Foldable electronic device

A foldable electronic device is provided, including an input module, a pivot member, a display module, and a hinge mechanism. The display module is rotatably connected to the pivot member, and the pivot member is rotatably connected to the input module via the hinge mechanism. Specifically, when the display module and the pivot member are unfolded less than a specific angle relative to the input module, a latch of the hinge mechanism is joined in an opening of the display module, so as to prevent rotation of the display module relative to the pivot member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 110204532, filed on Apr. 23, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and, in particular, to a foldable electronic device that has a latch mechanism.

Description of the Related Art

FIG.1is a schematic diagram of a conventional foldable electronic device1.FIG.2is a schematic diagram of the conventional foldable electronic device1inFIG.1when the display module4and the pivot member3have an acute angle relative to the input module2.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, the conventional foldable electronic device1may be a laptop computer that includes an input module2, a pivot member3, and a display module4. The pivot member3and the display module4are pivotally connected to each other via a hinge H, and the pivot member3is further hinged to the input module2. When the display module4and the pivot member3have an acute angle relative to the input module2, as shown inFIG.2, the display module4may rotate relative to the pivot member3by gravity. In this state, the display module4may collide with the input module2and cause mechanical failure in the electronic device1. Therefore, addressing the problems of the conventional electronic device1has become a challenge.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention provides a foldable electronic device that includes an input module, a display module, a pivot member, and a hinge mechanism. The display module has an opening. The pivot member is, pivotally connected to the display module. The hinge mechanism is pivotally connected to the input module and the pivot module and has a first hinge, a second hinge, a slider, a fixed assembly, a plurality of gears, and a latch.

The second hinge has a central axis, the fixed assembly is affixed to the pivot member, the first and second hinges extend through the fixed assembly, the slider is connected to the second hinge and the latch, and the gears are engaged with the first and second hinges.

In some embodiments, when the foldable electronic device is in a closed state, the input module, the display module, and the pivot member are parallel to each other, and the latch is joined in the opening to prevent the display module from rotating relative to the pivot member.

In some embodiments, when the display module and the pivot member are unfolded over a specific angle relative to the input module, the second hinge and the fixed assembly rotate around the first hinge, the second hinge is driven by the gears to rotate around the central axis, and the slider is forced by the second hinge to move and impel the latch to release from the opening. In this manner, the display module is rotatable relative to the pivot member.

In some embodiments, the foldable electronic device further includes a resilient member disposed on the fixed assembly and connected to the slider, wherein when the display module and the pivot member are unfolded over a specific angle relative to the input module, the resilient member exerts a spring force on the latch to move relative to the pivot member and release from the opening.

In some embodiments, the latch is pivotally connected to the fixed assembly and has a C-shaped structure.

In some embodiments, the latch is pivotally connected to the fixed assembly and has a slot, and one end of the resilient member is received in the slot.

In some embodiments, the resilient member is a torsional spring.

In some embodiments, the slider has a protrusion, and a curved recess is formed on an outer surface of the second hinge, wherein the protrusion is slidably received in the curved recess.

In some embodiments, the foldable electronic device further includes a rod and a connecting member, wherein the rod extends through the slider, and the connecting member is connected to the rod and the second hinge.

In some embodiments, when the display module and the pivot member are unfolded over a specific angle relative to the input module from the closed state, the second hinge rotates around the central axis, and the protrusion slides along the curved recess and impels the slider to move along the rod.

In some embodiments, the specific angle is between 30 and 90 degrees.

In some embodiments, the foldable electronic device is a laptop computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and in which specific embodiments of which the invention may be practiced are shown by way of illustration. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the figures being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for the purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting.

FIG.3is a perspective diagram of a foldable electronic device100, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.FIG.4is a side view of the foldable electronic device100when in a closed state.FIG.5is a perspective diagram of the hinge mechanism40in the pivot member20ofFIG.4when the foldable electronic device100is in the closed state.

As shown inFIGS.3and4, the foldable electronic device100may be a laptop computer that primarily comprises an input module10, a pivot member20, a display module30, and a hinge mechanism40disposed in the pivot member20. The input module10and the pivot member20are pivotally connected to each other via the hinge mechanism40. The pivot member20and the display module30are pivotally connected to each other via the hinge H. Therefore, the display module30can rotate relative to the pivot member20, and the pivot member20can rotate relative to the input module10.

In this embodiment, a screen (e.g. LCD, OLED or touch screen) is formed on the display module30. Moreover, a keyboard (e.g. QWERTY keyboard) and/or a touch pad may be provided on the surface of the input module10. It should be noted that the keyboard and/or the touch pad can be used as a user input interface, whereby the user can easily use the electronic device100.

When the display module30of the electronic device100is in the closed state, the input module10, the pivot member20, and the display module30are parallel to each other. When using the electronic device100, the pivot member20and the display module30can be unfolded with respect to the input module10, so that the user can watch the screen on the display module30, and he or she can also input instructions or control the mouse cursor on the screen of the display module30via the keyboard or touchpad.

It should be noted that when the display module30and the pivot member20are unfolded relative to the input module10less than a specific angle, a latch J in the hinge mechanism40is joined in an opening31(FIG.8) of the display module30, whereby the display module30would not rotate relative to the pivot member20by gravity and collide with the input module10.

However, when the display module30and the pivot member20rotate relative to the input module10over a specific angle, the latch J in the hinge mechanism40is released from the opening31(FIG.17) of the display module30, whereby the display module30can rotate freely relative to the pivot member20(FIG.14) without collision with the input module10.

FIG.6is a side view of the second hinge42inFIG.5.FIG.7is another perspective diagram of the hinge mechanism40inFIG.5.FIG.8is a cross-sectional view showing the latch J of the hinge mechanism40when joined in the opening31of the display module30.FIG.9is a perspective diagram showing the latch J of the hinge mechanism40when joined in the opening31of the display module30.

Referring toFIGS.4-9, when the foldable electronic device100is in the closed stated ofFIG.4, the input module10, the pivot member20, and the display module30are parallel to each other, and the hinge mechanism40is in the state as shown inFIGS.5and7-9. In this embodiment, the hinge mechanism40comprises a first hinge41, a second hinge42, a fixed assembly43, a resilient member44, a slider45, a longitudinal rod46, a connecting member47, and a C-shaped latch J.

The first hinge41is affixed to the input module10, the second hinge42is disposed in the pivot member20, and the fixed assembly is affixed to the pivot member20. The first and second hinges41and42are connected to each other via the gears G1, G2, and G3, wherein the gear G1is affixed to the first hinge41, the gear G2is affixed to the second hinge42, and the gear G3is connected between the gears G1and G2.

Here, the fixed assembly43has three flat parts431,432, and433, wherein several friction washers are disposed on the first and second hinges41and42to provide appropriate resistant torque during rotation between the pivot member20and the input module10. Moreover, as shown inFIGS.5,7,8, and9, the resilient member44may be a torsion spring that is disposed on the flat part431, and the latch J is pivotally connected to the flat part431via a hinge R, wherein the end of the resilient member44is slidably received in a slot J1of the latch J.

The rod46extends through the slider45(FIG.5), and the connecting member47connects to the rod46and the second hinge42. As shown inFIGS.5-7, the second hinge42has a cylindrical structure, and a curved recess422is formed on the outer surface421of the second hinge42. When the electronic device100is in the closed state ofFIG.4, a protrusion451of the slider45(FIG.7) is located in a first end E1o the recess422.

When the pivot member20and the display module30are unfolded with respect to the input module10from the closed state ofFIG.4, the second hinge42and the fixed assembly43are forced to rotate around the first hinge41, and the second hinge42are driven by the gears G1, G2, and G3to rotate around its central axis. Meanwhile, the protrusion451of the slider45slides along the recess422and impels the slider45along the rod46, whereby the latch J is forced by the resilient member44to rotate around the hinge R and then release from the opening31of the display module30.

FIG.10is a schematic diagram showing the pivot member20and the display module30unfolded relative to the input module10to a transitional angle.FIG.11is a perspective diagram showing the hinge mechanism40in the pivot member20when the pivot member20and the display module30are unfolded relative to the input module10to the transitional angle ofFIG.10.FIG.12is another perspective diagram showing the hinge mechanism40ofFIG.11.FIG.13is a cross-sectional view showing the latch J of the hinge mechanism40that is angled relative to the opening31of the display module30.

Referring toFIGS.11-13, when the pivot member20and the display module30are unfolded relative to the input module10from the state ofFIG.4to a transitional angle (FIG.10), the second hinge42and the fixed assembly43are forced to rotate around the first hinge41, and the second hinge42are driven by the gears G1, G2, and G3to rotate around its central axis A, as the arrow indicates inFIG.11. Meanwhile, the protrusion451of the slider45slides from the first end E1(FIG.6) along the recess422to a middle position (FIGS.11and12) and impels the slider45along the rod46, whereby the latch J can be forced by the resilient member44to rotate around the hinge R.

While the second hinge42rotates around its central axis A and impels the slider45to slide along the rod46, as shown inFIGS.11-13, the latch J can rotate around the hinge R to be angled relative to the opening31. In this state, since the latch J is not completely released from the opening31, the display module30cannot rotate freely relative to the pivot member20. Therefore, the collision of the display module30and the input module10due to the rotation of the display module30relative to the pivot member20can be efficiently avoided.

FIG.14is a schematic diagram showing the pivot member20and the display module30unfolded relative to the input module10to an open position.FIG.15is a perspective diagram showing the hinge mechanism40when the pivot member20and the display module30are unfolded relative to the input module10to the open position ofFIG.14.FIG.16is another perspective diagram showing the hinge mechanism40ofFIG.15.FIG.17is a cross-sectional view showing the latch J of the hinge mechanism40that is released from the opening31of the display module30.

Referring toFIGS.14-17, when the pivot member20and the display module30are further unfolded relative to the input module10from the state ofFIG.10to an open position (FIG.14), the second hinge42and the fixed assembly43are forced to rotate around the first hinge41, and the second hinge42are driven by the gears G1, G2, and G3to rotate around its central axis A, as the arrow indicates inFIG.15. Meanwhile, the protrusion451of the slider45slides from the middle position (FIGS.11and12) along the recess422to a second end E2(FIGS.6and15) and impels the slider45along the rod46. Thus, the latch J can be forced by the resilient member44to rotate around the hinge R and then completely release from the opening31, and the display module30can rotate freely relative to the pivot member20(FIG.14).

As mentioned above, when the display module30and the pivot member20rotate relative to the input module10over a specific angle, the latch J is released from the opening31(FIG.17) of the display module30, whereby the display module30can rotate freely relative to the pivot member20(FIG.14) without collision with the input module10. In this embodiment, the specific angle is between 30 and 90 degrees. The angle of 60 to 90 degrees may be preferable, but it is not so limited in the embodiments of the invention.

In some embodiments, the slider45may directly connect to the latch J without the resilient member44. For example, one end of the slider45may be pivotally received in the slot J1of the latch J, whereby the latch J can rotate between the joined state ofFIG.8and the released state ofFIG.17.