JP2017091150A - Portable information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide portable information equipment capable of suppressing cost and installation space of a camera part, and performing imaging according to a use.SOLUTION: Portable information equipment 10 is configured so that, a main body housing 16 and a display housing 14 are rotatably connected with hinge mechanisms 12L, 12R, in which the main body housing and display housing can rotate, from a 0 degree position where surfaces 14a, 16a of the main body housing 16 and the display housing 14 face each other, through a 180 degree position where the surfaces 14a, 16a of the main body housing 16 and the display housing 14 face the same direction and are in parallel, to a 360 degree position where rear surfaces 14b, 16b of the main body housing 16 and the display housing 14 face each other, and the portable information equipment 10 comprises: a camera part 24 provided on the surface 16a of the main body housing 16; and an angle variable mechanism 28 for varying an angle of the camera part 24 in linkage with the rotation operation of the display housing 14 to the main body housing 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information device in which a main body housing and a display housing are rotatably connected by a hinge mechanism.

  In recent years, tablet personal computers (tablet PCs) having a touch panel type liquid crystal display and no physical keyboard are rapidly spreading. The tablet PC is easy to carry because it is easy to carry and input operations can be performed using a touch panel.

  However, since the tablet PC does not have a physical keyboard, it may hinder long text input operations. Therefore, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1, a convertible tablet personal computer in which a display housing having a display can be rotated from 180 degrees to 360 degrees with respect to a main body housing having a keyboard ( A convertible PC) has been proposed. The convertible PC can be used in two ways: a normal notebook personal computer (notebook PC) and a tablet PC, and is very convenient for the user.

JP 2014-67396 A

  Incidentally, there is a demand for a configuration in which a camera unit is provided in a convertible PC as described above as in a general notebook PC or tablet PC.

  However, while the use of the camera part in the notebook PC is mainly for the user's own photography, the use of the camera part in the tablet PC is mainly as a normal camera on the back side opposite to the display side. Shooting. For this reason, in order to cope with these two uses of the notebook type PC and the tablet type PC in the convertible type PC, it is necessary to provide two camera units, which is problematic in terms of cost and installation space. Moreover, a high-performance camera module is expensive and has a large thickness, and the use of two such high-performance camera modules poses a greater problem in terms of cost and installation space.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable information device capable of shooting according to the application while suppressing the cost and installation space of the camera unit. To do.

  In the portable information device according to the present invention, a main body housing having an operation means on the surface and a display housing having a display on the surface are rotatably connected by a hinge mechanism, and the main body housing and the display housing are connected. The surface of the main body housing and the display housing face each other through the 180 degree position where the surfaces of the main body housing and the display housing face in the same direction and are parallel to each other. A portable information device capable of rotating to a 360-degree position, wherein the camera unit provided on the surface of the main body casing and the rotating operation of the display casing with respect to the main body casing An angle variable mechanism that changes the angle of the camera unit is provided.

  According to such a configuration, the angle of the camera unit provided on the surface of the main body case changes in conjunction with the rotation operation of the display case by the angle variable mechanism. Thereby, one camera unit is suitable for, for example, a use form of a notebook PC in which the display casing is set from a 90 degree position to about a 135 degree position and a use form of a tablet type PC set to a 360 degree position. It can be used effectively in each usage mode by changing the angle position. As a result, it is not necessary to provide two camera units for each usage pattern, and it is possible to perform shooting according to the application suitable for each usage pattern while suppressing the cost and installation space of the camera unit.

  The variable angle mechanism is configured such that the camera unit is tilted on the surface of the main body housing opposite to the display housing side in a rotation operation for rotating the display housing to a predetermined angular position with respect to the main body housing. While the angle position is set to face upward, the camera unit may be set to an angle position in which the camera unit faces the vertical direction from the surface of the main body housing at the 360 degree position. Then, for example, in the angle range from 90 degrees position to 135 degrees position, which is a usage pattern of a notebook PC, the camera unit can be photographed toward the user side, while at 360 degrees position, which is a usage pattern of a tablet PC. The camera part can be photographed toward the back side of the display, and high convenience according to the usage pattern can be obtained.

  When the predetermined angular position is set in an angle range from a 0 degree position to a 180 degree position, the camera unit can be directed to the user side when using the notebook PC.

  The camera unit may be arranged on one edge side of the main body housing where the hinge mechanism is provided. If it does so, since a camera part will be arranged in the back side of a main part case at the time of photography at the time of use of a notebook type PC, photography on the user side will become favorable. Moreover, when the tablet PC is used, for example, since the camera unit is arranged on the back upper part of the portable information device held by the user in a horizontal posture with the hinge mechanism side as an upper part, photographing as a normal camera is also possible. It becomes good.

  When the variable angle mechanism has a link mechanism that changes the angle of the camera unit in conjunction with the rotation of the hinge mechanism, the rotation operation of the display housing and the change of the angle of the camera unit can be performed more smoothly. Can be linked.

  The link mechanism includes a camera support member provided with the camera unit and pivotally supported with respect to the body housing, a cam member that rotates together with the hinge mechanism, and slides relative to the body housing. It may be configured to have a slide member that is provided so as to be moved by being pressed by the cam member by rotating the cam member and rotating the camera support member. If it does so, rotation of a hinge mechanism can be transmitted to a camera part with a simple structure via a cam member, a slide member, and a camera support member.

  If the camera support member has an elastic member that urges the camera support member in the direction of rotation toward the slide member, the camera support member can always be urged in a direction in contact with the slide member. Shaking is prevented.

  The link mechanism is provided with the camera unit, and is provided with a camera support member that is pivotally supported with respect to the main body casing, and is movably provided on the main body casing. A movable member that moves with the movable member, and an arm member that rotates the camera support member in conjunction with the movement of the movable member by connecting the movable member and the camera support member. May be. Then, the rotation of the hinge mechanism can be transmitted to the camera unit with a simple structure via the movable member, the arm member, and the camera support member.

  One end of the camera support member descends into the inside of the camera placement hole from an angular position arranged along the surface of the body housing at the opening of the camera placement hole formed on the surface of the body housing. And the structure which can be rotated to the buried angular position may be sufficient.

  One end of the camera support member rises to the outside of the camera arrangement hole from an angular position arranged along the surface of the main body casing at the opening of the camera arrangement hole formed on the surface of the main body casing. Thus, a structure that can be rotated to the protruding angular position may be used.

  According to the present invention, one camera unit, for example, a notebook PC usage mode in which the display housing is set from the 90 degree position to the 135 degree position, and a tablet PC usage mode in which the 360 degree position is set, It can be used effectively in each usage form. As a result, it is not necessary to provide two camera units for each usage pattern, and it is possible to perform shooting according to the application suitable for each usage pattern while suppressing the cost and installation space of the camera unit.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable information device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the portable information device shown in FIG. 1 when used in a notebook PC. FIG. 3 is a side view in the case of using the tablet PC with the display housing rotated in the opening direction from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the state of the hinge mechanism and the variable angle mechanism from the 0 degree position to the 135 degree position. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing the state of the hinge mechanism and the angle variable mechanism from the 180 degree position to the 360 degree position. FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the state of the hinge mechanism and the angle variable mechanism at the 0 degree position. FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing the state of the hinge mechanism and the angle variable mechanism at the 90-degree position. FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing the state of the hinge mechanism and the angle variable mechanism at the 135 degree position. FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing the state of the hinge mechanism and the angle variable mechanism at the 180-degree position. FIG. 10 is a side view schematically showing the state of the hinge mechanism and the angle variable mechanism at the 360-degree position. FIG. 11 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration example of a hinge mechanism applied to the angle variable mechanism according to the first modification. 12 is a development view of rail grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface of a spiral pin provided in the hinge mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing a state of the hinge mechanism and the angle variable mechanism according to the first modification from the 0 degree position to the 135 degree position. FIG. 14 is a plan view schematically showing a state of the hinge mechanism and the angle variable mechanism according to the first modification from the 180 degree position to the 360 degree position. FIG. 15 is a side view schematically showing a state of the variable angle mechanism according to the first modification from the 0 degree position to the 135 degree position. FIG. 16 is a side view schematically showing the state of the variable angle mechanism according to the first modification from the 180 degree position to the 360 degree position. FIG. 17 is a side view schematically showing the state of the camera unit at the note mode photographing position of the angle variable mechanism according to the second modification. FIG. 18 is a side view schematically showing a state of the camera unit at the tablet mode photographing position of the angle variable mechanism shown in FIG.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a portable information device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable information device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a usage form in a notebook PC in which a display housing 14 is opened from a main body housing 16 by hinge mechanisms 12L and 12R. . FIG. 2 is a side view when the portable information device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is used in a notebook PC. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the display housing 14 rotated from the state shown in FIG. It is a side view at the time of setting it as the usage form with the tablet-type PC which was let it be 360 degree positions.

  The portable information device 10 according to the present embodiment can be suitably used as a notebook PC in a state in which the display housing 14 is rotated to an angular position of about 90 to 135 degrees with respect to the main body housing 16 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), in a state where the display housing 14 is rotated to a position of 360 degrees with respect to the main body housing 16, it can be suitably used as a tablet PC (see FIG. 3), and is a so-called convertible PC. The present invention is applicable to various portable information devices such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, and an electronic notebook other than such a convertible PC.

  Hereinafter, the surface (upper surface) 16a of the main body housing 16 is viewed while viewing the display 18 provided on the surface (front surface) 14a of the display housing 14 on the basis of the usage pattern in the notebook PC shown in FIGS. The front side is called the front side (front) and the back side is the rear side (rear) in the direction seen from the user who operates the operation means such as the keyboard 20 and the touch pad 21 provided on the thickness of the main body casing 16. The direction is referred to as the up and down direction, and the width direction is referred to as the left and right direction.

  Further, for convenience of explanation, regarding the angular positions of the main body casing 16 and the display casing 14 by the hinge mechanisms 12L and 12R, the display casing 14 is completely closed with respect to the main body casing 16, and the surfaces 14a and 16a of each other. Each other, that is, the posture in which the display 18 and the keyboard 20 face each other is referred to as a 0-degree position (see one display housing 14 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). Then, with this 0 degree position as a reference, the display casing 14 will be described with an angle in the direction in which the display casing 14 is rotated in the opening direction. For example, a posture in which the display casing 14 and the main body casing 16 are orthogonally positioned at a 90 degree position. The posture in which the surfaces 14a and 16a face each other in the same direction (upward) and are parallel to each other is referred to as a 180-degree position (see the other display housing 14 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). Further, the posture in which the back surfaces of the display housing 14 and the main body housing 16 face each other, that is, the back surface (back surface) 14b of the display housing 14 and the back surface (lower surface) 16b of the main body housing 16 face each other at 360 degrees (see FIG. 3). Shall be called. In addition, about description of 0 degree | times position, 180 degree | times position, 360 degree | times position etc., it shifted | deviated somewhat from the exact angular position which an angle figure shows by the structure of the main body housing | casing 16, the display housing | casing 14, or the hinge mechanisms 12L and 12R. Obviously, an angular position also occurs, and in this embodiment, the angular position including these shifted positions is referred to as a 0 degree position.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the portable information device 10 includes a display housing 14 having a display 18 and a main body housing 16 having a keyboard 20 as a pair of left and right hinge mechanisms 12L and 12R (hereinafter collectively referred to as “a”). The hinge mechanism 12 is also connected so as to be rotatable from a 0 degree position to a 360 degree position.

  The display housing 14 is electrically connected to the main body housing 16 by a cable (not shown) that has passed through the hinge mechanism 12. The display 18 is configured by, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit.

  The main body housing 16 is formed in a flat box shape, and a hinge mechanism 12 is provided at the rear edge thereof, and various electronic components such as a substrate, a computing device, and a memory (not shown) are accommodated therein. Instead of the keyboard 20 and the touch pad 21, a display (not shown) may be provided on the surface 16a of the main body housing 16, and a software keyboard that displays the keyboard on the display may be used as an operation unit.

  A camera unit 24, which is a camera module capable of displaying the photographed image on the display 18, is provided at the rear end side central portion of the surface 16 a of the main body casing 16, that is, the rear central portion of the keyboard 20.

  The camera unit 24 is arranged in a camera arrangement hole 26 formed on the surface 16a of the main body casing 16 (see FIG. 1), and is an angle arranged substantially flush along the surface 16a at the opening of the camera arrangement hole 26. The angle changes between the position (tablet mode shooting position) (see FIG. 3) and the angle position (note mode shooting position) (see FIGS. 1 and 2) where the front end side is lowered and buried in the camera placement hole 26 and inclined. Is possible. As a result, the camera unit 24 can shoot in the vertical direction from the surface 16a of the main body casing 16 at the tablet mode shooting position, and is opposite to the display casing 14 side from the surface 16a of the main body casing 16 at the note mode shooting position. It becomes possible to take an image of the diagonally upper front. Although details will be described later, the camera unit 24 is linked to the hinge mechanism 12 via an angle variable mechanism 28 (see FIG. 4 and the like), and the angular position is interlocked with the rotation operation of the display housing 14 by the hinge mechanism 12. To be changed.

  4 is a plan view schematically showing the state of the hinge mechanism 12R and the angle variable mechanism 28 from the 0 degree position to the 135 degree position, and FIG. 5 shows the hinge mechanism 12R from the 180 degree position to the 360 degree position. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the state of the variable angle mechanism 28, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show a partial cross-sectional plan view of the internal structure at the rear corner of the main body housing 16. 6 to 10 are side views schematically showing states of the hinge mechanism 12R and the angle variable mechanism 28 at the 0 degree position, the 90 degree position, the 135 degree position, the 180 degree position, and the 360 degree position, respectively. The internal structure at the rear corner of the main body housing 16 is shown in a partially sectional side view.

  Hereinafter, the hinge mechanism 12 will be described by exemplifying a configuration in which the angle of the camera unit 24 is changed via an angle variable mechanism 28 that is linked to the right hinge mechanism 12R as illustrated in FIGS. The mechanism 28 may be configured to change the angle of the camera unit 24 in conjunction with the left hinge mechanism 12L.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hinge mechanism 12 </ b> R (12 </ b> L) includes a display shaft 30 that is a shaft member extending in the left-right direction and a main body shaft 31 that is a shaft member installed in parallel with the display shaft 30. And a hinge housing 32 that rotatably supports the display shaft 30 and the main body shaft 31.

  One end of the display shaft 30 is fixed to the display housing 14 via the mounting plate 34, thereby rotating integrally with the display housing 14 (see FIG. 5). One end of the main body shaft 31 is fixed to the main body housing 16 via the mounting plate 35, so that the main body shaft 31 rotates integrally with the main body housing 16 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). In FIG. 4, the display shaft 30 that is actually located above the main body shaft 31 is not shown.

  In the case of this embodiment, the display shaft 30 and the main body shaft 31 are connected via a gear mechanism (not shown), and their rotations are synchronized. As a result, when the display housing 14 is rotated with respect to the main body housing 16, the display shaft 30 and the main body shaft 31 are rotated synchronously from the 0 degree position to the 360 degree position (see FIGS. 2 and 3). At this time, when the main body shaft 31 on the main body housing 16 side is used as a reference, the hinge housing 32 rotates 180 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the angle variable mechanism 28 includes a link mechanism 40 that changes the angle of the camera unit 24 in conjunction with the rotation of the hinge mechanism 12R. The link mechanism 40 includes a camera support member 42 provided with the camera unit 24, a cam member 44 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the main body shaft 31 constituting the hinge mechanism 12R, and the front and rear on the inner surface of the main body housing 16. And a slide member 46 slidably provided in the direction.

  The camera support member 42 includes a square support plate 42a disposed so that the camera unit 24 faces the upper surface, and a long belt-like link protruding from one side surface of the support plate 42a toward the hinge mechanism 12R. Plate 42b. The camera support member 42 is pivotally supported with respect to the main body housing 16 by a rotation shaft 42c provided on each of the other side surface of the support plate 42a and one side surface of the link plate 42b. A torsion coil spring (elastic member) 48 is externally attached to the rotation shaft 42c, and the camera support member 42 is constantly urged by the torsion coil spring 48 in a rotation direction in which the front end side of the support plate 42a is always lowered. (See FIG. 6). In the present embodiment, the camera unit 24 is disposed at the left and right center portion of the main body housing 16, but the link plate 42b may be omitted when the camera unit 24 is disposed in the vicinity of the hinge mechanism 12R, for example.

  The cam member 44 is a member formed in a substantially fan shape (circular arc-shaped triangle) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the end of the main body shaft 31 opposite to the mounting plate 35 side. The cam member 44 rotates together with the main body shaft 31. The circumferential surface of the cam member 44 is eccentric from the main body shaft 31, and the first cam surface 44 a having a bent shape and a short distance from the main body shaft 31 is formed in an arc shape and the distance from the main body shaft 31 is long. And a second cam surface 44b.

  The slide member 46 has a block shape having a pressing surface 46 a inclined forward and downward at the upper edge portion of the front end side, and the rear end surface becomes a pressure receiving surface 46 b pressed by the cam member 44. The slide member 46 slides forward when pressed by a portion where the radius of the cam member 44 that rotates together with the main body shaft 31 changes, that is, a boundary portion between the first cam surface 44a and the second cam surface 44b (FIG. 9). As a result, the link plate 42b is pressed by the pressing surface 46a to rotate the camera support member 42. On the other hand, the slide member 46 is not pressed by the first cam surface 44a and the second cam surface 44b of the cam member 44, that is, the slide member 46 is in place when the first cam surface 44a is in sliding contact with the pressure receiving surface. Stay (see FIGS. 6-8).

  Next, the angle changing operation of the camera unit 24 by the angle variable mechanism 28 will be described.

  First, when the display housing 14 is at the 0 degree position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the cam member 44 is in a rotational position where the first cam surface 44 a is in contact with the pressure receiving surface 46 b of the slide member 46. is there. For this reason, the slide surface 46a of the slide member 46 is in the retracted position where the slide surface 46a is slid most rearward by receiving the pressing force from the link plate 42b of the camera support member 42 biased to the lowered position by the torsion coil spring 48. That is, although the surface 16 a of the main body housing 16 is closed by the display housing 14, the camera unit 24 is in the note mode photographing position where the front end side is inclined down into the camera arrangement hole 26. Note that, by biasing the camera support member 42 in a direction in which the camera support member 42 is always in contact with the slide member 46 by the torsion coil spring 48, an effect of preventing rattling of the camera support member 42 is also obtained.

  Subsequently, when the display housing 14 is rotated in the opening direction from the 0 degree position, the main body shaft 31 is also rotated, and the cam member 44 is also rotated. However, while the display housing 14 rotates from the 0 degree position shown in FIG. 2 to the 135 degree position shown in FIG. 8, the cam member 44 rotates while the first cam surface 44 a is in sliding contact with the pressure receiving surface 46 b of the slide member 46. To do. For this reason, the slide member 46 remains in the retracted position without receiving the pressing force from the cam member 44, and the camera unit 24 is maintained at the note mode photographing position in which the front end side is inclined down inside the camera arrangement hole 26. That is, for example, in the usage form as a notebook PC between the 90 degree position shown in FIG. 7 and the 135 degree position shown in FIG. 8, the camera unit 24 is maintained at the note mode photographing position. As a result, the camera unit 24 can shoot an image from the front surface 16a of the main body casing 16 obliquely upward, and the user can shoot his / her face with the camera unit 24 while viewing the display 18, for example, a videophone function. Can be used (see also FIG. 2).

  Next, when the display housing 14 is rotated from the 135 degree position in the opening direction, the main body shaft 31 further rotates and the cam member 44 further rotates. While the display housing 14 is rotated from the 135-degree position shown in FIG. 8 to the 180-degree position shown in FIG. 9, the cam member 44 has a boundary portion between the first cam surface 44a and the second cam surface 44b (first cam surface 44a). Of the second cam surface 44b) and the pressure receiving surface 46b of the slide member 46 are in sliding contact with each other. Therefore, the slide member 46 is pressed by the terminal portion of the first cam surface 44 a and gradually slides forward, and the camera support member 42 is biased by the torsion coil spring 48 by the pressing action of the pressing surface 46 a against the link plate 42 b. Rotate upwards against it.

  Then, when the display housing 14 is at a 180-degree position (the rotation angle of the main body shaft 31 is 90 degrees), the slide member 46 is in the forward position where it slides forward most. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the camera support member 42 is in a state where the link plate 42 b gets over the pressing surface 46 a and is landed on the upper surface of the slide member 46. As a result, the camera unit 24 becomes a tablet mode photographing position arranged substantially flush along the surface 16 a of the main body housing 16 at the opening of the camera arrangement hole 26.

  Subsequently, when the display housing 14 is further rotated in the opening direction from the 180 degree position, the main body shaft 31 further rotates and the cam member 44 also rotates. However, while the display housing 14 rotates from the 180 degree position shown in FIG. 9 to the 360 degree position shown in FIG. 10, the cam member 44 rotates while the second cam surface 44 b slides on the pressure receiving surface 46 b of the slide member 46. To do. Therefore, the slide member 46 does not receive the pressing force from the cam member 44 and stays at the forward position, and the camera unit 24 is disposed substantially flush with the surface 16a of the main body housing 16 and can take a picture in the vertical direction. It is maintained at the shooting position. That is, in the usage form as the tablet PC at the 360 degree position shown in FIG. 10, the camera unit 24 is in the tablet mode photographing position. As a result, the camera unit 24 can shoot the vertical direction of the surface 16a of the main body casing 16 on the back side of the display 18, and the user can use the camera unit 24 like a normal camera while viewing the display 18. Can be taken (see also FIG. 3).

  In the above description, the configuration in which the camera unit 24 changes from the note mode shooting position to the tablet mode shooting position between the 135 degree position and the 180 degree position has been exemplified. For example, it may be configured to maintain the position at 150 degrees. The tablet mode shooting position may be set at at least 360 degrees instead of 180 degrees. These angular positions can be set by changing the shape of the cam member 44, for example.

  On the other hand, when the display housing 14 at the 360 degree position is rotated in the closing direction, an operation in the direction opposite to the rotation in the opening direction occurs. That is, as the display housing 14 is rotated from the 180-degree position to the 135-degree position, the slide member 46 is urged toward the lowered position by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 48. In response to the pressing force from the link plate 42b, it gradually slides backward. As a result, at the 135 degree position, the camera unit 24 returns to the note mode photographing position again.

  In the above description, the configuration in which the angle of the camera unit 24 is changed using the angle variable mechanism 28 including the cam member 44 is exemplified, but the angle of the camera unit 24 may be changed by other configurations.

  Therefore, prior to the description of the configuration of the variable angle mechanism 28A according to the modification, a configuration example of the hinge mechanism 12L applied to the variable angle mechanism 28A will be described. FIG. 11 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration example of the hinge mechanism 12L applied to the angle variable mechanism 28A according to the first modification. Hereinafter, a configuration in which the left hinge mechanism 12L is interlocked with the angle variable mechanism 28A will be described as an example. However, the angle variable mechanism 28A is configured to change the angle of the camera unit 24 in conjunction with the right hinge mechanism 12R. Also good.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the hinge mechanism 12L in this case, the hinge housing 32 is provided with a concave portion 32a into which a convex portion provided at the rear edge of the main body housing 16 is inserted. A spiral pin 50 projects from one side of the portion 32a. The spiral pin 50 is provided coaxially with the main body shaft 31, and rotates coaxially with the main body shaft 31 in conjunction with the rotation operation of the hinge housing 32. On the outer peripheral surface of the spiral pin 50, a rail groove 52 having a shape shown in the developed view shown in FIG. 12 is formed in a spiral shape.

  The rail groove 52 is provided between the idle swing portions 52a and 52b formed along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the spiral pin 50 and the idle swing portions 52a and 52b, and spirals along the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the spiral pin 50. And an actuating portion 52c formed to draw The idle swing parts 52 a and 52 b are grooves along the circumferential direction of the spiral pin 50 without any deviation in the left-right direction. The operating part 52 c is a groove that extends from the right side to the left side of the spiral pin 50. As shown in FIG. 12, the idle swing part 52a is formed at a position corresponding to the 135 degree position from the 0 degree position of the display housing 14, and the operating part 52c is formed at a position corresponding to the 180 degree position from the 135 degree position. The idling portion 52b is formed at a position corresponding to the position from the 180 degree position to the 360 degree position.

  An engagement piece 56a of a hinge link 56 that constitutes the link mechanism 54 of the variable angle mechanism 28A is slidably engaged with the rail groove 52. The engagement piece 56a moves the idle swinging part 52a during the rotation of the display housing 14 from the 0 degree position to the 135 degree position, and moves the operating part 52c during the rotation from the 135 degree position to the 180 degree position. During the rotation from the 180 degree position to the 360 degree position, the idle swing part 52b is moved.

  Next, the configuration of the variable angle mechanism 28A using the hinge mechanism 12L provided with such a rail groove 52 will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing the state of the hinge mechanism 12L and the angle variable mechanism 28A from the 0 degree position to the 135 degree position, and FIG. 14 shows the hinge mechanism 12L from the 180 degree position to the 360 degree position. It is a top view which shows typically the state of angle variable mechanism 28A. 15 is a side view schematically showing the state of the angle variable mechanism 28A from the 0 degree position to the 135 degree position, and FIG. 16 is a state of the angle variable mechanism 28A from the 180 degree position to the 360 degree position. It is a side view which shows typically.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, the angle variable mechanism 28 </ b> A includes a link mechanism 54 that changes the angle of the camera unit 24 in conjunction with the rotation of the hinge mechanism 12 </ b> L. The link mechanism 54 includes a camera support member 58 provided with the camera unit 24, a hinge link (movable member) 56 supported so as to be movable in the left-right direction on the inner surface of the main body housing 16, and an inner surface of the main body housing 16. And a swing member (movable member) 60 provided so as to be swingable, and an arm member 62 for connecting the swing member 60 and the camera support member 58 to each other.

  The camera support member 58 has a configuration in which the link plate 42b and the torsion coil spring 48 are omitted from the camera support member 42 described above, and rotation shafts 42c are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the support plate 42a. A spherical bearing 62a provided at one end of the arm member 62 is connected to the support plate 42a.

  The hinge link 56 is an L-shaped plate having an engagement piece 56 a that protrudes rearward and engages with the rail groove 52 of the spiral pin 50. When the display housing 14 is rotated and the spiral pin 50 is rotated, the hinge link 56 does not move when the engaging piece 56a is positioned in the idle swing portions 52a and 52b of the rail groove 52, and the engaging piece 56a is not moved. When it is located at the operating portion 52c, it slides in the left-right direction.

  The swing member 60 is a substantially triangular plate having a curved shape that swells toward one end on the hinge link 56 side where the rotation shaft 64 is provided. The swinging member 60 is connected to the hinge link 56 at a position on the rear side of the rotation shaft 64 so as to be rotatable with respect to each other by a connecting pin 66. The other end of the swinging member 60 opposite to the rotation shaft 64 is connected to the other end of the arm member 62 by a spherical bearing 62b.

  The arm member 62 is a rod-like member whose both ends are rotatably connected to the camera support member 58 and the swing member 60 via spherical bearings 62a and 62b, respectively. When the hinge link 56 slides in the left-right direction, the arm member 62 moves integrally in the front-rear direction when the front end side of the swinging member 60 swings in the front-rear direction, thereby causing the spherical bearings 62a, 62b at both ends to move. Then, the camera support member 58 is rotated. In addition, it is good also as a structure which slides the slide member 46 of the link mechanism 40 which comprises the angle variable mechanism 28 mentioned above by the rocking | fluctuation member 60, without providing the arm member 62. FIG.

  Next, an angle changing operation of the camera unit 24 by the angle variable mechanism 28A will be described.

  First, when the display housing 14 is at the 0 degree position, as shown in FIG. 13, the swing member 60 is rotated most counterclockwise in the drawing by the hinge link 56 at the initial position and moved backward. It is in. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, the arm member 62 is in the retracted position, and the camera support member 58 is drawn to the lowered position by the arm member 62. That is, although the surface 16 a of the main body housing 16 is closed by the display housing 14, the camera unit 24 is in the note mode photographing position where the front end side is inclined down into the camera arrangement hole 26. At this time, the engagement piece 56a of the hinge link 56 is located at a position that is the starting point of the idle swing portion 52a of the rail groove 52 formed in the spiral pin 50 of the hinge mechanism 12L (see FIG. 12).

  Subsequently, when the display housing 14 is rotated in the opening direction from the 0 degree position, the hinge housing 32 of the hinge mechanism 12L is also rotated, and the spiral pin 50 is rotated. Between the 0-degree position and the 135-degree position, the engagement piece 56a of the hinge link 56 is located in the idle swing portion 52a of the rail groove 52 (see FIG. 12). For this reason, the hinge link 56 does not move even if the hinge housing 32 rotates and the spiral pin 50 rotates. That is, since the position of the swinging member 60 does not change, the camera unit 24 is maintained at the note mode photographing position where the front end side is lowered into the camera arrangement hole 26 and inclined. That is, for example, in the usage form as the notebook type PC between the 90 degree position and the 135 degree position, the camera unit 24 is maintained at the note mode photographing position. As a result, the camera unit 24 can shoot an image from the front surface 16a of the main body casing 16 obliquely upward, and the user can shoot his / her face with the camera unit 24 while viewing the display 18, for example, a videophone function. Can be used (see also FIG. 2).

  Next, when the display housing 14 is rotated from the 135 degree position in the opening direction, the engaging piece 56a of the hinge link 56 moves in the operating portion 52c of the rail groove 52, so that the hinge link 56 moves in the moving direction ( The rocking member 60 is pushed and moved to the right side in FIG. 13 to rotate clockwise in FIG. For this reason, the arm member 62 gradually advances and the camera support member 58 is gradually rotated upward.

  At the 180-degree position, the engaging piece 56a is positioned at the end point of the operating portion 52c. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the swinging member 60 is most moved by the hinge link 56 at the most advanced position. The position is rotated clockwise. For this reason, the camera support member 58 is moved up most as shown in FIG. 16 by the arm member 62 at the most advanced position together with the swinging member 60, and the camera unit 24 is the main body at the opening of the camera placement hole 26. The tablet mode photographing position is arranged substantially flush with the surface 16a of the housing 16.

  Subsequently, even when the display housing 14 is further rotated in the opening direction from the 180 degree position, the engaging piece 56a moves on the idle swing portion 52b of the rail groove 52 (see FIG. 12). For this reason, the hinge link 56 does not move even if the hinge housing 32 rotates and the spiral pin 50 rotates. That is, since the position of the swinging member 60 does not change, the camera unit 24 is arranged substantially flush with the surface 16a of the main body housing 16, and is maintained at the tablet mode photographing position capable of photographing in the vertical direction. That is, in the usage pattern as a tablet PC at the 360 degree position shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the camera unit 24 is in the tablet mode photographing position. As a result, the camera unit 24 can shoot the vertical direction of the surface 16a of the main body casing 16 on the back side of the display 18, and the user can use the camera unit 24 like a normal camera while viewing the display 18. Can be taken (see also FIG. 3).

  The angle variable mechanism 28A may also be configured to maintain the note mode shooting position even at an angle position exceeding the 135 degree position (for example, 150 degree position), and the tablet mode shooting position is not at the 180 degree position but at least 360 degrees. What is necessary is just to set by a degree position.

  On the other hand, when the display housing 14 at the 360 degree position is rotated in the closing direction, an operation in the direction opposite to the rotation in the opening direction occurs. That is, as the display housing 14 is rotated from the 180 degree position to the 135 degree position, the engaging piece 56 a moves in the operating portion 52 c of the rail groove 52. For this reason, the camera support member 58 is pulled down toward the lowered position by the arm member 62, and the camera unit 24 returns to the note mode photographing position again at the 135 degree position.

  By the way, in the above, at the tablet mode shooting position, the camera unit 24 is arranged substantially flush along the surface 16a at the opening of the camera arrangement hole 26, and at the note mode shooting position, the camera unit 24 is placed inside the camera arrangement hole 26. Although it is configured to be tilted by being lowered and buried, it may be a position where the camera unit 24 protrudes from the surface 16a of the main body housing 16 at the note mode photographing position.

  For example, in the angle variable mechanism 28B according to the second modification shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the rear end side of the camera unit 24 is in the pivot position in which the rear end side of the camera unit 24 protrudes upward from the front surface 16a of the main body housing 16 (see FIG. 17), at the tablet mode photographing position, the camera unit 24 is configured to be in a horizontal position substantially flush with the surface 16a (see FIG. 18). That is, the angle variable mechanism 28B uses, for example, the same configuration as the link mechanism 54 of the angle variable mechanism 28A, and the camera support member 58 protrudes upward by the arm member 62 in a state where the swing member 60 is in the forward movement position. The camera support member 58 is drawn downward by the arm member 62 in a state where the swinging member 60 is in the retracted position (see FIG. 17), so that it is substantially flush with the surface 16a (see FIG. 18).

  However, in the case of this variable angle mechanism 28B, if the camera unit 24 protrudes from the surface 16a at the 0 degree position where the display housing 14 is closed, the camera unit 24 may interfere with the display housing 14. Accordingly, the shape of the rail groove 52 shown in FIG. 12 is changed. For example, the hinge link 56, the swinging member 60, and the arm member 62 are arranged so that the camera unit 24 is located at the position shown in FIG. For example, the camera unit 24 may be configured to be at the position illustrated in FIG. 17 at the 90 ° position, and the camera unit 24 may be configured to be at the position illustrated in FIG. 18 again at the 180 ° position. Specifically, in the case of such setting, the shape of the rail groove 52 shown in FIG. 12 is, for example, an idle swing unit that can maintain the camera unit 24 in a lowered position from the 0 degree position to the 50 degree position. From the 50-degree position to the 90-degree position, the operating section is operated to raise the camera section 24, and from the 90-degree position to the 135-degree position, the camera section 24 is maintained at the raised position. From the 135-degree position to the 180-degree position, an operating section that operates to lower the camera section 24 again, and from the 180-degree position to the 360-degree position, the lowered camera section 24 can be maintained as it is. Good.

  As described above, the portable information device 10 according to the present embodiment includes the main body housing 16 having the keyboard 20 and the touch pad 21 as operation means on the surface 16a, and the display housing 14 having the display 18 on the surface 14a. Are pivotally connected by the hinge mechanism 12, and the main body housing 16 and the surfaces 14a, 16a of the display housing 14 are the same from the 0 degree position where the main body housing 16 and the surfaces 14a, 16a of the display housing 14 face each other. In a configuration in which the main body housing 16 and the back surface 14b of the display housing 14 face each other through a 180-degree position that is parallel to each other and can be rotated to a 360-degree position where the back surfaces 14b face each other, the front surface 16a of the main body housing 16 is provided. The angle of the camera unit 24 is changed in conjunction with the rotation of the display case 14 relative to the main body case 16 and the camera unit 24 provided in the main body case 16. It is causing tilting mechanism 28 (28A, 28B) and a.

  Therefore, the angle of the camera unit 24 provided on the surface 16a of the main body housing 16 is changed by the angle variable mechanism 28 (28A, 28B) in conjunction with the turning operation of the display housing 14. Thus, one camera unit 24 is suitable for a use form of a notebook PC in which the display housing 14 is set from a 90 degree position to about a 135 degree position and a use form of a tablet type PC set to a 360 degree position. It can be used effectively in each usage mode by changing the angle position. As a result, it is not necessary to provide two camera units 24 for each usage pattern, and it is possible to perform shooting according to the application suitable for each usage pattern while suppressing the cost and installation space of the camera unit 24. In particular, when the camera unit 24 is composed of a high-performance camera module, the cost and thickness are increased. However, even if such a high-performance camera module is used, the portable information device 10 has one unit. Since the camera unit 24 can be used for each usage pattern, the cost and installation space can be further reduced. In addition, since the camera unit 24 is installed in the main body casing 16, the wiring to the CPU and the like housed in the main body casing 16 is shortened, and the installation space can be further reduced.

  The variable angle mechanism 28 (28A, 28B) is configured such that the camera unit 24 is in the main body casing in a rotating operation in which the display casing 14 is rotated with respect to the main body casing 16 to a predetermined angular position (135 ° position in the present embodiment). 16 is set at an angular position that faces obliquely upward on the front side opposite to the display casing 14 side at the surface 16a of the display 16, while the angle at which the camera unit 24 faces the vertical direction from the surface 16a of the main casing 16 at the 360 degree position. Set to position. Thus, for example, in the angle range from 90 degrees position to 135 degrees position, which is a usage pattern of a notebook PC, the camera unit 24 can be photographed toward the user side, while 360 degrees, which is a usage pattern of a tablet PC. The camera unit 24 can be photographed with the camera unit 24 facing the back side of the display 18 at the position, and high convenience according to the usage pattern of the portable information device 10 can be obtained.

  In this case, if the predetermined angular position is set to an angle range from the 0 degree position to the 180 degree position, the camera unit 24 can be directed to the user side when using the notebook PC.

  The camera unit 24 is disposed on the rear edge side of the main body housing 16 where the hinge mechanism 12 is provided. Thereby, since the camera part 24 is arrange | positioned in the back | inner side of the main body housing | casing 16 at the time of imaging | photography at the time of the usage type of notebook type PC, imaging | photography on a user side becomes favorable. In addition, when the tablet PC is used, for example, the camera unit 24 is arranged on the upper back of the portable information device 10 held in a horizontal posture with the hinge mechanism 12 side as an upper portion by the user, so that as a normal camera The shooting is also good.

  The angle variable mechanism 28 (28A, 28B) includes a link mechanism 40 (54) that changes the angle of the camera unit 24 in conjunction with the rotation of the hinge mechanism 12. Thereby, rotation operation of the display housing | casing 14 and the angle change of the camera part 24 can be linked more smoothly.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be freely changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the above, the angle variable mechanisms 28, 28A, 28B provided with the link mechanisms 40, 54 are exemplified. However, if the angle variable mechanism can change the angle of the camera unit 24 in accordance with the rotation operation of the display housing 14. Other configurations may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Portable information apparatus 12L, 12R Hinge mechanism 14 Display housing | casing 14a, 16a Front surface 14b, 16b Back surface 16 Main body housing | casing 18 Display 20 Keyboard 21 Touchpad 24 Camera part 26 Camera arrangement hole 28, 28A, 28B Angle variable mechanism 30 Display Shaft 31 Body shaft 32 Hinge housing 40, 54 Link mechanism 42, 58 Camera support member 44 Cam member 46 Slide member 48 Torsion coil spring 50 Spiral pin 52 Rail groove 56 Hinge link 60 Oscillating member 62 Arm member

Claims (10)

A main body housing having an operation means on the surface and a display housing having a display on the surface are rotatably connected by a hinge mechanism so that the surface of the main body housing and the display housing face each other from a 0 degree position. The main body housing and the display housing surface can be rotated to a 360 degree position where the back surfaces of the main body housing and the display housing face each other through a 180-degree position where the surfaces of the main body housing and the display housing are parallel to each other. A portable information device,
A camera unit provided on the surface of the main body case;
An angle variable mechanism that changes the angle of the camera unit in conjunction with the rotation of the display housing relative to the main body housing;
A portable information device comprising: The portable information device according to claim 1,
The variable angle mechanism is configured such that the camera unit is tilted on the surface of the main body housing opposite to the display housing side in a rotation operation for rotating the display housing to a predetermined angular position with respect to the main body housing. The portable information device is set to an angular position facing upward, and at the 360 degree position, the camera unit is set to an angular position facing the vertical direction from the surface of the main body housing. The portable information device according to claim 2,
The portable information device characterized in that the predetermined angular position is set in an angular range from a 0 degree position to a 180 degree position. The portable information device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the camera unit is disposed on an edge side of the main body housing where the hinge mechanism is provided. In the portable information device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the angle variable mechanism includes a link mechanism that changes an angle of the camera unit in conjunction with rotation of the hinge mechanism. The portable information device according to claim 5, wherein
The link mechanism includes a camera support member provided with the camera unit and pivotally supported with respect to the main body housing;
A cam member that rotates together with the hinge mechanism;
And a slide member provided so as to be slidable with respect to the main body casing, wherein the cam member rotates and is pressed and moved by the cam member to rotate the camera support member. Information equipment. The portable information device according to claim 6, wherein
A portable information device comprising an elastic member that urges the camera support member in a rotation direction toward the slide member. The portable information device according to claim 5, wherein
The link mechanism includes a camera support member provided with the camera unit and pivotally supported with respect to the main body housing;
A movable member that is movably provided in the main body casing and moves in accordance with a rotation operation of the hinge mechanism;
A portable information device comprising: an arm member that rotates the camera support member in conjunction with the movement of the movable member by connecting the movable member and the camera support member. The portable information device according to any one of claims 6 to 8,
One end of the camera support member descends into the inside of the camera placement hole from an angular position arranged along the surface of the body housing at the opening of the camera placement hole formed on the surface of the body housing. The portable information device can be rotated to the buried angular position. The portable information device according to any one of claims 6 to 8,
One end of the camera support member rises to the outside of the camera arrangement hole from an angular position arranged along the surface of the main body casing at the opening of the camera arrangement hole formed on the surface of the main body casing. The portable information device is capable of rotating to a protruding angular position.

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