This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 92208777, filed May 14, 2003.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a slide-in structure, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a slide-in structure having a buffered self-alignment connector used in a cradle set for a handheld electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal digital assistant (PDA) is one of the most common portable entertainment tools to be carried around in our daily life. At first, the PDA was designed as a general-purpose electronic notebook for managing traveling schedules, recording events and logging communication. However, as computational speed of computers continues to increase, and networking and wireless communication continues to advance, the PDA is used for communication, network surfing, playing games or serving as a multimedia. Thus, a PDA is often regarded as a “palm-top computer”.
In general, each PDA has multi-functional connectors such as a power connector, an input/output (I/O) connector and an external card connector. Most power connectors are positioned at the bottom section of the PDA by design. To charge up the battery inside the PDA, one end (the female section) of the power connector within the PDA is inserted into a corresponding end (the male section) of a power connector within a cradle set. Similarly, most of the I/O connectors are positioned at the bottom section of the PDA by design. To transfer data between the PDA and a computer, one end (the female section) of the I/O connector within the PDA is inserted into a corresponding end (the male section) of an I/O connector within a cradle set connected to the computer. The connector in the cradle set is normally fixed on a circuit board with the circuit board fastened to a base plate using a set of screws.
Since the connector 104 is firmly attached to the cradle set 100 through a series of fastening structures (including the circuit board 106, the base plate 108 and a screw 110), the connector 104 scarcely has a positional tolerance in mating with the connector 20 of the PDA module 10. That is, if the PDA module 10 is inserted into the cradle set 100 at a condition that the connector 20 is not precisely aligned with the connector 104, a bending force is exerted to the connector 104. The bending force can cause the bonding section between the connector 104 in the cradle set 100 and the circuit board 106 to be broken after repeated misaligned mating between the connector 20 of the PDA module 10 and the connector 104 in the cradle set 100. Thereafter, an improper connection between the connector 20 of the PDA module 10 and the connector 104 of the cradle set 100 may occur. In addition, the fastening structure of the connector 104 also has very little capacity to buffer any shock or vibration. If the connector 104 is subjected to an external vibrating force, the bond joining the connector 104 and the circuit board 106 together may separate leading a drop in the reliability of connection.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a slide-in structure for a personal digital assistant (PDA) cradle set capable of increasing flexibility and reducing alignment stress when a PDA module is inserted into the cradle set to engage with a connector within the cradle set.
A second object of this invention is to provide a slide-in structure for a personal digital assistant (PDA) cradle set. The slide-in structure deploys a sliding stand to serve as a fastening structure for the connector in the cradle set so that the connector within the cradle set for engaging with a PDA module is protected against any damages resulting from undesirable external forces.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a slide-in structure for a connector of a cradle set. The slide-in structure mainly comprises a base plate, a sliding stand and a pushing arm. The connector within the cradle set is mounted on the sliding stand via a circuit board. The base plate has a pair of sidewalls and a pair of sliding grooves located on the opposite inner surface of the sidewalls. The ends of the sliding stand are positioned within the respective sliding grooves so that the sliding stand is free to move along the sliding grooves. In addition, the pushing arm is secured to the base plate with one end in contact with the sliding stand surface. Through a resilient force provided by the pushing arm, the sliding stand is stationed somewhere within the sliding grooves and buffered by the pushing arm.
According to one embodiment of this invention, the sliding grooves can be arc-shaped slots and each end of the sliding stand can be an arc-shaped sliding block so that the sliding blocks are free to move forward and backward inside the sliding groves. However, the sliding grooves can be an arc-shaped slot and each end of the sliding stand can be a spherical sliding block so that the sliding blocks not only can slide inside the sliding grooves but also rotate within the sliding grooves.
According to one embodiment of this invention, the pushing arm is solidly locked onto the base plate or the cradle. In addition, the pushing arm has a protruding surface that forms a surface contacting with the sliding stand.
In this invention, the slide-in structure buffers the connector in the cradle set against any stress due to misalignment and external vibrating force. Furthermore, the sliding stand of this invention is able to provide positional tolerance for the connector in the cradle set in mating with the connector of the PDA module, in comparison with the conventional fixed connector design.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
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In summary, this invention provides a slide-in structure for a PDA module cradle set. The slide-in structure comprises a base plate, a sliding stand and a resilient pushing arm. The connector within the cradle set is mounted on the sliding stand via a circuit board. The ends of the sliding stand are fitted into respective grooves on sidewalls of the base plate so that the sliding stand is free to move relative to the sliding grooves. In addition, the pushing arm positioned between the two sidewalls of the base plate engages with the surface of the sliding stand. Through the resilient pushing action of the pushing arm, the sliding stand is stationed at a fixed positioned within the sliding grooves. When the PDA module is plugged into or unplugged from the cradle inappropriately, the slide-in structure is specially designed to prevent any damage to the connector. In other words, the connector can have a longer working life and a better engagement reliability with the connector in the PDA module. Furthermore, the slide-in structure also reduces the amount of stress incurred to the connector in the cradle set when the PDA module is engaged to/disengaged from the connector within the cradle set.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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92208777 U | May 2003 | TW | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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5764497 | Mizumo | Jun 1998 | A |
6049192 | Kfoury et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6758690 | Yu et al. | Jul 2004 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040229494 A1 | Nov 2004 | US |