JPH10307666A - Pen input type information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the pen input type information equipment which prevents an input pen from being lost not only when the information equipment is not used, but also when used. SOLUTION: The information equipment is equipped with an equipment main body 1 which has on its top surface a display device 5 and a transparent touch panel 6 superposed on the screen of the display device, an input pen 3 for inputting information by handwriting through the touch panel, a protection cover 2 which has one end edge pivoted on the equipment main body in a free opening/closing state so as to protect the touch panel, a hollow input pen fitting part 4 fixed to the other end edge of the protection cover, and an input pen storage part 8 as a recessed place provided for the equipment main body. When the protection cover is closed to cover the touch panel while the input pen is fitted in the input pen fitting part, the input pen fitting part and input pen are put in the input pen storage part and the input pen is moved axially in the input pen fitting part, so that the input pen operates as a lock component for locking the protection cover so that the protection cover will not be opened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pen-input type information device having a transparent touch panel and an input pen superimposed on a screen of a display device and capable of performing handwriting input and the like with the input pen. The present invention relates to a pen input type information device capable of preventing a pen from being lost.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pen input type information device for performing handwriting input on a screen of a display device using a pen enables a user who is not used to a keyboard to use the information device, and the keyboard itself is not required. In recent years, information devices can be miniaturized, and thus have been widely used recently.
The conventional pen input type information device requires an input pen for performing handwriting input or the like. However, since the input pen is separated from the device main body, it may be lost. Has often occurred. JP
The input pen storage method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-59797 is intended to solve the above-described problem, and includes a concave input pen storage unit 32 in the device as shown in FIG. When the input pen 31 is stored in the input pen storage unit 32, the power is turned off. That is, when the input pen 31 is fitted into the pen holding bracket 33 arranged on the bottom surface in the recess, the projection piece 34
Is pressed downward by the input pen, the contact 35 that has been ON until then is separated from the contact 36, and the power is turned off. In order to turn off the power, the input pen 31 must be stored in the input pen storage unit 32, so that the input pen 31 can be prevented from being lost.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the above-mentioned prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-59797, the input pen must always be removed from the storage unit when it is used. It is necessary to operate after removing the input pen, and as a result, the removed input pen tends to be lost, and the power cannot be turned off after the loss. The object of the present invention is to
In order to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and to provide a pen input type information device that can prevent not only loss of the input pen when using the information device but also when not using the information device. is there.

[0004]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus body having a display device on an upper surface and a transparent touch panel overlaid on a screen of the display device. And an input pen for inputting information by handwriting via the touch panel, and an information device comprising: a protection cover pivotally supported at one end of the device body to be openable and closable with respect to the device main body to protect the touch panel. A state in which a hollow cylindrical input pen mounting portion fixed to the other end edge of the protective cover and an input pen storage portion as a recess provided in the device body are provided, and the input pen is mounted in the input pen mounting portion. When the protective cover is closed to cover the touch panel, the input pen mounting portion and the input pen are stored in the input pen storage portion, and the input pen is mounted with the input pen. By axially moving portion, characterized in that the input pen has a structure which acts as a locking part for locking not to open the protective cover.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the pen input type information device of the first aspect, a transparent material is used for the protective cover. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the pen input type information device of the first or second aspect, a button and a spring for pushing the button up to the input pen mounting portion side are provided on an inner bottom surface of the input pen housing, and the protection is provided. The cover is pushed up by the button when the cover is in the unlocked state. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the pen input type information device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the input pen mounting portion includes a slider and a spring for locking the protective cover in a closed state so as not to open the input cover. When the input pen mounting portion with the attached is stored in the input pen storage portion, the input pen is moved in the axial direction to move the slider and lock so as not to open the protective cover. It is characterized by.

[0005]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, when the information device is not used, the input pen is attached to the input pen mounting portion of the protection cover, and the protection cover is closed to the device main body, and the touch panel is closed. When the input pen is covered, the input pen mounting portion is stored in the input pen storage portion formed at the corresponding position on the device main body side. Therefore, the protection cover is not opened by the input pen stored in this way. To be locked. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the information device can be used with the protective cover attached when the information device is used, for example, when referring to information. In the invention according to claim 3,
When the information device is used, when the locked state of the protective cover is released, the protective cover is automatically pushed upward.
According to the invention described in claim 4, when the information device is not used,
When the input pen is attached to the input pen mounting portion of the protective cover and the touch panel is covered with the protective cover, the input pen mounting portion is stored in the input pen storage portion, and the slider is moved by the input pen stored in this manner. Move, thereby locking the protective cover from opening.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pen input type information device showing a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the pen input type information device (hereinafter, abbreviated as information device) of this embodiment includes a device main body 1, a protection cover 2, an input pen (locking component) 3, and the like. The edge is provided with an input pen mounting section 4 for mounting the input pen 3 when not in use. A display device (for example, a liquid crystal display device) 5, a touch panel for inputting information, which is superimposed on the display device 5, and a hinge 7 when the information device is not used are rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the device body 1. When the protection cover 2 covers the touch panel 6, the input cover 4 includes an input pen storage unit 8 as a recess in which the input pen mounting unit 4 is stored, and further includes a power switch 9 and a brightness adjustment volume 10. FIG. 2 shows details of the main part of the information device in a state where the protective cover 2 is closed and locked. As shown in the figure, the outer wall of the hollow cylindrical input pen mounting portion 4 is provided with a first lock hole 13 and a second lock hole 14 which are through holes having different axial positions.

In the information device having the above-described configuration, if the user tries to close and lock the protection cover 2 after using the input pen 3, the user can connect the input pen 3 to the cylindrical input pen mounting section 4. Insert into the hole through the axial end opening. Then, the hook portion 12 at the tip of the lever 11 provided on the input pen 3 is first fitted into the first lock hole 13 on the front side (FIG. 2 is not in this state), and the protection cover 2 is closed in this state. The upper surface of the touch panel 6 is covered. The reason why the lever hook 12 is fitted into the first lock hole 13 when the protective cover 2 is closed is that when the lever 3 is fitted into the second lock hole 14 as shown in FIG. Of the protection cover 2 in this state.
Is closed, the pen tip collides with the upper wall 8a.
In other words, if the pen 3 is initially inserted into the first lock hole 13, the entire position of the pen 3 is located in the right-hand twist in FIG. This is because the protection cover can be closed by entering the space.

After the protective cover is closed, the hook portion 12 is fitted into the second lock hole 14 so that the pen tip is moved to the upper wall 8.
a can be inserted into the lower space (a lock state of the protective cover). That is, after closing the protective cover, the user shifts the input pen 3 to the left in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the hook 12 of the input pen 3 is
Into the lock hole 14. At this time, the pen tip side (the left side in the example of FIG. 2) of the input pen 3 is provided on the input pen storage hole 8 (in the case of FIG. 2) of the input pen storage section 8 (the upper wall 8a).
Below, the protection cover 2 is locked. As shown in FIG. 2, the input pen mounting unit 4 is provided with a handle hole 15 for opening the protective cover 2. When opening the protective cover 2, the hook 12 of the input pen 3 is shifted to the position of the first lock hole 13 so that the pen tip does not interfere with the upper wall 8a. That is, the protective cover 2 is lifted. If the protection cover 2 is not locked as described above, there is a possibility that the protection cover 2 will rise. Therefore, if the protection cover 2 is to be locked, the input pen 3 must be attached to the input pen attachment portion 4 without fail. The input pen 3 is stowed and the input pen 3 is prevented from being lost when the information device is not used. Further, when the protective cover 2 is opened and information stored in the information device or information received from the outside is displayed on the display device 5 or the like, the input pen 3 is attached to the input pen attaching section 4. Similarly, the input pen 3 is prevented from being lost.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an information device when information is referenced (when a pen is not used) according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the information device of this embodiment, a transparent material is used for the protective cover 2a, so that the information displayed on the display device 5 can be viewed in a state as shown in which the protective cover 2a covers the touch panel 6. . In other words, the protective cover
Information can be referenced while 2a is closed. The transparent material is glass or PMM.
A resin such as A, PC, or ABS is used. Resins are particularly preferred because of their high degree of freedom in shape, resistance to impact, and light weight. According to this embodiment, not only can the input pen be prevented from being lost, but also the operation of opening and closing the protective cover when referring to information can be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of an information device showing a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment (the hand hole 15 is not required), the information device of this embodiment has a recess 8c communicating with the opening 8b on the bottom surface of the input pen housing 8. Button 16 in this recess 8c.
And a spring 17 for pushing the button 16 upward (to the side where the input pen is attached). A claw 18 is provided below the button 16 to be locked by the periphery of the opening 8b to prevent the button 16 from being pushed up more than necessary. In the information device having the above configuration,
When the protective cover 2 is open, the button 16 protrudes upward to the maximum limited by the claw 18, but is pressed down by the input pen mount 4 when the protective cover 2 is closed. Then, the input pen 3 moves to the left (in the case of the example of FIG. 4) by moving the hook portion 12 of the input pen 3 to the position where it is fitted into the second lock hole 14, and
As a result, when the protection cover 2 is locked, the button 16 is pushed by the spring 17 to push up the input pen mounting part 4, but the protection cover 2 is in the locked state, so it is opened. Never.

On the other hand, when the protective cover 2 is opened, the hook 12 of the input pen 3 is shifted to the position of the first lock hole 13, whereby the locked state is released. Therefore, the protective cover 2 is pushed up by the button 16 pushed up by the spring 17 and opens upward. The spring 17 is preferably a compression spring, a torsion spring, a leaf spring, or the like. According to this embodiment, since the protective cover 2 opens upward only by shifting the position of the input pen 3 and releasing the locked state of the protective cover 2, the protective cover 2 can be easily opened. Further, if the lock is not performed, the protection cover 2 is opened, so that the input pen 3 is always attached to the input pen attaching section 4.
Loss is very effectively prevented.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of an information device showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the information device of this embodiment has a slider 19, a spring 20, and the like added to the input pen mounting portion 4 of the first or third embodiment. In this embodiment, a slider 19 is supported at one end of the input pen mounting portion 4 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction, and the slider 20 is elastically biased rightward in the drawing by a spring 20. The slider 19 is configured to protrude into the storage hole below the upper wall 8a when protruding rightward in the drawing against the spring 20. With such a configuration, when the input pen 3 is not attached, the slider 19 is housed in the input pen attachment section 4 by the spring force of the spring 20. In other words, the lock claw 21 provided at the end of the slider 19 (to the right in the example of FIG. 5) is pushed to the right (in the case of FIG. 5) in the slide groove 22 by the spring force of the spring 20. . This rightward movement is limited by the length of the slide groove 22.

As described above, despite the fact that the slider 19 is provided with the lock claw 21, the slider 19 can be inserted into the cylinder of the input pen mounting part 4 at the time of assembly because the lock claw 21 has elasticity. Because there is. That is, at the time of assembly, the lock claw 21 bends and is inserted into the cylinder of the input pen mounting section 4 and moves inside the cylinder. When the input pen 3 is mounted on the input pen mounting portion 4, in FIG. 5, the tip side of the input pen 3 is inserted from right to left, and the input pen 3 having an outer shape slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the slider 19 is inserted. The leading end enters the cylinder of the slider 19. When the step 3A where the outer shape of the input pen 3 becomes thick reaches the entrance of the slider 19, since the step 3A is larger than the inner diameter of the slider 19, the step of the input pen 3 pushes the lock claw 21 to the left. To move the slider 19 to the input pen mount 4
And penetrates into the input pen storage hole (the lower space of the upper wall 8a) of the input pen storage unit 8. Thus, the hook portion 12 of the input pen 3 is fitted into the second lock hole 14, and in this state, the slider 19 is stopped, and the protection cover 2 is locked. Thus, according to the fourth embodiment, not only the same effects as in the first embodiment are obtained, but also the pen tip of the input pen 3 is not damaged. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the button 1 is similar to the embodiment of FIG.
6, a spring 17 and the like are provided, but this may be omitted.

[0014]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the information device is not used, the input pen is attached to the input pen mounting portion provided on the protective cover, so that the protective cover covers the upper surface of the device body. When the touch panel is covered, the input pen is stored in the input pen storage section as a recess provided on the device body side, and the input pen stored in this way is locked so that the protection cover does not open, so that protection is provided. The input pen must be attached to the input pen attachment part for the cover lock, and thus the input pen is prevented from being lost. Further, when the input pen is not used, for example, when referring to information, the input pen is still attached to the input pen attaching portion, so that the input pen is prevented from being lost even in such a case. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a part of the protective cover is made transparent, the information device can be used with the protective cover attached when the input pen is not used, such as when referring to information. In addition to the effect, the operation becomes simple. According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the information device is used, when the locked state of the protective cover is released, the protective cover is automatically pushed upward, so that the protective cover can be easily opened. In addition, since the protection cover is opened unless the protection cover is locked, the input pen is always attached to the input pen attachment portion, and thus the input pen is more effectively prevented from being lost. Further, in the invention according to claim 4, when the information device is not used, the input pen is attached to the input pen attachment portion of the protection cover, and when the touch panel is covered with the protection cover, the input pen attachment portion becomes the input pen storage portion. The pen tip of the thus stored input pen fits in the slider, and the slider is moved by the input pen, thereby locking the protective cover so as not to open. The pen tip of the input pen is not damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a main part of the information device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an information device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of an information device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of an information device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an information device showing an example of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device main body, 2 Protective cover, 3 Input pen, 4 Input pen attachment part, 5 Display device, 6 Touch panel, 8
Input pen compartment, 11 lever, 12 hook, 13
1st lock hole, 14 2nd lock hole, 16 buttons, 17
Spring, 19 slider, 20 spring

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus body comprising: a display device on an upper surface; a transparent touch panel overlaid on a screen of the display device; and an input pen for inputting information by handwriting via the touch panel. In the information device, a protection cover pivotally supported at one end of the device body to open and close the device body to protect the touch panel, and a hollow cylindrical input pen mounting portion fixed to the other end of the protection cover. An input pen storage portion provided as a recess provided in the device main body, wherein when the input pen is mounted in the input pen mounting portion, the protective cover is closed and the touch panel is covered, The mounting portion and the input pen are stored in the input pen storing portion. By moving the input pen in the input pen mounting portion in the axial direction, the input pen opens the protective cover. A pen-input type information device characterized in that it functions as a lock component for locking so as not to be locked. 2. The pen input type information device according to claim 1, wherein a transparent material is used for said protective cover. 3. The pen input type information device according to claim 1, wherein a button and a spring for pushing the button up to the input pen mounting portion side are provided on an inner bottom surface of the input pen storage portion, and the protection cover is provided. A pen-input information device, wherein the protection cover is pushed up by the button when the device is unlocked. 4. A pen input type information device according to claim 1, further comprising a slider and a spring for locking said protection cover in a closed state so as not to be opened, wherein said input pen is mounted. When the input pen mounting portion is stored in the input pen storage portion, the input pen is moved in the axial direction to move the slider and lock the protection cover so as not to open. Pen input type information equipment.