JP2001006479A - Switch button - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch button excellent in visual confirmation and design. SOLUTION: A button main body 301 of a switch button constituted of a transparent material is provided with a recessed part 301a on its rear surface side, and this recessed part 301a constitutes a three-dimensional display part 302. Moreover, a first colored layer 301b constituted by painting is formed on a rear surface of the button main body 301. The first colored layer 301b is formed along a side face and a bottom face (inner side face) of the recessed part 301a. A second colored layer 301c constituted by painting in color different from that of the first colored layer 301b is formed on the first colored layer 301b in a region other than the recessed part 301a. The button main body 301 having the first and second colored layers 301b, 301c is bonded on a sheet body to bring the colored layers into contact with the sheet body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch button which can be applied to an electronic device having operation buttons, such as a portable telephone device and an information terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable telephone devices have become widespread as wireless communication terminals. There are various demands for this mobile phone device. For example, weight reduction, miniaturization, high communication quality,
Long battery life, good operability, etc. These demands have been gradually satisfied by recent technological developments.

[0003] The operation buttons of the portable telephone device, for example,
There are demands for miniaturization and good operability. Further, regarding the operation buttons, in addition to the above requirements, design, visibility, and the like are also required.

Conventionally, there are operation buttons in a portable telephone device as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. FIG.
0 is a sectional view showing a conventional switch button.

[0005] The switch button 1002 shown in FIG.
It mainly has a base portion 1002a, a pressing portion 1002b, and a return portion 1002c. A display portion 1005 on which numbers, characters, symbols, and the like are printed is provided on the upper surface of the pressing portion 1002b, that is, on the pressing surface. Also, the printed circuit board 1
An electrode 1003 formed of a conductor is provided on the pressing portion 1002b that contacts the electrode 001 of FIG.

When the switch button is operated, the pressing force of the pressing portion 1002b causes the pressing force to be reduced.
And the return portion 1002c is deformed. As a result, the pressing portion 1002b descends, and the electrode 1003 of the pressing portion 1002b is connected to the electrode 1004 on the printed circuit board 1001.
Contact

The switch button shown in FIG.
103, a display unit 1102, a base unit 1101, and a conductive spring 1106. The base unit 1101
For example, it is formed of an elastic material, and the projection 1
101a. When the pressing portion 1103 is pressed, the base portion 1101 holds the printed circuit board 11.
It can be deformed in the 04 direction. Further, the base 1101
A conductive spring 1106 is provided below the protrusion 1101a provided on the lower surface of the device.

A pressing portion 1103 made of a transparent material is provided on the upper surface of the base portion 1101, and a display portion 1102 such as a numeral or a character is provided on the lower surface of the pressing portion 1103.
Is printed.

When the switch button is operated, pressing of the pressing portion 1103 causes the protruding portion 1 of the base portion 1101 to be pressed.
The conductive spring 1106 is pushed downward via the contact 101a, and the conductive spring 1106 contacts the electrode 1105 on the printed circuit board.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned switch button, since the display section is formed in a planar manner on the upper surface or the lower surface of the pressing portion, it is impossible to perform a three-dimensional display. In particular, when the switch button is operated in a dark place, the display may be difficult to see, and the visibility is poor and the design is inferior.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch button which is improved in visibility and excellent in design.

[0012]

The gist of the present invention is to provide a switch by forming a concave portion on the back side of a button body made of a transparent material, providing a colored layer on the back side, and providing a three-dimensional display portion. It is to improve the visibility and design of the button. More specifically, the following embodiments can be considered.

The switch button according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a front surface portion which is formed of a transparent material and which is an operation surface, a rear surface portion which is a back side of the front surface portion, and numerals, characters and characters which are formed on the rear surface portion. And a concave display portion formed by forming a display such as a symbol in a concave shape.

Thus, when the operator looks at the switch button from the front side, the character of the button looks three-dimensional, so that the visibility of the display of numbers, characters, etc. is significantly improved.

The switch button according to the second aspect of the present invention has a configuration having a light source section disposed on the back of the back section.

Thus, since the display is formed in a concave shape, the light receiving surface of the incident light from the light source is widened, and the incident light is reflected inside the concave shape, so that the operator can view the switch button device from the front side. In this case, the display appears to be shining and embossed, so that the visibility of the display of numbers, characters, and the like is further improved.

In the switch button according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the entire back surface is colored with a light-transmissive coloring agent.

With this, for example, various colors such as pastel colors can be applied to the switch button.
The range of the user's device selection is expanded.

The switch button according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the switch button according to the first or second aspect, in which the back surface is colored with a light-shielding coloring material on the back surface, while the other portions than the recessed display portion are colored. It was configured to be non-colored or colored with a light transmitting colorant.

The switch button according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the switch button according to the first or second aspect, wherein the concave display portion is uncolored or colored with a light-transmitting colorant on the back surface, while the concave display portion is colored. A portion other than the portion was colored with a light-shielding colorant.

According to these configurations, the difference in brightness between the inside of the concave display and the portion other than the concave display can be increased, so that the visibility is further improved.

The switch button according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the switch button according to the fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the coloring on the back surface is
After the application of the light-shielding colorant, the light-transmitting colorant was applied.

[0023] This makes it possible to apply the light-transmitting colorant to be performed later on the entire back surface of the switch button.

The switch button according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the switch button according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the surface treatment is performed only on the inside of the concave display or on a portion other than the concave display. did.

[0025] Thereby, for example, by engraving a groove or a grain on one of the surfaces, a hairline process or a matting process is performed, and the visibility of the three-dimensional display is further improved.

The switch button according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is entirely made of colored transparent resin.

Thus, a three-dimensional display portion having a small thickness,
In portions other than the thicker three-dimensional display portion, shading occurs in coloring, and the operator can recognize the three-dimensional display more three-dimensionally.

An electronic device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention uses the above-mentioned switch button in the electronic device.

The switch button can be applied to all kinds of electronic equipment, whereby the visibility of the display portion is increased, and the convenience of the electronic equipment is further improved.

The tenth aspect of the present invention is an invention of a coloring method. In coloring the switch button according to the first or second aspect, first, an area other than the concave display portion on the back surface of the switch button body is provided. Was colored by printing or transfer, and then the entire back surface of the switch button body including the inside of the concave display portion was colored by painting or vapor deposition.

The invention according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is directed to the first aspect.
Or, when coloring the switch button according to the second aspect,
First, the inside of the concave display portion is colored by coating and vapor deposition, and then the coloring material overflowing from the concave display portion is removed to flatten the back surface of the switch button body, and then the entire back surface portion of the switch button body is removed. It was colored.

According to these methods, the concave display portion and the other portions can be easily colored differently, and the switch button having the three-dimensional display portion with high visibility can be easily colored.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a portable telephone device provided with a switch button of the present invention. The mobile phone device shown in FIG. 1 includes a flat phone body 101 having a flat, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that can be held by one hand. An antenna holder 102 extends from the upper end surface of the telephone main body 101 in the longitudinal direction of the telephone main body 101. The antenna 102 a is housed in the antenna holder 102, and can be taken in and out of the antenna holder 102.

A speaker 103 for outputting sound is provided above the surface of the telephone main body 101. A display 104 for displaying various data is provided below the speaker 103.

Below the display 104, an operation section 105 composed of various operation buttons is provided. The operation unit 105 includes a menu button 105a for switching operation menus, a telephone directory button 105b used to obtain a telephone number from a telephone directory in which telephone numbers of a plurality of persons are registered, a menu button 105a, and a telephone directory button. 105b and the display 10
4 has a function button 105c for moving the cursor displayed on the screen and an input button 105d for inputting various characters, numerals and symbols. This input button 1
05d includes a call start button, a call end button, an input delete button, a memo button, a manner button, and the like.

Below the operation unit 105, a microphone 106 for inputting voice is provided.

In the above portable telephone device, the operation unit 105
Is constructed by incorporating the button sheet 201 shown in FIG. That is, the telephone body 1
Menu button 10 on the operation unit 105 on the front surface 01
5a, telephone directory button 105b, function button 1
A hole slightly larger than the button is formed in the area of the input button 105c and the input button 105d. The buttons 105a to 105d of the button sheet 201 are fitted into the holes, and the button sheet 201 is Install from behind. Thereby, the buttons 105a to 105a
5d is exposed from the surface of the telephone body 101, and the operation unit 10
5 are configured.

The button sheet 201 is manufactured by attaching buttons 105a to 105d to predetermined positions of a sheet body formed by injection molding or extrusion molding of an elastic material such as rubber or soft plastic such as elastomer. You. Here, the sheet body of the button sheet 201 is formed of a translucent material.

Button 1 on this button sheet 201
Of the buttons 05a to 105d, the input button 105d specifically has a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, the input button 105d includes the button body 301 attached on the sheet body, and the three-dimensional display unit 302 and the flat display unit 303 formed on the back side of the button body 301 (the side attached to the sheet body). Have.

As shown in FIG. 4, the button body 301 has a concave portion 301a formed on the back side thereof, and the concave portion 301a forms a three-dimensional display portion 302. On the back surface of the button body 301, a first colored layer 301b made of a paint is formed. The first colored layer 301b is formed along the side surface and the bottom surface (the inner surface) of the concave portion 301a. The front surface of the button body 301 has a flat shape, but by forming this into a convex lens shape, a concave display portion described later formed on the back surface of the button body 301 can be displayed in a large size. .

Further, on the first colored layer 301b, in a region other than the concave portion 301a, a second colored layer 301c made of a paint of a different color from the first colored layer 301b is formed. A part of the second colored layer 301c is
03. The first and second colored layers 301
The button body 301 having b and 301c is stuck on the sheet so that the colored layer comes into contact with the sheet. The three-dimensional display unit 302 displays frequently used numbers in large characters, and the two-dimensional display unit 303 prints infrequently used pseudonyms and alphabets in small characters.

A projection 201a is provided on the surface of the sheet opposite to the side where the button body is attached. A printed board 401 is arranged below the sheet body, and an electrode 402 is provided on the printed board 401. A conductive spring 403 is provided above the electrode 402.
Is arranged. And, in this conductive spring 403,
The projection 201a of the sheet member comes into contact with the sheet member.

When the switch button is operated, pressing the button body 301 causes the projection 201a of the sheet body to be pressed.
The pressing force is transmitted to the conductive spring 403 via the. As a result, the conductive spring 403 is deformed, and the printed circuit board 401 is deformed.
It contacts the upper electrode 402. Thereby, an input is made to the control unit of the mobile phone device.

When light from a light source 404 such as a light emitting diode is emitted from the back side of the switch button, the light passes through the sheet and reaches the back side of the button body 301. With this light, the button body 301 causes the first and the second
Of the colored layers 301b and 301c. At this time, since the concave portion 301a is formed on the back surface of the button body 301, the light receiving area is wider than that of the patent in which the character portion is formed as a flat surface.
Diffuse reflection within 01a. Therefore, when the operator looks at the switch button from the front side, the display appears three-dimensionally as if the display is shining and raised, and the visibility of the display of numbers and characters is further improved.

In this case, the color of the first colored layer 301b is made lighter than that of the second colored layer 301c,
By making the color of 01c transparent and recognizable,
When the operator looks at the switch button from the front side, a color in which the respective colors of the first and second colored layers 301b and 301c are mixed is displayed, and the design is improved.

The input button 105d is, in addition to the above configuration,
The configuration shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 can be adopted.

(Embodiment 2) The input button shown in FIG. 5 is a button body 501 having a concave portion 501a on the back side.
And a colored layer 501b provided on the entire back surface of the button body 501 and made of a light-transmitting paint. The coloring layer 501b is formed along the side surface and the bottom surface (the inner surface) of the concave portion 501a.

Also in this case, light incident on the concave portion 501a is irregularly reflected in the concave portion 501a. Therefore, when the operator looks at the switch button from the front side, the display appears three-dimensionally as if the display is shining and raised, and the visibility of the display of numbers and characters is further improved. Further, since the colored layer 501b is light-transmissive and the button body 501 is made of a transparent material, the color of the colored layer 501b is changed by irradiating light from the back side of the input button 105d.
1 is visible. For example, when the color of the colored layer is a pastel color or the like, the visibility is improved. This allows
Because various colors can be applied to the switch button,
The range of the user's device selection is expanded.

(Embodiment 3) The input button shown in FIG. 6 is a button body 601 having a concave portion 601a on the back side.
A first colored layer 601b provided on the back surface of the button body 601 except for the recess 601a and made of a light-shielding paint; and a light-transmitting paint provided on the entire back surface of the button body 601. And the second colored layer 601c. The second colored layer 601c is formed along the side surface and the bottom surface (the inner surface) of the concave portion 601a.

Also in this case, light incident on the concave portion 601a is irregularly reflected in the concave portion 601a. Therefore, when the operator looks at the switch button from the front side, the display appears three-dimensionally as if the display is shining and raised, and the visibility of the display of numbers and characters is further improved. Further, since the second colored layer 601c is light-transmissive and the button body 601 is made of a transparent material, the second colored layer 601c is irradiated with light from the back side of the input button 105d, so that the second colored layer The color of the layer 601c is visible through the button body 601. On the other hand, in the region other than the concave portion 601a, since the first colored layer 601b has a light shielding property, the first colored layer 601b
The color of the button itself 601 is visible from the upper surface of the button body 601, but the color of the second colored layer 601 c and the light from the light source 404 are not visible. Therefore, the first colored layer 601b
By selecting the color of each colored layer so as to increase the brightness difference between the colors of the first and second colored layers 601c, the brightness difference between the display of the recessed area and the display of the area other than the recessed area can be increased, so that more visibility can be achieved. Is improved.

(Embodiment 4) The input button shown in FIG. 7 is a button body 701 having a concave portion 701a on the back side.
And a first colored layer 70 provided on the back surface of the button body 701 and inside the recess 701a and made of a light-shielding paint.
1b and a concave portion 701a on the back surface of the button body 701.
And a second colored layer 701c made of a light-transmissive paint.

In this case, the second colored layer 701c is light-transmissive, and the button body 701 is made of a transparent material. In the region, the color of the second colored layer 701c can be visually recognized through the button body 701. On the other hand, the first colored layer 7
01b is visible. Therefore, the first colored layer 70
By selecting the color of each colored layer so as to increase the lightness difference between the colors of the first colored layer 1b and the second colored layer 701c, FIG.
As in the case of (1), since the difference in brightness between the display in the concave area and the display in the area other than the concave area can be increased, the visibility is further improved. Of course, contrary to the above case, the first colored layer 701b may be made of a light-transmitting paint, and the second colored layer 701c may be made of a light-shielding paint.

(Embodiment 5) The input button shown in FIG. 8 is a button body 801 having a concave portion 801a on the back side.
And a colored layer 801b provided on the entire back surface of the button body 801 and made of a light-transmissive paint. The coloring layer 801b is formed along the side surface and the bottom surface (the inner surface) of the concave portion 801a. A region other than the concave portion 801a on the back surface of the button body 801 is subjected to a roughening process such as a hairline process, a groove forming process, a grain forming process, and a matting process.

Also in this case, light incident on the concave portion 801a is irregularly reflected in the concave portion 801a. Therefore, when the operator looks at the switch button from the front side, the display appears three-dimensionally as if the display is shining and raised, and the visibility of the display of numbers and characters is further improved. Further, since the area other than the concave portion 801a on the back surface of the button body 801 is roughened, the visual recognition state in the concave portion is different from the visual recognition state in the region other than the concave portion. Therefore, the visibility of the stereoscopic display is further improved.

(Embodiment 6) The input button shown in FIG. 9 is a button body 901 having a concave portion 901a on the back side.
And a colored layer 901b provided on the entire back surface of the button body 901 and made of a light-transmissive paint. The coloring layer 901b is formed along the side surface and the bottom surface (the inner surface) of the concave portion 901a. On the bottom surface (inner surface) of the concave portion 901 a on the back surface of the button body 901,
A roughening process such as a hairline process, a groove forming process, a grain forming process, and a matting process is performed.

Also in this case, light incident on the concave portion 901a is irregularly reflected in the concave portion 901a. Therefore, when the operator looks at the switch button from the front side, the display appears three-dimensionally as if the display is shining and raised, and the visibility of the display of numbers and characters is further improved. Further, since the concave portion 901a region on the back surface of the button body 901 is roughened, the visual recognition state in the concave portion is different from the visual recognition state in the region other than the concave portion. Therefore, the visibility of the stereoscopic display is further improved.

In the above embodiment, the case where both the first and second colored layers are colored has been described, but in the present invention, either colored layer may be colorless.

The method of coloring the first colored layer and the second colored layer is performed by, for example, painting, vapor deposition, printing, hot stamp transfer, or the like. It is preferable to color the inside of the concave portion 301a by painting or vapor deposition in production. First, a region other than the concave portion 301a on the back surface of the button body 301 is colored by printing or hot stamping, and the concave portion 301
By coloring the entire back surface of the button body 301 including the inside a by painting or vapor deposition, it is possible to easily manufacture switch buttons having different colors in the three-dimensional display portion and the other portions. As described above, by making the three-dimensional display portion and the other portion have different colors, the visibility of the three-dimensional display portion is further improved.

On the contrary, there is a method of coloring the inside of the concave portion 301a first. First, the inside of the concave portion 301a is colored by coating and vapor deposition, and then the coloring material overflowing from the concave portion 301a is removed with a scraper or the like to flatten the back surface of the button body 301, and thereafter, the entire back surface of the button body 301 is colored.
According to this method as well, it is possible to easily manufacture switch buttons of different colors in the three-dimensional display part and the other part. In this case, the last coloring may be any of painting, vapor deposition, printing, and hot stamp transfer.

Furthermore, in the above description, the case of coloring in two colors has been described. However, by forming the button body 301 with a transparent resin that is lightly colored, it is also possible to give a density difference to a three-dimensional display portion in a single color. it can. Thereby, when the operator looks at the switch button from the front side, the recess 301
Since a is thin, the coloring of the button body 301 is perceived to be thin, and conversely, the portion other than the concave portion 301a is thick, and its coloring is perceived to be dark. The operator can recognize the display of the concave portion 301a more three-dimensionally.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. For example, the switch button of the present invention can be applied to various electronic devices such as a computer and an information terminal.

[0063]

As described above, in the switch button of the present invention, a concave portion is formed on the back side of a button body made of a transparent material, a colored layer is provided on the back side, and a three-dimensional display portion is provided. The visibility and design of the switch button can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a mobile phone device provided with a switch button according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a button sheet on which a plurality of switch buttons according to the first embodiment are mounted.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a switch button according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the switch button (FIG. 3) according to the first embodiment, taken along line IV-IV.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a switch button according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a switch button according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a switch button according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a switch button according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a switch button according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a conventional switch button.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a conventional switch button.

[Explanation of symbols]

 201 Button Sheet 301 Button Body 301a Depression 301b First Colored Layer 301c Second Colored Layer 401 Substrate 402 Electrode 403 Spring

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A front surface portion which is formed of a transparent material and is an operation surface, a back surface portion which is a back side of the front surface portion, and a display of numerals, characters, symbols and the like formed on the back surface portion is formed in a concave shape. A switch button, comprising: a concave display portion. 2. The switch button according to claim 1, further comprising a light source disposed on the back of the back. 3. The switch button according to claim 1, wherein the entire back surface is colored with a light transmitting colorant. 4. The back surface portion is characterized in that the concave display portion is colored with a light-shielding colorant, while the portion other than the concave display portion is uncolored or colored with a light-transmissive colorant. Item 3. The switch button according to item 1 or 2. 5. The back surface portion is characterized in that a concave display portion is made non-colored or colored with a light-transmitting colorant, while a portion other than the concave display portion is colored with a light-shielding colorant. Item 3. The switch button according to item 1 or 2. 6. The switch button according to claim 4, wherein the rear surface is colored by applying a light-transmitting colorant after applying a light-shielding colorant. 7. The switch button according to claim 1, wherein only the concave display portion or the portion other than the concave display portion is subjected to a surface treatment on the back surface portion. . 8. The switch button according to claim 1, wherein the switch button is entirely made of a colored transparent resin. 9. An electronic apparatus comprising the switch button according to claim 1. Description: 10. When the switch button according to claim 1 or 2 is colored, first, an area other than the concave display portion on the back surface of the switch button body is colored by printing or transfer, and then the inside of the concave display portion is colored from above. A method for coloring a switch button, characterized in that the entire back surface of the switch button body is colored by painting or vapor deposition. 11. The switch button according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inside of the concave display portion is first colored by painting and vapor deposition, and then the coloring material overflowing from the concave display portion is removed. Flatten the back surface of the body, and then color the entire back surface of the switch button body,
A method for coloring a switch button, characterized in that: