Patent Description:
An antistatic structure for an electronic device is known from, for example, <CIT>, that includes a conductive thin layer disposed on a front surface of a main body portion of the electronic device from which surface an electronic component is exposed, an extension portion that extends from the conductive thin layer along a side surface of the main body portion, and a grounding portion disposed near the extension portion with a minute spacing defined between the grounding portion and the extension portion. The antistatic structure sends static electricity from the conductive thin layer to a ground via the grounding portion, which static electricity might otherwise be sent to the electronic component.

<CIT> relates to a camera device comprising a camera housing where a camera assembly is mounted, a decoration part covering the camera housing and a fixing part provided along a periphery of the camera housing and fixing the decoration part.

<CIT> relates to an indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, which is capable of detecting a room temperature without impairing a design of the air-conditioning apparatus.

<CIT> relates to a static electricity avoidance structure for protecting electronic components, including DIP switches, arranged on a printed circuit board of an air conditioner from static electricity.

The antistatic structure described above sends the static electricity to the ground via the grounding portion that is at a ground potential of the electronic component mounted on a substrate of the main body portion. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the antistatic structure causes damage to the electronic component.

In addition, the antistatic structure has a poor design since the conductive thin layer is provided on the front surface of the main body portion from which the electronic component is exposed.

The present disclosure proposes an antistatic structure capable of dissipating static electricity on a casing to a ground, and an air conditioner having the antistatic structure.

The present invention is defined by the air conditioner as defined in independent claim <NUM>. Preferred optional features are recited in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, the first conductive member disposed on the inner face of the casing is at least partially disposed around the region opposite the element in the casing. The antistatic structure thus sends static electricity applied to the casing to the ground via the first conductive member. Therefore, the static electricity in the casing is dissipated to the ground without flowing into the element. In addition, the first conductive member as a static electricity countermeasure is disposed on the inner face of the casing and is not viewed from the outside. Therefore, the first conductive member does not impair an external design.

According to the present invention, since the first conductive member is disposed around the opening in the region opposite the element in the casing, static electricity is dissipated to the ground via the first conductive member even when static electricity is prone to flow into the casing due to accumulation over time of dust in the opening. The antistatic structure thus maintains the measure against static electricity for the element located near the opening, for a longer period of time.

An embodiment is directed to the air conditioner in which the first conductive member entirely surrounds the opening in the casing.

According to this embodiment, the first conductive member entirely surrounds the opening in the casing. The antistatic structure thus produces an improved advantageous effect of the measure against static electricity for the element.

According to the present invention, since the first conductive member is electrically connected to the second conductive member in a contactless manner, the first conductive member does not need to be connected, with a wire or the like, directly to the second conductive member electrically connected to the ground, which allows the casing to be detachable or removable with ease. The antistatic structure thus improves in assemblability and maintainability.

An embodiment is directed to the air conditioner in which the first conductive member includes an extension portion extending along the inner face of the casing, and the extension portion of the first conductive member is nearest to the second conductive member.

According to this embodiment, the extension portion of the first conductive member is nearest to the second conductive member, so that static electricity applied to the casing is sent to the ground via the extension portion of the first conductive member and the second conductive member. Therefore, the antistatic structure facilitates setting of a route for static electricity flowing from the first conductive member to the ground, in accordance with, for example, arrangement of the respective components in the casing.

An embodiment is directed to the air conditioner in which a shortest distance between the first conductive member and the element is longer than a shortest distance between the first conductive member and the second conductive member.

According to this embodiment, the shortest distance between the first conductive member and the element is longer than the shortest distance between the first conductive member and the second conductive member. The antistatic structure therefore reliably dissipates static electricity to the ground by discharging the static electricity at the position where the first conductive member is nearest to the second conductive member, without sending the static electricity to the element.

According to the present invention, the air conditioner has an antistatic structure described above. The air conditioner thus takes a measure against static electricity for, for example, a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor in the casing, by dissipating static electricity in the casing to the ground with a simple configuration.

Embodiments will be described below. In the drawings, identical reference signs indicate identical or corresponding portions. The dimensions, such as a length, a width, a thickness, and a depth, illustrated in the drawings are appropriately changed from actual scales for making the drawings clear and simple; therefore, the actual relative dimensions are not illustrated in the drawings.

<FIG> is a front view of an indoor unit <NUM> of an air conditioner having an antistatic structure according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The air conditioner having the antistatic structure according to the first embodiment includes the indoor unit <NUM> to be fastened to a wall of a room.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the indoor unit <NUM> includes a front panel <NUM>, a front grille <NUM> to which the front panel <NUM> is mounted, and a bottom frame (not illustrated) to which the front grille <NUM> is mounted. Mounted to the bottom frame are an indoor heat exchanger, a drain pan, a cross-flow fan, an electric component unit <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the like.

The front grille <NUM> is an example of a casing. The front grille <NUM> has in its front lower side a blow-out port 20a to which a horizontal flap <NUM> is mounted in a swingable manner.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the front grille <NUM> of the indoor unit <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the front grille <NUM> includes a right-side portion <NUM> and a left-side portion <NUM>. The front grille <NUM> accommodates therein the electric component unit <NUM> in the vicinity of the right-side portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a right side view of the front grille <NUM>. The right-side portion <NUM> has in its lower side an opening <NUM> made up of a plurality of slits 22a. A conductive tape <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is an example of a first conductive member (see also <FIG>).

<FIG> is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line IV-IV in <FIG>. The electric component unit <NUM> includes a base member <NUM> made of a resin, a control board <NUM> mounted to the center right of the base member <NUM>, a metal cover <NUM> mounted to the base member <NUM> so as to cover the control board <NUM>, and a temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> disposed on the right side of the base member <NUM> and below the control board <NUM>. The metal cover <NUM> is an example of a second conductive member. The temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> is an example of an element and is configured to detect a temperature and a humidity of indoor air.

In the right-side portion <NUM> of the front grille <NUM>, the opening <NUM> is located in a region opposite the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM>. The temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element) detects a temperature and a humidity of air flowing into the front grille <NUM> through the opening <NUM>.

<FIG> is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line V-V in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the right-side portion <NUM> has on its inner side a base portion <NUM> having a quadrilateral frame shape and entirely surrounding the opening <NUM>, and an extension portion <NUM> extending forward along an inner face of the right-side portion <NUM> in a direction away from the opening <NUM>. The base portion <NUM> and the extension portion <NUM> make up the conductive tape <NUM>.

In the first embodiment, the conductive tape <NUM> is an example of the first conductive member. However, the first conductive member is not limited to a conductive tape. For example, the first conductive member may be a metal film such as a plated film or may be a conductive coating.

The antistatic structure is constituted of the front grille <NUM>, the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM>, the conductive tape <NUM>, and the metal cover <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a lower side of the electric component unit <NUM> and the conductive tape <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the lower side of the electric component unit <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> each have no illustration of the front grille <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a distal end (see a hatched area in <FIG>) of the extension portion <NUM> of the conductive tape <NUM> is nearest to the metal cover <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a positional relationship between the electric component unit <NUM> and the conductive tape <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the metal cover <NUM> and the conductive tape <NUM>. In <FIG>, the metal cover <NUM> is filled with gray for clarification of the illustration.

A spatial distance L between the metal cover <NUM> and the distal end of the extension portion <NUM> of the conductive tape <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, is <NUM>. The metal cover <NUM> is electrically connected to a ground E.

In relation to this, a spatial distance between the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element) and the opening <NUM> in the right-side portion <NUM> of the front grille <NUM> is <NUM>.

An electronic apparatus such as an air conditioner needs to satisfy conditions of a <NUM>-kV electrostatic test compliant with IEC <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> or JIS <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>. If the conductive tape <NUM> is not used in the indoor unit <NUM>, the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element) should be spaced apart from the opening <NUM> by at least <NUM> on condition that an atmospheric insulation distance (i.e., a spatial distance) is <NUM> at <NUM> kV However, when the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element) is too far from the opening <NUM>, the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> fails to accurately detect a temperature and a humidity.

In the indoor unit <NUM>, the antistatic structure including the conductive tape <NUM> allows the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element) to accurately detect a temperature and a humidity on condition that the spatial distance between the opening <NUM> and the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element) is <NUM>. The indoor unit <NUM> also takes a measure against static electricity for the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element). The temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element) is brought closer to the opening <NUM> so that a distance therebetween is shorter than <NUM> which is an insulation distance (a spatial distance) at a voltage of <NUM> kV The temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element) is thus disposed at a position where the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element) has favorable temperature and humidity followability.

In the antistatic structure according to the first embodiment, the conductive tape <NUM> (the first conductive member) disposed on the inner face of the front grille <NUM> (the casing) is partially disposed around the region opposite the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> (the element) in the front grille <NUM>, so that static electricity applied to the front grille <NUM> is dissipated to the ground E via the conductive tape <NUM> and the metal cover <NUM> (the second conductive member). The static electricity in the front grille <NUM> is thus dissipated to the ground E without flowing into the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM>.

The indoor unit <NUM> having the antistatic structure obtained a good result of the electrostatic test compliant with IEC <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> or JIS <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>.

In the antistatic structure, the conductive tape <NUM> as a static electricity countermeasure is disposed on the inner face of the front grille <NUM> and is not viewed from the outside. Therefore, the conductive tape <NUM> does not impair the external design of the indoor unit <NUM>.

In addition, since the conductive tape <NUM> is disposed around the opening <NUM> in the region opposite the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> in the front grille <NUM>, static electricity is dissipated to the ground E via the conductive tape <NUM> and the metal cover <NUM> even when static electricity is prone to be applied to the front grille <NUM> due to secular accumulation of dust in the opening <NUM>. The antistatic structure thus maintains the measure against static electricity for the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> located near the opening <NUM>, for a longer period of time.

In addition, since the base portion <NUM> of the conductive tape <NUM> surrounds the opening <NUM> in the front grille <NUM>, the antistatic structure thus produces an improved advantageous effect of the measure against static electricity for the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM>.

In the first embodiment, the base portion <NUM> of the conductive tape <NUM> entirely surrounds the opening <NUM> in the front grille <NUM>. The antistatic structure may alternatively include a first electric member such as a conductive tape partially surrounding the opening <NUM> in the front grille <NUM>.

In addition, the conductive tape <NUM> is electrically connected to the metal cover <NUM> in a contactless manner. This eliminates a wire or the like to electrically connect the conductive tape <NUM> to the metal cover <NUM> electrically connected to the ground E, and eventually facilitates removal or detachment of the front grille <NUM>. The antistatic structure thus improves in assemblability and maintainability. The conductive tape <NUM> is electrically connected to the metal cover <NUM> via the atmosphere in a contactless manner.

In the conductive tape <NUM>, the extension portion <NUM> is the nearest to the metal cover <NUM> connected to the metal cover <NUM>, so that static electricity applied to the front grille <NUM> is dissipated to the ground E via the extension portion <NUM> of the conductive tape <NUM> and the metal cover <NUM>. Therefore, the antistatic structure facilitates setting of a route for static electricity flowing from the conductive tape <NUM> to the ground E, in accordance with, for example, arrangement of the respective components in the front grille <NUM>.

The shortest distance between the conductive tape <NUM> and the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> is longer than the shortest distance between the conductive tape <NUM> and the metal cover <NUM> connected to the ground E. The antistatic structure therefore reliably dissipates static electricity to the ground E by discharging the static electricity at the position where the conductive tape <NUM> is nearest to the metal cover <NUM>, without sending the static electricity to the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM>.

The air conditioner according to the first embodiment has the antistatic structure described above. The air conditioner according to the first embodiment thus takes a measure against static electricity for the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> in the front grille <NUM>, by dissipating static electricity in the front grille <NUM> to the ground E with a simple configuration.

In the first embodiment, the antistatic structure is constituted of the front grille <NUM>, the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM>, the conductive tape <NUM> (the first conductive member), and the metal cover <NUM> (the second conductive member). However, in an alternative configuration not in accordance with the claimed invention, the antistatic structure does not necessarily include the second conductive member. In such an antistatic structure, for example, the first conductive member may define a route for dissipating static electricity to the ground E.

Next, a description will be given of an air conditioner having an antistatic structure according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, which is not in accordance with the claimed invention.

In the antistatic structure according to the first embodiment, the conductive tape <NUM> (the first conductive member) is electrically connected to the ground E in a contactless manner via the metal cover <NUM>. In the air conditioner according to the second embodiment, a first conductive member disposed on an inner face of a casing and a second conductive member disposed in the casing and connected to a ground E are electrically connected to each other in a contact manner. Static electricity applied to the casing is thus dissipated to the ground E via the first conductive member and the second conductive member.

The first conductive member and the second conductive member may be electrically connected to each other with a connection member such as a wire.

The antistatic structure according to the second embodiment is similar in advantageous effects to the antistatic structure according to the first embodiment.

Next, a description will be given of an air cleaner having an antistatic structure according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, which is not in accordance with the claimed invention.

The air cleaner according to the third embodiment includes a casing and a humidity sensor disposed in the casing. The casing has an opening located in a region opposite the humidity sensor. A first conductive member is disposed on an inner face of the casing to dissipate static electricity to a ground E.

The antistatic structure according to the third embodiment is similar in advantageous effects to the antistatic structure according to the first embodiment.

The first to third embodiments concern an air conditioner having an antistatic structure and an air cleaner having an antistatic structure. An antistatic structure as described herein is also applicable to another apparatus such as a remote controller in which a temperature sensor or the like is incorporated.

In the first to third embodiments, the casing has the opening located in the region opposite the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> or the humidity sensor as the element. In configurations not in accordance with the claimed invention, the casing does not necessarily have the opening as long as the first conductive member disposed on the inner face of the casing is at least partially disposed around the region opposite the element in the casing.

In the first to third embodiments, the antistatic structure includes the temperature and humidity sensor <NUM> or the humidity sensor as the element disposed in the casing. However, the element is not limited thereto. This invention is applicable to an antistatic structure including an odor sensor.

In a configuration not in accordance with the claimed invention, the antistatic structure may be applied to an element different from a sensor.

Examples of the element different from the sensor may include, but not limited to, constituent components of a WiFi (registered trademark) module.

Claim 1:
An air conditioner having an antistatic structure comprising:
a casing (<NUM>);
a sensor (<NUM>) disposed in the casing (<NUM>), the sensor being a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature and humidity sensor, or an odor sensor;
a first conductive member (<NUM>) disposed on an inner face of the casing (<NUM>) and configured to send static electricity to a ground (E),
the first conductive member (<NUM>) being at least partially disposed around a region opposite the sensor (<NUM>) in the casing (<NUM>), and
a second conductive member (<NUM>) disposed in the casing (<NUM>) and electrically connected to the ground (E),
wherein the first conductive member (<NUM>) is electrically connected to the second conductive member (<NUM>),
wherein the casing (<NUM>) has an opening (<NUM>) located in the region opposite the sensor (<NUM>), and the first conductive member (<NUM>) is disposed around the opening (<NUM>) in the casing (<NUM>),
wherein the first conductive member (<NUM>) is electrically connected to the second conductive member (<NUM>) in a contactless manner.