JPH0463408B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides a display unit that is attached to the main body of an electronic device, such as a hand-held personal computer or a portable word processor, that can be tilted relative to the main body of the device. The present invention relates to a hinge device for electronic equipment that is applied when attached to an electronic device.

(Prior Art) Liquid crystal display panels (hereinafter referred to as ``LCD panels''), which are advantageous in terms of low power consumption, are often used as display units in electronic devices such as handheld computers and portable word processors. In addition, display units using LCD panels are
It is stored stacked on top of the main body of the device to protect the LCD panel surface.

When in use, it is rotated and raised up so that it stands directly in front of the operator so that the operator can operate the keyboard while facing the operator.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the schematic structure and usage of a conventional electronic device using an LCD panel.

In FIG. 10, the electronic device 1 has a display screen LCD.
One end of the display unit 3 provided with the panel 2 is connected to the pivot 5.
It has a structure in which it is held in the middle part of the device main body 4 via. Since LCDs generally have low brightness and a narrow field of view, they can be rotated between angles θ and adjusted to obtain the optimum angle for the operator's eyes. When storing, it is protected by folding it down to the position shown by the two-dot chain line and stacking it on top of the keyboard surface.

However, this structure allows the display unit 3 to rotate only around the pivot 5. Therefore, in order to allow the display unit 3 to be tilted significantly backwards during use, it is necessary to provide a recess for the display unit 3 in the shaded area indicated by the reference numeral 6 in FIG. This may affect the mounting space inside the device main body 4, and the amount by which the device can be tilted backward is also limited. This restriction applies, for example, when the electronic device 1 is connected to an external CRT 7 and operated while displaying it, the display unit 3
It will be leaning against the front of the CRT7.
It becomes difficult to see the CRT7. Therefore, a means such as providing a stand 8 on the CRT 7 is required.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, conventional hinge devices for electronic devices have the problem of being limited in the amount by which the display unit can be tilted backwards, and when trying to systemize with other devices. However, there were also problems such as the system being unable to be changed smoothly because other measures had to be taken.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to expand the range of backward tilting of the display unit, and also to prevent the display unit from getting in the way when systemizing with other equipment. To provide a hinge structure for an electronic device, which is structured so that tilting adjustment work can be simplified without causing the problem to occur.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, a hinge device for an electronic device according to the present invention includes a first hinge device protruding from the device main body side.
a connecting body that can swing around a pivot axis and a second axis that projects from the display unit in parallel at a position apart from the first axis, and the connecting body can rotate by a predetermined amount with respect to the first axis; Then, the rotation of the connecting body is locked and only the display unit side is allowed to rotate, and a locking means is provided which releases the lock when the display unit returns to a predetermined position.

(Function) According to this configuration, the rotation between the first pivot and the connection body causes the display unit to protrude from the device body, and the rotation between the second pivot and the connection body causes the display unit to move toward the device body. It can be rotated backwards without being disturbed. Therefore, the tilting range of the display unit can be expanded. Further, when the display unit is tilted significantly backward, the posture of the connecting body can be reliably maintained by the locking means. Therefore, the display unit can be tilted backwards smoothly.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 9 show an electronic device to which a hinge device for an electronic device according to the present invention is applied.

In FIGS. 1 to 9, the electronic device 10 has a general structure in which a display unit 14 is attached via a hinge device 13 to the upper surface of the device main body 12 to which a keyboard 11 is attached, and a display unit 14 is attached to the front and rear approximately intermediate portion thereof so as to be tiltable. . Further, the machine body 12 and the display unit 14, in which the hinge device 13 is interposed, are provided with spaces for mounting the hinge device formed by recesses 15 and 16 at corresponding positions, respectively.

The display unit 14 has an LCD panel 17 on the inside surface.
Furthermore, engaging protrusions 18 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) having a rectangular cross section are provided inwardly from both opposing side surfaces of the recess 16. This engagement protrusion 18 is engaged with an engagement recess 20 formed at one end of a second pivot 19, which will be described later.
This allows the second pivot 19 to rotate together with the display unit 14.

On the other hand, the device main body 12 is provided with a pair of pivots 21 in the recess 15, and each of the pivots 21 projects inward from the opposing inner surfaces of the recess 15. Furthermore, locking recesses 22 formed by cutting from the upper surface are provided on opposing side surfaces of the recess 15, and each of the locking recesses 22
This allows the tip of a locking member 23 to be inserted and engaged, which will be described later. Furthermore, a hinge device receiving portion 24 is integrally formed on the bottom surface of the recess 15 in a state that projects upward.

Next, the hinge device 13 is divided into two resin-molded halves 2, as shown in detail in FIG.
5 and 26 and then connected to each other with screws 27, a hollow connecting body 28 having a substantially oval cross section is used as a base, and the second connecting body 28 is attached to the connecting body 28.
pivot 19, lock member 23, spring plate member 29,
It has a configuration in which a coil spring 30, a torsion bar 31, etc. are attached.

The connection body 28 has bearing holes 31 at both ends for rotatably receiving the first pivot shaft 21, and a second pivot shaft 1.
A bearing hole 33 for rotatably receiving the lock member 9 and a lock guide hole 34 for protruding the lock member 23 are provided, respectively, and a hole 35 for inserting the screw 27 is provided on one side.

The second pivot 19, which is inserted into the bearing hole 33 and attached, has a stopper piece 36 that can accommodate the guide hole 34 at one end where the engagement recess 20 is provided. It is attached to the outside and in contact with the end surface of the connection body 28. Conversely, the other end of the second pivot 19 is disposed inside the connection body 28 and is rotatably attached to the connection body 28 via a spring plate member 29 and screws 37. This spring plate member 29
is folded back around the outside of the second pivot 19 at the middle part, and is further fixed with a screw 37 screwed into a screw hole (not shown) provided on the inner surface of the main body 26 with each end overlapped. There is. And the spring plate member 29
When holding the second pivot 19, the second pivot 19 strongly presses the outer peripheral surface, and the second pivot 19 does not easily rotate relative to the spring plate member 29, and a relatively large external force is applied to the second pivot 1.
9, it rotates and constitutes a brake means that applies a load friction force between the connecting body 28 and the second pivot 19.

Next, the locking member 23 whose tip can protrude from the guide hole 34 is slidably attached inside the connecting body 28, and is pushed and urged outward by a coil spring 30 also installed inside the connecting body 28. It has become a state of being. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6, this locking member 23 has a locking claw portion 38 that can be engaged in the engagement recess 22 at the tip protruding from the guide hole 34, and is connected to the locking claw portion 38. In this state, a cam surface 39 is provided, and a flange portion 40 for preventing slipping off is provided at the other end. The lock member 23 will be explained in detail later, but
When the stopper piece 36 is not in contact with the cam surface 39, the urging force of the coil spring 30 causes the collar 40 to protrude outward until its position is regulated by the inner surface of the connecting body 28, and the lock claw 38 engages the engagement recess 22. This locks the coupling body 28 from rotation. Conversely, when the stopper piece 36 is forcibly abutted against the cam surface 39, the entire locking member 23 is pushed back inside the connection body 28 against the biasing force of the coil spring 30 due to the action of the cam surface 39. The lock claw portion 38 is retracted from the engaging recess 22, thereby releasing the rotation lock of the connecting body 28. That is, the engagement recess 22, the lock member 23, and the coil spring 30
and the stopper piece 36 constitute a releasable locking means.

The hinge device 13 configured in this manner is installed by rotatably receiving the first pivot 21 in the bearing hole 33 in the space formed by the recess 15 of the device body 12 and the recess 16 of the display unit 14. At the same time, the engaging protrusion 18 on the display unit 14 side is engaged in the engaging recess 20 of the second pivot shaft 21 already attached to the connecting body 28. This allows the display unit 14 to
is now rotatably attached. In this state, the display unit 14 is indicated by the symbols A, B, and the like in FIG.
As shown in each position at C, the keyboard 11 is folded over the top of the keyboard from point A, which is in the storage state, to point B, which is in use, and then falls backwards, which is the tilt adjustment range during use, and finally reaches the final position. It can be tilted down to point C, where it is parallel to the main body 12 of the device. This operation will be explained next.

First, when the display unit 14 is at point A and covers the keyboard 11, the first pivot 21, the second pivot 19, and the display unit 14
They are placed in a straight line. Further, the stopper piece 36 of the second pivot 19 is disposed on the cam surface 39 as shown in FIG. 7, and the locking member 23 is in a state of being retracted into the connecting body 28. In this state, when the front end of the display unit 14 is lifted and rotated toward the B point position, a load friction force is applied between the second pivot 19 and the connecting body 28 by the spring plate member 29. ,
The connecting body 28 and the display unit 14 rotate together with the first pivot shaft 21 to which no load frictional force is applied as a fulcrum and move to the B point position. Also, the connection body 28
contacts the rear wall surface of the recess 15 in the device body 28, and further rotation of the connection body 28 is restricted. In the state at point B, the display unit 14 stands vertically, and the entire display unit 14 protrudes above the top surface of the device main body 12. Therefore, this vertical state is insufficient for viewing the LCD panel 17. Therefore, when the display unit 14 is pushed further backward from this state, the display unit 14 rotates with the second pivot shaft 19 as a fulcrum against the load friction force of the spring plate member 29. Final C
It can be rotated to a point position. Also, when the second pivot 19 rotates, the stopper piece 36 moves onto the cam surface 3.
9 Escape from above. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the locking member 23 protrudes, the locking pawl 38 engages in the locking recess 22, and the rotation of the connecting body 28 is locked. In this locked state, the display unit 14 and the second pivot 19 continue to rotate. Further, in this state, the entire display unit 14 is displaced by the connecting body 28 to a state that protrudes above the upper surface of the device body 12, so that the display unit 14 is not obstructed by the device body 12 and can be moved upwardly from the device body 12. can be tilted backward to point C, where they are stacked parallel to the top surface. In this locked state, the display unit 14 can be tilted back and forth, and when stopped at an arbitrary adjustment position, it can be held in this state by the frictional force exerted by the spring plate member 29. Furthermore, when the lock member 23 is pulled back again to the B point position, the stopper piece 36, which rotates together with the display unit 14 and returns just before reaching the B point position, hits the cam surface 39 and locks the lock member 23 into the connecting body 28. Evacuate inside. As a result, the lock claw portion 3 is removed from the locking recess 22.
8 is disengaged, and the rotation lock of the connecting body 28 is released. Then, the display unit 14 can be returned to the point A position by rotating about the first pivot 21 again.

Therefore, with this structure, the display unit 14 can be tilted rearward until it is parallel to the top surface of the device main body 12. As a result, for example, as shown in the system example shown in Figure 9, an external CRT4
When the electronic device 10 is placed in front of the CRT 41 and the keyboard 11 is operated while displaying on the CRT 41, if the display unit 14 is completely tilted to the C point position, it will not get in the way. Therefore, there are fewer restrictions when changing the system.

In addition, when adjusting the tilting of the display unit 14, the connecting body 28 is rotationally locked and the first pivot 21 is rotated.
The second axis 19 prevents rotation about the fulcrum.
You can perform stable tilt adjustments using the fulcrum.
Adjustment work becomes easier.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the hinge device for electronic equipment according to the present invention, the tilt adjustment range of the display unit can be expanded, so the practicality is improved, and the adjustment work is also simplified, which improves the workability. will improve. Furthermore, systemization with other devices can be easily performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an electronic device to which a hinge device for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied;
The figure is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the electronic device shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the electronic device above, and Fig. 4 is for explaining the rotational operation of the display unit in the electronic device above. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the main parts of the connecting body in the same electronic device, FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the lock member in the same electronic device, and FIG. FIG. 7b is a side view of FIG. 7a, and FIG. 8a is a schematic diagram of the locking means in the electronic device in the locked state. Main part plan, No. 8
Figure b is a side view of Figure 8a, Figure 9 is a side view of the main parts showing an example of the system of the same electronic equipment, and Figure 10 is a side view of the main parts showing a system order using conventional electronic equipment. be. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Electronic device, 12... Device body, 13... Hinge device, 14... Display unit, 19... Second pivot, 21... First pivot, 22... Locking recess, 23...
Lock member, 28... Connection body, 29... Spring plate member constituting brake means, 30... Coil spring, 32, 33... Bearing hole, 34... Guide hole, 36
...Stopper piece, 38...Lock claw part, 39...Cam surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A hinge device for an electronic device that tilts and adjusts a display unit with respect to a device main body, the hinge device having a first pivot protruding from the device main body at both ends, and a pivot apart from the first pivot. A second pivot protruding from the display unit side in parallel at a position is rotatably held, and the display unit is connected to the device main body to form a connecting body having a substantially oval-shaped cross section, and the second pivot A brake means that applies a load friction force to the rotation between the connecting bodies; and a brake means provided between the connecting body and the device body to prevent the rotation of the connecting body when the connecting body rotates to a predetermined position with respect to the device body. locking the movement of the display unit and allowing rotation of the display unit against the load friction force of the brake means;
A hinge device for an electronic device, comprising a locking means for releasing the lock when the display unit is rotated back to a predetermined position. 2. The locking means rotates together with an engagement groove provided on the device main body side, a lock pin that protrudes from the connection body and is biased to engage and lock in the engagement groove, and the display unit. 2. A hinge device for an electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an actuating member that allows the lock pin to protrude and restrains the lock pin in accordance with the amount of rotation of the unit.