JP5130543B2 - Case device and electronic device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a casing device in which a first casing and a second casing are connected so as to be openable and closable around a first axis, and are connected to be rotatable around a second axis where the axis intersects the first axis. And an electronic apparatus including the casing device.

In a folding portable electronic device such as a cellular phone, a so-called two-axis hinge structure in which a display-side casing and an operation-side casing are connected to each other by two hinges so as to be rotatable with each other is mainly used. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-30226

However, in a device with a biaxial hinge structure, in the so-called view style state, the display orientation of the display-side housing cannot be changed unless both housings are moved.
Accordingly, there is a problem in that when the side surfaces of both housings are placed on the table with the side faces down, the display unit cannot be oriented so that it can be easily seen from above.
In addition, there is a problem that the stability of the self-standing state cannot be ensured with the thin type.
Furthermore, for example, in the case of a device including an imaging unit in the operation-side casing or the hinge unit, there is a problem that it is difficult to shoot in a state where the display unit is easy to see when shooting at a high angle or a low angle.

  An object of the present invention is to make the display unit housing easy to be oriented in a desired direction without changing the orientation of the operation unit housing in a so-called view style state while being small when stored. is there.

To solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 includes a first housing, a second housing, can be opened and closed and said second housing and the first housing about a first axis And a connecting member that is rotatably connected around a second axis that intersects with the first axis. The connecting member includes the first casing and the connecting member. It comprises an extension mechanism for extending in a direction to widen the distance between the first housing and the second housing in a state where the second housing is folded, the said first housing by the extension mechanism second housing in a state where the space between it and the, characterized in that the rotary motion about the second axis and said second housing and the first housing is allowed.

Invention of Claim 2 is the housing | casing apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising: The said extension mechanism is the 1st coupling member couple | bonded with one of the said 1st housing | casing or the said 2nd housing | casing, and a second coupling member coupled to the other of the first housing or the second housing, the first engagement provided on one of the coupling members of said first coupling member or the second coupling member along the engagement portion, wherein when the second engagement portion provided in the other of the coupling members of the first coupling member or the second coupling member is slid, the second casing and the first casing characterized in that to extend in a direction to widen the distance between the body.

The invention according to claim 3, a housing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the extension mechanism, at the position of the extension end, a distance between the second casing and the first casing It is further characterized by further comprising a holding mechanism for holding the door in an expanded state.

Invention of Claim 4 is a housing | casing apparatus of Claim 3, Comprising: As for the said holding mechanism, the said 2nd engaging part and the protrusion for holding provided in the said other coupling member are the following. wherein at the position of the extension end, by sandwiching the outer edge of the coupling member of one the said first engaging portion, it is held in a state of widening the distance between the first housing and the second housing It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the casing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first casing includes a display unit, and the second casing includes an operation unit. It is characterized by that.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the casing device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the second casing or the connecting member further includes an imaging unit.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the casing device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the first casing further includes a solar cell panel.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the casing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first casing further includes an antenna.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including the casing device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

  According to the present invention, during storage, the distance between the two casings can be reduced by keeping the distance between the two casings narrowed and not extended, and in the so-called view style state. By expanding, for example, the direction of the casing having the display unit can be easily directed to a desired direction without changing the direction of the casing having the operation unit.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a mobile phone having a biaxial hinge as a configuration of an embodiment of an electronic apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a view style state in FIG. An axial hinge structure is shown, wherein 1 is a first housing, 2 is a second housing, 3 is a hinge cover, 4 is a biaxial hinge, and 5 is a connecting member.

  As shown in the figure, the first housing 1 having the display unit 11 and the second housing 2 having the operation unit 21 are coupled via a biaxial hinge 4 covered with a hinge cover 3. The biaxial hinge 4 is composed of a pair of hinge shafts 41 as a first shaft and a rotation support shaft 42 as a second shaft, and the connecting member 5 is interposed between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2. Are connected through. The first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are assembled so as to be foldable (openable and closable) about the hinge shaft 41, and the first housing 1 is centered on the rotation support shaft 42 with respect to the second housing 2. It is assembled to be rotatable. In the illustrated example, the axis of the hinge shaft 41 and the rotation support shaft 42 are orthogonal to each other. However, the axes are not limited to being orthogonal, and may be crossed, and so-called solid intersections are also included.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 3, the connecting member 5 is fixed to the pair of first coupling plates 51 fixed to the inside of the second housing 2 and the outer ends of the pair of hinge shafts 41, respectively. A pair of second coupling plates 52, a U-shaped connection plate 53 that supports the inner ends of the pair of hinge shafts 41 at both ends and supports one end of the rotation support shaft 42 at the center, and the rotation support shaft 42 The fixing plate 54 is fixed to the end and fixed to the inside of the first housing 1.

The first coupling plate 51 and the second coupling plate 52 constitute an extension mechanism.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the first coupling plate 51 and the second coupling plate 52 are extended so that the first housing 1 is rotated around the rotation support shaft 42 in the view style state. As shown in FIG. 2, the first coupling plate 51 and the second coupling plate 52 are similarly extended to be viewed on the table with the second housing 2 and the first housing 1 rotated about the rotation support shaft 42 in the view style state. Or can stand alone.

Although not shown, the second housing 2 or the connecting member 5 is provided with an imaging unit. For example, the imaging unit is provided on the surface opposite to the operation unit 21 of the second housing 2, or provided in the center of the connecting member 5 and exposed to the outside from the hinge cover 3, or the hinge cover 3. Is provided.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the first housing 1 is rotated around the rotation support shaft 42 in the camera photographing state by the imaging unit to bring the display unit 11 into a high angle state, or as shown in FIG. It is possible to rotate the first housing 1 around the rotation support shaft 42 in the camera photographing state to bring the display unit 11 into a low angle state.

  8 and 9 show an example of the structure of the extension mechanism of the first coupling plate 51 and the second coupling plate 52. The first coupling plate 51 has a longitudinal slit 51a forming a first engagement portion. The protrusion 52a which makes the 2nd engaging part engaged with the slit 51a is formed in the 2nd coupling plate 52 formed. The protrusion 52a is prevented from coming off by penetrating the slit 51a and machining the head with a large diameter.

  The biaxial hinge 4 opens and closes as shown in FIG. 8 by the extension mechanism of the first coupling plate 51 and the second coupling plate 52 described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 8A, in the closed state in which the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are folded, the protrusion 52a is moved (slid) along the slit 51a of the first coupling plate 51. Thus, the second coupling plate 52 can be extended with respect to the first coupling plate 51. Then, the first housing 1 is rotated with respect to the second housing 2 around the hinge shaft 41, and after the intermediate state shown in FIG. 8B, the second housing 2 as shown in FIG. 8C. The first housing 1 can be opened with respect to the body 2.

  Further, the biaxial hinge 4 performs the rotational movement shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 9A, the first housing 1 is set up by rotating the second housing 2 around the hinge shaft 41, and then the rotation support shaft 42 is attached to the second housing 2. The first housing 1 can be rotated around the center. Then, after the state in the middle of rotation shown in FIG. 9 (b), as shown in FIG. 9 (c), the first housing 1 is rotated by 180 degrees and then folded, whereby the view style state can be obtained.

  FIG. 10 is a side view of the biaxial hinge structure in FIG. 2, and the second coupling plate 52 is extended with respect to the first coupling plate 51 as shown in FIGS. The interval between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 can be increased. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 10A from the state of FIG. 10B in which the distance between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 is increased, the distance between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2. Can be narrowed.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the biaxial hinge structure of FIG. 10. As shown in FIGS. 11A to 11B, the protrusion 52 a is moved along the slit 51 a of the first coupling plate 51. The distance between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 can be widened by extending the second coupling plate 52 with respect to the first coupling plate 51. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 11 (a) from the state of FIG. 11 (b) in which the interval between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 is widened, the protrusion 52a is moved along the slit 51a, The space | interval of the 1st housing | casing 1 and the 2nd housing | casing 2 can be narrowed.

  As described above, according to the mobile phone including the biaxial hinge 4 of the embodiment, the extension member that extends the connecting member 5 of the biaxial hinge 4 in the direction of widening the interval between the first casing 1 and the second casing 2 is provided. In the state where the distance between the first casing 1 and the second casing 2 is widened by the extension mechanism, the first casing 1 and the second casing 2 are allowed to rotate around the rotation support shaft 42. Therefore, the following effects can be obtained.

First, at the time of storage, the distance between the two casings 1 and 2 can be reduced by reducing the distance between the two casings 1 and 2.
Then, in a so-called view-style state, the first casing 1 having the display unit 11 without changing the orientation of the second casing 2 having the operation unit 21 by widening the interval between the two casings 1 and 2. Can be easily directed to a desired direction. That is, the viewing angle of the display unit 11 can be easily adjusted.

Specifically, for example, when the two casings 1 and 2 are placed on a table with the side surfaces thereof facing down, the display unit 11 can be oriented so as to be easily seen from above.
In addition, by increasing the distance between the two housings 1 and 2, the stability when the two housings 1 and 2 are self-supporting on the side surfaces in the longitudinal direction is improved. And the directivity adjustment of the function with which the 1st housing | casing 1 which has the display part 11 is provided in the state which became independent becomes easy.

  In addition, the extension mechanism of the connecting member 5 includes the first connecting plate 51 and the second connecting member 52, and the protrusion 52a slides along the slit 51a. And the second housing 2 can be realized with a simple structure that extends in the direction in which the interval is widened.

  Further, when the second casing 2 or the connecting member 5 or the hinge cover 3 is provided with an imaging unit as in the embodiment, the imaging is performed with the display unit 11 being easily viewable when shooting at a high angle or a low angle. can do.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, FIG. 12 shows the second embodiment by enlarging the extension mechanism portion of FIG. 11B. As in the first embodiment, 41 is a hinge shaft, 51 is a first coupling plate, 51a is The slit 52 is a second coupling plate, 52a is a protrusion, and 52b is a holding protrusion.

In Embodiment 2, the extension mechanism of the connecting member 5 is a holding mechanism that holds the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 in a widened state at the end of the extension as shown in the drawing. In addition.
That is, as shown in FIG. 12A which is a side view of the extension mechanism portion of the connecting member 5 and FIG. 12B which is a perspective view, the second coupling plate 52 has a slit 51a of the first coupling plate 51. In the extended end position where the protrusion 52a is located in this state, a small holding protrusion 52b that contacts the upper edge of the first coupling plate 51 is formed.

  The holding projection 52b is pressed against and contacts the inner surface of the first coupling plate 51 until the projection 52a of the second coupling plate 52 reaches the upper end position of the slit 51a of the first coupling plate 51. When the portion 52a reaches the upper end position of the slit 51a, it abuts on the upper edge of the first coupling plate 51 and functions as a stopper.

  Accordingly, at the extended end position where the protrusion 52a is located at the upper end of the slit 51a of the first coupling plate 51, the protrusion 52a and the holding protrusion 52b of the second coupling plate 52 are connected to the slit 51a and the first coupling plate 51. By sandwiching the outer edge of the first housing 1, the distance between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 can be kept wide.

  As described above, according to the mobile phone including the biaxial hinge 4 according to the second embodiment, the distance between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 is increased at the extension terminal position of the extension mechanism of the connecting member 5. Since the structure is provided with a holding mechanism that holds the state in a state, in addition to the operational effects obtained by the biaxial hinge 4 of the first embodiment, the two housings 1 and 2 can be stably provided at the position of the extension end of the extension mechanism. The advantage that the interval can be maintained is obtained.

  Moreover, in this way, when the projection 52a reaches the upper end position of the slit 51a, the holding mechanism that holds the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 in a widened state is used. This can be realized with a simple structure in which a holding projection 52b that functions as a stopper is provided in contact with the outer edge of the upper end of the lens.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 13 shows a two-axis hinge structure with the front portion of the hinge cover 3 omitted in a state in which the mobile phone including the two-axis hinge 4 according to the third embodiment is opened. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the two-axis hinge structure. As in the first embodiment described above, 1 is a first housing, 11 is a display unit, 2 is a second housing, 21 is an operation unit, 3 is a hinge cover, 4 is a biaxial hinge, 41 Is a hinge shaft, 42 is a rotation support shaft, 5 is a connecting member, 51 is a first coupling plate, 52 is a second coupling plate, and 54 is a fixed plate.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in the figure, the connecting member 5 includes a hinge cover 3 that supports a pair of hinge shafts 41, a pair of first coupling plates 51 that are integrally provided on the hinge cover 3, and a rotation support shaft. The second coupling plate 52 is configured to be fixed to the other end of the rotation support shaft 42 and fixed to the inside of the first housing 1.

  The extension mechanism of the connecting member 5 includes a first coupling plate 51 and a second coupling plate 52. As in the first embodiment, for example, the first coupling plate 51 is formed with a longitudinal slit 51a, and the second coupling plate 52 is formed with a protrusion 52a that engages with the slit 51a.

  As described above, the mobile phone including the biaxial hinge 4 according to the third embodiment can provide the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 15 shows a state in which the connecting member 5 is extended and the housing 1 is rotated in the view style state as the fourth embodiment. As in the first embodiment, 1 is the first housing and 11 is the display. , 2 is a second housing, 4 is a biaxial hinge, 41 is a hinge shaft, 42 is a rotation support shaft, 5 is a connecting member, 51 is a first coupling plate, 52 is a second coupling plate, and 53 is a coupling plate. 12 is an operation key, 13 is a solar cell panel, and 14 is a loop antenna.

  In the fourth embodiment, on the side of the display unit 11 of the first housing 1, as shown in the figure, for example, an operation key 12 using a cross key, a solar cell panel 13, and a planar loop antenna 14 inside are provided. Is provided.

  As described above, according to the mobile phone including the biaxial hinge 4 of the fourth embodiment, when the solar cell panel 13 is provided on the side of the display unit 11 of the first housing 1, the biaxial of the first embodiment described above. In addition to the operational effects obtained by the hinge 4, for example, when charging with sunlight in a self-supporting state, there is an advantage that the power generation state can be easily improved.

  Furthermore, when the loop antenna 14 is provided on the side of the display unit 11 of the first housing 1 as in the embodiment, for example, when watching a TV or the like in a self-supporting state, the reception condition is improved. It can be made easier.

(Modification)
In the above embodiment, the cellular phone or the video camera is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the housing is a biaxial hinge such as a calculator, a digital camera, a PDA, a notebook computer, or a wearable personal computer. It can be used for all electronic devices coupled with each other.
In the embodiment, the engaging portion of the coupling member has a structure in which the protrusion engages with the slit, but the structure in which the protrusion engages with the recess of the groove layer or the protrusion engages with the notch. It is good also as a structure.
Furthermore, the relationship between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion of the first connecting member and the second connecting member may be opposite to that in the embodiment.
Further, the shapes of the connecting member and the connecting member are arbitrary, and it is needless to say that other specific detailed structures can be appropriately changed.

1 is a perspective view showing a mobile phone having a biaxial hinge, showing a configuration of an embodiment of an electronic device to which the present invention is applied, and a diagram (a) showing a folded state (closed state); It is the figure (b) which showed the open state, and the figure (c) which showed the view style state. It is the figure which abbreviate | omitted the hinge cover in the view style state of FIG.1 (c), and showed the biaxial hinge structure. It is an enlarged view of the biaxial hinge structure of FIG. It is the perspective view which showed the state which extended the connection member of FIG. 2 and rotated the housing | casing in the view style state. It is the side view which showed the self-supporting state in the view style state of FIG. It is the perspective view which showed the high angle state which rotated the housing | casing in the camera imaging state. It is the perspective view which showed the low angle state by the camera imaging state similarly to FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing opening and closing movements of the hinge of the biaxial hinge structure of FIG. 3, a diagram showing a closed state (a), a diagram showing a middle state of opening (b), and a diagram (c) showing an opened state is there. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the rotational movement of the hinge of the biaxial hinge structure of FIG. 3, a diagram showing a state in which it is opened in a normal direction, a diagram showing a state in the middle of rotation, FIG. It is the figure (c) which showed the state opened by the direction of degree rotation. FIG. 2A is a side view of the biaxial hinge structure in FIG. 2, in which FIG. 2A shows a state in which the distance between both housings is narrowed, and FIG. is there. FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the biaxial hinge structure of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a state in which the distance between both housings is narrowed, and FIG. FIG. 12 shows a second embodiment, and is an enlarged side view (a) and a perspective view (b) showing an extension mechanism portion in FIG. It is the perspective view which shows the state which opened the mobile telephone provided with the biaxial hinge of Embodiment 3, and is the figure which abbreviate | omitted the front part of the hinge cover and showed the biaxial hinge structure. It is an enlarged view of the biaxial hinge structure of FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a connecting member is extended and a housing is rotated in a view style state, showing a fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st housing | casing 11 Display part 13 Solar cell panel 14 Antenna 2 2nd housing | casing 21 Operation part 3 Hinge cover 4 2-axis hinge 41 1st axis | shaft 42 2nd axis | shaft 5 Connection member 51 1st coupling member 51a 1st engagement Portion 52 second coupling member 52a second engagement portion 52b holding projection

Claims (9)

A first housing, a second housing, wherein the first housing and the second housing with openably connected about a first axis, second axis the first axis and the axis intersect A connecting member that is rotatably connected around the housing,
The connecting member includes an extension mechanism for extending in a direction to widen the distance between the first housing and the second housing in a state where the first housing and the second housing is folded,
In a state where the space between it and the second housing and the first housing by the extension mechanism, the rotational operation is allowed around the second axis and said second housing and the first housing A casing device characterized by that. The extension mechanism includes a first coupling member coupled to one of said first housing or said second housing, and a second coupling member coupled to the other of the first housing or the second housing With
Along a first engagement portion provided on one of the coupling members of said first coupling member or the second coupling member, the other coupling member of said first coupling member or the second coupling member by the second engaging portion provided to slide, the housing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that to extend in a direction to widen the distance between the second casing and the first casing. The extension mechanism, wherein at the location of the extension end, to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a holding mechanism for holding the state of the space between it and the second housing and the first housing Casing device. In the holding mechanism, the second engaging portion and the holding protrusion provided on the other coupling member are arranged at the extended end position so that the outer edge of the first engaging portion and the one coupling member preparative by a sandwich, housing device according to claim 3, characterized in that to hold the state where the space between it and the first housing and the second housing. The first housing includes a display unit,
The casing device according to claim 1, wherein the second casing includes an operation unit.   The casing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second casing or the connecting member further includes an imaging unit.   The casing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first casing further includes a solar cell panel.   The casing device according to claim 1, wherein the first casing further includes an antenna.   An electronic apparatus comprising the casing device according to claim 1.

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