JP2005149903A - Cover member for push-button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cover member for a push-button switch, broadly realizing various designs having short life cycles without spoiling compactness, light weight, and low cost of the cover member. <P>SOLUTION: A light guide passage 20 is disposed on a keytop sheet 7 integrated in a small electric or electronic apparatus such as a portable telephone, a portable terminal or the like, and light transmitting parts 13 are scattered on the top cover 9 to make them emit light. Or, light is guided from the translucent keytop sheet 7 and a light guide plate 51 to the light transmitting parts 13 of the top cover 9 to make the part emit light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cover member for a push button switch used in a small electric / electronic device such as a mobile phone or a portable terminal, and more particularly to a cover member for a push button switch having a light emission function.

  Among the small electric and electronic devices, advanced mobile phones and portable terminals have become more sophisticated in basic functions, and recently, a variety of designs with a short life cycle have emerged, which are demanding entertainment and fashionability. Yes. On the other hand, the upper limit for compactness, lightness, and low price is severely limited by market principles. Technology developers can quickly realize an internal structure that matches the designer's idea of proposing bold and innovative designs in a short period of time without changing the conventional basic technical structure. It is requested. Changing the basic technical structure involves a price increase and is not allowed.

  Luminous properties of the cover parts of mobile phones and mobile terminals are an indispensable element for mobile phones and mobile terminals in consideration of usability in the dark. In addition, the light-emitting property plays an important role in enhancing the sense of quality and design of cellular phones and portable terminals. There is a demand in the designers and the market to use the light emitting function effectively in the design without impairing the small size, light weight and low price. A cellular phone, a portable terminal, and the like usually have a function of causing a key top portion and a display screen to emit light. The following structures are available to meet these requirements.

  A technique is known in which a key top for pressing a switch sheet and a rubber holder having a key top holding portion are provided, and light emitted from a light source provided on a circuit board is mediated by the rubber holder and emitted from the key top. (Patent Document 1).

A light guide plate is interposed between a key top sheet in which a key top is integrally formed on a sheet-like elastic member and a printed wiring board, and light from a light emitting diode is taken in from a part of the light guide plate, and one end of the light guide plate There is known a technique for illuminating a liquid crystal display screen from the back side with light introduced into a thick portion provided in the apparatus (Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-30098 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-61913

  However, it is not found that the main body such as a mobile phone or a mobile terminal other than the key top part and the display screen is provided with a light emitting property for design purposes.

  It is not easy to meet various design requirements with a short life cycle without sacrificing small size, light weight and low price. The structure in which the light guide path is provided on the back side of the upper cover requires a change in the conventional assembly process of a mobile phone or a mobile terminal.

  Usually, a cellular phone, a portable terminal, and the like combine an upper cover, a lower cover, a circuit board, display screens, and a key top structure. The upper cover and the lower cover constitute a housing structure, and the key top structure transmits a pressing command received by the key top portion to the circuit board via the switch group. The light emitting source is mainly on a circuit board, and a cover member including a key top structure distributes light from the light emitting source to a necessary place. Providing the light guide function on the upper cover having a casing structure breaks such a conventional basic skeleton structure such as a mobile phone or a mobile terminal. That is, there is a problem in that it is difficult to apply the conventional manufacturing apparatus, leading to an increase in price, and it is not possible to sufficiently meet the design requirements that change in a short time.

  In addition, with regard to the technology for emitting light from the key top portion via the switch plate or the technology for illuminating the back side of the liquid crystal display screen via the light guide plate, it has been sufficient to meet the specific design aiming at unusual characteristics. There was no problem. For example, it is a matter of course that light emission from the key top part and illumination from the back side of the liquid crystal display screen are required from the operability requirements of mobile phones, portable terminals, etc. There was a problem that the restriction on design creation was too large.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cover member for a pushbutton switch that can widely realize various designs having a short life cycle without impairing the compactness, lightness, and low cost.

  This inventor solved the above-described problems by the following means.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a pushbutton switch cover member including a keytop sheet provided with a keytop portion that fits into a keytop hole formed in the housing, wherein the keytop sheet has one or more light guide paths. The light guide path is provided with a plurality of light emission paths, and the light guide path is formed so as to be able to emit light from a light transmitting portion provided in the housing via the light emission path.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the pushbutton switch cover member including a key top sheet interposed on the back surface portion of the housing, the key top sheet is a protrusion for transmitting a pressing force from the key top portion provided on the housing to the switch sheet. The key top sheet is formed of a translucent material, and includes a light receiving portion and a light emission path, and light received by the light receiving portion is emitted from the light transmitting portion provided in the housing via the light emission path. It is characterized by being freely formed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the pushbutton switch cover member including a keytop sheet having a keytop part that fits into a keytop hole formed in the housing, the keytop sheet includes a light receiving part, a light emission path, The light received by the light receiving part is formed so as to be freely emitted from the light transmitting part provided in the housing through the light emission path.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the pushbutton switch cover member including the light guide plate interposed on the back surface portion of the housing, the light guide plate projects a light emission path and is provided on the casing through the light emission path. It is characterized in that it is formed so as to be able to emit light from the translucent part.

  In addition to the invention described in claim 4, the light-transmitting portion is formed with a gap in the housing, and the light-emitting tip of the light-emitting path is provided on the housing. It is formed so that it can be exposed.

  With the above configuration, the present invention has the following effects.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a light guide path is provided in the key top sheet when embodying the design of providing a light emitting portion in an area other than the key top portion and the display screen in a non-translucent casing. The key top sheet may be translucent or semi-translucent. It may be opaque. For the light guide, a conventional material that is compatible with the key top sheet may be selected, and an optical circuit can be easily manufactured.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in a small electric / electronic device, a light guide is formed by diverting a key top sheet, which is a conventional element, and from a location that is neither a key top part nor a display screen due to the housing structure. Emits light and can improve design.

  The invention described in claim 3 uses a key top sheet, which is an existing element, in small electrical / electronic devices, and emits light from a location that is neither a key top portion nor a display screen, thereby improving design. obtain.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a light guide plate, which is a conventional element, can be used in a small electric / electronic device, and the design can be improved by emitting light from a portion that is neither a key top nor a display screen.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to manufacture both the key top sheet and the light guide using a conventional similar material excellent in compatibility in the manufacturing process. Therefore, the light guide can be provided with a slight design change in the manufacturing process of the key top sheet. A design with a short life cycle can be easily realized without impairing the conventional small size, light weight and low price.

  Since the invention according to claim 2 uses a key top sheet that is a conventional element, the small size, light weight, and low cost as usual are hardly impaired by a slight design change in the conventional manufacturing process. Designs with a short life cycle can be realized easily.

  Since the invention according to claim 3 uses the key top sheet which is a conventional element, the small size, light weight, and low cost as usual are hardly impaired by a slight design change of the conventional manufacturing process. Designs with a short life cycle can be realized easily.

  In the inventions of claims 4 and 5, since the light guide plate which is an existing element is diverted, the conventional small size, light weight, and low price are hardly impaired by a slight design change of the conventional manufacturing process. A design with a short life cycle can be realized easily.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below.

  [First Embodiment]

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an outline of a mobile phone provided with a first embodiment of a cover member of the present invention. A lower cover 1 having a speaker housing portion 2 and a microphone housing portion 3 is provided, and a circuit board 4 is provided therein. On the circuit board 4, a light emitting diode 5 for illumination is mounted, and in addition, a liquid crystal display device (not shown) is mounted.

  A flexible and insulating switch plate 6 is provided on the circuit board 4. A continuous key top sheet 7 is provided on the insulating switch plate 6. The key top sheet 7 is provided with a number of key top portions 8. When a specific key top portion 8 is pressed, a specific portion of the switch circuit on the circuit board 4 is opened and closed via a specific portion of the switch plate 6 corresponding to the pressed key top portion 8.

  The key top sheet 7 is covered with an opaque upper cover 9, and the key top sheet 7 is combined with the lower cover 1. The upper cover 9 has a liquid crystal window hole 10 for a liquid crystal display device, and a key top hole 11 into which a large number of key top portions 8 provided in the key top sheet 7 are fitted. In addition, a speaker sound transmitting hole 12 is also provided. In addition to the liquid crystal window hole 10, the key top hole 11, and the speaker sound transmission hole 12, the translucent upper cover 9 is provided with light transmissive portions 13 in various places according to design.

  A light guide path 20 is provided on the back surface of the key top sheet 7. The light guide 20 has a light receiving portion 21 at the base end, and the base end faces the light emitting diode 5. The distal end portion includes a light emission path 22 that is branched in many, and the distal end of the light emission path 22 is in contact with the light transmitting portion 13 provided on the non-translucent upper cover 9. Thereby, a part of the light emitted from the light emitting diode 5 is formed so as to be freely emitted from the translucent portion 13.

  FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the back surface of the key top sheet 7 provided with the light guide path 20 as viewed from below.

  The key top sheet 7 is provided with key thin portions 14 in a dotted pattern on a flexible non-translucent sheet. The dotted key-top thin-walled portion 14 leaves a thin-walled periphery so that it can be stretched, and a thick protrusion 15 is provided in the central region of the surface of the key-top thin-walled portion 14. A movable key top portion 8 is formed by the thick protrusion 15. At the center of the back surface of the key top thin portion 14, a back surface protrusion 16 protruding in the vertical axis direction is provided, and this presses a necessary portion of the switch plate 6. Note that the switch circuit of the circuit board 4 opens and closes with the back surface protrusion 16. The light guide 20 is fixed to the back surface of the key top sheet 7.

  In the first embodiment, the key top sheet 7 and the light guide path 20 form a cover member. The light guide 20 is provided not on the upper cover 9 but on the key top sheet 7. The light guide 20 receives light emitted from the light emitting diode 5 at the light receiving portion 21 at the base end. The light emitted from the light emitting diode 5 propagates through the light emission path 22 and is emitted from the light transmitting portion 13 provided on the upper cover 9.

  [Second Embodiment]

  FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the translucent switch plate 6 applied as a light guide plate, as viewed from below.

  The light guide 20 is not necessarily required. Instead of the light guide path 20, the switch plate 6 may be applied as a light guide plate.

  The switch plate 6 is formed of a sheet having a little rigidity and translucency. It may be translucent, may not be transparent, and may be milky white that causes irregular reflection. The switch plate 6 is interspersed with plate thin film portions 14a. The plate thin film portion 14a has a particularly thin peripheral portion and is movable with stretchability. The central part is slightly thick. The center part formed thickly protrudes the back surface protrusion 16 protruding in the vertical axis direction on the back surface side. Note that the switch circuit of the circuit board 4 opens and closes with the back surface protrusion 16.

  The switch plate 6 covers the entire circuit board 4 and partly extends to the light emitting diode 5 region, and a plate light receiving portion 21a is formed there. Moreover, the light emission path 22 from the switch plate 6 protrudes in the location where the key top sheet 7 region protrudes and the translucent portion 13 is opened as a translucent region in the non-translucent upper cover 9.

  The upper cover 9 forms a part of the housing structure. The switch plate 6 and the key top sheet 7 form a cover member that is interposed on the back surface of the housing structure. When the key top sheet 7 is combined with the upper cover 9, the key top portion 8 is formed in the housing structure. The tip of the light emission path 22 is in contact with the light transmitting portion 13 provided on the light-impermeable upper cover 9 forming the casing structure, so that light emitted from the light emitting diode 5 can be freely emitted from the light transmitting portion 13. It is formed.

  [Third Embodiment]

  4 and 5 show a third embodiment.

  4 shows the key top sheet 7 and FIG. 5 shows the switch plate 6.

  The position where the light emission path through hole 22b is provided may be an area overlapping the key top sheet 7 area.

  A large number of light emission path through holes 22b are opened in an area overlapping the key top sheet 7 area. A large number of light emission paths 22 are provided in the switch plate 6, and the light emission paths 22 protrude from light emission path through holes 22 b provided in the key top sheet 7. The translucent portion 13 provided on the non-translucent upper cover 9 is in contact with the tip of the light emission path 22 protruding from the light emission path through hole 22b, so that light emitted from the backlight 5 can be emitted freely. The rest is the same as in the second embodiment.

  [Fourth Embodiment]

  FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment.

  The light emission path 22 may be provided directly on the key top sheet 7.

  The key top sheet 7 is translucent, the surface is opaque, and a light receiving portion (not shown) is provided to form a cover member. The key top sheet 7 is further integrally formed with a light emission path 22 protruding partly.

  [Fifth Embodiment]

  FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing an outline of a mobile phone provided with the fifth embodiment of the cover member of the present invention.

  In the case of a mobile phone using a light guide plate, there is a method of applying the light guide plate.

  The lower cover 1 and the upper cover 9 form a housing structure. The upper cover 9 includes a speaker storage unit 2 and a microphone storage unit 3 to be mounted on the back surface, a window hole 10 for a liquid crystal display device, and a key top hole 11.

  In the housing structure, a key top sheet 7 is further provided on the back surface of the upper cover 9. The key top sheet 7 is made of a series of translucent silicone rubber sheets, and has a large number of key top portions 8. A switch key module 30 to which a liquid crystal display 31 is attached is provided on the rear surface of the key top sheet 7. A circuit board 4 is provided on the back of the switch key module 30. A high frequency circuit, a control circuit, and the like are mounted on the circuit board 4. Further, a fixed switch contact 41 and a light emitting diode 42 are provided.

  FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the switch key module 30.

  The switch key module 30 includes a light guide plate 51 made of a translucent milky white methacrylic resin, and a double-sided adhesive sheet 52 is attached to the light guide plate 51. A flexible printed wiring board 53 is attached to the double-sided adhesive sheet 52.

  The light guide plate 51 has a thin portion 54a that contacts the back surface of the key top sheet 7, and has a thick portion 54b on which the liquid crystal display unit 40 is mounted on the extension of the thin portion 54a. A large number of key top through holes 55 are provided in the thin portion 54 a of the light guide plate 51. The front side of the key top through hole 55 corresponds to the back side of each key top portion 8. In the vicinity of the key top through hole 55 of the thin portion 54 a of the light guide plate 51, a light emitting diode buried hole 56 is provided.

  The double-sided adhesive sheet 52 has openings corresponding to the key top through holes 55 and the embedded holes 56 of the light guide plate 51.

  A large number of disc springs 57 are formed on the flexible printed wiring board 53. The disc spring 57 is formed at a position corresponding to the key top through hole 55 of the light guide plate 51, and the light emitting diode through hole for illumination is provided at a position facing the embedded hole 56 of the light emitting diode provided in the light guide plate 51. 58 is provided. The light emitting diode through hole 58 corresponds to the location of the light emitting diode 42 provided in the circuit board 4.

  The flexible printed wiring board 53 has a drive circuit 59 mounted thereon. The drive circuit 59 corresponds to the position of the thick portion 54b of the light guide plate 51 up and down, and drives the liquid crystal display unit 40. The drive circuit 59 and the liquid crystal display unit 40 are electrically connected by a liquid crystal wiring board 61.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a cellular phone provided with a fifth embodiment of the cover member of the present invention.

  A circuit board 4 is fixed to the lower cover 1, and a switch key module 30 including a flexible printed wiring board 53 and a light guide plate 51 is provided on the circuit board 4. The flexible printed wiring board 53 and the light guide plate 51 are integrated with a double-sided adhesive sheet 52. On the light guide plate 51, a key top sheet 7, a key top 8, and an upper cover 9 are provided. In this way, the flexible printed wiring board 53, the light guide plate 51, and the key top sheet 7 are sandwiched between the circuit board 4 and the upper cover 9. The upper cover 9 is covered with an opening / closing cover 9a so that the key top portion 8 is not accidentally pressed when not in use.

  The top surface portion of the key top portion 8 slightly protrudes from the key top hole 11 of the upper cover 9, and the lower end of the key top portion 8 is in contact with the top portion of the disc spring 57.

  When the key top portion 8 is pressed with the open / close cover 9a open, the disc spring portion 4a is deformed by the pressing force to open and close the circuit.

  The light guide plate 51 protrudes the light emission path 22 in the direction of the upper cover 9 everywhere. The light emission path 22 of the light guide plate passes through the key top sheet 7. The upper cover 9 is non-translucent, and the translucent portions 13 formed of a transparent material are scattered throughout as a translucent area.

  The circuit board 4 has a light emitting diode 42 mounted thereon. The light emitting diode 42 passes through the through hole 58 of the flexible printed wiring board 53 and is accommodated in the light emitting diode embedded hole 56 of the light guide plate 51.

  When the light emitting diode 42 is driven, the light (visible light) radiated from the light emitting diode 42 is introduced into the light guide plate 51 through the buried hole 56, and this light repeatedly repeats total reflection or irregular reflection in the light guide plate 51. It spreads uniformly and enters each key top portion 8 from the lower surface side through each key top through hole 55 and the like.

  The upper cover 9 forms a part of the housing structure. The key top sheet 7 and the light guide plate 51 form a cover member interposed on the back surface of the upper cover 9 of the housing structure. The light emitted from the light emitting diode 42 spreads from the thin portion 54a of the light guide plate 51 to the thick portion 54b, and can also serve as a backlight by illuminating the liquid crystal display unit 40 from the back side thereof. A part of the light branches off to the light emission path 22 and is emitted from the light transmitting portion 13 of the upper cover 9 forming the housing structure.

  [Sixth Embodiment]

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of the cover member of the present invention.

  A key top portion 8 is provided on the key top sheet 7, and a contact on the circuit board 4 is formed to be openable and closable via a disc spring portion 4a. A light emitting diode 42 is provided on the circuit board 4.

  A light guide plate 51 is interposed between the key top sheet 7 and the circuit board 4. The light guide plate 51 is provided with a buried hole 56 for a light emitting diode. The light guide plate 51 is joined with the light emission path 22 of the light guide plate 51. The light emission path 22 of the light guide plate 51 is formed so as to propagate light emitted from the light emitting diode 42 and emit light from the upper cover 9 having a light transmitting portion.

  [Seventh Embodiment]

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a seventh embodiment of the cover member of the present invention.

  The light guide plate 51 extends the light emission path 22 of the light guide plate 51 by integral molding. A translucent portion 13 is opened in the non-translucent upper cover 9. The light emission tip of the light emission path 22 is exposed as a light emission protrusion to the light transmitting portion 13 that is open.

It is an exploded view which shows the outline | summary of the mobile telephone provided with 1st Embodiment of the cover member. It is the sketch which looked up at the back surface of the key top sheet | seat which has provided the light guide from the bottom. It is the sketch which looked up at the translucent switch plate from the bottom in connection with 2nd Embodiment of a cover member. It is a sketch which shows the key top sheet | seat relevant to 3rd Embodiment of a cover member. It is a sketch which shows the switch plate relevant to 3rd Embodiment of a cover member. It is the key top sheet | seat relevant to 4th Embodiment of a cover member, and the figure which integrally molded the light emission path. It is an exploded view which shows the outline | summary of the mobile telephone provided with 4th Embodiment of the cover member. It is a disassembled perspective view of the switch key module which concerns on 4th Embodiment of a cover member. It is sectional drawing of the mobile telephone provided with 5th Embodiment of the cover member. It is sectional drawing which shows 6th Embodiment of a cover member. It is sectional drawing which shows 7th Embodiment of the cover member of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Key top hole
6 switch plate 7 key top sheet 8 key top 9 upper cover 13 light transmitting portion 20 light guide path 22 light emission path 51 light guide plate

Claims (5)

In a pushbutton switch cover member including a keytop sheet having a keytop portion that fits into a keytop hole formed in the housing,
The key top sheet is provided with one or more light guide paths, and the light guide paths include a plurality of light emission paths,
The pushbutton switch cover member, wherein the light guide path is formed so as to be able to emit light from a light transmitting portion provided in the housing via a light emission path. In the cover member for the pushbutton switch including the key top sheet interposed on the back surface of the housing,
The key top sheet has a protrusion for transmitting a pressing force from a key top portion provided on the casing to the switch sheet,
The key top sheet is formed of a translucent material, and includes a light receiving portion and a light emission path, and light received by the light receiving portion is emitted from the light transmitting portion provided in the housing via the light emission path. A cover member for a push button switch, which is formed freely. In a pushbutton switch cover member including a keytop sheet having a keytop portion that fits into a keytop hole formed in the housing,
The key top sheet includes a light receiving portion and a light emission path, and the light received by the light receiving portion is formed so as to be freely emitted from a light transmitting portion provided in the housing via the light emission path. A cover member for a push button switch. In the cover member for the push button switch including the light guide plate interposed in the back surface portion of the housing,
A pushbutton switch cover member, wherein the light guide plate has a light emission path projecting from the light transmission portion provided in the housing through the light emission path. The translucent part is formed with a gap provided in the housing, and the light emitting tip of the light emission path is formed in the translucent part provided in the housing so as to be exposed. The cover member for pushbutton switches according to claim 4.

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