Abstract:
An information processing apparatus has a pair of speakers. A body has a reference surface thereof and provided with a keyboard section, the keyboard having a shaft to which a display section is pivotably connected. The display section is constituted as a lid portion for said body. Each speaker has a sound radiation surface and the pair of speakers are arranged at the left and right sides, respectively, in such a manner that the sound radiation surface is oblique with respect to said reference surface of the body.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/840,458, filed Apr. 18, 1997, now allowed. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a word processor. More specifically, this invention relates to a thin, light-weight information processing apparatus having speakers.  
           [0004]    As information processing apparatuses have become wide spread in recent years, an improvement in portability of these apparatuses has been required. Therefore, an information processing apparatus which is small in size and thickness and light in weight must be provided. On the other hand, to satisfy the compatibility of these apparatuses with multimedia, speakers must be provided in them and the sound quality of the speakers must be improved, as well. This means that a small and thin information processing apparatus having high sound quality must be provided.  
           [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0006]    An example of conventionally known information processing apparatuses according to the prior art with built-in type speakers includes a pair of speakers provided at respective side surfaces of the main body of the apparatus. The speakers of this apparatus are fitted in such a fashion that their sound radiation surfaces (or their fitting surfaces) are parallel to the respective side surfaces of the main body of the information processing apparatus.  
           [0007]    Since the speakers are fitted so that their sound radiation surfaces are parallel to the side surface of the apparatus main body according to this prior art example, the thickness of the information processing apparatus is limited by the height of the sound radiation surfaces of the speakers, and the thickness cannot be reduced so easily.  
           [0008]    In another prior art example, a pair of speakers is disposed on respective sides of the rear part of the upper surface (the surface on which an operation surface is positioned) of the apparatus main body. In this example, the speakers are disposed in such a manner that their sound radiation surfaces are parallel to the upper surface, i.e., the operation surface, of the apparatus main body. That is, the sound radiation surfaces of the speakers exist on the projection surface of the information processing apparatus. However, because the sound radiation surfaces of the speakers exist on the projection surface of the information processing apparatus main body, the speaker surfaces cannot be secured in relation with the area of the operation surface, and speakers having sufficient sizes cannot be mounted.  
           [0009]    In still another prior art example, the speakers are allowed to swell out from respective side surfaces of the main body of the information processing apparatus when they are used. The speakers are fitted so that their sound radiation surfaces are situated on the upper surface of the swelling portions. Because the speakers  2  are allowed to swell out from the apparatus main body  1  during use, however, the swelling portions are cumbersome, and remarkably impede portability of the information processing apparatus.  
           [0010]    Incidentally, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-76885 describes an example wherein the speakers are disposed on a peripheral processing substrate, disposed separately from a main substrate, in order to reduce the thickness of the apparatus main body in an information processing apparatus having speakers.  
           [0011]    Though the prior art reference described above contemplates to reduce the thickness of the apparatus main body by disposing the speakers on the peripheral processing substrate, separate from the main substrate, the size of the speakers and their dispositions are limited because they are disposed on the peripheral processing substrate, and there is an inherent limit to the improvement of sound quality of the speakers.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus having speakers in which an increase of the sound projection area of the information processing apparatus, due to the provision of the speakers, can be significantly diminished, the thickness of its main body can be reduced, and a sound quality of the speakers is improved.  
           [0013]    According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus having at least one speaker, said apparatus comprising: a body of said information processing apparatus, said body having a reference surface thereof; and said speaker having a sound radiation surface which is oblique with respect to said reference surface of the body.  
           [0014]    In another aspect, there is provided an information processing apparatus having at least a pair of speakers, said apparatus comprising: a body of said information processing apparatus, said body having a reference surface and respective left and right sides thereof; and said pair of speakers arranged at said left and right sides, respectively, each of said speaker having a sound radiation surface which is oblique with respect to said reference surface of the body.  
           [0015]    According to a still another aspect, there is provided an information processing apparatus having at least a pair of speakers, said apparatus comprising: a body of said information processing apparatus, said body having a reference surface thereof; and an extended station on which said body is detachably mounted and said extended station having left and right sides thereof; and said pair of speakers arranged at said left and right sides, respectively, each of said speaker having a sound radiation surface, in such a manner that said sound radiation surface is oblique with respect to said reference surface of the body; and said extended station having respective gaps, each of which is defined at a front part of said sound radiation surfaces of the respective speaker, when said body is mounted on said extended station.  
           [0016]    According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus having at least a pair of speakers, said apparatus.comprising: a body of said information processing apparatus, said body having a reference surface thereof and provided with a keyboard section; a display section; said body having a shaft to which said display section is pivotably connected; said display section being constituted as a lid portion for said body; said pair of speakers arranged at said left and right sides, respectively, and each of said speakers having a sound radiation surface which is oblique with respect to said reference surface of the body.  
           [0017]    When the speakers are fitted obliquely so that their sound radiation surfaces are oblique with respect to the reference surface (for example, an operation surface or side surfaces) of the main body of the information processing apparatus, the height can be remarkably reduced and the apparatus main body can be made far thinner than when the speakers are fitted to the side surfaces of the information processing apparatus. Further, the installation area of the speakers on the projection plane can be reduced in comparison with the case where the speakers are disposed so that their sound radiation surfaces exist on the projection plane of the information processing apparatus main body, and the areas of the sound radiation surfaces of the speakers can be sufficiently secured.  
           [0018]    A gap is defined at the front part of each of the sound radiation surfaces of the speakers. According to this arrangement, the gap portions at the front surface portions of the speakers serve as sound diffusion areas and a sound quality of the speakers can be improved. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1( a ) is a perspective view of an information processing apparatus having speakers of this invention according to the first embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 1 ( b ) is an enlarged sectional view of a portion A in FIG. 1( a );  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2( a ) is a perspective view of an information processing apparatus having speakers of this invention according to the second embodiment, and FIGS.  2 ( b ) and  2 ( c ) are enlarged sectional views of a portion B in FIG. 2( a );  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3( a ) is an exploded perspective view of an information processing apparatus having speakers of this invention according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 3( b ) is a perspective view showing the state where the main body of the information processing apparatus is loaded to an extended station;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the change of size when the speaker is inclined from the state where it is disposed on the side surface of the main body;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5( a ) is an explanatory view showing the change of size when the outer peripheral portion of the speaker comes into contact with the main body, and FIG. 5( b ) is an explanatory view showing the change of size when the center portion of the speaker comes into contact with the main body;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the change of size when the speaker is inclined from the state where it is disposed on an operation surface of the main body;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the main body of an information processing apparatus, an add-in battery and an extended (e.g., docking) station;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the state where the add-in battery is loaded to the main body of the information processing apparatus; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the state where the information processing apparatus and the add-in battery are further fitted to the extended (e.g., docking) station. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    Hereinafter, some preferred embodiments of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1( a ) shows an embodiment wherein a pair of speakers  2  are obliquely disposed at respective right and left sides, toward the front of the upper surface where an operation panel of the main body  1  of the information apparatus is situated. FIG. 1( b ) is a detailed sectional view of a portion A in FIG. 1( a ). A pair of notch portions  3  are provided at correspondingly fixed locations the respective right and left front end positions of the upper surface of the main body  1  in such a manner that they incline progressively downwardly towards the right and left ends in fixed relationship relatively to a main surface of the body  1  and their tops are open, respectively, and the speakers  2  are fixedly fitted to these notch portions  3 , respectively, and mounted to the body  1  so as to be immobile with respect to the body  1 . Therefore, the sound radiation surface  2 ′ of each speaker  2  inclines progressively downwardly towards the side bottom edge at a fixed relationship with respect to the operation panel which is a horizontal surface. In this connection, reference numeral  4  in FIG. 1 denotes a liquid crystal display portion.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 2( a ), notch portions  5  are defined at corresponding fixed locations in front portions of right and left side edge walls of the main body  1  in such a manner that they open towards the side walls and their upper portions are closed or covered, respectively. The lower surface of each notch portion  5 , that is, the fitting surface of the speaker  2 , inclines progressively downwardly towards the right or left end in fixed relationship relatively to a main surface of the body  1 . FIGS.  2 ( b ) and  2 ( c ) are detailed sectional views of portion B in FIG. 2( a ). As shown in these drawings, the speaker  2  is fitted to the slope surface of this notch portion  5  at a fixed relationship. Therefore, the speaker  2  is fitted on the lower surface of, and inside, this notch portion  5  in such a manner as to incline progressively downwardly towards the side edge of the main body  1  and mounted to the body  1  so as to be immobile with respect to the body  1 . In this embodiment, therefore, the gap (notch portion)  5  exists in front of the sound radiation surface  2 ′ of the speaker  2 , and this gap  5  has a cross-sectional area which progressively increases towards the side edge of the main body  1  of the information processing apparatus, and defines the sound diffusion area from the speaker  2 . In this way, the tone quality of the speaker  2  can be improved.  
         [0031]    FIGS.  3 ( a ) and  3 ( b ) show another embodiment wherein the speakers are not provided on the main body  1  of the information processing apparatus, but are fitted to an extended docking station  10 , and so as to be immobile relatively thereto, to which the main body  1  of the information processing apparatus can be removably fitted. FIG. 3( a ) shows a state before the main body  1  is loaded to the station and FIG. 3( b ) shows a state after the main body  1  is loaded to the extended station  10 . Both of the drawings are perspective views.  
         [0032]    The information processing apparatus per se, which can be loaded to the extended station  10 , is well known. Generally, when the main body  1  of the information processing apparatus is loaded to the extended station  10 , their connectors (not shown) are mutually fitted, and the main body  1  of the information processing apparatus and the extended station  10  are electrically connected with each other.  
         [0033]    When the main body  1  of the information processing apparatus is loaded onto the upper surface of the extended station  10  in this embodiment, both front and rear sides of the extended station  10  somewhat protrude from the main body  1  of the information processing apparatus as shown in FIG. 3( b ) but their side portions are superposed with one another. In this embodiment, notch portions  11  are defined at respective side positions disposed toward the front part of the upper surface of the extended station  10  in such a manner that they incline progressively downwardly towards the right and left sides and the upper side of the extended station  10  is open, and the speakers  2  are fitted into the notch portions  11 , respectively. Therefore, the sound radiation surface of each speaker  2  inclines progressively downward towards the side edge of the extended station  10 .  
         [0034]    When the information processing apparatus main body  1  is loaded onto the upper surface of the extended station  10 , the gap (notch portion)  11 ; the sectional area of which progressively expands in a direction towards the side end of the extended station  10 , is defined in front of each speaker  2  in the same way as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 wherein the bottom surface of the main body  1  of the information processing apparatus closes the open surface of the notch  11 . This gap  11  defines the sound diffusion area from the speaker  2  in the same way as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and sound quality of the sound generated from the speaker  2  can be improved.  
         [0035]    FIGS.  4  to  6  show the change of dimension when the speakers are disposed obliquely. FIG. 4 shows the case where the speaker  2  is fitted in parallel to the side surface of the main body  1  of the information processing apparatus on the right side (prior art example) and the speaker  2  is fitted obliquely at an angle θ with reference to the reference surface (operation surface as the horizontal plane) of the main body  1  on the left side (this invention). In this case, symbol Δh represents the decrement in the direction of thickness.  
         [0036]    In FIG. 5, the speaker has an outer diameter r 1 , a thickness D 1  at the center and a thickness D 2  at an outer peripheral portion. FIG. 5( a ) shows the case where the speaker  2  is brought into contact with the main body portion  1  of the information processing apparatus, at its thickness portion (D 2 ), when it is disposed obliquely with the sound radiation surface thereof facing up, and FIG. 5( b ) shows the case where it is brought into contact with the main body portion ( 1 ) of the information processing apparatus, at the thickness portion (D 1 ) at the center when the speaker  2  is disposed obliquely with the sound radiation surface thereof facing up.  
         [0037]    In FIG. 5( a ), the decrement of thickness Δh in the direction of height shown on the left side, which represents the embodiment of the invention, becomes as follows in comparison with the case (prior art example) where the speaker  2  is fitted in parallel to the side surface of the information apparatus main body  1  shown on the right side:  
         Δ h=r   1 −( r   1  sin θ+D 2 cos θ)  
         [0038]    In FIG. 5( b ), the decrement of thickness Δh in the direction of height, shown on the left side, is given by the following equation in comparison with the case (prior art example) where the speaker  2  is fitted in parallel to the side surface of the information processing apparatus main body  1  shown on the right side:  
         Δ h=r   1 −( r   1  sin θ+D 1  cos θ− r   3  sin θ)  
         [0039]    Here, symbol r 2  represents the half of the difference between the outer diameter r 1  of the speaker  2  at its outer peripheral portion and the outer diameter r 3  at its center portion, that is, r 2 =(r 1 −r 2 )/2 .  
         [0040]    As described above, the Δh value is different, depending on the shape of the speaker  2 , that is, the outer diameter r 1  of the speaker, the thickness D 1  at the center portion, the thickness D 2  at the peripheral portion, the diameter at the center portion etc., but in all the embodiments, the size in the direction of height can be reduced by maximum Δh.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 6 shows the case where the speaker  2  is fitted to the upper surface, at which the operation surface of the information processing apparatus main body  1  exists (prior art example) and the speaker  2  is fitted obliquely at an angle θ with respect to the reference surface of the information processing apparatus main body  1  on the up side (this invention). In this case, symbol Δw represents the decrement in the direction of the plane, and this Δw is given by the following equation:  
         Δ w=r   1   −r   1  cos θ 
         [0042]    In this case, the installation area of the speaker  2  can be reduced by a maximum of Δw in the planar direction without being much affected by the shape of the speaker  2 . Therefore, the dimension of the information processing apparatus main body  1  itself can be reduced by maximum Δw on the right and left sides, too.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the information processing apparatus main body  1 , the add-in battery  8  and the extended (docking) station  10  having the speakers  2 , accommodated and mounted therein in the same way as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the state where the add-in battery  8  is loaded to the information processing apparatus main body  1 , and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the state where they are further loaded to the extended station  10 .  
         [0044]    The add-in battery  8  can be removably fitted to the information processing apparatus  1  as described above. According to the present invention, however, the add-in battery  8  can be further loaded to the extended station while it is kept loaded to the information processing apparatus main body  1 . Therefore, the extended station  10  is provided with a recess  14  for accepting the add-in battery  8 . Since this recess  14  is not a mere opening but is a recess, a wiring pattern such as a printed board for supplying and transmitting power and signals between regions at the front and back of the extended station can be disposed below this recess  14  and the space can be therefore utilized effectively.  
         [0045]    Incidentally, when the information processing apparatus main body is loaded onto the extended station  10 , the connector (not shown) disposed on the back surface of the information processing apparatus main body fits to the connector of the extended station  10  and establishes the electrical connection between them.  
         [0046]    Furthermore, the speakers  2  are disposed on front portions of respective sides of the extended station  10 . These speakers are inclined downwardly towards the respective side edges. Therefore, thin speakers  2  can be effectively disposed. The back surface of the information processing apparatus main body  1  keeps contact with the upper surface  12  of the extended station  10  under the state where the information processing apparatus main body  1  is loaded. Because the speakers  2  on both sides are inclined, however, the gaps are defined between the speakers  2  and the back (i.e., bottom) surface of the information processing apparatus main body, and the speaker sound can be effectively diffused.  
         [0047]    As described above, according to the present invention, the speakers are fitted in such a manner that their sound radiation surfaces are inclined in fixed relationship relatively to a main surface of the body  1  with respect to the reference surface of the main body of the information processing apparatus. Therefore, in comparison with the case where the speakers are merely fitted to the side surfaces of the information processing apparatus, the height can be reduced, and the thickness of the apparatus main body can be reduced. Further, the installation area of the speakers on the projection surface can be reduced and the area for the speaker surface can be sufficiently secured in comparison with the case where the speakers are disposed so that their sound radiation surfaces exist on the projection surface of the information processing apparatus main body.  
         [0048]    Since the gap is formed in front of the sound radiation surface of each speaker, the gap portion of the front surface of each speaker serves as a sound diffusion area, and tone quality of the speaker can be improved.  
         [0049]    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.