IP Library Granted Patent US 9,756,753
Granted Patent B2
US 9,756,753 · App. 14/500,003 · Granted Sep 5, 2017

Power supply device, light fixture, and vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,756,753
App. No.
14/500,003
Granted
Sep 5, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power-supply device including: a casing having a space therein and formed by metal stamping or having a thickness ranging from 0.3 to 3.0 mm; and a circuit board disposed inside the casing, wherein the casing includes a casing portion having an opening, and a cover portion disposed to cover the opening of the casing portion, the casing portion has a through hole formed at a position corresponding to a connector terminal connected to the circuit board, and a non-flat portion is provided to a region having a size greater than or equal to an outside diameter of a connector of an external connector line connected to the connector terminal in the casing portion.

Claims (41)

1. A power-supply device comprising:

a casing formed by metal stamping and having a space therein; and

a circuit board disposed inside the casing,

wherein the casing includes a casing portion having an opening, and a cover portion disposed to cover the opening of the casing portion,

the casing portion has a through hole formed at a position corresponding to a connector terminal connected to the circuit board, and

the casing portion has a non-flat portion provided to a region having a size greater than or equal to an outside diameter of a connector of an external connector line connected to the connector terminal in the casing portion, wherein

the casing portion includes a body portion and a protruding portion, the protruding portion being part of a top face of the body portion that protrudes outward,

the through hole is provided to a top face of the protruding portion, and

the top face of the protruding portion includes at least a portion of the non-flat portion having at least one recess that at least partially surrounds the through hole for enhancing the stiffness of the metal stamped casing portion and thereby restricting deformation of the casing portion.

2. The poser-supply device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the region having the size greater than or equal to the outside diameter of the connector is defined by a circle having a diameter greater than or equal to 15 mm.

3. The power-supply device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the circuit board is fixed to the cover portion.

4. The power-supply device according to claim 3 ,

wherein a groove is formed in an inner face of the cover portion to surround the circuit board.

5. The power-supply device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the connector terminal is fixed to a coupler base provided to the circuit board, and

the coupler base is provided to a portion where the protruding portion is formed.

6. The power-supply device according to claim 1 ,

Wherein the top face of the body portion includes at least one ridge portion for enhancing the stiffness of the casing portion.

7. A light fixture comprising:

a housing including a light extraction portion;

a light source disposed inside the housing; and

the power-supply device according to claim 1 that is disposed outside the housing and supplies power to the light source.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body; and

the light fixture according to claim 7 .

9. The power-supply device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a groove in the casing portion at least partially surrounds the through-hole, the groove being configured to receive the connector.

10. The power-supply device according to claim 9 ,

wherein the groove includes a seal material for sealingly engaging the connector.

11. A power-supply device comprising:

a casing made of metal and having a space therein; and

a circuit board disposed inside the casing,

wherein the casing includes a casing portion having an opening, and a cover portion disposed to cover the opening of the casing portion,

the casing portion has a through hole formed at a position corresponding to a connector terminal connected to the circuit board,

the casing portion has a non-flat portion provided to a region having a size greater than or equal to an outside diameter of a connector of an external connector line connected to the connector terminal in the casing portion,

the metal casing has a thickness ranging from 0.3 to 3.0 mm for enabling metal stamping thereof, and

the non-flat portion is configured to enhance the stiffness of the metal stamped casing portion for restricting deformation thereof.

12. The power-supply device according to claim 11 ,

wherein the cover portion has a thickness ranging from 0.8 to 3.0 mm, and the casing portion has a thickness ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 mm.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2015
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034794/0940 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2014
From: ARITA, KOSAKU
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034273/0446 →