JP2000181576A - Portable information device with sliding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make movable a portable device by an easy operation and to suppress such a probability low that the device suffers from damage by providing the portable device including a notebook-type PC with a sliding device in the back of its main body and making a part of the sliding device projected from the bottom and/or the rear face. SOLUTION: The notebook-type PC is provided with a sliding device formed by a wheel-shaped rotating part 21, a shaft part 22, a shaft bearing part 23 and a function controlling part 25 in the back of the main body 1. And, the part 21 is projected from the bottom of the main body 1. Such a sliding device can be moved back and forth, but it is difficult to be moved to the left and right or obliquely. Because of this, operations by users and expected operations of this device are made simple and clear, and the notebook-type PC is prevented from being influenced by unexpected impact. Also, in the sliding device, the controlling part 25 is pressed down by being connected with the opening/closing of a display to press the rotating part 21 so that a sliding function can be prohibited.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information device (hereinafter abbreviated as a portable device), mainly a notebook computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a notebook PC), when it is used on a desk. The present invention relates to a device included in a device for effectively using a space provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, computers in Japan (hereinafter referred to as PCs)
It is said that notebook PCs now account for about half of sales. However, in overseas, especially in Europe and the United States, desktop PCs including a tower type that can select high-performance products at the same price are said to occupy most of the sales. This is probably due to the relatively high cost of installing a PC in Japan.

It is assumed that a portable device, for example, a notebook PC is used on a desk. It is not often the case that a notebook PC is always installed at the same position on a desk and office space is separately prepared on the desk. In an office using a PC, preparing a desk or space dedicated to the PC means that the cost is increased. When the number of PCs to be used is small, it can be said that a dedicated desk is prepared for sharing. However, in recent years, many offices are trying to maintain one PC per person. In such offices, there are many cases where a PC is operated at one office desk and other office work is also performed. It can be said that the introduction of PCs has worsened the work environment.

In the case of a desktop PC, a space enough to open documents can be secured by removing the keyboard in front of the desktop PC. Most keyboards do not use electronic components that are extremely sensitive to shock, and even when powered through a serial connection, lifting or leaning is unlikely to cause significant damage.

[0005] In terms of weight, portable devices, compared to desktop PCs, range from pager devices and electronic organizers of several hundred g to A4 size notebook PCs, which are equivalent to desktop PCs in function, exceeding 4 kg. Portable devices are more likely to be moved than other electronic devices, and are more likely to be damaged by vibration or impact. This is especially true for portable devices having a disk-type storage device. The heavier the mobile device, the more likely it is that the vibration or shock it causes, even when placed on a desk, will cause damage to the mobile device. Even just
It is said that the comparative performance of conventional portable devices, including notebook PCs, will become obsolete in a few years. If the service life is shortened due to damage, further loss will occur. Will be lost instantly.
In some respects, this situation may be the result of the mobile usage being more advanced than the improvement of the damage resistance of the mobile device.

[0006] However, any restriction that retreats social activities, such as restricting the form of use of the user, can be said to be a headwind for industrial improvement. In cognitive psychology, too, users and forms of use should not be restricted before functional improvement. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is a social loss if calculated on a national scale. As a method of preventing these losses, it is conceivable to improve the design and parts of a portable device against impact.

At present, for example, when a notebook PC is not used, it is conceivable to make a space by turning off a power supply, closing it, and leaning it. This "close and lean" action includes turning off the power, closing the display, disconnecting the AC cable, lifting the laptop, turning the laptop vertically, moving it, and placing it on a hard surface such as a desk or foot. , And many other operations. It is important to note that almost any movement, such as lifting, turning, or dropping a few kilograms, is likely to cause unexpected damage. Further, the operation is repeated every time the PC is used.

Some fatal damages to portable devices can be recognized by the user immediately after the occurrence, but some are recognized after a sufficient time from the occurrence of the damage. In the latter case, damage that appears only after minor damage has been repeated is included. As described above, it can be said that one of the problems is that the user is not immediately notified of information as to whether or not almost all of the vibrations and shocks received by the portable device cause damage or the damage gradually progresses.

[0009] The same impact as described above may occur even if the user merely moves backward on the tabletop without standing up.
The heavier electronic devices are provided with a non-slip mechanism on the contact surface with the installation table, and are often difficult to move by simply applying a horizontal force on the installation table. Even modern notebook PCs with the adjective mobile weigh between 1 kg and 4 kg and cannot be easily moved on a desktop. In order to move the notebook PC backward, an operation of inevitably lifting and lowering a heavy electronic device is performed in the same manner as when leaning the electronic device. Therefore, the possibility of an unexpected impact increases. As a cushioning material, some notebook PCs use a sticky material such as a rubber material for a contact surface with a mounting table, and particularly in an office,
In many cases, a sheet made of an adhesive material is also laid on the installation table. These have the advantage that the portable device is hard to slide on the installation table easily, but the operation of raising and lowering the notebook PC occurs even if the installation position is changed even a little, creating the conventional problems according to the present invention. It is also a drawback.

[0010] Conventionally, there has been known an apparatus which effectively utilizes a limited space on a desk. In particular, note P
When using C, drawer-type pedestals have been commercialized in order to effectively use the limited space on the desk.
This provides a pedestal on which the notebook PC is placed, the pedestal having a sliding mechanism such as wheels on the bottom surface, and
Is to move back and forth on the desktop. When the notebook PC is not used, it is possible to move to the rear of the desk and create a space in front. There is also known a product in which the pedestal and a box-shaped storage unit are combined so that books and the like can be stacked on the storage unit.

It is difficult to expect that the size of the office desk will be greatly increased due to the relation with other office equipment and office space. In many cases, even if a PC is introduced, it will continue to be used together with other paperwork on a conventional-sized office desk. As a result, the office environment has deteriorated in many offices, and this situation is expected to progress further. Deteriorating office environments can lead to lower processing efficiency. This can be considered a huge loss on a national scale.

[0012]

Conventionally, the following problems have been encountered in a device that effectively uses a limited space when a notebook PC is used on a desk, for example, the pedestal described above. First, the pedestal itself has the same size as a notebook PC, and in some cases, the negative effect of narrowing the limited space on the desk increases. Second, cost-effectiveness is not clear for procurement of pedestals by the number of notebook PCs used. Third, when there is a box-shaped storage unit, the display cannot be stored backward with the display upright. Fourth, placing the notebook PC on the pedestal raises the keyboard surface, causing a problem such as increasing the burden on the wrist during operation. Fundamentally, in a conventional pedestal that is stored behind a table, the wiring of cables and the like is determined for the purpose of convenience on the pedestal. There was a problem that was limited.

Further, since a cable such as an AC power supply, a mouse or a printer is connected to the rear of the notebook PC, some space is conventionally provided. It can be said that the present invention effectively utilizes a space behind the device typified by the notebook PC, which is inefficiently used, but is difficult to eliminate due to cables and the like.

[0014]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a portable device including a notebook PC, which has a slide device, for example, at the rear of a main body, and a part of the slide device is formed on a bottom surface of the main body. And / or project from the rear surface. Then, by bringing the slide device into contact with the desk, the portable device can be moved by an easy operation. Easy operation means that the probability of damage to the equipment is kept low. As a result, the present invention is considered to greatly contribute to the industry.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a portable device including a notebook PC, in which one or more rotating wheel-shaped slide devices are provided at the rear of the main body, and a part of the wheels protrudes from the bottom surface and / or the rear surface of the main body. It was made. When the slide device is in the form of a wheel, for example, it is possible to move in the front-back direction, and it is difficult to move in the left-right or oblique directions. However, in other words, both the user's operation and the expected operation of the device become simple and clear, and it is possible to prevent an unexpected impact from being applied to the notebook PC.

It is also effective that the slide device is spherical instead of wheel-shaped. When the slide device is spherical, the degree of freedom of movement of the device is increased. The operation is similar to the smooth movement of the mouse device which is the input device of the PC.

The slide device may function by constantly contacting the installation table with the portable device installed on the installation table. For example, all parts that come into contact with the installation table and support the weight of the device may be slide devices. However, in consideration of safety, of the mounting legs normally supported at four points, the two points in front of the device are the same as before, and the two points behind the device are
A method using a slide device is conceivable. In this design,
There is an advantage that it is possible to slide just by slightly floating the front of the device. In addition, a method is conceivable in which a slide device is added and attached while leaving the conventional installation feet of the notebook PC. For example, in a state where the slide device is attached to the rear of the device and the device is installed on the installation table, a mechanism that allows the slide device to float without contacting the installation table can be considered. With this design, there is an advantage that the device is prevented from unexpectedly moving on the table in a state where the device is installed on the installation table, and an easy operation of slightly lifting the front of the device so that the slide device can be installed on the installation table is sufficient. If the number of operations is small and easy, damage can be prevented by that much.

Further, it is also effective to control the slide function of the slide device in accordance with whether the portable device is used or not used. This corresponds to the idea that if the slide device always functions, the danger due to unexpected movement of the device cannot be wiped out. For example, in a notebook PC, there is a method in which control of a slide function is linked to opening and closing of a display also serving as a cover. In this case, for example, the control is a switching operation of inhibiting the slide function and restarting the slide function.

As a method of interlocking the control of the slide function, a manual switch type may be used. For example, when trying to move the notebook PC, it is assumed that an operation is performed in which the front of the notebook PC is first lifted and slightly lifted from the installation table. This is because the weight of the notebook PC is supported only by the slide device of the notebook PC so as to be easily movable. At this time, a method is conceivable in which a mechanical switch is prepared at a portion where the notebook PC is grasped by hand, and the switch is linked with control of the slide function.

With respect to the slide device, it is undeniable that a book or the like is loaded on the upper portion of the portable device and a load far exceeding the weight of the portable device is applied to the wheel shaft. In such a case, if the shaft is processed with a material having high rigidity, there is a high possibility that the shaft or the bearing on the side of the portable device main body is damaged. In order to prevent this, it is effective to use a material that bends the shaft and / or bearing part when a load exceeding a certain level is applied and returns to the original shape when the load is removed, especially a material with high shock absorption. is there. In addition, it is also effective to use a material for the wheels or balls of the slide device, or at least a material having high shock absorption on the surface.

For the slide device, for example, when a sphere is used, there are several possible parts and shapes for rotatably incorporating the sphere in a portable device. For example, P
As with the mouse of the input device for C, there is a method of supporting the sphere with a plurality of rotating cylindrical axes. Alternatively, there is a method in which a plurality of separate spheres are arranged in an annular shape so as to be used in a turntable for a television, and the sphere is rotated in combination with a main sphere.
However, simply arranging a plurality of spheres in an annular shape does not necessarily mean that the slide device functions smoothly in any direction.

In order to prevent the cables from being involved in the slide device, it is also effective to protect the periphery of the wheels or balls with a cover similar to a mudguard of an automobile, for example.

The present invention is not without its disadvantages unpredictable. In some respects, there may be a view that mounting a slide device increases the risk that the portable device will suddenly fall off the mounting table. Regarding the problem, when the mobile device slides on the installation table and the slide device leaves the installation table,
By design adjustment of the position of the leg supporting the weight of the portable device and the position of the center of gravity, it can be sufficiently avoided at a practical level.

[0024]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, a slide device 20 is provided behind the notebook PC. In this figure, the slide device 20 is formed by a wheel-shaped rotating part 21, a shaft part 22, and a bearing part.
In this drawing, one slide device 20 is shown, but it goes without saying that it may be provided in a pair on the left and right or at another position.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a slide device 20 is provided behind the notebook PC, and the slide device 20 is formed by a spherical rotating portion 21 and a rotation assisting portion 24. The rotation assisting part 24 is for making the rotating part 21 function smoothly, and this drawing shows an example in which the rotation assisting part 24 is supported at three points like a mouse of a PC input device.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the slide device is formed by a rotating part 21, a shaft part 22, and a function control part 25. The function control unit 25 controls the slide function in conjunction with the use or non-use state of the mobile device. As an example in the drawing, the function control unit 25 moves up and down by opening and closing the display. It has been switching to prohibit and restart the slide function.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a part of the installation legs of the conventional portable device is replaced with a wheel-shaped slide device 21. In the figure, as an example, the installation device 30 is replaced with a slide device, and the slide device is constantly slidably in contact with the installation table 30 in a state where the portable device is installed on the installation table 30.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a wheel-type 21 slide device is provided separately from the installation legs of the conventional portable device. In the figure, as an example, a portable device is installed on a table 30.
The slide device does not contact the installation table when it is installed in
The embodiment in which the sliding device comes into contact with the mounting base slidably by slightly lifting the front of the portable device is shown.

In the example of use shown in FIG. 6, for example, a situation in which a conventional office and a notebook PC are used together in an office is described. This is an example in which a space that has been conventionally used for cable wiring behind a notebook PC is more effectively used.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, in a notebook PC, a wheel-shaped rotating portion 21, a shaft portion 22, and a bearing portion 23 are provided.
2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a slide device formed from the function control unit 25. FIG. In this figure, the function control unit 25 is pushed down in conjunction with opening and closing of the display,
Squeezing the slide function is prohibited.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a vertical sectional view of a slide device formed of a spherical rotating portion 21 and a rotation assisting portion 24 in a notebook PC is shown. In this drawing, the rotation assisting unit 24 that supports the rotating unit 21 with a plurality of rotating cylindrical shafts is shown as an example.

[0032]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above and has the following effects.

Since the portable device has the slide device mainly formed of one or more rotating wheels, the portable device can be easily moved in the front-rear direction on the installation table without moving the portable device up and down. . Similarly, by providing the mobile device with a slide device mainly formed of one or more rotating spheres, it is possible to facilitate movement with a higher degree of freedom. As a result, the office environment, which has deteriorated in space due to the introduction of PCs and the like, is greatly improved, and the space can be used safely and effectively.

In addition, in a portable device, for example, a notebook PC, an inefficient space has been conventionally created in the rear portion by wiring of cables and the like, but the present invention can also be used effectively. If the situation of notebook PCs used in industrial activities is roughly summarized, it is clear that the social benefits secured by the present invention are enormous.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to effectively use the space on the installation table by an easy operation without impairing portability, which is a feature of a portable device. This effect secures portability, which could not be said to be sufficiently secured by the notebook PC pedestal that has been conventionally used in a part, and greatly improves the convenience.

The most significant effect is that the possibility of the portable device being subjected to vibration or impact can be greatly reduced. By suppressing the lifting and lowering operation that has occurred only by moving the portable device even a little, it is possible to greatly reduce from small damage to fatal damage without burdening the user. If the situation of notebook PCs used in industrial activities is roughly tabulated, it is clear that the present invention has a large social loss that can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a slide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the slide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an embodiment of the slide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an embodiment of the slide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an embodiment of the slide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of use of the portable information device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the slide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the slide device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable information device 20 Slide device 21 Rotation part 22 Shaft part 23 Bearing part 24 Rotation assistance part 25 Function control part 30 Installation stand

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A portable information device including a notebook computer, comprising a sliding device mainly formed of one or more rotating wheels, and a part of the wheels protruding from a bottom surface and / or a rear surface of the main body. A portable information device characterized by the following. 2. A portable information device including a notebook computer, comprising a sliding device mainly formed of one or more rotating spheres, and a part of the sphere protruding from a bottom surface and / or a rear surface of the main body. A portable information device characterized by the following. 3. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the slide function of the slide device is controlled in accordance with opening / closing of a display or a switch included in the portable information device.