JP2008010281A - Mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a waterproofing structure durable to changes due to aging or the like, while suppressing the increase in the number of parts and rise in cost, and facilitating terminal manufacturing and repairing or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A front case assembly 30 and a rear case assembly 40 are made to have the waterproofing structure by being assembled via an O-ring or the like, and a button key board 46 and the main board part 41 provided with a switch dome 51 and an LED for illumination of a character or the like are arranged in a cabinet comprising the case assemblies 30, 40. The front case 21 is formed by two-color molding of a milk-white translucent button key elastomer part 22, a cross key elastomer part 23 or the like, and a milk-white translucent plastomer part. A button key assembly 32 is arranged on the upper side of the elastomer parts 22, 23, a front panel part 31 is mounted from that upper side, and a transparent part of illuminated characters is installed in the vicinity of a hole part 63 for the button key. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof portable terminal provided with an operation element such as a plurality of button keys and a light emitting unit such as an LED (light emitting diode).

  Conventionally, as a technology for making a cellular phone terminal waterproof, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-64139 (Patent Document 1), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-19812 (Patent Document 2), Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-148726 (Patent Document 3) is known.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-64139, the cellular phone body is entirely covered with a rubber protective cover from the back side while leaving the speaker, microphone, dial key and display screen, operation surface, etc. of the cellular phone. A technique for enabling a mobile phone to be used in a waterproof state by wrapping the phone is disclosed.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-19812, a substrate portion having a function as a mobile phone is packaged, and a synthetic resin such as transparent or translucent silicon rubber is fixed around the packaged substrate portion. Thus, a technique for forming a casing that protects the substrate portion from external impacts, water droplets, moisture, dust, and the like is disclosed.

  Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-148726 has a keypad in which a plurality of button keys are arranged on a sheet member, and the peripheral edge of the sheet member of the keypad is pressed against the outer wall of the casing. A technique for ensuring waterproofness by pressing the outer wall of the body and the sheet member is disclosed.

JP 2001-148726 A (FIG. 1) JP 2004-64139 A (FIG. 1) JP 2001-148726 A (FIG. 1)

  Here, for example, in order to make a portable terminal having a plurality of button keys such as a numeric keypad, such as a portable telephone terminal, a waterproof structure, for example, each button key is bonded or sealed, or is sandwiched between different parts. It is necessary to take appropriate waterproof measures, and it is difficult to easily realize it, and the cost increases. In addition, if the peripheral part of the sheet member of the keypad is pressed against the outer wall of the housing as in the above-mentioned patent document, waterproofness can be secured to some extent, but for example, when the pressing part deteriorates due to secular change or long-term use, The waterproof performance will be reduced. Similarly, in the case of packaging a cellular phone substrate portion as in the above-mentioned patent document, in order to make each button key (operation detection portion) waterproof, the above-mentioned bonding or sealing is performed on each button key. It will be necessary to take waterproof measures. In addition, when adopting a waterproof structure in which the substrate portion of the mobile phone is packaged and a synthetic resin such as silicon rubber is fixed around the substrate portion, the substrate portion is special and capable of withstanding high temperatures when the silicon rubber or the like is fused and fixed. Expensive parts are required and special manufacturing equipment is also required, and silicon rubber and the like are melted and fixed to the substrate, so it is almost impossible to repair or replace consumable parts such as batteries after manufacturing. Become.

  In the case of a mobile phone terminal, for example, a light emitting unit such as an incoming lamp or a charging lamp and a light guide member for guiding light from the light emitting unit to the outside are provided. Similarly to the waterproof structure in the button key part, it is necessary to separately provide parts for waterproofing. Furthermore, for example, in the case of a mobile phone terminal having a structure that emits numbers, characters, etc. arranged in the vicinity of button keys, waterproof measures are taken against the periphery of the light emitting unit and the light guide member for emitting such characters, etc. These waterproofing measures are very difficult to realize.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and in a portable terminal equipped with a plurality of button keys and light emitting units, a waterproof structure that can withstand aging and long-term use is increased in number of parts and cost is increased. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable terminal that can be realized while suppressing the occurrence of the problem and that can be easily manufactured and repaired.

  In the portable terminal of the present invention, the main circuit component is disposed therein, and the position corresponding to the arrangement of the operation detection contact component for performing the operation detection of at least a plurality of operation elements among the main circuit components is light transmissive. And a first resin material having flexibility and elasticity, and the other portions are made into a non-flexible second resin material having light transmission properties. A housing having a waterproof function formed by integrating and molding at least two types of resin materials, and a surface of the first resin material portion of the housing, and inside the housing A plurality of operating elements arranged and arranged corresponding to the operation detecting contact parts, a light emitting unit for operating element illumination arranged in the vicinity of the operation detecting contact parts inside the casing, and a first resin of the casing Cover multiple controls in the state of being placed on the surface side of the material part. A plurality of holes that are attached to the surface side of the housing and are exposed to the outside in a loosely inserted state are provided at least in the vicinity of each hole for each operator. The part other than the above has the panel part made light-impermeable, thereby solving the above-described problems.

  In other words, according to the present invention, the housing is formed by a so-called two-layer of a first resin material having optical transparency, flexibility, and elasticity and an inflexible second resin material having optical transparency. Since it is formed by color molding and a plurality of operation elements are arranged on the surface side of the first resin material, moisture or the like does not enter the housing from the operation element portion. Further, according to the present invention, the first and second resin materials of the casing are both light transmissive, and the light emitting part for operating element illumination is provided in the vicinity of the operation detecting contact part, while the panel part Only the vicinity of the hole for the operator is made light transmissive and the others are made non-light transmissive, and the light of the light emitting part for illuminating the operation element is emitted to the outside from the light transmissive part of the panel part. Therefore, waterproofing of the light emitting part for operating element illumination is also realized.

  According to the present invention, the casing is configured by so-called two-color molding of a first resin material having light permeability, flexibility, and elasticity and a non-flexible second resin material having light permeability. A plurality of operation elements are arranged on the surface side of the first resin material, and an operation element illuminating light emitting part is provided in the vicinity of the operation detection contact part, and the vicinity of each hole for each operation element is Since the panel portion that is made light transmissive and otherwise light non-transmissive is attached to the front surface side of the housing so as to cover a plurality of controls, for example, a plurality of button keys or light emission In a portable terminal equipped with a part, a waterproof structure that can withstand aging and long-term use can be realized while suppressing an increase in the number of parts and an increase in cost, and the manufacture and repair of the terminal are facilitated.

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

  In the present embodiment, a mobile phone terminal is cited as an example of the mobile terminal of the present invention. Of course, the content described here is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this example. .

[Schematic appearance of mobile phone terminal]
In FIG. 1, the external appearance of the mobile telephone terminal 1 of embodiment of this invention is shown.

  In FIG. 1, a mobile phone terminal 1 according to this embodiment is a so-called straight type mobile phone terminal, and includes a plurality of button keys such as a numeric keypad and a plurality of operators such as a cross key on one main surface of a housing. A key operation unit 2, a liquid crystal display unit 13, a speaker unit 7, a camera unit 8, a connector terminal storage unit 10, and the like are provided. Further, other key operation units 11, 12 and the like are provided on the side surface of the casing of the mobile phone terminal 1. Furthermore, the cellular phone terminal 1 according to the present embodiment includes light emitting units such as an incoming lamp 4, non-contact IC card access lamps 5a and 5b, and a charging lamp 6. Although not shown in FIG. 1, an illumination unit is provided in the vicinity of the button key unit for emitting letters, numbers, symbols, and the like assigned to the button keys.

[Waterproof structure of mobile phone terminal]
2 to 4 show main parts constituting the mobile phone terminal 1 of the present embodiment and an exploded perspective view composed of the main parts. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. The waterproof structure and light emitting / illuminating structure in the cellular phone terminal 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of only the vicinity of the key operation unit 2 on the front side of the mobile phone terminal 1 of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the casing of the mobile phone terminal 1 of the present embodiment includes a front case 21 and a rear case 42, and a box-shaped casing is obtained by combining the front case 21 and the rear case 42. And the main components such as a circuit board are accommodated therein. In addition, an O (O) ring (not shown) is arranged at the abutting portion of the front case 21 and the rear case 42, and the O-ring and the front case 21 and the rear case 42 are in close contact with each other, so that the abutting portion has a waterproof property. It is made to secure.

  The front case 21 is a light-transmitting, for example, translucent milky white non-flexible second resin material (for example, polycarbonate or the like, hereinafter referred to as a milky white plastomer part). It is formed by two-color injection molding a translucent milky white light-transmitting first resin material (hereinafter referred to as a milky white elastomer part) having flexibility and elasticity. In particular, the milky white elastomer part is formed at a position corresponding to each of the key operation part 2 such as the button key part and the cross key and the other key operation parts 11 and 12, and has a switch for detecting a pressing detection described later. It has a pusher portion when the dome 51 is pushed down. In the present embodiment, the milky white elastomer portion at a position corresponding to the button key portion 2 is referred to as a button key elastomer portion 22, and the milky white elastomer portion at a position corresponding to the cross key or the like is referred to as a cross key elastomer portion 23. The milky white elastomer part corresponding to the other key operation parts 11 and 12 is referred to as other key elastomer parts 24 and 25.

  The front case 21 is also provided with an opening 27 for the liquid crystal display, an opening 28 for the lens of the camera unit 8, and an opening 29 for the speaker unit 7. A light-transmitting transparent resin (not shown) is attached to the lens opening 28 of the camera unit 8 with a waterproof double-sided tape or the like, and the opening 29 for the speaker unit 7 blocks moisture. On the other hand, a waterproof sheet (not shown) through which air passes is attached.

  A front cover 20 made of a light-impermeable resin material having a desired color is fixed to the front case 21 by, for example, ultrasonic welding. Note that the shape of the front cover 20 is a shape corresponding to the design adopted for the mobile phone terminal. In the present embodiment, the central portion is the opening 26 and surrounds the outer periphery of the front case 21. It is made into the shape.

  A front panel assembly 31, a liquid crystal window 33, and a button key assembly 32 are attached to the front case assembly 30 shown in FIG. 3 in which the front cover 20 is fixed to the front case 21 as shown in FIG. .

  The front panel portion 31 is made of a transparent resin material, for example, coated with a light-opaque desired color paint on the outer surface thereof, and the opening 61 according to the outer peripheral shape of the liquid crystal window portion 33, Each button 62 and 63 of the button key assembly 32 (to be described later) and the cross key and the like are loosely inserted from the inside so that their top portions protrude outward, and the lens of the camera unit 8 An opening 64 for the speaker and an opening 65 for the speaker unit 7 are provided. Further, in the front panel portion 31, the outer surface in the vicinity of each hole 63 where the key top portion of each button key of the button key assembly 32 is loosely inserted and in the vicinity of the hole portion 62 where the cross key is loosely inserted are shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, instead of the light non-transparent color, it is made a light translucent milky white and transmits light from an easily illuminated LED (light emitting diode) 50, which will be described later, provided on the inside of the housing. Illumination portions for emitting letters, numbers, symbols, etc. assigned to the button keys and the like are formed by, for example, laser light irradiation. Similarly, in the front panel 31, positions corresponding to the incoming lamp 4, the non-contact IC card access lamps 5 a and 5 b, the charging lamp 6, and the like are provided on the inside of the housing for the respective lamps. Light-transmitting milky white portions 54, 55a for transmitting light from the LED 47 for incoming lamps, LEDs 48a and 48b for non-contact IC card access lamps, and LED 49 for charging lamps, which will be described later, and emitting the light of each lamp to the outside. 55b and 56 are formed.

  In the button key assembly 32, the key top portion 71 of each button key 2 and the key top portion 71 of the cross key 3 are arranged and fixed on a key arrangement member 73 made of a transparent resin having flexibility and elasticity, for example. Has a structured. The button key assembly 32 is configured such that the key top portions 71 and 73 are loosely inserted into the corresponding holes 62 and 63 of the front panel portion 31 and protrude on the outer surface of the front panel portion 31. Assembled.

  The liquid crystal window 33 is made of a light transmissive transparent resin material and is attached to the display opening 27 of the front case 21 with, for example, a waterproof double-sided tape.

  On the other hand, the rear case 42 has a liquid crystal display 43, a button key board 46 on which switch dome 51 of each button key is arranged, a camera unit main body 44, a speaker unit main body 45, an incoming lamp LED 47, a non-contact IC card access lamp. The rear case assembly 40 is formed by housing the LEDs 48a and 48b for charging, the LED 49 for charging lamp, the LED 50 for illuminating characters in the vicinity of the key buttons, the main board portion 41 incorporating the main circuit and the like.

  In the cellular phone terminal 1 according to the present embodiment, the front case assembly 30 to which the above-described front panel portion 31, liquid crystal window portion 33, button key assembly 33 is attached, and the main substrate portion 41 are disposed in the rear case 42. Complete waterproofness is realized by combining the stored rear case assembly 40 via an O-ring (not shown).

[Summary]
As described above, in the mobile phone terminal 1 of the present embodiment, the front case 21 includes the milky white plastomer part and the milky white elastomer part (button key elastomer part 22, cross key elastomer part 23, and other key elastomer parts 24 and 25). Since the button key assembly 32 and the like are arranged outside the milky white elastomer part, the button key part is completely waterproof, and its waterproof performance is It can withstand aging and long-term use. Furthermore, the opening 27 for the liquid crystal display, the lens opening 28 of the camera unit 8, the opening 29 for the speaker unit 7 and the like are attached with a transparent resin material or a waterproof sheet using a waterproof double-sided tape. Since it has a waterproof structure by attaching or the like, it is possible to realize a complete waterproof measure with a very simple configuration and an inexpensive material.

  Further, in the mobile phone terminal 1 of the present embodiment, the front case 21 is formed of a milky white plastomer part and a milky white elastomer part both having light transmittance, while a front cover provided outside the front case 21. 20 and the front panel portion 31 are both made of a light-impermeable resin material, and the front cover 20 and a part of the front panel portion 31 are formed as transparent portions or transparent characters are formed. Since the LED etc. are provided inside the housing corresponding to these transparent parts, it is possible to illuminate and illuminate characters, etc. while maintaining the above-mentioned waterproof function. It is possible to give freedom to the external design.

  Further, in the mobile phone terminal 1 of the present embodiment, a front case 21 is formed by two-color molding of a milky white plastomer part and a milky white elastomer part, and the front cover 20, the front panel part 31, and button keys are formed on the front case 21. Since it is formed only by incorporating the assembly 32, the liquid crystal window 33, etc., it is possible to easily manufacture a terminal having a simple waterproof structure, and it is possible to easily cope with cases where repair or the like becomes necessary. .

  The above description of the embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made according to the design or the like as long as the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated.

  For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described mobile phone terminal, and can also be applied to other mobile terminals such as a PDA, a notebook personal computer, and an electronic dictionary.

It is an external view of the mobile phone terminal of this embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of a front case and a front cover. It is an external appearance perspective view of the front case assembly with which the front case and the front cover were integrated. It is a disassembled perspective view of a front case assembly, a front panel part, a button key assembly, a liquid crystal window part, and a rear case assembly. It is an enlarged view near the key operation unit on the front side of the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1 mobile phone terminal, 2 key operation section, 4 incoming lamp, 5a, 5b contactless IC card access lamp, 6 charge lamp, 7 speaker section, 8 camera section, 10 connector terminal storage section, 11, 12 other key operation sections , 20 Front cover, 21 Front case, 22 Button key elastomer part, 23 Cross key elastomer part 23, 24, 25 Other key elastomer part, 26 Front cover opening, 27 Display opening, 28 Camera part lens Opening, 29 Speaker opening, 30 Front case assembly, 31 Front panel portion, 32 Button key assembly, 33 Liquid crystal window portion, 40 Rear case assembly, 41 Main board portion, 42 Rear case, 43 Liquid crystal display, 44 Camera Main unit, 45 Speaker unit Body, 46 button key board, 47 LED for incoming lamp, 48a, 48b LED for non-contact IC card access lamp, 49 LED for charging lamp, LED for illumination of 50 characters, 51 switch dome, 54, 55a, 55b, 56 light Transparent milky white part, 61 Liquid crystal window opening, 62 Cross key hole, 63 Button key hole, 64 Camera part lens hole, 65 Speaker hole, 71 Key top part of each button key, 72 Key top part of cross key, 73 Key arrangement member

Claims (3)

The main circuit component is arranged inside, and the position corresponding to the arrangement of the operation detection contact component for detecting the operation of at least a plurality of operation elements among the main circuit components is light transmissive, flexible and elastic. The other part is made a non-flexible second resin material having optical transparency, and at least two kinds of the first resin material and the second resin material are used. A housing with a waterproof function formed by integrating the resin material of
A plurality of operators arranged on the surface side of the first resin material portion of the casing and corresponding to the operation detection contact parts inside the casing;
A light emitting unit for illuminating an operation element disposed in the vicinity of the operation detection contact part inside the housing;
It is attached to the surface side of the casing so as to cover the plurality of operating elements arranged on the surface side of the first resin material portion of the casing, and each of the plurality of operating elements is loosely inserted. A plurality of holes exposed to the outside, at least the vicinity of each hole for each of the operating elements is light transmissive, the other part is a light non-transparent panel,
A portable terminal characterized by comprising:   The shape of the light-transmitting portion in the vicinity of the plurality of holes in the panel portion is a shape that represents at least one of letters, numbers, and symbols assigned to each operation element corresponding to each hole. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein: A light-emitting portion for a predetermined lamp portion disposed at a predetermined position inside the housing;
2. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the panel portion has a light-transmitting portion corresponding to the arrangement position of the light emitting portion for the predetermined lamp portion in the housing.

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