Patent Application
20130235539
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-052913, filed Mar. 9, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a waterproof structure.
An electronic apparatus such as a TV, personal computer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), and cellular phone may comprise a waterproof structure.
To obtain the desired waterproof characteristics, the design of such an electronic apparatus comprising a waterproof structure may be limited.
A general architecture that implements the various features of the embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate the embodiments and not to limit the scope of the invention.
Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In general, according to one embodiment, a waterproof structure includes a casing, a circuit board, a lens part and a transparent member. The casing includes a wall including a first opening. The circuit board is stored in the casing, the circuit board with an electronic component mounted thereupon, the electronic component facing the first opening. The lens part is exposed outside the casing, at least a part of the lens part being in the first opening. The transparent member is fixed to the wall from an inside of the casing, the transparent member configured to seal the first opening.
Hereinafter, a first embodiment is described referring to
The TV main body 12 comprises a casing (cabinet, exterior portion, wall) 15 and a display module (a display apparatus, display part, electronic part, part) 16. The display module 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display module is not limited to the liquid crystal display, and may be a plasma display or an organic electroluminescence display. The display module 16 is stored in the casing 15.
The side surface 22 is a surface to substantially cross the front surface 21. A part of the side surface 22 is inclined from the front surface 21 toward a rear direction in a manner to come close to a center part of the TV main body 12. The side surface 22 comprises an interface portion 27. The interface portion 27 is formed to project from the side surface 22.
The interface portion 27 comprises a plurality of buttons (switches, manipulated portions, parts, members, input portions) and a plurality of openings. The buttons are, for example, channel switching buttons and volume control buttons. Into the openings, for example, a card such as a B-CAS card and connectors such as a USB connector and HDMI connector are inserted.
The casing 15 further comprises a rear surface positioned on an opposite side to the front surface 21, and a lower surface 29 shown in
As shown in
The mask 31 and base 32 are formed of, for example, synthetic resin. The mask 31 forms at least a part of the front surface 21 of the casing 15. The base 32 forms the side surface 22, the lower surface 29 and the rear surface.
The base 32 comprises a sidewall (wall, side portion) 34 which forms the lower surface 29 of the casing 15. The sidewall 34 comprises a button opening (hole, concave part, inserted part) 35. A button member (manipulated portion, input portion) 36 is inserted into the button opening 35. The button member is, for example, a power button. A first end portion of the button member 36 is exposed outside the casing 15. A second end portion of the button member 36 engages with the sidewall 34 inside the casing 15 to prevent the button member 36 from slipping out of the casing 15 from the button opening 35.
A keypad 38 covers the button opening 35 and the second end portion of the button member 36 from the inside of the casing 15. The keypad 38 is formed of synthetic rubber such as, for example, silicon rubber. The keypad 38 contacts the sidewall 34 in a watertight fashion and seals the button opening 35.
The keypad 38 comprises a projection 39 projecting toward the inside of the casing 15. When the button member 36 is pushed by a user from the outside of the casing 15, the keypad 38 elastically deformed. Thereby, the projection 39 is elastically displaced toward the inside of the casing 15.
A fixing member 41 is attached to the inside of the casing 15. The fixing member 41 is formed of, for example, a metal plate bent in an L-shape. The fixing member 41 comprises an attachment portion 42 and retaining portion 43.
The attachment portion 42 is formed in a rectangular shape, and fixed to the casing 15 by, for example, welding. The retaining portion 43 is formed in a rectangular shape and is substantially orthogonal to the attachment portion 42. The retaining portion 43 faces the sidewall 34 from the inside of the casing 15 and pushes a part of the keypad 38 to the sidewall 34. Thereby, the keypad 38 is interposed between the sidewall 34 and retaining portion 43 to contact the sidewall 34 in a watertight fashion.
The casing stores a main circuit board (mother board, part) 47 and a module circuit board (daughter board, wire board, circuit board, part) 48. The module circuit board 48 is an example of a circuit board.
The main circuit board 47 is, for example, a printed circuit board. Various electronic parts such as an LSI are mounted on the main circuit board 47. The main circuit board 47 is attached to a display module 16 through, for example, a spacer, and connected to the module circuit board 48 by, for example, a cable.
At least a part of the module circuit board 48 faces the mask 31 from the inside of the casing 15. The module circuit board 48 is placed to be substantially orthogonal to the sidewall 34. The module circuit board 48 is closer to the sidewall 34 than the main circuit board.
The module circuit board 48 comprises a first surface (region, portion) 51 and a second surface (region, portion) 52. The first surface 51 faces the mask 31. The second surface 52 is positioned at an opposite side to the first surface 51. Various electronic parts such as switch 54 and condenser, etc. are mounted on the second surface 52.
The switch 54 comprises a manipulated portion 55 projecting toward a button opening 35. When the manipulated portion 55 is pushed, the switch 54 is manipulated. A tip of the manipulated portion 55 contacts a tip of the projection 39 of the keypad 38. When a user pushes the button member 36, the elastically displaceable projection 39 of the keypad 38 pushes the manipulated portion 55. Thereby, the switch 54 is manipulated.
As shown in
The wall portion 61 comprises a substantially flat outer surface (one surface, first surface, region) 65 and a substantially flat inner surface (other surface, second surface, region) 66. The outer surface 65 faces the outside of the casing 15. The inner surface 66 is placed at an opposite side to the outer surface 65 and faces the inside of the casing 15. The inner surface 66 faces at least a part of the module circuit board 48.
A transparent panel (board, protection portion, covering portion, transparent portion) 68 is attached to the outer surface 65 of the wall portion 61. The panel 68 is an example of a second part, and for example, a glass panel. The panel 68 covers the display opening 26 and forms a part of the front surface 21 of the casing 15. The display portion of the display module 16 is exposed outside the casing 15 over the panel 68.
A first double-sided tape (adhering part, adhering layer, stacking portion, fixing portion, attachment portion, waterproofing portion, water-resistant portion) 71 is interposed between the outer surface 65 of the wall portion 61 and the panel 68. The first double-sided tape 71 is an example of the first adhering part. The first double-sided tape 71 is formed in a frame shape corresponding to the shape of the outer surface 65 of the wall portion 61.
The panel 68 is fixed to the outer surface 65 by the first double-sided tape 71. Here, the fixing material is not limited to the first double-sided tape 71, but for example, an adhesive agent or other synthetic resin may be used to fix the panel 68 to the outer surface 65. The first double-sided tape 71 is waterproof to prevent liquid from entering the inside of the casing 15 through a gap between the outer surface 65 of the wall portion 61 and the panel 68.
The wall portion 61 comprises a plurality of first openings (apertures, holes, concave portions) 73 and a plurality of grooves (recesses, concave portions) 74. Here,
The first opening 73 opens over the outer surface 65 and inner surface 66. At least a part of the first opening 73 is covered by the panel 68. The groove 74 is provided on the outer surface 65. The panel 68 covers at least a part of the groove 74.
A second end of the groove 74 forms a notched portion (hole, groove, recess, concave portion) 76 on the edge portion 62. The notched portion 76 is formed in substantially a U-shape. As shown in
As shown in
The outer edge 68a of the panel 68 and the notched portion 76 formed on the edge portion 62 form a second opening 78. In other words, the mask 31 and the panel 68 form the second opening 78. The formation of the second opening 78 is not limited thereto and may be formed at other positions such as panel 68.
The second opening 78 opens on the outside of the casing 15. The second opening 78 has a shape different from the first opening 73. Here, the first opening 73 and the second opening 78 may have the same shape.
As shown in
As shown in
A part of the lens part 83 is stored in the intermediate part 81. As shown in
For example, a lens part 83 at a left side in
A lens part 83 at a center in
A lens part 83 at a right side in
As explained above, each of lens parts 83A, 83B and 83C comprises a rectangular portion, inclined an extending portion, and a projecting portion. In other words, each of lens parts 83A, 83B and 83C has a winding (wavy, meandering) shape. Thereby, light from the first end 83a of the lens part 83 reflects at each portion and go toward the second end 83b of the lens part 83.
The projecting portion of each of the lens parts 83A, 83B and 83C engages with the intermediate part 81. Thereby, each of lens parts 83A, 83B and 83C stably fits in the intermediate part 81, and unsteady movement of the lens parts 83 is prohibited (cf.
A first end (light inlet portion, light outlet portion) 83a of the lens 83 projects from a first surface of a plate-like portion of the lens part 83. A second end (light inlet portion, light outlet portion) 83b of the lens 83 projects from a second surface of the plate-like portion of the lens part 83. In other words, the first end 83a of the lens part 83 projects to an opposite side to the second end 83b of the lens part 83.
Inclined portions (refraction portion, reflection portion) 83c are formed near the first end 83a and the second end 83b of the lens part 83. The inclined portions 83c reflect light from the first end 83a of the lens part 83 toward the second end 83b.
The lens parts 83 are connected to each other by connecting portion 84. The connecting portion 84 is connected to part of the plate-shaped portions of the lens parts 83. The lens parts 83 and connecting portion 84 are formed integrally.
The connecting portion 84 is located inside of the mask 31 deeper than the lens parts 83. The connecting portion 84 comprises a first rectangular portion extending along the edge portion 62 and three second portions each extending from the first portion to a direction orthogonal to the first portion. The second portions are connected to the lens parts 83, respectively, from the opposite side of the second end 83b of the lens parts 83.
The lens parts 83 are formed of transparent resin, for example. Light comes in and goes out from the first end 83a and the second end 83b of the lens part 83, and the light reflects inside the lens part 83. Thus, light which enters the first end 83a of the lens part 83 exits outside from the second end 83b of the lens part 83.
The lens parts 83 are adhered to the bottom surface 74a of the groove 74 by a second double-sided tape (adhering part, adhering layer, stacking portion, fixing portion, attachment portion, waterproofing portion, water-resistant portion) 85. In other words, the second double-sided tape 85 is interposed between the lens parts 83 and the groove 74. The second double-sided tape is an example of the first adhering part. Here, the fixing material is not limited to the second double-sided tape 71, but for example, an adhesive agent or other synthetic resin may be used to fix the lens parts 83 to the groove 74. The second double-sided tape 85 is waterproof to prevent liquid from entering the inside of the casing 15 through a gap between the lens parts 83 and the groove 74.
A part of the first double-sided tape 71 is adhered to a part of the lens parts 83. The lens parts 83 are fixed to the panel 68 by the first double-sided tap 71. That is, the first double-sided tape fixes the panel 68 to the mask 31 and the lens part 83 to the panel 68.
A part of the intermediate part 81 on which the lens parts 83 are placed is blocked by the first double-sided tape 71 and second double-sided tape 85. That is, the gap between the lens parts 83 and the panel 68 is sealed by the first double-sided tape 71 and a part of the gap between the lens parts 83 and the bottom surface 74a of the groove 74 is sealed by the second double-sided tape 85. That is, the gap between the intermediate part 81 and the lens parts 83 is narrowed by the first and second double-sided tapes 71 and 85.
The first end 83a of the lens part 83 is stored in the first opening 73. The first end 83a of the lens part 83 is exposed inside the casing 15 from the first opening 73. The first end 83a of the lens parts 83 forms a flat surface substantially the same with the inner surface 66 of the wall portion 61.
A part of the second end 83b of the lens part 83 is stored in the second opening 78. The second end 83b of the lens part 83 is exposed outside the casing 15 from the second opening 78. The second end 83b of the lens part 83 projects from the outer surface of the edge portion 62. Thereby, the second end 83b is easily recognizable by a user. Here, the second end 83b of the lens parts 83 may be formed as a recess in the outer surface of the edge portion 62.
As shown in
The third double-sided tape 92 is waterproof to prevent liquid from entering the inside of the casing 15 through a gap between the inner surface 66 of the wall portion 61 and the transparent member 91. The transparent member 91 blocks the first opening 73 from the inside of the casing 15.
The transparent member 91 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. Some of corners 91a of the transparent member 91 are concave. As shown in
As shown in
The LEDs 96 emit light with electrification. The electronic components are not limited to the LEDs 96, and for example, the other electronic components configured to emit light such as organic electroluminescent or optical sensors such as illumination sensor and CMOS sensor.
A pressing member (light blocking portion, interposing portion, containing portion) 97 is attached to the first surface 51 of the module circuit board 48. The pressing member 97 is, for example, a black sponge. A plurality of containing portions (holes, openings, insertion portions) 98 are provided in the pressing member 97. The containing portions 98 open toward the first openings 73 and the containing portions 98 are holes larger than the first openings 73. The containing portions 98 store the LEDs 96, respectively. That is, the pressing member 97 surrounds the LEDs 96.
As shown in
The pressing member 97 is interposed between the module circuit board 48 and the wall portion 61. The pressing member 97 contacts the transparent member 91 and presses the transparent member 91 against the wall portion 61. Furthermore, the pressing member 97 prevents the light from the LEDs 96 from leaking into the inside of the casing 15.
Hereinafter, referring to
Firstly, the second double-sided tape 85 is attached to the bottom surface 74a of the groove 74 of the mask 31. Next, as indicated by arrow A1 in
Then, as shown by arrow A2 in
Then, as shown by arrow A3 in
Then, as shown in
The module circuit board 48 comprises a pair of screw holes (holes, attachment portions, fixing portions) 105 and a slit (groove, concave portions, engagement portions) 106. The screw holes 105 correspond to the bosses 101 and 102. The slit 106 corresponds to the rib 103.
The module circuit board 48 is placed on the bosses 101 and 102. At that time, the rib 103 fits in the slit 106 of the module circuit board 106. Furthermore, an operation portion 55 of the switch 54 mounted on the module circuit board 48 faces a projection 39 of the keypad 38.
A plurality of fasteners 108 such as, for example, screws are screwed in the bosses 101 and 102 through the screw holes 105. Thereby, the module circuit board 48 is fixed to the bosses 101 and 102 of the base 32. Here, the module circuit board 48 may be fixed to the base 32 by other methods, such as using a hook as a fastener.
Then, as shown by arrow A4 in
In the TV 10 structured as above, light from the LEDs 96 passes through the transparent member 91 and enters the first end 83a of the lens part 83. The light reflects inside the lens part 83 placed on the intermediate part 81 between the first opening 73 and the second opening 78, and the light exits from the second end 83b of the lens part 83. That is, when the LEDs emit light, the second end 83b of the lens part 83 emits the light. By lighting up the second ends 83b of the lens parts 83, the TV 10 informs a user of various states such as power on/off state, preset recording/viewing on/off state, communication state and processing state.
If liquid such as water is splashed on a periphery of the second openings 78, the liquid may enters the second openings 78. Since a part of the intermediate part 81 is sealed by the first and second double-sided tapes 71 and 85, at least a part of the liquid entering therein is blocked in the intermediate part 81. Even if the liquid passes through the intermediate part 81, the liquid is blocked by the transparent member 91 and the third double-sided tape 92. The liquid blocked by the transparent member 91 and the third double-sided tape 92 is evaporated by a heat generated by, for example, the LEDs 96 and the other electronic components and ejected out of the casing 15 from the second openings 78.
As described above, the first openings 73 are sealed by the transparent member 91 fixed to the wall portion 61 from the inside of the casing 15. Thereby, liquid such as water is prevented from entering inside the casing 15 from the first openings 73. That is, even the TV 10 whose design exposes the lens parts 83 out of the casing 15 can resist intrusion of liquid. Since it is unnecessary to cover watertightly the lens parts 83 from the outside of the casing 15, design of the waterproof structured TV 10 can be carried out with a great degree of freedom.
The lens parts 83 comprising the first ends 83a stored in the first openings 73 are fixed to the casing 15 by the waterproofing first and second double-sided tapes 71 and 85. Thereby, a part fixing the lens parts 83 is waterproofed, and the waterproof characteristic of the TV 10 is improved. Furthermore, by fixing the lens parts 83 with the first and second double-sided tapes 71 and 85, vibration of the lens parts 83 can be reduced.
The first and second double-sided tapes 71 and 85 block at least a part of a gap between the intermediate part 81 and the lens parts 83. Thereby, liquid such as water is prevented from entering inside the casing 15 through the gap between the intermediate part 81 and the lens parts 83.
The transparent member 91 is fixed to the waterproof third double-sided tape 92 to the wall portion 61. Thereby, a part fixing the transparent member 91 to the wall portion 61 is waterproofed, and the waterproof characteristic of the TV 10 is improved.
At least a part of the second opening 78 is placed at a position shifted from the first opening 73. Thereby, a liquid such as water tends to stay between the second opening 78 and the first opening 73 and the liquid such as water is prevented from entering inside the casing 15.
The second opening 78 is defined by the notched portion 76 on the edge portion 62 and the panel 68. Thereby, the lens parts 83 are easily attached and the TV 10 is easily manufactured.
The casing 15 comprises the intermediate part 81 connecting between the first openings 73 and the second openings 78. The first and second double-sided tapes 71 and 85 cover at least a part of the intermediate part 81. Thereby, liquid such as water is prevented from entering inside the casing 15 through the gap between the intermediate part 81 and the lens parts 83.
The intermediate part 81 is formed by the mask 31 comprising the groove 74 and the panel 68 covering the groove 74. The first double-sided tape 71 fixes the panel 68 to the mask 31 and the lens parts 83 to the panel 68. Thereby, material costs of the TV 10 are reduced and manufacturing steps are also reduced.
The pressing member 97 comprising containing portions 98 to store the LEDs 96 presses the transparent member 91 to the wall portion 61. Thereby, the pressing member 97 prevents the transparent member 91 from peeling off from the wall portion 61 and a liquid such as water from entering inside the casing 15 though a gap between the transparent member 91 and the wall portion 61. Furthermore, the pressing member 97 prevents light leakage from the LEDs 96, and thus, material costs of the TV 10 are reduced.
The grove 74 comprises the steps 77. The steps 77 hold liquid such as water therein. Thereby, a liquid such as water is prevented from entering inside the casing 15.
Around the containing portion 98, a part of the pressing member 97 closer to the center of the module circuit board 48 is formed thinner than a part of the pressing member distant from the center of the module circuit board 48. Thereby, a region of the module circuit board 48 where electronic components are mountable is formed wider.
When the LEDs 96 emit light, the second ends 83b of the lens parts 83 emit the light. Thus, while a liquid such as water is prevented from entering inside the casing 15, the second ends 83b of the lens parts 83 exposed outside the casing 15 can be lite.
Here, instead of the LEDs 96, the TV 10 may comprise an optical sensor such as, for example, an illumination sensor and CMOS sensor. The TV 10 comprising such the optical sensor can detects brightness of the outside of the casing 15 and photograph an image of the outside of the casing 15 while preventing liquid, such as water, from entering inside the casing 15.
Hereinafter, referring to
As shown in
The front surface 15 of the casing 15 comprises a camera part (portion, region) 133. The camera part 133 comprises a camera opening 134, flash opening 135 and sensor opening 136.
The camera opening 134 exposes at least a part of a camera unit 138 stored inside the casing 15. The camera unit 138 comprises an optical sensor such as CMOS sensor and a lens. The flash opening 135 exposes a lens 139, for example. The lens 139 is illuminated by a light emitting device such as an LED stored inside the casing 15. The sensor opening 136 exposes, for example, the other lens 140. The lens 140 guides light outside the casing 15 to an optical sensor such as an illumination sensor stored inside the casing 15.
As shown in
The panel 68 and notched portions 76 on a edge portion 62 form three second openings 78. Each of the second openings 78 exposes second end 83b of the lens part 83. The panel 68 displays a plurality of diagrams corresponding to the lens parts 83 exposed from the second openings 78.
In the tablet computer 131 with the structure mentioned above, as in the first embodiment, the first openings 73 are sealed by the transparent member 91 fixed to the wall portion 61 from the inside of the casing 15. Thereby, liquid such as water is prevented from entering inside the casing 15 from the first openings 73. That is, even the tablet computer 131 whose design exposes the lens parts 83 out of the casing 15 can resist intrusion of a liquid. Thus, design of the waterproof structured tablet computer 131 can be carried out with a great degree of freedom.
As mentioned above, the waterproof structure is not limited to the TV 10 or the tablet computer 131, but applicable to other electronic apparatuses such as, for example, a portable computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, and a smartphone.
Hereinafter, referring to
An illumination sensor 145 is mounted on a first surface 51 of a module circuit board 48. The illumination sensor 145 is an example of electronic components and optical sensor. The illumination sensor 145 faces the first opening 73.
The lens 140 is arranged on the intermediate part 81 between the first opening 73 and the sensor opening 136. The lens 140 comprises a first end 140a stored in the first opening 73 and a second end 140b exposed outside the casing 15 from the sensor opening 136.
In the tablet computer 131 with the structure mentioned above, as in the first embodiment, the first opening 73 is sealed by the transparent member 91 fixed to the wall portion 61 from the inside of the casing 15. Thereby, even the tablet computer 131 whose design exposes the lens 140 out of the casing 15 can resist intrusion of liquid, and thus, design of the waterproof structured tablet computer 131 can be carried out with a great degree of freedom.
As mentioned above, the second opening may be the second opening 78 exposing the lens part 83 illuminated by the LED 96, the sensor opening 136 exposing the lens 140 guiding light to the illumination sensor 111, or the like. The second opening may be the other openings such as, for example, the camera opening 134 exposing the camera unit 138 and the flash opening 135 exposing the lens 139 illuminated by the light emitting device.
The term “waterproof” used in the present specification is not limited to total blocking of intrusion of liquid. The term “waterproof” includes, meanings of, for example, preventing intrusion of liquid, packing, shutting up liquid, making a dam, filling up a gap, partially (temporally) stopping water running, etc. Furthermore, the term “waterproof” includes a simple “narrowed part in a passage”.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
For example, in the embodiments described above, the mask 31 and panel 68 are introduced as an example of the first and second parts. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Specifically, the base 32 may be an example of the first part and the mask may be an example of the second part.
Furthermore, the first and second double-sided tapes 71 and 85 may seal the entire part of the intermediate part 81. Furthermore, the first opening 73 and the second opening 78 may be overlapped with each other. The electronic component is not limited to light emitting devices such as LED 96 or an optical sensor such as illumination sensor 111, but may also be other component such as a connector and a speaker.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-052913 | Mar 2012 | JP | national |
