Abstract:
An electronic device and an ejection device for ejecting a separable device from the electronic device are provided. The ejection device includes a first arm, a second arm, a tray, and a tray guide. The first arm includes a pivot. The second arm is fixed on the first arm such that an angle is formed therebetween. The tray includes a base plate which has a second arm guiding element extending in a first direction on its bottom surface. The tray is movably connected to the tray guide such that the tray is movable in a second direction. When the first arm rotates relative the pivot, the first arm also compels the second arm to rotate about the pivot. In the meantime, the second arm moves along the second arm guiding element to drive the tray moving along the second direction.

Description:
This application claims benefit to a Taiwanese Patent Application No. 095112159 filed on Apr. 6, 2006. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an electronic device and an ejection device disposing on the electronic device; particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic device and an ejection device for ejecting a separable device from the electronic device. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     With the vast and rising development in the electronic technology, the complexities as well as the precision in the designs of electronic devices grow day by day. At the same time, the amount of data that electronic devices can process is largely increasing also. Today, electronic devices such as computers, cellular phones, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), etc. have become the very important tools one must have, whether they are used at work, at school, or at home. While the world has “digitized” because people are working so closely with electronic devices everyday, the amount of data storages becomes an important issue nowadays, and the electronic devices have advanced to cope with this issue. For instance, in addition to the built-in memory storage, many electronic devices now are compatible with external memory media. Another example is the progress development of the image/motion pictures recording media. The video unit in the earlier days reads in the recorded images/moving pictures from video tapes. The old-fashion video tape have certain drawbacks, such as having a big size, tendency to become worn out after many times of playing and recording, and also its limited recording time (usually about two hours maximum). Today, video tapes may be replaced by Digital Video Disc (DVD) and Video Compact Disc (VCD), which are small in size, not easy to wear out, and, one important advantage, provide a much longer recording time. 
     Today, many cellular phones, digital cameras, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), as well as other electronic devices are compatible with external memory devices. Most of these electronic devices provide a slot for inserting a separable memory device, allowing the built-in memory to be largely reduced by the use of the external memory. Due to the reduction in the built-in memory, the processor loading of the electronic device can be decreased subsequently, hence accelerate the efficiency of the device. Furthermore, the manufacturers can lower their production costs on the electronic devices having a smaller built-in memory. 
     Since there are variety types of separable memory cards that come in different storage sizes, the users can choose memory cards with the desired storage sizes. Therefore, the amount of data that the electronic devices process can increase at the same time. However, when a user wants to switch the separable memory card at use to a different one, he needs to remove the current memory card inside the electronic device before inserting the other memory card into the device. 
     Currently, the common way of removing a memory card from an electronic device is by hand operation or a spring unit. In the method of using a spring unit, a sprint unit and a constraint device for constraining the spring are disposed on the bottom of a slot, which disposes on the electronic device. To remove the memory card, the user can simply pushes the memory downward toward the bottom the slot, which releases the restriction on the spring unit from the constraint device. Once the spring unit is free from the restriction, it will push the memory card out of the slot. In the hand operation method, there is a groove disposing on the top end of a slot, which disposes on the electronic device. To remove the memory card, the user can simply pull the memory card out of the slot from the groove. 
     Generally, in order to protect the memory card slot, a protection cap is usually provided to cover the slot on an electronic device. However, when using an electronic device having a protection cap, sometimes it is very troublesome for the users to open and close the protection cap each time when they want to remove the memory card from the slot. This problem is resolved by the present invention, which provides an ejection device having a much more convenient operating method. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an ejection device disposing on an electronic device, in which the ejection device ejects a separable device from the electronic device. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ejection device disposing on an electronic device, in which the ejection device has an easy and convenient operating method. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ejection device disposing on an electronic device, in which the ejection device protects and covers a separable device. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic device comprising an ejection device, in which the electronic device provides a function of ejecting a separable device. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic device comprising an ejection device, in which the electronic device and the ejection device are easy to assemble. 
     The electronic device of the present invention mainly comprises a housing and an ejection device, in which the ejection device ejects a separable device from the electronic device. 
     The ejection device mainly comprises a first arm, a second arm, a tray, and a tray guide. The first arm has a pivot, and the first arm is rotatable relative to the pivot. The second arm is fixed on the first arm such that an angle is formed therebetween. When the first arm rotates relative to the pivot, the second arm also rotates along with the first arm, relative to the pivot. The tray comprises a base plate, in which the base plate includes a second arm guiding element extending in a first direction. The second arm has a guiding portion that corresponds to the second arm guiding element. The second arm guiding element is movably connected to the guiding portion, which enable the second arm to move relatively with the tray. Furthermore, the tray is restricted to move in a second direction that intersects the first direction at an angle. The tray is movably connected to the tray guide such that the tray is movable in the second direction. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the housing has a first wall and a second wall that intersects with the first wall at an angle. Furthermore, a slot is formed on the second wall. The first arm is rotatably disposed on the first wall. It is rotatable relative to the pivot, and it forms a cover for shutting the slot. One end of the tray corresponds to the slot. By the movement of the tray in the second direction, one end of the tray can exit or enter the housing through the slot. 
     As the first arm rotates relative to the pivot, the second arm also rotates. At this moment, the guiding portion will start sliding along the second arm guiding element, and simultaneously pushes the tray toward the slot out of the housing in the second direction. When part of the tray is exposed outside the housing, the user can place the separable device on the tray, or remove the separable device from the tray. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the electronic device using the separable device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the ejection device when it is opened; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the ejection device when it is closed; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the ejection device in  FIG. 2   a;    
         FIG. 4  is a top view showing an embodiment of the first arm and the second arm; 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled view showing the first arm, the second arm, and the tray; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device and the ejection device in  FIG. 2   b;    
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the tray and the tray guide; and 
         FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b , and  8   c  are motion views of the ejection device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides an ejection device disposing on an electronic device  100  for ejecting a separable device  110  from the electronic device  100 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the electronic device  100  includes a cellular phone, and the separable device  110  includes a flash memory card that can be used in the cellular phone. In a different embodiment, however, the electronic device  100  may include a digital camera, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or other type of electronic devices. The separable device  110  may include a different type of memory cards, recording media, or other interface device. 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 2   a , the electronic device  100  comprises a housing  130  and an ejection device. The housing  130  has a first wall  131  and a second wall  132 , wherein the first wall  131  intersects with the second wall  132  at an angle. Furthermore, there is a slot  135  formed on the second wall  132 . In this preferred embodiment, the first wall  131  is the bottom face of the housing  130 , and the second wall  132  is the side face that connects with this bottom face. However, in a different embodiment, the first wall  131  can be the top face or the side face of the housing  130 . 
     The ejection device comprises a first arm  300 , a second arm  500 , a tray  700 , and a tray guide  900 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the first arm  300  has a pivot  310 , a covering arm  320 , and a protruding arm  390 . The covering arm  320  and the protruding arm  390  are connected to each other and are rotatable relative to the pivot  310 . In this embodiment, the pivot  310  is disposed between the covering arm  320  and the protruding arm  390  and located on the inner side of the side face of the first arm  300  and near one end of the first arm  300 . 
     In the preferred embodiments shown in  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 3 , the first arm  300  is rotatably disposed on the housing  130  and is rotatable relative to the pivot  310 . It is preferably to be disposed on the first wall  131 . Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 2   b , the first arm  300  can form a cover corresponding to the slot  135  for shutting the slot. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second arm  500  is fixed on the first arm  300  such that an angle is formed therebetween. When the first arm  300  rotates relative to the pivot  310 , the second arm  500  will also rotates along with the first arm  300 , relative to the pivot  310 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , an end  510  of the second arm  500  connects with the first arm  300 , and the location of the end  510  corresponds to the pivot  310 . Furthermore, the pivot  310  can be disposed on the housing  130  directly so that the first arm  300  can rotatably engages with it. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the first arm  300  and the second arm  500  intersect at an angle. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the angle formed between the first arm  300  and the second arm  500  is less than 90 degree. Furthermore, the preferred value of this angle is usually between 15 degree and 75 degree. 
     In the present invention, the tray  700  is utilized for holding the separable device  110 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tray  700  comprises a base plate  710 . The base plate  710  has a first edge  7101  and a second edge  7102  both extending in the first direction  410 . The first edge  7101  can be selectively moved outward of the slot  135 . The bottom face of the base plate  710  includes a second arm guiding element  711  extending in a first direction  410 . The second arm guiding element  711  is located between the first edge  7101  and the second edge  7102 . The second arm  500  has a guiding portion  530  that corresponds to the second arm guiding element  711 . Furthermore, the guiding portion  530  is movably connected to the second arm guiding element  711 . This can cause the second arm  500  to move relative to the tray  700 . In the preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 5 , the second arm guiding element  711  is a groove disposing on the base plate  710 , and the guiding portion  530  is a protrusion locating on one end of the second arm  500 . The protrusion is movably engaged with the groove, causing any movement of the second arm  500  to produce a relative movement of the tray  700 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , one end of the tray  700  corresponds to the slot  135 . Furthermore, the tray  700  is restricted to move in a second direction  420 . By the movement in the second direction  420 , one end of the tray  700  is able to exit or enter the housing  130  through the slot  135 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second direction  420  is perpendicular to the first direction  410 . However, in a different embodiment, the second direction  420  and the first direction  410  can intersect at a different angle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the housing  130  comprises a third wall  133  opposite to the first wall  131 , and the third wall  133  is disposed on a top shell  137  of the housing  130 . In the preferred embodiment, the tray  700  is movably disposed on the third wall  133  and is movable in the second direction  420 . However, in a different embodiment, the tray  700  can be disposed on the first wall  131 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the tray  700  is movably connected to the tray guide  900  such that the tray  700  is movable in the second direction  420  only. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the tray guide  900  is preferred to include a pair of guiding track  910 , and a pair of fillister  730  is locating on the two sides of tray  700 , corresponding to the guiding track  910 . When the pair of the guiding track  910  is movably engaged with the corresponding pair of the fillister  730 , the tray  700  can move relative to the tray guide  900  in the second direction  420 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the tray guide  900  is preferred to connect with the third wall  133  of the top shell  137  of the housing  130 , in order to secure the relative placement of the tray guide  900  on the housing  130 . Such connection may be achieved by engaging, gluing, inlaying, or other method that provides the similar result. However, in a different embodiment, the tray guide  900  can connect with the first wall  131  of the housing  130 , in order to secure the relative placement of the tray guide  900  on the housing  130 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 2   b , the ejection device further includes a blockage device  800 , which is preferred to be disposed on the first wall  131 . However, in a different embodiment, the blockage device  800  can be disposed on the third wall  133 . A protruding arm  390  is formed on one end of the first arm  300 . When the first arm  300  rotates relative to the pivot  310  to a certain position, the blockage device  800  is able to stop the protruding arm  390  from rotating. In the preferred embodiment, when the first arm  300  rotates to the position where a  90  angle is formed between the first arm  300  and the second wall  132 , the blockage device  800  stops the protruding arm  390  from rotating. 
       FIG. 8   a ,  FIG. 8   b , and  FIG. 8   c  illustrate the relative movements of the first arm  300 , the second arm  500 , and the tray  700 .  FIG. 8   a  shows the condition when the tray  700  is retrieved into the housing  130 . In this situation, the first arm  300  forms a cover and shuts the slot  135 . The guiding portion  530  of the second arm  500  engages with one end of the second arm guiding element  711  of the tray  700 . When the first arm  300  rotates relative to the pivot  310 , as shown in  FIG. 8   b , the second arm  500  will also rotates. At this time, the guiding portion  530  will start sliding along the second arm guiding element  711 , which, as a result, pushes the tray  700  toward the slot  135  out of the housing  130  in the second direction  420 . When the first arm  300  rotates until the point where the blockage device  800  stops the protruding arm  390  from rotating, as shown in  FIG. 8   c , the guiding portion  530  will return to the original position where the initial sliding along the second arm guiding element  711  occurs. Furthermore, part of the tray  700  is exposed outside the housing  130 . As a result, at this moment, the user can place the separable device  110  onto the tray  700 , or remove the separable device  110  from the tray  700 . 
     In other words, as shown from  FIG. 8   a  to  FIG. 8   b , the operation of the ejection device is achieved by producing the relative movement of the second arm  500  by the movement of the first arm  300 . The displacement of the second arm  500  can be broken down into two components in two directions. One is in the first direction  410 , and the other is in the second direction  420 . The displacement component in the first direction  410  is absorbed by the second arm guiding element  711  of the tray  700 ; therefore, the tray  700  can not move in the first direction. On the contrary, the displacement component in the second direction  420  pushes the tray  700  toward the slot  135  out of the housing  130  in the second direction  420 . 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.