JP2004087995A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure waterproofing property and sinklessness of an electronic device even if dropped accidentally in water. <P>SOLUTION: There is provided the electronic device equipped with a device main body 1 with a waterproofing structure in which a downside 6 of a main body case 2 is formed in a ship bottom-shape, an upper side 7 of the main body case 2 is tarbularly formed so as to protrude toward more outer peripheral side than the downside 6 and further an open space 8 limited for allowing the device main body 1 to float is formed inside the main body case 2. Accordingly, even if the device main body 1 is dropped accidentally in water such as in that of a bathtub, the device main body 1 can float on a surface of the water by means of the space 8 inside the main body case 2. In this case, it occurs easily that the downside 6 of the main body case 2 is positioned underneath the water and the upper side 7 thereof above the water, so that the device main body 1 can float on the water surface stably in that state. Consequently, water pressure applied to the device main body 1 can be reduced considerably and so the waterproofing property can be ensured by a simple waterproofing structure without adopting a high pressure waterproofing structure having high water-tightness. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a remote controller.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a remote controller for remotely operating a device such as a television from a remote location includes a device main body formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, an operation unit provided on an upper surface of the device main body, and an internal portion of the device main body. Various components such as an infrared light emitting unit and a battery are stored in the unit, and the operation unit is operated to control the light emission of the infrared light emitting unit and supply an infrared signal to a device such as a television, thereby turning on / off the power of the device. It is configured to control movement such as channel switching.
Since such a remote controller is usually used indoors, it is not necessary to adopt a waterproof structure.However, when a device such as a television is arranged in a bathroom and used in the bathroom, the device body, the operation unit, In order to prevent water from entering from each joint such as a battery lid, it is necessary to achieve waterproofness with a sealing material such as an adhesive.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a remote controller, if a simple waterproof structure is adopted, in which each joint portion of the device body, the operation unit, the battery cover, and the like is easily waterproofed with a sealing material such as an adhesive, the water in the bathroom may be insufficient. Even if it is possible to ensure waterproofness enough to allow hot water to fall, if the main unit sinks to the bottom of the bathtub when the main unit is accidentally dropped into the bathtub, water pressure will be greatly applied to the main unit, and water will flow. There is a problem in that it easily penetrates, and sufficient waterproofness cannot be secured.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to ensure that even if the device main body is accidentally dropped into water, it does not sink, and sufficient waterproofness can be secured even with a simple waterproof structure.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has the following components in order to solve the above problems. In addition, each constituent element is provided with a reference number of a drawing and the like attached to each element described in the section of the embodiment described later together with parentheses.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, in an electronic device including a device body (1) having a waterproof structure, a lower side (6) of the device body is formed in a ship bottom shape. A space (8) in which the upper part (7) of the device main body is formed in a flat plate shape protruding outward from the lower side of the device main body, and the device main body floats on the water surface inside the device main body. Is an electronic device characterized by forming.
[0006]
According to the present invention, since a space is formed inside the device main body such that the device main body floats on the water surface, even if the device main body is accidentally dropped into water such as a bathtub, the device main body does not sink in the water. Since the equipment main body can be floated on the water surface, and the lower side of the equipment main body is formed in a ship bottom shape, and the upper side of the equipment main body is formed in a flat plate shape protruding more outward than the lower side of the equipment main body, The lower side of the main unit is located below the water surface, and the upper side of the device main unit is easily positioned above the water surface, and in this state it can be stably floated on the water surface, and thus the water pressure applied to the device main unit can be significantly reduced. Therefore, even if a high-pressure waterproof structure with high watertightness is not adopted, sufficient waterproofness can be ensured with a simple waterproof structure.
[0007]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, a weight (15) is provided on a bottom portion (6) of the equipment main body (1) located on a lower side (6) of a ship bottom shape. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:
According to the present invention, the weight provided at the bottom of the equipment main body ensures that the bottom of the equipment main body is positioned below the water surface and the equipment main body is no matter what state the equipment main body falls into the water such as a bathtub. The upper side can be positioned on the water surface, and in this state, the device main body can be stably floated on the water surface. Therefore, for example, if the operation unit is provided on the upper surface of the device main body, the upper surface of the device main body is reliably exposed on the water surface in a state where the device main body is floated on the water surface, so that the operation unit can be satisfactorily operated. .
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, an outer peripheral portion of the upper side (7) of the device main body (1) protruding more outward than the lower side (6) of the device main body. 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a concave portion (9, 26) opened toward a lower side of the device main body.
According to the present invention, when the device body floats on the water surface with the bottom portion of the device body positioned below the water surface and the upper side of the device body positioned above the water surface, the device body is provided on the outer peripheral portion on the upper side of the device body. The recessed portion serves as an air pocket, and buoyancy can be given to the device main body by the air collected in the recessed portion, so that the device main body can be further floated on the water surface.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, the device main body (1) includes an upper member (operation unit 3) and a lower member (main body case 2). The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a joint portion between the upper member and the lower member is located above a water surface when is floating on the water surface.
According to the present invention, when the device main body is floating on the water surface, the joint between the upper member and the lower member of the device main body is located above the water surface, so the upper member and the lower member of the device main body Water can easily be prevented from entering from the joint with the upper member and the lower member can be easily waterproofed with a simple waterproof structure without using a high-pressure waterproof structure at the joint between the upper member and the lower member. Can be secured.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a remote controller will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 is a plan view of a remote controller according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view as viewed from the front side, FIG. 3 is a right side view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a left side view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a bottom view of FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 shows a state in which the device main body of FIG. It is sectional drawing.
This remote controller includes a device main body 1 as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the device main body 1 is provided with an operation section 3 on an upper surface of a main body case 2, and as shown in FIG. 5, a battery cover 4 is detachably mounted on a lower surface, and as shown in FIG. In addition, the infrared light emitting section 5 is provided on the left side inside the main body case 2.
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the main body case 2 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, and is formed in a box shape having an open upper surface. Is provided in a sealed state. In this case, the lower side 6 of the main body case 2 is formed in a ship bottom shape which swells in a lower direction, and the upper side 7 of the main body case 2 is formed in a flat plate shape which protrudes more outwardly than the lower side 6 in a flange shape. Is formed. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a space portion 8 is formed inside the main body case 2 so as to float the device main body 1 on the water surface. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the upper side 7 of the main body case 2 has a lower surface of an outer peripheral portion protruding in a flange shape toward the outer peripheral side from the lower side 6 of the main body case 2. An air reservoir recess 9 opened downward is provided continuously along the periphery of the main body case 2 except for the side on the infrared light emitting unit 5 side.
[0012]
In this case, on the right side inside the main body case 2, as shown in FIG. 6, a battery accommodating portion 11 for accommodating the battery 10 is formed to be opened up and down, and a lower portion of the battery accommodating portion 11 is formed. The battery cover 4 is attached via a waterproof ring 12. That is, when a tool such as a screwdriver or a coin is inserted into a concave portion 4a provided on the lower surface of the battery cover 4 and rotated by a predetermined angle, for example, 90 °, the hook portion 4b of the battery cover 4 engages with the battery storage portion 11. The battery cover 4 is configured to be detachably attached to the battery storage unit 11 in a state where the battery cover 4 presses the waterproof ring 12 to ensure waterproofness, thereby being detachably engaged with the stopper 11a.
[0013]
At the left end inside the main body case 2, an element cover 13 of the infrared light emitting section 5 is provided. The element cover 13 is made of a light-transmitting resin that transmits at least light in the infrared region. Watertightness is provided to an opening 2 a provided on the left side surface of the main body case 2 by a sealing material (not shown) such as an adhesive. It is configured so as to be fitted in a secured state, and the infrared light emitting element 14 is housed therein.
In addition, a weight 15 is provided substantially at the center of the bottom in the main body case 2. The weight 15 is for lowering the center of gravity of the device main body 1 to a position lower than the center of the device main body 1 after being positioned at the center of the device main body 1. Further, reinforcing ribs 16 and mounting bosses 17 are provided at predetermined locations in the main body case 2.
[0014]
On the other hand, the operation unit 3 has a large number of key buttons 18 arranged as shown in FIG. 1, and has a key sheet 19 and a circuit board 20 as shown in FIG. 20 and is also adhered to the upper surface of the outer peripheral portion of the main body case 2 by a double-sided adhesive tape 21. In this case, the key sheet 19 is made of a flexible material such as rubber, and a dome-shaped bulging portion 19a is formed at a position corresponding to each key button 18. The battery 10 and the infrared light emitting element 14 are electrically connected to the lower surface of the circuit board 20, and various electronic components (not shown) necessary for remote control are provided on the circuit board 20, as shown in FIG. It is mounted on the reinforcing rib 16 and the mounting boss 17 of the main body case 2 and arranged on the upper surface side of the main body case 2.
[0015]
On the upper surface of the circuit board 20, fixed contacts (not shown) are provided at locations corresponding to the respective key buttons 18, and a key sheet 19 is attached by a double-sided adhesive tape 21. The double-sided adhesive tape 21 also has a role of a spacer. Openings 21 a are provided at positions corresponding to the respective fixed contacts on the upper surface of the circuit board 20. Except for these openings 21 a, the openings 21 a The key sheet 19 is provided on the upper surface, and is also provided in a mounting recess 2b provided on the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the main body case 2, whereby the key sheet 19 is attached over substantially the entire upper surface of the main body case 2. It is configured so that the joint between the key sheet 2 and the key sheet 19 is waterproof.
[0016]
Each key button 18 is connected to a movable contact (not shown) provided in each bulging portion 19 a of the key sheet 19 through each opening 21 a of the double-sided adhesive tape 21 to each fixed contact on the circuit board 20. When the bulging portion 19a of the key sheet 19 is pressed from the outside and elastically deforms in this state, the movable contact in the bulging portion 19a is fixed on the circuit board 20 in accordance with the elastic deformation. Each key signal is output in a state where the contact is made conductive by contact with the contact, thereby maintaining the waterproofness.
[0017]
In such a remote controller, since the device main body 1 has a waterproof structure, for example, a device such as a television can be arranged in a bathroom and used well in this bathroom. That is, since the joint between the main body case 2 and the operation unit 3 of the device main body 1, the battery cover 4, and the infrared light emitting unit 5 have a waterproof structure that ensures watertightness, water and steam are prevented from entering. Thus, a device such as a television can be operated by remote control. At this time, when each key button 18 of the operation unit 3 is operated by pointing the infrared light emitting unit 5 at a device such as a television, the light emission of the infrared light emitting element 14 of the infrared light emitting unit 5 is controlled in accordance with the operation, and this control is performed. In response to the infrared signal, a device such as a television can be remotely operated.
[0018]
If the remote controller is accidentally dropped into the water such as a bathtub while using the remote controller, a space 8 is formed inside the main body case 2 of the main body 1 so as to float the main body 1 on the water surface. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the device main body 1 can be floated on the water surface without the device main body 1 sinking to the bottom of the bathtub. At this time, the lower side 6 of the main body case 2 is formed in a ship bottom shape, and the upper side 7 of the main body case 2 is formed in a flat plate shape protruding outward from the lower side 6. The side 6 is located below the water surface, and the upper side 7 of the main body case 2 is easily located on the water surface, and can be floated in this state. For this reason, since the water pressure applied to the device main body 1 can be greatly reduced, sufficient waterproofness can be secured with a simple waterproof structure without employing a high-pressure waterproof structure with high watertightness.
[0019]
In this case, since the weight 15 is provided on the bottom of the bottom shape of the main body case 2, the weight 15 is provided on the bottom of the main body case 2 irrespective of the state in which the equipment main body 1 is dropped into water such as a bathtub. By the weight 15, the bottom of the main body case 2 can be reliably positioned below the water surface, and the upper side 7 of the main body case 2 can be positioned above the water surface. In this state, the device main body 1 is stabilized on the water surface. Can be floated. At this time, the concave portion 9 provided on the outer peripheral portion on the upper side 7 of the main body case 2 serves as an air pool, and the air collected in the concave portion 9 can give buoyancy to the device main body 1. The main body 1 can be floated on the water surface.
[0020]
In addition, when the main body 1 is floating on the water surface, the upper surface of the main body case 2 can be reliably exposed on the water surface. And the joint between the upper surface of the main body case 2 and the key sheet 19 of the operation unit 3 provided on the upper surface is located above the water surface. Water can easily be prevented from entering from the joint portion. Therefore, even if the joint portion between the main body case 2 and the key sheet 19 is not made to have a high-pressure waterproof structure, a simple waterproof structure ensures sufficient waterproofness. can do.
[0021]
Thus, according to this remote controller, even if the device main body 1 is accidentally dropped into the water such as a bathtub, the lower side 6 of the main body case 2 is positioned in the water and the upper side 7 of the main body case 2 is placed on the water surface. Since the device main body 1 can be floated on the water surface in the state of being positioned, it is difficult for the air in the space 8 in the main body case 2 to expand or contract according to the difference in the water temperature of the bathtub. This also makes it possible to ensure waterproofness without employing a high-pressure waterproof structure with high watertightness. For this reason, the waterproof structure of the operation unit 3 may be a waterproof structure in which the key sheet 19 is simply adhered to the recess 2 b on the upper surface of the main body case 2 with the double-sided adhesive tape 21, and the waterproof structure of the battery cover 4 may be a waterproof structure by the waterproof ring 12. However, even if the waterproof structure of the infrared light emitting section 5 is such that the element cover 13 is simply fitted with an adhesive or the like, it is hardly affected by a change in the water temperature of the bathtub. Waterproofness can be ensured.
[0022]
In the above embodiment, the case where the concave portion 9 for the air reservoir is provided on the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion on the upper side 7 of the main body case 2 is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIGS. A side wall 25 having the same height as the bottom of the main body case 2 is formed continuously around the periphery of the upper side 7 of the main body case 2 except for the infrared light emitting portion 5 side. A structure in which a concave portion 26 for storing air is formed between the lower case and the side surface on the lower side of the main body case 2 may be used. With this configuration, it is possible to form the concave portion 26 having a larger volume than the air reservoir concave portion 9 of the above-described embodiment, so that greater buoyancy can be given to the device main body 1 than in the above-described embodiment. The device main body 1 can be further floated on the water surface.
[0023]
In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a remote controller as the electronic device is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is widely applied to electronic devices such as a portable radio, a portable television, and a mobile phone. Can be.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in an electronic device including a waterproof device main body, the lower side of the device main body is formed in a ship bottom shape, and the upper side of the device main body is more than the lower side of the device main body. It is formed in a flat plate shape protruding to the outer peripheral side, and a space is formed inside the device main unit so that the device main unit floats on the surface of the water. The formed space allows the device body to float on the water surface without sinking the device body into the water, and the lower side of the device body is formed in a ship bottom shape, and the upper side of the device body is lower than the lower side of the device body. Is also formed in a flat plate shape projecting to the outer peripheral side, so that the lower part of the equipment main body is located below the water surface and the upper part of the equipment main body is easily located on the water surface, and it is stabilized in this state and floated on the water surface As a result, the water pressure applied to the device body can be greatly reduced, so that a simple waterproof structure can ensure sufficient waterproofing without using a high-pressure waterproof structure with high watertightness. it can.
[0025]
In this case, by providing the weight at the bottom located on the lower side of the bottom shape of the equipment body, the weight provided at the bottom of the equipment body, The bottom of the device main body can be reliably positioned below the water surface, and the upper side of the device main body can be positioned on the water surface. In this state, the device main body can be stably floated on the water surface. Therefore, for example, if the operation unit is provided on the upper surface of the device main body, the upper surface of the device main body is reliably exposed on the water surface in a state where the device main body is floated on the water surface, so that the operation unit can be satisfactorily operated. .
[0026]
In addition, by providing a concave portion opened toward the lower side of the device main body at an outer peripheral portion protruding from the lower side of the device main body on the upper side of the device main body, the bottom of the device main body is positioned below the water surface. When the device main body floats on the water surface with the upper side of the device main body positioned above the water surface, the concave portion provided on the outer peripheral portion on the upper side of the device main body becomes an air pool, and the air stored in this concave portion Thus, buoyancy can be given to the device main body, so that the device main body can be further floated on the water surface.
Furthermore, when the device main body includes an upper member and a lower member, and the device main body is in a state of floating on the water surface, the joint portion between the upper member and the lower member is located above the water surface. Water can easily be prevented from entering from the joints of the main body, so that a simple waterproof structure is sufficient even if the joint between the upper member and the lower member of the device main body does not have to be a high-pressure waterproof structure. Waterproofness can be secured.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a remote controller.
FIG. 2 is a side view seen from the near side in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a right side view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a left side view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a bottom view with a part cut away from the lower surface side of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state in which the device main body of FIG. 6 is floating in water.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a modification in which the present invention is applied to a remote controller.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 9;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Main body case 3 Operation part 4 Battery lid 5 Infrared light emitting part 6 Lower side of main body case 7 Upper side of main body case 8 Space part 9 and 26 in main body case Depression 11 for air reservoir 11 Battery storage part 12 Waterproof ring 13 element cover 14 infrared light emitting element 15 weight 18 key button 19 key sheet 20 circuit board 21 double-sided adhesive tape

Claims (4)

In an electronic device equipped with a waterproof device body,
The lower part of the equipment main body is formed in a ship bottom shape, and the upper part of the equipment main body is formed in a flat plate shape protruding more outward than the lower part of the equipment main body, and the equipment main body is formed inside the equipment main body. An electronic device characterized by forming a space part that floats on the water surface. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a weight is provided on a bottom portion of the device main body that is located on a lower side of the ship bottom shape. 3. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral portion of the upper portion of the device main body, which protrudes outward from a lower portion of the device main body, is provided with a concave portion opened toward a lower side of the device main body. Or the electronic device according to 2. The device body includes an upper member and a lower member, and when the device body is floating on a water surface, a joint portion between the upper member and the lower member is located above a water surface. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

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