Abstract:
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic instrument holding device and, more particularly, to an electronic instrument holding device having a circuit board. The present invention holds an electronic instrument at a predetermined angle and connects an input device to the electronic instrument so that a user may input information into the electronic instrument with a comfortable viewing angle. A circuit board may also be equipped on the electronic instrument holding device to replace or enhance the board disposed inside the input device so that manufacturing and assembling the input device are accelerated.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This Application claims priority to Taiwan Application No. 090109503 entitled “Electronic Instrument Holding Device”, filed Apr. 20, 2001.  
         FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an electronic instrument holding device and, more particularly, to an electronic instrument holding device having a circuit board.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Since the advent of notebook computers, even smaller computers have been developed. Many of these smaller computers have met with only limited success, however, partially because their compact size limits space in which input/output (“I/O”) devices may be disposed. Furthermore, many computer users have been disappointed with display quantity and quality in many “sub-notebook” computers. Further, the size of many conventional input devices, such as keyboards used on such computers are too small to allow optimum comfort, speed, and accuracy while inputting data. Many sub-notebook computers therefore often require users to sacrifice both display and I/O convenience. Even though the data processing and the storage capacity of smaller computers is often equivalent to that of a desktop computer, such machines have not yet adequately replaced the user&#39;s desktop computer.  
           [0004]    One type of smaller-than-notebook computer design that has proven useful and quite popular, however, is the personal digital assistant (PDA) that includes a generally-rectangular chassis with a front surface thereon. The front surface is typically dominated by a LCD display device. In contrast to other computer designs, a PDA does typically not include a traditional “QWERTY” or equivalent keyboard. Instead, a PDA is generally equipped with a few control buttons on the front or side surfaces and a stylus. Users write on the LCD with the stylus to enter data to the PDA. According to the user&#39;s preferences, the PDA generally stores the user&#39;s writing as a bitmapped form. This bitmapped form often requires substantial memory for storage and, therefore, limits the PDA&#39;s ability to manipulate the writing. Alternatively, with the aid of handwriting recognition software stored in the PDA, the PDA can translate the writing into representative codes or characters suitable for more efficient processing and storage.  
           [0005]    Alternatively, users can often use the stylus and/or the control buttons on the front and side surfaces to input data by moving a pointer over the LCD to point at a virtual keyboard shown on the screen. This input method, however, is much slower and clumsier than the traditional keyboard.  
           [0006]    Due to size limitations, PDAs are generally unable to utilize traditional keyboards. Therefore, a solution of using an external keyboard was proposed. User may separate the external keyboard from the PDA when it is not used, so that only the PDA needs to be carried as the user travels. While inputting data, the user connects the external keyboard to the PDA so that data may be entered quickly and conveniently. Nevertheless, detachable keyboards typically pose a number of problems. Due to the small size of the PDA, the PDA is not typically supported in an upright position on a table or other surface when data is being entered. Moreover, the LCD of the PDA does not typically adjust to a desired view angle, thus resulting in frequent difficulty in viewing the display screen during data entry. Furthermore, to facilitate the need for mobility, it is desirable to make the external keyboard or other input device as small as possible, thus requiring reduced space and/or thickness of the keyboard or other input device. As a result, internal space in the keyboard for circuit boards is often limited. Designing and arranging circuit boards in the keyboard thus becomes more difficult and complicated.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a holding device that holds a small electronic instrument, such as a PDA and a mobile phone, at a desired angle with respect to a table or other surface. The holding device connects a keyboard or other input device to the electronic instrument so that a user may input information into the electronic instrument at a comfortable viewing angle.  
           [0008]    An exemplary electronic instrument holding device of the present invention is suitably positioned on or attached to an input device. The electronic instrument holding device includes a first holding device, a second holding device, and a connecting device. An edge of the first holding device rotatably connects to the input device for supporting an electronic instrument. An edge of the second holding device rotatably connects to the first holding device for supporting the first holding device and adjusting the angle of the first holding device so that a user may properly adjust the view angle. The connecting device of the present invention is movably disposed on the first holding device. When the electronic instrument holding device is folded inside the input device, the connecting device is moved to a specific location to minimize the size. Various embodiments of the present invention further include a lock disposed on an edge of the second holding device. When the electronic instrument holding device is folded inside the input device, the lock and the input device may be locked together to avoid relative motion between the electronic instrument holding device and the input device. In various embodiments, a circuit board, originally disposed inside the keyboard or other input device, may be further minimized and positioned on the first holding device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows a side view of an unfolded electronic instrument holding device of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 shows a side view of a folded electronic instrument holding device of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 shows a top view of a folded electronic instrument holding device of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 shows a diagram of an electronic instrument holding device of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 shows a side view of an electronic instrument holding device of an exemplary first embodiment of the present invention, shown in an unfolded status/state. In the embodiment shown, the first holding device  13  rotatably connects to a side of the input device  10 . The connecting device of the input device  10  and the first holding device  13  is a first hinge  11 . The first holding device  13  pivots on the first hinge  11  to change an angle between the first holding device  13  and the input device  10 . The other side of the first holding device  13  also rotatably connects to the second holding device  15  as appropriate. In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting device of the first holding device  13  and the second holding device  15  is a second hinge  14 . The second holding device  15  pivots on the second hinge  14  to change an angle between the first holding device  13  and the second device  15 . In addition, a connecting device  12  may be disposed on the first holding device  13 . Instead of being mounted above the first holding device  13 , however, the connecting device  12  may be movably disposed along a front side of the first holding device  13 .  
         [0014]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the first holding device  13  is a metal frame. Two ends of the connecting device  12  respectively have a slot (not shown) that may be used to receive the metal frame of the first holding device  13  to allow the connecting device  12  to slidably move along the metal frame of the first holding device  13 . In an embodiment of the present invention, an angle adjustment device  19  is further disposed on the second holding device  15  to adjust the angle between the first holding  13  and the second holding device  15 . The angle adjustment device  19  could be a protrusion. The angle adjustment device  19  adjusts the angle between the first holding device  13  and the second holding device  15  by changing the location of the protrusion. Consequently, users may adjust the holder so that the electronic instrument is positioned with a comfortable viewing angle.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 shows a side view of a folded electronic instrument holding device. In the embodiment shown, the first holding device  13  overlaps with the input device  10  by rotating around the first hinge  11 . The first holding device  13  also overlaps with the second holding device  15  by rotating around the second hinge  14 . When folding the electronic instrument holding device, to reduce its size, the connecting device  12  is moved along the first holding device  13  to a desired position, such as at the base of first holding device  13 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 shows a top view of a folded electronic instrument holding device of an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown further includes a locking member  16  (such as a padlock or locking protrusion) disposed at the edge of the first holding device  13  or the second holding device  15 . When the electronic instrument holding device of the present invention is folded inside the input device  10 , the locking member  16  and the input device  10  are locked together to avoid relative motion between the electronic instrument holding device and the input device  10 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 shows a diagram of an unfolded electronic instrument holding device of another embodiment with a circuit board  17  connected to the holding device. The circuit board  17  of the input device  10  is disposed on the first holding device  13  to fully use the additional space and to further reduce the size of the input device  10 . The circuit board  17  may be connected to the input device  10  via a flexible printed circuit board  18  or through any other technique so as to receive and decode signals from the input device  10 . The circuit board  17  further connects to the connecting device  12  to output the decoded signals to the electronic instrument connected to the connecting device  12 .  
         [0018]    Additionally, in another embodiment, the circuit board  17  is disposed on the first holding device  13  to replace, enhance, or supplement the circuit originally disposed inside the keyboard or other input device. In this embodiment the circuit board  17  disposed on the first holding device  13  may be a circuit substrate formed by a rigid printed circuit board (PCB). The circuit board is easily implemented by substrates formed by other materials, however, such as flexible printed circuit boards or membranes. The first holding device  13  disclosed in the embodiment mentioned above could be a sheet board or a metal frame, for example, which is not a limitation of the invention. In such embodiments the second holding device  15  may be a plastic board, or other material. Supporting boards or other supporting devices formed by injection modeling or die casting of any materials suitable for the second holding device  15  could also be used in alternate embodiments. Various input devices of the present invention include keyboards and other input devices such as touch pads, track balls, e-books, electronic tablets and the like. Any palmtops or other small electronic instruments capable of use with external input devices, such as mobile phones, are suitable for the electronic instrument holding device of the present invention.  
         [0019]    The electronic instrument holding device of the present invention thusly effectively solves the shortcomings of the prior art. According to various embodiments of the electronic instrument holding device, users may not only adjust the view angle of the electronic instrument, but also combine the input device with the electronic instrument holding device. The invention makes information input much easier while reducing the size requirements of the instrument.  
         [0020]    In the foregoing specification the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. It will, however, be evident that various modification and changes may be made to thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modification and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.