Abstract:
An electronic device is arranged to be of a thinner structure and to provide a sufficient space required therein. The electronic device has a drive for driving a recording medium in the upper part thereof and incorporates a tray mechanism or a slot-in mechanism for inserting and removing the recording medium from the upper side of the drive.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an electronic device which accommodates therein a drive for a recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or the like.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Heretofore, there have been proposed various arrangements for facilitating loading and unloading of recording mediums in portable electronic devices which accommodate therein a drive for a recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or the like.  
           [0005]    For example, FIG. 1A of the accompanying drawings shows an arrangement in which tray  91  is insertable into and removable from a front panel of an electronic device, and a recording medium with its face up can be loaded on and unloaded from tray  91 . FIG. 1B of the accompanying drawings shows another arrangement in which tray  92  is insertable into and removable from a side panel of an electronic device, and a recording medium with its face forward can be loaded on and unloaded from tray  92 . FIG. 1C of the accompanying drawings shows still another arrangement in which cover  93  on a front panel of an electronic device is openable and closable, and a recording medium with its face forward can be loaded on and unloaded from an electronic device body with cover  93  being open.  
           [0006]    Portable electronic devices are desired to be of a thinner structure for better portability and installation. However, the arrangement shown in FIG. 1A is disadvantageous in that the electronic device cannot be of a thinner structure because the depth of the electronic device needs to be greater than the depth of tray  91 .  
           [0007]    It has been desired that portable electronic devices improve the quality of reproduced sounds at the time audio information recorded in a recording medium is output. With the arrangement shown in FIG. 1B, however, it is difficult to improve the quality of reproduced sounds as a space which accommodates a speaker therein is limited to a small volume.  
           [0008]    Attempts have been made to design portable electronic devices incorporating many functions therein. For example, some recent portable electronic devices have a display unit for the purposes of connecting to the Internet and carrying out various information processing features such as sending and receiving e-mail messages, browsing home pages on the Internet, and manipulating files. In this respect, the arrangement shown in FIG. 1C is problematic because it fails to provide a space for the installation of a display unit.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device which is arranged to provide a space for installing a speaker or a display unit therein, and to be of a thinner structure.  
           [0010]    To achieve the above object, there is provided in accordance with the present invention an electronic device having a drive for driving a recording medium in the upper part thereof, so that the recording medium can be inserted and removed from the upper side of the drive. Therefore, the electronic device can provide a sufficient space therein for installing a speaker and a space for installing a display device, and can be of a thinner structure.  
           [0011]    If the drive incorporates a tray mechanism for loading the recording medium, then the drive may be thinner than if it incorporates a slot-in mechanism, thus making the electronic device thinner in structure.  
           [0012]    If the drive has a tray, then a rotary pinion is disposed in a body of the electronic device and a rack is disposed on the tray in mesh with the pinion. When the tray is pulled out to a position where the recording medium can be loaded thereon in order to load or unload the recording medium, the rack on the tray and the pinion in the body mesh with each other, causing the pinion to produce torque which makes the tray less liable to drop by gravity. Therefore, the tray is prevented from being closed quickly when the recording medium is loaded or unloaded.  
           [0013]    If a viscous material applies to a region of the rack which meshes with the pinion when the tray is pulled out to the position where the recording medium can be loaded thereon, then the viscous material serves to increase the torque produced by the pinion with respect to the rack.  
           [0014]    The rack and the pinion may mesh with each other only when the tray is pulled out nearly to the position where the recording medium can be loaded thereon. In this case, when the user presses an opening/closing switch to pull up the tray by a predetermined distance from the upper side of the electronic device, the rack and the pinion do not mesh with each other. At this time, since the pinion produces no torque, the possibility that the tray will not be opened is reduced. This arrangement is achieved by positioning the pinion near an insertion slot for the tray and positioning the rack on a downstream portion of the tray in the direction in which the tray is inserted.  
           [0015]    The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate examples of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1A is a view illustrative of the manner in which a recording medium is loaded into and unloaded from a conventional electronic device;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1B is a view illustrative of the manner in which a recording medium is loaded into and unloaded from another conventional electronic device;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1C is a view illustrative of the manner in which a recording medium is loaded into and unloaded from still another conventional electronic device;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2A is a front elevational view of an electronic device according to the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2B is a rear elevational view of the electronic device according to the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2C is a view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 2A with a control panel being open;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a CD drive mechanism for use in an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a view showing the electronic device accommodating the CD drive mechanism shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a rack and a pinion which mesh with each other, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pinion and associated parts shown in FIGS. 3 through 5;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7A is a view illustrative of the manner in which a CD is loaded into and unloaded from the electronic device shown in FIGS. 3 through 6;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7B is a view illustrative of the manner in which a CD is loaded into and unloaded from the electronic device shown in FIGS. 3 through 6;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7C is a view illustrative of the manner in which a CD is loaded into and unloaded from the electronic device shown in FIGS. 3 through 6;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a CD drive mechanism for use in an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a view showing the electronic device accommodating the CD drive mechanism shown in FIG. 8;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10A is a view illustrative of the manner in which a CD is loaded into and unloaded from the electronic device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10B is a view illustrative of the manner in which a CD is loaded into and unloaded from the electronic device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 10C is a view illustrative of the manner in which a CD is loaded into and unloaded from the electronic device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a CD tray, which is locked, of a CD drive mechanism for use in an electronic device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the CD tray, which is unlocked, of the CD drive mechanism for use in the electronic device according to the third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 12A is a view of the CD tray, which is locked, in the electronic device which accommodates the CD drive mechanism shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B; and  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 12B is a view of the CD tray, which is unlocked, in the electronic device which accommodates the CD drive mechanism shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 2A through 2C show an electronic device according to the present invention which has switch assembly  50  and control panel  40  on casing  10   a  that provides a front face of the electronic device.  
         [0039]    Switch assembly  50  serves to select functions of the electronic device and also to select and control audio information that is output through speakers  30   a  through  30   d.    
         [0040]    Control panel  40  has keyboard  42  and display panel  41 .  
         [0041]    Keyboard  42  serves to input information for information processing and also to edit audio information that is output through speakers  30   a  through  30   d , as with general personal computers. Information processing that is performed using keyboard  42  includes editing documents, and inputting and controlling information for using the Internet and electronic mail. Keyboard  42  can be stored in storage area  13  which is defined in the front face of the electronic device by casing  10   a.    
         [0042]    Display panel  41  is mounted on casing  10   a  so as to face keyboard  42  when it is stored in storage area  13 , and serves to display information thereon.  
         [0043]    Speakers  30   a  through  30   d , together with an information processor (not shown) for performing various information processing sequences, are placed in a space which is created by casing  10   a  and another casing  10   b  that provides a rear face of the electronic device and fits with casing  10   a . Speakers  30   a  through  30   d  are positioned on both sides of display panel  41  and the information processor. The information processor includes a power supply circuit, a storage circuit such as a memory, etc., a communication circuit for performing communications via a public network, and a control circuit for controlling the display of information on display panel  41  and the outputting of audio information through speakers  30   a  through  30   d.    
         [0044]    Casing  10   b  that provides the rear face of the electronic device supports terminal group  60  and stand  14 .  
         [0045]    Terminal group  60  serves to send signals to and receive signals from another device (not shown).  
         [0046]    Stand  14  can be fixed at any desired angle, and functions as a handle for carrying the electronic device when fixed at a desired angle. When fixed at a desired angle, stand  14  also functions as a stand for allowing the electronic device to stand on a desk or the like.  
         [0047]    CD drive mechanism  20  is disposed behind display panel  41  in the upper part of the electronic device. A CD can be inserted into and removed from the upper side of CD drive mechanism  20 . CD drive mechanism  20  thus positioned allows a space for installing speakers  30   a  through  30   d  therein and a space for accommodating display panel  41  therein, to be provided in the electronic device, and also permits the electronic device to be of a thinner structure.  
         [0048]    CD drive mechanism  20  may incorporate a slot-in mechanism or a tray mechanism for loading and unloading a CD. While both the slot-in mechanism and the tray mechanism are applicable to the electronic device according to the present invention, the tray mechanism is preferable to the slot-in mechanism as it allows CD drive mechanism  20  to be of a thinner structure.  
         [0049]    Electronic devices according to various embodiments of the present invention, which accommodate a CD drive mechanism including a tray mechanism therein, will be described below.  
         [0050]    1st Embodiment:  
         [0051]    [0051]FIGS. 3 and 4 show a CD drive mechanism for use in an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which has CD tray  23  that can be inserted and removed from the upper side of the electronic device, and CD drive unit  21  for driving a CD loaded on CD tray  23 . CD drive unit  21  is electrically connected to a body of the electronic device by interface  22 , and fixed to the body of the electronic device.  
         [0052]    Since CD tray  23  can be inserted and removed from the upper side of the electronic device, when the user releases CD tray  23  after it has been pulled out to a position where a CD can be loaded thereon or removed therefrom, CD tray  23  tends to be closed quickly by gravity.  
         [0053]    According to the present embodiment, the CD drive mechanism is arranged to prevent CD tray  23  from being closed quickly by gravity when a CD is to be loaded on or unloaded from CD tray  23 , as described below.  
         [0054]    Guide rail  26  for guiding CD tray  23  is bonded to CD tray  23  of the CD drive mechanism. Guide rail  26  has bar  25  extending in the direction in which CD tray  23  is inserted, the bar  25  having a rack  27  thereon.  
         [0055]    A rotary pinion  70  is disposed in the body of the electronic device near the area where CD tray  23  can be drawn out, and held in mesh with rack  27 . FIG. 5 shows rack  27  and pinion  70  which are held in mesh with each other.  
         [0056]    When CD tray  23  is pulled out to a position where a CD can be loaded thereon, since rack  27  and pinion  70  are held in mesh with each other, pinion  70  produces torque, which makes CD tray  23  less liable to drop downwards by gravity. Thus, CD tray  23  is prevented from being closed quickly.  
         [0057]    When CD tray  23  is pulled out nearly to a position where a CD can be loaded thereon, grease applied as a viscous material to a region of rack  27  which meshes with pinion  70  serves to increase the torque produced by pinion  70  with respect to rack  27 , making CD tray  23  much less liable to drop downwards by gravity.  
         [0058]    Bezel  28  supports thereon opening/closing switch  24  for opening and closing CD tray  23 . When opening/closing switch  24  is pressed while CD tray  23  is being closed, CD tray  23  is pulled upwards by a predetermined distance. A mechanism associated with opening/closing switch  24  is of existing known nature, and will not be described in detail.  
         [0059]    As shown in FIG. 6, pinion  70  is engaged with installation member  73  and mounted on arm  71  so as to be rotatable about a pivot F. Arm  71  is mounted on arm  72  fixed to the body of the electronic device for movement in the directions indicated by the arrow.  
         [0060]    Pinion  70  has grooves (not shown) defined in a rear surface thereof for engaging grooves in installation member  73 . The engaging grooves are coated with grease as a viscous material. The applied grease provides an increased area of contact between pinion  70  and installation member  73 , further increasing the torque produced by pinion  70 .  
         [0061]    A process of loading a CD into and unloading a CD from the electronic device shown in FIGS. 3 through 6 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7A through 7C.  
         [0062]    When opening/closing switch  24  is pressed while CD tray  23  is being closed (FIG. 7A), CD tray  23  is pulled upwards by a predetermined distance (FIG. 7B).  
         [0063]    The user then pulls up CD tray  23  to a position where a CD can be loaded thereon (FIG. 7C), and loads a CD on or unloads a CD from CD tray  23 .  
         [0064]    At this time, since rack  27  and pinion  70  mesh with each other, pinion  70  produces torque. Since the torque produced by pinion  70  makes CD tray  23  less liable to drop downwards by gravity, CD tray  23  is prevented from being closed quickly. As the grease applied to rack  27  further increases the torque produced by pinion  70 , CD tray  23  is made much less liable to drop downwards by gravity.  
         [0065]    Thereafter, the user pushes CD tray  23  downwards, returning CD tray  23  to a closed state.  
         [0066]    In the present embodiment, rack  27  faces sideways of the CD drive mechanism. However, rack  27  may face in any direction insofar as the object of the present invention can be achieved. For example, rack  27  may face rearwardly of the CD drive mechanism.  
         [0067]    In the present embodiment, rack  27  is disposed on bar  25  extending in the direction in which CD tray  23  is inserted. However, rack  27  may be formed directly on guide rail  26 .  
         [0068]    In the present embodiment, pinion  70  is disposed in the body of the electronic device. However, pinion  70  may be disposed within CD drive unit  21 .  
         [0069]    2nd Embodiment:  
         [0070]    [0070]FIGS. 8 and 9 show a CD drive mechanism for use in an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the CD drive mechanism having rack  27  which is disposed only on a downstream portion of bar  25  in the direction in which CD tray  23  is inserted.  
         [0071]    In the first embodiment, rack  27  is disposed on a substantially entire region of bar  25  in the direction in which CD tray  23  is inserted. Therefore, when opening/closing switch  24  is pressed while CD tray  23  is being closed, CD tray  23  may not possibly be opened due to torque produced by pinion  70  by meshing engagement between rack  27  and pinion  70 .  
         [0072]    In order to prevent CD tray  23  from being closed quickly by gravity for loading or unloading a CD, rack  27  and pinion  70  may mesh with each other at least when CD tray  23  is pulled out nearly to a position where a CD can be loaded thereon.  
         [0073]    According to the present embodiment, rack  27  is disposed only on a downstream portion of bar  25  in the direction in which CD tray  23  is inserted, so that rack  27  and pinion  70  mesh with each other only when CD tray  23  is pulled out nearly to a position where a CD can be loaded thereon.  
         [0074]    When the user presses opening/closing switch  24  to pull up CD tray  23  by a predetermined distance, rack  27  and pinion  70  do not mesh with each other. At this time, since pinion  70  produces no torque, the possibility that CD tray  23  will not be opened is reduced.  
         [0075]    When CD tray  23  is pulled out to a position where a CD can be loaded thereon, because rack  27  and pinion  70  mesh with each other, CD tray  23  remains prevented from being closed quickly by gravity.  
         [0076]    A process of loading a CD into and unloading a CD from the electronic device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 10A through 10C.  
         [0077]    When opening/closing switch  24  is pressed while CD tray  23  is being closed (FIG. 10A), CD tray  23  is pulled upwards by a predetermined distance (FIG. 10B).  
         [0078]    At this time, since rack  27  and pinion  70  do not mesh with each other, pinion  70  is in a free state, and does not produce any torque. Therefore, when opening/closing switch  24  is pressed, the possibility that CD tray  23  will not be opened due to a torque of pinion  70  is reduced.  
         [0079]    The user then pulls up CD tray  23  to a position where a CD can be loaded thereon (FIG. 10C), and loads a CD on or unloads a CD from CD tray  23 .  
         [0080]    At this time, since rack  27  and pinion  70  mesh with each other, pinion  70  produces torque. Since the torque produced by pinion  70  makes CD tray  23  less liable to drop downwards by gravity, CD tray  23  is prevented from being closed quickly. As the grease applied to rack  27  further increases the torque produced by pinion  70 , CD tray  23  is made much less liable to drop downwards by gravity.  
         [0081]    Thereafter, the user pushes CD tray  23  downwards, returning CD tray  23  to a closed state.  
         [0082]    In the present embodiment, rack  27  faces sideways of the CD drive mechanism. However, rack  27  may face in any direction insofar as the object of the present invention can be achieved. For example, rack  27  may face rearwardly of the CD drive mechanism.  
         [0083]    In the present embodiment, rack  27  is disposed on bar  25  extending in the direction in which CD tray  23  is inserted. However, rack  27  may be formed directly on guide rail  26 .  
         [0084]    In the present embodiment, pinion  70  is disposed in the body of the electronic device. However, pinion  70  may be disposed within CD drive unit  21 .  
         [0085]    3rd Embodiment:  
         [0086]    [0086]FIGS. 11A, 11B,  12 A, and  12 B show a CD drive mechanism for use in an electronic device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, the CD drive mechanism having a locking mechanism for fixing CD tray  80  in position when CD tray  80  is pulled out to a position where a CD can be loaded thereon.  
         [0087]    The locking mechanism includes link member  81  as a first member, link member  82  as a second member, spring  83  as a pressing member, and guide members  86 ,  87 , all mounted in CD tray  80 .  
         [0088]    Link member  81  is constructed to have an end projecting from the pull-out end of CD tray  80  and an opposite end disposed in CD tray  80 , and is movable in the direction in which CD tray  80  is inserted and removed. Link member  81  has guide member  88  for preventing the end of link member  81  from projecting from the pull-out end of CD tray  80  beyond a certain distance.  
         [0089]    Link member  82  is constructed to have an end coupled to the opposite end of link member  81  which is disposed in CD tray  80  and an opposite end that can project through a hole  85  defined in CD tray  80 , in which link member  82  is rotatably supported by projection  84  formed on CD tray  80 , and the state of projection of link member  82  through hole  85  is determined depending on the rotational movement thereof.  
         [0090]    Spring  83  presses link member  81  to cause the end of link member  81  to project from the pull-out end of CD tray  80 .  
         [0091]    Guide members  86 ,  87  guide link members  81 ,  82  respectively in the directions in which they move.  
         [0092]    The locking mechanism also includes a recess  90  in the body of the electronic device, for being engaged with the opposite end of link member  82  which projects from hole  85 .  
         [0093]    When CD tray  80  is to be pulled out, the joint between link members  81 ,  82  is moved in the direction to pull out CD tray  80 , and the opposite end of link member  82  moves to project from hole  85 . When CD tray  80  is pulled out to a position where a CD can be loaded thereon, the opposite end of link member  82  projects from hole  85  and engages in recess  90 , thus locking CD tray  80 .  
         [0094]    When CD tray  80  is to be unlocked, link member  81  is pressed downwards to move the joint between link members  81 ,  82  in the direction in which CD tray  80  is inserted, and the opposite end of link member  82  moves away from recess  90 . The opposite end of link member  82  now disengages from recess  90 .  
         [0095]    In the present embodiment, each of link members  81 ,  82  comprises a single member. However, each of link members  81 ,  82  may comprise a plurality of members.  
         [0096]    In the above embodiments, a drive for driving a recording medium has been described as a CD drive mechanism. However, the present invention is also applicable to another drive such as a DVD drive mechanism or the like.  
         [0097]    While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.