Abstract:
A detachable keyboard structure includes a first magnetic component, a second magnetic component, and a movable component. The first magnetic component is disposed in the wireless keyboard while the second magnetic component is disposed in the computer main body. The first and the second magnetic components produce magnetization due to the opposite magnetisms thereof for attracting the keyboard to the computer main body. The moveable component is capable of transferring the magnetic relation between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component. When the moveable component is forced to move and therefore transfer the magnetic relation, the first and the second magnetic components produce repellence with each other due to the same magnetism thereof for detaching the keyboard from the computer main body.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 092106849, filed Mar. 26, 2003, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates in general to a detachable structure, and more particularly to the detachable keyboard structure.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Laptop computers typically include a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, a main unit containing the electrical components (e.g., microprocessor, RAM, ROM, floppy disk and hard disk drives, I/O support circuitry), and a keyboard utilized to interact with the laptop computer. Conventionally, the keyboard is fixed to the computing unit by means of a latching system or fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts). The computer housing design is limited due to the fixed keyboard position, since the keyboard must be physically located in front of the LCD screen. In addition, a fixed keyboard does not allow the user to adjust the position of the keyboard with respect to the LCD screen. When the desk the laptop computer sits on is at an unsuitable height, it is uncomfortable for the user to operate the laptop computer. In such circumstances, another keyboard is used to hook up with the computer system to meet the user&#39;s requirements; however, it takes up space on the desk, and is often not convenient for the user.  
           [0006]    To meet the requirements of different users, wireless technology and detachable keyboard structures have recently been incorporated into laptop computers. The keyboard can be attached to and detached from the computer&#39;s main body and communicate with the computer by way of wireless. Typically, the completely detachable keyboard communicates with the computer via infrared signals. Accordingly, the relative positions of the keyboard and LCD screen can be arranged and adjusted to suit the user, thereby providing a more ergonomically usable laptop computer.  
           [0007]    The design of detachable keyboard structures has a few key points that need to be considered, such as efficiency of keyboard assembly and disassembly, the aesthetic profile of the laptop computer, and whether the keyboard attaches securely to the main body of the computer. However, a laptop computer with such a well-structured detachable keyboard is not commercially available. For example, a keyboard with an easily assembled and disassembled structure typically requires a more complicated design, and also has a larger footprint. Correspondingly, the keyboard with a more complicated design may have an aesthetically unpopular computer profile. In some laptop computer designs, the keyboards are removable from the computers by means of a damping system, wherein the damping system is usually stored in the center of the computer main body. The damping system is used to eject the removable keyboard from the main body of the computer. But a damping system may cause the keyboard to shake lightly up and down after the keyboard is reattached to the main body.  
           [0008]    Thus, there is a need to develop a keyboard structure with a simple, yet more effective design for detaching from and attaching to the laptop computer, while also being able to firmly secure the keyboard to the computer main body after assembly.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a detachable keyboard structure, so that the keyboard can be easily attached to and detached from the main body of the computer by means of magnetic attraction and repulsion.  
           [0010]    The invention achieves the above-identified objects by providing a detachable keyboard structure that allows attachment of the keyboard to the main body of the computer. The detachable keyboard structure comprises a first magnetic component, a second magnetic component and a movable component. The first magnetic component, disposed at the keyboard, has a first north (N) magnetic pole and a first south (S) magnetic pole. The second magnetic component, disposed at the main body, has a second north (N) magnetic pole and a second south (S) magnetic pole. Also, the first N and S magnetic poles are arranged opposite to the second N and S magnetic poles, so that the first and the second magnetic components attract each other due to the opposite magnetisms thereof thus attracting the keyboard to the main body. The movable component is capable of reversing the magnetic relationship between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component. When the moveable component is forced to move and therefore reverse the magnetic relationship, the first and the second magnetic components repel each other and, the keyboard detaches from the main body.  
           [0011]    According to an object of the invention, a keyboard module is further provided, comprising a keyboard, a magnetic switch and a locking system. The keyboard is removably attached to the main body. The magnetic switch is used for detaching the keyboard from the main body or attaching the keyboard to the main body. The locking system is used for securing a bottom surface of the keyboard to a top surface of the main computer body. The magnetic switch comprises a first magnetic component, a second magnetic component and a movable component. The first magnetic component, disposed at the keyboard, has a first north (N) magnetic pole and a first south (S) magnetic pole. The second magnetic component, disposed at the main body, has a second north (N) magnetic pole and a second south (S) magnetic pole. Also, the first N and S magnetic poles are arranged opposite to the second N and S magnetic poles, so that the first and the second magnetic components attract each other due to the opposite magnetisms thereof thus attracting the keyboard to the main body. The movable component is capable of reversing the magnetic relationship between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component. When the moveable component is forced to move and therefore reverse the magnetic relationship, the first and the second magnetic components repel each other due to the same polarity thereof and the keyboard detaches from the main body of the computer.  
           [0012]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is perspective view of a laptop computer with a wireless keyboard;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2A˜FIG. 2C illustrate the operation of magnetic switch of keyboard module according to the embodiments of the invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3A is a disassembling view of a shifting type movable component according to the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3B is a top view of the shifting type movable component shown in FIG. 3A;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4A is a disassembling view of a shifting type movable component according to the second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4B is a top view of the shifting type movable component shown in FIG. 4A;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5A is a disassembling view of a rotating type moveable component according to the first embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5B is a top view of the rotating type movable component shown in FIG. 5A. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    The drawings used for illustrating the embodiment of the invention show only the major characteristic parts of the process layout in order to avoid obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and the drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than in a restrictive sense.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is perspective view of a laptop computer with a wireless keyboard. The laptop computer comprises three major parts: an LCD screen, a main body  10 , and a wireless keyboard  20 . The wireless keyboard  20  is removably disposed on the main body  10 . The detachable keyboard structure, in accordance with the invention, includes at least a first magnetic component  32 , a second magnetic component  34  and a movable component  30 . Preferably, those components are hidden behind the hardware of the computer (in the main body or behind the keyboard) in consideration of the aesthetic outline. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a pair of first magnetic components  32 , second magnetic components  34  and movable components  30  are used herein. The first magnetic components  32  are preferably embedded in the bottom surface  22  of the wireless keyboard  20 . The second magnetic components  34  are preferably embedded in the top surface  12  of the main body  10 . This concealed design configuration for the magnetic components maintains a suitable aesthetic profile for the computer main body  10 . The moveable component  30  is used for reversing the magnetic relationship between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component. The moveable component  30 , having a containment area for receiving the magnetic component, could be disposed either at the keyboard  20  or at the main body  10 . If the moveable component  30  is disposed at the keyboard  20 , the containment area is used for receiving the first magnetic component  32 . If the moveable component  30  is disposed at the main body  10 , the containment area is used for receiving the second magnetic component  34 . As shown in FIG. 1, the moveable component  30  is disposed at the main body  10 , so that moving the moveable component  30  to change the relative positions of the first magnetic component  32  and second magnetic component  34  can shift the position of the second magnetic component  34 . Correspondingly, the assembly and disassembly of the keyboard and main body are achieved by means of a magnetic switch, wherein the magnetic switch is conditional on the magnetic force (attractive or repellent) between the first magnetic component  32  and the second magnetic component  34 . Also, if the moveable component  30  is disposed at the wireless keyboard  20 , the first magnetic component  32  can be repositioned by moving the moveable component  30  thus changing the relative positions of the first magnetic component  32  and second magnetic component  34 , and thereby operating the magnetic switch. The virtual magnetic switch, in accordance with the invention, is easy to operate, highly efficient yet convenient for attaching and detaching the keyboard to and from the computer main body.  
         [0023]    Moreover, the detachable keyboard structure of the invention may further comprise a locking system for securing the keyboard to the main body, to prevent unstable situations such as slight shaking during use. The locking system may be an assembly of metallic and magnetic components, several magnets, latches and latch mating elements, or a combination thereof. For example, the magnets  16 , as illustrated in FIG. 1, are disposed on the top surface  12  of the main body  10 , and the bottom surface  22  of the wireless keyboard  20  is a metallic plate. When the wireless keyboard  20  approaches the top surface  12  of the main body  10 , it is attracted and secured to the main body  10  due to magnetic attraction. Conversely, the magnets  16  could be arranged on the bottom surface  22  of the wireless keyboard  20  while the top surface  12  of the main body  10  could be a metallic plate, to achieve the objective of securing the keyboard to the main body. If the locking system consists of several magnets, the magnets  16  and  26  with relative magnetic polarity are correspondingly disposed on the top surface  12  of the main body  10  and the bottom surface  22  of the wireless keyboard  20 , respectively. Thus, the keyboard  20  can be secured to the main body  10  by magnetic attraction. Also, the latches and latch mating elements could be used as the locking system. The latches  24  are configured to engage the latch mating elements  14 . Preferably, the latches  24  are positioned at the front edge of the wireless keyboard  20 , and the latch mating elements  14  are correspondingly positioned within the inner peripheral surface of the main body  10 . During assembly, the wireless keyboard  20  is folded downward and the latches  24  are inserted into the latch mating elements  14 , to secure the keyboard  20  in place.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2A˜FIG. 2C illustrate the operation of the magnetic switch of the keyboard module according to the embodiments of the invention. Also refer to FIG. 1. The first magnetic components  322 ,  324  and  326  are fixedly disposed on the wireless keyboard  20 , while the second magnetic components  342 ,  344  and  346  are removably disposed on the main body  10 . In the embodiments, the magnetic switch is a shifting type switch or a rotational type switch. In addition, a shifting type moveable component, or a rotational type moveable component can reverse the magnetic relationship between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.  
         [0025]    In FIG. 2A, the magnetic relationship reversal between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is achieved by shifting the moveable component. The first magnetic component  322  has a first north (N) magnetic pole  322   a  and a first south (S) magnetic pole  322   b.  The second magnetic component  342  has a second N magnetic pole  342   a  and a second S magnetic pole  342   b.  In one situation, the first N magnetic pole  322   a  and the first S magnetic pole  322   b  are respectively positioned opposite the second S magnetic pole  342   b  and the second N magnetic pole  342   a  Consequently, the wireless keyboard  20  is attached to the main body  10  of the computer as a result of the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic component  322  and the second magnetic component  342 . However, when the shifting type moveable component (not shown in FIG. 2A) is acted on by an external force the second magnetic component  342  moves away from the original position at a distance of d (the moving direction is depicted in FIG. 2A) and the first S magnetic pole  322   b  will be positioned opposite the second S magnetic pole  342   b.  The resulting magnetic repulsion will push the wireless keyboard  20  away from the main body  10 . Similarly, the second magnetic component  342  can be moved in the other direction and position the first N magnetic pole  322   a  opposite the second N magnetic pole  342   a,  thus producing magnetic repulsion between the first magnetic component  322  and the second magnetic component  342 .  
         [0026]    In FIG. 2B, the magnetic relationship reversal between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is achieved by rotating the moveable component. The first magnetic component  324  has a first N magnetic pole  324   a  and a first S magnetic pole  324   b.  The second magnetic component  344  has a second N magnetic pole  344   a  and a second S magnetic pole  344   b.  In one situation, the first N magnetic pole  324   a  and the first S magnetic pole  324   b  are respectively positioned opposite the second S magnetic pole  344   b  and the second N magnetic pole  344   a  Consequently, the wireless keyboard  20  can be attached to the main body  10  of the computer by magnetic attraction between the first magnetic component  324  and the second magnetic component  344 . However, when the rotating type moveable component (not shown in FIG. 2B) is acted on by an external force to rotate the second magnetic component  344  at an angle of 180 degree (the moving direction is clockwise as shown in FIG. 2B), the first S magnetic pole  324   b  will face the second S magnetic pole  344   b  and magnetic repulsion will push the wireless keyboard  20  away from the main body  10 . Also, the second magnetic component  344  can be rotated counterclockwise to produce magnetic repulsion between the first magnetic component  324  and the second magnetic component  344 .  
         [0027]    In FIG. 2C, the magnetic relationship reversal between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is also achieved by rotating the moveable component, however, in this case, each magnetic component possesses 4 magnetic regions. The first magnetic component  326  has the first N magnetic poles  326   a,    326   c  and the first S magnetic poles  326   b,    326   d.  The second magnetic component  346  has the second N magnetic poles  346   a,    346   c  and the second S magnetic poles  346   b,    346   d.  In one situation, the first N magnetic poles  326   a,    326   c  and the first S magnetic poles  326   b,    326   d  are respectively positioned opposite the second S magnetic poles  346   b,    346   d  and the second N magnetic poles  346   a,    346   c.  Consequently, the wireless keyboard  20  can be held to the main body  10  of the computer by magnetic attraction between the first magnetic component  326  and the second magnetic component  346 . If a rotating type moveable component (not shown in FIG. 2C) is acted on by an external force to rotate the second magnetic component  346  at an angle of 90 degree (the moving direction is clockwise as shown in FIG. 2C), the first S magnetic poles  326   b,    326   d  will be positioned opposite the second S magnetic poles  346   b,    346   d,  and magnetic repulsion will push the wireless keyboard  20  away from the main body  10 . Also, the second magnetic component  346  can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction at an angle of 90 degree to produce magnetic repulsion between the first magnetic component  326  and the second magnetic component  346 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3A is a disassembled view of a shifting type movable component according to the first embodiment of the invention. The shifting type movable component includes a carrier  310 , a movable part  350  and an elastic portion  330 . The carrier  310  has a receiving hole  310   a  for accepting the second magnetic component  342 , and the movable part  350  is integrally connected to the carrier  310 , as shown in FIG. 3A. The detachable keyboard structure further includes a slide rail  302  and a barrier  102  located on the main body  10  of the computer. FIG. 3B is a top view of the shifting type movable component shown in FIG. 3A. Preferably, the elastic portion  330  is a spring, wherein one end of the spring is disposed on the slide rail  302  with the other end coupled with the carrier  310 . When an external force pushes the shifting type movable component, the movable part  350  coupled with the carrier  310  is forced to move along the slide rail  302 . Meanwhile, the spring  330  is compressed by the carrier  310  and pushed inward. When the external force is no longer applied, the spring  330  releases and the carrier  310  returns to its original position. The barrier  102  is configured to prevent the carrier  310  from excessive movement and ensure it returns to its original position.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4A is a disassembled view of a shifting type movable component according to the second embodiment of the invention. The shifting type movable component includes a carrier  410 , a movable part  450  and an elastic portion  430 . The movable part  450  includes a movable arm  452 , an axle hole  454  and a push arm  456 . The carrier  410  has an aperture  410   a  for accepting the second magnetic component  342 , and a diagonal slot  410   b  open through the carrier  410 . As shown in FIG. 4A, the detachable keyboard structure further includes a slide rail  402 , a barrier  104  and a fixed pivot  106  located at the main body  10  of the computer. FIG. 4B is a top view of the shifting type movable component shown in FIG. 4A. One end of the elastic portion  430 , such as a spring, is disposed on the slide rail  402 , and the other end is coupled with the carrier  410 . The push arm  456  of the movable part  450  has a projecting pin  458  for movably mating with the diagonal slot  410   b  of the carrier  410 . The axle hole  454  of the movable part  450  is mounted on the fixed pivot  106  on which the movable arm  452  and the push arm  456  swing. When an external force acts on the shifting type movable component the movable arm  452  and the push arm  456  swing on the fixed pivot  106 , and thereby move the push arm  456  in the diagonal slot  410   b.  Meanwhile, the spring is compressed as the carrier  410  is pushed inward. Subsequently, when an externally applied force pushes the movable part  450 , the carrier  410  is laterally moved along the slide rail  402  of the main body  10 . When the external force is no longer applied, the carrier  410  is returned toward the original position and the projecting pin  485  moves downward along the diagonal slot  410   b  as the press of the spring is released. Mean while, the movable arm  452  and the push arm  456  swing on the fixed pivot  106  in a counterclockwise direction. Finally, the barrier  104  stops the movement of the carrier  410 , and the carrier  410  returns to its original position.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5A is a disassembled view of a rotating type moveable component according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5B is a top view of the rotating type movable component shown in FIG. 5A. The rotating type movable component includes a carrier  510 , a movable part  550 , an elastic portion  530  and a pivot portion  570 . The movable part  550  is configured as a rotating arm, and the carrier  510  has an aperture  510   a  for accepting the second magnetic component  344 . Preferably, the elastic portion  530  is a spring coil and disposed between the carrier  510  and the pivot portion  570 . Also, one end  530   a  of the spring coil is connected to the carrier  510 , and the other end  530   b  is connected to the pivot portion  570 . After assembly, the pivot portion  570  is disposed into the fixed area  108  of the main body  10  to complete the installation of the rotating type moveable component. Since the pivot portion  570  and the carrier  510  are coaxial, the carrier  510  can be relatively rotated over the pivot portion  570  by applying an external force to the movable part  550 . At the same time, the spring coil is deformed. When the external force is no longer applied, the carrier  510  rotates in a counterclockwise direction as the energy of the deformed spring coil is released. The carrier  510  keeps rotating until it returns to its original position.  
         [0031]    According to the aforementioned description of the embodiments, the detachable keyboard structure has a magnetic switch, essentially formed by magnetic components with opposite magnetic polarities. This virtual magnetic switch allows easier attachment or detachment of the wireless keyboard to or from the main body of the laptop computer. In addition, the magnetic switch can secure the keyboard on the main body to prevent instability, such as slight shake when the user hits the keys of the keyboard. Furthermore, the simple and clear design of the detachable keyboard structure of the invention meets the aesthetic requirement that no component thereof is visible in the central surface of the main body. In the embodiment of the invention, the illustrations dispose the movable component on the main body and the magnet on the bottom surface of the keyboard. However, the movable component can be disposed on the bottom surface of the keyboard, and the immovable magnet can be disposed on the main body.  
         [0032]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.