JP4055472B2 - Waterproof structure for mobile devices - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a waterproof structure for a mobile terminal, and more particularly to a waterproof structure that can provide a predetermined waterproof effect regardless of the fitting state between a front case and a rear case.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Electronic devices are configured by incorporating a printed circuit board on which functional elements are mounted, that is, an electric circuit board, in a housing. The electric board built in the housing is vulnerable to liquids and powders, and if they adhere to the electric board, the functional elements are destroyed, the circuit is short-circuited or corroded, and functions as an electronic device. Will be damaged.
Among electronic devices, a portable terminal (for example, a mobile phone terminal or a PDA) is likely to be used outdoors, and it is highly possible that liquid or powder adheres to the casing due to rain or dust. The body needs to be waterproof.
[0003]
In general, a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone terminal or a PDA has a structure in which a circuit board on which an electronic device is mounted is incorporated in a casing constituted by a front case and a rear case.
In the portable terminal having such a structure, in order to make the casing waterproof, the front case and the rear case are fitted with the packing interposed therebetween, and the packing is crushed to be in close contact with the front case and the rear case. The method is used.
In addition, since the mobile terminal needs to include a key for the user to perform an input operation or the like, a keyhole is formed in the front case. The keyhole is sealed with a key sheet made of rubber or the like interposed between the front case and the circuit board, and then the front case and the rear case are fitted together, and the key sheet is crushed to adhere to the front case. Is used.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the waterproof effect of the keyhole by the key sheet changes depending on the fitting state between the front case and the rear case.
For example, if the impact force or deformation force acts on the casing due to dropping and the fitting state between the front case and the rear case is deteriorated or the key sheet is displaced, the waterproof effect is impaired.
In addition, since the fitting state between the front case and the rear case is different for each terminal, the waterproof effect is also different for each terminal.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a waterproof structure capable of obtaining a predetermined waterproof effect regardless of the fitting state between the front case and the rear case.
[0006]
The waterproof structure of the present invention is substantially cylindrical and has at least one substantially plate having a frame in which at least one claw is protruded on the outer peripheral surface and a claw receiving portion that is fitted to each claw. In a portable terminal having a casing made up of a front case, a rear case, and an electric board , each of which is suspended from a liquid- like member, liquid or powder enters the casing from a key hole provided in the front case. Waterproof structure to prevent,
Wherein the inner surface of the front case, by interposing the key sheet thick portion in a substantially peripheral portion provided with a key top is circumferentially provided to loosely inserted into said key hole, a frame equipped with the electrical substrate is fitted,
The frame is attached to the front case by fitting the claw and the claw receiver,
The thick portion deformed by being pressed by the fitted frame is brought into close contact with the front case.
[0007]
The waterproof structure of the present invention is substantially cylindrical and has at least one substantially plate having a frame in which at least one claw is protruded on the outer peripheral surface and a claw receiving portion that is fitted to each claw. In a portable terminal having a casing made up of a front case, a rear case, and an electric board , each of which is suspended from a liquid- like member, liquid or powder enters the casing from a key hole provided in the front case. Waterproof structure to prevent,
Wherein the inner surface of the front case, by interposing the key sheet thick portion in a substantially peripheral portion provided with a key top is circumferentially provided to loosely inserted into said key hole, a frame equipped with the electrical substrate is fitted,
The frame is attached to the front case by fitting the claw and the claw receiver,
The thick portion deformed by being pressed by the fitted frame is brought into close contact with the front case via a rib formed on the inner surface of the front case.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
1st Embodiment which implemented suitably the waterproof structure of the portable terminal by this invention is described.
1A to 1C show the structure of the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment. This portable terminal includes a front case 1, a key sheet 2, an electric board 3, a frame 4, an electric board 5, a rear case 6, and a battery 7.
[0012]
The front case 1 is a housing on the front side of the mobile phone terminal, and has a key hole for arranging the key top 22. The key sheet 2 includes key tops 22 formed of resin, rubber, or the like at respective positions corresponding to the key holes, and is formed of silicon rubber, fluorine rubber, or the like. On the electric board 3, switches for detecting that the key top 22 is pressed are formed at respective positions corresponding to the key holes.
[0013]
The frame 4 is a member for fixing the electric board 3 and the electric board 5 at predetermined positions. The material of the frame 4 can be resin, casting (die cast metal), ceramics, sintered alloy, titanium, or the like, but a material with higher rigidity is preferable. When using a resin material for the frame 4, it is preferable that silica, carbon, glass fiber, or the like is dispersed and contained in the matrix resin because the rigidity of the frame 4 can be increased. When a resin material is applied to the frame 4, the frame 4 with high dimensional accuracy can be mass-produced at low cost. Moreover, when using casting for the flame | frame 4, it is preferable to form an aluminum type or magnesium type alloy by die-casting. If the frame 4 is formed by die-casting an aluminum or magnesium alloy, it is possible to easily mass-produce a frame with high dimensional accuracy. Furthermore, it is preferable to apply ceramics, titanium, or a sintered alloy to the frame 4 because the rigidity of the frame 4 can be increased.
[0014]
The electric substrate 5 is a substrate on which a circuit for managing functions as a mobile phone terminal such as communication and telephone calls is formed, and a semiconductor element such as a CPU or a memory is mounted thereon. The rear case 6 is a housing on the back side of the mobile phone terminal and includes a mechanism for holding the battery 7. The battery 7 is a power source for driving the electric board 3 and the electric board 5.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. The front case 1 has a holding portion 12 provided with a claw receiver 11, and a claw 41 provided on the frame 4 is fitted thereto. As a result, the crushing white (thick part) 21 formed on the peripheral edge of the key sheet 2 without interruption is pressed between the front case 1 and the electric board 3 and the front case 1. It is in close contact.
[0016]
FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the main part of the telephone terminal according to the present embodiment.
The front case 1 is provided with an appropriate number of holding portions 12 for fitting the frame 4 from the back surface of the portion that becomes the front surface of the mobile phone terminal, and each is formed with a claw holder 11 (11a to 11h). ing.
Note that the number of the holding units 12 is not limited to a specific number, and it is only necessary to hold the frame 4. However, it is preferable to arrange the holding portions 12 so that at least one holding portion 12 is filled in each of the four sides of the frame 4. Moreover, it is preferable to arrange | position the holding | maintenance part 12 in the position which is not object with respect to any of the up-down direction and the left-right direction of a mobile telephone terminal so that the frame 4 cannot be attached upside down.
[0017]
Cutout portions 31 (31a to 31e) and 51 (51a to 51e) for attachment to the frame 4 are provided at predetermined positions on the peripheral portions of the electric substrate 3 and the electric substrate 5, respectively. The number of the cutout portions 31 and the cutout portions 51 is not limited to a specific number, and it is only necessary to fix the electric substrate 3 or the electric substrate 5 to the frame 4. However, it is preferable to provide at least one notch on each of the four sides of the electric substrate 3 and the electric substrate 5. In addition, the positions where the notch 31 and the notch 51 are not targeted in the vertical and horizontal directions of the mobile phone terminal so that the electric board 3 and the electric board 5 cannot be attached in the wrong direction. It is preferable to arrange in. Further, it is preferable that at least one of the cutout portion 31 and the cutout portion 51 is arranged at a different position so that the electric substrate 3 and the electric substrate 5 cannot be installed in a reversed manner.
[0018]
The shape of the frame 4 is substantially cylindrical, and the cross section in the fitting direction is substantially the same shape as the electric board 3 and the electric board 5. On the outer peripheral surface of the frame 4, tabs 41 (41 a to 41 h) are formed at positions where they are fitted to the tab receivers 11 formed on the holding portion 12. In addition, convex portions 43 (43a to 43e) and convex portions 53 (53a to 53e) having a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional view are provided at positions corresponding to the notched portions 31 and the notched portions 51, respectively.
The material of the frame 4 is preferably a plastic resin or a casting (aluminum, magnesium and alloys thereof). Moreover, since the waterproof effect becomes higher as the material having higher rigidity, the material having higher rigidity is preferable.
[0019]
Hereinafter, the process of assembling the front case side of the mobile phone terminal will be described. First, the electric board 3 and the electric board 5 are attached to the frame 4. When the electric substrate 3 oriented in a predetermined direction is pressed against the frame 4, the convex portion 43 is elastically deformed outward, and the convex portion 43 is fitted with the notch portion 31 by further pressing. Thereby, the electric substrate 3 is fixed to the frame 4 by the convex portion 43. The electric substrate 5 is also attached to the frame 4 in the same manner.
[0020]
Next, after aligning the front case 1 and the key sheet 2 so that the key top 22 is disposed in a predetermined key hole, the frame 4 oriented in a predetermined direction is directed to the front case 1. As shown in FIG. 4A, after the frame 4 is crushed and pressed against the scissors 21, the frame 4 is pushed in while further crushing and crushing the scissors 21. As shown in FIG. The frame 4 is fixed to the front case 1 by fitting with the receiver 11.
When the frame 4 is fitted to the front case 1, the crushing white 21 is in close contact with the front case 1, so that liquid or dust that has entered the housing through the gap between the key hole and the key button 22 reaches the electric substrate 3 and the electric substrate 5. Never reach.
[0021]
As described above, the cellular phone terminal having the casing having the waterproof structure according to the present embodiment can provide a waterproof effect against the keyhole only by assembling the front case. Therefore, the waterproof effect on the key hole is constant regardless of the fitting state of the front case 1 and the rear case 6, and does not vary depending on the fitting state.
Moreover, even if the thickness of the crushing white 21 is the same, the obtained waterproof effect can be adjusted by changing the position where the claw 41 is provided. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the claw 41 is provided at a position close to the side facing the front case 1, the crushing white 21 is crushed with a weak force, and a weak waterproof effect is obtained. On the contrary, when the claw 41 is provided at a position far from the side facing the front case 1, the crushing white 21 is crushed with a strong force, and a high waterproof effect is obtained.
Furthermore, since the rigidity of the front case 1 is increased by fitting the frame 4, even if an impact force or a deformation force acts on the housing, the waterproof effect is hardly reduced. This effect becomes more prominent as the frame 4 is made of a material having higher rigidity.
[0022]
[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment in which the waterproof structure of the portable terminal according to the present invention is preferably implemented will be described.
The structure of the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the mobile phone terminal according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and includes a front case 1, a key sheet 2, an electric board 3, a frame 4, an electric board 5, and a rear. It has a case 6 and a battery 7.
[0023]
FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the joint between the front case 1 and the key sheet 2 of the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment. As shown to (a), the rib 13 is formed in the part where the crushing white 21 of the front case 1 is addressed without interruption.
When the front case side is assembled, the rib 13 and the crushing white 21 are aligned and pressed, and when further pressed from here, the crushing white 21 is deformed and crushed, and the rib 13 is buried in the crushing white 21. As shown in (b), when the frame 4 is fitted to the front case 1, the front case 1 and the crush white 21 are brought into close contact with the rib 13 being crushed and deeply embedded in the white 21. Therefore, a waterproof effect higher than that of the waterproof structure according to the first embodiment can be obtained.
Further, since the ribs 13 are crushed and buried in the scissors 21, even if an impact force or the like is applied to the housing, the key sheet 2 is not displaced and the waterproof effect is not impaired.
[0024]
In each of the above-described embodiments, a fitting structure using “claws” is used for fixing the frame 4 and the front case 1. The frame 4 may be structured to be fixed to the front case 1 using screws, pins or the like, but in such a structure, the mounting area of the electric substrate 3 or the electric substrate 5 is reduced. As a result, the total mass of the mobile phone terminal increases or the assembly man-hour increases. For this reason, it is preferable that the frame 4 is fitted to the front case 1 by applying a fitting structure by “claws”.
Further, when the front case 1 is provided with a claw and the frame 4 is fitted, the degree of freedom of mounting on the electric board 3 and the electronic board 5 is lowered. Therefore, as in each of the above embodiments, the front case 1 is provided with a standing wall having a concave hole or a through hole like the holding portion 12 and the frame 4 having the tab 41 is fitted to this. Is preferred.
[0025]
Each of the above embodiments is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these.
For example, the positions and shapes of the claw 11, the holding portion 12, the rib 13, the crushing white 21, and the cutout portions 31 and 51 are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and may be appropriately modified.
In addition, the portable terminal to which the waterproof structure according to the present invention can be applied is not limited to a cellular phone terminal or a PDA, but can be applied to any terminal having an input key (for example, a calculator, a TV remote controller, an electronic dictionary). It is.
As described above, the present invention can be variously modified.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when applied to a mobile terminal, it is possible to provide a waterproof structure capable of obtaining a predetermined waterproof effect regardless of the fitted state between the front case and the rear case.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a mobile phone terminal having a housing with a waterproof structure according to a first embodiment in which the present invention is preferably implemented. (A) shows the front external appearance of a housing | casing. (B) shows the structure of the AA cross section of a mobile telephone terminal. (C) shows the structure of a BB cross section of a mobile phone terminal.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a joint portion of a casing of the mobile phone terminal according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a main part of the mobile phone terminal according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a joint portion between a front case and a key sheet.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing that the waterproof effect obtained differs depending on the position where the claw is formed.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a structure of a joint portion between a front case and a key sheet of a mobile phone terminal having a case with a waterproof structure according to a second embodiment in which the present invention is preferably implemented.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front case 2 Key sheet | seat 3, 5 Electric board 4 Frame 6 Rear case 7 Battery 11 Claw receiving 12 Holding part 13 Rib 21 Crushing white 22 Key top 31, 51 Notch part 41 Claw 43, 45 Convex part

Claims (7)

A frame that is substantially cylindrical and has at least one claw projecting on the outer peripheral surface, and at least one substantially plate-like member that is recessed or perforated to fit each claw is suspended from the inner surface. In a portable terminal having a casing made of a front case, a rear case, and an electric board , a waterproof structure that prevents liquid or powder from entering the casing from a key hole provided in the front case. There,
Wherein the inner surface of the front case, by interposing the key sheet thick portion in a substantially peripheral portion provided with a key top is circumferentially provided to loosely inserted into said key hole, a frame equipped with the electrical substrate is fitted,
The frame is attached to the front case by fitting the claw and the claw receiver,
The waterproof structure, wherein the thick portion deformed by being pressed by the fitted frame is brought into close contact with the front case. A frame that is substantially cylindrical and has at least one claw projecting on the outer peripheral surface, and at least one substantially plate-like member that is recessed or perforated to fit each claw is suspended from the inner surface. In a portable terminal having a casing made of a front case, a rear case, and an electric board , a waterproof structure that prevents liquid or powder from entering the casing from a key hole provided in the front case. There,
Wherein the inner surface of the front case, by interposing the key sheet thick portion in a substantially peripheral portion provided with a key top is circumferentially provided to loosely inserted into said key hole, a frame equipped with the electrical substrate is fitted,
The frame is attached to the front case by fitting the claw and the claw receiver,
The waterproof structure, wherein the thick portion deformed by being pressed by the fitted frame is brought into close contact with the front case via a rib formed on an inner surface of the front case. The waterproof structure according to claim 2 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the frame in the fitting direction is substantially rectangular, and at least one of the claws is provided on each of the outer peripheral surfaces of the four sides of the frame. The waterproof structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the frame is formed of die-cast metal. The waterproof structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the frame is formed by powder sintering. It said frame, a waterproof structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed of a resin material 3. The waterproof structure according to claim 6 , wherein fine particles or fibers are dispersed in the resin.

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