JP7473421B2 - Mobile phone - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a portable device.

For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic key configuration that includes a key plate that is inserted into the door locking mechanism or engine start mechanism of a vehicle to perform a rotating operation, and that is fixed to the lower case (housing) with a bolt.

JP 2010-77618 A

However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, a clearance always exists between the key plate and the housing, which is caused by manufacturing errors or is intentionally provided as a requirement of the assembly process. In addition, the bolts will always loosen over time, which may cause a backlash between the key plate and the housing. In addition, in the technology of Patent Document 1, the housing is made of synthetic resin, so even if the dimensions of the housing change due to deterioration over time, a clearance may occur between the key plate and the housing, which may cause a backlash. In addition, if a backlash occurs, the vibrations generated when the vehicle is running may be transmitted to the electronic key, causing the key plate to collide with the housing, generating noise.

A portable device according to one embodiment includes a housing, a circuit board installed within the housing, and an extension member extending in a first direction to the outside of the housing and having an end portion provided in a second direction opposite the first direction, the end portion being held by a holding portion of the housing, the housing having a wall portion opposed to the end portion and a resilient contact portion sandwiched between the wall portion and the end portion and biasing the extension member in the first direction by elastic force.

The portable device of one embodiment can suppress rattling of the extension member at a relatively low cost.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an electronic key according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electronic key according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic key according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure around the holding portion (when the key blade is not being held) in the lower case according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure around the holding portion (holding the key blade) in the lower case according to one embodiment; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the electronic key shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line AA. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along an XY plane illustrating a first modified example of a resilient contact portion included in an electronic key according to an embodiment; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XY plane illustrating a second modified example of the elastic contact portion of the electronic key according to the embodiment; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XY plane illustrating a third modified example of the elastic contact portion of the electronic key according to the embodiment; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XY plane illustrating a fourth modified example of the elastic contact portion of the electronic key according to the embodiment;

One embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Overview of the electronic key 10)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an electronic key 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electronic key 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of the electronic key 10 according to an embodiment. In the following description, for convenience, the X-axis direction (longitudinal direction of the housing 12) in the figure is the front-rear direction, the Y-axis direction (short-side direction of the housing 12) in the figure is the left-right direction (an example of the "third direction"), and the Z-axis direction (thickness direction of the housing 12) in the figure is the up-down direction (an example of the "fourth direction"). In addition, for convenience, the positive X-axis direction in the figure is the front (an example of the "first direction"), the negative X-axis direction in the figure is the rear (an example of the "second direction"), the positive Y-axis direction in the figure is the left, the negative Y-axis direction in the figure is the right, the positive Z-axis direction in the figure is the up, and the negative Z-axis direction in the figure is the down.

The electronic key 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is an example of a "portable device." The electronic key 10 is a portable key device carried by a user, and together with an onboard device (not shown) installed in a vehicle such as an automobile, constitutes an electronic key system. The electronic key 10 can perform remote operations such as locking and unlocking the locking mechanism of the vehicle door by wirelessly communicating with the onboard device in response to user operations.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electronic key 10 includes a housing 12 and a key blade 14. The housing 12 is a generally thin, rectangular container-shaped component made of a resin material such as ABS resin or PC resin. The housing 12 is formed by combining an upper case 101 and a lower case 102, i.e., the housing 12 is configured to be separable into the upper case 101 and the lower case 102.

An opening 101A shown in FIG. 3 is provided on the upper side of the upper case 101, and as shown in FIG. 1, a plateau-shaped knob 141 is exposed and protrudes upward from an elastic sheet 140 provided below the upper case 101 in contact with the upper case 101. The knob 141 has a roughly rectangular shape in a plan view, and can be depressed by a user. When the user presses the knob 141, the electronic key 10 transmits an operation signal to the vehicle-mounted device via wireless communication with the vehicle-mounted device to lock or unlock the locking mechanism of the vehicle door.

The key blade 14 is an example of an "extending member". The key blade 14 is a metal, elongated, plate-like part that extends linearly forward from an opening 102C formed on the front (X-axis positive) side of the lower case 102. The key blade 14 is held in the opening 102C of the lower case 102 by inserting its end (X-axis negative) part backward through the opening 102C. The key blade 14 is a member formed as a key that mechanically enables the key cylinder to be rotated by inserting its tip (X-axis positive) part into a lock (key cylinder) provided on the vehicle. The key blade 14 also has an end 14B provided on the rear edge, and further has an opposing surface 14Ba (see FIG. 6) formed as the rear surface of the end 14B. The opposing surface 14Ba is provided opposite a front wall 102Ba (an example of a wall portion described in claim 1) of the lower case 102, which will be described in detail later. The opposing surface 14Ba extends in the left-right and up-down directions. The key blade 14 has a through hole 14A that penetrates the key blade 14 in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction). The through hole 14A is provided in front of the end portion 14B and adjacent to the end portion 14B. The through hole 14A has a shape that is provided as an element of a snap-fit structure that is provided so as to be engageable with a protrusion 102Ea of the lower case 102, which will be described in detail later. The front portion of the key blade 14 is fixedly held by the holding portion 102D of the housing 12 through the snap-fit structure.

(Configuration of electronic key 10)
As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic key 10 includes, from the top in the figure, an upper case 101, an elastic sheet 140, a circuit board 130, a lower case 102, and a key blade 14.

The upper case 101 is a member that constitutes the upper part of the housing 12. The lower case 102 is a member that constitutes the lower part of the housing 12. The upper case 101 and the lower case 102 are combined with each other to form the container-shaped housing 12 shown in FIG. 1.

An opening 101A is formed on the top surface of the upper case 101. A knob 141 formed on the elastic sheet 140 is disposed to penetrate the opening 101A from the bottom to the top of the upper case 101. This allows the knob 141 to be exposed from the surface of the upper case 101 and to be pressed down. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper case 101 has a pressing surface 101D (an example of a "pressing portion") on its lower surface, which is parallel to the outer periphery 142 of the elastic sheet 140, which will be described later in detail. The pressing surface 101D is disposed at a position that contacts the outer periphery 142 after assembly, and is a portion that presses the outer periphery 142.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower case 102 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 102B and an annular pressing portion 102Bc (an example of a "pressing portion") protruding upward from the upper edge (upper edge) of the peripheral wall 102B. The lower case 102 also has an upper opening 102F formed by the peripheral wall 102B and opening upward. The lower case 102 also has a storage space 102A formed inside the upper opening 102F by being closed on the lower side. A disk-shaped button battery 16 for supplying power to the circuit board 130 and the circuit board 130 are arranged in the storage space 102A. The upper opening 102F and the annular pressing portion 102Bc are provided with a shape and dimensions that are closed by placing the elastic sheet 140 on the annular pressing portion 102Bc. The contours of the peripheral wall portion 102B and the storage space 102A are generally rectangular when viewed from above.

The circuit board 130 is a flat member on which multiple electronic components that operate using power supplied from the button battery 16 are mounted, and has a wireless communication function. The circuit board 130 is disposed within the accommodation space 102A of the lower case 102. For example, the circuit board 130 is a PWB (Printed Wiring Board) made of an insulating material such as glass epoxy. Switches 131a and 131b are mounted on the upper surface 130A of the circuit board 130.

For example, when the switch 131a is pressed via the knob 141, the circuit board 130 generates an operation signal to unlock or lock the locking mechanism of the vehicle door, and wirelessly transmits the operation signal to an in-vehicle device (not shown) via a communication circuit (not shown).

The elastic sheet 140 is a sheet-like member having elasticity. The elastic sheet 140 is placed on the surface 130A of the circuit board 130, thereby covering the surface 130A of the circuit board 130. The elastic sheet 140 is placed on the annular pressing portion 102Bc of the lower case 102. The elastic sheet 140 is provided at a position where the pressed portion 142A, which will be described in detail later, contacts the annular pressing portion 102Bc, and therefore seals the storage space 102A of the lower case 102 when the pressed portion 142A is pressed downward. This prevents water from entering the circuit board 130 and the storage space 102A. For example, the elastic sheet 140 is formed of a synthetic resin material such as silicone rubber.

As shown in FIG. 3, the elastic sheet 140 has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from above. The elastic sheet 140 is also slightly larger than the peripheral wall portion 102B of the lower case 102. This allows the elastic sheet 140 to cover the entire upper opening 102F of the lower case 102 formed by the peripheral wall portion 102B. The elastic sheet 140 also closes the upper opening 102F by coming into close contact with the annular pressing portion 102Bc, preventing water from entering the storage space 102A from outside the housing 12 after assembly.

The elastic sheet 140 has an outer peripheral portion 142 that is provided approximately parallel to the plane of the circuit board 130, and a knob 141 that is provided approximately in the center of the outer peripheral portion 142 and has a plateau shape that protrudes upward from the outer peripheral portion 142. The knob 141 is exposed from the surface of the upper case 101, and when pressed by a user, it elastically deforms and can press a switch 131a or switch 131b that is provided on the surface 130A of the circuit board 130 and on the back side of the knob 141.

The outer peripheral portion 142 is a horizontal, plate-like portion that surrounds the knob 141. As shown in FIG. 6, the outer peripheral portion 142 has a pressed portion 142A that is sandwiched between a pressing surface 101D provided on the lower side of the upper case 101 and an annular pressing portion 102Bc provided on the upper edge of the peripheral wall portion 102B of the lower case 102. The thickness dimension of the pressed portion 142A is set to be greater than the distance between the pressing surface 101D and the annular pressing portion 102Bc. With this configuration, the annular pressing portion 102Bc and the pressed portion 142A are tightly attached to each other by being pressed by the pressing surface 101D, and there is no gap leading from the outside of the electronic key 10 to the storage space 102A. This makes it possible to prevent water from entering the storage space 102A.

(Key Blade 14 Retention Structure)
Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure around the holding portion 102D (when the key blade 14 is not being held) in the lower case 102 according to one embodiment. Fig. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure around the holding portion 102D (when the key blade 14 is being held) in the lower case 102 according to one embodiment. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line A-A of the electronic key 10 shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, a holding portion 102D is provided at the front (X-axis positive side) and at the center in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) of the peripheral wall portion 102B of the lower case 102. An opening 102C having a horizontally long rectangular shape in a plan view is formed in the front wall portion 102Da of the holding portion 102D. The holding portion 102D holds the rear (X-axis negative side) part of the key blade 14 when it is inserted through the opening 102C. An arm portion 102E extending rearward (X-axis negative direction) from the front wall portion 102Da is provided at the top and at the center in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) of the holding portion 102D. The arm portion 102E is elastically deformable in the up-down direction. A protrusion portion 102Ea protruding downward (Z-axis negative direction) is formed at the end of the rear (X-axis negative side) of the arm portion 102E.

The protrusion 102Ea is fitted into the through hole 14A formed in the rear of the key blade 14, thereby restricting the movement of the key blade 14 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). An inclined surface 102Eb is formed on the front side of the protrusion 102Ea. When the key blade 14 is inserted into the opening 102C, the end 14B of the key blade 14 is pressed against the inclined surface 102Eb, which elastically deforms the arm 102E and pushes the protrusion 102Ea upward. This allows the end of the key blade 14 to move further rearward than the protrusion 102Ea. When the through hole 14A of the key blade 14 is located directly below the protrusion 102Ea, the elastic force of the arm 102E causes the protrusion 102Ea to move downward and fit into the through hole 14A. With this configuration, the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment can hold the key blade 14 in the holding portion 102D simply by inserting the rear portion of the key blade 14 into the opening 102C, meaning that the key blade 14 can be easily attached.

Between the end 14B of the key blade 14 and the front wall 102Ba of the peripheral wall 102B of the lower case 102, the elastic sheet 140 has an elastic contact portion 143. The end 14B has an opposing surface 14Ba on the front wall 102Ba side, and the opposing surface 14Ba and the front wall 102Ba are opposed to each other. The opposing surface 14Ba extends in the left-right direction and the up-down direction. The elastic contact portion 143 is a portion that extends downward from the edge 144 of the outer periphery 142 of the elastic sheet 140. The thickness of the elastic contact portion 143 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) is larger than the gap width between the end 14B of the key blade 14 and the front wall 102Ba. As a result, the elastic contact portion 143 is clamped between the end portion 14B of the key blade 14 and the front wall portion 102Ba, and the elastic force generated at this time urges the key blade 14 forward (positive direction of the X-axis). This allows the elastic contact portion 143 to press the inner wall surface of the through hole 14A of the key blade 14 against the protrusion portion 102Ea, thereby suppressing rattling of the key blade 14 in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction).

In this embodiment, the elastic contact portion 143 has, as an example, a pair of protrusions 143A formed side by side in the left-right direction (the Y-axis direction, an example of the "third direction") in a plan view from above (the positive direction of the Z-axis). Each protrusion 143A protrudes forward (the positive direction of the X-axis) and extends in the up-down direction (the Z-axis direction), and has a pointed convex shape in a plan view. The vertical length of each protrusion 143A is greater than the thickness of the key blade 14. The elastic contact portion 143 can bias the end portion 14B of the key blade 14 forward (the positive direction of the X-axis) evenly on the left and right by each of the pair of protrusions 143A. This allows the elastic contact portion 143 to suppress rattling in the rotation direction around the through hole 14A of the key blade 14 as the rotation center.

As shown in FIG. 6, the surface of the front wall portion 102Ba facing the elastic contact portion 143 is provided with a protrusion 102Bb that protrudes forward (positive direction of the X-axis). On the other hand, the surface of the elastic contact portion 143 facing the front wall portion 102Ba is formed with a recess 143B having the same shape as the protrusion 102Bb, thereby forming an engagement claw 143C at the lower end of the elastic contact portion 143. The engagement claw 143C is an example of an "engagement portion." As shown in FIG. 6, the engagement claw 143C engages with the protrusion 102Bb of the front wall portion 102Ba, so that the movement of the elastic contact portion 143 in the upward direction (positive direction of the Z-axis, an example of the "fourth direction") is restricted.

As described above, the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment includes a housing 12, a circuit board 130 installed within the housing 12, an elastic sheet 140 covering the circuit board 130, and a key blade 14 extending outward from the housing 12 in the positive direction of the X-axis and having an end portion 14B held by a holding portion 102D of the housing 12. The elastic sheet 140 extends downward from an edge portion 144 and is sandwiched between the front wall portion 102Ba of the housing 12 and the end portion 14B of the key blade 14, and has a resilient contact portion 143 that urges the key blade 14 in the positive direction of the X-axis by an elastic force.

As a result, the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment can press the key blade 14 in the positive direction of the X-axis, thereby suppressing rattling of the key blade 14. In particular, the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment can suppress rattling of the key blade 14 at a relatively low cost because the elastic contact portion 143 can be formed integrally with the elastic sheet 140. Furthermore, even when vibrations are applied to the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment, the elastic contact portion 143 can prevent the front wall portion 102Ba of the housing 12 from coming into contact with the end portion 14B of the key blade 14. Furthermore, the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment can absorb the impact force generated when vibrations are applied by the elastic contact portion 143, thereby suppressing damage to the housing 12, the circuit board 130, etc.

In addition, in one embodiment of the electronic key 10, the holding portion 102D has an opening 102C, and the end portion 14B of the key blade 14 is inserted into the opening 102C in the negative direction of the X-axis, thereby holding the end portion 14B of the key blade 14 with a snap-fit structure.

This allows the key blade 14 to be easily attached to the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment.

In addition, in one embodiment of the electronic key 10, the elastic contact portion 143 has a protrusion 143A that protrudes in the positive direction of the X-axis and abuts against the end portion 14B of the key blade 14 to bias the key blade 14 in the first direction.

As a result, the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment can locally press the end portion 14B of the key blade 14 with the protrusion 143A. Furthermore, the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment can easily adjust the biasing force applied to the end portion 14B of the key blade 14 by changing the shape of the protrusion 143A.

In addition, in one embodiment of the electronic key 10, the elastic contact portion 143 has an engagement claw 143C that engages with the front wall portion 102Ba and restricts movement of the elastic contact portion 143 in the Z-axis direction.

As a result, the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment is less likely to cause misalignment of the elastic contact portion 143 relative to the front wall portion 102Ba.

(Modification of the elastic contact portion 143)
Next, modified examples of the elastic contact portion 143 will be described with reference to Fig. 7 to Fig. 10. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XY plane showing a first modified example of the elastic contact portion 143 included in the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XY plane showing a second modified example of the elastic contact portion 143 included in the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XY plane showing a third modified example of the elastic contact portion 143 included in the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment.

The number and shape of the protrusions 143A of the elastic contact portion 143 are not limited to those illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. In other words, the elastic contact portion 143 is not limited to having two protrusions 143A arranged side by side in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). For example, the elastic contact portion 143 may have one protrusion 143A as illustrated in FIG. 7, or may have three protrusions 143A arranged side by side in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) as illustrated in FIG. 9.

In addition, the protrusion 143A is not limited to having a pointed convex shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction. For example, the protrusion 143A may have a semicircular curved convex shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. In addition, for example, the protrusion 143A may have a convex shape that protrudes forward (positive direction of the X-axis) when viewed from the Y-axis direction.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view in the XY plane showing a fourth modified example of the elastic contact portion 143 of the electronic key 10 according to one embodiment.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the upper case 101 has a vertical wall portion 101C that hangs down from the ceiling surface 101B between the rear end of the arm portion 102E and the protruding portion 102Bb of the front wall portion 102Ba. The rear surface 101Ca of the vertical wall portion 101C is an inclined surface that is inclined downward at a certain inclination angle.

On the other hand, the convex portion 102Bb of the front wall portion 102Ba has a front surface 101Bc that faces the rear surface 101Ca of the vertical wall portion 101C. The front surface 101Bc is an inclined surface that is inclined upward at a certain inclination angle (the same inclination angle as the inclination angle of the rear surface 101Ca).

As shown in FIG. 10, the rear surface 101Ca of the vertical wall portion 101C and the front surface 101Bc of the convex portion 102Bb are parallel to each other and spaced apart at a fixed distance. As a result, a gap A is formed between the rear surface 101Ca and the front surface 101Bc, which is inclined along the rear surface 101Ca and the front surface 101Bc. The elastic contact portion 143 has an inclined portion 143D that is inclined along the rear surface 101Ca and the front surface 101Bc within the gap A. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the inclined portion 143D is in close contact with the front surface 101Bc, but is spaced apart from the rear surface 101Ca by a fixed distance. However, the inclined portion 143D may be in close contact with the rear surface 101Ca.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

For example, in the above embodiment, the application of the present invention to an electronic key 10 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, the present invention can be applied to any portable device as long as it has a configuration in which an extension member (however, not limited to a key blade) is held by at least a housing.

10 Electronic key (portable device)
12 Housing 14 Key blade (extension member)
14A Through hole 14B End portion 14Ba Opposing surface 16 Button battery 101 Upper case 101A Opening 101B Ceiling surface 101C Vertical wall portion 101Ca Rear surface 101D Pressing surface (pressing portion)
102 Lower case 102A Storage space 102B Peripheral wall 102Ba Front wall (wall)
102Bb Convex portion 102Bc Annular pressing portion 102C Opening 102D Holding portion 102Da Front wall portion 102E Arm portion 102Ea Projection portion 102Eb Inclined surface 102F Upper opening 130 Circuit board 131a Switch 131b Switch 140 Elastic sheet 141 Knob 142 Outer periphery 142A Pressed portion 143 Elastic contact portion 143A Projection portion 143B Recessed portion 143C Engagement claw (engagement portion)
143D inclined portion 144 edge portion

Claims (8)

A housing and
A circuit board installed in the housing;
an extension member provided to extend in a first direction to the outside of the housing, the extension member having an end portion provided on a second direction side opposite to the first direction, the end portion being held by a holding portion of the housing;
The housing has a wall portion provided opposite the end portion,
a resilient contact portion that is sandwiched between the wall portion and the end portion and that urges the extension member in the first direction by an elastic force ;
an elastic sheet covering the circuit board;
The elastic contact portion extends from an edge portion of the elastic sheet on the first direction side.
A portable device characterized by: The housing has an opening formed on a first direction side,
The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the holding portion holds the end portion of the extension member by a snap-fit structure when the end portion of the extension member is inserted into the opening in the second direction. The end portion has an opposing surface that is provided on the wall portion side and is arranged to face the wall portion,
The portable device according to claim 2 , wherein the elastic contact portion has a protrusion that comes into contact with the opposing surface and urges the extension member in the first direction. The protrusion is
The portable device according to claim 3 , wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction . The protrusion is
The portable device according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that it has a convex shape facing the first direction when viewed in a planar view from a fourth direction that is perpendicular to each of the first direction, the second direction, and the first direction and perpendicular to each of a third direction in which the opposing surface extends. The portable device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein at least two of the protrusions are provided and aligned in the third direction. the elastic sheet has a plate shape and an outer periphery that is provided substantially parallel to the circuit board,
the housing has a plurality of pressing portions that sandwich the outer periphery from both sides of the plate shape of the outer periphery,
a pressed portion that is pressed by the pressing portion is provided on a part of the outer circumferential portion,
The edge portion is provided continuously with the pressed portion on the first direction side of the pressed portion,
The portable device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the elastic contact portion extends from the edge portion in a direction substantially the same as a fourth direction perpendicular to each of the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction. The elastic contact portion is
The engaging portion has an engaging portion that engages with the wall portion and restricts movement of the elastic contact portion in the fourth direction.
8. The portable device according to claim 7 .

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