Abstract:
An electronic apparatus including a body having a circuit board; and a display device connected through a connecting portion to the body in an open position or in a closed position with respect to said body. Preferably, the body has two side surfaces which are not parallel to a central axis of the connecting portion. The two side surfaces have a first portion having a first distance between the two side surfaces of the body at the connecting portion of the body and the display device, with the first distance being smaller than a width of the display device; and a second portion having a second distance between the two side surfaces, with the second distance being larger than the first distance, and being approximately equal to the width of the display device. Also, the second portion is preferably a part of the body at a farther position from the connecting portion than the first portion.

Description:
Divisional application, under 37 CFR 1.53(b), of prior application Ser. No. 10/085,946 filed on Feb. 28, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,693,795. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a notebook type information processing apparatus such as a notebook type personal computer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A notebook type personal computer comprises an apparatus body, including a circuit board, and a display device connected to the apparatus body by hinges, and the display device can be folded onto the apparatus body. Also, the apparatus body is provided with a keyboard and other input means. 
       FIG. 7  shows an example of a conventional notebook type personal computer. In  FIG. 7 , the conventional notebook type personal computer  1  comprises an apparatus body  2 , and a display device  3  connected to the apparatus body  2  with hinges  4 . The width “a” of the apparatus body  2  of the notebook type personal computer  1  between opposite sides thereof is equal to the width “b” of the display device  3  between opposite sides thereof, so that the sides of the apparatus body  2  and the sides of the display device  3  are continuous, in a plane, when the display device  3  is folded onto the apparatus body  2 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a variation of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 8 , the width “a” of the apparatus body  2  of the notebook type personal computer  1  between opposite sides thereof is less than the width “b” of the display device  3  between opposite sides thereof, so that the sides of the display device  3  laterally extend beyond the sides of the apparatus body  2  when the display device  3  is folded onto the apparatus body  2 . 
     The contour of the notebook type personal computer  1  shown in  FIG. 7  is typical. But, there is a case that a contour different from the typical one, like the contour shown in  FIG. 8 , is required. For example, in a case of a large notebook type personal computer  1 , if the shape of the lower portion (apparatus body  2 ) is the same as the shape of the upper portion (display device  3 ) when the display device  3  is folded onto the apparatus body  2 , the computer only looks large but the appearance thereof is not attractive. It is therefore preferable that the size of the lower portion (apparatus body  2 ) is less than the size of the upper portion (display device  3 ), because it bears much of the appearance of the computer and increases the flexibility in the design of the computer. Furthermore, in a series of differently sized notebook type personal computers  1 , it possible to design such that the sizes of the display devices are different from each other, but the sizes of the apparatus bodies are common to each other. In this case, one of the notebook type personal computers  1  in one series may have the width “a” between opposite sides of the computer body  2  less than width “b” between opposite sides of the display device  3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a rear view of the notebook type personal computer  1 , shown in  FIG. 8 , in the case where it is placed on its side. Numeral  4  denotes hinges, and numeral  5  denotes a latch for locking the display device  3  to the apparatus body  2  when the display  3  is folded in the closed position. The two hinges  4  are disposed at the rear of the notebook type personal computer  1 , and the latch  5  is disposed at the front of the notebook type personal computer  1 . 
     In the shock test of the notebook type personal computer  1 , the notebook type personal computer  1  is dropped onto a wall surface  6 , or is contacted to a wall surface  6  with a shock. In this case, the weight of the notebook type personal computer  1  is received only by the display device  3 , and the weight of the apparatus body  2  is supported by the display device  3  through the hinges  4 . When the apparatus body  2  twists around the hinges  4 , and the front portion of the apparatus body  2  is displaced from the display device  3  and an undesirable force may be applied to the latch  5  disposed at the front of the apparatus body  2 , thus damaging the latch  5 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a notebook type information processing apparatus in which the load on the apparatus body is received by the body itself along with the display device, and the shape of the apparatus body may be changed irrespective of the display device to increase the flexibility in the design of the apparatus. 
     The notebook type information processing apparatus, according to the present invention, comprises an apparatus body having a circuit board, a display device connected to said apparatus body with a hinge device, and said apparatus body having, in its side, a first side portion having a height and a second side portion having a height different from the height of the first side portion. 
     In this configuration, for example, the first side portion may be matched to the display device in size, and the load of the notebook type information processing apparatus may be supported by the apparatus body and the display device, while the shape of the second side portion may be designed irrespective of the size of the display device, and thereby the flexibility in the design of the apparatus may be increased. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a notebook type personal computer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the display device in the open position with respect to the apparatus body; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the display device in the closed position with respect to the apparatus body; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a variation of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the display device in the open position with respect to the apparatus body; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 3 , showing the display device in the closed position with respect to the apparatus body; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 2 , when it is placed on its side; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of a notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 8 , when it is placed on its side; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an example of a conventional notebook type personal computer; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a variation of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a left perspective view of a notebook type personal computer according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a right perspective view of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a partially cut away, perspective view of a part of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom perspective view of a part of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic bottom view of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the circuit board unit disposed in the apparatus body of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom view of an apparatus body of a comparative notebook type personal computer; 
         FIGS. 17A and 17B  are perspective views of another example of the notebook type personal computer according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 18A and 18B  are perspective views of a further example of the notebook type personal computer according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 19A and 19B  are perspective views of a further example of the notebook type personal computer according to the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 20A and 20B  are perspective views of a still further example of the notebook type personal computer according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a notebook type personal computer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a display device in the open position with respect to an apparatus body, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 1 , with the display device in the closed position with respect to the apparatus body. The notebook type personal computer  10  shown in the  FIGS. 1 and 2  is an example of a notebook type information processing apparatus. In these figures, letter F denotes the front of the notebook type personal computer  10 , letter S denotes the side, and R denotes the rear. 
     The notebook type personal computer  10  comprises an apparatus body  12  and a display device  14  connected to the apparatus body  12  by hinges  16 . A latch  18  is provided on the upper portion of the display device  14  (the front portion of the display device  14  when folded), and a latch hole  20  is provided in the front portion of the apparatus body  12 . When the display device  14  is folded in the closed position, the latch  18  engages with the latch hole  20 . The apparatus body  12  has a keyboard  22  and other input means. Inside the apparatus body  12 , a circuit board (see  FIG. 15 ) on which electric and electronic components are mounted is provided. The display device  14  comprises a liquid crystal display device, and has a displaying portion  24 . 
     The apparatus body  12  has, at its side, a first side portion  26  and a second side portion  28  having a height different from the height of the first side portions  26 . The height is measured in the direction from the center toward one side S. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the apparatus body  12  has an additional side portion  30 . 
     The first side portion  26  is disposed at the front end or at a position near the front end of the apparatus body  12 , and the second side portion  28  is disposed on the rear side of the first side portion  26 . The first side portion  26  protrudes outward, like a lobe, with respect to the second side portion  28 . In other words, the height of the first side portion  26  is greater than the height of the second side portion  28 . 
     The additional side portion  30  is disposed at the rear end or at a position near the rear end of the apparatus body  12 , and has the same height as that of the first side portion  26 . The first side portion  26  and the additional side portion  30  are disposed in relatively narrow regions, as viewed in the direction from the front F to the rear R of the apparatus body  12 , and the second side portion  28  is disposed in the relatively longer region between the first side portion  26  and the additional side portion  30 . 
     The width of the apparatus body  12  between the opposite sides thereof at the first side portion  26  or the additional side portion  30  is denoted by A. The width of the apparatus body  12  between opposite sides thereof at the second side portion  28  is denoted by B. The width of the display device  14  between the opposite side thereof is denoted by C. The relationship among widths A, B, and C is described by the equation A≈C&gt;B. In other words, the width A is nearly equal to the width C, or the width A is slightly less than the width C within an error. Width B is less than the width C. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective views of a variation of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is different from the notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  only in that the additional side portion  30  is deleted as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and is the same as the notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in other points. 
       FIG. 5  is a rear view of the notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIG. 2 , with its one side pointing downward. 
     When the notebook type personal computer  10  is dropped onto a wall surface  6 , or is contacted to the wall surface  6  with a shock, the weight of the notebook type personal computer  10  is supported by the first side portion  26  and the additional side portion  30  of the apparatus body  12  and the display device  14 . The weight of the apparatus body  12  is supported by the body itself, and the apparatus body  12  does not twist around the hinges  16 . Thus, the latch  18  positioned at the front of the apparatus body  12  is not damaged. This effect is similar to that of the arrangement having no additional side portion  30  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     In this way, the first side portion  26  (and the additional side portion  30 ) can receive the load along with the display device  14  when the load is applied. The second side portion  28  does not receive the load applied to the apparatus body  12 . As a result, the shape of the second side portion  28  may be designed freely irrespective of the size of the display device  14 , and thereby the flexibility in the design of the computer may be increased. 
       FIG. 9  is a left perspective view of another embodiment of the notebook type personal computer according to the present invention, and  FIG. 10  is a right perspective view of the notebook type personal computer shown in  FIG. 9 . The notebook type personal computer  10  comprises an apparatus body  12  and a display device  14  connected to the apparatus body  12  by hinges  16 . A latch  18  is provided on the upper portion of the display device  14  and a latch hole  20  is provided in the front portion of the apparatus body  12 . In these figures, letter F denotes the front of the notebook type personal computer  10 , letter S denotes the side, and R denotes the rear. 
     The apparatus body  12  has a keyboard  22  and other input means. Inside the apparatus body  12 , a circuit board (see  FIG. 15 ) on which electric and electronic components are mounted is provided. The display device  14  comprises a liquid crystal display device, and has a displaying portion  24 . Interface portions  32  are disposed on one side of the apparatus body  12 , and a CD slot  34  is disposed on the other side of the apparatus body  12 . 
       FIG. 11  is a partially cut away, perspective view of a part of the notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . In  FIG. 11 , parts of the outer casings of the apparatus body  12  and the display device  14  are cut away to show the part of the hinge device  16 . The hinge device  16  includes a torque shaft  16   a  attached to the display device  14  and a plate  16   b  attached to the apparatus body  12 . A vertical member  16   c  of the plate  16   b  is pinched and supported by the components of the torque shaft  16   a . The hinge device  16  is of a well known one. 
       FIG. 12  is a bottom perspective view of a part of the notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the apparatus body  12  of the notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  FIG. 14  is a schematic bottom view of the notebook type personal computer  10  (apparatus body  12 ) shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     In  FIGS. 9 to 14 , the apparatus body  12  comprises a first side portion  26 , a second side portion  28  having a height different from that of the first side portion  26 , and a third side portion  38 . The first side portion  26  is formed as a protrusion like a lobe. 
     The relationship among these side portions  26 ,  28 , and  38  is shown in a simplified manner in  FIG. 14 . In  FIG. 14 , the width of the apparatus body  12  between opposite sides thereof at the first side portion  26  is denoted by A, and the width of the apparatus body  12  between the opposite sides thereof at the second side portion  28  is denoted by B. The width of the display device  14  is denoted by C. Like the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , the relationship among widths A, B, and C is described by the equation A≈C&gt;B. In other words, the width A is nearly equal to the width C, or the width A is slightly less than the width C within an error. Width B is less than the width C. Thus, as described above, the first and second side portions  26  and  28  can support the load of the apparatus body  12  along with the display device  14 , and the shape of the apparatus body  12  may be changed irrespective of the display device  14 , and thereby the flexibility in the design of the computer may be increased. 
     In addition, the width of the apparatus body  12  between the opposite sides thereof at the third side portion  38  is denoted by D. The relationship among widths A, B, and D is described by the equation A&gt;D&gt;B. In other words, the first side portion  26  protrudes outward with respect to the second side portion  28 , and the third side portion  38  protrudes outward with respect to the second side portion  28  and recedes inward with respect to the first side portion  26 . The shape of the apparatus body  12  at the third side portion  38  and the shape of the apparatus body  12  at the second side portion  26  can be changed irrespective of the display device  14 , and thereby the flexibility in the design of the computer may be further increased. 
     The first side portion  26  is disposed in the relatively narrow region at the front end or at a position near the front end of the apparatus body  12 , and the second side portion  28  and the third side portion  38  are disposed in the relatively wide region on the rear side of the first side portion. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the second side portion  28  extends near the bottom of the apparatus body  12 , and the third side portion  38  extends near the upper surface of the apparatus body  12 . A shoulder  20  exists between the second side portion  28  and the third side portion  38 . The second side portion  28  and the third side portion  38  extend substantially in parallel to the upper surface and the bottom surface of the apparatus body  12  and substantially in parallel to each other. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the front end portion of the apparatus body  12  slopes forward with a round contour. The first side portion  26  is smoothly continuous to the second side portion  28  and the third side portion  38 . 
     The interface portions  32  are provided at the second side portion  28  in one side of the apparatus body  12 , and the slot  34  for a CD is provided at the second side portion  28  in the other side of the apparatus body  12 . 
       FIG. 15  is perspective view of the circuit board unit  42  disposed in the apparatus body  12  of the notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The circuit board unit  42  includes a mother board or main board  44  and electric and electronic components mounted thereon. The main board  44  has a connector  46 , and a CD drive unit  48  is mounted on the main board  44  and connected to the connector  46 . When the circuit board unit  44  is arranged in the apparatus body  12 , the CD drive unit  48  is located adjacent to the CD slot  34 . 
     In addition, the main board  44  has interface connectors  50 . When the circuit board unit  42  is arranged in the apparatus body  12 , the interface connectors  50  are located adjacent to the interface portions  32 . In this way, the CD slot  34  and the interface portions  32  are arranged in the second side portions  28  of the apparatus body  12 , and the second side portions  28  of the apparatus body  12  are adapted to the circuit board unit  42  including the main board  44 . 
     It is preferable and convenient that the notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIGS. 9 to 14  is adopted as one of a series of differently sized notebook type personal computers. In this embodiment, the notebook type personal computer  10  is formed as a 15-inch personal computer. 
       FIG. 16  is a bottom view of an apparatus body  54  of a comparative notebook type personal computer  52 . The notebook type personal computer  52  shown in  FIG. 16  is formed as a 14-inch personal computer. The notebook type personal computer  10  is one of a plurality of notebook type personal computers in one series which includes the notebook type personal computer  52 . Display devices having different sizes are used for a plurality of notebook type personal computers in this series, but the circuit board unit  42  shown in  FIG. 15  is commonly used for all of the apparatus bodies. 
     The apparatus body  54  of the notebook type personal computer  52  shown in  FIG. 16  has flat sides  56 , and the width of the apparatus body  54  (distance between the opposite sides  56 ) is B. Width B of the apparatus body  54  shown in  FIG. 16  is the same as width B of the apparatus body  12  between opposite sides thereof at the second side portion  28  shown in  FIG. 13 . Thus, the circuit board unit  42  shown in  FIG. 15  may be commonly used for the apparatus body  12  shown in  FIG. 13  and the apparatus body  54  shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     In the design of the notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIG. 13 , if a portion of the apparatus body  12  including the second side portion  28  shown in  FIG. 13  is designed under the same design condition as the apparatus body  54  shown in  FIG. 16 , and then a portion including the first side portions  26  and the third side portions  38  is additionally designed, the notebook type personal computer  10  shown in  FIGS. 9 to 14  can be easily designed. 
       FIGS. 17A to 20B  are perspective views of modifications of the notebook type personal computer according to the present invention. In these examples, the first side portion  26 , and the additional side portion  30  or the third side portion  38  are detachable/attachable components. Each of  FIGS. 17A ,  18 A,  19 A and  20 A shows the state that a detachably attachable component is attached to the apparatus body  12 , and each of  FIGS. 17B ,  18 B,  19 B and  20 B shows the state that the detachably attachable component is detached from the apparatus body  12 . 
     In  FIGS. 17A and 17B , the sides of the apparatus body  12  is formed so that the surfaces of the sides are generally equal to the surfaces of the second side portions  28 , and protruding portions including the first side portions  26  and the additional side portions  30  are made as detachably attachable components  26 A and  30 A. The apparatus body  12  from which the components  26 A and  30 A are removed can be used as a 14-inch notebook type personal computer, and the apparatus body  12  to which the components  26 A and  30 A are attached can be used as a 15-inch notebook type personal computer. 
     In  FIGS. 18A and 18B , protruding portions including the first side portions  26  and the additional side portions  30  are made as detachably attachable components  26 A and  30 A respectively, and a front portion of the apparatus body  12  is made as a detachably attachable component  58 A. 
     In  FIGS. 19A and 19B , protruding portions including the first side portions  26  are made as a detachably attachable components  26 A. 
     In  FIGS. 20A and 20B , the front and side portions of the apparatus body  12  are made by one detachably attachable component  60 A. The detachably attachable component  60 A include the first side portions  26 , the second side portions  28 , and the third side portions  38 . 
     As described above in greater detail, the present invention provides a notebook type information processing apparatus, wherein the load of the apparatus body is supported by the body itself and the display device, and the shape of the apparatus body may be changed irrespective of the display device to increase the flexibility in the design of the apparatus.