Electronic equipment having display unit and operation input unit

• US 5,534,891 A
• Filed: 10/20/1993
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takano, Hirokuni
• Primary Examiner(s): SARAS, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/138,381
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 345/905, 345/168, 345/169, 345/157, 341/20, 341/22, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/923, 248/922, 312/208, 400/83, 400/84, 400/682, 400/681, 400/683, 361/680, 361/681, 361/679, 361/686, 361/727, 364/708.1, 364/708.09, 364/708.12
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1667 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of the integrated keyboard independently from the main body adjusting the tilt angle integrally with the main body G06F1/166

Abstract

Electronic equipment has a display unit and an operation input unit. The display unit is arranged to be pivotal between a state wherein it obliquely stands on an electronic equipment main body (tilt state), and a state wherein it is folded on the equipment main body (close state), and the operation input unit is arranged to be pivotal between a state wherein it is inclined with respect to the electronic equipment main body, and a horizontal state. The operation input unit is interlocked with the pivotal movement of the display unit. When the display unit is pivoted to the tilt state, the operation input unit is pivoted to the inclined state. When the display unit is pivoted to the close state, the operation input unit is pivoted to the horizontal state.

Claims

1. Electronic equipment comprising:

key input means for inputting information, said key input means being pivotally supported about an axis and rotated within a very small angle to an inclined position during use;

display means for displaying the information input by an operation of said key input means;

support means for pivotally supporting said display means;

biasing means for biasing said key input means in a first direction toward the inclined position when said display means covers said key input means; and

pressing means for, when said display means is at a predetermined position, pressing said key input means toward the inclined position, thereby holding said key input means in the inclined position as said biasing means biases said key input means in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction.

2. Electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises a coil spring suspended between said key input means and said support means.

3. Electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein said pressing means comprises a projecting portion on said display means, with said projecting portion disposed opposite to said key input means.

4. Electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a housing of a lower portion of an equipment main body.

5. Electronic equipment according to claim 2, wherein said support means comprises a housing of a lower portion of an equipment main body.

6. Electronic equipment according to claim 3, wherein said support means comprises a housing of a lower portion of an equipment main body.

7. Electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein when said display means is pivoted to a non-use position, said key input means is pivoted to substantially a horizontal state with respect to said support means.

8. Electronic equipment according to claim 2, wherein when said display means is pivoted to a non-use position, said key input means is pivoted to substantially a horizontal state with respect to said support means.

9. Electronic equipment according to claim 3, wherein when said display means is pivoted to a non-use position, said key input means is pivoted to substantially a horizontal state with respect to said support means.

10. Electronic equipment comprising:

a main body;

key input means for inputting information, said key input means being provided in said main body and pivotally supported about an axis extending along a first side of said main body so as to be rotated within a very small angle to an inclined position during use;

display means for displaying the information input by said key input means;

a cover member supporting said display means and covering said key input means at an upper surface of said main body;

display support means for pivotally supporting said cover member at a location adjacent to said key input means and remote from said first side of said main body;

biasing means for biasing said key input means in the inclined position, said biasing means providing a biasing force in a first direction to bias said input means toward the inclined position when said cover member covers said input means; and

holding means for, when said key input means is in use, holding said key input means at the inclined position as said biasing means biases said key input means in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction when said display support means is pivoted.

11. Electronic equipment according to claim 10, wherein said holding means is pivoted together with said display means, and is brought into contact with said key input means when said key input means is in the inclined position.

12. Electronic equipment according to claim 10, wherein said support means comprises a housing of a lower portion of an equipment main body.

13. Electronic equipment according to claim 11, wherein said support means comprises a housing of a lower portion of an equipment main body.

14. Electronic equipment comprising:

key input means for inputting information;

display means for displaying the information input by an operation of said key input means;

support means for pivotally supporting said display means;

biasing means for biasing said key input means in a first direction toward an inclined position when said support means covers said key input means;

pressing means for, when said display means is at a first position, pressing said key input means to a non-inclined position in cooperation with a biasing force of said biasing means; and

holding means for, when said display means is at a second position, holding said key input means in the inclined position as said biasing means biases said key input means in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction.

15. An equipment according to claim 14, wherein a state wherein said display means is located at the non-inclined position forms a closed state wherein said display means covers upper surfaces of said support means and said key input means, and a state wherein said display means is located at the inclined position forms an open state wherein said display means is inclined with respect to said support means.

16. Electronic equipment according to claim 14, wherein said holding means is pivoted together with said display means, and is brought into contact with said key input means against a biasing force of said biasing means.

17. Electronic equipment according to claim 15, wherein said support means comprises a housing of a lower portion of said main body.

18. Electronic equipment according to claim 16, wherein said support means comprises a housing of a lower portion of said main body.