Patent Abstract:
A notebook computer includes an main body defining a receiving groove therein, an auxiliary keyboard slidably accommodated in the receiving groove and electrically connected to the input part, and a cover pivotally connected to one side of the opening and configured for covering the opening when the auxiliary is received in the receiving groove. The auxiliary keyboard includes a number of auxiliary numeric keys arranged in rows and columns for inputting the numbers.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to notebook computers and, particularly, to a notebook computer with a hidden numeric keyboard. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally, in order to reduce the size of a notebook computer, only one keyboard is normally equipped for it, and the separate numeric keypad is often omitted. The keyboard usually includes a number of numeric keys arranged in a line along the length of the notebook computer configured for inputting numbers. However, in some situations, there is a need to frequently input numbers, it is inconvenient and very time-consuming to input the numbers through the numeric keys of the keyboard. As such, the work efficiency of inputting numbers will be less than satisfactory. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a notebook computer which can overcome the above-mentioned problems. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a notebook computer according to one embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, isometric view of a portion II of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of a support rack, a fastening piece, an adapter, and an auxiliary keyboard of the notebook computer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of the support rack, the fastening piece, the adapter, and the auxiliary keyboard of  FIG. 3 , viewed at a different angle. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an assembled, cutaway and isometric view of the notebook computer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged, isometric view of a portion VI of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the notebook computer of  FIG. 1  when the auxiliary keyboard is in use. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the notebook computer of  FIG. 1  when the auxiliary keyboard is in storage. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a notebook computer  1 , according to an exemplary embodiment, includes a display  10 , a main body  12 , a support rack  14 , an adapter  15 , a fastening piece  16 , a cover  17 , a flexible circuit strip  18 , and an auxiliary keyboard  19 . 
         [0017]    The display  10  is a rectangular display screen for displaying the information, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display  10  pivotally connects to the main body  12 . The main body  12  is substantially rectangular and includes a first upper surface  120 , a first side surface  122 , a primary keyboard  120   a , a data port  126 , a power port  127 , a fixing projection  125 , and a lock block  128 . The first side surface  122  perpendicularly connects the first upper surface  120 . The primary keyboard  120   a  is formed on the first upper surface  120  and includes a number of main numeric keys and a number of function keys. The main numeric keys of the primary keyboard  120   a  are arranged in a line along the length of the main body  12 . 
         [0018]    The main body  12  defines a receiving groove  124  in the first side surface  122 . The receiving groove  124  is substantially rectangular and defines an opening  124   a , a bottom surface  124   b , a pair of parallel inner side surfaces  124   c , and an inner end surface  124   d . The inner side surfaces  124   d  perpendicularly connect the bottom surface  124   b . The inner end surface  124   d  is substantially opposite to the opening  124   a  and perpendicularly connects to the bottom surface  124   b  and the inner side surfaces  124   c . The fixing projection  125  perpendicularly extends from one of the inner side surfaces  124   c  near the opening  124   a . The data port  126  is formed in the inner end surface  124   d  to transmit the data signal with the auxiliary keyboard  19 . The power port  127  is formed in the inner end surface  124   d  to supply the power signal to the auxiliary keyboard  19 . The lock block  128  perpendicularly extends outwards from the first side surface  122  adjacent to the fixing projection  125 . The lock block  128  defines a lock groove  128   a  therein. 
         [0019]    Also referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the support rack  14  is substantially rectangular and includes a bottom wall  140 , a pair of parallel side walls  142 , a rear wall  143 , and a pair of sliding rails  142   a . The side walls  142  are perpendicularly extended from opposite sides of the bottom wall  140 . The rear wall  143  perpendicularly connects the bottom wall  140  and the side walls  142 . The bottom wall  140 , the side walls  142 , and the rear wall  143  cooperatively define an open housing  144 . The sliding rails  142   a  perpendicularly protrude from the inner side of each side wall  142  inwardly towards the open housing  144 . Each sliding rail  142   a  extends along the side wall  142  in a longitudinal direction of the side wall  142  parallel to the bottom surface  140 . The support rack  14  defines a connecting through hole  143   a  in the rear wall  143  near one of the side walls  142 . The support rack  14  defines a pair of fixing through holes  142   b  in the opposite side wall  142  away from the connecting through hole  143   a.    
         [0020]    The adapter  15  includes a circuit board  150 , a data interface  152 , a power interface  156 , and a first combined interface  154 . The circuit board  150  is substantially rectangular and similar to the rear wall  143  in shape and size. The circuit board  150  includes a first connecting surface  150   a  and a second connecting surface  150   b . The first connecting surface  150   a  is parallel and opposite to the second connecting surface  150   b . The data interface  152  is configured for connecting to the data port  126  and forms on the first connecting surface  150   a . The power interface  156  is configured for connecting to the power port  127  and forms on the first connecting surface  150   a  near the data interface  152 . The first combined interface  154  is formed on the second connecting surface  150   b . The circuit board  150  combines the data signal from the data interface  152  with the power signal from the power interface  156  and transmits the data signal and the power signal to the auxiliary keyboard  19  through the first combined interface  154 . 
         [0021]    The fastening piece  16  is an elongated flexible strip and includes a main body  160 , a first resilient arm  162 , a second resilient arm  164 , a fastening projection  162   b , and a pair of fixing posts  164   b . The first resilient arm  162  is parallel to the second resilient arm  164 . The first resilient arm  162  and the second resilient arm  164  extend from one end of the main body  160  along the longitudinal direction of the main body  160 . The first resilient arm  162  includes a first outer surface  162   a  opposite to the second resilient arm  164 . The fastening projection  162   b  perpendicularly extends outwardly from the first outer surface  162   a  at a distal end of the first resilient arm  162  away from the main body  160 . The second resilient arm  164  includes a second outer surface  164   a  opposite to the first resilient arm  162 . The fixing posts  164   b  are formed on the second outer surface  164   a  facing to the fixing through holes  142   b . The fastening piece  16  is made of elastic material, such as rubber or synthetic resin. The first resilient arm  162  and the second resilient arm  164  can be bent from the main body  160 . 
         [0022]    The cover  17  is an elongated flat board and includes a connecting end  172 , a lock end  170 , and a lock projection  173 . The lock end  170  is opposite to the connecting end  172 . The lock projection  173  extends from the lock end  170  along the longitudinal direction of the cover  17 . 
         [0023]    The auxiliary keyboard  19  is substantially rectangular and includes a second upper surface  190 , a pair of parallel second side surfaces  192 , a connecting end surface  193 , a second combined interface  193   a , and a number of auxiliary numeric keys  190   a . The second side surfaces  192  perpendicularly connect two opposite sides of the second upper surface  190 . The connecting end surface  193  perpendicularly connects the second upper surface  190  and the second side surfaces  192 . 
         [0024]    The auxiliary numeric keys  190   a  are formed on the second upper surface  190  and arranged in rows and columns. The auxiliary keyboard  19  defines a sliding groove  192   a  on each second side surface  192  corresponding to the sliding rails  142   a . The second combined interface  193   a  is formed on the connecting end surface  193 . The flexible circuit strip  18  is configured for connecting between the first combined interface  154  and the second combined interface  193   a.    
         [0025]    Also referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in assembly, the connecting end surface  193  faces the rear wall  143 , the auxiliary keyboard  19  slides into the open housing  144  of the support rack  14  through the engagement between the sliding grooves  192   a  and the sliding rails  142   a . The second combined interface  193   a  aligns with the connecting through hole  143   a . The first combined interface  154  passes through the connecting through hole  143   a  and connects the second combined interface  193   a  through the flexible circuit strip  18 . The circuit board  150  is fastened to the rear wall  143  through a pair of bolts. The fixing posts  164   b  tightly insert into the fixing through holes  142   b  to fasten the fastening piece  16  on the side wall  142  far from the connecting through hole  143   a.    
         [0026]    The rear wall  143  faces the inner end surface  124   d . The fastening piece  16  fastened on the support rack  14  aligns with the fixing projection  125  formed on the inner side surface  124   c . The first resilient arm  162  is bent to the second resilient arm  164  to make the support rack  14  slide into the receiving groove  124  until the fastening projection  162   b  moves to the position between the inner end surface  124   d  and the fixing projection  125 . Then, the first resilient arm  142  resile to make the fastening projection  162   b  resist against the fixing projection  125  and prevent the support rack  14  from dropping out of the receiving groove  124 . The data interface  152  and the power interface  156  correspondingly connect the data port  126  and the power port  127  to transmit the data and the power between the main body  12  and the auxiliary keyboard  19 . 
         [0027]    The connecting end  170  of the cover  17  pivotally connects on the first side surface  122  near the inner side surface  124   c  facing the fixing projection  125 . The cover  17  covers the opening  124   a  by inserting the lock projection  173  into the corresponding lock groove  128   a  to prevent the auxiliary keyboard  19  from dropping out of the support rack  14 . 
         [0028]    Also referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , when the auxiliary keyboard  19  is in use, the cover  17  is opened and the auxiliary keyboard  19  is pulled out of the receiving groove  124 . The auxiliary keyboard  19  allows the numbers to be easily inputted, because the auxiliary numeric keys  190   a  are arranged in rows and columns. When the auxiliary keyboard  19  is in rest, the auxiliary keyboard  19  can be accommodated in the receiving groove  124  to reduce the size of the notebook  1 . 
         [0029]    While various exemplary and preferred embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. To the contrary, various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are intended to also be covered. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6