JP5354476B2 - Electronic equipment structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device structure, and more particularly to a method for maintaining a fitting state of a case of a vehicle electronic device.

A vehicle such as an automobile is provided with an electronic device for performing the control. In such a vehicular electronic device, an electronic circuit board incorporating a plurality of electronic components is generally covered with a case made of resin or metal. In this case, the electronic circuit board is sandwiched and held by two cases called a first case (also referred to as a lower case) and a second case (also referred to as an upper case).
In order to fit the first case and the second case that sandwich and hold the electronic circuit board, there are methods in which through holes are provided at the four corners of each case and fixed using screws or the like. (Patent Document 1)

Japanese Patent No. 3669224

  However, in the case of Patent Document 1, in forming a through hole for passing a screw, for the purpose of ensuring the airtightness of the case, this through hole is not connected to the inside of the case where the electronic circuit board is held. A separate chamber for the through hole is provided. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide a certain amount of space around the through hole in order to give the case rigidity capable of withstanding screw tightening. In Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide such separate rooms at the four corners of the case, and as a result, there is a problem that the area for housing the electronic circuit board inside the case is reduced.

Further, FIG. 5 shows an electronic device having a structure in which the four corners of each case are fitted and coupled using screws, as in the case of Patent Document 1. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of one of the four corners of the electronic device of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the first case 102 and the second case 103 are made of resin, for example, the electronic device 101 is screwed into the through-hole 104 to ensure screw tightening. It is necessary to prepare a metal tube called a collar 105 for the purpose. 5 and 6, the through hole and the collar of the second case 103 are not shown.
When fixing screws through such a collar 105, the first case 102 and the second case 103 are tightened by shaving the collar 105. That is, the electronic device 101 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 generates metal scraps when tightening. This metal scrap is called conductive dust and causes a failure of the electronic control device. Therefore, there is a background that it is desired to suppress the generation of such metal scrap as much as possible. Further, the electronic device 101 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has a problem of increasing the man-hours and costs for attaching such a collar 105 to the first case 102 and the second case 103. Further, when screws are tightened on the first case 102 and the second case 103, there is a problem that tools and equipment for screw tightening, and a screw tightening torque management facility are required.

As measures against these, as shown in FIG. 7, the first case 202 and the second case 203 of the electronic device 201 are made of resin, and one first case 202 is provided with a hook 204, and the other second case 202 is provided. Some cases 203 are provided with protrusions 205 that can be fitted to the hooks 204 to fit them. In the case of the first case 202 and the second case 203 having such a structure, the hook 204 and the protrusion 205 can be molded integrally with the first case 202 and the second case 203, and can be efficiently performed without the above-described problems. The case can be assembled.
However, there are electronic control devices in which one of the two cases is made of metal for the purpose of radiating heat or blocking electric noise. In this case, if the same structure is used as in the case where each case is made of resin, the same effect cannot be obtained simply by replacing the material due to the difference in material. There are actual situations that are not widely used.
As described above, there has been a demand for a structure that can maintain the fitting and coupling in the same manner even when the cases are formed of the same or different materials, and can suppress a reduction in the area of the built-in objects in the case.

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above-described problems, and is a vehicle electronic device that prevents a reduction in the area where a built-in object is disposed in a case by a method of maintaining the fitting state of the case of the vehicle electronic device. The purpose is to provide a structure.

  The present invention includes a first case including an electronic circuit board on which electronic components are mounted, and a storage portion having an opening on an upper surface and a reference surface and a vertical wall extending from an outer periphery that forms the reference surface. A second case that covers the opening of the first case, and a clip that holds the first case and the second case together so as to maintain the fitting and coupling state of the first case and the second case. The electronic circuit board is sandwiched between the first case and the second case and held inside the case. In the vehicle electronic device structure, the reference surface is centered on the reference surface from the outer periphery not contacting the outer periphery. There is a concave portion located on the side and projecting in the storage portion, and the clip engages with the concave portion.

The electronic device structure according to the present invention can suppress a decrease in the area where the built-in objects are disposed in the case due to the structure that maintains the fitting and coupling state of the first case and the second case, and the shape of the electronic circuit board is not significantly affected. .
In addition, the electronic device structure of the present invention is less likely to scrape each case than the case where the first case and the second case are kept in a coupled state using screws, and the case is maintained in a fitted state. Generation of shavings due to the structure of can be reduced.

It is an exploded view showing an electronic equipment structure typically. (Example) It is a perspective view which shows a specific electronic device structure. (Example) It is sectional drawing of the clip seen from the arrow A 'direction in the surface A of FIG. (Example) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a first case, a second case, and a clip as viewed from the direction of arrow A ′ in plane A of FIG. 2. (Example) It is a perspective view which shows an electronic device structure. (Conventional example) FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 5. (Conventional example) It is a partial expansion perspective view which shows an electronic device. (Conventional example)

In the electronic device structure of the present invention, the case divided into two is sandwiched by clips to maintain the fitting and coupling state of the case. In addition, since the structure that maintains the fitting and coupling state of the case divided into two parts does not greatly affect the built-in items in the case, the inside of the case can be used more widely and effectively than using screws. However, the case is less likely to be cut and the case shavings are less likely to occur. Further, the structure that maintains the fitting and coupling state of the case divided into two also has a role of improving the rigidity of the case.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view of an electronic device structure, and FIG. 2 is a specific perspective view of the electronic device structure. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the structure of the electronic device according to the present invention, while FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific structure. FIG. 1 shows the size of the storage portion, the flange length, and the detailed structure. Different from FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic device 1 of the present invention includes an electronic circuit board 2 on which electronic components are mounted, a first case 3 and a second case 4 that hold the electronic circuit board 2, a first case 3 and a second case. A clip 5 that joins the case 4 is a main component. In addition, there are a connection connector, a structure for holding the base in the case, a seal member for ensuring airtightness in the case, etc., but they are omitted because they are not indispensable components for explaining the invention. .
The first case 3 includes a substantially rectangular bottom surface portion 6 and a short rectangular tube-shaped vertical wall 7 raised to a certain height from the outer periphery forming the four sides of the bottom surface portion 6. A storage portion 8 for storing the circuit board 2 is formed. The first case 3 has a reference surface S on the upper side of the bottom surface part 6, and has an opening 9 by opening the upper side of the storage part 8. Further, the first case 3 is provided with a flange 10 having a constant width extending outwardly in parallel with the bottom plate portion 6 on the outer periphery of the upper end of the short rectangular cylindrical vertical wall 7. The flange 10 is formed in a square frame plate shape.
The first case 3 is provided with four concave portions 11 at the four corners of the bottom surface portion 6. The four concave portions 11 are arranged as a pair in the direction substantially parallel to the extending direction from the bottom surface portion 6 of the opposing vertical wall 7, and the bottom surface of the bottom surface portion 6 is convex in the storage portion 8. Is recessed in a semi-cylindrical shape on the reference plane S side. The concave portion 11 is located closer to the center of the bottom surface portion 6 than the outer periphery of the bottom surface portion 6 and does not contact the outer periphery. Further, the size of the recess 11 is formed in a shape that can be locked with claw portions 20 and 21 of the clip 5 to be described later.

On the other hand, the second case 4 includes a substantially rectangular upper surface 12 and a short rectangular tube-shaped vertical wall 13 that is lowered to a certain height from the outer periphery forming the four sides of the upper surface 12. A storage portion 14 for storing the electronic circuit board 2 is formed. The second case 4 has an opening 15 by opening the lower side of the storage portion 14. Further, the second case 4 is provided with a flange 16 having a constant width extending outwardly in parallel with the upper plate portion 12 on the outer periphery of the lower end of the vertical wall 13 having a short rectangular tube shape. The flange 16 is formed in a square frame plate shape extending along the reference surface S on the outer periphery of the vertical wall 13. The second case 4 has the same structure as that obtained by inverting the first case 3 in the vertical direction.
However, the four corners on the outer periphery of the upper surface of the parallel flange 16 of the second case 4 are constituted by ribs 17a provided substantially parallel to the vertical wall 13 at positions corresponding to the four recesses 11 of the first case 3. The locking part 17 is provided. The locking portion 17 is formed in a U shape by a rib 17a parallel to the vertical wall 13 and two ribs 17b and 17c extending from both ends of the rib 17a toward the vertical wall 13, and the rib 17b and 17c form a storage portion. 14 is connected to a vertical wall 13 that forms a portion 14 to improve the rigidity of the locking portion 17. The flange 16 and the locking portion 17 are collectively referred to as a peripheral portion in this specification.
The electronic circuit board 2 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 8 of the first case 3 and the accommodating portion 14 of the second case 4, and the opening 9 of the first case 3 is covered with the second case 4, while the second case 4 After covering the opening 15 with the first case 3, the first case 3 and the second case are engaged by engaging the claw portions 20 and 21 of the clip 5 with the recess 11 and the locking portion 17 using the clip 5. 4 mating connection is maintained.

In FIG. 2, the electronic device 1 includes a first case 3 made of metal and a second case 4 made of resin. Similarly, an electronic circuit board 2 is held inside the case. Furthermore, clips 5 are attached to the four corners of the first case 3 and the second case 4 that are fitted and joined, and the first case 3 and the second case 4 are sandwiched and fixed by the clip 5 from the vertical direction. Yes. In this embodiment, in order to further improve the rigidity of the peripheral portion of the second case 4 (the flange 16 and the locking portion 17), the vertical wall extends upward along the outermost periphery (the outer periphery of the flange 16) of the peripheral portion. A portion 18 is provided, and the vertical wall portion 18 and a part of the locking portion 17 (ribs 17a) are combined to improve the rigidity of the peripheral portion.
The second case 4 of FIG. 2 extends in a substantially vertical direction from the vertical wall portion 18 toward the vertical wall 13 by taking a part of the locking portion 17 (rib 17a) in common with the vertical wall portion 18. The two ribs 17b and 17c forming the locking portion 17 serve to restrict the clip 5 after being attached to the second case 4 from moving along the vertical wall portion 18 of the second case 4. In addition to fulfilling the above, it also functions as a mark indicating the clip attachment position when the operator attaches the clip 5 to the second case 4.
As a result, the second case 4 has a flange 16 extending along the reference surface S of the first case 3 on the outer periphery thereof, and a part of the vertical wall portion 18 extending along the outer periphery of the flange 16 (rib 17a). And ribs 17b and 17c that extend from the surface of the flange 16 and are connected to the vertical wall 18, and a locking portion 17 that includes a part of the vertical wall 18 (rib 17a) and the ribs 17b and 17c. ing. The electronic device 1 is fastened and coupled by engaging the clip 5 with the recess 11 of the first case 3 and the locking portion 17 of the second case 4.

  3 is a cross-sectional view of the clip 5 as seen from the direction of the arrow A ′ in the plane A of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a clip of the first case 3 and the second case 4 as seen from the arrow A ′ in the plane A of FIG. FIG. Note that the surface A is a surface that is parallel to the vertical direction that is the fitting direction of the first case 3 and the second case 4 in FIG. 2 and passes through the center of the clip 5 in the width direction, and the arrow A ′ direction is the vertical direction. And a direction parallel to the width direction of the clip 5 that intersects perpendicularly. The clips 5 are respectively attached to the four corners of the electronic device 1, but the engagement structure between each clip 5 and the other components of the electronic device 1 is the same. The clip 5 will be described as a representative.

A single structure of the clip 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The clip 5 is engaged with the loosely curved holding portion 19 that holds the first case 3 and the second case 4, and the concave portion 11 of the first case 3 and the locking portion 17 of the second case 4. It consists of two claw portions 20 and 21 for preventing the clip 5 attached to the second case 4 from coming off. The clamping part 19 is formed in a so-called C-shape, one of which is open, and the clip 5 is temporarily attached in the direction of the arrow B by being assembled to the first case 3 and the second case 4 from the opening side. Deformed and assembled. The two claw portions 20 and 21 are formed so as to be continuous with both ends in the longitudinal direction of the sandwiching portion 18 and to protrude inwardly.
The clip 5 is continuous with the two claw portions 20 and 21 and forms operation portions 22 and 23 that are curved and protrude outward at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 19. The clip 5 pulls the operating parts 22 and 23 to disengage the claw parts 20 and 21 from the concave part 11 of the first case 3 and the locking part 17 of the second case 4, and from the first case 3 and the second case 4. Can be removed. Further, the clip 5 has a symmetrical structure with an axis C passing through the center of the holding part 19 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, in assembling the clip 5 to the first case 3 and the second case 4, there is no restriction on the assembling direction of the clip 5, and the efficiency of assembling the electronic device 1 is improved.
The clip 5 is made of resin. In the case of a metal clip, it is desirable to reduce the thickness of the clip for the purpose of improving the ease of assembling to the case. In the case of such a metal clip, the clip is clamped with your finger and assembled. If this is done, there is a possibility that the clip holding portion will be plastically deformed and the clip becomes unusable. Increasing the thickness of the metal clip as a countermeasure can reduce the occurrence of plastic deformation due to external force when the clip is assembled, but it becomes difficult to attach the clip to the case and the case where each case is easily scraped. Failure of the case and generation of shavings are likely to occur.
On the other hand, if the clip 5 is made of resin, there is no such problem as described above, and the resin clip 5 has less frictional resistance than the case where a metal clip is used. Since the second case 4 is less sharpened, it is more advantageous than a metal clip.

Next, the engagement state between the clip 5 and the other components of the electronic device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the concave portion 11 of the first case 3 and the locking portion 17 of the second case 4 include the electronic circuit board 2 in the case and the seal portions 24 and 25 that prevent water from entering the case. In other words, the recess 11 has a structure that does not affect the arrangement of the built-in objects in the case. Thus, the built-in objects can be arranged up to the ends of the first case 3 and the second case 4 respectively.
Furthermore, the first case 3 and the second case 4 are provided with the recesses 11 and the locking portions 17 so that the rigidity of the first case 3 and the second case 4 is also improved. Further, the vertical height of each of the first case 3 and the second case 4 with which the clamping part 19 of the clip 5 is engaged is equal to or slightly the vertical direction (longitudinal direction) length of the clamping part 19 of the clip 5. The claw portions 20 and 21 of the clip 5 are elastically fitted into the concave portion 11 and the locking portion 17, so that the first case 3 and the second case 4 are combined by the clamping portion 19 of the clip 5. Each case is joined without moving.
In this way, the first case 3 and the second case 4 only need to be provided with the recess 11 and the locking portion 17 for receiving the claws 20 and 21 of the clip 5, and using a screw as in the conventional case. Compared to the assembly, a larger area for accommodating the electronic circuit board 2 can be secured in the case, and the vehicle electronic device can be reduced in size.

As described above, in the vehicle electronic device 1 in which the two first cases 3 and the second case 4 are formed of different materials, one case (the first case 3 in the embodiment) has a storage portion. On the reference surface S of FIG. 8, a concave portion 11 is formed that protrudes inside the storage portion 8 and engages with the clip 5, and the other case (second case 4 in the embodiment) has its storage portion 14. An engaging portion 17 that is engaged with the clip 5 is provided, and the engaging portion 17 is the other case. The engaging portion 17 is configured by a rib 17a that is provided substantially parallel to the longitudinal wall direction. In the embodiment, the outer periphery of the peripheral portion of the second case 4 is joined to the vertical wall portion 18 extending substantially parallel to the vertical wall 13, and the concave portion 11 is formed from the fitting direction of each case. And fixing with the clip 5 using the locking part 17 There.
Thereby, the structure of this electronic device 1 can suppress the reduction of the internal object arrangement | positioning area in a case by the structure which maintains the fitting coupling state of the 1st case 3 and the 2nd case 4, and the shape of the electronic circuit board 2 Is not greatly affected. In addition, the structure of the electronic device 1 is less likely to scrape each case than the case where the first case 3 and the second case 4 are maintained in a connected state using screws, and the case is maintained in the connected state. It is possible to provide the structure of the vehicular electronic device 1 that can reduce the generation of shavings due to the structure to prevent the generation of shavings from the case due to the fitting of the first case 3 and the second case 4. .
In addition, the structure of the electronic device 1 includes a flange 16 that extends along the reference surface S of the first case 4 on the outer periphery of the second case 4, a vertical wall portion 18 that extends along the outer periphery of the flange 16, and Ribs 17b and 17c extending from the surface of the flange 16 and connected to the vertical wall 18, and a locking portion 17 constituted by a part of the vertical wall 18 (rib 17a) and the ribs 17b and 17c, By engaging the clip 5 with the recess 11 and the locking portion 17, the fitting and coupling state of the first case 3 and the second case 4 is maintained.
Thereby, in the structure of the electronic device 1, the locking portion 17 can be installed at the outer peripheral end portion of the second case 4, and the rigidity of the flange 16 of the second case 4 is increased by the locking portion 17 and the vertical wall portion 18. It can be improved.
The contents of the above-described embodiments are examples of the present invention, and modifications can be made within the scope included in the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the clip locking shapes of the first case 3 and the second case 4 are provided with different locking shapes (the concave portion 11 and the locking portion 17). It can also be provided in a unified manner.

  The present invention can suppress a reduction in the arrangement area of the built-in object in the case due to the structure that maintains the fitting and coupling state of the two cases, and the shape of the electronic circuit board is not greatly affected. Generation of shavings due to the structure for maintaining the combined state can be reduced, and the present invention can be applied not only to electronic devices for vehicles but also to various electronic device structures.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic device 2 Electronic circuit board 3 1st case 4 2nd case 5 Clip 6 Bottom face part 7 Vertical wall 8 Storage part 10 Flange 11 Recess 12 Upper surface part 13 Vertical wall 14 Storage part 16 Flange 17 Locking part 18 Vertical wall part 19 Clamping part 20 Claw part 21 Claw part S Reference plane

Claims (2)

An electronic circuit board on which an electronic component is mounted; a first case including a storage portion including an opening on an upper surface; a reference surface; and a vertical wall extending from an outer periphery that forms the reference surface. A second case that covers an opening of one case, and a clip that holds the first case and the second case together so as to maintain a fitting and coupling state of the first case and the second case. In the vehicle electronic device structure in which the circuit board is sandwiched between the first case and the second case and held inside the case,
The reference surface has a concave portion located in the center of the reference surface from the outer periphery that does not contact the outer periphery, and is convex in the storage portion, and the clip engages with the concave portion. Electronic equipment structure.   The second case has a flange extending along the reference surface on the outer periphery thereof, a vertical wall portion extending along the outer periphery of the flange, and extending from the surface of the flange and connected to the vertical wall portion. 2. The electronic device structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a locking portion including a rib, the vertical wall portion, and the rib, wherein the clip is engaged with the locking portion and the recess.

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