Abstract:
An exemplary portable electronic device comprises a base unit, a display unit with a display unit, a hinge mechanism for pivotably attaching the display unit to the base unit, and a console assembly including a controller and a speaker. An extension portion extends from a rear end of the base unit. Two support portions extend from a lower portion of the display unit, and the display unit defines a holding space between the two support portions to receive the extension portion of the base unit. The hinge mechanism includes two fixing members attached on the extension portion, and two pivoting members respectively secured to the two support portions and pivotably mounted to the two fixing members. The display unit is pivotable between a first position where the display screen is toward the base unit and a second position where the display screen is away the base unit. The controller is rotatably mounted on the extension portion and is rotatable to cause sound output of the speaker being oriented with the same direction as the display screen at the first and second positions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to portable electronic devices, and more particularly to a portable personal computer with high-quality audio and video effects. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Because of the integration of more and more functional modules, such as speakers and disk drives, into portable computer systems, portable computer systems have become multi-media systems and have been more used for entertainment. Furthermore, with the increasing availability, lower cost, portable multi-media computer systems, the need for better audio and video effects in such systems has become increasingly important. 
     In general, sound output quality of speakers used within traditional portable computers is generally inferior. Of course, one reason for the poor sound quality is the relatively small speaker sizes. Small speaker size makes it difficult to produce quality sound over a wide frequency range, and particularly at lower frequencies. However, another key factor in sound output quality is the inability of a computer user to conveniently direct the sound output by adjustment of the speakers&#39; orientation toward the user. 
     In addition, a disk drive is also added-on to complete a multi-media system. For watching movies, a disk media such as a DVD disk having video data stored therein is inserted into a disk drive such as a DVD drive within a portable multi-media computer system. However, when a display portion is unfolded at an angle relative to a base portion of a conventional portable computer, the base portion remains in the user&#39;s field of view, adversely affecting the user&#39;s movie experience. 
     What is desired, therefore, is a portable personal computer with high-quality audio and/or video effects. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one preferred embodiment, a portable electronic device comprises a base unit, a display unit, a hinge mechanism for pivotably attaching the display unit to the base unit, and a console assembly including a controller. An extension portion extends from a rear end of the base unit. Two support portions extend from a lower portion of the display unit, and the display unit defines a holding space between the two support portions to receive the extension portion of the base unit. The hinge mechanism includes two fixing members attached on the extension portion, and two pivoting members respectively secured to the two support portions and pivotably mounted to the two fixing members. The controller is rotatably mounted on the extension portion and receivable in the holding space of the display unit. 
     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a portable personal computer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, including a base unit, a display unit, a hinge mechanism, a multi-media controller, and two first speakers; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of an encircled portion  11  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of an encircled portion IV of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , with the display unit in an open position; 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled view of  FIG. 3 , with the display unit in an open position; 
         FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but showing the multi-media controller and the first speakers partially rotate out; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a use state of the portable personal computer, with the display unit pivoted about 270 degrees relative to the base unit and the first speakers extended out of the portable computer to the limit of rotation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a portable personal computer is provided for illustrating the spirit of the invention. The portable computer includes a base unit  10  with input devices  11  installed in a top surface  13  thereof for input of commands to the computer, a display unit  50  with a display screen  51 , and a hinge mechanism  60  configured for pivotably attaching the display unit  50  to the base unit  10 , a console assembly  80 , and two first speakers  90 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the base unit  10  has a motherboard, disk drives, memory cards, and relevant devices housed therein. An extension portion  12  extends out from a middle portion of a rear end of the base unit  10 . Two depressed portions  14  are formed in the top surface  13  of the base unit  10  generally at two ends of the extension portion  12  respectively, and each depressed portion  14  further defines a vertical chamber  16  therein. Two horizontal fixing holes  18  are respectively defined in two ends of a back surface of the extension portion  12  and respectively communicate with the corresponding chambers  16 . A holder  20  is secured within the base unit  10  adjacent to a middle section of the extension portion  12 . The holder  20  is hollow along an axis thereof, and a plurality of first spaced teeth  25  encircle or bound the hollow axis. A passage  22  is defined in the top surface  13  of the base unit  10  corresponding to the holder  20 . Two positioning grooves  23 ,  24  are defined in the top surface  13  of the base unit  10  respectively adjacent to the two depressed portions  14 . Two recesses  26  are respectively defined in right and left two sides of the base unit  10  adjacent to the rear end of the base unit  10 . Two installing apertures  28  are respectively defined in top and bottom sections of the base unit  10  bounding each recess  26  and in communication with a back end of each recess  26 . A securing cavity  30  is defined in a front section of the base unit  10  bounding each recess  26  and in communication with a front end of each recess  26 . Two retaining slots  32  are defined in a front section of the top surface  13  of the base unit  10 . Two finger gaps  34  are defined in the top surface  13  of the base unit  10  respectively in communication with opposite sides of the retaining slots  32  to facilitate entry of fingers. In each retaining slot  32  a horizontal shaft  36  extends from the top surface  13  of the base unit  10 . A supporter  38  is pivotably secured to each shaft  36  and can be received in or taken out of the corresponding retaining slot  32 . When the two supporters  38  are respectively secured to the corresponding retaining slots  32 , the two supporters  38  interferentially fit with the two corresponding shafts  36  for retaining the supporters  38  within the retaining slots  32 , respectively. Two orifices  39  are respectively defined in two sides of each supporter  38  facilitating grasping the supporter  38  to take it out from the corresponding retaining slot  32 . 
     Two support portions  52  respectively extend from two sides of a lower portion of the display unit  50 , thereby defining a holding space  54  between the two support portions  52  to receive the extension portion  12  of the base unit  10 . A plurality of functional buttons  56  of the display unit  50 , such as push buttons used for controlling power on/off, adjusting brightness and contrast, and so on, is set in front surfaces of the two support portions  52 . A plurality of posts  58  each defining a connecting hole such as a threaded hole  59  projects from back surfaces of the two support portions  52 . 
     The hinge mechanism  60  includes two fixing members  62  and two pivoting members  75  respectively pivotably mounted to the two fixing members  62 . Each fixing member  62  includes a body portion  64 , an engaging portion  66  formed at a bottom of the body portion  64  for engaging in a corresponding depressed portion  14  of the base unit  10 , and a securing portion  68  projecting from a bottom of the engaging portion  66  for being received in the corresponding chamber  16  in the corresponding depressed portion  14 . A bolster  70  is formed on a top of the body portion  64 . An elongated rod  72  extends from a side of the body portion  64 . An engaging hole such as a threaded hole  74  is defined in the securing portion  68 , corresponding to a corresponding fixing hole  18  of the extension portion  12 . Each pivoting member  75  defines a plurality of holding holes  77  corresponding to the threaded holes  59  of a corresponding support portion  52  of the display unit  50 . An edge of the pivoting member  75  bends to shape a hollow pivoting portion  79  to receive the elongated rod  72  of the fixing member  62 . When the two pivoting members  75  are pivotably mounted to the two fixing members  62 , respectively, the pivoting rod  72  of each fixing member  62  interferentially fits with the pivoting portion  79  of a corresponding pivoting member  75 . 
     The console assembly  80  includes a multi-media controller  81  configured for controlling reproduction of movies and music, and a coupling member  86  secured to the controller  81 . A coupling opening  82  is defined in a bottom of the controller  81  to hold the coupling member  86 , and a positioning tab  83  protrudes from the bottom of the controller  81  corresponding to the two positioning grooves  23 ,  24  of the base unit  10 . Two second speakers  84  are respectively located in two ends of a front surface of the controller  81 . A plurality of buttons  85  used for controlling reproduction of movies and music is arrayed between the two ends of the front surface of the controller  81 . The coupling member  86  has a through channel  89  defined therein to allow signal wires extending therethrough, and is formed with a plurality of second spaced teeth  88  encircling an outer circumference of one end thereof for engaging with the first teeth  25  of the holder  20 . 
     The two first speakers  90  are pivotably secured within the two recesses  26  of the base unit  10 , respectively. Two pins  92  protrude respectively from upper and lower surfaces of each first speaker  90  adjacent to an end thereof, corresponding to the installing apertures  28  of the base unit  10 . A locking portion  94  projects from the other end of each first speaker  90 , corresponding to the securing cavity  30  of the base unit  10 . An operating notch  96  is defined in a front surface of each first speaker  90 . When the two first speakers  90  are respectively secured within the corresponding recesses  26  of the base unit  10 , the two pins  92  of each first speaker  90  interferentially fit with the two installing apertures  28  of the corresponding recess  26 , respectively. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 5 to 6 , in assembly, the securing portions  68  of the two fixing members  62  are respectively received into the corresponding two chambers  16  of the extension portion  12  and fixed to the base unit  10  via two fasteners such as screws  102  respectively passing through the two fixing holes  18  of the extension portion  12  and being screwed into the corresponding threaded holes  74  of the two securing portions  68 . The engaging portions  66  of the two fixing members  62  are placed in the corresponding depressed portions  14  of the extension portion  12 . The two pivoting members  75  are respectively pivotably mounted to the two fixing members  62  via the elongated rods  72  of the two fixing members  62  being inserted into the hollow pivoting portions  79  of the two pivoting members  75 . The two pivoting members  75  are then secured to the two support portions  52  of the display unit  50  via a plurality of fasteners  104  being passed through the holding holes  77  of the two pivoting members  75  and screwed into the corresponding threaded holes  59  of the posts  58  of the two support portions  52 . Thus, the display unit  50  is pivotably attached to the base unit  10  and can be opened and folded relative to the base unit  10 . 
     The coupling member  86  is set in the hollow holder  20 , and the second teeth  88  of the coupling member  86  mesh with the first teeth  25  of the holder  20  thereby the coupling member  86  being rotatably attached in the holder  20 , the other end of the coupling member  86  extends out of the top surface  13  through the corresponding passage  22  of the base unit  10 . The controller  81  is secured to the top surface  13  of the base unit  10  via the other end of the coupling member  86  being inserted into the coupling opening  82  of the controller  81  and firmly joined together by glue. Signal wires connected with the controller  81  are passed through the channel  89  of the coupling member  82  and the holder  20  and linked to the motherboard of the base unit  10  whereby the controller  81  is electrically connected with the motherboard. In addition, the positioning tab  83  of the controller  81  is put in the positioning groove  24  of the top surface  13  to prevent free movement of the controller  81 . The controller  81  and the body portions  64  of the two fixing members  62  are embedded in the holding space  54  of the display unit  50 . 
     The pins  92  of the two first speakers  90  are respectively inserted in the corresponding installing apertures  28  of the base unit  10 , the two first speakers  90  are thus pivotably attached to the base unit  10 . When the two first speakers  90  are pushed into the two corresponding recesses  26 , the locking portions  94  of the two first speakers  90  are locked into the corresponding securing cavities  30  of the two recesses  26 , whereby the two first speakers  90  are received and secured within the two recesses  26 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , when a user  106  operates the portable computer, the display unit  50  is opened at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the base unit  10 . The controller  81  is rotated about 180 degrees, the positioning tab  83  of the controller  81  is unlocked from the positioning groove  24  of the top surface  13  and locked in the positioning groove  23 , and the controller  81  is repositioned on the top surface  13 . The locking portions  94  of the two first speakers  90  are unlocked from the corresponding securing cavities  30  of the two recesses  26  via manipulating the first speakers  90  at the corresponding operating notches  96 , and the two first speakers  90  are rotated 90 degrees out of the corresponding recesses  26 . The supporters  38  are taken out of the corresponding retaining slots  32  of the top surface  13  via grasping the supporters  38  at the corresponding orifices  39 . The display unit  50  is further rotated about the rods  72  of the two fixing members  62  to be opened at an angle of about 270 degrees relative to the base unit  10 , and the extension portion  12  of the base unit  10  is accommodated in the holding space  54  of the display unit  50 . When the portable computer is put on a desk or the like with the top surface  13  facing the desk or the like via support of the two supporters  38  and the bolsters  70  of the two fixing members  62 , sound output of the first and second speakers  90 ,  84  is oriented to the same direction and faces toward the user  106 , and the user  106  can gain maximum audio clarity and effect. In addition, there is nothing between the display unit  50  and the user  106 , the user  106  can intently enjoy videos on the display screen  51  of the display unit  50 . Thus, the user  106  can orient the speakers so as to direct sound output of the speakers  90 ,  84  toward the user  106  to gain maximum audio clarity and effect, and also enjoy video effects as when he/she watches a television at home, or even sees movies at a movie theater. 
     It is believed that the present embodiment and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the embodiment and examples hereinbefore described merely being one preferred or exemplary embodiment with exemplary detail.