Abstract: An electronic apparatus 10, such as a computer, includes a first unit 20 having a keyboard 21 and a second unit 30 coupled to the first unit 20 having a display screen 31 through a two-axis coupling section 40 to be opened, closed, and rotated relative to the first unit 20. The computer may be used either as a notebook PC or a tablet PC, and includes an optical disk drive 26 for accessing an optical disk. The present invention protects the optical disk and the optical disk drive against damage when the computer is used in the tablet PC mode. Depending on the status of the second unit 30 relative to the first unit 20, the apparatus enables or disables use of optical disk drive 26, including the drive ejection button.

Abstract: A second enclosure is coupled to a first enclosure for relative rotation around a rotation axis. The second enclosure rotates around the rotation axis in the opposite directions from a reference attitude. The second enclosure is prevented from further rotating in the first direction beyond the first rotation angle from the reference attitude. The second enclosure takes the first angular attitude. The second enclosure is also prevented from further rotating in the second direction opposite to the first direction beyond the second rotation angle from the reference attitude. The second enclosure takes the second angular attitude. The displaying unit indicates either of the first and second directions at least when the second enclosure takes the first angular attitude. The displaying unit in this manner enables the user to easily recognize an acceptable direction for the rotation of the second enclosure.

Abstract: A second enclosure is coupled to a first enclosure for relative rotation around a rotation axis. The second enclosure rotates around the rotation axis in the opposite directions from a reference attitude. The second enclosure is prevented from further rotating in the first direction beyond the first rotation angle from the reference attitude. The second enclosure takes the first angular attitude. The second enclosure is also prevented from further rotating in the second direction opposite to the first direction beyond the second rotation angle from the reference attitude. The second enclosure takes the second angular attitude. The displaying unit indicates either of the first and second directions at least when the second enclosure takes the first angular attitude. The displaying unit in this manner enables the user to easily recognize an acceptable direction for the rotation of the second enclosure.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus 10, such as a computer, includes a first unit 20 having a keyboard 21 and a second unit 30 coupled to the first unit 20 having a display screen 31 through a two-axis coupling section 40 to be opened, closed, and rotated relative to the first unit 20. The computer may be used either as a notebook PC or a tablet PC, and includes an optical disk drive 26 for accessing an optical disk. The present invention protects the optical disk and the optical disk drive against damage when the computer is used in the tablet PC mode. Depending on the status of the second unit 30 relative to the first unit 20, the apparatus enables or disables use of optical disk drive 26, including the drive ejection button.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a power supply circuit selectively providing an external power source or an internal power source, a first part determining whether the external power source is selected, a second part detecting a type of a functional unit used in the electronic device, and a third part which controls to supply the functional unit with electricity from one of the external and internal power sources on the basis of determination results obtained by the first and second parts.