Patent Publication Number: US-11047550-B1

Title: Electronic device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Chinese Application Serial No. 201911281753.3, filed on Dec. 13, 2019. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to an electronic device, and in particular, to an electronic device including a light effect. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     With the development of electronic devices, users require more than merely the operation performance of electronic devices. Therefore, commercially available electronic devices are provided with light effects to meet requirements of different users. 
     To perform light effect on the surface of an electronic device, a plurality of light emitting holes are usually provided in a housing of an electronic device. A plurality of light sources are disposed in the electronic device to emit light through the light emitting holes. The quantity of the light sources corresponds to a quantity of the light emitting holes. During use, the light sources are controlled to enable light to generate different light effects. However, the quality of light effects is related to the distribution density of emitted light. When the distribution density of emitted light is excessively low, the light effects is poor. Therefore, when the density and quantity of light emitting holes are increased in the electronic device to improve the light effects, the quantity of light sources also needs to be increased accordingly. As a result, the costs of the electronic device are increased, and the increased quantity of the light sources tend to cause overheating in the electronic device. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosure provides an electronic device, including a housing, a light guiding structure, and a light source. The housing includes two first through holes and two second through holes. A first section is provided between the two first through holes, and a second section is provided between the two second through holes. 
     The length of the first section is less than the length of the second section, and the first section and the second section intersect at an intersection. The light guiding structure is disposed on a side of the housing, and includes a light guiding layer, a diffusion layer, and a light adjusting layer. 
     The light guiding layer includes a light transmitting portion and a light shielding portion. The position of the light transmitting portion corresponds to the positions of the first section and the second section. A portion other than the light transmitting portion is the light shielding portion, and the light transmitting portion includes a first light transmission rate. 
     The diffusion layer is disposed at the position corresponding to the light transmitting portion. The light adjusting layer is disposed at the position corresponding to the first section. The light adjusting layer includes a second light transmission rate, and the second light transmission rate is less than the first light transmission rate. 
     The light source is disposed at a position that is on a side of the light guiding structure and corresponds to the intersection. Light emitted by the light source passes through the light guiding structure and the intersection, and is separately emitted through the two first through holes and the two second through holes along the light transmitting portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic outside view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial planar outside view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic planar partial configuration view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is another schematic planar view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5   FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic enlarged partial configuration view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 8  is another schematic partial configuration enlarged view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic outside view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a partial planar outside view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure. In an embodiment, the electronic device includes a housing  10 . The housing  10  includes through holes H passing through the interior of the housing  10 . A light source  30  is disposed in the housing  10 . The light source  30  is disposed between a plurality of through holes H. Light is emitted by a single light source  30  through the plurality of through holes H, thereby reducing a quantity requirement and costs of light sources. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 3 . It should be noted that,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are used to show a stacking relationship of the layers of structure in a light guiding structure  20 , but are not a presentation of an actual view angle corresponding to  FIG. 3 . 
     In an embodiment, the light guiding structure  20  disposed between the housing  10  and the light source  30  is configured to guide the light emitted by the single light source  30  to the plurality of through holes H for emission, and ensures that light emitted through the through holes H is homogenized. In an embodiment, the light source  30  is a light emitting diode (LED). 
     It should be noted that, for ease of describing a relative relationship of components, the accompanying drawings in the disclosure are not drawn to scale. Therefore, proportions and sizes in the accompanying drawings of the disclosure are not intended to limit the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, the housing  10  is applied to any of various devices that require light effects. For example, the housing is applied to a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a handheld communications device or an input/output device or any of various electronic devices. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 3  is a schematic planar partial configuration view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure.  FIG. 4  is another schematic planar view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure. In an embodiment, the through holes H in the housing  10  include two first through holes H 1  and two second through holes H 2 . 
     The shortest connecting line between the two first through holes H 1  is a first section S 1 . The shortest connecting line between the two second through holes H 2  is a second section S 2 . The length of the first section S 1  is less than the length of the second section S 2 , and the first section S 1  and the second section S 2  intersect at an intersection C. 
     Specifically, in view of the configuration of the positions of the two first through holes H 1  and the two second through holes H 2 , peripheral connecting lines of the two first through holes H 1  and the two second through holes H 2  generally form a parallelogram. In this embodiment, the first section S 1  and the second section S 2  are two diagonals of the parallelogram. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment, the through holes H in the housing  10  are not limited to only the two first through holes H 1  and the two second through holes H 2 . The through holes H in the housing  10  include a plurality of first through holes H 1  and a plurality of second through holes H 2 . The plurality of first through holes H 1  and the plurality of second through holes H 2  are arranged in a matrix by using the two first through holes H 1  and the two second through holes H 2  as a unit. Therefore, all the through holes H in the housing  10  conform the configuration of the first section S 1  and the second section S 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , in an embodiment, the light guiding structure  20  is disposed on a side of the housing  10 , and includes a light guiding layer  21 , a diffusion layer  22 , and a light adjusting layer  23 . The light guiding layer  21  includes a light transmitting portion  211  and a light shielding portion  212 . 
     The position of the light transmitting portion  211  corresponds to the positions of the first section S 1  and the second section S 2 . A portion other than the light transmitting portion  211  of the light guiding layer  21  is the light shielding portion  212 , and the light transmitting portion  211  includes a first light transmission rate. 
     The diffusion layer  22  is disposed at the position corresponding to the light transmitting portion  211 . The light adjusting layer  23  is disposed at the position corresponding to the first section S 1 . The light adjusting layer  23  includes a second light transmission rate, and the second light transmission rate is less than the first light transmission rate. 
     In addition, the light source  30  is disposed at a position that is on a side of the light guiding structure  20  and corresponds to the intersection C. Light emitted by the light source  30  passes through the light guiding structure  20  and the intersection C, and is separately emitted through the two first through holes H 1  and the two second through holes H 2  along the light transmitting portion  211 . 
     In this way, the light emitted by the light source  30  passes through the diffusion layer  22 , and diffuses through the light guiding structure  20 . When the light passes through the light guiding structure  20 , the light shielding portion  212  of the light guiding structure  20  blocks the light, so that the light only travels along the light transmitting portion  211 . In this way, the light traveling along the light transmitting portion  211  simultaneously passes through the first section S 1  and the second section S 2  and is separately emitted through the two first through holes H 1  and the two second through holes H 2 . Therefore, the objective of emitting the light of the single light source  30  through the plurality of through holes is achieved. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , because the length of the first section S 1  is less than the length of the second section S 2 , the distance between the light source  30  and each first through hole H 1  is less than the distance between the light source  30  and each second through hole H 2 . 
     When the light emitted by the light source  30  is only emitted through the first through hole H 1  and the second through hole H 2  along the light transmitting portion  211 , the light flux of light emitted through the first through hole H 1  is greater than the light flux of light emitted through the second through hole H 2 . 
     However, in the disclosure, light passing through the light transmitting portion  211  corresponding to the first section S 1  also passes through the light adjusting layer  23 . Therefore, partial light passing through the first section S 1  is adjusted by the light adjusting layer  23 , thereby reducing the light flux, and light that is near the light source  30  and therefore has relatively high light flux and light passing through the second section S 2  are homogenized. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment, each first through hole H 1  and each second through hole H 2  are separately circular holes. A width range of the first section S 1  is equal to the diameter of the first through hole H 1 , and a width range of the light transmitting portion  211  corresponding to the first section S 1  is at least equal to the diameter of the first through hole H 1 . 
     A width range of the second section S 2  is equal to the diameter of the second through hole H 2 , and a width range of the light transmitting portion  211  corresponding to the second section S 2  is at least equal to the diameter of the second through hole H 2 . In this way, it is ensured that the light emitted by the light source  30  disposed at the intersection C travels and is emitted toward the first through holes H 1  and the second through holes H 2  without being shielded. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment, when the first through hole H 1  and the second through hole H 2  of the housing  10  include relatively small apertures, for ease of treatment, the width range of the light transmitting portion  211  corresponding to the first section S 1  is greater than a diameter value of the first through hole H 1 . 
     The width range of the light transmitting portion  211  corresponding to the second section S 2  is greater than a diameter value of the second through hole H 2 . Therefore, a range of the light transmitting portion  211  is increased, and treatment difficulty in arranging the light transmitting portion  211  is reduced. 
     After actual measurement, when the aperture of the first through hole H 1  and the aperture of the second through hole H 2  are both 1 mm, and the width range of the light transmitting portion  211  is increased to 1.4 mm, a light effect generated by the light that is emitted by the light source  30  through the first through hole H 1  and the second through hole H 2  does not change significantly and maintains the foregoing objective. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the light guiding structure  20  in the embodiments in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  is disposed by stacking the diffusion layer  22 , the light guiding layer  21 , and the light adjusting layer  23  in sequence. The diffusion layer  22  is close to the housing  10 , and the light adjusting layer  23  is close to the light source  30 . 
     However, if the light emitted by the light source  30  passes through the diffusion layer  22 , the light guiding layer  21 , and the light adjusting layer  23  before being emitted through the first through hole H 1  and the second through hole H 2 , an objective same as the foregoing objective is achieved. Therefore, a stacking order of the diffusion layer  22 , the light guiding layer  21 , and the light adjusting layer  23  of the light guiding structure  20  is not limited to this embodiment. 
     In an embodiment, the diffusion layer  22  is an optical diffusion layer that diffuses or homogenizes the light emitted by the light source  30 . An objective of homogenizing light is achieved by the diffusion layer  22  through refraction, reflection, and scattering of light. Specifically, the diffusion layer  22  is made of a light transmitting material containing light diffusion particles, for example, but not limited to, a resin substrate or a glass substrate added with light diffusion particles made of acrylic acid, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide or silicone rubber. The light diffusion particles are used to enable the light passing through the diffusion layer to generate continuous refraction and reflection, thereby changing a travel route of the light and achieving an objective of light diffusion. 
     In an embodiment, the diffusion layer  22  is alternatively made by directly arranging an optical micro structure on the surface of or in a light transmitting substrate, for example, but not limited to, forming a random or regular fine uneven structure on a light-transmitting resin substrate through sandblasting treatment or embossing treatment. The fine uneven structure is used to enable the light passing through the diffusion layer  22  to generate successive refraction and reflection, thereby changing a travel route of the light and achieving an objective of light diffusion. 
     In addition, in an embodiment, the diffusion layer  22  is a single part independent of the housing  10 , or is a thin film coated on a surface, facing the light source  30 , of the housing  10 . In this embodiment, the diffusion layer  22  is a thin film completely coated on the surface, facing the light source  30 , of the housing  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment, the light guiding layer  21  guides the light emitted by the light source  30  in a specific direction or to a specific position. Herein, the light guiding layer  21  includes the light transmitting portion  211  through which light passes and the light shielding portion  212  through which light does not pass. When light passes through the light guiding layer  21 , the light shielding portion  212  of the light guiding layer  21  blocks the light, so that the light only passes though the light transmitting portion  211 , thereby achieving an objective of guiding the light. 
     In an embodiment, the light guiding layer  21  is a single part independent of the housing  10 , or is a thin film coated on a surface of the housing  10 . In this embodiment, the light shielding portion  212  of the light guiding layer  21  is opaque ink directly coated on the diffusion layer  22 . On a plane the same as the light shielding portion  212 , a hollowed-out structure that is not coated with the opaque ink is the light transmitting portion  211 . The light transmitting portion  211  includes a first light transmission rate. Herein, no light attenuation occurs when light passes through the light transmitting portion  211  of the hollowed-out structure, and the first light transmission rate of the light transmitting portion  211  with the hollowed-out structure is 100%. 
     In an embodiment, the light transmitting portion  211  of the light guiding layer  21  is not limited to the hollowed-out structure. The light transmitting portion  211  is alternatively a non-hollowed-out structure with a physical structure and a light transmission effect. In other words, the first light transmission rate of the light transmitting portion  211  is not limited to 100%. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in an embodiment, the light adjusting layer  23  changes the light flux of light that passes through the light adjusting layer  23 . In this embodiment, the light adjusting layer  23  is configured to change the light flux of light emitted through each first through hole H 1 , but is not configured to change the light flux of light emitted through each second through hole H 2 . Therefore, the light adjusting layer  23  is disposed at the position corresponding to the first section S 1 . The light adjusting layer  23  is not disposed on a portion at which the first section S 1  and the second section S 2  are stacked. 
     In an embodiment, the light adjusting layer  23  is a single part independent of the housing  10 , or is a thin film coated on a surface of the housing  10 . In this embodiment, the light adjusting layer  23  is a translucent thin film directly coated on the light guiding layer  21 . Specifically, the light adjusting layer  23  is translucent ink. 
     In an embodiment, a second light transmission rate of the light adjusting layer  23  is not limited to a specific value. In this embodiment, the second light transmission rate of the light adjusting layer  23  is directly proportional to the length of the first section S 1 . In other words, when the length of the first section S 1  is larger, the second light transmission rate of the light adjusting layer  23  is higher. When the length of the first section S 1  is smaller, the second light transmission rate of the light adjusting layer  23  is lower. 
     In terms of a light shielding rate, a light shielding rate of the light adjusting layer  23  is inversely proportional to the length of the first section S 1 . In other words, when the length of the first section S 1  is larger, the light shielding rate of the light adjusting layer  23  is lower. When the length of the first section S 1  is smaller, the light shielding rate of the light adjusting layer  23  is higher. 
     In an embodiment,  FIG. 7  is a schematic enlarged partial configuration view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure.  FIG. 8  is another schematic partial configuration enlarged view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure. The length of the second section S 2  in  FIG. 7  is the same as that in  FIG. 8 . The first section S 1  in the embodiment in  FIG. 7  includes a first length L 1 , and the first section S 1  in the embodiment in  FIG. 8  includes a second length L 2 . The second length L 2  is greater than the first length L 1 . Herein, a light transmission rate of the light adjusting layer  23  in the embodiment in  FIG. 7  needs to be less than a light transmission rate of the light adjusting layer  23  in the embodiment in  FIG. 8 . The light shielding rate of the light adjusting layer  23  in the embodiment in  FIG. 7  needs to be greater than the light shielding rate of the light adjusting layer  23  in the embodiment in  FIG. 8 . 
     In an embodiment, when the light guiding layer  21 , the diffusion layer  22 , and the light adjusting layer  23  of the light guiding structure  20  are all single structures independent of the housing  10 . The light guiding layer  21 , the diffusion layer  22 , and the light adjusting layer  23  are bonded by a light-transmitting optical adhesive. The optical adhesive is, but is not limited to, an optically clear adhesive (OCA) or optically clear resin (OCR). Therefore, distances between the light guiding layer  21 , the diffusion layer  22 , and the light adjusting layer  23  are adjusted according to the thickness of the optical adhesive, so that it is easy to control a refraction process of light emitted by the light source  30  in the light guiding structure  20 . 
     In an embodiment, the electronic device further includes dust-proof structures. The dust-proof structures are disposed in the first through holes H 1  and the second through holes H 2 . Herein, the dust-proof structures are made of a light-transmitting material. Specifically, the dust-proof structures are, but are not limited to, lenses or light-transmitting plastic materials. Therefore, the light-transmitting dust-proof structures implements a dust-proof function without affecting the emission of light. 
     Although the disclosure is described with reference to the above embodiments, the embodiments are not intended to limit the disclosure. A person of ordinary skill in the art may make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the disclosure should be subject to the appended claims.