Patent Description:
In common electronic devices such as notebook computers, smartphones, tablet computers, hard drives, servers, or other devices used for data computation or data storage, the electronic components used for data computation or data storage are mostly mounted in a case to prevent damage to the electronic components by foreign objects or prevent an ill-intentioned person from easily stealing the electronic components or information.

To prevent an ill-intentioned person from deliberately disassembling the case to steal the electronic components or information, corresponding protection mechanisms have been proposed to help determine whether the case has been deliberately disassembled and reassembled. Common protection mechanisms include bonding the case of an electronic device by using a one-time-use adhesive, mounting a moisture-reactive material inside the electronic device, or mounting a one-time-use wireless sensing element inside the electronic device. However, in the above protection mechanisms, the determination process is complicated or inaccurate determination is likely to occur.

The disclosure provides an actuating mechanism which may be applied to a safety protection mechanism of an electronic device.

The disclosure provides an electronic device having a good safety protection mechanism.

The disclosure provides an actuating mechanism including a target, a smasher, an elastic component, and a blocker. The smasher is movably disposed at a side of the target. The elastic component provides an elastic force to drive the smasher to move toward the target. The blocker is movably disposed corresponding to the smasher. When the blocker contacts the smasher, the blocker clamps the smasher. When the blocker moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher is released, the smasher is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target and smash the target.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the smasher includes a limiting part, and the blocker is located in a moving path of the limiting part to clamp the smasher. When the blocker moves out of the moving path of the limiting part, the blocker moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher is released, and the smasher is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target and smash the target.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the actuating mechanism further includes a door plate movably disposed between the target and the smasher. The door plate has a through hole. In one mode, the smasher contacts the door plate, and the through hole is misaligned with the smasher and the target. In another mode, the through hole is aligned with the smasher and the target.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the blocker is movably disposed between the target and the smasher. In one mode, the blocker contacts the smasher to clamp the smasher. In another mode, when the blocker moves away from the smasher to a position where the clamping to the smasher is released, the smasher is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target and smash the target.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the blocker is movably disposed between the target and the smasher, and the blocker has a through hole. In one mode, the blocker contacts the smasher to clamp the smasher, and the through hole is misaligned with the smasher and the target. In another mode, when the blocker moves so that the through hole is aligned with the smasher and the target, the blocker moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher is released, and the smasher is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target and smashes the target after moving through the through hole.

The disclosure provides an electronic device including a first case, a second case, and an actuating mechanism. The second case is movably mounted at the first case. The actuating mechanism includes a target, a smasher, an elastic component, and a blocker. The target is disposed in the first case. The smasher is movably disposed in the first case and is located at a side of the target. Two ends of the elastic component are respectively connected to the smasher and the first case. The elastic component provides an elastic force to drive the smasher to move toward the target. One end of the blocker is connected to the second case. Another end of the blocker is located in the first case. The blocker is movably disposed corresponding to the smasher. When the blocker contacts the smasher, the blocker clamps the smasher. When the blocker moves along with the second case to a position where the clamping to the smasher is released, the smasher is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target and smash the target.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the smasher includes a limiting part, and the blocker is located in a moving path of the limiting part to clamp the smasher. When the second case is disassembled from the first case, the blocker moves out of the moving path of the limiting part, the blocker moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher is released, and the smasher is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target and smash the target.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the door plate is disposed in the first case.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first case has a locking protrusion. The door plate includes a body and an extension arm connected to the body, and the through hole penetrates the body. In one mode, the extension arm abuts against the locking protrusion, the smasher contacts the body, and the through hole is misaligned with the smasher and the target. In another mode, the extension arm passes by the locking protrusion, and the through hole is aligned with the smasher and the target.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the blocker includes at least one engaging part and a blocking part, the engaging part is engaged with the second case, and the blocking part is movably disposed between the target and the smasher. In one mode, the blocking part contacts the smasher to clamp the smasher. In another mode, the second case is disassembled from the first case, and when the blocking part moves along with the second case to move away from the smasher to a position where the clamping to the smasher is released, the smasher is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target and smash the target.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the blocker includes a blocking part and a mounting part, and the blocking part is located in the first case. The blocking part is movably disposed between the target and the smasher, and the through hole penetrates the blocking part. The mounting part extends into the first case and is engaged with the blocking part. In one mode, the mounting part is locked to the second case and the first case, the blocking part contacts the smasher to clamp the smasher, and the through hole is misaligned with the smasher and the target. In another mode, the mounting part is removed from the second case and the first case, the blocking part moves along with the mounting part so that the through hole is aligned with the smasher and the target, the blocking part moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher is released, and the smasher is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target and smashes the target after moving through the through hole.

Based on the above, the electronic device of the disclosure is integrated with the actuating mechanism, and based on whether the actuating mechanism is triggered or not, the relevant personnel can quickly and accurately determine whether the first case and the second case have been deliberately disassembled and reassembled. Therefore, the electronic device has a good safety protection mechanism.

To make the aforementioned more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows.

<FIG> is a partial schematic view showing an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing the electronic device of <FIG> in a first mode. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing the electronic device of <FIG> in a second mode. Referring to <FIG>, in this embodiment, an electronic device <NUM> may be a notebook computer, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a hard disk, a server, or other devices used for data computation or data storage, and the electronic device <NUM> includes a first case <NUM>, a second case <NUM>, and an actuating mechanism <NUM>.

The first case <NUM> may accommodate electronic components used for data computation or data storage, and the second case <NUM> may be movably mounted at the first case <NUM>. For example, the second case <NUM> is mounted at the first case <NUM> through locking, engagement, adhesion, or other mounting methods to prevent the electronic components mounted in the first case <NUM> from being exposed to the outside world. The actuating mechanism <NUM> is mounted between the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM>. Based on whether the actuating mechanism <NUM> is triggered or not, relevant personnel can quickly and accurately determine whether the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> have been deliberately disassembled and reassembled. Therefore, the electronic device <NUM> has a good safety protection mechanism.

Specifically, the actuating mechanism <NUM> includes a target <NUM>, a smasher <NUM>, and a blocker <NUM>. The target <NUM> may be a sensing chip, a sensing circuit, or a trigger circuit and is disposed in the first case <NUM>. For example, the target <NUM> is mounted on the inner wall surface of the first case <NUM>. On the other hand, the smasher <NUM> is movably disposed in the first case <NUM>. The smasher <NUM> is located at a side of the target <NUM>, and the blocker <NUM> is movably disposed corresponding to the smasher <NUM>. In the first mode, the smasher <NUM> is driven by an elastic force and has a tendency to move toward the target <NUM>, but the blocker <NUM> contacts the smasher <NUM> and clamps the smasher <NUM> to prevent the smasher <NUM> from moving toward the target <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the target <NUM> is located in the moving path of the smasher <NUM>, and the blocker <NUM> is configured to clamp the smasher <NUM>. At this time, the blocker <NUM> mechanically interferes with the smasher <NUM> to prevent the smasher <NUM> from being moved toward the target <NUM> by the elastic force. Specifically, one end of the blocker <NUM> is connected to the second case <NUM>, and the blocker <NUM> protrudes from the inner wall surface of the second case <NUM>. The other end of the blocker <NUM> extends into the first case <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the actuating mechanism <NUM> further includes an elastic component <NUM>. The elastic component <NUM> may include a tension spring and is disposed in the first case <NUM>. The two ends of the elastic component <NUM> are respectively connected to the smasher <NUM> and the first case <NUM>. In the first mode, the elastic component <NUM> is stretched, and the smasher <NUM> is driven by the elastic restoring force of the elastic component <NUM> and has a tendency to move toward the target <NUM>. However, since the blocker <NUM> contacts the smasher <NUM> and clamps the smasher <NUM>, the elastic component <NUM> temporarily cannot restore to the state before the elastic deformation.

As shown in <FIG>, when the blocker <NUM> moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher <NUM> is released, the elastic component <NUM> provides an elastic force (i.e., the elastic restoring force of the elastic component <NUM>) to drive the smasher <NUM> to move toward the target <NUM> and smash the target <NUM>. In the second mode, the target <NUM> is smashed and damaged. In other words, if the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> have been deliberately disassembled and reassembled, the target <NUM> will also have been damaged. Therefore, without disassembling the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM>, the relevant personnel may perform reading on the target <NUM> from outside the electronic device <NUM> through a reader. If the reading fails, it means that the electronic device <NUM> has been deliberately disassembled and the target <NUM> has been damaged.

In another embodiment, if the target <NUM> is smashed and damaged by the smasher <NUM>, the target <NUM> may send a signal to a terminal device of the relevant personnel to warn the relevant personnel.

Referring to <FIG>, in this embodiment, the smasher <NUM> may include a sliding base 132a, a striker 132b, and a limiting part 132c. The striker 132b is mounted and fixed at the sliding base 132a, and the limiting part 132c protrudes from the sliding base 132a. In the first mode, the blocker <NUM> is located in the moving path of the limiting part 132c (or the blocker <NUM> blocks the moving path of the limiting part 132c) to clamp the smasher <NUM>. When the second case <NUM> is disassembled from the first case <NUM>, the blocker <NUM> moves out of the moving path of the limiting part 132c, the blocker <NUM> moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher <NUM> is released, and the smasher <NUM> is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target <NUM>, so that the striker 132b smashes the target <NUM>.

For example, the first case <NUM> is provided with a guiding base <NUM>. The guiding base <NUM> protrudes from the inner wall surface of the first case <NUM>, and the smasher <NUM> is slidably disposed at the guiding base <NUM>. Specifically, the guiding base <NUM> can ensure that the smasher <NUM> moves toward the target <NUM> or away from the target <NUM> on a specific path, so as to avoid deviation of the moving path of the smasher <NUM>.

<FIG> is a partial schematic view showing the first case and the second case of <FIG> before mounting. Referring to <FIG>, in this embodiment, the actuating mechanism <NUM> further includes a door plate <NUM>. The door plate <NUM> is disposed in the first case <NUM> and is movably disposed between the target <NUM> and the smasher <NUM>. Before the second case <NUM> is mounted at the first case <NUM>, the door plate <NUM> blocks the moving path of the smasher <NUM> toward the target <NUM>, and the smasher <NUM> contacts the door plate <NUM>. Therefore, even though the blocker <NUM> has not blocked the moving path of the limiting part 132c, the door plate <NUM> can prevent the smasher <NUM> from being moved toward the target <NUM> by the elastic force.

Specifically, the door plate <NUM> has a through hole 135a. When the smasher <NUM> contacts the door plate <NUM>, the through hole 135a is misaligned with the smasher <NUM> and the target <NUM>. On the other hand, the first case <NUM> has a locking protrusion <NUM>, and the locking protrusion <NUM> may be located on the guiding base <NUM>. The guiding base <NUM> has a slot for the door plate <NUM> to be inserted therein. The door plate <NUM> includes a body <NUM> and an extension arm <NUM> connected the body <NUM>, and the through hole 135a penetrates the body <NUM>.

Before the second case <NUM> is mounted at the first case <NUM>, the extension arm <NUM> of the door plate <NUM> abuts against the locking protrusion <NUM>. The locking protrusion <NUM> of the first case <NUM> is configured to block the door plate <NUM> from sliding downward to ensure that the smasher <NUM> contacts the body <NUM> and that the through hole 135a is misaligned with the smasher <NUM> and the target <NUM>. With the through hole 135a misaligned with the smasher <NUM> and the target <NUM>, the body <NUM> of the door plate <NUM> blocks the moving path of the smasher <NUM> toward the target <NUM>. Therefore, even though the blocker <NUM> has not blocked the moving path of the limiting part 132c, the body <NUM> of the door plate <NUM> can prevent the smasher <NUM> from being moved toward the target <NUM> by the elastic force.

In the process of mounting the second case <NUM> at the first case <NUM>, the door plate <NUM> is pressed down by the second case <NUM>, so that the extension arm <NUM> passes by the locking protrusion <NUM>, and the through hole 135a is aligned with the smasher <NUM> and the target <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the smasher <NUM> does not contact the body <NUM>, and the through hole 135a, the smasher <NUM>, and the target <NUM> are located on the same straight line (i.e., the through hole 135a is aligned with the smasher <NUM> and the target <NUM>). When the second case <NUM> is disassembled from the first case <NUM>, the blocker <NUM> moves out of the moving path of the limiting part 132c, the smasher <NUM> is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target <NUM>, and the striker 132b moves through the through hole 135a and then smashes the target <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

In the following, other embodiments will be described as examples. The differences among the embodiments will be mainly described, and the similar or same design principles in the embodiments will be omitted.

<FIG> is a partial schematic view showing an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing the electronic device of <FIG> in a first mode. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing the electronic device of <FIG> in a second mode. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing a first case and a second case of <FIG> before mounting. Referring to <FIG>, the main difference between an electronic device 100A of this embodiment and the electronic device <NUM> of the first embodiment lies in the design of the actuating mechanism.

In this embodiment, a blocker 133a of an actuating mechanism 130a is movably disposed between the target <NUM> and the smasher <NUM>, and the blocker 133a blocks the moving path of the smasher <NUM> toward the target <NUM>. The blocker 133a contacts the smasher <NUM> to clamp the smasher <NUM> and prevent the smasher <NUM> from being moved toward the target <NUM> by the elastic force.

As shown in <FIG>, when the blocker 133a moves away from the smasher <NUM> and moves out of the moving path of the smasher <NUM> toward the target <NUM>, the blocker 133a moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher <NUM> is released, and the smasher <NUM> is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target <NUM> and smash the target <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the blocker 133a includes at least one engaging part <NUM> and a blocking part <NUM>. The engaging part <NUM> is engaged with an engaging slot <NUM> of the second case <NUM>, and the blocking part <NUM> is movably disposed between the target <NUM> and the smasher <NUM>. The blocker 133a is configured to move along with the second case <NUM>, so that the blocking part <NUM> moves into or out of the moving path of the smasher <NUM> toward the target <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the blocking part <NUM> blocks the moving path of the smasher <NUM> toward the target <NUM>, and the blocking part <NUM> contacts the smasher <NUM> to clamp the smasher <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second case <NUM> is disassembled from the first case <NUM>. When the blocking part <NUM> moves along with the second case <NUM> and moves away from the smasher <NUM> to a position where the clamping to the smasher <NUM> is released, the blocking part <NUM> moves out of the moving path of the smasher <NUM> toward the target <NUM>. At this time, the mechanical interference between the blocker 133a and the smasher <NUM> is released, and the smasher <NUM> is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target <NUM> and smash the target <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, before the second case <NUM> is mounted at the first case <NUM>, the blocking part <NUM> of the blocker 133a blocks the moving path of the smasher <NUM> toward the target <NUM>, and the blocking part <NUM> contacts the smasher <NUM> to clamp the smasher <NUM> and prevent the smasher <NUM> from being moved toward the target <NUM> by the elastic force. When the second case <NUM> is mounted at the first case <NUM>, the engaging part <NUM> of the blocker 133a is engaged into the engaging slot <NUM> of the second case <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the guiding base <NUM> has an inclined surface <NUM> facing the second case <NUM> configured to prevent an ill-intentioned person from deliberately damaging the actuating mechanism 130a so that the actuating mechanism 130a would not function in the disassembly process of the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM>. For example, an ill-intentioned person may drill a hole from outside the second case <NUM> and, after drilling into the first case <NUM>, further drill through the smasher <NUM> to prevent the smasher <NUM> from being moved toward the target <NUM> by the elastic force. The inclined surface <NUM> of the guiding base <NUM> can increase the difficulty in drilling operations (e.g., causing the drill to slip).

<FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing an electronic device in a first mode according to a third embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing the electronic device of <FIG> converted to a second mode. <FIG> is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing a first case and a second case of <FIG> before locking. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the main difference between an electronic device 100B of this embodiment and the electronic device <NUM> of the first embodiment lies in the design of the actuating mechanism.

In this embodiment, a blocker 133b of an actuating mechanism 130b is movably disposed between the target <NUM> and the smasher <NUM>, and the blocker 133b has a through hole <NUM>. When the through hole <NUM> is misaligned with the smasher <NUM> and the target <NUM>, the blocker 133b contacts the smasher <NUM> to clamp the smasher <NUM> and prevent the smasher <NUM> from being moved toward the target <NUM> by the elastic force. When the blocker 133b moves away from the smasher <NUM> and moves out of the moving path of the smasher <NUM> toward the target <NUM>, the blocker 133b moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher <NUM> is released, the through hole <NUM>, the smasher <NUM>, and the target <NUM> are located on the same straight line (i.e., the through hole <NUM> is aligned with the smasher <NUM> and the target <NUM>), and the smasher <NUM> is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target <NUM> and smashes the target <NUM> after moving through the through hole <NUM>.

Specifically, the blocker 133b includes a blocking part <NUM> and a mounting part <NUM>. The blocking part <NUM> is located in the first case <NUM>, and the blocking part <NUM> is movably disposed between the target <NUM> and the smasher <NUM>. The through hole <NUM> penetrates the blocking part <NUM>, and the mounting part <NUM> extends into the first case <NUM> and is engaged with the blocking part <NUM>. For example, the mounting part <NUM> may include a screw configured to lock and fix the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM>. On the other hand, one end of the mounting part <NUM> facing the blocking part <NUM> may be a locking protrusion, and one end of the blocking part <NUM> facing the mounting part <NUM> may be an engaging slot which works with the locking protrusion.

As shown in <FIG>, when the mounting part <NUM> is locked to the second case <NUM> and the first case <NUM>, the locking protrusion of the mounting part <NUM> is engaged into the engaging slot of the blocking part <NUM>. On the other hand, the blocking part <NUM> contacts the smasher <NUM> to clamp the smasher <NUM>, and the through hole <NUM> is misaligned with the smasher <NUM> and the target <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the mounting part <NUM> is removed from the second case <NUM> and the first case <NUM>, the blocking part <NUM> moves along with the mounting part <NUM> so that the through hole <NUM> is aligned with the smasher <NUM> and the target <NUM>. At this time, the blocking part <NUM> moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher <NUM> is released, and the smasher <NUM> is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target <NUM> and smashes the target <NUM> after moving through the through hole <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, before the mounting part <NUM> is locked into the second case <NUM> and the first case <NUM>, the blocking part <NUM> blocks the moving path of the smasher <NUM> toward the target <NUM>, and the blocking part <NUM> contacts the smasher <NUM> to clamp the smasher <NUM> and prevent the smasher <NUM> from being moved toward the target <NUM> by the elastic force.

Claim 1:
An actuating mechanism (<NUM>, 130a, 130b), adapted to be disposed in a first case (<NUM>) and a second case (<NUM>) to determine whether the first case (<NUM>) and the second case (<NUM>) have ever been disassembled, the actuating mechanism (<NUM>, 130a, 130b) comprising:
a target (<NUM>) disposed in the first case (<NUM>);
a smasher (<NUM>) movably disposed at a side of the target (<NUM>) and movably disposed in the first case (<NUM>);
an elastic component (<NUM>) providing an elastic force to drive the smasher (<NUM>) to move toward the target (<NUM>), wherein two ends of the elastic component (<NUM>) are respectively connected to the smasher (<NUM>) and the first case (<NUM>); and
a blocker (<NUM> ,133a, 133b) movably disposed corresponding to the smasher (<NUM>), wherein one end of the blocker (<NUM>, 133a, 133b) is connected to the second case (<NUM>) and another end of the blocker (<NUM>, 133a, 133b) is located in the first case (<NUM>), the actuating mechanism (<NUM>, 130a, 130b) being characterized in that, when the blocker (<NUM> ,133a, 133b) contacts the smasher (<NUM>), the blocker (<NUM> ,133a, 133b) clamps the smasher, and when the blocker (<NUM> ,133a, 133b) moves to a position where the clamping to the smasher (<NUM>) is released, the smasher (<NUM>) is driven by the elastic force to move toward the target (<NUM>) and smash the target (<NUM>).