JP2004186177A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device exhibiting good workability when a water absorbing material is fixed and when a deteriorated water absorbing material is replaced, and exhibiting sufficient waterproof function after the water absorbing material is fixed. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic device comprises a housing 1, a lid 5, and an electronic apparatus 2 contained in internal spaces 3 and 6 defined by the housing 1 and the lid 5 wherein the housing 1 and the lid 5 are provided with grooves 4 and 7 facing each other and fitted with resins having a width substantially equal to the width of the grooves 4 and 7 when water is not absorbed. When water is not absorbed, forward end parts 8a and 9a of the water absorbing and expanding/water discharging and shrinking resins 8 and 9 do not abut against each other but expand to project from the grooves 4 and 7 and abut against each other when water is absorbed. Incorporated electronic apparatus is thereby protected against moisture. In other words, the incorporated electronic apparatus is protected against moisture by the water absorbing and expanding/water discharging and shrinking resins fitted in the grooves made in the housing and/or the lid. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a personal computer such as a notebook personal computer or a book personal computer, or another portable electronic device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art A portable electronic device generally has a structure in which an electronic device is housed in an internal space defined by a housing and a lid. This type of electronic device is provided with various types of waterproofing because the built-in electronic device is vulnerable to water and moisture.
[0003]
For example, waterproofing is performed by disposing a rubber o-ring at a joint between a housing and a lid, and filling a gap with the o-ring.
[0004]
However, the method using a rubber o-ring has a problem that excessive pressure acts on the housing and the lid when the lid is closed, and the durability of the housing and the lid is reduced. Further, there is another problem that the work of arranging the o-ring requires precision processing, which is troublesome. Further, when the rubber o-ring is deteriorated, there is another problem that replacement thereof is not easy.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1 (JP-A-4-34816)]
By the way, instead of using the rubber o-ring, it is a relay consisting of a case and a base that house the relay body, mounted on a printed circuit board by soldering, and cleaned for removing flux together with electronic components etc. In the printed circuit board relay to be performed, the case or the base is formed of a shape memory resin material, and a high molecular absorption polymer material is provided between the fitting portions of the two, and the heating is performed at a deformation set temperature or higher after washing. A printed circuit board relay characterized in that a gap is formed in a fitting portion has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-34816).
[0006]
In this proposed technique, a high-polymer-absorbing polymer material is provided between the case and the base of the relay, so that when immersed in the cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid does not enter the inside.
[0007]
However, the polymer-absorbing polymer material that plays a role in preventing the inflow of the cleaning liquid is not a polymer-absorbing polymer but may be rubber.
[0008]
In the context of the present invention, it is unknown whether the polymer-absorbing polymer material expands and deforms due to water absorption in the first place. Furthermore, there is no idea to achieve waterproofing by using the phenomenon of water absorption expansion and water discharge shrinkage, and thus no motivation to conceive the present invention from Patent Document 1 can be obtained.
[0009]
[Patent Document 2 (JP-A-8-316676)]
In addition, at least a part of a wall constituting a housing for housing electronic components is formed on one side of a material for absorbing and releasing moisture (for example, nylon, polyester, or the like) that absorbs and releases moisture according to humidity. A memory polymer coated or manufactured in the form of a laminate), and by releasing the moisture absorbed from the high humidity side air by the moisture absorbing / releasing material to the low humidity side air, An electronic device characterized by controlling the humidity of the electronic device has been proposed (JP-A-8-316676).
[0010]
This proposed technique is to construct a housing wall using a material such as nylon or polyester coated with a shape memory polymer on one side or a laminated material made of a moisture absorbing / releasing material.
[0011]
However, in the context of the present invention, the material disclosed in Patent Document 2 such as nylon, polyester, or the like coated with a shape memory polymer on one side, or made into a laminate, absorbs and absorbs moisture. It is unclear whether the material expands due to water absorption and contracts and deforms due to moisture release (water discharge). In addition, in Patent Document 2, there is no idea of trying to achieve waterproofing by using phenomena such as expansion of moisture absorption (water absorption) and contraction of moisture release (water discharge). Therefore, no motivation to conceive the present invention can be obtained from Patent Document 2.
[0012]
[Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-74497)]
Further, in a battery housing portion of a device housing using a battery, a pad having water absorbability is provided between an end surface having a seam portion between a battery outer cylinder and a lid and a surface of the battery housing portion side opposed thereto. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-74497) has been proposed.
[0013]
In this proposed technique, the leaked electrolyte is absorbed by the disposed water-absorbing polymer, and the damage caused by the leak is prevented.
[0014]
However, in the context of the present invention, it is unclear whether the water-absorbing polymer proposed in Patent Document 3 expands by absorbing water and contracts and deforms by discharging water. Furthermore, in Patent Document 3, there is no idea to achieve waterproofing by using phenomena such as water absorption expansion and water discharge contraction. Therefore, no motivation to conceive the present invention can be obtained from Patent Document 3.
[0015]
[Patent Document 4 (JP-A-2001-228950)]
Also, a keyboard unit, a housing, and a water absorbing member are provided, wherein the housing has a holding portion for holding the keyboard unit, and a housing portion for housing a circuit board, and the water absorbing member is provided with the holding portion. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-228950) has been proposed a waterproof keyboard device which is provided in contact with the periphery of a keyboard.
[0016]
In this proposed technique, even if a liquid such as coffee is spilled on a keyboard and water permeates down from a gap, the water absorbing member absorbs the water to prevent electric trouble.
[0017]
However, in the context of the present invention, it is unclear whether the water-absorbing member proposed by Patent Document 4 expands by absorbing water and contracts and deforms by discharging water. Furthermore, in Patent Literature 4, there is no idea of trying to achieve waterproofing by using phenomena such as water absorption expansion and water discharge contraction. Therefore, no motivation to conceive the present invention can be obtained from Patent Document 4.
[0018]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device in which waterproofing is achieved by making good use of characteristics of a material having a phenomenon such as water absorption expansion and water discharge contraction. More specifically, when the material is attached, the workability is good, and even when the material has to be replaced due to, for example, deterioration of the material, the workability is good, and the waterproof function is sufficiently exhibited after the material is attached. An electronic device is provided.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The problem is solved by an electronic device including a housing, a lid, and an electronic device housed in an internal space defined by the housing and the lid.
A groove is formed on a surface of at least one of the housing and the lid facing the other,
The groove has a width substantially equal to the width of the groove when water is not absorbed, and a water-swelling / water-discharging resin that expands and protrudes from the groove when water is absorbed. Solved by electronic devices.
[0020]
Particularly, in an electronic device including a housing, a lid, and an electronic device housed in an internal space defined by the housing and the lid,
A groove is formed in the housing and the lid so as to face each other,
Each of the grooves has a width substantially equal to the width of the groove when water is not absorbed, and expands and protrudes from the groove when water is absorbed, so that water absorption expansion and water discharge contraction at which ends of the grooves are joined to each other. The electronic device is characterized in that the conductive resin is inserted therein.
[0021]
That is, a groove is formed in the housing and / or the lid, and a resin that absorbs water and expands and contracts water is fitted into the groove. At this time, the amount of fitting (volume) is larger than the volume of the groove. If it is small, it is easy to fit the water-swelling / water-discharging shrinkable resin. That is, since it is not necessary to apply a large pressure to push in the resin, it is easy to insert the water-swelling / water-releasing shrinkable resin. Further, even if the resin is deteriorated due to aging, if water is released and shrinks, the resin can be easily taken out from the groove. That is, the replacement work of the resin is easy.
[0022]
Then, it expands due to water absorption, becomes larger than the size of the groove, is exposed from the groove, and when the mating side, for example, the ends of the two come to be joined, the gap between the housing and the lid is closed. Therefore, a waterproof function is provided for the electronic device housed in the internal space constituted by the housing and the lid.
[0023]
If grooves facing each other are formed in both the housing and the lid, and the water-absorbing expansion / discharge contracting resin is fitted into these grooves, the amount of change (height) due to water absorption is one. As compared with the above, the resins are joined together quickly. Therefore, the waterproof function is quickly exhibited.
[0024]
In the electronic device of the present invention, it is preferable that the tip of the water-swelling / water-discharging / shrinkable resin fitted into the groove is not joined to the facing surface when water is not absorbed. This is because even when the lid is closed immediately after using the device, when there is no water absorption, there is a gap between the tip of the resin and the opposing surface, and the heat inside is effectively released to the outside from this gap. Because it becomes.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device including a housing, a lid, and an electronic device housed in an internal space defined by the housing and the lid, wherein at least the housing and the lid are provided. A groove is formed on one of the surfaces facing the other, and the width of the groove when water is not absorbed is substantially the same as the width of the groove. When the water is absorbed, the groove expands and projects from the groove. Expandable and water-repellent shrinkable resin is inserted. In particular, in an electronic device including a housing, a lid, and an electronic device housed in an internal space formed by the housing and the lid, grooves are formed in the housing and the lid so as to face each other. The width of each of the grooves is substantially the same as the width of the groove when water is not absorbed, and expands and protrudes from the groove when absorbing water, so that the tips of the grooves are joined to each other. A water-absorbing swelling / water-discharging shrinkable resin is inserted. Then, when water is not absorbed, the distal end of the water-absorbing expansion / water-discharge shrinkable resin fitted in the groove is not joined to the opposing surface.
[0026]
Hereinafter, a more specific description will be given.
[0027]
1 to 7 show a first embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a housing, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a resin fitted in a groove of the housing, and FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the lid, FIG. 4 is a plan view of a resin fitted into the groove of the lid, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device and the resin in a state where the resin is not absorbed, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view at the time of water discharge.
[0028]
In each of the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a casing having a predetermined shape made of plastic or metal. The housing 1 is provided with a storage section 3 for mounting (storing) the electronic device 2 in the same manner as the conventional housing. Further, a groove 4 which is one of the features of the present invention is formed around the storage portion 3.
[0029]
Reference numeral 5 denotes a lid having a predetermined shape made of plastic or metal. The lid 5 is provided with a storage section 6 for mounting (storage) the electronic device 2 in the same manner as the conventional lid. Further, a groove 7 which is one of the features of the present invention is formed around the storage section 6.
[0030]
As can be seen from FIGS. 5 to 7, the groove 4 and the groove 7 are formed at positions facing each other when the lid is closed.
[0031]
Numeral 8 denotes a water-absorbing, water-swelling / shrinking resin fitted into the groove 4, for example, a resin mainly containing sodium polyacrylate. Reference numeral 9 denotes a water-swelling, water-swelling shrinkable resin fitted into the groove 7, for example, a resin mainly containing sodium polyacrylate. In the non-water absorbing state, the width of each of the resins 8 and 9 fitted in the grooves 4 and 7 is substantially the same as the width of the grooves 4 and 7, and the height thereof is also substantially the same as the depth of the grooves 4 and 7. Have been. That is, the non-water-absorbing resins 8 and 9 are configured to be fitted into the grooves 4 and 7 with almost no resistance. And when it is fitted, it is configured so that it can completely enter the groove. However, the dimensional accuracy of the resins 8 and 9 may be rough. This means that in the non-water-absorbing state, a large resistance is not applied to the fitting of the resins 8 and 9 into the grooves 4 and 7, and the resin does not drop off naturally after the fitting. It depends. Further, when water is absorbed, the resin 8, 9 expands, and the distal end face 8a of the resin 8 fitted in the groove 4 and the distal end face 9a of the resin 9 fitted in the groove 7 are joined. Is fine.
[0032]
With the above-described configuration, there is no water and the humidity is not so large in a normal state, as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. That is, since the resins 8 and 9 fitted in the grooves 4 and 7 are in a non-water-absorbing state, they are contracted, and there is a gap between the front end face 8a of the resin 8 and the front end face 9a of the resin 9. . That is, air permeability is ensured. Therefore, even if the lid is closed immediately after using the apparatus, the heat inside is radiated to the outside through the gap between the front end face 8a of the resin 8 and the front end face 9a of the resin 9.
[0033]
When water is applied, a gap is formed in the mating surface between the housing 1 and the lid 5, so that water enters the inside from the gap. When the water starts to enter, the resins 8 and 9 absorb the water and expand, so that the front end face 8a of the resin 8 and the front end face 9a of the resin 9 come to be joined as shown in FIG. Therefore, moisture does not enter the inside, and the waterproof function is exhibited.
[0034]
When the lid is closed immediately after using the apparatus in the state of FIG. 6, unlike the case of FIGS. 5 and 7, the gap is closed by the resin 8, 9; The water absorbed therein is released, and a gap is formed as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, so that the heat is gradually released.
[0035]
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a housing showing a second embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention.
[0036]
In the present embodiment, a groove 14 is further formed inside the groove 4 in the above-described embodiment, and this groove also has the same water-absorption / swelling / water-release / shrinkage resin as that of the above-described embodiment. The water-shrinkable resin 15 is fitted. That is, the electronic component 16 that is particularly vulnerable to moisture is provided with the waterproofing mechanism of the present invention twice. Other configurations are basically the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore, the same portions are denoted by the same reference characters and will not be described in detail.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
Built-in electrical equipment is protected from moisture. That is, the built-in electrical equipment is protected from moisture by the water-swelling, water-swelling and shrinking resin fitted into the groove formed in the housing and / or the lid.
[0038]
The resin to be fitted into the groove has a width substantially equal to the width of the groove when water is not absorbed, and expands and protrudes from the groove when absorbing water. Thus, not only the waterproof function is achieved, but also the workability of mounting the resin is good, and the workability of replacement is also good when the resin is replaced due to deterioration.
[0039]
Also, if there is a gap between the resin fitted into the groove and the facing surface, heat will be released to the outside from this gap.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a housing of an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a resin fitted into a groove of the housing of the electronic device of the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a bottom view of the lid of the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a resin fitted into a groove of the lid of the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device of the present invention in a state where a resin is fitted in the groove of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view of the electronic device of the present invention in a state where a resin is fitted in the groove of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a state where a resin is fitted in a groove. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a housing of the electronic device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 2 Electronic device 3,6 Storage part 4,7,14 Groove 5 Lid body 8,9,15 Water-absorbing expansion / water-release contraction resin

Claims (3)

A housing, a lid, and an electronic device including an electronic device housed in an internal space formed by the housing and the lid,
A groove is formed on a surface of at least one of the housing and the lid facing the other,
The groove has a width substantially equal to the width of the groove when water is not absorbed, and a water-swelling / water-discharging resin that expands and protrudes from the groove when water is absorbed. Electronic devices. Grooves are formed on the housing and the lid so as to face each other,
Each of the grooves has a width substantially equal to the width of the groove when water is not absorbed, and expands and protrudes from the groove when water is absorbed, so that water absorption expansion and water discharge contraction at which ends of the grooves are joined to each other. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a conductive resin is inserted. 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when water is not absorbed, the distal end of the water-absorbing expandable / dischargeable resin fitted into the groove is not joined to the opposing surface.

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