cover 311, which supports the circuit board. In one example, the back connector 300 may include the insulating cover 311, a spring clip 312, a flexible circuit board, and a reinforcing plate located on the side of the flexible circuit board away from the insulating cover 311, which supports the flexible circuit board. In this case, the total thickness of the first portion of the flexible circuit board and the reinforcing plate is approximately equal to the thickness of the PCB 313, thus not increasing the thickness of the back connector 300.

[0131] like Figure 7 As shown, the back-mounted connector 300 may include a connector 310 and an FPC 320, which can be assembled together using a sandwich thermoforming process. In some examples, the back-mounted connector 300 also includes a connector magnet 330, which can magnetically attract the host magnet 420. It should be understood that the connector magnet 330 may be disposed around the connector 310, and similarly, the host magnet 420 may be disposed around the female connector body 410. The connector magnet 330 and the host magnet 420 can be attracted together to prevent relative movement when the connector 310 and the female connector body 410 are fixed together.

[0132] like Figure 8 As shown, connector 310 may include an insulating cover 311, a spring contact 312, and a PCB 313. FPC 320 can be fixed between the insulating cover 311 and the PCB 313 using a sandwich thermoforming process. In some examples, connector 310 may also include an adhesive layer 314, the shape of which may be similar to the PCB 313, used to bond the PCB 313 to the insulating cover 311.

[0133] For example, the insulating cover 311 may include a decorative panel 3111 and an adhesive portion 3112. The adhesive portion 3112 is disposed around the decorative panel 3111, that is, the adhesive portion 3112 is located on the outer periphery of the decorative panel 3111, and there is a certain height difference between the decorative panel 3111 and the adhesive portion 3112. From the appearance, the decorative panel 3111 and the adhesive portion 3112 of the insulating cover 311 can form a stepped structure similar to a step. The top surface of the decorative panel 3111 may be provided with a plurality of through holes 311a, the positions of the plurality of through holes 311a corresponding to the contacts of the spring 312, so that the contacts on the spring 312 can pass through the through holes 311a and be exposed. For example, the adhesive portion 3112 may have a notch 311b, through which the FPC 320 extends to the outside of the insulating cover 311 to achieve electrical connection with the keyboard body 230.

[0134] The insulating cover 311 has a receiving groove that can accommodate the spring clip 312 and the PCB 313. In some examples, the decorative panel 3111 and the adhesive portion 3112 of the insulating cover 311 can form a recessed structure with an opening, within which the spring clip 312 and the PCB 313 can be located. The insulating cover 311 can cover the spring clip 312 and the PCB 313, thereby protecting them. In other words, the decorative panel 3111 and the adhesive portion 3112 can form a receiving groove, within which the spring clip 312 and the PCB 313 can be located.

[0135] It should be noted that the decorative plate 3111 of the insulating cover 311 can pass through the through hole 201a on the bracket interior part 201 (or the first support member 210), so that the insulating cover 311 can reduce the stacking thickness of the back connector 300 to a certain extent when the whole machine is stacked by taking advantage of the thickness of the bracket interior part 201.

[0136] In some examples, such as Figure 3 As shown, the side of the insulating cover 311 away from the circuit board (such as PCB 313) is flush with the surface of the first support member 210. For example, the decorative panel 3111 of the insulating cover 311 away from the circuit board (such as PCB 313) is flush with or nearly flush with the surface of the first support member 210. It should be understood that the insulating cover 311 can pass through the through hole 201a on the first support member 210 and be exposed, and the exposed side of the insulating cover 311 is flush with or nearly flush with the surface of the first support member 210, in order to minimize the appearance of depressions or protrusions on the surface of the first support member 210. This allows the insulating cover 311 to utilize the thickness space of the first support member 210 to achieve a thinner protective sleeve assembly 200 while also ensuring the aesthetic appearance of the protective sleeve assembly 200.

[0137] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the spring 312 may include a base plate 3121, an elastic arm 3122, a solder foot 3123, a contact 3124, and a bent portion 3125. The bent portion 3125 is connected between the elastic arm 3122 and the base plate 3121, and there is a gap between the elastic arm 3122 and the base plate 3121. The contact 3124 is connected to the side of the elastic arm 3122 facing away from the base plate 3121. The contact 3124 can achieve electrical contact. For example, at least a portion of the contact 3124 can pass through the through hole 311a on the insulating cover plate 311 and be exposed to achieve electrical connection with the female contact 412.

[0138] It should be understood that the components of the spring 312 can be electrically connected, that is, the base plate 3121, the elastic arm 3122, the welding foot 3123, the contact 3124 and the bending part 3125 can be electrically connected.

[0139] In some examples, a hollow area 312a is provided at the position corresponding to the contact 3124 on the base plate 3121, that is, a hollow area 312a is provided below the contact 312. When the contact 312 is sunken, the hollow area 312a can increase the sunken space.

[0140] like Figure 10 As shown, when the spring 312 is pressed, it will move downward. The amount of downward pressure of the spring 312 during operation can be h, that is, the downward stroke of the contact 3124 (or the stroke of the spring 312). For example, h can be 0.1mm-0.7mm.

[0141] like Figure 8 As shown, the PCB 313 can be hollowed out to form multiple through holes 313a, and several connection through holes 313b can be formed around the through holes 313a. For example, the connector 310 may include multiple spring contacts 312 (e.g., three), each of which can be located within a through hole 313a. The solder pads 3123 of the spring contacts 312 can pass through the connection through holes 313b. It should be understood that one end of the spring contact 312 is fixedly connected to the PCB 313, and the other end of the spring contact 312 abuts against the insulating cover plate 311. The PCB 313 and the insulating cover plate 311 are fixedly connected, causing the spring contact 312 of the back-mounted connector 300 to be in a compressed state, resulting in a pre-compression amount.

[0142] In some examples, PCB 313 may also include an extension 313c that extends outward along the main body of PCB 313. One end of FPC 320 can be fixed to the extension 313c by a thermoforming process, and the other end of FPC 320 can be electrically connected to the keyboard body 230. In other examples, FPC 320 may include two connected parts. The first part of FPC 320 is sandwiched between the insulating cover 311 and PCB 313, and the second part of FPC 320 is located outside the insulating cover 311 and PCB 313 and is electrically connected to the keyboard body 230.

[0143] It should be noted that the three spring clips 312 can be arranged side by side. In one example, such as Figure 11 As shown in (a), the length direction of the bent portions 3125 of the plurality of spring tabs 312 is parallel to the length direction of the PCB 313. In another example, as... Figure 11 As shown in (b), the length direction of the bent portion 3125 of the plurality of spring contacts 312 is perpendicular to the length direction of the PCB 313. The solder feet 3123 of the plurality of spring contacts 312 can be soldered into the connection through holes 313b of the PCB 313.

[0144] Combination Figure 11 It can be seen that when the length direction of the bending portion 3125 of the multiple spring pieces 312 is perpendicular to the length direction of the PCB 313, the width of the PCB 313 can be reduced to a certain extent, thereby reducing the width of the back connector 300 to a certain extent; when the length direction of the bending portion 3125 of the multiple spring pieces 312 is parallel to the length direction of the PCB 313, the length of the PCB 313 can be reduced to a certain extent, thereby reducing the length of the back connector 300 to a certain extent.

[0145] For example, such as Figure 11As shown in (b), the spring 312 includes a first spring, a second spring, and a third spring, which are arranged side-by-side along the length of the PCB 313, and the length directions of the bent portions of the first, second, and third springs are all perpendicular to the length direction of the PCB 313. The PCB 313 includes a first end and a second end arranged opposite to each other. The distance between the first end and the contact of the first spring is greater than the distance between the bent portion of the second end and the third spring. The portion of the circuit board extending out of the insulating cover 311 is connected to the portion between the first end of the circuit board and the contact of the first spring. In one example, the portion between the first end of the PCB 313 and the contact of the first spring can be used to connect the FPC 320.

[0146] It should be noted that when the spring 312 is assembled into the back connector 300, the spring 312 is in a compressed state. That is, the spring 312 has a pre-compression amount h1 relative to its free state, which can be 0.1mm-0.5mm, for example, h1 can be 0.3mm. By setting the spring 312 in a compressed state, it is possible to ensure that the spring 312 is tightly assembled in the back connector 300, and to avoid the problem of poor contact of the contact 3124 of the spring 312 when the back connector 300 is assembled into the electronic device 10.

[0147] It should be understood that in its free state, the free height of the spring 312 is the sum of the overall thickness of the spring 312 (also known as the working height) and the pre-compression amount h1. The overall thickness of the spring 312 is the distance from the surface of the elastic arm 3122 connected to the contact 3124 to the surface of the base plate 3121 facing away from the contact 3124 when the spring 312 is assembled into the back connector 300. In other words, the height of the spring 312 in its free state is greater than the height of the spring 312 assembled into the back connector 300, meaning that when the spring 312 is assembled into the back connector 300, the spring 312 will have a downward compression amount.

[0148] Indicatively, the overall thickness (also known as the working height) of the spring 312 can be 0.82 mm. Compared to the traditional pogo pin with a working height of 1.6 mm, the spring 312 in this embodiment has a smaller thickness, which is beneficial for making the spring 312 and the entire back-mounted connector thinner.

[0149] Table 1 shows the stacking thickness of connector 310. As can be seen from Table 1, the overall stacking thickness of connector 310 can reach 1.22mm, achieving an ultra-thin connector structure. This allows for a minimum reduction in the thickness and weight of the protective sleeve assembly 200 when the connector 310 is applied to the protective sleeve assembly 200, thereby improving the user experience.

[0150] Table 1

[0151] Components or parts Thickness (mm) Decorative panel 3111 of plastic cover plate 0.57 Adhesive layer 314 and FPC 320 0.1 PCB 313 0.4 gap 0.05 The base plate 3121 of the shrapnel 312 0.1 total 1.22

[0152] Table 2 shows the overall stacking thickness of the back connector 300 area. As can be seen from Table 2, after the aforementioned thickness stacking, when the first support 210 rotates to fit against the back surface 100a of the electronic device 100, and the back connector 300 is located within the first support 210 (or the second support 220), the total stacking thickness of the back connector 300 is only 2mm. This results in a very small thickness at the electrical connection between the protective case assembly 200 and the electronic device 100, thus improving the user experience.

[0153] Table 2

[0154] Components or parts Thickness (mm) Design step difference 0.08 Back-mounted connector 300 1.22 Support body 202 0.35 Bracket exterior trim 203 0.35 total 2

[0155] In the electronic device 10, when the back surface 100a of the electronic device 100 is attached to the back connector 300, the female contact 412 on the electronic device 100 can make electrical contact with the contact 3124 on the back connector 300, thereby electrically connecting the back connector 300 to the electronic device 100. The connector 310 can be used to transmit signals or electrical energy. Therefore, the keyboard body 230 does not need to have a built-in battery and wireless communication module. When the back connector 300 is electrically connected to the electronic device 100, the electronic device 100 can supply power to the keyboard body 230, enabling wired communication between the keyboard body 230 and the electronic device 100. Alternatively, the keyboard body 230 can also have a built-in battery and wireless communication module. When the back connector 300 is electrically connected to the electronic device 100, the electronic device 100 can charge the battery in the keyboard body 230, which can then supply power to the wireless communication module, enabling wireless communication between the keyboard body 230 and the electronic device 100.

[0156] It should be noted that in the electronic device 10, the first support member 210 (or bracket interior part 201) has a through hole 201a, and the back connector 300 is disposed within the first support member 210, with at least a portion of the back connector 300 passing through the through hole 201a and exposed. For example, the decorative panel 3111 of the insulating cover 311 of the back connector 300 can pass through the through hole 201a and be exposed. Therefore, when the back connector 300 is disposed in the protective sleeve assembly 200, the thickness of the back connector 300 can be reduced by utilizing the thickness of the first support member 210 (or bracket interior part 201) itself.

[0157] The following will combine Figures 12 to 15 This application introduces another electronic device 20, wherein, Figure 12 and Figure 13This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of an electronic device 20 from different viewing angles, provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 14 This is a partial structural diagram of electronic device 20. Figure 15 yes Figure 14 An exploded view of the electronic device 20.

[0158] It should be noted that the main difference between electronic device 20 and electronic device 10 lies in the structure of the protective case assembly 200.

[0159] like Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, electronic device 20 may include electronic device 100 and protective case assembly 200. Unlike electronic device 10, the back 100a of electronic device 100 is placed on a second support member 220, and a first support member 210 is supported on a tabletop (e.g., a desktop), so that the support portion is in a supported state, and the first support member 210 and the second support member 220 (or the back 100a of electronic device 100) can form a second angle, so that the support portion positions and supports electronic device 100. In addition, the keyboard body 230 of protective case assembly 200 may not include the keyboard connection area 232, but may include a key core 231 and a touchpad 233; or, it may only include the key core 231. The key core 231 may include multiple keys, and the touchpad 233 is used for user touch input.

[0160] like Figure 14 and Figure 15 As shown, the back connector 300 can be disposed on the second support 220, for example, it can be disposed on the bottom of the second support 220 near the back surface 100a of the electronic device 100. The connector female 400 can be disposed on the electronic device 100 at a position corresponding to the back connector 300, for example, it can be disposed on the bottom of the back surface 100a of the electronic device 100. For a detailed description of the back connector 300 and the connector female 400, please refer to the relevant description in the electronic device 10.

[0161] For example, such as Figure 15 As shown, in the electronic device 20, the second support member 220 has a through hole 201b, and the back connector 300 is disposed within the second support member 220, with at least a portion of the back connector 300 passing through the through hole 201b and exposed. For example, the decorative panel 3111 of the insulating cover 311 of the back connector 300 can pass through the through hole 201b and be exposed. Therefore, when the back connector 300 is disposed in the protective sleeve assembly 200, the thickness of the back connector 300 can be reduced by utilizing the thickness of the second support member 220 itself.

[0162] It should be understood that, relative to electronic device 10, in electronic device 20, the back connector 300 is transferred from the first support member 210 to the second support member 220, and electronic device 100 is connected to the second support member 220. The protective case assembly 200 with touchpad 233 is a current conventional form. Using the back connector 300 provided in this application embodiment helps to achieve a thinner and lighter protective case assembly 200 with touchpad 233 without affecting its aesthetic appearance.

[0163] The following will combine Figures 16 to 27 Another electronic device 30 provided in this application is described. Among them, Figure 16 and Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of another electronic device 30 provided in the embodiments of this application from different viewing angles. Figure 18 This is an exploded structural diagram of electronic device 30. Figure 19 yes Figure 18 The exploded view of the electronic device 30 shown is shown. Figure 20 This is a structural diagram of the hidden connector and the keyboard body. Figure 21 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the concealed connector. Figure 22 This is an exploded structural diagram of the concealed connector. Figure 23 This is an exploded structural diagram of the concealed connector. Figure 24 This is a structural diagram of the insulating cover plate. Figure 25 This is a structural schematic diagram of the female connector. Figure 26 This is a partial structural diagram of the concealed connector. Figure 27 This is a partial structural diagram of the contact area between the connector female seat and the concealed connector.

[0164] It should be noted that the main difference between electronic device 30 and electronic devices 10 and 20 mentioned above lies in the structure of the protective case assembly 200. In electronic device 30, in the form of having a touchpad 233, the bracket part is eliminated and a host bracket is added. The keyboard body 230 is connected to electronic device 100 through a hidden connector 240.

[0165] like Figures 16 to 18 As shown, the electronic device 30 may include an electronic device 100 and a protective case assembly 200. The electronic device 100 may be supported on the protective case assembly 200 and electrically connected to the protective case assembly 200. In this case, the user can input on the electronic device 100 through the keyboard of the protective case assembly 200. The user may also remove the electronic device 100 from the protective case assembly 200.

[0166] Electronic device 100 may include a display screen 110 and a main unit stand 120, the main unit stand 120 being used to support electronic device 100. For example, a receiving cavity 100b is provided on the back surface 100a of electronic device 100 to accommodate the main unit stand 120. When a user needs to support electronic device 100 on a surface (e.g., a desktop), the main unit stand 120 can be removed from the receiving cavity 100b, so that the main unit stand 120 and electronic device 100 form a certain angle, allowing the main unit stand 120 to position and support the electronic device 100. When the user does not need to use the main unit stand 120, it can be stored back in the receiving cavity 100b.

[0167] like Figure 20 As shown, the protective case assembly 200 may include a keyboard body 230 and a hidden connector 240. The hidden connector 240 is fixedly connected to the keyboard body 230. For example, the hidden connector 240 may be fixedly connected to the edge of the keyboard body 230. Exemplarily, the keyboard body 230 may include a key core 231 and / or a touchpad 233, and the hidden connector 240, the key core 231, and the touchpad 233 may be connected sequentially.

[0168] like Figure 18 As shown, a receiving groove 100c can be formed at the bottom edge of the back surface 100a of the electronic device 100. The receiving groove 100c can be used to accommodate the concealed connector 240, and can also accommodate the connector female 400. The connector female 400 is provided at the bottom edge of the back surface 100a of the electronic device 100, and the concealed connector 240 is electrically connected to the connector female 400. It should be understood that when the electronic device 100 is placed on the protective sleeve assembly 200, the concealed connector 240 can contact the back surface of the electronic device 100, and the concealed connector 240 forms an electrical connection with the electronic device 100, wherein the back surface of the electronic device 100 is opposite to the display screen 110 of the electronic device 100. The structure of the connector female 400 can be referred to the relevant description in the above-described electronic device 10.

[0169] like Figure 19 , Figures 21 to 23 As shown, the concealed connector 240 may include a connector housing 241 (equivalent to the insulating cover 311 mentioned above), a spring clip 312, a PCB 313, an FPC 320, a connector inner trim 242, and a connector outer trim 244. The connector inner trim 242 and the connector outer trim 244 are sandwiched between the two sides of the FPC 320 to prevent the FPC 320 from being exposed. It should be understood that the PCB 313 and FPC 320 can be replaced with a flexible circuit board. On this basis, a reinforcing plate can be added to support the flexible circuit board. This part can be referred to in the relevant description in the electronic device 10, and will not be repeated here.

[0170] In some examples, the connector housing 241 and the connector trim 244 may form a receiving cavity in which at least a portion of the spring tab 312, PCB 313, FPC 320, and at least a portion of the connector trim 242 may be located. Exemplarily, the concealed connector 240 may also include a concealer 243, which may also be located within the receiving cavity, or between the connector housing 241 and the connector trim 244.

[0171] like Figure 21 and Figure 22 As shown, the sidewall of the connector housing 241 includes a first part and a second part. The first part of the connector housing 241 is fitted with the connector interior trim 242, and the second part of the connector housing 241 is fitted with the connector exterior trim 244. It is understood that the sidewall of the connector housing 241 is not flat, but may have a certain height difference. The connector interior trim 242 can fill within this height difference range, so that the side of the connector interior trim 242 away from the connector housing 241 is flush or nearly flush with the side of the second part of the connector housing 241 near the connector exterior trim 244.

[0172] For example, such as Figure 21 As shown, the side of the connector interior trim 242 away from the connector housing 241 is flush or nearly flush with the side of the second part of the connector housing 241 near the connector exterior trim 244. In this case, the connector interior trim 242 can utilize the thickness space of the connector housing 241, thus ensuring that the connector interior trim 242 does not occupy thickness space in the thickness direction, which is beneficial to the thinness of the protective sleeve assembly 200. In addition, by providing the connector interior trim 242 and the connector exterior trim 244, an aesthetically pleasing appearance is ensured.

[0173] In some examples, the side of the connector interior trim 242 near the connector housing 241 is flush or nearly flush with the side of the concealer 243 near the connector housing 241. In this case, the connector interior trim 242 can utilize the thickness space of the concealer 243, thus ensuring that the connector interior trim 242 does not occupy thickness space in the thickness direction, which is beneficial for the thinness of the protective case assembly 200. Furthermore, by providing the connector interior trim 242 and the connector exterior trim 244, an aesthetically pleasing appearance is ensured.

[0174] It should be understood that the interior trim 242 of the connector can also partially utilize the thickness space of the outer shell 241 of the connector and partially utilize the thickness space of the concealer 243, thereby achieving the goal of not occupying space in the thickness direction.

[0175] like Figure 22 and Figure 23As shown, the concealed connector 240 may further include a connector magnet 330, which may be located within a receiving cavity formed by the connector housing 241 and the connector trim 244. The connector magnet 330 is used to magnetically attract the host magnet 420, thereby achieving a fixed connection between the concealed connector 240 and the electronic device 100.

[0176] In some examples, to enhance the aesthetics of the protective case assembly 200, the concealed connector 240 may also include an outer skin that covers the side of the connector housing 241 away from the connector trim 244.

[0177] It should be noted that the aforementioned connector interior part 242, connector exterior part 244 and outer skin can extend to the keyboard body 230, thereby ensuring the aesthetic appearance of the protective cover assembly 200.

[0178] like Figure 24 As shown, the connector housing 241 can be generally a long strip-shaped structure. A portion of the surface of the connector housing 241 can be recessed to form a first receiving groove 241a and several second receiving grooves 242b. The first receiving groove 241a can be used to accommodate the spring clip 312 and the PCB 313, and the second receiving grooves 242b can be used to accommodate the connector magnet 330. It should be understood that the above structure of the connector housing 241 is merely illustrative and not a limitation on the embodiments of this application.

[0179] like Figure 22 , Figure 24 As shown, the connector housing 241 may also be provided with a through hole 241c, through which the contact 3124 on the spring 312 can pass and be electrically connected to the connector female 400 located on the electronic device 100.

[0180] like Figure 19 , Figure 25 and Figure 27 As shown, the connector female socket 400 may include a female socket contact 412 and an FPC 413. The female socket contact 412 is used for electrical connection with the contact 3124 on the spring 312, and the FPC 413 is used for connection with the circuit board of the electronic device 100. In some examples, the connector female socket 400 may also include a host magnet 420, which can be magnetically attracted to a magnet (such as the connector magnet 330) on the protective sleeve assembly 200. It should be understood that the connector female socket 400 may also be fixedly connected to the connector 300 by other means (such as by setting a snap).

[0181] like Figure 19 and Figure 26As shown, PCB 313 and FPC 320 can be assembled together using a sandwich thermoforming process. That is, FPC 320 can be soldered onto PCB 313 using a sandwich thermoforming process. The contact 3124 of spring 312 can be electrically connected to the female contact 412 of connector female 400. The structure of spring 312 can be referred to the relevant description in the above electronic device 10. In some examples, the connector may also include a connector magnet 330 for magnetic attraction with the host magnet 420.

[0182] Table 3 shows the stacking thickness of the concealed connector 240. As can be seen from Table 3, after the aforementioned thickness stacking, the connector interior component 242 can utilize the thickness space of the connector housing 241 or the concealer 243, thus not occupying any thickness space. The total stacking thickness of the concealed connector 240 is 1.8 mm. Compared to the stacking thickness shown in Table 2, due to the reduction in the thickness of the first support member 210, although the concealer 243 is added, the overall thickness of the concealed connector 240 is reduced by 0.2 mm, which is beneficial for further reducing the thickness of the protective sleeve assembly 200.

[0183] Table 3

[0184] Components or parts Thickness (mm) Connector housing 241 0.4 Overall thickness of shrapnel 312 0.8 Adhesive backing 0.05 Concealer 243 0.2 Connector exterior trim 244 0.35 total 1.8

[0185] It should be noted that in electronic device 30, electronic device 100 adds a host bracket 120, realizing the separation of electronic device 100 from keyboard body 230. Furthermore, compared to electronic device 10 or electronic device 20, although electronic device 30 adds a host bracket 120, it reduces the bracket portion, thus reducing its overall weight, for example, by 100g. Additionally, electronic device 30 achieves a concealed connection between keyboard body 230 and electronic device 100, without increasing the thickness or weight of electronic device 100.

[0186] The following will combine Figures 28 to 35 This application also describes another electronic device 40. Among them, Figure 28 and Figure 29 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of another electronic device 40 provided in this application embodiment from different viewing angles. Figure 30 This is an exploded structural diagram of a portion of the electronic device 40. Figure 31 yes Figure 30 The exploded view of the electronic device 40 shown is shown. Figure 32 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the bottom connector. Figure 33 This is an exploded structural diagram of the bottom connector. Figure 34 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the female connector and the bottom connector. Figure 35 This is a structural diagram of some components of the bottom connector.

[0187] It should be noted that the main difference between electronic device 40 and the aforementioned electronic devices 10, 20, and 30 lies in the structure of the protective case assembly 200. In electronic device 40, when the touchpad 233 is included, the stand and keyboard are separated, and a bottom connector is added. The bottom connector can be connected and positioned to the frame of electronic device 100 via magnetic attraction or other means.

[0188] like Figures 28 to 30 As shown, the electronic device 40 may include an electronic device 100 and a protective case assembly 200. The protective case assembly 200 may include a first support member 210, a second support member 220, a keyboard body 230, and a bottom connector 250. The keyboard body 230 may include a key core 231 and a touchpad 233; or, the keyboard body 230 may only include a key core 231. The bottom connector 250 can be connected and positioned to the frame of the electronic device 100 by means of magnetic attraction or other methods.

[0189] like Figures 31 to 33 As shown, the bottom connector 250 may include a connector base 251 (equivalent to the insulating cover 311 described above), a connector cover 252, a connector interior trim 253, a connector exterior trim 254, a spring clip 312, a PCB 313, and an FPC 320. The connector base 251 and the connector exterior trim 254 can form a receiving cavity, within which the connector cover 252, spring clip 312, PCB 313, a portion of the FPC 320, and a portion of the connector interior trim 253 can be located. It should be understood that the connector interior trim 253 and the connector exterior trim 254 can be used to decorate the FPC 320, preventing the FPC 320 from being exposed and thus affecting the aesthetic appearance of the protective sleeve assembly 200.

[0190] like Figures 34 to 35 As shown, the side of the connector interior trim 253 near the connector base 251 is flush or nearly flush with the side of the connector cover 252 near the connector base 251. In this case, the connector interior trim 253 can utilize the thickness space of the connector cover 252, so that the connector interior trim 253 does not occupy thickness space in the thickness direction, which is beneficial to the thinning of the protective sleeve assembly 200.

[0191] like Figure 33 As shown, the connector base 251 is provided with a through hole 251a, and the contact 3124 of the spring piece 312 can pass through the through hole 251a on the connector base 251 and be exposed, so as to be electrically connected to the female contact 412 on the connector female socket 400 on the electronic device 100.

[0192] It should be understood that the connector base 251 is equivalent to the insulating cover 311 or the connector housing 241 mentioned above, the connector cover 252 is equivalent to the concealer 243 mentioned above, the connector interior part 253 is equivalent to the connector interior part 242 mentioned above, and the connector exterior part 254 is equivalent to the connector exterior part 244 mentioned above. The relevant descriptions of each component can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the electronic device 30, and will not be repeated here.

[0193] It should be noted that using a bottom magnetic connection for the detachable touchpad keyboard is also a common solution. Compared to the traditional pogo pin bottom connection solution, the thickness of the bottom connector 250 can be reduced by about 2.8mm, which solves the problems of the keyboard body 230 and the bottom connector 250 being heavy and having an unrefined appearance.

[0194] In combination with the above Figures 1 to 35 As can be seen, the connecting components provided in this application have various shapes and can contact different positions of the electronic device 100 to achieve electrical connection with the electronic device 100. In some examples, such as Figures 1 to 15 As shown, the connecting member (i.e., the back-mounted connector 300) can be located on the first support 210 or on the second support 220. In other examples, such as Figures 16 to 27 As shown, the connecting member (i.e., the concealed connector 240) can directly contact the back surface of the electronic device 100 (such as the bottom of the back surface). In some other embodiments, such as Figures 28 to 35 As shown, the connecting member (i.e., the bottom connector 250) can directly contact the frame of the electronic device 100.

[0195] The size of the insulating cover plate of the connecting member can be different depending on the form of the connecting member. For example, in the back-mounted connector 300, the size of the insulating cover plate 311 of the back-mounted connector 300 is relatively small, while in the concealed connector 240 and the bottom connector 250, the size of the connector housing 241 of the concealed connector 240 and the connector base 251 of the bottom connector 250 is relatively large.

[0196] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A connecting member, characterized in that, include: First insulating cover plate, circuit board and spring; The first insulating cover plate has a receiving groove and a first through hole, the receiving groove being used to receive the circuit board and the spring contact; The circuit board is fixedly connected to the first insulating cover plate, and the circuit board has a second through hole; The spring contacts pass through the second through hole and are electrically connected to the circuit board. At least a portion of the spring contacts passes through the first through hole and is exposed. The spring contacts are used for electrical connection.

2. The connecting member according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circuit board includes a first printed circuit board and a first flexible circuit board. One end of the first flexible circuit board is electrically connected to the first printed circuit board, and the other end of the first flexible circuit board extends outside the first insulating cover. The first printed circuit board has a second through hole.

3. The connecting member according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circuit board includes a second flexible circuit board, which includes a first part and a second part. The first part is connected to the second part. The first part of the second flexible circuit board has a second through hole, and the second part of the second flexible circuit board extends out of the first insulating cover.

4. The connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The connecting member further includes a first reinforcing plate, which is located on the side of the circuit board away from the first insulating cover plate, and the first reinforcing plate is used to support the circuit board.

5. The connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The spring includes a base plate, an elastic arm, a contact, and a bending portion. The bending portion is connected between the elastic arm and the base plate, and there is a gap between the elastic arm and the base plate. The contact is connected to the side of the elastic arm facing away from the base plate, and at least a portion of the contact passes through the first through hole and is exposed.

6. The connecting member according to claim 5, characterized in that, The base plate has a hollowed-out area located below the contact.

7. The connecting member according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The length direction of the bend is perpendicular to the length direction of the circuit board; or, the length direction of the bend is parallel to the length direction of the circuit board.

8. The connecting member according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, The spring includes a first spring, a second spring, and a third spring. The first spring, the second spring, and the third spring are arranged side by side along the length direction of the circuit board, and the length direction of the bent portion of the first spring, the second spring, and the third spring is perpendicular to the length direction of the circuit board.

9. The connecting member according to claim 8, characterized in that, The circuit board includes a first end and a second end disposed opposite to each other. The distance between the first end and the contact of the first spring is greater than the distance between the second end and the bent portion of the third spring. The portion of the circuit board extending out of the first insulating cover is connected to the portion between the first end of the circuit board and the contact of the first spring.

10. The connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, One end of the spring is fixedly connected to the circuit board, and the other end of the spring abuts against the first insulating cover plate. The spring is in a compressed state.

11. A protective case assembly, characterized in that, include: Keyboard body; The connecting member as described in any one of claims 1 to 10; The circuit board of the connecting component is electrically connected to the keyboard body.

12. The protective sleeve assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that, The protective case assembly further includes a first support member and a second support member. The first support member is connected to the second support member. The first support member is used to fit against the back of the electronic device. The second support member rotates relative to the first support member at a certain angle and forms a first angle with the back of the electronic device. The second support member is connected to the keyboard body. The connecting member is used to form an electrical connection with the electronic device. The first support member has a third through hole, and the connecting member is disposed within the first support member, with at least a portion of the connecting member passing through the third through hole and exposed.

13. The protective sleeve assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first insulating cover plate includes a decorative panel and an adhesive portion, the adhesive portion being located on the outer periphery of the decorative panel, and the decorative panel and the adhesive portion forming the receiving groove; The decorative panel passes through the third through hole and is exposed.

14. The protective sleeve assembly according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The side of the first insulating cover away from the circuit board is flush with the surface of the first support member.

15. The protective sleeve assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that, The connecting member is used to fit against the back of the electronic device and form an electrical connection with the electronic device; or, the connecting member is used to fit against the frame of the electronic device and form an electrical connection with the electronic device.

16. The protective sleeve assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that, The connecting component further includes interior trim and exterior trim, with the first insulating cover and the exterior trim forming a receiving cavity, and the spring, the circuit board and at least a portion of the interior trim located within the receiving cavity.

17. The protective sleeve assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that, The connecting member also includes a concealer plate located within the receiving cavity.

18. The protective sleeve assembly according to claim 17, characterized in that, The side of the interior trim piece closest to the first insulating cover is flush with the side of the concealer plate closest to the first insulating cover.

19. The protective sleeve assembly according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The sidewall of the first insulating cover includes a first part and a second part, the first part of the first insulating cover is fitted with the interior trim, and the second part of the first insulating cover is fitted with the exterior trim.

20. The protective sleeve assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that, The side of the interior trim away from the first insulating cover is flush with the side of the second portion of the first insulating cover near the exterior trim.

21. The protective sleeve assembly according to any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that, The connecting member also includes an outer skin that covers the side of the first plastic cover plate away from the exterior trim.

22. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: Electronic devices; The protective sleeve assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 21; The electronic device is electrically connected to the connecting member of the protective sleeve assembly.

23. The electronic device according to claim 22, characterized in that, The electronic device includes a connector female, which is electrically connected to the connecting member.

24. The electronic device according to claim 23, characterized in that, The connector female base includes a second insulating cover plate, a female base contact, a third flexible circuit board, and a second reinforcing plate, wherein the third flexible circuit board is located between the second insulating cover plate and the second reinforcing plate; The second insulating cover has a fourth through hole. One end of the female contact is electrically connected to the third flexible circuit board, and the other end of the female contact passes through the fourth through hole and is electrically connected to the connecting member.

25. The electronic device according to claim 24, characterized in that, The female connector contact can be circular or a custom character shape.

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