Input device provided with windable display and foldable keyboard, and personal computer provided with the input device
An input device 100 is structured such that a flexible display 102 is connected with a keyboard 1 through a control part disposed in a housing unit 101 only during use of the input device 100 , in which a contact terminal 105 in the flexible display 102 is connected with a contact terminal 104 in a connector 103 which is electrically connected with a first and second keyboard units 3 and 4 when the flexible display 102 is drawn upward from the housing unit 101 through a slot 118 when required for use of the input device 100.
1. An input device including:
a foldable keyboard including a first keyboard unit, a second keyboard unit, and a rotatable connecting part provided between the first and second keyboard units, so that the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come apart from each other into an unfolded, horizontally arranged state through the connecting part for use of the keyboard, while the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come close to each other into a closed, folded state through the connecting part for nonuse of the keyboard;
a housing main body disposed at one side of the first or second keyboard unit and formed with a hole in an upper surface;
a flexible display which is windable so as to be housed in a rolled state in the housing main body during nonuse of the display and to be drawn from the housing main body through the hole during use of the display;
a first contact terminal formed in the flexible display; and
a connector which is electrically connected with the first and second keyboard units and provided with a second contact terminal,
the first contact terminal being connected with the second contact terminal of the connector only when the flexible display is drawn out from the housing main body through the hole for use of the flexible display.
2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing main body is attached to one side of the first or second keyboard unit along a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the connecting part.
3. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the hole formed in the housing main body is a curved elongate hole having a predetermined curvature, and a resilient metallic thin plate is laminated to a rear side of the flexible display, the resilient metallic thin plate being formed to provide a curved surface of a curvature equal to the predetermined curvature of the hole.
4. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing main body is constructed to be attachable and detachable with respect to the first or second keyboard unit, and the keyboard and the flexible display in the housing main body are constructed so as to communicate with each other by wireless communication.
5. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible display is constructed of an organic electroluminescence (EL) display.
6. A personal computer including:
a foldable keyboard including a first keyboard unit, a second keyboard unit, and a rotatable connecting part provided between the first and second keyboard units, so that the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come apart from each other into an unfolded, horizontally arranged state through the connecting part for use of the keyboard, while the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come close to each other into a closed, folded state through the connecting part for nonuse of the keyboard;
a computer main body disposed at one side of the first or second keyboard unit;
a housing main body disposed at one side of the computer main body and formed with a hole in an upper surface;
a flexible display which is windable so as to be housed in a rolled state in the housing main body during nonuse of the display and to be drawn from the housing main body through the hole during use of the display;
a first contact terminal formed in the flexible display; and
a connector which is electrically connected with the first and second keyboard units and provided with a second contact terminal,
the first contact terminal being connected with the second contact terminal of the connector only when the flexible display is drawn out from the housing main body through the hole for use of the flexible display.
7. An input device including:
a foldable keyboard including a first keyboard unit, a second keyboard unit, and a rotatable connecting part provided between the first and second keyboard units, so that the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come apart from each other into an unfolded, horizontally arranged state through the connecting part for use of the keyboard, while the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come close to each other into a closed, folded state through the connecting part for nonuse of the keyboard;
a housing main body disposed at one side of the first or second keyboard unit and formed with a hole in an upper surface;
a flexible display which is windable so as to be housed in a rolled state in the housing main body during nonuse of the display and to be drawn from the housing main body through the hole during use of the display;
a first contact terminal formed in the flexible display; and
a connector which is electrically connected with the first and second keyboard units and provided with a second contact terminal,
the first contact terminal being connected with the second contact terminal of the connector only when the flexible display is drawn out from the housing main body through the hole for use of the flexible display:
wherein the hole formed in the housing main body is a curved elongate hole having a predetermined curvature, and a resilient metallic thin plate is laminated to a rear side of the flexible display, the resilient metallic thin plate being formed to provide a curved surface of a curvature equal to the predetermined curvature of the hole.
8. The input device according to claim 7 , wherein the housing main body is attached to one side of the first or second keyboard unit along a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the connecting part.
9. The input device according to claim 7 , wherein the housing main body is constructed to be attachable and detachable with respect to the first or second keyboard unit, and the keyboard and the flexible display in the housing main body are constructed so as to communicate with each other by wireless communication.
10. The input device according to claim 7 , wherein the flexible display is constructed of an organic electroluminescence (EL) display.
11. A personal computer provided with an input device,
wherein the input device includes:
a foldable keyboard including a first keyboard unit, a second keyboard unit, and a rotatable connecting part provided between the first and second keyboard units, so that the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come apart from each other into an unfolded, horizontally arranged state through the connecting part for use of the keyboard, while the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come close to each other into a closed, folded state through the connecting part for nonuse of the keyboard;
a computer main body disposed at one side of the first or second keyboard unit;
a housing main body disposed at one side of the computer main body and formed with a hole in an upper surface;
a flexible display which is windable so as to be housed in a rolled state in the housing main body during nonuse of the display and to be drawn from the housing main body through the hole during use of the display, and
a first contact terminal formed in the flexible display: and
a connector which is electrically connected with the first and second keyboard units and provided with a second contact terminal.
the first contact terminal being connected with the second contact terminal of the connector only when the flexible display is drawn out from the housing main body through the hole for use of the flexible display;
the hole formed in the housing main body is a curved elongate hole having a predetermined curvature, and a resilient metallic thin plate is laminated to a rear side of the flexible display, the resilient metallic thin plate being formed to provide a curved surface of a curvature equal to the predetermined curvature of the hole.
12. An input device including:
a foldable keyboard including a first keyboard unit, a second keyboard unit, and a rotatable connecting part provided between the first and second keyboard units, so that the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come apart from each other into an unfolded, horizontally arranged state through the connecting part for use of the keyboard, while the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come close to each other into a closed, folded state through the connecting part for nonuse of the keyboard;
a housing main body disposed at one side of the first or second keyboard unit and formed with a hole in an upper surface;
a flexible display which is windable so as to be housed in a rolled state in the housing main body during nonuse of the display and to be drawn from the housing main body through the hole during use of the display,
a first contact terminal formed in the flexible display; and
a connector which is electrically connected with the first and second keyboard units and provided with a second contact terminal,
the first contact terminal being connected with the second contact terminal of the connector only when the flexible display is drawn out from the housing main body through the hole for use of the flexible display;
wherein the housing main body is constructed to be attachable and detachable with respect to the first or second keyboard unit, and the keyboard and the flexible display in the housing main body are constructed so as to communicate with each other by wireless communication.
13. The input device according to claim 12 , wherein the housing main body is attached to one side of the first or second keyboard unit along a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the connecting part.
14. The input device according to claim 12 , wherein the hole formed in the housing main body is a curved elongate hole having a predetermined curvature, and a resilient metallic thin plate is laminated to a rear side of the flexible display, the resilient metallic thin plate being formed to provide a curved surface of a curvature equal to the predetermined curvature of the hole.
15. The input device according to claim 12 , wherein the flexible display is constructed of an organic electroluminescence (EL) display.
16. A personal computer provided with an input device,
wherein the input device includes:
a foldable keyboard including a first keyboard unit, a second keyboard unit, and a rotatable connecting part provided between the first and second keyboard units, so that the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come apart from each other into an unfolded, horizontally arranged state through the connecting part for use of the keyboard, while the first and second keyboard units are rotated to come close to each other into a closed, folded state through the connecting part for nonuse of the keyboard;
a computer main body disposed at one side of the first or second keyboard unit;
a housing main body disposed at one side of the computer main body and formed with a hole in an upper surface;
a flexible display which is windable so as to be housed in a rolled state in the housing main body during nonuse of the display and to be drawn from the housing main body through the hole during use of the display, and
a first contact terminal formed in the flexible display; and
a connector which is electrically connected with the first and second keyboard units and provided with a second contact terminal.
the first contact terminal being connected with the second contact terminal of the connector only when the flexible display is drawn out from the housing main body through the hole for use of the flexible display;
the housing main body is constructed to be attachable and detachable with respect to the first or second keyboard unit, and the keyboard and the flexible display in the housing main body are constructed so as to communicate with each other by wireless communication.