Portable computer having keyboard and coordinate input tablet hingedly connected to a main body case through a groove

• US 5,481,430 A
• Filed: 12/22/1994
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Hiroyuki, Sato, Fumitaka, Kobayashi, Koichi, Miyagawa, Shigenori, Ishiura, Ryoichi, Kamio, Shizuo, Kunii, Shimpei
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/361,885
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 16/223, 16/365, 16/366, 16/379, 16/378, 439/164, 439/165, 364/708.1, 361/679-683
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/087 with substantially axial friction, e.g. friction disks
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/582 with horizontal swinging axis E05D15/581 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A main body case for storing a keyboard and an upper case for storing an integrated display/input device are coupled by first and second hinge units, disposed through a groove in the main body case, to be arbitrarily pivotal from a state wherein the keyboard faces the integrated display/input device to a state wherein the back surfaces of the keyboard and the integrated display/input device face each other.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

a keyboard for inputting data;

a main body case encasing said keyboard;

an integrated display/input device, said integrated display/input device having a display device for displaying data and a tablet for inputting coordinate data with said tablet overlaying a display surface of said display device;

a cover encasing said integrated display/input device;

a hinge for pivotally coupling said main body case and said cover from a state wherein said main body case and said cover overlap each other so that said keyboard and said integrated display/input device face each other to a state wherein said main body case and said cover overlap each other so that back surfaces thereof face each other; and

a hinge groove arranged along an outer periphery of said main body case, whereby said hinge moves in position while being guided by said hinge groove.

2. A computer according to claim 1, wherein said hinge further comprises means for fixedly setting said cover at an arbitrary angle to said main body case.

3. A computer according to claim 1, wherein said hinge groove is arranged at a rear end portion of said main body case.

4. A computer according to claim 1, wherein said hinge groove is arranged at a position offset from a rear end portion of said main body case toward a central portion of said main body case.

5. A portable computer comprising:

a keyboard for inputting data;

a main body case encasing said keyboard;

an integrated display/input device having a display device for displaying data and a tablet overlaying a display surface of said display device for inputting coordinate data;

a cover encasing said integrated display/input device;

a hinge for pivotally coupling said main body case and said cover from a state where said main body case and said cover overlap each other so that said keyboard and said integrated display/input device face each other to a state wherein said main body case and said cover overlap each other so that back surfaces thereof face each other;

means, associated with said hinge for fixedly setting said cover at an arbitrary angle to said main body case; and

a hinge groove disposed along an outer periphery of said main body case to guide the position of said hinge.

6. A portable computer according to claim 5, wherein said hinge groove is arranged at a rear end portion of said main body case.

7. A portable computer according to claim 5, wherein said hinge groove is offset from a rear end portion of said main body case toward a central portion of said main body case.