WO2009036763A1

WO2009036763A1 - Laptop computer with ergonomic keyboard and display means

Info

Publication number: WO2009036763A1
Application number: PCT/DK2008/000330
Authority: WO
Inventors: Søren Johan LARSEN; Carsten Brysting
Original assignee: Idt-Form Holding Aps
Priority date: 2007-09-21
Filing date: 2008-09-19
Publication date: 2009-03-26

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, comprising a main body (5) and a detachable keyboard (2) for attachment to the computer main body (5) in receptor means (4) formed in the surface of the main body (5). According to one embodiment of the invention the receptor means is formed as a recess (4) in the surface of the main body (5) of the device and the keyboard (2) is provided with the frontal portion (6) of the keyboard comprising a rounded or inclined shaped edge portion (7). The device according to the invention furthermore comprises at least one display screen (3, 12, 13) attached to the main body (5) of the device by support means (9, 10) in such a manner that the display screen (3, 12, 13) can be variably elevated above the main body (5) of the device and/or tilted and/or rotated relative to the main body (5) of the device.

Description

LAPTOP COMPUTER WITH ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD AND DISPLAY MEANS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to portable computers/laptop computers or other electronic communication means, including stationary computers or electronic communication means and specifically to user interface means for entering information into the computer or electronic communication means and for displaying information to users of such computers or electronic communication means. The invention specifically, although not exclusively, addresses the problem of how to improve user friendliness of such computers or other electronic communication means by improvement of the ergonomically important characteristics hereof, specifically the keyboard, mouse and the display.

PRIOR ART

US 7,109,893 discloses a notebook computer with a detachable keyboard, where the keyboard, when detached from the main body of the computer, can be tilted in order to be able to adjust the inclination angle of the keyboard, thereby improving ergonomics of the keyboard and alleviate hand fatigue during use of the computer.

A portable electronic device, such as a laptop computer, with a detachable keyboard is furthermore described in US 2003/0100263 A1 and by separating the keyboard from the main body of the computer the user is enabled to diversify his working posture, when working with the keyboard.

US 5,818,360 discloses an ergonomically designed keyboard that alleviates carpal tunnel syndrome, comprising a keyboard provided with a mechanism that allows the keyboard to be tilted so that the keys proximate the user become elevated relative to keys farther away from the user. Furthermore this document shows a display screen that can be tilted relative to the main body of a computer comprising the said keyboard and display screen.

US 6,381 ,128 discloses an ergonomic portable computer provided with a keyboard unit slidably attached to the main body of the computer and furthermore provided with a display unit that is also slidably attached to the main body, whereby the display unit can be brought into an elevated position relative to the main body of the computer. By these means a more ergonomically optimal use of the computer is attained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On the above background it is a first object of the present invention to provide a laptop computer or other electronic communication means with improved ergonomic characteristics.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a laptop computer or other electronic communication device with improved display means that also make it easier for other people than the operator of the computer to see displayed information on the screen, for instance when the laptop computer is used in a group of persons, such as students at school, universities etc. or during meetings, where several persons are working together at a table.

According to the invention the above and other objects and advantages are attained with a laptop computer, a stationary computer or any other electronic communication means provided with a detachable keyboard of improved ergonomic design, the computer/communication means being furthermore provided with a display screen attached to the main body of the computer in such a manner that the display screen can be variably elevated above the main body of the computer and optionally where the display screen can be tilted and/or rotated relative to the main body of the computer. It is understood, however, that the above features, i.e. the detachable keyboard with its characteristic features and the display screen that can be elevated and otherwise brought to different orientations relative to the main body of the computer can in a practical implementation either be used together or separately.

It is furthermore understood that the features of the invention can also be used in connection with a stationary computer or with any other similar electronic device comprising user interface means comprising a keyboard and display means such as a computer screen.

According to the invention there is basically provided an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, comprising a main body and a detachable keyboard for attachment to the computer main body in receptor means formed in the surface of the main body. The receptor means can according to an embodiment of the invention be formed as a recess in the surface of the main body (5) of the device, but other attachment means would also be possible.

According to an embodiment of the invention electrical connection can be established between electronic circuits in the main body of the device and the keyboard via a cable, but it would alternatively be possible to establish said connection by wireless means, for instance according to the Bluetooth protocol.

The keyboard can according to the invention be provided with the frontal portion comprising a rounded or inclined shaped edge portion which will be an advantage for ergonomic reasons.

The device according to the invention furthermore comprises at least one display screen attached to the main body of the device by support means in such a manner that the display screen can be variably elevated above the main body of the device and/or tilted and/or rotated relative to the main body of the device. Said support means may comprise a telescopic arrangement that can be extended/retracted thereby to vary the elevation of the display screen relative to the main body of the device. The support means may furthermore comprise a first joint between the display screen and the extendable support that makes it possible to tilt the display screen relative to the main body of the device. The device may furthermore comprising a second joint that can be combined with said first joint or be provided as a separate member, which second joint makes rotation of the display screen relative to the vertical axis through the support means possible.

As mentioned previously the support means and the joints may be driven by suitable motor means or be manipulated manually. The motor means may be activated from activation means provided on either the main body of the device or on the keyboard.

The device according to the invention may comprise only a single display screen or it may comprise a plurality of display screens. One of these display screens is may be arranged such that it faces the user during use of the device and the others may during use be oriented in any other direction relative to the device in order for instance to provide a better view of information provided on the screen for viewers placed at any position relative to the device. According to a specific embodiment of the invention adjacent display screens of said plurality of display screens are hingedly connected to each other along adjacent edge portions of the respective screens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed descriptions of embodiments hereof in conjunction with the figures of the drawing, where:

Figure 1 shows a laptop computer according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a support for a display screen used in the laptop computer according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 3, 4 and 5 show a double screen arrangement used in an embodiment of the laptop according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A specific embodiment of a laptop computer according to the invention is shown in figure 1 of the drawings.

The laptop computer according to a first embodiment of the invention basically comprises the main body 1 of the computer, a keyboard 2 and a display screen 3. The keyboard can during operation be displaced relative to the main body of the computer and even be removed entirely from the main body, if desired. Connection between the keyboard and the main body can either be accomplished by wire, or - which may often be found more advantageously - a suitable wireless data connection, for instance according to the Bluetooth protocol, can alternatively be used, thus giving the user even more freedom of operation. According to the specific embodiment, shown in figure 1 , the keyboard is displacably accommodated in a recess 4 in the upper surface 5 of the main body of the computer and suitable releasable locking means, (not shown) for locking the keyboard to the main body, can be provided.

According to this first embodiment of the invention the frontal portion 6 of the keyboard (the portion facing the user) is provided with a rounded or inclined shaped edge portion 7, which is contrary to traditional laptop computers, where the keyboard in provided on the computer, thus leaving an upright frontal edge portion facing the user, which is not an ergonomically optimal solution. Furthermore, the integrated computer mouse 8 of the laptop computer can be positioned closer to the frontal edge of the keyboard on the rounded or inclined surface portion of the keyboard, which will also contribute to an ergonomically optimal solution.

As shown in figure 2, the display screen 3 of the laptop computer according to this embodiment of the invention is provided on an extendable support 9 that can be collapsed, when the computer is not in use. A specific embodiment of this support is shown in figure 2 in the form of a telescopic arrangement 9. By the provision of the display screen 3 on this support 9 the display screen can in use be elevated relative to the main body of the computer, to a level above the computer which is more optimal for the user and/or which makes it more easy for other people in a group to see information on the display screen. According to a specific embodiment there can furthermore be provided a joint 10 between the display screen 3 and the extendable support 9 that makes it possible to tilt the display screen relative to vertical. Furthermore there is according to another embodiment provided either a second joint (nor shown) combined with the above mentioned tilting joint or as a separate member, which second joint makes rotation of the display screen relative to the vertical axis through the support possible. By rotating the display screen slightly relative to the vertical axis through the support a person sitting next to the operator of the computer can obtain a better view of the display screen. Furthermore annoying light reflections in the display screen may be reduced or eliminated by said rotation and/or tilting of the display screen.

The extending of the support 9 and the subsequent retraction hereof can according to the invention be accomplished purely manually or the laptop computer or other device according to the invention may be provided with motor means for attaining extraction/retraction, which motor means for instance can be activated from the main body, from the keyboard or from the display screen. Another possibility according to the invention is automatic extraction of the support/display screen, when the cover of the laptop computer - containing the display screen - is being opened by the user. Furthermore also tilt/rotation means as described above by be either purely manual or driven by suitable motor means.

With reference to figures 3, 4 and 5 there is shown a second embodiment of a laptop computer according to the invention (but the laptop computer could alternatively have been a stationary computer or any other electronic communication means) comprising two important features not mentioned in connection with the first embodiment. Thus the integrated computer mouse 8 of the first embodiment is in the second embodiment replaced (or supplemented) by a digitiser device 11 that can be in wireless communication with the laptop computer/communication device. When not in use the digitiser device 11 can be stored in a suitable compartment (not shown) in the main body of the laptop computer or communication device and the digitiser 11 can be removed from this compartment and during use placed in any convenient position relative to the main body of the computer or communication device.

A second, very important feature of the second embodiment of the laptop computer or electronic communication device is also shown in figures 3, 4 and 5. According to this embodiment the display means comprises a double screen arrangement comprising a first display screen 12 facing the operator of the computer/communication device in the traditional manner and a second display screen 13 hingedly (schematically indicated by reference numeral 14) connected to the first screen 12 (although other connection means may be envisaged, which would also fall within the scope of the present invention). Thus, when not in use the two screens 12 and 13 can be collapsed upon each other to form a single face-to- face unit that can be stored in the computer or communication device, thereby offering optimal protection of the two screens 12 and 13 and which in use can be brought into a variety of "unfolded" states as shown in figures 3, 4 and 5, whereby not only the operator of the computer/electronic device may have an optimal view of the screen content, but whereby also other persons for instance seated at different positions around the computer or electronic device may obtain an optimal view of pictures, text or other information items displayed on the screens 12 and 13. Thus this embodiment of the computer or communication device can be used to great advantage for instance during meetings or when more people are working together for instance in school or other educational surroundings. It is furthermore understood that the double screen feature of the second embodiment may be combined with the tilting/rotating function described in connection with the first embodiment to further facilitate optimal viewing of the screen content. It is furthermore emphasised that although a double screen device has been shown and described in connection with the second embodiment the number of display screens is not limited to one or two display screens, but that the invention extends to any desired number of display screens connected to each other in any conceivable manner, not only by hinge means 14 as shown in figures 3, 4 and 5.

Claims

BCLAIMS

1. An electronic device, such as a laptop computer, comprising a main body (5) and a detachable keyboard (2) for attachment to the computer main body (5) in receptor means (4) formed in the surface of the main body (5).

2. An electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein said receptor means is formed as a recess (4) in the surface of the main body (5) of the device.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein electrical connection is established between circuits in the main body (5) of the device and the keyboard (2) via a cable.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein wireless connection is established between circuits in the main body (5) of the device and the keyboard (2).

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said wireless connection is established according to the Bluetooth protocol.

6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said keyboard (2) is provided with the frontal portion (6) of the keyboard comprising a rounded or inclined shaped edge portion (7).

7. A device according to any of the preceding claims furthermore comprising at least one display screen (3, 12, 13) attached to the main body (5) of the device by support means (9, 10) in such a manner that the display screen (3, 12, 13) can be variably elevated above the main body (5) of the device and/or tilted and/or rotated relative to the main body (5) of the device.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said support means comprises a telescopic arrangement (9) that can be extended/retracted thereby to vary the elevation of the display screen (3, 12, 13) relative to the main body (5) of the device.

9. A device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said support means comprises a joint (10) between the display screen (3, 12, 13) and the extendable support (9) that makes it possible to tilt the display screen (3, 12, 13) relative to the main body (5) of the device.

10 A device according to claim 7, 8 or 8 furthermore comprising a second joint that can be combined with said joint (10) or be provided as a separate member, which second joint makes rotation of the display screen relative to the vertical axis through the support means (9) possible.

11. A device according to any of the preceding claims provided with motor means for extension of the support (9) and the subsequent retraction hereof.

12. A device according to claim 11 , wherein said motor means is activated either from means provided on the main body (5) of the device or from means provided on the keyboard (2).

13. A device according to claim 11 , comprising means for activating said extension/retraction when a cover of the device is being opened by a user.

14. A device according to any of the preceding claims 7 to 13, comprising motor means for driving the said tilt/rotation means.

15. A device according to any of the preceding claims furthermore comprising a digitiser device (11 ).

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said digitiser device (11 ) is in wireless communication with the device.

17. A device according to any of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of display screens (12, 13).

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein one (12) of said plurality of display screens faces the user during use of the device.

19. A device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein adjacent screens (12, 13) of said plurality of display screens are hingedly (14) connected to each other along adjacent edge portions of the respective screens.