Abstract:
An information processing apparatus includes a body having a display panel pivotally attached to the body, the panel having a plural, selectable data display orientations. A detector detects a size of an angle between the display panel and the body and a selector selects a corresponding one of the data display orientations in accordance with the size of the detected angle, affording automatic change of the data display orientations in accordance with respective, different desired configurations of the apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a small-sized portable information processing apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to a small-sized portable information processing apparatus, such as a portable calculation machine, a portable computer, a portable word processor, an electronics note book or the like, having an information indication display, such as a liquid crystal display, or the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is required that a small-sized portable information processing apparatus be easily operated with a pen or the like operating element as well as being small-sized, light-weight, and easily portable. Therefore, an apparatus body, i.e., a housing, or case, is provided with a keyboard integral therewith. A liquid crystal display, which functions as a touch input panel, is pivotably attached to the apparatus body by means of a hinge, so that the liquid crystal display can be pivotably moved by approximately 360° with respect to the apparatus body. In such an apparatus, it is possible to input through the keyboard while watching the display and also possible to directly input to the liquid crystal display through a pen or the like after the liquid crystal display is pivotally moved (i.e., rotated) by 360° with respect to a closed position relatively to the apparatus body. 
     FIGS.  16 ( a ) and  16 ( b ) are perspective views of such a portable apparatus known in the prior art, in which FIG.  16 ( a ) shows the liquid crystal display opened to an obtuse angle position, relatively to the closed position with respect to the apparatus body so that the keyboard can be operated and FIG.  16 ( b ) shows that the liquid crystal display is pivotably moved by 360° with respect to the closed position thereof so that the liquid crystal display can face upwards to allow direct input thereto by a pan or the like. As shown in these drawings, the apparatus comprises an apparatus body  1 , a keyboard  2  integrally provided on the top of the apparatus body, a liquid crystal display  3  having its display surface as a touch panel and a hinge member  5  having two pivot shafts  5   a  and  5   b.    
     As shown in these drawings, the liquid crystal display  3  is connected to the apparatus body  1  by means of the hinge member  5  having two pivot shafts  5   a  and  5   b . More particularly, the rear edge of the liquid crystal display  3  is connected to one pivot shaft  5   a  of the hinge member  5  and the other pivot shaft  5   b  is connected to the rear edge of the apparatus body  1 . 
     As shown in FIG.  16 ( a ), when the liquid crystal display  3  is rotated to a predetermined angle (an obtuse angle) with respect to the keyboard  2 , it is possible to input through the keyboard while watching the display. Also, as shown in FIG.  16 ( b ), it is also possible to pivotably move the liquid crystal display by 360° with respect to the apparatus body  1  from its closed position so that information can be directly input through the pen  4  to the liquid crystal display  3  which functions as a touch panel. 
     The liquid crystal display  4  is substantially rectangular in shape. Therefore, in a state of FIG.  16 ( a ), it is preferable to set the apparatus so that the operator can input through the keyboard  2  while watching the liquid crystal display  3 . On the contrary, in a state of FIG.  16 ( b ), it is preferable to set the apparatus so that the operator can input through the liquid crystal display  3  using a pen  4  or the like. 
     Therefore, as shown in FIGS.  17 ( a ) and  17 ( b ), a display changing actuation position  17  is conventionally provided in the liquid crystal display  3  so that, when the operator touches this position with a tip of the pen  4 , the orientation of the liquid crystal display  3  is turned by 90°. If the position is touched again, the orientation of the liquid crystal display  3  is turned back to the initial state. 
     Another actuation position for keyboard lock or operation invalidation is also provided in the liquid crystal display  3  so that, when the operator touches this actuation position with the pen  4 , the function of the keyboard is locked or all or part of the operations are invalidated. If this actuation position is touched again, the keyboard lock or operation invalidation is released. 
     In this known portable information processing apparatus, the operator must use a pen  4  to touch the display changing position  17  every time the operator intends to change the liquid crystal display  3 . Also, the operator must use the pen  4  to touch the display changing position  17  to change the display back to the initial state. Such an operation necessarily is somewhat troublesome. 
     Unexamined Patent Publications (Kokai) Nos. 62-6295 and 62-17786 suggest a small-sized image display apparatus in which a matrix panel (liquid crystal display) is rotatable by 360° with respect to the apparatus body and the panel is changed to either light transmitting type or light reflecting type in accordance with the luminous intensity exerted on the matrix panel. 
     In these prior art, although the matrix panel is automatically changed to either light transmitting type or light reflecting type in accordance with the luminous intensity exerted on the panel, this image display changing apparatus is not of a type in which the display is automatically changed in accordance with the state of use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized portable information processing apparatus, in which the liquid crystal display can automatically be changed without using a pen or the like, but by only rotating the liquid crystal display with respect to the apparatus body so as to change its state of use. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized portable information processing apparatus, in which the function of the keyboard is locked or all or a part of the operations are automatically invalidated, by rotating the liquid crystal display with respect to the apparatus body so as to change its state of use. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a small-sized portable information processing apparatus comprising: an apparatus body; a display panel pivotably attached to the apparatus body, the display panel having a plurality of data display orientations therein; detecting means for detecting an angle between the apparatus body and the display; and changing means for selecting one of the orientations of the display panel in accordance with a result from the detecting means. Thus, the orientation of the display can be easily and automatically changed by only pivotably moving the liquid crystal display panel. 
     The display panel is pivotably movable by up to approximately 360° with respect to the apparatus body by means of a pivot shaft provided therebetween and a to switch performs an ON-OFF operation thereof in accordance with relative rotation between the display panel and the apparatus body about the pivot shaft. Thus, the orientation of the display can be easily and automatically changed by a switch ON-OFF operation. 
     The switching means is arranged to perform the ON-OFF operation thereof at a position near to the position achieved when the display has moved approximately 360° from a closed position thereof with respect to the apparatus body. Thus, the orientation of the display can be automatically changed when the apparatus is set so that only the display is to be operated. 
     The switching means comprises a cam provided on one of two members which move relatively about the pivot shaft and a cam follower which is provided on the other member so as to always be in contact with the cam and is axially moved in accordance with the rotation of the cam, so that the switching means performs ON-OFF operation thereof in accordance with the axial movement of the cam follower. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the switching means comprises a cam provided on one of two members which move relatively about the pivot shaft and a cam follower is provided on the other member so as to always be in contact with the cam and to be axially moved in accordance with the rotation of the cam, one of the cam and the cam follower having a concave shape and the other having a convex shape so that, after the cam follower moves in the axial direction and once comes into contact with a switching element, the concave and the convex shapes are mutually engaged with each other and therefore the cam follower moves away from the switching element. 
     The switching means comprises a projection provided on one of two members which move relatively about the pivot shaft and a sensor switch is provided on the other member so as to perform ON-OFF operation thereof in accordance with the rotational movement of the projection. 
     The sensor switch may be a type of switch which magnetically detects a position in the rotational movement of the display with respect to the apparatus body. 
     The sensor switch may be a type of switch which optically detects a position in the rotational movement of the display with respect to the apparatus body. 
     Since there is no mechanical switch means, a switch having few structural or movable parts can be obtained. 
     The display comprises a liquid crystal touch panel which has a function of displaying letters, images and the others, and a function of inputting information by touching thereon. Thus, an input operation can be effected from either the touch panel or the keyboard. 
     The apparatus body comprises a keyboard integrally incorporated therein and a means for locking or invalidating operation of the keyboard in accordance with a relative rotational movement of the display with respect to the apparatus body. Since the keyboard lock or the invalidation of keyboard operation is effected, when the state of use is changed, any accidental input errors through the keyboard can be prevented in advance. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the apparatus of this invention with the liquid crystal display in an opened state, or condition; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment, but wherein the liquid crystal display is pivotably moved by 360° from the state of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS.  3 ( a ) and  3 ( b ) are schematic views showing a non-operable state in which the liquid crystal display is in a closed state with respect to the apparatus body and a pen operable state in which the liquid crystal display is pivotably moved by 360° relatively to the closed state of FIG.  3 ( a ), respectively; 
     FIGS.  4 ( a ) and  4 ( b ) are cross-sectional views of the display changing means according to the first embodiment of this invention with the switching means being turned off and on, respectively; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I—I in FIG. 4; 
     FIGS.  6 ( a ) and  6 ( b ) show a modified embodiment of the cam and cam follower shown in FIGS.  4 ( a ) and  4 ( b ) and the operation thereof, respectively; 
     FIG. 7 is a flow-chart showing an operation of the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of this invention with the liquid crystal display being in an opened position by a 360° rotation with respect to a closed position thereof relatively the apparatus body; 
     FIGS.  9 ( a ) and  9 ( b ) are a perspective view of the second embodiment with the liquid crystal display relatively to the body and an enlarged perspective view of a portion indicated by circle C in FIG.  9 ( a ), respectively; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the second embodiment, with the liquid crystal display closed; 
     FIGS.  11 ( a ) and  11 ( b ) correspond to FIGS.  9 ( a ) and  9 ( b ), respectively, but the angle between the liquid crystal display and the apparatus body is changed; 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of FIG. 11 in which the angle of the liquid crystal display is further changed from the state of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a side view in which the angle of the liquid crystal display is still further changed from the state of FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a flow-chart showing an operation of the second embodiment; 
     FIGS.  16 ( a ) and  16 ( b ) are perspective views showing a portable apparatus known in the prior art with the liquid crystal display in opened and closed positions, respectively; and 
     FIGS.  17 ( a ) and  17 ( b ) show a states of the known apparatus in which the liquid crystal display in FIG.  17 ( b ) is turned by 90°, from that in FIG.  17 ( a ). 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 7 show a first embodiment of a small-sized portable information processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views generally illustrating the first embodiment, in which FIG. 1 shows the embodiment with the crystal display panel opened so that a keyboard can be operated and FIG. 2 shows the same embodiment with the crystal display panel closed by pivotably moving the crystal display panel by 360° from a closed position so that any information can be input to the crystal display by a pen. As shown in these drawings, this embodiment includes a body (i.e., a case, or housing)  10  of the apparatus, a keyboard  2  provided on the top of the apparatus body, a touch-panel type crystal display  3  which also serves as a cover of the apparatus, a pen  4 , and a hinge member  5  having two pivot shafts  5   a  and  5   b.    
     The liquid crystal display  3  is connected to the apparatus body  1  by means of two pivot shafts  5   a  and  5   b . Particularly, the hinge member  5  has a first pivot shaft  5   a  which is connected to the rear edge of the liquid crystal display  3  and a second pivot shaft  5   b  which is connected to the rear edge of the apparatus body  1 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, when the liquid crystal display  3  is in a position at a predetermined angle with respect to the key board  2 , an operator can perform an input operation through the key board  2  while watching the liquid crystal display panel  3 . Also, as shown in FIG. 2, when the liquid crystal display panel  3  is in a position after being turned by approximately 360° from the closed position relatively to the apparatus body  1  so that the back of the liquid crystal display panel comes into contact with the back of the apparatus body  1 , the operator can perform an input operation directly through the liquid crystal display  3 , as a touch panel, using a pen  4 . (In FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display touch panel is on the back side of the keyboard  2 .) 
     The liquid crystal display  3  is substantially rectangular in shape. Therefore, it is preferable to place the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, so that the operator can operate the key board  2  with his fingers while watching the liquid crystal display  3  and, on the other hand, it is preferable to place the apparatus as shown in FIG. 2, so that the operator can operate the liquid crystal display  3  with the pen or the like. 
     FIGS.  3 ( a ) and  3 ( b ) are illustrations explaining the turning, or rotation, of the liquid crystal display panel  3  with respect to the apparatus body  1  by 360° by approximately means of the hinge member  5  having two pivot shafts  5   a  and  5   b , as shown by an arrow from a first position where the liquid crystal display panel  3  is close (i.e., is contiguous) to the apparatus body  1 , to a second position, where the operator can operate the liquid crystal display  3  by a pen. As can be seen from these drawings, while the liquid crystal display  3  is turned with respect to the apparatus body  1  by 360°, the respective pivot shafts  5   a  and  5   b  of the hinge member  5  turn by 180°, respectively, with respect to the hinge member  5 . 
     FIGS.  4 ( a ) and  4 ( b ) are cross-sectional views of a first embodiment of a switching mechanism of this invention for changing the orientation of the liquid crystal display, in which FIG.  4 ( a ) shows a status of the switch turned off and FIG.  4 ( b ) shows a status of the switch turned on. The switching mechanism can be provided, for example, on the hinge shaft  5   a  between the liquid crystal display  3  and the hinge member  5 . 
     The switching mechanism  10  comprises a body  20  rigidly attached to the side of the liquid crystal display  3 , a rotary portion fixed to the side of the hinge member  5  and a sliding member movable in the axial direction in response to the rotation of the rotary portion. The rotary portion comprises a shaft  11  fixed to the hinge member  5 , a cam  12  fixed to the tip of the shaft  11  and a flange  13  which allow the cam  12  to move in the rotational direction, but prevent the movement thereof in the axial direction. The slide portion comprises a cam follower or receiver  14  which contacts the cam  12 , a guide plate  15  fixed to the cam receiver  14  to allow the cam follower to move in the axial direction but to prevent the rotation thereof, and a shaft  16  fixed to the cam follower  14 . The guide plate  15  is offset from the shaft  16  to prevent interference therewith. 
     The body  20  comprises a bearing  21  rotatably supporting the shaft  11 , an annular guide grooves  22  rotatably guiding the, flange  13  but preventing axial movement thereof, axial guide grooves  23 , which axially guide the guide plate  15  but prevent the rotational movement thereof, a bearing  24  supporting the shaft  16  to allow axial movement thereof, and a switch element  25  which functions as a switch when it comes into contact with the shaft  16 . Also, there is a spring  26  provided along the shaft  16  between the wall of the bearing  24  and the cam follower  14  to keep the cam follower  14  always in contact with the cam  12 . 
     As mentioned above, while the liquid crystal display  3  is turned by substantially 360° with respect to the apparatus body from the closed position, the respective pivot shafts  5   a  and  5   b  are turned by 180°, respectively. The cam  12  and the cam follower  14  have inclined surfaces or spiral surfaces mutually contacting each other. Therefore, during this operation, the cam  12  is turned by 180° with respect to the cam follower  14 . Since the rotation of the cam follower  14  is prevented, the cam follower  14  is pushed in the axial direction by the cam  12  and axially moved in the direction of arrow B. When the cam  12  is rotated by a predetermined angle near to 180°, the end of the shaft  16  comes into contact with the switch element  25  and the switch is turned on, as shown in FIG.  4 ( b ). When the liquid crystal display  3  is returned to its original position with respect to the apparatus body  1 , for example the position as shown in FIG. 1, the switch is turned off. 
     It is possible that the switching mechanism  10  is attached to the pivot shaft  5   b  of the apparatus body  1  side, in place of the pivot shaft  5   a  of the liquid crystal display  3  side. It is also possible that the apparatus body  1  of the switching mechanism  10  and the rotatable portion (cam  12 ) are arranged in reverse. For instance, the apparatus body  20  may be provided in the hinge member  5  and the rotatable portion (cam  12 ) may be provided in the hinge member  5 . 
     It is possible to regulate the rotational torques of the respective pivot shafts  5   a  and  5   b  in such a manner that, when the liquid crystal display panel  3  is turned by 360° with respect to the hinge member  5 , one of the two pivot shafts  5   a  and  5   b  is first turned by 180° and the other thereof (in which this switching means is incorporated) is then turned by 180°, and when it is turned oppositely, the other is first turned and the one is then turned. 
     FIG.  6 ( a ) shows a modified embodiment of the cam  12  and the cam follower  14 . In the same manner as the previous embodiment, an inclined or spiral surface is provided on the contact surface between the cam  12  and the cam follower  14 . In this modified embodiment, one of the cam  12  and the cam follower  14  is provided with a concave surface  12   a  and the other is provided with a corresponding convex surface  14   a  in such a manner that, after the end of the shaft  16  once comes into contact with a switching element  25 , the concave surface  12   a  and the convex surface  14   a  are engaged with each other so that the end of the shaft  16  comes away from the switching element  25 . 
     FIG.  6 ( b ) shows the relationship between the angle of rotation of the cam  12  with respect to the switch body  10  and the stroke of the shaft  16 . However, even if the end of the shaft  16  moves away from the switching element  25  after the end of the shaft  16  once comes into contact with the switching element  25 , the switching element  25  is kept in the on state. If an opposite operation is effected, the concave surface  12   a  of the cam  12  and convex surface  14   a  of the cam follower  14  move with each other, the end of the shaft  16  upon coming into contact with the switching element  25  turns off the switching element  25  and thereafter moves away from the switching element  25 . In this case, even if the shaft  16  moves away from the shaft  16  after it comes into contact therewith, the switching element  25  is kept in the off state. 
     When the switching element  25  is in the state OFF, the display of the liquid crystal  3  is positioned as shown in FIG.  1 . Therefore, it is preferable for the operator to operate the keyboard with his fingers while watching the liquid crystal display  3 . On the other hand, the switching element  10  is in the state ON, the display of the liquid crystal  3  is positioned as shown in FIG.  2 . Therefore, it is preferable to operate the liquid crystal display panel  3  as a touch panel with a pen or the like. In FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display  3  is positioned on the back side of the keyboard  2 . 
     FIG. 7 is a flow-chart showing an operation of the above-mentioned embodiment. First, the main power of this apparatus is turned ON (step  101 ) and the state of the display changing switch  10  is checked (step  102 ). When the switch is in a contact state (step  103 ), a display changing signal is supplied (step  104 ), the display of the liquid crystal  3  is turned by 90° (step  105 ), the other processes are carried out (step  106 ) and then the process is returned to step  102 . When the switch is not in the contact state, the display of the liquid crystal  3  is kept as the initial state (step  107 ), the other processes are carried out (step  106 ) and then the process is returned to step  102 . 
     A second embodiment of a small-sized portable information processing apparatus of this invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 through 15. FIG. 8 shows a state of the second embodiment with the liquid crystal display panel being opened by approximately 360° with respect to the apparatus body and FIGS.  9 ( a ),  9 ( b ) and FIG. 10 show the embodiment with the liquid crystal display panel being closed. FIG.  9 ( b ) is an enlarged perspective view of a portion indicated by C in FIG.  9 ( a ). 
     As shown in FIGS.  9 ( a ) and  9 ( b ), the liquid crystal display panel  3  is provided with a sensor switch  30  at a position near to the hinge member  5  on the back side thereof. On the other hand, the hinge member  5 , i.e., a rotatable side, is provided with a projection  32  which interfere with a movement path of a contact  31  of the sensor switch  30 . 
     As shown in FIGS.  9 ( a ),  9 ( b ) and FIG. 10, when the liquid crystal display panel  3  is in a closed position with respect to the apparatus body  1 , the relationship between the contact  31  of the sensor switch  30  and the projection  32  of the hinge member  5  are apart from each other, by nearly 180°, the projection  32  of the hinge member  5  does not interfere with the contact  31  of the sensor switch  30  and therefore the switch is in OFF state. 
     FIGS.  11 ( a ) and  11 ( b ) correspond to FIGS.  9 ( a ) and  9 ( b ), respectively, and FIG. 12 corresponds to FIG.  10 . In this state, the liquid crystal display panel  3  is turned with respect to the apparatus body  1  from the position shown in FIGS.  9 ( a ),  9 ( b ) and 10 by 346° (the angle between the apparatus body  1  and the liquid crystal display panel  3  is 14°). In this state, the relationship between the contact  31  of the sensor switch  30  and the projection  32  of the hinge member  5  is a turned state by nearly 180° from the position of FIGS.  9 ( a ),  9 ( b ) and  10 , the projection  32  comes into touch with the contact  31  of the sensor switch  30  and therefore the switch is in ON state. 
     The angle of the liquid crystal display panel  3 , with respect to the apparatus body  1 , at which the sensor switch  30  performs the ON-OFF changing action, can be suitably selected by changing the position of the projection  32 . For example, FIG. 13 shows a case in which the ON-OFF changing action is performed at a position of the liquid crystal display  3  which is turned by 355° with respect to the apparatus body  1  from the state shown in FIGS.  11 ( a ),  11 ( b ) and  12 . Also, FIG. 14 shows another case in which the projection  32  comes into touch with the contact  31  of the sensor switch  30  to perform the switch ON-OFF changing action at a position of the liquid crystal display panel  3  which is turned by 35° with respect to the apparatus body  1  from the state shown in FIGS.  11 ( a ),  11 ( b ) and  12 . 
     In the same manner as the first embodiment, the sensor switch  30  and the projection  32  can be provided on the apparatus body  1  and the hinge member  5 , respectively. It is also possible that the sensor switch  30  is provided on the hinge member  5  and the projection  32  is provided on liquid crystal display panel  3  or the apparatus body  1 .  5  For example, when the sensor switch  30  is in the state ON, a keyboard lock is effected (i.e., is active), and on the contrary when the sensor switch  30  is in the state OFF, the keyboard is unlocked. If the keyboard lock is to be effected, all of the keys may be made unoperable or only a part of the keys may be made unoperable. 
     Also, instead of the keyboard lock being effected, any actions to the apparatus can be ignored. For example, all or part of the inputs by the pen or keyboard can be ignored, the presentation on the display can be fully or partially invalidated, or any other actions can be made ineffectual. 
     FIG. 15 is a flow-chart showing an operation of the second embodiment. First, the main power (not shown) of this apparatus is turned ON (step  201 ) and the state of the keyboard input lock switch  10  is checked (step  202 ). When the switch is in a contact state (step  203 ), a keyboard input lock signal is supplied (step  204 ), the keyboard input lock is effected (step  205 ) so that an input operation can only be performed on the display (step  206 ), the other processes are carried out (step  207 ) and then the process is returned to step  202 . When the switch is not in the contact state, the keyboard input lock is not effected (step  205 ) so that an input operation can be performed both by the keyboard and the display (step  208 ), the other processes are carried out (step  207 ) and then the process is returned to step  202 . 
     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description relates to only some preferred embodiments of the disclosed invention, and that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.