Patent Publication Number: US-2015062794-A1

Title: Electronic apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-179861, filed Aug. 30, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to electronic apparatuses having a first housing and a second housing rotatable to the first housing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There is provided an electronic apparatus having a first housing and a second housing rotatable to the first housing, in which a rubber bumper is provided on the second housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A general architecture that implements the various features of the embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate the embodiments and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary perspective view of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary front view schematically illustrating a second portion including a fingerhold shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary perspective view illustrating an enlarged region encircled by line F 3  of the electronic apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary side view illustrating a part of a first housing and a second housing shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary side view illustrating a part of the second housing shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an exemplary sectional view of the second housing shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplary front view illustrating an internal structure of an upper end of the second housing shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is an exemplary sectional view taken along line F 8 -F 8  of the second housing shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary sectional view taken along line F 9 -F 9  of the second housing shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is an exemplary sectional view schematically illustrating that a mask of a structure shown in  FIG. 9  is bent. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In general, according to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises a first housing and a second housing. The second housing is rotatably attached to the first housing. The second housing comprises a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is attached to the first portion and has greater elasticity than the first portion. The second portion comprises a fingerhold. 
     Some components are expressed by two or more terms. Those terms are just examples. Those components may be further expressed by another or other terms. And the other components which are not expressed by two or more terms may be expressed by another or other terms. 
       FIGS. 1 to 10  illustrate an electronic apparatus  1  according to an embodiment. The electronic apparatus  1  is, for example, a notebook portable computer (notebook PC). It should be noted that an electronic apparatus to which the present embodiment is applicable is not limited to this example. The present embodiment is widely applicable to various types of electronic apparatuses having a rotatable housing such as a cellphone and a game console. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the electronic apparatus has a first housing  2 , a second housing  3  and a pair of hinges  4   a  and  4   b . The first housing  2  is, for example, a main housing. The first housing  2  accommodates, for example, a circuit board  5  as a main board. 
     The first housing  2  has an upper wall  11 , a lower wall  12  (e.g., bottom wall) and a peripheral wall  13 , formed into a flat box shape. It should be noted that, in the description that follows, upper, lower, left and right are defined from the point view of a user. Also, a location close to the user is defined as “front,” while a location distant from the user is defined as “rear.” 
     The upper wall  11  extends in a longitudinal direction (e.g., substantially horizontal direction) of the first housing  2 . A keyboard  14  as an example of an input portion is provided on the upper wall  11 . It should be noted that the input portion provided on the upper wall  11  may be, for example, a touchpanel (i.e., touchsensor) or other input apparatus, not limited to the keyboard  14 . 
     The lower wall  12  is located opposite to the upper wall  11  and extends, for example, substantially parallel to the upper wall  11 . When the electronic apparatus  1  is placed on a desk, the lower wall  12  faces the desk surface (i.e., external placement surface). The lower wall  12  has, for example, a plurality of legs  15  (i.e., supporting portions). When the electronic apparatus  1  is placed on a desk, the legs  15  contact the desk surface to support the electronic apparatus  1 . 
     The peripheral wall  13  extends in a direction crossing the upper wall  11  and the lower wall  12  and connects the peripheral end of the lower wall  12  with that of the upper wall  11 . The peripheral wall  13  extends in a thickness direction of the first housing  2 . Also, the first housing  2  has a first end  2   a  (e.g., rear end) and a second end  2   b  (e.g., front end), which is located opposite to the first end  2   a.    
     On the other hand, the second housing  3  is a display housing, for example. The second housing  3  accommodates a display  20  (i.e., display module or unit). An example of the display  20  is a liquid crystal display device, not limited thereto. The display  20  has a display screen  20   a  that displays an image. 
     The second housing  3  has a front wall  21  (i.e., lower wall or first wall), a back wall  22  (i.e., rear wall, upper wall or second wall) and a peripheral wall  23  (i.e., side wall or third wall), formed into a flat box shape. An opening  21   a , through which the display screen  20   a  is exposed, is formed in the front wall  21 . The back wall  22  is located opposite to the front wall  21 , extending substantially parallel to the front wall  21 . The back wall  22  covers the back face of the display  20 . The peripheral wall  23  extends in a direction crossing the front wall  21  and the back wall  22  and connects the peripheral end of the front wall  21  with that of the back wall  22 . The peripheral wall  23  is formed in a gentle circular arc shape from the end of the back wall  22  to the end of the front wall  21 , for example. 
     The second housing  3  has a first end  3   a  (e.g., lower end) and a second end  3   b  (e.g., upper end), which is located opposite to the first end  3   a . The second end  3   b  of the second housing  3  accommodates antennas  24   a  and  24   b  and a camera module  25 . The front wall  21  has a hole  21   b  (e.g., imaging window, camera hole or opening), in which the camera (i.e., imaging section) of the camera module  25  is exposed to the outside. The hole  21   b  is located in a center portion of a width direction (e.g., horizontal direction) of the second housing  3 . 
     The hinges  4   a  and  4   b  are rotatably attached (i.e., openable and closable) to the first end  2   a  of the first housing  2  and the first end  3   a  of the second housing  3 . This makes the electronic apparatus  1  openable and closable (i.e., deformable or foldable). The second housing  3  is rotatable between a first state (e.g., closing state) and a second state (e.g., opening state) as mentioned below. 
     In the first state, the second housing  3  is laid on the first housing  2  so that the electronic apparatus  1  is closed. Specifically, the upper wall  11  of the first housing  2  and the front wall  21  of the second housing  3  face each other and the display screen  20   a  and the keyboard  14  are hidden from outside. On the other hand, in the second state, the second housing  3  is raised from the first housing  2  so that the electronic apparatus  1  is open. In the second state, the display screen  20   a  and the keyboard  14  are exposed to the outside. 
     Next, the structure of the second housing  3  will be described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the second housing  3  has a mask  31  and a cover  32 . The mask  31  is an example of a “first member.” The mask  31  faces the first housing  2  when the first housing  2  is laid on the second housing  3 , for example, in the first state. The mask  31  includes the front wall  21 , in which the opening  21   a  is formed. The cover  32  is an example of a “second member.” The cover  32  is located opposite to the mask  31  and includes the back wall  22  and the peripheral wall  23 . The second housing  3  is formed in a combination of the mask  31  and the cover  32 . 
     The second housing  3  has a first portion  41  and a second portion  42 . The first portion  41  is a portion formed with, for example, hard plastic or metal. The first portion  41  includes a large part of the second housing  3 . Specifically, the first portion  41  includes a large part of the mask  31  and the whole of the cover  32 . The first portion  41  includes the front wall  21 , the back wall  22  and the peripheral wall  23 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the second portion  42  by hatching for convenience of explanation. The second portion  42  is more elastic and softer than the first portion  41 . The second portion  42  is attached to the first portion  41 . Specifically, the second portion  42  is provided on the mask  31 . The second portion  42  includes a frame  44  along the peripheral end of the second housing  3  (e.g., the perimeter of the mask  31 ). The frame  44  is a relatively large frame body that surrounds the opening  21   a  through which the display screen  20   a  is exposed. 
     The second portion  42  is formed of, for example, an elastomer such as thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU). TPU is a type of plastic called urethane rubber or urethane resin and is a polymer which is as soft as rubber. TPU has the property of becoming softer, so more easily processed to a desired shape when heated to a certain temperature, and becoming harder when cooled. It should be noted that the material of the second portion  42  is not limited to the above examples. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a fingerhold  45  (e.g., protruding fingerhold or tab), which enables the user to gain a fingerhold when the second housing  3  is rotated, is provided on the second portion  42 . The fingerhold  45  is provided integrally with the frame  44  as a part of the second portion  42 . That is, the fingerhold  45  is formed of the same material as the second portion  42 . The second portion  42  including the fingerhold  45  is formed by double injection molding together with the resin of the first portion  41 , for example. 
     The fingerhold  45  is located in the center portion of the second end  3   b  (e.g., upper end) of the second housing  3 . The fingerhold  45  is a protrusion that protrudes from the frame  44 . The fingerhold  45  protrudes toward the outside of the second housing  3  in a direction along the front wall  21 . The fingerhold  45  has a predetermined length in a width direction (e.g., horizontal direction) of the second housing  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the fingerhold  45  protrudes from the end surface of the first housing  2  (e.g., the edge of the front wall  21 ) in a direction crossing the rotational direction of the second housing  3  (e.g., in a direction along the upper wall  11  of the first housing  2 ), when the second housing  3  is laid on the first housing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , the front wall of the first housing  2  extends linearly over almost the whole width of the horizontal direction of the first housing  2 , and no hollow is arranged in a position corresponding to the fingerhold  45 . This makes the appearance of the first housing  2  clear and improves the design of the electronic apparatus  1 . 
     Next, the structure of the second portion  42  will be described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 , the frame  44  is provided along the whole peripheral end of the front wall  21 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the peripheral end of the front wall  21  has a difference step part  21   c . In the difference step part  21   c , the surface of the front wall  21  is hollowed. The frame  44  is attached to the difference step part  21   c  and covers a front surface  47  and a side surface  48  of the perimeter of the front wall  21 . That is, the frame  44  is formed in an L shape covering the peripheral end of the front wall  21  from the front to the side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the frame  44  has an abutting part  49  (i.e., cushion part) that protrudes to the front beyond the front surface  47  of the front wall  21 . The abutting part  49  is formed in a frame along the whole perimeter of the second housing  3 . The abutting part  49  is interposed between the first portion  41  of the second housing  3  and the first housing  2 , when the second housing  3  and the first housing  2  are overlapped. 
     That is, the abutting part  49  is located adjacent to the first housing  2  as compared to the first portion of the second housing  3 , when the second housing  3  and the first housing  2  are overlapped. The abutting part  49  may be contacted with the upper wall  11  of the first housing  2  or may be distant with a slight gap between the abutting part  49  and the upper wall  11  of the first housing  2 , when the second housing  3  and the first housing  2  are overlapped. 
     By providing the abutting part  49 , it can be avoided that the first portion  41  of the second housing  3  directly contacts the second housing  3  and that the keyboard  14  and the display screen  20   a  are damaged, when the second housing  3  and the first housing  2  are overlapped. Also, by providing the abutting part  49 , the first housing  2  seems in close contact with the second housing  3  without any gap or position difference, and the appearance of the electronic apparatus  1  is improved, when the second housing  3  and the first housing  2  are overlapped. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the fingerhold  45  is located on the extended line of the front wall  21 . There are step differences between the fingerhold  45  and the abutting part  49 . The fingerhold  45  is located adjacent to the cover  32  as compared to the abutting part  49 . This makes the fingerhold  45  less conspicuous and improves the appearance of the electronic apparatus  1 . 
     Next, the engagement structure of the mask  31  and the cover  32  will be described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the mask  31  has a first engaging part  51  in a region adjacent to the fingerhold  45 . On the other hand, the cover  32  has a second engaging part  52 , which engages with the first engaging part  51  when a force in a direction of disengaging the mask  31  from the cover  32  acts on the fingerhold  45 . It should be noted that the second engaging part  52  may be always engaged (i.e., contacted) with the first engaging part  51 , or that there may usually be a gap between the first engaging part  51  and the second engaging part  52  and the first engaging part  51  and the second engaging part  52  may be engaged (i.e., contacted) when an external force acts. By providing the first engaging part  51  and the second engaging part  52  as mentioned above, it can be avoided that a gap occurs in the boundary (e.g., joint surface) between the mask  31  and the cover  32  when the second housing  3  is closed. 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the first engaging part  51  includes a pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  (e.g., first pawl parts), each of which is located separately at the both sides of the center portion of the fingerhold  45  in a longitudinal direction of the fingerhold  45 . The second engaging part  52  includes a pair of second hooks  54   a  and  54   b  (e.g., second pawl parts), each of which is located separately at both sides of the center portion of the fingerhold  45  in a longitudinal direction of the fingerhold  45  and engages with the pair of hooks  53   a  and  53   b . The pair of second hooks  54   a  and  54   b  is located between the pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  respectively has a base end  55  (i.e., supporting portion or first end) connected to the inner surface of the front wall  21  and a fore end  56  (i.e., engaging portion or second end) that extends from the base end  55  toward the center portion of the fingerhold  45  to engage with either of the second hook  54   a  or  54   b . The pair of second hooks  54   a  and  54   b  respectively has a base end  57  (i.e., supporting portion or first end) connected to the inner surface of the front wall  21  and a fore end  58  (i.e., engaging portion or second end) that extends from the base end  57  to the first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  to engage with either the first hook  53   a  or  53   b.    
     That is, the pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  embraces the pair of second hooks  54   a  and  54   b  from outside. As will be mentioned in detail below, according to such a structure, when a force in a direction of closing the second housing  3  (i.e., a force in a direction opposite to a direction from the mask  31  toward the cover  32 ) is added to the fingerhold  45  to bend the mask  31 , the engagement of the first engaging part  51  and the second engaging part  52  gets stronger. It should be noted that the number of the first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  and the second hooks  54   a  and  54   b  is not limited to two, respectively, and may be one, three or more. 
     According to such a structure, it is possible to improve design and to provide the durable electronic apparatus  1 . 
     Generally, in an electronic apparatus, a finger recess is provided on a front end of a main unit so that a display unit can be opened easily. A user is able to gain a fingerhold on an end of the display unit by putting his fingertip in the recess. However, in such an electronic apparatus, since a recess is provided on a front end of a main unit, design and flexibility of the internal structure of the electronic apparatus can be diminished. 
     It is therefore suggested that a protrusion for gaining a fingerhold be provided in a display unit of an electronic apparatus. In this case, the protrusion is formed as a part of a housing of the display unit, for example. However, if the protrusion for gaining a fingerhold is formed of the same hard plastic as the housing of the display unit, for example, if a user inadvertently drops the electronic apparatus, an impact may be input from this protrusion and the display unit may be damaged. 
     The electronic apparatus  1  of the present embodiment has the first housing  2  and the second housing  3 . The second housing  3  has the first portion  41  and the second portion  42 , which is attached to the first portion  41  and has higher elasticity than the first portion  41 , and is rotatably attached to the first housing  2 . The fingerhold  45  is provided on the second portion  42 . 
     According to such a structure, since the fingerhold  45  is provided on the second portion  42 , which has higher elasticity than the first portion  41 , even if a user inadvertently drops the electronic apparatus  1 , for example, the fingerhold  45  can absorb a part of the impact. Therefore, it is possible to provide the more durable electronic apparatus  1 . Also, by providing the fingerhold  45  on the second housing  3 , the finger recess for fingerhold does not need to be provided in the first housing  2  and it is possible to improve design and flexibility of the internal structure of the electronic apparatus  1 . 
     In the present embodiment, the second portion  42  including the fingerhold  45  is formed with elastomer, which makes it possible to impart appropriate elasticity and flexibility to the fingerhold  45 . Also, the fingerhold  45  formed with elastomer (e.g., TPU) is less slippery and easy to operate. Therefore, it is also possible to improve operability of the electric apparatus  1 . 
     In the present embodiment, the second portion  42  including the fingerhold  45  is formed by double injection together with the first portion  41 . According to such a composition, the second portion  42  with different materials can be relatively easily provided integrally with the first portion  41 . This realizes high manufacturability of the electronic apparatus  1  and can intend to reduce the cost of the electronic apparatus  1 . 
     In the present embodiment, the second portion  42  includes the frame  44  along the peripheral end of the second housing  3 . The fingerhold  45  is a protrusion that protrudes from the frame  44 . According to such a structure, a force that acts on the fingerhold  45  can be received on the whole of the frame  44  (i.e., the whole of the second housing  3 ). Therefore, it can be avoided that loads concentrate in the fingerhold  45  or a part of the second housing  3  and the fingerhold  45  and a part of the second housing  3  are damaged. 
     In the present embodiment, the fingerfold member  45  protrudes beyond an end of the first housing  2  in a direction crossing a rotational direction of the second housing  3 , when the second housing  3  is laid on the first housing  2 . According to such a structure, it is easy to use the fingerfold  45  and operability of the electric device  1  can be further improved. 
     In the present embodiment, the second housing  3  has a first member (e.g., the mask  31 ) that faces the first housing  2  and a second member (e.g., the cover  32 ) that is combined with the first member and is located opposite to the first member, when the second housing  3  is laid on the first housing  2 . The second portion  42  is provided on the first member. 
     According to such a structure, since a force from the fingerfold member  45  acts on the first member, a force does not work to disengage the first member from the second member when the second housing  3  is opened (when the second housing  3  is changed from the first state to the second state). Therefore, no gap occurs in the boundary (e.g., joint surface) between the first member and the second member. 
     On the other hand, when the second housing  3  is closed (when the second housing  3  is changed from the second state to the first state), a user often closes the second housing  3  by pushing the back surface of the second member (e.g., the back wall of the cover  32 ). Therefore, even when the second housing  3  is closed, it is often the case that a force does not work to disengage the first member from the second member. Thus, a gap hardly occurs in the boundary between the first member and the second member. 
     Next, a case will be explained where the second housing  3  is closed by the use of the fingerhold  45 . 
     If the fingerhold  45  is formed with hard plastic, when a strong force acts on the fingerhold  45 , it is likely that the first member is disengaged from the second member. However, in the present embodiment, since the fingerhold  45  has elasticity, even if a strong force acts on the fingerhold  45 , a part of the force can be absorbed on the fingerhold  45 . Therefore, even if a strong force acts on the fingerhold  45 , the first member is less likely to be disengaged from the second member (i.e., a gap hardly occurs in the boundary between the first member and the second member) and the appearance of the electronic apparatus  1  can be improved. 
     In the present embodiment, the first member has the first engaging part  51  located in a region adjacent to the fingerhold  45 . The second member has the second engaging part  52 , which engages with the first engaging part  51  when a force in a direction of disengaging the first member from the second member acts on the fingerhold  45 . According to such a structure, even when the second housing  3  is closed by the use of the fingerhold  45 , the first member is less likely to be disengaged from the second member owing to the engagement of the first engaging part  51  and the second engaging part  52 . Therefore, a gap hardly occurs in the boundary between the first member and the second member and the appearance of the electronic apparatus  1  can be improved. 
     In the present embodiment, the first engaging part  51  includes the pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  located separately at both sides of the center portion of the fingerhold  45  in a longitudinal direction of the fingerhold  45 . The second engaging part  52  includes the pair of second hooks  54   a  and  54   b  that engages with the pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b . According to such a structure, even if the fingerhold  45  to be arranged is relatively wide, it is absolutely possible to maintain the engagement between the first member and the second member owing to the first engaging part  51  and the second engaging part  52 . Therefore, since the first member is less likely to be disengaged from the second member (i.e., a gap hardly occurs in the boundary between the first member and the second member), the appearance of the electronic apparatus  1  can be improved. 
     In the present embodiment, the pair of second hooks  54   a  and  54   b  is located between the pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b . The pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  respectively has the base end  55  connected to the first member and the fore end  56  that extends from the base end  55  toward the center portion of the fingerhold  45  to engage with either of the second hook  54   a  or  54   b . According to such a structure, it is possible to realize a structure where the second engaging part  52  is embraced from outside by the pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b . Hereinafter, referring to  FIG. 10 , this structure will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 10  schematically shows that when the second housing  3  is closed, a force acts on the fingerhold  45  and the center portion of the first member gets bent. As shown in  FIG. 10 , in this case, the first member is deformed in a direction, in which the fore end  56  of the pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  is pressed to the second hooks  54   a  and  54   b . Therefore, when the second housing  3  is closed by the use of the fingerhold  45 , if the first member gets bent, the engagement between the first engaging part  51  and the second engaging part  52  gets further stronger. Thus, the engagement between the first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  and the second hooks  54   a  and  54   b  is absolutely maintained. Accordingly, since the first member is much less likely to be disengaged from the second member (i.e., a gap hardly occurs in the boundary between the first member and the second member), the appearance of the electronic apparatus  1  can be improved. 
     In the present embodiment, the hole  21   b , in which the camera of the camera module  25  is exposed, is arranged on the first member. If the fingerhold  45  is arranged on the second member, the middle of the camera hole  21   b  and the middle of the fingerhold  45  are likely to be misaligned due to component tolerance or assembly tolerance of the first member and the second member, and the appearance of the electronic apparatus  1  may be marred. However, in the present embodiment, since the camera hole  21   b  and the fingerhold  45  are both arranged on the first member, the center of the camera hole  21   b  and the center of the fingerhold  45  are less likely to be misaligned and the appearance of the electronic apparatus  1  can be improved. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions. 
     For example, the material of the fingerhold  45  is not limited to TPU and may be a material that is more elastic than hard plastic without any restriction. The second portion  42  is not limited to the one including the frame  44  along the peripheral end of the second housing  3 . For example, the second portion  42  may be the linear one extending along the second end  3   b  of the second housing  3  or other configurations. The second portion  42  is not limited to the one provided on the mask  31  and may be provided on the cover  32 . The configurations of the first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  and second hooks  54   a  and  54   b  are not limited to the particular ones. For example, the pair of first hooks  53   a  and  53   b  may be located between the pair of second hooks  54   a  and  54   b  and may be the one embraced from outside by the second hooks  54   a  and  54   b.