Patent Abstract:
An electronic connecting device includes a plate defining an opening therein, a connector for being movable along the opening, a controller for shifting the connector to different height positions.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to electronic connecting devices and, more particularly, to an electronic connecting device with a high compatibility. 
   DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
   Portable computers, such as notebook computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs), are popular and commonly used devices that provide users with mobile computing power in small, lightweight, portable packages. The portable computer usually offers less functionalities than what a desktop computer brings because the portable computer may lack certain peripheral devices (e.g. a CD-ROM drive or a floppy drive). 
   A docking station has been developed to enhance and extend functions found in a desktop computer to a portable computer. The docking station typically provides a connector connecting a connector of the portable computer, thereby establishing an electronic connection between the portable computer and the docking station. 
   However, connectors&#39; heights of docking stations and connectors&#39; heights of portable computers are not always compatible. Various docking stations accommodate connectors with different heights. Heights are so different that docking stations generally must pair up with a specific type of portable computers. Compatibilities of different type docking stations are greatly decreased. 
   Therefore, an electronic connecting device with a high compatibility is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An electronic connecting device includes a plate defining an opening therein, a connector for being movable along the opening, a controller for shifting the connector to different height positions. 
   Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an electronic connecting device for an electronic apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the electronic connecting device of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic connecting device of  FIG. 1  taken along line III-III thereof, with a connector being in a first height position; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic connecting device of  FIG. 1  taken along line III-III thereof, with the connector being in a transitional position; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic connecting device of  FIG. 1  taken along line III-III thereof, with the connector being in a second height position; 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a portable computer and a docking station employing the electronic connecting device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a controlling portion of an electronic connecting device in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the following embodiments, a docking station for a portable computer is used as an example for illustration. It is noted that electronic apparatuses in these embodiments may be portable computers, cell phones, power chargers, or any other portable electronic apparatuses. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electronic connecting device  10  according to a first embodiment is illustrated. The electronic connecting device  10  includes a plate  110 , a connector  120 , a positioning pin  130 , a first supporting portion  140 , a second supporting portion  160 , two first springs  170 , a second spring  180 , and a controller  200 . 
   An opening  112  and a positioning hole  114  are defined in the plate  110 . Referring also to  FIG. 3 , two posts  116  protrude from a bottom side of the plate  110  and respectively arranged at two opposite sides of the opening  112  for the two first springs  170  to be assembled thereon. The connector  120  passes through the opening  112  and is capable of ascending or descending along an axial direction X. The positioning pin  130 , which is surrounded by the second spring  180 , is inserted in the positioning hole  114  and is capable of ascending or descending along an axial direction Y. 
   The first supporting portion  140  is approximately wedge-shaped, and includes a first top surface  141  for the connector  120  to be fixed thereon, a first bottom surface  142 , and a first inclined surface  144  adjoined to the first bottom surface  142 . Two first springs  170  are located on the first top surface  141 . The second supporting portion  160  is approximately similar to the first supporting portion  140  and includes a second top surface  161  for the positioning pin  130  to be fixed thereon, a second bottom surface  162 , and a second inclined surface  164  connected to the second bottom surface  162 . The second top surface  161  supports the second spring  180  engaging around the positioning pin  130 . 
   The controller  200  includes a slat portion  220 , a first lifting portion  240  corresponding to the first supporting portion  140 , a second lifting portion  260  corresponding to the second supporting portion  160 , and a handle  280  perpendicularly extending for a distal end of the slat portion  220 . The first lifting portion  240  and the second lifting portion  260  are aligned on the slat portion  220 . The first lifting portion  240  is approximately wedge-shaped and conforms to the first supporting portion  140 . The first lifting portion  240  includes a third top surface  242  parallel to the first bottom surface  142  and a third inclined surface  244  parallel to the first inclined surface  144 . The second lifting portion  260  is also wedge-shaped and includes a fourth top surface  262  parallel to the second bottom surface  162  and a fourth inclined surface  264  parallel to the second inclined surface  164 . 
   The first springs  170  are assembled on the posts  116  correspondingly and restricted between the plate  110  and the first supporting portion  140  for keeping restoring forces that is capable of pushing the connector  120  towards the slat portion  220 . The second spring  180  is installed on the positioning pin  130  and confined between the plate  110  and the second supporting portion  160  for keeping restoring forces that is capable of pushing the positioning pin  130  towards the slat portion  220 . 
   A protruding height of the connector  120  relative to the plate  110  is adjustable. Referring to  FIG. 3  again, the connector  120  is at a first height position when the first bottom surface  142  of the first supporting portion  140  is in contact with the slat portion  220 . Similarly, the positioning pin  130  is also at a lowered height position when the second bottom surface  162  is in contact with the slat portion  220 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 4 , when the handle  280  is drawn along a first direction  222 , the first lifting portion  240  follows the motion of the slat portion  220 . The third inclined surface  244  conforms to the first inclined surface  144  so that the first lifting portion  240  can smoothly slide the first supporting portion  140  upwards. The connector  120  rises along with the first supporting portion  140 . The first springs  170  are compressed to restore energy so that restoring forces can be kept. A motion of the positioning pin  130  is similar to that of the connector  120 . The second spring  180  is also compressed. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 5 , the handle  280  is further drawn along the first direction  222 , the first bottom surface  142  is supported by the third top surface  242 , the connector  120  is at a second height position. Similarly, the second bottom surface  162  is supported by the fourth top surface  262  and thus the positioning pin  130  also arrives at a greater height position. 
   The handle  280  is pushed along a second direction  444  which is opposite to the first direction  222  when the connector  120  needs to be adjusted from the second height position to the first height position. The positioning pin  130  can also be simultaneously adjusted from the greater height position to a lower height position. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 6 , an assembly of a portable computer  30  and a docking station  40  is illustrated. The portable computer  30  includes a bottom plate  320 , a connector  322  fixed on the bottom plate  320 . A positioning hole  324  is defined in the bottom plate  320 . The docking station  40  includes the previously described electronic connecting device  10  and a housing  42  for accommodating the electronic connecting device  10 . The portable computer  30  and the docking station  40  may be electronically interconnected via an engagement of the connector  322  and the connector  120  of the electronic connecting device  10 . The positioning pin  130  is inserted in the positioning hole  324  for guiding the engagement of the connector  322  and the connector  120 . The protruding height of the connector  120  relative to the plate  110  can be adjusted in order to conform to a certain height of the connector  322  of the portable computer  30 . Therefore, a high compatibility between the docking station  40  and different type portable computers can be achieved. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 7 , an electronic connecting device  50  in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment is illustrated. The electronic connecting device  50  includes a plate  510 , a connector  520 , a positioning pin  530 , two supporting portions  540  and  560 , three springs  570 ,  580 , and a controller  600 . Two protrusions  542  are secured on the supporting portion  540 . Two protrusions  562  are secured on the supporting portion  560 . The controller  600  includes a slat portion  620 , two lifting portions  640  and  660  fixed on the slat portion  620 , and a handle  680  connected to a distal end of the slat portion  620 . The lifting portion  640  includes a pair of side portions arranged at two opposite sides of the supporting portion  540 . A pair of stepped slots  642  are defined in each sidewall (not labeled) for the corresponding protrusion  542  to ride thereon. The lifting portion  660  also includes a pair of side portions arranged at two opposite sides of the supporting portion  560 . A pair of approximately stepped slots  662  are defined in each sidewall (not labeled) for the corresponding protrusion  562  to slid therein. When the handle  680  is pulled outward or pushed inward, the protrusions  542  and  562  are movable along the slots  642 ,  662  respectively. Accordingly, the connector  520  and the positioning pin  530  can be moved up and down to achieve different protruding heights. 
   The embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Other arrangements and advantages may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention should be deemed not to be limited to the above detailed description, but rather by the spirit and scope of the claims that follow, and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7