Foldable portable information terminal
View Patent ↗A portable device includes an upper unit, a lower unit having an operation section on an operation surface, and a movable connecting mechanism which connects the upper unit and the lower unit. The movable connecting mechanism includes a rotating hinge including a rotation axis which is securely and rotatably provided to the lower unit and which protrudes from the operation surface in a direction substantially normal to the operation surface, a projection protruding outward from the rotation axis, and a stopping member provided at a location where the projection comes in contact with the stopping member due to rotation of the rotation axis. The stopping member is movable within a predetermined range of movement due to the projection coming in contact with the stopping member.
1. A portable device comprising an upper unit, a lower unit having an operation section on an operation surface, and a movable connecting mechanism which connects the upper unit and the lower unit, wherein the movable connecting mechanism comprises:
a rotating hinge including a rotation axis which is securely and rotatably provided on the lower unit and which protrudes from the operation surface in a direction substantially normal to the operation surface, the rotating hinge including a base plate, and a guide bar formed on a side of the base plate;
a projection protruding outward from the rotation axis; and
a stopping member slidably provided on the guide bar and including a stopping claw, the projection coming in contact with the stopping claw due to rotation of the rotation axis,
wherein the stopping member slides within a predetermined range of movement due to the projection coming in contact with the stopping claw which stops the rotation of the rotation axis within a predetermined range of rotation.
2. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate comprises a movement stopping mechanism for stopping the stopping member from moving by coming in contact with the stopping member in the rotation, thereby enabling the rotation axis to rotate within the predetermined range of rotation.
3. The portable device according to claim 2 , wherein the projection butts against a face of the stopping claw depending on a rotating direction of the rotation and the stopping member moves, whereby the upper unit and the lower unit rotate relatively to each other.
4. The portable device according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined range of the movement of the stopping member caused by the rotation is determined depending on shapes of the stopping claw and the projection, whereby the rotation axis is set to rotate within the predetermined range of rotation.
5. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined range of rotation is ±180° from a position in which the upper unit and the lower unit are aligned.
6. A foldable portable device comprising an upper unit, a lower unit having an operation section on an operation surface, and a movable connecting mechanism which connects the upper unit and the lower unit, wherein the movable connecting mechanism comprises:
a biaxial hinge including a rotation axis which is securely and rotatably provided on the lower unit and which protrudes from the operation surface in a direction substantially normal to the operation surface, and an open/close axis which is disposed orthogonally to the rotation axis and which axially and rotatably supports the upper unit, the biaxial hinge including a base plate, and a guide bar formed on a side of the base plate;
a projection protruding outward from the rotation axis; and
a stopping member slidably provided on the guide bar and including a stopping claw, the projection coming in contact with the stopping claw due to rotation of the rotation axis,
wherein the stopping member slides within a predetermined range of movement due to the projection coming in contact with the stopping claw which stops the rotation of the rotation axis within a predetermined range of rotation.
7. The foldable portable device according to claim 6 , wherein the base plate comprises a movement stopping mechanism for stopping the stopping member from moving by coming in contact with the stopping member in the rotation, thereby enabling the rotation axis to rotate within the predetermined range of rotation.
8. The foldable portable device according to claim 7 , wherein the projection butts against a face of the stopping claw depending on a rotating direction of the rotation and the stopping member moves, whereby the upper unit and the lower unit rotate relatively to each other.
9. The foldable portable device according to claim 8 , wherein the predetermined range of the movement of the stopping member caused by the rotation is determined depending on shapes of the stopping claw and the projection, whereby the rotation axis is set to rotate within the predetermined range of rotation.
10. The foldable portable device according to claim 6 , wherein the predetermined range of rotation is ±180° from a position in which the upper unit and the lower unit are aligned.