JPH0981269A - Electronic equipment with communication function and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to arrange a communication unit on a high position above an equipment only at the time of using the equipment by providing the equipment with a locking means, a rod having a communication unit and a means for erecting the rod interlocking with the unlocking operation of the locking means. SOLUTION: When the equipment is locked, the communication unit 106 is stored in a recessed part of a cover part 103. Since an operation knob 101 is moved in a prescribed direction at the time of opening the cover part 103, a click 102 of the cover part 103 is moved in the prescribed direction. Thereby the click 102 is disengaged from a pin 108 and the cover part 103 can be opened. A gear 104 engaged with a linear gear 101a is rotated in the counterclockwise direction due to the movement of the knob 101 and a supporting arm 105 also is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Thus the unit 106 is extruded to the outside of the cover part 103. When the cover part 103 is opened, power is automatically supplied to the unit 106.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device with a communication function equipped with a communication antenna and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers have come to be equipped with wireless communication devices that utilize communication media such as infrared rays and radio waves. Among such wireless communication devices, a communication device that uses infrared rays performs communication by modulating infrared light, and thus performs smooth communication when an obstacle exists between the transmission side terminal and the reception side terminal. I can't. Therefore, when equipping a personal computer with such an infrared communication device,
Considering the usage situation of the computer, it is necessary to install the communication unit at a physically high position to improve the visibility with the partner device.

Further, in the case of a communication device utilizing radio waves, it is desirable to use a communication antenna (communication unit) sufficiently exposed from a radio wave shield in order to perform transmission without error.

In general, in the case of a personal computer, the exterior of the computer device is often made conductive to prevent EMC noise, and therefore it is necessary to install an antenna outside the device. That is, as described above, the communication unit of the computer with the wireless communication device is
It must be exposed to the outside of the device during communication.

[0005]

However, in the case of a notebook type personal computer that places importance on portability and portability, if the communication unit is fixedly installed outside the device, the portability is greatly affected. It becomes an obstacle. Furthermore,
In the case of an infrared communication device, since the communication unit has a directional property (directivity), the weight of each communication is 1 to 3 kg.
It was very inconvenient to operate because I had to move the position of some equipment and adjust it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and provides an electronic device with a communication function in which a communication unit is positioned at a physically high position above the device only when the device is used. With the goal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable electronic device having a communication function which positions a communication unit at a communicable position according to the opening / closing of the lid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device with a communication function and a control method for the same, in which power consumption to the communication unit is cut off when the communication unit is not in use. To do.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electronic device with a communication function and a control method for the same, which can prevent a communication unit from protruding outside when the device is not used.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device with a communication function of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, it is a foldable electronic device with a communication function having a lid portion that accommodates a display portion, and a locking means that locks the lid portion and the body portion in a closed state, and a communication device near the tip. It has a rod having a unit and an erecting means for erecting the rod in association with an unlocking operation of the locking means.

In order to achieve the above object, the control method in the electronic device with communication function of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, it is a control method of a foldable electronic device with a communication function having a lid that accommodates a display unit and a main body, and detects whether or not the lid and the main body are closed and locked. And a step of accommodating the communication unit in the device and suppressing power supply to the communication unit when the lid and the main body are closed.

[0012]

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking means for locking the lid portion and the main body portion locks the lid portion and the main body portion in a closed state, or It has an operation knob for releasing the lock.

The rod having the communication unit is
The operation knob has a linear gear that meshes with the gear, and the upright state of the rod is changed by the movement of the operation knob.

Further, a detecting means for detecting the locked state by the locking means, and a means for interrupting or suppressing the power supply to the communication unit when the detecting means detects the locked state. Have.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a computer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 120 denotes a notebook computer body, which is shown here with a lid 103 having a display closed. 101 is an operation knob described later, and 105 is a support arm (rod) that supports a communication unit 106 including a communication antenna. As shown in FIG. 1, the support arm 105 is usually a lid 10
It is accommodated in the concave portion 122 of the No. 3. Reference numeral 121 is a disk drive for inserting and reading a floppy disk for reading and writing. [First Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a storage mechanism in a personal computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The operation knob 101 is an operation knob for a lock mechanism for locking / unlocking the opening / closing of the lid 103 and the device body 120. The operation knob 101 has a linear gear 101a which meshes with the gear 104 and converts a horizontal movement for locking / unlocking the operation knob 101 into rotation of the gear 104.
The gear 104 is fixed with the shaft 104a as the center of rotation, and the support arm 105 is fixed to the gear 104. Therefore, as the gear 104 rotates, the standing angle of the support arm 105 increases. Be changed. Reference numeral 102 is a claw for locking the lid 103 in the main body 120 in a closed state. In addition, this communication unit 106 performs communication using infrared rays in the present embodiment. 107,1
Reference numeral 08 is a stopper for limiting the horizontal movement distance of the operation knob 101. Reference numeral 109 is a sensor that detects that the lid 103 is locked to the main body 120 by the claw 102.

3A and 3B are conceptual diagrams showing the movement of the support arm 105 in the computer device of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 3A, the lid 103 is closed,
It shows a state when the main body 120 is locked.
Further, FIG. 3B shows a state in which the operating knob 101 is operated to unlock the lid, and the lid 103 is opened.

At the time of locking shown in FIG.
Since it is engaged with the pin 108 of the main body 120, it can be seen that even if the lid 103 is opened, it is not opened due to the engagement of the claw 102. In addition, when the lock is applied, the above-mentioned FIG.
As shown in FIG.
It is stored in 2.

When the lid 103 shown in FIG. 3 (B) is opened, the operation knob 101 is moved in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 3 (A).
Moves downward in FIG. As a result, the claw 102 and the pin 108 of the main body 120 are disengaged, and the lid 103 can be opened. At this time, operation knob 1
The movement of 01 causes the gear 104 meshing with the linear gear 101a to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the support arm 105 also rotates in the counterclockwise direction (the arrow G direction in FIG. 3A) accordingly. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3B, the communication unit 106 is projected to the outside of the lid 103.

FIG. 4 shows the lid portion 10 in the state of FIG. 3 (B).
3 is a rear view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of the computer device of this embodiment.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 901 denotes a CPU that controls the entire apparatus. The CPU 901 is provided with a ROM or the like that stores a control program (flowchart in FIG. 6) executed by the CPU 901. Reference numeral 903 is a power supply (for example, a battery) that supplies power to the computer device, and 905 is a power supply switch.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control processing executed by the CPU 901.

First, in step S1, it is checked whether or not the lock mechanism switch / sensor 109 is on, that is, whether or not the lid 103 and the main body 120 are closed and in the locked state, and if so, the process proceeds to step S3, Switch 905
Turn off. As a result, the power supply to the communication unit 106 is cut off. If it is not in the locked state, the process proceeds from step S2 to step S4, and the switch 905 is turned on. As a result, the power source 903 changes the communication unit 10
The power supply to 6 is started, and the communication unit 106 becomes operable.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the communication unit 106 is automatically opened when the lid 103 is opened.
When the lid 103 is closed and locked, the power supply to the communication unit 106 is automatically cut off, so that wasteful power consumption can be suppressed and battery life can be extended. is there. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a conceptual view of the operation of the support arm 105 in a computer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the right side of the device.

FIG. 7A shows a state in which the lid 103 is closed, FIG. 7B shows a state in which the lid 103 is slightly opened, and FIG. 7C shows the lid 103. Shows that it is opened vertically. Further, FIG. 7D shows the lid 103.
Shows a state in which the computer device is further opened and the computer device is actually used. These FIG. 7 (B) -FIG.
As shown in (D), depending on the opening angle of the lid 103,
By mounting the communication unit 106, the standing angle of the support arm 105 is large. Here, when the standing angle of the lid 103 based on the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display provided on the lid 103 is set, the standing angle of the support arm 105 is set to be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal. There is.

FIG. 8 is a mechanism diagram showing a rotating mechanism of the support arm 105 in the computer device according to the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the supporting arm 105 is utilized by utilizing the rotating operation of the lid 103.
The standing angle of is changed. Reference numeral 501 is a rotation mechanism that rotates the pulley 501a based on the rotation operation of the lid 103. 502 is a pulley 501a of the rotating mechanism 501.
A belt for transmitting the rotation from the gear to the gear 503.
Reference numeral 503 is a pulley that converts the movement of the belt 502 into rotational movement, and 504 is the rotation of the pulley 503.
It is a gear for transmitting to the gear 505 fixed to. The gear 505 is fixed to the support arm 105, and its rotation (rotation)
Thus, the standing angle of the support arm 105 is changed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the standing angle of the support arm 105 is automatically determined according to the opening angle of the lid 103. Here, as described above, the gear ratios of the gears 504 and 505 are adjusted so that the communication unit 106 is most appropriately positioned when the lid 103 is opened at the optimum display angle. Be present.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the rotating mechanism 501 shown in FIG.

Numeral 510 is a ratchet having a rotary shaft coaxial with the pulley 501a, and numeral 512 is a claw for limiting the rotation of the ratchet 510. This claw 512 has a shaft 51
3 around the ratchet 510 by the spring 511
Is urged by.

With this mechanism, the ratchet 510 and the pulley 501a installed on the concentric circle thereof are restricted from rotating in the clockwise direction by the claws 512, and therefore rotate only in the counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, when the lid 103 is opened, the rotation of the pulley 501a by the ratchet 510 is restricted, and the pulley 501a is not rotated. Therefore, the pulley 503 on the communication unit 106 side rotates in the counterclockwise direction. The rotational movement due to this is transmitted to the support arm 105 via the gears 504 and 505, and as shown in the figure, the support arm 10
5 will stand up.

When the user wants to adjust the standing angle of the supporting arm 105, the user may change the standing angle of the supporting arm 105 itself. By doing this, the gears 505, 50
4, the rotary motion associated with the change in the angle is transmitted to the pulley 501a via the pulley 503. At this time, since there is no restriction on the rotation of the ratchet 510, it is possible to return the support arm 105 to an arbitrary angle.

The pulley 50 is also used when the lid 103 is closed.
Since 1a rotates counterclockwise, ratchet 51
Since there is no restriction by 0, the ratchet 510 and the pulley 501a rotate. That is, since the rotational movement when closing the lid 103 is not transmitted to the support arm 105,
The communication unit 106 remains upright. This is convenient when communication is to be performed using the communication unit 106 with the lid 103 closed.

Further, by making the resistance force against the rotation of the pulley 503 smaller than the resistance force against the rotation of the ratchet 510 in the counterclockwise direction, when the lid 103 is closed, the closing operation is performed in accordance with the closing operation. The support arm 105 may be automatically rotated in the storage direction.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of an infrared communication unit showing a modified example of the communication unit 106 of the second embodiment.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 402 denotes the support arm 105.
It is a base part that rotates in the vertical direction with respect to. Reference numeral 403 is a roller supporting portion, which is fixed to the base portion 402. Four
Reference numeral 04 denotes a roller, and an infrared LED and an infrared light receiving element used for communication using infrared rays are embedded in the roller 404. Reference numeral 405 is an optical communication unit in which an infrared LED and an infrared light receiving element are integrally provided. Incidentally, such a configuration of the communication unit can be applied to the above-described first and third embodiments described later.

With such a mechanism, the direction of light emission and light reception by the infrared communication unit is determined by the cylindrical support arm 105.
It becomes possible to adjust independently of the standing angle of. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 11 is a mechanism diagram for changing the protruding state of a communication unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the lid 103 is closed and not locked. Is shown.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 120 denotes a main body, and a portion indicated by a dotted line in the drawing is a claw 715 of the lock lever 712.
Is a groove for moving. A communication antenna 703 corresponds to the support arm 105 described above. In the third embodiment, radio wave communication is assumed,
A spring mechanism for holding the protruding position of the communication antenna 703 is included in the inside. 704 is a spring mechanism,
A cam 706 holds the communication antenna 703 in a protruding state by pushing the spring mechanism 704 upward. A sensor 705 detects whether or not the communication antenna 703 is protruding.

In such an unlocked state, FIG.
As described above, the spring mechanism 704 is held on the upper side, but when the lock lever 712 is operated in the locking direction (downward in FIG. 11), the linear gear 712a of the lock lever 712 is operated.
And the gear 711 mesh with each other, and the gear 711 rotates counterclockwise. As a result, the cam 706 rotates clockwise, and the pressing force of the cam 706 on the spring mechanism 704 is released. As a result, the communication antenna 703 is housed in the lid 103 by the pulling force of the spring 707. The spring 707 includes a communication antenna 703 and a spring mechanism 70.
4 is tensioned in the storage direction (downward in FIG. 11). Reference numeral 708 denotes a stopper for holding the communication antenna 703 and the spring mechanism 704 at a predetermined position during storage.

Pulleys 709 and 710 and a gear 711 are used to convert the linear movement of the lock lever 712 into the rotational movement of the cam 706. By pushing this lock lever 712 downward in FIG. 11,
The lid 103 and the main body 120 are locked, and the communication antenna 703 returns to the storage position. In this way, the main body 120 and the lid 103 having the display are locked, and the communication antenna 703 is automatically housed in the lid 103. Reference numeral 713 is a stopper of the lock lever 712. In addition, the pin 714 engages with the claw 715, and the lid 10 is engaged.
It is a pin for locking 3.

FIGS. 12A to 12C are conceptual diagrams explaining the operation of the computer device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 12A, when the lid 103 is opened, the cam 706 is facing left, and the linear gear 712a of the lock lever 712 is the rotary gear 7.
It is located away from 11. In this state, the lock lever 71
When 2 is pushed further upward, as shown in FIG. 12B, the lock lever 712 pushes up the communication antenna 703 against the tension of the spring 707, and is held by the spring mechanism 704 at the projecting position. At this time, the fact that the communication antenna 703 is projected by the sensor 705 is transmitted to the control CPU 111 (FIG. 13) of the computer device.

From this state, the lock lever 712 is
Is lowered downward, the rotary gear 711 rotates in the counterclockwise direction by meshing with the linear gear 712a of the lock lever 712, which causes the cam 706 to rotate in the clockwise direction. As a result, the holding of the spring mechanism 704 is released and the tension of the spring 707 causes the communication antenna 703 to move.
It is stored in 03. Thereafter, when the lock lever 712 is released as shown in FIG. 12A, the cam 706 returns to the initial position.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of a computer device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Parts common to those in the previous drawings are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanations are omitted.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire computer equipment, which is a control program (FIG. 1) stored in the ROM.
According to 4), the operation control of the entire device is performed. 112
Is a power-down signal sent from the CPU 111 to the communication unit 106, and the power-down signal 112 can control the power supply of the communication unit 106 to ON / OFF.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the control in the computer equipment of the third embodiment.

First, in step S11, whether the sensor 705 is turned on, that is, the communication antenna 703 is set to the state shown in FIG.
It protrudes as shown in (B), or FIG. 12 (A)
As shown in (C), it is determined whether or not the lid 103 is accommodated. If it is on, that is, if it is protruding, the process proceeds to step S13 to supply normal power to the communication unit 106 to operate it.

If the sensor 705 is off, that is, if the sensor 705 is housed in the lid 103, the process proceeds to step S12.
Since the communication unit 106 is not operated, the power down signal 112 is output to perform the power down control.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices such as a host computer, an interface, a printer or the like, or to an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is implemented by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium to the system or device, the system or device operates based on the program.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the folding computer device, the opening and closing operation of the display is used to project and house the communication unit (antenna) housed therein. You can

Thus, since the antenna does not project when the display (lid) is closed, it is easy to carry and the failure such as the antenna coming into contact with the outside and being damaged is reduced.

Further, since the power supply to the communication unit is cut off when the display is closed, the power consumption can be reduced and the battery life can be extended.

Further, since a small number of parts are added to implement the apparatus of this embodiment, it is considered that the merit obtained by this is great.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, the communication unit can be positioned at a physically high position above the device only when the device is used.

Further, according to the present invention, in the foldable electronic device, the communication unit can be positioned at the communicable position according to the opening / closing of the lid part.

Further, according to the present invention, there is an effect that wasteful power consumption can be suppressed by cutting off the power supply to the communication unit when the communication unit is not used.

Further, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the communication unit can be prevented from protruding outside when the device is not used.

[0062]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a computer device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram showing a lock function of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the movement of the support arm accompanying the unlocking operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the lid portion in the state of FIG. 3B of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram of a computer device according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the computer device according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of an opening / closing operation of a lid in a computer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the right side surface of the device.

FIG. 8 is a mechanism diagram showing a storage function of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a rotating function according to the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a communication unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a structural diagram of a storage mechanism in a computer device according to a third embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing a projecting operation of a support arm according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a computer device according to a third embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing control processing in a computer device according to the third embodiment of this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Operation Knob 101a Linear Gear 102 Claw 103 Lid 104, 504, 505 Gear 105 Support Arm 106 Communication Unit 107, 108, 708, 714 Stopper 109, 705 Sensor 111, 901 CPU 122 Recess 503, 501a Pulley 510 Ratchet 905 Switch

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A foldable electronic device with a communication function, comprising: a lid for accommodating a display unit; and a body, wherein the lid and the body are locked in a closed state; An electronic device with a communication function, comprising: a rod having a communication unit; and an upright unit that erects the rod in association with an unlocking operation of the lock unit. 2. The lock means according to claim 1, wherein the lock means has an operation knob for locking or unlocking the lid portion and the main body portion in a closed state. Electronics. 3. The rod has a gear at the bottom thereof,
The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the operation knob has a linear gear that meshes with the gear, and the upright state of the rod is changed by the movement of the operation knob. 4. A detection unit that detects that the lock unit is in a locked state, and a unit that shuts off or suppresses power supply to the communication unit when the detection unit detects that the locked state is set. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. A foldable electronic device having a communication function, which has a lid part accommodating a display part and a main body part, wherein a rod having a communication unit near a tip, and opening and closing of the lid part and the main body part. An upright means for changing the upright angle of the rod according to the state, and an electronic device with a communication function. 6. The raising means comprises a ratchet whose rotation in one direction is restricted, a pulley interlocking with the ratchet, a belt wound around a pulley provided on the lid portion, and the lid portion. The electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising: a gear that rotates in conjunction with a pulley that is provided on the shaft, and a unit that changes a standing angle of the rod according to the rotation of the gear. 7. A foldable electronic device having a communication function, comprising: a lid portion accommodating a display portion; and a main body portion; locking means for locking the lid portion and the main body portion in a closed state; An electronic device with a communication function, comprising: a rod having a communication unit; and projecting means for projecting the rod in association with an unlocking operation of the locking means. 8. The locking device according to claim 7, wherein the locking device has an operating knob for locking or unlocking the lid part and the main body part in a closed state. Electronics. 9. The projection means includes a cam that rotates in association with the movement of the operation knob, and a means that changes the projection position of the rod according to the rotation of the cam. 8. The electronic device according to item 8. 10. The communication unit is a communication unit that performs communication by infrared light, and further includes a supporting unit that rotatably supports the communication unit. The electronic device according to item 1. 11. A method of controlling a foldable electronic device with a communication function, comprising: a lid part accommodating a display part; and a body part, wherein the lid part and the body part are closed and locked. And a step of accommodating the communication unit in the device when the lid and the main body are closed and suppressing the power supply to the communication unit. Control method of electronic device with communication function.