Storage case

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11262061-B2
Application number	US-202117149734-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2021
Priority date	Mar 5, 2020
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A storage case includes: a casing having an opening bottom and configured to internally store a functional unit electrically connected to perform a function; a power supply configured to supply power to the functional unit; a drive module including a drive board arranged on an upper surface or side surface of the casing and configured to drive the functional unit; a connector configured to electrically connect the power supply and the drive module; and a restriction member configured to restrict movement of the casing, wherein the drive board is arranged on a surface in a removal direction of the casing, and a connection/disconnection direction of the connector is different from the removal direction of the casing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storage case comprising:
a casing having an opening bottom and configured to internally store a functional unit electrically connected to perform a function;
a power supply configured to supply power to the functional unit;
a drive module including a drive board arranged on an upper surface or side surface of the casing and configured to drive the functional unit;
a connector configured to electrically connect the power supply and the drive module; and
a restriction member configured to restrict movement of the casing,
wherein the drive board is arranged on a surface in a removal direction of the casing, and a connection/disconnection direction of the connector is different from the removal direction of the casing.

2. The storage case according to claim 1 , wherein
the restriction member is a mounting portion configured to mount the casing thereon, the mounting portion including a wall portion restricting movement of the casing in a direction other than a predetermined direction including the removal direction.

3. The storage case according to claim 2 , wherein the mounting portion is an insulating mounting portion.

4. The storage case according to claim 2 , wherein the wall portion includes wall portions on at least two sides of the mounting portion.

5. The storage case according to claim 4 , wherein the mounting portion includes wall portions on three sides thereof.

6. The storage case according to claim 5 , wherein the connector includes a first connector on the drive module and a second connector on the power supply, the storage case further including a power supply mount that mounts the power supply such that the second connector faces and contacts the first connector when the casing is on the mounting portion, and the wall portions on three sides of the mounting portion and the power supply mount together restrict movement of the casing on the mounting portion.

7. The storage case according to claim 2 , wherein the wall portion extends along an entirety of a corresponding side of the mounting portion.

8. The storage case according to claim 2 , wherein the connector includes a first connector on the drive module and a second connector on the power supply, the storage case further including a power supply mount that mounts the power supply such that the second connector faces and contacts the first connector when the casing is on the mounting portion.

9. The storage case according to claim 1 , wherein
the functional unit is a light source.

10. The storage case according to claim 9 , further comprising a lens in the casing, the lens to collect light output from the light source.

11. The storage case according to claim 9 , wherein the light source is one of a laser, an infrared light source, a white light source, or a special light source.

12. The storage case according to claim 9 , wherein a first type of light source and a first drive module that drives the first type of light source are swappable for a second type of light source and a second drive module that drives the second type of light source.

13. The storage case according to claim 1 , wherein
the power supply is a board supported by a structure, and
the connector is a board-to-board connector.

14. The storage case according to claim 1 , wherein
the functional unit includes a plurality of types of light sources, and
the plurality of types of light sources are changed together with drive modules corresponding to the plurality of types of light sources and connected to the power supply.

15. The storage case according to claim 1 , wherein
the connection/disconnection direction of the connector is a direction orthogonal to the removal direction of the casing.

16. The storage case according to claim 1 , wherein the functional unit includes a plurality of types of light sources.

17. The storage case according to claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a first connector on the drive module and a second connector on the power supply, the storage case further including a power supply mount that mounts the power supply such that the second connector faces and contacts the first connector when the casing is coupled to the restriction portion.

18. The storage case according to claim 17 , wherein the removal direction of the casing is a vertical direction and a connection/disconnection direction of the connector is a horizontal direction.

19. The storage case according to claim 1 , wherein the removal direction of the casing and the connection/disconnection direction are orthogonal.

Assignees

• Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Kitamura Ken

Classifications

• F21V23/003

  the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array · CPC title

• F21V23/06 Primary

  the elements being coupling devices {, e.g. connectors} · CPC title

• F21V25/02

  coming into action when lighting device is disturbed, dismounted, or broken · CPC title

• F21V15/01 Primary

  Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts (F21V15/02 takes precedence {housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04}) · CPC title

• F21Y2115/30

  Semiconductor lasers · CPC title