Information processing device

Abstract

To provide an information processing device with a structure capable of being made thin so as to be compatible with thickness standards while increasing a screen-to-body ratio.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes a main unit and a display unit. The main unit includes a first surface and a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface. The display unit includes a third surface and a fourth surface on the opposite side of the third surface. In a closed state posture, the main unit and the display unit are divided into a first region, a second region, and a third region in order from a front edge part. In the first region, the second surface of the main unit is formed as a first flat surface, and the fourth surface of the display unit is formed as a first inclined surface. In the second region, the second surface of the main unit is formed as a second inclined surface, and the fourth surface of the display unit is formed as a third inclined surface. In the third region, the second surface of the main unit is formed as a second flat surface, and the fourth surface of the display unit is formed as a third flat surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] A notebook-type personal computer, or so-called notebook computer, is known as one type of information processing device. A notebook computer has, for example, a main unit that houses an information processing unit and a display unit configured with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, connected by a hinge. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-149049 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned notebook computers, attempts are being made to improve the product value by increasing the screen occupancy rate, which indicates the ratio of the display area (liquid crystal area) to the external size of the display unit, and expanding the display area. For example, by changing the aspect ratio from the conventional 16:9 to 16:10, the external size may remain the same, and the display area may be expanded to improve the display quality as one of the product's features. In this case, if the entire external size is used as the display area, the control board for controlling the display unit may be stacked on the back side (back cover side) of the display unit, for example, which may increase the thickness of the display unit. Various standards are set for notebook computers, and standards regarding the thickness of the device are also set. Therefore, there is a problem that in order to promote the product as meeting the thickness standard while improving the screen occupancy as one of its features, it is necessary to make the device thinner.

[0005] Therefore, one example of a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an information processing device having a structure that allows the device to be made thinner so as to comply with thickness standards while improving the screen occupancy rate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a main unit having an input device provided on a first surface and a lower case provided on a second surface opposite to the first surface, a display unit having a display portion provided on a third surface extending to a peripheral portion of the third surface and a back cover provided on a fourth surface opposite to the third surface, and a hinge portion connecting an edge of the main unit and an edge of the display unit and capable of assuming a closed state in which the first surface and the third surface face each other and an open state in which the first surface and the third surface are spaced apart, wherein in the closed state, the main unit and the display unit are divided into a first region, a second region, and a third region in that order from a front edge opposite to the edge where the hinge portion is provided toward the edge, and in the first region, the main unit has a battery storage section therein, and the second surface is a display unit having a display portion provided on a third surface opposite to the third surface and a back cover provided on a fourth surface opposite to the third surface. the display unit is formed as a first flat plane parallel to the installation surface on which it is installed, and the fourth surface is formed as a first inclined surface such that the thickness of the display unit decreases toward the front edge portion; in the second region, the second surface is connected to the first flat plane and formed as a second inclined surface parallel to the first inclined surface and moving away from the installation surface toward the edge portion; the fourth surface is connected to the first inclined surface and formed as a third inclined surface that maintains the inclined state of the first inclined surface; in the third region, the display unit is stored in a state in which a control board of the display unit is stacked on the fourth surface side of the display unit, and the second surface is connected to the second inclined surface and formed as a second flat plane parallel to the installation surface, and the fourth surface is connected to the third inclined surface and formed as a third flat plane parallel to the installation surface.

[0007] Furthermore, the second flat surface may be provided with, for example, an air intake port for drawing in air for cooling the main body unit. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the above-described aspects of the present invention, an information processing device can be provided that has a structure that allows it to be made thin so as to comply with thickness standards by improving the screen occupancy rate while adjusting the relationship between the external surfaces of the main unit and the display unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic perspective view showing an external appearance as viewed from the display unit side (back cover side) when a main unit and a display unit of an information processing device according to an embodiment are in a closed state posture. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic perspective view showing an external appearance seen from the main unit side (lower case side) when the main unit and the display unit of the information processing device according to the embodiment are in a closed state posture. [Diagram 3] Figure 3 is a cross-section of the information processing device shown in Figure 1 taken along line AA, and is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view showing the divided areas for the main unit and display unit and the external surface state of each area relative to the installation surface. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exemplary schematic image diagram that shows a simplified version of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are disclosed below. The configurations of the embodiments described below, as well as the actions, results, and effects brought about by the configurations, are merely examples. The present invention can be realized with configurations other than those disclosed in the following embodiments, and it is possible to obtain at least one of various effects based on the basic configuration and derivative effects.

[0011] Fig. 1 is an exemplary and schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an information processing device 10 according to an embodiment when the main unit 12 and the display unit 14 are in a closed state, as viewed from the display unit 14 side (the back cover 14a side). Fig. 2 is an exemplary and schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an information processing device 10 when the main unit 12 and the display unit 14 are in a closed state, as viewed from the main unit 12 side (the lower case 12a side). Fig. 3 is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the information processing device 10 shown in Fig. 1 taken along line AA, and showing regions divided into the main unit 12 and the display unit 14 and the state of the outer surface of each region relative to the installation surface G (see Fig. 3).

[0012] In this embodiment, for convenience, the direction of the arrow X1-X2 in the figure will be described as the width direction (longitudinal direction) of the information processing device 10, the direction of the arrow Y1-Y2 in the figure as the depth direction (shortitudinal direction) of the information processing device 10, and the direction of the arrow Z1-Z1 in the figure as the thickness direction of the information processing device 10.

[0013] The information processing device 10 is, for example, a widely used portable personal computer (a so-called notebook computer). The information processing device 10 has a main unit 12 and a display unit 14 connected via a hinge portion 16 so as to be openable and closable.

[0014] When a user faces the main unit 12 to use the information processing device 10, the hinge portion 16 is provided in a part of a rear edge portion 20 (also simply referred to as an edge portion) that extends in the width direction (arrow X1-X2 direction) on the rear side (arrow Y2 side) of the main unit 12 relative to a front edge portion 18 that extends in the width direction (longitudinal direction) of the main unit 12 in the arrow X1-X2 direction on the front side (arrow Y1 side). The hinge portion 16 is arranged in two places, for example, near the left and right ends of the rear edge portion 20 in the width direction, and rotatably supports a part of the lower end frame portion of the display unit 14. When the information processing device 10 is used, the display unit 14 is opened relative to the main unit 12 to separate the input device 22 (e.g., keyboard, touch pad, etc.) arranged on the upper surface of the main unit 12 from the display portion 24 of the display unit 14, and the input device 22 and the display portion 24 of the display unit 14 are exposed to each other and can be put into a usable state (open state posture). Furthermore, when the information processing device 10 is not in use or is being carried, the display unit 14 can be closed relative to the main unit 12 to cover the input device 22 with the display section 24, thereby protecting both and making the information processing device 10 compact so that it is easy to store and carry (closed position). The main unit 12 and the display unit 14 are electrically connected via a hinge section 16.

[0015] 1 to 3 show a closed state in which the display unit 14 is rotated relative to the main unit 12 around the hinge portion 16 as a fulcrum and closed. The open state is not shown.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 3, the main unit 12 of the information processing device 10 has a first surface S1 having an input device 22, and a second surface S2 on the opposite side of the first surface S1 on which a lower case 12a is provided. Inside the main unit 12, various circuit boards such as a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a motherboard (M / B), and a daughterboard, a recording device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), a power supply unit, a communication unit, a cooling fan, and the like are arranged as an information processing unit 26. In addition, a battery storage section 28A for storing a battery 28 that supplies power to the information processing unit 26 and the display unit 14 is provided on the front side when the information processing device 10 is placed on an installation surface G when it is used, that is, on the side indicated by the arrow Y1 in the figure (the front edge section 18 side). Note that the configuration of the information processing unit 26, the configuration of the battery 28, and the configuration of the hinge section 16 can be applied to well-known structures, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0017] The display unit 14 has a third surface S3 having a display section 24, and a fourth surface S4 on the opposite side of the third surface S3 on which a back cover 14a is provided. The display section 24 is, for example, composed of an LCD (liquid crystal display) or an OELD (organic electroluminescent display). The display section 24 is extended to the periphery of the display unit 14 on the third surface S3. That is, the display section 24 has a display area up to the full extent of the frame that defines the outer shape of the display unit 14. As a result, the display section 24 with an aspect ratio of, for example, 16:10 is realized without expanding the outer size of a conventional display unit with an aspect ratio of, for example, 16:9. In addition, the frame around the display section 24 is made thinner, which realizes a simpler design and contributes to improving the product value. The basic configuration of the display section 24 and the configuration of the thin frame can be well-known, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0018] The display unit 14 also includes a control board 30 that controls the display of the display section 24. In the information processing device 10, in order to reduce the distance (thickness) in the direction of the arrows Z1-Z2, the control board 30 of the display unit 14 is usually arranged outside the display section 24 (periphery of the display section 24). However, as described above, when the display section 24 (display area) is expanded to the periphery of the display unit 14, it may be difficult to secure the arrangement space for the control board 30 outside the display section 24. For this reason, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a structure may be adopted in which the control board 30 is stored in a stacked state on the back side (back cover 14a side) of the display section 24. In this case, the thickness of the display unit 14 (distance in the direction of the arrows Z1-Z2) is the sum of the thickness of the back cover 14a, the thickness of the display section 24 (liquid crystal structure), the thickness of the control board 30, and the like, resulting in a structure that goes against the thinning. It would be ideal if the increase in thickness due to the laminated control board 30 could be absorbed by thinning the main unit 12 side, but in a situation where the information processing device 10 is required to operate for a long time, it is not easy to thin the battery 28. Therefore, it is also not easy to thin the main unit 12 side, which needs to secure the mounting space for the battery 28.

[0019] Therefore, in the information processing device 10 of this embodiment, while taking into consideration that there are areas that cannot be easily thinned, the main unit 12 and the display unit 14 are divided in the depth direction (in the direction of arrows Y1-Y2) and the external shape is changed, thereby achieving a thin overall information processing device 10.

[0020] 1 to 3, and also FIG. 4 will be used to explain the shape of the information processing device 10 for making it thinner. FIG. 4 is an illustrative and schematic image diagram that shows FIG. 3 in a simplified form.

[0021] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the information processing device 10 (main unit 12 and display unit 14) of this embodiment, in the closed position, is divided (segmented) into a first region E1, a second region E2, and a third region E3, in that order, from the front edge 18 opposite the rear edge 20 (edge) on which the hinge portion 16 is provided, toward the rear edge 20.

[0022] The first area E1 is an area in the information processing device 10 that corresponds to a portion of the main unit 12 that includes the battery housing 28A in which the battery 28 is housed, and is an area defined by a dividing line L1 that corresponds to the front edge 18 and a dividing line L2 that indicates a position slightly further back than the rear end of the battery housing 28A in the direction of the arrow Y2. The first area E1 is an area on the main unit 12 side where it is difficult to make the device thinner due to the presence of the battery 28.

[0023] The third region E3 corresponds to a portion of the information processing device 10 that includes the control board 30 stacked on the back side of the display section 24 on the back cover 14a side of the display unit 14, and is a region defined by a dividing line L3 indicating a position slightly forward of the front end of the control board 30 in the direction of the arrow Y1, and a dividing line L4 corresponding to the rear edge 20. The third region E3 is a region on the display unit 14 side where it is difficult to make the device thinner due to the presence of the stacked control board 30.

[0024] The second area E2 is an area sandwiched between the first area E1 and the third area E3, and is an area defined by the demarcation line L2 and the demarcation line L3.

[0025] In addition, when the device thickness of the information processing device 10 is specified, it is specified by the distance between the second surface S2 on the main unit 12 side and the fourth surface S4 on the display unit 14 side. In this case, the maximum value in the height direction (arrow Z1-Z2 direction) of the information processing device 10 is adopted as the device thickness of the information processing device 10 as a whole.

[0026] Below, we will explain the aspects of the second surface S2 on the main unit 12 side and the fourth surface S4 on the display unit 14 side, which are the basis for determining the device thickness of the information processing device 10 in the first region E1, the second region E2, and the third region E3.

[0027] First, in the first region E1, the main unit 12 has a battery storage section 28A therein as described above. The second surface S2 of the main unit 12 is formed as a first flat surface M1 parallel to the installation surface G on which the main unit 12 is installed. On the other hand, the fourth surface S4 of the display unit 14 is formed as a first inclined surface N1 in which the thickness of the display unit 14 decreases toward the front edge 18. In this case, the device thickness of the information processing device 10 is thinnest at the position of the front edge 18 of the first region E1 (position of the division line L1) and is device thickness t1a. Also, the device thickness is thickest at the end position of the first region E1 on the arrow Y2 side (position of the division line L2) and is device thickness t1b. Therefore, the device thickness of the information processing device 10 in the first region E1 is device thickness t1 (= t1b). In this case, the thickness on the main unit 12 side is a thickness capable of accommodating the battery 28, and the thickness of the front edge portion 18 on the display unit 14 side is a thickness capable of accommodating the display section 24 without the control board 30.

[0028] Next, in the second region E2, the second surface S2 of the main unit 12 is connected to the first flat surface M1 and is formed as a second inclined surface N2 that is parallel to the first inclined surface N1 on the fourth surface S4 side of the display unit 14 and faces the rear edge portion 20 and is spaced apart from the installation surface G. On the other hand, the fourth surface S4 of the display unit 14 is formed as a third inclined surface N3 that is connected to the first inclined surface N1 and maintains the inclined state of the first inclined surface N1. That is, the first inclined surface N1 and the third inclined surface N3 are continuous surfaces with the same inclination state. In this case, the second inclined surface N2 and the first inclined surface N1 are parallel, and further, the third inclined surface N3 maintains the inclined state of the first inclined surface N1, so that the second inclined surface N2 and the third inclined surface N3 are parallel. In addition, since the second inclined surface N2 is continuous with the first flat surface M1 and the third inclined surface N3 is continuous with the first inclined surface N1, the device thickness of the information processing device 10 is the distance between the parallel second inclined surface N2 and the third inclined surface N3, and is uniform across the second region E2. That is, in the first region E1 and the second region E2, the device thickness t1=the device thickness t2.

[0029] Next, in the third region E3, the display unit 14 is stored in a state in which the control board 30 of the display unit 24 is stacked on the fourth surface S4 side of the display unit 24 as described above. The second surface S2 of the display unit 14 is connected to the second inclined surface N2 of the main unit 12 in the second region E2 and is formed as a second flat surface M2 parallel to the installation surface G. On the other hand, the fourth surface S4 of the display unit 14 is connected to the third inclined surface N3 in the second region E2 and is formed as a third flat surface M3 parallel to the installation surface G. That is, the second flat surface M2 and the third flat surface M3 are parallel. In this case, the second flat surface M2 is continuous with the rear end of the second inclined surface N2, and the third flat surface M3 is continuous with the rear end of the third inclined surface N3, so that the device thickness of the information processing device 10 in the third region E3 is the distance between the parallel second flat surface M2 and third flat surface M3, and the device thickness t3 is uniform throughout the third region E3. That is, in the second region E2 and the third region E3, the device thickness t2=the device thickness t3.

[0030] Therefore, the device thickness t1 in the first region E1 = the device thickness t2 in the second region E2 = the device thickness t3 in the third region E3. That is, the device thickness t3 in the third region E3 where the display unit 14 is thickened by stacking the control substrate 30 can be realized with the same thickness as the device thickness t1 in the first region E1, which is defined regardless of whether the control substrate 30 is stacked. That is, in the third region E3 of the main unit 12, where the battery 28 and the like are not present and where it is relatively easy to thin the main unit 12, the second inclined surface N2 of the second region E2 is used to separate the second surface S2 from the installation surface G, and the thickness increase due to the stacking of the control substrate 30 is absorbed on the display unit 14 side. As a result, it is possible to prevent the information processing device 10 from deviating from the target thickness standard due to the increase in thickness caused by stacking the control substrate 30 on the back side of the display unit 24. That is, it is possible to provide an information processing device 10 having a structure that can be thinned to comply with the thickness standard while improving the screen occupancy rate of the display unit 14.

[0031] In addition, when the second surface S2 of the main unit 12 is shaped as described above, the third region E3 is farther from the installation surface G than the first region E1, as shown in the image diagram of FIG. 4. That is, a step occurs in the depth direction, and when the information processing device 10 is installed on the installation surface G, the information processing device 10 tilts in the depth direction. In order to improve slip prevention and installation stability during installation, the information processing device 10 may have feet 32 ​​on the second surface S2 of the main unit 12, for example, near the four corners, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Therefore, by adjusting the heights (heights in the arrow Z1-Z2 direction) of the two feet 32 ​​arranged in the direction of the arrow X1-X2 on the front edge 18 side and the two feet 32 ​​arranged in the direction of the arrow X1-X2 on the back edge 20 side, the main unit 12 can be made horizontal with respect to the installation surface G. The feet 32 ​​can be formed of, for example, a resin material such as rubber. In addition, since the device thickness defined in the standard for the information processing device 10 does not include the feet 32 ​​(the height of the feet 32), the installation posture of the information processing device 10 can be adjusted appropriately depending on the height of the feet 32.

[0032] Meanwhile, the second surface S2 side of the main unit 12 of the information processing device 10 of this embodiment is separated from the installation surface G by the second inclined surface N2 of the second region E2 by the second surface S2 of the second region E2 and the second surface S2 of the third region. That is, the gap between the main unit 12 and the installation surface G is increased compared to when the entire second surface S2 of the main unit 12 is a flat surface. The information processing device 10 of this embodiment is provided with an intake port 34 for the cooling fan built into the main unit 12 to draw in outside air at a position corresponding to this gap, for example, at least one of the second inclined surface N2 of the second region E2 of the second surface S2 of the main unit 12 and the second flat surface M2 of the third region E3. By providing the intake port 34 at a portion corresponding to the gap increased by the second inclined surface N2, it is possible to reduce the operating load of the cooling fan built into the main unit 12 and improve the intake efficiency compared to when the entire second surface S2 of the main unit 12 is a flat surface. The reduction in the operating load of the cooling fan can contribute to a reduction in power consumption of the battery 28. Furthermore, the improvement in air intake efficiency can contribute to an improvement in the internal cooling performance of the information processing device 10. As a result, this can contribute to an improvement in the performance of the information processing device 10.

[0033] Although the embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described, these embodiments and modifications are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10...information processing device, 12...main unit, 12a...lower case, 14...display unit, 14a...back cover, 16...hinge portion, 18...front edge portion, 20...rear edge portion (edge ​​portion), 22...input device, 24...display portion, 26...information processing unit, 28...battery, 28A...battery storage portion, 30...control board, 32...foot portion, 34...air intake port, E1...first region, E2...second region, E3...third region, M1...first flat surface, M2...second flat surface, M3...third flat surface, N1...first inclined surface, N2...second inclined surface, N3...third inclined surface, S1...first surface, S2...second surface, S3...third surface, S4...fourth surface.

Claims

1. a main unit having an input device provided on a first surface and a lower case provided on a second surface opposite to the first surface; a display unit including a third surface provided with a display section extending to a periphery of the third surface, and a fourth surface provided with a back cover on the opposite side of the third surface; a hinge portion that connects an edge of the main unit and an edge of the display unit and is capable of taking a closed state posture in which the first surface and the third surface face each other and an open state posture in which the first surface and the third surface are spaced apart; Equipped with In the closed state, the main unit and the display unit are divided into a first region, a second region, and a third region in this order from a front edge portion opposite to an edge portion on which the hinge portion is provided toward the edge portion, In the first region, the main unit has a battery storage section therein, the second surface is formed as a first flat surface parallel to an installation surface on which the main unit is installed, and the fourth surface is formed as a first inclined surface such that a thickness of the display unit decreases toward the front edge portion, In the second region, the second surface is formed as a second inclined surface that is connected to the first flat surface, is parallel to the first inclined surface, and faces the edge portion and is spaced apart from the installation surface; and the fourth surface is formed as a third inclined surface that is connected to the first inclined surface and maintains the inclined state of the first inclined surface. In the third region, the display unit stores a control board of the display unit in a stacked state on the fourth surface side of the display unit, the second surface is connected to the second inclined surface and formed as a second flat surface parallel to the installation surface, and the fourth surface is connected to the third inclined surface and formed as a third flat surface parallel to the installation surface. Information processing device.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second flat surface is provided with an intake port for drawing in air for cooling the main unit.

Images