Device

Abstract

To provide a device which can suppress a voltage between terminals of a battery from largely decreasing in the case of being unused over a long period of time or such a case, and which can be supplied with an electric power from a battery and can operate normally when used.SOLUTION: A power supply device 10 comprises: a battery 1; a circuit unit 2 through which a current from the battery flows; and a housing 3 in which the battery and the circuit unit are encased. The power supply device further comprises: a first connector 7 which is linked to the battery through power source codes 6, and on which a terminal voltage of the battery arises; and a second connector 8 which can be removably engaged with the first connector. The circuit unit has electrical continuity with the second connector. In a state in which the first connector is connected with the second connector are connected, a current from the battery flows. The second connector can be engaged with the first connector or disengaged therefrom through an opening 3a the housing has in a cover member 17 of a front case 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, a device with a built-in battery and the like.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle power supply control device that prevents battery depletion by installing a keep relay between a battery and an electronic control device that requires dark current cutoff, and shutting off the keep relay when an ignition switch is not turned on for a long period of time.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The vehicle power supply control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is installed as a separate device between a vehicle battery and an electronic control device installed in the vehicle, and is a technique that causes the battery voltage to drop and the battery to deplete due to dark current flowing in the electronic control device separate from the battery.

[0005] For example, in a device that incorporates a battery that is not a vehicle battery and has a circuit through which dark current flows within the device, when the dark current is to be cut off during a long period of non-use, the above-described conventional technique cannot be used as it is. That is, since the battery and the circuit through which the dark current flows exist in the same device, the overall configuration is different from that of the control device in Patent Document 1, and the technique of monitoring the state of the ignition switch to cut off the dark current cannot be directly applied.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) A device comprising a battery, a circuit section through which current from the battery flows, and a housing for housing the battery and the circuit section, wherein the device has a first connector that outputs a voltage based on the terminal voltage of the battery, and a second connector that is detachable from the first connector, the circuit section is electrically connected to the second connector, and when the first connector and the second connector are connected, the current from the battery flows, and the first connector and the second connector can be attached and detached from an opening in the housing.

[0007] The battery can be a primary battery, but it is preferable to use a secondary battery. The circuit section should include, for example, a circuit that stabilizes the voltage from the battery to an output voltage, a circuit that monitors the battery voltage, and, if the battery is a secondary battery, a circuit that charges the secondary battery. The housing is for housing the battery and the circuit section, and is also called a container or case. For example, it is good to combine multiple parts to form the whole, and in particular, the part that houses the battery should be cylindrical, for example, surrounding the battery. Continuity means that, for example, when the first connector and the second connector are connected and power is supplied from the battery, current can flow to at least a part of the circuit section. The power cord should be, for example, a lead wire. Using a lead wire is good because, for example, even if a large-capacity battery is used, it can be easily accommodated by using a lead wire of a corresponding thickness. In particular, it is good not to install a switch to cut off the power supply from the battery between the battery and the circuit section. This eliminates the space required for installing such a switch, and allows for miniaturization of the device.

[0008] In this invention, the flow of current from the battery to the circuit is interrupted by disconnecting the first and second connectors. Therefore, for example, when the device is not in use, disconnecting the first and second connectors reduces the amount of current that flows from the battery to the circuit during the period of non-use, thereby reducing the amount of battery capacity depletion, and ensuring that the device operates normally when the user actually attempts to use it.

[0009] For example, the first connector is integrated with the battery, and the second connector is connected to the circuit. Even if the first and second connectors are disconnected, they will not be lost, nor will the user misplace them. The user can easily connect them again without having to search for them. Furthermore, the user can easily visually confirm whether the first and second connectors are connected or disconnected, and by performing the connection / disconnection process if the state is not desired, the battery will be properly protected and in use.

[0010] The circuit section may be one or multiple. Multiple circuits may include, for example, a charging circuit for a rechargeable battery, a voltage monitoring circuit to monitor the battery voltage, and a power output circuit to supply power to external devices. When multiple circuits are used, disconnecting the first and second connectors may stop the current flow from the battery to some of the circuit sections, but it is preferable to stop the current flow to all of the circuit sections, as this more effectively suppresses the decrease in the battery's remaining capacity.

[0011] For example, the first and second connectors housed inside the enclosure should be made accessible through an opening. This makes it easier to connect and disconnect the first and second connectors. In particular, the first and second connectors housed inside the enclosure should be exposed through an opening. Users can easily recognize that the first and second connectors are exposed by looking at the opening and that they need to be connected or disconnected. Furthermore, because the first and second connectors are exposed, users can easily perform tasks such as plugging them in.

[0012] (2) The housing is provided with a cover member that covers at least a portion of the opening, and when the cover member covers at least a portion of the opening, the first connector and the second connector are prevented from coming out of the housing. The configuration to prevent them from coming out of the housing is such that, for example, the area of ​​the opening that is not covered by the cover member and is open has a width and dimensions that prevent the connected first connector and the second connector from passing through. By covering with the cover member, for example, the first connector and the second connector in a connected state are prevented from coming out of the housing when the device is in use, and the first connector and the second connector are prevented from accidentally touching and disconnecting by the user. Alternatively, the first connector and the second connector may not come out of the housing when the opening is not covered by the cover member, but it is preferable that in the uncovered state, at least one of the first connector and the second connector be positioned outside the housing. In this way, the cover member can be removed from the opening, and at least one of the connectors can be positioned outside the housing when the opening is not covered, which is preferable as it makes the attachment and detachment process easier. As a configuration that allows the connectors to be located outside the enclosure, for example, the length of wires other than the wiring patterns connected to the connectors, such as power cords, can be increased, and the first and second connectors can be located outside the enclosure. In this way, for example, the user can easily attach and detach the first and second connectors while they are located outside the enclosure, and after the attachment and detachment work is completed, the first and second connectors can be stored inside the enclosure.

[0013] The cover component is designed to cover at least a portion of the opening, but it would be even better if it covered the entire opening. Covering the entire opening in this way is beneficial because it prevents dust, dirt, and other foreign matter from entering the casing, and also improves the appearance by neatly sealing the opening.

[0014] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cover member is formed integrally with the housing, but it may also be formed as a separate member that can be attached to and detached from the housing. It is preferable to have the cover member integrated with the housing, as in this embodiment, because the cover member will not be lost. For example, if the cover member is a separate member, the user may remove the cover member from the housing to attach or detach the connector, and then attach the removed cover member to the opening, but there is a possibility that it may be lost or misplaced when it is removed and placed around. In particular, the cover member should be sized to match the dimensions and shape of the opening, as this makes it small and easy to lose. Also, as in this embodiment, the device is preferably for in-vehicle use, and the installation location for such an in-vehicle device is preferably below the floor inside the vehicle. If the installation location of the device is such that it is difficult to attach and detach the connector, the user may concentrate on attaching and detaching the connector and may not be able to find the cover member that has been temporarily placed around or elsewhere. Furthermore, if the size of the cover member decreases in proportion to the size of the opening, the process of attaching and detaching the cover member from the housing of a separate component becomes complicated. Therefore, in light of this point, it is preferable to construct the cover member integrally with the housing.

[0015] (3) The opening should be configured to be large enough for a person's finger to enter and to allow the first connector and the second connector to be attached and detached. In this way, the user can attach and detach the first connector and the second connector with their finger without using, for example, special jigs or tools. Therefore, for example, when the device is not expected to be used for a relatively long period of time, the first connector and the second connector can be easily and casually disconnected, which is good because it will minimize battery consumption when the device is not in use. On the other hand, if it is not easy and casual to attach and detach, for example, if the period of not being used is not expected to be very long, the user may find it troublesome to disconnect the first connector and the second connector and may hesitate to do so, leaving them connected. And for example, if this situation is repeated, the user may not realize that the remaining battery capacity has decreased more than necessary. If the first connector and the second connector can be easily and casually attached and detached, for example, the user will be more likely to get into the habit of easily disconnecting the first connector and the second connector, which will minimize the occurrence of such a situation.

[0016] The housing may consist of a single surface, but it is preferable to have multiple surfaces. To ensure that the opening is large enough for a person's finger to enter, for example, one surface of the housing with multiple surfaces can be made large or have a three-dimensional opening. A three-dimensional opening configuration is preferable in that it allows for finger insertion from different directions, and in particular, by creating a three-dimensional opening as in the embodiment, even if the opening area of ​​one surface is small, fingers can be inserted from different directions, which is advantageous because it allows for efficient attachment and detachment of the first and second connectors.

[0017] (4) The circuit section is provided on a circuit board, and the second connector is preferably directly connected to a portion of the circuit board that can be exposed to the outside through an opening in the circuit board having a wiring pattern that is electrically connected to the circuit section. In this embodiment, the circuit board on which the circuit section is mounted and the circuit board to which the second connector is connected are the same single circuit board, but they may be different circuit boards. Using the same circuit board is preferable because it simplifies the configuration and makes it easier to install inside the enclosure.

[0018] This configuration, with the second connector fixed to the circuit board, makes it easier for the user to insert and remove the first connector. For example, the user can easily detach the first and second connectors to protect the battery. Furthermore, the fixing of the second connector to the circuit board clarifies its orientation. Therefore, for example, if the second connector is oriented so that it can be inserted from the direction of the opening, the connector can be easily attached and detached, and the user can easily make it a habit to detach the first and second connectors when the device is not in use. In particular, if the direction of insertion and removal of the first connector is aligned with the plane of the circuit board, it is preferable because the user can improve operability by moving the first connector along the circuit board when attaching or detaching the connector. Moreover, if the first connector is moved while in contact with the circuit board to attach and detach the second connector, the user can attach and detach the connector by, for example, pressing the first connector against the circuit board and moving it along the board. In this case, it is preferable to provide the opening described in (3) above in a three-dimensional manner, and to ensure that the opening surface includes at least the surface facing the substrate, as this improves workability when pressing the first connector against the substrate, for example, by ensuring space for finger movement.

[0019] In particular, the circuit board should be secured so that it does not move when the first and second connectors are attached and detached, and it is especially good if it is secured to the casing.

[0020] (5) The circuit portion other than the wiring pattern is to be kept from being exposed through the opening. This is good because it minimizes the risk of the user accidentally touching components or elements of the circuit portion or of foreign objects entering when attaching or detaching the first and second connectors.

[0021] (6) The power cord is preferably routed along the side of the battery and positioned in the space between the side of the battery and the inner surface of the housing that is aligned with that side. The side of the battery is, for example, the circumferential surface in the case of a cylindrical battery, and in the case of a battery pack made up of multiple single cells, it is the side of the outer single cell or the surface where the electrodes are not visible. In this way, since the power cord is routed along the side of the battery, the space required for routing the power cord does not need to bulge out much outside the battery. The space between the side of the battery through which the power cord is routed and the inner surface of the housing that is aligned with that side only needs to be enough space for the power cord to be placed, and can be narrow. Therefore, the space inside the housing can be made smaller, and for example, the shape of the space in the housing that houses the battery can be made to be close to the outer shape of the battery, making the entire device compact, which is good.

[0022] (7) The opening is preferably provided on the end of the housing on the side of the space where the circuit section is housed. Providing it at the end of the housing is preferable because it ensures a workspace including the external space of the housing when the user attaches and detaches the first connector and the second connector. Also, since the first connector and the second connector are located on the side where the circuit section is housed, rather than the side where the battery is housed, it is preferable to ensure a workspace. In particular, when making an opening large enough for a person's finger to enter, as in the invention described in (3), it is preferable to provide the opening at the end of the housing so that it opens three-dimensionally, for example as in the embodiment, as this connects the space inside and outside the housing and ensures a wide workspace. Also, when combined with the invention described in (6), the end of the end housing is preferably provided on the same side as the inner surface of the housing where the power cord is located.

[0023] (8) Preferably, the housing includes a case main body having a storage portion for storing the battery, and a first case covering one surface of the case main body, the circuit portion is mounted in a space enclosed by the case main body and the first case, and the one surface of the case main body is provided with a partition wall that partitions the storage portion and the space where the circuit portion is mounted. The one surface of the case main body corresponds to the front surface 11a in the embodiment. The case main body may be configured to sandwich the battery with a plurality of parts such as upper and lower split parts, but it is more preferable to configure it as an integral tubular member. For example, an integral tubular member is preferable because the battery can be securely stored and held. As the integral tubular member, for example, the portion surrounding the entire circumference of the battery may be an integral member, and for example, it is preferable to adopt a shape that allows the battery to be replaceable and is provided with an access port for taking out the battery from the case main body, particularly as in the embodiment.

[0024] The battery storage portion and the space where the circuit portion is mounted are separated by the partition wall. Some batteries, for example, experience a decrease in output as the ambient temperature rises, and some circuit portions are configured to include elements, components, and the like that generate heat when energized. Therefore, for example, even when current from the battery flows to the circuit portion to generate heat during use of the device and the temperature of the space around the circuit portion rises, since the space and the battery storage portion are separated by the partition wall, heat is not immediately transmitted to the storage portion side, temperature rise is suppressed, and deterioration of battery performance can be inhibited. Further, for example, it is more preferable to arrange a cooling member such as a heat sink on the partition wall to dissipate heat or diffuse heat so as to suppress partial overheating.

[0025] (9) The first case may be provided with an opening for an interface with the outside on the surface facing the storage compartment. In this embodiment, the surface facing the storage compartment corresponds to the front wall portion 12a of the front case 12. The interface with the outside may be, for example, an interface for connecting to external equipment or devices, or a man-machine interface for the user. In this embodiment, the interface for connecting to various equipment or devices may correspond to power output terminals or input terminals. In this embodiment, the man-machine interface may correspond to light-emitting parts such as LEDs or setting switches. Since the interface with the outside and the opening are located on the same surface, user convenience is improved.

[0026] (10) The partition wall is formed in a recessed position from the front end of one side of the case body, and the circuit board is mounted in the front-end space enclosed by the partition wall and the peripheral wall portion projecting to the one side of the case body, and the surface of the circuit board is positioned near the front end of the peripheral wall portion. In this embodiment, the one side corresponds to the front 11a side. In this way, the circuit board can be housed in the front-end space, and when the first case is removed and one side of the case body is open, the circuit board is housed in the front-end space. Also, because the surface of the circuit board is positioned near the front end of the peripheral wall portion, it is not positioned recessed from the front end, so for example, the distance between the surface of the circuit board and the surface of the first case facing the storage portion can be reduced. Then, for example, if various external interfaces are mounted on the surface of the circuit board, even if a low-height interface member is used, the interface can be positioned near the surface of the first case facing the storage portion. Furthermore, especially when combined with (4), the surface of the circuit board is located near the tip of the peripheral wall, which is advantageous because, when a second connector is attached to the circuit board, the first connector can be easily inserted and removed even if the direction of insertion and removal of the second connector is along the surface of the circuit board.

[0027] (11) A light-emitting portion is provided on the surface of the first case that faces the accommodating portion, and it is preferable that the region where the light-emitting portion is provided on the surface of the first case facing the accommodating portion is located closer to the partition wall side than the reference position of the surface of the first case facing the accommodating portion. For example, the light-emitting portion is preferably configured to guide light emitted from a light-emitting source such as an LED mounted on a substrate to the light-emitting portion and emit the light to the outside. Bringing the region where the light-emitting portion is provided closer to the partition wall side is advantageous because the light guide path that guides light from the light-emitting source to the light-emitting portion can be shortened.

[0028] (12) The setting switch can be operated from an opening portion provided on the surface of the first case facing the accommodating portion, the region where the opening portion is provided on the surface of the first case facing the accommodating portion is positioned closer to the partition wall side than the reference position of the surface of the first case facing the accommodating portion, and the region where the opening portion is provided is preferably configured to extend to a surface intersecting the surface facing the accommodating portion. With this arrangement, the operation surface of the setting switch is recessed toward the partition wall side relative to the reference position, so that accidental touching of the setting switch that would change the setting can be suppressed as much as possible. On the other hand, if only the setting switch portion is formed at a position recessed toward the partition wall side relative to the reference position, it becomes cumbersome to position a finger or the like near the setting switch and perform the switch operation when performing a formal setting. Since the region where the setting switch is provided is configured to extend to the surface intersecting the surface facing the accommodating portion while being positioned on the partition wall side, the user can, for example, position the fingertip near the operation surface of the setting switch while allowing the finger to extend outward out of the first case from the intersecting surface side, so that the setting operation can be performed easily. For example, as in the embodiment, if the extending surface is arranged to be the upper side when the housing is placed, it is advantageous because the user can perform the setting operation while the housing remains placed.

[0029] (13) The circuit board has a plurality of boards, and these plurality of boards are stacked on top of each other via spacer members, and the spacer members are preferably made of a material with good thermal conductivity. In this way, the plurality of boards can be stacked on top of each other while maintaining a desired distance between them by interposing the spacer members, and furthermore, the spacer members have the function of dissipating heat or diffusing heat to suppress localized high temperatures.

[0030] (14) The circuit board has a plurality of boards, which are stacked on top of each other via spacer members, a magnetic field source is placed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the plurality of boards, and the spacer members are placed around the magnetic field source, and the spacer members are preferably made of a magnetic material. This is good because it can perform a spacer function while also providing magnetic shielding. The perimeter may be the entire perimeter on all four sides, or it may be the perimeter of the sides.

[0031] (15) It is preferable not to place any circuit boards other than the power cord and components for outputting power from the battery in the storage compartment for the battery within the housing. By not placing circuit boards in the storage compartment, heat sources within the storage compartment are eliminated, and the deterioration of battery performance due to heat can be suppressed. In addition, by minimizing the placement of components other than the battery in the storage compartment, the space in the storage compartment can be made neater. For example, if the housing is subjected to external vibration or acceleration, even if the vibration is large and the battery shifts relative to the housing, it will not come into contact with the circuit board and be damaged.

[0032] (16) The internal shape of the storage section for housing the battery within the housing should be dimensionally shaped to match the external shape of the battery, and at least a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the storage section should contact and hold the battery. As for the configuration of contact and holding, for example, the inner circumferential surface of the storage section should be in direct contact with the battery, or it should be indirectly contacted via another component. As for the configuration of indirect contact, for example, a cushion should be interposed as in the embodiment. This is good because, for example, the battery can be held more firmly. Since at least a portion is in contact, for example, it is not essential that the internal shape of the storage section be approximately equal to the external shape of the battery. For example, as in the embodiment, the battery may be held in place by the upper and lower surfaces of the housing in the operating state, and in the left and right width direction, the length of the storage section may be longer than the length of the battery, and space may be secured between the left and right ends of the battery and the inner circumferential surface of the storage section. Alternatively, as in the embodiment, if indirect contact is made via a cushion made of an elastic material, contact may occur at the part of the cushion, but not at other parts, but since a portion is in contact, this configuration is also included.

[0033] According to this invention, the battery can be held in place by the housing, eliminating the need for special fasteners to secure the battery, and allowing for a simple configuration to hold the battery, which is advantageous. In particular, when combined with invention (9), the housing does not contain a circuit board, and the arrangement of components other than the battery is minimized. For example, the internal shape of the housing can be made approximately the same as the external shape of the battery, which is preferable as it allows the battery to be held as a whole.

[0034] (17) It is preferable to attach an elastic material to the upper inner surface of the housing when it is in use, so that the inner surface contacts the battery via the elastic material. In this embodiment, the elastic material corresponds to the cushion 22. The elastic material has elasticity and can firmly hold the battery, and is preferable because it can more reliably suppress relative movement of the battery within the battery housing even if vibrations or the like are applied to the battery from the outside. By placing the elastic material on the upper side, the weight of the battery does not apply to the elastic material, which can suppress the elastic material from deteriorating with long-term use and allows it to be maintained for a long period of time. Furthermore, it is preferable that the housing be made of a material that is flexible and elastic. In this way, for example, even if the external dimensions of the battery are somewhat large, the housing can bend and accommodate the battery. The housing is preferable to be made of plastic or resin, for example.

[0035] (18) The battery is removable from the housing, and it is preferable not to have a switch to turn the power supply from the battery ON / OFF. When a battery is removable from the housing, it is necessary to disconnect it from the circuit inside the housing when removing it, and in order to easily disconnect this connection, it is preferable to use a battery in which a connector is attached to the power cord. For this purpose, the connector that is originally necessary is also used as a first connector to cut off the current flowing from the battery to the circuit when the device is not in use, so it is possible not to have a switch and to make it smaller with a simple configuration.

[0036] (19) It is preferable to disconnect the first and second connectors at the time of shipment. Disconnecting both connectors at the time of shipment helps to suppress battery power consumption until the device reaches the user. Also, if, for example, the first connector is integrated with the battery and the second connector is connected to the circuit section for conductivity, then even if the first and second connectors are disconnected, the first and second connectors will not be lost by the time the user acquires the device, and the user who acquires the device can connect the first and second connectors and use the device.

[0037] (20) The battery may be provided with a power output function for supplying power to an external device.

[0038] (21) The battery is a secondary battery and is equipped with a charging circuit that charges the secondary battery by receiving power from an external power source, and it is preferable that power be supplied to the external device based on the power supply from the external power source even when the first connector and the second connector are not connected. In particular, it is preferable that power be supplied to the external device based on the power supply from the external power source even when the first connector and the second connector are not connected. This is preferable because even if the first connector and the second connector are disconnected when in use and the user forgets to connect them, power can still be supplied to the external device. Also, for example, some charging circuits for secondary batteries have a protection circuit that prevents charging if the voltage of the secondary battery falls below a reference value, but by disconnecting the first connector and the second connector when not in use, the voltage drop of the secondary battery is suppressed as much as possible, so it is preferable that the situation in which charging becomes impossible is suppressed.

[0039] The inventions described in (1) to (21) above can be combined in any way. For example, one may have all or part of (1) but any of the other configurations in (2) to (22). However, it is particularly desirable to have the configuration of (1) and to have a combination of any of the configurations described in (2) to (21). Any component of each invention from (1) to (21) can be extracted and combined with other components. [Effects of the Invention]

[0040] According to the present invention, for example, when the battery is not used for a long period of time, a large drop in voltage between the battery terminals is suppressed, and when the device is to be used, power can be supplied from the battery and the device can operate normally. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0041] [Figure 1] (a) is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, and (b) to (d) are diagrams illustrating its operation. [Figure 2]That frontal declaration. [Figure 3] That plan view. [Figure 4] This is its left side view. [Figure 5] This is a right side view. [Figure 6] This is its rear view. [Figure 7] Its base view. [Figure 8] That's the perspective. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing the cover component in the open position. [Figure 10] That frontal declaration. [Figure 11] That plan view. [Figure 12] This is its left side view. [Figure 13] This is a right side view. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view showing the previous case without its illustration. [Figure 15] That frontal declaration. [Figure 16] This is its left side view. [Figure 17] Its base view. [Figure 18] This is a perspective view showing the previous case. [Figure 19] This is a perspective view showing the previous case. [Figure 20] This is a perspective view showing the main case and the rear case. [Figure 21] That frontal declaration. [Figure 22] This is a perspective view showing the circuit section. [Figure 23] This is a perspective view of its breakdown. [Figure 24] That plan view. [Figure 25] That's the perspective. [Figure 26] This is a perspective view showing the rear case removed. [Figure 27] That plan view. [Figure 28] This is its left side view. [Figure 29] This is a rear view showing the rear case without its illustration. [Figure 30] This is a rear view showing the state from Figure 29, with the battery diagram omitted. [Figure 31] That's the perspective. [Figure 32] This is a cross-sectional view obtained by cutting horizontally at the vertical center of the perspective view in Figure 1. [Figure 33] This is a rear view showing the state in Figure 32, with the battery diagram omitted. [Figure 34] This is a perspective view showing a battery. [Figure 35] That plan view. [Figure 36] This is a side view. [Figure 37] That's the perspective. [Figure 38] This figure shows an example of an external connection status. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0042] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. These drawings are used to illustrate the technical features that the present invention may adopt. The configuration and shape of the described apparatus are merely illustrative examples, and the present invention is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes, modifications, and improvements can be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0043] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described based on an example in which it is applied to a power supply unit. The power supply unit 10 of this embodiment comprises a battery 1, a circuit unit 2, and a housing 3 that houses them. This power supply unit 10 is connected to equipment outside the power supply unit 10, such as electrical equipment and electronic equipment, and is capable of supplying power to said equipment from the battery 1 built into the housing 3. Being able to supply power means, for example, when the power of said equipment is ON, the power supply unit 10 supplies power to said equipment from the battery 1, etc.

[0044] Battery 1 is, for example, a rechargeable secondary battery. In this embodiment, a nickel-metal hydride battery is used as the secondary battery, and as shown in Figures 34 and later, for example, multiple cylindrical single cells 4 are used, and these single cells 4 are arranged in a single row laterally in the radial direction in an S-arrangement, which is then packed into a heat-shrinkable tube 5 to form a battery pack. Because it is an S-arrangement, it has a flattened shape. Furthermore, as will be described later, the equipment to which power is supplied by the power supply device 10 of this embodiment is, for example, an in-vehicle device. To match the output voltage of the vehicle's battery of 12V, twelve 1.2V single cells 4 are used, and the terminal voltage of battery 1 is 12V when fully charged. Battery 1 also has a power cord 6, and a first connector 7 is provided at the end of the power cord 6. The terminal voltage of battery 1 appears at the first connector 7. The first connector 7 is a male connector.

[0045] Circuit section 2 includes, for example, a charging circuit for charging battery 1, a secondary battery; a voltage monitoring circuit for monitoring the voltage of battery 1; and a power output circuit for supplying power to external devices. The charging circuit may be configured using, for example, a management IC. The management IC has the function of monitoring the voltage of battery 1 and charging it when the voltage drops. Also, if the voltage of battery 1 falls below a reference value, the management IC will not recognize the presence of battery 1 and will not perform the charging process even if a charging voltage is applied from the outside. The voltage monitoring circuit includes, for example, a microcontroller, which biases the terminal voltage of battery 1 with a resistor and detects it when it is below 5V, which is detectable by the microcontroller. Furthermore, since a microcontroller is used in this way, a circuit is provided to create and supply a power supply voltage (for example, 5V) for driving the microcontroller. The circuit for the power supply voltage of the microcontroller includes, for example, a 5V regulator to stably output 5V. Even when the device is powered off and no power is supplied to it, leakage current is generated in the management IC and 5V regulator, as well as current flows through the bias resistor used for voltage monitoring. This current consumes power, causing the remaining capacity of battery 1 to gradually decrease.

[0046] The housing 3 has a flattened shape that conforms to the external shape of the battery 1. The housing 3 comprises a case body 11, a front case 12, and a rear case 13. The case body 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the front 11a and rear 11b are open when the power supply unit 10 is installed (see Figures 20, 31, etc.). The front case 12 is attached to the front 11a side of the case body 11 and closes the opening on the front 11a. The rear case 13 is attached to the rear 11b side of the case body 11 and closes the opening on the rear 11b.

[0047] The space enclosed by the front of the case body 11 and the front case 12 constitutes the circuit mounting section 15 where the circuit section 2 is mounted. The space enclosed by the rear of the case body 11 and the rear case 13 constitutes the storage section 16 where the battery is housed (see Figures 32, 33, etc.).

[0048] A cover member 17 is provided on one longitudinal end of the front case 12. In this embodiment, the end on which the cover member 17 is provided is the left side. The cover member 17 is integrally formed with the front case 12 and opens and closes by rotating in forward and reverse directions around the hinge portion 18.

[0049] The cover member 17 covers the opening 3a provided in the housing 3. The opening 3a is the part that opens when the cover member 17 is opened, and in this embodiment, it is formed on multiple surfaces such as the front, top, bottom, and left side when the power supply unit is installed, forming a three-dimensional opening 3a.

[0050] The first connector 7 is located in the internal space enclosed by the cover member 17 when the cover member 17 is closed. As shown in Figure 1(b), etc., when the cover member 17 is open, the first connector 7 is located in the open space and is configured to be exposed to the outside. The first connector 7 and the detachable second connector 8 are arranged in the internal space enclosed by the cover member 17 when it is closed.

[0051] When the cover member 17 is open, the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 are located within the three-dimensional opening 3a that was enclosed by the cover member 17. The opening 3a is open, allowing the user to insert their fingers into the opening 3a and attach or detach the first connector 7 and the second connector 8.

[0052] Circuit section 2 is electrically connected to the second connector 8. Therefore, as shown in Figure 1(d), when the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 are connected, current flows from battery 1 to circuit section 2 even when the device is powered off, and power is consumed by circuit section 2. Therefore, if this condition continues without charging battery 1, the remaining capacity of battery 1 will decrease, and the voltage across the terminals of battery 1 will drop. As a result, if the time until the next use of the device is long, there is a risk that the remaining capacity of battery 1 will be insufficient when the device is used, and it will not be able to operate normally. In this case, failure to operate normally means, for example, that the voltage drop is large and the voltage necessary to operate the device cannot be obtained, making it impossible to drive the device. Also, in this embodiment, since battery 1 is a secondary battery, failure to operate normally means, for example, that the voltage across the terminals of battery 1 falls below a reference value, and the management IC cannot recognize the presence of battery 1 and is unable to charge it.

[0053] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 1(c), when the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 are disconnected, the current flow from the battery 1 to the circuit unit 2 is cut off. Therefore, for example, when not using equipment connected to the power supply, opening the cover member 17 and disconnecting the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 reduces the amount of current that flows to the circuit unit 2 and reduces the capacity of the battery 1 while the equipment is not in use. This minimizes the risk that the battery 1 will not have enough remaining capacity to function properly when the equipment is next used. Therefore, if a user anticipates that the equipment will not be used for an extended period, they should open the cover member 17 and disconnect the first connector 7 and the second connector 8. Doing so minimizes the consumption of the battery 1 and prevents the battery 1 voltage from dropping and preventing the equipment from functioning properly when it is next used.

[0054] In this embodiment, when the opening 3a is covered by the cover member 17, the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 are configured not to protrude from the housing. By covering them with the cover member, for example, the first connector 7 and the second connector 8, which are connected, are prevented from coming out of the housing 3 when the power supply unit 10 is in use, and the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 are prevented from accidentally touching and disconnecting by the user.

[0055] In this embodiment, the cover member 17 completely covers the opening 3a, which is advantageous because it prevents dust, dirt, and other foreign matter from entering the housing 3, and also improves the appearance by neatly sealing the opening 3a.

[0056] In this embodiment, the opening 3a is formed on multiple adjacent surfaces, and when the cover member 17 is open, a person's finger can enter the space of the opening 3a, allowing the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 to be attached and detached without the use of special jigs or tools. Therefore, for example, when the device is not expected to be used for a relatively long period of time, the user can easily and conveniently disconnect the first connector 7 and the second connector 8, thereby minimizing the consumption of the battery 1 when the power supply unit 10 is not in use.

[0057] The power supply unit 10 is equipped with an input terminal section 20 and an output terminal section 21 on the front of the front case 12. The input terminal section 20 receives power in conjunction with the vehicle's battery. The output terminal section 21 connects to the device and supplies power to that device. The charging circuit of the circuit section 2 receives power from the vehicle's battery and charges the battery 1. The power output circuit of the circuit section 2, for example, when receiving power from the vehicle's battery, supplies the power from that battery directly to the device, and when not receiving power from the battery, supplies power from the battery 1 to the device.

[0058] [Specific structure] As described above, the power supply unit 10 of this embodiment has a function that prevents the remaining capacity of the battery 1 from decreasing by disconnecting the first connector 7 and the second connector 8, thereby interrupting the path for current flow from the battery 1 to the circuit unit 2. The more specific configuration of the power supply unit 10 equipped with this function is as follows.

[0059] [Specific configuration of Battery 1] As described above, the battery 1 is composed of an S-arranged battery pack and has a flattened overall shape. The battery pack is then packed with heat shrink tubing 5, so the outer shape of the battery 1 is generally flat with both the left and right sides 1a being arc-shaped. The end of the power cord 6 that connects to the battery 1 is also covered with heat shrink tubing 5 and is pulled out to the outside through a gap 5a in the heat shrink tubing 5. If the heat shrink tubing 5 located on the outer surface is arranged to circle around the front-to-back direction in which the electrodes of the battery 1 are positioned, then the open ends of the shrunk heat shrink tubing 5 will be on the arc-shaped left and right sides 1a of the battery 1. By setting the length of the heat shrink tubing 5 appropriately, both ends of the heat shrink tubing 5 will be attached to the periphery of both sides 1a of the battery 1, and the central part of both sides 1a of the battery 1 will not have heat shrink tubing 5. Furthermore, for example, if a heat shrink tube 5 with a different direction of circumference is placed inside the heat shrink tube 5 located on the outer surface, the inner heat shrink tube 5 will also be present on both the left and right sides 1a of the battery 1 where the heat shrink tube 5 located on the outer surface is not present, so the individual cells will not be exposed, which is preferable.

[0060] The edges of the heat-shrinkable tube 5 located on the outer surface form a gap 5a, and the power cord 6 is pulled out to the outside through this gap 5a. In this embodiment, the power cord 6 is positioned inside the heat-shrinkable tube 5 along one end face 1b in the front-to-back direction of the battery 1, and when it reaches one side (for example, the left side) 1a, it is pulled out to the outside through the gap 5a at the edge of the heat-shrinkable tube 5. When the heat-shrinkable tube 5 shrinks, it conforms to the surface shape of the battery 1, and at the boundary between one end face 1b of the battery 1 and the adjacent side 1a, it shrinks in a shape that wraps around both sides. Therefore, the portion of the power cord 6 located at this boundary is bent towards the side 1a as the heat-shrinkable tube 5 shrinks.

[0061] The power cord 6, which is pulled out from the heat shrink tube 5, is positioned along one side 1a of the battery 1, and the first connector 7 protrudes ahead of the other end face 1c in the front-to-back direction of the battery 1. When the battery 1 is mounted in the storage compartment 16, the other end face 1c in the front-to-back direction of the battery 1 is positioned towards the front case 12, and the power cord 6 is positioned in the space between the side 1a of the battery 1 and the inner surface of the housing 3 facing that side 1a (Figure 32, etc.).

[0062] In this embodiment, the battery 1 has a rated output of 12V and a large capacity of 4000mAh, so the power cord 6 is also constructed using, for example, lead wires, and these lead wires are relatively thick, stiff, and difficult to bend. As described above, the power cord 6 is pulled out and guided by the heat shrink tube 5 slightly toward the other end face 1c in the front-rear direction. Even when the power cord 6 is positioned along the side face 1a of the battery 1, no excessive load is placed on the bent portion, and that portion is not damaged. Furthermore, because the power cord 6 is slightly bent toward the other end face 1c in the front-rear direction of the battery 1 by the heat shrink tube 5, it can be routed along the side face 1a in close proximity to it.

[0063] In contrast, if, for example, the orientation of the battery 1 inside the storage compartment 16 is reversed, and one end face 1b of the battery 1 in the front-to-back direction is positioned towards the front case, the portion of the power cord 6 that is pulled out from the heat shrink tube 5 will also be on the front case 12 side, thus shortening the distance between the two and potentially shortening the length of the power cord 6. However, as mentioned above, the power cord 6 is pulled out toward the other end face 1c, so the power cord 6 is folded back 180 degrees to the opposite side of the direction in which it is pulled out. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the power cord 6 is relatively stiff, it is necessary to route it in a loop that bulges outward for the fold, which requires a large gap between the side surface 1a of the battery 1 and the inner surface of the housing 3 / case body 11 facing it, resulting in a larger size and shape. Therefore, it is preferable to arrange it as in this embodiment. Also, folding it back 180 degrees to the opposite side may place an excessive load on the power cord 6 and accelerate its deterioration over time. In view of this point, it is also preferable to arrange it as in this embodiment.

[0064] Furthermore, when attaching the first connector 7 to the second connector 8, a power cord 6 that is somewhat long makes the work easier. However, with the cover member 17 closed, the power cord 6 needs to be stored inside the housing 3, and if the power cord 6 is too long, it will not fit within the space when the cover member 17 is closed. Therefore, as in the embodiment, it is best to make the power cord 6 long enough so that a small portion of it protrudes from the opening 3a side, allowing the first connector 7 to reach the second connector 8.

[0065] [Specific configuration of enclosure 3] *Battery storage structure, etc. The external shape of the housing 3 corresponds to the external shape of the battery 1, and is a flat rectangular shape with arc-shaped sides on both sides. Furthermore, the storage compartment 16 inside the housing 3 that houses the battery 1 does not contain any circuit boards or other components other than the power cord 6 and components for outputting power from the battery 1. By not placing a circuit board in the storage compartment, a heat source inside the storage compartment 16 is eliminated, and the performance degradation of the battery 1 due to heat can be suppressed.

[0066] Furthermore, by minimizing the placement of components other than the battery in the storage compartment 16, the space of the storage compartment 16 can be made neater. For example, if the housing 3 is subjected to external vibration or acceleration, even if the vibration is large enough that the battery 1 shifts relative to the housing 3, it will not come into contact with the circuit board and be damaged, which is beneficial.

[0067] To separate the battery storage area 16 within the housing 3 from the space for housing the circuit section 2, a partition wall 14 is provided inside the case body 11, as shown in Figures 32 and 33. The partition wall 14 is located on the front 11a side of the case body 11, creating a larger space on the rear 11b side of the partition wall 14. The space enclosed by the front side of the partition wall 14 of the case body 11 and the front case 12 constitutes the circuit mounting area 15 where the circuit section 2 is mounted. The space enclosed by the rear side of the partition wall 14 of the case body 11 and the rear case 13 constitutes the battery storage area 16.

[0068] A communication hole 14a is formed at the left end of the partition wall 14. The spaces on either side of the partition wall 14 are connected, the power cord 6 is positioned to pass through the communication hole 14a, and the first connector 7 is located on the front side of the partition wall 14.

[0069] In this embodiment, the battery housing 16 and the space where the circuit unit 2 is mounted are separated by a partition wall 14. As mentioned above, some batteries 1 have a reduced output as the ambient temperature rises, and some circuit units 2 are configured to include elements and components that generate heat when energized. For example, when the power supply 10 is in use, current flows from the battery 1 to the circuit unit 2, generating heat and causing the temperature of the space around the circuit unit 2 to rise. However, because the space and the battery housing 16 are separated by the partition wall 14, the heat does not immediately reach the housing 16 side, suppressing the temperature rise and preventing a decrease in battery capacity. The partition wall 14 has a minimum number of openings, such as a communication hole 14a, for passing the power cord 6 through, but the rest are closed. The battery 1 also has a protection circuit that stops charging when the temperature rises, so the partition wall 14 helps to prevent this from happening.

[0070] The internal shape of the storage section 16 for housing the battery 1 within the housing 3 is dimensionally shaped to match the external shape of the battery 1. At least a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the storage section 16 contacts and holds the battery 1. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 29, the upper surface 16a and lower surface 16b of the storage section 16 contact the battery 1. The upper surface 16a contacts the battery 1 via an elastic cushion 22, and the lower surface 16b contacts the battery 1 directly. As shown in Figure 30, the cushion 22 is attached to the upper surface 16a of the storage section 16 with adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape, etc. As shown in Figure 30, when the battery 1 is not stored, the cushion 22 has a predetermined thickness, and as shown in Figure 29, when the battery 1 is stored in the storage section 16, the cushion 22 is elastically deformed and compressed, and an elastic restoring force acts to return it to its original shape, which is good because it can hold the battery 1 more firmly. For example, even if vibrations or other external forces are applied to the battery 1, relative movement of the battery 1 within the storage compartment 16 can be more reliably suppressed, which is beneficial. Furthermore, by positioning the cushion 22 on the upper side, the weight of the battery 1 does not apply to the cushion 22 when the power supply unit 10 is installed, which prevents the cushion 22 from deteriorating during long-term use and allows it to be maintained for a long period of time, which is beneficial.

[0071] In this embodiment, the storage section 16, or case body 11, can hold the battery 1 in place, eliminating the need for special fasteners to secure the battery 1, and allowing the battery 1 to be held with a simple configuration. Furthermore, at least the case body 11 that constitutes the housing 3 should be made of a material that is flexible and elastic. In this way, for example, even if the external dimensions of the battery 1 are somewhat large, the case body 11 can bend to accommodate the storage of the battery 1, and the battery 1 can be held more securely. Such materials include plastics and resins, and for example, PP (polypropylene) is a good choice.

[0072] Furthermore, the storage compartment 16 does not contain a circuit board, and the placement of components other than the battery 1 is minimized as much as possible, so that, for example, the internal shape of the storage compartment 16 is made almost equal to the external shape of the battery 1. In particular, since the battery 1 is held in place by the upper and lower surfaces of the case body 11, the height of the case body 11 is made almost equal to the height of the battery 1, thus keeping the height low. As will be described later, the heights of the front case 12 and rear case 13 are also matched to the height of the case body 11. Therefore, the vertical height of the power supply unit 10 in its installed state is the height of the battery 1 plus the thickness of the case body 11, and the external shape of the power supply unit 10 is flat and thin. As described above, the power supply unit 10 of this embodiment is a device that supplies power to, for example, in-vehicle equipment, and it is preferable to install it in a place that does not obstruct the driver or passengers. A place that does not obstruct is, for example, the space under the driver's seat. The space under the driver's seat does not have much height, but since the power supply unit 10 of this embodiment is flat and thin, it is a shape that is suitable for installation in a space that is narrow in the vertical direction.

[0073] Furthermore, the width of the storage compartment 16 is made longer than the length of the battery 1, and a space 26 is secured between the left and right sides 1a of the battery 1 and the inner surface of the storage compartment 16 (see Figures 29, 32, etc.). One of the left and right spaces 26 is connected to a communication hole 14a provided in the partition wall 14. The power cord 6 is then placed using this space 26, and the first connector 7 attached to the power cord 6 is positioned in the space in front of the partition wall 14. In this embodiment, since the space 26 is for placing the power cord 6, it can be made narrower if, for example, the battery 1 can be attached and detached while the power cord 6 is being placed. Narrowing the space 26 in this way makes the left and right width of the case body 11 and thus the housing 3 approximately the same as the width of the battery 1, making it more compact, which is desirable. It is also preferable as it makes it easier to install in narrow places such as the space under the driver's seat. Furthermore, by reducing the width in addition to the height to match the external dimensions of the battery 1, it can be inserted and installed in narrow spaces, expanding the range of possible installation locations, which is a good thing.

[0074] As mentioned above, there is limited space under the seat, and if the power supply unit 10 is to be mounted in this space, there is not much thickness or height that can be accommodated. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a nickel-metal hydride battery is used instead of a thin lithium battery for the battery 1, so there is a limit to how thin the battery 1 itself can be made. For this reason, it is not desirable to place the circuit unit 2 on top of the battery 1, so in this embodiment, the layout is such that the storage compartment for the circuit unit 2 is placed in front of the storage compartment 16 for the battery 1. Moreover, in a configuration where the circuit board is placed, for example, above the battery 1, the board will not be large enough to cover the entire top surface of the battery 1, resulting in a lot of wasted space where there is no board or circuit components. In contrast, as in this embodiment, by arranging the battery 1 and the circuit unit 2 front to back, the overall dimensions and shape can be made smaller and more compact, giving the impression of being slightly longer than the dimensions and shape of the battery.

[0075] Furthermore, since the power supply unit 10 is installed under the seat, it does not get as hot as, for example, on the dashboard. Therefore, temperature countermeasures are unnecessary when installing it on the dashboard. In this embodiment, the housing 3 is made of PP, so the heat resistance of PP is sufficient to address this issue.

[0076] *Structure of the front 11a side of the case body 11 etc. As described above, a partition wall 14 is provided inside the case body 11. The partition wall 14 is formed in a recessed position from the front end 11a of the case body 11. The cylindrical peripheral wall portion 11i on the front end 11a of the case body 11 and the space at the front end enclosed by the partition wall 14 become the circuit mounting portion 15, the space on which the circuit board constituting the circuit portion 2 is mounted. A thin-walled front peripheral wall portion 11j is formed at the front end of the peripheral wall portion 11i. The inner surface of the front peripheral wall portion 11j is flush and continuous with the peripheral wall portion 11i. The outer surface of the front peripheral wall portion 11j is lower than the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion 11i. The front peripheral wall portion 11j corresponds to the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 12b of the front case 12, so as not to cause misalignment when the front case 12 is mounted on the case body 11.

[0077] The tip peripheral wall portion 11j is formed along the peripheral wall portion 11i for almost its entire circumference. A notch 11k is provided on the side to which the cover member 17 is attached, and the tip peripheral wall portion 11j is not provided in this portion. This allows a finger or the like to be inserted into the notch 11k when opening the cover member 17, exposing the opening 3a, and attaching or detaching the first connector 7 and the second connector 8, making the attachment and detachment process easier for the user.

[0078] Furthermore, a locking recess 11h is provided at a predetermined position on the outer surface of the tip peripheral wall portion 11j within the area where the cover member 17 is positioned, to secure the cover member 17. A locking projection 11m is provided on the outer surface near the center in the longitudinal direction of the tip peripheral wall portion 11j to temporarily fasten the front case 12.

[0079] On the front 11a side of the case body 11, a plate member 36 is provided that protrudes further forward from the tip of the front peripheral wall portion 11j. The position where this plate member 36 is provided is on the flat portion of the top and bottom surfaces, near the arc-shaped portion on the side where the cover member 17 is provided.

[0080] Bosses 34 are provided on the front side of the partition wall 14. These bosses 34 are positioned upright facing forward on both the left and right sides in the longitudinal direction. Female threaded portions 34a are provided at the tips of the bosses 34. A sheet-like first heat sink 42 is placed in the area between the left and right bosses 34 on the front of the partition wall 14. This first heat sink 42 is fixed to the partition wall 14 with, for example, adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. This first heat sink 42 is made of, for example, an aluminum sheet. The first heat sink 42 also has two concave notches 42a, forming areas where there is no aluminum sheet. A thermal sheet 43 is placed in these concave notches 42a. A portion of the thermal sheet 43 is in contact with the first heat sink 42, and they are thermally connected. This thermal sheet 43 is fixed to the partition wall 14 and the first heat sink 42 with adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape.

[0081] Aligning with the position of the first heatsink 42, the protrusions provided on the periphery of the first heatsink 42 are inserted into the holes 23 of the groove 24 provided in the case body 11 and secured. The holes 23 serve both the function of heat dissipation and securing. Since the position of the holes 23 in the groove 24 is aligned with the position of the heatsink, even the parts without securing protrusions function as heat dissipation holes.

[0082] *Structure of the previous case 12 etc. As described above, the front opening of the case body 11 is closed by the front case 12. The closing front case 12 is a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open rear surface in the front-to-back direction. The front case 12 comprises a front wall portion 12a and a peripheral wall portion 12b formed to extend rearward from the periphery of the front wall portion 12a. The front wall portion 12a has an elongated rectangular region and arc-shaped regions connected to both the left and right sides of the rectangular region. One of the arc-shaped regions becomes the top plate 17a of the cover member 17. The peripheral wall portion 12b is a sloping surface / tapered surface that widens gently from the front wall portion 12a side toward the rear, gradually increasing in size.

[0083] The front wall portion 12a of the front case 12 is provided with openings for external interfaces at appropriate positions. In this embodiment, the first opening 12c for the input terminal portion 20, the second opening 12d for the output terminal portion 21, and the third opening 12e for the setting switch 27 are provided in order from the cover member 17 side. Above the third opening 12e is a fourth opening 12f for the light-emitting portion. The fourth opening 12f is arranged in a row of six small circles. The first opening 12c, second opening 12d, and third opening 12e are left open, while the fourth opening 12f is closed by attaching a translucent seal 37. By leaving the first opening 12c, second opening 12d, and third opening 12e open, the input terminal portion 20, output terminal portion 21, and setting switch 27 located in each opening can be operated from the front side of the front case 12. Since the external interfaces are located on the same surface, user convenience is improved.

[0084] The area in the front wall portion 12a where the first opening 12c is formed has a shallow recess 12g, and the first opening 12c is provided within this recess 12g. The first opening 12c is formed one step back from the outer surface of the front wall portion 12a, using the outer surface as the reference position, and closer to the case body 11. This is based on the difference in height between the input terminal portion 20 and the output terminal portion 21. As will be described later, in this embodiment, the input terminal portion 20 and the output terminal portion 21 are mounted on the same substrate and positioned facing the front wall portion 12a. As a result, the tip heights of the input terminal portion 20 and the output terminal portion 21 from the substrate surface are different. By shifting the formation positions of the first opening 12c and the second opening 12d to match this difference in position, the tips of the input terminal portion 20 and the output terminal portion 21 are both located at the first opening 12c and the second opening 12d.

[0085] In the area where the third opening 12e is formed in the front wall portion 12a, a recess 12h is formed, and the third opening 12e is provided within this recess 12h. The recess 12h is deeper than the recess 12g. The operating surface of the setting switch 27 is set back towards the case body 11 from the surface of the front wall portion 12a, which is the reference position, thereby minimizing the risk of the user accidentally touching the setting switch 27 and changing the setting.

[0086] The recess 12h has an opening 12h' that leaves the upper side of the peripheral wall 12b open. For the user to operate the setting switch 27, for example, the fingertip can be positioned near the operating surface of the setting switch 27, while the finger is positioned outside the front case 12 through the opening 12h', making the setting operation easy. Furthermore, since the opening 12h' is formed on the upper side of the peripheral wall 12b that is on the upper side when the housing 3 is placed, the user can perform the setting operation while the housing 3 is in place, which is advantageous.

[0087] Furthermore, a fourth aperture 12f is provided within this recess 12h. As a result, the position of the light-emitting part is set back from the reference position of the front wall 12a, bringing it closer to the light source such as an LED placed inside the front case 12. The light-emitting part of this embodiment is configured to guide the light emitted from the light source to the light-emitting part and emit it to the outside, making it visible to the user from the outside. This is advantageous because it allows for a shorter light guide path from the light source to the light-emitting part. The light guide path is composed of ribs 38 formed in accordance with the arrangement pitch of the fourth aperture 12f. The ribs 38 are flat, and two adjacent sides are connected to the front wall 12a and the inner surface of the peripheral wall 12b on the side where the opening 12h' is provided. When the front case 12 is mounted on the case body 11, it is advantageous to configure the side of the rib 38 opposite to the front wall 12a to contact or be close to the surface of the substrate on which the light source such as an LED is mounted, as this suppresses light leakage from adjacent LEDs. Furthermore, by providing a recess 12h and bringing the fourth aperture 12f and the light source closer together, the dimensions of the rib 38 can be shortened, which is advantageous as it allows for more precise dimensional measurement. In this visible configuration, a translucent seal 37 is attached to the fourth aperture 12f, and light emitted from the light source travels through a light guide path to the fourth aperture 12f. The light that reaches the fourth aperture 12f then passes through the seal 37 and is radiated to the front outside of the housing 3 and front case 12.

[0088] Furthermore, a recess 38a is provided on the side where the front wall portion 12a connects to the peripheral wall portion 12b of the rib 38 on the opposite side. When the front case 12 is attached to the case body 11, the tip of the front peripheral wall portion 11j of the case body 11 fits into the recess 38a, making the connection between the case body 11 and the front case 12 even stronger.

[0089] The front case 12 has a first inner wall 31 and a second inner wall 32 on the side of the cover member 17 inside. The first inner wall 31 is connected to the inner surfaces of the front wall portion 12a and the peripheral wall portion 12b of the front case 12, forming a space enclosed by the front wall portion 12a, the peripheral wall portion 12b and the first inner wall 31 of the front case. This space constitutes the space for housing the circuit portion 2. This prevents dust, foreign matter, etc. from entering the space housing the circuit board, regardless of the open or closed state of the cover member 17. The first inner wall 31 is formed slightly inward from the hinge portion 18. Furthermore, a recess 31a is provided on the side of the first inner wall 31 opposite the front wall portion 12a where it connects to the peripheral wall portion 12b. When the front case 12 is attached to the case body 11, the tip of the front peripheral wall portion 11j of the case body 11 fits into the recess 31a, further strengthening the connection between the case body 11 and the front case 12.

[0090] The second inner wall 32 is positioned outside the first inner wall 31 and is formed at approximately the same position as the edge of the cover member 17 closest to the hinge portion 18. For example, as shown in Figure 9, when the cover member 17 is open, the second inner wall 32 hides the inside of the front case 12. This results in a clean appearance and prevents fingers from touching the circuit portion 2. The second inner wall 32 is connected to the front wall portion 12a of the front case 12, and a gap 35 is formed between it and the peripheral wall portion 12b. A plate member 36, which is positioned upright on the front surface 11a side of the case body 11, fits into and closes this gap 35.

[0091] Bosses 33 extending towards the rear are provided on both longitudinal sides of the inner surface of the front wall portion 12a of the front case 12. The boss 33 is cylindrical with open ends, and has a bottom portion 33a with an open center at the end opposite the front wall portion 12a. When a fixing screw 39 is inserted from the opening on the front wall portion 12a side, the head of the fixing screw 39 contacts the bottom portion 33a and remains in place. When the front case 12 is attached to the case body 11, the position of this boss 33 is set to face a boss 34 provided on the case body 11. When the fixing screw 39 is tightened in this state, the male thread portion of the fixing screw fastens with the female thread portion 34a of the boss 34, and it is fixed in place.

[0092] The boss 33 on the cover member 17 side is positioned to contact the first inner wall 31 and is fixed near the boundary with the cover member 17. Even when the cover member 17 is opened and closed repeatedly, the front case 12 can be firmly fixed to the case body 11, and by fixing it near the hinge portion 18, the opening and closing of the cover member 17 can be performed stably. In addition, the boss 33 on the opposite side of the cover member 17 is formed near the center of the semicircle of the arc-shaped region. In this embodiment, the left and right sides of the housing 3 are made arc-shaped to match the outer shape of the battery 1, making it difficult to place elements and components in that area. This dead space, which is difficult to place elements in, is effectively utilized.

[0093] The inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 12b is provided with an elongated, strip-shaped rib 40 extending in the front-to-back direction. Two adjacent sides of the rib 40 connect to the front wall portion 12a and the peripheral wall portion 12b, and when the front case 12 is attached to the case body 11, the side of the rib 40 opposite to the front wall portion 12a is configured to contact the surface of the substrate. The rib 40 is a reinforcing rib that prevents the peripheral wall portion 12b from bulging or denting. Furthermore, a recess 40a is provided on the side of the rib 40 opposite to the front wall portion 12a that connects to the peripheral wall portion 12b. When the front case 12 is attached to the case body 11, the tip of the front peripheral wall portion 11j of the case body 11 fits into the recess 40a, further strengthening the connection between the case body 11 and the front case 12.

[0094] Furthermore, the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 12b is provided with a locking recess 12i. In this embodiment, one locking recess 12i is provided on both the upper and lower sides. This locking recess 12i is useful for temporarily fixing the front case 12 to the case body 11 by aligning it with the locking projection 11m.

[0095] *Structure of cover member 17 etc. As described above, an opening 3a of the housing 3 is provided on one of the left or right sides (for example, the left side) of the front case 12, and a cover member 17 that covers the opening is formed integrally with the front case 12. In this embodiment, one side of the front case 12 constitutes the cover member 17. The cover member 17 comprises a semicircular top plate 17a and an arc-shaped peripheral wall 17b that extends backward in a continuous manner with the outer peripheral edge of the top plate 17a. The peripheral wall 17b is the same as the peripheral wall portion 12b of the front case 12. As described above, the top plate 17a and the front wall portion 12a of the front case 12 are connected via a hinge portion 18. When the cover member 17 is closed, a gap S is formed between both end edges 17b' of the peripheral wall 17b and the peripheral wall portion 12b of the front case 12. A plate member 36 is located on the back side of this gap S. When the cover member 17 is closed, the plate member 36 acts as a screen, preventing the interior from being seen through the gap S. This improves the appearance and also prevents foreign matter such as dust from entering, which is beneficial.

[0096] Furthermore, a handle portion 17f that protrudes outward is provided in the central part of the free end side (the side away from the top plate 17a, the rear side) of the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 17b. In addition, a locking projection 17g is provided at an appropriate position on the free end side of the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 17b. In this embodiment, two handle portions 17f are provided at positions offset by a predetermined distance to the left and right from the center of the peripheral wall 17b.

[0097] When the cover member 17 is closed, the locking projection 17g and the locking recess 11h provided on the front peripheral wall portion 11j of the case body 11 engage with each other, thereby maintaining the closed state of the cover member 17.

[0098] As a result, when the cover member 17 is in the closed position as shown in Figure 1(a), etc., the user can place their fingers on the handle portion 17f and bias it toward the top plate 17a, causing the locking projection 17g to disengage from the locking recess 11h and the opening 3a to open (see Figure 1(b), etc.). On the other hand, when the opening 3a is in the open position, the user can press the cover member 17 at an appropriate position to close the cover member 17 and seal the opening 3a. Then, the locking projection 17g will engage with the locking recess 11h, and the closed position will be maintained. When this engagement occurs, it would be desirable to make a sound such as "click" so that the user can confirm that it is engaged.

[0099] [Specific configuration of circuit section 2, etc.] *Circuit section In this embodiment, the circuit section 2 is made up of printed circuit boards. As shown in Figures 22 to 25, it is formed using two boards. The circuit section 2 is fixed by interposing a spacer member 53 between the first board 51 and the second board 52, and then screwing them together while they are stacked. The first board 51 and the spacer member 53 are fastened with screws 54, and the second board 52 and the spacer member 53 are fastened with screws 55.

[0100] The first circuit board 51 has an input terminal section 20, an output terminal section 21, a setting switch 27, an LED 56, a microcontroller 57, a second connector 8, etc. on its front surface. The first connection connector 58 and various electronic components constituting the circuits are arranged on the back surface of the first circuit board 51. The second circuit board 52 has a coil element 59, an IC 60, and various electronic components constituting the circuits on its front surface (the side facing the partition wall 14). The second connection connector 61 and various electronic components constituting the circuits are arranged on the back surface of the second circuit board 52 (the side facing the first circuit board 51). The first connection connector 58 and the second connection connector 61 have a power line and a communication line, and supply power and transmit / receive data between the circuits of the first circuit board 51 and the circuits of the second circuit board 52.

[0101] The spacer member is constructed using a material with good thermal conductivity, and in this embodiment, an aluminum plate is used. The first substrate 51 and the second substrate 52 can be stacked and arranged at a desired distance apart by interposing the spacer member 53. Furthermore, the spacer member 53 has the function of dissipating heat and diffusing heat to suppress localized high temperatures, thereby releasing the heat generated in the circuit section 2 and suppressing the transfer of high heat to the battery 1 housing section 16.

[0102] A second heatsink 63 is placed on the surface side of the second substrate 52. The second heatsink 63 is made of an aluminum plate and is positioned to cover the second substrate 52 at a predetermined distance from its surface. The second heatsink 63 is fixed to the second substrate 52 and the spacer member 53 with screws 55.

[0103] A thermal sheet 65 is attached to the top surface of IC60, and when the second heatsink 63 is installed, the surface of the thermal sheet 65 is in contact with the second heatsink 63. As a result, the heat generated by IC60 is transferred to the second heatsink 63 via the thermal sheet 65 and dissipated.

[0104] The second heat sink 63 is not provided on top of the coil element 59. Furthermore, when the second substrate 52 is mounted inside the front case 12, the coil element 59 faces the concave notch 42a of the first heat sink 42. As a result, the first heat sink 42 and the second heat sink 63 are not located on the head of the coil element 59 (the side opposite to the mounting surface to the substrate). In this embodiment, the head of the coil element 59 is the surface through which the magnetic field enters and exits, so if a metal such as aluminum is placed on this head, the coil characteristics will deteriorate. In this embodiment, the head is not covered with a metal such as aluminum, so the coil element 59 can obtain the desired characteristics and effects. The head of the coil element 59 is in contact with the thermal sheet 43 provided on the partition wall 14, and heat is diffused and dissipated towards the first heat sink 42 side via the thermal sheet 43. Furthermore, a cushion 66 is installed adjacent to the coil element 59. The cushion 66 is positioned at the connection point between the thermal sheet 43 and the first heat sink 42, and utilizes the elastic restoring force of the cushion 66 to bring the thermal sheet 43 into contact with the first heat sink 42 at a predetermined pressure. As a result, the thermal sheet 43 and the first heat sink 42 make firm surface contact, improving heat dissipation efficiency.

[0105] Furthermore, in this embodiment, heat generated from the coil element 59 is dissipated using the first heat sink 42, while heat generated from IC 60 and other components other than the coil element 59 is dissipated using the second heat sink 63. Since the heat generated by the coil element 59 and the other components are at different levels, if, for example, the heat generated from the coil element 59 were also directed to the second heat sink 63, the high heat would be transferred to IC 60 and other components, resulting in the problem of inadequate heat dissipation. Therefore, in this embodiment, heat is dissipated separately to efficiently dissipate the heat generated from each component.

[0106] An insulating film 67 is applied to the surface of the substrate that the spacer member 53 contacts. This prevents the wiring pattern from short-circuiting through the spacer member 53. The insulating film 67 acts as a thermal resistor. Therefore, it is preferable to position the spacer member 53 opposite the ground pattern and make direct contact with the exposed part of the ground pattern to improve heat dissipation and thermal conduction efficiency. Alternatively, the surface of the spacer member 53 in the area opposite the normal wiring pattern rather than the ground pattern can be processed to prevent contact. However, since this processing is complicated, it is preferable to make it contact the ground pattern as described above.

[0107] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a structure is adopted in which two substrates are stacked, such as the first substrate 51 and the second substrate 52. This allows for efficient heat dissipation by distributing, for example, heat-generating elements across multiple substrates.

[0108] As described above, the partition wall 14 is formed in a recessed position from the front end 11a of the case body 11, and the first circuit board 51 and the second circuit board 52, with the spacer member 53 constituting the circuit section 2 interposed between them, are mounted in the front-end space enclosed by the partition wall 14 and the peripheral wall portion 11i of the case body 11. In this mounted state, the surface of the first circuit board 51 is positioned near the front end of the peripheral wall portion 11i. In this way, the first circuit board 51 and the second circuit board 52 can be housed inside the case body 11, and the circuit boards are contained within the front-end space of the case body 11.

[0109] Furthermore, since the surface of the first substrate 51 is located near the tip of the peripheral wall portion 11i and not recessed from the tip, the distance between the surface of the first substrate 51 and the front wall portion 12a of the front case 12 can be reduced. As a result, when various external interfaces are mounted on the surface of the substrate, even if a component with a low interface height is used, the interface can be positioned near the surface facing the housing portion of the first case, which is advantageous.

[0110] *Second connector arrangement structure, etc. As described above, in this embodiment, the second connector 8 is directly attached to one end of the first circuit board 51 in the longitudinal direction. The direction in which the first connector 7 is inserted into and removed from the second connector 8 is aligned with the first circuit board 51, and when the power supply unit 10 is installed, it is inserted and removed from the top to the bottom. The terminal pins 8a of the second connector 8 are bent into an L shape, and the tips of the terminal pins 8a are connected to a wiring pattern that is electrically connected to the circuit section 2 of the first circuit board 51.

[0111] In this configuration, since the second connector 8 is fixed to the first circuit board 51, it is not necessary to hold down the second connector 8, and the user can easily insert and remove the first connector 7. This allows the user to easily remove the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 to protect the battery 1, which is beneficial. Furthermore, since the second connector 8 is fixed to the circuit board, the orientation of the second connector is specified. In this embodiment, when the cover member 17 is opened, the insertion direction of the second connector 8 is also opened, making it easy to attach and detach the connectors, and allowing the user to habitually remove the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 when the device is not in use, which is beneficial.

[0112] Furthermore, since the direction in which the first connector 7 is inserted and removed is along the surface of the first circuit board 51, when attaching or detaching the connector, it is sufficient to move the first connector 7 along the first circuit board 51, which improves operability and is therefore preferable.

[0113] In this embodiment, the tip of the peripheral wall portion 11j of the case body 11 and the surface of the first substrate 51 are almost the same, and the first substrate 51 is positioned slightly lower, and the first connector 7 is moved while in contact with the first substrate 51 to attach and detach the second connector 8. The user can attach and detach the connector by, for example, pressing the first connector 7 against the first substrate 51 and moving it on the substrate. In this embodiment, the opening 3a of the housing 3 is provided three-dimensionally, so fingers can be inserted from different directions, improving workability. Also, when the cover member 17 is opened, the top plate 17a rotates around the hinge portion 18, opening the surface facing the first substrate 51, which is preferable as it improves workability when pressing the first connector 7 against the substrate, for example, by ensuring space for finger movement.

[0114] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the second connector 8 is directly attached to the first circuit board 51, the space required for storage is reduced, and the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 fit within the space of the cover member 17. This is because, for example, if the second connector 8 were connected to the first circuit board 51 via a wiring cord, the size of the connector that could be used as the second connector 8 would be larger than that of the onboard type in this embodiment. Also, the wiring cord would correspond to the battery capacity and would be thick and difficult to bend, similar to a power cord, requiring a large space to crimp the wiring cord to the connector and to route the wiring cord. Therefore, it may not fit within the space of the cover member 17 in this embodiment. In contrast, with an onboard design as in this embodiment, the terminal pins can be bent and directly soldered to the first circuit board 51, eliminating the need for space to route the wiring cord, and allowing for a smaller connector size, thus reducing the required storage space.

[0115] Circuit components other than the wiring pattern are not located on the cover member 17 side, and are configured so that they are not exposed through the opening 3a even when the cover member 17 is opened. The circuit components other than the wiring pattern are located within the space enclosed by the front wall 12a, peripheral wall 12b, and first inner wall 31 of the front case 12. This configuration is advantageous because it minimizes the risk of the user accidentally touching components or elements of the circuit section 2 or of foreign objects entering the circuit when attaching or detaching the first connector 7 and the second connector 8.

[0116] [Detachable structure between the main case 11 and the rear case 13, etc.] As shown in Figures 28 to 31, the rear surface 11b of the case body 11 has a rectangular shape on the lower left and right sides. As described above, both the left and right sides of the case body 11 are curved to correspond to the side shape of the battery 1, and this curved shape is formed over almost the entire length in the front-to-back direction. The lower side near the rear surface 11b is formed almost straight without a radius. As a result, the outer shape of the case body 11 near the rear surface 11b is rectangular in the lower half, and the upper half has curved sides, similar to the other parts.

[0117] The straight, flat portion 11c is thicker than the other sides. A through hole 11d is formed in the flat portion 11c, penetrating through the inside and outside of the case body 11. A recess 11e with a larger inner diameter is formed on the outer surface of the flat portion 11c, concentric with the through hole 11d. The threaded portion of a bolt (not shown) passes through the through hole 11d, and the head of the bolt is located within the recess 11e.

[0118] Furthermore, projections 11f are formed on the upper and lower edges of the rear surface 11b of the case body 11, respectively, projecting toward the rear. The thickness of the projections 11f is thinner than the thickness of the upper and lower edges of the case body 11, for example, about half, and they are positioned on the inner circumferential surface side. The inner surface of the projections 11f and the inner surface of the projections 11f are formed flush. Consequently, the outer surface of the projections 11f is positioned one level lower than the outer surface of the case body 11.

[0119] On the other hand, the rear case 13 has a bottomed cylindrical body portion 13a, with an open front 13b in the front-to-back direction and a closed rear 13c. The body portion 13a is the part that is exposed to the outside when attached to the case body 11. Furthermore, the front 13b of the body portion 13a has roughly triangular projections 13d on both the left and right ends below it, projecting in a direction parallel to the front 13b. The projections 13d face the flat portion 11c of the case body 11, and by providing these projections 13d, the outer edge of the front 13b of the body portion 13a, including the outer edge of the projection 13d, takes on the same shape as the rear 11b of the case body 11, including the flat portion 11c. When the front 13b of the body portion 13a of the rear case 13 and the rear 11b of the case body 11 come into contact with each other, the outer surfaces connect smoothly without any steps.

[0120] Furthermore, a peripheral wall portion 13e, which is slightly smaller in external shape than the main body portion 13a, is formed on the front surface 13b of the main body portion 13a so as to protrude forward. The inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 13e is flush with the inner surface of the main body portion 13a, and the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion 13e has dimensions and a shape that correspond to the inner surface of the case body 11. When attaching the rear case 13 to the rear surface 11b of the case body 11, the peripheral wall portion 13e is inserted into the case body 11. As a result, the peripheral wall portion 13e fits inside the case body 11, restricting the movement of the rear case 13 in a plane parallel to the rear surface 11b of the case body 11.

[0121] Furthermore, the end face of the front surface 13b of the main body portion 13a is provided with a groove 13h at the boundary with the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion 13e. The groove 13h is formed in a position opposite to the projection 11f, and is set so that the projection 11f is inserted into the groove 13h when the rear case 13 is attached to the case body 11. The projection 11f entering the groove 13h prevents the rear surface 11b of the case body 11 from bending in the vertical direction. The vertical width of the case body 11 is restricted, allowing the battery 1 to be firmly held from above and below.

[0122] A nut storage section 13f is provided below the side surface of the peripheral wall 13e. The nut storage section 13f is positioned opposite the flat section 11c provided on the rear surface 11b of the case body 11. The nut storage section 13f houses the nut 25. A through hole 13g is formed on the side surface of the nut storage section 13f. The female thread of the nut 25 housed in the nut storage section 13f is located concentrically with the through hole 13g, and when the rear case 13 is attached to the case body 11, the through hole 13g is located opposite and concentrically with the through hole 11d formed in the flat section 11c. In this state, a bolt is inserted into the through hole 11d and the through hole 13g from the outside of the housing 3, and the bolt is fastened with the nut 25 housed in the nut storage section 13f. This connects the case body 11 and the rear case 13. In this embodiment, since it is fixed from the side of the housing 3, the connection and fixing structure can be constructed in a small space, which is advantageous. The left and right sides of the housing 3 are curved along their entire length, and only the area to be fixed with the bolts and nuts protrudes outward from the curved side, but it is contained within a rectangular area circumscribing the curved side, so as not to protrude significantly. Furthermore, the area to be fixed with the bolts and nuts is configured so that it does not protrude beyond the outermost point of the curved side, so this area is not conspicuous, and the curved side that follows the shape of the battery is more prominent from a design perspective, which is preferable.

[0123] In this embodiment, the rear case 13 is fixed by fastening bolts and nuts from the side of the housing 3, so that even if there is a large vibration, the rear case 13 will not come off and the battery 1 will not fall out. The reason for this side fastening structure is that, for example, if it were to be screwed in from the rear side of the rear case 13, the partition wall 14 is located on the front side 11a, so a long boss extending backward from the rear side of the partition wall 14 would have to be placed, and since the battery 1 is present in almost the entire storage compartment 16, it is difficult to form such a long boss. Alternatively, for example, flanges protruding outward from the outer circumference could be formed on the joint end faces of the case body 11 and the rear case 13, and the flanges could be fixed in the front-to-back direction by sandwiching the flanges together with bolts and nuts, but if such a configuration is adopted, the flange portion would protrude significantly in order to ensure the strength of the flange, which is undesirable from a design perspective. In contrast, this embodiment utilizes the unused dead space by making the side surface arc-shaped, leaving corners for the bolt and nut placement, and adopts a configuration where the bolt is attached from the side. This allows for fixing without the need for flanges, which is aesthetically pleasing, and it can be formed compactly, making it suitable for installation in narrow spaces.

[0124] As mentioned above, the front case 12 and the case body 11 are connected by screws from the front wall 12a side of the front case 12. The front case 12 could also be fixed from the side, similar to the rear case 13, but since there is a cover member 17 on one side, it is difficult to adopt a structure that fixes from both sides on both the left and right sides, similar to the rear case 13. Furthermore, forming the same arc-shaped side as the case body 11 along the entire length of the front case 12 is aesthetically preferable, so fixing from the front side is used as in this embodiment. Moreover, fixing from the front side is preferable because it allows for simultaneous fixing to the first circuit board 51 and the second circuit board 52. In addition, since the partition wall 14 is formed on the front surface 11a side of the case body 11, the bosses 33 and 34 for screwing can be shorter, thus avoiding manufacturing problems.

[0125] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the nut storage section 13f has an opening on the front 13i side to set the nut 25, and a recess 13j is also formed on the bottom surface. A rib 11g is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the case body 11 facing the nut storage section 13f, projecting upward from the bottom side. When the rear case 13 is attached to the case body 11, this rib 11g enters the nut storage section 13f from the front 13i side and aligns with the recess 13j. As a result, the case body 11 and the rear case 13 are firmly connected by the fitting of this rib 11g and the recess 13j.

[0126] Numerous grooves 24 extending in the left-right direction are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the case body 11. Holes 23 penetrating from the inside to the outside are provided at predetermined positions within some of the grooves 24. In the area corresponding to the storage section 16, a total of two holes 23 are provided in one groove 24, one on each of the left and right ends. These holes 23 constitute heat dissipation vents, suppressing the inside of the storage section 16 from becoming too hot due to natural convection and natural heat dissipation. Holes 23 are also formed in grooves 24 located in the area corresponding to the space for housing the circuit section 2 in front of the partition wall 14. The holes 23 in this area corresponding to the space for housing the circuit section 2 are formed at a higher density than those on the storage section 16 side. Configurations for high density include, for example, increasing the number of holes 23 formed in a single groove 24, or reducing the arrangement pitch of the grooves 24 forming the holes 23 to increase the number of grooves 24 with holes 23 per unit length in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment, both approaches are employed, with six holes 23 formed in one groove 24, and holes 23 formed in all grooves 24. Since the circuit section 2 generates more heat, the holes 23 are arranged at a high density to enhance heat dissipation and suppress as much as possible the transfer of heat generated on the circuit section 2 side to the battery 1.

[0127] Furthermore, since the hole 23 is formed within the groove 24, it becomes difficult to notice that the hole 23 is formed, and the user may not notice its existence, or even if they do, it is deep inside the groove 24 so it will not bother them much, which is good.

[0128] [Fixed structure of power supply unit 10] It is preferable to attach a hook-and-loop fastener 74 to the bottom surface of the case body 11 and fix it in place so that it can be attached and detached via the hook-and-loop fastener 74. In this embodiment, it is used as an external power supply for in-vehicle equipment, and its installation location is the space under the driver's seat, etc. Many vehicles have carpet in the space under the driver's seat. The hook-and-loop fastener 74 in this embodiment is special in that it has the properties and structure to be attached to carpet. The hook-and-loop fastener 74 is a hook-side fastener 74 for attaching to such carpet. The hook-and-loop fastener 74 is attached using double-sided tape that adheres to the PP material of the case body 11. It is preferable to use this hook-and-loop fastener 74 to connect and fix it directly to the carpet of the vehicle. In places where there is no carpet, it is preferable to attach a loop-side hook-and-loop fastener that adheres to the hook-and-loop fastener 74 to the vehicle side and fix it in place so that it can be attached and detached to the hook-and-loop fastener on the vehicle side.

[0129] Furthermore, in this embodiment, protruding pieces 70 are formed at two locations, front and rear, on the lower left and right sides of the case body 11, and through holes 71 are provided that penetrate vertically through these protruding pieces 70. These protruding pieces 70 and through holes 71 also provide a function for fixing the device to the installation location. For example, bolts can be inserted into the through holes 71 and secured using bolts and nuts. This allows the power supply unit 10 to be fixed more securely, which is advantageous because it can be held in place even when used in locations with significant vibration. Alternatively, the device can be fixed using cable ties or the like through holes 71. Using cable ties allows for easy and convenient installation.

[0130] A recessed portion 72 extending vertically is provided on the side of the case body 11 adjacent to the projection 70. This recessed portion 72 provides space for the wrench used when tightening the bolt.

[0131] In this embodiment, power is supplied to in-vehicle equipment, and for such applications, the vibration applied to the power supply unit 10 is limited to approximately 3G at most, so fastening with hook-and-loop fasteners 74 is sufficient. Therefore, for in-vehicle use only, it is possible to omit the protruding pieces 70 and other components, resulting in a clean, unified design with an arc shape along the entire length in the front-to-back direction. On the other hand, by providing the protruding pieces 70 and multiple different fastening structures as in this embodiment, it becomes possible to install the unit in locations where greater vibrations occur, which is advantageous.

[0132] For use in locations with greater vibrations, for example, it can be used in surveillance cameras and factories (for example, to verify the operation of newly installed machine tools (for example, to film and record the operation when defective products are produced)). To verify the cause of defects, a camera is installed near the machine tool and recording is made. Since these installation sites also experience significant vibrations (for example, around 10G), the device is securely fixed with bolts and nuts. When installed on vehicles, for example, in vehicles that generate large vibrations such as forklifts, a fixing structure utilizing the through-hole 71 of the projection 70 is used. When used on forklifts, it is suitable for powering a drive recorder that films the entire surroundings in 360 degrees, capturing the situation during operations such as rotation in place, or, like a normal vehicle, filming the surroundings while driving.

[0133] [Battery replacement] As described above, the space formed by the case body 11 and the rear case 13 becomes the battery storage section 16. The rear surface of the case body 11 is open, and this opening serves as the battery removal point. When the rear case 13 is removed, the rear surface 11b of the case body 11 opens, and one end of the battery 1 protrudes to the outside (see Figures 28, 29, etc.). Then, by disconnecting the first connector 7 and the second connector 8, the battery 1 can be attached to and detached from the storage section 16 from the rear surface 11b side of the case body 11. In this way, the battery 1 is replaceable in this embodiment.

[0134] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the battery 1 is replaced from the rear surface 11b of the case body 11, which is opened by removing the rear case 13, there is no need to remove the circuit unit 2 during the replacement, and the user can perform the replacement themselves.

[0135] In this embodiment, the left and right sides of the case body 11 are curved. This curved side surface is used to facilitate the routing of the power cord 6 to the front case 12. Specifically, the storage compartment 16 of the case body 11 that houses the battery 1 is close to the dimensions of the battery 1 and has little room, so the space 26 is also narrow. The user inserts the power cord 6 into the storage compartment 16 with the first connector 7 at the front, and then pushes the power cord 6 further in together with the battery 1 without being able to confirm the position of the first connector 7. When pushing in, if the first connector 7 is pushed in so that it touches the curved inner surface, it will be naturally guided to the tip of the curve, i.e., the left end in the left-right direction, and can be brought out through the communication hole 14a provided in the partition wall 14. Since the communication hole 14a is designed to open continuously with the curved inner surface, the first connector 7 can be brought out smoothly.

[0136] In this embodiment, the side surface of the housing 3 is curved to match the outer shape of the battery 1. The curved shape eliminates corners, making it difficult to place circuit board wiring patterns and components, resulting in dead space. This dead space is utilized for wiring the power cord 6 and for housing the first connector 7 and the second connector 8.

[0137] In this embodiment, as described above, the current supply from battery 1 to circuit 2 is switched on and off by attaching and detaching the connector, and a mechanical power ON / OFF switch is not provided to cut off the power supply from battery 1 to circuit 2. In the case of a battery 1 that can be removed from the housing 3, it is necessary to disconnect the connection with the circuit 2 inside the housing 3 when removing it, and in order to easily disconnect this connection, it is preferable to use a battery in which the connector is attached to the power cord, and in this embodiment, such a battery is adopted, and a battery 1 equipped with a first connector 7 on the power cord 6 is used. In this way, the connector that is originally necessary for this purpose is also used as the first connector 7 for cutting off the current flowing from battery 1 to circuit 2 when power is not supplied to the device, thereby eliminating the need for the mechanical power ON / OFF switch mentioned above and achieving miniaturization with a simple configuration. In particular, in this embodiment, power may be supplied to in-vehicle equipment, and if the terminal voltage of battery 1 is set to 12V to match the vehicle's battery voltage and the charging current is, for example, about 2A, a corresponding mechanical switch would also need to be large, so the space reduction effect by not providing such a switch is significant.

[0138] Furthermore, if the power supply unit 10 of this embodiment is placed in a hidden location, such as under a seat, it is inherently difficult to operate, and even if a switch is provided, the operability will not improve significantly. Therefore, the operation of opening the cover member 17 and disconnecting the connector is not much different from operating a switch, and the effect of saving space is more significant, making it preferable.

[0139] [Examples of power supply usage status and powered devices] The equipment to which power is supplied by the power supply device of this embodiment may be, for example, in-vehicle equipment. Some in-vehicle equipment operates by receiving power from the vehicle's battery. To protect the vehicle's battery, some in-vehicle equipment is supplied from the vehicle's battery only when the engine is ON, such as when the vehicle is running or idling, and the power to the in-vehicle equipment is turned OFF when the engine is turned OFF. The power supply device 10 of this embodiment may be used, for example, to supply power to in-vehicle equipment when the engine is OFF and the vehicle is parked, so that the in-vehicle equipment can operate. In-vehicle equipment that operates when the vehicle is parked may be, for example, a dashcam. A dashcam has the function of recording the surroundings while driving and recording a certain period before and after an impact, such as in the event of an accident. Therefore, while the vehicle is parked, the power supply device 10 continues to supply power to the dashcam, recording the surroundings of the vehicle and recording a certain period before and after an impact, for example. This allows it to be used as a surveillance camera while the vehicle is parked or stopped.

[0140] Figure 38 shows an example of an external connection configuration when supplying power to an in-vehicle device. A connector 76 attached to one end of the power cable 75 is connected to the input terminal 20, and the other end of the power cable 75 is connected to the vehicle's battery. A connector 78 attached to one end of the in-vehicle device's connection cable 77 is connected to the output terminal 21, and the other end of the connection cable 77 is connected to the in-vehicle device. As mentioned above, the in-vehicle device may be, for example, a drive recorder, and in addition to power supply, it may also have a function to communicate data with the drive recorder using the connection cable 77.

[0141] The setting switch 27 is used to set the recording time after, for example, the engine is turned off. The recording time can be up to 12 hours, and several pre-set time slots can be specified using the setting switch 27. The power supply unit 10 supplies power for the time set by this setting switch 27, and then turns off the output.

[0142] The microcontroller 57 controls the ON / OFF of the power supply and the communication. The microcontroller 57 also monitors the voltage of the built-in battery 1 and has a function to turn off the output if the voltage drops even if the set recording time has not been reached. As mentioned above, for example, the charging circuit will stop charging if the voltage of battery 1 falls below a reference value, so to prevent this from happening, it is designed to stop operating when the voltage reaches a certain level (for example, 10V) with a margin set based on the reference value.

[0143] Furthermore, communication with the dashcam can be used, for example, to set the recording time from the dashcam side. Although operating the setting switch 27 is cumbersome, allowing the recording time to be changed from the dashcam side is beneficial because it allows the recording time to be adjusted according to the parking location and other circumstances, preventing unnecessary long recording times and thus reducing battery consumption. The setting switch 27 also sets whether the connected dashcam has a communication function or not, and if it does not have a communication function, the recording time is set using the setting switch.

[0144] Furthermore, if the dashcam's communication allows for setting cancellation areas where recording is not performed even when the vehicle is parked, such as in a garage at home, it notifies the power supply unit 10 that power supply is not required when the vehicle is in a cancellation area. As a result, the power supply unit 10 stops outputting power even if the engine or other equipment is turned off and the set recording time has not yet been reached.

[0145] The dashcam should recognize whether it is powered by battery 1 or the vehicle's battery, and adjust the recording frame rate accordingly. This would reduce battery 1's consumption and voltage drop when the engine is off and the dashcam is powered by battery 1, for example by lowering the frame rate or recording in slow motion.

[0146] The power supply unit of this embodiment is particularly suitable for people who only drive occasionally. "Only driving occasionally" means, for example, not driving for a week or a month. And since the dashcam is activated after the engine and other systems are turned off and the driver gets out of the vehicle, the connector will only be disconnected at least after the dashcam has stopped operating. For example, if a user parks their car in their home garage at night and uses the dashcam to record the surroundings at night, they would disconnect the connector the following morning when they will not be driving.

[0147] Also, battery 1 will be fully charged after, for example, 3 hours of driving. However, in the summer, for example, the temperature will be high, so it may not be fully charged even after 3 hours. In such cases, it is a good idea to disconnect the connector to suppress the voltage drop of battery 1.

[0148] [Variation of the second connector attached to the circuit board] In the embodiment described above, the second connector 8 is installed from above with the connector insertion / removal direction aligned with the first circuit board 51. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, it may be arranged to be inserted and removed from the left side, opposite to the second inner wall 32. The cover member 17 is also easier to work with if inserted and removed from the left side, as the left end of the front case 12 is three-dimensionally open. However, the power cord 6 is stiff and difficult to bend, so if inserted and removed from the left side, the power cord 6 will stick out significantly to the left, requiring a large storage space. Therefore, it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which the power cord is inserted and removed from above, along the circuit board, as in the embodiment.

[0149] Furthermore, although the second connector 8 was mounted on the first substrate 51 in the embodiment described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and a separate substrate may be provided in addition to the first substrate 51 and the second substrate 52, and the connector may be mounted on that substrate. In this case, the substrate can be positioned at a different height from the first substrate 51, so for example, the substrate on which the second connector is mounted can be positioned in the same position as in the embodiment, and the first substrate 51 can be positioned slightly further back, thereby shortening the length of the front case 12 in the front-to-back direction and allowing for a more compact arrangement. Mounting the second connector 8 on the first substrate 51, as in the embodiment, is preferable because electrical conductivity between the second connector 8 and the circuit on the first substrate 51 can be achieved through the wiring pattern, and the substrate on which the second connector 8 is mounted can be fixed by fixing the substrate in the internal space surrounded by the second inner wall 32 and the peripheral wall portion 12b.

[0150] Alternatively, for example, the first substrate 51 may not be provided on the outside of the second inner wall 32, and the second connector 8 may be attached to the second substrate 52. In that case, the direction in which the connector is inserted and removed should be perpendicular to the surface of the second substrate 52.

[0151] [Modified example of cover component] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cover member 17 is formed integrally with the housing, but it may also be formed as a separate component that can be attached to and detached from the housing. It is preferable to have the cover member 17 integrated with the housing, as in this embodiment, because it prevents the cover member 17 from being lost. For example, if the cover member is a separate component, the user may remove the cover member from the housing to attach or detach the connector, and then attach the removed cover member to the opening. However, if the cover member is removed and placed around, it may get lost or misplaced. In particular, the cover member should be sized to match the dimensions and shape of the opening, as this makes it small and easily lost. Also, as in this embodiment, the device is preferably for in-vehicle use, and the installation location for such an in-vehicle device is preferably below the floor inside the vehicle. If the installation location of the device is such that it is difficult to attach and detach the connector, the user may concentrate on attaching and detaching the connector and may not be able to find the cover member that has been temporarily placed around or elsewhere. Furthermore, if the size of the cover member decreases in proportion to the size of the opening, the process of attaching and detaching the cover member from the housing of a separate component becomes complicated. Therefore, in light of this point, it is preferable to construct the cover member integrally with the housing.

[0152] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the cover member 17 covers the entire opening 3a, but it may also cover only a part of it. The same applies if the part that covers only a part is made of a separate component.

[0153] Furthermore, if the cover member 17 is configured to cover a portion of the opening 3a, it is preferable that the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 do not protrude from the housing 3 when a portion is covered. To prevent them from protruding from the housing 3, for example, the area of ​​the opening 3a that is not covered by the cover member 17 and is open should have a width and dimensions that prevent the connected first connector 7 and second connector 8 from passing through. By covering them with the cover member 17, for example, the first connector 7 and second connector 8, when connected, are prevented from protruding from the housing 3 when the power supply unit 10 is in use, and the first connector 7 and second connector 8 are prevented from accidentally touching and disconnecting by the user.

[0154] Furthermore, even if the opening 3a is not covered by the cover member 17, the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 may not protrude from the housing 3. However, in this uncovered state, it is preferable to allow at least one of the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 to be positioned outside the housing 3. This allows the cover member 17 to be removed from the opening 3a, and at least one of the connectors to be positioned outside the housing 3 when the opening 3a is not covered, which is advantageous for tasks such as attaching and detaching the connectors. As a configuration that allows the connectors to be positioned outside the housing 3, for example, the length of wires other than the wiring pattern connected to the connectors, such as power cords, can be increased to position the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 outside the housing 3. In this way, for example, the user can easily attach and detach the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 while they are positioned outside the housing 3, and after the attachment and detachment work, the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 can be stored inside the housing 3.

[0155] [No cover material included] In the embodiment described above, a cover member 17 is provided, but it is not necessary to provide a cover member. If there is no cover member and the connector is exposed, it does not look good and dust and other debris can enter the housing 3, so it is preferable to provide a cover member 17 as in this embodiment. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a cover member 17 and keep the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 housed inside the cover member 17 when the cover member 17 is closed, regardless of the connection status of the connectors.

[0156] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the second connector 8 is directly attached to the circuit board, but in the present invention, it is not necessarily required to attach it directly to the circuit board, and it may be connected via a cord. In this case, it is preferable to make the cord longer and, after attaching and detaching the first and second connectors with them removed from the housing, push them back into the housing for storage. This is advantageous because the attachment and detachment work can be performed in a wide space outside the housing. However, in this configuration, the cord becomes longer, and storage space for the long cord is required when storing it inside the housing, so it is preferable to directly connect it to the circuit board as in the embodiment.

[0157] [Magnetic shielding function] In the above-described embodiment, the spacer member 53 also serves a heat dissipation function, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is preferable to replace the heat dissipation function with, or in addition to the heat dissipation function, a magnetic shielding function.

[0158] For example, a magnetic field source, such as a coil element, is placed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of multiple substrates, and a spacer member 53 is placed around the magnetic field source. For example, as shown in Figure 23, if a hole 53a is formed in the spacer member 53, it is placed on the opposing back surfaces of the first substrate 51 or the second substrate 52 so that the magnetic field source is located within the hole 53a. If the spacer member is made of a magnetic material, a closed magnetic path is formed by the spacer member 53 surrounding the magnetic field source, and the magnetic field does not leak out from the sides of the spacer member 53. The perimeter can be the entire perimeter on all four sides, but it is particularly good to surround the sides so that the spacer member 53 can be made of a single material having a hole 53a, as in the embodiment.

[0159] [USB port] In the embodiment described above, the output terminal 21 outputs a voltage of 12V to supply power to in-vehicle equipment, but it is preferable to also have a USB terminal and a 5V output function. However, since a USB terminal generates a large amount of heat when outputting power, which can degrade the performance of the battery, it is preferable to have a configuration without a USB terminal as in the embodiment.

[0160] [The connector is not connected when shipped.] In the embodiment described above, an example was explained in which the connectors are disconnected when the user does not use the device for a long period of time. However, it is preferable to disconnect the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 at the time of shipment. Disconnecting both connectors at the time of shipment is beneficial because it suppresses battery power consumption even while the device is in the user's possession. For example, if the device is stored for a long period of time, the effect of dark current becomes significant, and the battery voltage may drop to a state where it cannot be charged, potentially resulting in a defect. Disconnecting them at the time of shipment helps to suppress the occurrence of such a situation. When the device is sold with the connectors disconnected at the time of shipment, the user first connects the connectors to enable power supply to devices such as dashcams before use.

[0161] [Other configurations] The cover member 17 should be designed so that it can be closed even when the connectors are disconnected. The space that can be closed by the cover member 17 has space to accommodate the disconnected first connector 7 and second connector 8. If the cover member is left open, dust may enter the housing 3, and something may get caught on the open cover member, which could put stress on the hinge and cause it to break. Therefore, if the cover member can be closed even when the connectors are disconnected, these problems can be avoided by keeping the cover member closed except when connecting or disconnecting the connectors.

[0162] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the cushion 22 provided in the battery storage section 16 is located on the upper side, but the installation location and number are arbitrary and various solutions can be implemented. For example, if the vibration is up to about 3G for in-vehicle equipment, it can adequately handle the situation, so the configuration of the embodiment, which is simple and less prone to deterioration with long-term use, is preferable. On the other hand, if the device is used in a location with large vibrations of about 7G or more, the holding power is insufficient with just one cushion on the upper side, and the battery 1 may move inside the housing 3, potentially causing the heat shrink tubing 5 of the battery 1 to rupture. In such cases, to suppress movement, it is advisable to increase the size of the cushion or provide additional cushions on the lower side, etc.

[0163] The main case 11 and the rear case 12 are firmly connected from the side by fastening nuts 14 and bolts, so they will not come apart even when installed in a location where large vibrations of 7G or more occur. On the other hand, when installing in a location where vibrations of about 3G occur, such as in a vehicle, the connection can be made by fitting protrusions and recesses, such as claws, instead of using the bolts and nuts. This configuration makes the structure simple and easy to attach and detach. However, as in this embodiment, fixing with bolts and nuts from the side is preferable because it can be used and accommodate installation in locations where large vibrations occur without increasing the size of the device.

[0164] In the embodiment described above, the light-emitting unit 21 is configured such that light from the LED 56 provided on the first substrate 51 travels through the light guide path to the fourth aperture 12f provided on the front case 12, where it emits light. However, for example, the light source such as the LED 56 may be placed near the fourth aperture 12f, and the light may be emitted from the portion of the fourth aperture 12f.

[0165] In the embodiment described above, the circuit unit 2 is equipped with multiple circuits such as a charging circuit and a voltage monitoring circuit, but it may be just one. If there are multiple circuits, the current flow from the battery 1 that is stopped when the first connector 7 and the second connector 8 are disconnected may be limited to some of the multiple circuit units, but it is preferable to include all of the circuit units as in the embodiment, as this more effectively suppresses the decrease in the remaining capacity of the battery 1.

[0166] In the embodiment described above, the case body 11 is cylindrical, and the part surrounding the entire circumference of the battery 1 is a single piece. This is preferable because it allows the battery 1 to be securely stored and held. Although it is preferable to form it as a cylindrical shape, the configuration of the case body is not limited to this, and for example, it may be configured so that the battery is sandwiched between multiple parts, such as an upper and lower division. If the power supply device 10 is configured to be used in a place with a lot of vibration, for example, an embodiment that securely stores and holds the battery 1 is preferable.

[0167] In the embodiment described above, a secondary battery was used as battery 1, but a primary battery may also be used. Using a secondary battery is preferable because it can be recharged, and it is particularly preferable to configure it to receive power from the vehicle's battery to charge battery 1, as in the embodiment. As in the embodiment, it is advantageous because battery 1 can be charged, for example, while the vehicle is running.

[0168] Furthermore, although the present invention is described as a power supply device, it is not limited to power supply devices and includes, for example, electrical equipment and electronic devices that operate using the power of a battery built into the device itself. In such electrical equipment and electronic devices, the present invention is preferably applicable to devices that have a circuit section that consumes power even when the power supply of the device is OFF, by allowing current to flow from the built-in battery.

[0169] As described above, the power supply unit 10 of this embodiment includes a charging circuit that receives power from the vehicle's battery and charges the internal battery 1, and a power output circuit that supplies power to external devices based on the power supply from the vehicle's battery. The power output circuit should be configured to supply power to external devices based on the power supply from the vehicle's battery, regardless of the connection status of the first connector 7 and the second connector 8. This is advantageous because even if the first and second connectors are forgotten to be disconnected, power can be supplied to the in-vehicle equipment and it can be driven while the engine is turned on and normal driving is in progress.

[0170] While various aspects of the present invention have been described above using embodiments and modifications, it should be noted that these embodiments and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but rather to aid in understanding it. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations explicitly described in the specification, but also includes combinations of the various aspects of the present invention disclosed herein. Although the configurations for which patent protection is sought are specified in the appended claims, it should be noted that even configurations not currently specified in the claims may be claimed in the future.

[0171] The present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the embodiments above. The components of each embodiment and modification described above may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of each embodiment and modification may be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention or a component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention.

[0172] Furthermore, although the drawing depicts the entire device with solid lines, it is a drawing that includes not only the overall design but also partial designs claimed for parts of the device. For example, it is a drawing that includes not only partial designs for some components of the device, but also partial designs for parts of the device that are unrelated to any components. Parts of the device may be components of the device, or parts of those components. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0173] 1 battery 2 Circuit section 3 cabinets 3a opening 6 Power cord 7. First connector 8. Second connector 10 Power supply 11 Case body 11a Front 11b Rear 12 Previous Cases 12a Front wall 12b Peripheral wall part 12c first opening 12d Second opening 12e Third opening 12f 4th opening 13 Rear case 14 Partition Wall 14a Communication hole 16 Storage compartment 17 Cover component 18. Hinge section 20 Input terminal section 21 Output terminal section 22 cushions 27 Setting Switch 31 First inner wall 32 Second inner wall 36 Plate members 37 Seals 42 First Heatsink 43 Thermal Sheet 51 First board 52 Second board 53 Spacer member 56 LED 57 Microcontroller 59 Coil element 63 Second heatsink 65 Thermal Sheets 66 cushions

Claims

1. It comprises a battery, a circuit board, and an enclosure to house them, The outer surface of the housing has grooves formed therein that extend in a predetermined direction. The groove is provided with a hole that penetrates through the inside and outside of the housing. Multiple grooves are formed on the outer surface of the housing. Of the outer surface of the housing, the side where the circuit board is housed has more holes in a single groove than the side where the battery is housed. A device characterized by the following features.

2. It comprises a battery, a circuit board, and an enclosure to house them, The outer surface of the housing has grooves formed therein that extend in a predetermined direction. The groove is provided with a hole that penetrates through the inside and outside of the housing. Multiple grooves are formed on the outer surface of the housing. On the outer surface of the housing, the side where the circuit board is housed has a narrower spacing between the grooves where the holes are provided than the side where the battery is housed. A device characterized by the following features.

3. It comprises a battery, a circuit board, and an enclosure to house them, The outer surface of the housing has grooves formed therein that extend in a predetermined direction. The groove is provided with a hole that penetrates through the inside and outside of the housing. Multiple grooves are formed on the outer surface of the housing. Of the outer surface of the housing, the side where the circuit board is housed has a larger ratio of grooves with holes to grooves without holes compared to the side where the battery is housed. A device characterized by the following features.

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