JPH10322355A - Portable information device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To build up the optimum portable information device to realize a mobile computing by integrating an antenna for a radio local area network LAN with a personal computer main body so as to configure the device compact. SOLUTION: In this portable electronic device, a main body frame including at least a PCMCIA slot and a display frame 2 on which a display unit is mounted are connected mechanically turnably via hinges 3, an antenna 5 is adhered at a position in the display frame and surrounding an outer frame of the display unit. Or a metallic foil 22 is adhered to a radio LAN card 21 so as to be a substitute of the antenna in a cableless way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a portable information device having a built-in antenna for realizing a wireless LAN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wireless LAN (Local Area Network) is used for realizing mobile computing by releasing a terminal from a connection cable overflowing in an office.
rk). A wireless LAN is a system that can construct a LAN without using a cable, which eliminates the need for cable construction due to device layout change and movement, and eliminates troubles associated with wiring management. FIG. 4 shows an external configuration of a computer system for realizing a conventional wireless LAN. In the figure, 41 is a desktop server and 42 is a client system, which is composed of a notebook PC. Basically, the server 41 and the client 42
By mounting 43 cards and antennas, a PC-LAN using a wireless LAN can be easily constructed. The antenna 43 is usually placed on a desk, or in the case of a notebook PC, as shown in the circle in the figure, attached to the back of the display frame, a so-called lid, and built-in wireless LAN.
The card is connected via a cable 44.

[0003]

As described above, the antenna of the wireless LAN is connected to the main body via a cable and a LAN card. However, a space for installing the antenna and a cable for connecting the antenna are required. However, there was a problem that the desk became messy.

[0004] On the other hand, there has also been developed an access point for connecting to a wired LAN such as a conventional Ethernet, which connects to an existing system via an access point and connects a server to the wired LAN. And
It is possible to construct a system in which only clients are wireless. The existence of an antenna provided independently of the main body to realize the original mobile computing has been a bottleneck.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a portable information device having a compact configuration by integrating a wireless LAN antenna with a personal computer main body and realizing mobile computing. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

According to the portable electronic device of the present invention, a wireless LA is inserted into a PCMCIA slot provided in a main body.
N is mounted on a PC card, and an antenna for receiving radio waves and a cable for transferring received data from the antenna to the PC card are integrated with the main body.

In the portable electronic device of the present invention, a main body frame including at least a PCMCIA slot and a display frame on which a display unit is mounted are mechanically rotatably connected via a hinge mechanism. It is characterized in that it is affixed in a position surrounding the outer frame of the display unit in the display frame.

Further, when the information equipment is used, the display frame is opened through the hinge mechanism so that the display unit is set to a double-spread state. In this state, the antenna is attached so that the antenna is arranged on the upper layer of the display frame. It is also characterized by This is useful when connecting to an existing wired LAN via an access point. Another feature is that a metal foil is attached to an arbitrary position except for the connector portion of the PC card, so that it can be used as a substitute for the antenna.

[0009] By integrating the antenna of the wireless LAN with the main body of the personal computer, a compact configuration can be realized, and a portable information device optimal for realizing mobile computing can be constructed.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, a notebook PC in which a display frame 2 on which a display unit such as an LCD is mounted is rotatably installed with a main body frame 1 including a keyboard via a hinge mechanism 3 is shown. When the PC is used, the display frame 2 is opened and fixed in a double-page spread state. When the PC is not used, the display frame 2 is closed so as to cover the keyboard unit. The present invention further provides a wireless LAN
A band-shaped antenna 5 is attached along the outer frame of the display unit. A cable 6 is connected from the antenna 5 to the inside of the personal computer, and connected to the wireless LAN card via the socket 7.

The antenna 5 is mounted on the display frame 2 in consideration of the connection with the access point described above.
In order to make it easier for radio waves to reach when the two-page spread is set, it may be attached near the handle 4 attached to the display frame so as to be as close to the access point as possible.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which an antenna is mounted on a wireless card. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the cable or the socket protrudes from the PC main body, which is not preferable in appearance. Therefore,
68-pin wireless LA mounted in PCMCIA slot
Metal foil 2 on the side of N card 21 instead of antenna
2 to achieve complete wireless. In the figure, 23
Is a 68-pin connector. In the configuration in which the metal foil 22 is attached, the cable socket 24 is not required, and the cable is not required, so that the appearance is neat.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the wireless LAN card. The wireless LAN card 21 includes a host interface circuit 211, a communication driver circuit 212,
It comprises an EPROM 213, a processor 214, firmware 215 / data memory 216, a modem 217, and an antenna interface circuit 218. EEPROM
In 213, configuration information is set. Data memory 216
, A transfer buffer, a reception buffer, and a command register are allocated. The processor 214 interprets a command that is also allocated to the data memory and is set in the command register, and switches the above-described buffer, thereby forming the antenna 5-modem 217-. Communication driver circuit 21
2- Host interface circuit 211-fetches data and commands from another PC via ISA or PCI bus 10. Conversely, data or commands are transferred to another PC via the host interface circuit 211, the communication driver circuit 212, the modem 217, the antenna interface circuit 218, and the antenna 5.

As described above, the present invention incorporates an antenna for receiving radio waves and a cable for transmitting received data from the antenna to the wireless LAN card in the personal computer, and integrates the antenna with the personal computer. , Increasing portability.

Although the present invention has been described by exemplifying only a notebook PC supporting PCMCIA, the present invention is not limited to this.
It can also be used for servers that support the ISA bus, such as desktop and disk-side servers. Compact PC cards expand the possibilities of mobile computing.

Note that the antenna portion of the wireless LAN can be replaced with an antenna of a radio or a television. If it is equipped as an antenna for a portable personal computer navigation system, it will be more convenient to carry.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, by unifying the personal computer main body and the antenna, it is not necessary to disturb the antenna on the desk. In addition, portability, which is a feature of the wireless LAN, is further increased, and the possibility of mobile computing is expanded. Further, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) By providing an access point, connection with an existing system can be made via the access point. It is possible to construct a system in which a server is connected to a wired LAN and only clients are wireless.

(2) The notebook PC can be freely moved from corner to corner, from floor to floor, and the LAN can be used by mobile computing. Since the client can communicate with the nearest access point, the client can move freely within the range of radio waves of any access point.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the wireless LAN card.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing the appearance of a portable electronic device that implements a conventional wireless LAN.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Body frame, 2 ... Display frame, 3 ... Hinge mechanism, 4 ... Handle, 5 ... Antenna, 6 ... Cable,
7 PCMCIA slot, 21 wireless LAN card,
22: metal foil, 23: connector, 24: socket, 21
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host interface circuit, 212 ... Communication driver circuit, 213 ... EEPROM, 214 ... Processor, 2
15: Firmware memory (ROM), 216: Data memory (RAM), 217: Modem, 218: Antenna interface circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A PC card for realizing a wireless LAN is mounted in a PCMCIA slot provided in a main body, and an antenna for receiving a radio wave and a cable for transferring received data from the antenna to the PC card are integrated with the main body. A portable information device characterized by the following. 2. A display device according to claim 1, wherein said main body frame including at least a PCMCIA slot and a display frame on which said display unit is mounted are mechanically rotatably connected via a hinge mechanism. 2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is attached to a position surrounding an outer frame of the unit. 3. A frame including at least a PCMCIA slot and a display frame on which a display unit is mounted are mechanically rotatably connected via a hinge mechanism. When an information device is used, a display is provided via the hinge mechanism. 2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is set to a two-page spread state by opening the frame, and in this state, the antenna is attached so as to be arranged in an upper layer of the display frame. 4. An existing wired LA via an access point
4. The portable electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the portable electronic device is connected to N. 5. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a metal foil is affixed to an arbitrary position except for a connector portion of the PC card to substitute for an antenna.