JP2007087226A - Wireless transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless transmitter capable of reducing power consumption, even if a large push button is arranged therein. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless transmitter is provided with a push-button member 13, in which its upper surface is shielded from light, it is structured so that the light of a light source 32 leaks between the push button and a box 10, in response to push operation of the push button. Thus, the wireless transmitter can leak light from the light source 32, between the push button and the box 10, in response to the push operation of the push-button 13. Namely, the wireless transmitter will not light up the whole push-button 13, but lights up the section between the push-button 13 and the box 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless transmitter used for a customer to call a store clerk in a restaurant or the like.

Conventionally, in restaurants and the like, a wireless transmitter placed on a table is often used as a means for a customer to call a store clerk (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such a wireless transmitter transmits a radio signal to a receiver in the store in response to the customer pressing the push button, thereby notifying that the customer is calling the store clerk. In addition, such wireless transmitters may output a predetermined notification sound at the time of a pressing operation or turn on the entire push button so that the customer can confirm that the push button of the wireless transmitter has been pressed. It is commercially available.
JP-A-11-161858

  By the way, the conventional wireless transmitter of the type that turns on the entire push button improves the operability when a large push button is provided, and there are few portions where the push button is hidden by the operator's hand during the push operation. There is an advantage that it is easy to visually recognize the lighted state. However, this type of wireless transmitter requires a light source that emits light of a high luminous flux in order to light the entire push button, and this leads to a problem that the power consumption increases and the life of the built-in battery is shortened. was there.

  Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a wireless transmitter capable of reducing power consumption even when a large push button is provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the wireless transmitter according to the present invention has a structure in which the upper surface is shielded and light from the light source part is leaked between the case and the casing when pressed. The pushbutton member which consists of is provided. As a result, the wireless transmitter according to the present invention can leak light from the light source unit to the outside from between the housing and the push button member when the push button member is pressed. That is, the wireless transmitter according to the present invention does not light the entire push button member but lights between the push button member and the housing.

  According to the wireless transmitter of the present invention, since the entire push button member is not lit, but between the push button member and the housing, the power consumption is increased even when a large push button member is provided. Can be reduced. Further, according to the wireless transmitter according to the present invention, since a large push button member can be provided, the operability is improved, and the portion where the push button member is hidden by the operator's hand during the push operation is reduced. It can make it easy to visually recognize the lighted state.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  This embodiment is a wireless transmitter used for a customer to call a store clerk in a restaurant or the like.

[Schematic configuration of wireless transmitter]
The wireless transmitter according to this embodiment schematically includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 10 having a substantially square upper surface as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, for example. Is done. The housing 10 is roughly divided into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body 11 and a button frame member 12 disposed so as to cover the upper surface of the main body 11. The wireless transmitter is configured so that the push button member 13 is exposed from a hole formed in the center of the button frame member 12. The housing 11 may be formed by integrally forming the main body 11 and the button frame member 12. However, in the following, the button frame member 12 is assumed to be detachably engaged with the main body 11. explain.

  This wireless transmitter transmits a radio signal for identifying the wireless transmitter to a predetermined receiver in response to the operator pressing down the push button member 13, so that the operator Inform you that you are calling. The wireless transmitter outputs a predetermined notification sound in response to the pressing operation of the push button member 13 so that the operator himself can confirm that the push button member 13 has been pressed, and the push button member. A predetermined lighting operation is performed through the lighting portion 14 formed on the peripheral edge portion of the 13.

[Detailed configuration of wireless transmitter]
Specifically, such a wireless transmitter is configured as shown in a perspective view in FIG. 2 and a cross-sectional view in FIG.

  The button frame member 12 is a lid-like member having a hole formed in the center of a substantially square main surface, and constitutes a part of the casing 10 described above. The button frame member 12 is configured to engage with the push button member 13 so that the push button member 13 slides in the vertical direction and to detachably engage with the main body 11.

  The push button member 13 is a member having a main surface of a substantially circular member configured to be capable of being pressed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the push button member 13 includes a central portion 13a formed slightly smaller than the hole formed in the button frame member 12, and a peripheral portion of the central portion 13a from the central portion 13a. And a peripheral portion 13b integrally formed at a slightly lower height.

  The central portion 13a is shielded at least from the upper surface, and has the same color as the colors of the main body portion 11, the button frame member 12, and the like. On the other hand, the peripheral portion 13b is made of an optically transparent translucent member, and is engaged with the button frame member 12 as a part of the housing 10 so as to leak light from the light source portion 32 described later. . The push button member 13 forms the above-described lighting part 14 that transmits the light from the light source part 32 by the peripheral edge part 13b.

  Furthermore, the main body 11 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-like member that houses various members for realizing the function of the wireless transmitter, and constitutes the above-described casing 10 together with the button frame member 12. Specifically, the main body 11 is attached to the cover member 21 by attaching a cover member 21 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in which a part of the housing 10 is hollow and a predetermined screw 22 or the like. An external appearance is formed by the base member 23 covering the bottom surface.

  Inside the cover member 21, a printed circuit board 30 on which an electronic component for wirelessly transmitting a radio signal in response to an operation of the push button member 12 and an electronic component for performing notification sound output and lighting operation are mounted. The switch unit 31 is disposed below the push button member 13 and switched to the on state in accordance with the operation of the push button member 13, and the switch unit 31 is disposed below the peripheral portion 13b of the push button member 13 and is turned on. The light source unit 32 that is turned on in this case is accommodated.

  At least a switch unit 31 and a light emitting element 32a such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) in the light source unit 32 are mounted on the printed circuit board 30. Further, the light source unit 32 has a light guide path 32 b disposed below the peripheral edge portion 13 b of the push button member 13. The light guide path 32 b is made of an optically transparent resin, optical fiber, or the like, and is formed in an annular shape along the peripheral edge portion 13 b of the push button member 13. On the other hand, the light emitting element 32a is disposed below the peripheral edge portion 13b of the push button member 13 and at a position where it enters the light guide path 32b. The light source unit 32 includes the light emitting element 32a and the light guide path 32b, and guides the light emitted from the light emitting element 32a along the peripheral edge part 13b of the push button member 13 through the light guide path 32b.

  The space between the printed circuit board 30 and the base member 23 housed in the cover member 12 is configured as a battery case 33 in which a primary battery that supplies driving power for lighting the light source unit 32 is mounted. . A hole for attaching / detaching the primary battery to / from the battery case 33 is formed in a part of the base member 23, and the hole is closed by a battery lid member 34 having a predetermined shape. A predetermined cushion material 35 is fixed to the bottom surface of the base member 23 in order to prevent the tabletop on which the wireless transmitter is placed from being damaged.

  The main body 11 has a sheet-like spring member 36 having a predetermined waterproof property interposed between the switch portion 31 and the push button member 13 so as to cover the upper surface of the cover member 21. This sheet-like spring member 36 is made of, for example, a biaxially stretched polyester film or the like, and has at least a predetermined waterproof property and a high light-transmitting property. As the sheet-like spring member 36, it is desirable to use a material excellent in toughness, electrical insulation, heat and cold resistance, chemical resistance and the like. As shown in FIG. 4A, the sheet-like spring member 36 is a perspective view as seen from the front surface and FIG. 4B is a perspective view as seen from the back surface. It is a sheet member, and the front surface is convex and the back surface is concave.

  In the wireless transmitter having such a structure, the convex portion of the sheet-like spring member 36 that covers the upper surface of the main body portion 11 bends to the back surface side as the push button member 13 is pressed. In the wireless transmitter, the switch unit 31 is switched from the off state to the on state by pressing the switch unit 31 with the sheet-like spring member 36 bent toward the back side. Thereby, in the wireless transmitter, transmission of a radio signal, output of a notification sound, and lighting operation of the light source unit 32 are performed.

  At this time, in the wireless transmitter, the light emitted from the light emitting element 32a is guided along the peripheral edge portion 13b of the push button member 13 through the light guide path 32b, and as shown by the arrow in FIG. 13 and the button frame member 12 as a part of the housing 10 leak the guided light (transmitted light) to the outside, thereby enabling the operator to visually recognize the lighting operation by the light source unit 32. Therefore, in the wireless transmitter, it is possible to notify that the operator is calling a clerk or the like, and the operator himself can easily confirm that the push button member 13 has been pressed.

[Effect of the embodiment]
As described above in detail, the wireless transmitter according to the embodiment is such that the upper surface is shielded and light from the light source unit 32 leaks between the case 10 and the case when pressed. A push button member 13 having a structure is provided.

  Thereby, in this wireless transmitter, the light from the light source part 32 can be leaked outside from between the housing 10 in response to the push button member 13 being pressed. That is, this wireless transmitter can light between the push button member 13 and the housing 10 instead of lighting the entire push button member 13. Therefore, in this wireless transmitter, even when a large push button member 13 is provided, power consumption can be reduced. Further, in this wireless transmitter, since the large push button member 13 can be provided, the operability is improved, and the portion where the push button member 13 is hidden by the operator's hand during the pressing operation is reduced and turned on. It is possible to make it easy to visually recognize the state.

  Specifically, in this wireless transmitter, in order to realize a structure in which light from the light source unit 32 leaks between the case 10 and the housing 10 in response to being pressed, A push button member 13 having a peripheral edge portion 13b made of a translucent member that transmits light may be used to engage the push button member 13 and the housing 10. As a result, in this wireless transmitter, the light from the light source unit 32 is transmitted between the push button member 13 and the housing 10 in response to the push button member 13 being pressed while having an extremely simple structure. It can leak, and it becomes possible to light between the said pushbutton member 13 and the housing | casing 10. FIG.

  At this time, in the wireless transmitter, as the light source section 32, a light guide path 32b disposed below the peripheral edge portion 13b of the push button member 13, and a light emitting element 32a disposed at a position where the light enters the light guide path 32b. By using the one having the above, the number of the light emitting elements 32a can be reduced, and the power consumption can be further reduced.

  Note that, in this wireless transmitter, although not particularly illustrated, a pressing operation is performed in order to realize a structure in which light from the light source unit 32 leaks between the housing 10 and the housing 10 in response to the pressing operation. Accordingly, the push button member 13 and the casing 10 may be engaged so that a predetermined gap for leaking light from the light source unit 32 is formed between the casing 10 and the casing 10. More specifically, the push button member 13 is realized as a movable structure using a spring or the like that leaks light from the light source section 32 between the push button member 13 and the housing 10 when the push button member 13 is pressed. be able to. As a result, in this wireless transmitter, the light from the light source unit 32 is transmitted between the push button member 13 and the housing 10 in response to the push button member 13 being pressed while having an extremely simple structure. It can leak, and it becomes possible to light between the said pushbutton member 13 and the housing | casing 10. FIG.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made depending on the design and the like as long as the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated from this embodiment. Of course, it is possible to change.

(A) is a perspective view which shows the schematic external appearance structure of the wireless transmitter shown as embodiment of this invention, (b) is a top view which shows the schematic external appearance structure of the wireless transmitter shown as embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the detailed structure of the wireless transmitter shown as embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the detailed structure of the wireless transmitter shown as embodiment of this invention. (A) is the perspective view which looked at the sheet-like spring member used for the wireless transmitter shown as embodiment of this invention from the surface, (b) is the sheet-like spring used for the wireless transmitter shown as embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the member from the back.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Housing | casing 11 Main body part 12 Button frame member 13 Push button member 13a Center part 13b Peripheral part 14 Lighting part 21 Cover member 22 Screw 23 Base member 30 Printed circuit board 31 Switch part 32 Light source part 32a Light emitting element 32b Light guide path 33 Battery case 34 Battery cover member 35 Cushion material 36 Sheet spring member

Claims (5)

A push button member configured to be capable of being pressed; and
Wireless transmission means for transmitting a radio signal in response to the operation of the push button member;
A switch unit that is disposed below the push button member and switches to an on state in which the wireless signal is transmitted in accordance with the operation of the push button member;
A light source unit disposed below the periphery of the push button member and lit when the switch unit is turned on;
A hole that exposes the push button member is formed in a substantially central portion, and includes a switch unit, the light source unit, and a casing that houses therein a power source that supplies driving power for turning on the light source unit,
The wireless transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the push button member has a structure in which an upper surface thereof is shielded from light and light from the light source section leaks between the push button member and the casing when the push button member is pressed.   The push button member is engaged with the casing so as to form a predetermined gap for leaking light from the light source unit between the casing and the casing in response to a pressing operation. The wireless transmitter according to claim 1.   The wireless transmitter according to claim 2, wherein the push button member has a movable structure that leaks light from the light source unit between the case and the casing when the push button member is pressed.   2. The wireless transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the push button member includes a translucent member that transmits light from the light source unit at a peripheral portion thereof, and is engaged with the housing. The said light source part has a light guide path arrange | positioned under the periphery of the said pushbutton member, and the light emitting element arrange | positioned in the position which enters into the said light guide path. 5. The wireless transmitter according to 4.

Images