JP2003016865A - Portable terminal device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize nearly uniform illumination without illumination unevenness, using a small number of light sources. SOLUTION: A light source 16 of a lighting system comprises light-emitting diodes and the like disposed, so as to face to each other on both sides in the length direction of a board 14, and in lighting, its illumination light passes through a housing 11 to illuminate operation keys 13a-13c on a key sheet 12. The housing 11 is formed of a synthetic resin, such as a transparent polycarbonate or acrylic resin, capable of transmitting the illumination light from the light source 16. A coating film 18 is applied to the front surface part of the housing 11. The coating film 18 prevents leakage of the light which is passing through the housing 11, from the surface of the housing 11 at illumination from the light source 16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone having an operation key and a mobile electronic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone is provided with a plurality of operation keys, and these operation keys are equipped with an illuminating device so that they can be clearly seen even when used in darkness. ing. As an illumination device, it is necessary to illuminate each operation key with a constant illuminance and to uniformly illuminate a plurality of operation keys.

Therefore, the conventional portable terminal device has the substrate 1
It has a light source 2 composed of a large number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged above, and each of the light sources 2 illuminates toward an operation key 4 of a key sheet 3 arranged on the substrate 1, whereby When the operation key 4 projects from the key insertion hole 6 of the housing 5, the display of the operation key 4 can be confirmed.

[0004]

However, since the above-mentioned conventional portable terminal device is configured to illuminate the operation keys 4 by illuminating a large number of light sources 2, so many light sources are required. . Moreover, the light source 2 is
Since it is arranged near the operation keys 4 on the key sheet 3 and illuminates the vicinity of the operation keys 4 (the portion denoted by reference numeral 7) by irradiating from the bottom to the top, there is a problem that the operation keys have uneven illumination.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal device and an electronic device that can realize substantially uniform illumination with a small number of light sources and no illumination unevenness.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention according to claim 1 has a key sheet having a plurality of operation keys, and a front surface arranged on the key sheet and through which the operation keys are inserted. In a mobile terminal device provided with a case and an illuminating means for illuminating an operation key of a key sheet, the illuminating means is configured such that light emitted from a light source is transmitted through the front case to illuminate the operation key. And According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal device according to the first aspect, the illuminating means is configured such that the irradiation light from the light source is transmitted through the front case, and at the same time, a circumference is formed to form a key insertion hole provided in the front case. It is characterized in that the light is derived from the end surface, and the derived light illuminates the peripheral side surface of the operation key. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal device according to the first or second aspect, a light source storage recess is provided at a position corresponding to the light source in the front case. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the mobile terminal device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the light sources of the illuminating means oppose each other at least so as to irradiate the irradiation light with each other. It is characterized in that two pieces are arranged at a position. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the mobile terminal device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the surface layer of the front case is provided, and the irradiation light from the light source leaks to the front of the front case. It is characterized by having a coating film that prevents The present invention according to claim 6 provides a portable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
It is characterized by comprising the illuminating means.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an embodiment in which a mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied to a mobile phone,
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a housing, a key sheet and a board of a mobile phone, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a state in which a board, a key sheet and a housing are assembled, and FIG. 3 is a board and a key sheet. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the operation at the time of illumination when the housing and the housing are incorporated. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 is a housing forming a front case of a mobile phone, 12 is a key sheet having a plurality of operation keys 13a to 13c, and 14 is a substrate. As shown in FIG. The key sheet 12 is arranged and the substrate 14 is arranged below the key sheet 12. The lower side of the substrate 14 is covered with a back case (not shown).

The housing 11 has key insertion holes 15 formed at positions corresponding to the operation keys 13a to 13c provided on the key sheet 12, and when the key sheet 12 is incorporated in the housing 11, the operation keys 13a are formed. 2 to 3c are inserted into the key insertion holes 15 and the upper surfaces are exposed to the outside.

The operation keys 13a to 13c are key sheets 1
2, a telephone number, a symbol, etc. are written on the front side of the housing 2 so as to project upward integrally therewith, and the user can press a desired value from the outside of the housing 11 to operate it to obtain a desired function. You can get it.

The substrate 14 is formed into a circuit necessary to have a communication function and the like as a mobile phone, and an illumination device (not shown) having a light source 16 is provided on the upper surface thereof. The light source 16 is composed of a light emitting diode or the like arranged on both sides of the substrate 14 in the longitudinal direction so as to face each other. When the light source is turned on, the illumination light thereof passes through the housing 11 and the operation keys on the key sheet 12. 13a to 13c are illuminated.

That is, when the light source 16 is turned on, the light source 16 emits light along the surface of the substrate 14 so as to face each other in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and at the same time, as shown in FIG. It is possible to illuminate toward the 13c side.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the illumination device is operated by the irradiation light from the light source 16 being guided through the housing 11 to the peripheral end surface 15a forming the key insertion hole 15 of the housing 11. It hits the peripheral side surfaces of the keys 13a to 13c and illuminates the peripheral side surfaces of the operation keys 13a to 13c.

Therefore, the housing 11 is made of a material that allows the illumination light from the light source 16 to pass therethrough, and is made of, for example, transparent polycarbonate or synthetic resin such as acrylic resin, and is shown in FIG. As described above, the light source accommodation recess 17 is provided on the substrate 14 at a position corresponding to the light source 16.

On the other hand, the surface of the housing 11 is coated with a coating film 18 so as to have a good appearance. This coating film 18
Are selected in various colors to determine the design of the housing 11. Further, when the coating film 18 is illuminated by the light source 16, the light transmitted through the housing 11 is external (front) from the housing 11.
The light source 16 and the light source 16 thus form a component of the lighting device.

In the portable telephone configured as described above, when the light source 16 disposed on the substrate 14 is turned on, the operation keys 13a to 13c are illuminated by the emitted light. In that case,
Light emitted from the light source 16 is emitted laterally as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 3, so that the light is transmitted through the inside of the housing 11, and the transmitted light forms the key insertion hole 15 of the housing 11. Derived outward from the end face 15a (hatched portion in FIGS. 2 and 3)
By doing so, the peripheral side surfaces of the operation keys 13a to 13c are illuminated.

Further, not only one light source arranged on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 14 but also the light source arranged on the other end side is turned on, and the housing 11 is illuminated by being transmitted from the opposite side. Thus, uniform and even illumination can be accurately performed around the operation keys 13a to 13c.

Therefore, the irradiation light from the light source 16 is transmitted through the housing 11, and the transmitted light is operated by the operation keys 13a to 13a.
Since the peripheral side surface of 13c is illuminated, unlike the conventional technique in which the light source 16 illuminates upward, a large number of light sources are not required, and it is possible to reliably illuminate with a small number of light sources.
It is possible to realize substantially uniform illumination without unevenness on the operation keys 13a to 13c.

On the other hand, a coating film 18 is provided on the surface layer of the housing 11, and by changing the color of the coating film 18, the coating design as a mobile phone can be customized. In addition to this, the coating film 18 can prevent the light passing through the housing 11 from leaking to the outside during illumination.
Illumination with fewer light sources can be performed more accurately.

In the illustrated embodiment, the example applied to a mobile phone is shown, but the same applies to the case of being used for PHS.
Further, in addition to the mobile terminal device, it can be used for a mobile information terminal (PDF) called mobile, or a mobile electronic device such as a notebook personal computer and an electronic dictionary.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the front case and the transmitted light illuminates the peripheral side surface of the operation key, many light sources are not required, and it is possible to reliably illuminate with a small number of light sources. Moreover, there is an effect that it is possible to realize a substantially uniform illumination with no unevenness with respect to the operation keys. In particular, there is a secondary effect that power saving can be realized by being able to illuminate with as few light sources as possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment in which a mobile terminal device according to the present invention is applied to a mobile phone.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing a state in which a substrate, a key sheet, and a housing are assembled.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation during illumination when the substrate, the key sheet, and the housing are similarly incorporated.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a board, a key sheet, and a housing in a conventional mobile terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 housing 12 key sheet Operation keys 13a to 13c 14 board 15 key insertion hole 15a peripheral end face 16 Light source of lighting equipment 17 Light source storage recess 18 Paint film

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A key sheet having a plurality of operation keys,
In a mobile terminal device that is provided on a key sheet and has a front case through which operation keys are inserted and an illuminating means that illuminates the operation keys on the key sheet, the illuminating means is such that light emitted from a light source passes through the front case. The mobile terminal device is configured to illuminate the operation key. 2. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1,
The illuminating means allows the light emitted from the light source to pass through the front case and is led out from a peripheral end face forming a key insertion hole provided in the front case so that the derived light illuminates the peripheral side face of the operation key. A mobile terminal device characterized by being configured. 3. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a light source storage recess is provided at a position corresponding to the light source in the front case. 4. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein at least two light sources of the illuminating unit are provided at positions facing each other so as to irradiate the irradiation light in the directions opposite to each other. A mobile terminal device, wherein the mobile terminal device is provided. 5. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a coating film applied to a surface layer of the front case and preventing light emitted from the light source from leaking to the outside of the front case. A mobile terminal device having. 6. A portable electronic device comprising the lighting means according to any one of claims 1 to 5.