WO2007094526A1

WO2007094526A1 - Keyboard have main board of computer within

Info

Publication number: WO2007094526A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/000590
Authority: WO
Inventors: Moon-Sik Jung
Original assignee: ERAE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY Co Ltd
Current assignee: ERAE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-15
Filing date: 2006-02-21
Publication date: 2007-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-15
Also published as: KR20070082254A

Abstract

Disclosed is a keyboard for a computer, notably having a main board mounted therein. The main board has computer components, such as a CPU, a hard disk and a memory, attached thereto. The keyboard includes a keyboard body 11 having a plurality of keys 12 provided in a top portion thereof; a main board 13 provided inside the keyboard body 11, the main board 13 having computer components, including a CPU 14, a hard disk 15, and a memory 16, attached thereto; and a connector unit 19, provided at a peripheral position on the keyboard body 11, the connector unit 19 including a power connector 20 and a monitor connector 21 which are connected to the main board 13. The keyboard constitutes a computer system together with a separate monitor 3.

Description

Description KEYBOARD HAVE MAIN BOARD OF COMPUTER WITHIN

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a keyboard of a computer, and more particularly, to a keyboard having a main board mounted inside the same. Herein, the main board refers to a board to which computer components, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a hard disk, and a memory are attached. Background Art

[2] As shown in FIG. 1, a desktop computer generally includes a keyboard 1, a computer main case 2 and a monitor 3. A main board (not shown), with a CPU, a hard disk and a memory attached thereto, is provided inside the main case 2. In this computer design, the keyboard 1, the main case 2 and the monitor 3 are provided separately and disposed in specific locations, which causes some problems such as spatial restrictions, complicated electric connections and limited mobility.

[3] To overcome these problems, a notebook computer as shown in FIG. 2 has been proposed. Referring to FIG. 2, the notebook computer includes a main body 4, a keyboard 5 provided on the main body 4 and a monitor 6 hinged to the edge of the main body 4 and serving as a cover. In the same manner as above, a main board (not shown) is mounted inside the body 4. This notebook computer design has overcome some of the aforementioned problems with the desktop computer, in particular, limited mobility.

[4] However, the notebook computer also has the following problems: First, since the notebook computer has an integral structure where the monitor is combined with the body, a high level of care is required to protect the monitor when carrying or using the notebook computer. Second, the function of the monitor as a cover limits the design of the keyboard, such as the size and shape thereof. Third, the keyboard and the monitor have to be used in a preset arrangement, and thus are not suitable for persons who need a special keyboard or monitor. Fourth, despite the rapid changes in computing environments, it is not easy to upgrade the notebook computer or change its specifications.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[5] The present invention has thus been made to solve the aforementioned problems with the prior art, and proposes a keyboard structure which is highly portable and very stable, has high design flexibility because it is not restricted by a monitor design, and allocates space for specification changes. [6] An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard which has an inner structure that houses a main board, where computer components, such as a CPU, a hard disk and a memory, are mounted, and is designed to be connected to a monitor using a separate cable. Technical Solution

[7] The keyboard of the invention includes a keyboard body having a plurality of keys provided at a top portion thereof; and a main board provided inside the keyboard body, the main board having computer components, including a CPU, a hard disk and a memory mounted thereon; and a connector unit provided at a peripheral portion of the keyboard body, the connector unit including a power connector and a monitor connector, which are connected to the main board. Preferably, the keyboard may further include windows provided at the bottom of the keyboard body, to allow the main board and the computer components to be put into and taken from the keyboard body.

[8] According to the present invention, a manufacturer can design a keyboard without being limited by the shape or size of a monitor. Furthermore, a user carrying the keyboard can operate a computer system in any place where a monitor is installed by connecting the keyboard to the monitor.

Advantageous Effects

[9] The keyboard of the present invention houses a main board therein, and is connected to a monitor by a cable. Accordingly, the keyboard of the present invention is highly portable and very convenient, is more stable, and has high design flexibility because it is not restricted by a monitor design. Furthermore, it is easy to make specification changes thanks to the windows in the bottom of the keyboard. Brief Description of the Drawings

[10] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a typical desktop computer;

[11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a typical notebook computer;

[12] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a keyboard of the invention;

[13] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the keyboard shown in FIG. 3;

[14] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the keyboard shown in FIG. 3; and

[15] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a computer system including the keyboard shown in FIG. 3.

[16] < Major Reference Numbers of the Drawings >

[17] 10: keyboard 11 : keyboard body

[18] 12: key 13: main board

[19] 14: CPU 15: hard disk

[20] 16: memory 19: connector [21] 20: power connector 21: monitor connector

[22] 25: window 26: cover

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[23] The features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIG. 3, a keyboard with a main board mounted inside the same is designated with the reference number 10. The keyboard 10 includes a keyboard body 11 and a main board 13 mounted inside the keyboard body 11.

[24] The overall outer shape of the keyboard body 11 is substantially the same as those of typical keyboards for computers, and includes a plurality of keys 12 mounted on the top thereof. Various computer components, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 14, a hard disk 15, and a memory 16, are mounted on the main board 13. Although not illustrated, other components, such as a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) card, can be further provided according to specifications.

[25] The main board 13 is fixedly mounted inside the keyboard body 11. Other components, including the CPU 14, the hard disk 15, and the memory 16, are detachably fixed to the bottom of the main board 13. In the drawings, reference number 17 indicates a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) driver, and reference number 18 indicates a speaker. The main board 13, the aforementioned components 14 to 16, and electric circuit components, such as the DVD driver 17 and the speaker 18, will not be explained in greater detail since they are not specifically designed for the present invention.

[26] Referring to FIG. 4, a connector unit 19 including at least a power connector 20 and a monitor connector 21 is provided in one side face of the keyboard body 11. In the drawings, reference number 22 indicates a LAN connector, reference number 23 indicates a USB port, and reference number 24 indicates a mouse connector. The components 20 to 24 of the connector unit 19 are connected to the main board 13 so that the operation thereof can be controlled by the CPU 14. Although the components 20 to 24 are lined in the rear face of the keyboard body, the present invention is not limited to the position of these components 20 to 24. For example, the components 20 to 24 may be arranged in distributed locations.

[27] Referring to FIG. 5, the keyboard body 11 is also provided at the bottom with windows 25 for installation/removal of the main board 13 and the computer components 14 to 16. The individual windows 25 are opened and closed using corresponding covers 26. The main board 13 and the computer components 14 to 16 can be simply put into and taken out of the keyboard body in the event of replacement or repair. [28] Referring to FIG. 6, the keyboard 10 is connected with a monitor 3 by a cable. That is, the monitor 3 is provided as a separate unit, which constitutes a computer system together with the keyboard 10. Since the main board with the computer components such as the CPU 14, the hard disk 15 and the memory 16 mounted thereon is provided inside the keyboard 10, a user carrying the keyboard 10 can operate a computer system at any place where a monitor is installed by connecting the keyboard 10 to the monitor.

Claims

[ 1 ] A keyboard comprising: a keyboard body (11) having a plurality of keys (12) provided at a top portion thereof; a main board (13) provided inside the keyboard body (11), the main board 13 having computer components, including a CPU (14), a hard disk (15) and a memory (16) attached thereto; and a connector unit (19) provided at a peripheral portion of the keyboard body (11), the connector unit (19) including a power connector (20) and a monitor connector (21), which are connected to the main board (13), whereby the keyboard constitutes a computer system together with a separate monitor (3). [2] The keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising: a Digital Versatile Disk

(DVD) driver (17) at a peripheral position in the keyboard body (11). [3] The keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising: a Digital Versatile Disk

(DVD) driver (17) at a peripheral position in the keyboard body (11). [4] The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein each of the windows (25) has a cover (26).