Abstract:
An electronic apparatus includes a lower housing, a folding linkage, an upper housing, and a gasket. The lower housing may contain a keyboard. The folding linkage assembly may be adapted to connect to the lower housing at the second end and to the upper housing at the first end. The upper housing may contain a screen. The upper housing may be operably mounted to and pivotable with respect to the folding linkage. The gasket may be used to effect a seal between the lower housing and the upper housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a personal computer (PC) convertible between a tablet configuration and a keyboard operation configuration and, more specifically, to a convertible PC having a waterproof structure. 
         [0002]    In recent years, mobile computing devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), notebook computers, convertible personal computers (PCs), and tablet PCs have become increasingly popular due to their portability and increased functionality. In many instances, these devices have a lower housing which may contain a keyboard for ease of data entry, and an upper housing that is hinged to the lower housing for viewing images, graphics, or text. The upper housing is typically arranged for rotational movement about and transverse to an axis at the intersection of the lower housing and the upper housing. The range of tilting movement of the display is limited in the vertical direction about the axis of rotation and, accordingly, results in a limited freedom of movement of the display with respect to the lower housing. 
         [0003]    More recently, with the increasing popularity of wireless networks at individual homes and restaurants, people are using their laptop computers to either surf the internet or work while also consuming beverages. In these types of environments, people may have wet fingers or may spill their coffee, tea, or soft drinks on their computers. If there is no waterproof function for computers, liquid may damage the circuit boards of the electronic devices and the operating functions of the electronic device may be impaired. 
         [0004]    Therefore, it can be seen that there is a need for a convertible PC having a waterproof structure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one aspect, an computing apparatus comprises a lower housing; a folding linkage assembly adapted to connect to the lower housing; and an upper housing operably mounted to and pivotable with respect to the folding linkage assembly, the folding linkage assembly having a first end coupled to a first folding linkage receiving element disposed transversely across an upper housing cover side surface and a second end coupled to a second folding linkage receiving element disposed transversely across a rear portion of the lower housing. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, an electronic computing device comprises a lower housing having a bottom and an oppositely disposed platform operational surface; an upper housing having a screen side and an oppositely disposed cover side, the upper housing being operatively coupled to the lower housing; a gasket adapted to effect a seal between the lower housing and the upper housing which, upon closing of the lower housing and the upper housing, the gasket is sandwiched therebetween and the screen is visible from an exterior of the electronic device. 
         [0007]    In a further aspect, a mobile computing device comprises a lower housing having a plurality of side walls; an upper housing having a screen carried on a first side and a cover carried on a second, opposite side, the upper housing being operably coupled to the lower housing for movement between a tablet mode and a keyboard operation mode, wherein, in the tablet mode, the upper housing seals with the lower housing with a gasket sandwiched therebetween; and a folding linkage assembly having a first end coupled to a first folding linkage receiving element disposed transversely across the upper housing cover side surface and a second end coupled to a second folding linkage receiving element disposed transversely across a rear portion of the lower housing. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a flow diagram showing the steps for converting a convertible PC from a tablet mode to a keyboard operation mode according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a convertible PC in the tablet mode, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a convertible PC in the keyboard operation mode, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a close up view of a part of a convertible PC in the keyboard operation mode, according to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the keyboard operation mode of a convertible PC, showing a battery pack on a cover side of an upper housing, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles, since the scope of the embodiments is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0015]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0016]    Broadly, exemplary embodiments provide a waterproof structure for preventing liquid from getting inside electronic devices. More specifically, exemplary embodiments of a convertible PC have a gasket for effecting a seal between an upper housing and a lower housing of the convertible PC, thereby preventing liquid from getting into circuit boards of the PC. According to exemplary embodiments, a folding linkage may be used to connect the upper housing and the lower housing. The folding linkage may provide a mechanism for the upper housing to move pivotally from a tablet mode (with the upper housing covering the lower housing and the screen facing outward) to a keyboard operation mode (with the upper housing being disposed in an angled position with respect to the lower housing) similar to a conventional laptop. 
         [0017]    In the tablet mode, a sealed enclosure may be formed by sealing the upper housing to the lower housing with the gasket sandwiched therebetween. A keyboard, connectors, the folding linkage, and other electronic mechanisms may be located within the sealed enclosure. In exemplary embodiments, to convert from the tablet mode to a keyboard operating mode, the upper housing may pivot over substantially 180 degrees of angular movement with respect to the lower housing. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a convertible PC  10  may comprise an upper housing  110  and a lower housing  120 , wherein the upper housing  110  and the lower housing  120  may be connected via a folding linkage assembly  130  and may be sealed together by a gasket  125 . 
         [0019]    The upper housing  110  may further include a screen side  111  and a cover side  114  which is on the opposite side of the screen side  111 . The upper housing  110  may include a top edge  201  and a bottom edge  203 . A liquid crystal display (LCD) screen  112  may be disposed on the screen side  111  of the upper housing  110 . A watertight seal may be formed around the LCD screen within the screen side  111  of the upper housing  110 . The lower housing  120  may include a bottom  122 , a side wall  129 , a platform operational surface  124 , and the gasket  125 . A keyboard  128  may be installed on the platform operational surface  124 . 
         [0020]    The folding linkage assembly  130 , connecting the upper housing  110  with the lower housing  120 , may have a first end  132  which may be coupled to a first folding linkage receiving element  116 . The first folding linkage receiving element  116  may be disposed transversely across the cover side  114  of the upper housing  110 . The folding linkage assembly  130  may have a second end  134  which may be coupled to a second folding linkage receiving element  126 . The second folding linkage receiving element  126  may be disposed transversely across a rear portion of the lower housing  120 . The folding linkage assembly  130  may serve to not only support the upper housing  110 , but also to provide a connection mechanism between the upper housing  110  and the lower housing  120 . 
         [0021]    The folding linkage assembly  130  and the upper housing  110  may pivot on the second folding linkage receiving element  126  over substantially 180 degrees of angular movement with respect to the lower housing  120 . The upper housing  110  may also pivot on the first folding linkage receiving element  116  over substantially 180 degrees of angular movement with respect to the lower housing  120 . 
         [0022]    Still in  FIG. 1 , the folding linkage assembly  130  may further include an inwardly facing surface side  131  and an oppositely disposed outwardly facing surface side  138  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0023]    In operation, when the convertible PC  10  is in the tablet mode, as shown in step  101  of  FIG. 1 , the inwardly facing surface side  131  of the folding linkage assembly  130  may be disposed adjacent to and substantially parallel with the platform operational surface  124  of the lower housing  120 . Also in step  101 , the outwardly facing surface side  138  of the folding linkage assembly  130  may be disposed adjacent to and substantially parallel with the cover side  114  of the upper housing  110 . In step  101 , the connectors  180  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), the keyboard  128 , and other electronic mechanisms may be disposed within a sealed environment  300  formed between the upper housing  110  and the lower housing  120 . An additional connector (not shown), for use as a power input, may be disposed on the side wall  129  when the convertible PC is in the tablet mode. Rubber seals (not shown) may be used to cover the additional connector in order to prevent water from coming through the connector. When the convertible PC  10  is in the tablet mode, the folding linkage assembly operatively interfaces the lower housing  120  and the upper housing  110 . 
         [0024]    In moving from step  101  to step  102  shown in  FIG. 1 , the top edge  201  of upper housing  110  may be lifted, thereby causing the first end  132  of the folding linkage assembly  130  to move upward and pivot on the first folding linkage receiving element  116 , while second end  134  pivots on second folding linkage receiving element  126 . At step  103 , the top edge  201  and the bottom edge  203  of the upper housing  110  may be further moved upward and pivots on the second folding linkage receiving element  126  while the folding linkage assembly  130  is moved upward and pivots on the second folding linkage receiving element  126 . In moving from step  103  to step  104 , the upper housing may be rotated angularly on the first folding linkage receiving element  116  with the top edge  201  being moved downward and the bottom edge  203  being moved upward. At step  105 , the bottom edge  203  may be rotated angularly on the first folding linkage receiving element  116  with the top edge  201  being moved upward and the convertible PC may convert fully into the keyboard operation mode. 
         [0025]    In the keyboard operation mode, the LCD screen  112  may be in an angled orientation with respect to the lower housing  120 . As can be seen from the above steps  101  through  105 , the folding linkage assembly  130  may provide articulated movement of the upper housing  110  between the tablet mode in step  101  and the keyboard operation mode in step  105 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a convertible PC  10  may further include a carrying handle  140 , a mechanical latch  191 , and a photo frame stand  150 . The mechanical latch  191  may be disposed on the side wall  119  of the upper housing  110 . The mechanical latch  191  may be used to release the upper housing  110  from the lower housing  120  when converting the convertible PC  10  from the tablet mode to the keyboard operation mode. The photo frame stand  150  may have a first end  152  pivotally connected to the bottom  122  of the lower housing  120  inside a slot  158 . A second end  154  of the photo frame stand  150  may support the convertible PC  10  in an upright position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The photo frame stand  150  may serve as a stand when the convertible PC  10  is used as a TV, an e-book reader, a photo displayer, or a web browser. The slot  158  may be used for receiving and nesting the photo frame stand  150 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3A , the gasket  125 , such as an o-ring, for example, may be disposed in an annular lip recess  127  around all or a portion of an outer perimeter of the lower housing  120 . The gasket  125  may serve to seal the upper housing  110  to the lower housing  120  when the convertible PC  10  is in the tablet mode (see step  101  of  FIG. 1 ). Additionally, the gasket  125  may act to seal and protect the interior components by preventing liquid from coming inside the convertible PC  10 . The gasket  125  may be made of a resilient, elastomeric, water impermeable material, such as rubber. When the convertible PC is in the tablet mode, the upper housing  110  may be sealed against the lower housing  120  with the gasket  125  sandwiched therebetween. 
         [0028]    In an exemplary embodiment, the LCD screen  112  may be a touch screen, which may be used as an alternative input device. The touch screen may further include a power switch  117 . A user may power on or off the convertible PC  10  by touching the power switch  117 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a plurality of connectors  180  may be disposed on the side wall  129 . The connectors  180  may be used to connect a printer, a scanner, a speaker, or an ear phone to the convertible PC  10 . An optical disk drive (ODD), such as a DVD, a CD, or a blue-ray disc drive, may be further disposed on the side wall  129 . 
         [0030]    Still in  FIG. 4 , the upper housing  110  may provide a complementary shaped recess  115  in the cover side  114  for receiving and nesting the folding linkage assembly  130 . The recess  115  may be coextensive with the upper housing cover side when the convertible PC  10  is in the tablet mode. The folding linkage assembly  130  may nest in a space in the battery pack  190 , such as lithium polymer battery pack, for example, when the device is in the tablet mode. The battery pack  190  may be secured on the cover side  114  of the upper housing  110 . 
         [0031]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relate to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.