Electronic apparatus with improved heat dissipation

An electronic apparatus with improved heat dissipation comprises a first body with a first shell and a second shell, a second body, a coupling device and a linkage device. The first shell is pivotally connected to the second shell to form an accommodation space. The first shell can pivot relative to the second shell to enlarge the accommodation space and form an opening between the first shell and the second shell. The coupling device couples the second body and the second shell to pivot the second body relative to the second shell to expose or hide the first shell. The linkage device drives the first shell to pivot relative to the second shell. When the second body pivots relative to the second shell toward a first direction, the linkage device drives the first shell to pivot relative to the second shell toward a second direction opposite to the first direction.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 099140025, filed Nov. 19, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus with improved heat dissipation.

2. Description of Related Art

FIG. 1is a schematic view of a conventional notebook computer. The notebook computer100includes a main body110and a screen body120. A keyboard130is disposed on the main body110, and the screen body120can pivot relative to the main body110(as shown by an arrow A).

Due to the increasingly rapid development of science and technology, the amounts of processing data that can be performed by the notebook computer100are becoming more and more, thereby causing electronic elements in the main body110of the notebook computer100to generate a large amount of heat energy due to great increase of the amounts of processing data. Conventionally, the heat energy produced by the electronic elements in the main body110is expelled out of the shell by running a heat dissipation fan, thereby achieving the object of heat dissipation. However, hot gas cannot be discharged out of the main body110effectively when one single fan is actuated, due to a constant flow guide area and a constant flow rate.

On the other hand, the keyboard130disposed on the main body110of the notebook computer100generally adopts a horizontal design, and an opening angle between the screen body120and the main body110can be adjusted by a user according to a desired view angle in operation. However, with respect to the keyboard130with a horizontal design, as there is no mechanism for adjusting an input angle, the user merely can change a manner for placing the main body to obtain an appropriate input angle of the keyboard130, e.g. use another article to lift up the main body110.

Therefore, the conventional notebook computer100generally has disadvantages of poor heat dissipation efficiency and inconvenient usage.

SUMMARY

The present invention aims to provide an electronic apparatus which can improve the heat dissipation efficiency, wherein, through a design of a linkage device, a first shell is jacked up at the same time when a user opens a screen of the electronic apparatus, thereby producing an additional gap to increase the heat dissipation effect. An aspect of the present invention provides an electronic apparatus with improved heat dissipation, and the electronic apparatus includes a first body with a first shell and a second shell, a second body, a coupling device and a linkage device. The first shell is pivotally connected to the second shell to form an accommodation space. The first shell can pivot relative to the second shell and thus ascend to enlarge the accommodation space and form an opening between the first shell and the second shell. The coupling device pivotally connects the second body and the second shell so as to pivot the second body relative to the second shell to expose or hide the first shell. The linkage device is operable to drive the first shell to pivot relative to the second shell. When the second body pivots relative to the second shell toward a first direction, the linkage device drives the first shell to pivot relative to the second shell toward a second direction opposite to the first direction.

In an embodiment, the first body is a main body of a notebook computer, and the second body includes a screen of the notebook computer.

In an embodiment, the first body further includes a keyboard module, and the keyboard module is engaged with the first shell.

In an embodiment, the linkage device is a bump, and the bump is formed on the coupling device.

In an embodiment, the linkage device includes a first gear and a second gear, wherein the first gear has a first guide rail and is disposed in the accommodation space, and the second gear has a second guide rail and is fastened on the coupling device, and the first guide rail gears with the second guide rail.

In an embodiment, the linkage device is a spring, and the spring is disposed in the accommodation space.

In an embodiment, the first body further includes a metal mesh. The metal mesh is disposed along the inner side surface of the first shell and the inner side surface of the second shell, and the metal mesh is fastened on the bottom of the first shell. The first body further includes a trough-shaped structure, and the trough-shaped structure is formed on the inner side surface of the second shell. When the first shell pivots relative to the second shell and descends, the metal mesh is partially disposed in the trough-shaped structure, and when the first shell pivots relative to the second shell to ascend, the metal mesh covers the opening formed between the first shell and the second shell.

In an embodiment, a magnetic force mechanism is further included to assist the second body to pivot relative to the first body so as to hide the keyboard module. The magnetic force mechanism includes a magnet disposed in the first body and an iron plate disposed in the second body.

To sum up, in the present invention, through the design of the linkage device, the first shell can be jacked up at the same time when the user opens the screen of the electronic apparatus. Thus, an additional gap is produced to increase the heat dissipation effect, and meanwhile the operation angle of the first shell is adjusted to make it convenient for the user to perform an input action.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2Ais a top view of a handheld electronic apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2Bis a side view viewed along a line AA ofFIG. 2A.FIGS. 2C-2Dare respectively process views of jacking up a first shell by using a linkage device, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Refer toFIGS. 2A-2Dtogether.

The handheld electronic apparatus200includes a first body210with a first shell230and a second shell235, a second body220, coupling devices240,260, and a linkage device250. In this embodiment, the handheld electronic apparatus200is, for example, a notebook computer. The first body210is, for example, a main body of the notebook computer, wherein the first body further includes a keyboard module (not shown), and the keyboard module is engaged with the first shell230. The second body220is, for example, a screen of the notebook computer. The coupling device240is, for example, a rotation pivot which couples the first shell230and the second shell235to form an accommodation space, thereby causing the first shell230to pivot relative to the second shell235toward the clockwise direction to descend to the second shell235, or toward the anti-clockwise direction to ascend for enlarging the accommodation space and forming an opening between the first shell230and the second shell235. The coupling device260is, for example, a rotation pivot which couples the second shell235and the second body220. The coupling device260can drive the second body220to pivot relative to the second shell235toward the clockwise direction or the anti-clockwise direction to hide or expose the first shell230. The linkage device250is fastened on the coupling device260, and protrudes from the coupling device260toward the direction of the first body210, and can be actuated along with the coupling device260. In an embodiment, the linkage device250is a bump structure and has a circular arc appearance, thereby allowing the first shell230to be jacked up smoothly and driving the first shell230to pivot relative to the second shell235.

The first body210and the second body220ofFIGS. 2A and 2Bare in a closed state. When a user opens the second body220, i.e., causes the second body220ofFIG. 2Bto pivot relative to the second shell235toward the clockwise direction to be in a state ofFIG. 2Cor2D, the coupling device260correspondingly drives the linkage device250to pivot toward the clockwise direction, so that the first shell230is jacked up, thereby causing the first shell230to pivot relative to the second shell235toward the anti-clockwise direction, and thus the first shell230ascends to enlarge the accommodation space between the first shell230and the second shell235and to form an opening between the first shell and the second shell, so as to be in a state ofFIG. 2Cor2D. In contrast, when the user closes the second body220and the second shell235, i.e., causes the second body220ofFIG. 2Cor2D to pivot relative to the second shell235toward the anti-clockwise direction to be in a state ofFIG. 2B, the coupling device260correspondingly drives the linkage device250to pivot toward the anti-clockwise direction, so that the first shell230pivots relative to the second shell235toward the clockwise direction, thereby causing the first shell230to hide the second shell235, as shown in the state ofFIG. 2B. In other words, the coupling device260and the linkage device250of the present invention can respectively drive the second body220and the first shell230to move toward opposite directions. For example, when the coupling device260drives the second body220to close toward the second shell235in the anti-clockwise direction, the linkage device drives the first shell230to move in the clockwise direction and sink into the second shell235. In contrast, when the coupling device drives the second body220to move away from the second shell235in the clockwise direction, the linkage device drives the first shell230to move in the anti-clockwise direction to move away from the second shell235.

Moreover, in an embodiment, when the second body220and the first body210are closed, the second body220and the first body210can be fixed by using a magnetic force mechanism, thereby preventing the second body220and the first body210from being separated due to a shake during carrying. For example, this magnetic force mechanism includes a magnet280disposed in the second body220and an iron plate290disposed in the first body210, or includes a magnet290disposed in the first body210and an iron plate280disposed in the second body220. When the second body220and the first body210are closed, the second body220and the first body210are fixed through the attraction force between the magnet280and the iron plate290.

In another embodiment, a metal mesh270is added to the interior side of the shell of the first body210to avoid the problem of electromagnetic disturbance (EMI) and to prevent an extraneous matter from entering the first body210. The metal mesh is disposed along the inner side surface of the first shell230and the inner side surface of the second shell235. The metal mesh270can be riveted and fixed on the bottom of the first shell230, and a trough-shaped structure275is disposed in the first body210, as shown inFIG. 2E. It should be noted thatFIG. 2Eonly shows a relationship among the second shell235, the metal mesh270and the trough-shaped structure275, and other elements are not shown inFIG. 2E. The trough-shaped structure275is disposed on the inner side surface of the second shell235, and a trough-shaped space is formed between the trough-shaped structure275and the inner surface of the second shell235to accommodate the metal mesh270, thereby enabling the metal mesh270to move correspondingly along with a movement of the first shell230. Thus, when the first shell230pivots relative to the second shell235and descends, the metal mesh270is partially disposed in the trough-shaped structure, and when the first shell230pivots relative to the second shell235and ascend, the metal mesh270covers the opening formed between the first shell230and the second shell235.

As can be known from the above description, when the user opens the second body220to use the handheld electronic apparatus200, the first shell230is also jacked up correspondingly by the linkage device250on the coupling device260, so that the first shell230forms an inclined angle with the second shell235. With the inclined angle, an additional gap can be produced between the first shell230and the second shell235to increase with the heat dissipation efficiency of electronic elements in the second shell235, thereby avoiding a problem of high heat accumulation due to a long time use. In addition, the user can begin to operate the keyboard module which is engaged with the first shell230in an operation environment with high affinity. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, persons of ordinary skills in the art can change the inclined angle of the first shell230jacked up by changing the bump structure of the linkage device.

In another embodiment, the linkage device of the present device can be implemented by using a spring.FIG. 3Ais a side view of a handheld electronic apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3Bis a schematic view of jacking up a first shell by using a linkage device, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to bothFIGS. 3A and 3B, the handheld electronic apparatus300includes a first body210with a first shell230and a second shell235, a second body220, a coupling device240,260, and a linkage device310. The coupling device240is, for example, a rotation pivot which couples the first shell230and the second shell235to form an accommodation space, so that the first shell230can pivot relative to the second shell235toward the clockwise direction and descend into the second shell235, or toward the anti-clockwise direction to ascend for enlarging the accommodation space and forming an opening between the first shell230and the second shell235. In this embodiment, the linkage device310is a spring which is disposed in the accommodation space. When a user opens the second body220, i.e., causes the second body220to pivot relative to the second shell235toward the clockwise direction, the linkage device310can jack up the first shell230through the elastic force, i.e., the first shell230pivots relative to the second shell235toward an anti-clockwise direction to be in a state ofFIG. 3B. In contrast, when the user closes the second body220toward the second shell235, i.e., causes the second body220to pivot relative to the second shell235toward an anti-clockwise direction, the linkage device310is compressed, so that the first shell230pivots relative to the second shell235toward a clockwise direction to hide the second shell235, as shown in a state ofFIG. 3A. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, persons of ordinary skills in the art can change an inclined angle of the first shell230jacked up by changing the elasticity of the spring.

In another embodiment, the linkage device of the present invention can also be implemented by using a gear structure.FIG. 4is a schematic view of a linkage device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The linkage device410includes a first gear412and a second gear414. The first gear412has a guide rail413and is disposed in the accommodation space between the first shell230and the second shell235. The second gear414has a guide rail415, and is fastened on the coupling device260between the first body210and the second body220, and can be actuated along with the coupling device260. The guide rail413gears with the guide rail415, so that the first gear412is linked up with the second gear414. In a preferred embodiment, when the second gear414rotates toward the clockwise direction, the first gear412can be brought to screw out upwards through the gearing of the guide rail413with the guide rail415. In contrast, when the second gear414rotates toward the anti-clockwise direction, the first gear412can be brought to screw in downwards through the gearing of the guide rail413with the guide rail415.

Thus, when the user opens the second body220, i.e., causes the second body220to pivot relative to the second shell235toward the clockwise direction, the coupling device260correspondingly drives the second gear414to pivot toward a clockwise direction and correspondingly drives the first gear412to screw out upwards, so that the first shell230pivots relative to the second shell235toward the anti-clockwise direction to jack up the first shell230. In contrast, when the user closes the second body220toward the second shell235, i.e., causes the second body220to pivot relative to the second shell235toward the anti-clockwise direction, the coupling device260correspondingly drives the second gear414to pivot toward the anti-clockwise direction and correspondingly drives the first gear412to screw in downwards, so that the first shell230pivots relative to the second shell235toward the clockwise direction to hide the second shell235. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, persons of ordinary skills in the art can achieve a desirable inclined angle of the first shell by changing a radian of a guide rail.

To sum up, in the present invention, through the design of the linkage device, the first shell can be jacked up at the same time when the user opens the screen of the electronic apparatus. Thus, an additional gap is produced to increase the heat dissipation effect, and meanwhile the operation angle of the first shell is adjusted to make it convenient for the user to perform an input action.

Although the present invention has been disclosed with reference to the above embodiments, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention shall be defined by the appended claims.