JP2008271027A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device which is easy to use without the feeling of incompatibility when used. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic device has an upper case body 10 provided with at least one of a display part 12 and an operation part 13 on the upper surface 11, a lower case body 20 provided with at least one of the operation part 13 and the display part 12 on the upper surface 21, and a link hinge 30 for connecting the upper case body and the lower case body so as to be in either open state or closed state between the upper case body and the lower case body. The link hinge 30 is configured such that the upper case body 10 and the lower case body 20 can relatively move so as to position the upper surfaces 11 and 21 of each other at least partially on the almost same plane when the upper case body 10 and the lower case body 20 are in the open state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a portable terminal, and in particular, an upper case and a lower case that are overlapped are configured to be relatively movable via a link hinge, and a display unit and an operation unit are provided on the upper surface of each case. The present invention relates to the technology of electronic equipment provided with

  In recent years, mobile phones that can be opened and closed in a sliding manner have been developed in addition to mobile phones that can be opened and closed in a folding manner. The foldable mobile phone is provided on surfaces facing each other when the display unit and the operation unit are closed, and is opened when used and closed when not used.

  A slide-type mobile phone has an upper case (display unit main body) and a lower case (operation unit main body) that are each provided with a display unit and an operation unit on each upper surface. By being connected to be slidable, it is configured to be relatively movable between an open state and a closed state.

For example, the mobile phone disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a display unit body having a display unit such as a liquid crystal screen and an operation unit body having an operation unit such as a switch group, and the display unit body can be slid on the operation unit body. The display unit is provided on the upper surface of the display unit main body.
JP 2003-32335 A

  In the case of a slide-type mobile phone as shown in Patent Document 1, there is a difference in level between the display unit of the display unit main body and the operation unit of the operation unit main body when the slide-type mobile phone is extended and opened. There was a problem that it was uncomfortable and difficult to use.

  In addition, when the display unit main body also has an operation unit, there is a problem that a step is formed between the operation unit and the operation unit of the operation unit main body, which makes it difficult to operate.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use electronic device that does not feel uncomfortable when used.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1
An upper case having at least one of a display unit and an operation unit on the upper surface;
A lower housing having at least one of an operation unit or a display unit on an upper surface;
A link hinge that connects the upper housing and the lower housing so that the upper housing and the lower housing are either in an open state or a closed state;
When the upper casing and the lower casing are in the open state, the link hinge is configured so that the upper casing and the lower casing are positioned so that at least a part of the upper surface of each of the link hinges is in a relative position with almost no step. It is a structure which can be relatively moved.

The invention according to claim 2 is the electronic device according to claim 1,
When either the upper surface of the upper housing or the upper surface of the lower housing is provided with a display unit and the operation unit is provided on the other, and the link hinge is in the open state of the upper housing and the lower housing, The upper casing and the lower casing are relatively movable so that the display section and the operation section are in a relative position with almost no step.

The invention according to claim 3 is the electronic device according to claim 1,
A display unit and an operation unit are provided on either the upper surface of the upper housing or the upper surface of the lower housing, respectively, and an operation unit is provided on the other, and the link hinge has the upper and lower housings in an open state. In some cases, the upper housing and the lower housing are configured to be relatively movable so that the operation units are in a relative position with almost no step.

The invention according to claim 4 is the electronic device according to claim 1,
The upper surface of either the upper housing or the lower housing includes a first upper surface and a second upper surface that are relatively stepped, a display unit is provided on the first upper surface, and an operation unit is provided on the second upper surface, An operation unit is provided on the upper surface of the other of the upper case and the lower case, and the link hinge has a substantially level difference between the operation units when the upper case and the lower case are in an open state. The upper housing and the lower housing are configured to be relatively movable so that the relative positions are not present.

The invention according to claim 5 is the electronic device according to claim 1,
When the display unit is provided on the upper surface of the upper casing and the upper surface of the lower casing, and the link hinge is open when the upper casing and the lower casing are in an open state, the display sections are relatively free of steps. The upper housing and the lower housing can be relatively moved so as to be positioned.

The invention according to claim 6 is the electronic device according to claim 1,
A display unit and an operation unit are provided on each of an upper surface of the upper housing and an upper surface of the lower housing, and the link hinge is configured so that each display unit and each of the display housings are in an open state when the upper housing and the lower housing are in an open state. The upper housing and the lower housing are configured to be relatively movable so that the operation units are in a relative position with almost no step.

The invention according to claim 7 is the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The link hinge includes a link mechanism having an upper link attached to the upper housing, a lower link attached to the lower housing, and a connecting link that connects the upper link and the lower link so as to be relatively movable. It is characterized by.

The invention according to claim 8 is the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The upper casing and the lower casing overlap with each other such that when the upper casing and the lower casing are in an open state, a part of the lower surface of the upper casing and a part of the upper surface of the lower casing overlap each other. Each of the portions is formed.

The invention according to claim 9 is the electronic device according to claim 8,
The overlapping portion of the upper casing and the overlapping portion of the lower casing are characterized in that each thickness is formed thinner than other portions.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use electronic device that does not feel strange when used.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a closed state of a mobile phone to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an operating state of the four-bar linkage mechanism constituting the link hinge in correspondence with FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mobile phone showing a state in the middle of opening and closing, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a link hinge corresponding to the operation state of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cellular phone device showing the open state, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the link hinge corresponding to the open state of FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the attachment state of the link hinge, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of FIG. 7 viewed from the back side.

  As shown in these drawings, the mobile phone 1 includes an upper housing 10 and a lower housing 20. The upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are connected via a link hinge 30 so as to be opened and closed. The upper housing 10 has a substantially rectangular shape (rectangular shape), and a liquid crystal screen (display unit) 12 and an operation unit (first operation unit) 13 are provided on an upper surface 11 thereof. The upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are equipped with functions necessary for a mobile phone, such as a transmitting / receiving unit (not shown), an antenna, a vibrator, and a camera unit.

  The first operation unit 13 is provided near one end side (front side) of the upper casing 10 in the longitudinal direction. A speaker unit 14 is provided in the vicinity of the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the upper housing 10. Therefore, the display unit 12 including a liquid crystal screen is provided between the first operation unit 13 and the speaker unit 14. In this embodiment, the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10, the display unit 12, and the first operation unit 13 are formed on substantially the same plane with almost no apparent level difference. In other words, the entire upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10 including the display unit 12 and the first operation unit 13 is formed substantially flat.

  The lower surface of the upper housing 10 is formed in three steps that increase stepwise in the length direction of the upper housing 10 (from the other end side to the one end side), as shown in FIG. It has a first lower surface 10a, a second lower surface 10b that is one step higher than that, and a third lower surface 10c that is one step higher than that. In this embodiment, the first lower surface 10a, the second lower surface 10b, and the third lower surface 10c are designed to have substantially the same area (substantially divided into three areas), but this is not a limitation.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lower housing 20 has a substantially rectangular shape (rectangular shape), and an operation portion (second operation portion) 23 is provided on the upper surface 21 thereof. In addition to the second operation portion 23, a step portion 20 b that is lowered by one step is formed on the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20. In the closed state shown in FIG. 1, the stepped portion 20 b is designed such that it overlaps with the second lower surface 10 b and the second operation portion 23 portion overlaps with the third lower surface 10 c portion of the upper housing 10.

  In addition, in this state, the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are overlapped in the form of a so-called concavo-convex symbol so that the entire mobile phone 1 is uniformized to a uniform thickness T (see FIG. 1). It is configured. Further, in the open state shown in FIG. 5, the stepped portion 20 b overlaps the third lower surface 10 c and the upper surfaces 11 and 21 of the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are on substantially the same plane with no step. It is designed to be (equal).

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6, and 7, the link hinge 30 that connects the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 is connected to the upper link 31 attached to the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20. A four-link mechanism including a lower link 32 to be attached and connecting links 33 and 34 that connect the upper link 31 and the lower link 32 so as to be relatively movable is provided.

  The upper link 31 is formed by bending and punching a plate-like member, and is bent 90 degrees downward from near the both ends of the flat plate portion 31b having a screwing hole 31a to the upper housing 10. There are hanging pieces 31c and 31c. The lower link 32 is also formed by bending and punching a plate-like member, and is bent 90 degrees upward from near the both ends of the flat plate portion 32b having screw holes 32a to the lower housing 20. Standing upright pieces 32c and 32c.

  In this embodiment, there are two connecting links 33 and 34 that connect the upper link 31 and the lower link 32 so that they can move relative to each other, a total of four connecting links 33 and 34. The link 31 is pin-coupled to the hanging piece 31c of the link 31 and the standing piece 32c of the lower link 32, respectively. Thus, the upper link 31 and the lower link 32 maintain the flat plate portions 31b and 32b in a parallel state, while the direction indicated by the middle arrow A in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5 (the length of the upper housing 10). Direction) and an arrow B (thickness direction of the upper housing 10) so as to be relatively movable, but the number of connecting links is not particularly limited.

  Therefore, the link hinge 30 is arranged such that when the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are in the open state shown in FIG. The upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are configured to be relatively movable so that the display unit 12, the first operation unit 13, and the second operation unit 23 are in a relative position with almost no step. With respect to the link hinge 30, as shown in the illustrated example, a pair of four-joint link mechanisms exist on the left and right sides, so that a stress in a direction different from both the A and B directions, that is, a bending stress, etc. Sufficient proof stress can be exhibited.

  In the closed state shown in FIG. 2 and the open state shown in FIG. 6, the link hinge 30 is deformed flat, but has a slight thickness t corresponding to the members constituting the link hinge 30. In order to absorb this thickness t, recesses 10d and 20d are formed in the lower surface of the upper housing 10 and the step portion 20b of the lower housing 20, respectively (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Thereby, in the closed state in which the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 overlap as shown in FIG. 1, consideration is given to exactly overlap without forming a gap between them.

  In the mobile phone 1 according to the first embodiment, when the closed state shown in FIG. 1 is shifted (relative movement) from the closed state shown in FIG. It may be pushed to the other end side (from the one end side on the front side) or may be pushed in the direction of arrow A while slightly lifting the upper housing 10. Then, by the action of the link hinge 30, the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 move relative to each other in the form of sliding in the longitudinal direction, and approach each other after moving (separating) in the thickness direction of each other. Move. That is, the positional relationship between the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 changes sequentially from FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and from FIG. 3 to FIG.

  FIGS. 2, 4, and 6 show the movement of the link hinge 30 at this time. In each stage of the relative movement initial stage, middle stage, and late stage, the link hinge 30 gradually rises from the closed state (flat state) shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and shifts to the maximum standing state shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. Transition to the open state (flat state) shown in FIGS. With this movement, the connecting link 33 of the link hinge 30 is positioned below the connecting link 34 in FIG. 2, but is positioned above the connecting link 34 in FIG. In order to make this movement smooth without hindrance, a bent portion is provided in the central portion of the connecting link 34 so as to be formed in a “く” shape as a whole.

  According to the first embodiment, when the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are in the open state, at least a part of the upper surfaces 11 and 21 of the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are in a relative position with almost no step. Since the body 10 and the lower housing 20 are configured to be relatively movable, it becomes easy to dispose the display unit and the operation unit on the upper surfaces 11 and 21 in a state where there is no step between them. It is possible to obtain a mobile phone that is easy to use without any sense of incongruity.

  In this embodiment, the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10 and the surfaces of the display unit 12 and the first operation unit 13 are substantially flush with each other, and the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20 and the second operation unit are formed. Since the surface of the mobile phone 1 is in the open state shown in FIG. 5, the display unit 12 of the upper housing 10, the first operation unit 13, and the lower housing 20 Since the two operation parts 23 are located on substantially the same plane and there is no mutual step, there is no sense of incongruity when using them, and the effect of being very easy to use is exhibited.

  In addition, when the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are in the open state, the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 include a part of the lower surface (third lower surface 10c) of the upper housing 10 and the lower housing. Since the overlapping portions are formed so that a part of the upper surface of the body 20 (step portion 20d) overlaps with each other, the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 can be maintained in a stable open state.

  In addition, since the overlapping portion where the third lower surface 10c of the upper housing 10 and the overlapping portion where the step 20d of the lower housing 20 are formed are thinner than the other portions, the upper housing 10 In the overlapping state of 10 and the lower housing 20, the whole can be made thin. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the thickness especially when the cellular phone 1 is in the closed state shown in FIG.

  9 to 12 are schematic explanatory diagrams showing embodiments to which the present invention is applicable. In these drawings, (a) shows an open state, and (b) shows a closed state. 9 to 12, constituent elements that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is simplified or omitted.

(Embodiment 2)
FIGS. 9A and 9B show Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a display unit 12A is provided on the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10, and an operation unit is provided on the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20. FIG. 23B is provided. Here, the display unit 12A corresponds to the display unit 12 of the first embodiment, and the operation unit 23B corresponds to the first operation unit 13 and the second operation unit 23 of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Embodiment 3)
FIGS. 10A and 10B show the third embodiment. In this embodiment, a display unit 12A and an operation unit 13B are provided on the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10, and the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20 is provided. Is provided with an operation unit 23B. Here, the display unit 12A corresponds to the display unit 12 of the first embodiment, and the operation units 13B and 23B correspond to the first operation unit 13 and the second operation unit 23 of the first embodiment, respectively. However, in the third embodiment, the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10 is formed in two upper and lower stages having different heights, the display unit 12A is provided on the upper first upper surface 11a, and the lower second upper surface 11b is provided. An operation unit 13B is provided. And in the open state, it is comprised so that the operation part 13B of the upper housing | casing 10 and the operation part 23B of the lower housing | casing 20 may be maintained in the state without a level | step difference. In the third embodiment, substantially the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Embodiment 4)
FIGS. 11A and 11B show the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, the operation unit 23B is provided on the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10, and the display unit 12A is provided on the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20. FIG. It is a thing. Here, the display unit 12A corresponds to the display unit 12 of the first embodiment, and the operation unit 23B corresponds to the first operation unit 13 and the second operation unit 23 of the first embodiment, respectively. However, in the fourth embodiment, the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10 is formed to have a uniform height (flat surface), and the lower surface is formed in two stages of a first lower surface 10a and a second lower surface 10b.

  Therefore, in the open state of FIG. 11A, the second lower surface 10b of the upper housing 10 overlaps the step 20b of the lower housing 20, and in the closed state of FIG. The first step portion 10a of the upper housing 10 is configured to overlap with 20b, and the first lower surface 10a is overlapped with the display portion 12A. And when the upper housing | casing 10 and the lower housing | casing 20 are in an open state, it is comprised so that the operation part 23B and the display part 12A may be maintained in the state without a level | step difference substantially. In the fourth embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. However, in this embodiment, since it has a two-stage configuration as a whole, it is more effective in reducing the thickness.

(Embodiment 5)
FIGS. 12A and 12B show the fifth embodiment. In this example, the operation unit 23B is provided on the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10, and the operation unit 13B and the display unit are provided on the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20. 12A is provided. Here, the display unit 12A corresponds to the display unit 12 of the first embodiment, and the operation units 13B and 23B correspond to the first operation unit 13 and the second operation unit 23 of the first embodiment, respectively. However, in the fifth embodiment, the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20 is formed in three stages having different heights, the display section 12A is provided on the upper stage 21a side, and the operation section 13B is provided on the middle stage 21b side. Yes. In the open state, the second lower surface 10b of the upper housing 10 is overlapped on the lower stage 21c, and the operation unit 13B and the operation unit 23b are maintained in a substantially stepless state. In the fifth embodiment, substantially the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Modification 1)
13 to 19 are schematic plan views showing various modifications to which the present invention can be applied. In these drawings, FIG. 13 is provided with one display unit 12A on the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10 and an operation unit 23B on the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20, and the display unit 12A and the operation unit 23B in the open state. An example in which the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are configured to be relatively movable so as to be in a substantially step-less state (corresponding to FIG. 9) is shown. On the other hand, FIG. 14 shows a configuration example in which one operation unit 23 </ b> B is provided on the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10 and a display unit 12 </ b> A is provided on the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20.
(Modification 2)
In FIG. 15, a display unit 12A and an operation unit 13B are provided on the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10, and an operation unit 23B is provided on the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20, and the display unit 12A, the operation unit 13B, and the operation unit 23B are opened. FIG. 10 shows a configuration example in which the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 can be moved relative to each other so that there is almost no step (corresponding to FIG. 10). On the other hand, FIG. 16 shows a configuration example in which one operation unit 23B is provided on the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10, and a display unit 12A and an operation unit 13B are provided on the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20.

(Modification 3)
In FIG. 17, the display unit 12A is provided on the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10, the display unit 12B and the operation unit 23B are provided on the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20, and the display unit 12A, the display unit 12B, and the operation unit are opened. The configuration example in which the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are movable relative to each other so that there is almost no step with respect to 23B is shown. On the other hand, FIG. 18 shows a configuration example in which the operation unit 23B and the display unit 12B are provided on the upper surface 11 of the upper housing 10, and the display unit 12A is provided on the upper surface 21 of the lower housing 20. In the third modification, the display portions 12A and 12B can be made to have no step, so that there is an advantage that the display portions 12A and 12B are easy to use and particularly easy to display when used.

(Modification 4)
In FIG. 19, the display unit 12A and the operation unit 13B are provided side by side on the upper surface 11 of the upper casing 10, and the display unit 12B and the operation unit 23B are provided side by side on the upper surface 21 of the lower casing 20 and opened. A configuration example in which the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are movable relative to each other so that the display unit 12A, the display unit 12B, the operation unit 13B, and the operation unit 23B are substantially stepless in the state. It is. In this case, both the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are formed in a horizontally long shape. In this modified example 4, since there is almost no step between the display unit and the operation unit, the display unit is easy to display and easy to operate, and is easy to use without any sense of incongruity.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a mobile phone has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to other electronic devices such as a PDA. In addition, the link hinge includes a four-joint link mechanism. However, the link hinge may be arbitrarily configured, and other specific details such as a detailed structure can be appropriately changed. .

It is a perspective view of the closed state of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the link hinge corresponding to the closed state of the electronic device which concerns on FIG. It is a perspective view of the state in the middle of opening and closing of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a link hinge corresponding to a state in the middle of opening and closing of the electronic device according to FIG. 3. It is a perspective view of the open state of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the link hinge corresponding to the open state of the electronic device which concerns on FIG. It is a perspective view of the state in the middle of opening and closing of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the opening-and-closing middle state of the electronic device which concerns on FIG. 7 from the back surface side. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention, (a) is explanatory drawing of an open state, (b) is explanatory drawing of a closed state. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention, (a) is explanatory drawing of an open state, (b) is explanatory drawing of a closed state. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention, (a) is explanatory drawing of an open state, (b) is explanatory drawing of a closed state. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention, (a) is explanatory drawing of an open state, (b) is explanatory drawing of a closed state. It is a schematic plan view which shows the modification of embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic plan view which shows the modification of embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic plan view which shows the modification of embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic plan view which shows the modification of embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic plan view which shows the modification of embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic plan view which shows the modification of embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic plan view which shows the modification of embodiment to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cellular phone 10 Upper housing | casing 10a 1st lower surface 10b 2nd lower surface 10c 3rd lower surface 10d Recess 11 Upper surface 11a 1st upper surface 12b 2nd upper surface 12, 12A, 12B Display part 13 1st operation part 20 Lower housing | casing 20b Step part 20d Recess 23 Second operation part 13B, 23B Operation part 30 Link hinge 31 Upper link 32 Lower link 33, 34 Connection link

Claims (9)

An upper case having at least one of a display unit and an operation unit on the upper surface;
A lower housing having at least one of an operation unit or a display unit on an upper surface;
A link hinge that connects the upper housing and the lower housing so that the upper housing and the lower housing are either in an open state or a closed state;
When the upper casing and the lower casing are in the open state, the link hinge is configured so that the upper casing and the lower casing are positioned so that at least a part of the upper surface of each of the link hinges is in a relative position with almost no step. An electronic device having a structure capable of relative movement.   When either the upper surface of the upper housing or the upper surface of the lower housing is provided with a display unit and the operation unit is provided on the other, and the link hinge is in the open state of the upper housing and the lower housing, The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper housing and the lower housing are configured to be relatively movable so that the display unit and the operation unit are in a relative position with substantially no step.   A display unit and an operation unit are provided on either the upper surface of the upper housing or the upper surface of the lower housing, respectively, and an operation unit is provided on the other, and the link hinge has the upper and lower housings in an open state. 2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper housing and the lower housing are configured to be relatively movable so that each operation unit is in a relative position with almost no step.   The upper surface of either the upper housing or the lower housing includes a first upper surface and a second upper surface that are relatively stepped, a display unit is provided on the first upper surface, and an operation unit is provided on the second upper surface, An operation unit is provided on the upper surface of the other of the upper case and the lower case, and the link hinge has a substantially level difference between the operation units when the upper case and the lower case are in an open state. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper casing and the lower casing are configured to be relatively movable so that the relative positions are not present.   When the display unit is provided on the upper surface of the upper casing and the upper surface of the lower casing, and the link hinge is open when the upper casing and the lower casing are in an open state, the display sections are relatively free of steps. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper housing and the lower housing are configured to be relatively movable so as to be positioned.   A display unit and an operation unit are provided on each of an upper surface of the upper housing and an upper surface of the lower housing, and the link hinge is configured so that each display unit and each of the display housings are in an open state when the upper housing and the lower housing are in an open state. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper casing and the lower casing are configured to be relatively movable so that the operation units are in a relative position with substantially no step.   The link hinge includes a link mechanism having an upper link attached to the upper housing, a lower link attached to the lower housing, and a connecting link that connects the upper link and the lower link so as to be relatively movable. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:   The upper casing and the lower casing overlap with each other such that when the upper casing and the lower casing are in an open state, a part of the lower surface of the upper casing and a part of the upper surface of the lower casing overlap each other. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the portions is formed.   9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the overlapping portion of the upper housing and the overlapping portion of the lower housing are formed so that each thickness is thinner than other portions.

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