Electronic device

An electronic device is provided, including a display module, an input module, a hinge module, and an antenna. The hinge module connects the display module and the input module and has a first side and an opposite second side. The antenna is disposed in the hinge module and is situated on the first side. When the display module is rotated with respect to the input module, the hinge module forces the antenna to move from the first side to the second side.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 106121975, filed on Jun. 30, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The application relates in general to an electronic device, and in particular to an electronic device that includes a movable antenna.

Description of the Related Art

The popularity of electronic devices such as desktop computers and laptop computers is increasing, and the demands on these increasingly indispensable electronic devices are also rapidly growing. A laptop computer with a touch screen and having a display that can be rotated 360 degrees has been available on the market, providing consumers a wealth of options.

The antenna of a conventional laptop computer is usually disposed on the top end of the screen. In response to the trend toward miniaturization of digital products and to enhance their appearance, the position of the antenna needs to be changed. However, the antenna of an electronic product will produce electromagnetic waves, and when these electromagnetic waves are too high, it may be harmful to the human body. Therefore, before an electronic product such as a laptop computer can be made commercially available, it is necessary to pass the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) detection standard, which is a detection of the degree of absorption by a human body of the electromagnetic wave energy emitted by the product. In general, the farther the distance between the components of the product (which produce electromagnetic waves) and the human body, the lower the harm to the human body. Therefore, to provide a good product design and enable it to pass the SAR detection standard is an important issue.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

To address the deficiencies of conventional electronic devices, an embodiment of the invention provides an electronic device, including a display module, an input module, a hinge module, and an antenna. The hinge module connects the display module and the input module and has a first side and an opposite second side. The antenna is disposed in the hinge module and is situated on the first side. When the display module is rotated with respect to the input module, the hinge module forces the antenna to move from the first side to the second side.

In some embodiments, the hinge module has a central axis, and when the display module is rotated relative to the input module, the antenna moves along a direction that is perpendicular to the central axis.

In some embodiments, the hinge module has a guide portion and a rod portion, the guide portion connects to the rod portion, and when the display module is rotated relative to the input module, the guide portion forces the rod portion to move and the rod portion forces the antenna to move from the first side to second side.

In some embodiments, the hinge module has a first fixing member and a first shaft, the first fixing member connects the display module and the first shaft, and the guide portion is disposed on the first shaft.

In some embodiments, the rod portion has an elongated structure that extends along a direction that is perpendicular to the first shaft.

In some embodiments, the hinge module has a second fixing member and a second shaft, the second fixing member connects the input module and the second shaft, and the guide portion is disposed on the second shaft.

In some embodiments, the guide portion has a first gear and a second gear, the rod portion has a rack structure, and the second gear connects the first gear and the rack structure

In some embodiments, the hinge module has a housing portion covering the antenna.

In some embodiments, when the display module is rotated relative to the input module into an expanded position, the display surface of the display module has its back to the input module.

In some embodiments, the display module is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the input module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of an electronic device1according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 1, the electronic device1, for example, is a 360 degrees rotating laptop computer, primarily comprising a display module10, an input module20, and a plurality of hinge modules30. The display module10may be a touch screen having a display surface101. The input module20has a keyboard K and a touch panel T. A pair of hinge modules30are situated on the bottom of the display module10and connect the display module10to the input module20, so that the display module10is rotatable with respect to the input module20, so that the user can adjust the viewing angle.

FIG. 2is a schematic diagram of the hinge module30situated on the left side of the electronic device1inFIG. 1(the decorative shell inFIG. 1is omitted). As shown inFIG. 2, the hinge module30has a first fixing member31, a second fixing member32, a first shaft R1, a second shaft R2, and a housing portion V. The first and second fixing members31and32are respectively fixed to the display module10and the input module20(may be fixed by a plurality of fasteners (such as screws) passing through the holes of the first and second fixing members31and32) and are respectively connected to the first and second shafts R1and R2. The first and second shafts R1and R2respectively have a first axis RR1and a second axis RR2which are parallel to the central axis C of the hinge module30(which extends along the long-axis). The first and second axes RR1and RR2are connected to each other and can rotate around one another so that the display module10can be rotated relative to the input module20. Furthermore, the housing portion V at least partially covers the first and second shafts R1and R2, wherein an antenna TA (indicated by the broken line inFIG. 2) is disposed in the hosing portion V and connects to the hinge module30.

Specifically, as illustrated inFIGS. 2-3(whereinFIG. 3shows a side view of the hinge module30inFIG. 2), the hinge module30has a first side301and an opposite second side302. The end of the first shaft R1is provided with a guide portion33which is coupled with (or connected to) a rod portion34having an elongated structure, and one end of the rod portion34is connected to the antenna TA. The guide portion33has a first gear331and a second gear332, and the rod portion34has a rack structure, wherein the second gear332is coupled with (or connected to) the first gear331and the rod portion34. In some embodiments, the rod portion34is connected to the antenna TA by adhesion or by engagement, and a guide mechanism (e.g., a groove) corresponding to the rod portion34may be provided in the hinge module30, to smoothly guide the motion of the rod portion34.

The following will be described in detail: when the display module10is rotated with respect to the input module20, the hinge module30forces (or drives) the antenna TA disposed therein to move. Please refer toFIGS. 4 to 6.

FIGS. 4 and 5are schematic diagrams of the electronic device in a closed position and an open position, respectively, wherein when in the closed position (FIG. 4), the display101of the surface display module10faces the input module20. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, when the display module10is rotated relative to the input module20from the closed position (FIG. 4) to the open position (FIG. 5), the first shaft R1rotates relative to the input module20in the direction A1, and the guide portion33(disposed on the first shaft R1) also rotates together (wherein the first gear331rotates in the direction A1; the second gear332rotates in the direction A2), to force the rod portion34to move.

More Specifically, by the rotations of the first and second gears331and332, the rod portion34with the rack structure moves in a direction which is perpendicular to the central axis C of the hinge module30(or the first axis RR1of the first shaft R1), such as direction A3inFIG. 4. Thus, the antenna TA is remote from the first side301of the hinge module30.

Furthermore, as shown inFIGS. 5-6, when the display module10is continuously rotated relative to the display module20(in the direction A4) from the open position (FIG. 5) to the expanded position (FIG. 6), the electronic device1may be used as a tablet computer, and the display surface101of the display module10is facing away from (facing back to or facing backward) the input module20. The rod portion34continuously moves in the direction which is perpendicular to the central axis C (such as direction A5inFIG. 6) via the rotation of the first shaft R1and of the guide portion33, and the antenna TA is also forced and moves to the second side302of the hinge module30. Similarly, when the electronic device1is restored from the expanded position to the closed position (please seeFIGS. 6 to 4), the antenna TA moves from the second side302to the first side301forced (or driven) by the guide portion33and the rod portion34.

Therefore, when the electronic device1goes from the closed position to the expanded position, the antenna TA disposed in the hinge module30moves from the first side301to the second side302of the hinge module30. In other words, the antenna TA is displaced. When the electronic device1in the expanded position receives SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) detection, as shown inFIG. 7, there is a distance X1+X2between the antenna TA and a SAR detection tool G for detecting the electromagnetic wave generated by the antenna TA. Compared to a non-displacement antenna TA0of an electronic device (that is, the antenna TA0will not move when from the closed position to the expanded position), there is only a distance X1between the antenna TA0and the detection tool G, which causes the electromagnetic wave energy detected by the detection tool G to be higher relative to the one in the present embodiment. That is, when the electronic device1of the present embodiment is in the expanded position, the antenna TA is remote from the bottom side of the electronic device1(the first side301of the hinge module30). Thus, when a user uses the electronic device1in the expanded position, he or she can be far away from the antenna TA, thereby reducing the influence of electromagnetic waves. Therefore, the quality of the electronic apparatus1is effectively increased.

It should be understood that the other hinge module30situated on the right side of the electronic device1(FIG. 1) is substantially symmetrical to the hinge module30situated on the left side and has the same or similar components, and another antenna TA may be disposed therein, which are not described again here in detail.

In another embodiment, the guide portion33is provided at the end of the second shaft R2. When the input module20is rotated relative to the display module10, the guide portion33and the rod portion34force (or drive) the antenna TA to move from the first side301to the second side302. In another embodiment, the hinge module30may include only one shaft (single hinge) which connects the display module10and the input module20via the first and second fixing members31and32disposed in the hinge module30, and the guide portion33is provided at one end of the single shaft. When the display module10is rotated with respect to the input module20, the guide portion33and the rod portion34force the antenna TA to move from the first side301to the second side302of the hinge module30.

In summary, an electronic device is provided, primarily including a display module, an input module, a hinge module, and an antenna. The hinge module connects the display module and the input module and has a first side and an opposite second side. The antenna is disposed in the hinge module and is situated on the first side. When the display module is rotated with respect to the input module from the closed position to the open position and the expanded position, the hinge module forces the antenna to move from the first side to the second side. Therefore, in the open position, the antenna is near the bottom side of the electronic device, to maintain good signal quality; in the expanded position, the antenna moves away from the bottom side of the electronic device, so that when a user uses the electronic device in the expanded position, the antenna in the present invention is farther away from the user than an antenna which does not move and would still be located on the bottom of the electronic device. As result, the harm to the human body caused by electromagnetic waves generated by the antenna is reduced, and the performance of the electronic device is improved. In addition, by providing a guide portion and a rod portion on the shaft to force the antenna to move, the kinetic energy of the rotation of the display module can be applied to the antenna, so that the additional forcing/driving mechanisms can be saved, to reduce the production and assembly cost.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the invention. It is intended that the standard and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope of the disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.