Patent Publication Number: US-9426572-B2

Title: Portable electronic device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims priority of China Patent Application No. 201410186586.5, filed on May 5, 2014, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a portable electronic device in which the position of a speaker is adjustable. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Modern electronic technologies develop so rapidly that various electronic devices prevail in the society. The operating functions of electronic devices are getting stronger; the processing speed grows drastically as well. Electronic devices, such as notebook computers, mobile phones, multimedia players, and personal digital assistants have become an indispensable part in people&#39;s learning, entertainment, and working lives. Their light weight, small size, convenient portability, and powerful functions appeal increasingly to the market and consumers, leading to adoption by the public. 
     A general portable consumer electronic product, such as a notebook computer or tablet computer, is equipped with multiple cabinets for a speaker inside its housing for providing better audio performance. However, after the speaker is mounted in the cabinet, the position of the speaker cannot be adjusted. The sound effect is decreased as the distance between the speaker and the user increases. Therefore, design of a speaker capable of adjusting its position is always desired. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device, by changing the position of a speaker assembly and keyboard module, the usability of the electronic device is improved. 
     According to some embodiments of the invention, the portable electronic device includes a housing, a hollow sleeve, a speaker assembly, and a keyboard module. The sleeve is pivoted on the housing. The speaker assembly is movably telescoping in the sleeve. The keyboard module is movably disposed on an outer surface of the sleeve. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The vicinity of the first end of the sleeve is pivoted on the housing, and the second end of the housing has an opening, and the speaker assembly extends out of the sleeve via the opening. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve includes an embossed structure positioned at the vicinity of the first end and configured to limit the movement of the speaker assembly when the speaker assembly moves from the second end toward the first end. In addition, the sleeve also includes a retaining structure and a connecting structure. The retaining structure is positioned at the vicinity of the second end and configured to limit the movement of the speaker assembly when the speaker assembly moves from the first end toward the second end. The connecting structure is positioned at the vicinity of the first end, and the sleeve is pivoted on the housing via the connecting structure. 
     In some embodiments, the speaker assembly includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a speaker unit. The first chamber is movably telescoping in the sleeve. The second chamber connects to the first chamber. An included angle, such as 90 degrees, is formed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The speaker unit is disposed in the first chamber and the second chamber. In some other embodiments, the portable electronic device includes two sleeves respectively pivoted on the two opposite sides of the housing. The speaker assembly includes two first chambers connecting to two opposite ends of the second chamber, and each of the two first chambers telescopes into one of the two sleeves in a movable manner. Moreover, the first chamber has a recess structure, and the sleeve includes a guiding structure corresponding to the recess structure. The movement of each first chamber in the sleeve is guided by the guiding structure. 
     In some embodiments, the portable electronic device includes a clipping assembly and a rail assembly. The keyboard module is detachably connected to the clipping assembly. The rail assembly is disposed on the outer surface of the sleeve to facilitate the movement of the keyboard module and the clipping assembly. The clipping assembly includes a pushing member configured to hold the keyboard module, and an adjusting member configured to facilitate an adjustment to the holding distance of the clipping assembly. 
     The keyboard module and the clipping assembly are able to be moved relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the rail assembly includes a railway, an extending member, and a sliding stage. The extending member is movably disposed on the railway via the sliding stage. The extending member includes a groove, and the clipping assembly is disposed on the extending member via the groove and movable along the groove. The sliding stage includes a supporting substrate and a plurality of rolling balls disposed on the supporting substrate. Each of the rolling balls is in contact with the railway and the extending member simultaneously. 
     In some embodiments, the speaker assembly and the keyboard module are arranged to move along the length direction of the sleeve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the embodiments, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic diagram of a portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic diagram of a portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic diagram of a portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic diagram of a portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic diagram of a portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of partial elements of the portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7A  shows a schematic diagram of partial elements of a portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments, wherein a rail assembly is at a storage mode. 
         FIG. 7B  shows a schematic diagram of partial elements of a portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments, wherein a rail assembly is at a stretched mode. 
         FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of partial elements of the portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  shows a schematic diagram of partial elements of a portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of partial elements of a portable electronic device, in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     The making and using of the embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodiments can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the portable electronic device  1  includes a housing  10 , a keyboard module  20 , two sleeves  30 , two rail assemblies  40 , two clipping assemblies  50 , and a speaker assembly  60 , in accordance with some embodiments. The two sleeves  30  respectively pivot on two lateral surfaces  11  and  12  of the housing  10  close to a bottom surface  13 . Each rail assembly  40  is disposed on one of the sleeves  30 . The two clipping assemblies  50  cooperatively hold the keyboard module  20  and are respectively connected to the sleeve  30  via the two rail assemblies  40 . The speaker assembly  60  is connected to the housing  10  via the two sleeves  30 . By changing the position of the keyboard module  20  and the speaker assembly  60  relative to the housing  10 , the portable electronic device  1  is operated in multiple different modes. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , two side portions of the speaker assembly  60  are received in the two sleeves  30 , and the keyboard module  20  is positioned between the two sleeves  30 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the speaker assembly  60  is stretched out of the two sleeves  30  by moving along the length (in the X-axis direction) of each sleeve  30 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the speaker assembly  60  is stretched out of the two sleeves  30  by moving along the length direction of each sleeve  30 , and the keyboard module  20  is moved away from the two sleeves  30  along the length direction of each sleeve  30  as well. 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the speaker assembly  60  is stretched out of the two sleeves  30  by moving along the length direction of each sleeve  30 , and the keyboard module  20  is moved away from the two sleeves  30  along the length direction of each sleeve  30 , and the two sleeves  30  pivot about the housing  10  such that the keyboard module  20  and speaker assembly  60  are positioned at the upper side of the housing  10 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the speaker assembly  60  is received in the two sleeves  30 , and the keyboard module  20  is positioned between the two sleeves  30 , and the two sleeves  30  pivot about the housing  10  such that the keyboard module  20  and speaker assembly  60  are positioned behind the housing  10 . In some embodiments, the keyboard module  20  is selectively removed from the portable electronic device  1 , so as to decrease the weight of the portable electronic device  1 . 
     The structural features of the portable electronic device  1  are described hereinafter: 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, each of the two sleeves  30  includes a main body  31 , a number of fixing elements  33 , an embossed structure  34 , a connecting structure  35 , a retaining structure  36 , and a guiding structure  38 . The main body  31  is a hollowed structure. A first end  314  of the main body  31  is a closed end, and a second end of the main body  31  is opened. An opening  32  is formed on the second end  313  of the main body  31 . The main body  31  has a bottom portion  311  and an arc-shaped upper portion  312 . The fixing elements  33  are formed on the outer surface of the bottom portion  311 . The guiding structure  318  is formed on an inner surface of the bottom portion  311 . The guiding structure  318  extends from the second end  313  of the main body  31  to the first end of the main body  31 . The connecting structure  35 , such as a hinge, is disposed at the vicinity of the first end  314  of the main body  34 . Each of the two sleeves  30  is connected to the housing  10  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) via the connecting structure  35 . 
     The embossed structure  34  protrudes towards the second end  313  from the first end  314  of the main body  31  and terminates at its end portion. The end portion of the embossed structure  34  is closer to the second end  313  of the main body  31  than the connecting structure  35 . The retaining structure  36  is positioned at the vicinity of the second end  313  of the main body  31  and protruded from the inner surface of the main body  31 . The retaining structure  36  may entirely circle the inner surface of the main body  31  or partially circle the inner surface of the main body  31 . The functions of the embossed structure  34  and the retaining structure  36  are described in the description referring to  FIG. 9 . 
     Still referring  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, each of the two rail assemblies  40  includes a railway  41 , a first stop element  42 , a second stop element  43 , a number of screws  44 , a sliding stage  45 , and an extending member  47 . The railway  41  has a bottom portion  411  and two lateral portions  413  connected to two sides of the bottom portion  411 . A number of positioning holes are formed on the bottom portion  411  to allow the screws  44  to pass therethrough. The first stop element  42  is positioned at the vicinity of the second end  313  of the main body  31 . The second stop element  43  is positioned at the vicinity of the first end  314  of the main body  31  and fixed at the railway  41 . The first stop element  42  and the second stop element  43  may be made of flexible material, such as rubber. The functions of the first stop element  42  and a second stop element  43  will be described in the description referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
     The sliding stage  45  includes a supporting substrate  451  and a number of rolling balls  453 . The supporting substrate  451  has a bottom portion  4511  and two lateral portions  4513  connecting to two sides of the bottom portion  4511 . The rolling balls  453  are disposed in through holes formed on the two lateral portions  4513 . The extending member  47  has a top portion  471  and two lateral side walls  473  connected to two sides of the top portion  471 . A groove  475  is formed on the top portion  471 . The groove  475  is positioned at the substantial central region of the top portion  471  and extends along the length direction (X-axis direction) of the corresponding sleeve  30 . 
     In some embodiments, to assembly one of the two rail assemblies  40 , the first stop element  42  is firstly fixed at the railway  41 . Afterwards, the screws  44  are used to affix the railway  41  to the bottom portion  311  of the corresponding sleeve  30 . Afterwards, the sliding stage  45  is mounted on the railway  41 , such that the rolling balls  453  of the sliding stage  45  are abutted by the lateral portion  413  of the railway  41 . Afterwards, the extending member  47  is mounted on the sliding stage  45 , such that the rolling balls  453  of the sliding stage  45  are abutted by the lateral side walls  473  of the extending member  47 . Since the rolling balls  453  are abutted by the lateral portion  413  of the railway  41  and the lateral side walls  473  of the extending member  47 , the extending member  47  is arranged sliding along the length direction of the corresponding sleeve  30  relative to the sliding stage  45 . In addition, the sliding stage  45  is arranged sliding along the length direction of each sleeve  30  relative to the railway  41 . Afterwards, the second stop element  43  is mounted, and the assembly process of the rail assembly  40  is completed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , in some embodiments, the operational method of the two rail assemblies  40  is described as follows: 
     As shown in  FIG. 7A , when the two rail assemblies  40  are in a storage mode, one end of each extending member  47  abuts the corresponding second stop element  43 , and the other end of each extending member  47  is aligned with the corresponding second end  313  of the sleeve  30 . As shown in  FIG. 7B , when the two rail assemblies  40  are pushed by an external force to move along a direction parallel to the length of the corresponding sleeve  30 , the two rail assemblies  40  are transferred from the storage mode to an extended mode. Specifically, as an external force is applied, each extending member  47  is slid toward a direction away from the first end  314  of the corresponding sleeve  40  so as to drive the corresponding sliding stage  45  to slide toward the direction away from the first end  314  of the sleeve  30 . The two sliding stages  45  are kept moving until they are stopped by the second stop elements  43 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in some embodiments, each of the two clipping assemblies  50  includes a clipping member  51 , a seat  52 , a screw  53 , a ring  54 , a pushing member  55 , an adjusting member  56 , and an elastic element  57 . The clipping member  51  has an U-shaped configuration and includes a side portion  511 , a lower portion  512 , and an upper portion  513 . The lower portion  512  and the upper portion  513  are respectively connected to the lower side and the upper side of the side portion  511 . The pushing member  55  is disposed at the inner side of the upper portion  513 . The adjusting member  56  passes through the upper portion  513  and the pushing member  55  and is connected the elastic element  57 . By rotating the adjusting member  56 , a holding distance between the pushing member  55  and the lower portion  512  is adjusted. Therefore, the clipping member  51  is able to hold the keyboard module  20  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) with different specifications. 
     The seat  52  includes a plate-shaped structure  521  and one or more fixing portions  523  corresponding to the through holes  515 . The fixing portions  523  of the seat  52  are fixed at the through holes  515  of the clipping member  51  by suitable means, such as thermal melting adhesive. The ring  54  is made of elastic material such a rubber. The ring  54  is disposed in the groove  475  in a tight fit manner and deformed due to the compression of the groove  475 . The screw  53  passes through the ring  54  and the groove  475  of the extending member  47  and is fixed at the plate-shaped structure  521  by a screwing arrangement. Since the ring  54  connects the clipping assembly  50  to the extending member  47 , the clipping assembly  50  is able to slide along the groove  475  or rotate relative to the extending member  47 . It is noted that since the ring  54  is disposed in the groove  475  in a tight fit manner, the clipping assembly  50  remains stationary relative to the extending member  47  while no external force is applied. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in some embodiments, the speaker assembly  60  includes two first chambers  61  (only one first chamber  61  is shown in  FIG. 9 ), a second chamber  63 , a number of speakers  65 , and a number of positioning rings  67 . Each first chamber  61  has a first end  611  and a second end  612 . The second chamber  63  is connected between the two second ends  612  of the two first chambers  61 . The second chamber  63  is connected to the first chambers  61  by a suitable means such as a screw arrangement. The first chambers  61  and the second chamber  63  may be hollowed structure, and the speakers  65  are disposed in the first chambers  61  and the second chamber  63 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , each of the two first chambers  61  has a recess structure  613 . The recess structure  613  is connected to the guiding structure  318  of the corresponding sleeve  30 . When the two first chambers  61  are respectively moved in the two sleeves  30 , the two first chambers  61  are guided by the corresponding guiding structures  318 . A positioning ring  67  is positioned at the vicinity of the first end  611  of each first chamber  61  ( FIG. 9 ) and formed on the outer surface of each first chamber  61  where the recess structure  613  is not formed. Through the friction force between the positioning rings  67  and the inner surface of the two sleeves  30 , the two first chambers  61  remain stationary relative to the two sleeves  30 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 9 , each of the two first chambers  61  of the speaker assembly  60  is able to be moved along the length direction of the corresponding sleeve  30 . It should be noted that when the first chamber  61  moves from the first end  314  toward the second end  313  of the corresponding sleeve  30 , the movement of the first chamber  61  is limited by the retaining structure  36 . Specifically, when the first chamber  61  moves toward the outside of the sleeve  30 , the movement of the first chamber  61  is stopped by the engagement of the positioning ring  67  and the retaining structure  36 , so that the first chamber  61  is prevented from being separated from the corresponding sleeve  30 . On the other hand, the movement of the first chamber  61  is limited by the embossed structure  34 , when the first chamber  61  moves from the second end  313  toward the first end  314 . Specifically, when the first chamber  61  moves toward the inside of the sleeve  30 , the movement of the first chamber  61  is stopped by the engagement of a first end  611  of the first chamber  61  and the retaining structure  36 , so that the first chamber  61  is prevented from approaching the first end  314 , and damage to the connecting structure  35  due to collection is avoided. 
     According to the above descriptions, the portable electronic device of the embodiments of the invention have the following advantages. For example, according to user demand, the portable electronic device is able to perform a variety of sound-effect functions by changing the position of the speaker. In addition, the user is able to work more efficiently by changing the position of the keyboard module. Moreover, by changing the positioned angle of the sleeve and selectively detaching the keyboard module, the portable electronic device has improved portability and ease of use. 
     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 so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.