JPH07219451A - Operation panel lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an operation panel lighting system requiring little power consumption and capable of saving space by utilizing a fluorescent character display tube primarily displaying the information such as numerals and characters as a light source of the lighting system, and illuminating an operating button or its surrounding without using a separate lighting element. CONSTITUTION:The information such as the numerals and characters displayed by a fluorescent character display tube 3 is confirmed through the first display window 1a of a casing 1, a part of the light emitted by the fluorescent character display tube 3 itself is reflected by a reflector 8 provided on the back face of the front panel of the casing 1, and an operating button 6 or its surrounding is illuminated through the second display window lb of the casing 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation panel lighting device provided in AV equipment such as television, video, stereo, or electronic equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 11 and 12 show, for example, a video (VT).
It is a perspective view and sectional drawing of the conventional illuminating device used for R) etc. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing of a video main body, which has a first display window 1a and a second display window 1b on a front panel portion. Reference numeral 2 is a printed circuit board disposed inside the housing 1, and 3 is a display element such as a fluorescent display tube that is attached to the printed circuit board 2 and displays information such as time and operation of equipment.
The information displayed on this display element can be confirmed from the first display window 1a. Reference numeral 4 denotes a lighting element such as a light bulb, an LED, or a fluorescent lamp provided near the second display window 1b, and a reference numeral 5 denotes an operation panel formed on the lower front surface of the housing, which has a plurality of operation buttons 6. . Reference numeral 7 is a decorative plate for covering the printed circuit board 2 so that it cannot be seen from the front.

Next, the operation of the conventional lighting device will be described. The display element 3 of the fluorescent display tube displays the time when the video is stopped and the operating state of the device according to the operation of the operation button 6 during the operation. Such display can be confirmed by the operator through the first display window 1a. On the other hand, the illumination element 4 is turned on, and the light illuminates the operation panel 5, that is, the operation button 6 and its periphery through the second display window 1b. This lighting enhances the visibility and design around the operation buttons.

[0004]

In the conventional lighting device, the lighting element 4 for illuminating the operation button 6 and its surroundings is arranged in the housing 1 in the vicinity of the second display window 1b. In addition to the power required for the above, power for lighting the lighting element 4 was required. In addition, lighting element 4
However, there is a problem that space is limited and cost is increased.

In order to reduce power consumption, it has been conventionally devised to use a single light source to illuminate two places. For example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-64905, a single light source is arranged at an end of a light guide plate to illuminate two positions of an operation button of an audio device and an operation character indicating the function of the button. Light is reflected on the back and top of the to illuminate the operation buttons and characters. Further, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-109590, a single light source and a reflector are arranged above the liquid crystal display device to illuminate the liquid crystal display device and the keyboard of the word processor, and the reflected light reflects the liquid crystal display device and the keyboard. I am trying to illuminate both. However, in these conventional examples, only two light sources, which are originally required for illumination, are integrated into one, and the electric power as the illumination device is still required.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and originally, a display element for displaying information such as numbers and characters is used as a light source of an illuminating device and operated by light from the light source. It is intended to obtain an operation panel lighting device which illuminates a button or its surroundings and consumes less power and saves space.

[0007]

An operation panel lighting device according to the present invention is provided in a housing for displaying information such as numbers and characters and emitting light by itself, and receiving light emitted from the display element. And a light refracting means for illuminating the operation part or its periphery.

Further, a housing having a first display window for confirming information and a second display window for illuminating the operating portion, and information such as numbers and characters are displayed through the first display window. Further, it is provided with a display element which emits light by itself and a light refraction means which receives light emitted from the display element and illuminates the operation section or its periphery through the second display window.

The light refracting means is arranged on at least one of the housing and the display element.

Further, at least one of a reflection plate and a diffusion plate is used as a light refraction means for receiving light emitted from the display element and illuminating the operation part or its periphery.

Further, a fluorescent display tube is used as a display element that displays information such as numbers and characters and emits light by itself.

[0012]

In the illuminating device according to the present invention, since the display element for displaying information such as numbers and characters emits light by itself, the light refracting means receives and refracts the emitted light, and the display element does not have to be provided with another illuminating element. It is possible to illuminate the operation part or its periphery with the light.

Further, information such as numbers and characters displayed by the display element can be confirmed through the first display window of the housing, and the light refracting means receives and refracts the light emitted by the display element by itself. Even if it is not provided, the operation portion or its periphery can be illuminated with the light of the display element through the second display window.

Further, the light emitted from the display element is reflected by the reflector plate arranged on the housing or the display element, or the light is diffused by the diffusion plate, and the operation is performed without providing another illumination element. The area or its surroundings can be illuminated.

Further, since the fluorescent display tube is used as the display element, information such as numbers and letters can be arbitrarily displayed, and since it emits light by itself, it can be used as an illumination element.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below by taking a video (VTR) device as an example. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Example 1. 1 to 5 show an operation panel lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting device, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front portion of a video housing seen from the rear side, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2 showing an example of mounting the reflection plate, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are a sectional view and a partially cutaway perspective view of the fluorescent display tube used in the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a housing of a video main body, which is made of a plastic molding or the like. A first display window 1a is formed on the front surface of the front panel portion of the housing, and a second display window 1b is formed on the upper surface of the lower recess, so that the second display window 1b is difficult to see directly from the front surface. It has become.
These display windows are made of a semi-transparent resin or glass, and have a transmittance of 20 to 50% for visible light and 70 to 10 for infrared light compatible with a remote controller, although the transmittance varies depending on the material, color, and thickness.
0% is often used. Note that these display windows may be simple holes in some cases. Reference numeral 2 denotes a printed circuit board mounted inside the housing 1, on which control circuits such as a fluorescent display tube and operation buttons described later are formed. Reference numeral 3 denotes a display element mounted on the printed circuit board 2 at a position corresponding to the first display window 1a, which displays information such as numbers and characters and emits light by itself. This display element 3 is specifically constituted by a fluorescent display tube as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the time and channel numbers and the operating state of the tape, for example, “record”, “play”, “fast forward” and “rewind”. Character information such as "is displayed. Reference numeral 5 denotes an operation panel portion formed on the front surface portion of the housing 1, and a plurality of operation buttons 6 which are operation portions of the device are provided corresponding to the second display window 1b.

The plurality of operation buttons are respective buttons for performing each operation of the equipment such as "record", "playback", "fast forward", "rewind", and are interlocked with an operation switch (not shown). Reference numeral 7 is a decorative plate for covering the printed circuit board 2 so that it cannot be seen from the front side, and may be omitted if the printed circuit board 2 cannot be seen through the first display window 1a. Reference numeral 8 denotes a reflection plate as a light refraction means attached to the rear surface of the front panel portion of the housing 1 which is the front side of the display element 3 at a predetermined angle α and refracts (reflects) the light emitted from the display element 3. , The operation button 6 and its surroundings are illuminated through the second display window 1b. As the reflecting plate 8, for example, a reflecting mirror having a mirror finish or an aluminum plate covered with aluminum foil is used, and is provided along the second display window 1b. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reflector 8 is attached to the housing 1 by forming a claw 9 integrally with the housing on the back surface of the front panel portion of the housing 1 as shown in FIG. 3 (a). 3 is fitted between the claws 9, and the reflector 8 is baked with the claws 9 as shown in FIG. 3B.

The fluorescent display tube which is the display element 3 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The fluorescent display tube is a kind of three-electrode electron tube in which a filament 31, a grid 32, and an anode 33 are enclosed in a high-vacuum glass container 34, and thermoelectrons emitted from the filament 31 are accelerated by a positive voltage applied to the anode 33, The phosphor 35 applied to 33 is caused to emit light. Since the electrodes are arranged so that the anode 33 displays numbers and letters,
By selectively controlling the anode 33, information such as numbers and letters is displayed and light is emitted by itself. The color of light emitted can be variously changed depending on the type of the phosphor 35.

In the above structure, the display element 3 displays the time when the video is stopped and the running state of the channel and the tape when the video is operating. Therefore, the information displayed on the display element 3 can be always confirmed from the front by the operator through the first display window 1a by the light emission in the P direction. Of the light emitted from the display element 3, light that cannot be incident on the first display window 1a, for example, leak light in the S direction, is reflected in the R direction by the reflection plate 8 attached to the back surface of the front panel of the housing 1. The reflected light illuminates the operation button 6 which is the operation unit of the operation panel 5 and its surroundings through the second display window 1b. Therefore, in the past, a separate lighting element was required to illuminate the operation button 6 and its surroundings. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a simple construction is simply provided by providing the reflector 8 on the back surface of the front panel of the housing. You can do it. In other words, by using the display element that originally displays the numerical and character information required for the device, it is possible to illuminate the operation button and its surroundings only with the light emitted by the display element. However, it is not necessary to provide another lighting element, and power consumption is reduced.
Further, it is not necessary to provide an illuminating element, and space saving and low cost can be achieved.

Example 2. 6 and 7 will be described as another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the illuminating device according to this embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a fluorescent display tube and a reflecting plate. In FIG. 6, the position where the reflector 8 is provided is shown in FIG.
In place of the back surface of the front panel portion of Example 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the fluorescent display tube and the reflection plate 8. The reflection plate 8 is mounted inside the container of the fluorescent display tube before sealing the glass container 34 at the angle β1 in the same manner as the mounting method shown in FIG. After that, it can be easily arranged inside the display element by glass-welding at a predetermined temperature and sealing. The second display window 1b is formed from the front surface of the front panel portion of the housing 1 to the upper surface of the lower recess. The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In such a structure, the information displayed on the fluorescent display tube which is the display element 3 can be confirmed from the front through the first display window 1a by the light emission in the P direction. Further, among the light emitted from the fluorescent display tube, the leak light in the S direction that cannot be incident on the first display window 1a is reflected in the T1 and T2 directions by the reflecting plate 8 arranged inside the fluorescent display tube. The reflected light is incident on the second display window 1b provided on the front panel portion of the housing 1 to illuminate the outside of the operation button 6 which is the operation portion. Although the direct operation button 6 is not illuminated in this embodiment, the illumination effect is sufficiently obtained by the light illuminating the periphery thereof. In the second embodiment, an illumination element for illuminating the periphery of the operation unit is not required, and at the same time, the reflector 8 is arranged inside the fluorescent display tube which is the display element 3, so that further space saving can be achieved. Can be measured.

Example 3. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention, in which two reflectors are provided. In the figure, the first reflection plate 8a is provided at an angle β2 on the inner bottom surface of the fluorescent display tube which is the display element 3 as in the second embodiment.
The second reflector 8b is provided on the upper surface of the second display window 1b. The second display window 1b is formed on the bottom surface of the lower recess of the housing so that it can be seen from the front. In such a configuration, the information displayed on the fluorescent display tube which is the display element 3 can be confirmed from the front through the first display window 1a by the light emission in the P direction. In addition, the leak light in the S direction emitted from the fluorescent display tube is reflected by the reflection plate 8 disposed inside the fluorescent display tube.
a is reflected in the U direction, and the reflected light is reflected by the second reflector 8b provided on the upper surface of the second display window 1b to V.
Further, the reflected light is further reflected in the direction, and the reflected light illuminates the operation button 6 which is the operation unit and the periphery thereof. In the third embodiment, since it is possible to illuminate the operation button and its surroundings with only the light emitted by the display element by using the display element 3 that displays numerical or character information, it is necessary to provide another illumination element. There is no power consumption. Further, the reflector 8a is arranged inside the fluorescent display tube which is the display element 3, and the reflector 8b is provided.
Is disposed on the upper surface of the second display window 1b, further space saving can be achieved.

Example 4. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention, and Embodiments 1 to 3 have explained the examples in which the reflection plate is used as the light refracting means. However, in this embodiment, a diffusion plate is used instead of the reflection plate. It was what I had. In FIG. 9, 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a diffusion plate as a light refraction means arranged on the inner bottom surface of the fluorescent display tube which is the display element 3. The diffusing plate 10 may be a commercially available product in which a light diffusing layer is arranged on the surface of a polyester film, and incident light is refracted and diffusely reflected by passing through the diffusing plate 10. The display element 3 is arranged right above the second display window 1b, so that the space between the display element 3 and the printed circuit board 2 becomes large, but the diffused light serves as an operation button and its operation button. It is designed to irradiate the surrounding area directly. The decorative plate covering the front of the printed circuit board 2 is omitted in this embodiment. Other configurations are shown in FIG.
The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In such a structure, the information displayed on the fluorescent display tube which is the display element 3 can be confirmed from the front through the first display window 1a by the light emission in the P direction. Further, among the light emitted from the fluorescent display tube, the leak light in the S direction that does not enter the first display window 1a is diffusely reflected in the W direction by the diffuser plate 10 arranged on the bottom surface of the fluorescent display tube, and the diffused reflected light Is a second display window 1b provided on the front panel of the housing
The operation button 6 as an operation unit and its surroundings are illuminated through. In the fourth embodiment, it is possible to illuminate the operation button and its surroundings only with the light emitted by the display element 3 for displaying the number and character information without providing another illumination element, and therefore the power consumption is reduced. Further, since the diffuser plate 10 is arranged inside the fluorescent display tube which is the display element 3 and the display element 3 is arranged directly above the second display window 1b,
The diffused reflected light is directly applied to the operation button 6, the visibility of the operation button is improved, the dimension in the depth direction is further reduced, and further space saving can be achieved. Further, since the diffuser plate diffuses the light incident from one direction in multiple directions, it has a wider illumination range and is visually superior to the case where the reflector plate is used.

Example 5. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention. By arranging the operation button 6 serving as an operation unit inside the housing 1, the light diffused from the leak light from the display element 3 is transmitted to the housing 1. The operation button 6 is directly illuminated without passing through the provided second display window 1b.
Further, an opening / closing door 11 that is normally closed is attached to the housing 1 in front of the second display window 1b. Other configurations are the same as those of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. In this configuration, the information displayed on the fluorescent display tube which is the display element 3 can be confirmed from the front through the display window 1a by the light emission in the P direction. Further, the leak light in the S direction emitted from the fluorescent display tube is diffusely reflected in the W direction by the diffuser plate 10 arranged on the bottom surface of the fluorescent display tube, and the diffused reflected light is directly reflected on the operation button 6 which is the operation section and its surroundings. Illuminate. In the fifth embodiment, similar to the fourth embodiment, the power consumption is small and the space can be saved. Further, since the operating portion is arranged inside the housing and the opening and closing door 11 makes it difficult to see from the front, the design is neat.

Example 6. Although the fluorescent display tube has been described as the display element 3 in the above-described embodiments, light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be arranged in numbers or letters instead of the fluorescent display tube. In short, any display element may be used as long as it displays information such as numbers and letters and emits light by itself. Although the reflection plate 8 or the diffusion plate 10 is used as the light refraction means, any means may be used as long as it transmits light without attenuating it. Further, although the video equipment has been described above, the present invention can be applied to an operation panel of AV equipment such as a television and a stereo or an operation panel of electronic equipment such as a measuring instrument.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, a display element that displays information such as numbers and characters and emits light by itself is used to illuminate the operation section or its periphery with the light emitted by the display element. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide another illumination element for illuminating the operation portion or its periphery,
It is possible to save power and space.

Information such as numbers and characters displayed by the display element can be confirmed through the first display window of the housing, and the display element refracts the light emitted by itself to operate through the second display window of the housing. Since it is designed to illuminate the part or its surroundings, it is not necessary to provide another lighting element for illuminating the operating part or its surroundings.
In addition, the operability and the visibility of the operation unit are improved, and the design can be improved.

Further, since the display element can illuminate the operating portion or its periphery only by reflecting the light emitted by itself on the housing or on the reflecting plate disposed on the display element or by irregularly reflecting it on the diffuser, another illumination is provided. It is not necessary to provide an element, and power and space can be saved with a simple and inexpensive structure.

Further, since the display element which displays information such as numbers and characters and which emits light by itself is constituted by the fluorescent display tube, sufficient brightness can be obtained as an illumination means for the operating portion or its periphery, The visibility of the operation section is also improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an operation panel lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front surface of the housing of the lighting device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of mounting the reflection plate of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a fluorescent display tube as a display element used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a fluorescent display tube as a display element used in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an operation panel lighting device showing Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

7 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a fluorescent display tube and a reflector of the lighting device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an operation panel lighting device showing Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an operation panel lighting device showing Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an operation panel lighting device showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a conventional operation panel lighting device.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional operation panel lighting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 1a 1st display window 1b 2nd display window 3 Display element (fluorescent display tube) 6 Operation button (operation part) 8 Reflector plate (light refraction means) 10 Diffusion plate (light refraction means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A display element, which is disposed in the housing and displays information such as numbers and characters and emits light by itself, and an operating section provided in the housing or its periphery, which receives light emitted from the display element. Operation panel lighting device provided with a light refraction means for illuminating an object. 2. A housing having a first display window for confirming information and a second display window for illuminating an operation section, numbers and characters etc. which are arranged in the housing and through the first display window. And a light refraction means for receiving the light emitted from the display element and illuminating the operation section provided in the housing or its periphery through the second display window. Operation panel lighting device. 3. The light refracting means is arranged in at least one of a housing and a display element.
Alternatively, the operation panel lighting device according to claim 2. 4. The operation panel lighting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a reflection plate and a diffusion plate is used as the light refracting means. 5. The operation panel lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a fluorescent display tube is used as the display element.