Abstract:
An electronic device includes a housing and a connector. The connector is disposed in the housing to allow an external connection plug to be connected thereto. The connector includes an electromagnetic switch module and a sensing module. The electromagnetic switch module includes a first switch to activate the electromagnetic switch to produce an electromagnetic force. The sensing module includes a sensing element. The sensing element is positioned to be moved by the electromagnetic force when the electromagnetic switch module is activated thereby separating the external connection plug from the connection port.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 98111223, filed Apr. 3, 2009, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to an electronic device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an electronic device having a connector. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Due to rapid development in information technology, applications on electronic devices have become more complex and are able to do more things. Therefore electronic devices such as notebooks, personal digital assistants etc. have been frequently used in our daily life to provide increased convenience and efficiency. 
         [0006]    Generally speaking, when operating an electronic device such as a notebook, the user usually places the notebook on a desk and connects the notebook to a power cable (that connects to a main power source), a mouse plug, an earphone and other external connecting plugs in accordance with the user&#39;s requirements and specific needs. 
         [0007]    However, when the user wants to move the notebook to another place, all the external devices connected to the plugs and sockets on the notebook have to be disconnected from the notebook. Furthermore, when separating the external devices from the notebook manually, it takes much time and easily produces non-axial forces that can damage the electronic device. 
         [0008]    Consequently, it is apparent that we need a connector, which is able to have external connecting plugs separated from the connecting ports of the electronic device automatically, so as to decide whether or not these external connecting plugs are to be separated. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, a connector is used for an electronic device. The connector includes an electromagnetic switch module and a sensing module. The electromagnetic switch module includes a first switch to activate the electromagnetic switch module to produce an electromagnetic force. The sensing module includes a sensing element and a connection port connected to the sensing element to allow an external connection plug to be connected thereto. The sensing element is positioned to be moved by the electromagnetic force when the electromagnetic switch module is activated thereby separating the external connection plug from the connection port. 
         [0010]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device includes a housing and a connector. The connector is disposed in the housing to allow an external connection plug to be connected thereto. The connector includes an electromagnetic switch module and a sensing module. The electromagnetic switch module includes a first switch to activate the electromagnetic switch to produce an electromagnetic force. The sensing module includes a sensing element and a connection port connected to the sensing element to allow the external connection plug to be connected thereto. The sensing element is positioned to be moved by the electromagnetic force when the electromagnetic switch module is activated thereby separating the external connection plug from the connection port. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional drawing of an electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 , depicting the electronic device placed on a plane. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3   b  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 , depicting the electronic device removed from the plane. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a three-dimensional drawing of an electronic device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawings. 
         [0018]    In one aspect, one embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device, wherein an external connection plug can be separated from the connection port of the electronic device automatically or manually, i.e. the user can decide whether or not the connection plug is to be separated. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional drawing of an electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device  100  includes a housing  200  and a connector  300 . The connector  300  includes an electromagnetic switch module  310  and a sensing module  320 . The electromagnetic switch module  310  includes a first switch  312 . The first switch  312  activates the electromagnetic switch module  310  to produce an electromagnetic force. The sensing module  320  includes a sensing element  322  and a connection port  324  connected to the sensing element  322 . The connection port  324  allows an external connection plug P to be connected. The electromagnetic force may induce the displacement of the sensing element  322  so as to separate the external connection plug P from the connection port  324 . 
         [0020]    Refer to  FIG. 2 . The connector  300  includes a linkage element  330 , a first restoring element  340  and a limiting frame  350 . The linkage element  330  passes through a bottom surface  202  of the housing  200 . In accordance with the first embodiment, the linkage element  330  can also be disposed at one foot piece of the electronic device  100 . Furthermore, the linkage element  330  cooperates with the first switch  312  of the electromagnetic switch module  310 , and the first restoring element  340  is disposed between the limiting frame  350  and the housing  200 . 
         [0021]    Refer to  FIG. 3   a . The first switch  312  is turned off when the linkage element  330  is at a first position. As shown in  FIG. 3   b , the first switch  312  is turned on when the linkage element  330  is at a second position. Furthermore, the first restoring element  340  is spring housed in an end portion of the linkage element  330 , and the elastic force of the first restoring element  340  forces the linkage element  330  towards the second position. 
         [0022]    Concretely speaking, when the user places the electronic device  100  onto a plane, the reaction force between the electronic device  100  and the desk forces the linkage element  330  towards the first position, so that the first switch  312  is in off mode. Meanwhile the first restoring element  340  is also compressed due to the limitation of the linkage element  330  and limiting frame  350 . When the electronic device  100  is removed from the plane, the reactive force is no longer applied to the linkage element  330 . As there is no compression limitation to the first restoring element  340 , the elastic forces shifts is the linkage element  330  to the second position. Additionally, besides being a spring, the first restoring element  340  could be a rubber or an elastic plate as well. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of the connector  300  in  FIG. 1 . The electromagnetic switch module  310  includes a leaf spring  314 , a power junction  316  and a solenoid  318 . The power junction  316  is electrically connected to the solenoid  318 . Accordingly, when the leaf spring  314  is in contact with the power junction  316 , the first switch  312  is turned on so as to charge the solenoid  318  for the electromagnetic induction. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 3   a , when the electronic device  100  is placed onto the plane, the linkage element  330  is at the first position. Meanwhile, a push element  332  of the linkage element  330  has the leaf spring  314  move away from the power junction  316 , and therefore the first switch  312  is in an off position. As shown in  FIG. 3   b , when the electronic device  100  is taken away from the plane, the linkage element  330  is at the second position. Meanwhile, the push element  332  of the linkage element  330  is not in contact with the leaf spring  314 . Accordingly, the leaf spring  314  may be reset to be in electrical contact with the power junction  316  so as to turn on the first switch  312 . 
         [0025]    In the present embodiment, the structural cooperation between the leaf spring  314  and the linkage element  330  is changeable. For instance, when the linkage element is at the first position, the push element of the linkage element may not touch the leaf spring, thereby causing the leaf spring to move away from the power junction, i.e. the first switch is in the off position. When the linkage element is at the second position, the push element of linkage element pushes the leaf spring so that the leaf spring may touch the power junction, thereby turning on the first switch. 
         [0026]    The sensing module  320  includes a second restoring element  326  connected to one end portion the sensing element  322  facing away from the connection port  324 , and the direction of the elastic force of the second restoring element  326  is inverse to that of the movement of the sensing element  322  induced by the electromagnetic force. Accordingly, when the first switch  312  is turned on, the solenoid  318  is charged for the electromagnetic induction and produces the electromagnetic force in order to have the sensing element  322  move forwards so that the second restoring element  326  may be stretched. When the electromagnetic switch module  310  is not activated, the second restoring element  326  will elastically force the sensing element  322  to return. Moreover, not only could the second restoring element  326  be a spring, but also a rubber or an elastic plate. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . The connector  300  includes a capacitor  360  electrically connected to the first switch  312 . When the electronic device  100  is removed from the plane, the first switch  312  is in the on position and has the capacitor discharge through the electromagnetic switch module  310  so as to produce the electromagnetic force. Therefore, the electromagnetic force induces a displacement of the sensing element  322  in order that the connection plug P may be separated from the connection port  324 . When the capacitor  360  finishes discharging, the sensing element  322  can return immediately due to the tension of the second restoring element  326 . 
         [0028]    Moreover, the connector  300  includes a power supply  370 , a second switch  380  and a switcher  390 . The second switch  380  is electrically connected to both of the power supply  370  and the capacitor  360 . When the first switch  312  is in the on position, the switcher  390  turns on the second switch  380 , and when the first switch  312  is in the off position, the switcher  390  turns off the second switch  380 . 
         [0029]    Accordingly, when the electronic device  100  is placed onto the plane, the first switch  312  is turned off and therefore the switcher  390  turns on the second switch  380 , so that the power supply  370  may charge the capacitor  360 . When the electronic device  100  is removed from the plane, the first switch  312  is activated and therefore the switcher  390  switches off the second switch  380 , so that the capacitor may discharge through the solenoid  318 .  FIG. 5  is a partial three-dimensional drawing of the electronic device  400  of the second embodiment. The electronic device  400  includes a housing  200  and a connector  300  disposed in the housing. The connector  300  has an electromagnetic switch module  310  and a sensing module  320 . The electromagnetic switch module  310  includes a first switch  312 . The first switch  312  activates the electromagnetic switch module  310  to produce an electromagnetic force. The sensing module  320  includes a sensing element  322  whose terminal is connection port  324 . An external connection plug P passing through the connection port  324 , and the electromagnetic induction of the electromagnetic switch module  310  causes a displacement of the sensing element  322  so that the connection plug P may be separated from the connection port  324 . 
         [0030]    Reference is made to  FIG. 5 , the difference between the present embodiment and the embodiment described above is that: One end portion of the linkage element  410  of the connector  300  is disposed on the top surface of the housing  200  of the electronic device  100 , and the other end portion is connected to a leaf spring  314  of the electromagnetic switch module  310 . The terminal of the linkage element  410  can also be disposed on the side surface of the housing  200  in accordance with the actual demand. 
         [0031]    It is apparent that the user can remove the linkage element  410  from the first position to the second position through the top surface  204  of the housing  200 , and the elastic force of the leaf spring  314  can also reset the linkage element  410 . Accordingly, the user can remove the linkage element  410  manually in order to decide whether the connection plug P is to be separated from the electronic device  100 . In another aspect, the embodiment of present invention provides a connector. The connector causes the electromagnetic induction in accordance with the operation mode of the electronic device so that the connection plug may be separated from the connection port of the electronic device automatically. Furthermore, the user can also enforce the separation between the connection plug and the connection port in accordance with the actual demand. As the disclosures of the connection and the operation of the connector device have been described in the embodiment above, it is unnecessary to discuss here again. 
         [0032]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.