Electronic device

Abstract

To provide an electronic device that can accommodate a camera unit without increasing the size of its housing.SOLUTION: An electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing, and a camera unit. The second housing is rotatably connected to the first housing and has a display surface. The camera unit is disposed in the second housing and protrudes toward the first housing when the second housing is in a closed position relative to the first housing. The first housing has a recess that faces the camera unit when the second housing is in the closed position relative to the first housing and is provided across a top surface and a side wall of the first housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to electronic devices.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an electronic device having a housing, a display unit provided in the housing, and a camera disposed above the display unit is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in this type of electronic device, for example, as the performance of the camera improves, the camera unit is becoming larger. Along with this, the housing may also become larger.

[0005] An example of the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of mounting a camera unit without increasing the thickness of the housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An electronic device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first housing, a second housing, and a camera unit. The second housing is rotatably connected to the first housing, has a display surface, the camera unit is disposed in the second housing, and the second housing protrudes toward the first housing in a position where the second housing is closed with respect to the first housing. The first housing faces the camera unit in a position where the second housing is closed with respect to the first housing, and has a recess provided across the upper surface and the side wall of the first housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

[0008] Hereinafter, an example of the present embodiment will be disclosed. The configurations of the embodiments shown below, as well as the operations and effects brought about by the configurations, are examples. The present embodiment can also be realized by configurations other than those disclosed below. Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain at least one of various effects (including derivative effects) obtained by the configuration.

[0009] In the present embodiment, ordinal numbers are used only for distinguishing parts, members, portions, positions, directions, etc., and do not indicate order or priority.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of the electronic device 10 according to the present embodiment from the front side, and is a view of the state in which the second housing 2 is located in the deployed position.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 10 is configured as, for example, a notebook (clamshell type) personal computer, and includes a first housing 1 and a second housing 2.

[0012] The first housing 1 is placed, for example, on a placement portion such as a desk, a table, or a shelf.

[0013] The second housing 2 is rotatably supported about the rotation center axis C with respect to the first housing 1 and can be opened and closed between the deployed position (FIG. 1) and the closed position (FIG. 2). Specifically, the second housing 2 is connected (coupled) to the first housing 1 via a hinge 5.

[0014] The hinge 5 is connected to one end of the first housing 1 and one end of the second housing 2 and is a rotation mechanism for rotating the second housing 2 with respect to the first housing 1. The hinge 5 is an example of a rotation mechanism. Note that the electronic device 10 is not limited to the above example, and any device that is connected to each module via the hinge 5 and can rotate, such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a game console, etc., may be used.

[0015] The electronic device 10 can be carried, for example, when the second housing 2 is folded with respect to the first housing 1 (closed position). Also, the electronic device 10 is used by a user or the like when the first housing 1 is placed and the second housing 2 is deployed.

[0016] When the second housing 2 is deployed, the electronic device 10 can photograph a user or the like facing the camera unit 3 by the camera unit 3 provided in the second housing 2.

[0017] In this embodiment, for convenience, the direction is defined with reference to the deployed position (FIG. 1) where the second housing 2 is opened. The X1 direction, the Y1 direction, and the Z1 direction are orthogonal to each other. Also, the X2 direction, the Y2 direction, and the Z2 direction are orthogonal to each other.

[0018] The X1 direction is the front in the front-rear direction of the second housing 2. The X2 direction is the opposite direction of the X1 direction and is the rear in the front-rear direction of the second housing 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, the X1 direction and the X2 direction are the directions along the thickness direction of a display unit (display portion) 12 provided in the second housing 2, which will be described later.

[0019] The Y1 direction is the left direction along the width direction (left - right direction, longitudinal direction) of the first housing 1. The Y2 direction is the opposite direction of the Y1 direction. The Y1 direction is also referred to as the left direction, and Y2 as the right direction.

[0020] The Z1 direction is the same as the height direction (upper part of the up - down direction) of the first housing 1. The Z2 direction is the opposite direction of the Z1 direction.

[0021] The second housing 2 will be described. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the posture of the second housing 2 is the posture in which the display surface 11 in the deployed position faces the X1 direction.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the second housing 2 is formed in a flat - shaped substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The second housing 2 is composed of, for example, a combination of a plurality of members including a front cover 13 on the front part (X1 side) of the second housing 2 and a rear cover 15 on the rear part (X2 side). The front cover 13 and the rear cover 15 are coupled to each other by claws, screws, etc.

[0023] The front cover 13 includes an outer frame 14 and is formed in a rectangular frame shape. The outer frame 14 includes, for example, a plurality of frames such as an upper frame 14u, a lower frame 14d, a left frame 14a, and a right frame 14r.

[0024] The front part of the second housing 2 has a display unit 12 and a camera unit 3.

[0025] The display unit 12 has a cover glass 16 and a display surface 11. The display unit 12 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence, OLED) display.

[0026] The cover glass 16 is a rectangular transparent member and is supported by the second housing 2 in a state of covering the display surface 11 of the display unit 12. Also, the cover glass 16 may be compatible with a touch panel.

[0027] The display surface 11 is supported by the second housing 2 at a position visible from the front (X1 side). The camera unit 3 will be described later.

[0028] Next, the first housing 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the first housing 1 has an upper surface (operation surface) 20, a lower surface (mounting surface) 24, and side walls 23 connecting the upper surface 20 and the lower surface 24.

[0029] The upper surface 20 has a keyboard 21 supported by the first housing 1, a touch pad 22 in front of the keyboard 21 (on the X1 side), and a recess 29 in front of the touch pad 22. The corner (bending portion) between the upper surface 20 and the side wall 23 is the outer edge 20a.

[0030] The keyboard 21 is supported by the first housing 1 at a position operable from above.

[0031] The recess 29 is provided at the center in the width direction. Also, the recess 29 is recessed across the outer edge 20a of the upper surface 20 of the first housing 1 and the side wall 23. Specifically, it is recessed across the outer edge 20a and the front wall 23a of the side wall 23. The recess 29 is recessed downward from the upper surface 20 and recessed rearward from the side wall 23. The width of the recess 29 is narrower than the width of the touch pad 22.

[0032] Also, a substrate (not shown) is housed inside the first housing 1. A plurality of electronic components (not shown) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory) are mounted on the substrate. At least a part of the electronic circuit of the electronic device 10 is constituted by the wiring provided on the substrate and the plurality of electronic components mounted on the substrate.

[0033] The deployed position and the closed position will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the deployed position will be described. When the second housing 2 is in the deployed position, the front portion of the second housing 2 and the display surface 11 of the display unit 12 do not face the upper surface 20 and the keyboard 21 of the first housing 1. The front portion of the second housing 2 and the display surface 11 of the display unit 12, and the upper surface 20 and the keyboard 21 of the first housing 1 are exposed.

[0034] Next, FIG. 2 is a view of the second housing 2 of the electronic device 10 of the present embodiment in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 2, the closed position will be described. When the second housing 2 is in the closed position, the front portion of the second housing 2 and the display surface 11 of the display unit 12 face the upper surface 20 and the keyboard 21 of the first housing 1.

[0035] In FIG. 2, the second housing 2 is provided at the upper part, and the first housing 1 is provided at the lower part. The rear cover 15 includes at least a top plate 15d. The A-A cross section is a cross section that cuts the central position in the width direction of the electronic device 10. The side view of the A-A cross section will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, it is a cross-sectional view showing the center in the width direction of the second housing 2 at the upper part and the first housing 1 at the lower part when the electronic device 10 is in the closed position.

[0037] The camera unit 3 includes a camera module 31 (camera body), a camera bezel 32, and a camera base 33. The camera unit 3 is disposed at the upper center of the display surface 11, and the camera unit 3 is an optical device capable of photographing forward. The camera unit 3 is supported by the second housing 2. The camera unit 3 has a protruding portion 34 that protrudes below the display surface 11 of the display unit 12 when the second housing 2 is in the closed position.

[0038] When the second housing 2 is in the closed position, the protruding portion 34 of the camera unit 3 of the second housing 2 faces the recessed portion 29 provided at the front outer edge 20a of the first housing 1.

[0039] At least a part of the camera unit 3 disposed in the second housing 2 protrudes below the display surface 11. Specifically, the camera bezel 32 of the camera unit 3 is located at the lowermost end below the display surface 11.

[0040] The recessed portion 29 in which a part of the first housing 1 is recessed is provided on the outer edge 20a of the first housing 1. The recessed portion 29 faces the camera unit 3 at the position where the second housing 2 is closed, and is recessed across the upper surface 20 and the side wall 23 of the first housing 1 so as not to contact the camera unit 3.

[0041] Furthermore, a gap is provided between the protruding portion 34 of the camera unit 3 and the recessed portion 29 in the height direction. The gap is opened up to the ends of the first housing 1 and the second housing 2. Specifically, a gap is provided between the lower end of the camera bezel 32 and the upper surface of the recessed portion 29, and the gap is opened in the direction of the outer edge 20a.

[0042] The recessed portion 29 is located below the front surface (X1 side) of the protruding portion 34 of the camera unit 3 in the closed position. Therefore, the front surface (X1 side) of the protruding portion 34 of the camera unit 3 is open forward. The upper surface of the recessed portion 29 is flat from the front surface of the protruding portion 34 to the front (X1 side).

[0043] Thereby, even when the camera unit 3 is enlarged, the first housing 1 can be provided with the camera unit 3 protruding from the display surface 11 by the recessed portion 29 without increasing the thickness of the second housing 2 outward.

[0044] Furthermore, since a gap is provided between the protruding portion 34 and the recessed portion 29, the opening and closing property is good. That is, since a finger can be easily inserted into the gap, the opening and closing operation of the electronic device 10 from the closed position to the unfolded position is easy to perform.

[0045] In addition, since the recessed portion 29 is provided at the center in the width direction, it is possible to suppress the load from being biased to the left and right in the width direction because a load is applied to the center in the width direction of the second housing 2 when it is unfolded. Further, since the recessed portion 29 is provided at the outer edge 20a extending over the upper surface 20 and the side wall 23 of the first housing 1, it is easy to widen the amount of the gap between the protruding portion 34 and the recessed portion 29.

[0046] FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view showing the camera unit 3 of the electronic device 10 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the camera unit 3 is rotatably supported with respect to the upper frame 14u of the second housing 2 via a rotation shaft 35.

[0047] Specifically, for example, when the second housing 2 is in the unfolded position and the camera bezel 32 of the camera unit 3 is pushed in the direction of the arrow (the Y1 side of the camera bezel 32 is pushed), the protruding amount of the protruding portion 34 on the right side (Y2 side) of the camera unit 3 increases. As a result, the orientation of the camera unit 3 is directed from the front (X1) to the left side (Y1 side).

[0048] Note that the camera unit 3 may include a rotation shaft (not shown in the drawings) that rotates in the vertical direction and may rotate in the vertical direction. As a result, the orientation of the camera unit 3 is directed in the vertical direction from the front (X1).

[0049] In addition, the camera unit 3 may be provided with, for example, a light 36 and an infrared sensor 37 in addition to the camera module 31.

[0050] The light 36 is an example of a light source that notifies the camera activation state by lighting and extinguishing. The light source is an example of an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

[0051] The infrared sensor 37 may be used as an authentication system. For example, it is an example of a sensor for performing face authentication of a user or the like by taking a picture using infrared illumination.

[0052] As described above, the electronic device 10 of the present embodiment includes a first housing 1, a second housing that is rotatably connected to the first housing and has a display surface, and a camera unit that is disposed in the second housing and protrudes toward the first housing when the second housing is in a closed position with respect to the first housing. The first housing has a recessed portion that faces the camera unit when the second housing is in a closed position with respect to the first housing and extends across the upper surface and the side wall of the first housing.

[0053] According to such a configuration, since the camera unit 3 is housed in the recessed portion 29 in the closed position, the camera unit 3 that protrudes can be mounted without increasing the size of the second housing 2. Further, since the recessed portion 29 is provided across the upper surface 20 and the side wall 23, it is easy to expand the housing from the closed position. That is, it is possible to mount the protruding camera unit 3 and ensure ease of expansion.

[0054] In the electronic device 10, for example, a gap is provided between the recessed portion 29 and the protruding camera unit 3 in the closed position, and the gap is opened up to the front end portions of the first housing 1 and the second housing 2.

[0055] According to such a configuration, for example, it becomes easier to insert a finger into the gap, so that the second housing 2 can be easily expanded.

[0056] In the electronic device 10, for example, the recessed portion 29 is located at the center in the width direction of the second housing 2.

[0057] According to such a configuration, for example, by making it easy to place a finger at the center in the width direction of the housing during expansion, the load applied to the display surface 11 can be dispersed.

[0058] In the electronic device 10, for example, the camera unit 3 includes a camera module 31 and a camera bezel 32 that covers the camera module 31, and has a rotation axis 35 that is rotatable with respect to the second housing 2.

[0059] According to such a configuration, since the camera bezel 32 protrudes together with the camera module 31, the orientation of the camera unit 3 can be changed vertically, horizontally, left, and right by the rotation axis 35.

[0060] As described above, embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated. However, the above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, combinations, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. Also, each configuration, shape, and other specifications (structure, type, direction, form, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) can be appropriately changed and implemented.

[0061] Note that the electronic device 10 is not limited to the above example. For example, it may be a foldable tablet personal computer, smartphone, mobile phone, video display device, television receiver, game machine, or the like.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0062] 1... First housing 2... Second housing 3... Camera unit 10... Electronic device 11... Display surface 20... Upper surface 23... Side wall 29... Depressed portion

Claims

1. a first housing; a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing and having a display surface; a camera unit disposed in the second housing and protruding toward the first housing when the second housing is in a closed position with respect to the first housing; and the first housing has a recess provided across an upper surface and a side wall of the first housing, the recess facing the camera unit when the second housing is in a closed position with respect to the first housing. An electronic device.

2. A gap is provided between the recess and the protruding camera unit in the closed position, the gap being open to ends of the first housing and the second housing. The electronic device according to Claim 1.

3. The recess is located at a center in a width direction of the first housing. The electronic device according to Claim 1.

4. The camera unit has a camera and a camera bezel covering the camera, and has a rotation axis rotatable with respect to the second housing. The electronic device according to Claim 1.

Images