JP3428535B2 - Connector mounting part movable mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector mounting portion moving mechanism, and more particularly to a connector mounting portion moving mechanism of a connector mounting portion mounted with a connector for peripheral equipment provided in an information processing apparatus or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in information processing apparatuses such as personal computers, workstations, word processors, terminal devices, etc., a device body is generally equipped with a connector for connecting to peripheral devices.

As an example of the connection between the apparatus main body and the peripheral equipment via this connector, in the connector connection structure of the electronic equipment disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-220796, one connector is protrusively provided on the apparatus main body and a convex character is formed. -Shaped guide recesses are provided, and branch connection connectors respectively attached to a plurality of peripheral devices are sequentially slid with respect to the connector of the apparatus main body with the connecting projections fitted into the guide recesses. It is disclosed that a large number of peripheral devices are simultaneously connected to the main body of the device by alternately connecting the plug part and the socket part in series and connecting them. According to the invention described in this publication, since only one connector of each peripheral device is serially connected in series to one device main body side connector, when connecting each peripheral device, the device of the connection partner is connected. The effect is that it is not necessary to search for the main body side connector. However, in the invention described in the above publication, a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the apparatus main body are provided with the same connector, such as when it is desired to simultaneously connect a plurality of peripheral devices such as a controller to the main body of the video game machine. The condition is assumed.

Generally, in an information processing device such as a personal computer, a plurality of different connectors are provided in the main body of the device depending on the peripheral equipment, and the connector is installed on the front, side or back of the main body of the device. It is usually done. The connectors provided on the respective surfaces are mounted so that their connection surfaces are outward and horizontal. Therefore, when connecting a certain peripheral device to the information processing apparatus, the connector section provided on the front, side or back of the information processing apparatus main body is searched, and the corresponding connector is found from the plurality of connectors of the connector section. It is necessary to perform the procedure of connecting by connecting.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, when the connector of the peripheral device is connected to the connector of the information processing device, the corresponding connector is confirmed. It is necessary to look into the connector part provided on the front, side or back of the
The visibility of the label indicating what the connector is and the visibility of whether the connector is a plug or a jack were poor, and the connector connection surface was mounted horizontally, making connector connection difficult and complicated. .

It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the confirmation of the connector on the apparatus main body side corresponding to each peripheral device and the attachment / detachment of the connector.

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

The first connector fitting portion moving mechanism of the present invention According to an aspect of the implementation the connector mounting portion of the connector mounting portion movable connectors used to connect to other devices provided in the information processing apparatus or the like In the mechanism, the connector mounting portion has a quadrangular upper surface portion, a quadrangular front surface portion on which the connector is mounted, and a spherical surface connecting a lower side of the front surface portion and a rear side of the upper surface portion. Part, a fan-shaped side surface part, a hinge part provided on the side surface part, and a stopper provided on the side surface part, and the connector mounting part is housed inside the information processing device or the like. In this state, the connector mounted on the front surface of the connector mounting portion is oriented horizontally toward the outside of the information processing device or the like, and the front surface of the connector mounting portion is directed toward the information processing device or the like. Or By pulling forward Te, rotating the hinge portion as a rotation axis, by stationary by the stopper when rotated by an arbitrary angle,
It is characterized in that the direction of the connector mounting surface of the connector mounting portion is changed upward.

A second connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention is a connector mounting portion moving mechanism of a connector mounting portion on which a connector provided in an information processing device or the like and used for connection with another device is mounted. The connector mounting portion has a quadrangular upper surface portion, a quadrangular front surface portion on which the connector is mounted, a spherical portion connecting a lower side of the front surface portion and a rear side of the upper surface portion, and a fan-shaped portion. In a state where both side surface portions, hinge portions provided on the both side surface portions, and stoppers provided on the both side surface portions are provided, and the connector mounting portion is housed inside the information processing device or the like, The connector mounted on the front surface of the connector mounting portion is oriented horizontally toward the outside of the information processing device or the like,
By pulling out the front surface of the connector mounting portion toward the information processing device and the like, the hinge portion rotates about the rotation axis, and when the hinge portion rotates by a specific angle, the connector is stopped by the stopper, whereby the connector The feature is that the direction of the connector mounting surface of the mounting portion is changed to the upward direction.

A third connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention is the same as the first connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention.
A groove is provided in the movement locus portion of the stopper of the connector mounting portion from the time when the connector mounting portion is stored to the maximum rotation angle, and the stopper is formed in an arc shape in the information processing device or the like as the connector mounting portion rotates. It is characterized in that it moves while rubbing in the groove provided and stops at the time when the rotation of the connector mounting portion stops due to the resistance of the friction.

The fourth connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention is the same as the second connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention.
A stopper on the side of the information processing device is provided at a position opposite to the position of the stopper of the connector mounting portion when the connector mounting portion is housed and when the connector mounting portion is rotated by the specific angle. The stopper of the connector mounting portion moves in an arc shape between both stoppers on the side of the information processing apparatus, etc., and when the stopper of the information processing apparatus or the like comes to the position of either stopper, the rotation of the connector mounting portion is prevented. It is characterized by stopping.

A fifth connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention is the first or second connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention, wherein the connector mounting portion is provided with an operating portion such as a concave or convex handle. Further, it is characterized in that the operation portion is used when the connector mounting portion is rotated.

A sixth connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention, when the connector mounting portion is rotated by a certain angle, the hinge portion is It is characterized in that the connector mounting portion can be detached from the information processing device or the like.

A seventh connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention is the same as the first or second connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention, wherein the connector mounting portion is provided on the front surface, side surface, or back surface of the information processing device or the like. It is characterized by having any one surface or a plurality of surfaces.

An eighth connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention is the first or second connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention, wherein an opening portion is provided on an upper surface of the connector mounting portion, and the opening portion and the It is characterized in that a hollow is formed between the connector mounted on the front surface of the connector mounting portion and a passage for a cable connecting the connector and an internal circuit of the information processing apparatus or the like.

According to a ninth connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention, in the first or second connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention, an opening portion continuous to the upper surface portion and the spherical portion of the connector mounting portion is provided. A hollow portion is provided between the opening and the connector mounted on the front surface of the connector mounting portion, and this is used as a passage for a cable connecting the connector and an internal circuit of the information processing device or the like. Is characterized by.

The tenth connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention is the same as the eighth or ninth connector mounting portion moving mechanism of the present invention, wherein the cable is either stored or rotated. Also, the connector and the information processing device have a sufficient length for connecting the connector and the internal circuit of the information processing device, and the connector and the information processing device etc. It is characterized in that it is electrically connected to an internal circuit.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, 11 is an LCD panel and 1
Reference numeral 2 is a main body of the information processing apparatus, 12a is a rear surface of the main body, 13 is a connector mounting portion on which the connector 14 is mounted, and 14 is a connector. The connector mounting portion 13 is movable, and the connector mounting portion 13 is rotated to change the mounting surface of the connector 14 (connection surface with a connector of a peripheral device) from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction (upward direction). . The connector mounting portion 13 may be provided on the main body side surface portion or the main body front surface portion other than the main body rear surface portion 12a, but here, the case where the connector mounting portion 13 is provided on the main body rear surface portion 12a will be described. Further, the information processing apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 exemplifies the case of being integrated with the LCD panel 11, but the information processing apparatus main body 12 may be installed independently.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inside of the information processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. The printed circuit board connector terminal 22 mounted on the printed circuit board 21 of the main body bottom portion 12b passes through the cable passage inside the connector mounting portion 13 by the cable 23, and the main body rear surface portion 1
It is connected to the connector 14 attached to the connector attaching portion 13 of 2a. The connector mounting portion 13 has a quadrangular upper surface portion, a front surface portion in which the connector 14 is mounted in the same quadrangular shape, and a curved surface portion (spherical surface portion) connecting a lower side of the front surface portion and a rear side of the upper surface portion. The connector mounting portion 13 includes fan-shaped side surface portions, hinge portions 15 provided on both side surface portions, and stoppers 16 provided on both side surface portions.
By rotating around the hinge portion 15, it is possible to orient the connector 14 from the horizontal direction to the vertically upward direction. The stopper 16 prevents the connector mounting portion 13 from rotating more than necessary.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the inside of the information processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view of the information processing apparatus main body 12 and the connector mounting portion 13 from the side. In the normal state (when the connector mounting portion 13 is stored), the connection surface of the connector 14 is oriented in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. By rotating the connector mounting portion 13 about the hinge portion 15 until the stopper 16 stops,
As shown in FIG. 3B, the connection surface of the connector 14 is oriented vertically (upward).

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the chassis of the information processing apparatus body. FIG. 4A shows a main body chassis portion that is in contact with the side surface of the connector mounting portion 13. The hinge portion 15 of the connector mounting portion 13 is combined with the main body side hinge portion 33 to serve as a rotation axis of the connector mounting portion 13. When the connector mounting portion 13 is rotated, the stopper 16 of the connector mounting portion 13 passes through the main body side stopper groove 31 and both ends of this groove are closed. Therefore, the stopper 16 stops at both end portions of the connector mounting portion 13. 13 is a certain angle (here, 9 for changing the connector mounting portion 13 from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction).
(It will be described as 0 degrees) It does not rotate any more. The stopper groove and the stopper 16 shown in FIG. 4 (a) have a frictional resistance such that they can interfere with each other at any position of the groove and can be stopped at that position.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, a groove is not particularly provided, and the main body side portion through which the stopper 16 passes is hollow, and the main body side upper stopper 32a and the main body side lower stopper 32b are provided.
By providing the main body side stoppers to interfere with the stoppers 16 of the connector mounting portion 13, the connector mounting portion 13 has a specific angle (here, the connector mounting portion 13 is changed from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction). Of 9
The mechanism may not rotate more than 0 degree). The main body side upper stopper 32a is opposed to the position of the stopper 16 of the connector mounting portion when the connector mounting portion 13 is stored, and the main body side lower stopper 32b is the stopper of the connector mounting portion 13 when rotated by the maximum rotation angle. 16
Is provided at a position opposite to the position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the main body 12 of the information processing apparatus as seen from the front-rear direction. The hinge portion 15 of the connector mounting portion 13 is combined with the main body side hinge portion 33 to form a mechanism for rotating the connector mounting portion 13. The stopper 16 on the connector mounting portion 13 side is configured to pass through the main body side stopper groove 31 of FIG. 4A or the hollow portion of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a cable hole of the connector mounting portion 13, a cable hole 17 is provided on the upper surface so as to correspond to each connector 14, and the cable hole 17 and the corresponding connector 14 are formed. The space is hollow so that the cable 23 can pass therethrough. And FIG. 6 (b)
As shown in FIG. 4, the cable 23 connecting the connector terminal 22 on the printed board provided on the printed board 21 and the connector 14 passes through the cable hole 17. In addition, the cable 23 has a sufficient length to connect the connector terminal 22 on the printed circuit board and the connector 14 even when the connector mounting portion 13 is rotated to the maximum.

FIG. 7 is a view showing another example of the cable hole of the connector mounting portion 13, in which a cable passage 18 is provided for each connector 14 on the upper surface and the curved surface portion. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the cable 23 connecting the connector terminal 22 on the printed board and the connector 14 passes through the cable passage 18. Also at this time, the cable 23
Should have a sufficient length to connect the connector terminal 22 on the printed circuit board and the connector 14 even when the connector mounting portion 13 is rotated to the maximum.

Comparing the cable hole 17 of FIG. 6 and the cable passage 18 of FIG. 7 with each other, in the case of FIG.
During normal times when the connector mounting portion 13 does not rotate, the cable 2 is formed at the corner portion where the curved surface intersects with the upper surface of the connector mounting portion 13.
3, tension is applied to the cable 3. However, in the case of FIG. 7, there is a difference in that the cable 23 does not have much tension because the cable 23 also passes through the curved surface portion of the connector mounting portion 13.

In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the front surface of the connector mounting portion 13 (connector 1 so that the connector mounting portion 13 can be easily handled by hand when rotating the connector mounting portion 13).
4 may be provided with a concave operation portion 19 or an operation portion 19 such as a convex handle.

Further, in the case of FIG. 7, a shutter is provided in the cable passage 18 in the curved surface portion of the connector mounting portion 13,
Normally, the shutter is opened by gravity and turned upside down during rotation, so a mechanism for automatically closing the shutter by gravity may be provided. As a result, even when the connector mounting portion 13 is rotated and the connector 14 is directed to the upper surface, the inside of the information processing apparatus main body can be seen through the cable passage 18 in the curved surface portion of the connector mounting portion 13 and foreign matters such as dust and dust can be seen. Don't get inside.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, in the normal state shown in FIG. 2 (when the connector mounting portion 13 is housed inside the information processing apparatus main body 12), as shown in FIG. 3A, the connection surface of the connector 14 is horizontal. It is in a facing state. At this time, the stopper 16 of the connector mounting portion 13 is located at the uppermost position of the stopper groove of FIG. 4A or the main body side upper stopper 32a of FIG. 4B, and the stopper 16 and the stopper groove Alternatively, the main body side upper stopper 32a is in a stationary state by interfering with that position. Note that FIG.
The stopper groove (a) and the stopper 16 have a frictional resistance such that they can interfere with each other at any position of the groove and can be stopped at that position.

Next, when checking the connector or connecting the connector, the connector mounting portion 13 is pulled out by holding the lower portion of the connector mounting portion 13 or holding the operation portion 19 provided on the connector mounting portion 13 shown in FIG. 6 or 7. . At this time, in the connector mounting portion 13, as shown in FIG. 5, the hinge portion 15 of the connector mounting portion 13 is combined with the main body side hinge portion 33 to rotate toward the main body rear surface side with the hinge portion 15 as an axis. By this rotation operation, the state of FIG. 3A changes to the state of FIG. 3B (the same state in FIG. 1), and the connector 14 faces from the horizontal direction to the vertical upward direction. In this state, the stopper 16 of the connector mounting portion 13 is located at the lowermost position of the stopper groove of FIG. 4A or the main body side lower stopper 32b of FIG. 4B. With the groove or the lower stopper 32b on the main body side,
At that position, it interferes and becomes stationary, and it does not rotate any more. This is the same when the connector mounting portion 13 is returned to the original stored state, and the mechanism is such that it does not rotate any further.

Above, the connector 14 of the connector mounting portion 13
However, the connector mounting portion 13 has been described as rotating 90 degrees from the horizontal direction of FIG. 3A to the vertical direction of FIG.
The rotatable angle of does not have to be 90 degrees. For example, it may be rotated about 70 degrees from the horizontal direction and directed obliquely upward. In this case, the stopper groove 3 shown in FIG.
It is possible by adjusting the length of 1 or shifting the position of the lower stopper 32b on the main body side. Note that FIG.
Since the stopper groove and the stopper 16 have frictional resistance to the extent that they can interfere with each other at any position of the groove and stop at that position, they can be stopped at any rotation angle position. . .

In addition, after checking and connecting the connector 14, the connector 14 may be returned to the original housing state shown in FIG. 3A or to the state shown in FIG. 3B. As shown in FIG. 6 (b) or FIG. 7 (b),
Since the cable 23 remains electrically connected to the printed circuit board connector terminal 22 of the information processing apparatus main body 12, it can be used without any problem.

In the above description, the case where the connector mounting portion movable mechanism is provided in the information processing apparatus has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the information processing apparatus and its peripheral devices and accessories such as a docking station and a port replicator. It is also possible to provide a similar mechanism for a connector equipped in other electronic devices.

Further, the mechanism may be such that the connector mounting portion is automatically rotated when the one-touch button is pressed instead of being manually operated so that the connection surface of the connector is oriented in the vertical direction.

When the LCD panel is opened in conjunction with the LCD panel, the connector surface is oriented horizontally and the LCD
When the panel is closed, the connector mounting portion may rotate so that the connector surface faces the vertical direction, or vice versa.

Further, the mechanism may be such that, when the connector mounting portion is rotated by a certain angle, the main body and the connector portion are separated from each other by the hinge portion so that the connector mounting portion can be detached from the main body. In this case, since the cable remains connected, the connector is electrically connected and usable even when the connector mounting part is removed from the main body. It can be used even if returned to.

[0039]

According to the present invention, by providing the mechanism for rotating the connector mounting portion, the connecting surface of the connector can be directed vertically upward or diagonally upward, and as a result, as in the conventional case. There is no need to look into the connector section, and it is possible to obtain an effect that it is possible to easily confirm what connector each connector is and to connect the connectors.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view inside an information processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view inside an information processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an information processing device body chassis.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the information processing device body 12 as seen from the front-rear direction.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a cable hole of the connector mounting portion 13.

FIG. 7 is a view showing another example of the cable hole of the connector mounting portion 13.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 Information processing equipment 11 LCD panel 12 Information processing device body 12a Rear part of main body 12b Main body bottom 13 Connector mounting part 14 connector 15 Hinge part 16 stopper 17 Cable hole 18 cable passage 19 Operation part 21 Printed circuit board 22 Connector terminal on printed circuit board 23 cable 31 Stopper groove 32a Main body side upper stopper 32b Main body side lower stopper 33 Body side hinge

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector mounting part moving mechanism of a connector mounting part, which mounts a connector provided in an information processing device or the like and used to connect to another device, wherein the connector mounting part has a rectangular upper surface part. , A quadrilateral front face part on which the connector is mounted, and a spherical part connecting the lower side of the front face part and the rear side of the upper face part,
In a state in which the fan-shaped both side surface portions, the hinge portions provided on the both side surface portions, and the stoppers provided on the both side surface portions are provided, and the connector mounting portion is housed inside the information processing apparatus or the like. The connector mounted on the front surface of the connector mounting portion is oriented horizontally toward the outside of the information processing device or the like, and the front surface of the connector mounting portion is directed toward the information processing device or the like. When the hinge part is pulled out, the hinge part is rotated about the rotation axis, and when the hinge part is rotated by an arbitrary angle, it is stopped by the stopper, thereby changing the direction of the connector mounting surface of the connector mounting part to the upward direction. Movable mechanism for connector mounting part. 2. A connector mounting portion movable mechanism of a connector mounting portion, which mounts a connector provided in an information processing device or the like and used for connection with another device, wherein the connector mounting portion has a rectangular upper surface portion. , A quadrilateral front face part on which the connector is mounted, and a spherical part connecting the lower side of the front face part and the rear side of the upper face part,
In a state in which the fan-shaped both side surface portions, the hinge portions provided on the both side surface portions, and the stoppers provided on the both side surface portions are provided, and the connector mounting portion is housed inside the information processing apparatus or the like. The connector mounted on the front surface of the connector mounting portion is oriented horizontally toward the outside of the information processing device or the like, and the front surface of the connector mounting portion is directed toward the information processing device or the like. When the hinge part is pulled out, the hinge part is rotated about the rotation axis, and when the hinge part is rotated by a specific angle, it is stopped by the stopper, thereby changing the direction of the connector mounting surface of the connector mounting part to the upward direction. Movable mechanism for connector mounting part. 3. A groove is provided in a movement locus portion of the stopper of the connector mounting portion from the time when the connector mounting portion is housed to the maximum rotation angle, and the stopper is formed into an arc shape in accordance with the rotation of the connector mounting portion. Go while rubbing in a groove provided in the information processing apparatus or the like, according to claim 1, wherein the connector mounting portion movable, characterized in that the stationary by the resistance of the friction at the rotation of the connector attaching portion is stopped mechanism. 4. The information processing device side stopper is provided at a position opposite to the stopper position of the connector mounting part when the connector mounting part is housed and when the connector mounting part is rotated by the specific angle, respectively. The stopper of the connector mounting portion moves between the stoppers on the side of the information processing device, etc. in an arc shape in accordance with the rotation of the portion, and when the stopper reaches the position of one of the stoppers on the side of the information processing device, etc. The connector mounting portion movable mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the mounting portion is stopped. 5. The connector mounting portion further includes an operating portion such as a concave or convex handle, and the operating portion is used when rotating the connector mounting portion. A movable mechanism for a connector mounting portion according to 1 or 2 . When 6. rotated angle is the connector attaching portion, the hinge portion is separated from the information processing apparatus or the like, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector mounting, characterized in that removal of the said connector fitting portion Part moving mechanism. The method according to claim 7, wherein the connector attaching portion, the front face of such the information processing apparatus, the side surface, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector mounting portion movable and having any one of the surfaces or faces of the back mechanism. 8. An opening portion is provided on an upper surface portion of the connector mounting portion, and a hollow state is provided between the opening portion and the connector mounted on the front surface portion of the connector mounting portion. The connector mounting portion movable mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the connector mounting portion movable mechanism is used as a passage for a cable connecting to an internal circuit of a processing device or the like. 9. A continuous opening portion is provided in the upper surface portion and the spherical portion of the connector mounting portion, and a hollow state is provided between the opening portion and the connector mounted on the front surface portion of the connector mounting portion. The connector mounting portion movable mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein this is a passage for a cable that connects the connector to an internal circuit of the information processing apparatus or the like. 10. The cable has a sufficient length for connecting the connector and an internal circuit of the information processing device or the like when the connector mounting portion is housed or rotated. The connector according to claim 8 or 9 , wherein the connector is electrically connected to an internal circuit of the information processing device or the like during either the storage or the rotation. Movable mechanism for connector mounting part.