KR100297746B1 - Portable computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A portable computer is provided to be used according to operation environments of a user by appending a touch pad to a keyboard pad of a notebook computer. CONSTITUTION: A keyboard unit(31) is formed as a keyboard pad, is mounted in a main body unit storing a computer system, and inputs a predetermined command. A display unit(33) is positioned at the upper surface of the keyboard unit(31) and includes a touch panel(32) mounted for covering a liquid crystal displaying element on the surface thereof for selecting and inputting various information items displayed as an image, respectively, by a touch operation. On condition that a cover member(34) for protecting the liquid crystal displaying element and the touch panel(32) is covered, if the cover member(34) is opened, the liquid crystal displaying element and the touch panel(32) are located toward the upper portion. A frame(35) is mounted in the main body unit. The display unit(33) is combined with the frame(35).

Description

Portable computer

The present invention relates to a portable computer, and more particularly, to a portable computer capable of using an input device of a touch pad type and a keyboard pad type.

In line with the times, most systems in use today are small, light and portable. These include Note Book Personal Coomputers, Personal Digital Assistance (PDAs), Smart Phones, and the like.

Notebook computers or portable digital terminals, which are typically portable computers, have two types. One type is equipped with a keyboard, which is a basic input device, and the operation is performed around the keyboard. The pen has a keyboard pad type configured to serve as a pointing device, and the other type is one-handed for convenient operation while moving. It is a touch pad type that can hold a computer and operate the computer with only a pen or hand with the other hand.

Here, the portable computer, referred to as a notebook computer, is lighter and smaller in volume than a general desktop computer, and can be easily carried, thereby providing a lot of conveniences that cannot be obtained in a general desktop computer. In addition, the use of the computer is hardly restricted by the place, and the use range of the computer is further expanded.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of a general notebook computer.

Referring to FIG. 1, a notebook computer includes a main body portion 10 having a computer system embedded therein, a disk play portion 11 rotatably installed at one side of the main body portion 10, and the main body portion 10. It is comprised largely by the keyboard 12 as an input device provided on ().

In addition, the main spring unit 10 includes a hard disk pack 13 having a hard disk drive therein, a rechargeable battery latch 14 for facilitating drawing out of the rechargeable battery, and a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) card. A card slot 15 for dividing and inserting cards according to a type and a touch pad 16 having a mouse function are provided.

2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a conventional touch pad type portable digital terminal.

Referring to FIG. 2, a touch pad type digital terminal is provided with a liquid crystal display device (LCD) 20 in which predetermined coordinates are positioned, and a touch panel 21 mounted to cover the liquid crystal display device 20. A pen 22 as an input means, and a pen holder 23 for storing the pen. In addition, the protective cover 24 is rotatably installed to protect the touch panel 21.

Such digital terminals have various functions that use a pen on the touch panel to facilitate a user with character recognition or other touches.

The conventional notebook computer having the above-described configuration is designed and commercialized as a keyboard pad type for people who are familiar with the keyboard while being a work environment mainly using the keyboard as a main input means. However, it may be convenient to use only the touch pad depending on the operating environment in use, not according to personal preferences such as preferences for the keyboard, and put a large amount of text data on a lap or desk. If necessary, it is necessary to use a keyboard.

Therefore, the keyboard pad type computer and the touch pad type computer as described above cannot maximize the convenience of operation according to the user's preferences or operation environment, and cannot meet the user's working environment and personal preference. I have a difficulty.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a portable computer that can be used according to a user's working environment by adding a touch pad type to a keyboard pad type of a notebook computer.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional notebook computer.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional touch pad type portable computer.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a portable computer according to the present invention.

4a to 4c are cross-sectional views of the frame and the display unit of the portable computer according to the present invention.

5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a connection state of the frame illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view in the A direction of FIG. 5; FIG.

7 is a cross-sectional view showing a locked state of the portable computer LCD frame unit according to the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior of the locking device of the portable computer LCD frame portion according to the present invention.

9 is a plan view showing the appearance of Figure 8 and the front appearance of the portable computer. <Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

31.Keyboard section 32 ... Touch panel

33 Display unit 34 Cover element

35 ... frame 41 ... spindle

42 Hinged joint 51 First cable

52 ... 2nd cable 53 ... 3rd cable

54 Connector 61 Cylindrical member

62 ... ring 63 ... metal brush

71.Protrusion 72.Joint

81 ... opening and closing switch 82

83 Push plate 84 Bracket fixed shaft

85 Brackets 86 Fixed Shaft

87 ... rope 88 ... first spring

89 2nd spring 91 ... cover lock

92 ... Latch switch

In order to achieve the above object, a portable computer according to the present invention includes a main body portion having a keyboard installed thereon by a built-in computer system, and a touch panel for selectively inputting items of various types of information displayed in images by a touch operation. The display unit and the main body to be provided foldable to provide a portable computer characterized in that it comprises a frame rotatably coupled to the display unit.

In addition, a cover member is further provided in order to prevent the display unit from being damaged, and the first cable, the second cable, and the first, which are an electrical connection device through the hinge and the display unit on the rotating shaft inside the frame. A third cable coupled to the two cables is characterized in that the connector is connected to the computer circuit of the keyboard unit.

According to another feature of the invention, the frame is provided with a cylindrical member including the rotating shaft, and a conductive ring electrically connected to the display unit through the inside of the cylindrical member on the outer surface of the cylindrical member, And a metal brush having electrical connection to the first and second cables, which are the electrical connection devices provided in the display unit and the frame, by contacting the ring through the connector and rotating the cylindrical member. Has its features.

In addition, the display unit and the frame provides a portable computer, characterized in that further provided with a locking device provided to be fixedly coupled.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a portable computer according to the present invention will be described in detail.

The portable computer according to the present invention has a feature in that a touch pad type display unit and a keyboard pad type keyboard unit are rotatably provided so that the computer can be used according to the user's preference. This feature will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9.

As shown, referring to Figure 3, when looking at the configuration and transformation process from the touch pad type computer to the keyboard type computer, it is provided in the main body portion (not shown) incorporating a computer system (not shown), A keyboard pad type keyboard unit 31, which is a device for inputting a command, and a touch panel 32 positioned on an upper surface of the keyboard unit 31 and mounted to cover a liquid crystal display device (not shown). When the cover member 34 is opened while the display unit 33 and the cover member 34 for protecting the liquid crystal display device and the touch panel 32 are covered, the liquid crystal display device and the touch panel ( 32) is a touch pad type computer of the upward facing type. In addition, a frame 35 is provided for characterizing the present invention for use as a touch pad type computer and as a keyboard type computer. Here, the touch panel 32 as described above is a thin transparent plate attached to the screen of the liquid crystal display device, as is widely known for public use, and the item currently displayed on the screen when the user presses the transparent plate with a finger or a pen. It is to determine which of the items is selected and to execute the selected item. The touch panel 32 is applied to a conventional portable digital terminal or is widely applied to banking or general industry affairs such as schools. For example, in detail, the touch panel 32 is, for example, a liquid crystal display as is widely known through a display assembly (Korean Patent Application No. 1997-62433) having a touch panel disclosed before the present application. The upper touch plate and the lower touch plate having transparency are formed side by side to be coupled to the upper part of the device so that an image is displayed through the touch panel, and a predetermined electrode pattern is formed on opposite surfaces of the upper and lower touch plates. Accordingly, when the touch panel is pressed with a finger, the upper touch plate and the lower touch plate are in contact with each other to generate an electric signal. In addition, the touch panel 32 is formed on a substrate and a substrate made of a transparent insulating material, as is widely known through a touch panel (Korean Patent Application No. 1995-2016) disclosed before the application of the present invention as another example. The substrate conductive layer may include a substrate conductive layer, a dot space formed between the substrate conductive layer and the contact conductive layer, and a contact conductive layer positioned on the dot space and causing a change in electrical resistance by external contact.

In addition, referring to FIGS. 4A to 4C, a rotating shaft 41 is rotatably connected to both ends of the display unit 33 so that the display unit 33 is supported and rotated by the rotating shaft 41. The display unit 33 is watched when the display unit 33 is pulled forward while being coupled by the frame 35 and the hinge coupler 42 to lift the frame 35 about the rotational axis 41. It can be turned 90 degrees in the opposite direction to transform it into a keyboard pad type computer.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a connection state of the frames illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C, and FIG. 6 is a plan view in the direction A of FIG. 5.

As shown, the frame 35 is provided at both ends of the frame 35 and connected to the rotating shaft 41 for supporting rotation, and an electrical connection device for electrically connecting the display unit 33. The first cable 51, the second cable 52, and the third cable 53 to which the first and second cables 51 and 52 are coupled are hinged portions 42 below the frame 35. And a connector 54 connected to the computer circuit of the keyboard portion (not shown) coupled by the connector 54, which is mounted on both sides.

In addition, the frame (refer to 35 of FIG. 4) is connected to the display unit 33, and the cylindrical member 61 including the rotating shaft 41 and the cylinder on the outer surface of the cylindrical member 61. A conductive ring 62 is provided which is electrically connected to the display unit 33 through the inside of the member 61. The first cable (see FIG. 5) and the second cable (see FIG. 5), which are electrical connection devices, are provided. A metal brush which contacts the ring 62 connected to the display unit 33 and electrically connects the cable provided in the frame by the connector 58 by the rotation of the cylindrical member 61. 63).

7 is a cross-sectional view showing a locked state of the portable computer according to the present invention.

As shown, the display unit 33 including the cover member 34 and the touch panel 32 is rotated around the hinge coupling portion 42 so that the touch pad type to the keyboard type can be modified. A locking device is required to be secured to the frame 35.

The protrusion part 71 provided in the frame 35 and the coupling part 72 attached to the display part 33 corresponding thereto are coupled to the downward direction even when a pressure of a pen or a hand is applied to the display part 33. A locking device for fixing the rotation is provided.

8 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the locking device of the portable computer according to the present invention.

As shown, the opening and closing switch 81 is provided on one side of the frame 35 is pressed by the opening and closing switch 81 is supported by the locking portion 82 located below the opening and closing switch 81 to the frame ( Pressure is applied to the pressing plate 83 in contact with the upper portion of the first spring 88 fixed to one side of the 35. Then, the pressing plate 83 is lowered due to the pressure while the bracket portion 85 is wound along the fixing shaft 86 wound around the rope 87 by the clamp fixing shaft 84 fixed to one side of the frame 35. ) Pulls the rope 87 to compress the second spring 89 to pull the protrusion 71 inward.

9 is a plan view showing the appearance of FIG. 8.

As shown, the upper cover member 34 is locked to one side of the frame 35 by the cover locking device 91, the on-off switch 81 is applied to the display unit (not shown) Release the lock to rotate it. In addition, a latch switch 92 is provided at one side of the frame 35 to facilitate locking and unlocking of the frame 35 and the keyboard unit 31, and a latch connected to the latch switch 92. A latch groove (not shown) of the keyboard portion 31 corresponding to the keyboard portion 31 is provided.

By using the improved touch pad type and the keyboard pad type portable computer by such a configuration, the present invention can be implemented as a single system, and thus, there is an advantage of providing preference and convenience corresponding to the user's preference.

As described above, the portable computer according to the present invention uses the computer as a touch pad type when using a pen or a hand according to a user's use environment, and switches to a keyboard pad type when a keyboard operation such as inputting a large amount of text data is required. Therefore, there is an advantage that the convenience of using a computer can be combined and the efficiency of the work.

Claims (6)

Built-in computer system is installed in the main body portion with a keyboard on the top, and the display unit with a touch panel to be able to selectively input items of various information displayed in the image by the touch operation and the main body portion is foldable And a frame to which the display unit is rotatably coupled. The method of claim 1, A portable computer, characterized in that an electrical connection device for electrically connecting the display unit and the touch panel with the keyboard installation unit of the main body unit is installed on the frame rotation axis. The method of claim 1, And a cylindrical member including the rotating shaft inside the frame, and a conductive ring electrically connected to the display unit through the inside of the cylindrical member on an outer surface of the cylindrical member. The method of claim 3, And a metal brush having electrical connection to the display and the electrical connection device provided in the frame by rotation of the cylindrical member through contact with the ring through the connector. The method of claim 1, And a lock device for fixing the display unit to the frame. The method of claim 5, The locking device is a portable computer, characterized in that it has an opening and closing switch installed on one side of the frame, a first spring connected to the opening and closing switch, and a protrusion connected to the second spring.

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