JPH11119858A - Portable type information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize the scale of a hinge mechanism by making both of a hinge hardware fixed to a case body and a hinge hardware fixed to an upper lid a spring steel plate to which a curling is applied. SOLUTION: Hinge hardware 401 and 403 are made of a steel plate for spring, and their edge parts are curled (curling is applied to) and formed into a cylindrical shape. Diameters of holes of the hinge hardware 401 and a hinge hardware 402 are shared. A shaft 402 is a circular cylinder made of a stainless steel having a specified length, and its shaft diameter is formed slightly larger than the hole diameters of the hinge hardware 401 and 403. The shaft 402 has both ends force-fitted into the hinge hardware 401 and the hinge hardware 403.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information processing apparatus, and more particularly to a portable information processing apparatus, in which both a housing and a hinge fitting fixed to an upper cover are made of a curled spring steel plate.
The present invention relates to a portable information processing apparatus in which the size of a hinge is reduced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 17, in a notebook personal computer, for example, comprising a main body 100 and an upper lid 101, the upper lid 101 is connected to one side of the main body 100 by a hinge 400. 10
It rotates with the hinge 400 as a rotation axis with respect to 0. Since, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like is built in the upper cover 101, the upper cover 101 must be kept open at an arbitrary angle with respect to the main body 100. A general hinge 400 satisfying this requirement is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

[0003] The hinge 400 comprises a hinge fitting 411 fixed to the main body 100, a hinge fitting 413 fixed to the upper lid 101, and a shaft 412 connected to both. The hinge fitting 411 fixes the shaft 412 by caulking (making the shaft 412 unrotatable). The hinge fitting 413 is formed of a steel plate for a spring,
Its end is rounded (curled) into a cylindrical shape. The shaft 412 has a diameter different from that of the part press-fitted into the hinge fitting 413 and that of the part swaged by the hinge fitting 411. That is, the shaft 412 is formed with a step.

[0004] In the hinge 400, when the upper lid 101 is about to rotate due to the influence of gravity or the like, the hinge fitting 413 and the shaft 41 pressed into the hinge fitting 413 are pressed.
2, a frictional force is generated, and the rotation of the upper lid 101 is suppressed. Thereby, the upper lid 101 can be stopped at an arbitrary rotation position.

[0005]

In the hinge fitting 411, a caulking process is performed.
There is a problem that the diameter of the hinge metal 413 becomes larger than the diameter of the hinge fitting 413.

[0006] In addition, with the enlargement of the hinge fitting 413,
There has been a problem that it is necessary to reinforce the surrounding main body 100. As a result, for example, there is a problem that it is difficult to apply to a small device that can be carried into a pocket, such as a mobile phone.

Further, the caulking process of fixing the shaft 412 to the hinge fitting 411 has a problem that the number of steps is increased and the cost is increased as compared with the process of press-fitting the shaft 412 into the hinge fitting 413.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the size of the hinge is reduced by pivotally connecting the shaft to hinge hinges on both the housing side and the upper lid side of the hinge. Things.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable information processing apparatus comprising a housing and an upper cover, wherein the upper cover is connected to the housing via a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism includes a first hinge fixed to the housing, a second hinge fixed to the upper lid, and both ends pressed into the first and second hinges. The first hinge and the shaft, and the second hinge and the shaft are rotatable.

According to the portable information processing apparatus of the first aspect, the hinge mechanism rotatably connects the upper lid to the housing. A first hinge fitting fixed to the housing side, a second hinge fitting fixed to the upper lid side, and a shaft whose both ends are press-fitted into the first and second hinge fittings constitute a hinge mechanism. The first hinge and the shaft, and the second hinge and the shaft are rotatable.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A portable radio communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied will be described. 1 to 9 show an example of the configuration of the appearance of the portable wireless communication terminal 1. FIG. The portable wireless communication terminal 1 has a configuration of a composite terminal having a PHS telephone function, a facsimile communication and an e-mail communication function, and a data communication function for receiving an information providing service.

The portable radio communication terminal 1 has a terminal body 10
0 (housing) is provided with a cover panel 101 (upper lid) that can be opened and closed freely. When the cover panel 101 is closed (FIGS. 1 to 7), a PHS (Parsonal Handy-phone System) is provided.
In a telephone mode operating as a telephone terminal, and in a state where the cover panel 101 is opened (FIGS. 8 and 9), a data communication mode in which a facsimile communication function, an e-mail communication function, or an information providing service receiving function can be obtained. Become. For this mode switching, the cover panel 101
A switch SW (FIG. 11) for detecting the opening and closing of the switch is provided.

On the front side of the cover panel 101, a numeric keypad 102 for telephone (for dialing) and a sub LCD (Liquid C
rystal Display) 105S. Also,
In the vicinity of the numeric keypad 102 of the cover panel 101, there are arranged a button 301 operated when starting a call operation or holding a call, and a button 302 operated when ending a call. Further, an LCD window 104 and a speaker 100SP are arranged on the cover panel 101.

The portable radio communication terminal 1 operates the button 306 to release the lock on the main body 100 and to expose the main body 100 when the cover panel 101 is opened.
A large main LCD 105M is provided on the side surface (the surface facing the back surface of the cover panel 101 of the main body 100), and a display screen of the main LCD 105M includes a message, a function list menu, a received facsimile list, a received e-mail list, and the like. Can be displayed.

When the cover panel 101 is closed, the display surface of the main LCD 105M can be seen through an LCD window 104 made of, for example, a transparent plastic plate. For example, when a call is made from the portable wireless communication terminal 1, a display of the input destination telephone number or the like is performed only on the portion that can be viewed from the LCD display window 104 of the main LCD 105M.

That is, when the cover panel 101 is closed, the portable radio communication terminal 1 is set to the telephone mode. Then, when in the standby state, as shown in FIG. 10A, the main LCD 105M is turned off and nothing is displayed. At this time, the sub LCD 105
In S, as shown in FIG. 10A, marks 201 to 207 for notifying the state of the portable wireless communication terminal 1 and the like.
Are displayed.

After the portable radio communication terminal 1 is set to the telephone mode, for example, when making a call from the portable radio communication terminal 1, as shown in FIG. The telephone number of the other party input by the operation is displayed only on the portion that can be viewed from the LCD display window 104 of the main LCD 105M. Of course, at the time of an incoming call, the telephone number of the caller who made a call to the portable wireless communication terminal 1 may be displayed only on the portion that can be viewed from the LCD display window 104 of the main LCD 105M. Also in this case, on the sub LCD 105S, a predetermined one of the marks 201 to 207 for notifying the state of the portable wireless communication terminal 1 and the like is displayed.

The sub-circuit shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B
The marks 201 to 207 displayed on the LCD 105S are:
The following contents are notified. That is, the mark 201 indicates the electric field intensity of the radio wave from the wireless base station, and the mark 202 indicates that the portable wireless communication terminal 1 is in the telephone mode. Mark 2
03 indicates that the portable wireless communication terminal 1 is in the telephone mode but is out of reach of radio waves from the wireless base station, and the mark 204 indicates the remaining amount of the battery. A mark 205 indicates that facsimile information has arrived at the portable wireless communication terminal 1, and a mark 206 indicates that an electronic mail has arrived at the portable wireless communication terminal 1. Things. The mark 207 indicates that the portable wireless communication terminal 1 is in the vibration / reception mode.

The marks displayed on the sub LCD 105S are displayed on the main LCD 105M when the cover panel 101 is open. in this case,
When the cover panel 101 is opened, it becomes difficult for the user to see the sub LCD 105S.
D105S is controlled to be turned off, and nothing is displayed.

When the cover panel 101 is opened as described above, the mark indicating the state of the portable wireless communication terminal 1 displayed on the main LCD 105M is at the position where the sub LCD 105S is located when the cover panel 101 is closed. It is displayed at the corresponding position on the main LCD 105M. Alternatively, a mark indicating the state of the portable wireless communication terminal 1 may be displayed at a specific position such as the upper left end or the lower right end of the main LCD 105M.

Thus, the portable radio communication terminal 1
When in the telephone mode and in the standby state, the main LCD 105M is turned off so that power is not wasted.

In this portable wireless communication terminal 1, a transparent touch panel 106 is attached to the surface of the main LCD 105M, and is detachably attached to the back side of the cover panel 101 as shown in FIGS. It has a function of receiving a touch operation with the pen 107 and a handwritten character input.

In the center of the left side of the main body 100, there is a power switch 30 operated when turning on or off the power.
A hold button 304 operated to inhibit input from the numeric keypad 102 and the like, and a connection port 30 for connecting an earphone microphone
5 are provided. The hinge cover 307 is
When the cover panel 101 is opened and closed with respect to the main body 100, the flexible printed circuit board connected between the main body 100 and the cover panel 101 is prevented from being exposed. An antenna 103 for PHS is provided on an upper end surface of the main body 100.

A jog dial key 1 having both functions of a rotation key and a push button key is provided below the main body 100 and not covered by the cover panel 101.
09 and a microphone 100MC. When the jog dial key 109 is rotated as a rotation key in the left-right direction (in a direction parallel to the short side of the main LCD 105M) in FIG. Information can be scrolled. Also, jog dial key 1
When 09 is pressed as a push button key, the selected item is determined. Alternatively, in the telephone mode, when displaying a list of telephone numbers registered in advance, the jog dial key 10 is used.
9 is pressed.

On the back side of the cover panel 101, a plurality of keys 108 are arranged. Key 108A of these
Is operated when setting the browser mode, and key 10
8B is operated when setting the facsimile mode,
The key 108C is operated when setting the mail mode. The key 108D is operated when setting a predetermined function. Key 108E is operated when setting the memo mode, and key 108F is operated when setting the telephone directory mode. The key 108G is operated when connecting to the common server device 2, and the key 108H is operated when collectively receiving mails that have not been received.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the internal configuration of the portable radio communication terminal 1. The portable wireless communication terminal 1 is roughly composed of a communication function unit 110 and a control unit 120.

The communication function unit 110 includes an antenna 103, an R
It comprises an F processing unit 112, a transmission / reception data processing unit 113, a microphone amplifier 114, a speaker amplifier 115, a microphone 100MC, and a speaker 100SP.

The control unit 120 is constituted by a microcomputer, and includes a system control unit 121 composed of a CPU, a ROM 122, a DRAM 123, and a flash memory 124 as a rewritable nonvolatile memory.
It has.

A switch SW which is turned on / off in response to opening and closing of the cover panel 101 is connected to the system control unit 121.
Detects whether the cover panel 101 is in a closed state or an open state by turning on / off the switch SW. When the cover panel 101 is in the closed state, the telephone mode is set, and the portable wireless communication terminal 1 is used for a PHS telephone. Function as a terminal. When the cover panel 101 is open, the key 10
The portable wireless communication terminal 1 is caused to function as a terminal for facsimile communication or mail communication in response to the operation of step 8.

The system control unit 121 also has
The key switch group of the numeric keypad 102 and the cover panel 10
The information indicating the state of the switch group of the key 108 provided on the rear side of the key 1 is input. When a key operation is performed by the user, the system control unit 121 It detects which one is and executes a process corresponding to the detected key.

Also, the system control unit 121
The main controller 105 controls the LCD driver 125 to display a predetermined display image on the main LCD 105M using the program and display data in the ROM 122. System control unit 121
Also controls the LCD driver 128 to cause the sub LCD 105S to display a mark indicating the state of the portable wireless communication terminal 1 and the like.

The system control unit 121 includes a buzzer 127 and an LED for notifying the user of an incoming call, facsimile and mail.
(Light emitting diode) 126 is connected.

In the ROM 122, a program for controlling a sequence for connection with the common server device 2, a control program for PHS telephone communication, a control program for facsimile transmission, a control program for mail transmission, a facsimile A communication application program such as a control program for receiving data and mail data necessary for communication with the portable wireless communication terminal 1; a program for controlling display of the main LCD 105M and the sub LCD 105S; and display data such as menu display. Are stored.

The DRAM 123 temporarily stores the received data obtained from the common server device 2 and has a memory area used as a work area.

In the flash memory 124, address information on a network for automatically connecting the portable radio communication terminal 1 to the common server device 2 is stored in advance. In the flash memory 124, the portable wireless communication terminal 1 is a terminal having a contractual relationship with the common server device 2, and receives a facsimile communication service, an e-mail service, and an information providing service from the common server device 2. Identification information (member information) to indicate that the terminal is capable of
Is also stored. The member information is also stored and managed in the master server 21 of the common server device 2. Further, the flash memory 124 includes:
It is provided with an area for storing data that the user wants to save, such as the last mode with the cover panel 101 opened, of the received data temporarily stored in the DRAM 123.

Of these, the numeric keypad 102, the LED 12
6, key button 108, LCD driver 128, and sub LCD
105S is provided on the cover panel 101 side.

Next, the hinge 400 which is covered with the hinge cover 307 and connects the main body 100 and the cover panel 101 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 12 shows an appearance of a hinge 400 incorporated in the portable wireless communication terminal 1, and FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of the hinge 400. As shown in FIG. 13, the hinge includes a hinge fitting 401 fixed to the main body 100, a hinge fitting 403 fixed to the cover panel 101, and a shaft 40 rotatably coupled to both.
2

As shown in FIG. 14, hinge fittings 401,
403 is formed of a steel plate for a spring, and its end is bent (curled) to form a cylindrical shape. The hole diameters of the hinge fitting 401 and the hinge fitting 403 are the same. The shaft 402 is a stainless steel cylinder having a predetermined length.
3 is slightly larger than the hole diameter. Axis 402
Are pressed into the hinge fitting 401 and the hinge fitting 403, respectively.

As described above, since the shaft diameter of the shaft 402 is larger than the hole diameter of the hinge fittings 401 and 403, when the shaft 402 is press-fitted, the hinge fittings 401 and 4 are formed.
03 is expanded (elastically deformed) and the hinge fitting 40
Reference numerals 1 and 403 allow the shaft 402 to be elastically and rotatably supported.

In this state, the shaft 402 is not completely fixed by the hinge fittings 401 and 403, and a rotational torque is applied to the shaft 402 to rotate the cover panel 101 due to the influence of gravity or the like. In this case, a frictional force is generated between the shaft 402 and the hinge fittings 401 and 403 to prevent the rotation.

Therefore, similar to the example shown in FIG.
When the cover panel 101 is opened at an arbitrary angle (0 to 180 degrees) with respect to the main body 100, that state is maintained. Naturally, this frictional force is applied to the cover panel 10.
The rotation torque is about the same as the rotation torque generated by its own weight, and does not prevent the user from rotating the cover panel 101.

In the case of the example shown in FIG.
14 and only one hinge fitting 413, the shaft 402 is connected to the two hinge fittings 401 and 403 in the example of FIG. Can occur. Therefore, the hinge fitting 4
01, 403, and the axis 402 can be reduced, and the invention can be applied to the portable wireless communication terminal 1 which is small enough to be put in a pocket.

In the above description, the material and the shape of the shaft 402 are stainless steel cylinders. However, a spring pin made of a steel plate for a spring as shown in FIG. 15 may be used. In this case, the groove of the spring pin and the hinge fittings 401, 403
As shown in FIG. 16, it is preferable to bend the shape of the end of the hinge fitting 401 (same for the hinge fitting 403) outward as shown in FIG.

[0044]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus of the first aspect, both the hinge fitting fixed to the housing and the hinge fitting fixed to the upper lid are rotatably connected to the shaft. Therefore, the size of the hinge mechanism can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of an LCD window 104 and a sub LCD 105S of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable wireless communication terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the hinge 400 of FIG.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the hinge 400 of FIG.

15 is a diagram showing another example of forming the shaft 402 in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a view showing another example of forming the hinge fitting 401 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a configuration of an electronic device.

FIG. 18 is a view showing an example of a conventional hinge.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 mobile wireless communication terminal, 100 body, 101 panel cover, 307 hinge cover, 400 hinge, 401 hinge fitting, 402 axis, 403 hinge fitting, 411 hinge fitting, 412 axis, 4
13 Hinge bracket

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A portable information processing apparatus comprising a housing and an upper lid, wherein the upper lid is rotatably connected to the housing via a hinge mechanism, and wherein the hinge mechanism is connected to the housing. A first hinge fitting fixed to a body side, a second hinge fitting fixed to the upper lid side, and a shaft having both ends press-fitted into the first and second hinge fittings, A portable information processing apparatus, wherein the hinge fitting and the shaft, and the second hinge fitting and the shaft are rotatable. 2. The portable information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second hinge fittings are formed of curled spring steel plates.