JP2002341998A - Information processor and character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor and a character input device in which width of a key arrangement area is not restricted by width of the device, the number of keys and key pitch are sufficiently taken and on which a keyboard with satisfactory operability and portablility is mounted. SOLUTION: The information processor 40 is provided with the keyboard 53 to be freely rotated in vertical and horizontal directions to be freely stored. The keyboard 53 is supported on a supporting member 52 to be freely rotated by 90 degrees. The supporting member 52 is linked to the bottom of the device main body 41 to be freely attachable/detachable and freely openable by hinge through a linking part 51. The keyboard 53 is formed in a vertically long shape, is stored on a liquid crystal display screen 42 with the supporting member 52 and the liquid crystal display screen 42, etc., are protected. The keyboard 53 is developed in a horizontal long position and used as a keyboard of QWERTY arrangement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information processing device and a character input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a PDA (Personal Digital Assis) has been developed.
Tant) and mobile information terminals such as mobile phones, in particular, those equipped with an e-mail function have become widespread, and opportunities for inputting characters to the mobile information terminals have been increasing. When inputting characters, a commonly used QWERTY keyboard is easy to use and easy to input, but various forms of input means have been proposed so as not to impair portability. Examples of such a conventional information processing apparatus are shown in FIGS.

The information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 13 is a PDA 10 having a vertically long outer shape, and includes a keyboard 13 in which input keys are arranged in a QWERTY arrangement horizontally in the width direction of the PDA 10. The keyboard 13 slides the cover 12 downward from the state shown in FIG.
It can be used as shown in FIG. 3 (b).

The information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 14 is a PDA 20 also having a vertically long outer shape. As shown in FIG. 14B, a separate keyboard 21 is attached to the lower end of the PDA 20.
, An input operation using the keyboard 21 becomes possible.

The information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 15 is a foldable mobile phone 30. The mobile phone 30 includes a main body upper portion 31 having a display screen 34 and a main body lower portion 32 having a key operation section 35, and both are connected via a hinge 33 so as to be freely opened. By opening the butterfly opening mechanism, the display screen 34 and the key operation unit 35 appear, and key input can be performed. Then, by setting the butterfly opening mechanism to the closed state, the display screen 34 and the key operation unit 35 can be housed inside and protected. Also, Q
A WERTY keyboard (not shown) may be connected to the mobile phone 30 via a cable (not shown).

An information processing apparatus such as the PDA 10 or PDA 20 may be provided with a hard cover separate from the main body for the purpose of protecting a liquid crystal screen or the like. In this case, when using the apparatus, the cover is removed from the apparatus main body, and is placed in an appropriate place or attached to the back surface of the apparatus main body.

[0007]

In a keyboard for an information processing apparatus in which characters are input, the key arrangement is as follows.
It is desirable to use a QWERTY array that many people are familiar with. However, in the case of the keyboard 13, QWE
Although the RTY arrangement is adopted, the key pitch is narrowed due to the restriction of the width of the key arrangement area and the width of the device, and the operability is lacking. On the other hand, in the case of the keyboard 21, the key pitch is relatively wide and easy to press, but the QWERTY arrangement cannot be adopted because the number of keys is reduced.

In the portable telephone 30, the lower part 32 of the main body functions as a hard cover for covering the display screen 34, and there is no risk of the connected lower part 32 being lost.
However, when the QWERTY arrangement is to be installed on the key operation unit 35, the width of the key arrangement area is also limited by the width of the apparatus, so that the key pitch is reduced. Therefore, QW
It is difficult to employ the ERTY arrangement.

When there is a keyboard separate from the information processing apparatus, such as the keyboard 21 of the PDA 20 or the optional keyboard of the mobile phone 30, or when there is a separate hard cover, the main body, keyboard, hard cover, etc. The complexity of carrying a plurality of articles and the risk of loss increase.

In the case where a person holds an object in his / her hand, the farther the support position is from the center of gravity of the object, the more muscular force is used to support the rotational moment force of the object, and the feeling of fatigue increases. . From that point of view, supporting the object near the center of gravity can be supported with less muscular strength and less fatigue. On the other hand, consider a case where a device provided with input keys is operated with one hand and the input keys are pressed with the fingers of the other hand. For example, if the input key to be pressed is near one end of the apparatus and the user tries to operate it by holding the other end near, the position of the operation button cannot be firmly fixed and the operation is difficult. From that viewpoint, it is more stable and easier to operate the device near the operation unit of the device. In order to meet the above two requirements, it is effective to arrange a keyboard at a position as close as possible to the center of gravity of the information processing apparatus. However, narrowing the key pitch or reducing the number of keys for that purpose is not an effective solution from the viewpoint of operability as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and the number of keys and the key pitch can be sufficiently obtained without limiting the width of the key array area to the width of the apparatus. It is an object to provide an information processing device and a character input device equipped with a keyboard having good operability and portability.

Further, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus and a character input apparatus which can reduce the complexity of carrying a hard cover for protecting a display screen and a keyboard as input means, and reduce the risk of losing them. That is the task.

Further, according to the present invention, the keyboard is installed relatively close to the center of gravity of the entire information processing apparatus, the feeling of fatigue when operating the information processing apparatus with one hand is small, the stability at the time of operation is excellent, and It is an object to provide an information processing device and a character input device with good feeling.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a vertically long apparatus main body 41 provided with a display screen 42, a support member 52 connected to the lower end of the apparatus main body 41 in a freely openable manner, and a rotatably supported support member 52 An information processing apparatus including a keyboard 53 to be operated.

Here, "vertically long" means that the image projected on the display screen is horizontally longer and vertical is vertically longer than the horizontal, and "horizontally long" is the opposite.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the keyboard is rotatably supported by the support member, the keyboard can be rearranged vertically or horizontally. Further, the support member and the apparatus main body are hinged so that the display screen and the keyboard surface on which the input keys are arranged are located inside, and the hinge is opened so that the butterfly is opened. The display screen of the main body can be stored on the front surface where the display screen is installed. At this time, the display screen can be protected by covering the display screen with the keyboard.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if a keyboard having a long side dimension that is longer than the width dimension of the apparatus body is adopted, the long side dimension is within the vertical dimension of the vertically long apparatus body. On the other hand, if the short side dimension of the keyboard is within the width dimension of the apparatus main body, the keyboard can be stored integrally on the apparatus main body by arranging the keyboard vertically. That is, the keyboard can be stored without protruding from the outer shape of the apparatus main body. On the other hand, when the butterfly opening mechanism is opened from such a storage state, it can be used as a vertically long keyboard, and when the keyboard is further turned 90 degrees from the open state and rearranged horizontally, the horizontally long keyboard is obtained. Can be used as Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a sufficient number of keys and a key pitch are secured without limiting the width of the key array area to the width of the device, and the QWERT with high practicality is realized.
A horizontally long key arrangement such as a Y arrangement can be adopted, and the keyboard can be completely stored in the outer shape of the apparatus main body when stored. Since the keyboard is integrally stored on the main body of the device, the complexity of carrying the keyboard is reduced and the risk of losing the keyboard is reduced as compared with a keyboard of a type that is separately carried from the main body of the device. You.
If the display screen is configured to be covered with the keyboard as described above, it is not necessary to carry a separate hard cover. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
An information processing device equipped with a keyboard having good operability and portability can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the support member 52 is formed in a vertically long flat plate shape as shown in FIG.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention,
Since the support member is formed in a vertically long flat plate shape, when the keyboard is vertically arranged and the butterfly mechanism is closed, the keyboard is moved between the vertically long device body and the corresponding vertically long flat plate support member. And a storage structure with a good appearance can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the connecting position between the apparatus main body 41 and the support member 52 is slidable along the extending direction of the support member 52. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

Therefore, according to the third aspect of the present invention,
Since the connection position between the device main body and the support member slides along the direction in which the support member extends, it is possible to pull the device main body toward the keyboard in a state where the butterfly opening mechanism is opened and the keyboard is arranged horizontally long. it can. Therefore, the keyboard is installed relatively close to the center of gravity of the entire information processing apparatus. Since the keyboard is installed near the center of gravity of the entire information processing device, there is little fatigue when operating the information processing device with one hand, and the information processing device has excellent stability during operation and good usability. Can be.

The invention described in claim 4 is, for example, shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, an angle holding member 55 for supporting the rear surface of the device main body 41 and holding the device main body 41 at a predetermined angle with respect to the support member 52 extends to the rear side of the device main body 41 with the sliding operation. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus is provided so as to be stowable at an end of the support member 52 that protrudes.

Therefore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
With the butterfly opening mechanism in the open state, the keyboard arranged horizontally, and with the device body pulled toward the keyboard, pull out the angle holding member and support the device body back on it,
The apparatus main body can be held at a predetermined angle with respect to the support member. Since the main body of the device can be held at a predetermined angle with respect to the support member, the display screen is easy to see even when the information processing device is held in a hand or placed on a desk etc. That state can be maintained. When placed on a desk or the like, the posture of the device can be maintained even if the operator releases his / her hand from the device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the electrode terminal 68 on the apparatus main body 41 and the electrode terminal 66 on the keyboard side are connected / disconnected with the sliding operation. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

Therefore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
The electrode terminal on the main unit side and the electrode terminal on the keyboard side are connected and disconnected according to the sliding operation.Therefore, the keyboard is connected to the main unit only when the information processing device is completely transformed into the predetermined form when using the keyboard by the sliding operation. It can be connected to enable signal output. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from operating the keyboard by mistake while the slide mechanism is being moved to transmit a signal due to an erroneous operation to the apparatus main body in order to transform the information processing apparatus. Further, if the apparatus main body and the keyboard are always connected before and after the sliding operation, the mechanism may be complicated. Can be simplified, so that a configuration that is easy to design and hardly causes a failure can be obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a shielding member 64 for shielding the electrode terminal 68 of the apparatus main body 41 is linked to the sliding operation and is opened during the connection. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information processing apparatus is openably and closably attached to the information processing apparatus.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 6,
When connecting the electrode terminal on the device main body side and the electrode terminal on the keyboard side, the connection can be made by moving the shielding member away from the electrode terminal on the device main body side in conjunction with the sliding operation. On the other hand, when separating the electrode terminal on the device main body side from the electrode terminal on the keyboard side, the electrode terminal on the device main body side can be shielded by the shielding member. Therefore, when not connected, the electrode terminals on the apparatus main body side are confined in the sealed structure, so that it is possible to prevent foreign substances such as dust from adhering to the electrode terminals on the apparatus main body side. Can be prevented.

The invention according to claim 7 is, for example, shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 7, the electrode terminal 69 on the device body 41 side and the keyboard 4 are moved with the turning operation of the keyboard 53.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first electrode terminal (72) is connected and disconnected from the first electrode terminal (72).

Therefore, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention,
The electrode terminals on the device body and the electrode terminals on the keyboard are connected and disconnected with the operation of the rotation holding mechanism, so the keyboard outputs a signal to the device body only when the keyboard has been turned at the specified angle when using the keyboard. Can be connected as possible. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the user from operating the keyboard by mistake at that time when the user is turning the keyboard in order to transform the information processing apparatus and transmitting a signal due to the erroneous operation to the apparatus main body. Further, if the apparatus main body and the keyboard are always connected before and after the turning operation of the keyboard, the mechanism may be complicated. Since the mechanism can be simplified, the structure can be easily designed so that a failure hardly occurs.

The invention described in claim 8 is, for example, shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 0, among the characters or symbols displayed on the keyboard 53 corresponding to the individual input keys, the characters or symbols which can be operated in the first arrangement state in which the keyboard 53 is arranged horizontally. Are displayed so as to be upright for the operator facing the display screen 42 in the first arrangement state, and the input operation is enabled in the second arrangement state in which the keyboard 53 is vertically arranged. 8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a symbol is displayed so as to be upright for an operator directly facing the display screen in the second arrangement state. 9. Information processing device.

Here, the "operator directly facing the display screen" refers to an operator who faces the display screen with the vertical direction of the display screen coincident with his / her vertical direction.
The character or symbol “erect” means a state in which the inverted character or symbol is rotated by 180 degrees. Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 8, the characters or symbols that can be input in each state regardless of whether the keyboard is arranged horizontally or vertically when the butterfly opening mechanism is opened. Can be displayed upright to the operator and not in inverted notation or rollover notation, so that the operator can easily display which characters or symbols are ready for input operation.

As a display method, it is also effective to display, among characters or symbols written on the keyboard, characters or symbols that can be input and operated, because they can be easily distinguished. Also, of the characters or symbols written on the keyboard, characters or symbols that can be input in the first (second) arrangement state are written on the input keypad, and the second (first) arrangement state is displayed. It is also effective to write characters or symbols that allow input operation in the area around the input keypad, because it is easy to distinguish them.

As another display method, a character or symbol is written on a sheet covering a key array area on the keyboard without writing the character or symbol directly on the keyboard. Installation on top is also effective. In this case, a sheet on which characters or symbols that can be input in the first arrangement state is written and a sheet on which characters or symbols that can be input in the second arrangement state are written are respectively prepared and correspond to the respective sheets. In the arrangement state, it is installed on the keyboard. By doing so, it is possible to display only characters or symbols that can be input in each arrangement state. As another display method, a character or a symbol that can be input in the first (second) arrangement state is written on a keyboard, and a character or an input operation can be performed in the second (first) arrangement state. Alternatively, a sheet on which a symbol is written is separately prepared, the sheet is removed in the first (second) arrangement state, and the sheet is placed on the keyboard in the second (first) arrangement state. Even with this method, it is possible to display only characters or symbols that can be input in each arrangement state.

The invention according to claim 9 is, for example, shown in FIGS.
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body 41 and the support member 52 are detachably connected to each other.

Therefore, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention,
The character input device including the keyboard and the support member can be detached when it is not necessary or necessary to use the keyboard, and the character input device can be used or carried only by the device main body. In addition, since the device main body and such a character input device can be sold separately, a user who has purchased only the device main body can purchase an additional character input device at any time thereafter and connect it to the device main body, and use the keyboard. In addition to being able to perform comfortable character input, it is also possible to use the character input device as a protective cover for the display screen.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, a keyboard 53 having different vertical and horizontal dimensions, a support member 52 for rotatably supporting the keyboard 53 on the back side thereof, and a display screen are provided. A connection mechanism 51 that connects to the information processing device provided, and a butterfly opening mechanism 51 that allows the display screen and the surface of the keyboard 53 to open freely when the camera is connected to the information processing device. Is a character input device.

Therefore, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the user who purchases the information processing apparatus main body at any time thereafter additionally purchases the character input device, connects the character input apparatus to the information processing apparatus main body, and uses the keyboard to provide comfortable characters. In addition to inputting, the character input device can be used as a protective cover for the display screen. Here, “vertical” means that the horizontal direction of the image projected on the display screen is horizontal,
The vertical direction is vertical, and the vertical is longer than the horizontal. The term "horizontal" is the opposite. According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the keyboard is rotatably supported by the support member, the keyboard can be rearranged vertically or horizontally. Further, when the support member is connected to the main body of the apparatus, the display screen and the keyboard surface on which the input keys are arranged can be opened with the inside thereof in a butterfly-opened state. It can be stored on the front surface where the display screen is installed. that time,
The display screen can be protected by covering the display screen with the keyboard.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, even if a keyboard having a long side dimension longer than the width dimension of the information processing apparatus main body is adopted, the vertical dimension of the information processing apparatus main body having the long side dimension being vertically long is adopted. If the short side dimension of the keyboard is within the width dimension of the information processing apparatus main body, the keyboard can be integrally stored on the apparatus main body by arranging the keyboard vertically. That is, the keyboard can be stored without protruding from the outer shape of the apparatus main body. On the other hand, when the butterfly opening mechanism is opened from such a storage state, it can be used as a vertically long keyboard, and when the keyboard is further turned 90 degrees from the open state and rearranged horizontally, the horizontally long keyboard is obtained. Can be used as Therefore, Claim 10
According to the described invention, a sufficient number of keys and a key pitch can be secured without limiting the width of the key array area to the width of the information processing apparatus main body, and a highly practical QWERTY array can be adopted. At the time of storage, the keyboard can be completely stored in the outer shape of the information processing apparatus main body. Since the keyboard is stored integrally on the information processing device main body,
Compared with a keyboard of a type that is carried separately from the apparatus main body, the complexity of carrying the keyboard is reduced, and the risk of losing the keyboard is reduced. If the display screen is configured to be covered with the keyboard as described above, it is not necessary to carry a separate hard cover. Therefore, according to the tenth aspect, a character input device equipped with a keyboard having good operability and portability can be obtained.

The invention according to claim 11 is, for example, shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, the apparatus main body 101 provided with a display screen 114, a keyboard 102 which is butterfly-openably and detachably connected to the apparatus main body 101 to cover the display screen 114, Holding members 104a and 104b for fixing the detached keyboard 102 to the apparatus main body 101 with its longitudinal direction being the horizontal direction of the apparatus main body 101, and a connector 109 for connecting the keyboard to the apparatus main body so as to be able to input signals. And an information processing apparatus comprising:

Here, "vertical" means that the image projected on the display screen is horizontal and vertical is vertical, and the vertical is longer than horizontal, and the "horizontal" is the opposite.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, by the holding member,
The keyboard can be detached from the apparatus main body and its longitudinal direction can be fixed to the apparatus main body with the longitudinal direction being the lateral direction of the apparatus main body,
The keyboard allows the keyboard to be connected to the main body of the apparatus. As a result, the keyboard integrated as a hard cover with the apparatus main body can be used after being rearranged horizontally. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 11, a sufficient number of keys and a key pitch can be secured without limiting the width of the key array area to the width of the device, and a highly practical QWERTY array can be adopted. When stored, the keyboard can be completely housed in the outer shape of the apparatus main body and used as a hard cover to protect the display screen and the like. Since the keyboard is stored integrally on the main unit and also serves as a hard cover, the complexity of carrying the keyboard and hard cover is reduced compared to a keyboard or hard cover that is separated from the main unit and carried. The risk of loss is reduced. Therefore, according to the eleventh aspect, it is possible to obtain an information processing apparatus equipped with a keyboard having good operability and portability.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information processing apparatus is provided at a distal end of a cable 108 extending from the second cable.

Therefore, according to the twelfth aspect of the invention, the keyboard can be fixed at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body by the holding member, and can be used via a cable extending from the keyboard (which is also a hard cover). Since the keyboard is connected to the apparatus main body, the keyboard can be used without being fixed to the apparatus main body. Therefore, there is an advantage in that when used on a desk or the like, the degree of freedom in the installation mode of the keyboard is increased by the length of the cable.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, the holding members 104a and 104b are mounted on the back surface of the keyboard 102 so as to be retractable. 13. The information processing apparatus according to item 12.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, when the keyboard is used as a hard cover, the holding member is stored on the outer surface (back surface of the keyboard) of the hard cover. In addition, there is an advantage that the holding member does not interfere, and the appearance of the apparatus is improved.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, the fixing position of the keyboard 102 by the holding members 104a and 104b is set on the front surface of the apparatus main body 101 on which the display screen 114 is installed. An information processing apparatus according to claim 11, claim 12, or claim 13.

Therefore, according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the keyboard is set relatively close to the center of gravity of the entire information processing apparatus, as compared with a case where the keyboard is continuously fixed to the side surface or the lower end of the apparatus main body. . Since the keyboard is installed near the center of gravity of the entire information processing device, there is little fatigue when operating the information processing device with one hand, and the information processing device has excellent stability during operation and good usability. Can be.

The invention according to claim 15 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a character input device comprising a keyboard 53 and a support member 52 for supporting the keyboard 53 on the back side of the keyboard 53 so as to be able to turn vertically and horizontally. is there.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, since the keyboard and the support member for supporting the keyboard so that the keyboard can be turned vertically and horizontally on the back side of the keyboard are provided, the keyboard can be easily turned vertically and horizontally according to the purpose. The posture can be made vertically or horizontally.
For this purpose, for example, the keyboard can be directed in a direction in which the operator can easily input characters or in a direction in which characters displayed on the keyboard can be easily viewed. In addition, it is possible to change the direction of the keyboard in a direction in which the whole device is transformed by a portable information terminal or the like so as to be easily integrated in a compact manner. According to the invention of claim 15,
The turning mechanism can be used as a switch for switching the operation mode of the character input device, turning on / off the power, and the like. For example, the input mode of the keyboard may be switched in association with the turning, that is, a character or a symbol that can be operated for input may be switched corresponding to each input key.

[0048]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following is one embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention.

[First Embodiment] First, FIGS.
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a PDA (Personal D
This is an example in which the present invention is applied to the digital assistant 40.
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are perspective views of the information processing apparatus (PDA 40) according to the first embodiment of the present invention in each modified state.
FIG. 4 is an information processing apparatus (PDA) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 40 is an exploded perspective view of a character input device portion excluding the device body in 40).

As shown in FIG. 1, the PDA 40 has a connecting portion 51, a support member 52,
A character input device comprising a keyboard 53 is connected. A liquid crystal display screen 42 and simple operation keys 43 are provided on the front of the apparatus main body 41. By operating the simple operation keys 43, it is possible to use even the apparatus main body 41 alone. The device main body 41 functions as a communication terminal by connecting a card-type communication modem 44. Connecting part 51
Is connected to and fixed to the lower end of the apparatus main body 41. The support member 52 has a vertically long flat plate-like outer shape, and is connected to the lower end of the apparatus main body 41 via a connecting portion 51 so as to be freely opened. The keyboard 53 is rotatably supported on the support member 52.
A large number of keypads 54, 5
.. Are arranged in a QWERTY arrangement. The back surface of the keyboard 53 is fitted to the support member 52. PDA4
0 is opened with the front surface of the device main body 41 and the surface of the keyboard 53 inside. By transforming the PDA 40 from the open state shown in FIG. 1A to the closed state (housed state) shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard 53 overlaps the front surface of the apparatus main body 41 and is sandwiched between the apparatus main body 41 and the support member 52. Stored in a manner. In this storage state, the keyboard 53 is stored in such a manner that the horizontal direction of the QWERTY arrangement, that is, the longitudinal direction of the keyboard 53 is made to coincide with the vertical direction of the apparatus main body 41, that is, the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body 41. Conversely, P
DA 40 is moved from the closed state (retracted state) shown in FIG.
By transforming to the open state shown in (a), a vertically arranged keyboard 53 appears, and the keyboard 53 can be used as a vertically long keyboard.

From the state shown in FIG.
1 is rotated by 90 degrees with respect to the support member 52, so that FIG.
As shown in (b), the keyboard 53 is arranged horizontally long, and the keyboard 53 can be used as a horizontally long keyboard in a QWERTY arrangement. At this time, the angle holding member 55 hidden under the keyboard 53 appears. The angle holding member 55 has a portal structure, and is stored in a groove provided in the support member 52. The angle holding member 55 is rotatably attached to the support member 5.
2 is urged in the protruding direction by a spring (not shown) provided inside. As shown in FIG. 1B, the angle holding member 55 is locked by being locked by a lock member 56 so as not to protrude. When the lock member 56 is slid and the lock is released, the angle holding member 55 rises as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3 from the state shown in FIG. 1B, the connection position between the apparatus main body 41 and the support member 52 is slid along the direction in which the support member 52 extends.
To the keyboard 53 side. Then, the device body 4
The end of the support member 52 extends to the rear side of the device 1, and the above-described angle holding member 55 moves to the rear side of the apparatus main body 41. In this state, slide the lock member 56 as described above,
The lock is released, and the angle holding member 55 is raised.
The apparatus main body 41 is leaned on the upright angle holding member 55 to hold the apparatus main body 41 at a suitable angle with respect to the support member 52.

By the series of operations described above, the keyboard 53 can be stored, used as a vertically long keyboard, or used as a horizontally long keyboard. Each part will be described in detail.

(Connection Mechanism) Next, a connection mechanism between the apparatus main body 41 and the character input device will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 51 includes a pair of shaft couplings 57 a and 57 b and a connector 58, and is mechanically and electrically connected to the lower end surface of the apparatus main body 41. A connection hole (not shown) is provided on the lower end surface of the apparatus main body 41 in correspondence with the shaft couplings 57a and 57b. A connector (not shown) corresponding to the connector 58 is provided on the lower end surface of the apparatus main body 41. The shaft couplings 57a and 57b are inserted into the connection holes, and the connector 58 is fitted to a connector (not shown) provided on the lower end surface of the apparatus main body 41, thereby completing the mechanical and electrical connection. Thus, the character input device including the connecting portion 51, the support member 52, and the keyboard 53 is mounted on the device main body 41. By pulling out the connecting portion 51 from the connection state, the connecting portion 51 and the support member 5 are pulled out.
The character input device including the keyboard 2 and the keyboard 53 is detached from the device main body 41.

(Slide Mechanism) Next, the slide mechanism will be described. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, arms 59a and 59b are formed at both ends of the connecting portion 51. Both arms 5
Fitting pins 63a, 63b are provided inwardly inside the tips of 9a, 59b. On the other hand, slide grooves 60 are formed on both side surfaces of the support member 52. Sliding groove 60
Inner ends are provided with deeper fitting holes 61 and 62. The arms 59a and 59b hold the support member 52 therebetween. The fitting pins 63a and 63b fit into the slide groove 60. Further, the fitting pins 63a and 63b are
The rear end of the slide groove 60 is fitted in the fitting hole 61, and the front end of the slide groove 60 is fitted in the fitting hole 62. Mating pin 63a,
When 63b is fitted in fitting hole 61 or fitting hole 62, it is in a metastable state in which it cannot easily come out, and the connection position between apparatus main body 41 and support member 52 is temporarily locked. In the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fitting pins 63 a and 63 b are fitted in the fitting holes 61. In the state shown in FIG.
a and 63b are fitted in the fitting holes 62.

Further, referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the first
An embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 shows A in FIG.
FIG. FIG. 6 is a transparent plan view seen from the support member 52 side for explaining the operation of the turning support mechanism in the information processing device (PDA 40) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(Electrical Connection) First, the electrical connection between the apparatus main body 41 and the keyboard 53 will be described. FIG.
As shown in (b), a shielding member 64 is slidably attached to the connecting portion 51 by being urged by a spring 67. Further, the support member 52 is formed with convex portions 65a and 65b for sliding the shielding member 64. The spring electrodes 66 are arranged slightly forward from between the convex portions 65a and 65b. As shown in FIG.
The connector 58 is connected to the horizontal connection electrode 68 and the vertical connection spring electrode 69 provided on the connecting portion 51 so as to be able to transmit an electric signal. In the state shown in FIG.
The shielding member 64 covers and covers the connection electrode 68 when it is in the landscape orientation, that is, shields. As shown in FIG. 5B, the connecting portion 51 is slid toward the horizontally arranged keyboard 53, and the fitting pin 63 is fitted into the fitting hole 62 at the front end of the slide groove 60. Is the shielding member 6
4 is pushed open, and the connection electrode 68 and the spring electrode 66 are pressed against each other and are electrically connected at the time of landscape. The spring electrode 66 is connected to the support member 52.
It is connected to the keyboard 53 via a cable 71 housed inside. As shown in FIG. 5, one end of the cable 71 is connected to the spring electrode 66, and the other end is connected to the keyboard 53. The cable 71 is provided from within the support member 52.
A hole 81a formed in the axis of the first turning support shaft 81 (see FIG. 6)
(Refer to (a)) and is led to the keyboard 53 side to be connected to the keyboard 53. As described above, when the keyboard 53 is arranged horizontally, the keyboard 53 is connected to the apparatus main body 41 via the connector 58, the connection electrode 68 at the time of the landscape, the spring electrode 66, and the cable 71 so as to be able to transmit and receive signals. Thus, the keyboard 53 can be operated in the landscape orientation.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS.
An edge electrode 72 is formed on the edge of the keyboard 53. When the keyboard 53 is turned vertically, the edge electrode 72
And the vertical connection spring electrode 69 are pressed against each other and are electrically connected. As described above, in a state where the keyboard 53 is arranged vertically, the keyboard 53 is connected to the apparatus main body 41 via the connector 58, the connection spring electrode 69 at the time of the portrait orientation, and the edge electrode 72 so as to be able to transmit and receive signals. As a result, the keyboard 53
Can be operated in the portrait orientation.

(Turning Mechanism) Next, the turning support mechanism of the keyboard 53 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-185243
A rotation support mechanism having two rotation support shafts is applied. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the turning support mechanism may be configured by two turning spindles as described in the publication,
You may comprise by one rotation support shaft. As shown in FIG. 6, a first guide groove 84, a second guide groove 85, and a third guide groove 86 are formed on a surface of the support member 52 formed in a vertically long flat plate shape facing the keyboard 53. ing. The first to third guide grooves 84 to 86 are provided on the back of the keyboard 53.
The first to third turning support shafts 81 to 83 are provided so as to be engaged and guided. The first to third turning support shafts 81 to 83 have flange-shaped flange portions for engaging with the edges of the first to third guide grooves 84 to 86 to prevent the first to third guide grooves 84 to 86 from falling off. Guide grooves 84 to 86 are slidably fitted along the grooves.

The first guide groove 84 extends in the short side direction of the support member 52 (the left-right direction in FIG. 6). The second guide groove 85 is bent at a predetermined curvature R or the like and extends obliquely. The third guide groove 86 extends in a long side direction (vertical direction in FIG. 6) orthogonal to the first guide groove 84. The shapes and arrangement positions of the first to third guide grooves 84 to 86 are set in accordance with the trajectory of the keyboard 53 turning from the horizontal posture to the vertical posture or in the opposite direction. The first guide groove 84 draws a trajectory by linear reciprocation in the left-right direction in FIG.
There to operate, it has a groove length L ₁ of the portion to accommodate vertical and horizontal turning of the keyboard 53 to guide the first turning shaft 81. The first guide groove 84 continuous perpendicular to the portion of the groove length L _1, has a portion of the groove length L ₄ which is extended upward in FIG. 6, in a substantially L shape as a whole Is formed. Second
The guide groove 85 guides the second turning support shaft 82 and is capable of coping with the vertical and horizontal turning of the keyboard 53 and the arc groove length L.
_{It has two} arc grooves. The second guide groove 85 is continuous with the arcuate groove of the arcuate groove length L _2, with a portion of the groove length L ₅ that extends upward in FIG. It said groove portion and the portion of the groove length L ₅ of the length L ₄ are connected at longitudinal edges electrode 72 is moved upward in the Figure 6 a keyboard 53 spring electrode 69
This is for pressing against. The third guide groove 86 is
Third, as the turning shaft 83 is operated to draw a trajectory by reciprocating in the vertical direction in FIG. 6, it has a groove length L ₃ to accommodate vertical and horizontal turning of the keyboard 53 guides the third turning shaft 83.

The keyboard 53 operates as follows by the turning support mechanism configured as described above. First, FIG.
It is assumed that the state shown in FIG. In this state, the keyboard 53 is vertically arranged, but the edge electrode 72
The vertical connection spring electrode 69 shown in FIG. Next, the keyboard 53 is moved from the state shown in FIG. 6A to the state shown in FIG.
Is pressed against the connection spring electrode 69 in the portrait orientation. That is, the first
The turning shaft 81 in the portion of the groove length L _4, a second turning shaft 8
2 in part of the groove length L _5, in the third turn shaft 83 within the third guide groove 86, sliding to the end of each groove in the upward direction in FIG. This allows the keyboard 53 to move in the upward direction in FIG. 6 in the vertical position, and the edge electrode 72 to be pressed against and electrically connected to the connection spring electrode 69 in the vertical position to operate the keyboard 53 in the vertical position. become able to.

Next, the operation of turning the keyboard 53 from the portrait orientation to the landscape orientation will be described. The above operation is reversed to move the keyboard 53 from the state shown in FIG. 6 (c) to the state shown in FIG. 6 (a) to separate the edge electrode 72 from the vertically connected spring electrode 69 shown in FIG. . Following this operation, the keyboard 53 is turned. That is, the first
The turning shaft 81 in the portion of the groove length L _1, the second turning shaft 8
2 is slid in the groove length L ₂ , and the third turning support shaft 83 is slid in the third guide groove 86. FIG. 6 (b)
It is a figure which shows the state in the middle of turning about 45 degrees with respect to the vertical posture. At this time, the first turning support shaft 81 has a groove length L
_At substantially the center of the portion ₁ , the second turning support shaft 82 has an arc groove length L ₂
The third turning support shaft 83 is located at the rear end (upward end in FIG. 6) of the third guide groove 86 at substantially the center of the circular arc groove portion. Then, turn the keyboard 53 90 degrees to the portrait position.
Degree, that is, to the horizontal posture. At this time,
As shown in FIG. 6D, the first turning support shaft 81 has a groove length L _1.
Portion of the left end (the left end as viewed from the right end keyboard side in FIG. 6), the second turning shaft 82 of the arc groove of the arcuate groove length L ₂ front (downward end in Fig. 6) And the third
The turning support shaft 83 is located at the front end (the downward end in FIG. 6) of the third guide groove 86. As shown in FIG. 6D, the keyboard 53 rotates 90 degrees with respect to the portrait orientation,
It is arranged near the front end of the support member 52.

In addition to the above configuration, the keyboard 53 is held in the horizontal posture shown in FIG.
Locking means for locking the position in the vertical position shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, as a positioning structure at both the lock positions, a locking projection 87 projecting toward the back surface of the keyboard on the support member 52 as shown in FIG. A stop recess 88 and a locking recess 89 are provided. FIG. 6 (c)
The locking projection 87 is fitted into the locking recess 88 in the vertical position shown in FIG. FIG.
In the horizontal position shown in FIG.
9 and locks the positioning of the keyboard 53. The locking projection 87 is appropriately tapered so as to be detachable from the locking recesses 88 and 89. For example, the locking projection 8
The tip of 7 is formed on a cone or truncated cone. Further, the locking projection 87 may be movable up and down by, for example, elastically mounting a spring for supporting the locking projection 87 in the support member 52.

(Display Form of Characters and the Like on Keyboard) Next, a display form of characters or symbols (hereinafter, referred to as "characters and the like") on the keyboard will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, four display modes are shown.

As described above, a large number of keypads 54, 54,... Are arranged in a QWERTY arrangement on the surface of the keyboard 53. However, in this embodiment, the keyboard is actually used in the QWERTY arrangement when the keyboard 53 is in the landscape orientation. In the portrait orientation, an array for portrait orientation is used. An example of the vertical key arrangement is shown in FIG.
It was shown to. The keyboard 53 includes a signal generation circuit corresponding to the QWERTY arrangement and a signal generation circuit corresponding to the vertically long key arrangement. The electrode terminals of the signal generation circuit corresponding to the QWERTY arrangement are spring electrodes 66 aligned on the support member 52, and characters and the like in the QWERTY arrangement are input in a first arrangement state (horizontal posture) in which the keyboard 53 is arranged horizontally. Operable. That is, in the landscape orientation, the QWERTY arrangement is effective. The electrode terminal of the signal generating circuit corresponding to the vertical key arrangement is an edge electrode 72 provided at the edge of the keyboard 53, and the vertical key is arranged in the second arrangement state (vertical posture) in which the keyboard 53 is arranged vertically. The characters in the array can be input. That is, in the landscape orientation, the portrait key arrangement is effective.

(First Display Form) The first display form will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. In the first display mode, characters or symbols are written on a sheet covering the key array area 90 on the keyboard 53 without writing characters or symbols directly on the keyboard 53 (hereinafter, referred to as a “key array display sheet”). ) Is prepared and installed on the keyboard 53 when necessary. The following key layout display sheets 91,
Reference numeral 92 denotes a flexible resin sheet member having a cross-sectional shape along the unevenness due to a large number of keypads 54, 54,... On the key arrangement region 90 when placed on the key arrangement region 90.

When the keyboard 53 is in the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 7A and the QWERTY arrangement is valid, a key arrangement display sheet on which characters and the like in the QWERTY arrangement as shown in FIG. The key 91 is placed on the key array area 90 as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 (a)
When the keyboard 53 is in the vertical position as shown in FIG. 8 and the vertical key arrangement is valid, the key arrangement display sheet 92 in which characters and the like of the vertical key arrangement as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8 (c), it is set on the key array area 90. By doing so, it is possible to display only characters and the like that can be input in each arrangement state.

(Second Display Mode) Next, the second display mode will be described. In the second display mode, characters and the like in a QWERTY arrangement that can be operated in the horizontal orientation are directly written on the keypads 54, 54,. In this method, the key arrangement display sheet 92 on which characters and the like are written is removed in the horizontal orientation, and is placed on the key arrangement area 90 in the vertical orientation. Even with this method, it is possible to display only characters and the like that can be input in each arrangement state.

(Third Display Form) Next, a third display form will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the third display mode is a QW that allows input operation in the landscape orientation.
The characters and the like in the ERTY arrangement are keypads 54, 54,.
The characters and the like of the vertical key arrangement that can be input and operated in the vertical position in the peripheral area of the keypad 54, 54,
... This is the method described above. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, a reference line such as a character in a QWERTY arrangement and a corresponding reference line such as a character in a vertically long key arrangement are orthogonal to each other. It is also effective to display characters or the like that can be input by emitting light, because the characters can be easily distinguished. In other words, as shown in FIG. 9A, when the keyboard 53 is in the landscape orientation and the QWERTY arrangement is valid,
A light emitting device such as an LED provided in the keyboard 53 emits light around the keypads 54, 54,. As shown in FIG. 9B, when the keyboard 53 is in the vertical position and the vertical key arrangement is valid, the keypads 54, 54,... , 54,...

(Fourth Display Form) Next, a fourth display form will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 10A, in the fourth display mode, characters and the like in a QWERTY arrangement that can be operated in a horizontal orientation and characters in a vertically arranged key arrangement and the like that can be operated in a vertically oriented state are displayed. The keypads 54, 54,
... It is a method of writing in different positions above. In addition, it is also possible to display characters and the like that can be input by emitting light,
This is effective because it can be easily distinguished. That is, when the keyboard 53 is in the landscape orientation as shown in FIG. 10B by the light emitting device such as an LED provided in the keypads 54, 54,. When a character or the like (eg, “＠”) emits light, and the keyboard 53 is in the portrait orientation as shown in FIG. 10C and the portrait key arrangement is valid,
A character or the like (for example, “1”) in a vertically long key arrangement is emitted.

In any of the above display modes, of the characters or symbols displayed on the keyboard 53 corresponding to the individual input keys (keypads 54, 54,...),
In the first arrangement state (horizontal posture) in which the keyboard 53 is arranged horizontally, characters and the like in a QWERTY arrangement that can be input are directly facing the liquid crystal display screen 42 in the first arrangement state (horizontal posture). Is displayed to be upright. Therefore, it is possible to display characters and the like that can be input in the landscape orientation in a manner that is easy for the operator to understand. For example, FIG.
In FIG. 9A and FIG. 10B, characters and the like in the QWERTY arrangement (eg, “QWERTYOP #”) stand upright for the operator. Further, in the second arrangement state (vertical posture) in which the keyboard 53 is arranged vertically, characters or symbols that can be input are changed by the operator directly facing the display screen in the second arrangement state (vertical posture). It is displayed to be upright. Therefore, characters and the like that can be input in the vertical position can be displayed to the operator in an easily understandable manner. For example,
8 (c), 9 (b), and 10 (c), characters or the like (for example, “red”) in a vertically long key arrangement are upright for the operator.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a PDA (Personal Digital A
ssistant) 100 is an example in which the present invention is applied. FIG.
And FIG. 12 show an information processing apparatus (P
(DA100) in each state.

As shown in FIG. 11, the PDA 100 has a keyboard 102 connected to the upper end of a vertically long apparatus main body 101 via a connecting portion 105 so that the keyboard 102 can be opened and removed freely. When the PDA 100 is closed, the keyboard 102
The liquid crystal display screen 11 overlaps the front of the apparatus body 101.
Covers 4 and acts as a hardcover. On the lower end surface of the apparatus main body 101, a connector insertion port 106 is provided. A fitting groove 1 is provided on the left and right end surfaces of the lower end of the apparatus main body 101.
07a and 107b are provided. A connector storage chamber 115 is provided on the back surface of the keyboard 102, and is covered by the lid 103. When the connector housing cover 103 is opened, the connector 109 and the cable 108 can be pulled out (FIG. 11B). Also, on the back of the keyboard 102,
Fitting claws 104a and 104b are attached so as to be retractable.

As shown in FIG. 12, a liquid crystal display screen 114 is provided on the front of the apparatus main body 101. A large number of keypads 113, 11 are provided on the surface of the keyboard 102.
.. Are arranged in a QWERTY arrangement. Two connection holes 111a and 11
1b is provided. Keyboard 10 corresponding to this
Two connection hooks 112a and 112b are protruded from the two connection end faces. An unlocking operation piece 110 is slidably provided on the inner surface of the connecting portion 105. A lock mechanism is formed in the connection holes 111a and 111b, and the lock release operation can be performed on the lock release operation piece 110.

In order to transform the PDA 100 from the storage form shown in FIG. 11A to the use form shown in FIG. 12 so that the keyboard 102 can be used, the following process is performed. P
With DA 100 open, keyboard 102 is removed. That is, when the keyboard 102 is opened and the unlocking operation piece 110 appears, the keyboard 102 is pulled up by sliding the unlocking operation piece 110 to unlock the connection by the connection holes 111a and 111b and the connection hooks 112a and 112b. On the other hand, the lid 103 is opened, and the connector 109 and the cable 108 are pulled out. In addition, the fitting claws 104a, 10
Rotate 4b out. After that, the connector 109 is inserted into the connector insertion port 106. Further, the fitting claws 104a, 1
04b is fitted into the fitting grooves 107a and 107b. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, on the front surface of the apparatus main body 101, the keyboard 102 is fixed and operable so that a part of the keyboard 102 is placed in a range below the liquid crystal display screen 114.

In order to transform the PDA 100 from the use form shown in FIG. 12 to the storage form shown in FIG. 11 (a), it is handled as follows. Connect the connector 109 to the connector
Pull out from 6. Also, the fitting claws 104a and 104b are removed from the fitting grooves 107a and 107b. Then, connector 1
09 and the cable 108 are stored in the connector storage chamber 115, and are covered with the cover 103. Also, the fitting claws 104a, 104
b is rotated and stored. On the other hand, connecting hooks 112a, 11
2b is inserted into the connection holes 111a and 111b, and the keyboard 102 is connected to the connecting portion 105 and locked. The keyboard 102 is rotated and closed to obtain the storage form shown in FIG.

The keyboard 102 has fitting claws 104a, 10a
The connector 109 can be used without being fixed to the apparatus main body 101 by the holding means formed by the 4b and the fitting grooves 107a and 107b. In this case, as the length of the cable 108 increases, the
1 and the keyboard 102 can be used apart from each other.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention, the keyboard is rearranged vertically and horizontally in the information processing apparatus, so that the key arrangement area can be made large, and the key arrangement area can be stored with good fit. There is an effect that an information processing device excellent in operability and portability can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an information processing apparatus (PDA) according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
It is a perspective view in the open state of 40). (A) is when the keyboard is portrait, and (b) is when the keyboard is landscape.

FIG. 2 is an information processing apparatus (PDA) according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
It is a perspective view in a closed state (storage state) of 40).

FIG. 3 is an information processing apparatus (PDA) according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
40) Body slide state (keyboard landscape use state)
FIG.

FIG. 4 is an information processing apparatus (PDA) according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 40 is an exploded perspective view of a character input device portion excluding the device body in 40).

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an information processing apparatus (PDA) according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 40 is a plan transparent view seen from the support member 52 side for explaining the operation of the turning support mechanism in 40).

FIG. 7 is an information processing apparatus (PDA) according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 40 is a plan view for explaining one display mode of characters and the like on a keyboard applied to (40) (when the keyboard is horizontally long).

FIG. 8 is an information processing apparatus (PDA) according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 40 is a plan view for describing one display mode of characters and the like on a keyboard applied to (40) (when the keyboard is vertically long).

FIG. 9 is an information processing apparatus (PDA) according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 40 is a plan view for explaining another display form such as characters on a keyboard applied to 40).

FIG. 10 is an information processing apparatus (PD) according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
It is a top view for explaining other display forms, such as a character on a keyboard, applied to A40).

FIG. 11 is an information processing apparatus (PD) according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
A100) is a perspective view in a closed state (housed state).

FIG. 12 is an information processing apparatus (PD) according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
A100) is a perspective view in one use state.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a conventional information processing apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of an information processing apparatus in the related art.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of an information processing apparatus according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

40: PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) 41:
Apparatus main body 42: LCD display screen 43: Simple operation keys 44: Card-type communication modem 51: Connecting section 52: Support member 53: Keyboard 5
4: Keypad 55: Angle holding member 56: Lock member 57a, 57
b: Shaft coupling 58: Connector 59a, 59b: Arm 60: Slide groove 61, 62: Fitting hole 63a, 63b: Fitting pin 64: Shielding member 65a,
65b: Convex part 66: Spring electrode 67: Spring 68: Horizontal connection electrode 69: Vertical connection spring electrode 71: Cable 72: Edge electrode 81: First rotating support shaft 81a: Hole 8
2: Second turning support shaft 83: Third turning support shaft 84: First guide groove 85: Second
Guide groove 86: Third guide groove 87: Locking projection 88, 89: Locking recess 90: Key array area 91, 92: Key array display sheet 100: PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) 10
1: apparatus main body 102: keyboard 103: lid 104a, 104
b: Fitting claw 105: Connecting portion 106: Connector insertion port 107a, 107b: Fitting groove 108: Cable 109: Connector 110: Lock release operation piece 111
a, 111b: connection hole 112a, 112b: connection hook 113: keypad 1
14: LCD display screen 115: Connector storage room

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 1/12 H04M 1/23 N 1/23 G06F 1/00 312U 312G

Claims (15)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body provided with a display screen; a support member connected to one end of the apparatus main body so as to be able to open in a butterfly manner; and a keyboard rotatably supported by the support member. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is formed in a vertically long flat plate shape. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein a connection position between the apparatus main body and the support member is slidable along an extending direction of the support member. Information processing device. 4. An angle holding member that supports the rear surface of the device main body and holds the device main body at a predetermined angle with respect to the support member, wherein the support member extends toward the rear surface of the device main body with the sliding operation. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus is provided so as to be stowable at an end of the information processing apparatus. 5. An electrode terminal on the apparatus main body side and an electrode terminal on the keyboard side are connected and connected with the sliding operation.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus is separated. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a shielding member for shielding the electrode terminal on the device main body side is openably and closably mounted so as to be opened at the time of the connection in conjunction with the sliding operation. 6. The information processing apparatus according to 5. 7. The electrode terminal on the device main body side and the electrode terminal on the keyboard side are connected and disconnected according to the turning operation of the keyboard. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 8. A character or a symbol displayed on the keyboard corresponding to each input key, the character or the symbol being input-operable in a first arrangement state in which the keyboard is horizontally arranged, In the first arrangement state, the characters or symbols that are displayed so as to be upright for the operator facing the display screen and that can be operated in the second arrangement state in which the keyboard is arranged vertically are the characters or symbols, The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information is displayed so as to be upright for an operator who faces the display screen in the second arrangement state. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body and the support member are detachably connected to each other.
The information processing device according to any one of the above. 10. A keyboard having different vertical and horizontal dimensions, a support member for rotatably supporting the keyboard on the back side thereof, a connection mechanism for connecting to an information processing device provided with a display screen, and A character input device, comprising: a butterfly opening mechanism that allows the display screen and the surface of the keyboard to face inside when the connection is made so that the butterfly can be opened freely. 11. A device body provided with a display screen, a keyboard that is butterfly-openably and detachably connected to the device body to cover the display screen, and a keyboard detached from the device body. An information processing apparatus comprising: a holding member for fixing the keyboard to the apparatus main body with a longitudinal direction being set to a lateral direction of the apparatus main body; and a connector for connecting the keyboard to the apparatus main body so as to be able to input signals. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the connector is provided at a distal end of a cable extending from the keyboard. 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the holding member is attached to the back of the keyboard so as to be retractable. 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a fixing position of the keyboard by the holding member is on a front surface of the apparatus main body on which the display screen is installed. . 15. A character input device comprising: a keyboard; and a support member that supports the keyboard so that the keyboard can rotate vertically and horizontally on the back side of the keyboard.