JP2006040155A - Portable electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the reading of key data displayed on operation keys by enlarging them and facilitate a switching of the key data displayed on the operation keys. <P>SOLUTION: A portable electronic device has a key sheet 10 having numeric keys 6 inserted in a plurality of key exposure holes formed in a casing surface, a printed sheet 12 having pressing portions 11, and a switch sheet 14 having switch elements 13 pressed by the pressing portions 11. The printed sheet 12 and switch sheet 14 are integrally slidable relative to the key sheet 10. The printed sheet 12 is printed with different types of key data in positions opposed to the numeric keys 6 in first and second positions of sliding. The different types of key data are switched and displayed through the numeric keys 6 in the first and second positions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a portable electronic device in which key data displayed on an operation key is enlarged to facilitate reading and key data displayed on the operation key can be easily switched. .

  In recent years, various portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and notebook personal computers have been used. FIG. 11 shows a foldable mobile phone as an example of a portable electronic device. Reference numeral 1 denotes a receiving side housing having a speaker unit 3 and a display screen 4 for outputting sound, and 2 is a microphone unit 5 for inputting sound. , A transmission side housing having a numeric keypad 6, a function key 7 and a cursor key 8, and X is a hinge portion for rotatably connecting the reception side housing 1 and the transmission side housing 2.

  The numeric keypad 6 in the operation key group is a key for inputting numbers, sentences and the like. On the top surface of the numeric keypad 6, there are 3 numbers such as numbers, letters (Hiragana), English letters / symbols, etc. as shown in FIG. Various types of key data are printed, and by operating a specific function key 7, one of the key data (numbers, letters, alphabets, etc.) is selected and displayed by software control. By pressing the numeric key 6, specific numbers, letters, letters, etc. can be input.

  However, in the conventional portable electronic device, as shown in FIG. 12, since the three types of key data such as numbers, letters, and English letters are printed on the numeric keypad 6, the size of the key data is small, and therefore the visibility is high. There was a problem of being bad.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, in Patent Document 1, a cholesteric liquid crystal element is provided on the top surface of each operation key, and specific numbers, characters, symbols, etc. are switched and displayed on the top surface of each operation key by software control. And what can be input has been proposed.
JP 2004-26803 A (Patent Document 1)

  However, in the configuration shown in Patent Document 1, a cholesteric liquid crystal element is provided for each of the numeric keys, which causes a problem that the portable electronic device becomes very expensive.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a portable electronic device in which key data displayed on an operation key is enlarged so that it can be easily read and key data displayed on the operation key can be easily switched. It was made for the purpose of providing.

  A portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a key sheet having an operation key inserted into a plurality of key exposure holes formed on the surface of the casing, a print sheet having a pusher portion, and a switch pressed by the pusher portion. A switch sheet having elements, and the print sheet and the switch sheet are configured to be integrally slidable with respect to the key sheet, and the print sheet is operated at the slid first position and the second position. Different types of key data are printed at positions facing the keys, and the different types of key data are switched and displayed through the operation keys at the first position and the second position. To do.

  In the above means, the operation key may be a numeric keypad. The casing may be a rectangular plate-like body, and a slide switch that integrally slides the print sheet and the switch sheet in the longitudinal direction of the casing may be provided on the surface of the casing.

  A portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a key sheet having an operation key inserted into a plurality of key exposure holes formed on the surface of the casing, a print sheet having a pusher portion, and a switch pressed by the pusher portion. A switch sheet having elements, wherein the print sheet is configured to be slidable with respect to the key sheet and the switch sheet, and the print sheet is opposed to the operation key at the first and second positions slid. Different types of key data are printed at the positions to be displayed, and the different types of key data are switched and displayed through the operation keys at the first position and the second position.

  In the above means, the operation key may be a numeric keypad. The casing may be a rectangular plate-like body, and a slide switch that slides the print sheet in the longitudinal direction of the casing may be provided on the surface of the casing.

  According to the portable electronic device of the present invention, it is possible to increase the visibility by increasing the key data displayed on the operation key, and to easily switch the key data displayed on the operation key, so that an inexpensive portable electronic device is provided. An excellent effect that it can be provided can be achieved.

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

  1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an example of a foldable mobile phone to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the main configuration of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the transmission side housing in FIG. 1 to 3, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In this foldable mobile phone, two casings 1 and 2 each having a rectangular plate shape are connected via a hinge part X so as to be foldable, and the opposite surface of one casing 1 that is overlapped when folded. Includes a speaker unit 3 for outputting sound and a display unit 4 such as a liquid crystal display device for displaying information, and a microphone unit 5 for inputting sound, a numeric keypad 6, An operation key group including a function key 7 and a cursor key 8 is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, various operation keys inserted into a plurality of key exposure holes 9 formed on the opposing surface of the housing 2 are provided inside the housing 2 where the operation key group is provided. A key sheet 10 having a group, a print sheet 12 on which key data is printed on the upper surface, and a pressing portion 11 provided on the back surface, and a switch sheet 14 having a switch element 13 pressed by the pressing portion 11; A circuit board 19 having a switch element 20 in part is provided, and the print sheet 12 and the switch sheet 14 are integrally held and slidable with respect to the key sheet 10. The print sheet 12 and the switch sheet 14 are guided along the slide rail 15 and are slid in the longitudinal direction of the casing in FIG.

  The key sheet 10 and its various operation keys 6 to 8 are made of a transparent or translucent material, and various key data are printed on the top surfaces of the function key 7, the cursor key 8, and the numeric keypad 6. . Of these, as shown in FIG. 4, the numeric data (5) is printed on the right side of the top surface of the numeric keypad 6 and a printing portion 16 is provided on the left side.

  On the upper surface of the printing sheet 12, as shown in FIG. 5, characters (N) and English letters (JKL) corresponding to the numeric keys 6 are printed at predetermined intervals in the sliding direction of the printing sheet 12. In addition, a pressing portion 11 (convex portion) is provided on the back surface corresponding to each of the printing portions. That is, two different types of key data are printed on the printing sheet 12 corresponding to each numeric key 6 and two pusher portions 11 are provided. Further, the switch sheet 14 is provided with a dome-shaped (FIG. 3) switch element 13 corresponding to the number of the presser portions 11 at a position facing the presser portion 11 of the print sheet 12. As shown in FIG. 6, the print sheet 12 and the switch sheet 14 are provided with a first position where the characters (N) of the print sheet 12 are displayed on the print portion 16 of the numeric keypad 6 and English characters (JKL). It can be slid between the second position displayed on the printing unit 16.

  A switch opening 17 that is long in the longitudinal direction of the casing is formed between the numeric keypad 6 and the function key 7 on the right edge of the opposing surface of the casing 2, and the key sheet 10 shown in FIG. An opening 17 ′ is formed at a position corresponding to the switch opening 17 in FIG. 1, and a slide switch 18 protruding from the upper surface of the print sheet 12 is inserted through the switch opening 17 and the opening 17 ′ so as to face the housing 2. It protrudes from the surface.

  Furthermore, a switch element 20 corresponding to the function key 7 and the cursor key 8 is provided on one end side of the circuit board 19 provided in the housing 2, and a detection switch 23 is provided on the other end side corner. In addition, a pin 21 extending downward is provided at the corner of the switch sheet 14 on the other end side. When the switch sheet 14 slides, as shown in FIG. 7, the pin 21 provided at the corner of the switch sheet 14 pushes the lever 22 of the detection switch 23 as described above, whereby the switch sheet 14 is moved to the first position and the first position. 2 is detected, and a signal obtained by the detection switch 23 is sent to a control unit (not shown) provided on the circuit board 19, and is sent to the sent signal. Based on this, the control unit switches key data (whether characters or letters) that can be input with the numeric keypad 6.

  Then, when performing the character input operation, as shown in FIG. 8, the application having the character input screen is started using the cursor key 8 to display the character input screen, and then the function key 7 is operated. Different types of key data that are visually recognized from the top surface of the numeric keypad 6 are selected. That is, when the function key 7 is pressed once, the number displayed on the right side of the top surface of the numeric keypad 6 is selected, and it is displayed on the display screen that the number input mode is selected. When the desired numeric key 6 is pressed in this numeric input mode, the numeric value displayed on the right side of the pressed top of the numeric key 6 is entered on the display screen. When the function key 7 is pressed again, the character or alphabet displayed on the left side of the top surface of the numeric keypad 6 is selected, and it is displayed on the display screen that the character input mode or the alphabet input mode is selected. . In this character input mode or English character input mode, when a desired numeric key 6 is pressed, a character or alphabet displayed on the pressed numeric key 6 is input on the display screen. Further, by operating the slide switch 18 in a state other than the numeric input mode to switch between the first position and the second position, mode information corresponding to each position is displayed on the display screen, and a predetermined numeric keypad is displayed. When 6 is pressed, the characters or alphabetic characters displayed on the pressed numeric keypad 6 are entered on the display screen.

  Although FIG. 1 shows the case where the slide switch 18 is provided on the upper right side of the numeric keypad 6 in the housing 2, the upper left side, lower part (microphone part 5 side) or upper part (between the function keys 7) of the numeric keypad 6 is shown. It may be provided on the side surface of the housing 2. That is, it is possible to install the slide switch 18 and select a convenient location.

  5 and 6, numbers are printed in advance on the right side of the top surface of the numeric keypad 6, and characters or letters printed on the printing sheet 12 are displayed on the left side of the top surface in a transparent manner. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, key data combining letters and numbers or letters and numbers and numbers is printed on the top surface of the printing sheet 12 without printing on the top surface of the numeric keypad 6, The portion printed with the combination of the character (N) and the number (5), and the portion printed with the combination of the number etc. (JKL) and the number (5) are in the first position and the second position. It is arranged at the same interval as the slide interval. Therefore, according to the modification of FIG. 9, as shown in FIG. 6, the display of the key data printed on the numeric keypad 6 and the key data displayed through the print portion 16 is displayed. There is no difference, and there is an advantage that good visual recognition by uniform display can be obtained.

  When creating a mail text or the like with the foldable mobile phone shown in FIG. 1, the mail function application is started by operating the cursor key 8 and the mail text creation screen is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 4. Let When the right-side key data displayed on the key top surface is selected by operating the function key 7, information indicating the numeric input mode is displayed on the creation screen. In this state, the numeric keypad is displayed. By pressing 6, a number is entered on the creation screen.

  On the other hand, when the key data on the left side displayed on the top surface of the key is selected by operating the function key 7 and the print sheet 12 and the switch sheet 14 are in the first position, character input is performed on the creation screen. Information indicating the mode is displayed, and in this state, pressing the numeric keypad 6 inputs hiragana into the creation screen, and operating the function key 7 displays the left side displayed on the key top surface. When the key data is selected and the print sheet 12 and the switch sheet 14 are in the second position, information indicating that the input mode is English or the like is displayed on the creation screen, and the numeric key 6 is pressed in this state. As a result, English characters are entered in the creation screen. That is, in a state where the left key data displayed on the key top surface is selected by the operation of the function key 7, the print sheet 12 and the switch sheet 14 are in either the first position or the second position. Since the presence or absence is detected by the detection switch 23 shown in FIG. 7, this detection signal is sent to the control unit of the folding cellular phone, and the switched key data can be displayed on the display unit 4 by software control.

  In the above configuration, since two types of key data such as numbers and letters or numbers and letters are displayed on the numeric keypad 6, compared to the conventional case where three types of key data are displayed on the numeric keypad. Thus, the size of each key data can be increased to improve visibility. The key data displayed on the top surface of the numeric keypad 6 is switched by operating the function key 7. The key data displayed on one side (left side) of the numeric keypad 6 is switched by operating the slide switch 18. Since the printing sheet 12 and the switch sheet 14 are integrally slid, it is possible to provide a portable electronic device having a simple switching method.

  FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the foldable mobile phone to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the foldable mobile phone shown in FIG. As described above, a key sheet 10 having various operation key groups inserted into a plurality of key exposure holes 9 formed on the opposite surface of the housing 2, key data is printed on the upper surface, and a pusher portion 11 is provided on the rear surface. The printed sheet 12 and the circuit board 19 having the switch element 24 pressed by the pusher portion 11 are provided. The printed sheet 12 is arranged along the slide rail 15a with respect to the key sheet 10 and the key sheet 10. It slides in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2 in FIG.

  The key sheet 10 and its various operation key groups are formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material as in the above embodiment, and various key data are printed on the top surfaces of the function key 7, the cursor key 8 and the numeric keypad 6. It is. Among them, the numeric key (5) key data is printed on the right side of the top surface of the numeric keypad 6 and the printing portion 16 is provided on the left side, as in FIG.

  Similarly to FIG. 5, characters (N) and English letters (JKL) corresponding to the numeric keypad 6 are printed on the upper surface of the printing sheet 12 with a predetermined interval in the sliding direction of the printing sheet 12. In addition, a pressing portion 11 (convex portion) is provided on the back surface corresponding to each of the printing portions. That is, two different types of key data are printed on the printing sheet 12 corresponding to each numeric key 6 and two pusher portions 11 are provided. As in FIG. 6, the print sheet 12 has a first position where the characters (NA) of the print sheet 12 are displayed on the print-receiving portion 16 of the numeric keypad 6, and English characters (JKL) are displayed on the print-receiving portion 16. It can be slid between the displayed second position.

  A switch opening 17 that is long in the longitudinal direction of the casing is formed between the numeric keypad 6 and the function key 7 on the right edge of the opposing surface of the casing 2, and the key sheet 10 shown in FIG. An opening 17 ′ is formed at a position corresponding to the switch opening 17 in FIG. 1, and a slide switch 18 protruding from the upper surface of the print sheet 12 is inserted through the switch opening 17 and the opening 17 ′ so as to face the housing 2. It protrudes from the surface.

  Further, a switch element 20 corresponding to the function key 7 and the cursor key 8 is provided on one end side of the circuit board 19 provided in the housing 2, and a detection switch 23 shown in FIG. Is provided. When the print sheet 12 slides, the pin 21 extended below the corner of the print sheet 12 pushes the lever 22 of the detection switch 23, whereby the print sheet 12 is moved to the first position and the second position. The signal obtained by the detection switch 23 is sent to a control unit (not shown) provided on the circuit board 19 and based on the sent signal. The control unit is configured to switch key data (letters or letters) that can be input from the numeric keypad 6.

  When performing the character input operation, as described with reference to FIG. 8 in the above embodiment, the cursor key 8 is used to activate an application having a character input screen to display the character input screen, and then the function key 7 is pressed. By operating, different types of key data visually recognized from the top surface of the numeric keypad 6 are selected. That is, when the function key 7 is pressed once, the number displayed on the right side of the top surface of the numeric keypad 6 is selected, and it is displayed on the display screen that the number input mode is selected. When the desired numeric key 6 is pressed in this numeric input mode, the numeric value displayed on the right side of the pressed top of the numeric key 6 is entered on the display screen. When the function key 7 is pressed again, the character or alphabet displayed on the left side of the top surface of the numeric keypad 6 is selected, and it is displayed on the display screen that the character input mode or the alphabet input mode is selected. . In the character input mode or the English character input mode, when a desired numeric key 6 is pressed, the character or the alphabet displayed on the numeric key 6 is input on the display screen. Further, by operating the slide switch 18 in a state other than the numeric input mode to switch between the first position and the second position, mode information corresponding to each position is displayed on the display screen, and a predetermined numeric keypad is displayed. When 6 is pressed, the characters or alphabetic characters displayed on the pressed numeric keypad 6 are entered on the display screen.

  According to the form of FIG. 10, the size of each key data displayed on the numeric keypad 6 can be increased to increase the visibility as in the form of FIG. 2, and the switch sheet 14 can be omitted. Further, since only the printing sheet 12 is slid, it is only necessary to provide the circuit board 9 with one switch element 24 corresponding to the ten key 6, and accordingly, as shown in FIG. The configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where two 13 are provided.

  In the above embodiment, the print sheet 12 and the switch sheet 14 are integrated, or only the print sheet 12 is slid along the longitudinal direction of the transmission-side housing 2. You may make it slide along the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the talk side housing | casing 2. FIG.

1 is an overall perspective view of a foldable mobile phone to which the present invention is applied. It is the perspective view which decomposed | disassembled and showed the main structures of the form of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the transmission side housing | casing in FIG. It is a top view of the operation key in this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the key data printed on the surface of a printing sheet. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which switches and displays the key data of a printing sheet to the transparent part of an operation key. It is explanatory drawing of the detection switch which detects the slide of a switch sheet. It is a control flow figure at the time of creating a mail document etc. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a modification of FIG. 6 and is a diagram illustrating a state in which key data of a print sheet is displayed on a transparent operation key. It is the perspective view which showed the other form of this invention and decomposed | disassembled and showed the main structure. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the conventional foldable mobile telephone. It is a top view of the conventional operation key.

Explanation of symbols

2 Housing 6 Numeric keypad (operation keys)
9 Key exposure hole 10 Key sheet 11 Pusher 12 Print sheet 13 Switch element 14 Switch sheet 18 Slide switch

Claims (6)

  A key sheet having an operation key inserted into a plurality of key exposure holes formed on the surface of the housing; a print sheet having a pusher; and a switch sheet having a switch element pressed by the pusher. The print sheet and the switch sheet are configured to be integrally slidable with respect to the key sheet, and the print sheet has different types at positions facing the operation keys in the first position and the second position. The portable electronic device is characterized in that the different types of key data are switched and displayed through the operation keys at the first position and the second position.   The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation key is a numeric keypad.   The said housing | casing comprises a rectangular plate-shaped body, and has the slide switch which slides the said printing sheet and switch sheet | seat integrally to a housing | casing longitudinal direction on the surface of the said housing | casing. The portable electronic device as described in.   A key sheet having an operation key inserted into a plurality of key exposure holes formed on the surface of the housing; a print sheet having a pusher; and a switch sheet having a switch element pressed by the pusher. The print sheet is configured to be slidable with respect to the key sheet and the switch sheet, and the print sheet has different types of key data at positions opposed to the operation keys at the first and second slide positions. Is printed, and the different types of key data are switched and displayed through the operation keys at the first position and the second position.   The portable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the operation key is a numeric keypad. The portable electronic device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the casing has a rectangular plate-like body, and a slide switch that slides the print sheet in a longitudinal direction of the casing is provided on the surface of the casing.

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