U.S. patent application number 10/061325 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-27 for portable information equipment.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Katagiri, Masayuki.
Application Number | 20020080576 10/061325 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 15870404 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020080576 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Katagiri, Masayuki |
June 27, 2002 |
Portable information equipment
Abstract
A portable information equipment has a main body portion and a
display portion hinged each other. A space is secured in the
display portion by using a cabinet for a reflection type liquid
crystal display which requires no backlight instead of a liquid
crystal display with backlight. The space is used for an additional
internal battery. The additional internal battery increases an
electric capacity to extend an operation time of the portable
information equipment and need no externally attached extension
battery.
Inventors: |
Katagiri, Masayuki;
(Ikoma-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE P.C.
8th Floor
1100 North Glebe Road
Arlington
VA
22201-4714
US
|
Assignee: |
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
|
Family ID: |
15870404 |
Appl. No.: |
10/061325 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10061325 |
Feb 4, 2002 |
|
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09594603 |
Jun 15, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.27 ;
361/679.28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1616 20130101;
G06F 1/1632 20130101; G06F 1/1637 20130101; G06F 1/1635 20130101;
G06F 1/1683 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/686 ;
361/681 |
International
Class: |
G06F 001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 15, 1999 |
JP |
11-168565 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable information equipment having a main body portion and
a display portion foldably connected so as to be opened and closed,
the display portion comprising: a cabinet defining an outline of
the display portion; a display unit requiring no backlight unit and
housed in the cabinet; and a platy internal battery housed in a
space defined between the cabinet and the display unit.
2. The portable information equipment as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the space is on a back side of the display unit in the
cabinet.
3. The portable information equipment as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the display unit is a reflection type liquid crystal
display.
4. The portable information equipment as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the platy internal battery is a lithium polymer
battery.
5. The portable information equipment as set forth in claim 1, the
display portion further comprising: a battery control board
provided within the cabinet; and a flat cable by which the battery
control board is connected to the internal battery.
6. The portable information equipment as set forth in claim 5,
wherein the flat cable is a flexible flat cable or a flexible
printed circuit.
7. The portable information equipment as set forth in claim 1, the
display portion further comprising: a power supply cable for
supplying electric power from the internal battery to the main body
portion.
8. The portable information equipment as set forth in claim 7,
wherein the power supply cable includes at least two independent
electric wires in a bundle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to portable information
equipment having a main body portion and a display portion foldably
connected so as to be opened and closed.
[0002] Portable information equipment such as so-called notebook
personal computers and word processors incorporate a chargeable
internal battery so as to be able to use the equipment at a
location where an alternating current power supply is not
available. FIG. 4 shows a constitution of generally known portable
information equipment 1. A portable information equipment 1 of such
a type includes a main body portion 2 and a display portion 3
hinged each other, and usually an internal battery 4A is disposed
at one corner of the main body portion 2.
[0003] In any portable information equipment 1 of this type, for
the purpose of enhancing the portability of the equipment 1, while
thickness reduction and weight reduction of the main body portion 2
and display portion 3 are required, as another important problem to
be solved, there is an ardent demand for increasing a capacity of
the internal battery 4A and extending a battery life thereof.
However, in order to increase the capacity of the internal battery
4A, inevitably it is necessary to enlarge the outer shape of the
internal battery 4A; therefore, the capacity of the internal
battery 4A is set in consideration of the balance relative to a
cabinet 21 of the main body portion 2 in which the internal battery
4A is disposed.
[0004] In the case that the battery capacity is insufficient with
the internal battery 4A alone, an extension battery 4B as shown in
FIG. 5 is externally attached to the main body portion 2 in order
to supplement the resulting battery capacity shortage. However,
external attachment of the extension battery 4B is considerably
detrimental to the portability of the portable information
equipment 1.
[0005] For a display unit 5 used in the display portion 3 of the
portable information equipment 1, a liquid crystal display is
generally employed. In the past, transmission type liquid crystal
displays with backlight were in a main stream, but in recent years,
reflection type liquid crystal displays have also been employed
because the reflection type display can provide a clear color
display without using any backlight.
[0006] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an edge part
of the display portion 3 using a transmission type liquid crystal
display 5. The transmission type liquid crystal display 5 comprises
a transmission type liquid crystal unit 5A and a backlight unit 5B.
The transmission type liquid crystal unit 5A has a laminate of a
glass layer 51, a polarizer layer 52, and the like with a liquid
crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. The backlight unit 5B is
disposed behind the transmission type liquid crystal unit 5A and
has a light guide plate 53, a backlight 54, and the like. These
units are incorporated into a cabinet 31 of the display portion 3.
The thickness of the backlight unit 5B is approximately 3 mm or
so.
[0007] Whilst, a reflection type liquid crystal display comprises a
reflection type liquid crystal unit formed in about the same
thickness as that of the transmission type liquid crystal unit 5A
so that thickness reduction and weight reduction can be realized to
an extent corresponding to omission of the backlight unit 5B,
compared with the transmission type liquid crystal display 5.
Furthermore, display can be performed through utilization of
reflected light from external light and not through illumination by
the backlight 54, and this provides for an advantage of substantial
reduction of electric power consumption.
[0008] However, there are commercial demands for both portable
information equipment 1 using a transmission type liquid crystal
display 5 and portable information equipment 1 using a reflection
type liquid crystal display. As such, manufacturers of portable
information equipment 1 are required to prepare and supply both
types of products. Therefore, for portable information equipment 1
using reflection type liquid crystal display, despite the fact that
the use of reflection type liquid crystal display enables thickness
reduction of display portion 3 in relation to portable information
equipment 1 using transmission type liquid crystal display 5,
manufacturers are still using the cabinet 31 common to both types
of display portion 3 of portable information equipment 1 due to
cost reduction of development and manufacturing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention was developed in view of above
described situation and, therefore, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a portable information equipment substantially
thinned by using a display unit requiring no backlight, wherein a
second internal battery is incorporated into the display unit so
that sufficient capacity and life of the internal battery are
ensured and the utility of the equipment is improved.
[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
provides a portable information equipment having a main body
portion and a display portion foldably connected so as to be opened
and closed, the display portion comprising: a cabinet defining an
outline of the display portion; a display unit requiring no
backlight unit and housed in the cabinet; and a platy internal
battery housed in a space defined between the cabinet and the
display unit.
[0011] According to this invention, it is possible to increase the
capacity of the internal battery, and therefore the useful life of
the battery can be extended to enhance the utility of the portable
information equipment. In addition, the display unit requires no
backlight and consequently the electric power requirement for the
display unit can be substantially reduced so that the useful life
of the battery can be further extended. The cabinet and the
associated peripheral tarts in the portable information equipment
according to the present invention are also usable for portable
information equipment fitted with a backlight, and thereby
manufacturing cost of the portable information equipment can be
reduced.
[0012] In an embodiment of the invention, the space is on a back
side of the display unit in the cabinet.
[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, the display unit is a
reflection type liquid crystal display. Other display units such as
an electro-luminescence display, a plasma display and a field
effect display may be used as well.
[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, the platy internal
battery is a lithium polymer battery.
[0015] In an embodiment of the invention, the portable information
equipment further comprises: a battery control board provided
within the cabinet; and a flat cable by which the batters control
board is connected to the internal battery.
[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, the flat cable is a
flexible flat cable or a flexible printed circuit.
[0017] According to the embodiment, wiring can be easily conducted
in the cabinet of the display portion because the cable is
flexible.
[0018] In an embodiment of the invention, the portable information
equipment further comprises a power supply cable for supplying
electric power from the internal battery to the main body
portion.
[0019] In an embodiment of the invention, the power supply cable
includes at least two independent electric wires in a bundle.
[0020] According to the embodiment, a bundle of the wires of the
power supply cable allow a large current to be supplied to the main
body portion and prevents the power supply cable from breaking
during opening/closing operation of the display portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic
construction of a portable information equipment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic view in section showing a vicinity of
a frame of a display portion of the portable information equipment
of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a top plan
construction of an interior of the display portion of the portable
information equipment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic
construction of a conventional prior art portable information
equipment;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the portable
information equipment shown in FIG. 4 as fitted with an extension
battery; and
[0027] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing an edge part of
a display portion in which a transmission type liquid crystal
display is employed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] One embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
following description, with respect to portions and components
similar in function to those of the aforesaid conventional portable
information equipment 1, common designations and reference numerals
are used.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic construction of portable
information equipment 10 of the invention. The portable information
equipment 10 comprises a main body portion 20 and a display portion
30. When the portable information equipment 10 is not used or is
carried, the main body portion 20 and the display portion 30 is
closed into unity. When the portable information equipment 10 is
used, the main body portion 20 and the display portion 30 are
opened to each other to operate the portable information equipment
10 using a keyboard 22 disposed in the main body portion 20. A
chargeable first internal battery 4A, together with main board 23
including processing/memory units and the like, is housed in a
cabinet 21 of the main body portion 20.
[0030] For the display portion 30 of the portable information
equipment 10, a reflection type liquid crystal display 6 is used as
a display unit. The reflection type liquid crystal display 6 is
incorporated into a cabinet 31. The cabinet 31 can be also used for
the aforesaid cabinet 31 which defines the display portion 3 of the
portable information equipment 1 employing the liquid crystal
display 5 with backlight shown in FIG. 6.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a part of the structure
of the display portion 30. The reflection type liquid crystal
display 6 comprises a reflection type liquid crystal unit 6A which
is formed in about the same thickness as that of the aforesaid
liquid crystal unit 5A of the liquid crystal display 5 with
backlight. The reflection type liquid crystal unto 6A comprises
glasses 61 stacked with a liquid crystal layer held therebetween,
polarizer 62, reflector 63 and the like. Accordingly, between the
back surface of the reflection type liquid crystal unit 6A and the
inner surface of the cabinet 31, there is formed a battery housing
space 32 having a thickness of about 3 mm corresponding to the
thickness of the backlight unit 5B of the liquid crystal display 5
with backlight shown in FIG. 6. A second internal battery 4C formed
in thin plate shape is housed in the battery housing space 32.
[0032] In this way, by utilizing a cabinet 31 for common use with
the portable information equipment 1 using the liquid crystal
display 5 with backlight which requires the backlight and the
portable information equipment 10 using a reflection type liquid
crystal display 6 which does not require the use of backlight, it
is possible to secure a battery housing space 32 in the display
portion 30 for accommodating the second internal battery 4C. Thus,
the capacity of the internal battery can be increased and,
therefore, any externally attached extension battery is not
necessary. Electric power requirement of the reflection type liquid
crystal display 6 is far much smaller than that of the liquid
crystal display 5 with backlight. Therefore, the useful life of
battery is further extended and the utility of the portable
information equipment 10 is substantially enhanced. Furthermore,
the cabinet 31 of the display portion 30 and the associated
components are commonized between the portable information
equipment 10 using the reflection type liquid crystal display 6 and
the portable information equipment 1 using the liquid crystal
display 5 with backlight, whereby cost involved in assembling and
manufacturing of the portable information equipment 10 can be
curtailed.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the inside of the display
portion 30 in the portable information equipment 10 of the above
described arrangement. For example, in the case of a portable
information equipment 10 having a 11.3 inch reflection type liquid
crystal display 6 incorporated in the display portion 30, the
external size of the display portion 30 is about 264 mm (in
width).times.about 207 mm (in length), and the size of display
screen of the reflection type liquid crystal display 6 is about 230
mm (in width).times.about 173 mm (in length). The size of a battery
housing space 32 formed behind the reflection type liquid crystal
display 6 is a few mm larger than the display screen in both width
and length.
[0034] In this embodiment, a lithium polymer battery is used as a
second internal battery 4C housed in the battery housing space 32.
For example, one package of the lithium polymer battery 4C has a
size of 114 mm (in length).times.88.5 mm (in width).times.3 mm (in
thickness), four lithium polymer batteries 4C being arranged in the
battery housing space 32. The package of the lithium polymer
battery 4C has a positive terminal 41 and a negative terminal 42
both of which are connected to a battery control board 33 through
flat type cables 7. For connecting the plural lithium polymer
batteries 4C, several combinations in series and/or parallel is
conceivable, but the combinations are not particularly defined in
the present invention.
[0035] The battery control board 33 is similar in size to an
inverter board (not shown) incorporated in the liquid crystal
display 5 with backlight for lightening the backlight 54.
Therefore, the battery control board 33 can be incorporated into
the cabinet 31 without difficulty in the case where the cabinet 31
of the display portion 30 using the reflection type liquid crystal
display 6 is common with the cabinet 31 of the display portion 3
using the liquid crystal display 5 with backlight.
[0036] FPC (flexible printed circuit) and FFC (flexible flat cable)
are suitable for the flat cable 7. The FPC or FFC flat cable 7 is
as thin as about 0.5 mm and has high flexibility, so that the FPC
or FFC flat cable 7 can be easily incorporated in the cabinet 31 of
the display portion 30 having limitations in thickness. Further,
resistance of the FPC or FFC flat cable 7 is small, and therefore
it is possible to flow a large current by widening the width of the
flat cable 7.
[0037] The display portion 30 is connected to the main body portion
20 so as to be openable and closable with hinges (not shown).
Therefore, in order to supply power from the second internal
battery 4C housed in display portion 30 to the main body portion
20, a power supply cable 8 capable of feeding a large current is
required. In the present embodiment, a power supply cable 8
consisting of plural independent slender electric wires 80 bundled
together is used. Such a bundle of the electric wires 80 are
connected at their ends to the battery control board 33
incorporated in the display portion 30. In the case where wires
having a large diameter are used for the power supply cable 8, wire
break or wire twist may occur in the course of repetitive
opening/closing operations of the display portion 30. However, when
the wires 80 are slender, possibility of wire break or wire twist
can be minimized. Specifically, the thickness of the slender
electric wire 80 is preferably is more slender than AWG (American
Wire Gauge) #30.
[0038] As above described, according to the present invention, it
is possible to incorporate a thin-plate second internal battery 4C
into the display portion 30, by using the display unit 6 which
requires no backlight in the display portion 30 to take advantage
of the resulting thickness reduction, so as to increase the
capacity and utility of the internal battery. Further, by using the
cabinet 31 in common for the display portion 30 with no backlight
and for the display portion 3 with the backlight 54, it is possible
to reduce the costs involved in fabrication and assembly of the
cabinet 31 and associated parts.
[0039] The display portion 30 is not particularly limited to the
aforesaid reflection type liquid crystal display 6. Other display
units such as EL (electro-luminescence) display, plasma display and
field effect display may be used as well.
[0040] The aforesaid lithium polymer battery 4C is particularly
suitable for the second internal battery 4C, but other thin-type
batteries adaptable for capacity increase may be used. Further, in
case that the performance of the second internal battery 4C has
been exceedingly improved to sufficiently secure a necessary
battery with the second internal battery 4C alone, the first
battery 4A to be housed in the main body portion 20 can be
omitted.
[0041] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *