JP5389708B2 - Input pen holding device and electronic device equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input pen holding device and an electronic apparatus including the same.

  In recent years, portable electronic devices such as notebook computers, electronic dictionary terminals, and portable game machines are desired by touching a touch-panel pointing device with a pen-type operation tool in addition to input devices such as buttons and levers. There is a case where it has a configuration that can input the information. Such a pen-type operation tool can often be stored in an electronic device in order to prevent loss. As a method for storing the pen-type operation tool in the electronic device, for example, there is a method in which the pen-type operation tool is inserted into a hole provided in a casing of the electronic device and held by a holding mechanism arranged in the electronic device.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which when an input pen is inserted into a pen storage device, a hook is engaged with an annular groove formed in the input pen to hold the input pen.

Japanese Patent No. 2981052

  However, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the number of parts of the mechanism that holds the input pen is large, resulting in an increase in cost.

An input pen holding device disclosed in the present application is an input pen holding device capable of holding an input pen having a groove formed on an outer surface, the first holding member capable of holding the input pen, and the first A second holding member that holds the holding member in a displaceable manner between a protruding position where a part of the input pen protrudes and a storage position where the input pen is stored in the housing; first holding member is provided with a fittable protrusions in the groove, the protrusion, when the first holding member is between the storage position and the protruding position, and fit into the groove When the first holding member is in the storage position, the first holding member is urged in the direction of the protruding position by a spring disposed between the first holding member and the second holding member .

An electronic apparatus disclosed in the present application includes an input pen having a groove formed on an outer surface, an operation unit that can be contacted by the input pen, and an input pen holding device that can hold the input pen. The input pen holding device is a first holding member capable of holding the input pen, a protruding position where a part of the input pen protrudes, and the input pen. Is provided with a second holding member that is displaceably held between a storage position stored in the housing, and the first holding member includes a protrusion that can be fitted into the groove, and the protrusion parts, when the first holding member is between the storage position and the protruding position, and fit into the groove, said first holding member, when in the stowed position, the first By a spring disposed between the holding member and the second holding member It is urged in the direction of the protruding position.

  According to the present application, the input pen can be held with a simple configuration, and the cost can be reduced.

The perspective view of the notebook computer concerning this Embodiment Exploded perspective view of pen holding device Top view of pen piston Sectional drawing of the ZZ part in FIG. 3A Top view of pen holding device and input pen Top view of pen holding device and input pen Top view of pen holding device and input pen Plan view of the first housing Plan view of the first housing

(Embodiment)
[1. (Configuration of electronic equipment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a notebook computer that is an example of the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the notebook computer. In the present embodiment, a notebook personal computer is used as an example of the electronic device. However, any device provided with at least a pen holding device to which an input pen can be attached and detached is acceptable.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the notebook computer includes a first housing 1 and a second housing 2. The first housing 1 contains a circuit board on which various electric elements are mounted, a hard disk drive, and the like. The second housing 2 includes a liquid crystal display 4. The first casing 1 and the second casing 2 are rotatably supported by the hinge portion 3. The hinge unit 3 includes a rotating shaft that rotatably supports the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow A or B. A keyboard 5 and a pointing device 6 are arranged on the upper surface 1 a of the first housing 1. The side surface 1b of the first housing 1 is provided with a pen holding part 11 having a substantially circular opening. The input pen 21 can be inserted into and removed from the pen holder 11.

  The input pen 21 is a pen-like operation tool having at least one pointed tip. The input pen 21 includes a pen tip 22 and a groove 23. For example, the pen tip 22 can be operated by touching a touch panel type pointing device provided in the display surface of the liquid crystal display 4. The groove 23 is formed in an annular shape on the cylindrical surface of the input pen 21. In addition, the groove part 23 does not necessarily need to be formed in an annular shape, and may be a concave part in which at least protrusions 45a and 45b (described later) can be fitted.

[2. Configuration of pen holding device
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pen holding device. As shown in FIG. 2, the pen holding device includes a pen cover 31, a pen piston 41, and a spring 51. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the pen piston 41. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ZZ in FIG. 3A.

  The pen cover 31 includes a first groove portion 32a, a second groove portion 32b, a first holder portion 33, a second holder portion 34, a guide portion 35, and a spring holding portion 36. The first groove 32a engages with claw portions 43a and 43b (described later) formed on the pen piston 41 so as to be movable. The second groove 32b engages with claw portions 43c and 43d (described later) formed on the pen piston 41 so as to be movable. The first groove portion 32a and the second groove portion 32b are formed in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pen cover 31, and are formed in parallel to each other. The first holder part 33 is formed in an arch shape and has an opening 33a. The input 33 can be inserted through the opening 33a. The second holder portion 34 is formed in an arch shape and has an opening 34a. The opening 34 a can be inserted through the input pen 21. The guide part 35 is formed between the first holder part 33 and the second holder part 34, and is two vertical wall-like parts facing each other in parallel. The guide unit 35 can contact the cylindrical surface of the input pen 21, and can guide the input pen 21 inserted through the first holder unit 33 to the second holder unit 34 when holding the input pen 21. it can. The spring holding portion 36 holds the spring 51 by fitting into an annular portion at one end of the spring 51.

  The pen piston 41 includes a main body portion 42, claw portions 43 a, 43 b, 43 c, 43 d, a holder portion 44, projecting portions 45 a, 45 b, and a spring holding portion 46. The main body 42 has a substantially semicircular cross section, and can hold a portion between the pen tip 22 and the groove 23 of the input pen 21. The claw portions 43 a to 43 d are formed to protrude from the outer peripheral cylindrical surface of the main body portion 42. The claw portions 43a and 43b engage with the first groove portion 32a of the pen cover 31 so as to be movable. The claw portions 43c and 43d engage with the second groove portion 32b of the pen cover 31 so as to be movable. As shown in FIG. 2, since the first groove 32a and the second groove 32b are formed in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pen holder 32, the claws 43a and 43b are engaged with the first groove 32a to By engaging the portions 43c and 43d with the second groove portion 32b, the pen cover 31 can hold the pen piston 41 movably in the direction indicated by the arrow C or D. As shown in FIG. 3A, the protrusions 45 a and 45 b are formed on the inner peripheral cylindrical surface of the main body 42 in the vicinity of the end of the pen piston 41 facing the spring holding portion 46. The protrusions 45a and 45b are formed at positions facing each other, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The surfaces of the protrusions 45a and 45b facing each other are preferably planes facing each other as shown in FIG. 3B because manufacturing can be facilitated. The spring holding portion 46 holds the spring 51 by fitting into the annular portion at the other end of the spring 51.

  The spring 51 is composed of a linear coil spring. The spring 51 is not limited to a coil spring, and may be formed of a leaf spring or an elastic resin.

  When assembling the pen holding device shown in FIG. 2, first, the claw portions 43a and 43b of the pen piston 41 are engaged with the first groove portion 32a of the pen cover 31, and the claw portions 43c and 43d are engaged with the second groove portion 32b. Engage. As a result, the pen piston 41 is held by the pen cover 31. Next, one end of the spring 51 is fitted into the spring holding part 36 in the pen cover 31, and the other end is fitted into the spring holding part 46 in the pen piston 41. Thereby, the pen holding device is completed. The pen holding device thus completed is fixed in the first housing 1 in such a posture that the first holder portion 33 is on the pen holding portion 11 side (see FIG. 1) of the first housing 1. The The input pen 21 can be inserted and attached to the pen holding device in the direction indicated by the arrow G in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an operation of mounting the input pen 21 on the pen holding device will be described.

  4A is a plan view showing a state before the input pen 21 is held by the pen piston 41. FIG. FIG. 4B is a plan view showing a state where the input pen 21 is held by the pen piston 41. FIG. 4C is a plan view showing a state where the pen piston 41 holding the input pen 21 is displaced to the back of the pen cover 31. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the first housing 1 showing a state in which the rear end portion 24 of the input pen 21 protrudes from the first housing 1. FIG. 5B is a plan view of the first housing 1 showing a state in which the input pen 21 is housed in the first housing 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the input pen 21 is inserted into the pen holding part 11, the input pen 21 is guided to the pen piston 41 by the first holder part 33, the guide part 35, and the second holder part 34. The input pen 21 is inserted from the protrusions 45a and 45b side of the pen piston 41, and eventually comes into contact with the protrusions 45a and 45b as shown in FIG. 4A. The gap dimension T4 between the protrusion 45a and the protrusion 45b is smaller than the outer diameter dimension T3 of the input pen 21. Therefore, when the input pen 21 is inserted into the pen piston 41, the vicinity of the pen tip 22 can pass between the protrusions 45a and 45b, but the portion between the pen tip 22 and the groove 23 is gradually thickened. The portion that is thicker than the gap dimension T4 contacts the protrusions 45a and 45b.

  When the input pen 21 is further displaced from the state shown in FIG. 4A in the direction indicated by the arrow C, the vicinity of the protrusion 45a in the main body portion 42 of the pen piston 41 is pressed by the input pen 21 in the direction indicated by the arrow E. A portion of the portion 42 in the vicinity of the protrusion 45b is pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow F by the input pen 21, and the gap dimension T4 is increased.

  Further, when the input pen 21 is displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow C, the protrusions 45a and 45b are fitted into the groove 23 as shown in FIG. 4B. That is, since the width dimension T1 (see FIG. 3A) of the protrusions 45a and 45b is at least smaller than the width dimension T2 (see FIG. 4A) of the groove part 23 of the input pen 21, the protrusion parts 45a and 45b are fitted in the groove part 23. To do. As a result, the input pen 21 is held by the pen piston 41. Here, since the outer diameter dimension T5 of the input pen 21 in the groove 23 is equal to or smaller than the gap dimension T4 of the protrusions 45a and 45b, when the protrusions 45a and 45b are fitted in the groove 23, the protrusion in the main body 42 is provided. Since the pressing force in the direction indicated by the arrow E with respect to the portion near 45a is released, it returns to its original shape, and the pressing force in the direction indicated by the arrow F with respect to the portion near the protruding portion 45b in the main body portion 42 is released. Return to shape.

  Next, when the input pen 21 is displaced from the state shown in FIG. 4B in the direction indicated by the arrow C, since the protrusions 45a and 45b are fitted in the groove 23, the pen piston 41 is also displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow C. To do. The pen piston 41 is guided in the first groove 32a (both see FIG. 2) and the second groove 32b (both see FIG. 2) and is displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow C. At this time, the spring 51 is pressed and compressed in the direction indicated by the arrow C by the pen piston 41.

  FIG. 4C shows a state in which the input pen 21 and the pen piston 41 are displaced to the farthest (left direction in the drawing) of the pen cover 31. Since the pen holding device of the present embodiment includes a so-called push-push type mechanism (not shown), the pen piston 41 is locked at the position shown in FIG. 4C. Further, when the input pen 21 is in the position shown in FIG. 4C, it is preferable that the rear end portion 24 (see FIG. 1) of the input pen 21 does not protrude from the surface of the first housing 1 as shown in FIG. 5B. . Since the rear end portion 24 does not protrude from the first housing 1, it is possible to prevent the input pen 21 from being caught unexpectedly by clothes and the like, and the input pen 21 and the notebook personal computer being damaged.

  Next, when the input pen 21 is taken out from the pen holding device, the pen piston is pressed by a push-push mechanism by pressing the rear end portion 24 (see FIG. 1) of the input pen 21 in the direction indicated by the arrow C. 41 is released. Thereby, the pen piston 41 is pressed in the direction shown by the arrow D from the position shown in FIG. 4C by the elastic return force of the spring 51. The pen piston 41 is displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow D while holding the input pen 21. The pen piston 41 is guided in the first groove 32 a and the second groove 32 b in the pen cover 31 and is displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow D.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the pen piston 41 has the claw portion 43b abutting on the end portion of the first groove portion 32a (see FIG. 2) in the direction indicated by the arrow D, and the claw portion 43d having the second groove portion 32b. It is displaced to a position where it abuts against the end portion in the direction indicated by arrow D in each case (see FIG. 2). When the pen piston 41 is displaced to the position shown in FIG. 4B, the rear end portion 24 of the input pen 21 protrudes from the first housing 1 as shown in FIG. 5A. When the pen piston 41 is displaced to the position shown in FIG. 4B, the input pen 21 is inertial by the spring 51 in the direction indicated by the arrow D. However, the input pen 21 is configured so that the protrusions 45a and 45b are fitted in the groove 23 and the protrusions 45a and 45b are not detached from the groove 23 due to inertia generated in the direction indicated by the arrow D. It is difficult to detach from the piston 41. Therefore, the input pen 21 is unlikely to jump out to a position away from the pen holding unit 11 (see FIG. 1).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5A, in the state where the rear end portion 24 of the input pen 21 protrudes from the first housing 1, the vicinity of the rear end portion 24 of the input pen 21 is gripped, and the arrow D By pulling in the direction shown, the protrusions 45a and 45b are detached from the groove 23 as shown in FIG. 4A. When the protrusions 45a and 45b are detached from the groove 23, the holding of the input pen 21 by the pen piston 41 is released. Thereby, the input pen 21 can be taken out from the pen holding part 11.

  As described above, the pen piston 41 engages with the first groove 32 a and the second groove 32 b provided in the pen cover 31, and the protrusions 45 a and 45 b are detachably deformed with respect to the groove 23 of the input pen 21. And since the main-body part 42 slides on the pen cover 31, the pen piston 41 is requested | required of flexibility, a deformation | transformation / restoration repeatability, and sliding slidability. Examples of materials that satisfy these requirements include acrylonitrile / styrene copolymer (hereinafter referred to as AS) resin, polycarbonate / AS resin obtained by internal plasticization of such a thermosetting resin, and polyperfluoroethylene resin having excellent lubricity. Carbonate resin or the like can be applied. Further, as the pen cover 31, the claw portions 43a, 43b, 43c and 43d of the pen piston 41 need to be engaged with the first groove portion 32a and the second groove portion 32b and slide, so that the pen piston 41 The materials listed above are provided.

[3. Effects of the embodiment, etc.]
According to the present embodiment, the pen piston 41 includes the protrusions 45a and 45b, and the protrusions 45a and 45b are fitted into the groove 23 when the input pen 21 is inserted into the pen holding device. When the input pen 21 is removed from the pen holding device, the input pen 21 can be stopped at a position where only the vicinity of the rear end portion 24 protrudes from the first housing 1 (see FIG. 5A). In this state, since the input pen 21 is held by the pen piston 41, even if the side surface 1b of the first housing 1 is vertically downward, the input pen 21 hardly falls off due to its own weight. . Therefore, the input pen 21 is rarely accidentally dropped on the floor or the like, so that it is possible to prevent the input pen 21 from being damaged or the floor or the like from being damaged.

  Also, the pen piston 41 is provided with projections 45a and 45b, and when the input pen 21 is inserted into the pen holding device, the projections 45a and 45b fit into the groove 23, so that the input pen 21 is When taking out from the holding device, it is possible to prevent the input pen 21 from jumping out of the pen holding portion 11 by the elastic restoring force of the spring 51. Therefore, the input pen 21 is rarely accidentally dropped on the floor or the like, so that it is possible to prevent the input pen 21 from being damaged or the floor or the like from being damaged.

  Further, since the pen piston 41 is provided with the protrusions 45a and 45b in order to hold the input pen 21, the number of parts is reduced compared to a configuration in which a movable lock claw mechanism or the like is provided as in the conventional configuration. In addition, the cost can be reduced.

  Further, the protrusions 45a and 45b can be manufactured easily by making the surfaces facing each other parallel to each other. That is, by making the protrusions 45a and 45b face parallel to each other, there is an advantage that when the pen piston 41 is manufactured by resin molding, it can be easily removed from the mold.

  In this embodiment, the protrusions 45a and 45b are provided. However, it is sufficient that at least one protrusion is formed. Even if any one of the protrusions 45a and 45b can hold the input pen 21, the input pen 21 can be stabilized by providing two protrusions as in the present embodiment. Since it can hold | maintain with the attitude | position which carried out, it is preferable.

  The protrusions 45a and 45b may be configured to be elastically deformed in the directions indicated by the arrows E and F by being pressed by the groove 23 when fitted into the groove 23. By setting it as such a structure, the input pen 21 can be hold | maintained reliably.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the input pen 21 has a cylindrical shape, but the present embodiment can be applied to other shapes such as a prismatic shape.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the spring 51 was comprised with the linear coil spring, you may comprise with springs of other forms, such as a plate-shaped spring. Moreover, you may arrange | position not only a spring but an elastic body. Further, it is not necessary to provide a spring or an elastic body, and in this case, the input pen 21 does not jump out vigorously, but there is an advantage that the input pen 21 can be detached from the pen piston 41 or the pen holding device. .

  Moreover, the pen piston 41 in the present embodiment is an example of the first holding member of the present invention. The pen cover 31 in the present embodiment is an example of the second holding member of the present invention. The protrusions 45a and 45b in the present embodiment are examples of the protrusions of the present invention. The pen holding device including the pen cover 31, the pen piston 41, and the spring 51 in the present embodiment is an example of the input pen holding device of the present invention.

  The present application is useful for an input pen holding device and an electronic apparatus including the same.

21 Input pen 23 Groove 31 Pen holder 41 Pen piston 45a, 45b Protrusion 51 Spring

Claims (2)

An input pen holding device capable of holding an input pen having a groove formed on the outer surface,
A first holding member capable of holding the input pen;
A second holding member that holds the first holding member in a displaceable manner between a protruding position where a part of the input pen protrudes and a storage position where the input pen is stored in the housing; Prepared,
The first holding member includes a protrusion that can be fitted into the groove,
The protrusion when said first holding member is between the storage position and the protruding position, fitted in the groove,
When the first holding member is in the storage position, the first holding member is urged in the direction of the protruding position by a spring disposed between the first holding member and the second holding member.
Input pen holding device. An input pen having a groove formed on the outer surface;
An operation unit capable of contact operation with the input pen;
An electronic device comprising an input pen holding device capable of holding the input pen,
The input pen holding device includes a first holding member capable of holding the input pen, a protruding position where a part of the input pen protrudes from the first holding member, and the input pen inside the housing. A second holding member that holds the storage position so as to be displaceable.
The first holding member includes a protrusion that can be fitted into the groove,
The protrusion when said first holding member is between the storage position and the protruding position, fitted in the groove,
When the first holding member is in the storage position, the first holding member is urged in the direction of the protruding position by a spring disposed between the first holding member and the second holding member.
Electronics.

Images