Abstract:
There is provided a portable device which includes a first housing, a housing member removable from the first housing, where the housing member includes an exposed portion, the exposed portion projecting from the first housing when the housing member is inserted in the first housing, a second housing coupled with the first housing so as to be allowed to be folded on the first housing, the second housing including a wall made of electrical insulating material, and an antenna disposed in the second housing and surrounded partially with the wall, a part of the antenna and the exposed portion facing each other via the wall when the first and second housings are folded on each other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-076337, filed on Mar. 30, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The embodiments discussed herein are related to a portable device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A portable device is known that has a first housing, and a second housing connected to the first housing so as to be able to be superimposed on the first housing (Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-232220, Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3027116, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-17466). Some of the portable devices include an antenna in the second housing. In these portable devices, the wall portion of the second housing surrounding the antenna is formed of insulating material in order to suppress influence on the transmitting and receiving of radio waves by the antenna. 
         [0004]    In the superimposed state, the antenna housed in the second housing faces the first housing with the wall portion of the second housing therebetween. Therefore, depending on the material of the first housing, the first housing may exert influence on the receiving sensitivity of the antenna in the superimposed state. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to an aspect of the invention, a portable device includes a first housing, a housing member removable from the first housing, the housing member including an exposed portion, the exposed portion projecting from the first housing when the housing member is inserted in the first housing, a second housing coupled with the first housing so as to be allowed to be folded on the first housing, the second housing including a wall made of electrical insulating material, and an antenna disposed in the second housing and surrounded partially with the wall, a part of the antenna and the exposed portion facing each other via the wall when the first and second housings are folded on each other. 
         [0006]    The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
         [0007]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
         [0008]    The present invention may provide a portable device in which the reduction of the receiving sensitivity of an antenna is suppressed in a state where first and second housings are superimposed on each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIGS. 1A to 1C  are explanatory views of a notebook computer of this embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a housing. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the notebook computer with housing members removed. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective views of one of the housing members. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the housing member. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the housing member. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a partial enlarged view of the housing member in a state where a locking portion is attached to a lower case. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the notebook computer with a housing disassembled.  FIG. 8B  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 8A . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a state where antennas and a camera unit are removed from a case and a cover of the housing. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the notebook computer in a first superimposed state illustrating the positions of the antennas and the camera unit. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the notebook computer in a second superimposed state illustrating the positions of the antennas and the camera unit. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the notebook computer in the second superimposed state. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is an explanatory view of a housing member that is a first modification. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a partial enlarged view of the housing member of the first modification in a state where a locking portion is attached to a lower case. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is an explanatory view of a housing member that is a second modification. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of the housing member that is the second modification. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    A notebook computer will be described as an example of a portable device.  FIGS. 1A to 1C  are explanatory views of a notebook computer  1  of this embodiment. The notebook computer  1  has housings  10  and  20 . The housing  10  is an example of a first housing. The housing  20  is an example of a second housing. The housings  10  and  20  are connected with a biaxial hinge H. The housing  10  has an upper surface  11 , a bottom surface facing the upper surface  11 , and side surfaces  13  and  15  that have smaller areas than the upper surface  11  and the bottom surface. The side surfaces  13  and  15  connect the upper surface  11  and the bottom surface. The upper surface  11  of the housing  10  is an example of a third surface. The bottom surface of the housing  10  is an example of a fourth surface. The side surface  13  is an example of a fifth surface. The upper surface  11  is provided with a keyboard K for operating the notebook computer  1 , and a cover  30 . The side surface  15  is provided with a plurality of ports and connectors. The housing  10  houses a mother board for controlling the overall operation of the notebook computer  1 . The housing  10  houses two detachable housing members B. The two housing members B are provided on either side of the cover  30 . 
         [0026]    The housing  20  has a front surface  21 , a back surface  22  facing the front surface  21 , and side surfaces  23  and  25  that have smaller areas than the front surface  21  and the back surface  22 . The side surfaces  23  and  25  connect the front surface  21  and the back surface  22 . The front surface  21  of the housing  20  is an example of a first surface. The back surface  22  of the housing  20  is an example of a second surface. The front surface  21  is provided with a display unit U. The display unit U includes a display panel that may display images, and a touch panel that may be operated by touching. Various types of touch panels, such as a resistive touch panel, a surface acoustic wave touch panel, and an infrared touch panel, may be used as the touch panel. An electrostatic capacitance touch panel may also be used that does not require a stylus pen and that uses the change in the electrostatic capacitance between the user&#39;s finger and a conductive film. Instead of the touch panel, an electromagnetic induction pen tablet that is operated with a stylus pen may be used. 
         [0027]    The biaxial hinge H connects the housings  10  and  20  rotatably about two different axes A 1  and A 2 . The axes A 1  and A 2  are perpendicular to each other. The axis A 1  extends parallel to the direction in which the longitudinal direction of the upper surface  11  extends. The axis A 2  extends in a direction that intersects the upper surface  11 . That is to say, the axes A 1  and A 2  intersect. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a first superimposed state where the front surface  21  of the housing  20  is superimposed on the upper surface  11  of the housing  10 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates an open state where the housings  10  and  20  are open.  FIG. 1C  illustrates a second superimposed state where the back surface  22  of the housing  20  is superimposed on the upper surface  11  of the housing  10 . From the first superimposed state, the user rotates the housing  20  about the axis A 1 , thereby bringing the notebook computer  1  into the open state. From the open state of  FIG. 1B , the user rotates the housing  20  about the axis A 2  such that the back surface  22  of the housing  20  and the upper surface  11  of the housing  10  face each other. The user may rotate the housing  20  about the axis A 1  such that the housing  20  is superimposed on the housing  10  with the back surface  22  of the housing  20  and the upper surface  11  of the housing  10  facing each other. Thus, the notebook computer  1  is brought into the second superimposed state where the upper surface  11  of the housing  10  and the back surface  22  of the housing  20  face each other. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the housing  10 . The housing  10  includes cases  10 F and  10 R and a cover  30 . The cases  10 F and  10 R are made of metal. The cover  30  is made of insulating material, and more specifically, it is made of synthetic resin. However, the material of the cover  30  is not limited to this. The cover  30  may be made, for example, of rubber. The cover  30  covers an electrostatic capacitance touch sensor SN. When the user&#39;s finger touches the cover  30 , the touch sensor SN disposed inside the cover  30  detects the position of the user&#39;s finger. The cover  30  is attached to the case  10 F. The upper surface  11  of the housing  10  is defined by the case  10 F and the cover  30 . The bottom surface  12  of the housing  10  is defined by the case  10 R. 
         [0030]    On the case  10 R side, there are disposed a mother board M, a heat pipe HP that receives heat from a semiconductor chip CP mounted on the mother board M, a radiator R connected to the heat pipe HP, and a fan F that cools the radiator R. The case  10 R houses a stylus pen P for operating the touch panel of the display unit U. In the case  10 R, two housing members B are disposed. The two housing members B are housed in the housing  10  and are disposed on either side of the cover  30 . 
         [0031]    Most of the housing  10  is defined by the metal cases  10 F and  10 R. In general, metals are denser than insulating materials, and metals are stronger than insulating materials. Therefore, a housing formed of a thin metal sheet is strong but lightweight compared to a housing formed of insulating material. In this embodiment, most of the housing  10  is formed of metal, and therefore the strength and lightness of the housing  10  are ensured. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the notebook computer  1  with the housing members B removed. In the side surface  13  of the housing  10 , insertion openings  18  are formed into which the housing members B may be inserted. On the side surface  13  of the housing  10 , locking portions  19  for locking the housing members B are provided. By sliding the locking portions  19  in the longitudinal direction of the side surface  13  of the housing  10 , the lock on the housing members B housed in the housing  10  is released. The housing members B may be completely removed from the housing  10 . However, the housing members B do not necessarily have to be able to be completely removed from the housing  10  as long as the housing members B may be pulled out from the housing  10 . The housing members B are an example of a housing member that is housed in the housing  10  so as to be able to be pulled out. The insertion openings  18  are an example of an opening into which the housing member B may be inserted. 
         [0033]    The housing members B will be described.  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective views of one of the housing members B.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the housing member B.  FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the housing member B.  FIG. 7  is a partial enlarged view of the housing member B in a state where a locking portion  70  is attached to a lower case  40 . The housing member B includes a lower case  40 , an upper case  50 , a lid  60 , and a locking portion  70 . The lower case  40 , the upper case  50 , the lid  60 , and the locking portion  70  are made of insulating material, and more specifically, they are made of synthetic resin. The lower case  40  and the upper case  50  are assembled together and house batteries BT. All most of parts of the batteries BT are made of metal. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in the front of the lower case  40 , a recess  48  is formed into which the user&#39;s fingers are inserted when the user manually removes the housing member B. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , through-holes  44  and  54  are formed in the lower case  40  and the upper case  50 , respectively. Screw holes are formed in the lid  60 . Screws N inserted into the through-holes  44  and  54  are screwed into the screw holes of the lid  60 . Thus, the upper case  50  is fixed to the lower case  40 , and the lid  60  is fixed to the upper case  50 . 
         [0035]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a protruding engaging portion  49  is formed on the side surface of the front portion of the lower case  40 . When the housing member B is housed in the housing  10 , the engaging portion  49  engages with the locking portion  19  of the housing  10 , and makes it impossible to remove the housing member B from the housing  10 . The locking portion  19  is an example of a locking portion that is disengageably engaged with the housing member. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the locking portion  70  is slidably held between the lower case  40  and the upper case  50 . The locking portion  70  includes an extending portion  71 , an operating portion  72 , an engaging portion  73 , and a pin portion  75 . The extending portion  71  extends in a predetermined direction. The operating portion  72  is provided at one end of the extending portion  71 , and is exposed through a cutout  42  formed in the center of the front of the lower case  40 . The engaging portion  73  is a protrusion provided at the other end of the extending portion  71 , and is exposed through a cutout  43  formed in the front portion of the side surface of the lower case  40 . The engaging portion  73  of the locking portion  70  engages with the housing  10  when the housing member B is housed in the housing  10 . The pin portion  75  extends parallel to the extending portion  71  from the engaging portion  73 . The pin portion  75  is inserted into a coil spring S. 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the spring S urges the locking portion  70  attached to the lower case  40  in an urging direction D. Thus, when the housing member B is housed in the housing  10 , the engagement between the engaging portion  73  of the locking portion  70  and the housing  10  is maintained, and it becomes impossible to remove the housing member B. The locking portion  70  is an example of a locking portion that is disengageably engaged with the first housing. The user slides the locking portion  19  of the housing  10  and thereby releases the lock between the housing  10  and the housing member B. In addition, the user slides the operating portion  72  of the locking portion  70  in a direction opposite to the urging direction D of the spring S and thereby releases the lock between the locking portion  70  and the housing  10 . Thus, the housing member B is removed from the housing  10 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A to 1C  and  FIG. 2 , the lids  60  of the housing members B housed in the housing  10  are exposed. In other words, the lids  60  cover the insertion openings  18  of the housing  10  when the housing members B are housed in the housing  10 . The side surface  13  of the housing  10  is defined by part of the housing  10 , the cover  30 , and the lids  60  of the housing members B. The lid  60  is an example of an exposed portion that is exposed on the surface of the first housing when housed in the first housing and that is made of insulating material. 
         [0039]    Next, antennas housed in the housing  20  will be described.  FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the notebook computer  1  with the housing  20  disassembled.  FIG. 8B  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 8A . The housing  20  includes a case  20 F disposed at a front side, a case  20 R disposed at a back side, and a cover  20 R 1 . The case  20 F defines a front surface  21 . The case  20 R and the cover  20 R 1  define a back surface  22 . The case  20 F and the cover  20 R 1  are made of insulating material, and more specifically, they are made of synthetic resin. The case  20 F and the cover  20 R 1  are an example of a wall portion made of insulating material. At least one of the case  20 F and the cover  20 R 1  may be made, for example, of rubber. The case  20 R is made of metal. The cover  20 R 1  is located above the case  20 R. The case  20 F and the cover  20 R 1  define the side surface  23  of the housing  20 . Antennas AT 1  to AT 4  and a camera unit CM are disposed inside the cover  20 R 1 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  illustrates a state where the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  and the camera unit CM are removed from the case  20 R and the cover  20 R 1  of the housing  20 . The antennas AT 1 , AT 2 , and AT 4  have ground portions AT 11 , AT 21 , and AT 41 , respectively, in their lower portions. The ground portions AT 11 , AT 21 , and AT 41  are electrically connected to a metal plate fixed to the back surface of the display unit U. The antennas AT 1 , AT 2 , and AT 4  have radiation portions AT 13 , AT 23 , and AT 43 , respectively, in their upper portions. The radiation portions AT 13 , AT 23 , and AT 43  are not connected to the metal plate to which the ground portions AT 11 , AT 21 , and AT 41  are connected. As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the radiation portions AT 13 , AT 23 , and AT 43  of the antennas AT 1 , AT 2 , and AT 4 , and the antenna AT 3  are surrounded by the case  20 F and the cover  20 R 1  made of synthetic resin. 
         [0041]    Therefore, the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  are an example of an antenna at least part of which is housed in the second housing and surrounded by the wall portion. In general, if a member made of metal is near an antenna, the receiving sensitivity of the antenna is reduced. Since at least part of each of the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  of this embodiment is surrounded by the case  20 F and the cover  20 R 1  made of synthetic resin, the reduction of the receiving sensitivity of the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  in a deployed state is suppressed. 
         [0042]    As described above, metals are denser than insulating materials, and metals are stronger than insulating materials. Therefore, a housing formed of a thin metal sheet is strong but lightweight compared to a housing formed of insulating material. In this embodiment, the case  20 R that is part of the housing  20  is made of metal, and therefore the strength and lightness of the housing  20  are ensured. In addition, the case  20 F and the cover  20 R 1  that are each part of the housing  20  are made of insulating material, and therefore the reduction of the receiving sensitivity of the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  is suppressed. As illustrated in  FIG. 8A , an opening CMO through which the lens of the camera unit CM is exposed is formed in the case  20 F. 
         [0043]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the notebook computer  1  in the first superimposed state illustrating the positions of the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  and the camera unit CM.  FIG. 10  illustrates the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  and the camera unit CM. In the first superimposed state, the antennas AT 2  and AT 4  face the lids  60  of the housing members B made of synthetic resin with the case  20 F made of synthetic resin therebetween. In other words, in the first superimposed state, the antennas AT 2  and AT 4  do not face the batteries BT and the case  10 F made of metal with the case  20 F therebetween. 
         [0044]    If the antennas AT 2  and AT 4  face members made of metal with the case  20 F therebetween, the receiving sensitivity of the antennas AT 2  and AT 4  is reduced. However, actually the antennas AT 2  and AT 4  do not face the batteries BT and the case  10 F made of metal. Therefore, also in the first superimposed state, the reduction of the receiving sensitivity of the antennas AT 2  and AT 4  is suppressed. In the first superimposed state, the antenna AT 3  faces the cover  30 . As described above, the cover  30  is made of synthetic resin. Thus, also in the first superimposed state, the reduction of the receiving sensitivity of the antenna AT 3  is suppressed. In this way, the reduction of the receiving sensitivity of the antennas AT 1  to AT 3  is suppressed in the first superimposed state. In the first superimposed state, the opening CMO is covered by the housing  10 , and therefore the camera unit CM may not be used. 
         [0045]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the notebook computer  1  in the second superimposed state illustrating the positions of the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  and the camera unit CM.  FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the notebook computer  1  in the second superimposed state. Also in the second superimposed state, the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  face the housing members B or the cover  30  made of synthetic resin with the case  20 R 1  made of synthetic resin therebetween. Therefore, in the second superimposed state, the reduction of the receiving sensitivity of the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  is suppressed. As described above, the reduction of the receiving sensitivity of the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  is suppressed in any state. In the second superimposed state, the opening CMO faces the opposite direction from the housing  10 , and therefore the camera unit CM may be used. 
         [0046]      FIG. 13  is an explanatory view of a housing member Ba that is a first modification. The upper case  50  and the lid  60  of the housing member Ba are not illustrated.  FIG. 14  is a partial enlarged view of the housing member Ba of the first modification in a state where a locking portion  70   a  is attached to a lower case  40   a.  An operating portion  80   a  is provided with two guide pins  87   a  protruding in the vertical direction. At one end of an extending portion  71   a  of the locking portion  70   a,  a plate-like connecting portion  76   a  parallel to the horizontal direction is formed. In the connecting portion  76   a,  two guide grooves  77   a  are formed that are slidably engaged with the guide pins  87   a.  The guide grooves  77   a  extend at an angle to the urging direction D of a spring Sa. The user presses the operating portion  80   a  in a direction D 1  perpendicular to the urging direction D of the spring Sa, and thereby the guide pins  87   a  of the operating portion  80   a  move in the guide grooves  77   a.  Thus, the locking portion  70   a  moves in a direction opposite to the urging direction D of the spring Sa, and the lock between the housing  10  and the locking portion  70   a  is released. 
         [0047]      FIG. 15  is an explanatory view of a housing member Bb that is a second modification.  FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of the housing member Bb that is the second modification. An operating portion  80   b  has two guide pins  87   b  protruding in the horizontal direction and toward the front of the housing member Bb. An upper case  50   b  has a cutout  52   b  formed therein. A lid  60   b  has a cutout  62   b  formed therein. The operating portion  80   b  is disposed in the cutouts  52   b  and  62   b.  At one end of an extending portion  71   b  of a locking portion  70   b,  a connecting portion  76   b  is formed. In the connecting portion  76   b , two guide grooves  77   b  are formed that are slidably engaged with the guide pins  87   b.  The guide grooves  77   b  extend at an angle to the vertical direction. The user presses the operating portion  80   b  in a vertically downward direction D 2  perpendicular to the urging direction D of a spring Sb, and thereby the guide pins  87   b  of the operating portion  80   b  move in the guide grooves  77   b.  Thus, the locking portion  70   b  moves in a direction opposite to the urging direction D of the spring Sb, and the lock between the housing  10  and the locking portion  70   b  is released. 
         [0048]    Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, it is to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to the above-described specific embodiment, and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0049]    In the above embodiment, a notebook computer has been described as an example of a portable device. However, the present invention may be applied to any other portable device, for example, a cellular phone, a portable television, an electronic dictionary, a PDA, a game machine, a camera, a music player, or a navigation device. 
         [0050]    In the above embodiment, a housing member B holding batteries BT has been described as an example of a housing member. However, a housing member B is not limited to this. For example, a housing member B may be a tray that may hold at least one of a flash memory, a hard disk, and a storage medium. 
         [0051]    In the above embodiment, at least one of the antennas AT 1  to AT 4  may face both the lid  60  of the housing member B and the cover  30  with the case  20 F therebetween in the first superimposed state. 
         [0052]    All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.