Feature: Enclosures
Battery or cable: how to power your device? Unlike wall-mounted and desktop electronics, handheld devices are much more likely to be powered by a battery. Which cells you specify could dictate whether or not you have your desired enclosure. What if the enclosure you want doesn’t
OKW’s Datec- Compact handheld enclosures with optional charging station and wall holder
Specifying the right handheld electronic
enclosures By Robert Cox, Marketing Director, OKW
H
andheld electronics set the bar rather high when it comes to design – if a user is to hold an enclosure then it must feel absolutely right.
It must look and feel as if it has been designed specifically for that task. The ideal handheld enclosure should
not look or feel standard in any way – it must seem bespoke, custom-moulded for that device. Hence the huge – and sometimes bewildering – array of shapes and sizes of handheld enclosures on offer. And, often their capabilities overlap – there is likely to be more than one housing capable of meeting the design’s requirements, no matter how specialised they may be. Here’s a generic guide as to specifying
the best handheld enclosure(s) for the electronics:
36 March 2021
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
Saving space by getting the basics right How big should the enclosure be? The human hand is a finite size so you’re searching for an enclosure big enough to house your PCB yet small enough to be held comfortably. You may have started with a
certain size of PCB, and now you’re trying to find the right enclosure for it. That ‘PCB first’ approach might sound logical but it’s actually a mistake: if possible, specify the enclosure first. The ‘enclosure first’ route is
always best because it forces you to configure the circuit board layout in the most efficient way, saving space. This is important for any electronic device – but especially so for handheld or wearable electronics – they’re almost always small.
have the right standard battery cradle for the cells you’re considering? You may need to consider custom-machining and/ or custom-moulding work. In the worst- case scenario, you may have to go with a second-choice case simply because it has the right battery compartment and cradle. However, that’s not ideal. Look for battery compartments that
are fully integrated into the design of the housing. Options include dedicated compartments for sizes such as AA, AAA or 9V cells. Battery compartment lids should have a secure clip, and the option of a fixing screw to secure that lid. A ‘tooled access’ is a requirement for medical electronics. Does the enclosure you want offer an
optional docking station for charging and data transfer? And does it offer it in the size and shape you need? Will you be using inductive charging?
Can the enclosure be supplied with contacts for connection to the charging station?
Touchscreen display, membrane keypad or buttons? A good handheld enclosure should have a generously-recessed top section to accommodate a membrane keypad and other flat surfaces that offer space for buttons, connectors and labels. Tat is more of a challenge than it first appears, because flat surfaces and hard edges will never be as comfortable and ergonomic as soſt contours. Remember that your device’s natural habitat is a complex piece of bio- engineering called the human hand, and that Mother Nature abhors straight lines – curves are much more her thing. Take a housing such as OKW’s
HAND-TERMINAL (IP 65): It is designed to survive challenging
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