Portable electronic apparatus having a base a display and a microphone

• US 5,764,476 A
• Filed: 02/07/1997
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Gushiken, Hajime, Ohgami, Keizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US08/797,269
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683, 364/708.1, D14/106, 381/24, 381/26
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• 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 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops

Abstract

A portable computer has a base unit, a first printed circuit board and a second circuit board. The base unit has a bottom wall and a connector panel which extends upward from a bottom wall. The first printed circuit board is mounted on the bottom wall, and has a first stacking connector. A second stacking connector is connected to the first stacking connector. A reinforcing plate is disposed on an upper surface of the second stacking connector. A bracket is arranged from the connector panel to the upper surface of the second stacking connector. The second circuit board is mounted on an upper surface of the bracket, and disposed above the first printed circuit board. A flexible wiring board is electrically connected to the second stacking connector and the second printed circuit board. The second printed circuit board is electrically connected to the first printed circuit board via the first and second stacking connector and the flexible wiring board.

Claims

1. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a base unit including a leg mounting portion having a first side opening and a keyboard;

a display unit including a leg portion having a second side opening, and a third opening;

a hinge device including a first bracket fixed to the leg portion of the display unit, a second bracket fixed to the base unit and a hinge shaft supported by the first and second brackets and passing through the first and second side openings, so that the leg portion of the display unit is rotatably mounted on the leg mounting portion of base unit between a closed position wherein the display unit covers the keyboard and an opened position wherein the keyboard is exposed; and

a microphone disposed in the leg portion of the display unit, and adjacent to the first bracket, the microphone through the third opening, the third opening being directed forward the user when the display unit is in the opened position.

2. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the leg portion has a front leg housing and a rear leg housing, the front leg housing has a screw hole adjacent to the third opening, further comprising a screw fixed to the rear leg housing through the screw hole of the front leg housing.

3. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a cover having a plurality of small openings, and covering the third opening and the screw hole, the small openings confronting the microphone.

4. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second bracket is fixed to the rear leg housing with the front leg housing by the screw.

5. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rear leg housing has a projecting portion, further comprising a holder having an engaging portion engaged to the projecting portion, the microphone being supported on the holder.

6. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a base unit;

a display unit rotatably mounted on the base unit, including a front leg housing having a hole, and a rear leg housing having an inner surface facing the hole;

a microphone mounted to the inner surface of the rear leg housing, and when the front leg housing is fixed to the rear leg housing, the microphone is exposed through the hole; and

a cover covering the hole, having a plurality of small openings, the microphone exposed through the small openings.

7. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a hinge device and a base unit keyboard, the display unit being rotatably connected to the base unit though the hinge device between a closed position to cover the keyboard and an opened position to expose the keyboard.

8. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the hinge device has a first bracket fixed to the base unit and a second bracket fixed to the rear leg housing, the second bracket located adjacent to the microphone.

9. A portable electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the screw fixes the front legs housing and the second bracket on the rear leg housing.

10. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a base unit including a leg mounting portion having a first side opening and a keyboard;

a display unit including a leg portion having a second side opening;

a hinge device including a first bracket fixed to the leg portion of the display unit, a second bracket fixed to the base unit and a hinge shaft supported by the first and second brackets and passing through the first and second side openings, so that the leg portion of the display unit is rotatably mounted on the leg mounting portion of the base unit between a closed position wherein the display unit covers the keyboard and an opened position wherein the keyboard is exposed; and

a microphone disposed in the leg portion of the display unit, and adjacent to the first bracket, the microphone being exposed when the display unit is in the opened position.