Household electrical product, refrigerator, and device

Abstract

To provide a household electrical product, a refrigerator, and a device that can prevent circuit breakage of the device.SOLUTION: A household electrical product comprises an outer box 11 as a conductive body, and a camera unit 30 as a device. The camera unit 30 comprises a case 33 housing a camera control board 31c, a metal frame 31d arranged from the vicinity of the camera control board 31c to the outside of the camera unit 30, and an electric wire 35 comprising one end electrically connected to the metal frame 31d. The other end of the electric wire 35 is arranged near the outer box 11. The other end of the electric wire 35 has a space S between itself and the outer box 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to household appliances, refrigerators, and devices.

Background Art

[0002] In a refrigerator camera, the outer surface of the lens is formed of metal, and there is a risk of electrostatic discharge when touched by a user. Since the metal reaches near the image sensor circuit, circuit component failures occur due to the application of static electricity.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic device in which a camera unit (13) is integrally provided on a substrate (50). A spring member (60) electrically connected to the GND of the substrate is connected to a conductive member (22) via a contact (24A or 24B) on the case back side. By disposing the conductive member (22) near a metal decorative member (15) provided around the camera unit (13), static electricity generated around the camera unit (13) can be discharged to the GND of the substrate (50).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In order to consume static electricity in the GND pattern of the substrate (50), the impedance of the GND pattern is required to consume the energy of static electricity as heat. For this reason, it is presumed that a certain thickness and area are required for the GND pattern. When such a substrate is not assumed, it is required to cope with the configuration outside the substrate, but Patent Document 1 does not discuss such a coping method at all.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The household appliance of the present invention includes a main body of the household appliance provided with a conductor, and a device attached to the main body of the household appliance. The device includes a circuit board, a conductive portion arranged from the vicinity of the circuit board to the outside of the device, and a wiring having one end electrically connected to the conductive portion. The other end of the wiring is arranged near the conductor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present disclosure (referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the illustrated content is merely schematic, and for the convenience of illustration, it may be changed from the actual configuration within a range that does not significantly impair the effects of the present disclosure, or the illustration of some members may be omitted or deformed between the drawings.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator of the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the refrigerator 100 includes a refrigerator main body 10 (home appliance main body) and a camera unit 30 (device). The refrigerator main body 10 is formed by a heat-insulating box body that houses, for example, a foamed heat-insulating material (not shown) between an outer box 11 made of a steel plate (see Fig. 2) and an inner box made of a synthetic resin (not shown), and is configured such that the outside and inside of the refrigerator are separated. The camera unit 30 is provided on the upper part of the refrigerator main body 10.

[0010] Further, the refrigerator 100 includes a refrigerating compartment 1, an ice-making compartment 2, an upper freezing compartment 3, a vegetable compartment 4, and a lower freezing compartment 5 from above. The refrigerator 100 also includes doors 1a, 1a for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment 1, a door 2a for opening and closing the ice-making compartment 2, a door 3a for opening and closing the upper freezing compartment 3, a door 4a for opening and closing the vegetable compartment 4, and a door 5a for closing the lower freezing compartment 5. The door 1a is rotatable about a rotation axis (not shown) installed at the left and right ends of the refrigerator main body 10. The rotation axis is supported by door hinges 1b provided on the upper and lower sides of the door 1a, respectively. The doors 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a are configured to be pull-outable.

[0011] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the camera unit provided on the upper surface of the refrigerator main body. As shown in Fig. 2, the camera unit 30 is provided on the refrigerator main body 10 via a support member 40. The support member 40 is attached to the upper surface of the outer box 11 made of a steel plate. That is, the outer box 11 is a conductor through which electricity flows. Further, the camera unit 30 has a shape that protrudes forward from the support member 40 and the door 1a. The support member 40 is formed in a rectangular shape. The camera unit 30 has an elongated shape in the front-rear direction.

[0012] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the support member. As shown in Fig. 3, the refrigerator main body 10 includes a first base member 41 and a second base member 42 as members constituting the support member 40. The support member 40 has a space inside. The shapes, dimensions, and installation locations of the first base member 41 and the second base member 42 are not limited to the illustrated examples, and can be appropriately changed according to design conditions such as the positions of the through holes 21 and the attachment portions 46, and the position of the camera.

[0013] The first base member 41 is fixed to the upper surface of the refrigerator main body 10 by fixtures 43a, 43a that penetrate the upper surface (outer box 11) of the refrigerator main body 10. The fixtures 43a are, for example, screws or the like. The two fixtures 43a are inserted into the mounting portion 45 of the first base member 41 and the mounting portion 46 of the mounting member 44. The mounting portions 45, 46 are, for example, screw holes. The mounting member 44 is provided with a through hole 44a through which the power cable 61 (see FIG. 5) passes. The through hole 44a communicates the inside of the refrigerator main body 10 and the inside of the support member 40. The mounting member 44 is fitted into the through hole 21 formed in the upper surface of the refrigerator main body 10 from the inside of the refrigerator main body 10. The portion 44b of the mounting member 44 that is exposed upward through the through hole 21 fits into the through hole 47 of the first base member 41. By fixing with the fixture 43a in this state, the first base member 41 and the mounting member 44 are fixed so as to sandwich the upper surface of the refrigerator main body 10.

[0014] The second base member 42 is fixed to the first base member 41 at a plurality of locations in the front-rear direction of the refrigerator main body 10. The fixing is performed by fixtures 43b. The fixtures 43b are, for example, screws or the like. Note that the fixtures 43b are not inserted into the refrigerator main body 10. Each fixture 43b is inserted into the mounting portion 48 of the second base member 42 and the mounting portion 49 of the first base member 41. The mounting portions 48, 49 are, for example, screw holes. The second base member 42 is fixed to the first base member 41 by the fixtures 43b.

[0015] The first base member 41 and the second base member 42 are, for example, made of resin. However, at least one of the first base member 41 or the second base member 42 can be used in combination with a metal plate of an arbitrary shape. By using them in combination, the rigidity can be improved. The combination may include the resin and the metal separately, or may be integrally provided by a metal resin composite material.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the camera unit. As shown in FIG. 4, in the camera unit 30, a lens 31a and an image sensor 31b are provided on a camera control board 31c (circuit board), which constitutes a camera module M1. Further, a light source 32 (e.g., an LED) for irradiating light into the refrigerator compartment 1 (see FIG. 1) is mounted on the camera control board 31c. This light source 32 lights up when shooting by the camera unit 30, and can illuminate the refrigerator compartment 1 and a door pocket (not shown) inside the refrigerator compartment 1 with appropriate brightness. A translucent cover 32a is provided below the light source 32 in the camera unit 30.

[0017] Further, the camera unit 30 includes a metal frame 31d (conductive part) that holds the lens 31a. This metal frame 31d is composed of a conductive member and has a shape that covers the entire outer periphery except the front end surface of the lens 31a. Also, the metal frame 31d is arranged outside the camera unit 30 from the vicinity of the camera control board 31c. Further, the metal frame 31d is shaped to be located near the image sensor 31b.

[0018] The camera module M1 is provided near the front end of a case 33 that constitutes the outer shell of the camera unit 30. This case 33 includes a lower case 33a with an open upper surface and an upper case 33b (lid member) that closes the upper surface opening of the lower case 33a, and the camera module M1 is housed in a space formed inside.

[0019] The refrigerator 100 includes a rotation mechanism 50 that rotates the camera unit 30 in a horizontal plane (front - rear, left - right directions). This rotation mechanism 50 includes a hollow portion 50a that communicates the inside of the camera unit 30 and the inside of the support member 40.

[0020] Incidentally, in the camera unit 30 mounted on the refrigerator 100, since the lens 31a is exposed to the outside and the outer surface (outer peripheral surface) of the lens 31a is formed of a conductive metal frame 31d, there is a risk that static electricity is discharged to the metal frame 31d when the user approaches the lens 31a. As a result, when the metal frame 31d reaches near the circuit of the image sensor 31b, a failure of the image sensor 31b, a failure of circuit components of the camera microcomputer mounted on the camera module M1, etc. may occur due to the discharge of static electricity.

[0021] Therefore, in the present embodiment, one end of the electric wire 35 (wiring) is fixed to the bottom surface in the lower case 33a near the lens 31a (near the metal frame 31d) by an aluminum tape 34. That is, one end of the electric wire 35 is in a state of being electrically close to the metal frame 31d. The aluminum tape 34 is a metal foil tape with an adhesive applied to the back surface of the aluminum foil tape.

[0022] Also, as shown by the broken line, the other end of the electric wire 35 extends through the hollow portion 50a of the rotation mechanism 50 to the rear end of the support member 40 and is fixed to the inner wall of the rear end of the support member 40 by an aluminum tape 36.

[0023] Also, one end of the aluminum tape 34 and the electric wire 35 is not in contact with the metal frame 31d but in a close state. Also, the other end of the aluminum tape 36 and the electric wire 35 is not in contact with the outer box 11 but in a close state.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the wiring inside the support member. As shown in FIG. 5, the first base member 41 of the support member 40 includes a bottom plate 41a in contact with the upper surface 11a of the outer box 11, a front edge portion 41b extending vertically upward from the front edge of the bottom plate 41a, a rear edge portion 41c extending vertically upward from the rear edge of the bottom plate 41a, a left edge portion 41d extending vertically upward from the left edge of the bottom plate 41a, and a right edge portion 41e extending vertically upward from the right edge of the bottom plate 41a, and has a shape in which an opening 41f is formed vertically upward.

[0025] The second base member 42 of the support member 40 has a top plate 42a provided to face the bottom plate 41a, a front edge portion 42b extending vertically downward from the front edge of the top plate 42a, a rear edge portion 42c extending vertically downward from the rear edge of the top plate 42a, a left edge portion 42d extending vertically downward from the left edge of the top plate 42a, and a right edge portion 42e extending vertically downward from the right edge of the top plate 42a, and has a shape in which an opening 42f is formed facing vertically downward.

[0026] One end of a power cable 61 is connected to the camera module M1 (see FIG. 4). The other end of the power cable 61 is drawn out from the case 33 through the hollow portion 50a to the support member 40. Further, the power cable 61 is connected to a connection terminal 61a provided in the first base member 41. The power cable 61 is fixed by a fixing portion 42g provided in the second base member 42 and a fixing portion 41g provided in the first base member 41.

[0027] The aluminum tape 36 is located on the inner wall surface of the rear edge portion 42c of the second base member 42. Further, the electric wire 35 extends from the hollow portion 50a to the aluminum tape 36. That is, the other end of the electric wire 35 is fixed to the second base member 42 by the aluminum tape 36. Further, the aluminum tape 36 is located between the rear edge portion 42c and the rear edge portion 41c. Note that the position where the electric wire 35 is fixed is not limited to the position of the rear edge portion 42c, and may be any of the front edge portion 42b, the left edge portion 42d, and the right edge portion 42e.

[0028] Further, when the opening 41f of the first base member 41 is closed by the second base member 42, the front edge portion 42b, the rear edge portion 42c, the left edge portion 42d, and the right edge portion 42e of the second base member 42 are located outside the front edge portion 41b, the rear edge portion 41c, the left edge portion 41d, and the right edge portion 41e of the first base member 41. Thereby, the edge portion of the aluminum tape 36 is arranged to face the upper surface 11a of the outer case 11.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a top view of the camera unit with the lid removed. Note that FIG. 6 shows a state in which the camera module M1 is removed. As shown in FIG. 6, in the lower case 33a, a connecting portion 33s that is rotatably connected to a support member 40 (see FIG. 4) is formed at the center in the front-rear direction. This connecting portion 33s is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and is integrally formed with the lower case 33a by resin molding. Further, in the lower case 33a, a lens mounting portion 33c to which a lens 31a (see FIG. 4) is attached is formed at the front end in the front-rear direction. By fixing the camera module M1 to the lower case 33a, the tip surface of the lens 31a and the tip portion of the metal frame 31d are arranged to be exposed from the circular through-hole of the lens mounting portion 33c.

[0030] The aluminum tape 34 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape and is provided between the lens mounting portion 33c and a cover mounting hole 33d to which a cover 32a (see FIG. 4) that transmits light from the light source 32 (see FIG. 4) is attached. One end of the electric wire 35 is fixed to the bottom surface inside the lower case 33a by the aluminum tape 34. Further, the electric wire 35 is disposed so as to bypass the cover mounting hole 33d from one end on the aluminum tape 34 side and extends to the hollow portion 50a.

[0031] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 7, the other end of the electric wire 35 extends to the rear edge portion 42c of the second base member 42 and is fixed to the inner wall surface of the rear edge portion 42c by the aluminum tape 36. Further, the aluminum tape 36 is located between the rear edge portion 41c and the rear edge portion 42c, the lower side of the aluminum tape 36 is open, and the lower end edge portion of the aluminum tape 36 and the outer box 11 (conductor) are arranged to face each other. Thereby, a space S (air layer) is formed between the aluminum tape 36 and the upper surface of the outer box 11. In this way, the other end of the electric wire 35 is arranged in the vicinity of the outer box 11.

[0032] In the refrigerator 100 configured as described above, when the user brings their hand close to the lens 31a (see FIG. 4) of the camera unit 30, even if static electricity is discharged to the metal frame 31d, the static electricity flows from the aluminum tape 34 (see FIG. 4) through the electric wire 35 to the aluminum tape 36 and can be released to the upper surface 11a of the outer box 11. This makes it possible to prevent the circuit of the image sensor 31b from being damaged or the circuit of the camera microcomputer mounted on the camera module M1 from malfunctioning.

[0033] As described above, the refrigerator 100 of the present embodiment includes an outer box 11 as a conductor and a camera unit 30 as a device. The camera unit 30 includes a camera control board 31c, a metal frame 31d disposed from the vicinity of the camera control board 31c to the outside of the camera unit 30, and an electric wire 35 having one end electrically connected to the metal frame 31d, and is housed in a case 33. Further, the other end of the electric wire 35 is disposed in the vicinity of the outer box 11. According to this, a discharge path from the metal frame 31d (conductive portion) to the outer box 11 (conductor) can be secured, and the occurrence of a failure in the camera module M1 can be prevented.

[0034] Also, in the present embodiment, the camera unit 30 (device) includes a support member 40 (case) having an opening 42f facing the outer box 11 (conductor), and the other end of the electric wire 35 is attached in the vicinity of the opening 42f (rear edge portion 42c) (see FIGS. 4 and 5). According to this, since the discharge structure is almost completed within the camera unit 30, the refrigerator main body 10 can be manufactured separately, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

[0035] Also, in the present embodiment, the other end of the electric wire 35 has a space S between it and the outer box 11 (see FIG. 7). According to this, since static electricity discharges by breaking through the high-impedance air insulation layer (space S), the static electricity can be consumed early.

[0036] Further, this embodiment includes a camera control board 31c, a metal frame 31d (conductive portion) arranged from the vicinity of the camera control board 31c to the outside of the camera unit 30, a wire 35 having one end electrically connected to the metal frame 31d, and a support member 40 having an opening 42f. The other end of the wire 35 is arranged in the vicinity of the opening 42f. According to this, since the discharge structure is substantially completed within the camera unit 30, the camera unit 30 and the refrigerator main body 10 can be manufactured separately.

[0037] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the other end of the wire 35 is provided inside the opening 42f of the second base member 42 has been described as an example. However, the other end of the wire 35 may be routed outside the case 33 and arranged in the vicinity of the outer box 11 on the outer surface of the second base member 42.

[0038] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the other end of the wire 35 is fixed to the support member 40 has been described as an example. However, the support member 40 may be omitted, the camera unit 30 may be attached to the upper surface 11a (upper surface) of the outer box 11, and the other end of the wire 35 may be arranged in the vicinity of the upper surface 11a within the case 33.

[0039] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the case where one end of the wire 35 is fixed by the aluminum tape 34 and the other end is fixed by the aluminum tape 36 has been described as an example. However, a printed circuit board printed with copper foil may be fixed with one end in the vicinity of the metal frame 31d and the other end to the support member 40, and the wire 35 may be fixed to the copper foil of the board by soldering. Alternatively, a crimp terminal such as a round terminal may be attached to the end of the wire 35, and the crimp terminal may be fixed to the vicinity of the metal frame 31d at one end and to the support member 40 at the other end with a screw or the like. Thereby, the end of the wire 35 becomes less likely to come off than when the aluminum tape 34 is used.

[0040] In the above-described embodiment, the refrigerator 100 is taken as an example of a home appliance for explanation. However, the present invention is not limited to the refrigerator 100 and can be applied to IH cooking heaters, washing machines, robot vacuum cleaners, air conditioners, and IoT (Internet of Things) home appliances with a camera attached to a vacuum cleaner. Further, the refrigerator 100 is not limited to storing food and beverages, and also includes those for storing chemicals, specimens, etc. in hospitals, research institutions, schools, and others. That is, the home appliance is a concept that also includes storage cabinets used in hospitals, research institutions, schools, and others.

Explanation of Signs

[0041] 1 Refrigerator compartment 1a Door 10 Refrigerator main body (home appliance main body) 11 Outer box (conductor) 30 Camera unit (device) 31a Lens 31b Image sensor 31c Camera control board (circuit board) 31d Metal frame (conductive part) 33 Case 33a Lower case 33b Upper case 34 Aluminum tape (wiring) 35 Electric wire (wiring) 36 Aluminum tape (wiring) 40 Support member (case) 41 First base member 42 Second base member 42c Rear edge part 42f Opening 50 Rotating mechanism 100 Refrigerator S Space (air layer)

Claims

1. An appliance main body including a conductor, and a device attached to the appliance main body, wherein the device includes a circuit board, a conductive portion arranged from the vicinity of the circuit board to the outside of the device, and a wiring having one end electrically connected to the conductive portion, and the other end of the wiring is arranged in the vicinity of the conductor, an appliance product.

2. The appliance product according to Claim 1, wherein the device includes a case having an opening facing the conductor, and the other end of the wiring is attached in the vicinity of the opening, an appliance product.

3. An outer box as the conductor, and a camera unit as the device, wherein the camera unit has a case for housing the circuit board, the conductive portion, and the wiring, and the other end of the wiring is arranged in the vicinity of the outer box, a refrigerator as the appliance product according to Claim 1.

4. The refrigerator according to Claim 3, wherein the other end of the wiring has an air layer between it and the outer box, a refrigerator.

5. A circuit board, a conductive portion arranged from the vicinity of the circuit board to the outside of the device, a wiring having one end electrically connected to the conductive portion, and a case having an opening, wherein the other end of the wiring is arranged in the vicinity of the opening, a device.

Images