JP2002055761A - Portable electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable electronic equipment whose portability and operability is satisfactory, and whose occupancy space when is it used is small. SOLUTION: A cover case 3 is mounted on an equipment main body 1 so that a display screen 2 can be protected. Also, only the display screen 2 is arranged at the upper side of the equipment main body 1, and a keyboard 4 is overlapped on the display screen 2 so that it is not necessary to especially minimize them, and that it is possible to achieve the miniaturization of the equipment main body 1. Also, it is possible to acquire satisfactory operability since it is not necessary to miniaturize the keyboard 4. Moreover, it is possible to operate the keyboard 4 while viewing the display screen 2 through a transparent window 5. Also, the occupancy space of the portable electronic equipment is made small. When the cover case 3 is removed from the equipment main body 1, an input with a pen 2b is made possible while viewing the whole display screen 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a portable electronic device having a display screen and a keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable electronic device of this type is required to be portable, easy to operate, and occupy a small space when used.

For example, in a "desktop computer" described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-104454, the back side of the computer body is superimposed on a base when used, and the display screen on the front side of the computer body is displayed in this state. Operate each key while watching, and when storing, flip the front and back of the computer,
The front side of the computer body is overlaid on the base, thereby protecting the display screen and each key.

[0004] In a "portable information terminal" described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-212257, a display unit is attached to a main body so as to be openable and closable, and a keyboard is attached to the main body so as to be openable and closable. The display unit and the keyboard unit are both closed, and when stored, the display unit and the keyboard unit are both closed and overlapped on the main unit.

[0005]

However, in the device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 2-104454, the display screen and each key are arranged on the front side of the computer main body. There is no choice but to reduce the size, and there is a problem in both the visibility of the display screen and the operability of each key.

Further, in the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-212257, since the display unit and the keyboard unit are both opened at the time of use, there is a problem that the occupied space in this state is wide.

[0007] As described above, conventional portable electronic devices have problems that, even if they are convenient to carry, they do not achieve good operability and that they occupy a large space when used.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is intended to provide a portable electronic device which is convenient to carry, has good operability, and occupies a small space when used. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a portable electronic device according to the present invention comprises a device main body having a display screen, and a cover case put on the display screen to protect the display screen. And a keyboard provided in the cover case, and an output transmission unit for transmitting the output of the keyboard to the device main body. A window is formed in the carver case in order to view the display screen with the cover case covered.

Further, the portable electronic device of the present invention has a device main body having a display screen, a cover case to cover the display screen for protecting the display screen, and a cover case provided on the cover case. A keyboard that can change the position of the keyboard, and an output transmitting unit that transmits the output of the keyboard to the device main body. With the change in the position of the keyboard, the area of the cover case occupied by the keyboard before the change in the position Is opened to provide a window for viewing the display screen.

According to the present invention having such a configuration, since the cover case is superimposed on the display screen of the device main body, the display screen is protected. In addition, since the keyboard is provided in the cover case, it is not necessary to arrange the display screen and the keyboard together on the device main body, and it is possible to achieve the miniaturization of the device main body without specially reducing the display screen and the keyboard. And portability can be sufficiently secured.

[0012] In addition, since no special miniaturization of the keyboard is required, good operability can be ensured. Furthermore,
Since the keyboard can be operated while viewing the display screen through the window of the cover case, the occupied space can be reduced, and, for example, mobile outdoors can be facilitated.

Since the display screen does not need to be particularly reduced in size, good visibility can be ensured with the cover case removed. Further, since the display screen is wide, for example, an input method of superimposing a transparent touch panel on the display screen and bringing a pen into contact with the touch panel can be easily implemented, and operability can be significantly improved.

Further, in a configuration in which the position of the keyboard is changed and the area occupied by the keyboard is opened to provide a window for viewing the display screen, the keyboard may occupy almost the entire area of the cover case. Therefore, the key operability of the keyboard can be improved by increasing the key top size and key pitch of the keyboard.

In the present invention, the keyboard is
The keyboard is detachable from the cover case, and can be mounted with the keyboard turned upside down. When carrying, flip the front and back of the keyboard, not only the display screen,
Keyboard can be protected.

Further, according to the present invention, the output transmitting section is:
It includes a connector for connecting the device body and the cover case, and a flexible wiring board for connecting the cover case and the keyboard. If the cover case and the keyboard are connected via the flexible wiring board in this manner, it is easy to change the position of the keyboard with respect to the cover case.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a first embodiment of the portable electronic device of the present invention. 1 and 2
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the portable electronic device of the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the portable electronic device, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view cut along AA of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, this portable electronic device includes a device main body 1 and a cover case 3.
A display screen 2 of a liquid crystal display unit is provided on an upper surface of the device body 1.
Is provided. A transparent touch panel 2a is overlaid on the display screen 2, and various data and instructions can be input by touching the touch panel 2a with a pen 2b.

The cover case 3 is provided with a keyboard 4 and a transparent window 5. Other parts of the cover case 3 except for the transparent window 5 are made opaque by coloring or printing, and various visual designs are made. Alternatively, the entire cover case 3 may be made transparent. Further, instead of providing the transparent window 5, the cover case 3 may be opened at this portion.

Each groove 1a is formed on both sides of the main body 1. Each side wall 3a is provided on both sides of the cover case 3, and each fitting rail 3b is provided at an edge of the side wall 3a. Each of the fitting rails 3b of the cover case 3 is fitted into each of the grooves 1a of the device main body 1, and the cover case 3 is moved in the direction of the arrow Y so that the cover case 3
Is mounted on the device body 1. In this state, the display screen 2 is covered and protected by the cover case 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the portion of the cover case 3 where the keyboard 4 is arranged has a hollow structure, and a keyboard substrate 4a is housed inside the hollow portion 3c. Each key top 4b is arranged on the keyboard substrate 4a. Further, the end of the cover case 3 also has a hollow structure, and a connector board 8 is provided in a horizontal direction on an inner wall 3e of the hollow portion 3d. The male connector 7 is fixed to the lower surface of the connector board 8, and the male connector 7 projects horizontally from the hole 3f of the inner wall 3e. The male connector 7 and the keyboard board 4a are connected via a flexible wiring board 9.

On the other hand, a female connector 12 is fixed on a circuit board 11 in the device main body 1, and the female connector 12 is
c to the outside.

As described above, when the cover case 3 is mounted on the device main body 1, the male connector 7 of the cover case 3 is fitted and connected to the female connector 12 of the device main body 1 at this time. As a result, the keyboard board 4a is connected to the flexible wiring board 9, the male connector 7, and the female connector 12
To the circuit board 11, and input from the keyboard 4 to the device main body 1 becomes possible.

In the portable electronic device having such a configuration,
By attaching the cover case 3 to the device main body 1, the display screen 2 can be protected. Further, since only the display screen 2 is arranged on the upper side of the device main body 1 and the keyboard 4 is superimposed on the display screen 2, it is not necessary to particularly reduce the size thereof. Further, the size of the device body 1 can be reduced without reducing the size of the display screen 2 and the keyboard 4.

Since the keyboard 4 is not downsized,
Good operability can be obtained. Further, the user can operate the keyboard 4 while looking at the display screen 2 through the transparent window 5, and can easily input a long sentence or the like.
In addition, the space occupied by the portable electronic device at this time can be small, and, for example, mobile outdoors can be facilitated.

When the cover case 3 is detached from the main body 1, the user can input data with the pen 2b while viewing the entire display screen 2.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show a second embodiment of the portable electronic device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the portable electronic device of the second embodiment, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a use state of the portable electronic device, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. FIG. Note that, in FIGS. 5 to 7, the same reference numerals are given to portions that perform the same operations as those of the devices illustrated in FIGS.

In the second embodiment, a cover case 21 is provided instead of the cover case 3 shown in FIGS. An opening 21a is formed in the cover case 21, and each groove 21c is formed in the inner edge of both sides of the opening 21a. Each fitting rail 22e is provided on both sides of the keyboard 22.
Is provided. The keyboard 22 is mounted on the cover case 21 by fitting each fitting rail 22 e of the keyboard 22 into each groove 21 c of the cover case 21. In addition, the keyboard 22 can be freely moved in the arrow direction X, and when the portion occupied by the keyboard 22 is opened with this movement, a window 23 is formed.

The keyboard 22 has a hollow structure, and a keyboard substrate 22a is provided inside the hollow portion 22c.
And the key tops 22b are arranged on the keyboard substrate 22a, and the female connector 26 is connected to the keyboard substrate 22a. The female connector 26 faces outward through the hole 22d of the keyboard 22.

On the other hand, the female connector 27 is fixed on the circuit board 11 in the device body 1, and the female connector 27 is directed outward through the hole 1d in the side wall.

Here, the male connector 28a at one end of the cord 28 is fitted and connected to the female connector 26 of the keyboard 22, and the male connector 28a at the other end of the cord 28 is connected.
b is fitted and connected to the female connector 27 of the device main body 1. Thereby, the keyboard board 22a is connected to the circuit board 11 via the female connector 26 and the male connector 28a, the cord 28, the male connector 28b, and the female connector 27, and input from the keyboard 22 to the device main body 1 is possible. become.

The cover case 21 is mounted on the equipment body 1 by fitting the fitting rails 21b into the grooves 1a of the equipment body 1 in the same manner as the cover case 3 shown in FIGS. .

In such a configuration, the cover case 2
The display screen 2 can be protected by attaching the device 1 to the device main body 1. In addition, the keyboard 22 has a size that covers almost the entire display screen 2, and is larger than the keyboard 4 shown in FIGS. Therefore, the size and the key pitch of each key top 22b of the keyboard 22 can be increased, and the operability of the keyboard 22 is further improved. Of course, the device body 1 remains small.

When using this portable electronic device, the keyboard 22 is moved in the arrow direction X to form a window 23, and the keyboard 22 is operated while viewing the display screen 2 through the window 23. The space occupied by the portable electronic device in this state is slightly larger than that of the portable electronic device shown in FIGS.

Further, the input may be made by bringing the pen 2b into contact with the touch panel 2a through the window 23 simultaneously with the input from the keyboard 22. Further, the cover case 21 is detached from the device body 1 and the display screen 2
The input with the pen 2b may be performed while looking at the whole.

Further, when carrying the portable electronic device, the keyboard 22 is moved and pulled out of the cover case 21 once, and thereafter the keyboard 2 is moved as shown in FIGS.
2, the fitting rails 22e of the keyboard 22 are fitted into the grooves 21c of the cover case 21,
The keyboard 22 may be attached to the cover case 21 again. In this state, each key top 22 of the keyboard 22 is
Since b faces inside and the flat back side of the keyboard 22 faces outside, keys are not caught or pressed when the portable electronic device is put in or taken out of a pocket or the like, which is preferable in appearance.

FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 1
FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the portable electronic device of the present invention. 10 and 11 are perspective views showing a portable electronic device according to the third embodiment, FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the portable electronic device, and FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along a line DD in FIG. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line EE in FIG. Note that, in FIGS. 10 to 14, the same reference numerals are given to portions that perform the same operations as those of the portable electronic device illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7.

In the third embodiment, the female connectors 26 and 27 and the male connectors 28a and 28 shown in FIGS.
Instead of the b and the cord 28, a connection unit 31 shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 is applied, so that the connector and the cord are not exposed as shown in FIGS.

The connection unit 31 is provided in the cover case 2
1 is a connector board 3 protruding in the horizontal direction on the inner wall 21e.
2, a male connector 33 fixed to the lower surface of the connector board 32, a connector board 34 connected to the keyboard board 22a, a flexible wiring board 35 connecting the connector boards 32 and 34, Circuit board 11
And a female connector 36 fixed to the connector.

When the cover case 21 is mounted on the main body 1, the male connector 33 of the cover case 21
Are fitted and connected to the female connector 36 of the device main body 1. As a result, the keyboard board 22a is connected to the connector board 34, the flexible wiring board 35, the connector board 32,
It is connected to the circuit board 11 via the male connector 33 and the female connector 36, and the input from the keyboard 22 to the device main body 1 becomes possible.

Here, the flexible wiring board 35 has a sufficient length, is bent into an S-shape, and is housed in the hollow portion 21 d of the cover case 21. Keyboard 2
2 is closed, the flexible wiring board 35
5 (a), and when the keyboard 22 is opened and the window 23 is formed, the flexible wiring board 35 is in a state as shown in FIG. 15 (b).

As described above, in the connection unit 31, the keyboard 22 and the main body 1 are connected to each other through the flexible wiring board 35 bent into an S-shape having a sufficient length. The connection between the device 22 and the device body 1 is maintained. The flexible wiring board 35 is formed by the hollow portion 2 of the cover case 21.
Since it is stored in 1d, it does not appear on the exterior. Further, there is no need to connect the keyboard 22 and the device main body 1 via a cord or to remove the cord.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, the fitting rail is fitted in the groove for mounting the cover case or the keyboard. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and another known structure may be applied. Further, the input from the keyboard to between the device main bodies may be performed by optical signals.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the cover case is superimposed on the display screen of the device main body, the display screen is protected. In addition, since the keyboard is provided in the cover case, it is not necessary to arrange the display screen and the keyboard together on the device main body, and it is possible to achieve the miniaturization of the device main body without specially reducing the display screen and the keyboard. And portability can be sufficiently secured.

Further, since no special miniaturization of the keyboard is required, good operability can be ensured. Furthermore,
Since the keyboard can be operated while viewing the display screen through the window of the cover case, the occupied space can be reduced, and, for example, mobile outdoors can be facilitated.

Further, since the display screen does not need to be particularly miniaturized, good visibility can be ensured with the cover case removed. Further, since the display screen is wide, for example, an input method of superimposing a transparent touch panel on the display screen and bringing a pen into contact with the touch panel can be easily implemented, and operability can be significantly improved.

Further, in a configuration in which the position of the keyboard is changed and the area occupied by the keyboard is opened to serve as a window for viewing the display screen, the keyboard is sized to occupy almost the entire area of the cover case. The key operability of the keyboard can be improved by increasing the key top size and key pitch of the keyboard.

In the present invention, the keyboard is
The keyboard is detachable from the cover case, and can be mounted with the keyboard turned upside down. When carrying, flip the front and back of the keyboard, not only the display screen,
The keyboard can also be protected.

Further, in the present invention, the output transmitting section is
It includes a connector for connecting the device body and the cover case, and a flexible wiring board for connecting the cover case and the keyboard. If the cover case and the keyboard are connected via the flexible wiring board in this manner, it is easy to change the position of the keyboard with respect to the cover case.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a portable electronic device according to the present invention, in which a cover case is detached from a device main body.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the portable electronic device of the first embodiment, showing a state in which a cover case is attached to the device main body.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the portable electronic device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view cut along AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the portable electronic device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a use state of the portable electronic device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the keyboard of the portable electronic device of the second embodiment is mounted with its front and back reversed.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view cut along the line CC in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a portable electronic device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a use state of the portable electronic device of the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a portable electronic device according to a third embodiment.

13 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line DD of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating a state of the flexible wiring board when the keyboard of the portable electronic device according to the third embodiment is closed, and FIG. 15B is a view illustrating a state of the flexible wiring board when the keyboard is opened. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device main body 2 Display screen 3 Cover case 4 Keyboard 5 Transparent window 7 Male connector 8 Connector board 9 Flexible wiring board 11 Circuit board 12 Female connector

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus main body having a display screen, a cover case to cover the display screen to protect the display screen, a keyboard provided on the cover case, and an output for transmitting an output of the keyboard to the apparatus main body. A portable electronic device, comprising: a transmission unit; and a window formed in a carver case for viewing a display screen with a cover case placed thereon. 2. An apparatus main body having a display screen, a cover case to cover the display screen to protect the display screen, and a keyboard provided on the cover case and capable of changing a position with respect to the cover case. And an output transmitting unit for transmitting the output of the keyboard to the main body of the device. With the change of the position of the keyboard, the area of the cover case occupied by the keyboard before the change of the position is opened to view the display screen. A portable electronic device characterized by being a window for the user. 3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard is detachable from the cover case, and the keyboard can be mounted upside down. 4. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the output transmission unit includes a connector for connecting the device body and the cover case, and a flexible wiring board for connecting the cover case and the keyboard.