JP2005235671A - Key button and portable radio with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key button and a portable radio with the key button in which a display design of the key button can be changed depending on the brightness of the operating environment with a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: In the portable radio, comprising a first print layer 18a where characters and symbols to be display contents of input information for each key have been printed; a second print layer 19 where the background color to be a color tone of the key button has been printed; and a third print layer 20a where characters and symbols whose fonts and shapes are different from those of the first print layer 18a have been printed on the back side of a transparent key top 13a, the first print layer 18a and the second print layer 19 are printed with translucent ink, and the third print layer 20a is printed with light blocking ink. As a result, when the operating environment is bright, the display contents of the first print layer 18a are visible, and when the operating environment be dark, the display contents of the third print layer 20a are visible as a shadow by illumination from the key back. Thus, different contents are displayed depending on the operating environment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a key button structure, and more particularly, to a key button suitable for use in a portable wireless device and a portable wireless device including the key button.

  In recent years, the market for portable terminal devices such as portable wireless devices has expanded greatly, and products of various types and designs have been sold. In such a market environment, differentiation from other products is required not only in function but also in design.

  Key buttons such as numeric keys and function keys among the components of portable wireless devices are important in design, and are required to be usable in various environments (for example, a bright environment in the daytime or a dark environment at night). Therefore, various proposals regarding key buttons have been made. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, an ink layer having a switch function is partially formed on the back surface of a translucent resin key top, and a translucent underlayer that fills the back surface recess of the key top other than the ink layer is formed. In addition, a key top member is disclosed in which a semi-specular layer having both translucency and reflectivity is formed on a substantially flat portion formed by the back surface of the light-transmitting underlayer and the back surface of the ink layer.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-298681 (page 3-10, FIG. 1)

  By using the structure described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to make the display contents of the key buttons easily visible in a bright place or a dark place. However, in the conventional structure, the use environment is bright or dark. Even when the illumination state of the key button is different, the display content of the key button is the same, and it cannot be differentiated from other products.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its main purpose is to add a simple configuration, which can change the display contents and design of key buttons depending on whether the usage environment is bright or dark. An object of the present invention is to provide a key button having high value and a portable wireless device including the key button.

  In order to achieve the above object, the key button of the present invention is a key button including a key top made of a translucent resin in which a portion corresponding to a contact is formed in a convex shape. A first print layer on which the first information is printed, a second print layer on which the background color of the key button is printed, and a third print on which second information different from the first information is printed. The printing layer is arranged in this order from the key top side.

  The key button of the present invention is a key button including a key top made of a translucent resin in which a portion corresponding to a contact is formed in a convex shape. A first print layer on which information 1 is printed, a second print layer on which the background color of the key button is printed with translucent ink, and a third print on which second information is printed with light-shielding ink. Are arranged in this order from the key top side, and when illuminated by external light, the first information is visually recognized, and when illuminated by illumination means provided on the back side of the key button The second information is visually recognized.

  Further, the key button of the present invention is a key button including a key top made of a translucent resin in which a portion corresponding to the contact is formed in a convex shape. A first print layer on which the information on the key button is printed, a second print layer on which the background color of the key button is printed with translucent ink, and a third print on which the second information is printed with light-shielding ink When the print layer is arranged in this order from the key top side and illuminated with external light, the first information is visually recognized, and when illuminated with illumination means provided on the back side of the key button, Information in which the first information and the second information overlap is visually recognized.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the second information includes a typeface character different from the first information, or a symbol or pattern having a shape different from that of the first information.

  In the present invention, a configuration is provided in which a half mirror that reflects the external light and transmits the light of the illumination unit is disposed between the second print layer and the third print layer. can do.

  Moreover, the portable wireless device of the present invention includes the key button as an operation means.

  Thus, on the back surface of the key top formed of transparent resin or the like, the first print layer on which characters or figures representing the first information are printed, and the second print layer on which the background color is printed And a printed layer having a laminated structure including at least a third printed layer on which second information composed of characters, figures, and the like having contents different from the first information is printed, and the first and second printed layers Is formed by printing with a light-transmitting ink and the third printing layer is printed with a light-blocking ink so that the back of the key is not illuminated or illuminated in a bright environment. The display content of the first print layer is visually recognized with the second print layer as the background when it is not affected by the light, and the display content of the third print layer is visually recognized by illumination from the back of the key when the usage environment is dark. The

  In addition, the second printing layer is formed by printing with a light-transmitting ink, and the first printing layer and the third printing layer are formed by printing with a light-blocking ink. When the light is bright, the display content of the first printed layer is visually recognized with the second printed layer as the background. When the usage environment is dark, both the first printed layer and the third printed layer are overlapped by illumination from the back of the key. The displayed content is visible.

  As a result, it is possible to display information with different contents depending on whether the usage environment is bright or dark. Therefore, it is possible to provide a key button with high added value and use the key button as an operation unit of the portable wireless device. This makes it possible to differentiate mobile radios.

  According to the key button of the present invention and the portable wireless device including the key button, the display content and design of the key button can be changed between a bright environment and a dark environment without using a complicated structure. Thereby, a key button with high added value can be provided, and differentiation of portable wireless devices can be achieved.

  The reason is that on the back surface of the key top, the first print layer on which characters or figures representing the first information are printed, the second print layer on which the background color is printed, and the first information are And at least a third print layer printed with second information made up of characters and figures having different contents, and formed by printing the first and second print layers with light-transmitting ink, When the print layer 3 is formed by printing with a light-shielding ink, when the use environment is bright, the display content of the first print layer is visually recognized with the second print layer as the background, and the use environment is dark. Sometimes, the display content of the third printed layer is visually recognized by illumination from the back of the key, and the second printed layer is formed by printing with a light-transmitting ink, and the first printed layer and the third printed layer are formed. When the printing layer is formed by printing with a light-shielding ink, The display content of the first print layer is visually recognized with the second print layer as a background, and when the usage environment is dark, the display content in which both the first print layer and the third print layer are superimposed is visually recognized. It is.

  In a preferred embodiment of the key button according to the present invention, characters and symbols that are the display contents of the input information of each key are printed on the back surface of the transparent key top that constitutes the key button that performs the key operation. There are a first print layer and a second print layer on which a background color that is the color tone of the key button is printed, and the characters, symbols, and background color are printed with translucent ink. In addition, the back side of the second print layer has a third print layer in which characters, symbols, etc. having different print contents such as letters, symbols, and fonts and shapes of the first print layer are printed. The print layer is printed with light-shielding ink. Thus, when used in a bright place, the display content of the first printed layer is visually recognized on the background of the second printed layer, and when used in a dark place, the first printed layer is illuminated by light from the back of the key. The display content of the print layer 3 is visually recognized as a shadow, and different content can be displayed depending on the use environment.

  In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, a key button according to a first example of the present invention and a portable wireless device including the key button will be described with reference to FIGS. . FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a portable radio, FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing a configuration of an operation unit in the portable radio of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a characteristic part of the present embodiment. It is an exploded view which shows the structure of the key button which is. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view illustrating the printing configuration of the key button, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the key button. In addition, although the case where the key button of this invention is applied to a portable radio apparatus is shown below, this invention is not limited to description of the following Examples, It can apply to arbitrary apparatuses provided with a key button. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the portable wireless device 1 includes an antenna 2 and a transmission / reception unit 6 that perform wireless communication, a display unit 3 that displays a screen, an operation unit 7 that includes key buttons that perform various inputs, and audio. The speaker 8, the receiver 10, and the microphone 9 that perform input / output of the above, a memory 5 that stores information registered in advance by the manufacturer and information stored by the user, and a control unit 4 that controls these memories.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 7 includes a key 11 having a key button hole, a cover 12 that is paired with the case 11, a transparent resin, and the like. A key button 13 including a top 13a and a rubber sheet 13b formed of an elastic material such as rubber, a sheet 14 having a movable contact 14a having conductivity in a dome-shaped portion, and a position of the sheet 14 facing the movable contact 14a. And a light emitting element 16 such as an LED for illuminating the key button 13 from the back side, and the light emitting element 16 is not turned on when the use environment is bright, and the light emitting element 16 is turned on when the use environment is dark. And a printed wiring board 15 on which an optical sensor 17 for lighting the light emitting element 16 is mounted.

  Further, between the key top 13a and the rubber sheet 13b constituting the key button 13, as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. The first print layer 18a on which the first information as input information is printed, the second print layer 19 in which the background color of the key button 13 is printed on a transparent film, and the first information on the transparent film And a third print layer 20a on which second information having a different typeface, shape, etc. is printed, and a first print layer 18a indicating the first information and a second print layer forming a background color 19 is printed with a light-transmitting ink, and the third printing layer 20a indicating the second information is printed with a light-blocking ink.

  As the transparent film, a thermoreversible film such as a polycarbonate film or a thermosetting film can be used. In addition, any ink composition containing no pigment can be used as the light-transmitting ink, and any ink composition containing a light-shielding pigment such as titanium oxide can be used as the light-shielding ink. Can do. In FIG. 3, the key top 13a, the first printed layer 18a, the second printed layer 19, and the third printed layer 20a have the same outer dimensions, but the first printed layer 18a and the second printed layer 20a have the same outer dimensions. The print layer 19 and the third print layer 20a need only have predetermined key input information and a background color printed at least at the key position of the key top 13a, and the external dimensions thereof are not limited to the configuration shown in the figure.

  Further, the rubber sheet 13b has a pusher for short-circuiting the movable contact 14a of the sheet 14 and the contacts 15a and 15b on the printed wiring board 15 when the key is pressed, and is bonded to the key top 13a. Are bound by.

  In the key button 13 having such a configuration, when the usage environment is bright, the light emitting element 16 is not turned on by the optical sensor 17 mounted on the printed wiring board 15 and there is no illumination from the back of the key. The first information printed on the first print layer 18 a is visually recognized on the background color printed on the second print layer 19.

  On the other hand, when the usage environment is dark, since the light emitting element 16 is turned on by the optical sensor 17 mounted on the printed wiring board 15 and the key button 13 is illuminated from the back side, the first printed with light-shielding ink is used. The second information of the third print layer 20a is projected on the key top 13a surface so as to be shaded, and is visible to the user. At this time, since the first information of the first print layer 18a is printed with translucent ink, the first information is seen through and cannot be visually recognized by the user.

  Thus, between the key top 13a and the rubber sheet 13b, the first printed layer 18a in which the first information visually recognized by the external light is printed with translucent ink, and the background of the key button 13 The second print layer 19 in which the color is printed with a light-transmitting ink, and the third print layer 20a in which the second information visually recognized by the illumination light of the light emitting element 16 is printed with the light-shielding ink. By providing at least, it is possible not only to make the key input information visible when the usage environment is bright and dark, but also to change the contents of the key input information displayed when the environment is bright and dark. Therefore, the portable wireless device 1 having the key button 13 excellent in functionality and design can be provided.

  In the above description, the three print layers of the first print layer 18a, the second print layer 19, and the third print layer 20a are interposed between the key top 13a and the rubber sheet 13b. In order to prevent the second information printed on the third print layer 20a from being reflected when the use environment is bright, the key top 13a is interposed between the second print layer 19 and the third print layer 20a. A half mirror that reflects light incident from the upper surface and transmits light of the light emitting element 16 incident from below the rubber sheet 13b may be provided. In the above description, the second information is information representing the same meaning as the first information, but may be information representing a meaning different from the first information. In that case, the control unit 4 may control so that different functions are realized depending on whether the light emitting element 16 is turned on or off.

  Next, a key button and a portable wireless device including the key button according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing a configuration of a key button which is a characteristic part of the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view illustrating the printing configuration of the key button, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the key button.

  In the first embodiment described above, the first information to be printed on the first print layer 18a and the second information to be printed on the third print layer 20a are individually used when the usage environment is bright and dark. However, it is also possible to display the first information printed on the first print layer 18a and the second information printed on the third print layer 20a so as to overlap each other. . In that case, the key button 13 is configured as follows.

  Specifically, a transparent film is disposed between the key top 13a constituting the key button 13 and the rubber sheet 13b on the back side of the key top 13a as shown in FIGS. The first print layer 18b on which the first information serving as key input information is printed, the second print layer 19 in which the background color of the key button 13 is printed on a transparent film, and the key on the transparent film. A second print layer 20b on which the second information to be a pattern on the back surface of the top 13a is printed, and the second print layer 19 forming the background color is printed with translucent ink, The first print layer 18b indicating the first information and the third print layer 20b which is the pattern on the back surface are printed with a light-blocking ink.

  Also in this example, a thermoreversible film such as a polycarbonate film or a thermosetting film can be used as the transparent film, and any ink composition not containing a pigment as the light-transmitting ink, As the light-shielding ink, any ink composition containing a light-shielding pigment such as titanium oxide can be used. The information printed on the third print layer 20a may be key input information or a background pattern.

  In the key button 13 having such a configuration, as in the first embodiment, when the usage environment is bright, the light emitting element 16 is not turned on by the photosensor 17 mounted on the printed wiring board 15, and from the back of the key. Therefore, the first information printed on the first print layer 18b appears on the background color printed on the second print layer 19.

  On the other hand, when the usage environment is dark, since the light emitting element 16 is turned on by the optical sensor 17 mounted on the printed wiring board 15 and the key button 13 is illuminated from the back side, the first printed with light-shielding ink is used. The first information of the first printing layer 18b and the pattern on the back surface of the third printing layer 20b are reflected on the key button surface so as to be visible to the user.

  Thus, between the key top 13a and the rubber sheet 13b, the first print layer 18b in which the first information is printed with the light-shielding ink, and the background color of the key button 13 is the light-transmitting ink. By providing at least the second print layer 19 printed in the second print layer 19 and the third print layer 20b in which the second information such as the background pattern is printed with a light-shielding ink, Since only the information can be displayed by overlapping the first information and the background pattern when it is dark, the portable wireless device 1 having the key buttons 13 with excellent functionality and design can be provided.

  In the above description, the three print layers of the first print layer 18b, the second print layer 19, and the third print layer 20b are interposed between the key top 13a and the rubber sheet 13b. In order to prevent the second information of the third printed layer 20b from being reflected when the usage environment is bright, the light is incident from the upper surface of the key top 13a between the second printed layer 19 and the third printed layer 20b. The half mirror which reflects the light to transmit and permeate | transmits the light of the light emitting element 16 which injects from the rubber sheet 13b downward is good also as a structure.

  Not only key buttons of wireless terminal devices such as portable wireless devices and PDAs, but also arbitrary key buttons used in both bright and dark places, such as key buttons of electrical appliances such as personal computers, remote controls such as TVs, etc. It can be used as a key button, a key button of a desktop electronic calculator, a button of an alarm clock, etc.

It is a block diagram which shows the general structure of a portable radio | wireless machine. It is an exploded view which shows the structure of the operation part of the portable wireless apparatus which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing a detailed configuration of a key button of the portable wireless device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the elements on larger scale which show the printing structure of the key button of the portable radio | wireless machine which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the key button of the portable radio | wireless machine which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is an exploded view which shows the detailed structure of the key button of the portable wireless apparatus which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. It is the elements on larger scale which show the printing structure of the key button of the portable radio | wireless machine which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the key button of the portable wireless apparatus which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable radio 2 Antenna 3 Display part 4 Control part 5 Memory 6 Transmission / reception part 7 Operation part 8 Speaker 9 Microphone 10 Receiver 11 Case 12 Cover 13 Key button 13a Key top 13b Rubber sheet 14 Sheet 14a Movable contact 15 Printed wiring board 15a Contact 15b contact 15c contact 16 light emitting element 17 optical sensor 18a, 18b first print layer 19 second print layer 20a, 20b third print layer

Claims (6)

In a key button including a key top made of a translucent resin in which a portion corresponding to a contact is formed in a convex shape,
At least on the back of the key top,
A first printed layer on which the first information is printed;
A second printed layer on which a background color of the key button is printed;
A key button, wherein a third print layer on which second information different from the first information is printed is arranged in this order from the key top side. In a key button including a key top made of a translucent resin in which a portion corresponding to a contact is formed in a convex shape,
At least on the back of the key top,
A first printed layer on which first information is printed with a translucent ink;
A second printed layer on which the background color of the key button is printed with translucent ink;
A third print layer on which the second information is printed by the light-shielding ink is arranged in this order from the key top side,
The key is characterized in that the first information is visually recognized when illuminated with outside light, and the second information is visually recognized when illuminated with illumination means provided on the back side of the key button. button. In a key button including a key top made of a translucent resin in which a portion corresponding to a contact is formed in a convex shape,
At least on the back of the key top,
A first printed layer on which first information is printed with a light-shielding ink;
A second printed layer on which the background color of the key button is printed with translucent ink;
A third print layer on which the second information is printed by the light-shielding ink is arranged in this order from the key top side,
When illuminated by external light, the first information is visually recognized, and when illuminated by illumination means provided on the back side of the key button, the first information and the second information overlap. A key button characterized in that information is visually recognized.   The said 2nd information is comprised by the character of a typeface different from the said 1st information, or the symbol or pattern of a shape different from the said 1st information, The Claim 2 or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Key button.   The half mirror which reflects the said external light and permeate | transmits the light of the said illumination means is arrange | positioned between the said 2nd printing layer and the said 3rd printing layer. 4. The key button according to any one of 4.   A portable wireless device comprising the key button according to claim 1 as an operation unit.

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