JP2008147417A - Buffer structure and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a buffer structure corresponding to the refinement of a portable electronic device due to miniaturization and increase in functions. <P>SOLUTION: A granule 4 which is a magnetizable elastic body, a sheet-like magnetic member 3, and a rib 5 are arranged in a hollow outer shell 2. When the housing 1 of an electronic device receives an impact, impact energy is relaxed by the elastic friction of the granule 4 that has elastic property and magnetic force between the granules 4 magnetized by the magnetic member 3. The rib 5, protruding in the outer shell 2, transmits an impact received by the outer shell 2 to the granule 4, and consequently, a more effective buffer effect is obtained; and further, the shape of the outer shell, changed by the impact, can be returned to the original shape by the user's hand, since the granules 4 are aggregated by magnetic force. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a buffer structure and an electronic device for protecting a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone and a handy terminal from an impact such as dropping.

  In recent years, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and notebook personal computers have become widespread. Since these portable electronic devices have relatively many opportunities to be carried outdoors and have precision parts such as an electronic substrate, a buffer structure for protecting the casing from impact is required. As such a buffer structure, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a buffer member made of a soft elastic body is arranged at the end of a casing of a portable electronic device, and a constant surface is obtained by weight distribution of the casing. There are things that let you fall from. However, it is practically impossible to use a shock absorbing structure requiring weight distribution and shape restrictions for products that meet the diverse consumer preferences in the market. In addition, the use of a soft elastic body is not sufficient for the buffer capacity required in recent years.

On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which the inside of the buffer structure is made hollow and ribs, minute holes, and the like are formed in order to improve the buffer capacity at the time of impact.
JP-A-5-37617 JP 2002-209623 A

  However, due to miniaturization and multi-functionalization of electronic substrates, and demands for higher specifications in the market, future portable electronic devices are required to be more resistant to shocks, and more effectively. It is necessary to realize a buffer structure that can alleviate the impact. Further, like the configuration described in Patent Document 2, it is not preferable that the buffer structure is a complete dead space in terms of the function of the portable electronic device.

  The present invention is not influenced by the shape of the electronic device to be protected, has an excellent buffering capacity capable of effectively mitigating shocks with a simple configuration, and also adds functions other than the buffering capacity such as shape stability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a buffer structure and an electronic device that can perform the above.

  The buffer structure of the present invention includes a hollow main body disposed outside a housing of an electronic device, a plurality of magnetizable particles filled in the main body, and a magnetizing member for magnetizing the particles. , Provided.

  When the electronic device receives an impact due to dropping or the like, the frictional force due to the magnetic force of the granular material magnetized by the magnetic member reduces the impact. In addition, the magnetic force of the granular material stabilizes the shape of the body of the buffer structure, and a function other than the buffer capacity is added such that the housing can be deformed into a shape that can be easily held by the user.

  If the granular body is an elastic body, when a drop impact is transmitted to the inside of the buffer structure, a higher buffering effect can be obtained by the elasticity of the granular body.

  Furthermore, by providing a rib-shaped portion that effectively transmits an external impact such as a drop applied to the main body of the buffer structure to the granular material, an even higher buffer effect can be expected.

  As described above, there is an advantage that the casing of the electronic device can be effectively protected from an impact due to an external factor such as dropping, and the casing can be restored to a stable shape with a high usability by the user's own hand.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in a shock-absorbing structure for protecting a casing 1 of a portable electronic device from an external impact such as dropping, a sheet-like magnet or magnetization is formed inside an outer shell 2 that is a hollow main body. The magnetic member 3 that is a magnetic body and a plurality of magnetizable granular bodies 4 are provided.

  This buffer structure has a configuration in which the outer shell 2 is arranged on a part or the whole of the exterior of a portable electronic device, and the magnetic member 3 is fixed to the housing 1 side. Further, since the plurality of granular bodies 4 are formed of a magnetizable substance, the granular bodies 4 are magnetized by the magnetic member 3 and are coupled by a magnetic force. In this state, when an impact due to an external factor such as a drop is applied, the impact load is diffused by the granular material 4, and as a result, the impact can be received over a wide area of the housing 1. Can be reduced.

  Further, when the impact is separated from the coupling of the granular bodies 4 by the magnetic force, the impact energy is promoted by being converted into other energy such as sound, heat and light. Even when the granular material 4 moves (displaces) without being separated, the wear of the impact energy is promoted by the increase of the frictional force exerted by the attraction by the magnetic force. Furthermore, even when the outer shell 2 is deformed due to an impact, the shape can be changed by the user's hand due to the effect of magnetic coupling. Even when the outer shell 2 is not deformed, the user can use it. It is possible to change to an easy shape.

  If the granular body 4 is an elastic body, the impact deformation of the granular body 4 itself delays the propagation of the impact and reduces the impact per unit time applied to the housing 1 when subjected to an external impact such as dropping. be able to.

  Further, if a rib (rib-shaped portion) 5 protruding in the buffer structure is provided, when the outer shell 2 is deformed by an external impact such as dropping, the rib 5 pushed by the deformed outer shell 2 is granular. Since the coupling | bonding by the magnetic force of the bodies 4 is isolate | separated, wear of impact energy can be promoted more.

  FIG. 1 is a partially broken partial perspective view excluding a part of an outer shell 2 that is integral with a housing 1 in order to explain the inside of the buffer structure according to the present embodiment. A plurality of ribs 5 are attached to the upper part of the outer shell 2 that is the main body of the shock-absorbing structure that covers the exterior of the housing 1, and the granular material 4 in the outer shell 2 is effectively removed when subjected to an impact from the outside. Stir. The granule 4 is kneaded with a magnetizable substance such as iron powder, and the granule 4 magnetized by the sheet-like magnetic member 3 disposed inside the buffer structure can freely move individually. Instead, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2A shows the internal state of the shock-absorbing structure when it is not subjected to an impact load due to an external factor such as a drop. The sheet-shaped magnetic member 3 attracts the granular material 4 by magnetic force. Thus, the body shape of the buffer structure is stabilized. FIG. 2B shows a deformed state inside the buffer structure when receiving an impact load (impact force) R ₁ transmitted to the granular body 4 by the outer shell 2 and the rib 5. The buffering action in this state is as follows.

  When the shock absorbing structure that covers the housing 1 receives an impact due to dropping or the like, first, the outer shell 2 of the shock absorbing structure is buffered by deformation, and the outer granular material 4 inside the shock absorbing structure is formed by the outer shell 2 or the rib 5. Tell the shock to. Second, the impact transmitted to the inside is propagated and diffused by the plurality of granular bodies 4, so that the impact load per unit area in the housing 1 is reduced, and the impact energy is reduced by deformation and friction of the granular bodies 4. Can be attenuated.

The third is buffering by magnetic force acting between the granular bodies 4. As shown in FIG. 3A, a force R ₂ that attracts the granular material 4 by the magnetic force acts on the impact force R ₁ propagated by the outer shell 2 or the rib 5. Then, as shown in (b) of FIG. 3, the impact force R _1, wears the impact energy by separating the granules 4 which are attracted by the magnetic force.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, there is a force R ₃ that the granular body 4 receives from the surrounding granular body 4, and the granular body 4 is moved by the impact force R ₁ to generate a frictional force. Since this frictional force is proportional to the force R ₃ receive from the force R ₂ and surrounding granules 4 granules 4 attract each other by magnetic force, frictional force is increased by the magnetic force between the granules 4, the impact energy Decrease.

  A curve A shown in FIG. 4 is an impact energy curve when the buffer structure of the present embodiment is not used, and a curve B is an impact energy curve when the present embodiment is used. Although the sum of the impact energies shown by the curve A and the sum of the impact energies shown by the curve B are equal, by using the buffer structure of this embodiment, the impact energy is temporally diffused as shown by the curve B, and the peak Can be lowered and buffered.

FIG. 5 shows an arrangement pattern of the buffer structure according to the present embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the outer shell 2 is arranged in four corners with respect to the housing 1 shown in FIG. To do. Or you may arrange | position up and down as shown to (c) of FIG. 5, and may arrange | position to the whole surface as shown in (d). In particular, when arranged over the entire surface, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer shell 2 can be deformed with a force R ₄ by the user's hand, and a housing shape with a high grip can be provided. It is.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when a pair of magnetic members 3 are arranged so that the same poles face each other at the upper and lower portions in the buffer structure, the magnetic repulsion force R ₅ possessed by the two magnetic members 3 is higher. It is possible to obtain a buffering effect.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the shape of the granular material 4. As shown in FIG. 8 (a), in the spherical granular body 4, the contact points between the substantially spherical bodies at the time of impact are small. For this reason, the frictional force Ra cannot be obtained sufficiently. However, by arranging at least one flat surface as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the contact area between the granular bodies 4 is increased, resulting in stronger friction. A buffering effect due to the force Rb can be obtained. The granular body 4 may be a polyhedron as shown in FIG. 8C, and a strong frictional force Rc may be obtained on a plurality of surfaces.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the ribs 5 may be disposed on the upper and lower surfaces inside the buffer structure, and the intermediate layer 6 having the ribs 5 is provided with the buffer structure as shown in FIG. 9 (b). At least one layer may be provided inside. Thereby, it is possible to stir the granular material 4 more effectively. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, if the rib 5 is made into a mesh shape, the granular material 4 can be stirred over a wide range, and a higher buffering effect can be obtained.

It is a partially broken perspective view explaining the internal structure of the buffer structure by one Example. The buffering action of FIG. 1 will be described. The force which acts on a granular material through a rib is demonstrated. It is a graph which compares the buffer action of a present Example and a prior art example. It is a figure which shows the arrangement pattern of a buffer structure. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the outer shell deform | transformed. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the magnetic member by one modification. It is a figure which shows the example of a shape of a granular material. It is a figure which shows the example of a shape of a rib. It is a figure which shows a mesh-shaped rib.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Outer shell 3 Magnetic member 4 Granule 5 Rib 6 Intermediate layer

Claims (4)

  A hollow main body disposed outside a housing of an electronic device, a plurality of magnetizable particles filled in the main body, and a magnetizing member for magnetizing the particles. The buffer structure.   The buffer structure according to claim 1, wherein the granular body is a magnetizable elastic body.   The shock absorbing structure according to claim 1, further comprising a rib-shaped portion protruding inside the main body, wherein the rib-shaped portion is in contact with the granular material.   An electronic apparatus comprising the buffer structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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