JP2004327322A - Operation button device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation button device capable of illuminating the periphery of an operation button uniformly. <P>SOLUTION: The operation button device of seesaw type comprises a holder 2 and an operation button 1. The holder 2 comprises a rotating substrate 23 tiltably held by rotating shafts 22a and 22b provided at an opening 20 of a frame 21, and switch driving rods 24a and 24b projectingly provided on the rotating substrate 23, which are integrally formed. The operation button 1 has a main body 10 having such an external shape as to cover the opening 20 of the holder 2, a connecting part 11 projectingly provided on the main body 10 and for fitting to the rotating substrate 23, and projecting parts 12a and 12b abutting the frame 21, which are integrally formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an operation button device having a seesaw-type operation button, and more particularly to a structure for uniform illumination around the operation button.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an on-vehicle acoustic device in which a radio receiver and a cassette deck are integrally combined has been known. Many of such on-vehicle acoustic devices are provided with a seesaw-type operation button device capable of self-returning, for example, to increase or decrease the volume (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The operation buttons mounted on this operation button device, for example, are illuminated from behind in conjunction with the lighting of the vehicle width light, so that the characters and figures drawn on the surface of the operation buttons become bright, Button operation when traveling in a tunnel is facilitated.
[0003]
Recently, an operation button device that not only brightens characters and figures drawn on the operation button but also brightens the outer periphery of the operation button by illumination to create a sense of quality has been developed.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-249997 (FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the operation button device described in Patent Document 1 described above has a structure in which the operation button performs a seesaw operation by rotating (tilting) around a hinge portion provided so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface thereof. . For this reason, the surface of the operation button can be uniformly illuminated, but the outer periphery of the operation button cannot be uniformly illuminated because the hinge portion interferes. As a result, there is a problem that it lacks a sense of quality as compared with an operation button that can illuminate not only the surface but also the outer periphery.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and has as its object to provide an operation button device capable of uniformly illuminating the outer periphery of the operation button.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An operation button device according to the present invention is a seesaw type operation button device including a tilting mechanism and an operation button, wherein the tilting mechanism is tiltable on a rotation shaft provided to project from an opening of a frame. And a switch drive rod provided so as to protrude in a tilting direction from the rotary substrate, and the operation button has an outer shape that covers an opening of the tilting mechanism. A connecting portion provided to protrude from the main body and fitted to the rotating board of the tilting mechanism portion, and abuts on a surface of the frame of the tilting mechanism portion with the connecting portion fitted to the tilting mechanism portion. The projection and the projection are integrally formed. Then, when the main body is pressed, the rotating substrate tilts around a portion where the surface of the frame and the convex portion come into contact with each other as a fulcrum, and moves the switch driving rod.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the operation button device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The operation button device includes an operation button 1 and a holder 2 that holds the operation button 1 so as to be tiltable. The holder 2 corresponds to the tilting mechanism of the present invention.
[0009]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the operation button 1 and the holder 2 are fitted together, which is cut along a dashed line AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the operation button 1 and the holder 2 are fitted together, which is cut along a plane orthogonal to the cut plane in FIG. Note that, in FIG. 1, a part of the operation button 1 (a connecting portion 11 described later) is omitted for simplicity.
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this operation button device is incorporated in an exterior panel 3 of an in-vehicle audio device. This assembling is performed such that the operation button 1 is exposed on the surface from the opening 4 provided in the exterior panel 3. A substrate 6 on which micro switches 5a and 5b are mounted is disposed on the back side of the exterior panel 3 with the holder 2 interposed therebetween.
[0011]
The operation button 1 includes a main body 10 having a cylindrical (cup-shaped) outer shape with one cut surface closed, and a connecting portion 11 provided to protrude from substantially the center of a closed surface inside the main body 10. The arc-shaped convex portions 12a and 12b provided so as to protrude along the side surface from the other cut surface of the main body 10 are integrally formed.
[0012]
The closing surface serving as the head of the operation button 1 has a shape in which the center is depressed so that the operation is easy. Light-transmitting characters, symbols, and the like (not shown) are drawn on the closed surface, and non-light-transmitting paint is applied to portions other than the characters, symbols, and the like (including the side surface of the operation button 1). ing. The connecting portion 11 is formed so as to be an elastic plate having a claw at a tip portion. The convex portions 12a and 12b serve as fulcrums when the operation button 1 is tilted.
[0013]
The holder 2 includes a frame 21 having an opening 20, rotating shafts 22 a and 22 b provided to protrude inward from the opening 20 of the frame 21, and a rotating substrate held by the rotating shafts 22 a and 22 b. 23 and switch driving rods 24a and 24b provided so as to protrude from the rotating substrate 23 in the tilting direction (the direction in which the microswitches 5a and 5b are arranged) are integrally formed. The holder 2 is made of a material that functions as a prism.
[0014]
The rotating shafts 22a and 22b are formed integrally with the frame 21 and the rotating substrate 23. Even if the rotating substrate 23 is tilted about the rotating shafts 22a and 22b by pressing, the rotating shafts 22a and 22b self-return by releasing the pressing. To return to the original state. Thereby, a self-return function of the seesaw type operation button device is realized. The rotating substrate 23 has an opening 25 for fitting with the connecting portion 11 of the operation button 1 and an opening 26 for transmitting light.
[0015]
The operation button 1 and the holder 2 configured as described above are fitted by inserting the connection portion 11 of the operation button 1 into the opening 25 of the rotating board 23, and provided at the distal end of the connection portion 11. It is firmly connected by being locked to the rotating board 23 by the claw. In this state, the protrusions 12a and 12b of the operation button 1 are in contact with the upper surface of the frame 21 of the holder 2, and the operation button 1 is tilted about the rotation shafts 22a and 22b with the contact portion as a fulcrum S. It is supported by the holder 2 so that it can be made.
[0016]
Next, the operation of the operation button device configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, by pressing a point P <b> 1 of the operation button 1 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, the rotating substrate 23 makes the contact between the protrusions 12 a and 12 b of the operation button 1 and the upper surface of the frame 21 of the holder 2. As the fulcrum S, it is tilted downward in FIG. 3 around the rotation shafts 22a and 22b. Thereby, the switch driving rod 24a moves downward in FIG. 3 and the micro switch 5a is turned on.
On the other hand, when the P2 point of the operation button 1 is pressed in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, the rotating substrate 23 rotates with the contact point between the protrusions 12a and 12b of the operation button 1 and the upper surface of the frame 21 of the holder 2 as a fulcrum S. It is tilted downward in FIG. 3 around the shafts 22a and 22b. Thereby, the switch driving rod 24b moves downward in FIG. 3 and the micro switch 5b is turned on.
[0017]
Although not shown, a light source as a lighting device, for example, an LED is mounted between the microswitch 5a and the microswitch 5b on the substrate 6, for example. When the light source is turned on, the light from the light source reaches the head of the operation button 1 through the openings 25 and 26 provided in the rotating substrate 23. Thereby, the characters and symbols drawn on the head of the operation button 1 are displayed brightly. The light from the light source passes through the frame 21 of the holder 2 and further reaches the outside through the opening 4 of the exterior panel 3. Thereby, the outer periphery of the operation button 1 is uniformly illuminated.
[0018]
As described above, according to the operation button device according to the first embodiment, the rotation shafts 22a and 22b for tilting the operation button 1 are configured to be located inside the main body 10 of the operation button 1. On the outer periphery of the operation button 1, there is no obstacle (for example, the hinge portion described in the section of the related art) that blocks the illumination from the light source. Therefore, by irradiating light from the back side of the operation button 1, not only the head of the operation button 1 but also the outer periphery thereof are uniformly illuminated, so that an operation button device capable of producing a sense of quality can be obtained.
[0019]
Further, since the holder 2 also has the function of a prism, light from the light source passes through the frame 21 and is efficiently emitted to the outside from the opening 4 of the exterior panel 3. From this point as well, uniform illumination can be achieved on the outer periphery of the operation button 1. In addition, since the opening 26 is provided in the rotating substrate 23, the illumination of the head of the operation button 1 is uniform, and characters and symbols drawn on the head of the operation button 1 can be clearly displayed.
[0020]
Further, the pressing force when the operation button 1 is pressed causes a force acting on a fulcrum S which is a contact point between the protrusions 12 a and 12 b of the operation button 1 and the upper surface of the frame 21 of the holder 2, and rotates the rotating substrate 23. Dispersed in rotational force. As a result, since only the rotational force acts on the rotating substrate 23, no force other than the rotating direction is applied to the rotating shafts 22a and 22b supporting the rotating substrate 23. Therefore, an operation button device having excellent durability can be obtained.
[0021]
Note that the arrangement of the switch driving rods 24a and 24b is based on the arrangement relationship of the micro switches 5a and 5b arranged below the operation button device, the light source device (not shown), and the characters and symbols drawn on the head of the operation button 1. Can be optimally determined in accordance with the position of.
[0022]
In the operation button device according to the first embodiment, the connecting portion 11 of the operation button 1 is provided so as to protrude from substantially the center of the head. The connection portion 11 of the operation button 1 can be provided so as to protrude from the end of the head, and can be arranged so as to be connected to both ends of the rotating board 23.
[0023]
Further, in the first embodiment described above, the shape of the operation button 1 is configured to be a cylindrical shape (a cup shape) in which a cut surface is closed, but the shape of the operation button 1 is not limited to this, and a square tube or an elliptical tube is used. Any shape that can cover the opening 20 formed in the frame 21 of the holder 2 such as the like can be adopted.
[0024]
Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, an example in which the present invention is applied to an in-vehicle audio device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to an in-vehicle audio device, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to various other devices. .
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the rotating substrate of the tilting mechanism is tiltably held by the rotation shaft provided so as to protrude from the opening of the frame. Since the rotation axis is configured to cover the portion, the rotation axis exists within the range of the main body of the operation button, and there is no portion that blocks the illumination around the operation button. As a result, by irradiating light from the back side of the operation button, there is an effect that the outer periphery of the operation button can be uniformly illuminated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of an operation button device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation button device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, cut along a dashed line AA in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the operation button device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, cut along a plane orthogonal to the cut plane of FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 operation button, 2 holder (tilt mechanism), 3 exterior panel, 4 opening, 5a, 5b micro switch, 6 substrate, 10 main body, 11 connection, 12a, 12b convex, 20 opening, 21 frame, 22a , 22b rotating shaft, 23 rotating substrate, 24a, 24b switch driving rod, 25 opening, 26 opening.

Claims (3)

In a seesaw type operation button device including a tilting mechanism and an operation button,
The tilting mechanism includes a frame having an opening, a rotating shaft provided to project from the opening of the frame, a rotating substrate tiltably held on the rotating shaft, and a tilting direction from the rotating substrate. And a switch drive rod provided so as to protrude into the
The operation button includes a main body having an outer shape that covers an opening of the tilting mechanism, a connecting portion provided to protrude from the main body, and fitted to a rotating board of the tilting mechanism, A convex portion that abuts on the surface of the frame of the tilting mechanism portion in a state where the portion is fitted to the tilting mechanism portion is integrally formed,
The operation button device, wherein the rotating substrate is tilted with a portion where the surface of the frame abuts on the convex portion as a fulcrum by pressing the main body, and moves the switch driving rod. The operation button device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating substrate of the tilting mechanism has an opening for guiding light. The operation button device according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion of the operation button is provided at a position other than a center portion of the operation button.

Images