TWI851331B - Electronic device and hinge module - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device and a hinge module are provided. The hinge module includes a base, a slider, a pair of fixed rods, a first assembly piece, a second assembly piece and a driving assembly. The base has a first side wall and a second side wall on two opposite sides. The fixing rods pass through the first side wall and the second side wall of the base, and the slider is sheathed on the fixing rod so as to move linearly between the first side wall and the second side wall relative to the base through the fixing rods. The first assembly is arranged on the first side wall and includes a first shaft, a first abutting portion and a cam, the first shaft passes through the first side wall, and the first abutting portion and the cam are sleeved on the first shaft at opposite sides of the first side wall. The second assembly is arranged on the slider, and includes a second shaft and a second abutting portion, the second shaft is arranged on the slider, the second abutting portion is sleeved on the second shaft and faces the first abutting portion. The driving assembly is linked with the slider and includes a sensing switch and a driving part, and the sensing switch is electrically connected with the driving part.

Description

Electronic device and shaft module

The present invention relates to a device and a structure, and in particular to an electronic device and a hinge module.

The hinge module used in foldable electronic devices such as laptops is mainly connected between the two bodies of the foldable electronic device, so that the two bodies can rotate relative to each other through the hinge module.

The torque member of the existing shaft module is usually composed of multiple elastic gaskets. When the body rotates, the friction between the gaskets is used to form the torque required to support the body. The torque generated by this type of torque member is based on the number of elastic gaskets, and the torque value is fixed. Therefore, for the user, not only does it take a lot of force to open the two bodies from each other, but in the process of rotating the two bodies open, the user needs to continuously apply a force greater than the torque to open the two bodies to the expected angle.

The present invention provides a shaft module capable of providing a labor-saving operation mode.

The present invention provides an electronic device capable of opening a machine body in a more labor-saving manner.

The present invention discloses a rotating shaft module, comprising a base, a slider, a pair of fixed rods, a first assembly, a second assembly and a driving assembly. The base has a first side wall and a second side wall located on opposite sides; the slider is arranged on the base and can move between the first side wall and the second side wall; the fixed rod passes through the first side wall and the second side wall of the base, and the slider is sleeved on the fixed rod to move linearly relative to the base through the fixed rod; the first assembly is arranged on the first side wall, wherein the first assembly comprises a first shaft, a first abutting portion and a cam, the first shaft passes through the first side wall and the second side wall of the base, and the slider is sleeved on the fixed rod to move linearly relative to the base through the fixed rod; the first assembly is arranged on the first side wall, wherein the first assembly comprises a first shaft, a first abutting portion and a cam, The first shaft passes through the first side wall, and the first abutment portion and the cam are sleeved on the first shaft and located on two opposite sides of the first side wall; the second assembly is arranged on the slider, wherein the second assembly includes a second shaft and a second abutment portion, the second shaft is arranged on the slider, and the second abutment portion is sleeved on the second shaft and faces the first abutment portion; the driving assembly is linked to the slider, and includes a sensing switch and a driving member, and the sensing switch is electrically connected to the driving member. The first shaft is rotated to change the state of the sensing switch, and the sensing switch drives the driving member to drive the slider to move toward the second side wall to release the contact between the second abutment portion and the first abutment portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, changing the state of the sensing switch includes the cam contacting the sensing switch, the sensing switch generating a displacement change, or the sensing switch generating a deformation.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are both gears, and the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are engaged with each other.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first side wall has a first setting portion, and the slider has a second setting portion, the first axis is set on the first setting portion, and the second axis is set on the second setting portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first shaft further has an assembly portion, the assembly portion and the cam are located on one side of the first setting portion, and the first abutment portion is located on the other side of the first setting portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second assembly further includes a plurality of gaskets, which are sleeved on the second shaft and are located on opposite sides of the second setting portion with the second abutting portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned driving member is a linear motor, a cylinder or a shape memory alloy.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are structures with matching shapes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, one of the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion is a male connection structure, and the other of the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion is a female connection structure.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned shaft module also includes a pair of springs, which are sleeved on the fixed rod, wherein one end of the spring abuts against the first side wall, and the other end abuts against the sliding block.

An electronic device of the present invention includes a first body, a second body and the above-mentioned shaft module. The shaft module is assembled between the first body and the second body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first body has a keyboard, and the second body has a screen.

Based on the above, in the electronic device and the shaft module of the present invention, by setting the driving assembly, after the user rotates the two bodies of the electronic device relative to each other to a certain extent, the cam of the first assembly changes the state of the sensing switch and actuates the driving member to drive the slider to move linearly on the base to release the contact between the second abutting portion and the first abutting portion. At this time, the shaft module does not provide torque, and the user can rotate the two bodies of the electronic device relative to each other in a more labor-saving manner.

100: Electronic devices

110: First Body

120: Second body

130: Shaft module

132: Base

132a: First side wall

132b: Second side wall

132c: Carrying part

133: First setting unit

134: Slider

134a: Second setting part

135: Fixed rod

136: The first set of connectors

1361: First axis

1361a:Assembly Department

1362, 1362’: first abutment portion

1363: Cam

137: Second set of connectors

1371: Second axis

1372, 1372’: second abutment portion

1373: Gasket

138:Drive assembly

1381:Sensor switch

1382:Driver

1383:Drive rod

139: Spring

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a partial schematic diagram of the shaft module in the electronic device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the decomposition of the shaft module of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing that the pivot module does not provide torque.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another implementation of the first abutment member and the second abutment member.

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present invention, FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the shaft module in the electronic device of FIG1, and FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the shaft module of FIG2. By the way, for the sake of simplicity, the drive assembly is not shown in FIG2 and FIG3.

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 at the same time. The electronic device 100 of this embodiment is a notebook computer, which includes a first body 110, a second body 120 and a hinge module 130, wherein the hinge module 130 is assembled between the first body 110 and the second body 120, so that the first body 110 and the second body 120 can be relatively closed or opened by the hinge module 130. In this embodiment, the first body 110 has a keyboard and the second body 120 has a screen, but it is not limited to this. In response to needs and after appropriate design, the first body 110 can also be a display with a screen and the second body 120 can be a logic with a keyboard. Alternatively, the electronic device 100 may also be a foldable tablet computer, and the first body 110 and the second body 120 may be touch panels with input/output interfaces.

Please continue to refer to Figures 1, 2 and 3. The shaft module 130 of this embodiment includes a base 132, a slider 134, a pair of fixed rods 135, a first assembly 136, a second assembly 137 and a driving assembly 138.

The base 132 is disposed on the first body 110, and the base 132 has a first side wall 132a and a second side wall 132b located on two opposite sides.

Specifically, the first side wall 132a and the second side wall 132b each include a plurality of fixing holes, and the number of fixing holes can be multiple. In this embodiment, two fixing holes are provided on the first side wall 132a, and three fixing holes are provided on the second side wall 132b, wherein the positions of the two fixing holes on the first side wall 132a correspond to the positions of two fixing holes on the second side wall 132b. The fixing rod 135 is inserted into the fixing holes corresponding to each other on the first side wall 132a and the second side wall 132b.

As described above, the base 132 further has a supporting portion 132c between the first side wall 132a and the second side wall 132b, wherein the slider 134 is movably disposed on the supporting portion 132c of the base 132, and the slider 134 can move between the first side wall 132a and the second side wall 132b.

The fixing rod 135 is inserted into the fixing holes corresponding to the positions of the first side wall 132a and the second side wall 132b of the base 132, and the slider 134 is sleeved on the fixing rod 135 so as to be able to move linearly relative to the base 132 through the fixing rod 135.

The first assembly member 136 is disposed on the first side wall 132a, wherein the first assembly member 136 includes a first shaft 1361, a first abutting portion 1362 and a cam 1363. The first side wall 132a has a first setting portion 133, the first shaft 1361 is disposed through the first setting portion 133 of the first side wall 132a, and the first abutting portion 1362 and the cam 1363 are located on opposite sides of the first side wall 132a and are sleeved on the first shaft 1361. The first shaft 1361 also has an assembly portion 1361a, wherein the assembly portion 1361a and the cam 1363 are located on the same side of the first setting portion 133, and the first abutting portion 1362 is located on the other side of the first setting portion 133. The assembly portion 1361a is linked to the second body 120.

The second assembly 137 is disposed on the slider 134, wherein the second assembly 137 includes a second shaft 1371 and a second abutment portion 1372. The slider 134 has a second setting portion 134a, the second shaft 1371 is disposed through the second setting portion 134a of the slider 134, and the second abutment portion 1372 is sleeved on the second shaft 1371 and faces the first abutment portion 1362. The second assembly 137 also includes a plurality of gaskets 1373 sleeved on the second shaft 1371, and the gaskets 1373 and the second abutment portion 1372 are located on opposite sides of the second setting portion 134a.

The driving assembly 138 is linked to the slider 134, and includes a sensing switch 1381 and a driving member 1382. The sensing switch 1381 is electrically connected to the driving member 1382, and the driving rod 1383 of the driving member 1382 is assembled with the slider 134.

In this embodiment, the first abutting portion 1362 and the second abutting portion 1372 are both gears, and before the first body 110 is opened to a predetermined angle relative to the second body 120, the first abutting portion 1362 and the second abutting portion 1372 are engaged with each other. At this time, the shaft module 130 provides torque.

The shaft module 130 also has a pair of springs 139, which are sleeved on the fixed rod 135, and one end of the spring 139 abuts against the first side wall 132a, and the other end abuts against the slider 134.

Specifically, when the first body 110 and the second body 120 of the electronic device 100 are closed, the cam 1363 of the first assembly 136 does not contact the sensing switch 1381. At this time, the first abutting portion 1362 and the second abutting portion 1372 are engaged with each other, and the shaft module 130 provides torque to the electronic device 100.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing that the pivot module does not provide torque.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 . The first body 110 and the second body 120 of the electronic device 100 are opened relative to each other. As the second body 120 and the first body 110 rotate relative to each other, the assembly portion 1361a of the first assembly member 136 is driven by the second body 120 to rotate the first shaft 1361, thereby causing the cam 1363 disposed on the first shaft 1361 to rotate in conjunction with the first shaft 1361. When the first body 110 and the second body 120 are relatively opened to a predetermined angle, the cam 1363 disposed on the first shaft 1361 contacts and actuates the sensing switch 1381, and the sensing switch 1381 drives the driving member 1382 to operate, so that the driving rod 1383 retracts, thereby driving the slider 134 to move toward the second side wall 132b to release the contact between the second abutting portion 1372 and the first abutting portion 1362. The above-mentioned predetermined angle can be adjusted according to actual needs by changing the peripheral profile of the cam 1363, so that the cam 1363 can properly contact and actuate the sensing switch 1381 at a desired angle. In this embodiment, the driving member 1382 is a cylinder including a telescopic rod 1383, but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the driving member 1382 may also be a linear motor, and the telescopic rod 1383 may also be a shape memory alloy to achieve the purpose of pulling and pushing the slider 134.

In short, when the second abutting portion 1372 and the first abutting portion 1362 are separated from each other, the shaft module 130 does not provide torque to the electronic device 100, so the user only needs to apply a force greater than the weight of the second body 120 to rotate the second body 120 relative to the first body 110.

Compared to conventional electronic devices, when a user rotates the second body relative to the first body, a force sufficient to overcome the weight of the second body and the torque provided by the shaft module 130 is required. Since the electronic device 100 in this embodiment releases the engagement between the second abutting portion 1372 and the first abutting portion 1362 when the first body 110 and the second body 120 are relatively opened to a predetermined angle, the shaft module 130 does not provide torque at this time, so the user can continue to rotate the second body 120 relative to the first body 110 in a more labor-saving manner.

By the way, when the second body 120 rotates relative to the first body 110 beyond another angle, the cam 1363 no longer contacts the sensing switch 1381, and the sensing switch 1381 causes the driving member 1382 to stop applying force to the slider 134. The slider 134 is driven by the elastic restoring force of the spring 139 to move toward the first side wall 132a, causing the second abutting portion 1372 to engage with the first abutting portion 1362 again. At this time, the shaft module 130 provides torque, so the second body 120 can stop at a specific angle relative to the first body 110.

In other embodiments, an elastic element (such as a spring) may be provided or the sensing switch 1381 may have an elastic portion, wherein the provision of the elastic element or the elastic portion allows the sensing switch 1381 to remain in contact with the cam 1363. When the cam 1363 rotates, the sensing switch 1381 abuts against the cam 1363, and therefore, as the outer contour of the cam 1363 changes when rotating, the sensing switch 1381 undergoes displacement change or deformation, and the sensing switch 1381 drives the telescopic rod 1383 of the driving member 1382 to retract, driving the slider 134 to move toward the second side wall 132b to release the contact between the second abutting portion 1372 and the first abutting portion 1362.

FIG5 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the first abutment member and the second abutment member. Referring to FIG5, in this embodiment, the first abutment portion 1362' and the second abutment portion 1372' are structures with matching shapes, wherein one of the first abutment portion 1362' and the second abutment portion 1372' is a male connection structure, and the other of the first abutment portion 1362' and the second abutment portion 1372' is a female connection structure.

Here, the male connection structure refers to a structure with a protruding shape, while the female connection structure refers to a structure with a recessed shape. The protruding shape and the recessed shape cooperate with each other, so when the male connection structure and the female connection structure are pressed against each other, the friction between them can achieve the effect of providing torque.

In summary, compared with the conventional electronic device, the electronic device and the shaft module of the present invention are different in that when the first body and the second body are opened to a predetermined angle relative to each other, the engagement between the second abutting portion and the first abutting portion is released, and the shaft module does not provide torque at this time, so the user can continue to rotate the second body relative to the first body in a more labor-saving manner.

130: Shaft module

132: Base

132a: First side wall

132b: Second side wall

134: Slider

135: Fixed rod

136: The first set of connectors

1361: First axis

1361a:Assembly Department

1362: First contact part

1363: Cam

137: Second set of connectors

1371: Second axis

1372: Second contact part

1373: Gasket

1381:Sensor switch

139: Spring

Claims (21)

A rotating shaft module comprises: A base having a first side wall and a second side wall located on opposite sides; A slider disposed on the base and capable of moving between the first side wall and the second side wall; A pair of fixed rods penetrating the first side wall and the second side wall of the base, and the slider is sleeved on the pair of fixed rods to move linearly relative to the base through the pair of fixed rods; A first assembly component disposed on the first side wall, wherein the first assembly component comprises a first shaft, a first abutting portion and a cam, the first shaft passes through the first side wall, and the first abutting portion and the cam are sleeved on the first shaft and located on opposite sides of the first side wall; A second assembly, arranged on the slider, wherein the second assembly includes a second shaft and a second abutting portion, the second shaft is arranged on the slider, the second abutting portion is sleeved on the second shaft and faces the first abutting portion; and a driving assembly, linked to the slider, including a sensing switch and a driving member, the sensing switch is electrically connected to the driving member, rotating the first shaft to change the state of the sensing switch, the sensing switch drives the driving member to drive the slider to move toward the second side wall to release the contact between the second abutting portion and the first abutting portion. A rotating shaft module as described in claim 1, wherein changing the state of the sensing switch includes the cam contacting the sensing switch, the sensing switch generating a displacement change, or the sensing switch generating a deformation. A rotating shaft module as described in claim 1, wherein the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are both gears, and the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are engaged with each other. A rotating shaft module as described in claim 1, wherein the first side wall has a first setting portion, and the slider has a second setting portion, the first axis is set on the first setting portion, and the second axis is set on the second setting portion. In the rotating shaft module as described in claim 4, the first shaft also has an assembly portion, the assembly portion and the cam are located on one side of the first setting portion, and the first abutting portion is located on the other side of the first setting portion. A rotating shaft module as described in claim 4, wherein the second assembly further includes a plurality of gaskets, which are sleeved on the second shaft and are located on opposite sides of the second setting portion as the second abutting portion. A rotary shaft module as described in claim 1, wherein the driving member includes a linear motor, a cylinder or a shape memory alloy. The shaft module as described in claim 1, wherein the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are structures with matching shapes. A rotating shaft module as described in claim 7, wherein one of the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion is a male connection structure, and the other of the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion is a female connection structure. The rotating shaft module as described in claim 1 further includes a pair of springs, which are sleeved on the pair of fixing rods, wherein one end of the pair of springs abuts against the first side wall, and the other end abuts against the sliding block. An electronic device includes: A first body and a second body; A shaft module assembled between the first body and the second body, the shaft module including: A base disposed on the first body, having a first side wall and a second side wall located on two opposite sides; A slider disposed on the base, capable of moving between the first side wall and the second side wall; A pair of fixed rods penetrating the first side wall and the second side wall of the base, and the slider is sleeved on the pair of fixed rods to move linearly relative to the base through the pair of fixed rods; A first assembly, disposed on the first side wall, wherein the first assembly includes a first shaft, a first abutting portion and a cam, the first shaft passes through the first side wall, and the first abutting portion and the cam are sleeved on the first shaft and located on two opposite sides of the first side wall, and the first abutting portion is assembled to the second body; A second assembly, disposed on the slider, wherein the second assembly includes a second shaft and a second abutting portion, the second shaft is disposed on the slider, the second abutting portion is sleeved on the second shaft and faces the first abutting portion; and A driving assembly, linked to the slider, including a sensing switch and a driving member, the sensing switch is electrically connected to the driving member, The first shaft is rotated to change the state of the sensing switch, and the sensing switch drives the driving member to drive the slider to move toward the second side wall to release the contact between the second abutting portion and the first abutting portion. An electronic device as described in claim 11, wherein changing the state of the sensing switch includes the cam contacting the sensing switch, the sensing switch generating a displacement change, or the sensing switch generating a deformation. An electronic device as described in claim 11, wherein the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are both gears, and the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are engaged with each other. An electronic device as described in claim 11, wherein the first side wall has a first setting portion, and the slider has a second setting portion, the first axis is set on the first setting portion, and the second axis is set on the second setting portion. In the electronic device as described in claim 14, the first shaft also has an assembly portion, the assembly portion and the cam are located on one side of the first setting portion, and the first abutting portion is located on the other side of the first setting portion. An electronic device as described in claim 14, wherein the second assembly further includes a plurality of gaskets, which are sleeved on the second axis and are located on opposite sides of the second setting portion as the second abutting portion. An electronic device as described in claim 11, wherein the driving element includes a linear motor, a cylinder or a shape memory alloy. An electronic device as described in claim 11, wherein the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion are structures with matching shapes. An electronic device as described in claim 18, wherein one of the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion is a male connection structure, and the other of the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion is a female connection structure. An electronic device as described in claim 11, wherein the hinge module further includes a pair of springs sleeved on the pair of fixing rods, wherein one end of the pair of springs abuts against the first side wall and the other end abuts against the sliding block. An electronic device as described in claim 11, wherein the first body has a keyboard and the second body has a screen.

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