JP2005165480A - Portable electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable electronic device which can be made more resistant against an impact of fall. <P>SOLUTION: The portable electronic device has electronic equipment 3 with a mechanical precision mechanism that should be protected against an external impact. The electronic equipment 3 is held in a casing 1 that has a generally flat bottom surface. A pair of protruding strips 4 are formed around an area of a projection defined by projecting the electronic equipment 3 to the plane of the casing's bottom surface 1a. The pair of protruding strips 4 are located in proximity to opposite sides and extend toward the opposite sides 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a portable electronic device with improved impact resistance characteristics.

In recent years, portable electronic devices, for example, notebook personal computers or PDAs (personal digital assistants) have built-in precision devices such as hard disks, magnetic disk drives, or optical drives as peripheral devices. Such precision devices are structurally devised in order to prevent damage due to a drop impact when a portable electronic device is accidentally dropped. As an example, there is one in which a small cushioning material such as a plurality of rubber-based resins is mounted on an electronic device as a separate part. In addition, an electronic device in which a small protrusion or cushioning material integrally molded with the housing is arranged at the bottom of the housing located directly under the precision device, or as described in Non-Patent Document 1, There is a device in which a casing is inflated to give a buffer effect.
IBM homepage "HDD Shock Absorber", [November 27, 2003 search], Internet <www-6.ibm.com./jp/pc/design/hddshock.html>

  In a structure that protects electronic devices from drop impacts with relatively small protrusions and cushioning materials, if the impact force received from the floor surface increases due to an increase in the fall height, etc. The bottom housing is deformed in a local region, and there is a tendency for the housing to bend at a point where the protrusion and the cushioning material are disposed, thereby expanding the contact area between the housing and the floor surface. . In such a situation, if the built-in electronic device located immediately above the contact area comes into contact with the inside of the housing, this built-in precision device is equivalent to the case where it falls directly to the floor surface, or the protrusion arrangement is defective. When a rotational moment is generated by this, there is a problem that an impact more than dropping directly to the floor surface is given. In addition, when a cushioning material or a cushioning structure is provided directly under the precision built-in device, there is a problem that when the drop height becomes high and the buffering effect is lost, an impact is directly transmitted to the built-in device directly above.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a portable electronic device that can further improve the drop impact resistance against the dropping of the portable electronic device. It is in.

According to this invention,
An electronic device having a mechanical precision mechanism to be protected against external impacts;
A housing having a substantially flat bottom surface and a structure for holding an electronic device therein;
A pair of band-shaped protrusions that are defined by planar projection of the electronic device on the bottom surface, are close to each other outside the projection region having opposing sides, extend along the opposing sides, and project from the bottom surface;
It is in providing the portable electronic device characterized by comprising.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable electronic device that can further improve the drop impact resistance against dropping of the portable electronic device.

  Hereinafter, a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Notebook personal computers, PDAs (personal digital assistants), and the like are known as portable electronic devices. In a notebook personal computer, a substantially rectangular box-shaped display unit (not shown) corresponding to a lid is similarly provided at the base of a substantially rectangular box shape so that it can be folded by a hinge mechanism. In such a notebook personal computer, the lid portion is opened to operate the keyboard provided on the base when in use, and the display unit is folded and placed on the base when being carried to carry the device. The Some PDAs are provided with a lid, but are usually formed in a rectangular box-shaped outer shape, and a display unit and an operation unit are provided on the upper surface of the box-shaped base 1. At the time of operation, the display screen displayed on the display unit is touched, or the operation unit is operated so that the screen can be switched, and when it is carried, it is carried as it is with the screen display turned off. The A portable electronic device such as a notebook personal computer or a PDA usually includes a base having an outer shape as shown in FIG.

  The base has an outer shape defined by a main body casing (casing) 1, and the main body casing 1 has a machine whose function may be impaired by an external impact such as a hard disk, a magnetic disk drive, or an optical drive. A precision device 3 having a typical precision mechanism is incorporated. At the four corners of the bottom surface 1a of the main body housing 1, there are protrusions made of a flexible material such as rubber as a support when the electronic device is placed on a flat surface such as a desk, that is, a support pad 5 And the bottom surface of the electronic device is prevented from coming into direct contact with the mounting surface, and the electronic device can be stably mounted on a flat surface.

  The precision device 3 is usually formed in a rectangular box shape whose outer shape is slim, and in order to be detachable from the main body housing 1, a supporting frame (not shown) is used on its side wall portion to provide screws or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body housing 1 is supported by a support structure in the main body housing 1 via a frame so as to leave a slight gap G between the inner bottom portion and the inner bottom portion. . On the outer bottom surface of the main body housing 1, a pair of protruding belt-like protrusions 4 having substantially the same height as the support pad 5 or lower than the height of the support pad 5 extend substantially parallel to each other. Yes. Unlike the support pad 5, the belt-like protrusion 4 may be integrally formed when the main body casing 1 is formed from the same material as the main body casing 1. Alternatively, the belt-like protrusion 4 may be made of a material having a buffering property different from that of the main body housing 1 like the support pad 5 and may be stuck and fixed to the bottom surface.

  The pair of belt-like protrusions 4 oppose each other in a substantially rectangular region 2 (projection region is indicated by hatching in the drawing) defined when the precision device 3 is projected onto the bottom surface 1a of the main body housing 1 on a plane. It is disposed outside both sides 6 and extends along both sides 6 thereof. The belt-like protrusion 4 is arranged on the bottom surface 1a so that the center thereof coincides with the center line 8 passing through the geometric center of the substantially rectangular region 2 extending substantially parallel to the side wall to which the precision device 3 is fixed. ing. That is, the belt-like protrusions 4 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line 8. Further, the belt-like protrusion 4 has a length substantially equal to the length of the side 6 along which the belt-like protrusion 4 extends, or a length longer than the length of the side 6.

  In the portable electronic device having the structure shown in FIG. 1, when the casing 1 falls from the bottom to the ground such as the floor, the support pad 5 is grounded at the same time or a slight delay (this slight delay). The band-like protrusion 4 is grounded to the ground with a delay). Since the belt-like protrusion 4 is provided, the bottom surface 1a of the main body housing 1, in particular, the substantially rectangular shape of the bottom surface 1a on which the precision device 3 which is a heavy object is relatively disposed as compared with other parts. It is prevented that the area | region 2 contacts a fall surface directly. Even if the belt-like protrusion 4 is provided, the impact applied to the belt-like protrusion 4 is transmitted to the main body housing 1 and also to the precision device 3, and the precision device 3 which is a relatively heavy object is connected to the main body housing. Moved with 1. However, the pair of belt-like protrusions 4 and the bottom surface corresponding to the substantially rectangular region 2 supported between the belt-like protrusions 4 act as a rigid frame, and the entire bottom surface 1a is prevented from being bent. More specifically, when the main body housing 1 is dropped, a tension is applied to the bottom surface of the substantially rectangular region 2 by an impact applied to the belt-like protrusion 4, and the rigidity is further increased compared to the normal state. The rigid structure frame can surely protect the precision device 3. Further, the impact applied to the rigid frame is dispersed throughout the housing 1, and a large impact is prevented from directly acting on the precision device 3. In other words, the rectangular region 2 sandwiched between the belt-like protrusions 4 is reduced in the amount of bending due to the reduction in the distance between the support points in addition to the height of the belt-like protrusions 4. Can be avoided. Therefore, the precision device 3 positioned immediately above the rectangular area 2 does not receive an input of direct impact force from the floor surface via the housing bottom surface 1a. In addition, since the belt-like protrusions 4 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the geometric center line 8, the impact applied to the belt-like protrusions 4 is relatively applied to the precision device 3 via the belt-like protrusions 4. Evenly distributed, it is possible to prevent the impact from concentrating on a specific location.

  As a comparative example, in a portable electronic device that does not have the belt-like protrusion 4, when the housing 1 falls to the ground, the precision device 3 is moved at the same time that the support pad 5 is grounded and the bottom surface 1 a is moved. The rectangular area 2 in which the whole is bent and the heavy object is arranged at the same time as falling is swelled and grounded toward the ground. As a result, an impact is directly applied to the precision device 3.

  In the above-described embodiment, the belt-like protrusions 4 are arranged outside both sides 6 of the substantially rectangular region 2 defined when the precision device 3 is projected onto the bottom surface 1 a of the main body housing 1. The belt-like protrusions 4 are required to be disposed outside both sides 6 of the rectangular area 2 and are not preferably provided on the rectangular area 2. When the belt-like protrusion 4 is provided on the rectangular region 2, the bottom surface of the rectangular region 2 bends similarly to the case where the belt-like protrusion 4 is not provided, and an impact is directly applied to the precision device 3.

  FIG. 3 shows a characteristic A of impact applied to an electronic device in a portable electronic device in which strip-shaped protrusions 4 are arranged outside both sides 6 of a substantially rectangular area 2 as shown in FIG. The graph of the characteristic B of the impact given to the electronic device in the portable electronic device in which the part 4 is not arranged is shown. In FIG. 2, the vertical axis represents acceleration, and the horizontal axis represents time. In an electronic device built in a casing that is not provided with a belt-shaped portion, a large acceleration was applied to the electronic device immediately after dropping, as shown in graph B of FIG. 2, and then an impact was applied to the electronic device. As a result, a large rebound occurs, and the vibration that causes the electronic device to move up and down continues for a relatively long time. On the other hand, in the electronic device built in the casing 1 provided with the belt-like protrusion 4, the first acceleration is relatively small immediately after dropping as shown in the graph A of FIG. After that, second and third accelerations larger than the first acceleration are given to the electronic device, and then the accelerations are gradually attenuated. The first, second, and third accelerations in the graph A are sufficiently smaller than the acceleration peak in the graph B, and are distributed over time to give the first to third accelerations to the electronic device. As is clear from comparison with the graph A and the graph B, when the band-like protrusion 4 is provided in the housing 1, a large impact is not applied to the electronic device, and the impact is dispersed and gently The shock is attenuated. Therefore, according to the structure shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to reliably protect the electronic device in the housing against an impact.

  Next, a modified embodiment of the housing 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

  Each of the pair of belt-like protrusions 4 shown in FIG. 1 may be divided into two parts 4a and 4b as shown in FIG. That is, the strip segments 4a and 4b are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line 8 on both sides 6 of the substantially rectangular region 2, and the strip segments 4a and 4b are separated by a gap through which the center line passes. The strip-like segments 4a and 4b extend along both sides 6 of the substantially rectangular area 2 as in FIG. The strip segments 4a and 4b have substantially the same width, and the total length of the strip segments 4a and 4b arranged in a straight line is substantially equal to the length of the side 6 along which the strip projection 4 extends, or It has a length longer than the length.

  In the housing 1 shown in FIG. 4, the strip-like segments are arranged in a straight line, and a screw hole or the like can be arranged between the divided portions. Further, the number of strip segments is not limited to two, and it is apparent that three or more segments may be arranged in a straight line.

  In the housing 1 shown in FIG. 1, the band-like protrusions 4 are provided along both sides 6 corresponding to the long side of the substantially rectangular region 2, but as shown in FIG. While providing the strip | belt-shaped protrusion 4e along the long side 6a which mutually opposes, the strip | belt-shaped protrusion 4f may be provided along the short side 6b of the substantially rectangular area | region 2 which mutually opposes. Here, the substantially rectangular region 2 may extend to the side wall of the housing 1. In such a case, the belt-like protrusion 4 f along the short side 6 b close to the side wall is substantially rectangular. It may be arranged in the region 2 or may not be provided. That is, at least one belt-like protrusion 4f along the short side 6b may be provided along the short side 6b outside the substantially rectangular region 2, and the other belt-like protrusion 4f is provided within the substantially rectangular region 2. May be. In FIG. 5, the band-shaped protrusion 4 f is arranged on the bottom surface 1 a of the housing 1, but the band-shaped protrusion 4 f is not the bottom surface 1 a of the housing 1 but the side surface of the main body housing 1 a or the inside of the housing. It may be arranged on the upper surface.

  According to the housing 1 shown in FIG. 5, the bottom surface 1a corresponding to the substantially rectangular region 2 has a structure in which the short side and the long side are supported by the belt-like protrusions 4e and 4f. Compared to the structure shown in FIG. 1, the structure can be made more rigid, and the impact can be more dispersed. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably protect the electronic device 3 incorporated in the housing 1 against an external impact.

  The band-shaped protrusions 4, 4 e, 4 f or the band-shaped segments 4 a, 4 b described above are formed integrally with the housing 1 as shown in FIG. 2 and the inside thereof may be solid, as shown in FIG. Obviously, it may be hollow or hollow. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the belt-like protrusions 4, 4e, 4f or the belt-like segments 4a, 4b are made of a different material such as rubber resin, plastic, metal, etc., and the belt-like protrusions 4, 4e, 4f or the belt-like protrusions. The segments 4 a and 4 b may be fixed by being bonded or bonded to the housing 1.

It is a perspective view showing roughly the back of the portable electronic device concerning one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section of the portable electronic device shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a graph showing impact characteristics against dropping of the portable electronic device shown in FIG. 1 and a portable electronic device according to a comparative example. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the back surface of the portable electronic device which concerns on the deformation | transformation embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the back surface of the portable electronic device which concerns on other deformation | transformation embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows roughly the cross section of the portable electronic device which concerns on another modification embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows schematically the cross section of the portable electronic device which concerns on further another deformation | transformation embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1. . . Housing, 1a. . . Bottom surface, 2. . . 2. rectangular area; . . Electronic equipment 4, 4e, 4f. . . Strip-like protrusions 4a, 4b. . . 4. strip-like segments; . . Support pads, 6, 6a, 6b. . . Neighborhood

Claims (5)

An electronic device having a mechanical precision mechanism to be protected against external impacts;
A housing having a substantially flat bottom surface and a structure for holding an electronic device therein;
A pair of band-shaped protrusions that are defined by planar projection of the electronic device on the bottom surface, are close to each other outside the projection region having opposing sides, extend along the opposing sides, and project from the bottom surface;
A portable electronic device comprising:     The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the belt-like protrusions are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to a reference line passing through a substantially geometric center of the projection area.     The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the band-shaped protrusion is provided integrally with the housing.     The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the belt-like protrusion is provided separately from the housing and is fixed to the housing.     The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the belt-like protrusion has a length that is substantially the same as or longer than a length of opposite sides of the projection region.

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