Electronic device and housing thereof

The present invention provides a housing having a housing shell with an opening, a guidance component and a door leaf set. The guidance component is arranged in the housing shell and extending along the direction away from the opening. The door leaf set has a first door leaf and a second door leaf. The first door leaf is pivotally connected the housing shell to enable the first door leaf to rotate to a first position or a second position relative to the opening. Wherein when the first door leaf is positioned at the first position, the first door leaf shields a portion of the opening; when the first door leaf is positioned at the second position, the first door leaf extends into the housing shell and defines the first installation space with the guiding component. Wherein when the first door leaf is positioned at the first position, the second door leaf can rotate to a third position or a fourth position relative to the first door leaf; when the second door leaf is positioned at the third position, the second door leaf shields another portion of the opening; when the second door leaf is positioned at the fourth position, the second door leaf extends into the housing shell and defines the second installation space with the guiding component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention provides an electronic device and a housing thereof. More specifically, the present invention is related to a fixed-size housing and an electronic device into which modules of different sizes and specs can be inserted.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Electronic devices, for example, display panels or computers, will need to house modules of different sizes or specs to fit various user needs, such as high performance or cost reduction. Hence, module providers will produce modules with different sizes to fit user needs. For example, the Smart Display Module (SDM) produced by Intel has two specs (SDM-S and SDM-L). In such case, users or electronic device providers need to use or produce various types of electronic devices to fit various modules. The resulted diversity of device models will greatly increase the cost to maintain or produce the electronic devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is providing a housing and an electronic device into which modules of different sizes and specs can be inserted to increase the usability of the housing.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a housing comprising a housing shell, a guiding component and door leaf set. The housing shell has an opening. The guiding component is arranged in the housing shell and extending along the direction away from the opening. The door leaf set includes a first door leaf and a second door leaf. The first door leaf has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The first end is pivotally connected to the housing shell to enable the first door leaf to rotate to a first position or a second position relative to the opening. When the first door leaf is positioned at the first position, the first door leaf shields a portion of the opening. When the first door leaf is positioned at the second position, the first door leaf extends into the housing shell and defines a first installation space with the guiding component. The second door leaf is pivotally connected to the second end to enable the second door leaf to rotate relative to the first door leaf, so that the second door leaf is capable of extending into the housing shell to define a second installation space with the guiding component.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device comprising a housing and either a first module or a second module. The housing comprising a housing shell having an opening, a guiding component arranged in the housing shell and extending along the direction away from the opening and a door leaf set. The door leaf set includes a first door leaf having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end and a second door leaf pivotally connected to the second end to enable the second door leaf to rotate relative to the first door leaf. The first end is pivotally connected to the housing shell to enable the first door leaf to rotate to a first position or a second position relative to the opening. When the first door leaf is positioned at the first position, the first door leaf shields a portion of the opening. When the first door leaf is positioned at the second position, the first door leaf extends into the housing shell and defines a first installation space with the guiding component. The second door leaf is capable of extending into the housing shell to define a second installation space with the guiding component. The first module is fitted to the first installation space, and the second module is fitted to the second module installation space.

As mentioned above, the size of the opening formed on the housing/electronic device can be adjusted by the door leaf set extending into the housing. By adjusting the size of the opening, the housing/electronic device can house modules of different sizes or specs. Therefore, one can avoid the need to develop corresponding housing and electronic devices to match the modules of different sizes or specs, so that model diversity can be avoided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The connecting elements according to the present invention will be described in detail below through embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. A person having ordinary skill in the art may understand the advantages and effects of the present disclosure through the contents disclosed in the present specification.

It should be understood that, even though the terms such as “first”, “second”, “third” may be used to describe an element, a part, a region, a layer and/or a portion in the present specification, but these elements, parts, regions, layers and/or portions are not limited by such terms. Such terms are merely used to differentiate an element, a part, a region, a layer and/or a portion from another element, part, region, layer and/or portion. Therefore, in the following discussions, a first element, portion, region, layer or portion may be called a second element, portion, region, layer or portion, and do not depart from the teaching of the present disclosure.

The terms “comprise”, “include” or “have” used in the present specification are open-ended terms and mean to “include, but not limit to.”

Unless otherwise particularly indicated, the terms, as used herein, generally have the meanings that would be commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Some terms used to describe the present disclosure are discussed below or elsewhere in this specification to provide additional guidance to those skilled in the art in connection with the description of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1A and 1Bare schematic views of the housing and the installation of the first module.FIGS. 2A and 2Bare schematic views of the housing and the installation of the second module. The electronic device10comprises the housing100and at least one of the first module140and the second module150. The spec/size of the first module140is different from that of the second module150. For example, the size (Wm1) of the first module140is larger than the size (Wm2) of the second module150. Or, the volume occupied by the first module140after the first module140is installed into the housing100is larger than the volume occupied by the second module150after the second module150is installed into the housing100. More specifically, when the thickness of the first module140is equal to the thickness of the second module150, the width of the first module140relative to the opening112is larger than the width of the second module150relative to the opening112. However, the differences between the specs of the first module140and the specs of the second module150is not limited to width. For example, the first module140and the second module150can have similar functions but different specifications, such as SDM-L and SDM-S. The first module140and the second module150can also have different functions but use the same interface, such as modules using general-purpose input/output.

Refer toFIG. 1A. The housing100comprises the housing shell110, the guiding component120and the door leaf set130. For example, the material of the housing shell110can be metal or plastic. Preferably, the material of the housing shell110is aluminum. The housing shell110can be used for integrating circuit boards, various modules, wires or cards and integrated with other devices, e.g. display panel.

As shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, the housing shell110has the opening112. The opening112is positioned on a side of the housing shell110. For example, the opening112can be positioned on the sidewall116of the housing shell110. The width of the opening112is preferably equal or larger than the size (Wm1) of the first module140to enable at least a part of the first module140to be inserted into the inner space of the housing shell110through the opening112. For example, a part of the first module140is inserted into the housing shell110through the opening112. The other part can be exposed to the outside of the housing shell110or fixed on the housing shell110. The guiding component120is arranged in the housing shell110and extending along the direction away from the opening112. More specifically, the guiding component120can be fixed on or removably arranged on the bottom plate114of the housing shell110, such as using the methods of welding, locking, bolting or tenon. The angle between the bottom plate114and the sidewall116is preferably 90 degrees. In the embodiment, the guiding component120is a strip shape and perpendicular to the plane of the opening112. The material of the guiding component120is a shapeable material such as metal or plastic. The guiding component120can have a guiding rail structure, slot or trapezoid structure. When the first module140is inserted into the inner space of the housing shell110through the opening112, the first module140is guided by the structure of the guiding component120to prevent installation failure caused by shifting or skewing the first module140. The door leaf set130has the first door leaf132and the second door leaf134. More specifically, the material of the door leaf set130can be but not limited to plastic or metal, e.g. aluminum. Different or the same materials can be selected to be used as the material for the first door leaf132and the second door leaf134as appropriate. The length (L1) of the first door leaf132is shorter than the width (Wo) of the opening112. Therefore, the first door leaf132only covers a portion of the opening112. The length (L1) of the first door leaf132can be but not limited to the length of the width (Wo) of the opening112minus the width (WM2) of the second module140.

Similarly, referring toFIGS. 2A and 2B, the width (Wm2) of the second module150is shorter than the width (Wo) of the opening112to enable at least a part of the second module150to be inserted into the inner space of the housing shell110through the opening112. When the second module150is inserted into the inner space of the housing shell110through the opening112, the second module150is guided by the structure of the guiding component120to prevent installation failure caused by shifting or skewing the second module150. The length (L2) of the second door leaf134is preferably equaled to the width (Wm2) of the second module150.

FIGS. 3A to 3Care action diagrams of the rotation of the door leaf set. Refer toFIG. 3A, the first door leaf132has the first end1321and the second end1322opposite to the first end1321. In the embodiment, the first door leaf132has a square shape. The first end1321and the second end1322are the two short sides of the square shape. The first end1321is pivotally connected to the housing shell110to enable the first door leaf132to rotate to the first position210or the second position220relative to the opening112. As shown inFIG. 3B, the definition of pivotal connection mentioned above is rotatable relatively to the joint through the connecting element250. For example, the first end1321of the first door leaf132can be connected to the housing shell110by the connecting element250, such as a hinge, and rotate relative to the opening112of the housing shell110with the connecting element250as the rotation axis. In addition, the first position210and the second position220are on the path of the first door leaf132rotating relative to the opening112. The first position210is substantially positioned on the opening112, and the second position220is substantially positioned in the housing shell110.

Refer toFIGS. 3A and 3B. When the first door leaf132is positioned at the first position210, the first door leaf132shields a portion of the opening112. When the first door leaf132is positioned at the second position220, the first door leaf132extends into the housing shell110and defines the first installation space A1with the guiding component120. More specifically, the first position210is positioned at the opening112and the second position220is positioned in the housing shell110. The angle formed between the first position210and the second position220is in the range between 90 to 180 degrees. The angle formed between the first position210and the second position220is preferably equal to 90 degrees. When the first door leaf132is positioned at the second position220, the unshielded part of the opening112can be extended to allow the first module140to be inserted into the housing shell110through the opening112and arranged at the first installation space A1as shown in the movement inFIGS. 1A and 1B.

On the other hand, the second door leaf134is pivotally connected to the second end1322of the first door leaf132to enable the second door leaf134to rotate relative to the first door leaf132. More specifically, the second door leaf134is connected to the first door leaf132by the connecting element250and rotates relative to the first door leaf132with the connecting element250as a rotation axis. When the first door leaf132is positioned at the first position210, the second door leaf134can be rotated to the third position230or the fourth position240relative to the first door leaf132as shown inFIG. 3C. When the second door leaf134is positioned at the third position230, the second door leaf134shields a portion of the opening112. When the second door leaf134is positioned at the fourth position240, the second door leaf134extends into the housing shell110and defines the second installation space A2with the guiding component120. When the first door leaf132is positioned at the first position210, shielding a portion of the opening112, the second door leaf134can rotate from the third position230, which shields another portion of the opening112, to the fourth position240. When the second door leaf134is positioned at the fourth position240, the second module150can be inserted into the housing shell110through the opening112and arranged at the second installation space A2as shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B. In addition, the third position230is at the opening112and the fourth position240is in the housing shell110. The angle formed between the third position230and the fourth position240is in the range between 90 to 180 degrees. The angle formed between the third position230and the fourth position240is preferably 90 degrees.

The first installation space A1and the second installation space A2are positioned in the housing shell110. The size of the first installation space A1is larger than the size of the second installation space A2. The area of the second installation space A2is at least overlapping with the first installation space A1in the housing shell110. In other words, the second installation space A2can be a portion of the first installation space A1.

In an embodiment, the frictional force of the first door leaf132rotating relative to the opening110is different from the frictional force of the second door leaf134relative to the first door leaf132. For example, the frictional force of the first door leaf132rotating relative to the opening110is larger than the frictional force of the second door leaf134relative to the first door leaf132. Under this condition, when installing the second module150, the probability of rotating the first door leaf132relative to the opening110by accident can be reduced. In another example, the frictional force of the second door leaf134rotating relative to the first door leaf132is larger than the frictional force of the first door leaf132rotating relative to the opening110. Under this condition, the undesired rotation of the second door leaf134relative to the first door leaf132in the housing shell110can be avoided when the first door leaf132rotates to the second position220. However, the arrangement of the frictional forces is not limited to the examples mentioned above.

In an embodiment, referring toFIG. 4, the housing shell110includes the first fixing part310. The first fixing part310is arranged on at least a portion of the second position220to fix or position the first door leaf132rotated to the second position220. For example, the first fixing part310can be but not limited to a dot form or block form arranged on a side of the second position220or be a strip shape or slot arranged on the second position220. On the other hand, the housing shell110includes the second fixing part320. The second fixing part320is arranged on at least a portion of the fourth position240to fix or position the second door leaf134rotated to the fourth position240. More specifically, the first fixing part310and the second fixing part320can be additional elements arranged on the bottom plate114of the housing shell110in a manner such as soldering or fixing. The first fixing part310and the second fixing part320can also be a unibody with the bottom plate114. For example, the convex part toward the inner space of the housing shell110can be formed from the bottom plate114or shaped during fabricating the bottom plate114. The first fixing part310and the second fixing part320can be placed at or removed from the bottom plate114depending on the situation. For example, when installing the first module140, the second fixing part320can be removed and the first fixing part310can be retained. Or, the first fixing part310and the second fixing part320can be simultaneously arranged or removed. The first door leaf132and the second door leaf134can be fixed on the first fixing part310and the second fixing part320by adhesion, locking or magnetic attraction. But the fixing mechanism is not limited to the examples mentioned above. It should be noted thatFIG. 4is for the purpose of explaining the positions of the first fixing part310and the second fixing part320and not for limiting the positions or the shapes of the first fixing part310and the second fixing part320.

In an embodiment, referring toFIGS. 5A to 5C, the first door leaf132has the first guiding rail510. When the first door leaf132is rotated to the second position220, the first guiding rail510will face the guiding component120as shown inFIG. 5B. The second door leaf134has the second guiding rail520. When the second door leaf134is rotated to the fourth position240, the second guiding rail520will face the guiding component120as shown inFIG. 5C. More specifically, when installing the first module140, the first module140can be guided to the first installation space A1by the first guiding rail510and the guiding component120. Similarly, when installing the second module150, the second module150can be guided to the second installation space A2by the second guiding rail520and the guiding component120. The method for attaching the first guiding rail510and the second guiding rail520to the first door leaf132and the second door leaf134can be removable, such as by screwing, or irremovable, such as by soldering or forming a convex part on the door leaf132or134. Referring toFIGS. 6A and 6B, the guiding rails510and520formed on the door leaves132and134can be the bending part620which bends a portion of the door leaves132and134shown inFIG. 6A. More specifically, the bending part620is(are) a portion of the door leaves132and134adjacent to the bottom plate114. When the door leaves132and134are positioned at the second position220or the fourth position240, the bending part is preferably facing the guiding component120. The angle of the bending part620is preferably 90 degrees. Furthermore, referring toFIG. 6B, the guiding rails510and520formed on the door leaves132and134can be the slot part640formed on the door leaves132and134shown inFIG. 6B. More specifically, when the door leaf132/134is positioned at the second position220or the fourth position240, the slot part640is preferably facing the guiding component120. It should be noted that the number or the shape of the first guiding rail510and the second guiding rail520is not limited to the examples shown inFIGS. 5A to 5C.

In an embodiment, the first door leaf132and the second door leaf134can be marked or colored to indicate the rotating direction of the first door leaf132and the second door leaf134or the type of the corresponding module. But the reason and method for marking the first door leaf132and the second door leaf134are not limited to the above. Furthermore, the first door leaf132and the second door leaf134can have at least one hole to leak the light out from the inner space. When a user is installing or using the housing or the electronic device, the user can observe the inner space of the housing shell to confirm the installing condition of the module. But the reasons for making holes on the first door leaf132or the second door leaf134is not limited to the embodiment mentioned above.

Through the use of the housing in the present invention, the models of electronic devices will not diversify to fit various modules. It should be noted that the presented invention is not limited by the number of modules or the number of door leaves. When more than two types of modules need to be integrated into a housing, the number of door leaves can be adjusted according to the situation and be pivoted in order. Therefore, the size of the opening of the housing shell can be adjusted by the door leaf extending into housing shell to generate various installation space with different sizes to avoid the problem of type diversity.

Although the present invention discloses the aforementioned embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. Any person who is skilled in the art in connection with the present invention can make any change or modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the claims in the application.