Abstract:
A business card reader (BCR) with a replaceable cradle, particularly to a BCR combined with a cradle, in which the cradle is replaceable for adapting to various digital electrical equipments, includes a charging cradle and a base assembled under the charging cradle. The cradle has a connector mounted thereon and a flat cable connected with the connector. The base has a scanning unit, a paper-feeding sear disposed before the scanning unit and a printed circuit board (PCB) adjacent he paper-input seat, wherein the PCB has a socket mounted thereon for receiving an end of the flexible cable therein.

Description:
This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 092210401 filed in Taiwan on Jun. 6, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a business card reader (BCR) with a replaceable charging cradle, and particularly to a business card reader combined with a charging cradle, wherein the charging cradle is replaceable and applying to a digital electronic device for charging and transmitting data. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the busy business today, the personal digital assistant (PDA) is more and more popular. However it is not so convenient when inputting business cards, the user usually must input one card by one card by writing or typing. Therefore, there is an invention of business card reader (BCR) which is supported the PDA. The user just put business cards into the BCR, the data of card will be stored in personal computer (PC) after optical recognizing. Then after hot sync the PDA with PC, the data will be transmitted into the PDA. However the BCR is separate with the PDA and can not charge the PDA. It is not so convenient. 
     Therefore, the present invention is directed against the disadvantages of the prior art, and designs a BCR combined with a charging cradle and also solves the problem between different cradles of different PDA. The present invention even can apply on other digital electronic devices that need charging, for example: a cell phone combined with a PDA, or a cell phone, especially the cell phone can transmit images, so that the user can input images into the cell phone without photographing device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a business card reader (BCR) with a replaceable charging cradle, particular to a business card reader combined with a charging cradle, wherein the charging cradle is module designing and replaceable for adapting to different digital electronic devices, so that the designers do not need develop molds again so as to economize cost. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention according to one aspect thereof provides a business card reader with a replaceable charging cradle comprising a charging cradle having a connector for connecting with a digital electronic product, and a flat cable connected to a bottom of the charging cradle, wherein the flat cable is formed with a plug on a distal end thereof; a shell formed with an upper opening for receiving the charging cradle, a plurality of outlets formed on a side wall thereof, and a front opening formed thereon; a base accommodated in the shell, comprising a bottom board, a pivoting seat protruding from a top surface of the bottom board, a scanning unit mounted on the pivoting seat, and a paper-feeding seat disposed before the scanning unit, wherein the paper-feeding seat is formed with a cutout adjacent the scanning unit; and a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a power connector mounted on an edge thereof, at least one outputting connector mounted adjacent an edge thereof, a socket mounted thereon for received the plug of the flat cable, and a sensor mounted thereon corresponding to the cutout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a business card reader with a replaceable charging cradle of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the charging cradle and the shell of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the base of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an assembling perspective view of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is an operating perspective view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a business card reader with a replaceable charging cradle of the present invention. The business card reader with a replaceable charging cradle  1  comprises a charging cradle  2 , a shell  3 , a base  4  assembled under the shell  3 , and a printed circuit board (PCB)  5  mounted in the base  4 . 
     The charging cradle  2  has a bearing seat  22 , a connector  24  which is mounted on the bearing seat  22  for connecting to a mating connector of a digital electronic product (referring to FIG.  6 ), and a flat cable  26  which is connected to a bottom of the charging cradle  2 . The flat cable  26  is formed with a plug  262  on a distal end thereof. 
     The charging cradle  2  has a transparent fixer  28  for fixing the flat cable  26  under the connector  24 , and an indicator  264  is mounted on the flat cable  26  and under the fixer  28 , wherein the fixer  28  is formed with a protrusion  282  thereon for guiding light of the indicator  264  outside the shell  3 . 
     The shell  3  is formed with an upper opening  30  for receiving the charging cradle  2 . The shell  3  has a front wall  31 , a rear wall  32  and two side walls  33  that together define a cavity  34  therein. One of the side walls  33  is formed with a plurality of outlets  331 ,  332 ,  333 . The front wall  31  is formed with a front opening  35  thereon and an indicating hole  310  for receiving the protrusion  282  of the fixer  28 . The bearing seat  22  of the charging cradle  2  and the shell  3  respectively has a plurality of connecting elements that are connected to each other. For example, in this embodiment, the bearing seat  22  has a pair of ears  222  outwardly extending from a lower portion of two sides thereof, and the shell  3  has a pair of screwing portions  312  formed therein adjacent the upper opening  30  for connecting to the ears  222 . Also, the bearing seat  22  of the charging cradle  2  and the shell  3  can further have a plurality of hooks  224 ,  322  for engaging to each other. The connecting elements can also be hooks and mating hooking holes (not shown). Therefore, the charging cradle  2  is screwed on the shell  3  in replaceable way, and just designing and replacing the charging cradle  2  according to various mating connectors of digital electronic products, then replacing the charging cradle  2  onto the shell  3 , without redesigning business card reader. The factory does not need develop molds again so as to economize resources, sometimes redesigning will delay the time of entering market especially the digital electronic product of short popular period, for example to cell phone. 
     The base  4  is accommodated in the shell  3  and comprises a bottom board  41 , a pivoting seat  42  which is protruding from a top surface of the bottom board  41 , a scanning unit  43  which is mounted on the pivoting seat  42 , and a paper-feeding seat  44  which is disposed before the scanning unit  43 , wherein the paper-feeding seat  42  is formed with a cutout  444  adjacent the scanning unit  43 . The paper-feeding seat  44  has a paper-feeding slot  440  which is formed with therein for inputting papers, and a front platform  442  which is extending forwardly and connecting to a front edge of the bottom board  41 . 
     The scanning unit  43  has a roller  432  which is pivotally mounted on the pivoting seat  42 , a motor  433  which is mounted adjacent the pivoting seat  42  for driving the roller  432 , and a detecting device  431  with a built-in contact image sensor (CIS) which is disposed above or under the roller  432 . 
     The PCB  5  is disposed under the paper-feeding seat  44  and defines a board  50 . The board  50  has a power connector  51  which is mounted on an edge thereof, at least one outputting connector ( 52 ,  53 ) which is mounted thereon, a socket  54  which is mounted thereon for received the plug  262  of the flat cable  26 , a motor-power connector  56  for supplying power to the motor  433 , and a sensor  57  which is mounted thereon corresponding to the cutout  444 . The PCB  5  further has a switch  55  which is mounted under the board  50  for control the business card reader. The switch  55  is adapted hidden designing which is disposed under the board  5  and exposed beyond the base  4  through a switching hole  416  of a switching recess  414  which is formed on the bottom board  41 . The outputting connectors could be a normal USB (universal serial bus)-type connector  52 , or a mini USB-type  53  connector 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, are respectively a bottom view of the charging cradle and the shell, and a top view of the base of the present invention. The shell  3  is formed with the screwing seats  36  therein, and the base  4  is formed with screwing holes  412  corresponding the screwing seats  36 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, are an assembling perspective view and an operating perspective view of the present invention. The charging cradle  2  of the business card reader with a replaceable charging cradle  1  is connecting with a mating connector  62  of a personal digital assistant (PDA)  6  for charging and transmitting data therebetween. When a business card  7  is put into the paper-feeding slot  440 , the sensor  57  of the PCB  5  senses the business card  7  and starts the scanning unit  43  for scanning the business card  7 . After processing the scanning data, transmitting the data to the PDA  6  or a personal computer (not shown). The user can turn off the switch  55  for economizing power and protecting the scanning unit  43 . The pivoting seat  42  of present invention is extending rearward with a rear platform  422  outside the shell  3 . A distance from the rear platform  422  to the roller  432  is shorter than a half of a business card; therefore after scanning the business card  7 , the business card  7  will fall naturally and does not affect the follow inputting business card. 
     The sum up of the characters and advantages are as follow. The charging cradle is replaceable, and just designing and replacing the charging cradle according to various mating connector of digital electronic products. The factory does not need develop molds again so as to waste resources, sometimes will delay the developing time especially of short period of the digital electronic product, for example to cell phone.