JP7803185B2 - Electronic device housing structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a housing structure for an electronic device.

In recent years, various electronic devices have been installed in structures such as vehicles. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose housing structures for housing electronic devices. If the vertical and horizontal alignment of each side of the housing is not maintained, the accuracy of assembly to the structure may deteriorate, or the housing may not be able to be assembled to the structure. As a result, a method has been adopted in which a frame is attached around the housing to correct the housing.

International Publication No. 2017/022066 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-129669

When the corrective force of the housing relative to the frame is required, the area of the frame attached to the housing tends to be larger, increasing the area covered by the frame. For electronic devices that have a wireless communication unit with a built-in antenna for short-range wireless communication or the like inside the housing, this poses the problem of not being able to position the wireless communication unit because the radio waves from the wireless communication unit are blocked.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a housing structure for an electronic device that allows for the placement of a wireless communication unit while maintaining the corrective force of the housing.

According to a first aspect of the embodiment, a housing structure for an electronic device is provided, comprising: right and left side panels arranged opposite each other; a bottom chassis located below the right and left side panels and fixed to the bottom ends of the right and left side panels, defining the distance between the bottom ends of the right and left side panels; a support frame extending between the right and left side panels and fixed to the top ends of the right and left side panels; and a front frame having an L-shape with a vertical piece connected to a horizontal piece, the base portion where the vertical piece and the horizontal piece are connected being located on one of the right and left side panels. The base portion includes a first fixing portion fixed to the bottom end of one of the side panels, the horizontal piece extending from the base portion toward the other side panel and including a second fixing portion fixed to the bottom end of the other side panel, and the vertical piece extending upward from the base portion and fixed to the top end of one of the side panels.

This invention allows the placement of a wireless communication unit while maintaining the corrective force of the housing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the housing structure of an electronic device according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the housing structure of the electronic device according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the housing structure of the electronic device according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the positioning function of the first fixing portion according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the anti-rotation function of the second fixing portion according to this embodiment.

The housing structure of an electronic device according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment, directions are defined as left-right, front-rear, and up-down. The left-right and front-rear directions correspond to two directions that are orthogonal to the horizontal direction, and the left and right directions in the left-right direction refer to the direction when looking from the back to the front. The up-down direction corresponds to the vertical direction. However, these directions are used merely for convenience in describing the housing structure according to this embodiment.

The housing structure according to this embodiment can be applied to electronic devices mounted on a vehicle, such as the housing 1 of a car navigation device. This car navigation device is mounted, for example, inside the vehicle's instrument panel, and is attached to the vehicle via brackets or the like attached to both sides of the housing 1 (specifically, the right and left side panels 20, 30, described below).

The housing 1 comprises a bottom chassis 10, right and left side panels 20, 30, a rear panel 40, a front frame 50, and a support frame 60. Although some features are omitted from the drawings, the housing 1 is provided with features necessary for heat dissipation of electronic devices and for mounting a car navigation device.

The bottom chassis 10 is a component that forms the lower part of the housing 1 and is made of sheet metal.

Rising pieces 12, 13 are provided on the right and left edges of the bottom chassis 10. The rising pieces 12, 13 are precisely finished so that the distance between them is a predetermined dimension. In addition, a rear rising piece 14 is provided on the rear edge of the bottom chassis 10.

The right and left side plates 20, 30 are components that make up the right and left parts of the housing 1, and are made of sheet metal. The right and left side plates 20, 30 are arranged facing each other. The right side plate 20 is arranged on the right edge of the bottom chassis 10, and its lower end is fixed to the right-side rising piece 12 with screws or the like. The left side plate 30 is arranged on the left edge of the bottom chassis 10, and its lower end is fixed to the left-side rising piece 13 with screws or the like.

As shown in Figure 3, a flange piece 21 bent toward the left is provided on the front edge of the right side panel 20. The flange piece 21 has a first hole 22, a third hole 23, and an engagement piece 24. The first hole 22 is provided on the lower end of the flange piece 21 and is used to secure the front frame 50. The third hole 23 is provided on the upper end of the flange piece 21 and is used to secure the front frame 50. The engagement piece 24 is provided on the upper end of the flange piece 21 and is used to secure the support frame 60.

A flange piece 31 bent toward the right is provided on the front edge of the left side panel 30. The flange piece 31 has a second hole 32 and an engagement piece 33. The second hole 32 is provided on the lower end of the flange piece 31 and is used to secure the front frame 50. The engagement piece 33 is provided on the upper end of the flange piece 21 and is used to secure the support frame 60. The distance from the lower end of the left side panel 30 to the engagement piece 33 is formed to be equal to the distance from the lower end of the right side panel 20 to the engagement piece 24.

When fixing the right and left side panels 20, 30 to the right and left rising pieces 12, 13, a fixing method that utilizes the tongues and holes described below to perform positioning and anti-rotation functions may also be applied.

The rear plate 40 is a member that constitutes the rear of the housing 1 and is made of sheet metal. The rear plate 40 is positioned on the rear edge of the bottom chassis 10, and its lower end is fixed to the rear rising piece 14 with screws or the like.

The front frame 50 is provided at the front of the housing 1. The front of the housing 1 is open and is partially closed by the front frame 50. The front frame 50 is fixed to the right and left side panels 20, 30, respectively.

The front frame 50 is L-shaped and made of sheet metal, with a vertical piece 50a and a horizontal piece 50b connected. The root portion 50c, where the vertical piece 50a and the horizontal piece 50b connect, is located on the right side panel 20 side of the right and left side panels 20, 30. The vertical piece 50a extends upward from the root portion 50c. The horizontal piece 50b extends laterally from the root portion 50c toward the left side panel 30.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the base portion 50c includes a first fixing portion 51. The first fixing portion 51 has a tongue-like shape that extends rearward. The first fixing portion 51 is fixed to the lower end of the right side panel 20 by being inserted into a first hole 22 provided in the right flange piece 21.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the horizontal piece 50b includes a second fixing portion 52. The second fixing portion 52 has a tongue-like shape that extends rearward. The second fixing portion 52 is fixed to the lower end of the left side panel 30 by being inserted into the second hole 32 provided in the left flange piece 31.

As shown in Figure 3, the vertical piece 50a includes a third fixing portion 53. The third fixing portion 53 has a tongue-like shape that extends rearward. The third fixing portion 53 is fixed to the upper end of the right side panel 20 by being inserted into a third hole 23 provided in the right flange piece 21.

The front frame 50 is equipped with a stiffening structure that reinforces the rigidity of the base portion 50c. Specifically, the upper edge 50ca of the base portion 50c is finished in a shape that slopes from the vertical piece 50a toward the horizontal piece 50b, increasing the width of the base portion 50c. Furthermore, a convex portion 50cb is provided from the base portion 50c to the horizontal piece 50b, formed by drawing so that part of the frame surface is raised in a convex shape.

The support frame 60 is provided at the front of the housing 1 and is positioned higher than the side piece 50b of the front frame 50. The front of the housing 1 is partially blocked by the support frame 60. The support frame 60 is fixed to the right and left side panels 20, 30.

The support frame 60 extends between the right and left side panels 20, 30. The support frame 60 is made of sheet metal.

In this embodiment, the support frame 60 is a bracket that secures the unit 100, which constitutes part of the navigation device, within the housing 1. The unit 100 is, for example, a disk unit that reads disks such as DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), or a hard disk unit equipped with a hard disk. By using the bracket for securing the unit as the support frame 60, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and simplify the structure. Furthermore, by reducing the number of parts provided in the front of the housing 1, it is possible to minimize the areas where radio waves are blocked.

The support frame 60 includes a right-side engagement groove 61. The right-side engagement groove 61 is formed by a notch provided on the right side of the lower edge of the support frame 60. The right-side engagement groove 61 engages with the engagement piece 24 provided on the right-side flange piece 21, thereby securing it to the upper end of the right-side side panel 20.

The support frame 60 includes a left-side engagement groove 62. The left-side engagement groove 62 is formed by a notch provided on the left side of the lower edge of the support frame 60. The left-side engagement groove 62 engages with an engagement piece 33 provided on the left-side flange piece 31, thereby securing it to the upper end of the left-side side panel 30.

The right and left engagement grooves 61, 62 are precisely formed so that the distance between them is a predetermined dimension.

The correction function of the housing 1 achieved by the housing structure according to this embodiment will now be described. First, as shown in Figure 3, the lower ends of the right and left side plates 20, 30 are fixed to the right and left rising pieces 12, 13, respectively. The spacing between the right and left rising pieces 12, 13 is finished with a certain degree of precision, ensuring the precision of the spacing between the lower ends of the right and left side plates 20, 30.

Furthermore, the engagement piece 24 provided on the upper end of the right side plate 20 engages with the right engagement groove 61 of the support frame 60. Similarly, the engagement piece 33 provided on the upper end of the left side plate 30 engages with the left engagement groove 62 of the support frame 60. The spacing between the right and left engagement grooves 61, 62 is finished with a consistent precision, ensuring the accuracy of the spacing between the upper ends of the right and left side plates 20, 30. In addition, the distance from the bottom end of the right side plate 20 to the engagement piece 24 is set to be equal to the distance from the bottom end of the left side plate 30 to the engagement piece 33.

This relationship ensures that the right and left side panels 20, 30 are parallel to each other.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the tongue-shaped first fixing portion 51 is wide in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the first hole 22 into which the first fixing portion 51 is inserted is formed as an opening that is wide in the left-right direction. In this case, a downward-protruding convex portion is formed on the upper edge 22a of the first hole 22, and an upward-protruding convex portion is formed on the lower edge 22b of the first hole 22. The distance between the upper edge 22a and the lower edge 22b is equal to or slightly greater than the vertical thickness of the first fixing portion 51. In addition, the distance between the right edge 22c and the left edge 22d of the first hole 22 is equal to or slightly greater than the left-right width of the first fixing portion 51.

By inserting the first fixing portion 51 into the first hole 22, the first fixing portion 51 is fixed to the lower end of the right side panel 20. When the first fixing portion 51 is inserted into the first hole 22, the upper and lower edges 22a, 22b of the first hole 22 restrict up-and-down movement of the first fixing portion 51. Similarly, the right and left edges 22c, 22d of the first hole 22 restrict left-and-right movement of the first fixing portion 51. As a result, the first fixing portion 51 performs a positioning function in the up-and-down and left-and-right directions, restricting the position of the front frame 50 in the up-and-down and left-and-right directions.

The front frame 50 is only restricted in its position in the vertical and horizontal directions, and is therefore permitted to rotate about the first fixing portion 51. In contrast, as shown in Figure 5, the tongue-shaped second fixing portion 52 is formed to be wide in the vertical direction. In this case, the distance between the upper edge 32a and lower edge 32b of the second hole portion 32 into which the second fixing portion 52 is inserted is formed to be equal to or slightly larger than the vertical width of the second fixing portion 52.

By inserting the second fixing portion 52 into the second hole 32, the second fixing portion 52 is fixed to the lower end of the left side panel 30. When the second fixing portion 52 is inserted into the second hole 32, the upper and lower edges 32a, 32b of the second hole 32 restrict vertical movement of the second fixing portion 52. As a result, the second fixing portion 52 functions as a rotation stopper, restricting rotation of the front frame 50.

When the right and left side panels 20, 30 are fixed to the bottom chassis 10, the heights of the first hole 22 and the second hole 32 are set to match. Therefore, by fixing the first and second fixing parts 51, 52, the horizontal position of the lateral piece 50b of the front frame 50 is ensured.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the third fixing portion 53 is inserted into the third hole 23. This secures the third fixing portion 53 to the upper end of the right side panel 20. The front frame 50 is pre-formed so that the line connecting the first fixing portion 51 and the second fixing portion 52 is perpendicular to the line connecting the first fixing portion 51 and the third fixing portion 53. Since the horizontal piece 50b of the front frame 50 is guaranteed to be horizontal, inserting the third fixing portion 53 into the third hole 23 also ensures that the right side panel 20 is vertical. As described above, because the right and left side panels 20, 30 are parallel to each other, it is guaranteed that the right and left side panels 20, 30 are each perpendicular to the bottom chassis 10.

As described above, the housing structure of this embodiment, equipped with the front frame 50 and support frame 60, allows for accurate correction of the housing 1. In this case, the open area on the front side of the housing 1 is not entirely covered by the frame, but is only partially covered by the front frame 50 and support frame 60. This allows for a partial opening of the front area of the housing 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a wireless communication unit 150 with a built-in antenna for wireless communication can be placed near the left side panel 30, between the front frame 50 and the support frame 60. This allows the wireless communication unit 150 to be placed in an area that is not affected by radio waves.

Therefore, the housing structure of this embodiment can provide a housing structure for an electronic device that allows for placement of the wireless communication unit 150 while maintaining the corrective force of the housing 1.

In addition, in this embodiment, the front frame 50 has a stiffening structure that reinforces the rigidity of the base portion 50c. This configuration ensures high rigidity for the front frame 50, allowing for appropriate correction of the housing 1.

In this embodiment, the first fixing portion 51 provided on the base portion 50c has a positioning function that regulates the position of the front frame 50 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The second fixing portion 52 provided on the lateral piece portion 50b has a rotation stop function that regulates rotation of the front frame 50 around the first fixing portion 51. This allows the front frame 50 to be fixed horizontally.

The first fixing portion 51 serves as a reference for maintaining horizontality and verticality, and performs a positioning function. Conversely, in contrast to the approach shown in this embodiment, it is also possible to provide a rotation prevention function for the first fixing portion 51 provided on the base portion 50c, and a positioning function for the second fixing portion 52. However, since the first fixing portion 51 on the base portion 50c also ensures perpendicularity with respect to the third fixing portion 53, providing the rotation prevention function for the first fixing portion 51 may make it impossible to ensure perpendicularity with respect to the third fixing portion 53. On the other hand, with the configuration according to this embodiment, the first fixing portion 51 on the base portion 50c performs a positioning function, and the second fixing portion 52 on the side piece portion 50b performs a rotation prevention function, thereby ensuring perpendicularity with respect to the third fixing portion 53. This allows for effective correction of the housing 1.

In this embodiment, a bracket that secures the unit 100 within the housing 1 is used as the support frame 60. However, a dedicated part may be used as the support frame 60 without reusing the bracket. However, by reusing the bracket, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and achieve weight reduction. Furthermore, by reducing the number of parts provided in the front of the housing 1, it is possible to minimize the area where radio waves are blocked.

The embodiment described above is not limited to the above configuration, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The housing structure according to this embodiment is used in conjunction with a car navigation device as an example of an electronic device, but is not limited to this and can be widely applied to electronic devices mounted on vehicles. Furthermore, the housing structure according to this embodiment can be applied not only to electronic devices mounted on vehicles, but also to electronic devices mounted on various objects.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Housing 10 Bottom chassis 12, 13, 14 Standing piece 20 Right side plate 21 Right flange piece 22 First hole 23 Third hole 24 Right engagement piece 30 Left side plate 31 Left flange piece 32 Second hole 33 Left engagement piece 40 Rear plate 50 Front frame 50a Vertical piece 50b Horizontal piece 50c Base portion 51 First fixing portion 52 Second fixing portion 53 Third fixing portion 60 Support frame 61 Right engagement groove 62 Left engagement groove

Claims (5)

Right and left side plates arranged to face each other;
a bottom chassis located below the right and left side plates, to which lower ends of the right and left side plates are fixed, defining a gap between the lower ends of the right and left side plates;
a support frame extending between the right and left side plates, with upper ends of the right and left side plates fixed thereto, and defining the distance between the upper ends of the right and left side plates;
a front frame having an L-shape with a vertical piece and a horizontal piece connected thereto, the base portion where the vertical piece and the horizontal piece are connected being located on one of the right and left side plates;
the base portion includes a first fixing portion fixed to a lower end side of the one side plate,
the horizontal piece portion extends from the root portion toward the other side plate and includes a second fixing portion fixed to a lower end side of the other side plate,
the vertical piece portion extends upward from the base portion and includes a third fixing portion fixed to an upper end side of the one of the side plates. The electronic device housing structure according to claim 1 , wherein the front frame includes a stiffening structure that reinforces the rigidity of the base portion. the electronic device includes a communication unit for wireless communication;
The electronic device housing structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication unit is disposed near the other side plate and between the front frame and the support frame. the first fixing portion is fixed to a lower end side of the one side plate to regulate a position of the front frame in the up-down direction and the left-right direction;
The housing structure for an electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second fixing portion is fixed to a lower end side of the other side plate, thereby restricting rotation of the front frame around the first fixing portion. the first fixing portion has a tongue shape that is inserted into a first hole portion that is formed in the one side plate,
When the first fixing part is inserted into the first hole part, the upper and lower edge parts of the first hole part restrict the up-down movement of the first fixing part, and the right and left edge parts of the first hole part restrict the left-right movement of the first fixing part,
the second fixing portion has a tongue shape that is inserted into a second hole portion that is provided in the other side plate,
The electronic device housing structure according to claim 4, wherein when the second fixing portion is inserted into the second hole portion, the upper and lower edges of the second hole portion restrict vertical movement of the second fixing portion.