KR102304820B1 - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a cover forming an exterior; a plurality of electronic components accommodated in the cover and operated according to a predetermined electrical signal; a plurality of light emitting units accommodated in the cover and displaying operation states of the plurality of electronic components; and a light blocking unit. In this case, the light blocking unit is disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of light emitting units to block light emitted from at least one light emitting unit among the plurality of light emitting units from being diffused to the other light emitting units.

Description

Electronics {ELECTRONIC APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to an electronic device. More particularly, it relates to an electronic device capable of improving user visibility by preventing light from diffusing or interfering between light emitting units that display operation states of a plurality of embedded electronic components.

In general, in the case of an electronic device in which a plurality of electronic components are embedded, an operation state of the electronic component may be displayed to a user through light emitted from a light emitting unit.

As such an electronic device, a gateway device or a hub device for establishing an Internet of Things (IoT) environment by connecting network communication of peripheral devices may be exemplified. In this case, the gateway device may display to the user whether power is connected, whether to communicate with a network, and/or whether to communicate wirelessly with a peripheral device through light emitted from the light emitting unit.

However, in the case of electronic devices according to the prior art such as US Patent Nos. 769755 and 8421637, there is a problem in that user visibility is deteriorated due to a light spreading phenomenon in which light is diffused or interfered between a plurality of light emitting units.

In order to solve this problem, Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2002-0057316 discloses a configuration of an LED accommodating member formed of a rubber material to prevent the light emitted from the LED from spreading. In order to diffuse, there was a inconvenience of having to provide a separate diffusion member, and furthermore, there was a problem that the deformation or damage of the rubber material may be caused by the LED heating.

In addition, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0205596 discloses a configuration of a light pipe through which light emitted from an LED passes, but as the light pipe is integrally formed, there is a limit in preventing the above-described light spreading phenomenon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of preventing a light scattering phenomenon in which light is diffused or interfered between light emitting units displaying operation states of a plurality of electronic components.

A second object to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of preventing the light scattering phenomenon through a structure that minimizes changes compared to the existing model in order to secure compatibility and mass productivity.

The problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to solve the above problems, an electronic device according to the present invention includes a cover for forming an exterior; a plurality of electronic components accommodated in the cover and operated according to a predetermined electrical signal; a plurality of light emitting units accommodated in the cover and displaying operation states of the plurality of electronic components; and a light blocking unit.

In this case, the light blocking unit is disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of light emitting units to block light emitted from at least one light emitting unit among the plurality of light emitting units from being diffused to the other light emitting units.

Herein, each of the plurality of light emitting units includes: a light emitting body disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval and emitting light when a predetermined current flows; and a light guide disposed above the light emitting body and guiding the light emitted from the light emitting body in a predetermined direction.

The light-shielding unit may include a light-shielding rib disposed in a predetermined separation space formed between adjacent light-emitting units among the plurality of light-emitting units, and formed to have a width corresponding to the entire length of the light-emitting body and the light guide. .

Solutions to the problems not mentioned above can be sufficiently derived from the description of the embodiments of the present invention.

According to the present invention, there are one or more of the following effects.

First, since the light blocking unit is disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of light emitting units, the above-described light blurring phenomenon can be prevented.

Second, the plurality of light emitting units are spaced apart from each other, and by being integrally connected by a connector, it is possible to facilitate installation and management of the light emitting units.

Third, since the connector is disposed to be spaced apart from the movement path of light leading from the light emitting body to the light guide, it is possible to prevent light from spreading through the connector.

Fourth, by inserting a part of the light emitting part into the insertion rib provided in the cover, it can help to prevent the above-described light blurring phenomenon.

1 is a diagram illustrating a predetermined network system when an electronic device includes a gateway module according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to the prior art;
3 is a view showing a light emitting unit of an electronic device according to the prior art;
4 is a view showing an upper cover of an electronic device according to the prior art;
5 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is a view showing a light emitting unit of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a view showing an upper cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and only these embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains It is provided to fully inform those who have the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The present invention may be described with reference to a spatial orthogonal coordinate system with X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis orthogonal to each other shown in FIG. 2 and the like. In this specification, an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis are defined with the vertical direction as the Z-axis direction and the front-back direction as the X-axis direction. Each axial direction (X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, Z-axis direction) means both directions in which each axis extends. Adding a '+' sign in front of each axis direction (+X-axis direction, +Y-axis direction, +Z-axis direction) means a positive direction, which is one of the two directions in which each axis extends. Adding a '-' sign in front of each axial direction (-X-axis direction, -Y-axis direction, -Z-axis direction) means the other negative direction among both directions in which each axis extends.

Hereinafter, an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 .

1 is a diagram illustrating a predetermined network system when an electronic device includes a gateway module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to the prior art, and FIG. 3 is a diagram according to the related art FIG. 4 is a view showing a light emitting part of an electronic device. FIG. 4 is a view showing an upper cover of an electronic device according to the related art.

5 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a view showing a light emitting part of the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a drawing.

The electronic device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device in which an electronic component that operates according to a predetermined electrical signal is embedded, and includes a light emitting unit capable of displaying the operating state of the electronic component to a user through light. means the device.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 5 to 7 , the electronic device 20 may be a device including a gateway module, and the function and configuration of the electronic device will be described below. same as

As shown in FIG. 1 , a predetermined network system includes an accessory (accessary, 2, 3a, 3b), an electronic device having a gateway module 20, an access point (Access Point, 7), and a hub (Hub, 1). may include.

The accessories 2, 3a, 3b, the electronic device 20 having the gateway module, the access point 7 and/or the hub 1 can communicate with each other according to a predetermined protocol, and such communication is It may be made based on technologies such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Zigbee, Z-wave, and Bluetooth.

The accessories 2, 3a, and 3b may be installed at any location desired by the user, and may include various sensors such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a vibration sensor, a proximity sensor, and an infrared (IR) sensor. Information obtained by these sensors may be transmitted to the hub 1 via a network, and conversely, signals for controlling the sensors from the hub 1 are transmitted to the accessories 2, 3a, 3b. possible.

The access point 7 is a device that relays wireless devices to connect to the network, and connects the home network to the Internet. The home appliance 4, the hub 1, the accessories 2, 3a, 3b, etc. may be connected to the access point 7 by wire (eg, Ethernet) or wirelessly (eg, Wi-Fi).

The electronic device 20 having the gateway module is a device that connects communication between networks with different protocols so that networks with different protocols can exchange information with each other. For example, by converting a ZigBee (or Z-Wave) signal received from the accessories 2, 3a, 3b into a Wi-Fi signal, the accessories 2, 3a, 3b and the access point 7 are relayed. can do.

Communication between the hub 1 and the accessories 2, 3a, 3b may be made via the electronic device 20 having a gateway module and the access point 7 as a medium, and specifically, the accessories 2 and 3b The signal (or information) output from the is transmitted to the hub 1 via the electronic device 20 including the gateway module and the access point 7 in turn, and on the contrary, the information output from the hub 1 is accessed It may be transmitted to the accessories 2 and 3b via the point 7 and the electronic device 20 having the gateway module in turn. According to an embodiment, communication between the accessories 2 , 3a , 3b and the hub 1 is possible even when the network is disconnected from the Internet.

Meanwhile, the home network system may be connected to the Internet through the access point 7 , and may be connected to the server 6 providing a service through the Internet.

The server 6 may exchange information with a mobile terminal such as a personal computer (PC) or a smart phone connected to the Internet. Information transmitted from the hub 1 or the accessories 2 , 3a , 3b may be stored in the server 6 , and such information may be transmitted to the mobile terminal 5 connected to the server 6 . In addition, information transmitted from the mobile terminal 5 may also be transmitted to the hub 1 or accessories 2 , 3a , 3b via the server 6 , and thus the hub 1 via the mobile terminal 5 . ) or accessories (2, 3a, 3b) can also be controlled.

In the above, the network system in the case where the electronic device 20 includes the gateway module has been described. However, the above description is only for explaining the specific configuration, function, and usage example of the electronic device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to a device having a gateway module. .

The electronic device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes covers 21 and 23 , electronic components, a light emitting unit, and a light blocking unit.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the covers 21 and 23 may form the exterior of the electronic device 20 . An electronic component, a light emitting unit, and a light blocking unit, which will be described later, may be disposed inside the covers 21 and 23 .

The covers 21 and 23 may include a lower cover 21 functioning as a pedestal, and an upper cover 23 coupled to the lower cover 21 . A plurality of screw holes 211 , 212 , 213 , and 214 are formed in the lower cover 21 , and a plurality of screw holes 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 may be formed in the upper cover 23 . By screwing a predetermined screw into the screw hole of each of the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 23, the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 23 can be coupled. However, the coupling method of the lower cover 21 and the upper cover 23 is not limited thereto.

The electronic component may include a plurality of electronic components accommodated in the covers 21 and 23 and operated according to a predetermined electrical signal. As an example, the electronic component may include a main printed circuit board (PCB) 22 . A plurality of electrical devices including the above-described gateway module may be mounted on the main PCB 22 . Here, as described above, the gateway module is a device that mediates communication between networks using different protocols.

A processor may be mounted on the main PCB 22 , which controls the operation of electronic components to be described above and below.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a power connector 26 may be disposed on the main PCB 22 . A hole 21b exposing one side of the power connector 26 to the outside may be formed in the lower cover 21 . Through a power line connected to the power connector 26 , external power may be applied to a configuration in which power is required among configurations in which the electronic device 20 is embedded.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a connection connector 25 may be disposed on the main PCB 22 . A hole 21a exposing one side of the connection connector 25 to the outside may be formed in the lower cover 21 . The electronic device 20 may be connected to the Internet through an Internet connection line connected to the connection connector 25 and the access point 7 . Accordingly, as described above, communication between the hub 1 and the accessories 2 , 3a , 3b may be enabled via the gateway module and the access point 7 .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the setting unit 27 may be disposed on the main PCB 22 . The lower cover 21 may have a hole 21c that allows the user to access the setting unit 27 . As an example, by manipulating the setting unit 27 exposed to the hole 21c , the user may initialize or reboot information on electronic components built into the electronic device 20 .

A plurality of coupling holes 221 , 222 , 223 , 224 may be formed in the main PCB 22 configured as described above. In this case, after a predetermined screw fastened to the screw holes 211, 212, 213 of the lower cover 21 passes through the coupling holes 221, 222, 223, 224, the upper cover ( By being screwed into the screw holes 231, 232, 233, 234 of 23), the lower cover 21, the main PCB 22, and the upper cover 23 may be coupled to each other.

The light emitting unit may be accommodated in the covers 21 and 23 and may display operation states of the plurality of electronic components.

As an example, when the electronic device 20 includes the gateway module, the power connector 26 and the connection connector 25 , the light emitting unit communicates with the external power source of the electronic device 20 through the emitted light. It is possible to display to the user whether a connection is made, whether to communicate with a network, and whether or not to communicate wirelessly with a predetermined peripheral device.

That is, when it is determined that the electronic device 20 is connected to an external power source, the processor may control the first light emitting unit to emit light. When it is determined that the electronic device 20 is relaying network communication, the processor may control the second light emitting unit to emit light. When it is determined that the electronic device 20 is performing wireless communication with the peripheral device, the processor may control the third light emitting unit to emit light.

When a light scattering phenomenon occurs in which light emitted between the plurality of light emitting units is diffused or interfered, it may be difficult for a user to recognize whether the electronic component displayed through each of the light emitting units is operating. Accordingly, the present invention intends to propose a structure that can help a user to accurately recognize whether an electronic component is in an operating state by preventing the above-described light blurring phenomenon.

As shown in FIG. 5 , each of the plurality of light emitting units may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the X-axis direction. Each of the plurality of light emitting units may include light emitting bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c and light guides 29a, 29b, and 29c.

Here, the light-emitting bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c may include first, second, and third light-emitting bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c in the +X-axis direction, but the number of light-emitting bodies is not limited thereto.

In addition, the light guides 29a, 29b, and 29c may also include first, second, and third light guides 29a, 29b, and 29c in the +X-axis direction, but the number of light guides is not limited thereto. .

The light emitting bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c may emit light when a predetermined current flows. As an example, the light emitting bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c may include a Light Emitting Diode (LED). In this case, the light emitting unit may be referred to as an LED indicator.

The light guides 29a, 29b, and 29c are disposed above the light emitting bodies 22a, 22b and 22c, and guide the light emitted from the light emitting bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c in a predetermined direction (that is, the Z-axis direction). can Since the light passing through the light guides 29a, 29b, and 29c is diffused and moved inside the light guides 29a, 29b, and 29c, it can be expressed as softly emitted light to the user. For this reason, the light guide is a light guide member may be called as As an example, as shown in FIG. 6 , the light guides 29a , 29b , and 29c may be formed in a cylindrical shape.

2 to 4 , in the case of the electronic device 10 according to the prior art, the light guides 19a, 19b, and 19c are installed in a line on the mounting plate 190, so that the light emitting bodies 12a, 12b , 12c) has adopted a structure in which light emitted from the mounting plate 190 is guided to the light guides 19a, 19b, and 19c.

In this case, in the electronic device 10 according to the prior art, the light emitted from each of the light emitting bodies 12a, 12b, and 12c via the mounting plate 190 is a light guide facing each of the light emitting bodies 12a, 12b, and 12c. In addition to (19a, 19b, 19c), there is a problem in that light is spread by being diffused to an adjacent light guide.

That is, for example, even when light is emitted only from the second light emitting body 12b, the corresponding light is transmitted via the mounting plate 190 to the second light guide 19b as well as the first and third light guides 19a. , 19c), there is a problem in that it is difficult for the user to accurately recognize whether light is emitted from the first and third light emitting units.

On the contrary, in the electronic device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 to 6 , a connector 290 member that replaces the prior art mounting plate 190 to prevent the above-described light blurring phenomenon. may further include.

The connector 290 may integrally connect each of the optical guides 29a, 29b, and 29c disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. In this case, the connector 290 may be disposed to be spaced apart from a movement path of light from the light emitting bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c to the light guides 29a, 29b, and 29c.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the light emitted from the light emitting bodies 22a , 22b , and 22c from being diffused through the connector 290 . In addition, there is an advantage that the management of the plurality of light emitting units can be unified through the connector 290 .

Meanwhile, the electronic device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include supporters 291 , 292 , and 293 . The supporters 291 , 292 , and 293 may be disposed so that their inner surfaces surround at least a portion of the outer peripheral surfaces of the light guides 29a , 29b and 29c . In this case, the connector 290 may be connected to the outer surfaces of the supporters 291 , 292 , and 293 . In other words, the connector 290 may be formed to protrude outward from the outer surfaces of the supporters 291 , 292 , and 293 .

In order to prevent light from diffusing through the connector 290 and the supporters 291 , 292 , and 293 , they are preferably formed of a material that does not transmit light.

7 , the light blocking unit may be disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of light emitting units to block light emitted from at least one of the plurality of light emitting units from being diffused to the other light emitting units.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the light blocking unit may include a light blocking rib 28 disposed in a predetermined separation space S formed between adjacent light emitting units among the plurality of light emitting units. When the separation space S is described with reference to FIG. 6 , the separation space S is formed between the first and second light guides 29a and 29b and between the second and third light guides 29b and 29c, respectively. can be formed.

As an example, the thickness of the light blocking rib 28 may be 0.5 to 1.1 mm.

The width of the light blocking rib 28 may correspond to the entire length of the light emitting body 22a , 22b , 22c and the light guides 29a , 29b and 29c of the electronic device 20 . That is, the light blocking rib 28 may function as a barrier rib that spatially separates the light emitting body and the light guide disposed in one direction with respect to the separation space S from the light emitting body and the light guide disposed in the other direction.

In this case, the light emitted or moving from each of the plurality of light emitting units is blocked by the light blocking rib 28 and is not diffused to adjacent light emitting units, thereby preventing the light scattering phenomenon. To this end, the light blocking rib 28 is preferably formed of a material that does not transmit light like the connector 290 and the supporters 291 , 292 , 293 described above.

As an example, the light blocking rib 28 is disposed in a spaced space S formed between the first and second light emitting units having the first and second light guides 29a and 29b, respectively, and the first and second light guides 29a and 29b respectively. In the separation space S formed between the first light blocking rib 28a for blocking light diffusion between the light emitting units, and the second and third light emitting units each having the second and third light guides 29b and 29c, respectively. A second light blocking rib 28b disposed to block light diffusion between the second and third light emitting units, and mediating the connection between the first and second light blocking ribs 28a and 28b and between the first and third light emitting units A third light blocking rib 28c for blocking light diffusion may be included.

Furthermore, the light blocking rib 28 may include a bent portion (unsigned) formed to be bent in a predetermined direction. The bent part may control a reflection direction of light emitted from the plurality of light emitting parts to prevent light diffusion between the plurality of light emitting parts.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7 , the bent portion formed at one end of each of the first and second light blocking ribs 28a and 28b is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first and second light blocking ribs 28a and 28b. By being bent, it can help to prevent light from diffusing between the first, second, and third light emitting units.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the light blocking rib 28 may be coupled to the lower surface of the upper cover 23 by an adhesive member such as a double-sided tape, or by fastening screws.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 , the upper cover 23 may have insertion holes 23a, 23b, and 23c into which one end of the optical guides 29a, 29b, and 29c are inserted. One end of the light guides 29a, 29b, and 29c may be coupled to the insertion holes 23a, 23b, and 23c in a fitting manner. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a separate adhesive may be used for bonding the light guides 29a, 29b, and 29c.

The upper cover 23 penetrates the lower surface from the upper side and protrudes in the lower direction (ie, -Z-axis direction), and inserts ribs (unsigned) in which insertion holes 23a, 23b, 23c are formed. may include Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the above-described light bleed phenomenon in a portion of the light guides 29a, 29b, and 29c surrounded by the insertion rib.

On the other hand, as the optical guides 29a, 29b, and 29c are inserted into the insertion holes 23a, 23b, and 23c, they are connected to the optical guides 29a, 29b, and 29c via the supporters 291, 292, 293. An assembly position of the connector 290 may be determined as a preset position. In this case, the installation position of the light blocking rib 28 may be easily guided by at least a portion of the bent portion contacting the connector 290 .

In the above, an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and within the scope of not departing from the gist of the present invention, various modifications that can be predicted by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains or implementation within an equivalent range is of course possible.

20: electronic device 21: lower cover
22: main PCB 22a, 22b, 22c: light emitting body
23: upper cover 23a, 23b, 23c: insertion hole
28: light blocking ribs 29a, 29b, 29c: light guide
290: connector 291, 292, 293: supporter

Claims (11)

cover;
a plurality of electronic components installed inside the cover;
a plurality of light emitting bodies installed inside the cover, spaced apart from each other, and displaying operating states of the plurality of electronic components;
a plurality of light guides elongated in a first direction and each adjacent to each of the plurality of light emitting bodies; a plurality of light guides spaced apart from each other in a second direction crossing the first direction;
a light blocking rib made of an opaque material disposed between the plurality of light guides and extending in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction; and,
and a connector made of an opaque material for connecting the plurality of light guides as one body,
The connector is:
a plurality of first parts each extending in the third direction from each of the plurality of light guides; and,
a second part connected to an end of each of the plurality of first parts;
The light blocking rib is disposed between the plurality of first parts. According to claim 1,
Each of the plurality of light guides,
An electronic device disposed above each of the plurality of light emitting elements and guiding light emitted from each of the plurality of light emitting elements in a predetermined direction. 3. The method of claim 2,
Each of the plurality of light emitting bodies includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode). 3. The method of claim 2,
The connector is
An electronic device disposed to be spaced apart from a movement path of light from the plurality of light emitting elements to the plurality of light guides. 5. The method of claim 4,
Each of the plurality of light guides is disposed to surround at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of each of the plurality of light guides, and further comprising a plurality of supporters connected to each of the plurality of first parts on each of the outer surfaces,
Each of the plurality of first parts,
An electronic device protruding outward from an outer surface of each of the plurality of supporters. 5. The method of claim 4,
The light blocking rib is
An electronic device formed to have a width corresponding to the total length of each of the plurality of light emitting bodies and each of the plurality of light guides. 7. The method of claim 6,
The light blocking rib is:
and a bent portion extending in the second direction from the distal end of the light blocking rib;
The bent part,
An electronic device, at least a portion of which contacts the connector. 7. The method of claim 6,
The light blocking rib is
An electronic device coupled to a lower surface of the cover. 3. The method of claim 2,
A plurality of insertion holes are formed on one side of the cover,
In each of the plurality of insertion holes,
An electronic device into which one end of each of the plurality of light guides is inserted. 10. The method of claim 9,
The cover is
An electronic device comprising: an insertion rib that penetrates from an upper surface to a lower surface and protrudes in a downward direction, and the plurality of insertion holes are formed therein. delete

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