Electronic device

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus capable of preventing a built-in camera from being damaged.SOLUTION: An electronic device includes a cabinet having a plate-like shape, a through hole formed in the cabinet, and an inner surface defining the through hole, a camera including a portion disposed in the through hole, a camera holder including a holding portion holding the camera and an interposed portion interposed between the inner surface and the portion, and a joining medium joining the camera holder to the cabinet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to electronic devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a digital camera in which a flexible cushioning material is fitted between the lens unit and the mount of the camera body. When an impact is applied to the lens unit, the cushioning material bends to absorb the impact (abstract). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-313272 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a camera is incorporated into a smartphone, a camera holder is often attached to the cavity, the camera is held by the camera holder, and the camera is inserted into a hole formed in the cavity. However, when the camera is inserted into a hole formed in the cavity, if the holder moves relative to the cavity, the camera may collide with the cavity and be damaged. This problem also occurs when cameras are incorporated into electronic devices other than smartphones.

[0005] In view of this problem, an aspect of the present disclosure provides an electronic device that can prevent damage to a built-in camera, for example. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An electronic device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a cabinet having a plate-like shape, a through hole formed therein, and an inner surface that defines the through hole; a camera having a portion that is placed within the through hole; a camera holder having a holding portion that holds the camera and an interposing portion that is interposed between the inner surface and the portion; and a bonding medium that bonds the camera holder to the cabinet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a smartphone according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a smartphone according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the vicinity of a camera unit provided in a smartphone according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a camera unit provided in the smartphone of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a camera unit provided in the smartphone of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the vicinity of a camera unit provided in a smartphone according to a first embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the vicinity of a camera unit provided in a smartphone of a reference example. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0009] 1. First embodiment 1.1 Smartphone 1 and 2 are perspective views that schematically illustrate a smartphone according to a first embodiment.

[0010] The smartphone 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 performs cellular communication, communication conforming to the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard, communication conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, etc. The smartphone 1 has functions provided by built-in hardware and installed applications. For example, the smartphone 1 has functions such as making calls, browsing websites, sending and receiving messages, taking and playing photos and videos, playing music, and viewing maps.

[0011] The smartphone 1 has a rectangular plate-like shape. Therefore, the smartphone 1 has a front surface 1a and a rear surface 1b. The front surface 1a and the rear surface 1b face in a front direction DF and a rear direction DR, respectively. The front direction DF and the rear direction DR are opposite directions. The smartphone 1 may have a shape other than a rectangular plate-like shape.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the smartphone 1 includes a housing 11, a touch panel display unit 12, and a camera unit 13.

[0013] The housing 11 houses a touch panel display unit 12, a camera unit 13, and the like.

[0014] The touch panel display unit 12 is disposed on the front surface 1a of the smartphone 1. The touch panel display unit 12 detects a touch operation and displays a screen.

[0015] The camera unit 13 is disposed on the rear surface 1b of the smartphone 1. The camera unit 13 may be disposed on a surface other than the rear surface 1b. The camera unit 13 captures an image and outputs image data.

[0016] The smartphone 1 is an example of an electronic device. The camera unit 13 may be provided in an electronic device other than the smartphone 1. For example, the camera unit 13 may be provided in a feature phone, a tablet, a personal computer, a digital camera, a video camera, a webcam, or the like.

[0017] 1.2 Camera unit Fig. 3 is a perspective view that schematically illustrates the vicinity of a camera unit provided in the smartphone of the first embodiment. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are exploded perspective views that schematically illustrate the camera unit provided in the smartphone of the first embodiment. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view that schematically illustrates the vicinity of a camera unit provided in the smartphone of the first embodiment.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the camera unit 13 includes a camera window 21, a camera ornament 22, double-sided tape 23, a cabinet 24, double-sided tape 25, a camera holder 26, double-sided tape 27, and a camera 28.

[0019] The camera window 21 is exposed on the rear surface 1b of the smartphone 1. The camera window 21 is optically transparent. The camera window 21 has a plate-like shape. Therefore, the camera window 21 has a first main surface 21a, a second main surface 21b, and an end surface 21c. The first main surface 21a and the second main surface 21b face the rear direction DR and the front direction DF, respectively. The end surface 21c extends from the outer periphery of the first main surface 21a to the outer periphery of the second main surface 21b. Light arriving from outside the smartphone 1 is incident on the first main surface 21a. The camera window 21 transmits light incident on the first main surface 21a and emits the transmitted light from the second main surface 21b.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the camera ornament 22 includes a plate-shaped portion 31 and an annular portion 32. The plate-shaped portion 31 has a first main surface 31a and a second main surface 31b. The first main surface 31a and the second main surface 31b face the rear direction DR and the front direction DF, respectively. The annular portion 32 is connected to the outer periphery of the plate-shaped portion 31 and protrudes from the plate-shaped portion 31 in the rear direction DR. The annular portion 32 is disposed along the end surface 21c of the camera window 21. The annular portion 32 is exposed on the rear surface 1b of the smartphone 1 to decorate the camera unit 13. A through-hole 31c is formed in the plate-shaped portion 31. The through-hole 31c penetrates the plate-shaped portion 31 in its thickness direction, from the first main surface 31a to the second main surface 31b. The through-hole 31c is a circular hole. The through-hole 31c may be a hole other than a circular hole.

[0021] One adhesive surface of the double-sided tape 23 is attached to the second main surface 21b of the camera window 21. The other adhesive surface of the double-sided tape 23 is attached to the first main surface 31a of the plate-shaped portion 31. In this way, the double-sided tape 23 serves as a bonding medium that bonds the camera window 21 to the camera ornament 22. The double-sided tape 23 may be replaced with another type of bonding medium. For example, the double-sided tape 23 may be replaced with an adhesive layer.

[0022] The cabinet 24 has a plate-like shape. Therefore, the cabinet 24 has a first main surface 24a and a second main surface 24b. The first main surface 24a and the second main surface 24b face the rear direction DR and the front direction DF, respectively. A through-hole 24c is formed in the cabinet 24. The cabinet 24 has an inner surface 24d that defines the through-hole 24c. The through-hole 24c penetrates the cabinet 24 in its thickness direction, reaching from the first main surface 24a to the second main surface 24b. The through-hole 24c is a circular hole. The through-hole 24c may be a hole other than a circular hole. The cabinet 24 holds various components provided in the smartphone 1.

[0023] One adhesive surface of the double-sided tape 25 is attached to the second main surface 31b of the plate-shaped portion 31. The other adhesive surface of the double-sided tape 25 is attached to the first main surface 24a of the cabinet 24. This makes the double-sided tape 25 a bonding medium that bonds the camera ornament 22 to the cabinet. The double-sided tape 25 may be replaced with another type of bonding medium. For example, the double-sided tape 25 may be replaced with an adhesive layer.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the camera holder 26 includes a plate-shaped portion 41, a cylindrical portion 42, and a frame-shaped portion 43.

[0025] The plate-shaped portion 41 has a first main surface 41a and a second main surface 41b. The first main surface 41a and the second main surface 41b face the rear direction DR and the front direction DF, respectively. A through-hole 41c is formed in the plate-shaped portion 41. The through-hole 41c passes through the plate-shaped portion 41 in its thickness direction, reaching from the first main surface 41a to the second main surface 41b. The through-hole 41c is a circular hole. The through-hole 41c may be a hole other than a circular hole.

[0026] An intra-cylinder space 42a is formed in the tubular portion 42. The end of the tubular portion 42 on the front direction DF side is connected to the first main surface 41a of the plate-shaped portion 41 and is connected to the outer edge of the through-hole 41c. The intra-cylinder space 42a communicates with the through-hole 41c of the plate-shaped portion 41. The tubular portion 42 has a cylindrical shape. Therefore, the intra-cylinder space 42a has a circular planar shape when viewed from the front direction DF side and the rear direction DR side. The tubular portion 42 may have a shape other than a cylindrical shape. Therefore, the intra-cylinder space 42a may have a planar shape other than a circular planar shape. The end of the tubular portion 42 on the front direction DF side is located closer to the front direction DF than the through-hole 24c of the cabinet 24. The end of the tubular portion 42 on the rear direction DR side is located closer to the rear direction DR than the through-hole 24c. As a result, the tubular portion 42 passes through the through-hole 24c. As a result, the cylindrical portion 42 separates the elements disposed in the cylindrical space 42 a from the cabinet 24 .

[0027] An intra-frame space 43a is formed in the frame-shaped portion 43. An end of the frame-shaped portion 43 on the rear direction DR side is connected to the second main surface 41b of the plate-shaped portion 41. The intra-frame space 43a communicates with the through-hole 41c of the plate-shaped portion 41. The frame-shaped portion 43 has a U-frame shape. The frame-shaped portion 43 may have a shape other than a U-frame shape. The intra-frame space 43a has a planar shape that is larger than the planar shape of the intra-cylinder space 42a of the cylindrical portion 42 when viewed from the front direction DF side and the rear direction DR side.

[0028] One adhesive surface of the double-sided tape 27 is affixed to the second main surface 24b of the cabinet 24. The other adhesive surface of the double-sided tape 27 is affixed to the first main surface 41a of the plate-shaped portion 41. As a result, the double-sided tape 27 serves as a bonding medium that bonds the camera holder 26 to the cabinet 24. The double-sided tape 27 may be replaced with another type of bonding medium. For example, the double-sided tape 27 may be replaced with an adhesive layer. The double-sided tape 27 bonds the camera holder 26 to the cabinet 24, but will slightly buckle if the smartphone 1 is dropped or subjected to an impact. Therefore, if the smartphone 1 is dropped or subjected to an impact, the camera holder 26 and the camera 28 will move relative to the cabinet 24 while the camera holder 26 remains attached to the cabinet 24.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the camera 28 includes a lens unit 51 and an image sensor unit 52.

[0030] The lens unit 51 has an incident surface 51a and an exit surface 51b. The incident surface 51a is located at the tip on the rear direction DR side. The exit surface 51b is located at the tip on the front direction DF side. Light emitted from the second main surface 21b of the camera window 21 is incident on the incident surface 51a. The lens unit 51 transmits the light that has entered the incident surface 51a and emits the transmitted light from the exit surface 51b, causing the emitted light to form an image.

[0031] The image pickup element unit 52 picks up the formed image and outputs image data corresponding to the picked up image.

[0032] A portion of the lens unit 51 on the front direction DF side is housed in the imaging element unit 52. A portion of the lens unit 51 on the rear direction DR side protrudes in the rear direction DR from the imaging element unit 52. For this reason, the camera 28 has a structure in which a protrusion 62 formed by the portion of the lens unit 51 on the rear direction DR side protrudes in the rear direction DR from a base 61 formed by the imaging element unit 52.

[0033] The base 61 is disposed in the intra-frame space 43a of the frame-shaped portion 43. The base 61 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The base 61 has a shape that fits the shape of the intra-frame space 43a. As a result, the base 61 is held by the frame-shaped portion 43 and positioned relative to the frame-shaped portion 43. As a result, the frame-shaped portion 43 serves as a holding portion that holds the camera 28 and positions the camera 28 relative to the camera holder 26. As the camera 28 is positioned relative to the camera holder 26, the camera holder 26 and the camera 28 move together.

[0034] The protrusion 62 is disposed across the through-hole 41c of the plate-shaped portion 41 and the in-cylinder space 42a of the tubular portion 42. The protrusion 62 has a cylindrical shape. The protrusion 62 has a planar shape that is smaller than the planar shape of the base 61 when viewed from the rear direction DR side.

[0035] The camera window 21 is disposed on the rear direction DR side of the through-hole 24c of the cabinet 24. The base 61 is disposed on the front direction DF side of the through-hole 24c. The protrusion 62 protrudes from the base 61 in the rear direction DR, passes through the through-hole 24c, and faces the camera window 21. This allows the incident surface 51a of the lens unit 51 to be closer to the camera window 21. This allows the camera window 21 to be made smaller.

[0036] The protrusion 62 passes through the through-hole 24c of the cabinet 24. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 , the protrusion 62 includes a portion 71 disposed within the through-hole 24c. The portion 71 is disposed in the intra-tubular space 42a of the tubular portion 42. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 , the tubular portion 42 includes an interposition portion 72 disposed between the inner surface 24d of the cabinet 24 and the portion 71. When the camera holder 26 and the camera 28 move together in a direction perpendicular to the front direction DF and the rear direction DR, the interposition portion 72 contacts the inner surface 24d before the portion 71 contacts the inner surface 24d. This prevents the camera 28 from being directly impacted, even when the smartphone 1 is dropped or otherwise impacted, causing the camera holder 26 and the camera 28 to move relative to the cabinet 24. Furthermore, there is no need to enlarge the through-hole 24c to prevent the portion 71 from contacting the inner surface 24d, which prevents the internal mechanisms of the housing 11 from being seen through the through-hole 24c.

[0037] Intermediate portion 72 is provided on cylindrical portion 42 that surrounds protrusion 62. Therefore, interposed portion 72 is provided around the entire circumference of portion 71. This makes it possible to prevent direct impact on camera 28 when camera holder 26 and camera 28 move in any direction perpendicular to the front direction DF and rear direction DR.

[0038] The cylindrical portion 42 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the protrusion 62, and is disposed coaxially with the protrusion 62. This separates the intervening portion 72 radially outward from the portion 71. This makes it possible to prevent the intervening portion 72 from impacting the protrusion 62.

[0039] 1.3 Comparison between the reference example and the first embodiment FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view that schematically illustrates the vicinity of a camera unit provided in a smartphone of a reference example.

[0040] 7 , in the camera unit 913 provided in the smartphone of the reference example, double-sided tape 927 joins the camera holder 926 to the cabinet 924, and the camera holder 926 holds the camera 928. However, there is no object between the protrusion 962 of the camera 928 and the cabinet 924. Therefore, if the camera holder 926 and the camera 928 move together in a direction perpendicular to the front direction DF and the rear direction DR, there is a possibility that the portion 971 disposed within the through-hole 924c of the cabinet 924 will hit the inner surface 924d of the through-hole 924c. Therefore, if the smartphone is dropped or otherwise subjected to an impact, causing the camera holder 926 and the camera 928 to move relative to the cabinet 924, there is a possibility that an impact will be applied to the camera 928.

[0041] 3 to 6, in the camera unit 13 provided in the smartphone 1 of the first embodiment, when the camera holder 26 and the camera 28 move together in a direction perpendicular to the front direction DF and the rear direction DR, the interposition portion 72 hits the inner surface 24d of the through-hole 24c before the portion 71 hits the inner surface 24d. As a result, even if the smartphone 1 is dropped or otherwise impacted, causing the camera holder 26 and the camera 28 to move relative to the cabinet 24, it is possible to prevent the camera 28 from being subjected to an impact.

[0042] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be replaced with a configuration that is substantially the same as the configuration shown in the above-described embodiments, a configuration that has the same effect, or a configuration that can achieve the same purpose. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Smartphone 1a Front side 1b Rear side 11. Housing 12 Touch panel display unit 13 Camera Department 21 Camera window 21a first principal surface 21b second principal surface 21c end face 22 Camera Decoration 23 double-sided tape 24 Cabinet 24a First principal surface 24b Second main surface 24c through hole 24d Interior 25 double-sided tape 26 Camera holder 27 double-sided tape 28 Camera 31 Plate-shaped part 31a first principal surface 31b second principal surface 31c through hole 32 Annular section 41 Plate-shaped part 41a first principal surface 41b Second principal surface 41c through hole 42 Cylindrical part 42a Cylinder space 43 Frame-shaped part 43a Inner space 51 Lens unit 51a Incidence plane 51b Output surface 52 Image sensor unit 61 Base 62 Protrusion 71 parts 72 Interposition part 913 Camera Club 927 double-sided tape 926 Camera Holder 924 Cabinet 928 Camera DF Front direction DR Rear direction

Claims

1. a cabinet having a plate-like shape, a through hole formed therein, and an inner surface defining the through hole; a camera having a portion disposed within the through hole; a camera holder including a holding portion that holds the camera and an interposition portion that is interposed between the inner surface and the portion; a bonding medium for bonding the camera holder to the cabinet; An electronic device comprising:

2. The interposed portion is provided around the entire circumference of the portion. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

3. the camera holder includes a cylindrical portion having an internal cylindrical space; the cylindrical portion includes the interposition portion, The portion is disposed in the cylinder space.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The intervening portion is spaced from the portion.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. a camera window disposed on one side of the through hole; the camera includes a base portion disposed on the other side of the through-hole, and a protrusion portion protruding from the base portion and passing through the through-hole, The protrusion has an incident surface that is disposed at a tip of the protrusion and faces the camera window.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2.

Images