TW201925963A - Hinge module and electronic device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge module suited for connecting a first body and a second body of an electronic device is provided. The hinge module includes a hinge bracket disposed inside the first body, a first linking member having a sliding slot, and a second linking member disposed at the second body. The hinge bracket has a first rotating shaft coupled to the sliding groove with a motion of sliding and pivoting. The hinge bracket has a rail that the second linking member is coupled to the rail and the second body is rotated relative to the first body via the second linking member sliding along the rail. The second linking member has a second rotating shaft pivoted to the first linking member, such that a torsion force generated from the first rotating shaft is transferred to the second body via the first and the second linking members.

Description

Hinge module and electronic device using same

The invention relates to a hinge module and an electronic device using the same.

Portable computing devices such as handheld computers, portable computers, notebook computers, personal computer tablets, and personal digital assistants are becoming more common. In general, a portable computing device uses a base unit and a display assembly configured for the display of the base unit to conform to user operations and viewing. In particular, the technology of touch display has increased with time. For these portable computers, the touch screen has gradually become a basic device.

Taking a notebook computer as an example, a rotating shaft module is used between the two bodies as a mechanism for moving between the bodies. However, the existing hinge module is still exposed to the body of the notebook computer (host, screen) for the notebook computer, so there is still an extra situation in the visual effect and the aesthetics of the notebook computer is lowered.

The present invention provides a hinge module and an electronic device, which accommodates a hinge module in one of the bodies of the electronic device by a simple member to improve the appearance, and at the same time provide a torque sufficient to support the body and respond to the rotation required. .

The hinge module of the present invention is adapted to connect the first body and the second body of the electronic device such that the first body and the second body are mutually rotated and opened by the hinge module. The hinge module includes a hinge frame, a first linkage and a second linkage. A hinge bracket is disposed inside the first body, and the hinge frame has a first rotating shaft and a track. The first linkage has a sliding slot, and the first rotating shaft is rotatably and movably coupled to the sliding slot. The second linking member is disposed on the second body and movably coupled to the rail to rotate the second body relative to the first body through the second linking member and the rail. The second linking member has a second rotating shaft pivotally connected to the first linking member. The first rotating shaft provides torque to be transmitted to the second body via the first linking member and the second linking member.

The electronic device of the present invention comprises a first body, a second body, a hinge frame, a first linkage and a second linkage. The first body has a track. The hinge frame is disposed inside the first body, and the hinge frame has a first rotating shaft. The first linkage has a sliding slot, and the first rotating shaft is rotatably and movably coupled to the sliding slot. The second linking member is disposed on the second body and movably coupled to the rail to rotate the second body relative to the first body through the second linking member and the rail. The second linking member has a second rotating shaft pivotally connected to the first linking member, and the first rotating shaft provides the torque transmitted to the second body via the first linking member and the second linking member.

Based on the above, the electronic device is provided in the body by the hinge module, and in particular, the main portion (hinge frame) having the torque (which can be provided) is housed in the body, thereby providing a simple appearance of the electronic device. At the same time, the hinge frame located in the first body further transmits torque to the second body through the first linkage and the second linkage. In this way, the hinge module and the electronic device to which it is applied will provide the torque required to support the second body and rotate it, while improving the aesthetics of the electronic device.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

1 and 2 are schematic views of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. 3 is a partial schematic view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 in another state. 4 is an exploded view of the electronic device of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 , in the embodiment, the electronic device 100 is, for example, a notebook computer, and includes a first body 110 (eg, a screen), a second body 120 (eg, a host), and a hinge module 130. The hinge module 130 is connected to the first body 110 and the second body 120, and is used as a medium structure for rotating the first body 110 relative to the second body 120. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the main torsion members of the hinge module 130 of the present embodiment are not substantially exposed to the outside of the first body 110 or the second body 120, thereby maintaining the required torque between the bodies. Under the premise, it can maintain better aesthetics.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of a portion of the components of the electronic device of Figure 4. Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 at the same time. In detail, the hinge module 130 includes a hinge frame 133, a first linkage member 131, and a second linkage member 132. The hinge frame 133 is disposed in the first body 110, as shown in FIG. The first body 110 includes a body 112 and a cover 114, and the body 112 is further divided into an upper case 112a and a lower case 112b, and the hinge frame 133 is substantially assembled to the lower case 112b. Here, the hinge frame 133 includes a structural body 133a assembled to the lower casing 112b, a first rotating shaft 133b penetrating the structural body 133a, and a rail 133c positioned on the structural body 133a. Furthermore, the first linking member 131 has a sliding slot 131a, an opening slot 131b and a convex portion 131c, wherein the first rotating shaft 133b is attached to the first linking member 131 by a lock attachment (as shown in FIG. 5) Therefore, it is movably coupled to the chute 131a. The second linking member 132 includes an outer cover 132a and a second rotating shaft 132b. The outer cover 132a is movably coupled to the rail 133c, and the second rotating shaft 132b is pivotally connected to the opening slot 131b of the first linking member 131 and assembled to the outside. A perforation 132c in the cover 132a. Based on the above-mentioned component configuration, when the user applies the force to the second body 120 to rotate the opening relative to the first body 110, the hinge frame can be made by the linkage relationship between the first linking member 131 and the second linking member 132. 133 provides the torque required for the second body 120 to support and rotate.

Further, the first rotating shaft 133b is a torsion shaft that can be rotated by the shaft X1 to generate a torsion force as a torque required to support the second body 120 on the first body 110. Here, the related structure and features of the torsion shaft can be known from the prior art, and therefore will not be described again. In the present embodiment, the torque provided by the first rotating shaft 133b is transmitted to the second body 120 via the first linking member 131 and the second linking member 132.

Moreover, the outer cover 132a of the second linking member 132 and the second body 120 can be substantially integrally formed (and have a uniform design), so when the second body 120 is forced to rotate relative to the first body 110 At the same time, the outer cover 132a of the second linking member 132 can be moved along the rail 133c on the bracket 133a, and the corresponding relationship of the opening slot 131b of the first linking member 110 is pivoted via the second rotating shaft 132b, so that the second The rotational movement of the linkage 132 along the axis X2 drives the rotational movement of the first linkage 131 along the axis X1, and further the first linkage 131 by the sliding connection of the first shaft 133b with the first linkage 131. It is possible to simultaneously rotate and slide with respect to the first rotating shaft 133b.

It should be noted that, since the hinge frame 133 is fixed to the first body 110, in another embodiment not shown, the track 133c can be directly disposed at the first place for the convenience and structure of the manufacturing process. The above-mentioned rail 133c is provided on the body 110, that is, by the body structure of the first body 110, so that the second body 120 can be moved along the rail 133c by the outer cover 132a.

The state of motion of the above members will be described in detail below. 6 to 8 are partial cross-sectional views of the electronic device, respectively. Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 at the same time and referring to FIG. 5, in the embodiment, the first rotating shaft 133b (axis X1) and the second rotating shaft 132b (axis X2) are arranged in parallel with each other, and the same can be seen from the figure. It is clear from 6 to 8 during the exercise. At the same time, since the outer cover 132a of the second linking member 132 is integrally formed with the second body 120, and the rail 133c (shown in FIG. 5) has an arc-shaped contour, the second body 120 is opposite to the first body 110. The rotation process, that is, the second body 120 and the outer cover 132a are rotated by the virtual third rotation axis X3 (that is, the third rotation axis X3 can be regarded as the center of the curved track 133c). At the same time, the second linking member 132 is driven to rotate the first linking member 131 by the second rotating shaft 132b, so that the rotating direction of the second linking member 132 and the rotating direction of the first linking member 131 are opposite to each other. Here, the third rotation axis X3 is parallel to the first rotation shaft 133b (axis X1) and the second rotation shaft 132b (axis X2), and the second rotation shaft 132b is located between the first rotation shaft 133b and the third rotation shaft X3.

In addition, it can be known that during the transition from the closed state (FIG. 6) to the unfolded state (FIG. 8), the outer cover 132a of the second linking member 132 is along the track. The 133c moves and gradually falls into the first body 110. Conversely, during the transition from the unfolded state to the closed state of the first body 110 and the second body 120, the outer cover 132a of the second linkage 132 moves along the track 133c to gradually move out of the first body 110. That is, during the transition from the closed state to the expanded state of the first body 110 and the second body 120, the outer cover 132a of the second linking member 132 moves along the track 133c, and the partial portion of the second linking member 132 One side gradually dies into the first body 110, and at the same time, another portion of the second linking member 132 is gradually extended from the other side to the first body 110.

For the first body 110, as shown in FIG. 4, the cover 114 is pivotally connected to the upper case 112a of the body 112 by the pivoting portions 114a, 114b. Correspondingly, the first linking member 131 further has a convex portion 131c between the sliding groove 131a and the pivotal portion of the second rotating shaft 132b and the first linking member 131 (ie, the opening groove 131b), and the cover body 114 is located at the convex portion 131c. On the path of the move. As a result, when the second body 120 is unfolded relative to the first body 110, the convex portion 131c of the first linking member 131 can be extended to protrude from the top side 116 of the first body 110 and abut against the cover 114. Its rotation picks up. As shown in FIG. 2, the cover 114 of the embodiment is provided with an opening 118. Therefore, the electronic device 100 can be provided with an electronic module (such as a speaker module or a camera module) at the bottom of the cover 114. When the cover 114 is lifted up and raised, the opening 118 is used as a sound hole or an imaging hole, and the type, the number of the openings 118 and the arrangement on the cover are not limited here.

Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 again, it is worth mentioning that, since the opening groove 131b of the first linking member 131 is disposed to match the movement mode of the first linking member 131 in the first body 110, the opening groove 131b is The opening is always toward the top side of the first body 110, that is, during the deployment of the second body 120 relative to the first body 110 (from FIGS. 6 to 8), the second linking member 132 is the second rotating shaft. 132b drives the first linking member 131. At this time, the arrangement of the opening upwards for the second rotating shaft 132b can be regarded as being consistent with the moving direction of the second rotating shaft 132b, thereby causing the first linking member 131 to interlock with the second The force between the pieces 132 is expected to be reduced, that is, the user can perform the above-mentioned body unfolding process without much force. Conversely, in the process of closing the second body 120 relative to the first body 110 (from FIG. 8 to FIG. 6), there is no opening below the second rotating shaft 132b, so the user will be able to reach the body with more force. Closed state. Accordingly, the opening contour of the opening groove 131b matches the movement mode of the first linking member 131, and the opening and closing of the body is provided with the effect of "opening the light weight" and the hand feeling.

In addition, the first linking member 131 of the embodiment further has a recess C1 at the opening slot 131b, because the second rotating shaft 132b and the opening slot 131b are in a contoured arrangement of rotational interference, that is, when the two rotate relative to each other. A certain angular range causes structural interference, and in another angular range, the deformation of the opening groove 131b can be facilitated by the presence of the recess C1. In other words, the opening groove 131b can be deformed by microscopically interfering with the second rotating shaft 132b by its opening profile, and the recess C1 can further enhance the deformation, that is, the physical structure of the opening groove 131b. A fulcrum is formed at the recess C1, and a local solid structure in which the open groove 131b is located on the left side of C1 is more likely to cause rotational deformation at the fulcrum.

In summary, in the above embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device is disposed in the body by the hinge module, and in particular, the main portion (the hinge frame and the first rotating shaft) having the torque (which can be provided) is housed in the body. The outer cover of the second linking member is exposed outside the body, so that the hinge frame located in the first body transmits the torque to the second body through the first linking member and the second linking member. The outer cover is a structure and design integrally formed with the second body, so it is still visually regarded as a part of the second body, and the second linkage is used for pivoting with the first linkage. The second rotating shaft is still maintained within the first body, so that the component configuration as a whole can still provide a relatively simple appearance of the electronic device. Furthermore, the first body is pivotally connected to the cover of the body, and in addition to providing the shielding effect when the second rotating shaft is moved, the related electronic module can be disposed in the first body, and the cover body can be used along with the body. The features that are unfolded and picked up provide specific functions of the associated electronic module. In this way, the hinge module and the electronic device to which it is applied will provide the torque required to support the second body and rotate it, while improving the aesthetics of the electronic device.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧Electronic devices

110‧‧‧First body

112‧‧‧Ontology

112a‧‧‧Upper shell

112b‧‧‧ lower case

114‧‧‧ cover

118‧‧‧Opening

120‧‧‧Second body

130‧‧‧Hinge module

131‧‧‧First linkage

131a‧‧ ‧ chute

131b‧‧‧Open slot

131c‧‧‧ convex

132‧‧‧Second linkage

132a‧‧‧ Cover

132b‧‧‧second shaft

132c‧‧‧Perforation

133‧‧‧Hinge frame

133a‧‧‧ structure

133b‧‧‧First shaft

133c‧‧ track

C1‧‧‧ dent

X1, X2‧‧‧ axis

X3‧‧‧ third shaft

1 and 2 are schematic views of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. 3 is a partial schematic view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 in another state. 4 is an exploded view of the electronic device of FIG. 1. Figure 5 is an exploded view of a portion of the components of the electronic device of Figure 4. 6 to 8 are partial cross-sectional views of the electronic device, respectively.

Claims (19)

A hinge module is adapted to connect a first body and a second body of an electronic device, so that the first body and the second body are mutually rotated and opened by the hinge module, and the hinge module comprises a hinge bracket is disposed inside the first body, the hinge frame has a first rotating shaft and a track; a first linking member has a sliding slot, and the first rotating shaft is movably coupled to And a second linking member disposed on the second body and movably coupled to the rail, so that the second body rotates relative to the first body through the second linking member and the rail The second linking member has a second rotating shaft pivotally connected to the first linking member, and the first rotating shaft provides a torque transmitted to the second body via the first linking member and the second linking member. The hinge module of claim 1, wherein the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are parallel to each other. The hinge module of claim 1, wherein the second linkage moves along the rail to rotate the first linkage by the second shaft, and the rotation direction of the second linkage The directions of rotation with the first linkage are opposite to each other. The hinge module of claim 1, wherein the track has an arc shape and has a virtual third axis, and the second link rotates with the third axis, the third axis being parallel to the first a rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft, and the second rotating shaft is located between the first rotating shaft and the third rotating shaft. The hinge module of claim 4, wherein the second linking member and the second body are integrally formed such that the second body rotates relative to the first body with the third rotating shaft. The hinge module of claim 1, wherein the first linking member has an opening slot, and the second rotating shaft is pivotally connected to the opening slot, and the first linking member and the second linking member are During the movement, the opening of the open slot is always oriented toward the top side of the first body. The hinge module of claim 1, wherein the first body comprises a body and a cover, the hinge module is disposed inside the body, the cover is pivotally connected to the body and located at the first In the moving path of the linking member, when the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, the first linking member abuts against the cover body to drive the cover body to rotate relative to the body and pick up. The hinge module of claim 7, wherein the first linking member further has a convex portion between the sliding slot and a pivotal connection between the second rotating shaft and the first linking member, the cover The body is located on the moving path of the convex portion, so that when the second body is deployed relative to the first body, the convex portion drives the cover to rotate and pick up. An electronic device comprising: a first body having a track; a second body; a hinge frame disposed inside the first body, the hinge frame having a first rotating shaft; a first linking member having a sliding a slot, the first rotating shaft is movably coupled to the sliding slot; and a second linking member is disposed on the second body and movably coupled to the rail, so that the second body passes the second linkage And the second rotating member has a second rotating shaft pivotally connected to the first linking member, the first rotating shaft provides a torque through the first linking member, the first The second linkage is transmitted to the second body. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are parallel to each other. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the second linking member rotates along the track to drive the first linking member to rotate through the second rotating shaft, and the rotating direction of the second linking member is The rotation directions of the first linkages are opposite to each other. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the track has an arc shape and has a virtual third axis, the second link rotates with the third axis, and the third axis is parallel to the first axis And the second rotating shaft, and the second rotating shaft is located between the first rotating shaft and the third rotating shaft. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the second linking member and the second body are integrally formed such that the second body rotates relative to the first body with the third rotating shaft. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first linking member has an opening slot, and the second rotating shaft is pivotally connected to the opening slot, and the movement of the first linking member and the second linking member During the process, the opening of the open slot is always oriented toward the top side of the first body. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first body comprises a body and a cover, the hinge module is disposed inside the body, the cover is pivotally connected to the body and located at the first In the moving path of the linking member, when the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, the first linking member abuts against the cover body to drive the cover body to rotate relative to the body and pick up. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the first linking member further has a convex portion located between the sliding slot and a pivotal portion of the second rotating shaft and the first linking member, the cover body Located on the moving path of the convex portion, when the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, the convex portion drives the cover to rotate and pick up. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the second linking member and the second body are integrally formed, and the first body and the second body are switched from a closed state to a deployed state. The second linking member gradually moves into the first body along the track, and the second linking member is along the track during the transition from the unfolded state to the closed state of the first body and the second body. Move and gradually move out of the first body. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the second linking member and the second body are integrally formed, and the first body and the second body are switched from a closed state to a deployed state. The second linking member moves along the rail, and the portion of the second linking member gradually dies from the one side into the first body, and the other portion of the second linking member gradually protrudes from the other side. The first body. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the first body comprises a body and a cover, the hinge module is disposed inside the body, the cover is pivotally connected to the body and located at the first In the moving path of the linking member, another part of the second linking member drives the first linking member to extend the body together during the transition from the closed state to the expanded state of the first body and the second body. And driving the cover to rotate relative to the first body.