JP2007207984A - Waterproof case and usage therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof case and usage for waterproof case that make electronic equipment usable in water or under bad weather for a long period of time, alternatively, that make electronic equipment having a large calorific value usable in a waterproof state. <P>SOLUTION: The waterproof case 12 is composed as follows: A highly heat-conductive member including a heat sink 1 or a heat pipe is composed so that its heat-receiver 2 is arranged oppositely to a waste heat 7 of the electronic equipment 10 and its heat-dissipator 3 is externally arranged. The electronic equipment is supported at a use position inside the waterproof case in which the highly heat-conductive member is provided in a watertight state. Waste heat from the waste heat part generated along with the use of the electronic equipment is thermally conducted via the highly heat-conductive member, so as to dissipate the waste heat outside the waterproof case. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof case and a method for using the waterproof case, and more particularly to a technique for making various portable electronic devices watertight and capable of being used underwater or in bad weather for a long time.

  Advances in electronic technology have been remarkable, with a CPU device, storage device, power supply, etc. built in a portable size housing, and various electronic devices equipped with a large display on the housing. Many portable electronic devices such as telephones and moving image playback devices have been put into practical use. Since these electronic devices are designed on the assumption that they are carried around, the strength of the casing is ensured.

  On the other hand, a so-called laptop computer has a large LCD display that can be folded with respect to the full keyboard surface. When it is carried, it can be folded in two to protect the LCD display. It is configured so that it can be set.

In addition, a protective cover has been proposed that protects such a notebook personal computer from impact force and eliminates the trouble of connecting an expansion unit necessary for carrying it every time it is used. (Patent Document 1)
On the other hand, it is conceivable to use an underwater housing in order to make it possible to use the electronic device as described above underwater or under bad weather conditions. The underwater housing is provided with a lid that can be opened and closed or attached to the case body made of a synthetic resin such as acrylic, and is fixed so as to maintain a watertight state, and a sealing surface between the case body and the lid body It is comprised so that it can endure the water pressure of the water depth of about 5-100m by using the O-ring arrange | positioned. (Non-Patent Document 1)
JP 2000-181574. Photo Glossary Nippon Camera Co., Ltd. June 30, 1997 Revised first edition issued.

  However, the protective cover described above is for a notebook personal computer in which the liquid crystal display unit can be set at an arbitrary angle, and is not considered waterproof, so it cannot be used in bad weather such as underwater or storms.

  On the other hand, by loading a portable electronic device in the underwater housing, it can be used underwater or in bad weather. However, electronic devices are usually designed on the assumption that they are mainly used indoors. Specifically, a display unit and an operation unit are arranged on the surface of a small casing, and a rechargeable secondary battery or dry battery can be exchanged with a control unit connected to a storage unit for overall control. The power supply section provided in the housing is built in the housing, and the waste heat section is arranged on the back side of the housing, so that the internal hot air is sent out to the outside.

  When a portable electronic device configured as described above is used for a long time in a state where it is mounted in an underwater housing, heat is trapped inside the underwater housing, resulting in an increase in the temperature inside the housing of the electronic device. The protection circuit of the part operates and stops automatically. For this reason, usually, the electronic device is taken out of the underwater housing, the hot air inside the housing is sent to the outside through the waste heat unit, and then waits for the temperature to drop to a temperature at which the control unit can be operated. Will have to be loaded.

  Further, when an electronic device having a large calorific value is used in a state where it is loaded in the underwater housing, heat is immediately accumulated in the underwater housing within a short period of time, making it unusable.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and enables electronic devices to be used for a long time under water or in bad weather, or electronic devices with a large amount of heat generation can be used in a waterproof state. It is intended to provide a waterproof case that can be used and a method of using the waterproof case.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, according to the present invention, a portable electronic device can be used in a waterproof state for a long time, or an electronic device having a large heat generation amount can be waterproofed. A waterproof case that can be used, wherein the waterproof case includes a heat sink or a heat pipe in which a heat receiving portion is disposed so as to face a waste heat portion of the electronic device and the heat radiating portion is disposed outside. The conductive member is provided in a watertight state.

  In addition, the waterproof case includes a case main body and a lid body that can be opened and closed or detachably provided so as to be in a watertight state with respect to the case main body, and the high thermal conductivity member includes the case main body or the lid body. After the heat receiving portion is inserted into the opening, the heat receiving portion is fixed through a seal member including an O-ring.

  In addition, the electronic device includes a display unit and an operation unit provided on the surface of the housing, and a control unit connected to a storage unit for controlling the whole and a power supply unit are provided inside the housing. The waste heat unit includes a blower unit that is disposed to face the blower port on the side surface of the housing so as to send out the internal hot air to the outside, and the waterproof case uses the display unit and the operation unit. A support portion for supporting at a position is formed inside the case body or the lid.

  A portable electronic device is used for a long time in a waterproof state, or a waterproof case in which a large amount of heat generated electronic device is used in a waterproof state. The electronic device is supported at a use position inside a waterproof case provided with a heat-conductive part including a heat sink or a heat pipe in which the heat-receiving part is arranged so as to be opposed to each other and the heat-radiating part is arranged outside. The waste heat from the waste heat part generated with the use of the electronic device is thermally conducted through the high heat conduction member and radiated outside the waterproof case.

  According to the waterproof case and the method of using the same of the present invention, it is possible to effectively dissipate the heat stored inside the housing that is generated when a portable electronic device is used for a long time, or By effectively dissipating the heat stored inside the housing generated when the device is used in a waterproof state, the device can be used underwater or in bad weather.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Here, in each embodiment described below, the waterproof case of the present invention will mainly describe the case where various electronic devices including a flat box-shaped housing having a portable size are loaded in the waterproof case, However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to an electronic device that generates a large amount of heat.

  In addition, there are various electronic devices such as palm-sized or paperback-sized ultra-compact personal computers, PDAs (pagers), mobile phones, video playback devices, game machines, etc. The designed waterproof case of the present invention can be used.

  First, FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an electronic device 10 and a waterproof case 12 based on the first embodiment of the present invention, with major portions cut away.

  In this figure, an electronic device 10 that is a game machine has a CPU device, a storage device, a battery, and the like built in a portable palm-sized flat box-shaped resin casing 18. The display part 11 by a large sized liquid crystal display or an organic EL display is provided on 18a. The display unit 11 is flat and has a size that substantially occupies a considerable area as shown. On the left and right sides of the display unit 11, operation units operated by a cross-shaped and button-shaped external operation unit 16 are arranged as shown in the figure, and necessary external operations are possible. In addition, the display unit 11 can display a full keyboard screen and may be configured to be able to perform touch input with an attached pen or a fingertip.

  The casing 18 has a plurality of openings 18d to be the waste heat section 7 on the back surface side, and the axial fan 8 is fixed so as to face the openings 18d. It is configured to cool the inside of the housing by blowing the generated heat in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

  The waterproof case 12 is composed of a case body 13 made of transparent or opaque resin and a lid 14 made of transparent resin that can be opened and closed or detachable so as to be in a watertight state with respect to the case body 13. The display unit 11 can be viewed from the outside. Further, the external operation section 16 is provided on the lid body 14 so as to be pressed in a sealed state so that external operation can be performed.

  The case body 13 has an opening 13a. After the heat receiving portion 2 of the heat sink 1 is inserted into the opening 13a, the O-ring 6 is inserted into the flange 4 of the heat sink 1 and the flange around the opening 13a. The heat radiating part 3 of the heat sink 1 is configured to be located outside the case body 13 by being fixed with screws 5 so as to be compressed between the parts. The O-ring 6 is molded from a colorable and injection-moldable polypropylene resin, silicon, elastomer, nylon resin, and engineering plastic resin.

  Next, with further reference to FIG. 2 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. A control unit 100 connected to a storage unit and a power supply unit 101 are incorporated in the housing 18 so as to control the entire system. Further, a support portion 22 formed of a rubber material or the like for supporting the four corners of the housing 18 so that the opening portion 18d serving as the waste heat portion 7 faces the heat receiving portion 2 of the heat sink 1 includes a case body 12 and a lid. The body 14 is provided as shown. An operation unit 15 is provided on the surface 18 a of the housing 18 at a position facing the external operation unit 16.

  The lid 14 is provided so as to be openable / closable or detachable with respect to the case main body 13, and is configured to maintain a watertight state in the illustrated state by providing an endless O-ring 30 on the joint surface. ing.

  The heat sink 1 is preferably extruded by aluminum so that a large number of heat radiating fins are integrally formed with the flange portion 4 as shown in the figure. Some types can also be used. In addition, the number and thickness of the radiating fins are appropriately set according to the heat generation amount of the built-in electronic device. However, since the radiating portion 3 is located outside and exposed to an unexpected external force, it is sufficiently mechanical. It is necessary to have strength. Or you may provide a guard member not shown so that the thermal radiation part 3 may be surrounded.

  Next, FIG. 3A shows a temperature sensor disposed near the waste heat portion 7 of the electronic device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the heat sink 1 is removed and the opening 13 a is closed for comparison. FIG. 3 is a temperature characteristic diagram in which a temperature sensor is arranged near the waste heat unit 7 of the device 10 to measure the temperature, and shows a state in which no load is applied to the program of the electronic device 10, and the axial fan 8 is not rotating at this time. . FIG. 3B is a diagram in which a large load is similarly applied to the program of the electronic device 10, and is a temperature characteristic diagram in which the axial fan 8 is rotating.

  First, in FIG. 3A, after the electronic device 10 is turned on, the lid 14 is closed in the waterproof case 12 and the temperature is measured over time. When the heat sink 1 is not provided, a curve A1 is obtained. The temperature rose from room temperature 25 ° C. to about 43 ° C. after 1 hour. On the other hand, with the heat sink 1, the temperature became about 37 ° C. after 45 minutes from room temperature 25 ° C. as shown by curve B 1, and the same temperature was maintained until 1 hour later. As a result, it was confirmed that the heat sink 1 radiates heat to the outside of the waterproof case.

  In FIG. 3B, after turning on the power of the electronic device 10, the cover 14 is closed in the waterproof case 12, and a program that heats the CPU is executed so that a load is applied and the temperature is increased over time. As a result, when the heat sink 1 was not used and the axial fan 8 was not rotating, the temperature reached 45 ° C. after 38 minutes and the CPU protection circuit was activated to automatically stop.

  On the other hand, when the heat sink 1 is provided and the axial fan 8 is rotating, if a load is applied by executing a program that heats the CPU in the same manner, one hour passes as shown by the curve C. Then, the temperature increased to 49 ° C., but it did not stop automatically. This seems to have been the effective implementation of waste heat inside the housing. In addition, when the heat sink 1 is provided and the CPU is heated to execute the program in the same manner and a load is applied and the temperature is measured when the axial fan 8 is not rotating, a curve B2 is obtained, and even after one hour. The temperature rose to 40 degrees. Further, the temperature difference from the curve A2 automatically stopped without the heat sink 1 was 7 ° C.

  As described above, it was confirmed that heat radiation to the outside of the waterproof case was performed by the heat sink 1. For this reason, it was confirmed that the electronic device 10 can be used for a long time under bad weather such as underwater or storm.

  Next, a case where the electronic device 10 is loaded in a waterproof case having a different configuration will be described.

  FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a main part after the small and thin electronic device 10 is loaded in the use position inside the waterproof case 12, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing the use of the electronic device 10 capable of pen touch input inside the waterproof case 12. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of a main part after the electronic device 10 having a large size and a large amount of generated heat is loaded in a use position inside the waterproof case 12 after being loaded in the position.

  In this figure, the same reference numerals are given to the components or parts already described, and the description is omitted. First, in FIG. 3A, the electronic device 10 is housed in a case body 13 made of transparent resin. Later, it is supported by the internal support member 22 and loaded in the illustrated use position. Thereafter, the lid body 14 pivotally supported by the pivot shaft support portion 31 near the lateral opening of the case body 13 is covered as shown in the figure, and the flange of the case body 13 is operated by operating the lock lever 32. The inside is maintained in a completely liquid-tight state by lightly compressing the continuous O-ring 30 embedded in the part. As a result, it is configured to be able to exhibit waterproofness required for shooting under bad weather and underwater shooting.

  After being loaded in this manner, the operation unit 15 that is normally operated directly with the fingertip is in a state of facing the operation unit 16 that is pressed from the outside of the case body 13, so that an operation from the outside is possible. . The heat sink 1 is fixed to the side surface of the case body 13 and is configured to radiate the heat from the axial fan 8 to the outside.

  Subsequently, in FIG. 3B, the electronic device 10 is stored in a usable position by the internal support member 22 after being accommodated in the case body 13 made of transparent resin. The optical pen 50 can be operated. After that, the lid body 14 pivotally supported by the pivot shaft support portion 311 on the right side surface of the opening of the case body 13 is covered as shown in the figure, and the lock lever 32 is operated to the flange portion of the case body 13. The inside of the O-ring 30 embedded is lightly compressed so that the inside can be maintained in a completely liquid-tight state. The heat pipe 1 is fixed to the side surface of the case main body 13 as shown in the figure, and the heat receiving portion 2 is in contact with the heat conducting member 17 while the heat radiating portion 3 is located outside. With the above configuration, effective heat dissipation can be performed by heat conduction of the heat pipe 1.

  In FIG. 3C, a waterproof case 12 for loading a large-sized electronic device 10 is shown, and the lid 14 provided with the large heat sink 1 as shown is completely removed from the case main body 13. It is configured to be separated and removable. The left and right lock levers 32 and 32 pivotally supported at the left and right edge portions of the lid body 14 are engaged with the hook portion 13f of the case body 13 so that the liquid-tight state can be maintained. It is configured as follows. According to the above configuration, the heat sink 2 can be increased in size, and effective heat dissipation can be performed with more efficient heat conduction.

  Although the waterproof case described above has a typical configuration, it goes without saying that it is designed as needed in consideration of the shape of the electronic device and the operability during attachment and detachment.

It is the top view which fractured | ruptured and illustrated the principal part about the electronic device 10 and the waterproof case 12 based on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 1. (A) shows the waste heat of the electronic device 10 by disposing the temperature sensor near the waste heat portion 7 of the electronic device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and removing the heat sink 1 and closing the opening 13 a for comparison. FIG. 5B is a temperature characteristic diagram in which a temperature sensor is arranged near the unit 7 and the temperature is measured. FIG. 5B is a diagram in which a large load is applied to the program of the electronic device 10 as well, and the axial fan 8 rotates at this time. FIG. (a) is a cross-sectional view of the main part after the small and thin electronic device 10 is loaded in the use position inside the waterproof case 12, and (b) is the electronic device 10 capable of pen touch input in the use position inside the waterproof case 12. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of a main part after loading the electronic device 10 having a large size and a large amount of heat generated in a use position inside the waterproof case 12.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat sink 2 Heat receiving part 3 Heat radiating part 4 Flange part 6 O-ring 7 Waste heat part 8 Axial fan 10 Electronic device 12 Waterproof case 13 Case main body 14 Cover

Claims (4)

A waterproof case that allows a portable electronic device to be used in a waterproof state for a long time, or an electronic device that generates a large amount of heat to be used in a waterproof state,
The waterproof case is provided with a high heat conductive member including a heat sink or a heat pipe in which the heat receiving portion is disposed so as to face the waste heat portion of the electronic device, and the heat radiating portion is disposed outside. Waterproof case featuring The waterproof case includes a case main body, and a lid body that can be opened and closed or detachable so as to be in a watertight state with respect to the case main body,
The said high heat conductive member is fixed through the sealing member containing an O-ring, after inserting the said heat receiving part with respect to the opening part of the said case main body or the said cover body. Waterproof case. The electronic device includes a display unit and an operation unit disposed on a surface of a housing, and a control unit connected to a storage unit and a power source unit are built in the housing to control the entire system. In addition, the waste heat unit includes a blower unit disposed to face the blower port on the side surface of the housing so as to send the internal hot air to the outside.
The waterproof case according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof case is formed with a support portion for supporting the display unit and the operation unit at a use position inside the case main body or the lid body. . A method for using a waterproof case in which a portable electronic device is used in a waterproof state for a long time, or an electronic device having a large calorific value is used in a waterproof state,
Use inside the waterproof case in which the heat receiving portion is disposed so as to face the waste heat portion of the electronic device, and the high heat conductive member including the heat sink or the heat pipe in which the heat radiating portion is arranged outside is provided in a watertight state. Supporting the electronic device in position,
A method for using a waterproof case, characterized in that waste heat from the waste heat part generated when the electronic device is used is thermally conducted through the high heat conductive member and radiated outside the waterproof case.

Images