JP2002312099A - Operation input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation input device capable of preventing the leakage of light from an internally stored LED to the outside through a clearance formed by a knob and a panel. SOLUTION: This operation input device 150 comprises an LED 151, a chassis storing the LED 151 therein and formed with a hole 160a for leading and emitting light radiated by the LED 151 to the outside, a knob 170 disposed so as to cover the hole 160a, and a panel 180 formed with a hole 180a surrounding a side surface periphery of the knob 170 when the knob 170 is inserted. The light irradiated by the LED 151 and emitted from a clearance 150c formed by the side surface of the knob 170 and the hole 180a of the panel 180 is cut off by coating 171 of the knob 170 and a rib portion 160d of the chassis 160.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation input device used for an on-vehicle navigation device and the like, and more particularly to an operation input device for performing display by light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an operation input device such as an operation input device 950 described below has been known as an operation input device for performing display by light.

[0003] In FIG. 8, a car navigation system 900 has not only a navigation function but also a television function and an audio function, and a CD (Compact Disc) into which map information for navigation is recorded is inserted. An insertion unit 910, a display unit 920 for displaying various information as images, and an operation input unit 930 operated and input by a user are provided. Here, the operation input unit 930 includes various switches including an operation input device 950.

As shown in FIG. 9, an operation input device 950 includes an LED 951 for emitting light, a LED 951 housed therein, and a light guide 960 formed with a hole 960a for guiding and emitting the light emitted by the LED 951 to the outside. A chassis 960 as a unit, a knob 970 as an operation input unit arranged to cover the hole 960a, and a groove 980a arranged outside the chassis 960 and surrounding the side surface of the knob 970 when the knob 970 is inserted. And a panel 980 as an operation frame formed.

Here, the knob 970 and the panel 980
Is formed of a light-transmitting resin material, and the chassis 960 is formed of a resin material (for example, black resin) having a lower light transmission than the knob 970 and the panel 980.

[0006] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the operation input device 950 passes the ribs 960 b and 960 c of the chassis 960 through the panel 980 and the chassis 96.
An LED 952 and an LED 953 that emit light from the 0 side are provided.

The operation input device 950 is housed inside a chassis 960 as shown in FIG.
And a volume encoder 954 for detecting an operation input from the knob 970, and being fixed to the chassis 960 by a method (not shown), and connecting to the LEDs 951 to 953 and the volume encoder 9.
And a substrate 955 on which the H.54 is mounted.

The volume encoder 954 can detect whether or not the knob 970 has been rotated in the direction of arrow 950a in FIG. 8, and whether or not the knob 970 has been moved in the direction of arrow 950b in FIG. Can also be detected.

Here, a part of the knob 970 has a light transmittance lower than that of the knob 970, and a coating 971 for blocking light emitted from the hole 960a and transmitted through the inside of the knob 970 and emitted to the outside of the knob 970. The knob 970 transmits light through the knob 970, and performs display by light transmitted from the display unit 970a that is not coated with the coating 971 of the knob 970 to the outside of the knob 970. The coating 971 is, for example, black.
It is formed of a paint having a lower light transmittance than the knob 970.

[0010] Similarly, a part of the panel 980 has lower light transmittance than the panel 980, and the LED 952 and the LED 9
A coating 981 that blocks light emitted from 53 and transmitted through the inside of the panel 980 and emitted to the outside of the panel 980 is coated. The panel 980 is transmitted through the panel 980 and coated with the coating 981 of the panel 980. Display is performed by light transmitted from the display unit 980b and the display unit 980c, which are not performed, to the outside of the panel 980. Note that the paint 981 is formed of a paint such as black, which has lower light transmittance than the panel 980.

Accordingly, the operation input device 950 is used when the surroundings of the navigation device 900 are dark, such as at night.
By transmitting light from the display unit 970a, the knob 9
The position of 70 can be displayed to the user,
By transmitting light from the display unit 980b and the display unit 980c, a function that can be operated and input from the knob 970 can be displayed to the user.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional operation input device 950, the light emitted by the LED 951 emits light to the side of the knob 970 and the panel 9
Gap 950c formed by the groove 980a of the groove 80
(See FIGS. 8, 9 and 13).

More specifically, in order to prevent the light emitted by the LED 951 from leaking to the outside from the gap 950c, the gap 98 between the groove 980a and the rib 980d sandwiching the knob 970 from the outside and the inside, respectively.
0e (see FIGS. 9 and 13) must be relatively narrow. However, since the groove 980a and the rib portion 980d are part of one component called the panel 980, the gap 9
If 80e is made relatively narrow, the panel 980 is painted 981
Is applied, the corners 9 of the paint 981 of the panel 980 are removed.
80f (see FIGS. 9 and 13) and a corner 980g (see FIG. 9).
And FIG. 13), the corner 980f and the corner 9
It is more difficult and thinner than painting other than 80g.

On the other hand, in the operation input device 950, LE
The light emitted by D951 includes a chassis 960,
Paint 981 applied to rib 980d of panel 980
And the coating 971 applied to the side surface of the knob 970 prevents leakage from the gap 950c to the outside.

Therefore, in the operation input device 950, the paint at the corner 980f of the paint 981 of the panel 980 is thinner than the paint at the other than the corner 980f,
951 emits light at a corner 9 of panel 980.
The gap 950 is transmitted through the coating 981 applied to the 80f.
c.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to an LE housed inside.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation input device capable of preventing light from D from leaking outside through a gap formed by a knob and a panel.

[0017]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an operation input device according to the present invention is a light input device having a light guide hole having a rib portion around the light guide hole for guiding light from the inside to the outside. Deriving means, operation input means for covering the light deriving hole, first light emitting means housed inside the light deriving means, and irradiating the operation input means with light through the light deriving hole, and the light deriving means An operation frame in which an operation input unit insertion hole into which the operation input unit is inserted is formed, and a second light emitting unit that irradiates the operation frame with light from the light deriving unit side, The operation input unit has a part of the surface covered by a first light transmission preventing unit, and transmits light irradiated by the first light emitting unit from a part not covered by the first light transmission preventing unit. The operation frame has a part of the surface The light emitted by the second light emitting means is transmitted from a portion not covered by the second light transmission preventing means, and the rib portion is provided by the first light emitting means. Light emitted by the operation input means and a gap formed by the operation input means insertion hole is prevented from being emitted. With this configuration, the operation input device of the present invention allows the light emitted by the first light emitting unit to cover the side surface of the operation input unit, not the second light transmission preventing unit that covers the rib of the operation frame. Since the light is blocked by the first light transmission preventing means and the rib portion of the light guiding means, the light emitted by the first light emitting means is formed by the side face of the operation input means and the operation input means insertion hole of the operation frame. Can be prevented from leaking out of the gap.

Further, the operation input device of the present invention includes the second input device.
The light transmission preventing means is formed of a paint. With this configuration, in the operation input device of the present invention, even if the second light transmission preventing means is formed of a paint and the thickness is thin depending on the place, the light emitted by the first light emitting means can be operated by the operation input device. It is possible to prevent leakage to the outside from the gap formed by the side face of the means and the operation input means insertion hole of the operation frame.

The operation input device of the present invention is housed inside the light guiding means, connected to the operation input means through the light guiding hole, and detects an operation input from the operation input means. It has a configuration provided with input detection means. With this configuration, the operation input device according to the present invention is configured such that even if the light guide hole is large enough to insert the operation input detection unit and emits an amount of light corresponding to the size, The light emitted by the light emitting means can be prevented from leaking outside from the gap formed by the side face of the operation input means and the operation input means insertion hole of the operation frame.

Further, the operation input device of the present invention has a configuration in which the operation input means is a push button which moves in a direction away from or approaching the light guide means. With this configuration, in the operation input device of the present invention, the operation input unit is a push button, the operation input unit is separated from the light deriving unit, and light is easily emitted from between the operation input unit and the light deriving unit. Even so, it is possible to prevent the light emitted by the first light emitting unit from leaking outside through the gap formed by the side surface of the operation input unit and the operation input unit insertion hole of the operation frame.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the operation input device according to the present embodiment will be described.

Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle-mounted navigation device 100 has not only a navigation function but also a television function and an audio function, and has a CD insertion unit 110 for inserting a CD or the like on which map information for navigation is recorded. , Display unit 1 for displaying various information in images
20, an operation input unit 13 operated and input by a user
0. Here, the operation input unit 130 includes various switches including the operation input device 150.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation input device 150 includes an LED 1 as a first light emitting unit for emitting light.
51 and the LED 151 are housed inside,
A chassis 160 as a light deriving unit formed with a hole (a light deriving hole) 160a that guides and emits the light emitted by D151 to the outside, and a knob 170 as an operation input unit disposed to cover the hole 160a. Chassis 160
Panel 180 serving as an operation frame in which a hole (operation input means insertion hole) 180a surrounding the side surface of the knob 170 when the knob 170 is inserted is formed.
And

Here, the knob 170 and the panel 180
Is formed of a light transmissive resin material, and the chassis 1
Reference numeral 60 is formed of a resin material (for example, black resin) having lower light transmittance than the knob 170 and the panel 180.

The operation input device 150 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 7, an LED 152 as a second light emitting means for irradiating light from the chassis 160 side to the panel 180 through the rib portions 160b and 160c of the chassis 160
And an LED 153.

The operation input device 150 is housed inside the chassis 160 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and is connected to the knob 170 through the hole 160a.
A volume encoder 154 as an operation input detecting means for detecting an operation input from the controller 160;
153 and a board 155 on which a volume encoder 154 is mounted.

The volume encoder 154 can detect whether or not the knob 170 has been rotated in the direction of arrow 150a in FIG. 1, and can also operate the knob 170 in the direction of arrow 150b as shown in FIGS. It is also possible to detect whether or not it has been moved.

Here, a part of the knob 170 has a light transmittance lower than that of the knob 170, and a first light blocking the light emitted from the hole 160a and passing through the inside of the knob 170 and emitted to the outside of the knob 170. Is coated with a coating 171 as a light transmission preventing means. Note that the coating 171 is formed of a paint such as black, which has lower light transmittance than the knob 170.

Similarly, a part of the panel 180 has lower light transmittance than the panel 180, and
A coating 181 is coated as second light transmission preventing means for blocking light emitted from 53 and transmitted through the inside of the panel 180 and emitted to the outside of the panel 180. Note that the coating 181 is formed of a paint such as black, which has lower light transmittance than the panel 180.

The chassis 160 has a rib portion 160d protruding outward around the hole 160a.

Next, the operation of the operation input device according to the present embodiment will be described.

Since the knob 170 is partially coated with the coating 171, the knob 170 penetrates the knob 170, and
The display is performed by the light transmitted from the display unit 170a, which is not covered with the zero paint 171, to the outside of the knob 170.

The panel 180 is partially painted 181.
Is covered, so that the display unit 180 penetrates the panel 180 and is not covered with the coating 181 of the panel 180.
The display is performed by the light transmitted from the panel b and the display unit 180c to the outside of the panel 180.

Further, the coating 171 of the knob 170 and the rib portion 160d have a rib portion 160d which protrudes to the outside around the hole 160a.
The gap 1 formed by the side of the knob 170 and the hole 180a emitted by the ED 151 through the hole 160a
Block light emitted from 50c.

Next, effects of the operation input device according to this embodiment will be described.

The operation input device 150 performs display by using the light transmitted from the display 170a to the outside of the knob 170 by the operation input device 150.
When the area around 00 is dark, the position of the knob 170 can be displayed to the user.

The operation input device 150 is connected to the panel 18.
0 from the display unit 180b and the display unit 180c to the panel 18
Since the display is performed by the light transmitted outside the device 0, a function that can be operated and input from the knob 170 can be displayed to the user when the surroundings of the navigation device 100 are dark such as at night.

The operation input device 150 is an LED 15
1 is not blocked by the coating 181 that covers the panel 180 but by the coating 171 that covers the side surface of the knob 170 and the rib portion 160d of the chassis 160, so that the light that is emitted by the LED 151 is
Leakage to the outside from the gap 150c can be prevented.

More specifically, in order to prevent the light emitted by the LED 151 from leaking out of the gap 150c, the gap 180 between the hole 180a and the rib 160d sandwiching the knob 170 from outside and inside respectively.
0a (see FIG. 7) must be relatively narrow. However, the operation input device 150 is different from the operation input device 950 shown in FIG.
Are part of separate components, panel 180 and chassis 160, respectively.
70 and the panel 180, the light emitted from the LED 151 is transmitted through the rib 160 d of the chassis 160 even if the gap 190 a is relatively narrow, even if the gap 190 a is relatively narrow. 150c
Can be prevented from leaking to the outside.

The panel 180 of the operation input device 150
Has no rib corresponding to the rib 980d of the panel 980 of the operation input device 950 shown in FIG.
The operation input device 150 also has an effect that it becomes easier to apply the coating 181 to the panel 180 as compared with the conventional operation input device 950.

The operation input device 150 is provided with a coating 181 formed of a paint as a second light transmission preventing means. The light emitted by the LED 151 is applied to the coating 171 for covering the side surface of the knob 170. , Chassis 16
0, so that even if the coating 181 is thick or thin depending on the location, the LED 151
Can be prevented from leaking from the gap 150c to the outside. According to the present invention,
The first light transmission preventing unit and the second light transmission preventing unit may not be formed of a paint as long as the material has lower light transmission than the knob 170 and the panel 180, respectively.

The operation input device 150 is connected to the chassis 1
60 is large enough to allow the volume encoder 154 to be inserted therein, and emits an amount of light according to the size thereof. Chassis 16
0, so that the LED 1
The light emitted by 51 can be prevented from leaking out of gap 150c.

The operation input device 150 is provided with the knob 17
0 is a push button that moves in a direction away from or approaching the chassis 160 (in the direction of the arrow 150b shown in FIGS. 2 and 3).
0 is separated from the chassis 160, the chassis 1
Although light is easily emitted from between the knob 60 and the knob 170, the light emitted by the LED 151 is
The light emitted from the LED 151 is prevented from leaking outside through the gap 150c because the light is blocked by the coating 171 that covers the side surface of the zero and the rib 160d of the chassis 160. According to the present invention, the knob 170 may be configured to move only in the direction of the arrow 150b shown in FIG. 1 without moving in the direction of the arrow 150b shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Arrow 150 shown in 1
The arrow 150b shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 without moving in the direction b.
It may be configured to move only in the direction.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an operation input device capable of preventing light from an LED housed therein from leaking outside from a gap formed by a knob and a panel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a navigation device including an operation input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the operation input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the operation input device shown in FIG. 1 taken along the arrow AA when a knob is pressed by a user;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the operation input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a panel of the operation input device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a chassis of the operation input device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view near the panel of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a navigation device including a conventional operation input device.

9 is a cross-sectional view of the operation input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the operation input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a panel of the operation input device shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the chassis of the operation input device shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view near the panel of FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

151 LED (first light emitting means) 160a hole (light lead-out hole) 160 chassis (light lead-out means) 170 knob (operation input means) 171 painting (first light transmission prevention means) 180a hole (operation input means insertion hole) 180 Panel (operation frame) 152, 153 LED (second light emitting means) 181 Painting (second light transmission preventing means) 160d Rib portion 150c Gap 150 Operation input device 154 Volume encoder (operation input detection means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01H 13/04 H01H 13/04 BF term (Reference) 3J070 AA06 AA14 BA44 BA45 BA74 CB37 CE01 DA02 5B020 DD02 DD27 5G006 CB05 JA01 JA02 JB03 JC02 5G052 AA22 AA23 JA02 JA03 JA08 JB05

Claims (4)

[Claims] A light guiding means having a rib part around the light guiding hole for guiding light from inside to the outside; an operation input means covering the light guiding hole; A first light emitting unit that is housed therein and irradiates the operation input unit with light through the light extraction hole; and an operation input unit insertion hole that is disposed outside the light extraction unit and into which the operation input unit is inserted. An operation frame to be formed; and a second light emitting unit for irradiating the operation frame with light from the light guiding unit side, wherein the operation input unit is partially covered with a first light transmission preventing unit. Then, the light emitted by the first light emitting means is transmitted from a portion not covered by the first light transmission preventing means, and a part of the surface of the operation frame is provided by the second light transmission preventing means. Coated by said second light emitting means The irradiated light is transmitted from a portion that is not covered by the second light transmission preventing means, and the light emitted from the first light emitting means is transmitted through the operation input means and the operation input means. An operation input device for preventing discharge from a gap formed by an insertion hole. 2. The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein said second light transmission preventing means is formed of a paint. 3. An operation input detecting means which is housed inside the light deriving means, is connected to the operation input means through the light deriving hole, and detects an operation input from the operation input means. The operation input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein the operation input means is a push button that moves in a direction away from or close to the light deriving means. .