CN211429357U

CN211429357U - Electronic equipment housing

Info

Publication number: CN211429357U
Application number: CN201922011239.XU
Authority: CN
Inventors: 牛肠克己
Original assignee: Toshiba TEC Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba TEC Corp
Priority date: 2019-01-10
Filing date: 2019-11-20
Publication date: 2020-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-20
Also published as: JP2020110305A; JP7120933B2

Abstract

The utility model provides an improve the electronic equipment storage housing who is used for ordering the operability when registering the business with general electronic equipment. The electronic device housing case includes a main body portion and a lid portion, the main body portion including: a holding portion as a member for holding at least both side portions of the electronic apparatus so that the electronic apparatus is detachable in both directions of turning the display screen to the front and back; and a bottom section which is a member coupled to the cover section, covers a surface of the electronic device held by the holding section on the opposite side of the display screen, and allows the holding section to be detachable in two directions in which the display screen and the cover section are flipped about the lateral arrangement direction of the display screen and the cover section, and the electronic device storage case further includes an operation section which is located on a side of the holding section away from the cover section and is close to an upper portion of the display screen, and which receives an operation on the electronic device. Through the utility model discloses, can improve the operability when being used for ordering the registration service with general electronic equipment.

Description

Electronic equipment housing

Technical Field

The utility model discloses an embodiment relates to an electronic equipment accomodates casing.

Background

In restaurants and other restaurants, a dedicated terminal is used for inputting information related to an order. The terminal is a portable terminal, and is called a handheld terminal or the like. The handheld terminal is configured by, for example, a main body section having a display section and a lid section provided openably and closably on the main body section via a hinge, and various operation keys related to order registration services are exposed by opening the lid section. Further, there is also a hand-held terminal provided with an operation key related to subscription registration service on a side surface of the main body portion.

The above-mentioned hand-held terminals are usually designed for right-handed operation. Specifically, the handy terminal is designed to open the cover portion in the right direction in a state where the main body portion is held by the left hand. Further, operation keys on the side surface of the main body portion are provided at positions operable with the thumb of the left hand.

Therefore, in order to cope with a left-handed operator, a handy terminal has been proposed in the related art which can be used in a state where a lid section is opened to the left side of a main body section. In this hand-held terminal, a study has been made to provide an operation key at the center in the longitudinal direction of the side surface, etc., so that the operation key of the side surface of the main body portion can be operated regardless of the dominant hand of the operator.

However, in the configuration in which the operation key is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction, when the thumb is aligned with the position at which the operation key is provided, the main body portion is held at a portion that is not more than half of the main body portion in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the operator operates the handheld terminal in an unstable state, and thus operability may be degraded.

On the other hand, in recent years, a general-purpose portable electronic device such as a smartphone, into which a program for ordering a registration service is introduced, is sometimes used as a handheld terminal. In this case, the reception of the operation is performed only by the touch panel, and the display section is smaller than the hand-held terminal in the related art, so that the number of keys displayable at one time is limited. Therefore, the menu display becomes multilayered, switching of screens becomes frequent, operations become complicated, and the time required to receive the client tends to be longer, compared to the related art.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The to-be-solved technical problem of the present invention is to provide an electronic device storage case, which can improve operability when using a general electronic device for ordering a registration service.

The electronic equipment housing case of the embodiment comprises: a main body portion formed in a box shape and detachably holding an electronic device in a state in which a display screen of the electronic device is exposed, and a lid portion coupled to the main body portion so as to be movable between a position covering the display screen and a position aligned in a lateral direction of the display screen, wherein the main body portion includes: a holding portion as a member for holding at least both side portions of the electronic apparatus so that the electronic apparatus is detachable in both directions of turning the display screen to the front and back; and a bottom section that is a member coupled to the cover section, covers a surface of the electronic device held by the holding section on the opposite side of the display screen, and is configured such that the holding section is detachable in two directions that are reversed with respect to the direction of the lateral arrangement of the display screen and the cover section as an axis, and the electronic device storage case further includes an operation section that is located on a side of the holding section that is away from the cover section and is close to an upper portion of the display screen, and that receives an operation on the electronic device.

Through the utility model discloses, can improve the operability when being used for ordering the registration service with general electronic equipment.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a handheld terminal according to an embodiment;

fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a housing according to the embodiment;

fig. 3 is a perspective view of the electronic device and the auxiliary operating unit mounted on the holding unit;

fig. 4 is a perspective view of the electronic device and the auxiliary operating unit mounted on the holding unit;

fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the hand-held terminal in a state where the cover is closed from the state shown in fig. 1;

fig. 6 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the handy terminal shown in fig. 1 with the cover portion opened, as viewed from the back side;

fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the hand-held terminal in a state where the battery pack is removed;

fig. 8 is a view showing a method of attaching the auxiliary operating unit to the holding unit; fig. 8(a) is a view showing a state where the auxiliary operating portion is removed from the holding portion; fig. 8(b) is a diagram showing a state where the auxiliary operating portion is rotated about the rotation axis by half a turn; fig. 8(c) is a view showing a state in which the auxiliary operating portion is connected to the holding portion;

fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a state when the housing is reconfigured for left-hand operation;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the hand held terminal with the housing reconfigured for left hand operation;

fig. 11 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the handy terminal in a state where the cover section is closed;

fig. 12 is a perspective view of the handheld terminal in a state where the cover is open as viewed from the back side of the display screen.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an electronic device housing case according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, an example in which the electronic equipment storage case is used for an order registration business in a restaurant is described, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a handheld terminal 100. The handheld terminal 100 is configured by combining the housing 10 and the electronic device 20 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the housing 10.

For convenience of explanation, three axes (coordinate axes) are also shown in the drawing. The X-axis direction is a longitudinal direction (also referred to as a vertical direction) of the handheld terminal 100. The Y-axis direction is a width direction (also referred to as a lateral direction or a horizontal direction) of the handheld terminal 100. The Z-axis direction is a thickness direction (also referred to as a height direction) of the handheld terminal 100. The handheld terminal 100 is formed in a substantially thin rectangular parallelepiped shape and is held vertically long when in use. Therefore, the X-axis direction is also the longitudinal direction, and the Y-axis direction is also the width direction.

The electronic device 20 shown in the figure is a portable electronic device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The electronic device 20 may be held by a person in the store for private use, or may be distributed to the person in the store.

The electronic device 20 includes a casing 21 having a shape close to a thin rectangular parallelepiped, a display portion 22, a touch panel 23, and an external connection terminal 24. The Display unit 22 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and is disposed on the front side of the electronic device 20 to Display various information. The touch panel 23 is a touch panel composed of, for example, a capacitive touch sensor, and is disposed so as to be superimposed on the surface of the display unit 22 so as to detect an operation position of a finger on the display screen of the display unit 22.

The external connection terminal 24 is, for example, microsusb (Universal Serial Bus) or the like, and is provided on a side surface of the electronic apparatus 20. The electronic apparatus 20 is electrically connected to an external device (for example, the housing 10) via the external connection terminal 24.

The casing 10 is an example of an electronic device housing casing for housing the electronic device 20. The housing 10 includes an auxiliary operating portion 11, a main body portion 12, and a lid portion 13. The main body portion 12 is formed in a thin box shape, and as shown in fig. 2, is divided into a bottom portion 121 and a holding portion 122.

The holding portion 122 is a member that holds at least two

side portions

211, 212 of the electronic device 20. The holding portion 122 is, for example, a substantially rectangular frame-shaped member, surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the electronic device 20 in a state where the display screen of the electronic device 20 is exposed, and detachably holds the electronic device 20. In the present embodiment, the holding portion 122 surrounds the electronic device 20 from at least three directions.

The bottom portion 121 includes a planar portion 1211, a rotation support portion 1212, and a grip portion 1213. The flat portion 1211 covers a surface or most of the surface on the opposite side of the display portion 22 (display screen) of the electronic device 20 held by the holding portion 122. The rotation support portion 1212 is provided at one side portion of the flat portion 1211, and couples the flat portion 1211 and the lid portion 13 to be rotatable with each other (that is, the bottom portion 121 serves as a member coupled to the lid portion 13). The grip portion 1213 is provided at the other side portion of the planar portion 1211, and detachably grips the holding portion 122 between the grip portion 1213 and the rotation support portion 1212. In addition, the holding portion 122 has a recess 1220, and the recess 1220 has a shape corresponding to the grip portion 1213. In a state where the holding portion 122 is attached to the bottom portion 121, the grip portion 1213 is fitted into the recess 1220. The grip 1213 and the recess 1220 are arranged at the center in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 10.

The lid portion 13 is substantially flat and substantially rectangular, and is rotatably coupled to the main body portion 12 via a rotation support portion 1212. More specifically, the lid portion 13 is coupled to the main body portion 12 so as to be movable between a position (first position) covering the front surface of the main body portion 12 (i.e., a position covering the display screen of the electronic device 20) and a position (second position) aligned transversely to the main body portion 12 (i.e., the display screen of the electronic device 20). That is, the lid portion 13 is configured to be able to open and close the front surface of the main body portion 12 (the auxiliary operating portion 11 and the electronic device 20).

The lid portion 13 has a keypad 131 for inputting data on a surface (inner surface) side facing the front surface of the main body portion 12 (i.e., the display screen of the electronic device 20) when the lid portion is positioned to cover the display screen of the electronic device 20. The keypad 131 includes various operation keys for receiving a user's operation, such as a number key for inputting a numerical value, a menu key for selecting a menu, and an option key for selecting ingredients, etc., in connection with ordering a registration service. The keypad 131 inputs an electric signal (operation signal) corresponding to an operation received from the user to the electronic apparatus 20.

In addition, the keypad 131 has a function table and a transparent cover. The names of the functions of the operation keys shown in the function table are described in association with the arrangement of the operation keys. The function meter is clamped between the transparent cover and the operation keys. The transparent cover is openable and closable, and the function watch can be replaced by opening the transparent cover.

When the cover portion 13 is in the closed state, the cover portion 13 covers the front faces of the secondary operation portion 11 and the electronic device 20. The user can perform an operation on the keypad 131 by putting the cover 13 in the open state.

Fig. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the electronic device 20 and the auxiliary operating unit 11 mounted on the holding unit 122. The housing 10 further includes a side key (an example of an operation unit) 14 (see fig. 3) on one side of the holding unit 122, and a connector 15 (see fig. 4) on the other side of the holding unit 122. The housing 10 further includes connectors 16 and 17 (see fig. 2) near the rotation support portion 1212 of the bottom portion 121.

The side keys 14 include various operation keys related to the order registration service, such as

direction keys

141 and 142 for indicating the vertical direction, a confirmation key 143, and the like. The side keys 14 input an electric signal (operation signal) corresponding to the operation of the user to the electronic apparatus 20, that is, the side keys 14 are used to receive the operation of the electronic apparatus 20. As shown in fig. 1, the side key 14 is provided at a position in a direction from the center in the vertical direction of the housing 10 toward one end.

The keypad 131 and the

connectors

16, 17 are electrically connected via wiring or a circuit (not shown). By connecting the connector 15 to the connector 16 or the connector 17, the electronic device 20 and the cover 13 are connected so that electrical signals can be exchanged. In the assembled state shown in fig. 1, the connector 15 is connected to the connector 16.

The auxiliary operating portion 11 has a height approximately equal to the thickness of the electronic device 20, and is held by the holding portion 122. The auxiliary operation unit 11 has a front key 11a on the front surface. The front key 11a has operation keys such as numeric keys for receiving operations by the user, and inputs an electric signal (operation signal) corresponding to the operation received by the operation keys to the electronic apparatus 20.

As shown in the drawing, the auxiliary operating unit 11 and the electronic device 20 are held in parallel in the X-axis direction (vertical direction) by the holding unit 122. Thus, the auxiliary operation unit 11 is disposed at a position below the electronic device 20 in a state where the user holds the handy terminal 100 and raises the display screen of the electronic device 20 to the front.

Here, the position of the side key 14 is described above as "a position provided in a direction approaching one end portion from the center in the vertical direction of the housing 10". The "position in the direction toward the one end portion" refers to a position close to the upper portion of the display screen of the electronic device 20 in a state where the user holds the handy terminal 100 and raises the display screen of the electronic device 20 to the front of the eyes. That is, the side key 14 is disposed on a side away from the auxiliary operation unit 11. That is, the side key 14 is located at a position close to the upper portion of the display screen on the side of the holding portion 122 remote from the cover portion 13.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the handy terminal 100, and shows a state after the cover 13 is closed from the state shown in fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the handy terminal 100 in which the lid section 13 shown in fig. 1 is opened, as viewed from the back side. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the handy terminal 100 in a state where the battery pack 11b described below is removed.

The battery pack 11b is an auxiliary power source of the casing 10 or the electronic device 20. For example, when the amount of electricity held by a battery incorporated in the electronic device 20 is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the electronic device 20 acquires the electric power held by the battery pack 11b via the holding portion 122 and uses it for operation.

On the back side of the auxiliary operating portion 11, a recess 11c is provided to which the battery pack 11b can be attached. The battery pack 11b is fitted into the recess 11c, and is electrically connected to a terminal (not shown) provided in the recess 11 c. In addition, the bottom portion 121 is provided with

holes

1214, 1215, which holes 1214, 1215 are used to make the battery pack 11b detachable without detaching the auxiliary operating portion 11 from the main body portion 12.

Also, the handheld terminal 100 of the present embodiment provides the same ease of use to a left-handed user as a right-handed user. For this reason, the holding portion 122 makes the electronic apparatus 20 detachable in both directions of turning the display screen to the front and back. Further, the holding portion 122 makes the auxiliary operating portion 11 detachable in both directions of turning the front key 11a to the front and back. Further, the bottom section 121 detachably mounts the holding section 122 in both directions in which the display screen of the electronic apparatus 20 held by the holding section 122 is turned over to the front and back (that is, the bottom section 121 makes the holding section 122 detachable in both directions in which the display screen of the electronic apparatus 20 and the cover section 13 are turned over with the lateral arrangement direction of the display screen and the cover section 13 as an axis).

An example of a configuration for achieving the above object will be described in detail below. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method of attaching the auxiliary operating unit 11 to the holding unit 122. Fig. 8(a) shows a state where the auxiliary operating portion 11 is removed from the holding portion 122. Fig. 8(b) shows a state where the auxiliary operating portion 11 rotates half a turn around the rotation axis. Fig. 8(c) shows a state in which the auxiliary operating unit 11 is connected to the holding unit 122. First, the structure of the holding portion 122 in this example will be described in detail.

The holding portion 122 has a terminal 1221, and the terminal 1221 is located at a position corresponding to the external connection terminal 24 of the lower end portion of the electronic apparatus 20 inside a frame-shaped portion 122a surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the electronic apparatus 20. The holding portion 122 has a terminal 1222 on the back side (outside the frame-shaped portion) of the position where the terminal 1221 is provided. The holding portion 122 has portions 122b for holding both side portions of the auxiliary operating portion 11, and the portions 122b have shapes extending in the vertical direction (X-axis direction) of the electronic device 20 from both side portions of a frame-shaped portion 122a surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the electronic device 20.

The

terminals

1221, 1222, the side keys 14, and the connector 15 are electrically connected via a wiring or a circuit (not shown).

The terminal 1222 receives a connection from an external connection terminal (not shown) of the auxiliary operation unit 11. The housing 10 and the auxiliary operating part 11 are connected to each other through the connection terminal 1222 and the external connection terminal of the auxiliary operating part 11 so that an electrical signal can be received and transmitted.

Further, the terminal 1222 is located at the center portion in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the holding portion 122, and the terminal 1222 and the external connection terminal of the auxiliary operation portion 11 are, for example, Type-C connectors of USB. Thus, the auxiliary operating unit 11 can be connected to the holding unit 122 so that the front and back surfaces thereof are reversed by half a turn (see fig. 8 b) about the X-axis direction as a rotation axis (see fig. 8 c).

Similarly, the terminal 1221 accepts connection of the external connection terminal 24. The housing 10 and the electronic device 20 are connected to each other through the connection terminal 1221 and the external connection terminal 24 so that an electrical signal can be transmitted and received. Further, the terminal 1221 is located at the central portion in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the holding portion 122, and the terminal 1221 and the external connection terminal 24 are, for example, Type-C connectors of USB. Thus, the electronic device 20 can be connected to the holding portion 122 so that the front and back surfaces thereof are reversed by half a turn around the X-axis direction as a rotation axis.

In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the electronic apparatus 20 has a shape in which the peripheries of, for example, the front surface (the surface on the side having the display screen) and the back surface are chamfered, and the holding portion 122 has, for example, an inner peripheral shape corresponding to the outer peripheral surface and the chamfered portion of the electronic apparatus 20 so as to sandwich such electronic apparatus 20 from the outer peripheral surface. According to such a shape correspondence relationship, the electronic device 20 is held inside the holding portion 122. Further, the holding portions 122 have the same shape correspondence relationship in order to hold the auxiliary operating portion 11.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a state when the housing 10 is reconfigured for left-hand operation. The holding portion 122 in this figure is a state in which the holding portion 122 in fig. 8(c) is turned over so as to rotate a half turn with the display screen and the lid portion 13 aligned in the lateral direction (Y-axis direction) as the rotation axis. In this state, when the holding portion 122 is attached to the bottom portion 121, the grip portion 1213 of the bottom portion 121 is fitted into the recess 1220 of the holding portion 122 as before the inversion, so that the grip portion 1213 grips the holding portion 122 between the rotation support portion 1212 and the grip portion 1213.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the hand-held terminal 101 with the housing 10 reconfigured for left-handed operation. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the handy terminal 101 in a state where the cover 13 is closed. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the handy terminal 101 in a state where the cover 13 is opened as viewed from the back side of the display screen. The battery pack 11b of the hand-held terminal 101 is detachable from the hole 1215.

Here, the plurality of operation keys in the keypad 131 are arranged in a matrix shape and are symmetrical at the center in the longitudinal direction of the cover 13 and the electronic apparatus 20. With the configuration as described above, even if the cover section 13 is turned upside down as a result of reconfiguration from for right-hand operation to for left-hand operation, it is possible to cope with this by changing the functions (key sets) assigned to the respective keys by rotating the function chart between the transparent cover and the operation keys by one hundred eighty degrees. Two types of key sets for the left-hand operation and for the right-hand operation are prepared, and the key set for the right-hand operation is used in a case where the housing 10 is assembled for the right-hand operation, and the key set for the left-hand operation is used in a case where the housing 10 is assembled for the left-hand operation, whereby the configurations of various operation keys at the time of the right-hand operation and at the time of the left-hand operation can be made the same.

In addition, the arrangement of the key switches (keypads) is not limited to the matrix shape, and may be, for example, a point-symmetrical shape centered on the center of the keypad 131. In this case, the function chart can be used in both cases for right-handed operation and for left-handed operation by rotating the function chart by one hundred eighty degrees and reinserting it between the transparent cover and the key switch group.

In addition, a structure is possible: the operations with respect to the side keys 14 and the keypad 131 are validated under the condition that the cover 13 is in the open state. In this case, for example, a structure may be such that: an opening-closing sensor for detecting the opened and closed states of the lid portion 13 is provided in the main body portion 12 so as to switch the validity or invalidity of the operation in accordance with the detection result of the opening-closing sensor.

In such a configuration, the user can use the handy terminal 100(101) by rearranging each section of the housing 10 in a direction corresponding to the dominant hand.

In such a configuration, the electronic device 20 incorporated in the handheld terminal 100(101) connects the wireless communication unit of the electronic device 20 to the in-store network by executing a predetermined program, stops functions such as mobile communication that are not necessary for ordering and registering services, and displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for ordering and registering on the display unit 22.

The hand-held terminal 100 in the state shown in fig. 1 is suitable for a right-handed user. In other words, the palm of the left hand is brought into contact with the back surface side of the display screen of the main body 12 to hold the main body 12 with the left hand, and the keypad 131, the front key 11a, and the touch panel 23 are operated with the right hand.

On the other hand, the hand-held terminal 101 in the state shown in fig. 10 is suitable for a left-handed user. In other words, the palm of the right hand is brought into contact with the back surface side of the display screen of the main body 12 to hold the main body 12 with the right hand, and the keypad 131, the front key 11a, and the touch panel 23 are operated with the left hand.

In the hand-held

terminals

100 and 101 adapted to left-handed and right-handed users, the side keys 14 are disposed at positions contacted by the thumbs of the hands holding the body portion 12. The positional relationship between the electronic device 20 and the auxiliary operating unit 11 indicates that the electronic device 20 is located above the center of the main body 12 in the vertical direction and that the position is located on the upper side of the display screen of the electronic device 20 on the side away from the auxiliary operating unit 11 in the case where the auxiliary operating unit 11 is located on the upper side of the electronic device 20.

In assembling the housing 10 as the hand-held terminal 100 for right-handed operation, the connector 15 of the holding portion 122 is connected with the connector 16 of the bottom portion 121. Further, in assembling the housing 10 as the hand-held terminal 101 for left-handed operation, the connector 15 of the holding portion 122 is connected with the connector 17 of the bottom portion 121. In other words, the

connectors

16 and 17 connected with the connector 15 are different in the hand-held terminal 100 assembled for right-hand operation and the hand-held terminal 101 assembled for left-hand operation.

By detecting which of the connector 16 and the connector 17 is used for connection with the connector 15, it can be determined whether the housing 10 is assembled for right-handed operation or left-handed operation. The determination result is used to select a key set to be applied to the keypad 131 (whether to select for right-hand operation or left-hand operation). The selection is performed by the electronic device 20. The electronic device 20 performs a function corresponding to an operation performed on the keypad 131 according to a key set corresponding to a connection state between the connector 15 and the

connectors

16, 17.

The key set maps functions to various operation keys possessed by the keypad 131. By referring to the key set, the electronic device 20 can know which function should be performed when which operation key of the keypad 131 is operated.

Each operation key of the keypad 131 transmits different electric signals to the electronic device 20 when operated. The electronic device 20 that receives the electric signal determines which operation key is operated, identifies the function assigned to the operation key with reference to the key set being applied, and executes the function.

That is, the electronic apparatus 20 applies, as the key set of the keypad, an appropriate one of the two key set types for the right-hand operation and for the left-hand operation depending on the mounting direction of the holder 122 with respect to the base 121.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the user operates the side key 14 using the thumb of the hand holding the main body portion 12 in both the case for the right-hand operation and the case for the left-hand operation, the user holds the main body portion 12 with the thumb aligned with the position of the side key 14. When the side key 14 is disposed at the center of the main body portion 12 in the vertical direction, the positions of the side key 14 can be made the same when used for right-hand operation and when used for left-hand operation. However, in this case, the user grips the body 12 at a position less than half of the longitudinal direction of the body 12. In this case, the user may hold the main body 12 in an unstable state, and thus operability of the electronic device 20 and various keys may be degraded.

On the other hand, in the case 10 of the present embodiment, the side key 14 may be located above the center in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 12 in both the case for the right-hand operation and the case for the left-hand operation. With this structure, a larger portion (area) of the housing 10 for gripping the main body portion 12 can be secured as compared with a structure in which the side key 14 is provided at the center in the vertical direction of the main body portion 12. Therefore, since the user can hold the main body 12 in a stable state, operability can be improved.

In addition, according to the handheld terminal 100(101) having the configuration as in the present embodiment, the menu or the like received from the customer can be input by the key operations of the front key 11a, the side key 14, and the keypad 131. Therefore, the order registration service can be performed easily and efficiently as compared with an operation using a single electronic device 20 as a handheld terminal (inputting a menu while switching menu screens). That is, by mounting the electronic device 20 to the housing 10, the housing 10 and the electronic device 20 can be used as a dedicated terminal (handheld terminal) for order registration.

Further, by configuring the auxiliary operating unit 11, the main body unit 12, and the like constituting the housing 10 to have a storage unit that stores programs and setting information related to the order and registration services and supplying the programs and the setting information related to the order and registration services to the electronic device 20 in a readable manner, the electronic device 20 can easily and efficiently perform preparation for ordering the registration services. In this case, since the functions that are not related to the order registration service among the functions of the electronic device 20 are invalidated by the actuation from the housing 10, it is possible to effectively use the electronic device 20 that is commonly used, such as a smartphone held by a worker.

Further, in the housing 10, since the display function of the GUI such as the menu and the communication function with the in-store network are realized using the electronic device 20, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with a dedicated terminal for ordering the registration service.

In addition, since the housing 10 can switch the arrangement position and key arrangement of the keypad 131 with respect to the main body portion 12 between right-handed operation and left-handed operation, it can be used not only as a handheld terminal for use by a right-handed user but also as a handheld terminal for use by a left-handed user. Also, in both cases for the right-hand operation and for the left-hand operation, the side key 14 of the housing 10 can be positioned above the center in the longitudinal direction of the housing 10, and therefore the portion where the user grips the main body portion 12 can be ensured to be large. This allows the user to operate the electronic device 20 and various operation keys in a stable state, thereby improving operability.

Although the present invention has been described above, these embodiments are merely provided as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various manners, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the present invention, and are included in the present invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

For example, although the housing 10 has the configuration of the auxiliary operating unit 11 in the above embodiment, the housing 10 may not have the auxiliary operating unit 11.

In addition, although the above description has been made of the configuration in which the electronic device 20 reads out and executes a program or the like to be executed from the storage unit included in the housing 10, the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

In the above-described embodiment, the keypad 131 is a hardware key, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the keypad 131 may be configured by a software key by a touch panel technology or the like, for example.

In the above embodiment, the auxiliary operating unit 11 and the electronic device 20 are electrically connected to each other through the housing 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the terminal of the auxiliary operating unit 11 may be connected to the external connection terminal 24 of the electronic device 20. Further, in this case, the auxiliary operating portion 11 and the holding portion 122 may be connected by terminals provided to each other, or at least one of the electronic device 20 and the auxiliary operating portion 11 may be communicably connected with the housing 10 by short-range wireless communication.

In the above-described embodiment, the power supply from the auxiliary operating unit 11 to the electronic device 20 is performed based on the physical connection, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, a power supply based on a non-contact power supply (wireless power transmission).

Claims

1. An electronic device housing case having a main body portion formed in a box shape and detachably holding an electronic device in a state where a display screen of the electronic device is exposed, and a lid portion coupled to the main body portion so as to be movable between a position covering the display screen and a position arranged in a lateral direction of the display screen, the main body portion comprising:

a holding portion as a member for holding at least both side portions of the electronic apparatus so that the electronic apparatus is detachable in both directions of turning the display screen to the front and back; and

a bottom section that is a member coupled to the cover section, covers a surface of the electronic device held by the holding section on the opposite side of the display screen, and is configured such that the holding section is detachable in two directions that are reversed with respect to the direction in which the display screen and the cover section are arranged in the lateral direction as an axis,

the electronic device housing case further has an operation portion located at a position close to an upper portion of the display screen on a side portion of the holding portion away from the cover portion, for receiving an operation on the electronic device.

2. The electronic equipment receiving case of claim 1,

the holding portion surrounds the electronic apparatus from at least three directions.

3. The electronic equipment receiving case of claim 1,

the cover has a keypad on a surface of a side facing the display screen when the cover is positioned to cover the display screen, and the keypad inputs an electric signal corresponding to an operation received from a user to the electronic apparatus.

4. The electronic equipment receiving case of claim 2,

5. The electronic equipment receiving case of claim 3,

the keypad has a plurality of operation keys for receiving operations of a user,

the electronic device applies one of two key set types, right-handed operation and left-handed operation, as a key set of the keypad according to an installation direction of the holder with respect to the base.

6. The electronic equipment receiving case of claim 4,

7. The electronic equipment accommodation case according to claim 1, further comprising:

and an auxiliary operation unit having an operation key for receiving an operation by a user, and inputting an electric signal corresponding to the operation received by the operation key to the electronic device.

8. The electronic equipment accommodation case according to claim 2, further comprising:

9. The electronic equipment accommodation case according to claim 3, further comprising:

10. The electronic equipment accommodation case according to claim 5, further comprising: