JP3902298B2 - Hinge for electronic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus such as a portable computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, many portable electronic devices have been released, and advanced electronic devices equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) have appeared. In order to drive such an electronic device, a large amount of power is consumed, and it is necessary to dissipate heat generated by the power consumption to the outside by various methods.
Of portable electronic devices, for example, a portable computer includes a main body and a display unit thereof, and the display unit can be opened and closed with respect to the main body via a hinge. As such a portable computer, a computer called an A4 type notebook personal computer or a semi-note type computer (B5 type size) is typical.
[0003]
A conventional mechanical hinge of this type is configured such that a fixed piece and a movable piece of the hinge are mechanically coupled, and the fixed piece and the movable piece can be rotationally coupled with a certain torque. Such a fixed piece, a movable piece, and the like are made of a material that satisfies mechanical strength, but heat conduction for heat dissipation is not taken into consideration.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For this reason, as a heat dissipation measure in a conventional portable electronic device, a large heat sink is separately provided for natural heat dissipation, or forced air cooling using a fan or the like.
However, in the case of natural heat dissipation, there is a limit to dissipating a large amount of heat because there is a limit to where the heat sink is set. Further, in the case of forced air cooling using a fan or the like, electric power for generating a fan sound or moving the fan is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and provide a hinge for an electronic device that can perform heat dissipation without having to increase the size of the electronic device.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Strength above object, in the present invention, having in the hinge for electronic apparatus which is provided to enable folding of the first and second portions of the electronic device, the raised portion standing holds the mechanical strength A holding part and a heat conduction part formed by a member separate from the strength holding part and conducting heat conduction and having a rising part , each rising part facing each other and fixed to the first part a fixing piece being a strength maintaining portion having a raised portion standing holds the mechanical strength, is formed by a separate member and the strength holding portion, and a heat-conducting portion having a raised portion standing performs thermal conductivity The movable piece fixed to the second part with the respective raised portions facing each other, and the raised portion of the heat conduction portion of the fixed piece and the raised portion of the heat conduction portion of the movable piece are brought into contact with each other. While conducting heat, And includes a coupling portion for coupling the single and movable piece, the. Reinforcement member that reinforces the bonding strength between the rising part of the strength holding part of the fixed piece and the rising part of the heat conduction part and the rising part of the strength holding part of the movable piece and the rising part of the heat conduction part is used as the joint part This is achieved by a hinge for electronic equipment, characterized in that it is provided .
[0006]
The hinge for an electronic apparatus according to the present invention is formed by a strength holding portion having a rising portion and a strength holding portion that holds the mechanical strength, and a strength holding portion and a separate member, and performs heat conduction and the rising portion. and comprises a heat-conducting portion having a. Then, the fixing piece is fixed to each of the raised portion to the first portion to face. The movable piece has a mechanical strength and a strength holding portion having a rising portion , and is formed of a member separate from the strength holding portion, and has a heat conduction portion that conducts heat and has a rising portion . And this movable piece is fixed to the 2nd part with each starting part facing . Coupling unit is to combine the fixed piece and the movable piece while contacting the upstanding portion of the heat conducting portion of the rising portion and the movable piece of the heat conductive portion of the fixed piece by thermal conduction. The coupling portion is a reinforcement that reinforces the bonding strength between the rising portion of the strength holding portion of the fixed piece and the rising portion of the heat conducting portion and the rising portion of the strength holding portion of the movable piece and the rising portion of the heat conducting portion. A member is provided . Thereby, since the reinforcing member of the coupling portion reliably joins the heat conduction portion of the fixed piece and the heat conduction portion of the movable piece, heat conduction between the first portion and the second portion can be surely performed. For this reason, a cooling fan, a heat sink and the like, which are conventionally required, are unnecessary.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiment described below is a preferred specific example of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these forms.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an electronic device including a hinge for an electronic device according to the present invention, and the electronic device in FIG. 1 is a portable computer 100. The portable computer 100 includes a main body 2, a display unit 3, a keyboard 4, hinges 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B surrounded by an A area and a B area, and the like.
[0008]
The main body 2 has the keyboard 4 and other pointing devices 5 described above, and the display unit 3 can employ, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display unit 3 is attached to the main body 2 using hinges 1A and 1B so that the display unit 3 can be opened and closed (folded) in an arrow R direction. Although not shown in FIG. 1, for the main body 2, an external device such as a mouse that is an external pointing means can be set.
[0009]
The hinges 1A and 1B in FIG. 1 have functions for mechanically connecting the display unit 3 to the rear end 6 of the main body 2 and for achieving thermal conduction and heat dissipation.
The hinges 1A and 1B have a symmetrical shape, but have substantially the same structure. Therefore, the structure and characteristics of the hinge 1B will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hinge 1 </ b> B includes a fixed piece 11, a movable piece 17, and a coupling portion 30. 2 and FIG. 3 is a part that joins the fixed piece 11 and the movable piece 17 so that they can be mechanically and thermally conductive.
[0010]
The fixed piece 11 includes a strength holding portion 11a that holds mechanical strength, and a heat conducting portion 12 that conducts heat. The strength holding unit 11a is made of a material having a high mechanical strength, for example, stainless steel (SUS), which is an iron-based material, in order to maintain the strength and the opening / closing operation when the display unit 3 shown in FIG. Etc.) are preferably employed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the strength holding portion 11a is formed in a substantially L shape when viewed in cross section, as shown in FIGS.
Desirably, the heat conducting part 12 employs a material that is preferable for conducting heat, such as a copper-based or aluminum-based material. The heat conducting part 12 is plate-shaped and is in close contact with the strength holding part 11a. It is formed in a substantially L shape for bonding, fixing or setting.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 2, the strength holding portion 11a and the heat conducting portion 12 of the fixed piece 11 are used in close contact with each other, but the fixed piece 11 is attached to the attachment surface side (the side in contact with the main body) of the main body 2. For example, it is fixed with a screw 31.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the shape of the strength holding portion 11 a and the heat conducting portion 12 of the fixed piece 11. Rectangular holes 11c and 12c are formed in the rising part 11b of the strength holding part 11a and the rising part 12b of the heat conducting part 12, respectively.
[0012]
Next, the movable piece 17 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the movable piece 17 has a strength holding portion 17 a and a heat conducting portion 13. The strength holding portion 17a is a portion that holds mechanical strength, and the heat conducting portion 13 is a portion that conducts heat. In order to maintain the strength when the display unit is opened and closed and the strength of the strength holding unit 17a, it is preferable to employ a mechanically strong material, for example, stainless steel (SUS) which is an iron-based material.
The heat conduction part 13 can employ a material having good heat conduction, such as copper or aluminum. The strength holding portion 17a is formed in a substantially L shape, but the heat conducting portion 13 is also formed in a substantially L shape. However, the portion 13a of the heat conducting portion 13 is in close contact with the strength holding portion 17a, and the rising portion 13b of the heat conducting portion 13 is separated from the rising portion 17b of the strength holding portion 17a. Used.
[0013]
In FIG. 3, the strength holding part 17a and the heat conducting part 13 of the movable piece 17 are shown in a three-dimensional manner. Circular holes 17c and 13c are formed in the rising part 17b of the strength holding part 17a and the rising part 13b of the heat conducting part 13, respectively. However, the diameter of the hole 17c is set smaller than the diameter of the hole 13c.
[0014]
Next, the coupling part 30 in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described.
The coupling portion 30 has a function of mechanically coupling the fixed piece 11 and the movable piece 17 while conducting heat conduction between the heat conduction portion 12 of the fixed piece 11 and the heat conduction portion 13 of the movable piece 17. Have.
[0015]
FIG. 3 shows constituent members of the coupling portion 30, and includes a wave washer (spring washer) 14, a shaft 15, washers 16 and 18, a wave washer (spring washer) 19, and a stopper 20.
The shaft 15 is made of, for example, iron in order to maintain mechanical strength, and has a protruding portion 15b opposite to the protruding portion 15a with respect to the main body 15c of the shaft 15. The protruding portion 15a passes through the hole 14a of the spring washer 14, passes through the hole 13c of the heat conducting portion 13, the hole 12c of the heat conducting portion 12, and the hole 11c of the strength holding portion 11a. The shape of the projecting portion 15a has end faces 15e and 15e that are securely fitted into the hole 12c of the heat conducting portion 12 and the hole 11c of the strength holding portion 11a so as not to move. Accordingly, the protruding portion 15a of the shaft 15 can be securely fixed by caulking or the like so as not to be detached by fitting into the hole 12c of the heat conducting portion 12a and the hole 11c of the strength holding portion 11a.
[0016]
The wave washer 14 is a spring member that uniformly presses the heat conducting portion 12 of the fixed piece 11 and the heat conducting portion 13 of the movable piece 17 with a predetermined joining strength at a low pressure, and is made of a metal such as iron, for example. . Thereby, the heat conduction efficiency between both heat conduction parts 12 and 13 is improved. If both the heat conducting parts 12 and 13 are brought into contact with each other at a high pressure, copper surface wear, hinge torque fluctuation, initial torque fluctuation, and the like will occur.
[0017]
For example, when the maximum thickness when the wave washer 14 shown in FIG. 2 is free (free), that is, when the wave washer 14 is free length is t1, and the thickness of the rising portion 13a of the bracket-like heat conducting portion 13 is t2. The thickness L when assembled is in the following dimensional relationship.
t1 + t2> L
Each of the elements shown in FIGS. 3 and 2 has a structure that is fixed by caulking.
[0018]
The washer 16 acts as a friction plate, and is a washer disposed between the shaft 15 and the strength holding portion 17 a of the movable piece 17. The hole 16c of the washer 16 is a substantially rectangular hole into which the protruding portion 15b of the shaft 15 is fitted. The protruding portion 15b of the shaft 15 also has flat end surfaces 15f and 15f. The protrusion 15b passes through the hole 17c of the strength holding part 17a, and this protrusion 15b passes through the hole 18c of the washer 18 and the hole 19c of the wave washer 19 so as to be securely fitted into the hole 20c of the stopper 20. It has become. That is, in the hole 20c of the stopper 20, it can fix reliably by caulking , for example so that the protrusion part 15b of the shaft 15 may not remove | deviate.
[0019]
In this way, the fixed piece 11 and the movable piece 17 are engaged and engaged by caulking of the protruding portion 15a of the shaft 15 and the hole 11c of the strength holding portion 11a, and by caulking of the protruding portion 15b of the shaft 15 and the hole 20c of the stopper 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is possible to integrally couple by using the meshing coupling, and by using this shaft 15, the movable piece 17 is formed with respect to the fixed piece 11 about the central axis CL. Can be rotated in the R direction.
[0020]
The shaft 15, washers 16, 18, wave washers 14, 19, stopper 20, etc. can be made of a mechanically strong material such as an iron-based material. Among them, the wave washer 14 serves to keep the joint strength of the two heat conducting parts 12 and 13 uniform as described above, while the other wave washer 19 serves as a torque generating part in the hinge 1B. Plays. That is, these wave washers 14 and 19 play different roles.
The heat conducting portion 12 of the fixed piece 11 is located on the attachment surface side (the side in contact with the main body) of the main body 2 of the computer 100 in FIG. 1, and is fixed using screws 31 as shown in FIGS. Can do. On the other hand, the heat conducting portion 13a of the movable piece 17 is located on the attachment surface side (attachment surface to the display portion) of the display unit 3 of the computer 100 in FIG.
[0021]
2 and 3, when the hinge 1A or 1B is assembled, the rising portion 12b of the heat conducting portion 12 of the fixed piece 11 and the rising portion 13a of the heat conducting portion 13 of the movable piece 17 are in close contact with each other. In addition, since the spring washer 14 makes the rising portions 12b and 13a evenly contact with each other by the spring pressing force, the thermal resistance of the contact portions at the rising portions 12b and 13a of the heat conducting portions 12 and 13 is as follows. Can be made as small as possible.
[0022]
Such a hinge 1A or 1B maintains mechanical strength and has a heat conduction and heat dissipation function. For example, in the main body 2 and the display unit 3 of the computer 100, the heat conduction that goes to and from each other is improved and the amount of heat is improved. The heat can be easily transferred from the side having a large amount of heat, for example, from the main body 2 side to the side having a small amount of heat, for example, the display unit 3.
By improving the thermal conductivity as described above, it is possible to improve the conduction of heat from the main body 2 that generates a large amount of heat to the display unit 3 that generates a small amount of heat, and a place for heat dissipation can be secured. This heat dissipating means can be newly provided for the heat conducting section 12 and the heat conducting section 13, and the heat dissipating efficiency can be increased.
[0023]
For example, if the exterior of the main body 2 and the display unit 3 is made of a light metal such as magnesium, the exterior can be used as a heat sink as it is, and the exterior used as the heat sink is connected to the heat conduction unit 12 and the heat conduction unit 13 in FIG. On the other hand, the heat dissipation effect can be further improved by thermally connecting.
In general, a material having good thermal conductivity has a physical characteristic that electric resistance is low. Therefore, the fixed piece 11 and the movable piece 17 side of the hinges 1A and 1B are connected to the lower pieces of electricity through the hinges 1A and 1B. It can couple | bond through a resistance part .
[0024]
By the way, in the embodiment of the hinge in FIGS. 2 and 3, the wave washer 14 is omitted, and the bracket-like heat conducting portion 13 has a spring property, whereby the heat conducting portion 12. , 13 can be uniformly pressed. For example, the heat conducting portion 13 is waved in the direction of the axis CL, and the heat conducting portion 13 itself has a wave washer effect. Alternatively, the adhesiveness to the heat conducting part 12 can be obtained by bending a part of the heat conducting part 13.
[0025]
Next, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the form of the hinge which is the prerequisite technology of the present invention will be described. However, the hinge 1B shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is combined with the heat conducting portion 12 and the strength holding portion 11a to form one strength holding portion / heat conducting portion 111, as compared with the hinge 1B shown in FIGS. However, since the other elements are the same as the corresponding elements in FIGS. 2 and 3, the description thereof is omitted.
[0026]
In FIGS. 4 and 5, the strength holding and heat conducting portion 111 has a structure in which the heat conducting portion 12 and the strength holding portion 11a in FIG. 3 are integrated, for example, copper or aluminum having excellent heat conductivity. However, the thickness is considerably thicker than the heat conducting part 12 or the strength holding part 11a of FIG. In this way, the number of parts can be reduced by one, and the thickness of the fixed piece 11 such as copper or aluminum can be increased, so that the thermal conductivity can be further improved.
[0027]
By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
In the illustrated embodiment, a so-called portable computer is taken as an example of an electronic device to which the hinge of the present invention is applied. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of electronic devices may of course be used. The electronic device of the present invention can be employed in electronic devices that generate various types of heat, such as portable information terminals, mobile phones, and wireless devices.
The heat conduction part of the fixed piece and the heat conduction part of the movable piece may be located on the surface that contributes to heat dissipation of the main body 2 or the display unit 3, the side that contacts the heat dissipation surface, or both sides. Further, not only the strength holding portion of the movable piece also serves as the reinforcing member of the coupling portion, but also the strength holding portion of the fixed piece may also serve as the reinforcing member of the coupling portion.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to dissipate heat without having to increase the size of the electronic device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an electronic device to which a hinge for an electronic device according to the invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a preferred embodiment of a hinge applied to the electronic apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a hinge. FIG. 4 is a view showing a form of a hinge which is a prerequisite technology of the present invention.
5 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge of FIG. 4. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B ... Hinge, 2 ... Main body (1st part), 3 ... Display part (2nd part), 11 ... Fixed piece, 11a ... Strength holding part of a fixed piece, 12 ... heat conduction part of fixed piece, 13 ... heat conduction part of movable piece, 14 ... wave washer (reinforcement member), 17 ... movable piece, 17a ... strength holding part of movable piece, 30 ... coupling part, 100 ... computer (electronic equipment)

Claims (3)

In a hinge for an electronic device provided to make the first part and the second part of the electronic device foldable,
A strength holding portion that holds mechanical strength and has a rising portion ; and a heat conduction portion that is formed of a member separate from the strength holding portion and that conducts heat and has a rising portion . A fixing piece that is fixed to the first portion with the rising portion facing the fixing portion;
A strength holding portion that holds mechanical strength and has a rising portion ; and a heat conduction portion that is formed of a member separate from the strength holding portion and that conducts heat and has a rising portion . A movable piece that is fixed to the second portion with the rising portion facing each other ;
While said rising portion of the heat-conducting portion of the fixing piece and contacting the rising portion of the heat-conducting portion of said movable piece thermal conductivity, and a coupling portion for coupling the fixed piece and the movable piece , equipped with a,
Joining the rising portion of the strength holding portion of the fixed piece and the rising portion of the heat conducting portion to the rising portion of the strength holding portion of the movable piece and the rising portion of the heat conducting portion. A hinge for electronic equipment, characterized in that a reinforcing member for reinforcing strength is provided in the coupling portion . The hinge for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member of the coupling portion is a spring washer . The hinge for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the strength holding portion of the movable piece or the fixed piece also serves as the reinforcing member of the coupling portion.

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