JP2001022471A - Portable information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a tablet type portable information processor equipped with a cover which is reliable in terms of strength by forming grooves on the flank of the processor body and fitting projections provided inside the flank of the cover for coupling. SOLUTION: A control board, a chassis, an LCD, an LCD touch panel 9, and a stylus pen 13 which constitute the portable processor 1 are stored in a housing composed of an upper case 12 and a lower case 2. The stylus pen 13 is inserted detachably into the information processor 1 and used to perform input and editing on the LCD touch panel 9. The engagement part between the upper case 12 and lower case 2 is provided with a groove part 41 over the entire periphery. A hard case has an engagement rib at its lower part and it can be fitted in the groove part 41a at the lower part of the information processor 1. Further, hooks are formed on the hard case and fitting ribs are formed inside the hooks and can be fitted to the upper groove part 41b of the information processor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-62434 discloses a main body cover of a so-called tablet type portable information processing apparatus.

[0003] The cover is formed in a planar shape, and is covered to protect a panel portion (tablet plate) of the main body to which a pen is input.

[0004] The connection between the main body and the cover is made by a groove on the top of the main body and a projection provided on the back side of the cover.

[0005]

A pen input unit (for example, L
If the CD touch panel is increased in size (for example, 5 inches or more), simply covering it with a flat cover will result in insufficient strength of the cover, and the pen input unit may be damaged by an external force applied to the cover.

A first object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a tablet-type portable information processing apparatus having a cover which is reliable in terms of strength.

A second object of the embodiment of the present invention is to make it possible to view the pen input screen even with the cover.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tablet-type portable information processing apparatus including a main body having an LCD touch panel and a cover covering an upper surface of the main body. Are provided with a plurality of grooves, and are fitted and coupled to a plurality of protrusions provided on the inner side surface of the cover.

With such a configuration, the cover can be securely attached to the LCD touch panel, so that the cover is difficult to remove and the reliability is improved.

[0010] More preferably, the main body around the LCD touch panel is formed with a slope, and when the cover is connected to the main body, a projection provided inside the upper surface of the cover is located above the slope.

With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the cover touches the touch panel even when the upper surface of the cover is pressed.

[0012] More preferably, the central part of the cover is formed to protrude upward.

With this configuration, the section modulus of the cover is increased and the strength is increased, so that the reliability is further improved.

As means for achieving the second object, the cover is formed of a transparent or translucent member.

With this configuration, the user can see the panel through the cover, and the workability can be improved.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is of a so-called tablet type.

FIG. 2 is an assembly view of the information processing apparatus shown in FIG.
Shown in

The information processing apparatus 1 comprises a lower case 2, a shield bun 3 made of a metal plate, a shield bun 4, an insulating sheet 5 for insulation, a control board 6, a chassis 7, an LCD 8,
The touch panel 9, the inverter board 10, the flexible cable 11 for connecting them, and the upper case 12 are sequentially combined in a stacked manner. Further, a stylus pen 13 used when operating the information processing apparatus 1 can be stored inside the apparatus.

On the lower surface of the information processing apparatus 1, a ROM board 15 containing a program for the apparatus and a RAM for storing information are provided.
The memory lid 17 for disposing the substrates 16 and covering them
Is provided. As a power source for operating the information processing apparatus 1, a coin battery 18 and a battery 19 have a structure that can be freely replaced by a user. Further, a microphone 20 and a speaker 21, a speaker fitting 22, a speaker screw 23, a screw 24 to secure the structure. The speaker 21 and the microphone 20 are respectively connected to the control board 6 by connectors, and then fixed to the chassis 7.

Next, the configuration from the viewpoint of electrical connection will be described. Lower case 2 has shield van 3, shield van 4,
The control board 6 is placed on the insulating sheet 5, and a part of the LCD 8 is fastened to the control board 6 with screws 26 using a metal fitting via a chassis 7. Usually, in this type of information processing apparatus, the combined area of the control board and the battery is almost equal to the area of the product, and recently, the LCD size has also been increased, and some are almost the same size as the apparatus. Therefore, although the FG connection between the LCD and the control board is very effective for measures against the radiation noise of the information processing device, the reliable connection cannot be easily achieved in each positional relationship. A U-shaped metal fitting, that is, an FG metal fitting 27 which is lifted from the control board 6 with respect to the screw fixing portion at the lower left of the LCD board 8 is fixed by connecting both the screw 26 and the fixing screw of the control board 6 with each other. To be stable.

Hereinafter, the first invention according to the present invention will be described in detail. The component arrangement described above is such that the center of gravity of the information processing apparatus 1 with respect to the apparatus horizontal direction is at the diagonal intersection of the four corners of the main body, that is, at the center of the product, as shown in FIG. (Shown as) in the center of gravity range 30 of 20% size.

In the present invention, a battery 19, a speaker 21, and a microphone 20 are arranged in front of the apparatus as a means for realizing the present invention.
A space for accommodating the ROM board 15 is provided near the center of the device for connection to the control board 6 on the lower surface side.
The AM board 16 is arranged so that it can be connected by a connector.

Although the position of the center of gravity of the apparatus originally depends on the characteristics of each information processing apparatus, the portable information processing apparatus 1 according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that can be used even when the user stands up. It goes without saying that the weight balance of the device is important. In other words, even if the user normally operates the touch panel 9 or the stylus pen 13 with the dominant hand, and holds the information processing device 1 with the opposite hand, the center of gravity of the information processing device 1 is left and right, and both before and after. It is not a leaning place. Therefore, it is desirable that the center of gravity is located at the center of the apparatus, but it is sufficient that the center of gravity is located near the center of the apparatus in actual use.
Can be achieved with the parts arrangement shown in FIG. 2 without any problem in weight balance.

Next, the second invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The information processing apparatus 1 has a structure in which the strap 32 can be passed through four corners of the lower case 2 so that the strap 32 can be used for carrying or carrying.

The structure is based on a boss 33 fixed to the lower case 2 and the upper case 12 or the chassis 7 as a base axis.
The shape is formed by using a so-called slide mold that moves the mold of the lower case 2 in the horizontal direction. FIG.
By moving the slide mold in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.

A strap hole 34 provided in the wall of the lower case 2
Is a cylindrical one-piece (hereinafter referred to as a tunnel shape 35) inside the lower case 2, and the inside of the strap hole 34 is constituted by a part of the outer periphery of the boss, so that the strap 32 is formed.
Since it is used through the periphery of the boss portion 33, it has a much stronger strength than a system using a strap simply by passing a guide rib 40 serving as a guide into a hole 36 provided in a wall.

In addition, the tunnel shape prevents the tip of the strap from touching and catching other parts inside the apparatus when the user passes the strap. In addition, since the information processing apparatus is used outdoors in the tunnel shape, it is possible to prevent rain and dust from entering the strap hole 34, for example.

Further, in an information processing apparatus dedicated to indoor use, in order to eliminate the acute angle shape 37 inside the tunnel shape as a means for further facilitating the insertion of the strap, a part thereof is vertically cut with a molding die (FIG. 8, vertical cutout area 38). By doing so, the acute angle shape 37 can be eliminated. As a result, the ease of insertion into the strap 32 or the mounting bracket 39 can be improved.

Therefore, by providing the strap holes at the four corners of the main body, the user can use the strap at a desired position. For example, it can be set freely according to the form of the strap, such as when shouldering or carrying it.

Although the strap hole is provided in the lower case in this embodiment, it goes without saying that the effect is effective even if it is provided in the upper case.

Next, the third invention will be described.

When the lower case 2 and the upper case 12 are fitted together, the thin portion is reinforced by applying the outer shape of the chassis 7 to the periphery of the fitting portion. Normally, the matching portion is provided by using the draft from the molding die in the appearance of the lower case 2 and the upper case 12, but the gradient may not be provided due to the design of the apparatus. Further lower case 2,
When the groove 41 is provided in the mating portion of the upper case 12, the portion becomes very thin, so that it is weak against external force applied to the device.

Therefore, the inner periphery of the lower case 2 and the upper case 12
By adjusting the inner periphery to the outer shape of the chassis 7, the holding ribs (not shown) provided on the upper case 12 or the lower case 2 can be eliminated, so that the size of the ribs can reduce the size of the apparatus. By providing the contact portion of the chassis 7 at least about 80% of the inner periphery of the lower case 2 and the upper case 12, the strength against external force can be increased.

Next, regarding the fourth invention according to the present invention,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. The attachment of the speaker 21 will be described. After the speaker 21 is once attached to the speaker fixture 22, it is fixed to the lower case 2 via the chassis 7 with screws 24. At this time, the attached speaker 21 is attached to the information processing apparatus 1 at an angle. In the vicinity of the speaker 21, an upper surface sound hole 44 and a side surface sound hole 45 for improving sound passage are provided at least on the upper surface of the upper case 12 as well. Further, a nonwoven fabric 46 is attached to the inside of the upper case 12 in order to prevent entry of foreign matter.

The upper surface sound hole 44 and the side surface sound hole 45 provided in the upper case 12 not only remind the user of the spread of the sound even from the viewpoint of visual effect, but also set the information processing apparatus 1 in one direction. This can prevent the holes from being completely blocked by the floor or desk surface when the device is placed upright or when the device is placed upside down, so it is very effective because the sound can be heard. is there.

Also, mounting the speaker in a limited space inside the device at an angle has the effect that the size of the product in two directions, such as the thickness and the size in the depth direction, can be reduced.

The means for realizing the other object of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

The upper case 12, which constitutes the information processing apparatus 1,
Antibacterial treatment is applied to the housing components of the lower case 2, the stylus pen 13, and the memory lid 17.

The conventional antibacterial treatment for the housing includes a blend of an antibacterial agent and a molding material, and a blend of an antibacterial agent and a paint. Known examples of these are disclosed in
-252185 has been proposed.

In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned parts which are the main exterior parts of the housing are formed by adding an antibacterial agent to the same molding material. However, in order to bring out the attractiveness of the product or to change the color of the product according to the taste of the customer, the molding material is used as it is, and the method is applied to the parts. Even in this case, the paint is mixed with an antibacterial agent.

Originally, this kind of information processing apparatus is a molding material blended with an antibacterial agent in consideration of the propagation and proliferation of various bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, as well as the parts that human hands can touch. The anti-bacterial treatment is also applied to the inside of the casing parts molded in the above. Can be at a high level.

In recent years, even in Japan, there has been a case in which the housing material is made flame-retardant from the viewpoint of the safety of electronic equipment, and there is a case where a molding material of UL standard 94-V2 or more is used.
When the antibacterial agent added to these molding materials is an inorganic metal oxide, the flame retardancy of the molding materials does not change. Therefore, there is an effect that the flame retardancy and the antibacterial treatment of the housing can be simultaneously realized.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIG. 14 is an external view of the information processing apparatus 1 with the hard case 50 removed, and FIG. 5 is a three-view drawing of the portable information processing apparatus 1 with the hard case 50 mounted.

The control board, the chassis, the LCD, the LCD touch panel 9 and the stylus pen 13 which constitute the information processing apparatus 1 are housed in a housing composed of an upper case 12 and a lower case 2.

The stylus pen 13 is removably inserted into the information processing apparatus 1.

The stylus pen 13 is used to enable input and editing on the LCD touch panel 9.

A groove 41 is provided on the entire periphery of the joint between the upper case 12 and the lower case 2.

The hard case 50 has a fitting rib 53 at the lower part, and can be fitted into the groove 41 a at the lower part of the information processing apparatus 1.

A plurality of hooks 55 are provided on the upper part of the hard case 50, and fitting hooks 54 are provided inside the hooks 55.
And can be fitted into the upper groove 41b of the information processing device 1.

Two stoppers 64 are provided in the groove 41a at the lower part of the information processing apparatus 1 so that the hard case 50 can be positioned.

When the hook 55 is spread with both hands, the hard case 50 can be easily removed from the information processing apparatus 1.

On the inner surface of the hard case 50 facing the LCD touch panel 9, a plurality of ribs 51 are provided in the vertical direction, and a plurality of ribs 52 are provided in the horizontal direction. The rib 51 is provided with a projection 56.

The LCD is located at a position lower than the top surface of the upper case 12.
There is a rib inner surface 56 on the upper case 12 so that there is a surface of the touch panel 9 so as to border the operation part of the LCD touch panel 9.
Are formed.

When the hard case 50 is mounted on the information processing apparatus 1, the protrusions 56 of the ribs 51 and the ribs 52 are adjacent to the inner surface of the upper case rib. Therefore, hard case 50
When a force is applied to the central portion 62 of the top surface, the hard case 50 is deformed, and the ribs 51 and 52 press the inner surface 56 of the upper case rib. The ribs 51 and 52 are surrounded by an upper case rib inner surface 56.
And is the most resistant to deformation of the central portion 62 of the top surface which is most easily deformed.

That is, the strength of the hard case 50 is ensured, the contact between the central portion 62 of the top surface and the surface of the LCD touch panel 9 is prevented, and the LCD touch panel 9 is prevented from being easily damaged.

Also, the central portion 62 of the top surface of the hard case 50
Has a convex shape, and is configured farthest from the surface of the LCD touch panel 9. Therefore, contact with the surface of the LCD touch panel 9 can be made more difficult.

FIG. 16 is a rear view of the hard case (cover).

The hard case 50 having the above-described structure can achieve light weight, small size, and compactness, and can also achieve the effect of being excellent in portability.

The hard case 50 is made of a transparent or translucent resin. When the hard case 50 is attached to the information processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2, the display state of the LCD touch panel 9 and the state of the LEDs 66 covered by the hard case 50 can be viewed from outside the hard case 50.

Optical communication is also possible when the IrDA light receiving element for optical communication is covered with a hard case.

[0063]

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tablet-type portable information processing apparatus comprising a main body having an LCD touch panel and a cover for covering the upper surface of the main body. Are provided, and are fitted and coupled to a plurality of protrusions provided on the inner side surface of the cover.

With this configuration, the cover can be securely attached to the LCD touch panel, so that the cover is difficult to remove and the reliability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the portable information processing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a three-view drawing of the portable information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

4 is a bottom view of the portable information processing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the portable information processing device cut along the ABCD plane of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of an end of a lower case according to the present invention.

7 is a top view and a cross-sectional view of the lower case shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a top view and a cross-sectional view of a lower case showing another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a conventional lower case.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view when the strap is attached to the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view when the strap is attached to the information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of the speaker according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a speaker section according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an information processing apparatus main body and a cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a three-view drawing in which a cover is attached to the information processing apparatus main body according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a rear view of the cover of the information processing apparatus main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing apparatus, 2 ... Lower case, 6 ... Control board, 7 ...
Chassis, 8 LCD, 9 Touch panel, 12 Upper case, 21 Speaker, 30 Center of gravity range, 34 Strap hole, 35 Tunnel shape, 41 Groove, 44 Upper sound hole, 45 Side sound hole, 50 ... cover, 51, 52 ...
Ribs, 56: projections, 62: central part of top surface, 64: inner surface of upper case rib.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tomoharu Kitagishi 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Inside the Taga Headquarters, Hitachi, Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division (72) Inventor Tatsuro Onodera Higashi-shi, Ibaraki 4-3 Onumacho F-term in ISC Co., Ltd. (Reference) 5B019 BA07 DA07 EA01 EA10 5B068 AA01 AA22 AA32 BC07 5B087 AA04 CC11 CC14

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tablet-type portable information processing device comprising a main body having an LCD touch panel and a cover covering an upper surface of the main body, wherein a plurality of grooves are provided on a side surface of the main body, A portable information processing device, wherein the portable information processing device is fitted and coupled to a plurality of protrusions provided on the portable information processing device. 2. The LCD panel according to claim 1, wherein the main body around the LCD touch panel is formed with a slope, and when the cover is connected to the main body, a projection provided inside the upper surface of the cover is positioned above the slope. A portable information processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. The portable information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a central portion of the cover is formed to protrude upward. 4. A portable information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cover is formed of a transparent or translucent member.