Acer Inc.

Erich Elkins

Arif Maskatia

Stephen Cheung

Christopher Fruhauf

A portable electronic device includes an expansion base module, a pair of sliding members mounted slidably on the expansion base module, a system module connected to the sliding members, and a synchronizing unit including a pair of first front and rear pulleys, a pair of second front and rear pulleys, and an endless cord that is connected to the sliding members and that trains on the first front and rear and second front and rear pulleys in such a manner to permit synchronous sliding movements of the sliding members.

Portable electronic device with synchronizing unit

A portable electronic device includes an expansion base module with a connector, a hinge mechanism mounted slidably on the expansion base module, slidable relative to the expansion base module, and including a pivot shaft, a system module pivoted to the expansion base module through the pivot shaft, and a ribbon cable having a first segment that is electrically connected to and that extends from the connector toward the pivot shaft, and a second segment that extends from the first segment, that is wound around the pivot shaft, and that is electrically connected to the system module.

Portable electronic device with a hinge mechanism

A portable electronic device includes an expansion base module, a hinge mechanism mounted slidably on the expansion base module and slidable relative to the expansion base module, a docking unit pivoted to the hinge mechanism, defining a docking groove, and including a docking connector, and a system module including a panel having two opposite sides that respectively have two opposing end portions inserted into and detachably retained in the docking groove. The system module further includes a system connector that is mounted on the panel and that mates with the docking connector.

Portable electronic device with a docking unit

A portable electronic device includes a base module with a housing defining upper and lower sliding grooves at each of two opposite side walls of the housing, and a system module mounted slidably on the base module through a pair of sliding units. Each of the sliding units includes an upper rolling member that is received in the upper sliding groove and that is in rolling contact with a respective one of the side walls, and a lower rolling member that is received in the lower sliding groove and that is in rolling contact with a respective one of the side walls.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Erich Elkins