TWI736279B - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device including a first body, a second body and a hinge is provided. The first body has a display screen. The hinge is connected between the first body and the second body, so that the first body and the second body rotate relatively to be open and close. The second body includes a casing, a functional component and a flexible component. The functional component is arranged in the casing, the flexible component is connected between the casing and the functional component, and the flexible component surrounds the periphery of the functional component, wherein the flexible component has multiple hollow patterns.

Description

Electronic device

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device whose thickness can be changed.

Most portable electronic devices adopt folding methods to reduce the storage area, so as to achieve the purpose of light, thin and short electronic products. Generally, a portable electronic device includes a screen body and a host body, and the screen body and the host body can be opened and closed relatively by being connected to each other by a pivot.

However, as the design of electronic devices becomes thinner and lighter, the functions provided by the functional elements provided therein are affected, such as heat dissipation or audio-visual effects. Therefore, these problems urgently need to find solutions.

The invention provides an electronic device with a changeable thickness.

An electronic device of the present invention includes a housing, a functional component and a flexible component. The functional component is arranged in the range of the housing, and the flexible component is connected between the housing and the functional component, and the flexible component surrounds the periphery of the functional component.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned flexible member has a plurality of hollow patterns.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned functional component has four sides and four corners, and any two adjacent sides are correspondingly connected through a corner. A part of the hollow pattern corresponds to the side. The other part corresponds to the corner. The density of the hollow pattern corresponding to the corner is greater than the density of the hollow pattern corresponding to the side

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned hollow patterns are of the same size, and the hollow patterns are uniformly arranged along the direction away from the functional component toward the functional component.

In an embodiment of the present invention, along the direction away from the functional component toward the functional component, the above-mentioned hollow patterns have the same size and the arrangement density of the hollow patterns changes, that is, the hollow patterns have multiple arrangement densities. Specifically, the arrangement density of the hollow patterns from the direction away from the functional component toward the functional component varies from sparse to dense.

In an embodiment of the present invention, along the direction away from the functional component toward the functional component, the above-mentioned hollow patterns are uniformly arranged and vary in size, and the hollow patterns include at least two sizes. Specifically, the hollow patterns uniformly arranged from the direction away from the functional component toward the functional component change from small to large, or from large to small.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned hollow pattern is a blind hole or an open hole.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the material of the aforementioned flexible component includes plastic, rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or wood.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned functional component is a keyboard or a display screen.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned electronic device further includes an appearance component laid on the flexible component.

In an embodiment of the present invention, it further includes a first body having a display screen; a second body including the aforementioned housing, the aforementioned functional components and the aforementioned flexible components; and a pivot connected to Between the first body and the second body, so that the first body and the second body can be opened and closed relatively.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned pivot includes a rotating shaft member and a lifting member, the rotating shaft member is connected between the first body and the second body, and the lifting member is arranged in the second body and is linked with the rotating shaft member , To lift the functional parts. The lifting part is a connecting rod.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned electronic device further includes a lifting member disposed in the second body, and the lifting member is used to lift the functional component when the first body is opened relative to the second body.

Based on the above, in the electronic device of the present invention, through the use of the flexible component, the functional component can be lifted by the flexible component, increasing the vertical distance between the functional component and the housing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a top view of a second body of the electronic device in FIG. 1. Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 at the same time. The electronic device 1 of this embodiment is a notebook computer, which includes a first body 2, a second body 3 and a pivot 4. The first body 2 has a display screen 21. The pivot 4 is connected between the first body 2 and the second body 3 so that the first body 2 and the second body 3 can be opened and closed relatively. The second body 3 includes a housing 31, a functional component 32 and a flexible component 33. The functional component 32 is arranged in the range of the housing 31, and the flexible component 33 is connected between the housing 31 and the functional component 32, wherein the flexible component 33 has a plurality of hollow patterns P, and the flexible component 33 surrounds the functional component 32. Perimeter. The hollow pattern P of the flexible component 33 enables the flexible component 33 to have deformability. Therefore, through the flexible component 33, the functional component 32 can have a thickness change with respect to the bottom of the housing 31.

In this embodiment, the functional component 32 is a keyboard. The functional component 32 has four sides S1, S2, S3, S4 and four corners C1, C2, C3, C4, and any two adjacent sides S1, S2, S3, S4 have a corner C1, C2. , C3, C4 are correspondingly connected, and a part of the aforementioned hollow pattern P surrounding the periphery of the functional component 32 corresponds to the side edges S1, S2, S3, S4, and the other part corresponds to the corners C1, C2, C3, C4.

It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the hollow patterns P are arranged alternately with each other, so that the deformability of the flexible member 33 can be increased. In addition, the density of the hollow patterns P corresponding to the corners C1, C2, C3, and C4 is greater than the density corresponding to the sides S1, S2, S3, and S4. In this way, the flexibility of the flexible member 33 corresponding to the corners C1, C2, C3, and C4 can be further increased, and the deformability of the corners C1, C2, C3, and C4 can be improved.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the length of the cut notches of the hollow patterns P arranged in the horizontal direction H corresponding to the sides S1 and S3 gradually increase from the inside to the outside. , The outside referred to here means that it is relatively far away from the functional component 32. The lengths of the cut notches of the hollow patterns P arranged in the diagonal direction D corresponding to the corners C1, C3, C3, and C4 gradually increase from the inside to the outside. The lengths of the cut notches of the hollow patterns P arranged in the vertical direction V corresponding to the sides S2 and S4 gradually increase from the inside to the outside.

The material of the flexible member 33 can be selected from plastic, rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and wood, but it is not limited to this. Those skilled in the art can select suitable materials according to actual needs. In addition, the hollow pattern P may be a blind hole or an exposed hole, and the end view corresponds to whether the components disposed in the housing 31 and located below the hollow pattern P need to be protected from dust. When the hollow pattern P is a blind hole, the depth of the blind hole can be determined according to the expected degree of deformation of the flexible member 33.

For example, when a circuit board or other precision electronic components are arranged under the hollow pattern P, the hollow pattern P can be a blind hole, so that the flexible member 33 can be bent, compressed, deformed, and so on. It can isolate the space above and below the hollow pattern P to achieve a dust-proof effect, and avoid dust accumulation on the circuit board or precision electronic components.

For heat dissipation requirements, or corresponding to the hollow pattern P, the electronic components constituting the speaker are arranged, and the hollow pattern P may be an open hole; in this way, the hollow pattern P can achieve effective heat dissipation or serve as a speaker hole for transmitting sound.

Or, when the corresponding hollow pattern P is provided with electronic components and the hollow pattern P is an exposed hole, the appearance member 5 can be laid on the flexible member 33 to cover the exposed hole. The appearance part 5 can be film, cloth or even paper, which can be selected according to requirements.

3A to 3C are schematic diagrams of the first body from closed to open relative to the second body. For the sake of simplicity, FIGS. 3A to 3C are drawn in a side view of the electronic device of FIG. 1. Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A at the same time. In this embodiment, the above-mentioned pivot 4 includes a shaft member 41 and a lifting member 42. The shaft member 41 is connected between the first body 2 and the second body 3. Meanwhile, the lifting member 42 is disposed in the second body 3 and is linked with the rotating shaft member 41 to lift the functional component 32. In this embodiment, the lifting member 42 is a connecting rod, and there is a first guiding slope P1 at the end of the lifting member 42; and correspondingly, a guiding block 322 is provided at the bottom of the functional component 32, wherein the guiding block 322 has a second guiding slope P2. In this embodiment, the first guiding inclined surface P1 and the second guiding inclined surface P2 are inclined surfaces inclined from the lower left to the upper right.

Please refer to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C at the same time. When the user opens the first body 2 relative to the second body 3, the shaft member 41 is rotated by the first body 2 to drive the lifting member 42 toward the second body 3. At this time, due to the movement of the lifting member 42, the first guiding slope P1 exerts a force on the second guiding slope P2, and the functional component 32 is lifted upward.

It can be seen from FIGS. 3A to 3C that, in the state shown in FIG. 3A, the first body 2 is closed relative to the second body 3, the functional component 32 is not lifted, and the distance D1 between the functional component 32 and the bottom of the housing 31 is The smallest, and the flexible member 33 presents an obvious arc shape at this time.

In the state shown in Fig. 3B, the opening angle of the first body 2 relative to the second body 3 gradually increases, and the functional component 32 starts to be lifted upwards. Therefore, the distance D2 of the functional component 32 relative to the bottom of the housing 31 is greater than the distance D1. And at this time, the flexible member 33 starts from an obvious arc shape and approaches a plane transition.

In the state shown in Figure 3C, the opening angle of the first body 2 relative to the second body 3 is larger, and the flexible member 33 gradually turns from an arc to a flat state. At this time, it is limited by the degree of deformation of the flexible member 33. The component 32 is lifted to the highest position that can be reached, so the distance D3 of the functional component 32 relative to the bottom of the housing 31 is greater than the distance D2. Simply put, the distance D3 of the functional component 32 relative to the bottom of the housing 31 is greater than the distance D2 and greater than the distance D1.

Incidentally, the curvature of the arc shown by the flexible member 33 in FIGS. 3A to 3B, or a state close to a plane, is actually affected by the opening angle of the first body 2 relative to the second body 3. The size, the selection of the material of the flexible component 33, the pattern and arrangement density of the hollow pattern P, and the weight of the functional component 32 are affected by factors.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of possible shapes of the hollow pattern. It can be seen from Fig. 4 that the hollow pattern P can be selected in any shape according to requirements. The possible shapes of various hollow patterns P, Pa, Pb, and Pc are shown in FIG. 4, but they are not limited to the shapes shown in FIG. 4.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the flexible member after being deformed. Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 at the same time. The hollow pattern P of this embodiment is a "one"-shaped open hole, and when the flexible member 33 is deformed, the hollow pattern P will become an eye-like shape.

6A to 6C show the pattern distribution design of the hollow pattern when the flexible component is in a planar state, and the curvature of the flexible component changes when the electronic device is closed in response to different pattern distribution conditions. As shown in FIG. 6A, under the condition that the hollow pattern P of the flexible member 33 is an aperture of equal shape and density, the flexible member 33 is applied to the electronic device 1, and the electronic device 1 (shown in FIG. 1) is closed In the state, the curvature of the flexible member 33 is relatively uniform.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the hollow pattern P of the flexible component 33 from relatively far away from the functional component 32 toward the first direction F relatively close to the functional component 32 is of uniform density and the aperture is changed from small to large, in the electronic device 1 (such as Figure 1 shows) in the closed state, along the first direction F, the curvature of the flexible member 33 changes from gentle to sharp.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the hollow pattern P of the flexible component 33 from relatively far away from the functional component 32 toward the first direction F relatively close to the functional component 32 is of uniform density and the aperture is changed from large to small, in the electronic device 1 (such as Fig. 1 shows) in the closed state, along the first direction F, the curvature of the flexible member 33 changes from sharp to smooth.

The above description is based on the example that the density is equal and the pores are the same or different. However, those skilled in the art should also be able to imagine that the hollow pattern P is arranged in a way that the pores are equal and the density changes along the first direction F; or, it can be the pores. And the density changes at the same time. For example, along the first direction F, the pore size increases from small to large, and the arrangement density decreases from dense to sparse; or, along the first direction F, the pore size decreases from large to small, while the arrangement density decreases from dense to sparse; or In the first direction F, the pore size changes from small to large, and the arrangement density changes from sparse to dense; or, along the first direction F, the pore size changes from large to small, and the arrangement density changes from sparse to dense.

The above-mentioned pore diameter change method and arrangement density change method can be selected according to requirements. In an embodiment of the present invention, the arrangement density is the number of hollow patterns P per unit area. The more the number of hollow patterns P per unit area, the denser the arrangement density and the greater the number of hollow patterns P per unit area. Less, the sparser the arrangement density.

It can be seen from the above that the height of the functional component 32 can be determined according to the relative opening and closing degree of the first body 2 and the second body 3 of the electronic device 1. When the first body 2 is closed relative to the second body 3, the functional component 32 is recessed in the housing 31. When the first body 2 is opened relative to the second body 3, the functional component 32 is lifted up, and the distance between the functional component 32 and the bottom of the casing 31 is increased, which can improve the heat dissipation effect of the electronic device 1 or increase the speaker Speaker distance.

Therefore, the designer can have more design leeway when designing the thickness of the electronic device 1.

7A and 7B are schematic diagrams of an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the invention. Please refer to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B at the same time. In the electronic device 1'of this embodiment, the lifting member 6 may be a component independent of the pivot axis 4. Specifically, the lifting member 6 is also arranged in the housing 31 of the second body 3, wherein the lifting member 6 is a combination of the motor 61 and the connecting rod 62. The motor 61 is activated by a separate button (not shown) (protruding outside the housing 31) or by a program, and the connecting rod 62 is engaged between the motor 61 and the functional component 32, wherein when the first body 2 is opposite to the first body 2 After the second body 3 is opened, the user can activate the motor 61 via a button or a program to drive the connecting rod 62 to act, and then lift the functional component 32 up.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the electronic device 1" can be a tablet computer, and the functional component 32' is a display screen; and therefore, through the arrangement of the flexible component 33, the functional component 32 can be lifted relative to the housing 31, allowing the functional component 32 to interact with each other. The thickness between the shells 31 is increased to improve the heat dissipation effect. In this embodiment, there is only one body, and this body can be connected to another body with a keyboard.

Incidentally, although the foregoing embodiment is described in that the flexible member 33 has a hollow pattern P so that the flexible member 33 has a deformability, those skilled in the art can imagine that it can be directly made of a material with elasticity (ie, deformability). The flexible member 33, therefore, can achieve the same effect as the foregoing in the case where the flexible member 33 does not have the hollow pattern P.

In summary, the functional components of the electronic device of the present invention can determine the height of the second body according to the relative opening and closing degree of the first body and the second body of the electronic device. When the first body is closed relative to the second body, the functional component is recessed in the housing. Therefore, the second body has the smallest thickness; and when the first body is opened relative to the second body, the functional component is lifted up, the distance between the functional component and the bottom of the casing increases, and the overall thickness of the second body becomes larger. In this way, the heat dissipation effect of the electronic device can be improved or the distance of the speaker cabinet can be increased. In addition, the designer can have more design margins when designing the thickness of the electronic device.

1: Electronic device 2: The first body 21: display screen 3: The second body 31: Shell 32, 32’: functional parts 322: Guiding Block 33: Flexible parts 4: pivot 41: Rotating shaft 42, 6: lifting parts 5: Appearance parts 61: Motor 62: connecting rod S1, S2, S3, S4: side S1, S2, S3, S4: side C1, C2, C3, C4: corner P, Pa, Pb, Pc: hollow pattern P1: The first guide slope P2: The second guide slope H: horizontal direction D: Diagonal direction V: vertical direction F: First direction

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of a second body of the electronic device in FIG. 1. 3A to 3C are schematic diagrams of the first body relative to the second body from closed to open. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of possible shapes of the hollow pattern. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the flexible member after being deformed. 6A to 6C show the pattern distribution design of the hollow pattern when the flexible component is in a planar state, and the curvature of the flexible component changes when the electronic device is closed in response to different pattern distribution conditions. 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams of an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

1: Electronic device

2: The first body

21: display screen

3: The second body

31: Shell

32: functional parts

33: Flexible parts

4: pivot

5: Appearance parts

Claims (17)

An electronic device includes: a casing; a functional component arranged in the range of the casing; and a flexible component connected between the casing and the functional component, and the flexible component surrounds the functional component The outer periphery of the housing, wherein the functional component is displaced in the housing along the thickness direction of the housing relative to a bottom of the housing through the deformation of the flexible component. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member has a plurality of hollow patterns. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the functional component has four sides and four corners, any two adjacent sides are connected to each other through one of the corners, and the hollow patterns are One part corresponds to the side edges, and the other part of the hollow patterns corresponds to the corners. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the density of the hollow patterns corresponding to the corners is greater than the density of the hollow patterns corresponding to the sides. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the hollow patterns are of the same size, and the hollow patterns are evenly arranged along a direction away from the functional component toward the functional component. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein along the direction from away from the functional component toward the functional component, the hollow patterns have the same size and have multiple arrangement densities. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein from a direction away from the functional component toward the functional component, the arrangement density of the hollow patterns ranges from sparse to dense. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the hollow patterns are uniformly arranged along a direction from away from the functional component toward the functional component, and include at least two sizes. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein from a direction away from the functional component toward the functional component, the hollow patterns evenly arranged change from small to large or from large to small. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the hollow patterns are blind holes or exposed holes. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the material of the flexible component includes plastic, rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or wood. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the functional component is a keyboard or a display screen. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an appearance part, which is laid on the flexible part. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first body having a display screen; a second body including the casing, the functional part and the flexible part; and A pivot is connected between the first body and the second body, so that the first body and the second body can be relatively opened and closed. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the pivot includes a shaft member and a lifting member, the shaft member is connected between the first body and the second body, and the lifting member is disposed in the second body , And linked with the rotating shaft member to lift the functional component. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the lifting member is a connecting rod. The electronic device according to claim 14, further comprising a lifting member disposed in the second body for lifting the functional component when the first body is opened relative to the second body.

Images