JP3852150B2 - Portable information device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable information device that a user carries to obtain information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, downsizing of portable information devices such as electronic notebooks and portable information terminals has been promoted due to the downsizing of electronic devices. As a portable information device, for example, a portable information terminal has a function that allows a user to input information on a display unit with a pen, or has a function of a simple portable phone. Further, this type of portable information device can also perform so-called electronic mail, communication by a personal computer, management of personal information, and the like.
[0003]
6 and 7 show an example of a conventional portable information device, for example, an electronic notebook. The display unit 2 of the main body 1 of the electronic notebook in FIG. The lid 3 can open and close the display unit 2 by a hinge unit 6 around a shaft 5 attached to the end surface 4 of the main body 1. That is, the end portion of the lid 3 is rotatably connected to the shaft 7 of the hinge portion 6. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the hinge portion 6 is a normal long thin plate in cross section.
FIG. 6 shows a state in which the lid 3 closes the display unit 2, but when the user rotates the lid 3 in the R direction in FIG. 6, the figure is shown via the hinge unit 6 and the shafts 5 and 7. 7, the lid 3 can be stored in the back side 8 of the main body 1.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the open / close structure of the lid 3 of the electronic notebook as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has the following problems.
That is, since the hinge portion 6 is a long and thin member when viewed in cross section, when the lid 3 is opened along the R direction from the closed state of FIG. 6 to the open state of FIG. Since the movement of the end surface 4 changes in an uneven manner, the user moves the lid 3 from the closed state in FIG. 6 to the open state in FIG. 7 or vice versa. 6 is jerky when trying to return to the closed state shown in FIG. 6, and there is a sense of incongruity in operation, and the hinge portion 6 moves unevenly with respect to the end surface 4 of the main body 1. It is difficult to ensure a sense of unity in the opening / closing operation of the hinge portion 6.
Accordingly, the present invention solves the above problems and provides a portable information device that can perform an opening / closing operation with a sense of unity with little unevenness on the body when the lid is opened / closed to cover the display unit of the body. It is an object.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, in a portable information device for a user to obtain information by carrying the present invention, a main body having a display unit for displaying information, a lid covering the display unit of the main body, and a display unit are provided. Connecting means for rotating and moving the lid when in use, and this connecting means has a rotary section having a circular cross section that can rotate around the first fulcrum disposed on the end face on the main body side. and, the projecting portion on the peripheral surface of the rotating portion is provided, the second supporting point is located in the protruding portion, the end portion of the lid is rotatably connected, lid, the display portion of the body This is achieved by a portable information device located on the back surface of the main body that is rotated and moved through the connecting means from the closed state and is located opposite to the display unit .
[0006]
In the present invention, the main body has a display unit for displaying information. The lid can cover the display unit of the main body. The connecting means rotates by moving the lid when the display unit is used. When the lid is rotated and moved by this connecting means, the lid can be opened and closed by rotating the rotating portion around the first fulcrum. From this, the lid can be smoothly opened and closed without causing an unevenness phenomenon when rotating with respect to the main body, using a rotating portion having a circular cross section.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiment described below is a preferred specific example of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these forms.
[0008]
FIG. 1 shows a portable information device of the present invention. The portable information device 10 has a main body 12, a lid 14, and connecting means 16.
The portable information device 10 of FIG. 1 shows a state where the lid 14 closes the display unit 18 on the upper surface of the main body 12. On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows a state in which the lid 14 of the portable information device 10 opens the display unit 18 and is stored on the back surface 20 side of the main body 12.
[0009]
FIG. 3 is a view of the portable information device 10 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the T direction.
The main body 12 of the portable information device 10 includes a display unit 18 on the upper surface 24 side, and a connecting means 16 is provided on the end surface (rear end surface) 22 side of the main body 12. The display unit 18 of the main body 12 is a flat display device, for example, a color liquid crystal display device or a monochrome liquid crystal display device. The display unit 18 displays various icons and other types of displays as shown in FIG. Functions can be selectively displayed.
[0010]
For example, the main body 12 has a function of a simple mobile phone and functions as a portable information terminal that allows a user to input characters and the like with a pen. In addition to the telephone function, the main body 12 has functions such as e-mail, communication by personal computer, and management of personal information. For example, the user can create a handwritten memo on the display unit 18 and send the content of the memo as an e-mail, or can easily make a phone call based on the content of the address book.
In addition, the main body 12 also has a calculation function, a clock function, a calendar function, a dictionary function, and the like.
[0011]
The lid 14 in FIG. 3 is a thin plate that can cover the entire upper surface 24 of the main body 12, and the lid 14 does not damage the display unit 18 when the user carries the portable information device 10. To protect. The connection means 16 is provided in association with the end portion 26 of the lid 14 and the end surface 22 of the main body 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting means 16 is a means for housing the lid 14 on the back surface 20 side of the main body 12 as shown in FIG. .
The connecting means 16 is preferably of a hinge type in the illustrated embodiment, and includes a rotating part 30, a protruding part 32, a first fulcrum shaft 34, and a second fulcrum shaft 36 as shown in FIGS. Have.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotating portion 30 has a circular shape in cross section, and is more preferably a substantially cylindrical member. A first fulcrum shaft 34 passes through the center of the rotating portion 30. The rotating unit 30 is set to be rotatable with respect to the end surface 22 of the main body 12 using the first fulcrum shaft 34 as shown in FIG.
[0013]
The end portion 26 of the lid 14 is rotatably connected to the protruding portion 32 using the second fulcrum shaft 36. The protruding portion 32 is formed to protrude from the peripheral surface 40 of the rotating portion 30 along the radial direction of the rotating portion 30.
The lid 14, the rotating part 30 and the protruding part 32 of the connecting means 16 are made of, for example, plastic, preferably an impact resistant material such as engineering plastic or metal. The first fulcrum shaft 34 and the second fulcrum shaft 36 can be made of metal or plastic.
[0014]
In the recess 50 of the end surface 22 of the main body 12 in FIG. 3, the above-described rotating portion 30 is rotatably supported in a state where the rotating portion 30 is fitted using the first fulcrum shaft 34, as shown in FIGS. The recess 50 corresponds to the peripheral surface 40 of the rotating part 30 and is an arcuate concave surface when viewed in cross section.
[0015]
Next, a usage example of the portable information device 10 described above will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the user carries the portable information device 10 with the lid 14 covering the display unit 18 of the main body 12, that is, with the lid 14 closing the display unit 18. To do. When the user uses the display unit 18 of the portable information device 10, the user holds the front end portion 56 of the lid 14 with his / her finger and lifts it in the R direction in FIG. Accordingly, the lid 14 can be stored on the back surface 20 side opposite to the display unit 18 as shown in FIG. 5 with the first fulcrum shaft 34 and the second fulcrum shaft 36 as the center. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the user performs an operation of directly touching and instructing a necessary icon for the display unit 18 using an input pen P.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the state in which the lid 14 is housed on the back surface 20 side, the lid 14 can be housed in close contact with the back surface 20 of the main body 12 in parallel or with a predetermined distance. For example, it is possible to easily operate the display unit 18 with the information device placed on the desk D, for example.
[0016]
Next, when the user finishes using the portable information device 10, the user holds the main body 12 and the lid 14, and moves the lid 14 along the R1 direction of FIG. The fulcrum shaft 36 is rotated as a center. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, the lid 14 can cover the display unit 18 again at a predetermined interval or in a close contact state.
[0017]
Thus, when the user opens and closes the lid 14, the lid 14 is R around the first fulcrum shaft 34 at the center of the rotating portion 30 and the second fulcrum shaft 36 at the tip of the protruding portion 32, or R 1. Rotate in the direction. At this time, the rotating portion 30 which is concentric with the first fulcrum shaft 34 can perform an opening / closing operation with a sense of unity without any unevenness by rotating the lid 14 in the R direction or R1 direction. The reason for this is that the connecting means 16 having the rotating portion 30 of the present invention is used compared to using a hinge portion that is long and thin in the conventional cross section.
[0018]
By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
In the embodiment described above, an example such as an electronic notebook is adopted as the portable information device. However, the portable information device is not limited to this, and other types of portable information devices, for example, the display unit 18 can display an image of the video camera. Or a function for generating sound obtained by a video camera, a function for accessing the Internet or accessing a personal computer, and performing facsimile transmission / reception.
[0019]
In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 14 is coupled to the main body 12 by coupling means 16, 16. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the lid 14 may be coupled by three or more coupling means or one coupling means. Of course it is possible.
The main body 12 of the illustrated portable information device 10 is a horizontally long type that is long in the X direction in FIG. 3, but is not limited thereto, and may be a vertically long portable information device that is long in the Y direction.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the lid that opens and closes the display unit of the main body is opened and closed, the lid can perform an opening and closing operation with a sense of unity with little unevenness on the main body.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a portable information device of the present invention from an oblique front side.
2 is a diagram showing a state in which a cover of a display unit of the portable information device in FIG. 1 is opened.
3 is a perspective view of the portable information device of FIG. 1 as viewed from the T direction. FIG.
4 is a view showing a state where a cover corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 3 covers a display unit. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the display unit is used with the lid opened.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which a display unit is closed with a lid in a conventional electronic notebook.
7 is a view showing a state in which the display unit is used with the lid opened in the conventional electronic notebook of FIG. 6;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Portable information apparatus, 12 ... Main body, 14 ... Lid, 16 ... Connection means, 18 ... Display part, 20 ... Back surface, 26 ... End part of lid, 30 ... Rotating part, 32 ... Projection part, 34 ... First fulcrum shaft (first fulcrum), 36 ... Second fulcrum shaft (second fulcrum), 50 ... Recessed body

Claims (3)

In a portable information device for a user to carry and obtain information,
A main body having a display for displaying information;
A lid that covers the display of the main body;
Connecting means for rotating and moving the lid when using the display unit;
With
This connecting means is
A rotating section having a circular cross section that can rotate around the first fulcrum disposed on the end face on the main body side, and a protrusion is provided on the peripheral surface of the rotating part, and a second fulcrum located at the protrusion On the other hand, the end of the lid is rotatably connected ,
The portable information device is characterized in that the lid is rotated from the closed state covering the display unit of the main body through the connecting means, and is located on the back surface of the main body located opposite to the display unit. .   2. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein a shaft constituting the first fulcrum passes through the center of the rotating portion of the connecting means, and the rotating portion is cylindrical.   The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein an end surface of the main body corresponding to the rotating portion of the connecting means is an arc-shaped recess when viewed in cross section.

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