JPH03189712A - Miniature electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the handling performance of an electronic equipment with its miniaturized structure maintained by providing a hinge means to a pointing device and forming a recess part at the bottom surface of the electronic equipment. CONSTITUTION:A pointing device 4 stored at the bottom surface side of an electronic equipment main body 1 is drawn out to the front side of keyboard 2 with revolutions and set in parallel to the front of the keyboard. Then the device 4 is put on a desk, etc., for easier use of the device 4. When the device 4 is not used, the device 4 extruding to the front side of the keyboard 2 is stored in a recess part 11 formed on the bottom surface of the main body 1 with revolutions. Thus the device 4 can be stored at a near and unforgettable place when the device 4 is not used. Thus the handling performance and the operability of the device 4 can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a small electronic device such as a portable laptop-shaped personal computer.

(Prior Art) Most small electronic devices, such as laptop-shaped personal computers, consist of an electronic device main body (hereinafter simply referred to as the main body) with a keyboard on the top and an installation surface on the bottom side. Ru. By placing the main body on a desk or the like and operating a keyboard, information is displayed on a display device provided on the main body or control signals are output to a controlled device connected to the main body.

By the way, some laptop-type personal computers are provided with a separate operation section integrated with the keyboard, which serves as a substitute for a mouse function for inputting position instruction information such as moving a cursor.

However, depending on the field in which the personal computer is used, there are cases in which this operation section is often used, and cases in which it is rarely used. In other words, this operation section is good if it is used, but it is useless if it is not used. For this reason,
Considering the case where it is not used, the mounting area around the keyboard increases and the external size of the main body becomes unnecessarily large.

This problem is especially serious because the lap-tub type is required to be more compact.

Therefore, in order to keep the main body compact, there are pointing devices that are separate parts from the main body, such as devices called isopoints.

This isopoint is, for example, a roll bar that outputs the instruction signal necessary for moving the cursor in the X-axis direction, a slider that outputs the instruction signal necessary for moving the cursor in the Y-axis direction, and a position indication that is combined with a button for position selection. In addition to having an operation section for inputting information on the top surface of the case, the entire keyboard is shaped like a flat strip that connects to the front of the keyboard for easy operation. When using the keyboard, place the isopoint on the front side of the keyboard, connect the connection pin connected to the isopoint to the connection terminal on the main unit, and then operate the roll bar, slider, and buttons with the fingers that operate the keyboard. This allows you to input the necessary location information.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) Although such a structure in which a pointing device is separately combined with the main body certainly contributes to miniaturization of the main body, it becomes a nuisance when not in use and affects keyboard operations. Moreover, if the device is left unused for a long period of time and left in a separate location, there is a risk of forgetting where it has been stored, which poses a problem in terms of handling and usability.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to miniaturize the main body of electronic equipment.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, a small electronic device H of the present invention has an electronic device main body that has a keyboard on the top surface and whose bottom side is the installation surface. and a pointing device having an operation section for inputting position instruction information on the top surface thereof, and the pointing device is installed on the front side of the keyboard of the electronic device main body side by side with the main body part. wherein the pointing device is provided with a hinge means rotatably connected to the bottom side of the electronic device main body to rotatably support the pointing device in a rearward direction of the electronic device main body; A recessed portion for housing a pointing device that rotates toward the rear side of the electronic device main body is provided on the bottom surface of the electronic device.

(Function) According to the small electronic device of the present invention, when using the pointing device, the pointing device stored on the bottom side of the main body is pulled out by rotation to the front side of the keyboard and arranged in front of the keyboard. If you place it on a desk or the like, the pointing device will be placed in an easy-to-use position.

When not in use, the pointing device that protrudes from the front of the keyboard can be rotated and stored in the recess on the bottom of the electronic device, allowing you to store the pointing device in a place where you won't forget it.

Thereby, handling and usability can be improved. Moreover, since the keyboard does not need to be as large as in the case of a built-in keyboard, it also contributes to miniaturization of the electronic device itself.

(Example) This invention will be described based on an example shown in FIGS. 1 to 9. 1 and 4 show the external appearance of a laptop-shaped personal computer (small electronic device) to which the present invention is applied, and 1 is a main body (corresponding to the main body of the electronic device) with the bottom side as the installation surface. A keyboard 2 is provided on the front upper surface of the main body 1. Furthermore, a flat display device 3 is provided between the rear part of the main body 1 in which various circuit boards are built-in and the keyboard 2.
If the display device 3 is operated to the open side as shown in Fig. 4, it will be placed in a state where it can be easily viewed, and if the display device 3 is operated to the closed side as shown in Fig. 1, the keyboard 2 will be covered by the display device 3. ing.

4 is a pointing device, for example an isopoint. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6, the isopoint 4 has a flat band shape such that the entire main body case 5 is connected to the front portion of the keyboard of the main body 1. In addition, an elongated window 6 is provided in the center of the upper surface of the main body case 5 along the longitudinal direction, and within this window 6 are a rollper 7 and a Y A slider 8 is provided to output an instruction signal necessary for moving the cursor in the axial direction. Furthermore, a pair of position selection buttons 9.9 are provided symmetrically on both sides of the window portion 6. Further, a supporting arm 10 is provided at the center of the rear wall of the main body case 5 so as to protrude rearward.

On the other hand, the front part of the bottom wall of the main body 1, which is directly below the front part of the keyboard 2, corresponds to the overall outline of the isopoint 4 including the arm 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. A recessed portion 11 is provided. That is, the recess 11 has a groove portion 11a extending in the front-rear direction for storing the arm 10 at the frontmost side, and a groove portion 11a extending in the left-right direction connected to the groove portion 11a for storing the main body case 5 in the center portion. It has a substantially horizontal T-shape in which the portion 11b is arranged.

Both side wall portions of the groove portion 11a near the front and both end portions of the arm 10 near the tip are rotatably supported via a rotating shaft 12.12 (hinge means), and the entire isopoint 4 is connected to the main body. It is designed to be able to rotate in the front and rear directions of 1. This allows the isopoint 4 to be placed on the front side of the keyboard 2 or accommodated in the recess 11.

Also, the arm length and fulcrum position are at iso point 4.
When the iso point 4 is rotated toward the front of the keyboard 2, the entire main body case 5 is set to be connected to and parallel to the frontmost part of the main body 1, and when the iso point 4 is rotated toward the front, the operation surface cannot be operated. It is designed so that it can be set in a position that is easy to use. The thickness of the arm 10 and the depth of each part of the recess 11 are set so that the operation surface of the stored isopoint 4 and the arm 10 do not come into contact with the surface of the desk or the like on which the personal computer is installed. be.

Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 7, there are convex portions 13 on both side wall portions of the groove portion 11a located toward the front from the rotation axis 12°12.
．． 13 is provided so that the movement of the isopoint 4 toward the front side of the keyboard 2 can be regulated by the frictional resistance between the arm 10 and the convex portion 13. Further, on one side wall of both ends of the groove portion 11b, a protruding piece 14 having spring properties that slides into contact with the outer surface of the stored isopoint 4 is provided, as shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9.
The stored isopoint 4 can be fixed by frictional resistance generated between the outer surface of the isopoint 4 and the projecting piece 14.

Note that reference numeral 15 is a notch provided at the center of the groove portion 11b for carrying out the isopoint 4 by hooking a fingertip on the outer surface of the stored isopoint 4 to take it out. Also, each roll par 7 of the isopond 4 is
, slider 8, and button 9 can be input to the main body 1 side.

A personal computer configured in this manner is normally stored on the bottom side of the main body 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

When operating a computer using the isopoint 4, the stored isopoint 4 can be rotated to the front side of the keyboard 2.

That is, for example, from a state where the main body 1 is being lifted, a fingertip is first inserted into the notch portion 15, and the isopoint 4 accommodated in the groove portion 11b is brought out to the outside. Next, the external isopoint 4 is rotated to the front side of the keyboard 2. This rotation is continued until the side surface of the arm 10 interferes with the bottom surface of the groove portion 11a. As a result, as shown in FIG. The operation surface on which the buttons 9 are located is connected to the keyboard surface of the main body 1, and is arranged parallel to the main body portion in front of the keyboard 2. Note that this state is fixed by the friction generated between the protrusion 13° 13 and the arm 10, so the isopoint 4 protruding in front of the keyboard 2 will remain in place even if you take your hand off it.
It stays in place without rotating.

When the personal computer is placed on the top surface of the desk or the like where the user is working, the isopoint 4 is installed together with the main body 1. As a result, a state in which the isopoint 4 is located at the front side of the keyboard 2 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, that is, a state in which it is used is formed.

In addition, when operating a computer without using isopoint 4, stopping computer operation, or carrying a personal computer, use the operation opposite to the above to remove isopoint 4 protruding from the front side of keyboard 2. If it is rotated backwards and stored in the four parts 11 on the bottom of the main body 1, the isopoints that get in the way are hidden in a small area. This means it won't affect your keyboard operations or cause you to forget where you put it.

Thus, the retractable isopoint 4 can improve the handling and usability of the personal computer. Moreover, the structure in which the isopoint 4 is rotatably stored on the bottom side of the main body 1 makes it possible to store the isopoint 4 inside the main body 1 by utilizing the dead space at the inner bottom of the main body 1. The keyboard 2 does not have to be as large as in the case of the integrated main body type described in the section ``Technology'', and it also contributes to downsizing of personal computers.

Although an example using an isopoint is given in one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and pointing devices of other different structures and types may be stored in the bottom surface of the main body 1.

Further, the present invention is not limited to laptop-type personal computers, but may be applied to small electronic devices such as word processors.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a small electronic device having a bonding device that is easy to handle and use while maintaining the downsizing of the electronic device main body.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 9 show one embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a side view showing a personal computer to which the present invention is applied together with a pointing device stored;
FIG. 2 is a bottom view, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the personal computer in use with the pointing device extended to the front of the keyboard, FIG. 4 is a side view, and FIG. 5 is a bottom view. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the area around the pointing device extended to the front side of the keyboard, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the protrusions provided in the four parts, and FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the protrusions provided in the recesses. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view as well. 1...Main body (electronic device main body), 2...Keyboard,
4... Isopoint (pointing device),
10.12...Arm, rotation axis (hinge means), 11
...Four parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electronic device main body having a keyboard on the top surface and an installation surface on the bottom side is provided, and a pointing device having an operation section for inputting position instruction information on the top surface is provided, and the keyboard of the electronic device main body is provided. In a small electronic device in which the pointing device is installed on the front side side by side with the main body portion, the pointing device includes:
A hinge means is provided on the bottom surface of the electronic device main body, the hinge means being rotatably connected to the bottom side of the electronic device main body to rotatably support the pointing device on the front side of the keyboard in the rear direction of the electronic device main body. A small electronic device, characterized in that a recessed portion for storing a rotating pointing device is provided on the rear side of the electronic device main body.