Electronic device

An electronic device includes a housing, at least one cover, and a hard disk. The housing having an accommodating space, an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one through hole communicating with the inner surface and the outer surface. The cover located at an outer side of the housing in which a chamber is formed between at least one portion of the cover and at least one portion of the outer surface, and the chamber is communicating with the accommodating space through the through hole. The hard disk disposed in the accommodating space.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Application Serial Number 201611032306.0, filed Nov. 17 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device.

Description of Related Art

In general, an electronic device, such as a computer, is used for signal processing or data storage. In addition, in order to improve the storage capacity of the electronic device, an additional hard drive may be disposed in the electronic device. However, the hard disk generates vibration at a specific frequency during operation, thereby generating sound within a specific frequency range.

In other words, the electronic device may generate noise within a specific frequency to vibration generated by its internal component during operation. In addition, as the frequency of the vibration noise falls within a frequency range of human hearing, it will affect the user's sense of hearing, and the user's operational comfort on the electronic device. Therefore, how to reduce the volume of noise is issue that the industry has faced with.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an electronic device with a resonant chamber.

The present disclosure provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a housing at least one cover, and a hard disk. The housing has an accommodating space, an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one through hole communicating with the inner surface and the outer surface. The cover is located at the outer side of the housing in which a chamber is formed between at least one portion of the cover and at least one portion of the outer surface, and the chamber is communicating with the accommodating space through the through hole. The hard disk is disposed in the accommodating space.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chamber has a volume, and the through hole connected to the chamber has a cross-section and a depth, in which the cross-section is substantially parallel to the inner surface and has a cross-sectional area, and the depth is substantially equal to a distance between the inner surface and the outer surface. Sound generated by the hard disk during operation has a sound speed and at least one frequency, and a resonance frequency satisfies the following equation:

f=fr=c/2n(A/VD)1/2; in which f represents the frequency of sound, fr represents the resonance frequency, c represents the sound speed, A represents the cross-sectional area of the through hole, V represents the volume of the chamber, and D represents the depth of the through hole.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the housing has the through holes; the chamber is communicating with the accommodating space through the through holes; the chamber has a volume; each of the through holes has a cross-section and a depth; the cross-section is substantially parallel to the inner surface and has a cross-section area; the depth is substantially equal to a distance between the inner surface and the outer surface; sound generated by the centrifugal fan module during operation has a sound speed and at least one frequency; and a resonance frequency satisfies the following equation:

f=fr=c/2n(NA/VD)1/2; in which f represents the frequency of sound, fr represents the resonance frequency, c represents the sound speed, N represents a quantity of the through holes, A represents the cross-section area of the through hole, V represents the volume of the chamber, and D represents the depth of the through hole.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the outer surface of the housing has a bottom surface, and the cover at least covers the bottom surface.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the outer surface of the housing has a top surface, and at least one portion of the top surface is exposed from the cover.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the outer surface of the housing has a side surface, and the cover at least surrounds the side surface.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device further includes at least one spacer, in which the spacer divides the chamber into a plurality of sub-chambers, and each of the sub-chambers is communicating with the accommodating space through the at least one through hole.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, at least two of the sub-chambers have different volumes.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device further includes a loudspeaker, and the cover has an opening, in which the loudspeaker is hermetically engaged with the opening.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device further includes supporting members, the supporting members being connected to a side of the cover facing away from the housing, in which when the electronic device stands on a reference plane by the supporting members, a gap is formed between the cover and the reference plane, and the loudspeaker is located between the chamber and the gap.

In the aforementioned configurations, the natural frequency of the chamber of the present disclosure can be designed by using the through hole of the housing and the cover located at the outside of the housing. When the natural frequency of the chamber is substantially the same as a frequency generated by the electronic device during operation, the chamber may have a resonance phenomenon. A friction between the chamber and an air column generated by the resonance phenomenon may consume sound energy, thereby enabling the electronic device to reduce the volume of sound and absorb the sound energy. Consequently, the electronic device of the embodiment may reduce the volume of sound with a broader bandwidth by the chamber.

Furthermore, because the cover covers at least one portion of outer surface of the housing, when the electronic device suffers an external force, the chamber formed between the housing and the partial outer surface may provide a buffer space to prevent the electronic components in the housing from being damaged by the external force, thereby enabling the housing to prevent the vibration caused by the external force. In addition, the chamber may act as a loudspeaker box, and the coverage of the cover against the outer surface of the housing can be changed according to the space required for the loudspeaker, and parameters of the through hole may be changed simultaneously to reduce the noise generated by the hard disk (or other components) in the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made toFIGS. 1 and 2.FIG. 1is a perspective view of an electronic device1according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG. 2is a side cross-section view along line A-A inFIG. 1. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment, the electronic device1includes a housing10, a cover14, and a hard disk12(shown inFIG. 2). The structure and function of the components and their relationships are described in detail hereinafter.

InFIG. 2, the housing10has an accommodating space100, an inner surface102, an outer surface104, and at least one through hole106(only one is depicted) communicating with the inner surface102and the outer surface104. In other words, the thickness of the housing10is defined as a distance between the inner surface102and the outer surface104. In detail, the outer surface104of the housing10further includes a bottom surface1040, a top surface1042, and a side surface1044. The cover14is located at an outer side of the housing10, and totally covers the bottom surface1040of the housing10. Furthermore, a chamber16is formed between the cover14and the bottom surface1040of the outer surface104, and is communicating with the accommodating space100through the through hole106of the housing10. The hard disk12is disposed in the accommodating space100. In some embodiments, the cover14may partially covers the bottom surface1040of the housing10, and the chamber16is formed between the cover14and a portion of the bottom surface1040of the outer surface104.

In general, frequencies generated by electronic components in the electronic device1during operation bring about a large amount of energy at plural frequency intervals. The electronic device1may reduce the volume of sound and absorb the energy of sound by using the Helmholtz resonance theory. When the natural frequency of the chamber16is substantially the same as a frequency generated by the electronic device1during operation, the chamber16may have a resonance phenomenon. A friction between the chamber16and an air column in the chamber16generated by the resonance phenomenon may consume the energy of the in the aforementioned frequency, thereby enabling the electronic device1to reduce the volume of sound and absorb the energy of sound. Consequently, the electronic device1of the embodiment may reduce the volume of sound with a broader bandwidth by the chamber16.

Reference is made toFIGS. 2 and 3.FIG. 3is a cross cross-section view along line B-B inFIG. 1. For example, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, in the embodiment, a frequency f1 of the electronic device1at the time in operation may generate a larger volume of sound. The chamber16and the through hole106of the electronic device1and the frequency f1 may be designed to satisfy the Helmholtz formula as the following equation, thereby reducing the volume of sound with frequency f1.
f1=fr1=c/2n(A/VD)1/2l
in which c represents the speed of sound, V represents the volume of the chamber16, A represents the cross-section area of the cross-sections S of the through hole106and the cross-section S is substantially parallel to the inner surface102or the outer surface104of the hosing10, D represents the depth of the through hole106, and the depth D is substantially the same as a distance between the inner surface102and the outer surface104, fr1 represents the resonance frequency of the chamber16. In the embodiment, the shape of the through hole106is circular, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the shape of the through hole106may be in any other suitable shapes, such as, rectangular and prismatic shape.

In the embodiment, a vertical projection of the hard disk12on the inner surface102of the housing10at least partially overlaps with the through hole106of the housing10. In other words, the hard disk12is aligned with the through hole106of the housing10. Furthermore, the hard disk12is the component closest to the through hole106in the housing10to prevent sound generated by the hard disk12from being blocked by other components in the electronic device1, thereby enabling most noise generated by the hard disk12to bring about the resonance phenomenon with the chamber16and to reduce the volume of sound generated by the hard disk12.

InFIG. 2, the cover has an opening140. The electronic device1further includes a loudspeaker19. The loudspeaker19is hermetically engaged with the opening140. For example, sound generated by the loudspeaker19of the electronic device1may bring about resonance effect depending on the chamber16in a designed frequency, thereby enhancing the quality of sound generated by the loudspeaker19. The designed frequency of sound generated by the loudspeaker19is different from the resonance frequency of the chamber. Therefore, the electronic device1may enhance the quality of sound generated by the loudspeaker19, and reduce the interference of sound from the hard disk12to the loudspeaker19simultaneously by the chamber16.

In the embodiment, the electronic device1further includes plural supporting members17. The supporting members17are respectively connected to a side of the cover14facing away from the housing. When the electronic device1stands on a reference plane P by the supporting members17, a gap170is formed between the cover14and the reference plane P. The loudspeaker19is located between the chamber16and the gap170. In other words, the loudspeaker19and the supporting members17are located on the same side of the cover14, thereby enabling sound generated by the loudspeaker19to be transmitted to an external environment by the gap170.

Reference is made toFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a cross-section view of an electronic device2according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 4, the structure and function of the components and their relationships are substantially the same as those of the electronic device1inFIGS. 1-3, and the related detailed descriptions may refer to the foregoing paragraphs, and are not discussed again herein. Hence, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the examples as the previous embodiment. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and represents the same or similar elements, and the description of the same technical contents is omitted.

It is noted that, the difference between the present embodiment and that inFIGS. 1-3are in that the housing20has two through holes206aand206b, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the number of the through holes may be plural, such as, three, four, or five or more through holes. For example, in the embodiment, frequencies generated by electronic components in the electronic device2at the time in operation bring about a large amount of energy in a frequency f2. The chamber16and the through hole106of the electronic device1and the frequency f2 may be designed to satisfy the Helmholtz formula as the following equation, thereby reducing the volume of sound with frequency f2.
f2=fr2c/2n(NA/VD)1/2;
in which c represents the speed of sound, N represents a quantity of the through holes, V represents the volume of the chamber16, A represents the cross-section area of the cross-sections S of the through hole206or the through hole206band the cross-sections S is substantially parallel to the inner surface202or the outer surface204of the hosing20, and the through hole206aand the through hole206bhave the same cross-sectional area A in the embodiment, D represents the depth of the through hole206aor the through hole206b, and the depth D is substantially the same as a distance between the inner surface202and the outer surface204, fr2 represents the resonance frequency of the chamber16. In the embodiment, the shape of the through hole206aand the through hole206bare circular, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the shape of the through hole206aand the through hole206bmay be in any other suitable shapes, such as, rectangular and prismatic shapes.

As such compared to the embodiment inFIG. 2, the embodiment described herein can modify the resonant frequency of the chamber16by varying the number of through holes on the housing20without changing the volume of the chamber16, the cross-sectional area A and the depth D of the through hole, thereby enabling the number of through-holes located in the housing20to be flexibly arranged by the user according to the practical requirements.

Reference is made toFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device3according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 5, the structure and function of the components and their relationships are substantially the same as the electronic device2inFIG. 4, and the related detailed descriptions may refer to the foregoing paragraphs, and are not discussed again herein. Hence, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the examples as the previous embodiment. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and represents the same or similar elements, and the description of the same technical contents is omitted.

It is noted that, the difference between the present embodiment and that inFIG. 4are in that the electronic device3further includes a spacer18. The spacer18divides the chamber16into two sub-chambers360aand360b. The sub-chamber360ais communicating with the accommodating space100of the housing20through the through hole206a. The sub-chamber360bis communicating with the accommodating space100of the housing20through the through hole206b. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the volume of the sub-chamber360ais different from the volume of the sub-chamber360b, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the volume of the sub-chamber360ais substantially the same as the volume of the sub-chamber360b.

In some embodiments, frequencies generated by the electronic device3at the time in operation have strong frequency responses at plural frequency intervals. In this case, the natural frequency of the sub-chamber360amay be designed to be different from the natural frequency of the sub-chamber360bin the present disclosure, and the natural frequencies are design to be substantially the same as the frequencies having the strong frequency responses, thereby reducing the volume of sound generated by the electronic device3effectively. Hence, the sub-chamber360aand the sub-chamber360bhaving the different natural frequencies can be used to reduce the volume of sound effectively.

For example, each of the frequency f3 and the frequency f4 of the electronic device3at the time in operation may generate a larger volume of sound. The chambers360aand the through hole206aof the electronic device3, and the frequency f3 may be designed to satisfy the Helmholtz formula as the following equation, thereby reducing the volume of sound with frequency f3. Alternatively, the chambers360band the through hole206bof the electronic device3, and the frequency f4 may be designed to satisfy the Helmholtz formula as the following equation thereby reducing the volume of sound with frequency f4.
f3=fr3=c/2n(A/V1D)1/2; and
f4=fr4=c/2n(A/V2D)1/2;
in which c represents the speed of sound V1 and V2 represent the volumes of the chambers360aand360brespectively, Furthermore, the volume V1 of the chamber360ais different from the volume V2 of the chamber360b, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, as long as the chambers360aand360bhave parameters which satisfy the design requirements as previous described, they can be applied the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the through hole206amay be different from the cross-sectional area of the through hole206b, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the number of spacers18may be more than one. Plural spacers18may divide the chamber16into two or more sub-chambers, thereby enabling the number of sub-chamber to be designed by the user according to actual requirements to reduce the volume of noise having plural strong frequency responses. Furthermore, each of the sub-chambers may be communicating with the accommodating space100of the housing20through plural through holes according to actual requirements.

In some embodiments, the electronic device3may further include plural covers. The covers may cover different portions of the bottom surface2040of the housing20, and plural chambers are formed between the covers14and the different portions respectively. In other words, the covers are separated from each other. Furthermore, the aforementioned chambers are communicating with the accommodating space100through the through holes of the housing20. In some other embodiments, the covers may cover the bottom surface2040, the top surface2042, and the side surface2044of the housing20respectively, and each of chambers is formed between the correspond cover and the corresponding surface on the housing20. Furthermore, the aforementioned chambers are communicating with the accommodating space100through the through holes of the housing20, but the present disclosure is not limited to the number and the configuration of the sub-chambers previously described. In some embodiments, the present disclosure can be applied to a configuration in which noise is effectively reduced by using sub-chambers having different natural frequencies.

Reference is made toFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a side cross-sectional view of an electronic device4according with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 6, the structure and function of the components and their relationships are substantially the same as the electronic device1inFIG. 1, and the related detailed descriptions may refer to the foregoing paragraphs, and are not discussed again herein. Hence, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the examples as the previous embodiment. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and represents the same or similar elements, and the description of the same technical contents is omitted.

It is noted that, the difference between the present embodiment and that inFIG. 1are in that the top surface1042is exposed from the cover44. In other words, the cover44totally covers the bottom surface1040and the side surface1044of the housing10, but the present disclosure is not limited to. In some embodiments, the cover44totally may cover the bottom surface1040and the side surface1044of the housing10, and further may cover the top surface1042of the housing10. In other words, the cover44may totally cover the outer surface104of the housing10. That is, the housing10may be located in the cover44.

As such, the embodiment described herein can modify the resonant frequency of the chamber16by varying the coverage of the cover44against the outer surface104of the housing10in the case which parameters of the through hole106are fixed, thereby reducing the volume of noise generated by the electronic device4. Furthermore, because the cover44covers at least one portion of outer surface104of the housing10, when the electronic device4suffers an external force, the chamber46formed between the housing44and the partial outer surface104may provide a buffer space to prevent the electronic elements in the housing10from being damaged by the external force. In other words, when the electronic device4suffers an external force, the cover44may deform due to the external force and absorb the energy provided by the external force to prevent the energy from transferring to the housing10, thereby enabling the housing10to prevent from the vibration caused by the external force. Furthermore, the chamber46may act as a loudspeaker box, and the coverage of the cover44against the outer surface104of the housing10can be changed according to the space required for the loudspeaker19, and parameters of the through hole16may be changed simultaneously to reduce the noise generated by the hard disk12(or other elements) in the housing10.

Furthermore, the cover44has an opening440. The opening440is located at a side of the cover44near the reference plane P. In other embodiments, the opening440may located at a side of the cover44opposite to the side surface1040of the housing10. The loudspeaker19is hermetically engaged to the opening440of the cover44. Sound generated by the loudspeaker19of the electronic device4may bring about resonance effect depend on the chamber46in a designed frequency, thereby enhancing the quality of sound generated by the loudspeaker19.

Reference is made toFIG. 7.FIG. 7is a side cross-section view of an electronic device5according with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 5, the structure and function of the elements and the relationship therebetween are substantially the same as the electronic device1inFIG. 1, and the related detailed descriptions may refer to the foregoing paragraphs, and are not discussed again herein. Hence, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the examples as the previous embodiment. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and represents the same or similar elements, and the description of the same technical contents is omitted.

It is noted that, the difference between the present embodiment and that inFIG. 1are in that a cover54surrounds the side surface5044of the housing50, a chamber56is formed between the cover54and the side surface5044, and chamber56is communicating with the accommodating space100through the through hole506of the housing50. However, in other embodiment, the cover54may surround the side surface5044of the housing50, and further may surround a peripheral portion of the bottom surface5040and another peripheral portion of the top surface5042of the covering50.

Furthermore, the cover54has an opening540. The opening540is located at a side of the cover54facing away from the housing50. The loudspeaker19is hermetically engaged to the opening540. Sound generated by the loudspeaker19of the electronic device5may bring about resonance effect depend on the chamber56in a designed frequency, thereby enhancing the quality of sound generated by the loudspeaker19.

According to the foregoing recitations of the embodiments of the disclosure, it can be seen that the natural frequency of the chamber of the present disclosure can be designed by the through hole of the housing and the cover located at the outside of the housing. When the natural frequency of the chamber16is substantially the same as a frequency generated by the electronic device1at the time in operation, the chamber16may have a resonance phenomenon. A friction between an air column in the chamber and the chamber generated by the resonance phenomenon may consume the energy of the in the aforementioned frequency, thereby enabling the electronic device to reduce the volume of sound and absorb the energy of sound.

Consequently, the electronic device of the embodiment may reduce the volume of sound having a broader bandwidth by the chamber.

Furthermore, because the cover covers at least one portion of outer surface of the housing, when the electronic device suffers an external force, the chamber formed between the housing and the partial outer surface may provide a buffer space to prevent the electronic elements in the housing from being damaged by the external force, thereby enabling the housing to prevent from the vibration caused by the external force. In addition, the chamber may act as a loudspeaker box, and the coverage of the cover against the outer surface of the housing can be changed according to the space required for the loudspeaker, and parameters of the through hole may be changed simultaneously to reduce the noise generated by the hard disk (or other elements) in the housing.