JP3407990B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor. More specifically, the present invention can be opened and closed like a notebook type (including so-called sub-notebook type. The same applies hereinafter) personal computer.
Information processing device including a lid and a battery housing that houses a battery
In this case, the device can be made thinner by defining the arrangement structure of the hinge that pivotally supports the lid in relation to the battery pack .
That relates to technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a small or portable type information device such as a notebook type personal computer, a liquid crystal display (LCD) is used in addition to a main body part having a processor, a RAM memory, peripheral circuits and the like, a keyboard module and the like. ) Etc. are equipped with a lid that can be opened and closed with a display. Liquid crystal display (L
The CD) mainly uses a backlight light source, and includes a straight tubular discharge lamp as a light source element in addition to a liquid crystal cell, a segment substrate, a polarizing plate, a glass plate and the like.
Therefore, it is unavoidable that the lid body has a considerable thickness throughout.

A lid having these parts built therein is supported at one side thereof by a hinge mechanism so as to be openable and closable. Since this hinge mechanism also requires a certain amount of thickness, the thickness of the lid-related portion including this hinge mechanism is approximately the same as the thickness of the display accommodating portion of the lid, and in some cases, greater than that. .

On the other hand, as a power source for the above-mentioned type information equipment, a battery pack containing a plurality of batteries is used as a power source for using the information equipment or for backup. Due to the required capacity of the entire battery pack, the capacity and size of each battery, the batteries in the battery pack may be arranged in two or three rows.

Since the size (thickness and width) of the battery pack does not fall below at least the size of the built-in battery (diameter in the case of a cylindrical battery, thickness and width in the case of a rectangular battery), the arrangement structure of the battery pack Is an important factor that influences the size of the entire information device, especially the thickness.

However, the arrangement structure conventionally used for the hinge mechanism for pivotally supporting the lid body on which the display is mounted has not been preferable for making the information equipment of the above type compact and thin. 1 and 2 are side cross-sectional views for explaining this in a notebook-type personal computer by way of example. In each of the drawings, a typical arrangement structure of a hinge mechanism for axially supporting a lid, which is conventionally adopted, is shown. Two examples are schematically illustrated.

First, FIG. 1 shows a conventional first type arrangement structure. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a main body housing, a main body 3 having a processor, a RAM memory, peripheral circuits and the like built therein, a device operating section 3 ′ including a keyboard module, a trackball module, and a battery pack 4
Are stored. The device operating portion 3 ′ is arranged almost directly above the main body portion 3, and the hinge mechanism 6 that pivotally supports the lid body is
It is provided above the battery pack 4.

The battery pack 4 arranged in parallel with the main body portion 3 accommodates several cylindrical batteries (for example, 6 batteries) in total. Due to restrictions such as the length of the battery (it is not practical to exceed the width of the personal computer), etc., a part or all of the battery pack 4 in the length direction (the depth direction on the paper) is arranged in two rows as shown in the drawing. (In some cases, there can be three or more columns) is often used. In addition, a prismatic battery may be used.

The battery C1 in the first row and the battery C2 in the second row are
The main body housing 1 is arranged in parallel in the depth direction (horizontal direction in the drawing) with a small interval, and therefore, the thickness and width of the battery pack 4 are R, where R is the diameter of the batteries C1 and C2.
It does not fall below R and 2R, respectively.

In such an arrangement structure, when the thickness of the main body housing 1 is estimated by D1 and the thickness of the lid body 2 is estimated by D2, the hinge mechanism 6 and the battery pack 4 are arranged in multiple layers. As shown, the total thickness of the personal computer is the thickness D of the main body housing 1.
It will be estimated by adding 1 and the thickness D2 of the lid 2. Further, the depth length of the entire personal computer is the depth length L1 of the main body housing 1 or the lid body 2.
Can be estimated at.

By the way, the display accommodated in the main body portion 3 and the lid body 2 accommodated in the main body housing 1 has been rapidly reduced in thickness due to recent technological innovation, while the hinge mechanism 6 should be made small in diameter. Has limitations due to its mechanical strength. Further, there is a limit in suppressing the diameter (thickness) of the batteries C1 and C2 housed in the battery pack 4. That is, if the diameter (thickness) of the batteries C1 and C2 is suppressed, the capacity of the battery pack 4 as a whole decreases.

Therefore, in the conventional arrangement structure shown in FIG. 1, it is difficult to reduce the thickness of the portion where the hinge mechanism 6 and the battery pack 4 overlap each other in the thickness direction. It has become a hindering factor.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a conventional second type arrangement structure. In the figure, common reference numerals are given to each element. That is, reference numeral 1 is a main body housing in which a main body part 3 having a processor, a RAM memory, peripheral circuits and the like, a device operation part 3 ′ including a keyboard module, a trackball module and the like are housed. The device operating section 3 ′ is arranged almost directly above the main body section 3. Reference numeral 4 represents the battery pack 4, which is shown in FIG.
In the same manner as the one used in, a total of several (for example, six) cylindrical batteries are housed in a two-row arrangement.

The battery C1 in the first row and the battery C2 in the second row are
The main body housing 1 is arranged in parallel in the depth direction (horizontal direction in the drawing) with a small interval, and therefore, the thickness and width of the battery pack 4 are the same as those in the arrangement shown in FIG. Let R be the diameter of R and never fall below R and 2R, respectively.

On the other hand, reference numeral 2 is a lid having a shape and dimensions which overlap with the main body housing 1 and has basically the same structure and size as those used in FIG.
A display unit 5 including a liquid crystal cell, a segment substrate, a deflecting plate, a glass plate, a straight tubular discharge lamp, and the like is housed and arranged therein. The lid body 2 is pivotally supported with respect to the main body housing 1 by a hinge mechanism 6 provided near the end of the lid body 2.

In such an arrangement structure, since the hinge mechanism 6 and the battery pack 4 which are easy to take thickness are not overlapped in the depthwise position, the total thickness D3 of the personal computer is shown in FIG. It can be underestimated compared to the case (D1 + D2) (D3 <D1 + D2
). However, if we estimate the total depth of the personal computer, L1 (depth of the lid 2) + L2
(Depth length of battery pack 4, L2>2R; R is battery C
1, the diameter or thickness of C2), which is increased by almost L2 (the length of the protruding portion 1 ') as compared with the case of FIG.

Therefore, although the structure in which the hinge mechanism for pivotally supporting the lid is displaced from the battery pack is advantageous in making the personal computer thin, the depth length is increased. The drawbacks are unavoidable. As a modification of FIG. 2, it is possible to adopt an arrangement structure in which the battery pack 4 is housed in the main body housing 1, but there is no change in that the depth length of the personal computer becomes large.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. That is, according to the present invention, an openable / closable lid and a battery are housed.
In the information processing device including the battery housing
In the depth direction without reducing the capacity of the container
The entire device is made thin without increasing the size of
It contemplates the way be.

[0019]

First, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus comprising a main body, a lid body provided on the main body so as to be openable and closable by a hinge mechanism, and a battery housing body for housing a battery. battery housing body is provided in the recess, at least a portion of the hinge along the axis of rotation of the mechanism of the lid body, the information processing apparatus characterized by being received within the recess of the battery housing member The above problem is solved by providing Also in the present invention, in an information processing device including a main body to which a battery storage body for storing a battery is detachably mounted, and a lid body rotatably provided to the main body by a hinge mechanism, the battery storage body is has a recess, in a state in which the battery container is attached to the body, at least a part of the section along the rotation axis of the hinge mechanism of the cover is received within the recess of the battery housing member The above problem is also solved by providing the above-mentioned information processing device. And in a preferable aspect of the present invention, the battery housing is rotatable between a first position and a second position with respect to the main body, and at least in the first position, the lid of the lid body is rotated. At least a part of the portion of the hinge mechanism along the rotation axis is received in the recess of the battery housing. Here, typically, the first position is a position where the battery housing is above the bottom of the main body, and the second position is below the bottom of the main body to the extent that the main body is lifted. It is a position that projects to the side. The battery housing is a battery pack that houses a plurality of batteries. In this case, the recess is usually formed between the batteries of the battery pack. Further, in any of the above aspects of the invention,
The lid may include a display. Further, the lid may be openably and closably provided on the main body so as to shield or expose a keyboard provided on the main body.

[0020]

In a small-sized or portable information processing device such as a notebook personal computer, it is used.
Batteries are often arranged in multiple rows.
Yes. In that case, there is a spatial allowance between the rows of the battery array to reduce the thickness of the battery housing means (battery pack, battery housing portion of the main body housing, etc.).

Therefore, by utilizing this spatial allowance, a concave portion extending along the width direction of the information processing apparatus is formed on the outer shape of a battery housing such as a battery pack, and a hinge mechanism is formed above the concave portion in a multi-layered manner. By arranging them in line, the thickness of the peripheral portion of the hinge mechanism that pivotally supports the lid can be absorbed by the recess. By allowing the hinge mechanism that pivotally supports the lid to have such an arrangement, the hinge mechanism is arranged in multiple layers above the battery accommodation position to suppress an increase in the size in the depth direction of the information processing apparatus, while suppressing the increase in the size of the information processing apparatus. Can be made thin.

[0022] From the viewpoint of forming a recess in the natural shape to the outer shape of the battery container, the battery of the cross-sectional shape that is accommodated in the battery accommodating body is preferably a shape conforming circular or thereto, battery It goes without saying that the cross-sectional shape of each battery element may be another shape (for example, a polygonal shape) as long as a space for reducing the thickness of the battery accommodating means can be secured between the rows of the array.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 3 and 4 show the present invention as a notebook type.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment adopted in the personal computer of FIG. First, referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a top view of a state in which a lid body on which a display is mounted is opened. In the figure, reference numeral 10 indicates a main body housing, and a keyboard module 11 is attached to a concave portion formed from a central portion to a rear portion thereof.

A trackball unit 12 is provided at the front of the body housing 10. Further, inside the main body housing 10, a processor, a RAM memory, peripheral circuits and the like are housed and arranged (not shown).

On the other hand, reference numeral 20 represents a lid body having a shape and dimensions that overlap the main body housing 10, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) 21 is provided at substantially the center thereof. A liquid crystal cell, a segment substrate, a polarizing plate, a glass plate, a straight tubular discharge lamp, and the like are arranged behind and around the display surface of the liquid crystal display 21 (not shown). Further, a screen operation unit 22 for adjusting the brightness, contrast and the like of the liquid crystal display 21 and a small-sized auxiliary liquid crystal display 23 for graphically displaying the operating state of the device are attached to the portion located on the right side of the liquid crystal display 21. There is.

The lid 20 on which these display-related parts are mounted is pivotally supported by a hinge mechanism provided at the rear part of the personal computer so that it can be opened and closed with respect to the main body housing 10.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion where the hinge mechanism 30 is provided. As will be more clearly understood from FIG. A projecting portion 13 is formed at the rearmost portion, and the projecting portion 13 and the lower end portion 24 of the lid body 20 include a hinge mechanism 30 (shown by a broken line in FIG. 3) including a hinge shaft 31 penetrating in the width direction of the personal computer. 20 is pivotally supported. The symbol A represents the axial position of the hinge mechanism 30.

The symbol B represents the axial position of the hinge mechanism for removably attaching the battery pack described below to the main body housing 10.

Next, FIG. 4 is a side view of the personal computer shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the right side. As shown in the figure, on the side surface of the main body housing 10, in order from the front side of the personal computer, the power jack insertion portion 14, the signal line connector insertion portion 15, the external device connection terminals 16 and 17, the optical signal. Infrared transmitter / receiver 1 for transmission
8 etc. are provided. A battery pack 40 pivotally supported by a hinge mechanism (axis line position B) is removably attached to the rearmost portion of the main body housing 10.

When the personal computer is used, the battery pack 40 can be rotated clockwise from the illustrated position so that the non-slip portion 45 made of an elastic body is in a downward position. This allows the personal computer to be used with the rear part slightly raised.

The battery pack 40 is a portion for axially supporting itself in the main body housing via a hinge mechanism (axial line position B) (in this embodiment, the left protrusion 13 in FIG. 3).
Except for the leftmost end portion and the rightmost end portion of the right overhang portion 13), the front portion 41 and the rear portion 42 are connected to each other.

A concave portion 43 is formed along the length direction on the upper surface side between the two 41 and 42. The bulging portions of the front portion 41 and the rear portion 42 substantially correspond to the arrangement positions of the first row and second row batteries housed and arranged in the battery pack 40, respectively. It is to be noted that each of the batteries arranged in a row in the battery pack 40 preferably has a cylindrical shape or a shape similar thereto as described above, but the recess 43 is formed between the rows of the battery array. Other shapes (for example, polygonal shapes) may be used as long as the space for reducing the thickness of the battery pack 40 can be secured.

The hinge mechanism 30 for pivotally supporting the lid 20 is arranged above the battery pack 40 in multiple layers. In this embodiment, an overhanging portion 13 (see FIG. 3) is provided from the rearmost portion of the main body housing 10 toward the hinge mechanism 30, and the mounting portion of the lid 20 is pivotally supported on the overhanging portion 13. ing. A portion near the front side of the mounting portion of the lid 20 is formed into a concave surface having a shape complementary to the bulging portion 44 in order to avoid interference with the bulging portion 44 of the battery pack front portion 41. Reference numeral C indicates the main body housing 10.
A lead wire carrying ribbon extending through the projecting portion 13 electrically connects the main body of the personal computer in the main body housing 10 and the display in the lid 20.

Generally, it is desirable that the depth direction position of the axis A of the hinge mechanism 30 that pivotally supports the lid body 20 is aligned with the position of the bottom of the recess 43 of the battery pack 40 as accurately as possible. If the bulging portion of the lid body 20 corresponding to the mechanism 30 is received in the recess 43 and a part of the thickness of the lid body 20 at the portion corresponding to the hinge mechanism 30 is absorbed, there will be some deviation. It doesn't matter.

According to the structure in which the hinge mechanism 30 pivotally supporting the lid 20 is arranged in this way, the hinge mechanisms are arranged in layers above the battery pack while suppressing an increase in the size of the personal computer in the depth direction. The personal computer can be made thin.

In the above embodiment, the battery pack 40 as a battery accommodating means is retrofitted to the rearmost portion of the main body housing 10. However, the main body housing 10 is extended to a position below the hinge mechanism 30 and is placed there. Even when the battery pack 40 (individual battery element in some cases) having the above-described shape is housed, the thin structure of the present invention can be adopted. In that case, a concave portion corresponding to the battery arrangement may be formed on the upper surface of the main body housing 10, and the position of the hinge mechanism 30 may correspond to the concave portion position.

In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking the notebook type personal computer as an example of the information equipment. However, the information equipment is a word processor,
Even a small stationary type personal computer,
It is obvious that the present invention is applicable.

Even if the array of batteries to be used is three or more rows, the recess of the battery accommodating means is formed at a position corresponding to between the first row and the second row or between the second row and the third row. Needless to say, if the hinge mechanism that pivotally supports the lid is arranged in multiple layers corresponding to the recess, the information device can be made thinner, as in the configuration of the above embodiment.

[0039]

According to the present invention, a small or portable information device such as a notebook personal computer can be used without reducing the battery capacity and increasing the size in the depth direction. It can be made thin.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view for explaining a first example of a conventional arrangement structure related to a hinge mechanism that pivotally supports a lid.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a second example of a conventional arrangement structure related to a hinge mechanism that pivotally supports a lid body.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing a notebook-type personal computer to which the invention of the present application has been applied, with a lid opened.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the notebook personal computer according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 in a state in which a lid is opened.

5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion where a hinge mechanism for pivotally supporting a lid of the personal computer shown in FIG. 3 is provided.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,10 Main body housing 1'projection 2,20 lid 3 main body 3'device operation part 4,40 battery pack 5 Display section 6 Hinge mechanism 11 keyboard module 12 Trackball unit 13 Overhanging part 21 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 22 Screen operation unit 23 Auxiliary liquid crystal display 24 Lower end of lid 30 Hinge mechanism that pivotally supports the lid 31 Hinge axis 40 battery pack 41 Front of battery pack 42 Rear of battery pack 43 recess 44 Bulging part on the front of the battery pack 45 Anti-slip part A Hinge mechanism axis that supports the lid B Hinge mechanism axis that supports the battery pack Ribbon carrying C lead wire Cross section of the first row of cells in the C1 cell array Cross section of the second row of batteries in the C2 battery array

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a main body; a lid body provided on the main body so as to be openable and closable by a hinge mechanism; and a battery housing body for housing a battery, wherein the battery housing body has a concave portion, at least a part of the section along the rotation axis of the hinge mechanism of the cover body, characterized in that it is received within the recess of the battery housing member, the information processing apparatus. 2. An information processing apparatus comprising: a main body to which a battery housing for housing a battery is detachably mounted; and a lid rotatably provided on the main body by a hinge mechanism, wherein the battery housing is With a recess, in the state where the battery housing is mounted on the main body,
At least a part of the section along the rotation axis of the hinge mechanism of the cover body, characterized in that it is received within the recess of the battery housing member, the information processing apparatus. 3. The battery container is rotatable with respect to the main body between a first position and a second position, and at least in the first position, rotation of the hinge mechanism of the lid body. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the portion along the axis is received in the recess of the battery housing. 4. The first position is a position where the battery housing is above the bottom of the main body, and the second position is below the bottom of the main body to the extent that the main body is lifted. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus is a position where the information processing apparatus is turned on. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery housing is a battery pack containing a plurality of batteries. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recess is formed between the batteries of the battery pack. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid includes a display. 8. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid is openably and closably provided on the main body so as to shield or expose a keyboard provided on the main body.
The information processing apparatus described in any one of 1.