Electronic devices

Abstract

To provide an electronic device in which the load on the board-to-board connector is reduced. [Solution] The electronic device 1 comprises a housing 10, a first circuit board 20, a second circuit board 30, and a circuit board-to-circuit connector 40. The second circuit board 30 extends in a direction intersecting the first circuit board 20. The operating surface of the second circuit board 30 is equipped with a switch that is operated by pushing in a direction intersecting the operating surface, or a connector that is inserted and removed in a direction intersecting the operating surface. The housing 10 is provided with a support portion 12 that abuts against the back surface of the operating surface of the second circuit board 30 and supports the second circuit board 30.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] An electronic device is known in which a second substrate is provided so as to intersect a first substrate, as described in Patent Document 1 and the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The inventor considered mounting a tactile switch on this second substrate, but noticed that as it was, the second substrate would move during the operation of the tactile switch, and the load on the board-to-board connector connecting the first substrate and the second substrate would increase. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device in which the load on the board-to-board connector is reduced.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a housing, a first substrate, a second substrate, a board-to-board connector that electrically connects the first substrate and the second substrate, and is provided with: the second substrate extends in a direction intersecting the first substrate, a switch that is pushed and operated in a direction intersecting the operation surface or a connector that is inserted and removed in a direction intersecting the operation surface is mounted on the operation surface of the second substrate. The housing is provided with a support portion that contacts the back surface of the operating surface of the second circuit board and supports the second circuit board.

[0006] In an electronic device relating to one aspect of the present invention described above, At least a portion of the support portion may be provided at a position away from the board-to-board connector in the thickness direction of the first substrate.

[0007] In an electronic device relating to one aspect of the present invention described above, The second substrate has a hook portion that protrudes from the side surface of the second substrate and can be locked onto the end of the first substrate. The hook portion may be used to clamp the first substrate in the thickness direction of the first substrate.

[0008] In an electronic device relating to one aspect of the present invention described above, The second substrate has a projection that protrudes from the side surface of the second substrate, The first substrate has a hole that extends in the thickness direction of the first substrate, The projection may be insertable into the hole.

[0009] In an electronic device relating to one aspect of the present invention described above, The operating surface of the second circuit board may have components for a user interface mounted on it.

[0010] In an electronic device relating to one aspect of the present invention described above, The support portion may be formed of an insulating material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, an electronic device is provided in which the load on the board-to-board connector is reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]Figure 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow III in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow IV in Figure 1.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the embodiments, the description of the components having the same reference numerals as those already described will be omitted for the sake of convenience.

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the electronic device 1 includes a housing 10, a first substrate 20, a second substrate 30, and a board-to-board connector 40 (see Figure 2). The electronic device 1 of the present embodiment is a motor control device. The electronic device 1 further includes a power conversion unit (not shown) having an inverter circuit and the like, a heat sink 50 for cooling the switching elements of the power conversion unit, a control signal terminal portion 60, an operation portion 70, a power supply terminal portion 80, and a decorative plate 90. The illustrated electronic device 1 further has a third substrate 100 fixed to the lower portion of the housing 10.

[0015] On the first substrate 20, coils, capacitors, etc. mainly constituting the power conversion unit are mounted. The first substrate 20 is fixed to the housing 10 by screws or the like. The first substrate 20 is a substrate extending in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. In the illustrated example, the first substrate 20 is fixed to a boss portion 11 extending upward from the lower portion of the housing 10 (see Figure 2).

[0016] The second substrate 30 is a substrate extending in the vertical and horizontal directions. An operation unit 70 and a control signal terminal unit 60 are mounted on the second substrate 30. In the illustrated example, the operation unit 70 is a switch for inputting a setting signal for motor control. The control signal terminal unit 60 is connected to a cable extending from an external device, and a control signal for controlling a motor is input to the control signal terminal unit 60. A part of the operation unit 70 such as a pressing part of the switch and a part of the control signal terminal unit 60 such as a connection port of the control signal terminal unit 60 are exposed to the outside through a through hole 91 provided in the decorative panel 90.

[0017] The second substrate 30 is a substrate smaller than the first substrate 20. The second substrate 30 is provided so as to intersect the first substrate 20. The second substrate 30 is provided in a posture where the upper end portion of the second substrate 30 is located around the right front corner portion of the lower surface of the first substrate 20.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the board-to-board connector 40 is a so-called right-angle connector. The board-to-board connector 40 includes a rectangular parallelepiped main body portion 41 and a plurality of conductor portions 42 provided on the main body portion 41. The upper surface of the main body portion 41 is in contact with the lower surface of the first substrate 20. The front surface of the main body portion 41 is in contact with the upper portion of the rear surface of the second substrate 30.

[0019] The conductor portion 42 is formed by bending an elongated metal plate at a right angle. One end portion of the conductor portion 42 protrudes from the upper surface of the main body portion 41 and is inserted into the first substrate 20, and is electrically connected to the circuit pattern of the first substrate 20 by soldering or the like. The other end portion of the conductor portion 42 protrudes from the front surface of the main body portion 41 and is inserted into the second substrate 30, and is electrically connected to the circuit pattern of the second substrate 30 by soldering or the like. That is, the board-to-board connector 40 mechanically connects the first substrate 20 and the second substrate 30 so as to maintain a posture intersecting each other, and also electrically connects the circuit pattern of the first substrate 20 and the circuit pattern of the second substrate 30.

[0020] The front surface (operating surface) of the second circuit board 30 is equipped with an operating section 70 that is operated by pushing in a direction intersecting the operating surface. In the illustrated example, a push switch with a pressing section that pushes in a direction intersecting the operating surface is mounted on the second circuit board 30 as the operating section 70. As the operating section 70, a switch that is operated by pushing in a direction intersecting the operating surface, such as a push switch or a tactile switch, can be used. When the push switch acting as the operating section 70 is operated, an operating force is applied that pushes the second circuit board 30 in a direction intersecting the operating surface. This then applies a rotational force R1 to the second circuit board 30 that rotates it relative to the first circuit board 20 around a first axis A1 that extends in the left-right direction and passes near the circuit board-to-circuit board connector 40.

[0021] Furthermore, a control signal terminal section 60 is mounted on the front of the second circuit board 30. In the illustrated example, the control signal terminal section 60 has a connection port that opens towards the front. Therefore, when a cable from an external device is inserted into or removed from the connection port of the control signal terminal section 60, an insertion / removal force acts on the second circuit board 30 in the front-to-back direction. This then acts on the second circuit board 30, causing it to rotate around the first axis A1 relative to the first circuit board 20.

[0022] Unlike the example in Figure 2, if the second board 30 is supported by the first board 20 only by the board-to-board connector 40, the load will be concentrated on the board-to-board connector 40, which may cause damage to the connector. In addition, the second board 30 may move, making it difficult to apply the operating force properly to the operating unit 70, and making it difficult to insert and remove the cable from the control signal terminal 60.

[0023] Therefore, in the electronic device 1 of this embodiment, the housing 10 is provided with a support portion 12 that abuts against the rear surface (back surface of the operating surface) of the second substrate 30 and supports the second substrate 30. In the illustrated example, the support portion 12 extends upward from the upper surface of the plate-shaped lower plate portion 13 of the housing 10. The front surface of the support portion 12 is in contact with the lower part of the rear surface of the second substrate 30. As a result, even if the rotational force R1 acts on the second substrate 30, the support portion 12 and the conductor portion 42 of the substrate-to-substrate connector 40 cooperate to support the second substrate 30, preventing the second substrate 30 from rotating around the first axis A1, and reducing the load on the substrate-to-substrate connector 40. In addition, connection failures between the first substrate 20 and the second substrate 30 are suppressed.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, at least a portion of the support portion 12 may be provided at a position away from the board-to-board connector 40 in the thickness direction of the first substrate 20. In the illustrated example, the thickness direction of the first substrate 20 is the vertical direction. The board-to-board connector 40 supports the upper part of the second substrate 30, and the support portion 12 supports the lower part of the second substrate 30. Because the board-to-board connector 40 and the support portion 12 are separated in the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the first substrate 20, rotation of the second substrate 30 around the first axis A1 is prevented, and connection failures between the first substrate 20 and the second substrate 30 can be suppressed.

[0025] The support portion 12 may be made of an insulating material. The housing 10 is often made of metal to ensure rigidity. However, it is preferable that the support portion 12 be made of an insulating material such as resin to prevent short circuits from occurring between it and the second substrate 30.

[0026] Figure 3 is a view from arrow III in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the second substrate 30 has a hook portion 31. The hook portion 31 protrudes from the side surface of the second substrate 30 and can be locked onto the end of the first substrate 20. In the illustrated example, the hook portion 31 has a shaft portion 32 that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the second substrate 30 and a key portion 33 that extends to the left from the upper part of the shaft portion 32. The right front corner of the first substrate 20 fits into the space between the key portion 33 and the upper surface of the second substrate 30, and the hook portion 31 grips and locks onto the right front corner of the first substrate 20.

[0027] In this embodiment, a board-to-board connector 40 is attached to the left end of the upper surface of the second board 30. Therefore, the second board 30 can rotate around a second axis A2 that extends in the front-to-back direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 3) through the board-to-board connector 40. As a result, a rotational force R2 around the second axis A2 may act on the second board 30 due to its own weight, etc. However, since the left edge of the first board 20 and the left part of the second board 30 are locked together by the hook portion 31, this rotation of the second board 30 around the second axis A2 can be prevented. This further suppresses connection failures between the first board 20 and the second board 30.

[0028] Figure 4 is a view from arrow IV in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second substrate 30 has a protrusion 34 that protrudes from the side surface of the second substrate 30. The protrusion 34 protrudes upward from the left end of the upper surface of the second substrate 30. The first substrate 20 has a hole 21 that extends in the vertical direction (the thickness direction of the first substrate 20). This hole 21 is larger than the protrusion 34, and the protrusion 34 can be inserted into it. As shown in Figure 4, it is preferable that this hole 21 is oval-shaped when viewed from the direction through which the hole 21 passes.

[0029] The right front corner of the first substrate 20 has a rectangular cutout 22. The front surface of this cutout 22 supports the shaft portion 32 of the second substrate 30. Therefore, as described above, when a force in the front-rear direction is applied to the second substrate 30, such as when operating a switch, a rotational force R3 around the third axis A3, which extends vertically through the shaft portion 32, acts on the second substrate 30. However, since the second substrate 30 is supported by the first substrate 20 by the protrusion 34 that passes through the hole 21, the rotation of the second substrate 30 around the third axis A3 is prevented. In this way, in the electronic device 1 of this embodiment, rotation of the second substrate around the mutually orthogonal first axis A1, second axis A2, and third axis A3 is prevented, and the second substrate 30 is more firmly supported by the first substrate 20.

[0030] Furthermore, user interface components may be mounted on the operating surface (front) of the second circuit board 30. Since the operating surface of the second circuit board 30 can be exposed to the outside through the through-holes 91 of the decorative panel 90, it is suitable for mounting user interface components such as displays and various switches.

[0031] While embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the technical scope of this disclosure should not be interpreted restrictively by the description of these embodiments. These embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications to the embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims. The technical scope of this disclosure should be determined based on the scope of the invention described in the claims and the scope of its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 1 Electronic equipment 10 cabinets 11 Boss Section 12 Support part 13 Lower plate part 20 First board 21 Hole 22 Notch 30 Second board 31 Hook part 32 Shaft section 33 Key section 34 Convex part 40 board-to-board connectors 41 Main body 42 Conductor section 50 Heatsink 60 Control signal terminal section 70 Operation section 80 Power terminal section 90 decorative panel 91 Through hole A1 First axis A2 Second axis A3 Third axis

Claims

1. The casing and First circuit board and The second circuit board, A board-to-board connector that electrically connects the first board and the second board, Equipped with, The second substrate extends in a direction intersecting the first substrate, The operating surface of the second circuit board is equipped with a switch that is operated by pushing in a direction intersecting the operating surface, or a connector that is inserted and removed in a direction intersecting the operating surface. The housing is provided with a support portion that contacts the back surface of the operating surface of the second circuit board and supports the second circuit board, in an electronic device.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the support portion is provided at a position away from the substrate-to-substrate connector in the thickness direction of the first substrate.

3. The second substrate has a hook portion that protrudes from the side surface of the second substrate and can be locked onto the end of the first substrate. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion clamps the first substrate in the thickness direction of the first substrate.

4. The second substrate has a protrusion that extends from the side surface of the second substrate, The first substrate has a hole that extends in the thickness direction of the first substrate, The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is insertable into the hole.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein components for a user interface are mounted on the operating surface of the second substrate.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the support portion is formed of an insulating material.

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