Electronic article with improved sealing

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic article (1) comprising a sealing device (7) in order to sealingly retain electronic elements in an outer casing (3), the sealing device (7) comprising a first recessed shape (7A) and a second recessed shape (7C) on a peripheral edge (4A) of one (4) of the electronic elements, and a third shape (3C) whose shape complements that of the outer casing (3) and which is arranged to sealingly press on the peripheral edge (4A), said second recessed shape (7C) making it possible to compensate for the deformation, from pressing, of the peripheral edge (4A) in order to limit warping of the outer casing (3).

Description

Electronic item with improved sealing Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of electronic articles such as payment terminals and in particular such an electronic article comprising a sealing device with improved reliability and repairability. Technical background

[0002] It is well known that electronic devices are incompatible with liquids such as water, as these can cause short circuits and oxidation, severely damaging the device's electronic components. Furthermore, some electronic components must be even more strictly protected against dust or, more generally, against air, which consists of molecules much smaller than those of liquids like water.

[0003] In the field of electronic devices, sealing by contact between two surfaces is generally used, but this does not provide protection against liquids such as water, let alone air. Some electronic devices are designed to be sealed either by irreversible bonding (soldering or permanent gluing) or by the use of an intermediate seal. In the first case, the seal is very good and long-lasting, but it is impossible to repair the product without breaking a part. In the second case, the seal is very good, and it is generally possible to repair the product without damage; however, the seal may not hold up over time, particularly due to different thermal expansions between the components and / or warping of the product caused by the pressure of the seal against the intermediate seal.

[0004] The invention aims to provide an electronic article with a high repairability index, having an electronic element cooperating with at least one through hole in the external casing of the electronic article while benefiting from a high protection index of the casing capable of lasting throughout its life cycle.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to an electronic article comprising an external housing enclosing electronic elements, at least one of the electronic elements being arranged to cooperate with at least one through hole in the external housing, characterized in that the electronic article comprises at least one sealing device between said at least one of the electronic elements and the external housing in order to hermetically seal the other electronic elements in the external housing and in that the sealing device comprises a first shape on a first surface of a peripheral edge of said at least one of the electronic elements, a second recessed shape on a second surface of the peripheral edge, the second surface being opposite the first surface, a third shape on a surface of the external housing, complementary in shape to the first shape of the peripheral edge, arranged to press the latter in a hermetic manner,said second hollow shape allows for compensation of deformation by pressing the peripheral edge to limit warping of the external casing.

[0006] Advantageously, according to the invention, the absence of material in the second form directly above the pressing force of the third form against the first form allows the pressed material to partially fill the hollow of the second form without arbitrarily deforming the peripheral edge or exerting a counter-force on the peripheral edge that could warp the outer casing. The seal will therefore be more robust over time. According to another advantage, the complementary first and third forms allow for the correct positioning of at least one of the electronic components relative to the outer casing during each assembly, that is, in particular, after a repair.

[0007] In fact, all the electronic components of the electronic device are protected from dust and liquids such as water, even though at least one of these components faces at least one opening. However, the electronic components remain accessible for repair simply by disassembling the outer casing. Disassembly allows the third form to be removed from the first form, thus eliminating the need for pressing and providing unrestricted access to the electronic components. The invention therefore combines seemingly contradictory qualities, namely high repairability and enclosure protection.

[0008] The invention includes, as an alternative, one or more of the following optional features, taken alone or in combination.

[0009] The peripheral edge of at least one of the electronic components is more flexible than the outer casing to improve the sealing against dust and liquids. Thus, the peripheral edge is essentially the only part that deforms elastically from its initial shape to its second shape when the outer casing is closed (for (re)commissioning / sale) and, conversely, from its second shape to its first shape when the outer casing is opened (for potential after-sales service). For example, the peripheral edge can be made of a polymer such as silicone (RTV, LSR, EVC) or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), making it more elastic than the outer casing, which might be made of a thermoplastic polymer such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polycarbonate (PC).

[0010] The first shape can be convex, forming a continuous ridge along the peripheral edge and cooperating with the complementary concave third shape of the outer casing. Alternatively, the first shape can be concave, forming a groove along the peripheral edge and cooperating with the complementary convex third shape of the outer casing. Thus, each hole in the outer casing will be surrounded by the sealing device's gasket, and any dust or liquid will be able to pass through the hole but cannot extend beyond the peripheral interface between the first and third shapes. The space between each hole and the resulting peripheral gasket can therefore serve as a usable volume for the operation of at least one of the electronic components.

[0011] The first and third complementary shapes can be chosen to exert a predetermined indentation from the first shape to the second shape of the peripheral edge. In other words, the first shape can differ from the third complementary shape in order to increase the pressing force on the peripheral edge. The predetermined indentation can, for example, be between 0.2 mm and 2 mm.

[0012] The peripheral edge can be mounted between a support for the electronic item (such as a printed circuit board or mounting plate) and the external housing of the electronic item.

[0013] Said at least one of the electronic elements may include a control element arranged to be received in said at least one through hole or an acoustic element arranged to emit or detect acoustic waves through said at least one through hole so that a user may communicate with the electronic article.

[0014] The electronic item can form a secure payment terminal. Brief description of the figures

[0015] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the description given below, which is by way of example and in no way limiting, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0016] is a perspective view of an example of an electronic article according to the invention;

[0017] is a front view of an example of an electronic element according to a first variant of the invention;

[0018] is a cross-sectional perspective view according to plane III-III of the;

[0019] is a partial cross-sectional view centered on a first example of a sealing device according to the invention;

[0020] is a front view of part of an example of an external housing according to the invention;

[0021] is a perspective cross-sectional view according to plane VI-VI of the;

[0022] is a partial cross-sectional view centered on a second example of a sealing device according to the invention. Detailed description

[0023] In the various figures, identical or similar elements bear the same references, possibly with an additional subscript. Therefore, a description of their structure and function is not systematically repeated.

[0024] In all that follows, orientations are the orientations of the figures. In particular, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "above", "below", "forward" and "backward" are generally understood in relation to the direction in which the figures are represented.

[0025] Furthermore, the orientation terms are understood in relation to the orthogonal coordinate system represented on the map, in which we distinguish: - a transverse axis X, horizontal extending from right to left; and - a longitudinal axis Y, horizontal extending from bottom to top; - a vertical axis Z, extending from back to front.

[0026] The term "horizontal" is defined with respect to the XY plane, the terms "vertical plane" are defined with respect to a horizontal component projected along the vertical Z axis.

[0027] By "protection against dust and liquids" we mean an enclosure protection rating that conforms to the IP44 rating or higher.

[0028] The invention applies to any type of electronic item 1 such as a mobile phone terminal, a secure payment terminal, an e-reader, a tablet or a computer.

[0029] The invention aims to provide a highly repairable electronic article 1, having an electronic element 4, 6 cooperating with at least one through hole 3A, 3B in the external housing 3 of the electronic article 1, while also benefiting from a high protection rating (IP44 or higher) capable of withstanding its entire life cycle. The electronic article 1 thus mainly comprises the external housing 3 enclosing electronic elements 5 and at least one sealing device 7, 8. As seen in the example illustrated in Figure 1, the external housing 3 forms the majority of the external surface of the electronic article 1, which is a secure payment terminal. The external housing 3 is designed to protect, in particular, the electronic elements 5 and is made, for example, of a rigid polymer such as a thermoplastic polymer like acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polycarbonate (PC).

[0030] According to the application of Article 1 electronics, electronic elements 5 may, for example, include a display such as a liquid crystal display, a touch sensor, a battery, a processor, a storage memory, a random access memory, a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit, a control unit, a power supply device, an electric charging device, a smart card reader, a magnetic card reader, a control element such as a push button, a keypad 4 or a capacitive switch, a wired or wireless secure communication device, an acoustic element 6, etc.

[0031] According to the invention, at least one 4, 6 of the electronic elements 5 is arranged to cooperate with at least one through-hole 3A, 3B of the external housing 3. In the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, the keyboard 4 has keys (fifteen aux and 2) arranged to be received in through-holes 3A (fifteen to the), that is to say, it passes through the external housing 3 via the through-holes 3A on the front outer face of the external housing 3, so that the user can communicate with the electronic element 1. In addition, the acoustic element 6 is arranged to emit or detect acoustic waves through through-holes 3B (eleven to the), that is to say, it is placed under the external housing 3 and communicates via the through-holes 3A with the back outer face of the external housing 3, so that the user can transmit with the electronic element 1.

[0032] Advantageously, according to the invention, the electronic component 1 comprises at least one sealing device 7, 8 between said at least one 4, 6 of the electronic elements 5 and the external housing 3 in order to hermetically seal the other electronic elements 5 within the external housing 3. Each sealing device 7, 8 comprises a first shape 7A, 8A on a first surface 7B, 8B of a peripheral edge 4A, 6A of said at least one 4, 6 of the electronic elements 5. In addition, each sealing device 7, 8 comprises a second shape 7C, 8C recessed on a second surface 7D, 8D of the peripheral edge 4A, 6A, the second surface 7D, 8D being opposite the first surface 7B, 8B.Finally, each sealing device 7, 8 includes a third shape 3C, 3D on a surface of the external housing 3, with a shape complementary to the first shape 7A, 8A of the peripheral edge 4A, 6A, arranged to press the latter in a watertight manner, said second shape 7C, 8C being hollow to compensate for the deformation by pressing of the peripheral edge 4A, 6A to limit the warping of the external housing 3.

[0033] Advantageously, according to the invention, the absence of material in the second form 7C, 8C directly above the pressing force of the third form 3C, 3D against the first form 7A, 8A allows the pressed material to partially fill the hollow of the second form 7C, 8C without arbitrarily deforming the peripheral edge 4A, 6A (the sections remain substantially rectangular) or exerting a counter-force on the peripheral edge 4A, 6A (elastic return) that could warp the external housing 3. The seal will therefore advantageously, according to the invention, be more robust over time. According to another advantage, the complementary first 7A, 8A and third 3C, 3D forms allow for the correct positioning of at least one 4, 6 of the electronic components 5 relative to the external housing 3 at each assembly, that is, in particular after a repair.

[0034] In fact, all the electronic components 5 of article 1 are protected from dust and liquids such as water, while at least one of the electronic components 4, 6 faces at least one through hole 3A, 3B. However, the electronic components 4, 5, 6 remain accessible for repair simply by disassembling the external housing 3. Disassembly allows the third shape 3C, 3D to be removed from the first shape 7A, 8A, which eliminates the pressing force and allows unrestricted access to the electronic components 4, 5, 6. The invention therefore combines seemingly contradictory qualities, namely high repairability and enclosure protection.

[0035] The peripheral edge 4A, 6A of at least one 4, 6 of the electronic elements 5 is more flexible than the outer casing 3 in order to improve the dust and liquid sealing of each sealing device 7, 8. Thus, the peripheral edge 4A, 6A is essentially the only part to deform elastically between the first shape 7A, 8A and the second shape 7C, 8C when the outer casing 3 is closed (for (re)commissioning / sale) and, conversely, between the second shape 7C, 8C and the first shape 7A, 8A when the outer casing 3 is opened (possible after-sales intervention). As an example, the peripheral edge 4A, 6A can be formed from a polymer such as silicone (RTV, LSR, EVC) or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), in order to be more elastic than the external housing 3, for example, formed from a thermoplastic polymer such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polycarbonate (PC).

[0036] In the examples illustrated in Figures 2 to 7, the first shape 7A, 8A is convex and forms a continuous bead on the peripheral edge 4A, 6A, cooperating with the third, complementary concave shape 3C, 3D of the external housing 3. Furthermore, the peripheral edge 4A, 6A is mounted between a support 9A, 9B of the electronic component 1 (such as a printed circuit board or mounting plate) and the external housing 3 of the electronic component 1. Thus, each through hole 3A, 3B in the external housing 3 will be surrounded by the seal of the sealing device 7, 8, and any dust or liquid will be able to pass through each through hole 3A, 3B in the external housing but will not be able to pass beyond the peripheral interface between the first 7A, 8A and the third 3C, 3D complementary shapes.The space between each through hole 3A, 3B and the peripheral joint formed can thus serve as a useful volume (space for the travel of the keys of the keyboard 4, resonance volume of the acoustic element 6) for the operation of at least one 4, 6 of the electronic elements 5.

[0037] Of course, alternatively, the first form 7A, 8A can be concave and form a groove running on the peripheral edge 4A, 6A and cooperating with the third form 3C, 3D convex complementary of the external housing 3 with the same effects and advantages of the invention.

[0038] Regardless of the shapes chosen, the first shape 7A, 8A may differ (for example, in curvature) from the complementary third shape 3C, 3D in order to increase the pressing force on the peripheral edge 4A, 6A. It is understood that the first 7A, 8A and the third 3C, 3D complementary shapes can be chosen to exert a predetermined indentation from the first shape 7A, 8A to the second shape 7C, 8C of the peripheral edge 4A, 6A. The predetermined indentation may, for example, be between 0.2 mm and 2 mm.

[0039] In the first variant illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the sealing device 7 is used to hermetically seal the keyboard 4 of the electronic item 1 between the external housing 3 and the support 9A. In the second variant illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the sealing device 8 is used to hermetically seal the acoustic element 6 of the electronic item 1 between the external housing 3 and the support 9B.

[0040] The invention is not limited to the embodiments and variations shown, and other embodiments and variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Thus, the embodiments and variations can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of the invention. Without limiting the invention, it is possible to modify the first form 7A, 8A and / or the second form 7C, 8C and / or the third form 3C, 3D without departing from the scope of the invention. List of references

[0041] 1 - electronic article 3 - external housing 3A - front hole 3B - back hole 3C - third shape 3D - third shape 4 - keyboard 4A - peripheral edge 5 - electronic elements 6 - acoustic element 6A - peripheral edge 7 - first sealing device 7A - first shape 7B - first surface 7C - second shape 7D - second surface 8 - second sealing device 8A - first shape 8B - first surface 8C - second shape 8D - second surface 9A - support 9B - support

Claims

Electronic article (1) comprising an external housing (3) enclosing electronic elements (5), at least one (4, 6) of the electronic elements (5) being arranged to cooperate with at least one through hole (3A, 3B) in the external housing (3), characterized in that the electronic article (1) comprises at least one sealing device (7, 8) between said at least one (4, 6) of the electronic elements (5) and the external housing (3) in order to hermetically seal the other electronic elements (5) within the external housing (3), and in that the sealing device (7, 8) comprises a first shape (7A, 8A) on a first surface (7B, 8B) of a peripheral edge (4A, 6A) of said at least one (4, 6) of the electronic elements (5), a second shape (7C, 8C) recessed on a second surface (7D, 8D) of the peripheral edge (4A, 6A), the second surface (7C, 8C) being opposite the first surface (7A, 8A), a third shape (3C, 3D) on a surface of the external casing (3),of a complementary shape to the first shape (7A, 8A) of the peripheral edge (4A, 6A), arranged to press the latter in a watertight manner, said second shape (7C, 8C) being concave to compensate for the deformation by pressing of the peripheral edge (4A, 6A) to limit the warping of the external casing (3). electronic article (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the peripheral edge (4A, 6A) of said at least one (4, 6) of the electronic elements (5) is more flexible than the outer housing (3) in order to improve the sealing against dust and liquids of the sealing device (7, 8). electronic article (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the peripheral edge (4A, 6A) of said at least one (4, 6) of the (5) electronic elements is formed from a polymer such as silicone. Article (1) electronic according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first form (7A, 8A) is convex and forms a running bead on the peripheral edge (4A, 6A) and cooperating with the third concave form (3C, 3D) complementary to the external housing (3). Article (1) electronic according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first form (7A, 8A) is concave and forms a groove running on the peripheral edge (4, 6) and cooperating with the third convex form (3C, 3D) complementary to the external housing (3). Article (1) electronic according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first (7A, 8A) and third (3C, 3D) complementary shapes are chosen to exert a predetermined indentation of the first shape (7A, 8A) towards the second shape (7C, 8C) of the peripheral edge (4A, 6A). Electronic article (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the peripheral edge (4A, 6A) is mounted between a support (9A, 9B) of the electronic article (1) and the external housing (3) of the electronic article (1). electronic article (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one (4, 6) of the electronic elements (5) comprises a control element (4) arranged to be received in said at least one through hole (3A) so that a user may communicate with the electronic article (1). electronic article (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one (4, 6) of the electronic elements (5) comprises an acoustic element (6) arranged to emit or detect acoustic waves through said at least one hole (3B) passing through so that a user may communicate with the electronic article (1). Article (1) electronic according to any one of the preceding claims, forming a secure payment terminal.

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