JP2001337739A - Housing of portable computer and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a housing of a portable computer and a manufacturing method having superior resistance to vibration and impact, facilitating heat dissipation, and being capable of efficiently shielding electromagnetic wave, by forming the housing of metallic material. SOLUTION: The manufacturing method of the housing of the portable computer includes a step in which a suitable plate-like metallic material is selected, a step in which the plate-like metallic material is press worked and the housing is formed using a lathe and the like, a step in which a required fastening means is located at a suitable prior fixing position, a step in which a fixing means is selected according to required strength to fix the fastening means to the housing-like form, a step in which each fastening means is fixed and located by the selected fixing means, and a step in which the housing-like form is coated with a plastic film to form the housing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable computer housing and a method of manufacturing the same by a type of assembling method. Various types of mounting units are joined in various ways to make assembly easier, simplify the manufacturing process, omit molds, reduce costs,
And objects that can achieve the purpose of shielding electromagnetic waves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The housing of a well-known portable computer is integrally formed of a plastic material, and connects various internal units such as a monitor, a motherboard, a hard disk, an optical disk driver, a battery box and a keyboard by various fixing means. It is designed to be placed. Therefore, the inside of the housing made of a plastic material has an irregular shape, which increases the difficulty of a mold or the like in a manufacturing process. When an internal unit (for example, a motherboard) is screwed with a fixing screw, it is necessary to dispose a metal washer on a housing made of a plastic material.
This will further increase the difficulty in manufacturing.

[0003] Furthermore, when a unit mounted inside is renewed, a mold must be newly prepared for a housing made of a new plastic material, which increases the manufacturing cost. In addition, a housing made of a plastic material has disadvantages such as poor heat conductivity, poor heat dissipation effect, weakness to vibration, weakness to shock, and inability to prevent interference of external electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic waves generated by the computer itself cannot be effectively shielded, and there is a concern that the health of the user may be seriously damaged.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a housing for a portable computer having characteristics such as easy heat dissipation, strong resistance to vibration and shock, and effective shielding of electromagnetic waves, and a method of manufacturing the same. The purpose is to do.

Further, the present invention provides a fixing means for a necessary internal mounting unit on a housing so that fixing means of different materials can be used, and the fixing means can be positioned by different units inside the computer. An object of the present invention is to provide a housing of a portable computer and a method of manufacturing the housing, in which the unit can be easily assembled by making the unit changeable, and it is not necessary to newly create a mold every time a model is changed. Further, the present invention provides a portable computer housing including a fixing means capable of effectively fixing a unit inside a computer by selecting an appropriate fixing method according to the strength required for fixing the fixing means, and manufacturing the same. The aim is to provide a method. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a housing of a portable computer and a method of manufacturing the same, which can protect an internal unit and prevent the entry of dust and the like when the upper lid of the housing is closed.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method of manufacturing a portable computer housing according to the present invention comprises the following steps. A) a step of selecting an appropriate plate-shaped metal material; b) a step of forming the appropriate metal housing by pressing and lathing the plate-shaped metal material; c) necessary fixing. Positioning the means in advance at an appropriate fixing position; d) selecting a fixing method according to the required strength in order to fix the fixing means on the housing; e) selecting the fixing method according to the selected fixing method. Fixing the fixing means to the housing, and f) covering the housing with a plastic film.

Further, the housing of the portable computer constructed by the above-described manufacturing method is configured such that one end edges of the upper lid and the housing main body are rotatably supported by a support shaft,
An engagement means is provided at each of the other ends of the upper lid and the main body so that the internal unit can be protected when the upper lid and the main body are closed. Further, a securing means is provided on the housing so that the mounting of the computer unit can be selectively secured.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to explain the features and effects of the present invention, a specific embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a manufacturing process for a housing of an assembled notebook computer, showing one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a housing of a portable computer according to the present invention.

As shown, the manufacturing method includes the following steps. That is, in the step 1, an appropriate plate-shaped metal material such as a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy is selected.

[0010] In the next step 2, the plate-shaped metal material is formed into a thin plate by press working, lathe working or the like to form a metallic housing. In this step 2,
Since the fixing means is not additionally manufactured, it is easy to manufacture, resistant to vibration and impact, and can effectively shield electromagnetic waves inside or outside the computer.

In step 3, a method of fixing the computer unit to be fixed to the metallic housing formed in step 2 is selected. If the required fixing strength is the weakest (step 5), a method of attaching the unit directly to the housing with an adhesive is selected (step 10).

Also, whether the required fixing strength is the next weakest,
If it is moderate or strong (Step 4), in Step 6, a fixing method based on the required fixing strength is selected to fix the housing. Then, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the fixing strength is the second lowest, as shown in FIG. 4, the fixed pedestal portion 301 having the engaging portion 302 which is fixedly engaged with the motherboard 17 and the keyboard 21 is integrally formed of a plastic material. Further, the reinforcing legs 303 are formed of a metal material to form the engagement fixing means 30 so that they can be fixed. The lower end of the fixed pedestal 301 is fixed to a predetermined inner surface of the housing body 15 with an adhesive, and the reinforcing leg 303 penetrates through the engaging portion 302 through a through hole 304 formed in the upper surface 303a. Then, a welding part 305 formed by bending the lower end of the reinforcing leg part 303 is welded to the housing body 15 by a method such as soldering. 9).

When the required fixing strength is medium, such as the battery box 20 and the optical disk driver 18, as shown in FIG. 5, a metal material having a vertical groove 401 internally threaded with a female screw is used. Is welded to the housing body 15 (step 8).

Further, the fixing means for the important unit inside the computer which requires the highest fixing strength or the unit which needs the strength against impact,
As shown in FIG. 6, a screw-type fixing means made of a metal material in which a screw fixing part having a vertical groove 502 in which a female screw is threaded by press working or the like and a reinforcing plate part 501 are integrally formed. Forming the housing body 1
5 (step 7).

In step 11, the computer unit 4 is attached to the respective fixing means 30, 40, 50 fixedly disposed on the housing body 15 in steps 7, 8, and 9.
3, 43a are fixed. In the case of the unit to be fixed to the engagement and fixing means 30 in step 9, an engagement hole (not shown) is formed in a bottom face of the unit at a position facing the engagement and fixing means 30, and the unit side is engaged. The hole and the engagement fixing means 30 are engaged to tightly connect and fix.

In the case of the screw fixing means 40 in steps 7 and 8 or the reinforcing screw fixing means 50, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the screw fixing means 40 on the bottom surface of the units 43 and 43a are used. Alternatively, a lower screw groove 431 is formed at a position facing the reinforcing screw fixing means 50, and an upper screw groove 4 is formed at a position facing the lower screw groove 431 on the upper surface of the unit 43.
32 are formed. The height of the lower screwing groove 431 is set to such a degree that the protrusion of the screwing fixing means 40 or the reinforcing screwing fixing means 50 is housed. Further, the upper screw groove 432
The inner wall protrudes to the center between the and the lower screw groove 431,
A screw support portion 433 whose inner diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the longitudinal grooves 401 and 502 formed by threading the female screw of the screw fixing means 40 or the reinforcing screw fixing means 50 is formed.
The units 43 and 43a are tightly connected and fixed by the units 2 and 42a. Since the reinforcing screw fixing means 50 has a large area in contact with the housing 22 of the reinforcing plate portion 501, stronger fixing strength can be obtained as compared with the screw fixing means 40, and the unit 43a is fixed by the fixing screw 42a. It can be tightly connected and fixed to the housing body 22.

In the case where the required fixing strength is the weakest, the units 43 and 43a can be directly adhered on the predetermined inner surface of the housing main body 15 with an adhesive in the step 11, especially the fixing means. Is not used. In step 12, the exterior of the housing 60 is covered with a plastic fill to improve the external appearance of the computer and complete the product (step 13).

As described above, necessary fixing means are provided in advance at appropriate fixing positions. Each fixing means is made of different material, and these fixing means achieve the convenience of assembling and the purpose of eliminating the mold so that the disposition position can be changed by different units inside the computer. .

FIG. 2 shows an overall perspective view of a housing of an assembled notebook computer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which a lid is opened.
Further, FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 disclose one embodiment of different fixing means to be fixed to the housing body.

According to the manufacturing method disclosed in the present invention, the housing 60 is formed entirely of the metal housing main body 15 and the upper lid 14 from a light metal material. One end of the upper lid 14 and one end of the housing main body 15 are pivotally supported on the housing main body 15 by a support shaft (not shown). A male engaging means 141 is provided at each other end,
When the female cover engaging means 151 is provided and the upper cover 14 and the housing main body 15 are closed, the internal unit is protected, dust is prevented from entering, and an external electromagnetic wave or an electromagnetic wave generated from the computer itself is prevented. Effective shielding.

A fixing means (not shown) is attached to the upper lid 14.
The monitor 16 is attached to the housing main body 15 via fixing means 30, 4 as shown in FIGS.
A motherboard 17, a disk drive 18, an optical disk drive 19, a battery box 20, and a keyboard 21 are mounted via the channels 0 and 50.

FIG. 4 shows a fixed pedestal portion 3 having an engaging portion 302 which is fixedly engaged with the motherboard 17 and the keyboard 21.
No. 01 is integrally molded from a plastic material, and furthermore, reinforcing legs 303 are formed from a metal material to form the engaging and fixing means 30 so that they can be fixed to each other. The lower end of the fixed pedestal portion 301 is fixed on a predetermined inner surface of the housing body 15 with an adhesive, and the reinforcing leg 303 is formed in the upper surface 303a of the through hole 3.
The welded portion 305 is formed by penetrating the engaging portion 302 through the support body 04 and abutting on the upper surface of the fixed pedestal portion 301, and bending the lower end of the reinforcing leg 303 to form the welding portion 305. Is welded by soldering or the like.

When the required fixing strength is medium, such as the battery box 20 and the optical disk driver 18, as shown in FIG. 5, a metal material having a vertical groove 401 internally threaded with a female screw is used. Is welded to the housing main body 15. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a female screw is screwed into an important unit inside the computer which requires the highest fixing strength, or a unit which needs the strength against impact. A screw fixing portion having a carved vertical groove 502 and a reinforcing plate portion 501 form a reinforcing screw fixing means 50 made of a metal material integrally molded so as to be welded to the housing body 15.

When the computer units 43, 43a are fixed to the respective fixing means 30, 40, 50 fixedly disposed on the housing body 15, the engaging and fixing means 30 is provided on the bottom of the unit. Fixing means 30
An engaging hole (not shown) is formed at a position facing the unit, and the engaging hole on the unit side and the engaging fixing means 30 are engaged.
5 and 6 in the case of the screw fixing means 40 or the reinforcing screw fixing means 50.
As shown in FIG. 4, a lower screw groove 431 is formed on the bottom surface of the units 43 and 43a at a position facing the screw fixing means 40 or the reinforcing screw fixing means 50.
An upper screw groove 432 is formed at a position on the upper surface facing the lower screw groove 431. The height of the lower screwing groove 431 is set to such a level that the protrusion of the screw fixing means 40 or the reinforcing screw fixing means 50 is housed. Furthermore, the upper screw groove 4
32 and the lower screw groove 431, the inner wall protrudes to the center, and the inner diameter thereof is formed by threaded female threads of the screw fixing means 40 or the reinforcing screw fixing means 50.
A screw support portion 433 corresponding to the inner diameter of 02 is formed, and the units 43, 43a are tightly connected and fixed by fixing screws 42, 42a. Since the reinforcing screw fixing means 50 has a large area in contact with the housing 22 of the reinforcing plate portion 501, a stronger fixing strength can be obtained as compared with the screw fixing means 40, and the unit 43a is fixed by the fixing screw 42a.
Can be tightly connected and fixed to the housing body 22.

When the required fixing strength is the weakest, the units 43 and 43a can be directly adhered on a predetermined inner surface of the housing body 15 with an adhesive.
In particular, no fixing means is used. The metal housing main body 15 having the above-described configuration can easily dissipate heat, and can have enhanced vibration resistance and shock resistance.

The above description is the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. The fixing means according to the present invention has a plate shape,
Alternatively, after being formed into a net shape, it is fixed to the housing of the computer. Such a housing can be applied to a notebook type, an electronic dictionary which is a more compact type, or a device such as a PDA.
Therefore, any modification, alteration, or the like of a shape, structure, feature, or equivalent effect that can be made by those skilled in the art, including an application of the spirit of the present invention, shall be included in the claims of the present invention.

[0027]

The housing of the portable computer according to the present invention can easily dissipate heat by selecting and processing an appropriate metal material having good thermal conductivity.
It is strong against vibration and shock, and has an effect of effectively shielding electromagnetic waves. Also, by providing fixing means for the necessary internal mounting unit on the housing so that fixing means made of different materials can be used, and the fixing means can be changed in position by different units inside the computer, Easier assembly of units, not only do not need to create a new mold every time the model is changed, but also significantly reduce the manufacturing cost without considering the stock problem of the old type Can be. When the fixing means is fixed, the fixing means can be effectively fixed inside the computer by selecting an appropriate fixing method according to the required strength.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a housing of a portable computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of a housing of the portable computer according to the present invention, with an upper lid closed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where an upper cover of a housing of FIG. 2 is opened.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the engagement fixing means when the fixing strength in FIG. 2 is the second lowest.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the unit is fixed using the screw fixing means in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the unit is fixed using the reinforcing screw fixing means in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 Upper Cover 141 Male Engagement Means 15 Housing Main Body 151 Female Engagement Means 16 Monitor 17 Motherboard 18 Disk Driver 19 Optical Disk Driver 20 Battery Box 21 Keyboard 30 Engagement Fixing Means 301 Fixed Base 302 Engagement Part 303 Reinforcement Leg 304 Through Hole 305 Welding part 40 Screw fixing means 401 Vertical groove 42, 42a Fixing screw 43, 43a Unit 431 Lower screw groove 432 Upper screw groove 433 Screw support part 50 Reinforced screw fixing means 501 Reinforcement plate part 60 Housing

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A method for manufacturing a housing for a portable computer, comprising: a) selecting an appropriate plate-shaped metal material; and b) pressing the plate-shaped metal material by pressing, turning, or the like. Forming a housing made of a material; c) arranging necessary fixing means in advance at an appropriate fixing position; and d) fixing the fixing means to the housing according to a required fixing strength. Selecting a method, e) fixing the respective fixing means to the housing according to the selected fixing method, and f) coating the housing with a plastic film. Of manufacturing portable computer housing 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal material is a thin plate of a magnesium alloy. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal material is a thin plate of an aluminum alloy. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means is an engaging means made of a plastic material. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means is a screw fixing means made of a metal material. 6. A method in which one of adhesive bonding, adhesive bonding and reinforcement by soldering as a reinforcing means, or soldering welding can be selected according to the strength required by the fixing method. The method for manufacturing a housing of a portable computer according to claim 1, wherein: 7. A metal housing manufactured by the manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein one end edge of the upper lid and the housing main body is pivotally supported by a support shaft, and the upper lid and the main body are connected to each other. A housing for a portable computer, wherein an engagement means is provided at each of the other end portions so that an internal unit can be protected when the upper lid and the main body are closed. 8. The portable computer housing according to claim 7, wherein a fixing means is provided on the upper lid so that a monitor can be connected. 9. The portable computer housing according to claim 7, wherein the housing is a notebook computer housing. 10. The portable computer housing according to claim 7, wherein the housing is a compact computer housing. 11. The portable computer housing according to claim 7, wherein the housing is a computer housing exclusively for an electronic dictionary. 12. The portable computer housing according to claim 7, wherein the housing is a PDA housing.