JP2012222283A - Waterproof structure for electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof structure for an electronic device, the waterproof structure capable of preventing degradation of a material used for a waterproof purpose (waterproof material) with a switch operation not disturbed by the elasticity of the waterproof material.SOLUTION: A waterproof structure for an electronic device, includes: a movable part (351) that moves a contact point to switch electric connection; an operating part (31) that is operated by a user to move the movable part, the movable part and the operating part being combined; and a waterproof sheet (34) that covers the combined portion of the movable part and the operating part. The waterproof sheet has a concavo-convex part (341) formed thereon and the concavo-convex part forms a plurality of slacks around the combined portion.

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof structure of an electronic device, and more specifically, prevents the switch operation from being hindered by elasticity of a material (waterproof material) used for waterproofing the electronic device and prevents deterioration of the waterproof material. The present invention relates to a waterproof structure for an electronic device that can be used and an electronic device having the same structure.

  In order to make an electronic device waterproof, a case (waterproof case) that can be used even when the electronic device is housed and has waterproof properties is known (see Patent Document 1).

  The waterproof case described in Patent Document 1 has a member used for operating the operation buttons and switches on the surface of the waterproof case so that the operation buttons and switches of the electronic device can be operated even when the electronic device is housed inside. Is arranged. Of course, the joint between these members and the case housing has a waterproof structure.

  In addition, an electronic device itself is known that has a waterproof structure. Such a waterproof structure of an electronic device prevents water from entering the interior of the electronic device by disposing a waterproof material such as silicon or rubber in a gap or a hole of the housing.

  There is a problem with the waterproof structure of such an electronic device. That is, since it is necessary to arrange a waterproof material around the slide switch or the like used for the operation of the electronic device, the elasticity of the waterproof material may be difficult to move when operating these switches. Further, when the switch is moved in a predetermined direction, the waterproof material is pulled in a direction opposite to the direction in which the switch is moved, so that wear occurs and the durability is adversely affected.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can improve the operational feeling of switches without impairing the flexibility and durability of a waterproof material used in a waterproof structure of an electronic device. An object is to provide a waterproof structure of an apparatus and an electronic apparatus having the structure.

  The present invention relates to a waterproof structure for an electronic device, and includes a movable part that moves a contact for switching electrical connection, an operation part that a user operates to move the movable part, a movable part, and an operation part. And a waterproof sheet that covers the combined part of the movable part and the operation part, and the waterproof sheet has an uneven part, and the uneven part has a plurality of slacks around the combined part. The most important feature is to form.

  According to the present invention, in the waterproof structure of the electronic device, the waterproof material disposed around the slide switch does not interfere with the operation of the slide switch, and the waterproof material is deteriorated due to friction generated by the operation of the slide switch. There is nothing to do.

It is (a) front perspective view and (b) back perspective view which show the external appearance of the digital camera which is an example of the electronic device provided with the waterproof structure which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the electronic device which shows the example of the said waterproof structure. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the example of the said waterproof structure. In the example of the said waterproof structure, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which operated the switching member. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the example of the waterproof effect which concerns on the said waterproof structure. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows another example of an electronic device provided with the waterproof structure which concerns on this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows another example of the said waterproof structure. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which operated the switching member in another example of the said waterproof structure. It is a perspective view which shows another example of the external appearance of the switch used for the waterproof structure which concerns on this invention, and a waterproof sheet. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows another example of the waterproof structure which concerns on this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which operated the switching member in another example of the said waterproof structure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a waterproof structure for an electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In describing an embodiment of a waterproof structure for an electronic device according to the present invention, a digital camera is used as an example of the electronic device. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the appearance of a digital camera having a waterproof structure according to the present invention, using the front perspective view of FIG. 1A and the rear perspective view of FIG. As shown in FIG. 1A, the digital camera 10 has a push button type shutter switch 1 disposed on the upper surface. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, a push button type back operation button group 2 and a switch 3 are arranged on the back side. The switch 3 may be disposed on the top surface of the digital camera 1. The switch 3 illustrated in FIG. 1B is a slide switch, but a switch to which the waterproof structure for an electronic device according to the present invention can be applied is not limited to a slide switch.

  Next, an embodiment of a waterproof structure for an electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to an exploded perspective view of a main part of the waterproof structure for an electronic device shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 indicates an outer cover that is a part of the housing of the digital camera 10 around the switch 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outer cover 100 includes a switching member 31 that is a member constituting the switch 3, an O-ring 32, an inner cover 33, a waterproof sheet 34, a switch 35, and a substrate 36. , Is arranged.

  The upper part of the switching member 31 is exposed from the hole 101 formed in the outer cover 100 and becomes an operation unit operated by the user. The switching member 31 has two protrusions. The protrusion is on the side opposite to the operation portion and has a predetermined dimension in the downward direction in the figure. The protruding portion of the switching member 31 protrudes downward through a hole 331 formed in the top surface portion of the inner cover 33 and is formed so as to sandwich a movable portion 351 of a switch 35 described later. When the user of the digital camera 10 operates the operation part of the switching member 31, the movable part 351 of the switch 35 can be moved. By these operations, the switching operation of the electrical contacts of the digital camera 10 can be performed.

  The inner cover 33 is formed by hollowing the inside of a cube having a box-like appearance, and has a shape that can be covered around the switch 35 while sandwiching a waterproof sheet 34 described later. A hole 331 is formed in the top surface of the inner cover 33. This hole 331 is for allowing the projection of the switching member 31 to be fitted into the switch 35, and has a predetermined lateral dimension so that the switching member 31 can move in a predetermined direction.

  Further, a groove 332 is formed on the outer periphery of the hole 331 in the top surface portion of the inner cover 33. An O-ring 32 is fitted in the groove 332. The switch 3 is assembled with the inner wall surface of the outer cover 100 and the top surface portion of the inner cover 33 in contact with each other. In this assembled state, water that has entered from the gap between the hole 101 and the switching member 31 passes between the inner wall surface of the outer cover 100 and the top surface of the inner cover 33 and travels toward the inside of the digital camera 10. In order to prevent the flooding, an O-ring 32 is disposed.

  The waterproof sheet 34 is a sheet-like member made of a waterproof material disposed between the switching member 31 and the movable portion 351 of the switch 35, and has a wave-like outer shape (bellows shape so as to cover the switch 35. ) Is formed on the surface facing the inner cover 33. The concavo-convex portion 341 has a plurality of convex portions. Among the plurality of concavo-convex portions, the substantially central convex portion covers the periphery of the movable portion 351, and the other convex portions are formed around the movable portion 351. It will be slack.

  The movable portion 351 of the switch 35 can switch the electrical contact by sliding in the left-right direction in the figure. The board 36 is a circuit board provided with an electronic circuit that controls the operation of the electronic device in accordance with the electrical contact switched by the movable portion 351 of the switch 35.

  Next, the waterproof structure according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the longitudinal sectional view of FIG. In FIG. 3, the switching member 31 can be operated by exposing a part thereof from a hole 101 formed in the surface of the outer cover 100. This exposed part becomes an operation part. In addition, two protrusions protruding downward are provided at the lower part of the operation part. This protrusion is configured to fit in the movable part 351 of the switch 35 via the waterproof sheet 34 and switch the electrical contact by moving the operation part.

  Among the plurality of convex portions forming the concave and convex portion 341 of the waterproof sheet 34, the central convex portion (the concave and convex portion 341a) covers the movable portion 351 of the switch 35 as described above. The protruding portion of the switching member 31 is inserted into the concave portion of the portion connected to the concave and convex portion 341a. In addition, of the concavo-convex portion 341, two concavo-convex portions 341b and concavo-convex portions 341c located around the protrusions of the switch 35 are slack portions. The protruding portion of the switching member 31 is covered with the uneven portion 341a, the uneven portion 341b, and the uneven portion 341c of the waterproof sheet 34.

  Here, in FIG. 3, the movable portion 351 of the switch 35 is illustrated as having three positions, but may be two positions.

  An example in which the switch 3 according to the above embodiment is operated is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the switching member 31 is moved rightward from the initial position. When the switching member 31 is moved in the right direction, the movable portion 351 is also moved in the right direction. At the same time, as the protrusion of the switching member 31 moves, the looseness on the concave and convex portion 341c side of the waterproof sheet 34 closes, and the looseness of the concave and convex portion 341b on the opposite side across the movable portion 351 extends.

  Since the waterproof sheet 34 is sandwiched and fixed between the outer wall end portion of the inner cover 33 and the substrate 36, when the switching member 31 moves, the waterproof sheet 34 covering the periphery of the switch 35 also moves in the same direction. However, the deformation applied to the waterproof sheet 34 by this movement does not reach the waterproof sheet 34 in a portion fixed between the inner cover 33 and the substrate 36. That is, the force applied to the waterproof sheet 34 by the operation of the switch 35 is absorbed by the deformation applied to the slack of the uneven portions 341b and the uneven portions 341c, thereby preventing an extra force from being applied to the fixed portion. Can do. As a result, it is possible to prevent an extra load from being applied to the portion that exhibits the waterproof function.

  As described above, according to the waterproof structure according to the present embodiment, by using the waterproof sheet 34 in which the uneven portion 341 having a plurality of uneven portions is formed between the switching member 31 and the switch 35, the switching member 31 is Even if the movable portion 351 of the switch 35 is moved by being operated, the concave and convex portion 341 absorbs the force applied to the waterproof sheet 34 along with this, and a force acting in the direction opposite to the operation direction is generated. Since no tension is generated on the fixed portion, a waterproof structure having excellent durability can be obtained without impairing operability.

  An example of the waterproof effect of the above embodiment is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, a filled area indicated by reference numeral 200 indicates a flooded area. The water soaked from the gap between the hole 101 formed in the outer cover 100 and the operation portion of the switching member 31 is waterproofed by the O-ring 32 between the inner wall surface of the outer cover 100 and the top surface of the inner cover 33. Yes. Further, water that has been submerged from the gap between the switching member 31 and the hole 331 of the inner cover 33 is waterproofed by the inner wall surface of the inner cover 33 and the waterproof sheet 34.

  Next, another embodiment of the waterproof structure for an electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of the main part of the waterproof structure of the electronic device according to the present invention. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 100 a indicates only a part of the outer cover that is a part of the casing of the digital camera 10.

  As shown in FIG. 6, inside the outer cover 100a, a button-type switching member 31a, which is another example of the switching member constituting the switch 3a, an O-ring 32, an inner cover 33a, a waterproof sheet 34a, A switch 35a having a movable part and a substrate 36 are arranged.

  The upper part of the switching member 31a is an operation unit operated by the user. The switching member 31a is inserted from a hole 101a formed in the outer cover 100a and is fitted into a movable portion 352 of a switch 35a described later. The projecting portion of the switching member 31a has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and a hole is formed at the end of the bottom surface so that the movable portion 352 can be fitted. In FIG. 6, the holes of the switching member 31a are not shown. When the user of the digital camera 10 operates the operation part of the switching member 31a, the movable part 352 of the switch 35a can be moved. With these operations, the switching operation of the electrical contacts of the digital camera 10 can be performed.

  The inner cover 33a has a square shape in plan view, and has a shape that can be put around a waterproof sheet 34a and a switch 35a described later. A hole 331a is formed in the center of the plane of the inner cover 33a. Through this hole 331a, the protruding portion of the switching member 31a can be fitted into the movable portion 352 of the switch 35a.

  A groove 332a is formed around the hole 331a, and the O-ring 32 is fitted into the groove 332a. Since the switch 3a is assembled in a state where the inner wall surface of the outer cover 100a and the inner cover 33a are in contact with each other, in the assembled state, the water that has entered from the gap between the hole 101a and the switching member 31a flows into the inner wall surface of the outer cover 100a and the inner cover 33a. And go inside. In order to prevent the flooding, an O-ring 32 is disposed.

  The waterproof sheet 34a is a sheet-like member made of a waterproof material disposed between the switching member 31a and the movable portion 352 of the switch 35a, and the uneven portion 342 is formed so as to cover the switch 35a. Has been. Convex and concave portions 342 have convex bulges formed in the central portion and the circumferential portion, and a concave portion is formed between the central convex portion and the circumferential convex portion. Therefore, the shape of the concavo-convex portion 342 is such that a central convex portion and a substantially concentric convex portion are arranged at a predetermined interval, and each convex portion is connected by a concave portion, and has a wavy outer shape (bellows shape). Yes. The substantially central convex portion of the concave and convex portion 342 covers the movable portion 352 of the switch 35a, and the convex portion of the circumferential portion forms a slack that can be deformed following the movable direction of the movable portion 352. is doing.

  The switch 35a is a so-called multi-directional switch, and the electrical contact can be switched by inclining the movable portion 352 in a predetermined direction or by pushing. The board 36a is a circuit board provided with an electronic circuit that controls the operation of the electronic device according to the electrical contact switched by the movable portion 352 of the switch 35a.

  Next, the waterproof structure according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. In FIG. 7, the switching member 31 a constitutes an operation portion in which a protruding portion is inserted from a hole 101 a formed in the outer cover 100 a and an exposed portion is operable. The protrusion inserted from the hole 101a has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and a hole 311a into which the movable part 352 can be fitted is formed at the bottom end.

  The waterproof sheet 34a is disposed between the protruding portion of the switching member 31a and the switch 35a, and an uneven portion 342 having a plurality of convex portions is formed. Of the plurality of convex portions forming the concave and convex portion 342, the central convex portion (the concave and convex portion 342a) covers the periphery of the movable portion 352. The protruding portion of the switching member 31 is inserted into the concave portion of the portion connected to the concave and convex portion 342a. Moreover, the uneven | corrugated | grooved part 341b located in the periphery of the projection part of the switch 35a among the uneven | corrugated | grooved parts 342 is a slack part. The protrusion of the switching member 31a is covered with the uneven portion 342a and the uneven portion 341b of the waterproof sheet 34a.

  An example of operating the switch 3a according to the above embodiment is shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the switching member 31a is inclined in the right direction in the figure from the initial position. When the switching member 31a is tilted in the right direction, the movable portion 352 is also tilted in the right direction. At the same time, the protruding portion of the switching member 31a pushes down the uneven portion 342b side of the waterproof sheet 34a, so that the gap between the slack is clogged, and the slack of the uneven portion 342b on the opposite side across the movable portion 352 extends.

  Since the waterproof sheet 34a is sandwiched and fixed between the outer wall end portion of the inner cover 33a and the substrate 36a, when the switching member 31a is inclined, the waterproof sheet 34a covering the periphery of the movable portion 352 is also inclined in the same direction. However, the deformation applied to the waterproof sheet 34a by this pulling does not reach the waterproof sheet 34a in a portion fixed between the inner cover 34a and the substrate 36a. That is, the force applied to the waterproof sheet 34a by the operation of the switch 35a is absorbed by the deformation applied to the slack of the concavo-convex portion 342b, so that an extra force can be prevented from being applied to the fixed portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent an extra load from being applied to the portion that exhibits the waterproof function.

  Thus, according to the waterproof structure according to the present embodiment, by using the waterproof sheet 34a in which the concavo-convex portion 342 having a plurality of concavo-convex portions is formed between the switching member 31a and the switch 35a, Even if the movable portion 352 of the switch 35a is inclined by the operation, the uneven portion 342 absorbs the force applied to the waterproof sheet 34a along with this, and the force acting in the direction opposite to the operation direction is generated. Since no tension is generated on the portion, a waterproof structure having excellent durability can be obtained without impairing operability.

  In addition, although the movable part 352 of the switch 35a used for the present Example illustrates the type which inclines in multiple directions, the switch which can apply the waterproof structure of the electronic device which concerns on this invention is not restricted to this, You may use what can switch a contact by sliding the movable part 352 in multiple directions.

  Next, still another embodiment of the waterproof structure for an electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an appearance in a state where the waterproof sheet 34a and the switch 35b constituting the switch 3b according to the present embodiment are combined. In FIG. 9, the switch 35b is covered with a waterproof sheet 34b. The waterproof sheet 34b has an uneven portion 343. The concavo-convex portion 343 has a bellows-like appearance. The concavo-convex portion 343 of the waterproof sheet 34b has a plurality of convex portions 343a and 343c which are convex portions 343a covering the periphery of the movable portion 353 and convex portions 343b and 343c which cover the periphery of the switch 35b. There is a recess in between. That is, in the embodiment already described, the slack is provided in the horizontal direction in the figure, but in the waterproof sheet 34b according to the present example, the slack is provided in the vertical direction in the figure.

  Next, the waterproof structure according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. In FIG. 10, the switching member 31 b constitutes an operation portion that can be operated by a protruding portion being inserted through a hole 101 b formed in the outer cover 100 b. The protrusion inserted from the hole 101b has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and the outer diameter of the bottom end of the protrusion is larger than that of the cylindrical portion. A hole 311b into which the movable portion 353 can be fitted is formed at substantially the center of the bottom end portion.

  The waterproof sheet 34b is disposed between the protruding portion of the switching member 31b and the switch 35b, and an uneven portion 343 having a plurality of convex portions is formed. Of the plurality of convex portions forming the concave and convex portion 343, the central convex portion (the concave and convex portion 343a) covers the periphery of the movable portion 353. A horizontal portion that is continuous with the concavo-convex portion 343a, that is, a flat portion that reaches the convex portion formed in the circumferential direction, and a bottom end portion of the protruding portion of the switching member 31b are in contact with each other. In addition, a slack portion is formed by the uneven portion 343b and the uneven portion 343c formed in the circumferential direction of the uneven portion 343.

  An example in which the switch 35b according to the above embodiment is operated is shown in FIG. FIG. 11 shows a state in which the switching member 31b is tilted in the right direction in the figure from the initial position. When the switching member 31b is inclined in the right direction, the movable portion 353 is also inclined in the right direction. At the same time, the protrusion of the switching member 31b pushes down the waterproof sheet 34b in the inclined direction, so that the slack between the uneven portion 343b and the uneven portion 343c is clogged on the inclined direction side (portion A in FIG. 11) and is movable. The gap between the uneven portion 343b and the uneven portion 343c on the opposite side across the portion 353 is widened (B portion in FIG. 11).

  Since the waterproof sheet 34b is sandwiched and fixed between the outer wall end of the inner cover 33b and the substrate 36b, when the switching member 31b is inclined, the waterproof sheet 34b covering the periphery of the movable portion 353 is also inclined in the same direction. However, the deformation applied to the waterproof sheet 34b by this pulling does not reach the waterproof sheet 34b that is fixed between the inner cover 34b and the substrate 36b. That is, when the switch 35b is tilted by an operation and a force is applied to the waterproof sheet 34b, the uneven portion 343b and the uneven portion 343c are deformed, and the force is absorbed. There is no additional power. As a result, it is possible to prevent an extra load from being applied to the portion that exhibits the waterproof function.

  Thus, according to the waterproof structure according to the present embodiment, by using the waterproof sheet 34b in which the uneven portion 343 having a plurality of uneven portions is formed between the switching member 31b and the switch 35b, Even if the movable portion 353 of the switch 35b is inclined by the operation, the uneven portion 343 absorbs the force applied to the waterproof sheet 34b along with this, and the force acting in the direction opposite to the operation direction is generated. Since no tension is generated on the portion, a waterproof structure having excellent durability can be obtained without impairing operability.

  When the concave and convex portion 343 is formed in the vertical direction and the external shape is a bellows shape like the waterproof sheet 34c shown in the present embodiment, the deformation force is absorbed by the expansion and contraction of the slack using the elasticity of the material of the waterproof sheet 34c. The waterproof sheet 34c itself is less stretched as compared to the embodiment. As a result, deterioration of the waterproof sheet 34c can be prevented.

  As described above, the waterproof structure of the electronic device according to the present invention covers the switches provided for the operation of the electronic device with the sheet-shaped waterproof material provided with the slack having a predetermined shape. It is possible to prevent water from entering through the gap around the switches, and to reduce the deformation force applied to the waterproof sheet by operating the switches. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the operability of the switches from being disturbed by the elastic force of the waterproof sheet.

  Furthermore, since it has the structure which absorbs the force which arises by a deformation | transformation loosely, the deterioration (tearing and abrasion) by the force added to a waterproof sheet can be prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 31 Switching member 32 O-ring 33 Inner cover 34 Waterproof sheet 35 Switch 36 Substrate 100 Outer cover

Japanese Patent No. 4389166

Claims (6)

A movable part for moving a contact for switching electrical connection;
A user-operated operation unit for moving the movable unit, and a waterproof structure for an electronic device,
The movable part and the operation part are combined, and has a waterproof sheet that covers the combination part of the movable part and the operation part,
The waterproof sheet has an uneven portion,
The waterproof structure for an electronic device, wherein the uneven portion forms a plurality of slacks around the combination portion. The combination part is housed inside the casing of the electronic device,
The waterproof sheet is formed with a close portion that closes a gap between the movable portion and the housing so as to prevent water from entering the housing, and is positioned and fixed in the gap between the movable portion and the housing. And
The waterproof structure for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the movable portion is moved by the operation of the operation portion, the uneven portion maintains the positioning and fixing state of the close contact portion. The movable part is slidable in the horizontal direction,
The concavo-convex part is formed in a horizontal direction around the movable part,
When the movable part is operated and slid by the operation part, the looseness in the sliding direction of the concavo-convex part is clogged, and the looseness in the direction opposite to the sliding direction is extended in the concavo-convex distance. Item 10. A waterproof structure for electronic equipment according to Item 1. The movable part can be inclined in multiple directions,
The concavo-convex part is formed in a horizontal direction around the movable part,
2. When the movable part is operated and tilted by an operation part, the slack in the inclination direction of the uneven part is clogged with the uneven part, and the slack in the direction opposite to the inclination direction increases the uneven part. Waterproof structure for electronic equipment. The movable part can be inclined in multiple directions,
The concavo-convex part is formed in the vertical direction with the movable part as a vertex,
2. When the movable part is operated and tilted by an operation part, the slack in the inclination direction of the uneven part is clogged with the uneven part, and the slack in the direction opposite to the inclination direction increases the uneven part. Waterproof structure for electronic equipment. A movable part for moving a contact for switching electrical connection;
An operation unit operated by a user to move the movable unit;
An electronic device comprising:
The movable part and the operation part are combined, and a waterproof sheet that covers the combination part of the movable part and the operation part,
Having
The waterproof sheet has an uneven portion,
The said uneven | corrugated | grooved part forms the some slack around the said combination part, The electronic device characterized by the above-mentioned.

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