JP2009076293A - Key input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key input device that has high design flexibility in interfacing to an electronic apparatus or the like and offers user-friendly button operation. <P>SOLUTION: The key input device has a structure wherein a metal dome 11 for imparting a click touch and a switch functionality to each button part on a circuit board 10 serving as a base is arranged; an LED 12 is arranged as a lighting device for each button; a printed sheet 13 that is printed to light a letter or a pattern indicated on each button is arranged on the LED 12; and a polarizing plate 14 is arranged on a top layer. The LED 12 can be replaced with an EL sheet 17. Such a structure can display only the buttons required for operation. Further, when button display is wholly turned off, nothing is displayed on the top face of the key input device, which also allows the design integrated with a housing of a portable apparatus, thereby improving the design performance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure of a key input device mounted on an electronic device such as a PC keyboard, a mobile phone, or a PDA.

  There is a method using an EL sheet as a conventional key input device. The structure of this key input device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional key input device.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10, a conventional key input device has a structure in which a fixed contact 100 is formed on a circuit board 10 serving as a base, a metal dome 11 is disposed thereon, and an EL sheet 17 is further disposed thereon. The sheet-like key operation pad 101 is arranged thereon, and the sheet 102 on which graphics such as buttons are printed is arranged on the uppermost layer. Each layer is bonded with a pressure-sensitive adhesive 15.

  When the user presses the sheet-like key operation pad 101 with a finger or the like from above, the metal dome 11 is deformed, the fixed contact 100 is electrically contacted, and key input can be performed. Furthermore, it becomes possible to give a sense of clicking by giving a feeling of clicking by vibration caused by deformation of the metal dome 11 simultaneously with key input. In the conventional example, the EL sheet 17 is used as a light source to illuminate the sheet 102 on which the figure is printed so that the operator can see the button figure when operating in a dark place. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-274331 (page 5, FIG. 15)

  In the conventional example, the structure of a key input device having a relatively flat key input unit has been shown. However, in a key input device in which buttons used in general electronic devices are independent from each other, a metal dome is similarly provided below the button unit. There is also a key input device having a structure in which an electric input and a click feeling are provided by pressing the button part, and the button part is lit with an LED or the like to facilitate operation in a dark place.

  In recent years, the operation assigned to one button of a key input unit has become complicated due to the high functionality of electronic devices such as mobile phones. Therefore, there is a tendency that the number of graphics indicating functions printed on the button portion is increased. It is difficult for the user to know which button to press. It is desirable to make it easy to understand which button the user should press appropriately.

  However, in the conventional key input device, since the sheet on which the graphic indicating the function of the button portion is printed is on the uppermost surface, the printed graphic is always visible, and in the case of a button to which many functions are assigned Has a problem that a lot of figures are printed on a limited area, which makes it very difficult to see and it is difficult for the user to know which button to press.

  Furthermore, the key input part greatly affects the design of the external appearance of the electronic device, so the irregularities of the button part and the graphic indicating the function printed on the surface have a great restriction on the design, and the degree of freedom in the design of the housing There are problems such as not.

In addition, when the EL sheet used as the button illumination is curved and stuck to the metal dome as in the conventional example, the EL sheet deforms in the same way as the metal dome each time the button is pressed. There is a problem that the electrode wiring in the EL sheet is easily disconnected and the durability is lowered.

  In addition, since the printed surface of the figure showing the function of each button is on the top surface, the printed figure may be discolored or faded when used for a long period of time, or it may be scratched on a surface by hitting a hard object If there is a problem, the figure may not be read.

  As is clear from the above, the conventional key input device has high durability, it is difficult to display which button to press properly to the user, and the design of the external appearance of the electronic device is inferior. is there.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a key input device structure that is durable, excellent in design, and easy for a user to operate.

  In order to solve the above problems, the key input device of the present invention basically employs the following constituent elements. In a key input device used for input of an electronic device or the like, a metal dome is arranged at a position corresponding to the input part on the circuit board, and an illumination device is provided for lighting this input part independently, and further, a position corresponding to the input part Further, a printing sheet is provided so that characters and patterns are arranged, and a polarizing plate is provided on the viewing side of the printing sheet.

  This polarizing plate is composed of two polarizing films. Further, the two polarizing films are arranged so that the polarization axes of the two polarizing films intersect each other at an angle between 10 ° and 80 °.

  There are a plurality of input areas, and a plurality of metal domes are also arranged. Alternatively, the print sheet and the polarizing plate may be integrated, and printing may be performed on the lower surface of the polarizing plate. Alternatively, the print sheet and the lighting device may be integrated and printing may be performed on the surface of the lighting device.

Further, the illumination device is a plurality of LED light sources. Alternatively, the lighting device may be an EL sheet that allows the input part to be lit independently. Furthermore, a touch sensor is arranged on the visual recognition side from the metal dome.

  By adopting the structure of the key input device according to the present invention, it is possible to emit light for each input position, so that the operator of the device can appropriately know the necessary buttons, thereby facilitating the operation. . Furthermore, since the figure printed on the surface can be hidden except when necessary, the degree of freedom can be given by the appearance design.

  The structure of the key input device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance when mounted on a mobile phone as an example of an electronic apparatus on which the key input device of the present invention is mounted. 2A is a diagram showing the appearance of the straight type mobile phone 80 in a state where the illumination is not turned on, and FIG. 2B shows the appearance when the illumination of the button unit 81 is turned on. ing. In FIG. 2A, since the illumination is not turned on, nothing is displayed on the surface of the button part 81, and the appearance is integrated with the housing. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the illumination of the button unit 81 is turned on in the telephone mode, the button is displayed in a place where nothing is displayed when the light is turned off. Since such a display can be performed, the boundary between the casing portion of the device and the button portion 81 can be made invisible, and the degree of freedom in the appearance design of the device is increased.

  Further, when the illumination of the liquid crystal display surface 82 is turned off as in the case where the illumination of the button portion 81 is turned off, nothing is displayed on the surface of the straight type mobile phone 80 as shown in FIG. When the illumination of the button part 81 and the liquid crystal display surface 82 is turned on, the button part 81 and the liquid crystal display surface 82 are displayed on the surface as shown in FIG. You can have it.

  Next, the structure of the key input device of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional structure of a key input device used in the present invention. A metal dome 11 for providing a click feeling and a switch function is disposed on each button portion on the circuit board 10 serving as a base, and an LED 12 is disposed as a lighting device for each button. Further, a printed sheet 13 printed so that the letters and patterns of the respective buttons are lit thereon is disposed thereon, and a polarizing plate 14 is disposed on the uppermost layer. Each layer is adhered and fixed by an adhesive 15. In addition, the spacer 16 is used to adjust the gap between the circuit board 10 and the printed sheet 13 so that the metal dome 11 can be appropriately deformed.

  Although not shown, the circuit board 10 is provided with contact electrodes for electrical connection with the metal dome 11, and further, power supply wiring for lighting the LEDs 12 is also formed.

  FIG. 1B shows a structure when the lighting device is changed from the LED 12 to the EL sheet 17. A metal dome 11 for imparting a click feeling and a switch function is disposed on each button portion on the circuit board 10 as a base, and an EL sheet 17 wired so that each button can be lit independently is disposed thereon. Further, a printed sheet 13 printed so that the letters and patterns of the respective buttons are lit thereon is disposed thereon, and a polarizing plate 14 is disposed on the uppermost layer. Also in this case, each layer is bonded and fixed by the adhesive 15 as in the structure of FIG. Further, the spacer 16 is used to adjust the gap between the circuit board 10 and the EL sheet 17 so that the metal dome 11 can be appropriately deformed.

  Each button portion allows the graphic printed on the print sheet 13 by the LED 12 or the EL sheet 17 to shine independently. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the LED 12 is used for illumination, the LED 12 is arranged on the circuit board 10 so as to match the position of each graphic printed on the print sheet 13.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, when the EL sheet 17 is illuminated, an electrode pattern is formed in the EL sheet 17 so that the figures printed on the printing sheet 13 are lit independently. Enable lighting independently.

  With such a structure, it is possible to freely turn on and off the graphic of each button according to the program of the electronic device.

  Furthermore, since the EL sheet is fixed flatly for the illumination of the present invention, it is not bent like the EL sheet used in the conventional example, so there is little deformation even when the button is pressed with a finger. Mu Therefore, the electrode wiring in the EL sheet is hard to break and the durability can be further increased.

Next, the structure of the polarizing plate disposed on the outermost surface will be described with reference to FIG. As the polarizing plate used in the present invention, two polarizing films 20 having different vibration directions of transmitted light are used as shown in FIG. When the transmission direction 21 in the two polarizing films 20 is set to be parallel, it is almost transparent, and the pattern of the lower printing sheet 13 can be seen through. In addition, when setting is performed by shifting by 90 °, light in any direction is not transmitted, so that the screen becomes dark, and even when the lighting device is turned on, the buttons cannot be seen at all. Therefore, the two polarizing films 20 are at an angle between 10 ° and 80 °, and the angle at which the pattern of the printed pattern 13 cannot be seen but the transparency becomes such that when the illumination is turned on, the figure of each button is turned on. Adjust to overlay. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the polarizing plate 14 used in the present invention has a structure in which two polarizing films 20 are stacked and attached with an adhesive 15. By doing so, nothing is displayed when there is no illumination, and when the illumination is turned on, it is possible to turn on the button portion and display a graphic representing the function of the button.

  Next, the printing sheet 13 used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, figures such as numbers, symbols and alphabets representing the function of the input part 30 are printed, and the figure part is printed so as to be inverted so that light can pass through. Here, the input portion 30 only indicates a region where input is possible, and does not indicate another component member on the print sheet 13. By providing such a print sheet 13, the figure of each button can be turned on independently by the lighting device. Various functions can be supported by changing the graphic to be printed on the print sheet 13 in accordance with the functions installed in the electronic device.

  Next, display examples of the key input device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where the lighting device is not turned on. Since the polarizing plate 14 is on the viewing side of the printed sheet, the pattern of the printed sheet 13 shown in FIG. 4 cannot be seen through, and nothing can be displayed on the surface. Moreover, it can respond also to colors other than black by coloring the polarizing plate 14.

  FIG. 6 shows a display example when the telephone mode is set. In this case, the illuminating device is turned on only at the position of the graphic necessary for making a call, and the necessary graphic is displayed through the polarizing plate 14 so that the unnecessary display cannot be seen.

  FIG. 7 shows a display example when the mode for creating a mail is set. In this case as well, only the figures necessary for entering characters are displayed through the polarizing plate 14.

  FIG. 8 shows a display example when the mode is set to play music. In this case, only graphics necessary for music generation are displayed through the polarizing plate 14.

  As described above, the button display can be changed according to the function of the electronic device such as the mobile phone. Furthermore, by setting so as not to accept an input of a button that is not used when switching to each mode, it is possible to prevent an erroneous input due to a wrong button hit.

  Next, the structure when the switch function in the key input device of the present invention is performed by a touch panel will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG.

  FIG. 9A shows a cross-sectional structure when an LED is used as the illumination light source. A metal dome 11 that gives a click feeling to each button portion on the circuit board 10 serving as a base is arranged, and further, an LED 12 is arranged as an illumination device for each button, and letters and patterns of each button are lit on the LED 12. The printed sheet 13 printed on the sheet is disposed, the touch panel 90 is disposed thereon, and the polarizing plate 14 is disposed on the uppermost layer.

FIG. 9B shows a structure when an EL sheet 17 is used as an illumination light source. Also in this case, a metal dome 11 that gives a click feeling to each button portion on the circuit board 10 serving as a base is disposed, and further, an EL sheet 17 is disposed as an illumination device for each button, and further, the letters of each button and The printed sheet 13 printed so that the pattern is lit is disposed, the touch panel 90 is disposed thereon, and the polarizing plate 14 is disposed on the uppermost layer. Here, the position of the touch panel 90 is arranged between the polarizing plate 14 and the printing sheet 13, but a structure arranged on the polarizing plate 14 may be used.

  When the touch panel is used in this way, the metal dome 11 is not electrically connected at all, and acts only to give a click feeling when the button is pressed. Therefore, although not shown, the circuit board 10 does not require any electrical wiring and can be greatly simplified.

  In addition, it is possible to further improve the durability of the switch input by using the touch panel 90 having no movable part for the button input in this manner.

  The printing sheet 13 on which the graphic of each button shown in the present invention is printed is a single sheet member, but the printing pattern is printed directly on the lower surface of the polarizing plate 14 or printed on the surface of the EL sheet 17. Can have the same effect. In this case, the number of members constituting the key input device can be further reduced.

  As described above, in the key input device of the present invention, only necessary input parts are displayed in accordance with each mode, so that the user can properly understand which button to press, and the button operation is wrong. Disappears. Furthermore, if all the button displays are turned off, nothing is displayed on the surface of the key input device, so the design is improved.

  As is clear from the above description, the key input device of the present invention can solve the problems of the conventional example and provide an interface that is easy for the user of the electronic device to understand. Further, when the device is not used, the surface is flat and nothing is displayed, and a design that is integrated with the housing design of the device is possible, and the degree of freedom in designing the device can be increased.

  Further, since the figure is not printed on the surface, deterioration of the printed surface due to discoloration or scratches does not occur after long-term use, and the button display does not become difficult to see. In this way, it is possible to provide an input device that is inexpensive, durable, and excellent in design for a user of an electronic device.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the key input device used by this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the mobile telephone carrying the key input device of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the polarizing plate used by this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the printing sheet used by this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the key input device of this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the key input device of this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the key input device of this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the key input device of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the key input device of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional key input device.

Explanation of symbols

10 Circuit board 11 Metal dome 12 LED
13 Print sheet 14 Polarizing plate 15 Adhesive 16 Spacer 17 EL sheet 20 Polarizing film 21 Direction of transmission 80 Straight type mobile phone 81 Button part
82 Liquid crystal display surface 90 Touch panel 100 Fixed contact 101 Key operation pad 102 Sheet

Claims (9)

In key input devices used for input of electronic devices,
A metal dome is arranged at a position corresponding to the input part on the circuit board, and an illumination device is provided for lighting the input part independently.
A print sheet is provided so that characters and patterns are arranged at positions corresponding to the input parts,
Furthermore, a polarizing plate is provided on the viewing side of the printed sheet.   The key input device according to claim 1, wherein the polarizing plate includes two polarizing films.   The key input according to claim 2, wherein the two polarizing films are arranged so that polarization axes of the two polarizing films intersect each other at an angle between 10 ° and 80 °. apparatus.   The key input device according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of the input areas, and a plurality of the metal domes are also arranged.   The key input device according to claim 1, wherein the printing sheet and the polarizing plate are integrated, and printing is performed on a lower surface of the polarizing plate.   The key input device according to claim 1, wherein the printing sheet and the lighting device are integrated, and printing is performed on a surface of the lighting device. The key input device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is a plurality of LED light sources.   The key input device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device is an EL sheet that allows the input part to be lit independently.   The key input device according to claim 1, wherein a touch sensor is disposed on a viewing side of the metal dome.

Images