JP6884990B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is a flexible substrate (FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit), FFC (Flexible Flat Cable), flex rigid substrate) that electrically connects electronic components mounted on members whose posture and / or position change relatively. It is related to electronic devices equipped with.

Electronic devices such as digital cameras and personal computers that rotatably support a monitor with respect to a main body are known. In these electronic devices, the monitor and the electronic components mounted on the main body are electrically connected by a flexible substrate.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two casings on which electronic components are mounted are hinged and configured. The casing is provided with through holes on the hinge side, respectively, and the flexible substrate is arranged through these through holes.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-219232

As the casing rotates, the flexible substrate repeatedly pulls and loosens. At this time, the side edge of the flexible substrate may come into contact with the opening edge of the through hole, and the flexible substrate may be damaged. As a result, the rotating operation of the casing may not be performed smoothly, or the wire may be broken. Further, when the flexible substrate is colored in the same color as the casing in order to make it inconspicuous, the coloring may be peeled off.

In particular, when the casing is made of metal, burrs and sharp edges may remain on the opening edge, and the flexible substrate is easily damaged.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of suppressing damage to a flexible substrate for electrically connecting electronic components mounted on a member whose posture and / or position changes relatively.

The electronic device according to the present invention is
A flexible substrate in which the conductive part is sandwiched between insulating base materials made of an insulating material,
A first member on which a first electronic component electrically connected to the flexible substrate is mounted, and
The posture and / or position is variable relative to the first member, the flexible substrate has an insertion passage through which the flexible substrate is slidably inserted, and the posture and / or position relative to the first member is The second member, in which the flexible substrate slides in the insertion passage when changed,
It is an electronic device that has
The flexible substrate does not come into contact with the opening edge of the insertion passage even if the flexible substrate tilts in the width direction with respect to the insertion passage during the slide.

Further, the electronic device of the present invention is
A flexible substrate in which the conductive part is sandwiched between insulating base materials made of an insulating material,
A first member on which a first electronic component electrically connected to the flexible substrate is mounted, and
The posture and / or position is variable relative to the first member, the flexible substrate has an insertion passage through which the flexible substrate is slidably inserted, and the posture and / or position relative to the first member is The second member, in which the flexible substrate slides in the insertion passage when changed,
It is an electronic device that has
The flexible substrate has a widened portion in a non-exposed region that is not exposed from the insertion passage even if it slides with respect to the insertion passage, which is wider than a portion exposed from the insertion passage when the slide is made.

The insertion passage is a guide plate formed by bending a base plate and a metal plate and mounted on the base plate, and is directed toward the base plate from both sides of a first surface and the first surface substantially parallel to the base plate. It can be configured to have a second guide surface and a guide plate having a third guide surface extending from the surface.

It is desirable that the widening portion has a protruding width that abuts on the second guide surface and / or the third guide surface when the flexible substrate is tilted in the width direction with respect to the insertion passage.

The insertion passage may have the opening edge wider than the inner passage width.

The electronic device of the present invention further
It is equipped with a third electronic component and has a third member whose posture and / or position is variable relative to the second member.
The flexible substrate electrically connects the first electronic component and the third electronic component via the insertion passage of the second member.

According to the electronic device of the present invention, the flexible substrate that slides in the insertion passage when the relative posture and / or position of the first member and the second member changes comes into contact with the opening edge of the insertion passage. Can be prevented. This makes it possible to prevent damage such as scratches and disconnection of the flexible substrate.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electronic device in which the first member to the third member are in the deployed state. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the second member. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the circle A in FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the second member. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which the flexible substrate is most slid toward the first member. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the flexible substrate is most slid toward the third member. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an exaggerated state in which the flexible substrate is tilted in the width direction of the insertion passage. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the second member showing different embodiments of the widening portion. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing different embodiments of the insertion passage.

The electronic device 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the electronic device 10 will be described by taking as an example a digital camera in which the first member 11 and the second member 20 and the second member 20 and the third member 13 are relatively rotatably connected. The present invention may be composed of only the first member 11 and the second member 20 as long as it is an electronic device in which the flexible substrate 40 is arranged between members whose postures and / or positions are relatively variable. .. Further, the electronic device may be a notebook computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, a smartphone, or the like.

FIG. 1 shows an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 10 is, for example, a second member having a base plate 21 including a first member 11 which is a digital camera and includes a monitor as an electronic component, and a third member 13 which includes an image sensor and other control devices as electronic components. As shown by the arrows in the figure, the members 20 are relatively rotatably connected to each other. The electronic components are not shown in any of the drawings. In the digital camera of the present embodiment, the first member 11 to the third member 13 are rotatably connected to each other, and by rotating these relatively, the monitor is inverted toward the lens side, and the monitor itself is viewed while looking at the monitor. So-called self-portraits can be taken.

The first member 11 and the second member 20 can be exemplified in a configuration in which the first member 11 and the second member 20 are relatively rotatably connected by the pivot 12, and the second member 20 and the third member 13 are relatively rotatably connected by the pivot 14. Has been done.

The electronic component of the first member 11 and the electronic component of the third member 13 are electrically connected by a flexible substrate 40 having a conductive portion. The flexible substrate 40 is, for example, an FPC, an FFC, or a flex rigid substrate, and is configured by sandwiching a conductive portion between an insulating base material 41 made of a conductive insulating material, and has flexibility. Examples of the conductive portion include conductive patterns such as copper foil and silver paste, and conductive wires. Further, as the insulating base material 41, an insulating material such as polyimide or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) can be exemplified.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible substrate 40 is arranged on the third member 13 from the first member 11 via the second member 20. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second member 20 is configured by mounting the guide plate 23 on the base plate 21, and the flexible substrate 40 is inserted through the base plate 21 and the guide plate 23. It forms a passage 30.

The guide plate 23 has a first surface 24 substantially parallel to the base plate 21, and a second guide surface 25 and a third surface 24 that are bent at a substantially right angle from both sides of the first surface 24 toward the base plate 21 side and extend toward the base plate 21. It has a guide surface 26. In the illustrated embodiment, mounting surfaces 27 and 27 for mounting the guide plate 23 on the base plate 21 extend substantially parallel to the first surface 24 on both sides of the second guide surface 25 and the third guide surface 26. The heights of the second guide surface 25 and the third guide surface 26 are formed so that the flexible substrate 40 can be inserted between the base plate 21 and the first surface 24. Further, the distance between the second guide surface 25 and the third guide surface 26, that is, the passage width 31 of the insertion passage 30, is formed in accordance with the protruding widths of the widening portions 43 and 43 of the flexible substrate 40, which will be described later. In the present embodiment, the passage width 31 of the insertion passage 30 is substantially the same from one opening edge 32 to the other opening edge 32. Then, the guide plate 23 can be mounted on the base plate 21 by caulking, adhering, welding, etc. the mounting surfaces 27, 27 to the base plate 21.

The guide plate 23 can be made by punching a metal plate and bending it by performing sheet metal processing such as press working. By forming the guide plate 23 from a metal plate, it can be made thinner and have higher strength than those made of resin, and the electronic device 10 can be made thinner and can be manufactured at low cost.

On the other hand, when the guide plate 23 is produced by sheet metal processing, burrs and sharp edges are likely to occur on the opening edge 32 of the insertion passage 30 and the edge portion 33 thereof shown in FIG. Therefore, in the present invention, as shown below, the flexible substrate 40 is provided with widening portions 43, 43 so that the flexible substrate 40 does not come into contact with the opening edge 32.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the flexible substrate 40 has widening portions 43, 43 protruding from the normal width portion 42 on both sides in the width direction. The widening portions 43, 43 are the second members as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 when the first member 11 and the second member 20, and the second member 20 and the third member 13 are relatively rotated. The flexible substrate 40 is formed in the non-exposed region 45 which is not exposed from the insertion passage 30 even if the flexible substrate 40 slides most with respect to the insertion passage 30 in the longitudinal direction by receiving a force in the longitudinal direction or the pushing direction. That is, the non-exposed region 45 is formed with widening portions 43, 43 having a width wider than the width of the portion where the flexible substrate 40 slides and is exposed from the insertion passage 30 (normal width portion 42).

The widening portions 43, 43 can be formed by taking a wide insulating base material 41. In the illustrated embodiment, the widening portions 43, 43 are formed to have the same width from the center of the non-exposed region 45 along the longitudinal direction, and both ends in the longitudinal direction have a tapered shape in which the width gradually narrows. By forming both ends of the widening portion 43 into a tapered shape, the portion where the widening portion 43 intersects with the normal width portion 42 can have an obtuse angle shape, so that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of cracks from the intersecting portion.

The protruding width of the widening portions 43, 43, that is, the total width of the flexible substrate 40 including the widening portions 43, 43 is the passage width of the insertion passage 30 formed by the second guide surface 25 and the third guide surface 26 of the guide plate 23. It can be determined according to 31. That is, when the flexible substrate 40 is tilted in the width direction with respect to the insertion passage 30, the widening portions 43 and 43 abut on the second guide surface 25 and the third guide surface 26, respectively. The inclination of the 40 is restricted, and the flexible substrate 40 is formed so as not to come into contact with the opening edge 32 of the insertion passage 30.

The total width of the flexible substrate 40 including the widening portions 43, 43 is the maximum width that always abuts on the second guide surface 25 and the third guide surface 26, but if the width is formed so as to always abut, the members 11, 20, 13 May become a resistance when rotating. Further, depending on these processing accuracy, there is a possibility that the flexible substrate 40 cannot be inserted into the insertion passage 30. Therefore, the total width of the widening portions 43 and 43 is preferably about 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm smaller than the passage width 31 although it depends on the length of the insertion passage 30. As a result, a gap is formed between one or both of the widening portions 43 and 43 and the second guide surface 25 and the third guide surface 26, and the flexible substrate 40 is allowed to slide smoothly.

With respect to the second member 20 and the flexible substrate 40 having the above configuration, the flexible substrate 40 is inserted into the insertion passage 30. For example, the flexible substrate 40 is electrically connected to one of the electronic components of the first member 11 or the third member 13 and then inserted into the insertion passage 30. When the flexible substrate 40 is inserted, the width portion 42 is usually narrower than the passage width 31, so that the flexible substrate 40 can be easily inserted. Further, even if a wide connector terminal portion is formed at the end portion of the flexible substrate 40, the passage width 31 of the insertion passage 30 is formed wide according to the entire width of the flexible substrate 40 including the widening portions 43 and 43. Therefore, the insertion of the connector terminal portion is also permitted. Then, the electronic device 10 is obtained by electrically connecting the connector terminal portion to the other electronic component of the first member 11 or the third member 13.

The flexible substrate 40 slides with respect to the insertion passage 30 as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 5 and 6 according to the relative rotation of the members 11, 20, and 13. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the flexible substrate 40 may be tilted with respect to the insertion passage 30.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the passage width 31 of the insertion passage 30 in a wide exaggeration with respect to the total width of the flexible substrate 40 including the widening portions 43, 43 in order to explain the present invention more easily. As shown in FIG. 7, even if the flexible substrate 40 is tilted in the width direction with respect to the insertion passage 30, in the present invention, the widening portions 43, 43 come into contact with the second guide surface 25 and the third guide surface 26. , Further inclination of the flexible substrate 40 is regulated. As a result, it is possible to prevent the flexible substrate 40 from coming into contact with the opening edges 32, 32 on both sides of the insertion passage 30.

As described above, even if the flexible substrate 40 is tilted in the width direction, the tilt is regulated so that it is difficult to come into contact with the opening edges 32 and 32 of the insertion passage 30. Even if the opening edge 32 has an edge portion such as a burr, damage such as scratches or disconnection of the flexible substrate 40 can be prevented. In addition, scratches on the flexible substrate 40 do not cause resistance to the rotational operation of the members 11, 20, and 13.

Further, in the present invention, since the widening portions 43, 43 for regulating the inclination of the flexible substrate 40 are formed from the insulating base material 41 constituting the flexible substrate 40, no additional parts or configurations are required. The number of parts does not increase, and there is almost no increase in manufacturing costs.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the widening portions 43 and 43 are provided near both ends of the non-exposed region 45 in the longitudinal direction, respectively. As described above, if the widening portions 43, 43 are provided at or near the positions where the flexible substrate 40 first comes into contact with the second guide surface 25 and the third guide surface 26 when the flexible substrate 40 is tilted with respect to the insertion passage 30. Good.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the opening edges 32 and 32 of the insertion passage 30 are widened instead of forming the widening portions 43 and 43 on the flexible substrate 40. The opening edges 32 and 32 are wider than the passage width 31 inside the insertion passage 30. As a result, even if the flexible substrate 40 is tilted when it slides, it can be prevented from coming into contact with the opening edges 32 and 32. In addition to forming the widening portions 43 and 43 on the flexible substrate 40 described above, by forming the opening edges 32 and 32 wide, the contact between the flexible substrate 40 and the opening edges 32 and 32 is more effective. Can be prevented.

The above description is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting or limiting the scope of the invention described in the claims. In addition, each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

For example, the present invention can be applied to an electric chair, a chair with reclining, a massage machine, a movable part of a robot arm, a device having an opening / closing part such as a refrigerator, and an electronic device such as a printer, in addition to the above-exemplified ones.

Further, in the above embodiment, the first member 11 and the second member 20, and the second member 20 and the third member 13 are rotatably linked to each other, but their postures and positions are relatively variable. Any configuration is sufficient. As this type of configuration, a configuration in which the members are relatively close to each other by a slide or the like can be exemplified.

By coloring the portion of the flexible substrate 40 exposed from the insertion passage 30 in the same color as the casing, it is possible to prevent the coloring from peeling off even when the flexible substrate 40 is made inconspicuous.

In the above embodiment, the widening portion 43 is formed so as to protrude from both edges of the flexible substrate 40, but by forming the widening portion 43 so as to protrude from either edge, the normal width portion 42 on the edge side can be formed. It is possible to prevent the second guide surface 25 or the third guide surface 26 from being in contact with the surface and being damaged.

10 Electronic equipment 11 1st member 13 3rd member 20 2nd member 21 Base plate 23 Guide plate 25 2nd guide surface 26 3rd guide surface 30 Insertion passage 31 Passage width 32 Opening edge 40 Flexible substrate 43 Widening portion 45 Unexposed area

Claims (5)

A flexible substrate in which the conductive part is sandwiched between insulating base materials made of an insulating material,
A first member on which a first electronic component electrically connected to the flexible substrate is mounted, and
The posture and / or position is variable relative to the first member, the flexible substrate has an insertion passage through which the flexible substrate is slidably inserted, and the posture and / or position relative to the first member is The second member, in which the flexible substrate slides in the insertion passage when changed,
It is an electronic device that has
The insertion path is open mouth edge is formed wider than the inner passage width,
The width of the opening edge is such that the flexible substrate does not come into contact with the opening edge of the insertion passage even if the flexible substrate tilts in the width direction with respect to the insertion passage during the slide.
An electronic device characterized by that. A flexible substrate in which the conductive part is sandwiched between insulating base materials made of an insulating material,
A first member on which a first electronic component electrically connected to the flexible substrate is mounted, and
The posture and / or position is variable relative to the first member, the flexible substrate has an insertion passage through which the flexible substrate is slidably inserted, and the posture and / or position relative to the first member is The second member, in which the flexible substrate slides in the insertion passage when changed,
It is an electronic device that has
The flexible substrate has a widened portion in an unexposed region that is not exposed from the insertion passage even if it slides with respect to the insertion passage, which is wider than a portion exposed from the insertion passage when the slide is made.
An electronic device characterized by that. The insertion passage is a guide plate formed by bending a base plate and a metal plate and mounted on the base plate, and is directed toward the base plate from both sides of a first surface and the first surface substantially parallel to the base plate. Has a second guide surface and a guide plate having a third guide surface extending from the surface.
The electronic device according to claim 2. The widening portion has a protruding width that abuts on the second guide surface and / or the third guide surface when the flexible substrate is tilted in the width direction with respect to the insertion passage.
The electronic device according to claim 3. It is equipped with a third electronic component and has a third member whose posture and / or position is variable relative to the second member.
The flexible substrate electrically connects the first electronic component and the third electronic component via the insertion passage of the second member.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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