JPH11219232A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To connect plural base materials by means of a hinge device so as to be rotatable in a wide range and to improve assembling workability by putting a flexible printed circuit(FPC) through the through-holes of hinge device constituting members in a flat and straight state so as to execute electric connection. SOLUTION: An electric equipment is constituted by connecting a liquid crystal display device part 2 by the hinge device 23 which is disposed in the rear end part of a main body part 1 so as to be rotatable by viewing from an appearance. The main body part 1 is provided with a control substrate device and an input device 3 and the liquid crystal display device part 2 is provided with a liquid crystal display device having a display function and an input function by a pen. Then, configuration is obtained by executing electric connection between the main body part 1 and the liquid crystal display device part 2 by FPC 7 which is put through the through-holes in a straight state, which are formed in the hinge base body 4 and the hinge decorative member 6 of the hinge device 23. The respective through-holes for putting FPC 7 through can be arranged not only in a center part but also in a position which is deviated in a left or right direction owing to the specification of the equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a portable information processing device or an audio device, and more particularly to an electronic device comprising a plurality of device parts rotatably connected by a hinge device. The present invention relates to an electrical connection mechanism between electrical devices incorporated in a device part of the present invention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A small portable (notebook) information processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-19896 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, a hinge device 23 allows the liquid crystal display unit 2 incorporating the liquid crystal display device 20 and the main unit 1 incorporating the input device 3 and the control board device 18 to open and close within a predetermined angle range. It is rotatably connected. A flexible print circuit (FPC) 7 for electrically connecting the liquid crystal display unit 2 and the main unit 1 is housed in the hinge device 23 in a state where the flexible print circuit 7 is wound several times in a spiral shape and formed. 23 is configured to satisfy the flexibility when pivoting within a predetermined angle range.

[0003]

However, until the liquid crystal display unit 20 and the main unit 1 are back-to-back, approximately 36
In an information processing device that is connected by a hinge device 23 so as to be rotatable in a range of 0 degrees, the hinge device 23 that accommodates the FPC 7 that is formed in a spring-like shape in order to secure necessary bending properties has a large diameter. Structure. However, such a structure having a large diameter has a disadvantage that the outer shape of the information processing apparatus becomes large and portability, storage (storage), and the like are reduced.

Also, a jig for forming the FPC 7 into a spring is required, and there is a drawback that the workability of forming is very poor. In particular, assembly in maintenance work and repair work becomes troublesome, and there is a problem in workability.

[0005] Such a drawback is not limited to the information processing apparatus, but also to other electronic devices such as audio equipment and video equipment in which a plurality of equipment parts are rotatably connected by a hinge device and electrically connected by an FPC. It also exists in equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such problems in the prior art, and has as its object to connect a plurality of equipment parts so as to be rotatable over a wide range by a hinge device and electrically by an FPC. An object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device and an electrical connection mechanism with good assembling workability in an electronic device having a configuration for connection.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic device which is smaller and more excellent in portability and storage.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a plurality of electric devices, which are dispersed and arranged in two machine parts rotatably connected by a hinge device, In an electronic device in which electrical devices in both parts are electrically connected by a flexible print circuit, the flexible print circuit can be penetrated in a flat state through a component of the hinge device. And a flexible printed circuit is passed through the through-hole in a flat straight state to realize electrical connection.

In the hinge device, the flexible print circuit between one of the equipment parts and the other equipment part is penetrated so that the flexible print circuit is formed.
A member is provided for forming a through hole for reducing bending of the circuit.

[0010] The member forming the through hole is a hinge base for rotatably connecting the one equipment part and the other equipment part.

[0011] The hinge base is rotatably provided with a hinge decoration member having a through hole positioned between the hinge base and the equipment section and having a through-hole for penetrating the flexible printed circuit.

Further, the present invention can be applied to an electronic apparatus in which a liquid crystal display device is built in one of the two devices and an input device and a control board device are built in the other.

Further, the hinge device may be configured such that the one device portion is rotatably connected to the other device portion within a range of 360 degrees.

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 7 show a portable information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in which a main body and a liquid crystal display are mechanically rotatably connected by a hinge device and electrically connected by an FPC. Device.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the liquid crystal display unit is slightly rotated in the direction of arrow A so as to open and close the liquid crystal display unit with respect to the main unit during use or storage (portable or storage).
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the liquid crystal display unit is further rotated as indicated by an arrow a and the liquid crystal display unit is rotated 360 degrees to the back of the main unit. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the main unit and the liquid crystal display device. Exploded perspective view of a hinge device and an FPC for rotatably coupling the parts,
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a hinge device portion of the portable information processing device in which the liquid crystal display device portion is rotated so as to be overlaid on the surface of the main body portion, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of a hinge device portion of a portable information processing device in which the liquid crystal display device portion is rotated from the main body portion to an open state as shown by an arrow c so that an input device of the portion can be operated; 6 is a vertical sectional side view of a hinge device portion of the portable information processing device in a state in which the liquid crystal display device portion is being rotated as shown by an arrow d so as to open so as to overlap the rear surface of the main body portion, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of a hinge device portion of the portable information processing device in which the display device portion is rotated so as to be opened so as to overlap the back surface of the main body portion.

In these figures, the portable information processing apparatus has an external appearance in which a liquid crystal display unit 2 is rotatably connected to a hinge unit 23 provided at a rear end of the main unit 1. . The main body 1 includes a control board device 18 and an input device 3, and the liquid crystal display device 2 includes a liquid crystal display device 20 having a display function and a pen input function. As shown in each figure, between the main body 1 and the liquid crystal display 2, the FPC 7, which is passed straight through the through holes 10 and 12 provided in the hinge base 4 and the hinge decoration member 6 of the hinge device 23. The electrical connection is made by the following.

The wiring method of the hinge device 23 for mechanically connecting the main body 1 and the liquid crystal display unit 2 and the wiring method of the FPC 7 for electrical connection will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hinge device 23 has a hinge rotation bearing 5 projecting from the rear end face of the main body 1 at the left and right positions and substantially at the center in the vertical direction. A hinge engaging groove 9 is provided inside the hinge rotation bearing 5.
To form The rotation hinge base 4 is connected to the hinge engagement groove 9 in an elastically fitted state.

On the side of the liquid crystal display unit 2, the other end of the rotating hinge base 4 is elastically fitted and connected by the same structure, and the liquid crystal display unit 2 is hinged to the rear end of the main body 1. The device 23 is connected so that it can be stopped at any angle within a range of 360 degrees by the rotational friction resistance (sliding resistance) of the device 23.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7, an FP for electrically connecting the main unit 1 and the liquid crystal display unit 2 to the electric devices will be described.
The C7 wiring method will be described. After connecting one end of the FPC 7 to the FPC connector 21 of the liquid crystal display device 20 built in the liquid crystal display unit 2, the other end is provided with a through-hole provided on the rear end surface of the liquid crystal display unit 2 in a shape maintaining a flat straight state. After passing through the hole 16, passing through the through hole 10 provided in the hinge decoration member 6, passing through the through hole 12 provided in the rotating hinge base 4, and further providing the same shape on the opposite side across the rotating hinge base 4. Through the through hole 10 of the hinge decorative member 6. After that, the main body 1 is drawn into the inside of the main body 1 through a through hole 17 provided on the rear end face thereof, and is connected to the FPC connector 19 provided on the control board device 18.

Here, the respective through holes through which the FPC 7 penetrates are arranged at the center for convenience of illustration, but can be arranged at a position deviated in either the left or right direction depending on the specifications of the equipment. In addition, the order in which the FPC 7 is wired or disassembled is, of course, the FPC 7 can also be performed from the main body 1 side in the reverse procedure.

FIG. 3 shows a connecting portion for assembling and disassembling the individual members. That is, a hinge engagement groove 9 is formed in an inner portion of the hinge rotation bearing portion 5 protruding from the left and right portions of the rear end surface of the main body 1, and the hinge engagement groove 9 is formed on the left and right ends of the rotation hinge base 4. The entrance is made slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the projection 13 so that the cylindrical projection 13 provided at each one of the lower portions can be attached and detached with one touch, and the projection 13 is relatively large after insertion. An elastic fitting groove having an appropriate inner diameter and depth that is rotatable so as to slide with frictional force and does not easily come off, and the protrusion 13 is fitted to the hinge engaging groove 9 in the direction of the arrow. It is configured so that it can be easily connected by inserting it.

The connecting portion between the projection 13 and the hinge engaging groove 9 and the connecting portion between the projection 14 and the hinge engaging groove 15 make the liquid crystal display unit 2 relative to the main body 1 in a range of 90 ° to 180 °. When the hinge device 23 is opened and used (see FIG. 5),
In order to be able to stop the opening / closing rotation operation appropriately,
An interference fit state is realized.

Further, a hinge engaging groove 15 provided at one position on each of the left and right sides of the rear end surface of the liquid crystal display unit 2 and a hinge base 4 for rotation are provided.
The combination of the protrusions 14 provided at each one position on the upper left and right ends and the upper and lower
The combination of the hinge decorative member engaging groove 8 provided at four places (total of four places) and the protrusion 11 provided at each of the right and left ends of the hinge decorative member 6 is the same as that of the protrusion 13 and the hinge engaging groove 9. And fit together. However, the fitting state of each connecting portion is set so that the frictional force of the fitting surface is relatively small so that the hinge decoration member 6 smoothly follows the bending of the FPC 7 and smoothly rotates.

Next, the hinge device 23 and the FPC 7 when the liquid crystal display unit 2 is rotated and opened / closed with respect to the main unit 1 are opened.
Will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 4, the information processing apparatus is stored (ported or stored) in a state where the liquid crystal display unit 2 is rotated so as to overlap the surface of the main unit 1. In such a housed state, the FPC 7 led out of the through hole 16 of the liquid crystal display unit 2 passes through the through hole 10 of the upper hinge decoration member 6 and the through hole 10 of the lower hinge decoration member 6 to form the main body 1. In the portion passing through the through hole 17, the hinge decoration members 6 are appropriately rotated in accordance with the movement of the FPC 7 to relieve the stress at the bent portion of the FPC 7. In addition, the hinge decoration member 6 functions as a cover for preventing the FPC 7 from being seen from the outside as much as possible at the corners from a design point of view.

In order to bring the information processing apparatus into a use state, as shown in FIG. 5, in a rotating state in which the liquid crystal display unit 2 is opened so as to stand behind the main body 1 (in the direction of arrow C), This posture is maintained by the frictional resistance of the fitting connection portion of the hinge device 23. Then, the FPC 7 penetrating through each member of the hinge device 23 extends in a relatively straight state.

Further, the information processing apparatus in the state in which the liquid crystal display unit 2 is being rotated by 360 degrees in the direction of arrow d so as to be opened so as to overlap the back surface of the main body 1 includes the rotating hinge base 4 and the rotating hinge base 4. The rotation of the hinge decoration member 6 provided at the upper and lower two places follows the rotation so that the bending portion of the FPC 7 does not become unreasonable.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when the liquid crystal display unit 2 is rotated so as to be completely back-to-back with the back of the main unit 1, the information processing device is turned over and the liquid crystal display device 20 is turned over. With the display surface facing upward, an input operation with the pen can be performed on the display surface. In this state, the FPC 7 bends in the direction opposite to the stored state,
Both hinge decoration members 6 are appropriately rotated in accordance with the movement of the FPC 7 to relieve the stress at the bent portion of the FPC 7 and, from a design point of view, the F
The PC 7 functions as a cover that makes the PC 7 as invisible as possible.

FIG. 8 shows a portable information processing apparatus according to another embodiment in which the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment is obtained only by using the hinge body 22 for rotation. In this embodiment,
By providing an appropriate length margin (slack) in the vicinity of the bent portion (upper and lower corners) of the FPC 7, the rotation hinge base 22 can be relieved of stress at the time of bending.
As a result, the liquid crystal display unit 2 is shifted 360
It is configured to be rotatable in the range of degrees.

In this embodiment, a hinge device 23 for opening and closing the liquid crystal display unit 2 is provided at the rear end of the portable information processing device, and the FPC 7 is placed in the hinge device 23 in a plane in consideration of flexibility. And the liquid crystal display unit 2 is rotatable within a range of 360 degrees with respect to the main unit 1 by the hinge device 23. Portable information processing apparatus having excellent storage and storage properties).

The above-described embodiment is an example of a portable information processing apparatus. However, audio equipment in which a plurality of equipment parts are rotatably connected by a hinge device and electrically connected by an FPC, Obviously, the present invention can be similarly applied to other electronic devices such as a video device.

[0034]

According to the present invention, a plurality of electric devices are provided, which are rotatably connected by a hinge device.
In an electronic device which is dispersedly arranged in one device part and electrically connects electrical devices in both device parts by a flexible print circuit, the flexible print circuit is flattened on a constituent member of the hinge device. A through hole that can be penetrated in a simple state is provided, and the flexible printed circuit is passed through the through hole in a flat straight state to realize electrical connection. Thus, a hinge device and an electrical connection mechanism with good assembling operability in an electronic device configured to be rotatably coupled in a wide range and electrically connected by an FPC can be provided. An electronic device having excellent storability can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention when the portable information processing apparatus is slightly rotated so as to open and close a liquid crystal display unit with respect to a main body during use or storage (portable or storage). FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the liquid crystal display unit of the portable information processing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is further rotated and the liquid crystal display unit is rotated 360 degrees to the back surface of the main unit. is there.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge device and an FPC for rotatably connecting a main body portion and a liquid crystal display device portion of the portable information processing device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of the hinge device in a state where the liquid crystal display device of the portable information processing device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is turned to a closed state so as to overlap the surface of the main body; .

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portable information processing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, in which the liquid crystal display device is opened from the main body so that the input device of the main body can be operated while observing the liquid crystal display device. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side view of the hinge device in a state where the hinge device is rotated to a folded state.

6 is a vertical sectional side view of the hinge device in a state in which the liquid crystal display device of the portable information processing device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is being rotated to open so as to overlap with the back surface of the main body. .

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional side view of the hinge device in a state where the liquid crystal display device of the portable information processing device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is rotated so as to be overlaid on the back surface of the main body. .

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portable information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a conventional portable information processing device.

10 is a perspective view of a main part of the conventional portable information processing device shown in FIG.

11 is a front view of an FPC in the conventional portable information processing device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body part 2 Liquid crystal display part 3 Input device 4 Hinge base for rotation 5 Hinge rotation bearing part 6 Hinge decoration member 7 Flexible print circuit (FPC) 8 Hinge decoration member engaging groove 9, 15 Hinge engaging groove 10, 12, 17 through hole 11, 13, 14 projection 18 control board device 19, 21 FPC connector 20 liquid crystal display device 23 hinge device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Aizawa 1-1-1, Higashitagacho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Pref.

Claims (6)

[Claims] A plurality of electric devices which are rotatably connected to each other by a hinge device;
An electronic device electrically connected by a print circuit, wherein a through-hole that allows the flexible print circuit to pass through in a flat state is provided in a component of the hinge device, and the flexible print circuit is provided. An electronic device wherein a circuit is passed through the through hole in a flat straight state to realize electrical connection. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge device includes a member that penetrates the flexible printed circuit between one of the equipment parts and the other to form a through hole that reduces bending of the flexible printed circuit. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the member forming the through hole is a hinge base that rotatably couples the one device portion and the other device portion. 4. The flexible printed circuit according to claim 1, wherein said flexible base is located between said hinge base and said equipment section.
4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein a hinge decoration member having a through-hole for penetrating the circuit is rotatably provided. 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a liquid crystal display device is built in one of the two devices, and an input device and a control board device are built in the other device. 6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge device is configured such that the one device portion is rotatably coupled to the other device portion within a range of 360 degrees.