Portable information processor
First Claim
1. A portable information processor comprising:
- first and second portions superposable in stacked form relative to each other;
a deformable member connecting said first and second portions so as to allow said first and second portions to be superposed in said stacked form;
a light-emitting device and a photodetector provided in said second portion;
a light reflective member, provided in said deformable member, for reflecting light emitted from said light-emitting device toward said photodetector when said first and second portions are disposed in a predetermined superposed state; and
a processor which determines, based on incidence of said emitted light on said photodetector, whether or not said first and second portions are in the superposed state, and which carries out a predetermined process on a determination that said first and second portions are in the superposed state;
wherein said first portion includes an upper surface and a lower surface, and the superposed state of said first and second portions includes a first superposed state, in which an upper surface of said first portion is disposed against a side of said second portion, end a second superposed state, in which a lower surface of said first portion is disposed against the side of said second portion, and wherein said deformable member allows both said first and second superposed states by deformation thereof and is connected at its lower surface to said first portion;
in said first superposed state, said deformable member is present between said first and second portions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable information processor includes a computer main body and a digitizer connected by a flexible hinge defined in a cover. The hinge allows the computer main body and the digitizer to assume different superposed states by means of a flexible separable portion of the cover. In the superposed state of the computer main body and the digitizer, arbitrariness in folding back the separable portion causes runout between the computer main body and the digitizer. In spite of this runout, the superposed state can be accurately detected by means of an optical sensor, including an infrared radiator and an infrared-ray detector, disposed in the computer main body. A flexible reflection member is fixed to a predetermined surface of the separable portion of the leather cover, while assuring a predetermined area. If the computer main body and the digitizer assume a superposed state, light emitted from the infrared radiator is reflected by the flexible reflection member and is incident on the infrared-ray detector.
14 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A portable information processor comprising:
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first and second portions superposable in stacked form relative to each other;
a deformable member connecting said first and second portions so as to allow said first and second portions to be superposed in said stacked form;
a light-emitting device and a photodetector provided in said second portion;
a light reflective member, provided in said deformable member, for reflecting light emitted from said light-emitting device toward said photodetector when said first and second portions are disposed in a predetermined superposed state; and
a processor which determines, based on incidence of said emitted light on said photodetector, whether or not said first and second portions are in the superposed state, and which carries out a predetermined process on a determination that said first and second portions are in the superposed state;
wherein said first portion includes an upper surface and a lower surface, and the superposed state of said first and second portions includes a first superposed state, in which an upper surface of said first portion is disposed against a side of said second portion, end a second superposed state, in which a lower surface of said first portion is disposed against the side of said second portion, and wherein said deformable member allows both said first and second superposed states by deformation thereof and is connected at its lower surface to said first portion;
in said first superposed state, said deformable member is present between said first and second portions.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A portable information processor comprising:
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first and second portions superposable in stacked form relative to one another;
a deformable member connecting said first and second portions, deformable so as to allow said first and second portions to be superposed and to be separated in a predetermined range;
a supersonic wave transmitter provided in one of said first and second portions;
a supersonic wave receiver, provided in one of said first and second portions, for receiving supersonic waves, transmitted from said supersonic wave transmitter, and reflected by the other portion or deformable member when said first and second portions are disposed in a superposed state; and
a processing unit for determining, based on the reception of said supersonic waves at said supersonic wave receiver, whether or not said first and second portions are in the superposed state, and carrying out a predetermined process when judging said first and second portions to be in the superposed state.
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6. Apparatus comprising:
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first and second portions each having a base surface and an operable surface;
a deformable member connecting said first and second portions so as to allow said first and second portions to be superposed in at least two stacked states including a first stacked state wherein the operable surface of said first portion faces the operable surface of said second portion and a second stacked state wherein the base surface of said first portion faces the operable surface of said second portion;
a detector which detects at least one of the stacked states and generates a signal indicative of the stacked state; and
a processor which carries out a predetermined process based upon the signal indicative of the stacked state;
wherein said deformable member connecting said first and second portions further allows said first and second portions to be superposed in at least a third stacked state wherein the operating surface of said first portion faces the base surface of said second portion. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
a reflective member which reflects light emitted from the light-emitting device toward the photodetector when said first and second portions are disposed in a predetermined superposed state, wherein said reflective light member is provided in a unit selected from the group consisting of the other of said first and second portions and said deformable member.
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8. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein the light reflective member is provided in said deformable member and the light-emitting device and the photodetector are disposed in said second portion.
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9. Apparatus of claim 6 wherein the detector comprises:
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a light-emitting device provided in one of said first and second portions; and
a photodetector which receives light emitted from the light-emitting device when said first and second portions are arranged in the stacked state;
wherein the photodetector provided in a unit is selected from the group consisting of the other of said first and second portions and said deformable member.
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10. Apparatus of claim 6 wherein the detector comprises:
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a supersonic wave transmitter provided in one of said first and second portions; and
a supersonic wave receiver, provided in one of said first and second portions, which receives supersonic waves transmitted from said supersonic wave transmitter and reflected by a reflective unit when said first and second portions are disposed in a superposed state;
wherein the reflective unit is selected from the group consisting of the other of said first and second portions and said deformable member.
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11. Apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first portion is a digitizer.
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12. Apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second portion is a liquid crystal display having a back light and the predetermined process performed by said processor is to turn off the back light when the stacked state indicated by said detector is the state in which the base surface of said digitizer is superposed on the operating surface of said liquid crystal display with a back light.
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13. Apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second portion is a touch panel and the predetermined process performed by said processor is to cause the touch panel to be in a non-operative state when the stacked state indicated by said detector is the state in which the base surface of said digitizer is superposed on the operating surface of the touch panel.
Specification