Electronic device with latch

An electronic device includes a main body and a cover pivotally assembled on the main body, wherein when the cover rotates relative to the main body, the electronic device is automatically powered on.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic devices, and particularly, to an electronic device with a latch.

2. Description of Related Art

Electronic devices, such as laptops, usually includes a main body and a cover pivotally assembled to the main body. The main body includes a lock and a power switch. The cover is arranged with a hook corresponding to the lock. The power switch is used for powering on/off the electronic device.

When the main body and the cover are folded together, the hook is forced to disengage from the lock, and the cover may then be pivotably rotated from the main body. The power switch which may have been unreachable when the cover was folded to the main body can now be pressed by the user to power on the electronic device.

This is an inconvenience because several actions such as opening the cover and pressing down the power switch should be performed by the user before the electronic device can be powered up.

Therefore, a new and improved electronic device is desired to overcome the above-described shortcomings.

SUMMARY

An electronic device comprising: a main body including a printed circuit board, a cover body pivotally assembled to the main body, and an active member. The cover body being selectively located in a closed position, at which the cover body covers the main body, and an open position at which the cover pivotally rotates away from the main body. The active member automatically power on the electronic device when the cover body is in the open position. The active member comprising: a first driving portion mounted to the cover body, a second driving portion mounted to the main body, a power switch mounted on the printed circuit board. When the cover body is in the closed position, an attraction force is generated by the cooperation of the first and second driving portion, and the power switch power off the electronic device. When the cover body rotates from the closed position to the open position, the attraction force activates the power switch to power on the electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the exemplary embodiments of the present electronic device, in detail.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 5, an electronic device100includes a main body10, a cover body20, a pivot30, and an active member40. The cover body20is assembled to the main body10by the pivot30, and is rotatable relative to the main body10about the pivot30from an open position to a closed position, or vice versa. The active member40is used for locking/unlocking the cover body20to/from the main body10and powering on the electronic device100.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the cover body20includes an inner surface22facing the main body10and a screen25in the inner surface22. The screen25is used for displaying information when the cover body20is in the open position. The main body10includes a first housing11, a second housing12cooperatively combined with the first housing11to define a receiving space110for accommodating various electronic components, such as one or more central processing units (CPU), a printed circuit board13or a rechargeable battery. A positioning post121protrudes downwardly from an inner surface of a top wall of the second housing12.

Referring toFIG. 5, the active member40includes a first driving portion21disposed on the cover body20. A second driving portion15, an elastic member17, a power switch131, and a conductive member14disposed in the main body10. The first driving portion21and the second driving portion15are attracted to each other. In the exemplary embodiment, the first driving portion21and the second driving portion15are magnets. In other embodiment, one of the first driving portion21or the second driving portion15may be iron or steel instead of pre-magnetized material.

The first driving portion21is disposed on a front edge of the inner surface22of the cover body20, and opposite to the positioning post121of the main body10when the cover body20is located in the closed position.

The power switch131is disposed on the printed circuit board13. The power switch131includes a first contact133and a second contact135. The two contacts133,135protrudes upwardly from the printed circuit board13and opposite to the positioning post121.

The conductive member14is located above the first contact133and the second contact135. The second driving portion15is secured with the conductive member14and is larger than the conductive member14. The conductive portion14is capable of being driven to move together with the second driving portion15. The conductive portion14selectively presses against the power switch131to control the power switch131. When the conductive portion14presses against the power switch131, the conductive portion14electrically connects the first contact133with the second contact135, thus the power switch131is closed. As such, the associated power circuitry for supplying power to the electrical device100power on the electrical device100. When the conductive portion14is not in contact with the power switch131, the first contact133and the second contact135are not electrically connected to each other and the power switch131is opened. As such, the power circuitry associated with the power switch131is opened and no power is supplied to the electrical device100.

The elastic member17is disposed between the second driving portion15and the first driving portion21, and is sleeved around the positioning post121. In the exemplary embodiment, the elastic member17is a compression spring. When the cover body20is in the closed position, the elastic member17is compressed by the attraction force between the second driving portion15and the first driving portion21. When the cover body20rotates from the closed position to the open position, the first driving portion21moves away from the second driving portion15and the potential energy stored in the compressed elastic member17is released. This release of potential energy results in the elastic member17expanding along the longitudinal direction of the positioning post121, which in turn pushes the second driving portion15and the conductive portion14to contact the first contact133and the second contact135of the power switch131thereby turning the electrical device100on. In other embodiment, the elastic member17may be an elastic gasket.

During assembly, the printed circuit board13is fixed on the first housing11; the conductive portion14is fixed to the second driving portion15; and the elastic member17is sleeved around the positioning post121. Then, the conductive portion14and the second driving portion15are disposed between the elastic member17and the power switch131, the conductive portion14is disposed adjacent to the power switch131, and the second driving portion15is disposed at a side near the elastic member17. Finally, the first driving portion21is fixed on the inner surface22of the cover20, and the position of the second driving portion15is opposite to the position of the first driving portion21.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, when the cover body20is located at the closed position, the cover body20is folded onto the main body10. The second driving portion15is attracted by the first driving portion21to move toward the positioning post121, and the elastic member17is compressed by the second driving portion15to store potential energy. Thus, the cover body20is locked on the main body10by the attraction force. The conductive portion14fixed to the second driving portion15is brought to move apart from the first contact133and second contact135, causing the power switch131to be opened. When a force is applied on the cover body20to rotate away from the main body10, the first driving portion21is separates from the second driving portion15so that the attraction force between the two driving portions15,21is reduced. When the attraction force is smaller than the potential energy stored in the elastic member17, the second driving portion15moves toward the power switch131, causing the conductive portion14to contact the first contact133and the second contact135. In this case, the power switch131is closed.

As described above, when the electronic device100is in use, the electronic device100is automatically powered on. Therefore, it is very convenience for users.

The embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure. Other arrangements and advantages may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention should be deemed not to be limited to the above detailed description, but rather by the spirit and scope of the claims that follow, and their equivalents.