JPH1173239A - Portable information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the device very thin and lightweight and to carry it in a pocket by providing a liquid crystal display part with a keyboard in a free opening/closing state and arranging a main body control part in a liquid crystal control part. SOLUTION: The keyboard has the flexible hinge part of its exterior case constituted so that it can be curved at the time of storage. The contact area of the main body to a liquid crystal display 3 on the top surface of the control board is a component unmounted area, a segment substrate electrode 27 and a common substrate electrode 28 are formed corresponding to a segment-side transparent electrode 25 and a common-side transparent electrode 26 of the liquid crystal display 3, and a liquid crystal control part 29 including a driving driver which drives the segment side and common side of the liquid crystal display 3 is mounted on the reverse surface of the control substrate 14 controlling the liquid crystal display part 29 together with a keyboard control part 30. Thus, the keyboard control pat 30 is arranged on the control substrate 14 on the liquid crystal display control side together with the liquid crystal control part 29 to greatly reduce the thickness of the device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information terminal device such as a handheld PC (hereinafter referred to as HPC) or an electronic organizer, which can perform data cooperation with a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable information terminal device such as an HPC or an electronic organizer capable of data cooperation with the PC has been reduced in size in order to enhance portability.

[0003] This type of device is used to input and edit data by carrying the device when going out, and after returning to the office or returning to the home, as necessary, the P
C is used to take in input data into a PC and process the data with the PC.

[0004] In addition, data input on the go is stored in P
It is also possible to cooperate with C or download from a PC. In addition, it is possible to transmit and receive a facsimile, send and receive an e-mail, etc. at a place where the user is outside by connecting a mobile phone or the like.

[0005] Such a device is portable, as described above,
In particular, since a reduction in weight and a reduction in thickness are required, it is common to employ a pen-input type portable information terminal device.

As a pen input type information terminal device, for example, the one described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-107037 is known.

[0007]

However, pen-type portable information terminals have been almost satisfactory in terms of thickness reduction, but have problems in high-speed input.

On the other hand, a key input method is generally known as an input method capable of high-speed input.

Therefore, it can be proposed that the keyboard and the liquid crystal display, which are key input devices, are hinged so as to be rotatable so as to increase the speed.

However, it is difficult for a keyboard having a configuration in which key strokes must be secured to reduce the size and weight of the keyboard to a level that is less than that of a bag carried by a bag.

In general, a control board for controlling the keyboard device is generally arranged below the keyboard, and this also hinders the thinning of the keyboard due to the thicker keyboard.

Focusing on the above points, the present invention is designed so that the keyboard control unit is arranged together with the liquid crystal control unit on a control board arranged on the liquid crystal display unit side so as to be ultrathin and lightweight, and can be carried around in a pocket. The purpose is to provide a portable information terminal device.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a keyboard for inputting characters and the like, a liquid crystal display for displaying the input characters and the like, and storing character information input from the keyboard. In a portable information terminal device having a storage element to be operated and a control board carrying a keyboard control unit and a liquid crystal control unit, a keyboard is provided on the liquid crystal display unit so as to be freely opened and closed by a hinge function, and the liquid crystal control unit and the main unit control unit are connected to the liquid crystal. The portable information terminal device is provided commonly to a control board provided in the control unit.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show the appearance of the portable information terminal device.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an ordinary tablet. . This is a coordinate input unit called, and performs a predetermined function by performing a character input or a click operation from the surface of the pen 2.

The operation status and input information on the tablet 1 are displayed on a liquid crystal display 3 arranged at the bottom of the tablet 1.
Will be displayed.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a flexible sheet-like keyboard which serves as an input unit together with the tablet 1. Input information from the keyboard 4 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3.

In some cases, a soft keyboard 4a is provided in the display area of the liquid crystal display 3.

Next, the configuration of the keyboard 4 will be described. The exterior of the keyboard 4 is covered with an exterior case 5 on which a key arrangement is printed and displayed, and the interior thereof is the same as that used for a general keyboard. A sheet key switch 6 such as a membrane sheet or a sheet tablet is provided, and a reinforcing plate 7 which also serves as reinforcement in the use scene of FIGS. 2 and 4 or as shown in FIG. It is provided.

Accordingly, the keyboard 4 is configured such that the flexible hinge portion 8 of the outer case 5 can be bent when stored, and the interface cable 9 of the sheet key switch 6 is formed integrally with the sheet key switch 6 so as to be flexible. It is configured to be connected to the main body from inside.

On the other hand, 10 is an upper case for covering the tablet 1 and the liquid crystal display 3, and 11 is a lower case, which is provided at an end portion of the keyboard 4 while protecting the tablet 1 with the keyboard 4 when stored and carried. It is fixed by a magnet rubber 13 provided on 12 and the upper case 10.

A control board 14 having storage elements such as input information and programs is provided between the upper case 10 and the lower case 11 of the main body, and a built-in battery 15 for driving the device is provided. Are provided with various connectors as shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a connection D for connecting a built-in battery charging adapter.
C jack, 17 is a communication connector (RS232C) for associating data with a PC by cable connection, 18 is an optical element for optical communication, and 19 is a P which can be connected to a mobile phone or the like.
A DC / PHS connector, 20 is a modular jack for performing communication using a telephone line, and 21 is a speaker for voice.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional structure taken along line vi-vi of FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a developed view of the liquid crystal display 3, and FIGS. 7 and 8 show the liquid crystal display 3 of FIG. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional structure of -vii and viii-viii.

Reference numeral 22 denotes an upper glass of the liquid crystal display 3, 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a lower glass, and a display region 24 is formed by sealing a liquid crystal material between two laths.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a segment-side transparent electrode printed on the upper glass 22, and reference numeral 26 denotes a common-side transparent electrode printed on the lower glass 23.

On the other hand, the area of the upper surface of the control board 14 of the main body which is in close contact with the liquid crystal display 3 is an area where components are not mounted, and corresponds to the segment side transparent electrode 25 and the common side transparent electrode 26 of the liquid crystal display 3 respectively. A control board 14 for controlling the liquid crystal display unit 29 together with a keyboard control unit 30 and a liquid crystal control unit 29 including a driver for driving the segment side and the common side of the liquid crystal display 3 while forming the electrodes 27 and the common substrate electrode 28. It is also mounted on the backside.

As described above, since the keyboard control unit 30 and the liquid crystal control unit 29 are collectively arranged on the control board 14 on the liquid crystal display unit side, the device can be significantly thinned. In addition to this, if the input device is a sheet keyboard, the thickness can be further reduced, and the thickness can be reduced to an ultrathin and ultralight enough to fit in a shirt pocket.

The liquid crystal control unit 29 and the keyboard control unit 30 are arranged in the horizontal direction so as not to overlap each other up and down so that the dimension in the thickness direction is made as small as possible.

A segment-side conductive material 3 made of anisotropic conductive rubber is provided between the liquid crystal display 3 having this configuration and the control substrate 14.
1 and the common side conductive material 32, the liquid crystal display 3
And the control board 14 is electrically connected by pressing.

With the above arrangement, the segment-side conductive material 31 and the common-side conductive material 31 are arranged between the liquid crystal display 3 and the control board 14 which is disposed adjacent to and below the liquid crystal display 3 and on which both the liquid crystal control unit 29 and the main body control unit 30 are mounted. Since the connection is made by the members 32, the thickness of the entire device can be reduced.

As described above, after the portable information terminal having the configuration of the present invention returns to work or home from an outside place, the PC 37 and the portable information terminal are connected with the communication cable 38 as shown in FIG.
By the connection, data can be exchanged between the two and application software can be downloaded.

Further, it is natural that data can be linked by the optical element 18 for optical communication provided in the portable information terminal device.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the control section of the keyboard is arranged together with the liquid crystal control section on the control board arranged on the liquid crystal display section.
A portable information terminal device small enough to be carried in a pocket can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a developed view of a liquid crystal display unit of a portable information terminal device.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention, and is a use state diagram of a portable information terminal device.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the portable information terminal device.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a use state of the portable information terminal device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a rear external view of the portable information terminal device shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line vi-vi of the portable information terminal device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the portable information terminal device shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line vii-vii.

8 is a cross-sectional view of the portable information terminal device shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line viii-viii.

FIG. 9 is a connection state diagram with a PC.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 ... Liquid crystal display, 4 ... Keyboard, 14 ... Control board, 17 ... Communication connector, 18 ... Optical element, 25 ... Segment side transparent electrode, 26 ... Common side transparent electrode, 27 ... Segment board electrode, 28 ... Common board electrode, 29: liquid crystal control unit, 30: main body control unit, 31: segment side conductive material,
32: Common side conductive material.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard for inputting characters and the like, a liquid crystal display section having a liquid crystal display made of glass or the like for displaying the input characters and the like, a storage element for storing character information input from the keyboard, and a keyboard In a portable information terminal device having a control section and a control board carrying a liquid crystal control section, a keyboard is provided on a liquid crystal display section by a hinge function so as to be freely opened and closed, and a liquid crystal control section and a main body control section are arranged in the liquid crystal control section. A portable information terminal device commonly provided on a control board. 2. The portable information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a segment-side transparent electrode and a common-side transparent electrode formed on a liquid crystal display, and a segment substrate electrode and a common substrate electrode respectively corresponding to said electrodes on a control substrate. To form
Personal digital assistants electrically connected to each other. 3. A segment-side conductive material and a common-side conductive material comprising an anisotropic conductive rubber between a transparent electrode formed on a liquid crystal display and a substrate electrode formed on a control substrate. The portable information terminal device is configured so as to be pressed and electrically connected between the liquid crystal display unit and the control board. 4. The portable information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a segment substrate electrode and a common substrate electrode are formed on an upper surface of the control substrate, and a liquid crystal controller and a main body controller are mounted on the lower surface. 5. The portable information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a control board is arranged in close contact with or adjacent to the lower side of the liquid crystal display. 6. A keyboard for inputting characters and the like, a liquid crystal display unit for displaying the input characters and the like, a storage element for storing character information input from the keyboard, and a keyboard control unit and a liquid crystal control unit. A portable information terminal device having a control board, wherein the keyboard is a sheet keyboard, the sheet keyboard is provided on the liquid crystal display unit so as to be openable / detachable, and a liquid crystal control unit and a main body control unit are provided in the liquid crystal control unit. A portable information terminal device that is provided in common for the personal digital assistant. 7. A keyboard for inputting characters and the like, a liquid crystal display unit for displaying the input characters and the like, a storage element for storing character information input from the keyboard, and a keyboard control unit and a liquid crystal control unit. A portable information terminal device having a control board, wherein the keyboard is a sheet keyboard, a sheet keyboard is provided on the liquid crystal display section so as to be openable and closable by a hinge function, and a liquid crystal control section and a main body control section are provided in the liquid crystal control section. A portable information terminal device commonly provided on a control board.