Pressing member and power supply device

Abstract

This invention provides a technology relating to a pressing member that has the same shape and can be applied to multiple types of substrates. [Solution] The pressing member 10 is formed in a plate shape extending along the longitudinal direction Y from one end 10L to the other end 10R opposite to the one end 10L, and includes a first fixing part 19L provided at one end 10L and fixable to a substrate 3 or a housing 2 housing the substrate 3, a second fixing part 29 provided in an intermediate part 20 between the one and the other ends 10L, 10R and fixable to a substrate 3 or a housing 2, a pair of elastically deformable first spring parts 11L, 12L provided at one end 10L and arranged in the width direction X intersecting the longitudinal direction Y and extending from the first fixing part 19L toward the second fixing part 29, and a pair of elastically deformable second spring parts 21L, 22L provided in the intermediate part 20 and arranged in the width direction X and extending from the second fixing part 29 toward the first fixing part 19L.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pressing member and a power supply device including the pressing member.

Background Art

[0002] A power supply device incorporated in a charger or the like for an in-vehicle battery operates in a harsh environment constantly exposed to vibrations and high temperatures. Such a power supply device includes a pressing member such as a leaf spring that presses electronic components such as semiconductor elements against a substrate in order to improve connection reliability. For example, the pressing member disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a support portion and a plurality of pressing portions arranged to face each other with the support portion interposed therebetween. The plurality of pressing portions are arranged at intervals along the long side of a substantially rectangular support portion, and elastically press a plurality of components toward the housing, respectively.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the pressing member disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of pressing portions are arranged corresponding to the positions of a plurality of components mounted on a substrate. Such a pressing member is a dedicated product for each substrate, and if the arrangement of the components is changed, the pressing member has to be newly designed according to the components.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a technique related to a pressing member applicable to a plurality of types of substrates having the same shape.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A pressing member according to one aspect of the present disclosure is formed in the shape of a plate extending along a longitudinal direction from one end to the other end opposite to the one end, and includes a first fixing portion provided at one end and fixable to a substrate or a housing housing the substrate, a second fixing portion provided in the middle portion between the one and the other end and fixable to a substrate or housing, a pair of elastically deformable first spring portions provided at one end and arranged in a width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction and extending from the first fixing portion toward the second fixing portion, and a pair of elastically deformable second spring portions provided in the middle portion and arranged in a width direction and extending from the second fixing portion toward the first fixing portion.

[0007] According to this embodiment, since it has a pair of first and second spring portions arranged in the width direction, for example, a single electronic component can be pressed with both first spring portions, or for example, an electronic component can be pressed with one first spring portion and another electronic component can be pressed with the other first spring portion. The same applies to the second spring portion. Therefore, even if the design of the substrate is changed, a pressing member of the same shape can be used. Since the first spring portion and the second spring portion are arranged to face each other in the longitudinal direction, and the pair of first spring portions are arranged in the width direction in the portion adjacent to the first fixing portion, the distance between the first fixing portion and the first spring portion is closer compared to the embodiment of Patent Document 1 in which a large number of spring portions are arranged in the longitudinal direction, making it easier to adjust the stress and reaction force. Electronic components can be pressed with an optimal pressing force. The same applies to the second spring portion.

[0008] In the above embodiment, a pair of elastically deformable third spring portions may be provided between the first and second fixing portions, arranged longitudinally and extending in the width direction.

[0009] According to this embodiment, since there is a pair of third spring portions extending in directions different from the first and second spring portions, the number of electronic components to be pressed can be increased. Since there is a pair of third spring portions arranged in the longitudinal direction, for example, both third spring portions can press a single electronic component, or for example, one third spring portion can press an electronic component and the other third spring portion can press other electronic components. Since the pair of third spring portions are sandwiched between the first and second fixing portions, the distance between the first and second fixing portions and the third spring portions is closer compared to the embodiment of Patent Document 1 in which a large number of spring portions are arranged in the longitudinal direction, making it easier to adjust the stress and reaction force. Electronic components can be pressed with an optimal pressing force.

[0010] In the above embodiment, the pair of first spring portions and the pair of second spring portions may have different lengths in the longitudinal direction.

[0011] In the above embodiment, the lengths of the pair of first spring portions in the longitudinal direction may differ from the lengths of the pair of third spring portions in the width direction.

[0012] The greater the thickness of the electronic component, the smaller the distance from the fixing part to the top surface of the electronic component. Also, the distance from the fixing part fixed to the housing (e.g., the first fixing part) to the electronic component may be large, while the distance from the fixing part fixed to the substrate (e.g., the second fixing part) to the electronic component may be small. According to these embodiments, the length of the spring part can be changed to press the electronic component with an optimal pressing force.

[0013] In the above embodiment, the first and second fixing parts may be fixed to the substrate or housing by fastening screws.

[0014] According to this embodiment, the pressing member can be securely fixed using fastening screws.

[0015] A power supply device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a pressing member as described in any one of the above aspects and a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a first voltage output circuit for outputting a first voltage and a second voltage output circuit for outputting a second voltage, and the electronic components may be semiconductor elements constituting the first and second voltage output circuits.

[0016] According to this embodiment, since the same pressing member can be used even if the design of the substrate is changed, the electronic components constituting multiple circuits can be pressed whether the first and second voltage output circuits have substantially the same arrangement of electronic components or different arrangements of electronic components. For example, both the first and second voltage output circuits may use a center-tap method or a full-bridge method and have substantially the same arrangement of electronic components. For example, one of the first and second voltage output circuits may use a center-tap method and the other a full-bridge method, resulting in different arrangements of electronic components. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to this disclosure, the objective is to provide a technology relating to a pressing member that can be applied to multiple types of substrates with the same shape. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a plan view showing an example of a power supply device equipped with a pressing member according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a pressing member according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a side view of the pressing member shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan view of the pressing member shown in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic plan view showing the pair of first spring sections shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a plan view showing an example of the substrate shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7A] Figure 7A is a circuit diagram illustrating the first voltage output circuit of the full-bridge type shown in Figure 6. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a circuit diagram for explaining the second voltage output circuit of the center tap method shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an exploded view of a power supply device in which the pressing member shown in FIG. 2 is attached to the substrate shown in FIG. 6.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, those with the same reference numerals have the same or similar configurations. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a power supply device 1 including a pressing member 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the illustrated example, the pressing member 10 of the present disclosure is suitable for the power supply device 1. The power supply device 1 includes, in addition to the pressing member 10, a substrate 3 (shown by diagonal lines rising to the upper right in FIG. 1) including a voltage output circuit and the like, a housing 2 that houses the substrate 3, and the like. However, the use of the pressing member 10 is not limited to the power supply device 1 and can be applied to various devices.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the pressing member 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the pressing member 10 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in the illustration, the pressing member 10 is formed in a plate shape from a metal material such as spring steel and extends from the first end portion 10L to the second end portion 10R on the side opposite to the first end portion 10L.

[0022] As shown in the illustrated example, the longitudinal direction Y of the pressing member 10 passing through the first and second ends 10L and 10R may be parallel to the width direction of the housing 2. The width direction X of the pressing member 10 intersecting the longitudinal direction Y may be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing 2. The thickness direction Z of the pressing member 10 may be parallel to the height direction of the housing 2. The first end 10L is an example of one end including one end and a portion near it. The second end 10R is an example of the other end including the other end and a portion near it. The illustrated example may be inverted in the longitudinal direction Y so that the first end 10L becomes the other end and the second end 10R becomes one end.

[0023] The pressing member 10 can be fixed to the substrate 3 or housing 2 by fastening screws 9 or the like at multiple fixing parts 19L, 19R, 29. In the example shown in Figure 1, the first fixing part 19L provided at the first end 10L and the third fixing part 19R provided at the second end 10R are fixed to the housing 2, and the second fixing part 29 provided at the intermediate part 10C between the first and second ends 10L, 10R is fixed to the substrate 3.

[0024] The pressing member 10 comprises a pair of first spring portions 11L, 12L and a pair of second spring portions 21L, 22L. In the illustrated example, the pressing member 10 further comprises a pair of third spring portions 31L, 32L, a pair of fourth spring portions 11R, 12R, a pair of fifth spring portions 21R, 22R and a pair of sixth spring portions 31R, 32R. The third to sixth spring portions 31L, 32L, 11R, 12R, 21R, 22R, 31R, 32R are not essential components and may be omitted. Each spring portion is capable of pressing electronic components such as semiconductor elements toward the substrate 3.

[0025] A pair of first spring portions 11L and 12L are provided at the first end portion 10L, arranged in the width direction X, and extending from the first fixing portion 19L toward the second fixing portion 29, respectively. More specifically, the first spring portion 11L has a base end fixed adjacent to the first fixing portion 19L and a tip that moves freely due to elastic deformation. In the thickness direction of the pressing member 10, the tip is located closer to the substrate 3 than the base end. The other first spring portion 12L is similar.

[0026] A pair of second spring sections 21L and 22L are provided in the intermediate section 10C, arranged in the width direction X, and extending from the second fixing section 29 toward the first fixing section 19L. That is, the second spring sections 21L and 22L extend in the opposite direction to the first spring sections 11L and 12L, and the first spring sections 11L and 12L and the second spring sections 21L and 22L face each other. The base end of the second spring section 21L is fixed in a position adjacent to the second fixing section 29. The other second spring section 21R is similar.

[0027] The pair of third spring portions 31L and 32L are provided between the first fixing portion 19L and the second fixing portion 29, are aligned in the longitudinal direction Y, and extend in the width direction X. That is, the third spring portions 31L and 32L extend in a direction not parallel to the first and second spring portions 11L, 12L, 21L, and 22L. Similar to the tips of the first spring portions 11L and 12L, the movable tips of the second and third spring portions 21L, 22L, 31L, and 32L are located closer to the substrate 3 than the base end.

[0028] In the illustrated example, the pressing member 10 is formed mirror-symmetrically with respect to the plane passing through the center of the second fixing portion 29. That is, the pair of fourth spring portions 11R and 12R have substantially the same shape and function as the pair of first spring portions 11L and 12L. The pair of fifth spring portions 21R and 22R have substantially the same shape and function as the pair of second spring portions 21L and 22L. The pair of sixth spring portions 31R and 32R have substantially the same shape and function as the pair of first spring portions 31L and 32L. Therefore, the first to third spring portions 11L, 12L, 21L, 22L, 31L, and 32L will be described in detail, and redundant explanations of the fourth to sixth spring portions 11R, 12R, 21R, 22R, 31R, and 32R will be omitted.

[0029] Figure 4 is a plan view of the pressing member 10 shown in Figure 2. In the longitudinal direction Y, the length of the first spring sections 11L and 12L is α, and the length of the second spring sections 21L and 22L is β. In the width direction X, the length of the third spring sections 31L and 32L is γ. As shown in the figure, the lengths α, β, and γ may be different from each other. By changing the lengths α, β, and γ of the first to third spring sections 11L, 12L, 21L, 22L, 31L, and 32L, the electronic component can be pressed with an optimal pressing force.

[0030] Figure 5 is a schematic plan view showing the pair of first spring portions 11L and 12L shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 5, the pair of first spring portions 11L and 12L are arranged in the width direction X with a constant interval δ between them. One first spring portion 11L has an inner edge 11i that is proximal to the other first spring portion 12L and parallel to the longitudinal direction Y, and an outer edge 11o that is distal to the other first spring portion 12L and is inclined to approach the other first spring portion 12L as it moves from the base end 11p to the tip end 11d.

[0031] The other first spring 12L also has a similar inner edge 12i and outer edge 12o. The distance between the outer edges 11o and 12o of the pair of first spring parts 11L and 12L decreases as you move from the base ends 11p and 12p to the tips 11d and 12d. In other words, the pair of first spring parts 11L and 12L as a whole are tapered as they move from the base ends 11p and 12p to the tips 11d and 12d.

[0032] Since the pair of first spring portions 11L and 12L are tapered, when pressing a single electronic component using the two first spring portions 11L and 12L, the first spring portions 11L and 12L are less likely to protrude from the top surface of the electronic component, even if the electronic component is small. Because there is a gap δ between one first spring portion 11L and the other first spring portion 12L, when each of the first spring portions 11L and 12L presses one electronic component, the pair of first spring portions 11L and 12L can be positioned to straddle two electronic components.

[0033] Similar to the pair of first spring sections 11L and 12L, the pairs of second to sixth spring sections 21L, 22L, 31L, 32L, 11R, 12R, 21R, 22R, 31R, and 32R are formed with inclined outer edges that taper overall, and a pair of inner edges spaced apart. Therefore, the two spring sections can press against one electronic component or press across two electronic components.

[0034] Figure 6 is a plan view showing an example of the circuit board 3 shown in Figure 1. The power supply unit 1 may be a DC / DC converter, an AC / DC converter, or a DC / AC inverter. When functioning as a DC / DC converter, it may convert a high-voltage DC input voltage supplied from a high-voltage battery or the like that stores voltages from 100V to 800V into a low-voltage DC output voltage, output a first voltage of, for example, about 12V from the first voltage output circuit 4L, and output a second voltage of, for example, about 48V from the second voltage output circuit 4R.

[0035] In the illustrated example, circuit board 3 includes a full-bridge type first voltage output circuit 4L and a center-tapped type second voltage output circuit 4R. Figure 7A is a circuit diagram illustrating the full-bridge type first voltage output circuit 4L shown in Figure 6. Figure 7B is a circuit diagram illustrating the center-tapped type second voltage output circuit 4R shown in Figure 6.

[0036] Contrary to the example shown in Figure 6, the first voltage output circuit 4L may be a center-tapped type and the second voltage output circuit 4R may be a full-bridge type. Both the first and second voltage output circuits 4L and 4R may be full-bridge types. Both the first and second voltage output circuits 4L and 4R may be center-tapped types.

[0037] Figure 8 is a disassembled perspective view of a power supply unit 1 in which the pressing member shown in Figure 2 is attached to the circuit board shown in Figure 6. In the illustrated example, in the first voltage output circuit 4L, two first springs 11L and 12L press one electronic component 5A. Two second springs 21L and 22L press one electronic component 5B. A pair of third springs 31L and 32L are arranged across two electronic components 5C and 5D, with one third spring 31L pressing one electronic component 5C and the other third spring 32L pressing one electronic component 5D.

[0038] In the second voltage output circuit 4R, a pair of fourth springs 11R and 12R are arranged across two electronic components 5E and 5F, with one fourth spring 11R pressing on one electronic component 5E and the other fourth spring 12R pressing on one electronic component 5F. A pair of fifth springs 21R and 22R are arranged across two electronic components 5G and 5H, with one fifth spring 21R pressing on one electronic component 5G and the other fifth spring 22R pressing on one electronic component 5H.

[0039] As mentioned above, the pressing member 10 is formed mirror-symmetric with respect to the plane passing through the center of the second fixing portion 29. Therefore, it is possible to fix it using the first spring portions 11L and 12L, similar to fixing it using the fourth spring portions 11R and 12R. Similarly, it is possible to fix it using the second spring portions 21L and 22L, similar to fixing it using the fifth spring portions 21R and 22R.

[0040] As described above, the pressing member 10 has a pair of first spring portions 11L and 12L arranged in the width direction X. For example, the two first spring portions 11L and 12L can press a single electronic component (e.g., electronic component 5A), or one first spring portion 11L can press an electronic component (e.g., electronic component 5E) while the other first spring portion 12L presses another electronic component (e.g., electronic component 5F). The same applies to the pair of second to sixth spring portions 21L, 22L, 31L, 32L, 11R, 12R, 21R, 22R, 31R, and 32R. Therefore, even if the design of the substrate 3 is changed, a pressing member 10 of the same shape can be used.

[0041] The first spring sections 11L, 12L and the second spring sections 21L, 22L are arranged to face each other in the longitudinal direction Y, and a pair of first spring sections 11L, 12L are aligned in the width direction X at the portion adjacent to the first fixing section 19L. Therefore, compared to the configuration in Patent Document 1 where multiple spring sections are aligned in the longitudinal direction, the distance to the first and second fixing sections 19L, 29 is shorter, making it easier to adjust the stress and reaction force of the first and second spring sections 11L, 12L, 21L, 22L. Electronic components can be pressed with the optimal pressing force. The same applies to the third to sixth spring sections 31L, 32L, 11R, 12R, 21R, 22R, 31R, 32R.

[0042] The embodiments described above are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit its interpretation. The elements, arrangement, materials, conditions, shapes, and sizes of the embodiments are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, it is possible to partially substitute or combine the configurations shown in different embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 1...Power supply unit, 2...Housing, 3...Circuit board, 4L...First voltage output circuit, 4R...Second voltage output circuit, 5A~5H...Electronic components, 9...Fastening screw, 10...Pressing member, 10L,10R...End, 20...Intermediate part, 11L,12L...Pair of first spring parts, 11d,12d...Tip, 11i,12i...Inner edge, 11o,12o...Outer edge, 11p,12p...Base end, 11R,12R...Pair of fourth spring parts, 19L...First 1 fixed part, 19R... third fixed part, 29... second fixed part, 21L, 22L... pair of second spring parts, 21R, 22R... pair of fifth spring parts, 31L, 32L... pair of third spring parts, 31R, 32R... pair of sixth spring parts, X... width direction of the pressing member, Y... longitudinal direction of the pressing member, Z... thickness direction of the pressing member, α... length of the pair of first spring parts, β... length of the pair of second spring parts, γ... length of the pair of third spring parts.

Claims

1. It is formed in a plate shape that extends along the longitudinal direction from one end to the other end opposite to that end, A first fixing portion is provided at one end and is fixable to a substrate or a housing that houses the substrate, A second fixing portion is provided in the intermediate portion between the one and the other end, and is fixable to the substrate or the housing, A pair of elastically deformable first spring portions are provided at one end, arranged in a width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, and extending from the first fixing portion toward the second fixing portion, The intermediate portion comprises a pair of elastically deformable second spring portions, which are provided in the intermediate portion, are arranged in the width direction, and extend from the second fixing portion toward the first fixing portion, Pressing member.

2. The device further comprises a pair of elastically deformable third spring portions provided between the first and second fixing portions, arranged in the longitudinal direction and extending in the width direction. The pressing member according to claim 1.

3. The pair of first spring portions and the pair of second spring portions differ in length in the longitudinal direction. The pressing member according to claim 1.

4. The lengths of the pair of first spring portions in the longitudinal direction are different from the lengths of the pair of third spring portions in the width direction. The pressing member according to claim 2.

5. The first and second fixing parts are fixed to the substrate or the housing by fastening screws. The pressing member according to claim 1.

6. A pressing member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The substrate comprises, The substrate includes a first voltage output circuit for outputting a first voltage and a second voltage output circuit for outputting a second voltage. The semiconductor elements mounted on the substrate constitute the first and second voltage output circuits. power supply.

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