JPH118670A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate assembly by improving the strength of a hinge. SOLUTION: In the electronic device where two cases are turned mutually around hinge sections 1-3, 2-3 and configured in a foldable way, a cavity in which a flexible board wound to a middle of the hinge sections is formed by engaging a circular-arc curved section provided integrally to an end of a front case of the caves with a circular-arc curved face sections 1-4, 1-5, 2-4, 2-5 provided integrally with an end of a rear cover.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to electronic equipment, and more particularly to a portable telephone having a folding structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3, an electronic device such as a mobile phone of this kind has a first housing 6 provided with an antenna 14 and a receiver 15, a transmitter 16 and a dial button 17 as shown in FIG.
Are connected to each other by a hinge 11, a radio circuit is mounted in the first housing 6, and a control circuit is mounted in the second housing 7. The connection of the electric signal between the first and second housings 6 and 7 has a structure in which the flexible substrate 8 passes through a slit-shaped hole provided at the center of the hinge 11. Further, a structure in which a first circuit portion inside a first housing and a second circuit portion inside a second housing are connected by a wound flexible substrate has also been proposed (Kinoaki Shoji). 60-7516).

[0003]

In a conventional electronic device such as a cellular phone shown in FIG. 3, the bending angle of the flexible substrate is about 30 when the two housings are opened (the state shown in FIG. 3).
However, when the two housings are closed, the angle greatly changes to about 180 degrees. Therefore, there has been a problem that the flexible substrate cannot withstand a large number of bendings, and the durability such as cutting of the conductor pattern is poor. In addition, Jiko No. 6
In the conventional example described in 0-7516, the cover, which is one semicircular portion of the cylindrical portion that accommodates the wound flexible substrate, is provided separately from the housing of the electronic device. Since the provided cover is fixed to the housing by screwing, there is a part where the conductor pattern cannot be arranged because a screw hole is formed in the center of the flexible substrate, which hinders miniaturization of electronic devices. was there. Further, there is a problem that the hinge portion is inferior in structural strength and the assembly is complicated.

[0004]

An electronic device according to the present invention comprises a first housing composed of a first front case and a first rear cover, and a second front case and a second rear cover. A second housing is rotatably connected to the second housing by a hinge, and an arc-shaped first curved surface provided at an end of the first front case; and the first rear cover. A second curved surface portion having an arc shape provided at an end of the first housing engages with an end of the first housing to form a substantially cylindrical first hollow portion communicating with the housing, At the end of the second housing, a substantially cylindrical second hollow portion communicating with the housing is formed,
The first cavity and the second cavity are coaxially disposed adjacent to each other so as to pass through the two cavities, and the electric circuit in the first housing is connected to the second cavity. Electrically connecting the electric circuits with each other by winding a flexible board for connecting to an electric circuit in the housing spirally along the inner diameters of the first cavity and the second cavity; Having a hinge portion. Further, a first housing composed of the first front case and the first rear cover and a second housing composed of the second front case and the second rear cover are turned by the hinge. An arc-shaped first curved surface provided at an end of the first front case, and an arc-shaped second curved surface provided at an end of the first rear cover. And a substantially cylindrical first portion that engages with the end of the first housing and communicates with the end of the first housing.
And an arc-shaped third curved surface portion provided at an end of the second front case, and an arc-shaped fourth curved surface portion provided at an end of the second rear cover. Are engaged with each other to form a substantially cylindrical second hollow portion communicating with the housing at an end portion of the second housing, and the first hollow portion and the second hollow portion are connected to each other. The flexible substrate, which is arranged coaxially and adjacently so as to pass through the two hollow portions and connects an electric circuit in the first housing and an electric circuit in the second housing, to the first substrate The electric circuit is electrically connected to each other by spirally winding and passing the hollow portions along the inner diameters of the second hollow portion and the second hollow portion. Further, the flexible substrate has one end connected to the first substrate.
Is connected to an electric circuit in the housing, passes through a portion passing through the first housing and the first hollow portion, and is spirally wound along the inner diameters of the two hollow portions to pass therethrough. Electrically connecting the electric circuits with each other by connecting the other end to an electric circuit in the second housing through a portion passing through the second cavity and the second housing. Having a hinge portion.

[0005]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing a structure of a hinge portion of the embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, this portable telephone has a first housing 1 having an antenna 14 and a receiver 15.
A connection unit 5a for receiving signals and power from outside, a connector unit 5b for receiving antenna signals from outside, and the transmitter 1
6 and the second housing 2 including the dial button 17
The hinge portions 1-3 and 2-3 are configured to be rotatable with respect to each other and foldable.

The first case 1 and the second case 2 are composed of front cases 1-1 and 2-1 and rear covers 1-2 and 2-2, respectively. Are rotatably fastened by hinge portions 1-3 and 2-3 provided at both ends of the first member. At the center, hinges 1-3, 2
The hinge semicircle portions 1-4 and 2-4 of the receiving portion, which form an approximately half circle of the shaft diameter of -3, are provided, and the hinge semicircle portion 1 of the remaining semicircle is provided.
By covering the rear covers 1-2 and 2-2 on which -5 and 2-5 are formed, an appearance as one axis is obtained.

A flexible substrate 3 for transmitting an electric signal of a circuit unit mounted on the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 is connected to the center hinge semicircular portions 1-5 and 2-5 by hinge half. A single coaxial cable 4 for transmitting an antenna signal from the outside is passed through the center of the winding diameter of the flexible substrate 3 in a substantially Z-shape.

Since the flexible substrate 3 is wound in one turn, the tension and slack in folding can be absorbed in the hinge semicircular portions 1-4 and 2-4, and the torsion of the coaxial cable 4 can be absorbed. . Further, the coaxial cable 4 is required to have a somewhat large curvature in order to ensure the reliability of the bent portion. However, the structure in which the central portion of the flexible substrate 3 is passed allows a bending radius having a margin to the hinge shaft diameter. .

Although not shown, the other end of the coaxial cable 4 is connected to a fixed portion of the antenna 14.

[0012]

As described above, the present invention relates to an electronic apparatus in which a first housing and a second housing are configured to be rotatable and foldable with respect to each other about a hinge portion. The cavity that accommodates the flexible substrate wound in the center is
Since the arc-shaped curved surface provided at the end of the front case and the arc-shaped curved surface provided at the end of the rear cover are formed by engaging with each other, the cavity is formed. There is no need to provide the curved surface portion separately from the housing. Therefore, since it is not necessary to fix the curved surface portions separately, there is no portion where a conductor pattern cannot be arranged for forming a screw hole in the flexible substrate, and the flexible substrate can be configured to be thin. Can be planned. Further, the strength of the hinge part is improved, and the assembly of the hinge part becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing a configuration of a hinge portion of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st housing | casing 2 2nd housing | casing 3 Flexible board 4 Coaxial cable 5a Connection part 5b Connector part 14 Antenna 15 Receiver 16 Transmitter 17 Dial button 1-1, 2-1 Front case 1-2, 2- 2 Rear cover 1-4, 1-5, 2-4, 2-5 Hinge semicircle

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first housing comprising a first front case and a first rear cover, and a second housing comprising a second front case and a second rear cover are hinged. An arc-shaped first curved surface portion provided at an end of the first front case, and an arc-shaped first curved portion provided at an end of the first rear cover. The first and second curved surfaces are engaged with each other to form a substantially cylindrical first cavity at the end of the first housing and communicating with the housing. A substantially cylindrical second hollow portion communicating with the housing is formed, and the first hollow portion and the second hollow portion are coaxially adjacent to each other so as to pass through the two hollow portions. And a flexible substrate that connects an electric circuit in the first housing and an electric circuit in the second housing. Wherein by passing wound spirally along the inner diameter of the second cavity, the electronic device having a hinge portion, characterized by electrically connecting the electrical circuit to each other. 2. A first housing comprising a first front case and a first rear cover, and a second housing comprising a second front case and a second rear cover are hinged. An arc-shaped first curved surface portion provided at an end of the first front case, and an arc-shaped first curved portion provided at an end of the first rear cover. The first curved portion is engaged with an end portion of the first housing to form a substantially cylindrical first hollow portion which communicates with the housing, and is provided at an end portion of the second front case. The arcuate third curved surface portion and the arcuate fourth curved surface portion provided at the end of the second rear cover are engaged with each other, and the end of the second housing is attached to the end of the second housing. A second hollow portion having a substantially cylindrical shape communicating with the first hollow portion and the second hollow portion so that the first hollow portion and the second hollow portion communicate with each other. A flexible substrate that is disposed adjacently above and connects an electric circuit in the first housing and an electric circuit in the second housing to the first hollow portion and the second hollow portion; An electronic device having a hinge portion, wherein the electric circuits are electrically connected to each other by being spirally wound along an inner diameter and passed therethrough. 3. The flexible board has one end connected to an electric circuit in the first housing, passes through a portion passing through the first housing and the first hollow portion, and is connected to the both ends. Spirally wound along the inside diameter of the hollow portion, and passed through a portion passing through the second hollow portion and the second housing, and the other end is connected to an electric circuit in the second housing. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a hinge portion that electrically connects the electric circuits to each other.