JP4865008B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a mobile phone terminal or a portable information terminal.

  The mobile phone terminal includes, for example, a vertically long telephone main body and, for example, a vertically long display device connected to the telephone main body. A keypad is arranged on the surface of the telephone body. For example, a user often holds the telephone body with one hand when sending e-mail. For example, one side and the other side of the telephone body are held by the palm, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger. At this time, the user presses the keypad with his thumb to input characters.

JP 2003-333142 A JP 2001-117709 A

  The keypad is arranged vertically along the side surface of the telephone body, for example. Such a keypad is located adjacent to the side of the phone body. Thus, for example, the thumb must be bent tightly when the keypad arranged vertically along one side of the phone body received by the palm of the hand is depressed. As a result, it is difficult for the user to input characters on the keypad arranged vertically along one side.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic device capable of dramatically improving the ease of character input.

  In order to achieve the above object, one specific example of an electronic device includes a housing, an accommodation position in which input keys are arranged on the surface and accommodated in an opening formed on the surface of the housing, and the housing. And a keyboard unit coupled to the housing so as to be relatively displaceable between deployed positions that rise in an inclined posture that defines a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the surface of the body.

  As described above, according to the disclosed electronic apparatus, it is possible to dramatically improve the ease of character input.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure of an electronic apparatus, that is, a mobile phone terminal according to a first embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the keyboard unit of an unfolding position roughly. It is a side view which shows roughly the structure of the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a side view which shows roughly the keyboard unit of a deployment position. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the keyboard unit of an unfolding position roughly. It is a perspective view which shows the keyboard unit of an unfolding position roughly. It is a perspective view which shows the keyboard unit of an unfolding position roughly. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows roughly the structure of the keyboard unit which concerns on one specific example. It is a top view which shows the structure of a support plate roughly. It is a top view which shows the structure of a support plate roughly. It is sectional drawing which shows roughly the structure of the movement block which concerns on one specific example. It is a perspective view which shows the mode of a movement of a movement block roughly. It is a top view which shows the mode of a movement of a movement block roughly. It is a top view which shows the mode of a movement of a movement block roughly. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the support block which concerns on one specific example. It is a partial perspective top view which shows a mode that a keyboard rotates with respect to a support plate. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the structure of the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows an electronic apparatus, that is, a foldable mobile phone terminal 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone terminal 11 includes a telephone body 12 and a display device 13. The telephone main body 12 includes a main body casing 14. The main housing 14 is formed in, for example, a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape. A printed circuit board is incorporated in the main body casing 14. As is well known, a processing circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a memory is mounted on the printed circuit board.

  The display device 13 includes a display housing 15. The display housing 15 is formed in, for example, a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape. A flat display panel such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel 16 is incorporated in the display housing 15. The screen of the LCD panel 16 faces a rectangular display opening 17 formed on the front flat surface of the display housing 15. Various texts and graphics are displayed on the screen of the LCD panel 16 according to the processing operation of the CPU.

  For example, a vertically long keyboard unit 19 is incorporated in the opening 18 formed in the front side flat surface of the main housing 14. The surface of the keyboard unit 19 is defined within a virtual plane including the front flat surface of the telephone body 12, for example. The keyboard unit 19 includes, for example, a vertically long keyboard 21. An input key such as an on-hook button, an off-hook button, or a dial key, that is, a keypad 22 is embedded in the keyboard 21.

  A mouthpiece 23 is defined on the front flat surface of the main body casing 14 outside the opening 18. A microphone 24 is incorporated in the mouthpiece 23. On the other hand, an earpiece 25 is defined in the display housing 15 outside the screen. A speaker 26 is embedded in the earpiece 25. When making a call, the user of the mobile phone terminal 11 inputs sound from the microphone 24. The speaker 26 reproduces the voice of the other party.

  The display device 13 can swing around the horizontal axis 27 with respect to the telephone body 12. The horizontal axis 27 is set parallel to the front flat surface along the upper end, that is, the short side of the front flat surface of the main body casing 14. The front flat surface of the display housing 15 is superimposed on the front flat surface of the main housing 14 inward. The mobile phone terminal 11 is closed. Thus, the cellular phone terminal 11 establishes a closed state. The display device 13 covers the keyboard unit 19.

  On the other hand, when the display device 13 swings around the horizontal axis 27 with respect to the telephone main body 12 from the closed state, the mobile phone terminal 11 establishes an open state. Both the telephone body 12 and the display device 13 face the front. An upright posture is thus established. The front flat surface of the display housing 15 intersects the front flat surface of the main housing 14 at a predetermined inclination angle. A vertically long screen is established for the vertically placed telephone body 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard unit 19 can swing around a swing shaft 31 defined along the right end of the front flat surface of the main housing 14, that is, along the long side. In this way, the keyboard unit 19 can change its posture between the housing position accommodated in the opening 18 and the deployed position where it rises in an inclined posture with respect to the front flat surface of the main body housing 14. In the unfolded position, the surface of the keyboard 21 defines a predetermined tilt angle with respect to the front flat surface of the main body casing 14.

  The keyboard unit 19 includes, for example, a vertically long support plate 32 that receives the back surface of the keyboard 21 on the front surface. One end of a support arm 33 is connected to the lower end of the support plate 32. The other end of the support arm 33 is connected to the main housing 14. When the keyboard unit 19 establishes an inclined posture, the support arm 33 rises in the opening 18. The tilting posture of the keyboard unit 19 is maintained by the function of the support arm 33.

  One end of the support arm 33 is swingably connected to a support shaft 34 extending in parallel to the swing shaft 31. The support shaft 34 is fixed to the support plate 32. An operation piece 35 is attached to the other end of the support arm 33. The operation piece 35 is received in a long groove 36 formed on the lower surface of the main body housing 14 along the lower end, that is, the short side of the front flat surface of the main body housing 14. The long groove 36 defines the movement path of the operation piece 35. As will be described later, the tilting posture of the keyboard unit 19 changes at the deployed position in accordance with the movement of the operation piece 35 in the long groove 36.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the long groove 36 extends from the right end of the lower surface of the main body housing 14 toward the left end. A plurality of indentations 37 that are recessed toward the bottom surface of the main body housing 14 are disposed at the lower edge of the long groove 36 defined on the bottom surface side of the main body housing 14. Here, for example, four depressions 37 are arranged from one end of the long groove 36 toward the other end. The operation piece 35 defines an outer peripheral surface along a virtual cylindrical surface drawn around a central axis parallel to the swing shaft 31. The contour of the depression 37 is curved according to the outer peripheral surface of the operation piece 35.

  When the operation piece 35 is disposed in the recess 37 closest to the swing shaft 31, the operation piece 35 is positioned at the reference position. When the operation piece 35 is positioned at the reference position, the keyboard unit 19 is disposed at the accommodation position in the opening 18. For example, the surface of the keyboard 21 coincides with a virtual plane including the front flat surface of the main housing 14. The support arm 33 is disposed in the main body housing 14. At this time, as is apparent from FIG. 3, the axis of the support shaft 34 is disposed closer to the surface of the keyboard 21 than the central axis of the operation piece 35.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the operation piece 35 moves from one end of the long groove 36 toward the other end, one end of the support arm 33, that is, the support shaft 34 is moved according to the movement of the other end of the operation piece 35, that is, the support arm 33. It swings around the central axis of the operation piece 35. Thus, the movement of the operating piece 35 causes the support shaft 34 to swing. Since the axis of the support shaft 34 is disposed closer to the surface of the keyboard 21 than the center axis of the operation piece 35, the keyboard unit 19 swings around the swing shaft 31 in response to the swing of the support shaft 34. . One end of the support arm 33 lifts the keyboard unit 19.

  When the operation piece 35 is disposed in the recess 37 farthest from the reference position, the surface of the keyboard 21 defines a maximum inclination angle with respect to the front flat surface of the main body housing 14. Thus, as the operation piece 35 moves in the depressions 37 in order from the reference position, the keyboard unit 19 gradually increases the inclination angle of the surface of the keyboard 21. As a result, the tilting posture of the keyboard unit 19 is maintained by the action of the support arm 33 every time the operation piece 35 is positioned in each recess 37.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the support plate 32 of the keyboard unit 19 is connected to a pair of support shafts 38 extending along the swing shaft 31. The support shaft 38 is connected to the side end of the support plate 32. The support shaft 38 is fixed to the main body housing 14. On the other hand, a support shaft 39 extending in parallel with the support shaft 34 is connected to the other end of the support arm 33. The other end of the support arm 33 is connected to the support shaft 39 so as to be swingable about the shaft center of the support shaft 39. The support shaft 39 extends from the support arm 33 toward the lower surface of the main housing 14. The aforementioned operation piece 35 is attached to the outer end of the support shaft 39. The operation piece 35 partially protrudes outward from the lower surface of the main body housing 14.

  Referring also to FIG. 6, a gear 41 is connected to the support shaft 39 between the operation piece 35 and the support arm 33 so as to be rotatable about the axis of the support shaft 39. A pressing mechanism 42 is associated with the gear 41. The pressing mechanism 42 includes a frame body 42 a that is attached to the inner wall of the main body housing 14, and a pressing piece 42 b that is supported by the frame body 42 a so as to be movable back and forth with respect to the bottom surface of the main body housing 14. The pressing piece 42 b extends along the bottom surface of the main housing 14 with respect to the long groove 36. The lower end of the frame body 42a holds both ends of the pressing piece 42b. As a result, the frame body 42 a restricts the movement of the pressing piece 42 b toward the bottom surface of the main body housing 14.

  The pressing mechanism 42 includes, for example, a plurality of elastic members or coil springs 44 disposed between the upper end of the pressing piece 42b and the upper end of the frame body 42a. The coil spring 44 exhibits an elastic force that keeps the pressing piece 42b away from the upper end of the frame body 42a toward the bottom surface of the main body housing 14. Based on such elastic force, the pressing piece 42b is pressed against the lower end of the frame body 42a. A plurality of wheels 46 are coupled to the lower end of the pressing block 42a so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft 45 extending in parallel to the swing shaft 31. The wheels 46 are arranged at equal intervals. The teeth of the gear 41 mesh between the adjacent wheels 46 and 46.

  Now, when the operation piece 35 is disposed in the recess 37 at the reference position, the gear 41 is pressed toward the bottom surface of the main body housing 14 based on the elastic force of the coil spring 44. As a result, the operation piece 35 is pressed into the recess 37 with a sufficient pressing force. In this way, the keyboard unit 19 is held in the storage position. At this time, the user of the mobile phone terminal 11 pushes up the operation piece 35 from the recess 37 toward the upper edge of the long groove 36 against the pressing force of the pressing piece 42b. The upper end of the operation piece 35 contacts the upper edge of the long groove 36. The gear 41 pushes up the pressing piece 42b toward the upper end of the frame body 42a via the wheel 46. The elastic force of the coil spring 44 increases in accordance with the pushing up.

  At this time, when the operation piece 35 moves toward the adjacent depression 37 along the upper edge of the long groove 36, the gear 41 arranges teeth between the wheels 46 and 46 based on the rotation. The teeth of the gear 41 smoothly mesh with the wheel 46 based on the rotation of the wheel 46. The pressing piece 42 b continues to press the gear 41 toward the bottom surface of the main body housing 14 based on the elastic force of the coil spring 44. When the operation piece 35 is disposed in the adjacent depression 37, the operation piece 35 is pressed into the depression 37 with a sufficient pressing force based on the elastic force of the coil spring 44. The operation piece 35 is securely held in the recess 37. At this time, a so-called click feeling is established for each inclination posture based on the elastic force of the coil spring 44.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in the keyboard unit 19 arranged in the unfolded position, the keyboard 21 can slide along the surface of the support plate 32. In the present embodiment, the keyboard 21 moves from the first reference position whose contour matches the support plate 32 toward the upper end of the support plate 32 along the swing shaft 31, that is, from the side end of the support plate 32. It is possible to slide in the first direction D1 moving away from the lower end. Thus, when the keyboard 21 slides to the maximum in the first direction D1, the keyboard 21 is positioned at a predetermined first reference position.

  The keyboard 21 at the first reference position can be further slid in the second direction D2 away from the lower end of the support plate 32 in parallel with the swing shaft 31. When the keyboard 21 slides to the maximum in the second direction D2 in this way, the keyboard 21 is positioned at a predetermined second reference position as shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, during the sliding movement from the first reference position to the third reference position, the keyboard 21 can rotate at a predetermined rotation angle in the third direction D3 around the rotation shaft 47. The rotation shaft 47 is orthogonal to the surface of the support plate 32. Thus, the direction of the keyboard 21 can be changed.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the support plate 32 includes a thin flat plate-like upper plate 51 and lower plate 52. The upper plate 51 is superposed on the surface of the lower plate 52 on the back surface. A single guide groove 53 is formed in the upper plate 51. The guide groove 53 includes a first groove 53a extending in the first direction D1 from one end to the other end, and a second extending in the second direction D2 from one end connected to the other end of the first groove 53a to the other end. A groove 53b. Similarly, a single guide groove 54 is formed in the lower plate 52. The guide groove 54 includes a first groove 54a extending from one end to the other end in the first direction D1, and a second groove 54b extending from one end to the other end connected to the other end of the first groove 54a in the second direction D2. . When the upper plate 51 and the lower plate 52 are overlapped with each other, the guide grooves 53 and 54 overlap each other.

  The keyboard 21 is connected to a support block 57 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 47. A first moving block 58 is fixed to the support block 57. The first moving block 58 defines a side end along the first direction D1. The first moving block 58 is disposed in the guide groove 53 of the upper plate 51. The first moving block 58 can move in the guide groove 53 along the surface of the upper plate 51. A second moving block 59 is fixed to the first moving block 58. The second moving block 59 is disposed in the guide groove 54 of the lower plate 52. The second moving block 59 can move in the guide groove 54 along the surface of the lower plate 52. The second moving block 59 defines a side end along the second direction D2.

  Referring also to FIG. 11, in the upper plate 51, a pair of first guide rails 61, 61 extending in parallel with each other are formed on the inner edge of the first groove 53a. The first guide rails 61 and 61 guide the movement of the first moving block 58 in the first direction D1 in the first groove 53a. The 1st guide rail 61 is provided with the convex part 61a and the recessed part 61b which are alternately arrange | positioned along the 1st direction D1. That is, the first guide rail 61 defines an outer edge that extends while meandering along the first direction D1. The outer edges of the first guide rails 61, 61 are formed in plane symmetry with respect to the center plane P1 defined at an equal distance from the inner edge in the first groove 53a. As is apparent from FIG. 11, the first and second moving blocks 58 and 59 are overlapped with each other in an inclined posture.

  The first moving block 58 includes, for example, a flat rectangular parallelepiped block main body 62 and support pieces 63 protruding from both side ends of the block main body 62 so as to advance and retreat in a direction orthogonal to the above-described central plane P1. A pair of wheels 64, 64 are supported on the support piece 63 so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 65. The rotation shaft 65 is orthogonal to the surface of the support plate 32. When the first moving block 58 moves in the first direction D <b> 1, the wheel 64 is pressed against the outer edge of the first guide rail 61 based on the advance / retreat movement of the support piece 63. The wheels 64 follow the convex portions 61a and the concave portions 61b of the first guide rail 61 alternately. At this time, the wheel 64 smoothly contacts the outer edge based on the rotation. Thus, the first guide rails 61 and 61 guide the movement of the first moving block 58 in the first direction.

  Referring also to FIG. 12, in the lower plate 52, a pair of second guide rails 66, 66 extending in parallel with each other are formed on the inner edge of the second groove 54b. The second guide rails 66 and 66 guide the movement of the second moving block 59 in the second direction in the second groove 54b. The second guide rail 66 includes convex portions 66a and concave portions 66b that are alternately arranged along the second direction D2. That is, the second guide rail 66 defines an outer edge that extends while meandering along the second direction D2. The outer edges of the second guide rails 66 and 66 are formed symmetrically with respect to the center plane P2 defined at an equal distance from the inner edge in the second groove 54b.

  The second moving block 59 includes, for example, a flat rectangular parallelepiped block main body 67, and support pieces 68 that protrude from both side ends of the block main body 67 so as to freely advance and retreat in a direction orthogonal to the above-described central plane P2. A pair of wheels 69 and 69 are connected to the support piece 68 so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 71. The rotating shaft 71 is orthogonal to the surface of the support plate 32. When the second moving block 59 moves in the second direction D <b> 2, the wheel 69 is pressed against the outer edge of the second guide rail 66 based on the forward / backward movement of the support piece 68. The wheels 69 follow the convex portions 66a and the concave portions 66b of the second guide rail 66 alternately. At this time, the wheel 69 smoothly contacts the outer edge based on the rotation. Thus, the second guide rails 66 and 66 guide the movement of the second moving block 59 in the second direction D2.

  As shown in FIG. 13, in the first moving block 58, the block main body 62 protrudes in a direction opposite to each other in the direction orthogonal to the central plane P1 from the base 62a and the base 62a extending along the central plane P1. And two pairs of restricting members 62b. The front ends of the regulating members 62b and 62b receive the support piece 63. Thus, the movement of the support piece 63 is restricted in the direction orthogonal to the center plane P1. For example, a pair of elastic members, that is, coil springs 72, are disposed between the base member 62a and the support piece 63. The coil spring 72 exhibits an elastic force that moves the support piece 63 away from the base material 62a. Thus, the advancing / retreating movement of the support piece 63 is realized in the direction orthogonal to the center plane P1. The second moving block 59 has the same configuration as that of the first moving block 58, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  Now, when the keyboard 21 establishes the reference posture with the keyboard unit 19 in the unfolded position, as shown in FIG. 14, the first and second moving blocks 58 and 59 are inserted into the first grooves 53a and 54a of the guide grooves 53 and 54, respectively. Arranged at one end. The first moving block 58 is supported by the first guide rails 61 and 61. The second moving block 59 is disposed in the first groove 54a. The first moving block 58 is received at one end of the first groove 53a. When the keyboard 21 moves from the first reference position toward the second reference position in the first direction D1, the movement of the first moving block 58 is guided to the first guide rails 61 and 61. At this time, whenever the wheel 64 of the first moving block 58 is received in the recess 61 b of the first guide rail 61, the click feeling is established by the action of the coil spring 72. On the other hand, the second moving block 59 moves in the first groove 54a without guidance of the guide rail.

  When the keyboard 21 reaches the second reference position, as shown in FIG. 15, the corners of the first moving block 58 come into contact with the inner edge of the second groove 53b. At the same time, the corner of the second moving block 59 contacts the inner edge of the first groove 54a. The first moving block 58 is supported by the first guide rails 61 and 61. The second moving block 59 is supported by the second guide rails 66 and 66. At this time, when the keyboard 21 moves from the second reference position toward the third reference position in the second direction D2, the first moving block 58 is detached from the first guide rails 61 and 61. Thus, the movement of the second moving block 59 is guided by the second guide rails 66 and 66. At this time, whenever the wheel 69 of the second moving block 59 is received in the recess 66 b of the second guide rail 66, the click feeling is established by the action of the coil spring in the second moving block 59. On the other hand, the first moving block 58 moves in the second groove 53b without guidance of the guide rail.

  When the keyboard 21 reaches the second position, as shown in FIG. 16, the second moving block 59 is received at one end of the second groove 54b. The keyboard 21 is held in the second position. Thus, during the sliding movement of the keyboard 21 from the reference position to the first position and the second position, the keyboard spring 72 acts as a coil spring 72 for each recess 61b based on the contact between the wheel 64 of the first moving block 58 and the first guide rail 61. The position of 21 is fixed. Similarly, the position of the keyboard 21 is fixed by the action of the coil spring for each recess 66b based on the contact between the wheel 69 of the second moving block 59 and the second guide rail 66. Thus, when the position of the keyboard 21 is fixed, the keyboard 21 can rotate around the rotation axis 47.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the support block 57 includes a block body 75 having a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, for example. A gear 76 is incorporated in the block body 75. A support shaft 77 is fixed to the gear 76. The support shaft 77 is connected to the keyboard 21. The support shaft 77 extends in a vertical direction orthogonal to the back surface of the keyboard 21. The gear 76 is disposed in the frame body 75 a of the block main body 75. A pair of support pieces 78, 78 are coupled to the frame body 75 a so as to be able to advance and retract toward the support shaft 77. The support pieces 78 are arranged on opposite sides of the support shaft 77. For example, a pair of elastic members, that is, coil springs 79 are disposed between the outer end of the support piece 78 and the frame body 75a. The coil spring 79 exhibits an elastic force that moves the support piece 78 away from the frame body 75a.

  For example, a pair of wheels 82 are connected to the inner end of the support piece 78 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 81. The rotation shaft 81 extends parallel to the axis of the support shaft 77. The teeth of the gear 76 are received between the wheels 82 and 82. When the gear 76 rotates around the axis of the support shaft 77, the outer edge of the gear 76 is pressed against the wheel 82. The advancing / retreating movement of the support piece 78 is realized in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the support shaft 77. The wheel 82 smoothly contacts the gear 76 based on the rotation. When the wheels 82, 82 are pressed toward the gear 76 based on the elastic force of the coil spring 79, the teeth of the gear 76 are positioned between the wheels 82, 82. The rotation of the gear 76, that is, the keyboard 21, stops. Thus, the support block 57 guides the rotation of the support shaft 77, that is, the keyboard 21.

  As shown in FIG. 18, a pair of protrusions 83 a and 83 b protruding toward the support plate 32 are formed on the back surface of the keyboard 21. As described above, the support block 57 is fixed to the first and second moving blocks 58 and 59. Since the first and second moving blocks 58 and 59 are disposed in the guide grooves 53 and 54, the rotation of the support block 57 is restricted regardless of the rotation of the keyboard 21. Therefore, for example, when the keyboard 21 rotates clockwise around the rotation shaft 47, the protrusion 83 a is received by the frame body 75 a of the support block 57. The rotation of the keyboard 21 is restricted. On the other hand, when the keyboard 21 rotates counterclockwise around the rotation shaft 47, the protrusion 83 b is received by the frame body 75 a of the support block 57. Here, the rotation range of the keyboard 21 is set to a rotation angle range of 0 ° to ± 20 °, for example, which defines the side end along the swing shaft 31.

  Now, assume that the user inputs characters into the cellular phone terminal 11 in an open state when, for example, sending an email. Here, it is assumed that the user has the telephone body 12 with the right hand. The user holds the telephone body 12 with, for example, the palm of the right hand, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger. At this time, the user moves the operation piece 35 from the reference position with the finger of the left hand. The user selects the position of the recess 37 and establishes the tilt posture of the keyboard unit 19 at an arbitrary tilt angle. The surface of the keyboard 21 approaches the thumb. At this time, the user can press the keypad 22 without bending the thumb greatly. In particular, the user can easily press the keypad 22 (for example, off-hook button or 3, 6, 9, #) arranged vertically at the position closest to the swing shaft 31.

  In addition, since the keyboard unit 19 in the tilted posture realizes sliding movement and rotation of the keyboard 21, the user can arbitrarily move the position of the keypad 22 to a position where the user can easily press it. For example, the keyboard 21 can slide in the first direction D1 away from the swing shaft 31 and the second direction D2 along the swing shaft 31, so that the user can place the keypad 22 away from the thumb, for example. Can be positioned. At the same time, the keyboard 21 that is being slid is rotated around the rotation shaft 47, so that the user can change the orientation of the arrangement of the keypad 22 on the keyboard 21 with respect to the swing shaft 31. In this way, the user can comfortably input characters. The ease of character input is greatly improved.

  FIG. 19 schematically shows the structure of a mobile phone terminal 11a according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the cellular phone terminal 11a, the display device 13 can further rotate around the horizontal axis 27a with respect to the telephone body 12 in the cellular phone terminal 11a in the closed state. The horizontal axis 27a is set in parallel to the front flat surface along the left end of the front flat surface of the main body casing 14, that is, the long side. The horizontal axis 27a is orthogonal to the horizontal axis 27 described above. In this way, the display housing 16 establishes an inclined posture that intersects the front flat surface of the main body housing 14 at a predetermined inclination angle. At the same time, the keyboard unit 19 can establish a predetermined inclined posture. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the configurations and structures equivalent to those of the mobile phone terminal 11 described above. According to such a mobile phone terminal 11a, the same effects as described above are realized.

  The cellular phone devices 11 and 11a as described above are particularly effective when the user holds the telephone body 12 with the right hand, for example. On the other hand, when the user holds the telephone main body 12 with his left hand, for example, the swing shaft 31 of the keyboard unit 19 may be defined along the left end of the front flat surface of the main body casing 14. At this time, the structure of the keyboard unit 19 may be configured symmetrically with the structure of the keyboard unit 19 described above. For example, in the mobile phone terminal 11a, the horizontal axis 27a may be set parallel to the front flat surface along the right end, that is, the long side of the front flat surface of the main body casing.

  In addition, in the mobile phone terminals 11 and 11a, the keyboard 21 may include a flat display panel such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. For example, a touch panel is disposed on the surface of the LCD panel. The touch panel can provide input keys such as an on-hook button, an off-hook button, and a dial key in conjunction with the display on the LCD panel. According to such mobile phone terminals 11 and 11a, the same effects as described above are realized. Note that the electronic device includes other electronic devices such as a personal digital assistant (PDA).

  The applicant further discloses the following supplementary notes regarding the above embodiment.

(Supplementary note 1) Case and
An input key is arranged on the surface, a storage position that is accommodated in an opening formed on the surface of the housing, and a deployment position that rises in an inclined posture that defines a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the surface of the housing An electronic device comprising: a keyboard unit coupled to the housing so as to be relatively displaceable between the two.

  (Supplementary note 2) In the electronic device according to supplementary note 1, the keyboard unit is connected to the casing so as to be swingable around a swing axis defined along a side edge of the surface of the casing. Features electronic equipment.

(Appendix 3) In the electronic device described in Appendix 1 or 2,
The keyboard unit is
A keyboard for arranging the input keys on the surface;
An electronic apparatus comprising: a support plate that receives a back surface of the keyboard on a front surface and supports the keyboard so as to be relatively displaceable along the surface.

  (Additional remark 4) The electronic device of Additional remark 3 WHEREIN: The said support plate supports the said keyboard rotatably around the rotating shaft orthogonal to the surface.

(Supplementary Note 5) In the electronic device according to Supplementary Note 3 or 4,
The keyboard unit is
A rail formed on the support plate;
An electronic device comprising: a moving block coupled to the keyboard and guided by the rail.

(Appendix 6) In the electronic device according to any one of appendices 3 to 5,
The keyboard unit is
A gear fixed to the keyboard;
An electronic device comprising: a support block coupled to the support plate and rotatably supporting the gear around the rotation axis.

(Appendix 7) In the electronic device described in Appendix 1,
The keyboard unit is
A keyboard for arranging the input keys on the surface;
An electronic apparatus comprising: a support plate that receives the back surface of the keyboard on the front surface and supports the keyboard so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis orthogonal to the front surface.

  11, 11a Electronic device (mobile phone terminal), 14 housing (main body housing), 18 opening, 19 keyboard unit, 21 keyboard, 22 input key (keypad), 31 swing shaft, 32 support plate, 47 rotation shaft , 57 support block, 58 moving block (first moving block), 59 moving block (second moving block), 61 rail (first guide rail), 66 rail (second guide rail), 76 gears.

Claims (6)

A housing,
An input key is arranged on the surface, and when the case is held by the palm of one hand and a finger, it can swing around a swing axis defined along the side edge closest to the thumb on the surface of the case coupled to said housing, said housing position to be accommodated in the opening formed in the surface of the housing, and, deployed position rises in an inclined position to define a predetermined angle of inclination relative to said surface of said housing an electronic device to a freely relative displacement, characterized in that it comprises a Ru fixable der keyboard unit in the stowed position and the deployed position between. The electronic device according to claim 1 ,
The keyboard unit is
A keyboard for arranging the input keys on the surface;
An electronic apparatus comprising: a support plate that receives a back surface of the keyboard on a front surface and supports the keyboard so as to be relatively displaceable along the surface.   The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the support plate supports the keyboard so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis orthogonal to the surface thereof. The electronic device according to claim 2 or 3,
The keyboard unit is
A rail formed on the support plate;
An electronic device comprising: a moving block coupled to the keyboard and guided by the rail. In the electronic device of any one of Claims 2-4,
The keyboard unit is
A gear fixed to the keyboard;
An electronic device comprising: a support block coupled to the support plate and rotatably supporting the gear around the rotation axis. The electronic device according to claim 1,
The keyboard unit is
A keyboard for arranging the input keys on the surface;
An electronic apparatus comprising: a support plate that receives the back surface of the keyboard on the front surface and supports the keyboard so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis orthogonal to the front surface.

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