JP2002244767A - Notebook-sized personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a notebook-sized personal computer capable of easily opening a lid part by a shingle hand. SOLUTION: This notebook-sized personal computer comprises a lid body 1' and a main body 2' rotationally supporting the lid body 1' and, when the lid body 1' is closed, it is locked by a lock receiver member 16 and a lock member stored in the body 2' and, when a push button part of the lock member projecting from the opening part 11 of the main body 2 to the outside is pushed, the lock state is released. This personal computer is provided with a motor (non-illustrated) turning the lid body 1 in the direction separating from the main body 2 and a micro switch (non-illustrated) starting the driving of the motor by interlocking, when the push button part of the lock member is pushed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a notebook personal computer). In particular, it relates to a mechanism for opening a lid of a notebook computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical configuration of a conventional notebook type personal computer will be described with reference to FIGS. The notebook computer includes a lid 1 and a main body 2, and the lid 1 and the main body 2 are connected by a hinge 3. Thereby, the lid 1
Is rotatably supported by the main body 2 and the cover 1 can be opened and closed.

[0003] The hinge 3 has an urging means (not shown) for urging the lid 1 in a direction of separating the lid 1 from the main body 2.
Such an urging means is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-11-13.
A coil spring disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6329 is cited.

The lid 1 has a display device (for example, a liquid crystal display) on the lower surface 1b. The main body 2 has a keyboard, a pointing device, and the like on the upper surface 2a and a CP inside.
U and a memory are provided.

Further, the notebook computer has a mechanism for locking the lid 1 to the main body 2 when the lid 1 is closed, that is, a lock mechanism. This lock mechanism will be described. The lid 1 has an opening 4 at the center on the front side of the lower surface 1b, and an opening 5 at the center of the front surface 1c. And
The lid 1 has a lock member 6 inside as shown in FIG. The lock member 6 has a claw 6a, a slide button 6b, and a protrusion 6c.

The installation state of the lock member 6 inside the lid will be described with reference to FIG. 17, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. As shown in FIG.
a protrudes from the opening 4 to the outside of the lid, and the slide button 6b of the lock member protrudes from the opening 5 to the outside of the lid. A guide rail 7 is provided upright on the upper surface 1a of the lid, and the movable direction of the lock member 6 is limited to the left-right direction of the notebook computer. The projection 6c on the left side of the lock member 6 is connected to the lid 1 by a spring 8. Therefore, when the lock member 6 moves to the right, a restoring force acts to the left.

The main body 2 has a concave portion 9 in the center of the upper surface 2a on the front side. The concave portion 9 has an opening on the left side, and when the lid 1 is closed, the claw portion 6a of the lock member is
And the lid 1 is locked to the main body 2.

Next, the state when the lid 1 is opened will be described. The user slides the lock member 6
When b is slid to the right, the claw portion 6a of the lock member also moves to the right and is no longer caught by the opening of the recess 9, so that the locked state is released. At this time, the lock member 6
The spring 8 connecting the cover 1 and the cover 1 is in an extended state. At this time, when the user releases the lock member 6,
The lock member 6 returns to the left end position by the restoring force of the spring 8.

[0009]

Therefore, when the lid 1 is opened, the lid 1 is normally lightly pressed from above to slide the locking member 6 to the right, and the lid 1 is maintained while the sliding state is maintained. Had to lift. This operation is difficult and inconvenient unless performed with both hands.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a notebook personal computer in which the lid can be easily opened with one hand.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, in a notebook personal computer according to the present invention comprising a lid and a main body which rotatably supports the lid, a notebook PC is used when opening the lid. From the viewpoint of utilizing the bias of the hinge, a hinge for connecting the lid and the main body, a locking means for locking the lid to the main body, and a release for releasing the locked state by the locking means Means, wherein the hinge has biasing means for biasing the lid in a direction separating the lid from the main body, and the releasing means is provided on the main body.

Further, from the viewpoint of eliminating the lifting operation by the user when opening the lid, in the notebook personal computer according to the present invention comprising the lid and a main body rotatably supporting the lid, Locking means for locking to the main body,
Releasing means for releasing the locked state by the locking means, a motor for rotating the lid in a direction separating from the main body, and drive starting means for starting driving of the motor in conjunction with the releasing means. And a drive stopping means for stopping the driving of the motor.

Further, from the viewpoint of improving operability, the drive start means and the drive stop means may be replaced by one switching means. Further, the motor may be driven only by electric power supplied from an AC adapter.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a notebook computer according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the notebook computer of the first embodiment. Note that the same parts as those of the conventional notebook type personal computer shown in FIG.
Description is omitted.

The notebook personal computer of the first embodiment comprises a lid 1 ′ and a main body 2 ′. The lid 1 ′ and the main body 2 ′ are connected by a hinge 3. As a result, the lid 1 'is rotatably supported by the main body 2', and the lid 1 'can be opened and closed.

The lid 1 'has a display device (for example, a liquid crystal display) on the lower surface 1b'. Body 2 '
Has a keyboard, a pointing device, and the like on the upper surface 2a 'and a CPU, a memory, and the like inside.

Further, the notebook computer has a mechanism for locking the lid 1 'to the main body 2' when the lid 1 'is closed, that is, a lock mechanism. This lock mechanism will be described. The main body 2 'has an opening 10 at the center on the front side of the upper surface 2a' and an opening 11 at the center of the front surface 2c '. Further, the main body 2 'includes a lock member 12 as shown in FIG. Lock member 12 is claw portion 12
a, a push button 12b, and a projection 12c.

The installation state of the lock member 12 inside the main body will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 which are cross-sectional views taken along the line BB of FIG. First, a case where the lid 1 ′ and the main body 2 ′ are in a locked state will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the push button portion 12b of the lock member has the opening 1
1 protrudes out of the main body. Also, the lower surface 2 of the main body
b ′ has a guide rail 1 along the side surface of the lock member 12.
3 are erected one by one on the left and right, and the movable direction of the lock member 6 is limited to the front-rear direction of the notebook computer.
The projection 12c of the lock member and the support member 15 erected on the lower surface 2b 'of the main body are connected by a spring 14. Therefore, when the lock member 12 moves rearward, a forward restoring force acts on the lock member 12.

The lid 1 'is provided with a lock receiving member 16 at the center on the front side of the lower surface 1b'. The lock receiving member 16 is provided with an opening 16a, and when the lid 1 'is closed, the claw portion 12a of the lock member engages with the opening 1a of the lock receiving member.
6a, the lid 1 'is locked to the main body 2'.

Next, the state when the lid 1 'is opened will be described with reference to FIGS. When the user presses the push button portion 12b of the lock member, the claw portion 12a of the lock member moves backward, and the opening 1 of the lock receiving member is moved.
6A, the locked state is released.

In a conventional notebook personal computer, a button for releasing the locked state is provided on the lid, so that when releasing the locked state, the lid is pressed from above. For this reason, the lifting by the urging means of the hinge has not been used. On the other hand, in the notebook personal computer of the first embodiment, since the lock member 12 is provided in the main body 2, the user does not press the lid 1.
Therefore, when the locked state is released, the lid 1 floats up to the predetermined angle θ by the urging means of the hinge 3 (see FIG. 1). Thereafter, when the user finishes pressing the push button portion 12b of the lock member, the lock member 12 moves forward due to the restoring force of the spring 14, and becomes a state as shown in FIG.

As described above, even if the user does not perform the lifting operation, the lid 1 'is lifted up to the predetermined angle θ, so that the user can thereafter open the lid to an arbitrary position with one hand.

The upper surface of the claw portion 12a of the lock member is a slope that descends forward. Thereby, the lid 1 ′
When closing the lock receiving member 16 as shown in FIG.
Presses the upper surface of the claw portion 12a of the lock member, whereby the lock member 12 moves backward. The tip of the claw 12a of the lock member is connected to the opening 16a of the lock receiving member.
When the lock member 6 moves backward until the lock member 12 is reached, the lock member 12 moves forward by the restoring force of the spring 14, and the locked state shown in FIG.

Next, a notebook personal computer according to a second embodiment will be described. The perspective view of the notebook computer of the second embodiment is the same as the notebook computer of the first embodiment shown in FIG. However, unlike the notebook computer of the first embodiment, the notebook computer of the second embodiment has a hinge 3
And a lock member 12 ′ is provided instead of the lock member 12.

Here, a mechanism for opening and closing the lid 1 'and the main body 2' will be described with reference to FIG. A substantially U-shaped angle 19 is provided upright at the rear center of the main body 2 '.
A DC motor 21 is fixed to the angle 19, and D
A gear 20 is attached to the rotation shaft of the C motor 21. A gear 22 is fixed to the center of the shaft 23, and both ends of the shaft 23 are rotatably supported by angles 19. Further, a gear 24 is fixed to the center of the shaft 25, and both ends of the shaft 25 are rotatably supported by the main body 2 'and fixed to the lid 1'. The gear 20 and the gear 22 are engaged with each other.
The gears 22 and 24 are also engaged.

With such a configuration, when the DC motor 21 rotates, the rotation is performed by the gear 20, the gear 22, and the gear 24.
And the shaft 25 rotates. Shaft 25
Is fixed to the lid 1 ′, so that the rotation of the shaft 25 rotates the lid 1 ′.

Next, the electrical configuration of the notebook computer according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. An AC voltage supplied from a commercial power supply 26 is converted into a DC voltage by an AC adapter 27, and the DC / DC converter 28
Supplied to D discharged from the battery 29
C voltage is applied to the DC / DC converter 2 via the switch 30
8 is supplied. The DC / DC converter 28 converts a voltage supplied from the AC adapter 27 or the battery 29 into a DC voltage having a predetermined value and supplies the DC voltage to the DC motor 21 and the output terminal OUT. Note that the AC adapter 27 is externally attached to the notebook computer, and has a structure that can be attached to and detached from the notebook computer.

Further, the DC / DC converter 28 and DC
A micro switch 18 is provided between the micro switch 18 and the DC motor 21.
Can be turned ON / OFF.

The output terminal OUT is connected to a control circuit 32, a display device driving circuit, and the like (not shown). The control circuit 32 receives the output voltage information of the AC adapter 27 from the voltage detection circuit 31 and controls the switch 30. That is, when the DC voltage is output from the AC adapter 27, the switch 30 is turned off, and the discharge of the battery 29 is stopped. On the other hand, when no DC voltage is output from the AC adapter 27, the switch 30 is turned off.
The state becomes the N state, and the battery 29 discharges to supply a voltage to the DC / DC converter 28.

From the viewpoint of minimizing the consumption of the charging voltage of the battery, the electrical configuration of the notebook personal computer of the second embodiment may be configured as shown in FIG. FIG.
The same parts as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. The AC adapter 27 is a DC / DC converter 28
And 28 '. Battery 29
Supplies a DC voltage only to the DC / DC converter 28 '. The DC / DC converter 28 supplies a DC voltage of a predetermined value to the DC motor 21, and the DC / DC converter 28 'supplies a DC voltage of a predetermined value to the output terminal OUT. With such a configuration, the power supply source is the battery 2
At 9, the DC motor 21 is not driven. Therefore,
There is no consumption of the charging voltage of the battery due to the rotation of the lid.
However, in such a configuration, when the power supply source is the battery 29, the user needs to open the lid with both hands.

Next, the lock member 12 'will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the lock member 12 '
, A push button 12b ', a protrusion 12c', and a protrusion 12d '.

FIG. 8 to FIG. 1 are sectional views taken along the line BB of FIG. 1 showing the installation state of the lock member 12 'inside the main body.
This will be described with reference to FIG. First, a case where the lid 1 ′ and the main body 2 ′ are in the locked state will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the push button portion 12b 'of the lock member projects from the opening 11 to the outside of the main body. A guide rail 13 is provided on the lower surface 2b 'of the main body along the side surface of the lock member 12' one by one on the right and left sides. ing. Projection 12c 'of lock member and lower surface 2 of main body
The support member 15 erected at b ′ is connected by a spring 14. Therefore, when the lock member 12 'moves backward, a forward restoring force acts on the lock member 12'.

On the support member 15, a micro switch 18 is provided at a position facing the protrusion 12d 'of the lock member.
(See FIG. 13 or FIG. 14)
Are arranged.

The lid 1 'is provided with a lock receiving member 16 at the center on the front side of the lower surface 1b'. The lock receiving member 16 has an opening 16a. When the lid 1 'is closed, the claw portion 12a' of the lock member fits into the opening 16a of the lock receiving member and the lid 1 'is attached to the main body 2'. Locked.
At this time, the projection 12d 'of the lock member does not contact the microswitch 18.

Next, the state when the lid 1 'is opened will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. When the user presses the push button portion 12b 'of the lock member, the lock member 12' moves rearward to a state as shown in FIG. At this time, the claw portion 12a 'of the lock member moves rearward and is not caught by the opening 16a of the lock receiving member, so that the locked state is released. Further, since the protrusion 12d 'of the lock member presses the micro switch 18, the micro switch is turned on and the DC motor 21 is turned on.
Is supplied with power (see FIG. 13 or FIG. 14). Accordingly, the driving of the DC motor 21 is started, and the lid 1 'starts to rotate accordingly. When the user finishes pressing the push button portion 12b 'of the lock member, the locked state is released, and the restoring force of the spring 14 causes the lock member 12' to move forward and move to the state shown in FIG. Becomes The lid 1 ′ is driven by the driving of the DC motor 21.
Is rotated, the angle θ ′ increases with time.

In the conventional notebook type personal computer, a button for releasing the locked state is provided on the lid, so that the lid is pressed from above when releasing the locked state. On the other hand, in the notebook personal computer of the second embodiment, since the lock member 12 ′ is provided on the main body 2, the user does not press the lid 1. Therefore, even if the locked state is released and the lid is rotated by the DC motor 21, there is no possibility that the user will obstruct the movement.

After that, when the lid 1 'rotates until the angle θ' becomes a desired angle, the user presses the push button portion 12b 'of the lock member again. At this time, since the protrusion 12d 'of the lock member presses the micro switch 18, the micro switch 18 is turned off. This allows
The power supply to the DC motor 21 is stopped (see FIG. 13 or FIG. 14), and the rotation of the lid 1 ′ stops.

As described above, in the notebook personal computer of the second embodiment, the lid 1 'can be opened to an arbitrary angle θ' without the user performing the lifting operation. Furthermore, the operability is good because a series of operations for opening the lid 1 'can all be performed by simply pressing one position of the push button portion 12b' of the lock member.

The upper surface of the claw portion 12a 'of the lock member is a slope which descends forward. Thereby, when closing the lid 1 ', the lock receiving member 16 presses the upper surface of the claw portion 12a' of the lock member as shown in FIG. 11, and the lock member 12 'moves backward. Then, when the tip of the claw portion 12a 'of the lock member reaches the opening 16a of the lock receiving member, the restoring force of the spring 14 moves the lock member 12' forward, and enters the locked state shown in FIG. During the operation of closing the lid 1 ', the lock member 12' is positioned at the rearmost position. Even immediately before the tip of the claw portion 12a 'of the lock member reaches the opening 16a of the lock receiving member, the lock member 12' The shape of the protrusion 12d 'of the lock member is determined so that the protrusion 12d' does not contact the microswitch 18.

In the notebook personal computer according to the second embodiment, the micro switch 18 is used as the drive start means for driving the DC motor 21 and the drive stop means for stopping the drive of the DC motor 21. Figure 1
In FIG. 3, instead of the microswitch 18, switch means for turning on by pressing and turning off by a control signal from the control circuit 32 is provided, and further, a rotation amount detecting means for the DC motor 21 is provided. A configuration may be adopted in which a memory stored in advance is provided and a control signal is sent to the switch means when the rotation amount output from the rotation amount detection means reaches a predetermined value stored in the memory. With such a configuration, when the lid rotates to the predetermined position, the rotation is automatically stopped, so that the user does not need to perform a button operation for stopping the rotation of the lid. In such a configuration, it is more preferable that the memory provided in the control circuit 32 is a rewritable memory storing a predetermined value.

As still another configuration, instead of the microswitch 18 in FIG. 13, switch means for turning on by pressing and turning off by a control signal from the control circuit 32 are provided, and a timer is further provided.
The control circuit 32 includes a memory in which a predetermined value is stored in advance, and sends a control signal to the switch means when the drive time of the DC motor 21 measured by the timer reaches the predetermined value stored in the memory. It may be configured. With this configuration, when the lid rotates for a predetermined time, the rotation is automatically stopped, so that the user does not need to perform a button operation for stopping the rotation of the lid. In such a configuration, it is more preferable that the memory provided in the control circuit 32 be a rewritable memory having a predetermined value stored therein.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the hinge has biasing means for biasing the lid in a direction separating the lid from the main body, and the releasing means is provided on the main body side. Can be raised. Thus, the lid can be easily opened with one hand.

Also, according to the present invention, a motor for rotating the lid in a direction separating from the main body, a driving start means for starting driving of the motor in conjunction with the releasing means, and a driving for stopping driving of the motor Since the stop means is provided, the lid can be opened to an arbitrary position by rotation of the motor. This eliminates the need for the user to lift the lid, and the lid can be more easily opened.

Further, according to the present invention, since the drive start means and the drive stop means comprise one switching means,
The user can open the lid only by operating the switching means. This improves the operability of the notebook computer when opening the lid.

According to the present invention, since the motor is driven only by the electric power supplied from the AC adapter, the motor is not driven when the power supply is a battery. Therefore, there is no consumption of the charging voltage of the battery due to the rotation of the lid. Thereby, consumption of the charging voltage of the battery can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a notebook computer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lock member provided in the notebook computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the notebook computer according to the first embodiment in a locked state.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the notebook computer according to the first embodiment in an unlocked state.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the notebook personal computer according to the first embodiment when a lid is lifted up.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the notebook computer according to the first embodiment when the lid is closed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lock member provided in the notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the notebook personal computer according to the second embodiment in a locked state.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the notebook personal computer according to the second embodiment in an unlocked state.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the notebook personal computer according to the second embodiment when a lid is lifted up.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the notebook computer according to the second embodiment when the lid is closed.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a coupling mechanism of a lid and a main body of the notebook personal computer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a notebook computer according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another electrical configuration of the notebook personal computer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a conventional notebook computer.

16 is a perspective view of a lock member provided in the notebook computer of FIG.

17 is a partial cross-sectional view of the notebook computer of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1 'Lid 2, 2' body 3 Hinge 10, 11 Opening 12, 12 'Lock member 16 Lock receiving member 18 Micro switch 19 Angle 20, 22, 24 Gear 21 DC motor 23, 25 Shaft 27 AC adapter 29 battery

Claims (4)

[Claims] A hinge for connecting the lid and the main body, the hinge comprising a lid and a main body rotatably supporting the lid;
A notebook personal computer comprising: locking means for locking the lid to the main body; and releasing means for releasing a locked state by the locking means, wherein the hinge isolates the lid from the main body. And a biasing means for biasing the body in a direction in which the main body is provided with the releasing means. 2. A locking means comprising a lid and a main body for rotatably supporting the lid, and locking means for locking the lid to the main body;
A notebook type personal computer comprising: a releasing means for releasing the locked state by the locking means; a motor for rotating the lid in a direction separating from the main body; and the motor in conjunction with the releasing means. And a drive stopping means for stopping the driving of the motor. 3. The notebook personal computer according to claim 2, wherein said drive start means and said drive stop means comprise one switching means. 4. The notebook personal computer according to claim 2, wherein said motor is driven only by electric power supplied from an AC adapter.