JP4252361B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a notebook / electronic device with a touch panel (a form in which a display device serves as a cover of a device body).
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, as a form of electronic equipment in which a display device (display device) is provided with a transparent sheet-like touch panel and a pointing device (coordinate input device) having a digitizer device that can communicate wirelessly on the back of the display, A so-called notebook type is known in which a keyboard having a plurality of operation keys arranged therein is provided, and a display unit that can be freely opened and closed is provided at the upper center of the main body, and this display unit is placed on the keyboard unit side.
[0003]
In this notebook electronic device, during operation, the display unit covered by the keyboard unit is opened and raised at the upper center of the main body. For operation, an operation key is used and a predetermined pen is applied to the display unit. Pen input that can be operated by touching and touch input that can be operated by touching a finger are also possible.
[0004]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a notebook electronic device in which a transparent sheet-like pointing device is provided on the above-described display unit, for the purpose of facilitating the use of a coordinate input device (operation at the time of pen input), “1 In addition to “Unused form of device” (first form) and “2. Form that can be operated by both pen and keyboard” (second form), “3. Form mainly composed of pen input” The electronic device which provides the form is widely spread (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
[0005]
As shown in FIG. 8, the electronic device “a” in Patent Document 1 can be brought into the third form by tilting the display part “b” backward with the hinge part “c” as the center (see FIG. 8). 8 (b)). The electronic device a has a transparent protective cover on the keyboard portion d and the display portion b in order to prevent erroneous input to the keyboard portion d that may occur during pen input (operation) in the third embodiment. e.
[0006]
As shown in FIG. 9, the electronic device f of Patent Document 2 is configured such that the display part b and the keyboard part d can be connected to and separated from each other via an arm g. The display unit b is reversed and superimposed on the keyboard unit d again, so that the third form can be obtained (see FIG. 9B).
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-339237 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-5-173668 [0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as in the conventional case, in the case of the electronic devices a and f having the third form, the third form continuously transitions from the first form through the second form, It cannot be a form that makes a direct transition from the first form to the third form.
[0009]
Therefore, in the case of the electronic device a, if the torque of the hinge part c is designed to be weak so that the display part b can be smoothly opened and closed with respect to the keyboard part d from the first form to the second form, By operating the display unit b with a pen or a finger, the display unit b easily falls down backward, and the second form cannot be maintained. For this reason, it is conceivable to design the torque of the hinge part c to be strong, but in this case, the display part b cannot be smoothly opened and closed with respect to the keyboard part d.
[0010]
Also in the case of the above-described conventional electronic device f, if the torque of the arm part g is designed to be weak, the display part b is likely to fall backward by an operation on the display part b with a pen or a finger in the second embodiment. If the second form cannot be maintained and the torque of the arm part g is designed to be strong, the display part b cannot be opened and closed smoothly with respect to the keyboard part d.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 10, this is a so-called convertible structure having a hinge part h for opening and closing the display part b with respect to the keyboard part d and a hinge part i for rotating the open display part b. The same can be said for the electronic device j.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can be easily made into a form according to an input situation such as a keyboard input or a pen input, and has excellent operability while maintaining the form. It is an object to provide an electronic device with a pointing device such as a touch panel or a digitizer that can be obtained.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An electronic device with a pointing device such as a touch panel or a digitizer according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is connected to a main body unit, a display device on which coordinate input devices are superimposed, and the display device so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body unit. In an electronic apparatus comprising a hinge unit that performs a pen folder that stores a pen that performs an input operation on the coordinate input device, an extrusion unit that pushes out the pen folder, a lock unit that locks the pen folder, and the pen folder include the pen folder And a variable means for changing the direction of increasing the torque of the hinge portion when the lock is released and the pen folder is pushed and tilted from the locked state. .
The variable means varies the torque by a frictional force with which the brake pad contacts the surface of the hinge portion.
Further, the variable means is configured such that a knob provided in the pen folder moves in an arc shape when the pen folder is unlocked, and the brake pad contacts the surface of the hinge portion according to the movement. To be moved.
[0014]
According to this configuration, the torque of the hinge pivots Viewing device, can be enhanced than normal (under the condition that the start of use by a pen of a coordinate input apparatus is not detected), the input operation to the coordinate input device It becomes possible to suppress the rotation of the display device. Therefore, compared to a deterrent structure that prevents the display device from rotating beyond a certain angle, and a method of deterring the rotation of the display device in a hinge structure (hinge structure that varies torque at a specified opening / closing angle), The device structure (mechanism) can be easily designed in consideration of the third embodiment, and the device structure (mechanism) can be easily designed so as not to hinder the delicate angle adjustment of the display device in the second embodiment. Yes.
[0020]
Also, the child device conductive, since only the rotation of the display device with respect to the coordinate input device by the friction force of the brake pads is suppressed, the fine adjustment of the angle of the display device with respect to the coordinate input apparatus, and against the frictional force The angle of the display device can be finely adjusted more easily than in the case where the rotation is completely inhibited / locked.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0022]
[ Reference Example 1]
1 and 2 schematically show the hardware configuration of the main part of an electronic device 1a according to a reference example of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows the control contents of the electronic device 1a.
[0023]
The electronic device 1a of the pen input detection method includes a lock control unit 108 that detects the start of use of the main unit 110 or the pointing device 104a in the electronic device 1a including the main unit 110, the display device 104, and the hinge 109. A brake pad 101 that varies the torque of the hinge unit 109 in response to detection of the start of use of the main unit 110 or the pointing device 104a by the control unit 108 is provided.
[0024]
The main unit 110 includes a keyboard and the like and constitutes a coordinate input device.
[0025]
In addition to the key input coordinate input device such as the main unit 110, the display device 104 has a transparent sheet-like touch panel that enables pen input by touching a pen and touch input by touching a finger. In addition, a pointing device 104 a such as a digitizer capable of inputting by communicating with a dedicated pen is superimposed on the back surface of the display device 104.
[0026]
The hinge unit 109 is configured to rotatably connect the main body unit 110 and the display device 104. By rotating the display device 104 with respect to the main body unit 110, the display device 104 is connected to the main body unit. It is comprised so that it can comprise with a 110 cover (opening-closing lid).
[0027]
The brake pad 101 can make the torque of the hinge portion 109 strong or weak by making contact or non-contact with the hinge portion 109. The brake pad 101 is biased by the spring 105 so as to be in contact with the hinge portion 109. A lock claw 102 is locked and unlocked on the brake pad 101. The lock claw 102 is locked to the brake pad 101 so that the brake pad 101 can be retracted against the bias of the spring 105 and the brake pad 101 can be brought into a non-contact state with respect to the hinge portion 109. Has been made.
[0028]
The lock control unit 108 controls the movement (locking and unlocking) of the lock claw 102.
[0029]
The touch panel controller 106 is connected to the lock control unit 108 and the host 107 which is the main CPU (system main control unit) of the electronic apparatus 1a, and is used for pen input coordinates and pen input to a pointing device 104a such as a touch panel or a digitizer. The presence / absence is output.
[0030]
FIG. 1 shows a state when the torque is weak. When the lock claw 102 fits into the cut portion of the brake pad 101 (the claw protrudes to the right side of the drawing), the brake pad 101 is prevented from being pushed down by the spring 105 that causes the brake pad 101 to be pushed down. It can be seen that the pad 101 and the hinge portion 109 are in a non-contact state.
[0031]
FIG. 2 shows a state when the torque is strong. When the lock claw 102 is disengaged from the cut portion of the brake pad 101 (the lock claw 102 is retracted to the left side in FIG. 2), the brake pad 101 is pushed down by the spring 105. It can be seen that the brake pad 101 and the hinge portion 109 are in contact with each other by the pressing force.
[0032]
In addition, the notch portion of the brake pad 101 and the lock claw 102 are inclined, and an amount corresponding to the left and right movement of the lock claw 102 corresponds to the vertical movement force of the brake pad 101 (or the brake pad 101 Force to hold the hinge 109 from above).
[0033]
Next, the control content of the lock control unit 108 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0034]
The lock control unit 108 is operated by turning on a power button (not shown) of the electronic device 1a, like the host 107, etc., and first locks the lock claw 102 (the brake pad 101 and the hinge unit 109 are set in a non-contact state). ) Control (S1).
[0035]
This initial control takes into account that the lock claw 102 was turned off when the immediately preceding electronic device 1a was turned off (the brake pad 101 and the hinge portion 109 were in contact) (when the power was turned off, the lock control unit 108 The control is assumed to be configured to stop unconditionally due to the fact that the control is no longer supplied with power). Naturally, the power button on / off is monitored and the power supply to the system is shut off. At this time, the brake may be released (in this case, this step is unnecessary).
[0036]
In this reference example, since it is assumed that the rotation is not completely inhibited and locked, the display device 104 of the electronic device 1a can be used even when the brake pad 101 and the hinge portion 109 are in contact (brake). It is possible to close.
[0037]
Next, timer measurement is started (S2). This is a process for measuring an idle time of pen (touch) input (a time when no pen input is generated), which will be described later. Specifically, a timing device (clock) not shown in FIGS. ) To output a timing start signal.
[0038]
Next, whether or not a pen input has occurred, that is, whether or not a signal output indicating that a pen (touch) input has occurred from a pointing device 104a such as a touch panel or a digitizer overlaid on the display device 104 has occurred. Check (S3).
[0039]
Here, when the pen input is generated, after the timer measurement started in step S2 is stopped (S4), the contact state between the brake pad 101 and the hinge portion 109 (the state of the lock claw 102) is checked. When the brake pad 101 and the hinge portion 109 are not in contact with each other (S5), the lock claw 102 is opened (locked) (the brake pad 101 and the hinge portion 109 are set in contact) (S6).
[0040]
If no pen input is generated in step S3, the contact state between the brake pad 101 and the hinge portion 109 (the state of the lock claw 102) is also checked (S7). When the unit 109 is in a contact state, it is checked whether or not a specified time has elapsed since the timer measurement started in step S2 described above, that is, whether or not the idle time of pen input has been continued for a specified time (S8), Only when the specified time has elapsed, after the timer measurement is stopped (S9), the Start entry, that is, the lock claw 102 is locked (the brake pad 101 and the hinge portion 109 are set in a non-contact state), and the control shifts (S1). ).
[0041]
When the brake pad 101 and the hinge part 109 are not in contact with each other at the above-described step S7 (S7: NO), or when the idle time for pen input has not elapsed in the above-mentioned step S8 (S8: NO), the process proceeds to a check step S3 of whether or not a pen input has occurred.
[0042]
In the above-described reference example , the lock control unit 108 is configured to detect an input from the pointing device 104a. However, the lock control unit 108 may be configured to detect a keyboard input from the main unit 110. The keyboard input of the main unit 110 and the input of the pointing device 104a may be detected. Further, at least one of the pointing device 104a and the main unit 110 may be provided with a dedicated input button for locking and unlocking by the lock claw 102.
[0043]
[Example 1 ]
4 to 7 show an outline of a hardware configuration of a main part of an electronic device 1b according to the implementation of the embodiment of the present invention.
[0044]
The electronic device 1b of the pen folder state detection method is an electronic device including the main unit 110, the display device 104, and the hinge unit 109. In response to detection of the state of the pen folder 401 and the pen folder 401, the electronic device 1b And a brake pad 101 for varying the torque.
[0045]
Unlike the electronic device 1a of the reference example 1 described above, since the software control such as pen input detection is not performed in changing the torque of the hinge portion 109, the configuration requirements of the touch panel controller 106 and the like are the main features of the invention. Since it does not correspond to a part, illustration is omitted and the description is omitted.
[0046]
The pen folder 401 stores the pen 103. The pen folder 401 is urged to tilt toward the user side by the push spring 404 with the hinge 406 as a rotation center. The pen folder 401 is locked in a state of being upright along the display device 104 against the urging force. The claw 402 can be locked. That is, the locking pawl 402 is intended to lock the action of extruding the spring 404 acts to tilt the pen folder 401, pen folder 401 in an erected state, pulls the lock pawl 402 (in the figure, the movable to the right The lock claw 402 is unlocked, and the pen folder 401 is tilted to the user side by the action of the push spring 404, and the pen folder 401 is upright while the pen folder 401 is tilted. The pen folder 401 is set upright by an operation (such as an operation of lightly pressing the upper part of the pen folder 401), and the lock claw 402 is configured to lock the action of the push spring 404.
[0047]
The pen folder 401 is provided with a push knob 405. The push knob 405 changes between a contact state and a non-contact state between the hinge portion 109 and the brake pad 101 according to a change in the shape of the pen folder 401. In order to change the degree of transition or contact, the brake pad 101 can be moved up and down. That is, the position (contact point) of the push knob 405 with respect to the brake pad 101 when the pen folder 401 is upright is positioned on the left side in the drawing from the center of the brake pad 101 as shown in FIG. Further, when the pen folder 401 is tilted, it is configured to be positioned substantially at the center of the brake pad 101 as shown in FIG. As described above, the contact point of the push knob 405 with respect to the brake pad 101 moves on an arc locus centering on the hinge 406 in accordance with the shape change (upright / tilt) of the pen folder 401.
[0048]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the electronic device 1b based on this pen folder state detection method has a contact point (the broken line in FIG. 7) with respect to the brake pad 101 of the push knob 405, which acts in accordance with the shape change of the pen folder 401. When the pen folder 401 is upright, the movable amount in the Y-axis direction (vertical) with respect to the movement on the arc locus of the push knob 405 when the slanted line is tilted is the vertical movable amount of the brake pad 101. When the pen folder 401 is upright, the hinge portion 109 and the brake pad 101 are not in contact (torque weak), and when the pen folder 401 is tilted, the hinge portion 109 and the brake pad 101 is in a contact ( strong torque) state.
[0049]
In the present embodiment, an example of detecting the form of the pen folder 401 (whether the pen folder 401 is upright or tilted toward the user) is illustrated. The detection is not limited to (folder form detection), and for example, the insertion and removal of the pen 103 may be detected.
[0050]
Further, in the present embodiment, the method using the brake pad 101 is illustrated as a means for varying the torque of the hinge portion 109, but the present invention is not limited to this, and in particular, the above-described pen is used. Unlike the input detection method, the pen folder state detection method may be a stopper method that does not move in the opening direction / moves in the opening direction.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily make a form corresponding to an input situation such as keyboard input or pen input, and it is possible to obtain excellent operability while maintaining the form.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a front schematic diagram showing an outline of an overall configuration of a pen input detection type electronic device according to a reference example when the electronic device is unlocked, and FIG. 1B is a schematic side view thereof;
FIG. 2A is a front schematic diagram illustrating an outline of the overall configuration of a pen input detection type electronic device according to a reference example when the electronic device is in a locked state, and FIG. 2B is a schematic side view thereof;
3 is a control flow diagram of a lock control unit in the electronic device according to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
4 (a) is a front schematic view showing the outline of the overall configuration of the electronic device of the pen folder state detection method according to the implementation of the embodiment of the present invention, (b) are the same schematic side view.
FIGS. 5A to 5C are a left side schematic diagram, a front schematic diagram, and a right side diagram illustrating a state of a pen folder and a brake pad when the electronic device of the pen folder state detection method according to the present invention is in an unlocked state. FIG.
6A to 6C are a left side schematic view, a front schematic view, and a right side view for explaining a state of a pen folder and a brake pad when the electronic device of the pen folder state detection system according to the present invention is locked. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a state of a pen folder and a brake pad in an unlocked state and a locked state in an electronic device of a pen folder state detection method;
FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a second form of a conventional electronic device, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view showing a third form of the electronic device.
9A is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of another conventional electronic device, and FIG. 9B is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the same electronic device.
FIGS. 10A to 10D are process diagrams for explaining a state in which another conventional electronic device shifts from the second form to the third form.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a Electronic device 1b Electronic device 101 Brake pad (variable means)
103 pen 104 display device 104a pointing device (coordinate input device)
108 Lock control unit (detection means)
109 Hinge 110 Main Unit (Coordinate Input Device)
401 Pen folder

Claims (3)

A main body unit, a display device on which coordinate input devices are stacked, a hinge portion that rotatably connects the display device to the main body unit, and a pen folder that stores a pen that performs an input operation on the coordinate input device. In electronic equipment,
An extrusion unit for extruding the pen folder;
A lock unit for locking the pen folder;
A variable means for changing the direction of increasing the torque of the hinge part by releasing the lock from the state in which the pen folder is locked by the lock part and the pen folder is pushed and inclined. An electronic device comprising the electronic device.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the variable means varies the torque by a frictional force with which a brake pad contacts the surface of the hinge portion.   The variable means is configured such that a knob provided in the pen folder moves in an arc shape when the pen folder is unlocked, and the brake pad moves in a direction in contact with the surface of the hinge portion according to the movement. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

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