JP2000099197A - Portable electronic equipment, and extension unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the attaching/detaching operation and to simplify the structure, and to make actualizable a small-sized, lightweight constitution and superior portability and operability by providing a display part with an engagement part with which a part of the extension unit engages. SOLUTION: When an extension unit 5 is mounted on a main body part 1, a projection part 5a of the extension unit is inserted into the opening of a groove of a recessed part 2a while a display part 2 is placed over the main body part 1, and an extension-unit side connector 6 is slid along the groove toward a main-body side connector 4 and connected thereto. For operation, the display part 2 is rotated, so the groove of the recessed part 2a faces obliquely down and a projection part 5a is unable by the side wall of the recessed part 2a to move in the insertion/extraction direction of the connectors. Thus, only when the opening of the recessed part 2a is directed in the insertion/ extraction direction of the main-body side connector 43 and extension-unit side connector 6, the extension unit 5 can be attached to and detached from the main body part 1 under the guidance of the groove of the recessed part 2a and when the opening part is in other directions, the extension unit 5 never falls from the main body 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a portable electronic device such as a notebook personal computer and an extension unit for adding functions to the portable electronic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable electronic devices such as notebook personal computers have become smaller, thinner and lighter, and their portability has been remarkably improved. Notebook computers are required. Conventionally, in order to solve this inconsistency, a multifunction is realized by connecting an extension unit to a notebook personal computer. This is to enhance the functions of the main unit by adding an extension unit to a notebook computer, or to add new functions. The user chose the extension unit to carry according to the purpose of carrying, attached to a laptop computer and carried.

A simple method of connecting the extension unit to the notebook computer is via a cable. In this case, it is necessary to carry the notebook computer and the extension unit separately when carrying, There are drawbacks such as taking up space. Therefore, as another method, a method has been adopted in which a notebook personal computer and an extension unit are directly connected via a connector, and the notebook personal computer and the extension unit are integrated and carried.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a conventional mounting and dismounting section of a notebook personal computer and an extension unit integrated type. FIG. 3A is an external perspective view of the attachment / detachment portion on the notebook computer side, and FIG.

[0005] The configuration and operation of the mounting and dismounting mechanism in the conventional notebook personal computer and expansion unit will be described below. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a main body of a notebook computer, and an engagement hole 11 is provided.
a, cylindrical guide hole 11b, and main body side connector 12
Is provided. Reference numeral 13 denotes an extension unit,
a, the slide member 14 in which the knob 14b is integrated is attached. A pressing member 15 urges the slide member 14 in one direction. 16 is an extension unit 13
Reference numeral 17 denotes a guide pin fixed to the extension unit 13. Reference numeral 18 denotes a display unit rotatably attached to the main body 11.

First, when the extension unit 13 is mounted on the main body 11 of the notebook computer, the guide pins 17 fixed to the extension unit 13 are inserted into the guide holes 11 b provided in the main body 11, and are inserted into the guide pins 17. When the extension unit 13 is moved to the main body 11 side along the axis, the inclined surface of the engagement claw 14a on the extension unit 13 side
1a. When the slide member 14 is further pushed in, the slide member 14 moves in the direction B in the drawing, and when the inclined surface of the engagement claw 14a passes through the entrance end surface of the engagement hole 11a, the pressing member 1
5, the slide member 14 returns in the direction A in the figure, and the engaging claw 14a and the engaging hole 11a are engaged. At this time, the main body side connector 12 and the extension unit side connector 16 are completely connected.

Next, when the extension unit 13 is separated from the main body 11 of the notebook computer, the knob 14b of the slide member 14 provided on the extension unit 13 is moved in the direction of arrow B, and the engaging claw 14a and the main body are separated. 11 is disengaged from the engagement hole 11a, and the extension unit 13 is moved in the direction opposite to the insertion direction.
Is moved and extracted from the main body 11.

As described above, when the extension unit 13 is mounted on the main body 11 of the notebook computer, not only the connections between the connectors but also the alignment of the connectors by the guide pins 17 and the guide holes 11b, and the operation and carrying of the extension unit 13 are performed. Main unit 1
In order to prevent the extension unit 13 from coming off unexpectedly from 1, the engagement by the engagement claw 14a and the engagement hole 11a has been performed. Further, the guide pin 17 also serves as a steadying member in a direction perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction of the extension unit 13.

[0009]

In the conventional extension unit mounting and dismounting mechanism, the engaging claw 14a and the engaging hole 11a of the main body 11 need to be engaged to prevent the extension unit 13 from being detached in the attaching / detaching direction. It is necessary to use two types of holding methods such as fitting of the main body side guide hole 11b and the extension unit side guide pin 17 as a steady rest in a direction perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction, and further urge the engaging claw 14a in the engaging direction. In this method, portability and operability are excellent.However, the operation of mounting and dismounting the extension unit is more complicated than the method of connecting via a cable. However, there is a problem that the apparatus is complicated and the apparatus becomes large.

[0010] The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic device and an extension unit which are easy to attach and detach and operate between the portable electronic device and the extension unit and have a simple structure, and are small, lightweight, and excellent in portability and operability.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device and an extension unit according to the present invention, wherein the extension unit is mounted on a main body of the portable electronic device.
The convex portion of the extension unit is fitted and held in a groove-shaped concave portion provided at the rotation center portion of the display portion, and the groove direction of the concave portion is changed by the rotation of the display portion attached to the main body. Things.

Thus, it is possible to prevent a guide at the time of mounting the extension unit, to prevent the extension unit from falling off after the mounting, and to prevent a swing in a direction perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the first aspect of the present invention, a main body having at least one of an input device, a storage device, and an arithmetic device, and a support portion provided on the main body are pivoted about a center. A portable electronic device having a display unit including a display device that is openably and closably attached, and a connector unit to which an expansion unit having an additional or new function is detachably connected to the main body unit, A portable electronic device in which a fitting portion into which a part of the extension unit fits is arranged on a display unit, and has an effect of simplifying the attachment / detachment operation and structure of the extension unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device and an extension unit according to the first aspect, wherein:
When the extension unit is connected to the portable electronic device, a fitting portion between the display unit of the portable electronic device and the extension unit includes a rotation center of the display unit, The portable electronic device and the extension unit can be fitted without affecting the opening and closing operation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable electronic device and the extension unit according to the first or second aspect, the fitting portion is formed by fitting a concave portion and a convex portion. Is a groove shape having a direction, when the groove direction of the concave portion substantially coincides with the attaching / detaching direction of the extension unit, the convex portion is inserted, and the display unit is rotated to change the groove direction of the concave portion, After the extension unit is installed, the display unit is rotated to change the groove direction of the concave part and the convex part moves in the attaching / detaching direction of the extension unit. This has the effect of preventing the extension unit from falling off with a simple operation and structure that makes it impossible.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device and an extension unit according to the third aspect, wherein:
With the display unit opened at a position approximately halfway between the closed position and the maximum open position, the groove direction of the recess matches the mounting / detaching direction of the extension unit.The display unit is opened for operation. Since the groove direction of the concave portion does not match the attaching / detaching direction of the extension unit both when it is closed and when it is closed, it has an effect that it can be prevented from falling off both during operation and when carrying.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device and an extension unit according to the third aspect, wherein:
The convex portion has a columnar shape, and has an outer diameter substantially equal to the width of the groove-shaped concave portion, and has an effect of preventing the extension unit from swinging in a direction perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction. .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a notebook personal computer and an extension unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a fitting portion showing a state where the extension unit is attached to the notebook personal computer. , FIG. 2A shows the state when the display unit is closed,
FIG. 2B shows a state where the display unit is opened.

In the figure, 1 is a main body of a notebook computer, 2 is a display unit rotatably attached to the main body 1,
Reference numeral 2a denotes a concave portion provided on the side surface of the display unit 2, one end of which is an arc centered on the rotation center 3 of the display unit 2, and a groove having the same width as the arc extends to the outer shape of the display unit. Is an opening. As shown in FIG. 2, the direction of the groove is horizontal when the display unit 2 is superimposed on the main body 1, that is, the connector insertion / removal direction. Reference numeral 4 denotes a main body side connector. Reference numeral 5 denotes an extension unit, which includes a columnar projection 5a and an extension unit-side connector 6.

The operation of the notebook computer and the extension unit configured as described above will be described below.

First, when the extension unit 5 is mounted on the main body 1 of the notebook computer, as shown in FIG.
Is inserted into the groove of the concave portion 2a, the convex portion 5a of the extension unit is inserted, and the extension unit side connector 6 is slid along the groove toward the main body side connector 4 so that the connectors are connected to each other. Connect.

Next, when operating the notebook computer, the display unit 2 is operated.
Is rotated to the state shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in the figure, the direction of the groove of the concave portion 2a of the display unit 2 is obliquely downward, and the convex portion 5a of the extension unit 5 does not move in the connector insertion / removal direction due to the side wall of the concave portion 2a.

As described above, when the opening of the concave portion 2 a coincides with the insertion / removal direction of the main body side connector 4 and the extension unit side connector 6, the extension unit 5 is
When the opening of the concave portion 2a is in the other direction, the convex portion 5a of the extension unit 5 comes into contact with the side wall of the concave portion 2a. Will not fall off. Also, the protrusion 5
Since the movement of “a” is restricted also in the up-down direction, the swing in the direction perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction of the extension unit is small.

In the present embodiment, the extension unit can be mounted in a state where the display unit is superimposed on the main body unit, that is, in a state of being carried. However, the intermediate unit shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. If the direction of the groove is such that the extension unit can be mounted while the display unit is rotated to the position, there is no danger that the extension unit will fall off not only during operation but also when carrying.

In the present embodiment, the fitting portion between the convex portion of the extension unit and the concave portion of the display portion is provided at one place. However, the convex portions are arranged on both sides of the extension unit, and the respective convex portions are provided with the concave portion of the display portion. When fitted, the extension unit is held by the main body on both sides, so that the extension unit can be further prevented from falling off.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when an extension unit for function extension is directly connected to a portable electronic device such as a notebook personal computer via a connector, the extension unit is integrated. The rotation of the display unit prevents the extension unit from falling off from the main unit, and prevents the extension unit from falling off. Shake can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a notebook computer and an extension unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fitting section showing a state in which the extension unit is mounted on the notebook computer according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a conventional notebook personal computer and an extension unit mounted / removed unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body part 2 Display part 2a Depression 3 Rotation center 4 Main body side connector 5 Expansion unit 5a Convex part 6 Extension unit side connector

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A main unit having at least one of an input device, a storage device, and an arithmetic unit, and a display unit including a display device mounted to be openable and closable about a support provided on the main unit. A portable electronic device having a connector portion to which an extension unit having an additional or new function is detachably connected to the main body, wherein a part of the extension unit fits into the display unit. A portable electronic device having a joint portion. 2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the extension unit is connected to a portable electronic device, and a fitting portion between the display unit of the portable electronic device and the extension unit includes a center of rotation of the display unit. The portable electronic device and extension unit according to claim 1. 3. The fitting portion is a fitting between a concave portion and a convex portion,
The concave portion is a groove shape having a direction, the convex portion is inserted when the groove direction of the concave portion substantially matches the attaching / detaching direction of the extension unit, and the groove direction of the concave portion is changed by rotating a display unit, 3. The extension unit according to claim 1, wherein the extension unit cannot be removed from the main body.
The described portable electronic device and extension unit. 4. The extension unit according to claim 3, wherein the direction of the groove of the recess and the direction of attachment / detachment of the extension unit coincide with each other when the display unit is opened at a position substantially intermediate between the closed position and the maximum open position. Portable electronics and expansion units. 5. The portable electronic device and extension unit according to claim 3, wherein the convex portion has a cylindrical shape, and has an outer diameter substantially equal to a width of the groove-shaped concave portion.