electronic machines

Abstract

To provide a structure which can protect a suction part from penetration of water droplets or the like, and to provide an electronic device including the structure.SOLUTION: An electronic device includes: a housing formed by a box shaped container which is open on an upper surface, houses an electronic component and a fan for blowing air downward, and is provided with an air exhaust hole; an inner lid which is attachable to and detachable from a position, at which the inner lid closes an opening of the housing, and provided with an air intake hole located at the upstream side of the fan in an air-blowing direction; and an upper lid which is provided overlapping with the inner lid and faces, from above, a surface provided with the air intake hole with a gap formed therebetween.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD An embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electronic devices such as PCs (Personal Computers) often have a structure to ensure ventilation within their housings because they contain components that require heat dissipation, such as CPUs (Central Processing Units). The housings are provided with holes for ventilation (ventilation holes as intake holes and exhaust holes).

[0003] Furthermore, electronic devices such as PCs are sometimes placed in environments where water droplets and oil droplets are splashed, such as in a store kitchen. In such cases, there is a concern that water droplets may enter the housing through the ventilation holes. For this reason, the housing must have a structure that prevents water droplets from entering.

[0004] An example of a structure for providing a constant air flow within a housing is the server rack disclosed in Patent Document 1. For a relatively large object like this example, it would be relatively easy to add an existing structure to prevent water droplets and the like from entering through the ventilation holes, but this is difficult for electronic devices that require miniaturization. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a structure capable of protecting an intake section from the intrusion of water droplets and the like, and to provide an electronic device equipped with such a structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electronic device of the embodiment is a box-shaped container with an open top, and includes a housing that houses electronic components and a fan that blows air downward and has an exhaust hole; an inner lid that is detachable and can be attached to a position that closes the opening of the housing and has an intake hole on the upstream side of the airflow direction of the fan; and a cover that is attached to the inner lid. Before The air intake hole is provided on the surface above the surface with a gap. However, there is no hole at the position opposite to the intake hole. The top lid and a cover having a through hole on its outer periphery for taking in air drawn into the intake hole; Equipped with The inner lid has a top located in the area where the air intake hole is provided, two slopes extending downward on both sides of the top, and a pair of rib-like portions facing each other across the air intake hole, with the longitudinal direction of the slopes aligned in the direction in which they are arranged. do. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electronic device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the electronic device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional front view schematically showing the internal structure of the electronic device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the lid, illustrating an example of the flow of liquid when the lid is covered with liquid such as water. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional front view of the base cover, illustrating an example of the flow of liquid between the partition wall and the side wall. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (First embodiment) The embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. For ease of explanation, the drawings also show a three-dimensional coordinate system. In each drawing, the width direction (left-right direction) of the electronic device 1 is defined as the X-axis direction, the depth direction (front-back direction) as the Y-axis direction, and the height direction (up-down direction) as the Z-axis direction.

[0009] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electronic device 1 according to an embodiment. The electronic device 1 includes a housing 100 and a cover 200. The housing 100 is provided with a switch 3 that switches the power supply state of the electronic device 1 between on and off.

[0010] 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the electronic device 1. The housing 100 is a box-shaped container with an open top, and houses a heat sink 101 and a fan 102. The lid 200 covers the opening of the housing 100.

[0011] 3 is a longitudinal sectional front view (ZX cross section) that schematically shows the internal structure of electronic device 1. Housing 100 houses board 106 on which various electronic components such as CPU (Central Processing Unit) 105 are mounted. CPU 105, heat sink 101, and fan 102 are stacked vertically from bottom to top. Heat sink 101 is attached above CPU 105 and absorbs and dissipates heat generated by CPU 105. Fan 102 blows air downward toward heat sink 101.

[0012] 2, lid 200 is formed with intake holes 21 and 22 through which air taken in by fan 102 passes, and housing 100 is formed with exhaust holes 11 and 12. Air intake holes 21 and 22 and exhaust holes 11 and 12 are not each a single hole, but rather a collection of multiple holes arranged in a predetermined area.

[0013] Air intake hole 21 is a through-hole provided on the outer periphery of lid 200, and also serves as a drainage hole for discharging (draining) liquid. Air intake hole 22 is provided in an area that covers the upstream side in the airflow direction of fan 102. When fan 102 is operated, air is taken in through air intake hole 21. The taken-in air is sucked into air intake hole 22 and expelled from exhaust holes 11 and 12 formed in housing 100.

[0014] The lid 200 includes a base cover (an example of an inner lid) 210 and an outer cover (an example of an upper lid) 220 that is placed on the base cover 210.

[0015] The base cover 210 has a tray-like shape and is detachable to a position that covers the opening of the housing 100. More specifically, the base cover 210 has a bottom surface 211 and four side walls 212. The side walls 212 stand on the edges of the bottom surface 211, protrude upward, and surround the bottom surface 211.

[0016] The above-mentioned air intake hole 22 is provided in the center of the bottom surface 211. The bottom surface 211 has two slopes 231 that slope downward on both sides of the top portion 23. The slopes 231 are inclined flat surfaces. The angle of inclination is, for example, about 2°. The top portion 23 is located in the range where the air intake hole 22 is provided.

[0017] The above-mentioned air intake hole 21 is provided in one of the four side walls 212 that is adjacent to the valley 24 that descends the slope 231. The air intake hole 21 discharges liquid (such as water) that descends the slope 231.

[0018] The base cover 210 has a pair of partition walls 25. The partition walls 25 are a pair of rib-like portions that face each other across the intake hole 21. The longitudinal direction of the partition walls 25 is aligned with the direction in which the inclined surfaces 231 are arranged. The partition walls 25 are positioned across the top portion 23.

[0019] The base cover 210 also has ribs 26. The ribs 26 are protruding parts arranged at multiple locations around the intake hole 22, and support a top surface 221 (described below) of the outer cover 220, preventing the top surface 221 from bending.

[0020] The outer cover 220 is provided over the base cover 210. The outer cover 220 has a top surface 221 and legs 222.

[0021] The top surface 221 covers the air intake hole 22 and faces the bottom surface 211 of the base cover 210 with a gap therebetween. The space sandwiched between the top surface 221 and the bottom surface 211 and surrounded by the side walls 212 is defined as an air intake chamber. The lid 200 has the air intake chamber. The legs 222 are provided on the edge of the top surface 221 and fit inside the side walls 212 of the base cover 210.

[0022] Leg portion 222 has a planar shape and is interposed between partition wall 25 and side wall 212 facing partition wall 25. Leg portion 222 contacts inclined surface 231, and therefore portion 223 that contacts top portion 23 is recessed.

[0023] Furthermore, the leg portions 222 are provided at positions that do not block the air intake holes 21 provided in the side walls 212 of the base cover 210. In other words, the leg portions 222 are provided with notches 224 in the ranges facing the air intake holes 21.

[0024] The outer cover 220 further includes two pairs of claws 225. The pair of claws 225 are arranged on either side of the notch 224, have elastic tips that curve outward, and are configured to bend elastically. When the outer cover 220 is placed on the base cover 210, the tips of the claws 225 hook into engagement holes 215 provided in the four inner corners of the side wall 212. This allows the base cover 210 and the outer cover 220 to become one unit. When the outer cover 220 is to be removed from the base cover 210, the claws 225 are bent inward to release the hooks.

[0025] The base cover 210 is fixed to the housing 100 by screws. The housing 100 has screw receiving holes 13 at its four corners for receiving screws 213. The base cover 210 has screw receiving holes 214 corresponding to the screw receiving holes 13. The screw receiving holes 214 are provided in an area sandwiched between a pair of partition walls 25.

[0026] In electronic device 1 configured as described above, when the opening of housing 100 is closed by lid 200 and electronic device 1 is switched on by switch 3, fan 102 rotates to send air to heat sink 101. This allows heat from heat sink 101 conducted from heat-generating CPU 105 to be quickly dissipated into the air. Fan 102 sends air in the negative direction of the Z axis, that is, from top to bottom in FIG. 3. Fan 102 sends out air drawn in through intake hole 22. The air taken in by intake hole 22 is taken in through intake hole 21.

[0027] Suppose the electronic device 1 operating as described above is placed in an environment where it is exposed to water droplets or oil droplets, such as a kitchen, in which case the electronic device 1 may be exposed to water droplets or oil droplets.

[0028] 4 is a longitudinal side view (YZ cross section) of the lid 200 illustrating an example of the flow of liquid when the lid 200 is covered with a liquid such as water. When water droplets fall on the electronic device 1, the water flows from the edge of the top surface 221 of the outer cover 220 to the inside of the side wall 212 of the base cover 210, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 4. In this case, the flowing water is blocked by the partition wall 25 and does not flow toward the center of the bottom surface 211.

[0029] 5 is a longitudinal front view (ZX cross section) of the base cover 210 illustrating an example of the flow of liquid between the partition wall 25 and the side wall 212. As shown in this figure, the bottom surface 211 has two inclined surfaces 231 combined to form a mountain shape that descends from the peak 23 to the valley 24. As a result, water that has flowed between the partition wall 25 and the side wall 212 flows down along the inclined surfaces 231 to the valley 24 and is discharged to the outside through the air intake hole 21.

[0030] As described above, even if liquid such as water droplets falls on the electronic device 1, the liquid will not seep under the base cover 210. This makes it possible to protect the various electronic components such as the CPU 105, the board 106, the fan 102, and the heat sink 101 built into the housing 100 from getting wet.

[0031] It is more desirable that the screw receiving hole 214 is located between the pair of partition walls 25, but furthermore, it is located inside (closer to the center) the flow path through which droplets that are received by the top surface 221 and enter the inside of the side wall 212 of the base cover 210 are discharged from the intake hole 21.

[0032] The electronic device 1 is, for example, a server that receives and processes images captured by a camera installed in a store. Such electronic devices 1 tend to be required to be small, and are often installed in places or environments that are not suitable for storing electronic devices 1 (specifically, a cramped backyard, a kitchen where there is a risk of getting wet, etc.).

[0033] In the electronic device 1 of the present application, firstly, in order to achieve miniaturization, the heat source (CPU 105), heat sink 101, and fan 102 are arranged with almost no gap between them. When aiming for miniaturization, the degree of freedom in arrangement decreases, and the feasible arrangement patterns are limited.

[0034] Generally, fans are often mounted in a direction that takes in air from the side of the housing that houses the heat source. In contrast, the fan 102 of this embodiment is mounted in a direction that takes in air from above and sends it out downwards in order to achieve the above-mentioned gap-free arrangement. Furthermore, in order to achieve problem-free intake and exhaust using the fan 102 positioned in this manner, an intake hole 22 that penetrates in the vertical (Z-axis) direction is provided. This is because the fan 102 is mounted in a direction that blows air from top to bottom, and therefore an intake hole that can supply air from above the fan 102 is required.

[0035] When there is an air intake hole 22 that penetrates in the vertical direction like this, when the electronic device 1 gets wet, it is necessary to have a structure that prevents water or other liquids from entering through the air intake hole 22 so as not to wet the various electronic components inside the housing 100.

[0036] Therefore, electronic device 1 of this embodiment is configured such that exterior cover 220 is provided facing intake hole 22 with a gap therebetween, preventing water droplets from directly entering intake hole 22. Furthermore, air is drawn into intake hole 22 via an intake chamber (a space sandwiched between top surface 221 and bottom surface 211 and surrounded by side walls 212), and air is supplied to the intake chamber via intake hole 21, which does not face upward, and intake hole 21 ensures a drainage route as well as an intake route.

[0037] Furthermore, in the electronic device 1 of this embodiment, the air intake holes 22 are located at the top 23 of the slope 231 to prevent water droplets from entering the housing 100 along the surface on which the air intake holes 22 are provided, and the side of the slope 231 that is not covered by the slope is prevented from the inflow of water droplets by a ribbed partition 25. The outer cover 220 is made slightly smaller than the base cover 210, and the shape and insertion position of the legs 222 of the outer cover 220 are set so that droplets that flow downward from the edge of the outer cover 220 can be received outside the partition 25 or at the bottom of the slope 231. Note that because the outer cover 220 is configured to be fitted into the base cover 210, screws or the like are not required to secure the outer cover 220.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the slope 231 is illustrated as an inclined flat surface, but in practice, the slope 231 may be a curved surface as long as there is a difference in height between the peak 23 and the valley 24 .

[0039] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1...Electronic devices, 3...Switches, 100…casing, 11, 12...exhaust holes, 13...screw receiving holes, 101...heat sink, 102...fan, 105...CPU, 106...Board, 200...lid, 21, 22...Air intake holes, 23...Top, 231...Slope, 24... Valley, 25...Bulkhead, 26...Rib, 210...base cover, 211...Bottom surface, 212...Side wall, 213...screw, 214...screw receiving hole, 215...engagement hole, 220...exterior cover, 221...top, 222...legs, 223...concave depression, 224...notch, 225...claw portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0041] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-156509

Claims

1. a housing that is a box-shaped container with an open top, that houses electronic components and a fan that blows air downward, and that has an exhaust hole; a lid that is detachably attached to a position that closes the opening of the housing and that has an air intake hole on the upstream side in the airflow direction of the fan, and a top lid that is placed on top of the middle lid and faces the surface on which the air intake hole is provided with a gap and has no hole in a position facing the air intake hole, and that has through holes on its outer periphery that take in air that is sucked into the air intake hole; Equipped with The inner lid has a top located in the area where the air intake hole is provided and two slopes extending downward on both sides of the top; a pair of partition walls, each of which is a pair of rib-shaped portions facing each other across the intake hole, and whose longitudinal direction is aligned with the arrangement direction of the inclined surfaces; have electronic equipment.

2. the inner lid has a bottom surface on which the air intake hole is provided and a side wall standing on an edge of the bottom surface, The top cover has a top surface that faces the bottom surface with a gap therebetween, and legs that are provided on the edge of the top surface and fit inside the side wall. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

3. The through-hole is provided in a portion of the side wall of the inner lid adjacent to the valley down the slope, and takes in air sucked into the intake hole and discharges liquid that has gone down the slope. The electronic device according to claim 2 .

4. The leg portion is provided at a position where it does not block the through hole. The electronic device according to claim 2 .

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