【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明はノート型パソコンなどの携帯型情報処理装置に関し、長時間入力時の疲労軽減と落下時の磁気記録再生装置などの破損を防止するようにしたものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
携帯型情報処理装置で代表されるノート型パソコンは内部に磁気記録再生装置（ＨＤＤ）を搭載しており、落下時の衝撃でＨＤＤが破損すると、蓄積したデータを再生することができなくなるばかりか、記録することもできなくなる。このためノート型パソコンの設計時には特にＨＤＤの耐衝撃性の確保が重要になっている．
図７に、従来のノート型パソコンのＨＤＤの耐衝撃構造例を示す。２０はＨＤＤ、２１はＨＤＤ２０の周囲に配置した緩衝材であり、これは主に発泡材あるいはゲル材からなる．このように従来はＨＤＤ２０の周囲に緩衝材２１を配置して落下時に筐体２２に伝わる衝撃をこの緩衝部材２１の変形により吸収し、緩和するようにしている．
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開２０００−２７７９３５号公報
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ノート型パソコンに搭載されている一般的な２．５インチサイズのＨＤＤの耐衝撃値限界は非動作時には約８００Ｇであり、落下衝突時にＨＤＤが受ける衝撃値を上記値以下まで緩和する必要がある。一般的にＨＤＤの緩衝性能を上げるには緩衝材の厚みを厚くし、緩衝材の圧縮量を大きくすれば可能であるが、近年は携帯性向上の観点から筐体の薄型化が重要視されており、このため特にＨＤＤの上面および下面の緩衝材の厚みは薄くせざるを得なくなってきている．しかしながら緩衝材が薄くなるとパソコンが底面から水平に落下する底面落下時に十分な緩衝性能が得られず、ＨＤＤが破損しやすくなるという課題があった．
また、Ｂ５〜Ａ５サイズ程度のノート型パソコンでは小型化のため、キー入力時に手をのせる部位（パームレスト）が小さいか、あるいは全くないため、長時間のキー入力は手が疲れるという課題もあった．
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記課題を解決するために本発明は筐体の上面に入力手段を有する携帯型情報処理装置において、弾性部材をバネ力により附勢した状態で前記筐体に回動可能に取り付け、この弾性部材をキー入力時にはパームレストとして使用でき、また非使用時、すなわち無負荷時には弾性部材はバネ力により回動して前記筐体底面下部に位置するようにし、落下時の緩衝材として機能するようにしたものである。
【０００６】
さらに、前記弾性部材が薄板からなるものでは無負荷時には筐体底面と弾性部材との間に間隙を有するようにその弾性部材にスロープをつけることにより、さらに大きな緩衝力を得ることができる。
【０００７】
また、弾性部材の材料として発泡部材を用いることで、その粘性減衰性能により金属部材からなるものに比べて圧縮変形後のリバウンドを小さくでき、筐体内部の磁気記録再生装置への衝撃力を小さくすることが可能となる。さらに弾性部材はその厚みを部位により変化させた形状とすることが好ましい．
【０００８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態について図面を参照しながら説明する。
【０００９】
（実施の形態１）
図１〜図３は本発明の実施の形態１を示すもので、図１は使用時の概略側断面図、図２はその要部斜視図、図３は落下衝突時の概略側断面図である。１はノート型パソコンなどの携帯情報処理装置の筐体、２は弾性部材、３は筐体１の前方内部に搭載された磁気記録再生装置（ＨＤＤ）、４は机面、５は弾性部材２を筐体１に回動可能に取り付けている軸、６は装置駆動用のバッテリ、７は筐体１に回動可能に取り付けられたディスプレイ、８は筐体１の後方上面に配置されたキーボードである。
【００１０】
前記弾性部材２は緩やかなくの字状をした薄板部材からなり、その両端部の腕２ａの先端部が筐体１の前方側面に回動可能に取り付けられ、かつ、筐体１内で軸５はコイルバネ９と結合されて弾性部材２は矢印Ｐ方向、すなわち反時計方向に附勢されている。
【００１１】
したがって、図１のように装置の使用時には弾性部材２をコイルバネ９の附勢力に抗して筐体１の前方に回動させ、先端部が机面４上に当接させた状態にすることにより弾性部材２はパームレストとして使用することができる。このため面積が小さいノート型パソコンではパームレスト部の面積を拡大でき、長時間入力時の腕の疲れを軽減することが可能となる．
次に、例えば上記筐体１が机面４から床面１０などに落下した場合、その落下中に弾性部材２はコイルバネ９のバネ力により反時計方向に回動し、瞬時に筐体１の底面部に回り込み、その結果弾性部材２はＨＤＤ３の下部に位置されるため、図３に示すようにくの字状の弾性部材２の弾性変形によりＨＤＤ３への衝撃が緩和される．
また、弾性部材２が筐体１の底面に回動された状態で弾性部材２と筐体１の底面との間に空間を設けることにより、緩衝ストロークを大きくすることが可能となり、緩衝性能を高めることができる．さらに、弾性部材２は携帯時には筐体１の底面に回り込んだ状態となるため、携帯性を著しく損なうことはない．
弾性部材２としては衝撃時に大きな変形を起こし、リバウンド時の跳ね返り係数を小さくできるウレタンなどの発泡性部材あるいはゴム部材が適当である．
（実施の形態２）
図４〜図６は本発明の実施の形態２を示すもので、図４は使用時の概略側断面図、図５は落下中の状態を示す概略側断面図、図６は落下衝突時の概略側断面図である。これらの図において実施の形態１と同一構成部分には同一符号が附してある。
【００１２】
この実施の形態２において、実施の形態１と異なる点は、弾性部材２が略三角形状の厚肉中実の発砲部材からなり、そしてこの弾性部材２の基部下端部が筐体１の前面下部に軸５により回動可能に取り付けられている点である。なお、軸５に嵌合したコイルバネ（図示せず）により弾性部材２が矢印Ｐ方向に附勢されるようにすることは同じである．
この実施の形態２では、図４に示すように使用時には弾性部材２は机面４からバネ力に抗する力を受けて机面４上に位置し、このためパームレストとして使用することができる。そして万一落下した場合その落下中に弾性部材２はコイルバネ力により瞬時に図５に示すように矢印Ｐ方向に回動する．そして床面１０に落下した時、図６に示すように弾性部材２が筐体１の底面下部に回り込んで衝撃力により弾性変形し、ＨＤＤ３に加わる衝撃を緩和する．
そして、弾性部材を本構成のように傾斜面を有する形状とすることで、このような傾斜面がなく一度に大きな平面で床面と衝突する形状の場合よりも衝突初期に小さい接触面積で衝撃力を受けるため面圧が大きくなり、大きな圧縮変形を起こすため、大きな緩衝性能を得ることができる．
上記実施の形態２においても弾性部材２としては、衝撃時に大きな変形を起こし、リバウンド時の跳ね返り係数の小さい発泡性部材あるいはゴム部材が適当である．
以上説明したように、いずれの構成も筐体内部での緩衝材の厚み、すなわち、筐体厚みを増加させることなく、ＨＤＤの緩衝性能を上げることが可能となる上に、ノート型パソコンのように面積が小さかったパームレストを拡張できるため、長時間入力時の疲労も軽減できるものである．
なお、弾性部材２を筐体１に着脱自在とすることも可能であり、装置の不使用時は弾性部材を筐体から取り外し、使用時のみ弾性部材を筐体に取り付けるようにしてもよい。
【００１３】
【発明の効果】
以上のように本発明は、弾性部材をバネ力により附勢した状態で筐体に回動可能に取り付けることで、その弾性部材をパームレストとして使用することにより入力手段による長時間入力時の腕の疲れを緩和することができ、また万一の落下時には衝突時の装置内部への衝撃を緩和する緩衝材となるため、装置の構成部品などの損傷を防ぐことができる．
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施形態１を示す装置の使用時の概略側断面図
【図２】本発明の実施形態１における装置の要部斜視図
【図３】本発明の実施形態１における装置の落下衝突時の概略側断面図
【図４】本発明の実施形態２を示す装置の使用時の概略側断面図
【図５】本発明の実施形態２における装置の落下中の状態を示す概略側断面図
【図６】本発明の実施形態２における装置の落下衝突時の概略側断面図
【図７】従来のノート型パソコンの磁気記録再生装置の緩衝構造を示す側断面図
【符号の説明】
１ 筐体
２ 弾性部材
３ 磁気記録再生装置
４ 机面
５ 軸
６ バッテリ
７ ディスプレイ
８ キーボード
９ コイルバネ
１０ 床面[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer, which is designed to reduce fatigue when inputting for a long time and prevent damage to a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus when dropped.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Notebook-type personal computers represented by portable information processing devices are equipped with a magnetic recording / reproducing device (HDD). If the HDD is damaged by a shock at the time of dropping, the stored data cannot be reproduced. Can not be recorded. Therefore, when designing a notebook computer, it is especially important to ensure the shock resistance of the HDD.
FIG. 7 shows an example of a shock-resistant structure of an HDD of a conventional notebook personal computer.Reference numeral 20 denotes an HDD, andreference numeral 21 denotes a cushioning material arranged around theHDD 20, which is mainly made of a foam material or a gel material. As described above, conventionally, thecushioning material 21 is arranged around theHDD 20 so that the shock transmitted to thehousing 22 at the time of dropping is absorbed by the deformation of thecushioning member 21 and mitigated.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-277935
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The shock resistance limit of a typical 2.5-inch HDD mounted on a notebook computer is about 800 G when not operating, and it is necessary to reduce the shock value received by the HDD at the time of a drop collision to the above value or less. . In general, it is possible to increase the cushioning performance of an HDD by increasing the thickness of the cushioning material and increasing the amount of compression of the cushioning material. However, in recent years, it has become important to reduce the thickness of the housing from the viewpoint of improving portability. Therefore, the thickness of the cushioning material especially on the upper and lower surfaces of the HDD has to be reduced. However, if the cushioning material becomes thinner, the personal computer falls horizontally from the bottom surface, and when the bottom surface falls, sufficient cushioning performance cannot be obtained, and the HDD is easily damaged.
In addition, there is also a problem that, in a notebook computer of about B5 to A5 size, a portion (palm rest) for putting a hand at the time of key input is small or completely absent at all for key input, so that a long-time key input makes the hand tired. Was.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a portable information processing apparatus having an input means on an upper surface of a housing, wherein the elastic member is rotatably attached to the housing in a state of being biased by a spring force. Can be used as a palm rest at the time of key input, and at the time of non-use, that is, when there is no load, the elastic member is rotated by a spring force so as to be located at the lower part of the housing bottom, and functions as a cushioning material when falling. Things.
[0006]
Further, when the elastic member is made of a thin plate, a greater damping force can be obtained by attaching a slope to the elastic member so as to have a gap between the bottom surface of the housing and the elastic member when no load is applied.
[0007]
In addition, by using a foam member as the material of the elastic member, the rebound after compression deformation can be made smaller than that made of a metal member due to its viscous damping performance, and the impact force on the magnetic recording / reproducing device inside the housing is reduced. It is possible to do. Further, it is preferable that the elastic member has a shape in which the thickness is changed depending on the part.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0009]
(Embodiment 1)
1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view at the time of use, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part thereof, and FIG. is there. 1 is a housing of a portable information processing apparatus such as a notebook computer, 2 is an elastic member, 3 is a magnetic recording / reproducing device (HDD) mounted inside the front of thehousing 1, 4 is a desk surface, and 5 is anelastic member 2 , Which is rotatably mounted on thehousing 1, 6 is a battery for driving the device, 7 is a display, which is rotatably mounted on thehousing 1, and 8 is a keyboard which is arranged on the rear upper surface of thehousing 1. It is.
[0010]
Theelastic member 2 is made of a thin plate member in the gentledogleg shape, the tip portion of thearm 2a of the opposite ends thereof pivotally attached to the front side of thehousing 1 and the shaft in thehousing 1 Theelastic member 2 is urged in a direction indicated by an arrow P, that is, in a counterclockwise direction.
[0011]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, when the apparatus is used, theelastic member 2 is rotated forward of thehousing 1 against the urging force of the coil spring 9 so that the distal end portion is in contact with thedesk surface 4. Thereby, theelastic member 2 can be used as a palm rest. Therefore, the area of the palm rest can be enlarged in a notebook computer with a small area, and it is possible to reduce the fatigue of the arm when inputting for a long time.
Next, for example, when thecasing 1 falls from thedesk surface 4 to thefloor 10 or the like, theelastic member 2 rotates counterclockwise by the spring force of the coil spring 9 during the fall, and wraparound to the bottom portion, so that theelastic member 2 to be located under the HDD3, impact on HDD3 by theKu-shaped elastic deformation of theelastic member 2 as shown in FIG. 3 is reduced.
Further, by providing a space between theelastic member 2 and the bottom surface of thehousing 1 in a state where theelastic member 2 is pivoted to the bottom surface of thehousing 1, the buffer stroke can be increased, and the buffer performance can be improved. Can be enhanced. Furthermore, since theelastic member 2 is in a state of wrapping around the bottom surface of thehousing 1 when being carried, the portability is not significantly impaired.
As theelastic member 2, a foam member such as urethane or a rubber member which can cause a large deformation upon impact and reduce the rebound coefficient upon rebound is suitable.
(Embodiment 2)
4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic side sectional view in use, FIG. 5 is a schematic side sectional view showing a state of falling, and FIG. It is an outline side sectional view. In these drawings, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0012]
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that theelastic member 2 is formed of a substantially triangular thick solid firing member, and the lower end of the base of theelastic member 2 is located at the lower front part of thehousing 1. Is rotatably mounted on ashaft 5. It is the same that theelastic member 2 is urged in the direction of arrow P by a coil spring (not shown) fitted to theshaft 5.
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, at the time of use, theelastic member 2 receives a force against the spring force from thedesk surface 4 and is located on thedesk surface 4, so that it can be used as a palm rest. If it falls, theelastic member 2 instantaneously rotates in the direction of arrow P as shown in FIG. Then, when theelastic member 2 falls on thefloor surface 10, as shown in FIG. 6, theelastic member 2 wraps around the bottom of thehousing 1 and is elastically deformed by an impact force to reduce the impact applied to theHDD 3.
In addition, by making the elastic member have a shape having an inclined surface as in the present configuration, it is possible to have an impact with a smaller contact area at the initial stage of the collision than a case where there is no such inclined surface and a large flat surface collides with the floor surface at a time. Due to the force applied, the surface pressure increases, causing large compressive deformation, so that a large cushioning performance can be obtained.
Also in the second embodiment, as theelastic member 2, a foamable member or a rubber member which causes a large deformation upon impact and has a small rebound coefficient upon rebound is suitable.
As described above, in any of the configurations, it is possible to increase the buffering performance of the HDD without increasing the thickness of the cushioning material inside the housing, that is, without increasing the thickness of the housing. Because the palm rest, which had a small area, can be expanded, fatigue during long-time input can be reduced.
Theelastic member 2 can be detachably attached to thehousing 1. The elastic member may be detached from the housing when the device is not used, and the elastic member may be attached to the housing only when the device is used.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the elastic member is rotatably attached to the housing in a state where the elastic member is urged by the spring force, and the elastic member is used as a palm rest. It can alleviate fatigue, and in the event of a fall, it serves as a cushioning material to reduce the impact on the inside of the device in the event of a collision, thus preventing damage to the components of the device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a device according to a first embodiment of the present invention in use; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view at the time of a drop collision. FIG. 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view at the time of using the device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a device according to a second embodiment of the present invention at the time of a drop collision. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a buffer structure of a magnetic recording / reproducing device of a conventional notebook personal computer. ]
DESCRIPTION OFSYMBOLS 1Housing 2Elastic member 3 Magnetic recording / reproducingapparatus 4Desk surface 5Axis 6Battery 7Display 8 Keyboard 9Coil spring 10 Floor surface
