Electronic apparatus

An electronic apparatus includes: a housing having an internal space formed by top, bottom and side plates; and a power-source housing section formed next to a part of the side plate in the internal space and having a plate wall shaped such that a part adjacent to the side plate is near the side plate on one side and is away from the side plate on the other side in a direction connecting the top plate with the bottom plate. The apparatus further includes: a power-source block having an outer wall-surface whose shape conforms to the plate wall and housed in the power-source housing section; an antenna disposed in a space between the side plate and the plate wall; and a circuit board disposed in the internal space and mounted with an electronic circuit that operates based on power supplied from the power-source block housed in the power-source housing section.

FIELD

The embodiment discussed herein is related to an electronic apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with an external device.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, there is known a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) implemented by connection among computers through wireless communications based on the IEEE 802.11 standard and the like in a local area such as an office. According to the wireless LAN, it is possible to implement, for example, a network making use of portability that is the greatest advantage of a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “notebook PC”) that have become widespread in recent years. In order to use such a wireless LAN through a notebook PC, the notebook PC needs to have an antenna for wireless communication and a wireless system including a communication module that executes communication processing based on the IEEE 802.11 standard and the like. Therefore, in recent years, a notebook PC that contains such a wireless system has appeared in the market (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-open Publications No. 2000-341018, No. 2002-207535, No. 2004-015246 and No. 2006-052471).

Meanwhile, besides the above-described wireless LAN, there is a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) implemented in an area smaller than that of the wireless LAN, such as an interconnection between a portable telephone and a notebook PC through wireless communication. In late years, there have been introduced a notebook PC that contains, in addition to the wireless system for the wireless LAN, a wireless system compliant with Bluetooth (registered trademark) that is an example of the communication standards of the wireless PAN. Further, in the field of notebook PCs, there is a movement for making a notebook PC contain: a wireless system for a wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) implemented in an area wider than that of the wireless LAN; and a wireless system for receiving the so-called “one-segment broadcasting” that has been a focus of attention as a simple version of the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting. For this reason, there is a trend to increase the number of wireless systems built in a notebook PC.

An antenna for wireless communication is indispensable for a wireless system. Although the sizes of antennas have become smaller than before, it is still necessary to provide a space large enough to house an antenna. Therefore, finding room for housing an antenna is a concern when attempting to provide a notebook PC with a built-in wireless system. Meanwhile, the recent increase in the number of wireless systems built in a notebook PC has increased the number of built-in antennas. Further, if an antenna is carelessly disposed in a notebook PC, radio waves received by and transmitted from the antenna may electromagnetically interfere with an internal circuit, making it more difficult to provide a space for housing an antenna, which is already made difficult by the increase in the number of built-in antennas.

Providing a notebook PC with an additional space dedicated to housing of an antenna is a way of appropriately housing the antenna while avoiding electromagnetic interference. However, such a way increases the size of the notebook PC, impairing the portability.

Incidentally, the difficulty of providing a space for housing an antenna has been described so far by taking the notebook PC as an example. However, this is a problem that not only occurs in the notebook PC but also occurs in, for example, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with a built-in wireless system or commonly occurs in any types of electronic device that generally meet this requirement.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, an electronic apparatus includes:a housing that has an internal space formed by a top plate, a bottom plate and a side plate;a power-source housing section formed next to a part of the side plate in the internal space and having a plate wall in such a shape that a part adjacent to the side plate is close to the side plate on one side and is away from the side plate on the other side in a direction connecting the top plate with the bottom plate;a power-source block having an outer wall surface in a shape that conforms to the plate wall and housed in the power-source housing section;an antenna disposed in a space between the side plate and the plate wall; anda circuit board mounted with an electronic circuit that operates based on power supplied from the power-source block housed in the power-source housing section, the circuit board being disposed in the internal space.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating an external appearance of a notebook personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as “notebook PC”)100that is an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2is a hardware block diagram of the notebook PC100.

The notebook PC100illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2is adaptable to: a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) implemented by wireless communication based on the IEEE 802.11 standard and the like; and a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) implemented by wireless communication based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard and the like.

The notebook PC100includes a main unit200and a cover unit300that is openable and closable with respect to the main unit200. The cover unit300is closed when the notebook PC100is not used, and opened when the notebook PC is used.

FIG. 1illustrates a state in which the notebook PC100is used.

The main unit200includes a first housing205that has: a top plate205aprovided with components such as a keyboard201, a stick point (pointer)202, a flat point (pointer)203and a sound-emitting section204containing a speaker; a side plate205bprovided with elements such as a CD-ROM loading aperture into which a CD-ROM is inserted; and a bottom plate illustrated in other figures. The first housing205has an internal space. The main unit200contains a Bluetooth (BT) antenna172on the frontward side of the internal space of the first housing205as illustrated inFIG. 1. The antenna172is used for wireless communication based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, and disposed at a position that will be described later.

The cover unit300includes a second housing302that has a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen301disposed on an inner surface of the cover unit300in a closed state. The second housing302is openable and closable with respect to the first housing205of the main unit200. The cover unit300contains two wireless-LAN antennas171for wireless communication based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, which are respectively disposed at the left end and the right end of an upper part of the second housing302in an open state.

Also, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the notebook PC100is provided with elements including: a CPU111that executes various programs; a RAM112where the program is expanded to be executed by the CPU111; a Hard Disk Drive (HDD)113that accesses a hard disk140loaded therein; and a point controller115that transmits, to the CPU111, information about operation of the stick point202and the flat point203that are also illustrated inFIG. 1. The notebook PC100is further provided with: a keyboard controller116that transmits information about operation of the keyboard201to the CPU111; a display controller117that controls the display on the LCD screen301according to commands from the CPU111; an audio section118that outputs sound from a speaker160disposed in the sound-emitting section204illustrated inFIG. 1according to commands from the CPU111; a wireless LAN module119that controls wireless communication through the wireless-LAN antennas171illustrated also inFIG. 1; and a communication module (BT module)120that controls wireless communication through the BT antenna172illustrated also inFIG. 1. These elements are interconnected via a bus110.

The notebook PC100further includes a power supply circuit121that supplies each element with electric power provided by a power supply block (battery pack)206that is removably attachable as described later and electric power externally provided through a power cable (not illustrated).

A feature of the notebook PC100described above lies in a structure related to a wireless system compliant with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. In particular, the feature is seen in the attached position of the antenna172and how to attach and detach the BT module120. Therefore, the description will focus on the attached position of the antenna172and how to attach and detach the BT module120.

In the notebook PC100, the BT antenna172and the BT module120are disposed in the first housing205at a position closer to the bottom of the main unit200.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating the bottom of the main unit200inFIG. 1, andFIG. 4is a diagram illustrating the bottom of the main unit200from which a panel and the like are removed so that the positions of the BT antenna172and the BT module120are visible.

FIG. 3illustrates a state in which, to a bottom plate205cthat corresponds to the bottom of the main unit200, the power supply block206illustrated also inFIG. 2and a back panel205c_1that covers more than a half of the back are attached.FIG. 4illustrates a state in which the power supply block206and the back panel205c_1are removed.

InFIG. 4, a power-source housing section207, which is formed integrally with the first housing205and exposed as the power supply block206is removed, is illustrated. Also, various circuit boards208are exposed since the back panel205c_1is removed. The power-source housing section207is disposed not to overlap any of these circuit boards208. Further, in the notebook PC100, the BT antenna172is attached in a space between a plate wall of the power-source housing section207and the side plate205bof the first housing205of the main unit200. The attached position of the BT antenna172, which is a feature of the notebook PC100, will be described later in detail with reference to another figure.

In the notebook PC100, the attached position of the BT module120is right under the back panel205c_1illustrated inFIG. 3and thus becomes immediately accessible upon removal of the back panel205c_1. When the back panel205c_1is removed, the attached position of the BT module120appears as illustrated inFIG. 4. How to attach and detach the BT module120, which is a feature of the notebook PC100, will be described later in detail with reference to another figure.

First, the attached position of the BT antenna172will be described in detail.

FIG. 5is a diagram that illustrates the attached position of the BT antenna172.

FIG. 5illustrates a state in which the first housing205formed integrally with the power-source housing section207depicted inFIG. 4is viewed from the top plate205aillustrated inFIG. 1, i.e. viewed from the side opposite to the side where the power supply block206is installed. InFIG. 5, the top plate205aand the like are removed so that the attached position of the BT antenna172is visible.FIG. 5also illustrates a state in which the power supply block206removed from the power-source housing section207is viewed from the same direction as the direction from which the first housing205is viewed.

The power supply block206externally has a block shape like an approximately rectangular solid. The power supply block206contains two or more cylindrical batteries (battery cells) each having a central axis extending along the longitudinal direction of the block shape. The power supply block206has an outer wall surface206ashaped like an arc that extends along the batteries. As illustrated inFIG. 5, the power supply block206has two locking pieces206bthat are capable of pressing outward and disposed at separate positions on one side of the power supply block206. Corresponding to the shape of the power supply block206, the power-source housing section207has: an arc-shaped plate wall207aextending along the arc-shaped outer wall surface206aof the power supply block206; and a bottom part that connects to the plate wall207asupporting the power supply block206in the attached state. Further, the power-source housing section207has two receipt portions207bto be locked by the respective locking pieces206bof the power supply block206when the power supply block206is attached to the power-source housing section207, thereby preventing removal of the power supply block206.

The arc-shaped plate wall207ais formed at a position adjacent to the side plate205bin the first housing205. More particularly, the plate wall207ais shaped like an arch that is closed to the side plate205bon the bottom plate205cside and is away from the side plate205bon the top plate205aside, in the direction connecting the bottom plate205cillustrated inFIG. 3with the top plate205aillustrated inFIG. 1.

Further, the BT antenna172includes: a tabular first part that extends in the direction connecting the top plate205awith the bottom plate205cand has a length shorter than the radius of the arc of the plate wall207a; and a tabular second part that extends from one end of the first part in the direction perpendicular to the first part and is positioned at the bottom part of the power-source housing section207when the BT antenna172is disposed in the space between the plate wall207aand the side plate205b. The BT antenna172further includes a third part that extends from the other end of the first part in the direction perpendicular to the first part and opposite to the second part.

As a result, between the arc-shaped plate wall207aand the side plate205b, an extra space is formed because the surface of the plate wall207agradually goes away from the side plate205balong the ark shape of the plate wall207a. By using this extra space and disposing the end of the first part connecting to the third part of the BT antenna172on the arc-shaped part of the plate wall207a, the BT antenna172is housed without increasing the size of the notebook PC100. In addition, there is also formed an extra space between the receipt portions207bthat are provided in the power-source housing section207corresponding to the locking pieces206bof the power supply block206to prevent the removal of the power supply block206. By using this space as well, the BT antenna172is housed without increasing the size of the notebook PC100.

In the notebook PC100, there are provided two partitions209. The BT antenna172is flanked by these two partitions209when disposed between the plate wall207aand the side plate205bthat over the front and back of the BT antenna172. By these two partitions209, for example, even when a physical shock is externally applied to the notebook PC100, an influence of the shock on a periphery of the BT antenna172is curbed, preventing damage and the like of the BT antenna172.

Also, as described above, the power-source housing section207is disposed not to overlap any of the various circuit boards208in the notebook PC100. The BT antenna172is housed in the space between the plate wall207aand the side plate205bof the power-source housing section207disposed in such a manner. In other words, the BT antenna172is separated from the circuit boards208that are prone to electromagnetic interference, and disposed close to the power supply block206that is resistant to electromagnetic interference. As a result, electromagnetic interference with the circuit boards208by radio waves transmitted form and received by the BT antenna172is prevented. In this way, in the notebook PC100, the BT antenna172is appropriately housed without increasing the size while preventing electromagnetic interference.

To the BT antenna172, an antenna cord172ais connected to transfer signals exchanged through wireless communication based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard through the BT antenna172. The antenna cord172ais connected to an RF connector120d(seeFIG. 6) in the BT module120.

Next, how to attach and detach the BT module120will be described in detail.

FIG. 6is an enlarged view of the periphery of the BT module120inFIG. 4.

The BT module120includes a board120amounted with: a circuit element120bthat performs communication processing based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard; a circuit connector120cthat serves as an interface of the BT module120to the outside; and the RF connector120dto which the antenna cord172ais connected. Further, a connection cable122that electrically connects the BT module120to the main unit200is attached to the circuit connector120c.

In the first housing205of the main unit200, there is a storage area205dhaving a concave shape depressed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the board120aand spreading in parallel to the plane of the board120ain a state in which the BT module120is attached. The BT module120is housed in the storage area205dwhen attached.

Here, in the present embodiment, the BT module120to which the connection cable122is fixed serves as an attached part that is attached to the main unit200and also detached as required.

Next, how to attach the attached part to the main unit200will be described below.

FIG. 7is a diagram illustrating a first step in how to attach the attached part made up of the BT module120and the connection cable122,FIG. 8is a diagram illustrating a second step, andFIG. 9is a diagram illustrating a third step.

The main unit200includes a communication circuit board208aprovided with a main-unit-side BT connector208a_1for exchanging signals with the BT module120. When the BT module120is considered to be a first board corresponding to a child board, the communication circuit board208ais considered to be a second board corresponding to a parent board for the first board. The communication circuit board208ais connected to the circuit board208mounted with the CPU111, and signals are exchanged through the BT module120under the control of the CPU111. The storage area205ddescribed earlier is provided over the communication circuit board208a, and an opening205d_1for accessing the main-unit-side BT connector208a_1is formed in the storage area205d.

In the first step, the attached part made up of the BT module120and the connection cable122is attached to the main-unit-side BT connector208a_1in the following manner.

The connection cable122includes a cable body122ashaped like a strip and having copper wires covered with an elastic material. At one end of the cable body122aopposite to the other end where the BT module120is provided, there is a connection connector122bconnected to the main-unit-side BT connector208a_1of the main unit200. In the first step, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the attached part is attached to the main-unit-side BT connector208a_1by connecting the connection connector122bof the connection cable122to the main-unit-side BT connector208a_1of the main unit200.

Subsequently, in the second step, the cable body122aof the connection cable122is elastically bent in a longitudinal direction, and an end portion of the BT module120on the side where the connection cable122is provided is placed in the storage area205d. At this point, this end portion placed in the storage area205dis pushed, in a direction of going away from the storage area205d, by the cable body122abent in the longitudinal direction.

Here, in the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 8, a first holding piece205efor retaining this end portion within the storage area205dby holding down the end portion is provided at, among edges of the storage area205d, an edge where the pushed end portion is positioned. In the second step, the cable body122ais bent and, as illustrated inFIG. 8, a part of the end portion of the BT module120on the side where the connection cable122is provided is fit under the first holding piece205e. As a result, the BT module120in a state in which the end portion is stored within the storage area205dis stably disposed.

Subsequently, in the third step, an end portion of the BT module120, opposite to the end portion where the connection cable122is provided, is placed in the storage area205d. This end portion also is pushed, in a direction of going away from the storage area205d, by the cable body122a. In the present embodiment however, as illustrated inFIG. 9, a second holding piece205ffor retaining this end portion within the storage area205dby holding down this end portion is provided at, among edges of the storage area205d, an edge where this end portion is positioned.

The second holding piece205fincludes: a cantilever205f_1that is elastically deformed in a direction indicated with an arrow D1illustrated inFIG. 9when a force is applied in this direction: and a nail205f_2that is integrally formed with the cantilever205f_1at the tip of the cantilever205f_1. The nail205f_2has a slope slanted downwardly toward the inside of the storage area205d. This slope is provided at a portion to be touched by the end portion of the BT module120when the BT module120in the state depicted inFIG. 8is pushed into the storage area205din a direction indicated with an arrow D2illustrated inFIG. 9. Thanks to this slope, when the BT module120is pushed into the storage area205d, a force is applied in the direction of the arrow D1inFIG. 9to the cantilever205f_1, thereby causing the cantilever205f_1to be elastically deformed. Subsequently, when the BT module120is further pushed and the end portion of the BT module120goes beyond the extreme end of the slope of the nail205f_2, the cantilever205f_1is restored to the original position. After the cantilever205f_1is restored to the original position, the end portion of the BT module120is fit under the nail205f_2and retained by the nail205f_2within the storage area205dwhile being pushed by the cable body122a. This completes the attachment of the attached part made up of the BT module120and the connection cable122.

In this way, according to the present embodiment, the attached part is attached to the main unit200through the simple three steps: the first step in which the connection connector122bof the connection cable122is connected to the main-unit-side BT connector208a_1of the main unit200; the second step in which the cable body122ais bent so that a part of the end portion of the BT module120on the side where the connection cable122is provided is fit under the first holding piece205e; and the third step in which the end portion of the BT module120on the side opposite to the side where the connection cable122is provided is pushed into the storage area205d.

Further, in the present embodiment, after the attached part is attached to the main unit200in the above-described manner, the antenna cord172a(seeFIG. 5) extending from the BT antenna172is connected to the RF connector120dof the BT module120.

Next, how to detach the attached part from the main unit200will be described.

In the notebook PC100of the present embodiment, the BT module120is removed from the main unit200when, for example, the BT module120is to be replaced with new one in the event of failure.

In this case, first, the antenna cord172a(seeFIG. 5) is disconnected from the RF connector120dof the BT module120. Subsequently, the cantilever205f_1of the second holding piece205fin the attached state as illustrated inFIG. 9is bent in the direction of the arrow D1, and the nail205f_2is disengaged from the end portion of the BT module120. Then, the BT module120is pushed out from the storage area205dby receiving the pressing force from the cable body122a.

FIG. 10is a diagram that illustrates a state in which the BT module120is pushed out from the storage area205d.

FIG. 10illustrates the state in which not only the end portion of the BT module120held down by the second holding piece205f, but also the opposite end portion of the BT module120on the side where the connection cable122is provided are pushed out from under the first holding piece205e. The end portion (of the BT module120) on the side where the connection cable122is provided may not come out from under the first holding piece205eas illustrated inFIG. 10by merely moving the nail205f_2of the second holding piece205f. In this case, this end portion (of the BT module120) on the side where the connection cable122is provided is then pulled out from under the first holding piece205e.

When the BT module120comes out of the storage area205das illustrated inFIG. 10, the BT module120is raised in a direction indicated with an arrow D3illustrated inFIG. 10up to a position that allows the connection connector122band the main-unit-side BT connector208a_1of the main unit200to appear as illustrated inFIG. 7. Subsequently, the connection connector122bis disconnected from the main-unit-side BT connector208a_1, thereby completing the detachment of the attached part.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the attached part made up of the BT module120and the connection cable122is attached and detached without using components such as screws for attachment, thereby simplifying the work.

Incidentally, the attached part made up of the BT module120and the connection cable122is assumed to be used not only in the notebook PC100of the present embodiment but also in other types of notebook PC. It is conceivable that among these other types of notebook PC, there will be a type that allows only the attachment of the attached part using screws. Therefore, for this other type of notebook PC that allows only the attachment of the attached part using screws, three through holes120a_1to fasten screws not used in the notebook PC100of the present embodiment are formed in the board120aof the BT module120as illustrated inFIG. 10and other figures.

Alternatively, as another example different from the BT module120with the through holes120a_1to fasten screws, there may be provided a BT module having, instead of these through holes120a_1, some kind of circuit component mounted on a space where each of the through holes120a_1to fasten screws would have been formed.

As described above, in the notebook PC100of the present embodiment, the BT antenna172is appropriately housed by using an extra space formed thanks to the arc shape of the plate wall207aof the power-source housing section207. Also, the attached part made up of the BT module120and the connection cable122is attached to and detached from the main unit200without using components such as screws for attachment, thereby simplifying the work. In other words, in the notebook PC100of the present embodiment, attachment and detachment of the BT module120is easy.

Incidentally, in the above description, the notebook PC has been used as an embodiment of the electronic apparatus of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and the electronic apparatus of the present invention may be, for example, a PDA and the like.

Also, in the above description, the BT antenna used for wireless communication based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard has been used as an example of the antenna housed in the above-described extra space. However, the antenna housed in the extra space is not limited to the BT antenna and may be any other types of antenna such as a wireless LAN antenna used for wireless communication based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.

Also, in the above description, the attached part made up of the BT module and the connection cable used for wireless communication based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard is employed as an example of the attached part to be attached and detached. However, the attached part is not limited to this example and may be any other types of component such as a wireless LAN module used for wireless communication based on the IEEE 802.11 standard and a circuit board mounted with a memory.