Portable electronic device

A portable electronic device including host body, display body, hinge and heat pipe assembly. The host body includes base and heat source disposed on base. Side of positioning structure is connected to first fixed part. First fixed part is fixed to base. Second fixed part is fixed to metal casing. Heat pipe assembly includes first heat pipe and second heat pipe. End part of first heat pipe has insertion hole. End part of second heat pipe is pivotally inserted into insertion hole of end part of first heat pipe. Another end part of first heat pipe is in thermal contact with heat source. Another end part of second heat pipe is in thermal contact with metal casing. Another side of positioning structure is fixed to end part of first heat pipe so as to keep pivot part and end part of first heat pipe coaxial.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 201910456720.1 filed in China, on May 29, 2019, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a portable electronic device, more particularly to a portable electronic device including a heat pipe assembly.

Description of the Related Art

In a conventional portable computer, there are two heat pipes in thermal contact with the heat source in the host body and the metal casing of the display body to dissipate heat generated by the heat source to the metal casing. Since the display body is hinged to the host body, the two heat pipes shall be pivotable relative to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of this invention provides a portable electronic device including a host body, a display body, a hinge and a heat pipe assembly. The host body includes a base and a heat source disposed on the base. The display body includes a metal casing and a display device disposed on the metal casing. The hinge includes a first fixed part, a pivot part, a second fixed part and a positioning structure. Two opposite sides of the pivot part are respectively pivotally connected to the first fixed part and the second fixed part. A side of the positioning structure is connected to the first fixed part. The first fixed part is fixed to the base. The second fixed part is fixed to the metal casing. The heat pipe assembly includes a first heat pipe and a second heat pipe. An end part of the first heat pipe has an insertion hole. An end part of the second heat pipe is pivotally inserted into the insertion hole of the end part of the first heat pipe. Another end part of the first heat pipe is in thermal contact with the heat source. Another end part of the second heat pipe is in thermal contact with the metal casing. Another side of the positioning structure is fixed to the end part of the first heat pipe so as to keep the pivot part and the end part of the first heat pipe coaxial.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIG. 1, whereFIG. 1is a perspective view of a portable electronic device10according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The portable electronic device10includes a host body100, a display body200, a first hinge300, a second hinge310and a heat pipe assembly400.

In this embodiment, the host body100includes, for example, a base101, a heat source102, a keyboard assembly103and a touch panel104. The heat source102, the keyboard assembly103and the touch panel104are disposed on the base101. The heat source102is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) or other electronic or electrical components that will generate heat during operation. The keyboard assembly103and the touch panel104are input interfaces for user to operate the portable electronic device10. For the purpose of a clear illustration of the internals of the base101, key caps of the keyboard assembly103are omitted fromFIG. 1. The display body200includes a metal casing201and a display device202disposed on the metal casing201.

Please refer toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, whereFIG. 2is a partially enlarged perspective view of the heat assembly400and the first hinge300of the portable electronic device10inFIG. 1, andFIG. 3is an exploded view of the heat assembly400and the first hinge300inFIG. 2.

The first hinge300includes a first fixed part301, a pivot part302, a second fixed part303and a positioning structure304. Two opposite ends of the pivot part302are respectively pivotally connected to the first fixed part301and the second fixed part303. The first fixed part301is fixed to the base101, and the second fixed part303is fixed to the metal casing201.

The positioning structure304and the first fixed part301are, for example, integrally formed or made of a single piece. In this embodiment, the positioning structure304includes a body part3040and a ring-shaped part3041. The ring-shaped part3041protrudes from the body part3040. In more detail, the ring-shaped part3401has a hole3042, and the ring-shaped part3401and the pivot part302both are disposed on a central axis C, and the ring ring-shaped part3041and the pivot part302are coaxial.

The second hinge310includes a first fixed part311, a pivot part312and a second fixed part313. Two opposite ends of the pivot part312are respectively pivotally connected to the first fixed part311and the second fixed part313. The first fixed part311is fixed to the base101. The second fixed part313is fixed to the metal casing201. In addition, the first fixed parts301and311are fixed to the base101, and they are respectively located adjacent to two opposite sides of the base101. The second fixed part303and313are respectively fixed to two opposite sides of the metal casing201. The first hinge300and the second hinge310allows the metal casing201to be pivoted relative to the base101.

Note that the second hinge310is optional. In other embodiments, the portable electronic device may not have the second hinge310; in such a case, the first hinge can be positioned to a proper location to enable a stable pivoting movement of the metal casing and the base.

Please refer toFIG. 1toFIG. 4, whereFIG. 4is a perspective cross-sectional view of the heat pipe assembly400of the portable electronic device10inFIG. 1.

In this embodiment, the heat pipe assembly400includes a first heat pipe410, a second heat pipe420, a fixing structure440and a sealing ring450.

The first heat pipe410includes a first end part411and a second end part412that are two opposite ends of the first heat pipe410. In this embodiment, the first end part411includes a narrower portion4110and a wider portion4111which are connected to each other. The first heat pipe410has, for example, a first vapor channel413located in the wider portion4111and configured for a coolant (not shown) to flow therethrough. The narrower portion4110has an insertion hole4112and an external thread4113. The narrower portion4110has an insertion opening4114and a side opening4115connected to each other. The insertion opening4114is formed at an end surface4116of the narrower portion4110. The side opening4115is formed on an outer surface4117of the narrower portion4110and extends from the insertion opening4114on the end surface4116along an axial direction D1of the narrower portion4110. The external thread4113are formed on the outer surface4117of the narrower portion4110. The second end part412is in thermal contact with the heat source102.

In addition, the wider portion4111of the first end part411of the first heat pipe410is disposed through the ring-shaped part3041, and the wider portion4111of the first end part411is fixed in the hole3042. The hole3042and the pivot part302both are disposed on the central axis C and are coaxial, such that the wider portion4111of first end part411is positioned about the central axis C; that is to say, the ring-shaped part3041helps the wider portion4111of the first end part411to be coaxially connected to the pivot part302.

The second heat pipe420includes a third end part421and a fourth end part422. The third end part421and the fourth end part422are two opposite ends of the second heat pipe420. The second heat pipe402has, for example, a second vapor channel424configured for another coolant (not shown) to flow therethrough. The third end part421is pivotally inserted into the insertion hole4112of the narrower portion4110of the first end part411via the insertion opening4114. The third end part421is disposed on the central axis C and is coaxial with the first end part411. The fourth end part422is in thermal contact with the metal casing201. In addition, the heat pipe assembly400further includes an annular protrusion4210, where the annular protrusion4210radially protrudes from the third end part421, and the annular protrusion and the third end part421are, for example, integrally formed or made of a single piece.

The fixing structure440is, for example, a sleeve having an internal thread441. The external thread4113located on the narrower portion4110of the first end part411can be engaged with the internal thread441, such that the fixing structure440can be fixed to the narrower portion4110of the first end part411, and the narrower portion4110of the first end part411is clamped between the fixing structure440and the third end part421. Since the engagement relationship between the external thread4113and the internal thread441, as the external thread4113is engaged with the internal thread441, the narrower portion4110is deformed so that the side opening4115tapers toward the end surface4116. In this way, the narrower portion4110of the first end part411would contact the third end part421in a tighter manner.

Note that the external thread4113, the internal thread441and the side opening4115are optional. In other embodiments, the first end part may not have the external thread4113, the fixing structure may not have the internal thread441, and the narrower portion of the first end part and the fixing structure may be fixed in position in a close-fit manner, and the narrower portion may not have the side opening4115.

In this embodiment, the heat pipe assembly400further includes a blocking portion442. The blocking portion442and the internal thread441are respectively located on two opposite sides of the fixing structure440, and the blocking portion442radially protrudes from another side of the fixing structure440. In this embodiment, the blocking portion442has a guide surface4420. While the third end part421is being inserted into an insertion hole (not labeled) of the fixing structure440, the annular protrusion4210presses against the guide surface4420so that the blocking portion442is deformed to cause an insertion opening (not labeled) formed by the guide surface4420to be widen, thereby allowing the fixing structure440to be inserted to the third end part421in a smooth manner. Two opposite sides of the annular protrusion4210of the third end part421respectively press against the end surface4116of the narrower portion4110of the first end part411and the blocking portion442. Moreover, the blocking portion442and the fixing structure440are, for example, integrally formed or made of a single piece.

Note that the annular protrusion4210and the blocking portion442are optional. In other embodiments, the heat pipe assembly may not include the annular protrusion4210and the blocking portion442; in such a case, the fixing structure and the third end part can be fixed in position by an existing positioning component that is fixed to the base.

The sealing ring450is clamped by the fixing structure440and the third end part421so as to enhance the airtightness of the space formed by the fixing structure440and the third end part421. Furthermore, the annular protrusion4210presses against the blocking portion442via the sealing ring450.

Note that the fixing structure440and the sealing ring-shaped part450are optional. In other embodiments, the heat pipe assembly may not include the fixing structure440, and the first heat pipe and the second heat pipe are kept coaxially connected merely by inserting the third end part of the second heat pipe into the narrower portion of the first end part of the first heat pipe. Further, in the embodiments where the heat pipe assembly does not include the fixing structure, the heat pipe assembly may not include the sealing ring.

In addition, please refer toFIG. 1,FIG. 5andFIG. 6, whereFIG. 5is a perspective view of the second heat pipe420and a reinforcement structure430of the portable electronic device inFIG. 1, andFIG. 6is partially enlarged perspective view of a bend part423and the reinforcement structure430inFIG. 5. In this embodiment, the second heat pipe420further includes a bend part423. The bend part423is located between the third end part421and the fourth end part422, and extends from an end of the bend part423that is located close to the third end part421to the other end of the bend part423that is located close to the fourth end part422so as to extend from the host body100to the display body200. In this embodiment, the heat pipe assembly400further includes a reinforcement structure430. The reinforcement structure430is fixed on the bend part423and, for example, entirely covers the bend part423to share the stress applied on the bend part423.

Note that the reinforcement structure430is optional. In other embodiments, the heat pipe assembly may not include the reinforcement structure430, and an existing support fixed to the metal casing can be used to share the stress applied on the bend part.

In addition, in other embodiments, the reinforcement structure may partially cover the bend part423. Please refer toFIG. 7, whereFIG. 7is a partially enlarged perspective view of a bend part423aand a reinforcement structure430aaccording to a second embodiment of the invention; in this embodiment, the reinforcement structure430ais fixed to the bend part423aby, for example, welding, and the reinforcement structure430apartially covers the bend part423a.

According to the portable electronic device discussed above, the positioning structure is integrally formed with the first fixed part of the hinge, one side of the positioning structure is connected to the first fixed part, and another side of the positioning structure is fixed to the wider portion of the first end part of the first heat pipe. Thus, the wider portion of the first end part of the first heat pipe and the pivot part of the hinge are coaxially connected, such that the third end part of the second heat pipe inserted into the insertion hole of the narrower portion of the first end part is kept coaxial with the pivot part of the hinge. Therefore, during the pivoting movement of the first heat pipe and the second heat pipe, the stress on the first heat pipe and the second heat pipe is reduced, such that the first heat pipe and the second heat pipe are prevented from being damaged by the pivoting movement.

In addition, the fixing structure is fixed to the narrower portion of the first end part of the first heat pipe, such that the narrower portion of the first end part is clamped between the fixing structure and the third end part. Therefore, the fixing structure can further keep the narrower portion of the first end part of the first heat pipe to be coaxial with the third end part of the second heat pipe that is inserted into the insertion hole. In this way, due to the cooperation of the positioning structure and the fixing structure, the first end part of the first heat pipe, the third end part of the second heat pipe that is inserted into the insertion hole, and the pivot part are coaxially connected.