TWI623190B - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device includes a first housing and a second housing; a hinge assembly, Provided on a first side of the first housing or the second housing, wherein the first housing and the second housing are connected together by the hinge assembly and can be relatively opened or closed And a capacitive sensor disposed on a second side of the first housing or the second housing, the second side being opposite to the first side, the capacitive sensor and the hub The component is electrically connected, wherein the hub component provides a larger torque when the capacitive sensor does not sense a change in capacitance, and the hub component when the capacitive sensor senses a change in capacitance Provides less torque.

Description

Electronic device

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device having ease of use.

Current electronic devices, such as notebook computers, determine the components to be used, the way they are assembled, and the like when designing for various needs. For example, not only the selection and assembly of the components of the hinge assembly for opening the upper cover of the notebook computer relative to the body can be considered, but also the torque provided by the pivot assembly can be considered together.

Generally, the pivot assembly provides a fixed torque to open and fix the upper cover relative to the body. However, if the user wants to open the upper cover relative to the body from the state in which the upper cover is closed relative to the body, if the torque is greater than the overall weight of the notebook, The body will rise as the user opens the cover.

The present invention provides an electronic device having ease of use.

An electronic device of the present invention includes a first housing and a second housing; a hinge assembly disposed on a first side of the first housing or the second housing, wherein the first housing and the second housing are coupled together by the hinge assembly and can be opposite Opening or closing; and a capacitive sensor disposed on the second side of the first housing or the second housing, the second side being opposite to the first side, the capacitive sensor and The hub assembly is electrically connected, wherein the hub assembly provides a larger torque when the capacitive sensor does not sense a change in capacitance, and when the capacitive sensor senses a change in capacitance, The hub assembly provides less torque.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first housing is provided with a display screen, and the second housing is a body equipped with a central processing unit, and the capacitive sensor and the display The screens are electrically connected to the central processing unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, the hub assembly includes a first bracket adapted to be coupled to the first housing, and a second bracket adapted to be coupled to the second housing; the mandrel, at least through The first bracket has a first end and a second end; and a torque switching element electrically connected to the central processing unit and adapted to be coupled to the spindle.

In an embodiment of the invention, the torsion switching element is a stepping motor, and the first end of the mandrel passes through and is fixed outside the second bracket, the stepping motor and the The second end is connected, the stepping motor includes: a motor body; a motor bracket; and a motor nut coupled to the motor body and the second end penetrating into the motor nut, adapted to be The mandrel is telescopic and is fixed by the motor bracket. In addition, the hub assembly further includes a gasket disposed on the a mandrel and located between the first bracket and the motor bracket. Furthermore, the opposite sides of the second end of the mandrel are flattened.

In an embodiment of the invention, the torsion switch component is a solenoid valve, including: a valve body; and a valve shaft, one end of which is coupled to the valve body, and the valve shaft passes through the second bracket and Suitable for interfitting with the second end of the mandrel. Further, the hub assembly further includes a pair of transmission gears disposed at the other end of the valve shaft and the second end of the spindle, and the hub assembly provides the pair of transmission gears when they are fitted to each other The hub assembly does not provide torque when the pair of transmission gears are disengaged from each other. Further, the hinge assembly further includes a spring disposed between the second bracket and the transmission gear disposed on the other end of the valve shaft. Additionally, the hinge assembly further includes a nut that is threaded on the first end of the mandrel. Furthermore, the hinge assembly further includes a gasket disposed between the nut and the first bracket.

Based on the above, in the electronic device of the present invention, the capacitive sensor can be used to change the state in which the hinge assembly provides the torque, so that the user can relatively open the first housing and the second housing.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

100‧‧‧Electronic devices

100a‧‧‧ first side

100b‧‧‧ second side

110‧‧‧First housing

120‧‧‧second housing

130‧‧‧ Hub components

132‧‧‧First bracket

134‧‧‧second bracket

136‧‧‧ mandrel

138, 138a‧‧‧torque switch components

136a‧‧‧ first end

136b‧‧‧second end

1381‧‧‧Motor body

1383‧‧‧Motor bracket

1385‧‧‧Motor nut

139‧‧‧shims

1382‧‧‧ valve body

1384‧‧‧ valve shaft

End of the 1384a, 1384b‧‧‧ valve shaft

137a, 137b‧‧‧ transmission gear

135‧‧ ‧ spring

133‧‧‧ nuts

140‧‧‧Capacitive sensor

1 is a schematic view of an electronic device of the present invention.

2A and 2B are schematic views of a hinge assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2C is a perspective view of the hub assembly.

3A is a perspective view of a hinge assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B shows a schematic view of the hinge assembly providing torque, and FIG. 3C shows a schematic view of the hinge assembly not providing torque.

1 is a schematic view of an electronic device of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 , the electronic device 100 of the embodiment is a notebook computer, which includes a first housing 110 , a second housing 120 , a hinge assembly 130 , and a capacitive sensor 140 . The first housing 110 is provided with a display screen (not shown), and the second housing 120 is a body equipped with a central processing unit (not shown), wherein the display screen is electrically connected to the central processing unit. The pivot assembly 130 is disposed on the first side 100a of the first housing 110 or the second housing 120, wherein the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are coupled together by the pivot assembly 130 and the first housing 110 And the second housing 120 can be relatively opened or closed. The capacitive sensor 140 is disposed on the second side 100b of at least one of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, wherein the second side 100b is opposite to the first side 100a, and the capacitive sensor 140 is processed through the central processing The unit is electrically connected to the hub assembly 130.

The electronic device 100 of the present embodiment has the convenience of convenience for the user to conveniently open or close the first housing 110 relative to the second housing 120. In detail, the capacitive sensor 140 disposed on the first housing 110 or the second housing 120 can detect a change in capacitance, and when the capacitive sensor 140 does not sense a change in capacitance, the hub group The piece 130 provides greater torque; and when the capacitive sensor 140 senses a change in capacitance, the hub assembly 130 provides less torque. In this way, when the user needs to open the first housing 110 relative to the second housing 120 during the traveling, for example, the side of the second side 100b of the electronic device 100 provided with the capacitive sensor 140 may be touched. In order to cause the capacitance sensor 140 to sense the change of the capacitance, thereby changing the state of the hinge assembly 130, so that the torque provided by the hinge assembly 130 is small, so that the user can easily position the first housing 110 relative to the second housing. The body 120 is opened.

In view of the spirit of the invention described above, an example of two hub assemblies 130 will be described below.

[First Embodiment]

2A and 2B are schematic views of a hub assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the hub assembly 130 of FIG. 2A provides greater torque and the hub assembly 130 of FIG. 2B provides less torque. Referring first to FIG. 2A, the hub assembly 130 includes a first bracket 132, a second bracket 134, a spindle 136, and a torque switching element 138. The first bracket 132 is for connecting with the first housing 110, and the second bracket 134 is for connecting with the second housing 120, and the spindle 136 passes through the first bracket 132 and the second bracket 134, and the torque switch element 138 It is electrically connected to a central processing unit (not shown) and connected to the mandrel 136.

In detail, the mandrel 136 has a first end 136a and a second end 136b, and the first end 136a of the mandrel 136 passes through and is fixed outside the second bracket 134. The torque switching element 138 described above is a stepping motor, and the stepping motor is coupled to the second end 136b. The stepping motor includes a motor body 1381, a motor bracket 1383, and a motor nut 1385, wherein the motor nut 1385 is coupled to the motor body 1381 and the second end 136b is worn. It is inserted into the motor nut 1385 and is fixed by the motor bracket 1383. In addition, the hub assembly 130 further includes a gasket 139 that is sleeved on the mandrel 136 and located between the first bracket 132 and the motor bracket 1383. Incidentally, the cross-sectional shape of the second end 136b of the mandrel 136 in the radial direction is non-circular, but the opposite sides are flattened (as shown in FIG. 2C), such a design can avoid the mandrel 136 from following When the stepping motor rotates, the rotation of the spindle 136 interferes with the motor bracket 1383 to emit an abnormal sound or to drive the motor bracket 1383 to rotate. Alternatively, it is also possible that the diameter of the hole through which the motor bracket 1383 passes the mandrel 136 is larger than the diameter of the mandrel 136 to allow the space to avoid interference of the mandrel 136 with the motor bracket 1383.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A simultaneously, under normal circumstances, that is, when the user normally uses the electronic device 100, or the electronic device 100 is not used, the capacitive sensor 140 does not sense the change of the capacitance. At this time, the second end 136b of the mandrel 136 is deeply locked into the motor nut 1385 of the stepping motor, and the distance between the motor bracket 1383 and the first bracket 132 is tightened, and the gasket 139 presses the motor bracket 1383 and the first bracket 132, At this point the hub assembly 130 provides greater torque and as the second end 136b of the mandrel 136 deepens relative to the motor nut 1385, the torque increases.

Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B , when the user needs to adjust the angle of the first housing 110 relative to the second housing 120 , the first side 100 a of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are The first side 100a is assembled by the pivot assembly 130, and the second side 100b of the first housing 110 relative to the first side 100a is provided with a capacitive sensor 140, and the user can touch the first The side of the second side 100b of the housing 110. The capacitance is changed by the touch of the hand, and thus is disposed on the second side 100b The upper capacitive sensor 140 senses the change, and transmits the signal back to the central processing unit (not shown). The central processing unit (not shown) operates the stepping motor in the outgoing signal, so that the mandrel 136 is slightly The motor nut 1385 is exited, so the distance between the motor bracket 1383 and the first bracket 132 is increased, and the gasket 139 located between the motor bracket 1383 and the first bracket 132 is no longer pressed against the motor bracket 1383 and the first bracket 132. Therefore, the torque provided by the pivot assembly 130 is smaller than the foregoing, and as the distance from the mandrel 136 to the motor nut 1385 increases, the torque becomes smaller.

It should be noted that the foregoing capacitive sensor 140 can be disposed not only on the second side 100b of the first housing 110, but also on the second side 100b of the second housing 120, or at the same time. A housing 110 and a second side 100b of the second housing 120 are designed as desired. In addition, the aforementioned article capable of changing the capacitance is not limited to the user's hand, and other conductors that can change the electric field to cause a change in capacitance can also be applied thereto.

After the user's hand stops contacting the second side 100b of the first housing 110, the capacitance sensor 140 does not sense the change of the capacitance, and transmits the sensing result to the central processing unit (not shown), and the central processing The unit (not shown) resends the signal to the stepper motor such that the mandrel 136 is relatively deep into the motor nut 1385, so the hub assembly 130 again provides greater torque.

[Second embodiment]

3A is a perspective view of a hinge assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3A, in the present embodiment, the torque switch element 138a is a solenoid valve, and the solenoid valve includes a valve body 1382 and a valve shaft 1384, wherein an end 1384a of the valve shaft 1384 The valve body 1382 is coupled and the valve shaft 1384 passes through the second bracket 134 and is adapted to engage the second end 136b of the mandrel 136. To better fit the other end 1384b of the valve shaft 1384 with the second end 136b of the mandrel 136, the hub assembly 130 can further include a pair of drive gears 137a, 137b disposed at the other end 1384b of the valve shaft 1384 and The second end 136b of the mandrel 136, and the pair of drive gears 137a, 137b are adapted to fit one another.

The hub assembly 130 also includes a spring 135 disposed between the second bracket 134 and a drive gear 137b disposed on the other end 1384b of the valve shaft 1384. In addition, the pivot assembly 130 further includes a nut 133 and a gasket 139 , which are screwed on the first end 136 a of the mandrel 136 , and the gasket 139 is disposed between the nut 133 and the first bracket 132 .

FIG. 3B shows a schematic view of the hinge assembly providing torque, and FIG. 3C shows a schematic view of the hinge assembly not providing torque. Referring first to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3B, in a general state (ie, the user does not touch the side of the first housing 110 of the electronic device 100 or the second side 100b of the second housing 120 by hand), the valve of the solenoid valve The shaft 1384 extends a longer distance and the two drive gears 137a, 137b engage each other, so the hub assembly 130 now provides torque. The spring 135 disposed between the second bracket 134 and the transmission gear 137b on the other end 1384b of the valve shaft 1384 is urged by the spring force to the transmission gear 137b on the other end 1384b of the valve shaft 1384 to enhance the two. The degree of meshing of the transmission gears 137a, 137b with each other.

In general, when the angle of the first housing 110 relative to the second housing 120 is not adjusted, the torque provided by the hinge assembly 130 is sufficient to maintain the angle of the first housing 110 relative to the second housing 120.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C at the same time. It should be noted that when the electronic device 100 is applied, if the user wants to adjust the angle of the first housing 110 relative to the second housing 120, The assembly 130 provides a torsion so the user needs to apply a force greater than the torsion to flip the first housing 110 relative to the second housing 120. However, since the electronic device 100 of the present embodiment is provided with the capacitive sensor 140 and the capacitive sensor 140 is electrically connected to the hinge assembly 130 through a central processing unit (not shown), when the user wants to adjust the first shell When the angle of the body 110 is opposite to the second housing 120, the first housing 110 of the capacitive sensor 140 or the second side 100b of the second housing 120 is first touched by hand (or other conductor) to change the capacitance. When the capacitance sensor 140 senses the change of the capacitance, the sensing signal is transmitted to the central processing unit (not shown). After receiving the signal of the change of the capacitance, the central processing unit (not shown) sends a signal to activate the solenoid valve to retract the valve shaft 1384, and the transmission gear 137b and the second end of the valve shaft 1384 are 1384b. The spring 135 between the brackets 134 is squeezed and deformed due to the retraction of the valve shaft 1384, at which time the two transmission gears 137a, 137b are disengaged from each other, and since the mandrel 136 is not interfered by the solenoid valve, the hub assembly 130 is not Providing the torsion, the user can easily flip the first housing 110 relative to the second housing 120 without a torque.

When the user moves the hand away from the second side 100b (ie, the hand stops touching the second side 100b), when the capacitive sensor 140 no longer senses the change in capacitance, the capacitive sensor The result is transmitted back to the central processing unit (not shown), and the central processing unit (not shown) receives the sensing result and then sends a signal to activate the solenoid valve, and the valve shaft 1384 is extended again to make the two transmission gears. The 137a, 137b are engaged with each other, and the spring 135 is urged against the transmission gear 137b provided on the other end 1384b of the valve shaft 1384 to promote the degree of meshing of the two transmission gears 137a, 137b with each other. At this time, the hinge assembly 130 again provides a torsion force, so that it is difficult for the user to easily reverse the first housing 110 with respect to the second housing 120 again.

Incidentally, a first G sensor (not shown) is disposed in the first housing 110, wherein the positioning of the gravity sensor is used to determine whether the first housing 110 has been opposite to the second housing 120. Open. When the signal transmitted back to the central processing unit by the gravity sensor indicates that the first housing 110 has been opened relative to the second housing 120, even if the user accidentally touches the side of the second side 100b of the first housing 110, the capacitance is made. The change does not occur, and the central processing unit does not drive the torque switching elements 138, 138a to actuate, but maintains the first housing 110 at a particular opening angle relative to the second housing 120.

In summary, the electronic device of the present invention uses a capacitive sensor in combination with a hinge assembly, so that the amount of torque that the hinge assembly can provide can be changed by human control. For the user, only the side of the electronic device needs to be touched, and the torque can be adjusted to easily adjust the angle of the first housing of the electronic device relative to the second housing according to requirements, thereby being extremely convenient to use.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention It is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application attached.

Claims (11)

An electronic device comprising: a first housing and a second housing; a hinge assembly disposed on a first side of the first housing or the second housing, wherein the first component is a housing and the second housing are coupled together and can be relatively opened or closed; and a capacitive sensor disposed on the second side of the first housing or the second housing, the second The capacitive sensor is electrically connected to the hub component with respect to the first side, wherein the hub component provides a larger torque when the capacitive sensor does not sense a change in capacitance, When the capacitive sensor senses a change in capacitance, the hub assembly provides less torque. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first housing is provided with a display screen, and the second housing is a body equipped with a central processing unit, and the capacitive sensing And the display screen are electrically connected to the central processing unit. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the hub assembly comprises: a first bracket adapted to be coupled to the first housing; and a second bracket adapted to be coupled to the second housing; a mandrel, at least through the first bracket, and having a first end and a second end; and a torque switching element electrically coupled to the central processing unit for connection to the mandrel. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the torque switching element is a stepping motor, and the first end of the mandrel passes through and is fixed outside the second bracket, a stepping motor coupled to the second end, the stepping motor comprising: a motor body; a motor bracket; and a motor nut coupled to the motor body and the second end penetrating into the motor nut Suitable for telescoping relative to the mandrel and secured by the motor bracket. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a gasket disposed on the mandrel and located between the first bracket and the motor bracket. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the opposite sides of the second end of the mandrel are flattened. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the torsion switch element is a solenoid valve, comprising: a valve body; and a valve shaft, one end of which is coupled to the valve body, and the valve shaft passes through The second bracket is adapted to engage the second end of the mandrel. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the hinge assembly further includes a pair of transmission gears disposed at the other end of the valve shaft and the second end of the spindle, and the one When the transmission gears are fitted to each other, the hinge assembly provides a torsion, and when the pair of transmission gears are disengaged from each other, the hinge assembly does not provide a torsion. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a spring disposed between the second bracket and the transmission gear disposed on the other end of the valve shaft. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a nut that is screwed to the first end of the mandrel. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a spacer disposed between the nut and the first bracket.