Abstract:
The present invention relates to a portable input device, such as a portable keyboard, with a locking apparatus, which connects the portable input device with an electronic device. The portable input device of the present invention includes a casing and a locking apparatus on the casing. The locking apparatus further includes a latch to buckle the portable input device with the electronic device. The present invention improves connection between the portable input device and the electronic device to prevent the portable input device from detaching from the electronic device during operation.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application Serial No. 90112878 filed on May 29, 2001.  
         FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable input device, and more particularly, to a portable input device lockably connecting to an electronic device.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Since the advent of portable computers, more and more computer equipment of smaller size has been introduced in the market. As the size of such computers reduces, however, smaller input/output devices become increasingly in demand. Due at least in part to the inconvenience of using small input/output devices, many portable devices have not yet become as popular as originally expected. Accordingly, there is a trade-off between convenience and ease-of-use for portable electronic instruments.  
           [0004]    Personal Digital Assistant (PDAs) such as those available from Palm, Handspring, Sony, Hewlett-Packard and others have become increasingly popular. Such PDAs typically have liquid crystal displays and, unlike conventional computers, are not typically equipped with conventional keyboards. Several conventional techniques exist for inputting data to a PDA. For example, many devices receive input information on a display panel by use of the pen input device or stylus to input data. Handwriting information from the user is typically stored as a bitmap, however, which takes up a relatively large amount of memory space and frequently degrades the performance of the PDA. Alternatively, many devices include a handwriting recognition software that changes handwriting information into ASCII or other codes that can be readily stored and processed. In some cases, the PDA has a virtual keyboard that is displayed on the display area whereby the user inputs data by selecting keys on the virtual keyboard using the pen stylus.  
           [0005]    However, data input rates and responses of many PDA input processes are slow and insensitive compared with conventional keyboards. External keyboards have therefore been proposed as input devices for PDAs. When such external keyboards are not in use, the keyboard is detached from the PDA to improve portability and convenience. When data is being input with the external keyboard, the keyboard is typically connected to the PDA to improve input speed and comfortablility.  
           [0006]    There are two kinds of the conventional separable keyboard. One is the QWERTY keyboard for desktop applications, which is usually connected to an electronic device with a PDA holder. Another type is a separable PDA keyboard that is smaller than a conventional keyboard and has fewer keys. The separable PDA keyboard is connected to a electronic device and is held by a user&#39;s hand while he/she performs an input action.  
           [0007]    Nevertheless, many tiny electronic devices do not have proper holders, thus resulting in inconvenient operation as electronic device and an associated input device detach from each other during use, or the like.  
           [0008]    To solve problems mentioned above, a portable input device with a locking function is desired such that a user can quickly perform the input operation to the electronic device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention discloses a portable input device, such as a keyboard, used for lockably connecting to an electronic device, such as a PDA or a mobile phone. The portable input device includes a body and a locking unit. The locking unit, which is disposed on the input unit, includes a latch. The latch is made by an elastic material or the latch is connected to an elastic unit for providing deformation capability along the locking direction. When the electronic device is locked with the portable input device, the latch moves along a guiding unit in the electronic device. The latch is locked with the electronic device while moving into a locking position.  
           [0010]    The latch may be substituted by a cap-shaped unit for locking with the electronic device. Moreover, the locking unit may be disposed on the portable input device or integrated with a connector of the portable input device. When the portable input device connects to the electronic device, the connector also connects to the electronic device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing that the portable input device is connected to an electronic device.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a portable input device  3  connected to an electronic device  2 . The locking apparatus includes a locking unit  1  disposed on portable input device  3  and a guiding unit  21  disposed on electronic device  2 . The portable input device  3  may be a portable keyboard, a portable writing pad, a touchpad, a microphone for voice input, or any other portable input device. Electronic device  2  may be a PDA, a mobile phone, a global positioning system, or any other hand-held electronic device.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing a locking unit  1  disposed in portable input device  3 . In the first exemplary embodiment, locking unit  1  includes a latch  10 , a pivot  11 , an elastic unit  12  and a button  13 . Pivot  11  connects latch  10  to portable input device  3 , and latch  10  suitably rotates around pivot  11  as shown by the dotted line. Latch  10  has a protrusion  101  whose shape corresponds to a slot  211  of a guiding unit  21  of electronic device  2  shown in FIG. 2B. Referring now to FIG. 2A, the two latches  10  connect to each other by an elastic unit  12  which is initially in a compressed state. The elastic unit  12  may be a spring or other similar biasing device. The elastic force of elastic unit  12  biases the two latches  10  apart from each other. Latch  10  in this embodiment may include a button  13  that the user pushes to control the position of latch  10 .  
         [0018]    Please refer to FIG. 2B. When a user wants to connect electronic device  2  to the portable input device  3 , he/she pushes buttons  13  to exert a force on latches  10 . The distance between the two latches  10  is thereby shortened, and latches  10  are delivered into a space formed by guiding unit  21 . Guiding unit  21  of electronic device  2  has guiding surfaces  212 , and the latches  10  respectively slide along the guiding surfaces  212  of the guiding unit  21 . Because of the shape of guiding unit  21 , latches  10  are pressed closer to each other while protrusions  101  slide along guiding surfaces  212 . Latches  10  connect to each other by an elastic unit  12 . The elastic unit  12  is compressed and shortened while latches  10  are pressed closer to each other by guiding surfaces  212 . As protrusion  101  is pushed to a position corresponding to slot  211  of the guiding unit, protrusion  101  is driven into the slot  211  by an outward elastic force of elastic unit  12 . At the end, electronic device  2  is locked with portable input device  3 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing locking unit  1  of portable input device  3  in a second exemplary embodiment. Locking unit  1  includes a latch  10  and a supporter  14 . The latch  10  has a protrusion  101 , whose shape corresponds to a slot  211  of a guiding unit  21  of an electronic device  2  as shown in FIG. 3B. Part of latch  10  close to protrusion  101  is made by an elastic material. While latch  10  slides along the guiding surface  212  of guiding unit  21 , protrusion  101  slightly changes its shape to mate with the shape of guiding surface  212 . After the protrusion  101  of latch  10  is locked with slot  211 , protrusion  101  returns to the original shape. Finally, portable input device  3  is locked with electronic device  2 . In this second exemplary embodiment latches  10  connect to each other by a supporter  14  that is used for maintaining the horizontal distance between two latches  10  to prevent latches  10  from undesirably detaching guiding unit  21 . Supporter  14  is also used to connect latches  10  and portable input device  3 .  
         [0020]    Please refer to FIG. 3B. When a user connects electronic device  2  to the portable input device  3 , he/she aligns locking unit  1  to guiding unit  21 . The latches  10  are delivered into guiding unit  21  and slide along the guiding surfaces  212 . Because of the shape of guiding surface  212  latches  10  are pressed to be closer to each other while protrusions  101  slide along guiding surfaces  212 . Protrusions  101  of latches  10  are made of an elastic material to deform slightly when pressed by guiding surface  212  of guiding unit  21 . As protrusion  101  is pushed to a position corresponding to slot  211 , protrusions  101  recover and are driven into slot  211  to thereby lock electronic device  2  with portable input device  3 .  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing locking unit  1  of portable input device  3  in a third exemplary embodiment. Locking unit  1  includes a fixing skeleton  15 , an elastic unit  12  and a cap-shaped unit  16 . The fixing skeleton  15  is affixed on portable input device  3  and has an accommodation region  151  for receiving elastic unit  12  and cap-shaped unit  16 . Cap-shaped unit  16  is movably connected, via elastic unit  12 , to the accommodation region  151  of fixing skeleton  15 . Elastic unit  12  may be a spring or other biasing device. Elastic unit  12  connects cap-shaped unit  16  and accommodation region  151  in pre-compression state, as shown.  
         [0022]    Please refer to FIG. 4B. When a user wants to connect electronic device  2  to portable input device  3 , fixing skeleton  15  slides along the guiding surface  212 . Cap-shaped unit  16  is pressed by guiding surface  212 . Cap-shaped unit  16  is driven into accommodation region  151  during the process. When cap-shaped unit  16  slides into a position corresponding to slot  211 , cap-shaped unit  16  is driven into slot  211  by elastic unit  12  such that portable input device  3  remains attached to electronic device  2  during operation.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing locking unit  1  of portable input device  3  in a fourth exemplary embodiment. Locking unit  1  includes latches  10 , pivots  11 , holders  18 , a supporter  14 , and a connector  17 . Holder  18  connects latches  10  to pivots  11 . Connector  17  is used for connecting electronic device  2 . Similarly, latches  10  have protrusions  101  respectively, whose shape corresponds to slots  211  shown in FIG. 5B. Parts of latches  10  close to protrusions  101  are made of an elastic material such as deformable plastic. While latches  10  slide along guiding surface  212 , protrusions  101  of latches  10  slightly change its shape to mate with the shape of guiding surface  212 . After protrusions  101  of latches  10  lock with slots  211 , protrusions  101  of latches  10  return to their original shape. Finally, portable input device  3  is locked with electronic device  2 . In an exemplary embodiment, latches  10  connect to each other via supporter  14 . Supporter  14  is used for maintaining the horizontal distance between latches  10  to prevent latches  10  from detaching from guiding device  21  when they are locked to each other. In this embodiment, connector  17  is disposed on supporter  14  for connecting with electronic devices. When portable input device  3  is connected to electronic device  2 , connector  17  is connected to a corresponding socket of electronic device  2 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing guiding unit  21  and locking unit  1  in a fourth exemplary embodiment. Before electronic device  2  is connected to portable input device  3 , locking unit  1  is first aligned to guiding unit  21 . Latches  10  are delivered into guiding unit  21  and respectively slide along guiding surfaces  212 . Because of the shape of guiding surfaces  212 , latches  10  and protrusions  101  are pressed to be closer to each other while sliding along the guiding surface  212 . Protrusions  101  of latches  10  are made of an elastic material to slightly change their shape while being pressed by guiding surface  212 . As protrusions  101  are pushed to positions corresponding to slots  211 , the deformed protrusions  101  return to their original shapes and engage with slots  211  to lock electronic device  2  with portable input device  3 .  
         [0025]    The exemplary embodiments above illustrate the characters and spirits of the present invention rather than restrict the scope thereof. For example, latches  10  of the locking unit  1  are not only restricted in the shapes shown in the drawings, but any other locking unit that matches with the shape of guiding unit  21  could be used in an alternate embodiment. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims are interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as falling within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.