electronic machinery

Abstract

To provide an electronic device having a contact structure that makes it possible to use a conductive pattern formed by an MID technique as a highly durable sliding contact.SOLUTION: An electronic device includes a contact component 404 that has a spring property, draws a specific motion trajectory, and has a contact range 504 that is capable of making electrical contact in a certain range and a conductor portion 403 that is patterned on a resin and in contact with the contact component 404. The conductor portion 403 is arranged within a range of a motion trajectory drawn by the contact range 504 of the contact component 404.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device in which a conductor is patterned on the surface of a resin molded product using MID technology.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, with the miniaturization and diversification of designs of electronic devices, an electrical circuit is formed in a small space inside the device.

[0003] A flexible printed circuit board (Flexible Printed Circuits, hereinafter referred to as FPC) having flexibility is used for a part of the printed wiring board.

[0004] In addition, for various modules constituting an electronic device, in order to achieve miniaturization, those applying MID (Molded Interconnect Device) technology to the formation of an electrical circuit are known.

[0005] MID technology is a technology in which a laser is irradiated on a predetermined portion of a resin base member having heat resistance, and a metal plating film is formed only on the irradiated portion, and the portion where the metal plating film is formed becomes a conductive pattern.

[0006] In addition, solder paste can be printed on the conductive pattern, and electrical components can be mounted by reflow.

[0007] By using MID technology, the base member, the conductive pattern, and the electrical components mounted on the conductive pattern are integrated, so that the structure can be simplified, and good assemblability and cost reduction can be achieved.

[0008] In addition, in the method of electrically connecting the above-described MID-processed electrical circuit and the metal contact, more stable connection reliability and high durability against sliding of the metal contact are required.

[0009] For example, the technology described in Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for obtaining a three-dimensional wiring shape by forming a conductive polymer pattern on a laminated substrate, then bending the laminate, and applying electroplating to the bent pattern. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-201322 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] However, while three-dimensional wiring shapes are possible using the prior art disclosed in the aforementioned patent documents, there are concerns about durability when used in sliding contacts where metal contacts slide over the pattern.

[0012] The objective of the present invention is to provide a contact structure that enables the use of conductive patterns formed by MID technology as highly durable sliding contacts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides: tree fat Molded body exposure do Directly on the surface contact Patterned The conductive portion includes a plurality of annular protrusions that protrude from the surface of the resin molded body, and A contact range that possesses power and allows for electrical contact. It has and rotates around a predetermined axis of rotation. An electronic device having a contact component that traces a trajectory, wherein the conductor portion and the contact component are in a relative positional relationship, and the conductor portion The above contact The range of points rotate Placed within the range of the trajectory The pattern center of the conductor portion is eccentric from the center of the rotation axis, and the contact range is configured to slide radially across the plurality of annular protrusions as it rotates. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device having a contact structure that enables the use of a conductive pattern formed by MID technology as a highly durable sliding contact point.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] [Figure 1] External perspective view of the imaging device 100 [Figure 2] Exploded perspective view of the imaging device 100 [Figure 3] Schematic diagram schematizing the configuration of the imaging device 100 and the transmission path of electrical signals [Figure 4] (a) Diagram showing the disassembly of the dial unit 401 of the positive position operation member 104 from the top cover unit 203, (b) Exploded perspective view of the dial unit 401 [Figure 5] Detailed view of the brush contact 404 [Figure 6] (a) Top view of the sliding contact portion 403, (b) Schematic cross-sectional view at A-A [Figure 7] (a) Top view showing the positional relationship between the sliding contact portion 403 and the brush contact 404 in the dial unit 401, (b) Cross-sectional view showing the contact state of the sliding contact portion 403 and the brush contact 404 at B-B [Figure 8] Diagram and chart showing the sequence for identifying the position and phase of the contact portion 504 [Figure 9] Variations of the contact portion 504, the first convex portion 604, the second convex portion 605, the convex portion 902, etc.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] MID (Molded Interconnect Device, molded circuit component) means a resin molded product on which pattern wiring and pattern electrodes are formed.

[0017] It means a molded product in which wiring and electrodes, which are conductor parts, are patterned on a resin plate.

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] (Description of imaging device 100) Figure 1 is an external perspective view of the imaging device 100 in an embodiment of the present invention, in which the imaging device 100 has a housing shape in which the normal position gripping part 101 and the vertical position gripping part 102 are integrated.

[0020] 104 is the operating member for the upright position, 105 is the operating member for the vertical position, and 106 is a general term for the operating members that perform physical operations, referred to as physical operating member 106.

[0021] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the imaging device 100 in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] 201 is a front cover unit, which serves as the front exterior cover of the imaging device 100, and also functions as a chassis that maintains the rigidity of the imaging device 100.

[0023] To maintain the rigidity of the chassis, it is mainly made of lightweight and strong magnesium alloy.

[0024] The front cover unit 201 also incorporates a lens mount and electrical contact pins for lens attachment and telecommunication, physical operation buttons on the front, and ear loops for attaching a strap.

[0025] When combined with the bottom cover (not shown), it also forms a battery compartment for housing battery 208.

[0026] The front of the front cover unit 201 is an external surface, and therefore it is painted for aesthetic purposes.

[0027] In addition, a rubber grip 209 made of NBR+PVC or the like is attached to the imaging device 100 for gripping it.

[0028] The units described later are assembled in order, stacked on the back of the front cover unit 201.

[0029] The 202 is an EVF (Electric View Finder) unit.

[0030] It consists of an eyepiece, a diopter adjustment mechanism, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel, and an eyepiece detection sensor (proximity sensor) that detects the eyepiece. It is then connected to the main board unit 206, which will be described later, via an FPC.

[0031] Many eyepiece detection sensors use a method that emits infrared light and detects the proximity of an object by detecting the presence or absence of reflected light after it hits the object.

[0032] The above sensor detects whether the user is using the EVF unit 202 or not.

[0033] Furthermore, by displaying the image captured by the image sensor unit 205 (described later) in real time on the organic EL liquid crystal panel located within the EVF unit 202, the user can check the shooting angle of view.

[0034] Furthermore, it is possible to display images similar to the menu screen and playback images shown on the TFT display unit 103, which will be described later, allowing users to change settings in the menu and check captured images while looking through the eyepiece.

[0035] 203 is the top cover unit, and it houses the release button, accessory shoe, the upright position operating member 104 for changing settings during shooting, and an LCD panel that displays the settings made by the upright position operating member 104.

[0036] The top cover unit 203 is an exterior component and also needs to be strong enough to withstand impacts such as drops, so it is made of a magnesium alloy or similar material, and its exterior surface is painted.

[0037] 204 is the shutter unit, which determines the amount of exposure.

[0038] It consists of a mechanical shutter, which is comprised of a focal-plane shutter unit and a sequence mechanism.

[0039] Alternatively, an electronic shutter may be used to determine the exposure amount by forming an electrical slit for each pixel row of the image sensor, or a configuration may be used in which an electronic shutter and a mechanical shutter are used in combination to form a slit and determine the exposure amount.

[0040] 205 is the imaging unit.

[0041] To suppress blurring of captured images caused by shaking or vibration of the imaging device 100, the device has a stabilizer unit that reduces blurring by oscillating the image sensor using an electromagnetic drive system.

[0042] Furthermore, the imaging unit 205 consists of an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS that performs photoelectric conversion, an A / D conversion circuit that converts the analog signal output of the image sensor into a digital signal, and an imaging drive circuit that drives the image sensor.

[0043] 206 is the main board, a multilayer board that controls the entire imaging device 100, and is equipped with ICs such as the central processing unit 301 and non-volatile memory 302, as well as connectors for connecting FPCs extending from each unit.

[0044] 207 is the rear cover unit.

[0045] The rear cover unit 207 has a vari-angle mechanism that allows it to be opened and closed and rotated, and is composed of a TFT display unit 103 made of a liquid crystal panel and a touch operation unit 306 that can be operated by touch, superimposed on each other.

[0046] Furthermore, the rear cover unit 207 contains various physical operating components 106 for tasks such as selecting the autofocus point during shooting, changing settings of the imaging device 100, and playing back, deleting, and editing captured images.

[0047] The vertical positioning operation members 105 are a group of operation members mainly used when shooting in a vertical position. When shooting in a normal position, they can be disabled (operated but ignored by the control system) by control from the central processing unit 301.

[0048] By implementing the above control, it is possible to prevent malfunctions even if, for example, the vertical positioning control member 105 is accidentally touched during normal position shooting.

[0049] The rear cover unit 207 is an exterior component and also needs to be strong enough to withstand impacts such as drops, so it is made of a magnesium alloy or similar material, and its exterior surface is painted.

[0050] (Explanation of the block diagram of the imaging device 100) Next, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the imaging device 100 and the transmission path of electrical signals.

[0051] 301 is a central processing unit, and consists of a microprocessor and other components that perform various processes for the imaging device 100.

[0052] The central processing unit 301, non-volatile memory 302, main memory 303, and image processing unit 305 are composed of ICs and microcontrollers.

[0053] The 307 is a gyro sensor that uses the Coriolis force to detect the rotation and change in orientation of an object as angular velocity and outputs it as an electrical signal.

[0054] The gyro sensor 307 is mounted on an FPC (not shown), and three sensors are arranged inside the top cover unit 203 to detect angular velocity in the X, Y, and Z axes.

[0055] Furthermore, to prevent the imaging device 100 from being affected by unwanted vibrations or shocks, it is held in place by being sandwiched between sponges or similar materials, and positioned in a floating holding configuration.

[0056] Based on the output of the gyro sensor 307, the movement and vibration direction of the image sensor are estimated, and feedback control is performed by the stabilizer unit to swing the image sensor in a direction that cancels out the movement and vibration direction, thereby suppressing blur in the captured image.

[0057] The 308 is an accelerometer and an inertial sensor designed to measure gravity, motion, vibration, and shock. It detects three-dimensional inertial motion (translational motion in three orthogonal axes).

[0058] The acceleration sensor 308 can be of various types, including frequency-varying, piezoelectric, piezoresistive, and capacitive. The output value of the acceleration sensor 308 makes it possible to detect the movement of the imaging device 100 in the X, Y, and Z axes, as well as in the translational and gravitational directions.

[0059] By combining the output values ​​of the gyro sensor 307 and the accelerometer 308, it becomes possible to determine the movement of the imaging device 100.

[0060] The central processing unit 301 receives digital signals, control signals, and video signals from the image sensor and outputs video signals to the TFT display unit 103 and the organic EL liquid crystal panel in the EVF unit 202.

[0061] Furthermore, the system develops the video signal as image data and performs recording processing to a storage medium 304 (described later), as well as reading the saved image from the storage medium 304.

[0062] 302 is a non-volatile memory, composed of flash memory or the like, and stores information that should be retained even when the power of the imaging device 100 is OFF, such as user setting information, and transferred information that is generated each time image data is transferred.

[0063] Furthermore, the non-volatile memory 302 also stores program code for controlling equipment such as imaging devices, as well as the operating system (OS).

[0064] 303 is the main memory. It consists of RAM and other components and is used to temporarily store data from the image processing unit 305, which will be described later.

[0065] 304 is a storage medium. A slot-type connector socket is mounted on the main board unit 206, and a card-type storage medium 304, which can be attached and detached and replaced by the user via this connector socket, is used to store captured image data.

[0066] The image processing unit 305 performs image processing such as subject recognition and image analysis of captured images and videos.

[0067] When the image processing unit 305 recognizes a subject, it feeds back the subject recognition information to the central processing unit 301.

[0068] Furthermore, it is possible to calculate and define the range of the recognized subject and display the recognized subject range (zone) on the TFT display unit 103 in a way that is easy for the photographer to understand.

[0069] (Explanation of the top cover unit 203 and dial unit 401 in the exploded view) Figure 4(a) is a disassembled view of the dial unit 401 of the operating member 104 for the correct position, removed from the top cover unit 203, and Figure 4(b) is a perspective view of the dial unit 401 further disassembled.

[0070] 402 is a top cover base molded from polycarbonate resin or the like, and 403 is a sliding contact portion formed on the top cover base 402 using MID technology.

[0071] The sliding contact portion 403 is integrally molded with the top cover base 402 and has two rows of convex shapes, such as triangles, formed in an annular and concentric manner. Furthermore, three types of patterns are applied to a predetermined area on top of these convex shapes: two types for signals and one for ground.

[0072] Furthermore, the patterning formed using MID technology has approximately 5 μm of copper plating, followed by approximately 8 μm of nickel plating, and then a further 0.03 to 0.2 μm of gold plating on top of that, in order to achieve low resistance and wear resistance.

[0073] 404 is a brush contact that slides on the sliding contact portion 403 while rotating coaxially with the sliding contact portion 403, and is a part made by pressing and bending phosphor bronze or the like.

[0074] It is fixed to the click plate 405, which will be described later, by crimping or the like, and together with the click plate 405, it is fixed and fastened to the dial 410 so that it can rotate coaxially with the dial 410 using screws (not shown).

[0075] The click plate 405 is formed from a pressed metal sheet or resin molding, and has an uneven shape with fixed angular intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0076] The coil spring 406 is incorporated into the dial base 408 in a compressed state and biases the steel ball 407 toward the click plate 405.

[0077] Therefore, when the dial 410 is rotated, the steel ball 407 falls into the recess of the coaxially rotating click plate 405, creating a locking mechanism and a click sensation at a predetermined rotational phase.

[0078] The 408 is the dial base and is molded from polycarbonate resin or similar material.

[0079] 409 is a sealing component that prevents water, dust, and other debris from entering through gaps such as the top cover and dial 410.

[0080] The sealing component is made of a shrinkable material such as sponge, and is assembled between the dial 410 and the dial base 408, compressed to a predetermined amount.

[0081] 410 is a dial, a component that the user directly rotates.

[0082] (Detailed diagram of brush contact 404) Figure 5 is a detailed view of the brush contact 404.

[0083] The brush contact 404 is formed in a bent shape and has three spring parts 501 to 503 arranged at a predetermined angular interval, and further has a contact part 504 at the end of the contact part in which two spring shapes are connected.

[0084] The contact area 504 is plated with nickel undercoat and gold on the surface to ensure durability and contact stability.

[0085] (Explanation of the sliding contact part 403) Figure 6(a) is a view of the sliding contact portion 403 from above, and Figure 6(b) is a schematic diagram of the cross-section AA.

[0086] Patterns 601-603 are formed using MID technology, with 601 being the first signal pattern, 602 being the second signal pattern, and 603 being the GND pattern.

[0087] 604 and 605 are part of the top cover base 402 and are the first protrusions that form the sliding contact portion 403, and 605 is the second protrusion, with the first protrusion 604 and the second protrusion 605 being concentric rings.

[0088] The first signal pattern 601, the second signal pattern 602, and the land portion 606, which is part of the GND pattern 603 and expands toward the center, are arranged alternately with the land portion of the GND pattern 603 at a predetermined angular interval.

[0089] Furthermore, the land portion 606 is patterned to straddle the first protrusion 604 and the second protrusion 605.

[0090] 607 is a wiring section, and each wiring section 607 drawn from the first signal pattern 601, the second signal pattern 602, and the GND pattern 603 is connected to a predetermined circuit wiring.

[0091] In order to prevent disconnection due to friction with the contact portion 504 of the brush contact 404, which will be described later, it is preferable that the wiring portion 607 is located lower than the apex of the first protrusion 604 and the second protrusion 605.

[0092] (Explanation of the positional relationship between the sliding contact portion 403 and the brush contact portion 404) Figure 7(a) is a top view showing the positional relationship between the sliding contact portion 403 and the brush contact 404 in the dial unit 401, and Figure 7(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the contact state between the sliding contact portion 403 and the brush contact 404 in cross section BB.

[0093] As shown in Figure 7(a), the rotation axis center 702 of the brush contact 404 is offset by a predetermined amount of displacement 703 relative to the central axis 701 of the sliding contact portion.

[0094] The predetermined displacement amount 703 is preferably such that even if the brush contact 404 rotates while in contact with the sliding contact portion 403, the contact portion 504 of the brush contact 404 does not detach from the first protrusion 604 and the second protrusion 605, and maintains a constant state of contact.

[0095] In other words, the first protrusion 604 and the second protrusion 605 of the sliding contact portion 403, which have a pattern formed by MID technology, are configured to fall within the range of the rotational trajectory traced by the contact portion 504 of the brush contact 404.

[0096] In addition, the contact portion 504 slides in the rotational direction relative to the first protrusion 604 and the second protrusion 605, but the center of rotation is offset.

[0097] Therefore, the contact portion 504 can slide radially against the first protrusion 604 and the second protrusion 605 within the width of the contact portion.

[0098] With the above configuration, it becomes possible to secure a contact position that has width not only in the radial direction but also at a single point in the rotational direction for the contact portion 504 of the brush contact 404.

[0099] Therefore, it is possible to mitigate the peeling of the plating on the contact portion 504 and the patterns formed by the MID technology on the first protrusion 604 and the second protrusion 605, thereby improving the durability of the contact.

[0100] Furthermore, the first protrusion 604 and the second protrusion 605 do not have to be concentric circles or rings, as long as their shape falls within the range of a predetermined trajectory traced by the contact portion 504 of the brush contact 404, thus providing a high degree of freedom in shape.

[0101] Figure 8 shows a sequence for identifying the rotation direction and phase based on the position of the three contact points 504 of the brush contact 404 relative to the land portion 606 of the first signal pattern 601, the second signal pattern 602, and the GND pattern 603.

[0102] 801 is a contact position that schematically represents the contact range of the contact portion 504 of the brush contact 404.

[0103] For example, if the user operates the dial 410 and rotates it in rotation direction B, the contact position 801 will also move in rotation direction B.

[0104] As the contact position 801 progresses to 802 and 803, at position 802 it lies on the land portion 606 of the first signal pattern 601, meaning both 801 and 802 are on the first signal pattern 601.

[0105] As a result, it becomes the power supply voltage, which is Low (L), and when it reaches position 803, it is on the GND pattern 603, so it becomes High (H).

[0106] Looking at the other contact points 504, 804 is on the second signal pattern 602 so it is Low. As the position progresses to 805 and 806, at positions 805 and 806, both are on the GND pattern 603 so they are High.

[0107] The same applies when the device is rotated in rotation direction A. The position of two of the three contact points 504, the combination of Hi and Low outputs when the dial 410 is rotated, and the stored phase information allow for the detection of the rotation direction and phase.

[0108] The key points of this embodiment, as detailed above, are shown below.

[0109] The electronic device is a wiring, comprising a conductor portion 403 directly patterned on the exposed surface of a resin 402, and a contact component 404 having a biasing force and a contact range 504 capable of electrical contact that follows a specific operating trajectory.

[0110] The conductor portion 403 and the contact component 404 are in a relative relationship where their positions change.

[0111] The conductor portion 403 is characterized by being positioned within the range of the operating trajectory traced by the contact range 504 of the contact component 404.

[0112] The contact component 404 traces a rotational trajectory around a predetermined axis, and the center of the pattern of the conductor portion 404 is eccentric from the center of the predetermined axis.

[0113] The conductor portion 403 is positioned higher than the surface of the surrounding resin 402 that constitutes the conductor portion 403.

[0114] The wiring section 607, which draws the wiring from the conductor section 403, is positioned lower than the conductor section 403.

[0115] (modified version) Next, using Figure 9, we will explain modified examples of the contact portion 504, the first protrusion 604, the second protrusion 605, the protrusion 902, and so on.

[0116] Figure 9(a) is a rear view of the imaging device 100.

[0117] The above describes the configuration of a dial that is operated by rotating it, but it can also be applied to a slide-type operating member 901 that is used by sliding it left and right.

[0118] The contact component 504, which is the contact part, traces a straight trajectory that reciprocates left and right within a predetermined range, and the pattern 902 of the conductor part 404 is not parallel to the straight trajectory of the contact component 504.

[0119] Figure 9(b) will be used to explain the details.

[0120] 902 is a protrusion integrated with a resin base (not shown), and its surface is patterned using MID technology.

[0121] 903 is a contact position schematically representing the contact range of a brush contact (not shown).

[0122] The protrusion 902 is configured to fall within the range of a predetermined trajectory traced by the contact position 903, which moves back and forth from side to side.

[0123] With the above configuration, similar to the dial described above, it becomes possible to secure a contact position 903 with respect to the protrusion 902 that has width not only at a single point in the left-right direction but also in the width direction.

[0124] Therefore, it is possible to mitigate the peeling of the plating on the protrusion 902 and improve the durability of the contact.

[0125] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9(c), by creating height differences in the first protrusion 604, the second protrusion 605, and a portion of the protrusion 902, and connecting them with slopes, the contact pressure of the spring portions 501-503 of the brush contact 404 changes, making it possible to change the torque and operating force.

[0126] In addition, as shown in Figure 9(d), the area of ​​the contact surface between the first protrusion 604, the second protrusion 605, the protrusion 902 and the contact portion 504 may be partially widened.

[0127] By changing the contact area, the frictional force at the contact point changes, making it possible to change the torque or operating force at any desired position.

[0128] By adopting the above configuration, it becomes possible to create an appropriate user experience for the imaging device 100, depending on its intended use, such as UI, menu operation, and shooting operations.

[0129] The key points of this embodiment, as detailed above, are shown below.

[0130] Furthermore, it is equipped with an operating member 410 that is operated by the user.

[0131] The height of the exposed surface of the conductor portion 403 is changed, thereby changing the contact pressure of the contact component 404 that slides on the exposed surface of the conductor portion 403.

[0132] Therefore, the feel of operating the operating member 410, to which the contact component 404 is integrally attached, is changed.

[0133] The contact area between the conductor portion 403 and the contact component 404 is being changed.

[0134] Therefore, the feel of operating the operating member 410, to which the contact component 404 is integrally attached, is changed.

[0135] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 403 Sliding contact part 404 Brush Contact 504 Contact area

Claims

1. A conductive portion having a plurality of annular protrusions that are directly patterned on the exposed surface of a resin molded body and that protrude from the surface of the resin molded body, An electronic device having a contact component that possesses a biasing force and has a contact range capable of electrical contact, and that traces a rotational trajectory around a predetermined axis of rotation, The conductor portion and the contact component are in a relative relationship where their positions change. The conductor portion is positioned within the range of the rotational trajectory traced by the contact area. The pattern center of the conductor portion is eccentric from the center of the rotation axis. The aforementioned contact range is characterized by sliding across the plurality of annular protrusions in the radial direction as it rotates.

2. The aforementioned contact component traces a straight-line trajectory that reciprocates within a predetermined range. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern of the conductor portion is not parallel to the straight-line trajectory of the contact component.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wiring section for drawing wires from the conductor section is located at a lower position than the conductor section.

4. Furthermore, it includes an operating component that is operated by the user, The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the operating feel of the operating member to which the contact component is integrally attached is changed by changing the height of the exposed surface of the conductor portion and thereby changing the contact pressure of the contact component sliding on the exposed surface of the conductor portion.

5. Furthermore, it includes an operating component that is operated by the user, The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the operating feel of the operating member to which the contact component is integrally attached is changed by changing the contact area in which the conductor portion and the contact component slide against each other.

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