JPH10340134A - Portable electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable electronic equipment which can easily show the contents displayed on a display panel even to the persons other than a user who is directly using a terminal constructing an input means like a keyboard, etc., of the equipment and also can apply various using forms. SOLUTION: This electronic equipment 50 consists of a main body part 1 including a keyboard 2 and a computer means 20, and a display part 3. The part 3 is attached to the part 1 in a freely opening/closing way to cover the keyboard 2 placed on a main surface S1 of the part 1 with the surface of a display panel 30. The part 3 also can horizontally turn around a normal O that is set rectangular to the surface S1. When the part 3 horizontally turns, the relative position X between both parts 1 and 3 can be changed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable electronic device, and more particularly, to a notebook personal computer, a portable word processor, and a portable terminal having a display panel which can be used more effectively. Such as portable electronic devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, display panels and the like used in notebook personal computers, notebook word processors, and portable terminals are mounted on an upper portion of a main body including a keyboard and computer means. Can be operated only in such a direction as to open and close in a swivel shape with one end as an axis, together with a display portion arranged on one main surface.

Accordingly, the display panel of the display unit is configured to be easy to see for an operator directly using the portable electronic device and located in front of the portable electronic device. Can adjust the opening and closing angle of the display unit so that the display panel can be most easily viewed.

[0004]

However, the information society in recent years has been developed, and in all industrial fields, information has been exchanged using portable electronic devices. It has become necessary to use one portable electronic device to show a number of parties to a display panel provided on a display unit of the portable electronic device.

[0005] In many of the conventional portable electronic devices as described above, the display section including the display panel is fixed, so that one user can use the terminal of the portable electronic device. It is a little difficult to show the content displayed on the display panel to one or a plurality of parties other than the user while operating the. The reason is that in order to show the screen displayed on the display panel to a partner other than the user, it is necessary to turn the main body in the direction of the person or to give the front position to the partner. Even today, when the performance of the display panel has been improved and the viewing angle has been widened, rather than looking at the screen diagonally,
It is much easier to see from the front. Therefore, when presenting the screen to the other party in an easy-to-view manner, the above method is used.

Another problem with the conventional portable electronic device is that when a terminal of the portable electronic device is used on a desktop, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse can be used by using a display panel as it is. Another multifunctional type or a method of connecting and using an external keyboard or an external mouse having a different input format is conceivable. At this time, the keyboard, the main body provided in the main body of the conventional portable electronic device are used. That can be a hindrance when using an external keyboard or mouse that is connected separately.

The reason is that the main body and the built-in keyboard are located in front of the display panel. Further, as another problem of the above-mentioned conventional portable electronic device, when the display panel has a touch panel function and is used as a touch panel, a keyboard provided in the main body is obstructive and cannot be used compactly.

[0008] The reason is that to use the display panel, the display panel must be opened and used, which is inevitably less compact than the state in which the display panel is closed. The purpose of the present invention is
The above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art are improved, and the contents displayed on the display panel are easily presented to a person other than a person directly using a terminal constituting an input means such as a keyboard in the portable electronic device. It is possible to use the display panel of the display unit.
A notebook personal computer, which is compact and does not obstruct the main body and a keyboard or other operation means provided in the main body, and is easier for a terminal user to use;
A portable electronic device such as a notebook type word processor and a portable terminal is provided.

[0009]

The present invention employs the following technical configuration to achieve the above object. That is, in the portable electronic device according to the present invention, a keyboard as input means is provided on one main surface, and computer means for executing predetermined processing according to data input from the keyboard is provided. A portable electronic device comprising: a main body arranged inside; and a display unit having a display panel for displaying a processing result of the computer arranged on one main surface, wherein the display unit includes the display unit. The display panel is attached to the main body so as to be openable and closable so as to cover a keyboard provided on one main surface of the main body, and the display unit is perpendicular to the main surface of the main body. It is configured to be able to turn around the normal line, and the display unit is
When the display unit turns around a normal line perpendicular to the main surface of the main body, the display unit is displaced in the direction of the normal so that the relative position of the display unit to the main body changes. It is characterized by being constituted.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A portable electronic device according to the present invention comprises:
Since the technical configuration as described above is employed, a display unit including a display panel of a portable electronic device such as a notebook personal computer or a notebook word processor and a portable terminal is provided in a conventional portable electronic device. The display unit is folded in a first direction such that the keyboard provided on the main surface of the main body unit and the display panel provided on one main surface of the display unit simply contact each other. A direction in which the keyboard and the display panel are opened in a direction in which the keyboard and the display panel are turned in a direction in which the keyboard and the display panel are turned in a direction in which the keyboard and the display panel are turned away from the keyboard of the main body; In addition to the turning operation in the opening and closing direction, the turning operation can be freely performed in the horizontal direction independently of the turning operation in the opening / closing direction. When the display unit is rotated in the horizontal direction, the keyboard and other input means or operation means provided on the main surface of the main unit and the main unit are rotated. When it is necessary to turn the main body in the horizontal direction so as not to interfere with each other, the position of the main body is slightly raised so that a keyboard or other input means or operation means is used when the main body is turned. Is configured not to be damaged.

Therefore, in the portable electronic device according to the present invention, the display unit can be swiveled in all directions even while the display panel of the display unit is operating, so that the portable electronic device can be directly operated. Of the display panel can be presented not only to the operator using the display but also to the people around him. In addition, by rotating the display panel in the horizontal direction by 180 degrees and arranging the main unit and the keyboard unit behind the display panel unit as viewed from the terminal user, the main unit and the keyboard unit are not obstructed, and the Input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse can be connected and used.

In addition, the combination of the rotation of the display panel in the horizontal direction by 180 degrees and the rotation of the display panel in the direction of closing the main body causes the display panel to be used as a touch panel because the display panel display is directed to the upper surface of the terminal. In this case, the keyboard and the like can be used in a compact manner without disturbing the keyboard.

Further, in the present invention, the terminal of the portable electronic device is connected vertically to a predetermined terminal of a docking station with the display panel display section facing upward, and the terminal is connected to a predetermined terminal of the docking station. The function of the terminal can be extended without using much space while using the display panel as a desktop type display unit. Hereinafter, specific examples of the portable electronic device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a notebook personal computer which is a specific example of a portable electronic device according to the present invention. In the drawing, a keyboard 1 as an input means is one main surface. A main unit 1 provided on S1 and having therein a computer means 20 for executing predetermined processing in accordance with data inputted from the keyboard 2;
0 is a portable electronic device 50 including a display panel 3 that displays a processing result of 0 on one main surface S2, and the display panel 3 has a surface of the display panel 30; The main body 1 is attached to the main body 1 so as to be openable and closable so as to cover a keyboard 2 provided on one main surface S1 of the main body 1, and the display unit 3 is perpendicular to the main surface S1 of the main body 1. The display unit 3 is configured to be able to turn around a normal line O, and the display unit 3
When turning around the normal O perpendicular to the main surface of the main body 1, the display 3 is displaced in the direction of the normal O so that the relative position X of the display 3 with respect to the main body 1 changes. A portable electronic device 50 is shown, which is configured to operate as shown in FIG.

The configuration of the above embodiment according to the present invention will be described in more detail. In FIG. 1, a notebook personal computer 50 includes a main body 1 and a first main surface S1 which is an upper portion of the main body 1. Keyboard 2 attached to
And a display unit 3 provided on one main surface S2 thereof with a display panel 30 which can be opened and closed so as to serve as a lid on the upper surface of the main unit 1 and the keyboard 2.

Display unit 3 including display panel 30
Is rotatable in the opening and closing direction about the opening and closing direction rotation axis P as shown in the figure. Also, the display panel 30
The display unit 3 is configured to be rotatable about a normal line O perpendicular to the main surface S1 of the main body unit 1, that is, a horizontal rotation axis O, and is horizontally movable independently of the rotation in the opening / closing direction described above. It is rotatable.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of the connecting portion between the main body 1 and the display portion 3 used in the portable electronic device according to the present invention, which is capable of turning in the two directions. FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 3 including the display panel 30 includes an opening / closing direction hinge portion 22 provided on both sides of a hollow tube portion 21 having an opening / closing direction rotation axis P.
The display unit 3 is rotatable in the open / close direction via the open / close direction rotation hinge 22.

On the other hand, approximately in the center of the hollow tube portion 21,
A horizontal rotation shaft 23 extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation shaft P in the opening and closing direction of the hollow tube portion 21 is provided. The horizontal rotation shaft 23 is configured such that the central axis thereof coincides with a normal O perpendicular to the main surface S1 of the main body 1.

A horizontal hinge 23 is formed on the horizontal rotating shaft 23, and a part of the vertical moving mechanism 25 of the display unit connected to the main body 1 rotates. The display unit 3 is fitted and fixed in a free state, so that the display unit 3 can turn in a horizontal direction about a normal line O perpendicular to the main surface S1 of the main body unit 1.

That is, in the present invention, the rotation of the display unit 3 including the display panel in the opening / closing direction with respect to the main body 1 and the rotation in the horizontal direction do not depend on each other. still,
As is clear from FIG. 2, the cable 6 for electrically connecting the main body 1 to the main body 3 including the display panel 30 is routed through the hollow tubes 21 and 23 described above.

In the present invention, since the cable 6 is twisted by the horizontal rotation of the main body 3, it is necessary to prevent the main body 3 from rotating beyond a certain angle in order to protect the cable. There is. For example, it is preferable that the rotation angle is 180 ° at the maximum in one direction of rotation. For this purpose, for example, a protrusion serving as a stopper is provided on a part of the horizontal rotation shaft 23 and a part of the vertical movement mechanism 25 of the display unit (see FIG. (Not shown) can be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise approximately 180 degrees in the horizontal direction to prevent further rotation.

In order to prevent the display panel 3 from rotating too easily, it is necessary to make the frictional force of the horizontal hinge 9 a suitable amount. In the present invention, when the display unit 3 rotates in the horizontal direction, the height of the horizontal rotation shaft 23 is adjusted so that the display unit 3 does not contact the keyboard 2 or other operation keys of the main unit 1. It needs to be considered.

In the present invention, when the display section 3 including the display panel 30 is closed to the main body 1 side, the horizontal rotation shaft 23 is lowered so that the display section 3 is securely fixed. The position of the display unit 3 is configured to be low so as to reduce the distance X between the display unit 3 and the main body unit 1. On the other hand, when the display unit 3 rotates in the horizontal direction, the horizontal rotation shaft 23 is raised. In addition, it is desirable to provide a display unit up / down movable mechanism 25 configured to raise the position of the display unit 3.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of a specific example of a vertically movable mechanism of the display unit 3 which can be used in the present invention. That is, FIG.
(A) shows a portable electronic device 50 according to the present invention.
The display unit 3 is opened by 90 ° from the main unit 1 as shown by an arrow,
The display unit 3 is rotated and rotated so that the display unit 3 is substantially perpendicular to the main surface S1 of the main body 1.

In the present invention, as described above,
When the display unit 3 is turned in the horizontal direction, it is necessary that the display unit 3 be in an open state as shown in FIG. 3A. A switch section 52 for moving the three vertically movable mechanisms 25 is provided in a part of the main body section 1. It is desirable that the switch section 52 be configured so as not to be operated by an appropriate configuration except when the display section 3 is in a state other than the state shown in FIG.

FIGS. 3 (B) to 4 (B) show a more detailed structure of the vertically movable mechanism 25. FIG. That is, as an example of the configuration of the up-down movable mechanism 25 used in the present invention, a spring 55 is provided at the bottom of a holding block 59 constituting a part of the up-down movable mechanism 25 shown in FIG. When the holding block 59 is in the lowermost position, that is, when the display unit 3 is in the normal position, the spring 55 is in a contracted state. The bias force is applied in a direction to constantly increase the value of 25.

On the other hand, an extensible rod 53 protrudes laterally from a part of the up-down movable mechanism 25, and a push button 52 having an appropriate stopper 56 is provided at the end thereof. The push button portion 52 is always protruded to the outside from the panel portion 60 provided on the side of the main body 1 by the action of the spring 53 provided on the telescopic rod 53. The degree is controlled such that the stopper portion 56 is in contact with the panel portion 60.

The vertical movable mechanism 25 and the panel 5
8 is provided with a drive restricting block 51 of the push button portion 52. The restricting block 51 has a slit portion 5 as shown in FIG.
7, 58 are provided, and the side surface thereof is shown in FIG.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4A, an L-shaped slit 59 is provided.

Accordingly, the main body of the push button 52 and the stopper 56 slide in the slit as described below. That is, FIG.
In the state (B), the main body of the push button 52 is located below the slit 57 of the restriction block 51, and the position of the main body of the push button 52 is the stopper 56 provided on the push button 52. Is fixed because the vertical movement is restricted by the slit 58.

In this position, the push button 52
The elastic rod 53 is brought into contact with the panel portion 60 in a state where the telescopic rod 53 is extended to the maximum length by the action of the spring 53. Next, when it is desired to raise the display unit 3, the stopper 56 is disengaged from the slit 58 by pressing the push button 52, and the holding block 59 is moved by the action of the spring 55. , The push button portion 5
2 also rises along the slit 57 and stops when it reaches the second position as shown in FIG.

In the present invention, it is possible to determine the range in which the display section 3 can be raised by adjusting the height of the slit 57. In the present invention, when the display unit 3 is returned to the original state, the display unit 3 is pressed down by hand while in the state of FIG.
This can be realized by returning to the state of (B).

That is, in the present invention, the range in which the display unit 3 is displaced is such that at least the lower end of the display unit 3 is
The setting is made such that a relationship is established so as not to contact input means or operation means such as a keyboard provided on the main surface S1 of the main body portion 1. Further, in the present invention, the display unit is configured to rotate the display unit around a normal line perpendicular to the main surface of the main body unit, but the center position of the rotation is not particularly limited. However, it is desirable to be provided at a substantially central portion of the main body 1.

In the present invention, as described above, the display unit 3 is rotated in the horizontal direction at an arbitrary angle with respect to the main unit 1, and the display unit is rotated at that position with respect to the vertical axis direction. Can be tilted to any angle. Further, in the present invention, the main body 1 is provided with a connection portion 15 for connecting a keyboard 10 or a mouse 11 having a function different from that of the keyboard 2 provided on the main body 1. , The display unit 3 is aligned with a normal line O perpendicular to the main surface of the main body unit 1.
The main body 1 is rotated in a predetermined angle around
An external keyboard 10 or an external mouse 11 having a function different from that of the keyboard 2 provided in
The external keyboard 10 or the external mouse 11 can be used at a position facing the display panel 30 of the display unit 3.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the state of use in the present invention. In FIG. 5, an external keyboard 10 or an external mouse which rotates the display unit 3 including the display panel 30 in the horizontal direction by 180 degrees and has a function different from that of the keyboard 2 provided in the main body unit 1 is shown. 11 is connected to the connection unit 15.

That is, in this embodiment, the display unit 3 is set to 1
Rotate 80 degrees horizontally and arrange the main body 1 behind,
This is an example in which an external keyboard 10 and an external mouse 11 are used for an external connection in an empty space on the front. Main unit 1
Are disposed on the back side of the display unit 3, so that the main body unit 1 does not hinder the operation. Further, as another example of the method of use in the present invention, in a state where the display unit 3 is turned by a predetermined angle around a normal line O perpendicular to the main surface S1 of the main body unit 1,
It is also possible to fold such that the other main surface S3 of the display unit 3 on which the display panel 30 is not provided covers the keyboard 2 of the main unit 1.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the above-mentioned example of use, and shows a state in which the display panel 30 of the display unit 3 is folded toward the upper surface. This is convenient when is used as a touch panel or the like. In such an embodiment, the display 3 is
When rotated horizontally by 0 degrees and closed, the display panel 30 faces upward, and the display panel 30 can be used as a touch panel in a compact state.

The display unit 3 may be firmly fixed to the main body 1 when the display panel 30 is closed upward as in the case of the display panel 30 being closed downward in the usual manner. Further, as another mode of use in the present invention, the display unit 3 is attached to the main surface S1 of the main unit 1 so that the display panel 30 forms a surface with respect to the main surface S1 on which the keyboard 2 is arranged. In the folded state,
It is also possible to use it by inserting it three-dimensionally into an appropriate docking station 13.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the portable electronic device 50 folded in the state as shown in FIG. 6 is directly docked in an appropriate docking station 13 with the display unit 3 vertically oriented toward the front. It is intended to be used. In such a usage form, since the main body 1 is docked with the docking station 12 in a vertical shape, the depth of the docking station 12 can be reduced, and the space can be effectively utilized.

Further, the portable electronic device 50 can be used as a display unit of a desktop personal computer or a desktop word processor. In addition, it is possible to use the portable electronic device 50 to extend the function by the docking station 12 and use an externally connected input device such as the external keyboard 10 and the external mouse 11.

The configuration of the docking station 12 used in the present invention is not particularly limited, as long as information can be transmitted to the portable electronic device 50 via an appropriate connector. The portable electronic device 50 can be used if it has an extended function that is not mounted on the portable electronic device 50. The connecting portion 13 between the main body 1 and the docking station 12 can be adjusted so that the display panel 3 is at an easy-to-view angle.

[0041]

Since the portable electronic device 50 according to the present invention employs the above-described configuration, the first effect is that the screen displayed on the display panel 30 can be easily displayed to a party other than the user. Can be shown. The reason for this is that the display panel 30 can be rotated in the horizontal direction independently of and in addition to the conventional opening and closing directions.

The second effect of the portable electronic device 50 according to the present invention is that when the terminal uses an externally connected input / output device on the desktop, the main unit 1 and the built-in keyboard 2 do not interfere. Can be used for The reason is that by rotating the display unit 3 including the display panel 30 horizontally by 180 degrees, the main body 1 and the keyboard 2 can be arranged behind the display panel 30.

Further, the third effect is that when used as a touch panel, it can be used compactly. The reason is that the display unit 3 including the display panel 30 is not
When the display panel 30 is rotated horizontally by 0 degrees and closed toward the main body, the display panel 30 faces the upper surface, so that the display panel 30 can be used as it is normally carried.

A fourth effect is that the display unit 3 of the portable electronic device 50 is connected to the docking station 12 so that the function can be expanded compactly in a small space. The reason is that the display unit 3 can be docked in the compact docking station 12 having a short depth by docking vertically with the display unit 3 facing upward.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a specific example of a portable electronic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a connecting member for rotating a display unit in a portable electronic device according to the present invention independently of an opening / closing direction and a horizontal direction with respect to a main body unit. .

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a configuration and operation of a specific example of a vertically movable mechanism of a display unit used in a portable electronic device according to the present invention. is there.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a configuration and operation of a specific example of a vertically movable mechanism of a display unit used in a portable electronic device according to the present invention. is there.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a mode in which the display unit is rotated in the horizontal direction by 180 degrees and an external input device is separately connected to the main body unit in the portable electronic device according to the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a portable electronic device according to the present invention in which a display unit is used as a touch panel or the like with a display unit facing upward.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a portable electronic device according to the present invention in which a portable electronic device folded with its display unit facing upward is connected to a docking station in a vertical position. is there.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body part 2 ... Keyboard 3 ... Display part 4 ... Opening / closing direction rotation axis 5 ... Horizontal direction rotation axis 6 ... Cable 10 ... External keyboard 11 ... External mouse 12 ... Docking station 15 ... Connection part 20 ... Computer 21 ... Opening / closing Hollow tubes for directional rotation shafts 22, 24 Hinge 23 23 Hollow tube for horizontal rotation shafts 25 Vertical movement mechanism 30 Display panel 50 Portable electronic device 51 Regulatory block 52 Push button 53 Rod 54: Spring 55: Spring 56: Stopper 57, 58: Slit 59: L-shaped slit 60: Panel

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard serving as input means is provided on one main surface thereof, and a computer means for executing a predetermined process in accordance with data input from the keyboard is disposed therein. The main body,
A portable electronic device having a display panel for displaying a processing result of the computer on one main surface thereof, wherein the display panel has one side of the main body section. The display unit is openably and closably attached to the main unit so as to cover a keyboard provided on the main surface, and the display unit is configured to be rotatable around a normal line perpendicular to the main surface of the main unit. And the display unit is configured such that, when the display unit turns around a normal line perpendicular to the main surface of the main unit, the normal line changes such that the relative position of the display unit to the main unit changes. Portable electronic device characterized in that it is configured to be displaced in the direction of. 2. A range in which the display unit is displaced is set such that at least a lower end of the display unit does not contact a keyboard provided on the main surface of the main body. 2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The display unit is raised by a predetermined distance along the direction of the normal line before the display unit is turned around a normal line perpendicular to the main surface of the main body unit. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
Portable electronic device as described. 4. A stop mechanism is provided to enable a function of preventing the display unit from rotating beyond a predetermined angle when the display unit is raised by a predetermined distance. The portable electronic device according to claim 3, wherein: 5. A connecting portion for connecting a keyboard or a mouse having a function different from that of the keyboard provided on the main body portion is provided on the main body portion, and the display portion is connected to the main body of the main body portion. An external keyboard or an external mouse having a function different from that of the keyboard provided on the main body is connected in a state where the display device is turned at a predetermined angle around a normal line perpendicular to the surface, and a display of the display unit is provided. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the external keyboard or the external mouse is used at a position facing the panel.
Portable electronic device as described. 6. In a state where the display unit is turned by a predetermined angle around a normal line perpendicular to the main surface of the main body, the other main surface of the display unit on which the display panel is not provided becomes the other main surface. A portable electronic device that is folded to cover the keyboard of the main unit. 7. The display unit is folded three-dimensionally with respect to a main surface of the main body unit on which the keyboard is arranged so that the display panel forms a surface, and is three-dimensionally inserted into an appropriate docking station. 7. The portable electronic device according to claim 6, wherein: