JP3754287B2 - Portable electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fixing and waterproofing structure of a flexible circuit board in a hinge unit of a portable electronic device such as an open / close or foldable cellular phone, a portable video camera, or a digital camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In portable electronic devices such as an openable / foldable (hereinafter referred to as “openable / closable”) mobile phone, a portable video camera in which a liquid crystal panel is opened and closed, and a digital camera, the opening / closing portion is hinged.
Hereinafter, a mobile phone will be described as an example.
As shown in FIG. 1, the openable mobile phone (10) includes a first housing (20) provided with operation buttons (12), a battery (13), a microphone (14), and the like, and a display unit (16 ), A second housing (40) provided with a speaker (17) and the like is connected by a hinge unit (80). As shown in FIG. 8, the hinge unit (80) includes cylindrical bearings (22) and (22) formed on both sides or one side of the base end of the first casing (20), and a second casing (40). Bearings (42) and (42) formed coaxially at the base end are rotatably connected by hinge shafts (82) and (82), and the first housing is provided between the bearings (42) and (42). The flexible circuit board (60) for electrically connecting the inner board (62) of the (20) and the inner board (63) of the second housing (40) is wound in a loop shape with a cylindrical cover. (25) Contained in (45).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the flexible circuit board (60), the terminals (66) and (67) at the tip are inserted into the boards (62) and (63) or soldered to electrically connect the boards (62) and (63).
Repeated opening and closing operation of the device causes the flexible circuit board (60) to be pulled or loosened, and the connection between the flexible circuit board (60) and the board (62) or board (63) is loosened, resulting in poor contact. The flexible circuit board (60) may come off from the boards (62) and (63) and break.
[0004]
Further, since the hinge unit (80) has a slight gap between the bearings (22) and (42) and the cylindrical covers (25) and (45), water and moisture may enter through this gap. Moisture that has entered the hinge unit (80) travels along the inner surfaces of the flexible circuit board (60) and the case (20) (40) and enters the inside of the case, causing substrate corrosion and short circuits. There was a case.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device in which a flexible circuit board accommodated in a hinge unit is fixed by a simple method and moisture does not enter the device from the hinge unit.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a first housing (20) provided with operation buttons (12) and a second housing (40) including a display unit (16). Are connected to each other by a hinge unit (80) so as to be openable and closable, and a flexible circuit board (60) passing through the inside of a cylindrical cover (25) (45) formed in the hinge unit (80), In the portable electronic device in which the internal board (62) of the second casing (40) and the inner board (63) of the second casing (40) are electrically connected, the first casing (20) and / or the second casing (40) ) Are disposed inside the first casing (20) and / or the second casing (40) , the clamping member (70) (72) sandwiching the flexible circuit board (60). A locking piece (74) protrudes toward the flexible circuit board (60) at a position adjacent to the holding members (70) and (72) , and the flexible circuit board (60) includes the locking piece ( full locking hole fitting 74) (65) is opened, the frame Reluctant circuit substrate (60), together with fitting the locking hole (65) in the locking piece (74), by interposing by the clamping member (70) (72), said first housing (20) and / Or it fixed to the said 2nd housing (40) .
[0007]
The clamping members (70) and (72) block at least one of the substrate passages (21) and (41) that communicate the inside of the cylindrical covers (25) and (45) and the inside of the housings (20) and (40). It is desirable to prevent water from entering the inside of the first housing (20) and / or the second housing (40).
[0009]
[Action and effect]
Since the flexible circuit board (60) is sandwiched and pressed from above and below by the clamping members (70) and (72), even if the flexible circuit board (60) is pulled or loosened as the housing (20) or (40) is opened or closed, the board (62) Terminals (66) and (67) are not dropped from (63).
Further, the flexible circuit board (60) is completely prevented from falling off by fitting the locking hole (65) of the flexible circuit board (60) into the locking piece (74).
Therefore, the reliability and durability of the product can be improved.
[0010]
Further, since the clamping members (70), (72) spatially block the space between the substrate passages (21), (41) and the casings (20), (40), the first casing (20) and the second casing (20). Improves product reliability and durability by preventing moisture from entering the housing (40), preventing corrosion (short circuit) due to moisture on the board (62) (63) and other electronic components. Can do.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an openable / closable mobile phone (10) will be described. Of course, it can be applied.
Further, the cellular phone (10) shown below is an example, and the arrangement, shape, size, and the like of operation buttons, a battery, a display unit, an antenna, and the like are not limited to the following examples.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the openable mobile phone (10) includes a first casing (20) in which operation buttons (12), a battery (13), a microphone (14) and the like are arranged, and a display unit (16 ), The second housing (40) on which the speaker (17) and the like are arranged, are connected to each other by a hinge unit (80) so as to be rotatable, and can be folded.
The first housing (20) includes a first front case (23) in which an operation button (12), a microphone (14), and the like are arranged, and a first rear case (24) that closes the back surface thereof. A battery (13) and the like are arranged in the rear case (24).
The second housing (40) includes a second front case (43) in which a display unit (16), a speaker (17), and the like are arranged, and a second rear case (44) that closes the back surface thereof. .
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, boards (62) and (63) on which circuits are mounted are built in the first casing (20) and the second casing (40), respectively, and various electronic components are provided. Electrically connected.
[0014]
The hinge unit (80) for connecting the casings (20) and (40) so as to be openable and closable is a first bearing (22) (22) projecting obliquely upward from both base ends of the first front case (23). ) And a second bearing (42) (42) projecting from the second front case (43) are connected to each other by hinge shafts (82) and (82) so as to be rotatable, and the second bearing (42) First and second cylindrical covers (25) and (45) for accommodating a flexible circuit board (60) to be described later are provided between (42).
The bearings (22) and (42) may be provided only on one side, not on both sides of the base end of the casing (20) or (40).
[0015]
The first cylindrical cover (25) is formed at the proximal end of the first housing (20). The first cylindrical cover (25) is bent upward from the base end of the first rear case (24) and the semi-cylindrical body (26) formed at the base end of the first front case (23). It consists of a cylindrical body (26) and a quarter-arc body (27) with the tip connected, and between the base end of the semi-cylindrical body (26) and the base end of the quarter-arc body (27) A substrate passage (21) communicating with the inside of the first housing (20) is formed. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the first front case (23) and the first rear case (24) have a flexible circuit passing through the board passage (21) with the case (23) (24) closed. Holding members (70) and (72) sandwiching the substrate (60) up and down and spatially blocking between the inside of the first casing (20) and the inside of the first cylindrical cover (25), respectively. It is attached. The sandwiching members (70), (72) prevent moisture from entering the first housing (20) from the substrate passage (21) and the flexible circuit board (60) passing through the substrate passage (21). Suppresses displacement and vibration, as well as pulling and loosening during opening and closing, and prevents poor contact with the substrate (62) and disconnection.
[0016]
The sandwiching members (70) and (72) are preferably made of an elastic material such as urethane, sponge, rubber, or plastic. This is to prevent disconnection of the flexible circuit board (60) and enhance the waterproof effect following the shape of the flexible circuit board (60) when the flexible circuit board (60) is sandwiched.
Further, the width of the sandwiching members (70), (72) is preferably equal to or greater than the width of the substrate passage (21) in order to enhance the waterproof effect.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the positions of the holding members (70) and (72) are such that the flexible circuit board (60) makes one round along the inner diameter of the cylindrical cover (25). It is desirable that the pinching member (72) side on the intrusion side is lowered to prevent the flexible circuit board (60) from being bent inside the cylindrical cover (25).
The clamping members (70) and (72) can be attached by bonding or the like to the substrate passage (21) or the vicinity thereof.
[0017]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the first front case (23) is provided with a locking piece (74) projecting toward the first rear case (24) in the vicinity of the substrate passage (21). The locking piece (74) fits into a locking hole (65) formed in the flexible circuit board (60) as will be described later, and prevents the flexible circuit board (60) from being removed. A receiving piece (not shown) that closes the tip of the locking piece (74) and prevents the flexible circuit board (60) from falling off may be provided on the first rear case (24).
The locking piece (74) may be formed on the first rear case (24) or on the second housing (40) side. Moreover, you may provide in both the housing | casing (20) (40).
[0018]
The second cylindrical cover (45) is formed at the proximal end of the second casing (40). The second cylindrical cover (45) is bent upward from the base end of the second rear case (44) and the semi-cylindrical body (46) formed at the base end of the second front case (43). It consists of a cylinder (46) and a quarter arc (47) with the tip connected, and between the base end of the semi-cylinder (46) and the base of the quarter arc (47) A substrate passage (41) communicating with the inside of the second housing (40) is formed. In the illustrated embodiment, a semi-cylindrical body (46) is integrally formed inside the second bearing (42).
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the second front case (43) and the second rear case (44) have the substrate passage (41) with the case (43) (44) closed. A clamping member (70) (72) that sandwiches the flexible circuit board (60) passing therethrough and spatially blocks between the inside of the second casing (40) and the inside of the second cylindrical cover (45). ) Are attached respectively. The clamping members (70) and (72) prevent moisture from entering the inside of the second housing (40) from the board passage (41) and also prevent the flexible circuit board (60) from passing through the board passage (41). Suppresses misalignment and vibration, as well as pulling and loosening during opening and closing, and prevents poor contact with the substrate (63) and disconnection.
The material, attachment method, and the like of the holding members (70) and (72) are the same as those of the first casing (20).
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 6, the flexible circuit board (60) is a flexible wiring board in which terminals (66) and (67) connected to the boards (62) and (63) are formed at both ends. On the first housing (20) side of the flexible circuit board (60), a locking hole (65) that fits into the first front case (23) is opened at a position corresponding to the locking piece (74). Has been.
[0020]
Note that the flexible circuit board (60) of FIG. 6 has its central portion loosely bent according to the width between the board passages (21) and (41). Accordingly, the flexible circuit boards (60) do not overlap and interfere with each other in the cylindrical covers (25) and (45), and are not bent due to stress caused by opening and closing of the casings (20) and (40).
[0021]
The mobile phone (10) can be assembled, for example, by the following method.
<< Preparation process >>
・ The bearings (22) and (42) of the first front case (23) and the second front case (43) are connected by the hinge shaft (82), and necessary electronic components and boards (62) and (63) are mounted respectively. And electrically connected. Further, the holding members (70) and (72) are pasted to the front cases (23) and (43) in advance at the positions of the substrate passages (21) and (41), respectively.
-Necessary electronic components and boards (62) and (63) are mounted on the first rear case (24) and the second rear case (44), and are electrically connected. The clamping members (70) and (72) are also pasted to the rear cases (24) and (44) in advance at the positions of the substrate passages (21) and (41), respectively.
-The flexible circuit board (60) is wound so as to form a loop around the substantially central position.
[0022]
《Flexible circuit board mounting process》
The front cases (23) and (43) are opened by a predetermined angle and adjusted so that both the board passages (21) and (41) are aligned.
In this state, the loop portion of the flexible circuit board (60) is accommodated in the cylindrical covers (25) and (45).
Next, as shown in FIG. 2, one end of the flexible circuit board (60) passes through the board passage (21) of the first front case (23) and is placed on the clamping member (70). The stop hole (65) is disposed so as to fit into the locking piece (74) of the first front case (23), and the terminal (66) is inserted into the board (62).
Similarly, the other end of the flexible circuit board (60) passes through the board passage (41) of the second front case (43) and is placed on the clamping member (70), and the terminal (67 ) Into the board.
As a result, the flexible circuit board (60) electrically connects the boards (62) and (63), and forms a loop that goes around inside the cylindrical covers (25) and (45).
Since the flexible circuit board (60) forms a loop in the cylindrical covers (25) and (45), when the casing (20) (40) is opened and closed, the loop diameter of the flexible circuit board (60) is reduced. It is possible to prevent the flexible circuit board (60) from being pulled or loosened by changing in size.
[0023]
《Rear case mounting process》
The first rear case (24) is fitted into the first front case (23), and the second rear case (44) is fitted into the second front case (43). At this time, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flexible circuit board (60) is formed by the clamping members (72) and (72) of the rear cases (24) and (44) and the opposing clamping members (70) and (70). ).
Thereafter, the front case (23) (43) and the rear case (24) (44) are fixed together by screwing or the like, and the mobile phone (10) is assembled.
The assembly order and the like are not limited to the above.
[0024]
The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. Moreover, each part structure of this invention is not restricted to the said Example, A various deformation | transformation is possible within the technical scope as described in a claim.
[0025]
For example, in the above embodiment, the clamping members (70), (72) are provided in both the casings (20), (40), but they may be provided in only one of them.
Also, the terminals of the flexible circuit board (60) are not inserted into the board, but one terminal is connected and fixed to the board in advance by soldering or the internal board (62) or (63) is flexible. What was formed integrally with the circuit board (60) can also be used.
[0026]
Further, in order to prevent the flexible circuit board (60) from being bent or the like, when the one holding member (70) side is raised and the other holding member (72) side is lowered, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to project a rib (76) corresponding to the height difference on the front case (23) and attach the clamping member (70) on the rib (76). In this manner, the rib (76) can be protruded so that the parts of the clamping member (70) and the clamping member (72) can be shared.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile phone.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a front case side hinge unit opened along a split surface of a front case and a rear case of a mobile phone;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a hinge unit on the rear case side opened along a split surface of the front case and the rear case of the mobile phone.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical cover of a first housing.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical cover of a second housing.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a flexible circuit board.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical cover showing different embodiments of the holding member.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a hinge unit on the front case side in which a conventional mobile phone is opened along a dividing surface of a front case and a rear case.
[Explanation of symbols]
(10) Mobile phone
(20) First housing
(40) Second housing
(60) Flexible circuit board
(65) Locking hole
(70) Holding member
(72) Holding member
(74) Locking piece

Claims (2)

A first housing (20) having an operation button (12) and a second housing (40) having a display unit (16) are connected to each other by a hinge unit (80) so as to be opened and closed. 80) A portable circuit in which the internal circuit board (62) of the first housing (20) and the internal circuit board (63) of the second housing (40) are electrically connected to each other by a flexible circuit board (60) passing through the interior of the material (80). In electronic equipment,
Inside the first casing (20) and / or the second casing (40), clamping members (70), (72) that sandwich the flexible circuit board (60) are arranged ,
In the first casing (20) and / or the second casing (40) , a position adjacent to the clamping members (70) (72 ) is directed toward the flexible circuit board (60). A stop piece (74) is projected, and the flexible circuit board (60) is provided with a lock hole (65) that fits into the lock piece (74) .
The flexible circuit board (60) is configured to fit the locking hole (65) into the locking piece (74) and to be sandwiched between the clamping members (70) and (72) , whereby the first casing (20) and / or fixed to the second housing (40) a portable electronic apparatus characterized Rukoto.   The clamping members (70), (72) are configured to connect at least one of the substrate passages (21), (41) communicating the inside of the cylindrical covers (25), (45) and the inside of the casings (20), (40). The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is disposed so as to be closed, and prevents water from entering the first housing (20) and / or the second housing (40).

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