Tri-fold Portable Electronic Device With Sliding Input Module

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Solution Overview

Problem

Notebook computers have limited flexibility in operation due to fixed screen sizes and insufficient cooling and sound performance, affecting their performance and user experience.

Innovation Solution

A portable electronic device with a modular design featuring a first body, second body, and third body connected via hinges, allowing the input module to slide and cover or uncover the second body, which includes a keyboard, touch panel, or touch display, and a speaker, and a heat dissipation module with an air outlet, enabling adjustable angles and improved user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single-screen configuration with fixed screen size is adopted, then the device structure is simple, but the operation flexibility is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation flexibilityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple independent body sections (first body, second body, third body) that can be independently configured and connected through hinges, allowing flexible arrangement of screens and input modules to meet different operational needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs movable connections through hinges between body sections, enabling dynamic adjustment of screen angles and configurations to transform between different operational modes (e.g., laptop mode, tablet mode, display stand mode)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If cooling modules and speakers are mounted inside the host, then the device structure is compact, but the cooling space is insufficient and sound performance is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidcomponent arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling module and speaker are extracted from the traditional internal host location and relocated to the third body section, which can be independently positioned. This extraction allows adequate space for heat dissipation and acoustic performance while maintaining overall device compactness through modular arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling module utilizes the air outlet on the third body to create a three-dimensional heat dissipation pathway, moving heat flow from internal components to the external environment through a dedicated outlet, thereby improving cooling efficiency without increasing device footprint

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the input module is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the adaptability to different operation modes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation mode adaptabilityVSAvoidinput module configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The input module is designed with sliding capability along the third body, allowing it to move between different positions to accommodate various operational scenarios (e.g., typing mode, touch mode, display mode), thereby enhancing adaptability without requiring complete structural redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4086728B1Portable electronic device
Publication Date: 2024.11.27 COMPAL ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4086728B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4086728B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4086728B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A portable electronic device (100A) including a first body (110), a first hinge (140a), a second body (120), a second hinge (140b), a third body (130), and an input module (150) is provided. The second body is pivotally connected to the first body via the first hinge. The third body is pivotally connected to the second body via the second hinge, and the second body is located between the first body and the third body. The input module is slidably disposed on the third body and covers the second body. As the input module is slid away from the second hinge, the second body is moved out of the input module.