JPH07281790A - Dual-housing electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a mechanism which couples housings simple and improve the operability of handwriting input by inverting the direction of a display when the housing of a display part is used as an input part and display part as compared with the direction of a normal display. CONSTITUTION:The display part 2 of a notebook personal computer which is used for both keyboard input and handwriting input is equipped with an LCD and fitted rotatably through a hinge part provided to an edge part of the housing of a keyboard 1. The display direction of the display part 2 is inverted corresponding to an input state. Namely, the direction of a display made on the LCD at the time of the board input is inverted by 180 deg. at the time of the handwriting input, and the housing of the keyboard 1 at the time of the keyboard input or the housing of the display part 2 at the time of the handwriting input is placed on a desk and used. At this time, the display part 2 can be placed nearly horizontally on the desk since the hinge part is fitted to the edge part of the keyboard housing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a videophone device, a business phone main device capable of inputting telephone directory information, a notebook computer, a word processor, an electronic notebook, etc., for keyboard input with a finger (hereinafter referred to as keyboard input), and handwriting with a dedicated pen The present invention relates to a housing structure of an electronic device capable of two types of input (hereinafter referred to as handwriting input).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional electronic device of this type, the position of a display unit with respect to an input unit is moved in response to keyboard input and handwriting input. In the following description, keyboard input and handwriting input are collectively referred to as a usage state.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a conventional electronic device when a keyboard is input. 10 is a side view showing the position of the display unit when changing the use state of the electronic device of FIG. 9 from keyboard input to handwriting input, and (A) shows the state of the display unit during movement, (B) is a diagram showing a state of the display unit at the time of handwriting input. The housing of the display unit 2 is supported by the housing of the keyboard 1 by two hinges 21 and 22 and a link 23 so as to be rotatable around respective hinge axes. At the time of keyboard input, as shown in FIG. 9, the casing of the keyboard 1 is placed on the table, and the display unit 2 is placed almost vertically so as to face the user. When inputting by handwriting, as shown in FIG.
The link 23 is rotated around the axis of the hinge 21, and the display unit 2 is rotated around the hinge 22 so as to face upward. In this way, as shown in FIG. 10B, the display unit 2 is horizontally placed on the keyboard 1 and handwriting input is performed.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional electronic equipment, the number of parts of the hinge portion is large, the structure and operation are complicated and costly, and when the use state is set to handwriting input, the display portion is Since it is placed on the keyboard, the position of the display unit is raised accordingly, and it is difficult to input by handwriting.

An object of the present invention is to provide a two-casing electronic device including an input casing and a display casing, which has a simple mechanism of a hinge / link portion for connecting the two casings and has good operability for handwriting input. To provide equipment.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a two-case electronic device according to the present invention has a use state in which the first case is an input section and the second case is a display section. When the first usage state and the usage state in which the second housing serves as the input unit / display unit are set to the second usage state, the display orientation of the input unit / display unit in the second usage state is It has a display direction changing means for inverting and displaying with respect to the display direction of the display section in the use state of No.

The display direction changing means outputs a use state selecting means for generating and outputting a selection signal corresponding to a use state desired by the user, and a display control signal for controlling a display direction according to the selection signal. It is desirable to have a display control means for switching and a switching means for switching the orientation of the display content to the orientation corresponding to the display control signal.

The usage status selecting means may have a designating means by which the user manually specifies a desired usage status.

The user selects the first or second use state selection means.
When the electronic device is used in the above-mentioned usage state, it has a usage state detection means for automatically detecting the state of the electronic device set by the user in correspondence with the first usage state or the second usage state, respectively. be able to.

The use state detecting means is a switch means that, when the user installs the electronic device in the first or second use state, takes a different connection state corresponding to the installation state of the electronic device installed by the user. Can have.

When the second housing is a handwriting input display section using a dedicated pen, the electronic device further includes a dedicated pen.
When the electronic device is used in the first usage state, it has a fixing means for fixing the dedicated pen to a predetermined housing, and the usage state detecting means, when the dedicated pen is fixed to the fixing means,
And switch means for taking different connection states when detached from the fixing means.

When used in the second use state, it is desirable to have an original holding means for holding an original in the first housing.

[0013]

In general, when this type of two-casing electronic device is used in the first usage state, the first casing (input unit) is placed on the table and the second casing (display unit) is used by the user. It is used facing to. Therefore, the first and second casings have a positional relationship in which they are opened substantially at right angles to each other. While maintaining such a positional relationship between the first and second casings, that is, in FIG.
Do not perform the complicated operation shown in (B),
When the second housing (input unit / display unit) is installed on the tabletop in front of the first housing for using the electronic device in the second usage state, the display orientation of the display unit is It will be in the opposite direction to the user. Therefore, by inverting the display direction by the display direction changing means, the electronic device can be used in the second usage state without requiring a complicated mechanism and operation unlike the conventional electronic device.

The display direction converting means generates a selection signal corresponding to a use state intended by the user by the use state selecting means, and a display control signal for controlling a display direction based on the selection signal by the display control means. The direction of the display contents is controlled to the direction corresponding to the display control signal by the switching means.

The use state desired by the user can be manually input to the use state selecting means by the designating means provided in the use state selecting means.

When using the electronic device in the first and second usage states, the state of the electronic device set by the user in correspondence with the first usage state and the second usage state (hereinafter , Setting state), the use state detecting means can identify the use state intended by the user.

Generally, the installation state of this type of electronic equipment differs depending on the use state. When the electronic device is installed and used on a table, the first housing is installed on the table in the first usage state, and the second housing is installed on the table in the second usage state. Such an installation state is a state set by the user, and thus is an example of the above-mentioned setting state. In order to detect the setting state or the installation state, if the usage state detecting means is provided with a switch means for changing the connection state, that is, the ON / OFF state in correspondence with the installation state of the electronic device, the The usage status of the electronic device can be identified from the on / off status.

When the electronic device is used by handwriting input with a dedicated pen, the electronic device is in the second usage state.
At this time, the dedicated pen is detached from the fixing means and used. On the contrary, when the electronic device is used in the first usage state, the dedicated pen is not used and is fixed to the fixing means. In this way, the fixed state of the dedicated pen, that is, whether the dedicated pen is fixed to the fixing means by the user or removed from the fixing means corresponds to the first and second use states, and depends on the user. It is a setting state to be set. Since the on / off state of the switch means provided in the use state detecting means changes in accordance with the fixed state of the dedicated pen, it is necessary to identify the use state of the electronic device from the on / off state of the switch means. Can be done. Even when the electronic device is installed for use in the second usage state (for example, when the second housing is installed on the table), the dedicated pen is not used and fixed. In this case, the usage status detecting means recognizes that the usage status of the electronic device is the first usage status, and outputs a selection signal corresponding to the usage status. Therefore, the usage state detected from the installation state of the electronic device does not necessarily match the usage state detected from the fixed state of the dedicated pen. However, even if the installation state of the electronic device corresponds to the second usage state and the fixed state of the dedicated pen corresponds to the first usage state (that is, even if the dedicated pen is fixed), the dedicated state is set at this time. Since handwriting with the pen is not actually performed, even if the display direction is controlled in the opposite direction, no practical inconvenience occurs.

In the electronic device of the present invention, the relative position between the first casing and the second casing is not changed, that is, as shown in FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B). Without requiring a complicated operation, the first use state is changed to the second use state, and conversely, the second use state is changed to the first use state. As a result, in the second usage state, the second
When the casing of No. 1 is placed on the tabletop, the first casing stands in front of the user's face without being used. Therefore, the first
By providing the document holding means in the casing, the space for placing the document on the table is not required, the line-of-sight movement between the document and the display unit is reduced, and the workability in the second use state is improved.

[0020]

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

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a first embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention, which is a notebook personal computer for both keyboard input in a first use state and handwriting input in a second use state. Here, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the installation state of the notebook computer at the time of keyboard input, and FIG. The display unit 2 includes an LCD, and is rotatably attached about a hinge axis via a hinge unit 3 provided at an edge of a casing (first casing) of the keyboard 1. The dedicated pen 4 used for handwriting input is held by a dedicated pen holder 5 provided on the side surface of the keyboard when not in use. The display direction of the display unit 2 is reversed according to the input state. That is, the orientation of the display displayed on the LCD during keyboard input is rotated 180 degrees during handwriting input.

At the time of keyboard input, as shown in FIG. 1, the casing of the keyboard 1 is used by being placed on a desk, and the display unit 2 is set by the hinge unit 3 at an angle less affected by light such as fluorescent light. The information adjusted and input from the keyboard 1 is displayed. At this time, naturally, the display content is displayed in the direction of "display direction" in FIG. At the time of handwriting input, as shown in FIG. 2, the casing (second casing) of the display unit 2 (input unit / display unit) is placed on a desk and used. As described above, since the hinge portion 3 is attached to the edge portion of the keyboard housing, the display portion 2 can be placed almost horizontally on the desk. When using the device in the state of Fig. 2,
The display contents are displayed in the direction of "display direction" in FIG. Further, by forming the document holding portion 8 in the housing of the keyboard, the reference material 9 and the like can be held at the time of handwriting input, and as a result, there is no need for a space for placing the document on the table and the line of sight between the material and the display portion does not move much. Therefore, the workability when inputting by handwriting is improved.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a display direction conversion circuit for converting the display direction of the display unit 2 in this embodiment. The display direction conversion circuit (hereinafter referred to as the conversion circuit) is
A usage state selection unit 10, a display control unit 6, and an LCD drive unit 7 are provided. The usage state selection unit 10 generates and outputs a selection signal S _s indicating that the user has selected either keyboard input or handwriting input. Display control unit 6
Inputs a selection signal S _s , determines whether the display direction (display direction) on the LCD is up or down, and outputs a display control signal S _c corresponding to the selection signal S _s . The LCD drive unit 7 applies a voltage to the LCD 2 in response to the display control signal S _c to drive the LCD. Therefore, the LCD drive unit 7 is a normal LCD.
It operates not only as a drive circuit but also as a switching circuit that changes the orientation of display. In the above conversion circuit,
The user can manually select the use state by key input or a switch, and as the use state selecting section 10, for example, a slide type changeover switch can be used.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, when the power of the device is turned on, the input state can be selected. When the user selects a keyboard input by, for example, a key input, the usage state selection unit 10 outputs a selection signal S _s of a corresponding logic level. Based on this selection signal S _s , the display control unit determines that the display direction is upward and outputs the display control signal S _c corresponding to the upward direction. In response to the display control signal S _c , the LCD drive unit 7 applies a voltage to the LCD 2 in a direction in which a normal keyboard input display is performed. When handwriting input is selected, the flow is the same as for keyboard input. At this time, the LCD drive unit 7 applies a voltage to the LCD display unit 2 by the display control unit 6 so that the display direction is inverted with respect to the display direction at the time of keyboard input.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conversion circuit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the conversion circuit of FIG. 3, the user gives an instruction of a desired use state by key input or a switch, but in the present embodiment, as will be described later, a state in which an electronic device is installed on a table (installation state). In response to, the usage status is automatically specified. Therefore, instead of the use state selection unit 10 of FIG.
Is provided, the usage state detection unit 11 automatically detects whether the keyboard housing is placed on the table for keyboard input or the display housing is placed on the table for handwriting input. Then, the selection signal S _s corresponding to each usage state is output. The other operations of the conversion circuit of FIG. 4 are the same as the operations of the circuit of FIG.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are partially cutaway side views showing the states of the switches of the electronic apparatus of the present invention during keyboard input and handwriting input, respectively. The usage state detector 11 is provided with a switch 12 on the back surface of the keyboard. The switch 12 is configured to be pressed when the keyboard housing is placed on the desk surface 13,
When the device is installed as shown in FIG. 5, the switch 12 detects a use state corresponding to the installed state, that is, a keyboard input, and the display control unit 6 causes the display unit 2 to display a display direction corresponding to the keyboard input. As shown in
It has a circuit configuration for controlling the LCD drive unit 7. When the handwriting input state is set as shown in FIG. 6, the switch 1
2 is opened and the display control unit 6 displays the LCD display unit 2 in a direction suitable for handwriting input. In this case, the document holding portion 8 may be a foldable type so as not to get in the way when the keyboard is input.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view showing a third embodiment of the electronic apparatus of the present invention, showing a state in which a dedicated pen is fixed, and FIG. 8 is the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view with a part cut away for explaining the switch section of FIG. In the second embodiment, the use state is detected by the switch 12 and the desk surface 13, but the input state can be detected by the position of the dedicated pen 4.
In FIG. 7, the special pen 4 is fixed to the special pen holder 5, and the tip portion 14 presses the switch 15 in the apparatus. In this state, the display control unit 6 recognizes the use state as a keyboard input, and the LCD display unit 2 displays it in the same direction as in FIG. When the dedicated pen 4 is removed, the switch 15 is opened, as shown in FIG.
Recognizes the usage state as handwriting input, and the display unit 2 is configured to be displayed in the same direction as in FIG. The conversion circuit of this embodiment is similar to the conversion circuit of the second embodiment.

[0028]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects. 1. By providing the means for reversing the display direction of the display unit, it is possible to easily change the use state between the first and second use states without requiring a complicated operation. As a result, It is possible to provide a two-casing electronic device having a simple mechanism for coupling the two casings. 2. By generating a selection signal corresponding to the usage state desired by the user and controlling the display direction in accordance with the selection signal, the display direction can be easily changed according to the usage state desired by the user. Can be done. 3. By providing a means for manually designating a desired usage state by the user, the display direction corresponding to the usage state can be designated from the outside. 4. By providing a means for automatically detecting the state of the electronic device set by the user, when the user sets the electronic device to the use state, the operation state is automatically set without any other operation. The display direction corresponding to can be obtained. 5. When the user installs the electronic device in a desired use state by providing a switch means that takes a different connection state according to the installation state of the electronic device, the operation is automatically performed without any other operation. It is possible to obtain the display direction corresponding to the usage state. 6. By providing a switch means that takes a different connection state depending on the fixed state of the dedicated pen, a display corresponding to the use state of the electronic device is automatically performed according to whether the use state is handwriting input or not. You can get the direction. 7. By providing the document holding means in the first housing which is not used in the second use state, the reference material and the like can be held in the second use state, and as a result, the area where the document is placed on the tabletop. Is unnecessary, and the line-of-sight movement between the material and the display unit is reduced, so that the operability during input is improved. 8. Due to the effects of 1 to 7, the two-casing mechanism of the two-casing electronic device and its operation can be simplified, and as a result, the cost can be reduced and the input position does not become high during handwriting input. , Operability of handwriting input is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-case electronic device of the present invention when a keyboard is input.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the two-case electronic device of the present invention when inputting by handwriting.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a display direction changing circuit in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a display direction changing circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state of a switch at the time of keyboard input of the second embodiment of the two-case electronic device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state of a switch at the time of handwriting input in the second embodiment of the two-casing electronic device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a third embodiment of the two-case electronic device of the present invention, and is a side view with a part cut away showing a state where a dedicated pen is fixed.

8 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state of a switch when a dedicated pen of the two-casing electronic device of FIG. 7 is removed.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a conventional electronic device when a keyboard is input.

10 is a side view showing the position of the display unit when changing the state of use of the electronic device of FIG. 9 from keyboard input to handwriting input, (A) showing the state of the display unit during movement,
(B) is a diagram showing a state of the display unit at the time of handwriting input.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 keyboard 2 display unit (LCD) 3 hinge unit 4 handwriting input dedicated pen 5 dedicated pen holding unit 6 display control unit 7 LCD drive unit 8 original document holding unit 9 original document 10 use state selection unit 11 use state detection unit 12 switch 13 table Surface 14 Tip of dedicated pen 15 Switch

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A first usage state in which the first housing serves as an input unit and a second housing serves as a display unit, and a second usage state in which the second housing serves as an input unit and a display unit. In a two-chassis electronic device that can be used with any of the above, the display orientation of the input / display portion in the second usage state is displayed in reverse with respect to the display orientation of the display portion in the first usage state. A two-casing electronic device, comprising: 2. The display direction changing means includes a use state selecting means for generating and outputting a selection signal corresponding to a use state desired by a user, and a display control signal for controlling a display direction according to the selection signal. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display control unit that outputs a display control signal, and a switching unit that switches a display content direction to a direction corresponding to the display control signal. 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the use state selecting means has a specifying means for a user to manually specify a desired use state. 4. The use state selecting means, when the user uses the electronic device in the first or second use state, corresponds to the first use state or the second use state, respectively. The electronic device according to claim 2, further comprising a usage state detection unit that automatically detects the set state of the electronic device. 5. The usage state detecting means, when the user installs the electronic device in the first or second usage state, takes different connection states corresponding to the installation state of the electronic device installed by the user. The electronic device according to claim 4, further comprising switch means. 6. The second casing is a handwriting input display unit using a dedicated pen, and the electronic device further includes the dedicated pen and the dedicated pen in a predetermined casing when the electronic device is used in the first usage state. The use state detecting means has a fixing means for fixing, and the use state detecting means has a switch means that takes different connection states when the dedicated pen is fixed to the fixing means and when it is detached from the fixing means. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein 7. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a document holding unit that holds a document in the first housing when used in the second usage state.