Electronic device

Abstract

An electronic device according to the present disclosure comprises: a housing that is constituted from a plurality of housing members; a power supply unit that is disposed inside a housing space; and a power supply connector that is provided to a first housing member among the plurality of housing members and that is electrically connected to the power supply unit. Removing the first housing member disconnects the electrical connection between the power supply connector and the power supply unit.

Description

Electronic device

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

[0002] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-77821 discloses that a substrate is disposed in a housing, and a power supply module is attached to a connector provided on the substrate.

[0003] A better electronic device has been long awaited.

[0004] An aspect of the present disclosure is an electronic device including: a housing configured by a plurality of housing members that define a housing space; a power supply unit disposed in the housing space; a power supply connector provided on a first housing member among the plurality of housing members, electrically connected to the power supply unit, and to which a power supply cable for supplying power to the power supply unit can be connected; and when the first housing member is removed, the electrical connection between the power supply connector and the power supply unit is released.

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state where the first housing member is attached to the second housing member. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a part of the electronic device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 1. FIG. 6A is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line VIA-VIA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the first housing member is removed from the second housing member. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state where the first housing member is removed from the second housing member. FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the second housing member and the third housing member.

[0006] When the top plate of the housing is removed by a user while power is being supplied to the power supply unit disposed in the housing, there is a concern that the user may get an electric shock.

[0007] The present disclosure can provide an electronic device that can contribute to preventing electric shock.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device 10 according to an embodiment.

[0009] The electronic device 10 is, for example, a control device for controlling industrial machinery. Industrial machinery is, for example, a robot, but is not limited to this. The electronic device 10 comprises a housing 12 (see Figure 1), a power supply unit 14, and a power connector 16.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the housing 12 has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 12 comprises a bottom plate 18 (see Figure 2), a top plate 20, and four side plates 22, 24, 26, and 28. The bottom plate 18, the top plate 20, and the four side plates 22, 24, 26, and 28 are each formed in a rectangular shape. The material of the bottom plate 18, the top plate 20, and the four side plates 22, 24, 26, and 28 is, for example, a metal material. The bottom plate 18 and the side plates 28 are formed integrally. The top plate 20 and the side plates 24 and 26 are formed integrally. As shown in Figure 2, a housing space 30 is formed inside the housing 12. The bottom plate 18, the top plate 20, and the four side plates 22, 24, 26, and 28 (see Figure 1) define the housing space 30.

[0011] In the following description, the front-to-back direction (depth direction) of the enclosure 12 will be referred to as the X direction (first direction). The X direction is the shorter side direction of the enclosure 12. The bottom plate 18 is aligned with the X direction. The direction from rear to front will be referred to as the X1 direction. The direction from front to rear (opposite direction to the X1 direction) will be referred to as the X2 direction.

[0012] The direction perpendicular to the X direction and along the bottom plate 18 is referred to as the Y direction (third direction). The Y direction is the longitudinal direction (width direction) of the housing 12. The direction from side plate 26 toward side plate 24 is referred to as the Y1 direction. The direction from side plate 24 toward side plate 26 (opposite direction to the Y1 direction) is referred to as the Y2 direction.

[0013] The Z direction (second direction) is perpendicular to the X and Y directions. The Z direction is the height direction of the housing 12. The direction from the top plate 20 toward the bottom plate 18 is called the Z1 direction. The direction from the bottom plate 18 toward the top plate 20 (opposite direction to the Z1 direction) is called the Z2 direction.

[0014] The housing 12 comprises a plurality of housing members 32. In this embodiment, the plurality of housing members 32 include a first housing member 34, a second housing member 36, and a third housing member 38.

[0015] The first housing member 34 is the front panel of the housing 12. The first housing member 34 includes a front plate 40 which is a side plate 22 on the X1 direction side, a front portion side plate 24a on the Y1 direction side, and a front portion side plate 26a on the Y2 direction side. The front portion side plate 24a is the portion of the side plate 24 on the Y1 direction side that is on the X1 direction side. The front portion side plate 26a is the portion of the side plate 26 on the Y2 direction side that is on the X1 direction side. In a view in the Z direction, the first housing member 34 as a whole is U-shaped (see Figure 3). An extension portion 42 extending in the X2 direction is provided at the upper end of the front plate 40 (see Figure 5). Two guide holes 44 are formed in each of the two front portion side plates 24a and 26a. The two guide holes 44 are formed spaced apart in the Z direction. The guide holes 44 are formed along the X direction.

[0016] Figure 3 is a plan view of the housing 12. In Figure 3, the third housing member 38 (see Figure 2) is not shown.

[0017] The power connector 16 is provided on the first housing member 34. The power connector 16 is attached to the front plate 40 so as to penetrate the front plate 40 in the X direction. A power cable 46 connected to an external power source (not shown) can be connected to the power connector 16. When the power connector 16 is connected to the power cable 46, AC power can be supplied to the electronic device 10 from the external power source (not shown).

[0018] A support member 48 is provided on the inner surface of the front plate 40 on the X2 direction side. The support member 48 is an L-shaped plate-like member. The support member 48 extends from the front plate 40 in the X2 direction. The tip of the support member 48 is bent in the Y2 direction. A first connector 50 is attached to the tip of the support member 48. The first connector 50 is electrically connected to the power connector 16 via two internal power cables 52.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the second housing member 36 includes a bottom plate 18 and a back plate 54 which is a side plate 28 on the X2 direction side. The back plate 54 is the rear panel of the housing 12. The ends of the back plate 54 on the Y1 direction side and the ends on the Y2 direction side are provided with extensions 56 that extend in the X1 direction. The extensions 56 extend in the Z direction above the bottom plate 18. The extension 56 on the Y1 direction side functions as a rail portion 58, which will be described later (see Figure 9).

[0020] The front portion of the base plate 18 is provided with extending portions 60 that extend in the Z2 direction on the Y1 direction side and the Y2 direction side. The extending portions 60 are plate-like portions parallel to the X and Z directions. Two screw holes 62 are formed in the extending portions 60 (see Figure 6A). The two screw holes 62 are spaced apart in the Z direction. Screw members 64 are screwed into the screw holes 62. The screw members 64 function as guide members 66, which will be described later. The screw members 64 are inserted through the guide holes 44 in the Y direction.

[0021] Furthermore, the front portions of the first housing member 34 and the second housing member 36 have a symmetrical structure. Therefore, in Figures 6A and 6B, the front portion of the housing 12 shown is in the Y1 direction, while the front portion of the housing 12 shown is omitted.

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the power supply unit 14 is located within the housing space 30. More specifically, the power supply unit 14 is located on the bottom plate 18.

[0023] Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a part of the electronic device 10 according to this embodiment. The power supply unit 14 includes a second connector 68, a rectifier circuit 72, a power failure detection circuit 74, a capacitor 75, a discharge circuit 76, and a DC / DC converter 78. The second connector 68, the rectifier circuit 72, the power failure detection circuit 74, the discharge circuit 76, and the DC / DC converter 78 are mounted on a circuit board 70 (see Figure 2). In Figures 2 and 3, for the sake of explanation, the illustration of components of the power supply unit 14 other than the second connector 68 and the circuit board 70 is omitted. The circuit board 70 is fixed to the upper surface of the bottom plate 18 by connecting members 80 such as screws. As shown in Figure 3, the second connector 68 is mounted on the circuit board 70 so as to face the first connector 50 in the X direction.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, the second connector 68 can be electrically connected to the first connector 50. Power lines (wirings) 53a and 53b provided in the internal power cable 52 can be connected to power lines (wirings) 15a and 15b provided in the power supply unit 14, respectively, via the first connector 50 and the second connector 68. Power lines 15a and 15b are connected to the input side of the rectifier circuit 72. When the first connector 50 and the second connector 68 are electrically connected, AC power can be supplied to the input side of the rectifier circuit 72 from an external power source (not shown). The rectifier circuit 72 converts (rectifies) the AC power into DC power.

[0025] Furthermore, the input side of the power outage detection circuit 74 is connected to power lines 15a and 15b. The power outage detection circuit 74 detects whether or not AC power is being supplied to the input side of the rectifier circuit 72. When the power outage detection circuit 74 detects that AC power is being supplied to the input side of the rectifier circuit 72, it turns off the relay 76a of the discharge circuit 76, which will be described later. Also, when the power outage detection circuit 74 detects that the supply of AC power to the input side of the rectifier circuit 72 has stopped, it turns on the relay 76a.

[0026] A DC / DC converter 78 is connected to the output side of the rectifier circuit 72. Between the rectifier circuit 72 and the DC / DC converter 78, there is a capacitor 75 and a discharge circuit 76. The discharge circuit 76 includes a relay 76a and a resistor 76b. The relay 76a and the resistor 76b are connected in series.

[0027] Capacitor 75 smooths the DC voltage (DC voltage) of the DC power rectified by the rectifier circuit 72. When relay 76a is off, DC / DC converter 78 converts the smoothed DC voltage into a DC voltage of a desired value. The converted DC voltage is supplied to an unillustrated electrical load in the enclosure space 30 (see Figure 3).

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the third housing member 38 includes a top plate 20, a rear portion side plate 24b on the Y1 direction side, and a rear portion side plate 26b on the Y2 direction side. The rear portion side plate 24b is the part of the side plate 24 on the Y1 direction side that is rearward from the front portion side plate 24a. The rear portion side plate 26b is the part of the side plate 26 on the Y2 direction side that is rearward from the front portion side plate 26a. In view in the X direction, the third housing member 38 is U-shaped as a whole.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5, a stepped portion (recess) 82 is provided at the front end of the top plate 20. The upper surface of the stepped portion 82 is offset in the Z1 direction relative to the upper surface (top surface) of the top plate 20. The extension portion 42 of the first housing member 34 is located above the stepped portion 82. The extension portion 42 and the stepped portion 82 constitute a removal prevention mechanism 98. The removal prevention mechanism 98 prevents the removal of the third housing member 38 from the second housing member 36. Specifically, when attempting to move the third housing member 38 relative to the second housing member 36 in the Z2 direction, the stepped portion 82 comes into contact with the extension portion 42, thereby preventing the removal of the third housing member 38 from the second housing member 36.

[0030] As shown in Figure 6A, a stepped portion (recess) 84 is provided at the front end of the rear portion side plate 24b. The outer surface of the stepped portion 84 is offset inward in the Y direction (Y2 direction) relative to the outer surface of the rear portion side plate 24b. As described above, since the front portion of the second housing member 36 is symmetrical, a stepped portion 84 is also provided at the front end of the rear portion side plate 26b.

[0031] As shown in Figure 7, an opening 86 is formed in the rear portion side plate 24b on the Y1 direction side. The opening 86 in the rear portion side plate 24b is closed by a cover member 88. A stepped portion (recess) 89 is provided at the front edge of the opening 86. The outer surface of the stepped portion 89 is offset in the Y2 direction relative to the outer surface of the rear portion side plate 24b. An engaging portion 90 is provided at the rear edge of the opening 86. As shown in Figure 9, the engaging portion 90 extends in the Y2 direction from the rear edge of the opening 86. A slit 92 is formed in the engaging portion 90 for inserting the stepped portion 88b, which is part of the cover member 88. Note that the cover member 88 is not shown in Figure 9.

[0032] As shown in Figure 7, the lid member 88 has a main body portion 88a and a stepped portion 88b. The stepped portion 88b is offset in the Y2 direction relative to the main body portion 88a. The main body portion 88a of the lid member 88 abuts against the stepped portion 89 at the front edge of the opening 86 and faces the rear edge of the opening 86 in the X direction, thereby covering the opening 86. The stepped portion 88b of the lid member 88 is inserted through the slit 92 and extends in the X2 direction while the main body portion 88a is covering the opening 86. The lid member 88 and the rear portion side plate 24b are fastened together by a screw member 94.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, in the electronic device 10 according to one embodiment, the first housing member 34 and the third housing member 38 are detachable from the second housing member 36. Specifically, the first housing member 34 is removed first. When the first housing member 34 is removed, the electrical connection between the power connector 16 and the power supply unit 14 is released. Also, when the first housing member 34 is removed, it is possible to remove the third housing member 38 from the second housing member 36. When the first housing member 34 is attached to the second housing member 36, it is not possible to remove the third housing member 38 from the second housing member 36.

[0034] The removal of the first housing member 34 and the third housing member 38 from the second housing member 36 will be described in detail below.

[0035] First, the user removes the first housing member 34 from the second housing member 36. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6A, the user loosens the screw member 64 and releases the first housing member 34 from the tightening state by the screw member 64. Next, as shown in Figure 6B, the user moves the first housing member 34 relative to the second housing member 36 in the X1 direction. Since the guide member 66 is inserted through the guide hole 44, the first housing member 34 moves relative to the guide hole 44 in the X1 direction. As the first housing member 34 moves relative to the guide hole 44, it detaches from the second housing member 36. Due to the relative movement of the first housing member 34, the guide member 66 moves to the other end of the guide hole 44 on the X2 direction side.

[0036] As the first housing member 34 moves relative to the first connector 50, as shown in Figure 8, the first connector 50 moves relative to the first connector 50 in the X1 direction and separates from the second connector 68. This disconnects the electrical connection between the first connector 50 and the second connector 68, and stops the supply of AC power from the power connector 16 to the power supply unit 14. At this time, the power outage detection circuit 74 (see Figure 4) detects the cessation of the AC power supply and turns on the relay 76a. When the relay 76a turns on, a loop current (discharge current) due to the charge stored in the capacitor 75 flows through the resistor 76b. As the discharge current flows, the charge stored in the capacitor 75 is discharged.

[0037] Furthermore, as the extension portion 42 (see Figure 5) of the first housing member 34 moves relative to the X1 direction, the extension portion 42 is no longer positioned above the stepped portion 82 of the third housing member 38. As a result, the third housing member 38 is released from the removal prevention mechanism 98, and the third housing member 38 can be removed from the second housing member 36.

[0038] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the user removes the screw member 96 from the second housing member 36 and the third housing member 38. Next, as shown in Figure 2, the user moves the third housing member 38 relative to the second housing member 36 in the Z2 direction. As shown in Figure 7, since the rail portion 58 is held between the rear portion side plate 24b, the engaging portion 90, and the stepped portion 88b of the lid member 88, the third housing member 38 moves smoothly relative to the rail portion 58 in the Z2 direction (see Figure 9). As a result, as shown in Figure 2, the third housing member 38 can be easily removed from the second housing member 36.

[0039] After the third housing member 38 is removed from the second housing member 36, the user performs maintenance work such as replacing the power supply unit 14. As described above, the electrical connection between the first connector 50 and the second connector 68 is released (see Figure 8), and the charge in the capacitor 75 (see Figure 4) is discharged, so the user can perform maintenance work without being electrocuted.

[0040] As described above, in the electronic device 10 according to one embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, when the first housing member 34 is first removed from the second housing member 36, the electrical connection between the power connector 16 and the power supply unit 14 is released, thus preventing electric shock during maintenance work. Furthermore, since the internal power cable 52 does not need to be plugged in or unplugged from the second connector 68, wiring work during maintenance work is unnecessary. As a result, both the assembly time and maintenance time of the electronic device 10 can be reduced.

[0041] In the electronic device 10, the opening 86 and the lid member 88 (see Figure 7) do not necessarily have to be provided on the third housing member 38. In this case, the rear portion side plate 24b and the engaging portion 90 of the third housing member 38 may come into contact with the rail portion 58 of the second housing member 36 (see Figure 9). Even in this case, when attaching or detaching the third housing member 38 to the second housing member 36, the third housing member 38 can be moved relative to the rail portion 58 in the Z direction.

[0042] The following additional information is disclosed regarding the above embodiments.

[0043] (Appendix 1) The electronic device (10) of the present disclosure includes a housing (12) composed of a plurality of housing members (32) that define a housing space (30), a power supply unit (14) disposed within the housing space, and a power connector (16) provided on a first housing member (34) among the plurality of housing members, electrically connected to the power supply unit, and to which a power cable (46) for supplying power to the power supply unit can be connected. When the first housing member is removed, the electrical connection between the power connector and the power supply unit is released.

[0044] (Appendix 2) In the electronic device according to Appendix 1, the first housing member may be the first housing member to be removed among the plurality of housing members.

[0045] (Appendix 3) In the electronic device according to Appendix 2, a second housing member (36) among the plurality of housing members has the power supply unit disposed therein, and the first housing member is mounted thereon. When the first housing member is mounted on the second housing member, the power connector and the power supply unit are electrically connected, and when the first housing member is removed from the second housing member, the electrical connection between the power connector and the power supply unit may be released.

[0046] (Appendix 4) The electronic device according to Appendix 3 further includes a first connector (50) supported by a support member (48) provided on the first housing member and electrically connected to the power connector via an internal power cable (52). When the first housing member is mounted on the second housing member, the first connector and a second connector (68) provided in the power supply unit are electrically connected, and when the first housing member is removed from the second housing member, the electrical connection between the first connector and the second connector may be released.

[0047] (Supplementary Note 5) In the electronic device according to Supplementary Note 3 or 4, a third housing member (38) among the plurality of the housing members is attached to the second housing member so as to cover the power supply unit disposed in the second housing member, and the housing may further include a removal prevention mechanism (98) for preventing removal of the third housing member from the second housing member in a state where the first housing member is attached to the second housing member.

[0048] (Supplementary Note 6) In the electronic device according to Supplementary Note 5, the second housing member includes the bottom plate (18) of the housing, the first housing member is detachable by relative movement in a first direction (X) which is a direction along the bottom plate, the third housing member includes the top plate (20) of the housing, and is detachable by relative movement along a second direction (Z) which is a direction orthogonal to the bottom plate, and the removal prevention mechanism may include a part (42) of the first housing member located on an end portion (82) of the third housing member in a state where the first housing member is attached to the second housing member.

[0049] (Supplementary Note 7) In the electronic device according to Supplementary Note 6, the second housing member further includes a rail portion (58) extending from the bottom plate along the second direction, and the third housing member may be removed from the second housing member along the rail portion in a state where the first housing member is removed from the second housing member.

[0050] (Supplementary Note 8) In the electronic device according to Supplementary Note 6 or 7, a guide hole (44) extending along the first direction is formed in the first housing member, the second housing member further includes a guide member (66) extending in a direction along a third direction (Y) orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction and inserted into the guide hole, and in a state where the first housing member is attached to the second housing member, the guide member is located at one end of the guide hole in the first direction, and in a state where the first housing member is removed from the second housing member, the guide member may be located at the other end of the guide hole in the first direction.

[0051] (Note 9) In the electronic device described in any one of Notes 1 to 8, the power supply unit may include a capacitor (75) that stores the power supplied from the power connector, and a discharge circuit (76) that discharges the charge stored in the capacitor when the electrical connection between the power connector and the power supply unit is disconnected.

[0052] While this disclosure has been described in detail, it is not limited to the individual embodiments described above. These embodiments can be added, replaced, modified, partially deleted, etc., in any way that does not depart from the gist of this disclosure or from the intent of this disclosure derived from the claims and their equivalents. These embodiments can also be implemented in combination. For example, the order of operations and processes in the embodiments described above are given as examples only and are not limited thereto. The same applies when numerical values ​​or mathematical formulas are used in the description of the embodiments described above.

[0053] 10...Electronic device 12...Housing 14...Power supply unit 16...Power connector 18...Bottom plate 20...Top plate 30...Housing space 32...Housing member 34...First housing member 36...Second housing member 38...Third housing member 42...Extension (part of the first housing member) 44...Guide hole 46...Power cable 48...Support member 50...First connector 52...Internal power cable 58...Rail section 66...Guide member 68...Second connector 75...Capacitor 76...Discharge circuit 82...Stepped section (end of the third housing member) 98...Removal prevention mechanism

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising: a housing composed of a plurality of housing members defining a housing space; a power supply unit disposed within the housing space; and a power connector provided on a first housing member among the plurality of housing members, electrically connected to the power supply unit, and to which a power cable for supplying power to the power supply unit can be connected, wherein the electrical connection between the power connector and the power supply unit is released when the first housing member is removed.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first housing member is the housing member that is removed first among a plurality of housing members.

3. An electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the power supply unit is arranged in the second housing member among the plurality of housing members, and the first housing member is mounted thereon, the power connector and the power supply unit are electrically connected when the first housing member is mounted on the second housing member, and the electrical connection between the power connector and the power supply unit is released when the first housing member is removed from the second housing member.

4. An electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising a first connector which is supported by a support member provided on the first housing member and is electrically connected to the power connector via an internal power cable, wherein the first connector and the second connector provided on the power unit are electrically connected when the first housing member is attached to the second housing member, and the electrical connection between the first connector and the second connector is released when the first housing member is removed from the second housing member.

5. An electronic device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a third housing member among a plurality of housing members is mounted on the second housing member so as to cover the power supply unit disposed on the second housing member, and the housing further comprises a removal prevention mechanism for preventing the removal of the third housing member from the second housing member while the first housing member is mounted on the second housing member.

6. An electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the second housing member includes a bottom plate of the housing, the first housing member is detachable by relative movement in a first direction which is along the bottom plate, the third housing member includes a top plate of the housing and is detachable by relative movement along a second direction which is perpendicular to the bottom plate, and the removal prevention mechanism includes a part of the first housing member located on the end of the third housing member when the first housing member is attached to the second housing member.

7. An electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the second housing member further includes a rail portion extending from the bottom plate in the second direction, and the third housing member can be detached from the second housing member along the rail portion while the first housing member is detached from the second housing member.

8. An electronic device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first housing member has a guide hole extending along the first direction, the second housing member further includes a guide member extending along a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions and inserted into the guide hole, and when the first housing member is mounted on the second housing member, the guide member is located at one end of the guide hole in the first direction, and when the first housing member is removed from the second housing member, the guide member is located at the other end of the guide hole in the first direction.

9. An electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the power supply unit includes a capacitor that stores the power supplied from the power connector, and a discharge circuit that discharges the charge stored in the capacitor when the electrical connection between the power connector and the power supply unit is disconnected.

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