Electronic device having stowable display unit

An electronic device having a stowable display unit includes a housing, a slide element, a display unit, and a control module. The housing has a receiving space, and an opening at a front side of the housing. The slide element is disposed in the receiving space, and is connected slidably to the housing. The display unit is disposed in the receiving space, and is connected pivotally to a front end of the slide element. The control module includes an actuating mechanism connected to a rear end of the slide element, and a control unit provided on the housing and controlling operation of the actuating mechanism. The actuating mechanism is controllable by the control unit to activate movement of the slide element to move the display unit to a used position externally of the opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 099216948 filed on Sep. 1, 2010, the disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device having a stowable display unit.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional server1usually includes a housing11, two handles12projecting from a front end of the housing11, and a display unit13connected rotatably to one of the handles12. When the display unit13is in a used position, the display unit13is disposed in front of the housing11, and blocks some of the hard disc holders14that are installed inside the housing11. When it is desired to remove the blocked hard disc holders14from the housing11, the display unit13is first rotated outwardly relative to the housing11at an angle of about 90° to an opened position before the hard disc holders14can be pulled out from the housing11. Repair or replacement of the hard disc holders14can then be performed.

Since the display unit13is spaced apart from the front end of the housing11in the opened position, the display unit13is easily hit by an external force that may result in its damage. Worst is, it may be fractured from the handle12. Therefore, the area of improvement that the present invention focuses on is that related to realizing a structural design of an electronic device having a stowable display unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device having a stowable display unit. Through activation of a control module, the display unit can be moved automatically between a stored position and a used position to facilitate use of the display unit and prevent the display unit from being hit by an external force that may result in its damage.

The purpose of the present invention and the solution to the conventional technical problems are achieved through employment of the below technical means. According to the disclosure of the present invention, an electronic device having a stowable display unit comprises a housing, a slide element, a display unit, and a control module. The housing has a receiving space, and an opening at a front side of the housing. The slide element is disposed in the receiving space, and is connected slidably to the housing. The display unit is disposed in the receiving space, and is connected pivotally to a front end of the slide element. The control module includes an actuating mechanism connected to a rear end of the slide element, and a control unit provided on the housing and controlling operation of the actuating mechanism. The actuating mechanism is controllable by the control unit to activate movement of the slide element to move the display unit to a used position externally of the opening.

Through the aforesaid technical means, the advantages and effectiveness of the electronic device having the stowable display unit according to the present invention reside in the fact that through the control module, the actuating mechanism can be activated to automatically move the display unit between the used position and the stored position, thereby enhancing the use of the present invention and preventing the display unit from being hit by an external force that may result in its damage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The above-mentioned and other technical contents, features, and effects of this invention will be clearly presented from the following detailed description of the three embodiments in coordination with the reference drawings. Through description of the concrete implementation method, the technical means employed and the effectiveness to achieve the predetermined purposes of the present invention will be thoroughly and concretely understood. However, the enclosed drawings are used for reference and description only, and are not used for limiting the present invention.

Before this invention is described in detail, it should be noted that, in the following description, similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 9, an electronic device200having a stowable display unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention is exemplified as a server. The electronic device200comprises a housing2and a plurality of hard disc holders20. The housing2includes a plurality of insert grooves211each opening at a front side of the housing2. Each hard disc holder20is inserted removably in a respective insert groove211.

The housing2further includes a top plate212, and a top cover22connected detachably to the housing2to cover the top plate212. The top cover22and the top plate212cooperatively define a receiving space23, and an opening24to communicate the receiving space23with an external portion of the housing2.

The electronic device200further comprises a slide element3and a display unit4both disposed in the receiving space23. The top plate212is provided with left and right slide rails213disposed in the receiving space23. Each slide rail213has an elongated slide groove214extending in a front-rear direction. The slide element3is configured as a slide plate, and includes two slide portions31, in the form of slide pins, projecting respectively from left and right sides of the slide element3in proximity to a rear end thereof and slidable respectively on the slide rails213. Each slide portion31is connected slidably to a respective slide groove214. Through this configuration, the slide element3can slide forward and rearward along the slide grooves214relative to the housing2.

The display unit4includes a casing41, a display panel42disposed on the casing41, and a plurality of control keys43provided on the casing41and adapted to be pressed by a user. The display panel42may be a liquid crystal display panel or a plasma display panel. The display unit4can be connected electrically to a motherboard6(seeFIG. 6) that is disposed inside the housing2by using a conducting wire (not shown), so that the user can control and setup the electronic device200through the display unit4.

The slide element3further includes two ears32projecting from a front end thereof and spaced apart in a left-right direction. The outer casing41of the display unit4is connected pivotally between the ears32using two pivot pins33. Through this configuration, the display unit4can pivot relative to the slide element3about the pivot pins33.

With reference toFIGS. 4,5, and6, in order for the display unit4to move automatically between a stored position (seeFIG. 5), where the display unit4is disposed in the receiving space23, and a used position (seeFIG. 8), where the display unit4extends through the opening24to be disposed on the front side of the housing2, the electronic device200further comprises a control module5. The control module5includes an actuating mechanism51connected to a rear end of the slide element3, and a control unit52provided on the housing2and controlling operation of the actuating mechanism51.

The actuating mechanism51includes two drive motors511provided on the top plate212and spaced apart in a left-right direction, and a U-shaped actuating rod512. The actuating rod512includes two drive rod portions513spaced apart in a left-right direction, and a cross rod portion514interconnecting rear ends of the drive rod portions513. A front end of each drive rod portion513may be connected to the rear end of the slide element3through any suitable connecting method, such as a hook-engaging method, a screwing method, a welding method, or an adhering method. In this embodiment, the front end of each drive rod portion513has an engaging hook515engaged to one of engaging grooves34in the rear end of the slide element3. Hence, the actuating rod512can be stably and fixedly connected to the slide element3.

Further, each drive motor511includes a gear wheel516. Each drive rod portion513includes a plurality of rack teeth517to mesh with the gear wheel516. When the gear wheel516of each drive motor511rotates, the gear wheel516can drive the actuating rod512to move forwardly or rearwardly, so that the actuating rod512can activate the slide element3to move forward or rearward along the slide groove214. It is worth mentioning that, although two drive motors511are exemplified in this embodiment, in an alternative embodiment, only one drive motor511may be provided. The effect of moving the slide element3can be similarly achieved.

The control unit52includes a control circuit521disposed on the top plate212, and a control element522provided on the front end of the top cover22. The control circuit521is disposed between the drive motors511, and is connected electrically to the motherboard6through a conducting wire523. Each drive motor511is connected electrically to the control circuit521through a conducting wire518. Through this configuration, a central processor524of the control circuit521can control the motherboard to transmit power source to each drive motor511to rotate the same and to control a normal or reverse turn of the gear wheel516.

In this embodiment, the control element522includes a fingerprint sensor connected electrically to the control circuit521through a conducting wire525. When the control element522senses the user's fingerprint, fingerprint data sensed thereof is transmitted to the control circuit521through the conducting wire525. The control unit52further includes a data-storing unit526containing pre-stored fingerprint data. The data-storing unit526is connected electrically to the control circuit521through a conducting wire527. The central processor524compares fingerprint data sensed by the control element522with the pre-stored fingerprint data of the data-storing unit526. The control circuit521controls rotation of each drive motor511based on a result of comparison between the fingerprint data sensed by the fingerprint sensor and the pre-stored fingerprint data of the data-storing unit526.

With reference toFIGS. 3,5, and6, when the display unit4is in the stored position, the display unit4and the slide element3are aligned horizontally in the receiving space23, and the display unit4closes the opening24and unblocks the hard disc holders20. Through this configuration, the display unit4can be prevented from being hit by an external force that may result in its damage or breakage.

With reference toFIGS. 7,8, and9, if the user desires to use the display unit4, the user's finger is first aimed at the control element522so that the control element522can produce fingerprint data that is transmitted to the central processor524. The central processor524then compares the fingerprint data sensed by the control element522with the pre-stored fingerprint data of the data-storing unit526. If the result of the comparison between the fingerprint data sensed by the control element522and the pre-stored fingerprint data in the data-storing unit526is incorrect, the central processor524will not activate rotation of each drive motor511. But, if the result of the comparison is correct, the central processor524will activate rotation of each drive motor511. When the gear wheel516of each drive motor511makes a normal turn, it will drive the actuating rod512to move along the direction of an arrow (I) to push the slide element3and the display unit4forwardly, so that the display unit4gradually moves out of the opening24. As the slide portions31abut respectively against front ends of the respective slide grooves214, the display unit4is moved completely out of the receiving space23, and through its own weight, pivots downwardly relative to the slide element3about the pivot pins33along the direction of an arrow (II), so that the display unit4is disposed vertically, and blocks partially the front end of the housing2. At this time, the display unit4is in the used position, and the user can manipulate the electronic device200by operating the control keys43.

When the user desires to store the display unit4, the user's finger is again aimed at the control element522so that the central processor524can compare the fingerprint data sensed by the control element522with the pre-stored fingerprint data of the data-storing unit526. If the result of the comparison is correct, the central processor524will activate rotation of each drive motor511. The gear wheel516of each drive motor511will make a reverse turn, so that the actuating rod512can move along a reverse direction of the arrow (I) to pull the slide element3and the display unit4rearwardly. When the display unit4abuts against a front end of the top plate212, the display unit4is gradually pushed upward by the top plate212. As the slide portions31abut respectively against rear ends of the slide grooves214, the slide element3cannot move further rearwardly. At this time, the display unit4is disposed in the stored position.

Through the configuration of the control module5, the user only has to have his/her finger sensed by the control element522to move automatically the display unit4from the stored position to the used position or vice versa, thereby enhancing use of the present invention and preventing the display unit4from being hit by an external force. Further, through the central processor524of the control circuit521, the fingerprint data sensed by the control element522can be compared with the pre-stored fingerprint data of the data-storing unit526. The result of the comparison can decide whether or not to activate rotation of each drive motor511. Hence, a safe mechanism is provided to prevent unauthorized personnel from controlling the electronic device200at his/her leisure.

Referring toFIGS. 10 and 11, an electronic device210according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a structure and an operating method similar to that described in the first embodiment. The difference between the first and second embodiments resides in the configuration of the control element522′. In this embodiment, the control element522′ includes a voice sensor to sense the user's voice.

When the user speaks a specific word, for example, “expose the display unit” or “store the display unit,” to the control element522′, the central processor524will compare the voice data sensed by the control element522′ with pre-stored voice data of the data-storing unit526. If the comparison result is incorrect, the central processor524will not activate rotation of each drive motor511. If the comparison result is correct, the central processor524will activate rotation of each drive motor511. Through this configuration, the display unit4can be actuated to move automatically to the used position or the stored position.

Referring toFIGS. 12 and 13, an electronic device220according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a structure and an operating method similar to that described in the first embodiment. The difference between the first and third embodiments resides in the configuration of the control element522″. In this embodiment, the control element522″ is configured as a push button.

By pressing the control element522″, the control element522″ will produce a control signal that is transmitted to the central processor524through the conducting wire525. The central processor524then activates rotation of each drive motor511, and the display unit4is actuated to move automatically to the exposed or stored position.

From the aforesaid description, through the control element522,522′,522″ of the control module5, the actuating mechanism51can be actuated to automatically move the display unit4to the exposed or stored position, thereby enhancing use of the present invention and preventing the display unit4from being hit by an external force that may result in its damage. Hence, the object of the present invention can be realized.