JP2007202075A - Mobile electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile electronic device which can improve the durability of a keypad operating section by raising a strength without causing an enlargement of a reinforcing sheet metal and an increase of a weight which comprise a keypad operating section allotted to a side surface of a housing. <P>SOLUTION: The mobile electronic device 1 has a housing 2 with which a substrate 21 has been allotted to an interior and a keypad operating section 12 allotted to other surface other than a housing surface opposite to a main plane of the substrate 21. The keypad operating section 12 has switch parts 23, 24, and 25 which have pushing members 23a, 24a, and 25a mounted in the main plane of the substrate 21, an operation key 13 which operates the switch parts 23, 24, and 25 contacting to the pushing members 23a, 24a, and 25a while exposing to outward from other surfaces, and a reinforcement member 30, which is arranged between the switch parts 23, 24, and 25 and the operation key 13, is a shape of an sheet metal which regulates a movement of the operation key 13 accompanying the operation of the operation key 13. Convex-like forming portions 35a and 35b are formed in a part of reinforcement member 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device in which a key operation unit is arranged on a side surface of a housing.

In recent years, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), digital cameras, digital video cameras, and notebook personal computers tend to have many functions. These functions are exhibited by operating an operation button (key operation unit) provided inside the housing and exposed on the main surface of the housing. Further, among these many functions, there is a function that causes a new operation to be generated with a separate operation button while a function such as a call or shooting is being operated with the operation button.
Therefore, in order to enable easy operation by separating these operation buttons from each other, conventional portable electronic devices have not only the main surface of the housing but also operation buttons on the side surface of the housing adjacent to the main surface. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP-A-5-304554

The operation buttons arranged on the side of the casing are a rubber key exposed to the outside from the side of the casing, a tact switch mounted on the circuit board inside the casing corresponding to the rubber key, and between the rubber key and the tact switch. There are some which are composed of reinforcing sheet metal which is disposed on the surface. The reinforcing sheet metal supports the pressing force applied to the rubber key so that an excessive pressing force is not applied to the tact switch.
However, since an excessive pressing force is actually applied to the tact switch, a crack is generated in the soldering portion connecting the tact switch and the circuit board, and the electrical connection between the tact switch and the circuit board is maintained. There was a problem that it was impossible.
For this reason, it is conceivable to increase the strength by increasing the thickness of the reinforcing sheet metal, but there is a problem that it does not meet the demand for weight reduction of portable electronic devices.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and improves the strength without increasing the size and weight of the reinforcing sheet metal constituting the key operation unit arranged on the side surface of the casing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic device capable of improving the durability of a part.

The portable electronic device according to the present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
A portable electronic device comprising: a housing in which a circuit board is disposed; and a key operation unit disposed on a surface other than the housing surface facing the main surface of the circuit board, wherein the key operation The switch part having a pusher mounted on the main surface of the circuit board, the operation key exposed to the outside from the other surface and abutting on the pusher to operate the switch part, A reinforcing member having a substantially flat plate shape that is disposed between the switch portion and the operation key and restricts the movement of the operation key in accordance with the operation of the operation key. A molding part is provided.

The reinforcing member has an opening surrounding a part of the pusher and / or the operation key of the switch part, and the convex molding part is formed at an edge of the opening. Features.
Further, the reinforcing member is made of a conductive material, and is electrically connected to a reference potential portion of the circuit board.

  According to the present invention, the strength can be improved without increasing the size and weight of the reinforcing member. Thereby, since the movement of the operation key accompanying the pressing of the operation key can be restricted, detachment from the circuit board due to an excessive pressing force applied to the switch portion can be avoided. Therefore, a portable electronic device in which the durability of the key operation unit is improved can be obtained.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a portable electronic device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mobile phone 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
A cellular phone (mobile electronic device) 1 includes a housing 2 formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view, a key operation unit 4 having a plurality of operation keys 3 such as numeric keys, a call key, and an end key, A display unit 5 including a flat display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an EL (Electro Luminescence) display, a microphone 6 for calling, and a speaker 7 are provided.
The housing 2 includes a front case 17 that forms the front surface 2a of the housing 2 and a rear case 18 that forms the back surface 2b of the housing 2.

The microphone 6 and the speaker 7 are respectively disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2 in the housing 2, and the microphone 6 is a sound collection port formed at one end of the front surface 2 a of the housing 2. Sounds and the like are collected through 6a. The speaker 7 emits sound and the like through a sound emission port 7a formed at the other end of the front surface 2a.
Note that an antenna 9 for performing wireless communication with the base station protrudes from one end in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2 in which the speaker 7 is disposed.

The operation keys 3 of the key operation unit 4 and the display surface of the display unit 5 are exposed outward from the front surface 2 a of the housing 2.
A side key operation unit 12 is arranged on the side surface 2 c of the housing 2. The side key operation unit 12 includes a volume up key 13a, a volume down key 13b, and a PTT (Push-to-Talk) key 13c for adjusting the volume of the speaker 7, and these operation keys 13 (13a ˜13c) are exposed outward from the side surface 2c of the housing 2.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the mobile phone 1 and shows a rear case 18 and a plate-like circuit board 21 housed inside thereof.
Inside the housing 2, from the rear case 18 side, there are a battery (not shown), a circuit board 21, a key switch (not shown) constituting the key operation unit 4, an operation key 3 (not shown in FIG. 2), and the like. They are arranged in layers.
As shown in FIG. 2, electronic parts (not shown) such as an integrated circuit, a resistor, and a capacitor are mounted on the main surface of the circuit board 21 so as not to be affected by external noise. Are covered with shield cases 20a to 20f. A plurality of tact switches 23, 24, and 25 are mounted on the edge of one long side of the circuit board 21 along the edge by solder bonding. Each tact switch 23, 24, 25 has a push button (presser) 23a, 24a, 25a on the side surface of the main body (a surface orthogonal to the main surface of the circuit board 21). 24 a and 25 a are mounted so as to protrude outward from the edge of the circuit board 21. In addition, the said main surface is a surface located in the said operation key 3 side in the state accommodated in the housing | casing 2, among the two surfaces where components were mounted in the circuit board 21. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tact switches 23, 24, and 25 constitute the side key operation unit 12 described above. That is, the side key operation unit 12 includes a tactile switch 23, 24, 25, a rubber key 26 that contacts the push buttons 23 a, 24 a, 25 a of the tact switch 23, 24, 25, A sheet metal plate 30 disposed between the rubber key 26 and the rubber key 26 is provided.
In the rubber key 26, operation keys 13a to 13c are formed in regions corresponding to the push buttons 23a, 24a, and 25a, and the operation keys 13a to 13c are exposed outward from the side surface 2c of the housing 2. ing.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the sheet metal plate 30.
The sheet metal plate 30 is a substantially flat sheet metal having a thickness of about 0.3 mm, and is disposed substantially parallel to the side surface 2 c of the housing 2. The sheet metal plate 30 receives the pressing pressure when the operator of the mobile phone 1 presses the operation keys 13 a to 13 c of the rubber key 26.
When a pressing force is applied to the operation keys 13 a to 13 c of the rubber key 26, the pressing force is transmitted to the tact switches 23, 24 and 25 mounted on the surface of the circuit board 21. For this reason, when the pressing force is excessive, a crack is generated in the soldering portion that joins the circuit board 21 and the tact switches 23, 24, 25, and the electrical connection between the circuit board 21 and the tact switches 23, 24, 25 is generated. There is a possibility that the target joint is broken. In order to prevent the occurrence of such a problem, a sheet metal plate 30 is disposed between the tact switches 23, 24, 25 and the rubber key 26, and the pressing force applied to the operation keys 13a to 13c by the sheet metal plate 30 is applied. By supporting, an excessive pressing force is not transmitted to the tact switches 23, 24, 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet metal plate 30 is bent at a substantially rectangular main surface 30a formed with three substantially U-shaped cutouts (openings) 34 and at a substantially right angle to the main surface 30a. A mounting portion 32 is provided. A screw hole 32a is opened in the mounting portion 32, and is screwed to a boss 18b (see FIG. 2) formed in the rear case 18 of the housing 2 through the screw hole 32a. . Note that the sheet metal plate 30 has a groove portion 19 formed in the rear case 18 or the front case 17 at both ends in the longitudinal direction and / or both ends (or one end) in the short direction of the main surface 30a in addition to the attachment portion 32 (FIG. 4). It is fixed by being fitted in (see).
Further, the attachment portion 32 of the sheet metal plate 30 is provided with a substrate bonding portion 33 that is bent at a substantially right angle with respect to the attachment portion 32. The board bonding portion 33 contacts a circuit pattern (not shown) formed on the main surface of the circuit board 21 when the sheet metal plate 30 is fixed to the housing 2. This circuit pattern is the ground (reference potential) of the circuit board 21, and thereby the sheet metal plate 30 has the same potential as the ground of the circuit board 21.

On one long side of the main surface 30a, three substantially U-shaped cutouts 34 are formed side by side in the longitudinal direction. This notch 34 straddles the push buttons 23a, 24a, 25a of the tact switches 23, 24, 25 mounted on the circuit board 21 when the sheet metal plate 30 is fixed to the rear case 18 in which the circuit board 21 is accommodated. (See FIG. 4). Of the three cutouts 34, part of the edges of the cutouts 34a and 34b formed so as to straddle the push buttons 23a and 24a of the tact switches 23 and 24 are orthogonal to the main surface 30a. Convex-forming mold portions 35a and 35b are formed so as to protrude about 0.2 mm in the direction.
By forming the convex forming mold portions 35a and 35b on the main surface 30a in this way, the rigidity of the main surface 30a of the sheet metal plate 30 is improved as compared to a simple flat plate. In particular, since only the convex mold portions 35a and 35b are formed on the main surface 30a, there is almost no cost increase, and the size and weight of the sheet metal plate 30 are not increased. Therefore, the mobile phone 1 does not go against the demand for thinning, downsizing, and weight reduction.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the mobile phone 1, and shows a state in which the sheet metal plate 30 is attached.
As described above, the circuit board 21 and the like are accommodated in the housing 2. Tact switches 23, 24, 25 are mounted on the edge of the main surface of the circuit board 21, and the push buttons 23 a, 24 a, 25 a protrude from the edge of the circuit board 21 toward the side surface 2 c of the housing 2. .
A rubber key 26 disposed on the side surface 2c of the housing 2 is in contact with the push buttons 23a, 24a, 25a of the tact switches 23, 24, 25. Operation keys 13 a to 13 c are formed on the back side of the contact portions of the rubber keys 26 with the push buttons 23 a, 24 a, and 25 a, and the operation keys 13 a to 13 c are exposed on the side surface 2 c of the housing 2.
And the rubber key 26 is being fixed to the housing | casing 2 because the peripheral part is engage | inserted by the groove part 19 formed in the front case 17 and the rear case 18. FIG. In addition, a sheet metal plate 30 is fitted in the groove portion 19 together with the rubber key 26. Thereby, the notch 34 formed in the sheet metal plate 30 is arranged so as to surround the push buttons 23a, 24a, 25a of the tact switches 23, 24, 25.

With such a configuration, when the operator of the mobile phone 1 presses the side key operation unit 12 (operation keys 13 a to 13 c) arranged on the side surface 2 c of the housing 2, the rubber key 26 faces the inside of the housing 2. Elastically deforms. Accordingly, the back side of the operation keys 13a to 13c in the rubber key 26 presses the push buttons 23a, 24a, and 25a of the tact switches 23, 24, and 25, and the tact switches 23, 24, and 25 are operated.
At this time, the sheet metal plate 30 is also elastically deformed together with the rubber key 26 toward the inside of the housing 2. That is, the pressing force applied to the side key operation unit 12 (operation keys 13 a to 13 c) is supported by the sheet metal plate 30 and transmitted to the housing 2, so that the pressing transmitted to the tact switches 23, 24, and 25 on the circuit board 21 is performed. Force is reduced.
In particular, by providing the convex molding portions 35a and 35b at the edges of the notches 34a and 34b formed in the main surface 30a of the sheet metal plate 30, the rigidity of the sheet metal plate 30 is improved. Therefore, the force transmitted to the tact switches 23 and 25 is small. Thereby, even if an excessive pressing force is applied to the side key operation unit 12 (operation keys 13a and 13b), the electrical connection between the tact switches 23 and 24 and the circuit board 21 is prevented from being disconnected.

  It should be noted that the convex molding part by press molding is not provided at the edge of the notch 34c of the sheet metal plate 30 because the notch 34c side of the main surface 30a has higher rigidity than the notches 34a and 34b. It is. This is because the sheet metal plate 30 is attached to the housing 2 because the distance from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the main surface 30a to the attachment portion 32 is shorter on the cutout portion 34c side than the cutout portions 34a and 34b side. The rigidity at that time is higher on the side of the notch 34c than on the side of the notches 34a and 34b. For this reason, the deformation of the main surface 30a can be suppressed, and it is not always necessary to further improve the rigidity around the notch 34c of the sheet metal plate 30.

The sheet metal plate 30 together with the rubber key 26 is elastically deformed toward the inside of the housing 2, so that an appropriate click feeling can be given to the operator.
Further, since the sheet metal plate 30 is in contact with the circuit pattern which is the ground (reference potential) of the circuit board 21, static electricity charged by the operator is generated in the gap between the side surface 2c of the housing 2 (the front case 17 and the rear case). 18), the static electricity is released to the ground of the circuit board 21 through the sheet metal plate 30, so that the various electronic components mounted on the circuit board 21 are prevented from being destroyed by static electricity. be able to.

Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the convex molding portions 35a and 35b by press molding are provided only around the notches 34a and 34b among the notches 34a to 34c of the sheet metal plate 30. Is not to be done. That is, the case where a convex-shaped part is provided with respect to all the notches 34a-34c may be sufficient.
Further, the size and depth of the convex molding part by press molding are defined according to the required rigidity of the sheet metal plate 30.

Moreover, although embodiment mentioned above demonstrated the case where notch part 34a-34c was formed as an opening part in the sheet metal plate 30, it replaced with the notch part and the hole-shaped opening part may be formed. The size and quantity of the opening are defined according to the type and number of operation keys 13 provided on the side surface 2 c of the housing 2. In other words, the sheet metal plate 30 may be provided with one opening.
Further, when there are a large number of operation keys 13, a plurality of sheet metal plates 30 may be arranged on the side surface 2 c of the housing 2.

  Further, the sheet metal plate 30 is not necessarily a conductor. It suffices to have enough rigidity to support the pressing force applied to the operation key 13. Therefore, it may be formed of, for example, a plastic resin. Further, when the sheet metal plate 30 has conductivity, it is not always necessary to form the sheet metal. For example, the body is formed of a plastic resin or the like, and the surface thereof is plated so as to have conductivity. Good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the mobile phone 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to portable portable electronic devices such as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), digital cameras, digital video cameras, and notebook personal computers.

1 is a perspective view showing a mobile phone 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the mobile phone 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a sheet metal plate 30. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of a main part of the mobile phone 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Mobile phone (mobile electronic device)
2 ... Case 2a ... Front (case surface)
2c ... Side (other surface)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Side key operation part 13 (13a-13c) ... Operation key 21 ... Circuit board 23, 24, 25 ... Tact switch (switch part)
23a, 24a, 25a ... pushbuttons (pushers)
30 ... Sheet metal plate (reinforcing member)
34 (34a to 34c) ... notch (opening)
35a, 35b ... convex molding part

Claims (3)

A portable electronic device comprising: a housing in which a circuit board is disposed; and a key operation unit disposed on a surface other than the housing surface facing the main surface of the circuit board,
The key operation unit is
A switch unit having a pusher mounted on the main surface of the circuit board;
An operation key that is exposed outwardly from the other surface and contacts the pusher to activate the switch part;
A reinforcing member that is disposed between the switch portion and the operation key and has a substantially flat plate shape that restricts movement of the operation key in accordance with the operation of the operation key;
Have
A portable electronic device, wherein a convex molding portion is provided on a part of the reinforcing member. The reinforcing member has an opening surrounding a part of the pusher of the switch part and / or the operation key,
The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the convex molded portion is formed at an edge of the opening. The portable electronic device, wherein the reinforcing member is made of a conductive material and is electrically connected to a reference potential portion of the circuit board.

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