U.S. patent application number 16/709686 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-10 for electronic device.
This patent application is currently assigned to SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yoshitaka Uchida.
Application Number | 20210176883 16/709686 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004546387 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210176883 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uchida; Yoshitaka |
June 10, 2021 |
ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Abstract
An electronic device includes a board having a mounting surface
for an electronic component, a case having an opening for insertion
of the board into the case and configured to house the board
inserted through the opening, and a cover fixed to the case so as
to close the opening. The board also has at least one deformable
device formed on an end side of the board and configured to be
elastically deformable in a direction orthogonal to the mounting
surface. The deformable device comes into contact with the case or
the cover in a state of being elastically deformed to hold the
board in a fixed state in a storage space formed through fixation
of the cover to the case when the board is housed in the storage
space.
Inventors: |
Uchida; Yoshitaka;
(Saitama-ken, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING
CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000004546387 |
Appl. No.: |
16/709686 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 16/02 20130101;
H05K 7/1427 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H05K 7/14 20060101
H05K007/14; B60R 16/02 20060101 B60R016/02 |
Claims
1. An electronic device comprising: a board having a mounting
surface for an electronic component; a case having an opening for
insertion of the board into the case and configured to house the
board inserted through the opening; and a cover fixed to the case
so as to close the opening, wherein the board has at least one
deformable device formed on an end side of the board and configured
to be elastically deformable in a direction orthogonal to the
mounting surface, and the deformable device comes into contact with
the case or the cover in a state of being elastically deformed to
hold the board in a fixed state in a storage space formed through
fixation of the cover to the case when the board is housed in the
storage space.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
deformable device is formed on an insertion leading end side of the
board when the board is inserted into the case in a direction along
the mounting surface, the case has a case-side board holder
provided at an inside of the case which faces the opening, and the
deformable device comes into contact with the case-side board
holder to be elastically deformed by the case-side board holder
when the board is inserted into the case.
3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
deformable device is formed on an end side of the board which is
located on a side with the cover when the board is housed in the
storage space, the cover has a cover-side board holder provided on
an inner side of the cover which faces the storage space when the
cover is fixed to the case, and the deformable device of the board
inserted in the case comes into contact with the cover-side board
holder to be elastically deformed by the cover-side board holder
when the cover is fixed to the case.
4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the case has
a case-side board holder provided at an inside of the case which
faces the opening, the cover has a cover-side board holder provided
on an inner side of the cover which faces the storage space when
the cover is fixed to the case, and the deformable device of the
board inserted in the case comes into contact with the case-side
board holder and the cover-side board holder in a state of being
held in the case-side board holder and the cover-side board holder
to be elastically deformed when the cover is fixed to the case.
5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein one of the
at least one deformable device is formed on each of two sides in a
direction along the mounting surface at an end of the board.
6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
deformable device is formed by making a notch L-shaped in plain
view in the end side of the board.
7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
deformable device is formed by making a notch T-shaped in plain
view in the end side of the board.
8. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the
case-side board holder includes two first holders configured to
extend from an inner surface of the case which faces the opening
toward the opening, and at least one second holder configured to
extend from the inner surface of the case toward the opening at a
position between the two first holders, the two first holders and
the second holder are arranged with a distance smaller than a
thickness of the board inserted in the case between the two first
holders and the second holder in a thickness direction of the
board, and an insertion leading end side of the board is supported
by the two first holders, and the deformable device is pressed by
the second holder to be elastically deformed when the board is
inserted into the case.
9. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the
cover-side board holder includes two first holders configured to
extend from an inner side surface of the cover which faces the
storage space when the cover is fixed to the case toward the
storage space, and at least one second holder configured to extend
from the inner side surface of the cover toward the storage space
at a position between the two first holders, the two first holders
and the second holder are arranged with a distance smaller than a
thickness of the board inserted in the case between the two first
holders and the second holder in a thickness direction of the
board, and the end side of the board located on the side with the
cover is supported by the two first holders, and the deformable
device is pressed by the second holder to be elastically deformed
when the cover is fixed to the case.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Electronic devices which control a piece of electrical
equipment mounted on a vehicle include one which includes, in a
case, a case-side board holder having a gap, into which a board is
to be inserted and in which the board is to be held, as a structure
to hold a board in the case (see, for example, JP2015-233087A). In
an electronic device including such a case-side board holder, a gap
of the case-side board holder is formed to be larger than a
thickness of a board so as to ensure insertion of a board into the
gap of the case-side board holder, in view of manufacturing
variations.
[0003] Since the gap of the case-side board holder is formed to be
larger than a thickness of a board in the above-described
electronic device including the case-side board holder, the
electronic device can hold a substrate even in the presence of
manufacturing variations. However, a board held in the case-side
board holder may shake due to vehicle vibration to generate an
unusual noise.
[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the
above-described problem, and has its object to provide an
electronic device capable of preventing a board from shaking in a
case to generate an unusual noise.
[0005] An electronic device according to the present invention
includes a board having a mounting surface for an electronic
component, a case having an opening for insertion of the board into
the case and configured to house the board inserted through the
opening, and a cover fixed to the case so as to close the opening.
The board has at least one deformable device formed on an end side
of the board and configured to be elastically deformable in a
direction orthogonal to the mounting surface, and the deformable
device comes into contact with the case or the cover in a state of
being elastically deformed to hold the board in a fixed state in a
storage space formed through fixation of the cover to the case when
the board is housed in the storage space.
[0006] The electronic device according to the present invention is
configured such that the deformable device formed at the board
comes into contact with the case or the cover in the state of being
elastically deformed to hold the board in the fixed state in the
storage space when the board is housed in the storage space formed
through fixation of the cover to the case. This makes it possible
to prevent the board from shaking in the case to generate an
unusual noise.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic
device according to a first embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a board constituting part of
the electronic device;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the board constituting part of the
electronic device;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a case constituting part of
the electronic device;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a front view of the case constituting part of the
electronic device;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line VI-VI in
FIG. 5;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line VII-VII in
FIG. 5;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a cover constituting
part of the electronic device;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a back view of the cover constituting part of the
electronic device;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a back perspective view of the cover constituting
part of the electronic device;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along line XI-XI in
FIG. 9;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along line XII-XII
in FIG. 9;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a plan view of the case and the board showing a
first step in assembly of the board to the case;
[0020] FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV
in FIG. 13;
[0021] FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the case and the board
taken along line XV-XV in FIG. 14;
[0022] FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the case and the board
taken along line XV-XV in FIG. 14, showing a second step in the
assembly of the board to the case;
[0023] FIG. 17 is a plan view of the case and the board taken along
line XV-XV in FIG. 14, showing a third step in the assembly of the
board to the case;
[0024] FIG. 18 is a plan view of the cover and the board showing a
first step in assembly of the cover to the case;
[0025] FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view taken along line XIX-XIX
in FIG. 18;
[0026] FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view of the cover and the board
taken along line XX-XX in FIG. 19;
[0027] FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of the cover and the board
taken along line XX-XX in FIG. 19, showing a second step in the
assembly of the cover to the case;
[0028] FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view of the cover and the board
taken along line XX-XX in FIG. 19, showing a third step in the
assembly of the cover to the case;
[0029] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the electronic device
according to the first embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view showing a deformable
device formed at a board and case-side board holders in an
electronic device according to a second embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 25 is a cross sectional view showing a deformable
device formed at a board and case-side board holders in an
electronic device according to a third embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 26 is a cross sectional view showing deformable devices
formed at a board and case-side board holders in an electronic
device according to a fourth embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 27 is a cross sectional view showing deformable devices
formed at a board and case-side board holders in an electronic
device according to a fifth embodiment; and
[0034] FIG. 28 is a schematic view schematically showing an
electronic device according to a sixth embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below
with reference to the drawings. Note that, for example, a term such
as "parallel" or "orthogonal," a value of a length or an angle, or
the like used in a description of the embodiments to specify a
shape or a geometric condition and the degree of the shape or
geometric condition is not bound by an exact meaning thereof and is
assumed to be interpreted as including a range within which a
similar function can be expected. A same portion or a portion
having a similar function in the drawings to be referred to in the
embodiments is denoted by a same or similar reference numeral, and
a repetitive description thereof may be omitted. Dimensional ratios
in the drawings may be different from actual ratios or part of a
configuration may be omitted, for convenience of description. In
the embodiments, directions indicated by an up down arrow, a left
right arrow, and a front back arrow shown in FIG. 1 and the like
are defined as a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a
longitudinal direction for convenience of description, and a
position and orientation of a constituent portion of an electronic
component will be described.
First Embodiment
[0036] An electronic device 1 according to a first embodiment is an
electronic control device for controlling a piece of electrical
equipment, such as a motor or a suspension damper, mounted on a
vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 1 includes a
board 2 on which an electronic component 21 is mounted, a case 3
which houses the board 2, and a cover 4 which is fixed to the case
3.
[Board 2]
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the board 2 is a
rectangular-plate-shaped printed wiring board which has a
predetermined length and a predetermined width in the longitudinal
direction and the lateral direction, and has a predetermined
thickness in the vertical direction. The electronic component 21
and a connector 22 are mounted on a mounting surface 2a which is an
upper surface of the board 2. The electronic component 21 is a
component which is driven by power supplied from a power source
(e.g., a battery) mounted on the vehicle to execute control of the
piece of electrical equipment mounted on the vehicle. Although FIG.
2 and the like show a state where only one electronic component 21
is mounted on the mounting surface 2a, various electronic
components are actually mounted on the mounting surface 2a. Various
electronic components are also mounted on a lower surface of the
board 2. The connector 22 has a box-shaped housing which opens
rearward and a plurality of connection terminals which are fixed to
the housing. The connector 22 is mounted on the mounting surface 2a
by inserting end sides of the plurality of connection terminals
protruding from the housing into a through-hole extending
vertically through the board 2 and soldering the end sides. A
connector on a harness (cable) side which is linked to the power
source and the piece of electrical equipment mounted on the vehicle
is inserted into and connected to a connection opening 22a which
opens rearward of the connector 22 (the housing). A wiring pattern
which electrically connects the electronic component 21, the
connector 22, and the like is formed on the mounting surface 2a of
the board 2. A resist layer for protecting the wiring pattern and
the like is provided on the mounting surface 2a.
[0038] Respective deformable devices 23 and 24 which are
elastically deformable in the vertical direction are formed at four
corners of the board 2. More specifically, two front-side
deformable devices 23 are formed on a side with a front end 2b of
the board 2. One front-side deformable device 23 is formed on each
of two left and right sides at the front end 2b of the board 2. The
front-side deformable device 23 is formed on the front end 2b side
of the board 2 by making, in the board 2, a notch C1 L-shaped in
plan view which extends rearward from the front end 2b and then
extends in the lateral direction from a rear end. The front-side
deformable device 23 thus formed has a deformable base 23a which is
linked to the board 2 and extends frontward and a deformable arm
23b which extends in the lateral direction (toward a center of the
board 2) from a front of the deformable base 23a. With the
deformable base 23a and the deformable arm 23b, the front-side
deformable device 23 is formed to be L-shaped in plan view and is
cantilevered with respect to the board 2. The board 2 is formed
like a thin plate of a resin material or the like. For this reason,
the front-side deformable device 23 is elastically deformable such
that the distal end side of the deformable arm 23b moves in the
vertical direction using, as a fulcrum, at least one of a joint
between the board 2 and the deformable base 23a and a joint between
the deformable base 23a and the deformable arm 23b when force acts
on a distal end (free end) side of the deformable arm 23b in the
vertical direction.
[0039] Two rear-side deformable devices 24 are formed on a side
with a rear end 2c of the board 2. One rear-side deformable device
24 is formed on each of two left and right sides at the rear end 2c
of the board 2. The rear-side deformable device 24 is formed on the
rear end 2c side of the board 2 by making, in the board 2, a notch
C2 L-shaped in plan view which extends frontward from the rear end
2c and then extends in the lateral direction from a front end. The
rear-side deformable device 24 thus formed has a deformable base
24a which is linked to the board 2 and extends rearward and a
deformable arm 24b which extends in the lateral direction (toward
the center of the board 2) from the deformable base 24a. With the
deformable base 24a and the deformable arm 24b, the rear-side
deformable device 24 is also formed to be L-shaped in plan view and
is cantilevered with respect to the board 2. As described above,
the board 2 is formed like a thin plate of a resin material or the
like. For this reason, the rear-side deformable device 24 is
elastically deformable such that a distal end (free end) side of
the deformable arm 24b moves in the vertical direction using, as a
fulcrum, at least one of a joint between the board 2 and the
deformable base 24a and a joint between the deformable base 24a and
the deformable arm 24b when force acts on the distal end side of
the deformable arm 24b in the vertical direction. Note that
although the resist layer is provided on the mounting surface 2a,
as described above, a resist layer may not be provided at portions
of the mounting surface 2a where the front-side and rear-side
deformable devices 23 and 24 are formed to facilitate elastic
deformation of the front-side and rear-side deformable devices 23
and 24. Deformable devices similar to the front-side and rear-side
deformable devices 23 and 24 may be formed on left and right end
sides of the board 2.
[Case 3]
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the case 3 is a rectangular
box-shaped member made of resin which is composed of a front wall
3a, a lower wall 3b, an upper wall 3c, a left wall 3d, and a right
wall 3e. The case 3 has a case-side opening 31 which opens
rearward. The case 3 is configured to house the board 2 inserted
through the case-side opening 31. The board 2 passes through the
case-side opening 31 in a direction from the front end 2b side
along the mounting surface 2a, is inserted into the case 3, and is
housed.
[0041] The case 3 has two sets of case-side board holders 32
provided at an inner surface of the front wall 3a which faces the
case-side opening 31 inside the case 3. One set of case-side board
holders 32 is provided on each of two left and right sides at the
inner surface of the front wall 3a. One set of case-side board
holders 32 has two case-side first holders 321 which are arranged
with a predetermined distance therebetween in the lateral direction
at the front wall 3a and one case-side second holder 322 which is
arranged between the two case-side first holders 321.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the two case-side first holders
321 are each shaped like a flat plate which extends from the inner
surface of the front wall 3a toward the case-side opening 31
(rearward) and is provided with an orientation having the lateral
direction as a thickness direction. Of the two case-side first
holders 321, the case-side first holder 321 arranged on a laterally
central side of the case 3 is longer in a dimension extending
toward the case-side opening 31 (rearward) than the case-side first
holder 321 arranged on a side with the left or right wall 3d or 3e
(see FIG. 7). Respective inclined surfaces 321a which incline
downward toward a rear are formed on rear end sides of the two
case-side first holders 321 (see FIG. 6).
[0043] The case-side second holder 322 is arranged between and
above the two case-side first holders 321 at the inner surface of
the front wall 3a. Like the case-side first holders 321, the
case-side second holder 322 is shaped like a flat plate which
extends from the inner surface of the front wall 3a toward the
case-side opening 31 (rearward) and is provided with an orientation
having the lateral direction as a thickness direction. A dimension
extending toward the case-side opening 31 of the case-side second
holder 322 is shorter than that of the case-side first holder 321
arranged on the laterally central side of the case 3 and is longer
than that of the case-side first holder 321 arranged on the left or
right wall 3d or 3e side (see FIG. 7). An inclined surface 322a
which inclines upward toward the rear is formed on a rear end side
of the case-side second holder 322 (see FIG. 6). The two case-side
first holders 321 and the case-side second holder 322 are arranged
with a distance smaller than the thickness of the board 2
therebetween in the vertical direction. In other words, a distance
in the vertical direction (a distance d1 shown in FIG. 14) between
upper ends of the two case-side first holders 321 and a lower end
of the case-side second holder 322 is a distance smaller than the
thickness of the board 2.
[0044] One set of case-side board holders 32 further includes a
case-side third holder 323 which is arranged above the case-side
first holder 321 arranged on the left or right wall 3d or 3e side
at the inner surface of the front wall 3a. Like the holders 321 and
322, the case-side third holder 323 is shaped like a flat plate
which extends from the inner surface of the front wall 3a toward
the case-side opening 31 (rearward) and is provided with an
orientation having the lateral direction as a thickness direction.
A dimension extending toward the case-side opening 31 of the
case-side third holder 323 is shorter than that of the case-side
first holder 321 arranged on the left or right wall 3d or 3e side
(see FIG. 7). The case-side first holder 321 arranged on the left
or right wall 3d or 3e side and the case-side third holders 323 are
arranged with a distance equal to (or slightly larger than) the
thickness of the board 2 in the vertical direction. In other words,
the board 2 can be inserted into between the upper end of the
case-side first holder 321 and a lower end of the case-side third
holder 323, and the board 2 is held between the case-side first
holder 321 and the case-side third holder 323.
[0045] One set of case-side board holders 32 further includes a
convex board front end positioning projection 324 which is arranged
between the upper ends of the two case-side first holders 321 and
the lower end of the case-side second holder 322 at the inner
surface of the front wall 3a. The board front end positioning
projection 324 is arranged between the two case-side first holders
321 and closer to the left or right wall 3d or 3e than the
case-side second holder 322. The board front end positioning
projection 324 is configured to come into contact with the distal
end side of the deformable arm 23b of the front-side deformable
device 23 at the board 2 to press the deformable arm 23b in a
direction opposite to an insertion direction (rearward) when the
board 2 is inserted into the case 3. Note that the board front end
positioning projection 324 may be changed in arrangement in the
lateral direction to another position.
[0046] The case 3 includes two board insertion guides 35 which are
provided on two left and right sides, respectively, at an inner
surface of the lower wall 3b inside the case 3. The two board
insertion guides 35 each extend from a position close to the
case-side opening 31 toward the inner surface of the front wall 3a
at the inner surface of the lower wall 3b. A height (a height from
the inner surface of the lower wall 3b) of the board insertion
guide 35 is slightly lower than (or generally equal to) those of
the upper ends of the two case-side first holders 321 (see FIGS. 5
and 6).
[0047] As shown in FIG. 4, the case 3 includes two convex case-side
lockers 36 which are provided on two left and right sides,
respectively, at a position close to the case-side opening 31 and
two U-shaped lock walls 37 which are each provided so as to
surround two left and right sides and a front side of the case-side
locker 36 at an outer surface of the upper wall 3c. Two case-side
lockers 36 and two lock walls 37 are also provided at the lower
wall 3b of the case 3 (see FIG. 5). The case 3 further includes, at
the upper wall 3c, a connector receiver 38 in a shape bulging
upward at a lateral center at a position close to the case-side
opening 31 and two lug receivers 39 which are provided on two left
and right sides, respectively, of the connector receiver 38. The
two lug receivers 39 each extend vertically through the upper wall
3c and have a notched shape which opens rearward. The upper wall 3c
of the case 3 has a stepped shape in which a rear-side portion
extending from a longitudinal center is higher than a front-side
portion.
[Cover 4]
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the cover 4 is a
flat-plate-shaped member which has a predetermined thickness in the
longitudinal direction and extends in the lateral direction. The
cover 4 is shaped like a flat plate large enough to close the
case-side opening 31 of the case 3 and is fixed to the case 3 so as
to close the case-side opening 31. The cover 4 includes a
cover-side opening 45 which is provided at a laterally central
position and three outer-side lugs 47 which are provided on two
left and right sides of the cover-side opening 45 at an upper end
of the cover 4 and at a lateral center at a lower end of the cover
4. The cover-side opening 45 is provided not at a vertical center
of the cover 4 but at a position closer to an upper side and opens
upward. The cover 4 further includes two sets of cover-side lockers
46 which are provided closer to left and right ends, respectively,
than the three outer-side lugs 47. The two sets of cover-side
lockers 46 each include two flat-plate-shaped lock arms 461 which
extend frontward from the upper end and the lower end,
respectively, of the cover 4. A lock hole 461a which extends in the
vertical direction is formed in each of the two lock arms 461.
[0049] The cover 4 includes two sets of cover-side board holders 41
which are provided at a front surface 4a (an inner surface) of the
cover 4, facing an inside of the case 3, when the cover 4 is fixed
to the case 3. One set of cover-side board holders 41 is provided
on two left and right sides at the front surface 4a of the cover 4.
One set of cover-side board holders 41 includes, at the front
surface 4a of the cover 4, two cover-side first holders 411 which
are arranged with a predetermined distance therebetween in the
lateral direction and one cover-side second holder 412 which is
arranged between the two cover-side first holders 411.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the two cover-side first holders
411 are each shaped like a flat plate which extends frontward from
the front surface 4a of the cover 4 and is provided with an
orientation having the lateral direction as a thickness direction.
The two cover-side first holders 411 are equal in a dimension
extending frontward from the front surface 4a (see FIG. 12).
Respective inclined surfaces 411a which incline downward toward a
front are formed on front end sides of the two cover-side first
holders 411 (see FIG. 11).
[0051] The cover-side second holder 412 is arranged between and
above the two cover-side first holders 411 at the front surface 4a
of the cover 4. Like the cover-side first holders 411, the
cover-side second holder 412 is shaped like a flat plate which
extends frontward from the front surface 4a and is provided with an
orientation having the lateral direction as a thickness direction.
A dimension extending frontward of the cover-side second holder 412
is equal to the dimensions extending frontward from the front
surface 4a of the two cover-side first holders 411 (see FIG. 11).
An inclined surface 412a which inclines upward toward the front is
formed on a front end side of the cover-side second holder 412 (see
FIG. 11). The two cover-side first holders 411 and the cover-side
second holder 412 are arranged with a distance smaller than the
thickness of the board 2 therebetween in the vertical direction. In
other words, a distance in the vertical direction (a distance d2
shown in FIG. 19) between upper ends of the two cover-side first
holders 411 and a lower end of the cover-side second holder 412 is
a distance smaller than the thickness of the board 2.
[0052] One set of cover-side board holders 41 further includes, at
the front surface 4a of the cover 4, two cover-side third holders
413 which are arranged at a position above the cover-side first
holder 411 arranged on a left or right end side of the cover 4 and
a position close to the cover-side opening 45. Like the holders 411
and 412, the two cover-side third holders 413 are each shaped like
a flat plate which extends frontward from the front surface 4a and
is provided with an orientation having the lateral direction as a
thickness direction. Dimensions extending frontward of the
cover-side third holders 413 are shorter than those of the
cover-side first holders 411 (see FIG. 12). The cover-side first
holder 411 and the cover-side third holder 413 arranged on the left
or right end side of the cover 4 are arranged with a distance equal
to (or slightly larger than) the thickness of the board 2 in the
vertical direction. In other words, the board 2 can be inserted
into between the upper end of the cover-side first holder 411 and a
lower end of the cover-side third holder 413, and the board 2 is
held between the cover-side first holder 411 and the cover-side
third holder 413.
[0053] One set of cover-side board holders 41 further includes a
convex board rear end positioning projection 414 which is arranged
between the upper ends of the two cover-side first holders 411 and
the lower end of the cover-side second holder 412 at the front
surface 4a of the cover 4. The board rear end positioning
projection 414 is arranged between the two cover-side first holders
411 and closer to the left or right end of the cover 4 than the
cover-side second holder 412. The board rear end positioning
projection 414 is configured to come into contact with the distal
end side of the deformable arm 24b of the rear-side deformable
device 24 at the board 2 to press the deformable arm 24b in a
direction opposite to an insertion direction (frontward) when the
board 2 is inserted into between the cover-side board holders 41
(see FIG. 22). Note that the board rear end positioning projection
414 may be changed in arrangement in the lateral direction to
another position.
[0054] The cover 4 includes a plurality of inner-side lugs 48 which
are provided on two upper and lower sides of the front surface 4a
and a connector support 49 which is provided at a position close to
the cover-side opening 45 at a lateral center at the front surface
4a. The plurality of inner-side lugs 48 are each shaped like a flat
plate which extends frontward from the front surface 4a. The
plurality of inner-side lugs 48 are configured to come close to (or
come into contact with) inner surfaces of the upper and lower walls
3c and 3b of the case 3 and to, together with the above-described
three outer-side lugs 47, hold the upper and lower walls 3c and 3b
of the case 3 in the vertical direction when the cover 4 is fixed
to the case 3. The connector support 49 is shaped like a flat plate
which extends frontward from the front surface 4a. An inclined
surface 49a which inclines downward toward the front is formed on a
front end side of the connector support 49 (see FIG. 10). The
connector support 49 is configured to come into contact with a
lower end outer surface of the connector 22 at the board 2 housed
in the case 3 to support the connector 22 when the cover 4 is fixed
to the case 3. The cover 4 further includes, at the front surface
4a, a plurality of flat-plate-shaped reinforcers 43 which are
provided to link the plurality of inner-side lugs 48 and
flat-plate-shaped board insertion guides 44 which are provided
closer to the left and right ends, respectively, than the two sets
of cover-side board holders 41.
[Assembly of Electronic Device 1]
[0055] Assembly of the electronic device 1 with the above-described
configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic
device 1 is assembled by inserting the board 2 through the
case-side opening 31 into the case 3 and then fixing the cover 4 to
the case 3 so as to close the case-side opening 31. Note that the
electronic device 1 is also configured such that it is possible to
assemble the board 2 and the cover 4 together and fix the cover 4
to the case 3 while inserting the board 2 in an assembled state
into the case 3.
[Insertion of Board 2 into Case 3]
[0056] The board 2 passes through the case-side opening 31 in a
direction from the front end 2b side along the mounting surface 2a
and is inserted into the case 3. The board 2 is inserted while
being guided so as to slide on upper ends of the left and right
board insertion guides 35 inside the case 3. When the board 2 is
inserted into the case 3, the front end 2b of the board 2 first
comes into contact with the inclined surfaces 321a of the case-side
first holders 321 arranged on the laterally central side of the
case 3 in the left and right case-side board holders 32. After
that, front ends of the deformable bases 23a of the left and right
front-side deformable devices 23 at the board 2 come into contact
with the inclined surfaces 321a, respectively, of the case-side
first holders 321 arranged on the left wall 3d side and the right
wall 3e side of the case 3 in the left and right case-side board
holders 32. The board 2 is inserted into the case 3 while the front
end 2b of the board 2 and the front ends of the left and right
deformable bases 23a are pushed upward along the inclined surfaces
321a.
[0057] When the board 2 is further inserted into the case 3, front
ends on the free end sides of the deformable arms 23b in the left
and right front-side deformable devices 23 come into contact with
the inclined surfaces 322a, respectively, of the case-side second
holders 322 in the left and right case-side board holders 32, as
shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. The free end sides of the left and right
deformable arms 23b are pushed downward along the inclined surfaces
322a. With the downward push, the front-side deformable devices 23
are elastically deformed such that the free end sides of the left
and right deformable arms 23b move downward using, as a fulcrum, a
portion of contact between a lower surface of each deformable base
23a and the upper end of the corresponding case-side first holder
321. After that, as shown in FIG. 16, the left and right deformable
bases 23a are held between the upper ends of the case-side first
holders 321 and the lower ends of the case-side third holders 323.
As shown in FIG. 17, the board 2 is inserted into the case 3 until
front ends of the left and right deformable arms 23b come into
contact with the left and right board front end positioning
projections 324. When the board 2 is inserted into the case 3, as
described above, the front end 2b side of the board 2 is supported
from below by the upper ends of the case-side first holders 321,
the left and right deformable bases 23a are held between the
case-side first holders 321 and the case-side third holders 323 in
the vertical direction, and the left and right deformable arms 23b
come into contact with the lower ends of the case-side second
holders 322 in a state of being elastically deformed downward. With
this configuration, the front end 2b side of the board 2 is held by
the case 3.
[Fixation of Cover 4 to Case 3]
[0058] After the board 2 is inserted into the case 3, as described
above, the cover 4 is fixed to the case 3 so as to close the
case-side opening 31. When the cover 4 is brought closer to the
case 3 in a state where the front surface 4a of the cover 4 is made
to face the case-side opening 31, the inclined surfaces 411a of the
cover-side first holders 411 in the left and right cover-side board
holders 41 at the cover 4 come into contact with the rear end 2c of
the board 2 inserted in the case 3 and rear ends of the deformable
bases 24a of the left and right rear-side deformable devices 24, as
shown in FIGS. 18 to 20. While the inclined surfaces 411a of the
left and right cover-side first holders 411 are pushing the rear
end 2c of the board 2 and the rear ends of the left and right
deformable bases 24a upward along the inclined surfaces 411a, the
front surface 4a of the cover 4 comes closer to the rear end 2c of
the board 2. At this time, the inclined surface 49a of the
connector support 49 at the cover 4 come into contact with the
lower end outer surface of the connector 22 mounted on the board 2.
While the inclined surface 49a of the connector support 49 is
pushing the connector 22 upward along the inclined surface 49a, the
inclined surface 49a guides the connector 22 such that the
connection opening 22a of the connector 22 protrudes outward from
the cover-side opening 45 of the cover 4. Additionally, inner side
surfaces of the left and right board insertion guides 44 of the
cover 4 come into contact with left and right ends of the board 2,
thereby positioning the board 2 in the lateral direction.
[0059] When the front surface 4a of the cover 4 comes further
closer to the rear end 2c of the board 2, the inclined surfaces
412a of the cover-side second holders 412 in the left and right
cover-side board holders 41 come into contact with rear ends on the
free end sides of the deformable arms 24b of the left and right
rear-side deformable devices 24 at the board 2, as shown in FIG.
21. The inclined surfaces 412a of the left and right cover-side
second holders 412 push the free end sides of the left and right
deformable arms 24b down along the inclined surfaces 412a. With the
downward push of the free end sides of the deformable arms 24b, the
rear-side deformable devices 24 are elastically deformed such that
the free end sides of the left and right deformable arms 24b move
downward using, as a fulcrum, a portion of contact between a lower
surface of each deformable base 24a and the upper end of the
corresponding cover-side first holder 411. After that, as shown in
FIG. 22, the upper ends of the two cover-side first holders 411 and
the lower ends of the two cover-side third holders 413 hold the
rear end 2c of the board 2 and the deformable bases 24a in the
vertical direction in the left and right cover-side board holders
41. Additionally, the board rear end positioning projections 414 in
the left and right cover-side board holders 41 come into contact
with the rear ends on the free end sides of the left and right
deformable arms 24b at the board 2. In this state, the rear end 2c
side and the left and right deformable bases 24a at the board 2 are
held between the cover-side first holders 411 and the cover-side
third holders 413 in the vertical direction, and the left and right
deformable arms 24b come into contact with the lower ends of the
cover-side second holders 412 in a state of being elastically
deformed downward. With this configuration, the rear end 2c side of
the board 2 is held by the cover 4.
[0060] As for the fixation of the cover 4 to the case 3, the left
and right case-side lockers 36 at the case 3 are inserted into and
brought into engagement with the lock holes 461a of the left and
right cover-side lockers 46 at the cover 4, thereby fixing the
cover 4 to the case 3, as shown in FIG. 23. In a storage space
formed through the fixation of the cover 4 to the case 3, as
described above, the front end 2b side of the board 2 is supported
from below by the case-side first holders 321, the left and right
deformable bases 23a are held between the case-side first holders
321 and the case-side third holders 323 in the vertical direction,
and the left and right deformable arms 23b come into contact with
the lower ends of the case-side second holders 322 in a state of
being elastically deformed downward. With this configuration, the
front end 2b side of the board 2 is held by the case 3.
Additionally, the rear end 2c side and the left and right
deformable bases 24a at the board 2 are held between the cover-side
first holders 411 and the cover-side third holders 413 in the
vertical direction, and the left and right deformable arms 24b come
into contact with the lower ends of the cover-side second holders
412 in a state of being elastically deformed downward. With this
configuration, the rear end 2c side of the board 2 is held by the
cover 4. In addition, the left and right deformable arms 23b of the
front-side deformable devices 23 and the left and right deformable
arms 24b of the rear-side deformable devices 24 are depressed in
the longitudinal direction by the board front end positioning
projections 324 and the board rear end positioning projections 414.
With this configuration, the board 2 is held in a state of being
restricted in movement in the longitudinal direction in the storage
space. As described above, the board 2 is held in a fixed state in
the storage space formed through fixation of the cover 4 to the
case 3.
[0061] As has been described above, in the electronic device 1
according to the first embodiment, each of the deformable devices
23 and the deformable devices 24 formed at the board 2 is brought
into contact with the case 3 or the cover 4 in a state of being
elastically deformed when the board 2 is housed in the storage
space formed through fixation of the cover 4 to the case 3. This
allows holding of the board 2 in the storage space by use of
elastic force of the deformable devices 23 and 24 in directions
which eliminate elastic deformation. It is thus possible to prevent
the board 2 from shaking in the case 3 to generate an unusual
noise.
[0062] In the electronic device 1 according to the first
embodiment, when the board 2 is inserted through the case-side
opening 31 into the case 3 in a direction along the mounting
surface 2a, the deformable arms 23b of the front-side deformable
devices 23 formed at the front end 2b that is an insertion leading
end of the board 2 are elastically deformed by coming into contact
with the case-side second holders 322 of the case-side board
holders 32 provided at the inner surface of the front wall 3a of
the case 3, facing the case-side opening 31. For this reason,
insertion of the board 2 into the case 3 and holding of the board 2
in the case 3 by use of elastic deformation of the front-side
deformable devices 23 can be simultaneously performed. It is thus
possible to efficiently assemble the electronic device 1.
[0063] In the electronic device 1 according to the first
embodiment, when the cover 4 is fixed to the case 3, the deformable
arms 24b of the rear-side deformable devices 24 formed at the rear
end 2c located on a side with the cover 4 of the board 2 inserted
in the case 3 are elastically deformed by coming into contact with
the cover-side second holders 412 of the cover-side board holders
41 provided at the inner surface of the cover 4. For this reason,
fixation of the cover 4 to the case 3 and holding of the rear end
2c side of the board 2 by use of elastic deformation of the
rear-side deformable devices 24 can be simultaneously performed. It
is thus possible to efficiently assemble the electronic device
1.
[0064] In the electronic device 1 according to the first
embodiment, one front-side deformable device 23 is formed on each
of two sides in the lateral direction along the mounting surface 2a
at the front end 2b of the board 2, and one rear-side deformable
device 24 is formed on each of the two sides in the lateral
direction along the mounting surface 2a at the rear end 2c of the
board 2. Since holding of the board 2 by use of elastic force of
the deformable devices 23 and 24 can be performed on the two end
sides in the lateral direction of the board 2, the board 2 can be
stably held. Additionally, the front-side deformable devices 23 and
the rear-side deformable devices 24 are formed by making cuts
L-shaped in plan view on the end 2b side and the end 2c side of the
board 2. It is thus possible to easily form the front-side
deformable devices 23 and the rear-side deformable devices 24 in a
shape suitable for elastic deformation without complicating a shape
of a die for shaping the deformable devices 23 and 24.
[0065] In the electronic device 1 according to the first
embodiment, when the board 2 is inserted into the case 3, the front
end 2b side of the board 2 is held by the two case-side first
holders 321, and each front-side deformable device 23 is
elastically deformed by being pressed by the case-side second
holder 322 arranged between the two case-side first holders 321 at
a distance smaller than the thickness of the board 2 in the
thickness direction of the board 2 from the case-side first holders
321. It is thus possible to press each front-side deformable device
23 with the case-side second holder 322 between two points while
supporting the board 2 at the two points with the two case-side
first holders 321 and stably elastically deform the front-side
deformable device 23. This allows stable holding of the board
2.
[0066] In the electronic device 1 according to the first
embodiment, when the cover 4 is fixed to the case 3, the rear end
2c side of the board 2 is held by the two cover-side first holders
411, and each rear-side deformable device 24 is elastically
deformed by being pressed by the cover-side second holder 412
arranged between the two cover-side first holders 411 at a distance
smaller than the thickness of the board 2 in the thickness
direction of the board 2 from the cover-side first holders 411. It
is thus possible to press each rear-side deformable device 24 with
the cover-side second holder 412 between two points while
supporting the board 2 at the two points with the two cover-side
first holders 411 and stably elastically deform the rear-side
deformable device 24. This allows stable holding of the board
2.
[0067] The first embodiment of the present invention has been
described so far. The embodiment is illustrative only, and the
present invention is not limited to the embodiment. For example,
although the front-side deformable devices 23 and the rear-side
deformable devices 24 are formed at two ends of the front end 2b
and the rear end 2c at the board 2 in the first embodiment,
deformable devices may be formed at either one of the front end 2b
and the rear end 2c. Various modifications, replacements,
omissions, and the like as described below can be made without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Second Embodiment
[0068] As shown in FIG. 24, a deformable device to be formed at a
board 2 may be formed by making a notch C3 extending linearly from
an end of the board 2. A deformable device 250 which is formed on a
side with a front end 2b of the board 2 is cantilevered to extend
in a lateral direction with respect to the board 2. Case-side board
holders 350 which are provided at an inner surface of a front wall
3a of a case 3 include one case-side first holder 351 and one
case-side second holder 352. When the board 2 is inserted into the
case 3, a free end side of the deformable device 250 is pushed
upward along an inclined surface of the case-side second holder 352
by coming into contact with the inclined surface. With the upward
push, the deformable device 250 is elastically deformed such that
the free end side of the deformable device 250 moves upward using,
as a fulcrum, a portion of contact between the front end 2b side of
the board 2 and a lower end of the case-side first holder 351. In
the above-described manner, the front end 2b side of the board 2 is
supported from above by the case-side first holder 351, and the
free end side of the deformable device 250 comes into contact with
an upper end of the case-side second holder 352 in a state of being
elastically deformed upward. With this configuration, the front end
2b side of the board 2 is held by the case 3. According to the
configuration, as in the first embodiment, the board 2 can be held
in the case 3 without shakes, using elastic deformation of the
deformable device 250. Additionally, provision of the linear notch
C3 simpler than the L-shaped notch C1 allows easier formation of
the deformable device 250. Note that configurations similar to
those of the deformable device 250 and the case-side board holders
350 may be adopted for a deformable device to be formed on a side
with a rear end 2c of the board 2 and a cover-side board holder to
be formed at a cover 4.
Third Embodiment
[0069] As shown in FIG. 25, a deformable device to be formed at a
board 2 may be formed by making a notch C4 extending linearly in an
inner portion of the board 2 on an end side of the board 2. A
deformable device 260 which is formed on a side with a front end 2b
of the board 2 is shaped like a flat plate which includes the front
end 2b of the board 2 and extends in a lateral direction. Case-side
board holders 360 which are provided at an inner surface of a front
wall 3a of a case 3 include two case-side first holders 361 and one
case-side second holder 362. When the board 2 is inserted into the
case 3, a lateral center of the deformable device 260 is pushed
downward along an inclined surface of the case-side second holder
362 by coming into contact with the inclined surface. With the
downward push, the deformable device 260 is elastically deformed
such that the lateral center of the deformable device 260 moves
downward using, as fulcrums, portions of contact between the front
end 2b side of the board 2 and upper ends of the two case-side
first holders 361. In the above-described manner, the front end 2b
side of the board 2 is supported from below by the two case-side
first holders 361, and the lateral center of the deformable device
260 comes into contact with a lower end of the case-side second
holder 362 in a state of being elastically deformed downward. With
this configuration, the front end 2b side of the board 2 is held by
the case 3. According to the configuration, as in the first
embodiment, the board 2 can be held in the case 3 without shakes,
using elastic deformation of the deformable device 260. Note that
configurations similar to those of the deformable device 260 and
the case-side board holders 360 may be adopted for a deformable
device to be formed on a side with a rear end 2c of the board 2 and
a cover-side board holder to be formed at a cover 4.
Fourth Embodiment
[0070] As shown in FIG. 26, deformable devices to be formed at a
board 2 may be formed by making a notch C5 T-shaped in plan view in
a front end 2b of the board 2. Two deformable devices 270 which are
formed on a side with the front end 2b of the board 2 are each
cantilevered to extend in a lateral direction with respect to the
board 2. The two deformable devices 270 are provided with
respective free ends facing each other. Case-side board holders 370
which are provided at an inner surface of a front wall 3a of a case
3 include two case-side first holders 371 and two case-side second
holders 372. The two case-side second holders 372 may be integral
with each other. When the board 2 is inserted into the case 3, the
two deformable devices 270 come into contact with respective
inclined surfaces of the case-side second holders 372, thereby
pushing free end sides of the two deformable devices 270 downward
along the inclined surfaces. With the downward push, the two
deformable devices 270 are elastically deformed such that the free
end sides of the deformable devices 270 move upward using, as
fulcrums, portions of contact between the front end 2b side of the
board 2 and upper ends of the two case-side first holders 371. In
the above-described manner, the front end 2b side of the board 2 is
supported from below by the two case-side first holders 371, and
the free end sides of the two deformable devices 270 come into
contact with lower ends of the case-side second holders 372 in a
state of being elastically deformed downward. With this
configuration, the front end 2b side of the board 2 is held by the
case 3. According to the configuration, as in the first embodiment,
the board 2 can be held in the case 3 without shakes, using elastic
deformation of the two deformable devices 270. Note that
configurations similar to those of the deformable devices 270 and
the case-side board holders 370 may be adopted for a deformable
device to be formed on a side with a rear end 2c of the board 2 and
a cover-side board holder to be formed at a cover 4.
12
Fifth Embodiment
[0071] As shown in FIG. 27, deformable devices to be formed at a
board 2 may be formed by making a notch C6 extending linearly from
an end of the board 2 and a notch C7 L-shaped in plan view. Two
deformable devices 280 and 290 which are formed on a side with a
front end 2b of the board 2 are each cantilevered to extend in a
lateral direction with respect to the board 2. The two deformable
devices 280 and 290 are provided with respective fixed ends facing
each other. Case-side board holders 380 which are provided at an
inner surface of a front wall 3a of a case 3 include one case-side
first holder 381 and two case-side second holders 382. When the
board 2 is inserted into the case 3, free end sides of the two
deformable devices 280 and 290 are pushed upward along respective
inclined surfaces of the case-side second holders 382 by coming
into contact with the inclined surfaces. With the upward push, the
two deformable devices 280 and 290 are elastically deformed such
that the free end sides of the two deformable devices 280 and 290
move upward using, as a fulcrum, a portion of contact between the
front end 2b side of the board 2 and a lower end of the case-side
first holder 381. In the above-described manner, the front end 2b
side of the board 2 is supported from above by the case-side first
holder 381, and the free end sides of the two deformable devices
280 and 290 come into contact with upper ends of the case-side
second holders 382 in a state of being elastically deformed upward.
With this configuration, the front end 2b side of the board 2 is
held by the case 3. According to the configuration, as in the first
embodiment, the board 2 can be held in the case 3 without shakes,
using elastic deformation of the two deformable devices 280 and
290. Note that configurations similar to those of the deformable
devices 280 and 290 and the case-side board holders 380 may be
adopted for a deformable device to be formed on a side with a rear
end 2c of the board 2 and a cover-side board holder to be formed at
a cover 4.
Sixth Embodiment
[0072] As schematically shown in FIG. 28, a case 3 may be a
box-shaped member which opens upward, and a cover 4 may be fixed to
the case 3 so as to close an upper opening of the case 3. Two sets
of case-side board holders 390 which are provided on two left and
right sides at an inner surface of the case 3 each include two
case-side holders 391. Two sets of cover-side board holders 490
which are provided on two left and right sides at an inner surface
of the cover 4 each include one cover-side holder 491. When a board
2 is inserted through the upper opening of the case 3 into the case
3, deformable bases 24a on two left and right sides of the board 2
are supported from below by the two case-side holders 391. When the
cover 4 is fixed to the case 3 so as to close the upper opening of
the case 3, lower ends of the left and right cover-side holders 491
at the cover 4 come into contact with upper surfaces, respectively,
on free end sides of left and right deformable arms 24b of the
board 2, thereby pushing the free end sides of the left and right
deformable arms 24b downward. With the downward push, the left and
right deformable arms 24b are elastically deformed such that the
free end sides of the left and right deformable arms 24b move
downward using, as fulcrums, portions of contact between lower
surfaces of the deformable bases 24a and the case-side holders 391.
In the above-described manner, a side with a rear end 2c of the
board 2 and the left and right deformable arms 24b are supported
from below by the case-side holders 391, and the free end sides of
the left and right deformable arms 24b come into contact with the
lower ends, respectively, of the cover-side holders 491 in a state
of being elastically deformed downward. With this configuration,
the rear end 2c side of the board 2 is held by the case 3.
Configurations similar to those of the case-side and cover-side
board holders 390 and 490 are adopted for case-side and cover-side
board holders which hold the front end 2b side of the board 2.
According to the configuration, as in the first embodiment, the
board 2 can be held in the case 3 without shakes, using elastic
deformation of the left and right rear-side deformable devices 24.
Note that a configuration similar to those of the deformable
devices described in the second to fifth embodiments may be adopted
for a deformable device to be formed at the board 2.
* * * * *