controller

Abstract

To miniaturize a controller and also facilitate access to a board on which external connection connector is disposed.SOLUTION: A controller 1 has an exterior case 2 that houses a communication board 3 provided with external connection connectors 11-17. The exterior case 2 includes: an interface panel 20 provided with holes 27 in which the external connection connectors 11-17 are arranged; a case body 21 to which the interface panel 20 is detachably fixed; and a board fixing panel 4 fixed to the interface panel 20 and extending in a first direction X intersecting with the interface panel 20. The communication board 3 is fixed to the board fixing panel 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a controller having a connector for external connection disposed on the outer surface of a case. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a controller that controls a robot. In the controller of Patent Document 1, multiple communication and control circuit boards are arranged inside the front wall (interface panel) of a rectangular parallelepiped case body. The multiple circuit boards are stacked at regular intervals via mounting bosses. An external connection connector is arranged at the end of each circuit board. The external connection connector is arranged in a hole formed in the front wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-136780 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When miniaturizing a robot controller, the gaps between the components housed in the exterior case become narrower. If the space around the communication and control board is narrow, it becomes difficult to access the electronic elements and connectors placed on the board. This makes it difficult to connect the connector on the board to the mating connector. It also makes it difficult to inspect and maintain the electronic elements placed on the board.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a controller and to facilitate access to a board on which an external connection connector is disposed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: a substrate on which a connector for external connection is arranged; and a case for accommodating the substrate, the case including an interface panel having a hole in which the connector for external connection is arranged; a case body to which the interface panel is removably fixed; and a substrate fixing panel fixed to the interface panel and extending in a first direction intersecting the interface panel, the substrate being fixed to the substrate fixing panel.

[0007] According to the present invention, the board on which the external connection connector is arranged is fixed to a board fixing panel separate from the case body, and the board fixing panel is fixed to the interface panel. As a result, the board on which the external connection connector is arranged, the board fixing panel, and the interface panel can be unitized and handled as a board unit that can be attached to and detached from the case body. Therefore, the board can be easily moved toward the outside of the case body simply by removing the interface panel from the case body. Therefore, access to the electronic elements on the board and the connectors for wiring connection is facilitated. Therefore, wiring work and maintenance of the electronic elements, connectors, etc. on the board are facilitated, and the board can be easily removed to the outside. Furthermore, when the board is stored inside the case body, there is no need to secure a working space around the board. Therefore, the controller can be made smaller in size.

[0008] In the present invention, the substrate fixing panel preferably has an opening or a notch facing the substrate. In this way, electronic elements and wiring patterns on the substrate can be accessed through the opening or the notch while the substrate is fixed to the substrate fixing panel. This allows for product inspection and maintenance.

[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that the case body includes a case opening to which the interface panel is fixed and an exterior panel extending in the first direction from an edge of the case opening, and the exterior panel includes a guide portion that guides the board fixing panel in the first direction. In this way, when the interface panel is attached to or detached from the case body, the board fixing panel can be guided by the guide portion. This makes it easy to attach and detach the interface panel and the board and to position them.

[0010] In the present invention, it is preferable that the board fixing panel includes a guided portion extending in the first direction, and the guiding portion contacts the guided portion in a direction intersecting the first direction. For example, when the board fixing panel includes the cutout portion, it is preferable that the guided portion is an edge of the cutout portion, and the guiding portion is a protrusion disposed inside the cutout portion. In this way, the attachment / detachment and positioning of the interface panel and the board are easy. Also, the edge of the cutout portion for accessing the first board can be used as the guided portion. Therefore, the board fixing panel can have a simple structure.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the board has a wiring connector disposed at an end different from the end on the interface panel side. In this way, when the interface panel is attached to the case body, there is no need to secure a working space around the wiring connector for attaching and detaching the mating connector. This allows the controller to be made smaller.

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the substrate fixing panel is fixed with a plurality of substrates stacked via spacers in a direction intersecting the first direction and along the interface panel, the external connection connector is arranged on each of the substrates, and the interface panel is provided with the holes at positions corresponding to the external connection connectors arranged on the substrates. In this way, the substrates can be stacked and unitized, making it easy to position the substrates relative to the interface panel. In addition, the substrates can be arranged in a concentrated manner, improving space efficiency. In addition, it is easy to access electronic elements and connectors arranged on each substrate. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, the board on which the external connection connector is arranged is fixed to a board fixing panel separate from the case body, and the board fixing panel is fixed to the interface panel. As a result, the board on which the external connection connector is arranged, the board fixing panel, and the interface panel can be unitized and handled as a board unit that can be attached to and detached from the case body. Therefore, the board can be easily moved toward the outside of the case body simply by removing the interface panel from the case body. Therefore, access to the electronic elements on the board and the connectors for wiring connection is facilitated. Therefore, wiring work and maintenance of the electronic elements, connectors, etc. on the board are facilitated, and the board can be easily removed to the outside. Furthermore, when the board is stored inside the case body, there is no need to secure a working space around the board. Therefore, the controller can be made smaller in size. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a controller to which the present invention is applied, with a portion thereof omitted. [Diagram 2] 13 is an oblique view showing the state in which the interface panel, the board fixing panel, and the communication board unit assembled with the board are removed from the case body. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a communication board unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the communication board unit. [Diagram 5] 5 is an explanatory diagram of a wiring connection method for a communication board unit. FIG. [Figure 6] 5A is a partial cross-sectional view of the controller of FIG. 1 (a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5A) and a partially enlarged view thereof. [Figure 7] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a guiding portion provided on a case body and a guided portion provided on a board fixing panel. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] An embodiment of a controller 1 to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. The controller 1 is, for example, a device that supplies power to a robot equipped with an actuator such as a motor. Note that the controller 1 may also be a device used for other purposes, and the present invention can be applied to any device that communicates with or supplies power to other devices via a connector.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a controller 1 to which the present invention is applied, with a portion thereof omitted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a communication board unit 5, which is an assembly of an interface panel 20, a board fixing panel 4, and a communication board 3, is removed from a case body. In this specification, the three directions of XYZ are mutually orthogonal. In this specification, for convenience, the third direction Z is the up-down direction of the controller 1. The Z1 direction is upward, and the Z2 direction is downward. The first direction X is the front-rear direction of the controller 1. The X1 direction is forward, and the X2 direction is backward. The second direction Y is the width direction of the controller 1. The Y1 direction and the Y2 direction are one side and the other side of the second direction Y. In an actual manner in which the controller 1 is used, the third direction Z does not have to coincide with the up-down direction (vertical direction).

[0017] (Overall composition) As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 1 includes a metal exterior case 2. The exterior case 2 is rectangular. The exterior case 2 includes an interface panel 20 disposed on a surface in the X1 direction, and a case main body 21 to which the interface panel 20 can be detached. The case main body 21 includes a frame 22 in the shape of a box, and an exterior panel fixed to the frame 22. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a part of the exterior panel has been removed, and shows a state in which a back panel 23 constituting the surface in the X2 direction, a side panel 24 constituting the surface in the Y1 direction, and a bottom panel 25 constituting the surface in the Z2 direction are attached to the frame 22.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the case body 21 has a case opening 26 to which the interface panel 20 can be attached and detached. The case opening 26 opens in the X1 direction. The case opening 26 is a rectangular opening surrounded by the bottom plate 25 on the Z2 side and surrounded by the frame 22 on the Z1 side, the Y1 side, and the Y2 side. The frame 22 has a first frame 22a that faces the X1 side edge 25a of the bottom plate 25 in the third direction Z and extends in the second direction Y, a second frame 22b that extends in the Z2 direction from the end of the Y2 side of the first frame 22a and is connected to the bottom plate 25, and a third frame 22c that extends in the Z2 direction from approximately the center of the first frame 22a in the second direction Y and is connected to the bottom plate 25. The interface panel 20 is fixed to the case body 21 by having four corners screwed to the first frame 22a, the second frame 22b, and the second frame 22c.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, the controller 1 includes a communication board 3 disposed at the corner where the bottom plate 25 of the exterior case 2 and the interface panel 20 intersect. As shown in Fig. 2, the communication board 3 is fixed to the interface panel 20 via a board fixing panel 4, and is attached to and detached from the case main body 21 together with the interface panel 20. That is, in this embodiment, the communication board 3, the board fixing panel 4, and the interface panel 20 constitute a communication board unit 5 that is detachable from the case main body 21. Interface Panel A plurality of holes 27 are formed in 20, and in each hole 27, one of the external connectors 11 to 17 and the electronic elements 18 and 19 arranged on the edge of the communication board 3 on the X1 side is arranged.

[0020] (Communication board unit) Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the communication board unit 5. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the communication board unit 5. The communication board unit 5 includes three communication boards 3 stacked in the third direction Z. The three communication boards 3 are stacked on the Z1 side of the board fixing panel 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the board fixing panel 4 includes a rectangular plate portion 40, a holed pin 41 protruding from the plate portion 40 to the Z1 side, and fixing portions 42 bent in the Z1 direction from both ends in the second direction Y of the X1-side edge of the plate portion 40, and the interface panel 20 is screwed to the fixing portions 42.

[0021] The three communication boards 3 are a first board 31 that abuts against the holed pin 41 of the board fixing panel 4 from the Z1 side, a second board 32 that abuts against the first board 31 from the Z1 side via a holed spacer 34, and a third board 33 that abuts against the second board 32 from the Z1 side via the holed spacer 34. The three communication boards 3 are fixed to the board fixing panel 4 by passing screws (not shown) through holes provided in each board and through holes in the spacer 34 and screwing the tips of the screws into the holed pin 41.

[0022] The electronic elements arranged on the communication board 3 include external connection connectors 11 and 12 arranged on the X1 side edge of the first board 31, external connection connectors 13, 14, and 15 arranged on the X1 side edge of the second board 32, and external connection connectors 16 and 17 arranged on the X1 side edge of the third board 33. The electronic elements arranged on the communication board 3 also include an electronic element 18 for display arranged on the X1 side edge of the first board 31, and an electronic element 19 for display arranged on the X1 side edge of the third board 31. The interface panel 20 has holes 27 formed at positions corresponding to the external connection connectors 11 to 17 and the electronic elements 18 and 19.

[0023] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a wiring connection method for the communication board unit 5, and is a side view of the X1 side end of the case body 21 and the communication board unit 5 viewed from the Z2 side. FIG. 5(a) shows a state in which the communication board unit 5 is fixed to the case body 21, and FIG. 5(b) shows a state in which the communication board unit 5 is moved to a position where it can be attached to and detached from the wiring connector 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the X2 side edge of the first board 31 extends further toward the X2 side than the X2 side edges of the second board 32 and the third board 33. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of wiring connectors 10 are arranged on the X2 side edge of the first board 31. In this embodiment, wiring connectors 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, and 10e are arranged as the wiring connectors 10.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 5(a), a board on which a large electronic component 6 is mounted is disposed on the X2 side of the first board 31. In the controller 1, in order to reduce size, the gap between the wiring connector 10 disposed on the end of the first board 31 on the X2 side and the electronic component 6 is set narrow. Therefore, in the arrangement state shown in Fig. 5(a), it is difficult to attach and detach the mating connector 7 to and from the wiring connector 10.

[0025] However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the interface panel 20 can be removed from the case body 21 and the communication board unit 5 can be moved to the X1 side. This causes the three communication boards 3 to move toward the outside of the case body 21 together with the interface panel 20, widening the gap between the wiring connector 10 and the electronic components 6 and facilitating access to the wiring connector 10. This makes it easy to attach and detach the mating connector 7 and the wiring connector 10. In addition, because the mating connector 7 can be easily attached and detached, it also becomes easy to remove the communication boards 3 from the case body 21. do.

[0026] 4, the board fixing panel 4 has a rectangular cutout portion 43 cut out in the X1 direction from an edge in the X2 direction of the plate portion 40. As shown in Fig. 2, the cutout portion 43 faces the board surface of the first board 31. Therefore, the cutout portion 43 faces the electronic elements and wiring patterns arranged on the board surface of the first board 31, so that the electronic elements and wiring patterns on the first board 31 can be accessed from the cutout portion 43 while the first board 31 remains attached to the board fixing panel 4.

[0027] 6 is a partial cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view cut at the position AA in FIG. 5(a)) of the controller 1 in FIG. 1 and a partially enlarged view thereof. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a guiding portion provided on the case body 21 and a guided portion provided on the board fixing panel 4, and is a view of the bottom plate 25, the board fixing panel 4, and the interface panel 20 viewed from the Z1 direction. When the communication board unit 5 is attached to or detached from the case body 21, the board fixing panel 4 slides in the first direction X along the surface on the Z1 side of the bottom plate 25. When the fixing of the interface panel 20 to the case body 21 is completed, the board fixing panel 4 abuts against the surface on the Z1 side of the bottom plate 25, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 7, the inner edge of the notch 43 provided in the board fixing panel 4 has edges 44, 45 extending parallel to the X direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom plate 25 has a protrusion 46 protruding toward the Z1 side. The protrusions 46 are arranged at two locations spaced apart in the second direction Y. When the communication board unit 5 is attached to or detached from the case body 21, the protrusions 46 come into contact with the edges 44, 45 of the notch 43 provided in the board fixing panel 4 in the second direction Y. Therefore, the board fixing panel 4 moves in the first direction X while being guided by the protrusions 46. In other words, the protrusions 46 provided in the bottom plate 25 are guide parts that guide the board fixing panel 4, and the edges 44, 45 of the notch 43 in the second direction Y are guided parts that come into contact with the protrusions 46 in a direction intersecting the first direction X. That is, the protrusion 46 and the edges 44, 45 form a guide mechanism that guides the board fixing panel 4 when the communication board unit 5 is attached or detached.

[0029] (Main effects of this form) As described above, the controller 1 of this embodiment has an exterior case 2 that houses the communication board 3 on which the external connection connectors 11-17 are provided, and the exterior case 2 includes an interface panel 20 provided with holes 27 in which the external connection connectors 11-17 are arranged, a case main body 21 to which the interface panel 20 is detachably fixed, and a board fixing panel 4 fixed to the interface panel 20 and extending in the first direction X intersecting the interface panel 20. The communication board 3 is fixed to the board fixing panel 4.

[0030] In this embodiment, the communication board 3, the board fixing panel 4, and the interface panel 20 are treated as a communication board unit 5 that is detachable from the case body 21. This allows the communication board 3 to be easily removed to the outside of the case body 21 simply by removing the interface panel 20 from the case body 21. This allows easy access to the electronic elements on the communication board 3 and the connector 10 for wiring connection. This allows easy wiring and maintenance of the electronic elements, connectors, etc. on the communication board 3.

[0031] In this way, by configuring the communication board 3 so that it can be easily removed to the outside of the case body 21, it is not necessary to ensure a large working space around the communication board 3 inside the case body 21. For example, in this embodiment, the communication board 3 is provided with the wiring connection connector 10 that is disposed at an end (X2 end) different from the end (X1 end) on the interface panel 20 side, but as shown in Fig. 5(b), the communication board 3 can be moved toward the outside (X1 side) of the case body 21 to facilitate access to the wiring connection connector 10, and then the communication board 3 can be attached to the mating side. 5(a), the gap between adjacent electronic components 6 can be narrowed, and it is not necessary to secure a large working space between adjacent electronic components 6. Therefore, the controller 1 can be made smaller.

[0032] The board fixing panel 4 of this embodiment has a cutout portion 43 facing the communication board 3. In this way, the electronic elements and wiring patterns on the communication board 3 can be accessed through the cutout portion 43 while the communication board 3 remains fixed to the board fixing panel 4. Therefore, there is no need to disassemble the communication board unit 5, and product inspection and maintenance can be performed while the communication board 3 remains fixed to the board fixing panel 4. Note that instead of the cutout portion 43, an opening facing the communication board 3 may be provided in the board fixing panel 4. In this case, the elements on the communication board 3 can be accessed through the opening, and similar effects can be obtained.

[0033] In this embodiment, the case body 21 includes a case opening 26 to which the interface panel 20 is fixed, and a bottom plate 25 which is an exterior panel extending in the first direction X from the edge of the case opening 26 on the Z2 side, and the bottom plate 25 includes a protrusion 46 which is a guide portion that guides the board fixing panel 4 in the first direction X. By forming the protrusion 46 (guide portion) on the bottom plate 25, the insertion of the board fixing panel 4 can be guided by the protrusion 46 (guide portion) when the interface panel 20 is attached to or detached from the case body 21. This makes it easy to attach and detach the interface panel 20 and the communication board 3 and to position them.

[0034] In this embodiment, the board fixing panel 4 has a notch 43, and the notch 43 has edges 44, 45 that are guided parts extending in the first direction X. The convex part 46 (guiding part) provided on the bottom plate 25 is disposed inside the notch 43 and disposed at a position that contacts the edges 44, 45 in the second direction Y (direction intersecting the first direction X). Therefore, when attaching or detaching the interface panel 20 to or from the case body 21, the convex part 46 can be slid along the edges 44, 45 to guide the insertion of the board fixing panel 4. Therefore, the attachment / detachment work and positioning work of the interface panel 20 are easy. In this way, the edges 44, 45 of the notch 43 for facilitating access to the board surface of the first board 31 are used as guided parts of the guide mechanism, so that the board fixing panel 4 can have a simple structure.

[0035] The guide mechanism for guiding the substrate fixing panel 4 may have a configuration other than the convex portion 46 provided on the bottom plate 25 and the edges 44, 45 of the cutout portion 43 provided on the substrate fixing panel 4. For example, the guided portion formed on the substrate fixing panel 4 may be a rib, a groove, a slit, or the like extending in the first direction X. Also, a convex portion may be formed on the substrate fixing panel 4, and a rib, a groove, a slit, or the like extending in the first direction X may be provided on the bottom plate 25.

[0036] In this embodiment, a plurality of communication boards 3 are fixed to the board fixing panel 4 via spacers 34 in a second direction intersecting the first direction X and aligned with the interface panel 20. Any of the external connection connectors 11-17 is disposed on each of the plurality of communication boards 3, and holes 27 are provided in the interface panel 20 at positions corresponding to the external connection connectors 11-17. By arranging the plurality of communication boards 3 in a stacked manner in this manner, it is possible to improve space efficiency, and therefore to miniaturize the controller 1. In addition, by unitizing the plurality of communication boards 3 and making them detachable from the case body 21, it is possible to easily access the electronic elements and connectors disposed on each communication board 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1 ... controller, 2 ... exterior case, 3 ... communication board, 4 ... board fixing panel, 5 ... communication board unit, 6 ... electronic component, 7 ... mating connector, 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d , 10e...connector for wiring connection, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17...connector for external connection, 18, 19...electronic element, 20...interface panel, 21...case body, 22...frame, 22a...first frame, 22b...second frame, 22c...third frame, 23...rear plate, 24...side plate, 25...bottom plate, 25a...edge, 26...case opening, 27...hole, 31...first board, 32...second board, 33...third board, 34...spacer, 40...plate portion, 41...pin with hole, 42...fixing portion, 43...cutout portion, 44, 45...edge of cutout portion, 46...projection portion

Claims

1. A substrate on which an external connector is disposed; A case for accommodating the substrate; The case is an interface panel having a hole in which the external connection connector is disposed; a case body to which the interface panel is detachably fixed; a substrate fixing panel fixed to the interface panel and extending in a first direction intersecting the interface panel; a plurality of the substrates are fixed to the substrate fixing panel, the substrates being stacked via spacers in a direction intersecting the first direction and along the interface panel; the external connection connector is disposed on each of the plurality of boards; the interface panel is provided with the holes at positions corresponding to the external connection connectors arranged on the plurality of boards, the plurality of substrates includes a first substrate facing the substrate fixing panel, an edge of the first substrate opposite to the interface panel extends longer than edges of the other substrates of the plurality of substrates opposite to the interface panel, except for the first substrate; a wiring connector that can be inserted from the side opposite to the board fixing panel is disposed on an edge of the first board opposite to the interface panel; The controller, wherein the board fixing panel has an opening facing the first board.

2. The case body includes: a case opening to which the interface panel is fixed; an exterior panel extending in the first direction from an edge of the case opening, The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the exterior panel includes a guide portion that guides the board fixing panel in the first direction.

3. the substrate fixing panel includes a guided portion extending in the first direction, The controller according to claim 2 , wherein the guiding portion contacts the guided portion in a direction intersecting the first direction.

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