U.S. patent application number 15/166247 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-01 for portable electronic device.
The applicant listed for this patent is INVENTEC CORPORATION, Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation. Invention is credited to Kuo-Yang CHENG, Yi-Ling TSAI.
Application Number | 20170153665 15/166247 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58643522 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170153665 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TSAI; Yi-Ling ; et
al. |
June 1, 2017 |
PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Abstract
A portable electronic device includes an expansion assembly and
a tablet computer. The expansion assembly includes a hinge base, a
rotating element, and a first magnet. The hinge base is located on
the expansion assembly and has a first concave portion. The
rotating element is pivoted to the first concave portion. The first
magnet is located on the hinge base. The position of the first
magnet corresponds to the position of the rotating element. The
tablet computer includes a housing and a second magnet. The housing
has a second concave portion. The position of the second concave
portion corresponds to the position of the first concave portion
and the second concave portion has an oblique wall. The second
magnet is located on the oblique wall and the magnetic force of the
second magnet is greater than the magnetic force of the first
magnet.
Inventors: |
TSAI; Yi-Ling; (TAIPEI CITY,
TW) ; CHENG; Kuo-Yang; (TAIPEI CITY, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation
INVENTEC CORPORATION |
Shanghai
Taipei City |
|
CN
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
58643522 |
Appl. No.: |
15/166247 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1654 20130101;
G06F 1/1616 20130101; H04M 1/0216 20130101; H04M 1/0254 20130101;
G06F 1/1632 20130101; G06F 1/1626 20130101; G06F 1/1681 20130101;
G06F 3/03547 20130101; G06F 1/1669 20130101; G06F 1/1679 20130101;
G06F 3/0202 20130101; G06F 1/169 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16; G06F 3/02 20060101 G06F003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 27, 2015 |
CN |
201510849664.X |
Claims
1. A portable electronic device, comprising: an expansion assembly
comprising: a hinge base located on a side of the expansion
assembly and having a first concave portion; a rotating element,
wherein an end of the rotating element is pivoted to the first
concave portion; and a first magnet located on the hinge base,
wherein a position of the first magnet corresponds to a position of
the rotating element; when the rotating element is attached to the
first magnet, the rotating element is accommodated in the first
concave portion; and a tablet computer, wherein a side of the
tablet computer is detachably disposed on the hinge base and
comprises: a housing having a second concave portion, wherein a
position of the second concave portion corresponds to a position of
the first concave portion, and the second concave portion has an
oblique wall; and a second magnet located on the oblique wall,
wherein a magnetic force of the second magnet is greater than a
magnetic force of the first magnet; when the second concave portion
is adjacent to the first concave portion, the rotating element is
attracted by the second magnet to pivot to the second concave
portion from the first concave portion, such that the rotating
element is attached to the second magnet.
2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first
concave portion has a sidewall, and when the rotating element is
attached to the first magnet, the rotating element is abutted
against the sidewall, and the sidewall is between the rotating
element and the first magnet.
3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein when the
rotating element is attached to the second magnet, the rotating
element is abutted against the oblique wall, and the oblique wall
is between the rotating element and the second magnet.
4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein an included
angle is formed between the oblique wall and the side of the tablet
computer and is in a range from 30.degree. to 80.degree..
5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the expansion
assembly further comprises a third magnet that is located on the
hinge base, and the tablet computer further comprises a fourth
magnet that is located on the housing, and a position of the third
magnet corresponds to a position of the fourth magnet, and a
polarity of the third magnet facing the fourth magnet is opposite
to a polarity of the fourth magnet facing the third magnet.
6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the expansion
assembly further comprises a fifth magnet that is located on the
hinge base, and the third magnet is between the fifth magnet and
the first concave portion, and the tablet computer further
comprises a sixth magnet that is located on the housing, and the
fourth magnet is between the sixth magnet and the second concave
portion, and a position of the fifth magnet corresponds to a
position of the sixth magnet, and a polarity of the fifth magnet
facing the sixth magnet is opposite to a polarity of the sixth
magnet facing the fifth magnet.
7. The portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the polarity
of the fifth magnet facing the sixth magnet is opposite to the
polarity of the third magnet facing the fourth magnet.
8. The portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the polarity
of the sixth magnet facing the fifth magnet is opposite to the
polarity of the fourth magnet facing the third magnet.
9. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the expansion
assembly has a first electrical contact, and the first concave
portion is between the first electrical contact and the third
magnet, and the tablet computer has a second electrical contact,
and the second concave portion is between the second electrical
contact and the fourth magnet, and when the rotating element is
attached to the second magnet, the second electrical contact is
electrically connected to the first electrical contact.
10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the
expansion assembly comprises a keyboard module and a touch pad
module.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Application
Serial Number 201510849664.X filed Nov. 27, 2015, which is herein
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a portable electronic
device.
[0004] Description of Related Art
[0005] Generally, a two-in-one detachable laptop computer (i.e., a
detachable NB) is composed of a tablet computer and a keyboard
device. In order to let users can adjust the inclination of the
screen of the tablet computer on the keyboard device after the
tablet computer is connected to the keyboard device, a recess is
usually designed in a side of the tablet computer and a protruding
pillar is usually designed on a side of the keyboard device having
a hinge base by manufacturer. When the recess of the tablet
computer is coupled to the protruding pillar of the hinge base, the
tablet computer may receive a force to rotate the hinge base
through the protruding pillar.
[0006] However, after the tablet computer is separated from the
keyboard device, the protruding pillar of the keyboard device
protrudes from the hinge base too much, such as in a range from
about 6 mm to 8 mm. As a result, not only is the outer appearance
of the keyboard device limited, but also the protruding pillar may
easily be damaged by an external force since the protruding pillar
protrudes outward too much. In addition, if the height of the
protruding pillar of the keyboard device is reduced, the protruding
pillar on the hinge base may easily be separated from the recess of
the tablet computer when the tablet computer is rotated on the
hinge base of the keyboard device, which is an inconvenient factor
for users.
SUMMARY
[0007] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a able
electronic device.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
portable electronic device includes an expansion assembly and a
tablet computer. The expansion assembly includes a hinge base, a
rotating element, and a first magnet. The hinge base is located on
a side of the expansion assembly and has a first concave portion.
An end of the rotating element is pivoted to the first concave
portion. The first magnet is located on the hinge base. The
position of the first magnet corresponds to the position of the
rotating element. When the rotating element is attached to the
first magnet, the rotating element is accommodated in the first
concave portion. A side of the tablet computer is detachably
disposed on the hinge base and includes a housing and a second
magnet. The housing has a second concave portion. The position of
the second concave portion corresponds to the position of the first
concave portion. The second concave portion has an oblique wall.
The second magnet is located on the oblique wall. The magnetic
force of the second magnet is greater than the magnetic force of
the first magnet. When the second concave portion is adjacent to
the first concave portion, the rotating element is attracted by the
second magnet to pivot to the second concave portion from the first
concave portion, such that the rotating element is attached to the
second magnet.
[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first concave
portion has a sidewall. When the rotating element is attached to
the first magnet, the rotating element is abutted against the
sidewall, and the sidewall is between the rotating element and the
first magnet.
[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the rotating
element is attached to the second magnet, the rotating element is
abutted against the oblique wall, and the oblique wall is between
the rotating element and the second magnet.
[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, an included angle
is formed between the oblique wall and the side of the tablet
computer and is in a range from 30.degree. to 80.degree..
[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the expansion
assembly further includes a third magnet that is located on the
hinge base. The tablet computer further includes a fourth magnet
that is located on the housing. The position of the third magnet
corresponds to the position of the fourth magnet. The polarity of
the third magnet facing the fourth magnet is opposite to the
polarity of the fourth magnet facing the third magnet.
[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the expansion
assembly further includes a fifth magnet that is located on the
hinge base. The third magnet is between the fifth magnet and the
first concave portion. The tablet computer further includes a sixth
magnet that is located on the housing. The fourth magnet is between
the sixth magnet and the second concave portion. The position of
the fifth magnet corresponds to the position of the sixth magnet.
The polarity of the fifth magnet facing the sixth magnet is
opposite to the polarity of the sixth magnet facing the fifth
magnet.
[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the polarity of
the fifth magnet facing the sixth magnet is opposite to the
polarity of the third magnet facing the fourth magnet.
[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the polarity of
the sixth magnet facing the fifth magnet is opposite to the
polarity of the fourth magnet facing the third magnet.
[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the expansion
assembly has a first electrical contact. The first concave portion
is between the first electrical contact and the third magnet. The
tablet computer has a second electrical contact. The second concave
portion is between the second electrical contact and the fourth
magnet. When the rotating element is attached to the second magnet,
the second electrical contact is electrically connected to the
first electrical contact.
[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the expansion
assembly includes a keyboard module and a touch pad module.
[0018] In the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention,
since the expansion assembly has the hinge base, the rotating
element, and the first magnet and the hinge base has the first
concave portion for accommodating the rotating element, the
rotating element may be accommodated in the first concave portion
and does not protrude from the hinge base when the rotating element
is attached to the first magnet. Moreover, the housing of the
tablet computer has the second concave portion, and the second
magnet is located on the oblique wall of the second concave
portion. Hence, when the second concave portion is adjacent to the
first concave portion, the second magnet having a magnetic force
that is greater than the magnetic force of the first magnet may
attract the rotating element to leave the first magnet from the
first concave portion and to pivot to the second concave portion,
such that the rotating element is attached to the second
magnet.
[0019] As a result, the tablet computer may receive a force to
rotate the hinge base through the rotating element, thereby
adjusting the inclination of the tablet computer. In addition, when
the tablet computer is separated from the expansion assembly, the
rotating element may slide out along the oblique wall of the second
concave portion and return to the first concave portion due to the
magnetic force of the first magnet. Therefore, it is helpful to the
outer appearance of the expansion assembly, and the rotating
element is not easily damaged by an external force because the
rotating element is located in the hinge base and does not protrude
outward too much.
[0020] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are by examples,
and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the
following detailed description of the embodiments, with reference
made to the accompanying drawings as follows:
[0022] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a portable electronic device
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of an expansion assembly
shown in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a tablet computer
shown in FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the tablet computer
shown in FIG. 1 after being connected to the expansion
assembly;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged of a portable electronic
device according to another embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0027] FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged of a portable electronic
device according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to
the same or like parts.
[0029] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a portable electronic device
100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is
a partially enlarged view of an expansion assembly 110 shown in
FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the portable electronic
device 100 includes the expansion assembly 110 and a tablet
computer 120. The expansion assembly 110 includes a hinge base 112,
a rotating element 114, and a first magnet 116. The hinge base 112
is located on a side 112 of the expansion assembly 110 and has a
first concave portion 113. An end 115 of the rotating element 114
is pivoted to the first concave portion 113. The first magnet 116
is located on the hinge base 112, and the position of the first
magnet 116 corresponds to the position of the rotating element 114.
The rotating element 114 is made of a material including metal, and
the first magnet 116 may be used to attract the rotating element
114. When the rotating element 114 is attached to the first magnet
116, the rotating element 114 may be accommodated in the first
concave portion 113 of the hinge base 112 and does not protrude
from the hinge base 112 too much, such as protruding outward by 0.7
mm. Such a design is helpful to the outer appearance of the
expansion assembly 110.
[0030] Furthermore, the first concave portion 113 of the hinge base
112 has a sidewall 113a. When the rotating element 114 is attached
to the first magnet 116, the rotating element 114 is abutted
against the sidewall 113a, and the sidewall 113a is between the
rotating element 114 and the first magnet 116. In other words, the
rotating element 114 and the first magnet 116 are respectively
located at two opposite sides of the sidewall 113a In addition, the
first concave portion 113 has a pivot 113b, and an end 115 of the
rotating element 114 is sleeved on the pivot 113b. Therefore, the
rotating element 114 may be pivoted on the pivot 113b.
[0031] In this embodiment, the expansion assembly 110 has a first
electrical contact 119. The first electrical contact 119 may be
used to electrically connect to the tablet computer 120. The
expansion assembly 110 may selectively include a keyboard module
132, a touch pad module 134, and other different types of
input/output (I/O) module, such as a USB port, a memory card port,
a network port, and a monitor port as deemed necessary by
designers, and the present invention is not limited in this
regard.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the tablet computer
120 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a side 121 of
the tablet computer 120 is detachably disposed on the hinge base
112 of the expansion assembly 110. The side 121 of the tablet
computer 120 includes a housing 122 and a second magnet 126. The
housing has a second concave portion 124. The second concave
portion 124 has an oblique wall 125, and the second magnet 126 is
located on the oblique wall 125. In this embodiment, an included
angle .theta. formed between the oblique wall 125 of the second
concave portion 124 and the side 121 of the tablet computer 120 is
in a range from 30.degree. to 80.degree., such as 70.degree.. In
addition, the tablet computer has a second electrical contact 129.
The second electrical contact 129 may be used to electrical connect
the first electrical contact 119 of the expansion assembly 110.
[0033] It is to be noted that the materials and the connection
relationships of the elements described above will not be repeated
in the following description. In the following description, the
state of the tablet computer 120 that is assembled to the expansion
assembly 110 will be described.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the tablet computer
120 shown in FIG. 1 after being connected to the expansion assembly
110. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the position of the second
concave portion 124 of the housing 122 of the tablet computer 120
corresponds to the position of the first concave portion 113 of the
hinge base 112 of the expansion assembly 110. Moreover, the
magnetic force of the second magnet 126 is greater than the
magnetic force of the first magnet 116. When the second concave
portion 124 of the tablet computer 120 is adjacent to the first
concave portion 113 of the hinge base 112, since the second magnet
126 is located on the oblique wall 125 of the second concave
portion 124, the second magnet 126 having the magnetic force that
is greater than the magnetic force of the first magnet 116 may
attract the rotating element 114 to leave the first magnet 116 from
the first concave portion 113 and to pivot into the second concave
portion 124 in a direction D1 such that the rotating element 114 is
attached to the second magnet 126 and is abutted against the
oblique wall 125. In this state, the oblique wall 125 is between
the rotating element 114 and the second magnet 126, and the second
electrical contact 129 of the tablet computer 120 is electrically
connected to the first electrical contact 119 of the expansion
assembly 110.
[0035] As a result, the tablet computer 120 may receive a force to
rotate the hinge base 112 through the rotating element 114 that is
pivoted into the second concave portion 124, thereby adjusting the
inclination of the tablet computer 120. In addition, when the
tablet computer 120 is separated from the expansion assembly 110,
the rotating element 114 may slide out along the oblique wall 125
of the second concave portion 124 and pivot in a direction D2 to
return to the first concave portion 113 due to the magnetic force
of the first magnet 116. Therefore, it is helpful to the outer
appearance of the expansion assembly 110, and the rotating element
114 not easily damaged by an external force because the rotating
element 114 is located in the first concave portion 113 and does
not protrude outward too much when the expansion assembly 110 is
not used by the tablet computer 120.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged of a portable electronic
device 100a according to another embodiment of the present
invention. The portable electronic device 100a includes the
expansion assembly 110 and the tablet computer 120. The difference
between this embodiment and the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is that
the expansion assembly 110 of the portable electronic device 100a
further includes a third magnet 117 and the tablet computer 120 of
the portable electronic device 100a further includes a fourth
magnet 127. The third magnet 117 is located on the hinge base 112
and the fourth magnet 127 is located on the housing 122. The
position of the third magnet 117 corresponds to the position of the
fourth magnet 127. Moreover, the polarity of the third magnet 117
facing the fourth magnet 127 (e.g., N pole) is opposite to the
polarity of the fourth magnet 127 facing the third magnet 117
(e.g., S pole). As a result of such a design, not only the rotating
element 114 may pivot into the second concave portion 124 and is
attached to the second magnet 126, but also the positioning
capability of the tablet computer 120 and the expansion assembly
110 may be improved through the third and fourth magnets 117,
127.
[0037] In this embodiment, the first concave portion 113 of the
hinge base 112 is between the first electrical contact 119 and the
third magnet 117. The second concave portion 124 of the housing 122
of the tablet computer 120 is between the second electrical contact
129 and the fourth magnet 127.
[0038] FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged of a portable electronic
device 100b according to another embodiment of the present
invention. The portable electronic device 100b includes the
expansion assembly 110 and the tablet computer 120. The difference
between this embodiment and the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is that
the expansion assembly 110 of the portable electronic device 100b
further includes a fifth magnet 118, and the tablet computer 120 of
the portable electronic device 100b further includes a sixth magnet
128. The fifth magnet 118 is located on the hinge base 112, and the
third magnet 117 is between the fifth magnet 118 and the first
concave portion 113. The sixth magnet 128 is located on the housing
122, and the fourth magnet 127 is between the sixth magnet 128 and
the second concave portion 124. The position of the fifth magnet
118 corresponds to the position of the sixth magnet 128, and the
polarity of the fifth magnet 118 facing the sixth magnet 128 (e.g.,
S pole) is opposite to the polarity of the sixth magnet 128 facing
the fifth magnet 118 (e.g., N pole). Furthermore, the polarity of
the fifth magnet 118 facing the sixth magnet 128 (e.g., S pole) is
opposite to the polarity of the third magnet 117 facing the fourth
magnet 127 (e.g., N pole). The polarity of the sixth magnet 128
facing the fifth magnet 118 (e.g., N pole) is opposite to the
polarity of the fourth magnet 127 facing the third magnet 117
(e.g., S pole).
[0039] In this embodiment, through the polarity configuration of
the third magnet 117, the fourth magnet 127, the fifth magnet 118,
and the sixth magnet 128, the traction capability of the portable
electronic device 100b may be effectively improved. That is helpful
to assembly and positioning efficacy between the tablet computer
120 and the expansion assembly 110.
[0040] Although the present invention has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof,
other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of
the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the
embodiments contained herein.
[0041] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
present invention covers modifications and variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *