JP2010074439A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof structure of an electronic device with the waterproof structure which allows easy assembly and disassembly, and to provide a portable terminal with the waterproof structure. <P>SOLUTION: A fingerprint sensor 31 which is an external device constitutes an external device unit to be supported by a circuit board inside the portable terminal with a frame 32 for fingerprint sensors, an O-ring 33 for frames which is a first sealing member seals between a fixed rear case and the frame 32 for fingerprint sensors, and an O-ring 45 for flexible substrates which is a second sealing member seals between a grommet part 44 and the frame 32 for fingerprint sensors in a through-hole 43 for wiring parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to a portable terminal device including a fingerprint sensor.

  In recent years, mobile phones have been mainly provided with various functions such as an electronic mail function, a personal information storage function, and an electronic payment function in addition to the original telephone function. With such multi-functionality, it is necessary to ensure security to prevent unauthorized use of mobile phones and unauthorized leakage of information. In order to ensure security, for example, cellular phones having a fingerprint authentication function as personal identification means have become widespread.

  Conventionally, portable terminal devices such as mobile phones and notebook personal computers have been proposed to have a waterproof structure on the assumption that they are taken out to an environment where water is likely to adhere. The optical detection type fingerprint sensor can waterproof the entire fingerprint sensor by covering a transparent member that transmits light. On the other hand, since the configuration is large, it is difficult to mount the fingerprint sensor on a portable terminal device. On the other hand, the electrostatic fingerprint sensor is suitable for use in a portable terminal device because it can be downsized. Since the electrostatic fingerprint sensor needs to be directly touched with a finger, the fingerprint reading unit is installed outside the portable terminal device. For this reason, waterproofing of a portable terminal device equipped with an electrostatic fingerprint sensor requires a structure for preventing water from entering between the fingerprint sensor and the outer case. Conventionally, a structure in which a fingerprint sensor is fixed to an exterior case with a packing material and an adhesive material has been proposed as a waterproof structure of a portable terminal device on which an electrostatic fingerprint sensor is mounted (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-143909 A

  In order to attach the fingerprint sensor, a process of inserting the flexible substrate of the fingerprint sensor into the connector provided on the circuit board of the portable terminal device is required. In addition, in order to configure the waterproof structure, a process of fixing the fingerprint sensor to the inner side surface of the mobile terminal device in the outer case is necessary. In order to fix the fingerprint sensor using the packing material or the adhesive material, it is necessary to sufficiently press the fingerprint sensor on the outer case.

  At the stage where the fingerprint sensor is connected to the connector via the flexible substrate, the fingerprint sensor is not supported with respect to the circuit board. Therefore, the resistance on the fingerprint sensor side against the force pressing the outer case becomes insufficient. Since the pressurization of the exterior case against the fingerprint sensor becomes insufficient, it is difficult to sufficiently press the fingerprint sensor and the exterior case. The fingerprint sensor is arranged near the exterior and is often mounted after incorporating many of the components of the portable terminal device, and it is difficult to take measures to place a receiving jig against the pressing of the exterior case.

  When fixing the fingerprint sensor to the exterior case and then inserting the flexible board into the connector, the flexible board should have an extra length relative to the length required to connect the circuit board and the fingerprint sensor. It will be. For example, in the case of a portable terminal device having a certain amount of room in the internal space, such as a notebook personal computer, it is relatively easy to accommodate a flexible substrate having a certain amount of extra length. On the other hand, for example, in the case of a mobile phone, since the internal space is very limited, it is difficult to accommodate a flexible substrate having a length longer than necessary. As described above, the waterproof structure according to the conventional technique has a problem that it is extremely difficult to assemble. Also, in order to disassemble the assembled waterproof structure, either the flexible substrate connected to the connector or the side where the fingerprint sensor is fixed to the exterior case is torn down. For this reason, the waterproof structure by the prior art also has a problem that it is difficult to disassemble for repair or parts replacement.

  The disclosed technology has been made in view of the above-described problems caused by the conventional technology, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic device including a waterproof structure that enables easy assembly and disassembly.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an electronic device disclosed in the present application is, in one aspect, an electronic device equipped with an external device exposed from an opening formed in an exterior case, The attached device is incorporated in the external device unit supported by the circuit board of the electronic device, and seals between the outer case and the external device unit, the external device wiring portion, and the external device A second sealing member that seals between the device units.

  According to one aspect of the electronic apparatus disclosed in the present application, the external device is supported by the circuit board in a state of being incorporated in the external device unit, so that the external device and the exterior cover are sufficiently assembled at the time of assembly. Can be easily crimped and assembled easily. The external device unit can be easily detached from the electronic device by not being fixed to the circuit board. By using, for example, an O-ring as the first sealing member and the second sealing member, the waterproof structure can be easily disassembled. Furthermore, by reassembling the disassembled parts, it is possible to obtain a waterproof structure having the same waterproof property as before disassembly. Thereby, easy assembly and disassembly can be enabled.

  Exemplary embodiments of an electronic device disclosed in the present application will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an open state of a mobile phone that is a mobile terminal device according to an embodiment. The cellular phone according to the present embodiment can be appropriately modified by engineers in the field based on the following description outline. Therefore, the following description should be broadly understood as the contents disclosed for the relevant field, and does not limit the invention.

  The cellular phone 10 employs a folding type that allows the stationary casing 11 and the movable casing 15 to be opened and closed in an open state and a folded state. The fixed casing 11 has various operation keys such as a numeric keypad 12 having numeric (0 to 9) keys and a function key (mode setting key) 13. Various operation keys are provided on the operation panel 14. The movable housing 15 has an LCD module (not shown). The LCD module is formed in a size substantially the same as that of the movable casing 15. The connection part 16 connects the fixed side housing | casing 11 and the movable side housing | casing 15 so that opening and closing is possible. Both the fixed-side housing 11 and the movable-side housing 15 are formed in a box shape. As a material for the fixed-side housing 11 and the movable-side housing 15, a lightweight and high-strength metal such as a magnesium alloy is used.

  Among the fixed-side housing 11, the fixed front case 17 in which the operation panel 14 is arranged and the fixed rear case 18 located on the back side (the back side in FIG. 1) are the outer case of the fixed-side housing 11. Constitute. The fixed front case 17 is provided with a numeric keypad 12, function keys 13, and a mouthpiece 19. The microphone 19 is provided with a microphone for converting sound into an electrical signal. A circuit board is provided inside the stationary housing 11. Many circuit components for realizing various functions of the mobile phone 10 are appropriately mounted on the circuit board.

  Of the movable housing 15, the movable front case 21 and the movable rear case 22 located on the back side constitute an exterior case of the movable housing 15. A display panel 23 for visually recognizing the LCD module is provided at a substantially central portion of the surface of the movable front case 21. An earpiece 24 is provided at the upper end of the movable front case 21. The earpiece 24 is provided with a speaker for converting an electrical signal into sound.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fixed housing 11 shown in FIG. The fingerprint sensor 31 is an electrostatic fingerprint sensor and is an external device mounted on the mobile phone 10. The fixed rear case 18 has an opening 35 formed at a position where the fingerprint sensor 31 is provided. The exterior panel 34 is a panel that covers the periphery of the opening 35 in the fixed rear case 18, and is configured using, for example, a resin member. The exterior panel 34 has an opening 36 formed at a position where the fingerprint sensor 31 is provided. The opening 36 of the exterior panel 34 is formed smaller than the opening 35 of the fixed rear case 18. The fingerprint sensor 31 is disposed with the fingerprint reading unit exposed from the opening 36 of the exterior panel 34 to the outside of the mobile phone 10.

  The fingerprint sensor frame 32 is disposed on the inner side of the fixed housing 11 with respect to the fingerprint sensor 31. The fingerprint sensor frame 32 functions as an external device frame on which the fingerprint sensor 31 is placed. The fingerprint sensor frame 32 is configured using, for example, a resin member. The fingerprint sensor 31 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 constitute an external device unit. The fingerprint sensor 31 is incorporated in the external device unit.

  The frame O-ring 33 is provided around the fingerprint sensor frame 32. The frame O-ring 33 functions as a first sealing member that seals between the fixed rear case 18 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 around the opening 35 of the fixed rear case 18. The frame O-ring 33 is made of an elastic material. The fingerprint sensor 31, the fingerprint sensor frame 32, and the frame O-ring 33 are installed on the circuit board 37 inside the fixed housing 11 in a state of being combined with each other.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion where the fingerprint sensor 31 is provided in the stationary housing 11 shown in FIG. The connector 41 is for electrically connecting the circuit component provided on the circuit board 37 and the fingerprint sensor 31, and is provided on the circuit board 37. The fingerprint sensor 31 is mounted on one end side of a flexible substrate (FPC) 42. The end of the flexible substrate 42 opposite to the side on which the fingerprint sensor 31 is mounted is inserted into the connector 41. The flexible substrate 42 functions as an external device wiring portion that electrically connects the connector 41 and the fingerprint sensor 31.

  The fingerprint sensor frame 32 is disposed between the fingerprint sensor 31 and the circuit board 37. A part of the fingerprint sensor frame 32 opposite to the side on which the fingerprint sensor 31 is placed is in contact with the circuit board 37 and the connector 41. With this configuration, the fingerprint sensor 31 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 are supported by the circuit board 37. Further, the periphery of the portion on which the fingerprint sensor 31 is placed in the fingerprint sensor frame 32 is formed along the inside of the opening 35 formed in the fixed rear case 18. The frame O-ring 33 is provided for the purpose of preventing water from entering between the fingerprint sensor frame 32 and the fixed rear case 18. The fingerprint sensor frame 32 and the fixed rear case 18 are respectively formed with stepped portions constituting a space for arranging the frame O-ring 33.

  The fingerprint sensor frame 32 is formed with a wiring portion through hole 43 through which the flexible substrate 42 penetrates. A grommet portion 44 is formed in a portion of the flexible substrate 42 that penetrates the wiring portion through hole 43. The grommet portion 44 is formed integrally with the flexible substrate 42 by a resin member. The grommet portion 44 is formed so as to be fitted into the wiring portion through-hole 43.

  The flexible substrate O-ring 45 functions as a second sealing member that seals between the grommet portion 44 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 in the wiring portion through-hole 43. The flexible substrate O-ring 45 is made of an elastic material. The flexible substrate O-ring 45 is provided for the purpose of preventing water from entering between the flexible substrate 42 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32. The grommet 44 is provided with a mounting groove that forms a space for disposing the flexible substrate O-ring 45.

  The exterior panel 34 is disposed so as to cover the outer edge of the fingerprint sensor 31 from a part of the fixed rear case 18. The exterior panel 34 and the fixed rear case 18 are bonded using a double-sided tape 46. The double-sided tape 46 is provided for the purpose of preventing water from entering between the exterior panel 34 and the fixed rear case 18. As described above, the waterproof structure according to the present embodiment is configured such that the location where the frame O-ring 33 is provided, the location where the flexible substrate O-ring 45 is provided, and the location where the double-sided tape 46 is provided are water-stopping. The point is.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the fingerprint sensor 31 and the surrounding configuration. The flexible substrate 42 is formed to have substantially the same width as one side of the fingerprint sensor 31. The wiring part through-hole 43 is formed in a long shape in a specific direction, which is a direction in which the flexible substrate 42 has a width substantially the same as one side of the fingerprint sensor 31. The grommet portion 44 is also formed in a shape that is long in the above specific direction in accordance with the shape of the wiring portion through hole 43. The grommet portion 44 is provided with a mounting groove 51 for mounting the flexible substrate O-ring 45. The flexible substrate O-ring 45 has a long ring shape in the specific direction so as to surround the grommet portion 44 in the mounting groove 51.

  The fingerprint sensor frame 32 includes a placement portion 52 on which the fingerprint sensor 31 is placed. The wiring part through hole 43 is formed at a position adjacent to the placement part 52. The frame portion 53 is formed so as to surround the portion where the placement portion 52 and the wiring portion through hole 43 are formed. Further, a stepped portion 54 to which the frame O-ring 33 is attached is formed on the opposite side of the frame portion 53 from the mounting portion 52 side. The frame O-ring 33 has an annular shape corresponding to the shape of the frame portion 53 so as to surround the periphery of the frame portion 53 at the stepped portion 54.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a state in which the flexible substrate O-ring 45 and the frame O-ring 33 are mounted from the configuration shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fingerprint sensor 31 shown in FIG. 5 from the grommet portion 44 side. The flexible substrate O-ring 45 is attached to the attachment groove 51 in a stretched state so that no gap is formed between the flexible substrate O-ring 45 and the attachment groove 51. The flexible substrate O-ring 45 is compressed by the wall surface of the wiring part through-hole 43 and the mounting groove 51 of the grommet part 44 by fitting the grommet part 44 to the wiring part through-hole 43. With this configuration, the flexible substrate O-ring 45 seals between the grommet portion 44 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 in the wiring portion through-hole 43.

  The frame O-ring 33 is attached to the stepped portion 54 in a stretched state so that no gap is formed between the frame O-ring 33 and the stepped portion 54. Further, the frame O-ring 33 is compressed by the wall surface of the fixed rear case 18 and the step portion 54 of the fingerprint sensor frame 32 by combining the fingerprint sensor frame 32 and the fixed rear case 18. With this configuration, the frame O-ring 33 seals between the fixed rear case 18 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the fingerprint sensor 31 is placed on the fingerprint sensor frame 32 from the configuration shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the configuration shown in FIG. 7 from the flexible substrate 42 side. The fingerprint sensor 31 is placed on the placement portion 52 of the fingerprint sensor frame 32 through the flexible substrate 42 through the wiring portion through hole 43. Furthermore, the fingerprint sensor 31 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 are integrated with each other by fitting the grommet portion 44 into the wiring portion through hole 43. By mounting the flexible substrate O-ring 45 on the grommet 44, the flexible substrate O-ring 45 can sufficiently seal between the flexible substrate 42 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, with the fingerprint sensor 31 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 integrated, the flexible substrate 42 is inserted into the connector 41 (see FIG. 3), whereby the fingerprint sensor 31 and the circuit board 37 are inserted. A fingerprint sensor frame 32 is mounted. Thereafter, the fingerprint sensor 31 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 are fixed by attaching the fixed rear case 18. When the fixed rear case 18 is mounted, the fingerprint sensor frame 32 serves as a support for the circuit board 37 so that the fixed rear case 18 is sufficiently pressed against the fingerprint sensor frame 32. Thereby, sufficient sealing between the fixed rear case 18 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 by the frame O-ring 33 is possible. Further, by attaching the fixed rear case 18 in a state where the fingerprint sensor frame 32 is floated without being fixed to the circuit board 37, a compressive load can be applied to the frame O-ring 33. As a result, the waterproof structure can be easily assembled.

  The external device unit including the fingerprint sensor 31 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 can be easily detached from the cellular phone 10 by being configured not to be fixed to the circuit board 37. The frame O-ring 33 and the flexible substrate O-ring 45 can be easily removed after assembly. Without breaking the fingerprint sensor 31, the waterproof structure can be disassembled into parts. Further, by reassembling each component once disassembled, it is possible to obtain a waterproof structure having the same waterproof property as before disassembly. As described above, according to this embodiment, there is an effect that easy assembly and disassembly can be made possible.

  The external device unit is not limited to the configuration in which the fingerprint sensor 31 and the fingerprint sensor frame 32 which are individual components are combined, and may be configured integrally from the beginning. The mobile phone 10 is not limited to a foldable type. For example, the mobile phone 10 is a slide type that slides a movable casing with respect to a fixed casing, or a straight type that is not divided into a fixed casing and a movable casing. There may be.

  In the present embodiment, the waterproof structure of the mobile phone 10 equipped with the fingerprint sensor 31 has been described as an example, but the disclosed technology is not limited to this. The disclosed technology is a waterproof structure for mobile terminal devices other than the mobile phone 10, for example, small information processing terminals such as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), small music playback devices, mobile TVs, and portable game machines. You may apply to. The waterproof structure is not limited to that provided for the fingerprint sensor 31, and may be provided for an external device other than the fingerprint sensor 31. The disclosed technology can be widely applied to electronic devices including external devices that are exposed from the exterior of the electronic device and have an electrical connection with an internal circuit configuration of the electronic device.

  The following supplementary notes are further disclosed with respect to the embodiments including the above examples.

(Appendix 1) An electronic device including an external device exposed from an opening formed in an exterior case,
The external device is incorporated in an external device unit supported by a circuit board provided in the electronic apparatus,
A first sealing member that seals between the exterior case and the external device unit around the opening;
A first seal that seals between the external device wiring section and the external device unit around the external device wiring section that electrically connects the connector provided on the circuit board and the external device. An electronic device comprising: 2 sealing members.

(Appendix 2) The external device unit has an external device frame on which the external device is placed,
The external device frame is disposed between the external device and the circuit board,
The electronic device according to appendix 1, wherein the first sealing member seals between the exterior case and the external device frame.

(Additional remark 3) The said external device flame | frame is formed with the through-hole for wiring parts which penetrates the said external device wiring part,
The external device wiring part has a grommet part formed so as to be fitted to the wiring part through-hole,
The electronic device according to appendix 2, wherein the second sealing member seals between the grommet portion and the external device frame in the wiring portion through hole.

(Supplementary note 4) The electronic device according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein the external device is a fingerprint sensor.

(Supplementary note 5) The electronic device according to Supplementary note 4, wherein the fingerprint sensor is an electrostatic fingerprint sensor.

(Additional remark 6) It has the exterior panel arrange | positioned so that the outer edge part of the said external device may be covered from a part of said exterior case,
The electronic device according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, wherein the exterior case and the exterior panel are bonded using a double-sided tape.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the open state of the mobile telephone which concerns on an Example. It is a disassembled perspective view of a stationary housing. It is sectional drawing of the part in which the fingerprint sensor was provided among the fixed side housing | casings. It is a disassembled perspective view of a fingerprint sensor and its peripheral configuration. It is a perspective view in the state where a flexible substrate O-ring and a frame O-ring are mounted. It is a perspective view from the grommet part side of the fingerprint sensor shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which mounted the fingerprint sensor in the frame for fingerprint sensors. It is a perspective view from the flexible substrate side of the structure shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile phone 11 Fixed side case 15 Movable side case 18 Fixed rear case 31 Fingerprint sensor 32 Fingerprint sensor frame 33 Frame O-ring 34 Exterior panel 37 Circuit board 42 Flexible board 44 Grommet part 45 Flexible board O-ring

Claims (4)

An electronic device equipped with an external device exposed from an opening formed in an exterior case,
The external device is incorporated in an external device unit supported by a circuit board provided in the electronic apparatus,
A first sealing member that seals between the exterior case and the external device unit around the opening;
A first seal that seals between the external device wiring section and the external device unit around the external device wiring section that electrically connects the connector provided on the circuit board and the external device. An electronic apparatus comprising: 2 sealing members. The external device unit has an external device frame on which the external device is placed,
The external device frame is disposed between the external device and the circuit board,
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing member seals between the exterior case and the external device frame. In the external device frame, a through hole for a wiring part that penetrates the external device wiring part is formed,
The external device wiring part has a grommet part formed so as to be fitted to the wiring part through-hole,
The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the second sealing member seals between the grommet portion and the external device frame in the wiring portion through hole.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a fingerprint sensor.

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