Abstract:
An information processing apparatus includes: a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with counterpart devices; a housing configured to include the wireless communication unit, the housing being formed with an opening for exposing the wireless communication unit; a lid member configured to be movable between an opened position for opening the opening and a closing position for closing the opening; and an input device configured to receive an input and outputs an operation signal in accordance with the input, the input device being provided on the housing, wherein the input device includes the lid member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to the subject matters contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-155258 filed on Jun. 30, 2009, which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that has a non-contact type communication device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    various information processing apparatuses that include a non-contact type communication device have been proposed. For example, a card installation terminal disclosed in JP-A-2008-305067 includes: a terminal; a card storage unit that is disposed in the surface portion of the terminal main body in a concaved shape and stores a predetermined shaped card therein; an input device that is disposed on the surface portion of the terminal main body; a card information reading unit that reads out card information recorded in a card when the card is stored in the card storage unit as a non-contact type communication device; a display unit main body that is configured as a body separated from the terminal main body; and a slide mechanism that allows the display unit main body to slide on the surface portion of the terminal main body. 
         [0004]    When the card stored in the card storage unit is covered and the display unit main body is slid to the position for exposing the input device by the slide mechanism in this card installation terminal, the card is configured to be fixed to the card storage unit by the slid display unit main body. Thus, according to this card installation terminal, the card is prevented from being dislodged by reliably fixing the card to the card installation terminal, whereby the usability can be improved. 
         [0005]    The configuration disclosed in the publication, JP-A-2008-305067, is used by a terminal used for inputting a password in a case where payment is made by using a card. In other words, the terminal is given and received between a store clerk and a purchaser. Accordingly, in order to prevent the card from dislodging, the card is fixed to the card installation terminal. 
         [0006]    On the other hand, it is difficult to consider applying the above-described fixing configuration to a general information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a notebook PC). First, commonly, the notebook PC is not used by a plurality of persons. In addition, the notebook PC can be considered to perform non-contact type communication with various types of apparatuses (a cellular phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and the like), and accordingly, it is not appropriate to arrange a configuration that is used for storing and fixing a specific apparatus. 
         [0007]    In addition, in the information processing apparatus such as a notebook PC that includes a housing formed by a metallic member, wireless communication between the inside and the outside of the housing is blocked by metal in a case where a non-contact type communication device is disposed inside the housing. Accordingly, it is difficult to use the Therefore, in the information processing apparatus of such a type, installation of the non-contact type communication device is abandoned or at least a portion of the housing that corresponds to the non-contact type communication device needs to be formed by a non-metallic member such as a plastic member. However, in a case where a non-metallic member is used in a portion of the housing, the external appearance of the information processing apparatus is spoiled, and the impact strength cannot be easily ensured. In addition, a non-metallic member cannot be easily used in a portion of the housing such as a portion in which a touchpad or a keyboard is disposed or the like. Thus, the range of methods for using non-metallic member in a portion of the housing is limited. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A general configuration that implements the various feature of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic external view showing an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a notebook PC. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an external view showing an example of the notebook PC in which a wireless communication unit is disposed on the lower side of the touch unit. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the appearance of the exposed wireless communication unit by opening the touch unit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the appearance of approaching of a counterpart wireless communication unit to the exposed wireless communication unit so as to be able to communicate with each other. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6A  is a front perspective view of a cellular phone in a state being folded, and  FIG. 6B  is a rear perspective view. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an external view showing an example of the notebook PC in which the wireless communication unit is disposed on the lower side of a keyboard. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the appearance of exposure of the wireless communication unit by opening the keyboard. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic external view showing an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0019]    The present invention can be applied to various information processing apparatuses in which a housing configured by a metal member is included and a non-contact type communication device is disposed inside the housing. In this embodiment, as the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, an example of a case where a notebook personal computer (notebook PC) is used is represented. 
         [0020]    The notebook PC  10  includes a device main body  11  and a display unit  12  as a display device. 
         [0021]    The device main body  11  has a thin box-shaped housing  13 . This housing  13 , for example, is configured by a metal member formed of a magnesium alloy, aluminum, or the like. In the center portion of the top face of the housing  13 , a keyboard  14  as an input device is disposed. On the front side of the top face of the housing  13 , a palm rest  19  is formed. In an approximate center portion of the palm rest  19 , a touchpad unit  15  as an input device for inputting an operation input signal, which corresponds to the user&#39;s operation, to the device main body  11  is disposed. The touchpad unit  15  has a pad  16  and buttons  17 . In addition, on the inner side of the top face of the housing  13  of the device main body  11 , a power button  18  that is used for turning the power of the notebook PC  10  on or off is disposed. 
         [0022]    The display unit  12  as a display device includes a thin box-shaped housing  21 . In this housing  21 , an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)  22  as the display unit is built in. The display unit  12  is connected to the device main body  11  through a hinge (hinge)  23  that supports the display unit  12  so as to be freely opened or closed with respect to the device main body  11 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the notebook PC  10 . 
         [0024]    The notebook PC  10  includes the keyboard  14 , the touchpad unit  15 , the LCD  22  as the display unit, a network interface  31 , a main controller  32 , and a non-contact type wireless communication unit  33 . 
         [0025]    The keyboard  14  and the touchpad unit  15  as input devices output operation input signals corresponding to the user&#39;s operations to the main controller  32 . 
         [0026]    The LCD  22  as the display unit displays various types of information in accordance with control of the main controller  32 . For example, when the wireless communication unit  33  and a counterpart wireless communication unit  41  are connected to each other in a wireless manner so as to be wirelessly communicatable, the LCD  22  displays information on the data that is transmitted and received through the wireless communication. 
         [0027]    The network interface  31  implements various information communication protocols based on the form of the network. The network interface  31  connects the notebook PC and the above-described other devices together in accordance with the various protocols. To the connection, electrical connection through an electronic network or the like can be applied. Here, the electronic network represents the overall information communication network using the above-described communication technology and includes a telephone communication circuit network, an optical fiber communication network, a cable communication network, a satellite communication network, and the like, in addition to a wireless or wired LAN (local area network) and the internet network. 
         [0028]    The main controller  32  is configured by a CPU, memory media such as a RAM and a ROM, and the like. The main controller  32  controls the processing operation of the notebook PC  10  in accordance with a program stored in the memory media. 
         [0029]    The CPU of the main controller  32  loads an application program that is stored in the memory medium such as the ROM and data that is needed for executing the program into the RAM. Then, the CPU of the main controller  32  allows the wireless communication unit  33  to serve as a reader or a write in accordance with the program, so that data can be transmitted and received between the wireless communication unit  33  and other wireless communication units  41  in a wireless manner. 
         [0030]    The RAM of the main controller  32  provides a work area that is used for temporarily storing a program executed by the CPU and data. 
         [0031]    The memory media of the main controller  32  such as the ROM store a start-up program and an application program of the notebook PC  10  and various types of data needed for executing the programs therein. 
         [0032]    The memory medium such as the ROM is configured to include a recording medium such as a magnetic or optical recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or the like that can be read by the CPU. A part or the whole of the program and the data that are stored in the memory medium may be configured to be downloaded through the electronic network. 
         [0033]    The wireless communication unit  33  of the non-contact type is configured by a wireless communication device of the non-contact type such as so-called an adhesion type, a proximity type, or a neighborhood type and is disposed inside the housing  13 . In this embodiment, an example of a case where the wireless communication unit  33  is configured by a non-contact type wireless communication device of the proximity type and is controlled by the main controller  32  so as to implement the functions as a reader and a writer is represented. In such a case, when an electronic apparatus having a non-contact type wireless communication device (hereinafter, referred to as a counterpart wireless communication unit  41 ) of the proximity type such as a cellular phone  42  approaches the wireless communication unit  33 , the wireless communication unit  33  can communicate with the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  in a wireless manner. The non-contact type wireless communication device can be configured by an antenna, a microcontroller that processes transmitted and received signals, and the like. 
         [0034]    In a case where the wireless communication unit  33  is disposed inside the housing  13 , when a portion of the housing  13  that is located in a position corresponding to the wireless communication unit  33  is formed from metal, it is difficult to perform wireless communication between the wireless communication unit  33  and a counterpart wireless communication unit  41  although the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  approaches the wireless communication unit  33 . The reason is that electric waves are blocked in a case where a metal plate is placed between the wireless communication unit  33  and the counterpart wireless communication unit  41 . Accordingly, conventionally, in a case where the wireless communication unit  33  is disposed inside the housing  13 , the periphery of a portion, which corresponds to the position of the wireless communication unit  33 , of the housing  13  needs to be formed from a non metallic material such as plastic. 
         [0035]    However, when the portion of the housing  13  that is located in the position corresponding to the wireless communication unit  33  is formed from a non-metallic material, the outer appearance of the notebook PC  10  is spoiled. In addition, in order to acquire the impact strength equivalent to that of a metallic material by using a non metallic material, the thickness of the portion of the housing  13  that is located in a position corresponding to the wireless communication unit  33  and is formed from a non-metallic material needs greatly increased. In addition, a non-metallic member cannot be easily used in a portion of the housing  13  such as a portion in which the keyboard  14  is disposed or the like. Thus, when a method in which a non-metallic member is used in a portion of the housing  13  is used, the range in which the wireless communication unit  33  can be built is limited. 
         [0036]    Accordingly, the notebook PC  10  according to this embodiment is configured such that the portion of the housing  13  that corresponds to the wireless communication unit  33  is formed to be freely opened or closed. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is an external view showing an example of the notebook PC  10  in which the wireless communication unit  33  is disposed on the lower side of the touchpad unit  15 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , in a case where the wireless communication unit  33  is disposed on the lower side of the touch pad unit  15 , when the touch pad unit  15  is formed by a metallic member or the inside of the touchpad unit  15  is covered with a metallic member, the wireless communication unit  33  and the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  cannot communicate with each other in a wireless manner even in a case where the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  approaches the wireless communication unit  33 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the appearance of the exposed wireless communication unit  33  by opening the touchpad unit  15 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the housing  13 , an opening  34  is disposed so as to expose the wireless communication unit  33 . The touchpad unit  15  also serves as a lid member that allows the opening of the opening  34  to be freely opened or closed. In  FIG. 4 , an example of a case where the touch pad unit  15  is connected to the housing  13  by a hinge  35  such that the opening can be freely opened or closed is shown. However, the touchpad unit  15  (lid member) may be configured to be freely able to be attached to or detached from the housing  13 . In addition, not the entire touchpad unit  15  but only the pad  16  may be configured to serve as the lid member. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the appearance of approaching of the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  to the exposed wireless communication unit  33  so as to be able to communicate with each other.  FIG. 5  represents an example of a case where a cellular phone  42  having the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  approaches the wireless communication unit  33 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a cellular phone  42  that has a counterpart wireless communication unit  41 .  FIG. 6A  is a front perspective view of the cellular phone  42 , and  FIG. 6B  is a perspective view showing the inside thereof. As shown in  FIG. 6B , the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  is disposed between a secondary cell  43  and a camera  44  on the rear side of the cellular phone  42 . In addition, a portion of the housing of the cellular phone  42  that corresponds to the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  is formed from a non-metallic material such as plastic so as not to obstruct wireless communication. 
         [0043]    When the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  approaches the exposed wireless communication unit  33  as shown in  FIG. 5 , the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  and the wireless communication unit  33  can communicate with each other in a wireless manner. 
         [0044]    Subsequently, modified examples of the installation position of the wireless communication unit  33  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 10 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is an external view showing an example of the notebook PC  10  in which the wireless communication unit  33  is disposed on the lower side of the keyboard  14 . 
         [0046]    Generally, the rear face of the keyboard  14  is covered with a metallic member. Accordingly, in a case where the wireless communication unit  33  is disposed on the lower side of the keyboard  14 , even when the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  approaches the wireless communication unit  33 , the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  and the wireless communication unit  33  cannot communicate with each other. 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the appearance of exposure of the wireless communication unit  33  by opening the keyboard  14 . 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , it may be configured that an opening  34  is disposed in a portion of the housing  13  that corresponds to the wireless communication unit  33 , and the keyboard  14  serves as a lid member that can freely open or close the opening of the opening  34 . In  FIG. 8 , an example of a case where the keyboard  14  is connected to the housing  13  by the hinge  35  so as to freely open or close the opening is shown. Here, the keyboard  14  (lid member) may be configured to be freely attached to or detached from the housing  13 . 
         [0049]    In addition, in  FIG. 8 , an example of the case where the opening  34  is disposed in a portion of the housing  13  that corresponds to the entire keyboard  14  is shown. However, the opening  34  only needs to be disposed so as to expose the wireless communication unit  33 , and accordingly, the opening  34  of the housing  13  and the keyboard  14  may be configured such that only a portion of the keyboard  14  serves as the lid member. 
         [0050]    In the same manner as in the example represented in  FIG. 5 , when a counterpart wireless communication unit  41  approaches the exposed wireless communication unit  33 , the counterpart wireless communication unit  41  and the wireless communication unit  33  can communicate with each other in a wireless manner. 
         [0051]    The information processing apparatus according this embodiment includes the housing  13  that is formed by a metallic member. In addition, in the information processing apparatus according to this embodiment, the wireless communication unit  33  is disposed inside the housing  13 , the opening  34  is disposed such that the wireless communication unit  33  is exposed in the portion of the housing  13  that corresponds to the wireless communication unit  33 , and the wireless communication portion  33  is exposed by opening the lid member (the keyboard  14  or the touchpad unit  15 ) that can freely open or close the opening of the opening  34 . As a result, the wireless communication unit  33  disposed on the lower side of the keyboard  14  that is formed by a metal member or the lower side of the touchpad unit  15  can be arbitrarily exposed. 
         [0052]    Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus of this embodiment, the range in which the wireless communication unit  33  can be built inside the housing  13  can be increased, and the wireless communication unit  33  disposed inside the housing  13  can be easily used by opening or closing the lid member (the keyboard  14  or the touchpad portion  15 ). In addition, in a case where a member cut out from the housing  13  is used as the lid member for disposing the opening  34 , the appearance at the time of non-use can be maintained. 
         [0053]    The notebook PC  10  may be configured that a slide mechanism is disposed in the lid member, and the opening  34  is opened by sliding the lid member in parallel with the surface of the housing  13 . The opening  34  may be disposed on the side face or the lower side of the housing  13  or in the housing  21  as long as it is disposed in a position corresponding to the position in which the wireless communication unit  33  is disposed. 
         [0054]    In addition, the present invention can be applied to various information processing apparatuses each having a housing formed by a metallic member other than the notebook PC  10  described in the embodiment as above. In particular, the present invention is appropriate to a mobile-type information processing apparatus such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile-type game device, a mobile-type music player, or a mobile-type motion picture reproducing device. 
         [0055]    Although the embodiment according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment but can be variously modified. 
         [0056]    Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.