JP4406191B2 - Docking station and information system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a docking station that detachably holds a portable information terminal having a display screen for displaying information and mediates signal input / output with respect to the portable information terminal , and an information system including the portable information terminal and the docking station. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, portable information terminals equipped with a display screen for displaying information have become widespread and have a wide display screen on the top of the device and a function for receiving pen input without a keyboard. There are known a palm-sized type with a limited number of notes and a notebook-sized type having a processing capability similar to that of a personal computer.
[0003]
Such a portable information terminal has a shape and function convenient for carrying, and is a terminal that is assumed to be portable. Especially, in the notebook size type described above, the internal computing processing ability is equivalent to that of a personal computer or the like. Therefore, it is expected to be used for work on a desk when it is taken home from a mobile phone. When working on a desk in this way, it is desirable to connect a peripheral device such as a keyboard for smooth work. However, if a peripheral device is directly connected to a personal digital assistant, switching between portable use and desk work is possible. Sometimes it is cumbersome to attach and detach peripheral devices one by one.
[0004]
Therefore, it is conceivable that a portable information terminal is detachably held and a docking station that mediates signal input / output with respect to the portable information terminal is prepared, and a peripheral device is connected to the portable information terminal via the docking station. By using such a docking station, it is possible to easily switch between portable use and desk work.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as a convenient function when using the portable information terminal, a function for changing the display state in accordance with each orientation such as portrait orientation and landscape orientation has been proposed. It is desirable that there is a mechanism that can be freely rotated in the direction. And it is desirable that the docking station having such a mechanism also has a function of detecting the orientation of the portable information terminal so that it can be used for automatically changing the display state.
[0006]
However, if a detection mechanism is added to the docking station in order to provide the docking station with a function for detecting the orientation of the portable information terminal, there is a problem that the cost increases and the structure becomes complicated.
[0007]
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a docking station that realizes a function of detecting the orientation of a portable information terminal with a low-cost and simple configuration.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The docking station of the present invention that achieves the above object is a docking station that detachably holds a portable information terminal having a display screen for displaying information and mediates signal input / output with respect to the portable information terminal.
The foundation,
Holding and detachably holding the portable information terminal, and holding and rotating part rotatable with respect to the base part;
A sliding part that slides with the base part while rotating together with the holding rotation part;
A detection element that detects a relative position between the base portion and the sliding portion is provided.
[0009]
When the docking station is provided with a mechanism that can freely rotate the portable information terminal in a plurality of directions, the above-mentioned base portion, holding rotation portion, and sliding portion are naturally provided. . Therefore, according to the docking station of the present invention, in addition to what is naturally provided, the orientation of the portable information terminal is provided by including a detection element that detects the relative position of the base portion and the sliding portion. Can be realized with a low-cost and simple configuration. With the addition of the sensing element, it may be necessary to change the shape of the sliding part to some extent, but even in that case, it is easy to achieve a low-cost and simple configuration with minimal changes. Can be realized.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a portable information terminal held by an embodiment of the docking station of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the portable information terminal viewed from another direction. Hereinafter, these external perspective views will be described together.
[0012]
The portable information terminal 100 is an example of the portable information terminal according to the present invention, and includes a large display screen 101 on an upper surface, and electromagnetic induction that detects a position where the display screen 101 is touched with a dedicated pen. It also has a built-in digitizer. As the digitizer, a resistance film type digitizer called a so-called touch panel can be used.
[0013]
The portable information terminal 100 has a configuration suitable for portable use using pen input, and has the same processing capability and internal functions as a personal computer. This portable information terminal 100 includes a hard disk device and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) inside, and externally, a power switch 102 for turning on and off the main power supply, the above-described dedicated pen holder 103, and an application 6 application buttons 104, a speaker 105, a fitting portion 106 that fits into a docking station described later, an infrared light receiving portion 107 for an infrared keyboard, and cursor movement and screen scrolling on the display screen 101. LAN connector 112 to which two seesaw switches 108 to perform, a rechargeable battery 109, a power input terminal 110 for DC power supply, a video output terminal 111 for external monitor, and a LAN (Local Area Network) cable are connected. Modem output terminal 113 and wireless AN antenna 114 (built-in), fan exhaust port 115, IEEE connector 116, headphone output terminal 117, microphone input terminal 118, two USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectors 119, An infrared transmitter / receiver 120 for an infrared interface and a slot 121 for a PC card are provided.
[0014]
The portable information terminal 100 also has a function of switching the information display direction so that the display screen 101 can be used in both vertical and horizontal directions when being carried.
[0015]
A docking station that holds the portable information terminal 100 will be described below.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a view showing an embodiment of the docking station of the present invention holding the portable information terminal 100 whose appearance is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
[0017]
The docking station 200 includes a base 210 and a holding rotation board 220. The base 210 corresponds to an example of a base part according to the present invention, and the holding rotation board 220 has a holding rotation according to the present invention. It corresponds to an example of a part. The portable information terminal 100 is held on the holding rotation board 220.
[0018]
The holding rotation board 220 is provided with an abutting part 221 and a side surface holding part 222, the rechargeable battery 109 of the portable information terminal 100 abuts against the abutting part 221, and the fitting part 106 is a protrusion of the side surface holding part 222. Fits with 222a. The protrusion 222a is urged by a spring, and the portable information terminal 100 is temporarily fixed to the docking station 200 by the urging force of the spring. When the lock lever 223 is slid in such a temporarily secured state, first, the two claws 225 provided in the vicinity of the center of the holding rotation board 220 are replaced with the two claws 225 provided on the bottom surface of the portable information terminal 100. The claw receiving portion 123 is gripped, the spring-biased protrusion 222 a is fixed, and the portable information terminal 100 is fixed to the holding turntable 220. When the lock lever 223 is further slid, the connector 224 provided at the center of the holding rotation board 220 is inserted into the connector 122 provided at the bottom center of the portable information terminal 100. Signals are input and output between the portable information terminal 100 and the docking station 200 via these connectors.
[0019]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where the portable information terminal is held in the portrait orientation in the docking station.
[0020]
In this way, peripheral devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a storage device are connected to the docking station 200 that holds the portable information terminal 100, and the docking station 200 inputs and outputs signals between the peripheral device and the portable information terminal 100. Mediate. Thereby, the user of the portable information terminal 100 can utilize the portable information terminal 100 like a desktop personal computer. In addition, when it is necessary to carry the portable information terminal, the peripheral device and the portable information terminal 100 can be separated only by separating the portable information terminal 100 from the docking station 200.
[0021]
As described above, the portable information terminal 100 has a function of switching the direction of information display vertically and horizontally. The holding turntable 220 of the docking station 200 holds the portable information terminal 100 while holding the portable information terminal 100 so that the portable information terminal 100 can be used in each direction of information display even when held by the docking station 200. It can be rotated 90 ° in the direction indicated by the arrow by the rotation operation.
[0022]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the portable information terminal is held in the docking station in a horizontal direction.
[0023]
The base 210 of the docking station 200 is provided with a support column 211 that supports the holding rotation plate 220, and the holding rotation plate 220 rotates with respect to the support column 211 as described in detail later.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 5, when the portable information terminal 100 is held by the docking station 200 in the horizontal direction and is turned 90 ° in the direction indicated by the arrow by a human turning operation, the state shown in FIG. 4 is restored.
[0025]
As described above, the docking station 200 is provided with a mechanism that freely rotates while holding the portable information terminal 100. Further, the docking station 200 according to the present embodiment has a direction of the portable information terminal 100. A mechanism for detection is formed integrally with the rotation mechanism.
[0026]
FIG. 6 is an assembly explanatory diagram of the rotation mechanism of the docking station.
[0027]
Part (A) of FIG. 6 shows a front cover 211a and a rear cover 211b that constitute the above-described column 211, and part (B) of FIG. 6 shows an outer surface side of the front cover 211a. ing.
[0028]
Further, in part (A) of FIG. 6, a plastic holding rotation board side sliding plate 231 fixed to the holding rotation board 220 and sliding with the front cover 211a and the front cover 211a are fixed. A plastic support plate side sliding plate 212 and a metal fixing plate 232 fixed to the holding rotation plate side sliding plate 231 with screws 233 so as to sandwich the front cover 211a and the support column side sliding plate 212 are shown. Has been. The fixed plate 232 rotates together with the holding rotation plate 220 and the holding rotation plate side sliding plate 231 and slides on the support side sliding plate 212. 6A also shows a switch 240 that is mounted on the base 232a of the fixed plate 232 and that is pressed by the wall 212a of the support-side sliding plate 212 to make the contact point conductive. As will be described later, the orientation of the portable information terminal 100 held on the holding rotary board 220 is detected by this switch. The holding rotation board side sliding plate 231 and the fixed plate 232 constitute an example of the sliding portion according to the present invention, and the switch 240 corresponds to an example of the detection element according to the present invention.
[0029]
FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the assembled rotation mechanism.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 7, the holding rotation board side sliding plate 231 and the fixing plate 232 are fixed to the holding rotation board 220 with screws 233, and the front cover 211a and the column side sliding plate 212 are connected to each other. When the holding rotation board side sliding plate 231 and the fixed plate 232 rotate together with the holding rotation board 220, the holding rotation board side sliding plate 231, the front cover 211a, the fixed plate 232, and the support column side are sandwiched. The sliding plates 212 will slide on each other.
[0031]
Members such as a sliding plate and a fixed plate constituting such a rotating mechanism are generally used for smoothly rotating the holding rotating plate 220 without rattling and for preventing wear due to sliding. It is a member provided for. In this embodiment, a switch 240 for detecting the positional relationship between such members is provided on the fixed plate 232, and a member generally provided in the rotation mechanism is partially deformed. A mechanism for detecting the orientation of the portable information terminal 100 can be incorporated in the rotation mechanism with a simple configuration in which only the wall 212a and the base 232a are provided. Therefore, an increase in the number of parts and the number of assembly processes can be suppressed as much as possible, and a detection function can be realized at a low cost.
[0032]
A state in which the orientation of the portable information terminal 100 is detected by such a mechanism will be described below.
[0033]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state of the switch when the portable information terminal is held vertically.
[0034]
When the portable information terminal is held vertically by the docking station, the holding turntable 220 and the support column 211 are in a positional relationship as shown in FIG. At this time, the switch 240 is located away from the wall 212a, and the contact of the switch 240 is open.
[0035]
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state of the switch when the portable information terminal is held sideways.
[0036]
When the holding turntable 220 is turned 90 ° from the state shown in FIG. 8, the portable information terminal is held sideways by the docking station. At that time, the holding turntable 220 and the column 211 are connected to each other in FIG. The positional relationship is as shown in FIG. At this time, the position of the switch 240 is changed by 90 ° together with the holding rotation plate 220 and the fixed plate 232, and the switch 240 is brought into contact with the wall 212a to be in a conductive state.
[0037]
In this way, the state of the contact of the switch 240 changes depending on whether the portable information terminal is held vertically or horizontally in the docking station, thereby detecting the direction of the portable information terminal. A detection signal obtained by detecting the orientation of the portable information terminal in this manner is input to the portable information terminal 100 via the connector 224 shown in FIG. 3, and for example, the information display direction on the display screen is automatically set. Used for switching and starting applications.
[0038]
In the above description, a switch that is physically pressed is shown as an example of the sensing element according to the present invention. However, the sensing element according to the present invention is an optical sensor that detects a position with light, or a magnet. It may be a magnetic sensor to detect.
[0039]
In the above description, the detection signal of the switch is used for automatically switching the direction of information display or starting an application. However, the detection result of the detection element according to the present invention is transmitted to the docking station. It may be used in a peripheral device to be connected.
[0040]
In the above description, the switch is fixed on the fixed plate and rotates together with the holding rotation board 220. However, the detection element according to the present invention may be fixed to the side of the column 211 or the like. It is desirable to select which one is fixed depending on where the signal line from the switch is connected. That is, when connected to the connector 224 or the like of the holding rotation board 220, it is fixed to the holding rotation board 220 as in the example described above, and is connected to a peripheral device or the like on the base side of the docking station. In such a case, if it is fixed to the side of the column 211 or the like, the wiring can be easily routed, and the twisting of the wire accompanying the rotation can be avoided.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the docking station of the present invention, the function of detecting the orientation of the portable information terminal is realized with a low-cost and simple configuration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a portable information terminal held by an embodiment of a docking station of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the portable information terminal shown in FIG. 1 viewed from another direction.
FIG. 3 is a view showing an embodiment of the docking station of the present invention holding the portable information terminal whose appearance is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where the portable information terminal is held vertically in the docking station.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where the portable information terminal is held sideways at the docking station.
FIG. 6 is an assembly explanatory diagram of a rotation mechanism of the docking station.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the assembled rotation mechanism.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of a switch when the portable information terminal is held vertically.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state of a switch when the portable information terminal is held sideways.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Personal digital assistant 101 Display screen 102 Power switch 103 Dedicated pen holder 104 Application button 105 Speaker 106 Fitting part 107 Infrared light receiving part 108 Seesaw switch 109 Rechargeable battery 110 Power input terminal 111 Video output terminal 112 LAN (Local Area Network) ) Connector 113 Modem output terminal 114 Antenna 115 Exhaust port 116 IEEE connector 117 Headphone output terminal 118 Microphone input terminal 119 USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector 120 Infrared transmitter / receiver 121 Slot 122 Connector 123 Claw receiver 200 Docking station 210 Base 220 Holding rotation board 221 Abutting portion 222 Side surface holding portion 222a Protrusion 223 Lock lever 225 Claw 224 Connection Kuta 211 Column 211a Front cover 211b Rear cover 212 Column side sliding plate 212a Wall 231 Holding and rotating plate side sliding plate 233 Screw 232 Fixing plate 232a Base 240 Switch

Claims (2)

In a docking station that detachably holds a portable information terminal having a display screen for displaying information and mediates signal input / output to the portable information terminal,
The foundation,
Holding the portable information terminal in a detachable manner, and holding and rotating part rotatable with respect to the base part;
A sliding portion that slides with the base portion while rotating together with the holding rotation portion;
A detection element for detecting a relative position of the base portion and the sliding portion ;
The base portion has a circular opening in a portion that slides on the sliding portion,
The sliding part is composed of two circular members constituting a rotating mechanism for rotating the holding rotating part with respect to the base part by sandwiching the edge of the opening and fixing each other. docking station, characterized in that at. In an information system having a portable information terminal having a display screen for displaying information, and a docking station that detachably holds the portable information terminal and mediates signal input / output to the portable information terminal,
  The docking station is
  The foundation,
  Holding and detachably holding the portable information terminal, and holding and rotating part rotatable with respect to the base part;
  A sliding portion that slides with the base portion while rotating together with the holding rotation portion;
  A detection element for detecting a relative position of the base portion and the sliding portion;
  The base portion has a circular opening in a portion that slides on the sliding portion,
  The sliding part is composed of two circular members constituting a rotating mechanism for rotating the holding rotating part with respect to the base part by sandwiching the edge of the opening and fixing each other. An information system characterized by

Images