The present disclosure relates to a structure of an electronic apparatus and a method for assembling the electronic apparatus.
In an electronic apparatus such as a communication device (for example, a base station device), a heat radiation member that uses a so-called “heat pipe” and includes a main body portion having a substantially plate shape is used. A member (for example, a circuit board) being a target of heat radiation is provided on both surface portions of such a main body portion having the substantially plate shape. The main body portion of the heat radiation member and the member being the target of heat radiation are housed in a housing having a substantially box shape (see, for example, a paragraph and FIG. 4 in PTL 1).
In general, when the electronic apparatus as described above is assembled, from a viewpoint of facilitating such assembly, work for vertically flipping the housing with respect to a horizontal plane is required to be made unnecessary. Meanwhile, when the electronic apparatus as described above is assembled, a circuit board may contact the housing, and thus a circuit part mounted on the circuit board may break. From a viewpoint of avoiding occurrence of such breakage, the contact between the circuit board and the housing is required to be avoided.
An object of the present disclosure is, in view of the problem described above, to provide a structure and an assembly method that are able to avoid contact of a circuit board with a housing when work for vertically flipping the housing at a time of assembly of an electronic apparatus is made unnecessary.
A structure of an electronic apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a heat radiation member including a main body portion having a plate shape; an upper circuit board provided on a front surface portion of the main body portion; a lower circuit board provided on a rear surface portion of the main body portion; and a housing having a bottomed box shape in which the main body portion, the upper circuit board, and the lower circuit board are housed, wherein a guide portion is formed in the housing, and the guide portion guides the main body portion to a position in which contact between the lower circuit board and the housing is avoided when the main body portion is inserted into the housing from a through hole of a wall surface portion of the housing in a state where the lower circuit board is attached to the main body portion.
A method for assembling an electronic apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a step of inserting a main body portion having a plate shape of a heat radiation member from a through hole of a wall surface portion of a housing having a bottomed box shape into the housing in a state where a lower circuit board is attached to a rear surface portion of the main body portion; a step of attaching an upper circuit board to a front surface portion of the main body portion in a state where the main body portion is inserted from the through hole into the housing; and guiding the main body portion to a position in which contact between the lower circuit board and the housing is avoided, by the main body portion abutting a guide portion of the housing when the main body portion is inserted from the through hole into the housing.
According to the present disclosure, a structure and an assembly method that are able to avoid contact of a circuit board (particularly, a lower circuit board) with a housing are able to be provided when work for vertically flipping the housing at a time of assembly of an electronic apparatus is made unnecessary.
Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.
An X axis indicates a virtual axis along a front-back direction of an electronic apparatus 100 in the drawing. A direction of the X axis is associated with a direction directed from the back toward the front of the electronic apparatus 100. Further, a Y axis indicates a virtual axis along a left-right direction of the electronic apparatus 100 in the drawing. A direction of the Y axis is associated with a direction directed from the right toward the left of the electronic apparatus 100. Further, a Z axis indicates a virtual axis along an up-down direction of the electronic apparatus 100 in the drawing. A direction of the Z axis is associated with a direction directed from the bottom toward the top of the electronic apparatus 100. Note that a virtual plane (i.e., an XY plane) defined by the X axis and the Y axis is associated with a horizontal plane.
As illustrated in
The heat radiation member 1 is a so-called “double-sided mounting type”. In other words, a circuit board 2 is provided on plate surface portions on both sides of the main body portion 11. More specifically, a circuit board (hereinafter may be referred to as an “upper circuit board”) 2_1 is attached to one (a surface facing upward with respect to the horizontal surface, hereinafter referred to as a “front surface portion”) of the plate surface portions of the main body portion 11. Further, another circuit board (hereinafter may be referred to as a “lower circuit board”) 2_2 is attached to the other plate surface portion (a surface facing downward with respect to the horizontal surface, hereinafter referred to as a “rear surface portion”) of the main body portion 11. Various circuit parts (not illustrated) for achieving a function of the electronic apparatus 100 are mounted on the circuit boards 2. The heat radiation member 1 is provided in order to radiate heat when the circuit parts generate the heat.
The main body portion 11, the upper circuit board 2_1, and the lower circuit board 2_2 are housed in a housing 3. Herein, a shape of the housing 3 is a substantially shallow box shape and a substantially bottomed box shape. In other words, a top portion of the housing 3 is open, and a lid 4 is provided along the top portion of the housing 3. The housing 3 and the lid 4 are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy. The upper circuit board 2_1 is disposed in such a way as to face the lid 4. Meanwhile, the lower circuit board 2_2 is disposed in such a way as to face a bottom portion of the housing 3.
As described above, the shape of the housing 3 is the substantially bottomed box shape. Further, as illustrated by using the X axis and the Y axis in
The main body portion 11 of the heat radiation member 1 is inserted through the through hole 31. In this way, the main body portion 11, the upper circuit board 2_1, and the lower circuit board 2_2 are disposed inside the housing 3, and the heat sink 12 is disposed outside the housing 3. A waterproof member 5 is provided along a circumference of the through hole 31. The waterproof member 5 uses, for example, a gasket made of rubber. The waterproof member 5 is provided in order to suppress entry of liquid such as water from the outside of the housing 3 into the housing 3.
In this way, a main unit of the electronic apparatus 100 is formed. The electronic apparatus 100 is, for example, a communication device (more specifically, a base station device for wireless communication).
Herein, a guide portion 32 for guiding the main body portion 11 when the main body portion 11 is inserted from the through hole 31 into the housing 3 is formed on the housing 3. The guide portion 32 achieves a function as follows.
In other words, when the main body portion 11 is inserted from the through hole 31 into the housing 3 in a state where the lower circuit board 2_2 is attached to the main body portion 11, the main body portion 11 abuts the guide portion 32. In such an abutment state, the main body portion 11 slides with the guide portion 32. In this way, the main body portion 11 is guided in a direction in which the main body portion 11 is held up. As a result of this, for a position in a height direction of the housing 3 (i.e., a height direction of the electronic apparatus 100), the main body portion 11 is guided to a position in which contact between the housing 3 and the lower circuit board 2_2 is avoided. A specific example of the guide portion 32 is described below with reference to
Next, a method for assembling the main unit of the electronic apparatus 100 is described with reference to
First, as illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Note that the waterproof member 5 is attached to the housing 3 in advance. Further, the housing 3 is supported by a jig and the like that are not illustrated in a state where the bottom portion of the housing 3 faces downward (i.e., in a state where the top portion of the housing 3 faces upward).
Next, as illustrated in
Next, a specific example and the like of the guide portion 32 is described with reference to
The guide portion 32 is provided on both left and right sides of the through hole 31. In other words, a pair of left and right guide portions 32 is formed on the housing 3.
A shape of the individual guide portion 32 is a substantially trapezoidal shape protruding from the bottom portion of the housing 3 in an upward direction, or a substantially trapezoidal shape protruding from a holding portion 36 described below in the upward direction. In the examples illustrated in
Herein, as illustrated in
In this way, for a position in the height direction of the housing 3 (i.e., the height direction of the electronic apparatus 100), the main body portion 11 is guided to a position in which contact between the lower circuit board 2_2 and the housing 3 is avoided. In a state where the main body portion 11 is guided to such a position, the heat radiation member 1 is inserted into the housing 3 in such a way that both side portions of the rear surface portion of the main body portion 11 slide with the upper bottom portion 34 of the associated guide portion 32 (see an arrow A4 in the drawing).
Herein, as illustrated in
In other words, the main body portion 11 is guided by such sliding in a direction in which the main body portion 11 slips down the second inclined surface portion 35 (see the arrow A5 in the drawing). As a result of this, the main body portion 11 is guided to the predetermined position in the housing 3. The holding portion 36 for holding the main body portion 11 in such a predetermined position is formed on the housing 3 (see
Next, a comparison electronic apparatus 100′ for the electronic apparatus 100 is described with reference to
As illustrated in
The main body portion 11′ is inserted through a through hole 31′ of a back portion of a housing 3′. Herein, in the housing 3′, a top portion of the housing 3′ is open and a bottom portion of the housing 3′ is open. A lid (hereinafter referred to as a “top lid”) 4′_1 is provided along the top portion of the housing 3′. Further, another lid (hereinafter referred to as a “bottom lid”) 4′_2 is provided along the bottom portion of the housing 3′. The upper circuit board 2′_1 is disposed in such a way as to face the top lid 4′_1. Meanwhile, the lower circuit board 2′_2 is disposed in such a way to face the bottom lid 4′_2. Note that a portion corresponding to the guide portion 32 is not formed on the housing 3′.
A waterproof member 5′ is provided along a circumference of the through hole 31′. The waterproof member 5′ is similar to the waterproof member 5 of the electronic apparatus 100.
In this way, a main unit of the electronic apparatus 100′ is formed.
Next, a method for assembling the main unit of the electronic apparatus 100′ is described with reference to
First, as illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Next, a problem in the comparison electronic apparatus 100′ is described. Further, an effect in the electronic apparatus 100 according to the first example embodiment is described.
As described with reference to
Further, as described with reference to
Herein, a problem as follows occurs in the electronic apparatus 100′. First, the work for vertically flipping the housing 3′ is required when the electronic apparatus 100′ is assembled. In this way, a load on an operator is great particularly when the electronic apparatus 100′ is large (for example, when the electronic apparatus 100′ is a base station device for wireless communication). Further, a space required for such work is also large. In other words, a problem that so-called “workability” is low occurs. Secondly, a problem that the number of parts increases by using two lids 4′ (more specifically, the top lid 4′_1 and the bottom lid 4′_2) occurs.
In contrast, in the electronic apparatus 100, as described with reference to
Further, the guide portion 32 is formed on the housing 3, and thus occurrence of contact between the lower circuit board 2_2 and the housing 3 can be avoided at a time of insertion of the heat radiation member 1. Note that, as described above, the upper circuit board 2_1 is attached to the heat radiation member 1 after the heat radiation member 1 is inserted into the housing 3. In this way, occurrence of contact between the upper circuit board 2_1 and the housing 3 can be avoided at a time of insertion of the heat radiation member 1.
Further, a shape of the housing 3 can be a substantially bottomed box shape in such an order of the assembly. In other words, a part corresponding to the bottom lid 4′_2 can be made unnecessary. In this way, the number of parts can be reduced as compared to the electronic apparatus 100′ using the two lids 4′.
Next, another effect in the electronic apparatus 100 is described.
As described above, a shape of the through hole 31 is a horizontal slit shape. Hereinafter, a size of each member or a size of each portion in a longitudinal direction of the through hole 31 is simply referred to as a “size”. A size W2_1 of the upper circuit board 2_1 may be set to a value greater than a size W1 of the main body portion 11. Further, the size W2_1 of the upper circuit board 2_1 may be set to a value greater than a size W2_2 of the lower circuit board 2_2. Hereinafter, an example when W2_1 is set to a value greater than each of W1 and W2_2 is mainly described.
As described with reference to
In other words, it is assumed that the upper circuit board 2_1 is attached to the heat radiation member 1 before the heat radiation member 1 is inserted into the housing 3. In this case, the main body portion 11, the upper circuit board 2_1, and the lower circuit board 2_2 are required to be inserted through the through hole 31 in a state where the waterproof member 5 is provided around the through hole 31. Thus, a size W of the housing 3 is required to be greater than at least β being a value acquired by adding 2α to W2_1. Herein, α is a size associated with a cross section diameter of the waterproof member 5.
Meanwhile, as described with reference to
To summarize the content above, equations (1) to (3) below hold true.
β=W2_1+2α (1)
γ=max(W1,W2_2)+2α (2)
δ=max(W2_1,γ) (3)
Herein, as described above, W2_1>W1 and W2_1>W2_2. Thus, β>δ. Therefore, by employing a structure to which the upper circuit board 2_1 is attached after insertion of the heat radiation member 1, a width (the size W) of the housing 3 can be reduced as compared to that when a structure to which the upper circuit board 2_1 is attached before insertion of the heat radiation member 1 is employed. As a result of this, the size of the housing 3 can be reduced.
Next, a modification example of the electronic apparatus 100 is described.
A shape of the main body portion 11 of the heat radiation member 1 may be a substantially plate shape, and may not be a complete plate shape. For example, a plate surface portion of the main body portion 11 may have irregularities by a heat pipe being provided. Hereinafter, the shape of the main body portion 11 may be simply referred to as a “plate shape”.
A shape of the housing 3 may be a substantially bottomed box shape, and may not be a complete bottomed box shape. For example, as illustrated in
A shape of the guide portion 32 is not limited to a substantially trapezoidal shape. When the main body portion 11 is inserted from the through hole 31 into the housing 3, the guide portion 32 may guide the main body portion 11 to a position in which contact between the lower circuit board 2_2 and the housing 3 is avoided. For example, the shape of the guide portion 32 may include at least the first inclined surface portion 33.
As illustrated in
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
A part or the whole of the example embodiments described above can be described as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.
A structure of an electronic apparatus comprising:
a heat radiation member including a main body portion having a plate shape;
an upper circuit board provided on a front surface portion of the main body portion;
a lower circuit board provided on a rear surface portion of the main body portion; and
a housing having a bottomed box shape in which the main body portion, the upper circuit board, and the lower circuit board are housed, wherein
a guide portion is formed on the housing, and
the guide portion guides the main body portion to a position in which contact between the lower circuit board and the housing is avoided when the main body portion is inserted from a through hole of a wall surface portion of the housing into the housing in a state where the lower circuit board is attached to the main body portion.
The structure according to supplementary note 1, wherein
the guide portion includes an inclined surface portion for guiding the main body portion in a direction in which the main body portion is held up when the main body portion is inserted from the through hole into the housing.
The structure according to supplementary note 1 or 2, wherein
the guide portion is provided on both sides of the through hole.
The structure according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3, further comprising
a waterproof member provided around the through hole.
The structure according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4, wherein
a size of the upper circuit board in a longitudinal direction of the through hole is larger than a size of the main body portion in the longitudinal direction, and is larger than a size of the lower circuit board in the longitudinal direction.
The structure according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 5, wherein
the heat radiation member uses a heat pipe.
The structure according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6, further comprising
a lid provided on a top portion of the housing.
A method for assembling an electronic apparatus, the method comprising:
guiding the main body portion to a position in which contact between the lower circuit board and the housing is avoided, by the main body portion abutting a guide portion of the housing when the main body portion is inserted from the through hole into the housing.
The assembly method according to supplementary note 8, further comprising
guiding the main body portion in a direction in which the main body portion is held up, by the main body portion abutting an inclined surface portion of the guide portion when the main body portion is inserted from the through hole into the housing.
The assembly method according to supplementary note 8 or 9, further comprising
attaching the upper circuit board to the main body portion from above the housing by using an opening of a top portion of the housing.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2021-044793, filed on Mar. 18, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021-044793 | Mar 2021 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2022/001279 | 1/17/2022 | WO |