JP2012156766A - Portable electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable electronic device which has first and second housings connected to each other, in which a fully closed state and a tilted state are capable of being selectively set, and in which both housings are capable of being opened from the fully closed state with a small operation force and are incapable of being easily opened to the tilted state.SOLUTION: In the portable electronic device, a connecting mechanism 3 that connects a first housing 1 and a second housing 2 has a built-in cam mechanism. A cam curve of the cam mechanism has a hill portion that is to function in a transitional process from a fully closed state to a tilted state and a valley portion that is to function in the tilted state. Torque that is generated at an apex of the hill portion by the cam mechanism is set to a value greater than a first torque value T1 that acts on the cam mechanism by the self-weight of the first housing, and toque that is generated by the cam mechanism in the fully closed state is set to a second torque value T2 less than the first torque value T1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device configured by connecting a pair of housings to each other.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a portable electronic device in which a pair of housings are connected to each other, a display surface is provided on each housing, and a large amount of information can be provided to the user by both display surfaces. It has been known.

  In such a portable electronic device, for example, a pair of casings are connected to each other by a link member at each side portion, and the pair of casings overlap each other by the pivoting operation of the link member. Single-sided exposure where the display surface (first display surface) of the body (first housing) is covered by the upper housing (second housing) and only the display surface (second display surface) of the second housing is exposed Between the state (fully closed state) and the double-sided exposed state (fully opened state) in which the second case moves relative to the first case and the display surfaces of both cases are exposed on the same plane. The casings move relative to each other (see Patent Document 1).

  According to such a portable electronic device, since the first display surface and the second display surface are aligned on the same plane in the fully opened state, an image can be displayed on a large screen with the two display surfaces as one large screen. It becomes possible.

  In a portable electronic device in which a pair of casings are connected to each other via a link mechanism, a keyboard is provided on the surface of the first casing, while a display is provided on the surface of the second casing. The fully closed state where the surface of the first housing is covered by the back surface of the second housing and only the surface of the second housing is exposed, and the surface of the second housing is 90 degrees with respect to the surface of the first housing. As described above, there has been proposed a portable electronic device that can be set to a tilt state in which the surfaces of both housings are exposed by tilting at an opening angle of less than 180 degrees (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2009-71588 A JP-A-3-278212

The fully closed state where the surface of the first housing is covered by the back surface of the second housing and only the surface of the second housing is exposed, and the surface of the second housing is 90 degrees with respect to the surface of the first housing. As described above, in the portable electronic device that can be set to the tilted state in which the surfaces of both housings are exposed by being tilted at an opening angle of less than 180 degrees, the cam mechanism incorporating the spring is connected to the link mechanism, In the transition process from the fully closed state to the tilted state, the cam mechanism operates according to a predetermined cam curve, and in the fully closed state, both the housings are urged toward the fully closed state by the spring, and in the tilted state, The two housings can be biased toward the tilted state by the spring.
As a result, both housings are held in the fully closed or tilted posture with a constant holding force.

  However, when the elastic coefficient of the spring is large, a large operating force is required to shift from the fully closed state to the tilted state. Conversely, when the elastic coefficient of the spring is small, for example, only the second housing is fully closed. It can be difficult to set the elastic coefficient of the spring because the weight of the first housing exceeds the holding force of the spring, and the transition from the fully closed state to the tilted state can easily occur. There's a problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device in which a first casing and a second casing are coupled to each other via a coupling mechanism and can selectively set at least two states of a fully closed state and a tilted state. In this case, the two housings can be opened from the fully closed state with a small operating force, but both the housings are not opened to the tilted state when only the second housing is gripped and lifted in the fully closed state. It is to provide a portable electronic device.

  In the portable electronic device according to the present invention, the first casing and the second casing are coupled to each other via the coupling mechanism, and the surface of the first casing is covered by the back surface of the second casing. The fully closed state with the body surface exposed and the second housing moves from the fully closed state by the rotation of the coupling mechanism, and the surface of the second housing is 90 degrees with respect to the surface of the first housing. As described above, it is possible to selectively set at least two states of the tilted state in which the surfaces of both housings are exposed at an opening angle of less than 180 degrees.

  The coupling mechanism has a built-in cam mechanism, which includes a pair of cam pieces that rotate relative to each other between the fully closed state and the tilted state, and cam surfaces of the two cam pieces. And a cam curve of the cam mechanism having a peak portion that should function in the transition process from the fully closed state to the tilt state and a valley portion that should function in the tilt state. The torque generated by the cam mechanism at the top is set to a value larger than the first torque value T1 acting on the cam mechanism due to the weight of the first housing, and the torque generated by the cam mechanism in the fully closed state is The second torque value T2 is set to be smaller than the torque value T1.

In the portable electronic device according to the present invention, even when only the second housing is gripped and lifted in the fully closed state, the cam mechanism is moved to the cam mechanism by the weight of the first housing due to the cam curve crest. Since a torque larger than the acting first torque value T1 is generated as a drag force, both housings are held in the fully closed state or slightly opened from the fully closed state, and do not shift to the tilted state.
When shifting both housings from the fully closed state to the tilted state, a torque exceeding the first torque value T1 may be applied to the cam mechanism.

  In the fully closed state, the cam mechanism holds both housings in the fully closed state by the second torque value T2 that is smaller than the first torque value T1. Therefore, when performing an operation of opening both housings from the fully open state to the tilted state, a torque exceeding the second torque value T2 may be applied to the cam mechanism, and the operating force is small.

  According to the portable electronic device of the present invention, both housings can be opened from the fully closed state with a small operating force, and even if only the second housing is gripped and lifted in the fully closed state, both the housings can be opened. The housing does not open until it is tilted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fully closed state of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the portable electronic device upside down in a fully closed state. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a tilted state of the portable electronic device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tilt state of the portable electronic device as seen from the back side. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fully open state of the portable electronic device. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the portable electronic device upside down in a fully open state. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a fully open state of the portable electronic device. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the portable electronic device upside down with the slide fully open. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the portable electronic device. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the portable electronic device in an inverted state. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device further partially disassembled from the state of FIG. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device in which a part is further disassembled from the state of FIG. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the portable electronic device. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device partially disassembled from the state of FIG. FIG. 15 is another cross-sectional view showing the transition of the portable electronic device from the fully open state (a) to the fully open state (b). FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a C part and a D part in FIG. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the deformed state of the flexible lead in the transition process from the fully closed state (a) to the fully open slide state (b) to the fully open slide state (c). FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a pair of convex portions formed on the second housing in the fully closed state. FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion E of FIG. FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a pair of convex portions formed on the second housing in the fully closed state. FIG. 21 is an enlarged plan view showing a portion F of FIG. FIG. 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the main part of the second housing at the position where the convex part is formed. FIG. 23 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a hook structure provided along the facing portion of the first housing and the second housing in the fully opened state. FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a state in which the second display and the front cabinet are disassembled from the holder member of the second display. FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view of the holder member and the frame member of the second display. FIG. 26 is a series of side views showing the first half of the process from the fully closed state to the slide fully opened state through the tilted state of the portable electronic device according to the present invention. FIG. 27 is a series of side views showing the second half of the same process. FIG. 28 is a series of side views showing the first half of the process from the fully open state of the portable electronic device according to the present invention to the fully closed state through the tilt state. FIG. 29 is a series of side views showing the second half of the same process. FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view showing a state immediately before the convex portion of the second housing is engaged with the through hole of the connecting member. FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the convex portion of the second housing is engaged with the through hole of the connecting member. FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing a flank area formed on the back surface of the second housing. FIG. 33 is a diagram schematically showing the inclined state of the flank in the fully closed state of both housings. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating the transition of the second housing in the transition process from the fully closed state to the tilted state. FIG. 35 is a front view of the hinge unit. FIG. 36 is a partially broken front view of the hinge unit. FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a cam curve of a cam mechanism built in the hinge unit and its function. FIG. 38 is a view for explaining a second example of a cam curve of a cam mechanism built in the hinge unit and its function. FIG. 39 is a side view showing a state in which the portable electronic device according to the present invention is placed on the desk in the tilted state (a) and the slide fully opened state (b).

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first housing (1) having a first display surface (11) on the surface, and a second display surface ( A second casing (2) having 21) is connected to each other via a connecting mechanism (3). Here, not only images but also characters or images can be displayed on the first display surface (11) and the second display surface (21).
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a battery cover (14) is provided on the back surface of the first casing (1), and a photographing lens (9) is provided so as to be exposed from the battery cover (14).

  In the following description, when each part of the components of the portable electronic device is specified, the portable electronic device shown in FIG. 1 is viewed along the user's line of sight indicated by an arrow S in the drawing. “Front (front side)”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” are also referred to as “front”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” in other drawings regardless of the posture of the portable electronic device.

As shown in FIG. 13, a first touch panel (13) and a first display (12) are arranged inside the first housing (1) so as to face the first display surface (11), and the photographing lens (9 ), The camera (91) is deployed. A battery (15) is accommodated in the first housing (1), and the battery (15) can be replaced by removing the battery lid (14).
On the other hand, a second touch panel (23) and a second display (22) are arranged inside the second housing (2) so as to face the second display surface (21).

A glass plate (16) having a larger area than the first display (12) and the first touch panel (13) is installed on the surface of the first touch panel (13), and the surface of the glass plate (16) is the first surface. An image on the first display (12) is displayed as a display surface (11).
Also, a glass plate (24) having a larger area than the second display (22) and the second touch panel (23) is installed on the surface of the second touch panel (23), and the surface of the glass plate (24) is An image on the second display 22 is displayed on the second display surface 21 (see FIG. 20).
In addition, the surface (110) (110) of the 1st housing | casing (1) is exposed on both sides of the glass plate (16) installed in the 1st housing | casing (1).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the portable electronic device according to the present invention covers the surface of the first housing (1) with the back surface of the second housing (2) and only the surface of the second housing (2). The fully closed state in which the housing is exposed and the surfaces of both housings (1) and (2) are exposed by moving the second housing (2) rearward as shown in FIGS. A tilt state in which the surface of the second casing (2) is tilted at an opening angle of 90 degrees or more and less than 180 degrees with respect to the surface of (1), and the second casing (2) as shown in FIGS. ) Is rotated rearward so that the surfaces of both casings (1) and (2) are exposed on the same plane, and both casings (1) and (2) as shown in FIGS. ) Can be selectively set in the four fully-slided states in which the second housing (2) is slid toward the first housing (1) with the front surface exposed on the same plane.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the connecting mechanism (3) for connecting the first housing (1) and the second housing (2) to each other is provided at both ends of the arm connecting portion (32a) extending left and right. A U-shaped connecting member (32) is provided which has a pair of left and right connecting arms (31) (31) extending in the front-rear direction.
The connecting arm (31) has an L shape that is bent in an L shape on the surfaces orthogonal to the display surfaces of both housings, and intersects with each other at the corners of the L shape. And a second arm portion (36).

  The base end portion of the right connection arm (31) (the base end portion of the first arm portion (35)) is connected to the first housing via a hinge unit (4) containing a cam mechanism with a spring as will be described later. It is connected to the rear end of the right side surface of (1), and the base end of the left connection arm (31) (the base end of the first arm (35)) is a dummy hinge unit (41 ) To the left rear end of the first housing (1).

  Also, the tip of the right connecting arm (31) (the tip of the second arm (36)) is connected to the rear right end of the second housing (2) via the first hinge member (5). The front end of the left connecting arm (31) (the front end of the second arm portion (36)) is connected to the left end of the rear surface of the second housing (2) via the second hinge member (51). It is connected to.

  The hinge units (4) and (41) constitute a first pivot connecting the base end of the connecting arm (31) to the first housing (1), while the hinge members (5) and (51) are connected to the connecting arm (31). ) Is connected to the second housing (2), and the first pivot and the second pivot are parallel to each other.

  In addition, a sliding contact surface (311) is formed on the second arm portion (36) of each connecting arm (31) at a portion facing the second housing (2), and the second housing (2). ) Is formed with a sliding contact surface (211) facing the sliding contact surface (311) in the fully closed state.

  The electronic component built in the first housing (1) and the electronic component built in the second housing (2) are connected to each other by a flexible lead (7). The flexible lead (7) extends from the inside of the first housing (1) to the inside of the second housing (2) through the inside of the connecting arm (31), and the inside of the first housing (1). A first lead portion (71) housed in the second lead portion (72) housed in the connection arm (31), and a third lead portion housed in the second housing (2). (73).

The length of the flexible lead (7) is provided with a minimum margin that can allow relative movement of the first casing (1) and the second casing (2).
Thereby, the second casing (2) can perform a series of relative movements shown in FIGS. 26 (a) to (d) and FIGS. 27 (a) to (d) with respect to the first casing (1). It is possible.

The hinge unit (4) softly locks the connecting member (32) to the first housing (1) in the tilted state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and rotates the connecting member (32) in the tilted state. The bias is applied toward the rotation angle in the tilted state within a certain angle range centered on the angle. Further, the hinge unit (4) biases the connecting member (32) toward the rotation angle in the fully-rotated state within a certain angle range including the fully-rotated state shown in FIGS. .
5 and 6, the connecting member (32) is held by the first housing (1) so that the connecting member (32) is held at the rotation angle of the fully opened state. The

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, the hinge unit (4) includes a fixed cam piece (42) and a movable cam piece (43) that can rotate relative to each other. The formed cam surface (45) and the cam surface (46) formed on the movable cam piece (43) face each other.
In addition, a spring (47) is interposed between the fixed cam piece (42) and the movable cam piece (43) to press the cam surfaces (45) and (46) of the cam pieces (42) and (43) together. Thus, torque that relatively rotates both cam pieces (42) and (43) is generated by the urging of the spring (47) and the sliding contact between the cam surfaces (45) and (46).

The fixed cam piece (42) and the movable cam piece (43) of the hinge unit (4) are respectively the second arm part (36) of the connecting arm (31) and the side part of the first housing (1) shown in FIG. Connected to
Thus, the hinge unit (4) constituting the coupling mechanism (3) incorporates a cam mechanism with a spring, and the hinge unit (4) allows the second casing (1) to the first casing (1). Torque as resistance force or urging force is applied to the rotation of 2).

The cam mechanism built in the hinge unit (4) operates according to the cam curve shown in FIG. The cam curve has two crests and one trough interposed between the two crests within an angle range of 0 ° to 180 °.
A large peak portion (first peak portion) on the 0 ° side of the cam curve functions in the transition process from the fully closed state to the tilted state. In the fully closed state, the inclined portion on the 0 ° side of the peak portion (cam state P1). ) Holds the first casing (1) and the second casing (2) in the closed state, and after passing through the intermediate state between the fully closed state and the tilted state, the first casing (1) and the second casing (2) The casing (2) is urged toward the tilt state.

A small peak (second peak) on the 180 ° side of the cam curve functions in the transition process from the tilted state to the fully-rotated state, and in the fully-rotated state, the inclined part (cam According to the state P3), the first casing (1) and the second casing (2) are held in the fully open state.
Further, the first casing (1) and the second casing (2) are held in the tilted state by the valley portion of the cam curve (cam state P2).

  In the cam curve of the first example shown in FIG. 37, the torque that should be generated by the cam mechanism in the fully closed state is that the first case (1) is gripped and lifted only by the second case (2). Is set to a value slightly larger than the first torque value T1 acting on the cam mechanism due to its own weight.

  On the other hand, the cam curve of the second example shown in FIG. 38 is an intermediate state between the fully closed state and the tilted state, and the inclined portion (cam state P1 ′) immediately before the top of the first peak portion functions. The torque generated by the cam mechanism in the intermediate state between the fully closed state and the tilted state acts on the cam mechanism by the weight of the first housing (1) when only the second housing (2) is gripped and lifted. The torque generated by the cam mechanism in the fully closed state is set to a second torque value T2 that is smaller than the torque value T1.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a torsion spring (6) is attached to the first hinge member (5) around its rotation axis (second pivot), and the second casing (2) is attached by the torsion spring (6). ) Is urged to rotate in the direction of reducing the opening angle θ in the tilted state shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the first arm portions (35), (35) of the connecting arms (31), (31) of the connecting member (32) are provided at the rear end portions of the both sides of the first housing (1). The accommodating parts (103) (103) to be accommodated are recessed.
On the other hand, on both sides of the back surface of the second housing (2), an accommodating part (204) (204) that should accommodate the arm coupling part (37) and the second arm part (36) (36) of the coupling member (32). 203) and (203) are recessed.

  Furthermore, a laterally long through hole (312) is opened in the central portion of the arm connecting portion (32a) of the connecting member (32), while the second casing (2) is provided with a receiving portion (204). A horizontally long convex portion (218) to be engaged with the through hole (312) in the fully closed state is formed in the center portion.

The both side walls (214), (214) of the second housing (2) have a large height from the surface of the second housing (2) toward the first housing (1) in the fully closed state. A pair of left and right first side wall portions having a side wall portion (212) and a second side wall portion (213) having a small height from the surface of the second housing (2) toward the first housing (1) side. (212) (212) are located on both sides of the accommodating portions (203) (203) on both sides of the second casing (2).
In addition, between the end surface of the first side wall portion (212) facing the surface of the first housing (1) and the end surface of the second side wall portion (213), the first housing (1) is fully closed. A finger hook surface (215) that is inclined with respect to the surface is formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, both the connecting arms (31) and (31) of the connecting member (32) receive the second housing (2) at the facing portion of the second housing (2). A receiving surface (33) is formed, and slide surfaces (29) to be slidably contacted with the receiving surface (33) are formed at both ends of the back surface of the second housing (2).

  In the tilted state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the fully open state shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the slide surface (29) of the second housing (2) is brought into contact with the receiving surface (33) of the connecting arm (31). The rotation of the second casing (2) with respect to the connecting arm (31) is received by contact, and thereby the relative of the second casing (2) with respect to the connecting arm (31) in the tilted state or the fully opened state. The posture will be defined.

As shown in FIG. 12, a U-shaped slide member (83) capable of sliding in the front-rear direction is disposed on the sheet metal member (28) installed in the second housing (2). A U-shaped support member (81) is fixed so as to cover the slide member (83) (see FIG. 14).
As shown in FIG. 12, arm portions 84 and 84 project from the left and right ends of the slide member 83. Sliding guide members (82) (82) are attached to the left and right ends of the support member (81).

Then, the arm portions (84) and (84) of the slide member (83) are sandwiched between the slide guide members (82) and (82) of the support member (81) and the sheet metal member (28), and the sheet metal member (28) The slide in the front-rear direction of the upper slide member (83) is guided.
Each of the first hinge member (5) and the second hinge member (51) passes through the long hole (219) on the second housing (2), and the tip of the first hinge member (5) and the second hinge member (51) is the slide member (83). It is pivotally connected to both sides of the arm portions (84) and (84).

  As a result, a slide mechanism (8) for sliding the second housing (2) in the front-rear direction with respect to the arm portions (84) and (84) of the slide member (83) is configured, and the second housing (2) It is possible to slide back and forth between the fully open state shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and the fully open state shown in FIGS.

  15 (a) and 16 (a) are provided on the rear end surface of the first housing (1) and the front end surface of the second housing (2) which face each other in the fully opened state. As shown in FIG. 15 (b), a convex part (10) and a concave part (20) that can be engaged and disengaged with each other are formed. In the fully open state shown in FIGS. ) And the recessed portion (20) are separated from each other, and the projecting portion (10) and the recessed portion (20) are engaged with each other in the fully open state shown in FIGS. 15 (b) and 16 (b).

  As a result, in the slide fully open state shown in FIGS. 15B and 16B, the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are engaged by the engagement of the convex portion 10 and the concave portion 20. Are connected to each other, and the state in which the first display surface (11) and the second display surface (21) are aligned on the same plane is maintained.

  As shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 16 (a), in the fully opened state, there is a sufficient size (for example, several mm) between the first housing (1) and the second housing (2). 15 (b) and 16 (b), the first housing (1) and the second housing (2) are in contact with each other or slightly in the fully open state as shown in FIGS. They face each other with a small distance (for example, 0.1 mm).

Furthermore, in the portable electronic device, as shown in FIGS. 18 to 21, a pair of convex portions (200) (200) are formed on the left and right ends of the front end surface of the first housing (1). The protrusion height H of the convex part (200) is about 0.3 mm.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 22, the second casing (2) is composed of a front cabinet (2a) and a rear cabinet (2b) made of synthetic resin, respectively, and a pair of convex portions (200) (200). Is formed in the front cabinet (2a), and the glass plate (24) of the front cabinet (2a) is a region R2 shifted from the thickness region R1 of the glass plate (24), and is shown in FIG. Similarly, the second display (22) is disposed at a position shifted in the width direction of the display (22).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the second display (22) is held on a holder member (221) made of a stainless steel sheet metal (sheet thickness: 0.3 mm), and the holder member (221 ) Is locked to the front cabinet (2a) of the second casing (2).
Specifically, the holder member (221) is engaged with a synthetic resin frame-shaped frame member (2c) shown in FIG. 25, and the flat plate portion (220) on which the second display is to be placed is engaged. Three engagement receiving pieces (222), (222), and (222) project upward from the front edge.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the front cabinet (2a) of the second housing (2) is formed with a side wall (217) extending along the front edge of the second display (22). In addition, on the inner surface of the side wall (217), there are three engagement pieces (216), (216), and (216) to be engaged with the three engagement receiving pieces (222), (222), and (222). Projected toward (22).
As shown in FIG. 23, in the engaged state of the engagement receiving piece (222) and the engagement piece (216), the engagement piece (216) is fitted into the hole (223) opened in the engagement receiving piece (222). By doing so, the holder member (221) is locked to the front cabinet (2a) of the second casing (2).
For example, the engagement depth (plate thickness of the holder member (221)) A of the engagement piece (216) and the engagement receiving piece (222) is set to 0.3 mm.

Furthermore, on the back surface (231) of the second housing (2) shown in FIG. 4, the front surface (110) (110) of the first housing (1) shown in FIG. 33 is formed at the lower end portion (front end portion) that moves along the first side, and the flank surface (230) is in the fully closed state in the first housing. It is inclined in a direction away from the surface of the body (1).
Further, the flank (230) is formed in a belt-like region extending in the left-right direction across the entire width of the back surface (231) of the second housing (2) as shown by hatching in FIG.

  According to the portable electronic device, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first casing (1) and the second casing (2) are overlapped so that only the second display surface (21) is exposed. 3 and 4, the second housing (2) is moved rearward from the fully closed state to expose both the first display surface (11) and the second display surface (21), and A tilt state in which the second display surface (21) is inclined at an opening angle of 90 degrees or more and less than 180 degrees with respect to the first display surface (11), and a second state from the tilt state as shown in FIGS. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the fully opened state in which the housing (2) is rotated backward to expose both the first display surface (11) and the second display surface (21) on the same plane. As described above, the second housing (2) is slid toward the first housing (1) from the fully opened state so that the first display surface (11) and the second display surface (21) are close to each other. Slide fully open with display surfaces (11) and (21) exposed on the same plane The four states of state selectively that can be set.

In the fully closed state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first arm portion (35) of the connecting arms (31) (31) is connected to the housing portion (103) (103) of the first housing (1) shown in FIG. 35) is housed, and the arm connecting portion (37) and the second arm portion (36) of the connecting member (32) are provided in the housing portions (204), (203) and (203) of the second housing (2). (36) is accommodated, and the coupling mechanism (3) is compactly accommodated in the entire device without projecting from both side surfaces and rear end surfaces of both housings (1) and (2).
In the fully closed state, as shown in FIG. 18, the front end surface of the first housing (1) and the front end surface of the second housing (2) are aligned, and the convex portions (200) (200) are The housings (1) and (2) project forward from the front end surfaces.

In any of the tilt state shown in FIG. 3, the fully open state shown in FIG. 5, and the fully open state of slide shown in FIG. 7, the coupling mechanism (3) is substantially entirely of both housings (1) (2). It is hidden behind the back, and the protruding portion of the coupling mechanism (3) is difficult to see from the user's normal line of sight (arrow S in FIG. 1).
Further, in the fully open state of the slide, the first arm portion (31) (31) of the connection arm (31) (31) of the second housing (2) is connected to the housing portion (103) (103) of the first housing (1) shown in FIG. 35) and 35) are accommodated, and the convex portions 200 and 200 of the second casing 2 are accommodated.

26 (a)-(d) and FIGS. 27 (a)-(d), a process of shifting the portable electronic device from the fully closed state to the slide fully opened state through the tilted state and the rotational fully opened state. Then, if the second housing (2) is pushed rearward in the fully closed state shown in FIG. 26 (a) and moved slightly, thereafter, as shown in FIGS. Due to the urging of the torsion spring (6), the second housing (2) rotates counterclockwise as indicated by the dashed arrow, and the connecting arm (31) rotates clockwise as indicated by the solid arrow. To do.
As a result, the second housing (2) moves rearward with the second display surface (21) facing upward or obliquely upward.

When the cam curve of the first example shown in FIG. 37 is adopted for the cam mechanism built in the hinge unit (4), even if only the second housing (2) is gripped and lifted, the first housing Both casings (1) and (2) do not open from the fully closed state to the tilted state due to their own weight.
When shifting both housings (1) and (2) from the fully closed state to the tilted state, a torque exceeding the first torque value T1 may be applied to the cam mechanism.

On the other hand, when the cam curve of the second example shown in FIG. 38 is adopted for the cam mechanism built in the hinge unit (4), if only the second casing (2) is gripped and lifted, the first casing ( Although both cases (1) and (2) may be slightly opened from the fully closed state due to the dead weight of 1), they are not greatly opened to the tilted state.
When performing an operation of opening both the casings (1) and (2) from the fully opened state to the tilted state, a torque exceeding the second torque value T2 may be applied to the cam mechanism. Accordingly, the pressing force required to press the second housing (2) rearward in the fully closed state shown in FIG. 26 (a) is small.

  As described above, in the process of shifting from the fully closed state to the tilted state, as shown in FIG. 34, the second casing (2) moves backward while gradually raising its posture from the horizontal posture to the oblique posture. In the process, the lower end portion (front end portion) of the back surface of the second housing (2) slides on the surface (110) of the first housing (1).

However, since the flank (230) is formed at the lower end of the back surface of the second housing (2), the second housing is compared with the case where such a flank (230) is not formed. The contact pressure when the lower end of the back surface of the body (2) slides on the surface (110) of the first housing (1) is low.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the scratches that the surface (110) of the first housing (1) can receive during the transition from the fully closed state to the tilted state.

When the second housing (2) is opened from the fully closed state shown in FIG. 18 (a) to the open state shown in FIG. 18 (b), the first housing (1) is gripped by one hand and the other hand is held. It is also possible to lift the housing (2) to an oblique posture with the fingertips hung on both sides of the second housing (2) and holding the housing (2) with the other hand. is there.
At this time, in the fully closed state, as shown in FIG. 26 (a), the tip of the connecting arm (31) (the portion connected to the second housing) is the side wall (214) of the second housing (2). The fingertips of the hand holding the second housing (2) are in contact with both side walls (214) and (214) of the second housing (2). Thus, the second housing (2) can be securely held without feeling pain in the fingertips.

  In particular, since a finger hooking surface (215) is formed between the end surface of the first side wall portion (212) and the end surface of the second side wall portion (212), the second housing (2) can be opened in the fully closed state. When pinching with the fingertip of the hand, the fingertip can be hung on the finger hooking surface (215), and thereby the second housing (2) can be reliably lifted.

  Thereafter, when the state of FIG. 26 (d) has passed a little, the connecting arm (31) is further rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. 27 (a) by the biasing of the hinge unit (4). As shown in b), it is softly locked at a tilted rotation angle. Further, the second housing (2) is rotated counterclockwise by the urging force of the torsion spring (6), and the slide surface (29) comes into contact with the receiving surface (33) of the connecting arm (31). Thus, the posture in the tilted state shown in FIG.

  Accordingly, the user simply pushes the second housing (2) backward and moves it slightly in the fully closed state shown in FIG. 26 (a), and then automatically moves to the tilted state shown in FIG. 27 (b). The second casing (2) is moved to the second position.

Next, if the second casing (2) is pressed backward in the tilted state shown in FIG. 27 (b) and the connecting arm (31) is slightly rotated clockwise, then the second casing FIG. 27 (c) shows that the connecting arm (31) is urged by the hinge unit (4) while the sliding surface (29) of (2) is in contact with the receiving surface (33) of the connecting arm (31). It rotates to the rotation angle of the rotation full open state, and is received by the 1st housing | casing (1) at this rotation angle.
As the connecting arm 31 is rotated, the second housing 2 is rotated rearward, and finally the first display surface 11 and the second display surface 21 are on the same plane. Will be aligned.

Further, when the second casing (2) is pulled toward the first casing (1) from the fully opened state shown in FIG. 27 (c), the slide surface (29) of the second casing (2) is connected. By sliding on the receiving surface (33) of the arm (31), the second housing (2) moves horizontally to the fully open position shown in FIG. 27 (d), and finally the first housing ( 1) abut.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the first display surface (11) and the second display surface (21) come close to each other, and one large screen is formed by both the display surfaces (11) (21). Become.

  In the fully open state, as shown in FIG. 15 (b), the convex portion (10) of the first casing (1) and the concave portion (20) of the second casing (2) are engaged with each other so that both casings (1 ) (2) are linked. Therefore, even if the second display surface (21) is strongly touch-operated in this state, the second casing (2) maintains a constant posture with respect to the first casing (1).

FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C show the bending deformation of the flexible lead 7 in the process from the fully closed state to the fully open state of the slide and then to the fully open state of the slide.
In the fully closed state shown in FIG. 17A, as described above, the sliding contact surface (311) formed on the second arm portion (36) of the connecting arm (31) and the second casing (2) are formed. The sliding contact surfaces (211) are in contact with each other, and the second housing (2) is prevented from sliding in the direction indicated by the two-dot chain line arrow.

Next, in the fully open state shown in FIG. 17 (b), the flexible lead (7) moves between the second lead portion (72) and the third lead portion (73) as the connecting arm (31) turns. It is bent and deformed greatly.
Then, from the state shown in FIG. 17 (b), the second casing (2) is slid forward (to the left in the figure) by a distance T as shown by the arrow in FIG. 17 (c). The slide is fully opened. In this process, the flexible lead (7) is displaced forward at a bending portion between the second lead portion (72) and the third lead portion (73) with a larger curvature.

  In the portable electronic device, since the second housing (2) is prevented from moving in the direction indicated by the chain line arrow in the fully closed state shown in FIG. When the second housing (2) slides by the operation of (8), the length of the flexible lead (7) can be shortened by a margin length to be given to the flexible lead (7).

  Therefore, the flexible lead (7) can be formed in a length considering only the bending deformation of the flexible lead (7) accompanying the rotation of the connecting arm (31) shown in FIGS. . As a result, the slack of the flexible lead (7) in the fully closed state shown in FIG.

  In the portable electronic device, as shown in FIG. 23, the engaging piece (216) is integrally projected from the synthetic resin front cabinet (2a), and is engaged with the stainless steel holder member (221). Since the receiving piece (222) is integrally projected, the synthetic resin engaging piece (216) and the stainless steel engaging receiving piece (222) are engaged with each other.

  The hook structure comprising the synthetic resin engaging piece and the stainless steel engaging receiving piece is also used for locking the first display (12) in the first housing (1). (Not shown).

Therefore, compared to the conventional configuration in which the engagement piece and the engagement receiving piece made of synthetic resin are engaged with each other, the plate accompanying the change of the engagement receiving piece from the synthetic resin to the stainless steel The gap between the first display (12) and the second display (22) in the fully opened state is reduced by the thickness reduction (about 1.0 mm on both the first housing side and the second housing side in the above example). Get smaller.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, a large image is displayed with both display surfaces (11) and (21) as one screen in a state where the two display surfaces (11) and (21) are aligned on the same plane (slide fully open state). In this case, a good image display with a slight discontinuity is realized.

In the portable electronic device, the first casing (1) and the second casing (2) are connected to each other by applying a turning force toward the tilt state to the second casing (2) in the fully open slide state. It is possible to shift directly from the slide fully open state to the tilted state without going through the rotational fully open state.
28 and 29 show the sliding contact surface of the connecting arm (31) with respect to the sliding contact surface (211) of the second casing (2) in the process from the fully open state to the fully closed state through the tilt state. The manner in which (311) slides is shown with reference to the second housing (2).

  In the fully open state, the sliding contact surface (311) of the connecting arm (31) and the sliding contact receiving surface (211) of the second housing (2) are separated from each other as shown in FIG. When the connecting arm (31) rotates from the state as shown by an arrow, the sliding contact of the connecting arm (31) on the sliding contact surface (211) of the second housing (2) as shown in FIG. 28 (b). The surface (311) is in sliding contact.

  Thereafter, the connecting arm (31) is rotated to the fully closed state shown in FIG. 29 (d), so that the second casing is shown in FIGS. 28 (b) (c) and 29 (a)-(d). The sliding contact surface (311) of the connecting arm (31) slides on the sliding contact receiving surface (211) of (2), and the second housing of the connecting arm (31) is provided by the cam function accompanying this sliding. The pivot shaft (hinge member (5) (51)) on the (2) side moves relative to the second housing (2) in the sliding direction of the slide mechanism (left direction in the figure).

  Then, in the fully closed state shown in FIG. 29 (d), the connecting arm remains in contact with the sliding contact surface (211) of the second housing (2) while the sliding contact surface (311) of the connecting arm (31) is in sliding contact. The pivot (hinge member (5) (51)) on the second housing (2) side of (31) reaches the slide moving end.

  In the process from the fully open state to the fully closed state through the tilt state as described above, the sliding contact surface (311) of the connecting arm (31) is in contact with the sliding contact receiving surface (211) of the second housing (2). By sliding, the second housing (2) moves relative to the connecting member (32) in the sliding direction of the sliding mechanism (right direction in the figure), and the state shown in FIGS. In the final stage shown, as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the convex portion (218) of the second housing (2) is fitted into the through hole (312) of the connecting member (32), and the second housing ( The convex part (218) of 2) is engaged with the through hole (312) of the connecting member (32).

  In a state where the convex portion (218) of the second casing (2) is engaged with the through hole (312) of the connecting member (32), the sliding contact surface (311) of the connecting arm (31) and the second casing ( The sliding contact surface (211) of 2) is kept in sliding contact with each other, or the sliding contact surface (311) of the connecting arm (31) is in contact with the sliding contact receiving surface (211) of the second housing (2). It will be in the state slightly separated from.

Therefore, in the fully closed state, as shown in FIG. 29 (d), the sliding contact receiving surface (211) of the second housing (2) is in contact with or faces the sliding contact surface (311) of the connecting arm (31). This prevents the second casing (2) from moving forward (leftward in the figure), and the rear end surface of the convex portion (218) of the second casing (2) is connected to the connecting member as shown in FIG. By contacting the inner peripheral surface of the rear side of the through hole (312) of (32), the second housing (2) is prevented from moving rearward (rightward in the drawing).
In this way, the position of the second casing (2) relative to the first casing (1) in the fully closed state is defined within a certain position or within a certain range, and the position of the second casing (2) is determined. Will do.

  As described above, according to the portable electronic device, turning force toward the tilt state is applied to the second housing (2) in the fully open slide state, so that the second housing (2) is rotated from the fully open state. Even if an operation of shifting to the fully closed state without performing the dynamic fully open state is performed, in the fully closed state, the second housing (2) is moved to a predetermined position with respect to the first housing (1). The convex portion (218) of the second housing (2) can be engaged with the through hole (312) of the connecting member (32).

  In the above-described example, the second housing (2) is provided with the convex portion (218), and the connecting member (32) is provided with the through hole (312). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may provide a recessed part in a 2nd housing | casing (2), and a convex part in a connection member (32). Moreover, it is not limited to a recessed part and a convex part, What is necessary is just the latching structure which can prevent the slide of a 2nd housing | casing in a fully closed state.

Further, in the portable electronic device, when it is placed on a desk in a tilted state as shown in FIG. 39 (a) or placed on a desk in a fully open state as shown in FIG. 39 (b), the connecting arm (31) The corner portion protrudes from the back surface of the first housing (1), and the front end portion of the first housing (1) and the corner portion of the connecting arm (31) are grounded.
Here, in any state, the first casing (1) and the second casing (2) are arranged so that the center of gravity G is closer to the first casing (1) than the ground point of the connecting arm (31) as shown in the figure. ) And the L-shape of the connecting arm (31) are designed to stabilize the postures of the housings (1) and (2).

  Therefore, when placed on a desk in a tilted state as shown in FIG. 39 (a), for example, the touch panel of the front first casing (1) is operated while viewing the display of the rear second casing (2). I can do it.

  Also, when placed on a desk with the slide fully open as shown in FIG. 39 (b), both display surfaces (11) and (21) are slightly on the user side according to the amount of protrusion of the corners of the connecting arm (31). For example, an image can be viewed on a large screen by forming a single screen with both display surfaces (11) and (21). In this case, since both display surfaces (11) and (21) are sufficiently close to each other, it is possible to display an almost uninterrupted image on both display surfaces (11) and (21).

  Furthermore, in the portable electronic device, when the device is dropped on the floor surface, if the front end surface of the second housing (2) is in a downward posture so as to face downward, the portable electronic device is formed on the front end surface. Of the pair of convex portions (200) and (200), one of the convex portions (200) first collides with the floor surface, and immediately after that, the other convex portion (200) collides with the floor surface. Become.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 20, the second display (22) is arranged as close as possible to the front end surface of the second housing (2), and covers the second display (22). Since the glass plate (24) is provided, the distance between the front end surface of the glass plate (24) and the front end surface of the second housing (2) is very small. When an impact force acts on the front end surface of (2), the impact force is transmitted to the glass plate (24), and the glass plate (24) may be damaged.

However, in the portable electronic device, the pair of protrusions (200) and (200) are in a position shifted in the thickness direction from the glass plate (24) of the second housing (2), and the first 2 Display (22) is located at a position shifted in the width direction, and the convex part (200) exhibits a buffering action according to its height, so the front part where the convex part (200) is not formed. Compared with the case of colliding with the floor surface at the end face, the impact force acting on the glass plate (24) covering the second display (22) and the second display (22) is greatly relieved.
As a result, breakage of the glass plate (24) and the second display (22) due to the action of impact force is reduced.

  In addition, although the impact force by dropping may act on the glass plate (16) of the first casing (1) in the same manner, the rear end face of the first casing (1) in the fully closed state is shown in FIG. Since it is covered with the connecting member (32) shown in 9, the impact force to the glass plate (16) of the first housing (1) can be reduced.

(1) First housing
(11) First display surface
(12) First display
(16) Glass plate
(110) Surface
(2) Second housing
(21) Second display surface
(22) Second display
(29) Slide surface
(24) Glass plate
(211) Sliding contact surface
(200) Convex
(214) Side wall
(215) Finger rest
(216) Engagement piece
(218) Convex
(221) Holder material
(222) Engagement receiving piece
(223) Hole
(230) Flank
(231) Rear side
(3) Connecting mechanism
(31) Connecting arm
(35) First arm
(36) Second arm
(33) Receiving surface
(311) Sliding surface
(312) Through hole
(4) Hinge unit
(42) Fixed cam piece
(43) Movable cam piece
(47) Spring
(5) Hinge member
(6) Torsion spring
(7) Flexible lead
(8) Slide mechanism
(83) Slide member

Claims (4)

A fully closed state in which the first housing and the second housing are coupled to each other via a coupling mechanism, the surface of the first housing is covered by the back surface of the second housing, and the surface of the second housing is exposed; The second housing moves from the fully closed state by the rotation of the coupling mechanism, and the surface of the second housing is inclined with respect to the surface of the first housing at an opening angle of 90 degrees or more and less than 180 degrees. In a portable electronic device capable of selectively setting at least two states of the tilted state where the surfaces of both housings are exposed,
The coupling mechanism has a built-in cam mechanism, which imparts torque to the pivoting operation of the coupling mechanism, and the cam curve of the cam mechanism transitions from the fully closed state to the tilted state. The torque generated by the cam mechanism at the top of the peak is a first torque value that acts on the cam mechanism due to the weight of the first housing. The portable electronic device is characterized in that the torque generated by the cam mechanism in the fully closed state is set to a second torque value T2 smaller than the torque value T1 while being set to a value larger than T1. .   The cam mechanism includes a pair of cam pieces that rotate relative to each other with relative movement between the fully closed state and the tilted state, and a spring that presses the cam surfaces of the two cam pieces together. The portable electronic device according to 1.   Display surfaces are provided on the surfaces of the first housing and the second housing, respectively, and it is possible to further set a fully opened state in which the surfaces of both housings are aligned on the same plane by the rotation operation of the coupling mechanism. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the cam curve of the cam mechanism has a second peak portion that should function in a transition process from a tilt state to a fully open state.   The coupling mechanism includes a pair of left and right coupling arms arranged on both sides of the first casing and the second casing, and each coupling arm has one end connected to the first casing via a hinge unit. The other end is connected to the second housing via a hinge member, and the cam mechanism is connected to the hinge unit interposed between at least one of the connecting arms and the first housing. The portable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the portable electronic device is incorporated.

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