JPH0756653A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the use of a direct pointing device neither reducing the size of a display input screen nor deteriorating the operability even when a display input part is folded in a keyboard housed state, a portable application state, etc. CONSTITUTION:A display input part 6 is fixed in a state where a direct pointing device 1 is available even when the part 6 is folded by means of the 1st and 2nd hinge mechanisms 10 and 11. Then the part 6 is moved on a prescribed locus for use of a keyboard 2 and connected to a main body part 4 by both mechanisms 10 and 11. At least a torque control mechanism 12 is built into the hinge mechanism and can be fixed at an optional position (angle). The hinge mechanism has the small thickness and therefore the size of a display input screen 7 can be increased, and the looseness of the hinge mechanism is reduced since the fulcrum of the part 6 of the mechanism 11 is set at the center of the part 6. Furthermore a whole device is kept stable even when the device 1 is used since the centroid of the part 6 is included in the part 4 when the keyboard 2 is used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a keyboard and a display such as a personal computer, a word processor and a workstation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing a structure of a conventional information processing apparatus, one in which a direct pointing device cannot be used when a display input section is folded, and one in which it can be used. There are some.

Generally, in an information processing apparatus equipped with a direct pointing device 1 having a pen shape or the like, a main body portion 4 in which a keyboard 2 and a floppy disk drive (FDD) 3 are housed, and a first hinge shown in FIG. Some devices include a display input unit 6 in which a flat display connected to the main body unit 4 by a mechanism 5 and a tablet for coordinate input are superposed and integrated.

Among them, the display input unit 6 as shown in FIG.
In many cases, when the display was folded, the display input surface 7 could not be exposed. Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, as described in JP-A-4-188208 and JP-A-4-188213, the second hinge mechanism 8 and the support portion 9 are provided in the display input section 6 as shown in FIG. Is provided so that the display input surface 7 can be exposed to the external surface even when the display input unit 6 is folded, so that the direct pointing device 1 can be used.

[0005]

However, in the conventional information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 4, since the display input section 6 needs a space for incorporating the support section 9 and the second hinge mechanism 8, the display input surface 7 is not provided. There is a problem in that it becomes small and the visibility and design of the display surface deteriorate.

Further, when the keyboard 2 is used only when the portion connecting the body portion 4 and the display input portion 6 is at the end of the display input portion 6, the direct pointing device 1 is used to form the body portion 4 and the display input portion 6. When the end of the display input surface 7 on the opposite side of 6 is pressed, there is a problem that the display input surface 7 is largely rattled.

Further, when the keyboard 2 is used, since the center of gravity of the display input section 6 is not within the projected area from the top of the main body section 4, the direct pointing device 1
When the display input surface 7 is pressed with, the center of gravity of the entire device becomes unstable, and when the display input surface 7 is pressed further, the front surface of the main body portion 4 rises, which makes it difficult to use the direct pointing device 1.

The present invention is to solve such conventional problems all at once. Even when the keyboard 2 is used without downsizing the display input surface 7, the display input section 6 is folded. Even in this case, it is an object to provide an information processing apparatus having excellent operability of the direct pointing device 1.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a main body unit in which a keyboard is housed, a display input unit in which a display device and a tablet for coordinate input are stacked and housed in an integrated manner, and In order to stably use the direct pointing device regardless of whether the keyboard is used or the display input section is folded, two types of hinge mechanisms for connecting the main body section and the display input section are provided. It is characterized by having.

[0010]

According to the present invention, by providing two kinds of hinge mechanisms in the main body section and the display input section, the direct pointing can be performed both when the keyboard is used and when the display input section is folded. You can use the device stably. Furthermore, the support that requires space for the display input section and the conventional second hinge mechanism can be removed,
The display input surface can be enlarged.

[0011]

1 and 2 are perspective views showing the structure of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a display input section 6 is opened and a keyboard 2 and a direct pointing device 1 can be used. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the display input unit 6 is folded and the direct pointing device 1 can be used.

Here, the same components as those of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the upper surface of the main body 4,
The keyboard 2 is stored. Although not shown in the figure, the FDD 3 and a hard disk drive (HDD), an MPU, a memory, a power supply device, and the like are housed in the housing of the main body unit 4. Main unit 4 and display input unit 6 described later
The first hinge mechanism 10 and the second hinge mechanism 10 each made of a thin plate-like arm so that the display input unit 6 draws a predetermined locus so that the display input unit 6 can be changed from the state of FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 and the state of FIG. 2 to FIG. The hinge mechanism 11 connects the body 4 and the display input unit 6 at both sides. In addition, the second hinge mechanism 11
The fulcrum of the display input unit 6 side is located at the center of the display input unit 6. The torque adjusting mechanism 12 is for fixing the display input section 6 at an arbitrary position, and is arranged at the fulcrum of the first hinge mechanism 10 on the display input section 6 side in the present embodiment. At least one torque adjusting mechanism 12 may be arranged at any one of the fulcrums of the second hinge mechanism. The second
Two hinge mechanisms 11 are provided on the left and right sides, but one hinge mechanism may be provided at the center of the back surface of the display input section 6.

The display input unit 6 is composed of, for example, a tablet for coordinate input stacked under a liquid crystal display (LCD), and the coordinate measurement is performed by an electromagnetic induction method.

Since this information processing apparatus does not require the second hinge mechanism 8 and the supporting portion 9 as shown in FIG. 4, the LCD and the tablet can be made larger. As an example,
Although an LCD is used as the display, a flat panel display such as a plasma display or an EL display can be used instead. Further, in the display input section 6, coordinates are input by an electromagnetic induction method in which a tablet is stacked below the display, but other methods such as an electrostatic capacity method or a pressure sensitive method in which a tablet for coordinate input is provided on the display are used. You may comprise by a coordinate input system.

Next, the installation state of the device according to the purpose will be described. First, when using the keyboard 2 and the direct pointing device 1, the state is set as shown in FIG. When the direct pointing device 1 is used in this state, unlike the conventional example of FIG. 3 and FIG.
Since there is a fulcrum of the hinge mechanism 11, there is little rattling when pressed anywhere on the display input surface 7. Further, because of the configuration of the present invention, the center of gravity of the display input unit 6 is within the projected area from the top of the main body unit 4, so that the entire apparatus is very stable even when the direct pointing device 1 is used. In this state, it is possible to use only the keyboard 2 or the direct pointing device 1.

When only the direct pointing device 1 is used or when the display input section 6 is folded when carrying, the state is set as shown in FIG. In this state, the direct pointing device 1 is in a stable and easy-to-use state even when it is carried on a desk or carried.

In this way, the keyboard 2 and the direct pointing device 1 can be used with the smallest projected area on the desk.
Stable input is possible, and when the display input unit 6 is folded, the direct pointing device 1 can be used even on a desk or when carrying it.

[0019]

As described above, the information processing apparatus of the present invention has the following effects.

1. Since the main body part and the display input part are connected by two kinds of hinge mechanisms, the direct pointing device is used whether the keyboard is used or the display input part is folded. be able to.

2. In the display input section, a conventional support section or a second section is provided.
No need for a hinge mechanism, first hinge mechanism and second hinge mechanism
Since the hinge mechanism can be made up of thin parts, the storage space for the hinge mechanism is small, and the display input surface can be enlarged.

3. Since the fulcrum of the second hinge mechanism on the side of the display input section comes to the center of this display input section, when the display input surface is pushed by the direct pointing device while the keyboard is being used, the display input section is displayed. Less rattling.

4. When a keyboard is used, the center of gravity of the display / input unit is within the projected area from the top of the main unit due to the structure of the hinge mechanism. The whole is stable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a keyboard and a direct pointing device of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be used.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the display input unit of FIG. 1 is folded and a direct pointing device can be used.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional information processing apparatus in which a direct pointing device cannot be used when the display input unit is folded.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional information processing apparatus that can use a direct pointing device when the display input unit is folded.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Direct pointing device, 2 ... Keyboard, 3 ... FDD, 4 ... Main body part, 6 ... Display input part,
7 ... Display input surface, 10 ... 1st hinge mechanism, 11 ... 2nd hinge mechanism, 12 ... Torque adjustment mechanism.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A main body unit in which a keyboard is housed, a display input unit in which a display device and a tablet for coordinate input are stacked and housed integrally, and the display input unit is folded even when the keyboard is in use. An information processing apparatus comprising two kinds of hinge mechanisms for connecting the main body section and the display input section so that the direct pointing device can be stably used even in the unloaded state. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fulcrum of one of the two types of hinge mechanisms on the side of the display input unit is located at a central portion of the display input unit. 3. The information according to claim 1, wherein the display area of the display input section is equal to the projected area of the main body section when the display input section is folded. Processing equipment. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the display input section is within a projected area from above the main body section when the keyboard is used.