JPH11354941A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To firmly keep an engagement angle at a specified one by making the engagement between a stop lever and a ratchet possible by means of a regulator when a cover is closed. SOLUTION: When a portable electronic equipment 5 is opened, a turning gear 18 rotates anticlockwise and thereby a hook section 13a engaged with a ratchet 18a is rotated clockwise by means of the retchet 18a and is disengaged from the ratchet 18a. A stop lever 13 is provided on one side with the hook section 13a engaged with the ratchet 18a of the turning gear 18 and on the other side with a regulating section 13b engaged with a projection 15 of a holding spring 14. The stop lever 13 is so biased as to rotate anticlockwise by means of the top end 14a of the holding spring 14. When the portable electronic equipment i5 is stopped at a desired position, the hook section 13a engages with a desired retchet 18a and thereby the electronic equipment 5 cannot move in the closing direction, thus being kept in that posture and position. Even if strong force works in the closing direction, the portable equipment 5 cannot be moved in the closing direction due to the engagement between the ratchet 18a and the hook section 13a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device in which a lid is rotatably supported by an electronic device main body, and more particularly to a hinge mechanism thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A hinge mechanism used in a conventional electronic device or the like, such as a compression coil spring or a disc spring, or a washer, a disk or a band, is used as a rotating mechanism of a display unit of a portable electronic device. A mechanism has been used in which a mechanism is used to generate friction on a rotating shaft so that the display unit can be set at an arbitrary angle. The main publicly known materials are Utility Model Registration No. 3004606 (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 6-141).
was there. The outline is that when a pair of washers is arranged on the left and right sides of the bearing plate and the display unit attached to the rotating shaft is opened and closed, the rotating shaft is pressed against the bearing plate from the axial direction and the display unit is opened. It was freely stopped and held at any angle.

A second representative example of the prior art is shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a mechanism explanatory view showing a hinge mechanism of a conventional electronic device. Reference numeral 31 denotes a bracket A fixed to the main body of the electronic device, 32 denotes a bracket B fixed to the display unit side, and 33 denotes a rotating shaft fixed to the bracket B32. 35 is a compression coil spring that presses the large diameter portion 33a of the rotating shaft 33, and 36 is a bracket A3
It is a washer that prevents it from falling out of 1.

With the above structure, when the display unit of the electronic device is opened, the bracket B32 fixed to the display unit is opened.
Rotates while increasing the coil diameter of the compression coil spring 35, and is generated by the tightening force of the compression coil spring 35.
The display unit is held at a desired position by the frictional force between the compression coil spring 35 and the large diameter portion 33a of the rotating shaft 33.

When a torque is applied in the direction in which the display unit is closed, the coil diameter of the coil spring 35 is reduced. Therefore, when a larger torque is applied than when the display unit is opened, the coil spring 35 and the rotating shaft 33 slip and the relative rotation occurs. It moved and the display unit was closed.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned first prior art, for example, when the weight of the display unit is increased, the rotational torque applied to the hinge portion is increased. Lack of stability to hold. In order to increase the friction torque to improve the stability, there is a method of strengthening the spring and increasing the outer diameter of the disk or the like, but using a heavy display unit such as a large liquid crystal screen is not possible. could not.

Furthermore, the increased load torque on the hinge requires a large force to adjust the display unit to a required angle, and the usability is not good, such as the inability to finely adjust the angle.

Further, even if the display unit is of a touch panel specification, even if the display unit is freely held at an arbitrary angle,
The display unit has a problem in that the angle held by being pressed and held by a finger or a pen tip changes, and input cannot be performed accurately.

Also, in the second conventional example, the display unit is held only by the frictional force generated by the coil spring or the like. There is a problem that when touched with a finger or a pen tip, the device moves delicately.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the force for rotating the hinge portion does not increase even when the weight of the first device such as the display unit increases, or It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic apparatus employing a hinge mechanism for securely holding the display unit so that the angular position does not change even when the display unit is pressed with a finger or the like.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a plurality of ratchets and first and second engaging portions, and is attached to one of a lid and an electronic device main body. A stop gear rotatably attached to the lid or the other of the electronic device main body, and a pawl engaging the stop lever with the ratchet. A spring member that urges the stop lever to move the stop lever to a first position where the pawl engages the ratchet and a second position where the pawl does not engage the ratchet. The lever is moved by the rotary gear from the first position to the second position at the most open angle of the opening and closing angle of the lid, and from the second position to the first position just before the lid is closed. Features.

According to the above configuration, when the lid is closed, the restricting means enables the stop lever and the ratchet to engage with each other. Therefore, when the lid is rotated from the closed state, the stop lever and the ratchet mesh with each other to form an angle. Is set, it is possible to reliably hold at a specified angle. Also,
When the lid is opened to a substantially maximum angle, the restricting means holds the stop lever at a position where it does not engage with the ratchet, so that the lid can rotate in the closing direction. As described above, since the frictional force of the shaft is not used for setting the angle, even if the weight of the first device increases, the outer diameter of the shaft does not increase to increase the frictional force. It can be operated with.

Further, the rotating shaft is fixed to one of the lid and the electronic device main body, and the other is provided with a pressing member for applying a frictional load to the rotating shaft.

According to the above configuration, since the lid does not rotate rapidly due to the frictional load of the pressing member, it is possible to prevent an impact between the lid and the electronic device and eliminate a failure due to the impact.

Further, the spring member has a projection that engages with the stop lever for holding the stop lever in the second position.

The above configuration is effective in reducing the number of parts.

Still further, the lid can make the most of the features of the present invention by adopting a configuration of an electronic device having an input section for inputting by pressing.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail using an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall shape of an electronic device using a hinge mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention.
1 shows a schematic mechanism of the present invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes an electronic device main body as a second device, 2 denotes a mounting stand, 3 denotes a receiving stand, 4 denotes a front cover,
Reference numeral 5 denotes a portable electronic device as a first device, which is an input / output device having a touch panel on the top. Reference numeral 12 denotes a rotating shaft.

As shown in the figure, when the portable electronic device 5 as the first device is mounted on the mount 2, the connector built into the portable electronic device 5 and the front cover 4 mounted on the mount 2 are mounted. Is connected, and various data stored in the portable electronic device 5 can be transmitted to the electronic device body 1 as the second device.

The portable electronic device 5 has a display unit, and can adjust the angle while being mounted on the mounting base 2 in order to improve the visibility of the display and the operability of the touch panel. The mounting table 2 and the receiving table 3 mounted on the upper surface of the electronic device main body 1 are connected by a rotation shaft 12, and the mounting table 2 can rotate about the rotation shaft 12 at an arbitrary angle.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing in detail an electronic device using the hinge mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state where the portable electronic device 5 is set at a certain angle.

In FIG. 2, 6 is a connector A on the electronic device side, 7 is a connector B fixed to a mounting base, 8 is a cable, 9 is a connector C, and 10 is a connector D. 11 is a circuit board, 13 is a stop lever, and 14 is a holding spring. Reference numeral 18 denotes a turning gear, 19 denotes an L-curved portion of the turning gear, 20 denotes a pressing plate portion of the turning gear, 21 denotes a turning gear mounting bracket, and 23 denotes a square hole.

As shown in the figure, the portable electronic device 5 is mounted on the mounting base 2.
The connector A6 built in the portable electronic device 5 is connected to the connector B7 built in the front cover 4 mounted on the mounting base 2. Front cover 4
A connector C9 is connected to a connector D10 of a circuit board 11 mounted on the electronic device main body 1 through a cable 8 from a connector B7 incorporated in the electronic device main body 1, and the portable electronic device 5 and the electronic device main body 1 are electrically connected. You.

The receiving table 3 and the mounting table 2 fixed to the upper surface of the electronic device main body 1 are rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 12. The electronic device body 1 rotates between 10 degrees and 74 degrees around one end thereof. A plurality of ratchets 18a are fixed to the outer periphery of the rotating gear mounting bracket 21 mounted on the mounting base 2, and a rotating gear 18 having an L-curved portion 19 and a push plate portion 20 is fixed to an end thereof.

On the other hand, a stop lever 13 is rotatably mounted on the stop 3 on a stop lever shaft 17 erected on a stop lever mounting bracket 16 fixed to the support 3.

The stop lever 13 has a hook 13a which engages with the ratchet 18a of the rotary gear 18, and a hook 1
On the side opposite to 3a, there is provided a regulating portion 13b which engages with the projection 15 of the holding spring 14, and is urged by the end 14a of the holding spring 14 to rotate counterclockwise.

The holding spring 14 is mounted by a mechanism inserted into the square hole 23 of the stop lever mounting bracket 16, and the end portion 14a and the projection 15 which engages with the regulating portion 13b are arranged. 15 is a leaf spring that includes a spring portion that can be displaced in a protruding direction of 15 and constantly biases the stop lever 13 in the counterclockwise direction as described above, and constantly biases the restricting portion 13b. Then, the stop lever mounting bracket 16 is screwed to the receiving base 3.

The hinge portion includes a rotating shaft 12, a rotating gear mounting bracket 21, a rotating gear 18, a stop lever shaft 12, a stop lever mounting bracket 16, a stop lever 13, and a holding spring 14.

Next, the operation of the hinge will be described in detail.

When the portable electronic device 5 is opened, the rotating gear 18
Rotates counterclockwise, and the latch 13a engaged with the ratchet 18a is rotated clockwise by the ratchet 18a to release the engagement. Since the stop lever 13 is constantly applied with a counterclockwise force by the holding spring 14, the stop lever 13 can be engaged with the next ratchet 18a, and moves over the ratchet 18a one by one while operating similarly.

When the portable electronic device 5 is stopped at a desired position, the desired ratchet 18a engages with the engaging portion 13a, and the portable electronic device 5 cannot move in the closing direction, and its posture position is maintained. You. In this case, even if a large force acts in the closing direction, the latch 13
Since a is engaged, the portable electronic device 5 does not move in the closing direction. Therefore, even if the weight of the portable electronic device 5 increases, the posture can be maintained.

In the present embodiment, the shape of the ratchet 18a of the rotary gear 18 is set so that the mounting base 2 is 16 degrees from the position of 10 degrees.
It is formed so that the angle can be set to a total of five levels for each degree.

Next, the case of moving in the closing direction will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing details of an electronic apparatus using the hinge mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state at the time of unlocking.

In this drawing, when it is desired to return to the opposite direction after setting at the 74 ° position, the mounting base 2 is further rotated from the 74 ° position held in the most raised state to the 90 ° position. Move. At the 90 degree position, the rotating gear 18
L turn 19 causes the stop lever 13 to rotate more in the clockwise direction.
Is pushed clockwise by the L-curved portion 19 of the rotating gear 18. The stop lever 13 is a stop lever shaft 1.
7 rotates clockwise. And the rotating gear 1
The 8 restricting portion 13B passes through the projection 15 of the holding spring 14 and is held below. At this time, the stop lever 13
Deviates from the trajectory of the ratchet 18a of the rotating gear 18.

In this state, the mounting base 2 is released from the engagement between the rotating gear 18 and the stop lever 13 and becomes free, and can be returned to the initial holding position of 10 degrees.

When the mounting table 2 is returned to the position of 10 degrees, the push plate 20 of the rotating gear 18 is
Contact with a. Further, when the mounting base 2 is moved in the clockwise direction in the closing direction, the stop lever 13 is
, The restricting portion 13b passes through the protrusion 15 of the holding spring 14 and is moved upward, and the latching portion 13a is again moved by the holding spring 14
8 is moved to a position where it can be engaged with the ratchet 18a.

As described above, when the portable electronic device 5 is to be closed, the mounting base 2 is moved to the position of 90 degrees.
By unlocking the rotation gear 18 and the stop lever 13 and returning the mounting base 2 to the position of 10 degrees, the rotation gear 18 and the stop lever 13 are engaged again, and the mounting base 2 is rotated to a required angle. I can do it.

The two functions of the holding spring 14 will be described in detail. When the mounting base 2 is rotated from the position of 10 degrees to the position of 74 degrees, the stop lever 13 is pushed upward by a U-shaped spring shape so that the stop lever 13 bites into the ratchet 18a of the rotary gear 18. It is a function to be hooked in the form.
When rotated to 0 degrees, the L curved portion 19 of the rotating gear 18
The stop lever 13 pushed up by the
5 is a function of holding the rotating gear 18 at a position where it does not engage with the ratchet 18a.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing details of an electronic apparatus using the hinge mechanism of the embodiment described in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the present invention. (Note that this plan view is a view showing a state in which the rotation angle of the mounting base 2 is at a position of 90 degrees.) In this figure, a fixing bracket 24 fixed to the receiving base 3 is provided with a rotating shaft 1.
A compression coil spring 22 that supports one of the shafts 2 and presses the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 12 is mounted with one end hooked to a fixture 24. Also, the washer 26 allows the rotation shaft 1
2 is prevented.

With the above configuration, when the mounting base 2 is opened and closed,
Since the compression coil spring 22 tightens the rotation shaft 12, a friction load is generated between the compression coil spring 22 and the rotation shaft 12. Due to this frictional force, the turning gear 18 and the stop lever 1
When the hook 3 is released and becomes free, even if you release your hand from the mount 2, a frictional force acts between the mount 2 and the cradle 3, so that it falls down to the position of 10 degrees and your fingers etc. fall. There is no pinch. Furthermore, frictional force is acting on movement between angles,
The angle can be changed smoothly.

As described above, the mounting base 2 can be reliably held at a required angle by engaging the stop lever 13 with the tooth profile of the rotating gear 18 connected by the rotating shaft 12. .

The stop lever 13 is always held by the holding spring 1.
4, a force is acting in a direction to lock the rotary gear 18, and the lever of the stop lever 13 is
Is prevented from coming off.

To change the angle of the mounting table 2, 10
It can be freely rotated from degrees to 74 degrees, and can be held at five positions each time.

When returning the angle of the mounting base 2 to the initial position, or when it is desired to set the angle to an acute angle from the used angle, rotate the mounting base 2 to the position of 90 degrees and release the lock to start the first 10 degrees. Return to the position, raise it back again and set a new angle.

Further, the brake can be applied by friction by combining the shaft lock. It is possible to prevent the mounting base 2 from suddenly falling down in a state where the lock is released and to pinch a finger or the like.

At that time, the rotating gear 18 and the stop lever 1
Because 3 is engaged, the angle does not change slightly due to being pushed, and there is no wobbling. With this mechanism, it is possible to provide a hinge mechanism for adjusting the angle of the portable electronic device 5 mounted on the mount 2 without any problem in operability.

In this embodiment, the number of the ratchets is set to 5. However, the number of the ratchets may be increased by, for example, increasing the diameter of the rotating gear, and the adjustment angle may be set to more than 5 steps. It is possible. In this case, the position where the liquid crystal display section is easy to see and the optimum angle when using the touch panel can be set, and the operability is further improved.

The rotating shaft is fixed to the lid, but may be fixed integrally to the electronic device body and a pressing member may be attached to the lid.

Further, a portable electronic device which can be attached to and detached from the rotating side has been described as an example. However, a detachable load may be used, and a lid which can be opened and closed may be used. Particularly, when the present invention is applied to a touch panel or the like in which a force acts in a direction in which the rotating side closes, such as a touch panel, the effect is large.

[0053]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of ratchets and the first and second engaging portions, which are attached to either the lid or the electronic device main body. A stop gear rotatably attached to the lid or the other of the electronic device main body, and a pawl engaging the stop lever with the ratchet. A spring member that urges the stop lever and a first lever whose pawl portion engages with the ratchet.
And a restricting means for positioning the claw portion at a second position where the ratchet does not engage with the ratchet, and the stop lever is moved from the first position to the second position at the most open angle of the lid opening and closing angle.
And immediately before the lid is closed, the cover is moved from the second position to the first position by the rotating gear.

With the above structure, when the lid is closed, the restricting means enables the stop lever and the ratchet to engage with each other. Therefore, when the lid is rotated from the closed state, the stop lever and the ratchet mesh with each other to form an angle. Is set, it is possible to reliably hold at a specified angle. Also,
When the lid is opened to a substantially maximum angle, the restricting means holds the stop lever at a position where it does not engage with the ratchet, so that the lid can rotate in the closing direction. As described above, since the frictional force of the shaft is not used for setting the angle, even if the weight of the first device increases, the outer diameter of the shaft does not increase to increase the frictional force. It is possible to provide an electronic device that can reliably operate at the position when the lid is rotated and has improved operability.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the angle adjustment unit becomes heavy, the optimum angle can be reliably set without impairing the operability, and a hinge mechanism which does not wobble even when pushed and does not change the angle can be provided. There is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall shape of an electronic device using a hinge mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing details of an initial meshing state between the ratchet and the stop lever according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing details of an engagement state immediately before the engagement between the ratchet and the stop lever of the embodiment of the present invention is released.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary plan view showing details of an electronic apparatus using the hinge mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a hinge mechanism showing an example of the prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic device main body 2 Mounting stand 3 Receiving stand 5 Portable electronic device 12 Rotating shaft 13 Stop lever 13a Stop lever catching portion 13b Stopper lever regulating portion 14 Holding spring 14a End of holding spring 15 Projection of holding spring 16 Stop Lever Mounting Bracket 17 Stop Lever Shaft 18 Rotating Gear 18a Rotating Gear Ratchet 19 L Curved Part of Rotating Gear 20 Rotating Gear Push Plate 21 Rotating Gear Mounting Bracket 22 Compression Coil Spring 24 Fixing Bracket 26 Washer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device in which a lid is rotatably supported by a body of the electronic device around a rotation axis, the electronic device comprising a plurality of ratchets and first and second engagement portions, A rotating gear attached to one of the electronic device main bodies, and a claw portion that engages with the ratchet of the rotating gear;
A stop lever rotatably attached to the other of the lid or the electronic device main body; a spring member for urging the stop lever so that the claw portion engages with the ratchet; and Regulating means for positioning the pawl at a first position where the pawl engages with the ratchet and at a second position where the pawl does not engage with the ratchet; At the most open angle, the rotary gear is moved from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position just before the lid is closed. Electronic equipment. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft is fixed to one of the lid and the electronic device main body, and a pressing member that applies a frictional load to the rotating shaft is attached to the other. The electronic device according to claim 1. 3. The spring member according to claim 1, wherein the spring member has a protrusion that engages with the stop lever for holding the stop lever at the second position.
2. The electronic device according to 2. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is an electronic device provided with an input unit for inputting by pressing.