Electronic device and method of accessing inside of electronic device

An electronic device includes an inner cover for covering a power source and electronic parts such as substrates contained in the inside of the device, an inlet for power cord plug formed to the inner cover for connecting the device to a commercial power supply and a cover to be fitted to the inner cover so as to cover the inner cover, the cover being provided with an inlet protecting section to be engaged with the inlet, the inner cover being made accessible by pulling out the power cord plug.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-266523, filed on 12 Oct. 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device having a structure adapted to be relieved of the power source from the viewpoint of protection and safety in storage and a method of accessing the inside of electronic device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Known electronic devices may put an operator who performs maintenance work in danger of electric shock and/or may be damaged by error because the power source thereof can be removably fitted thereto with ease if the power cord remains connected to the power source.

Structures for preventing electric shocks from taking place and the substrates and/or some other component from being damaged by interrupting the power supply when the substrate and/or some other component are to be replaced or substrates and/or some other component are to be added by opening part of the device have been proposed (e.g., refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. Laid-Open Publication No. 03-234691).

According to the above-cited Patent Document, a bottom cover is rigidly secured in position below a main body cover and the main body cover and a bottom mold are brought into contact with each other when the bottom cover is fitted but a bottom metal plate and a metal plate chassis are separated from each other by a gap of 0.5 mm. Behind the main body, an AC inlet of the power source and a power switch are rigidly secured to a metal plate that is fitted to the metal plate chassis and exposed through notches of the main body cover and the bottom cover. The bottom metal plate is partly turned above the AC inlet by way of the gap between the main body cover and the metal plate so that the bottom cover cannot be removed when the power cord is inserted into the AC inlet.

While the above-described conventional art takes the operation of removing the bottom cover into consideration, moveable parts such as the main body cover and the display can be accessed without pulling out the power cord. In other words, the conventional art is accompanied by a problem that the effect of preventing the device from unsafely relieved of the power source.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device having a structure adapted to protect the operator against any electric shock and prevent the device main body from being damaged.

In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device including: an inner cover for covering a power source and electronic parts such as substrates contained in the inside of the device; an inlet for power cord plug formed to the inner cover for connecting the device to a commercial power supply; and a cover to be fitted to the inner cover so as to cover the inner cover, the cover being provided with an inlet protecting section to be engaged with the inlet; the inner cover being made accessible by puling out the power cord plug.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the devices and methods of the present invention.

Now, the present invention will be described below by referring to the accompanying drawings that illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. Throughout the drawings, the same components are denoted respectively by the same reference symbols and will not be described repeatedly.

This embodiment of electronic device according to the present invention is a POS (point of sales) terminal device. It may be needless to say that the characteristic features of the present invention are applicable to devices other than the POS terminal device.

FIG. 1is a schematic perspective view of the POS terminal device100, showing the appearance thereof as viewed from the front side.FIG. 2is a schematic perspective view of the POS terminal device100, showing the appearance thereof as viewed from the rear side. As shown inFIG. 1, the POS terminal device100roughly includes a POS terminal section1and a display2. The POS terminal device100is adapted to be optionally connected to a cash drawer for storing cash and/or checks. The POS terminal section1includes a substrate carrying a CPU (central processing unit), memories and so on, an HDD (hard disk drive), a power source and other components (all of which are not shown) that are contained in an inner cover70(which will be described in greater detail hereinafter). A predetermined general purpose OS is typically installed in the mother board and the POS terminal device100operates according to a predetermined application. The POS terminal section1will be described in greater detail hereinafter whenever necessary.

The display2is preferably a touch panel type TFT liquid crystal display. The display2is adapted to display an image for operating the POS terminal device100according to the application stored in the mother board in the POS terminal section1. An LED21for the power source and an LED22for the HDD are arranged below the display2. The LED21for the power source indicates the ON/OFF status of the POS terminal device100. The LED22for the HDD is held on so long as the HDD in the POS terminal section1is being accessed.

As shown inFIG. 2, a power switch23and a luminance adjuster24are arranged at a lower part of the rear side of the display2. The power switch23is a switch to which the operator turns on or off the power source of the POS terminal device100. The luminance adjuster24is operated by the operator to adjust the luminance of the display2for comfortable viewing.

The display2can be operated by the operator to select the position and the angle thereof. For example, it can be tilted upward from a home position as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2within an angular range between10and60degrees. When operating the power switch23and the luminance adjuster24, it will be convenient for the operator to tilt the display2in order to make the operating area of the device easily visible. Thus, the tilting angle is preferably selectable.

FIG. 3is a schematic illustration of the connection of the power cord plug. As shown inFIG. 3, the rear side of the POS terminal section1is covered by a rear surface cover31. The rear surface cover31is a molded resin cover for protecting a cover6and a connector section40, both of which will be described in greater detail hereinafter, against dust and the like.

To connect the power cord plug to the POS terminal device100, the operator pushes the rear surface cover31of the POS terminal section1at the two lateral facets (A). Since the rear surface cover31is a molded resin cover, it is resiliently deformed as it is pushed so that anchor claws32formed on the rear surface cover31are released from respective holding sections33of the POS terminal section1. Then, the operator lifts up the rear surface cover31at a lower part thereof (B). Subsequently, as the operator pulls the rear surface cover31toward him- or herself, the rear surface cover31can be removed from the POS terminal section1.

As shown inFIG. 3, in the POS terminal section1, the power source, the substrates and other parts are contained and covered by the inner cover70and the inner cover70is then covered by the cover6. The inner cover70is provided with an AC inlet34. As the rear surface cover31is removed, the operator can access the AC inlet34. Then, as a predetermined power cord plug is inserted into the AC inlet34, the POS terminal device100can be powered by a commercial power supply.

FIGS. 4 and 5schematically illustrate terminals to be used for connecting the POS terminal device100to one or more than one external appliance.

Referring toFIG. 4, a VFD (fluorescent display) connector41is arranged on the top part of a box-shaped connector section40that is arranged in the inside of the POS terminal section1. Two cash drawer terminals42are arranged at an upper part of the left side of the connector section40. Three USB (universal serial bus) ports43are arranged below the cash drawer terminals42. A mouse port44and a keyboard port45are arranged side by side below the USB ports43. A microphone terminal46and a speaker terminal47are arranged side by side below the mouse port44. An Ethernet (trademark) LAN terminal48is arranged below the microphone terminal46.

Now, referring toFIG. 5, an external VFD connector51is arranged at an uppermost part of the right side of the connector section40that is arranged in the inside of the POS terminal section1. A general purpose connector52is arranged below the external VFD connector51. A modem, a bar code scanner, a serial interface type balance or an EFT (electronic fund transfer) terminal for electronically settling accounts can be connected to the general purpose connector52, which is a male type connector. General purpose connectors53and54are arranged side by side below the general purpose connector52. The general purpose connector53may typically be same as the general purpose connector52. The general purpose connector54is a female type connector and a modem, a bar code scanner, a serial interface type balance or an EFT (electronic fund transfer) terminal for electronically settling accounts can be connected thereto. A USB port55is arranged below the general purpose connector53. The USB port55may typically be a 24V powered USB. A receipt printer may suitably be connected to the powered USB port. An extension VGA (video graphics array) interface female type connector56is arranged below the USB port55.

FIG. 6is an enlarged schematic perspective view of a lower part of the POS terminal section1where the connectors and the ports described above are arranged and become exposed when the rear surface cover31is removed from the POS terminal section1. Referring toFIG. 6, the cover6that covers the inner cover70indicated by a broken line is shown. The cover6is preferably a molded resin cover that is made of ABS resin in order to provide it with insulating and resilient properties. The cover6is designed to protect the inner cover70under which mainly the power source section, the HDD and the substrates such as the mother board of the POS terminal section1are contained. An inlet protecting section61is formed on top of the cover6so as to surround the AC inlet34. More specifically, the AC inlet section34is adapted to be engaged with the inlet protecting section61with a slight gap provided between them. The inlet protecting section61is preferably provided with an about 2 mm high edge for suitably protecting and aligning itself with the AC inlet34.

A fitting section62is arranged adjacent to the inlet protecting section61in order to fit the cover6to the POS terminal section1. The fittings section62is provided with, for example, a knurled clamp screw63so as to screw the POS terminal section1with the cover6. Since the clamp screw63can be loosened by means of fingers, the cover6can be mounted and removed without using any tool. The cover6is bent downward from the top surface where the inlet protecting section61is formed. The bent section61is provided with a plurality of groove sections65having a curved profile resembling the outer profile of a cable so that the cables connected to the POS terminal section1may be supported in an orderly array. The size of each of the groove sections65is preferably determined according to the outer diameter of the sheath of the cable to be received by the groove. More specifically, since the sheaths of a plurality of cables to be connected to the POS terminal section1generally show different diameters, the groove sections65may preferably be formed in the descending order of the sizes thereof so that the cables may be received by the respective groove sections65in a highly neat and orderly manner.

Referring further toFIG. 6, hanger sections66for hanging binder bands for neatly binding narrow and twisted signal wires and cables are formed at the right side of the groove sections65. A clamp section67having an opposed substantially L-shaped cross section is formed below the groove sections65and the hanger sections66and is projected from and formed integrally with one of the surfaces of the cover6. The clamp section67includes a power cord clamping section67afor clamping the power cord along the outer profile thereof and a holding section67bfor arranging in array and holding cords and signal cables other than the power cord. The power cord clamping section67ais formed at a front end part of and integrally with one of a pair of substantially L-shaped sections67c, or substantially L-shaped section67c, and has a curved contour with a substantially semicircular cross section so as to adapt itself to clamping the power cord along the outer profile thereof. The bent section67dof the power cord clamping section67ais provided, at a transversal middle part thereof, with a notch so as to divide the bent section67dinto two halves. Thus, as a matter of fact, there are two bent sections67d,67dthat are juxtaposed with the notch interposed between them. The other substantially L-shaped section67eis provided at the frond end thereof with a tongue section67fat a position located vis-à-vis the notch of the bent section67dat the same level in terms of vertical positional relationship. Therefore, the power cord clamping section67aholds the power cord in the region defined by the bent section67dof one of the substantially L-shaped section67cand the tongue section67fof the other substantially L-shaped section67e. Additionally, cords other than the power cord are held in the region defined by the substantially L-shaped section67eand the groove sections65. Similarly, signal cables are held in the region defined by the substantially L-shaped section67cand the hanger sections66.

When the sizes of the above-described groove sections65are differentiated, grooves for large diameter cables may be arranged close to the bent section67dand those for small diameter cables may be arranged remote from the bent section67dso that the power cord, cords and signal cables may be arranged in a highly well sorted manner.

Heat radiating slits68are arranged in parallel on the other surfaces of the cover6as shown inFIG. 6.

As pointed out above, the power cord and cords and cables other than the power cord can be clamped in a highly neat and orderly manner because of the power cord clamping section67aand the holding section67bthat are formed in the clamp section67. Therefore, the connecting areas of the cords including the power cord such as the AC inlet and connectors are relieved of stress.

Now, the operation of accessing the mother board or the like contained in the POS terminal device100having the above-described configuration for the purpose of checking, replacing one or more than one components or installing one or more than one additional memories will be described below.(1) Firstly, the operator takes off the rear surface cover31at the rear side of the POS terminal section1of the POS terminal device100. To do this, as pointed out above, the operator pushes the rear surface cover31of the POS terminal section1at the two lateral facets and releases the anchor claws32from the respective holding sections33of the POS terminal section1. Then, the operator lifts a lower part of the rear surface cover31and pulls it toward him- or herself. As a result, the rear surface cover31can be removed from the POS terminal section1.(2) As the rear surface cover31is removed, the power cord plug becomes exposed. Then, the operator pulls out the power cord plug from the AC inlet34.(3) Thereafter, the operator takes off the power cord from the clamp section67.(4) Then, the operator takes off the cords and the cables other than the power cord from the clamp section67by way of the gap between the bent section67dand the tongue section67f. At this time, if binder bands are used to bind the cables, an additional operation of twisting the binder bands and removing them from the hanger sections66is required.(5) Subsequently, the operator loosens and pulls out the clamp screw63and takes the cover6off the inner cover70.(6) As the inner cover70is removed from the main body of the POS terminal section1, the operator can access the mother board and other components for the purpose of checking, replacing one or more than one components and/or installing one or more than one additional memories.

After the end of the operation of checking, replacing one or more than one components and/or installing one or more than one additional memories, the operator follows the above listed procedures reversely. Then, as a result, the cords and the cables can be reliably clamped, while relieving the connecting areas of the cords including the power cord such as the AC inlet and connectors from stress.

Thus, with the structure of this embodiment, any of the substrates including the mother board, the HDD, the power source and the other electronic components contained in the inside of the POS terminal section1cannot be accessed unless the power cord plug is pulled out so that the danger of electric shock and/or any possible damage of the components can be reliably prevented from taking place.

The present invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiment, the components of which may be modified and altered in various different ways on the course of embodying the invention. Additionally, any of the plurality of components disclosed in the above embodiment may be appropriately combined to embody the present invention in different ways. For example, some of the components of the embodiment may be omitted and components of different embodiments may be appropriately combined.