The present invention relates to a portable electronic device, such as a portable phone or game machine used as any of various video audio devices or information communication devices.
The other end of spring terminal 230 is folded toward loudspeaker 35 to form folded section 230A, so to prevent spring terminal 230 from elastically deforming and contacting loudspeaker 35 over a reversible deformation limit of elastic deformation of the metal plate. Folded section 230A regulates a range within which spring terminal 230 of the metal plate can be folded, and restricts the distance between the other end 230B of spring terminal 230 and loudspeaker 35 so that the distance is longer than a predetermined value.
Portable electronic devices, such as portable phone 280, game machines, or navigation systems, have recently had small sizes, and the market thereof has grown. Accordingly, portable electronic devices may be handled roughly. Upon being dropped accidentally, being carried in a bag, or receiving an impact force while it is left in an automobile, portable electronic devices may be significantly damaged unintentionally.
A portable electronic device includes an electronic component, a spring terminal extending from the electronic component to supply power to the electronic component, a circuit component having a power supply section contacting the spring terminal, and a stopper for restricting movement of the electronic component. The spring terminal has a reversible deformation limit of elastic deformation. The stopper restricts the movement of the electronic component within the reversible deformation limit of the spring terminal.
This portable electronic device prevents a spring pressure of the spring terminal from decreasing, hence supplying power to the electronic component stably.
Stoppers 41A and 41B are made preferably of metallic material. This metallic material prevents stoppers 41A and 41B from bending and breaking even if an excessive force due to dropping impact is applied to the stoppers. Therefore, the stoppers can withstand plural dropping impacts, and have large environmental resistance to heat or chemicals. Stoppers 41A and 41B may be made of other material having resistance to impact, heat, and chemical, instead of the metallic material.
Stoppers 41A and 41B may preferably have reinforcing ribs. Even if the excessive force due to dropping impact is applied, the reinforcing rib further increases the resistance of stoppers 41A and 41B to impact, thus reliably protecting spring terminal 30.
Stoppers 41A and 41B prevent spring terminal 30 of elastic metal from deforming beyond the reversible deformation limit of elastic deformation, accordingly preventing the spring pressure produced by spring terminal 30 from decreasing. Therefore, spring terminal 30 always keeps producing a large spring pressure to stably contact circuit board 40. Thus, even upon receiving an impact or vibration, portable phone 80 does not cause contact failure between circuit board 40 and spring terminal 30. Therefore, loudspeaker 35 is driven stably without interrupting the signal to loudspeaker 35, thus providing a reliable portable electronic device, such as a portable phone.
Circuit component 40 has its original function and a function as stoppers 41A and 41B of spring terminal 30. As shown in
The terminals of electronic component 50 mounted to circuit component 40 are used as the stoppers. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Body 50A of electronic component 50 may be used as the stopper. (In this case, the side to which the electronic component 50 is mounted is opposite). Electronic component 50 may be a chip component, such as a resistor, a coil, or a capacitor, or an integrated circuit component, such as an integrated circuit (IC) or a large scale integrated circuit (LSI). Electronic component 50 may preferably have a large resistance to compression and impact.
In this structure, spring terminal 30 is bent by a predetermined amount when loudspeaker 35 is mounted to portable phone 80 as to keep having its shape for applying an appropriate spring pressure to power supply section 40A of circuit component 40. Even when loudspeaker 35 is mounted while being strongly pressed, stoppers 41A and 41B contact loudspeaker 35 to prevent spring terminal 30 from moving more.
Even if an excessive impact force is applied to spring terminal 30 due to accidental dropping of portable phone 80, stoppers 41A and 41B prevent spring terminal 30 formed of metallic material from deforming and being crushed beyond the reversible deformation limit of elastic deformation, hence preventing the spring pressure produced by spring terminal 30 from decreasing. Thus, spring terminal 30 keeps producing a large spring pressure, and stably contacts power supply section 40A. Even if portable phone 80 receives an impact or vibration, spring terminal 30 does not cause contact failure with power supply section 40A, hence driving loudspeaker 35, the electronic component, stably without interrupting a signal to the loudspeaker.
As shown in
Stoppers 41A and 41B contact frame 35A and magnetic circuit 35B of loudspeaker 35 to be received by frame 35A and magnetic circuit 35B, respectively. Frame 35A is usually made of strong material and is directly mounted to a case. Spring terminal 30 is usually mounted to loudspeaker 35 with reference to the frame, so that height L1 of stopper 41A can be determined accurately. Frame 35 may be made of resin. In this case, spring terminal 30 may be insert-molded in frame 35. Frame 35A made of resin has resistance to impact smaller than that of metal, so that magnetic circuit 35B made of metallic material having large resistance to impact receives stopper 41B. Stoppers 41A and 41B are received at portions of frame 35A and magnetic circuit 35B, respectively, so that height L1 of stoppers 41A and 41B can be determined accurately, hence providing large resistance to impact.
Required reliability level depends on the type of the portable electronic device, so that the stoppers can be provided appropriately according to the level, for example, the number of stoppers may be one. Thus, the reliability of the portable electronic device can be improved.
Spring terminal 30 according to Embodiment 1 can be used as a spring terminal which is mounted to a portable electronic device, which produces a spring pressure, and which contacts a power supply section. Loudspeaker 35, an electric acoustic transducer as the electronic component, having spring terminal 130 is mounted to the portable phone as the portable electronic device according to Embodiment 1. However, the kind of the electronic component and the kind of the portable electronic device are not limited to these.
Stoppers 41C and 41D extend from circuit board 40, a circuit component, and are made of metallic material having pin shapes. Stoppers 41C and 41D are received by case 70, namely, a component other than electronic component (loudspeaker) 35, and component 51 other than loudspeaker 35 that is an electronic component, respectively. When loudspeaker 35, the electronic component including spring terminal 30, has insufficient resistance to impact, a component, such as case 70, having large resistance to impact and other components, are used as the receiving section for receiving stoppers 41C and 41D. This structure improves reliability and safety, accordingly improving the reliability and safety of the portable electronic device, such as portable phone 85.
In
Stoppers 170A and 170B are made preferably of metallic material. This metallic material prevents stoppers 170A and 170B from bending and breaking even if an excessive force, such as a dropping impact, is applied to the stoppers. Therefore, the stoppers can withstand plural dropping impacts, and have high environmental resistance to heat and chemicals.
Stoppers 170A and 170B may be made of other material having resistance to impact, heat, and chemicals, instead of the metallic material. Case 170 is usually made of resin material by injection molding. For example, stoppers 170A and 170B may be formed unitarily with case 170 by injection molding, hence being produced at high productivity.
Stoppers 170A and 170B having pin shapes and made of metallic material may be formed by insert-molding simultaneously when case 170 is formed by injection molding, and may be fixed to case 170, hence providing stoppers 170A and 170B with strength and reliability, and being produced at high productivity.
Stoppers 170A and 170B may preferably have reinforcing ribs. Even if the excessive force due to dropping impact is applied, the reinforcing rib further increases the resistance of stoppers 170A and 170B to impact, thus reliably protecting spring terminal 130.
Stoppers 170A and 170B prevent spring terminal 130 made of elastic metal from deforming beyond the reversible deformation limit of elastic deformation, and prevent the spring pressure produced by spring terminal 130 from decreasing. Therefore, spring terminal 130 can keep producing large spring pressure, and stably contacts circuit board 140. Thus, even if receiving an impact or vibration, portable phone 180 does not cause contact failure between circuit board 140 and spring terminal 130. Therefore, loudspeaker 135 is driven stably without interrupting the signal to loudspeaker 35, thus providing a reliable portable electronic device, such as a portable phone, having high reliability.
Case 170 has its original function as a case, and has a function as stoppers 170A and 170B of spring terminal 130. The combination of the original function and the impact resistance can reduce the number of components of the portable electronic device of Embodiment 3, accordingly reducing its cost.
Spring terminal 130 is bent by a predetermined amount when loudspeaker 135 is mounted to portable phone 180, and keeps having its shape to apply an appropriate spring pressure to power supply section 140A of circuit component 140. Even when loudspeaker 135 is mounted while being strongly pressed, stoppers 170A and 170B contact loudspeaker 135 to prevent spring terminal 130 to from moving more.
Even if an excessive impact force is applied to spring terminal 130 due to the accidental dropping of portable phone 180, stoppers 170A and 170B prevent spring terminal 130 made of metallic material from deforming and being crushed beyond the reversible deformation limit of elastic deformation, hence preventing the spring pressure produced by spring terminal 130 from decreasing. Thus, spring terminal 130 can keep producing a large spring pressure, and stably contacts power supply section 140A. Even if portable phone 180 receives an impact or vibration, spring terminal 130 does not cause contact failure with power supply section 140A, hence driving loudspeaker 135, namely the electronic component, stably without interrupting a signal to loudspeaker 135.
As shown in
Stoppers 170A and 170B contact frame 135A and magnetic circuit 135B of loudspeaker 135 to be received by the frame and the magnetic circuit, respectively. Frame 135A is usually made of strong material and is directly mounted to the case. Spring terminal 130 is usually mounted to loudspeaker 135 with reference to the frame, hence determining height L2 of stopper 170A accurately. Frame 135 may be made of resin. In this case, spring terminal 130 may be insert-molded in frame 135. Frame 135A made of resin may have resistance to impact smaller than that of metal, so that magnetic circuit 135B made of metallic material having large resistance to impact receives stopper 170B. Stoppers 170A and 170B are received at two portions of frame 135A and magnetic circuit 135B, respectively, and hence, have height L2 determined accurately, thus having large resistance to impact.
Required reliability level depends on the type of the portable electronic device, so that the stoppers can be provided appropriately according to the level, for example, the number of stoppers may be one. Thus, the reliability of the portable electronic device can be improved.
Spring terminal 130 of Embodiment 3 can be used as a spring terminal which is mounted to a portable electronic device, which produces a spring pressure, and which contacts a power supply section. Loudspeaker 135, an electric acoustic transducer as the electronic component having spring terminal 130 mounted thereto is mounted to a portable phone as the portable electronic device of Embodiment 3. However, the kind of the electronic component and the kind of the portable electronic device are not limited to these.
Stoppers 170C and 170D extend from inner wall 170F of case 170 facing loudspeaker 135, namely an electronic component, toward inner wall 170G facing inner wall 170F of case 170, and are made of metallic material having pin shapes. Stoppers 170C and 170D are received by inner wall 170G of case 170, namely a component other than electronic component (loudspeaker) 135, and component 151 other than loudspeaker 135 that is an electronic component, respectively. If loudspeaker 135 as the electronic component, having spring terminal 130 has insufficient resistance to impact, component 151 out of case 170 and other components is used as the receiving section for receiving stoppers 170C and 170D. This structure improves reliability and safety, accordingly improving reliability and safety of the portable electronic device, such as portable phone 185.
A portable electronic device according to the present invention has large resistance to impact and has high reliability.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2004-149979 | May 2004 | JP | national |
2004-195192 | Jul 2004 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2005/009043 | 5/18/2005 | WO | 00 | 10/11/2006 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2005/115047 | 12/1/2005 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4420706 | Siebold et al. | Dec 1983 | A |
4738625 | Burton et al. | Apr 1988 | A |
6553126 | Han et al. | Apr 2003 | B2 |
6590991 | Maeda | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6674872 | Fujinami et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6807282 | Kaneda et al. | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6860766 | Aujla et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
7181040 | Ohta | Feb 2007 | B2 |
7200241 | Fukuyama et al. | Apr 2007 | B2 |
20010053233 | Fukazawa et al. | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20040037441 | Konishi et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20050152536 | Caveney | Jul 2005 | A1 |
20060177092 | Ohta | Aug 2006 | A1 |
20070080412 | Honda et al. | Apr 2007 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1120991 | Aug 2001 | EP |
1146773 | Oct 2001 | EP |
7-16494 | Mar 1995 | JP |
11-025946 | Jan 1999 | JP |
2003-037890 | Feb 2003 | JP |
0059263 | Oct 2000 | WO |
2005-107316 | Nov 2005 | WO |
2005-107317 | Nov 2005 | WO |
2005115047 | Dec 2005 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070218732 A1 | Sep 2007 | US |