JPH0713658A - Portable electronic devices - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To reduce the ergonomic burden on the body when operating the keyboard, and to achieve further miniaturization of the device without reducing the size of each key. [Configuration] Almost the entire surface of the housing body 1 is used as a display 3, and a left-side keyboard 5 for the left hand can be inserted into and removed from the left side of the housing body 1, and a right-side keyboard 7 for the right side can be inserted into and removed from the right side. Configured to.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable portable electronic device having a display section and a key input section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional portable electronic device such as a portable personal computer or a word processor has a book type, and a display as a display unit is rotatably attached to a housing body via a hinge. When used, the display is raised from the housing body, and the keyboard, which is a key input section, is arranged on the housing body side that is opened by being raised.

In addition, a portable electronic device capable of handwriting input is
In addition to handwriting input, input is made with an extended keyboard that is connected to the device body with a cable.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional portable electronic device, since the keyboard is integrated as one input unit, the lateral width of the keyboard is usually narrower than the shoulder width. As a result, the burden on the shoulders and wrists during operation is unfavorable in terms of ergonomics. Regarding the miniaturization of the device, if the size of each key is made smaller than that of the current one, it becomes difficult to operate. Therefore, the keyboard cannot be made smaller than this, and the portability cannot be further improved.

In addition, in a portable electronic device capable of handwriting input, since the keyboard is connected to the device body by a cable, the keyboard becomes an obstacle when inputting a handwriting and a large installation space is required. There was a problem.

In view of this, the present invention reduces the burden on the human body in terms of ergonomics in operation, and achieves a more compact device without reducing the size of each key. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device, and also to provide a portable electronic device that does not obstruct the keyboard at the time of handwriting input and has a small installation space even if the handwriting input is possible.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, firstly, a display portion is provided on a surface of a housing body, and a keyboard is provided as a left-hand key input portion and a right-hand key input portion. A storage position in which each of the left-hand and right-hand key input parts is stored in the housing main body
The configuration is provided so as to be movable between the left and right protruding portions of the housing body.

Secondly, in the first structure, the left-hand key input part and the right-hand key input part are vertically stacked in the housing body at the storage position.

Thirdly, in the first or second configuration,
The display unit is configured to allow handwriting input.

Fourthly, while providing a hand-inputable display portion on the surface of the housing body, it is movable between a storage position for storing the keyboard in the housing body and a protruding position protruding from the housing body. It is provided as a configuration.

[0011]

According to the first configuration, the left and right key input portions are pulled out from the left side portion and the right side portion of the housing body to the projecting positions, respectively, so that the left and right key input portions have substantially shoulder width. It is possible to position it, which reduces the ergonomic burden on the body when operating. On the other hand, by storing the left-hand and right-hand key input parts in the housing body and putting them in the storage position, the size of the device when carrying is downsized without reducing the size of each key. It has been done.

According to the second structure, since the left and right divided key input portions are vertically overlapped with each other in the housing position in the housing body, further downsizing can be achieved.

According to the third and fourth structures, since the display section is a structure in which handwriting can be input, not only key input but also handwriting input can be used simultaneously, and operability is improved, and When entering the handwriting, the keyboard is stored in the housing body so that the keyboard does not get in the way and the installation space can be kept small.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a portable electronic device showing an embodiment of the present invention. The housing body 1 of this portable electronic device has a vertically long shape of approximately A4 size, and almost the entire surface thereof is a display 3 as a display unit capable of displaying the entire A4 size. The display 3 is a color LCD and is of a tablet type capable of handwriting input.

Rear side of housing body 1 (R side in the figure)
A left side keyboard 5 as a left hand key input section is provided on the left side of the same, and a right side keyboard 7 as a right hand key input section is provided on the right side thereof in the directions of arrows A and B in the figure with respect to the housing body 1. It is provided so that it can be taken in and out by sliding. That is, the keyboard in this portable electronic device is the left keyboard 5 and the right keyboard 7.
Are divided into left and right keyboards 5 and 7
However, it is provided so as to be movable between a storage position in which the housing body 1 is housed and projecting positions which respectively project from the left side portion and the right side portion of the housing body 1.
Further, the ball point device 9 can also be put in and taken out from the housing body 1 in the direction of arrow C in the figure in the approximate center of the right side portion of the housing body 1. Further, a battery housing portion 11 and a CD-ROM insertion portion 13 are provided at an end portion on the front side (F side in the drawing) of the housing body 1, and a PCMCIA slot is provided on the front side of the left side portion.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the left and right keyboards 5 and 7 and the ball point device 9 are pulled out from the housing body 1 and can be operated. However, when these are housed in the housing body 1, The housing body 1 has a vertically long box shape. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the box-shaped housing body 1 as viewed from the rear R side in FIG. 1. The housing body 1 has an upper cover 17 with respect to a base 15 serving as a base, and the display 3 is attached to the upper cover 17.

The left keyboard 5 is positioned on the base 15 when it is housed in the housing body 1, and at this position, the projection 19a on the tip (left tip in FIG. 2) side of the keyboard support frame 19 is located on the housing body. It is held by the latch mechanism 21 on the first side. In this state, by pressing the pressing portion 19b of the keyboard support frame 19 exposed in the opening 17a of the upper cover 17, the latch mechanism 21 releases the holding of the protrusion 19a, and the latch mechanism shown in FIG. 21
The keyboard support frame 19 is pushed out by the spring 22 of FIG. 2 (pushed to the right side in FIG. 2 and left side in FIG. 3).
Thus, the left keyboard 5 can be pulled out from the opening 17a. At this time, a pair of locking portions 19c formed on both upper and lower sides in FIG. 3 on the front end side of the keyboard support frame 19 are engaged with the locking claws 15a on the base 15 side, and The above withdrawal is blocked.

On the other hand, the right keyboard 7 is located above the left keyboard 5 when it is housed in the housing body 1, and when it is pulled out, it is located on both sides along a pair of guide rails 23 having inclined portions. A guide pin (not shown) guides and the entire right keyboard 7 descends, and when used, it has the same height as the left keyboard 5. In this right keyboard 7 as well, like the left keyboard 5, the tip (right tip in FIG. 2) 25a of the keyboard support frame 25 is held by the latch mechanism 27 on the housing body 1 side. The pressing portion 25 exposed from the opening 17b
By pushing in b, the latch mechanism 27 of the keyboard support frame 25 releases the holding of the tip 25a, and the latch mechanism 27 is released.
The keyboard support frame 25 is pushed out by the spring 28, and the right keyboard 7 can be pulled out as shown in FIG. At this time, similarly to the left keyboard 5, the pair of locking portions 25c on the keyboard support frame 25 side engage with the locking claws 15b on the base 15 side. The right keyboard 7 is larger than the left keyboard 5, but this is because many keys are provided on the right keyboard 7 due to the key layout.

An opening / closing plate 31 which is rotatable via a pin 29 is provided near the opening 17b of the upper cover 17 from which the right keyboard 7 is pulled out. The open / close plate 31 is horizontal as shown in FIG. 2 in the storage position of the right keyboard 7,
In the state of being pulled out in FIG. 5, the opening 17b is closed so as to be flush with the side surface of the housing body 1. On the other hand, on the base 15 side below the opening / closing plate 31, an opening / closing plate 35 rotatable via a pin 33 is provided, which is the same as the side surface of the housing body 1 in the storage position of FIG. Is formed to be vertical, and the upper end is opened outward and is horizontal in the pulled out state of FIG. The two opening / closing plates 31 and 35 are both opened / closed in association with the pulling-out and storing operations of the right keyboard 7.

According to the portable electronic device having such a structure, the left keyboard 5 and the right keyboard 7 are pulled out from the side portions of the housing body 1 as shown in FIG. This reduces the burden on the shoulders and wrists during operation and reduces the ergonomic burden on the body. Also, by housing the left keyboard 5 and the right keyboard 7 in the housing body 1,
The size of the device is substantially the same as that of the display 3 without reducing the size of each key, and the device is downsized, which further improves the portability.

Since the display 3 is formed to be large so that the entire vertically long A4 size can be displayed, it is easy to see.
In addition to key input, handwriting input can be used at the same time, improving operability. When inputting handwriting, the left keyboard 5 and the right keyboard 7 are housed in the housing body 1 so that the keyboard Without getting in the way,
The installation space can be kept small. In addition, the ball point device 9 is also equipped to support a wider range of applications,
Since the ball point device 9 is pulled out to the outside only when it is used and is housed in the housing body 1 when it is not used, it does not interfere with other operations such as key input.

6 and 7 are external perspective views of a portable electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the structure shown in FIG. 6, the left and right keyboards 37 and 39 are rotatable in the arrow D and E directions by a hinge portion 41 provided at the rear end on the R side so that they can be inserted into and taken out from the housing main body 43. . Here, a ball point device 45 is provided on a part of the right keyboard 39. 7, the left and right keyboards 47 and 49 can be slid in and out of the housing main body 51 in the directions of arrows A and B as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and the ball point device 53 can be placed on the right keyboard 49. Is provided.

In each of the above embodiments, the keyboard is divided into left and right key input portions, but these key input portions may be integrated so that they can be inserted into and removed from the housing body. .

[0025]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the display portion is provided on the surface of the housing body, and the left hand key input portion is provided on the left side portion of the housing body and the display portion is provided on the right side portion thereof. The key input parts for the right hand can be respectively put in and taken out.By pulling out the left and right hand key input parts from the side part of the housing main body, the left and right key input parts are located at the shoulder width position. This makes it possible to reduce the ergonomic burden on the body during operation. Further, by storing the left and right key input parts in the housing body, the size of the device can be reduced without reducing the size of each key, and the portability is further improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the left and right divided key input portions are vertically overlapped with each other in the housing position at the storage position, so that further miniaturization can be achieved.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, since the display section has a structure in which handwriting input is possible, simultaneous use of handwriting input is possible in addition to key input, and operability is improved, and When entering the handwriting, the keyboard is stored in the housing body so that the keyboard does not get in the way and the installation space can be kept small.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a portable electronic device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the portable electronic device of FIG. 1 when the left and right keyboards are housed in a housing body, as viewed from the R side.

3 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the portable electronic device of FIG. 1 at a keyboard storage position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a state in which the left keyboard is pulled out from the state of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts showing a state in which the right keyboard is pulled out from the state of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a portable electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of a portable electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,43,51 Housing body 3 Display (display part) 5,37,47 Left keyboard (left hand key input part) 7,39,49 Right keyboard (right hand key input part)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Kaho Shimoyama 2-9 Suehiro-cho, Ome-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Personal System Engineering Co., Ltd. In-house

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. The display unit is provided on the surface of the housing body, while the keyboard is divided into a left-hand key input unit and a right-hand key input unit, and these left-hand and right-hand key input units are housed in the housing body. A portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device is provided so as to be movable between a storage position and a protruding position that respectively protrudes from the left side portion and the right side portion of the housing body. 2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the left-hand key input portion and the right-hand key input portion vertically overlaps with each other in the housing body at the storage position. 3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to allow handwriting input. 4. A display unit capable of handwriting input is provided on the surface of the housing body, and is provided so as to be movable between a storage position for storing a keyboard in the housing body and a projecting position projecting from the housing body. A portable electronic device characterized by the above.