The present invention relates to a module and an electronic device.
Conventionally, a wearable device (an electronic device such as an electronic watch) including a display (“LCD” in Patent Literature 1: JP 2013-134925 A) including a display panel and the like inside a device case has been known (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
As described in Patent Literature 1, in a case where a device includes a display (LCD), the display (LCD) is, for example, adhesively fixed to a member (windshield member, “cover glass” in Patent Literature 1) that covers a device surface. Thus, the display (LCD) is supported so as not to be movable.
However, if the display (LCD) is fixed by adhesion or the like to the windshield member (cover glass) or the like, when some defect occurs in the display (LCD), only the display (LCD) cannot be removed and repaired or replaced.
It is therefore necessary to replace many components including the windshield member (cover glass) to which the display (LCD) is fixed together or to replace the device itself.
The present invention is intended to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a module and an electronic device capable of stably holding a display inside a device without adhesively fixing the display.
In order to solve the problem, a module according to the present invention is characterized as including a display having a flat plate shape; a circuit board disposed below the display to overlap the display, and equipped with a shield member that covers a circuit element on a surface facing the display; and a buffer member that is disposed on an upper surface of the shield member and abuts on a lower surface of the display.
According to the present invention, it is possible to stably hold a display inside a device without adhesively fixing the display.
An embodiment of a module of the present invention and an electronic device including the module will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the electronic device is an electronic watch worn on an arm of a user will be described as an example.
Note that although various technically preferable limitations are given to the embodiment described below in order to carry out the present invention, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment and illustrated examples.
As illustrated in
The device case 1 according to the present embodiment has a hollow short column shape with upper and lower openings, and a hollow portion inside constitutes a storage space for storing various components.
The device case 1 includes a relatively hard synthetic resin such as engineering plastic or super engineering plastic, for example. Note that the material forming the device case 1 is not limited to the material exemplified here. The device case 1 may include a metal material such as SUS.
A pair of band attachment portions 11 (see
Various operation buttons 12 (push buttons, screens, and the like) for a user to perform various input operations are provided on the left, right, and the like of the device case 1 in
Although not illustrated, an opening on a back surface side (non-viewing side of the watch) of the device case 1 is closed by a back lid member (not illustrated). The back lid member may be formed integrally with the device case 1.
As illustrated in
The bezel 2 as an exterior member is provided on the front surface side (viewing side of the watch) of the device case 1 so as to surround the opening. The bezel 2 is fixed to the device case 1 with, for example, screws (not illustrated).
As illustrated in
The opening on the front surface side (viewing side of the watch) of the device case 1 is closed by the windshield member 3. The windshield member 3 is a transparent member including, for example, a glass material, a transparent resin material, or the like. The windshield member 3 is attached to the device case 1 or the bezel 2 attached to the device case 1 with a windshield gasket 9 or the like interposed therebetween. By attaching the windshield member 3 to the device case 1 or the bezel 2 with the windshield gasket interposed therebetween, it is possible to close the opening on the front surface side (viewing side of the watch) of the device case 1 while securing a waterproof property (airtightness) of the inside of the device case 1.
A touch panel is integrally formed with the windshield member 3 according to the present embodiment, and as illustrated in
Furthermore, the display unit 4 as a display is provided below the windshield member 3 (on the non-viewing side).
As illustrated in
The display panel of the display unit 4 is not limited to the liquid crystal display panel, and may be, for example, an organic electroluminescence display or another flat display.
The liquid crystal display panel 41 has, for example, the following configuration. That is, a pair of transparent electrodes (not illustrated) is provided on each opposing surface of the pair of upper and lower transparent substrates, and a liquid crystal (not illustrated) is sealed between the pair of transparent substrates. A stacked structure is formed in which an upper polarizing plate is provided on an upper surface of the upper transparent substrate and a lower polarizing plate is provided on a lower surface of the lower transparent substrate.
The light guide plate 42 guides light from a light source (LED or the like) (not illustrated) provided in the device case 1 to the liquid crystal display panel 41.
A flexible printed wiring board (hereinafter referred to as “FPC 411”) is connected to the liquid crystal display panel 41, and a flexible printed wiring board (hereinafter referred to as “FPC 421”) is connected to the light guide plate 42. Another end side of each of the FPC 411 and the FPC 421 is electrically connected to the circuit board 6 to be described later, and is appropriately controlled.
That is, the display unit 4 guides the light from the light source to the liquid crystal display panel 41 by the light guide plate 42, selectively applies a voltage to the pair of transparent electrodes (not illustrated) to change an alignment state of the liquid crystal (not illustrated) of the liquid crystal display panel 41, and controls a light transmission state by the liquid crystal. Thus, the display unit 4 is configured to appropriately display information such as time according to the control.
The FPC 31 connected to the touch panel of the windshield member 3, the FPC 411 connected to the liquid crystal display panel 41 of the display unit 4, and the FPC 421 connected to the light guide plate 42 are overlapped and integrated into one. When the bezel 2, the windshield member 3, and the display unit 4 are assembled to the device case 1, for example, as illustrated in
In the device case 1, the circuit board 6 is disposed below (below in
In the present embodiment, the shield member 7 is disposed on an upper surface of the circuit board 6 (that is, a surface on a side facing the display unit 4). FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the circuit board and the shield member disposed on the circuit board according to the present embodiment. In
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
One or more board clips 62 are provided on the circuit board 6 at a portion where the side surface portion 72 of the shield member 7 is disposed. The board clip 62 includes a metal material, and is a holder fixed onto the circuit board 6 by means such as soldering. Note that a method of fixing the board clip 62 onto the circuit board 6 is not limited to soldering, and various methods can be applied. At which position and how many board clips 62 are disposed on one shield member 7 is appropriately determined in accordance with the position of the circuit element 61 and a mounting situation of each member.
The shield member 7 is in contact with the circuit board 6 serving as a ground (GND) on a side surface (indirectly with the metal board clip 62 interposed therebetween), and has the same potential as the ground.
The display unit 4 and the buffer member 8 are fixed by being sandwiched between the circuit board 6 including the shield member 7 and the device case 1 (in particular, an inward flange or the like protruding inward at the opening of the device case 1) which is a fixing member. In this manner, the position in a height direction (Z direction) in the sectional view illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the present embodiment, the display unit 4 and the wall 15 of the device case 1 are substantially octagonal in a front view of the device case 1 (see
As a result, by the two buffer members 8 (8d and 8e) disposed on different surfaces in a lateral direction (X direction) and a depth direction (Y direction) in the sectional view illustrated in
The arrangement positions of the two buffer members 8 (8d and 8e) are not limited to the above. For example, the buffer member 8d may be disposed on one of both adjacent outer peripheral surfaces across one outer peripheral surface of the octagonal display unit 4 in the front view (plan view) of
As illustrated in
The holder 622 of the board clip 62 can slightly bend like a leaf spring, and may be configured to hold (grip) the side surface portion 72 fitted in the gap 621, or may simply receive the side surface portion 72 in the gap 621.
In either case, unlike a case where the shield member 7 is directly fixed onto the circuit board 6 by soldering or the like, the shield member 7 can also be removed after being fitted into the holder 622 of the board clip 62. By fixing the shield member 7 to the circuit board 6 with the board clip 62 interposed therebetween in this manner, in a case where a defect or the like occurs in a part of the circuit element 61 on the circuit board 6 covered with the shield member 7, the shield member 7 can be removed, and the internal circuit element 61 can be repaired, replaced, or the like.
The shape, number, height, and the like of the shield member 7 are not limited to the illustrated examples. In
The reflection plate 44 (reflection member) is provided under the light guide plate 42 of the display unit 4. Therefore, the buffer member 8 and the shield member 7 located under the light guide plate 42 with the reflection plate 44 (reflection member) interposed therebetween are not visually recognized by the user.
The buffer member (cushion material) 8 is disposed on the upper surface (upper surface portion 71) of the shield member 7. In
The buffer member 8 is disposed on the upper surface portion 71 of the shield member 7 and is in contact with a lower surface of the display unit 4 as a display (see
The buffer member 8 is in surface contact with the lower surface of the display unit 4 and the upper surface of the shield member 7. The shape, size, and the like of the buffer members 8 (8a and 8b) are not limited, but the buffer members 8 preferably have a certain area so that a pressure can be dispersed as uniformly as possible. For example, as illustrated in
The arrangement position of the buffer member 8 is not limited, but in the present embodiment, as illustrated in
The buffer member 8a and the buffer member 8b preferably have the same shape. In a case where a plurality of the buffer members 8 is provided, by using the buffer members 8 having the same shape, it is possible to cope with the buffer members 8 with common components and to suppress manufacturing cost.
In a case where the plurality of shield members 7 (dimensions in the case thickness direction) is not uniform and varies, it is preferable to adjust the heights by adjusting the thickness of the buffer member 8 provided on the upper surface of each shield member 7. In this manner, the display unit 4 can be received by a substantially flat surface without rattling.
In a case where the shield member 7 is integrated as illustrated in
In a case where the plurality of buffer members 8 is provided, the plurality of buffer members 8 is not required to have the same shape and size.
For example, as illustrated in
Note that the shapes of the device case 1 and the display unit 4 are not limited to those illustrated in the present embodiment.
For example, as schematically illustrated in
In a case where the external shapes of the device case la and the display unit 4a are rectangular, for example, the buffer members 8 (8f and 8g) are disposed in a gap between two sides adjacent to each other of outer peripheral sides of the display unit 4a and a portion of a wall 15a of an inner peripheral surface of the device case la facing the two sides of the display unit 4a. As a result, in the lateral direction (X direction) and the depth direction (Y direction) in
In a case where the external shapes of the device case la and the display unit 4a are both rectangular or the like as described above, the display unit 4 is also disposed on the upper surface of the shield member 7 provided on the circuit board 6 with the buffer member 8 (in
As described above, in the present embodiment, in a case where the display unit 4 as a display is held in the device case 1 or the like, the display unit 4 is disposed below the windshield member 3 in the device case 1. The shield member 7 is disposed on the surface of the circuit board 6 facing the display unit 4, the buffer member 8 is disposed on the upper surface of the shield member 7, and then the circuit board 6 is disposed in the device case 1 from a back surface side of the display unit 4 (that is, a back lid member side). As a result, the display unit 4 is pushed up from the back surface side and fixed at a predetermined position.
In the present embodiment, by interposing the buffer member 8 between the shield member 7 and the display unit 4, the display unit 4 is held at a predetermined position by the anti-slip effect of the buffer member 8, and is less likely to move or be detached. When an impact is applied to the watch 100 from the outside, the buffer member 8 absorbs the impact, and the display unit 4 can be prevented from being damaged.
As illustrated in
By arranging the plurality of buffer members 8 (in the present embodiment, two buffer members 8a and 8b) at or near symmetrical positions about the central portion of the display unit 4, even when an external force is applied to the watch 100, a pressure or an impact can be uniformly dispersed, and the display unit 4 can be more reliably protected from damage and the like.
According to the module (a holding structure of the display) of the present embodiment, it is not necessary to fix the display unit 4 by adhesion, screwing, or the like, which contributes to reduction in the number of components and assembly man-hours. In addition, even when a defect occurs in the display unit 4, it is sufficient to repair or replace only the display unit 4, and it is possible to easily cope with the defect.
Since the display unit 4 is disposed above, the shield member 7 is not detached upward, and the shield member 7 can be stably disposed on the circuit board 6 without being fixed by soldering or the like.
As described above, the module (a holding structure of the display unit) according to the present embodiment includes the display unit 4 as a flat plate-shaped display unit, the circuit board 6 that is disposed below the display unit 4 to overlap the display unit 4 and is equipped with the shield member 7 that covers at least a part of the circuit element 61 on a surface facing the display unit, and the buffer member 8 that is disposed on the upper surface (on the upper surface portion 71) of the shield member 7 and abuts on the lower surface of the display unit 4.
As a result, only by arranging the display unit 4 on the shield member 7, the display unit 4 is held at a predetermined position, and the display unit 4 is placed with the buffer member 8 interposed therebetween. Therefore, the display unit 4 has excellent durability against an external impact and the like. Since the display unit 4 is disposed above, the shield member is not detached upward, and can be stably disposed on the circuit board 6 without being fixed by soldering or the like.
In this manner, in the present embodiment, the display unit 4 and the shield member 7 are merely disposed in an overlapping manner, and are not required to be fixed by adhesion, screwing, or the like. Therefore, the display unit 4 and the shield member 7 can be easily removed even after being assembled in the device case 1 or the like. As a result, in a case where a defect occurs in the display unit 4 or in a case where a defect occurs in the circuit element under the shield member 7, only a defective portion can be removed without damaging the device itself, and the portion can be repaired, replaced, or the like. Therefore, in a case where there is a defect in a component such as the display unit 4, replacement in a minimum range is sufficient, and the use of the device (watch 100) can be continued for a long time without waste.
Furthermore, any electronic device that performs display is usually provided with the display unit 4. It is therefore not necessary to additionally provide a component for fixing, and there is also an effect of cost reduction due to reduction in the number of components and assembly man-hours, and the like.
In the present embodiment, the buffer member 8 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the display unit 4 as a display.
When pressure is applied to the central portion in the in-plane direction of the display unit 4 including the liquid crystal display panel 41 and the like, a liquid crystal portion could be damaged. In this regard, as in the present embodiment, by arranging the buffer member 8 interposed between the display unit 4 and the shield member 7 on the outer peripheral side of the display unit 4, it is possible to avoid pressure from being applied to the central portion of the liquid crystal display panel 41 or the like of the display unit 4 and to prevent a defect from occurring in the display unit 4.
In the present embodiment, the buffer member 8 is in surface contact with the lower surface of the display unit 4 as a display and the upper surface of the shield member 7.
In this manner, by bringing the display unit 4 and the shield member 7 into contact with each other not at a point but on a surface, it is possible to disperse the pressure and prevent the pressure from being strongly applied only to a part.
Therefore, the display unit 4 is less likely to be damaged. In order to prevent the shield member 7 from being recessed or deformed, it is possible to protect various circuit elements 61 below the shield member 7, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which the shield member 7 as a metal component is bent, comes into contact with the circuit element 61, and is short-circuited.
In the present embodiment, the plurality of buffer member 8 is disposed at or near symmetrical positions while avoiding the central portion of the display unit 4 as a display.
As described above, when pressure is applied to the central portion in the in-plane direction of the display unit 4 including the liquid crystal display panel 41 and the like, the liquid crystal portion could be damaged. In this regard, by arranging the plurality of buffer members 8 at symmetrical positions or the like while avoiding the central portion, it is possible to effectively disperse a force even when pressure is applied and to avoid a situation in which the force is concentrated on one point.
Accordingly, damage to the liquid crystal display panel 41 and the like of the display unit 4, deformation of the shield member, and the like can be more reliably avoided.
In the present embodiment, the shield member 7 is held by the board clip 62 as a holder fixed onto the circuit board 6.
In a case where the shield member 7 is directly soldered to the circuit board 6, a space for soldering is required to be secured, and a mounting area on the board is reduced. In this regard, the reduction in the mounting area can be suppressed by holding the shield member 7 by the board clip 62.
If the shield member 7 is soldered to the circuit board 6, the circuit board 6 needs to be removed for an access to the circuit element 61 covered with the shield member 7. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the shield member 7 is merely held by the board clip 62. Therefore, even after the shield member 7 is assembled, if a defect or the like occurs, the shield member 7 can be easily removed for an access to the circuit element 61, and only a necessary portion can be repaired or replaced. Accordingly, it is possible to save time and cost for replacing the entire circuit board 6.
In a case where the plurality of shield members 7 is provided, the plurality of buffer members 8 is also provided corresponding to the plurality of shield members 7.
As a result, the display unit 4 can be stably received, and damage to the liquid crystal display panel 41 and the like of the display unit 4, deformation of the shield member, and the like can be effectively prevented.
In a case where the module (holding structure that holds the display such as the display unit 4) according to the present embodiment is applied to electronic devices such as various watches (electronic watches) 100, the display such as the display unit 4 is not required to be fixed to the device case 1, the windshield member 3, and the like by adhesion or the like.
Therefore, when a defect occurs in the display unit 4, only the display unit 4 can be repaired or replaced, and a repair cost can be reduced more than when other members such as the device case 1 and the windshield member 3 are replaced together.
In a case where the display such as the display unit 4 is fixed to the device case 1 or the like by screwing, a space for screwing is required, and an empty space for a screw head needs to be secured after the fixing. Therefore, a mounting area and a mounting capacity in the device case 1 are reduced. In this regard, in a case where the display such as the display unit 4 is held on the shield member 7 with the buffer member 8 interposed therebetween as in the present embodiment, components and spaces for fixing the display unit 4 are not required to be secured, the cost can be reduced, the weight of the entire device can be reduced, and a large mounting area can be secured. Since a large mounting area can be secured, the circuit board 6 itself can be downsized, which also contributes to miniaturization of the entire electronic device such as the watch 100.
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, a case where the electronic watch is the watch 100 has been exemplified, and a case where the holding structure that holds the display such as the display unit 4 is mounted on the watch 100 has been exemplified. However, the device to which the holding structure that holds the display can be applied is not limited to these cases.
For example, the present invention can be widely applied to wearable devices such as various smartwatches and sports watches, and electronic devices that display various data, such as a heart rate meter and a blood pressure meter that display biological information such as heart rate and blood flow information, and a device that displays environmental information such as temperature and atmospheric pressure, in addition to time.
Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.
The present invention can stably hold the display inside the device without adhesively fixing the display.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-142205 | Sep 2022 | JP | national |
The present application is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2023/028469, filed on Aug. 3, 2023, which claims the benefit of Japanese patent application No. 2022-142205 filed on Sep. 7, 2022, the entire contents of each application being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2023/028469 | Aug 2023 | WO |
| Child | 19071870 | US |