TWI868449B - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing, a magnetic sensing module and a control element. The first housing includes a magnet and a first surface. The second housing is pivotally connected with the first housing. The second housing includes a side surface,　a second surface, a first power button and a second power button. The first power button is arranged on the second surface, the second power buttons are arranged on the side surface of the second housing. The magnetic sensing module is arranged in the second housing, and the magnetic sensing module is used for sensing the direction and the strength of a magnetic field generated by the magnet. The control element is electrically connected with the magnetic sensing module, the first power button and the second power button. The control element is used for enabling one of the first power button and the second power button according to a direction and strength of a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensing module.

Description

Electronic devices

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device that switches a power button according to different operation modes.

A flip laptop is an electronic device that combines the two operating modes of a laptop and a tablet computer. It can be used in different applications, so its flexibility is greatly improved. However, in the prior art, the power button of a flip laptop is usually set on the keyboard surface in accordance with the design of a general laptop. When the user adjusts the flip laptop to tablet mode, the keyboard surface is facing away from the user. Therefore, the user often touches the power button by mistake when holding the computer because the user cannot directly see the position of the power button, causing the computer to shut down accidentally.

The present disclosure mainly provides an electronic device capable of switching power keys according to different operation modes, so as to solve the technical problem that the power keys of flip-type notebook computers are all arranged on the keyboard surface, which may cause users to touch them by mistake.

In order to solve the above technical problems, one of the technical solutions adopted by the present disclosure is to provide an electronic device, which includes a first shell, a second shell, a magnetic sensing module and a control element. The first shell includes a magnet and a first surface. The second shell is pivoted to the first shell. The second shell includes a side surface, a second surface, a first power key and a second power key. The side surface is connected to one side of the second surface. The first power key is arranged on the second surface. The second power key is arranged on the side surface. The magnetic sensing module is arranged in the second shell, and the magnetic sensing module is used to sense the direction and intensity of the magnetic field generated by the magnet. The control element is electrically connected to the magnetic sensing module, the first power key and the second power key. The control element activates one of the first power button and the second power button according to the magnetic field direction and magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module.

The beneficial effect of the present disclosure is that the present disclosure can use the magnetic sensing module to sense the difference in magnetic field direction and magnetic field strength of the magnet to enable the control element to select and activate the first power key or the second power key. Through the switching mechanism of the present disclosure, when the user uses the electronic device as a tablet computer, the movable power key in the electronic device can automatically switch to the second power key on the side surface of the second housing, thereby preventing the user from accidentally touching the power key when holding the electronic device because the user cannot directly see the position of the power key, resulting in an accidental shutdown.

To further understand the features and technical contents of the present disclosure, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present disclosure. However, the drawings provided are only used for reference and description and are not used to limit the present disclosure.

The following is a specific embodiment to illustrate the implementation of the "electronic device" disclosed in this disclosure. The technical personnel in this field can understand the advantages and effects of this disclosure from the content disclosed in this manual. This disclosure can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments. The details in this manual can also be modified and changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of this disclosure. In addition, the drawings of this disclosure are only for simple schematic illustrations and are not depicted according to actual sizes. Please note in advance. The following implementation will further explain the relevant technical content of this disclosure, but the disclosed content is not used to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. In addition, it should be understood that although the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are mainly used to distinguish one component from another.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 respectively show schematic diagrams of the electronic device of the present disclosure flipping into different modes. The present disclosure provides an electronic device D, which mainly includes a first housing 1, a second housing 2 and a pivot axis T. The pivot axis T is disposed between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2, and the first housing 1 is pivotally connected to the second housing 2 through the pivot axis T. Therefore, the first housing 1 can be flipped 360 degrees relative to the second housing 2 with the pivot axis T as the axis, so that the electronic device D presents different operating states. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , FIG. 1 shows the electronic device D in a closed state, FIG. 2 shows the electronic device D in an open state used as a notebook computer, and FIG. 3 shows the electronic device D in a tablet computer used after the first housing 1 is flipped 360 degrees relative to the second housing 2 .

Next, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 , the first housing 1 includes a first surface 11 and a magnet 12, the magnet 12 is disposed in the first housing 1, and the first surface 11 is provided with a touch screen S. The second housing 2 includes a side surface 24, a second surface 21, a first power key 22, and a second power key 23. The side surface 24 is connected to one side of the second surface 21. In this embodiment, there is an angle between the side surface 24 and the second surface 21. Preferably, the side surface 24 is perpendicular to the second surface 21. The second surface 21 is provided with an operation keyboard B. The first power key 22 is disposed on the second surface 21, and the second power key 23 is disposed on the side surface 24 of the second housing 2.

The electronic device D disclosed in the present invention further includes a magnetic sensing module 3 and a control element 4, and the magnetic sensing module 3 and the control element 4 can be arranged in the second housing 2. The control element 4 can be, for example but not limited to, a switch IC (Switch IC) element. In the embodiment disclosed in the present invention, the magnetic sensing module 3 mainly includes a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor, but the present invention is not limited to this. The magnetic sensing module 3 can also further include a gyroscope and a sensor hub. The sensor hub is a microcontroller that can help capture, integrate and process data from different sensors. The magnetic sensing module 3 is used to sense the direction and strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnet 12. The control element 4 is electrically connected to the magnetic sensing module 3, the first power button 22 and the second power button 23. The control element 4 can enable the first power key 22 or the second power key 23 according to the result sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3. In other embodiments, the control element 4 can be disposed in the first housing 1. Based on the fact that the control element 4 can be electrically connected to the magnetic sensing module 3, the first power key 22 and the second power key 23, the present disclosure is not limited to the location of the control element 4.

If the direction of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 meets a preset direction and the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 reaches a preset strength, that is, the magnetic field strength is greater than or equal to the preset strength, the control element 4 will select to enable the second power key 23 and disable the first power key 22. On the contrary, if the direction of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is different from the preset direction, or the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 does not reach the preset strength, that is, the magnetic field strength is less than the preset strength, the control element 4 will select to enable the first power key 22 and disable the second power key 23. In other words, the control element 4 will enable the second power key 23 only when the conditions of the preset direction and the preset strength are met, and in other cases, the control element 4 will enable the first power key 22.

It should be noted that the magnetic field direction refers to the tangent direction of the magnetic field lines generated by the magnet 12 at a position close to the magnetic sensing module 3. The default direction is the magnetic field direction of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 when the electronic device D is used as a tablet computer. In the embodiment shown in the present disclosure, please refer to FIG. 10, which is an implementation form when the electronic device D is used as a tablet computer, and the default direction is the positive Y-axis direction. In addition, the default strength can also be set to the magnetic field strength of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 when the electronic device D is used as a tablet computer.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the angle between the first surface 11 of the first housing 1 and the second surface 21 of the second housing 2 is 0 degrees, that is, when the electronic device D is closed, the relationship between the relative position between the magnet 12 and the magnetic sensing module 3 and the direction of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is further explained. As shown in FIG. 7, the second housing 2 can define a projection plane (not shown) parallel to the second surface 21, and the position of the magnet 12 projected on the projection plane and the position of the magnetic sensing module 3 projected on the projection plane can overlap or not overlap. As shown in FIG. 5, when the projection of the magnet 12 does not overlap with the projection of the magnetic sensing module 3, the magnetic sensing module 3 can be located on the left or right side of the magnet 12. When the magnetic sensing module 3 is located on the left side of the magnet 12, the magnetic field direction of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is the negative Y-axis direction. When the magnetic sensing module 3 is located on the right side of the magnet 12, the magnetic field direction of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is the positive Y-axis direction, as indicated by the dotted arrow on the magnetic sensing module 3 in FIG5 . As shown in FIG6 , when the projection of the magnet 12 overlaps with the projection of the magnetic sensing module 3, the magnetic sensing module 3 may be located directly below the magnet 12, and the magnetic field direction of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is the positive X-axis direction, as indicated by the dotted arrow on the magnetic sensing module 3 in FIG6 . In the following FIGS. 7 to 10 , the present disclosure is explained using an embodiment in which the projection of the magnet 12 and the projection of the magnetic sensing module 3 do not overlap.

As shown in FIG. 7 , FIG. 7 shows the relative position relationship between the magnet 12 and the magnetic sensing module 3 when the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 of the electronic device D are covered. In the embodiment shown in the present disclosure, the placement direction of the magnet 12 is perpendicular to the first surface 11. More specifically, the magnetic field lines inside the magnet 12 are perpendicular to the first surface 11. There is a distance H between the positions of the magnet 12 and the magnetic sensing module 3 projected on the projection surface. The distance H changes as the first housing 1 pivots relative to the second housing 2. Specifically, the distance H is maximum when the first housing 1 is pivoted 180 degrees relative to the second housing 2, and is minimum when the first housing 1 is pivoted 0 degrees or 360 degrees relative to the second housing 2. The magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is inversely proportional to the distance H. Further, in the present disclosure, when the distance H is minimum, the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is greater than or equal to the preset strength.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 further shows the direction of the external magnetic field lines of the magnet 12. The direction of the magnetic field lines outside the magnet 12 is from the N pole to the S pole, while the direction of the magnetic field lines inside the magnet 12 is from the S pole to the N pole. When the electronic device D is closed, the angle Ө between the first surface 11 of the first housing 1 and the second surface 21 of the second housing 2 is 0 degrees, that is, the first surface 11 is parallel to and overlaps the second surface 21. At this time, the distance H between the magnet 12 and the position of the magnetic sensing module 3 projected on the projection surface has a minimum value, and the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensor module 3 is greater than or equal to the preset strength. However, the magnetic field direction R of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3, that is, the tangent direction of the magnetic field lines generated by the magnet 12 at a position close to the magnetic sensing module 3, is opposite to the preset direction. That is, the magnetic field direction R of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is different from the preset direction. The preset direction of this embodiment is the positive Y-axis direction. The magnetic sensing module 3 outputs a first sensing signal to the control element 4 according to the sensing result, and the control element 4 then outputs a first control signal according to the first sensing signal to enable the first power button 22 located on the second surface 21 of the second housing 2 and disable the second power button 23. Therefore, even though the magnetic field strength of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensor module 3 is greater than or equal to the preset strength, when the direction of the magnetic field of the magnet 12 sensed is different from the preset direction, the control element 4 still makes the second power button 23 inactive.

Next, referring to FIG8 , when the first housing 1 of the electronic device D is opened at an angle relative to the second housing 2 to be used as a notebook computer, the angle Ө between the first surface 11 of the first housing 1 and the second surface 21 of the second housing 2 is greater than 0 degrees and less than 360 degrees, preferably about 90 to 135 degrees, and FIG8 takes the angle Ө as 90 degrees as an example. At this time, the distance H between the magnet 12 and the position of the magnetic sensing module 3 projected on the projection surface is significantly greater than the distance H shown in FIG7 . Therefore, the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 will be less than the preset strength. The magnetic sensing module 3 outputs the first sensing signal to the control element 4 according to the sensing result, and the control element 4 then outputs the first control signal according to the first sensing signal to enable the first power button 22 and disable the second power button 23.

Similarly, referring to FIG9 , when the first housing 1 of the electronic device D is further turned over relative to the second housing 2, so that the angle Ө between the first surface 11 of the first housing 1 and the second surface 21 of the second housing 2 is 270 degrees, the distance H between the magnet 12 and the position of the magnetic sensing module 3 projected on the projection surface will be greater than the distance H shown in FIG7 . Therefore, the magnetic field intensity sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 will be less than the preset intensity, and the magnetic sensing module 3 outputs the first sensing signal to the control element 4 according to the sensing result, so that the control element 4 outputs the first control signal to enable the first power key 22 and disable the second power key 23.

Because the direction of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 conforms to a preset direction and the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is greater than or equal to the preset strength, the control element 4 activates the second power key 23 and disables the first power key 22. Therefore, in FIG8 and FIG9, because the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is less than the preset strength, regardless of whether the direction of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 conforms to the preset direction, the control element 4 will output the first control signal to activate the first power key 22 and disable the second power key 23.

Referring to FIG. 10 , when the first housing 1 of the electronic device D is further turned over relative to the second housing 2 so that the angle Ө between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 is 360 degrees, the electronic device D is used as a tablet computer. The angle Ө between the first surface 11 of the first housing 1 and the second surface 21 of the second housing 2 is 360 degrees, and the first surface 11 is parallel to the second surface 21. At this time, the distance H between the magnet 12 and the position of the magnetic sensing module 3 projected on the projection surface has a minimum value. The magnetic field strength of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is greater than or equal to the preset strength. In addition, the magnetic field direction R of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3, that is, the tangent direction of the magnetic field lines generated by the magnet 12 at a position close to the magnetic sensing module 3, is the same as the preset direction. That is, the magnetic field direction R of the magnet 12 sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 conforms to the preset direction. Therefore, the magnetic sensing module 3 outputs a second sensing signal to the control element 4 according to the sensing result, and the control element 4 then outputs a second control signal according to the second sensing signal to enable the second power key 23 located on the side surface 24 of the second housing 2 and disable the first power key 22.

In summary, the present disclosure uses the magnetic sensing module 3 to sense the magnetic field direction and magnetic field strength of the magnet 12 in different operating states of the electronic device D, such as the operating state of a laptop or a tablet computer, to enable the control element 4 to select and activate the first power key 22 or the second power key 23. Through the switching mechanism of the present disclosure, when the user uses the electronic device D as a tablet computer, the operable power key in the electronic device D is automatically switched to the second power key 23 on the side surface of the second housing 2, thereby preventing the user from accidentally touching the power key when holding the electronic device D because the user cannot directly see the position of the power key, or accidentally shutting down the device due to the accidental touch time exceeding a certain time (e.g., more than 4 seconds).

Furthermore, if the magnetic field direction sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 meets the preset direction and the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is greater than the preset strength, the magnetic sensing module 3 outputs a second sensing signal to the control element 4, so that the control element 4 activates the second power key 23 and disables the first power key 22. On the other hand, if the magnetic field direction R sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 is different from the preset direction, or the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module 3 does not reach the preset strength, the magnetic sensing module 3 outputs a first sensing signal to the control element 4, and the control element 4 activates the first power key 22 and disables the second power key 23.

The above disclosed contents are only preferred feasible embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of the patent application of the present disclosure. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made by using the contents of the disclosure instructions and drawings are included in the scope of the patent application of the present disclosure.

D: electronic device 1: first housing 11: first surface 12: magnet 2: second housing 21: second surface 22: first power button 23: second power button 24: side surface 3: magnetic sensing module 4: control element T: pivot B: operation keyboard S: touch screen R: magnetic field direction H: distance Ө: angle

FIG. 1 is a first three-dimensional schematic diagram of the electronic device disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a second three-dimensional schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a third three-dimensional schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a magnetic sensing module, a control element, a first power button, and a second power button of the electronic device disclosed herein.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a first operation of the magnetic sensing module and the magnet of the electronic device disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 is a second operation schematic diagram of the magnetic sensing module and the magnet of the electronic device disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 is a first side view schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a second side view schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a third side view schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a fourth side view schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present disclosure.

D: Electronic devices

1: First shell

11: First surface

12: Magnet

2: Second shell

21: Second surface

22: First power button

23: Second power button

24: Side surface

3: Magnetic sensing module

4: Control elements

T: pivot axis

S: Touch screen

B: Operation keyboard

Claims (10)

An electronic device includes: a first housing including a magnet and a first surface; a second housing pivotally connected to the first housing, the second housing including a side surface, a second surface, a first power key and a second power key, the side surface connected to a side of the second surface, the first power key disposed on the second surface, and the second power key disposed on the side surface; a magnetic sensing module disposed on the second housing, the magnetic sensing module being used to sense the direction and intensity of the magnetic field generated by the magnet; and a control element electrically connected to the magnetic sensing module, the first power key and the second power key. and the second power key, the control element activates one of the first power key and the second power key according to the magnetic field direction and magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module; wherein when the angle between the first surface of the first shell and the second surface of the second shell is 360 degrees, the control element activates the second power key and disables the first power key; when the angle between the first surface of the first shell and the second surface of the second shell is greater than 0 degrees and less than 360 degrees or equal to 0 degrees, the control element disables the second power key and activates the first power key. An electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein when the direction of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensing module matches a preset direction and the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module is greater than or equal to a preset strength, the control element activates the second power button. An electronic device as described in claim 2, wherein when the angle between the first surface of the first housing and the second surface of the second housing is 360 degrees, the direction of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensing module conforms to the preset direction and the intensity of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensing module is greater than or equal to the preset intensity. An electronic device as described in claim 3, wherein when the angle between the first surface of the first housing and the second surface of the second housing is 0 degrees, the direction of the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensing module is different from the preset direction, so that the control element activates the first power button. An electronic device as described in claim 2, wherein when the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module is less than the preset strength, the control element activates the first power button. An electronic device as described in claim 5, wherein when the angle between the first surface of the first housing and the second surface of the second housing is greater than 0 degrees and less than 360 degrees, the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module is less than the preset strength. An electronic device as described in claim 2, wherein the preset direction is the direction of the magnetic field of the magnet sensed by the magnetic sensing module when the angle between the first surface of the first housing and the second surface of the second housing is 360 degrees. An electronic device as described in claim 2, wherein there is a distance between the magnet and the position of the magnetic sensing module projected on the projection surface, and the distance changes as the first housing pivots relative to the second housing. When the distance is minimum, the magnetic field strength sensed by the magnetic sensing module is greater than or equal to the preset strength. An electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the magnetic field lines inside the magnet run perpendicular to the first surface. An electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensing module includes a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor.

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