EP2826229A1

EP2826229A1 - Slide housing for an electronic communication appliance

Info

Publication number: EP2826229A1
Application number: EP13724158.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hans Constin
Original assignee: CONSTIN GmbH
Current assignee: CONSTIN GmbH
Priority date: 2012-03-14
Filing date: 2013-03-09
Publication date: 2015-01-21
Also published as: DE112013001433A5; US9292048B2; WO2013135231A1; US20150009611A1; WO2013135231A4

Abstract

Electronic communication appliance (1) having a display module (2) having a touch-sensitive display panel (2a) and having a keypad module (3) having a keypad (3a), which are connected to one another and can be moved relative to one another into an open position (8) and into a closed position (8a). In this case, the touch-sensitive display panel (2a) is arranged on the outside of the display module (2) in the closed position (8a).On both sides of the keypad (3a) of the keypad module (3) there are guide means (14) that can be operatively connected to guide means (13) associated with the display module (2). The keypad module (3) has associated rotatable traction means (16) that can be operatively connected to fixed traction means (15) of the display module (2). The display module is mounted on the keypad module so as to be able to slide or move. In the fully slid-out position, the display module can be rotated or tilted or folded against the keypad module in a similar manner to a laptop PC. (keywords: slidable, foldable, tiltable, first position, closed position, open position, second position)

Description

Slide housing for an electronic

communication device

description

The invention relates to an electronic communication device having a display module with a touch-sensitive display surface, and a keyboard module with a keyboard, which are interconnected and movable against each other in the open position or in the closed position, wherein the touch-sensitive display surface of the display module in the closed position outside assigned.

From DE 10 2011 009 876 an electronic communication device is known in which by pushing and then swinging the display module, a mini-computer is formed in which the display module is in its end position obliquely to the keyboard module. What is needed is a double-lever mechanism that is relatively sensitive and manageable and unsure of jamming between the two modules. Furthermore, the area of the keyboard is limited in depth. Also, some height is needed between the display module and the keyboard module, which reduces the volume available to the electronics.

Object of the present invention is to provide an electronic communication device in which the display module can be tilted against the keypad module tilted and tilted. This object is achieved by the measures as described in claim 1, in particular by the fact that both sides of the keyboard of the keyboard module guide means are provided which can be brought into operative connection with the display module associated guide means, and by the keyboard module associated rotatable traction means, the can be brought into operative connection with the display module associated solid traction means. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the mutually assigned to the keyboard module traction means or positive-locking elements are synchronously connected to each other via a rigid connection means.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the guide means assigned to the display module can be released from the guide means of the keyboard module and connected to guide pieces in guide pieces. The guide pieces are arranged at both ends on the rigid connecting means. The rigid connecting means, namely a shaft, at the same time represents the axis of rotation about which the guide pieces for erecting the display module are pivotable by a predetermined angle. The guide pieces is associated with limiting means with which the Führungsstücknuten stand each time the display module in an aligned position with the guide means of the keyboard module. The trailing edge of the keyboard module is provided with a longitudinal recess, in which the display module can be folded with its front edge. This may cause the display module to tilt Open position can be brought without its front edge is disturbing on the keyboard module.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided on the rigid connection means to arrange an axially displaceable contact block and an axially fixed tilting block. In the contact block contact springs for making an electronic connection between the modules are provided. It is provided with means by which the contact springs, such as spring pins, can be extended and retracted, for example by means of an inclined plane.

The rigid connecting means, for example a shaft, is provided with a spiral groove in which a driver associated with the contact block is guided. As the shaft rotates, the contact block is axially displaced by the spiral groove. By this axial displacement, the contact springs in the contact block are extended and retracted. With the extended contact springs, an electronic connection between the modules and the electronics is made, which is interrupted again when retracting the contact springs.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings and will be described in more detail below; it shows :

Figure 1 is the isometric view of an electronic communication device according to the invention in the closed position; FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an electronic communication device according to FIG. 1 in the open position, with a display module slid in guide grooves and a released keyboard module;

Figure 3 is an electronic communication device along the line H-H cut in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows the side view of an electronic

Communication device, with display module slid in guide grooves and guide rails, according to view "D" in Figure 2;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an electronic communication device according to FIG. 1, with the display module tilted in an inclined position and the display surface facing the keyboard module;

Figure 6 is the side view of an electronic

Communication device, according to view E "in Figure 5, with inventively tilted in the inclined position display module;

7 shows the isometric view of the rear view of an electronic communication device according to FIG. 5, with in FIG

Oblique position tilted display module, solid traction means according to the invention in the form of tooth profiles for operative connection with in one in the region of the trailing edge of the keyboard module longitudinal recess, with both ends associated rotatable traction means in the form of gears;

8 shows the side view of a closed electronic communication device, along the section line F-F in FIG

1, cut, with a tooth profile and a gear meshing thereon on a shaft;

Figure 9 is the side view of an electronic

Communication device, along the

Section line K-K cut in Figure 2, with relatively deferred the keyboard module display module, with a tooth profile and a meshing on a shaft guided gear;

Figure 10 is the side view of an electronic

Communication device along L-L cut in Figure 5, with the top of the shaft tilted as a rotation axis in an inclined position display module and the keyboard facing the display surface;

FIG. 11 shows the rear side of an electronic communication device with a deferred display module according to FIG. 2, with traction means arranged on both sides in FIG

Shape of tooth profiles;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of an electronic communication device according to FIG. 1, with electronics associated with the keyboard module and electronic connection to a contact block; FIG. 13 shows a detail of a shaft with the display module slid on, with a contact block provided with contact springs and with a spiral groove for axial displacement of the contact block, and with a tilt block operatively connected to a striking spring;

Figure 14 shows the detailed representation of a wave with the display module tilted up, with a contact block with contact springs with a tilting block with a striking spring;

FIG. 15 shows a detailed view of a shaft with a spiral groove according to FIGS. 13 and 14 and bilateral shaft ends for connection to guide pieces.

The electronic communication device 1 shown closed in FIG. 1, for example a smartphone, a laptop, a notebook or a mobile telephone, consists of a display module 2 and an input or keyboard module 3, which are movably connected to one another. The display module 2, for example a monitor, is provided with a touch-sensitive display surface 2a, for example a so-called touchscreen.

The display module 2 and the keyboard module 3 can be moved against each other, as shown in FIG. By sliding in the sliding direction 4, a covered by the display module 2 keyboard 3a can be used. The input or keyboard module 3 may also have a touch-sensitive control surface. The display module 2 can with guide means 14 relative to Front 9 of the keyboard 3 a in the sliding direction 4 in an open position 8 are pushed.

As FIG. 3 shows as a section along the line H-H in FIG. 1 in the closed position 8a, the guide means are designed here as guide grooves 14 extending on either side of the keyboard 3a in the keyboard module 3. The guide grooves 14 are in operative connection with correspondingly formed guide means, here for example guide rails 13, assigned to the rear side 12 of the display module 2. In this embodiment, the guide grooves 14 are L-shaped and provided with outwardly facing Anwinkelungen 22. In these Anwinkelungen 22 which also L-shaped guide rails 13 are led leads.

After reaching the Schiebeendstellung 5, as shown in Figure 4, the front edge 9a of the display module 2 covers the trailing edge 10 of the keyboard module 3. In this position, the guide rails 13 on the back 12 of the display module 2 from the guide grooves 14 of Keyboard module 3 is released and retracted into Führungsstücknuten 21 of guide pieces 20. The guide pieces 20 provided with guide piece grooves 21 are arranged on both sides of the keyboard 3a of the keyboard module 3. When the display module 2 is slid on, they correspond to the angled portions 22 of the guide rails 13. In another embodiment, not shown, guide grooves 14 can also be used without angling.

After retraction of the guide rail 13 of the display module 2 in the Führungsstücknuten 21 of the guide pieces 20, the display module 2 in tilt direction 6 are raised, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this final slide position 5, the display module 2 can be tilted up into an open position 8 by a tilt angle 7 of approximately 130-140 ° degrees relative to the keyboard module 3. In this case, the display surface 2 a lying on the outside when the electronic communication device 1 is closed now faces the keyboard 3 a of the keyboard module 3. The display surface 2a of the display module 2 now serves as a screen for the now exposed keyboard 3a of the keyboard module 3. If the keyboard 3a of the keyboard module 3 is not needed, then the display module 2 can be tilted back and in the sliding direction 4a in the closed position 8a via the keyboard module 3 be pushed back. As FIG. 7 shows, the rear side 12 of the display module 2 is provided on both sides with solid traction means, which are designed here for example as tooth profiles 15. The solid traction means are in positive operative connection with the keyboard module 3 associated rotatable traction means. In this embodiment, the rotatable traction means are formed as gears 16, which mesh in the tooth profiles 15. They are arranged secured against rotation axially on the outside of a shaft 17. The shaft 17 is rotatably mounted at the ends in shaft bearings 18 and ensures according to the invention as a rigid connection means synchronous operation of the gears arranged at both ends 16. The shaft 17 serves according to the invention as a rotary or pivot axis for the display module 2, when it is to be tilted up into its open position 8.

On the shaft 17, a contact block 23 and a tilt block 24 are further arranged. The contact block 23 is axially displaceable and provided with extendible and retractable contact springs 27 which are connected to upper contact surfaces. chen in 28a and lower contact surfaces 28 on the back 12 of the display module 2 can be brought into operative connection. In this case, upper contact surfaces 28a during the closed position 8a constitute an electronic connection between the display module 2 and the keyboard module 3, while in the open position 8 shown here, the lower contact surfaces 28 serve for the electronic connection. In order to minimize their wear, the contact springs 27 can be moved in and out of the contact block 24 during the opening and closing of the display module 2 relative to the keyboard module 3. This ensures that there is an electronic connection to an electronic system both when the communication device 1 is open and when it is closed. The tilting block is fixed in its axial movement and rotatable about the respective predetermined tilting angle 7 on the shaft 17.

8 shows the side view of an electronic communication device 1, cut along the section line F-F in Figure 1, in the closed position 8a. In this case, the rod-shaped tooth profile 15 can be seen on the back 12 of the display module 2, in which a fixed shaft 17 on the gear 16 is guided. As a transmission means of the sliding movement of the shaft 17 at both ends fixed gears 16 are provided. The gears 16 are provided for example with an involute toothing, which mesh with the tooth profiles 15. As a result, according to the invention, synchronous operation of the toothed wheels 16 assigned at both ends is ensured. When pushing the display module 2 so its tilting relative to the keyboard module 3 is prevented.

Instead of gears and tooth profiles in operative connection with these, friction rollers are also used whose synchronous operation can be ensured by means of appropriately equipped traction strips.

The keyboard module 3 serves not only to hold the keyboard 3a but also to receive the electronics 25, which is schematically shown here below the keyboard 3a. In the region of the trailing edge 10 of the keyboard module 3, a longitudinal recess 11 is provided. The recess 11 serves to receive the shaft 17 shown in section here, as well as the gearwheels 16 and the guide pieces 20 arranged secured against rotation on this shaft 17.

FIG. 9 shows the side view of an electronic communication device 1, cut along the section line K-K in FIG. The display module 2 is pushed relative to the keyboard module 3. On the back 12 of the display module 2, a tooth profile 15 can be seen, with which the keyboard module 3 associated rotatable traction means, namely toothed wheels 16, are in operative connection. The gears 14 are secured against rotation on the central shaft 17 and guided.

FIG. 10 shows the side view of the electronic communication device 1, cut along the section line LL in FIG. In this case, the display module 2 is tilted in the tilting direction 6 by a predetermined tilt angle 7, for example, from about 130-140 ° against the keyboard module 3 in its oblique open position 8. In this open position 8, the touch-sensitive display surface 2a of the display module 2 now faces the keyboard 3a and serves as a screen for the use of the communication device 1, for example as a computer, laptop, notebook and the like. Where- with the phone function of the smartphone remains. The front edge 9a of the display module 2 is lowered according to the invention into the longitudinal recess 11 in the region of the trailing edge 10 of the keyboard module 3.

FIG. 11 shows the rear side 12 of a communication device 1 with display module 2 slid in guide grooves 12, which has not yet tilted up in an inclined position. The tooth profiles 15 arranged on both sides and the L-shaped guide rails 13 provided with angled portions 22 can be seen. Also shown is the upper contact surface 28a, which apart from this is a connection function between the display module 2 and the keyboard module 3. To even during the displacement of the display module 2 relative to the keyboard module 3 may be provided in another, not shown embodiment, a continuous contact surface, which is in constant electronic contact with the contact springs 27 of the contact block 23. FIG. 12 shows the top view of the

Keyboard module 3 of an electronic communication device 1 without keyboard and display module. In this case, the shaft 17 can be seen, are secured against rotation at both ends guide pieces 20. The shaft 17 is rotatably mounted in shaft bearings 18.

To ensure the electronic connection between the display module 2 and the keyboard module 3, the contact block 23 is provided with a driver 30 which is guided in a helical groove 29. Due to the helical groove 29 and the driver 30, the contact block 23 on the shaft 17 is axially displaceable. By this axial displacement can in the contact springs 27, for example by means of a crooked Level, in the contact block 23 retracted and extended. The electronics 25 is by means of a flex cable 26 or spring contacts with the contact block 23 in electronic communication. The electronic connection can also be made via optical signals and optical fibers.

As FIGS. 13 and 14 show in detail, the contact block 23 and the tilting block 24 are assigned to the shaft 17. The tilting block 22 is fixed against axial displacement provided with a percussion spring 31 which supports its inclination in the open position 8 with the display module 2 slid and tilted upwards. The striking spring 31 is supported on the one hand in the keyboard module 3 and on the other hand in the tilting block 22.

The striking spring 31 is designed so that the tilting block 22 does not exert direct pressure on the keyboard module 3 during the parallel displacement of the display module 2. As a result, only a very small moment is transmitted to the shaft 17 and the escaping movement between the two modules 2 and 3 is not hindered.

As Figure 15 shows in detail, the shaft 17 is provided with a spiral groove 27 in which the driver 30 of the contact block 23 is guided. The shaft 17 is provided with shaft ends 19 on which the above-described guide pieces 20 are rotatably arranged. Reference numerals electronic communication device display module

a display area

keyboard module

a keyboard

Sliding direction, open

a sliding direction, close

Schiebeendstellung

tilt direction

tilt angle

open position

a closed position

Keyboard leading edge

a Display leading edge

Keyboard trailing edge

longitudinal recess on the back of the display

guide rail

guide

tooth profile

gear

Shaft / axis of rotation

shaft bearing

shaft end

guide piece

Führungsstücknut

angling

Contact block

tilting block

electronics

Flex cable

contact spring

Contact surface, open

a contact, closed

spiral groove

takeaway

mainspring

Claims

claims

Electronic communication device (1) with a display module (2) with a touch-sensitive display surface (2a) and with a keyboard module (3) with a keyboard (3a) connected to one another and movable towards one another in an open position (8) and in a closed position (8a) are, wherein the touch-sensitive display surface (2a) in the closed position (8a) on the outside of the display module (2) is arranged, characterized in that on both sides of the keyboard (3a) of the keyboard module (3) guide means (14) are provided, which are connected to the display module (2) associated with guide means (13) are operatively connected, and by the keyboard module (3) associated with rotatable traction means (16) which are engageable with the display module (2) associated fixed traction means (15) in operative connection.

Electronic communication device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the guide means (14) arranged on both sides of the keyboard (3a) of the keyboard module (3) run longitudinally.

Electronic communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard module (3) on both sides associated traction means (16) via a rigid connecting means (17) are synchronously connected to each other.

Electronic communication device according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the display module (2) associated with guide means (13) from the guide means (14) of the Tastaturmo- Duls (3) freely and in Führungsstücknuten (21) of the rigid connecting means (17) at the end associated guide pieces (20) are retractable.

5. Electronic communication device according to claim

1, characterized in that the display module (2) in the open position (8) relative to the keyboard module (3) by a predetermined tilt angle (7) is tiltable.

6. Electronic communication device according to claim

5, characterized in that the display module (2) with its front edge (9a) in a in the region of the trailing edge (10) of the keyboard module (3) along - extending recess (11) is tiltable.

7. Electronic communication device according to claims 3 and 6, characterized in that the display module (2) with its front edge (9a) about the rigid connecting means (17) as a rotation axis in the longitudinal recess (11) is tiltable.

8. An electronic communication device according to claim 3, characterized in that on the rigid connecting means (17) an axially displaceable contact block (23) and an axially fixed tilting block (24) are arranged, wherein the contact block (23) with retractable and extendable contact springs ( 27) is provided.

9. Electronic communication device according to claim 8, characterized in that the rigid connecting means (17) is provided with a helical groove (29) in which an axially displaceable

Contact block (23) associated driver (30) is guided. Electronic communication device according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the contact springs (27) by the axial displacement of the contact block (23) on and extendable.

Electronic communication device according to claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the retractable and extendable contact springs (27) of the contact block (23) on the back side (12) of the display module (2) associated contact surfaces (28, 28a) an electronic connection of the keyboard module (3) and the display module (2) to an electronics (25).