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HTC patents ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Abstract:
An electronic device and a method for using the same are provided. The electronic device includes a first body, a torsion hinge, and a second body. The first body has a first magnetic component. The torsion hinge is slidably disposed on the first body. The second body is connected to the torsion hinge and has a second magnetic component. The second magnetic component magnetically attracts the first magnetic component when the torsion hinge is located at a first position, and enables the first body and the second body to be in a folded state. The second magnetic component separates from the first magnetic component, and the torsion hinge drives the second body to rotate relative to the first body when the torsion hinge leaves the first position, so as to enable the first body and the second body to be in an unfolded state.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:a first body, comprising a first magnetic component;a torsion hinge, slidably disposed on the first body; anda second body, connected to the torsion hinge and comprising a second magnetic component, wherein the second magnetic component magnetically attracts the first magnetic component when the torsion hinge is located at a first position, and enables the second body to be stacked on the first body, so as to make the first body and the second body in a folded state; and the second magnetic component separates from the first magnetic component, and the torsion hinge drives the second body to rotate relative to the first body when the torsion hinge leaves the first position, so as to enable the first body and the second body to be in an unfolded state.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member, disposed between the torsion hinge and the first body, for maintaining the torsion hinge at the first position.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first body further comprises an accommodating groove, and the torsion hinge is slidably disposed in the accommodating groove.

5. A method for using the electronic device according to claim 1, comprising:forcing the torsion hinge to leave the first position and drive the second body to rotate relative to the first body, when the electronic device is to be unfolded; andapplying a force on the second body to enable the second body to rotate and attach to the first body, and enable the second magnetic component to magnetically attract the first magnetic component, when the electronic device is to be folded.
Description


CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001]This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial No. 97128866, filed on Jul. 30, 2008. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]1. Field of the Invention

[0003]The present application generally relates to an electronic device and a method for using the same, in particular, to an electronic device that is convenient for users to operate and a method for using the same.

[0004]2. Description of Related Art

[0005]With the development of the technology, people are becoming more and more dependent on electronic devices. In order to meet current requirements on the electronic devices in terms of high computing performance and light, thin, short, and small designs, various portable electronic devices, such as ultra mobile personal computer (UMPC), tablet PC, pocket PC, personal digital assistant (PDA), cell phone, and notebook PC, are developed.

[0006]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional cell phone. The cell phone is a clam shell type cell phone, so as to achieve easy operation and a light, thin, short, and small design. The cell phone 100 includes a first body 110, a second body 120, and a hinge 130. The first body 110 is rotatably connected to the second body 120 through the hinge 130, such that the cell phone 100 can be unfolded and folded. In order to maintain the cell phone 100 in an unfolded (or folded) state, the hinge 130 has a crown design (not shown) to fix the first body 110 and the second body 120 at positions corresponding to the unfolded (or folded) state.

[0007]However, when operating the cell phone, a user has to apply an additional force in order to unfold or fold the cell phone 100 due to the hinge design, which is a burden to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008]Accordingly, the present application is directed to an electronic device, which is easy to unfold and fold.

[0009]The present application is also directed to a method for using an electronic device, which is quite convenient.

[0010]An electronic device including a first body, a torsion hinge, and a second body is provided. The first body has a first magnetic component. The torsion hinge is slidably disposed on the first body. The second body is connected to the torsion hinge and has a second magnetic component. The second magnetic component magnetically attracts the first magnetic component when the torsion hinge is located at a first position, and enables the second body to be stacked on the first body, so as to make the first body and the second body in a folded state. The second magnetic component separates from the first magnetic component, and the torsion hinge drives the second body to rotate relative to the first body when the torsion hinge leaves the first position, so as to enable the first body and the second body to be in an unfolded state.

[0011]A method for using the electronic device as described above is provided. The method includes: forcing the torsion hinge to leave the first position and drive the second body to rotate relative to the first body, when the electronic device is to be unfolded; and applying a force on the second body to enable the second body to rotate and attach to the first body, and enable the second magnetic component to magnetically attract the first magnetic component, when the electronic device is to be folded.

[0012]The present application provides an electronic device which is convenient for users to unfold and fold and a method for using the same. When the electronic device is to be unfolded, a force is applied to make the torsion hinge move so as to separate the magnetic components of the upper and lower bodies from each other, the bodies are enabled to rotate and thus unfolded by a torque of the torsion hinge. When the electronic device is to be folded, a force is applied to make the upper body rotate and attach to the lower body, and the electronic device is then folded by the magnetic attraction between the magnetic components of the upper and lower bodies. In other words, such an electronic device enables users to conveniently unfold and fold the upper and lower bodies.

[0013]In order to the make the aforementioned and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.



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