Portable computer system with adjustable display subsystem

• US 6,392,871 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1998
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yanase, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/181,197
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 361/682, 361/683, 361/724-727, 361/686, 353/119, 353/120, 353/122, 345/169, 345/905, 163/42, 163/37, 163/03, 163/19, 163/32, 163/36
• US Class Current: 361/679.07
• 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 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• 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: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A portable computer system is provided, which makes it possible to increase the area for an auxiliary device such as a visual indicator and a speaker and to adjust the location and attitude of the auxiliary device with respect to a computer body. This computer system is comprised of a computer body having a first pivot axis, and a display subsystem pivotable connected to the body around the first pivot axis. The display subsystem includes first and second units, one of which is provided with an auxiliary device and the other of which is provided with a display device. The second unit is pivotably connected to the body around the first pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired first pivot angle with respect to the body. The first unit is pivotably connected to the second unit around a second pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired second pivot angle with respect to the second unit. The first pivot axis is located at or near a rear end of the computer body or at a position shifted forward therefrom, and extends along the same rear end. The second pivot axis may be parallel or perpendicular to the first pivot axis.

Claims

1. A portable computer system comprising:

a computer body having a first pivot axis, a lower surface substantially coextensive in length and width with said computer body and a top face including a keyboard, said top face being opposed to and covering substantially all of said lower surface;

a display subsystem pivotably connected to said body around said first pivot axis;

said display subsystem including first and second units, one of which is provided with an auxiliary electronic device and the other of which is provided with a display device;

said second unit being pivotably connected to said body around said first pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired first pivot angle with respect to said body;

said first unit being pivotably connected to said second unit around a second pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired second pivot angle with respect to said second unit; and

said first and second units together being substantially coextensive in length and width with said computer body so that said first and second units may be pivoted to a position in which said first and second units cover all of the top face of said computer body.

2. The computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display device displays first information and said auxiliary device comprises a visual indicator adapted to displaying second information, said second information being the same or different than said first information.

3. The computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary electronic device is provided on said first unit of said display subsystem and said display device is provided on said second unit of said display subsystem.

4. The computer system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first axis of said computer body is be located at or near a rear end of said computer body and extends along the same rear end.

5. The computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary device is provided on said second unit of said display subsystem and said display is provided on said first unit thereof;

and wherein said first pivot axis of said computer body is located at or near a rear end of said computer body and extends along the same rear end.

6. The computer system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second pivot axis is perpendicular to said first pivot axis.

7. A portable computer system comprising:

a computer body having a first pivot axis, a lower surface substantially coextensive in length and width with said computer body and a top face including a keyboard, said top face being opposed to and covering substantially all of said lower surface;

a display subsystem pivotably connected to said body around said first pivot axis;

said display subsystem including first and second units, and first unit being provided with a display device and said second unit being provided with an auxiliary electronic device;

said second unit being pivotably connected to said body around said first pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired first pivot angle with respect to said body, and first pivot axis of said computer body being located at or near a rear end of said computer body and extending along the same rear end;

said first unit being pivotably connected to said second unit around a second pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired second pivot angle with respect to said second unit, said second pivot axis being parallel to said first pivot axis; and

said first and second units together being substantially coextensive in length in width with said computer body so that said first and second units may be pivoted to a position in which said first and second units cover all of the top face of said computer body.

8. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display device displays first information and said auxiliary device comprises a visual indicator adapted to displaying second information, said second information being the same or different than said first information.

9. A portable computer system comprising:

a computer body having a first pivot axis a lower surface substantially coextensive in length and width with said computer body and a top face including a keyboard, said top face being opposed to and covering substantially all of said lower surface;

a display subsystem pivotably connected to said body around said first pivot axis;

said display subsystem including first and second units, one of which is provided with an auxiliary electronic device and the other of which is provided with a display device;

said second unit being pivotably connected to said body around said first pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired first pivot angle with respect to said body; and

said first unit being pivotably connected to said second unit around a second pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired second pivot angle with respect to said second unit,

wherein said auxiliary electronic device is provided on said second unit of said display subsystem and said display device is provided on said first unit thereof;

wherein said first pivot axis of said computer body is located at a position shifted forward from a rear end of said computer body and extends along the same rear end; and

said first and second units together being substantially coextensive in length and width with said computer body so that said first and second units may be pivoted to a position in which said first and second units cover all of the top face of said computer body.

10. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second pivot axis is perpendicular to said first pivot axis.

11. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said display device displays first information and said auxiliary device comprises a visual indicator adapted to displaying second information, said second information being the same or different than said first information.

12. A portable computer system comprising:

a computer body having a first pivot axis, a lower surface substantially coextensive in length and width with said computer body and a top face including a keyboard, said top face being opposed to and covering substantially all of said lower surface;

a display subsystem pivotably connected to said body around said first pivot axis;

said display subsystem including first and second units, one of which is provided with an auxiliary electronic device and the other of which is provided with a display device;

said second unit being pivotably connected to said body around said first pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired first pivot angle with respect to said body; and

said first unit being pivotably connected to said second unit around a second pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired second pivot angle with respect to said second unit, wherein the top face of said computer body has an unoccupied area;

wherein when said second unit of said display subsystem is opposed to said unoccupied area, said whole second unit is received by said unoccupied area; and

said first and second units together being substantially coextensive in length and width with said computer body so that said first and second units may be pivoted to a position in which said first and second units cover all of the top face of said computer body.

13. The computer system as claimed in claim 12, wherein a keyboard is located on said computer body to be apart from said rear end of said computer body, so that said unoccupied area is arranged between said keyboard and said rear end of said body.

14. The computer system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said display device displays first information and said auxiliary device comprises a visual indicator adapted to displaying second information, said second information being the same or different than said first information.

15. A portable computer system comprising:

a computer body having a first pivot axis a lower surface substantially coextensive in length and width with said computer body and a top face including keyboard, and top face being opposed to and covering substantially all of said lower surface;

a display subsystem pivotably connected to said body around said first pivot axis;

said display subsystem including first and second units, said first unit being provided with an auxiliary electronic device and said second unit being provided with a display device;

said second unit being probably connected to said body around said first pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired first pivot angle with respect to said body; and

said first unit being pivotably connected to said second unit around a second pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired second pivot angle with respect to said second unit,

wherein said first axis of said computer body is be located at a position shifted forward therefrom and extends along the same rear end; and

said first and second units together being substantially coextensive in length and width with said computer body so that said first and second units may be pivoted to a position in which said first and second units cover all of the top face of said computer body.

16. The computer system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said display device displays first information and said auxiliary device comprises a visual indicator adapted to displaying second information, and second information being the same or different than said first information.