U.S. patent application number 15/000451 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-19 for electronic device.
The applicant listed for this patent is FUJITSU LIMITED. Invention is credited to Masahiro Fukuhara, Yoshifumi Kajiwara, Hiroshi Kubo, Hiroyuki Takita.
Application Number | 20160143172 15/000451 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49356328 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160143172 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takita; Hiroyuki ; et
al. |
May 19, 2016 |
ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Abstract
An electronic device includes: an enclosure that has an opening
formed therein; a switch disposed in the enclosure opposite the
opening; a key top member disposed inside the opening; and a water
sealing member that has a wall part which extends such that a
height direction of the wall part coincides with an opening
direction of the opening and which seals an inner surface of the
opening, an arm part which extends from the wall part to the inner
side of the opening and supports the key top member, and a wall
part reinforcer provided in the wall part.
Inventors: |
Takita; Hiroyuki; (Sapporo,
JP) ; Kajiwara; Yoshifumi; (Sapporo, JP) ;
Fukuhara; Masahiro; (Sapporo, JP) ; Kubo;
Hiroshi; (Sapporo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FUJITSU LIMITED |
Kawasaki-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
49356328 |
Appl. No.: |
15/000451 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14053337 |
Oct 14, 2013 |
|
|
|
15000451 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 13/06 20130101;
H01H 13/50 20130101; H05K 5/069 20130101; H01H 2223/002 20130101;
H01H 13/86 20130101; H01H 13/14 20130101; H03K 17/96 20130101; H01H
13/063 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H05K 5/06 20060101
H05K005/06; H01H 13/50 20060101 H01H013/50; H03K 17/96 20060101
H03K017/96; H01H 13/14 20060101 H01H013/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 22, 2012 |
JP |
2012-233243 |
Claims
1. An electronic device comprising: an enclosure that has a surface
which a display is disposed and a first opening is formed therein;
a fingerprint sensor module that has a sensor disposed in the first
opening; a support member that has a second opening and supports
the fingerprint sensor module; and an electronic component that is
faced to the fingerprint sensor module via the second opening and
is contacted to at least part of the fingerprint sensor module
passed through the second opening when the fingerprint sensor
module is pushed.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, the at least part of
the fingerprint sensor module protrudes from a reference plane of
the fingerprint sensor module in a opposite direction of the
surface of the enclosure.
3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
electronic component is a switch.
4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
enclosure includes a first case including the surface and a second
case including another surface opposing to the surface, the
electronic device further comprises: a battery that is disposed
between the first case and the second case.
5. The electronic device according to claim 1, the fingerprint
sensor module includes a base member which is disposed between the
first opening and the support member.
6. The electronic device according to claim 5, the base member
includes at least a first portion opposing to the first opening and
a second portion opposing to a part of the enclosure adjacent to
the first opening.
7. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a film-like wiring member that couples between the fingerprint
sensor module and a connector disposed in the enclosure.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 14/053,337, filed on Oct. 14, 2013, which is based upon and
claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent
Application No. 2012-233243, filed on Oct. 22, 2012, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The embodiment discussed herein is related to an electronic
device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Electronic devices that include an enclosure with an opening
formed therein, a switch provided in the enclosure opposite the
opening, a key top member disposed inside the opening, and a water
sealing member for both supporting the key top member and keeping
water from entering through the opening are known.
[0004] Some electronic devices of this type block entry of water
from the opening by forming a slit around the opening and
press-fitting a part of the water sealing member into the slit.
[0005] Related arts are disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent
Publication Nos. 2010-108749 and 2011-204461, for example.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to an aspect of the invention, an electronic
device includes: an enclosure that has an opening formed therein; a
switch disposed in the enclosure opposite the opening; a key top
member disposed inside the opening; and a water sealing member that
has a wall part which extends such that a height direction of the
wall part coincides with an opening direction of the opening and
which seals an inner surface of the opening, an arm part which
extends from the wall part to the inner side of the opening and
supports the key top member, and a wall part reinforcer provided in
the wall part.
[0007] The object and advantages of the invention will be realized
and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly
pointed out in the claims.
[0008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor unit
and the rear case depicted in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sensor unit
and surrounding components depicted in FIG. 1; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of components of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT
[0013] An embodiment of the technique according to the present
disclosure will be described.
[0014] As depicted in FIG. 1, an electronic device 10 according to
the embodiment includes an enclosure 12, a display 14, and a sensor
unit 16. Arrows T, L, and W in the drawings represent the
thickness, length, and width directions of the electronic device 10
(the enclosure 12), respectively.
[0015] The enclosure 12 has a front case 18 and a rear case 20. The
front case 18 and rear case 20 are separated from each other in the
thickness direction of the enclosure 12. The front case 18 is
formed in a frame shape, and the display 14, which may be a liquid
crystal display for example, is mounted inside the front case
18.
[0016] The front case 18 and rear case 20 contain an internal unit
including a control board and a battery, for example, and the
display 14 is driven by the control board of the internal unit.
[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 3, on one edge 18A (an upper edge) of
the front case 18 when seen in the length direction, an opening 22
is formed through the edge 18A in its thickness direction. At an
upper portion 22A of the opening 22 on the upper surface side of
the enclosure 12, a flange 24 protruding to the inside of the
opening 22 is formed. The flange 24 is formed around the entire
circumference of the opening 22. Due to the presence of the flange
24, the upper portion 22A of the opening 22 on the front surface
side of the enclosure 12 has a smaller opening area than a lower
portion 22B of the opening 22, which is on the back surface side of
the enclosure 12.
[0018] The sensor unit 16 is disposed at a position corresponding
to the opening 22 described above. The sensor unit 16 has a holder
member 26, a switch 28, a fingerprint sensor module 30, and a water
sealing member 32 (see also FIG. 2).
[0019] The holder member 26 is fixed inside the rear case 20 as
depicted in FIG. 2. The holder member 26 has a supporting part 34
and an extending part 36. The supporting part 34 is formed in a
planar shape and is positioned opposite the above-described opening
22 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The extending part 36 is circularly
formed along the circumference of the supporting part 34 and
extends from the circumference of the supporting part 34 to the
opening 22 side (that is, the upper surface side of the enclosure
12). The supporting part 34 has multiple ribs 38 formed thereon.
The ribs 38 all extend in the opposite direction to the extending
part 36 (that is, to the back surface side of the enclosure
12).
[0020] The switch 28, which is a so-called dome switch, has a
substrate 40, a fixed contact 42, and a movable contact 44. The
switch 28 is disposed in the enclosure 12 opposite the opening 22.
The substrate 40 is fixed to the supporting part 34 of the holder
member 26 with double-sided adhesive tape 46, and the fixed contact
42 and movable contact 44 are fixed to the surface of the substrate
40 on the opening 22 side. The movable contact 44 has a bulge on
the upper surface side of the enclosure 12, and is positioned on
the upper surface side of the enclosure 12 with respect to the
fixed contact 42. The movable contact 44 is elastic; when it is
pressed to the back surface side of the enclosure 12, it comes into
contact with the fixed contact 42.
[0021] The fingerprint sensor module 30, which is an example of a
key top member, is disposed inside the opening 22. The fingerprint
sensor module 30 has a sensor portion 48, a substrate 50, and a
spacer 52. The sensor portion 48 has multiple electrodes arranged
in a matrix in the direction orthogonal to the opening direction of
the opening 22 (that is, to the axis direction of a central axis
line 82). The sensor portion 48 is mounted on a surface of the
substrate 50. The sensor unit 48 outputs a signal representing the
positions of valleys and ridges of a fingerprint when a user
touches the sensor portion 48 with a finger.
[0022] The substrate 50 of the sensor module 30 is positioned in
parallel with the substrate 40 of the switch 28 described above. On
the underside of the substrate 50, the spacer 52 is fixed with
double-sided adhesive tape 54 at a position opposite to the movable
contact 44 described above. To the substrate 50, a film-like wiring
member 56 is connected as illustrated in FIG. 2. The wiring member
56 is connected with a connector 58 provided in the rear case 20
through the inside of the circular water sealing member 32
discussed later.
[0023] The water sealing member 32 has a wall part reinforcer 60,
an arm part reinforcer 62, and a rubber part 64. The wall part
reinforcer 60 and the arm part reinforcer 62 are both made of sheet
metal. The rubber part 64 is molded as one piece with the wall part
reinforcer 60 and the arm part reinforcer 62 and has a wall part 66
and an arm part 68. The wall part 66 extends such that its height
direction coincides with the opening direction of the opening 22,
and tightly fits on the inner surface of the opening 22, as
depicted in FIG. 3. The wall part 66 is circularly formed around
the fingerprint sensor module 30.
[0024] The arm part 68 is positioned between the fingerprint sensor
module 30 and the switch 28 when seen in the opening direction of
the opening 22. The arm part 68 extends at an angle from a middle
portion of the wall part 66 in its height direction, to the inner
side of the opening 22 and to the side of the fingerprint sensor
module 30. As an example of the middle portion of the wall part 66
in its height direction, the arm part 68 is connected to a part on
the lower end side of the center of the wall part 66 in its height
direction. An end 68A of the arm part 68 supports the fingerprint
sensor module 30 from the switch 28 side (the back surface side of
the enclosure 12). The arm part 68 is formed around the entire
circumference of the wall part 66.
[0025] The wall part reinforcer 60 reinforces the wall part 66, and
includes a reinforcer body 70 which extends such that its height
direction coincides with the height direction of the wall part 66,
and a bent portion 72 formed by bending the reinforcer body 70 at a
lower end thereof toward the outer side of the opening 22. The
reinforcer body 70 and the bent portion 72 are circularly formed in
the circumferential direction of the opening 22. The reinforcer
body 70 is buried in the wall part 66, and the bent portion 72 is
exposed (or protrudes) from the lower end of the wall part 66. The
lower end of the wall part 66 formed on the rubber part 64 and the
bent portion 72 are fixed to an end 36A of the extending part 36
with double-sided adhesive tape 74. The bent portion 72 is secured
between an opening edge 22C of the opening 22 on the side of the
extending part 36 (the back surface side of the enclosure 12) and
the end 36A of the extending part 36 together with the double-sided
adhesive tape 74.
[0026] The arm part reinforcer 62 is a separate piece from the wall
part reinforcer 60. The arm part reinforcer 62 is formed in a
planer shape and disposed such that its thickness direction
coincides with the opening direction of the opening 22. By being
integral with the end 68A of the arm part 68, the arm part
reinforcer 62 reinforces the end 68A of the arm part 68. The arm
part reinforcer 62 is fixed to the underside of the substrate 50 of
the fingerprint sensor module 30 with double-sided adhesive tape
76. A hole 78 is formed in a center of the arm part reinforcer 62;
the water sealing member 32 is circularly formed as a whole (see
also FIG. 2).
[0027] A connecting portion 68B of the arm part 68 formed between
the wall part 66 and the end 68A of the arm part 68 is formed of
the rubber of the rubber part 64. As a result, the above-described
fingerprint sensor module 30 is resiliently supported relative to
the front case 18 and also is able to move in the opening direction
of the opening 22. When the fingerprint sensor module 30 is pressed
by a finger, the spacer 52 pushes down the movable contact 44,
which comes into contact with the fixed contact 42.
[0028] When assuming that a line orthogonal to the opening
direction of the opening 22 and passing through the connecting
portion between the arm part 68 and the wall part 66 is a virtual
center line 80 as illustrated in FIG. 4, the fingerprint sensor
module 30 presses the switch 28 by causing a flipping motion of the
arm part 68 across the virtual center line 80. In FIG. 4, the arm
part 68 drawn in solid lines represents the position before the
flipping motion, while the arm part 68 drawn in two-dot chain lines
(imaginary lines) represents the position after the flipping
motion.
[0029] Also, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the above-described opening
22, switch 28, and fingerprint sensor module 30 are coaxially
disposed. A central axis line 82 through the opening 22, switch 28,
and fingerprint sensor module 30 is inclined relative to the
thickness direction of the enclosure 12. More specifically, the
central axis line 82 is inclined so as to be biased to the center
side in the length direction of the enclosure 12 (to the side
indicated by arrow C) as it goes from the upper surface of the
enclosure 12 to its underside.
[0030] Next the operation and effects of the embodiment will be
described.
[0031] As discussed in detail above, according to the embodiment,
the water sealing member 32 has as its integral parts the wall part
66 for blocking entry of water from the opening 22 and the arm part
68 supporting the fingerprint sensor module 30. The wall part 66
tightly fits on the inner surface of the opening 22, and the arm
part 68 extends from the wall part 66 to the inner side of the
opening 22. Thus, the size of the enclosure 12 may be reduced
compared to a design which positions a water sealing member for
blocking entry of water from outside the opening 22, for
example.
[0032] As an example of the design which positions the
above-described water sealing member outside the opening 22, a slit
may be formed around the opening 22 and a part of the water sealing
member may be press-fit into the slit. Another design includes, for
example, a rubber member for supporting a fingerprint sensor
module, a holder member disposed around the rubber member, and an
O-ring serving as a water sealing member provided on the periphery
of the holder member. In contrast to these designs, the electronic
device 10 according to the embodiment has the wall part 66 (the
water sealing member) and the arm part 68 provided inside the
opening 22, hence enabling reduction in the size of the enclosure
12.
[0033] The water sealing member 32, having the wall part 66,
includes as its integral part the arm part 68 for supporting the
fingerprint sensor module 30. Thus, the number of parts may be
reduced compared with a case where a water sealing member for
blocking entry of water and a supporting member for supporting the
fingerprint sensor module 30 are separate pieces. This may reduce
assembly steps as well as costs.
[0034] In the electronic device 10, water sealing is achieved at
two positions: at the double-sided adhesive tape 76 between the arm
part reinforcer 62 and the fingerprint sensor module 30, and at the
wall part 66. Due to the low number of points of water sealing,
waterproofness is more secure. Also, the double-sided adhesive tape
74 fixing the lower end of the wall part 66 and the bent portion 72
to the end 36A of the extending part 36 is positioned inside the
water sealing member 32 in the enclosure 12. The double-sided
adhesive tape 74 accordingly does not have to serve as a water
sealing barrier and the adhesion area of the double-sided adhesive
tape 74 thus may be small. This enables further reduction in the
size of the enclosure 12.
[0035] The central axis line 82 through the opening 22, switch 28,
and fingerprint sensor module 30 is inclined relative to the
thickness direction of the enclosure 12. Thus, the projection area
of the opening 22, switch 28, and fingerprint sensor module 30 in
the thickness direction of the enclosure 12 may be small, which
also enables reduction in the size of the enclosure 12.
[0036] Additionally, the wall part 66 is reinforced by the wall
part reinforcer 60. This helps the wall part 66 tightly fit on the
inner surface of the opening 22 with increased stability. Moreover,
the bent portion 72 is formed in a lower end of the reinforcer body
70 buried in the wall part 66. This may improve the rigidity of the
wall part reinforcer 60 and hence that of the wall part 66, thereby
further improving the water sealing ability of the wall part
66.
[0037] The extending part 36 extends from the supporting part 34 to
the opening 22 side (that is, the upper surface side of the
enclosure 12), and the lower end of the wall part 66 and the bent
portion 72 formed in the wall part reinforcer 60 are fixed to the
end 36A of the extending part 36. Accordingly, when the fingerprint
sensor module 30 is pressed to the back surface side of the
enclosure 12, the resulting load may be received by the end 36A of
the extending part 36. This may keep the fingerprint sensor module
30 and the water sealing member 32 from dropping to the back
surface side of the enclosure 12. The bent portion 72 is secured
between the opening edge 22C of the opening 22 on the side of the
extending part 36 and the end 36A of the extending part 36. This
avoids the slipping of the fingerprint sensor module 30 and the
water sealing member 32 to the upper surface side of the enclosure
12 as well.
[0038] Also, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the fingerprint sensor
module 30 is pressed, the arm part 68 flips across the virtual
center line 80 which is orthogonal to the opening direction of the
opening 22 and passing through the connecting portion between the
arm part 68 and the wall part 66. The arm part 68 is connected to a
middle portion of the wall part 66 in its height direction (more
specifically, at a position higher than the lower end of the wall
part 66 and lower than the center of the wall part 66 when seen in
its height direction). Thus, the inclination angle of the arm part
68 relative to the direction orthogonal to the opening direction of
the opening 22 may be made small, which in turn makes the amount of
contraction of the arm part 68 during its flipping motion small.
This may decrease the load desired for pressing the fingerprint
sensor module 30 and thereby improve the operability of the
fingerprint sensor module 30 when it is pressed.
[0039] Next, variations of the embodiment will be described.
[0040] While the fingerprint sensor module 30 is used as an example
of a key top member in the embodiment, a component other than the
fingerprint sensor module 30 may be used as the key top member.
[0041] While the opening 22 is described as being formed on one
edge 18A of the front case 18 seen in the length direction, it may
be formed in other positions on the enclosure 12.
[0042] While the switch 28 is described as a so-called dome switch,
it may be other kinds of switch.
[0043] The arm part 68 is described as being connected to a part on
the lower end side of the center of the wall part 66 in its height
direction as an example of the middle portion of the wall part 66
in the height direction. Alternatively, the arm part 68 may be
connected to the center of the wall part 66 in its height direction
or to a point on the upper end side of the center of the wall part
66 in its height direction.
[0044] While the wall part reinforcer 60 and arm part reinforcer 62
are described as being made of sheet metal, they may be made of
other materials.
[0045] While the electronic device 10 is described as having the
display 14, it does not necessarily have the display 14.
[0046] Note that the variations above may be practiced in
combination as appropriate.
[0047] While an embodiment of the technique according to the
present disclosure has been described, it will be appreciated that
the above description is not limitative and the technique according
to the present disclosure may be practiced with various
modifications made thereto without departing from its scope.
[0048] In relation to an aspect of the technique according to the
present disclosure described above, the following appendices are
further disclosed.
[0049] All examples and conditional language recited herein are
intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in
understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the
inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being
without limitation to such specifically recited examples and
conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the
specification relate to a showing of the superiority and
inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment of the
present invention has been described in detail, it should be
understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations
could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
* * * * *