Abstract:
Herein disclosed a portable electronic apparatus, including: housing; and an output device outputting sound, the output device being disposed on a surface on an inside of a slope disposed on a lower surface of the housing, the slope resulting in the housing being opened in a predetermined direction, and the slope forming a space between the slope and a mounting surface of the housing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2006-247234 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Sep. 12, 2006, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to electronic apparatuses and, more particularly, to an electronic apparatus that can provide users with good quality sound when a speaker or the like that outputs sound is disposed on a lower surface of the apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Notebook personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “notebook PCs”) and other portable electronic apparatuses are lately in widespread use. Such portable electronic apparatuses very often include a speaker for outputting sound. The speaker is typically mounted at different locations. 
         [0006]    For example, an apparatus including a speaker disposed in a cabinet is known. In this known apparatus, in order to output sound in a low pitch region, the cabinet is disposed movably in housing between a first position, at which the cabinet is stowed away in place in the housing, and a second position, at which the cabinet is withdrawn from the housing. When the cabinet is withdrawn from the housing to the second position, the cabinet forms a predetermined space below the speaker. (See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-119779.) From a design viewpoint, the speaker may be disposed on a lower surface of the housing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In an arrangement of a notebook PC, in which a speaker is disposed on a lower surface thereof, however, the sound outputted from the speaker is muffled because of no gap available between the lower surface and a PC mounting surface. It is therefore difficult to provide users with sound with a sufficiently good quality. 
         [0008]    The present invention addresses the above-identified, and other problems associated with known apparatuses and it is desirable to provide the user with good quality sound when a speaker or other type of device outputting sound is disposed on the lower surface of the apparatus. 
         [0009]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic apparatus (for example, a notebook PC  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ) including a speaker (for example, a speaker unit  25  shown in  FIG. 5 ) outputting sound. 
         [0010]    The speaker is disposed on an inner surface (for example, a curved surface  53  shown in  FIG. 5 ) of a slope (for example, a slope  51  shown in  FIG. 5 ) included in a lower surface of housing (for example, second housing  12  shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0011]    The slope results in the housing being opened in a predetermined direction (for example, in a forward direction), thereby allowing the housing to form a space between the housing and a housing mounting surface (for example, a mounting surface  52  shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0012]    The portable electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can provide the user with good quality sound when the speaker or the like that outputs sound is disposed on the lower surface of the apparatus. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top view showing a notebook PC according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view showing the notebook PC; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view showing the notebook PC; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing housing of the notebook PC; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view showing the housing of the notebook PC; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6A through 6D  are views illustrating detailed arrangements near a speaker; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing housing of a notebook PC according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The following is a detailed description of the embodiments according to the present invention. This description is intended to ensure that the embodiments according to the present invention conform to the specification and drawings therein. The embodiments may include those which have the constituents of the present invention which are not shown in the specification or the drawings therein. This does not necessarily mean that such embodiments do not correspond to the constituents of the present invention. Conversely, even though some embodiments may be written as conforming to the constituents of the present invention, it does not necessarily mean that such embodiments do not conform to other constituents than the constituents. 
         [0021]    Specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a notebook PC according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Descriptions given hereunder are based on the viewpoint of a user operating the notebook PC unless otherwise specified. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a left-and-right direction is crosswise direction; a front side is the side of a touch pad  23 ; a rear side is the side of a connection portion  13 ; a back surface of first housing  11  is upper surface; and a back surface of second housing  12  is lower surface. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a notebook PC  10  is a foldable configuration including first housing  11  and second housing  12  that are connected by a connection  13  that includes a hinged structure journaled by a single shaft.  FIG. 1  shows a condition, in which the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are open to an angle of about 150 degrees via the connection  13 . The first housing  11  includes a display  21  disposed at a center thereof. The display  21  shows an image or the like. 
         [0025]    The second housing  12  includes a keyboard  22  disposed on an upper surface thereof in the rear side. The second housing  12  further includes a touch pad  23  and two click buttons  24 A,  24 B disposed thereon. The touch pad  23  serving as a pointing device is disposed on the front side of the keyboard  22 . The click buttons  24 A,  24 B are disposed on the front side of the touch pad  23 . The keyboard  22 , the touch pad  23 , and the click buttons  24 A,  24 B accept operation by the user. 
         [0026]    A speaker unit  25  having therein a speaker  25 A is disposed on an inside at the front left side of the second housing  12 . Further, a speaker unit  26  having therein a speaker  26 A is disposed on an inside at the front right side of the second housing  12 . Arrangements of the speaker units  25 ,  26  will be described in detail later with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view showing the notebook PC  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows the notebook PC  10  in a closed position. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the second housing  12  of the notebook PC  10  includes a speaker grille  41  formed in a lower surface thereof. The speaker grille  41  is disposed at a position that corresponds to the speaker unit  26 . The speaker grille  41  has a plurality of openings for outputting sound outputted from the speaker  26 A to an external environment of the second housing  12 . Similarly, a speaker grille  42  is disposed at a position corresponding to the speaker unit  25 . Specifically, the notebook PC  10  has the speaker grilles  41 ,  42  disposed on the lower surface thereof that is invisible from the user during use. This adds to extra design value. 
         [0030]    The sound outputted from the speaker  26 A of the speaker unit  26  passes through the speaker grille  41  and is outputted to the external environment of the second housing  12 . The sound outputted from the speaker  25 A of the speaker unit  25 , on the other hand, passes through the speaker grille  42  and is outputted to the external environment of the second housing  12 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view showing the notebook PC  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows a condition, in which the first housing  11  and the second housing  12  are open to an angle of about 150 degrees via the connection  13 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the second housing  12  includes a slope  51  disposed on the lower surface at the front side thereof. The slope  51  has a thickness that is varied gradually from a thickness Hr on the rear side of the second housing  12  to a thickness Hf that corresponds to a thickness at the front side (width of a front surface  27 ) thinner than the thickness Hr. The slope  51  and a mounting surface  52  of the second housing  12  form a space therebetween, so that the second housing  12  is open in the front direction. In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the slope  51  includes a curved surface  53  that is concavely curved relative to the lower surface (bottom surface) of the second housing  12 . The speaker unit  25  is disposed on the inside of the curved surface  53 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the second housing  12 . 
         [0035]    The second housing  12  of  FIG. 4  is shown so as to be seen through for convenience of explanation. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the slope  51 , which extends from the front surface  27  of the second housing  12  to the lower surface, forms the curved surface  53  that is a downward facing concave curvature from the front side to the rear side of the second housing  12 . The curved surface  53 , together with the mounting surface  52  of the second housing  12 , forms a predetermined space therebetween. Further, the speaker unit  25  and the speaker unit  26  are disposed on the curved surface  53  inside the slope  51  on corresponding sides thereof. 
         [0037]    Referring next to  FIG. 5 , the arrangements of the speaker unit  25  will be described in detail below.  FIG. 5  is a left side cross-sectional view showing the second housing  12 . 
         [0038]    The speaker unit  25  shown in  FIG. 5  includes the speaker  25 A, a rubber cover  61 , and a fixing bracket  62 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the curved surface  53  on the inside of the slope  51  has protrusions  63 ,  64 . The speaker  25 A surrounded by the rubber cover  61  is disposed on the protrusions  63 ,  64 . In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the speaker  25 A is inclined at an angle of 14 degrees relative to the mounting surface  52 . The inclined angle of the speaker  25 A is not, however, limited to 14 degrees. 
         [0039]    The fixing bracket  62 , which is in contact with the speaker  25 A at a point a, is placed over the speaker  25 A. The fixing bracket  62  is secured to the second housing  12  with screws  65 ,  66 . This arrangement prevents the speaker  25 A from moving upwardly. Since the speaker  25 A is surrounded by the rubber cover  61  and covered with the fixing bracket  62  on a back side thereof, the sound outputted from the speaker  25 A can be prevented from being diffused in the back side or around the speaker  25 A. Further, the speaker  25 A is held in position at a point, instead of a surface, by the fixing bracket  62 . This effectively suppresses occurrence of, what is called, chattering. 
         [0040]    The sound outputted from the speaker  25 A passes through the speaker grille  42  as shown by arrows. The sound is then reflected off the mounting surface  52  and the curved surface  53  before being outputted in the direction of the user at the front side. 
         [0041]    A specific effect can be given to sound quality by changing an angle and distance of reflection of the sound outputted, which is achieved by changing an angle of inclination of the speaker  25 A or a curvature or shape of the curved surface  53 . Accordingly, it is preferable that an arrangement be made in which the angle of inclination of the speaker  25 A or part or all of the curvature of the curved surface  53  is changed according to the sound quality of the sound outputted from the speaker  25 A. This allows an effective output sound to be produced according to the sound quality. 
         [0042]    As described heretofore, the sound outputted from the speaker  25 A is more reliably outputted toward the front of the notebook PC  10  when the speaker unit  25  is disposed on the curved surface  53  of the slope  51  disposed on the lower surface of the second housing  12  that is open to the front and forms a space between the second housing  12  and the mounting surface  52 . As a result, the notebook PC  10  can provide the user at the front of the notebook PC  10  with a good quality sound having a sufficiently large volume and giving the user realistic sensation. 
         [0043]    Additionally, the notebook PC  10  has the speaker unit  25  disposed on the lower surface of the second housing  12 . Accordingly, the user can listen to sound without having to open the notebook PC  10 . The user may, for example, want to listen to music by starting the PC in an instant start mode using an instant start mode switch (not shown) disposed on a side surface of the second housing  12 . In such cases, therefore, the user can enjoy listening to music by performing a simple operation without having to open the foldable notebook PC  10 . 
         [0044]    It is to be noted that the speaker unit  26  is configured in the same fashion as the speaker unit  25  and disposed on the curved surface  53 . Detailed descriptions of the speaker unit  26  will be omitted. 
         [0045]    Referring next to  FIGS. 6A through 6D , the speaker  25 A covered with the rubber cover  61  will be described in detail below. 
         [0046]      FIG. 6A  is a view showing the speaker  25 A covered with the rubber cover  61  as viewed from the side of the mounting surface  52  of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6B  is a front view showing the speaker  25 A covered with the rubber cover  61  as viewed from an arrow C in  FIG. 6A .  FIG. 6C  is a side elevational view showing the speaker  25 A covered with the rubber cover  61  as viewed from an arrow B in  FIG. 6A .  FIG. 6D  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 6A . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 6D , a space is formed between a surface of the rubber cover  61  on the front side of the speaker  25 A, that is, a mounting surface  71  disposed on the protrusion  63  or  64  of  FIG. 5 , and a front surface  72  of the speaker  25 A covered with the rubber cover  61 . 
         [0048]    In the foregoing descriptions, the speaker units  25 ,  26  are disposed on ends of both sides of the curved surface  53  of the slope  51 . It is to be noted, however, that the speaker units  25 ,  26  do not have to be disposed on the ends, as long as the units  25 ,  26  are disposed on the left and right sides. 
         [0049]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing housing including a keyboard of a notebook PC according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 7 , like reference numerals denote like elements in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0051]    A notebook PC  100  shown in  FIG. 7  includes housing  101  that includes a keyboard thereon. The housing  101  includes a slope  102  disposed on a left end thereof and a slope  103  disposed on a right end thereof such that part of a front surface  101 A of the housing  101  is open to the front. A space is formed between the slope  102  and a mounting surface  52  and the slope  103  and the mounting surface  52 . 
         [0052]    A speaker unit  25  is disposed on a curved surface  104  on the inside of the slope  102 . A speaker unit  26  is disposed on a curved surface  105  on the inside of the slope  103 . 
         [0053]    Sound outputted from a speaker  25 A of the speaker unit  25  is reflected off not only the mounting surface  52  and a curved surface  106  on an outside of the slope  102 , but also a left side surface  107  adjacent to a portion of the front surface  101 A of the housing  101  not opening to the front, so that the sound is outputted to a front left direction. Similarly, sound outputted from a speaker  26 A of the speaker unit  26  is reflected off not only the mounting surface  52  and a curved surface  108  on an outside of the slope  103 , but also a right side surface  109  adjacent to the portion of the front surface  101 A of the housing  101  not opening to the front, so that the sound is outputted to a front right direction. 
         [0054]    As described in the foregoing, in the notebook PC  100  according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 7 , the sound outputted from the speaker unit  25  disposed on the left of the housing  101  is outputted in the front left direction, while the sound outputted from the speaker unit  26  disposed on the right of the housing  101  is outputted in the front right direction. The user located at the front of the notebook PC  100  can therefore listen to a more stereo-like sound. 
         [0055]    In the second embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 7 , the slopes  102 ,  103  are disposed on ends of both sides at the front side of the housing  101 . It should, however, be noted that the slopes  102 ,  103  do not have to be disposed on the ends, as long as the slopes  102 ,  103  are disposed on the left and right sides at the front side. 
         [0056]    In the embodiments of the present invention as described heretofore, each of the slopes  51 ,  102 ,  103  is formed as a curved surface. The slopes  51 ,  102 ,  103  may nonetheless be formed as a flat surface. Or, the left side surface  107  may be formed as a curved surface continuing into the curved surface  106 , and the right side surface  109  may be formed as a curved surface continuing into the curved surface  108 . 
         [0057]    It is to be further noted that the present invention is applicable to, in addition to the notebook PC, personal computers of a type other than the notebook, portable telephones, portable audio players, and related electronic apparatuses. 
         [0058]    It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described heretofore, but also encompasses those changes falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.