Patent Publication Number: US-7710716-B2

Title: Electronic apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/488,287, filed Jul. 17, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,140. 2005-211465, filed Jul. 21, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     One embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having an input mechanism such as a keyboard, and more particularly to a drip-proof structure of a case to which such an input mechanism is attached. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An electronic apparatus such as a portable computer includes a case. In the case, a circuit board on which electronic components such as a connector are mounted is housed. Furthermore, the case includes an upper wall having a keyboard placing portion. The keyboard placing portion has an opening which opens so as to expose the circuit board. 
     On the other hand, the keyboard which is to be mounted on the keyboard placing portion has a cable which is to be electrically connected to the connector. The work of connecting the cable to the connector is conducted through the opening. After the cable is conducted to the connector, the keyboard is attached to the keyboard placing portion so as to cover the opening. 
     In the case where the user erroneously spills a liquid such as coffee or drinking water on the keyboard during a period when the keyboard is operated, for example, there is the possibility that the liquid enters the interior of the case via a gap between the keyboard and the keyboard placing portion, and the opening. When the liquid adheres to the circuit board in the case, particularly, there is the possibility that a short circuit between wirings occurs, and an electronic component mounted on the circuit board is damaged. Therefore, a computer which is provided with a water-proof mechanism has been proposed (for example, see JP-A-2003-122454). 
     The computer disclosed in JP-A-2003-122454 has a first discharge hole which is formed in a board of a keyboard. A guide channel having a second discharge hole is disposed below the first discharge hole. Furthermore, a third discharge hole which opens to the exterior of the computer is disposed below the second discharge hole. 
    
    
     
       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 the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary exploded perspective view of a body in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary section view of the portable computer taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary enlarged section view showing a duct portion in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary perspective view showing the manner of attaching a keyboard to the body in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exemplary perspective view of the body in  FIG. 1  viewed from the rear; 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplary enlarged perspective view showing the periphery of a connector in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exemplary perspective view showing the periphery of a connector of a portable computer according to a second embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary section view of a portable computer according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments according to the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus includes: a case having an upper wall and a lower wall; a connector housed in the case; a duct portion having a first opening that opens in the upper wall, the duct portion protruding from a peripheral edge of the first opening and more than a lower end of the connector toward the lower wall, the duct portion having a second opening that opens in the case at a protruding end; and a cable passed through the duct portion and electrically connected to the connector. 
       FIGS. 1 to 7  show a portable computer  1  which is an electronic apparatus of a first embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the portable computer  1  includes a body  2  and a display unit  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the body  2  includes a body base  5 , a board  6 , a body cover  7 , and a keyboard  8  serving as an input mechanism. The body cover  7  is attached to the body base  5  from the upper side so as to sandwich the board  6  between the cover and the body base  5 . Therefore, the body  2  has a box-like case  9  having an upper wall  9   a , a lower wall  9   b , and side walls  9   c.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the display unit  3  includes a display housing  11 , and a liquid crystal display panel  12  which is housed in the display housing  11 . The liquid crystal display panel  12  has a display screen  12   a . The display screen  12   a  is exposed to the outside of the display housing  11  through a front opening  11   a  of the display housing  11 . 
     The display unit  3  is supported by a rear end portion of the case  9  via a hinge device which is not shown. Therefore, the display unit  3  is rotatable between a close position where the unit is tilted down so as to cover the upper wall  9   a  from the upper side, and an open position where the unit is raised so as to expose the display screen  12   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper wall  9   a  of the body  2  has a keyboard placing portion  14 . The keyboard placing portion  14  detachably supports the keyboard  8 . The keyboard placing portion  14  has a recess which is slightly larger than the outline of the keyboard  8 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the keyboard placing portion  14  has a bottom wall  15  serving as a support wall, a peripheral wall  16 , and a duct portion  18 . 
     The bottom wall  15  is disposed in a substantially whole area of the keyboard placing portion  14 . When the keyboard  8  is attached to the keyboard placing portion  14 , the bottom wall  15  supports the keyboard  8  from the lower side. The peripheral wall  16  is raised from the whole peripheral edge of the bottom wall  15 . As a part of the upper wall  9   a  of the case  9 , the bottom wall  15  and the peripheral wall  16  are formed integrally with the upper wall  9   a  in the portion which is outside the keyboard placing portion  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the duct portion  18  has a first opening  17 , a duct wall  23 , and a second opening  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first opening  17  is formed in the bottom wall  15 , and opens inside the case  9 . The first opening  17  has a rectangular shape which is rounded at the edges, and in which the longitudinal direction elongates along the width direction of the case  9 . Other than the first opening  17 , the keyboard placing portion  14  does not have an opening which opens in the case  9 , and is watertightly formed together with the upper wall  9   a  in the portion which is outside the keyboard placing portion  14 . 
     The duct wall  23  protrudes from the peripheral edge of the first opening  17  in the bottom wall  15 , toward the lower wall  9   b  of the case  9 , and extends in a cylindrical manner. Namely, the interior of the duct portion  18  is hollowed, and one end  18   a  of the portion opens in the exterior of the case  9  via the first opening  17 . In the other end  18   b  of the duct portion  18 , i.e., a lower end portion which is a protruding end, the second H opening  24  downward opens. That is, the second opening  24  opens inside the case  9 . The duct portion  18  is formed integrally with the bottom wall  15 . 
     The shape of the duct portion  18  is not restricted to that in the first embodiment, but can be arbitrarily set. The duct portion  18  is not required to be formed integrally with the bottom wall  15 , but may be formed separately from the bottom wall  15 . In this case, the duct portion  18  is attached to the bottom wall  15  by means of, for example, adhesion or fitting. The configuration in which “the duct portion  18  protrudes toward the lower wall  9   b ” is not restricted to that in which the duct portion  18  protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the lower wall  9   b , but the protrusion may be conducted in any direction as far as the duct portion  18  protrudes in such a manner that it approaches the lower wall  9   b . “The protruding end of the duct portion  18 ” is not restricted the protruding tip end in a narrow meaning, but includes also a portion in the vicinity of the protruding tip end. The opening direction of the second opening  24  is not restricted to a downward direction. For example, the direction may be an obliquely downward direction, or a horizontal direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the case  9  houses the board  6  and a connector  26 . The board  6  is positioned between the second opening  24  of the duct portion  18  and the bottom wall  15  of the keyboard placing portion  14 . In other words, the duct portion  18  is formed so as to protrude to the vicinity of the lower wall  9   b  more than the board  6 . 
     The board  6  has a first face  27 , a second face  28 , and a through hole  29 . The through hole  29  is formed in a portion which, when the board  6  is housed in the case  9 , corresponds to the duct portion  18 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the through hole  29  is a rectangular hole which is slightly larger than the outer periphery of the duct wall  23 . When the body cover  7  is attached to the body base  5 , the duct portion  18  is passed through the through hole  29 , whereby the board  6  is placed between the second opening  24  of the duct portion  18  and the bottom wall  15 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the first face  27  of the board  6  is a face opposing the bottom wall  15  of the keyboard placing portion  14 , i.e., the upper face. The second face  28  is a face opposing the lower wall  9   b  of the case  9 , i.e., the lower case. Electronic components  27   a  which are lower in mounting height than electronic components  28   a  mounted on the second face  28  are mainly mounted on the first face  27 . 
     The connector  26  is mounted on the second face  28  of the board  6 . Therefore, the duct portion  18  protrudes toward the lower wall  9   b  more than the lower end  26   a  of the D connector  26 , that is, downward protrudes more than the lower end  26   a  of the connector  26 . The board  6  and the connector  26  are positioned within the range of the protrusion height of the duct portion  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the keyboard  8  has a keyboard board  31 , plural keys  32 , and a cable  21 . The keyboard board  31  is placed on the bottom wall  15  of the keyboard placing portion  14 . The keys  32  are arranged on the upper face of the keyboard board  31 . 
     The cable  21  is guided from the keyboard board  31  to the duct portion  18 . The cable  21  is covered by an insulator. One end  21   a  of the cable  21  is connected to the keyboard board  31  in the keyboard placing portion  14 . The other end  21   b  of the cable  21  is folded back so as to be directed toward the second face  28  of the board  6 , after passing through the duct portion  18 , and then connected to the connector  26 . Namely, the cable  21  electrically connects the keyboard  8  to the connector  26 . Therefore, the cable  21  transmits a signal which is inputted to the keyboard board  31  by depressing one of the keys  32 , to the board  6  to which the connector  26  is connected. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lower wall  9   b  of the case  9  has an opening  34  which opens so as to oppose the connector  26 . The duct portion  18  and the connector  26  are exposed to the exterior of the case  9  via the opening  34 . A work of attaching the cable  21  to the connector  26  is conducted through the opening  34 . The lower wall  9   b  has a lid  35  serving as a cover. The lid  35  is detachably attached to the lower wall  9   b  so as to cover the opening  34 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lid  35  has: an upper face  35   a  which is exposed to the interior of the case  9 ; a lower face  35   b  which is exposed to the exterior of the case  9 ; and plural discharge holes  35   c  which are passed through from the upper face  35   a  to the lower face  35   b . The discharge holes  35   c  are formed in a portion corresponding to the second opening  24  of the duct portion  18 , i.e., a portion below the second opening  24 . 
     Next, the function of the portable computer  1  will be described. 
     First, the procedure of attaching the keyboard  8  to the body  2  will be described. After the body base  5  and the body cover  7  are assembled, the keyboard  8  is attached to the body  2 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the keyboard  8  is placed upside down on the upper wall  9   a  of the body  2 , and the cable  21  is inserted into the interior of the duct portion  18  via the first opening  17 . Next, the keyboard  8  is reversed to be returned to the normal posture, and then attached to the keyboard placing portion  14 . 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the portable computer  1  is placed upside down. In this state, as shown in  FIG. 7 , works of leading out the end  21   b  of the cable  21  from the second opening  24  of the duct portion  18  via the opening  34  of the lower wall  9   b , and connecting the cable  21  to the connector  26  are conducted. Finally, the lid  35  which covers the opening  34  is attached to the lower wall  9   b , and the portable computer  1  is returned to the normal vertical posture. 
     In the case where the user erroneously spills a liquid such as coffee or drinking water on the keyboard  8  during a period when the portable computer  1  is used, the liquid passes through the gap between the keyboard  8  and the keyboard placing portion  14 , and the first opening  17 , and then is guided to the interior of the duct portion  18 . The liquid which has been guided to the interior of the duct portion  18  freely falls along the duct wall  23  to a position in the vicinity of the lower wall  9   b  more than the board  6  and the connector  26 . The liquid is discharged to the exterior of the case  9  via the discharge holes  35   c.    
     According to thus configured portable computer  1 , the water resistance of the portable computer  1  can be easily enhanced without complicating the structure of the case  9 . Namely, the liquid which tries to intrude into the body  2  enters the interior of the case  9  via the second opening  24  with passing through the duct portion  18 . The second opening  24  is positioned in the vicinity of the lower wall  9   b  more than the board  6  and the connector  26 , namely, lower than the board  6  and the connector  26 . Consequently, there is no possibility that the liquid discharged from the second opening  24  falls on the board  6  and the connector  26 . In this way, the board  6  and the connector  26  are protected from a liquid spilled onto the keyboard  8 , whereby the portable computer  1  in which the water resistance is improved can be obtained. 
     Particularly, the portable computer  1  does not require an expensive sealing member of sponge, rubber, or the like. Furthermore, it is not necessary to additionally dispose a water-proof member such as an attachment member for attaching the sealing member. Namely, the portable computer  1  can be produced very economically. 
     In a structure which uses a sealing member, the sealing member is usually attached with being compressed, and hence the strengths and thicknesses of the body base  5  and the body cover  7  must be considered. In the portable computer  1  of the embodiment, however, such consideration is not necessary. Furthermore, a member such as that for compressing the sealing member is not required to be attached to the keyboard placing portion  14 . In the portable computer  1 , therefore, the thickness of the body  2  can be reduced. 
     In the portable computer  1  of the embodiment, the keyboard placing portion  14  other than the first opening  17  is watertightly formed together with the upper wall  9   a . Unlike a keyboard placing portion of a conventional portable computer, namely, an opening for a connecting work through which the interior of the case  9  is largely exposed is not disposed. According to the configuration, the board  6  and the connector  26  are further protected from a liquid spilled onto the keyboard  8 . 
     In the portable computer  1 , even when an opening for a connecting work is not disposed in the keyboard placing portion  14 , the work of connecting the cable  21  to the connector  26  is enabled by disposing the opening  34  in the lower wall  9   b  of the case  9 . 
     Since the duct portion  18  is formed integrally with the bottom wall  15  of the keyboard placing portion  14 , a gap which may be formed as a result of attachment of the duct portion  18  and the bottom wall  15  can be eliminated, and it is possible to prevent a liquid from entering through the gap. The discharge holes  35   c  allows a liquid which has passed through the duct portion  18  to be discharged to the outside of the case  9  without remaining in the case  9 . 
     Since the board  6  has the through hole  29 , the board  6  can be placed in more proximity to the bottom wall  15  as compared with the second opening  24  of the duct portion  18 , without being hindered by the duct portion  18 . In other words, the duct portion  18  can protrude toward the lower wall  9   b  without being hindered by the board  6 . Since the electronic components  27   a  which are lower in mounting height than the electronic components  28   a  mounted on the second face  28  are mounted on the first face  27  of the board  6 , the distance between the board  6  and the bottom wall  15  can be reduced. Therefore, the protrusion height of the duct portion  18  can be suppressed, and the body  2  can be thinned. 
     Next, a portable computer  1   a  which is an electronic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . The components having the identical functions as those of the portable computer  1  of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description is omitted. 
     A board  6   a  which is housed in the body  2  of the portable computer  1   a  is placed between the second opening  24  of the duct portion  18  and the bottom wall  15  of the keyboard placing portion  14 . The board  6   a  has a cutaway portion  41 . The cutaway portion  41  is disposed in a portion which, when the board  6  is attached in the case  9 , corresponds to the duct portion  18 . In order to avoid the duct portion  18 , the cutaway portion  41  is cut away to be slightly larger than the outer periphery of the duct wall  23 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the body cover  7  is attached to the body base  5 , the board  6   a  is placed so as to avoid the duct portion  1 S, because the board  6   a  has the cutaway portion  41 . Therefore, the board  6   a  is placed between the second opening  24  of the duct portion  18  and the bottom wall  15 , without being hindered by the duct portion  18 . 
     Also in the thus configured portable computer  1   a , the board  6   a  can be placed between the second opening  24  and the bottom wall  15 . Therefore, the water resistance of the portable computer  1   a  can be easily enhanced without complicating the structure. As indicated by the two-dot chain line in  FIG. 8 , a board  6   b  itself may be placed at a position where it is not in contact with the duct portion  18 , without disposing the through hole  29  and the cutaway portion  41 . 
     Next, a portable computer  1   b  which is an electronic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 . The components having the identical functions as those of the portable computer  1  of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description is omitted. 
     A touch pad placing portion  51  is formed on the upper wall  9   a  of the portable computer  1   b . A touch pad  52  serving as an input mechanism is attached to the touch pad placing portion  51 . The touch pad  52  has a cable  53 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the cable  53  is led out to the keyboard placing portion  14 , and passed through the duct portion  18 . One end  53   a  of the cable  53  is connected to the touch pad  52  in the touch pad placing portion  51 . The other end  53   b  of the cable  53  is connected to a connector  54  for the touch pad  52  inside the case  9 . Namely, the cable  53  electrically connects the touch pad  52  to the connector  54 . The connector  54  is placed between the second opening  24  of the duct portion  18  and the bottom wall  15 . The duct portion  18  protrudes downward more than the lower ends  54   a  of the connector  54 . 
     According to thus configured portable computer  1   b , the water resistance of the portable computer  1   b  can be easily enhanced without complicating the structure. In addition to the connector  26  to which the keyboard  8  is connected, the connector  54  to which the touch pad  52  is connected, and the board  6  can be enhanced in waterproofness. The cable  53  of the touch pad  52  may be placed with being vertically juxtaposed with the cable  21  of the keyboard  8  as in the embodiment, or may be placed with being horizontally juxtaposed with the cable  21  of the keyboard  8 . As indicated by the two-dot chain line in  FIG. 9 , a duct portion  55  for the touch pad  52  may be disposed in the touch pad placing portion  51 . The duct portion  55  has a first opening  17  which opens in the touch pad placing portion  51 , and a second opening  24  which opens in the case  9 . The cable  53  of the touch pad  52  is passed through the duct portion  55 , and then electrically connected to the connector  54  in the case  9 . 
     The portable computers  1 ,  1   a ,  1   b  of the first to third embodiments have been described. It is a matter of course that the invention is not restricted to them. For example, the cables which are passed through the duct portion  18  are not restricted to the cable  21  for the keyboard  8  and the cable  53  for the touch pad  52 . For example, the invention can be applied also to a cable which electrically connects the liquid crystal display panel  12  of the display unit  3  to the board  6  housed in the case  9 . Furthermore, the invention can be applied to any electronic apparatus having a cable which is disposed outside the case  9 , and which is connected to the connector  26  or the board  6  housed in the case  9 . 
     The place where the duct portion  18  is disposed is not restricted to the keyboard placing portion  14  or the touch pad placing portion  51 . For example, the duct portion  18  may be disposed in the upper wall  9   a  between the display unit  3  and the keyboard placing portion  14 , and may be disposed in any place. 
     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 structure described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the structure 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 of modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.