GB2337857A

GB2337857A - Mounting structure

Info

Publication number: GB2337857A
Application number: GB9902526A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fumihito Imai
Original assignee: NEC Corp
Current assignee: NEC Corp
Priority date: 1998-02-06
Filing date: 1999-02-04
Publication date: 1999-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-04
Also published as: JP3134989B2; GB9902526D0; AU1548399A; AU745794B2; CN1179532C; GB2337857B; CN1230839A; JPH11225192A

Abstract

A mounting structure for an electronic apparatus includes a single holder 1 including a key sheet portion 1A to be mounted on a circuit board 2 and a plurality of holder portions 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D each for holding a particular electronic part. The mounting structure reduces the number of parts to be mounted to the circuit board and thereby enhances efficient assembly.

Description

1 1 MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR AN ELECTRONIC APPARATUS 2337857 BACKGRCUND OF

THE INVENTION The present invention retaes to a mounting structure for a handy phone or similar electronic apparatus.

A hindy phone, for example, includes a receiver, a display, a transmitter and other various electronic parts mounted on a circuit board. Such electronic parts are, in many cases, set in respective holders and then mounted to the circuit board together with the holders. Stationary contacts are arranged on the top of the circuit boa r d. It is a common practice to mount on the top of the circuit board a key sheet including movable contacts corresponding one-to-one, to the stationary contacts. The movable contacts each is movable into and out of contact with associated one of the stationary contact, servf ng as a key switch for selective 1 y estab 1 i sh i rig or 1 nter rupt i ng electric-a[ connection.

The problem with the above conventional structure is that it is necessary to set each of the various electronic parts in the respective holder and then mount such holders to the circuit board one by one. This kind of assembly is time- and tabor-consuming because the handy phone includes a number of parts and because the key sheetmust be mc)untedto the circuit boardwith its movable contact 2 accurately aligned with the stationary contacts.

Technologies relating to the present invention are disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-235443.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mounting structure for an electronic apparatus capable of reducing the number of holders and promoting efficiency assembly.

The present invention provides a device for holding one or more components of an electronic apparatus, said device comprising component receiving means for receiving said one or more components; and a plurality of movable keys for contacting respective contacts formed on a circuit board.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a structure for mounting a plurality of electronic parts for constituting an electronic apparatus to a circuit board via respective holders. The circuit board includes a plurality of stationary contacts arranged on the circuit board. A key sheet is mounted on the circuit board and includes movable contacts each being movable into and out of contact with a respective one of the stationary contacts. A holder includes a key sheet portion constituting the key sheet and a plurality of holder portions each constituting particular one of the holders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig.1 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting structure embodying the present invention and applied to a handy phone by way of example; 8 FIG. 2 is a section along line X-X of FIG. J; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a circuit board shown in FIGS.

1 and 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the handy phone in an assembled condition; and FIG. 5 is a section along line Y-Y of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Ref er r i ng to FI G. 1 of the draw i ngs, a mount i ng structure for an electronic apparatus embodying the present invent ion is shown and app I i ed to a handy phone by way of examp 1 e, As shown, the handy phone, general ty 100, includes a circuit board 2. A receiver or speaker 3.

a display 4 and a transmitter or microphone 5 are electrical iy connected to the circuit board 2 via a holder 1. The receiver 3, display 4 and transmitter 5 are electronicparts included inthe handy phone 100.

The ho 1 der 1 i s f ormed of an e 1 ast i c mater i a 1 transparent f or 1 i ght and made up of a key sheet port i on 1 A, a f i rst ho 1 der port i on 1 B, a second ho 1 der port i on 1 C, and a th i rd ho 1 der port i on 1 D. 1 Key tops 11 a are arranged i n the key sheet port i on 1A i n three para 11 e 1 arrays extending in the lengthwise direction of the circuit board 2.

As sh in FIG. 2, each key top 11a has a proje7.tion 11b, on its bottamor back anda movable contact 11c fitted on the projection 11b. The keytop 11a is flared downward, fornlingaskirt portion 11d.

A fight-conductive plate 22, which will be described later 1 1 20 4 spec i f i ca 11 y, 1 s mounted an the top of the c i rcu i t board 2. The key sheet portion 1A is positioned on the top of the light-conductive p fate 22. A stat i onary contact 21 i s pos i t i oned on the c i rcu i t board 2. The 1 i ght-conduct i ve p 1 ate 22 i s f o rmed w i th a ho 1 e 22a, so that the movab 1 e contact 11 c can contact the stet i onary contact 21 v j a the ho 1 c Z2a when the key top 11 a i s pushed down by the operator. When the operator re 1 eases the key top 11 a, i t i s restored to i ts or i g i na 1 position due to the elasticity of the skirt portion 11d. [n this sense, the movable contact 11c of the key top 11a =nstitute a key switch in cooperation with the stationary contact 21.

The key sheet portion 1A includes numer;al keys for inputting numera I s "0" through '9", a ca 11 or i g i nat ion key, an off-hook key and an onhook key as well as other conventional keys.

Referring again to FIG. 1, thefirstholder portion 1B includes a first recess 13a and two first openings 13b formed in the bottom of the f i rst recess 13a. The recess 13a receives the lower portion of the rece i ver 3 hav i ng a f 1 at cy 1 i ndr i ca 1 conf i gurat i on. Two f i rst conductors 3a extend downward f rorn the bottom of the rece i ver 3 and are connected to the circuit board 2 via the two openings 13b, respectively.

The second holder portion IC includes a second recess 14a for receiving the flat disp' lay 4 having an elongate configuration as viewed in a top plan view. A second opening 14b is formed in the bcttom of the recess 14a. A second conductor 4a extends downward f rom one of oppos i te 1 ange r s i dos of the d i sp I ay 4 and i s connected to the circuit board 2 via the opening 14b. The display 4 is often implemented by an LCO (Liquid Crystal Display).

The third holder ID includes a third recess 15a for receiving the 1 ower port ion of the f fat transmitter 5 hav i ng a cy 1 i ndr i ca I conf i gurat i on s 1 i ght 1 y sma 1 [er than the rece i ver 3. Two third openings 15b are formed in the bottom of the recess 15a. Two third conductors 5a extend downward from the bottom of the transmitter 5 and are connected to the circuit board 2 via the two openings 15b, r espect i ve I y.

The'first holder portion IB, second holder portion 1C, key sheet portion 1A and third holder portion ID having the above conf i gurat i ors are 1 i near fy arranged i n th i s; order i n tht 1 engthw i se direction of the circuit board 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the circuit board 2 has first stationary contacts 22, a second stationary contact 24 and third stationary contacts 25 arranged on its top. The first stationary contacts 23 are electrically connected to the firstconductors 3a of the receiver 3. The second stationary contact 24 is electrically connected to the second conductor 4a of the display 4. The third stationary contacts 25 are electrically connected to the third conductorG 5a of the transmitter 5.

The stationary contacts 21 (see FIG. 2 also) are arranged an the top of the circuit board 2 in one-to-one correspondence to the movable contacts 11c (see FIG. 2 also) of the key sheet portion]A.

Each movable contact 11c is electrically connected to the circuit 6 board 2 via the respective stationary contact 21 when pushed down, as stated earlier.

The f 1 at 1 i ght-conduct i ve p 1 ate 22 went i cried prev i ous 1 y i s 1 ongate, as seen i n a top p 1 an v i ew, and mountcd on the top of the i rcu it 12oard 2. The 1 i ght-conduct i ve p 1 ate 22 extends over the back o-f the display 4 and that of the key sheet portion 1A. The plate 22 i s f ormed w i th the open ings 22a, one of whi i eh i s shown i n F 1 G. 2, f or allowing the movable contacts 11c to contact the associated stationary contacts 21, as stated earlier.

Astrip-like first lightsource24a ispositioned on the top o-fthe light-conductive pfate 22 for lighting a display portion 4b included in the display 4b (see FIG. 1). The first light source 24a extends a 1 ong the other 1 onger s i de of the d i sp 1 ay 4 oppos i te to the second conductor 4a. Second I i ght sources 21 a each i s pos i t i oned i n 16 the vicinity of one of the key tops 11a for lighting the associated key top 11 a. L i ght i ssu i rig f rorn the f i rst 1 i ght source 24a i s gu i ded to the d i sp 1 ay port i on 4b v i a the i i ght-conduct i ve p 1 ate 22 and second holder portion ICaccommodating the display 4. Light issuing from any one of the second fight sources 21a is guided to the associated key top 11 a v i a the 1 i ght-canduct i ve p 1 ate 22 and key sheet port i on 1 A.

The handy phone 100 is assembled by the fol lowing, procedure.

First, as shcwn in FIG. 1, the holder 1 is laid on the circuit board 2 &hown in Fl G. 3, At this instant, the holder 1 is positioned such that the movab[e contacts 11c of the key tops 11a are respectively positioned above the stationary contacts 21, and such that the first open i ngs 1 3b, second open i ng 14b and th i rd open i ngs 15b respect i ve 1 V align with the first stationary contacts 23, second stationary contact 2, and third stationary contacts 25.

Subsequent J y, the f i rst wriductors 3a of the rec,-- i ver 3, the second conductor 4a of the display 4 and the third conductors 5a of the transmitter 5 are inserted into the first openings 13b, second opening 14b, and third openings 15b, respectively. Then, the conductors 3a, 4a and5a are electri'cal ly connected to the associated stationary contacts 23, 24 and 25, respectively.

After the above electrical connection, the receiver 3, display 4 and transmitter 5 are set in the f i rst holder portion 1B, second holder portion 1C and third holder portion ID, respectively. FIG.

4 shows the resulting assembly of the handy phone 100.

Referringagain to FIG. 2, whcnthe operator of the handy phone pushes down any one of the key tops 11 a, the movab 1 e contact 11 c pos[ti oned on the projection 11b of the key top 11a is brought into contact with the stationary contact positioned below the movable contact llc. When the operator releases the above key top 11a, the key top 11a returns to its original position due to the elasticity of the sk i rt part i on 11 d, re 1 eas i ng the movab 1 c contact 11 c f rom the stationary contact 21.

Howthe display4b andkeytops 11a are lighted is as follows.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the first light source 24a mounted on the 26 circuit board 2 issues ligtit, the light is propagated through the 8 1 ight-conductive plate 22 and second ha I der 'I c to the display portion 4b of the display 4. Because the fight is transmitted through the display portion 4b, the display portion 4b appears bright. When any one of the second 1 ight sources 21a also mounted on the ci rcuit board 2 i ssues I i ght, the 1 i ght i s propagated through the 1 i ght-conduct i ve plate 22 and key sheet portion 1A to the associated key top 11a, lighting the key top 11a.

As stated above, i n the i 1 lustrat i ve embod i merit, the key sheet port i oh 1 A to be mounted on the substrate and the f i rst to th 1 rd ho 1 der par-tions 18-ID for accomnodating the receiver 3, display 4 and transmitter 5 are implemented as a single holder 1. This. s i gn i f i cant 1 y reduces the number of parts of the handy phone 100 and therefore promotes efficient essembly.

In the above cmbodiment, the holder 1 is formed of a single 16 material, i.e., an elastic material transparent for light. Alternatively, each of the portions]A-1D may be -formed of a particular material so long as the portions TA-1D con be implemented as a single molding. For example, for the key sheet portion 1A, use may be made of a material elastic enough for the key tops 11a to be pressed and restored and capable of conducting light reached it from the second 1 i ght sources 21 a v i a the 1 i ght-conduct i ve p 1 ate 22 to the corresponding key tops 11a. Also, the first and third holder portions 13 and 1D may be formed of materials respectively matching with the acoustic character istics of the receiver 3 and transmitter 5, thereby enhanc i ng speech que 1 i ty. Further, for the second holder 9 portion 1 C, use may be made of a material transparent for light for conducting light issuing from the first light source 24a to the display portion 4b of the display 4.

The above portions IA-1D molded integrally to constitute the holder 2 and formed of different materials are desirable from the efficient assembly standpoint. In addition, each of the portions I A- I D can be formed of a particular optimal material matching with its expected fluiction. Of course, the portions I A- I D may be formed of different materials independently of each other and then moIded integrally to complete holder 2.

While the illustrative embodiment has concentrated on a handy phone, the present invention is similarly applicable to various kinds of electronic apparatuses, particularly of the type including a circuit board having a plurality of stationary contacts, a key sheet mounted on the circuit board and having contacts movable into and out of contact with the stationary contacts, and a plurality of electronic parts mounted on the circuit board via the holder.

In summary, a mounting structure for an electronic apparatus includes a single holder including a key sheet portion to be mounted on a circuit board and a plurality of holder portions for holding electronic parts. The structure therefore reduces the number of parts to be mounted to the circuit board and thereby enhances efficient assembly of the apparatus.

Various modifications will become possible for those skilled in the art after receiving the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (which term includes the claims) and/or shown in the drawings may be incorporated in the invention independently of other disclosed andlor illustrated features.

Statements in this speciflication of the "objects of the invention" relate to preferred embodiments of the invention, but not necessarily to all embodiments of the invention falling within the claims.

The description of the invention with reference to the drawings only.

is by way of example C LA 1 M S:- 1. A device for holding one or more components of an electronic apparatus, said device comprising:

component receiving means for receiving said one or more components; and a plurality of movable keys for contacting respective contacts formed on a circuit board.

Claims

2. A device according to Claim 1 comprising a plurality of contacts formed

on said keys for contacting respective contacts formed on the circuit board.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said keys and component receiving means are formed in a planar arrangement.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said component receiving means comprises one or more recesses for accommodating respective components.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said component receiving comprises receiver/transmitter receiving means for receiving at least one of a receiver and a transmitter.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said receiver/transmitter receiving means is formed from material for enhancing an acoustic characteristic of said at least one of a receiver and a transmitter.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said component receiving means comprises means for receiving a display.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said display receiving means is formed from material substantially transparent to light.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said keys are formed from elastic material.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said elastic material is substantially transparent to light.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said keys are formed in a key sheet portion of said device.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said keys comprise a plurality of numeral keys, a call origination key, an off-hook key and an on-hook key.

13.

A device as claimed in any preceding claim, formed from one material.

14. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 12, formed from a plurality of different materials.

15. A combination of a device according to any preceding claim and a circuit board comprising a plurality of contacts.

A. circuit board.

A combination according to Claim 15, wherein said device is mounted on said 17. A combination of a device according to Claims 8 and 10, and means for illuminating a display through said display receiving means and said keys.

18. A combination according to Claim 17, wherein said device is mounted on a circuit board, said illuminating means being positioned between the device and the circuit board.

19. Electronic apparatus comprising a device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 14.

20. Electronic apparatus comprising a combination as claimed in any of Claims to 18.

21. Electronic apparatus according to Claims 19 or 20, comprising a telephone.

22. A telephone according to Claim 21, comprising a transmitter, a receiver and a display each located in said component receiving means.

23. A device for holding one or more components of an electronic apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A combination of a device for holding one or more components of an electronic apparatus and a circuit board substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A combination of a device for holding one or more components of an electronic apparatus and illuminating means substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

26. Electronic apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.