Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With radio cabinet
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-14
2002-12-31
Le, Hoanganh (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With radio cabinet
C343S7000MS
Reexamination Certificate
active
06501429
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a small portable information processing apparatus referred to as a “personal data assistance” or a “mobile computer”.
BACKGROUND ART
In a small portable information terminal referred to as a “personal data assistance” or a “mobile computer”, the main unit of the apparatus is small, so that various units are externally attached as accessory units.
In general, the usability of small portable information processing apparatuses is improved by enhancing their accessory units. Hitherto, however, there has been a problem in that the usability is still unsatisfactory despite enhanced functionality.
For example, in small portable information terminals, most antenna units for receiving signals transmitted from a GPS satellite are folded against the rear surfaces of the portable information terminals as disclosed in, for instance, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-55910, and the antenna units are pulled out and used only when necessary. However, in the portable information terminals of such a design, the antenna units are inevitably attached even when the portable information terminals are used for other purposes than GPS. This adds to the size of the apparatus, adversely affecting the usability. There is also a danger in that the antenna units are pulled out with an undue force, damaging the antenna units; however, no considerations have been given to the inconvenience. Furthermore, no members are provided to support the antenna units, which have been pulled out, at the rear surface side, so that a small force may damage the antenna units. addition, various accessories are frequently connected to connectors in portable information processing terminals. In such a case, connector covers that cover the connectors are removed from the portable information terminals, so that there is a danger of losing the removed connector covers.
Furthermore, when portable information terminals include digitizing units for input, it is convenient if the portable information terminals are equipped with input pens. However, the input pens that can be attached to the portable information terminals are short; hence, the input pens would be conveniently used if they are retractable in about two steps. Merely attaching such input pens to the portable information terminals, however, requires users take cumbersome two steps of operation, i.e., a step of removing the input pens from the portable information terminals and another step of extending the input pens.
The conventional portable information equipment provided with built-in or installed GPS units or modules as mentioned above suffers consumption of large power by the GPS units in addition to the unsatisfactory usability set forth above. This has been posing a problem in that batteries run out quickly when the GPS units are operated with the power switch of the equipment turned ON or when the GPS units are interlocked with application software using information regarding current positions.
To operate a GPS unit, it is necessary to catch a plurality of GPS signals from radio wave sources such as a plurality of artificial satellites after turning the power of the unit ON, so that a certain time is required to acquire positioning data. Therefore, during use of predetermined application software of the information equipment, it is possible, for example, to turn the power ON to actuate the GPS unit by software when the information regarding a current position becomes necessary. This method, however, requires that a user wait for a certain time before the positional information is acquired, considerably limiting the functionality of the information equipment capable of quick information processing.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to implement a portable information processing apparatus capable of providing good usability even when various accessories are attached to a portable information terminal.
To this end, a portable information processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention has a portable information terminal equipped with a display surface on a front side thereof, an antenna unit for receiving signals transmitted from a GPS satellite, and an attaching/detaching mechanism that allows the antenna unit to be attached or detached to or from the portable information terminal without changing a projection area from the side of the display surface.
In the specification of the present application, the portable information processing apparatus includes the portable information terminal and accessory units that are to be attached thereto, while the portable information terminal means the terminal alone, excluding the accessory units.
According to the present invention, the antenna unit can be left detached unless the portable information terminal is used for GPS, contributing to improved convenience. Moreover, the projection area from the side of the display surface remains unchanged whether the antenna unit has been removed from or attached to the portable information terminal. This means that the antenna unit does not protrude beyond the portable information terminal sideways even when the antenna unit is installed to the portable information terminal, permitting easy handling of the portable information terminal with the antenna unit attached thereto.
In the present invention, preferably, the antenna unit is equipped with a rotating center axis that permits switching between a folded state, wherein the antenna unit has been folded closely against the rear surface side of the portable information terminal, and an unfolded state wherein the antenna unit has been pulled out from the folded state, while being turned, toward the outer periphery side of the portable information terminal so that it is inclined toward the rear surface with respect to the display surface of the portable information terminal. With this arrangement, the antenna unit can be switched from the folded state to the unfolded state by simple turning the antenna unit. The antenna unit is placed closely against the rear surface of the portable information terminal in the folded state so as not to be obstructive. Furthermore, since the antenna unit is tilted toward the rear surface with respect to the display surface in the unfolded state, the antenna unit will be supported horizontally when the user tilts the portable information terminal for easier viewing of the display surface, thus providing an advantage in that the receiving sensitivity of the antenna unit will be improved.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the antenna unit is folded closely against the rear surface of the portable information terminal, being oriented widthwise, in the folded state as observed from the rotating center position where the antenna unit switches between the folded state and the unfolded state, whereas the antenna unit projects from the distal end side of the portable information terminal when it turns 90 degrees to switch from the above state to the unfolded state. With this arrangement, the antenna unit can be folded and unfolded within an easy-to-handle angle range, namely, 90 degrees, thus contributing to easier use.
In this case, it is preferable that the rotating center axis is inclined at 45 degrees as observed from the side for bisecting an angle range of switching between the folded state and the unfolded state so that the antenna unit remains at the same height widthwise whether it is in the folded state or the unfolded state.
In another mode of the present invention, it is preferable that the turning portion of the antenna unit is provided with a clicking mechanism that switches the magnitude of turning torque between the folded state and the unfolded state so as to inform the user of the completion of the folding and the position immediately before reaching the completion of the unfolding. This arrangement enables the user to adjust his or her applying force according to the clicking feel when he or she turns the antenna unit. Thus, no undue force is applied to the antenna unit, pro
Maezawa Hidekazu
Momose Akira
Nakamura Akiyoshi
Haro Rosalio
Le Hoang-anh
Seiko Epson Corporation
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