JP2008192535A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent, with a simple structure, a flange on the other end side from jumping out of a peripheral part of a through-hole for a key even when one end of an operation key with a flange is depressed. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of through-holes 12 for keys are formed on a housing body 10 covering a board 7 from its front surface side. Each operation key 14 arranged in the through-hole 12 for a key is provided with a flange 15 sliding into a step part 13 formed on the inside surface of a peripheral part of the through-hole 12 for a key. A first projecting part 18 electrically connecting a moving contact 22 to a fixed contact 23 on the board 7 when the operation key 14 is depressed is formed on an elastic sheet 16 arranged on the inside surface side of the operation key 14. Second projecting parts 20 are formed on inner peripheral sides of the elastic sheet 16 relative to the step parts 13 of the through-holes 12 for keys are formed by being spaced apart from the first projecting part 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  More particularly, the present invention relates to a structure for preventing an operation key from accidentally popping out from a key through hole.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an operation unit of a mobile phone, which is a representative example of an electronic device, positions an operation key 114 on an elastic sheet 116 made of silicon or the like using a jig or the like as shown in FIG. The conductive movable contact (dome key 122) is pushed by the projection 118 provided on the back surface so as to conduct to the fixed contact 123 of the substrate 107. The operation key 114 has a flange 115 that sinks into a step 113 provided on the inner surface of the peripheral edge of the key through hole 112. When the operation key 114 is incorporated into the housing main body 110, the surface of the housing main body 110 and the surface of the operation key 114 are set to the same height.

  In addition, for example, as in Patent Document 1, the elastic sheet on which the operation key is placed is sandwiched between the front case and the substrate, and the restoring force of the flexible portion of the skirt portion that is bent by receiving a bending load. It is known that each operation key is pushed up and the upper surface of the flange portion of each operation key comes into contact with the contact surface of the edge of the opening of the front case. In this electronic device, when the vibrator is operated, the operation key intermittently hits the front case to prevent generation of unpleasant noise (chattering sound).

Further, as in Patent Document 2, it is known that each operation key is attached to a sheet-like member when the flange portion is pushed into the storage portion in a state where the opening is widened. In this electronic device, when an external force of a predetermined strength or more is applied in the direction of pulling up the operation key, the eaves portion and the wall portion are deformed and the opening is widened, so that the operation key is removed from the button mounting portion. In addition, an eave portion made of an elastic body is interposed between the flange portion and the housing. When not pressed, the eave portion is in close contact with the flange portion and the front case. The front case is intermittently hit to prevent unpleasant noise.
JP 2004-1227827 A JP 2004-221000 A

  As described above, the operation key and the elastic sheet are attached by an adhesive when positioning with a jig, but the entire back surface of the operation key is not attached, but the adhesive is applied from the operation key. An adhesive is applied only to the center so as not to protrude. This is because, if the adhesive protrudes by mistake, it is bonded to the housing body and causes poor touch. Therefore, the current situation is that the periphery of the operation key is not bonded to the elastic sheet.

  In addition, the mobile phone is desired to be compact for its portability, and the operation key is not provided with a key through hole for each operation key in the casing body, for example, an operation adjacent in the vertical direction. Keys are arranged in one key through-hole, or operation keys adjacent in the lateral direction are arranged in one key through-hole, thereby reducing the area of the operation key as much as possible and improving operability. It is also done not to make it worse.

  Thus, the end of the operation key is not bonded to the elastic sheet, and particularly when a plurality of operation keys are arranged in one key through hole, as shown in FIG. When the key 114 is tilted more than necessary and the one end side is pressed, the flange 115 at the other end protrudes from the key through hole 112 of the housing body 110.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the object of the present invention is to have a simple structure, and even when one end of an operation key is pushed down, the flange on the other end side extends from the peripheral portion of the key through hole. It is to prevent jumping out.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, a second protrusion is provided apart from the first protrusion, in addition to the first protrusion that causes the conductive movable contact to conduct to the fixed contact on the substrate. .

In the first invention, the electronic device is
A housing body that covers the substrate from the surface side and has a plurality of key through holes;
An operation key having a flange that is disposed in the key through-hole and sinks into a step portion provided on the inner surface of the peripheral edge of the key through-hole;
An elastic sheet provided on the inner surface side of the operation key and having a first projecting portion that conducts the conductive movable contact to the fixed contact on the substrate when the operation key is depressed;
A second protrusion is formed on the inner side of the elastic sheet with respect to the step portion of the key through hole with a space from the first protrusion.

  According to the above configuration, when the operation key is pressed down, the first projecting portion causes the conductive movable contact to conduct to the fixed contact on the substrate, and the second projecting portion contacts the substrate so that the operation key is more than necessary. Inclination is prevented. For this reason, even if one end of the operation key is pressed down, the flange of the operation key does not jump out from the peripheral portion of the key through hole. Moreover, since the 2nd protrusion part can be shape | molded simultaneously with a 1st protrusion part to an elastic sheet, it is manufactured easily without raising a cost.

In the second invention, in the first invention,
Only the central part of the inner surface of the operation key is bonded to the elastic sheet.

  According to said structure, since an adhesive agent does not protrude from an operation key, it is adhere | attached on a housing body and the touch of an operation key does not worsen. In addition, since only the central part is bonded, when one end of the operation key is pressed down, the other end side rises and the operation key tends to float up. It is prevented to tilt more than necessary. For this reason, even if one end of the operation key is pressed down, the flange of the operation key does not jump out from the peripheral portion of the key through hole.

In the third invention, in the first or second invention,
The first protrusion and the second protrusion are integrally formed on the elastic sheet.

  According to said structure, since a 1st protrusion part and a 2nd protrusion part can be shape | molded integrally when shape | molding an elastic sheet, manufacture is very easy and a cost increase does not arise.

In a fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions,
A pair of the second protrusions are provided on the left and right or the top and bottom of the first protrusion.

  According to the above configuration, for example, if the operation key is long and thin, by providing the second protrusions on one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction, the operation key can be displayed when the operation key is pressed down. Since tilting is prevented, the flange of the operation key does not protrude from the peripheral edge of the key through hole.

In a fifth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions,
The second projecting portion is provided so as to surround the first projecting portion.

  According to the above configuration, when the operation key is pressed down, the second projecting portion on the opposite side reliably contacts the substrate surface regardless of which end of the operation key is pressed. The key is prevented from tilting. For this reason, the flange of the operation key does not jump out from the peripheral edge portion of the key through hole.

In a sixth invention, in any one of the first to fifth inventions,
A plurality of operation keys are provided side by side in one key through hole.

  According to said structure, since the area for providing the arranged several operation key can be made small, an electronic device becomes compact. On the other hand, since the peripheral part of the housing body does not exist between the operation keys, the operation keys are easily tilted, but the operation keys are prevented from being tilted more than necessary when the second projecting portion is in contact with the substrate. For this reason, even if one end of the operation key is pressed down, the flange of the operation key does not jump out from the peripheral portion of the key through hole.

In a seventh invention, in the first to sixth inventions,
A protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the peripheral edge of the key through hole, and the contact portion of the elastic sheet that covers the protrusion is in contact with the substrate.

  According to said structure, the elastic sheet which covers a projection part contacts a board | substrate, the rigidity of a housing | casing main body improves, and space is ensured on the inner surface side of an operation key, Therefore The touch of an operation key is good.

In the eighth invention, in the seventh invention,
The second protrusion is provided so as to have a gap between the substrate surface and the second protrusion.

  According to the above configuration, when the operation key is pressed down, the first protruding portion does not hinder the operation of pressing down the conductive movable contact, so that the operation key is not adversely affected.

In the ninth invention, in the eighth invention,
The gap between the second protrusion and the substrate is larger than the amount of movement change of the conductive movable contact provided on the substrate.

  According to the above configuration, even if the conductive movable contact is displaced by pressing down the operation key directly, the second protrusion does not contact the substrate surface, and when the operation key is tilted and pressed down, the first protrusion is conductive. When the movable movable contact is pushed down, the second protrusion is brought into contact with the substrate surface and the operation key is prevented from further tilting. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the flange of the operation key from jumping out from the peripheral portion of the key through hole while preventing the operation key from deteriorating.

In a tenth invention, in any one of the first to ninth inventions,
The electronic device is a mobile phone.

  According to said structure, since the flange of an operation key does not jump out from the peripheral part of a key through-hole, operation of the mobile telephone carried frequently and used frequently in daily life is performed comfortably.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the second projecting portion is spaced apart from the first projecting portion that conducts the conductive movable contact to the fixed contact on the inner peripheral side of the step portion of the key through hole in the elastic sheet. To prevent the operation key from being tilted when the operation key is depressed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the flange on the other end side from jumping out from the peripheral portion of the key through hole when one end of the operation key is pushed down with a simple structure.

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

  FIG. 2 shows an open state of the mobile phone 1 as an electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. For example, the cellular phone 1 includes a first casing 3 having a liquid crystal display unit 2, a second casing 5 having an operation unit 4 on the surface, and the first casing 3 and the second casing. 5 and a hinge portion 6 that is foldably connected to be openable and closable and supports the liquid crystal display portion 2 so that the front and back can be rotated.

  FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. A substrate 7 is provided in the second housing 5. The second housing 5 is made of a resin molded product, and includes a front surface housing body 10 and a back cover 11 that covers the back surface side of the housing body 10. The housing body 10 covers the substrate 7 from the surface side and has a plurality of key through holes 12. Each key through hole 12 is provided with one or more operation keys 14. That is, some of the key through holes 12 are arranged in one key through hole 12 in a state where a plurality of operation keys 14 adjacent in the vertical direction are arranged. The operation key 14 has a rectangular shape elongated in the left-right direction.

  On the inner surface of the peripheral edge portion of the key through hole 12, a step portion 13 is formed that is recessed toward the front surface side. The operation key 14 is made of a resin molded product, and has a flange 15 that sinks into the step portion 13.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the elastic sheet 16 to which the operation keys 14 are bonded as viewed from the front side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the elastic sheet 16 to which the operation keys 14 are bonded as seen from the back side. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged perspective view of a portion V in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the operation key 14 is positioned on a rubber elastic sheet 16 with a jig and attached with an adhesive. The entire back surface of the operation key 14 is not affixed, and the adhesive is applied only to the center so that the adhesive does not protrude from the operation key 14. This is because if the adhesive protrudes by mistake, it is adhered to the housing body 10 and causes a poor touch. Therefore, the periphery of the operation key 14 is not bonded to the elastic sheet 16. FIG. 5 shows an adhesive portion 30 to which this adhesive is applied.

  The elastic sheet 16 includes a first projecting portion 18 having a truncated cone shape, for example, projecting toward the substrate 7 directly below the operation key 14. In areas where the first protrusions 18 are not arranged, the height is higher than that of the first protrusions 18 and a plurality of contact portions 19 that contact the substrate 7 are provided so as to protrude toward the substrate 7 side. It has been. That is, the contact portion 19 serves to position the elastic sheet 16 by fitting with the protrusion 10 a provided on the housing body 10. Thus, a space 21 (shown only in FIG. 1) is formed between the elastic sheet 16 and the substrate 7 in a state where the contact portion 19 is in contact with the substrate 7. Since the elastic sheet 16 covering the protrusion 10a contacts the substrate 7, the rigidity of the housing body 10 is improved, and the space 21 is secured on the inner surface side of the operation key 14, so that the feel of the operation key 14 is reduced. Is prevented.

  On the other hand, the substrate 7 is provided with a conductive movable contact 22 that protrudes in a mountain shape toward the surface side and has an elastic force and has a circular shape in plan view. In addition, a conductive fixed contact 23 is provided on the back side of the movable contact 22. In a state where the operation key 14 is not depressed, the first projecting portion 18 hardly abuts against the movable contact 22 or is slightly abutted with a force that does not depress the movable contact 22.

  When the operation key 14 is depressed, the first protrusion 18 depresses the movable contact 22, so that the movable contact 22 is conducted to the fixed contact 23, and input to the substrate 7 is performed by each operation key 14. It has become. The operation key 14 is pushed back by the reaction force of the movable contact 22 when the user releases his / her finger.

  As a feature of the present invention, a second protrusion 20 is formed on the inner side of the step 13 of the key through hole 12 in the elastic sheet 16 at a distance from the first protrusion 18.

  That is, the second projecting portions 20 have an elliptical shape in plan view that is long in the vertical direction, and a pair of second projecting portions 20 are provided on the left and right sides of the first projecting portion 18 on the inner surface of the elastic sheet 16 according to the longitudinal direction (left and right direction) of the operation key 14. It has been. The first projecting portion 18, the second projecting portion 20, and the contact portion 19 are integrally formed with the elastic sheet 16. For this reason, manufacture is very easy and cost increase is minimized.

  Further, the gap X between the second protruding portion 20 and the substrate 7 is larger than the operation displacement amount Y of the conductive movable contact 22 provided on the substrate 7 (X> Y).

-Action-
Next, the operation of the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, when the operation key 14 is depressed, the first protrusion 18 depresses the movable contact 22, and the movable contact 22 is brought into conduction with the fixed contact 23 on the substrate 7.

  At this time, since the second protrusions 20 are provided on one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the operation key 14, even if the one end side of the operation key 14 is pushed down, the second protrusion 20 on the other end side. Comes into contact with the substrate 7. Therefore, the operation key 14 is effectively prevented from being tilted more than necessary, and the flange 15 of the operation key 14 does not jump out from the peripheral edge of the key through hole 12.

  Further, since the gap X between the second protrusion 20 and the substrate 7 is larger than the movement displacement amount Y of the movable contact 22 provided on the substrate 7, the movable contact 22 is displaced by pushing the operation key 14 downward. However, when the second protrusion 20 does not contact the surface of the substrate 7 and the operation key 14 is tilted and pushed down, the second protrusion 20 contacts the surface of the substrate 7 when the first protrusion 18 pushes down the movable contact 22. The operation key 14 is prevented from further tilting in contact. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the flange 15 of the operation key 14 from jumping out from the peripheral portion of the key through hole 12 while preventing the operation key 14 from deteriorating.

-Effect of the embodiment-
Therefore, according to the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, the second protrusion 20 is provided at a distance from the first protrusion 18 on the inner peripheral side of the step 13 of the key through hole 12 in the elastic sheet 16. The operation key 14 is prevented from being tilted when the operation key 14 is depressed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the flange 15 on the other end side from jumping out from the peripheral edge of the key through hole 12 when one end of the operation key 14 is pushed down with a simple structure.

  As described above, since the flange 15 of the operation key 14 does not protrude from the peripheral portion of the key through hole 12, the operation of the mobile phone 1 that is frequently carried and frequently used in daily life can be comfortably performed.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention may be configured as follows with respect to the above embodiment.

  That is, in the above embodiment, the electronic device is a mobile phone, but it may be a PC, a mobile tool, an electronic dictionary, a calculator, a copier, or the like. Further, it may be a mobile communication device such as PHS or PDA.

  In the above embodiment, since the operation key 14 is long and narrow in the left-right direction, the second protrusions 20 are provided on the left end side and the right end side in the longitudinal direction, respectively, but the operation key 14 is elongated in the vertical direction. In some cases, the second protrusions 20 may be provided in the vertical direction. This effectively prevents the operation key 14 from tilting when the operation key 14 is depressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the operation keys 14 are arranged in the up and down direction and provided in one key through hole 12, but may be arranged in the left and right direction and provided in one key through hole 12. Even in this case, the second protrusions 20 may be provided with the second protrusions 20 at both ends of the operation key 14 in the longitudinal direction.

  In addition, the second protrusion 20 may be provided so as to surround the first protrusion 18. Also in this case, when the operation key 14 is pressed down, the second projecting portion 20 on the opposite side reliably contacts the surface of the substrate 7 regardless of which end of the operation key 14 is pressed down. The operation key 14 is prevented from being tilted when For this reason, the flange 15 of the operation key 14 does not protrude from the peripheral portion of the key through hole 12.

  In addition, the above embodiment is an essentially preferable illustration, Comprising: It does not intend restrict | limiting the range of this invention, its application thing, or a use.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 2. It is a perspective view which shows the open state of the mobile telephone concerning embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the elastic sheet to which the operation key was adhere | attached from the front side. It is the perspective view which looked at the elastic sheet to which the operation key was adhere | attached from the back side. It is the V section enlarged perspective view of FIG. FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of an electronic apparatus according to a conventional technique.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile phone (electronic equipment)
7 Substrate 10 Housing Body 10a Protrusion 12 Key Through Hole 13 Step 14 Operation Key 15 Flange 16 Elastic Sheet 18 First Protrusion 19 Abutment 20 Second Protrusion 21 Space 22 Conductive Movable Contact 23 Fixed Contact 30 Bonding part

Claims (10)

A housing body that covers the substrate from the surface side and has a plurality of key through holes;
An operation key having a flange that is disposed in the key through-hole and sinks into a step portion provided on the inner surface of the peripheral edge of the key through-hole;
An elastic sheet provided on the inner surface side of the operation key and having a first projecting portion that conducts the conductive movable contact to the fixed contact on the substrate when the operation key is depressed;
An electronic device, wherein a second protrusion is formed at a distance from the first protrusion on the inner peripheral side of the step portion of the key through hole in the elastic sheet. The electronic device according to claim 1,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein only the central portion of the inner surface of the operation key is bonded to the elastic sheet. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2,
The electronic device, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are integrally formed with the elastic sheet. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A pair of the second projecting portions are provided on the left and right or the top and bottom of the first projecting portion. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The electronic device, wherein the second protrusion is provided so as to surround the periphery of the first protrusion. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An electronic apparatus comprising a plurality of operation keys arranged in one key through hole. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An electronic device, wherein a protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the peripheral edge of the key through-hole, and a contact portion of the elastic sheet covering the protrusion is in contact with the substrate. The electronic device according to claim 7,
The electronic device, wherein the second protrusion is provided so as to have a gap between the substrate surface and the second protrusion. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein
The gap between the said 2nd protrusion part and a board | substrate is larger than the operation | movement displacement amount of the electroconductive movable contact provided in the board | substrate, The electronic device characterized by the above-mentioned. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is a mobile phone.

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