Abstract: A hinge device includes a shaft that is rotatable around the axis, and a torque imparting portion configured to impart a rotational torque to rotation of the shaft. The torque imparting portion includes: a ring having a shaft insertion hole through which the shaft is inserted with rattling, the ring covering a part of an outer circumferential face of the shaft in the axis direction; an elastic member that biases the ring in the axis direction from a position displaced from the axis of the shaft; and an adjuster configured to adjust a force that the elastic member biases the ring.

Abstract: A portable information device capable of reducing a gap between two displays is described. The portable information device includes a first chassis, a second chassis adjacent to the first chassis, a first display provided on a top surface of the first chassis, a second display provided on a top surface of the second chassis, a hinge device, and at least one link mechanism operating in conjunction with the rotational operation between the first chassis and the second chassis by the hinge device. At least one of the first chassis and the second chassis is provided to be relatively slidable with respect to the hinge device along an arranging direction of the first chassis and the second chassis. The link mechanism includes a first slider, a first shaft output portion, a second slider, a second shaft output portion, and a driving part.

Abstract: A hinge device includes a shaft that is rotatable around the axis, and a torque imparting portion configured to impart a rotational torque to rotation of the shaft. The torque imparting portion includes: a ring having a shaft insertion hole through which the shaft is inserted with rattling, the ring covering a part of an outer circumferential face of the shaft in the axis direction; an elastic member that biases the ring in the axis direction from a position displaced from the axis of the shaft; and an adjuster configured to adjust a force that the elastic member biases the ring.

Abstract: A portable information device capable of reducing a gap between two displays is described. The portable information device includes a first chassis, a second chassis adjacent to the first chassis, a first display provided on a top surface of the first chassis, a second display provided on a top surface of the second chassis, a hinge device, and at least one link mechanism operating in conjunction with the rotational operation between the first chassis and the second chassis by the hinge device. At least one of the first chassis and the second chassis is provided to be relatively slidable with respect to the hinge device along an arranging direction of the first chassis and the second chassis. The link mechanism includes a first slider, a first shaft output portion, a second slider, a second shaft output portion, and a driving part.

Abstract: A portable information device is disclosed. The portable information device includes a first chassis having a first display, a second chassis having a second display, and a hinge mechanism rotatably couples the first chassis to the second chassis. The hinge mechanism includes a set of hinge shafts with axial directions provided along an aligning direction of the first and second chassis, a slide support part supported by the first chassis to be slidable along the aligning direction to support a first one of the hinge shafts closest to the first chassis in a manner to be relatively rotatable, and a fixed support part fixed to the second chassis to support a second one of the hinge shafts closest to the second chassis in a manner to be relatively rotatable.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus equipped with a camera includes a shutter mechanism which includes: a plate that is installed so as to be able to move between a first position shielding a lens of a camera from light and a second position not shielding the lens of the camera from light; and a control unit that controls electric power from a power unit that causes a first wire or a second wire to thermally shrink. The plate is moved from the first position to the second position by the first operation lever, and, when the plate is in the second position, causes the second wire to thermally shrink to thereby drive a second operation lever, so that the plate is moved from the second position to the first position by a biasing force of a first spring.

Abstract: A method of driving an actuator using a shape memory alloy is provided. An impact-driven actuator is activated by a pulse voltage generated by an action of a transistor. A keyboard outputs a key event at the timing of an input operation. A stress monitoring unit calculates a stress amount of an impact-driven actuator based on parameters of a key event and a pulse voltage. A stress adjustment unit changes the parameter of the pulse voltage when the stress amount reaches a permissible value. The parameter may be a wave crest value or a pulse width of the pulse voltage. The stress adjustment section is also able to stop the action of the impact-driven actuator in response to a key event corresponding to a break code.

Abstract: A portable information device is disclosed. The portable information device includes a first chassis having a first display, a second chassis having a second display, and a hinge mechanism rotatably couples the first chassis to the second chassis. The hinge mechanism includes a set of hinge shafts with axial directions provided along an aligning direction of the first and second chassis, a slide support part supported by the first chassis to be slidable along the aligning direction to support a first one of the hinge shafts closest to the first chassis in a manner to be relatively rotatable, and a fixed support part fixed to the second chassis to support a second one of the hinge shafts closest to the second chassis in a manner to be relatively rotatable.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus equipped with a camera includes a shutter mechanism which includes: a plate that is installed so as to be able to move between a first position shielding a lens of a camera from light and a second position not shielding the lens of the camera from light; and a control unit that controls electric power from a power unit that causes a first wire or a second wire to thermally shrink. The plate is moved from the first position to the second position by the first operation lever, and, when the plate is in the second position, causes the second wire to thermally shrink to thereby drive a second operation lever, so that the plate is moved from the second position to the first position by a biasing force of a first spring.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, a control method, and a program can more accurately distinguish a vibration added to a chassis from the detected vibration. The information processing apparatus includes a first chassis in which at least one first vibration detecting unit is provided; a second chassis in which at least one second vibration detecting unit is provided, a face of the second chassis overlapping with a face of the first chassis; and a controller. The controller determines a contact state of the first chassis based on relative characteristics of a first vibration that is a vibration detected by the first vibration detecting unit with respect to a second vibration that is a vibration detected by the second vibration detecting unit.

Abstract: To appropriately control an input portion by haptic feedback an electronic device has a vibration generator vibrating an input portion in response to contact with the input portion, a driving circuit portion supplying a driving signal having an acceleration period including a first pulse of a predetermined pulse width vibrating the vibration generator by resonance and a deceleration period including a second pulse of a phase opposite to the phase of the first pulse to the vibration generator, and a vibration control portion changing the number of first pulses included in the driving signal supplied to the vibration generator by the driving circuit portion according to the operating environment.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and program product that can reduce noise caused by haptic feedback are provided. One apparatus includes a display that displays a cursor. The apparatus includes an input device that detects a user operation and generates operation data for operating the cursor based on the user operation. The apparatus also includes a haptic feedback device that provides haptic feedback based on the operation of the cursor. The apparatus includes a control device that controls the operation of the cursor based on the operation data, and modifies the operation data to reduce noise caused by the haptic feedback during a time period in which the haptic feedback is generated.

Abstract: A haptic actuator for generating haptic feedbacks to provide perceptions of different characteristics is provided. The haptic actuator includes a vibration mechanism and a striking mechanism. The vibration mechanism, in response to a receipt of a predetermined electric power, applies a steady vibration to a vibrating body. The striking mechanism, in response to the receipt of an electric power larger than the predetermined electric power, strikes the vibrating body in order to provide a haptic feedback to the vibrating body. The haptic actuator is able to apply a vibration according to the vibration mechanism and a vibration according to the striking mechanism to the vibrating body.

Abstract: To appropriately control an input portion by haptic feedback an electronic device has a vibration generator vibrating an input portion in response to contact with the input portion, a driving circuit portion supplying a driving signal having an acceleration period including a first pulse of a predetermined pulse width vibrating the vibration generator by resonance and a deceleration period including a second pulse of a phase opposite to the phase of the first pulse to the vibration generator, and a vibration control portion changing the number of first pulses included in the driving signal supplied to the vibration generator by the driving circuit portion according to the operating environment.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, a control method, and a program can more accurately distinguish a vibration added to a chassis from the detected vibration. The information processing apparatus includes a first chassis in which at least one first vibration detecting unit is provided; a second chassis in which at least one second vibration detecting unit is provided, a face of the second chassis overlapping with a face of the first chassis; and a controller. The controller determines a contact state of the first chassis based on relative characteristics of a first vibration that is a vibration detected by the first vibration detecting unit with respect to a second vibration that is a vibration detected by the second vibration detecting unit.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method, including: displaying, on a touch sensitive display, a data structure composed of a plurality of keys in a keyboard window; determining, using a processor, at least one key to display in the keyboard window; receiving, at an input device, user input; changing, based on user input, the keys to be displayed in the keyboard window; and selecting a key based on user input, using the touch sensitive display screen, from the keys displayed in the keyboard window. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A portable information device is provided. The portable information device includes a first chassis and a second chassis, a display, a back part and a movable back plate. The display, which is configured to be foldable in half, is disposed over inner faces of the first and second chassis. The back part, includes a movable hinge configured to join the first and second chassis rotatably. When the first and second chassis are folded towards each other, the movable hinge moves on the inner faces of the chassis in a direction from open ends of the chassis to the back part that is located on an opposite side of the open ends. The movable back plate configured to support a rear face of the display at a part corresponding to the back part. When the first and second chassis are folded towards each other, the movable back plate moves in a direction from the open ends to the back part together with the movable hinge.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are disclosed. The system includes a command module that generates haptic commands; a haptic actuator; a drive circuit that applies a first driving voltage in response to a first haptic command and applies a second driving voltage in response to a second haptic command. The apparatus includes a haptic actuator; a DC power supply; a first power supply circuit that outputs a first DC voltage; a second power supply circuit that outputs a second DC voltage higher than the first DC voltage; a drive circuit that applies a first driving voltage and a second driving voltage; and a controller that designates an operating mode. The method includes generating a first haptic command and a second haptic command; applying a first driving voltage to a haptic actuator; and applying a second driving voltage to the haptic actuator.

Abstract: To provide a docking device capable of securing heat dissipation performance of a portable information apparatus while extending the function of an electronic apparatus in which an extension unit is mounted on the portable information apparatus, and an electronic apparatus system having the docking device. A docking unit that has a docking portion capable of docking an electronic apparatus in which a mounting surface of an extension unit is detachably mounted on a back surface of the portable information apparatus, a holding portion holding the portable information apparatus at a predetermined position in a docking direction when the electronic apparatus is docked with the docking portion, and a forcibly moving portion forcibly moving the extension unit in the docking direction when the electronic apparatus is docked with the docking portion.

Abstract: A heat dissipation system within a housing of a computer is disclosed. The heat dissipation system includes a heat dissipating fan, a temperature sensor, a rotation speed setting portion, and a performance control portion. The rotation speed setting portion is configured to change a rotation speed of the heat dissipating fan in a stepwise manner based on a threshold temperature and a measurement temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The performance control portion is configured to temporarily reduce the processing capability of a processor within the computer in response to a determination that the measurement temperature has exceeded the threshold temperature during a predetermined period of time.