Electronic device

Abstract

This electronic device comprises: an electronic component main body; a printed board; a terminal which has a coil spring that is electrically in contact with the printed board in a state of being compressed in a predetermined direction; and a suppression member that suppresses movement of the electronic component main body so that the electronic component main body is not separated from the printed board in the predetermined direction. For example, the suppression member has: a fixed part to be fixed to the electronic component main body; and a suppression part that is continuous with the fixed part and suppresses movement of the electronic component main body with respect to the printed board.

Description

electronic equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device.

[0002] Handheld electronic devices are evaluated assuming they are dropped.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic device that includes an electronic component having lead terminals, a case in which the electronic component is housed, a nut that fastens the electronic component to the case, and a printed circuit board having a conductive path, and the lead terminals are electrically connected to the conductive path.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-158372

[0005] In the electronic device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the nut loosens due to the impact of the drop during a drop test. When the nut loosens, the position of the electronic component relative to the case shifts, which in turn shifts the position of the electronic component relative to the printed circuit board, which can cause poor contact between the lead terminals and the conductive paths.

[0006] In particular, if the terminal has a coil spring that contacts the printed circuit board in a compressed state, loosening of the nut may cause the electronic component to shift position relative to the printed circuit board, which may make poor contact between the coil spring and the printed circuit board more likely to occur.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of preventing displacement of electronic components relative to a printed circuit board.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the electronic device of the present invention comprises an electronic component body, a printed circuit board, a terminal having a coil spring that is in electrical contact with the printed circuit board while compressed in a predetermined direction, and a suppression member that suppresses movement of the electronic component body so that the electronic component body does not move away from the printed circuit board in the predetermined direction.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent displacement of electronic components relative to a printed circuit board.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a front view of an electronic component according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a side view of the electronic component according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an electronic device in a comparative example. Fig. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a portion of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of an electronic component according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 depicts an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis. In FIG. 1, the left-right direction is referred to as the X-direction, the right-hand direction is referred to as the right side or "+X-direction," and the left-hand direction is referred to as the left side or "-X-direction." In addition, in FIG. 1, the up-down direction is referred to as the Y-direction, the up-side direction is referred to as the upper side or "+Y-direction," and the down-side direction is referred to as the lower side or "-Y-direction." In addition, in FIG. 1, the depth direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper is referred to as the Z-direction, the front side is referred to as the front side or "+Z-direction," and the back side is referred to as the rear side or "-Z-direction."

[0012] 2, electronic device 100 includes electronic component 1, case 2, printed circuit board 3, mounting screw 17, and nut 19. In this embodiment, electronic component 1 is a potentiometer that outputs a voltage corresponding to the amount of mechanical displacement of the rotation of an input shaft, or a rotary encoder that converts the amount of mechanical displacement of the rotation of the input shaft into a digital value.

[0013] (Electronic Component 1 ) As shown in FIG. 1 , the electronic component 1 has an electronic component body 12 , a bearing portion 13 , and an input shaft 15 .

[0014] The electronic component body 12 has a housing-like outer shape and has an upper surface 12 a, a lower surface 12 b, a right side surface 12 c, a left side surface 12 d, a front surface 12 e, and a rear surface 12 f. Note that the interior of the electronic component body 12 is omitted in FIG. 1 .

[0015] Fig. 3 is a side view of the electronic component according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 3, the bearing portion 13 extends from the front surface 12e in the +Z direction (toward the user). The input shaft 15 is rotatably supported by the bearing portion 13. A threaded portion is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion 13. The mounting screw 17 is also formed by the threaded portion.

[0016] The electronic component 1 has two first terminals 14, three second terminals 16, and a suppression member 18. However, the number of first terminals 14 and the number of second terminals are not limited to this.

[0017] 1 and 3, the two first terminals 14 are arranged on the upper surface 12a so as to be aligned in the X direction (left-right direction). Each of the two first terminals 14 is a shaft-shaped terminal that protrudes from the upper surface 12a in the +Y direction (upward).

[0018] The three second terminals 16 are arranged on the upper surface 12a so as to be aligned in the X direction (left-right direction). Each of the three second terminals 16 is located in the −Z direction (rearward direction) relative to the first terminals 14. Of the three second terminals 16, the second terminals 16 located on the right and left sides in the X direction are located in the same positions in the X direction as the two first terminals 14, respectively.

[0019] Each of the three second terminals 16 has a spring member. The spring member is, for example, a coil spring 16A. The coil axis of the coil spring 16A extends in the +Y direction from the upper surface 12a. The coil spring 16A is disposed in a compressed state between the upper surface 12a and the lower surface 3b of the printed circuit board 3. The length of the coil axis of the coil spring 16A is set to be longer than the gap in the Y direction (vertical direction) provided between the upper surface 12a and the lower surface 3b of the printed circuit board 3 by the amount by which the coil spring 16A is compressed.

[0020] 2 and 3, the suppression member 18 is disposed in a position in the −Z direction (rearward direction) relative to each of the three second terminals 16. The suppression member 18 is disposed in the same position in the X direction as the second terminal 16 that is disposed in the center position in the X direction among the three second terminals 16.

[0021] The suppression member 18 is a flat plate-shaped member whose elongated direction is the Y direction (vertical direction). The suppression member 18 has a fixed portion 18a, a crank portion 18b, and a suppression portion 18c. The fixed portion 18a extends from the lower end to the upper end of the back surface 12f and is fixed to the back surface 12f. The crank portion 18b is continuous with the upper end of the fixed portion 18a and has a primary bent portion 18b-1 bent from the position of the back surface 12f in the -Z direction (toward the rear), and a secondary bent portion 18b-2 bent from the tip of the primary bent portion 18b-1 in the +Y direction (upward).

[0022] The suppression portion 18c extends from the upper surface 12a in the +Y direction (corresponding to the "predetermined direction" of the present invention). Specifically, the suppression portion 18c has a primary extension portion 18c-1 that is continuous with the upper end of the secondary bent portion 18b-2 and extends from the position of the upper end in the -Z direction (toward the rear) with respect to the +Y direction (upward), and a secondary extension portion 18c-2 that is continuous with the upper end of the primary extension portion 18c-1 and extends from the position of the upper end in the +Z direction (toward the front) with respect to the +Y direction (upward).

[0023] The secondary extending portion 18c-2 is bent at a predetermined angle relative to the primary extending portion 18c-1. This forms a convex portion 18c-3 that protrudes in the -Z direction (rearward). The amount of protrusion of the convex portion 18c-3 in the -Z direction (rearward) (the amount of protrusion of the convex portion) is set based on the results and evaluation of experiments and simulations.

[0024] As described above, the two first terminals 14, the three second terminals 16 (coil springs 16A), and the suppression member 18 each extend in the +Y direction (upward) from the top surface 12a. The length of the first terminals 14 in the Y direction (up-down direction) is set according to the thickness of the printed circuit board 3. As a result, the upper ends of the first terminals 14 protrude in the +Y direction beyond the top surface 3a of the printed circuit board 3.

[0025] The upper end of the first terminal 14 is located further in the +Y direction (upward) than the upper end of the second terminal 16 (coil spring 16A). The upper end of the suppressing member 18 is located further in the +Y direction (upward) than the upper end of the first terminal 14. Figure 3 shows the distance Y1 in the Y direction between the position of the upper end of the first terminal 14 and the position of the upper end of the suppressing member 18. In other words, the member that extends the most in the +Y direction (predetermined direction) is the suppressing member 18, the member that extends next in the +Y direction is the first terminal 14, and the member that extends next in the +Y direction is the second terminal 16 (coil spring 16A).

[0026] (Case 2) The case 2 houses the electronic component main body 12. The case 2 is box-shaped with an opening in the +Y direction (upward), and has a bottom wall 22 b, a right side wall (not shown), a left side wall (not shown), a front wall 22 e, and a rear wall 22 f.

[0027] 2, the front wall portion 22e faces the front surface 12e of the electronic component body 12 in the Z direction (depth direction). The front wall portion 22e has an insertion hole 24 that passes through in the Z direction (depth direction). The bearing portion 13, which extends from the front surface 12e in the +Z direction (toward the user), passes through the insertion hole 24. As a result, the threaded portion (mounting screw 17) of the bearing portion 13 is positioned further in the +Z direction than the front wall portion 22e.

[0028] A nut 19 is threadedly engaged with the mounting screw 17. The mounting screw 17 and the nut 19 fasten the electronic component body 12 to the front wall portion 22e.

[0029] (Printed Circuit Board 3) The printed circuit board 3 has mating holes 34 into which the two first terminals 14 are respectively mated, and a through hole 38 into which the suppressing portion 18c is mated. The protrusion 18c-3 resiliently abuts against the periphery of the through hole 38. This generates a frictional force between the protrusion 18c-3 and the periphery of the through hole 38, suppressing movement of the electronic component body 12 relative to the printed circuit board 3 and preventing misalignment of the electronic component body 12 relative to the printed circuit board 3. Furthermore, even if misalignment does occur, the amount of misalignment is small. Note that to ensure that misalignment of the electronic component body 12 relative to the printed circuit board 3 does not occur, the suppressing portion 18c may be fixed to the periphery of the through hole 38 using, for example, reflow soldering.

[0030] (Comparative Example) Next, an electronic device 100A in a comparative example will be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the electronic device 100A in the comparative example. In the description of the electronic device 100A in the comparative example, differences from the configuration of the electronic device 100 in the embodiment of the present invention will be mainly described, and the same components will be assigned the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0031] In a drop test of electronic device 100A in the comparative example, when nut 19 loosens due to the impact of the drop, electronic component body 12 shifts in position relative to printed circuit board 3. This may result in poor contact between second terminal 16 (coil spring 16A) and printed circuit board 3.

[0032] In contrast, in electronic device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, protrusion 18c-3 resiliently abuts against the periphery of through-hole 38. This generates a frictional force between protrusion 18c-3 and the periphery of through-hole 38, thereby suppressing movement of electronic component body 12 relative to printed circuit board 3. As a result, even if nut 19 loosens due to an impact when electronic device 100 is dropped, electronic component body 12 will not shift out of position relative to printed circuit board 3. This makes it possible to prevent poor contact between second terminal 16 (coil spring 16A) and printed circuit board 3.

[0033] (Assembly) Next, assembly of the electronic device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a part of the electronic device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. For ease of explanation, only the first terminal 14, the suppressing portion 18c, the fitting hole 34, and the through hole 38, which are parts of the electronic device 100, are shown.

[0034] First, with the suppression member 18 bent, the suppression portion 18c is inserted into the through-hole 38. This causes the protrusion 18c-3 to resiliently abut against the periphery of the through-hole 38. Figure 5 shows the contact force F1 when the protrusion 18c-3 abuts against the periphery of the through-hole 38, and also shows the reaction force R1 when the periphery of the through-hole 38 pushes back against the protrusion 18c-3.

[0035] Next, each of the two first terminals 14 is inserted into a corresponding one of the fitting holes 34. A reaction force R1 is generated in the protrusion 18c-3, causing each of the two first terminals 14 to resiliently abut against the peripheral edge of the corresponding fitting hole 34. Figure 5 shows the abutment force F2 when the first terminal 14 abuts against the peripheral edge of the fitting hole 34, and also shows the reaction force R2 when the peripheral edge of the fitting hole 34 pushes back the first terminal 14.

[0036] In this manner, the electronic component body 12 and the printed circuit board 3 are assembled. As a result of assembling the electronic component body 12 and the printed circuit board 3, a frictional force is generated between the protrusion 18c-3 and the periphery of the through-hole 38. A frictional force is also generated between the first terminal 14 and the periphery of the fitting hole 34. This prevents the electronic component body 12 from moving relative to the printed circuit board 3. As a result, even if the nut 19 loosens due to an impact when the electronic device 100 is dropped, the electronic component body 12 will not become misaligned relative to the printed circuit board 3.

[0037] Furthermore, when assembling the electronic component main body 12 and the printed circuit board 3, the coil spring 16A only needs to be in contact with the printed circuit board 3 while being compressed in the Y direction, and the suppression portion 18c only needs to be fitted into the through hole 38 from the Y direction, which is the same as the compression direction of the coil spring 16A, thereby improving the ease of assembly between the electronic component main body 12 and the printed circuit board 3.

[0038] The electronic device 100 in the above embodiment comprises an electronic component body 12, a printed circuit board 3, a case 2 that houses the electronic component body 12, mounting screws 17 and nuts 19 that fasten the electronic component body 12 to the case 2, a second terminal 16 having a coil spring 16A that is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 3 while compressed in the Y direction (up and down direction), and an inhibiting member 18 that inhibits movement of the electronic component body 12 so that the electronic component body 12 does not move away from the printed circuit board 3 in the Y direction.

[0039] With the above configuration, even if the nut 19 loosens due to the impact when the electronic device 100 is dropped, the electronic component body 12 will not shift in position relative to the printed circuit board 3, thereby making it possible to prevent poor contact between the second terminal 16 (coil spring 16A) and the printed circuit board 3.

[0040] Furthermore, electronic device 100 in the above embodiment has fixed portion 18a that is fixed to electronic component body 12, and suppressing portion 18c that is continuous with fixed portion 18a and suppresses movement of electronic component body 12 relative to printed circuit board 3. As a result, suppressing portion 18c suppresses movement of electronic component body 12, making it possible to suppress the occurrence of positional deviation of electronic component body 12 relative to printed circuit board 3.

[0041] Furthermore, in electronic device 100 according to the above embodiment, printed circuit board 3 has through-hole 38 penetrating in the Y direction (up-down direction), and suppression portion 18c resiliently abuts against the periphery of through-hole 38. This generates a frictional force between the periphery of through-hole 38 and suppression portion 18c, making it possible to suppress movement of electronic component body 12 relative to printed circuit board 3.

[0042] Furthermore, in electronic device 100 according to the above embodiment, suppression portion 18c is soldered to the periphery of through-hole 38. This reliably prevents displacement of electronic component body 12 relative to printed circuit board 3, thereby improving durability.

[0043] (Modification) In electronic device 100 according to a modification, suppressing member 18 has fixed portion 18a that is fixed to electronic component body 12, and suppressing portion 18c that is continuous with fixed portion 18a and tightly fits into through hole 38. The width of suppressing portion 18c in the Z direction (depth direction) is set to be larger than the diameter of through hole 38 in the Z direction of printed circuit board 3. As a result, suppressing portion 18c fits tightly into through hole 38.

[0044] In the modified example, even if the nut 19 loosens due to the impact when the electronic device 100 is dropped, the suppression portion 18c is tightly fitted into the through hole 38, maintaining the fitted state, and the suppression portion 18c will not come out of the through hole 38, making it possible to prevent the electronic component body 12 from shifting out of position relative to the printed circuit board 3.

[0045] In the above embodiment and modified examples, electronic device 100 includes case 2 and fastening members (mounting screws 17 and nuts 19), and electronic component body 12 is fixed to the case by the fastening members, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a structure in which electronic component body 12 is firmly fixed to printed circuit board 3, no threads are formed on the outer circumferential surface of bearing portion 13, which means that mounting screws 17 and nuts 19 are not required.

[0046] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are merely examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by these embodiments. In other words, the present invention can be carried out in various forms without departing from the gist or main features thereof.

[0047] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2023-075722) filed on May 1, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0048] The present invention is suitably used in electronic devices that require prevention of displacement of electronic components relative to a printed circuit board.

[0049] 1 Electronic component 2 Case 3 Printed circuit board 3a Upper surface 3b Lower surface 12 Electronic component body 12a Upper surface 12b Lower surface 12c Right side surface 12d Left side surface 12e Front surface 12f Rear surface 13 Bearing portion 14 First terminal 15 Input shaft 16 Second terminal 16A Coil spring 17 Mounting screw 18 Suppression member 18a Fixed portion 18b Crank portion 18b-1 Primary bent portion 18b-2 Secondary bent portion 18c Suppression portion 18c-1 Primary extension portion 18c-2 Secondary extension portion 18c-3 Convex portion 19 Nut 22b Bottom wall portion 22e Front wall portion 22f Rear wall portion 34 Fitting hole 38 Through hole

Claims

1. An electronic component body; a terminal fixed to the electronic component body and extending in a predetermined direction; a suppressing member having a fixed portion fixed to the electronic component body and a suppressing portion formed continuously with the fixed portion; a printed circuit board having a fitting hole into which the terminal fits from the predetermined direction and a through hole through which the suppression portion passes from the predetermined direction; a terminal having a coil spring that is in electrical contact with the printed circuit board when compressed in the predetermined direction; Equipped with The suppressing member suppresses movement of the electronic component body so that the electronic component body does not move away from the printed circuit board in the predetermined direction, by a frictional force generated between the through hole and the suppressing portion that resiliently abuts against the peripheral portion of the through hole, and a frictional force generated between the fitting hole and the terminal that resiliently abuts against the peripheral portion of the fitting hole, and the suppressing portion cooperates with the terminal. electronic equipment.

2. The suppression portion is soldered to the peripheral edge of the through hole. The electronic device according to claim 1 .