Abstract:
An electronic device includes a base, a display unit, a supporting member, a first drive mechanism, a second drive mechanism, and a controller. The first drive mechanism includes a first motor and a first gear assembly. The first motor includes a first drive gear driving the first gear assembly and the second drive mechanism includes a second motor and a second gear assembly. The second motor includes a second drive gear driving the second gear assembly. By operating buttons, the user can change the orientation of the display unit or other supported device, the first and second motors providing power assistance to the user in two planes of movement.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and more particularly, to an electronic device with a supporting apparatus for supporting a display of the electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    An electronic device, such as an all-in-one computer, can includes a display and a supporting apparatus supporting the display. The supporting apparatus usually includes a base and a supporting member. The supporting member includes a first end supporting the display and a second end connected to the base. A shaft is rotatably connected between the second end of the supporting member and the base. However, the supporting member often needs to be rotated manually relative to the base, which is inconvenient in use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an embodiment of an electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a supporting member and a first drive mechanism. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, exploded view of the first drive mechanism of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but the first drive mechanism is viewed from another perspective. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the supporting member of  FIG. 1 , wherein the supporting member includes a second drive mechanism. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the second drive mechanism of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0011]      FIGS. 6-7  are views of the processes of assembling the second drive mechanism of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is an assembled view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8 , but shows a different state of use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an electronic device  100  including a base  20 , a first drive mechanism  40 , a supporting member  50 , a display unit  60 , and a controller  70 . 
         [0016]    The display unit  60  includes a shell  62 . A rear surface of the shell  24  defines a depressed portion  64 . A bottom wall of the depressed portion  64  defines a plurality of screw holes  66 . 
         [0017]    The base  20  includes a bottom plate  221  and a front plate  223  perpendicularly extending up from a front side of the bottom plate  221 . A middle of a rear side of the bottom plate  221  defines a plurality of mounting holes  224 . An end of the front plate  223  defines a plurality of through holes  226 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show the first drive mechanism  40  including a first bracket  41 , a second bracket  42 , a first gear assembly  43 , and a first motor  45 . 
         [0019]    The first bracket  41  includes a mounting plate  411 , a first supporting plate  412  perpendicularly extending up from a side of the mounting plate  411 , a second supporting plate  413  on the inside of a lower portion of the first supporting plate  412  and connected to the mounting plate  411 , a third supporting plate  414  on the inside of a lower portion of the second supporting plate  413  and opposite to the first supporting plate  412 , three bearings  415 , and two bearing covers  416 . A top of the first supporting plate  412  defines a cutout  4121 . A top of the second plate  413  defines a cutout  4131 . An upper portion of the third supporting plate  414  defines a position hole  4141 . The bearings  415  are mounted in the cutouts  4121  and  4131  and the position hole  4141 . The bearing covers  416  are mounted on tops of the first and second supporting plates  412  and  413 , and secure in place two of the bearings  415 . The mounting plate  411  defines a plurality of through holes  4112 . 
         [0020]    The second bracket  42  includes a mounting plate  421 , a fourth supporting plate  423  perpendicularly extending up from a middle of the mounting plate  421 , a T-shaped fifth supporting plate  424  protruding from a lower portion of the fourth supporting plate  423  and connected to the mounting plate  421 , three bearings  425 , and two bearing covers  426 . A top of the fourth supporting plate  423  defines a cutout  4231 , and a lower portion of the fourth supporting plate  423  defines a position hole  4232 . A top of the fifth supporting plate  424  defines a cutout  4241 . The bearings  425  are mounted in the cutouts  4231  and  4241 , and in the position holes  4232 . The bearing covers  426  are mounted on tops of the fourth and fifth supporting plates  423  and  424 , for fixing two of the bearings  425 . The mounting plate  421  defines a plurality of through holes  4212 . 
         [0021]    The first gear assembly  43  includes a first gear set  431 , a second gear set  433 , and a third gear set  435 . The first gear set  431  includes a first connecting shaft  4312  and a bull gear  4314  mounted to a middle of the first connecting shaft  4312 . Two latching sleeves  4315  are mounted to the two ends of the connecting shaft  4312 . The latching sleeves  4315  are located adjacent to the bull gear  4314 . The second gear set  433  includes a rotation shaft  4331 , a bull gear  4335  mounted to a first end of the rotation shaft  4331 , and a pinion  4333  mounted to a second end of the rotation shaft  4331  opposite to the bull gear  4335 . The pinion  4333  engages with the bull gear  4314  of the first gear set  431 . The third gear set  435  includes a pivot  4351 , a pinion  4353  mounted to a first end of the pivot  4351 , and a bull gear  4355  mounted to a second end of the pivot  4351  opposite to the pinion  4353 . The pinion  4353  of the third gear set  435  engages with the bull gear  4335  of the second gear set  433 . 
         [0022]    The first motor  45  includes a support  451 , a main body  452  mounted on the support  451 , a drive shaft  453  extending out from an end of the main body  452 , a first drive gear  455  mounted a distal end of the drive shaft  453 , and a cable  463 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  show the supporting member  50  including a substantially H-shaped first cover  51 , a substantially H-shaped second cover  52 , and a second drive mechanism  53 . 
         [0024]    The first cover  51  includes a rectangular connecting plate  512 , two opposite first connecting portions  514  perpendicularly protruding from two opposite ends of a first side of the connecting plate  512 , two opposite second connecting portions  515  perpendicularly protruding from two opposite ends of a second side of the connecting plate  512  away from the first connecting portions  514 , and a flange  516  protruding from sides of the connecting plate  512 , the first connecting portions  514 , and the second connecting portions  515 . The flange  516  between the first connecting portions  514  defines two opposite first cutouts  517 . The flange  516  between the second connecting portions  515  defines two opposite second cutouts  518 . 
         [0025]    The second cover  52  includes a rectangular connecting plate  522 , two opposite first connecting portions  524  perpendicularly protruding from two opposite ends of a first side of the connecting plate  522 , two opposite second connecting portions  525  perpendicularly protruding from two opposite ends of a second side of the connecting plate  522  away from the first connecting portions  524 , and a flange  526  protruding from sides of the connecting plate  522 , the first connecting portions  524 , and the second connecting portions  525 . The flange  526  between the first connecting portions  524  defines two opposite first cutouts  527 . The flange  516  between the second connecting portions  525  defines two opposite second cutouts  528 . The connecting plate  522 , the first connecting portions  524 , the second connecting portions  525 , and the flange  526  cooperatively bound a receiving space  521 . An inner wall of the second cover  52  defines a plurality of screw holes  529 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows the second drive mechanism  53  including a third bracket  531 , a second gear assembly  532 , and a second motor  533 . 
         [0027]    The third bracket  531  includes a rectangular mounting plate  5311 , two extending plates  5312  perpendicularly extending from two opposite ends of the mounting plate  5311  and adjacent to a first side of the extending plates, two extending pieces  5313  perpendicularly extending from two opposite ends of a second side of the mounting plate  5311  opposite to the extending plates  5312 , two first supporting blocks  5314  mounted on the extending pieces  5313 , two second supporting blocks  5316  mounted on the mounting plate  5311 , and a support  5317  adjacent to the second supporting blocks  5316  and mounted on the mounting plate  5311 . The second supporting blocks  5316  are located between the first supporting blocks  5314  and the support  5317 . Two opposite bearings  5318  are mounted in the first supporting blocks  5314 . Two opposite bearings  5319  are mounted in the second supporting blocks  5316 . Distal ends of the extending plates  5312  define two opposite position holes  5312   a.  The mounting plate  5311  defines a plurality of through holes  5311   a.    
         [0028]    The second gear assembly  532  includes a fourth gear set  5321  and a fifth gear set  5322 . The fourth gear set  5321  includes a second connecting shaft  5323 , a connecting member  5324  mounted to a first end of the second connecting shaft  5323 , and a bull gear  5325  mounted to a second end of the second connecting shaft  5323  opposite to the connecting member  5324 . The fifth gear set  5322  includes a pivot  5326 , a pinion  5327  mounted to a first end of the pivot  5326 , and a bull gear  5328  mounted to a second end of the pivot  5326  opposite to the pinion  5327 . The pinion  5327  of the fifth gear set  5322  engages with the bull gear  5325  of the fourth gear set  5321 . The connecting member  5324  includes a rotation block  5324   a  mounted to the second connecting shaft  5323  and a connecting plate  5324   b  mounted to a side of the rotation block  5324   a  opposite to the rotation block  5324   a.  The connecting plate  5324   b  defines a plurality of through holes  5324   c.    
         [0029]    The second motor  533  includes a main body  5331 , a drive shaft  5332  extending out from an end of the main body  5331 , a second drive gear  5335  mounted to a distal end of the drive shaft  5332 , and a cable  5336 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  show that in assembling the supporting member  50 , two distal ends of the second connecting shaft  5323  are latched in the bearings  5318  of the first supporting blocks  5314 . Two distal ends of the pivot  5326  of the fifth gear set  5322  are latched in the bearings  5319  of the second supporting blocks  5316 . The second motor  533  is mounted on the support  5317 , to allow the second drive gear  5335  to engage with the bull gear  5328  of the fifth gear set  5322 . The second drive mechanism  53  is received in the receiving space  521  of the second cover  52 . The mounting plate  5311  is mounted on the connecting plate  522  of the second cover  52 , and the position holes  5312   a  of the extending plates  5312  align with the first cutouts  527 . Each of a plurality of screws passes through the through holes  5311   a  of the third bracket  531 , to be screwed in the screw holes  529  of the second cover  52 . The first cover  51  covers the second cover  52 , to allow the first cutouts  517  and the second cutouts  518  of the first cover  51  to be aligned with the first cutout  527  and the second cutout  528  of the second cover  52 , respectively. The connecting plate  5324   b  is exposed out of the first and second covers  51  and  52 , and the second connecting shaft  5323  is received between the second cutouts  518  of the first cover  51  and the second cutouts  528  of the second cover  52 . 
         [0031]    The controller  70  includes a plurality of buttons  72 . 
         [0032]    In assembling the first drive mechanism  40 , the first gear assembly  43  is placed between the first bracket  41  and the second bracket  42 , to allow the second supporting plate  413  of the first bracket  41  to face the fifth supporting plate  424  of the second bracket  42 . Two distal ends of the first connecting shaft  4312  extend through the bearing  415  mounted in the first supporting plate  412  and the bearing  425  mounted in the top of the fourth supporting plate  423 . The latching sleeves  4315  are engaged in the bearing  415  mounted in the first supporting plate  412  and in the bearing  425  mounted in the fourth supporting plate  423 . Two distal ends of the rotation shaft  4331  are latched in the bearing  415  mounted in the second supporting plate  413  and in the bearing  425  mounted in the fifth supporting plate  424 . Two distal ends of the pivot  4351  are latched in the bearing  415  mounted in the third supporting plate  414  and in the bearing  425  mounted in the bottom of the fourth supporting plate  423 . 
         [0033]    In assembly of the first drive mechanism  40  to the base  20 , a combination of the first bracket  41 , the second bracket  42 , and the first gear assembly  43  is placed on the bottom plate  221 . The bull gear  4355  of the third gear set  435  is adjacent to the front plate  223 . Screws extend through the through holes  4112  and  4212  of the mounting plates  411  and  421 , to be screwed in the mounting holes  224  of the shell  22 . The first motor  45  is placed on the bottom plate  221 , to allow the first drive gear  455  to engage with the bull gear  4355  of the third gear set  435 . A plurality of fasteners extends through the support  451 , to be mounted to the bottom plate  221 . The buttons  72  are inserted in the through holes  226  from an inside of the shell  22 . The controller  46  is mounted in the shell  22 , and the buttons  72  are exposed out of the front plate  223  through the through holes  226 . The cable  463  of the first motor  45  and the cable  5336  of the second motor  533  are electrically coupled to the controller  46 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  shows that in assembling the electronic device  100 , the first connecting shaft  4312  is placed between the first connecting portions  514  of the supporting member  50 . The distal ends of the first connecting shaft  4312  are latched in the position holes  5312   a  of the third bracket  531 . The connecting plate  5324   b  is received in the depressed portion  64  of the shell  62 . A plurality of screws extends through the through holes  5324   c  of the connecting plate  5324   b,  to be screwed in the screw holes  66  of the shell  62 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  shows that in use, by operating the buttons  72 , the controller  70  controls the first motor  45  and the second motor  533  to operate. The first drive gear  455  and the second drive gear  5335  rotate. The first drive gear  455  drives the first gear assembly  43  to rotate, and the second drive gear  5335  drives the second gear assembly  532  to rotate. The first gear assembly  43  drives the first connecting shaft  4312  to rotate, to allow the supporting member  50  to rotate along with the first connecting shaft  4312 . The second gear assembly  532  drives the second connecting shaft  5323  to rotate, to allow the connecting member  5324  to rotate along with the second connecting shaft  5323 . Thus, the display unit  60  can be rotated as the user requires. 
         [0036]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiment have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiment, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.