JP4457531B2 - Portable terminal device and electronic device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable terminal device and a portable electronic device having a hinge mechanism that is supported to be openable and closable.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, mobile phones as mobile terminal devices have been widely used. In particular, a foldable mobile phone that can be laid out in a large size and compact when carried is attracting attention.
[0003]
FIG. 5 is an external view of such a foldable mobile phone. The foldable mobile phone shown in FIG. 5 opens and closes an operation side case 1 having an operation key 1a, a display side case 2 having a display unit 2a, and the operation side case 1 and the display side case 2. And a hinge mechanism 3 that can be connected.
As shown in FIG. 6, the hinge mechanism 3 includes hinge holders 4 a and 4 b that are integrally formed at one end of the operation-side casing 1 and hinge holders 5 a and 5 b that are integrally formed at one end of the display-side casing 2. And hinge units 6a, 6b for connecting the hinge holders 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b.
[0004]
Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when the hinge holders 4a and 4b of the operation side casing 1 and the hinge holders 5a and 5b of the display side casing 2 are alternately combined, the hinge units 6a and 6b are inserted and attached from both sides. I have to. In that case, although not shown in the figure, keys are provided on the inner peripheral portions of the hinge holders 4a and 4b and the hinge holders 5a and 5b, and engage with key grooves provided on the left and right hinge units 6a and 6b.
[0005]
That is, when the operation side casing 1 and the display side casing 2 are combined as described above, and when the hinge units 6a and 6b are inserted from both sides, the key grooves of the hinge units 6a and 6b are inserted into the hinge holders 4a and 4b. And by fitting with the keys of the hinge holders 5a and 5b, the hinge units 6a and 6b can be rotated as movable parts between the hinge holders 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b. The casing 2 can be folded by rotating.
[0006]
Although not shown between the hinge holders 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b and the hinge units 6a, 6b, there is a structure required for opening / closing operations such as a latch for limiting the opening / closing angle and a free stop. It has been subjected. 6 and 7, reference numeral 4c denotes an insertion portion provided between the hinge holders 4a and 4b of the operation-side casing 1 so as to form a semi-cylindrical shape as in the left portion of the hinge holder 5b. It has become.
[0007]
Such a foldable mobile phone can secure a distance between the receiver 7 and the microphone 8 shown in FIG. 5, can lay out a large screen of the display unit 2a, and can easily consume power by putting the display screen in a standby state when folded. It has the advantage that it can be suppressed.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the conventional foldable mobile phone includes the hinge mechanism 3 with the hinge holders 4a and 4b of the operation side casing 1, the hinge holders 5a and 5b of the display side casing 2, and the hinge units 6a and 6b connecting them. However, since the hinge holders 4a and 4b are formed integrally with the operation side casing 1, and the hinge holders 5a and 5b are also formed integrally with the display side casing 2, these components 1 and 2 are hinged. The strength required for the mechanism 3 must be ensured, the material must be selected, and the shape must satisfy the design characteristics of both the casings 1 and 2.
[0009]
However, when the strength of the mobile phone is insufficient, when a force that alternately twists the operation-side housing 1 and the display-side housing 2 is applied, the force acts on the hinge mechanism 3 and the operation side Since the hinge holders 4a and 4b of the housing 1 and the hinge holders 5a and 5b of the display-side housing 2 come into contact with each other, a squeak noise is generated by the contact, and when the force in the twisting direction is increased, the hinge holders 4a, 4b, There is a problem in that stress concentrates on the root portions of 5a and 5b to cause breakage.
[0010]
Further, when a force is further applied in the opening direction from the state in which the operation-side casing 1 and the display-side casing 2 are opened, both the hinge holders 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b are twisted so as to spread in both directions. There was also a problem that the stagnation sound as described above was generated and similarly damaged.
[0011]
Therefore, in the conventional mobile phone, the above problem is prevented by using a magnesium alloy or the like having higher rigidity than the plastic material for the operation side case 1 and the display side case 2. However, magnesium alloys not only have manufacturing inconveniences such as poor yield compared to plastic materials, but also have problems in terms of cost and mass productivity, and are heavier than plastics, which hinders the weight reduction of mobile phones. There was also a problem.
[0012]
In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present invention can reliably increase the strength of the hinge mechanism with minimal changes, and enables the use of a low-rigidity material to improve productivity and reduce costs. It is an object to provide a portable terminal device and a portable electronic device that can be used.
[0013]
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention according to claim 1 includes a hinge mechanism for attaching the first casing and the second casing to each other so as to be openable and closable, and the hinge mechanism is provided in the first casing. In the portable terminal device having the first hinge holder, the second hinge holder provided in the second housing, and the respective hinge units connecting the first hinge holder and the second hinge holder from the left and right sides , Of these, the connecting pin portion projecting from the tip of one of the hinge units, and the fitting pin portion formed to be able to fit the connecting pin portion at the tip of the other hinge unit, the first The hinge units are connected by a high-rigidity member having rigidity higher than that of the second housing . According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal device according to the first aspect , the concave portion is formed in one of the connecting pin portion and the fitting pin portion, and the convex portion is shaped to fit the concave portion in the other direction. A portion is provided. A third aspect of the present invention includes a hinge mechanism for attaching the first casing and the second casing to each other so as to be openable and closable, and the hinge mechanism includes a first hinge holder provided in the first casing, In the portable terminal device having the second hinge holder provided in the two housings and the respective hinge units for connecting the first hinge holder and the second hinge holder from both the left and right sides, the portable terminal device has greater rigidity than the first and second housings. A high-rigidity member is disposed between the respective hinge units, and both ends of the high-rigidity member are fitted to the distal ends of the respective hinge units to connect the respective hinge units. . According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal device according to the third aspect , a groove for fitting both end portions of the high-rigidity member is formed at a tip portion of each hinge unit. . According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an electronic apparatus includes the hinge mechanism according to the first to fourth aspects .
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrams showing a mobile phone to which one embodiment of a mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a foldable mobile phone, 10A denotes an operation side casing, and 10B denotes a display side casing.
The display side housing 10 </ b> A includes a front cover 11 and a back cover 12. The front cover 11 is provided with a plurality of holes, and the operation keys 13 are exposed from the holes.
The display-side housing 10B includes a front cover 14 and a back cover 15, and the front cover 14 is provided with a liquid crystal screen 16 as a display unit necessary for communication, and the back cover 15 is provided for communication. An antenna 17 is provided. A liquid crystal protective cover (not shown) made of a transparent material is attached to the liquid crystal screen 16.
Note that reference numeral 18 denotes a receiving unit provided in the display-side casing 10B, and 19 denotes a transmitting unit provided in the operating-side casing 10A.
[0015]
The operation side housing 10A and the display side housing 10B are attached to each other via a hinge mechanism 20 so as to be opened and closed.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hinge mechanism 20 includes a first hinge holder 21 provided in the operation side housing 10A, a second hinge holder 22 provided in the display side housing 10B, and the first hinge holder 21. And hinge units 23 and 24 for connecting the second hinge holder 22 from the left and right sides, respectively.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2, the first hinge holder 21 has pin insertion portions 21a and 21b arranged on both sides in the width direction of the operation side housing 10A. The pin insertion portions 21a and 21b are cylindrical. In addition, in the operation-side casing 10A, since the wiring is provided between the pin insertion portions 21a and 21b, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the insertion portion that is arranged at an appropriate interval and forms a semi-cylindrical shape. 21c is provided.
[0017]
The second hinge holder 22 has a pin insertion portion 22a projecting from the pin insertion portion 21a of the first hinge holder 21 and the insertion portion at the end of the display-side housing 10B, and a pin insertion And a pin insertion portion 22b that protrudes between the portion 21b and the insertion portion 21c.
[0018]
The pin insertion portion 22a has a cylindrical shape so as to correspond to the pin insertion portions 21a and 21b. 2, the right side of the pin insertion portion 22b has a cylindrical shape corresponding to the pin insertion portion 21b, and the left side is not shown in detail, but the insertion portion 21c on the first hinge holder 21 side It has the same semi-cylindrical shape. A signal line for connecting the operation side housing 10A and the display side housing 10B is wired to the left portion of the pin insertion portion 22b and the insertion portion 21c.
[0019]
On the other hand, of the hinge units 23 and 24, one of the hinge units 23 is the first hinge holder when the first hinge holder 21 of the operation side housing 10A and the second hinge holder 22 of the display side housing 10B are combined with each other. 21 is inserted into the pin insertion part 21a of the second hinge holder 22 and the pin insertion part 22a of the second hinge holder 22 from the left side. The other hinge unit 24 is inserted and fitted into the pin insertion portion 21b of the first hinge holder 21 and the pin insertion portion 22b of the second hinge holder 22 from the right side.
[0020]
In this case, although not shown in detail, the key groove provided in the outer peripheral portion of the hinge unit 23 is fitted to the key provided in the pin insertion portion 21a and the pin insertion portion 22a, and the outer periphery of the hinge unit 24. The key groove provided in the part is also fitted with the key provided in the pin insertion part 21b and the pin insertion part 22b, so that the operation side casing 10A and the display side casing 10B can connect the hinge units 23 and 24 to each other. It rotates around the center and opens and closes. Further, although not shown between the pin insertion portions 21a and 21b of the first hinge holder 21 and the pin insertion portions 22a and 22b of the second hinge holder 22 and the hinge units 23 and 24, a latch for limiting the opening / closing angle. The structure necessary for opening and closing operations such as free stop is also provided.
[0021]
A connecting pin portion 25 and a fitting pin portion 26 as high-rigidity members having higher rigidity than the material of the operation-side housing 10A and the display-side housing 10B are provided at the distal ends of the hinge units 23 and 24. .
[0022]
The connecting pin 25 portion as a high-rigidity member is made of metal such as aluminum, magnesium, an aluminum alloy, or a magnesium alloy, and is integrated along the axial direction so that the center axis thereof coincides with the tip surface of the hinge unit 23. Projected to The fitting pin portion 26 as a high-rigidity member is also made of the same material as that of the connecting pin portion 25 and is integrally projected along the axial direction so that the center axis thereof coincides with the distal end surface of the hinge unit 24. Accordingly, the connecting pin portion 25 and the fitting pin portion 26 are arranged on the same axis as the hinge units 23 and 24.
[0023]
A concave portion 25 a is formed at the distal end of the connecting pin portion 25, and a convex portion 26 a that fits into the concave portion 25 is formed at the distal end of the fitting pin portion 26. The concave portion 25a is formed by cutting the central portion of the distal end surface of the connecting pin portion 25 into a rectangular shape. The convex part 26a protrudes in the center part of the front end surface of the fitting pin part 26 in the shape which fits the concave part 25a along the axial direction.
[0024]
And when both hinge units 23 and 24 are assembled in the 1st and 2nd hinge holders 21 and 22 from both sides, the convex part 26a of the fitting pin part 26 fits into the concave part 25a of the connecting pin part 25, The hinge units 23 and 24 are connected to each other through the pin portions 25 and 26.
[0025]
When the mobile phone 10 configured in this manner is in an open state, when the display-side housing 10B is twisted with respect to the operation-side housing 10A and a twisting force is applied in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. Since a force acts in the direction of arrow B on the hinge mechanism 20 that connects the body 10A and the display-side housing 10B, the hinge mechanism 20 may be destroyed by the action.
[0026]
However, as described above, the connecting pin portion 25 as a high-rigidity member is integrally provided at the tip of the left hinge unit 23, and the fitting pin portion as a high-rigidity member is provided at the tip of the right hinge unit 24. 26 are integrally provided, and the connecting pin portion 25 and the fitting pin portion 26 are fitted to each other to connect the hinge units 23 and 24. Therefore, the pin portions 25 and 26 are connected to the hinge unit 23. , 24 can be distributed and distributed to reduce the stress generated on the tip side of both hinge units 23, 24.
[0027]
Therefore, even if a twisting force is applied in the direction of the arrow B, the stress generated in the hinge mechanism 20 can be reduced, so that not only the components of the hinge mechanism 20 can be prevented from being destroyed, but also the operation side casing. It can be prevented that the first hinge holder 21 of 10A and the second hinge holder 22 of the display-side housing 10B come into strong contact with each other and a squeak noise is generated.
[0028]
On the other hand, when a force is applied to the cellular phone 10 in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 3 so that the operation side housing 10A and the display side housing 10B are fully opened, Open force acts as shown by arrow D.
[0029]
However, also in this case, both the hinge units 23 and 24 are connected to each other by the connecting pin portions 25 and 26 of the hinge mechanism 20, and the connecting pin portions 25 and 26 share and distribute the stress. The stress generated on the distal end side of the operation mechanism can be reduced, the components of the hinge mechanism 20 can be prevented from being broken, and the first hinge holder 21 of the operation side case 10A and the display side case 10B can be prevented. It is possible to prevent a squeaking noise from occurring in the second hinge holder 22.
[0030]
Therefore, in this embodiment, even if a stress is applied to the hinge mechanism 20 by applying a twisting force such as an arrow A or an opening force such as an arrow C to the mobile phone 10, the connecting pin portion 25 and the fitting pin Since the parts 26 of the hinge mechanism 20 can be prevented from being destroyed by the portion 26 and it is possible to prevent the squeaking noise, the operation-side housing 10A and the display-side housing 10B are made of magnesium alloy or the like that is not highly productive. It is not necessary to form, and the first and second hinge holders 21 and 22 are integrally formed on the operation side housing 10A and the display side housing 10B, respectively, but are inexpensive and highly productive. Even if the plastic material is used, the strength required for the hinge portions of the operation-side housing 10A and the display-side housing 10B can be sufficiently ensured, and reliability can be obtained.
[0031]
Moreover, in the hinge mechanism 20, it is only necessary to change both the hinge units 23 and 24, and it is not necessary to remanufacture the other component parts 21 and 22, so that an increase in cost can be prevented. This requires a long period of time for development, and may lead to a considerable increase in cost. Therefore, it can be expected that the cost can be reduced compared to that.
[0032]
FIG. 4 shows a mobile phone to which another embodiment of the mobile terminal device is applied.
In this case, the left and right hinge units 23 and 24 of the hinge mechanism 20 are connected to each other by a single high-rigidity member 27.
[0033]
The high-rigidity member 27 has a pin shape that is disposed between the first hinge holder 21 of the operation-side casing 10A and the second hinge holder 22 of the display-side casing 10B. It is made of the same material as the portion 25 and the fitting pin portion 26. In FIG. 4, the left end portion of the high-rigidity member 27 is inserted into the groove 23 a provided at the tip of the left hinge unit 23, and the right end portion of the high-rigidity member 27 is provided at the tip of the right hinge unit 24. The hinge units 23 and 24 are coaxially connected by being inserted into the groove 24a.
[0034]
Therefore, according to this embodiment, since both the hinge units 23 and 24 are connected to each other by the high-rigidity member 27, the twisting force in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 and the opening force in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. Even if it adds, the effect similar to embodiment mentioned above can be fundamentally acquired.
[0035]
In the illustrated embodiment, an example applied to the mobile phone 10 as a mobile terminal device has been described. However, another device having a hinge mechanism 20 that is small and lightweight and configured to open and close the housing, for example, a PDA ( Similar effects can be obtained by applying to an electronic device such as a portable information terminal) or a notebook computer.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a stress is applied to the hinge mechanism by applying a twisting force or an opening force to the mobile terminal device, the first and second hinge holders are the first housing and the second housing. In spite of being formed integrally with each other, since the strength required for the hinge mechanism can be sufficiently secured, the first and second housings are made of an inexpensive and highly productive ordinary plastic material. Even if it is formed, it is possible to obtain reliability in strength, and there is no need to remanufacture other components only by changing both hinge units, so that an increase in cost can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a mobile phone to which an embodiment of a mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied, and is an overall explanatory view showing a state where a twisting force is applied by opening the mobile phone.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the hinge mechanism.
FIG. 3 is an overall explanatory view showing a state where an opening force is further applied to the mobile phone.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a hinge mechanism showing a mobile phone to which another embodiment of the mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied.
FIG. 5 is an overall view showing a conventional mobile phone.
FIG. 6 is an exploded explanatory view showing a hinge mechanism of a conventional mobile phone.
7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the hinge mechanism of FIG. 6 is assembled. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Mobile phone 10A Operation side case (first case)
10B Display side housing (second housing)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Front cover 12 Back cover 13 Operation key 14 Front cover 15 Back cover 16 Liquid crystal screen 17 Antenna 18 Reception part 19 Transmission part 20 Hinge mechanism 21 1st hinge holder 21a, 21b Pin insertion part 21c Insertion part 22 2nd hinge holder 22a, 22b Pin insertion portions 23, 24 Hinge units 23a, 24a Groove 25 Connecting pin portion 25a as high-rigidity member Concave portion 26 Fitting pin portion 26a as high-rigidity member Convex portion 27 High-rigidity member

Claims (5)

A hinge mechanism for attaching the first housing and the second housing to each other so as to be openable and closable is provided, and the hinge mechanism includes a first hinge holder provided in the first housing and a second hinge provided in the second housing. In a mobile terminal device having a hinge holder and each hinge unit for connecting the first hinge holder and the second hinge holder from the left and right sides,
Of each of the hinge units, a connecting pin portion projecting from the tip of one of the hinge units, and a fitting pin portion formed so as to be fitted to the connecting pin portion at the tip of the other hinge unit The portable terminal device is characterized in that each of the hinge units is connected by a high-rigidity member having higher rigidity than the first and second housings. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1 ,
A portable terminal device, wherein a concave portion is formed in one of the connecting pin portion and the fitting pin portion, and a convex portion having a shape matching the concave portion is provided on the other side. A hinge mechanism for attaching the first housing and the second housing to each other so as to be openable and closable is provided, and the hinge mechanism includes a first hinge holder provided in the first housing and a second hinge provided in the second housing. In a mobile terminal device having a hinge holder and each hinge unit for connecting the first hinge holder and the second hinge holder from the left and right sides,
A high-rigidity member having greater rigidity than the first and second housings is disposed between the respective hinge units, and both end portions of the high-rigidity member are fitted to the distal end portions of the respective hinge units, A portable terminal device comprising the hinge units connected to each other . The mobile terminal device according to claim 3 , wherein
A portable terminal device characterized in that a groove for fitting both ends of a high-rigidity member is formed at the tip of each hinge unit. An electronic device comprising the hinge mechanism according to claim 1 .

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