Patent Publication Number: US-2012025065-A1

Title: Electronic device having solar energy collecting module

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to a U.S. patent application with an Attorney Docket Number of US33150 and a title of ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING SOLAR ENERGY MODULE, which has the same assignee as the current application and was concurrently filed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to electronic devices having solar energy collectors and, particularly, to an electronic device having light path changing module to allow ambient light beam to be projected onto the solar energy collector. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Energy consumption of portable consumer electronic products has always been a concern. There exists portable consumer electronic products equipped with a solar energy collector to collect solar energy. However, it needs to set an opening in the housing of the electronic product to allow ambient light to pass through, which may affect the appearance of the electronic product. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portable electronic device in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portable electronic device in accordance with a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portable electronic device in accordance with a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows a light path when ambient light projects onto the portable electronic device of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electronic device  100  includes a housing  10  and a display  20 . The housing  10  includes a bottom  11  and two opposite sidewalls  12 . The display  20  is received in a space defined by the bottom  11  and the sidewalls  12 . The electronic device  100  further includes a solar energy collector  30  and a beam splitter  40 . The solar energy collector  30  is arranged on one sidewall  12  and converts solar energy into electricity. 
     The beam splitter  40  is arranged above and covers the display  20 . In the embodiment, the beam splitter  40  is made of glass and is wedge-shaped. The beam splitter  40  includes a sloping surface  41  that is covered by a coating, allowing a portion of light beams projecting on the sloping surface  41  to be reflected, and allowing the rest of the light beams to pass through the beam splitter  40  and project onto the display  20 . The reflected light projects onto the solar energy collector  30 . The electricity produced by the solar energy collector  30  powers the electronic device  100 . 
     In the embodiment, the display  20  can be a reflective type display, such as a microcapsule type electronic paper display. The display  20  can use light passing through the beam splitter  40  as a light source. In the embodiment, the electronic device  100  further includes a protection plate arranged between the sidewalls  12  of the housing, to protect the beam splitter  40  from being scratched. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in an alternative embodiment, an electronic device  100   a  is disclosed. The difference between the electronic devices  100  and  100   a  is that the electronic device  100   a  further includes a lighting module  60 . The lighting module  60  is arranged on the sidewall  12  where the solar energy collector  30  is arranged. When the ambient light is weak, the lighting module  60  can be turned on to emit light, a portion of which can pass through the beam splitter  40  and project onto display  20 . The electronic device  100   a  can still display information in such circumstance. In the embodiment, the lighting module  60  includes a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in another alternative embodiment, an electronic device  100   b  is disclosed. The difference between the electronic devices  100   b  and  100   a  is that the electronic device  100   b  includes a different beam splitter  40   b . The beam splitter  40   b  includes a number of parallel sloping surfaces  41   b . Each sloping surface  41   b  is covered by a coating, allowing a portion of light beams projecting on the sloping surface  41   b  to be reflected, and allowing the rest of the light beams to pass through the beam splitter  40   b  and project onto the display  20 . In the embodiment, each sloping surface  41   b  has an inclined angle of about 45 degrees relative to the display  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , when an ambient light beam A projects on the beam splitter  40   b , a portion of the light beam A (referred to as light beam B) passes through the beam splitter  40   b  and projects on the display  20 . The rest of the light beam A (light beam C) is reflected and projects onto the solar energy collecting module  30 . The light beam D that is reflected by the display  20  passes through the beam splitter  40   b  and is visible by viewers. 
     While various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the disclosure is not to be constructed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.