JP2005266968A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic equipment with excellent portability which is easy to use properly for an electronic book or a notebook-sized PC or the like. <P>SOLUTION: In this electronic equipment 1, first and second case bodies 2A and 2B formed so as to be openable/closeable in an open status are arranged with first and second picture parts 4A and 4B overlapped tablets onto LCD respectively, and when the first and second case bodies 2A and 2B are put in an open status, this electronic equipment can be used as an electronic book, and when the second cased body 2B is placed on a horizontal face such as a desk or the like, this electronic equipment can be used as a notebook-sized PC. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having a plurality of usage modes such as an electronic book and a notebook personal computer (PC).

  Conventionally, portable electronic devices such as electronic books and notebook PCs have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1).

  The electronic book described in Patent Document 1 includes a first and second housing that can be opened and closed in a spread state like a book, and the same screen provided in each of the first and second housings. The first and second liquid crystal display screens each having a size and a page feed switch that is provided in each of the first and second casings and switches information displayed on the liquid crystal display screen in units of pages.

A notebook PC described in Non-Patent Document 1 includes an apparatus main body provided with a keyboard, a liquid crystal display unit provided rotatably on the apparatus main body, and provided on the apparatus main body. A touch pad for moving the displayed cursor, a liquid crystal display stacked on the back surface of the touch pad, and a click button provided near the touch pad and displaying a calendar, a calculator, and the like on the liquid crystal display.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-100657 ([0014] to [0017], FIG. 1) Toshiba Digital Network Co., Ltd., “Notebook PC general catalog”, 10 pages, [online], [Search on March 5, 2004], Internet <URL: HYPERLINK "http://dynabook.com/pc/catalog/ dynabook / catapdf / 030512lu.pdf "http://dynabook.com/pc/catalog/dynabook/catapdf/030512lu.pdf>

  However, according to a conventional electronic book, since a character input means such as a keyboard is not provided, a notebook PC or the like is required to perform a character input operation. It becomes difficult. In addition, it is complicated to use an electronic book, a notebook PC, or the like depending on the application. Further, even if a character input function such as a notebook PC is simply added to an electronic book, both are originally difficult to use because the display directions of the screens are different.

  Further, according to the conventional notebook PC, the screen size of the touch pad is considerably smaller than that of the liquid crystal display unit, so that it cannot be used as a continuous display screen as an electronic book. On the other hand, when the screen of the touch pad is enlarged, the housing is also enlarged and the portability is deteriorated.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that has good portability and can be easily used for various purposes such as an electronic book and a notebook PC.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is capable of opening and closing first and second display units having substantially the same screen size, at least one of which has an input function, and the first and second display units. Provided is an electronic device comprising a supporting portion for supporting.

  According to the above configuration, since the first and second display units have substantially the same screen size, it is possible to use the electronic book as an electronic book by displaying the content of the electronic book on both of them. By using the other as the data input unit and the other as the display unit based on the command and data, it can be used as a notebook PC.

  According to the electronic device of the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device that has good portability and can be easily used for various purposes such as an electronic book and a notebook PC.

[First Embodiment]
1 and 2 show the external appearance of an electronic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view showing an opened state, and FIG. 1 (b) is a closed state. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are side views showing the opened state.

(Appearance structure of electronic equipment)
As shown in FIG. 1A, the electronic device 1 includes first and second casings 2A and 2B that can be opened and closed by a hinge 3 so as to be opened and closed, and first and second casings 2A. , 2B respectively, and an electronic pen 5 that is detachably provided on the device 1 and indicates the coordinates on the first and second screen portions 4A, 4B. With.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the first casing 2A includes a power switch 6 for turning on power, a cursor switch 7 for selecting a menu by moving a cursor displayed on the screens 4A and 4B, and A first page feed switch 8A for instructing page feed of images to be displayed on the screen units 4A and 4B in page units is provided, and page feed of images to be displayed on the screen units 4A and 4B is provided on the second housing 2B. Only the second page feed switch 8B for instructing page units is provided. In this way, the number of switches provided in the second casing 2B is less than that of the first casing 2A, so that the second casing 2B is placed on a horizontal surface such as a desk as shown in FIG. When used in a state (hereinafter referred to as “laptop state”), the number of erroneous operations of erroneously pressing a switch is reduced. The switches are not limited to the above, and various switches such as function keys can be arranged as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, grounding legs 2a to 2d are formed in convex shapes by integral molding with the casings 2A and 2B at the four corners on the back surface of the second casing 2B. The material, shape, quantity, etc. of the grounding legs 2a to 2d are not limited to the above. For example, the grounding legs 2a to 2d may be formed of a material such as rubber different from the housings 2A and 2B. Further, the number of grounding legs may be three.

(Usage mode)
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1A, the electronic device 1 is an electronic book in which the first and second housings 2A and 2B are vertically opened (hereinafter referred to as “opened state”). As shown in FIG. 2, it has a mode in which it is used as a PC notebook in a laptop state.

(Center of gravity structure)
As shown in FIG. 2A, when the grounding legs 2a to 2d of the second housing 2B are grounded to a horizontal surface such as a desk, the electronic device 1 moves the first housing 2A to the viewing angle range E. The device 1 has a center-of-gravity position structure that prevents the device 1 from falling even if it is tilted backward. That is, the weights of the first and second casings 2A and 2B are respectively set to W1 and W2, and the rotational moments of the rear grounding legs 2a and 2b from the center positions G1 and G2 of the first and second casings 2A and 2B. The structure of components such as batteries and boards placed inside the housings 2A and 2B so that the relationship of W1 × L1 <W2 × L2 is satisfied, where the distances to the vertical line Lp passing through the center are L1 and L2, respectively. By designing the arrangement, etc., the device 1 is prevented from tipping over.

  Further, in the spread state in FIG. 1 (a), it is preferable that the position of the center of gravity as a whole is at the center of both the screen portions 4A and 4B and to the lower side. Thereby, when using as an electronic book, it becomes easy to have the center of both screen part 4A, 4B with one hand.

(Other center of gravity structure)
As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the electronic device 1 has the rear grounding legs 2a and 2b extended in the rearward direction so that L2 is larger and L1 is smaller than the case shown in FIG. 2 (a). May be. Thereby, even if the opening angle of both housing | casing 2A, 2B is taken large, it can be set as the structure which does not break a balance. The shape of the rear grounding legs 2a, 2b is preferably extended as far back as possible within a range that does not impair the design. Note that the rear grounding leg may be pulled out manually.

(Detailed configuration of page feed switch)
3A and 3B show details of the first page feed switch 8A, in which FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a main part, and FIG. Since the first and second page feed switches 8A and 8B have the same function, the first page feed switch 8A will be described. In the first casing 2A, a first page feed switch 8A is installed on the curved surface portion 30 on the end face of the casing.

  The curved surface portion 30 on the end surface of the housing has a curved surface shape imitating the shape of the page end surface when a book composed of paper is opened. The page feed switch 8A of the curved surface portion 30 is installed at a position where it can be easily operated with the thumb when the housings 2A and 2B are held by hand. In the present embodiment, the center position of the switch 8A is in the range of H = 100 mm ± 50 mm from the lower part of the housing.

  The page feed switch 8A has a switch board 80, a switch body 81 provided on the switch board 80, and a protrusion 82a, and operates in the rotation direction and the push-in direction indicated by arrows in FIG. And a switch knob 82 that can be used.

  Since the switch knob 82 is joined to the switch body 81 and can be rotated in a direction along the curved surface portion 30 of the housing, the finger movement similar to the operation of turning the actual book page is performed. Screen switching operations are possible. Further, by adopting a switch that can be pushed in as well as being turned in the switch body 81 as described above, page feed (return) is performed by the left and right operation of the switch knob 82, and other input is performed by the push operation. Is possible.

(Control system for electronic equipment)
FIG. 4 shows a control system of the electronic device 1. The electronic device 1 has a CPU 10 that controls the entire electronic device 1. The CPU 10 stores a ROM 11 in which an operation program of the CPU 10 including a screen rotation program 11 a as shown in FIG. RAM 12 used for temporary storage, card drive 14 for reading data from memory card 13, HDD 15 for storing data, direction change detection unit 17 for detecting a change in direction based on the direction detected by direction sensor 16, and The communication unit 18 that communicates with the outside is connected to each other, and the various switches 6, 7, 8A, and 8B described above are connected via the switch signal input unit 19, and the first and second screen units 4A and 4B are controlled by the LCD. They are connected via the unit 20 and the tablet control unit 21.

  The first screen section 4A has a first LCD (liquid crystal display) 40A as a display section for displaying an image, and has a screen size substantially the same as that of the first LCD 40A, on the lower surface side of the first LCD 40A. The first tablet 41A is provided as an input unit that is arranged in a superposed manner and detects coordinates indicated by the electronic pen 5 by electromagnetic induction. Similarly to the first screen portion 4A, the second screen portion 4B also includes a second LCD 40B and a second tablet 41B superposed on the lower surface side of the second LCD 40B.

  The LCD control unit 20 performs display control of images on the LCDs 40A and 40B, and the tablet control unit 21 performs coordinate input control by the tablets 41A and 41B.

  The LCDs 40A and 40B are transmissive, and display images by receiving illumination from a backlight (not shown). Instead of the LCDs 40A and 40B, other thin display devices such as a plasma display can be used.

  The tablets 41A and 41B have a structure in which a plurality of horizontal coils and a plurality of vertical coils are formed on a substrate, and acquire the coordinates of the position of the electronic pen 5 by an electromagnetic induction method. Note that the tablet may be arranged only on one screen part, for example, on the entire surface or part of the second screen part 4B. Thereby, simplification of a structure can be achieved. Details of the coordinate input structure will be described later.

  The memory card 13 is inserted into a card slot (not shown) provided in one of the housings 2A and 2B, and the recorded contents of the memory card 13 are read by the card drive 14. In the memory card 13, content data in which images (contents) composed of characters, figures, etc. written on paper media such as paperbacks, comic books, textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, magazines, and newspapers are converted into electronic data. Is recorded. As the memory card 13, an SD (Secure Digital) memory card can be used. In addition to the SD memory card, a CD-ROM, CD, MD, FD, or the like can be used.

  The HDD 15 has a storage capacity capable of fetching and storing content data such as a plurality of books from the memory card 13 or the communication unit 18.

  As the direction sensor 16, mercury enclosed in the sealed glass tube moves according to the posture of the device 1, so that a mercury switch that opens and closes a contact or a conductive sphere moves according to the posture of the device 1. Accordingly, it is possible to use a spherical switch or the like that detects the posture of the device 1 from the positions of the electrodes that are in contact with each other.

  The communication unit 18 communicates with an external server, a PC, or the like using a communication method of a Bluetooth (registered trademark) wireless standard or a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) standard, and is a USB (Universal Serial Bus). You may communicate by.

(Coordinate input structure)
FIG. 5 shows details of the first screen portion 4A for explaining the coordinate input structure. Since the second screen unit 4B has the same configuration and function as the first screen unit 4A, description thereof is omitted here.

  The electronic pen 5 includes a pen housing 50 having a pen shape, and an LC resonance circuit 51 including a coil 52 and a capacitor 53 is built in the pen housing 50.

  The first tablet 41 </ b> A is formed by forming a tablet circuit including a plurality of vertical coils 42 a and a plurality of horizontal coils 42 b on a substrate, and the tablet circuit is connected to the tablet control unit 21.

  When a current (amplitude signal) adapted to the resonance frequency of the LC resonance circuit 51 is passed from the tablet control unit 21 to the vertical coil 42a, a magnetic field is generated in the vertical coil 42a, thereby electromagnetic induction of the LC resonance circuit 51 and the vertical coil 42a. Thus, the LC resonance circuit 51 resonates and generates a magnetic field corresponding to the resonance frequency from the electronic pen 5 side. This magnetic field generates a current (electromagnetic induction signal) in the horizontal coil 42b by electromagnetic induction. This is also performed for the other vertical coils 42a and horizontal coils 42b, and the tablet control unit 21 detects the position (coordinates) of the pen 5 from the strength of the electromagnetic induction signals of the vertical coils 42a and 42b.

  Further, since the strength of the electromagnetic induction signal changes when the LC resonance circuit 51 of the electronic pen 5 is separated from the tablet circuit, the distance of the electronic pen 5 can be detected together with the position of the electronic pen 5.

  In addition to the electromagnetic induction method described above, a resistive film method (pressure sensitive method), an electrostatic coupling method, an ultrasonic surface acoustic wave method, an infrared light shielding method, or the like may be used as the coordinate input structure. Alternatively, a simple matrix type LCD may be used as the display unit, and the coordinates may be detected by an electrostatic coupling method with the LCD functioning as a tablet. Thereby, a screen part can be made thin.

(Screen rotation operation)
Next, the screen rotation operation according to the present embodiment will be described according to the flowchart of FIG. 9 with reference to FIGS. 6 is a perspective view showing an electronic device in a laptop state, FIG. 7A is a perspective view before the screen is rotated, FIG. 6B is a perspective view after the screen is rotated, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display. In the following description of the operation, the description will be made assuming that the CPU 10 performs unless otherwise specified.

  It is assumed that the user of the electronic device 1 has changed from the spread state shown in FIG. 1A to the laptop state shown in FIG. At this time, the screens still displayed on the first and second screen portions 4A and 4B remain in the vertical orientation shown in FIG. 1A, and the screen is not rotated. The screen is in landscape orientation in the state.

  The direction sensor 16 always detects the direction of the electronic device 1 (S1). The direction change detection unit 17 detects a change in direction based on the direction detected by the direction sensor 16 at a predetermined timing (for example, at intervals of 5 seconds), and transmits the result to the CPU 10 as a detection signal (S2). The CPU 10 determines whether or not the screen needs to be rotated based on the detection signal from the direction change detection unit 17 (S3). The CPU 10 determines whether the rotation of the screen is necessary or not by comparing the detected direction change with the reference direction change stored in the RAM 12 or the like. When it is determined that the rotation is unnecessary, the screen is not rotated (S10).

  When it is determined that the rotation is necessary, it is determined whether or not the manual rotation mode is set (S5). The manual rotation mode may be set by the user on the setting screen displayed in advance on the screen portions 4A and 4B, or may be set by operating the cursor switch 7 or the like. When the manual rotation mode is not set (No), the CPU 10 rotates the screen by 90 ° as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7B based on the screen rotation program 11 a stored in the ROM 11. (S6). FIG. 7B shows a state in which the screen is rotated 90 ° from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction.

  In step S5, when the manual rotation mode is set (Yes), a confirmation screen as to whether or not to rotate is displayed on the first or second screen portion 4A or 4B (S7), and an input of the rotation operation is performed. Wait (S8). The rotation operation is input using, for example, the electronic pen 5. If no rotation operation is input within a certain time (No), the screen is not rotated (S9). If a rotation operation is input within a certain time (Yes), the screen is rotated by 90 ° as shown in FIG. 7B (S10).

  In steps S6 and S10, after rotating the screen, it is determined whether or not to display the keyboard (S11). In this case, since it is a change from the spread state to the laptop state, the keyboard is displayed on the second screen portion 4B as shown in FIG. 8 (S12).

  When the spread state is changed to the laptop state, as shown in FIG. 8, book data (content data) or the like is displayed in the display area 100 provided in the first screen portion 4A. A keyboard is displayed in the key input area 101 provided in the second screen portion 4B. When the electronic pen 5 is brought close to a desired key on the keyboard, key input can be performed. In addition, a handwritten note area 102 and a handwritten character input conversion area 103 are displayed in the second screen FIG. 4B. The handwritten note area 102 is an area where characters drawn with the electronic pen 5 can be input as they are. The handwritten character input conversion area 103 is an area in which when a character is drawn with the electronic pen 5, the character is automatically recognized and the result is displayed.

  In addition, you may display the browsing screen by a web browser on the 1st screen part 4A or the 2nd screen part 4B. Further, a television tuner may be provided in the housings 2A and 2B, and a television video or the like may be displayed on the screen portions 4A and 4B.

  In the above description of the operation, the case of changing from the spread state to the laptop state has been described. However, when changing from the laptop state to the spread state, the operation is the same as described above, but in step S11, the screen is rotated. After that, the keyboard is not displayed (S13). That is, when the keyboard is displayed, the keyboard is erased.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the electronic device 1 of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(A) Since it has a function of changing the usage form from the spread state to the laptop state, it is possible to provide various usability according to the usage form of the user. For example, a set of university textbooks, etc., can be recorded on the HDD 15 of the electronic device 1 so that textbooks or hobby books can be viewed when going to school. It is possible to provide usability such as taking notes and calculating on the second screen portion 4B side while viewing the textbook on the first screen portion 4A.
(B) Since the screen can be rotated when the usage mode is changed from the spread state to the laptop state, an electronic device with excellent convenience can be provided.
(C) Since it is possible to select whether to rotate the screen automatically or manually according to the setting, the screen will not rotate carelessly even when the orientation of the device 1 is unstable, such as lying down, Easy to use equipment.
(D) Although the center of gravity position of the device is limited due to the characteristics of the spread device, it can be used from the spread state to the laptop state by adopting the center of gravity position structure and the grounding leg structure as in this embodiment. Can be easily changed.
(E) Since it can communicate with the outside wirelessly, it can also have a function as a personal digital assistant (PDA), and it has three functions of a conventional electronic book, notebook PC, and PDA. It can be realized with equipment.
(F) Although it has two screens, it can be folded, resulting in a compact size and excellent portability.
(G) Since the tablets 41A and 41B are arranged under the LCDs 40A and 40B and the electromagnetic induction method is adopted as the coordinate input structure, the display light from the LCDs 40A and 40B is not absorbed by the tablets 41A and 41B. Can be displayed. Further, the pen can be made cordless, and the operability is improved. Furthermore, the coordinate detection accuracy is higher compared to other methods.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 10 shows an electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment, in which FIG. 10A is a perspective view and FIG. In the second embodiment, a key top sheet 9 is used in place of the electronic pen 5 of the first embodiment. This key top sheet 9 is formed by connecting a plurality of key tops 90 arranged in the same manner as a normal keyboard by inter-key connection portions 92 formed of a flexible material, and the whole is molded into a single sheet. Has been. A key support 91 is appropriately disposed on the key top sheet 9, and the key top 90 is configured to maintain an appropriate distance from the second LCD 40B.

  Each key top 90 incorporates an LC resonance circuit 51 similar to that described with reference to FIG. 5. By pressing the key top 90, the LC resonance circuit 51 approaches the LCD 40B by the amount of movement. Accordingly, the tablet control unit 21 detects the depression of the key top 90 on the same principle as described with reference to FIG. 5, and transmits to the CPU 10 which position of the key corresponding to the LCD 40B is depressed, and various key inputs are performed. Is possible.

  The key top 90 may be formed of the same material as the key top sheet 9 and the inter-key connection portion 82, but only the upper surface of the key top 90 may be integrally formed of a hard molding material or the like. Thereby, the touch of a finger etc. becomes close to a normal keyboard.

  The LC resonance circuits 51 incorporated in the individual key tops 90 may have the same resonance frequency, but by incorporating ones having different resonance frequencies, it becomes easy to distinguish from other keys. It is also possible to have a key function.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
According to the second embodiment, since key input can be performed in the same manner as a normal keyboard, key input operation can be facilitated as compared with the electronic pen 5 of the first embodiment. Also, the display of the keyboard image can be omitted.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the screen may be rotated based on the user's operation without providing the direction sensor.

  As the direction sensor, a mechanical switch, pressure sensitive rubber, or the like may be used. In this case, the direction sensor may be disposed on the grounding leg, and the display direction of the screen may be switched when the direction sensor detects the grounding.

The external appearance of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view which shows a spread state, (b) is a perspective view which shows the closed state. (A) is a side view which shows the laptop state of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (b) is a side view which shows another example. The details of the 1st page feed switch concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention are shown, (a) is a principal part perspective view and (b) is a principal part sectional view. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the coordinate input structure which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the laptop state of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The laptop state of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view before screen rotation, (b) is a perspective view after screen rotation. It is a perspective view which shows the example of a display of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The electronic device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is principal part sectional drawing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic device 2A 1st housing | casing 2B 2nd housing | casing 2a-2d Grounding leg 3 Hinge 4A 1st screen part 4B 2nd screen part 5 Electronic pen 6 Power switch 7 Cursor switch 8A 1st page feed switch 8B Second page feed switch 9 Key top sheet 10 CPU
11 ROM
11a Screen rotation program 12 RAM
13 Memory card 14 Card drive 15 HDD
16 direction sensor 17 direction change detection unit 18 communication unit 19 switch signal input unit 20 LCD control unit 21 tablet control unit 30 curved surface unit 40A first LCD
40B Second LCD
41A 1st tablet 41B 2nd tablet 42a Vertical coil 42b Horizontal coil 50 Pen case 51 LC resonance circuit 52 Coil 53 Capacitor 80 Switch board 81 Switch body 82 Switch knob 82a Protrusion 90 Key top 91 Key support 92 Connection between keys Part 100 Display area 101 Key input area 102 Handwritten note area 103 Handwritten character input conversion area E Viewing angle range G1 Center of gravity position G2 of first housing Center of gravity position Lp of second housing Vertical line L1 Vertical line from center of gravity position G1 Distance L2 to Lp Distance from center of gravity position G2 to vertical line Lp W1 Weight of first housing W2 Weight of second housing

Claims (6)

First and second display units having substantially the same screen size and at least one of which has an input function;
An electronic apparatus comprising: a support portion that supports the first and second display portions so as to be openable and closable.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second display units is a display unit that displays contents of an electronic book. The first and second display units are disposed on one surface of the first and second housings supported by the support unit,
The first or second casing includes a detection unit that detects an attitude of at least one of the casings, and a control unit that rotates the screens of the first and second display units according to the attitude. The electronic device according to claim 1.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both the first and second display units have the input function. The first display unit is a display unit that displays a predetermined image;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second display unit includes an input unit for inputting a command and data for displaying the predetermined image. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the input unit is detachably provided on the second display unit, and includes a keyboard that incorporates an LC resonance circuit in each key and performs key input by an electromagnetic induction method.

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