JP6230241B2 - Portable device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable device that performs display.

Various portable electronic devices that include an input operation unit such as a keyboard and a display and are configured to be foldable are proposed.
For example, in Patent Document 1, the display is configured to be foldable.

JP 2004-109382 A

  By the way, in a device like patent document 1, since it is frequently changed in the folded state and the open state at the time of use, there is a possibility that a problem may arise in the endurance by the folding of the display.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a portable device that employs a flexible display and reduces the problem of durability caused by bending the display.

A portable device according to the present invention includes a display unit including a flexible display unit, an elastic body stacked on the display unit, and a flexible touch panel stacked on the elastic body. A first housing, a second housing, and a connecting portion that connects the first housing and the second housing so as to be openable and closable, wherein the display unit is connected to the first housing from the first housing. Provided over the second housing, one end side of the display unit is attached to the first housing, and the other end side of the display unit is provided when the connecting portion transitions from a closed state to an open state; The side direction connected to the connecting portion of the second casing when moving in the side direction not connected to the connecting portion of the second casing and the connecting portion transitions from the open state to the closed state. mounted for movement in and begin to transition from the closed state to the open state , To urge the other end of said display unit so as to move in the side direction, in the closed state the other end of the display unit in further comprising constituting the biasing member urges the city to the lateral is there.

In the portable device, the display unit may further include an elastic body disposed between the display unit and the touch panel .

In the portable device, the elastic body may be a gel that absorbs bending of the display unit in the closed state .

  In the portable device, the elastic body may be configured to have permeability.

The portable device has a portion that is not covered by the display unit, which is generated when the other end side of the display unit moves from the closed state to the open state, and the portion is decorated. Or a display unit .

  In the portable device, the other end side of the display unit is attached to a holder, and the second housing is connected to the side where the holder is not connected to the connecting portion from the connecting portion side of the second housing. The structure in which the rail for moving to a direction or the reverse direction may be provided may be sufficient.

  In the portable device, a bend detection unit that detects that the display unit is bent, and a control that corrects the contact position with respect to the touch panel according to the detected bend when the bend detection unit detects the bend. The structure provided with a part may be sufficient.

  In the portable device, the bending detection unit may be an angle sensor that detects a bending angle, and the control unit may correct the contact position according to the bending angle detected by the angle sensor.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can reduce that a problem arises in the durability by bending of a display.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of an electronic device. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a display unit. It is a figure where it uses for description about the transition from the open state of an electronic device to a closed state, and the transition from a closed state to an open state. It is a figure with which it uses for description about the shift | offset | difference of the detection position of a touch panel produced by the bending state of a 1st housing | casing and a 2nd housing | casing. It is a figure which shows the structure of an electronic device. It is a figure which shows the structure at the time of arrange | positioning an angle sensor inside a connection part. It is a figure with which it uses for description about the correction | amendment process at the time of the detection position of a touch panel shifting | deviating. It is a figure which shows the structure of a touch panel. It is a figure where it uses for description about the structure which moves a slide mechanism smoothly, when an electronic device changes from a closed state to an open state. It is a figure with which it uses for description about operation | movement of the urging | biasing mechanism when changing an electronic device from a closed state to an open state. It is a figure with which it uses for description about operation | movement of the urging | biasing mechanism when changing an electronic device from an open state to a closed state. It is a figure where it uses for description about the structure for maintaining an electronic device in a closed state.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the configuration and operation of an electronic device 1 that is an example of a portable device will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 1 includes a display unit 11, a first housing 12, a second housing 13, and a connecting portion 14.
The connection part 14 connects the 1st housing | casing 12 and the 2nd housing | casing 13 so that opening and closing is possible.
The display unit 11 is provided from the first housing 12 to the second housing 13.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the electronic device 1 relatively rotates the first housing 12 and the second housing 13 that are connected via the connecting portion 14, thereby the first housing 12. And the second housing 13 are opened flat (open state), or the first housing 12 and the second housing 13 are folded (closed) as shown in FIG. State).

  In the present embodiment, the display unit 11 is described as being configured to be exposed to the outside both in the open state and in the closed state, but is not limited thereto. For example, the electronic device 1 may have a configuration in which the display unit 11 is folded inward and not exposed to the outside when in the closed state.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 11 includes a display unit 21, an elastic body 22 stacked on the display unit 21, and a flexible touch panel 23 stacked on the elastic body 22.
The display unit 21 has flexibility, and is, for example, a flexible liquid crystal in which a light emitting material (liquid crystal element) is sandwiched between films such as plastic.
Thus, the display unit 11 has flexibility as a whole, and can display an image or the like on the display unit 21 while maintaining a curved surface, for example.

  Further, the display unit 11 does not have to be flexible as a whole. For example, only the portion located around the coupling portion 14 has flexibility, and other portions are acceptable. You may be comprised by what does not have flexibility.

  Here, a specific configuration in which the display unit 11 is attached to the first housing 12 and the second housing 13 will be described.

One end side 11 a of the display unit 11 is attached to the first housing 12.
Further, when the other end side 11b of the display unit 11 transitions from the closed state to the open state, the side surface direction (direction A in FIG. 1A) that is not connected to the connecting portion 14 of the second housing 13 is established. When moving and changing from the open state to the closed state, the second housing 13 is attached so as to move in the side surface direction (direction B in FIG. 1A) connected to the connecting portion 14 of the second housing 13.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the second housing 13 has a holder 13 b in the direction from the connecting portion 14 side of the second housing 13 to the side not connected to the connecting portion 14 or vice versa. A rail 13a is provided for sliding in the direction. The other end 11b of the display unit 11 is fixed to the holder 13b.

  Thus, since the electronic device 1 employs the slide mechanism including the holder 13b and the rail 13a, the transition from the open state to the closed state (FIG. 3 (a) → FIG. 3 (b) → FIG. 3 ( c) → FIG. 3 (d)) and the transition from the closed state to the open state (FIG. 3 (d) → FIG. 3 (c) → FIG. 3 (b) → FIG. 3 (a)) Since the display unit 11 is slid, the display unit 11 can be opened and closed smoothly. Further, in any of the open state, the closed state, and the transition state between the open state and the closed state, it is possible to reduce the loss of visibility of the user due to the slack of the display unit.

  In this embodiment, the slide mechanism constituted by the holder 13b and the rail 13a is provided on the surface exposed in the closed state of the second housing 13, but on the surface opposite to the exposed surface. It may be provided.

  Further, in the electronic device 1, when the display unit 11 is shifted to the connecting portion 14 side in the closed state, a portion (c in FIG. 1B) that is not covered with the display unit 11 is generated. It is conceivable to actively utilize. For example, the part may be decorated with a pattern or the like, or a display unit such as a liquid crystal may be arranged.

The elastic body 22 is composed mainly of gel.
Here, the flexible display unit 21 (for example, flexible liquid crystal) has high bending durability. However, when the touch panel 23 is attached, contact with the touch panel 23 may occur in a closed state, which may reduce bending durability. is there. Then, the electronic device 1 absorbs the bending in a closed state by the elastic body 22 by interposing the elastic body 22 comprised by the gel between the display part 21 and the touchscreen 23, and reduces the fall of bending durability. Can do.

The elastic body 22 is preferably composed mainly of a permeable gel.
In this way, the electronic device 1 can improve the transmittance by gel (filling with a transparent material). Thereby, the visibility of the display unit can be improved.

  In addition, the electronic device 1 can stably separate the distance between the display unit 21 and the touch panel 23 by sandwiching the elastic body 22 mainly composed of gel between the display unit 21 and the touch panel 23. It is also possible to stabilize the sensitivity.

Next, a shift in the detection position of the touch panel 23 caused by the bent state of the first housing 12 and the second housing 13 will be considered.
The display unit 11 has a thickness corresponding to the sum of the thickness (t1) of the display unit 21, the thickness (t2) of the elastic body 22, and the thickness (t3) of the touch panel 23.
When the display unit 11 is bent, an arc length shift occurs between the front surface (touch panel 23) and the back surface (display unit 21) due to the added thickness.

  For example, in a state where the display unit 11 is not bent (open state), the position directly above the object A displayed on the display unit 21 is (x1, y1) as shown in FIG. In the state where the display unit 11 is bent (closed state), as shown in FIG. 4B, the position directly above the object A is (x1, y2). This is because when the display unit 11 is bent, the display unit 21 and the touch panel 23 are relatively displaced.

  Therefore, when the calibration for aligning the positions of the touch panel 23 and the display unit 21 is performed when the display unit 11 is in the open state and the shift when the display unit 11 is bent is not taken into consideration, the following problems occur. May occur.

  In a state where the display unit 11 is bent (for example, in a closed state), since the positions of the touch panel 23 and the display unit 21 do not match, even if the user touches the position (x1, y2) directly above the object A, The object A is not selected and a desired operation is not performed.

The electronic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment employs a configuration in which the detection position of the touch panel 23 is appropriately corrected according to the opening / closing angles of the first housing 12 and the second housing 13. A specific configuration is shown below.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the electronic device 1 includes a bending detection unit 31 and a control unit 32.
The bending detection unit 31 detects that the display unit 11 is bent.
The control part 32 correct | amends the contact position with respect to the touch panel 23 according to the said detected bending, when bending detection by the bending detection part 31 is detected.

In this way, the electronic device 1 is detected by the touch panel 23 in consideration of the detection value detected by the bending detection unit 31 on the basis of the detection value of the touch panel 23 when the display unit 11 is in the open state. Correct the detection value.
Therefore, the electronic device 1 recognizes that the object A is selected when the user touches the position (x1, y2) immediately above the object A with the display unit 11 folded as shown in FIG. The desired operation can be performed.

The bending detection unit 31 is an angle sensor that detects a bending angle. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the bending detection unit 31 is disposed inside the coupling unit 14.
The control unit 32 corrects the contact position according to the bending angle detected by the angle sensor.

As described above, the display unit 11 has a thickness corresponding to the sum of the thickness (t1) of the display unit 21, the thickness (t2) of the elastic body 22, and the thickness (t3) of the touch panel 23. is there. When the display unit 11 is bent, the arc length shifts between the front surface and the back surface.
Due to this deviation, a deviation occurs in the detection position of the touch panel 23 according to the bending state of the display unit 11.

  Since the electronic device 1 corrects the detection value detected by the touch panel 23 based on the detection value from the angle sensor disposed inside the connecting portion 14, the shift of the detection position of the touch panel 23 can be corrected.

The bending detection unit 31 may be configured to detect the opening / closing angle of the first housing 12 and the second housing 13 as the bending angle. In the case of such a configuration, the control unit 32 corrects the contact position based on the opening / closing angle detected by the bending detection unit 31.
For example, the bending detection unit 31 detects the opening and closing angles of the first housing 12 and the second housing 13 in units of 10 degrees, such as 10 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, and 180 degrees.

Here, the configuration of the electronic device 1 and the correction processing for the deviation of the detection position of the touch panel 23 by the control unit 32 will be described.
The display unit 11 constitutes one unit by sandwiching an elastic body 22 (for example, a gel sheet) between a display unit 21 (for example, a flexible liquid crystal) that is a display function device and a touch panel 23 that is an input device.

One end side 11 a of the display unit 11 is attached to the first housing 12. The other end 11b of the display unit 11 is fixed to the holder 13b.
A bending detection unit 31 (for example, an angle sensor) is disposed in the connection unit 14. The bending detection unit 31 detects a relative angle (hereinafter referred to as an opening / closing angle) of the first housing 12 with respect to the second housing 13.

Since the electronic device 1 employs a slide mechanism composed of the holder 13b and the rail 13a, as shown in FIG. 7, when the electronic device 1 is bent from the open state to the closed state, the length of the arc length of the display unit 11 is obtained. L can be adjusted. The length L corresponds to the total thickness of the first housing 12 and the second housing 13.
Further, the arc length deviation (2πt × θ / 360) due to the thickness of the display unit 11 is absorbed by the deformation of the gel sheet. Note that t is the thickness of the display unit 11.

  Further, when the display unit 11 is bent, a deviation occurs between the display unit 21 and the touch panel 23 by the thickness, and the detection position of the touch panel 23 with respect to the display on the display unit 21 is shifted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the touch panel 23 includes a detection unit 23a, an x-direction scanning unit 23b, and a y-direction scanning unit 23c arranged on the surface of the display unit 21.
The x-direction scanning unit 23b supplies the control unit 32 with the position information in the x direction detected by the detection unit 23a.
The y-direction scanning unit 23c supplies the control unit 32 with the position information in the y-direction detected by the detection unit 23a.

  Based on the detection value supplied from the bending detection unit 31, the control unit 32 converts the position information in the x direction supplied from the x direction scanning unit 23b and the position information in the y direction supplied from the y direction scanning unit 23c. Correct each of them. In addition, since the electronic device 1 according to the present embodiment is bent at the first bending position (AA in FIG. 8), there is no displacement in the x direction due to the bending, but the second bending position (B in FIG. 8). In the case of the configuration that can be bent even in -B), a deviation also occurs in the x direction. Hereinafter, a process for correcting a deviation in the y direction will be described.

The control unit 32 calculates the correction amount of the position information in the y direction by substituting the detection value from the bending detection unit 31 into the equation (1).
Correction value = 2πt × θ / 360 + C (1)
For C, a value measured with an actual machine is substituted as a constant.

In the open state, the control unit 32 detects “C” as the correction value because the detection value supplied from the bending detection unit 31 is 0 degrees.
In the closed state, the detection value supplied from the bending detection unit 31 is 180 degrees in the control unit 32, so that “πt + C” is the correction value.

  In addition, since the electronic device 1 according to the present embodiment fixes one end of the display unit 11, the shift amount increases as the distance from the one end toward the other end increases. The control unit 32 performs correction in consideration of the reason.

Next, the electronic device 1 includes a mechanism that regulates the display unit 11 so as not to loosen in the open state and the closed state. This will be described below.
As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the electronic device 1 moves the holder 13 b to the second housing when the first housing 12 and the second housing 13 transition from the closed state to the open state. The urging member 41 is urged so as to move in the direction of the side surface not connected to the 13 connecting portions 14.

As described above, the display unit 11 includes one unit by sandwiching the elastic body 22 (for example, a gel sheet) between the display unit 21 (for example, a flexible liquid crystal) that is a display function device and the touch panel 23 that is an input device. It is composed.
One end side 11 a of the display unit 11 is attached to the first housing 12. The other end 11b of the display unit 11 is fixed to the holder 13b.

  One end 41 a of the urging member 41 is attached to the holder 13 b, and the other end 41 b of the urging member 41 is attached to the second housing 13. The one end 41a of the urging member 41 may be attached to the second housing 13, and the other end 41b of the urging member 41 may be attached to the holder 13b.

Here, the perspective view which permeate | transmitted the whole electronic device 1 is shown to Fig.10 (a). FIG. 10B shows an enlarged view of A in FIG.
The urging member 41 incorporates a spring coil. The spring coil generates an operating force in the directions of arrows B and C in FIG. 10B when transitioning from the closed state to the open state. When the holder 13b transitions from the closed state to the open state, the holder 13b moves in the direction of arrow D in FIG.

  Therefore, the electronic device 1 can smoothly transition by the repulsive force of the spring of the urging member 41 when transitioning from the closed state to the open state.

Next, a perspective view of the entire electronic device 1 is shown in FIG. Moreover, the figure which expanded E in Fig.11 (a) is shown in FIG.11 (b).
The spring coil built in the urging member 41 is compressed in the directions of arrows F and G in FIG. 11B when transitioning from the open state to the closed state. When the holder 13b transitions from the open state to the closed state, the holder 13b moves in the direction of the arrow H in FIG. 11B while applying a force in a direction against the repulsive force of the spring coil.
Therefore, when the electronic device 1 makes a transition from the open state to the closed state, the electronic device 1 can make a transition safely and quietly without making a sudden transition to the closed state.

  Further, FIG. 12A shows a perspective view through the entire electronic device 1. 12B and 12C are enlarged views of I in FIG. 12A. FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the electronic device 1 is in a closed state, and FIG. 12C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the electronic device 1 is transitioning from the closed state to the open state.

As shown in J in FIGS. 12B and 12C, the connecting portion 14 is formed with a concave cam link that holds the convex portion of the holder 13b in the closed state.
According to such a configuration, the electronic device 1 can maintain the closed state by the convex portion of the holder 13b being held by the cam link of the connecting portion 14. Further, in the closed state, when an external force is applied to open the convex portion of the holder 13b from the cam link in the closed state, the electronic device 1 releases the closed state and transitions to the open state.

  Note that the biasing member 41 of the slide mechanism may be slightly inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the connecting portion 14 even in the closed state. By doing so, when the concave cam link formed by the connecting portion 14 is released from the state in which the convex portion of the holder 13b is held, it is opened smoothly by being slightly angled in advance. It is possible to transition to.

Below, the effect which the electronic device 1 which concerns on a present Example show | plays is enumerated.
The electronic device 1 includes a biasing member 41 that is interlocked with the slide of the slide mechanism configured by the rail 13a and the holder 13b, and when the transition is made from the closed state to the open state, due to the repulsive force of the spring of the biasing member 41, The transition can be made smoothly, and when the transition is made from the open state to the closed state, the transition can be made safely and quietly without suddenly transitioning to the closed state.

  In the electronic device 1, the urging member 41 moves according to the opening and closing angles of the first housing 12 and the second housing 13, and the operation of the slide mechanism is made smooth.

The electronic apparatus 1 can maintain a closed state stably by the convex part of the holder 13b being hold | maintained at the concave cam link currently formed in the connection part 14. FIG.
When the opening / closing angle of the first housing 12 and the second housing 13 is changed from a closed state (for example, 0 degrees) to a predetermined angle (for example, 20 degrees), the electronic device 1 biases the slide mechanism. The repulsive force of the member 41 is reversed, and the holder 13b can be moved smoothly in the direction of the open state.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic device 11 Display unit 12 1st housing | casing 13 2nd housing | casing 13a Rail 13b Holder 14 Connection part 21 Display part 22 Elastic body 23 Touch panel 31 Bending detection part 32 Control part

Claims (7)

A display unit including a flexible display unit, an elastic body laminated on the display unit, and a flexible touch panel laminated on the elastic body;
A first housing;
A second housing;
A connecting portion that connects the first housing and the second housing so as to be openable and closable,
The display unit is provided from the first housing to the second housing,
One end side of the display unit is attached to the first housing,
When the connecting portion transitions from the closed state to the open state, the other end side of the display unit moves in a side surface direction that is not connected to the connecting portion of the second casing, and the connecting portion is moved from the open state. When transitioning to the closed state, it is attached so as to move in the side surface direction connected to the connecting portion of the second housing,
When the transition from the closed state to the open state begins, the other end side of the display unit is urged to move in the side surface direction, and in the closed state, the other end side of the display unit is moved in the side surface direction. Is a portable device further comprising a biasing member that does not bias.   The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit further includes an elastic body disposed between the display unit and the touch panel.   The portable device according to claim 2, wherein the elastic body is a gel that absorbs bending of the display unit in the closed state.   The portable device according to claim 2, wherein the elastic body has transparency. The other end side of the display unit is attached to a holder,
The rail for the said 2nd housing | casing to move to the direction to which the said holder is not connected with the said connection part from the said connection part side of the said 2nd housing, or the reverse direction is provided. 5. The portable device according to any one of items 1 to 4 . A bending detection unit for detecting that the display unit is bent;
When the bending by the bending detection section is detected, the mobile according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a control unit, a correcting the contact position in response to bending is the detection for the touch panel machine. The bending detection unit is an angle sensor that detects a bending angle,
The portable device according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit corrects the contact position according to a bending angle detected by the angle sensor.

Images