Abstract:
A portable electronic device including a secondary body having a touch screen and a primary body having a keyboard is provided. The secondary body slides and rotates relative to the primary body, such that the secondary body selectively makes the touch screen is back towards the primary body and cover the keyboard, so as to provide a first operation mode for operating the touch screen; or the secondary body is inclined relative to the primary body at a certain angle to show the keyboard on the primary body, so as to provide a second operation mode for operating the keyboard. Thus, various operation and accommodation aspects are provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a portable electronic device, and more particularly, to a portable electronic device having a display screen capable of sliding and rotating on a primary base. 
     2. Related Art 
     The structure of a conventional notebook generally includes two main parts, i.e., a primary base and a screen connected with the primary base via a revolving shaft mechanism. When the notebook is used, the display screen of the notebook will be opened. 
     Currently, a portable computer platform called Ultra Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC) is available in market. The size of the UMPC is between that of a personal digital assistant (PDA) and that of an ultra slim notebook. As the UMPC is light, thin, small, and chic, it can be placed into a pocket, which is very convenient to carry along. Similarly, the UMPC also includes a primary base and a display screen, and has built-in WLAN and built-in multimedia player, so as to meet the requirements on communication, entertainment, and information, etc. As the display screen is slidably mounted on the primary base, when being pushed, the display screen slides and moves along rails opened in the primary base. When the UMPC is not used, the display screen covers a keyboard on the primary base; and when the UMPC needs to be used, the display screen is pushed to slide away to expose the keyboard. However, the display screen can only slide on the primary base, when a user needs to operate the keyboard, the viewing angle and viewing position are greatly limited, and the selectivity is very low, which is inconvenient for the user. 
     Therefore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,850,226 discloses a mobile computer with a slidable display screen, so as to solve the viewing angle problem. The mobile computer includes a primary body and a display screen joined to the primary base. The primary base also has a keyboard; and the display screen slides along rails opened in the primary base, and it is capable of rotating relative to the primary base at specific positions on the rails. Thus, the display screen selectively covers or exposes the keyboard, and the rotation angle of the display screen can be further adjusted after the keyboard is exposed. 
     Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 6,903,927 also discloses a mobile computer, wherein a display screen is closely engaged with rails in a primary base, and a jointing member is disposed on the back of the primary base, so as to pivot the primary base on the back of the display screen. Thus, the display screen not only slides relative to the primary base, but also rotates forwards or backwards to get close to the primary base, such that the display screen faces the primary base or moves away from the primary base, which constitutes the operation modes of a notebook computer or a tablet computer respectively. 
     The display screen in the prior art is directly joined to the internal edge of the primary base, so as to allow the display screen to slide and move. However, there is a difference in height between the end surface of the primary base and the keyboard, which is inconvenient for the user to operate the keyboard. 
     Accordingly, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,980,420 discloses a portable computer, wherein the display screen is not directly joined with the primary base, which is convenient for operation. The portable computer includes an expansion base, a system module having a display panel, and a support module. The support mode is joined to the external edge of the system module with a sliding portion, and it is slidably disposed on a corresponding third side of the expansion base, such that the support module slides between a first side and a second side of the expansion base. Moreover, the portable computer further includes a supporting portion pivoted to the sliding portion and positioned separately, such that an angle of the system module relative to the expansion base can be changed accordingly, thus, the system module is slidable and separable. 
     In the prior art, the display screen is joined to the external edge of the primary base via the support module, and the moving and sliding actions are also achieved through the support module. As the support module is exposed, the user easily touches the support module and gets hurt, and the overall appearance is not optimal. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the above prior arts, there is a difference in height between the end surface of the primary base and the keyboard, thus, when operating the keyboard, the operating space for the user is limited; moreover, as the sliding and rotating mechanism is disposed on the external edge of the primary base, the user easily touches it and gets hurt. In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a portable electronic device, which disposes a sliding and rotating mechanism on an end surface of a primary base, thereby providing the user with a preferred and safer operating space. 
     To achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention provides a portable electronic device, which comprises a primary body, a sliding base, at least one pivoting base, and a secondary body, wherein a guide slot is disposed an edge of each of two opposite sides of the primary body; the sliding base is movable relative to the primary body and spans over the guide slots of the primary body; and the pivoting base is disposed on the sliding base and has a rotatable revolving shaft mounted on the edge of the body. Thus, the secondary body can slide and rotate relative to the primary body via the sliding base and the revolving shaft. 
     In the portable electronic device disclosed in the present invention, it is convenient to adjust the viewing distance and the viewing angle of the secondary body according to the user&#39;s requirements. Moreover, as the sliding and rotating mechanism is disposed on the end surface of the primary body instead of the internal edge or the external edge, the user&#39;s operation of the keyboard is not limited by the difference of height between the keyboard and the primary board, and the operating space is not limited as well. Meanwhile, the portable electronic device of the present invention has a simple structure, and it is convenient for being operated. 
     Detailed features and advantages of the present invention are described in the embodiments below, and their content is adequate for those skilled in the art to understand the technical content of the present invention and to implement the present invention. According to the content disclosed in the specification, the claims, and the drawings, those skilled in the art can easily understand the objects and advantages of the present invention. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, which thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a structure of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic view of a structure that the sliding base extends into the guide slots according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a combined view of the structure of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic views showing that the secondary body slides with the touch screen being backed towards the primary body according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic view showing that the secondary body rotates relative to the primary body according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic view showing that the secondary body rotates relative to the primary body and then slides according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is an exploded view of a structure of a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic view of a structure that the sliding base extends into the guide slots according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The portable electronic device disclosed in the present invention can be an UMPC, a tablet computer, and a notebook, however, which is not limited to be the UMPC, the tablet computer, and the notebook. For example, the technology disclosed in the present invention is also applicable to an object that can be opened, closed, and can slide and move. In the detailed description of the present invention below, the UMPC is taken as an applied embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an UMPC  200  of the first embodiment of the present invention includes a primary body  220 , a secondary body  230 , a sliding base  241 , and pivoting bases  242 . The primary body  220  is a rectangular body, which is not limited to be rectangular, and it may have other geometrical shapes. The primary body  200  includes a front wall  221 , a rear wall  222  being opposite to the front wall  221 , and side walls  223  between the front wall  221  and the rear wall  222 . A keyboard  224  is further disposed on an end surface of the primary body  220 , for a user to input control commands. Guide slots  225  are recessed on the primary body  220  and extend from positions near the rear wall  222  towards the front wall  221  in edges of two opposite sides of the keyboard  224 , and a sliding slot  226  is disposed on a side wall of each of the guide slots  225 . The guide slots  225  form accommodation portions  228  at positions where the front wall  221  and the end surface of the primary body  220  are connected, and two blocking members  227  are disposed at positions corresponding to the accommodation portions  228 . Furthermore, the two blocking members  227  are fixed on the primary body  200  via locking members  300 , and located at limiting positions of the guide slots  225 , thus, when the sliding base  241  slides along the guide slots  225 , the sliding base  241  can only moves to the limiting positions. 
     The sliding base  241  includes a supporting portion  243  spanning over an end surface of the primary body  220 . The supporting portion  243  has a plurality of through holes  244  formed thereon, and has two interference portions  245  relatively extending from positions corresponding to the guide slots  225  of the primary body  220  on two ends of the supporting portion  243 , and each of the interference portions  245  has a hook  236 ( 246 ?) extending into each sliding slot  226 . Thus, the hooks  246  are engaged with the sliding slots  226 , so as to enable the sliding base  241  to move relative to the primary body  220  along the guiding slots  225 . 
     The number of the pivoting bases  242  is the minimum number that is adequate for supporting the weight of the primary body  220  and facilitating the rotation. Herein, in the present invention, two pivoting bases  242  are taken as an example. However, the number of the pivoting bases  242  is not limited to two. Each of the pivoting bases  242  includes a fixing portion  247  and a revolving shaft  248  disposed on the edge of the fixing portion  247 , and has positioning holes  2471  at positions corresponding to the through holes  244 . Each fixing portions  247  is locked to the supporting portions  243  of the sliding base  241  via a plurality of locking members  300 . Each of the revolving shafts  248  further includes a plurality of positioning holes  2491 , and each of the revolving shafts  248  can rotate relative to the corresponding fixing portion  247 . 
     The secondary body  230  includes a touch screen  231  and a top wall  233  opposite to the touch screen  231 . The touch screen  231  is a liquid crystal panel, but is not limited to be the liquid crystal panel. In addition to be used for viewing images, the touch screen  231  also can be pressed and touched to function as an input interface of the primary body  220 . Moreover, clipping slots  234  are respectively disposed at positions corresponding to the two pivoting bases  242  of the top wall  233 , and a plurality of fixing holes  235  is arranged near the snapping slots  234 . By passing the locking members  300  through the positioning holes  2491 , the revolving shafts  248  are retained in the fixing holes  235 . Thus, the secondary body  230  can rotate and slide relative to the primary body  220  via the revolving shafts  248  and the sliding base  241 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , as the secondary body  230  rotates relative to the primary body  220  via the pivoting bases  242 , and the pivoting bases  242  are connected to the sliding base  241  via the fixing portions  247 , and accordingly, the angle of the secondary body  230  to the primary body  220  can be changed, such that the secondary body  230  and the primary body  220  are closed and opened relative to each other. The sliding base  241  is movable on the primary body  220  through the hooks  246  operating together with the sliding slots  226 , such that the secondary body  230  covers or exposes the keyboard  224  of the primary body  220 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 A, and  4 B, when the UMPC  200  is not used, the top wall  233  of the secondary body  230  gets close to the primary body  220 , such that the touch screen  231  is back toward the primary body  220 , and the keyboard  224  is covered. When the UMPC  200  needs to be used, the secondary body  230  is driven to move towards the direction of the rear wall  222  of the primary body  220 , and meanwhile, the sliding base  241  is driven to move along the guide slots  225  in the primary body  220 . Thus, the secondary body  230  slides over the primary body  220  to gradually expose the keyboard  224 . When the sliding base  241  stops upon bearing against the edges of the guide slots  225 , the keyboard  224  on the primary body  220  is fully exposed, which is convenient for the user to operate the keyboard  224 . 
     Then, the secondary body  230  is further rotated. The top wall  233  of the secondary body  230  gradually moves away from the primary body  220  via the pivoting bases  242 , so that the secondary body  230  forms an inclined angle with the primary body  220 . Thus, the user can adjust the relative angle between the secondary body  230  and the primary body  220 , so as to obtain the optimal viewing angle of the touch screen  231 . In addition, the secondary body  230  can also be driven to move towards the direction of the front wall  221  of the primary body  220  until the sliding base  241  moves to the limiting positions, so as to obtain the optimal viewing distance of the touch screen  231 . When the secondary body  230  needs to get close to the primary body  220 , the return operation can be performed according to the above steps, such that the touch screen  231  returns to the position where it is backed towards the primary body  220  and the keyboard  224  is covered. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , an UMPC  200 A according to a second embodiment is disclosed. The structure of the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment with the difference lying in that, the guide slots  225 A of the primary body  220  extend from positions near the rear wall  222  to positions near the front wall  221 , so as to limit the sliding range of the sliding base  241 . 
     According to the portable electronic device disclosed in the present invention, the secondary body can rotate and slide relative to the primary body via the pivoting bases and the sliding base respectively, so as to present a plurality of different aspects. Moreover, the structure of the pivoting bases is simple, and the secondary body can easily achieve the rotating motion. In addition, the sliding base is disposed on the end surfaces of the primary body instead of the internal edge or the external edge, which not only facilitate the operation of the keyboard on the primary body, but also convenient for the user to adjust the viewing distance and the viewing angle. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.