Abstract:
A mount structure having a substrate, a connector secured to the substrate, and a flexible printed wiring board electrically connected to the connector and spaced apart from the substrate. The flexible printed wiring board is positioned below the connector and separated from the connector by a distance greater than a thickness of the substrate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority on U.S. patent application No. Ser. 11/584,420 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-123858, filed Apr. 27, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field 
   One embodiment of the present invention relates to a mount structure designed to hold connectors, and an electronic apparatus that has the mount structure. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Various mount structures are known, each of which has a substrate holding an IC-card connector. Among these is a mount structure that uses a flexible cable. This mount structure comprises a rigid substrate, an IC-card connector, a holding unit, and a flexible cable. The IC-card connectors are secured to the rigid substrate. The holding unit holds the rigid substrate and the IC-card connector. The flexible cable electrically connects the connector to the rigid substrate. The cable extends in parallel with the rigid substrate, from one end that is connected to the IC-card connector. The cable is bent in the form of letter “U” and is connected at the other end to the rigid substrate. Thus, the cable and the connector are arranged on the same side of the rigid substrate. 
   In this mount structure, a flexible cable is used in addition to the holding unit. The flexible cable prevents cracks from developing in the electrical junction between the connector and the rigid substrate when another connector is inserted into or pulled out of the connector. (See, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-17479.) 
   Suppose that the cable, i.e., a component connecting the connector and the rigid substrate, is left exposed as in the conventional mount structure described above. Then, the worker who is assembling an apparatus using the mount structure may, by mistake, pull the cable and disconnect it from the connector or the substrate, or both. If this happens, the wires may be cut in the cable. Since the cable protrudes from the rigid substrate, the mount structure may occupy a relatively large space in the housing of the apparatus being assembled. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A general architecture that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is an exemplary perspective view of a portable computer according to a first embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exemplary sectional view of the housing of the portable computer ( FIG. 1 ), taken along a horizontal plane; 
       FIG. 3  is an exemplary exploded view of the mount structure incorporated in the housing shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an exemplary bottom view of the mount structure shown in  FIG. 3 , as viewed from below; 
       FIG. 5  is an exemplary sectional view of the mount structure shown in  FIG. 3 , taken along a vertical plane; 
       FIG. 6  is an exemplary sectional view of the mount structure shown in  FIG. 3 , which is applied with a stress; and 
       FIG. 7  is an exemplary sectional view of the mount structure incorporated in a portable computer concerning a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Various embodiments according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, a mount structure having a substrate, a connector secured to the substrate, and a flexible printed wiring board electrically connected to the connector and spaced apart from the substrate. The flexible printed wiring board is opposed to the connector across the substrate or arranged in a space having a height equal to the thickness of the substrate. 
   An electronic apparatus that is a first embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the portable computer  11  comprises a main unit  12 , a display unit  13 , and a hinge unit  14 . The hinge unit  14  couples the display unit  13  to the main unit  12 , allowing the display unit  13  to rotate. The display unit  13  has a display  15 . 
   The main unit  12  has a housing  16 , a keyboard  17 , a touchpad  18 , and buttons  19 . The housing  16  is made of resin. The touchpad  18  is a pointing device. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the housing  16  incorporates a printed circuit board  21  and a mount structure  22 . The printed circuit board  21  has a printed wiring board  23 , circuit components  24 , and a connector  25 . The circuit components  24  are mounted on the printed wiring board  23 . The connector  25  achieves internal connection. 
   As  FIGS. 2 and 3  show, the mount structure  22  has a first substrate  29 , a pair of connectors  30 , flexible printed wiring boards  31 , and a second substrate  32 . The connectors  30  are secured to the first substrate  29 . The flexible printed wiring boards  31  are electrically connected to the connectors  30 . The housing  16  has a pair of boss sections  33 , screw holes  34 , and an opening  35 . The screw holes  34  are made in the boss sections  33 , respectively. The opening  35  for exposes the connectors  30 . In  FIG. 3 , only one connector  30  and only one flexible printed wiring board  31  are illustrated. 
   As further shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , according to one embodiment of the invention, the first substrate  29  is, for example, a glass epoxy substrate. The first substrate  29  has through holes  36 , a pair of notches  37 , edges  38 , and three holding holes  40 . The holes  36  are used to secure the first substrate  29  to the housing  16 . The notches  37 , rectangular shaped in this embodiment, receive the connectors  30 , respectively. The edges  38  define the rims of the notches  37 . In the three holding holes  40 , rectangular shaped in this embodiment, three claws  39  of one connector  30  are inserted, respectively. The holding holes  40  are located near the notches  37 , respectively. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , a copper plated layer  41  is formed on those surface parts of the first substrate  29 , which surround the holding holes  40 , so that the claws  39  may be soldered in the holding holes  40 . Note that a part of the housing  16  may be used as first substrate  29  that is made of glass epoxy. In this case, the housing  16  is copper-plated on both surfaces. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each connector  30  comprises, for example, a universal serial bus (USB). The connector  30  has a shell  45 , claws  39 , and terminals  46 . The claws  39  are integrally formed with the shell  45  and extend from the shell  45 . The terminals  46  are connected to the flexible printed wiring board  31 . The connector  30  is not limited to a USB. It can be a connector of any other type, such as a D-SUB connector or a DIN connector. As  FIG. 3  shows, the terminals  46  pass through the notches  37  of the first substrate  29 . 
   As seen from  FIG. 2 , the flexible printed wiring boards  31  are shaped like bands that are bendable such as in the form of a crank as shown. As shown in  FIG. 4 , each flexible printed wiring board  31  has an end part  3   1 A, to which the terminals  46  of one connector  30  are connected. According to one embodiment of the invention, the end part  31 A is as broad as or less board than the notch  37 . The end part  31 A has through holes  47 , though which the terminals  46  pass. As  FIG. 5  shows, the rims of the through holes  47  are covered with plated copper layers  49 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each flexible printed wiring board  31  is spaced from the first substrate  29 , though its end part  31 A is fitted in the notch  37  and connected to the terminals  46 . 
   As seen from  FIG. 4 , the end part  31 A of the flexible printed wiring board  31  is surrounded by the edges  38  of the first substrate  29  as long as it is connected to the connector  30 . As  FIG. 5  shows, the flexible printed wiring board  31  is arranged in a space whose height is equal to the thickness of the first substrate  29 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the end part  31 A lies between the housing  16  and the connector  30  as long as the mount structure  22  remains attached to the housing  16 . As  FIG. 2  shows, the other-end part of the flexible printed wiring board  31  is connected to the printed circuit board  21 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second substrate  32  is adhered to that face of the end part  3   1 A of the flexible printed wiring board  31 , which opposes the connector  30 . The second substrate  32  is a rectangular plate and has the same width as the flexible printed wiring board  31 . Therefore, the width of the second substrate  32  is equal to or smaller than that of the notch  37 . The second substrate  32  has through holes  48 , through which the terminals  46  extend. The second substrate  32  is, for example, a glass epoxy substrate. 
   When connectors having a shape complementary to the connectors  30  of the mount structure  22  are inserted into the connectors  30 , respectively, the connectors  30  receive a lateral stress. This stress bends the connectors  30  and the first substrate  29  as shown in  FIG. 6 , causing the connectors  30  to swing. The claws  39  of the connectors  30  transmit the stress to the first substrate  29 . Nonetheless, the terminals  46  and the flexible printed wiring boards  31  can move together with first substrate  29 , because they are spaced from the first substrate  29 . Hence, the stress applied to the terminals  46  (i.e., electrical connection components) and at the through hole  47  is very small. 
   How the mount structure  22  of this embodiment is assembled will be explained, with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 . As  FIG. 3  shows, the connectors  30  are secured to the first substrate  29 , with the terminals  46  passing through the notches  37  of the first substrate  29 . The connectors  30  are fastened to the first substrate  29  as the claws  39  of the connectors  30  are fitted in the holding holes  40  of the first substrate  29 . After the claws  39  have been fitted into the holding holes  40 , the connectors  30  are secured to the first substrate  29  solder  51  as is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
   The terminals  46  of the connectors  30  are guided through the holes  47  of the flexible printed wiring board  31 , and connectors  30  are connected to the flexible printed wiring board  31 . The second substrates  32  are fitted in the notches  37 , respectively. The through holes  48  of the second substrate  32  and the through holes  47  of the flexible printed wiring board  31  are thus easily aligned with the terminals  46  of the connector  30 . The terminals  46  extending through the holes  47  are electrically connected to the flexible printed wiring board  31 , with solder  52  filling up the through hole  47 . Thus, the mount structure  22  according to this embodiment is assembled. The mount structure  22  is fastened, with screws  53 , to the boss section  33  of the housing  16 . The mount structure  22  is thereby held in the housing  16  of the portable computer  11 . 
   In this embodiment, the first substrate  29  and flexible printed wiring board  31  are spaced apart in a vertical (thickness) direction. Therefore, a stress, if applied to those parts of the connectors  30  which are secured to the first substrate  29 , no stress is applied to the electrical junction between each connector  30  and the flexible printed wiring board  31 . Further, since each flexible printed wiring board  31  is arranged in a space whose height is equal to the thickness of the first substrate  29 , its end part  31 A does not project toward first substrate  29 . Therefore, the flexible printed wiring board  31  is therefore prevented from being damaged, and the space in the housing  16  can be used efficiently. 
   Terminals  46  of the connectors  30  pass through the notches  37  of the first substrate  29 . Therefore, the terminals  46  are not exposed outside. This reduces the possibility of damaging the terminals  46  when the housing  16  is opened to repair any components within the housing  16 . 
   The end part  31 A of each flexible printed wiring board  31  is fitted in the notch  37  and is connected to the terminals  46 . That is, the end part  31 A lies within the notch  37 . This enhances the use efficiency of space in the housing  16 . Further, the first substrate  29  protects the terminals  46  and the end part  31 A, which constituting an electrical junction between the connector  30  and the flexible printed wiring board  31 , because the end part  31 A is fitted in the notch  37 , is connected to the terminals  46  and is surrounded by the edge  38  of first substrate  29 . Moreover, the mount structure  22  excel not only in mechanical strength, but also in thermal resistance, and can therefore withstand the heat applied in soldering, because the first substrate  29  is a glass epoxy substrate and its edge  38  surrounds the end part  31 A. 
   The mount structure according to this embodiment has the second substrate  32  secured to that face of the end part  31 A, which faces the connector  30 . The second substrate  32  can be fitted into the notch  37 . Hence, the second substrate  32  can serve to guide the flexible printed wiring board  31  to the connector  30  and to fit the board  31  into the notch  37 . Since the second substrate  32  is so fitted into the notch  37  of the first substrate  29 , the terminals  46  are easily aligned with the through hole  47  of the flexible printed wiring board  31 . 
   Once the second substrate  32  is fitted in the notch  37 , one through hole  47 , one terminal  46 , and solder  52  lie in each through hole  48  of the second substrate  32 . The through holes  47 , the terminals  46  and solder  52  can therefore be protected against external impacts. Further, the second substrate  32  reinforces the end part  31 A of the flexible printed wiring board  31 . This prevents the flexible printed wiring board  31  from being wrinkled or bent because of the heat applied to solder the terminals  46  to the flexible printed wiring board  31 . 
   Being a glass epoxy substrate, the second substrate  32  can impart sufficient mechanical strength and high thermal resistance to the second substrate  32 . This also reliably prevents the flexible printed wiring board  31  from being wrinkled or deformed in any other way when it is heated while the terminals  46  are being soldered to the board  31 . 
   The end part  31 A of each board  31  is arranged between the housing  16  and one connector  30 . The electrical junction between the connector  30  and the board  31  is not exposed outside. Thus, the electrical junction is protected from anything outside the housing  16 . 
   A portable computer  61  that is a second embodiment of this invention will be described, with reference to  FIG. 7 . This portable computer  61  is identical to the portable computer  11  (i.e., the first embodiment), except that the flexible printed wiring board  63  and the second substrate  64  take specific positions in the mount structure  62 . Therefore, the components identical to the counterparts of the computer  11  are designated at the same reference numbers and will not be described. 
   The mount structure  62  used in the portable computer  61  has a substrate  29 , a pair of connectors  30 , flexible printed wiring boards  63 , and a second substrate  64 . The connectors  30  are secured to the substrate  29 . The flexible printed wiring boards  63  are electrically connected to the connectors  30 . The second substrate  64  is secured to the flexible printed wiring board  63 . 
   In mount structure  62 , the flexible printed wiring board  63  and the second substrate  64  lie at lower levels than their counterparts of the mount structure  22  (i.e., the first embodiment). More precisely, the flexible printed wiring board  63  is opposed to the connectors  30  across the substrate  29 . 
   The end part  63 A of each flexible printed wiring board  63  is as broad as or less broad than each notch  37 . The end part  63 A is connected to the terminals  46  and surrounded by the edge  38  of the substrate  29 . It is arranged between the case  16  and one connector  30 . 
   In the mount structure  62  according to the second embodiment, the end part  63 A of each flexible printed wiring board  63  is opposed to one connector  30  across the substrate  29 . Therefore, the end part  63 A and the terminals  46  are spaced from the connector  30 , with the substrate  29  located between them and the connector  30 . Note that that connector  30  is exposed outside the housing  16  and likely to receive impacts. Thus, the substrate  29  protects the end part  63 A and the terminals  46  from impacts, if any, which the connector  30  has received. 
   Electronic apparatuses according to this invention are not limited such portable computers as described above. The invention can be applied to the electronic apparatuses of other types, such as portable data terminals. Various changes and modifications can, of course, be made on the electronic apparatuses according to this invention, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
   While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.