Washers and electronic equipment

Abstract

To provide washers and electronic devices that can improve thermal insulation performance. [Solution] The washer is used in the fastening portion of electronic equipment and comprises a cover member having a recess, a heat insulating material filled in the recess of the cover member, a sealing member provided on the opening side of the recess so as to cover the heat insulating material, and a through hole that penetrates the cover member, the heat insulating material, and the sealing member along the thickness direction of the washer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a washer used in an electronic device and an electronic device.

Background Art

[0002] In an electronic device such as a notebook PC, many components are fixed to a housing or the like using screws (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An electronic device as described above mounts heat-generating components. Examples of the heat-generating components include a substrate that receives heat from a heat-generating body such as a mounted CPU. Usually, the substrate is fixed to the housing with screws. Therefore, the heat of the substrate is transmitted to the housing through the fastening portion between the housing and the substrate, increasing the surface temperature of the housing. Then, the user may feel discomfort. In addition, it may be necessary to limit the performance of the CPU or the like in order to suppress the surface temperature. Therefore, such an electronic device is required to improve the heat insulation performance at the fastening portion.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a washer and an electronic device capable of improving heat insulation performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A washer according to a first aspect of the present invention is a washer used in a fastening portion of an electronic device, comprising: a cover member having a recess; a heat insulating material filled in the recess of the cover member; a sealing member provided on the opening side of the recess so as to cover the heat insulating material; and a through hole extending through the cover member, the heat insulating material, and the sealing member along the thickness direction of the washer.

[0007] An electronic device according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a washer having the above configuration, a housing, and a heat-generating component fixed to the housing, wherein the fastening portion is the portion that fastens the heat-generating component and the housing with a screw, and the washer is provided at least one of the following: between the housing and the heat-generating component, and between the screw and the heat-generating component.

[0008] An electronic device according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises a housing, a substrate on which a heating element is mounted and fixed to the housing, a fastening portion for fixing the substrate to the housing with screws, and a washer used in the fastening portion, wherein the washer has a cover member having a recess, a heat insulating material filled in the recess of the cover member, a sealing member provided on the opening side of the recess so as to cover the heat insulating material, and a through hole that penetrates the cover member, the heat insulating material, and the sealing member along the thickness direction of the washer, and through which the screw is inserted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the thermal insulation performance can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an electronic device according to one embodiment, viewed from above. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing the internal structure of the enclosure. [Figure 3A] Figure 3A is a schematic perspective view of the washer from one side. [Figure 3B] Figure 3B is a schematic perspective view of the washer from the other side. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the washer shown in Figure 3B. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a washer with a different structure from that shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the housing showing an example of washer use in the fastening section. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the washer shown in Figure 4. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the washer shown in Figure 5. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the washer and electronic device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an electronic device 10 according to one embodiment, viewed from above. As shown in Figure 1, the electronic device 10 in this embodiment is a clamshell-type notebook PC. The electronic device 10 has a configuration in which a lid 11 and a housing 12 are connected by a hinge 14 so that they can rotate relative to each other. In this embodiment, a notebook PC electronic device 10 is used as an example, but the electronic device may be something other than a notebook PC, such as a tablet PC, smartphone, or portable game console.

[0013] The lid 11 is a thin, flat, box-shaped enclosure. The lid 11 houses a display 16. The display 16 is, for example, an organic EL display or a liquid crystal display.

[0014] The housing 12 is a thin and flat box. The keyboard device 18 and the touch pad 19 face the upper surface 12a of the housing 12. Hereinafter, regarding the housing 12 and each component mounted thereon, based on the posture of the operator operating the keyboard device 18, the width direction (left and right) of the housing 12 will be referred to as the X1 and X2 directions respectively, the depth direction (front and back) of the housing 12 will be referred to as the Y1 and Y2 directions respectively, and the thickness direction (up and down) of the housing 12 will be referred to as the Z1 and Z2 directions respectively for explanation. The X1 and X2 directions may be collectively referred to as the X direction, and the Y1, Y2 directions and the Z1, Z2 directions may also be similarly referred to as the Y direction and the Z direction. These respective directions are directions defined for convenience of explanation, and it is natural that they may change depending on the usage state or installation posture of the electronic device 10, etc.

[0015] The housing 12 is composed of a housing member 20 forming the upper surface 12a and the peripheral side surfaces, and a housing member 21 forming the lower surface 12b. The housing member 20 is formed by forming standing walls 20B at the peripheral edges of a cover plate 20A forming the upper surface 12a of the housing 12. Therefore, the housing member 20 has a substantially bathtub shape with an open lower surface. The housing member 21 has a substantially flat plate shape and serves as a lid for closing the lower surface opening of the housing member 20. The housing members 20 and 21 are overlapped in the thickness direction and are detachably connected to each other. The standing wall 20B may be formed on the housing member 21. In this case, the housing member 20 may be composed only of the cover plate 20A.

[0016] The hinge 14 is installed in a concave hinge placement groove 12c formed at the rear edge of the housing 12, and connects the housing 12 and the lid 11.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the internal structure of the housing 12. FIG. 2 is a view of the inside of the housing 12 as seen from the lower surface side with the housing member 21 removed.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, inside the housing 12, a cooling module 24, a substrate 25, and a battery device 26 are accommodated. Inside the housing 12, various electronic components, mechanical components, etc. are further provided.

[0019] The substrate 25 is a circuit board that serves as the motherboard of the electronic device 10. The substrate 25 is disposed closer to the Y2 side of the housing 12 and extends in the X direction. The battery device 26 is a rechargeable battery that serves as the power source of the electronic device 10. The battery device 26 is disposed closer to the Y1 side of the substrate 25 and extends in the X direction.

[0020] In this embodiment, the substrate 25 mounts a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 25a and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) 25b. The CPU 25a is a processing device that performs operations related to the main control and processing of the electronic device 10. The GPU 25b is a processing device that performs operations necessary for image rendering such as 3D graphics. Around the CPU 25a and the GPU 25b, power components and memory of the CPU 25a and the GPU 25b are also mounted. Various electronic components such as a memory module 25c, a storage device, and a communication module are further mounted on the substrate 25.

[0021] For example, the upper surface (the first surface 25A) of the substrate 25 serves as the mounting surface for the housing member 20, and the lower surface (the second surface 25B) serves as the mounting surface for the CPU 25a and the like.

[0022] The CPU 25a and the GPU 25b are heat generators with the largest heat generation amount among the electronic components mounted in the housing 12. The cooling module 24 can absorb and diffuse the heat generated by the CPU 25a and the GPU 25b and discharge it outside the housing 12. The cooling module 24 of this embodiment can also cool the memory module 25c and the like.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling module 24 of this embodiment includes a pair of two heat pipes 27, a pair of heat sinks 28, 28, a pair of fans 30, 30, and a heat diffusion member 31.

[0024] The heat pipe 27 is a pipe-shaped heat transport device. The heat pipe 27 is constructed by flattening a metal pipe to form an elliptical cross-section, and sealing a working fluid in the sealed space inside. The heat pipe 27 is positioned overlapping the CPU 25a and GPU 25b vertically. The heat pipe 27 can efficiently transport heat from these components to each heat sink 28. Each heat sink 28 has a structure in which metal fins with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper, are arranged in parallel in the X direction.

[0025] The heat diffusion member 31 is positioned to cover a portion (part 25C) of the substrate 25 together with the CPU 25a and GPU 25b. Part 25C is located between the left and right fans 30, 30 and between the heat sinks 28, 28. The heat diffusion member 31 does not cover the Y2 side edge of part 25C or its vicinity. The heat diffusion member 31 can be made of, for example, a metal plate or a vapor chamber. A metal plate is a thin, metal plate-shaped member made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum. A vapor chamber is essentially a heat pipe formed in a plate shape, with a working fluid sealed in a sealed space formed between two metal plates.

[0026] The left and right fans 30, 30 are positioned so as to straddle the heat diffusion member 31 and section 25C between them. Each fan 30 may be configured to have two discharge ports 30a, 30b. One discharge port 30a is formed on the Y2 side of each fan 30 and faces in the Y2 direction. The air discharged from the discharge port 30a passes through the left and right heat sinks 28, respectively. This air is discharged outside the housing 12 through a vent 20a formed in the vertical wall 20B on the Y2 side. The other discharge port 30b is formed on the opposing sides of each fan 30 and faces in the X direction. The discharge ports 30b of each fan 30 are capable of discharging air in opposing directions. The air discharged from the discharge ports 30b of each fan 30 flows along the surface of section 25C and the heat diffusion member 31. This air is discharged outside the housing 12 through a vent 20b formed in the center of the vertical wall 20B on the Y2 side. Reference numeral 30c in Figure 2 indicates the air intake port of fan 30.

[0027] In this embodiment, the space between the discharge ports 30b, 30b of the left and right fans 30 is a duct space DS surrounded on three sides by airtight walls 32, excluding the vent 20b. The duct space DS is a space designed to make the airflow from the discharge port 30b towards the vent 20b smoother. The section 25C and the heat diffusion member 31 are housed in the duct space DS. The airtight walls 32 are made of materials such as sponge or rubber formed into strips. The airtight walls 32 do not need to completely block the passage of air, but they need to have a certain degree of airflow resistance to restrict the direction of airflow. Some of the airtight walls 32 extend in the X direction to connect the Y1 side ends of each fan 30. Other airtight walls 32 extend along the peripheral edges of each surface in the Z direction of the fan 30 and the heat sink 28.

[0028] Such a cooling module 24 can efficiently dissipate the heat from the heat-generating components, the CPU 25a and GPU 25b, and discharge it outside the enclosure 12. Incidentally, the circuit board 25 receives heat from the mounted components, the CPU 25a, GPU 25b, memory module 25c, and various other components. For this reason, the circuit board 25 can also be considered a heat-generating component that generates heat by receiving heat from the heat-generating components. This heat from the circuit board 25 is transferred to the enclosure members 20 and 21 via the fastening parts 33 to 35, which may raise the temperature of the surfaces (upper surface 12a and lower surface 12b) of the enclosure 12.

[0029] Next, the configuration of fastening parts 33 to 35 will be explained.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, the fastening portions 33 to 35 are provided in multiple locations, for example, along the outer edge of the substrate 25. Fastening portions 33 and 34 are the parts that fix the substrate 25 to the housing member 20 on the upper surface 12a side. Fastening portion 35 is the part that fastens the housing member 21 on the lower surface 12b side together with the substrate 25 to the housing member 20.

[0031] The fastening portions 33 and 34 include screws 36 (see also Figure 6). The screws 36 penetrate the substrate 25 from the second surface 25B side in the Z1 direction and fasten the substrate 25 to the inner surface side of the housing member 20. The fastening portion 34 is located in portion 25C of the substrate 25. The fastening portion 34 is located, for example, near both the left and right ends of the Y2 side edge of portion 25C.

[0032] The fastening portion 35 includes a screw 37 (see also Figure 6). The screw 37 penetrates the substrate 25 from the lower surface 12b of the housing member 21 in the Z1 direction, fastening the substrate 25 together with the housing member 20 to the inner surface of the housing member 20. The fastening portion 35 is located in portion 25C of the substrate 25. The fastening portion 35 is provided, for example, near the center of the Y2 side edge of portion 25C.

[0033] Furthermore, the keyboard device 18 is fixed to the housing member 20, and a large area of ​​its inner surface is covered by the keyboard device 18. In other words, the keyboard device 18 is substantially part of the housing member 20. For this reason, the fastening parts 33 to 35 can also be used to fasten the substrate 25 to the lower surface of the keyboard device 18, which is substantially part of the housing 12.

[0034] In these fastening sections 33-35, the fastening sections 34 and 35 provided in section 25C are particularly close to the CPU 25a and GPU 25b and are therefore more susceptible to heat. Section 25C is located within the duct space DS, where the temperature rises due to the heat dissipation from the heat diffusion member 31 and the CPU 25a, and therefore its temperature rises more easily than other parts of the substrate 25. Moreover, the edge of section 25C on the Y2 side is close to the vent 20b through which high-temperature exhaust air passes, making it even more susceptible to temperature rise. For this reason, the amount of heat transferred from the fastening sections 34 and 35 provided in section 25C to the housing members 20 and 21 is greater than that from the other fastening sections 33.

[0035] Therefore, the electronic device 10 of this embodiment uses heat-insulating washers 40 in the fastening parts 34 and 35.

[0036] Figure 3A is a schematic perspective view of washer 40 (40A) from one side. Figure 3B is a schematic perspective view of washer 40 (40A) from the other side. Figure 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of washer 40 (40A) shown in Figure 3B. Figure 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of washer 40 (40B), which has a different structure from that of washer 40 (40B) in Figure 4.

[0037] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the washer 40 can take on, for example, four different configurations. In this embodiment, the washer 40 in the configuration examples shown in Figures 3A to 4 will be referred to as "washer 40A," and the washer 40 in the configuration example shown in Figure 5 will be referred to as "washer 40B." Furthermore, the washer 40 in the configuration example shown in Figure 7 will be referred to as "washer 40C," and the washer 40 in the configuration example shown in Figure 8 will be referred to as "washer 40D." Washers 40A to 40D are sometimes collectively referred to as washer 40.

[0038] As shown in Figures 3A to 5, the washer 40 is formed in the shape of a thin, flattened circular ring.

[0039] First, let's describe the washer 40A. As shown in Figures 3A to 4, the washer 40A has a cover member 42, an insulating material 44, a sealing member 46, and a through hole 48.

[0040] The cover member 42 is the base member of the washer 40A and constitutes most of the outer surface of the washer 40A. The cover member 42 has a shape that is roughly like a cap, for example, made by molding a thin resin sheet.

[0041] The cover member 42 may have a bottom wall 42a, an outer wall 42b, and a recessed portion 42c.

[0042] The bottom wall 42a is a disc portion that forms one surface of the washer 40A. The bottom wall 42a also forms the bottom surface 42c1 of the recessed portion 42c. The bottom wall 42a has a hole portion 42a1, which is part of the through hole 48, formed through its center, giving it a ring shape.

[0043] The outer wall 42b is a cylindrical portion that forms the outer circumferential surface of the washer 40A. The outer wall 42b is a ring-shaped vertical wall that rises from the outer circumferential edge of the bottom wall 42a in the thickness direction of the washer 40 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "thickness direction"). The outer wall 42b is also the portion that forms the outer circumferential side surface 42c2 of the recess 42c. The cover member 42 may be provided with a flange portion 42d at the upright end of the outer wall 42b. The flange portion 42d is a ring-shaped disc portion formed by bending the outer wall 42b to the opposite side (outward) from the recess 42c side.

[0044] The recessed portion 42c is formed on the inside of the cover member 42, and a through hole 48 passes through its center, forming a ring-shaped space. The bottom surface of the recessed portion 42c is formed by a bottom wall 42a, and the outer peripheral side surface is formed by an outer wall 42b. The recessed portion 42c has an opening 42c3 on the other side in the thickness direction. The opening 42c3 is located on the opposite side from the bottom wall 42a in the thickness direction.

[0045] The washer 40A does not have a cover member 42 on the inner circumference side of the recessed portion 42c facing the through hole 48. In other words, one side of the recessed portion 42c in the thickness direction is open with an opening 42c3, and the inner circumference is also open facing the through hole 48.

[0046] The thermal insulation material 44 is filled into the recess 42c of the cover member 42. The thermal insulation material 44 can be, for example, a thermal insulation material containing aerogel, which is a fine porous structure. The thermal insulation material 44 may also be, for example, a composite material of silica aerogel particles and cellulose nanofibers. The thermal insulation material 44 has a hole portion 44a, which is part of the through hole 48, formed through the center, and is ring-shaped.

[0047] The sealing member 46 has the function of sealing the heat insulating material 44, which is formed of, for example, an aerogel material, into the recessed portion 42c. The sealing member 46 in this embodiment is adhesive, and therefore also has the function of fixing the washer 40A to its installation target, for example, the substrate 25. The sealing member 46 may be formed of a thin resin sheet or the like that does not have adhesive properties. The sealing member 46 is a disc portion that forms the other side of the washer 40A opposite to the bottom wall 42a side. The sealing member 46 is provided on the opening 42c3 side of the recessed portion 42c so as to cover the heat insulating material 44. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a configuration in which the outer diameter of the sealing member 46 is larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 42d. The outer diameter of the sealing member 46 may be the same as or less than the outer diameter of the flange portion 42d. If the flange portion 42d is omitted, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the sealing member 46 be the same as or greater than the outer diameter of the outer wall 42b.

[0048] The sealing member 46 may be made of an adhesive sheet in which an adhesive material 46b is laminated on the surface of a base material 46a (see Figure 4). The adhesive material 46b is the part that is adhesively fixed to the object on which the washer 40A is installed. The base material 46a is fixed to the surface of the heat insulating material 44 and the flange portion 42d with a predetermined adhesive. The sealing member 46 can also be made of a double-sided adhesive sheet in which adhesive material 46b is provided on both sides of the base material 46a, so that it can be easily fixed to the surface of the heat insulating material 44 and the flange portion 42d. The sealing member 46 has a hole portion 46c, which is part of the through hole 48, formed through the center, and is ring-shaped.

[0049] The through-hole 48 is an insertion hole for the screws 36 and 37. The through-hole 48 is preferably located in the center of the washer 40A. The through-hole 48 penetrates the cover member 42, the heat insulating material 44, and the sealing member 46 in the thickness direction. Specifically, the through-hole 48 is composed of the hole 42a1 in the cover member 42, the hole 44a in the heat insulating material 44, and the hole 46c in the sealing member 46.

[0050] Such a washer 40A has high thermal insulation performance in the thickness direction due to the presence of thermal insulation material 44. Furthermore, the washer 40A does not have a cover member 42 on the inner circumference side of the recess 42c surrounding the through hole 48, and the thermal insulation material 44 is exposed. As a result, the washer 40A can be filled with thermal insulation material 44 up to the position facing the inner circumference surface of the through hole 48, and the amount of thermal insulation material 44 that can be filled can be increased to improve thermal insulation performance. Moreover, since the washer 40A can directly surround the area around the screws 36 and 37 that pass through the through hole 48 with thermal insulation material 44, the thermal insulation performance between the washer 40A and the screws 36 and 37 is also extremely high.

[0051] Next, washer 40B will be described. Washer 40B shown in Figure 5 differs from washer 40A in that the cover member 42 covers the inner circumference of the hole 44a of the heat insulating material 44. In washer 40B shown in Figure 5, elements that have the same or similar functions and effects as washer 40A shown in Figures 3A to 4 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0052] As shown in Figure 5, the washer 40B has a structure in which an inner wall 42e is added to the cover member 42 of the washer 40A.

[0053] The inner wall 42e is a cylindrical portion that forms the inner circumferential surface of the washer 40B. The inner wall 42e is a ring-shaped vertical wall that rises in the thickness direction from the inner circumferential edge of the bottom wall 42a. The inner wall 42e also forms the inner circumferential side surface 42c4 of the recess 42c. The inner wall 42e is also the inner circumferential wall of the through hole 48. A flange portion 42f may also be provided at the upright end of the inner wall 42e. The flange portion 42f is a ring-shaped disc portion formed by bending the inner wall 42e to the opposite side (outward) from the recess 42c side. It is preferable to provide a sealing member 46 on the surface of the flange portion 42f.

[0054] The washer 40C shown in Figure 7 differs from the washer 40A shown in Figure 4 in that an adhesive material 46b is provided on the bottom wall 42a side of the cover member 42. The washer 40D shown in Figure 8 differs from the washer 40B shown in Figure 5 in that an adhesive material 46b is provided on the bottom wall 42a side of the cover member 42. The adhesive material 46b of washers 40C and 40D may also be composed of a sealing member 46 made of an adhesive sheet in which the adhesive material 46b is laminated on the surface of a base material 46a attached to the bottom wall 42a. In washers 40C and 40D, it is preferable to close the opening 42c3 of the recessed portion 42c with a thin resin sheet 49.

[0055] Figure 6 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the housing 12 showing an example of the use of washers 40A and 40B at fastening portions 34 and 35. Although Figure 6 illustrates a configuration using washers 40A and 40B, washers 40C and 40D may also be used.

[0056] As shown in Figure 6, the substrate 25 has mounting holes 25D formed through it in the thickness direction for inserting screws 36 and 37. The housing member 20 forming the upper surface 12a may have a boss 50 used for fastening the substrate 25 at the fastening parts 34 and 35. The boss 50 is a cylindrical member that rises from the inner surface of the housing member 20 toward the Z2 side and has a female screw hole formed in its center. The housing member 21 forming the lower surface 12b may also have a boss 51 used for fastening the substrate 25 and the housing member 21 at the fastening part 35. The boss 51 is a cylindrical member that rises from the inner surface of the housing member 21 toward the Z1 side. A hole 51a that opens at the lower surface 12b of the housing member 21 is formed in the center of the boss 51.

[0057] First, the fastening portion 34 can be composed of, for example, a screw 36 and two washers 40A and 40B, one above the other. It is preferable to fix washer 40A to the first surface 25A of the substrate 25 with a sealing member 46 so as to surround the mounting hole 25D. This positions washer 40A between the first surface 25A and the top surface of the boss 50. It is preferable to fix washer 40B to the second surface 25B of the substrate 25 with a sealing member 46 so as to surround the mounting hole 25D. This positions washer 40B between the second surface 25B and the head 36a of the screw 36. The screw 36 is inserted sequentially from the Z2 side to the Z1 side through the through hole 48 of washer 40B, the mounting hole 25D, and the through hole 48 of washer 40A, and is tightened onto the boss 50.

[0058] As a result, the substrate 25 is fastened to the housing member 20 with the housing member 20 and the screw 36 insulated by washers 40A and 40B, respectively.

[0059] Next, the fastening portion 35 can be composed of, for example, a screw 37 and two washers 40A, 40A, one above the other. The washer 40A on the Z1 side is preferably fixed to the first surface 25A of the substrate 25 with a sealing member 46 so as to surround the mounting hole 25D. This positions the washer 40A between the first surface 25A and the top surface of the boss 50. The washer 40B on the Z2 side is preferably fixed to the second surface 25B of the substrate 25 with a sealing member 46 so as to surround the mounting hole 25D. This positions the washer 40A between the second surface 25B and the top surface of the boss 51. The screw 37 is inserted in order from the Z2 side to the Z1 side through the hole 51a of the housing member 21, the through hole 48 of the washer 40A on the Z2 side, the mounting hole 25D, and the through hole 48 of the washer 40A on the Z1 side, and is tightened to the boss 50.

[0060] As a result, the substrate 25 is fastened to the housing members 20 and 21 with the housing members 20 and 21 and the screws 36 insulated by washers 40A, 40A, respectively.

[0061] Figure 6 illustrates a configuration in which washers 40 are installed on both the upper and lower surfaces 25A and 25B of the substrate 25. Washers 40 may be installed on only one of the surfaces 25A and 25B. For example, in the fastening portion 34 shown in Figure 6, one of the washers 40A and 40B may be omitted. Similarly, in the fastening portion 35 shown in Figure 6, one of the washers 40A and 40B may be omitted.

[0062] As described above, the washer 40 of this embodiment can be used in fastening portions 34 and 35 of the electronic device 10. The washer 40 comprises a cover member 42 having a recessed portion 42c, a heat insulating material 44 filled in the recessed portion 42c, a sealing member 46 provided on the opening side of the recessed portion 42c so as to cover the heat insulating material 44, and a through hole 48 that penetrates along the thickness direction.

[0063] The electronic device 10 of this embodiment includes such a washer 40, a housing 12, and a heat-generating component (e.g., a circuit board 25) fixed to the housing 12. Here, the fastening portions 34 and 35 using the washer 40 are, for example, the portions where the heat-generating component and the housing 12 are fixed with screws. The washer 40 is provided at least one of the following: between the housing 12 and the heat-generating component, and between the screw and the heat-generating component.

[0064] Thus, the washer 40 has a structure in which a heat insulating material 44 is filled into the recessed portion 42c of the cover member 42. With this configuration, the heat insulating material 44 can be made of aerogel or the like, which has significantly higher heat insulating performance than, for example, the resin material that forms the cover member 42. As a result, the washer 40 can effectively insulate the space between the heat-generating component and other components (for example, the housing 12), improving the heat insulating performance of the electronic device 10. In particular, it is preferable to use the washer 40 at the fastening portions 34 and 35 between the heat-generating component and the housing 12. In this case, the electronic device 10 can suppress the rise in the surface temperature of the housing 12 due to the heat of the heat-generating component. As a result, the electronic device 10 can prevent users from experiencing discomfort or limiting the performance of the CPU 25a, etc., in order to suppress the surface temperature.

[0065] The washer 40 can seal the insulation material 44 filled in the recess 42c with the sealing member 46. As a result, the washer 40 does not need to provide a member similar to the cover member 42 to seal, for example, the opening 42c3 of the recess 42c. Therefore, the washer 40 can be made thinner, and the resin material, such as that of the cover member 42, does not connect on the upper and lower surfaces, improving the insulation performance.

[0066] The cover member 42 may have a bottom wall 42a that forms the bottom surface 42c1 of the recessed portion 42c, and an outer wall 42b that rises from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall 42a and forms the outer peripheral side surface of the recessed portion 42c. This allows the heat insulating material 44 to be stably held in the recessed portion 42c. The cover member 42 may also have a flange portion 42d that is bent from the upright end of the outer wall 42b. This allows the flange portion 42d to increase the rigidity of the recessed portion 42c, making the holding of the heat insulating material 44 more secure.

[0067] Washer 40A (40C) is configured such that there is no cover member 42 on the inner circumference side of the recess 42c surrounding the through hole 48. This allows washer 40A (40C) to maximize the amount of insulation material 44 that can be filled, thereby improving its insulation performance. Furthermore, the insulation performance in the through hole 48 between washer 40A (40C) and screws 36, 37 can also be improved.

[0068] The washer 40B (40D) is configured to rise from the inner peripheral edge of the bottom wall 42a to form the inner peripheral surface 42c4 of the recessed portion 42c, and also has an inner wall 42e that forms the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 48. As a result, the washer 40B (40D) can further increase the rigidity of the recessed portion 42c and make the retention of the insulation material 44 more secure.

[0069] As shown in Figure 6, it is preferable that the washer 40A (40C) is installed in a position where it does not directly contact the heads 36a and 37a of the screws 36 and 37. In Figure 6, the washer 40A is installed between the substrate 25 and the housing members 20 and 21. That is, since the washer 40A (40C) does not have an inner wall 42e, it has lower holding rigidity of the heat insulating material 44 compared to the washer 40B (40D). Therefore, it is preferable that the washer 40A (40C) is positioned so that it does not directly receive rotational force from the heads 36a and 37a. This prevents the heat insulating material 44, which is formed of aerogel, from deforming significantly due to the rotational force of the screws 36 and 37, and prevents the shape of the washer 40A (40C) from being greatly distorted.

[0070] On the other hand, washers 40B (40D) can also be suitably installed in a position that directly contacts the head 36a of the screw 36. In Figure 6, washer 40B is installed between the substrate 25 and the head 36a. That is, because washer 40B (40D) has an inner wall 42e, it has higher holding rigidity of the heat insulating material 44 compared to washer 40A. For this reason, washer 40B (40D) can maintain its shape stably even when placed in a part that directly receives rotational force from the heads 36a and 37a.

[0071] Of course, washers 40A (40C) may be placed in a position where they directly contact the heads 36a and 37a of screws 36 and 37. Alternatively, washers 40B (40D) may be placed in a position where they do not directly contact the heads 36a and 37a of screws 36 and 37. These arrangements should be appropriately selected considering, for example, the shape, size, material, and installation location of the washers 40.

[0072] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be freely modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0073] The above example illustrates a configuration in which washers 40 are used in fastening portions 34 and 35 of the substrate 25C, where thermal insulation performance is particularly required. Washers 40 may, of course, be used in other fastening portions 33, or in other fastening portions other than the substrate 25 where thermal insulation is required. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 10 Electronic equipment 11 Lid 12 cabinets 20,21 Housing components 24 Cooling Modules 25 circuit boards 25a CPU 25b GPU 33-35 Fastening section Washers 40, 40A~40D 42 Cover component 42a bottom wall 42b Outside wall 42c recessed area 42d Flange section 42e inner wall 44 Insulation 46 Sealing member 48 Through holes

Claims

1. A washer used in fastening parts of electronic equipment, A cover member having a recessed portion, The heat insulating material filled in the recess of the cover member, A sealing member provided on the opening side of the recessed portion so as to cover the aforementioned heat insulating material, A through hole extending through the cover member, the heat insulating material, and the sealing member along the thickness direction of the washer, A washer characterized by having the following features.

2. A washer according to claim 1, The aforementioned thermal insulation material includes aerogel. A washer characterized by the following.

3. A washer according to claim 1 or 2, The cover member is The bottom wall that forms the bottom surface of the recessed portion, An outer wall that rises from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall and forms the outer peripheral side surface of the recessed portion, has A washer characterized by the following.

4. A washer according to claim 3, The cover member is not provided on the inner circumference side of the recess surrounding the through hole. A washer characterized by the following.

5. A washer according to claim 3, The cover member further has an inner wall that rises from the inner peripheral edge of the bottom wall to form the inner peripheral surface of the recess and forms the inner peripheral surface of the through hole. A washer characterized by the following.

6. A washer according to claim 3, The cover member has a flange portion that is bent from the upright end of the outer wall toward the opposite side of the recessed portion. A washer characterized by the following.

7. A washer according to claim 1, The sealing member has adhesive properties. A washer characterized by the following.

8. A washer according to claim 1 or 2, The casing and A heat-generating component fixed to the aforementioned housing, Equipped with, The fastening portion is the part that secures the heating component and the housing with screws. The washer is provided between the housing and the heat-generating component, and between the screw and the heat-generating component, at least one of these locations. An electronic device characterized by the following features.

9. It is an electronic device, The casing and A heating element is mounted on a circuit board fixed to the housing, A fastening portion for fixing the substrate to the housing with screws, The washer used in the fastening portion, Equipped with, The aforementioned washer is, A cover member having a recessed portion, The heat insulating material filled in the recess of the cover member, A sealing member provided on the opening side of the recessed portion so as to cover the aforementioned heat insulating material, The washer has a through hole through which the screw is inserted, which extends along the thickness direction of the washer, penetrating the cover member, the heat insulating material, and the sealing member, has An electronic device characterized by the following features.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, The aforementioned thermal insulation material includes aerogel. An electronic device characterized by the following features.

11. The electronic device according to claim 9 or 10, The cover member is The bottom wall that forms the bottom surface of the recessed portion, An outer wall that rises from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall and forms the outer peripheral side surface of the recessed portion, It has, The washer is configured such that the cover member is not provided on the inner circumference side of the recess surrounding the through hole. The washer is positioned at least between the surface of the substrate and the housing. An electronic device characterized by the following features.

12. The electronic device according to claim 9 or 10, The cover member is The ring-shaped bottom wall that forms the bottom surface of the recessed portion, An outer wall that rises from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall and forms the outer peripheral side surface of the recessed portion, An inner wall that rises from the inner peripheral edge of the bottom wall and forms the inner peripheral surface of the recess, and also forms the inner peripheral surface of the through hole, It has, The washer is positioned at least between the head of the screw and the surface of the substrate. An electronic device characterized by the following features.

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