Abstract:
A rotary combination module for a tablet computer, which includes a pad and a dock, to engage the pad with the dock, the rotary combination module comprising: a rotation part, disposed on the back of the pad, for rotating on the pad as a rotation plane; an extension part, connected with the rotation part, for shifting in the rotation part and positioning at a predetermined location; and a stand, connected to the extension part, for turning away from the extension part and positioning at a predetermined angle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a structure for combining a pad and a dock of a tablet computer, and more particularly to a non-directional combination structure for combining the pad and the dock. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Current combination structure for two-in-one tablet computer adopts single-side combination manner to combine the pad and the dock, hence the user can use the pad only by horizontal, such as an ordinary laptop. However, the horizontal pad is suitable for watching videos, but not appropriate for reading documents (e.g., electronic books) or browsing webpages. The vertical pad is the most suitable mode for reading documents and browsing webpages. Besides, as to the pad of the two-in-one tablet computer, wide viewing angle and non-directional pads are generally chosen to satisfy multi-directional utilization. Thus, one directional or single-side combination structure cannot take the multi-directional advantages of the pad. 
         [0005]    In addition, the current commercial tablet computer is applied with tenon and mortise structure to combine the pad and the dock, but the position of the tenon and mortise structure usually locates at the bottom of the pad. There is no tenon and mortise structure at lateral or other sides. Therefore, the pad cannot be used by vertical and combined with the dock. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a rotary combination module for a tablet to combine the pad and the dock to solve the problems described above. 
         [0007]    An embodiment of the present invention discloses a rotary combination module for a tablet computer, which includes a pad and a dock, to engage the pad with the dock, the rotary combination module comprising a rotation part, disposed on the back of the pad, for rotating on the pad as a rotation plane; an extension part, connected with the rotation part, for shifting in the rotation part and positioning at a predetermined location; and a stand, connected to the extension part, for turning away from the extension part and positioning at a predetermined angle. 
         [0008]    These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are schematic diagrams of a horizontal combination and a vertical combination for a tablet computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are schematic diagrams of a utilization of a rotary combination module according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an exploded view of a rotary combination module according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an operation of a rotary combination module in horizontal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a rearview of a rotary combination module according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic diagrams of an operation of a rotary combination module in vertical according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a magnetic sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The present invention aims at non-directional combination function to enable two-in-one pad not only horizontally, but also vertically combining with the dock, and thoroughly takes advantages of wide viewing-angle pad. Please refer to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , which illustrates a horizontal combination and a vertical combination for a tablet computer.  FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of the pad horizontally combining with the dock and  FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of the pad vertically combining with the dock. The dock  30  includes a fixed seat  301 , wherein the fixed seat  301  can be rotated to adjust leaning angle of the pad for uses. Notably, the primary technique of the present invention is to enhance ability of the pad  20  in combination with the dock  30  in vertical, and improve the stability of the pad  20  in combination with the dock  30  in horizontal . Therefore, the present invention does not limit a structure of the fixed seat  301  of the dock  30  in conjunction with the pad  20 , the structure of the fixed seat  301  in conjunction with the pad  20  can be a tenon and mortise or any other way. 
         [0017]    To realize the horizontal or vertical combination of the pad  20  and the dock  30  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the present invention discloses a structure of a rotary combination module  10  to horizontally or vertically combine the pad  20  with the dock  30 . Please refer to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the rotary combination module  10  of the present invention is disposed on a back side of the pad  20  (as shown in  FIG. 2A ) to support the pad  20  (as shown in  FIG. 2B .) Therefore, compared to the prior arts of which the dock  30  is combined with the pad  20  only by the fixed seat  301 , the rotary combination module  10  of the present invention enables the pad  20  to combine with the dock  30  more firmly. 
         [0018]    Please refers to  FIG. 3  for specific structure of the rotary combination module  10  of the present invention, and please refer to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  as well. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the rotary combination module  10  includes a rotation part  101 , an extension part  102  and a stand  103 . The rotation part  101  joints the back of the pad  20  by a pivot  202  with a center of the pivot  202  and rotates clockwise or counterclockwise on the back of the pad  20 . The extension part  102  wedges a mortise  101   a  of the rotation part  101  by a tenon  102   a,  and connects to the rotation part  101 , wherein the tenon  102   a  is pressed and is arranged on the extension part  102 , such that the tenon  102   a  can up-and-down shift between the mortise  101   a  and  101   b  of the rotation part  101 , which drives the extension part  102  to move up and down relative to the rotation part  101 . The stand  103  wedges the extension part  102  by an axis  104 , wherein the stand  103  can fold relative to the extension part  102  with the axis  104 . 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2A , a slot  201 , which matches a rotating area of the rotary combination module  10 , is arranged on the back of the pad  20  for restricting a rotating angle of the rotary combination module  10 . In another embodiment, the rotating angle of the rotary combination module  10  is not restricted by the slot  201 , but a fixed design of rotating angle with 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees or 360 degrees. 
         [0020]    In addition, please refer to  FIG. 4 , a first magnetic element S is disposed on the bottom of the stand  103 , and a second magnetic element N is disposed on a position of the pad  20  relative to the first magnetic element S of the stand  103 , wherein the first magnetic element S and the second magnetic element N is magnetically opposite, such that the stand  103  can attach to the back of the pad  20 . Furthermore, a third magnetic element S is disposed on a position of the position of the first magnetic element S relative to the fixed seat  301  of the dock  30 , wherein the first magnetic element S and the third magnetic element are magnetically identical, so as to automatically unfold the stand  103  when the pad  20  wedges to the fixed seat  301 . 
         [0021]    As to the embodiment of the rotary combination module  10  of the present invention, please refer to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an operation of the rotary combination module  10  of the present invention. In the first stage, the pad  20  is used by horizontal, the stand  103  of the rotary combination module  10  attaches to the pad  20  because of the magnetic force. In the second stage, the pad  20  combines with the dock  30  by the fixed seat  301  of the dock  30 , and when the pad  20  approaches the fixed seat  301  of the dock  30 , the stand  103  automatically repels the pad  20  because of magnetic repulsion with the same magnetic pole. In the third stage, after the opening of the stand  103  of the rotary combination module  10 , the axis  104  automatically flows out, and positioned at a step  104   a  of the axis  104  by a tenon element  103   a.  Meanwhile, after a user rotates the fixed seat  301 , the stand  103  can lean on the table, such that the two-in-one tablet computer transforms into a laptop mode. Please refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a rearview diagram of the rotary combination module  10  of the present invention, which illustrates the second and the third stage after the combination of the pad  20  and the dock  30 . When the pad  20  combines with the fixed seat  301 , the stand  103  of the rotary combination module  10  automatically bounces and flows out of the axis  104  because of the magnetic force. After rotating the fixed seat  301  by the user, the stand  103  of the rotary combination module  10  can lean on the table to support the pad  20 , which enhances the stability of the prior arts by merely combining the pad  20  and the dock  30  with the fixed seat  301 . 
         [0022]    In addition to the horizontal combination, the rotary combination module  10  of the present invention vertically combines the pad  20  with the dock  30 . Please refer to  FIGS. 6A and 6B .  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic diagrams of an operation of the rotary combination module  10 . In the first stage, the user rotates the pad  20 , and combines the pad  20  with the fixed seat  301  of the dock  30 . Meanwhile, the user rotates 90 degrees of the rotary combination module  10  by the rotation part  101  of the rotary combination module  10 , such that the rotary combination module  10  can face toward the fixed seat  301 . The rotary structure of the present invention can be ordinary screw thread or tooth pattern track. In the second stage, the user pulls out the extension part  102  inside the rotation part  101  by pressing the tenon  102   a  of the extension part  102 , and wedges to the mortise  101   b  from the mortise  101   a  of the rotation part  101 , so as to fix the extension part  102 . In the third stage, after pulling out the extension part  102 , the stand  103  opens to support the pad  20  from the status of attaching to the pad  20  because of approaching to the fixed seated  30 . The operation of the stand  103  can be referred from above, so it is omitted herein. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a data transmission connector  102   b  is arranged on the extension part  102  to be a physical interface of a data transmission between the pad  20  and the dock  30 . The present invention combines the physical transmission interface with the rotary combination module  10 , such that the signal between the pad  20  and the dock  30  has advantages of high speed transmission. Furthermore, compared to wireless transmission techniques, which is easily interfered by other frequencies and easily affects signal transmission quality, therefore, in high speed transmission, the physical transmission interface design of the present invention can achieve stable transmission effect. In addition, the physical transmission method enables each assembly on the dock, such as hard disk, display card or extra cooling device, to transmit data and control in a stable way and fortify the dock with every kind of possibilities extending within. 
         [0024]    In addition, in an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the present invention disposes magnetic sensors on a long side and a short side of the pad  20 , such as the Hall sensor, for detecting combination status of the pad  20  and the dock  30 , so as to adjust inner down-sampling mechanism of the pad or trigger specific types of applications. Take the vertical combination status for example, when a Hall sensor  80   a  approaches the fixed seat  301  (which means the Hall sensor  80   a  detects the third magnetic element S), which triggers the Hall sensor  80   a  to transmit signal to the pad system, and the pad system determines that the pad  20  is vertically combined with the dock  30 , so as to indicate the pad to transform into reading mode. For example, the pad  20  automatically adjusts to appropriate reading brightness and processor operates in a low-power consumption setting, so as to extend the battery life dramatically. Take the horizontal combination status for example, when the Hall sensor  80   b  approaches the third magnetic element S of the fixed seat  301 , the pad system determines that the pad  20  is horizontally combined with the dock  30 , so as to increase consumption limit of the processor, operate system in a high efficiency mode, and increase user&#39;s working efficiency, or even trigger applications and interfaces user often utilizes to improve user&#39;s conveniences. In contrast, when the Hall sensor  80   a  and  80   b  do not sense inactivation of the magnetic elements, the pad system enters to an extreme power saving mode, such that the user can utilize the device for a long period of time. In brief, the present invention adds sensors to the pad  20  to detect magnetic elements, such that the user can define his behaviors with the most appropriate processor consumption settings and screen brightness to match user&#39;s needs. 
         [0025]    The present invention starts from the idea of two-in-one product, and takes multi-directional design as a goal, such that the two-in-one pad can not only combine with the dock horizontally, but also combine with the dock vertically, which thoroughly takes advantages of the wide viewing-angle pad, and improves the user&#39;s working experiences. In addition, the present invention enables the pad in vertical status not to fall down because of losing balance and therefore the user can utilize touch pad as fluently as the pad in horizontal. 
         [0026]    Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.