Patent Publication Number: US-2023136093-A1

Title: Display device, electronic device and retractable assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 202111265541.3 filed in China on Oct. 28, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to a display device, an electronic device and a retractable assembly, more particularly to a display device, an electronic device and a retractable assembly having balls. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Image display devices, such as LCD monitors or LCD televisions, are becoming more and more common in daily life. When video calls are to be conducted, users may need to install external image capturing units, such as web cameras, on the top of the image display devices. However, the web cameras on the top of the image display devices are not always in use, and the users may be visually interfered by the web cameras when watching videos. In addition, it is unfavorable for the appearance of the image display devices. 
     Furthermore, due to the pandemic, the demands for video calls or online courses have been increasing. In order for easy connections of expansion devices for consumers, manufacturers may arrange electrical connectors, such as Type-C and HDMI connectors on the front surface of the image display devices. However, the electrical connectors on the front surface of the image display devices may result in visual interferences to the users, and it is unfavorable for the appearance of the image display devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is to provide a display device, an electronic device and a retractable assembly, which are capable of increasing the operation performance and lifespan of the retractable assembly, and providing an aesthetic appearance of the electronic device. 
     One embodiment of the disclosure provides a retractable assembly including a fixed frame, a movable frame and a plurality of first balls. The fixed frame has an accommodation portion and a plurality of guiding portions. The guiding portions are connected to the accommodation portion. The movable frame is at least partially located in the accommodation portion. The first balls are movably located in the guiding portions, and the movable frame is connected to the fixed frame via the first balls. 
     One embodiment of the disclosure provides an electronic device including a main body and a retractable assembly. The retractable assembly includes a fixed frame, a movable frame and a plurality of first balls. The fixed frame has an accommodation portion and a plurality of guiding portions. The guiding portions are connected to the accommodation portion. The movable frame is at least partially located in the accommodation portion. The first balls are movably located in the guiding portions, and the movable frame is connected to the fixed frame via the first balls. 
     One embodiment of the disclosure provides a display device including a device body and a retractable assembly. The retractable assembly includes a fixed frame, a movable frame, a functional component and a plurality of first balls. The fixed frame is fixed in the device body, and the fixed frame has an accommodation portion and a plurality of guiding portions. The guiding portions are connected to the accommodation portion. The movable frame is at least partially located in the accommodation portion. The functional component is fixed to the movable frame, and the functional component is an electrical connector or a web camera. The first balls are movably located in the guiding portions, and the movable frame is connected to the fixed frame via the first balls. 
     According to the display device, the electronic device and the retractable assembly as described above, since the movable frame is connected to the fixed frame only via balls, the friction between the movable frame and the fixed frame is small, and thus, the lifespan and operation performance of the retractable assembly can be increased. 
     Furthermore, the functional component can stick out or be retracted into the main body, so that the functional component can be easily utilized when required or hidden when being idle for achieving an aesthetic appearance of the electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the present disclosure and wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a planar view of a functional component sticking out of a main body of an electronic device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a planar view of a retractable assembly in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the retractable assembly in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a partial cross-sectional view of the retractable assembly taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a partial cross-sectional view of the retractable assembly taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a partial cross-sectional view of the retractable assembly taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a planar view of the functional component retracted into the fixed frame of the retractable assembly in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the retractable assembly in  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  9    is a planar view of the functional component retracted into the main body of the electronic device in  FIG.  1   ; and 
         FIG.  10    is a planar view of an image capturing unit sticking out of a device body of a display device in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptions with the accompanying drawings. For purposes of explanation, one or more specific embodiments are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention, and which are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the described embodiments. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one specific embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  6   .  FIG.  1    is a planar view of a functional component  300  sticking out of a main body  10  of an electronic device  1  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  2    is a planar view of a retractable assembly  20  in  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the retractable assembly  20  in  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  4    is a partial cross-sectional view of the retractable assembly  20  taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  5    is a partial cross-sectional view of the retractable assembly  20  taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG.  3   , and  FIG.  6    is a partial cross-sectional view of the retractable assembly  20  taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG.  3   . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , in this embodiment, the electronic device  1  includes a main body  10  and a retractable assembly  20 . The electronic device  1  is, for example, a monitor, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the electronic device may be a smartphone, a notebook computer or a tablet computer. The retractable assembly  20  includes a fixed frame  100 , a movable frame  200 , a functional component  300  and a plurality of first balls  400 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   , the fixed frame  100  is fixed in the main body  10  and has an accommodation portion  101  and an opening portion  102 . In detail, the fixed frame  100  includes a bottom plate  110  and two side plates  120 . The side plates  120  are respectively connected to two opposite sides of the bottom plate  110 , and the bottom plate  110  and the side plates  120  together form the accommodation portion  101  and the opening portion  102 . The opening portion  102  is connected to the accommodation portion  101 . 
     Each of the side plates  120  of the fixed frame  100  has a plurality of guiding portions  121  and a plurality of installation portions  122 . The guiding portions  121  are located at two opposite sides of the accommodation portion  101  and connected to the accommodation portion  101 . An extension direction E 1  of each of the guiding portions  121  is substantially perpendicular to a normal line N of a surface of the bottom plate  110  facing the accommodation portion  101 . The installation portions  122  are respectively connected to the guiding portions  121 , and an extension direction E 2  of each of the installation portions  122  is substantially parallel to the normal line N of the surface of the bottom plate  110  facing the accommodation portion  101 . In this embodiment, the guiding portions  121  and the installation portions  122  are, for example, grooves, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the guiding portions and the installation portions may be rails. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  3    to  FIG.  6   , the movable frame  200  is at least partially located in the accommodation portion  101  along sliding directions S 1  and S 2  so as to stick out of the accommodation portion  101  from the opening portion  102  or be retracted into the accommodation portion  101  from the opening portion  102 . The movable frame  200  has two lateral surfaces  210  and a plurality of first recess portions  220 . The two lateral surfaces  210  face away from each other and respectively face the two side plates  120  of the fixed frame  100 . The first recess portions  220  are respectively located at the lateral surfaces 
     The functional component  300  is fixed to the movable frame  200 , and the functional component  300  is, but not limited to, an electrical connector, such as a Type-C connector or a HDMI connector. In other embodiments, the functional component may be a camera or a device with another function. 
     The first balls  400  are movably located in the guiding portions  121 , and the movable frame  200  is connected to the fixed frame  100  via the first balls  400 . In specific, a portion of each of the first balls  400  is located in corresponding one of the first recess portions  220 , and another portion of each of the first balls  400  is located in corresponding one of the guiding portions  121 . That is, some volume of each first ball  400  is located in corresponding one of the first recess portions  220 , and some other volume of the first ball  400  is located in corresponding one of the guiding portions  121 . 
     In this embodiment, a depth T of each of the first recess portions  220  is larger than half of a diameter D of each of the first balls  400 , the depth T of each of the first recess portions  220  is smaller or equal to the diameter D of each of the first balls  400 . In addition, the first recess portions  220  are provided with a lubricant. The sizes and weights of the balls are small, and the weights of the balls are smaller than the capillary force of the lubricant, so the first balls  400  can be preset in the first recess portions  220  by the capillary force of the lubricant. 
     In addition, during the installation of the movable frame  200  onto the fixed frame  100 , the first balls  400  preset in the first recess portions  220  can slide into the guiding portions  121  from the installation portions  122  for efficiently installing the movable frame  200  at least partially into the accommodation portion  101  of the fixed frame  100 . 
     In this embodiment, the guiding portions  121  of the side plates  120  are formed by, for example, stamping process, and each of the side plates  120  has a fillet structure  123  at edges of the guiding portions  121 . The first balls  400  are in contact with the fillet structures  123 . As a result, during the movement of the movable frame  200 , the fillet structures  123  can reduce the wear of the balls. Note that the fillet structures  123  are optional and may be modified as required. In other embodiments, the side plates may not have a fillet structure at the edges of the guiding portions. 
     In this embodiment, the movable frame  200  is spaced apart from the bottom plate  110  of the fixed frame  100 . In this embodiment, the retractable assembly  20  may further include two second balls  500 . The movable frame  200  has a bottom surface  240  and two second recess portions  250 . The bottom surface  240  faces the bottom plate  110  of the fixed frame  100 , and the second recess portions  250  are located at the bottom surface  240 . Similar to the way of disposing the first balls in the first recess portions  220 , the second recess portions  250  may be provided with a lubricant, so that the second balls can be preset in the second recess portions  250  by the capillary force of the lubricant. 
     The second balls  500  are located in the second recess portions  250 , and the movable frame  200  is connected to the bottom plate  110  of the fixed frame  100  via the second balls  500 . As such, when the second balls  500  are connected to the bottom plate  110  of the fixed frame  100 , the second balls  500  can be served as supports for the movable frame  200  in a Z direction. For example, when the first balls  400  are not worn off yet or slightly worn off, the second balls  500  are not connected to the bottom plate  110  of the fixed frame  100  yet. When the first balls  400  are worn to a certain degree, the second balls  500  are connected to the bottom plate  110  of the fixed frame  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , in this embodiment, a connection line L between the two second balls  500  is not parallel to the sliding direction S 1 . That is, with respect to the movable frame  200 , the two second balls  500  are arranged diagonally, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the connection line between the two second balls may be parallel to the sliding direction S 1 . 
     In this embodiment, the fixed frame  100  is connected to the movable frame  200  only via the first balls  400  and the second balls  500 , so that the movement of the movable frame  200  relative to the fixed frame  100  can be smoother. Furthermore, since the wear of the balls is mild during the movement of the movable frame  200 , the lifespan and operation performance of the retractable assembly  20  can be improved. Furthermore, owing to the low cost of the balls, the market competitiveness of the retractable assembly  20  can be increased. 
     Note that the quantity of the second balls  500  is not restricted in the disclosure and may be modified as required. In other embodiments, the quantity of the second ball may be one or more than three. In another embodiment, the retractable assembly may not include the second balls, and the movable frame may be suspended above the bottom plate by other suitable arrangements or structures. 
     In this embodiment, the retractable assembly  20  may further include a push-push mechanism  600 . The push-push mechanism  600  is fixed to the bottom plate  110  of the fixed frame  100 . The movable frame  200  has an engagement part  230 . Users may press the movable frame  200  so as to engage the engagement part  230  with the push-push mechanism  600  or disengage the engagement part  230  from the push-push mechanism  600 . Note that the retractable assembly  20  is not restricted to including the push-push mechanism  600  in the disclosure. In other embodiments, the retractable assembly may not include the push-push mechanism  600 , and the movable frame is maintained in positions with respect to the fixed frame by other suitable means. 
     In this embodiment, the retractable assembly  20  may further include a guiding assembly  700 . The guiding assembly  700  includes a pinion  710  and a rack  720 . The pinion  710  is rotatably disposed on the bottom plate  110  of the fixed frame  100 , the rack  720  is disposed on the movable frame  200 . The rack  720  is engaged with the pinion  710 , and the guiding assembly  700  is configured to guide the movable frame  200  to move relative to the fixed frame  100 . 
     Note that the guiding assembly  700  of the retractable assembly  20  is optional, and the guiding assembly  700  may be omitted in another embodiment. 
     In this embodiment, the retractable assembly  20  may further include two elastic components  800 . The elastic components  800  are, for example, extension springs, and two opposite ends of each of the elastic components  800  are respectively connected to the fixed frame  100  and the movable frame  200 , so when the engagement part  230  is disengaged from the push-push mechanism  600 , the elastic components  800  force the movable frame  200  to stick out of the fixed frame  100  through the opening portion  102 . 
     In this embodiment, the quantity of the elastic components  800  is two, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the quantity of the elastic component may be one, or the elastic component may be omitted. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  7    to  FIG.  9   .  FIG.  7    is a planar view of the functional component  300  retracted into the fixed frame  100  of the retractable assembly  20  in  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the retractable assembly  20  in  FIG.  7   , and  FIG.  9    is a planar view of the functional component  300  retracted into the main body  10  of the electronic device  1  in  FIG.  1   . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  3   , when a user would like to use the functional component  300 , the user may press the movable frame  200  at the bottom of the main body  10  so as to disengage the engagement part  230  of the movable frame  200  from the push-push mechanism  600 , such that the elastic force of the elastic components  800  forces the movable frame  200  and the functional component  300  to stick out of the main body  10  along the sliding direction S  1 . By doing so, the user may connect cables to the functional component  300  directly in front of the main body  10 . 
     Since the movable frame  200  is connected to the fixed frame  100  only via the balls, the friction between the movable frame  200  and the fixed frame  100  is small, and thus, the lifespan and operation performance of the retractable assembly  20  can be increased. 
     As shown in  FIG.  7    to  FIG.  9   , when the functional component  300  is not used, the user may press the movable frame  200  at the bottom of the main body  10  again so as to push the movable frame  200  and the functional component  300  back into the main body  10  along sliding direction S 2  until the engagement part  230  of the movable frame  200  is engaged with the push-push mechanism  600 . By doing so, the movable frame  200  and the functional component  300  are fastened and hidden in the main body  10  so as to provide an aesthetic appearance of the electronic device  1 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  10   .  FIG.  10    is a planar view of an image capturing unit  300   a  sticking out of a device body l 0   a  of a display device la in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     In this embodiment, the display device la includes the device body l 0   a  and a web camera  20 a. The device body l 0   a  is, for example, a monitor of a desktop computer. The web camera  20   a  is, for example, disposed at the middle and top of the device body  10   a.  The web camera  20   a  includes a fixed frame  100   a,  a movable frame  200   a,  an image capturing unit  300   a  and a plurality of first balls (e.g., the first balls  400  in  FIG.  3   ). The fixed frame  100   a  is fixed in the device body l 0   a  and has an accommodation portion (e.g., the accommodation portion  101  in  FIG.  3   ) and a plurality of guiding portions (e.g., the guiding portions  121  in  FIG.  3   ). The guiding portions (e.g., the guiding portions  121  in  FIG.  3   ) are connected to the accommodation portion (e.g., the accommodation portion  101  in  FIG.  3   ). The movable frame  200   a  is at least partially located in the accommodation portion. The image capturing unit  300   a  is fixed to the movable frame  200   a,  and the image capturing unit  300   a  is configured to take photos or record images. The first balls (e.g., the first balls  400  in  FIG.  3   ) are movably located in the guiding portions (e.g., the guiding portions  121  in  FIG.  3   ), and the movable frame  200   a  is connected to the fixed frame  100   a  via the first balls (e.g., the guiding portions  121  in  FIG.  3   ). That is, the movable frame  200   a  can move the image capturing unit  300   a  along sliding direction S 1  and S 2 , so that the image capturing unit  300   a  can stick out or be retracted into the fixed frame  100   a.    
     According to the display device, the electronic device and the retractable assembly as described above, since the movable frame is connected to the fixed frame only via balls, the friction between the movable frame and the fixed frame is small, and thus, the lifespan and operation performance of the retractable assembly can be increased. 
     Furthermore, the functional component, such as a web camera or an electrical connector, can stick out or be retracted into the main body, so that the functional component can be easily utilized when required or hidden when being idle for achieving an aesthetic appearance of the electronic device. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.