US20110310313A1

US20110310313A1 - Television Apparatus and Electronic Device

Info

Publication number: US20110310313A1
Application number: US13/069,017
Authority: US
Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakamura; Mitsuhiro Murakami; Masataka Tokoro; Kohei Wada; Toshikatsu Nakamura
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp
Priority date: 2010-06-18
Filing date: 2011-03-22
Publication date: 2011-12-22
Also published as: JP2012004453A; US20130100360A1; JP4843725B1; US9137927B2

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a television apparatus includes: a substrate, a heat transport mechanism, and a pressing member. The heat transport mechanism includes a heat receiving portion, a heat releasing portion, and a heat transferring portion. The heat receiving portion receives heat from an exothermic component of the substrate. The heat releasing portion releases heat. The heat transferring portion houses a medium for carrying heat from the heat receiving portion to the heat releasing portion. The pressing member includes a plurality of portions-to-be-fixed, a pressing portion, a plurality of arm portions, and an engaging portion. The plurality of portions-to-be-fixed are fixed to the substrate. The pressing portion presses the heat receiving portion or presses a heat releasing block thermally-linked to the heat receiving portion against the exothermic body. The plurality of arm portions are disposed in between the portions-to-be-fixed and the pressing portion. The engaging portion engages with the substrate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-139842, filed Jun. 18, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a television apparatus and an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Typically, electronic devices are known in which a pressing member is fixed on a substrate and presses a heat receiving portion of a heat pipe or presses a heat releasing block thermally-linked to the heat receiving portion against an exothermic body.
With regard to such electronic devices, there is a demand for preventing the pressed state of components achieved by making use of the pressing member from undergoing variation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A general architecture that implements the various features of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary front view of a first orientation of a television apparatus which is an electronic device according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary front view of a second orientation of the television apparatus in the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary front perspective view of a portion of a substrate disposed in the television apparatus in the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary rear perspective view of a portion of a substrate disposed in the television apparatus in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view of an open state of a personal computer which is an electronic device according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary perspective view of a second main body of FIG. 5 without a display panel, in the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary front view of the second main body of the personal computer without the display panel, in the second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary rear perspective view illustrating the open state of the personal computer in the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a first usage pattern of the personal computer in the second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a second usage pattern of the personal computer in the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a third usage pattern of the personal computer in the second embodiment;

FIG. 12A is an exemplary plan view of a third orientation of the personal computer in the second embodiment;

FIG. 12B is an exemplary plan view of a fourth orientation of the personal computer in the second embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is an exemplary rear perspective view of a substrate assembly comprised in the second main body of the personal computer in the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, a television apparatus comprises a substrate, a heat transport mechanism, and a pressing member. The substrate is housed in a housing, and has an exothermic component mounted thereon. The heat transport mechanism is at least partially housed inside the housing. The heat transport mechanism comprises a heat receiving portion, a heat releasing portion, and a heat transferring portion. The heat receiving portion is configured to receive heat from the exothermic component. The heat releasing portion is configured to release heat. The heat transferring portion is configured to house a medium for carrying heat from the heat receiving portion to the heat releasing portion. The pressing member comprises a plurality of portions-to-be-fixed, a pressing portion, a plurality of arm portions, and an engaging portion. The plurality of portions-to-be-fixed are fixed to the substrate. The pressing portion is configured to press the heat receiving portion or press a heat releasing block thermally-linked to the heat receiving portion against the exothermic body. The plurality of arm portions are disposed in between the portions-to-be-fixed and the pressing portion. The engaging portion is configured to engage with the substrate.
According to another embodiment, a television apparatus comprises a substrate, a pressing member, and an engaging portion. The substrate is housed in a housing, and has a component mounted or installed thereon. The pressing member is fixed on the substrate, and configured to press the component against the substrate. The engaging portion is formed in the pressing member, and configured to engage with an edge of the substrate.
According to still another embodiment, an electronic device comprises: a substrate, a heat transport mechanism, and a pressing member. The substrate is housed in a housing, and has an exothermic component mounted thereon. The heat transport mechanism is at least partially housed inside the housing. The heat transport mechanism comprises a heat receiving portion, a heat releasing portion, and a heat transferring portion. The heat receiving portion is configured to receive heat from the exothermic component. The heat releasing portion is configured to release heat. The heat transferring portion is configured to house a medium for carrying heat from the heat receiving portion to the heat releasing portion. The pressing member comprises a plurality of portions-to-be-fixed, a pressing portion, a plurality of arm portions, and an engaging portion. The plurality of portions-to-be-fixed are fixed to the substrate. The pressing portion is configured to press the heat receiving portion or press a heat releasing block thermally-linked to the heat receiving portion against the exothermic body. The plurality of arm portions are disposed in between the portions-to-be-fixed and the pressing portion. The engaging portion is configured to engage the pressing member with the substrate.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to a first embodiment, a television apparatus 1 that is an electronic device comprises a stand 2 and a main body 3 supported by the stand 2. Meanwhile, in FIGS. 1 and 2, “UP” represents the upper side in the operating state.
The stand 2 has a base 2 a and a leg 2 b that extends from the base 2 a to the rear side of the central portion of the main body 3. To the fore-end (not illustrated) of the leg 2 b, the tail end (rear end) (not illustrated) of a housing 3 a of the main body 3 is rotatably supported via a hinge mechanism (not illustrated) made of, for example, ball joints or universal joints. The television apparatus 1 has what is called a pivot function, with which the television apparatus 1 can be used in a landscape-style first orientation P1 (FIG. 1) in which a side 4 b of a display screen 4 a is positioned on the upper side and can be used in a portrait-style second orientation P2 (FIG. 2) in which another side 4 c of the display screen 4 a is positioned on the upper side. On a front face 3 b of the housing 3 a is disposed a display element 13 for the purpose of displaying a symbol or a character representing the orientation (for example, the upper side) that is set at the time of use. That enables the user to recognize whether the first orientation P1 or the second orientation P2 is set.
The housing 3 a of the main body 3 houses a display panel 4 (such as a liquid crystal display (LCD)) that is a display device (display) having the display screen 4 a exposed anteriorly from an opening 3 c formed on the front face 3 b, and houses a substrate 5 a having electronic components such as a central processing unit (CPU) mounted thereon. The display panel 4 and the subsrate 5 a are fixed to the housing 3 a with screws or the like (not illustrated). The substrate 5 a and the electronic components (not illustrated) such as the CPU 6 mounted on the substrate 5 a constitute a substrate assembly 5. Meanwhile, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electronic components other than the CPU 6 are not illustrated.
The display panel 4 is formed in the shape of a thin and flat rectangular parallelepiped along the front-back direction (perpendicular direction to the plane of paper of FIG. 1). The display panel 4 receives picture signals from a picture signal processing circuit (not illustrated), which is one of the control circuits (not illustrated) configured with the electronic components mounted on the substrate 5 a. Then, the display panel 4 displays stationary pictures or motion pictures on the display screen 4 a that is positioned in the front. Apart from the picture signal processing circuit, the control circuits (not illustrated) in the television apparatus 1 comprises a tuner module, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) signal processing module, an audio-video (AV) input terminal, a remote control signal receiving module, a control module, a selector, an on-screen display interface, a memory module (such as a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or a hard disk drive (HDD)), and an audio signal processing circuit. The substrate 5 a (substrate assembly 5) is housed behind (on the rear side of) the display panel 4 inside the housing 3 a. Meanwhile, the television apparatus 1 has built-in amplifiers or speakers (not illustrated) for the purpose of audio output.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the CPU 6 that is an exothermic electronic component is mounted on the substrate 5 a. On die (not illustrated) of the CPU 6 is mounted a heat releasing block 6 a, and on the heat releasing block 6 a is mounted a heat receiving portion 7 a of a heat pipe 7 that functions as a heat transport mechanism. The heat receiving portion 7 a is pressed against the heat releasing block 6 a with a pressing member 8, which is fixed to the substrate 5 a using screws 9 as fastening members. In such a configuration, the heat generated by the exothermic CPU 6 is transported to the heat receiving portion 7 a via the heat releasing block 6 a.
The heat pipe 7 functioning as the heat transport mechanism is a pipe having, for example, an elongated flattened cross-section and is made of a metallic component (such as copper alloy) having relatively high heat conductivity. One end of that pipe constitutes the heat receiving portion 7 a, while the other end thereof constitutes a heat releasing portion 7 b. The portion in between the heat receiving portion 7 a and the heat releasing portion 7 b is a heat transferring portion 7 c. On the outside of the heat releasing portion 7 b are attached fins (not illustrated) that are made of thin sheets of a metallic component (such as copper alloy) having relatively high heat conductivity. Moreover, inside the housing 3 a, at a position adjacent to the heat releasing portion 7 b is installed a fan 10 that has a thin flat appearance in the thickness direction of the substrate 5 a and that comprises a rotor (not illustrated) rotating around a rotary shaft positioned along a perpendicular direction to the front and rear faces of the substrate 5 a. The rotor of the fan 10 is rotated using an electric motor so that, for example, the air that is taken in from the housing 3 a through air inlets (not illustrated) formed on both sides of the axial direction of the rotary shaft (i.e., formed on the front side and on the rear side) is discharged through an exhaust outlet (not illustrated) formed opposite to the heat releasing portion 7 b. That is, the flow of air discharged by the fan 10 reaches the heat releasing portion 7 b and the fins, as a result of which the heat releasing portion 7 b and the fins are subjected to cooling. Meanwhile, the fan 10 is fit in an L-shaped notch 5 b formed at a corner of the substrate 5 a.
Within the heat pipe 7 is enclosed a heat transport medium such as the alternative for chlorofluorocarbon having relatively high volatility. Inside the heat pipe 7, the heat transport medium at the heat receiving portion 7 a first evaporates into gas due to the heat generated by the CPU 6, then reaches the heat releasing portion 7 b in the gaseous state via the heat transferring portion 7 c, and then condenses to liquid by getting cooled at the heat releasing portion 7 b. The heat transport medium in the liquid state returns from the heat releasing portion 7 b to the heat receiving portion 7 a via the heat transferring portion 7 c, and evaporates into gas at the heat receiving portion 7 a. Thus, the heat transport medium absorbs latent heat at the heat receiving portion 7 a and releases that latent heat at the heat releasing portion 7 b. As a result, the heat gets transported from the heat receiving portion 7 a to the heat releasing portion 7 b. That is, the heat generated by the exothermic CPU 6 is transported to the heat releasing portion 7 b via the heat receiving portion 7 a and the heat transferring portion 7 c (through the heat transport medium flowing therein) and is then transferred from the heat releasing portion 7 b into the flow of air, which is then discharged to the outside of the housing 3 a through an exhaust outlet 3 d formed therein.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the present embodiment, in the first orientation P1 (FIG. 1) as well as in the second orientation P2 (FIG. 2), the heat receiving portion 7 a is positioned on the lower side of the heat releasing portion 7 b. In the heat pipe 7 functioning as the heat transport mechanism, in case the heat receiving portion 7 a is positioned on the upper side of the heat releasing portion 7 b thereby forming what is called a top heat condition, the heat transport medium in the liquid state does not easily return to the heat receiving portion 7 a from the heat releasing portion 7 b. That causes a decline in the heat transport efficiency, that is, in the heat releasing efficiency. Thus, in the present embodiment, the heat receiving portion 7 a is positioned on the lower side of the heat releasing portion 7 b in both of the first orientation P1 (FIG. 1) and the second orientation P2 (FIG. 2) that are defined to be the correct orientations. Hence, it becomes possible to prevent the heat transport efficiency, that is, the heat releasing efficiency from declining.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the heat releasing portion 7 b is disposed at a corner 3 e that lies at the upper end of the housing 3 a in the first orientation P1 (FIG. 1) and in the second orientation P2 (FIG.). Since the heat is prone to rise inside the housing 3 a due to the air current; disposing the heat releasing portion 7 b at the corner 3 e, which lies at the upper end of the housing 3 a in both of the first orientation P1 and in the second orientation P2, makes it possible to prevent heat accumulation from occurring inside the housing 3 a.
The pressing member 8 has a pressing portion 8 a and a plurality of first arm portions 8 b. The pressing portion 8 a is formed into a substantially rectangular plate and is mounted above the heat releasing block 6 a, which is mounted on the CPU 6, and installed above the heat receiving portion 7 a of the heat pipe 7, which is mounted on the CPU 6. The first arm portions 8 b are formed in a strip-like manner and extend outward in three different directions (in FIG. 1, in the upper-right direction, the lower-left direction, and the lower-right direction). Besides, each first arm portion 8 b also extends upward while extending outward from the pressing portion 8 a. At the fore-end of each first arm portion 8 b is disposed a bracket 8 c, which is a portion-to-be-fixed that is fixed to the substrate 5 a. In order to fix the pressing member 8 to the substrate 5 a, the screws 9 that are fastening members are passed through the through holes formed on the brackets 8 c and screwed into the stand (not illustrated) that represents a portion-to-be-fixed. Each bracket 8 c is either fixed to a stand (not illustrated) protruding from the substrate 5 a or flexes downward to form a droop portion (a vertical wall portion, not illustrated) facing the surface of the substrate 5 a. Consequently, the fore-end side (outer side) of each first arm portion 8 b lies higher than the base end side (inner side) thereof, which helps in increasing the pressing force exerted by the first arm portions 8 b against the pressing portion 8 a and, by extension, helps in increasing the pressing force exerted by the pressing member 8 against the pressing target of the heat releasing block 6 a or the heat pipe 7.
Besides, in the present embodiment, the pressing member 8 also has a second arm portion 8 d, which is formed in a strip-like manner and which extends outward (in FIG. 1, in the upper-left direction). In the present embodiment, the second arm portion 8 d extends almost parallel to a front face 5 c that is the front side face of the substrate 5 a. As illustrated in FIG. 3, at the fore-end of the second arm portion 8 d is formed a contact portion 8 e that makes contact with that portion on the front face 5 c of the substrate 5 a which is positioned on the upper side in the first orientation P1. The contact portion 8 e has two engaging claws 8 f and 8 g (see FIGS. 3 and 4), which correspond to engaging portions in the present embodiment. Meanwhile, the front face 5 c of the substrate 5 a serves as the mounting face for the CPU 6 that is an exothermic component and also serves as the face on that side of the substrate 5 a on which the pressing member 8 is mounted.
The engaging claw 8 f has a first wall portion 8 f 1 that, in the first orientation P1 of the main body 3, protrudes from the top edge of the contact portion 8 e along an edge (lateral side) 5 d that becomes the upper side of the substrate 5 a in the first orientation P1, and has a second wall portion 8 f 2 that protrudes from the tip of the first wall portion 8 f 1 along a rear face (surface) 5 e of the substrate 5 a. Thus, the contact portion 8 e, the first wall portion 8 f 1, and the second wall portion 8 f 2 present a hook-like appearance, and, in the first orientation P1 of the main body 3, hook from above into the edge 5 d that is the upper side of the substrate 5 a. Consequently, the first wall portion 8 f 1 restricts the pressing member 8 from moving downward with respect to the substrate 5 a in the first orientation P1 of the main body 3; while the second wall portion 8 f 2 restricts the pressing member 8 from moving along the normal direction of the front face 5 c of the substrate 5 a. In the present embodiment, the first wall portion 8 f 1 corresponds to a first engaging portion and the second wall portion 8 f 2 corresponds to a second engaging portion.
The engaging claw 8 g is configured as a wall portion that, in the second orientation P2 of the main body 3, protrudes from the top edge of the contact portion 8 e along an edge (lateral side) 5 f that is the upper side of the substrate 5 a. Thus, in the second orientation P2 of the main body 3, the engaging claw 8 g restricts the pressing member 8 from moving downward with respect to the substrate 5 a. In the present embodiment, the engaging claw 8 g also corresponds to a first engaging portion.
In this way, in the present embodiment, the pressing member 8 has the first wall portion 8 f 1, the second wall portion 8 f 2, and the engaging claw 8 g that represent the plurality of engaging portions having different engaging directions. For that reason, when the pressing member 8 is used in an electronic device such as the television apparatus 1 in which the main body 3 can have different orientations, it becomes possible to prevent misalignment of the pressing member 8 from a predetermined position or prevent deformation of the pressing member 8 that can occur due to the external force, the gravitation force, or the inertia force acting thereon. More particularly, in the present embodiment, the first wall portion 8 f 1 restricts the pressing member 8 from moving downward in the first orientation P1; while the engaging claw 8 g restricts the pressing member 8 from moving downward in the second orientation P2. Moreover, the second wall portion 8 f 2 restricts the pressing member 8 from moving away from the front face 5 c of the substrate 5 a.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the pressing member 8 presses the heat receiving portion 7 a of the heat pipe 7 against the heat releasing block 6 a or the CPU 6. Usually, the heat releasing portion 7 a constitutes one end of the heat pipe 7 and fins (not illustrated) are soldered at the heat releasing portion 7 b on the other end of the heat pipe 7. Thus, the pressing portion 8 a of the pressing member 8 supports the heat pipe 7 in a cantilever manner at one end (at the heat releasing portion 7 a) in the longitudinal direction, and the gravitational force or the inertia force acting on the heat pipe 7 acts as the external force on the pressing portion 8 a. In the present embodiment, the external force from the heat pipe 7 acts as a rotational moment (torque) on the pressing portion 8 a. In the direction along the front face 5 c of the substrate 5 a (i.e., in the in-plane direction), the gravitation force acting on the fins and the heat pipe 7 in the first orientation P1 (FIG. 1) of the main body 3 causes a rotational moment (M1) in the counterclockwise direction with reference to FIG. 1. With respect to the counterclockwise rotational moment, the first wall portion 8 f 1 functions as the first engaging portion and restricts the movement of the pressing member 8 caused due to that rotational moment. In the second orientation P2 (FIG. 2) of the main body 3, the gravitation force acting on the fins and the heat pipe 7 causes a rotational moment (M2) in the clockwise direction with reference to FIG. 1. With respect to the clockwise rotational moment, the engaging claw 8 g functions as the first engaging portion and restricts the movement of the pressing member 8 caused due to that rotational moment. Meanwhile, in the direction crossing the front face 5 c of the substrate 5 a (i.e., in the out-of-plane direction), the gravitation force acting on the fins and the heat pipe 7 in the first orientation P1 (FIG. 1) and the second orientation P2 (FIG. 2) of the main body 3 causes a rotational moment in the direction in which the upper part of the pressing member 8 tilts forward and away from the front face 5 c of the substrate 5 a. With respect to that rotational moment, the second wall portion 8 f 2 functions as the second engaging portion and restricts the movement of the pressing member 8 caused due to that rotational moment. Because of the second wall portion 8 f 2, the contact area between the heat receiving portion 7 a and the heat releasing block 6 a (CPU 6) can be prevented from decreasing and, by extension, the heat transport efficiency (i.e., the heat releasing efficiency) can be prevented from declining. In this way, the engaging claws 8 f and 8 g restrict the pressing member 8 from rotating.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, each of the first wall portion 8 f 1, the second wall portion 8 f 2, and the engaging claw 8 g engages at the rim portions of the substrate 5 a. That eliminates the need to from through holes in the substrate 5 a. Hence, a simpler structure can be configured for the purpose of engagement with the substrate 5 a.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4; the first wall portion 8 f 1, the second wall portion 8 f 2, and the engaging claw 8 g engage at a corner 5 g of the substrate 5 a. For that reason, it becomes easier to collectively dispose the first wall portion 8 f 1, the second wall portion 8 f 2, and the engaging claw 8 g, each of which engages in a different direction. Hence, the pressing member 8 having a plurality of engaging portions can be configured in a more compact manner.
Particularly, in the present embodiment, the first wall portion 8 f 1 and the engaging claw 8 g engage at edges 5 d and 5 f, respectively, which are the two rim portions linked to the corner 5 g. Hence, the portion including the first wall portion 8 f 1 and the engaging claw 8 g can be configured in a more compact manner.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, a through hole 8 h is formed in the contact portion 8 e, which serves as the base on which the first wall portion 8 f 1, the second wall portion 8 f 2, and the engaging claw 8 g are disposed. Through the through hole 8 h is passed a screw (not illustrated) that is used to fit the pressing member 8 on the substrate 5 a or used to fix the substrate 5 a to the housing 3 a of the main body 3. Thus, the contact portion 8 e corresponds to a portion-to-be-fixed that is fixed to the substrate 5 a. In such a configuration, the engaging portions, namely, the first wall portion 8 f 1, the second wall portion 8 f 2, and the engaging claw 8 g can be configured in a more compact manner as compared to the case when those engaging portions are disposed at some other position on the pressing member 8. Moreover, since the rim portions or the corner 5 g of the substrate 5 a do not usually have any circuits designed thereon, it is easier to use those portions for fixing the pressing member 8 to the substrate 5 a. Hence, as described in the present embodiment, by positioning the contact portion 8 e on the rim portions or on the corner 5 g of the substrate 5 a and by using the contact portion 8 e as the portion-to-be-fixed for the purpose of fixing the pressing member 8 to the substrate 5 a, it becomes possible to achieve engagement of the pressing member 8 with the substrate 5 a as well as to prevent the implementation efficiency of circuits from declining with a relatively simple configuration.
According to a second embodiment, a notebook-sized personal computer 20 functioning as an electronic device comprises a rectangular and flat first main body 21 and a rectangular and flat second main body 22 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The first main body 21 and the second main body 22 are connected in a relatively rotatable manner via a joint 23.
In the first main body 21, a display panel 25 such as an LCD, which is a display device having a touch panel 24 on the front face (i.e., on a display screen 25 a), and a push button mechanism 26 are arranged in an exposed manner on a front face 21 b that is the external face of a housing 21 a. Similarly, in the second main body 22, a display panel 28 such as an LCD, which is a display device having a touch panel 27 on the front face (i.e., on a display screen 28 a), and a push button mechanism 29 are arranged in an exposed manner on a front face 22 b that is the external face of a housing 22 a.
In the open state illustrated in FIG. 5, the display panel 25 and cover bodies 26 a of the push button mechanism 26 as well as the display panel 28 and a cover body 29 a of the push button mechanism 29 lie in an exposed condition. In such a state, the user is able to perform operations. In contrast, in a folded state (not illustrated), the front faces 21 b and 22 b face each other from up close in such a way that the display panel 25 and the cover bodies 26 a of the push button mechanism 26 are hidden by the housing 21 a; while the display panel 28 and the cover body 29 a of the push button mechanism 29 are hidden by the housing 22 a. In the present embodiment, the touch panels 24 and 27, the push button mechanisms 26 and 29, and a microphone (not illustrated) function as input operation modules; while the display panels 25 and 28 and speakers (not illustrated) function as output operation modules. Meanwhile, in a personal computer having a keyboard, or click buttons, or a pointing device (not illustrated); the keyboard or the click buttons also function as input operation modules.
The joint 23 connects the first main body 21 with the second main body 22, and is configured separately from the first main body 21 and the second main body 22. The joint 23 connects an end portion 21 c at the base end of the first main body 21 with an end portion 22 c at the base end of the second main body 22. At the central part in the longitudinal direction of an end edge 21 d of the end portion 21 c and at the central part in the longitudinal direction of an end edge 22 d of the end portion 22 c, respectively; rectangular notches 21 e and 22 e are formed except over the respective ends. Each of the rectangular notches 21 e and 22 e has a long opening along the longitudinal direction and has only a shallow depth. Half of the joint 23 is inserted in the notch 21 e and the remaining half thereof is inserted in the notch 22 e. A length L of the joint 23 is set to be slightly shorter than the width of the notches 21 e and 22 e. Moreover, a width W of the joint 23 is set to be substantially equal to the thickness when the first main body 21 and the second main body 22 are closed together in the folded state.
The first main body 21 and the joint 23 are connected in a relatively rotatable manner around a rotation axis Ax1 via a first hinge mechanism 30A. Similarly, the second main body 22 and the joint 23 are connected in a relatively rotatable manner around a rotation axis Ax2 via a second hinge mechanism 30B. The rotary shafts Ax1 and Ax2 lie parallel to each other. In the present embodiment, the first hinge mechanism 30A and the second hinge mechanism 30B are coupled together so that the relative rotation angle around the rotation axis Ax1 of the first main body 21 with respect to the joint 23 is identical to the relative rotation angle around the rotation axis Ax2 of the second main body 22 with respect to the joint 23. However, the two relative rotation directions with respect to the joint 23 are opposite to each other. Thus, when the user operates the joint 23 for the purpose of opening either one of the first main body 21 and the second main body 22, the personal computer 20 falls into the open state. Similarly, when the joint 23 is operated for the purpose of closing either one of the first main body 21 and the second main body 22, the personal computer 20 falls into the folded state. Moreover, when the user opens the first main body 21 and the second main body 22, the personal computer 20 falls into the open state. Similarly, when the first main body 21 and the second main body 22 are closed, the personal computer 20 falls into the folded state.
In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a substrate 31 a (a substrate assembly 31) with at least some of the control circuits including electronic components 37 mounted thereon is disposed, for example, inside the housing 22 a of the second main body 22. In the housing 22 a, the display panel 28 and the substrate 31 a are fixed with screws or the like (not illustrated). Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 8, in the first main body 21, a battery 32 is disposed as a power supply behind (on the rear side of) the display panel 25. On the rear side of the first main body 21, a depressed portion 21 f is formed that is rectangular in appearance when viewed from the back. The depressed portion 21 f gets covered by the battery 32 when the battery 32 is detachably attached to the housing 21 a of the first main body 21. Thus, in the present embodiment, the substrate 31 a (the substrate assembly 31) with the main electronic components such as a CPU 38 mounted thereon is disposed in the second main body 22, while the battery 32 is disposed in the first main body 21. In case the substrate assembly 31 and the battery 32 are disposed together in either one of the first main body 21 and the second main body 22, then following inconveniences are more likely to occur. For example, the thickness of the main bodies increases or, if there is a restriction on the thickness, then it becomes necessary to reduce the size and eventually the capacity of the battery 32. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the substrate assembly 31 and the battery 32 are separately disposed in the second main body 22 and the first main body 21, respectively. That makes it possible to avoid the abovementioned inconveniences. In this regard, however, in a first usage pattern U1 illustrated in FIG. 9; the first main body 21 is larger in mass than the second main body 22 so that the personal computer 20 can be stably placed on a desk or the like. In the present embodiment, the first main body 21 corresponds to a different main body that is connected to the second main body 22, which houses the substrate assembly 31, in a relatively rotatable manner via the hinge mechanisms 30A and 30B. Moreover, the display screen 25 a of the display panel 25 in the first main body 21 corresponds to a different display screen.
Apart from the first usage pattern illustrated in FIG. 9, the personal computer 20 according to the present embodiment can be used in a second usage pattern U2 illustrated in FIG. 10 as well as in a third usage pattern U3 illustrated in FIG. 11. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the second usage pattern U2 is such that the first main body 21 and the second main body 22 are unfolded relatively widely, and a margin portion 21 g on both sides in the width direction of the first main body 21 is held with hands H. In this second usage pattern U2, the user holding the first main body 21 with the hands H can operate the push button mechanism 26 with thumbs T. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the third usage pattern U3 is such that the first main body 21 and the second main body 22 are unfolded relatively widely, and a margin portion 21 h on one side in the width direction of the first main body 21 and a margin portion 22 f on one side in the width direction of the second main body 22 are held with the hands H. Herein, as far as the view of the user is concerned, the second usage pattern U2 is identical to the first usage pattern U1. However, as opposed to placing the personal computer 20 on a desk in the first usage pattern U1, the second usage pattern U2 is such that the personal computer 20 is held with the hands H while standing or sitting. Regarding the third usage pattern U3, the orientation of the display screens 25 a and 28 a of the display panels 25 and 28, respectively, is different by about 90° as compared to the orientation in the first usage pattern U1 and the second usage pattern U2.
Thus, the personal computer 20 according to the present embodiment can be used in the first orientation P1 (i.e., in the first usage pattern U1 and the second usage pattern U2, see FIGS. 9 and 10) in which a side 28 b of the display screen 28 a of the display panel 28 is positioned on the upper side and can be used in the second orientation P2 (i.e., in the third usage pattern U3, see FIG. 11) in which another side 28 b of the display screen 28 a of the display panel 28 as well as a side 25 b of the display screen 25 a of the display panel 25 are positioned on the upper side. The side 28 b of the display screen 28 a is distantly positioned from a boundary Bd between the first main body 21 and the second main body 22; while another side 28 c of the display screen 28 a and the side 25 b of the display screen 25 a are positioned to face each other across the boundary Bd. In the present embodiment, the first orientation P1 for the two display screen 28 a also represents a third orientation P3 for the display screens 28 a and 25 a; while the second orientation P2 for the display screen 28 a also represents a fourth orientation P4 for the two display screens 28 a and 25 a.
Herein, each of the display panels 25 and 28 is formed in the shape of a flat rectangular parallelepiped, and receives display signals from control circuits (not illustrated) configured with the electronic components mounted on the substrate 31 a. Moreover, each of the display panels 25 and 28 displays stationary pictures or motion pictures. In the present embodiment, the light that represents the pictures displayed on the display screens 25 a and 28 a of the display panels 25 and 28, respectively, is output anteriorly via the display panels 25 and 28, respectively, which are colorless and transparent in nature. The control circuits in the personal computer 20 include a control module, a memory module (such as a ROM, a RAM, or an HDD), an interface circuit, and various controllers. Meanwhile, the personal computer 20 also has built-in speakers (not illustrated) for the purpose of audio output.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the CPU 38 that is an exothermic electronic component is mounted on the substrate 31 a. On the die (not illustrated) of the CPU 38 is mounted a heat releasing block 38 a, and on the heat releasing block 38 a is mounted a heat receiving portion 41 a of a heat pipe 41 that functions as a heat transport mechanism. The heat receiving portion 41 a is pressed against the heat releasing block 38 a with a pressing member 42, which is fixed to the substrate 31 a using a screw 43 that is a fastening member. In such a configuration, the heat generated by the exothermic CPU 38 is transported to the heat receiving portion 41 a via the heat releasing block 38 a.
The heat pipe 41 functioning as the heat transport mechanism is a pipe having, for example, an elongated flattened cross-section and is made of a metallic component (such as copper alloy) having relatively high heat conductivity. One end of that pipe constitutes the heat receiving portion 41 a, while the other end thereof constitutes a heat releasing portion 41 b. The portion in between the heat receiving portion 41 a and the heat releasing portion 41 b is a heat transferring portion 41 c. On the outside of the heat releasing portion 41 b are attached a plurality of fins 41 d that are made of thin sheets of a metallic component (such as copper alloy) having relatively high heat conductivity. Moreover, inside the housing 22 a, at a position adjacent to the heat releasing portion 41 b is installed a fan 40 that has a thin flat appearance in the thickness direction of the substrate 31 a and that comprises a rotor (not illustrated) rotating around a rotary shaft positioned along the perpendicular direction to the front and rear sides of the substrate 31 a. The rotor of the fan 40 is rotated using an electric motor so that, for example, the air that is taken in from the housing 22 a through air inlets (not illustrated) formed on both sides of the axial direction of the rotary shaft (i.e., formed on the front side and on the rear side) is discharged through an exhaust outlet (not illustrated) formed opposite to the heat releasing portion 41 b. That is, the flow of air discharged by the fan 40 reaches the heat releasing portion 41 b and the fins 41 d, as a result of which the heat releasing portion 41 b and the fins 41 d are subjected to cooling. Meanwhile, the fan 40 is fit in an L-shaped notch 31 b formed at a corner of the substrate 31 a. Herein, the heat pipe 41 functions in an identical manner to the heat pipe 7 according to the first embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 12, in the present embodiment too, the heat receiving portion 41 a is positioned on the lower side of the heat releasing portion 41 b in both of the first orientation P1 (FIG. 12A) and the second orientation P2 (FIG. 12B) in an identical manner to the first embodiment. In the heat pipe 41 functioning as the heat transport mechanism, in case the heat receiving portion 41 a is positioned on the upper side of the heat releasing portion 41 b thereby forming what is called a top heat condition, then the heat transport medium in the liquid state does not easily return to the heat receiving portion 41 a from the heat releasing portion 41 b. That causes a decline in the heat transport efficiency, that is, in the heat releasing efficiency. With regard to such a problem, in the present embodiment, the heat receiving portion 41 a is positioned on the lower side of the heat releasing portion 41 b in both of the first orientation P1 and the second orientation P2 that are defined to be the correct orientations. Hence, it becomes possible to prevent the heat transport efficiency, that is, the heat releasing efficiency from declining, which may happen if the heat receiving portion 41 a is positioned on the upper side of the heat releasing portion 41 b. Meanwhile, in order to notify the user about the first orientation P1 and the second orientation P2, the control module refers to the detection result of an orientation sensor (not illustrated) disposed inside the housing 22 a of the second main body 22 and accordingly displays pictures corresponding to the first orientation P1 and pictures corresponding to the second orientation P2 on the display screens 25 a and 28 a. Moreover, at least on one of the first main body 21 and the second main body 22, an orientation notifying element such as a rough portion or a display element can be disposed for the purpose of notifying the user about the first orientation P1 and the second orientation P2.
Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 12; in the present embodiment too, the heat releasing portion 41 b is disposed at a corner 22 g that lies at the upper end of the housing 22 a in both of the first orientation P1 and the second orientation P2. Since the heat is prone to rise inside the housing 22 a due to the air current, disposing the heat releasing portion 41 b at the corner 22 g that lies at the upper end of the housing 3 a in both of the first orientation P1 and the second orientation P2 makes it possible to prevent heat accumulation from occurring inside the housing 22 a.
Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8; in the present embodiment, an exhaust outlet 22 h is formed on a side wall 22 i at the corner 22 g of the housing 22 a. Thus, the flow of air, which is generated by the fan 40 and which gets heated by passing through the heat releasing portion 41 b formed at the corner 22 g, is discharged more smoothly from the exhaust outlet 22 h that is formed at the corner 22 g of the housing 22 a and that faces the heat releasing portion 41 b from up close. As a result, heat accumulation is prevented from occurring inside the housing 22 a.
As illustrated in FIG. 12, in the present embodiment, when viewed from the front of the display screen 28 a (i.e., when viewed along the line of sight of FIG. 12), the exothermic CPU 38 is disposed in a rectangular area Ar1 that lies on the upper side of the center Ct of the second main body 22 in the second orientation P2. Hence, the ascending air current generated inside the housing 22 a due to the heat of the exothermic CPU 38 or the flow of air drawn in the fan 40 travels a relatively long distance inside the housing 22 a. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent occurrence of a situation in which the electronic components disposed over a wide area inside the housing 22 a are easily affected due to the heat. Moreover, if it is assumed that the exothermic CPU 38 lies at the center Ct, then there is a possibility that the heated air accumulates in the area on the opposite side of the exhaust outlet 22 h with respect to the center Ct inside the housing 22 a (i.e., on the opposite side of the corner 22 g). With regard to that problem, in the present embodiment, in both of the first orientation P1 and the second orientation P2, the exothermic CPU 38 is disposed in the area on the side of the exhaust outlet 22 h with respect to the center Ct (i.e., on the side of the corner 22 g). Consequently, the heated air can be easily discharged to the outside of the housing 22 a. Moreover, in the present embodiment, at the time of holding the second main body 22 with the hands H, usually the user holds with the hands H the opposite side of the rectangular area An positioned on the lower side of the center Ct in each orientation (see FIGS. 10 and 11). That is, the user happens to hold with the hands H an area that is distantly positioned from the CPU 38 or the heat pipe 41. Therefore, the user is spared from holding with the hands H that area of the housing 22 a which becomes warm due to the heat from the CPU 38 or the heat pipe 41. Thus, while holding the personal computer 20 with the hands H, the user is spared from experiencing any sense of discomfort that may occur due to the warming of the housing 22 a.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, air inlets 22 j are formed close to the boundary Bd between the first main body 21 and the housing 22 a of the second main body 22. Thus, in the present embodiment, since the air inlets 22 j are distantly positioned from the exhaust outlet 22 h, a wider area inside the housing 22 a is subjected to cooling by airflow Stf that is let inside the housing 22 a from the air inlets 22 j and that flows toward the exhaust outlet 22 h.
Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the air inlets 22 j are formed on the outer side of the substrate 31 a, that is, on the outside of an end edge 31 e of the substrate 31 a in the direction along the surface of the substrate 31 a. As a result, the flow of air let in from the air inlets 22 j gets easily distributed on the front side as well as on the rear side of the substrate 31 a, so that the electronic components installed on the front side as well as on the rear side are subjected to cooling without difficulty. Meanwhile, it is also possible to form the air inlets 22 j opposite to the end edge 31 e of the substrate 31 a. In FIG. 7, only the airflow Stf that flows on the front side of the substrate 31 a is illustrated.
In the present embodiment too, as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 13; the pressing member 42 identical to the pressing member 8 in the first embodiment is fixed to the substrate 31 a. The pressing member 42 comprises a pressing portion 42 a, a plurality of arm portions 42 b (three arm portions in the present embodiment), and a second-type arm portion 42 d. The pressing portion 42 a is formed into a substantially rectangular plate and is mounted above the heat releasing block 38 a, which is mounted on the CPU 38, and mounted above the heat receiving portion 41 a of the heat pipe 41, which is also mounted on the CPU 38. Meanwhile, each constituent element of the pressing member 42 according to the present embodiment (i.e., the pressing portion 42 a, the arm portions 42 b, a bracket 42 c, the second-type arm portion 42 d, a contact portion 42 e, engaging claws 42 f and 42 g (see FIGS. 7 and 13), and a through hole 42 h (see FIG. 7)) functions in an identical manner to the corresponding constituent element of the pressing member 8 according to the first embodiment (i.e., the pressing portion 8 a, the arm portions 8 b, the bracket 8 c, the second-type arm portion 8 d, the contact portion 8 e, the engaging claws 8 f and 8 g, and the through hole 8 h).
However, in the present embodiment, in an identical manner to the arm portions 42 b, the second-type arm portion 42 d also exerts a pressing force against the pressing portion 42 a. That is, the second-type arm portion 42 d extends upward while extending outward from the pressing portion 42 a. At the end of the second-type arm portion 42 d is formed a droop portion (a vertical wall portion, not illustrated) that droops toward the front face 31 c of the substrate 31 a. The lower end of the droop portion is the contact portion 42 e (see FIG. 7). Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, on the pressing portion 42 a is formed a through hole 42 i through which a pin 38 b protruding from the heat releasing block 38 a is inserted. The engagement of the pin 38 b with the through hole 42 i makes it possible to prevent misalignment of the heat releasing block 38 a with respect to the pressing member 42.
As illustrated in FIG. 13, the engaging claws 42 f and 42 g functioning as the engaging portions get engaged in a corner 31 h of the substrate 31 a. The engaging claw 42 f gets engaged with an edge 31 f that becomes the upper side of the substrate 5 a in the first orientation P1. The engaging claw 42 g has a first wall portion 42 g 1 that gets engaged with an edge 31 g that becomes the upper side of the substrate 31 a in the second orientation P2, and has a second wall portion 42 g 2 that that gets engaged with a rear face (surface) 31 d of the substrate 31 a. Meanwhile, the corner 31 h of the substrate 31 a is formed by the mutually orthogonal edges 31 f and 31 g. In this way, the pressing member 42 according to the present embodiment has the functions identical to the pressing member 8 according to the first embodiment. That enables achieving the same effect as achieved in the first embodiment.
Although the invention is described with reference to the abovementioned embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to he construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth. For example, the abovementioned embodiments are explained with reference to a television apparatus or with reference to a notebook-sized personal computer having two display screens. However, alternatively, the invention is also applicable to other electronic devices having at least a single display screen. For example, the invention is also applicable to computers (notebook-sized computers or desktop computers), personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartbooks, or cellular phones having a single display screen.
Moreover, regarding the electronic device, the housing, the exothermic component, the heat transport mechanism, the heat receiving portion, the heat releasing portion, the heat transferring portion, the portion-to-be-fixed, the heat releasing block, the pressing portion, the arm portion, and the engaging portion; the specifications (method, structure, shape, material, size, number, direction, type, arrangement, etc.) can be suitably modified.
Thus, according to an aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide a television apparatus and an electronic device in which the pressed state of components achieved by making use of the pressing member can be prevented from undergoing variation.

Claims

1. A television apparatus comprising:

a substrate housed in a housing and having an exothermic component mounted thereon;

a heat transport mechanism at least partially housed inside the housing, and comprising a heat receiving portion configured to receive heat from the exothermic component, a heat releasing portion configured to release heat, and a heat transferring portion configured to house a medium for carrying heat from the heat receiving portion to the heat releasing portion; and

a pressing member comprising a plurality of portions-to-be-fixed fixed to the substrate, a pressing portion configured to press the heat receiving portion or press a heat releasing block thermally-linked to the heat receiving portion against the exothermic body, a plurality of arm portions disposed in between the portions-to-be-fixed and the pressing portion, and an engaging portion configured to engage with the substrate.

2. The television apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion comprises a first engaging portion configured to engage the pressing portion against the substrate with respect to a direction along a surface of the substrate.

3. The television apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first engaging portion is configured to restrict the pressing member from rotating along the surface of the substrate.

4. The television apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion comprises a second engaging portion configured to restrict the pressing member from moving away from a face of the substrate on which the exothermic component is mounted.

5. The television apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the engaging portion, each having a different engaging direction.

6. The television apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is configured to engage at a rim portion of the substrate.

7. The television apparatus of claim 6, wherein the engaging portion is configured to engage at a corner of the substrate.

8. The television apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is disposed in at least one of the portions-to-be-fixed.

9. A television apparatus comprising:

a substrate housed in a housing and having a component mounted or installed thereon;

a pressing member fixed on the substrate and configured to press the component against the substrate; and

an engaging portion formed in the pressing member and configured to engage with an edge of the substrate.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a pressing member comprising a plurality of portions-to-be-fixed fixed to the substrate, a pressing portion configured to press the heat receiving portion or press a heat releasing block thermally-linked to the heat receiving portion against the exothermic body, a plurality of arm portions disposed in between the portions-to-be-fixed and the pressing portion, and an engaging portion configured to engage the pressing member with the substrate.