Abstract:
Embodiments of a device swapping apparatus and method for a portable computer have advantages in that the detachable device detachably mounted to the portable computer can be easily detached from the portable computer or that the installation space can be reduced. An embodiment of a device swapping apparatus can include a seating space at a side of a detachable device, a driving rod with a rod body where at least a part of which is always positioned within the seating space, and a front handle selectively protruding forwardly from the housing. A cam and cam follower can selectively operate so that the rod body can be either fastened in or protrudes from the seating space whenever the driving rod is pushed into the seating space. An elastic member can provide an elastic force against the driving rod.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a portable computer, and more particularly, to a device swapping apparatus for a portable computer.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A portable computer has a light, thin and small configuration for the sake of convenience of portability. A device to be selectively used in the portable computer is detachably mounted into a bay of a main unit of the portable computer. Examples of devices to be detachably mounted into a bay include optical disk drives, batteries, heat radiating units, and the like. As an example of such devices, an optical disk drive will be herein described.  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing an external appearance of a general portable computer. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the portable computer  1  generally includes a main unit  3  and a display unit  5 . The main unit  3  generally takes the shape of a flat rectangular plate and includes various kinds of parts of a notebook computer  1  including a main board, a CPU, a memory, a hard disk drive  9 , an optical disk drive  10 , a battery and the like. Further, a keyboard  7  is provided on a top surface of the main unit  3 .  
         [0006]     Although the hard disk drive  9  is configured to be detachably mounted to the portable computer, it is necessarily used to operate the notebook computer  1 . However, the optical disk drive  10  is not necessarily used to operate the notebook computer  1 . Therefore, the optical disk drive  10  can be selectively mounted into a bay (not shown) formed in the main unit  3  of the portable computer. On the other hand, if the optical disk drive  10  is not mounted in the bay, an additional device such as an auxiliary battery can be mounted therein. The optical disk drive  10  includes a connector  11 .  
         [0007]     A liquid crystal panel is generally employed in the display unit  5 , which is connected to a rear end of the main unit  3 , so that the display unit is folded to or unfolded from the top surface of the main unit  3 . The display unit  5  is formed to take the same shape of a flat rectangular plate as the main unit  3 .  
         [0008]     The optical disk drive  10  is used in a state where it is inserted in the bay of the main unit  3 . At this time, an additional mechanism can be used to fasten the optical disk drive  10  to the main unit  3  such that the optical disk drive is not inadvertently detached from the main unit  3 .  
         [0009]     However, the related art portable computer described above has various disadvantages. For example, when the optical disk drive  10  was inserted in the bay of the main unit  3 , it is not easy to detach the optical disk drive  10  from the main unit  3 . The reason is that when the optical disk drive  10  is mounted into the bay, the connector  11  is connected to another connector in the main unit  3  and a front end of the optical disk drive  10  does not protrude from the main unit  3 .  
         [0010]     Further, a certain mechanism for allowing the optical disk drive  10  to be pushed outwardly from the portable computer may be installed within the bay of the main unit  3 . However, the mechanism for allowing the optical disk drive  10  to be pushed outwardly occupies a large space in the bay, and an additional structure for transmitting a force applied by a user to the mechanism should also be installed in the main unit  3 . Thus, this configuration also hinders the portable computer from being made light, thin and small.  
         [0011]     The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages or to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter.  
         [0013]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device swapping apparatus capable of swapping devices detachably mounted to a portable computer.  
         [0014]     Another object of the present invention is to reduce or minimize a space occupied by a device swapping apparatus for swapping the devices detachably mounted to the portable computer.  
         [0015]     Another object of the present invention is to simplify the configuration of a device swapping apparatus used in the portable computer.  
         [0016]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device swapping apparatus capable of swapping devices detachably mounted to a portable computer that can reduce costs or increase reliability of the device.  
         [0017]     In order to achieve at least these objects or advantages in a whole or in part, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a device swapping apparatus for a portable computer that can include a detachable device and a handle provided at a side of the detachable device, wherein the handle is within the area of the detachable device, wherein the handle moves between a first position extending partially outside the detachable device and a second position, and wherein the handle is removed with the detachable device.  
         [0018]     To further achieve at least these objects or advantages in a whole or in part, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a device swapping apparatus for a portable computer that can include a housing coupled within a lateral surface of a detachable device having a seating space therein, a driving rod including a rod body slidingly positioned within the seating space of the housing, and a front handle configured to selectively protrude forward from the housing, a cam and cam follower configured to selectively operate so that the rod body is either fastened in or protrudes from the seating space whenever the driving rod is pushed into the seating space and an elastic member configured to provide an elastic force in a direction to urge the driving rod from the seating space.  
         [0019]     To further achieve at least these objects or advantages in a whole or in part, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a portable computer that can include a main body rotatably attached to a display body, a device detachably installed in a side surface of the main body and a handle integrally provided along a side surface inside a case of the device, wherein the handle is configured to move between at least two positions, and wherein the handle is removed with the device.  
         [0020]     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an exploded perspective view of the configuration of a general portable computer;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an exploded perspective view of the configuration of a portable computer in which a preferred embodiment of a device swapping apparatus according to the present invention is employed;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a perspective view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a perspective view of a configuration of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view showing an exemplary driving rod of the device swapping apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5   b  is a perspective view showing an exemplary cam follower of the device swapping apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an operating state where a handle of the driving rod protrudes outwardly from the portable computer according to the embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0029]      FIGS. 7   a  to  7   g  are diagrams illustrating a sequentially operating process where the cam and cam follower are interlocked with each other according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a portable computer in which a device swapping apparatus according to the present invention is employed, and  FIGS. 3-4  are perspective views showing configuration of the device swapping apparatus according to the embodiment.  FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view showing an exemplary driving rod of the device swapping apparatus according to the embodiment, and  FIG. 5   b  is a perspective view of exemplary cam follower of a device swapping apparatus.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIGS. 3-5   b , a bay  22  can be provided at a portion in a lateral surface of a main unit  20  of the portable computer. The bay  22  is a portion into which a detachable device  30  can be mounted.  
         [0032]     A variety of detachable devices  30  necessary or useful for the portable computer can be mounted in the bay  22 . Examples of the detachable devices  30  may include an optical disk drive, a battery, a heat radiating unit, and the other devices. However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. Each of the detachable devices  30  can be designed to have such an external appearance that can be accommodated in the bay  22 .  
         [0033]     A device holder  40  can be fastened to the exterior of the detachable device  30 . In this embodiment, the device holder  40  can have a ‘         ’ shape such that it surrounds the opposite lateral surfaces and rear surface of the detachable device  30 . That is, the device holder  40  is preferably fastened to at least one of the surfaces except a front surface, which is exposed to the opening of the bay, and top and bottom surfaces of the detachable device  30 . One reason is that the height of the main unit  20  may be increased if the device holder  40  is fastened to the top and/or bottom surfaces of the detachable device  30 . Further, one reason that the device holder  40  is not fastened to the front surface exposed to the opening of the bay  22  is that the front surface becomes an entrance of the disk, for example, where the detachable device is a disk drive.  
         [0034]     A housing  50  can be provided on a side of the device holder  40 . The housing  50  can be integrally formed on the side of the device holder  40 . The housing  50  is preferably positioned at a stepped portion of the side of the detachable device  30 . Thus, a device swapping apparatus can be within a footprint of the detachable device  30  in the main unit  20 . The housing  50  can be formed with a seating space  52  opened to one surface thereof and formed to extend in a direction from the rear to the front of the detachable device  30 . A front face of the seating space  52  can be located at the entrance of the bay  22  for the detachable device  30  can be opened to the front of the detachable device  30 .  
         [0035]     A guide rod  54  can be provided in the seating space  52  to extend in a direction in which a driving rod  70  can reciprocably move. The guide rod  54  can be integrally formed on the housing  50  with a spring  56  installed around the guide rod  54 . The spring  56  can be a cylindrical coil spring and impart an elastic force to the driving rod  70 .  
         [0036]     Guide rails  58  can be formed along both side ends of the seating space  52 . Each of the guide rails  58  can serve to guide the movement of the driving rod  70  in the seating space  52 . The guide rail  58  can be formed discontinuously along the both side ends of the seating space  52 .  
         [0037]     A cam  60  can be formed within the seating space  52 . The cam  60  can allow the driving rod  70  alternately to be seated in or to protrude forwardly from the seating space  52 . An exemplary configuration of the cam  60  will now be described.  
         [0038]     A cam fence  62  can protrude in the seating space  52  to form a frame of the cam  60 . A cam path  63  can be defined, for example, within the cam fence  62 . The cam path  63  can become a path along which a hook protrusion  86  of a cam follower  80  (described below) is moved. The cam path  63  can be mainly divided into a release section  63 R and a hook section  63 L. If the hook protrusion  86  of the cam follower  80  remains in the release section  63 R, it is in a state where the cam follower  80  is not caught in the cam  60 . In the hook section  63 L, however, the cam follower  80  can be caught on a cam protrusion  64 .  
         [0039]     The cam protrusion  64  can be formed in a position within the hook section among an internal area defined by the cam fence  62 . For example, the cam protrusion  64  can be generally shaped as a heart. However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited.  
         [0040]     Between the outer circumference of the cam protrusion  64  and the cam fence  62  can be a predetermined gap, which in turn becomes the cam path  63 . An entry guide surface  65  can be provided on the cam protrusion in congruity with the release section  63 R. The entry guide surface  65  preferably allows the hook protrusion  86  of the cam follower  80  to be guided into the hook section  63 L. A stepped portion  65 ′, which can continue from a front end of the entry guide surface  65 , can be formed on the floor of the cam path  63 . The stepped portion  65 ′ can serve to reduce the likelihood or prevent the hook protrusion  86  from being guided to an exit guide surface  69  of the cam protrusion  64 .  
         [0041]     A hook guide surface  66  can be formed on the cam protrusion  64  at a position where the entry guide surface  65  ends. The hook guide surface  66  can be formed at the position where the entry guide surface  65  ends, so that it is generally inclined in a direction opposite to a guide direction of the entry guide surface  65 . A hook portion  67  can be formed at an end portion of the hook guide surface  66 . The hook portion  67  is a portion in which the hook protrusion  86  of the cam follower  80  can be caught.  
         [0042]     A release guide surface  68  can be formed to be inclined from the hook portion  67  in a direction opposite to a guide direction of the hook guide surface  66 . As shown in  FIG. 7   a - 7   f , the release guide surface  68  and the hook guide surface  66  can form a V shape. However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited.  
         [0043]     The exit guide surface  69 , which continues from an end portion of the release guide surface  68 , can be formed on the cam protrusion  64 . The exit guide surface  69  can be coupled to the front end of the entry guide surface  65 . The exit guide surface  69  and the entry guide surface  65  can also form a V shape.  
         [0044]     The entry, hook, release and exit guide surfaces  65 ,  66 ,  68  and  69 , which can be formed sequentially around the circumference of the cam protrusion  64 , are designed to be spaced apart from the cam fence  62  by a substantially constant interval, respectively. Further, when it goes along the cam path  63  around the cam protrusion  64  in the order of the entry, hook, release and exit guide surfaces  65 ,  66 ,  68  and  69 , the floor of the cam path can be gradually raised and then suddenly lowered at the stepped portion  65 ′.  
         [0045]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the driving rod  70  can be mainly composed of a rod body  72  and a handle  74 . The rod body  72  can be installed within the seating space  52  of the housing  50 . The rod body  72  can take the shape as the seating space  52 . The rod body  72  can be rectangular in section and take the shape of a flat hexahedron elongated in one direction. Guides  73  can be discontinuously formed along both side ends of the rod body  72  and cooperate with the guide rails  58  to allow the rod body  72  to be moved (e.g., in a single reciprocating movement) within the seating space  52  and also to limit the protruding degree of the rod body  72  from the seating space  52 .  
         [0046]     As shown in  FIG. 5   a , a rod seating channel  76  can be formed in the rod body  72  of the driving rod  70 . The guide rod  54  is preferably positioned in the rod seating channel  76  as the driving rod  70  moves. A seated end  76 ′ can be formed at a tip end of the rod body  72  corresponding to an entrance of the rod seating channel  76 . The seated end  76 ′ can be a portion on which an end of the spring  56  is supported.  
         [0047]     A fixing channel  77  can be formed in the rod body in parallel with the rod seating channel  76 . A fixing portion  84  of the cam follower  80  can be positioned and fixed in the fixing channel  77 . Two hooking holes  78  can be formed in the fixing channel  77  at a regular interval.  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 5   b , a follower body  82  of the cam follower  80  can be formed by bending a wire or the like with a predetermined diameter. However, the present invention is not intended to be so limited. The follower body  82  can be formed with the fixing portion  84  at an end thereof. The fixing portion  84  can be bent to have a ‘         ’ shape and passes through the two hooking holes  78  to be fixed in the fixing channel  77 .  
         [0049]     The cam follower  80  can be formed with the hook protrusion  86  at the other end thereof. The hook protrusion  86  is preferably bent to be perpendicular to the extending direction of the cam follower  80 . The hook protrusion  86  can be guided along the cam path  63  such that the driving rod  70  can be received in or protrude from the seating space  52 .  
         [0050]     Operations of an embodiment of a device swapping apparatus for the portable computer according to the present invention will now be described. The detachable device  30  can be mounted in the bay  22  of the main unit  20 .  
         [0051]     When the detachable device  30  is mounted in the bay  22 , only the front surface thereof is preferably exposed to the outside of the main unit  20 . At this time, the handle  74  of the driving rod  70  can also be exposed toward the front surface (e.g., evenly with the front surface) of the detachable device  30 .  
         [0052]     To detach the detachable device  30  from the bay  22  of the main unit  20  in such a state, a knob (not shown) or the like by which the detachable device  30  can be fastened to the main unit  20  can be first released. The knob is generally provided on the floor of the main unit  20 . If the knob is released, the detachable device  30  can be detached from the bay  22 .  
         [0053]     In the meantime, a state where the driving rod  70  does not protrude from the front surface of the detachable device  30  can correspond to a state where the hook protrusion  86  of the cam follower  80  is caught in the hook portion  67  of the cam protrusion  64 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the hook protrusion  86  can be positioned on the cam path  63  corresponding to the release section  63 R out of the cam protrusion  64  when the driving rod  70  protrudes from the front surface of the detachable device  30 .  
         [0054]     Upon use of the detachable device  30 , the handle  74  of the driving rod  70  should be first in a state where it does not protrude from the front surface of the detachable device. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7   a , the hook protrusion  86  should be caught in the hook portion  67  of the cam protrusion  64 . At this time, although the spring  56  can urge or cause the rod body  72  to be pushed outward from the seating space  52 , the driving rod  70  cannot protrude outward from the front surface of the detachable device since the hook protrusion  86  of the cam follower  80  can be caught in the hook portion  67 .  
         [0055]     To detach the detachable device  30  from the bay  22 , the knob should be first manipulated to unfasten of the detachable device  30 . The handle  74  can be caused to protrude outwardly, and then, the handle  74  should be merely pulled outwardly.  
         [0056]     Such operations will now be described. If the user presses the handle  74  of the driving rod  70 , the rod body  72  can be moved in a direction of an arrow against the elastic force of the spring  56  as shown in  FIG. 7   b . Therefore, the hook protrusion  86  can be guided along cam fence  62  facing the release guide surface  68 .  
         [0057]     If the user release the force exerted on the driving rod  70  after the hook protrusion  86  has exceeded a position corresponding to the end portion of the release guide surface  68 , both the rod body  72  and the cam follower  80  can be moved in a direction of an arrow due to the restoring force of the spring  56  as shown in  FIG. 7   c . At this time, the hook protrusion  86  can be guided along the exit guide surface  69  or the cam fence  62  facing the exit guide surface.  
         [0058]     The movement of the hook protrusion  86  along the exit guide surface  69  or corresponding cam fence  62  can be automatically made because of the restoring force of the spring  56 . When the hook protrusion  86  has passed over the stepped portion  65 ′ and reached the release section  63 R of the cam path  63 , the driving rod  70  is in a state where it protrudes outwardly. At this time, the guides  73  may also serve to prevent the driving rod  70  from protruding outwardly beyond a prescribed point, for example, as shown in  FIG. 7   d.    
         [0059]     If the handle  74  of the driving rod  70  is pulled outward in a state where the handle  74  protrude forwardly, the detachable device  30  can be detached from the bay  22 . One reason is that the device holder  40 , which is integrally formed with the housing  50  with the driving rod  70 , can be fastened to the detachable device  30 .  
         [0060]     Operations will now be described for how the driving rod  70  can be received in the bay  22 . If the user presses the handle  74  with his/her hand, the hook protrusion  86  can be moved from the release section  63 R to the hook section  63 L among the cam path  63 . For example, when the rod body  72  is moved against the elastic force of the spring  56 , the hook protrusion  86  can be guided along the entry guide surface  65 . For example, the stepped portion  65 ′ can prevent the hook protrusion  86  from moving toward the exit guide surface  69 .  FIG. 7   e  illustrates that the hook protrusion  86  is guided along the entry guide surface  65 .  
         [0061]     If the hook protrusion  86  passes over the entry guide surface  65  as the user pushes the driving rod  70 , the hook protrusion  86  can be guided to a portion on the cam fence  62  facing the hook guide surface  66  as shown in  FIG. 7   f . At this time, it can be a state where the guide rod  54  is inserted to the utmost in the rod seating channel  76 .  
         [0062]     If the user releases the force exerted on the driving rod  70  in such a state, the driving rod  70  can be moved in a direction of an arrow shown in  FIG. 7   g  due to the restoring force of the spring  56  and then guided along hook guide surface  66  or corresponding cam fence  62 . Further, the hook protrusion  86  is preferably caught in the hook portion  67  of the cam protrusion  64 . In such a state, the handle  74  does not protrude outwardly as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0063]     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, certain method procedures may have been delineated as separate procedures; however, these separately delineated procedures should not be construed as necessarily order dependent in their performance. That is, some procedures may be able to be performed in an alternative ordering, simultaneously, etc.  
         [0064]     As described above, embodiments of a device swapping apparatus and method for a portable computer according to the present invention have various advantages. In embodiments of the present invention, to detach a detachable device from a bay of the portable computer, a user can cause a driving rod to protrude and then to be pulled outwardly. Therefore, since it can be easy to detach the detachable device from the portable computer, there is an advantage in that the user&#39;s convenience can be improved. Further, since a mechanism for detaching the detachable device from the bay of the portable computer can be integrally formed on the detachable device itself and also particularly installed within a space defined between the detachable device a surface (e.g., the floor) of the bay, there is another advantage in that the portable computer can be made light, thin or small. In addition, since components of the mechanism can be installed at a side of the detachable device or the configuration thereof are also simplified, there is a further advantage in that the reliability in its operation can be enhanced or the production costs can be reduced.  
         [0065]     The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.