This and other objects and features of this invention will become clear from the following description, taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanied drawings.
Hereinafter, first to fifth embodiments of the invention will be described.
First, a first embodiment will be described, taking up as an example a circuit board on which circuitry for receiving a digital broadcast wave is mounted.
The tuner circuit 2 receives via an antenna a digital broadcast signal related to compressed video or audio data. The tuner circuit 2 also includes an unillustrated frequency selection circuit, so that it receives only a broadcast wave of a desired channel. Additionally, the tuner circuit 2 converts the received signal into a signal having a predetermined intermediate frequency, and then outputs it to a circuit provided in the following stage.
The digital demodulation circuit 3 is connected to the tuner circuit 2 via the signal line pattern 5, and receives the received signal from the tuner circuit 2. The digital demodulation circuit 3 extracts data (compressed video or audio data) related to the received signal, and then outputs it to a circuit provided in the following stage.
The video/audio output circuit 4 is connected to the digital demodulation circuit 3 via the signal line pattern 5, and receives data outputted from the digital demodulation circuit 3. The video/audio output circuit 4 decompresses the data thus received so as to produce video or audio data, and then outputs the resultant data to an unillustrated circuit provided in the following stage.
The signal line pattern 5 is made of a given conductive material. As described above, the signal line pattern 5 connects between the tuner circuit 2, the digital demodulation circuit 3, and the video/audio output circuit 4. On top of the signal line pattern 5, a coating is applied (except for the insertion holes, which will be described later) to prevent foreign materials or the like from directly touching the signal line pattern 5.
It is assumed that there is a board dividing plane 6 between the tuner circuit 2 and the digital demodulation circuit 3. The board dividing plane 6 is an assumed plane formed as a result of the circuit board 1 being physically divided at some future time. Thus, in a part where the board dividing plane 6 lies, the circuit constituent components (different elements such as transistors) other than the signal line pattern 5 are not disposed, so as to allow for easy restoration of the circuitry even after the division thereof. A description will be given below of the dividing method, significance of the division, or the like.
The marks 11 provide an indication of where the board dividing plane 6 lies. In
The marks 11 are formed by silk screening. Thus, the marks 11 can be formed concurrently with a layer printed on the circuit board 1 by silk screening. Alternatively, the marks 11 may be formed by removing a resist in a step of removing the resist during the manufacturing process of the circuit board 1.
The insertion holes 21 are holes formed in the coating on the board (portions where the coating is removed) for inserting connecting wires (such as copper wires). The insertion holes 21 are formed on the signal line pattern 5, making it possible to bring the connecting wires into contact with the signal line pattern 5 via the insertion holes 21. For each trace of the signal line pattern 5, two of the insertion holes 21 are provided, of which one is on the right side of the board dividing plane 6 and the other is on the left side thereof.
With the circuit board 1 configured as described above, it is possible to receive video or audio data related to a digital broadcast, and output the data thus received. To be sure, the circuit board 1 can be used as it is (i.e., without being divided); it is also possible to use the circuit board 1 by dividing it by the board dividing plane 6.
Here, how the circuit board 1 is divided for use (i.e., to be incorporated in a given electronic device) will be described. First, the circuit board 1 is divided into two pieces by the board dividing plane 6. For example, the circuit board 1 is cut by a cutter by referring to the marks 11 and the like, in such a way as not to damage the insertion holes 21.
Next, the two pieces of the circuit board 1 thus divided are appropriately arranged inside the device. Although various arrangements are possible, as an example of implementation,
By placing the pieces (7a and 7b) one on top of another, it is possible to suitably deal with a case in which, for example, they are incorporated in an electronic device that has overhead clearance, despite having a limited base area. Alternatively, by placing the pieces so as to be at right angles to each other, it is possible to suitably deal with a case in which, for example, they are incorporated in an electronic device which is limited in length along the longer or shorter sides thereof.
After the pieces are arranged as described above, connecting wires 31 are each inserted into two of the insertion holes 21 formed on the same trace of the signal line pattern 5, and are then connected thereto, whereby the circuit configuration is restored to a pre-divided state.
The descriptions heretofore deal with an example in which the connection of the connecting wires 31 is performed after the pieces (7a and 7b) of the circuit board 1 are arranged in predetermined positions. Alternatively, after the connection of the connecting wires 31 is completed, the pieces (7a and 7b) may be arranged in predetermined positions. In this way, it is possible to manufacture an electronic device incorporating the circuit board of this embodiment.
Next, a second embodiment will be described taking up a circuit board as an example, as is the case with the first embodiment.
As shown in
The formation of the V-shaped cut 12 makes it easier to divide the circuit board 1 by the board dividing plane 6. That is, since the V-shaped cut 12 makes smaller (minimizes) the cross-sectional area of the circuit board 1 at the board dividing plane 6 than that near the board dividing plane 6, when an external force is applied to the circuit board 1 in the direction in which the circuit board 1 is bent at the board dividing plane 6, stress concentration occurs at the board dividing plane 6. Thus, by applying a given external force strong enough to break the circuit board 1 in the direction in which the circuit board 1 is bent at the board dividing plane 6, it is possible to break the circuit board 1 at the board dividing plane 6 and divide it into separate pieces.
In addition to forming the V-shaped cut 12, or instead of forming the V-shaped cut 12, perforations 13 shown in
Next, a third embodiment will be described taking up a circuit board as an example, as is the case with the first embodiment.
The lands 22 are formed for soldering connecting wires (such as copper wires) thereto. Each of the lands 22 is exposed at one end thereof to the surface of the circuit board 1, and is brought into contact with the signal line pattern 5 at the other end thereof, so that it can connect the connecting wire soldered thereto with the signal line pattern 5. For each trace of the signal line pattern 5, two of the lands 22 are provided, of which one is on the right side of the board dividing plane 6 and the other is on the left side thereof.
In this embodiment, although there is a need to form the lands 22 during the manufacturing process of the circuit board 1, it is possible to connect the connecting wires and the signal line pattern 5 by soldering the connecting wires to the lands 22. Thus, as compared with the first embodiment, it is possible to connect the connecting wires and the signal line pattern 5 more efficiently.
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described, taking up as an example a chassis on which the circuit board described above is immovably placed.
As shown in these drawings, a chassis 50 has, in addition to a board mounting portion 52 on which the circuit board 1 is placed, a rib 53 at the periphery thereof, the rib 53 protruding approximately vertically to the board mounting portion 52. Suppose that the rib 53 is a side face of the chassis 50. Then, the chassis 50 can be regarded as having the shape of a package that can house the circuit board 1. Alternatively, the rib 53 may be provided on the back face (the face on which no circuit board is placed) of the board mounting portion 52.
It is assumed that the chassis 50 has a chassis dividing plane 51 in a portion thereof that corresponds to the board dividing plane 6 of the circuit board 1. The chassis dividing plane 51 is an assumed plane formed as a result of the chassis 50 being physically divided at some future time.
Instead of or in addition to forming the marks 54, a notch 55 shown in
With this structure, it is possible to secure the circuit board 1 inside the chassis 50, and incorporate the chassis 50 in a given electronic device or the like. This makes it possible to incorporate the circuit board 1 in the device more easily and safely. To be sure, the chassis 50 can be used as it is (i.e., without being divided); it is also possible to use the chassis 50 by dividing it by the chassis dividing plane 51.
Next, how the chassis 50 is divided for use (i.e., to be incorporated in an electronic device) will be described. First, the circuit board 1 is secured to the chassis 50. At this point, it is preferable to check to make sure the board dividing plane 6 and the chassis dividing plane 51 are fixed in a position where they substantially overlap one another.
Then, based on the marks, if any, formed in the circuit board or the chassis, the chassis 50 is cut by the chassis dividing plane 51 along with the circuit board 1. In this case, advisably, the chassis 50 is cut by a cutter or the like.
As a result of this cutting, the chassis 50 is cut into separate pieces. The resultant pieces are attached to specified positions of the device, and the connecting wires are connected to the circuit board 1. In this way, the circuitry divided as a result of cutting is restored. Incidentally, as is the case with the first embodiment, after the restoration of the circuitry is completed, the chassis may be incorporated in the device.
The separate pieces of the chassis 50 may be attached to the device in various ways. For example, like the arrangements shown in
Incidentally, the chassis 50 may be cut in such a way that the chassis 50 is broken by the chassis dividing plane 51 by bending it once or repeatedly. In this case, a portion of the rib 53 where the rib 53 intersects the chassis dividing plane 51 is cut by a nipper or the like in advance. This cutting can be easily performed if the notch 55 described above is formed.
Then, an external force is applied to the chassis 50 once or repeatedly in the direction in which the chassis 50 is bent at the chassis dividing plane 51. By doing so, it is possible to divide the chassis into separate pieces. Preferably, to prevent damage resulting from rib-to-rib contact, application of the external force is performed in such a way that the chassis 50 is bent toward a face on which no rib is provided.
The descriptions heretofore deal with a case in which the chassis 50 is divided after the circuit board 1 is secured thereto. Alternatively, for example, the chassis 50 and the circuit board 1 may be individually divided into separate pieces in advance, and then each piece of the circuit board 1 is secured to one of the pieces of the chassis 50.
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described, taking up as an example a chassis to which a circuit board is secured, as is the case with the fourth embodiment.
As shown in this drawing, a rib 53 formed at the outer edge of a chassis 50 has a tapered portion 56 at a chassis dividing plane 51. That is, the chassis 50 shown in
That is, suppose that there is no tapered portion 56. Then, as shown in
In other words, the chassis 50 is so shaped that the different parts of the rib 53 do not interfere with each other when the chassis 50 is bent at the chassis dividing plane 51 toward the face on which the rib 53 is formed. This allows the chassis to move in a wider range when it is bent, and hence makes it easier to cut the chassis 50 by bending it. When cutting of the chassis 50 is performed, an incision in a thickness direction is made in advance by a nipper or the like in a portion that corresponds to the tapered portion 56. This process can be omitted if such an incision is made in the tapered portion 56 at the manufacturing stage.
By exploiting the tapered portion 56 thus formed, as shown in
As described above, the chassis 50 of this embodiment is divided into two pieces by the chassis dividing plane 51, and the resultant pieces can be fixed to each other by fitting a projection formed in the rib of one piece into a depression formed in the rib of the other.
This makes it easy to fix the separate pieces of the chassis 50 to each other after the division of the chassis 50 without the need for extra parts such as parts for fixing the pieces. That is, as shown in
In addition, by designing the shape of the rib so that appropriate reaction force is generated between the projection 57 and the depression 58, the friction between them helps to some degree restrict the movement in which the projection 57 fits into the depression 58. To fix the pieces to each other more securely, it is necessary simply, for example, to apply an adhesive to the contact areas of each piece.
As described above, the circuit boards 1 described in the first to third embodiments each has digital broadcast wave receiving circuitry including a first part (the tuner circuit 2) and a second part (the digital demodulation circuit 3 and the video/audio output circuit 4) connected to each other by the signal line pattern 5 via the board dividing plane 6. The circuit board 1 is so configured that, even after it is divided by the board dividing plane 6, the circuitry thereof can be restored by reconnecting the first part and the second part with the connecting wires 31.
This makes it possible to use a circuit board having a given specification in either of the following two states: the circuit board is divided by the board dividing plane 6, and the circuit board is used as it is (i.e., without being divided), selecting of which is optional. This eliminates the need to prepare different circuit boards having different specifications, making it possible to efficiently incorporate the circuit board in more types of devices.
That is, when the circuit board is incorporated in a relatively large device, the circuit board 1 is used as it is without being divided. This allows for the omission of a connecting step needed for restoring the divided circuitry. On the other hand, when the circuit board is as it is too large to be incorporated in a device, the circuit board 1 is divided so that it can be incorporated in the device.
By providing means for facilitating the division of the circuit board 1 (first division assisting means; for example, adding the marks 11 or adding the V-shaped cuts 12 or the perforations 13) or means for facilitating the reconnection of the divided circuitry (first connection assisting means; for example, adding the insertion holes 21 or the lands 22), it is possible to perform efficient division and restoration of the circuit board 1.
Incidentally, the chassis described in the fourth or fifth embodiment can be divided by the chassis dividing plane 51 corresponding to the board dividing plane 6 of the circuit board 1 that is secured to the chassis. This makes it possible to divide the chassis to deal with a case in which the circuit board is divided.
By providing means for facilitating the division of the chassis (second division assisting means; for example, adding the marks 54, adding the notch 55, or designing the shape of the chassis so that, when the chassis is bent toward the rib, interference between the different parts of the rib can be prevented), it is possible to perform such division efficiently.
The embodiments described above deal with cases in which the circuit board 1 or the chassis 50 is divided (cut) by the board dividing plane 6 or the chassis dividing plane 51. However, it is also possible simply to bend the circuit board 1 or the chassis 50 (that is, to alter the shape thereof without cutting it). In particular, when the pieces of the circuit board 1 or the chassis 50 need to be arranged in the shape of the letter L, the circuit board 1 or the chassis 50 simply has to be bent by the dividing plane (6 or 51).
In that case, if the signal line pattern 5 is not cut by the dividing plane (6 or 51), there is no need to reconnect the circuitry. However, even when the signal line pattern 5 is cut by the dividing plane (6 or 51), the circuitry can be restored by reconnection using the connecting wires 31.
It is to be understood that the present invention may be practiced in any other manner than specifically described above as the first to fifth embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. Any feature of the first to fifth embodiments described above can be applied, unless inconsistent, to any embodiment other than that in connection with which the feature is specifically described.
According to the present invention specifically described above as the embodiments, it is possible to use a circuit board having a given specification in either of the following two states: the circuit board is divided by a first dividing plane, and the circuit board is used as it is (i.e., without being divided), selecting of which is optional. This eliminates the need to prepare different circuit boards having different specifications, making it possible to efficiently incorporate the circuit board in more types of devices.
That is, when the circuit board is incorporated in a relatively large device, the circuit board is used as it is without being divided. This allows for the omission of a connecting step needed for restoring the divided circuitry. On the other hand, when the circuit board is as it is too large to be incorporated in a device, the circuit board is divided so that it can be incorporated in the device.
By providing first division assisting means for facilitating the division of the circuit board and first connection assisting means for facilitating the reconnection of the divided circuitry, it is possible to perform efficient division and restoration of the circuit board.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006-216677 | Aug 2006 | JP | national |