Patent Application
20100149105
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to portable electronic devices and, particularly, to a portable electronic device with a smart keyboard.
2. Description of Related Art
A typical compact keypad adopted in a portable electronic device includes a plurality of input keys, the input keys may have multi-functions.
However, such type of keypad has a low input efficiency because advanced functions offered by a full scale keyboard are unavailable in the compact keypad for use in, e.g., games and text editing.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
Many aspects of a portable electronic device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the portable electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding sections throughout the several views.
The main enclosure 10 is a housing of the portable electronic device 100, and includes a first wall 11, a second wall 12, and an end wall 13. The second wall 12 is opposite to the first wall 11. The end wall 13 connects the first wall 11 and the second wall 12. The main enclosure 10 further includes a display screen 111 and a plurality of buttons 112 disposed on the first wall 11. The main enclosure 10 further defines a receiving cavity 121 in the second wall 12. The receiving cavity 121 partially receives the cover member 30. The first wall 11 defines a plurality of latch holes 1211 around the receiving cavity 121. The cover member 30 is fastened to the main enclosure 10 via the latch holes 1211. The end wall 13 defines a through hole 131. The through hole 131 is used to receive connecting cables, thus electrically connecting the QWERTY keyboard assembly 20 to the main enclosure 10. The end wall 13 further defines two clamp holes 132 at opposite sides of the through hole 131.
The QWERTY keyboard assembly 20 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 21, a keypad plate 22, and a connector 23. The keypad plate 22 is substantially a thin sheet. The keypad plate 22 is attached to the printed circuit board 21 such that signals can be inputted via the keypad plate 22. One end of the connector 23 is electrically connected to the PCB 21, the other is electrically connected to the main enclosure 10 through the through hole 131. In this embodiment, the connector 23 may be a bent resilient sheet.
The cover member 30 can be a battery cover of the portable electronic device 100. The cover member 30 includes a base sheet 31 and a side sheet 32. The side sheet 32 is connected to the base sheet 31. The base sheet 31 includes an outer wall 311 and a inner wall 312 on another side of the base sheet 31 opposite to the outer wall 311. The base sheet 31 further includes a plurality of protrusions 3111 protruding from the outer wall 311, corresponding to the latch holes 1211. The protrusions 3111 are able to latch in the latch holes 1211. The base sheet 31 defines a plurality of first fastening holes 3112 away from the side sheet 32. The fastening holes 3112 are used to engage with one of the fastening assemblies 50. The inner wall 312 defines a receiving groove 3121. The receiving groove 3121 is used to partially receive the holder 40. The side sheet 32 includes two latching poles 321 protruding outwards. The two latching poles 321 face the base sheet 31, corresponding to the clamp holes 132. The latching poles 321 latch into the clamp holes 132 correspondingly. The side sheet 32 further defines a plurality of second fastening holes 322. The fastening holes 322 are used to engage with the other fastening assembly 50.
The holder 40 includes a positioning portion 41, a connecting portion 42, and a receiving portion 43. The connecting portion 42 connects the positioning portion 41 and the receiving portion 43, and the receiving portion 43 can rotate around the connecting portion 42, relative to the positioning portion 41. The connecting portion 42 may be a typical hinge (schematically shown). The connecting portion 42 defines three mounting holes 421, corresponding to the latching poles 321. The positioning portion 41 defines three securing holes 411, corresponding to the first fastening holes 3112. The receiving portion 43 defines an accommodating cavity 431, used to receive the QWERTY keyboard assembly 20.
The fastening assembly 50 includes three typical screws 51 and a fastening plate 52. The fastening plate 52 defines three screw holes 521. The fastening plate 52 are engageable by the screws 51 correspondingly. The fastening assembly 50 is used to mount the holder 40 to the cover member 30.
In assembly, the QWERTY keyboard assembly 20 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 431 of the receiving portion 43. The positioning portion 41 of the receiving portion 43 is inserted into the receiving groove 3121, then the positioning portion 41 and the connecting portion 42 are secured to the cover member 30 with the two fastening assemblies 50. The cover member 30 is latched to the main enclosure 10, with the latching poles 321 latched in the clamp holes 132 and the protrusions 3111 latched in the latch holes 1211 correspondingly. The QWERTY keyboard assembly 20 can be rotated about the connecting portion 42, thus folded over the display screen 111. To use the QWERTY keyboard assembly 20, the QWERTY keyboard assembly 20 is rotated about the connecting portion 42 until the QWERTY keyboard assembly 20 is parallel with the display screen 111. As a result, input signals can be inputted via the 20 simultaneously while viewing the display screen 111.
It is to be understood, the side sheet 32 and the corresponding fastening assembly 50 can be omitted.
It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of sections within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms, in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200810306322.3 | Dec 2008 | CN | national |
