JP2005109672

Patent Translate
Powered by EPO and Google
Notice
This translation is machine-generated. It cannot be guaranteed that it is intelligible, accurate,
complete, reliable or fit for specific purposes. Critical decisions, such as commercially relevant or
financial decisions, should not be based on machine-translation output.
DESCRIPTION JP2005109672
The present invention provides an electronic device in which the directivity of sound emitted
from a speaker is good. A keyboard is provided to be exposed to the outside of a housing. A palm
rest 24 is provided on the near side of the keyboard 23 of the outer surface 31 of the housing
20. The speaker accommodating portion 40 is provided in an area of the outer surface 31 of the
housing 20 located on the side of the keyboard 23 and the palm rest 24. A speaker unit 50
having a speaker 51 is provided in the housing 20 so as to be rotatable between a housing
position in which the speaker unit 50 is folded so as to be housed in the speaker housing unit 40
and an upright position projecting from the speaker housing unit 40. [Selected figure] Figure 3
Electronics
[0001]
The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a portable computer equipped with
a speaker.
[0002]
Some electronic devices such as portable computers have speakers.
As such an electronic device, there is known one in which a storage portion for storing a speaker
unit portion is provided inside the main body. The storage portion is provided so as to be open to
the front, and a hinge unit portion is accommodated therein so as to be freely inserted and
10-05-2019
1
removed therein. The speaker unit is connected to the hinge unit by a hinge mechanism. In the
state where the speaker unit portion is stored in the storage portion, the sound is emitted from
the opening provided on the side of the main body. When the speaker unit portion is pulled
forward from the storage portion, sound is emitted toward the top surface. The speaker unit
portion can be adjusted in angle so that it turns to 90 degrees from the state facing the top
surface and turns to the front (the tip end faces downward) after being pulled out from the
storage portion.
[0003]
In addition, as an electronic device in which a storage unit for storing the speaker unit portion is
provided inside the main body, it is known that the speaker unit portion is housed in the main
body so that it can be pulled out laterally from the main body. It is done. The speaker unit
portion is housed in the main body in a posture in which the sound emitting portion for emitting
the sound emitted from the speaker is directed to the top surface direction. The speaker unit
portion can be adjusted in angle in the front-rear direction after being pulled out laterally from
the storage portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
Furthermore, as a portable electronic device configured to rotate the display unit with respect to
the base unit, one provided with a speaker assembly is known. In the base portion, a substantially
quarter-circle shaped speaker assembly is housed in the base portion in a posture in which the
sound output portion is directed to the side. The speaker assembly is pivotable in a direction
projecting laterally from within the base portion. That is, by rotating the speaker assembly, it is
possible to turn the sound emitting portion forward.
[0005]
Further, as a portable electronic device in which the display unit is configured to pivot with
respect to the base unit by the hinge unit, one in which a speaker assembly is provided in the
hinge unit is known. The hinge portion has a central region, a left region, and a right region. The
display unit and the base unit are connected at a central region of the hinge unit. The pair of
speaker assemblies has wings and a tube. A speaker is provided on the wing. These speaker
assemblies are provided in the right side area and the left side area. The speaker assembly is
10-05-2019
2
disposed at the rear end of the portable electronic device such that the outer edge thereof is
flush with the outer shape of the portable electronic device in the normal position. Alternatively,
in the normal position, the speaker assembly is housed in the cutout portion provided in the
display unit such that the outer edge thereof is flush with the outer shape of the portable
electronic device. These loudspeaker assemblies can be deployed in a deployed position such that
they are disposed to the side of the electronic device. Further, these speaker assemblies are
rotatable around the tube portion at the above-mentioned deployed position (see, for example,
Patent Document 2). JP 2000-172373 A (paragraphs 0017 to 0022, FIGS. 2 to 5) US Pat. No.
6,078,497 (columns 3 to 6; FIGS. 4, 6 and 10)
[0006]
By the way, in general, the operator operates the electronic device in a posture in which the main
body (base portion) is slightly looking down from the front upper side. Therefore, in order to
transmit the sound from the speaker unit (speaker assembly) well to the operator, the sound is
emitted close to the operator and toward the ear of the operator (forward upward). Preferably,
the speaker unit can be arranged on the main body.
[0007]
However, in the electronic device (the technique described in Patent Document 1) in which the
speaker unit portion is pulled forward from the inside of the main body, the speaker unit portion
is stored in the storage portion (a sound is emitted from the side of the main body) The voice
operator because it is used either in a state where it faces the sky (a voice is emitted in the sky
direction) or a state where it faces the front (a voice is emitted in the front direction) The
directionality against is not very good.
[0008]
Further, in the electronic device in which the speaker unit portion is pulled out laterally from the
inside of the main body (the technology described in Patent Document 1), the speaker unit
portion has the front edge portion from the state where the sound emitting portion faces the top
surface direction. It can be turned only between the state in which it abuts on the mounting
surface of the main body.
Therefore, it is difficult to emit sound emitted from the speaker unit toward the operator.
10-05-2019
3
[0009]
Furthermore, in the portable electronic device (the technique described in Patent Document 2) in
which the substantially quarter-circle shaped speaker assembly is pivoted in the direction in
which the speaker assembly protrudes laterally from the inside of the base portion, the sound
from the speaker is directed to the side. It will be used in the state of being emitted, or in the
state of being emitted forward. Therefore, the directivity of the voice to the operator is not very
good.
[0010]
In the portable electronic device in which the speaker assembly is provided in the hinge portion
(the technique described in Patent Document 2), the display unit and the base portion are
connected only in the central region where the hinge portion is provided. There is a problem that
the load on the central area is increased.
[0011]
The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present
invention is to provide an electronic device in which the directivity of the sound emitted from the
speaker is good.
[0012]
An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a case having an
outer surface, a keyboard exposed to the outside of the case and provided on the case, and the
keyboard of the outer surface of the case. It has a palm rest provided on the hand side, a speaker
housing portion provided in an area located on the side of the keyboard and the palm rest of the
outer surface of the housing, and a speaker, and is housed in the speaker housing portion And a
speaker unit provided in the housing so as to be rotatable between a housing position in which
the housing is turned down and an upright position which protrudes from the speaker housing.
[0013]
According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an electronic device in which the
directivity of the sound emitted from the speaker is good.
10-05-2019
4
[0014]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1
to 5 applied to a portable computer 1 as an electronic apparatus.
[0015]
FIG. 1 discloses a portable notebook computer 1.
The portable computer 1 includes a display unit 2 as a display unit and an apparatus body 3.
[0016]
The display unit 2 includes a liquid crystal display panel 11 as a display panel and a display
housing 12 made of resin.
As the liquid crystal display panel 11, a large-sized liquid crystal display panel having a display
screen 11a of 15 inches (diagonal length of about 38 cm) or more can be suitably used.
In the present embodiment, as the liquid crystal display panel 11, for example, one having a
display screen 11a of 17-inch type (diagonal length of about 43 cm) is used.
[0017]
The display housing 12 accommodates the liquid crystal display panel 11 in a state where the
display screen 11 a of the liquid crystal display panel 11 is exposed outward.
Specifically, the display housing 12 has a flat box shape having a front wall 13a, four peripheral
walls 13b to 13e, and a back wall 13f.
The front wall 13 a of the display housing 12 is provided with an opening 14 for exposing the
10-05-2019
5
display screen 11 a. The opening 14 has a size that covers most of the front wall 13 a, and the
display screen 11 a of the liquid crystal display panel 11 is exposed to the outside of the display
housing 12 through the opening 14. At one end portion of the display housing 12, a pair of leg
portions 15a and 15b are provided apart from each other in the width direction of the display
housing 12.
[0018]
The device body 3 has a casing 20 made of resin. The housing 20 has an upper wall 21a, a
bottom wall 21b, left and right side walls 21c and 21d, a front wall 21e, and a rear wall 21f, and
has a flat box shape. The outer surface of the bottom wall 21b is a mounting surface, and the
housing 20 can be installed on the mounting surface by facing the bottom wall 21b to a
mounting surface (not shown) such as a top plate of a desk, for example. is there.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper wall 21 a is provided with a keyboard attachment portion
22 at a substantially central position on the rear side, and the keyboard 23 is attached to the
keyboard attachment portion 22. Thus, the keyboard 23 is provided on the housing 20 so as to
be exposed to the outside of the housing 20.
[0020]
In addition, a palm rest 24 is provided in parallel with the keyboard 23 in an area of the outer
surface 31 of the upper wall 21 a located on the hand side (front end side) of the keyboard 23.
Hereinafter, among the areas located on the front end side of the keyboard 23 of the outer
surface 31 of the upper wall 21a, the area sandwiched by the line segments L1 and L2 formed by
extending the left and right side edges 22a and 22b of the keyboard attachment 22 forward It is
called palm rest 24 (see FIG. 2).
[0021]
By the way, in a portable computer provided with a relatively small liquid crystal display panel of
10-05-2019
6
less than 15 inches, the width of the case and the width of the keyboard are generally designed
to be substantially the same. That is, there are almost no surplus areas on both sides of the
keyboard.
[0022]
On the other hand, the portable computer 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a
relatively large 17-inch liquid crystal display panel 11 as a portable computer. Therefore, the
width of the case 20 is designed to be one size larger than the width of the keyboard 23.
Therefore, there are surplus areas where the keyboard attachment portion 22, the keyboard 23,
and the palm rest 24 are not provided on both sides of the keyboard 23 and the palm rest 24 in
the outer surface 24a of the upper wall 21a of the housing 20. Hereinafter, these surplus areas,
that is, an area sandwiched by the left edge 31a of the outer surface 31 of the upper wall 21a
and the line segment L1 and an area sandwiched by the right edge 31b of the outer surface 31 of
the upper wall and the line segment L2 are respectively It is called side 25a, 25b (see FIG. 2).
[0023]
The rear end portion of the housing 20 is provided with a pair of connection recesses 26 a and
26 b spaced apart in the width direction of the housing 20. The connection recesses 26 a and 26
b are formed by depressions opened upward and rearward of the housing 20. The legs 15a and
15b of the display housing 12 are respectively guided to the connection recesses 26a and 26b of
the housing 20, and are rotatably supported at the rear end of the housing 20 via hinge fittings
(not shown). ing.
[0024]
Therefore, the display unit 2 stands up so as to expose the keyboard 23, the palm rest 24 and the
side portions 25a and 25b, and the closed position in which the display unit 2 is flipped so as to
cover the keyboard 23, palm rest 24 and the side portions 25a and 25b from above. It is
connected to the housing 20 so as to be rotatable over the open position. In FIG. 1, the portable
computer 1 is shown in the open position.
[0025]
10-05-2019
7
The portable computer also includes a pair of speaker units 50. In order to accommodate the
speaker units 50, a pair of speaker accommodating portions 40 is provided on each side 25 a, 25
b of the housing 20.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, for example, the speaker housing portion 40 includes a bottom surface
41, and a pair of rising side surfaces 42a and 42b and a pair of rising end surfaces 43a and 43b
that rise upward so as to be continuous with the bottom surface 41. It can be a recess defined by
The speaker housing portion 40 is set to a size in which the speaker unit 50 is fitted. That is,
when the speaker unit 50 is housed in the speaker housing unit 40, the depth of the speaker
housing unit 40 is substantially flush with the outer surface of the housing 20 (the outer surface
31 of the upper wall 21a). It is set.
[0027]
A pair of hinge receivers 45 are provided on the pair of upstanding side surfaces 42 a and 42 b
so as to be closer to the front side. The pair of hinge receivers 45 are formed so as to engage
with the pair of hinges 58 of the speaker unit 50 described later.
[0028]
The outer surface 31 of the upper wall 21 a is provided with a finger hooking recess 44 at a
position corresponding to the speaker housing 40. The finger hook recess 44 is provided, for
example, to be continuous with the rear end surface 43 b of the speaker housing 40.
[0029]
In the housing 20, a speaker terminal (not shown) for electrically connecting a terminal 56a of
the speaker 51 described later with a power supply (not shown) is provided. An opening (not
shown) is provided on one of the rising side surfaces 42a and 42b of the speaker housing 40, for
10-05-2019
8
example, the rising side 42b, and the speaker terminal is exposed to the speaker housing 40 from
the opening. doing.
[0030]
By the way, in order to favorably transmit the sound from the speaker unit 50 to the operator, it
is preferable that the speaker 51 be disposed near the operator, that is, near the front side of the
housing 20. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the speaker housing portion 40 is provided
on the side of the palm rest 24.
[0031]
The speaker housing 40 may be provided on the side of the keyboard 23 when the speaker
housing 40 and the speaker unit 50 are likely to interfere with the keyboard operation.
Furthermore, the speaker housing portion 40 may be provided at the boundary between the side
of the keyboard 23 and the side of the palm rest 24.
[0032]
The speaker unit 50 is unitized by including a speaker 51 and a housing 52 for housing the
speaker 51. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the housing 52 has an upper wall 53a, a lower wall 53b,
left and right side walls 53c, 53d, a front wall 53e, and a rear wall 53f to form a flat box shape. .
A corner formed by the upper wall 53a and the front wall 53e so as not to interfere with the
front end (the front end of the front end 43a or the bottom 41) of the speaker housing 40 when
the speaker unit 50 is rotated. The corner formed by the lower wall 53b and the front wall 53e is
rounded over the entire width of the front wall 53e.
[0033]
The speaker 51 is housed in the housing 52. An opening 57 is formed on the lower wall 53b so
as to be close to the front wall 53e, and the wire 56 extending from the speaker 51 extends
outward of the housing 52 through the opening 57. A terminal 56a is provided at the tip of the
wiring 56 (see FIG. 4).
10-05-2019
9
[0034]
In the upper wall 53 a of the housing 52, an opening 54 having a substantially elliptical shape is
formed. The opening 54 is a sound emitting unit that emits the sound emitted from the speaker
51. The mesh member 55 is fitted in the opening 54 (see FIGS. 1 to 3).
[0035]
Both side walls 53 c. A pair of hinges 58 are provided on the 53d so as to be able to protrude
and retract. Specifically, the side walls 53c and 53d of the housing 52 are provided with a pair of
openings 59 (only one is shown) close to the front wall 53e. The pair of hinges 58 is biased by a
spring member (not shown) in the direction of projecting laterally of the housing 52, and
protrudes laterally of the housing 52 through the opening 59 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). ).
[0036]
The hinge 58 may not necessarily protrude and retract relative to the housing 52. For example,
the hinge 58 provided in the speaker unit 50 may be fitted to the hinge receiver 45 while
elastically deforming the housing 20 or the hinge 58 itself.
[0037]
The speaker unit 50 is attached to the housing 10 as follows. First, the terminal 56a of the wiring
56 extending from the speaker 51 is electrically connected to the speaker terminal. In a state
where the hinge 58 is pushed into the housing 52 and the lower wall 53a of the speaker unit 50
is directed downward (the opening 54 as the sound emitting portion is directed upward), the
speaker unit 50 is in the speaker housing 40 Put in When the speaker unit 50 is housed in the
housing 52 until the outer surface of the lower wall 53 a of the speaker unit 50 contacts the
bottom surface 41 of the housing 52, the hinge 58 faces the hinge receiver 45. The hinge 58
biased by the spring member projects from the housing 52 and engages with the hinge receiver
45 when facing the hinge receiver 45.
10-05-2019
10
[0038]
Thus, the speaker unit 50 is rotatably supported by the housing 20. Then, a storage position (see
FIGS. 1 and 2) to be folded to be housed in the speaker housing 40 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and an
upright position (protruding from the speaker housing 40 to stand on the outer surface 31 of the
housing 30). 3 and 5)). Further, the depth of the speaker housing portion 40 is designed so that
the speaker unit 50 is flush with the outer surface 31 of the housing 10 when the speaker unit
50 is housed in the speaker housing portion 40. Therefore, the speaker unit 50 is housed in the
speaker housing portion 40 so as to be flush with the outer surface 31 of the housing 20 at the
housing position.
[0039]
When listening to the voice on the portable computer 1, the following may be performed.
[0040]
As mentioned above, the hinge 58 is fitted on the hinge receiver 45 and the claw.
Therefore, the speaker unit 50 is fixed between the accommodation position and the standing
position by the frictional force between the hinge 58 and the hinge receiver 45 regardless of any
inclination. That is, the angle between the speaker unit 50 and the outer surface 31 of the upper
wall 21 a of the housing 20 can be adjusted steplessly.
[0041]
Therefore, when it is desired to hear the sound from the speaker 51 in a state of good directivity,
a finger is placed on the finger hook portion 44 to make the speaker unit 50 desired for the
outer surface 31 of the upper wall 21a of the housing 20. You just have to start up so that it
becomes an angle.
[0042]
Further, the speaker unit 50 has an opening 54 as a sound emitting portion in the upper wall 53
10-05-2019
11
a of the housing 52.
That is, the opening 54 is provided at a portion of the housing 20 exposed outward of the
housing position.
[0043]
Therefore, when the speaker unit 50 is not desired to be protruded from the housing 20, the
speaker unit 50 may be set at the housing position, and the sound emitted from the speaker 51
can be favorably heard even at the housing position. . Moreover, since the speaker unit 50 is
housed in the speaker housing portion 40 so as to be flush with the outer surface 31 of the
housing 20 at the housing position described above, the speaker unit 50 is unlikely to disturb the
operation of the keyboard 23.
[0044]
As described above, according to the portable computer of the present embodiment, the speaker
accommodating portion 40 is the side of the keyboard 23 and the palm rest 24 of the outer
surface 31 of the housing 20 (the outer surface 31 of the upper wall 21a, ie, the upper surface).
So that the speaker unit 50 can be pivoted freely between a storage position where the speaker
unit 50 is folded so as to be stored in the speaker storage unit 40 and an upright position which
protrudes from the speaker storage unit 40. , And the housing 20. Therefore, according to the
present embodiment, the portable computer 1 having good directivity of the sound emitted from
the speaker 51 can be obtained.
[0045]
Further, since the speaker unit 50 is provided so as to adjust the angle with the outer surface 31
of the housing 20, it can be adjusted to emit the sound emitted from the speaker 51 in a desired
direction.
[0046]
Furthermore, a pair of hinges 58 is provided on the pair of side walls 5ac and 53d of the speaker
unit, and a pair of hinge receivers 45 for receiving the pair of hinges 58 is provided on the pair
of upright side surfaces 42a and 42b of the speaker housing 40 Thus, the speaker unit 50 can be
10-05-2019
12
pivoted between the accommodated position and the upright position with a simple
configuration.
[0047]
Further, the speaker unit 50 has an opening 54 as a sound emitting unit for emitting the sound
emitted from the speaker 51 at a portion exposed to the outside of the housing 20 at the housing
position.
Therefore, the sound from the speaker can be favorably emitted to the outside of the housing 20
also at the above-mentioned accommodation position.
[0048]
Furthermore, the speaker housing portion 40 is provided in the area located on the side of the
palm rest 24, that is, the speaker 51 is disposed close to the front side of the housing 20.
Therefore, the sound emitted from the speaker 51 can be transmitted to the front side (operator
side) better.
[0049]
Further, the outer surface 31 of the housing 20 has, at a position corresponding to the speaker
housing portion 40, a finger hooking recess 44 for putting a finger on the speaker unit 50 when
the speaker unit 50 is rotated. Therefore, the speaker unit 50 can be easily pivoted to the upright
position.
[0050]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without
saying that the present invention can be practiced in various forms without departing from the
scope of the present invention.
10-05-2019
13
[0051]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable computer according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view showing an apparatus main body of the portable computer of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is
a perspective view of a part of an apparatus main body included in the portable computer of FIG.
The disassembled perspective view which shows the apparatus main body and speaker unit with
which the portable computer of FIG. 1 is provided. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of an
apparatus main body included in the portable computer of FIG.
Explanation of sign
[0052]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic apparatus (portable computer), 2 ... Display part
(display unit), 20 ... housing ¦ casing, 23 ... keyboard, 24 ... palm rest, 40 ... speaker
accommodating part, 42a, 42b ... standing side, 44 ... finger hook recessed part, 45 ... Hinge
holder, 50 ... Speaker unit, 51 ... Speaker, 53a, 53d ... Side wall, 54 ... Sound emission part
(opening part) 58 ... Hinge
10-05-2019
14

Download Report