Patent Publication Number: US-2003236102-A1

Title: Electronic apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates generally to electronic apparatuses, and more particularly to a portable electronic apparatus having a display part such as a liquid crystal display (“LCD”). The present invention is suitable, for example, for a WebPAD. The “WebPAD”, as used herein, means an LCD-incorporated radio information terminal that serves as a portable web access tool. Of course, the inventive portable electronic apparatus is not limited to WebPAD, and covers a laptop personal computer (“PC” hereinafter), a game machine, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), a portable television and the like.  
       [0002] The recent development of electronic apparatuses have required smaller, thinner and lighter portable terminals, such as a cellular phone and PDA, to enhance portability. At the same time, portable terminals have been required to be multifunctional to reflect users&#39; preferences.  
       [0003] For example, the recent development of the Internet has demanded accesses to the Internet not only from PCs, but also from cellular phones and other electronic apparatuses. Thus, portable radio information terminals called WebPADs have recently been developed, which includes an LCD for displaying web information and a radio communication unit including an antenna for accessing the Internet.  
       [0004] However, a pursuit of miniaturization, low profile and lightweight property for the portability would lower the impact resistance property, thereby easily damaging inner electronic circuits as a result of a drop etc. In particular, the LCD in the WebPAD is generally larger than a display in a cellular phone and thus fragile. In addition, the conventional WebPAD in pursuit of the low profile has a relatively large LCD with the entire surface relatively flat. Thus, a user cannot easily hold the device securely, and the device easily slips and drops from user&#39;s hands with poor portability.  
       [0005] An attachment of a functional expansion member to a portable terminal in pursuit of multi-functionality often exposes the functional expansion member on a surface of the portable terminal, causing damages and losses. For example, when the WebPAD is provided with an antenna exposing to the outside for better sensitivity, instead of an inner antenna, the antenna bends and breaks against an external member when the WebPAD is not used. When the LCD serves as a touch panel for inputting information using a pen and a fixing part for fixing the pen is provided at a side of a housing of the LCD, the pen bends and breaks against an external member when the WebPAD is not used.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] Accordingly, it is an exemplified object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic apparatus in pursuit of miniaturization, low profile, lightweight property, and multi-functionality as well as improved portability and shock resistance.  
       [0007] In order to achieve the above object, a portable electronic apparatus of one aspect of the present invention includes a display part for displaying information, and an approximately pipe-shaped protective part, provided around and thicker than the display part, for protecting the display part by positioning the display part at a depressed portion from the protective part. This electronic apparatus includes the display part and the protective part, and forms a convex and concave that serve as a grip, enhancing portability. In addition, this electronic apparatus places the display part at a depressed portion from the protective part and thus improves the impact resistance, whereby the display part may not collide directly with the floor when the electronic apparatus drops on the floor or the like. The pipe shape facilitates gripping and enhances the portability. A curved surface of the pipe shape would serve to disperse the impact.  
       [0008] A portable electronic apparatus of another aspect of the present invention includes a display part for displaying information, a protective part, provided around and thicker than the display part, for protecting the display part by positioning the display part at a depressed portion from the protective part, and a functional expansion unit, accommodated in the protective part, for expanding a function of the electronic apparatus. This electronic apparatus includes the display part and the protective part and forms a concave that serves as a grip and enhances portability. In addition, this electronic apparatus places the display part at a depressed portion from the protective part and thus improves the impact resistance, whereby the display part may not collide directly with the floor when the electronic apparatus drops on the floor or the like. The protective part accommodates the functional expansion unit and is made multifunctional, while the functional expansion unit is prevented from exposing to the outside and getting damaged or lost.  
       [0009] The electronic apparatus may further include a shock absorbing member, provided between the display part and the protective part, for reducing a shock applied to the display part. The shock absorbing member, such as rubber, may enhance the impact resistance.  
       [0010] The protective part may include a base made of a first material, and a grip made of a second material that has a thermal conductivity lower than the first material. Use of the second material that has a thermal conductivity lower than the first material for the grip would prevent low-temperature burn. The first material may include magnesium, which has such high strength that the electronic apparatus may be made small, thin and lightweight. The second material includes resin, which prevents low-temperature burn as well as enhancing the slip resistance, improving the portability.  
       [0011] The display part may be a LCD having a thickness of about 15 to 20 mm, and fixed onto the protective part so that a difference of height from about 3 to 5 mm is formed in a direction perpendicular to the display part. This difference of height would improve the impact resistance. The weight of the electronic apparatus may be, for example, 700 g to 1,000 g. The protective part may have a pipe shape. The pipe shape facilitates gripping and enhances the portability. A curved surface of the pipe shape would serve to disperse the impact.  
       [0012] The functional expansion unit may include a radio communication part. The radio communication part includes an antenna, radio LAN card, bluetooth module, etc. for connecting the apparatus to the Internet, thereby preventing the antenna etc. from getting damaged and lost.  
       [0013] The functional expansion unit may include another display part for indicating an operational status of the electronic apparatus. For example, the other display part is LEDs for indicating a battery volume, a connection status to the external power source, a radio communication status, an access status to the memory, and an error of the electronic apparatus. The functional expansion unit may include a battery as a power source of the electronic apparatus. The battery may be a rechargeable secondary battery, and the electronic apparatus may include a connection part connectible to a charger to charge the battery.  
       [0014] The functional expansion unit includes an electronic imaging part (for example, a USB digital camera) for imaging a subject as digital information. The function expansion part may serve as a telephone. Such a telephone serves, for example, as an IP telephone. The functional expansion unit may serve as an electronic imaging part and a telephone so as to enable the electronic apparatus to serve as a videophone.  
       [0015] The functional expansion unit may include a reset switch for restart the electronic apparatus, a power switch to power on and off the power of the electronic apparatus, a speaker, and an USP port connectible to a functional expansion apparatus for expanding a function of the electronic apparatus. The functional expansion unit may include may include a pen for inputting information into the electronic apparatus through the display part and its accommodation part, a port that may communicate with an Ir receiver part (for example, a wireless keyboard or remote controller of a TV), a port for infrared data transmissions, and a connector connectible to a head phone. The functional expansion unit may include a radiator part, for example, a fan, for radiating the electronic apparatus. The display part may include an LCD, and the functional expansion unit may include an inverter as a backlight of the LCD.  
       [0016] The functional expansion unit includes a stand for inclining and placing the display part on a desk. Thereby, the electronic apparatus may be suitable for use on the desk. The stand may be provided rotatable relative to the protective part and the electronic apparatus may further include a holder for engaging with and fixing the stand, thereby fixing the inclination posture of the display part. The stand may be provided foldable relative to the protective part, and the electronic apparatus may further include a lock part for fixing the stand folded, thereby the stand is folded when it is unused and the lock part prevents its unfolding, thus preventing the stand from contacting the external member and bending. Preferably, the stand folded is placed partially on the display part, and the height of the stand viewed from the display part is lower than the protective part. Thereby, the stand does not prevent the electronic apparatus from being made thin.  
       [0017] Other objects and further features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following description of the embodiments with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018]FIG. 1A is a perspective overview of an electronic apparatus (or WebPAD) of one embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an exaggerated partial enlarged section at an end of the electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 1A.  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0020]FIG. 3A is a plane view of the electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is its top view. FIG. 3C is its left side view, and FIG. 3D is its right side view.  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a shock absorbing member that may be provided inside the pipe-shaped periphery in the electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0022]FIG. 5A is a rear view of the electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5B is a schematic plane view that is partially transparent and viewed from a direction A in FIG. SA. FIG. 5C is a schematic plane view that is partially transparent and viewed from a direction B in FIG. 5A.  
     [0023]FIGS. 6A and 6B are, respectively, schematic perspective and sectional views for explaining an engagement between a stand mechanism and a lock part shown in FIG. 5.  
     [0024]FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the electronic apparatus placed on the desk via the stand mechanism shown in FIG. 5.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0025] Referring now to accompanying drawings, a description will be given of a portable electronic apparatus  100  as one embodiment according to the present invention. The electronic apparatus  100  is implemented as WebPAD in this embodiment. Here, FIG. 1A is a perspective overview of the WebPAD  100 , and FIG. 1B is an exaggerated partial enlarged section at an end of the WebPAD  100  shown in FIG. 1A.  
     [0026] The “portable electronic apparatus” includes PDAs, handheld PCs, palm-sized PCs, wearable computers, portable hardware, and portable terminals, and its size covers A4, B5, sub-notebook, mini-notebook and other sizes. The portable electronic apparatus excludes one which does not attempt portable use, such as an automobile navigation system even if it is small.  
     [0027] The WebPAD  100  includes a housing  101 . The housing  101  is indented at its center part  102  from the periphery  104 . As described later, the center part  102  includes a fragile display part, such as a LCD, and the periphery  104  serves as a protective part for protecting the center part  102 . In other words, the center part  102  is thinner than, intended from, and thus protected by the periphery  104 . The height H 1  of the periphery  104  is, for example, 18 to 25 mm, and the height H 2  of the center part  102  is, for example, 15 to 20 mm. The center part  102  is located at a position at a distance H 3 , e.g., about 3 to 5 mm, from an end of the periphery  104 . Thus, the WebPAD  100  is so configured that the center part  102  does not collide directly with the floor etc. when the WebPAD  100  drops on the floor etc. by indenting the center part  102  relative to the periphery  104 , enhancing the impact resistance. The weight of the electronic apparatus is, for example, 700 g to 1 kg, realizing the lightweight property.  
     [0028] The center part  102  and periphery  104  form a concave and convex on the surface of the electronic apparatus  100 , facilitate gripping, and improve the portability. On the other hand, the conventional electronic apparatus has such a flat surface, which easily slips from a user&#39;s fingers and drops to get damaged, that the electronic apparatus does not have satisfactory portability. However, the inventive electronic apparatus  100  has a concave and convex surface and thus improved the portability. In particular, the periphery  104  has an approximately pipe shape that facilitates gripping and enhances the portability, and a curved surface of the pipe shape would serve to disperse the impact.  
     [0029] The periphery  104  also serves as an accommodation part for accommodating a functional expansion unit that functionally expands the electronic apparatus  100 , as described later, enhancing the multi-functionality of the electronic apparatus  100 , and as well as preventing the functional expansion unit from exposing to the outside and getting damaged and lost.  
     [0030] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the WebPAD  100  includes an upper cover  110 , a pen  150 , a touch panel  122 , a LCD  124 , a tray  126 , holder parts  128  and  130 , a main board  132 , an antenna cover  134 , a lower cover  140 , and various functional expansion units. Here, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the WebPAD  100 . FIGS. 3A and 3B are, respectively, plane and top views of the WebPAD  100 . FIGS. 3C and 3D are, respectively, its left and right side views.  
     [0031] The functional expansion unit in this embodiment includes the pen  150 , a USB port  152 , a radio communication antenna (or PC card) (not shown), a radio communication LAN card  154 , LEDs  156 , an Ir receiver part  158 , a pair of speakers  160 , a power switch  162 , a reset switch  164 , a connector for an external microphone  166 , a connector for a headphone  168 , an IrDA port  170 , a radiator part  172 , an AC adapter terminal  174 , an inverter  176 , and a battery part  178 .  
     [0032] The functional expansion unit may further include a PC card, various pointing devices, a bluetooth modem, a printer connector, an interface part with a peripheral device, and a security part of the housing of the apparatus.  
     [0033] The “PC card” is a standard of card-type peripheral equipment for PCs that has been jointly developed by Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (“PCMCIA”) and Japan Electronic Industries Development Association (“JEIDA”). The interface part includes, but not limited to, a parallel interface (such as IEEE 1284), a serial interface (Such as IEEE 1394, RS-232C and RS-422), an IDE (such including an enhanced IDE, etc.), a SCSI (including SCSI-2 and SCSI-3, etc.), Ultra ATA, USB, ATAPI, 10BASE-2, 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, MIDI, ZV port, CardBus, and IrDA. The peripheral device includes, for example, but not limited to, information recording apparatuses (a MO drive, FDD, CD-ROM drive, DVD drive, LS120 drive, HDD, etc.), an expanded battery, an AC adapter, a USB connector, a PC card, a communication apparatus (including radio communication apparatuses, infrared communication apparatuses, and other communication apparatuses), a printing device (or printer, etc.), information reading apparatuses (such as a scanner and OCR, etc.), security apparatuses (such as biometric apparatuses including a fingerprint recognizer, a voice recognizer, and an iris recognizer), an imaging apparatuses (such as a digital camera and a CCD camera), a GPS device, a card reader, a barcode reader, and a cellular phone holder. For example, WebPAD  100  may download web information into an external peripheral apparatus through a SCSI connector. The security part of the housing may be biometric apparatuses such as a fingerprint recognizer, a voice recognizer, and an iris recognizer.  
     [0034] The upper cover  110 , tray  126  and lower cover  140  are made of magnesium that has a relatively high strength, thereby making the electronic apparatus  100  small, thin and lightweight. The holder parts  128  and  130  form a grip through which a user grips the WebPAD  100 , and are molded using resin having a low thermal conductivity. Use of resin that has a low thermal conductivity (for example, 0.5 W/m) for the grip would prevent a user from being subject to low-temperature burn. Resin prevents low-temperature burn as well as preventing a slip and drop of the WebPAD  100 , improving the portability.  
     [0035] The upper cover  110  has an opening  111  at its center, exposing the touch panel  122 . The upper cover  110  forms, at its upper right portion, a penholder  112  for accommodating the pen  150  used to manipulate the touch panel  122 . The penholder  112  uses a pop-up mechanism that fixes the pen  150  when the pen  150  is pushed in, and ejectably releases the pen  150  when the pen  150  is pushed in again. Such a pop-up mechanism may use any structure known in the art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.  
     [0036] As shown in FIG. 3B, a card slot into which the radio LAN card  154  is ejectably inserted is provided at the side of the penholder  112  at the upper right portion of the upper cover  110  and lower cover  140 . The radio LAN card  154  provides watching TV at home, a network connection to another computer, and an access to the Internet. The USB port  152  connectible with a functional expansion apparatus (such as a USB camera) to functionally expand the WebPAD  100  is provided at the center top of the upper cover  110  and lower cover  140 .  
     [0037] The upper cover  110  and the lower cover  140  respectively include left notches  115 ,  141 , lower notches  116  and  142 , and right notches  117  and  143 . The holder part  128  is engaged with right notches  117  and  143 , while the holder part  130  is engaged with the left notches  115  and  141 . The battery part  178  is engaged with the lower notches  116  and  142 . Of course, FIG. 2 is for exemplary purposes only, and different functional expansion units may be accommodated in the upper, lower, left and right portions for enhancing multi-functionality.  
     [0038] The touch panel  122  indicates multiple electronic buttons for inputting information into the electronic apparatuses  100  when a user presses with his finger or the pen  150 . The LCD  124  indicates various information, such as operational information, input information, and web information. The touch panel  122  and LCD  124  may use any structure known in the art, and thus a detailed description will be omitted.  
     [0039] The lower cover  140  accommodates a molded antenna cover  134  at its upper right portion. The antenna cover  134  protects a radio antenna (or PC card) (not shown) for communicating with an access point (not shown) and accessing the Internet. The antenna does not expose to the outside, and thus is protected from bends, snaps and damages.  
     [0040] As shown in FIG. 3A, the holder part  130  includes the LEDs  156  and the Ir receiver part  158 . The LEDs  156  includes five lamps each for indicating a battery volume or residue, a connection status to the external power source, a radio communication status, an access status to the memory, and an error of the electronic apparatus. The Ir receiver part  158  serves as a consumer IR and communicates with a wireless keyboard, wireless pointing device, and a TV remote controller.  
     [0041] As shown in FIG. 3A, the holder parts  128  and  130  include the speaker  160 . The speaker  160  may reproduce audio information obtained from the Internet and software installed in the WebPAD  100 . The software includes, for example, a web browser, an electronic mail application, a virtual keypad for the touch panel  122 , personal information manager, etc.  
     [0042] As shown in FIG. 3C, the power switch  162 , reset switch  164 , connector to the external microphone  166 , connector to the headphone  168 , and IrDA port  170  are provided at the left side of the holder part  130 . The power switch  162  is a switch used to power on and off the WebPAD  100 . The reset switch  164  is a switch used to restart the WebPAD  100 . The connector to the external microphone  166  is a connector connectible to the external microphone terminal. The connector to the headphone  168  is a connector connectible to the headphone terminal to transmit to the headphone voices rather than outputting the voices from the speaker  160 . The IrDA port  170  is a port for infrared communications. IrDA conceptually includes IrTran-P to tranfer images through infrared rays between a digital camera and a PC or portable information terminal.  
     [0043] As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3D, the radiator part  172  is provided at the holder parts  128  and  130 , and equipped with four openings (air ducts) and a fan in the inside (not shown). A housing of the conventional WebPAD cannot be equipped with a fan when seeking for a low profile, but the WebPAD  100  may be equipped with the fan because it has the thicker periphery  104 , enhancing its heat radiation efficiency and preventing thermal breakdown of internal electronic circuits.  
     [0044] As shown in FIG. 3D, the connector  174  for the AC adapter is provided at the right side of the holder part  128 , and the inverter  176  is provided in the holder part  128 . The connector for the AC adapter  174  is used to drive the WebPAD  100  with an external power source, and the inverter  176  is used as the backlight of the LCD  124 . The inverter  176  may use a piezoelectric type, for example.  
     [0045] One embodiment forms part or all of the holder part detachably so that the detached part may serve as a telephone handset. The digital camera and telephone functions enable the WebPAD  100  to serve as a videophone, enhancing the multi-functionality. In another embodiment, the holder part serves as a card reader. The card is not limited to a magnetic card, such as a credit card, but may include a contact/non-contact IC card, a memory card, and other expansion cards. Therefore, the card reader conceptually covers a reader/writer for storing the electronic money into the IC card. In still another embodiment, there are multiple types of peripheries  104  and holder parts  128  and  130 , and the WebPAD  100  is made by incorporating desired members selected from them. For example, a user who requests for use of a videophone may use a holder part having a telephone function rather than the holder part  128  shown in FIG. 2. Such an option would provide a lightweight effect to a user who does not need that function and the multi-functionality to a use who needs that function.  
     [0046] As discussed with reference to FIG. 2, the battery part  170  is engaged with the lower notch  116  in the upper cover  110  and the lower notch  142  in the lower cover  140 . The battery part  178  accommodates a battery as a power source in a case made of magnesium. Such a battery is a rechargeable secondary battery, and the WebPAD  100  has a connection part connectible to a charger (or cradle) for charging the battery, at a rear surface of the center part  102 , as described with reference to FIG. 5.  
     [0047] As shown in FIG. 4 although omitted in FIG. 2, it is preferable to provide a shock absorbing member  106  between the pipe-shaped periphery  104  and the electronic circuit (including the touch panel  122 , LCD  124 , tray  126 , and main board  132 ) to reduce shock applied to the electronic circuit. Here, FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the shock absorbing member  106 . The shock absorbing member  106  has an approximately U-shaped section to hold the electronic circuit, and is engaged with the approximately U-shaped section in the periphery  104 . The shock absorbing member  106  is made, for example, of rubber, but may use any material, shape, etc. as far as it absorbs an impact and vibration and fits the inside of the periphery  104 . It is possible to reduce impacts applied to the WebPAD  100  and protecting the electronic circuit from damages by using a pipe-shaped cave in the periphery  104  to fix the shock absorbing member  106  and fixing the electronic circuit in the shock absorbing member  106 .  
     [0048] Referring now to FIG. 5, a description will be given of a rear surface of the WebPAD  100 . Here, FIG. 5A is a rear view of the WebPAD  100 , and FIG. 5B is a schematic plane view that is partially transparent and viewed from a direction A in FIG. 5A. FIG. SC is a schematic plane view that is partially transparent and viewed from a direction B in FIG. 5A.  
     [0049] As shown in FIG. 5, the connection part  180 , which is connectible to the charger (or cradle) (not shown) for charging the battery, is provided at the rear surface of the lower cover  140 .  
     [0050] The WebPAD  100  includes a stand mechanism  190  for inclining and placing the WebPAD  100  on a desk. Thereby, the WebPAD  100  is suitable for use on a desk. Of course, stand mechanisms applicable to the present invention are not limited to the stand mechanism  190 , and may use, for example, tilt legs that may be accommodated and projected in the holder parts  128  and  130 . In addition, the present invention enables the WebPAD  100  to be detachably mounted on an optional support rack as a separate member.  
     [0051] The stand mechanism  190  includes a pair of rotary parts  191  and a support part  192 . The rotary parts  191  have an approximately straight shape and are rotatably provided, as shown in FIG. 5A, on a stand hinge  144  of the lower cover  140 . The support part  192  has an approximately U-shape and is rotatably attached to the rotary parts  191  through a pair of connection parts  193 . The support part  192  has a pair of engagement grooves  192   a  each engageable with a lock part  145 , which will be described later.  
     [0052] The stand mechanism  190  may be folded and unfolded, and FIG. 5A shows the folded stand mechanism  190 . In the folded state, the support part  192  in the stand mechanism  190  is secured by a pair of lock parts  145  provided on the lower cover  140 . The lock parts  145  fix the stand mechanism  190  when it is not used and prevent its unfolding so that the stand mechanism  190  does not contact the external member and break when it is not used.  
     [0053] The lock parts  145  are movable in the direction C and forced in a direction C 1 . As shown in FIGS. 5A and 6, the lock part  145  has a curved surface in the direction C. Here, FIG. 6A is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the lock parts  145 . FIG. 6B is its partially enlarged sectional view. When a user presses the support parts  192  with his finger towards the lower cover  140 , the bottom of the engagement groove  192   a  pushes and moves the lock parts  145  back in a direction C 2  and allows the support part  192  to contact the lower cover  140 . Thereafter, an engagement part  145   a  at the tip of the lock part  145  forced in the direction C 1  engages with the engagement groove  192   a  and locks the support part  192 .  
     [0054]FIGS. 5B and 5C show that the height H 4  of the stand mechanism  190  is lower than the height H 3  of the lower cover  140  when viewed from the LCD  124  where the stand mechanism  190  is folded. In other words, when the WebPAD  100  is viewed in the directions A and B in FIG. 5A, the stand mechanism  190  is invisible and thus the stand mechanism  190  does not prevent the WebPAD  100  from being made thin. Thus, this embodiment maximize the space defined by a difference of height between the lower cover  140  and the center part  102  (i.e., H 3 -H 4 ).  
     [0055] In order to unlock the support part  192  from the lock parts  145 , a user moves the lock parts  145  in the direction C 2  with his finger, and raises the support part  192  from the lower cover  140 . Then, the standing support part  192  is rotated around the connection part  193 , and held by a stand holder part  146  formed on the lower cover  140 . The held support part  192  supports the housing  101 . FIG. 7 shows this state. As shown in FIG. 7, the WebPAD  100  may maintain its inclined posture on the desk when the stand holder part  146  holds the support part  192 .  
     [0056] Further, the present invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments, and various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
     [0057] Thus, the inventive electronic apparatus may provide a portable electronic apparatus in pursuit of miniaturization, low profile, lightweight property, and multi-functionality as well as improved portability and shock resistance.