Information processing apparatus having switch for inputting key data
View Patent ↗An information processing apparatus includes a housing with a top surface and a rear surface, a CPU (central processing unit) provided in the housing, a keyboard placed on the top surface of the housing and including a plurality of keys which input key data to the CPU, a display unit attached to the housing rotatably between a closed position in which the display unit covers the keyboard and an open position in which the keyboard is exposed, and at least one switch provided on the rear surface of the housing and configured to input key data to the CPU.
1. An information processing apparatus comprising:
a housing including a first rectangular-shaped unit and a second rectangular-shaped unit, a rear end portion of the first rectangular-shaped unit and a rear end portion of the second rectangular-shaped unit being joined together;
a touch screen device placed on a surface of the first rectangular-shaped unit and configured to recognize a position indicated by a stylus or a user's finger;
a plurality of key switches arranged on both sides of the touch screen device, said plurality of key switches including:
(a) four arrow keys indicating four directions of up, down, right and left, and
(b) first and second push button switches serving as a cancel key and an enter key,
wherein the four arrow keys are arranged on one side of the touch screen device and the first and second push button switches are arranged on another side of the touch screen device;
a system controller configured to change an orientation of a screen image displayed on the touch screen device between a first orientation in which a top-end portion and a bottom-end portion of the screen image are extended in a longitudinal direction of the first rectangular-shaped unit and a second orientation in which the top-end portion and the bottom-end portion of the screen image are extended in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; and
third and fourth push button switches provided at right and left side portions of a rear surface of the housing and configured to input first and second key data items, the rear surface being exposed regardless of whether the first rectangular-shaped unit and the second rectangular-shaped unit are set in a closed position in which a top surface of the second rectangular-shaped unit is covered by the first rectangular-shaped unit.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an I/O controller configured to control a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device.