JP2007318006A - Metal chassis and electronic devices that place it inside a thin electronic device casing - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure that satisfies the mechanical strength of the entire electronic device while realizing a reduction in thickness and weight of the electronic device.
The metal chassis is disposed inside the thin electronic device casing and functions as a structural member. The metal chassis has substantially the same outer shape as the main surface of the thin electronic device casing. Provided is an electronic device having a chassis plane portion on which electronic components are arranged on both sides and a side wall portion which is disposed on all or a part of the outer periphery of the chassis plane portion to increase the rigidity of the chassis plane portion.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure for maintaining the mechanical strength of a thin electronic device.

  Conventionally, the mechanical strength of an electronic device has been ensured by making the casing function as a structural member. That is, the casing itself has mechanical strength, so that the shape of the electronic device is maintained, and the internal electronic components are protected from external forces such as pressing, impact, and twist. However, in recent years, with the reduction in thickness and weight of electronic devices, it has been required to further reduce the thickness of the housing, and the mechanical strength of the housing has to be lowered. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult to achieve the objective of ensuring the mechanical strength of electronic equipment. This tendency is particularly remarkable in portable and portable electronic devices. On the other hand, since the electronic device is easily affected by external forces such as dropping, pressing, and striking, mechanical strength such as impact resistance is an essential factor. For the purpose of solving such conflicting problems, the following inventions are known.

  Patent Document 1 is an invention for reducing the weight of the entire liquid crystal display device by providing a die cast frame that supports a liquid crystal panel, a reflector, and a lamp.

  In Patent Document 2, a plurality of grooves or steps are provided in the flat portion of the rear housing, and the interval between the grooves or steps is made narrower than before, and the control circuit board of the display device is arranged in a space formed there. Thus, the invention provides a display device structure that is strong against external force and can protect a control circuit board such as an inverter disposed between the liquid crystal display device and the back casing and components in the liquid crystal display device. .

In Patent Document 3, a casing having a substantially rectangular flat portion is formed as a metal molded product by melting, and a step substantially parallel to the molten metal flowing direction from the gate on one side to the other side at the time of molding is disclosed. Is provided, and the central part of the flat part is raised in a convex shape, so that the thickness of the casing is reduced, and it is high with respect to external force without deteriorating the formability at the time of forming a metal molded part. It is an invention that provides a portable information processing device that has durability and is lighter.
JP 2004-334299 A JP 2004-325844 A JP2003-204174A

  However, the above invention is a technique for increasing the mechanical strength of only the liquid crystal display portion of the liquid crystal display device, or a technique for increasing the mechanical strength of the casing. Also, the internal electronic components are fixed directly to the housing or indirectly through other electronic components. That is, all the technologies still have the same function as the structural member of the entire electronic device. Therefore, there has been a limit to reducing the thickness of the housing while maintaining the mechanical strength in order to reduce the thickness and weight of the electronic device.

  Therefore, the present invention is to provide a structure that satisfies the mechanical strength of the entire electronic device while realizing a reduction in thickness and weight of the electronic device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the electronic device according to the present invention has a thin housing, further thins the housing, and secures the mechanical strength of the electronic device in the housing as well as the housing. Realized by a flat metal chassis. That is, this invention provides the electronic device shown below. A first invention of the present application is an electronic device including a thin electronic device casing and a metal chassis disposed inside the thin electronic device casing and functioning as a structural member, wherein the metal chassis is the thin Side wall having substantially the same outer shape as the main surface of the electronic device casing and disposed on all or part of the outer peripheral portion of the chassis plane portion on which the electronic components are arranged on both sides, thereby increasing the rigidity of the chassis plane portion An electronic device having a portion. Moreover, 2nd invention of this application is providing the electronic device characterized by the said metal chassis being the lightweight alloy property containing any one or more of aluminum, titanium, or magnesium. Moreover, 3rd invention of this application is providing the electronic device characterized by a side wall part including a double side wall. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus characterized in that the side wall portion has both side walls formed so as to protrude on both sides with respect to the chassis plane. The fifth invention of the present application is to provide an electronic apparatus characterized in that the metal chassis has a flat plate shape as a whole. In addition, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the planar portion of the metal chassis has a thickness of 0.35 mm when the vertical size is in the range of 10 cm to 20 cm and the horizontal size is in the range of 20 cm to 40 cm. It is to provide an electronic device characterized by being in a range of 0.65 mm. Furthermore, a seventh invention of the present application is to provide an electronic device characterized in that the height of the side wall is 3 mm to 15 mm from the chassis plane. An eighth invention of the present application is to provide a metal chassis described in any one of the electronic devices.

  According to the electronic device of the present invention, the mechanical strength and rigidity of the entire electronic device can be ensured by the metal chassis disposed inside the thin electronic device casing. Further, since the internal electronic components are arranged and fixed on the metal chassis, the casing can be thinned while maintaining the strength and impact resistance of the electronic device. With these effects, the electronic device can be further reduced in thickness and weight while ensuring the overall mechanical strength.

  The best mode for carrying out each invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be carried out in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.

  <Overview> The present invention relates to an electronic device in which a metal chassis that functions as a structural member is arranged inside a thin electronic device casing. The metal chassis can maintain the mechanical strength of the entire electronic device without depending only on the mechanical strength of the housing. In addition, since the internal electronic components are arranged and fixed in a metal chassis, the casing can be thinned while maintaining the strength and impact resistance of the electronic device. As a result, the electronic device can be further reduced in thickness and weight.

  <Configuration> In the present application, a portable thin liquid crystal display device as shown in FIG. 1 will be described as an example of the electronic apparatus of the present invention. 2 and 3 respectively show a front perspective exploded view and a rear perspective exploded view of the portable thin liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1 in order to explain the configuration of the electronic apparatus of the present invention. ing. As shown in these exploded views, the electronic device (0100, 0200, 0300) of the present invention includes a thin electronic device casing (0201, 0301) and a metal chassis (0202, 0302). Liquid crystal display units (0203, 0303), substrates (0204, 0304), battery cases (0205, 0305), etc., which are electronic components, are arranged and fixed on both sides. FIG. 4 shows the metal chassis (0400). From a perspective overall view (a) and a Y direction indicated by an arrow when cut in the vertical direction along line X1-X1 ′ in (a). A cross-sectional view (b), and an enlarged view (c) of a region indicated by a broken-line circle in (b) are shown. The metal chassis has a chassis flat portion (0401) indicated by a hatched area in (a) and a side wall portion (0402) on the outer periphery thereof. Hereinafter, each component will be described.

  “Electronic device” (0200) refers to a device in which electronic components such as a substrate are arranged inside a housing. Examples include display devices, hard disks, notebook computers, UMPCs (Ultra-Mobile PCs), PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), mobile phones, portable players, digital cameras, electronic dictionaries, electronic books, IC recorders, speakers, watches, etc. .

  The “thin electronic device casing” (0201) is a thin box that houses electronic components inside. “Electronic components” are not limited to electronic components such as substrates, display units, and speakers, but refer to main internal components that are necessary for the functions of electronic devices, such as battery cases and terminals. Further, the term “thin” here is a concept determined by the aspect ratio of the casing. That is, when the vertical, horizontal, and height ratios of the casings are a, b, and c, respectively, an electronic device casing having a relationship of a> c and b> c corresponds to a thin electronic device casing. . At this time, the height c corresponds to the thickness of the thin electronic device casing. The thickness size varies depending on the size of the thin electronic device casing and the type of electronic device. In general, the thickness size of a large electronic device casing increases. For example, the thickness size is 1 cm or more and 15 cm or less for a case of a large-medium electronic device such as a display device, and the thickness size is 5 mm or more and 4 cm or less for a case of a medium-sized electronic device such as a notebook computer. In the case of a casing of a small electronic device such as a mobile phone, a portable player, or a digital camera, the case where the thickness is 2 mm or more and 1.5 cm or less corresponds to the “thin” here. As a more specific example, when the vertical size of the thin electronic device casing is in the range of 10 cm to 20 cm and the horizontal size is in the range of 20 cm to 40 cm, the thickness size is in the range of 8 mm to 2 cm. Can be cited as a thin electronic device casing.

  The thin electronic device casing of the present invention does not necessarily have a function as a structural member in the electronic device. Further, there is no need to arrange electronic components such as a substrate and a display panel. This is because a metal chassis, which will be described later, has a function to replace the conventional housing.

  The “metal chassis” (0202) is the most important member that functions as a structural member in the electronic device of the present invention, and is configured to be disposed inside the thin electronic device casing. The “structural member” is a member arranged for the purpose of preventing deformation or destruction of all or part of the electronic device due to external force. Moreover, it is a single member having a low deformability with respect to bending moment, impact, and shear force applied to the electronic device from the outside. In the electronic device according to the present invention, a plurality of structural members may exist. In this case, the metal chassis has the lowest deformability among the structural members with respect to the external force. Therefore, the most preferable form in the electronic device of the present invention from the viewpoint of thinning and weight reduction is that a single metal chassis is arranged in a resin-made thin electronic device casing and supported by the metal chassis. The electronic parts are arranged on both sides.

  Even in conventional electronic devices, there is a member that increases the mechanical strength of some internal electronic components as a countermeasure against a decrease in mechanical strength of the electronic device due to reduction in thickness and weight. For example, a liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. (A) shows the time when the front case (1401) and the disassembled display unit (1402) in the liquid crystal display device are viewed from the back side of the device. (B) shows a state before the assembled display unit is placed on the front housing, and (c) shows a state after it is placed. As shown in (a), the display unit (1402) includes a display front bezel (1403), a display panel (1404), a seat (1405), a display chassis (1406), and the like. Here, the display chassis (1406) functions as a structural member of the display unit. However, the mechanical strength of the display chassis is limited to the display unit and a substrate disposed and fixed on the display chassis (not shown). In fact, as shown in (c), when the display unit is arranged and fixed in the front case, the resistance against the destructive force to the area indicated by the diagonal line of the front case is the mechanical strength of the case itself. It had to be strong. However, the metal chassis of the present invention is the same as the conventional electronic device shown in FIG. 14 in that it is disposed inside the housing, but the housing is a structural member that gives mechanical strength to the entire electronic device. It is new in that it has the same outline as the main body surface. The metal chassis includes a chassis plane portion (0401) indicated by a hatched area in FIG. 4A and a side wall portion (0402) therearound.

  The “chassis plane portion” (0401) has substantially the same outer shape as the main surface of the thin electronic device casing, and is configured to place and fix electronic components on both surfaces of the main surface of the metal chassis. Make.

  The “substantially the same outer shape” refers to a shape required for the metal chassis to hold the shape of the entire electronic device and to function as a structural member. That is, it means an outer shape that can prevent deformation and destruction of the place where the strongest stress is received on the thin electronic device casing when external force is applied to the electronic device from various directions. The metal chassis can impart mechanical strength to the entire electronic device because the chassis flat portion has substantially the same outer shape as the main surface of the thin electronic device casing.

  Here, the significance of “substantially the same outer shape” will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In this figure, (a) shows the front of the thin electronic device casing of the portable thin liquid crystal display device, and (b) shows the metal chassis arranged inside the thin electronic device casing of (a) at the same magnification. ing. This metal chassis is a representative example having substantially the same outer shape as the main surface of the thin electronic device casing. The hatched area in (a) indicates the position when the metal chassis in (b) is placed in the thin electronic device casing. In FIG. 5, the chassis flat portion (0501) in the broken line frame of the metal chassis (0500) shown in FIG. 5 (b) is substantially rectangular, and the main surface of the thin electronic device casing is rectangular. Is not similar. Thus, even if the shape of the planar portion of the chassis of the metal chassis is different from the shape of the thin electronic device casing, the relationship between the two is the “substantially the same outer shape” in the present invention. In addition, the size of the chassis flat portion of the metal chassis varies depending on the mechanical strength of the thin electronic device casing. For example, if the mechanical strength of the casing itself against external forces such as bending and impact becomes relatively small due to thinning of the thin electronic apparatus casing, the size of the chassis flat portion is reduced to that of the thin electronic apparatus casing. Relative to body size. That is, in FIG. 5A, the portion where the thin electronic device casing projects from the metal chassis, that is, the value of the width W outside the hatched area decreases. The reason for the decrease will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the broken-line circle in FIG. W indicates the width (length) from the end (0604) of the metal chassis (0603) to the end 0606 of the thin electronic device casing (0601), as in FIG. 5 (a). Further, in the thin electronic device casing (0601), when an external force V from the normal direction is applied to the dot region (0602) in FIG. 6 corresponding to the region outside the hatched region in FIG. Maximum stress is applied to the end (0604) of the chassis (0603) and the thin electronic device casing (0605) on the end. In this case, the bending moment generated in the thin electronic device casing becomes the maximum value W × V when the external force V acts on the end (0606) of the thin electronic device casing. In order to prevent deformation and destruction of the thin electronic device casing from the external force V, it is necessary to reduce the bending moment W × V. To that end, the value of the width W may be reduced. Therefore, when the mechanical strength of the thin electronic device casing is small, the value of the width W decreases.

  In the conventional electronic device, as in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 14C, the display unit (1402) and the like, which are main internal electronic components, are directly arranged on the housing (1401) and fixed by screws or the like. It was. That is, the housing supports these electronic components in the electronic device. Therefore, the prevention of the destruction of the electronic component against external forces such as bending, twisting, and impact largely depends on the mechanical strength of the casing. However, in the electronic device of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the internal electronic components are arranged on both sides of the chassis plane portion (0206, 0306) indicated by the hatched area of the metal chassis (0202, 0302). Fixed. That is, in the electronic device of the present invention, the metal chassis supports the electronic component. Therefore, the prevention of destruction of the electronic component due to the external force depends on the mechanical strength of the metal chassis, and the thin electronic device casing does not need to support the internal electronic component unlike the conventional electronic device. Furthermore, although the thin electronic device casing has a metal chassis disposed therein, it is not necessary to support the metal chassis, and it simply functions as an exterior member. Therefore, the thin electronic device casing may be fixed so as to be supported by the metal chassis. Alternatively, the metal chassis may be sandwiched between the front and rear housings so that the metal chassis does not move inside without being fastened together.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the chassis plane portion may have holes such as a screw hole (0503), a wiring hole (0504), and a member mounting hole (0505) as necessary. The thickness of the planar portion of the chassis need not be the same in all areas. In view of the object of the present invention, the thinner the thickness, the better. However, a predetermined thickness is necessary to keep the mechanical strength as a structural member at the minimum. The thickness varies depending on the size of the chassis plane, the material of the metal chassis, the shape of the chassis plane, and the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the chassis plane portion has a vertical size A in the range of 10 cm to 20 cm and a horizontal size B in the range of 20 cm to 40 cm, the thickness C is 0.35 mm to 0.3 mm. It is preferably within the range of 65 mm. In addition, the thickness here refers to the thickness of the most main area | region in a chassis plane part.

  The “side wall portion” (0402) is arranged on the whole or a part of the outer peripheral portion of the chassis flat portion so as to increase the rigidity of the chassis flat portion. Since the planar portion of the chassis that occupies the main area in a metal chassis is usually flat, there is a problem that it lacks mechanical strength to resist external forces such as bending and twisting. Then, the mechanical strength is strengthened by providing the side wall part which becomes an edge in the outer peripheral part, and the said problem is solved. The side wall portion may be a single side wall disposed on only one surface of the metal chassis, or may be a both side wall disposed on both surfaces. When a side wall part is a one-sided side wall, it is preferable to arrange | position to the whole outer peripheral part. This is to provide mechanical strength that can sufficiently resist external forces of bending and twisting. Similarly, when a side wall part is a both-sides side wall and it arrange | positions in a part of outer peripheral part, it is preferable that a one side wall is arrange | positioned in the location where a both-sides side wall is not arrange | positioned. Further, the shape of the side wall portion is not particularly limited as long as the outer peripheral portion is formed to be convex with respect to the chassis plane. For example, in the case of a side wall on one side, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 or an L-shape (0801) formed convexly only on one side with respect to the chassis plane as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. For example, a deformed L-shape (0901) in which one side is formed in a convex shape and the corresponding other side is formed in a concave shape. Further, in the case of the side walls on both sides, one that is convexly formed in the same shape on both sides with respect to the chassis plane as shown in FIG. 10 (1001) or one side as shown in FIG. 11 is L-shaped. There are different shapes on the front and back sides of the raised portion (1101), and the other side is formed into a raised shape projection (1102) having a wide width and no height on the other side. In order to increase the mechanical strength, the side wall portion may include a double side wall. The “double side wall” means that the side wall part is formed in a double manner at the outer peripheral part of one surface. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the case where it forms with an outer side wall part (1201) and an inner side wall part (1202) corresponds. The two side wall portions forming the double side wall need not have the same shape as shown in FIG. Also, the triple side walls and above are naturally applicable since “double side walls are included”. When double side walls are included, the side walls may be connected by ribs or the like in order to further enhance the mechanical strength. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 13, the case where each side wall portion of the triple side wall (1301) is connected by a rib (1302) or the like is applicable. In addition, it is desirable that the side wall portion is manufactured by cutting using a machining center or the like, or press drawing.

  The height of the side wall is determined according to the thickness of the electronic device. Since the thickness of the metal chassis does not exceed the thickness of the electronic device casing in principle, the thickness size of the electronic device is set to H, and the thickness of the chassis flat portion of the metal chassis is set as shown in FIG. When the height size of C and the side wall portion is h (h = h1 + h2), the relationship is H ≧ C + h. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the vertical size A is in the range of 10 cm to 20 cm, the horizontal size B is in the range of 20 cm to 40 cm, and the thickness C is in the range of 0.35 mm to 0.65 mm. When the chassis flat portion is disposed inside the portable thin liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1, if the thickness of the portable thin liquid crystal display device is 16 mm, the height size of the side wall of the metal chassis is It suffices to be within a range of 3 mm to 15.35 mm from the chassis plane.

  The material of the metal chassis may be a metal having rigidity capable of maintaining a certain shape. Preferably, it is made of a lightweight alloy containing at least one of aluminum, titanium, and magnesium. This is because these metals all contribute to the object of the present invention, which is to reduce the weight of electronic equipment, because of their low specific gravity. The reason why metal is preferable as the material for the metal chassis is that metal has high thermal conductivity, so it can easily diffuse the heat generated inside the case, has an electromagnetic shielding effect, and can be recycled. by. However, the most important function in the metal chassis of the present invention is that the electronic device is given mechanical strength capable of resisting external force such as bending, twisting, and impact, and all or part of the electronic device due to the external force is applied. It is to prevent deformation and destruction. Therefore, the metal chassis may be other than metal as long as it is a material having the function. Examples of materials other than the metal include fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and structural fine ceramics. The metal chassis may have irregularities such as embossing and protrusions on the chassis plane for the purpose of increasing its rigidity and the necessity of arranging other members. However, even if it has the said unevenness | corrugation, it is preferable that it is on a flat plate as a whole.

  Since the metal chassis is disposed inside the thin electronic device casing, it cannot normally be visually recognized after the electronic device is assembled. However, a part thereof may be exposed from a hole provided in the housing or a joint portion of the front and rear housings.

  With the metal chassis, it is possible to further reduce the mechanical strength of the housing, which is at least required for the conventional electric device, while ensuring the mechanical strength of the entire electronic device. That is, since the thickness of the thin electronic device casing can be further reduced, the electronic device can be further reduced in thickness and weight.

1 is a front perspective overall view of a portable thin liquid crystal display device which is an example of an electronic apparatus of the present invention. The front perspective exploded view of the portable thin liquid crystal display device which is an example of the electronic device of this invention The rear perspective exploded view of the portable thin liquid crystal display device which is an example of the electronic equipment of the present invention The figure explaining the structure of the metal chassis in the electronic device of this invention: (a) whole perspective view, (b) sectional drawing, (c) enlarged view The front view (a) of the metal chassis in the electronic device of this invention, and the thin electronic device housing | casing (b) corresponding to it Cross-sectional enlarged view in the broken-line circle in FIG. 5A for explaining the bending moment The figure explaining the size of the chassis plane part in the metal chassis of this invention The figure explaining the L-shaped one side wall part convexly formed only on one side with respect to the chassis plane The figure explaining the deformation | transformation L-shaped one side wall part by which one side was formed in convex with respect to the chassis plane, and the other side corresponding was formed in concave. The figure explaining the both-sides side wall currently formed convexly on both sides with respect to a chassis plane The figure explaining the both-sides side wall where a side wall part differs in shape on both sides Diagram explaining double side wall Diagram explaining triple side wall The figure explaining the member which raises the mechanical strength of some internal electronic components in the conventional thin liquid crystal display device.

Explanation of symbols

0500: Metal chassis 0501: Chassis flat surface portion 0502: Side wall portion 0506: Thin electronic device casing W: Width of the portion where the thin electronic device casing protrudes from the metal chassis

Claims (8)

A thin electronic device housing;
A metal chassis that is disposed inside the thin electronic device casing and functions as a structural member, and an electronic device comprising:
The metal chassis is
A chassis plane portion having substantially the same outer shape as the main surface of the thin electronic device casing, and arranging electronic components on both surfaces thereof,
A side wall portion arranged on the whole or a part of the outer peripheral portion of the chassis plane portion to increase the rigidity of the chassis plane portion;
Electronic equipment having   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the metal chassis is a lightweight alloy containing at least one of aluminum, titanium, and magnesium.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the side wall portion includes a double side wall.   The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the side wall portion has both side walls formed so as to protrude on both sides with respect to the chassis plane.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the metal chassis has a flat plate shape as a whole.   The chassis flat portion of the metal chassis has a thickness in a range of 0.35 mm to 0.65 mm when a vertical size is in a range of 10 cm to 20 cm and a horizontal size is in a range of 20 cm to 40 cm. Item 6. The electronic device according to Item 5.   The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the height of the side wall is 3 mm to 15 mm from the chassis plane. The metal chassis according to any one of claims 1 to 7.