JP2003031449A - Power storage structure and electronic apparatus comprising it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power storage structure which can eliminates a space for loading a battery in a portable electronic apparatus, can reduce the size of the electronic apparatus by eliminating restriction due to the loading position of battery, and can increase the degree of freedom in design. SOLUTION: Between the inner surface of the upper case 11 of a portable electronic apparatus and a circuit board 13 including an electronic component 14 disposed inside thereof, an irregular gap 1 is formed depending on the difference of height of various electronic components. Five planar electric double layer capacitors 22 having different thickness and size are disposed in the gap 16 depending on the irregular shape thereof an interconnected to constitute a power storage structure used in place of a battery.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power storage structure and an electronic device including the same, and more particularly to an electronic device including an electric double layer capacitor as a power storage structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the use of various electronic devices has increased, and in particular, portable electronic devices have remarkably increased. Since these portable electronic devices are driven by batteries, batteries are arranged inside the devices. FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of an example of such a conventional portable electronic device. In this portable electronic device, a pair of cases 1 and 2 are fixed by screws (not shown), and a circuit board 4 and a battery 5 provided with various electronic components 3 at predetermined positions in both cases 1 and 2.
Are arranged. In this case, not only when the battery 5 is a primary battery but also when it is a secondary battery, its life is comparatively short, so it is necessary to replace the battery 5. Therefore, the battery 5 can be replaced.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional portable electronic device, since the battery 5 is arranged in a replaceable form, a dedicated space is required as an independent component, so that the device can be replaced. There was a problem that there was a limit to miniaturization. In addition, there is a problem in that the arrangement position of the battery 5 is restricted and the degree of freedom in designing the device is restricted because the battery 5 can be replaced. An object of the present invention is to store a battery that does not require a space dedicated to battery placement, is less likely to be restricted by the battery placement position, can downsize an electronic device, and can increase the degree of freedom in design. A structure and an electronic device including the structure.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an electric double layer capacitor having a shape corresponding to the space is provided in a space inside an outer shell of a housing of an apparatus or a space inside the housing. It is characterized by that. In the invention according to claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1, the space inside the housing is a gap portion between an inner surface of the housing and a component arranged inside thereof. It is a feature. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the electric double layer capacitor has an uneven shape corresponding to the uneven shape of the gap portion. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the electric double layer capacitor comprises a plurality of flat plate-shaped electric double layer capacitors having different thicknesses. The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell includes an inner shell and an outer shell provided with a gap, and the space inside the outer shell is
In the gap portion between the inner shell and the outer shell, the electric double layer capacitor is provided in at least a part of the gap portion. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device including the electricity storage structure according to the first to fifth aspects, wherein electric energy is stored in the electricity storage structure for use. According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the electronic device is a portable type. According to the present invention, for example, in a portable electronic device, a space inside the outer shell of the housing or a space inside the housing is provided with a power storage structure including an electric double layer capacitor, and the power storage structure is provided. Since a structure for accumulating and using electric energy is provided in, it is possible to eliminate the need for a space dedicated to the battery arrangement and to make it difficult to be restricted by the battery arrangement position.

[0005]

1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a power storage structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a portable electronic device including the power storage structure. This portable electronic device is provided with a housing made of an insulating resin, in which upper and lower cases (outer shells) 11 and 12 in the drawing are fixed by screws (not shown). A circuit board 13 is arranged on the lower case 12 side in both cases 11, 12. Various electronic components 14 and 15 are mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of the circuit board 13 in the drawing. In this case, the inner surface of the lower case 12 and the electronic component 1 arranged inside thereof
Although a small space is formed between the circuit board 13 including 5 and the circuit board 13 including the electronic component 14 disposed inside the inner surface of the upper case 11,
A gap portion 16 formed of an uneven space corresponding to the height difference of various electronic components 14 is formed.

According to the present invention, an electric double layer capacitor is formed in such a gap portion 16 as a power storage structure, and in an electronic device having such a structure, electric energy is applied to the electric double layer capacitor of the power storage structure. Is charged (stored) and used in place of a conventional battery. Here, as is well known, the electric double layer capacitor can have a larger capacity than the conventional capacitor, and by charging (accumulating) electric energy, it replaces the conventional secondary battery. It can be used. In addition, since the electric double layer capacitor generally has a long repeated life, it does not substantially need to be replaced even when it is repeatedly charged and discharged.

In the first embodiment, a support case 21 made of an insulating resin having an uneven shape corresponding to the uneven shape of the gap 16 is provided in the upper case 11. Then, between the upper case 11 and the support case 21, five flat plate-shaped electric double layer capacitors 22 having different thicknesses and sizes according to the uneven shape of each part are arranged to form a power storage structure. is doing. The electric double layer capacitors 22 have the same basic structure, and as an example, the leftmost electric double layer capacitor 2 in the drawing is
The structure of No. 2 will be described. Polarizable electrodes 24 and 25 composed of a large number of activated carbon particles and an electrolyte solution are provided on the upper side and the lower side in the drawing of a porous separator 23 having ion permeability and non-electron conductivity, and on the upper side and the lower side thereof. Current collecting electrode 2 having non-ion permeability and electronic conductivity
6 and 27 are provided, and frame-shaped gaskets 28 and 29 made of insulating rubber or the like are provided between the upper and lower surfaces of the separator 23 and the collector electrodes 26 and 27.

The collector electrode 26 on the upper side of the leftmost electric double layer capacitor 22 in FIG. 1 is connected to the lower surface (or upper surface) of the left end portion of the circuit board 13 via the lead wire 31 arranged on the left side of the support case 21. Is connected to a connection terminal (not shown) provided on the. The current collecting electrode 27 on the lower side of the rightmost electric double layer capacitor 22 in FIG. 1 has a right end portion of the circuit board 13 via a lead wire 32 inserted into a slit 21 a formed on the right side wall of the support case 21. It is connected to a connection terminal (not shown) provided on the lower surface (or the upper surface).

In this case, by connecting the same type or different types of the upper and lower current collecting electrodes 26, 27 of the electric double layer capacitors 22 adjacent to each other through the connecting electrodes (not shown), The five plate-shaped electric double layer capacitors 22 may be connected in parallel or may be connected in series. In any connection, the amounts of the activated carbon particles and the electrolyte solution of the polarizable electrodes 24 and 25 in each electric double layer capacitor 22 are adjusted so that the electric double layer capacitors 22 have the same capacity. Good. Further, although both lead wires 31 and 32 are provided on both the left and right sides in FIG. 1, they may be gathered on either one of the sides.

Here, an example of a method of forming the portion of the electric double layer capacitor 22 will be described. In a state where the upper case 11 shown in FIG. 1 is turned upside down, the five electric double layer capacitors 22 connected to each other by connection electrodes are housed in the upper case 11, and two lead wires 31, 32 are provided.
The leading end side of is pulled out to the outside of the upper case 11 so as not to interfere with the mounting of the support case 21, and the support case 21 is inserted into the upper case 11 and fixedly bonded through an adhesive or the like not shown. As another forming method, the upper case 11 and the support case 21 are integrally formed by a molding method, and 5
One electric double layer capacitor 22 may be arranged.

In FIG. 1, the gap 16 is provided with five electric double layer capacitors having different thicknesses and sizes. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the gap 16 has an uneven shape. It goes without saying that an appropriate number of electric double layer capacitors may be provided.

In FIG. 1, the gap 16 is one continuous space and a plurality of electric double layer capacitors are provided therein, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the gap is not limited to this. 16 may be a plurality of separated spaces. In that case, an electric double layer capacitor may be provided for each space, and the collecting electrodes of the electric double layer capacitors may be connected to each other.

As described above, in the portable electronic device having the electricity storage structure according to the first embodiment, the upper case 11
In the gap portion 16 formed between the inner surface of the substrate and the circuit board 13 including the electronic component 14 disposed inside thereof, a plurality of flat plate-shaped electric electrodes having different thicknesses and sizes corresponding to the uneven shape of the gap portion 16 are formed. Since the multi-layer capacitor 22 is arranged, it is possible to eliminate the need for a space dedicated to the battery arrangement and make it difficult to be restricted by the battery arrangement position.

Even when the upper case 11 is made of an insulating resin, the electromagnetic shielding function can be exerted by the collector electrodes 26 and 27 arranged inside the upper case 11, so that it is separately provided.
It is not necessary to provide an electromagnetic shield plate or the like. Further, since the electric double layer capacitor 22 does not substantially need to be replaced, it is not necessary to have a replaceable structure. With these, the device can be downsized and the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

Next, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a main part of a power storage structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a portable electronic device having the power storage structure. In the first embodiment, a plurality of flat plate-shaped electric double layer capacitors 22 having different thicknesses and sizes are arranged in the gap portion 16 corresponding to the uneven shape of the gap portion 16. However, in the second embodiment, , Gap 1
In FIG. 6, one electric double layer capacitor 22 having an uneven shape corresponding to the uneven shape of the gap 16 is arranged to form a power storage structure. That is, one collector electrode 26 provided at a predetermined location on the inner surface of the upper case 11 and the support case 21.
One separator 23 is provided between the inner surface (the upper surface in FIG. 2) and one collector electrode 27 provided at a predetermined position,
One electric double layer capacitor is formed by providing polarizable electrodes 24 and 25 between the separator 23 and both current collecting electrodes 26 and 27.

Next, the electric double layer capacitor 2 in this case
An example of a method of forming the second portion will be described. First, the collector electrode 26 made of a metal plate is attached to the inner surface of the upper case 11, and the lead wire 3 is attached to a predetermined portion of the collector electrode 26.
Connect one end of 1. Further, a current collecting electrode 27 made of a metal plate having an uneven shape corresponding to the uneven shape of the inner surface is attached to the inner surface of the support case 21, and one end of the lead wire 32 is connected to a predetermined portion of the current collecting electrode 27. To do. The collector electrodes 25, 26 (and the lead wires 31,
Part of 32) may be formed by a vapor deposition method, a printing method, or the like.

Next, the gasket 29 is arranged inside the support case 21 around the upper surface of the collector electrode 27. Next, the polarizable electrode 25 is formed by applying a paste obtained by mixing activated carbon particles and an electrolyte solution with different thicknesses on the upper surface of the collector electrode 27. Next, the separator 23 is arranged on the upper surfaces of the gasket 29 and the polarizable electrode 25. Next, the gasket 28 is arranged inside the support case 21 around the upper surface of the separator 23. Next, a polarizable electrode 24 is formed by applying a paste obtained by mixing activated carbon particles and an electrolyte solution with different thicknesses on the upper surface of the separator 23. Next, the support case 21 is inserted into the upper case 11 and fixed with an adhesive agent or the like (not shown).

By the way, in the electric double layer capacitor 22 shown in FIG. 2, the thickness of the polarizable electrodes 24 and 25 differs depending on the location corresponding to the uneven shape of the support case 21, that is, the gap portion 16. Due to the nature of the capacitor, when the total amount of activated carbon particles and electrolyte solution in both polarizable electrodes 24 and 25 is set to a constant amount, the capacitance value of the activated carbon particles and the electrolytic solution is the same even if the thickness of the polarizable electrode portion changes. It is a constant value based on the total amount. Therefore, there is no problem even if the electric double layer capacitor 22 has an uneven shape.

Next, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a power storage structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In each of the above-described embodiments, the electric double layer capacitor 22 is arranged in the gap portion 16 in the upper case 11, but in the third embodiment, the upper and lower cases (outer shells) 11 and 12 are arranged in the inner case ( It has a double structure composed of inner shells 11A and 12A and outer cases (outer shells) 11B and 12B, and an electric double layer capacitor 22 is provided in at least a part of a gap between them.

Next, the electric double layer capacitor 2 in this case
An example of a method of forming the second portion will be described. First, one end of the lead wire 32 is inserted into the through hole 41 formed at a predetermined position of the lower inner case 12A.
Insert from inside A. Also, the lower inner case 12A
One end of a cylinder 43 made of an insulating resin is inserted into the through hole 42 formed at another predetermined position of the other end, and the other end is projected to the outside of the lower inner case 12A by a predetermined length. . In this case, the lead wire 31 is placed in the cylinder 43.
One end of is inserted.

Next, a collector electrode 27 made of a metal thin film is formed on at least a part of the outer surfaces of the inner cases 11A and 12A by a vapor deposition method or a printing method. In this state, the collector electrode 27 formed on the outer surface of the lower inner case 12A is conductively connected to the exposed end surface of the lead wire 32. Further, the collector electrode 26 made of a metal thin film is formed on at least a part of the inner surfaces of the outer cases 11B and 12B by a vapor deposition method, a printing method or the like.

Next, both inner cases 11A and 12A are fixed with screws (not shown). Next, both inner cases 1
Current collecting electrodes 27, 27 formed on the outer surfaces of 1A and 12A, respectively.
Are connected via a connection electrode (not shown) (or a lead wire similar to the lead wire 32 is provided in the upper inner case 11A). Next, both inner cases 11A, 1
The polarizable electrode 25 is formed by applying a paste, which is a mixture of activated carbon particles and an electrolyte solution, to the outer surface of the current collecting electrode 27 formed on the outer surface of 2A to a substantially constant thickness.

Next, the separator 23 is placed on the outer surface of the polarizable electrode 25. In this case, a circular hole for inserting the cylinder 43 is formed in advance at a predetermined position of the separator 23, if necessary. Next, the polarizable electrode 24 is formed on the outer surface of the separator 23 by applying a paste obtained by mixing activated carbon particles and an electrolyte solution to a substantially constant thickness. Next, at a predetermined position on the outer surface of the polarizable electrode 24, a collector electrode 26 formed on each inner surface of both outer cases 11B and 12B.
A connection electrode (not shown) for connecting 26 is arranged (or a cylinder and a lead wire similar to the cylinder 43 and the lead wire 31 are provided in the upper inner case 11A).

Next, the outer cases 11B and 12B are arranged on the outer surfaces of the polarizable electrodes 24 and 24 formed on the outer surface sides of the inner cases 11A and 12A, respectively, and fixed by screws (not shown). In this state, the collector electrode 26 formed on the inner surface of the lower outer case 12B is connected to the lead wire 3
1 is electrically connected to the exposed end face. The electric double layer capacitor 22 is arranged at the lower inner case 12A.
And the outer case 12B, or between the upper inner case 11A and the outer case 11B. In any case, the electric double layer capacitor 22 may be arranged at a plurality of positions.

As described above, in the electricity storage structure according to the third embodiment, the upper and lower cases 11 and 12 have a double structure including the inner cases 11A and 12A and the outer cases 11B and 12B, and the gap portion therebetween. Since the electric double layer capacitor 22 is provided in at least a part of the above, it is possible to eliminate the need for a space dedicated to disposing the battery in an electronic device including the same and to prevent the battery disposing position from being restricted. As a result, the device can be downsized, and the degree of freedom in designing the device can be increased.

By the way, when the collector electrodes 26 and 27 are formed of a metal thin film formed by a vapor deposition method or a printing method,
The thickness of the electric double layer capacitor 22 can be made considerably thin, for example, about 0.5 mm. In addition, the case 11,
12 itself has a double structure, but because of the double structure, the inner cases 11A, 12A and the outer cases 11B, 12
Even if the thickness of B itself is made thinner than that shown in FIG. 1, for example, the same strength can be obtained. Therefore, the substantial thickness of the cases 11 and 12 does not become extremely thick.

Further, when the collecting electrodes 26, 27 are formed of a metal thin film formed by a vapor deposition method, a printing method, or the like, air is collected between the collecting electrodes 26, 27 and the case as compared with the case of using a metal plate. (Oxygen) can be prevented from remaining. As a result, it is possible to prevent the performance deterioration of the capacitor due to the entry of oxygen into the electrolyte solution in the polarizable electrodes 24, 25 of the electric double layer capacitor 22.

In the above embodiment, the case in which the case is made of an insulating resin has been described, but the case is not limited to this. For example, the whole or a predetermined part of the case is made of a conductive resin or a metal such as an aluminum-based metal, and the part made of the conductive resin or the metal serves as the collector electrodes 26 and 27.
The collector electrodes 26 and 27 formed of a metal plate or a metal thin film may be omitted. When a predetermined part of the case is formed of a conductive resin or a metal, the metal thin film may be formed by a vapor deposition method, a printing method, or the like, if necessary. By the way, there is a possibility that a user's hand touches a portion of the case on the front surface side made of a conductive resin or metal, but if the front surface side is set to the ground potential, it can be used without any trouble.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to a portable electronic device has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it can be applied to a memory backup battery of other electronic devices such as a desktop type. Further, the invention can be applied to a driving battery for battery-powered vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric wheelchairs, and electric vehicles. In this case, for example, a storage structure including one or a plurality of electric double layer capacitors may be provided in a space formed by a dead space formed between the inside of the outer shell of the battery-powered vehicle housing and the internal mechanical portion. Good. As a result, the balance of the battery-powered vehicle can be improved and the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the electric storage structure including the electric double layer capacitor having a shape corresponding to the space is provided in the space inside the outer shell of the housing of the device or the space inside thereof. Therefore, in the electronic device provided with this power storage structure, a space dedicated to the battery arrangement is unnecessary and it is possible to make it difficult to be restricted by the battery arrangement position. As a result, the device can be downsized and the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an essential part of a power storage structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a portable electronic device including the power storage structure.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of a power storage structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a portable electronic device including the power storage structure.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a power storage structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a conventional portable electronic device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Upper case 12 Lower case 13 circuit board 14, 15 Electronic parts 16 Gap 21 Support case 22 Electric Double Layer Capacitor 23 Separator 24 and 25 minute polar electrodes 26, 27 collector electrode 28, 29 gasket 31, 32 Lead wire

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A power storage structure, wherein an electric double layer capacitor having a shape corresponding to the space is provided in a space inside an outer shell of a housing of an apparatus or a space inside the housing. 2. The electricity storage device according to claim 1, wherein the space inside the housing is a gap portion between an inner surface of the housing and a component arranged inside the housing. Construction. 3. The electric storage structure according to claim 2, wherein the electric double layer capacitor has an uneven shape corresponding to the uneven shape of the gap portion. 4. The electric storage structure according to claim 3, wherein the electric double layer capacitor comprises a plurality of flat plate-shaped electric double layer capacitors having different thicknesses. 5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell includes an inner shell and an outer shell provided with a gap,
A space in the outer shell is a gap portion between the inner shell and the outer shell, and the electric double layer capacitor is provided in at least a part of the gap portion. . 6. An electronic device comprising the electricity storage structure according to claim 1, wherein electric energy is stored in the electricity storage structure for use. 7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the electronic device is a portable type.