JP3430122B2 - Portable electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable electronic device such as a portable information terminal device, and more particularly, to a key, a trackball, a touch panel, etc. on an operation surface while a user holds the device body by hand. The present invention relates to a portable electronic device capable of operating an operation interface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable electronic devices such as mobile information terminals and mobile information devices called mobile gears and Zaurus (registered trademark) have become widespread. This type of portable electronic device is mainly provided with a flat plate-shaped display unit occupied by a display screen and a flat plate-shaped operation unit occupied by an operation surface on which press keys, trackballs, touch pads, etc. are arranged. The display unit and the operation unit are openably and closably connected by a hinge mechanism. In addition, this type of portable electronic device has a large width due to its performance, design, operation key layout, and the like, and cannot be held and operated with one hand like a mobile phone.

Conventionally, when operating the operation surface of such a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device with the display unit opened is placed on a desk or on the user's knees.
Hold the device body with one hand and operate the operation interface such as the trackball and touch panel with the other hand, or hold the device body with both hands and use the thumb, index finger and middle finger of both hands. The operation interface was operated.

[0004]

There is no problem in the conventional portable electronic device as described above as long as it can be operated by placing the device main body on a desk or a knee, but when moving while walking outdoors, If the device body is not in an environment where it can be placed on a knee or the like for operation, such as when moving in an automobile, stable operation cannot be expected unless the device body is held by both hands. Therefore, when one hand is used for a purpose other than the use of the portable electronic device, for example, for holding luggage or maintaining a stable body, the device body must be held by one hand. Instability in the retention of is almost impossible. Moreover,
Since conventional portable electronic devices are supposed to be operated by placing the device body on a desk or on the knee, even if you hold the device body with one hand and try to operate with the same hand, The holding power of is unstable and unstable, and its operation is almost impossible.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a portable electronic device having a size that cannot be held by one hand. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device that can hold the device stably with one hand and can easily operate the operation interface with the fingers of the same hand.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a display unit and an operating unit, the display unit having a display screen, and the operating unit comprising:
In a portable electronic device having an operation interface such as a push key, a trackball, and a touch pad, in which the operation unit and the display unit are openably and closably connected ,
At least the index finger or the index and middle fingers, excluding the thumb
Has a holding grip of the grip can be long, the grip housing portion is provided in the vicinity portion of the operational interface in the front end portion of the operation unit, the holding grip, first the holding grip is accommodated in the grip receiving portion 1
Position and holding grip from the grip storage section to the
Projecting unit's bottom surface projecting to a grippable posture
Movably provided between the second positions, the second position
In a state that a certain holding grip and bunch <br/> equity index finger or forefinger and middle finger, is configured to hold both of said display unit and the operating unit, and the parent fingers of the hand gripping the holding grip It is characterized in that the operation interface can be operated.

[0007] In the present invention, the medium comprising at least the index finger or forefinger excluding thumb holding grip piece how <br/> hand
By gripping with the fingers, it is possible to hold the portable electronic device is ready to operate the display unit and the operating unit, and allows the operation of the operation interface thumb of the hand holding the holding grip. Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the portable electronic device has a size that cannot be held by one hand, the portable electronic device can be stably held by one hand and the operation interface can be easily performed by the finger of the same hand. It can be operated.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A holding structure for a portable electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a portable electronic device having a holding structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a holding structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a usage state of the portable electronic device provided with the holding structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a portable electronic device 10 has a flat plate-shaped display unit 11 mainly occupied by a display screen 111.
And a flat plate-shaped operation surface 12 having a press key 121 for clicking a menu item displayed on the display screen 111 and an operation interface such as a track ball 122 and a touch pad 123 for operating cursors on the display screen 111. The operation unit 13 to be occupied is provided, and one end of the display unit 11 is connected to the rear end of the operation unit 13 by a hinge mechanism 112 so as to be openable and closable. The push key 121 and the trackball 122 are arranged at the center of the operation unit 13 near the front end in the width direction. The operation unit 13 is composed of an upper case 131 and a lower case 132 which are joined together in the middle, and the operation surface 12 is provided on the surface of the upper case 131.

In the vicinity of the push key 121 and the track ball 122 at the front end of the operation unit 13, a concave shape extending inward from the front end surfaces of the upper case 131 and the lower case 132 constituting the operation unit 13 is formed. A grip accommodating portion 14 formed of a notch and having a predetermined length and a predetermined width is provided. This grip storage part 1
In FIG. 4, a holding grip 15 for holding the entire portable electronic device 10 including the display unit 11 and the operation unit 12 with one hand so that the push key 121 and the trackball 122 can be finger-operated is provided at the first position and the second position. It is provided so that it can be swung between the positions. Also, this holding grip 1
The length and width of 5 correspond to the length and width of the grip accommodating portion 14, and the thickness thereof corresponds to the thickness of the operation unit 13. That is, the length of the holding grip 15 is formed to be a length that can be gripped with at least the index finger of the hand or the index finger and the middle finger. The first position is a posture in which the holding grip 15 is housed in the grip housing portion 14 as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, and the second position is the holding grip as shown by the broken line in FIG. 15 is a posture in which it projects from the grip storage portion 14 toward the lower surface of the operation unit 13.

Next, a support structure for swingably supporting the holding grip 15 in the grip housing portion 14 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of left and right pivot shafts 25 are provided on both left and right side surfaces of one end of the holding grip 15.
Are projected horizontally so that their axes coincide with each other, and the tip end portion 251 of each pivot shaft 25 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape. In addition, shaft holes 26 into which the left and right pivot shafts 25 of the holding grip 15 are rotatably fitted are formed on both left and right side surfaces of the back of the grip housing portion 14. The shaft hole 26 has an upper surface case 131 and a lower surface case 1 which form the operation unit 13.
In the mating surface of 32, a bottomed semi-cylindrical portion 261 formed on the mating surface of the upper surface case 131 and the lower surface case 132
And a bottomed semi-cylindrical portion 262 formed on the mating surface of the. In the inner part of the semi-cylindrical portion 262, a quarter columnar projection 263 that regulates the rotation angle of the holding grip 15 is formed. The projection 263 is a semi-cylindrical portion 261 of the pivot shaft 25. Facing each other, the protrusion 263 and the semi-cylindrical portion 2
By 61, the holding grip 15 can be positioned at the first position and the second position.

The portable electronic device 10 configured as described above
In carrying out the portable electronic device 10 or when using the portable electronic device 10 on a desk or on a knee, the holding grip 15 is stored in the grip storing portion 14 as shown by the solid line in FIG. Hold in position 1. At this time,
The flat surface 261A of the semi-cylindrical portion 261 of the pivot 25 is the shaft hole 26.
1/4 cylindrical protrusion 263 is in contact with the horizontal surface 263A. Therefore, the holding grip 15 is replaced by the grip storage portion 14.
Since the holding grip 15 does not project from the operation unit 13 in the state of being housed inside, the display unit 1
There is no hindrance to the opening and closing of 1 and the operation unit 13, and also when carrying the portable electronic device 10 as in the conventional case and when operating the portable electronic device 10 while it is placed on the desk or on the knee. There will be no trouble.

In addition, when the portable electronic device 10 is placed on the knee or the like and is used in a movement that is not in an environment where it can be operated,
As for the holding grip 15 in the stored state of FIG. 1, the flat surface 261A of the semi-cylindrical portion 261 of the pivot shaft 25 of the holding grip 15 is 1 / of the shaft hole 26.
It rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 until it comes into contact with the vertical surface 263B of the four-columnar protrusion 263. As a result, the holding grip 15 is positioned at the second position shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, and is in a state of protruding toward the lower surface of the operation unit 13.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the holding grip 15 protruding toward the lower surface of the operation unit 13 is grasped by using the index finger 31 or the index finger 31 and the middle finger 32 of one hand 30, and the index finger. The side surface of 31 supports the lower surface of the operation unit 13. Thereby, the operation unit 1
It is possible to securely hold the entire portable electronic device 10 including the display unit 11 and the display unit 11. In this case, since the center of gravity of the mobile electronic device 10 is behind the position of the holding grip 15, the mobile electronic device 10 tries to fall rearward, but the side surface of the index finger 31 of the hand 30 holding the holding grip 15 is operated. Since the portable electronic device 10 is pressed against the lower surface of the unit 13, the portable electronic device 10 does not fall rearward and is maintained in a stable state, and also the lateral stability of the portable electronic device 10 can be maintained. On the other hand, in the state where the holding grip 15 is gripped as described above, the thumb 33 of the gripped hand 30 can be freely moved without being used for holding the device.
Therefore, the thumb 33 in the free state operates the trackball 122 on the operation surface 12, and
It is possible to depress the depressing keys 121 on both sides of 2.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention as described above, the push key 1 at the front end of the operation unit 13 is pressed.
21 and the track ball 122 are provided with a grip storage portion 14 in the vicinity thereof, and a holding grip 15 for holding the entire portable electronic device 10 with one hand in the grip storage portion 14.
The first position where the holding grip 15 is stored in the grip storing portion 14 and the holding grip 15 is disposed in the grip storing portion 1.
4 is provided so as to be swingable between the second positions protruding in the lower surface direction of the operation unit 13, and the push key 121 and the track ball 122 can be operated by the thumb 33 of the hand 30 holding the holding grip 15. , Portable electronic device 1
Even if the width of the main body of the device is so large that it cannot be held with one hand due to reasons such as 0 performance, design, operation key layout, etc., this portable electronic device 10 can be held stably with one hand and the fingers of the same hand can be held. The push key 121 and the trackball 122 can be easily operated with.

Therefore, the hand not used for holding and operating the portable electronic device 10 can be turned to another action. Therefore, the portable electronic device 10 can be easily used in a moving body such as a car or outdoors, and the portable electronic device can be used even under the condition that the conventional portable electronic device cannot be used. This has the effect of expanding the environment of use when operating an operation interface such as a trackball or touch pad.

Next, a second embodiment of the portable electronic equipment holding structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device holding structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the operation unit 1
The grip accommodating portion 16 formed by a recessed notch that is long in the left-right direction of the operation unit 13 in the vicinity of the push key 121 and the track ball 122 at the front end of the operation unit 3.
Is provided at one end portion in the left-right direction in the grip storage portion 16 and is held by a support shaft 17 provided between the support piece 161 provided in the grip storage portion 16 and the inner side wall 162 of the grip storage portion 16 in a passing state. One end 181 of the grip 18
Is rotatably supported. The holding grip 18 has a length that can be held by the index finger of the hand or the index finger and the middle finger,
It has a width corresponding to the depth dimension of the grip storage portion 16 and a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the operation unit 13.

In the holding structure of the portable electronic device according to the second embodiment, when the portable electronic device is carried,
Alternatively, when the portable electronic device is placed on the desk or on the knee and used, the holding grip 18 is held at the first position housed in the grip housing 16 as shown by the solid line in FIG. In addition, when the portable electronic device is used on the knees or the like when it is used in a movement that is not in an environment where it can be operated, the holding grip 18 in the stored state in FIG. Rotate in the direction of arrow B. As a result, the holding grip 18 is moved to the operation unit 1 as shown by the broken line in FIG.
3 is rotated to a second position in which it can be held and protrudes in the direction of the lower surface of 3. Also in the second embodiment as described above, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Next, a third embodiment of the portable electronic equipment holding structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device holding structure according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the press key 121
And the operation unit 13 facing the trackball 122
A grip accommodating portion 19 formed by cutting out the front end portion in a concave shape is provided at a front end portion of the support shaft 20 on an inner wall 191 near one end of the grip accommodating portion 19.
Is horizontally projected, and one end of a flat holding grip 21 having a size that can be accommodated in the grip accommodating portion 19 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 20. Further, the holding grip 21 is formed with a hole 211 through which the index finger of the hand can be inserted.

In the holding structure of the portable electronic device according to the third embodiment, when the portable electronic device is carried,
Alternatively, when the portable electronic device is placed on a desk or on a knee and used, the holding grip 21 is held at the first position stored in the grip storage portion 19 as shown by the solid line in FIG. Further, when the portable electronic device is used on the knees or the like when it is used in a movement that is not in an environment where it can be operated, the holding grip 21 in the stored state shown in FIG. It rotates in the direction of arrow C. As a result, the holding grip 21 is moved to the operation unit 1 as shown by the broken line in FIG.
3 is rotated to a second position in which it can be held and protrudes in the direction of the lower surface of 3. Therefore, by inserting the index finger into the hole 211 of the holding grip 21 rotated to the second position and holding the holding grip 21, the portable electronic device can be reliably held in a stable state. In the third embodiment as well, in addition to the same effect as the first embodiment, the holding grip 21 is provided with the hole 211 through which the index finger is inserted, thereby holding the portable electronic device. There is an effect that can be more reliably.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the portable electronic equipment holding structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device holding structure according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the holding grip 2
3 has a length and a width that can be grasped by the forefinger of the hand or the forefinger and the middle finger, and corresponds to the length of the holding grip 23 and extends from the front end face to the rear at the front end portion of the operation unit 13. A grip accommodating portion 24 formed of an existing concave cutout is formed, and a track ball 122, which is an operation interface, is disposed in the inner portion of the grip accommodating portion 24. One end of the holding grip 23 is swingably supported at the open end of the grip housing portion 24. As a result, the holding grip 23 is supported so as to be swingable between the first position housed in the grip housing portion 24 and the second position in which it is projected toward the lower surface of the operation unit 13 to be in a holdable state. There is.

In the structure for holding a portable electronic device as described above, when the portable electronic device is carried, or when the portable electronic device is placed on a desk or on a knee and used, the holding grip 2
3 is held in the first position as shown by the solid line in FIG.
Further, when the portable electronic device is placed on the knee or the like and is used in a movement such as when not in an environment where it can be operated, the holding grip 23
6 is rotated to a second position projecting in the direction of the lower surface of the operation unit 13 as shown by the broken line in FIG. In the fourth embodiment as described above, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the track ball 122 and the holding grip 23 can be stored in the grip storage portion 24 in a stacked state.

In each of the above embodiments, the holding grip 13 (18, 21, 23) is provided at the front end of the operation unit 13 between the storage position (first position) and the holding position (second position). Although the case where it is provided so as to be movable has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the holding grip may be provided at the front end portion of the operation unit 13 in a fixed state of horizontally projecting forward or in a fixed state of projecting obliquely downward from the front end of the operation unit 13.

[0024]

As described above, according to the portable electronic equipment holding structure of the present invention, the holding grip is provided inside the grip housing portion.
The first position and the holding grip are stored in the grip
Figure that can be grasped by protruding from the section toward the lower surface of the operation unit
The second position is provided so as to be movable between the second positions that are biased.
Hold the holding grip on the table with the forefinger excluding the thumb of the hand or
Operate with the display unit while grasping with the index finger and middle finger
Configured to hold both of the units, and
Operation interface with the thumb of the hand holding the holding grip
Since it is configured so that it can be operated, even if it is not possible to hold it with one hand due to the performance, design, operation key layout, etc. of the mobile electronic device, it becomes difficult to hold it with one hand. It can be held stably, and the operation interface such as the push key and the trackball can be easily operated with the finger of the same hand. As a result, the hand not used for holding and operating the portable electronic device can be directed to other actions, which facilitates the use of the portable electronic device in a moving body such as a car or outdoors, and the conventional portable electronic device. The portable electronic device can be used even under such a condition that it cannot be used, and the operating environment for operating the operation interface can be expanded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a mobile electronic device including a holding structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a holding structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a usage state of the mobile electronic device including the holding structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device holding structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device holding structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device holding structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Portable electronic device 10, 11 ... Display unit, 1
11 ... Display screen, 12 ... Operation surface, 121 ... Press key, 122 ... Trackball, 123 ... Touch pad, 13 ... Operation unit, 131 ... Top case, 1
32 ... Lower case, 14, 16, 19, 24 ... Grip storage part, 15, 18, 21, 23 ... Holding grip, 211 ... Hole.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-319720 (JP, A) JP-A-9-325940 (JP, A) JP-A-7-285300 (JP, A) Actual Kaihei 5- 12957 (JP, U) Actual flat 4-28343 (JP, U) Actual flat 5-2240 (JP, U) Actual flat 5-60367 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 1/16-1/20 G06F 3/033

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A display unit and an operation unit, wherein the display unit has a display screen, the operation unit has an operation interface such as a push key, a trackball, a touch pad, and the like, and the operation unit and the display In a portable electronic device in which the unit is openably and closably connected, at least the index finger or the middle of the index finger excluding the thumb of the hand
Has a holding grip length that can be gripped by the fingers, the grip housing portion is provided in the vicinity portion of the operational interface in the front end portion of the operation unit, the holding grip, the holding grip the grip yield
The first position and the holding grip housed in the storage section are
Projected from the lip storage section toward the bottom of the operation unit
Provided so that it can move between the second positions where it can be grasped
The holding grip in the second position with the index finger or person
Both of the display unit and the operation unit can be held in a state of being held by the forefinger and the middle finger , and
Portable electronic device, characterized in being configured and, it so that it can operate the operation interface thumb of the hand holding the holding grip. 2. The operation unit has a case in which the operation interface is provided, and the grip housing portion is
2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device comprises a concave notch extending inward from a front end surface of the case. 3. The holding grip of the holding grip.
Portable electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, wherein the one end is supported so that it can be swung between the first position and the second position in the grip housing portion. Wherein said holding grip, according to claim 1, 2 or 3 portable electronic device according to any one of which is characterized by having a bore in which the finger pointing human hand holding the holding grip is inserted . 5. The holding grip is an index finger or an index finger.
Side of the index finger is the when the gripped with fingers and middle fingers
Support the operation unit by pressing it against the bottom surface of the operation unit
Portable electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured to.