TWI850988B - Portable computer with game controller - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable computer with game controller including a first body and a game controller is provided. The game controller includes a bracket, a first hinge, a second hinge, a third hinge, a linking disk, and a handle. The first hinge connects the first body and the bracket together, the second hinge connects the bracket and the linking disk together, and the third hinge connects the handle and the linking disk together. The handle is rotated relative to the linking disc via the third hinge, the handle and the linking disc are rotated relative to the bracket via the second hinge, and the handle, the linking disc, and the bracket are rotated relative to the first body via the first hinge. The axial direction of the third hinge is different from the axial direction of the first hinge, and also different from the axial direction of the second hinge.

Description

Portable computer with game controller

The present invention relates to a portable computer, and in particular to a portable computer with a game controller.

Existing portable electronic devices, such as laptops or tablet computers, have been widely used in daily life. However, due to the portability of the device, the input devices available to users are limited in design, generally only keyboards and touch pads. If you want to use the portable electronic device for other purposes, you often need to use an external input device. For example, an external mouse or joystick as a user interface for drawing or playing games. However, for users, this also means that these external input devices need to be carried together with the portable device to ensure the above-mentioned usage status, which in turn causes burden and inconvenience in carrying.

Furthermore, as applications develop in various aspects, applicable external input devices will also change accordingly, thereby increasing the types and quantity of external input devices required, which is even more detrimental to the portability and usage scenarios of the above-mentioned portable computers.

The present invention provides a portable computer with a game controller, which has the application capability, adaptability and portability of a portable computer.

The portable computer with a game controller of the present invention includes a first body and a game controller. The game controller includes a bracket, a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft, a third rotating shaft, a connecting plate and a handle. The first rotating shaft connects the bracket and the first body. The second rotating shaft connects the bracket and the connecting plate. The third rotating shaft connects the handle and the connecting plate. The handle rotates relative to the connecting plate through the third rotating shaft, the connecting plate and the handle rotate relative to the bracket through the second rotating shaft, and the connecting plate, the handle and the bracket rotate relative to the first body through the first rotating shaft. The axial direction of the third rotating shaft is different from the axial direction of the first rotating shaft and the axial direction of the second rotating shaft.

Based on the above, the handle, the connecting plate and the bracket of the game controller can be rotated and opened relative to the first body through the first axis connected between the bracket and the first body, the handle can be rotated relative to the connecting plate through the third axis, and the connecting plate and the handle can be rotated and opened relative to the bracket through the second axis, and the axial direction of the third axis is different from the axial direction of the second axis and the axial direction of the first axis. Therefore, the game controller can be stacked or unfolded relative to the first body to present different states, thereby further improving the compactness of the structure of the existing portable computer that needs an external game controller, and taking into account the adaptability of the usage scenario and the convenience of carrying.

100, 200: Portable computer

110: First Body

111: Groove

112: Top

120: Second body

130: Game controller

131: Bracket

131a: Touch panel module

132:Connection plate

132a, 132b: disk

133, 233: Handle

133a: Pillar

133b: Notch

133c: Control components

134: Tooth

135: Spring

136: Latch

140:Keyboard module

AX1, AX2: axis

H1: First axis

H11, H12: shaft

H11a, H12a: convex part

H2: Second axis

H3: The third axis

H3a: Driving teeth

H4: The fourth axis

L1, L2, L3: Length

S1, S2, S3: surface

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of the changes in the game controller of the portable computer in Figure 1.

Figures 4A to 4C illustrate the mechanism and movement of the rotating shaft.

Figure 5A and Figure 5B are exploded views of a game controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 6A and 6B show different states of the game controller's handle.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a portable computer of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the portable computer in FIG7 in another state.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are schematic diagrams of variations of a game controller of the portable computer of FIG. 1 . Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, the portable computer 100 includes a first body 110 and a game controller 130. The first body 110 has a groove 111. The game controller 130 includes a bracket 131, a first rotating shaft H1, a second rotating shaft H2, a third rotating shaft H3, a connecting plate 132, and a handle 133. The first rotating shaft H1 connects the bracket 131 and the first body 110. The second rotating shaft H2 connects the bracket 131 and the connecting plate 132. The third rotating shaft H3 connects the handle 133 and the connecting plate 132. The handle 133 rotates relative to the connecting plate 132 via the third rotation axis H3, the connecting plate 132 and the handle 133 rotate relative to the bracket 131 via the second rotation axis H2, and the connecting plate 132, the handle 133 and the bracket 131 rotate relative to the first body 110 via the first rotation axis H1. When the bracket 131 is closed in the first body 110, the handle 133 and the connecting plate 132 are accommodated in the groove 111 along with the bracket 131, and when the bracket 131 is unfolded relative to the first body 110, the handle 133 and the connecting plate 132 move out of the groove 111 along with the bracket 131.

Furthermore, the portable computer 100 further includes a second body 120, a fourth shaft H4 and a keyboard module 140. The fourth shaft H4 connects the first body 110 and the second body 120 so that the second body 120 can be rotated relative to the first body 110 via the fourth shaft H4. Here, the first body 110 is, for example, a host of a laptop computer, and the second body 120 is, for example, a screen (or a touch screen) of the laptop computer. As shown in FIG. 1 , when the game controller 130 is stored in the groove 111 of the first body 110, the top of the game controller 130 is substantially aligned with or lower than the top surface 112 of the first body 110, and the keyboard module 140 is disposed on the first body 110 and is substantially on the same side as the game controller 130 stored in the groove 111, so the second body 120 can be smoothly closed on the top surface 112 of the first body 110 through the fourth rotation axis H4.

In addition, the portable computer 100 of the present embodiment further includes a touch panel module 131a, which is disposed on the bracket 131, that is, the touch panel module 131a moves with the bracket 131, so when the bracket 131 is stored in the groove 111 as shown in FIG. 1, the touchable surface of the touch panel module 131a is equivalent to the surface S1 of the bracket 131, so the touch panel module 131a and the aforementioned keyboard module 140 are both exposed to the top surface 112 of the first body 110 and can be used smoothly. When the second body 120 is closed on the top surface 112 of the first body 110, the second body 120 covers the keyboard module 140, the game controller 130 and the touch panel module 131a together. In this embodiment, the game controller 130 and the keyboard module 140 are each electrically connected to the main control module of the portable computer 100 (e.g., the motherboard and related electronic control components thereon, not shown here) through a physical circuit. For the game controller 130, its touch panel module 131a and the handle 133 and other related electrical drive functions can allow the handle 133 and the touch panel module 131a to belong to the same electronic control module, or allow the two to belong to different electronic control modules but be electrically connected to each other, and then pass through the first shaft H1 through a physical circuit (not shown) and then be electrically connected to the aforementioned main control module.

As shown in the unfolding process of FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , it should be first explained that the first rotating shaft H1 of the present embodiment can also be provided with a torsion spring (not shown) and then matched with a latch mechanism (not shown) provided on the first body 110, so that the game controller 130 can be fixed in the groove 111 in the storage state shown in FIG. 1 , and the aforementioned torsion spring is in a state of deformation and accumulation of elastic force. When the user wants to remove the game controller 130 from the groove 111, the latch mechanism can be unlocked (for example, by pressing a button to drive the latch mechanism). At this time, the elastic force accumulated by the torsion spring can bring the bracket 131 and the connecting plate 132 and the handle 133 out of the groove 111 to a preset angle (or preset height), so that the user can continue to apply force to drive the game controller 130.

4A to 4C illustrate the mechanism and action of the rotating shaft. Please refer to FIG. 4A to 4C simultaneously. In this embodiment, in order to allow the first rotating shaft H1 and the second rotating shaft H2 to be smoothly unfolded and provide a stop when the angle is at the maximum, the first rotating shaft H1 and the second rotating shaft H2 have similar structures. Here, the first rotation axis H1 is taken as an example, which includes two shafts H11 and H12 that are coaxial with each other (coaxial line AX1) and can be rotatably connected, wherein the shaft H11 is assembled and fixed to the bracket 131, and the shaft H12 is assembled and fixed to the first body 110. Each shaft H11 and H12 also extends a convex portion H11a and H12a, and the two convex portions H11a and H12a of the two shafts H11 and H12 are on each other's moving paths. In this way, when the two shafts H11 and H12 rotate relative to each other about the axis AX1, the two convex portions H11a and H12a can be abutted to achieve a basis for closing or opening to a maximum angle. In other words, when the bracket 131 is received in the groove 111, the two protrusions H11a and H12a of the first rotation axis H1 are far away from each other, as shown in FIG4B. When the bracket 131 rotates relative to the first body 110 and unfolds to the maximum angle (as shown in FIG3), the two protrusions H11a and H12a of the first rotation axis H1 abut against each other (as shown in FIG4C), and the two protrusions H11a and H12a interfere with each other to produce a blocking effect on the bracket 131.

Similarly, the above mechanism is also applicable to the second rotating shaft H2. For example, the shaft H11 can be fixedly assembled on the connecting plate 132, and the shaft H12 can be fixedly assembled on the bracket 131. When the connecting plate 132 is folded in the bracket 131, the two protrusions of the second rotating shaft H2 are far away from each other, as shown in FIG4B. When the connecting plate 132 rotates relative to the bracket 131 and unfolds to the maximum angle, such as shown in FIG3, the two protrusions of the second rotating shaft H2 abut against each other to provide a blocking effect for the handle 133, as shown in FIG4C. It should also be noted that the blocking timing of the protrusions H11a and H12a can be appropriately adjusted according to the required maximum expansion angle. In other words, the designer can adjust the maximum expansion angles of the bracket 131 relative to the first body 110 and the connecting plate 132 relative to the bracket 131 by designing the protrusions H11a and H12a.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are exploded views of a game controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B simultaneously, in which the first rotation axis H1 and the second rotation axis H2 are respectively shown as simplified diagrams for easy identification, and the axes AX1 and AX2 are respectively used as examples. In the game controller 130 of this embodiment, the first rotation axis H1 and the second rotation axis H2 are located at opposite sides of the bracket 131, so that the unfolding direction of the bracket 131 relative to the first body 110 is consistent with the unfolding direction of the connecting plate 132 relative to the bracket 131. Please also refer to Figures 1 to 3 and compare with Figure 5A or Figure 5B. The fourth rotation axis H4 and the first rotation axis H1 are located on opposite sides of the first body 110, and the groove 111 is located between the first rotation axis H1 and the fourth rotation axis H4. Therefore, the unfolding direction of the bracket 131 relative to the first body 110 is opposite to the unfolding direction of the second body 120 relative to the first body 110. In this way, after the bracket 131 moves out of the groove 111 through the first rotation axis H1, its unfolding stroke will continue to move away from (far away from) the screen (second body 120). Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the handle 133 of the game controller 130 has a notch 133b. When the handle 133 and the connecting plate 132 rotate relative to the bracket 131 through the second rotation axis H2 and are retracted in the bracket 131, the bracket 131 is accommodated in the notch 133b.

In addition, please refer to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B , the game controller 130 of this embodiment further includes a gear 134 and at least one spring 135. The gear 134 is movably disposed in the handle 133. The third shaft H3 is surrounded by a driving gear H3a (or can be regarded as a gear structure sleeved on the third shaft H3), and the gear 134 is movably engaged with the driving gear H3a as the handle 133 rotates relative to the connecting plate 132. The spring 135 is abutted between the gear 134 and the handle 133. Specifically, the second rotation axis H2 and the third rotation axis H3 are disposed on the two opposite disk surfaces 132a and 132b of the connecting disk 132, wherein the second rotation axis H2 is located on and parallel to the disk surface 132a, and the third rotation axis H3 is substantially perpendicular to the disk surface 132b. Furthermore, the handle 133 also has a pair of pillars 133a, which are disposed at the opposite ends of the moving path of the gear 134, and the spring 135 is a pair, and the opposite ends of each spring 135 are respectively sleeved on the gear 134 and the pillar 133a, and abutted between the gear 134 and the pillar 133a, so that the gear 134 can deform the spring 135 when it moves in the handle 133.

FIG6A and FIG6B illustrate different states of the handle of the game controller. Please refer to FIG6A and FIG6B at the same time, and compare with FIG5A or FIG5B. In this embodiment, when the handle 133 is subjected to external force and rotates relative to the connecting plate 132 through the third shaft H3, the engagement position of the driving gear H3a and the gear 134 changes, causing the gear 134 to move in the handle 133, and thus deforming the spring 135 and causing it to accumulate elastic force, that is, the process from FIG6A to FIG6B. On the contrary, when the external force is removed from the handle 133, the elastic force will drive the gear 134 to reset, thereby changing the engagement position between the gear 134 and the driving gear H3a, and then driving the handle 133 to rotate from FIG. 6B to the position shown in FIG. 6A. In the figure, since the displacement of the gear 134 is small and difficult to identify, the length of the spring 135 is used as an example instead. In FIG. 6A , the handle 133 has not yet rotated relative to the connecting disk 132, so the gear 134 is substantially located in the center, and the pair of springs 135 have a length L1. In the state shown in FIG. 6B , it is equivalent to the user applying force and driving the handle 133 to rotate counterclockwise relative to the connecting disk 132. Due to the engagement relationship between the driving gear H3a and the gear 134, the gear moves to the left side of the handle 133, thereby causing the spring 135 on the left side to be compressed. Conversely, the spring 135 on the right side is stretched. Therefore, the length relationship shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B is length L3>length L1>length L2. Once the user removes the applied force, the accumulated elastic force of the spring 135 will pull the gear 134 back to the aforementioned central position, thereby causing the handle 133 to rotate clockwise and return to the state shown in Figure 6A. It should be noted that although this embodiment uses a pair of springs 135 as an example, it is expected that a single spring can also achieve the same movement effect on the gear 134.

In addition, it can be seen from the above that, for the overall structure of the portable computer 100, the axial direction of the first rotating shaft H1 (axis AX1) is parallel to the axial direction of the second rotating shaft H2 (axis AX2), the axial direction of the third rotating shaft H3 is different from the axial direction of the first rotating shaft H1 and the axial direction of the second rotating shaft H2, and the axial direction of the fourth rotating shaft H4 is parallel to the axial direction of the first rotating shaft H1 and the axial direction of the second rotating shaft H2.

Please refer to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B again, and compare FIG. 5A or FIG. 5B. In this embodiment, the game controller 130 further includes a latch 136, which is movably inserted into the handle 133 to lock or release the gear 134. FIG. 6A shows that the latch 136 is inserted into the gear 134, and thus the gear 134 is fixed in the handle 133 and cannot be moved. In other words, before the user wants to rotate the handle 133 from the state shown in FIG. 6A to the state shown in FIG. 6B, the user must first drive the latch 136 to withdraw (release) the gear 134, taking FIG. 6B as an example, so that the process of switching from FIG. 6A to FIG. 6B can be smoothly performed. Similarly, the latch 136 shown in FIG6B is in the state of withdrawing (releasing) the gear 134, so after the user removes the force applied to the handle 133, the elastic force of the spring 135 can drive the gear 134 and the handle 133 to reset. If the user inserts the latch 136 into the gear 134 again at this time, it is equivalent to fixing the gear 134 in the position shown in FIG6B. In this way, even if the user releases the handle 133 and removes the force, the handle 133 can maintain the state shown in FIG6B.

The rebound mechanism composed of the gear 134, the driving gear H3a and the spring 135 can not only smoothly return the handle 133, but also provide the user with a feedback feel. At the same time, the configuration and driving direction of the rebound mechanism are substantially parallel to the plane where the first body 110 is located, so the thickness of the first body 110 can be effectively reduced, thereby achieving a light and thin effect.

Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 again. In this embodiment, the handle 133 has two surfaces S2 and S3 facing each other, and the multiple control components 133c of the game controller 130 are arranged on the surface S3. Therefore, as shown in Figure 2, the first body 110 needs to set multiple depressions corresponding to these control components 133c in the groove 111, or increase the depth of the groove 111 to achieve the effect of accommodation. It should be noted that, in addition to the buttons and joysticks shown in the figure, the control components 133c and other known components required for controlling the game can be arranged on the handle 133 according to needs.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a portable computer of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the portable computer of FIG. 7 in another state. Please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 simultaneously. Different from the configuration of the control component 133c in the above embodiment, in the portable computer 200 shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the control component configured on the handle 233 is equivalent to the surface S2 shown in the above embodiment. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the game controller is stored in the groove 111, the control component is actually exposed to the first body 110, so it can also be controlled in the state of FIG. 7.

It should also be noted that the embodiment mentions that the depth of the groove 111 can be increased to facilitate the design of accommodating the game controller 130. In addition, the embodiment can further provide the function of the control component being rotatable and retractable. Taking the button as an example, an arc track and a latch surrounding the button are provided around the button so that the user can achieve the effect of raising and lowering the button by rotating the button. This can effectively reduce the required depth of the aforementioned groove 111, and at the same time, it can also reduce the thickness of the first body 110, thereby achieving the effect of making the body thinner and lighter.

In another embodiment not shown, the aforementioned game controller can also be detachably mounted on a portable computer, and the portable computer is, for example, a tablet computer. In the stacked state as shown in FIG. 1 , the game controller is substantially stacked on the screen or back panel of the portable computer, and is electrically connected or disconnected with the portable computer through a separate electrical connector (such as a pogo pin) at the end of the bracket or the end of the first shaft. Here, the game controller can be disassembled from the body of the portable computer by means of a magnetic attraction, a buckle or a tenon structure. In another embodiment, when the game controller is removed from the portable computer, the game controller can be connected to the main control module of the portable computer via a wireless method, such as Bluetooth, infrared, or 2.4 GHz wireless connection.

In summary, in the above embodiments of the present invention, the handle, the connection plate and the bracket of the game controller can be rotated relative to the first body by connecting the first shaft between the bracket and the first body, so that the game controller can be stored in the groove of the first body or can be removed from the groove and unfolded to present different states, thereby allowing the existing portable computer that needs an external game controller to obtain further structural improvement, taking into account the adaptability of the usage scenario and the convenience of carrying.

Furthermore, for the game controller, in addition to the above-mentioned storage effect, the game controller also uses teeth, driving teeth, and springs to form a rebound mechanism between the handle and the connecting plate, so that the rotation of the handle relative to the connecting plate can be reset, and at the same time, it can also provide the user with a feedback feel when rotating the handle. Furthermore, the rebound structure is combined with the configuration of the handle, the connecting plate, and the bracket relative to the first body, which can effectively reduce the space occupied by the game controller in the first body, thereby reducing the thickness of the first body and achieving a light and thin effect.

100: Portable computer

110: First Body

111: Groove

112: Top

120: Second body

131: Bracket

132:Connection plate

133:Handle

133b: Notch

133c: Control components

H3: The third axis

H4: The fourth axis

Claims (19)

A portable computer with a game controller comprises: a first body; a game controller foldably assembled on the first body to overlap the first body or unfold relative to the first body, the game controller comprising: a bracket; a first rotating shaft connecting the bracket and the first body, the bracket rotating relative to the first body through the first rotating shaft; a second rotating shaft; a A connecting plate, the second rotating shaft connects the bracket and the connecting plate; a third rotating shaft; and a handle, the third rotating shaft connects the connecting plate and the handle, the handle rotates relative to the connecting plate through the third rotating shaft, and the connecting plate and the handle rotate relative to the bracket through the second rotating shaft, and the axial direction of the third rotating shaft is different from the axial direction of the first rotating shaft and the axial direction of the second rotating shaft. A portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 1, wherein the axial direction of the first rotating shaft is parallel to the axial direction of the second rotating shaft. A portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 1, wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are located at opposite side edges of the bracket. A portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 1, wherein the handle has a notch, and when the handle and the connecting plate are rotated relative to the bracket via the second shaft and folded into the bracket, the bracket is accommodated in the notch. A portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 1, wherein the game controller further comprises: a tooth bar movably disposed in the handle, the third rotating shaft ring is provided with a driving tooth, and the tooth bar is movably engaged with the driving tooth as the handle rotates relative to the connecting disk. A portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 5, wherein the game controller further includes at least one spring abutting between the tooth bar and the handle. A portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 6, wherein when the handle is subjected to an external force and rotates relative to the connecting disk, the tooth moves inside the handle and deforms the spring so that the spring accumulates elastic force, and when the handle removes the external force, the elastic force drives the tooth to reset the handle. As described in claim 6, the portable computer with a game controller comprises a pair of springs, which are respectively mounted on opposite ends of the tooth bar, and each of the springs abuts between the tooth bar and the handle. A portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 5, wherein the game controller further includes a latch that can be movably inserted into the handle to lock or release the gear. As described in claim 1, the portable computer with a game controller, wherein the second rotation axis and the third rotation axis are respectively located on two opposite disk surfaces of the connecting disk, the second rotation axis is arranged on one of the two disk surfaces, and the third rotation axis is orthogonal to the other of the two disk surfaces. As described in claim 1, the portable computer with a game controller, wherein the first body has a groove, when the bracket is closed in the first body, the handle and the connection plate of the game controller are accommodated in the groove along with the bracket, and when the bracket is unfolded relative to the first body, the handle and the connection plate of the game controller are moved out of the groove along with the bracket. The portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 11 further includes a keyboard module disposed on the first body and located on the same side of the first body as the game controller housed in the groove. The portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 11 further includes a touch panel module disposed on the bracket, and the touch panel module is exposed outside the first body when the bracket is stored in the groove. The portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 11 further includes a second body and a fourth shaft, the fourth shaft connecting the first body and the second body, so that the second body can be rotated and opened relative to the first body through the fourth shaft, and when the second body is closed on the top surface of the first body, the game controller stored in the groove is aligned with or lower than the top surface. A portable computer with a game controller as described in claim 14, wherein the second body is a screen of the portable computer. As described in claim 15, the portable computer with a game controller, wherein the fourth axis and the first axis are located on opposite sides of the first body, the groove is located between the first axis and the fourth axis, and the bracket moves away from the screen after the first axis moves out of the groove. As described in claim 11, the portable computer with a game controller, wherein the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft each include two shafts that are coaxially rotatably connected to each other, and a protrusion extending from each shaft, and the two protrusions of the two shafts are on each other's moving paths. As described in claim 17, in the portable computer with a game controller, when the bracket is stored in the groove, the two protrusions of the first shaft are far away from each other, and when the bracket is rotated relative to the first body and unfolded to the maximum angle, the two protrusions of the first shaft abut against each other. As described in claim 17, in the portable computer with a game controller, when the connecting plate is folded into the bracket, the two protrusions of the second shaft are away from each other, and when the connecting plate is rotated relative to the bracket and unfolded to the maximum angle, the two protrusions of the second shaft abut against each other.

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