Portable information device
A portable information device includes a hinge device, a foldable display, and a bezel member. The hinge device has a first base plate fixed to the first chassis, a second base plate fixed to the second chassis, a first link arm having a first end portion rotatably connected to the first base plate through a first shaft, a second link arm having a first end portion rotatably connected to the second base plate through a second shaft, and a coupling plate having a first end portion rotatably connected to a second end portion of the first link arm through a third shaft and a second end portion rotatably connected to a second end portion of the second link arm through a fourth shaft. The hinge device as a whole is disposed under a display surface, regardless of opening/closing state of the second chassis with respect to the first chassis.
1. A portable information device, comprising:
a first chassis having one edge portion;
a second chassis having one edge portion adjacent to the one edge portion of the first chassis;
a hinge device rotatably connecting the one edge portions of the first chassis and the second chassis whereby the second chassis is opened/closed with respect to the first chassis;
a display seamlessly covering respective display surfaces of the first chassis and the second chassis and being foldable; and
a bezel member covering a portion of the display surfaces of the first chassis and the second chassis other than the display,
wherein the hinge device comprises:
a first base plate fixed to the first chassis;
a second base plate fixed to the second chassis;
a first link arm having a first end portion rotatably connected to the first base plate through a first shaft;
a second link arm having a first end portion rotatably connected to the second base plate through a second shaft; and
a coupling plate having a first end portion rotatably connected to a second end portion of the first link arm through a third shaft and having a second end portion rotatably connected to a second end portion of the second link arm through a fourth shaft, and
wherein the hinge device is disposed opposite a side of the display surfaces, which side is viewed by a user, regardless of whether the second chassis and the first chassis are in an opening state or in a closing state;
wherein the hinge device further comprises:
a first gear arm having a first end portion rotatably connected to the first base plate through a fifth shaft, and having a second end portion rotatably connected to the coupling plate through a sixth shaft, and having a first gear around the sixth shaft; and
a second gear arm having a first end portion rotatably connected to the second base plate through a seventh shaft, and having a second end portion rotatably connected to the coupling plate through an eighth shaft, and having a second gear around the eighth shaft, the second bear engaging with the first gear;
wherein, in a usage form:
the portable information device lies in a first plane;
the first base plate and the second base plate lie on opposite sides of a bending center line of the portable information device, which bending center line extends in a second plane which is perpendicular to the first plane;
in the first plane, the first shaft is disposed closer to the bending center line than the third shaft;
in the first plane, the second shaft is disposed closer to the bending center line than the fourth shaft;
in the first plane, the fifth shaft and the sixth shaft are equidistant from the bending center line; and
in the first plane, the seventh shaft and the eighth shaft are equidistant from the bending center line.
2. The portable information device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the hinge device is disposed at a side of the bezel member and beside the display, which side of the bezel member is opposite another side of the bezel member viewed by the user.
3. The portable information device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the hinge device is disposed at a side of the display which side of the display is opposite another side of the display viewed by the user.
4. The portable information device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the hinge device connects the first chassis and the second chassis whereby the first chassis and the second chassis are foldable from the usage form, in which a top surface of the first chassis and a top surface of the second chassis face the same direction and are parallel to each other, to a storage form in which the top surfaces of the first chassis and the second chassis face each other,
the coupling plate is stored inside the first chassis and the second chassis in the usage form, and projects outward from an end surface of the one edge portions of the first chassis and the second chassis in the storage form.
5. The portable information device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first bracket fixing the first base plate and the first chassis; and
a second bracket fixing the second base plate and the second chassis.