Portable Apparatus Having a Voltage Converter Unit Removable From a Base Unit Having a Removable Display Unit

1. Field of the invention

This invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus such as computers or word processors of the lap-top type, etc., and more particularly to a portable electronic apparatus having a flat panel display unit removably attached thereto.

2. Description of the related art

In recent years, portable computers or portable word processors of the lap-top type, etc. having a flat panel display unit have been popularized.

Among such lap-top portable electronic apparatus, there have appeared portable electronic devices constructed so that a low voltage driven LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) unit of a flat panel display unit is detachable or demountable form the body as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,364. In such display removably attached portable electronic devices, a connector on the body side for electrically connecting the body and the LCD unit is provided in a socket rotatable relative to the body. When the LCD unit is mechanically connected to the socket, it can be rotated, by the rotational operation of the socket, between the position where the keyboard is covered and the position where an operation is made by an operator. With these display detachable portable electronic devices, when the LCD unit is detached from the body and the body and a cathode ray tube (CRT) display are electrically connected, a display on the CRT can be conducted. Accordingly, when such display removably attached portable electronic apparatus is employed, operations of plural kinds of displays can be carried out with a single body in a manner that the LCD unit is used when there is a need to frequently carry about the body, and that a CRT display is used when a user wished to look at the pictorial image by a color display.

Since the display removably attached portable electronic apparatus of the structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,364 is such that the connector on the body side is provided within the rotatable socket, it has the following drawbacks. First, since the rotatable socket unnecessary in itself still remains within the body after the LCD has been actually removed therefrom, the socket is cumbersome when a user effects displaying using a CRT, or when carrying about the body from which LCD has been removed. Secondly, since it is required that a signal cable for electrically connecting the connector and a central processing unit (CPU) provided in the body and/or a power supply cable for delivering a power from the body to the LCD unit are disposed within the rotary shaft between the socket and the body, producibility is poor at the time of assembling the apparatus. Thirdly, if a unit using a high power supply voltage of the order of 200 volts such as a plasma display is used as a flat panel display unit, such a high power supply voltage is delivered through the connector within the socket and there might occur a danger such that an operator receives an electric shock if his hands erroneously come into contact with the neighborhood of the socket. Fourthly, if a flat panel display unit of a high power supply voltage is used, such a high voltage is delivered to the connector and this high voltage is instantaneously entered into the display unit or is cut off from the display unit at the time of attachment and/or detachment of the display unit, rendering a great electric shock to the body or the display.

This invention has been made in order to improve the above-mentioned problems.

A first object of this invention is to provide a portable electronic apparatus such that no unnecessary portion remains in the body when the flat panel display is detached therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display removably attached portable electronic apparatus having a good producibility at the time of assembling.

A further object of this invention is to provide a display removably attached portable electronic apparatus having less danger of electric shock even when the apparatus is of the type using a flat panel display unit of a high power supply voltage.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a display removably attached electronic apparatus constructed so that a less electric shock is applied to the body or the display unit at the time of fitting the display unit into the body and detaching it therefrom.

To achieve the above objects, a portable electronic apparatus according to this invention comprises a body, a display unit, rotation means and connecting means. The body includes a keyboard, a main power supply for supplying a voltage, a first connector electrically connected to the main power supply and a top cover having a connector hole for exposing the first connector. The display unit includes a second connector electrically and mechanically connected to the first connector and a flat panel display to which is supplied the voltage from the main power supply through the first connector and the second connector. The rotation means rotates the display unit between a first position for covering the keyboard and a second position for operating the keyboard. The connecting means engages to the rotation means and mechanically connects the display unit to the body in a third position and releases the engagement and mechanical connection between the display unit and the body in a forth position.

As constructed above, this invention can provide a portable electronic apparatus which has a good carrying ability and portability when the display unit is detached from the body, which is excellent in producibility of the apparatus, and which has less chance of electric shock to the operator and less actual shock to the apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a front and perspective view wherein a display unit of a portable computer to which this invention is applied is in a closed state on the body,

FIG. 2 is a front and perspective view of a portable computer in which the display unit is in an opened state,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a top cover,

FIG. 4 is a front and perspective view of a portable computer in which the display unit is detached from the body,

FIG. 5 is and exploded and enlarged view of an attachment portion of the display unit and the body,

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IV--IV of FIG. 2,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a slide guide unit,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a slide piece,

FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic views for explaining the operation of the slide piece in the slide guide unit, respectively,

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IX--IX of FIG. 2,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a rotary shaft,

FIG. 13 is a schematic view for explaining the state where the slide piece shown in FIG. 11 is drawn or pulled into the display unit, and

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of this invention.

A preferred embodiment according to this invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front and perspective view of a portable computer in which the display unit is closed on the body, and FIG. 2 is a front and perspective view of a portable computer in which the display unit is opened so that the keyboard is exposed.

The portable computer 1 includes a body 3, a display unit 5, and a voltage conversion unit 7 for converting a low voltage power to a high voltage power. The body 3 includes a base 9 and a top cover 11. The base 9 includes a keyboard 13 provided at the front portion thereof and a main power supply 14 for delivering a low voltage power provided at the rear portion thereof. The display unit 5 includes a back surface 15, plasma display 17 for displaying data thereon, a connection section 19 for mechanically and rotatably connecting the display unit 5 to the top cover 11 and the voltage conversion unit 7, a pair of latch pawls 21 for latching the display unit 5 onto the body 3, and a side cover 23 for covering a ga between the body 5 and the display unit 5 produced when the display unit 5 is closed on the body 3 so as to cover the keyboard 13.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top cover.

The top cover 11 includes a front top 25, a center top 27, and a rear top 29. A pair of latch grooves 31 for engaging the latch pawls 21 are formed at the front end portion of the front top 25, and an opening 33 for exposing the keyboard 13 is formed in the central portion thereof. A connector hole 35 for exposing a connector on the body side which will be described later is formed in the central portion of the center top 27. A mount surface 37 for mounting the voltage conversion unit 7 is formed on the rear end of the center top 27. In order that top portions of the rear top 29 and the voltage conversion unit 7 are substantially flush with each other when the voltage conversion unit 7 is connected onto the body 3, the mount surface 37 is formed to have a height lower than the center top 27 A screw hole 39 for fixing the voltage conversion unit 7 to the top cover 11 is formed in the central portion of the rear top 29. In order that the rear top 29 and the back surface 15 of the display unit 5 are substantially flush with each other when the display unit 5 is closed on the body so as to cover the keyboard 13, the rear top 29 is formed to have a height higher than those of the center top 27 and the front top 25. A pair of axial holes 43 for exposing a rotary shaft which will be described later are formed at an inside side surface 41 between the canter top 27 and the rear top 29.

FIG. 4 is a front and perspective view of a portable computer in which the display unit is detached from the body.

A connector 45 on the body side for electrically connecting the side of the body 3 and the side of the display unit 5 and the voltage conversion unit 7 is provided so that it is exposed from the connector hole 35. Rotary shafts 47 for rotating the display unit 5 between a first position where the keyboard 13 is covered and a second position for operating the portable computer 1 while looking at the plasma display 17 are provided so that they are exposed from the axial holes 43, respectively.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged and exploded view of the portion in the vicinity of the attachment of the display unit and the voltage conversion unit.

The connection section 19 of the display unit 5 includes a pair of outside side surfaces 49, a pair of inside side surfaces 51, and a front surface 53. Slide pawls 55 which engage the rotary shafts 47 to mechanically connect the display unit 5 and the body 3 are provided on the outside side surfaces 49, respectively. Circular holes 57 for rotatably connecting the display unit 5 and the voltage conversion unit 7 are provided at the inside side surfaces 51, respectively. A pair of L-shaped holes 59 are formed at the front surface 53. There are provided in the L-shaped holes slide knobs 61 connected to the slide pawls 55 for effecting a slide operation between a third position for allowing the slide pawls 55 to be projected from the outside side surfaces 49 to engage them with the rotary shafts 47 and a fourth position for allowing the slide pawls 55 to be drawn or pulled into the outside side surfaces 49 to release the engagement with the rotary shafts 47. The voltage conversion unit 7 includes a unit body 63, a cylindrical cable duct 65, a duct supporting portion 67 for connecting the cable duct 65 and the body 63, and a unit fixing portion 71 having a screw hole 69 formed therein, for fixing the voltage conversion unit 7 to the top cover 11. The cable duct 65 includes a pair of side surfaces 73, and a connector cover 75 for covering the connector on the side of the voltage conversion unit 7 which will be described later. These side surfaces 73 have cylindrical hinge portions 77 thereon, respectively. Further, circular holes 79 are formed in the respective hinge portions 77. A signal cable 81 for electrically connecting the CPU of the body 3 and the plasma display 19 and a power supply cable 83 for delivering a voltage from the voltage conversion unit 7 to the plasma display 19 are connected to the display unit 5 and the connector on the side of the voltage conversion unit 7, and the display unit 5 and the unit body 63 through the hole 57 of the connection section 19 and the hole 79 of the cable duct 65, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

A connector 85 on the side of the voltage conversion unit 7 is fixed to a connector holder 87 through a screw 89. The connector holder 87 is fixed within the cable duct 65 in a manner that it is put between an upper side column 91 projected from the inner wall of the cable duct 65 and a lower side table 93. The body side connector 45 is supported by a connector holder 95. The connector holder 95 is fixed to a housing within the base 9 through a screw 97. These connectors 85 and 45 are connected within the connector hole 35. Within the unit body 63 of the voltage conversion unit 7, there is provided a circuit board 107 including a converter circuit for converting, to a high voltage, a low voltage delivered from the main power supply 14 through a power supply cable 101, a circuit board 102, a signal and power supply cable 103, connectors 45 and 85, and a power supply cable 105. A voltage power converted by the converter circuit is delivered to the plasma display 17 through the power supply cable. A signal from the CPU within the base 9 is delivered to the plasma display 17 through the circuit board 102, the signal and power supply cable 103, the connectors 45 and 85, and the signal cable 81.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a slide guide unit provided within the connection section of the display unit, and FIG. 8 is a plan view of a slide shaft.

The slide guide unit 109 includes a unit body 111, a pair of slide shafts 113 having slide pawls 55 and slide knobs 61, coil springs 115 for applying a biasing force in an direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 9 to respective slide shafts 113. The unit body 111 includes a pair of spring fixing portions 117 for fixing one so the ends of the respective coil springs 115, and a pair of L-shaped holes 119 formed therein. Respective slide shafts 113 have a spring fixing portion 121 for fixing the other end of the coil spring 115, and includes the rectangular hole 119 for allowing the slide knobs 61 to be operative in a direction indicated by an arrow B. Each slide knob 61 is slidably fitted into the rectangular hole 119.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic diagrams for explaining the operation of the slide shaft of the slide guide unit, respectively.

FIG. 9 shows the state where the slide pawl 55 is projected from the outside side surface 49 of the connection section 19 to engage the rotary shaft 47. When the slide knob 61 is caused to be moved in a direction as indicated by an arrow C against the biasing force of the coil spring 115 in a direction as indicated an arrow A from the state shown in FIG. 9, the slide piece 113 is moved in a direction as indicated by an arrow D along a slide piece guide 118 as shown in FIG. 10, so that the coil spring 115 is contracted. FIG. 10 shows the state where the slide pawl 55 is drawn or pulled into the outside side surface 49 of the connection section 19, whereby an engagement between the slide pawl 55 and the rotary shaft 47 is released. In the state shown in FIG. 10, the slide piece 113 undergoes a biasing force in the direction as indicated by arrow A by the action of the coil spring 115. However, the operation in the direction indicated by arrow A of the slide piece 113 is restricted or limited as a result of the fact that the slide knob 61 comes into contact with the side surface 123 of the L-shaped hole 119. By operating the slide knob 61 in a direction as indicated by an arrow E, such a restriction is released, so that the slide piece 113 returns to the state shown in FIG. 9 by the action of the coil spring 115.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IX--IX of FIG. 2.

When restriction of the slide knob 61 is released, the slide pawl 55 is projected from the outside side surface 49 of the connection section 19 to engage an insertion hole 124 of the rotary shaft 47. By the engagement with the rotary shaft 47 of the slide pawl 55, the display unit 5 is mechanically connected to the body 3, and the display unit 5 can be rotated, by the action of the rotary shaft 47, between the first position where the keyboard 13 of the body 3 is covered and a second position for operating the portable computer 1 while looking at the plasma display 17.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the rotary shaft 47.

The rotary shaft 47 includes a shaft body 125 in which an insertion hole 124 is formed, a shaft holder 127 for fixing the rotary shaft 47 to the top cover 11, a coil spring 129 wound on the shaft body 125, a stopper 131 of the coil spring 129. By the action of the coil spring 129, the display unit 5 is fixed at an arbitrary position between the first and second positions.

FIG. 13 shows the state where the slide pawl 55 is drawn or pulled into the outside side surface 49 of the connection section 19.

Since the engagement between the slide pawl 55 and the rotary shaft 47 is released in the state shown in FIG. 13, mechanical connection between the display unit 5 and the body 3 is released. Thus, when an operator pulls or draws up the display unit 5 in a direction indicated by an arrow F, the display unit 5 can be detached from the body. When the display unit 5 is pulled up in the direction indicated by arrow F, connection between the connectors 45 and 85 is released, and electrical connection between the display unit 5 and the body 3 is also released.

A method for operation of a portable computer of this embodiment will be described.

In the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slide pawls 55 are inserted into the insertion holes 124 of the rotary shafts 47. Accordingly, the slide pawls 55 and the rotary shafts 47 engage each other, and the display unit 5 is mechanically engaged with the body 3. The connector 85 is connected to the connector 45, and the display unit 5 is electrically connected to the body 3. The voltage conversion unit 7 is fixed on the top cover 11 of the body 3 by a screw 16. In addition, the latch pawls 21 are engaged with an opening 33 in the state shown in FIG. 1.

In the state shown in FIG. 1, the display unit 5 is folded so as to cover the keyboard 13, and the portable computer 1 is substantially in the form of an attache case.

In the state shown in FIG. 1, when an operator releases the engagement of the latch pawl 21, the display unit 5 can be rotated relative to the body 3 and the voltage conversion unit 7, by the action of the rotary shafts 47, between the first position where the display unit 5 covers the keyboard 13, which is shown in FIG. 1, and the second position for operating the portable computer 1 while looking at the plasma display 17, which is shown in FIG. 2. The display unit 5 can be set to have an arbitrary angle between the first and second positions by the action of the coil springs 129 of the rotary shafts 47.

When an operator turns on the switch of the main power supply 14 of the body 1 in the state shown in FIG. 2, a low voltage of 5 volts is delivered to respective electronic parts within the base 9 through the power supply cable 101. Further, this low voltage of 5 volts is also delivered to the converter circuit provided on the circuit board 107 through the power supply cable 101, the signal and power supply cable 103, the connectors 45 and 85, and the power supply cable 105. The converter circuit converts the low voltage of 5 volts to a high voltage of 200 volts. The high voltage of 200 volts thus obtained is delivered to the plasma display 17 through the power supply cable 83.

When the operator slides the slide knob 61 from the third position shown in FIG. 9 to the fourth position shown in FIG. 10 in the state as shown in FIG. 2, the slide pawls 55 which have been engaged into the insertion holes 124 of the rotary shafts 47 until now are in turn drawn or pulled into the connection section 19. Thus, the engagement between the slide pawls 55 and the rotary shafts 47 is released. As a result of the fact that the engagement between the slide pawls 55 and the rotary shafts has been released, the mechanical engagement between the display unit 7 and the body 3 is released. When the operator removes the screw 16, the mechanical connection between the voltage conversion unit 7 and the body 3 is released. When the operator pulls or draws up the display unit 5 in an upward direction after the mechanical engagement between the display unit 7 and the body 3 and the mechanical connection therebetween have been released, the display unit 5 and the voltage conversion unit 7 are removed from the body 3 as shown in FIG. 4.

When a connector for a CRT is connected to the connector for the CRT provided on the rear end of the body 3 under the state where the display unit 5 and the voltage conversion unit 7 have been detached from the body 3 as shown in FIG. 4, body 3 enables CRT display thereon.

In the case of reattaching, to the body 3, the display unit 5 and the voltage conversion unit 7 which have been detached from the body 3, this may be attained by carrying out, by a procedure opposite thereto, the operations which have been described above.

The portable computer of this embodiment is such that the body from which the display unit and the voltage conversion unit have been detached has no movable part such as a rotary socket, etc. Accordingly, this results in an excellent carrying ability of portability when an operator carries about the body from which the display unit and the voltage conversion unit have been detached. Further, since there is no unnecessary protruded portion such as a rotary socket, the field of view is satisfactory when an operator carries out CRT display by using the body from which the display unit and the voltage conversion unit have been detached.

The portable computer of this embodiment is constituted so that the connector for electrically connecting the display unit and the body is provided separately from the portion where the display unit and the body are hinged. Accordingly, since the hinged portion can be made small in configuration, a small portable computer may be realized.

Further, the portable computer of this embodiment is constituted so that the cable for electrically connecting the display unit and the body is arranged at a portion except for the hinged portion. Accordingly, the hinged portion can be made small and the dimension of the portion for arrangement of cable can be arbitrarily selected, resulting in improved producibility of a portable computer.

Furthermore, the portable computer of this embodiment is constituted so that the voltage conversion unit for converting a low voltage to a high voltage is provided not on the body side but on the display unit side. Accordingly, since any high voltage is applied to the connector, no electric shock is applied to the body and/or the display unit when the display unit is fitted into the body and is detached therefrom. In addition, even if an operator erroneously comes into contact with a portion in the vicinity of the connector, there is no possibility that he experiences an electric shock.

It is to be noted that this invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, when there is employed an arrangement such that rotary shaft 47 is provided on the side of the display unit 5 and that slide pawl 55 is provided on the side of the body 3, advantages similar to the above may be obtained. In addition, when there is employed an arrangement such that voltage conversion unit 7 is provided within display unit 5, advantages similar to the above may be obtained.