JP2002354086A - Folding-type portable terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a folding-type portable terminal device having smooth motion of a flexible substrate at the time of folding and rotating. SOLUTION: The portable terminal device has a first case (12), an intermediate case (32) foldable onto the first case by use of a first hinge, and a second case (22) foldable together with the intermediate case onto the first case and connected rotatably against the intermediate case by use of a second hinge. A flexible substrate 6 is provided with a portion 61 wound around a rotation axis 49 of the first hinge and a portion 62 wound around a rotation axis 59 of the second hinge, so as to connect a first circuit substrate 71 housed in the first case with a circuit substrate 72 housed in the second case.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable terminal device in which an input unit for inputting information and a display unit are foldable and the display unit is rotatable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a mobile terminal device, a mobile terminal device mainly for data communication, and a mobile telephone having a communication function and a communication function of character information and image information such as mail and the Internet are known. For example, in the case of a mobile phone, there is known a mobile phone having a foldable structure that can be folded at about 1/2 of the entire length in the longitudinal direction when folded. In this prior art, a hinge portion is provided at a position about half of the entire length in the longitudinal direction, and the input portion and the display portion are folded inward. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-252823 discloses a folding structure.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-95751 can be mentioned.

[0003]

In the conventional foldable portable terminal device, since the display unit is located inside when folded, the foldable unit is opened when character information such as mail or image information is received. And it was troublesome to handle.

[0004] Therefore, the present applicant has provided an intermediate housing between a first housing having an input portion for inputting information and a second housing having a display portion, and the intermediate housing is provided in the first housing. The second hinge portion is connected to the intermediate housing such that the second housing is foldable together with the intermediate housing with respect to the first housing and is rotatable with respect to the intermediate housing. Developed a foldable portable terminal device connected by.

However, it is necessary to dispose the first circuit board and the second circuit board in the first housing and the second housing, respectively, and to connect them with a flexible board. And between the first circuit board and the second circuit board through or near the second hinge portion, so that it is deformed at the time of folding and pivoting, and the flexible board is damaged,
It was found that the folding and rotation of the housing might not be smooth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable portable terminal device in which a flexible substrate can smoothly move when folded and rotated.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a first housing having an input portion for inputting information, an intermediate housing foldably connected to the first housing by a first hinge portion, A second hinged portion having a display portion, which is foldable together with the intermediate housing with respect to the first housing and which is rotatable with respect to the intermediate housing; Two housings,
A first circuit board housed in the first housing;
A second circuit board housed in a housing, and a first portion, which is a flexible board connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board and is wound along a rotation axis of the first hinge portion; The flexible substrate having a second portion wound around a rotation axis of the second hinge portion.

In the present invention, the first portion of the flexible board is wound along a rotation axis of the first hinge portion in a space formed in the intermediate housing, and the second portion is The second housing is wound around a rotation axis of the second hinge portion in a space formed in the second housing.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the foldable terminal device of the present invention is applied to a foldable portable telephone will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a foldable mobile phone, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing its appearance. An input unit 1a including a plurality of key switches is arranged in a main part of the front surface of the first housing 1 which is a lower side in a normal use state. The input unit 1a is used for inputting a telephone number when making a telephone call, and for inputting characters when creating a text of a mail. The lower part of the front surface of the first housing 1 is provided with a transmission hole, and a transmitter 1b is disposed inside the transmission hole. In a normal use state in which a telephone number is input, a display unit 2a using liquid crystal is disposed substantially at the center of the front surface of the second housing 2, which is on the upper side. A receiver hole is provided on the upper front surface of the second housing 2, a receiver 2b is disposed inside the receiver hole, and an antenna 2c is disposed on the rear surface.

The intermediate housing 3 is foldably connected to the first housing 1 at the folding hinge 4 so as to be foldable about a rotation axis 49 of the folding hinge 4. Further, the second housing 2 is connected to the intermediate housing 3 by a rotation hinge 5 so as to be foldable together with the intermediate housing 3 with respect to the first housing and rotatable with respect to the intermediate housing 3. , Rotating hinge part 5
Is rotatable around a rotation shaft 59 of the first embodiment.

As shown in the side view of FIG. 5, the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are divided into two parts with the middle part in the thickness direction as a mating surface. The surface shown in FIG. 4 is referred to as a front surface, and the opposite surface is referred to as a back surface. The front surfaces of the two housings are referred to as front cases 11 and 21 of the respective housings, and the back surfaces are referred to as rear cases 12 and 22. The intermediate case 3 also has a front case 31 as shown in the enlarged cross-sectional views at the center in FIGS.
And a rear case 32.

FIG. 1 shows a main part of a portable terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. From the plan view showing the appearance of FIG. 4, the front cases 11, 21 shown in the side view of FIG. The front case 31 of the intermediate housing 3 shown in FIG. 2, which is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 4, is removed, and the rear case 12 of the first housing 1 and the rear of the second housing 2 in FIG. The case 22 and the rear case 3 of the intermediate housing 3 in FIG.
2 is a plan view showing circuit boards 71 and 72 and a flexible board 6 arranged in FIG.

As described above, in the portable telephone, the circuit board 7
A flexible board (FPC) 6 is used to suppress noise on high-frequency signals and to save space when making electrical connections between the first and second wires 72. A circuit board 71 is housed in the first housing 1, and a circuit board 72 is housed in the second housing 2.
The two are electrically connected by a flexible substrate 6 connected therebetween. The flexible substrate 6, as shown in FIG.
From the first housing 1, it reaches the circuit board 72 housed in the second housing 2 via the turning shaft 49 of the folding hinge portion and the turning shaft 59 of the turning hinge portion.

The flexible board 6 has both ends connected to a circuit board 71 and a circuit board 72, and a portion 6 wound along the pivot 49 of the folding hinge part in the middle.
1 and a portion 62 wound around a pivot axis 59 of the pivot hinge. The flexible substrate 6 has the shape shown in FIG. 3 and the rear case 12 of the first housing 1 and the rear case of the second housing 2 placed as shown in FIG. 22, a circuit board 71
And the circuit board 72 is placed. Then, the flexible substrate 6 is located in the concave portion for the flexible substrate 6 passage formed by the rear case 12 of the first housing 1, the rear case 22 of the second housing 2, and the rear case 32 of the intermediate housing 3.

In the folding hinge 4, the flexible board 6 is spirally wound in a longitudinal direction when the first casing is passed from the first casing to the intermediate casing, and a rotation seam is arranged in the middle between the first and second casings. In both the case where the two housings and the intermediate housing are folded and the case where the two housings are opened, a force for damaging the flexible substrate 6 is not applied, and the folding operation can be performed smoothly. Also in the rotating hinge portion, the flexible substrate 6 can be spirally wound to enable a smooth rotating movement.

However, if the flexible substrate 6 is spirally wound, it becomes longer in the axial direction of the spiral. Therefore, in this embodiment, the flexible substrate 6 is spirally wound at a required angle in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, and Is as short as possible. The winding angle is desirably large in order to suppress the change in the diameter of the winding portion between when the casing is closed and when the casing is opened.

The folding hinge portion is conventionally used. In the present embodiment, the folding hinge portion 4 is formed between the first housing 1 and the intermediate housing 3 shown in FIG. Folding hinges 411 are inserted into the folding hinge holding holes provided in the first housing 1 and the intermediate housing 3 from the left and right outer sides of the first housing 1.
And 412 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 1) are pushed in and rotatably connected.

Next, referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 2, which is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, the structure of the pivot hinge 5 will be described. A screw hole 325 is provided at the center of the connecting wall 321 of the intermediate housing rear case 32 in the folding rotation axis direction.
A screw portion 512 provided on the left end of the hinge shaft 51 is screwed into the screw hole 325. Hinge shaft 5
A flange portion 511 is formed on the left side of the connector 1. When the screw portion 512 is screwed into the screw hole, the accuracy of the perpendicularity to the connecting wall is secured, the screw is hardly loosened, and the rigidity against the moment applied to the hinge shaft 51 This has the effect of increasing strength.

The right end of the hinge shaft 51 is provided with a groove for stopping an E-ring which receives a pressurizing force which will be described later. At the right end of the hinge shaft 51, two fastening planes are formed in parallel. On the outer wall 223 of the rear case 22 of the second housing 2 facing the intermediate housing 3,
A hole that fits into the flange portion 511 of the hinge shaft 51 is formed, and a wall that is connected to the outer wall 223 to form a rectangular block is provided. The hinge shaft 51 passes through the wall 221 that faces the outer wall 223. A hole is formed. In the block, a pressurized cylinder 52 fitted to the hinge shaft 51 and a pressurized spring 53 having one end applied to the flange 511 and the other end in contact with the inner surface of the top plate of the pressurized cylinder 52 are arranged.

In the rotating hinge 5, as shown in FIG.
The flexible substrate 6 is wound around the pressurized cylinder 52 with a predetermined radial margin. Flexible substrate 6
Is located in the space 33 shown in FIG. 2 in the direction of the folding rotation axis, and as shown in FIG. 1, the shape is changed as shown in FIG. It has become. The length of the flexible substrate 6 is set on the assumption that the flexible substrate 6 rotates 180 degrees with respect to the rotation in the folding direction and 270 degrees with respect to the rotation in the rotation direction. Similar to the folding hinge 4, the flexible substrate 6 also needs to have a winding angle of about one turn or more around the rotation axis of the rotation hinge 5 in the open state as shown in FIG. is there.

Further, the flexible board accommodating space 33 of the folding hinge portion 4 and the pressurized cylinder 52 of the rotating hinge portion 5 are provided.
The space between the flexible substrate 6 and the flexible substrate housing case 222 of the second housing 2 is such that the peripheral portion is tightened or pressed by the flexible substrate 6 with respect to a change in radius that occurs when the flexible substrate 6 makes a half turn. It is decided with necessary margin so that there is no.

The assembling of the rotating hinge portion 5 is performed in the following order after making necessary preparations in advance. In the following work, if necessary, the position of each component is adjusted.

(1) One of the circuit boards 71 and 72 connected by the flexible board 6 is rotated to give a predetermined winding angle to the flexible board 6, and the rear case 12 and the second case The circuit boards 71 and 72 are placed on the rear case 22 of the body.

(2) The pressurized spring 53 and the pressurized cylinder 52 are fitted to the hinge shaft 51. (3) After passing the hinge shaft 51 through the flexible substrate 6, the hinge shaft 51 is passed from the hole in the outer wall 223 of the second housing 2 to the hole provided in the wall 221.

(4) The screw 512 of the hinge shaft 51 is screwed into the screw hole of the connecting wall 321. (5) With the preload applied between the intermediate casing 3 and the rear case 22 of the second casing 2, connect the E-ring 54 to the hinge shaft 5.
Fit into one. (6) The folding hinge 41 is connected to the rear case 1 of the first housing 1.
2, the rear case 12 of the first housing 1 and the rear case 32 of the intermediate housing 3 are connected so as to be foldable.

(7) After performing necessary operations, the front case 11 of the first housing 1, the front case 31 of the intermediate housing 3, and the front case 21 of the second housing 2 are respectively replaced with the corresponding first housing. It covers the rear case 12 of the body 1, the rear case 32 of the intermediate housing 3, and the rear case 22 of the second housing 2, and connects necessary parts with screws or the like, and lifts the housing. As described above, the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 can be electrically connected to each other by the flexible substrate 6 in a foldable and pivotable state.

In the present embodiment, since the second housing 2 is supported by the hinge shaft 51, the hinge shaft 51
In addition, the strength and rigidity of the connecting wall 321 of the intermediate housing 3 supporting the hinge shaft 51 need to be sufficiently large. On the other hand, in order to accommodate the flexible substrate 6 and to assemble it easily, a working method of mounting the flexible substrate 6 from one side is desirable. Specifically, the flexible substrate 6 prepared in a predetermined manner is placed from above. It is desirable that they can be assembled. In addition, as a restriction required from injection molding generally employed as a method of processing a casing, it is desired that a basic shape can be formed by moving a mold in a vertical direction.

In view of the above requirements, it is necessary for each housing to secure sufficient strength and rigidity to the wall raised from the base portion (outer plate) of the rear case. In the rear case 32 of the intermediate housing 3 which is thin and hard to secure rigidity, the connecting wall 321 is made as thick as possible as shown in FIG. In the width direction, the connecting wall 321 is made as high as possible except for the portion where the flexible substrate 6 goes over the rotating hinge portion.
When the front case is fitted with the front end of the connecting wall 321,
A step 324 is provided on the end face of the front case so as to reinforce each other.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 also shows a state where the rear case 12, 32, 22 of each of the first housing, the second housing, and the intermediate housing is arranged in a plane, and the flexible substrate 6 is placed, similarly to FIG. Elements in the second embodiment that have basically the same functions as those in the first embodiment use the same numbers as in the first embodiment. Those having similar functions but having a large difference in shape and the like are indicated by adding a b to the number of the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the folding hinge portion 4 is provided only on one side, and the other has the unevenness provided between the first housing 1 and the intermediate housing 3. As a structure that fits when assembled, it supports for rotation. As shown in FIG. 7, the rotating hinge portion 5b does not have a shaft for supporting rotation, and a pipe formed by combining half pipes 316 and 326 provided on the front case 31 and the rear case 32 of the intermediate casing 3 is formed. The half pipes 212b and 222b provided in the front case 21 and the rear case 22 of the second housing 2 are fitted with a pipe formed by being united, and are rotatably supported around a rotation axis common to both pipes.

A male screw is formed at the end of a pipe formed by combining the half pipes of the front case 31 and the rear case 32 of the intermediate housing 3. Flat flanges 213b and 223b are formed on the inside of the tip end of the half pipe of the second housing 2. Nuts 56 having female screws corresponding to the male screw portions formed inside are engaged with the male screw portions of the half pipes 316 and 326. Flange 213
b and 223b and the nut 56, a slip ring 55 and a pressurized spring 53b are connected to the half pipes 316 and 32.
6 and urges between the nut 56 and the inner surfaces of the flanges 213b and 223b. After a predetermined tightening, the nut 56 is bonded to prevent loosening. A frictional force is generated in the slip ring 55 by the urging force, thereby stabilizing the rotation and maintaining the posture on the way.

The assembly procedure of the second embodiment is as follows. (1) A disk-shaped slip ring 55, a coil-shaped pressurizing spring 53b, and a nut 56 are fitted to the flexible substrate 6 in advance, and the flexible substrate 6 is attached to the circuit boards 71 and 72.
Connect to (2) One of the circuit boards 71 and 72 connected by the flexible board 6 is rotated to give a predetermined winding angle to the flexible board 6, and the rear case 12 of the first housing 1 and the second case 2 The circuit boards 71 and 72 are placed on the rear case 22.

(3) The front case 31 of the intermediate housing 3 is put on the rear case 32 of the intermediate housing 3 and fastened with screws (not shown) to complete the intermediate housing 3. (4) The slip ring 55 and the pressurized spring 5 are attached to the pipe formed by the half pipes 316 and 326 of the intermediate casing 3.
3b. (5) A predetermined assembling operation in the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 is performed. (6) The male screw 56 is fitted into the pipe,
Pressurize b.

(7) The front case 21 of the second housing 2 is put on the rear case 22 of the second housing 2 and fastened with screws (not shown) to complete the second housing 2. At this time, the slip ring 55 is put on the flange 213b while being hooked on the flange 213b.
13b supports the slip ring 55.

(8) The front case 11 of the first housing 1 is put on the rear case 12 of the first housing 1 and fastened with screws (not shown) to complete the first housing 1. (9) The folding hinge 41 is inserted into the first housing 1 from one side in common with the intermediate housing 3.

In the second embodiment, a slip ring 55 is used in the rotating portion to eliminate the effect of a step generated at the joint between the front case and the rear case. In this embodiment, in order to make the sliding during rotation smoother, two slip rings 55 are stacked, and the material of the slip ring is selected so as to slide between the two slip rings. . By applying a lubricant between the two slip rings, the coefficient of friction can be set to a predetermined value and wear can be suppressed. Therefore, the material of the two slip rings may be the same, but the one on the housing side may have high rigidity in order to suppress the influence of the step of the flange fitting portion of the second housing which receives the pressurization. It is desirable to use metal from that point.

The rotating portions of the second housing and the intermediate housing are provided with projections on the surfaces facing each other during the rotation, so that the rotation angle is 2 degrees.
It can be limited to 70 degrees or slightly more.

In the second embodiment, since the diameter of the pivot hinge support of the pivot hinge can be increased, the strength and rigidity when a moment other than the pivot direction is applied to the pivot hinge can be easily secured. is there.

In the above embodiment, the hinge structure, the hinge structure, and the like depend on the conditions of the target device within the scope of the present invention.
It is possible to change the flexible substrate, the assembly method, and the like.

[0040]

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a foldable portable terminal device in which the flexible substrate can smoothly move when folded and rotated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a main part of a foldable mobile terminal device according to a first embodiment in which the foldable terminal device of the present invention is applied to a foldable mobile phone, and shows a rear case of a first housing and a second housing. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing two circuit boards and a flexible board arranged in a rear case and a rear case of an intermediate housing.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a center cross-section taken along the line AA in FIGS. 1 and 4, and is a cross-sectional view showing a rotary hinge portion in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the flexible substrate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the appearance of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a main part of a foldable portable terminal device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is arranged in a rear case of a first housing, a rear case of a second housing, and a rear case of an intermediate housing. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing two circuit boards and a flexible board.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rotation hinge section of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: first housing, 1a: input unit, 2: second housing, 2a: display unit, 3: intermediate housing, 4: folding hinge unit, 5: rotating hinge unit, 6: flexible substrate, 11, 21, 31:
Front case, 12, 22, 32: rear case, 41
1,412: folding hinge, 49: rotating shaft, 51: hinge shaft, 59: rotating shaft, 71, 72: circuit board.

Claims (2)

[Claims] A first housing having an input portion for inputting information, an intermediate housing foldably connected to the first housing by a first hinge portion, and a first housing having a display portion. A second housing connected to the intermediate housing by a second hinge portion so as to be foldable with the intermediate housing and rotatable with respect to the intermediate housing; A first circuit board housed in a housing, a second circuit board housed in the second housing, and a flexible board connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board, wherein the first hinge And a flexible substrate having a second portion wound around a rotation axis of the second hinge portion and a first portion wound along a rotation axis of the second hinge portion. Terminal device. 2. The foldable portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the flexible substrate is wound along a rotation axis of the first hinge portion in a space formed in the intermediate housing. The foldable portable terminal device, wherein the second portion is wound around a rotation axis of the second hinge portion in a space formed in the second housing.