JP4433643B2 - Portable terminal device and portable electronic device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable terminal device and a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a device suitable for more clearly displaying a display body indicated on an operation key.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a mobile phone as a mobile terminal device, various functions are added in addition to a communication function. For this reason, in the conventional mobile phone, a display body for displaying each function for each operation key is written on the front surface or the back surface of the operation key.
Such a display body is provided not only for the operation keys with the miniaturization of the mobile phone but also for the function of the mobile phone, so that a plurality of display bodies are provided for one operation key. [0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In this way, conventional mobile phones have been downsized and increased in function, and multiple functions can be used together with a single operation key, so the contents of multiple functions are indicated on each operation key. For this reason, the current situation is that the display bodies are crowded with small operation keys in a limited range, which is complicated and difficult for the user to see.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal device and a portable electronic device that can make it easy for a user to easily see a display body even within a limited range.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention according to claim 1 is a portable terminal device in which an operation key having a display body is exposed on the surface of a housing, and the area occupied by the display body in the operation key is expanded. have a expansion means for obtaining, said expansion means, to form a operation key of a transparent material, constitutes the table of the operation key, the surface-side display body on the back surface, and denoted respectively back side display body, operation keys Depending on the wavelength of the irradiation light from the light source that illuminates the light, either the front side display body or the back side display body transmits the irradiation light, and the other does not transmit the wavelength of the irradiation light The front-side display body or the back-side display body that transmits the irradiation light is assimilated to the operation keys .
According to a second aspect of the invention, the portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the surface-side display body and the back side display body operation keys, each provided in plurality on the back surface, and the surface side display body comprising a plurality of Each of the back side display bodies is configured such that either one transmits the irradiation light on the same surface of the operation key in accordance with the wavelength of the irradiation light from the light source.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal device according to the second aspect , any one of the front surface side display body and the rear surface side display body is formed of a transmissive material synchronized with the wavelength of light emitted from the light source. It is characterized by being.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the light source is disposed under the casing between the operation keys. Mobile terminal device.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a light source for illuminating the operation key is characterized by selectively emitting a plurality of colors.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the portable electronic device includes the expansion means according to the first to fifth aspects.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[First Embodiment]
1 is an overall front view showing a mobile phone to which an embodiment of a mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an internal configuration corresponding to line BB in FIG. FIG.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a mobile phone, and an operation key 12 is provided on a casing 11 that forms a front case thereof. The operation key 12 protrudes integrally on the upper surface of a key sheet (not shown), and when the key sheet is assembled in the casing 11, as shown in FIG. By passing through the insertion hole 13, the upper surface is exposed to the outside. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation key 12 has a display body 21 including a telephone number, a symbol, and the like based on the function of the mobile phone 10. The function of can be obtained.
[0007]
When the operation key 12 is pressed, the control unit (not shown) connected to the printed circuit board 15 is operated by pressing and operating the metal dome 14 provided below the operation key 12 as shown in FIG. Performs a predetermined function. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the printed circuit board 15 is provided with a light source 16 made of a light emitting diode, and the operation key 12 is irradiated with light from the light source 16 so that the user can easily see the light.
[0008]
The lower part of the printed board 15 is covered with a back case (not shown). In FIG. 1, reference numeral 17 is a liquid crystal display unit, 18 is an antenna, 19a is a transmitting unit, and 19b is a receiving unit.
[0009]
This mobile phone is provided with expansion means 20 that can expand the area occupied by the display body in the operation keys 12. The expansion means includes a front surface side display body 21 provided on the front surface of the operation key 12 and a back surface side display body 22 provided on the back surface of the operation key 12. The front side display 21 is displayed by being printed on a protective film 23 provided on the surface of the operation key 12. In this example, on the surface of the left operation key 12 in FIG. 3, a display body 21 “A” is written in the upper right position as shown in FIG. 2, and on the surface of the right operation key 12 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a display body 21a “ka” is shown at the upper right position, and a display body 21b “ABC” is shown at the lower right position.
[0010]
On the other hand, the rear surface side display body 22 is displayed by being printed directly on the lower surface of the operation key 12. In this example, the lower surface of the left operation key 12 in FIG. 3 is labeled with the number “1” at the center position on the left side in FIG. 2, and the lower surface of the right operation key 12 in FIG. The number “2” is written at the center position on the left side of the.
[0011]
The front side display body 21 and the back side display body 22 can be visually recognized when viewed by the user from the front side of the operation key 12. The film 23 is formed of a transparent material (synthetic resin) so that the back side display body 22 can be seen together with the front side display body 21. Moreover, the front side display body 21 and the back side display body 22 are arranged at different positions so as not to overlap each other in the operation key 12.
In that case, the back surface side display body 22 is described in a larger shape than the front surface side display body 21 as shown in FIG.
[0012]
In the mobile phone 10 according to the embodiment, the front side display body 21 is displayed on the front surface of the operation key 12 as described above, the back side display body 22 is also displayed on the back surface, and the operation key 12 is made of a transparent material. Since the expansion means 20 is provided, the area occupied by the display body in the operation key 12 can be doubled, and the front and back side display bodies 21 and 22 can be made as large as possible. Can do.
[0013]
Therefore, compared with the conventional case, it is possible to prevent the display body described on one operation key 12 from becoming complicated even though the mobile phone is downsized and multifunctional. The front and back side display bodies 21 and 22 can be easily and reliably made visible to the user within a limited range. This can cope with the addition of further functions.
[0014]
Further, in this case, the front side display body 21 and the back side display body 22 are arranged at different positions on the front side and the back side of the operation key 12, so that they are provided on the front side and the back side, respectively. It is not complicated.
[0015]
Moreover, although the front side display body 21 and the back side display body 22 have slightly different visibility depending on the thickness of the operation key 12 and the viewing angle of the user, symbols, alphabets, and the like are simple characters. Even if they are written on the front and back of the key 12, they can be clearly read.
[0016]
Furthermore, when the display bodies 21 and 22 are provided on the front and back surfaces, the back surface display body 22 may be difficult to see, but the back surface display body 22 has a larger shape than the front surface display body 21 as in the present embodiment. Thus, the user can make the identification of the back side display 22 more clear.
[0017]
[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 4 shows a main part of a mobile phone to which the second embodiment of the mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied.
In this case, a liquid crystal light control film 24 is used instead of the transparent protective film 23 used in the embodiment, and the liquid crystal light control film 24 is turned on / off by a switching power source 25.
[0018]
The liquid crystal light control film 24 includes liquid crystal molecules in a transparent polymer, and when a voltage is applied by the switching power supply 25, the liquid crystal molecules in the transparent polymer are regularly arranged in a direction in which light is transmitted, and thus light is transmitted. When it becomes easy to pass through (substantially transparent state) and voltage application is stopped, liquid crystal molecules are irregularly arranged and light is difficult to pass.
[0019]
Thereby, since the liquid crystal light control film 24 becomes a transparent state when the switching power supply 25 is turned on, the user can visually recognize both the front surface side display body 21 and the back surface side display body 22 of the operation key 12, and Since the liquid crystal light control film 24 is in a cloudy state when the switching power supply 25 is turned off, the back side display body 22 cannot be transmitted in the direction of the operation key 12 and is blocked. As a result, the user only has the front side display body 21. Can see.
The switching power supply 25 is preferably turned on and off automatically in advance according to the function of the mobile phone, but may be switched by the user pressing a specific operation key.
[0020]
According to this embodiment, the liquid crystal light control film 24 is turned on / off so that the back side display body 22 is not selectively seen or seen. It can also be avoided that a user becomes complicated due to the presence of the front surface side display body 21 and the back surface side display body 22.
[0021]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, an example in which the liquid crystal light control film 24 is provided on the surface of the operation key 12 has been shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Even if it is provided so as to be sandwiched between the two, it is possible to obtain the same effects as described above, and the operation key 12 is made of the same material as the liquid crystal light control film 24 so that the operation key 12 itself is in a transparent state. The same effect can be obtained by switching to a state that is not.
[0022]
[Third Embodiment]
In this case, it is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and the front-side display 31 shown in parentheses in FIG. Display bodies 32 are respectively displayed.
[0023]
In this embodiment, when light from the light source 16 is irradiated, the front side display body 31 transmits the irradiation light, the display body 31 is assimilated with the surroundings, and is difficult to read from the outside. Therefore, the front surface display 31 is made of a transmissive material (for example, transmissive ink) having a color that matches the wavelength of the light emitted from the light source 16.
[0024]
As described above, when the surface-side display 31 is provided on the surface of the operation key 12 with a material having a color matching the wavelength of the irradiation light from the light source 16, when the light source 16 is turned on, the irradiation light is operated. Since the front surface side display body 31 of the key 12 is transmitted and the display body 31 becomes transparent and becomes assimilated on the front surface side of the operation key 12, it becomes difficult to see only the back side display body 22 to the user. .
[0025]
Therefore, even if the back side display body 32 is also provided on the back side of the operation key 12, the back side display body 32 can emphasize only a material of a color (non-transmission type) different from the wavelength of the illumination light. Therefore, the user can clearly read the back side display body 32.
In this case, the front side display 31 is provided with a material having a color matching the wavelength of the light emitted from the light source 16, but the back side display 32 is provided with a material having a color matching the wavelength, and the light source 16 is turned on. At this time, only the front-side display 31 may be emphasized by assimilating the back-side display 32 to the surroundings to make it difficult to see.
[0026]
In addition, although the example in which the operation key 12 itself is formed of a transparent material has been shown, for example, the back side display body 32 is formed in a light diffusing color such as milky white and the same color system. Then, at the time of irradiation, the light is diffused by the operation key 12, and the back side display body 22 can be assimilated by the diffused light to make it difficult to see.
[0027]
In the illustrated embodiment, an example applied to a mobile phone has been described. However, the same effect can be obtained even when used in a PHS. Therefore, the mobile communication device such as a mobile phone or a PHS can be reliably used. Can be used. Further, the same effect can be obtained when used for a portable electronic device such as a portable information terminal (PDF) called a mobile, a notebook personal computer, an electronic dictionary, or the like other than the portable communication device. .
[0028]
The printed circuit board 15 is configured as a circuit necessary for having a communication function as a mobile phone, and includes an illumination device (not shown) having a light source 16 on the upper surface thereof.
The light source 16 is composed of a light emitting diode or the like disposed on both sides of the printed board 15 so as to face each other in the longitudinal direction, and when lit, the illumination light passes through the housing 11 and the operation key on the key sheet. 12 is illuminated.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the display unit can be enlarged as much as possible as a result of being provided with the expansion means that can expand the occupied area of the display body in the operation key. There is an effect that the display body can be easily and clearly seen by the user within a limited range, and it is possible to cope with the addition of further functions.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall front view showing a mobile phone to which a first embodiment of a mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration corresponding to the line BB in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a mobile phone to which a second embodiment of a mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Mobile phone (mobile terminal device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Housing | casing 12 Operation key 13 Key insertion hole 14 Metal dome 15 Printed circuit board 16 Light source 17 Liquid crystal display part 18 Antenna 19a Transmission part 19b Reception part 20 Extension means 21, 31 Front surface display body 22, 32 Back surface display body 23 Protection Film 24 Liquid crystal light control film 25 Switching power supply

Claims (6)

On the surface of the housing, the portable terminal device provided by exposing the operation key having a display body, have a expansion means capable of extending the area occupied by the display body in the operation key,
The extension means is formed by forming the operation keys with a transparent material, and the front side and the back side of the operation keys are indicated by the front side display body and the back side display body, respectively, and irradiation from the light source that illuminates the operation keys Depending on the wavelength of light, either the front-side display body or the back-side display body transmits the irradiation light, and the other does not transmit the wavelength of the irradiation light, and transmits the irradiation light. A portable terminal device, wherein a front-side display body or a back-side display body is assimilated to the operation keys . The portable terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the front-side display bodies and the back-side display bodies are provided on the front and back surfaces of the operation keys, respectively, Any one of the portable terminal devices is configured to transmit the irradiation light on the same surface of the operation key in accordance with the wavelength of the irradiation light from the light source. 3. The portable terminal device according to claim 2 , wherein one of the front surface side display body and the back surface side display body is formed of a transmissive material that synchronizes with a wavelength of light emitted from a light source. Terminal device. 4. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed under the casing between the operation keys. 5. The portable terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source that illuminates the operation key selectively emits light in a plurality of colors. Claim 1 according 5, a portable electronic device, comprising the expansion means.

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