JP4887766B2 - Mobile device - Google Patents

Description

    In the present invention, one housing having an operation unit on the front and the other housing having a display on the front are connected to each other through a connecting body having a rotating biaxial hinge mechanism so as to be openable and closable. It relates to a portable terminal.

    For example, in a mobile phone which is an example of a mobile terminal, for the purpose of achieving both ease of use at the time of use and downsizing of the mobile phone, one housing having an operation unit on the front and the other housing having a display on the front. There has been provided a foldable mobile phone in which a body is connected to each other so as to be freely opened and closed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Furthermore, for the purpose of realizing various usage forms, a rotating two-axis hinge mechanism (see, for example, Patent Document 2) is used, and one housing having an operation unit on the front and the other housing having a display on the front. Are foldable mobile phones that are connected to each other so as to be openable and closable.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the above-described foldable mobile phone A includes a lower casing (one casing) B that constitutes a main body and an upper casing (the other casing) C that constitutes a lid. The front part Bf of the lower casing B that has a shape like a flat rectangular parallelepiped is provided with an operation unit Ba having a plurality of operation keys and a transmitter Bm. A camera unit Bc is provided on the back surface Bb.

  On the other hand, on the front surface Cf of the upper casing C that has a shape like a flat rectangular parallelepiped like the lower casing B, a receiving section Cr is provided together with a large main liquid crystal screen (display section) Cd. A small sub liquid crystal screen Cs is provided on the rear surface Cb of C.

  The lower casing B and the upper casing C described above can be opened / closed about the opening / closing axis x as shown by an arrow F in FIG. 11 via a connecting body D provided with a rotating biaxial hinge mechanism (not shown). 11, and is pivotably coupled as shown by an arrow R in FIG. 11 about a pivot axis z orthogonal to the opening / closing axis x.

  Accordingly, the mobile phone A has a closed position (first form) in which the front surface Bf of the lower housing B and the front surface Cf of the upper housing C are opposed to each other as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12B, it is possible to take an open position (second form) in which the upper casing C is opened at a predetermined posture angle with respect to the lower casing B from the first form.

  The above-described closed position (first form) is suitable for carrying the mobile phone A, and the above-described open position (second form) is suitable for making a call while referring to the main liquid crystal screen Cd. It is a form.

  The mobile phone A has a main liquid crystal provided on the front surface Cf of the upper housing C with the front surface Bf of the lower housing B and the rear surface Cb of the upper housing C facing each other as shown in FIG. A turn-close position (third embodiment) in which the lower housing B and the upper housing C are closed by exposing the screen Cd to the outside, and from the third embodiment to the lower housing B as shown in FIG. On the other hand, it is possible to take a turn open position (fourth embodiment) in which the upper casing C is opened at a predetermined posture angle.

The above-described turn-close position (third form) is a form suitable for taking a picture while watching the main liquid crystal screen Cd as in a digital camera, or viewing a television broadcast or the like using the main liquid crystal screen Cd. The turn open position (fourth form) is suitable for self-portrait because the main liquid crystal screen Cd faces outward.
JP 2004-88541 A JP 2004-108581 A

By the way, in the above-described conventional mobile phone A, when the turn-close position (third form) shown in FIG. 13A is used, for example, operation keys for channel selection when viewing a television broadcast on the main liquid crystal screen Cd. In view of its operability, it is desirable that it be provided on the outside facing the user like the main liquid crystal screen Cd.

  However, when an operation key is installed in the upper casing C adjacent to the main liquid crystal screen Cd as a configuration that satisfies the above-described requirements, the upper casing C is enlarged and extended in order to secure a mounting space for the operation key. In this case, the appearance of the entire mobile phone A is enlarged, which has been a problem in mobile phones in which downsizing is important.

  In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal capable of preventing an increase in external shape due to mounting of an operation device used in a state where the display unit of the other casing is exposed to the outside. It is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, a portable terminal according to the invention of claim 1 is provided between one housing having an operation unit on the front, the other housing having a display on the front, and between the one housing and the other housing. and a connecting member interposed, whereas turning hinges around the housing and the other housing, opened and closed by opening and closing hinge unit around the opening and closing shaft via a connecting member, and the pivot axis perpendicular to the control shaft A first configuration in which the front surface of the one housing and the front surface of the other housing are opposed to each other, and the one housing and the other housing are closed; The second form in which the other casing is opened at a predetermined posture angle with respect to the front face of the one casing and the rear face of the other casing are opposed to each other, and the display unit provided on the front face of the other casing is outward A third configuration in which one casing and the other casing are closed by exposure, and one casing from the third configuration A portable terminal configured to be able to be deformed into a fourth form in which the other casing is opened at a predetermined posture angle, and is displayed when the one casing and the other casing are in the third form in the connection body. An operating device is provided in a part exposed to the outside as in the case, and an electronic component provided in one housing and an electronic component provided in the other housing are connected to an opening / closing hinge unit and a turning hinge unit. A flexible flat in which an operation device and at least one electronic component of one casing and the other casing are wound around the outside of the opening / closing hinge unit or the turning hinge unit. It is characterized by being connected to each other via a cable .

According to the portable terminal relating to the invention of claim 1, when the one casing and the other casing are in the third form, the operation device is disposed on the connected body at the part exposed outward as in the display section of the other casing. By installing, in other words, by not installing the operation device in the other casing, it is possible to prevent an increase in size of the other casing in advance, and thus the overall size of the mobile phone is large. Can be suppressed as much as possible.
Further, according to the portable terminal of the first aspect of the invention, the electronic components provided in the one housing and the other housing are connected to each other with a thin coaxial cable passing through the opening / closing hinge unit and the turning hinge unit. By connecting and connecting at least one electronic component of one casing and the other casing and the operation device to each other with a flexible flat cable wound around the outside of the opening / closing hinge unit or the turning hinge unit, It is possible to produce a portable terminal without impairing the opening / closing operation and the turning operation between the body and the other housing and without degrading the assembly workability.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating some embodiments.
1 to 6 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a mobile phone which is an aspect of a mobile terminal, and the mobile phone 1 in this embodiment includes a lower casing (one casing) constituting a main body. 2 and an upper housing (other housing) 3 constituting a lid.

  The lower casing 2 has a shape like a flat rectangular parallelepiped, and an operation section 2a having a plurality of operation keys and a transmitter section 2m are provided on the front face 2f. A camera unit 2c is provided on the rear surface 2b.

  On the other hand, a large main liquid crystal screen (display unit) 3d is provided on the front surface 3f of the upper casing 3 which has a flat rectangular shape similar to the lower casing 2, and further includes a receiver 3r and an operation section. A key 3k is provided, and a small sub liquid crystal screen 3s is provided on the back surface 3b of the upper housing 3 in the same manner.

  The lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3 described above are connected to each other by a connecting body 4 interposed between the base ends of the two, and as shown in FIG. The lower housing 2 and the connecting body 4 are connected to each other via the opening / closing hinge units Hf, Hf on the x axis (opening / closing axis) extending in the direction) and orthogonal to the x axis (opening / closing axis). The connecting body 4 and the upper housing 3 are connected to each other via a turning hinge unit Hr on a z-axis (turning shaft) extending in the direction.

  That is, the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3 described above are connected through the connecting body 4 so as to be openable and closable around the x axis (opening and closing shaft) as indicated by an arrow F in FIG. As shown by the arrow R in FIG.

  Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4A, the mobile phone 1 has a closed position (first form) in which the front surface 2f of the lower housing 2 and the front surface 3f of the upper housing 3 are opposed to each other and closed. As shown in FIG. 4B, it is possible to take an open position (second form) in which the upper casing 3 is opened at a predetermined posture angle with respect to the lower casing 2 from the first form.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the mobile phone 1 has a main surface provided on the front surface 3f of the upper housing 3 with the front surface 2f of the lower housing 2 and the back surface 3b of the upper housing 3 facing each other. A turn-close position (third embodiment) in which the liquid crystal screen 3d is exposed to the outside to close the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3, and from the third embodiment to the lower housing 2 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, it is possible to take a turn open position (fourth embodiment) in which the upper housing 3 is opened at a predetermined posture angle.

  Here, the connection body 4 of the mobile phone 1 is provided with a multi-function switch 5 which is one mode of the operation device. As shown in the outer surface 4o of the connection body 4, that is, as shown in FIG. When the casing 2 and the upper casing 3 are set to the turn-closed position (third form), the operation key of the multifunction switch 5 is located on the portion exposed to the outside like the main liquid crystal screen 3d of the upper casing 3. 5k, 5k, ... are arranged.

  The operation keys 5k, 5k,... Of the multi-function switch 5 select the channel when the mobile phone 1 is set in a turn-open style (third form) and a main liquid crystal screen 3d of the upper housing 3 is watched, for example. As described above, it is provided on the outer surface 4o of the connecting body 4, that is, on the outer side facing the user like the main liquid crystal screen 3d, so that the operability of the user is improved. It will be very good.

  As described above, the cellular phone 1 having the above configuration is used in the same manner as the main liquid crystal screen 3d when the outer surface 4o of the connector 4, that is, the lower casing 2 and the upper casing 3 are in a turn-open style (third form). The multifunction switch 5 (operation keys 5k, 5k...) That is one mode of the operation device is provided in the part exposed to the outside facing the person, in other words, the multifunction switch 5 is installed in the upper housing 3. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the upper casing 3 from being increased in size and further to increase the overall shape of the mobile phone 1.

  By the way, in the mobile phone 1 of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a substrate (electronic component) 2B accommodated and installed in the lower casing 2 and a substrate (electronic component) accommodated in the upper casing 3 Component) 3B is connected to each other via a thin coaxial cable 6, so that the substrate 2B and the substrate 3B can be connected to each other even when the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3 are relatively opened / closed or turned. It is configured to ensure that the electrical connection is made.

  Specifically, the thin coaxial cable 6 extending from the circuit board 2B of the lower housing 2 passes through one of the opening / closing hinge units Hf, passes through the inside of the coupling body 4, passes through the turning hinge unit Hr, and passes through the upper housing. 3 circuit boards 3B.

  On the other hand, the substrate 5B of the multifunction switch (operation device) 5 accommodated and installed in the connection body 4 is accommodated and installed in the lower casing 2 via a flexible flat cable 5F extending from the substrate 5B. (Electronic component) Connected to 2B.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible flat cable 5F is wound around the outside of one opening / closing hinge unit Hf from the substrate 5B and connected to the substrate 2B of the lower housing 2. Thus, the electrical connection between the substrate 5B and the substrate 2B is ensured even by the relative opening / closing operation of the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3.

  As described above, the substrate 2B of the lower housing 2 and the substrate 3B of the upper housing 3 are connected to each other via the thin coaxial cable 6, and the substrate 2B of the lower housing 2 and the substrate 5B of the multifunction switch 5 are connected to each other. Are connected to each other through the flexible flat cable 5F, so that the opening / closing operation and the turning operation of the lower housing 2 and the upper housing 3 are not impaired, and the mobile phone 1 is not deteriorated in assembling workability. Can be produced.

  In the embodiment described above, the flexible flat cable 5F wound around the outside of one opening / closing hinge unit Hf is used to connect the substrate 2B of the lower housing 2 and the substrate 5B of the multifunction switch 5 to each other. However, if the specification is such that the substrate 5B of the multifunction switch 5 is connected to the substrate 3B of the upper housing 3, a flexible flat cable (not shown) extending from the substrate 5B is connected to the outside of the turning hinge unit Hr. What is necessary is just to set it as the structure wound around so that it may connect to the board | substrate 3B of the upper housing | casing 3. FIG.

  Furthermore, in the mobile phone 1 ′ shown in FIG. 6, the substrate 2B ′ of the lower housing 2 ′ and the substrate 3B ′ of the upper housing 3 ′ are connected to each other by the main cable 6m ′ of the thin coaxial cable 6 ′. A sub-cable 6s 'branched from the thin coaxial cable 6' connects the substrate 2B 'of the lower housing 2' and the substrate 5B 'of the multifunction switch 5'.

  Here, it is possible to adopt a configuration such as the mobile phone 1 'described above, but since the handling of the thin coaxial cable 6' becomes complicated, the assembly workability at the time of manufacturing the mobile phone 1 'is lowered. In addition, since the sub-cable 6s ′ of the thin coaxial cable 6 ′ needs to be connected to the board 5B ′ of the multifunction switch 5 ′ by the connector 6c ′, there is a problem that the multifunction switch 5 ′ is enlarged. Like the cellular phone 1 in the previous embodiment, the substrate 2B of the lower housing 2 and the substrate 3B of the upper housing 3 are connected to each other via a thin coaxial cable 6 and the substrate 5B of the multifunction switch 5 It is best to connect the substrate 2B of the lower housing 2 (or the substrate 3B of the upper housing 3) to each other via a flexible flat cable 5F. It is over de.

7 to 10 show a reference example of a mobile phone which is one mode of the mobile terminal. The mobile phone 10 forms a lower casing (one casing) 12 constituting a main body and a lid. An upper housing (other housing) 13 is provided.

  The lower casing 12 has a shape like a flat rectangular parallelepiped, and an operation section 12a having a plurality of operation keys and a transmission section 12m are provided on the front face 12f. A camera unit 12c is provided on the rear surface 12b.

  On the other hand, a large main liquid crystal screen (display unit) 13d is provided on the front surface 13f of the upper casing 13 which has a flat rectangular shape like the lower casing 12, and further includes a receiver 13r and an operation section. A key 13k is provided, and a small sub liquid crystal screen 13s is provided on the back surface 13b of the upper housing 13 in the same manner.

  The lower casing 12 and the upper casing 13 described above are connected to each other by a connecting body 14 interposed between the base ends of the two, and as shown in FIG. The lower housing 12 and the connecting body 14 are connected to each other via the opening / closing hinge units Hf and Hf on the x-axis (opening / closing axis) extending in the direction) and orthogonal to the x-axis (opening / closing axis). The connecting body 14 and the upper housing 13 are connected to each other via a turning hinge unit Hr on a z-axis (turning shaft) extending in the direction.

  That is, the lower housing 12 and the upper housing 13 described above are connected through the connecting body 14 so as to be openable and closable around the x axis (opening and closing shaft) as indicated by an arrow F in FIG. As shown by an arrow R in FIG.

  As a result, the mobile phone 10 has a closed position (first form) in which the front surface 12f of the lower housing 12 and the front surface 13f of the upper housing 13 are opposed to each other as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9B, it is possible to take an open position (second form) in which the upper casing 13 is opened at a predetermined posture angle with respect to the lower casing 12 from the first form.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10A, the cellular phone 10 has a main surface provided on the front surface 13f of the upper housing 13 with the front surface 12f of the lower housing 12 and the rear surface 13b of the upper housing 13 facing each other. A turn-close position (third embodiment) in which the liquid crystal screen 13d is exposed to the outside to close the lower housing 12 and the upper housing 13, and from the third embodiment to the lower housing 12 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, it is possible to take a turn open position (fourth embodiment) in which the upper housing 13 is opened at a predetermined posture angle.

  Here, the bracket portion 12S of the lower housing 12 in the mobile phone 10 is provided with a multifunction switch 15 which is one mode of the operation device, and the outer surface 12So of the bracket portion 12S, that is, FIG. 10 (a). As shown in FIG. 4, when the lower casing 12 and the upper casing 13 are in the turn-closed position (third form), the multi-function is exposed to the portion exposed to the outside like the main liquid crystal screen 13d of the upper casing 13. Operation keys 15k, 15k... Of the switch 15 are arranged.

  The operation keys 15k, 15k... Of the multi-function switch 15 select the channel when the mobile phone 10 is in a turn-open style (third form) and a main liquid crystal screen 13d of the upper housing 13 is used to watch a television broadcast, for example. As described above, it is provided on the outer surface 14o of the connecting body 14, that is, on the outer side facing the user, like the main liquid crystal screen 13d, so that the operability of the user is improved. It will be very good.

  In the mobile phone 10 having the above-described configuration, when the outer surface 12So of the bracket portion 12S of the lower casing 12, that is, the lower casing 12 and the upper casing 13 are in a turn-open style (third form) as described above, the main liquid crystal The multifunction switch 15 (operation keys 15k, 15k...) That is one mode of the operation device is provided in the part exposed to the outside facing the user as in the screen 13d. In other words, the multifunction switch 15 is mounted on the upper casing. Since it is not installed on the body 13, it is possible to prevent the upper casing 13 from being increased in size and further to increase the overall shape of the mobile phone 10.

By the way, in the mobile phone 10 of the reference example described above, as shown in FIG. 8, a substrate (electronic component) 12B accommodated and installed in the lower casing 12 and a substrate (electronic component) accommodated and installed in the upper casing 13 are arranged. Component) 13B is connected to each other via the thin coaxial cable 16, so that the substrate 12B and the substrate 13B can be connected to each other even when the lower housing 12 and the upper housing 13 are relatively opened and closed or turned. It is configured to ensure that the electrical connection is made.

  Specifically, the thin coaxial cable 16 extending from the circuit board 12B of the lower housing 12 passes through one of the opening / closing hinge units Hf, passes through the inside of the coupling body 14, passes through the turning hinge unit Hr, and passes through the upper housing. 13 circuit boards 13B.

  On the other hand, the substrate 15B of the multifunction switch (operation device) 15 accommodated and installed in the bracket portion 12S in the lower housing 12 is connected to the substrate of the lower housing 12 via a flexible flat cable 15F extending from the substrate 15B. 12B.

  Here, if the specification is such that the board 15B of the multifunction switch 15 is connected to the board 13B of the upper housing 13, a flexible flat cable (not shown) extending from the board 15B is connected to the outside of one opening / closing hinge unit Hf. It is wound around and passes through the inside of the connecting body 14, and is wound around the outside of the turning hinge unit Hr from the inside of the connecting body 14 and is connected to the circuit board 13 </ b> B of the upper housing 13.

  As described above, the substrate 12B of the lower housing 12 and the substrate 13B of the upper housing 13 are connected to each other via the thin coaxial cable 16, and the substrate 12B of the lower housing 12 and the substrate 13B of the upper housing 13 are connected to each other. Is connected to the substrate 15B of the multifunction switch 15 via the flexible flat cable 5F, so that the opening / closing operation and the turning operation of the lower housing 12 and the upper housing 13 are not impaired and the assembly workability is reduced. The mobile phone 10 can be produced without causing a decrease in the above.

  Here, when the substrate 15B of the multifunction switch 15 is connected to at least one of the substrate 12B of the lower housing 12 and the substrate 13B of the upper housing 13, the substrate 12B of the lower housing 12 and the substrate 13B of the upper housing 13 are connected. It is also possible to use a thin coaxial cable (not shown) that is separate from the fine coaxial cable 16 connecting the two.

  Further, the substrate 12B of the lower housing 12 and the substrate 13B of the upper housing 13 are connected to each other by a main cable of a thin coaxial cable (not shown), and the lower housing is connected by a sub cable branched from the thin coaxial cable. It is possible to connect the 12 substrates 12B and the substrate 15B of the multi-function switch 15, but there is a problem in that the assembling workability at the time of manufacturing the mobile phone 10 is reduced and the multi-function switch 15 is enlarged. I cannot deny.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the operation key of the multifunction switch is made to function as a channel selection key when viewing TV broadcasting on the main liquid crystal screen is shown. However, the function of the multifunction switch is Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various functions such as a shutter button for taking a picture with the main liquid crystal screen as a viewfinder can be used.

In the above-described embodiment , a mobile phone equipped with a multifunction switch is illustrated as an operation device. However, various operation devices such as a jog dial and a touch panel can be used as a matter of course.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to a mobile phone that is one aspect of a mobile terminal has been described. However, one housing and the other housing are connected via a connecting body having a rotating biaxial hinge mechanism. Needless to say, the present invention can be effectively applied to various portable terminals such as an electronic dictionary and a PDA (Personal Data Assistance) which are connected to each other in a freely openable and closable manner.

(a) And (b) is an external appearance perspective view which shows the mobile telephone which is one Example of the portable terminal concerning this invention. (a), (b) and (c) are the whole front view, whole side view, and whole back view which showed notionally the mobile phone of FIG. The conceptual diagram which shows the internal structure of the connection body periphery in the mobile telephone of FIG. (a) And (b) is an external appearance perspective view showing the 1st form and 2nd form of the mobile telephone shown in FIG. (a) And (b) is an external appearance perspective view showing the 3rd form and 4th form of the mobile telephone shown in FIG. The conceptual diagram which shows the internal structure of the connection body periphery in the mobile telephone of FIG. (a), (b) and (c) are the whole front view, whole side view, and whole back view which showed notionally the reference example of the mobile telephone . The conceptual diagram which shows the internal structure of the connection body periphery in the mobile telephone of FIG. (a) And (b) is an external appearance perspective view showing the 1st form and 2nd form of the mobile telephone shown in FIG. (a) And (b) is an external appearance perspective view which shows the 3rd form and 4th form of the mobile telephone shown in FIG. (a), (b) and (c) are the whole front view, whole side view, and whole back view which show the conventional mobile telephone. (a) And (b) is an external appearance perspective view showing the 1st form and 2nd form of the mobile telephone shown in FIG. (a) And (b) is an external appearance perspective view which shows the 3rd form and 4th form of the mobile telephone shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Mobile phone (mobile terminal),
2 ... Lower housing (one housing),
2f ... the front,
2k ... operation keys (operation part),
2B ... substrate (electronic component),
3 ... Upper housing (other housing),
3f ... the front,
3b ... the back,
3d ... Liquid crystal display (display),
3B ... Substrate (electronic component),
4 ... Connected body,
4o ... outside,
5. Multifunction switch (operation device),
5k ... operation keys,
5B ... substrate,
5F ... Flexible flat cable,
6 ... Fine coaxial cable,
Hf: hinge unit for opening and closing,
Hr ... Swing hinge unit,
x: Opening / closing axis,
z ... Swivel axis.

Claims (1)

Comprising one a housing having an operation unit on the front, the other housing having a display unit on the front, and a connecting member interposed between said one and housing and the other housing, the coupling body, the one and said a housing the other housing, and opening and closing hinge unit for openably holding around the opening and closing shaft via the coupling member, before Symbol turning to freely hold pivot about a pivot axis perpendicular to the control shaft Including hinge unit,
A first form in which the front surface of the one housing and the front surface of the other housing are opposed to each other, and the one housing and the other housing are closed;
A second configuration in which the other casing is opened at a predetermined posture angle with respect to the one casing from the first configuration;
The front surface of the one housing and the back surface of the other housing are opposed to each other, and the display unit provided on the front surface of the other housing is exposed to the outside. A third form closed,
A portable terminal configured to be deformable from the third form to a fourth form in which the other case is opened at a predetermined posture angle with respect to the one case,
A bracket is provided on the same surface as the operation portion of the one housing, and when the one housing and the other housing are in the third form , the bracket is outward on the same side as the display portion. Exposing and providing an operation device in a portion exposed to the outside on the same side as the back surface when the one housing and the other housing are in the first form ,
The electronic component provided in the one housing and the electronic component provided in the other housing are connected to each other via a thin coaxial cable passing through the opening / closing hinge unit and the turning hinge unit,
Mobile terminal, wherein the the operating device and the electronic components of the prior SL other housing, and via a flexible flat cable wound on the outside of the opening and closing hinge unit and the swing hinge unit connected to each other.

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