JP2017157015A - Input device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve stability of an input operation in an operation input part.SOLUTION: There is provided an input device 20 which is detachably attached to a tablet type PC 10, and has an operation input part 21 by which an input operation to the tablet type PC 10 is performed. A palm rest part 30 adjacent to the operation input part 21 is configured so that, a depth dimension thereof can be varied. The palm rest part 30 comprises preferably: a palm rest base part 31 which is provided to be continuous to the operation input part 21; and a palm rest end part 32 which is coupled to the palm rest base part 31 through a second flexible hinge part 33, and which is rotatably provided to the palm rest base part 31 by the second flexible hinge part 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device and an electronic device, and more specifically, an input device that is detachably attached to a portable information device and includes an operation input unit that performs an input operation on the portable information device, and the input device. It is related with the provided electronic device.

  In recent years, tablet personal computers (hereinafter also referred to as tablet PCs) that have a touch panel type liquid crystal display and do not have a physical keyboard are rapidly spreading. The tablet PC has the characteristics that it is easy to carry and the input operation can be performed by the touch panel, so that the operation is ready.

  However, since the tablet PC does not have a physical keyboard, there is a case where a long sentence input operation is hindered.

  Therefore, a keyboard device that is detachably provided on the tablet PC and functions as a stand for the tablet PC is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Special table 2015-518190 gazette

  By the way, in the said keyboard apparatus, it is common that not only the keyboard which performs operation input but the palm rest part which mounts the palm of the hand which operates this keyboard is provided. Therefore, the keyboard device requires a certain depth dimension.

  As described above, since the keyboard device is required to have a certain depth, when a keyboard device is installed on an installation table in which the size of the front and rear dimensions corresponding to the depth is limited, a part of the keyboard device is There was a risk of jumping out of the installation stand and becoming unstable. If the installation of the keyboard device becomes unstable in this way, the input operation will be hindered as a result, which is not preferable. In particular, when the keyboard device is placed on the knee of a user in a sitting position, the keyboard is positioned on the front side by the palm rest portion, and there is a possibility that the stability of the input operation is impaired.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an input device and an electronic apparatus that can improve the stability of an input operation in an operation input unit.

  In order to achieve the above object, an input device according to the present invention is an input device that is detachably attached to a portable information device and includes an operation input unit that performs an input operation on the portable information device, The palm rest part adjacent to the operation input part is configured in such a manner that the depth dimension is variable.

  Moreover, the present invention provides the input device, wherein the palm rest portion is connected to the palm rest base provided in a manner continuous with the operation input portion, and the palm rest base via a flexible hinge portion, and the flexible hinge portion And a palm rest end provided rotatably with respect to the palm rest base.

  Further, in the input device according to the present invention, the palm rest end portion rotates between an advancing posture in which a surface forms the same plane as the surface of the palm rest base and a storage posture in which a back surface contacts the back surface of the palm rest base. It is possible to be provided.

  Moreover, the present invention is characterized in that, in the input device, when the palm rest end portion is in the storage posture, the back surface is attracted to the back surface of the palm rest base portion by a magnetic force.

  According to the present invention, in the above input device, the operation input unit is a keyboard configured by arranging a plurality of keys.

  An electronic device according to the present invention includes the portable information device and any one of the input devices described above.

  According to the present invention, in the electronic device, the portable information device is a tablet personal computer including a touch-operable display.

  Further, in the electronic device according to the aspect of the invention, when the palm rest portion is in a state where the input device covers a surface of the portable information device, and the palm rest end portion is in the storage posture, the portable information device A part of the display is exposed.

  According to the present invention, the palm rest part adjacent to the operation input part is configured in such a manner that the depth dimension can be changed, so that the depth dimension of the palm rest part can be adjusted according to the installation space and the installation form. As a result, the depth dimension of the palm rest portion can be adjusted based on the ease of performing an input operation on the operation input portion. Therefore, there is an effect that the stability of the input operation on the operation input unit can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an electronic apparatus including an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 schematically shows an electronic apparatus having an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2B is a side view showing a case where the palm rest end portion is in the stowed posture. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an application example of the input device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where the input device shown in FIG. 1 or 2 covers the surface of the tablet personal computer in a state where the end of the palm rest is in the storage posture.

  Exemplary embodiments of an input device and an electronic device according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2 each show an electronic device provided with an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing.

  The electronic apparatus 1 exemplified here includes a tablet personal computer (hereinafter also referred to as a tablet PC) 10 and an input device 20.

  The tablet PC 10 is a portable information device that includes a display 11 including a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit on the surface. The tablet PC 10 has a configuration in which a substrate, an arithmetic device, a memory, a battery, and the like are housed. In the present embodiment, the tablet PC 10 will be described as an example of a portable information device. However, in the present invention, not only the tablet PC 10 but also a smartphone or the like may be used.

  The tablet PC 10 includes a stand unit 12 on the back surface serving as the back surface. The stand portion 12 is a rectangular plate that can rotate around the central axis of a shaft portion (not shown) extending along the X direction in the central region of the back surface.

  The input device 20 includes an operation input unit 21, a mounting unit 22, and a palm rest unit 30, and serves as an input unit for the tablet PC 10. The input device 20 is large enough to cover the surface of the tablet PC 10, and the width dimension (dimension in the X direction) and the depth dimension (dimension in the Y direction) are substantially the same as the dimensions of the tablet PC 10. Match.

  The operation input unit 21 is a keyboard configured by arranging a plurality of keys 21a on the surface. The operation input unit 21 is a part for performing an input operation on the tablet PC 10.

  The mounting portion 22 is a rod-like member that is formed in a width dimension slightly smaller than the width dimension of the operation input section 21 and extends in the X direction. Although not clearly shown in the drawing, the mounting portion 22 is provided with a connection terminal portion that is electrically connected to a terminal of the tablet PC 10 and can be mounted on one side of the tablet PC 10. A magnet is provided.

  Such a mounting portion 22 is connected to one end portion of the operation input portion 21 via the first flexible hinge portion 23. The first flexible hinge portion 23 is formed of a sheet-like member having flexibility such as thin resin or leather, and can be bent at least along the Y direction.

  The palm rest part 30 includes a palm rest base part 31 and a palm rest end part 32. The palm rest base 31 is provided in a manner that is continuous with the operation input unit 21, and a touch pad 31 a is provided at the center of the surface. A base side magnet 31b is built in the back side of the palm rest base 31.

  The palm rest end portion 32 is connected to the palm rest base portion 31 via the second flexible hinge portion 33. The second flexible hinge portion 33 is formed of a sheet-like member having flexibility such as thin resin or leather, and can be bent at least along the Y direction. An end side magnet 32a having a magnetic pole different from that of the base side magnet 31b is built in the palm rest base 31 on the back side.

  Such a palm rest end portion 32 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the palm rest base portion 31 by the second flexible hinge portion 33. More specifically, as shown in FIG. The advancing posture that forms the same plane as the surface of the palm rest base 31 and the back surface of the palm rest base 31 between the end side magnet 32a and the base side magnet 31b as shown in FIG. It is provided so as to be able to rotate between a storage posture adsorbed by an acting magnetic force.

  Thus, in the input device 20, the depth dimension L1 of the palm rest portion 30 when the palm rest end portion 32 is in the advanced posture and the depth dimension L2 of the palm rest portion 30 when the palm rest end portion 32 is in the retracted posture. Different. That is, the palm rest part 30 is configured in such a manner that the depth dimension thereof can be changed by the rotation of the palm rest end part 32.

  And in the said input device 20, since it is comprised in the aspect from which the depth dimension of the palm rest part 30 is variable, as shown in FIG. 3, the input device 20 is put on the knee of the user H of the sitting posture. When placing, the operation input part 21 can be arrange | positioned in the near side of the user H by making the palm rest end part 32 into a stowed posture, and the stability of the input operation with respect to the operation input part 21 is improved. Is possible.

  Further, in the electronic device 1, when the input device 20 covers the surface of the tablet PC 10, when the palm rest end 32 is in the storage position, as shown in FIG. 4, a part of the display 11 of the tablet PC 10 is The time and date displayed on the display 11 are visible.

  As described above, according to the input device 20 according to the present embodiment, since the depth dimension of the palm rest part 30 is configured to be variable, the palm rest part 30 can be configured according to the installation space and the installation form. The depth dimension can be adjusted, and as a result, the depth dimension of the palm rest part 30 can be adjusted based on the ease of input operation with respect to the operation input part 21. Therefore, the stability of the input operation on the operation input unit 21 can be improved.

  According to the input device 20, when the palm rest end portion 32 is in the storage posture, the back surface is attracted by the magnetic force to the back surface of the palm rest base portion 31, so that the palm rest end portion 32 can be favorably maintained in the storage posture state. .

  Further, according to the electronic device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the input device 20 covers the surface of the tablet PC 10, when the palm rest end 32 is in the storage posture, a part of the display 11 of the tablet PC 10 Therefore, the time and date displayed on the display 11 can be visually recognized by the user H, and the convenience can be improved.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

  In the above-described embodiment, the operation input unit 21 is a keyboard having a plurality of keys 21a arranged on the surface. However, in the present invention, the operation input unit is a display including a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit. Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the palm rest end portion 32 is configured to be variable between the advancement posture and the storage posture so that the depth dimension of the palm rest portion 30 is variable. It may be configured such that the depth dimension of the palm rest portion can be changed by sliding a part of the constituent elements along the depth direction.

  In the embodiment described above, the base side magnet 31b and the end side magnet 32a are provided. However, in the present invention, the magnet is built in either the palm rest base or the palm rest end, and the other back surface is provided. You may be comprised with the magnetic body. Moreover, in this invention, it is not necessary to hold | maintain a palm rest end part in a stowed attitude | position by magnetic force, For example, you may hold | maintain a palm rest end part in a stowing attitude | position using a magic tape (trademark) etc.

1 Electronic device 10 Tablet PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Display 12 Stand part 20 Input device 21 Operation input part 21a Key 22 Mounting part 23 1st flexible hinge part 30 Palm rest part 31 Palm rest base 31a Touch pad 31b Base side magnet 32 Palm rest edge part 32a End side magnet 33 2nd flexible hinge Part

Claims (8)

An input device that is detachably mounted on a portable information device and includes an operation input unit that performs an input operation on the portable information device,
The palm rest part adjacent to the said operation input part was comprised in the aspect from which a depth dimension can be varied, The input device characterized by the above-mentioned. The palm rest part is
A palm rest base provided in a manner continuous with the operation input unit;
2. The input according to claim 1, further comprising: a palm rest end connected to the palm rest base via a flexible hinge portion and pivotable with respect to the palm rest base by the flexible hinge portion. apparatus.   The palm rest end portion is provided so as to be rotatable between an advancing posture in which the surface forms the same plane as the surface of the palm rest base and a storage posture in which the back surface is in contact with the back surface of the palm rest base. The input device according to claim 2.   The input device according to claim 3, wherein when the palm rest end portion is in the storage posture, the back surface is attracted to the back surface of the palm rest base portion by a magnetic force.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the operation input unit is a keyboard configured by arranging a plurality of keys.   An electronic apparatus comprising the portable information device and the input device according to claim 1.   The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the portable information device is a tablet personal computer including a display capable of touch operation.   The palm rest portion exposes a part of the display of the portable information device when the input device covers the surface of the portable information device and the palm rest end portion is in the storage posture. The electronic device according to claim 7.

Images