JP2008152922A - Light guide member, operation button illumination unit, and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce variance of brightness between operation buttons due to the shift of the positional relationship between the light source and a light guide member. <P>SOLUTION: Regarding a light receiving part 41 to receive the light from the light source 60 opposing to the light source 60 which emits light to illuminate a plurality of the operation buttons 11, by installing a protruding face 41a to receive light so as to collect the light from the light source 60 to a distribution part 43, even if the shift occurs in the positional relationship of the light receiving part 41 and the LED 60, the light from an LED 60 is collected to the distribution part 43, and the light is made to be distributed to respectively divided light guide parts 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light guide member, an operation button illumination unit, and an electronic device for illuminating operation buttons of various electronic devices such as audio and car audio with light from the inside of the electronic device.

  For example, an electronic device such as an AV device that reads out and reproduces information recorded on an optical disk such as a CD (Compact Disk) such as a car audio includes a device main body and an optical disk such as a CD that is accommodated in the device main body. And a reproduction unit that reads information from the optical disc and an operation unit that is provided on the surface of the device main body and is used when performing various operations. The operation unit has a plurality of operation buttons. These operation buttons are illuminated by light from a light source provided in the device main body so that the user can recognize them at night or in a dark place.

  When an electronic device has a plurality of operation buttons, if a light source for illumination is provided for each operation button, there arises a problem that the cost of the electronic device increases. In addition, when a plurality of operation buttons are densely arranged, there is a problem that it is not possible to secure an installation space for the light source on the base. Therefore, when illuminating a plurality of operation buttons with a single light source, a structure in which light emitted from the light source is distributed using a light guide member to guide the light to each operation button can be considered.

  However, in this structure, the light source is soldered to the substrate and fixed to the casing, and the light guide member is also fixed to the casing. If the positional relationship between the light source and the light guide member is shifted due to the influence of the optical member, the tolerance of the shape of the substrate, the influence of the assembly, etc., there arises a problem that the brightness of the operation button changes. In addition, it is difficult to eliminate such positional deviation due to tolerances, and it is difficult to complicate the configuration in view of the point of illuminating a plurality of operation buttons. It was necessary to deal with. The problem to be solved by the present invention includes the above-described problem as an example.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides a light guide member, an operation button illumination unit, and an electronic apparatus that can reduce variations in brightness between a plurality of operation buttons due to a positional relationship with a light source. It is an issue.

  The light guide member according to claim 1, which is made according to the present invention to solve the above problems, includes a light receiving unit that receives light from a single light source to shine a plurality of operation buttons made of a light transmissive member included in an electronic device. A plurality of divided light guides for guiding light that shines each of the plurality of operation buttons; and a distribution unit that distributes light received by the light receiving unit toward each of the divided light guides, A light guide that is positioned and fixed in the electronic device so that the light receiving part faces the light source and the light guided through the divided light guide part shines the operation button corresponding to the divided light guide part. In the optical member, the light receiving portion is provided with a projecting surface that receives light so that the light from the light source is condensed on the distribution portion even if the positional relationship with the light source is shifted. .

  The operation button illumination unit according to claim 5, which is made according to the present invention in order to solve the above-described problem, causes a plurality of operation buttons made of a translucent member included in an electronic device to shine with light from one light source. The light guide member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light receiving portion of the light guide member is provided to face the light source, and the light received by the light receiving portion is distributed by the distributing portion. The operation button is radiated by the light that is distributed and guided through the divided light guide unit.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electronic apparatus according to claim 6 is provided with the operation button illumination unit according to claim 5, wherein the operation button of the operation button illumination unit is exposed from the surface of the housing. It is characterized by being.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the light guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention, a light receiving unit that receives light from the light source facing a light source that emits light that shines a plurality of operation buttons is displaced in a positional relationship with the light source. Also, there is provided a projecting surface for receiving the light from the light source so as to collect the light on the distribution unit. By doing so, even if the positional relationship between the light source and the light receiving unit is deviated, the light from the light source is collected on the distribution unit and distributed to each of the divided light guide units. Thus, the protruding surface of the light receiving portion reduces the change in brightness of the plurality of operation buttons.

  Moreover, you may make it form so that a protrusion surface may become larger than the opposing surface with a light source. In this way, even if the positional relationship between the light source and the light receiving unit is deviated, the light from the light source can be more reliably collected on the distribution unit. Can be reduced.

  Furthermore, you may form so that a protrusion surface may become a circumferential surface centering on the arbitrary positions on the central axis of the said distribution part. By doing so, the protruding surface can be easily formed, and the light from the light source can be more reliably condensed on the distribution portion.

  Moreover, the operation button illumination unit according to the present invention includes the light guide member described above in the operation button illumination unit that shines a plurality of operation buttons made of a translucent member included in the electronic device by light from one light source, The light receiving part of the light guide member is provided so as to face the light source, the light received by the light receiving part is distributed by the distribution part, and the operation button is operated by the light that is distributed and guided in the divided light guide part. Shining. By doing so, even if there is a deviation in the positional relationship between the light source and the light receiving part of the light guide member, the light from the light source is condensed on the distribution part and distributed to each of the divided light guide parts. The change in the brightness of the operation buttons can be reduced.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an AV apparatus including a light guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a position of the light guide member, operation buttons, and light source of the AV apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an illumination example when there is no positional relationship deviation between the light guide member and the light source of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a light guide of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of illumination when the shift | offset | difference of positional relationship has arisen in the member and the light source.

  An AV (Audio-Visual) device 1 as an electronic device including the light guide member and the operation button illumination unit of the present invention described above is mounted on an automobile instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as an instrument panel) as a moving body. . Hereinafter, an arrow Y that is parallel to the surface of a CD or MD, which will be described later, and parallel to the direction in which the CD or MD is inserted or removed is referred to as a depth direction, and is parallel to the surface of the CD or MD and perpendicular to the depth direction Y The arrow X is called the width direction, and the arrow Z orthogonal to both the depth direction Y and the width direction X is called the thickness direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the AV device 1 includes a device main body 2, a CD (Compact Disk) player 3 as a playback device, an MD (Mini disc) player 4 as a playback device, and an AM / An FM tuner 5, a display unit 6, and an operation unit 7 are provided.

  The device body 2 is formed in a box shape and attached to the instrument panel described above. A single surface 2a (hereinafter referred to as the front surface) located on the front side of the apparatus main body 2 in FIG. 1 is provided with a CD insertion port 8, an MD insertion port 9, and an operation unit hole 13 (shown in FIG. 2). ) And are open. The front surface 2a is a surface that is exposed to the outside and faces an occupant (also referred to as a user) when the device main body 2 is attached to the instrument panel. The CD insertion slot 8 passes the CD inside, and inserts and removes the CD into and from the apparatus main body 2, that is, the CD player 3. The MD insertion port 9 passes the MD inwardly, and inserts and removes the MD into and from the apparatus main body 2, that is, the MD player 4. The operation portion hole 13 passes through the front surface 2a. The operation portion hole 13 accommodates an operation button 11 described later of the operation portion 7.

  The CD player 3 reads information on the CD inserted into the device main body 2 and outputs it as sound. The MD player 4 reads the information on the MD inserted into the device body 2 and outputs it as sound. The AM / FM tuner 5 receives a radio broadcast and outputs it as sound. The players 3 and 4 and the tuner 5 operate when a user presses an operation button 11 or the like, which will be described later, provided on the operation unit 7.

  The display unit 6 includes a display panel 10 that displays information including a fluorescent display tube attached to the front surface 2a. The display unit 6 displays on the display panel 10 information such as the CD or MD program being played and the name of the broadcasting station being received by the tuner 5.

  The operation unit 7 includes one composite switch 12, a plurality of operation buttons 11, a contact structure 14 (shown in FIG. 2), and the like. The composite switch 12 includes an operation knob 15 that is provided so as to be movable along a direction orthogonal to the front surface 2a and is rotatably supported around an axis orthogonal to the front surface 2a. The operation knob 15 is urged in a direction protruding from the front surface 2a, and is restricted from being detached from the front surface 2a by being locked to the front surface 2a or the like.

  The composite switch 12 turns on / off the power supply of the entire AV device 1 when the operation knob 15 is pressed, and rotates the operation knob 15 around the axis so that the volume of the program being played or received is Used to adjust.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation button 11 includes a front plate 16 having a rectangular planar shape and a plurality of peripheral plates 17 erected from the outer edge of the front plate 16. On the inner surface of the peripheral plate 17, a locking claw 18 protruding from the inner surface is provided. The operation button 11 is accommodated in the operation portion hole 13 in a state where the front plate 16 is parallel to the front surface 2a and exposed from the front surface 2a. The operation button 11 is slidably supported by the operation portion hole 13, that is, the device main body 2 so that the front plate 16 can protrude and retract from the front surface 2 a. In the illustrated example, a plurality (four) of operation buttons 11 are provided.

  In this best mode, the light guide member 40 for guiding the light for illuminating the two operation buttons 11 is laminated on the wiring board 19 via the rubber plate 21, and positioned by the fixing member 50, so that the device body 2. It is fixed inside. And in this best form, the some light guide member 40 is integrally formed by the plate-shaped connection member 40a, and simplification of the assembly | attachment with respect to the wiring board 19 of the light guide member 40 is aimed at. The connecting member 40a is formed with a through-hole or the like that allows various members to pass therethrough so as not to interfere with other members.

  The light guide member 40 includes a light receiving unit 41 that receives light for illuminating the two operation buttons 11 made of a translucent member from an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 60 that is one light source, and each of the two operation buttons 11. Are provided with two divided light guides 42 for guiding the light to shine, and a distribution unit 43 for distributing the light received by the light receiving unit 41 to each of the divided light guides 42.

  The light guide member 40 is configured so that the light receiving portion 41 faces the LED 60 and the light guided through the divided light guide portion 42 shines the operation button 11 corresponding to the divided light guide portion 42. It is positioned and fixed in 2. And even if the light-receiving part 41 shift | displaces in positional relationship with LED60, the protrusion surface 41a which light-receives so that the light from LED60 may be condensed on the distribution part 43 is provided.

  The distribution unit 43 is configured to have a pair of inclined surfaces 43 a having substantially V-shaped grooves with respect to the LED 60. And the central axis 43c of the distribution part 43 which passes the vertex 43b where those inclined surfaces 43a cross is designed so that it may be positioned through the center of LED60. The projecting surface 41 a is formed to be a circumferential surface centered at an arbitrary position on the central axis 43 c of the distribution unit 43. As for the shape of the distribution unit 43, if the light received by the light receiving unit 41 can be distributed to the divided light guide unit 42, the shape can be variously different such as a shape having a pair of arcuate surfaces.

  The divided light guide unit 42 reflects the light reflected by the inclined surface 43 a of the distribution unit 43 toward the operation button 11, and guides the light reflected by the reflection unit 42 a toward the operation button 11. A light emitting portion 42c that emits the light guided through the light guiding portion 42b toward the operation button 11.

  In this best mode, the divided light guide 42 is formed so that the emission part 42 c of the divided light guide 42 is disposed in the vicinity of the through hole 52 provided in the fixing member 50. It is possible to make the shape of the divided light guide portions 42 different from each other, for example, the portion 42b is penetrated from the through hole 52 of the fixing member 50 and the emitting portion 42c is arranged in the vicinity of the back surface of the operation button 11.

  Further, the projecting surface 41 a of the light receiving unit 41 is formed to be larger than the surface facing the LED (light source) 60. The size of the projecting surface 41a is designed based on a tolerance range in which deviation occurs due to soldering of the LED 60 to the wiring board 19, the shape tolerance of the light guide member 40, the wiring board 19, and the like.

  The fixing member 50 described above is disposed between one end portion in the width direction X of the operation button 11 and the boss portion 26, and operates in the direction orthogonal to the front surface 2 a, that is, along the slide direction of the operation button 11. The pressing member 31 arranged along with both the one end portion in the width direction X and the boss portion 26 is fitted and fixed so as to be movable in the sliding direction. A plurality of pressing members 31 are provided, each corresponding to the operation button 11.

  The wiring board 19 is accommodated in the apparatus main body 2, and has the contact 20 provided in the wiring pattern formed in the insulating surface. The rubber plate 21 is made of a synthetic resin having both insulation and elasticity. The rubber plate 21 is integrally provided with a flat plate portion 25 and a boss portion 26.

  When the operation button 11 is pressed by the user, the boss portion 26 is deformed by the pressing portion 31 against the elastic restoring force of the rubber plate 21, and the conductive plate 23 provided on the inner surface of the boss portion 26. However, the operation button 11 is turned on by contacting the contact 20 of the wiring board 19 and being electrically connected thereto. When the operation button 11 is no longer pressed by the user or the like, the light guide plate 23 is separated from the contact 20 by the restoring force of the rubber plate 21 and is turned off, and the rubber plate 21 presses the pressing portion 31. The operation button 11 is projected from the front surface 2a.

  Next, an example of illumination of the operation button 11 in the above-described configuration will be described below with reference to the drawings of FIGS. In order to simplify the description, only the light emitted from the center of the light source 60 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the LED 60 is soldered at an accurate position with respect to the wiring board 19 and assembled so that the positional relationship between the light guide member 40 and the LED 60 is not shifted by the fixing member 50, the light source 60. When is turned on, the light is received in the light guide member 40 from the protruding surface 41 a of the light receiving portion 41. The received light is guided toward the distribution unit 43, and is distributed by reflection on each divided light guide unit 42 by each inclined surface 43a.

  And among the distributed light, the light corresponding to the light beam between the light beam L1 and the light beam L2 in FIG. 3 is reflected by the reflection surface 42a of the divided light guide unit 42 and guided through the light guide 42b. The light is emitted from the emission part 42c toward the operation button 11. As a result, the user visually recognizes that the operation block 11 is shining because the light from the LED 60 is transmitted through the transmission areas H1 and H2 of the operation block 11. As described above, if the positional relationship between the light guide member 40 and the LED 60 does not shift, the light from the LED 60 is distributed by the distributing unit 43 so that the amount of light is substantially equal. Therefore, the projection areas H1 and H2 are uniform. Thus, there is no variation in the illumination range.

  Next, the case where the deviation amount T shown in FIG. 4 occurs in the positional relationship between the light guide member 43c and the LED 60 will be described. The shift amount T indicates the shift of the center of the LED 60 with respect to the central axis 43 c of the distribution unit 43.

  And the light from LED60 changes in the incident angle at the time of entering in the light guide member 40 in the light-receiving part 41 because the positional relationship shifted | deviated. In this case, there is a shift toward the left side in FIG. 4, and the projecting surface 41a is a circumferential surface. Therefore, more light than that forming the projecting surface 41a as a flat surface is generated as shown in FIG. The light can enter the light guide member 40 so as to face the inclined surface 43a and the divided light guide portion 42 on the middle right side.

  Of the incident light, the light corresponding to the light beam from the light beam L3 to the light beam L4 toward the operation button 11 on the left side in FIG. 4 is reflected by the reflection surface 42a of the divided light guide unit 42, and passes through the light guide 42b. The light is guided and emitted from the emission part 42 c toward the operation button 11. Also, the light corresponding to the light beam from the light beam L5 to the light beam L6 toward the operation button 11 on the right side in FIG. 4 is reflected by the reflection surface 42a of the divided light guide unit 42, and is guided through the light guide 42b and emitted. The light is emitted from the portion 42c toward the operation button 11.

  As a result, the user visually recognizes that the operation block 11 is shining because the light from the LED 60 is transmitted through the transmission areas H3 and H4 of the operation block 11. Since the positional relationship between the light guide member 40 and the LED 60 is shifted, the transmissive area H3 is slightly larger than the transmissive areas H1 and H2, and the transmissive area H4 is slightly larger than the transmissive areas H1 and H2. It is getting smaller. Therefore, the brightness variation between the operation buttons due to the shift generated in the positional relationship between the LED 60 and the light guide member 40 can be reduced to the extent that the user does not care.

  Therefore, according to the light guide member 40 of the present invention, the light receiving unit 41 that receives the light from the LED 60 facing the LED (light source) 60 that emits light that shines the two (plural) operation buttons 11 is provided. However, the projection surface 41a for receiving the light from the LED 60 so as to concentrate the light on the distribution unit 43 is provided. Therefore, even if the positional relationship between the light reception unit 41 and the LED 60 is shifted, the light from the LED 60 is distributed. Since the light is condensed on the portion 43 and distributed to each of the divided light guide portions 42, the change in the brightness of the operation button 11 due to the shift generated in the positional relationship between the light guide member 40 (light receiving portion 41) and the LED 60 is observed. Can be reduced.

  In addition, since the protruding surface 41a is formed so as to be larger than the surface facing the LED (light source) 60, even if the positional relationship between the LED 60 and the light receiving unit 41 is deviated, the distribution unit 43 has a distance from the LED 60. Since the light can be collected more reliably, the change in the brightness of the operation button 11 can be further reduced.

  Furthermore, since the protruding surface 41a is formed to be a circumferential surface centered on an arbitrary position on the central axis 43c of the distributing portion 43, the protruding surface 41a can be easily formed, and the distributing portion The light from the LED 60 can be more reliably collected on 43.

  In addition, the electronic device 1 having the operation button illumination unit according to the present invention is an operation button illumination that shines a plurality of operation buttons 11 made of a translucent member of the electronic device 1 by light from one LED (light source) 60. In the unit, the light guide member 40 described above is provided, and the light receiving portion 41 of the light guide member 40 is provided so as to face the LED 60, and the light received by the light receiving portion 41 is distributed by the distribution portion 43. Since the operation button 11 is made to shine by guiding the inside of the divided light guide portion 42, even if the positional relationship between the LED 60 and the light receiving portion 41 of the light guide member 40 is shifted, the light from the LED 60 is not Since the light is condensed on the distribution unit 43 and distributed to each of the divided light guide units 42, a change in the brightness of the operation button 11 can be reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the two operation buttons 11 are illuminated with one LED has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the case where a larger number of operation buttons 11 are illuminated. In this case, the number of the divided light guide parts 42 of the light guide member 40 and the shape of the distribution part 43 are increased in accordance with the number of the operation buttons 11 so that the light is condensed on the distribution part 43. This can be dealt with by forming the light receiving part 41 so as to receive light from the LED 60.

  Moreover, although the Example mentioned above demonstrated the case where the protrusion surface 41a of the light-receiving part 41 in the light guide member 40 was used as the circumferential surface, this invention is not limited to this, For example, near the center of LED60. A portion facing the predetermined surface or the entire surface may be a flat surface, and the circumferential surface and the inclined surface may be extended from the edge of the flat surface. In addition, at least a part of the protruding surface 41a of the light receiving portion 41 can be formed as a curved surface. That is, if the light is directed to the inclined surface 43a and the divided light guide portion 42 by the curved surface, there is no need to be concerned with the circumferential surface.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the AV device 1 attached to a car as an electronic device is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to the AV device 1 and may be applied to various electronic devices such as a telephone.

It is a perspective view showing AV equipment provided with a light guide member concerning one example of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of the light guide member of the AV apparatus shown by FIG. 1, an operation button, and a light source. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of illumination when the shift | offset | difference of positional relationship has not arisen in the light guide member and light source of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of illumination when the shift | offset | difference of positional relationship has arisen in the light guide member and light source of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 AV equipment (electronic equipment)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Operation button 19 Wiring board 40 Light guide member 41 Light-receiving part 41a Protruding surface 42 Division | segmentation light guide part 43 Distribution part 50 Fixing member 60 LED (light source)

Claims (6)

A light receiving unit that receives light from a single light source that shines a plurality of operation buttons made of a translucent member included in the electronic device, a plurality of divided light guide units that guide light that shines each of the plurality of operation buttons, and A distribution unit that distributes the light received by the light receiving unit toward each of the divided light guide units, the light receiving unit facing the light source, and the light guided in the divided light guide unit In the light guide member that is positioned and fixed in the electronic device so as to shine the operation button corresponding to the divided light guide unit,
A light guide member, wherein the light receiving portion is provided with a projecting surface that receives light so that the light from the light source is condensed on the distribution portion even if the positional relationship with the light source is shifted.   The light guide member according to claim 1, wherein the protruding surface is formed to be larger than a surface facing the light source.   The light guide member according to claim 1, wherein the protruding surface is formed so that at least a part thereof is a curved surface.   3. The light guide member according to claim 1, wherein the projecting surface is formed to be a circumferential surface centered at an arbitrary position on a central axis of the distribution unit. In an operation button illumination unit that shines a plurality of operation buttons made of a translucent member of an electronic device by light from one light source,
The light guide member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:
A light receiving portion of the light guide member is provided so as to face the light source, the light received by the light receiving portion is distributed by a distribution portion, and the operation button is distributed by the light guided and distributed in the divided light guide portion. An operation button lighting unit characterized in that it is made to shine.   An electronic device comprising the operation button illumination unit according to claim 4, wherein an operation button of the operation button illumination unit is exposed from a surface of a housing.

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