Patent Publication Number: US-2011075383-A1

Title: Fixing structure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 98133264, filed on Sep. 30, 2009. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a fixing structure. More particularly, the invention relates to a fixing structure applicable to an electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In current information era, human beings by degrees tend to rely on electronic products. The electronic products including mobile phones, computers, and video-audio equipment have become ubiquitous in our daily lives. Along with continual development of electronic technology, user-friendly electronic products with powerful functions have come forth and gradually replaced old electronic products. To smooth processes of assembling the electronic products, designs of various fixing structures become more and more significant. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic partial view exemplarily illustrating a conventional notebook computer. As indicated in  FIG. 1 , to secure a circuit board  12  onto a main body  16  of the notebook computer  10 , a piece of iron  14  is often required for fixing the circuit board  12  between the piece of iron  14  and the main body  16  by fastening the piece of iron  14  and the main body  16 . Nonetheless, the piece of iron  14  occupies internal space of the notebook computer  10 , and thereby the volume of the notebook computer  10  cannot be reduced. 
     On the other hand, other components are necessary for molding the piece of iron  14 . Namely, the piece of iron  14  used for fixing the circuit board  12  is fabricated by performing an additional process according to the related art, thus necessitating extra costs, time, and efforts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a fixing structure which can increase internal space of an electronic device and reduce manufacturing costs. 
     In the invention, a fixing structure adapted for an electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a circuit board. The fixing structure includes a base plate and a position limiting element. The base plate has a first side and a second side. The position limiting element has a first limiting portion and a second limiting portion. The first limiting portion connects the first side of the base plate, and the second limiting portion connects the second side of the base plate, such that the position limiting element and the base plate together form a receiving space. The circuit board is adapted for passing through the receiving space, so as to be assembled onto the base plate. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the circuit board is adapted for leaning against the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion, such that the circuit board is limited to be in the receiving space. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the position limiting element and the base plate are integrally formed. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a material of the position limiting element and the base plate is plastic. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board (PCB). 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the base plate further has a third side opposite to the first side, and the position limiting element further has a third limiting portion connecting the third side of the base plate. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the fixing structure further includes a positioning pin disposed on the base plate, and the circuit board has a positioning hole corresponding to the positioning pin. 
     Based on the above, the fixing structure of the invention serves to fasten the circuit board in no need of other components, which reduces costs and facilitates assembly. In addition, the space that the fixing structure occupies is rather small, and therefore the electronic device can have favorable space usage flexibility. 
     In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures are described in detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a conventional fixing structure. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial top view illustrating an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating a fixing structure in the electronic device depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating the fixing structure depicted in  FIG. 3  from another view angle. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 2  is a partial top view illustrating an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating a fixing structure in the electronic device depicted in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating the fixing structure depicted in  FIG. 3  from another view angle. With reference to  FIGS. 2˜4 , the fixing structure  100  is adapted for an electronic device  20 , and the electronic device  20  has a circuit board  22 . In the embodiment, the electronic device  20  is a notebook computer, and the circuit board  22  is a flexible PCB disposed in a touch-sensing module (not shown) of the notebook computer. 
     According to the embodiment, the fixing structure  100  includes a base plate  110  and two position limiting elements  120  and  130 . Structures and functions of the two position limiting elements  120  and  130  are identical, and therefore the position limiting element  120  is taken as an example to elaborate the invention as provided below. 
     The base plate  110  has a first side S 1  and a second side S 2 . The position limiting element  120  has a first limiting portion  122  and a second limiting portion  124 . The first limiting portion  122  connects the first side S 1  of the base plate  110 , and the second limiting portion  124  connects the second side S 2  of the base plate  110 , such that the position limiting element  120  and the base plate  110  together form a receiving space  140 . Besides, the circuit board  22  is adapted for passing through the receiving space  140 , so as to be assembled onto the base plate  110  and partially exposed by the position limiting element  120 . 
     In the embodiment, a material of the position limiting element  120  and the base plate  110  can be plastic or another flexible material. Additionally, through applying an injection molding technology, the position limiting element  120  and the base plate  110  are integrally formed to simplify fabricating processes and reduce manufacturing costs. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2  again, during assembly, a portion of the circuit board  22  passes through the receiving space  140  between the position limiting element  120  and the base plate  110  and is then assembled onto the base plate  110 . Note that a side of the circuit board  22  can lean against the first limiting portion  122  and the second limiting portion  124  of the position limiting element  120 , such that the circuit board  22  ceases to be pushed forward, and that the circuit board  22  can then perform a positioning function. Next, since the circuit board  22  is flexible, the other side of the circuit board  22  is embedded into the receiving space  140  between the position limiting element  130  and the base plate  110 . Here, both sides of the circuit board  22  are limited by the two position limiting elements  120  and  130 , such that the circuit board  22  is assembled onto the base plate  110 . 
     Additionally, the base plate  110  has a third side S 3  opposite to the first side S 1 , and the position limiting element  120  has a third limiting portion  126  connecting the third side S 3  of the base plate  110 . Thereby, structural connection strength between the position limiting element  120  and the base plate  110  can be enhanced, and the position limiting element  120  can be firmly fastened onto the base plate  110 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the embodiment, the fixing structure  100  further includes two positioning pins  150 , and the circuit board  22  has positioning holes  22   a  corresponding to the positioning pins  150 . Through the positioning pins  150  and the positioning holes  22   a , the circuit board  22  can be assembled onto the base plate  110  to a better extent. 
     In light of the foregoing, the fixing structure of the invention serves to fasten the circuit board in no need of other components, which reduces costs and facilitates assembly. Moreover, a side of the circuit board can lean against a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion where the position limiting element and the base plate are connected, such that the circuit board ceases to be pushed forward, and that the circuit board can perform the positioning function. In addition, the space that the fixing structure occupies is rather small, and therefore the electronic device can have favorable space usage flexibility. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skills in the art that modifications to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the attached claims not by the above detailed descriptions.