Detachable connection port and electronic device having the same

The present invention relates to a detachable connection port and an electronic device having the same. The detachable connection port is detachably assembled at an electronic device, which includes a board-to-board connector. The detachable connector includes a sub circuit board and a socket connector. The sub circuit board includes a golden finger. The socket connector is fixed at and electrically connected to the sub circuit board, and includes an installation portion. The socket connector is installed at the electronic device through the installation portion, and is electrically connected to the board-to-board connector through the golden finger. Thus, the detachable connection port achieves an advantage of easy replacement, further reducing repair costs and standby time for a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a connector structure installed at an electronic device, and more particularly to a detachable connection port and an electronic device having the same.

Description of the Prior Art

Various electronic devices are installed with connectors to provide a power charging or data transmission function thereto. However, because the connection is needed only when power charging or data transmission needs to be performed, a connector often undergoes multiple times of plugging and unplugging. Further, due to differences in user habits, a connector is susceptible to receiving abnormal external forces or unaligned plugging and unplugging, eventually leading to malfunctioning problems like breakage or poor contact.

Current connectors are disposed on electronic devices by means of surface mount technology (SMT), or are mounted in housings by other strip-type forms. When a connector is damaged, an entire device needs to be sent to a repair station for repairs, which at the same time results in substantial repair costs and time costs and hence user inconveniences.

In view of the above, the Applicant is dedicated to related researches by incorporating the use of science in regard to the above prior art, and aims at an object of developing a solution for resolving the above issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a detachable connection port and an electronic device having the detachable connection port. The detachable connection port can be loosened or fastened through a fastening element, so as to achieve an advantage of conveniently replacing the detachable connection port and further reducing repair costs and standby time for a user.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a detachable connection port detachably installed at an electronic device, which includes a board-to-board connector. The detachable connection port includes: a sub circuit board, including a golden finger; and a socket connector, fixed at and electrically connector to the sub circuit board, the socket connector including an installation portion, being installed at the electronic device through the installation portion, and electrically connected to the board-to-board connector through the golden finger.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides an electronic device having a detachable connection port. The electronic device includes: a main housing, having an opening; a main circuit board, provided in the main housing; a board-to-board connector, fixed at and electrically connected to the main circuit board, the board-to-board connector including a first connector head configured correspondingly to the opening; a detachable connection port, detachably insertingly connected at the opening, the detachable connection port comprising: a sub circuit board, comprising a golden finger, the golden finger electrically inserting connected at the first connector head; and at least one socket connector, fixed at and electrically connected to the sub circuit board, the socket connector including a second connector head exposed at the opening and an installation portion provided on one side of the second connector; and a fastening element, fixedly connected at the installation portion and the main housing.

On the basis of the above disclosure, when the detachable connection port is damaged, a user is only required to purchase a new detachable connector and the user can then replace the detachable connection port by loosening and fastening the fastening element without having to send the electronic device to an original manufacturer for repairs, achieving advantages of easy replacement of the electronic device and the detachable connection port and hence reducing repair costs and standby time for the user.

On the basis of the above disclosure, the board-to-board connector is a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIE) connector, a GEN3 connector or an M.2 connector. Thus, a user may also replace the detachable connection port by a connector having difference standards, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-A connector, a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector or a USB Type-C connector, further enhancing the utilization convenience of the electronic device and the detachable connection port.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Details and technical contents of the present invention are given with the accompanying drawings below. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are for illustration purposes and are not to be construed as limitations to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 8, the present invention provides a detachable connection port and an electronic device having the detachable connection port. The electronic device10primarily includes a main housing1, a main circuit board2, a board-to-board connector3, a detachable connection port4and a fastening element5. The detachable connection port4primarily includes a sub circuit board41and a socket connector42.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 6, the main housing1has an opening11and is provided with a fastening hole12, and is further provided with a niche13on one side of the opening11. The fastening hole12is formed and shaped from a lower wall131of the niche13. In this embodiment, the electronic device10may be, for example but not limited to, a laptop computer, or may be an electronic device that needs a connector for a power charging or data transmission function, such as a tablet computer or a mobile device.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 8, the main circuit board2is provided in the main housing1; the board-to-board connector3is fixed at and electrically connected to the main circuit board2, and includes a first connector head31configured correspondingly to the opening11.

Associated details are given below. The board-to-board connector3is a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIE) connector, a GEN3 connector or an M.2 connector, and the board-to-board connector3is installed, for example but not limited to, below the main circuit board2in this embodiment. Alternatively, the board-to-board connector3is fixed at the main circuit board2by means of a sink-plate or mid-mount, i.e., the board-to-board connector3is located in a recess of the main circuit board2.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 8, the detachable connection port4is detachably insertingly connected at the opening11. The detachable connector4includes a sub circuit board41and one or multiple socket connectors42.

The sub circuit board41includes a golden finger411at one end thereof and a front edge412at the other end thereof. The golden finger411is electrically insertingly connected at the first connector head31, and the socket connector42is fixed at and electrically connected to the sub circuit board41, thus electrically connecting the socket connector42to the board-to-board connector3through the golden finger411.

The socket connector42includes a second connector head421exposed at the opening11, and an installation portion422provided on one side of the second connector421. In this embodiment, the socket connector42principally conforms to the specifications of Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-A, and additionally forms the installation portion422by using a sub housing423formed by metal or a conductive material. When the socket connector42is installed on the main housing1of the electronic device10by using the fastening element5, the socket connector42can be grounded through the sub housing423or the fastening element5. The sub housing423surrounds an exterior of the second connector head421. The installation portion422includes a blocking plate424extended from one side of the sub housing423of the second connector head421and a fixing hole425provided from the blocking plate424. The blocking plate424is embedded in the niche13and mutually blocks and limits the main housing1.

However, in other embodiments, the socket connector42may also partially or completely conform to the specifications of High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) or USB Type-C. At this point, pin specifications of the socket connector42can be easily met by modifying the sub circuit board41. Further, multiple socket connectors42having the same or different standards may share one sub circuit board41, and share the same golden finger411to connect to the board-to-board connector3. In other words, the detachable connection port4may be easily connected to multiple socket connectors42without having to increase the number of the board-to-board connector3.

Associated details are further given below. The socket connector42is fixed at the sub circuit board41by means of a sink-plate or mid-mount; that is, the socket connector42is located in a recess of the sub circuit board41. The front edge412and the second connector head421are exposed at the opening11of the main housing1, and the shape of opening11of the main housing1corresponds to an overall shape of the sub circuit board41and the second connector head421.

The socket connector42is a USB Type-A connector, an HDMI connector or a USB Type-C connector. In this embodiment, the number of the socket connector42fixed on the sub circuit board41is one, and the present invention is not limited to the exemplary value. The number of the socket connector42fixed on the sub circuit board41may also be plural.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 6, the fastening element5is penetratingly fixed at the fixing hole425and the fastening hole12, so as to fix the fastening element5at the installation portion422and the main housing1to further install the socket connector42at the electronic device10through the installation portion422. The fastening element5may be a screw of a fastener.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 8, when the electronic device10and the detachable connection port4of the present invention are in a use state, to replace the detachable connection port4due to damage or other reasons, a user is only required to loosen the fastening element5from the fixing hole425and the fastening hole12, and pull the detachable connection port4out of the opening11of the main housing1to separate the golden finger411of the sub circuit board41from the first connector head31of the board-to-board connector3, insert a new detachable connection port4or a detachable connection port4of another standard to the opening11of the main housing1to allow the golden finger411of the sub circuit board41to electrically connect to the first connector head31of the board-to-board connector3, and fasten the fastening element5correspondingly to the fixing hole425and the fastening hole12. Thus, the operation of detaching and replacing the detachable connection port4by a user is completed.

Accordingly, when the detachable connection port4is damaged, without needing to particularly sending the electronic device10to an original manufacturer for repairs, a user is only required to purchase a new detachable connection port4and can then replace the detachable connection port4by loosening and fastening the fastening element5, thus achieving the advantages of easy replacement of the electronic device10and the detachable connection port4and hence reducing repair costs and standby time for a user.

Further, the board-to-board connector3is a PCIE connector, a GEN3 connector or an M.2 connector. Therefore, a user may also replace the detachable connection port4by a USB Type-A connector, an HDMI connector or a USB Type-C connector having a different standard according to actual requirements, further enhancing the utilization convenience of the electronic device10and the detachable connection port4.

In conclusion of the above, the detachable connection port and the electronic device of the present invention are not disclosed by similar products or used in public, and provide industrial applicability, novelty and an inventive step, thus completely meeting the criteria for a patent application. Therefore, an application is filed according to the Patent Act, and the granting to patent rights is respectfully requested so as to protect rights the Inventor.