Electronic apparatus

An electronic apparatus including a main body and a detachable input device is provided. The main body has a first connecting interface. The detachable input device has an input interface and a second connecting interface. When the detachable input device is installed on the main body, the first connecting interface contacts the second connecting interface, and the detachable input device transmits signals to the main body through the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface, and receives electric power from the main body through the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface. When the detachable input device is detached from the main body, the first connecting interface is separate from the second connecting interface, and the detachable input device transmits signals to the main body in a wireless manner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 100144638, filed on Dec. 5, 2011. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having a detachable input device.

2. Description of Related Art

Projectors have been widely applied in home theaters, activities of reference report and the like. In order that users can smoothly and conveniently watch the media files or reference reports during the meetings, most of projectors are provided with remote controls, so that the users can remotely control the projectors. In addition, as for electronic apparatuses such as televisions, multi-media players or the like, remote controls are also provided to improve the application convenience of the electronic apparatuses.

In general, most of the electronic apparatuses may already have input interfaces (such as keys) disposed therein for operating, but when the user is away from the electronic apparatus, the remote control can be replaced the input interface for remotely control the electronic apparatus. In other words, the remote control and the input interface of the electronic apparatus may not be simultaneously operated, and only one of them may be selected to be operated, and it may lead to increase the manufacturing cost and cause the repetition of functions. Besides, if there are external noise interferences, or the wireless transmitting component of the remote control is damaged, or the wireless receiving component of the electronic apparatus is damaged, then the remote control which only has the function of transmitting signals in a wireless manner may fail to perform. Furthermore, most of the remote controls are provided the required electric power by batteries, thus if the electric power is running out and under the condition of being unable to charge the battery, the remote control can no longer be used and it causes application inconvenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an electronic apparatus capable to reduce the manufacturing cost and improve the application convenience.

The present invention provides an electronic apparatus including a main body and a detachable input device. The main body has a first connecting interface. The detachable input device has an input interface and a second connecting interface. When the detachable input device is installed on the main body, the first connecting interface contacts the second connecting interface, and the detachable input device transmits signals to the main body through the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface, and the detachable input device receives an electric power from the main body through the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface. When the detachable input device is detached from the main body, the first connecting interface is separate from the second connecting interface, and the detachable input device transmits signals to the main body in a wireless manner.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the main body is a projector.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the input interface includes a plurality of keys.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first connecting interface includes a first signal terminal, and the second connecting interface includes a second signal terminal. When the detachable input device is installed on the main body, the first signal terminal contacts the second signal terminal, and the detachable input device transmits signals to the main body through the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first connecting interface includes a first charging terminal, and the second connecting interface includes a second charging terminal. When the detachable input device is installed on the main body, the first charging terminal contacts the second charging terminal, and the detachable input device receives an electric power from the main body through the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the first connecting interface is separate from the second connecting interface, the detachable input device transmits signals to the main body in an infrared ray (IR) transmission manner.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the main body has a signal receiving module, and the first connecting interface includes a sensing terminal. The sensing terminal is electrically connected to the signal receiving module. When the detachable input device is installed on the main body, the second connecting interface contacts the sensing terminal, and the signal receiving module is adapted to receive a signal having a first code. When the detachable input device is detached from the main body, the sensing terminal is separate from the second connecting interface, and the signal receiving module is switched to receive a signal having a second code.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the main body has a wireless receiving component, and the detachable input device has a wireless transmitting component. When the first connecting interface is separate from the second connecting interface, the detachable input device transmits signals to the wireless receiving component through the wireless transmitting component.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the main body has a recess, and the first connecting interface is located in the recess. The detachable input device is adapted to be installed in the recess, so that the first connecting interface contacts the second connecting interface.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, two opposite inner walls of the recess forms a sliding track, and the detachable input device is adapted to slide into the recess via the sliding track.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the detachable input device has a status-indicating light. When the electric power of the detachable input device is insufficient, the status-indicating light is switched on.

In light of the above, the detachable input device of the embodiment of the present invention is capable of inputting signals in a wireless manner to the main body of the electronic apparatus for remotely control. The detachable input device can also be installed on the main body for inputting signals through the contact between the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface. In other words, when the detachable input device is separate from the main body of the electronic apparatus, the user can remotely control the main body by using the input interface of the detachable input device. And when the detachable input device is installed on the main body, the input interface of the detachable input device is integrated into the main body. Accordingly, the main body is unnecessary to have an input interface fixedly disposed therein, thus the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, when there are external noise interferences or other causes result in the detachable input device being incapable of transmitting signals in a wireless manner, the detachable input device still can transmit signals to the main body through the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface in a non-wireless manner, so as to enhance the operating flexibility and convenience. Moreover, in addition to the main body can receive signals from the detachable input device through the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface, the main body is also capable of charging the detachable input device through the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface, so that the detachable input device needs not to rely on batteries for providing electric power. Furthermore, since the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface have both the functions of signal inputting and charging, charging interface is not required to be additionally disposed, and thus the internal space can be saved.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1schematically illustrates a perspective view of an electronic apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2schematically shows a perspective view of the main body inFIG. 1.FIG. 3schematically shows a perspective view of the detachable input device inFIG. 1. Referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 3, the electronic apparatus100of the embodiment includes a main body110and a detachable input device120. The main body110has a first connecting interface112, and the detachable input device120has an input interface122(shown as keys) and a second connecting interface124.

When the detachable input device120is installed on the main body110as shown inFIG. 1, the first connecting interface112shown inFIG. 2contacts the second connecting interface124shown inFIG. 3, so that the detachable input device120transmits signals to the main body110through the first connecting interface112and the second connecting interface124, and the detachable input device120receives an electric power from the main body110through the first connecting interface112and the second connecting interface124. When the detachable input device120shown inFIG. 2is detached from the main body110shown inFIG. 3, the first connecting interface112is separate from the second connecting interface124, and at this time the detachable input device120transmits signals to the main body110in a wireless manner. The wireless manner is an infrared control technique or any other wireless control technique, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In such configuration, in addition to the detachable input device120is capable of inputting signals in a wireless manner to the main body110of the electronic apparatus100for remotely control, the detachable input device120can also be installed on the main body110for inputting signals through the contact between the first connecting interface112and the second connecting interface124. In other words, when the detachable input device120is separate from the main body110of the electronic apparatus100, the user can remotely control the main body110by using the input interface122of the detachable input device120. And when the detachable input device120is installed on the main body110, the input interface122of the detachable input device120is integrated into the main body110. Accordingly, the main body110is unnecessary to have an input interface fixedly disposed therein, thus the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, when there are external noise interferences or other causes result in the detachable input device120being incapable of transmitting signals in a wireless manner, the detachable input device120still can transmit signals to the main body110through the first connecting interface112and the second connecting interface124in a non-wireless manner, so as to enhance the operating flexibility and convenience. Moreover, in addition to the main body110can receive signals from the detachable input device120through the first connecting interface112and the second connecting interface124, the main body110is also capable of charging the detachable input device120through the first connecting interface112and the second connecting interface124, so that the detachable input device120needs not to rely on batteries for providing electric power. Furthermore, since the first connecting interface112and the second connecting interface124have both the functions of signal inputting and charging, charging interface is not required to be additionally disposed, and thus the internal space can be saved.

In the present embodiment, the main body110is a projector, for example. When the main body110and the detachable input device120are separate from each other as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the detachable input device120is like a remote control of a projector, and the user can press the keys of the input interface122to remotely control. When the main body110and the detachable input device120are combined together as shown inFIG. 1, the input interface122of the detachable input device120is integrated with the main body110and becomes a plurality of keys so that the user can press the keys for inputting. In other embodiments, the main body110can also be any other kinds of electronic devices, which should not be construed as a limitation to the invention.

Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, specifically, the first connecting interface112of the embodiment includes a first signal terminal112aand a first charging terminal112b, and the second connecting interface124includes a second signal terminal124aand a second charging terminal124b. When the detachable input device120is installed on the main body110as shown inFIG. 1, the first signal terminal112acontacts the second signal terminal124a, and the first charging terminal112bcontacts the second charging terminal124b. At this time, the detachable input device120can transmit signals to the main body110through the first signal terminal112aand the second signal terminal124a, and receive an electric power from the main body110through the first charging terminal112band the second charging terminal124b.

FIG. 4shows a block diagram of the main body inFIG. 1. Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 4, the main body110of the embodiment has a signal receiving module114, and the first connecting interface112includes a sensing terminal112c. The sensing terminal112cis electrically connected to the signal receiving module114. When the detachable input device120is installed on the main body110as shown inFIG. 1, the second connecting interface124of the detachable input device120contacts the sensing terminal112c, and at this time, the signal receiving module114is adapted to receive a signal having a first code. When the detachable input device120is detached from the main body110as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the sensing terminal112cis separate from the second connecting interface124, and the signal receiving module114is switched to receive a signal having a second code, wherein the first code is different from the second code. In other words, the signal receiving module114switches the signal into the kind of signal which is adapted to receive via the sensing terminal112c. When the sensing terminal112ccontacts the second connecting interface124, the signal receiving module114is adapted to receive the signal (having the first code) non-wirelessly transmitted by the detachable input device120through the first signal terminal112aand the second signal terminal124a. And when the sensing terminal112cdoes not contact the second connecting interface124, the signal receiving module114is adapted to receive the signal (having the second code) wirelessly transmitted by the detachable input device120.

FIG. 5is a block diagram showing that the main body inFIG. 2receives wireless signals from the detachable input device inFIG. 3. Referring toFIG. 5, the main body110of the embodiment has a wireless receiving component116, and the detachable input device120has a wireless transmitting component126. When the first connecting interface112is separate from the second connecting interface124as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the detachable input device120transmits a wireless signal S to the wireless receiving component116of the main body110through the wireless transmitting component126. When the wireless receiving component116or the wireless transmitting component126malfunctions and the detachable input device120is disable to wirelessly transmit signals to the main body110, the detachable input device120can be installed to the main body110as shown inFIG. 1so that the detachable input device120transmits signals to the main body110in a non-wireless manner through the first connecting interface112and the second connecting interface124. Accordingly, even though in the condition that the wireless receiving component116or the wireless transmitting component126malfunctions, the detachable input device120still has the capability to transmit signals to the main body110.

Referring toFIG. 2, the main body110of the embodiment has a recess110a, and the first connecting interface112is located in the recess110a. The detachable input device120shown inFIG. 3is adapted to be installed in the recess110aand fixed on the main body110as shown inFIG. 1, so that the first connecting interface112contacts the second connecting interface124. More specifically, two opposite inner walls110bof the recess110aform a sliding track, and the detachable input device120is adapted to slide into the recess110avia the sliding track, so that the user can easily install the detachable input device120.

Referring toFIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the detachable input device120further includes a status-indicating light128. When the electric power of the detachable input device120is insufficient, the status-indicating light128is switched on, so that the user notes that the electric power of the detachable input device120is running out. At this time, the user can install the detachable input device120to the main body110as shown inFIG. 1, so that the first charging terminal112bcontacts the second charging terminal124band the detachable input device120receives the electric power provided by the main body110through the first charging terminal112band the second charging terminal124b. The status-indicating light128uses a light emitting diode (LED) as a light source, for example, but the present invention is not limited thereto and in other embodiments the status-indicating light128may use any other sorts of light source.

In light of the foregoing, the detachable input device of the embodiment of the present invention is capable of inputting signals in a wireless manner to the main body of the electronic apparatus for remotely control. The detachable input device can also be installed on the main body for inputting signals through the contact between the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface. In other words, when the detachable input device is separate from the main body of the electronic apparatus, the user can remotely control the main body by using the input interface of the detachable input device. And when the detachable input device is installed on the main body, the input interface of the detachable input device is integrated into the main body. Accordingly, the main body is unnecessary to have an input interface fixedly disposed therein, thus the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, when there are external noise interferences or other causes result in the detachable input device being incapable of transmitting signals in a wireless manner, the detachable input device still can transmit signals to the main body through the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface in a non-wireless manner, so as to enhance the operating flexibility and convenience. Moreover, in addition to the main body can receive signals from the detachable input device through the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface, the main body is also capable of charging the detachable input device through the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface, so that the detachable input device needs not to rely on batteries for providing electric power. Furthermore, since the first connecting interface and the second connecting interface have both the functions of signal inputting and charging, charging interface is not required to be additionally disposed, and thus the internal space can be saved.