JP2006228812A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electronic equipment with sufficient durability over an external force which connects rotatably a housing and another housing by utilizing a double hinge mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: The angle of the central line a housing 2 and a link 4 in a first mode and the angle of the central line of the housing 2 and the link 4 in a third mode are both set as almost 1/2 for the angle subtracting attitude angle of the housing 2 from 360° in the second mode. Moreover, a support part which is brought into contact with the link 4 in the second mode and regulates rotatably the link 4 is provided, on the other hand a support part which is brought into contact with the link 4 and regulates rotatably the link 4 in the third mode. Therefor, the tip side of the other housing which is set in the state equal to the tip side of the one housing in the third mode without spoiling the feeling of beauty, preventing the concentration of the external force in the time of falling, etc., on the specific part. Accordingly, it becomes possible to control the deterioration of the durability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

    The present invention relates to an electronic device in which one housing and the other housing are rotatably connected by a double hinge mechanism, and more specifically, the one housing and the other housing are relatively relative to each other over a range of 360 °. The present invention relates to an electronic device that can be rotated.

    For example, in a foldable mobile phone which is an example of an electronic device, the one casing and the other casing are doubled for the purpose of greatly expanding the relative rotation range between the one casing and the other casing. The structure connected by a hinge mechanism is provided (for example, refer patent document 1).

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a conventional mobile phone A that employs a double hinge mechanism includes a lower casing (one casing) B that constitutes a main body and an upper casing (the other casing) that constitutes a lid. ) C, and a connecting body D is interposed between the lower casing B and the upper casing C.

  An operation unit Ba having a plurality of operation buttons is provided on the front surface Bf of the lower housing B, while a large liquid crystal display unit Ca is provided on the front surface Cf of the upper housing C. The circuit board Eb and the circuit board Ec are accommodated and installed in B and the upper casing C, respectively.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the lower casing B and the connecting body D are rotatably supported by the left and right lower support shafts (one housing-side support shaft) Hb, Hb with respect to the connecting body D, and connected to each other. The upper housing C and the connecting body D are supported by the left and right upper support shafts (the other housing side support shafts) Hc, Hc with respect to the body D.

  In the mobile phone A described above, the lower casing B and the upper casing C are rotated over a 360 ° rotation range by the double hinge mechanism having the lower support shaft Hb and the upper support shaft Hc as elements. It can be displaced relatively.

  In addition, the mobile phone A has a first form in which the front surface Bf of the lower housing B and the front surface Cf of the upper housing C are closed as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16C, the second case in which the upper casing C is opened by a predetermined posture angle with respect to the lower casing B, and the rear face Bb of the lower casing B and the rear face Cb of the upper casing C. It can be displaced to the third form which is opposed and closed back to back.

  Here, in the first embodiment shown by the solid line in FIG. 16A and FIG. 17, the connecting body D is locked to the lower housing B so as not to be rotatable. By rotating the upper casing C by a predetermined posture angle α (see FIG. 17), the mobile phone A shifts to the second form shown in FIG.

  Incidentally, the upper casing C can only rotate a predetermined posture angle with respect to the coupling body D. In the second embodiment described above, the upper casing C is coupled to the coupling body D by a detent mechanism incorporated in the upper support shaft Hc. Is positioned with respect to.

  From the second form shown in FIG. 16 (b), after unlocking the connecting body D with respect to the lower housing B, the connecting body D and the upper housing C together with the upper housing C have a rotation angle β (FIG. 18), the mobile phone A shifts to the third mode shown by the solid line in FIG. 16C and FIG.

Of course, the above-described mobile phone A is displaced from the first form to the third form through the second form and reversibly displaced from the third form to the first form through the second form.
JP 11-303852 A

    By the way, in the above-described conventional mobile phone A, when the attitude angle α (see FIG. 17) of the upper housing B from the first form to the second form is set to 160 °, the second form to the third form. The rotation angle β (see FIG. 18) of the connecting body D (upper housing B) to the head is 200 °, but due to the posture of the connecting body D in the first form shown in FIGS. In the first embodiment, the front end surface Bt of the lower housing B and the front end surface Ct of the upper housing C that are aligned with each other are different from each other by the step g in the third embodiment.

  Thus, the difference in appearance between the first form and the third form not only impairs the aesthetics of the mobile phone A, but also, for example, an upper casing in which a shocking external force at the time of dropping projects in the third form. Since it acts on the tip surface Ct of C in a concentrated manner, there is a disadvantage that the durability of the mobile phone A is reduced.

  Further, in the above-described conventional mobile phone A, in the second form in which the upper casing C is opened with respect to the lower casing B, the lock mechanism of the lower support shaft Hb and the detent mechanism of the upper support shaft Hc Although the attitude of the upper casing C with respect to the lower casing B is maintained, for example, when an extremely large external force is applied at the time of dropping, the attitude of the mobile phone A in the second form is changed only by the lock mechanism and the detent mechanism. It cannot be maintained.

  For this reason, when a large external force is applied to the mobile phone A in the second embodiment, there is an inconvenience that durability of the mobile phone A is reduced by applying an excessive force to each part.

  In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device having sufficient durability against external force in an electronic device in which one housing and the other housing are rotatably connected by a double hinge mechanism. There is to do.

    In order to achieve the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 includes one housing and the other housing, and a connecting body interposed between the one housing and the other housing, and is connected to the one housing. The one housing and the other housing are in a 360 ° range via one side support shaft that supports the body and the other housing and the other housing shaft that supports the other housing and the connecting body. A first configuration in which the front surface of the one housing and the front surface of the other housing are opposed to each other and the one housing and the other housing are closed, and the one housing, The relative position between the connection body and the other housing is the same as that in the first embodiment, and the relative position between the connection body and the other housing is the first position. The third configuration is the same as the second configuration, and the rear surface of the one housing is opposed to the back surface of the other housing, and the one housing and the other housing are closed. An electronic device configured to form an angle formed between the center line of the one housing and the connecting body in the first embodiment, and an angle formed between the center line of the one housing and the connecting body in the third embodiment. Both are characterized in that the posture angle of the other casing in the second embodiment is set to approximately ½ of the angle obtained by subtracting from 360 °.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to the invention of claim 2 includes one housing and the other housing, and a connecting body interposed between the one housing and the other housing, 360 degrees between the one housing and the other housing via one side support shaft that supports the other and the connecting body and the other housing shaft that supports the other housing and the connecting body. A first configuration in which the front surface of the one housing and the front surface of the other housing are opposed to each other and the one housing and the other housing are closed, and the one housing The relative position between the body and the connected body is the same as that of the first form, and the second form in which the other housing is opened at a predetermined posture angle with respect to the one housing, and the relative position between the connected body and the other housing. Is the same as in the second embodiment, and the back surface of the one housing is opposed to the back surface of the other housing, and the one housing and the other housing are closed. The electronic device is configured so as to be deformed into a first housing, and a support portion that abuts on the connection body in the second form to restrict rotation of the connection body is provided in one housing, and a second housing is provided in the other housing. The embodiment is characterized in that a support portion that abuts on the connecting body and restricts the rotation of the connecting body is provided.

    In the electronic device according to the first aspect of the present invention, both the angle formed by the center line of the one housing and the connecting body in the first embodiment and the angle formed by the center line of the one housing and the connecting body in the third embodiment are both Since the posture angle of the other casing in the second configuration is approximately ½ of the angle obtained by subtracting from 360 °, the posture of the coupling body in the first configuration and the posture of the coupling body in the third configuration are one-side housing. It is the target across the center line in the body.

  As a result, the leading end surface of the other casing that is aligned with the leading end surface of the one casing in the first embodiment is aligned with the leading end surface of the one casing also in the third embodiment, thereby impairing the aesthetics of the electronic device. Furthermore, since it is possible to avoid the external force from being concentrated and acting on a specific part during a fall or the like, it is possible to prevent a decrease in durability in the electronic device.

  Further, in the electronic apparatus according to the invention of claim 2, one housing is provided with a support portion that abuts the connecting body in the second embodiment and restricts the rotation of the connecting body, and the other housing has the second embodiment. By providing a support portion that abuts the connecting body and restricts the rotation of the connecting body, the electronic device can maintain its form even when a large external force is applied to the electronic device exhibiting the second form. As a result, an excessive force does not act on each part, and thus it is possible to prevent a decrease in durability in the electronic device.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments.
1 to 13 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a foldable mobile phone which is an aspect of an electronic device, and the mobile phone 1 adopting the double hinge mechanism in this embodiment has a main body. A lower housing (one housing) 2 that constitutes and an upper housing (other housing) 3 that constitutes a lid, and a connecting body 4 is interposed between the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3. Installed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, an operation unit 2 </ b> A having a plurality of operation buttons is provided on the front surface 2 f of the lower housing 2, and a large liquid crystal display unit 3 </ b> C is provided on the front surface 3 f of the upper housing 3. On the other hand, a small liquid crystal display unit 3A and a camera unit 3B are provided on the back surface 3b of the upper housing 3. A circuit board 2E and a circuit board 3E are accommodated and installed in the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3, respectively (see FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the lower housing 2 and the connecting body 4 are rotatably supported by the left and right lower support shafts (one housing side support shafts) 6 </ b> L and 6 </ b> R with respect to the connecting body 4. The upper housing 3 and the coupling body 4 are supported by the left and right upper bearing shafts (the other housing side bearing shafts) 7L and 7R.

  The left and right lower support shafts 6L and 6R are positioned on an axis extending in the width direction of the lower housing 2 (left and right direction in FIG. 6), and the left and right upper bearing shafts 7L and 7R are It is located on another axis extending in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 6), and the lower bearing shafts 6L and 6R and the upper bearing shafts 7L and 7R are arranged on axes that are parallel to each other. .

  One lower support shaft 6R is provided with a lock mechanism for fixing and holding the connecting body 4 at a predetermined rotational position with respect to the lower housing 2. Reference numeral 6a in FIG. An operation button for releasing (lock) is shown.

  Further, at least one of the upper support shafts 7L and 7R includes the upper housing 3 and the connecting body 4 that hold the upper housing 3 at a predetermined rotational position with respect to the connecting body 4, in other words, relatively rotate. A detent mechanism is provided for holding in a predetermined posture.

  In the mobile phone 1, the lower casing 2 and the upper casing 3 can be rotated within a 360 ° range by the double hinge mechanism having the lower bearing shafts 6L and 6R and the upper bearing shafts 7L and 7R as elements. Relative to each other.

  In the cellular phone 1 having the above-described configuration, the front surface 2f of the lower housing 2 and the front surface 3f of the upper housing 3 are opposed to each other as shown in FIG. A first form closed to each other, a second form in which the upper housing 3 is opened by a predetermined posture angle with respect to the lower housing 2 as shown in FIG. 7 (b), and a lower housing as shown in FIG. 7 (c). The back surface 2b of the body 2 and the back surface 3b of the upper housing 3 are opposed to each other, and the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3 can be displaced into a third form closed back to back.

  In the first embodiment shown by the solid line in FIG. 7A and FIG. 8, the connecting body 4 is fixed and held with respect to the lower housing 2 so as not to rotate by the locking mechanism provided on the lower support shaft 6R described above. In this state, the upper housing 3 is rotated by a predetermined posture angle α (160 ° in the embodiment) with respect to the connecting body 4, and a predetermined elevation angle θ (20 ° in the embodiment). ), The mobile phone 1 shifts to the second form shown in FIG.

  Here, the relative position between the lower housing 2 and the connecting body 4 in the first embodiment and the relative position between the lower housing 2 and the connecting body 4 in the second embodiment are the same without any displacement.

  Further, the upper housing 3 can rotate only by a predetermined posture angle α with respect to the coupling body 4, and in the second embodiment described above, the upper housing 3 is at least one of the upper support shafts 7L and 7R described above. The detent mechanism is provided at a predetermined rotational position with respect to the coupling body 4.

  From the second form shown in FIG. 7B, after operating the operation button 6a of the lower support shaft 6R to release the fixed holding (locking) of the connecting body 4 to the lower housing 2, the connecting body 4 is A predetermined rotation angle β (see FIG. 9) with respect to the lower housing 2 together with the upper housing 3, specifically, an angle obtained by subtracting the attitude angle α of the upper housing in the first form from 360 ° (in the embodiment) Is rotated by 200 °), the mobile phone 1 shifts to the third mode indicated by the solid line in FIG. 7C and FIG.

  In addition, since the upper housing | casing 3 is hold | maintained in the predetermined rotation position with respect to the connection body 4 by the detent mechanism mentioned above, the relative position of the connection body 4 and the upper housing | casing 3 in a 2nd form, and a 3rd form The relative positions of the connecting body 4 and the upper housing 3 are the same without any displacement.

  Moreover, in the mobile phone 1 described above, it goes without saying that it can be displaced from the first form to the third form through the second form and can be reversibly displaced from the third form to the first form through the second form. .

  Here, as apparent from FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10, the connecting body 4 in the mobile phone 1 described above has the lower housing 2 in the first form (second form) and the third form, respectively. In a posture inclined with respect to a reference line orthogonal to the center line.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the angle β1 formed by the center line oo of the lower casing 2 and the axis q of the coupling body 4 in the first embodiment, and the center line oo of the lower casing 2 in the third embodiment. And the axis q of the connecting body 4 are both angles obtained by subtracting the attitude angle α of the upper housing 3 in the second embodiment from 360 °, in other words, approximately 1/2 of the rotation angle β described above. (100 ° in the embodiment) is set.

  Incidentally, in the first embodiment and the third embodiment, the angles γ1 and γ3 formed by the axis q of the coupling body 4 with respect to the reference line vv orthogonal to the center line oo of the lower housing 2 are both in the second embodiment. Is set to approximately ½ of the elevation angle θ of the upper housing 3, that is, 10 ° in the embodiment.

  As described above, the angle β1 formed between the center line oo of the lower housing 2 and the connecting body 4 in the first embodiment, and the center line oo of the lower housing 2 and the connecting body 4 in the third embodiment. The angle β3 formed is set to be approximately ½ of the angle β obtained by subtracting the attitude angle α of the upper housing 3 in the second form from 360 °, so that the connection form 4 in the first form and the third form The posture of the connection body 4 in the form occupies the target position across the center line oo in the lower housing.

  As a result, the tip surface 3t of the upper housing 3 that is aligned with the tip surface 2t of the lower housing 2 in the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 7 (a) is also in the third embodiment as shown in FIG. 7 (b). This aligns with the front end surface 2t of the lower housing 2.

  As described above, the shape of the appearance is not greatly different between the first embodiment and the third embodiment, and the tip surface 2t of the lower housing 2 and the tip surface 3t of the upper housing 3 are not prepared in the third embodiment. Since no step is generated, it is possible to improve the aesthetics of the mobile phone 1 and to avoid the external force from being concentrated on a specific part during the fall or the like, thereby reducing the durability of the mobile phone 1. Can be prevented in advance.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 and FIG. 11, a support portion 2 </ b> S that contacts the connecting body 4 is formed at an important point in the lower housing 2, specifically, at a portion facing the connecting body 4 in the second embodiment. In addition, a pad 3S as a support portion that comes into contact with the connecting body 4 is attached to a main point of the upper housing 3, specifically, a portion facing the connecting body 4 in the second embodiment.

  The connecting body 4 is formed by covering the surface of a die-cast body (not shown) with resin covers 4a and 4b. In the form, a pad 4P that comes into contact with the support portion 2S is attached to a portion of the lower housing 2 that faces the support portion 2S.

  Here, when the mobile phone 1 is in the second form, the support portion 2S of the lower housing 2 and the pad 4P of the connecting portion 4 come into contact with each other, whereby the connecting body 4 to the lower housing 2 in FIG. 11 is restricted, and the pad (support portion) 3S of the upper housing 3 and the cover 4a of the connecting portion 4 come into contact with each other, so that the upper housing 3 with respect to the connecting body 4 in FIG. The clockwise rotation is restricted.

  In this manner, the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3 are in contact with the connecting body 4 in the second form, respectively, and support portions 2S and pads (supporting portions) that restrict relative rotation with the connecting body 4. ) By providing 3S, when a large external force is applied to the mobile phone 1 exhibiting the second form, such as when dropped, the lower housing 2, the upper housing 3, and the connecting body 4 are integrated to counter the external force. In addition, since the configuration of the mobile phone 1 is maintained, an excessive force is not applied to each part, so that the durability of the mobile phone 1 can be improved as much as possible.

  Incidentally, in the first embodiment of the mobile phone 1 shown in FIG. 12 and the third embodiment of the mobile phone 1 shown in FIG. 13, as shown in FIGS. Since the base ends of the housing 3 are coupled to each other through the coupling body 4 and the tips of the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3 are in contact with each other and closed, the form can be easily adjusted by an external force. Although not deformed, in the first and third embodiments, the lower housing 2 and the connecting body 4 are brought into contact with each other, and the connecting body 4 and the upper housing 3 are brought into contact with each other. The durability of the mobile phone 1 can be further improved.

  In the mobile phone 1 of the embodiment described above, the posture angle α of the upper housing 3 in the second form is set to 160 °. However, this posture angle α is provided with an appropriate elevation angle θ in the upper housing 3. Of course, it is possible to set an arbitrary angle smaller than 180 °, and accordingly, the angles (β1, β3) of the coupling body 4 in the first and third embodiments are arbitrarily set. Needless to say, it is uniquely determined based on the angle α.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a foldable mobile phone is shown. However, as long as the electronic device has one housing and the other housing connected by a double hinge mechanism, the folding in the embodiment is used. Needless to say, the present invention can be effectively applied to various electronic devices without being limited to the cellular phone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a first form of a foldable mobile phone that is an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. The external appearance perspective view which shows the 2nd form of the foldable mobile telephone shown in FIG. The external appearance perspective view which shows the transition in the 2nd form and 3rd form of a folding-type mobile telephone. The external appearance perspective view which shows the transition in the 2nd form and 3rd form of a folding-type mobile telephone. The external appearance perspective view which shows the 3rd form of a foldable mobile telephone. The conceptual front view which shows the double hinge mechanism in a folding-type mobile telephone. (a), (b), (c) is a conceptual side view which shows the relative rotation aspect of the one housing | casing and the other housing | casing in a foldable mobile telephone. The conceptual side view which shows the 1st form in a foldable mobile telephone. The conceptual side view which shows the 3rd form in a foldable mobile telephone. The conceptual side view which shows the 1st form and 3rd form of a foldable mobile telephone. The principal part sectional drawing centering on the coupling body in the 2nd form of a folding-type mobile telephone. The principal part sectional drawing centering on the coupling body in the 1st form of a folding-type mobile telephone. The principal part sectional drawing centering on the coupling body in the 3rd form of a folding-type mobile telephone. The external appearance perspective view which shows the conventional foldable mobile telephone which employ | adopted the double hinge mechanism. The conceptual front view which shows the double hinge mechanism in the conventional foldable mobile telephone. (a), (b) and (c) are the conceptual side views which show the mode of relative rotation of the one housing | casing and the other housing | casing in the conventional foldable mobile telephone. The conceptual side view which shows the 1st form in the conventional foldable mobile telephone. The conceptual side view which shows the 3rd form in the conventional foldable mobile telephone.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Mobile phone (electronic equipment)
2 ... Lower housing (one housing),
2f ... the front,
2b ... the back,
2S ... support department,
3 ... Upper housing (other housing),
3f ... the front,
3b ... the back,
3S ... support department,
4 ... Connected body,
6L, 6R ... Lower bearing shaft (one bearing shaft),
7L, 7R: Upper bearing shaft (other bearing shaft).

Claims (2)

A one-side support shaft that includes one casing and the other casing, and a connecting body interposed between the one casing and the other casing, and that rotatably supports the one casing and the connecting body; The other casing and the other casing are connected to each other so as to be relatively rotatable over a range of 360 ° via the other support shaft that pivotally supports the other casing and the coupling body. And
A first form in which the front surface of the one housing and the front surface of the other housing are opposed to each other and the one housing and the other housing are closed;
A second form in which a relative position between the one case and the coupling body is the same as that in the first form, and the other case is opened at a predetermined posture angle with respect to the one case;
The relative position between the connecting body and the other casing is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the rear face of the other casing is opposed to the rear face of the one casing, and the one casing and the other casing And the third form closed,
An electronic device configured to be transformed into
The angle formed between the center line of the one casing and the connecting body in the first embodiment and the angle formed between the center line of the one casing and the connecting body in the third embodiment are both in the second embodiment. An electronic apparatus characterized in that the posture angle of the other casing is set to approximately ½ of an angle obtained by subtracting from 360 °. A one-side support shaft that includes one casing and the other casing, and a connecting body interposed between the one casing and the other casing, and that rotatably supports the one casing and the connecting body; The other casing and the other casing are connected to each other so as to be relatively rotatable over a range of 360 ° via the other support shaft that pivotally supports the other casing and the coupling body. And
A first form in which the front surface of the one housing and the front surface of the other housing are opposed to each other and the one housing and the other housing are closed;
A second form in which a relative position between the one case and the coupling body is the same as that in the first form, and the other case is opened at a predetermined posture angle with respect to the one case;
The relative position between the connecting body and the other casing is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the rear face of the other casing is opposed to the rear face of the one casing, and the one casing and the other casing And the third form closed,
An electronic device configured to be transformed into
The one housing is provided with a support portion that abuts on the connecting body in the second form and restricts the rotation of the connecting body,
The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the other casing is provided with a support portion that abuts on the connection body in the second embodiment and restricts the rotation of the connection body.

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