Patent Publication Number: US-2019200484-A1

Title: Electronic device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 106145833, filed on Dec. 26, 2017. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The invention is related to an electronic device, especially to an electronic device comprising a rotate-to-support structure. 
     Description of Related Art 
     With rapid development of technology, requirement for electronic devices has increased in recent years. With the improved performance of electronic devices, heat generated by electronic components used in the electronic devices have increased accordingly. For example, regarding gaming laptops having demands for high performance computing, under the preconditions of thinness and easy mobility, the electronic elements with high performance need to be disposed in a space which is light and thin. It is a focus of such product designing that how to ensure sufficient heat dissipation effects of notebook computers while users perform game software with high performance computing demands. 
     Currently the heat dissipation for gaming laptops usually requires a combination of passive heat dissipation elements and active heat dissipation mechanism. Passive heat dissipation elements include cooling pads for notebook, notebook heat dissipation shelves and the like, and mainly serve to lift a notebook computer, such that airflow may flow between the notebook computer and a desktop to transfer heat generated by electronic elements to the outside of an electronic device, thereby reducing the temperature of the entire electronic device. However, the cooling pads, heat dissipation shelves and the like take time to be adjusted when heat dissipation is needed, and they are not portable. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device provided in the invention includes a mechanism of shape memory which may automatically transform to lift the electronic device subjected to a high temperature, thereby providing a heat dissipation airflow path to the electronic device. 
     An electronic device according to the invention includes a body and a shape memory element. The body includes an opening at a bottom surface of the electronic device. The shape memory element is extended along an axial direction and includes a first end fixed to the body and a second end opposite to the first end. Wherein, when a temperature of the shape memory element is below a predetermined temperature range, the shape memory element is in a first shape and the second end is positioned inside the opening, and when the temperature of the shape memory element is above the predetermined temperature range, the shape memory element is twisted to deform into a second shape, and the second end protrudes out of the opening. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device further includes a supporting base connected to the second end, wherein the shape memory element is in a first shape and the supporting base is accommodated in the opening when a temperature of the shape memory element is below the predetermined temperature range, and the shape memory element is twisted to deform into the second shape when the temperature of the shape memory element is above the predetermined temperature range and drives the supporting base to rotate and partially protrudes out of the opening. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device further includes a fixing component disposed between the body and the supporting base, wherein the supporting base is in close proximity to the body through the fixing component when the shape memory element is in the first shape, and the supporting base overcomes restraint of the fixing component and partially protrudes out of the body when the shape memory element deforms into the second shape. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the fixing component includes a pair of magnets attracted to each other, respectively and oppositely disposed at the supporting base and the body and adapted to allow the supporting base and the body to be separatably fixed to each other. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the fixing component includes a hook and a recess, respectively disposed at the supporting base and the body and adapted to allow the supporting base and the body to be separatably fixed to each other. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the supporting base includes a slot to which the second end of the shape memory element is adapted to be engaged. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the body includes a heat source and a thermal conducting component, wherein the thermal conducting component is between the heat source and the shape memory element. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the supporting base includes a first edge and a second edge opposite to the first edge, wherein when the shape memory element deforms into the second shape, the first edge protrudes out of the opening, moving away from the bottom surface, and the second edge leans against the body. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined temperature range is between 40° C. and 65° C. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a material of the shape memory element includes iron-based alloy, nickel-titanium alloy or copper-based alloy. 
     Based on the above, in the electronic device according to the invention, the supporting base is connected to the shape memory element, and the shape memory element may form a first shape when the temperature is below the predetermined temperature range to allow the supporting base to be accommodated in the opening, and the shape memory element is twisted to deform into a second shape when the temperature is above the predetermined temperature range so as to drive the supporting base to rotate. As such, when the temperature is above the predetermined temperature range, the supporting base may automatically rotate out of the bottom surface of the electronic device without providing electrical power, then the electronic device is lifted and supported by a desktop where the electronic device is placed, thus the heat dissipation of the electronic device is improved. 
     To make the aforementioned more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic three-dimensional view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken from a section line A-A shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic three-dimensional view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional schematic view taken along a section line A′-A′ shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a part of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention when a shape memory element is in a first shape. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a part of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention when a shape memory element is in a second shape. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a section line A-A shown in  FIG. 1  of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a notebook computer is taken as an example for an electronic device  50  according to this embodiment, but it is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the electronic device  50  may also be a tablet computer or the like.  FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a notebook computer according to an embodiment of the invention viewing upwardly from bottom of the case body. An electronic device  50  according to this embodiment includes a body  110 , a shape memory element  120  and a supporting base  130 . In this embodiment, the shape memory element  120  is a rectangular tabular element extended and disposed along an axial direction I, and one end thereof is fixed with the body  110 , and the other end and the supporting base  130  are linked to each other. In this embodiment, for example, the body  110  of the electronic device  50  represents a case body of a notebook computer and includes an opening  112 . The opening  112  also extends along the axial direction I and is adapted to accommodate the shape memory element  120  and the supporting base  130 . In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , two openings  112  are symmetrically disposed at two opposite sides of the bottom surface  110   a  of the body  110 . However, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the body  110  may include a single opening  112  or a plurality of openings  112  serving to accommodate the shape memory element  120  and the supporting base  130 . For the disposition of the opening  112  may be symmetrical or asymmetrical, the invention is not limited thereto. 
     In addition, an electronic device  50  according to this embodiment further includes a heat source H and a thermal conducting component  114 . The thermal conducting component  114  further includes a heat pipe  114   a  and is adapted to transfer heat generated from the heat source H to external environment of the electronic device  50 . Since the thermal conducting component  114  and the heat source H are covered inside the body  110  of the electronic device  50 , they are shown by dash lines in  FIG. 1 . The heat source H is an element for heat dissipation during the operation of the electronic device  50 , such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Random Access Memory (RAM) and so on, but the invention is not limited thereto. The thermal conducting component  114  may use, for example, a metal thermal conducting pipe, a heat dissipation fin or the like, but, in terms of forms and materials, the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the thermal conducting component  114  is disposed between the heat source H and the shape memory element  120 . By such arrangement, heat from the heat source H may be transferred to the shape memory element  120  through the thermal conducting component  114  and the heat pipe  114   a.    
       FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken from a section line A-A shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, the shape memory element  120  is disposed below the thermal conducting component  114  and the heat pipe  114   a  and adapted to absorb heat of the thermal conducting component  114 . Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , when a temperature of the shape memory element  120  is below a predetermined temperature range T, the shape memory element  120  is in a first shape S 1  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). In this embodiment, a surface of the shape memory element  120  in the first shape S 1  is substantially parallel to the bottom surface  110   a  of the body  110 , and the supporting base  130  is accommodated inside the opening  112 , and a surface of the supporting base  130  is also substantially parallel to the bottom surface  110   a.  Therefore, when the temperature is lower, the appearance of the electronic device  50  may remain flat which can be stored easily. 
     In addition, the electronic device  50  according to this embodiment may further includes a fixing component  140  disposed between the body  110  and the supporting base  130  and adapted to separatably fix the supporting base  130  into the opening  112  of the body  110 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, the fixing component  140  is a pair of magnets  142  attracted to each other respectively disposed on the supporting base  130  and the body  110 . More specifically, in this embodiment, the magnet  142  fixed on the supporting base  130  may be disposed as N pole facing the body  110 , and the magnet  142  fixed to the body  110  may be disposed as S pole facing the supporting base  130 . However, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the magnet  142  fixed to the supporting base  130  may be disposed as S pole facing the body  110 , and the magnet  142  fixed to the body  110  is disposed as N pole facing the supporting base  130 . In other aspects of embodiments of the invention, the fixing component  140  is disposed on the supporting base  130  and the body  110  and is fixed by a magnetic fixer including one being a magnet and the other being ferromagnetic material. For example, a magnet is disposed on the supporting base  130 , and a structure including iron-nickel alloy, iron-cobalt alloy or the like is disposed relatively on the body  110 , but the invention is not limited thereto. In addition to fixing the supporting base  130  more firmly, the fixing component  140  may help the supporting base  130  return to a position fast and accurately in a process in which the shape memory element  120  change its shape. 
     Wherein, in an embodiment of the invention, the shape memory element  120  may use shape memory alloy (SMA) of which a material may include iron-based alloy, nickel-titanium alloy or copper-based alloy, but the invention is not limited thereto. That is, any materials that may change its shape by temperature difference are within the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a three-dimensional schematic view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional schematic view taken along a section line A′-A′ shown in  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , when a temperature of the shape memory element  120  is above the predetermined temperature range T, the shape memory element  120  forms a second shape S 2  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). More specifically, referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , when heat generated by the heat source H causes excessively high operation temperature of the electronic device  50 , the temperature of the shape memory element  120  is above the predetermined temperature range T through the transmission of the thermal conducting component  114 , the shape memory element  120  is adapted to twist along the axial direction I. Since one end of the shape memory element  120  is fixed to the body  110 , the twist of the shape memory element  120  may drive the supporting base  130 , to which the other end is connected, to rotate relative to the axial direction I. As such, the shape memory element  120  deforms into the second shape S 2 , and the supporting base  130  overcomes restraint from a magnetic force of the pair of magnets  142  of the fixing component  140  to rotate away and partially protrudes out of the opening  112 . In addition, the supporting base  130  includes a first edge  132  and a second edge  134 . In this embodiment, the first edge  132  and the fixing component  140  are at the same side, and a position of the second edge  134  is relative to that of the first edge  132 . When the shape memory element  120  deforms into a second shape S 2 , the second edge  134  is adapted to lean against the body  110 , and the first edge  132  may move away from the bottom surface  110   a  of the body  110  relative to the second edge  134 . Here, the first edge  132  protruding out of the opening  112  may be adapted to support the electronic device  50  on a flat surface (not shown in the figures), so as to improve the efficiency of heat dissipation. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a part of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention when a shape memory element is in a first shape.  FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a part of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention when a shape memory element is in a second shape. To describe the members of this embodiment in more details, please referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the shape memory element  120  in the first shape S 1 , and  FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the shape memory element  120  in the second shape S 2 . The shape memory element includes a first end  122  and a second end  124 , wherein the first end  122  is adapted to be fixed to the body  110  of the electronic device  50 , and the second end  124  is adapted to be linked to the supporting base  130  to drive the supporting base  130  to rotate. In addition, in one embodiment of the invention, the supporting base  130  further includes a slot  136  adapted to accommodate and engage the shape memory element  120 , wherein a shape of the slot  136  and that of the second end  124  of the shape memory element  120  correspond to each other. Therefore, for the shape memory element  120  fixed by the slot  136 , during the process in which the shape memory element  120  is heated to transform from the first shape S 1  to the second shape S 2 , the supporting base  130  is driven to rotate by the shape memory element  120 . 
     Regarding the determination of the predetermined temperature range T, in addition to the material of the shape memory element  120 , different transition temperatures may be selected according to requirements. Further, in the processing of the shape memory element  120 , the desired transition temperature range can be achieved through various heat processing. In one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined temperature range T of the shape memory element  120  is set to be between 40° C. and 65° C. Then, when the electronic device  50  is close to a room temperature, that is, the temperature of the shape memory element  120  is below 40° C., the supporting base  130  is accommodated inside the opening  112  of the body  110 ; when the electronic device  50  has a higher operation temperature due to heat generated by computation of internal electronic elements, the process of the thermal conducting component  114  transferring heat allows the temperature of the shape memory element  120  to be above the predetermined temperature range T (i.e., the temperature is more than 65° C.), and the shape memory element is twisted relative to the axial direction I, such that the supporting base  130  is driven to rotate. Therefore, it is achieved that the supporting base  130  may automatically lift and support the electronic device  50  when the temperature of the electronic device  50  is increased, and that the bottom surface of the electronic device  50  may facilitate air convection and have better heat dissipation efficiency. 
     The description about the change of operation temperature of the electronic device  50  according to this embodiment in a structural manner and in more details please referred from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6 . In the embodiment of the invention, when the electronic device  50  is at the room temperature, or the temperature of the thermal conducting component  114  of the electronic device  50  is below the predetermined temperature range T, the operation temperature of the electronic device  50  may not be uncomfortable to an operator, and the operation at the temperature may not damage elements inside the electronic device  50 . At this time, the shape memory element  120  is in the first shape S 1 , and the surface of the shape memory element  120  is parallel to the bottom surface  110   a  of the electronic device  50 , such that the surface of the supporting base  130  is substantially parallel to the bottom surface  110   a  and is accommodated inside the opening  112 , and the supporting base  130  is further in close proximity to the body  110  through the fixing component  140 . When the electronic device  50  is operated for a longer time or performs works with greater operation load, the internal temperature of the electronic device  50  is thus increased, more efficient heat dissipation needs to be perform at this time, so as to protect the electronic elements inside the electronic device  50  and to further ensure an operation environment with safety and comfort for an operator. At this time, the shape memory element  120  is heated and the temperature thereof is above the predetermined temperature range T, and the shape memory element  120  is automatically twisted to deform into the second shape S 2  and drives the supporting base  130  to rotate away from restraint of the fixing component  140 . The first edge  132  of the supporting base  130  protrudes out of the bottom surface  110   a  relative to the body  110 , and the supporting base  130  holds the electronic device  50  and includes a gap (not shown) between itself and the desktop (not shown), so as to promote air convection, thereby improving efficiency of heat dissipation. 
     Afterwards, when the temperature of the electronic device  50  is reduced due to heat dissipation or low workload (e.g., returning to the approximate room temperature), the shape memory element  120  is cooled down and the temperature thereof is reduced below the predetermined temperature range T, and the shape memory element  120  may be adapted to automatically return from the second shape S 2  to the first shape S 1  (i.e., return to the state in which the surface thereof is parallel to the bottom surface  110   a  of the electronic device  50 ), thereby driving the supporting base  130  to be rotated and return to be accommodated in the opening  112 . In this case, since the electronic device  50  does not require additional heat dissipation, the supporting base  130  is automatically accommodated in the opening  112 , such that it is easier to operate the electronic device  50 , and easier for storage. 
     In another embodiment, the fixing base  140  may adapt a form of hook, as shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a section line A-A shown in  FIG. 1  of an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the fixing component  140  included in the supporting base  130  may be a hook  144  disposed on the supporting base  130  and including a protrusion  144   a  adapted to be engaged by a recess  110   b  of the body  110  of the electronic device  50 . Wherein, when the temperature of the shape memory element  120  is above the predetermined temperature range T, the supporting base  130  may move away from the engagement of the hook  144  and the body  110  and thus rotate. The operation ways of the supporting base  130  and the shape memory element  120 , which are the same as the above, are omitted here. Although the fixing component  140  is disclosed as above, a rotating spring or the like may also be adapted as a way of fixing the supporting base  130 , the invention is not limited thereto. 
     In conclusion, the electronic device according to the invention may automatically move the supporting base out of the body of the electronic device in a rotating manner according to different operation temperatures. More specifically, the shape memory element of the electronic device according to the invention has different shapes when above or below the predetermined temperature range. Therefore, when the temperature of the electronic device is above a certain temperature, the shape memory element deforms and is twisted relative to an axial direction of its own. The twisting deformation drives the supporting base to rotate and protrude out of the body, and the protruding supporting base is adapted to lift and support the electronic device, such that the electronic device and the desktop may generate an airflow path for heat dissipation to improve the efficiency of heat dissipation. On the other hand, after the temperature of the electronic device is reduced to a certain temperature through cooling, the shape memory element may be changed from the second shape to the initial first shape and return and be accommodated into the opening of the electronic device. In this way, when heat dissipation is required due to increasing temperature, the supporting base of the electronic device automatically lift and support the electronic device; and when the temperature of the electronic device returns to a temperature which does not require heat dissipation, the supporting base according to the invention may automatically return to the original position. An additional temperature measurement and human resources for adjustment are not required in the entire operation process, and the purpose of dissipating, protecting of the internal elements of the electronic device and maintaining the comfort of users who operates the electronic device. In addition, the supporting base which automatically shrinks back may allow the electronic device to be easily accommodated. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the disclosure covers modifications and variations provided that they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.