JP2016076045A - Information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact and lightweight information processing apparatus.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus including a first housing and a second housing which are turnably connected by a hinge in a first laminate state where a first surface of the first housing faces a first surface of the second housing, and in a second laminate state where a second surface facing the first surface of the first housing faces a second surface facing the first surface of the second housing. A magnetic sensor included in one of the first housing and the second housing detects a line of magnetic force generated by a magnet included in one of the second housing and the first housing, from the first surface toward the outside of the housing, to determine a laminate state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus.

  Conventionally, there is an opening / closing angle between a first casing having a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a second casing having an operation unit such as a keyboard positioned at a plurality of angles with respect to the first casing. Foldable notebook personal computer (hereinafter also referred to as notebook PC), which was between 0 and 180 degrees (hereinafter also referred to as clamshell mode), has recently released Windows (registered trademark) 8 Accordingly, it is used in a folded state (hereinafter also referred to as a convertible mode) in which the opposite surface of the surface having the display portion of the first housing and the opposite surface of the surface having the operation portion of the second housing are overlapped. Models are emerging.

  In other words, conventionally, the first and second housings whose opening and closing angles are uniquely determined between 0 and 180 degrees are positioned with the opening and closing angles expanded from 180 to 360 degrees. It becomes like this. And the model which employ | adopted the touch panel for the display part and was able to use PC in tablet mode by using a display part also as an operation part is put on the market.

  At this time, as the case where the first casing and the second casing are in a laminated state, there are cases where the opening / closing angle between the first casing and the second casing is 0 degree and 360 degrees. Since the operation mode of the PC is different for each kind of opening / closing angle state, it is necessary to clearly distinguish the inside of the PC.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing apparatus having a structure that can be used as a convertible mode, which includes a first housing and a second housing that is positioned in a plurality of states with respect to the first housing. , The first mode in which the normal mode (the upper surface of the first housing (the surface having the keyboard 13) is covered and closed by the surface having the LCD of the second housing is based on the direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet 21. State) or tablet mode (the second state in which the upper surface of the first housing (the surface having the keyboard 13) is covered with the back surface of the surface having the LCD of the second enclosure so that the LCD is exposed) In other words, it is disclosed that the magnetic sensor 22 is arranged in the computer main body 11 so that the directions of two magnetic fields along the normal direction of the upper surface of the computer main body 11 can be determined.

  In the normal mode, the magnetic sensor 22 detects the lines of magnetic force generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet 21 as the magnetic flux direction from the upper surface to the lower surface of the magnetic sensor 22, and in the tablet mode, the magnetic sensor 22 A magnetic field generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet 21 is detected as a magnetic flux direction from the lower surface to the upper surface of the magnetic sensor 22, and only one magnet and one magnetic sensor 22 are used. It is described that the state of being covered and closed and the tablet mode (the state of being closed by exposing the LCD) can be detected from each other. That is, in Patent Document 1, discrimination between the LCD closed state (opening / closing angle 0 degree) and the tablet state (opening / closing angle 360 degrees) is performed using one magnet and one magnetic sensor.

JP 2008-250835 A

  Conventionally, when a PC having a clamshell mode and a PC having a convertible mode are developed at the same time, the design of a second casing having an operation unit (hereinafter also referred to as a main body chassis) is made common, and the display unit Efforts are being made to increase development efficiency by developing only the first housing (hereinafter, also referred to as a panel chassis) having the above in accordance with each mode. Then, in the convertible mode model, it is necessary to clearly discriminate between 0 degrees and 360 degrees with respect to the opening / closing angle between the first casing and the second casing. Therefore, a magnetoresistive (MR) element (MR sensor) whose electrical resistance value changes according to the strength of the magnetic field is set as a set with a magnet and a guard sheet metal, and the number according to each angle, that is, Since it is necessary to provide two open / close angle detection mechanisms comprising an MR sensor, a magnet, and a guard metal plate, there is a problem that it is not possible to satisfy the specifications such as reduction in size and weight required for a model in a convertible mode.

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 uses a single magnet and a single magnetic sensor, determines the direction of magnetic flux from the north pole to the south pole at the top of the magnetic sensor, and includes a plurality of normal modes and tablet modes. The closed state is determined. However, although the technique described in Patent Document 1 is suitable when a model having a convertible mode is developed alone, the first case and the second case are connected via a biaxial hinge. Therefore, there is a problem that it is impossible to develop a clamshell mode notebook PC that does not require a two-axis hinge and a convertible mode notebook PC that requires a two-axis hinge by sharing the main body chassis.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in developing a clamshell type model and a convertible type model in parallel, in order to share the printed circuit board of the main body chassis, It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus that can be reduced in size and weight in both types of models by sharing a sensor that detects the open / closed state of the chassis and the main body chassis in both types of models.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a first housing and a second housing, wherein the first surface of the first housing and the second housing of the second housing. A first stacked state in which one surface is opposed; a second surface in which the second surface is opposed to the first surface of the first housing; and a second surface is opposed to the first surface of the second housing. An information processing apparatus that is pivotally connected to a stacked state of the first casing and the second casing by means of a magnetic sensor built in either the first casing or the second casing. Alternatively, it is characterized in that it is determined in which layered state it is by detecting a magnetic force line from the first surface generated by a magnet built in either one of the first housings to the outside of the housing.

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is arranged such that a straight line connecting magnetic poles is parallel to the first surface, and the first In the stacked state or the second stacked state, the magnetic sensor is arranged on a plane including a straight line connecting the magnetic poles with respect to the magnet and at a position shifted from the center of the magnet. And

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is arranged such that a straight line connecting magnetic poles is perpendicular to the first surface, and the first In the stacked state or the second stacked state, the magnetic sensor is arranged at a position facing the magnet.

  An information processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein an input unit that receives an input for information processing is the first casing or the first unit. The display unit is provided on the first surface of the two housings and has a display unit for displaying an information processing result on the first surface of the second housing or the first housing.

  And the information processing apparatus of Claim 5 WHEREIN: In the information processing apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 4, between the said 1st lamination | stacking state and the said 2nd lamination | stacking state, The first surface of the first housing and the first surface of the second housing are in an unfolded state where they are unfolded on the same surface.

  According to the present invention, an information processing device that can be reduced in size and weight by sharing a sensor that detects the open / closed state of the panel chassis and the main body chassis in a clamshell type model and a convertible type model. Is obtained.

It is a perspective view when the panel chassis and main body chassis of the information processing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention are opened at an opening / closing angle of 90 degrees. It is a perspective view when the panel chassis and main body chassis of the information processing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 degrees. It is a perspective view when the panel chassis and main body chassis of the information processing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention are opened at an opening / closing angle of 180 degrees. It is a perspective view when the panel chassis and main body chassis of the information processing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention are closed at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 2 which is a perspective view when the panel chassis and main body chassis of the information processing apparatus in embodiment of this invention are closed by the opening-and-closing angle of 0 degree. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3, which is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are opened at an opening / closing angle of 180 degrees. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 4, which is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are opened at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees. FIG. 2D is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 ° when the magnet is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and the hall detection sensor is mounted on the main body chassis. It is -D sectional drawing. FIG. 4E is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees when the magnet is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and the hall detection sensor is mounted on the main body chassis. It is sectional drawing of -E. FIG. 2D is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 degrees when a hole detection sensor is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus and a magnet is mounted on the main body chassis in the embodiment of the present invention. It is -D sectional drawing. 4 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees when the hall detection sensor is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus and the magnet is mounted on the main body chassis in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is EE sectional drawing. FIG. 2 is a perspective view when a panel chassis and a main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 degrees when a magnet is mounted on a panel chassis of an information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention and a hall detection sensor is mounted on the main body chassis. It is DD sectional drawing of. FIG. 4 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees when a magnet is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention and a hall detection sensor is mounted on the main body chassis. It is sectional drawing of EE. FIG. 2 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 degrees when a hole detection sensor is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention and a magnet is mounted on the main body chassis. It is DD sectional drawing of. FIG. 10 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees when a hall detection sensor is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention and a magnet is mounted on the main body chassis. 4 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG.

  Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified thru | or abbreviate | omitted suitably. Briefly describing the contents of the present invention, the first housing and the second housing, a first stacked state in which the first surface of the first housing and the first surface of the second housing are opposed to each other; A second surface facing the first surface of the first housing and a second surface facing the first surface of the second housing are pivotally connected to a second stacked state facing each other. In the information processing apparatus, a magnet built in either the second casing or the first casing is generated by a magnetic sensor built in either the first casing or the second casing. By detecting a magnetic force line that goes from one surface to the outside of the housing, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus that can be reduced in size and weight by determining which layered state it is.

  First, the panel chassis and main body chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view when a panel chassis and a main body chassis of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are opened at an opening / closing angle of 90 degrees.

  In FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus (notebook PC) 100 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a touch panel, etc., and has a panel chassis (first housing) 22 having a display unit 25 for displaying information processing results, a keyboard, A main body chassis (second housing) 21 having an operation unit 24 constituted by an input unit such as a click pad is pivotally supported and connected via a hinge 23. In FIG. 1, the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is 90 degrees. In this state, the user can use the notebook PC by operating the operation unit 24.

  When the user finishes using the notebook PC 100 or carries it without operating it, the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 are folded as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 degrees. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the surface of the panel chassis 22 having the display unit 25 and the surface of the main body chassis 21 having the operation unit 24 face each other, and the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 are stacked. It becomes. Then, the notebook PC 100 can turn off the power supply and the display unit 25. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, which is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 °.

  Next, the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is expanded from 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 2 to 90 degrees as shown in FIG. It becomes. FIG. 3 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are opened at an opening / closing angle of 180 degrees. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the surface of the panel chassis 22 having the display unit 25 and the surface of the main body chassis 21 having the operation unit 24 are in an expanded state where they are expanded on the same surface. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3, which is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are opened at an opening / closing angle of 180 degrees.

  In the clamshell mode notebook PC, the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is limited to 180 degrees as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, but in the convertible mode notebook PC, the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 are open. Both chassis can be rotated until the opening / closing angle with the chassis 21 exceeds 180 degrees and reaches 360 degrees. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are closed at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the surface opposite to the surface having the display unit 25 of the panel chassis 22 and the surface opposite to the surface having the operation unit 24 of the main body chassis 21 face each other. 21 is laminated. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 4, which is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention are opened at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees. By configuring the display unit 25 of the notebook PC 100 with a touch panel LCD or the like, the notebook PC 100 can be used as a tablet PC even when the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 are closed. In this state, input devices such as a keyboard and a click pad mounted on the main body chassis 21 are turned off to prevent erroneous input. In this way, the notebook PC 100 in the convertible mode can change the opening / closing angles of both chassis from the state of FIG. 3 (FIG. 6) to the state of FIG. 4 (FIG. 7).

  As described above, in the notebook PC 100 in the convertible mode, when the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 are stacked, the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is 0 degrees (FIG. 2) and 360 degrees. In this case (FIG. 4), since the operation modes of the notebook PC 100 are different in these two types of opening / closing angles, it is necessary to clearly discriminate inside the notebook PC 100. The specific method will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 degrees when a magnet is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and a hall detection sensor is mounted on the main body chassis. It is DD sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees when a magnet is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus and the hall detection sensor is mounted on the main body chassis. It is sectional drawing of EE of FIG.

  8 and 9, the hall detection sensor 27 includes a hall element, an amplifier, and a Schmitt trigger circuit. By using the hall effect, a magnetic field generated by a magnet or a magnetic field generated by a current is converted into an electrical signal. It is a non-contact magnetic sensor that converts and outputs. The position, rotation, angle, etc. can be detected by the change and strength of the magnetic field. In the present embodiment, the Hall detection sensor 27 is described as a specific example for detecting a change in the input magnetic flux direction. However, as long as the change in the input magnetic flux direction can be detected. Of course, any sensor may be used.

  In the state of FIG. 8, the magnetic field lines indicated by the arrow G <b> 1 are generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet 26 mounted on the panel chassis 22. The magnetic force line G <b> 1 is detected by the hall detection sensor 27 as a magnetic flux direction from the upper surface to the lower surface of the hall detection sensor 27. In other words, the hall detection sensor 27 detects lines of magnetic force directed from the surface of the panel chassis 22 having the display unit 25 to the outside of the notebook PC 100 casing. In response to this detection result, the controller of the controller mounted in the main body chassis 21 detects that the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is 0 degrees, and the operation of the notebook PC 100 is turned off. The state and the display unit 25 are controlled to be turned off.

  In the state of FIG. 9, the magnetic field lines indicated by the arrow G <b> 2 are generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet 26 mounted on the panel chassis 22. The magnetic force line G2 is detected by the hall detection sensor 27 as a magnetic flux direction from the lower surface to the upper surface of the hall detection sensor 27. In other words, the hall detection sensor 27 detects lines of magnetic force directed from the surface of the main body chassis 21 having the operation unit 24 to the outside of the notebook PC 100 casing. Upon receiving this detection result, the controller of the controller mounted in the main body chassis 21 detects that the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is 360 degrees, and the notebook PC 100 operates as a tablet PC. Will be controlled.

  8 and 9, the case where the magnet 26 is mounted on the panel chassis 22 and the hole detection sensor 27 is mounted on the main body chassis 21 is described. However, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the hole detection is performed on the panel chassis 22. You may make it mount the magnet 26 in the sensor 27 and the main body chassis 21, respectively. In short, the magnet 26 may be built in either the panel chassis 22 or the main body chassis 21, and the hall detection sensor 27 may be built in either the main body chassis 21 or the panel chassis 22.

  In the present invention, when developing a plurality of models such as a clamshell mode notebook PC and a convertible mode notebook PC in parallel, the purpose is to share the printed circuit board in the main chassis 21 and to reduce the size and weight. The controller of the controller that detects the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 in response to the detection result of the hall detection sensor 27 is preferably provided in the main body chassis 21. Therefore, it is more preferable that the hall detection sensor 27 and the controller that receives the detection result of the hall detection sensor 27 are mounted on the same substrate.

  That is, theoretically, as described below, the same effect can be obtained even if the hall detection sensor 27 is mounted on the panel chassis 22 and the magnet 26 is mounted on the main body chassis 21, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. As described above, the mounting of the magnet 26 on the panel chassis 22 and the hall detection sensor 27 on the main body chassis 21 facilitates the design in terms of mounting.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 degrees when the hall detection sensor is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and the magnets are mounted on the main body chassis. It is DD sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees when a hole detection sensor is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus and a magnet is mounted on the main body chassis. It is EE sectional drawing of FIG.

  In the state of FIG. 10, the magnetic field lines indicated by the arrow G <b> 3 are generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet 26 mounted on the main body chassis 21. The magnetic force line G3 is detected by the hall detection sensor 27 as a magnetic flux direction from the lower surface to the upper surface of the hall detection sensor 27. In other words, the hall detection sensor 27 detects lines of magnetic force directed from the surface of the main body chassis 21 having the operation unit 24 to the outside of the notebook PC 100 casing. In response to this detection result, the controller of the controller mounted in the main body chassis 21 detects that the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is 0 degrees, and the operation of the notebook PC 100 is turned off. In other words, the display unit 25 is controlled to be turned off.

  In the state of FIG. 11, the magnetic field lines indicated by the arrow G <b> 4 are generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet 26 mounted on the main body chassis 21. The magnetic force line G4 is detected by the hall detection sensor 27 as a magnetic flux direction from the upper surface to the lower surface of the hall detection sensor 27. In other words, the hall detection sensor 27 detects lines of magnetic force directed from the surface of the panel chassis 22 having the display unit 25 to the outside of the notebook PC 100 casing. Upon receiving this detection result, the controller of the controller mounted in the main body chassis 21 detects that the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is 360 degrees, and the notebook PC 100 operates as a tablet PC. Will be controlled.

  8 to 11, the magnet 26 and the hall detection sensor 27 are arranged so as to face each other, but it is detected that the direction of magnetic flux changes depending on the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21. If possible, it is not essential to arrange the magnet 26 and the hall detection sensor 27 so as to face each other, and the hall detection sensor 27 may be arranged at a position shifted from the center of the magnet 26. That is, in a state where the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 degrees, or in a state where the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 are closed at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees, the hall detection sensor 27 Further, it may be arranged on a plane including a straight line connecting the magnetic poles and at a position shifted from the center of the magnet 26. For example, the hole detection sensor 27 can be arranged at a position moved in the left-right direction on the paper surface of FIGS. 8 to 11 or in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiment described above, the straight line connecting the N and S poles of the magnet 26 is parallel to the surface of the panel chassis having the display unit 25 or the surface of the main body chassis 21 having the operation unit 24. However, in another embodiment, the straight line connecting the N and S poles of the magnet 26 is the surface having the display unit 25 of the panel chassis, or the operation unit of the main body chassis 21. This is a case where it is arranged so as to be perpendicular to the surface having 24. Hereinafter, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 degrees when a magnet is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention and a hall detection sensor is mounted on the main body chassis. It is DD sectional drawing of FIG. 2 which is. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the magnet is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and the panel chassis and the main body chassis are mounted at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees when the hall detection sensor is mounted on the main body chassis. It is sectional drawing of EE of FIG. 4 which is a perspective view.

  In the state of FIG. 12, the magnetic field lines indicated by the arrow G5 are generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet 26 mounted on the panel chassis 22. The magnetic force line G5 is detected by the hall detection sensor 27 as a magnetic flux direction from the upper surface to the lower surface of the hall detection sensor 27. In other words, the hall detection sensor 27 detects lines of magnetic force directed from the surface of the panel chassis 22 having the display unit 25 to the outside of the notebook PC 100 casing. In response to this detection result, the controller of the controller mounted in the main body chassis 21 detects that the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is 0 degrees, and the operation of the notebook PC 100 is turned off. The state and the display unit 25 are controlled to be turned off.

  In the state of FIG. 13, the magnetic field lines indicated by the arrow G <b> 6 are generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet 26 mounted on the panel chassis 22. The magnetic force line G6 is detected by the hall detection sensor 27 as a magnetic flux direction from the lower surface to the upper surface of the hall detection sensor 27. In other words, the hall detection sensor 27 detects lines of magnetic force directed from the surface of the main body chassis 21 having the operation unit 24 to the outside of the notebook PC 100 casing. Upon receiving this detection result, the controller of the controller mounted in the main body chassis 21 detects that the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is 360 degrees, and the notebook PC 100 operates as a tablet PC. Will be controlled.

  12 and 13, the case where the magnet 26 is mounted on the panel chassis 22 and the hole detection sensor 27 is mounted on the main body chassis 21 is described. However, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the hole detection is performed on the panel chassis 22. You may make it mount the magnet 26 in the sensor 27 and the main body chassis 21, respectively. In short, the magnet 26 may be built in either the panel chassis 22 or the main body chassis 21, and the hall detection sensor 27 may be built in either the main body chassis 21 or the panel chassis 22.

  FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention in which a hole detection sensor is mounted on the panel chassis and a magnet is mounted on the main body chassis when the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 0 degrees. It is DD sectional drawing of FIG. 2 which is. FIG. 15 shows a state where the panel chassis and the main body chassis are closed at an opening / closing angle of 360 degrees when a hole detection sensor is mounted on the panel chassis of the information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention and a magnet is mounted on the main body chassis. It is EE sectional drawing of FIG. 4 which is a perspective view.

  In the state of FIG. 14, the magnetic field lines indicated by the arrow G <b> 7 are generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet 26 mounted on the main body chassis 21. The magnetic force line G <b> 7 is detected by the hall detection sensor 27 as a magnetic flux direction from the lower surface to the upper surface of the hall detection sensor 27. In other words, the hall detection sensor 27 detects lines of magnetic force directed from the surface of the main body chassis 21 having the operation unit 24 to the outside of the notebook PC 100 casing. In response to this detection result, the controller of the controller mounted in the main body chassis 21 detects that the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is 0 degrees, and the operation of the notebook PC 100 is turned off. In other words, the display unit 25 is controlled to be turned off.

  In the state of FIG. 15, the magnetic field lines indicated by the arrow G <b> 8 are generated from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet 26 mounted on the main body chassis 21. The magnetic force line G8 is detected by the hall detection sensor 27 as a magnetic flux direction from the upper surface to the lower surface of the hall detection sensor 27. In other words, the hall detection sensor 27 detects lines of magnetic force directed from the surface of the panel chassis 22 having the display unit 25 to the outside of the notebook PC 100 casing. Upon receiving this detection result, the controller of the controller mounted in the main body chassis 21 detects that the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21 is 360 degrees, and the notebook PC 100 operates as a tablet PC. Will be controlled.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, even when the hall detection sensor 27 is provided so as to face the magnet 26 arranged so that the magnetic pole is perpendicular to the main body chassis 21 or the panel chassis 22, As in the case shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, it can be detected that the direction of the magnetic flux changes depending on the opening / closing angle between the panel chassis 22 and the main body chassis 21. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately select whether the magnet 26 is arranged as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 or as shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 in consideration of the relationship with the mounting space of the magnet 26. good.

  As described above, in the present invention, the open / close state of the panel chassis and the main body chassis in the clamshell mode and the open / close state of the panel chassis and the main body chassis in the convertible mode are determined from a single polarity of a single magnet. The generated magnetic field lines are determined by the difference in the direction of magnetic flux input to a single sensor used in common in both modes.

  Thus, according to the present invention, the first housing and the second housing are in a first stacked state in which the first surface of the first housing and the first surface of the second housing face each other; A second surface facing the first surface of the first housing and a second surface facing the first surface of the second housing are pivotally connected to a second stacked state facing each other. In the information processing apparatus, a magnet built in either the second casing or the first casing is generated by a magnetic sensor built in either the first casing or the second casing. By detecting the magnetic field lines that run from the one surface to the outside of the housing, it is possible to obtain an information processing apparatus that can be reduced in size and weight by determining which stacked state it is.

  The present invention has been described above by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, various modifications and changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. is there.

21 Main body chassis (second housing)
22 Panel chassis (first housing)
23 Hinge 24 Operation unit 25 Display unit 26 Magnet 27 Hall detection sensor 100 Information processing device (notebook PC)

Claims (5)

The first housing and the second housing have a first stacked state in which the first surface of the first housing and the first surface of the second housing face each other, and the first of the first housing. An information processing apparatus in which a second surface facing the surface and a second stacked surface facing the first surface of the second housing are connected to each other by a hinge so as to be rotatable. ,
The first surface on which a magnet built in either the second housing or the first housing is generated by a magnetic sensor built in either the first housing or the second housing. An information processing apparatus that determines which layer is in a stacked state by detecting a magnetic field line that extends from the housing to the outside of the housing. The magnet is arranged such that a straight line connecting magnetic poles is parallel to the first surface,
In the first laminated state or the second laminated state, the magnetic sensor is disposed on a plane including a straight line connecting the magnetic poles with respect to the magnet and at a position shifted from the center of the magnet. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The magnet is arranged such that a straight line connecting magnetic poles is perpendicular to the first surface,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor is disposed at a position facing the magnet in the first stacked state or the second stacked state.   An input unit that receives an input for information processing is provided on the first surface of the first casing or the second casing, and a display unit that displays an information processing result is the second casing or the first casing. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is provided on a first surface of the information processing apparatus.   Between the first laminated state and the second laminated state, the first surface of the first housing and the first surface of the second housing are in an unfolded state where they are unfolded on the same surface. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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