JPH0854961A - Portable information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reinforce a display part case without increasing the whole weight, without providing a metal plate for reinforcement between the external plate of the display part case and a liquid crystal display panel. CONSTITUTION:In a portable information processor 10 where a keyboard 50 for input of information is arranged on the side of a main body case 30 and a display part case 20 which has a hinge structure and can be freely opened and closed is provided on the main body case 30, the display part case 20 is provided with a liquid crystal display part 21 on the internal surface, opposed to the keyboard arrangement surface of the main body case 30 so that an information display part may appear when the case 20 is opened and a bulge pattern is formed on the external surface of the display part case 20 so that the pattern may be opposed to the liquid crystal display part 21 and cover an exposure surface. It is desirable to compose the bulge pattern by plural bulge ribs formed substantially along a vertical direction for the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal display part 21. As a result, even when abnormally strong pressure which is not generated in a normal use state is applied to the display part case 20, the bending amount of a liquid crystal glass surface can be reduced, breakages can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information processing device, and more particularly, a keyboard for inputting information is arranged on the main body case side, and a display case is attached to the main body case by a hinge structure so as to be openable and closable. It is also applied to a portable information processing device, and is suitable for protecting a liquid crystal display unit of a thin portable information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thin portable information processing device has a keyboard for inputting information on the body case side and a display case attached to the body case by a hinge structure so as to be openable and closable. It is also disclosed in the design registration No. 871438 issued by the applicant and is already known.

Since this type of portable information processing device is small and thin, it is excellent in portability, but if it is pushed extremely strongly or accidentally stepped on it, which is not expected in normal use. There is also a risk that the liquid crystal display part may be cracked or cracked, or in the worst case, may be broken.

In order to prevent such a situation, it is conceivable to provide a reinforcing metal plate or the like between the outer plate material of the display case and the liquid crystal display panel, but this would increase the weight and eventually It lacked portability.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, according to the present invention, a thin portable device is provided with a keyboard for inputting information on the main body case side and a display case attached to the main body case by a hinge structure so as to be openable and closable. -Type information processing device achieves reinforcement of the display case without substantially increasing the overall weight without providing a reinforcing metal plate or the like between the outer plate material of the display case and the liquid crystal display panel. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, according to the present invention, a portable information is provided in which a keyboard for inputting information is arranged on the main body case side, and a display case is attached to the main body case by a hinge structure so as to be openable and closable. In the processing device, a liquid crystal display unit is provided on the inner surface of the main body case facing the keyboard arrangement surface so that the information display unit appears on the display unit case when opened, and the outer surface of the display unit case is provided. The bulging pattern is formed so as to face the liquid crystal display portion and substantially cover the region corresponding to the inner exposed surface thereof. It is desirable that the bulging pattern be formed by a plurality of bulging ribs formed along a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal display section.

[0007]

In the information processing apparatus such as the present invention, it is usual to design so that there is some gap even when the display case is closed on the main body case, and the stroke of the key part is Taking the above into consideration, the deformable gap on the liquid crystal glass surface of the display case is 5 mm or more at the maximum with respect to the member facing the main body case. In the present invention, the bulging pattern on the display unit case is formed at a position overlapping with the arrangement position of the keyboard, and is formed in an arc shape so that the vicinity of the central portion of the liquid crystal glass surface is the highest. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the pressure from the a direction is received by the strong box-shaped liquid crystal panel frame which is dispersed in the c and d directions along the arc of the bulging pattern.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the outer shape of the rib, which is one element of the bulging pattern, is composed of three arcs, has a hollow bag-like three-dimensional shape, and has a substantially central portion of the rib. Since the parts are formed so as to be in contact with each other and arranged continuously, the force from the outside can be dispersed not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments, a Japanese word processor (hereinafter simply referred to as a word processor) will be described as a specific example, but the present invention can be applied to any portable information processing device. Just because the description of is limited to word processors, the invention is not so limited.

FIG. 1 is an external view of the portable word processor of the present invention in use, and FIG. 2 is an external view of the display case with the case closed.

In FIG. 1, the entire portable word processor of the present invention is designated by the attached numeral 10. The portable word processor 10 of the present invention comprises a display case 20 and a main body case 30, and the display case 20 is pivotally supported on the main body case 30 by a hinge 40 so as to be openable and closable. Has been done. The display case 30 can be opened and closed by rotating around the hinge 40. When the display case 20 and the body case 30 are closed, they are fixed by the lock piece 22 (FIG. 2).

When the display case 20 is opened (FIG. 1), the liquid crystal panel 21 is exposed in the opening 25 of the display case 20 so that the information display section faces the operator. It is provided in. A plurality of openings 31, 32, 33, etc. are also formed in the body case 30, and a power button 34, a main keyboard 50, a function selection key 51, a numeric keypad 52, a trackball 60, and an enter button 65 are exposed on the open upper surface. Is provided. In this case, the trackball means a means for moving a cursor or the like displayed on the information display unit in response to the scanning movement of the operator's finger or the like, which is called a trackpad. But good.

Further, a floppy disk insertion opening 70 for inserting and removing a floppy disk is formed on a side portion of the main body case 30, and a floppy disk eject button 7 for ejecting the floppy disk is formed.
5 are provided.

On the outer surface of the display unit case, a plurality of liquid crystal display units are formed in a longitudinal direction, in the embodiment of the present invention, a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction coinciding with the pivot axis direction of the hinge. A rib-shaped bulging pattern 100 is formed.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the positional relationship on the plane of the bulging pattern 100 together with the liquid crystal panel 21 and the keyboard 50. FIG. 4A is a lateral cross section of the bulging pattern 100 near the center thereof. FIG. 4B is a detailed external view of the bulging pattern 100.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the liquid crystal panel 21
In detail, is composed of a liquid crystal panel frame 26 and a liquid crystal glass surface 27. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal panel frame 26 is generally made of metal for reinforcement, and in particular, since the peripheral portion has a box shape and is strong, it is necessary to protect it from an external force. This is the portion corresponding to the exposed liquid crystal glass surface 27.

The outer surface of the display case 20 is formed by an outer plate member 23 having a substantially uniform thickness, and the outer plate member 23 and the inner plate member 24 are combined to form a display unit case. . An opening 25 is formed in the inner plate member 24 to expose the liquid crystal glass surface 27, and a plurality of bulging patterns 100 are formed in the outer plate member 23 in a region corresponding to the liquid crystal display unit exposed from the opening unit 25. It is formed in a range that substantially covers. In this embodiment, "the range which substantially covers the area corresponding to the liquid crystal display section exposed from the opening 25" means that no crack or crack is generated when an external force acts on the liquid crystal display section. It means a sufficient range that is necessary in order to form a range that substantially covers the area in the short-side direction of the liquid crystal display section where the bending rate becomes large for the same amount of displacement. There is a need to.

In order to achieve such an action, in this embodiment, the bulging pattern 100 has a plurality of bulging ribs 10 extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal panel 21.
1 and the cross-sectional shape thereof is one of a mountain shape, an arc shape, and a U-shape that swells outward, and the swelling pattern has a longitudinal direction (a lateral direction of the liquid crystal panel 21). ) The vicinity of the central portion is highest, and the heights at both end portions thereof are substantially zero (the same height as the outer surface of the outer plate member 23 of the display case 20).

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the bulging pattern 10
The shape of 0 is a mountain shape having a height dimension of H1 and a width dimension of W7 and W8, and the plate thickness is formed substantially uniformly at T1 along the outer shape of the mountain shape. FIG. 4B shows a bulging rib 101 which is an element of the bulging pattern 100. Bulging rib 1
The outer shape of 01 is a three-dimensional shape having three arcs, R1, R2, and R3, and the inside of which is a hollow bag shape. The bulging pattern 100 is formed such that the substantially central portions of the bulging ribs 101 are in contact with each other in the lateral direction along the center line 102 and are continuously arranged. The bulging pattern 100 shown in FIG. 4 (b) is shown as an optimum embodiment, and of course, the shapes of the bulging ribs may be different from each other, and they are always formed in contact with each other when they are laterally adjacent to each other. However, depending on the strength, the swelling ribs may be separated from each other and may be adjacent to each other (not shown). Further, when higher strength is required, the bulging ribs can be formed so as to overlap each other (not shown).

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the bulging pattern 10
The center line 102 of 0 and the center line 28 in the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal glass surface 27 or the opening 25 (in this embodiment, the lateral direction when using the information processing device or the direction of the hinge pivot axis) are substantially coincident with each other. Is formed. In an actual device, the liquid crystal glass surface 27 or the central portion 36 of the opening 25 is represented by W1 and D1 (the horizontal dimension is W and the vertical dimension is D in the direction shown in FIG. 3. The same applies to the following. The optimum numerical value of the dimension is at the position of), W2, D
The size is 2. In addition, the liquid crystal panel frame 26,
A portion of the liquid crystal glass surface 27 having a size of W3 and D3 is cut out. The main keyboard 50 is arranged so that its upper end portion is located above the central portion 36 by D4, and has a size of D5 and W5. The bulging pattern 100 preferably has its central portion 37 located near the central portion 36 of the liquid crystal glass surface 27, and its size is W.
6, D6.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the whole of the information processing apparatus of the present invention with the display case 20 and the main case 30 closed. Display case 20 and body case 3
In the closed state of 0, the gap dimension near the hinge portion is H2, and the gap dimension between the display case 20 and the key top 55 of the keyboard 50 is H3. The key top 55
Since the stroke is H4 and the step size between the display case 20 and the liquid crystal glass surface 27 is H5, a maximum gap of 5.2 mm is created in the range D7 where the liquid crystal glass surface 27 and the keyboard 50 overlap. Occurs.

In the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the bulging pattern 100 is formed in an arc shape as a whole so that the vicinity of the central portion of the liquid crystal glass surface 27 is the highest, so that the information The external force from above (pressure from the “a” direction in the figure) when the processing device is closed is dispersed in the “c” and “d” directions along the arc of the swelling pattern 100 to form a box shape. And strong LCD panel frame 2
The force will be distributed to the six parts.

When an abnormal force is applied to the information processing apparatus of the present invention from the outside and the liquid crystal panel 21 is cracked, normally, a crack is formed along the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal glass surface 27. . That is, the amount of bending in the vertical direction and the amount of bending in the horizontal direction are different due to the displacement in the vicinity of the center of the liquid crystal glass surface 27, and the bending ratio in the horizontal direction is significantly larger than the bending ratio in the vertical direction. Therefore, when protecting the glass surface 27 of the liquid crystal panel, along the longitudinal direction of the device (the lateral direction of the liquid crystal glass surface) so as to reinforce along the lateral direction of the liquid crystal panel glass surface having a large deflection rate. It is advantageous to have a bulging pattern.

Based on this idea, a modified example other than the above-described embodiments as a form of forming the bulging pattern 100 will be described below.

Modified Example 1. FIG. 6 shows the bulging pattern 10 so as to cover substantially the entire exposed area of the liquid crystal glass surface 27.
It is the one with 0. In this embodiment, the length of the bulging rib 101 is equal to or slightly longer than the distance in the lateral direction of the exposed portion of the liquid crystal glass surface 27. As a result, stronger reinforcement can be achieved along the short side direction of the liquid crystal glass surface 27.

Modification 2. In FIG. 7, the bulging pattern 100 is arranged so as to cover substantially the entire area of the exposed portion of the liquid crystal glass surface 27, and the bulging ribs 101 are vertically shifted alternately. With this configuration, the reinforcement along the lateral direction of the liquid crystal glass surface 27 is smaller than that of the modification example (1), but by changing the shift degree to change the overlapping distance D9 of the bulging ribs 101. It is possible to adjust the strength of the liquid crystal glass surface 27 along the lateral direction.

Modification 3. In FIG. 8, the bulging pattern 100 is arranged so as to cover substantially the entire area of the exposed portion of the liquid crystal glass surface 27, and the bulging rib 101 is slanted with respect to the center. With such a configuration, in addition to the reinforcement along the lateral direction of the liquid crystal glass surface 27, a reinforcement effect along the longitudinal direction can be obtained.
By changing the inclination angle of the bulging rib 101, it is possible to select the ratio of reinforcement along the lateral direction and reinforcement along the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal glass surface 27.

Modification 4. In FIG. 9, a bulging pattern 100 is arranged so as to cover substantially the entire area of the exposed portion of the liquid crystal glass surface 27, and is composed of a number of bulging ribs 101 capable of ensuring a minimum reinforcing strength. Is.

Modification 5 FIG. 10 shows a bulging pattern 100 arranged so as to cover substantially the entire area of the exposed portion of the liquid crystal glass surface 27. The bulging pattern 100 is formed by bulging ribs 101 and 102 which intersect at right angles. It is composed. With such a configuration, in addition to the reinforcement along the lateral direction of the liquid crystal glass surface 27, a sufficient reinforcement effect along the longitudinal direction can be obtained. By changing the number of laterally formed bulging ribs 102, the strength of the liquid crystal glass surface 27 along the longitudinal direction can be adjusted.

Modification 6. FIG. 11 shows a bulging pattern 100 that covers substantially the entire upper surface of the display case 20.
Are arranged. With this configuration,
The reinforcement along the width direction of the liquid crystal glass surface 27 can be made stronger.

Modified Example 7. In FIG. 12, the liquid crystal glass surface 27 is substantially covered, and the bulging pattern 100 is arranged so as to draw an arc on the surface. At this time, the greater the radius of curvature of the arc, the greater the strength along the lateral direction of the liquid crystal glass surface 27.

Modification 8 FIG. 13 shows a bulging pattern 10 in which the liquid crystal glass surface 27 is substantially covered and is short at both ends and long at the center.
It is formed to have a bulge at 0. With this structure, it is possible to reinforce the central portion of the liquid crystal glass surface 27 in the lateral direction, which requires higher strength.

Since the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, the following operational effects are achieved.

1. When the display unit case 20 is a flat single plate, the liquid crystal glass surface 27 is allowed when an abnormally strong pressure that does not occur in the normal use state from the “a” direction (FIG. 5) is applied. Although there is a risk that it will bend more than the limit and cause cracks, or at the worst, it may break, but as described above, the pressure is distributed to the strong frame portion (direction “U” and direction “D” in FIG. 5). As a result, the amount of bending of the liquid crystal glass surface 27 can be reduced, and as a result, damage can be prevented.

2. Further, since the bulging rib 101 is molded with a uniform plate thickness, it is possible to realize weight reduction while having strength.

3. Even when the device is carried in a bag or the like and is carried, the bulging pattern 100 is formed by the bulging ribs 101, so that the rubbed portion is not planar and is linear, so that it is less likely to be scratched. But it will be less noticeable.

4. When carrying the surface of the bulging pattern 100 in contact with the body, resistance is generated by the bulging rib 101 formed in the vertical direction, and the lateral shift is reduced, so that the bulging pattern 100 can be carried stably.

5. By forming the bulging pattern 100, a light reflecting surface and a shadow surface are formed, so that it is possible to put on the market a molded product that is a resin cloth without painting.
It is possible to use recyclable resin, because the ara during molding becomes inconspicuous.

6. Since the bulging pattern 100 gently curved in an arc shape is formed on the upper surface of the device, it is difficult to stabilize and place an object, and a coffee cup or the like is carelessly placed on the device to spill the contents and break the device. Will disappear.

7. Since the bulging pattern 100 is formed on the top surface of the device, the difference between the front surface and the back surface of the device can be instantly discriminated, and it is less likely to accidentally place the device face down and scratch the device.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the preferred component dimensions are tabulated below.

[0042]

[Table 1]

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, by forming the bulging pattern on the outer surface of the display case as described above, an abnormally strong pressure which does not occur in the normal use condition is applied to the outer surface of the display case. Even when it acts, the amount of bending of the liquid crystal glass surface can be reduced, and as a result, damage such as cracks can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable word processor of the present invention in use.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the display case closed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a positional relationship on a plane of a bulging pattern. FIG.

4A and 4B are detailed views of the bulging pattern, where FIG. 4A is a lateral cross-sectional view near the center of the bulging pattern, and FIG. 4B is an external view of the bulging pattern.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the display case and the main body case are closed.

FIG. 6 is a modification of a bulging pattern that covers the exposed surface of the liquid crystal glass.

FIG. 7 is a modification of a bulging pattern that covers the exposed surface of the liquid crystal glass.

FIG. 8 is a modification of the bulging pattern that covers the exposed surface of the liquid crystal glass.

FIG. 9 is a modification of the bulging pattern that covers the exposed surface of the liquid crystal glass.

FIG. 10 is a modification of the bulging pattern that covers the exposed surface of the liquid crystal glass.

FIG. 11 is a modification of the bulging pattern that covers the exposed surface of the liquid crystal glass.

FIG. 12 is a modification of a bulging pattern that covers the exposed surface of the liquid crystal glass.

FIG. 13 is a modification of the bulging pattern that covers the exposed surface of the liquid crystal glass.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Portable information processing device, 20 ... Display case, 21
... Liquid crystal panel, 30 ... Main body case, 40 ... Hinge, 50
... Main keyboard, 60 ... Trackball, 65 ... Enter button 70 ... Floppy disk insertion slot, 75 ... Floppy disk eject button, 100 ... Swelling pattern, 10
1 ... Swelling rib

Front page continued (72) Inventor Kenta Kumagai 1-280 Higashi Koigakubo, Kokubunji, Tokyo Inside the Hitachi Design Research Co., Ltd. Inside the research institute (72) Inventor Shigeki Masatsugu 1-280, Higashikoigakubo, Kokubunji, Tokyo Inside the Hitachi Design Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A portable information processing device comprising a main body case and a display case which is attached to the main body case by a hinge structure so as to be openable and closable, and a keyboard for inputting information is arranged in the main body case. However, the display case is provided with a liquid crystal display section on the inner surface facing the keyboard placement surface of the main body case so that the information display section appears when opened, and on the outer surface of the display case. A portable information processing device, wherein a bulging pattern is formed so as to substantially cover an area corresponding to an inwardly exposed portion of the liquid crystal display section. 2. The outer surface of the display case is formed of a plate material having a substantially uniform thickness, and the bulging pattern formed on the plate material is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal display section. The portable information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the portable information processing device is configured by a plurality of bulging ribs formed along the direction. 3. A plurality of bulging ribs formed on the plate material of the display case is characterized in that the cross-sectional shape thereof is either mountain-shaped, arc-shaped or outwardly bulging U-shaped. The portable information processing device according to claim 2. 4. The outer surface of the display unit case is formed of a plate material having a substantially uniform thickness, and the plurality of bulging ribs formed on the plate member are near the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the bulging rib. 3. It is formed to have the highest height, and the heights at both end portions thereof are substantially zero.
Alternatively, the portable information processing device described in 3. 5. The outer surface of the display case is formed of a plate material having a substantially uniform thickness, and the plurality of bulging ribs formed on the plate material are formed so as to be in contact with each other. The portable information processing apparatus according to claim 2, 3, or 4.