JP3957252B2

JP3957252B2 - Electronics

Info

Publication number: JP3957252B2
Application number: JP2000121839A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 透山野
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-04-21
Filing date: 2000-04-21
Publication date: 2007-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-21
Also published as: JP2001308557A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本願発明はデジタルスチルカメラやデジタルビデオカメラなどの電子機器に関し、より詳細には、互いに直交する２つの回転軸を有する２軸ヒンジ機構を有し、かつ当該２軸ヒンジ機構により連結された要素間にまたがるフレキシブルプリント配線基板（以下、ＦＰＣ基板と記す。）を保護する保護部材を備えた電子機器に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
デジタルスチルカメラやデジタルビデオカメラには、レンズを搭載したカメラ本体に対し、液晶表示パネルなどを用いたファインダ（あるいはモニタ）用の表示装置を、開閉可能かつその開閉軸に対して直交する軸回りに回転可能に連結してなるものがある。この種の電子機器は、互いに直交する２つの回転軸を有する２軸ヒンジ機構によってカメラ本体側筐体（第１筐体）と表示装置側筐体（第２筐体）とを連結し、これら筐体にそれそれ内蔵された回路基板をＦＰＣ基板で接続した構成となっている。
この接続用のＦＰＣ基板はヒンジ部において露出するため、そのままではＦＰＣ基板が断線したり基板上の回路が破損したりしやすい。
ノートパソコンや一部の携帯電話機にみられるように、１軸ヒンジ機構によって第１筐体と第２筐体とを互いに回転可能（開閉可能）に連結した、単なる折り畳み型の電子機器であれば、特開平06-310874号公報に記載されているように、可撓性を有する保護シートを連結用のＦＰＣ基板に重ねて設けることによって当該ＦＰＣ基板を保護することが可能である。
しかし、互いに直交する２つの回転軸を有する２軸ヒンジ機構によって第１筐体と第２筐体とを連結してなる電子機器においては、接続用のＦＰＣ基板を有効に保護する手段がなかった。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本願発明は上述した事情の下に創案されたものであり、その課題は、互いに直交する２つの回転軸を有する２軸ヒンジ機構によって第１筐体と第２筐体とを連結し、これら筐体にそれそれ内蔵された回路基板を接続用のＦＰＣ基板で接続してなる電子機器において、簡単且つ安価な構成で、接続用のＦＰＣ基板を保護できるようにすることにある。
【０００４】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記課題を解決するために、請求項１記載の発明は、第一の回路基板を備えた第一の筐体と、第二の回路基板を備えた第二の筐体と、前記第一の筐体と前記第二の筐体とを連結し、互いに直交する二つの回転軸を有する二軸ヒンジ機構と、前記第一の回路基板と前記第二の回路基板とを相互に接続する接続用フレキシブルプリント配線基板とを備えた電子機器において、
前記二つの回転軸のうち、前記接続用フレキシブルプリント配線基板が巻き回された回転軸を周方向に取り囲む円筒状の保護部材を備え、
前記保護部材が前記第一の筐体および前記第二の筐体に対して相対的に回転可能に設けられたことを特徴とする。
また、請求項２記載の発明は、前記保護部材の径が変化することを特徴とする。
また、請求項３記載の発明は、前記保護部材の弾性変形により、前記保護部材の径が変化することを特徴とする。
また、請求項４記載の発明は、前記接続用フレキシブルプリント配線基板と前記保護部材が当接した場合に、前記保護部材が前記接続用フレキシブルプリント配線基板と同じ向きに回転することを特徴とする。
また、請求項５記載の発明は、前記保護部材が、前記第一の筐体と前記第二の筐体との間の隙間に配置されたことを特徴とする。
また、請求項６記載の発明は、前記第一の筐体あるいは前記第二の筐体のどちらか一方が、前記電子機器の表示装置を備えることを特徴とする。
また、請求項７記載の発明は、前記第一の筐体あるいは前記第二の筐体のどちらか一方がデジタルカメラの表示装置を備え、前記第一の筐体あるいは前記第二の筐体のどちらか他方がデジタルカメラの本体であり、前記電子機器がデジタルカメラであることを特徴とする。
また、請求項８記載の発明は、前記デジタルカメラが、デジタルビデオカメラであることを特徴とする。
また、請求項９記載の発明は、前記デジタルカメラが、デジタルスチルカメラであることを特徴とする。
また、請求項１０記載の発明は、前記二軸ヒンジ機構を覆うカバー部材を備え、前記保護部材が前記カバー部材に対して相対的に回転可能に設けられたことを特徴とする。
【０００５】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本願発明の実施の形態について図面を参照して説明する。ここでは、図示しないカメラ本体（第１筐体）に対し図示しない表示装置（第２筐体）を開閉可能かつその開閉軸に対して直交する方向に回転可能に連結してなる電子機器（デジタルビデオカメラなど）の２軸ヒンジ機構について説明する。
図１は本願発明の電子機器が備える２軸ヒンジ機構部を例示する全体斜視図、図２は分解斜視図である。
２軸ヒンジ機構１は、第１回転軸２と、第１回転軸２に対して直角に配置された第２回転軸３とを有している。第１回転軸２と第２回転軸３は、２軸連結機構４によって各々別々に回転可能に連結されている。第１回転軸２は表示装置に固定され、第２回転軸３はカメラ本体内のフレームに固定された固定部材９に固定されている。２軸連結機構４は上下一対のカバー部材５、６で覆われている。
２軸ヒンジ機構１により互いに連結されたカメラ本体および表示装置内にそれそれ内蔵された図示しない回路基板は接続用のＦＰＣ基板７で相互に接続される。ＦＰＣ基板７の中間部分は、カメラ本体に対し表示装置を第２回転軸３回りに所定回動角度回転させることができるように、余裕をもたせて第２回転軸３に巻回されている。
この接続用のＦＰＣ基板７は、カメラ本体と表示装置との間において露出するため、そのままではＦＰＣ基板７が断線したり基板３上の回路が破損したりしやすい。
そこで、本実施の形態では、カメラ本体と表示装置との間の隙間部に位置する第２回転軸３に、これを周方向に取り囲むようにして覆う円筒状の保護部材８を装着することにより、第２回転軸３に巻回されているＦＰＣ基板７を保護している。
【０００６】
保護部材８は、図３に示すように、プラスチックなどの合成樹脂製の帯状のシート部材を当該シート部材の両端部８ｂ同士が重なるように円筒状に丸めた構造になっており、且つ当該シート部材の弾性変形により拡縮できるようになっている。カメラ本体に対し表示装置を正逆方向に回転させると、ＦＰＣ基板７の第２回転軸３に巻回されている部分の巻径が変化（拡縮）するため、シート部材の両端部８ｂ同士の重なった部分８ａの長さは、当該巻径の変化を許容する長さに設定されている。
また、保護部材８は、第２回転軸３に遊びを持たせて装着されており、カメラ本体および表示装置に対して相対的に回転可能になっている。
このように第２回転軸３に、これを周方向に取り囲むようにして覆う円筒状の保護部材８を装着したことにより、カメラ本体と表示装置との間におけるＦＰＣ基板７の断線や基板３上の回路の破損を防止することができる。保護部材８は、シート部材の両端部８ｂ同士を強制的に引き離すことにより、第２回転軸３の側面側から容易に装着できる。保護部材８は、弾性変形により拡縮しかつ自然に形状復帰するので外れにくい。
また、カメラ本体および表示装置に対して保護部材８が相対的に回転可能であることにより、第２回転軸３に巻回されているＦＰＣ基板７に保護部材８の端部が当たったとしても、保護部材８がＦＰＣ基板７と同じ向きに回転するため、ＦＰＣ基板７が断線することはない。
なお、上記の例では、帯状のシート部材を円筒状に丸めた構造の保護部材８を用いたが、ストローのように真っ直ぐに延びる円筒部材をその筒長方向に対して直角に切断してなる保護部材を用いることも可能である。
【０００７】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本願発明によれば、第一の回路基板を備えた第一の筐体と、第二の回路基板を備えた第二の筐体と、前記第一の筐体と前記第二の筐体とを連結し、互いに直交する二つの回転軸を有する二軸ヒンジ機構と、前記第一の回路基板と前記第二の回路基板とを相互に接続する接続用フレキシブルプリント配線基板とを備えた電子機器において、前記二つの回転軸のうち、前記接続用フレキシブルプリント配線基板が巻き回された回転軸を周方向に取り囲む円筒状の保護部材を備え、前記保護部材が前記第一の筐体および前記第二の筐体に対して相対的に回転可能に設けられたことにより、
前記回転軸に巻回されている接続用フレキシブルプリント配線基板に保護部材の端部が当たったとしても、保護部材が接続用フレキシブルプリント配線基板と同じ向きに回転するため、接続用フレキシブルプリント配線基板が断線することはない、という顕著な効果を、簡単且つ安価な構成で実現することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本願発明の電子機器が備える２軸ヒンジ機構部を例示する全体斜視図。
【図２】図１に示す２軸ヒンジ機構の分解斜視図。
【図３】図１、図２中に示す保護部材の斜視図。
【符号の説明】
１：２軸ヒンジ機構
２：第１回転軸
３：第２回転軸
４：２軸連結機構
７：フレキシブルプリント回路基板
８：保護部材
８ａ：重なった部分
８ｂ：両端部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus such as a digital still camera or a digital video camera. More specifically, the present invention has a biaxial hinge mechanism having two rotation axes orthogonal to each other, and between elements connected by the biaxial hinge mechanism. The present invention relates to an electronic device including a protective member that protects a flexible printed wiring board (hereinafter referred to as an FPC board) straddling the board.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In digital still cameras and digital video cameras, a finder (or monitor) display device using a liquid crystal display panel can be opened and closed with respect to the camera body equipped with a lens, and the axis is orthogonal to the opening and closing axis. There are some which are connected rotatably. In this type of electronic apparatus, a camera body side housing (first housing) and a display device side housing (second housing) are connected by a biaxial hinge mechanism having two rotation axes orthogonal to each other. A circuit board built in each case is connected by an FPC board.
Since the FPC board for connection is exposed at the hinge portion, the FPC board is easily disconnected or a circuit on the board is easily damaged as it is.
Any foldable electronic device in which the first housing and the second housing are connected to each other so as to be rotatable (openable and closable) by a one-axis hinge mechanism, as seen in notebook computers and some mobile phones. As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-310874, the FPC board can be protected by providing a flexible protective sheet on the connecting FPC board.
However, there is no means for effectively protecting the FPC board for connection in an electronic device in which the first housing and the second housing are coupled by a biaxial hinge mechanism having two rotation axes orthogonal to each other. .
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been invented under the circumstances described above, and the problem is that the first housing and the second housing are connected by a biaxial hinge mechanism having two rotating shafts orthogonal to each other. An electronic device in which a circuit board incorporated in a body is connected by a connecting FPC board, and the connecting FPC board can be protected with a simple and inexpensive configuration.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 includes a first casing provided with a first circuit board, a second casing provided with a second circuit board, and the first casing. For connecting the first and second circuit boards to each other, the biaxial hinge mechanism having two rotating shafts that are orthogonal to each other and connecting the casing and the second casing. In an electronic device equipped with a flexible printed wiring board,
Of the two rotating shafts, comprising a cylindrical protective member surrounding the rotating shaft wound around the flexible printed wiring board for connection in the circumferential direction,
The protective member is provided to be rotatable relative to the first casing and the second casing.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the diameter of the protective member changes.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the diameter of the protective member changes due to elastic deformation of the protective member.
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the protective member rotates in the same direction as the flexible printed wiring board for connection when the flexible printed wiring board for connection and the protective member abut. .
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the protection member is disposed in a gap between the first casing and the second casing.
The invention described in claim 6 is characterized in that either the first casing or the second casing includes a display device of the electronic device.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, either the first casing or the second casing includes a display device of a digital camera, and the first casing or the second casing One of the other is a main body of the digital camera, and the electronic device is a digital camera .
The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the digital camera is a digital video camera.
The invention described in claim 9 is characterized in that the digital camera is a digital still camera.
The invention according to claim 10 includes a cover member that covers the biaxial hinge mechanism, and the protection member is provided to be rotatable relative to the cover member.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, an electronic device (digital) that is connected to a camera body (first housing) (not shown) so that a display device (second housing) (not shown) can be opened and closed and is rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the opening and closing axis. A biaxial hinge mechanism of a video camera or the like will be described.
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view illustrating a biaxial hinge mechanism provided in an electronic apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view.
The biaxial hinge mechanism 1 has a first rotating shaft 2 and a second rotating shaft 3 disposed at a right angle to the first rotating shaft 2. The 1st rotating shaft 2 and the 2nd rotating shaft 3 are each connected by the biaxial connection mechanism 4 so that rotation is possible separately. The first rotating shaft 2 is fixed to the display device, and the second rotating shaft 3 is fixed to a fixing member 9 fixed to a frame in the camera body. The biaxial coupling mechanism 4 is covered with a pair of upper and lower cover members 5 and 6.
The camera body and the circuit board (not shown) incorporated in the display device and connected to each other by the biaxial hinge mechanism 1 are connected to each other by a connecting FPC board 7. The intermediate portion of the FPC board 7 is wound around the second rotation shaft 3 with a margin so that the display device can be rotated around the second rotation shaft 3 by a predetermined rotation angle with respect to the camera body.
Since the connecting FPC board 7 is exposed between the camera body and the display device, the FPC board 7 is easily disconnected or a circuit on the board 3 is easily damaged.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, by attaching the cylindrical protective member 8 that covers the second rotating shaft 3 located in the gap between the camera body and the display device so as to surround the second rotating shaft 3 in the circumferential direction. The FPC board 7 wound around the second rotating shaft 3 is protected.
[0006]
As shown in FIG. 3, the protective member 8 has a structure in which a strip-like sheet member made of synthetic resin such as plastic is rolled into a cylindrical shape so that both end portions 8b of the sheet member overlap each other, and the sheet Expansion and contraction can be achieved by elastic deformation of the member. When the display device is rotated in the forward / reverse direction with respect to the camera body, the winding diameter of the portion wound around the second rotation shaft 3 of the FPC board 7 changes (expands / contracts). The length of the overlapped portion 8a is set to a length that allows the change in the winding diameter.
The protective member 8 is attached to the second rotating shaft 3 with play, and is rotatable relative to the camera body and the display device.
Thus, by attaching the cylindrical protective member 8 that covers the second rotating shaft 3 so as to surround the second rotating shaft 3 in the circumferential direction, the FPC board 7 is disconnected between the camera body and the display device or on the board 3. It is possible to prevent the circuit from being damaged. The protective member 8 can be easily mounted from the side surface side of the second rotating shaft 3 by forcibly pulling the both end portions 8b of the sheet member apart. Since the protective member 8 expands and contracts due to elastic deformation and naturally returns to its shape, it is difficult to come off.
Further, since the protective member 8 is rotatable relative to the camera body and the display device, even if the end of the protective member 8 hits the FPC board 7 wound around the second rotating shaft 3. Since the protective member 8 rotates in the same direction as the FPC board 7, the FPC board 7 does not break.
In the above example, the protective member 8 having a structure in which a belt-like sheet member is rolled into a cylindrical shape is used, but a cylindrical member that extends straight like a straw is cut at right angles to the cylinder length direction. It is also possible to use a protective member.
[0007]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the first casing provided with the first circuit board, the second casing provided with the second circuit board, the first casing, A flexible printed wiring board for connecting the second casing and the biaxial hinge mechanism having two rotation axes orthogonal to each other, and connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board to each other An electronic device comprising: a cylindrical protective member that circumferentially surrounds the rotating shaft around which the flexible printed wiring board for connection is wound, of the two rotating shafts, and the protective member is the first rotating member. By being provided so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the casing and the second casing,
Since the protective member rotates in the same direction as the connecting flexible printed circuit board even if the end of the protecting member hits the connecting flexible printed circuit board wound around the rotating shaft, the connecting flexible printed circuit board Can be realized with a simple and inexpensive configuration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view illustrating a biaxial hinge mechanism included in an electronic apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the biaxial hinge mechanism shown in FIG.
3 is a perspective view of the protective member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: biaxial hinge mechanism 2: first rotary shaft 3: second rotary shaft 4: biaxial coupling mechanism 7: flexible printed circuit board 8: protective member 8a: overlapping portion 8b: both ends

Claims

A first casing provided with a first circuit board, a second casing provided with a second circuit board, and the first casing and the second casing are connected and orthogonal to each other. In an electronic apparatus comprising a biaxial hinge mechanism having two rotating shafts, and a flexible printed wiring board for connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board to each other,
Of the two rotating shafts, comprising a cylindrical protective member surrounding the rotating shaft wound around the flexible printed wiring board for connection in the circumferential direction,
An electronic apparatus, wherein the protective member is provided to be rotatable relative to the first casing and the second casing.

The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the protective member changes.

The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a diameter of the protection member changes due to elastic deformation of the protection member.

The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the protective member rotates in the same direction as the flexible printed wiring board for connection when the flexible printed wiring board for connection and the protective member abut. .

The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the protection member is disposed in a gap between the first housing and the second housing.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein either the first casing or the second casing includes a display device for the electronic apparatus.

Either the first casing or the second casing includes a digital camera display device,
Either the first casing or the second casing is the main body of the digital camera,
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is a digital camera .

The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the digital camera is a digital video camera.

The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the digital camera is a digital still camera.

A cover member covering the biaxial hinge mechanism;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the protection member is provided to be rotatable relative to the cover member.