Electronic apparatus

An electronic apparatus includes a housing which has an opening in one face, a cover member which is detachably coupled to the housing and closes the opening in the housing, a first board which is housed in the housing, a second board which is supported to the cover member, a first connector which is mounted on the first board and is fixed to the housing relatively and a second connector which is mounted on the second board, is supported to the cover member in a floating state and is connected with the first connector in a state that the cover member is coupled to the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus which includes connectors which connect boards together.

Description of the Related Art

An electronic apparatus such as a laptop PC or a tablet PC has a configuration which includes a housing which houses a motherboard that a CPU and so forth are mounted as a chassis and a cover member which closes an opening in the housing (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 6212522 and Japanese Patent No. 6649854) are included.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The electronic apparatus such as the above-mentioned one has such a configuration that an electronic component such as a keyboard, a display or the like is attached to the cover member. The electronic apparatus which is configured in this way needs a board-to-board (B to B) connector which is used to connect a control board for the electronic component or a flexible board which is connected to the electronic component and a motherboard together.

In general, the existing electronic apparatus such as the above has such a structure that, at first, a cover member-side connector which is mounted on an elongated flexible board which is connected to the electronic component or the control board of the electronic component is connected to a motherboard-side connector and then the connector is fixed by screwing which is performed by using another component or the connector is pressed with the use of an elastic material such as a sponge and so forth so as to prevent the connector from falling down and slipping out and then the cover member is coupled to the housing. Accordingly, in this configuration, it is necessary to perform work of housing the flexible board in a folded state in order to prevent the elongated flexible board from being sandwiched between the cover member and the housing and from being caught after connection of the connectors.

Accordingly, in the above configuration, time and effort are taken to perform work of coupling the cover member and the housing together. Further, in the above configuration, in a case where the cover member is removed from the housing at the time of maintenance and so forth, it is feared that the flexible board would be caught in another member and would be damaged.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the issue of the prior art and aims to provide an electronic apparatus which makes it possible to perform connection of the connectors which mutually connect the boards and to perform coupling between the cover member and the housing efficiently and to suppress occurrence of malfunctions at the time of maintenance.

The electronic apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a housing which has an opening in one face; a cover member which is detachably coupled to the housing and closes the opening in the housing, a first board which is housed in the housing, a second board which is supported to the cover member, a first connector which is mounted on the first board and is fixed to the housing relatively and a second connector which is mounted on the second board, is supported to the cover member in a floating state and is connected with the first connector in a state that the cover member is coupled to the housing.

According to the aspect of the present invention, it becomes possible to efficiently connect together the connectors which mutually connect the boards and to couple the cover member and the housing together and, in addition, to suppress occurrence of the malfunctions at the time of maintenance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, an electronic apparatus pertaining to the present invention will be described in detail by giving preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the appended drawings.

FIG.1is a plan view illustrating one example of an electronic apparatus10according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The electronic apparatus10according to the first embodiment of the present invention exemplifies a tablet-type PC. As illustrated inFIG.1, the electronic apparatus10includes a chassis12and a display14which faces the front face of the chassis12. A housing16and a cover member17are coupled together to be detachable and thereby the chassis12is configured in the form of a flatten box as a whole.

FIG.2is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of an inner structure of the electronic apparatus10.FIG.2is the diagram that the housing16is viewed from the front-face side and the cover member17is viewed from the side that an inner face17aof the cover member17is located in a state that the cover member17is removed from the housing16.

As illustrated inFIG.1andFIG.2, the housing16has a shallow bathtub form which covers the electronic apparatus10ranging from the rear face to the outer peripheral side face of the electronic apparatus10. The cover member17has the display14and a vessel18which surrounds an outer peripheral edge of the display14and has a plate shape as a whole. The cover member17closes an opening16awhich is formed in the front face of the housing16. The housing16and the vessel18are made of, for example, metal or a resinous material. The display14is made from, for example, an organic EL material or a liquid crystal material and is a touch panel type display.

A first board20and a battery device22are housed in the housing16. Further, also a memory, an SSD (Solid State Drive), an antenna module and so forth are housed in the housing16. The first board20is a motherboard of the electronic apparatus10and a CPU (Central Processing Unit)24and a first connector25are mounted on the first board20. Further, various semiconductor chips, connection terminals and so forth are mounted on the first board20.

The inner face17aof the cover member17is configured by an inner face18aof the vessel18and a rear face14aof the display14. A second board26is installed on the side that an inner face17aof the cover member17is located. The second board26is a control board which controls a displaying operation of the display14and is connected with the display14via a predetermined flexible board. A second connector27is mounted on the second board26.

The connectors25and27are board-to-board (B to B) connectors. In the electronic apparatus10according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a case where the cover member17is coupled to the housing16, the connectors25and27are automatically connected together and thereby the second board26and the first board20are electrically connected together.

Next, a connection structure of the connectors25and27will be described.

FIG.3is a model diagram illustrating one example of a configuration of the connectors25and27and their peripheral portions in a simplified form. That is,FIG.3is the diagram illustrating the housing16and the cover member17which are illustrated inFIG.2and configurational elements for automatically connecting together the boards20and26and the connectors25and27which are loaded on the housing16and the cover member17in one-to-one correspondence as a schematic model.FIG.4is a schematic sectional diagram which is taken along the IV-IV line inFIG.3.FIG.5Ais a schematic sectional diagram which is taken along the V-V line inFIG.3.FIG.5Bis an exploded diagram illustrating one example of an operation of attaching the cover member17to the housing16which is illustrated inFIG.5A. InFIG.3toFIG.5B, illustration of the display14and the vessel18is omitted and the cover member17is illustrated as one plate.

In the following, the chassis12and the respective constitutional elements which are loaded on the chassis12will be described by calling directions which follow plane directions of the housing16and the cover member17as an X direction and a Y direction respectively and calling a direction that the housing16and the cover member17are laminated as a Z direction.

First, a structure for supporting the connector25on the housing16and supporting the connector27on the cover member17will be described.

As illustrated inFIG.3toFIG.5A, the first board20is housed in the housing16and is fixed to the housing16. Therefore, the first connector25which is mounted on the first board20is fixed to the housing16relatively.

The second board26is supported in a floating state relative to the cover member17. In the first embodiment, the second board26is fixed to a holder plate30which is supported in the floating state in the X and Y directions relative to the cover member17. The holder plate30is, for example, a resin plate.

For example, one pair of hooks32is projectingly installed on the inner face17aof the cover member17as illustrated inFIG.3. The respective hooks32are almost L-shaped board pieces which are so bent as to mutually confront and are so installed as to make it possible to hold left and right edges30aand30bof the holder plate30which extend in the Y direction so as to embrace the left and right edges30aand30b. An inner wall32aof each hook32which extends in the Z direction is arranged in a state of leaving a gap G1between itself and each of the edges30aand30bof the holder plate30as illustrated inFIG.4. The holder plate30has a notch-shaped recessed portion30cin a part which is embraced by the hook32. The gap G1is a gap between the inner wall32aof the hook32and each of the edges30aand30bof the recessed portion30calso as illustrated inFIG.4. In addition, one pair of corners30dwhich is formed in the recessed portion30cis arranged in a state of leaving a gap G2between each corner30dand each of the one pair of side walls32bwhich extends in the Z direction of each hook32as illustrated inFIG.3.

The second board26which is fixed to the holder plate30is movable in the X direction relative the inner face17aof the cover member17with the aid of the gap G1and is movable in the Y direction relative to the inner face17awith the aid of the gap G2. Thereby, the second board26is supported to the cover member17in a state of floating in the X and Y directions. Accordingly, the second connector27which is mounted on the second board26is supported to the cover member17in the floating state.

Next, a structure for connecting together the connectors25and27more smoothly will be described.

As illustrated inFIG.3toFIG.5A, the electronic apparatus10includes first magnets34, second magnets35, positioning parts36and elastic bodies38.

One pair of the first magnets34is so disposed as to stride over the first connector25in a crosswise direction and is fixed to the housing16respectively. One pair of the second magnets35is so disposed as to stride over the second connector27in the crosswise direction and is fixed to the inner face17aof the cover member17respectively. The magnets34and35are located at positions so that the magnets34and35mutually overlap in the Z direction in a state that the cover member17is coupled to the housing16and generate attraction force therebetween. That is, the magnets34and35generate the attraction force which acts in a direction that the connectors25and27are mutually connected and perform sure connection and retaining of the connectors25and27. Although it is possible to appropriately change the number of the magnets34and35to be installed and the installation positions of the magnets34and35, it is preferable to install the magnets34and35at positions which are as close as possible to the connectors25and27respectively.

The positioning parts36are adapted to position the connectors25and27relatively in the X and Y directions which are orthogonal to a connection direction (the Z direction) that the connectors25and27are connected together. The positioning parts36are configured by a plurality of recessed portions40and a plurality of protruding portions41.

Each recessed portion40is a hole which is formed in the center of a cylindrical projection which projects from the inner face of the housing16. The recessed portions40are so arranged as to surround the first connector25in a rectangular form and surround the first connector25from the four sides. A chamfered tapered face40ais formed on an opening end peripheral edge of each recessed portion40.

Each protruding portion41is a cylindrical projection which protrudes from the inner face of the holder plate30. The protruding portions41are so arranged as to surround the second connector27in a rectangular shape and surround the second connector27from the four sides. A chamfered tapered face41ais formed on a leading end peripheral edge of each protruding portion41.

The recessed portions40and the protruding portions41are located at positions such that the recessed portions40and the protruding portions41mutually overlap in the Z direction in a state that the cover member17is coupled to the housing16. Thereby, in a case where the cover member17is coupled to the housing16, the protruding portions41fit into the recessed portions40and thereby position the connectors25and27. It is possible to appropriately change the numbers of the recessed portions40and the protruding portions41to be installed and installation positions of the recessed portions40and the protruding portions41. As an alternative, the recessed portions40may be installed on the cover member17side and the protruding portions41may be installed on the housing16side.

The recessed portion40and the protruding portion41are extremely small in tolerance between their mutually fitting portions in the Z direction. On the other hand, the recessed portion40and the protruding portion41have fit tolerances in the X and Y directions owing to presence of the tapered faces40aand41a. The tolerance of the positioning portion36is smaller than a floating distance of the second connector27relative to the cover member17owing to the presence of the gaps G1and G2. Thereby, in a case where the cover member17is coupled to the housing16, it becomes possible to fit each protruding portion41into each recessed portion40and then to smoothly connect together the connectors25and27within the range of the floating tolerance.

The elastic body38is, for example, a compression coil. Each cylindrical hole41bis formed in each protruding portion41. Each elastic body38is inserted into each cylindrical hole41bin each protruding portion41. The elastic body38has an equilibrium length which makes it possible for an upper end of the elastic body38to protrude upward from the cylindrical hole41bin a no-load-exerted state which is illustrated inFIG.5A. On this occasion, a gap G3which is, for example, about 1 mm in Z-direction height is formed between the inner face17aof the cover member17and the upper face of the holder plate30.

Next, an operation of coupling the cover member17to the housing16and connecting together the connectors25and27simultaneously will be described.

FIG.5Billustrates one example of a state that in a case where the cover member17is attached to the housing16from above so as to close the opening16a, the second connector27begins to abut on the connector25. It is preferable to apply a certain amount of fitting force for connection between the connectors25and27. Therefore, as illustrated inFIG.5B, in a case where the second connector27abuts on the first connector25, the second connector27, the second board26and the holder plate30receive reaction force of abutment and are pushed back upward and thereby the elastic body38is compressed. On the contrary, the elastic body38pushes the holder plate30downward with the aid of elastic force which is generated by compression. Thereby, the second connector27is gradually fitted into the first connector25.

Then, in a case where the magnets34and35come closer to each other to some extent, also the attraction force between the magnets34and35is applied and thereby the second connector is more fitted into the first connector25. Then, in a case where the cover member17is coupled to the housing16, also the second connecter27fits into the first connector25completely (seeFIG.5A). Here, as illustrated inFIG.5A, at the completion of connection between the connectors25and27, the length of the elastic body38returns to the free length. Accordingly, the elastic body38does not apply the excessive pressing force to the connectors25and27the connection of which is completed.

As illustrated inFIG.5AandFIG.5B, for example, a screw hole may be formed in a leading end face of the protruding portion41, a through hole which extends down to the lower face of the housing16may be formed in the bottom of the recessed portion40and the housing16and the cover member17may be clamped together with screws44via these through holes and screw holes.

As described above, in the electronic apparatus10according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the first connector25which is mounted on the first board20is fixed to the housing16relatively and the second connector27which is mounted on the second board26is supported to the cover member27in the floating state.

Accordingly, in the electronic apparatus10, in a case where the cover member17is coupled to the housing16, relative positions of the connectors25and27are adjusted by a floating operation of the second connector27and the connectors25and27are automatically connected together. That is, in the electronic apparatus10, the connectors25and27are connected together simply by coupling the cover member17to the housing16.

That is, in work of coupling together the housing16and the cover member17so as to configure the chassis12, the housing16that the first board20which serves as a motherboard and the battery device22are loaded is set as the main body and the cover member17that the display14which is the electronic component is loaded is so attached to the housing16as to close the opening16ain the housing16. Here, the sizes of the connectors25and27are remarkably smaller (seeFIG.2) than the sizes of the housing16and the cover member17. However, in the existing electronic apparatus, in a case where the cover member17is to be coupled to the housing16, it is difficult to align one connector25with another connector27and, therefore, a configuration that a flexible board which is sufficiently long is connected to the second board26and the second connector27is mounted on the tip thereof is generally used.

On the other hand, in the electronic apparatus10according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the first connector25which is installed on the housing16which serves as the main body of the chassis12is fixed to the housing16relatively and the second connector27which is installed on the cover member17which serves as the cover of the chassis12is supported to the cover member17in the floating state. Thereby, in the electronic apparatus10, when attaching the cover member17to the housing16, the second connector27which is supported to the cover member17in the floating state is smoothly aligned with the first connector25and is connected to the first connector25. Accordingly, in the electronic apparatus10, the elongated flexible board is not arranged between the cover member17and the housing16in the striding-over state and therefore it becomes possible to connect the connectors25and27together and to couple the cover member17and the housing16together efficiently. Further, since there exists no flexible board which is installed between the cover member17and the housing16in the striding-over state, in a case where the cover member17is removed from the housing16at the time of maintenance and so forth, such a situation that the flexible substrate is damaged does not occur.

In the first embodiment, the second board26is supported in a state of leaving the gap G3between the second board26itself and the inner face17aof the cover member17and is formed to be floatable along the inner face17aas illustrated inFIG.5A. Then, as an alternative, the electronic apparatus10may also include the elastic body38which is installed in the gap G3and actuates the second board26, that is, the second connector27in a direction that the second board26, that is, the second connector27is separated from the inner face17aof the cover member17. Then, in the electronic apparatus10, in a case where the second connector27abuts on the first connector2c, the elastic body38receives counterforce which is generated against fitting force which is used for connection between the first connector25and the second connectors27and is compressed. As a result, since the second connector27receives downward acting elastic force from the elastic body38while being pushed back above the second board26and is pressed against the first connector25while being pushed back above the second substrate26, the connectors25and27are connected together more surely as illustrated in FIG.

The electronic apparatus10may further include the first magnet34which is fixed to the first board20relatively and the second magnet35which is fixed to the second board26relatively and generates the attraction force which works in a direction that the second connector27is connected to the first connector25between the first magnet34and the second magnet35. Thereby, it becomes possible to connect the connectors25and27together more smoothly with the aid of the attraction force between the magnets34and35. In addition, since the electronic apparatus10makes it possible to mutually fit the connectors25and27with the aid of elastic force of the elastic body38, it becomes possible to minimize the attraction force between the magnets34and35and downsizing of the electronic apparatus10becomes possible. That is, since the attraction force between the magnets34and35is weak, in a case where the cover member17is detached from the housing16, it becomes also easy to separate the magnets34and35from each other. In the electronic apparatus10, the magnets34and35and the positioning portion36may be installed on the connectors25and27similarly to connectors52and53of an electronic apparatus50which will be described later.

Incidentally, for example, in a case where the electronic apparatus10is subject to shock which is induced by falling and so forth, there is also the possibility that the cover member17would warp and the second connector27would be disconnected from the first connector25temporarily. In this respect, in the electronic apparatus10, the magnets34and35generate the attraction force continuously even after the cover member17has been coupled to the housing16. Accordingly, even in a case where the connector25is disconnected from the connector27temporarily, the connector25is again connected with the connector27with the aid of the attraction force between the magnets34and combined with a floating action of the second connector27and the elastic force of the elastic body38. As described above, the electronic apparatus10makes it possible to suppress also occurrence of such a malfunction that the connectors25and27are brought into a state of being disconnected from each other completely due to falling and so forth.

The electronic apparatus10also includes the positioning portion36which positions the first connector and the second connector27in the X and Y directions which are orthogonal to the direction (the Z direction) that the first connector25and the second connector27are mutually connected. Accordingly, connection between the second connector27which is supported to the cover member17in the floating state and the first connector25which is fixed to the housing16becomes more definitely.

Incidentally, in the electronic apparatus10, in a case where, for example, the housing16, the first board20, the cover member17, the holder plate30, the second board26and so forth are so configured as to have sufficiently high rigidity, some or all of the elastic body38, the magnets34and35, the positioning portion36and so forth may be omitted. That is, in this case, when coupling the cover member17to the housing16, respective members such as the housing16and so forth hardly warp and therefore the positions of the connectors25and27in the Z direction almost never change. Accordingly, in a case where the cover member17comes closer to the housing16gradually, also the second connector27is fitted into the first connector25gradually. Then, also in this case, since the second connector27is automatically positioned to the first connector25with the aid of the floating action, it becomes possible to automatically connect the first connector25and the second connector27together.

FIG.6is a schematic side sectional diagram illustrating one example of an electronic apparatus10A pertaining to one modified example of the electronic apparatus10according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Although inFIG.1toFIG.5, the tablet PC type electronic apparatus10is exemplified, it is also possible to apply the connecting structure of the connectors25and27also to the laptop PC type electronic apparatus10A.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the cover member17of the electronic apparatus10A loads a keyboard46which functions as an electronic component in place of the display14. The second board26of the electronic apparatus10A is, for example, a control board for the keyboard46. In the electronic apparatus10A, a display chassis48is coupled to one end of the chassis12via a hinge47. A display49which is the same as the display14is loaded on the front face of the display chassis48.

Also, in the electronic apparatus10A which is configured in this way, the connectors25and27are automatically connected together simply by coupling the cover member17to the housing16. Accordingly, also in the electronic apparatus10A, it becomes possible to connect together the connectors25and27and to couple together the cover member17and the housing16efficiently and, in addition, it becomes also possible to suppress occurrence of the malfunctions when removing the cover member17from the housing16at the time of maintenance and so forth.

Next, an electronic apparatus50according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG.7is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of an inner structure of the electronic apparatus50according to the second embodiment of the present invention.FIG.8Ais a schematic sectional diagram along the VIII-VIII line inFIG.7.FIG.8Bis an exploded diagram illustrating one example of an operation of attaching the cover member17to the housing16which is illustrated inFIG.7A. In the electronic apparatus50according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the same reference numerals are assigned to elements which exhibit functions and effects which are the same as or similar to the functions and effects of the elements of the electronic apparatus10(10A) according to the first embodiment of the present invention and detailed description thereof will be omitted. As in the case of the illustrations inFIG.4toFIG.5B, inFIG.7AandFIG.7B, concrete illustrations of the display14and the vessel18are omitted and the display14and the vessel18are illustrated in a lump as one plate-shaped cover member17.

The electronic apparatus50according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes connectors52and53which are different from the connectors25and27of the electronic apparatus10(10A) in configuration and connection structure.

First, a support structure for supporting the connector52to the housing16and a support structure for supporting the connector53to the cover member17will be described.

As illustrated inFIG.7andFIG.8A, the first board is housed in the housing16and is fixed to the housing16. Accordingly, the first connector52which is mounted on the first board20is fixed to the housing16relatively. In this situation, the first connector52is mounted on the lower-face side of the first board20in a state of facing the X direction and a leading end (a connection face) thereof protrudes from the end face of the first board20sideways. That is, the first connector25of the electronic apparatus (10A) is arranged in a state of facing a vertical direction (the Z direction). On the other hand, the first connector52of the electronic apparatus50is arranged in a state of facing a horizontal direction (the X direction).

The electronic apparatus50according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a control board26A and a second board56in place of the second board26of the electronic apparatus10(10A).

The control board26A is the same as the second board26and is the board for controlling display on the display14. The control board26A is fixed to the cover member17relatively via the holder plate30. A bearing portion54is installed on an inner face of a portion of the holder plate which projects from an end face of the second board26A in the X direction. The bearing portion54is configured by one pair of small-sized resinous plates which are arranged in opposition to each other, for example, in the X direction. The second connector53is arranged between one pair of the bearing portions54and54. A slot54awhich extends in a direction which is inclined in the X direction relative to the Z direction at an angle of, for example, about 30 to 50 degrees is formed in each bearing portion54.

The second board56is a flexible board (FPC: Flexible printed circuits). A first end of the second board56is connected to the control board26A and the second connector53is mounted on a second end of the second board56.

The second connector53is supported by one pair of the bearing portions54to be rotationally movable. The second connector53has one pair of rotating shafts53awhich projects from both side faces respectively in its width direction (the Y direction). Each rotating shaft53ais pivotally supported in a state of being relatively movable and relatively rotatable relative to the slot54ain each bearing portion54. Thereby, the second connector53is supported to the cover member17in a floating state. Specifically, the second connector53is supported to the cover member17in the floating state that relative rotational movement for performing wobbling in the Z direction around the rotating shaft53aand relative movement in the X and Z directions that the rotating shaft53amoves along the slot54aare made possible. Incidentally, since the second connector53is connected with the control board26A via the second board56which is the flexible board, a smooth floating operation is secured.

FIG.9Ais an enlarged diagram illustrating one example of the connectors52and53and their peripheral portions which are illustrated inFIG.8B.FIG.9Bis an enlarged diagram illustrating one example of the connectors52and53and their peripheral portions which are illustrated inFIG.8A.

As illustrated inFIG.9AandFIG.9B, the connectors52and53have a first magnet58and a second magnet59on their connection faces respectively. The first magnet58and the second magnet59mutually generate the attraction force. A Pogo pin60is installed on a connection face of the second connector53in a state of protruding from the connection face to be movable back and forth. The Pogo pin is called a spring-loaded probe or a contact probe, is a contact pin which is retractable from the connection face of the second connector53and also serves as a portion for positioning the connectors52and53.

Next, an operation of coupling the cover member17to the housing16and connecting together the connectors52and53simultaneously will be described.

FIG.8BandFIG.9Aeach illustrates a state which is observed immediately before the second connector53abuts on the first connector52, when attaching the cover member17to the housing16from above so as to close the opening16ain the housing16. In the electronic apparatus50, the first connector52is so arranged as to face sideways and the second connector53is supported in a floating state of being rotatable and movable relative to the cover member17. Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG.8BandFIG.9A, in a state which is taken before the cover member17is coupled to the housing16, the second connector53enters a state of being suspended in a posture of facing the lower right side in the drawing under its own weight. In this state, the rotating shaft53ais located on one end side (the lower right side in the drawing) which is the closest to the first connector52in the X direction in the slot54a.

In a case where the cover member17comes closer to the housing16from this state, a connection face of the second connector53abuts on a connection face of the first connector52. Then, while the second connector53is rotationally moving so as to turn upward in the Z direction around the rotating shaft53, the rotating shaft53amoves toward the other end side (the upper left side in the drawing) in the slot54a. As a result, the second connector53is connected with the first connector52smoothly without being caught in the first connector52and inducing breakage failure and so forth. On this occasion, the connectors52and53stick together with the aid of the attraction force between the magnets58and59and the Pogo pin60is pressed against a connection terminal of the first connector60simultaneously, and thereby the connectors52and53are mutually positioned and connection between the connectors52and53is completed.

Also in the electronic apparatus50, the connectors52and53are automatically connected together simply by coupling the cover member17to the housing16in this way. Incidentally, also in the electronic apparatus50, the housing16and the cover member may be clamped together with the screw44.

As described above, also in the electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the first connector52which is mounted on the first board20is fixed to the housing16relatively and the second connector53which is mounted on the second board56is supported to the cover member17in the floating state.

Accordingly, in the electronic apparatus50, in a case where the cover member17is coupled to the housing16, the relative positions between the connectors52and53are adjusted by the floating operation of the second connector53and the connectors52and53are automatically connected together. That is, in the electronic apparatus50, the connectors52and53are connected together simply by coupling the cover member17to the housing16.

Accordingly, also in the electronic apparatus50, it becomes possible to connect the connectors52and53together and to couple the cover member17and the housing16together efficiently with no need of arranging the elongated flexible board between the cover member17and the housing16in the striding-over state. Further, since there exists no flexible board which is arranged between the cover member17and the housing16in the striding-over state, in a case where the cover member17is detached from the housing16at the time of maintenance and so forth, such a situation that the flexible board is damaged does not occur. Incidentally, although the second board56is the flexible board, the second board56is adapted to connect together components which are supported to the cover member27, that is, is adapted to connect together the control board26A and the second connector53and is not arranged between the cover member17and the housing16in the striding-over state.

In the second embodiment, the first connector52is arranged in a state of facing in the X direction which intersects with the Z direction which is the direction that the cover member17is attached to/detached from the housing16. In addition, the cover member17has a bearing portion54and the second connector53has the rotating shaft53awhich is supported by the bearing portion54, and thereby the second connector53may be so configured as to be movable and rotatable relative to the cover member17. Then, in the electronic apparatus50, it becomes possible to smoothly connect the second connector53which is supported on the cover member17side also to the first connector52which is arranged sideways relative to a direction that the housing16and the cover member17are coupled together. In particular, in the electronic apparatus50, a direction that the connectors52and53are attached/detached is set to the Z direction which is orthogonal to the X direction which is a direction that the magnets58and59mutually attract. Accordingly, the electronic apparatus50also has such an advantage that it becomes possible to smoothly release a mutually attracted state of the magnets58and59in a case where the cover member17is detached from the housing16. In the electronic apparatus50, the bearing portion54has the slot54awhich supports the rotating shaft53aand the slot54amay be also configured to extend in an inclination direction that the second connector53is gradually separated from the first connector52, heading in the Z direction that the cover member17is detached from the housing16. Then, in the electronic apparatus50, in a case where the cover member17is coupled to the housing16, the rotating shaft53amoves while rotating in the slot54aand makes the second connector53move in a direction that the second connector53moves backward from the first connector52. Accordingly, in the electronic apparatus50, smooth connection between the connectors52and53becomes possible while suppressing such a situation that the second connector52is pushed against the first connector52by exertion of excessive force and one or both of the connectors52and53is/are damaged in a case where the connectors52and53are connected together.

Incidentally, the electronic apparatus50may be the laptop PC that the keyboard46is loaded on the cover member17similarly to the electronic apparatus10A which is illustrated inFIG.6.

Incidentally, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and it is possible to freely change the configuration of the electronic apparatus within the range not deviating from the gist of the present invention.

The holder plate30may be omitted. In this case, in the electronic apparatuses10and10A, the second board26may be directly supported by the cover member17and the recessed portion40and the protruding portion41may be formed in/on, for example, each of the boards20and26to be used as substitutes for the positioning portions36. In addition, in the electronic apparatus50, the control board26A may be directly supported by the cover member17and also the bearing portion54may be directly installed on the cover member17.

The second connector (27,53) is configured to be floatable across a distance which is long to some extent by floating support of the second board26to the cover member17or by floating support of the second board26to the cover member17with the use of the rotating shaft53a. In addition to such floating structures as above, in the electronic apparatus (10,10A,50), the second connector (27,53) may be also configured by a floating connector which minutely floats relative to the second board (26,56) so that the first connector (25,52) and the second connector (27,53) itself are mounted.