electronic machinery

Abstract

To provide an electronic device in which the battery can be easily inserted and removed, and in which the battery makes stable contact with the terminals. [Solution] The electronic device (10) includes a battery compartment (12) provided on the main body (11) for housing a battery (13), a movable part (20) that moves within the battery compartment to press the battery against terminals (17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) and to release the pressure on the terminals, and a battery cover (40) that, while in contact with the movable part, moves the movable part as it moves from an open-allowable position where it is released from the main body and the battery compartment can be opened to a fixed position where it is fixed to the main body, thereby changing the pressure on the terminals of the battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device.

Background Art

[0002] In an electronic device that is powered by a battery, it is necessary to stably contact the electrodes of the battery with the terminals in the battery storage section with the battery attached to the battery storage section. Further, when replacing the battery, it is required that the battery can be easily attached to and detached from the battery storage section. In response to such requirements, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a battery cover that opens and closes the battery storage section is provided, and when the battery cover is closed, the battery cover directly pushes the battery into the interior of the battery storage section to bring the electrodes of the battery into contact with the terminals. Such a structure is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to achieve stable power supply from the battery, the terminals in the battery storage section are often composed of elastic members such as leaf springs or coil springs, and the battery is held in a state where the battery is pressed against the terminals. However, when the pressing force of the battery against the terminals is increased, a large force is required to attach and detach the battery to and from the battery storage section, and there is a problem that it is difficult to easily attach and detach the battery. Further, in the structure of Patent Document 1, when the battery cover is opened, the battery may pop out of the battery storage section and fall due to the force that releases the deflection of the terminals.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device in which the battery can be easily attached and detached and the battery stably contacts the terminals.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a battery storage section provided on a main body for housing at least one battery; a movable section that moves within the battery storage section to cause the battery to be pressed against terminals and to release the pressure of the battery against terminals; and a battery cover that, while in contact with the movable section, moves the movable section as it moves from an open-allowable position where it is released from the main body and the battery storage section can be opened to a fixed position where it is fixed to the main body, thereby changing the state of the pressure of the battery against terminals. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the above embodiment, in an electronic device, it is possible to easily attach and detach the battery and to ensure that the battery makes stable contact with the terminals. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the main body, battery cover, and battery of an electronic device having a battery compartment. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of the battery cover removed from the main unit. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line V1-V1 showing the battery cover in the open position. [Figure 4] This is a plan view showing the battery cover in its fixed position. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the battery cover in its fixed position along the line V2-V2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The electronic device 10 of this embodiment operates by receiving power from a battery 13 housed in a battery compartment 12 provided in the main body 11. The electronic device 10 can be applied to various electronic devices such as electronic magnifiers, imaging devices, clocks, lighting fixtures, and remote controllers, and can be applied to electronic devices other than those exemplified herein, as long as they use a battery. The electronic device 10 may have a power supply system other than the battery 13, for example, the main body 11 may be provided with an external power terminal to which a connector extending from an AC adapter is connected. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions of the electronic device 10 are perpendicular to each other. The positive and negative directions of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are distinguished as + and -, but this distinction in direction does not refer to the positive and negative poles of the battery 13.

[0010] The battery 13 is a cylindrical dry cell, having a positive electrode 14 at one end in the axial direction and a negative electrode 15 at the other end in the axial direction. The type of battery 13 is not limited and may be either a primary or secondary battery. Furthermore, the shape of the battery in this disclosure is not limited to a cylindrical shape like battery 13, but may be a rectangular tube shape, a button shape, or the like.

[0011] The main body 11 has a flat lid support surface 16 that extends in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and a battery storage section 12 is formed as a recess recessed in the -Z direction relative to the lid support surface 16. The battery storage section 12 is configured to house two batteries 13 whose axial direction is oriented in the X-axis direction, arranged side by side along the Y-axis (see Figures 2 and 4). Each battery 13 is housed in the battery storage section 12 without protruding in the +Z direction beyond the lid support surface 16 (see Figures 3 and 5). However, the battery storage section in this disclosure is not limited to the configuration of the battery storage section 12 shown in the figures. For example, the battery storage section may house only one battery, or three or more batteries. Also, the battery storage section may house multiple batteries arranged in series. Furthermore, the battery storage section may house batteries with a portion of them protruding in the Z-axis direction.

[0012] Two batteries 13 housed in the battery compartment 12 are distinguished as follows: one is designated as battery 13A and the other as battery 13B. Battery 13A is housed in the battery compartment 12 with its electrode 14 facing the +X direction and its electrode 15 facing the -X direction. Battery 13B is housed in the battery compartment 12 with its electrode 14 facing the -X direction and its electrode 15 facing the +X direction. The width of the battery compartment 12 in the Y-axis direction roughly corresponds to the width occupied by the two batteries 13 arranged in parallel in the Y-axis direction, allowing the two batteries 13 to be held without displacement in the Y-axis direction within the battery compartment 12. The length of the battery compartment 12 in the X-axis direction is set with a predetermined margin relative to the axial length of each battery 13, allowing the two batteries 13 to be moved in the X-axis direction within the battery compartment 12.

[0013] Inside the battery compartment 12, a fixed-position terminal section 17 is provided at the end on the +X direction side. The fixed-position terminal section 17 has a terminal 17a that contacts the electrode 14 of battery 13A and a terminal 17b that contacts the electrode 15 of battery 13B. Terminal 17a is located on the +Y direction side, and terminal 17b is located on the -Y direction side. Inside the battery compartment 12, a movable section 20 having a movable terminal section 18 is provided near the end on the -X direction side. The movable terminal section 18 has a terminal 18a that contacts the electrode 15 of battery 13A and a terminal 18b that contacts the electrode 14 of battery 13B. Terminal 18a is located on the +Y direction side, and terminal 18b is located on the -Y direction side. Terminals 17b and 18a are each made of cantilevered leaf springs and are capable of bending in the X-axis direction. Note that terminals 17b and 18a may be made of compressed coil spring structures instead of leaf spring structures.

[0014] The movable part 20 is supported within the battery compartment 12 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. The inner surface of the battery compartment 12 has a pair of opposing surfaces 21 that face both sides of the movable part 20 in the Y-axis direction, and guide grooves 22 are provided on each opposing surface 21. Each pair of opposing surfaces 21 is a plane that extends in the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. Each guide groove 22 is recessed in the Y-axis direction relative to the opposing surface 21 and is an elongated groove that extends in the X-axis direction. The movable part 20 has a pair of guide protrusions 23 that project from both sides in the Y-axis direction, and each guide protrusion 23 is slidably inserted into each guide groove 22 in the X-axis direction. Movement of each guide protrusion 23 in the Z-axis direction relative to each guide groove 22 is restricted. Therefore, the movable part 20 is supported so as to be movable in the X-axis direction without falling out of the battery compartment 12 (movement in the +Z direction) via the pair of guide grooves 22 and the pair of guide protrusions 23. The movable part 20 may be supported to move within the battery storage section 12 by a configuration different from that of the guide groove 22 and guide projection 23. For example, both sides of the movable part 20 may be in slidable contact with a pair of opposing surfaces 21 in the X-axis direction, and a retaining part may be provided on the lid support surface 16 to prevent the movable part 20 from falling out (moving) in the +Z direction.

[0015] The movable part 20 has a terminal holding part 20a that holds the movable terminal part 18. The movable terminal part 18 is held by the terminal holding part 20a with terminals 18a and 18b facing in the +X direction. Therefore, within the battery storage part 12, the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18 are arranged facing each other in the X-axis direction. More specifically, terminals 17a and 18a face each other in the X-axis direction, and terminals 17b and 18b face each other in the X-axis direction. When the movable part 20 is moved in the X-axis direction, the position of the movable terminal part 18 changes, and the distance between the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18 in the X-axis direction changes. When the battery 13 is stored in the battery storage part 12, the battery 13 can be moved by moving the movable part 20 in the X-axis direction while in contact with the battery 13 within the battery storage part 12.

[0016] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, when the movable part 20 is in the release position on the -X direction side, the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18 are separated by a gap in the X-axis direction that is greater than the length of the battery 13 (distance from electrode 14 to electrode 15), and each battery 13 is not sandwiched between the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18. In other words, the pressure of each battery 13 on each terminal 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b is released.

[0017] When the movable part 20 moves from the release position in the +X direction and is positioned in the pressing position shown in Figures 4 and 5, each battery 13 is held between the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18. More specifically, the electrode 14 of battery 13A contacts terminal 17a and electrode 15 contacts terminal 18a, and the electrode 14 of battery 13B contacts terminal 18b and electrode 15 contacts terminal 17b, causing terminals 17b and 18a to be pressed against each battery 13 and elastically deformed so that their protrusion in the X-axis direction is reduced. Due to the force of terminals 17b and 18a trying to recover from their elastic deformation, each battery 13 is stably held between the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18. In other words, each battery 13 is pressed against terminals 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b.

[0018] The terminals 17a and 17b of the fixed-position terminal portion 17 and the terminals 18a and 18b of the movable terminal portion 18 are each electrically connected to a main body circuit (not shown) within the main body 11. When the electrodes 14 and 15 of each battery 13 contact the corresponding terminals 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b, power is supplied from each battery 13 to the main body circuit. As one form of electrically connecting the movable terminal portion 18 and the main body circuit, for example, a lead wire connected to the main body circuit is soldered to the movable terminal portion 18, with some slack in the length of the lead wire. When the position of the movable terminal portion 18 changes in the X-axis direction as the moving portion 20 moves, the lead wire with slack in its length follows, maintaining the electrical connection between the movable terminal portion 18 and the main body circuit. As another form of electrically connecting the movable terminal portion 18 and the main body circuit, when the moving portion 20 is in the pressed-release position, the movable terminal portion 18 is separated from the contact point (not shown) of the main body circuit. When the moving portion 20 moves to the pressed position, the movable terminal portion 18 contacts the contact point of the main body circuit. Although details will be described later, when using the electronic device 10, the battery cover 40 is attached to the main body 11 and the moving portion 20 is moved to the pressed position. Thus, with the configuration where the movable terminal portion 18 contacts the contact point of the main body circuit only when the moving portion 20 is in the pressed position, effective power supply to the electronic device 10 can be achieved. Note that the configuration for connecting the movable terminal portion 18 and the main body circuit is not limited to these forms.

[0019] In this way, as the moving portion 20 moves in the X-axis direction within the battery storage portion 12, it is possible to switch between a state where each battery 13 is pressed against the terminals 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b and a state where the pressing of each battery 13 against the terminals 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b is released. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the moving portion 20 is located at the pressed-release position and the fixed-position terminal portion 17 and the movable terminal portion 18 do not sandwich each battery 13, power is not supplied from each battery 13 to the electronic device 10. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the moving portion 20 is located at the pressed position and the fixed-position terminal portion 17 and the movable terminal portion 18 sandwich each battery 13, power is supplied from each battery 13 to the electronic device 10.

[0020] The moving part 20 is biased by a biasing member 24 (Figs. 3 and 5) provided inside the main body 11 so as to move in the -X direction, which is the direction to release the clamping of each battery 13, that is, toward the pressing release position. The biasing member 24 is a tension coil spring disposed within a housing space 25 formed on the -X direction side of the moving part 20 and is capable of expanding and contracting in the X-axis direction. One end of the biasing member 24 is connected to the moving part 20, and the other end is connected to the main body 11. Note that the biasing member of the present disclosure is not limited to a tension coil spring such as the biasing member 24. For example, a compression coil spring disposed in the +X direction of the moving part 20 or a torsion spring disposed on the side in the Y-axis direction of the moving part 20 can also be applied as the biasing member. Further, an elastic material such as rubber may be applied as the biasing member instead of a spring. When the biasing member 24 is made of a conductive material, for example, in Figs. 3 and 5, a structure in which the +X direction end of the biasing member 24 is connected to the moving terminal part 18 and the -X direction end is connected to the main body circuit is adopted, and the moving terminal part 18 and the main body circuit can be electrically connected via the biasing member 24.

[0021] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the moving part 20 receiving the biasing force of the biasing member 24 abuts against a stopper 26 (Figs. 3 and 5) provided at the -X direction end of the battery housing part 12, and further movement in the -X direction is restricted. That is, in a state where no special force is externally applied to the moving part 20, the moving part 20 is held at the pressing release position by the biasing force of the biasing member 24. In this state, the fixed position terminal part 17 and the moving terminal part 18 are widely separated, and each battery 13 is not clamped between the fixed position terminal part 17 and the moving terminal part 18 within the battery housing part 12. Therefore, when attaching and detaching each battery 13 to and from the battery housing part 12, it is not necessary to tilt each battery 13 in the X-axis direction or apply a force to resist the force clamping each battery 13, and each battery 13 can be easily attached to and detached from the battery housing part 12 simply by moving each battery 13 in the Z-axis direction.

[0022] The main body 11 has a first recess 27 and a pair of second recesses 28 that open onto the lid support surface 16. The first recess 27 and each of the second recesses 28 are recesses formed in the -Z direction from the lid support surface 16. The first recess 27 is formed at the -X end of the battery storage section 12 and communicates with the internal space of the battery storage section 12. The pair of second recesses 28 are formed, one on each side of the battery storage section 12 in the Y-axis direction. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, each second recess 28 has a canopy-shaped engaging portion 29 that protrudes toward the -X direction at the opening portion on the +Z direction side. In each second recess 28, the opening width in the X-axis direction of the opening portion where the engaging portion 29 is provided is smaller than the internal width in the X-axis direction on the side behind the engaging portion 29 (-Z direction side).

[0023] The main body 11 further has a lid receiving portion 30 located on the +X direction side of the battery storage portion 12. The lid receiving portion 30 protrudes in the +Z direction relative to the lid support surface 16 and has a vertical wall surface 31 facing the -X direction. A third recess 32 is formed in the lid receiving portion 30, opening onto the vertical wall surface 31. The third recess 32 is a recess formed in the +X direction from the vertical wall surface 31. The opening portion of the third recess 32 on the -X direction side has a canopy-shaped engaging portion 33 that protrudes toward the -Z direction. In the third recess 32, the opening width in the Z-axis direction of the opening portion where the engaging portion 33 is provided is smaller than the internal width in the Z-axis direction on the inner side (+X direction side) of the third recess 32.

[0024] The electronic device 10 is equipped with a battery cover 40 that covers the battery compartment 12. The battery cover 40 only needs to protect the battery compartment 12 and the battery 13 without exposing at least a part of them, and may be called a battery cover or simply a cover. The battery cover 40 is detachable from the main body 11. The battery cover 40 can also be moved in the X-axis direction while supported with its bottom 41 resting on the cover support surface 16, and the movable part 20 moves in the X-axis direction in conjunction with the movement of the battery cover 40. The battery cover 40 shown in Figure 1 has a curved shape like a part of a cylinder, but the shape of the battery cover in this disclosure is not limited to this, and may be box-shaped, flat plate-shaped, etc.

[0025] The battery cover 40 has a first projection 42 that protrudes in the -Z direction from the bottom 41 and a pair of second projections 43. In a plan view along the Z-axis direction as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the positional relationship between the first projection 42 and the pair of second projections 43 corresponds to the positional relationship between the first recess 27 and the pair of second recesses 28 of the main body 11. Each second projection 43, when viewed from the side along the Y-axis direction as shown in Figures 3 and 5, has a hook shape with a base 43a extending in the -Z direction and a bent portion 43b protruding in the +X direction from the end of the base 43a.

[0026] The battery cover 40 further has a third projection 44 projecting in the +X direction at its +X-side end. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the third projection 44 has a hook shape when viewed from the side along the Y-axis, with a base 44a extending in the +X direction and a bent portion 44b projecting in the +Z direction from the end of the base 44a. The bent portion 44b has a tapered surface 44c with an inclined shape that reduces the width of the bent portion 44b in the X-axis direction as it moves toward the tip side (+Z direction side) in the Z-axis direction. The battery cover 40 has a pair of slits 45 extending toward the -X direction from the +X-side end, and a cantilevered support piece 46 is provided between the pair of slits 45. The base 44a of the third projection 44 is connected to the tip of the support piece 46. The support piece 46 and the third projection 44 are capable of bending in the Z-axis direction around the base end of the support piece 46.

[0027] The battery cover 40 is movable in the X-axis direction while covering the battery compartment 12 (with its bottom 41 resting on the cover support surface 16). This movement allows it to be positioned in a fixed position (Figures 4 and 5) where it covers the battery compartment 12 and is fixed to the main body 11, and in an open position (Figure 3) where it is released from the main body 11 and the battery compartment 12 can be opened. In Figure 4, the battery cover 40 is virtually shown by a dashed line, and the inside of the battery compartment 12 covered by the battery cover 40 is shown through the cover. In the open position of the battery cover 40, the main body 11 and the battery cover 40 can be moved relative to each other in the Z-axis direction to move the first projection 42 into and out of the first recess 27, and the pair of second projections 43 into and out of the pair of second recesses 28. Furthermore, in the open position of the battery cover 40, the third protrusion 44 is located away from the third recess 32 (cover receiving portion 30) in the -X direction.

[0028] The X-axis width of the opening portion of each second recess 28 where the engaging portion 29 is provided is greater than the X-axis width of each second protrusion 43 including the bent portion 43b. Also, the Y-axis width of each second recess 28 is greater than the Y-axis width of each second protrusion 43. The allowable opening position of the battery cover 40 is the position where the positions of the opening portions of the pair of second recesses 28 and the positions of the pair of second protrusions 43 coincide in a plan view. By positioning the battery cover 40 in the allowable opening position, each second protrusion 43 can be moved in and out of each second recess 28 in the Z-axis direction.

[0029] The first projection 42 has a prism shape with a constant width in the X-axis direction and a constant width in the Y-axis direction along its entire length in the Z-axis direction. The first recess 27 has an opening width in both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction that is larger than that of the first projection 42. In the open position of the battery cover 40, the position of the first recess 27 and the position of the first projection 42 coincide in a plan view, and the first projection 42 can be moved in and out of the first recess 27 in the Z-axis direction. When the first projection 42 is inserted into the first recess 27, the first projection 42 comes into contact with the side surface 20b of the movable part 20 in the -X direction. The side surface 20b is the surface opposite to the terminal holding part 20a that holds the movable terminal part 18 in the X-axis direction, and the first projection 42 comes into contact with the movable part 20 at a location other than the movable terminal part 18 (side surface 20b).

[0030] The batteries 13 are installed into the battery compartment 12 with the battery cover 40 removed from the main body 11 and the battery compartment 12 open, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. With the battery cover 40 not attached to the main body 11, the first protrusion 42 does not contact the movable part 20, and the movable part 20 is positioned in the release position by the biasing force of the biasing member 24. As mentioned above, with the movable part 20 positioned in the release position, the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18 are far apart, so when installing each battery 13 into the battery compartment 12, it is not necessary to tilt the battery 13 or push the battery 13 in with strong force, making it easy to install each battery 13 into the battery compartment 12. After inserting each battery 13 into the battery compartment 12, the first protrusion 42 is inserted into the first recess 27, and each second protrusion 43 is inserted into each second recess 28, as shown in Figure 3, and the battery cover 40 is attached to the main body 11. At this stage, the battery cover 40 is positioned in an openable position and is not fixed to the main body 11.

[0031] Next, the battery cover 40 is slid in the +X direction from the open position. When the battery cover 40 is slid in the +X direction to the fixed position shown in Figures 4 and 5, the bent portion 43b of the second projection 43 enters the lower side (-Z direction side) of the engaging portion 29, and the engagement between the second projection 43 (especially the bent portion 43b) and the engaging portion 29 restricts the movement of the battery cover 40 in the +Z direction (detachment from the position covering the battery storage portion 12). Also, as the battery cover 40 is sliding to the fixed position, the tapered surface 44c of the third projection 44 comes into contact with the engaging portion 33 provided in the opening of the third recess 32, and a force acts to push the third projection 44 in the -Z direction according to the shape of the tapered surface 44c. Due to this force, the support piece 46 and the third projection 44 bend in the -Z direction, and the bent portion 44b passes through the opening of the third recess 32. When the battery cover 40 reaches the fixed position shown in Figures 4 and 5, the support piece 46 and the third projection 44 restore themselves to eliminate the deflection in the -Z direction, and the bent portion 44b of the third projection 44 engages with the back side (+X direction side) of the engaging portion 33. Then, the engagement between the third projection 44 (especially the bent portion 44b) and the engaging portion 33 restricts the movement of the battery cover 40 in the -Z direction. In this way, when the battery cover 40 is slid to the fixed position, the movement of the battery cover 40 relative to the main body 11 is restricted in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and the battery cover 40 is fixed. The second projection 43 and the third projection 44 are inserted into recesses (second recess 28, third recess 32) provided in the main body 11 and function as fixing projections whose detachment from the recesses is restricted at the fixed position.

[0032] As the battery cover 40 moves from the open-allowable position to the fixed position, the first projection 42, which contacts the side surface 20b, pushes the movable part 20 in the +X direction against the biasing force of the biasing member 24, causing the movable part 20 to move from the release position toward the pressed position. In this way, the first projection 42 is inserted into the battery storage section 12 (including the first recess 27 communicating with the battery storage section 12) and contacts the movable part 20, functioning as a transmission projection that transmits the force of the movement of the battery cover 40 to the movable part 20. Since the first projection 42 contacts the movable part 20 at a location other than the movable terminal section 18 (side surface 20b), there is no risk of damage or deformation to the movable terminal section 18 when the movable part 20 moves in conjunction with the movement of the battery cover 40, and force can be reliably transmitted to the movable part 20.

[0033] When the battery cover 40 reaches the fixed position, the movable part 20, which has been pushed in by the first protrusion 42, is positioned in the pressed position. In other words, the amount of movement of the battery cover 40 in the X-axis direction from the open-allowable position to the fixed position and the amount of movement of the movable part 20 in the X-axis direction from the pressed-release position to the pressed position correspond to each other. As described above, when the movable part 20 moves to the pressed position, the two batteries 13 (battery 13A, battery 13B) are sandwiched between the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18 within the battery storage part 12, and power is supplied from each battery 13 to the electronic device 10. The distance between the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18 when each battery 13 is sandwiched is set so that each terminal 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b makes stable contact with the electrodes 14 and 15 of each battery 13, and a stable power supply is realized while the electronic device 10 is in use.

[0034] By sliding the battery cover 40 from the fixed position to the release-permitted position, it becomes possible to remove the battery cover 40 from the main body 11 (open the battery compartment 12) and remove each battery 13 from inside the battery compartment 12. To release the battery cover 40 from the fixed position, a force is applied to move the battery cover 40 in the -X direction while pushing the support piece 46 in the -Z direction. As the support piece 46 pushed in the -Z direction bends, the engagement between the bent portion 44b of the third projection 44 and the engaging portion 33 is released, allowing the bent portion 44b to pass through the opening of the third recess 32. In this state, by sliding the battery cover 40 in the -X direction, the third projection 44 detaches from the third recess 32, and the engagement of the bent portion 43b of each second projection 43 with the engaging portion 29 of each second recess 28 is released. Then, when the battery cover 40 is moved to the release-permitted position, the bent portion 43b of each second protrusion 43 can pass through the opening of each second recess 28, and the battery cover 40 can be moved in the +Z direction and removed from the main body 11. In this way, as the battery cover 40 is moved to the release-permitted position, each second protrusion 43 and each third protrusion 44, which are fixing protrusions, become detachable from the corresponding recesses on the main body 11 side (each second recess 28, each third recess 32).

[0035] When the battery cover 40 is removed from the main body 11, the battery compartment 12 is opened, exposing the individual batteries 13 inside, making it possible to remove each battery 13 from the battery compartment 12. As the battery cover 40 moves to the open position, the movable part 20 moves from the pressed position to the released position due to the biasing force of the biasing member 24 inside the battery compartment 12, and the clamping state of each battery 13 by the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18 is released. Therefore, when removing each battery 13 from the battery compartment 12, there is no need to pull with strong force against the holding force of the terminals or to insert fingernails or tools into the narrow gap around the battery 13 to apply strong force, and each battery 13 can be easily removed by simply pulling in the +Z direction. In addition, since each battery 13 can be easily removed, there is no need to provide ribbons or other means inside the battery compartment 12 to facilitate the removal of each battery 13.

[0036] As described above, the electronic device 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a movable part 20 that moves within the battery compartment 12. The movement of the movable part 20 causes each battery 13 to be pressed against the respective terminals 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b, and to be released from the pressure on the respective terminals 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b. The device is also equipped with a battery cover 40 that moves while in contact with the movable part 20, and the movable part 20 moves in conjunction with the movement of the battery cover 40 relative to the main body 11. When the battery cover 40 is in a fixed position covering the battery compartment 12 and fixed relative to the main body 11, the movable part 20 is positioned in a position (pressing position) where each battery 13 is pressed against the fixed terminal portion 17 and the movable terminal portion 18 to ensure stable contact, thereby achieving a stable power supply from each battery 13. When the battery cover 40 is in the open-permitted position, where it is released from its fixation to the main body 11 and the battery compartment 12 can be opened, the movable part 20 releases the holding of each battery 13 (the pressure of each battery 13 against each terminal 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b), so that there is no strong holding force on each battery 13, making it easy to insert and remove each battery 13. In other words, as the battery cover 40 moves from the open-permitted position to the fixed position while in contact with the movable part 20, the movable part 20 moves, changing the state of pressure of each battery 13 against each terminal 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b.

[0037] Furthermore, in the electronic device 10 of this embodiment, a movable part 20 that moves within the battery storage section 12 to hold (push in) and release (push out of) each battery 13, and a battery cover 40 that closes and opens the battery storage section 12 are provided separately. With this configuration, even if each battery 13 moves in the X-axis direction when the battery cover 40 is moved between a fixed position and an open position, that movement remains within the range of the battery storage section 12 (within the distance between the fixed position terminal section 17 and the movable terminal section 18), and the behavior of each battery 13 is stabilized. In particular, when the battery cover 40 is moved from the fixed position to the open position, the movable terminal portion 18 separates from the fixed position terminal portion 17, thereby releasing the force that presses each battery 13 against each terminal 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b. As a result, the battery cover 40 can be removed from the main body 11 and the battery storage portion 12 can be opened without excessive force being applied that would push each battery 13 out of the battery storage portion 12. Therefore, when opening the battery storage portion 12, there is less risk of each battery 13 rapidly moving out of the battery storage portion 12 and falling out.

[0038] Thus, the electronic device 10 of this embodiment makes it possible to achieve both the ease of inserting and removing each battery 13 during battery replacement and the stable contact of each battery 13 with each terminal 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b during use of the electronic device 10. Furthermore, the user can easily switch between these states simply by sliding the battery cover 40 in the X-axis direction. Since the sliding of the battery cover 40 in the X-axis direction is performed as an operation to open or close the battery storage section 12 when inserting or removing the batteries 13, the user can naturally move the movable part 20 along with the movement of the battery cover 40 during a series of battery replacement operations without being aware of any special operation, thereby switching the holding state of each battery 13 (the state in which each battery 13 is pressed against each terminal 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b).

[0039] The movable part 20 has movable terminal parts 18 that can contact the electrodes of each battery 13 (electrode 15 of battery 13A, electrode 14 of battery 13B). Since the movable terminal parts 18 move integrally with the movable part 20, the pressing force (contact pressure) when clamping each battery 13 between the fixed-position terminal parts 17 and the movable terminal parts 18 can be controlled with high precision, contributing to improved stability of contact of the batteries 13 with each terminal 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b. In addition, the battery cover 40 moves the movable part 20 while the first protrusion 42 is in contact with a part of the movable part 20 that is not the movable terminal parts 18 (side surface 20b). Since the point of force transmission from the battery cover 40 to the movable part 20 is not the movable terminal parts 18, the force to move the movable part 20 can be reliably transmitted from the battery cover 40 to the movable part 20 without damaging or deforming the movable terminal parts 18 or having the movable terminal parts 18 absorb the force.

[0040] The battery compartment 12 is equipped with a fixed-position terminal section 17 positioned opposite the movable terminal section 18 in the X-axis direction. When the battery cover 40 is in a fixed position, each battery 13 is sandwiched between the fixed-position terminal section 17 and the movable terminal section 18. This configuration allows for the simple arrangement of terminals 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b that contact each battery 13, which has electrodes 14 and 15 at both ends in the axial direction. Furthermore, the force with which the movable section 20 moves in the X-axis direction can be efficiently used as a force to press each battery 13 against terminals 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b without changing the direction of force.

[0041] Furthermore, the technology disclosed herein can also be applied to the attachment and detachment of batteries of a different configuration than the battery 13, which has electrodes 14 and 15 on both sides in the axial direction. In this case, the arrangement structure of the terminals and other components will be modified as appropriate. For example, when using a battery that has electrodes only at the end on the +X side, a movable part without a movable terminal part 18 can be used instead of the movable part 20. Conversely, when using a battery that has electrodes only at the end on the -X side, the battery storage part 12 can be configured without a fixed-position terminal part 17. In these cases, a battery receiving member that can flex in response to the pressure of the battery may be provided at the position of the fixed-position terminal part 17 or movable terminal part 18, where the function of a terminal is not required. By providing such a battery receiving member, even if there is some variation in the force with which the movable part presses the battery (amount of movement of the movable part), this variation can be absorbed by the deformation of the battery receiving member, allowing the battery to make stable contact with the terminals.

[0042] The electronic device 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a biasing member 24 that biases the movable part 20 in the direction (-X direction) that releases the pressure of each battery 13 against each terminal 17a, 17b, 18a, and 18b. As the battery cover 40 moves from the open-allowable position to the fixed position, the movable part 20 moves against the biasing force of the biasing member 24. With this configuration, when the battery cover 40 is moved from the fixed position to the open-allowable position and removed from the main body 11 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the movable part 20 is automatically held in the release position by the biasing force of the biasing member 24, and the gap between the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18 is maintained in an expanded state. Therefore, each battery 13 can be easily attached to and detached from the opened battery storage part 12.

[0043] Unlike this embodiment, it is also possible to apply a configuration that does not include a biasing member for biasing the movable part 20. In this case, when the battery cover 40 is moved from the fixed position to the open-allowable position, the movable part 20 may not automatically move to the -X end of the battery storage section 12 (the position in contact with the stopper 26). However, since the first protrusion 42 of the battery cover 40 is released from being pushed in the +X direction against the side surface 20b, the batteries 13 are no longer sandwiched between the fixed-position terminal section 17 and the movable terminal section 18. Therefore, similar to this embodiment, by positioning the battery cover 40 in the open-allowable position, the effect of easily removing each battery 13 from the battery storage section 12 can be obtained. Furthermore, when installing each battery 13 into the battery compartment 12, if the movable part 20 is positioned towards the +X direction (i.e., the distance between the fixed-position terminal part 17 and the movable terminal part 18 is narrower than the length of the battery 13 in the X-axis direction), the user can move the movable part 20 in the -X direction to enable insertion of each battery 13 into the battery compartment 12. In this case, since no biasing force is acting on the movable part 20, the user can easily move the movable part 20 with low load. Thus, even when applying a modified example that does not include a biasing member that biases the movable part 20 toward the open-allowable position, the same effects as the electronic device 10 of this embodiment can be obtained by appropriately supplementing the user's manual operation of the movable part 20.

[0044] In the electronic device 10 of this embodiment, with the battery cover 40 open to the battery compartment 12, the movable part 20 is positioned so as to be exposed to the outside of the battery compartment 12, allowing for external movement. With this configuration, the movable part 20 can be moved in the X-axis direction by the user's operation as described above, making it possible for the user to arbitrarily manage the position of the movable part 20 without relying on the biasing force of the biasing member 24. Furthermore, even when a biasing member 24 is provided, when the battery cover 40 is moved from the fixed position to the open-allowable position, there is a possibility that the movable part 20 may not move in the -X direction following the battery cover 40 due to some reason such as snagging between parts. In such cases, if the movable part 20 is exposed to the outside of the battery compartment 12, the user can try to move the movable part 20 manually or visually check the state of the movable part 20 to investigate the cause of the malfunction, making it easier to recover from the malfunction.

[0045] In the electronic device 10 of this embodiment, a first projection 42 (transmission projection) that transmits the force of movement of the battery cover 40 to the moving part 20, and a second projection 43 (fixing projection) and a third projection 44 (fixing projection) for fixing the battery cover 40 to the main body 11 in a fixed position are all provided on the battery cover 40. In addition, a first recess 27 into which the first projection 42 is inserted, a second recess 28 into which the second projection 43 is inserted, and a third recess 32 into which the third projection 44 is inserted are all provided on the main body 11. With this configuration, the rigidity of the battery cover 40, which has a smaller wall thickness than the main body 11, is ensured, and the transmission of force from the battery cover 40 to the moving part 20 and the fixing of the battery cover 40 to the main body 11 can be reliably performed. Furthermore, by providing protrusions 42, 43, and 44 on the battery cover 40 and recesses 27, 28, and 32 on the main body 11, the process of attaching the battery cover 40 to the main body 11 becomes easier. For example, when attaching the battery cover 40 to the main body 11, by aligning the positions of the first protrusion 42 and the pair of second protrusions 43 protruding from the battery cover 40 with the first recess 27 and the pair of second recesses 28 on the cover support surface 16 of the main body 11, the appropriate position in the X-axis and Y-axis directions for attaching the battery cover 40 to the main body 11 can be easily and reliably selected.

[0046] Unlike the electronic device 10 of this embodiment, it is also possible to provide a transmission projection corresponding to the first projection 42, and fixing projections corresponding to the second projection 43 and the third projection 44, on the side of the main body 11. For example, it is possible to provide a fixing projection corresponding to the second projection 43 on the lid support surface 16 of the main body 11, and to form a recess corresponding to the second recess 28 in the bottom 41 of the battery cover 40.

[0047] The above embodiments are provided as specific examples to facilitate understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0048] For example, the operation of the battery cover when opening the battery compartment may differ from that of the above embodiment. As a specific modification, a movable member that can move only in the X-axis direction relative to the main body 11 may be installed separately from the movable part 20, and a battery cover that can rotate around an axis extending in the Y-axis direction may be provided on this movable member. As the movable member moves in the X-axis direction, the battery cover moves to a fixed position on the +X side and an openable position on the -X side. In the openable position, the battery cover switches between a closed state and an open state of the battery compartment 12 by rotating around an axis in the Y-axis direction. In this modification as well, it is possible to realize the same configuration as in the above embodiment, in which the movable part 20 moves in the X-axis direction as the battery cover moves between the fixed position and the openable position. In this modification, since the battery cover is pivotally supported by a movable member that can move only in the X-axis direction, the battery cover is always connected to the main body 11 via the movable member, and the battery cover does not completely separate (remove) from the main body 11 when opening the battery compartment 12. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a structure for fixing the battery cover to the main body 11 in the Z-axis direction (the second protrusion 43, second recess 28, and engaging portion 29 in the above embodiment).

[0049] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the number of batteries stored in the battery compartment, the arrangement of the batteries, and the position of the electrodes in the batteries may differ from those in the above embodiment, and the configuration of the main body of the electronic device and the battery cover can be appropriately changed according to these differences in the battery configuration.

[0050] Furthermore, as mentioned above, it is possible to appropriately select whether to position the transmission protrusion and the fixing protrusion on the main body of the electronic device or the battery cover, and whether or not to provide a biasing member to bias the moving part. When a biasing member is provided, the type and arrangement of the biasing member are not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment and can also be appropriately selected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10: Electronic device, 11: Main unit, 12: Battery compartment, 13: Battery, 17: Fixed position terminal, 18: Movable terminal, 20: Movable part, 24: Biasing member, 40: Battery cover, 42: First protrusion (transmission protrusion), 43: Second protrusion (fixing protrusion), 44: Third protrusion (fixing protrusion)

Claims

1. The main unit includes a battery compartment for housing at least one battery, A moving part that moves within the battery compartment to bring the battery into a state where it is pressed against the terminals and a state where the battery is released from being pressed against the terminals, A battery cover that, while in contact with the movable part, moves from an open-allowable position where the fixing to the main body is released and the battery compartment can be opened, to a fixed position where it is fixed to the main body, thereby moving the movable part and changing the state in which the battery is pressed against the terminals, Electronic devices equipped with these features.

2. The movable part has a movable terminal portion that can contact the electrodes of the battery, The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the battery cover moves the movable part while contacting a portion of the movable part other than the movable terminal portion.

3. The battery housing is provided with a fixed-position terminal portion that is positioned opposite the movable terminal portion and is capable of contacting the electrodes of the battery, The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein when the battery cover is in the fixed position, the battery is sandwiched between the movable terminal portion and the fixed position terminal portion.

4. The system includes a biasing member that biases the moving part in a direction that releases the pressure of the battery against the terminal, The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the battery cover moves the movable part against the biasing force of the biasing member as it moves from the open-allowable position to the fixed position.

5. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, with the battery cover open the battery compartment, the movable part is positioned to be exposed to the outside of the battery compartment so as to be movable.

6. The aforementioned battery cover is A transmission projection is inserted into the battery compartment and contacts the movable part, transmitting the force that causes the battery cover to move to the movable part, A fixing projection is inserted into a recess provided in the main body, and its detachment from the recess is restricted at the fixed position, The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising:

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