JP6219457B1 - Portable information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a portable information device in which a protruding position of an operation member is set in accordance with a rotation angle of a display housing, and both operability and thinning of the housing can be achieved. A portable information device 10 includes an elastic member 46 that urges a pointing stick 20a, which is an operation member, from a surface 16a of a main body casing 16 in a pressing direction and elastically supports it so that it can be raised and lowered, and a hinge mechanism 12. A slide member 48 that moves in conjunction with the rotation of the main body case 16 and the display case 14 to place the pointing stick 20a at the buried position and the protruding position, and the main body case 16 and the display case by the hinge mechanism 12 14 is provided with a link mechanism 56 that interlocks the rotational movement of 14 and the movement of the slide member 48. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information device provided with an operation member on a housing surface.

  For example, a notebook PC that can be opened and closed from the 0 degree position to about 180 degree position with respect to the main body case, or a display case can be reversed from the 0 degree position to the 360 degree position with respect to the main body case. In portable information devices such as convertible PCs configured as described above, in recent years, the housing has been rapidly made thinner. In such a portable information device, an operation member such as a pointing stick may be provided on the surface of the main body casing together with a keyboard device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-51254

  It is preferable that an operation member such as a pointing stick protrudes to some extent from the surface of the main body housing in order to ensure high operability. On the other hand, in order to reduce the thickness of the casing when the display casing is closed, it is preferable that the operation member does not protrude from the surface of the main casing. Further, an operation member such as a pointing stick is often provided on the surface of the main body housing together with the keyboard device. When an operation member such as a pointing stick is provided together with the keyboard device, there is a possibility that the key top as well as the operation member may become a barrier to reducing the thickness of the housing.

  As described above, in portable information devices whose casings are becoming thinner, it is possible to reduce the amount of protrusion while ensuring the operability of an operating member such as a pointing stick according to the rotation angle of the display casing. There is a need for a configuration that can be used. Further, in the configuration including the keyboard device together with the operation member, the same configuration is required not only for the operation member but also for the key top. Such a configuration has a greater demand in portable information devices such as convertible PCs that change to a plurality of usage patterns according to the rotation angle of the display housing.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems of the prior art, and sets the protruding position of the operation member according to the rotation angle of the display housing, thereby achieving both operability and thinning of the housing. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable information device that can be used.

  A portable information device according to the present invention is a portable information device in which a main body housing having an operation member on a surface and a display housing having a display on a surface are rotatably connected by a hinge mechanism. The member is urged in a pressing direction in which the member is pushed down from the surface of the main body casing, and the operation member is moved up and down between a buried position where the operation member is submerged from the surface of the main body casing and a protruding position which protrudes from the surface of the main body casing. An elastic member that is elastically supported, and moves in conjunction with the pivoting movement of the main body housing and the display housing by the hinge mechanism, and resists the urging force of the elastic member when moved in one direction. The operating member is pressed in the upward direction opposite to the pressing direction and placed at the protruding position, while the pressing force on the operating member is released when the operating member moves in the other direction opposite to the one direction. Thus, the slide member that places the operation member at the buried position by the biasing force of the elastic member, the pivot operation of the main body housing and the display housing by the hinge mechanism, the movement of the slide member, And a link mechanism that links the two.

  According to such a configuration, the slide member moves in one direction or the other direction in conjunction with the rotation operation of the display housing by the hinge mechanism, so that the operation member is moved to the protruding position and the buried position according to the moving direction. Can be set. Thereby, for example, in the usage form of the notebook PC at the 90-degree position to the 180-degree position, the operation member can be used as a projecting position with high operability. On the other hand, for example, at the 0 degree position, the operation member can be prevented from projecting from the surface of the main body casing as a buried position where the operation member is pushed down by the urging force of the elastic member. Therefore, both the operability of the operation member and the thinning of the housing can be achieved. Moreover, the operating member is held in a state where it is pushed up by the slide member against the urging force of the elastic member at the protruding position which is the use position. For this reason, the operation member does not rattle or move up and down by the elastic force of the elastic member, and higher operability can be obtained.

  The link mechanism includes a slide link member that moves in the front-rear direction of the main body housing in conjunction with the pivoting operation of the main body housing and the display housing by the hinge mechanism, and the slide member includes the slide The structure which moves to the left-right direction of the said main body housing | casing in conjunction with the movement to the front-back direction of a link member may be sufficient. If it does so, the motive power transmitted from the hinge mechanism can be transmitted to a slide member from the slide link member provided in the side of the keyboard apparatus provided in the surface of the main body housing | casing, for example. For this reason, even if it is the structure which provided the keyboard apparatus etc., it becomes easy to ensure the installation space of the raising / lowering mechanism of an operation member.

  The operation member is provided on a surface of a base member that is elastically supported by the elastic member so as to be movable up and down inside the main body housing, and the slide member is attached to the base member at a distal end portion of the slide member. An inclined surface is provided that pushes the base member disposed at the buried position to the protruding position against the biasing force of the elastic member by the biasing force of the elastic member when moved in the adjacent one direction. It may be a configuration. If it does so, the raising / lowering mechanism of an operation member can be implement | achieved with a simple structure, and the stability and precision of operation | movement can also be ensured.

  The front end portion of the slide member may have a pair of flat portions that hold the operation member at the buried position and the protruding position with the inclined surface interposed therebetween. If it does so, an operation member can be stably hold | maintained in an embedding position and a protrusion position by each of a pair of plane part.

  The slide member has a pair of tip portions that can be pressed down on both sides of the base member with the operation member interposed therebetween, or have a pair of tip portions that can be pressed down on both sides of the base member. There may be. If it does so, both sides of a base member can be held by a pair of tip parts, shakiness at the time of use is controlled, and operational stability improves.

  The operating member may be a pointing stick that is provided on a surface of the main body casing and operates a cursor displayed on the display.

  A keyboard device provided on the surface of the main body housing together with the pointing stick, and a key top of the keyboard device is configured to rotate the main body housing and the display housing by the hinge mechanism and the link mechanism. And may be configured to be able to move up and down between an embedded position that is submerged from the surface of the main body casing and a protruding position that protrudes from the surface of the main body casing. Then, the key top as well as the pointing stick can be set at the protruding position and the buried position according to the rotation angle of the display housing. Therefore, for example, in the usage form of the notebook PC at the 90-degree position to the 180-degree position, the key top can be used as a protruding position with high operability. On the other hand, at the 0 degree position, it is possible to avoid the key top from being projected from the surface of the main body housing as the buried position.

  The main body casing and the display casing are connected to each other by the hinge mechanism so as to be rotatable from a 0 degree position where the front surfaces face each other to a 360 degree position where the back faces face each other. The key top may be the buried position at least at the 360 degree position, and may be the protruding position within a predetermined angle range at least between the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position. Then, even in a convertible type PC having a form of use of a tablet type PC whose front surface is the bottom surface, an operation member such as a pointing stick and a key top are moved to a desired lift position according to the rotation angle of the display case. Can be set.

  The pointing stick is disposed on a lower surface side of the keyboard device, and is provided on a surface of a base member that is elastically supported by the elastic member so as to be moved up and down inside the main body housing, and passes through the keyboard device to pass through the keyboard. The pointing stick is exposed on the surface of the apparatus, and the pointing stick is configured to move up and down from the surface of the main body housing when the base member is pushed up by the slide member against the urging force of the elastic member. Also good. In this case, most of the lifting / lowering structure of the pointing stick can be arranged on the lower surface side of the keyboard device, and it becomes easy to secure a space for the lifting / lowering structure of the key top on the upper surface side of the keyboard device.

  The slide link member is provided on each of the left and right side portions of the main body casing along the front-rear direction of the main body casing, and the slide member is operated along the left-right direction of the main body casing. A configuration in which a pair of left and right members are provided with a member interposed therebetween may be employed. Then, the pointing stick can be moved up and down in a balanced manner by the left and right slide members, and rattling during use is suppressed, and the stability of operation is improved.

  The slide member is supported by a guide member provided at a position close to the inclined surface so as to be movable in the one direction and the other direction and immovable in a direction along the raising / lowering direction of the operation member. May be. If it does so, the site | part near the inclined surface of a slide member will be prevented from carrying out a vertical deformation | transformation by the urging | biasing force of an elastic member at the time of raising / lowering operation member. As a result, the operating member can be reliably held at the protruding position and the buried position.

  A rotary shaft member provided along the key top, a pressing piece that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft member to the key top side and can be pressed downward, and the key top A key elastic member that is urged upward in the upward direction pushed up from the surface of the main body housing, and the rotary shaft member rotates in conjunction with the movement of the slide member. A configuration may be adopted in which the member is pushed down against the biasing force of the member to be the buried position.

  According to the present invention, the slide member moves in one direction or the other direction in conjunction with the rotation operation of the display housing by the hinge mechanism, so that the operation member is set to the protruding position and the buried position according to the moving direction. it can. Thereby, the operativity of an operation member and thickness reduction of a housing | casing can be made compatible.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable information device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the portable information device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the usage form of the tablet PC in which the display housing is rotated in the opening direction from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 4A is a side view at a protruding position where the key top is at the uppermost position. FIG. 4B is a side view showing a state in which the key top is pushed down by the key pressing mechanism from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the key pressing mechanism. FIG. 6A is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the state of the pointing stick from the 70 degree position to the 180 degree position. FIG. 6B is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the state of the pointing stick at the 0-degree position and the 360-degree position. FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the lower part of the pointing stick and its peripheral part viewed from below from the 70 degree position to the 180 degree position. FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the lower part of the pointing stick and its peripheral part at the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position as seen from below. FIG. 8A is a bottom view schematically showing the state of the stick lifting mechanism from the 70-degree position to the 180-degree position. FIG. 8B is a bottom view schematically showing the state of the stick lifting mechanism at the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position. FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration example of the hinge mechanism. FIG. 10 is a development view of rail grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface of a spiral pin provided in the hinge mechanism. FIG. 11 is a plan view schematically showing the state of the link mechanism at the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position. FIG. 12 is a plan view schematically showing the state of the link mechanism at the 70-degree position. FIG. 13 is a bottom view schematically showing a configuration of a slide member according to a modification.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a portable information device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1. Description of Overall Configuration of Portable Information Device FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable information device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a display housing 14 is opened from a main body housing 16 by hinge mechanisms 12L and 12R. The state made into the use form with a notebook type PC is shown. FIG. 2 is a side view of the portable information device 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the usage form of the tablet PC in which the display housing 14 is rotated in the opening direction from the state shown in FIG.

  The portable information device 10 according to the present embodiment is a convertible PC that can be used as a notebook PC and a tablet PC. The portable information device 10 can be suitably used as a notebook PC in a state where the display housing 14 is rotated to an angular position of about 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the main body housing 16 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). ). The portable information device 10 can be suitably used as a tablet PC in a state where the display housing 14 is rotated to a position of 360 degrees with respect to the main body housing 16 (see FIG. 3). The portable information device 10 may be a mobile phone, a smartphone, an electronic notebook, or the like other than a convertible PC.

  In the following, the front side is the front side and the back side is the rear side in the direction seen from the user operating the keyboard device 20 while visually recognizing the display 18 with reference to the usage pattern in the notebook PC shown in FIGS. In the description, the thickness direction of the main body housing 16 is referred to as the up-down direction and the width direction is referred to as the left-right direction.

  Regarding the angular position of the display housing 14 with respect to the main body housing 16, the display housing 14 is completely closed with respect to the main body housing 16, and the surfaces 14a and 16a, that is, the display 18 and the keyboard device 20 face each other. This posture is referred to as a 0 degree position (refer to the display housing 14 indicated by one two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). Then, with this 0 degree position as a reference, the display casing 14 will be described with an angle in the direction in which the display casing 14 is rotated in the opening direction. For example, a posture in which the display housing 14 and the main body housing 16 are orthogonal to each other is referred to as a 90-degree position. A posture in which the surfaces 14a and 16a face in the same direction (upward) and are parallel to each other is referred to as a 180-degree position (see the display housing 14 indicated by the other two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). The posture in which the display housing 14 and the back surfaces 14b of the main body housing 16 face each other is referred to as a 360-degree position (see FIG. 3). Regarding the notation such as the 0-degree position, the 180-degree position, and the 360-degree position, the angle slightly deviates from the accurate angular position indicated by the angle numbers depending on the structure of the main body casing 16, the display casing 14, or the hinge mechanisms 12L and 12R. Of course, it can also be a position.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the portable information device 10 includes a display housing 14 having a display 18 and a main body housing 16 having a keyboard device 20. The display housing 14 and the main body housing 16 are coupled so as to be rotatable from a 0 degree position to a 360 degree position by a pair of left and right hinge mechanisms 12L and 12R (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as “hinge mechanism 12”). ing.

  The display housing 14 is electrically connected to the main body housing 16 by a cable (not shown) that has passed through the hinge mechanism 12. The display 18 is configured by, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display device.

  The main body housing 16 is formed in a flat box shape, and the hinge mechanism 12 is provided at the rear edge. Various electronic components such as a substrate, an arithmetic unit, and a memory (not shown) are accommodated in the main body housing 16. The keyboard device 20 is provided on the surface 16 a of the main body housing 16. A pointing stick 20 a is provided in the approximate center of the keyboard device 20. The pointing stick 20a is for operating a cursor (mouse pointer) displayed on the display 18, and is an operation member that can be operated as a substitute for a mouse. On the front side of the keyboard device 20, a touch pad 17 and three function buttons 17a are provided. The touch pad 17 is for operating a cursor (mouse pointer) displayed on the display 18. Each function button 17 a functions in conjunction with a cursor operation by the pointing stick 20 a or the touch pad 17.

  The keyboard device 20 includes a plurality of key switches 21 arranged so as to be lined up in the front-rear and left-right directions, and a frame 24 that fills the gap around the key tops 22 constituting the operation surface of each key switch 21. In the case of this embodiment, the keyboard device 20 has an isolation type structure in which adjacent key tops 22 are partitioned by a frame 24 and each has an independent configuration. The frame 24 is a frame-shaped plate material in which a plurality of holes 24a (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) through which the key tops 22 of the key switches 21 are inserted are formed. The frame 24 is attached so as to be substantially flush with or slightly lower than the surface 16a of the main housing 16.

  The keyboard device 20 includes a key pressing mechanism 26 that holds the key top 22 at a buried position (pressed position) pressed down below a protruding position (usage position) during normal operation at the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position (see FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B). The key pressing mechanism 26 holds, for example, the key top 22 at the protruding position (usage position) at the time of normal operation from the 70-degree position to the 180-degree position, and keeps the key top 22 at the 0-degree position and 360-degree position from the protruding position. It is a mechanism for holding the sunk position (pressed position) pushed down. The raising / lowering operation of the key top 22 by the key pressing mechanism 26 is interlocked with the turning operation of the display housing 14 by the hinge mechanism 12.

  The pointing stick 20 a is disposed at the approximate center of the keyboard device 20 on the surface 16 a of the main body housing 16. The pointing stick 20 a can be lifted and lowered from a hole 24 b formed in the approximate center of the frame 24. A stick elevating mechanism 27 for elevating the pointing stick 20a is provided inside the main body housing 16 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). The stick raising / lowering mechanism 27 holds the pointing stick 20a at the protruding position (usage position) at the time of normal operation, for example, from the 70 degree position to the 180 degree position, and at the 0 degree position and 360 degree position, It is a mechanism for holding the sunk position (pressed position) pushed down. The raising / lowering operation of the pointing stick 20 a by the stick raising / lowering mechanism 27 is interlocked with the turning operation of the display housing 14 by the hinge mechanism 12.

  As described above, the portable information device 10 includes the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20a, which are two movable members that operate in conjunction with the rotation of the display housing 14 by the hinge mechanism 12.

2. 2. Description of Keyboard Device 2.1 Description of Configuration of Keyboard Device A specific configuration example of the keyboard device 20 will be described.

  FIG. 4A is a side view at the protruding position where the key top 22 is at the uppermost position. FIG. 4B is a side view showing a state in which the key top 22 is pushed down by the key pressing mechanism 26 from the state shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the keyboard device 20 includes a key switch 21 that supports a key top 22 by a guide mechanism 28 so as to be movable up and down, and a base plate 30 that supports the key switch 21 on the upper surface side. A membrane sheet is laminated on the upper surface side of the base plate 30, and a waterproof sheet 34 is attached to the lower surface side of the base plate 30. 4A and 4B, the membrane sheet is omitted from the illustration.

  The base plate 30 is a metal plate such as a thin aluminum plate that is cut and raised and stamped or punched, and serves as a mounting plate for the key switch 21. All the key switches 21 share one base plate 30. The frame 24 is installed on the upper surface of the base plate 30. The membrane sheet is, for example, a three-layer switch sheet that closes contacts when pressed. The membrane sheet has through holes in various places, and the guide mechanism 28 lands on the upper surface of the base plate 30 through the through holes.

  The key top 22 is disposed above the base plate 30 via a guide mechanism 28. The key top 22 is an operation member for inputting a signal. The key top 22 is formed of resin or the like and has a substantially square shape in plan view. The key top 22 has an upper surface 22a serving as an operation surface and side surfaces 22b extending downward from the edges of the four sides of the upper surface 22a. A pair of left and right projecting pieces 39 are formed on the front side surface 22b so as to project forward. A pair of left and right receiving pieces 40 are formed on the rear side surface 22b so as to protrude rearward. An inner space of the key top 22 surrounded by the upper surface 22a and the side surfaces 22b is an installation space for the guide mechanism 28 and the rubber dome (key elastic member) 41 (see FIG. 4A). In addition, illustration of the rubber dome 41 is abbreviate | omitted in FIG. 4B.

  The protruding piece 39 is a wing-like member having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view and protruding outward from the side surface 22b. The protruding piece 39 functions as a member for preventing the key top 22 from coming off by contacting the top surface of the frame 24. The protruding piece 39 also has a function of defining the maximum height position in the upward movement direction of the key top 22. The receiving piece 40 is a wing-like member having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view and protruding outward from the side surface 22b. The receiving piece 40 is a member that receives a downward pressing force of the key top 22 by the key pressing mechanism 26. The receiving piece 40, together with the projecting piece 39, also has a function as a member for preventing the key top 22 from coming off upward and a function for defining the maximum height position in the upward movement direction of the key top 22.

  The rubber dome 41 is an elastic member that presses the membrane sheet when the key top 22 is pressed and returns the key top 22 to the original position when the pressing operation of the key top 22 is released. The rubber dome 41 is disposed between the membrane sheet and the key top 22. The key top 22 is elastically supported by the rubber dome 41 while being guided by the guide mechanism 28 so as to be movable up and down. The rubber dome 41 is formed of a flexible elastic material such as silicon rubber.

  In the key switch 21, when the key top 22 is pressed, the rubber dome 41 is elastically deformed by the operating force and the membrane sheet is pressed, and the membrane sheet closes the contact. When the pressing operation to the key top 22 is released, the key top 22 returns to the original position (projecting position) by the elastic restoring force of the rubber dome 41, and the membrane sheet opens the contact.

  The guide mechanism 28 supports the key top 22 so as to be movable up and down, and is foldably attached between the base plate 30 and the key top 22. The guide mechanism 28 of the present disclosure has a pantograph structure including an inner frame 42 and an outer frame 43 attached in a brace shape.

2.2 Description of Configuration of Key Pressing Mechanism An example of the configuration of the key pressing mechanism 26 that holds the key top 22 of each key switch 21 in the pressed position will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the key pressing mechanism 26.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4 </ b> B, and 5, the key pressing mechanism 26 includes a rotating shaft member 50 and a pressing piece 52.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4 </ b> B, and 5, the rotary shaft member 50 extends along the rear side of each key top 22 aligned in the left-right direction of the keyboard device 20. There are several in the direction. Each rotary shaft member 50 is a hard wire (wire) formed of, for example, a SUS material, and has a sufficient rigidity, for example, having a diameter of about 1 mm.

  The rotary shaft member 50 extends in the left-right direction of the keyboard device 20 at a position on the lower surface side of the frame 24 of the keyboard device 20 and the upper surface side of the base plate 30. At the left and right end portions of the rotary shaft member 50, drive end portions 50a protruding from the left and right side portions of the frame 24 are provided. Each drive end 50a is engaged with a slit 54a of a slide link member 54 provided on each of the left and right sides of the keyboard device 20 in a rotatable state. The slide link member 54 constitutes a link mechanism 56 described later, and is movable along the front-rear direction on the left and right sides of the keyboard device 20.

  4A and 4B, the rotary shaft member 50 includes a linear base portion 50b extending in the left-right direction along the rear side portion of the key top 22, and drive end portions provided at both ends of the base portion 50b. 50a. The drive end 50a is formed by bending 90 degrees from the tip of the arm 50c obtained by bending the end of the base 50b by 90 degrees, and protrudes in the left-right direction so as to be parallel to the base 50b. As a result, both end portions of the rotary shaft member 50 have a crank shape.

  The base portion 50b is positioned and supported rotatably by a bearing portion provided on the base plate 30 or the frame 24 at an appropriate position in the left-right direction. Accordingly, when the left and right slide link members 54 move in the front-rear direction, the drive end 50 a moves in the front-rear direction together with the slide link member 54 while rotating in the slit 54 a of the slide link member 54. As a result, the base portion 50b rotates around the axis while the arm portion 50c swings in a pendulum shape in the front-rear direction with the base portion 50b pivotally supported by the bearing portion as a rotation center (see FIGS. 4A and 4B).

  The pressing piece 52 is bent from the mounting cylinder 60 that is externally fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 50b of the rotary shaft member 50, thereby projecting from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 50b to the key top 22 side. The mounting cylinder 60 is fixed to the base 50b by caulking and spot welding. The pressing piece 52 is a plate piece protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the mounting cylinder 60. The pressing piece 52 is disposed in contact with the upper surface of the receiving piece 40 of each key top 22 and can press the receiving piece 40 downward.

  In the key pressing mechanism 26, when the left and right slide link members 54 move rearward with the key top 22 in the protruding position shown in FIG. 4A, and the drive end 50a moves rearward accordingly, the base 50b is moved. Rotate around an axis. As a result, the pressing piece 52 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 50 b swings downward to push down the receiving piece 40 of the key top 22 and push down the key top 22 against the urging force of the rubber dome 41. As a result, the key top 22 is held in the buried position shown in FIG. 4B. In this buried position, the upper surface 22a of the key top 22 is flush with or slightly lower than the upper surface of the frame 24, and the upper surface of the keyboard device 20 is configured to be a flat surface with no irregularities.

  On the other hand, when the left and right slide link members 54 move forward in the opposite direction to the pressing operation while the key top 22 is in the buried position shown in FIG. 4B, the base 50b also rotates in the opposite direction to that in the pressing operation. As a result, the pressing piece 52 swings upward and the pressing action on the receiving piece 40 is released. As a result, the key top 22 is moved up by the urging force of the rubber dome 41 and returned to the protruding position shown in FIG. 4A.

  The pressing operation of the key top 22 by the key pressing mechanism 26 is linked to the hinge mechanism 12 via the link mechanism 56 and corresponds to the rotational angle position of the display housing 14.

3. 3. Description of pointing stick 3.1 Description of configuration of pointing stick A specific configuration example of the pointing stick 20a will be described.

  FIG. 6A is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the state of the pointing stick 20a from the 70 degree position to the 180 degree position. FIG. 6B is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the state of the pointing stick 20a at the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position. FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the lower part of the pointing stick 20a and its peripheral part viewed from below from the 70 degree position to the 180 degree position. FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the lower part of the pointing stick 20a and its peripheral part viewed from below at the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position. 6A and 6B, the key pressing mechanism 26 and the waterproof sheet 34 of the keyboard device 20 are not shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the pointing stick 20 a is inserted through the hole 24 b of the frame 24 that constitutes the surface 16 a of the main body housing 16. The pointing stick 20 a is an operation member that can be input together with each key switch 21. The pointing stick 20a is a top dome-like columnar member formed of, for example, a resin material or a hard rubber material. The pointing stick 20 a is inserted through a hole 30 a formed in the base plate 30 and extends to the lower surface side of the base plate 30. That is, the pointing stick 20 a penetrates the keyboard device 20. The lower end of the pointing stick 20 a is connected to the surface of the sensor substrate 45 stacked on the base member 44.

  The sensor substrate 45 is a control substrate for the pointing stick 20a. The pointing stick 20a has a module structure that is fixed in a state of being electrically connected to the sensor substrate 45.

  The base member 44 is a plate-like member having a flange portion 44a in which left and right side portions of a thin metal plate are bent and raised by a substantially plate thickness. In the base member 44, the sensor substrate 45 is accommodated and disposed in a concave portion formed between the left and right flange portions 44a and 44a. An elastic member 46 is provided between the upper surfaces of the base member 44 and the sensor substrate 45 and the lower surface of the base plate 30.

  The elastic member 46 constantly urges the base member 44 (pointing stick 20a) in the pressing direction to push it down from the surface 16a of the main body housing 16. As a result, the pointing stick 20a is elastically supported by the elastic member 46 so as to be movable up and down between an embedded position where the pointing stick 20a is submerged from the surface 16a of the main body housing 16 and a protruding position which protrudes from the surface 16a of the main body housing 16. 6A and 6B, the elastic member 46 is illustrated in the shape of a coil spring in order to ensure the visibility of the drawing, but in this embodiment, a plate spring is used as the elastic member 46 to achieve further thinning. (See FIGS. 7A and 7B).

3.2 Description of Configuration of Stick Lifting Mechanism A configuration example of the stick lifting mechanism 27 that lifts and lowers the pointing stick 20a will be described.

  FIG. 8A is a bottom view schematically showing the state of the stick lifting mechanism 27 from the 70 degree position to the 180 degree position. FIG. 8B is a bottom view schematically showing the state of the stick lifting mechanism 27 at the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position. 8A and 8B are views of the base plate 30 of the keyboard device 20 as viewed from the lower surface side, but the keyboard device 20 itself is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A to 8B, the stick lifting mechanism 27 includes an elastic member 46 and a slide member 48.

  The slide member 48 is a long rectangular plate-like member provided on the lower surface side of the base plate 30 of the keyboard device 20 so as to be movable in the left-right direction with respect to the main body housing 16. The slide member 48 moves in the left-right direction in conjunction with the movement of the slide link member 54 in the front-rear direction. The slide member 48 has one end connected to the slide link member 54 and the other end extending to a position overlapping the base member 44 of the pointing stick 20a. At a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the slide member 48, elongated holes 48a extending in the left-right direction as the moving direction are formed. A guide member 49 fastened and fixed to the lower surface of the base plate 30 is inserted into each long hole 48a. The guide member 49 has a large-diameter portion formed at the lower end thereof, thereby functioning as a guide in the left-right direction of the slide member 48 and a stopper (see FIGS. 6A and 6B).

  A link plate 51 protruding toward the center side of the keyboard device 20 is provided on the side portion of the slide link member 54. The link plate 51 is formed with an oblique crank-shaped drive hole 53 that is gradually displaced from the left side to the right side from the front side to the rear side. A pin 55 slidably engaged with the drive hole 53 is projected from one end of the slide member 48. Therefore, when the slide link member 54 moves in the front-rear direction, the pin 55 slides in the drive hole 53 that moves in the front-rear direction, and the slide member 48 moves in the left-right direction under the guide action of the guide member 49.

  At the other end of the slide member 48, a push-up step 57 for raising and lowering the pointing stick 20a is formed. As shown in FIGS. 6A to 7B, the push-up step portion 57 includes a push-up portion 57 a that is bent in order from the pin 55 side (base end side) of the slide member 48 toward the pointing stick 20 a side (tip end side). Part 57b.

  The push-up portion 57a is a flat portion formed at a position lower by one plate than the most flat plate portion of the slide member 48 guided by the guide member 49. The pressing part 57b is a flat part formed at a position that is further lowered below the pressing part 57a. A push-up inclined surface 57c is provided between the push-up portion 57a and the hold-down portion 57b. The push-up inclined surface 57c is an inclined surface that is gradually inclined downward from the push-up portion 57a toward the holding portion 57b.

  A concave portion 57d having a shape in which the front end surface is cut out in the longitudinal direction of the slide member 48 is formed at a substantially center of the push-up step portion 57 in the front-rear direction. A stick guide member 47 fastened and fixed to the lower surface of the base plate 30 is inserted through the concave portion 57d. The stick guide member 47 is inserted into the concave portion 57 d through a through hole formed in the flange portion 44 a of the base member 44. The stick guide member 47 has a large-diameter portion formed at the lower end, thereby functioning as a guide in the ascending / descending direction of the base member 44 (pointing stick 20a) and retaining. The stick guide member 47 also functions as a guide in the left-right direction of the slide member 48 and a retaining stopper. In FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, illustration of the concave portion 57d and the stick guide member 47 is omitted.

  In the stick lifting mechanism 27, when the left and right slide link members 54 move rearward with the pointing stick 20a in the protruding position shown in FIGS. 6A and 7A, the slide member 48 is separated from the base member 44 accordingly. Move in the direction (see FIG. 8B). As a result, in the slide member 48, the push-up portion 57a and the push-up inclined surface 57c are brought into sliding contact with the end portion of the flange portion 44a of the base member 44 in order, and as shown in FIGS. 6B and 7B, the hold-down portion 57b is connected to the flange portion 44a. This is the position to hold the lower surface. As a result, the base member 44 is lowered by the urging force of the elastic member 46, and the pointing stick 20a is held in the buried position. In this buried position, the top portion of the pointing stick 20a is flush with or slightly lower than the upper surface of the frame 24, and the upper surface of the keyboard device 20 is configured to be a flat surface with no irregularities.

  On the other hand, when the left and right slide link members 54 move forward opposite to the pressing operation in a state where the pointing stick 20a is in the buried position shown in FIGS. 6B and 7B, the slide member 48 is accordingly moved to the base member 44. (See FIG. 8A). As a result, in the slide member 48, the pressing portion 57 b and the push-up inclined surface 57 c are in sliding contact with the end of the flange portion 44 a of the base member 44 in order, and the push-up portion 57 a is the elastic member 46 as shown in FIGS. 6A and 7A. It is a position to push up and hold the lower surface of the flange portion 44a against the urging force. As a result, the pointing stick 20a returns to the protruding position.

  The raising / lowering operation of the pointing stick 20 a by the stick raising / lowering mechanism 27 is linked to the hinge mechanism 12 via the link mechanism 56 and corresponds to the rotational angle position of the display housing 14.

4. Description of Linking Structure of Display Case and Key Top and Pointing Stick Interlock Structure Hinge Mechanism 12 and Link Mechanism Linking Display Case 14 and Key Pressing Mechanism 26 and Stick Lifting Mechanism 27 A configuration example of 56 will be described.

4.1 Description of Configuration of Hinge Mechanism A configuration example of the hinge mechanism 12 will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration example of the hinge mechanism 12 used in the portable information device 10 according to the present embodiment, and representatively shows the configuration of the left hinge mechanism 12L. Hereinafter, the left hinge mechanism 12L will be described as an example of the hinge mechanism 12. However, the right hinge mechanism 12R has a bilaterally symmetric structure and substantially the same structure as the left hinge mechanism 12L. Omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the hinge mechanism 12 includes a first shaft 62 extending in the left-right direction, a second shaft 63 installed in parallel with the first shaft 62, and the first shaft 62 and the second shaft 63. And a box-like hinge housing 64 for pivotally supporting the housing (see also FIGS. 2 and 3).

  One end of the first shaft 62 is fixed to the main body housing 16, so that the first shaft 62 rotates integrally with the main body housing 16. The second shaft 63 rotates integrally with the display housing 14 by fixing one end of the second shaft 63 to the display housing 14. The other ends of the first shaft 62 and the second shaft 63 are supported in a rotatable state inside the hinge housing 64. In the case of the present embodiment, the first shaft 62 and the second shaft 63 are configured to rotate synchronously via a gear train (not shown). For example, the first shaft 62 and the second shaft 63 are configured such that only the first shaft 62 rotates from the 0-degree position to the 180-degree position, and only the second shaft 63 rotates from the 180-degree position to the 360-degree position. There may be.

  The hinge housing 64 is provided with a concave portion 64a into which a convex portion provided at the rear edge of the main body housing 16 enters, and a spiral pin 66 projects from one side surface of the concave portion 64a. Yes. The spiral pin 66 is provided coaxially with the first shaft 62 on the main body housing 16 side, and rotates coaxially with the first shaft 62 in conjunction with the turning operation of the hinge housing 64. On the outer peripheral surface of the spiral pin 66, a rail groove 68 having a shape shown in the developed view shown in FIG. 10 is formed in a spiral shape.

  The rail groove 68 includes a first actuating part 68a and a second actuating part 68b formed so as to draw a spiral along the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the spiral pin 66, and the first actuating part 68a and the second actuating part 68b. And an idle swinging portion 68 c formed along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the spiral pin 66. The first operating part 68a is a groove from the right side to the left side of the spiral pin 66, and the second operating part 68b is a groove from the left side to the right side of the spiral pin 66. As shown in FIG. 10, the left and right positions of the first actuating part 68a and the second actuating part 68b at the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position coincide with each other, and the first actuating part 68a at the 70 degree position and the 180 degree position The left-right direction position of the 2nd operation part 68b corresponds. For example, when the amount of burial of the key top 22 or the pointing stick 20a is made different between the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position, the left and right positions at both positions may be displaced. Further, the idle swing portion 68 c is a groove along the circumferential direction of the spiral pin 66 with no deviation in the left-right direction.

  An engagement piece 70a of a hinge link 70 constituting the link mechanism 56 is slidably engaged with the rail groove 68. The engagement piece 70a moves the first actuating portion 68a during the rotation of the display housing 14 from the 0 degree position to the 70 degree position, and the swinging section during the rotation from the 70 degree position to the 180 degree position. 68c is moved, and the second operating portion 68b is moved during the rotation from the 180 degree position to the 360 degree position.

  When the present invention is applied to, for example, a general notebook PC in which the display housing 14 can be opened and closed up to a position of at least 90 degrees, for example, can be opened and closed up to a position of about 180 degrees, for example, Instead of 12, a uniaxial hinge mechanism may be used. In this case, the rail groove 68 is configured, for example, in a range from a 0 degree position to a 90 degree position or a 180 degree position in FIG.

4.2 Description of Configuration of Link Mechanism A configuration example of the link mechanism 56 that links the rotation operation of the display housing 14 by the hinge mechanism 12 and the operations of the key pressing mechanism 26 and the stick lifting mechanism 27 will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a plan view schematically showing the state of the link mechanism 56 at the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position, and FIG. 12 is a plan view schematically showing the state of the link mechanism 56 at the 70 degree position. is there. 11 and 12, the left hinge mechanism 12L and the link mechanism 56 interlocking therewith will be described as an example. However, the right hinge mechanism 12R and the link mechanism 56 interlocking therewith are symmetrical to the left one. Since the structure is substantially the same, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The link mechanism 56 operates inside the main housing 16. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the link mechanism 56 includes a hinge link 70 supported so as to be movable in the left-right direction on the inner surface of the main body housing 16, and rotation on one end side with respect to the inner surface of the main body housing 16. A swinging member 74 supported rotatably about a shaft 72 and a second end of the swinging member 74 opposite to the rotating shaft 72 are rotatably connected via an action pin 76. And a slide link member 54.

  The hinge link 70 is an L-shaped plate having an engagement piece 70 a that protrudes rearward and engages with the rail groove 68 of the spiral pin 66. When the display housing 14 is rotated and the spiral pin 66 is rotated, the hinge link 70 is left and right when the engaging piece 70a is positioned in the first operating portion 68a and the second operating portion 68b of the rail groove 68. It slides in the direction and does not move when the engagement piece 70a is positioned at the idle swing portion 68c (see FIG. 10).

  The swing member 74 is a substantially triangular plate having a curved shape that swells toward one end on the hinge link 70 side where the rotation shaft 72 is provided. The swing member 74 is connected to the hinge link 70 at a position on the rear side of the rotation shaft 72 by a connecting pin 78 so as to be rotatable with respect to each other. The other end of the swing member 74 opposite to the rotation shaft 72 is rotatably connected to the slide link member 54 by an action pin 76.

  The slide link member 54 is a long rectangular plate provided so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction with respect to the main body housing 16 by a guide structure (not shown). The slide link member 54 has a working pin 76 projecting from the rear end thereof, and the working pin 76 is rotatably connected to the swing member 74. A slide member 48 of the stick lifting mechanism 27 is connected to the side portion of the slide link member 54 via a link plate 51.

  In such a link mechanism 56, when the hinge link 70 slides in the left-right direction in response to the rotation of the spiral pin 66, the connecting pin 78 becomes a power point and the rotation shaft 72 becomes a rotation fulcrum, and the swing member 74. Rotate. As a result, the action pin 76 acts as an action point, and the slide link member 54 moves in the front-rear direction (see FIGS. 11 and 12).

4.3 Explanation of the rotating operation of the display housing and the interlocking operation of the key top and the pointing stick The relationship between the rotating operation of the display housing 14 interlocked by the link mechanism 56 and the ascending / descending operation of the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20a. explain.

  First, when the display housing 14 is at the 0 degree position, the engaging piece 70a of the hinge link 70 is located at a position that is the starting point of the first operating portion 68a of the rail groove 68 formed in the spiral pin 66 of the hinge mechanism 12. (See FIG. 10). As shown in FIG. 11, the swinging member 74 is at the most clockwise position in the drawing by the hinge link 70 in the initial position. For this reason, the action pin 76 is at the most rearward position, and the slide link member 54 is also at the most rearward position.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 4B, the driving end 50 a of the rotating shaft member 50 is at the position moved to the rearmost side by the slide link member 54. For this reason, the key top 22 is held in the buried position where the receiving piece 40 is pushed down by the pressing piece 52. Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the slide member 48 is at a position farthest from the pointing stick 20 a by the slide link member 54. For this reason, the pointing stick 20a is in the buried position pushed down by the urging force of the elastic member 46, and the base member 44 is held by the pressing portion 57b of the push-up step portion 57 (see FIG. 6B). Accordingly, the upper surface 22a of the key top 22 and the top of the pointing stick 20a are flush with or slightly lower than the upper surface of the frame 24, and the upper surface of the keyboard device 20 is configured to be flat. As a result, the display 18 of the display housing 14 closed with respect to the main body housing 16 does not interfere with the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20a, and the portable information device 10 is made as thin as possible. Has been.

  Next, when the display housing 14 is rotated in the opening direction from the 0 degree position, the hinge housing 64 of the hinge mechanism 12 is also rotated, and the spiral pin 66 is rotated. Between the 0-degree position and the 70-degree position, the engagement piece 70a of the hinge link 70 is located at the first operating portion 68a of the rail groove 68 (see FIG. 10). The rotation of the spiral pin 66 between the 0-degree position and the 70-degree position causes the hinge link 70 to be pushed and moved in the advancing direction (left side in FIG. 11). As a result, the swing member 74 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 11, and the slide link member 54 moves forward via the action pin 76.

  When the slide link member 54 moves forward, the drive end 50a of the rotary shaft member 50 also moves forward. The rotating shaft member 50 rotates in the direction in which the pressing piece 52 moves upward (see FIG. 4A). As a result, the pressing action of the receiving piece 40 by the pressing piece 52 is released, and the key top 22 moves upward together with the pressing piece 52 by the biasing force of the rubber dome 41. Further, as the slide link member 54 moves forward, the slide member 48 is moved by the slide link member 54 toward the pointing stick 20a as shown in FIG. 8A. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6A, the base member 44 is pushed up against the biasing force of the elastic member 46 by the push-up step 57 of the slide member 48.

  At the 70 degree position, as shown in FIG. 10, the engaging piece 70a is located at a position that is the end point of the first operating portion 68a. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 12, the swinging member 74 is at the position rotated most counterclockwise in the drawing by the hinge link 70 at the most advanced position, and the action pin 76 is at the most forward position. is there. Accordingly, the slide link member 54 is also at the position moved to the frontmost side.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 4A, the drive end portion 50 a of the rotary shaft member 50 is in a position moved most forward by the slide link member 54. Therefore, the key top 22 is in the protruding position, which is the position where the key top 22 has moved most up. Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, the slide member 48 is in a position closest to the pointing stick 20a by the slide link member 54. For this reason, the pointing stick 20a is in the protruding position pushed up against the urging force of the elastic member 46, and the base member 44 is held by the push-up portion 57a of the push-up step portion 57 (see FIG. 6A). Therefore, in the portable information device 10, the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20 a are projected from the upper surface of the frame 24 when the display housing 14 is opened to the 70 degree position, and both can be used. It becomes a state.

  Subsequently, between the 70-degree position and the 180-degree position, the engagement piece 70a of the hinge link 70 is located at the idle swing portion 68c of the rail groove 68 (see FIG. 10). For this reason, the hinge link 70 does not move even if the hinge housing 64 rotates and the spiral pin 66 rotates. That is, since the position of the slide link member 54 does not change, the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20a are maintained at the protruding positions as shown in FIGS. 4A and 6A. That is, in the portable information device 10, the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20a are maintained in a usable state between the 70-degree position and the 180-degree position assumed to be used as a notebook PC.

  Next, when the display housing 14 is further rotated in the opening direction from the 180 degree position, the engaging piece 70a of the hinge link 70 moves in the second operating portion 68b of the rail groove 68 of the spiral pin 66 (FIG. 10). reference). Therefore, the rotation of the spiral pin 66 between the 180-degree position and the 360-degree position causes the hinge link 70 to be pulled in the retreat direction (right side in FIG. 12) opposite to that between the 0-degree position and the 70-degree position. Moved. As a result, the swinging member 74 rotates clockwise in FIG. 12, and the slide link member 54 moves backward via the action pin 76.

  When the slide link member 54 moves rearward from the state at the 180 degree position (the same position as the 70 degree position shown in FIG. 12), the drive end 50a of the rotary shaft member 50 also moves rearward. The pressing piece 52 rotates in the direction of moving downward (see FIG. 4B). As a result, the receiving piece 40 is pressed by the pressing piece 52, and the key top 22 moves downward together with the pressing piece 52 against the urging force of the rubber dome 41. Further, as the slide link member 54 moves rearward, the slide member 48 is moved away from the pointing stick 20a by the slide link member 54 as shown in FIG. 8B. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the push-up force by the push-up step portion 57 of the slide member 48 is gradually released, and the base member 44 is pushed down by the biasing force of the elastic member 46.

  At the 360 degree position, as shown in FIG. 10, the engaging piece 70a is located at a position that is the end point of the second operating portion 68b. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11, the swinging member 74 is in the most clockwise position in the drawing by the hinge link 70 in the most retracted position, and the action pin 76 is in the most rearward position. . Therefore, the slide link member 54 is also in the position moved to the rearmost side.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 4B, as in the case of the 0 degree position, the drive end 50a of the rotating shaft member 50 is at the position most moved rearward by the slide link member 54. For this reason, the key top 22 is held in the buried position where the receiving piece 40 is pushed down by the pressing piece 52. Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the slide member 48 is at a position farthest from the pointing stick 20 a by the slide link member 54. For this reason, the pointing stick 20a is in the buried position pushed down by the urging force of the elastic member 46, and the base member 44 is held by the pressing portion 57b of the push-up step portion 57 (see FIG. 6B). Accordingly, the upper surface 22a of the key top 22 and the top of the pointing stick 20a are again flush with or slightly lower than the upper surface of the frame 24. Thereby, the surface 16a of the main body casing 16 which is inverted with respect to the main body casing 16 and becomes the back surface of the tablet PC is configured in a flat plate shape, and there is no uneven shape due to the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20a. As a result, when the portable information device 10 is used as a tablet PC, the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20a do not get in the way.

  On the other hand, when the display housing 14 at the 360 degree position is rotated in the closing direction, an operation in the direction opposite to the rotation in the opening direction occurs. That is, as the display housing 14 is rotated from the 360 degree position to the 180 degree position, the slide link member 54 moves forward. As a result, the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20a return to the protruding position. From the 180 degree position to the 70 degree position, the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20a are maintained at the protruding positions. As the display housing 14 is rotated from the 70 degree position to the 0 degree position, the slide link member 54 moves rearward. As a result, the key top 22 and the pointing stick 20a become the buried position again, and are flush with or slightly lower than the upper surface of the frame 24. For this reason, the display housing | casing 14 can be closed, without the display 18, the keytop 22, and the pointing stick 20a interfering.

5. As described above, the portable information device 10 according to the present embodiment urges the pointing stick 20a, which is an operation member, from the surface 16a of the main body housing 16 in the pressing direction and pushes the pointing stick 20a. An elastic member 46 elastically supported so as to be able to move up and down between a buried position that has been submerged from the surface 16a of the main body casing 16 and a protruding position that has protruded from the surface 16a of the main body casing 16, and the main body casing 16 and the display by the hinge mechanism 12 The pointing stick 20a is pressed against the urging force of the elastic member 46 when it moves in conjunction with the pivoting movement of the housing 14 and moves in one direction (right side on the left hinge mechanism 12L side, see FIG. 8A). While pushing in the push-up direction opposite to the direction and arranging at the protruding position, the other direction opposite to the one direction (the left hinge mechanism 12L side) The left side (refer to FIG. 8B) is released by the slide mechanism 48 and the hinge mechanism 12 by which the pressing force against the pointing stick 20a is released and the pointing stick 20a is placed in the buried position by the urging force of the elastic member 46. A link mechanism 56 that interlocks the rotation of the main body casing 16 and the display casing 14 and the movement of the slide member 48 is provided.

  Therefore, in the portable information device 10, the slide member 48 moves in one direction or the other direction in conjunction with the turning operation of the display housing 14 by the hinge mechanism 12, so that the pointing stick 20 a is moved according to the moving direction. It can be set to the protruding position and the buried position. Thereby, for example, in the usage form of the notebook PC at the 90-degree position to the 180-degree position, the pointing stick 20a can be set in a usable state with high operability with the protruding position. On the other hand, at the 0-degree position and the 360-degree position, the pointing stick 20a can be prevented from protruding from the surface 16a of the portable information device 10 as the buried position where the pointing stick 20a is pushed down by the urging force of the elastic member 46. Therefore, both the operability of the pointing stick 20a, which is an operation member, and the thinning of the housing can be achieved. In particular, the pointing stick 20a is held in a state where the pointing stick 20a is pushed up by the slide member 48 against the urging force of the elastic member 46 at the protruding position which is the use position. Therefore, the pointing stick 20a does not rattle or move up and down by the elastic force of the elastic member 46, and higher operability is obtained.

  In the above description, the pointing stick 20a is exemplified as the operation member that moves up and down in conjunction with the rotation operation of the display housing 14 via the link mechanism 56. However, the operation member may be another component. For example, the function button 17a may be moved up and down together with the pointing stick 20a or instead of the pointing stick 20a.

  In the above description, the stick elevating mechanism 27 has a configuration in which the pointing stick 20a is moved up and down by a pair of left and right slide members 48 that move in opposite directions. However, the slide member 48 may be provided only in one of the left and right sides. However, the pointing stick 20a that receives the input operation is configured to be lifted and held by the push-up step portion 57 of the slide member 48 at the protruding position that is the use position. For this reason, the configuration in which the pointing stick 20a (base member 44) is held by the pair of left and right slide members 48 has an advantage that the backlash during use is small and the stability is high. Therefore, when the slide member 48 is constituted by only one, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the tip of the slide member 48 is bifurcated, and a push-up step 57 is provided at each of the branched pair of tip portions. It is good to make it the structure which pushes up the flange part 44a arrange | positioned by the step part 57 in the front-back direction. Of course, the moving direction of the slide member 48 may be set not in the left-right direction but in the front-rear direction.

  In the portable information device 10, the pointing stick 20 a is provided on the surface of a base member 44 that is elastically supported by an elastic member 46 inside the main body housing 16, and is attached to the tip of the slide member 48. When the slide member 48 moves in one direction close to the base member 44, the base member 44 arranged at the buried position by the urging force of the elastic member 46 moves to the protruding position against the urging force of the elastic member 46. A push-up inclined surface 57c to be pushed up is provided. Thereby, the raising / lowering mechanism of the pointing stick 20a can be realized with a simple structure, and the stability and accuracy of the operation can be ensured.

  In the portable information device 10, at the tip of the slide member 48, a push-up portion 57 a and a hold-down portion 57 b that are flat portions that hold the pointing stick 20 a at the buried position and the protruding position respectively have a push-up inclined surface 57 c. It is provided between them. Thereby, the pointing stick 20a can be stably held at the buried position by the pressing portion 57b which is a flat surface portion. Further, the pointing stick 20a can be stably held at the protruding position by the push-up portion 57a which is a flat portion.

  In the portable information device 10, the slide member 48 has a guide member 49 (the right guide member 49 in FIGS. 8A and 8B) at a position close to the push-up step portion 57. The slide member 48 is supported by the guide member 49 so that a portion in the vicinity of the push-up step portion 57 can move in the left-right direction and cannot move in the up-down direction. This prevents the portion in the vicinity of the push-up step portion 57 of the slide member 48 from being warped and deformed in the vertical direction by the urging force of the elastic member 46 when the pointing stick 20a is moved up and down. As a result, the pointing stick 20a can be reliably held at the protruding position and the buried position.

  The portable information device 10 includes a keyboard device 20 provided on the surface 16a of the main body casing 16 together with a pointing stick 20a, and the key top 22 rotates between the main body casing 16 and the display casing 14 by the hinge mechanism 12. It can be moved up and down between a buried position where it is sunk from the surface 16 a of the main body casing 16 and a protruding position where it protrudes from the surface 16 a of the main body casing 16 in conjunction with the moving operation via the link mechanism 56. Accordingly, the key top 22 together with the pointing stick 20 a can be set to the protruding position and the buried position according to the rotation angle of the display housing 14. Therefore, for example, in the usage form of the notebook type PC at the 90-degree position to the 180-degree position, the key top 22 can be used as a protruding position with high operability. On the other hand, at the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position, it is possible to avoid the key top 22 from being projected from the surface 16a as the buried position. Thereby, the operativity of the keyboard apparatus 20 and the thinning of a housing | casing can be made compatible.

  In other words, the pointing stick 20a is often used in parallel with the keyboard device 20. Therefore, in the portable information device 10, the pointing stick 20 a and the key top 22 can be set to the protruding position and the buried position, thereby achieving high operability and effective thinning of the housing.

  In this case, the pointing stick 20a and the key top 22 are at the buried position at a position of at least 360 degrees, and at least a predetermined angle range between the 0-degree position and the 360-degree position (in this embodiment, the position from the 70-degree position to the 180-degree position). ) Is the protruding position. As a result, even in a convertible type PC having a form of use of a tablet PC in which the front surface 16a of the main body casing 16 is the bottom surface, the pointing stick 20a and the key top 22 are set in a desired manner according to the rotation angle of the display casing 14. Can be set in the lift position.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described disclosure, and can be freely changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the pointing stick 20a and the key top 22 are buried between the 0-degree position and the 70-degree position and between the 180-degree position and the 360-degree position, and the pointing stick 20a is located between the 70-degree position and the 180-degree position. In addition, the configuration in which the key top 22 is in the protruding position is illustrated. However, the relationship between the upward / downward movement of the pointing stick 20a or the key top 22 and the rotation position of the display housing 14 may be changed. Further, for example, the pointing stick 20a and the key top 22 do not start the ascending operation from the 0 degree position, but start the ascending operation from the 30 degree position, and are set to the completely protruding position at the 90 degree position instead of the 70 degree position. It is good also as a structure etc.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Portable information device 12L, 12R Hinge mechanism 14 Display housing | casing 16 Main body housing | casing 18 Display 20 Keyboard apparatus 20a Pointing stick 22 Key top 26 Key pressing mechanism 27 Stick raising / lowering mechanism 30 Base plate 40 Receiving piece 44 Base member 44a Flange part 45 Sensor Substrate 46 Elastic member 48 Slide member 49 Guide member 50 Rotating shaft member 52 Pressing piece 54 Slide link member 56 Link mechanism 57 Push-up step portion 57a Push-up portion 57b Press-down portion 57c Push-up inclined surface

Claims (12)

A portable information device in which a main body housing having an operation member on a surface and a display housing having a display on a surface are rotatably connected by a hinge mechanism,
The operation member is urged in a pressing direction in which the operation member is pushed down from the surface of the main body casing, and between the buried position where the operation member is submerged from the surface of the main body case and the protruding position where the operation member protrudes from the surface of the main body case An elastic member that is elastically supported so as to be movable up and down,
When the main body housing and the display housing are moved in conjunction with the hinge mechanism and moved in one direction, the operation member is moved in one direction against the biasing force of the elastic member. While pushing in the reverse push-up direction and placing it in the projecting position, when the operation member moves in the other direction opposite to the one direction, the pressing force on the operation member is released, so that the operation member is A slide member disposed at the buried position by the biasing force of the elastic member;
A link mechanism for interlocking the rotation of the main body housing and the display housing by the hinge mechanism and the movement of the slide member;
Equipped with a,
The operation member is provided on a surface of a base member elastically supported by the elastic member so as to be movable up and down inside the main body casing,
At the tip of the slide member, when the slide member moves in the one direction close to the base member, the base member disposed at the buried position by the urging force of the elastic member is placed on the elastic member. An inclined surface that pushes up to the protruding position against the biasing force is provided,
The slide member, that have a said operating member either pair disposed both side portions of the base member across the depressible respectively between the, or the base pair of tip sides capable pressing the respective members A portable information device characterized by that. A portable information device in which a main body housing having an operation member on a surface and a display housing having a display on a surface are rotatably connected by a hinge mechanism,
The operation member is urged in a pressing direction in which the operation member is pushed down from the surface of the main body casing, and between the buried position where the operation member is submerged from the surface of the main body case and the protruding position where the operation member protrudes from the surface of the main body case An elastic member that is elastically supported so as to be movable up and down,
When the main body housing and the display housing are moved in conjunction with the hinge mechanism and moved in one direction, the operation member is moved in one direction against the biasing force of the elastic member. While pushing in the reverse push-up direction and placing it in the projecting position, when the operation member moves in the other direction opposite to the one direction, the pressing force on the operation member is released, so that the operation member is A slide member disposed at the buried position by the biasing force of the elastic member;
A link mechanism for interlocking the rotation of the main body housing and the display housing by the hinge mechanism and the movement of the slide member;
Equipped with a,
The link mechanism has a slide link member that moves in the front-rear direction of the main body casing in conjunction with the rotation of the main body casing and the display casing by the hinge mechanism,
The slide member moves in the left-right direction of the main body housing in conjunction with the movement of the slide link member in the front-rear direction,
The operation member is provided on a surface of a base member elastically supported by the elastic member so as to be movable up and down inside the main body casing,
At the tip of the slide member, when the slide member moves in the one direction close to the base member, the base member disposed at the buried position by the urging force of the elastic member is placed on the elastic member. An inclined surface that pushes up to the protruding position against the biasing force is provided,
The slide member, that have a said operating member either pair disposed both side portions of the base member across the depressible respectively between the, or the base pair of tip sides capable pressing the respective members A portable information device characterized by that. The portable information device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The portable information is characterized in that a pair of flat portions for holding the operation member at the buried position and the protruding position are provided at the front end portion of the slide member with the inclined surface interposed therebetween, respectively. machine. The portable information device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The portable information device, wherein the operation member is a pointing stick that is provided on a surface of the main body casing and operates a cursor displayed on the display. The portable information device according to claim 4 , wherein
A keyboard device provided on the surface of the main body housing together with the pointing stick,
The key top of the keyboard device is interlocked with the pivoting operation of the main body casing and the display casing by the hinge mechanism via the link mechanism, and the buried position and the main body casing submerged from the surface of the main body casing. A portable information device capable of moving up and down between a protruding position protruding from the surface of the body. The portable information device according to claim 5 , wherein
The main body housing and the display housing are connected to each other so as to be rotatable from a 0 degree position where the front surfaces face each other to a 360 degree position where the back surfaces face each other by the hinge mechanism,
The operation member and the key top are at the buried position at at least the 360 degree position, and are at the protruding position at a predetermined angle range at least between the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position. Portable information equipment. The portable information device according to claim 5 or 6 ,
The pointing stick is disposed on a lower surface side of the keyboard device, and is provided on a surface of a base member that is elastically supported by the elastic member so as to be moved up and down inside the main body housing, and passes through the keyboard device to pass through the keyboard. Exposed on the surface of the device,
The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing stick is moved up and down from the surface of the main body casing when the base member is pushed up by the slide member against the urging force of the elastic member. A portable information device in which a main body housing having an operation member on a surface and a display housing having a display on a surface are rotatably connected by a hinge mechanism,
The operation member is urged in a pressing direction in which the operation member is pushed down from the surface of the main body casing, and between the buried position where the operation member is submerged from the surface of the main body case and the protruding position where the operation member protrudes from the surface of the main body case An elastic member that is elastically supported so as to be movable up and down,
When the main body housing and the display housing are moved in conjunction with the hinge mechanism and moved in one direction, the operation member is moved in one direction against the biasing force of the elastic member. While pushing in the reverse push-up direction and placing it in the projecting position, when the operation member moves in the other direction opposite to the one direction, the pressing force on the operation member is released, so that the operation member is A slide member disposed at the buried position by the biasing force of the elastic member;
A link mechanism for interlocking the rotation of the main body housing and the display housing by the hinge mechanism and the movement of the slide member;
Equipped with a,
The link mechanism has a slide link member that moves in the front-rear direction of the main body casing in conjunction with the rotation of the main body casing and the display casing by the hinge mechanism,
The slide member moves in the left-right direction of the main body housing in conjunction with the movement of the slide link member in the front-rear direction,
The slide link members are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the main body casing along the front-rear direction of the main body casing,
The slide member is a portable information device which is characterized that you have provided pair across the operating member along the lateral direction of the main body housing. In the portable information device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The slide member is supported by a guide member provided at a position close to the inclined surface so as to be movable in the one direction and the other direction and immovable in a direction along the raising / lowering direction of the operation member. Features portable information equipment. A portable information device in which a main body housing having an operation member on a surface and a display housing having a display on a surface are rotatably connected by a hinge mechanism,
The operation member is urged in a pressing direction in which the operation member is pushed down from the surface of the main body casing, and between the buried position where the operation member is submerged from the surface of the main body case and the protruding position where the operation member protrudes from the surface of the main body case An elastic member that is elastically supported so as to be movable up and down,
When the main body housing and the display housing are moved in conjunction with the hinge mechanism and moved in one direction, the operation member is moved in one direction against the biasing force of the elastic member. While pushing in the reverse push-up direction and placing it in the projecting position, when the operation member moves in the other direction opposite to the one direction, the pressing force on the operation member is released, so that the operation member is A slide member disposed at the buried position by the biasing force of the elastic member;
A link mechanism for interlocking the rotation of the main body housing and the display housing by the hinge mechanism and the movement of the slide member;
Equipped with a,
The operation member is a pointing stick that is provided on a surface of the main body casing and operates a cursor displayed on the display.
A keyboard device provided on the surface of the main body housing together with the pointing stick,
The key top of the keyboard device is interlocked with the pivoting operation of the main body casing and the display casing by the hinge mechanism via the link mechanism, and the buried position and the main body casing submerged from the surface of the main body casing. It can move up and down between the protruding position protruding from the surface of the body,
A rotary shaft member provided along the key top, a pressing piece that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft member to the key top side and can be pressed downward, and the key top A key elastic member for urging in the push-up direction pushed up from the surface of the main body housing,
By the rotary shaft member rotates in conjunction with movement of the slide member, characterized Rukoto such as the buried position the key top by the pressing piece is pushed down against the biasing force of said key elastic member Portable information equipment. The portable information device according to claim 10 , wherein
The main body housing and the display housing are connected to each other so as to be rotatable from a 0 degree position where the front surfaces face each other to a 360 degree position where the back surfaces face each other by the hinge mechanism,
The operation member and the key top are at the buried position at at least the 360 degree position, and are at the protruding position at a predetermined angle range at least between the 0 degree position and the 360 degree position. Portable information equipment. The portable information device according to claim 10 or 11 ,
The pointing stick is disposed on a lower surface side of the keyboard device, and is provided on a surface of a base member that is elastically supported by the elastic member so as to be moved up and down inside the main body housing, and passes through the keyboard device to pass through the keyboard. Exposed on the surface of the device,
The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing stick is moved up and down from the surface of the main body casing when the base member is pushed up by the slide member against the urging force of the elastic member.

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