JP2001022509A - Input pen holding structure and information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an information terminal device main body to hold an input pen even while miniaturizing the information terminal device with respect to an input pen holding structure allowing the information terminal device main body capable of a pen input to hold an input pen. SOLUTION: A pen point locking part 41 locking the pen point of an input pen 3 and a rear end locking part 42 locking the rear end of the pen 3 are arranged at a side 23 of a device main body 2. The rear part of the pen 3 is locked on the part 42 by turning the pen 3 toward the main body 2 turnably around a locked part while the pen point of the pen 3 is locked on the part 41.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input pen holding structure and an information terminal device provided with the holding structure. In particular,
The present invention relates to measures for reducing the size of an information terminal device main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as a kind of portable information terminal device, there has been a device for inputting data or the like by operating an input screen using an input pen. Further, as a configuration for holding the input pen in the information terminal device main body, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-187327, the input pen can be stored in a storage portion provided inside the information terminal device main body. JP-A-5-289804
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H10-163, a storage recess is formed in a side surface of an information terminal device main body, and an input pen is stored in the storage recess. As described above, a storage section is formed on the upper surface of the information terminal device main body, and an input pen is stored in the storage section.

[0003]

However, in the conventional configuration, it is necessary to provide an input pen storage section in the information terminal equipment main body. Therefore, the information terminal equipment main body is large by the volume of the input pen storage section. There was a problem that it became. That is, it is necessary to previously provide a storage space for only the volume of the input pen inside the device main body, and the existence of this storage space has greatly hindered the miniaturization of the device main body.

As a measure to reduce the size of the information terminal device main body, it is conceivable that the input pen storage portion is not provided in the main body, and the main body of the information terminal device and the input pen are separately provided. However, in this case, storage of the input pen when the information terminal device is not used becomes complicated, and in some cases, the input pen may be lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input pen holding structure for holding an input pen in an information terminal device main body capable of pen input. An object of the present invention is to allow the information terminal device main body to hold an input pen while miniaturizing the device.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems-Summary of the Invention-In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input pen which is detachably held on a side surface of a main body of an information terminal device. , The information terminal device body can be reduced in size by the volume of the input pen.

-Solution Means- Specifically, it is assumed that an input pen holding structure for holding an input pen in a main body of an information terminal device capable of pen input is assumed. With respect to this input pen holding structure, a pen tip locking portion for locking the pen tip of the input pen and a rear end locking portion for locking the rear end of the input pen are provided on the side surface of the device main body. Then, in a state where the pen tip of the input pen is locked in the pen tip locking portion, the input pen is rotated toward the device body with the locked portion as a rotation center, and the rear end of the input pen is set at the rear end. The input pen is detachably held on the side surface of the device main body by being locked by the locking portion.

According to this specific matter, when the input pen is held on the side surface of the device main body, the pen tip and the rear end of the input pen are locked to the side surface of the device main body. When the input pen is detached from the device main body, a device main body reduced in volume by the input pen is obtained. That is, by not forming a space for accommodating the input pen in the device main body, it is possible to reduce the size of the information terminal device when using the input pen. Also, the input pen
Since the pen tip and the rear end are respectively locked to the device main body, a stable holding state is obtained.

Further, a concave groove is formed between the pen tip locking portion and the rear end locking portion on the side surface of the device main body, and a convex portion is formed on the outer surface of the input pen at a position corresponding to the concave groove. . When the input pen is held on the side surface of the device main body, the projection is fitted into the groove.

According to this specific matter, when the input pen is held by the device main body, the rear end of the input pen is engaged with the rear end locking portion while the convex portion of the input pen is fitted into the concave groove of the device main body. Is stopped. That is, by fitting the convex portion into the concave groove, it becomes easy to align the rear end of the input pen with the rear end locking portion. Further, when the input pen is held in the device main body, the convex portion is fitted in the concave groove, so that the input pen can be stably held in the device main body.

In another solution, a lid is provided on the pen tip engaging portion so that the internal space thereof can be freely opened and closed. The lid is flush with the side surface of the device main body in the closed state, and the pen tip of the input pen can be locked in the open state.

According to this specific matter, by closing the lid when the input pen is detached from the main body of the device,
The lid and the side surface of the device main body are flush. For this reason, when the information terminal device is used, there is no protrusion from the side surface of the device main body, and a good appearance can be secured.

[0013] In addition, a modular jack is provided at the pen tip engaging portion with respect to the apparatus provided with the lid, and the door is opened with the input pen removed from the main body of the apparatus, whereby the modular jack is opened. To connect a modular cable.

According to this particular feature, the function of locking the pen tip of the input pen and the function as the modular cable connection portion can be provided to the pen tip locking portion. Need not be provided. This also makes it possible to reduce the size of the information terminal device.

[0015] In the information terminal device provided with the input pen holding structure, a pen tip locking portion for locking a pen tip of the input pen and a rear end portion of the input pen are locked on a side surface of the device main body. And a rear end locking portion. Further, in a state where the pen tip of the input pen is locked to the pen tip locking portion, the input pen is rotated toward the device body with the locked portion as a rotation center, and the rear end of the input pen is set at the rear end. The input pen is detachably held on the side surface of the device main body by being locked by the locking portion.

According to this specific matter, it is possible to obtain an information terminal device that can be downsized when using the input pen as in the above case.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a handy type information terminal device will be described.

(First Embodiment) First, an information terminal device according to a first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main body 2 and an input pen 3 of an information terminal device 1 according to the present embodiment.

—Description of Configuration of Information Terminal Device 1— The device main body 2 is provided with an input screen 21 on the upper surface.
The input screen 21 has a transparent analog resistive film type tablet 22 on a dot matrix type liquid crystal display unit.
Is arranged and configured. As a result, data can be input to the tablet 22 with the input pen 3.

Further, FIG.
In the side surface 23, concave grooves 23a and 24a are formed in the side surface 23 located on the back side and the side surface 24 located on the near side. These concave grooves 23a and 24a are provided on the right side surface 2 of the device main body 2.
Open to 5

As one of the features of the present embodiment, an input pen holding section 4 is provided on a side surface 23 located on the back side of the apparatus main body 2 in FIG. Hereinafter, the input pen holding unit 4 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the input pen holding unit 4 includes a pen point locking unit 41 and a rear end locking unit 42.

The nib locking portion 41 is provided at one end (the left end in FIG. 2) of the concave groove 23a, and is connected to the nib locking member 43 opened to one side (the right side in FIG. 2). Have. The internal space of the pen tip locking member 43 is tapered. A holding claw 44 for holding the pen tip 35 of the input pen 3 is provided in the internal space of the pen tip locking member 43. The holding claw 44 is formed in a substantially U-shape that opens downward in FIG. 2, and holds the pen tip 35 of the input pen 3 on its inner surface.

On the other hand, the rear end locking portion 42 is
2 is continuous with the rear end side (the right end side in FIG. 2).
It has a locking hole 45 that is slightly deeper than 3a. A small projection 46 is formed on the upper edge of the locking hole 45.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the input pen 3 held by the input pen holding section 4 has a projection 31 extending in the longitudinal direction formed on the outer peripheral surface.
The shape of the projection 31 substantially matches the shape of the concave groove 23a. When the input pen 3 is held by the device main body 2, the protrusion 31 fits into the concave groove 23a. (See FIG. 4). A locking claw 32 is formed at the rear end of the projection 31. A hook 33 is formed at the tip of the locking claw 32, and when the input pen 3 is held by the device main body 2, the locking claw 32 is engaged with the locking hole 45.
And the hook 33 is engaged with the small projection 46.

-Description of Operation for Attaching / Detaching Input Pen 3- Next, an operation for attaching / detaching the input pen 3 to / from the device main body 2 will be described.

When the input pen 3 is held by the device main body 2, first, as shown in FIG. 2, the projection 31 and the locking claw 32 of the input pen 3 face the side surface 23 of the device main body 2. Then, the pen tip 35 is inserted into the internal space of the pen tip locking member 43 and held by the holding claws 44.

In this state, the input pen 3 is rotated toward the apparatus main body 2 with the pen point 35 as a rotation center (see the arrow in FIG. 2). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the locking claw 32 of the input pen 3 is fitted into the locking hole 45 of the rear end locking portion 42, and the hook 33 is engaged with the small projection 46. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the projection 31 of the input pen 3 is fitted in the concave groove 23a of the device main body 2 (see FIG. 4).

As a result, the pen tip 35 of the input pen 3 is locked by the pen tip locking portion 41, and the rear end portion is locked by the rear end locking portion 42. It will be held on the side surface 23 of the device main body 2 without detaching.

On the other hand, when inputting data to the tablet 22 using the input pen 3, the input pen 3 is detached from the device main body 2. The detaching operation is performed by an operation reverse to the above-described holding operation. That is, the rear end of the input pen 3 is gripped and the locking claw 32 is
Withdraw from 5. At this time, a pull-out force is required to release the engagement between the hook 33 and the small projection 46. With this operation, the input pen 3 is rotated in a direction away from the device main body 2 around the pen tip 35 as a rotation center.

After the state shown in FIG. 2 due to this rotation, the pen tip 35 of the input pen 3 is pulled out from the pen tip locking member 43, whereby the input pen 3 is detached from the device main body 2 and the input pen 3 is removed. Input to the tablet 22 can be performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the input pen 3 is
The input pen 3 can be attached to and detached from the device main body 2 without providing the storage section. That is, when the input pen 3 is detached from the device main body 2, the information terminal device 1 can be downsized by the volume of the input pen 3. For this reason, it is possible to achieve both the downsizing of the information terminal device 1 and the configuration in which the input pen 3 is held by the device main body 2.

In this embodiment, since the projection 31 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the input pen 3 is fitted into the concave groove 23a of the device main body 2, when the input pen 3 is held by the device main body 2, The rear end of the input pen 3 is locked by the rear locking portion 42 while the projection 31 of the input pen 3 is fitted into the concave groove 23 a of the device main body 2. That is, by fitting the projection 31 into the concave groove 23a, it becomes easy to align the rear end of the input pen 3 with the rear end locking portion 42. Further, when the input pen 3 is held by the device main body 2, the projection 31 is fitted into the concave groove 23 a, so that the input pen 3 can be stably held by the device main body 2.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the pen tip locking portion 41 is used.
Is changed. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, only the pen tip engaging portion 41 will be described here.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pen tip engaging portion 41 of the device main body 2 according to the present embodiment has the lid 5.
The left end of the lid 5 in the figure is connected to the device main body 2 via a hinge mechanism 51. The cover 5 has an insertion hole 52 into which the pen point 35 is inserted when the input pen 3 is held.

FIG. 5 and FIG.
7 shows a state in which the input pen 3 is held by the device main body 2. As shown in these figures, when the input pen 3 is removed from the device main body 2, the lid 5 is closed, and the outer surface of the lid 5 and the side surface 23a of the device main body 2 are flush. That is, the pen tip locking portion 41 does not protrude from the side surface 23a of the device main body 2. On the other hand, when the input pen 3 is held by the device main body 2, the lid 5 is opened, and the pen tip 35 is inserted into the insertion hole 52.
Is inserted, the locking claw 32 at the rear end of the input pen 3 is locked in the locking hole 45 of the device main body 2.

The one end edge of the lid 5 is provided so that the pen tip 35 can be easily inserted into the pen tip locking portion 41.
A guide portion 53 bent slightly outward is integrally formed. In the vicinity of the lid 5 in the concave groove 23a formed on the side surface 23 of the device body 2, a pen point insertion portion 23b having a slightly larger width dimension is formed. That is, when the pen tip 35 is inserted into the pen tip locking part 41, the guide part 5 is inserted through the pen tip insertion part 23b.
The cover 5 is opened by pressing the pen tip 35 against the cover 3.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the device body 2
When the input pen 3 is detached from the device 5, the lid 5 is closed, and the outer surface of the lid 5 and the side surface 23a of the device main body 2 are closed.
Are in a flush state. For this reason, the external appearance of the device main body 2 is properly secured.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the pen tip locking portion 41 is also used.
Is changed. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment. Therefore, only the pen tip engaging portion 41 will be described here.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the modular jack 6 is provided inside the pen tip engaging portion 41 of the device main body 2 according to the present embodiment.

For this reason, as shown in FIG.
The modular cable 7 can be connected to the modular jack 6 by opening the lid 5 in a state where the input pen 3 is detached from the cable.

Therefore, the area for holding the input pen 3 and the area for connecting the modular cable 7 can be shared, and the size of the device main body 2 can be reduced as compared with the case where these areas are individually provided. Becomes possible.

-Other Embodiments- In each of the above-described embodiments, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to a handy type information terminal device. The present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to devices such as notebook computers.

In each of the above embodiments, the input pen 3 is detachable from the long side surface 23 of the device main body 2. The present invention is not limited to this, and the input pen 3 may be detachably attached to the side surface on the short side of the device main body 2.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the input pen is detachably held on the side surface of the information terminal device main body when the input pen is held by the information terminal device main body capable of pen input. . Therefore, the input pen can be attached to and detached from the device main body without providing a storage portion for the input pen in the device main body. That is, when the input pen is detached from the device main body, the information terminal device can be downsized by the volume of the input pen. As a result, the downsizing of the information terminal device and the configuration in which the input pen is held in the device main body can be compatible, and the practicality of this type of information terminal device can be improved. Further, since the pen tip and the rear end of the input pen are locked to the device main body, a stable holding state is obtained, and the input pen can be prevented from being accidentally dropped from the device main body. The concern such as loss of can be solved.

In a case where the projection of the input pen is fitted into the groove of the device main body in a state where the input pen is held on the side surface of the device main body, when the input pen is held by the device main body. Thus, the operation of aligning the rear end of the input pen with the rear end locking portion can be easily performed, and the usability of the information terminal device can be improved. Further, when the input pen is held in the device main body, the convex portion is fitted in the concave groove, so that the input pen can be stably held in the device main body.

Further, a lid is provided at the pen tip locking portion, and when the lid is closed, the side surface of the device main body and the lid are flush with each other. When the information terminal device is used, the side surface of the device main body is used. There is no protruding material, and the appearance can be favorably secured.

In addition, a modular jack is provided at the pen tip locking portion, and the door is opened with the input pen removed from the device main body, so that a modular cable can be connected to the modular jack. In such a case, there is no need to provide the modular cable connection portion at an individual location, and thus the size of the information terminal device can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main body and an input pen of an information terminal device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an attaching / detaching operation of an input pen with respect to a device main body.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an input pen is held by a device main body.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an upper surface of an information terminal device in a state where an input pen is removed from a device main body in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an input pen is removed from a device main body in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an input pen is held by a device main body in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an input pen is held by a device main body in the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an operation when a modular cable is connected to a device main body in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information terminal device 2 Device main body 23 Side surface 23a Depression groove 3 Input pen 31 Projection (convex part) 41 Pen tip locking part 42 Rear end locking part 5 Lid 6 Modular jack 7 Modular cable

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An input pen holding structure for holding an input pen on a main body of an information terminal device capable of inputting with a pen, wherein a pen tip locking portion for locking a pen tip of the input pen is provided on a side surface of the device main body. A rear end locking portion that locks a rear end portion of the input pen. In a state where the pen tip of the input pen is locked to the pen tip locking portion, the locking portion is used as a rotation center. The input pen is detachably held on the side surface of the device main body by rotating the input pen toward the device main body and locking the rear end of the input pen to the rear end locking portion. Input pen holding structure. 2. The input pen holding structure according to claim 1, wherein a concave groove is formed between a pen tip engaging portion and a rear end engaging portion on a side surface of the device main body, and an outer surface of the input pen. A convex portion is formed at a position corresponding to the concave groove, and the convex portion is fitted in the concave groove when the input pen is held on a side surface of the device main body. Input pen holding structure. 3. The input pen holding structure according to claim 1, wherein the pen tip engaging portion is provided with a lid that can open and close an internal space thereof, and the lid is in a closed state. An input pen holding structure, wherein the pen tip of the input pen can be locked in an open state while being flush with a side surface of the device main body. 4. The input pen holding structure according to claim 3, wherein a modular jack is provided at the pen tip locking portion, and the door is opened by removing the input pen from the device main body. An input pen holding structure, wherein a modular cable is connectable to a modular jack. 5. An information terminal device comprising an input pen holding portion provided in a device main body, wherein the input pen is held in the input pen holding portion, wherein a pen tip of the input pen is locked to a side surface of the device main body. A pen tip locking portion, and a rear end locking portion for locking a rear end portion of the input pen, wherein the locking is performed in a state where the pen tip of the input pen is locked to the pen tip locking portion. By rotating the input pen toward the device main body with the portion as the rotation center and locking the rear end of the input pen to the rear end locking portion, the input pen is detachably held on the side surface of the device main body. Information terminal equipment characterized by the following.