JP2000235448A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit comfortable coordinate input by a touch pad even if the operation space for a mouse can not be secured by providing a board which can be slid out and mounting the touch panel, and then performing the coordinate input. SOLUTION: In a storage hollow 6 provided at the center part of the lower end of the front end surface 2a of an equipment main body 2, the board 7 is stored so that it can freely be slid forward and backward, and on the top surface, the touch pad 8 is arranged. The equipment main body 2 and the touch pad 8 on the board are connected flexibly and electrically and coordinate input can be performed by using the touch pad 8. Consequently, even if the operation space for a mouse can not be secured on the desk top where the equipment is set or when the equipment is used at a place other than the desk top, the coordinate input can be performed comfortably by the touch pad 8 only by drawing the board 7 out. Further, the operability is improved by making an internal keyboard 3 large in size and the portability can be improved by making the equipment main body 2 small-sized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the improvement of small electronic devices such as portable personal computers and word processors, and more particularly, to coordinating a coordinate input device with a keyboard without causing problems such as enlargement of the device and deterioration of operability. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of performing the processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an information processing apparatus such as a portable personal computer or a word processor, both a keyboard and a coordinate input device are required in order to comfortably use installed software. A mouse is most commonly used as a coordinate input device.However, when a portable personal computer is installed on a desk and used, the space for mouse operation cannot be secured on the desk, When the mouse is used in the place, the mouse cannot be used at all. In order to solve the above problems, portable personal computers with pointing sticks, trackballs, touchpads, etc. as coordinate input devices are also sold, but space for incorporating these coordinate input devices into equipment is also available. If you try to secure it, embed it in the built-in keyboard (for pointing stick), make the built-in keyboard smaller and install it near it (for trackball or touchpad), and make the device itself larger (trackball, touch) However, there are only three countermeasures such as the case of a pad), and the operability of the keyboard is reduced, and the portability of the device body is necessarily reduced. Therefore, improvement of these problems has been demanded. By the way, 5-23
No. 229 discloses a configuration in which only the keyboard portion can be removed from the keyboard mounting surface of the device main body, and a mouse can be operated on the mounting surface after removing the keyboard. If a space for mouse operation cannot be secured, there is a problem that a space for a keyboard detached from the device main body cannot be secured, and there is a problem in practicality.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be solved by the present invention include problems in small electronic equipment such as a personal computer and a word processor, such as an increase in size of the equipment, a loss of space for operating a coordinate input device, and a decrease in operability. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus capable of co-locating a coordinate input device with a keyboard without causing a problem. According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the operation space for the mouse cannot be secured on the desk or when using the device at a place other than the desk, the coordinate can be input comfortably with the touch pad by a simple operation of pulling out the board. become. In addition, by adopting a form of a board that can be stored in the device main body, operability can be improved by increasing the size of the built-in keyboard, or portability can be improved by reducing the size of the device main body. Further, it is not necessary to employ a special keyboard in which a pointing stick is embedded, so that the development cost of the device can be reduced. Claim 2
According to the invention, when the operation space of the mouse cannot be secured on the desk and the device is used in a place other than the desk, the coordinate input can be performed by sliding the built-in keyboard slightly forward as in the case of the first aspect. The device appears and you can input coordinates. Here, when a pointing stick is used as the coordinate input device, it is not necessary to use a special keyboard in which a conventionally used pointing stick is embedded, and the development cost of the keyboard can be reduced. Also, when using a trackball or touchpad, there is no need to secure the installation space on the same surface as the keyboard of the device itself. Therefore, portability can be improved due to the development. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the location of the coordinate input device is located below the slide keyboard, that is, in the storage recess provided on the upper surface of the device main body, and is exposed when the keyboard is slid forward. The coordinate input device is installed on a surface (upper surface of the device main body) one step lower than the keys constituting the keyboard. For this reason, in order to operate the coordinate input device, it is necessary to insert the finger of the operator further below the key group, and operability and comfort in use may be impaired.

Therefore, the invention of claim 3 enables the coordinate input device to be pulled up from a position stored in a storage recess provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body to a position protruding upward, and to be able to maintain the protruded position. With this configuration, the position of the coordinate input device is at the same level or almost the same level as each key on the keyboard, so that operability and comfort in use can be improved. In addition, when the keyboard slides, the coordinate input device is pulled out and held at a position protruding from the top of the device body, preventing the keyboard from returning to the original setting position without providing special lock parts. it can. According to the third aspect of the present invention, in order for the user to input coordinates comfortably, an operation of pulling out the coordinate input device from the storage recess by itself is required. Considering the frequency of use of the coordinate input, it is very inconvenient that the operation of pulling out the coordinate input device must be performed every time the information input device is used after starting the information processing apparatus. Then, the invention of claim 4 is:
When the keyboard is in the set position, the coordinate input device is stored in the storage recess, and when the keyboard is slid forward, the keyboard is elastically biased to automatically protrude upward from the storage recess. Just by performing the sliding operation, the coordinate input device is raised to the protruding position suitable for the operation, and the operator can input the coordinates comfortably without performing a troublesome operation. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a lock mechanism is provided to prevent the keyboard from being easily slid from a state in which the keyboard is set on the upper surface of the apparatus main body. Can be solved. In particular, there is an advantage that not only it is possible to prevent returning from the position after sliding to the set position, but also to effectively prevent sliding from the set position forward. When the coordinate input device is configured to be hidden below the keyboard when not in use, the coordinate input controller must continue to supply power to the unused coordinate input device as long as the information processing device is in the activated state. And power is wasted. A portable electronic device is required to operate for a long time using a battery as a power supply. However, as long as such useless power consumption is allowed, it is difficult to satisfy the requirement for a long operation.
In the invention according to claim 6, the device main body includes a slide status detection mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of a keyboard slide,
Since the slide state detection mechanism is configured to supply power to the coordinate input device controller only when the keyboard has completed sliding in the forward direction, when the keyboard is in the set position and the coordinate input device is in an unused state, Power supply to the controller is cut off, and power saving can be realized unconsciously without the user performing any special operation.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems,
The invention according to claim 1 includes an apparatus main body having a keyboard on an upper surface, a display unit pivotally supported at the rear of the apparatus main body to open and close, and
In an information processing device equipped with, a board that can be pulled out forward is stored in a storage space provided on the front end face of the device main body,
A touch pad as a coordinate input device is mounted on the upper surface of the board. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising: a device main body having a keyboard on an upper surface; and a display portion pivotally supported at a rear portion of the device main body, wherein the keyboard is mounted on the upper surface of the device main body. A coordinate input device is disposed on the upper surface of the device main body, which is slidably moved forward and backward from the set position, and is exposed when the keyboard is slid forward. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the coordinate input device disposed on the upper surface of the device main body, which is exposed by sliding the keyboard in the forward direction, projects upward from a position stored in the storage recess provided on the upper surface of the device main body. A raised position, and the protruded position can be maintained. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the coordinate input device is in a state of being stored in the storage recess when the keyboard is at the set position, and upwards from inside the storage recess when the keyboard slides forward. It is characterized by being elastically biased to protrude. The invention according to claim 5, wherein a lock mechanism is provided on the upper surface of the device main body to lock the keyboard to prevent the keyboard from sliding forward from the set position, or to unlock the keyboard to allow the keyboard to slide. It is characterized by having. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the device body,
A slide state detection mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of the slide of the keyboard is provided, and the slide state detection mechanism supplies power to the coordinate input device controller only when the keyboard has completed sliding in the forward direction.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing an embodiment corresponding to the first aspect. The information processing apparatus (electronic device) 1 includes a device body 2 having a keyboard 3 mounted on an upper surface thereof.
And a display unit 5 pivotally supported by a hinge 4 provided on a rear end edge of the device main body 2 so as to be openable and closable in the front-rear direction. The characteristic configuration of the information processing apparatus 1 is as follows.
In this example, the board 7 is slidably received in the front-rear direction in a storage space 6 provided at the center of the lower end, and a touch pad 8 is arranged on the upper surface of the board 7. . The storage space 6 has a lock mechanism for locking the board to the storage position with a predetermined light force when the board 7 is stored, so that the board 7 can be pulled out when the board is pulled out with a predetermined force or more. Is configured. FIG. 1A shows the housed state of the board, and FIG. The device main body 2 and the touch pad 8 on the board are flexibly and electrically connected to each other by an unillustrated FPC or the like, and are configured so that coordinate input can be performed using the touch pad 8. As described above, according to this embodiment, the sliding board 7 with the touch pad 8 mounted thereon is provided in the storage space 6 at the front end face of the device main body 2, and the board 8 is pulled out only when necessary and comfortably. Enabled to input coordinates. For this reason, even when the operation space of the mouse cannot be secured on the desk on which the device is installed, or when the device is used in a place other than the desk, coordinate input can be performed with the touch pad 8 by simply pulling out the board 7. . Further, by adopting the form of the board 7 that can be stored in the device main body 2, it is possible to improve the operability by increasing the size of the built-in keyboard 3, or to improve the portability by reducing the size of the device main body 2. Further, it is not necessary to employ a special keyboard in which a pointing stick is embedded, so that the development cost of the device can be reduced.

FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are a perspective view and an enlarged view of a main part of an embodiment corresponding to the second aspect. The information processing apparatus 1 of the present invention has a keyboard 10 slidable in the front direction on the upper surface of the device main body 2.
Is characterized in that the coordinate input device 11 is arranged at an appropriate position on the upper surface 12 of the device main body that is exposed when the device is slid forward. FIG. 2 shows an example in which a pointing stick 11a is employed as the coordinate input device 11, in which the keyboard 10 is slid in the forward direction. In the example of FIG. 2, a recess 13 is provided in the upper surface 12 of the device main body immediately below the keyboard 10, and a pointing stick 11 a is mounted in the recess 13. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of FIG. 2, in which a touch pad 11 is used as a coordinate input device 11 instead of a pointing stick 11 a.
The configuration in which b is arranged is different. Note that a trackball (not shown) may be arranged instead of the touchpad. Also, a built-in keyboard 10 and a coordinate input device 11
(11a, 11b) is a device body 2 by FPC or the like.
Flexible and electrically connected to This point is a configuration common to all the following embodiments. The built-in keyboard 10 is slidably and immovably supported by a slide guide (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the device main body.

As described above, in this embodiment, the device body 2
The built-in keyboard 10 installed in the device can be slid in the forward direction. The coordinate input device 11 can be arranged and operated on the upper surface 12 of the device body that appears when the device is slid. When the device cannot be secured, or when using the device at a place other than the desk, the coordinate input device 11 appears and the user can input coordinates simply by sliding the built-in keyboard 10 slightly forward. Here, when the pointing stick 11a is employed as the coordinate input device 11, it is not necessary to employ a special keyboard in which a pointing stick conventionally used is embedded, and the development cost of the keyboard can be reduced. When the trackball or the touch pad 11b is used, there is no need to secure a space for installing the trackball or the touchpad 11b on the same surface as the keyboard of the device main body. The portability can be improved by miniaturization.

Next, FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b) and 4 (c) are diagrams showing the configuration and operation of an embodiment corresponding to claim 3, and the information processing apparatus of this embodiment is shown in FIGS. The lock mechanism 20 for preventing the keyboard 10 shown in each of the embodiments from sliding against the operator's intention is provided.
The lock mechanism 20 includes a latch portion 22 housed in a concave portion 21 formed on the bottom surface of the keyboard 10 and constantly biased in the protruding direction (downward), and the keyboard 10 in the set position shown in FIG. At a certain time, the first fitting concave portion 23a into which the latch portion 22 protrudes and fits, and the keyboard 10 is shown in FIG.
and a second fitting recess 23b into which the latch portion 22 protrudes and fits when in the pulled-out position shown in FIG. The concave portion 21 is formed at a position where the depth of the concave portion can be ensured, that is, at a side portion of the keyboard where there is no obstacle such as a key. Each of the fitting recesses 23a and 23b is disposed on the upper surface of the device main body 2 at a position matching the movement path of the latch portion 22. FIG. 4A shows a set state in which the built-in keyboard 10 is not slid toward the user (a state where the coordinate input device cannot be used). Part 22
The built-in keyboard cannot be slid. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the built-in keyboard 10 is being slid toward the user, and the built-in keyboard 10 is in a state in which the built-in keyboard 10 can be slid forward and backward because the latch portion 22 rides on the upper surface of the device body 2. FIG. 4C shows the built-in keyboard 10.
Is pulled out (a state in which the coordinate input device can be used). At this time, the latch portion 22 is fitted in the second concave portion 23b on the front side of the device main body 10,
The internal keyboard is locked in this position. FIG. 2, FIG.
In each of the embodiments described above, the built-in keyboard 10 slides forward, and the coordinate input device appears below the built-in keyboard. There is a problem that operability is impaired. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 20 for unintentional sliding of the built-in keyboard is provided in addition to the slide mechanism, so that the built-in keyboard may slide unexpectedly while performing input with the built-in keyboard. Thus, the problem that the operability is deteriorated can be solved.

Next, FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are explanatory diagrams of the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. This is a modified example.
That is, the information processing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes the keyboard 1
5 is provided with a storage recess 30 having a predetermined depth at an appropriate position on the upper surface 12 of the device main body that is exposed by sliding the display device 0 forward. In the storage recess 30, a lifting block 31 holding the coordinate input device 11 is provided. Fig. 5 from the storage position of (a)
(b) is supported so as to be able to move up and down to the projecting position. The elevating block 31 has a concave portion 13 on its upper surface, and input means such as a pointing stick 11a is arranged in the concave portion 13. When the elevating block 31 is retracted to the storage position as shown in FIG. 5A, the upper surface of the elevating block 31 is flush with the upper surface 12 of the device main body, so that the keyboard 10 does not hinder advance / retreat. On the other hand, in the case where the keyboard 10 protrudes as shown in FIG.
The rear edge of the keyboard, preventing the keyboard from sliding backwards. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the keyboard from being displaced without increasing the number of special lock components. In the state (b), the upper surface of the elevating block 31 is substantially at the same level as the upper surface of the keyboard 10, that is, the upper surface of each key, so that the operator has the same operability and comfort as operating the keyboard. To operate the coordinate input device 11. The operation of pulling out the elevating block 31 to the projecting position may be performed automatically by an elastic member or the like as described later, or may be performed by operating an operation button or the like (not shown).
The protruding elevating block is maintained in the protruding posture by the above-described maintenance mechanism. When retracting the elevating block 31, the maintenance mechanism is released and retracted.

As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the coordinate input device 11 exposed when the keyboard 10 has been slid forward is completed by a surface that is one step lower than the keys constituting the keyboard (the main body of the device). (Upper surface). For this reason, in order to operate the coordinate input device, it is necessary to insert the finger of the operator further below the key group, and operability and comfort in use may be impaired. In contrast, in the embodiment of FIG.
The coordinate input device can be pulled up from a position stored in the storage recess provided on the upper surface of the main body of the device to a position protruding upward, and the protruding position can be maintained. Level, or almost the same level as each key of, and operability and comfort in use can be improved. In addition, when the keyboard slides, the coordinate input device is pulled out and held at a position protruding from the top of the device body, preventing the keyboard from returning to the original setting position without providing special lock parts. it can. For this reason, the problem that the keyboard is moved during key input and the key input becomes difficult is eliminated.

FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are cross-sectional views (A in FIG. 5 (a)) showing a configuration example of a holding mechanism for holding the lifting block 31 projecting from the storage recess 30 at the projecting position. -A position). The holding mechanism is housed in fixed claws 35 protruding from upper portions of two opposing inner walls of the housing concave portion 30 and recesses 36 provided on two side surfaces of the elevating block 31 facing the two inner walls. A movable claw 37 supported so as to be able to protrude inward and outward, and an elastic member (not shown) arranged in the recess 36 for elastically biasing each movable claw 37 in the protruding direction. The movable claw 37 has a fitting portion 37a which is a recess fitted with the fixed claw 35, an inclined surface 37b located above the fitting portion 37a, and the like, and can move in and out in the recess 36. It is supported by.

When the lifting block 31 is housed in the housing recess 30 as shown in FIG. 6A, each movable claw 37 is kept urged outward by an elastic member (not shown). However, in the process of lifting the lifting block 31,
Since the inclined surface 37b slides on the fixed claw 35, the movable claw 37
Is pushed into the recess 36, and the fitting portion 37a is
When the movable claw 37 reaches the position equivalent to the above, the movable claw 37 re-projects outward and the fixed claw 35 is fitted into the fitting portion 37a. The lock function of the maintenance mechanism prevents the lifting block 31 from unexpectedly lowering during coordinate input. As a method of projecting the lift block 31 in the housed state in FIG. 6A, the lift block 3 is
1, the lifting unit 31 is always urged in the projecting direction by a spring (not shown),
Instead, the storage position of the lifting block is maintained by a claw arranged on the inner wall so as to freely protrude, and at the time of protrusion, the maintenance by the claw is released and the lifting block is protruded.
When retracting the elevating block 31 into the storage recess 30, it is possible to push the elevating block 31 while retracting the movable claw 37 by operating a special operation member with a finger or the like for retracting each movable claw 37 collectively. good. next,
In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, in order for the user to input coordinates comfortably, the coordinate input device 11 must be used by the user.
It is necessary to perform an operation of pulling out the (elevation block 31) from the storage recess 30. Considering the frequency of use of the coordinate input, it is very inconvenient that the operation of pulling out the coordinate input device must be performed every time the information input device is used after starting the information processing apparatus.

Therefore, in another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7, when the keyboard 10 is in the set position, the lifting block 31 is housed in the housing recess 30, and the keyboard 10 slides forward. In some cases, the coordinate input device is raised to a protruding position suitable for the operation only by performing the operation of sliding the keyboard by elastically biasing it so as to automatically protrude upward from the inside of the storage recess 30. Can perform coordinate input comfortably without performing cumbersome operations. That is, the maintenance and projection mechanism shown in FIG. 7 is a modification of the maintenance and projection mechanism shown in FIG. 6. Is an elastic member 41 disposed in a recess 40 provided at the bottom of the lifting block 31 to constantly urge the lifting block 31 upward, while a locking claw provided on two opposing inner walls of the storage recess 30. The lifting block 31 is held in the storage position as shown in FIG. 7A by locking or unlocking the fitting portion 37a of the movable claw 37 by 45, or as shown in FIG. It is possible to automatically protrude. More specifically, the movable claw 37 has an inclined surface 37b provided on the upper side.
In addition, a downwardly inclined surface 37c is provided below, and the locking claw 45 is disposed in a hole 50 provided at the bottom of the inner wall of the storage recess 30 so as to be able to advance and retreat inward and outward. In addition, the locking claw 45
Is connected to the keyboard by an interlocking mechanism that interlocks with the sliding operation of the keyboard 10. This interlocking mechanism
For example, when the keyboard 10 is in the set position, FIG.
(a) As shown in (a), when the locking claw 45 is projected and fitted into the fitting portion 37a of the movable claw 37 to maintain the lifting block 31 in the storage position, while the keyboard 10 has been slid forward. First, the locking claw 45 is temporarily retracted into the hole 50 to release the locking of the movable claw 37, and the lifting block 31 is pushed upward by the force of the elastic member 41. The locking claw 45 once retracted into the hole 50 returns to the protruding position at a predetermined timing.

The operation of the interlocking mechanism causes the locking claw 45 to
When retracted inside, the lifting block 31 is pushed up by the force of the elastic member 41, and the upper inclined surface 37 b of the movable claw 37 is pressed by the fixed claw 35, whereby the movable claw 37 is retracted and then re-projected and fitted. The fixed claw 35 is fitted into the attachment portion 37a (FIG. 7 (b)). In this state, the projecting position of the lifting block 31 is maintained, and the keyboard is prevented from returning to the set position carelessly. Also,
When the lifting block is retracted from the state shown in FIG. 7B to the state shown in FIG. 7A, a special operation member for retracting the movable claws 37 collectively is operated by a finger or the like. The lifting block 31 may be pushed in while the 37 is retracted. Since the movable claw 37 is provided with the lower inclined surface 37c, the inclined surface 37c is movable by being pressed by the protruding locking claw 45 in the process of pushing the elevating block 31 to the bottom of the storage recess 30. Claw 37 is recess 3
6 and then the locking claw 45 is fitted in the fitting portion 37a to hold the lifting block 31 in the storage position. Next, when the coordinate input device is configured to be hidden below the keyboard when the coordinate input device is not used, the coordinate input controller supplies power to the unused coordinate input device as long as the information processing device is in the activated state. And power is wasted. A portable electronic device is required to operate for a long time using a battery as a power supply. However, as long as such useless power consumption is allowed, it is difficult to satisfy the requirement for a long operation.

Therefore, in an embodiment of the present invention corresponding to claim 6, as shown in an example of a schematic block diagram of FIG. 8, the device main body 2 is provided with a slide status detecting mechanism 55 for detecting the presence or absence of the slide of the keyboard 10. Since the slide status detection mechanism 55 is configured to supply power to the coordinate input device controller 56 only when the keyboard 10 completes sliding in the forward direction, the keyboard 10 is at the set position and the coordinate input device 11 is When in the non-use state, the power supply to the controller 56 is cut off, and power saving can be realized unconsciously without the user performing any special operation. The power supply to the controller 56 is ON / OFF controlled by a switch such as a transistor. This switch is off when the keyboard 10 is at the set position, and the power supply to the controller 56 is cut off. The slide state detection mechanism 55 includes a terminal (a limit switch or another sensor may be electrically connected) when, for example, the keyboard 10 completes sliding in the forward direction, and the terminal is in an electrically contacted state. Only when the switch is closed, the controller 56
Power supply to According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent early consumption of the battery power of the portable electronic device.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a small electronic device such as a personal computer, a word processor or the like equipped with a coordinate input device in addition to a keyboard, and an information processing apparatus, the size of the device is increased and the coordinate input device is operated. It is possible to provide an information processing apparatus capable of co-locating a coordinate input device with a keyboard without causing troubles such as a loss of space and a decrease in operability. That is, in the first aspect of the present invention, a board is provided which can be slidably pulled out from the front end face of the device main body provided with a keyboard, a touch pad is mounted on the board, and only when necessary, the board can be pulled out to input coordinates. Thus, even when the operation space for the mouse cannot be secured on the desk or when the device is used in a place other than the desk, the coordinates can be input comfortably with the touch pad simply by pulling out the board. In addition, by adopting a board form that can be stored in the device main body, operability can be improved by increasing the size of the built-in keyboard, or portability can be improved by reducing the size of the device main body. Further, it is not necessary to employ a special keyboard in which a pointing stick is embedded, so that the device development cost can be reduced. Claim 2
In the invention of the above, the built-in keyboard installed on the device body has a structure that can slide in the forward direction,
Since the coordinate input device is installed on the upper surface of the device body that appears when sliding, the built-in keyboard is also used when the operation space of the mouse cannot be secured on the desk or when the device is used in a place other than the desk as in the case of claim 1. The coordinate input device appears simply by sliding the mouse slightly in the direction of the arrow, and the coordinate can be input. Here, when a pointing stick is used as the coordinate input device, it is not necessary to use a special keyboard in which a conventionally used pointing stick is embedded, and the development cost of the keyboard can be reduced. Also, when using a trackball or touchpad, there is no need to secure the installation space on the same surface as the keyboard of the device itself. Therefore, portability can be improved due to the development. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the coordinate input device can be pulled up from a position stored in the storage recess provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body to a position protruding upward, and the protruding position can be maintained, the coordinate input device can be maintained. The position of the input device is at the same level or almost at the same level as each key on the keyboard, so that operability and comfort in use can be improved. In addition, when the keyboard slides, the coordinate input device is pulled out and held at a position protruding from the top of the device body, preventing the keyboard from returning to the original setting position without providing special lock parts. it can.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the keyboard is at the set position, the coordinate input device is stored in the storage recess, and when the keyboard slides forward, the keyboard automatically projects upward from the storage recess. Since the elastic biasing is performed as described above, just by performing the operation of sliding the keyboard, the coordinate input device will rise to a protruding position suitable for the operation, and the operator does not need to perform a troublesome operation,
Coordinate input can be performed comfortably. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a lock mechanism is provided to prevent the keyboard from being easily slid from a state in which the keyboard is set on the upper surface of the apparatus main body. Can be solved. In particular, there is an advantage that not only it is possible to prevent returning from the position after sliding to the set position, but also to effectively prevent sliding from the set position forward. In the invention according to claim 6, the apparatus main body is provided with a slide status detection mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of a keyboard slide, and the slide status detection mechanism supplies power to the coordinate input device controller only when the keyboard has completed sliding in the forward direction. When the keyboard is in the set position and the coordinate input device is not in use, the power supply to the controller is cut off, and the user unconsciously saves power without performing special operations. realizable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a perspective view and an enlarged view of a main part of an information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary perspective view of an information processing apparatus as a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are explanatory diagrams of the configuration and operation of an information processing apparatus as another embodiment.

FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are diagrams illustrating the configuration and operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6 (a) and (b) are diagrams illustrating the configuration and operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams of the configuration and operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 information processing device (electronic device), 2 device body, 2a
Front end face, 3 keyboards, 4 hinges, 5 display section, 6
Storage space, 7 board, 8 touch pad, 10 keyboard, 11 coordinate input device, 11a pointing stick, 11b touch pad, 20 locking mechanism, 21 recess, 22 latch, 30 storage recess, 31 lifting block, 35 fixed claw, 36 recesses,
37 movable claw, 37a fitting portion, 37b, 37c inclined surface, 40 recess, 41 elastic member, 45 locking claw, 50
Hole, 55 Slide status detection mechanism, 56 Coordinate input device controller.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus main body having a keyboard on an upper surface,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a display portion pivotally supported at the rear of the device main body; a board that can be pulled out forward is stored in a storage space provided at a front end surface of the device main body, and an upper surface of the board is provided. An information processing apparatus, further comprising a touch pad as a coordinate input device. 2. An apparatus main body having a keyboard on an upper surface,
A display unit pivotally supported at the rear of the device body, the keyboard being supported so as to be able to slide forward and backward from a set position mounted on the upper surface of the device body, An information processing apparatus, wherein a coordinate input device is disposed on an upper surface of a device main body which is exposed when a keyboard is slid forward. 3. The coordinate input device disposed on the upper surface of the device main body, which is exposed by sliding the keyboard in the forward direction, and protrudes upward from a position stored in a storage recess provided on the upper surface of the device main body. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured to be able to be pulled up and to be able to maintain the protruding position. 4. The coordinate input device is stored in the storage recess when the keyboard is at the set position, and projects upward from the storage recess when the keyboard slides forward. 4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information processing apparatus is elastically biased. 5. A lock on the upper surface of the device main body for locking the keyboard to prevent the keyboard from sliding forward from the set position or unlocking the keyboard to allow the keyboard to slide. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a mechanism. 6. The apparatus main body includes a slide status detection mechanism for detecting the presence / absence of slide movement of the keyboard, and the slide status detection mechanism is provided to the coordinate input device controller only when the keyboard has completed sliding in the forward direction. An electric power is supplied.
Or the information processing device according to 5.