JP3655854B2 - External connection terminal of electronic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an external connection terminal of an electronic device for electrically connecting a relatively small electronic device such as a mobile phone device to an external device. For example, the present invention is suitable for supplying power from a battery pack to an electronic device body. The present invention relates to an external connection terminal of an electronic device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A relatively small electronic device such as a mobile phone device, a PDA (personal portable information communication device) or a small personal computer is widely used because of its convenience of carrying. In such a device, when a battery pack or other external device is mounted, the device is usually provided with an external connection terminal for electrical connection with the inside of the device body.
[0003]
When the electronic device is relatively large, the space for arranging such external connection terminals is not particularly problematic. However, in the case of a relatively small electronic device (hereinafter simply referred to as an electronic device) typified by a mobile phone device, the location of the external connection terminal that makes electrical contact with the external device is determined. It becomes a big problem in relation to space.
[0004]
Therefore, it has been proposed to arrange the external connection terminal directly on a predetermined member inside the apparatus main body of the electronic apparatus.
[0005]
For example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-152488, a terminal as a conductive pattern for connecting to a battery electrode is formed on a flexible key sheet for key input. The elastic member is arranged at a location corresponding to the terminal on the opposite side of the surface of the flexible key sheet where these terminals are formed. In this proposal, the button battery is pressed against the opposite side of the key sheet where the elastic member is disposed, and the repulsive force of the elastic member is used to ensure that the button battery electrode contacts the terminal on the key sheet. I am doing so.
[0006]
In this proposal, a flexible sheet-like member is used as described above, and an external connection terminal can be directly arranged on the sheet-like member by combining this with an elastic member. However, many ordinary electronic devices have a printed circuit board disposed inside the apparatus main body, which is not flexible enough to use the conductive pattern as an external connection terminal. Therefore, in an apparatus having a printed circuit board inside, it is usual to solder a connector with an external connection terminal to this circuit board.
[0007]
However, when the external connection terminals are soldered to the printed circuit board, an area where the connector is arranged and a land for soldering are required on the circuit board. Furthermore, holes for positioning when attaching external connection terminals to the printed board must also be arranged on the board. Electronic devices are becoming smaller and more sophisticated, and the space for placing components on a printed circuit board is becoming increasingly marginal. Therefore, when the external connection terminals are soldered on the printed circuit board, the wiring efficiency on the circuit board is lowered, and there is a problem that the electronic device is downsized.
[0008]
FIG. 5 shows a main part of the proposal that makes it possible to make electrical contact with an external device without requiring soldering on a printed circuit board. A coil-shaped portion 14 </ b> A in which an end portion of the electrode wire 14 is wound in a coil shape is pressed against the land 13 of the printed circuit board 12 fixed inside the apparatus main body 11 of the electronic apparatus from above. The other end (not shown) of the electrode wire 14 is connected to an external device via an external connection terminal (not shown).
[0009]
In this technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-70167, soldering of the land 13 and the electrode wire 14 is not necessary. However, since the external connection terminal for connecting the external device and the electrode wire 14 is arranged at another location in the electronic device, the arrangement space is not saved. In addition, there is a problem in that a new member such as a coil-shaped portion 14A or a projection for positioning one end of this portion with respect to the land 13 is required, resulting in a result contrary to downsizing of the electronic device.
[0010]
FIG. 6 shows the main part of the proposal that not only eliminates the need for soldering on the printed circuit board but also saves space for connection to an external device. In this proposal disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-188929, a pair of land patterns 23 and 24 are provided on a printed circuit board 22 arranged inside an apparatus main body 21 of an electronic apparatus.
[0011]
On the other hand, a pair of external connection terminals 27 and 28 are attached to a surface 26 of the battery pack 25 as an external device facing the printed board 22 in a region 26B other than the battery portion 26A in which the battery is stored. These external connection terminals 27, 28 are arranged at positions facing the land patterns 23, 24, and are composed of pins 31 and springs 32, respectively. Therefore, when the battery pack 25 is attached to the device main body 21 of the electronic device as indicated by the arrows 33 and 34, the pins 31 are pressed against the corresponding portions of the land patterns 23 and 24 by the spring 32, and these electrical contacts are made. Will be done.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the proposed structure, the pair of external connection terminals 27 and 28 protrude significantly from the battery pack 25 as an external device. Therefore, there is a problem that the external connection terminals 27 and 28 come into contact with other objects (not shown) and are damaged unless care is taken in handling the external device. Further, since these external connection terminals 27 and 28 are respectively positive or negative power supply terminals, safety problems such as damage to the battery pack 25 itself when they come into contact with the conductor with the battery pack 25 removed. was there.
[0013]
FIG. 7 shows another proposal for solving such a problem, and shows a state where a battery pack is mounted on an electronic device as an end view. In the figure of the electronic device main body frame 41, the upper left side has a shape recessed in a box shape in accordance with the shape of the battery pack 42 to be mounted. A connector 44 with external connection terminals is fixed by solder 45 on a land (not shown) on the surface (upper surface in the figure) of the printed circuit board 43 on the side where the battery pack 42 is mounted. . The connector 44 with external connection terminals is bent to have elasticity, and has a convex shape upward in the drawing. The connector uppermost portion 44A protrudes from the upper surface of the casing of the electronic device 41.
[0014]
An electrode terminal portion 46 is embedded in a portion of the battery pack 42 facing the connector 44 with an external connection terminal. Therefore, when the battery pack 42 is mounted on the electronic device main body frame 41, the connector uppermost portion 44A is pressed against the electrode terminal portion 46, and the electrical contact between them is maintained.
[0015]
FIG. 8 specifically shows the surface of the printed board according to the proposal shown in FIG. 7 facing the battery pack and the side surface of the printed board with respect to the connector portion with external connection terminals. As shown in FIG. 2A, the connector 44 with external connection terminals is fixed to the positive and negative electrode patterns 48 and 49 with solder 45. As shown in FIG. 4B, a positioning hole 50 used for positioning at the time of connector attachment is provided in a portion of the printed circuit board 43 below the connector 44 with external connection terminals.
[0016]
Therefore, the proposals shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 solve the problems of the external connection terminal damage and the safety concerns of the battery pack, etc., as in the proposal shown in FIG. There is a problem that a relatively large area is required for the external connection terminal, and the wiring efficiency is deteriorated.
[0017]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an external connection terminal of an electronic device that can safely connect an external device such as a battery pack to the apparatus main body without adversely affecting the wiring efficiency of the printed circuit board.
[0018]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the first aspect of the invention, (a) a predetermined board-side terminal on a printed circuit board disposed inside the electronic device main body, and (b) an external device-side terminal of an external device attached to the electronic device main body. A pedestal portion having the same thickness as the flat plate-like support member existing on the path to be connected and fixed so as to penetrate the support member, and (c) a support member; A cylindrical member having one end fixed to one surface of the pedestal portion forming the same surface; and (d) one end on the pedestal side inside the cylindrical member, and the other end from the end on the printed circuit board side. A board-side rod-shaped member that can be projected and retracted at least as long as it reaches the board-side terminal, and (e) formed integrally with the pedestal, with the external device attached to the electronic device body Project in this direction for at least the length to the external device side terminal, An electronic device includes an external device-side contact member having a spring property that presses the device-side terminal, and a spring member that is disposed inside the (f) cylindrical member and that exerts a force that pushes the board-side rod-shaped member in the protruding direction. The external connection terminal is provided.
[0021]
That is, in the first aspect of the present invention, the flat support member at the midpoint between the printed circuit board and the position where the external device is mounted has the same thickness as the support member and forms the same surface as the support member. A pedestal portion fixed in a manner penetrating therethrough is fixed. The external connection terminal includes a cylindrical member, and one end is fixed to one surface of the pedestal portion that forms the same surface as the support member. The external connection terminal includes a cylindrical member whose one end is fixed to the pedestal, and one end of the board-side bar-shaped member is pressed against a predetermined board-side terminal on the printed circuit board from the end on the printed circuit board side. The external device side contact member is in pressure contact with the external device side terminal of the external device mounted on the electronic device body, so that the external device side terminal of the external device and a predetermined board side terminal on the printed circuit board are connected via the external connection terminal. Are connected electrically. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the board-side bar-like member protrudes from the cylindrical member of the external device-side terminal and press-contacts with the predetermined board-side terminal, so that it is possible to save the arrangement space of the board-side terminal on the printed board side. And the wiring efficiency of the printed circuit board can be improved. Moreover, since the external device side terminal of the external device is pressed by the external device side contact member having a spring property, safety can be ensured.
[0024]
In the second aspect of the present invention, the external connection terminal according to claim 1, the spring member, characterized in that it is arranged in a compressed state between the end portion and the external device side contact member of the substrate-side rod-shaped member It is said.
[0025]
That is, in the invention described in claim 2 , the spring member is configured to act only on the substrate-side bar-shaped member.
[0026]
In the invention of claim 3, wherein the external connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the support member is characterized by an external frame that constitutes the site where the external device is mounted in the electronic device body.
[0027]
That is, in the third aspect of the present invention, if the external connection terminal is fixed to the external frame constituting the part where the external device is mounted in the electronic device main body, no special support member is required.
[0028]
In the invention of claim 4, wherein the external connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the bar-like member which spring member is in contact is constituting the flange portion became larger diameter than the diameter of the rod It is said.
[0029]
That is, in the invention according to claim 4 , since the end of the rod-shaped member constitutes a flange portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the rod-shaped member, the spring member not only easily applies a pressing force but also the tubular member. It is also possible to prevent the rod-shaped member from falling out of the cylindrical member by narrowing the end portion.
[0030]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.
[0032]
FIG. 1 is an end view showing a structure of a mobile phone device used as an external connection terminal of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention with a battery pack attached for power supply. In the figure of the electronic device main body frame 61, the upper left side has a shape recessed in a box shape in accordance with the shape of the battery pack 62 to be mounted. A printed circuit board 63 is disposed inside the electronic device main body. In the figure, only the front side of the frame portion of the electronic device main body frame 61 on which the battery pack 62 is mounted is shown, but a pair of cylindrical external connection terminals 64 (65) are inserted through the center position. It is fixed in the state. Although the lower end portion of the external connection terminal 64 is shown only on the front side in the drawing, it is pressed against the upper portions of the pair of power supply pattern lines 66 (67) of the printed circuit board 63.
[0033]
FIG. 2 shows a main part of a battery pack as an external device. Corresponding ones of the pair of power supply pattern lines 68 (69) are arranged at locations of the battery pack 62 facing the external connection terminals 64 (65) shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, when the battery pack 62 is to be mounted on the electronic device main body frame 61, the upper end portion of the external connection terminal 64 is pressed against the corresponding one of the pair of power supply pattern lines 68 (69). It is supposed to be.
[0034]
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional structure in a state where the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the external connection terminal are in contact with the opposing pattern lines. Here, the external connection terminal 64 is representatively shown, but the structure of the other external connection terminals 65 is the same.
[0035]
The external connection terminal 64 has a cylindrical portion 64A having a predetermined radius. The upper end portion and the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 64A have a shape that is bent in the direction of the central axis, and form lid portions 64B and 64C. A hole having a predetermined diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 64A is concentrically formed in the center of the lid portions 64B and 64C. Cylindrical portions 64D and 64E having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the above-mentioned predetermined diameter are inserted into the internal space of the cylindrical portion 64A, and flange portions 64G and 64H for preventing removal are formed at these end portions, respectively. Has been. The cylindrical portions 64D and 64E are movable in the same direction as the central axis in the cylindrical portion 64A. A compression spring 64J is disposed between the pair of flange portions 64G and 64H in a compressed state for applying a force for moving the two in the direction in which they are separated from each other.
[0036]
In the external connection terminal 64 having such a structure, the lower end of the lower cylindrical portion 64E is in contact with the power supply pattern line 66 in a state where the battery pack 62 is not attached to the electronic device main body. If the battery pack 62 is to be attached to the electronic device main body in this state, the pattern line 68 for power supply comes into contact with the upper end of the cylindrical portion 64D of the external connection terminal at a certain point. Then, the battery pack 62 is attached to the electronic device main body while pushing down the cylindrical portion 64D.
[0037]
As a result, the cylindrical portions 64D and 64E are pressed against the corresponding two pattern lines 68 and 66, and the power is reliably supplied from the battery pack 62 to the printed circuit board 63 via the external connection terminals 64.
[0038]
Modifications of the Invention
FIG. 4 shows an external connection terminal in a modification of the present invention. In the external connection terminal 91 of this modification, the same parts as those of the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0040]
The external connection terminal 91 of this modified example includes a pedestal portion 92 attached to the electronic device main body frame 61 and a connector upper portion 93 formed by bending a metal piece upward from the pedestal portion 92 to form a convex shape. A cylindrical portion 64AA having the same structure as the lower half of the external connection terminal 64 (FIG. 3) of the previous embodiment is disposed below the pedestal portion 92.
[0041]
The cylindrical portion 64AA accommodates a compression spring 64JA and a cylindrical portion 64E formed with a flange portion 64H at one end. The cylindrical portion 64E is movable in the axial direction within the cylindrical portion 64AA, and in the state where no external force is acting, a part of the cylindrical portion 64E is caused by the action of the compression spring 64JA as shown in the figure. Projecting downward from
[0042]
The external connection terminal 91 having such a configuration has a connector upper portion 93 having the same shape as the conventional external connection terminal shown in FIG. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a relatively wide space on the side of an external device such as a battery pack for electrical connection as shown in FIG. However, as represented by the battery pack, it is often unnecessary to consider the arrangement space on the external device side as in the case of the printed circuit board 63 (see FIG. 1). In such a case, the external connection terminal 91 as shown in this modification is also effective.
[0043]
In addition, although the cylindrical cylindrical part was used in the Example and the modification, it is needless to say that the cylindrical part of other shapes, such as a square, may be used. Further, although the battery pack is used in the examples and the modifications, the present invention can be similarly applied to other external devices.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the board-side bar-like member protrudes from the cylindrical member of the external device- side terminal and presses against the predetermined board-side terminal. Space can be saved and the wiring efficiency of the printed circuit board can be improved. Further, since the external device side terminal of the external device is pressed by the external device side contact member having a spring property, safety can be ensured.
[0047]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the external connection terminal according to the first aspect , the support member is an external frame that constitutes a part to which the external device in the electronic device main body is mounted. This contributes to downsizing of the apparatus.
[0048]
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the external connection terminal according to the first aspect , the end of the rod-shaped member that contacts the spring member constitutes a flange portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the rod-shaped member. Therefore, not only can the spring member easily apply a pressing force, but it is also possible to prevent the rod-shaped member from falling off the cylindrical member by narrowing the end of the cylindrical member.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an end view showing a main part of a structure of a mobile phone device as an external connection terminal of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main part of a battery pack as an external device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure in a state where an upper end portion and a lower end portion of an external connection terminal are in contact with opposing pattern lines in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an external connection terminal in a modification of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the proposal in which soldering on a printed board is not required and electrical contact with an external device is possible.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the main part of the proposal that not only eliminates the need for soldering on the printed circuit board but also saves space for connection to an external device.
FIG. 7 is an end view of a main part showing a state in which a battery pack is attached to an electronic device according to another proposal.
8 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view specifically showing a portion of a connector with an external connection terminal on a surface of a printed board according to the proposal shown in FIG. 7 facing a battery pack and a side surface of the printed board.
[Explanation of symbols]
61 Electronic device body frame 62 Battery pack 63 Printed circuit board 64, 65 External connection terminals 64A, 64AA Cylindrical part 64D, 64E Cylindrical part 64G, 64H Flange part 64J, 64JA Compression springs 66, 67 Pattern line 68 (on the printed circuit board side) , 69 Pattern line (external device side)

Claims (4)

A predetermined board-side terminal on a printed circuit board disposed inside the electronic device body,
It has the same thickness as the flat plate-like support member existing on the path connecting the external device side terminal of the external device mounted on the electronic device main body, and penetrates this so as to form the same surface as this support member A pedestal fixed in the form of
A cylindrical member having one end fixed to one surface of the pedestal that forms the same surface as the support member;
The cylindrical member has one end on the side of the pedestal portion, and the other end is disposed so as to be movable back and forth so that the other end can protrude from the end portion on the printed board side to at least the board side terminal. A board-side member,
An external device that is formed integrally with the pedestal portion, protrudes in this direction by at least a length reaching the external device side terminal in a state where the external device is mounted on the electronic device body, and presses the external device side terminal. A side contact member;
An external connection terminal for an electronic device, comprising: a spring member that is disposed inside the cylindrical member and that exerts a force that pushes the substrate-side bar-shaped member in a protruding direction. 2. The external connection terminal of the electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the spring member is disposed in a compressed state between an end of the board-side bar-shaped member and the external device-side contact member. 2. The external connection terminal for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the support member is an external frame that constitutes a portion of the electronic device main body to which an external device is mounted. 2. The external connection terminal for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the rod-shaped member with which the spring member comes into contact constitutes a flange portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the rod-shaped member.

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