Patent Publication Number: US-2017367206-A1

Title: Electronic device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Patent Application No. 105119269, filed on Jun. 20, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The application relates in general to an electronic device, and in particular, to an electronic device having a supporting member. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In a conventional electronic device, there are a number of metal connectors disposed in a position that is higher than the mainboard for the purpose of connecting to an external device. Thus, a heat-resistant plastic sheet is usually disposed between the mainboard and a circuit board having metal connecters. The mainboard, the plastic sheet, and the circuit board can be affixed together with a rivet, and the mainboard can further be affixed to a housing with a screw. 
     However, the plastic sheet, the rivet, and the screw occupy a large amount of space, and these members for affixing and raising the position are not cheap. The user has to simultaneously align the holes on the mainboard, the plastic sheet, and the circuit board having metal connectors during assembly, in order to allow the rivet to pass through. Furthermore, the distances between the metal connectors and the mainboard, the metal connectors and the housing, and the mainboard and the housing have to be adjusted simultaneously. Therefore, the assembly method should be accurate and complex, and the cost of automated manufacturing is increased. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     To address the deficiencies of conventional products, an embodiment of the invention provides an electronic device, including a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a supporting member, and a first locking member. The first circuit board has a first hole. The second circuit board has a second hole, a pin, and a metal connector, wherein the pin is connected to the first circuit board. The supporting member has a first portion disposed in the first hole, a second portion, and a screw hole extending from the first portion to the second portion, wherein the diameter of the first portion is less than that of the second portion. The first locking member passes through the second hole and enters the screw hole to affix the second circuit board to the supporting member. The second portion is disposed between the first circuit board and the second circuit board to form a gap therebetween. 
     In some embodiments, the diameter of the first portion is substantially the same as that of the first hole. 
     In some embodiments, the second portion contacts the first circuit board. 
     In some embodiments, the supporting member further comprises a third portion disposed in the second hole, wherein the diameter of the third portion is less than that of the second portion. The screw hole extends to the third portion. 
     In some embodiments, the diameter of the third portion is substantially the same as that of the second hole. 
     In some embodiments, the electronic device further comprises a housing and a second locking member. The housing has a third hole, and the second locking member passes through the third hole and enters the screw hole to affix the first circuit board to the housing. 
     In some embodiments, the first locking member and the second locking member are disposed on opposite sides of the first circuit board. 
     In some embodiments, the first circuit board further comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the second portion is disposed on the second surface, and the first portion protrudes from the first surface. 
     In some embodiments, the supporting member is affixed to the first circuit board by welding or pressing. 
     In some embodiments, the first circuit board is substantially parallel to the second circuit board. 
     Another embodiment of the invention provides an electronic device, including a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a supporting member, and a first locking member. The first circuit board has a first hole, wherein the first hole has a plane portion. The second circuit board has a second hole, a pin, and a metal connector, wherein the pin is connected to the first circuit board. The supporting member has a first portion disposed in the first hole, a second portion, and a screw hole extending from the first portion to the second portion, wherein the width of the first portion is less than the diameter of the second portion, and the width and the shape of the first portion are substantially the same as that of the first hole. The first locking member passes through the second hole and enters the screw hole to affix the second circuit board to the supporting member. The second portion is disposed between the first circuit board and the second circuit board to form a gap therebetween. 
     In some embodiments, the first hole has an opening. 
     In some embodiments, the second portion contacts the first circuit board. 
     In some embodiments, the supporting member further comprises a third portion disposed in the second hole, wherein the diameter of the third portion is less than that of the second portion. The screw hole extends to the third hole. 
     In some embodiments, the diameter of the third portion is substantially the same as that of the second hole. 
     In some embodiments, the supporting member further comprises a fourth portion connected to the first portion, and the first portion is positioned between the second portion and the fourth portion, wherein the width of the first portion is less than the diameter of the fourth portion. 
     In some embodiments, the height of first portion is substantially the same as that of the first hole. 
     In some embodiments, the electronic device further comprises a housing and a second locking member. The housing has a third hole, and the second locking member passes through the third hole and enters the screw hole to affix the first circuit board to the housing. 
     In some embodiments, the first locking member and the second locking member are disposed on opposite sides of the first circuit board. 
     In some embodiments, the first circuit board is substantially parallel to the second circuit board. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is an exploded diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an supporting member according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along line x-x in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6B  is an exploded diagram of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of an supporting member according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a first circuit board according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view along line y-y in  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the electronic device are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodiments provide many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the embodiments, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that each term, which is defined in a commonly used dictionary, should be interpreted as having a meaning conforming to the relative skills and the background or the context of the present disclosure, and should not be interpreted by an idealized or overly formal manner unless defined otherwise. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an electronic device in an embodiment of the invention primarily comprises a first circuit board  100 , a second circuit board  200 , a housing  300 , at least one supporting member  400 , at least one first locking member  500 , and at least one second locking member  600 . At least one first hole  110  and a plurality of perforations  120  are formed on the first circuit board  100 . At least one second hole  210 , at least one pin  220 , at least one metal connector  230 , and a plurality of copper pillars  240  are formed on the second circuit board  200 . Furthermore, at least one third hole  310  is formed on the housing  300 . 
     It should be noted that the first hole  110 , the second hole  210 , and the third hole  310  are aligned with each other, and the copper pillars  240  are aligned with the perforations  120 . In other words, the relative position between the first hole  110  and the perforations  120  is the same as the relative position between the second hole  210  and the copper pillars  240 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the supporting member  400  has a stepped structure and comprises a first portion  410 , a second portion  420 , and a screw hole  430 , wherein the screw hole  430  extends from the bottom  411  of the first portion  410  to the top  421  of the second portion  420 . The dimensions or the diameter of the first portion  410  is less than that of the second portion  420 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the aforementioned members are assembled, the supporting member  400  is affixed to the first circuit board  100 . The first portion  410  of the supporting member  400  is disposed in the first hole  110  and protrudes from a first surface  101  of the first circuit board  100 , and the second portion  420  contacts a second surface  102 , wherein the second surface  102  is opposite to the first surface  101 . The first locking member  500  passes through the second hole  210  of the second circuit board  200  and enters the screw hole  430  from the second portion  420  to join to the supporting member  400 , such that the second circuit board  200  can be affixed to the supporting member  400 . Because the second portion  420  of the supporting member  400  is disposed between the first circuit board  100  and the second circuit board  200 , a gap G can be formed between the first circuit board  100  and the second circuit board  200 . Therefore, the position of the second circuit board  200  can be raised. 
     The second locking member  600  passes through a third hole  310  of the housing  300  and enters the screw hole  430  from the first portion  410  to join to the supporting member  400 , such that the first circuit board  100  can be affixed to the housing  300 . Similarly, the part of the first portion  410  that protrudes from the first circuit board  100  can separate the first circuit board  100  from the housing  300 . Thus, the first circuit board  100  does not contact the housing  300  to generate a short circuit even if the housing  300  comprises a conductive material (such as a metal). 
     The first and second locking members  500  and  600  respectively enter the screw hole  430  from the opposite ends of the supporting member  400 , such that the first locking member  500  and the second locking member  600  are disposed on opposite sides of the first circuit board  100 . In this embodiment, the first and second locking members  500  and  600  can be screws. The supporting member  400  can comprise non-conductive material, such as plastic or ceramics. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , when the electronic device is assembled, the pins  220  of the second circuit board  200  connect the first circuit board  100 , and the copper pillars  240  pass through the perforations  120  to connect the first circuit board  100 . The first and second circuit boards  100  and  200  can transmit signals and power therebetween by the pins  220  and the copper pillars  240 . 
     In this embodiment, the pins  220  and the copper pillars  240  can be affixed to the first circuit board  100  by welding, and the supporting members  400  can be affixed to the first circuit board  100  by welding or pressing. Thus, the pins  220 , the copper pillars  240 , and the supporting members  400  can be affixed in the same step of the process. The automated manufacturing of the product can be facilitated. For example, the pins  200 , the copper pillars  240 , and the supporting members  400  can be welded by a surface-mount technology (SMT) to affix it to the first circuit board  100  in the same step of the process. 
     Furthermore, the diameter of the first portion  410  of the supporting member  400  is substantially the same as that of the first hole  110 . Therefore, the first portion  410  does not move relative to the first hole  110  when the electronic device sways, and the separation of the supporting member  400  from the first circuit board  100  can be avoided. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the first circuit board  100  is parallel to the second circuit board  200 , and the metal connectors  230  of the second circuit board  200  protrude from the side of the first circuit board  100 . An external device (for example, a USB flash drive or a connector of a display) can easily connect to the metal connectors  230 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A , in another embodiment of the invention, the supporting member  400  can further comprise a third portion  440 . The second portion  420  is disposed between the first portion  410  and the third portion  440 , and the screw hole  430  further extends to the top of the third portion  440 . When the second circuit board  200  is affixed to the supporting member  400  by the first locking member  500 , the third portion  440  is disposed in the second hole  210 . It should be noted that the dimensions or the diameter of the third portion  440  is less than that of the second portion  420 , and the diameter and the shape of the third portion  440  are substantially the same as that of the second hole  210 . In this embodiment, the dimensions or the diameter of the first portion  410  is substantially the same as that of the third portion  440 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , in another embodiment, the height of the first portion  410  of the supporting member  400  is less than or the same as the height of the first hole  110 , such that the first portion  410  does not protrude from the first surface  101  of the first circuit board  100 . When the first circuit board  100  is affixed to the housing  300  by the second locking member  600 , the first circuit board  100  might contact the housing. Thus, in this embodiment, the housing  300  can be made of a non-conductive material (such as plastic). In some embodiments, the first circuit board  100  can be disposed on an external platform directly, and the housing  300  and the second locking member  600  can be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , an electronic device in another embodiment of the invention primarily comprises a first circuit board  100 ′, a second circuit board  200 ′, a housing  300 ′, at least one supporting member  400 ′, at least one first locking member  500 ′, and at least one second locking member  600 ′. At least one first hole  110 ′ and a plurality of perforations  120 ′ are formed on the first circuit board  100 ′. At least one second hole  210 ′, at least one pin  220 ′, at least one metal connector  230 ′, and a plurality of copper pillars  240 ′ are formed on the second circuit board  200 ′. Furthermore, at least one third hole  310 ′ is formed on the housing  300 ′. 
     The first hole  110 ′, the second hole  210 ′, and the third hole  310 ′ are aligned with each other, and the copper pillars  240 ′ are aligned with the perforations  120 ′. In other words, the relative position between the first hole  110 ′ and the perforations  120 ′ is the same as the relative position between the second hole  210 ′ and the copper pillars  240 ′. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in this embodiment, the supporting member  400 ′ comprises a first portion  410 ′, a second portion  420 ′, a screw hole  430 ′, a third portion  440 ′, and a fourth portion  450 ′, wherein the first portion  410 ′ is disposed between the second portion  420 ′ and the fourth portion  450 ′, and the second portion  420 ′ is disposed between the first portion  410 ′ and the third portion  440 ′. The width of the first portion  410 ′ is less than the diameter of the second portion  420 ′, the diameter of the third portion  440 ′ is less than that of the second portion  420 ′, and the diameter of the fourth portion  450 ′ exceeds the width of the first portion  410 ′. The screw hole  430 ′ extends from the bottom  451 ′ of the fourth portion  450 ′ to the top  441 ′ of the third portion  440 ′. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the first hole  110 ′ on the first circuit board  100 ′ has an opening  111 ′ provided open at the periphery of the first circuit board  100 ′, and the inner wall of the first hole  110 ′ forms a plane portion  112 ′. The height of the first portion  410 ′ of the supporting member  400 ′ is substantially the same as that of the first hole  110 ′, and the dimensions, the width, and the shape of the first portion  410 ′ are also substantially the same as that of the first hole  110 ′. That is, a plane region  412 ′ corresponding to the plane portion  112 ′ is formed on the first portion  410 ′. Therefore, the first portion  410 ′ can be exactly accommodated in the first hole  110 ′ through the opening  111 ′ to dispose the supporting member  400 ′ on the first circuit board  100 ′. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , when the supporting member  400 ′ is disposed on the first circuit board  100 ′, the second circuit board  200 ′ can be disposed on the supporting member  400 ′, and the third portion  440 ′ can be disposed in the second hole  210 ′. The first locking member  500 ′ can pass through the second hole  210 ′ and enter the screw hole  430 ′ to join to the supporting member  400 ′, such that the second circuit board  200 ′ can be affixed to the supporting member  400 ′. The pins  220 ′ of the second circuit board  200 ′ connect to the first circuit board  100 ′, and the copper pillars  240 ′ pass through the perforations to connect the first circuit board  100 ′. The first and second circuit boards  100 ′ and  200 ′ can transmit signals and power therebetween by the pins  220 ′ and the copper pillars  240 ′. 
     Subsequently, the pins  220 ′ and the copper pillars  240 ′ can be affixed to the first circuit board  100 ′ by welding. For example, the pins  220 ′ and the copper pillars  240 ′ can be affixed to the first circuit board by a surface-mount technology (SMT). Since the pins  220 ′ and the copper pillars  240 ′ are affixed to the first circuit board  100 ′, and the second circuit board  200 ′ is affixed to the supporting member  400 ′ by the first locking member  500 ′, the supporting member  400 ′ will not separate from the first circuit board  100 ′ through the opening  111 ′. Furthermore, because the first hole  110 ′ has the plane portion  112 ′, the supporting member  400 ′ will not rotate relative to the first circuit board  100 ′. 
     The second portion  420 ′ of the supporting member  400 ′ is disposed between the first circuit board  100 ′ and the second circuit board  200 ′, such that a gap G′ is formed between the first circuit board  100 ′ and the second circuit board  200 ′. The position of the second circuit board can be raised. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the second locking member  600 ′ passes through the third hole  310 ′ on the housing  300 ′ and enters the screw hole  430 ′ from the fourth portion  450 ′ to join to the supporting member  400 ′, such that the first circuit board  100 ′ can be affixed to the housing  300 ′. Similarly, the fourth portion  450 ′ can separate the first circuit board  100 ′ from the housing  300 ′. Thus, the first circuit board  100 ′ does not contact the housing  300 ′ to generate a short circuit even if the housing  300 ′ comprises a conductive material (such as a metal). 
     In this embodiment, the width of the first portion  410 ′ is substantially the same as the diameter of the third portion  440 ′ and the diameter of the second hole  210 ′, and the diameter of the second portion  420 ′ is substantially the same as that of the fourth portion  450 ′. In some embodiments, the third portion  440 ′, the fourth portion  450 ′, the housing  300 ′, or the second locking member  600 ′ can be omitted as required. 
     In this embodiment, the supporting member  400 ′ can be affixed without welding or pressing, the cost of the processing and the material can be reduced. Furthermore, when the user wants to replace the supporting member  400 ′, the supporting member  400 ′ can be easily detached. 
     In summary, an electronic device having a supporting member is provided. By the aforementioned supporting member, a gap can be formed between a first circuit board and a second circuit board, and the first circuit board and the second circuit board can be affixed together at the position of the supporting member. Therefore, the space for configuring the lines or dissipating heat can be released, and the cost of the material can be reduced. Furthermore, the processing for aligning the holes and height can be simplified. 
     Although some embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that many of the features, functions, processes, and materials described herein may be varied while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. Moreover, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.