US20110310549A1

US20110310549A1 - Mobile personal computer and electronic device

Info

Publication number: US20110310549A1
Application number: US13/115,847
Authority: US
Inventors: Mitsuhiro Murakami
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp
Priority date: 2010-06-18
Filing date: 2011-05-25
Publication date: 2011-12-22
Also published as: JP2012003629A; JP4920098B2; US20120320515A1; US9141142B2

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a mobile personal computer includes: a display panel with a display screen; a board assembly including a board and a component mounted on the board; and a housing including an outer housing constituting an outline and an inner housing arranged between the display panel and the board assembly, and houses the board assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-139820, filed Jun. 18, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

An embodiment described herein relates generally to a mobile personal computer and an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices including a circuit board housed in housings are known.
It is desired in electronic devices to increase the rigidity of housings while preventing inconveniences.

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 a perspective view of a mobile personal computer that is an electronic device according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which a display panel of a second body is removed from the state of FIG. 1 to expose an inside of the second body, in the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the second body of the mobile personal computer in the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mobile personal computer as viewed from the back thereof, in the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first usage state of the personal computer in the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a second usage state of the personal computer in the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third usage state of the personal computer in the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line VIII-VIII of FIG. 1, in the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line IX-IX of FIG. 1, in the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an inner plate that is an inner housing of the second body of the mobile personal computer as viewed from the back (rear face), in the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the inside of the second body of the mobile personal computer in a state in which the display panel of the second body is removed as viewed from the front (front face) thereof, in the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the inside of the second body of the mobile personal computer in a state in which a case of the second body is removed as viewed from the back (rear face) thereof, in the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the case of the second body of the mobile personal computer as viewed from the front (front face) thereof, in the embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the case that is an outer housing of the second body of the mobile personal computer as viewed from the front (front face) thereof, in the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, a mobile personal computer comprises: a display panel with a display screen; a board assembly comprising a board and a component mounted on the board; and a housing comprising an outer housing constituting an outline and an inner housing arranged between the display panel and the board assembly, and houses the board assembly.
According to another embodiment, an electronic device comprises: a display panel with a display screen; a board on which a component is mounted; and a housing configured to support the display panel in a state in which the display screen is exposed on a front face, and to house the board therein. The housing comprises an outer housing constituting an outline and an inner housing arranged between the display panel and the board.
A mobile personal computer 1 of a so-called notebook type that is an electronic device according to one embodiment comprises a rectangular and flat first body 2 and a rectangular and flat second body 3 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The first body 2 and the second body 3 are connected via a joint portion 4 in a manner that the first body 2 and the second body 3 can pivot relative to each other.
The first body 2 is provided with a display panel 6 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) that is a display unit having a touch panel 5 arranged on a front face (display screen 6 a) thereof, and a push button mechanism 7, which are exposed on a front face 2 b that is an outer face of a housing 2 a. On the other hand, the second body 3 is provided with a display panel 9 such as a LCD that is a display unit having a touch panel 8 arranged on a front face (display screen 9 a) thereof, and a push button mechanism 10, which are exposed on a front face 3 b that is an outer face of a housing 3 a. In the embodiment, the width direction (lateral direction) of the second body 3 is referred to as an X direction, the direction toward a leading end of the second body 3 is referred to as a Y direction, and the thickness direction of the second body 3 is referred to as a Z direction for convenience. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are perpendicular to one another.
In an unfolded state as illustrated in FIG. 1, the display panels 6, 9 and covers 7 a, 10 a of the push button mechanisms 7, 10 are exposed to be in a state usable by a user. On the other hand, in a folded state which is not illustrated, the front faces 2 b, 3 b are opposed close to each other and the display panels 6, 9 and the covers 7 a, 10 a of the push button mechanisms 7, 10 are in a state hidden by the housings 2 a, 3 a. In the embodiment, the touch panels 5, 8, the push button mechanisms 7, 10 and a microphone (not illustrated) correspond to an input operating section, while display panels 6, 9 and a speaker (not illustrated) correspond to an output section. In a mobile personal computer having a keyboard, a click button, a pointing device or the like (not illustrated), the keyboard, the click button and so on also constitute the input operating section.
The joint portion 4 is apart that connects the first body 2 and the second body 3, and is formed as a separate part from the first body 2 and the second body 3. The joint portion 4 connects an end 2 c of the first body 2 and an end 3 c of the second body 3 on the base end side. In central portions in the longitudinal direction of edges 2 d, 3 d of the ends 2 c, 3 c, rectangular notches 2 e, 3 e having a long opening width in the longitudinal direction and a short depth are formed. A half of the joint portion 4 is inserted in one notch 2 e and the other half thereof is inserted in the other notch 3 e. The length L of the joint portion 4 is slightly smaller than the width of the notches 2 e, 3 e. The width W of the joint portion 4 is substantially the same as the total thickness of the first body 2 and the second body 3 in the folded state where one body lies on the other.
The first body 2 and the joint portion 4 are connected via a first hinge mechanism 11A in a manner that the first body 2 and the joint portion 4 can pivot relative to each other around a pivoting axis Ax1, and the second body 3 and the joint portion 4 are connected via a second hinge mechanism 11B in a manner that the second body 3 and the joint portion 4 can pivot relative to each other around a pivoting axis Ax2. The pivoting axis Ax1 and the pivoting axis Ax2 are parallel to each other. In the embodiment, the first hinge mechanism 11A and the second hinge mechanism 11B are in cooperation with each other, and a relative pivoting angle of the first body 2 with respect to the joint portion 4 around the pivoting axis Ax1 is the same as a relative pivoting angle of the second body 3 with respect to the joint portion 4 around the pivoting axis Ax2. However, the relative pivoting directions of the first body 2 and the second body 3 with respect to the joint portion 4 are opposite to each other. Accordingly, if a user opens one of the first body 2 and the second body 3 with respect to the joint portion 4, the mobile personal computer 1 becomes the unfolded state, while if a user closes one of the bodies, the mobile personal computer 1 becomes the folded state. Further, if a user operates to open the first body 2 and the second body 3, the mobile personal computer 1 becomes the unfolded state, while if a user operates to close the bodies, the mobile personal computer 1 becomes the folded state.
In the embodiment, a board 12 a (board assembly 12), on which at least a part of control circuits comprising electronic components 15 is mounted, is arranged in the housing 3 a of the second body 3, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The board 12 a and components such as the electronic components 15 mounted on the board 12 a constitute the board assembly 12. The board 12 a is fixed on the housing 3 a with screws 13 (see FIG. 8) that are fixing members. In the first body 2, on the other hand, a battery 14 that is a device power supply on a back face side (rear face side) of the display panel 6 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The back face of the first body 2 has a recess 2 f formed to have a rectangular shape in rear view. The battery 14 is detachably attached in the housing 2 a of the first body 2 in a state in which the battery 14 covers the recess 2 f. In the embodiment, the board assembly 12, in which the main electronic components 15 such as a CPU 16 are mounted, and the battery 14 are arranged separately in the first body 2 and the second body 3. If the board 12 a and the battery 14 are arranged together in one of the first body 2 and the second body 3, disadvantages that the thickness of the body portion is increased or, conversely, that the battery 14 and thus the capacity are more likely to be limited due to the restriction in the thickness, for example, are likely to be caused. In the embodiment, however, since the board 12 a and the battery 14 are arranged separately in the first body 2 and the second body 3, such disadvantages can be more easily avoided. It is to be noted that, in the embodiment, the weight of the first body 2 is larger than that of the second body 3 so as to place the mobile personal computer 1 more stably on a desk or the like in a first usage state U1 illustrated in FIG. 5.
The mobile personal computer 1 according to the embodiment can be also be used in a second usage state U2 illustrated in FIG. 6 and a third usage state U3 illustrated in FIG. 7 in addition to the first usage state U1 illustrated in FIG. 5. The second usage state U2 is a usage state in which the first body 2 and the second body 3 are opened relatively widely and hands H hold side edge portions 2 g on both sides on the first body 2 in the width direction as illustrated in FIG. 6. In this usage state, a user can operate the push button mechanism 7 with thumbs T of the hands H holding the first body 2. The third usage state U3 is a usage state in which the first body 2 and the second body 3 are opened relatively widely and hands H hold a side edge portion 2 g on one side of the first body 2 in the width direction and a side edge portion 3 f on one side of the second body 3 in the width direction as illustrated in FIG. 7. The second usage state U2 is the same as the first usage state U1 in the view provided to a user, but is different from the first usage state U1 in whether the mobile personal computer 1 is used in a state in which it is held by hands H in a standing posture or a sitting posture or in a state in which it is placed on a desk or the like. On the other hand, the usage state U3 is different from the first and second usage states U1 and U2 in that the display screens 6 a, 9 a of the display panels 6, 9 is rotated by 90°.
Specifically, the mobile personal computer 1 according to the embodiment can be used in a first posture P1 in which a side 9 b of the display screen 9 a of the display panel 9 is positioned at the top (first and second usage states U1 and U2; see FIGS. 5 and 6) and in a second posture P2 in which another side 9 c of the display screen 9 a and a side 6 b of the display screen 6 a are positioned at the top (third usage state U3; see FIG. 7). The side 6 b of the display screen 6 a is a side away from a boundary portion Bd of the first and second bodies 2 and 3. The side 9 c of the display screen 9 a and the side 6 b of the display screen 6 a lie next to each other with the boundary portion Bd therebetween. In the embodiment, the first posture P1 of the display screen 9 a corresponds to a third posture P3 of the two display screens 9 a, 6 a, and the second posture P2 of the display screen 9 a corresponds to a fourth posture P4 of the two display screens 9 a, 6 a.
Each of the display panels 6, 9 is formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped. The display panels 6, 9 is configured to receive display signals from control circuits (none of which is illustrated) constituted by the electronic components 15 mounted on the board 12 a, and display images such as still images and moving images. Also in the embodiment, light producing images displayed on the display screens 6 a, 9 a of the display panels 6, 9 is emitted forward through the colorless and transparent touch panels 5, 8. The control circuits of the mobile personal computer 1 comprise a control unit, a storage unit (such as a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM) and a hard disk drive (HDD)), an interface circuit, and various controllers. The mobile personal computer 1 also has a built-in speaker (not illustrated) for audio output.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the CPU 16 that is a heat generator and the electronic component 15 is mounted on the board 12 a. A radiator block 16 a is placed on a die (not illustrated) of the CPU 16, and a heat receiving portion 17 a of a heat pipe 17 that is a heat transport mechanism is placed on the radiator block 16 a. The heat receiving portion 17 a is pressed against the radiator block 16 a by a pressing member 18 fixed on the board 12 a by the screws 13 that are fastening members. With such a structure, heat generated at the CPU 16 that is a heat generator is transmitted to the heat receiving portion 17 a via the radiator block 16 a.
The heat pipe 17 that is a heat transport mechanism has a tube made of a metal material (such as a copper alloy) having a relatively high heat conductivity and having an oval and flat cross-section, for example. One end of the tube is the heat receiving portion 17 a, the other end thereof is a heat radiating portion 17 b, and a portion between the heat receiving portion 17 a and the heat radiating portion 17 b is a heat transfer portion 17 c. A plurality of fins 17 d made of a thin sheet metal material (such as a copper alloy) having a relatively high heat conductivity is arranged outside the tube of the heat radiating portion 17 b. In addition, a fan 19 is arranged at a position in the housing 3 a adjacent to the heat radiating portion 17 b. The fan 19 has a flat appearance that is thin in the width direction of the board 12 a, and comprises a rotor (not illustrated) configured to rotate around a rotary axis along a direction perpendicular to the front and rear faces of the board 12 a. The fan 19 exhausts air taken from the inside of the housing 3 a through air inlets 19 a provided on both sides in the axial direction of the rotary axis (on both the front side and the rear side), for example, through an air outlet 3 h opposed to the heat radiating portion 17 b by rotating the rotor with an electric motor. Specifically, airflow exhausted from the fan 19 blows to the heat radiating portion 17 b and the fins 17 d, whereby the heat radiating portion 17 b and the fins 17 d are cooled. The fan 19 is arranged to be fitted in an L-shaped notch 12 b formed at a corner of the board 12 a.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 5 to 7, it will be appreciated that the heat receiving portion 17 a is positioned lower than the heat radiating portion 17 b in both the first posture P1 and the second posture P2 in the embodiment. If the heat pipe 17 that is a heat transport mechanism becomes a so-called top heat state in which the heat receiving portion 17 a is positioned upper than the heat radiating portion 17 b, a liquefied heat transport medium becomes difficult to flow from the heat radiating portion 17 b back to the heat receiving portion 17 a. Accordingly, the heat transport efficiency, namely the heat dissipation efficiency is reduced. In the embodiment, however, since the heat receiving portion 17 a is positioned lower than the heat radiating portion 17 b in both the first posture P1 and the second posture P2 that are defined as correct postures, it is possible to prevent reduction of the heat transport efficiency, namely the heat dissipation efficiency, caused by positioning the heat receiving portion 17 a upper than the heat radiating portion 17 b. In addition, in the first posture P1 and the second posture P2, the control unit can make a user aware of the posture by displaying an image in an orientation corresponding to each posture P1 or P2 on the display screens 6 a, 9 a based on a detection result of a posture sensor (not illustrated) arranged in the housing 3 a of the second body 3. Further, by providing posture representing elements such as concaves and convexes or display elements on at least one of the first body 2 and the second body 3, it is possible to make a user aware of the first posture P1 and the second posture P2.
The heat radiating portion 17 b is arranged at a corner 3 g of the housing 3 a, which is a top end in the first posture P1 (FIGS. 5 and 6) and in the second posture P2 (FIG. 7) as illustrated in FIG. 2. Inside the housing 3 a, heat is likely to flow upward due to the airflow. Therefore, by arranging the heat radiating portion 17 b at the corner 3 g of the housing 3 a, which is the top end in the first posture P1 and the second posture P2, heat is less likely to remain inside the housing 3 a.
In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the air outlet 3 h is formed in a side wall 3 i at the corner 3 g of the housing 3 a in the embodiment. Thus, the airflow, which is blown out from the fan 19 and heated while passing through the heat radiating portion 17 b arranged at the corner 3 g, is more smoothly exhausted through the air outlet 3 h provided at the corner 3 g of the housing 3 a and closely opposed to the heat radiating portion 17 b. Accordingly, heat is less likely to remain inside the housing 3 a.
In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 11, the CPU 16, which is a heat generator, is arranged in a rectangular region An that comes on an upper side (namely, on the left side in FIG. 11) than a center Ct in the second posture P2 in front view of the display screen 9 a (namely, in the view of FIG. 11). Accordingly, the upward airflow generated by the heat of the CPU 16, which is a heat generator, in the housing 3 a or the airflow drawn into the fan 19 travels a relatively long distance in the housing 3 a, whereby it is possible to prevent the electronic components in a larger area in the housing 3 a from being easily affected by the heat. In addition, if it is assumed that the CPU 16, which is a heat generator, is positioned at the center Ct, the heated air may remain in a region opposite to the air outlet 3 h across the center Ct in the housing 3 a. In the embodiment, however, since the CPU 16, which is a heat generator, is arranged in a region on the side of the air outlet 3 h with respect to the center Ct in both the first posture P1 and the second posture P2, the heated air is more easily exhausted outside the housing 3 a. In addition, in the embodiment, when a user hold the second body 3 with his/her hand H as illustrated in FIG. 7, the user holds a side opposite to the rectangular region An across the center Ct with his/her hand H. Therefore, since the user holds with his/her hand H a region of the second body 3 that is away from the CPU 16 and the heat pipe 17, he/she can avoid holding a region that is heated by the heat from the CPU 16 and the heat pipe 17 in the housing 3 a. Thus, the user can avoid feeling uncomfortable due to the heated housing 3 a when he/she holds the mobile personal computer 1 with his/her hand H.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the housing 3 a of the second body 3 comprises a mask 20 and a case 21, which constitute an outer housing, and an inner plate 22, which is an inner housing. The mask 20 and the case 21, which constitute an outer housing, are integrated with each other by screwing, engagement or fitting, and constitute an outline of the housing 3 a. The inner plate 22 that is an inner housing is fixed to the mask 20 or the case 21 (the case 21, for example) that is an outer housing by screwing or the like. The housing 3 a is configured to house the display panel 9 in a manner that the display screen 9 a thereof is exposed on the front face, and also house the board 12 a. The inner plate 22 is arranged at a position between the display panel 9 and the board 12 a, namely at the back of the display panel 9 and in front of the board 12 a. The board 12 a is fixed to the inner plate 22 with the screws 13 that are fixing members. In the embodiment, the display panel 9 is held between the inner plate 22 and the case 21 with an elastic buffer material 23 interposed as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of ribs 22 b (see FIG. 3) that holds the display panel 9 therebetween in the X direction and the Y direction is provided on the inner plate 22. The display panel 9 is held between the ribs 22 b with an elastic buffer material (not illustrated) interposed. Alternatively, the display panel 9 may be attached to the housing 3 a by screwing, engagement or fitting.
The mask 20 constitutes a front wall 3 k that form the front face 3 b of the housing 3 a. The mask 20 is formed in a rectangular frame extending along the circumferential edge of the display panel 9, and has a rectangular opening 3 m for exposing the display screen 9 a of the display panel 9 in the center thereof. The mask 20 can also be used as a base for attaching components such as a board and an antenna inside the housing 3 a. The mask 20 may be formed of a metal material, a synthetic resin material, or the like. The display panel 9 is formed in a flat shape that is rectangular in front view and thin in the thickness direction (Z direction).
The touch panel 8 is arranged to cover the opening 3 m of the mask 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The front faces of the touch panel 8 and the mask 20 are bonded to a transparent cover 3 p made of a synthetic resin material or the like formed in a thin sheet, a film, or a plate with a double-sided tape (not illustrated) or an adhesive. The touch panel 8 and the mask 20 are integrated via the cover 3 p.
The inner plate 22 has a plate-like partition wall 22 a that is rectangular in plan view as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 10. A plurality of wall-like ribs 22 b, for example, is provided on the partition wall 22 a so as to improve the rigidity. On a back face 22 c of the partition wall 22 a, a plurality of bosses 22 d that protrudes toward the board 12 a at the back are provided. The bosses 22 d each comprises an internal thread hole 22 e formed therein. The crews 13 are fixed in the bosses 22 d, whereby the board 12 a and other components (such as the fan 19 and a solid state drive (SSD) 29) are fixed to the inner plate 22. The partition wall 22 a also comprises a plurality of through-holes 22 f formed therein. The through-holes 22 f contribute to reduction in weight and improvement in air permeability.
Brackets 22 g protrude laterally (in a direction along a XY plane) from the corners of the partition wall 22 a. The brackets 22 g can be formed in an arm-shape, a tongue-shape or a flange-shape, for example. Further, through-holes 22 h through which the screws 13 that fix the inner plate 22, which is an inner housing, to the case 21, which is an outer housing, are inserted are formed in the corners or the tips of the brackets 22 g. Thus, in the embodiment, the partition wall 22 a on which the board 12 a and the components are attached is supported by the case 21 via the plurality of brackets 22 g. Accordingly, if an external force is applied to the partition wall 22 a from the side of the case 21 or if an inertial force acts on the partition wall 22 a, the brackets 22 g are elastically deformed, whereby it is possible to suppress the influence of the external force or the inertial force on the partition wall 22 a and therefore the board 12 a and the components .
In addition, a protrusion 25 that protrudes toward a front face 12 c that is a surface of the board 12 a is provided on the back face 22 c of the partition wall 22 a. In the embodiment, the protrusion 25 corresponds to a second protrusion.
The board 12 a is formed in a rectangular shape as a whole except for a portion where the notch 12 b in which the fan 19 is accommodated as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. In the embodiment, a number of electronic components 15 are mounted on both the front face 12 c and a back face (rear face) 12 d of the board 12 a. In the embodiment, relatively taller electronic components 15 are mounted on the front face 12 c and relatively shorter electronic components 15 are mounted on the back face 12 d. It is thus possible to prevent the height (thickness) of the board structure comprising the board 12 a and the electronic components 15 from being larger as compared to a case where the tall electronic components 15 are mounted on both the front face 12 c and the back face 12 d.
In the embodiment, a SSD 24 that is a relatively tall (relatively thick) electronic component 15 having a relatively large mounting area is arranged on the front face 12 c of the board 12 a. The SSD 24 is arranged like a wall as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 in a space Sf between the front face 12 c of the board 12 a and the inner plate 22 on a side (right side in FIGS. 2 and 11) opposite to a side (left side in FIGS. 2 and 11) where the CPU 16 and the fan 19 are arranged as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 11. Accordingly, in the embodiment, the SSD 24 is arranged away from the CPU 16 and the fan 19 on the side opposite thereto so as to make the space Sf toward the CPU 16 and the fan 19 from the SSD 24 larger, and thereby to increase the amount of airflow flowing through the space Sf.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 11 and 13, an air inlet 3 j is provided in an end 21 b on the base end side of a bottom wall 21 a of the case 21. In the embodiment, the air inlet 3 j is formed as a collection of a plurality of (a number of) small holes through the bottom wall 21 a. The air inlet 3 j (namely, the region where small holes are formed) is provided in a relatively elongated region along an edge 21 c. In a state where the second body 3 is assembled, an edge 12 e on the base end side (on the hinge mechanism side) of the board 12 a is arranged away from the edge 21 c of the case 21. Accordingly, an introduction portion of an airflow flowing from the air inlet 3 j, which is provided in the bottom wall 21 a of the case 21 on a lateral side (laterally outside; the lower side in FIG. 11) of the edge 12 e toward the space Sf between the front face 12 c of the board 12 a and the inner plate 22 is formed in the housing 3 a. Further, the SSD 24 is arranged away from the edge 12 e on the front face 12 c of the board 12 a. Accordingly, airflow Stf that is shown by a dashed arrow in FIG. 11 and flows from the air inlet 3 j to the air outlet 3 h is generated in the space Sf between the front face 12 c of the board 12 a and the inner plate 22. As illustrated in FIG. 8, airflow Stb that is shown by a dashed arrow and flows from the air inlet 3 j to the air outlet 3 h is also generated in a space Sb between the back face 12 d of the board 12 a and the bottom wall 21 a of the case 21.
As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, through-holes 26 (26A to 26E) into which screws 13 (13A to 13E) fixed to the bosses 22 d of the inner plate 22 are inserted are formed in the board 12 a. The through-holes 26A to 26E are formed in the circumferential edge portion of the board 12 a in view of the mounting efficiency of the electronic components 15 on the board 12 a. Additional capital letters at the end of reference numerals provided below are identifiers of combinations of corresponding components.
The board 12 a is also provided with studs 27 (27F to 27J) that are component-to-be-fixed joined with the screws 13 (13F to 13J) that are fixing members for fixing components. In the embodiment, the pressing member 18 and the SSD 24 are attached to the studs 27 with the screws 13. The studs 27 (27I, 27J) for the SSD 24 are provided in a manner embedded in the board 12 a, and the studs 27 (27F to 27H) for the pressing member 18 are provided in a manner protruding from the front face 12 c of the board 12 a.
The case 21 that is an outer housing comprises the bottom wall 21 a formed in a rectangular shape in plan view (in front view) as viewed from the front and a side wall 21 d arranged around the bottom wall 21 a, and a recess 21 e surrounded by the bottom wall 21 a and the side wall 21 d is formed in the case 21 as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. The recess 21 e accommodates the board 12 a, the inner plate 22, the fan 19 and the SSD 29.
At the corners in the recess 21 e of the case 21, bosses 21 f that are board fixing members for fixing the inner plate 22 that is an inner housing using the screws 13 that are fixing members are provided. The corners of the case 21 are portions that are near the bottom wall 21 a and the side wall 21 d and have relatively high rigidity. The corners are also portions whose rigidity can be easily increased by providing ribs or the like. Thus, by providing bosses 21 f, which support the inner plate 22 on which the board 12 a is fixed, at the corners of the case 21 having higher rigidity, it is possible to further easily suppress the influence of the external force acting on the case 21 on the inner plate 22 and therefore on the board 12 a.
The bottom wall 21 a of the case 21 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 28 (28A to 28E, 28I) protruding toward the back face 12 d of the board 12 a. The protrusions 28A to 28E out of the protrusions 28 are opposed to the screws 13A to 13E (see FIG. 12) that are fixing members for fixing the board 12 a to the bosses 22 dA to 22 dE of the inner plate 22 that is an inner housing in an assembled state. FIG. 8 includes a cross-section of structures of the protrusion 28E, the screw 13E and the boss 22 dE out of the protrusions 28A to 28E, the screws 13A to 13E and the bosses 22 dA to 22 dE (see FIG. 10). As illustrated in FIG. 8, the protrusion 28E and the screw 13E are opposed to each other with a gap therebetween in the free state in the embodiment. The protrusion 28E and the screw 13E may be structured to be in contact with each other in the free state, but it is preferable to provide a gap therebetween in the free state in terms of suppressing accumulation of manufacturing errors and abnormal noises. The structures of the other protrusions 28A to 28D, the other screws 13A to 13D and the other bosses 22 dA to 22 dD that are not illustrated in FIG. 8 are similar to those of the protrusion 28E, the screw 13E and the boss 22 dE illustrated in FIG. 8. The protrusions 28A to 28E are each structured in a columnar shape having a cross-shaped cross-section as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.
With such structures, if the bottom wall 21 a of the case 21 that is an outer housing bends toward the inside of the housing 3 a (upward in FIG. 8) as a result of being pressed by fingers of a user, the protrusions 28A to 28E come in contact with the opposed screws 13A to 13E, respectively, and thereby the bottom wall 21 a is prevented from bending further. Thus, in the embodiment, the bending of the case 21 that is an outer housing can be suppressed by a relatively simple structure in which the protrusions 28A to 28E are provided to be opposed to the screws 13A to 13E, respectively. Therefore, according to the embodiment, the housing 3 a is less easily deformed due to the external force applied toward the inside of the housing 3 a. If the thickness of the case 21 is increased or the case 21 is reinforced, for example, in order to suppress the bending of the case 21 by increasing the rigidity, disadvantages may be caused such as an increase in weight of the case 21 and an increase in trouble in the manufacture. In the embodiment, however, the structures that can suppress the bending of the case 21 can be achieved without increasing so much weight and trouble in the manufacture. In the embodiment, the protrusions 28A to 28E correspond to third protrusions. In the embodiment, corresponding ones of the protrusions 28A to 28E, the screws 13A to 13E and the bosses 22 dA to 22 dE constitute a second displacement controlling mechanism 31 (see FIG. 8).
The protrusion 28I is opposed to the stud 27I (see FIG. 12) provided in the board 12 a or to an end of the screw 13I fixed to the stud 27I in the assembled state. The screw 13I, which is a fixing member for fixing the SSD 24 that is a component to the board 12 a, is attached to the stud 27I. The protrusion 25 (see FIG. 10) is arranged on the inner plate 22 at a position opposite to the protrusion 28I with respect to the stud 27I. The protrusion 25 is opposed to the head of the screw 13I (see FIG. 11) in the assembled state. The protrusion 28I and the protrusion 25 each have a columnar shape having a cross-shaped cross-section as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 10, 13 and 14. FIG. 9 includes a cross-section of a portion of the protrusions 28I and 25, the screw 13I and the stud 27I. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the protrusion 28I and the stud 27I, the screw 131 and the protrusion 25, respectively, are opposed to each other with a gap therebetween in the free state in the embodiment. The protrusion 28I and the stud 27I, the screw 13I and the protrusion 25, respectively, may be structured to be in contact with each other in the free state, but it is preferable to provide a gap therebetween in the free state in terms of suppressing accumulation of manufacturing errors and abnormal noise.
With such structures, if the bottom wall 21 a of the case 21 that is an outer housing bends toward the inside of the housing 3 a (upward in FIG. 9) as a result of being pressed by fingers of a user, the protrusion 28I comes in contact with the opposed stud 27I (or the end of the screw 13I), the screw 13I comes in contact with the opposed protrusion 25, and thereby the bottom wall 21 a is prevented from bending further. Thus, in the embodiment, the bending of the case 21 that is an outer housing can be suppressed by a relatively simple structure in which the protrusion 25 is provided to be opposed to the screw 13I and the protrusion 28I is provided to be opposed to the stud 27I (or the end of the screw 13I). Thus, according to the embodiment, the housing 3 a is less easily deformed due to the external force applied toward the inside of the housing 3 a. If the thickness of the case 21 is increased or the case 21 is reinforced, for example, in order to suppress the bending of the case 21 by increasing the rigidity, disadvantages may be caused such as an increase in weight of the case 21 and an increase in trouble in the manufacture. In the embodiment, however, the structures that can suppress the bending of the case 21 can be achieved without increasing so much weight and trouble in the manufacture. In the embodiment, the protrusion 28I corresponds to a first protrusion, and the protrusion 25 corresponds to a second protrusion. In the embodiment, the protrusion 28I, the protrusion 25, the stud 27I and the screw 13I constitute a displacement controlling mechanism 30 (see FIG. 9) that controls relative approach between the bottom wall 21 a and the partition wall 22 a.
As described above, in the embodiment, the stud 27I and the screw 13I are interposed between the protrusion 28I that is a first protrusion and the protrusion 25 that is a second protrusion, and the protrusion 28I and the protrusion 25 are not in direct contact with the board 12 a. Therefore, deformation and damage of the board 12 a are less likely to be caused as compared to a case where the protrusions 25 and 28I are in contact with the board 12 a. In the embodiment, the stud 27I and the screw 13I correspond to interposed components, the stud 27I corresponds to a component-to-be-fixed, and the screw 13I corresponds to a fixing member. The interposed components are not limited to a combination of a stud and a screw, but may be structured as a rivet that is a fixing member and a through-hole that is a fixed member provided in a board.
In addition, in the embodiment, the stud 27I and the screw 13I, which is used to fix the SSD 24 that is the electronic component 15 to the board 12 a, are used as interposed components opposed to the protrusions 25 and 28I. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, the mounting efficiency of the electronic components 15 on the board 12 a can be prevented from being reduced and the trouble in the manufacture can be reduced as compared to a case where the interposed components are provided as exclusive members.
In the embodiment, the stud 27I and the screw 13I corresponding to the interposed components are different from the studs 27 and the screws 13 used to fix the pressing member 18 to the board 12 a. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the influence of the external force applied via the protrusions 25 and 28I on functions and operations of the pressing member 18 and the CPU 16. Specifically, it is possible to prevent disadvantages such as reduction in the heat dissipation performance due to a decrease in the contact area of the heat receiving portion 17 a of the heat pipe 17 and the radiator block 16 a.
As can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the protrusion 25 and the protrusion 281 are opposed to a portion in a circuit forming region inside of the circumferential edge of the board 12 a in the embodiment. With such structures, it is possible to produce an effect of suppressing deformation of the housing 3 a due to the protrusions 25 and 28I described above also at a position opposed to inside of the circuit forming region where a point of the board 12 a to be fixed to the housing 3 a is difficult to define, namely a region near the center of the bottom wall 21 a of the case 21 in the embodiment.
Further, with such a structure in which the circumferential edge of the board 12 a is fixed to the housing 3 a (the inner plate 22 in the embodiment) at a plurality of positions (positions at which the through-holes 26A to 26E are provided in the embodiment; see FIG. 11), it is preferable to arrange the protrusion 25 and the protrusion 28I at positions nearer to the center of gravity Cg (see FIG. 11) of the board 12 a than positions at which the protrusions are fixed. In this manner, it is possible to produce an effect of suppressing deformation of the housing 3 a due to the protrusions 25 and 28I also in the region near to the center of the bottom wall 21 a of the case 21. Such structures can also produce better effect in terms of suppressing the bending of the board 12 a.
In particular, in the embodiment, the positions where the circumferential edge of the board 12 a is fixed to the housing 3 a are provided at positions where the board 12 a or the screws 13A to 13E that are fixing members are interposed between the protrusions 28A to 28E that are third protrusions and the bosses 22 dA to 22 dE that are component-to-be-fixed, respectively, and thereby the deformation of the bottom wall 21 a is suppressed by interference between the board 12 a or the screws 13A to 13E and the protrusions 28A to 28E. Therefore, by arranging the protrusion 25 and the protrusion 28I to be opposed to a portion in a circuit forming region inside of the circumferential edge of the board 12 a or arranging the protrusion 25 and the protrusion 28I to be opposed to positions nearer to the center of gravity Cg of the board 12 a than positions at which the board 12 a is fixed to the inner plate 22, it is possible to further distribute the positions at which the deformation of the bottom wall 21 a is suppressed and to produce the effect of suppressing the deformation due to the protrusions 25 and 28 over a wider area of the bottom wall 21 a.
In the embodiment, the studs 27, the screws 13 and the protrusions 25 and 28 are made of conductive materials and the studs 27 are connected to ground electrodes (not illustrated) of the board 12 a, whereby the ground potentials become easily equalized by contact between the protrusions 25 and 28 and the studs 27 or the screws 13.
The mobile personal computer 1 is desirably more lightweight since a user may hold it for use. In addition, the housings 2 a, 3 a of the mobile personal computer 1 are required to have sufficient rigidity and strength to resist an external force applied by a user holding the housings. If the structure only includes the outer housing, it is difficult to balance such requirements in some cases. In the embodiment, however, it is structured such that the second body 3 is provided with the inner plate 22 that is an inner housing, and the parts of the second body 3 such as the board 12 a and the display panel 9 are supported using the inner plate 22, whereby it is relatively easier to balance the reduction in weight and the improvement in rigidity.
Thus, in the embodiment, the board 12 a is fixed to the inner plate 22 that is an inner housing. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the influence of an external force applied to the outer housing by a user holding the housing 3 a on the board 12 a, the parts and the electronic components 15 as compared to a case where the board 12 a is fixed to the outer housing.
In the embodiment, the front face 12 c of the board 12 a, which is a surface on which the CPU 16 that is a heat generator is mounted, is arranged on the side of the display panel 9, and the inner plate 22 that is an inner housing having heat conductivity is arranged between the board 12 a and the display panel 9. Accordingly, the heat of the CPU 16 that is a heat generator acts less on the case 21 that is an outer housing, and the heat dissipating property is increased by heat transfer through the inner plate 22 by making the inner plate 22 of a heat conductive material such as a metal material, whereby the temperature in the housing 3 a is more easily decreased.
In the embodiment, the bosses 21 f, which are component-to-be-fixed for fixing the inner plate 22 that is an inner housing to the case 21 that is an outer housing, are provided at the corners of the case 21. Thus, the inner plate 22 can be fixed to the bosses 21 f having relatively high rigidity of the case 21, and it is therefore possible to further suppress the influence of an external force applied to the outer housing by a user holding the housing 3 a on the board 12 a, the parts and the electronic components 15.
In the embodiment, the inner plate 22 that is an inner housing comprises the partition wall 22 a and the brackets 22 g protruding laterally from the partition wall 22 a, and the brackets 22 g are fixed to the bosses 21 f that are component-to-be-fixed. Accordingly, by elastically deforming the brackets 22 g, it is possible to further suppress the influence of an external force applied to the outer housing by a user holding the housing 3 a on the board 12 a, the parts and the electronic components 15.
If the number of positions at which the bottom wall 21 a of the case 21 that is an outer housing and the board 12 a are fixed is increased, for example, so as to suppress the bending of the bottom wall 21 a toward the inside of the housing 3 a, the mounting efficiency of the board 12 a becomes lower and the weight is likely to increase due to an increase in the number of fixing members for the fixing. In the embodiment, however, since the deformation of the housing 3 a can be suppressed by providing the protrusions 25 and 28 on the housing 3 a as described above, fixing members or the like need not be added. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the housing 3 a without increasing so much weight and trouble in the manufacture.
In addition, the mobile personal computer 1 according to the embodiment has a structure in which the board 12 a is held from both the front and rear sides in the thickness direction between protrusions provided on one of the outer housing and the inner housing and protrusions or bosses provided on the other. Accordingly, the rigidity of the housing 3 a is easily improved with a relatively simple structure. In addition, since the portions or parts for other use (namely the studs 27 and the screws 13 that are interposed components, the bosses 21 f and the screws 13 that are board fixing members, and the like) are used to hold the board 12 a, disadvantages such as an increase in weight due to additional parts and a reduction in the circuit mounting efficiency of the board 12 a are less likely to occur.
A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above. However, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, while an example in which the invention is embodied as a notebook type mobile personal computer having two display screens is described in the above-described embodiment, the invention may be embodied as other electronic devices having at least one display screen, such as a computer (notebook type, desktop type), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartbook, a smartphone or a mobile phone terminal, having one display screen.
The specifications (such as systems, structures, shapes, materials, sizes, numbers, orientations, types and layouts) of the electronic device, display device, display screens, display panels, parts, board, housing, outer housing, inner housing, first protrusion, second protrusion, third protrusions, board fixing members, interposed components, fixing members, component-to-be-fixed, pressing member and the like may be modified as necessary in carrying out the invention.
According to the embodiment, it is possible to provide a mobile personal computer and an electronic device capable of improving the rigidity of a housing while preventing disadvantages from being caused.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.

Claims

1. A mobile personal computer comprising:

a display panel comprising a display screen;

a board assembly comprising a board and a component mounted on the board; and

a housing configured to house the board assembly, comprising an outer housing forming an outline and an inner housing between the display panel and the board assembly.

2. The mobile personal computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a first protrusion on the outer housing and protruding toward a portion of the board assembly;

a second protrusion on the inner housing at a position opposite the first protrusion with respect to the portion of the board assembly, and protruding toward the portion of the board assembly; and

a displacement-controlling mechanism comprising the first protrusion, the portion of the board assembly, and the second protrusion, the displacement-controlling mechanism being configured to control relative approach between the outer housing and the inner housing by controlling contact of the first protrusion, the portion of the board assembly, and the second protrusion.

3. The mobile personal computer of claim 2, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion protrude toward the portion of the board assembly positioned in a circuit-forming region inside a circumferential edge of the board.

4. The mobile personal computer of claim 2, wherein

a circumferential edge of the board is fixed to the housing at a plurality of positions, and

the portion of the board assembly is positioned closer to a center of gravity of the board than the positions where the board is fixed to the housing.

5. mobile personal computer of claim 2, wherein the portion of the board assembly positioned between the first protrusion and the second protrusion comprises a component provided on the board and interposed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

6. The mobile personal computer of claim 5, wherein a fixing member is fixed to the interposed component.

7. The mobile personal computer of claim 5, wherein the interposed component comprises a fixing member configured to be fixed to a second component.

8. The mobile personal computer of claim 5, wherein

the board comprises a plurality of pairs of a fixing member and a second component to which the fixing member is fixed,

one or more of the plurality of pairs is configured to fix to the board a pressing member configured to press a heat pipe against the component mounted on the board, and

another of the plurality of pairs is the interposed component.

9. The mobile personal computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a board-fixing member on the outer housing or the inner housing and to which the board is fixed;

a third protrusion on the other of the outer housing or the inner housing at a position opposite the board-fixing member with respect to the board and protruding toward the board-fixing member; and

a second displacement-controlling mechanism comprising the board-fixing member and the third protrusion, the second displacement-controlling mechanism being configured to control relative approach between the outer housing and the inner housing by controlling contact between the board fixing member and the third protrusion.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a display panel comprising a display screen;

a board on which a component is mounted; and

a housing configured to support the display panel in a state in which a front face of the display screen is exposed, and configured to house the board,

wherein the housing comprises an outer housing forming an outline and an inner housing disposed between the display panel and the board.