JP2006330206A - Laser pointer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser pointer P achieving miniaturization and also flexibly coping with the change of specification. <P>SOLUTION: The laser pointer is equipped with a housing 1 formed in the shape of a pen, and a first substrate 5 and a second substrate 6 which are provided inside the housing 1 and on which circuits are respectively mounted, and the plurality of substrates 5 and 6 are constituted to be laminated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser pointer that irradiates and indicates an arbitrary position with a laser beam.

  Various types of laser pointers have been developed that are used in presentations, conferences, and the like, for example, by irradiating a screen projected by a projector, an overhead projector (OHP), or the like with a laser beam. As such a laser pointer, a type that irradiates a red laser beam has been widely used so far. Recently, however, a specific vision sensitivity is higher than that of a red laser beam, and it is easily recognized by a person who has difficulty in color identification. A type that emits a green laser beam is attracting attention.

In addition, a laser pointer that can be remotely operated has been developed, which not only simply irradiates a laser beam, but also communicates with a predetermined electronic device using infrared rays in response to a predetermined operation of the user, and can change the display screen. As a result, laser pointers are becoming more multifunctional. (For example, see Non-Patent Document 1)
KOKUYO Office Surprise Edition 2005 edition, published by KOKUYO S & T Co., Ltd., December 2004, P.I. Various laser pointers shown in the upper and middle 246

  By the way, a laser pointer is usually provided with a single substrate on which a circuit is mounted inside a housing. In order to realize the above-described multi-function, a circuit for emitting a laser is provided. A circuit for communicating with a predetermined electronic device must be mounted on a single substrate. As a result, in order to secure an effective mountable area, the size of the substrate itself must be increased. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of portability and operability, it is desirable that the casing is a vertically long pen type. In order to meet these demands, the longitudinal dimension of the board is set large, and the board is multifunctional. It is necessary to implement a circuit to realize the system. However, if the longitudinal dimension of the substrate is increased, it is a matter of course that the longitudinal dimension of the housing itself must be set large, and as a result, there is a problem that the laser pointer itself cannot be made compact.

  Furthermore, if the circuit for emitting light and the circuit for communication are mounted on a single board, even if only one of the circuits is changed in specification, the board itself is replaced with a circuit of another specification. There is a problem that the specification cannot be easily changed because it is necessary to change to another mounted board. Even if only one of the circuits fails, it is necessary to replace the board on which the other circuit is mounted with another board. Thus, the aspect which mounts the circuit for exhibiting each function on a single board | substrate is unpreferable also from a viewpoint of product expansion | deployment ease and repair ease.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such a problem, and a main object thereof is to provide a laser pointer that can be made compact and can flexibly cope with a specification change.

  That is, the laser pointer of the present invention is a laser pointer that irradiates and indicates an arbitrary position with a laser beam, and includes a pen-shaped housing and a plurality of circuits each provided with a circuit provided inside the housing. And a plurality of substrates are stacked.

  Here, the “pen type” means a vertically long shape that can be gripped by the user, such as a generally cylindrical shape, a generally polygonal tubular shape, or a shape in which a concave portion or a curved portion is formed in a part along the longitudinal direction. It is a concept that encompasses various shapes.

  If this is the case, it is possible to divide and mount the circuits necessary for realizing multi-functionality on a plurality of boards, so compared to the mode where all the circuits are mounted on a single board. The circuit mounting area on one board is reduced, and the longitudinal dimension of each board can be set small. As a result, the longitudinal dimension of the housing can be set small, and the laser pointer can be made compact. In addition, when a specification is changed by mounting the circuit on each board in a state where the circuit is classified into each circuit that performs a specific function, for example, the board on which the circuit to be changed is mounted corresponds to another specification. Thus, since it is only necessary to replace the circuit board with another circuit, the specification can be easily changed. Furthermore, when a failure occurs in a circuit related to one function, it is only necessary to replace the board on which the circuit related to the one function is mounted. Therefore, the replacement work can be performed smoothly, and the cost required for the replacement work is reduced. Can also be suppressed.

  Moreover, by configuring a plurality of substrates in a stacked manner and setting the longitudinal dimension of each substrate to be small, it is possible to suppress the flexural deformation of each substrate, and among these substrates, one substrate is used as a structural member. It is also possible to function. In this way, one substrate can function not only as a substrate, but also by actively using it as a structural member, there is no need to separately use another dedicated member that functions only as a structural member, thus simplifying the structure. In addition, it is possible to effectively reduce the number of parts.

  In particular, if a switch that is pressed directly or indirectly by a user during operation is mounted on the one board, the board may be deformed when a pressing force is applied to the switch mounted on the board. It can be easily prevented.

  When the user presses the switch, in order to prevent bending deformation of the substrate and relative displacement with respect to the housing due to the operation force and to suppress the occurrence of malfunction, the housing is moved in the thickness direction of the one substrate. What is necessary is just to provide the movement control means which controls the movement of this.

  As a specific embodiment, the casing is substantially cylindrical, and the movement restricting means is a pair of grooves formed along the longitudinal direction on the inner periphery of the casing.

  In addition, if the circuit for emitting the laser beam and the circuit for communicating with a predetermined electronic device are mounted on different substrates, the specification can be easily changed by changing the circuit of each substrate as appropriate. It can be performed flexibly and can be flexibly adapted to low-volume production of various products.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a circuit necessary for performing various functions can be mounted separately for each of a plurality of substrates, so that all circuits are mounted on a single substrate. Compared with the aspect which carries out, the mounting area of the circuit in one board | substrate becomes small, and the longitudinal dimension of each board | substrate can be set small. Thereby, the longitudinal dimension of the housing can be set small, and the laser pointer can be made compact.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the laser pointer P according to the present embodiment mainly includes a housing 1, a distal end side cap member 2 that is detachably attached to a distal end portion of the housing 1, and a proximal end portion of the housing 1. The base end side cap member 3 detachably attached to the first substrate 5, the first substrate 5 (corresponding to “one substrate” of the present invention) and the second substrate 6 each mounted with a circuit are provided in two layers, and the housing 1 And an internal mounting unit 4 mounted inside.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the housing 1 is made of a metal material such as brass, for example, and has a substantially cylindrical pen shape having an internal space communicating in the longitudinal direction. The casing 1 is formed with switch holes 11, 12, 13, and 14 along the longitudinal direction for exposing switch covers C1, C2, C3, and C4, which will be described later, to the outside of the casing 1. . Specifically, a laser switch hole 11 having a substantially vertically long elliptical shape in a plan view, a page back switch hole 12 having a substantially horizontally long elliptical shape in a plan view, from a substantially intermediate position in the longitudinal dimension of the housing 1 toward the tip side, and A page next switch hole 13 and a mouse switch hole 14 having a circular shape in plan view are formed in this order. Although not shown, characters or symbols (for example, “Laser”, “Back”, “Next”, “Mouse”) that can intuitively understand the operation content corresponding to each of the switches 51, 52, 53, 54 are formed in the vicinity of each hole formation location. ) Is displayed by engraving, printing or sticking a seal. Further, a window portion 15 having a substantially circular shape in a plan view is formed further on the tip side than the position where the mouse switch hole 14 is formed, and a lens body 16 is press-fitted into the window portion 15, and the window portion 15 and the lens body are pressed. 16 is used to make it possible to visually recognize the light emission state of the light emitter 55 described later. Furthermore, the internal thread surface 17 in the base end part of the housing | casing 1 is formed with the internal thread part 17 which can be screwed with the external thread part 32a provided in the base end side cap member 3. As shown in FIG. Thus, a pair of support grooves 18 that extend continuously along the longitudinal direction and can support the first substrate 5 described later are formed in the inner peripheral surface portion of the housing 1. The pair of support grooves 18 are formed at positions facing each other, that is, at a position where the housing 1 can be equally divided into two in the radial direction, and the separation distance between the support grooves 18 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the housing 1. It is trying to become. A pair of grooves 19 facing each other on a straight line that can be substantially orthogonal to a virtual straight line connecting the pair of support grooves 18 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 1. It is formed for convenience when forming 1 (at the time of drawing), and does not play a role of supporting the first substrate 5. In the present embodiment, any one of the grooves 19 that do not play the role of supporting the first substrate 5 and the respective centers of the holes 11, 12, 13, 14 and the window portion 15 are substantially matched.

  The front end side cap member 2 has a substantially cylindrical shape opened only in one direction, and a fitting protrusion 21 (see FIG. 3) that can be fitted to the front end of the housing 1 is integrally provided on the open end side. Made of synthetic resin. While making the outer peripheral diameter of the front end side cap member 2 substantially coincide with the outer peripheral diameter of the casing 1, the outer peripheral diameter of the fitting protrusion 21 is set slightly smaller than the inner peripheral diameter of the casing 1, and the fitting protrusion 21 Is fitted into the front end of the housing 1 almost tightly, and the front end side cap member 2 is attached to the housing 1 by its frictional resistance. Further, a through hole 22 for irradiating a laser beam is formed at the distal end portion of the distal end side cap member 2.

  The proximal end cap member 3 includes a cap main body 31 having a knob and a terminal member 32 that is press-fitted into the cap main body 31 and functions as a terminal of the battery B (see FIG. 3). The terminal member 32 is formed with a male screw portion 32 a that can be screwed into the female screw portion 17 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the base end portion of the housing 1.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the internal mounting unit 4 mainly includes a first substrate 5 on which a circuit for communicating with a predetermined electronic device (not shown) is mounted, a red laser beam (hereinafter simply referred to as a laser beam). A second substrate 6 on which a circuit for emitting light (referred to as “laser”) is mounted and a wavelength conversion module 7 for converting a red laser into a green laser are integrally provided.

  The first substrate 5 is a substantially plate-shaped substrate having a width dimension that substantially matches the distance between the pair of support grooves 18 formed on the inner peripheral surface portion of the housing 1. A circuit for communicating with the electronic device is mounted on the first substrate 5. Specifically, the page back switch 52, the page next switch 53, and the mouse switch 54 are mounted on the first substrate 5 in this order from the base end side, and the pressing force is applied to the switches 52, 53, 54. , A predetermined signal corresponding to each of the switches 52, 53, 54, that is, a screen return signal for switching a screen displayed on a display screen (not shown) to the previous screen, the same display screen A screen feed signal for switching the screen displayed on the screen to the next screen, a mouse pointer movement signal for moving the mouse pointer displayed on the display screen in a predetermined direction, using the electromagnetic wave. To the receiver connected to or built in. In the present embodiment, an RF (Radio Frequency) method using an electromagnetic wave in a 2.45 GHz frequency band is adopted as a communication method, and communication is possible with the electronic device within approximately 10 meters.

  The second substrate 6 is set to have a width dimension and a longitudinal dimension smaller than those of the first substrate 5, and a circuit for emitting a red laser is mounted on the second substrate 6. Note that whether or not to emit a laser is controlled by whether or not a pressing force is applied to the laser switch 51 mounted on the first substrate 5. In addition, a light emitter 55 that is turned on in conjunction with laser light emission is mounted on the first substrate 5. In the present embodiment, the light emitter 55 is mounted further on the tip side than the mounting position of the mouse switch 54.

  The first substrate 5 and the second substrate 6 having such a configuration are stacked in a state where the central axes along the respective longitudinal directions coincide with each other and are separated by a predetermined distance in the thickness direction. The first substrate 5 and the second substrate 6 are connected in a stacked manner via connecting members R provided on the base end portion side and the distal end portion side, and mounted on the first substrate 5 using these connecting members R. The circuit mounted on the second substrate 6 is electrically connected to each other.

  A spacer 8 made of, for example, a synthetic resin material and a spring member 9 that functions as a terminal of the battery B are integrally attached to the base end portion of the first substrate 5 by appropriate attachment means.

  The wavelength conversion module 7 is provided at the tip of the first substrate 5 and converts, for example, a red laser of 808 nm emitted from a semiconductor laser light emitting element (not shown) to 1064 nm inside the module body 71, and the wavelength of the laser is not shown. By passing through the conversion crystal, it is converted into a green laser having a wavelength of 532 nm, and further, the green laser is irradiated through the lens portion 72. The module main body 71 is made of brass in order to efficiently dissipate the heat generated when the 1064 nm laser is multiplied to the 532 nm green laser to stabilize the output of the green laser. Further, a protective member 73 made of synthetic resin for protecting the lens portion 72 is provided.

  Further, the internal mounting unit 4 has a coil-shaped portion A1 that is wound in a coil shape so as to surround the light emission path of the green laser irradiated through the lens portion 72 in a predetermined region on the distal end side of the wavelength conversion module 7. An antenna A is provided. The antenna A is electrically connected to a circuit in which a substantially straight line portion A2 provided on one end side is mounted on the first substrate 5 (see FIG. 3), and is irradiated from the irradiation portion by the coiled portion A1. In addition to securing a light emission path for the green laser, the distance between the laser pointer P and the electronic device to which the receiver is connected or built-in can be effectively earned.

  Next, a procedure for assembling the laser pointer P composed of such components will be described.

  First, a laser switch cover C1, a page back switch cover C2, and a page next switch cover are formed in the laser switch hole 11, the page back switch hole 12, the page next switch hole 13, and the mouse switch hole 14 formed in the housing 1, respectively. Attach C3 and mouse switch cover C4. Each of the switch covers C1, C2, C3, and C4 integrally includes stopper portions C11, C21, C31, and C41 that can come into contact with the inner peripheral surface portion of the casing 1, and each of these switch covers C1, C2, C3, and C4. Are attached from the inner peripheral surface side of the casing 1 so that the stopper portions C11, C21, C31, C41 abut on the inner peripheral surface portion of the casing 1, and the switch covers C1, C2, C3, C4 are connected to the casing 1. Is prevented from going outside. In the present embodiment, a protrusion C32 is provided at the upper end of the page next switch cover C3 so that the distinction between the page back switch cover C2 and the page next switch cover C3 having similar shapes can be easily recognized. Yes. Next, the internal mounting unit 4 is inserted from the front end side of the housing 1. At this time, the switches 52, 53, 54 mounted on the first substrate 5 and the holes formed in the housing 1 (laser switch hole 11, page back switch hole 12, page next switch hole 13, and mouse switch) The internal mounting unit 4 is inserted into the casing 1 from the battery terminal spring member 9 in a posture in which the mounting hole 14) faces in the same direction, and is inserted into the support groove 18 provided in the inner peripheral surface portion of the casing 1. The inner mounting unit 4 is slid and moved in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1 while the side edges of the first substrate 5 are fitted and the side edges along the longitudinal direction of the first substrate 5 are guided along the supporting grooves 18. Let In this way, the pair of support grooves 18 function as a guide portion that guides the mounting position of the first substrate 5 with respect to the housing 1, and thus the mounting position of the internal mounting unit 4. Then, when the internal mounting unit 4 is slid to the point where the front end portion of the casing 1 and the starting end portion of the coiled portion A1 of the antenna A substantially coincide, each switch cover C1, C2, C3, C4 and each of these switches The switches 51, 52, 53, 54 corresponding to the covers C 1, C 2, C 3, C 4 can be in light contact with each other, and the light emitter 55 and the lens body 16 provided in the window portion 15 of the housing 1 are connected. It matches along the radial direction of the housing 1. Note that the tip of the mouse switch 54 is housed in the internal space of the mouse switch cover C4. In this attached state, the coil-shaped portion A1 of the antenna A is exposed in a state of protruding from the front end of the housing 1, and the front end side cap member 2 is attached to the front end side of the housing 1. Specifically, the fitting protrusion 21 of the distal end side cap member 2 is press-fitted into the inner peripheral surface portion of the housing 1. In this attached state, the coiled portion A1 of the antenna A is covered with the tip end side cap member 2. Next, the battery B (two AAA batteries in this embodiment) is inserted from the base end side of the casing 1, and finally the male screw formed on the terminal member 32 of the base end side cap member 3 is inserted into the casing 1. The base end side cap member 3 is attached to the base end portion of the housing 1 by screwing into a female screw portion 17 formed at the base end portion. As a result, the battery B comes into contact with the terminal member 32 and the battery terminal spring member 9 to be in a state where electricity can be supplied.

  The laser pointer P assembled in the above procedure is given a pressing force to the laser switch 51 when the user presses the laser switch cover C1, and is irradiated through the lens portion 72 of the wavelength conversion module 7. In addition, the green laser beam that has passed through the through hole 22 formed at the distal end portion of the distal end side cap member 2 can be directed by irradiating an arbitrary position. During emission of the green laser, the light emitter 55 is turned on, and the lighting state can be visually recognized by the window portion 15 and the lens body 16 of the housing 1. Further, when the user presses the page back switch cover C2, the page next switch cover C3, or the mouse switch cover C4, the pressing force is applied to the corresponding switches 52, 53, 54, and the switches 52 , 53, 54 can be transmitted to an electronic device connected to or including the receiver using radio waves. In this case, since the metal housing 1 suitably shields unnecessary radiation (radio wave noise) of the circuit mounted on the first substrate 5, interference of radio waves due to this unnecessary radiation can be effectively prevented. In addition, since the periphery of the coil-shaped portion A1 of the antenna A is covered with the tip cap member 2 made of synthetic resin (non-metallic), the radio wave radiated from the antenna A is not unnecessarily attenuated. Therefore, a sufficient communication distance with the electronic device can be ensured. In addition, the switches 51, 52, 53, and 54 that receive the pressing force applied by the user indirectly via the switch covers C1, C2, C3, and C4 are mounted on the first substrate 5, and the first substrate 5 Since the side edge along the longitudinal direction of 5 is supported by the support groove 18 of the housing 1, when the pressing force is applied to each switch 51, 52, 53, 54, the pressing The movement of the first substrate 5 in the thickness direction due to the force can be restricted, and the displacement of the first substrate 5 with respect to the housing 1 can be prevented, and the occurrence of malfunction can be suppressed. As described above, the pair of support grooves 18 provided in the housing 1 functions as a movement restricting unit that restricts the movement of the first substrate 5 in the thickness direction.

  As described above, the laser pointer P according to the present embodiment includes the first substrate 5 and the second substrate 6 in a two-layer configuration along the radial direction of the pen-shaped casing 1, so that all circuits Compared with a mode in which the circuit board is mounted on a single substrate, the circuit mounting area on each of the substrates 5 and 6 is reduced, and the longitudinal dimension of each of the substrates 5 and 6 can be set small. As a result, the longitudinal dimension of the housing 1 can also be set small, the laser pointer P can be easily made compact, and the alliance, storage, and operability are excellent.

  Furthermore, since the longitudinal dimension of each board | substrate 5 and 6 can be set comparatively small, each switch 52, 53, 54 to which a pressing force is indirectly given at the time of a user's operation is mounted in the 1st board | substrate 5. However, the bending deformation of the first substrate 5 due to the pressing force can be suppressed. Thus, since the first substrate 5 functions not only as a printed circuit board but also as a support member that supports the switches 51, 52, 53, and 54 and does not deform by the pressing force, a separate dedicated support member is used. Compared with the aspect which provides, reduction of a number of parts and simplification of a structure can be aimed at effectively. In addition, the first substrate 5 also functions as a connecting member for connecting the battery terminal spring member 9 and the wavelength conversion module 7, whereby each member attached to the inside of the housing 1 serves as an internal attachment unit 4. Therefore, it contributes to the convenience of handling in the stage before the assembly work is simplified and attached to the housing 1. In this way, the first substrate 5 can be actively used as a structural member that functions as a support member and a connecting member, and the number of components can be effectively reduced, which is preferable.

  In addition, since the housing 1 is provided with a pair of support grooves 18 that function as movement restricting means for restricting the movement of the first substrate 5 in the thickness direction, the user can set the switches 51, 52, 53, 54. When pressed, it is possible to reliably prevent bending deformation in the thickness direction of the first substrate 5 due to the operating force and positional displacement with respect to the housing 1 using a simple structure, and ensure the accuracy of the operation. Is possible.

  In addition, since a circuit for emitting a laser is mounted on the first substrate 5 and a circuit for communicating with a predetermined receiver is mounted on the second substrate 6, when the specification is changed, Since it is only necessary to replace the first substrate 5 or the second substrate 6 on which the circuit is mounted with another substrate on which the circuit is mounted so as to correspond to other specifications, product development can be easily performed, It is possible to flexibly handle small-quantity production of varieties. Further, when a failure occurs in a circuit related to one function, only one of the first substrate 5 and the second substrate 6 on which the circuit related to one function is mounted needs to be replaced. Compared with the mode in which both 6 must be replaced, the repair (replacement) work can be performed smoothly and accurately, and the cost for the repair (replacement) work can be suppressed.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in detail above.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an aspect in which two substrates are configured in two layers is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and an aspect in which three or more substrates are stacked may be adopted.

  The casing may be a vertically long pen shape that can be gripped by the user, and may be a polygonal cylindrical shape in addition to a cylindrical shape, and a concave portion, a protruding portion, or a curved portion is formed in a part along the longitudinal direction. It may be a shape.

  In the above-described embodiment, each switch indirectly receives the user's operation force (pressing force) via each cover, but does not provide a cover and directly receives the user's operation force (pressing force). It may be the type to obtain. In this case, since a cover is unnecessary, the number of parts can be reduced. In addition to the switches described above, for example, various switches such as a switch that can exhibit a function corresponding to the left and right buttons of the mouse may be mounted on the first substrate.

  As the movement restricting means, in addition to the supporting groove, a protruding portion that protrudes inward along the radial direction from the inner periphery of the housing and can support the side edge portion of the substrate may be used. In this case, either a mode in which the protruding portion is provided at a position where the substrate can be sandwiched in the thickness direction or a mode in which the protruding portion is provided at a position supporting only the back surface of the substrate may be used. Even in the latter case, when the switch is pressed, it is possible to appropriately prevent the substrate from moving in the thickness direction by the pressing force. Note that the support groove and the protrusion are preferably provided continuously along the longitudinal direction of the housing, but may be provided intermittently along the longitudinal direction of the housing. Further, if the casing is a polygonal cylinder such as a square cylinder, the movement of the corners can be controlled by supporting both side edges of the substrate at opposite corners or two arbitrarily selected corners. It is also possible to function as.

  Further, a circuit for emitting a laser beam may be mounted on the first substrate, and a circuit for communicating with a predetermined electronic device may be mounted on the second substrate. In addition to the RF method, a communication method using electromagnetic waves other than the 2.45 GHz frequency band, such as infrared rays, may be employed as the communication method.

  Further, a laser pointer that irradiates a red laser instead of a green laser may be used.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is an overall perspective view of a laser pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view of the housing | casing in the embodiment. The figure which shows typically the longitudinal cross-section of the laser pointer which concerns on the embodiment. The figure which shows typically the XX sectional view in FIG. The whole schematic diagram of the internal attachment unit in the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

P ... Laser pointer 1 ... Housing 18 ... Movement restricting means (supporting groove)
5 ... One substrate (first substrate)
51 ... Laser switch 52 ... Page back switch 53 ... Page next switch 54 ... Mouse switch 6 ... Second board

Claims (6)

A laser pointer that irradiates and indicates an arbitrary position with a laser beam,
What is claimed is: 1. A laser pointer comprising: a pen-shaped housing; and a plurality of substrates provided inside the housing and each mounted with a circuit, wherein the plurality of substrates are configured in a laminated form. The laser pointer according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of substrates is a structural member. 3. The laser pointer according to claim 2, wherein a switch that the user presses directly or indirectly during operation is mounted on the one substrate. 4. The laser pointer according to claim 2, wherein a movement restricting means for restricting movement of the one substrate in the thickness direction is provided in the casing. The laser pointer according to claim 4, wherein the casing is substantially cylindrical, and the movement restricting means is a pair of grooves formed along the longitudinal direction on the inner periphery of the casing. 6. The laser pointer according to claim 1, wherein a circuit for emitting a laser beam and a circuit for communicating with a predetermined electronic device are mounted on different substrates.

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