Electronic apparatus formed by no less than two sections

An electronic apparatus includes a first section and a second section which are foldable together in: a first mode in which respective front faces of the first and second sections face each other, and a second mode in which the front face of the first section faces a back face of the second section. A contact protector is provided on the front face of the first section. In the first mode, a first portion of the contact protector contacts the front face of the second section and forms a first clearance between the respective front faces, and a second portion of the contact protector is accommodated in a dent in the front face of the second section. In the second mode, the second portion of the contact protector contacts the back face of the second section and forms a second clearance between the respective front faces.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-134547 filed on May 12, 2006; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus formed by no less than two sections, and in particular to an electronic apparatus having sections which are movably connected to each other.

2. Description of the Related Art

As an example of a conventional electronic apparatus, a mobile phone designed to be easily used as well as to be compact for portability and to be used in various ways is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai), No. 2005-354456. More specifically, as shown inFIGS. 16-18, the mobile phone A disclosed in JP 2005-354456 has a lower section (first section) B and an upper section (second section) C, which are foldably and rotationally connected by a rotating two-axis hinge. The lower section B is formed as a main body and has, on a front face Bf, a microphone Bm and user controls Ba including a plurality of operation keys. The upper section C has, on a front face Cf, a speaker Cr and a liquid crystal display (LCD) Cd of a significant size.

The lower section B and the upper section C are foldably connected around a folding axis x as shown by an arrow F inFIG. 16B, and are rotationally connected around a flipping axis z which is perpendicular to the folding axis x as shown by an arrow R inFIGS. 16A and 16B, through a connection D including a rotating two-axis hinge (not shown).

The mobile phone A thereby has four mechanical modes, namely a closed mode, an open mode, a flipped-open mode and a flipped-closed mode, as follows. The “closed mode” is a state of the mobile phone A in which the lower section B and the upper section C are closed with respect to each other while the front face Bf faces the front face Cf. SeeFIG. 17B. The mobile phone A may shift from the closed mode to the “open mode,” in which the upper section C is open with respect to the lower section B by a degree defined by an open attitude. SeeFIG. 17A. The mobile phone A may shift from the open mode to the “flipped-open” mode by flipping the upper section C by 180 degrees. SeeFIG. 18A. The mobile phone A may shift from the flipped-open mode to the “flipped-closed” mode by closing the upper section C with respect to the lower section B while the front face Bf of the lower section B faces a back face Cb of the upper section C, and while the LCD Cd is exposed outwards. SeeFIG. 18B.

There are an increasing number of foldable mobile phones having a clearance pad for forming a certain clearance (gap) between a first section and a second section while the first and second sections are closed with respect to each other, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai), No. 2004-128814.

For example, with respect to mobile phone A shown inFIGS. 16-18, a pair of clearance pads, Q, Q are provided on the front face Bf of the lower section B. In the closed mode shown inFIG. 17B, a certain clearance g is formed between the front face Bf of the lower section B and the front face Cf of the upper section C by letting the front face Cf be in contact with the clearance pads, Q, Q.

Similarly, in the flipped-closed mode shown inFIG. 18B, a clearance g is formed between the front face Bf of the lower section B and the back face Cb of the upper section C by letting the back face Cb be in contact with the clearance pads, Q, Q.

A foldable mobile phone having a rotating two-axis hinge, like the mobile phone A described above, has to keep a relative position of the lower section B and the upper section C constant both in the closed mode and in the flipped-closed mode. This relative position to be kept constant includes the clearance between the lower section B and the upper section C, and a perspective view of the mobile phone A as a whole based on a parallel relationship between the lower section B and the upper section C. To keep this relative position constant, the front face Cf and the back face Cb of the upper section C have to be located at an equal distance (in a direction of depth) from the flipping axis z.

The upper section C of the mobile phone A thereby has to be designed in a simplest way in which both the front face Cf and the back face Cb are flat, thereby greatly reducing the degree of freedom of exterior design of the mobile phone A. For example, the mobile phone A may not be designed to be wedge-shaped in the closed mode by letting the back face Cb of the upper section C gradually curve toward the front face Cf as the back face Cb approaches an open end of the upper section C.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device including a first section and a second section, where the electronic device may be designed with an improved degree of freedom of exterior design and may keep a relative position between the first section and the second section constant both in a closed mode and in a flipped-closed mode.

To achieve the above advantage, according to one aspect of the present invention an electronic apparatus includes a first section and a second section which are coupled by a connection section such that the first and second sections are foldably connected around a folding axis and are rotationally connected around a flipping axis which is perpendicular to the folding axis, such that the first section and the second section are foldable together in: (i) a first mode in which a front face of the first section faces a front face of the second section, and (ii) a second mode in which the front face of the first section faces a back face of the second section.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a contact protector, which is provided on the front face of the first section, includes a first portion and a second portion, and a dent is provided in the front face of the second section. When the first section and the second section are folded together in the first mode, the first portion of the contact protector is in contact with the front face of the second section and forms a first clearance between the front face of the first section and the front face of the second section, and the second portion of the contact protector is accommodated in the dent in the front face of the second section so as not to interfere with formation of the clearance. And when the first section and the second section are folded together in the second mode, the second portion of the contact protector is in contact with the back face of the second section and forms a second clearance between the front face of the first section and the back face of the second section.

According to the first aspect, the contact protector may be a rod-like member having two end portions, in which the first portion of the contact protector includes the two end portions of the rod-like member, and the second portion of the contact protector includes a middle portion of the rod-like member between the two end portions, and the rod-like member may be a unitary member including both the first portion and the second portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a first contact protector and a second contact protector are provided on the front face of the first section, and a dent is provided in the front face of the second section. When the first section and the second section are folded together in the first mode, the first contact protector is in contact with the front face of the second section and forms a first clearance between the front face of the first section and the front face of the second section, and the second contact protector is accommodated in the dent in the front face of the second section so as not to interfere with formation of the clearance. And when the first section and the second section are folded together in the second mode, the second contact protector is in contact with the back face of the second section and forms a second clearance between the front face of the first section and the back face of the second section.

According to the second aspect, the first contact protector may include two contact protector members provided on respective sides of the second contact protector.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a first contact protector is provided on the front face of the second section, a second contact protector provided on the front face of the first section, and a dent provided in the front face of the second section. When the first section and the second section are folded together in the first mode, the first contact protector is in contact with the front face of the first section and forms a first clearance between the front face of the first section and the front face of the second section, and the second contact protector is accommodated in the dent in the front face of the second section so as not to interfere with formation of the clearance. And when the first section and the second section are folded together in the second mode, the second contact protector is in contact with the back face of the second section and forms a second clearance between the front face of the first section and the back face of the second section.

According to the third aspect, the first contact protector may include two contact protector members provided on respective sides of the dent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1-9.FIGS. 1-3show a foldable mobile phone1as an example of an electronic apparatus of the first embodiment. As shown inFIG. 1, the mobile phone1has a lower section (first section)2formed as a main body and an upper section (second section)3formed as a lid.

The lower section2has, on a front face2f, a microphone2mand user controls2M including a plurality of operation keys. The upper section3has, on a front face3f, a speaker3rand a liquid crystal display (LCD) 3D of a significant size.

The lower section2and the upper section3are foldably connected around a folding axis x as shown by an arrow F inFIG. 3B, and are rotationally connected around a flipping axis z which is perpendicular to the folding axis x as shown by an arrow R inFIGS. 3A and 3C, through a connection4(a connection section) including a rotating two-axis hinge (not shown).

In the following, the term “open end” of the lower section2refers to the end of the lower section2farthest from the connection4(that is, the end at the bottom ofFIG. 3A, for example), and the term “open end” of the upper section3refers to the end of the upper section3farthest from the connection4(that is, the end at the top ofFIG. 3A, for example).

The mobile phone1thereby has four mechanical modes, namely a closed mode, an open mode, a flipped-open mode and a flipped-closed mode, as follows. The “closed mode” is a state of the mobile phone1in which the lower section2and the upper section3are closed with respect to each other while the front face2ffaces the front face3f. SeeFIG. 2AorFIG. 6B, for example. The mobile phone1may shift from the closed mode to the “open mode,” in which the upper section3is open with respect to the lower section2by a degree defined by an open attitude around the folding axis x. SeeFIG. 6A, for example. The mobile phone1may shift from the open mode to the “flipped-open” mode by flipping the upper section3by 180 degrees around the flipping axis z. SeeFIG. 8A, for example. The mobile phone1may shift from the flipped-open mode to the “flipped-closed” mode by closing the upper section3with respect to the lower section2while the front face2fof the lower section2faces a back face3bof the upper section3, and while the LCD 3D is exposed outwards. SeeFIG. 2BorFIG. 8B, for example.

The front face2fof the lower section2and the front face3fof the upper section3are both planar, and the back face3bof the upper section3is curved such that the back face3bgradually curves inward toward the front face3fas the back face3bapproaches the open end of the upper section3. The mobile phone1is thereby designed to be wedge-shaped in the closed mode.

As shown inFIG. 1,FIG. 3AandFIG. 3B, the front face2fof the lower section2has a clearance pad (a contact protector)5near the microphone2mlocated close to the open end of the lower section2. The front face3fof the upper section3has an accommodation dent3R made at a location close to the open end of the lower section3. The accommodation dent3R is positioned and shaped so as to meet and accommodate the clearance pad5when the mobile phone1is in the closed mode.

As shown inFIG. 4, the clearance pad5is rod-like and extends in a width direction of the lower section2. The clearance pad5is made of a suitable elastic material such as an elastomer(s).

The clearance pad5includes a pair of front face pad portions5B,5B provided at each end thereof as shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B. Each of the pair of front face pads portions5B,5B may serve as a first contact protector. The clearance pad5also includes, at a middle portion thereof, a back face pad portion5A, which may serve as a second contact protector. According to the first embodiment, the back face pad portion5A and the front face portions5B,5B are formed together in a single unit (the clearance pad5), as shown inFIG. 4B, for example. However, each of the front face pad portions5B,5B and the back face pad portion5A may be provided as a separate member. (For example, see the disclosure of the second embodiment below). As seen inFIGS. 4B and 4C, the back face pad portion5A has a height Ha and is taller than the front face pad portions5B,5B, which have a height Hb. The difference between height Ha and Hb is Hd as seen inFIGS. 4B and 4C.

As shown inFIGS. 5A,5B and5C, the accommodation dent3R is a long hole extending in a width direction of the upper section3. At a middle portion of the bottom of the hole, a sound aperture3ofor the speaker3ris provided.

The back face pad portion5A of the clearance pad5has a long side length L (seeFIG. 4A) and the accommodation dent3R has a long side length W (seeFIG. 5A). The length W of the accommodation dent3R is slightly greater than the length L of the back face pad portion5A. As shown inFIG. 4B, the back face pad portion5A is taller than the front face pad portions5B,5B by a difference of height Hd, and as shown inFIG. 5B, the accommodation dent3R has a depth D. The depth D is slightly larger than the difference of height Hd.

If the mobile phone1shifts from the open mode shown inFIG. 6Ato the closed mode shown inFIG. 6Bby closing the upper section3with respect to the lower section2, the front face pad portions5B,5B of the clearance pad5come into contact with the front face3fof the upper section3as shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B. Meanwhile, the back face pad portion5A is accommodated by the accommodation dent3R in the front face3fof the upper section3, as shown in FIGS.7A and7B. A certain clearance g is thereby formed between the front face2fof the lower section2and the front face3fof the upper section3, since the front face3fof the upper section3is supported by the front face pad portions5B,5B. Since the back face pad portion5A is accommodated in the accommodation dent3R, the back face pad portion5A does not interfere with maintaining the clearance g using the front face pad portions5B,5B.

If the mobile phone1shifts from the flipped-open mode shown inFIG. 8Ato the flipped-closed mode shown inFIG. 8Bby closing the upper section3(which has been flipped by 180 degrees about the flipping axis z) with respect to the lower section2, the back face pad portion5A of the clearance pad5comes into contact with the back face3bof the upper section3as shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B. The clearance g is thereby formed between the front face2fof the lower section2and the back face3bof the upper section3, by supporting the back face3bof the upper section3by the back face pad portion5A.

Thus, in the flipped-closed mode, as seen inFIGS. 9A and 9B, the back face pad portion5A, which is taller than the front face pad portions5B,5B, comes into contact with the open end portion (seeFIG. 9A) of the curved back face3bof the upper section3. Thereby, as shown inFIG. 9A, the clearance g is formed between the front face2fof the lower section2and the back face3bof the upper section3and a relative position of the lower section2and the upper section3is kept constant, both in the closed mode and in the flipped-closed mode. (In the flipped-closed mode, the clearance between the lower section2and the upper section3widens outward from the clearance g at the tip end of the upper section3, due to the curving of the back face3b.)

In other words, the back face3bof the upper section3may be gradually curved toward the front face3fas the back face3bapproaches the open end of the upper section3, and the clearance g may still be formed and the relative position of the lower section2and the upper section3may be kept constant in the closed and flipped-closed modes, due to the clearance pad5having the back face pad portion5A with the height Ha and the front face pad portions5B,5B with the height Hb that is smaller than the height Ha, and due to the accommodation dent3R in the front face3fof the upper section3.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the mobile phone1includes, on the front face2fof the lower section2, the front face pad portions (first contact protector)5B,5B which come into contact with the front face3fof the upper section3in the closed mode, and the back face pad portion (second contact protector)5A which comes into contact with the back face3bof the upper section3in the flipped-closed mode. With this structure, front face3fand the back face3bmay thereby be shaped differently, so that the degree of freedom of exterior design of the mobile phone1may be highly improved.

As described above, the mobile phone1of the first embodiment has the clearance pad5on the front face2fof the lower section2, and the clearance pad5includes the front face pad portions5B,5B as the first contact protector and the back face pad portion5A as the second contact protector. With the structure described above, the front face pad portions5B,5B and the back face pad portion5A are formed/shaped together as a unit. However, a shape or an arrangement of each of the first contact protector and the second contact protector may be modified in various ways, and are not limited to the shape and arrangement of the first embodiment.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 10-12.FIG. 10is a perspective view of a foldable mobile phone1′ of the second embodiment. As shown inFIG. 10, the mobile phone1′ has a lower section2′ and an upper section3′.

The configuration of the mobile phone1′ of the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the mobile phone1of the first embodiment, except for shapes and arrangements of clearance pads, as described below. Therefore, in the explanation of the second embodiment below, each portion of the mobile phone1′ which is the same as a portion of the mobile phone1of the first embodiment is given a same reference numeral with a prime (′) notation, and an explanation thereof is omitted.

The mobile phone1′ has, on the front face2f′ of the lower section2′ close to the open end of the lower section2′, a center clearance pad5A′ which may serve as a second contact protector. The mobile phone1′ also has, on both sides of the center clearance pad5A′, a pair of side clearance pads5B′,5B′, each of which may serve as a first contact protector.

The front face3f′ of the upper section3′ has an accommodation dent3R′ made at a location close to the open end of the front face3f′. The accommodation dent3R′ is positioned and shaped so as to meet and accommodate the clearance pad5A′ when the mobile phone1′ is in the closed mode.

If the mobile phone1′ is in the closed mode, as shown inFIGS. 11A and 11B, the side clearance pads5B′,5B′ are in contact with the front face3f′ of the upper section3′. Meanwhile, the center clearance pad5A′ is accommodated by the accommodation dent3R′ made in the front face3f′ of the upper section3′. A certain clearance g′ is thereby formed between the front face2f′ of the lower section2′ and the front face3f′ of the upper section3′, since the front face3f′ of the upper section3′ is supported by the side clearance pads5B′,5B′. Since the center clearance pad5A′ is accommodated in the accommodation dent3R′, the center clearance pad5A′ does not interfere with maintaining the clearance g′ using the side clearance pads5B′,5B′. If the mobile phone1′ is in the flipped-closed mode, as shown inFIGS. 12A and 12B, the center clearance pad5A′ is in contact with the open end portion (seeFIG. 12A) of the back face3b′ of the upper section3′. The clearance g′ is thereby formed between the front face2f′ of the lower section2′ and the back face3b′ of the upper section3′, by supporting the back face3b′ of the upper section3′ by the center clearance pad5A′, as shown inFIG. 12A.

Thus, in the flipped-closed mode, as shown inFIGS. 12A and 12B, the center clearance pad5A′, which is taller than the side clearance pads5B′,5B′, is in contact with the open end portion of the curved back face3b′ of the upper section3′. Thereby, as shown inFIG. 12A, the clearance g′ is formed between the lower section2′ and the upper section3′, and a relative position of the lower section2′ and the upper section3′ is kept constant, both in the closed mode and in the flipped-closed mode. (In the flipped-closed mode, the clearance between the lower section2′ and the upper section3′ widens outward from the clearance g′ at the tip end of the upper section3′, due to the curving of the back face3b′.)

According to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, as according to the first embodiment, the front face3f′ and the back face3b′ of the upper section3′ of the mobile phone1′ may be shaped differently so that the degree of freedom of exterior design of the mobile phone1′ may be highly improved.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 13-15.FIG. 13is a perspective view of a foldable mobile phone1″ of the third embodiment. As shown inFIG. 13, the mobile phone1″ has a lower section2″ and an upper section3″.

The configuration of the mobile phone1″ of the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the mobile phone1′ of the second embodiment, except for arrangements of side clearance pads, as described below. Therefore, in the explanation of the third embodiment below, each portion of the mobile phone1″ which is the same as a portion of the mobile phone1′ of the second embodiment is given a same reference numeral with a double prime (″) notation, and an explanation thereof is omitted.

The mobile phone1″ has, on the front face2f″ of the lower section2″ close to a central portion of the open end of the lower section2″, a center clearance pad5A″ which may serve as a second contact protector.

The front face3f″ of the upper section3″ has an accommodation dent3R″ made at a location close to the open end of the front face3f′. The accommodation dent3R″ is positioned and shaped so as to meet and accommodate the clearance pad5A″ when the mobile phone1″ is in the closed mode. The front face3f′ of the upper section3″ also has a pair of side clearance pads5B″,5B″, each of which may serve as a first contact protector, on respective sides of the accommodation dent3R″.

If the mobile phone1″ is in the closed mode shown inFIGS. 14A and 14B, the side clearance pads5B″,5B″ are in contact with the front face2f′ of the lower section2″. Meanwhile, the center clearance pad5A″ is accommodated by the accommodation dent3R″ made in the front face3f″ of the upper section3″. A certain clearance g″ is thereby formed between the front face2f″ of the lower section2″ and the front face3f″ of the upper section3″, since the front face3f″ is supported by the side clearance pads5B″,5B″. Since the center clearance pad5A″ is accommodated in the accommodation dent3R″, the center clearance pad5A″ does not interfere with maintaining the clearance g″ using the side clearance pads5B″,5B″.

If the mobile phone1″ is in the flipped-closed mode shown inFIGS. 15A and 15B, the center clearance pad5A″ is in contact with the open end portion (seeFIG. 15A) of the back face3b″ of the upper section3″. As shown inFIG. 15A, the clearance g″ is thereby formed between the front face2f″ of the lower section2″ and the back face3b″ of the upper section3″, by supporting the back face3b″ of the upper section3″ by the center clearance pad5A″.

Thus, in the flipped-closed mode, as shown inFIGS. 15A and 15B, the center clearance pad5A″, which is taller than the side clearance pads5B″,5B″, is in contact with the open end portion of the curved back face3b″ of the upper section3″. Thereby, the clearance g″ is formed between the lower section2″ and the upper section3″ and a relative position of the lower section2″ and the upper section3″ is kept constant, both in the closed mode and in the flipped-closed mode. (In the flipped-closed mode, the clearance between the lower section2″ and the upper section3″ widens outward from the clearance g″ at the tip end of the upper section3″, due to the curving of the back face3b″.)

According to the third embodiment of the present invention described above, as according to the first and second embodiments, the front face3f″ and the back face3b″ of the upper section3″ of the mobile phone1″ may be shaped differently so that the degree of freedom of exterior design of the mobile phone1″ may be highly improved.

Each of the above embodiments has been described as an application of the present invention to a mobile phone, as an example of an electronic apparatus to which the structure of the present invention is applicable. The present invention may also be applied to other kinds of electronic apparatuses, such as, for example, an electronic dictionary or a personal digital assistant (PDA), having a first section and a second section which are foldably and rotationally connected through a connection including a rotating two-axis hinge.

The particular hardware or software implementation of the present invention may be varied while still remaining within the scope of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.