TWI811743B - Foldable electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable electronic device including a first housing and a second housing, a hinge cover, a hinge module, a flexible panel, and an input/output port module is provided. The hinge cover is arranged between the first housing and the second housing, and has an end. The hinge module is arranged in the hinge cover, and the hinge module is connected to the first housing and the second housing. The first housing and the second housing are capable of being relatively opened and closed about the hinge module. The flexible panel is laid on the first housing and the second housing, and covers the hinge module. The input/output port module is arranged in the hinge cover and is electrically connected to the flexible panel. The input/output port module has a plug interface, and the end of the hinge cover exposes the plug interface.

Description

Foldable electronic device

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and in particular to a foldable electronic device.

Currently, foldable electronic devices on the market usually do not have a charging dock (Docking) that can be used for charging. This is because the middle part of the foldable electronic device is usually the hinge area, and for the sake of visual beauty and simplicity, the two casings usually cover the hinge area when the foldable electronic device is in a flat state.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a conventional foldable electronic device in a flat state, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device of FIG. 1A in a folded state. Please refer to Figure 1A and Figure 1B at the same time. When the foldable electronic device 1 is in a flat state, the case 11 will cover the hinge area 12, so the plug interface 13 of the input/output port module cannot be arranged in the hinge area. 12, it can only be set at 11 on one of the casings.

Another reason for arranging the plug-in interface 13 of the input/output port module away from the middle part of the foldable electronic device 1 is that the hinge area 12 is usually filled with mechanical components and there is no spare space. Place other functional components.

Simply put, the plug interface 13 of the input/output port module is disposed outside the middle part of the entire foldable electronic device 1 .

Most of the charging bases currently on the market have the charging connector set in the middle position. Therefore, when the foldable electronic device 1 is plugged into such a charging base for charging, it is easy for the entire foldable electronic device 1 not to be well supported and the center of gravity to shift, causing the charging base to tip over and collide with the foldable electronic device. 1 separation. What's more, the charging base and the foldable electronic device 1 may be damaged.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device and a charging base. Referring to FIG. 2 , one solution is to set the position of the charging connector 21 of the charging base 2 to correspond to the position of the plug-in interface 13 of the input/output port module of the foldable electronic device 1 .

However, since the plug-in interface 13 of the input/output port module of the foldable electronic device 1 and the charging connector 21 of the charging base 2 are both arranged biased to one side, the user has to adjust the input/output port of the foldable electronic device 1. It is difficult to align the plug interface 13 of the output connection port module with the charging connector 21 of the charging base 2 when plugged in.

The present invention provides a foldable electronic device with a novel structure.

A foldable electronic device of the present invention includes a first casing and a second casing, a rotating shaft cover, a rotating shaft module, a flexible panel and an input/output connection port module. The rotating shaft cover is disposed between the first casing and the second casing and has an end side wall. The rotating shaft module is arranged in the rotating shaft cover, and the rotating shaft module is connected to the first casing and a second casing, and the first casing and the second casing can be opened and closed relatively using the rotating shaft module as a rotating axis. The flexible panel is laid on the first casing and the second casing and covers the rotating shaft module. The input/output connection port module is arranged in the shaft cover and is electrically connected to the flexible panel. The input/output connection port module has a plug-in interface, and the end side wall of the shaft cover exposes the plug-in interface.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first casing and the second casing are arranged symmetrically with the rotating shaft cover as the center of symmetry.

In an embodiment of the invention, when the foldable electronic device is in a flat state, the top surface of the flexible panel is flush with or lower than the top surfaces of the first casing and the second casing.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned first casing and the second casing each have a clearance groove. When the foldable electronic device is in a flat state, the clearance groove forms a clearance space to expose the foldable electronic device. Output and plug-in interface.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned input/output port module includes an input/output port, a fixed board and a flexible circuit board. The input/output ports have plug connectors. The fixed plate assembly is installed in the rotating shaft cover, and the input/output port is fixed on the fixed plate. The flexible circuit board is connected between the input/output port and the flexible panel.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned input/output connection port module further includes at least one locking member that passes through the fixing plate and is locked into the rotating shaft cover.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned foldable electronic device further includes a side wall cover disposed on the end side wall of the rotating shaft cover, and the plug interface of the input/output connection port module is disposed on the side wall cover, and the side wall The cover exposes the plug socket.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned side wall cover and the rotating shaft cover are integrated The shape or side wall cover is embedded in the end side wall of the rotating shaft cover.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned first casing and the second casing each have a clearance groove. When the foldable electronic device is in a flat state, the clearance groove forms a clearance space to expose the foldable electronic device. Remove the side wall cover.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the shapes and sizes of the relief grooves of the first and second casings match the shapes and sizes of the side wall covers.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the foldable electronic device is in a flat state, the top surface of the flexible panel is flush with or lower than the top surface of the side wall cover.

Based on the above, in the foldable electronic device of the present invention, by arranging the plug interface of the input/output connection port module of the foldable electronic device at the hinge cover, the plug interface is located in the middle part of the entire foldable electronic device. . Therefore, the foldable electronic device of the present invention can be aligned and plugged into the charging socket more conveniently and simply than the conventional foldable electronic device.

1, 3, 3’: Foldable electronic device

11:Chassis

12:Rotating axis area

13. 361: Plug interface

2, 4: Charging base

21, 41: Charging connector

31:The first chassis

31a, 32a, 35a: top surface

31b, 32b: Get out of the way of the groove

32:Second chassis

33:Shaft cover

331: End side wall

34: Rotary axis module

35:Flexible panel

36: Input/output port module

361:Plug interface

362: Input/output port

363:Fixed plate

364:Flexible circuit board

365:Lock firmware

37:Side wall cover

37a:Top surface

S: Make room

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a conventional foldable electronic device in a flat state.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device in FIG. 1A in a folded state.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device and a charging base.

3A is a schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device in a flat state according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device of FIG. 3A in a folded state.

Figure 4A is a partial perspective view of Figure 3A.

Figure 4B is a partial schematic diagram of Figure 4A.

Figure 4C is an exploded schematic diagram of Figure 4B.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram in which the top surface of the flexible panel is flush with the top surfaces of the first casing and the second casing.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device being plugged into the charging base in a flat state.

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7B is a partial schematic diagram of Figure 7A.

Figure 7C is an exploded schematic view of Figure 7B.

FIG. 7D is a schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device of FIG. 7A in a folded state.

[First Embodiment]

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of the foldable electronic device in a flat state according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a schematic view of the foldable electronic device in FIG. 3A in a folded state.

Please refer to both Figure 3A and Figure 3B. The foldable electronic device 3 includes a first casing 31 and a second casing 32 , a hinge cover 33 , a hinge module 34 (shown in FIG. 4B ), a flexible panel 35 and an input/output port module. 36.

The rotating shaft cover 33 is disposed between the first casing 31 and the second casing 32 and has an end side wall 331 .

FIG. 4A is a partial perspective view of FIG. 3A , FIG. 4B is a partial schematic view of FIG. 4A , and FIG. 4C is an exploded schematic view of FIG. 4B . In order to clearly show the arrangement positions and arrangements of the components, the first casing 31 , the second casing 32 and the flexible panel 35 are omitted in FIG. 4B .

Please also refer to Figures 4A to 4C. The rotating shaft module 34 is disposed in the rotating shaft cover 33 , and the rotating shaft module 34 connects the first casing 31 and the second casing 32 . The first casing 31 and the second casing 32 are arranged symmetrically with the rotation shaft cover 33 as the center of symmetry, and the first casing 31 and the second casing 32 can be opened and closed relatively with the rotation shaft module 34 as the rotation axis.

The flexible panel 35 is laid on the first casing 31 and the second casing 32 and covers the rotating shaft module 34 . The input/output port module 36 is disposed in the shaft cover 33 and is electrically connected to the flexible panel 35. The input/output port module 36 has a plug-in interface 361, and the end side wall 331 of the shaft cover 33 exposes the plug-in interface 361.

Please refer to Figure 4A, Figure 4B and Figure 4C at the same time. In this embodiment, when the foldable electronic device 3 is in a flat state (as shown in Figure 3A), the top surface 35a of the flexible panel 35 is lower than the first chassis 31 and the top surfaces 31a, 32a of the second housing 32.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram in which the top surface of the flexible panel is flush with the top surfaces of the first casing and the second casing. In another embodiment of the foldable electronic device as shown in FIG. 5 , when the foldable electronic device 3 is in a flat state, the top surface 35 a of the flexible panel 35 can also be flush with the first chassis 31 and the second casing 31 . The top surfaces 31a and 32a of the second casing 32. The arrangement in which the top surface 35a of the flexible panel 35 is flush with the top surfaces 31a and 32a of the first casing 31 and the second casing 32 has (or can be)...

Please continue to refer to Figure 3A, Figure 3B and Figure 4A. By the way, in order to give a discount When the stacked electronic device 3 is in a flat state, the first casing 31 and the second casing 32 will not cover the plug interface 361. A clearance groove 31b, 32b is provided. The clearance grooves 31 b and 32 b jointly form a clearance space S when the foldable electronic device 3 is in a flat state, and the clearance space S is used to expose the plug port 361 .

Please continue to refer to Figures 4A to 4C. The above-mentioned input/output port module 36 includes an input/output port 362, a fixed board 363 and a flexible circuit board 364. The input/output port 362 has the above-mentioned plug interface 361. The fixed plate 363 is assembled inside the rotating shaft cover 33 , and the input/output port 362 is fixed on the fixed plate 363 . The flexible circuit board 364 is connected between the input/output port 362 and the flexible panel 35 so that the input/output port 362 can be electrically connected to the flexible panel 35 . The flexible circuit board 364 is located in the shaft cover 33 , and the shaft module 34 is pressed on top of the flexible circuit board 364 . In other words, most of the flexible circuit board 364 is located between the shaft cover 33 and the shaft module 34 .

The input/output port module 36 also includes at least one locking component 365 . In this embodiment, the locking parts 365 are provided as a pair. The fastener 365 passes through the fixing plate 363 and is locked into the rotating shaft cover 33 to fix the fixing plate 363 on the rotating shaft cover 33 .

Although this embodiment is described by taking the locking member 365 passing through the fixing plate 363 and locking into the rotating shaft cover 33 to fix the fixing plate 363 on the rotating shaft cover 33 as an example, it is not limited to this. Adhesive may also be used to adhere the fixing plate 363 to the rotating shaft cover 33 .

The input/output port 362 can also be fixed on the fixing plate 363 using fasteners 365 or adhesive, depending on the requirements.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device being plugged into the charging base in a flat state. Please refer to both Figure 6 and Figure 3A.

The charging base 4 has a charging connector 41 . When the foldable electronic device 3 is placed on the charging base 4 , the charging connector 41 corresponds to the plug-in interface 361 of the input/output port 362 of the input/output connection port module 36 . Through the physical connection between the charging connector 41 and the socket 361 , the charging base 4 and the foldable electronic device 3 are electrically connected to each other.

It is worth noting that when the foldable electronic device 3 is in a flat state, the hinge cover 33 is located in the middle part of the foldable electronic device 3 . To be more precise, the rotating shaft cover 33 is located at the symmetrical center of the length side of the foldable electronic device 3 after it is flattened. The input/output connection port module 36 is correspondingly disposed in the shaft cover 33 , and the plug port 361 is exposed from the shaft cover 33 . Therefore, the plug interface 361 of the input/output port 362 of the input/output port module 36 is also located in the middle part of the foldable electronic device 3 , that is, the symmetrical center of the length side of the foldable electronic device 3 after it is flattened. at.

Unless the components need to be placed in special locations due to special requirements, such as when the foldable electronic device 1 is in a flat state as described in the prior art shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , it is limited by the need to shield the casing 11 The rotating shaft area 12 is located, so the plug interface 13 of the input/output port module can only be set at one of the casings 11; otherwise, in terms of industrial design, there is a tendency to make the designed objects simple and simple. Symmetrical appearance, so as to achieve visual beauty.

In addition, from the perspective of mechanical design, except for deliberate weight design (such as making the left and right sides have different weights); usually, the center of gravity of an object with a symmetrical shape Usually designed at the center of symmetry.

Therefore, as mentioned in the prior art, when charging the foldable electronic device 1 as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B or FIG. 2 , it is easy because the plug-in positions of the foldable electronic device 1 and the charging base 2 are not symmetrical. At the center, not only does the user need to pay special attention to the corresponding position when connecting, but the center of gravity may fall in another position, which may easily cause the foldable electronic device 1 and the charging base 2 to overturn together.

In contrast, in this embodiment, the charging connector 41 of the charging base 4 is disposed in the middle part of the charging base 4, which meets the requirements of industrial design. In this way, when the user plugs the foldable electronic device 3 into the charging base 4, it can be aligned more easily.

In addition, the foldable electronic device 3 and charging base 4 of this embodiment also meet the requirements of mechanical design. Specifically, the plug port 361 is disposed at the center of symmetry when the foldable electronic device 3 is in a flat state. When the foldable electronic device 3 is plugged into the charging base 4, the center of gravity of the foldable electronic device 3 falls on the plug, so the foldable electronic device 3 can be well supported by the charging base 4 and can avoid the problems described in the previous technology. The charging base 4 falls over and is separated from the foldable electronic device 3 .

[Second Embodiment]

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7B is a partial schematic diagram of FIG. 7A , and FIG. 7C is an exploded schematic diagram of FIG. 7B . Please refer to Figure 7A, Figure 7B and Figure 7C at the same time.

This embodiment is substantially the same as the aforementioned first embodiment, so the similarities will not be described again. The differences are detailed below.

The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the foldable electronic device 3' further includes a side wall cover 37, and the side wall cover 37 is provided on the end side wall 331 of the rotating shaft cover 33. The plug interface 361 of the input/output connection port module 36 passes through the end side wall 331 of the rotating shaft cover 33 and is provided on the side wall cover 37 , and the plug interface 361 is exposed on the side wall cover 37 .

The side wall cover 37 can be integrally formed on the end side wall 331 of the rotating shaft cover 33 in the same process step when the rotating shaft cover 33 is formed; or the side wall cover 37 can also be independent of the rotating shaft cover 33 assembly, and the side wall cover 37 is fitted into the end side wall 331 of the rotating shaft cover 33 . The use of the side wall cover 37 can increase the structural strength of the rotating shaft cover 33 .

When the side wall cover 37 is fixed to the end side wall 331 of the rotating shaft cover 33 in a fitting manner, it can be achieved by using a tight fit of the structure, or the side wall cover 37 can be fixed to the end of the rotating shaft cover 33 by using adhesive. Side walls 331.

FIG. 7D is a schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device of FIG. 7A in a folded state. Please refer to FIGS. 7A and 7D at the same time. In response to the arrangement of the side wall cover 37 , the shape and size of the relief grooves 31 b and 32 b of the above-mentioned first and second casings 31 and 32 match the shape and size of the side wall cover 37 . The size is such that when the foldable electronic device 3 is in a flat state, the space S formed by the grooves 31b and 32b can expose the side wall cover 37 and thus the plug port 361.

Incidentally, when the foldable electronic device 3' is in a flat state, the top surface 35a of the flexible panel 35 may be flush with or lower than the top surface 37a of the side wall cover 37.

In summary, the foldable electronic device of the present invention has a novel structure that is different from conventional foldable electronic devices. The foldable electronic device of the present invention disposes the plug interface of the input/output connection port module at the rotating shaft cover as the symmetry center of the first casing and the second casing, so that the plug interface is located on the entire foldable electronic device. the middle part. Therefore, when the foldable electronic device is plugged into the charging socket, the foldable electronic device can be aligned and plugged into the charging socket more conveniently and easily than conventionally. In addition, after the foldable electronic device is plugged into the charging socket, the foldable electronic device can be firmly supported by the charging socket, thereby preventing tipping.

3: Foldable electronic devices

31:The first chassis

31a, 32a, 35a: top surface

32:Second chassis

33:Shaft cover

331: End side wall

35:Flexible panel

36: Input/output port module

361:Plug interface

362: Input/output port

S: Make room

Claims (10)

A foldable electronic device includes: a first casing and a second casing; a rotating shaft cover, which is disposed between the first casing and the second casing and has an end side wall; a rotating shaft module, It is disposed in the rotating shaft cover, and the rotating shaft module is connected to the first casing and the second casing, and the first casing and the second casing can be opened and closed relative to each other using the rotating shaft module as a rotating axis. ; A flexible panel is laid on the first casing and the second casing and covers the rotating shaft module; and an input/output connection port module is provided in the rotating shaft cover and is electrically connected to the flexible panel , the input/output connection port module has a plug interface, and the end side wall of the rotating shaft cover exposes the plug interface. The input/output connection port module includes: an input/output port with the plug interface; a fixed A board is assembled in the shaft cover, and the input/output port is fixed on the fixed board; and a flexible circuit board is connected between the input/output port and the flexible panel. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first casing and the second casing are symmetrically arranged with the rotating shaft cover as the center of symmetry. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the foldable electronic device is in a flat state, the top surface of the flexible panel is flush with or lower than the top surfaces of the first casing and the second casing. . The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first casing and the second casing each have a relief groove, and when the foldable electronic device is in a flat state, the relief grooves A clearance space is formed to expose the socket. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input/output connection port module further includes at least one locking member that passes through the fixing plate and is locked into the hinge cover. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a side wall cover disposed on the end side wall of the hinge cover, and the plug interface of the input/output connection port module is disposed on the side wall cover, and The side wall cover exposes the socket. The foldable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the side wall cover is integrally formed with the rotating shaft cover or the side wall cover is embedded in the end side wall of the rotating shaft cover. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first casing and the second casing each have a relief groove, and when the foldable electronic device is in a flat state, the relief grooves A clearance space is formed to expose the side wall cover. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the shape and size of the relief grooves of the first casing and the second casing match the shape and size of the side wall cover. The foldable electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the foldable electronic device is in a flat state, the top surface of the flexible panel is flush with or lower than the top surface of the side wall cover.

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