English:
[0001] Electronic devices, such as notebook computers, desktop computers, gaming devices, etc., generally have input/output (I/O) connectors to facilitate attaching various types of external devices to the electronic device, such as a power adapter, a universal serial bus (USB) cable, an Ethernet connection, etc. However, the amount of surface area on the electronic device for locating the I/O connectors is limited (e.g., space is needed for locating batteries, cooling vents, bezels, etc.). Thus, there is usually insufficient space on the electronic device for locating the desired types and/or quantities of I/O connectors.
[0002] FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic device in which an embodiment of a flexible input/output (I/O) connector system is used to advantage;
[0003] FIGURE 2 is a diagram illustrating the electronic device and I/O connector system of FIGURE 1 with a portion of the electronic device broken away; and
[0004] FIGURE 3 is a diagram illustrating an exploded view of the I/O connector system of FIGURES 1 and 2.
[0005] Embodiments and the advantages thereof are best understood by referring to FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.
[0006] FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic device 10 in which an embodiment of a flexible input/output (I/O) connection system 12 is employed to advantage. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, electronic device 10 comprises a notebook computer 14 having a base number 16 coupled to a display member 18. However, it should be understood that electronic device 10 may comprise other types of devices such as, but not limited to, a tablet computer, desktop computer, gaming device, media player or any other type of device configured to have an external device coupled thereto. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, display member 18 comprises a housing 20 surrounding and/or otherwise supporting a display screen 22, and base member 16 comprises a housing 24 formed from a front wall 26, a bottom wall 28, a rear wall 30, an upper wall defining a working surface 32, and a pair of side walls 34 and 36.
[0008] FIGURE 2 is a diagram illustrating electronic device 10 and I/O connection system 12 of FIGURE 1 with a portion of electronic device 10 broken away. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2, system 12 comprises a connector hub 50 disposed within housing 24 of base member 16. In FIGURE 2, connector hub 50 comprises a housing 52 having three I/O connectors 54, 56 and 58 disposed thereon. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2, I/O connector 58 comprises a telephone, ethernet or RJ-45 jack 60, I/O connector 56 comprises a USB connector 62, and I/O connector 54 comprises an AC adapter plug 64. However, it should be understood that the types of I/O connectors disposed on connector hub 50 may be otherwise varied. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2, connector hub 50 comprises three different types of I/O connectors. However, it should be understood that connector hub 50 may be configured with multiple I/O connectors of the same type. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2, housing 52 comprises an upper face 70, a lower face 72 and side faces 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86 and 88. In FIGURE 2, each of side faces 76, 80 and 84 comprise a single I/O connector (e.g., I/O connectors 58, 56 and 54, respectively). However, it should be understood that connector hub 50 may be configured with multiple I/O connectors on a single side face of housing 52. Further, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2, I/O connectors are illustrated as being disposed on three side faces of connector hub 50 (e.g., side faces 76, 80, and 84). However, additionally or alternatively, it should be understood that I/O connectors may also be located on other side faces of housing 52. Thus, it should be understood that the quantity, locations and/or types of I/O connectors disposed on connector hub 50 may be varied.
[0010] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2 system 12 comprises a conduit, cable or other type of electrical/communication medium 94 for coupling VO connectors 54, 56 and 58 to other components within electronic device 10. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2, medium 94 is coupled to a connector element 96 disposed on a motherboard 98 disposed within housing 24. In some embodiments, connector element 96 is communicatively coupled to other components on motherboard 98 and/or elsewhere in electronic device 10 to facilitate coupling of I/O connectors 54, 56 and 58 to a corresponding component of electronic device 10. However, it should be understood that system 12 may be configured such that multiple, discrete mediums 94 extend from connector hub 50 (e.g., one corresponding to each I/O connector) to couple particular I/O connectors to corresponding components of electronic device 10. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2, medium 94 is coupled to a central location 100 of surface 70 of connector hub 50 to facilitate rotation of connector hub 50 while minimizing cable movement within housing 24. However, it should be understood that connector hub 50 may be otherwise configured.
[0011] FIGURE 3 is a diagram illustrating an exploded view of a portion of electronic device 10 and I/O connection system 12 of FIGURES 1 and 2. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3, connector hub 50 is rotatably coupled to a post or spindle 110 to facilitate rotation of connector hub 50 within electronic device 10. In FIGURE 3, connector hub 50 is located within an enclosure 112 disposed within electronic device 10 to substantially prevent and/or eliminate dust, debris and/or other unwanted materials from entering into an interior area of housing 24 via I/O window 40. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3, enclosure 112 comprises side walls 114, 116 and 118. Bottom wall 28 of housing 24 encloses a bottom portion of enclosure 112, and a top wall 120 encloses an upper portion of enclosure 112. However, it should be understood that system 12 may also be configured without enclosure 112.
[0012] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3, system 12 comprises one or more locking elements 130 configured to releasably secure connector hub 50 in a desired location relative to housing 24 to releasably secure a particular one of I/O connectors 54, 56 and 58 within I/O window 40. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3, locking element 130 comprises a detent 132 disposed on a lower surface of enclosure 112 configured to cooperate with corresponding extensions 134, 136 and 138 formed on connector hub 50. In operation, detent 132 is configured to cooperate with extensions 134, 136 or 138 to releasably secure connector hub 50 in a desired location to cause a select one of corresponding I/O connectors 54, 56 and 58 to be disposed within I/O window 40. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3, detent 132 is centrally located within I/O window 40 and extensions 134, 136 and 138 are disposed in alignment and/or otherwise coincident with respective I/O connectors 54, 56 and 58 such that extensions 134, 136 and 138 cooperate with detent 132 to releasably secure the respective I/O connectors 54, 56 and 58 within I/O window 40. However, it should be understood that locking element 130 may be otherwise configured.

中文:
[0001]诸如笔记本计算机、台式计算机、游戏装置等的电子装置一般具有输入/输出(I/O)连接器,以促进将各种类型的外部装置附接到诸如电源适配器、通用串行总线(USB)电缆、以太网连接等的电子装置。但是,用于定位I/O连接器的电子装置上的表面面积的量是受限的(例如,需要空间来定位电池、冷却孔(cooling vent)、仪表前盖等)。因此,通常在电子装置上用于定位期望类型和/或数量的输入/输出(I/O)连接器的空间不足。
[0002]图1是图解其中有利地使用灵活(flexible)输入/输出(I/O)连接器系统的实施例的电子装置的图;
[0003]图2是图解图1的电子装置和I/O连接器系统的图,其中所述电子装置的一部分被拆开;并且
[0004]图3是图解图1和2的I/O连接器系统的分解视图的图。
[0005]通过参见附图的图1-3可最好地理解本发明的实施例和优点,相同的附图标号用于各个附图的相同和对应部分。
[0006]图1是图解其中有利地使用灵活输入/输出(I/O)连接系统12的实施例的电子装置10的图。在图1中图解的实施例中,电子装置10包括笔记本计算机14,其具有耦合到显示构件18的底座构件16。但是,应当理解,电子装置10可以包括其他类型的装置,诸如但是不限于平板计算机、台式计算机、游戏装置、媒体播放器或者被配置成具有与其耦合的外部装置的任何其他类型的装置。在图1中图解的实施例中,显示构件18包括围绕和/或以其他方式支撑显示屏幕22的外壳20,并且底座构件16包括外壳24,所述外壳24由前壁26、底壁28、后壁30、限定工作表面的上壁32和一对侧壁34和36形成。
[0008]图2是图解图1的电子装置10和输入/输出(I/O)连接系统12的图,其中电子装置10的一部分被拆开。在图2中图解的实施例中,系统12包括连接器集线器(hub)50,其被布置在底座构件16的外壳24内。在图2中,连接器集线器50包括外壳52,其上布置有三个I/O连接器54、56和58。例如在图2中图解的实施例中,I/O连接器58包括电话、以太网或者RJ-45插座60,I/O连接器56包括USB连接器62,并且I/O连接器54包括AC适配器插头64。但是,应当理解,可以以其他方式改变在连接器集线器50上布置的I/O连接器的类型。例如,在图2中图解的实施例中,连接器集线器50包括三个不同类型的I/O连接器。但是,应当理解,连接器集线器50可以被配置成具有同一类型的多个I/O连接器。例如,在图2中图解的实施例中,外壳52包括上面(upper face)70、下面(lower face)72和侧面74、76、78、80、82、84、86和88。在图2中,侧面76、80和84的每个包括单个I/O连接器(例如分别为I/O连接器58、56和54)。但是,应当理解,连接器集线器50可以被配置成在外壳52的单个侧面上具有多个I/O连接器。而且,在图2中图解的实施例中,I/O连接器被图解为布置在连接器集线器50的三个侧面上(例如侧面76、80和84)。但是,附加地或者可选地,应当理解,I/O连接器也可以位于外壳52的其他侧面上。因此,应当理解,在连接器集线器50上布置的I/O连接器的数量、位置和/或类型可以变化。
[0010]在图2中图解的实施例中,系统12包括管道、电缆或者其他类型的电/通信媒介94,用于将I/O连接器54、56和58耦合到在电子装置10内的其他部件。例如,在图2中图解的实施例中,媒介94耦合到连接器元件96,连接器元件96被布置在安置在外壳24内的母板98上。在一些实施例中,连接器元件96可通信地耦合到在电子装置10中的母板98和/或其他位置上的其他部件,以便于I/O连接器54、56和58耦合到电子装置10的对应部件。但是,应当理解,可以配置系统12以使得多个分立的媒介94从连接器集线器50(例如一个媒介对应于每个I/O连接器)延伸,以将特定的I/O连接器耦合到电子装置10的对应部件。在图2中图解的实施例中,媒介94耦合到连接器集线器50的表面70的中央位置100,以在最小化在外壳24内的电缆移动的同时促进连接器集线器50的旋转。但是,应当理解,可以以其他方式配置连接器集线器50。
[0011]图3是图解图1和2的电子装置10的一部分和I/O连接系统12的分解视图的图。在图3中图解的实施例中,连接器集线器50可旋转地耦合到柱(post)或者主轴110,以促进连接器集线器50在电子装置10内的旋转。在图3中,连接器集线器50位于布置在电子装置10内的壳体(enclosure)112中,以充分防止和/或消除灰尘、碎片和/或其他不想要的材料经由I/O窗口40进入外壳24的内部区域中。例如,在图3中图解的实施例中,壳体112包括侧壁114、116和118。外壳24的底壁28封住壳体112的底部,并且顶壁120封住壳体112的上部。但是,应当理解,也可以将系统12配置成没有壳体112。
[0012]在图3中图解的实施例中,系统12包括一个或多个锁定元件130,所述一个或多个锁定元件130被配置成可释放地将连接器集线器50相对于外壳24固定在期望的位置,以可释放地将I/O连接器54、56和58的特定的一个固定在I/O窗口40内。例如,在图3中图解的实施例中,锁定元件130包括布置在壳体112的下表面上的棘爪(detent)132,所述棘爪132被配置成与在连接器集线器50上形成的对应延伸部分134、136和138协作。在运行中,棘爪132被配置成与延伸部分134、136或者138协作,以可释放地将连接器集线器50固定在期望的位置上,以使得对应的I/O连接器54、56和58中的选择的一个被布置在I/O窗口40内。在图3中图解的实施例中,棘爪132被定位在I/O窗口40中央,并且延伸部分134、136和138被布置成与相应的I/O连接器54、56和58对齐和/或以其他方式重合,以便延伸部分134、136和138与棘爪132协作以可释放地将相应的I/O连接器54、56和58固定在I/O窗口40中。但是,应当理解,可以以其他方式配置锁定元件130。