Patent Publication Number: US-2012026681-A1

Title: Collapsible electronic device and adjustment method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and, more particularly, to a collapsible electronic device and a method for adjusting orientation thereof. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A conventional collapsible electronic device, for example a notebook, includes a main body and a display hinged thereon, which can be pivoted to and stay in a desired position. The display must be manually pivoted to a desired position, however, which may not be convenient. 
     It is thus desirable to provide a collapsible electronic device and a method thereof to address the limitations described. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed when clearly illustrating the principles of a collapsible electronic device and a method thereof. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a collapsible electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the collapsible electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method for adjusting orientation of a cover of a collapsible electronic device such as, for example, that of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a collapsible electronic device  1  includes a first part  10 , a second part  20 , a hinge  30 , and a power button  40 . The second part  20  is hinged on the first part  10  by the hinge  30 , whereby the angle θ between the first part  10  and the second part  20  can be changed. The power button  40  is configured to generate a power-on signal to start the collapsible electronic device  1  and a power-down signal to shut the collapsible electronic device  1  down. The device  1  can also employ application keys to shut the collapsible electronic device  1  down. In the embodiment, the first part  10  is a main body housing electronic elements (not shown), and the second part  20  is a cover including a display screen, such as an LCD screen. The electronic device  1  may be a notebook computer, a mobile phone, or the like. In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the first part  10  and the second part  20  includes no electronic elements. For example, the second part  20  can merely be an upper cover. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the device  1  further includes a control unit  501  and a driving unit  503 . The driving unit  503  is electrically connected to the control unit  501  and the hinge  30 . The control unit  501  is configured to generate a first driving command when receiving the power-on signal, and generate a second driving command when receiving the power-down signal. The driving unit  503  is configured to pivot the hinge  30  to change the angle θ between the first part  10  and the second part  20  to a first predetermined angle θ 1  when receiving the first driving command and a second predetermined angle θ 2  when receiving the second driving command. In the embodiment, the driving unit  503  is a motor. 
     The device  1  further includes a storage unit  505  and a detection unit  502 . The storage unit  505  stores a record of the first predetermined angle θ 1  and the second predetermined angle θ 2 . The first predetermined angle θ 1  is an angle between the first part  10  and the second part  20  when the device  1  is in an operating state, and the second predetermined angle θ 2  is another angle between the first part  10  and the second  20  when the device  1  is in an idle state such as a power-down state or a standby state. In the embodiment, the first angle θ 1  may be 105°, and the second angle θ 2  may be 5° or 0°. The control unit  501  is further configured to generate a detection command when receiving the power-on signal or the power-down signal, and the detection unit  502  is configured to determine the angle θ between the first part  10  and the second part  20  when receiving the detection command. 
     The control unit  501  compares the detected angle θ with the first predetermined angle θ 1  to obtain a first difference when receiving the power-on signal and generate the first driving command according to the first difference, and compares the detected angle θ with the second predetermined angle θ 2  to obtain a second difference when receiving the power-down signal and generate the second driving command according to the second difference. 
     In the embodiment, the device  1  further includes an assessment unit  504  to generate an assessing signal in response to user input. The control unit  501  is further configured to inform the detection unit  502  to determine the current angle θ when receiving the assessing signal, compare the current angle θ with a third predetermined angle θ 3  stored in the storage unit  505  to generate a third driving command, and direct the driving unit  503  to rotate the hinge  30  to the first predetermined angle θ 1  if the detected angle θ is less than the third predetermined angle θ 3  and to the second predetermined angle θ 2  if the detected angle θ exceeds the third predetermined angle θ 3  according to the third driving command. 
     In this embodiment, if detected angle θ is less than the third predetermined angle θ 3 , the device  1  is in the idle state, and exceeds the third angle θ 3 , the device  1  is in the operational state. The third angle θ 3  may be 45°. In an alternative embodiment, the control unit  501  informs the detection unit  502  to determine the current angle θ when the duration of receiving the assessing signal reaches a predetermined time interval to prevent accidental activation. 
     In the embodiment, the assessment unit  504  may be a mechanical button or a touch button. In an alternative embodiment, the assessment unit  504  may be an infrared sensor. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart of a method for adjusting orientation of a cover of a collapsible electronic device is illustrated. 
     In step S 301 , the control unit  501  determines whether the power-on signal, the power-down signal, or the assessing signal is received. If the power-on signal is received, step S 302  is implemented. If the power-down signal is received, step S 303  is implemented. If the assessing signal is received, step S 304  is implemented. 
     In step  302 , the control unit  501  directs the driving unit  503  to rotate the hinge  30  to the first predetermined angle θ 1 . In detail, the control unit  501  directs the detection unit  502  to determine the angle θ between the first part  10  and the second part  20 , compares the detected angle θ with the first predetermined angle θ 1  to generate the first driving command, and directs the driving unit  503  to change the angle θ between the first part  10  and the second part  20  to the first predetermined angle θ 1  according to the first driving command. 
     In step S 303 , the control unit  501  directs the driving unit  503  to rotate the hinge  30  to the second predetermined angle θ 2 . In detail, the control unit  501  directs the detection unit  502  to determine the angle θ between the first part  10  and the second part  20 , compares the detected angle θ with the second predetermined angle θ 2  to generate the second driving command, and directs the driving unit  503  to change the angle θ between the first part  10  and the second part  20  to the second predetermined angle θ 2  according to the second driving command. 
     In step S 304 , the control unit  501  directs the detection unit  502  to determine the current angle θ between the first part  10  and the second part  20 . 
     In step S 305 , the control unit  501  compares the detected angle θ with the third predetermined angle θ 3 . If the detected angle θ is less than the third predetermined angle θ 3 , step S 302  is implemented, and if the detected angle θ exceeds the third predetermined angle θ 3 , step S 303  is implemented. 
     Although the current disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.