Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and a mobile body.

Electronic devices such as onboard cameras have been required to be smaller and to perform a variety of processes at high speed. As circuit boards are, for example, increasingly highly integrated for size reduction, the radiation noise from the electronic devices on the circuit boards increases. Thus, a configuration having a shielding member that covers the entire side surface of a circuit board has been proposed (refer to PTL <NUM>).

Moreover, <CIT> discloses a camera module having an imaging optical section provided with a lens and with a lens barrel for holding the lens; a first circuit board and second circuit board on which an imaging element for imaging the formed image is mounted; a connection cable for connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board; and a tubular housing for receiving the imaging optical section, the first circuit board, and the second circuit board, in that order from the light incident side.

<CIT> and <CIT> also disclose imaging devices including a housing that accommodates an electronic device.

The present invention provides an electronic device according to claim <NUM> and a mobile body according to claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic device, an imaging device, and a mobile body that enable further size reduction while having a shielding property against radiation noise.

Hereinafter, an electronic device, an imaging device, and a mobile body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

The electronic device according the embodiment is specifically, for example, an imaging device. As <FIG> illustrates, an electronic device <NUM> applied to the imaging device according to the embodiment is mounted, for example, in a mobile body <NUM>.

Examples of the mobile body <NUM> may include vehicles, vessels, and aircraft. Vehicles may include automobiles, industrial vehicles, railroad vehicles, vehicles for daily life, and fixed-wing aircraft that travel on a runway. Automobiles may include, for example, passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, two-wheeled vehicles, and trolley buses. Industrial vehicles may include, for example, industrial vehicles for agricultural use and construction use. Industrial vehicles may include, for example, forklifts and golf carts. Industrial vehicles for agricultural use may include, for example, tractors, cultivators, transplanters, binders, combine-harvesters, and lawn mowers. Industrial vehicles for construction use may include, for example, bulldozers, scrapers, power shovels, crane vehicles, dump trucks, and road rollers. Vehicles may include vehicles that travel by using human power. Classification of such vehicles is not limited to the above-described example. For example, automobiles may include industrial vehicles that are allowed to travel on the road. Plural categories may include the same type of vehicles. Vessels may include, for example, personal watercrafts, boats, and tankers. Aircraft may include, for example, fixed-wing aircraft and rotary wing aircraft.

As <FIG> illustrates, the electronic device <NUM> has an imaging optical system <NUM>, electronic components <NUM>, a first substrate (a substrate) <NUM>, a second substrate <NUM>, a first housing (a housing) <NUM>, a second housing <NUM>, and a third housing <NUM>. The electronic components <NUM> may include at least an image sensor <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> is formed by the electronic components <NUM> being accommodated in, for example, the first housing <NUM> having a tubular shape. In the present disclosure, the axis of the electronic device <NUM> means the axis of the first housing <NUM> in the electronic device <NUM>.

The imaging optical system <NUM> includes an optical element such as a lens. The imaging optical system <NUM> is designed and formed so that optical properties such as the angle of view and the depth of field have desired values. Through the imaging optical system <NUM>, a subject image is formed on a light receiving surface of the image sensor <NUM>.

The image sensor <NUM> is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor and generates an image signal by capturing the optical image formed on the light receiving surface.

The first substrate <NUM> is a plate-shaped member. The first substrate <NUM> may be substantially rectangular. The first substrate <NUM> has main surfaces on which the electronic components <NUM> including, for example, the image sensor <NUM> are mounted. The first substrate <NUM> has the main surface which is joined to a joining portion <NUM> of the first housing <NUM> and on which the image sensor <NUM> is mounted. Another electronic component <NUM> may further be mounted on at least one of the main surfaces of the first substrate <NUM>: the main surface on which the image sensor <NUM> is mounted and the main surface opposite to the main surface on which the image sensor <NUM> is mounted. The electronic component <NUM>, for example, drives the image sensor <NUM> or processes an image signal generated by the image sensor <NUM>.

The second substrate <NUM> is a plate-shaped member. The second substrate <NUM> may be substantially rectangular. The electronic component <NUM> is mounted on at least one of the main surfaces of the second substrate. The second substrate <NUM> may be electrically connected to the first substrate <NUM> by, for example, a flexible substrate or a connector. The second substrate <NUM> may further have a connector 20A, which is mounted on a main surface, for electrically connecting the second substrate <NUM> to a connector 20B of the third housing <NUM>.

The first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> are arranged in the axial direction of the electronic device <NUM> so that the main surfaces of the respective substrates face each other. In the present embodiment, a heat dissipating sheet <NUM> is provided between the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> so as to be in contact with each of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>. The heat dissipating sheet <NUM> may be made of a soft material having shape conformability and having relatively high heat conductivity, as with filler-containing silicone rubber.

As <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate, the first housing <NUM> is a housing having a tubular shape. <FIG> is a sectional view of the first housing <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, taken in the axial direction at line A-A'. As <FIG> illustrates, the first housing <NUM> has a first metal plate <NUM>, a second metal plate <NUM>, a third metal plate <NUM>, and a resin portion <NUM>. The first housing <NUM> is formed by insert molding in which the resin portion <NUM> is formed by a resin material such as polyamide being injected into, for example, a mold in which the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> are installed in advance.

The resin portion <NUM> is constituted by a first open portion <NUM>, a tubular portion <NUM>, and a second open portion <NUM> that are arranged sequentially in the axial direction of the first housing <NUM>. The first open portion <NUM> may have a tubular shape extending continuously from an end, in the axial direction, of the tubular portion <NUM> and having a substantially circular section. The tubular portion <NUM> may have a tubular shape having a substantially rectangular section. The second open portion <NUM> may have a substantially rectangular tubular shape that is continuous, in the axial direction, from an end of the tubular portion <NUM> opposite to the end of the tubular portion <NUM> continuous from the first open portion <NUM> and that protrudes further than the tubular portion <NUM> in the radial direction. Although the resin portion <NUM> is made of a resin material such as polyamide as described above, the material of the resin portion <NUM> is not limited thereto, and the resin portion <NUM> may be made of any resin material.

As <FIG> illustrates, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the first housing <NUM> accommodates the imaging optical system <NUM> so that the optical axis of the imaging optical system <NUM> substantially coincides with the axis of the first housing <NUM> and so that the imaging optical system <NUM> is exposed from the first open portion <NUM>. Thus, as <FIG> illustrates, in the first housing <NUM>, at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular portion <NUM> may have an internal thread for fixing the imaging optical system <NUM>.

In addition, as <FIG> illustrates, the first housing <NUM> may accommodate the first substrate <NUM> so that the image sensor <NUM> is fixed at a predetermined position and in a predetermined orientation with respect to the imaging optical system <NUM>. Specifically, the first housing <NUM> may accommodate the first substrate <NUM> so that the line extending orthogonally from the center of the light receiving surface of the image sensor <NUM> coincides with the optical axis. Thus, as <FIG> illustrates, in the first housing <NUM>, at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular portion <NUM> has the flat joining portion <NUM> extending substantially orthogonally to the axial direction. In the present embodiment, as <FIG> illustrates, in the first housing <NUM>, the joining portion <NUM> is formed to have a ring shape as viewed orthogonally to the axial direction from the second open portion <NUM> side and is formed to be capable of accommodating the image sensor <NUM> radially inside the joining portion <NUM>. As <FIG> illustrates, in the present embodiment, the joining portion <NUM> is bonded and fixed to the main surface of the first substrate <NUM> on which the image sensor <NUM> is mounted so that the image sensor <NUM> is positioned radially inside the joining portion <NUM> with the first housing <NUM> accommodating the first substrate <NUM>.

As <FIG> illustrates, in the first housing <NUM>, a mold receiving portion <NUM> is further formed in the tubular portion <NUM> so as to surround the radially outer periphery of the joining portion <NUM>. The mold receiving portion <NUM> is a recessed groove extending substantially parallel to the axial direction from the second open portion <NUM> side toward the first open portion <NUM> side. In the present embodiment, as <FIG> illustrates, the mold receiving portion <NUM> is a recessed groove having a substantially rectangular outer periphery and a substantially circular inner periphery as viewed orthogonally to the axial direction from the second open portion <NUM> side.

Hereinafter, the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> that are formed in the first housing <NUM> by insert molding will be described. As <FIG> illustrates, the first metal plate <NUM> has a tubular shape having a generally substantially rectangular section. The first metal plate <NUM> has a first peripheral wall portion <NUM> and a first plate portion <NUM>.

The first peripheral wall portion <NUM> has a tubular shape having a substantially rectangular section. As <FIG> illustrates, in the electronic device <NUM>, the first peripheral wall portion <NUM> covers the first and second substrates <NUM> and <NUM> and the electronic components <NUM> such as the image sensor <NUM> mounted on the substrates, from the radially outer side, that is, from the outer peripheral direction of each of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>.

As <FIG> illustrates, the first plate portion <NUM> has a substantially plate shape. The first plate portion <NUM> extends radially inward from an end, in the axial direction, of the first peripheral wall portion <NUM>. The area surrounded by the outer edge of the first plate portion <NUM> may have a substantially rectangular shape larger than the main surfaces of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>. The first plate portion <NUM> has an opening for exposing the imaging optical system <NUM> when accommodating the imaging optical system <NUM>. As <FIG> illustrates, in the electronic device <NUM>, the first plate portion <NUM> faces and covers at least a portion of the main surface of each of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>.

As <FIG> illustrates, a drawing portion <NUM> is provided, in the outer edge of the first plate portion <NUM>, from the first plate portion <NUM> to the first peripheral wall portion <NUM>. In the state where the first metal plate <NUM> is installed in, for example, a mold so that the first plate portion <NUM> faces vertically upward, the drawing portion <NUM> may be provided at the position at which the drawing portion <NUM> faces an injection port through which resin is injected into the mold from vertically above, during the insert molding of the first housing <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the drawing portion <NUM> is provided, in the first metal plate <NUM>, at each of the four corners of the substantially rectangular first plate portion <NUM>. The drawing portion <NUM> has a shape recessed toward the inner side relative to the tubular first metal plate <NUM>.

The first metal plate <NUM> is formed by predetermined portions of a metal plate, in other words, a substantially tubular plate made of metal being pressed or bent. Thus, the first metal plate <NUM> is formed seamlessly. Although the first metal plate <NUM> is made of, for example, an alloy such as nickel silver, the material of the first metal plate <NUM> is not limited thereto, and the first metal plate <NUM> may be made of any metal.

As <FIG> illustrates, the second metal plate <NUM> has a tubular shape having a generally substantially rectangular section. The second metal plate <NUM> has a second peripheral wall portion <NUM>, a second plate portion <NUM>, and a folded portion <NUM>.

The second peripheral wall portion <NUM> has a tubular shape having a substantially rectangular section. The outer periphery of the second metal plate <NUM> substantially coincides with the inner periphery of the first metal plate <NUM>.

The second plate portion <NUM> has a substantially plate shape. The second plate portion <NUM> extends radially inward from an end, in the axial direction, of the second peripheral wall portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the second plate portion <NUM> is formed by each of four side walls of the second peripheral wall portion <NUM> being bent substantially horizontally with respect to the axial direction toward the radially inner side. The second plate portion <NUM> has an opening for exposing the imaging optical system <NUM> when accommodating the imaging optical system <NUM>.

The folded portion <NUM> has a tubular shape. The folded portion <NUM> is formed along an end portion of the second peripheral wall portion <NUM> opposite to the end of the second peripheral wall portion <NUM> continuous from the second plate portion <NUM>. More specifically, the folded portion <NUM> is formed by each of the four side walls constituting the second peripheral wall portion <NUM> being folded back radially inward so that an end portion of the side wall is in contact with the inner surface of the second peripheral wall portion <NUM>. The above-described end portions of the four side walls may be joined to the inner surface of the second peripheral wall portion <NUM> by, for example, welding. In a metal plate constituting the corresponding folded portion <NUM>, at least one inflow port <NUM> is formed in a surface facing the inner space. During the insert molding of the first housing <NUM>, when the second metal plate <NUM> is installed in, for example, a mold, and a resin material is poured into the mold, the resin material can flow into the inner space of a tubular portion of the folded portion <NUM> through the inflow port <NUM>.

The second metal plate <NUM> is formed by predetermined portions of a metal plate, in other words, a substantially tubular plate made of metal being pressed or bent. Although the second metal plate <NUM> is made of, for example, an alloy such as nickel silver, the material of the second metal plate <NUM> is not limited thereto, and the second metal plate <NUM> may be made of any metal. The second metal plate <NUM> may be made of the same material as the material of the first metal plate <NUM>. The thickness of the second metal plate <NUM> may be larger than the thickness of the first metal plate <NUM>.

As <FIG> illustrates, the third metal plate <NUM> may have a shape in which a substantially rectangular metal plate is folded so that the section of the third metal plate <NUM> orthogonal to the longitudinal direction has an L shape. The third metal plate <NUM> has at least one inflow port so as not to hinder the flow of the poured resin material during the insert molding of the first housing <NUM>.

The third metal plate <NUM> is formed by a predetermined portion of a metal plate, in other words, a plate made of metal being pressed or bent. The third metal plate <NUM> may be made of the same material as the material of the first metal plate <NUM>.

As <FIG> illustrates, the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> are joined to each other by welding. The second metal plate <NUM> is joined to the first metal plate <NUM> from the radially inner side. Specifically, the second metal plate <NUM> is inserted inside the first metal plate <NUM> so that the positions of the opening of the second plate portion <NUM> and the opening of the first plate portion <NUM> overlap with each other. The second plate portion <NUM> is welded to the first plate portion <NUM>, and the second peripheral wall portion <NUM> is welded to a portion of the first peripheral wall portion <NUM>. Moreover, the third metal plate <NUM> is welded to a radially outer surface of an end portion of each of the four side walls constituting the first peripheral wall portion <NUM>, the end portion being opposite to the end continuous from the first plate portion <NUM>. Although, in the present embodiment, the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> are joined to each other by welding, the method for joining is not limited thereto, and examples of such joining may include caulk-fastening and adhesive-bonding.

As described above, the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> that are joined to each other by welding is installed in, for example, a mold, and the insert molding is performed by a resin material such as polyamide being injected into the mold to form the first housing <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, the shape of the first housing <NUM> formed by insert molding will further be described. At the section of the first housing <NUM> orthogonal to the axial direction, the resin portion <NUM> is formed so as to cover a portion of the inner peripheral surface and the entire outer peripheral surface of the first metal plate <NUM> and the second metal plate <NUM>. The inner space of the tubular shape of the folded portion <NUM> of the second metal plate <NUM> is also filled with the resin portion <NUM>.

The first metal plate <NUM> is provided so that, in the first housing <NUM>, the first plate portion <NUM> is positioned on the first open portion <NUM> side and so that the axis of the first metal plate <NUM> substantially coincides with the axis of the first housing <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the first peripheral wall portion <NUM> of the first metal plate <NUM> extends from the tubular portion <NUM> to the second open portion <NUM> of the resin portion <NUM>. In the first housing <NUM>, at least a portion of the first metal plate <NUM>, more specifically, at least a portion of the first peripheral wall portion <NUM> positioned on the second open portion <NUM> side is exposed to the inner space of the first housing <NUM>. As <FIG> illustrates, in the present embodiment, the exposed portion of the first metal plate <NUM> is in contact with a side surface of the heat dissipating sheet <NUM>, in the electronic device <NUM>. Thus, the first metal plate <NUM> is in indirect contact with the electronic component <NUM> such as the image sensor <NUM> with at least one of the heat dissipating sheet <NUM>, the first substrate <NUM>, and the second substrate <NUM> interposed therebetween.

In addition, as <FIG> illustrates, the second metal plate <NUM> is provided so that, in the first housing <NUM>, the second plate portion <NUM> is positioned on the first open portion <NUM> side and so that the axis of the second metal plate <NUM> substantially coincides with the axis of the first housing <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the second metal plate <NUM> is provided so as to extend between the end of the tubular portion <NUM> continuous from the first open portion <NUM> and the joining portion <NUM>. In the first housing <NUM>, at least a portion of the second metal plate <NUM> is exposed to the inner space of the first housing <NUM> from the mold receiving portion <NUM>. As the crosshatched regions in <FIG> indicate, the portions of the second metal plate <NUM> that are exposed from the mold receiving portion <NUM> may be at least portions of the second plate portion <NUM> and the folded portions <NUM>. At least a portion of the portions of the second metal plate <NUM> that are exposed to the inner space of the first housing can be a portion being in direct contact with, for example, a mold when the second metal plate <NUM> is installed in, for example, the mold, during the insert molding of the first housing <NUM>.

As <FIG> illustrates, the second housing <NUM> may have a tubular shape having a rectangular section. The second housing <NUM> is provided so as to cover the first housing <NUM>, in the electronic device <NUM>. In more detail, the second housing <NUM> is provided so as to cover the first peripheral wall portion <NUM> and the first plate portion <NUM> of the first housing <NUM>. The second housing <NUM> may accommodate the imaging optical system <NUM> and the first housing <NUM> so that, in the electronic device <NUM>, the optical axis of the imaging optical system <NUM> substantially coincides with the axis of the second housing <NUM> and so that the imaging optical system <NUM> is exposed from an opening on one side of the second housing <NUM>. The second housing <NUM> may be made of a resin material such as polyamide.

The third housing <NUM> may have a box shape having an open side. At a plate-shaped portion, the third housing <NUM> may be sealed at an opening of the first housing <NUM> on the side opposite to the side of the first housing <NUM> on which the imaging optical system <NUM> is exposed, that is, an opening on the image side of the imaging optical system <NUM> in the optical axis direction. As <FIG> illustrates, the third housing <NUM> may have the above-described connector 20B, a fourth metal plate <NUM>, and an electrically conductive rubber <NUM>.

The fourth metal plate <NUM> has a shape having a plate-shaped portion and a substantially rectangular tubular portion extending substantially orthogonally from the outer edge of a main surface of the plate-shaped portion. As <FIG> illustrates, in the electronic device <NUM>, the fourth metal plate <NUM> faces and covers at least a portion of a main surface of each of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>.

As <FIG> illustrates, the electrically conductive rubber <NUM> may be an electrically conductive annular rubber material. The electrically conductive rubber <NUM> is fixed to, in the substantially prismatic portion of the fourth metal plate <NUM>, the periphery of an end portion opposite to an end continuous from the plate-shaped portion of the fourth metal plate <NUM>. As <FIG> illustrates, the electrically conductive rubber <NUM> is in contact with the first metal plate <NUM> of the first housing <NUM> with the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> being sealed with each other. Thus, the electrically conductive rubber <NUM> physically fills up a space between the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> and connects the first metal plate <NUM> and the fourth metal plate <NUM> to each other in an electrically and thermally conducting manner.

The first housing <NUM>, the second housing <NUM>, and the third housing <NUM> are fixed by the second housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> holding, therebetween in the axial direction, a portion of the second open portion <NUM> of the first housing <NUM> protruding in the radial direction. For fixing the first housing <NUM>, the second housing <NUM>, and the third housing <NUM>, for example, screw-fastening is applicable; however, the method for fixing the housings is not limited thereto, and welding and adhesive-bonding may be applied.

Regarding the electronic device <NUM>, according to the embodiment, having such an above-described configuration, the first metal plate <NUM> covers over the entire periphery of each of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> from the radially outer side. Due to such a configuration, the electronic device <NUM> can have a shielding property against the radiation noise from the electronic components <NUM> including the image sensor <NUM> that are mounted on the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>.

In addition, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the first metal plate <NUM> and the second metal plate <NUM> are included in the first housing <NUM>. Thus, due to the structure in which the first housing <NUM> itself includes such metal plates, the inner space of the first housing <NUM> can be enlarged, and the size of the first housing <NUM> and the size of the electronic device <NUM> can be reduced.

Moreover, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the first housing <NUM> is formed by insert molding so that the resin portion <NUM> covers the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, in the electronic device <NUM>, the dimensions of the first housing <NUM> are not easily changed when the temperature of the electronic device <NUM> increases, compared with the case where the first housing <NUM> is made of only resin. Thus, the positions of, for example, the imaging optical system <NUM> and the image sensor <NUM> in the electronic device <NUM> are not easily shifted, and the focus of the lens of the electronic device <NUM> that is an imaging device is thereby not easily shifted.

Moreover, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, a portion of each of the first metal plate <NUM> and the second metal plate <NUM> is covered by resin. Due to such a configuration, in the electronic device <NUM>, the first housing <NUM> is easily formed into any shape.

Thus, as described above, the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment can have a further reduced size while having a shielding property against radiation noise.

In addition, in the first housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, a portion of each of the first metal plate <NUM> and the second metal plate <NUM> is covered by resin. Due to such a configuration, weight reduction and cost reduction of the electronic device <NUM> can be achieved, compared with the case where the first housing <NUM> is made of only metal and formed by, for example, die-casting. In addition, the exterior part of the first housing <NUM> is covered with resin, and, unlike the housing made of only metal, the outer periphery of the first housing <NUM> is thereby not required to be coated.

In addition, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the first metal plate <NUM> has the first peripheral wall portion <NUM> that covers the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> from the outer peripheral direction of each of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>, and the first metal plate <NUM> also has the first plate portion <NUM> that extends radially inward from an end of the first peripheral wall portion <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, in the axial direction, the electronic device <NUM> can also have a shielding property against the radiation noise from the electronic components <NUM> including the image sensor <NUM> that are mounted on the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>.

In addition, in the first metal plate <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the first peripheral wall portion <NUM> and the first plate portion <NUM> are formed by being pressed or bent without a process such as welding. Due to such a configuration, the first metal plate <NUM> can be produced with a simple configuration. In addition, the possibility that problems such as deformation and breakage of the first metal plate <NUM> are caused by resin flowing into a welded portion during the insert molding of the first housing <NUM> is reduced by the first metal plate <NUM> being formed without welding.

In addition, in the first metal plate <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the drawing portion <NUM> is provided, in the outer edge of the first plate portion <NUM>, from the first plate portion <NUM> to the first peripheral wall portion <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, with the electronic device <NUM>, the possibility that, during the insert molding of the first housing <NUM>, the first metal plate <NUM> installed in, for example, a mold deforms due to, for example, the pressure and heat applied by the poured resin is reduced.

In addition, in the first metal plate <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the drawing portion <NUM> has a shape recessed toward the inner side relative to the tubular first metal plate <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, the thickness of a portion of the resin portion <NUM> of the first housing <NUM> covering the outer side of the first metal plate <NUM> can be increased, compared with the case where the drawing portion <NUM> protrudes toward the outer side relative to the first metal plate <NUM>, even if the electronic devices <NUM> in both cases have the same outside dimensions. Thus, the resistance of the electronic device <NUM> to, for example, external impact can be increased.

In addition, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, at least a portion of the first metal plate <NUM> is exposed to the inner space of the first housing <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, the heat in the inner space of the first housing <NUM> is easily conducted to the first metal plate <NUM>, and the heat dissipation performance of the electronic device <NUM> can thereby be improved, compared with the case where the inner peripheral surface of the first metal plate <NUM> is covered with resin. Moreover, the exposed portion of the first metal plate <NUM> can be in contact with the heat dissipating sheet <NUM>, in the electronic device <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, the first metal plate <NUM> is in direct or indirect contact with the electronic component <NUM> such as the image sensor <NUM> that is mounted on one of the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM>, and the heat dissipation performance of the electronic device <NUM> can thereby be further improved.

In addition, in the first housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the first metal plate <NUM> extends from the tubular portion <NUM> to the second open portion <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, with the first metal plate <NUM>, the temperatures of the inside of the first housing <NUM> can be distributed and leveled. Thus, with the electronic device <NUM>, the possibility that the lens of the imaging optical system <NUM> fogs up can be reduced by a temperature difference between a heat source such as the image sensor <NUM> and the lens of the imaging optical system <NUM> being reduced.

In addition, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the second metal plate <NUM> has the second peripheral wall portion <NUM> joined to the first metal plate <NUM> from the radially inner side, the second plate portion <NUM> extending radially inward from an end of the second peripheral wall portion <NUM>, and the folded portion <NUM> having a tubular shape and formed along an end portion of the second peripheral wall portion <NUM> opposite to the end of the second peripheral wall portion <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, the possibility that the first metal plate <NUM> deforms due to, for example, the pressure and heat applied by the poured resin is reduced by the second metal plate <NUM> supporting the first metal plate <NUM> at the folded portion <NUM>, during the insert molding of the first housing <NUM>.

Moreover, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, at least a portion of the second metal plate <NUM> is exposed to the inner space of the housing. Due to such a configuration, the exposed portion of the second metal plate <NUM> can be in direct contact with, for example, a mold during the insert molding of the first housing <NUM>. Thus, the possibility that the first metal plate <NUM> deforms due to, for example, the pressure and heat applied by the poured resin is reduced by the second metal plate <NUM> supporting the first metal plate <NUM> at the exposed portion.

In addition, in the first housing <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the thickness of the second metal plate <NUM> is larger than the thickness of the first metal plate <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, with the second metal plate <NUM>, the possibility that the first metal plate <NUM> deforms due to, for example, the pressure and heat applied by the poured resin during the insert molding of the first housing <NUM> can be reduced. Thus, the thickness of the first metal plate <NUM> covering the entire first housing <NUM> can be reduced, and the size of the first housing <NUM> and the size of the electronic device <NUM> can be reduced.

In addition, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, as described above, the folded portion <NUM> of the second metal plate <NUM> has a tubular shape. Due to such a configuration, biting of the second metal plate <NUM> into the resin is improved by the resin flowing into the inner space of the folded portion <NUM> during the insert molding of the first housing <NUM>, and the joining strength between the metal plates constituting the first housing <NUM> and the resin can be increased.

In addition, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the third metal plate <NUM> having an L-shaped section taken in the longitudinal direction is joined to the radially outer surface of the first metal plate <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, the joining strength between the metal plates constituting the first housing <NUM> and the resin can be increased by the contact surface between the metal plates and the resin being enlarged during the insert molding of the first housing <NUM>.

Moreover, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> are made of the same material. Thus, the peel strength in the case where the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> are joined to each other by, for example, welding can be increased.

In addition, in the first housing <NUM> in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, at least a portion of the surface facing the inner space of the first housing <NUM> has the joining portion <NUM> made of resin. The joining portion <NUM> is joined to a main surface of the first substrate <NUM> in the electronic device <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, in the electronic device <NUM>, the image sensor <NUM> is easily fixed at a predetermined position and in a predetermined orientation with respect to the imaging optical system <NUM>.

In addition, in the electronic device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the first metal plate <NUM> and the fourth metal plate <NUM> are connected to each other in an electrically conducting manner with the electrically conductive rubber <NUM> interposed therebetween, in the state where the first housing <NUM> and the third housing <NUM> are joined to each other. Due to such a configuration, in the electronic device <NUM>, the first metal plate <NUM> can be grounded by the fourth metal plate <NUM> being grounded, and the possibility that the first metal plate <NUM> acts as an antenna can thereby be reduced. Moreover, the heat generated from a component being in direct or indirect contact with the first metal plate <NUM> is also conducted to the fourth metal plate <NUM>, and the heat dissipation performance of the electronic device <NUM> can thereby be further improved.

Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that various changes and modifications may easily be made by those who are ordinarily skilled in the art within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, although the first housing <NUM> has the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> in the description of the above-described embodiment, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the first housing <NUM> may have a configuration without the third metal plate <NUM>. Alternatively, a portion corresponding to the third metal plate <NUM> may be formed in the first metal plate <NUM> by an end of the first metal plate <NUM> being pressed or bent radially outward. Due to such a configuration, the electronic device <NUM> can be produced in a facilitated manner at reduced costs.

In addition, for example, although the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> are joined to each other by welding in the description of the above-described embodiment, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> may be fixed to each other by insert molding. Through the insert molding, the first metal plate <NUM>, the second metal plate <NUM>, and the third metal plate <NUM> are installed in, for example, a mold so as to be in contact with each other, and a resin material such as polyamide is injected into the mold. In addition, for example, the first metal plate <NUM> and the second metal plate <NUM> may be fitted to each other by the second metal plate <NUM> being inserted into the first metal plate <NUM> from the radially inner side.

In addition, for example, although the electronic device <NUM> has the first housing <NUM>, the second housing <NUM>, and the third housing <NUM> in the description of the above-described embodiment, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may have a configuration without the third housing <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, the electronic device <NUM> can be produced in a facilitated manner at reduced costs.

In addition, for example, although the electronic device <NUM> has the first substrate <NUM> and the second substrate <NUM> in the description of the above-described embodiment, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may have a configuration including only the first substrate <NUM>. Due to such a configuration, the size of the electronic device <NUM> can be reduced.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>) comprising:
an electronic component (<NUM>);
a substrate on which the electronic component (<NUM>) is mounted; and
a housing (<NUM>) having a tubular shape and including a first metal plate (<NUM>) that is a tubular metal plate covering the electronic component (<NUM>) and the substrate (<NUM>) from an outer peripheral direction of the substrate (<NUM>) and a second metal plate (<NUM>) that is a tubular metal plate joined to the first metal plate (<NUM>) from a radially inner side, a portion of each of the first metal plate (<NUM>) and the second metal plate (<NUM>) being covered with resin
wherein the second metal plate (<NUM>) has a folded portion (<NUM>) having a tubular shape, and
wherein the folded portion (<NUM>) is formed by an end portion of the second metal plate (<NUM>) being folded back toward an inner space of the second metal plate (<NUM>).