JP2009218127A - Key input device, and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key input device improved in durability of a display device. <P>SOLUTION: This key input device is structured to show display information of display devices 23-25 through key tops 19a-19c, 20a-20c, and 21a-21c, respectively, and characterized by loosely inserting the display devices into spaces 19d-21d formed in the key tops. When a key operation is carried out, movement is not generated in the key device, so that the display device is not deformed. Accordingly, the key input device improved in durability of the display device can be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a key input device, and more specifically, a key input device configured by sandwiching a display device such as electronic paper between a key top and a switch element, and an electronic apparatus including the key input device About.

  For example, a cellular phone is equipped with a key input device having many keys such as a numeric keypad and an on-hook / off-hook key. The key top (key operation surface) of this key input device is printed or engraved with a notation (characters, symbols, etc.) that represents each key function. In the case of such printing or engraving, each Since the orientation of the notation of the key top is fixed in accordance with the general way of holding the mobile phone (usually vertical holding), there is no denying the inconvenience when using the mobile phone in a different orientation (sideways or the like).

  Alternatively, a plurality of functions may be assigned to one key. In such a case, it is preferable to uniquely display only a specific function notation that can be executed at an arbitrary time. In the case of printing or engraving, the only way was to write all the function notations assigned to them, which was inconvenient.

  Therefore, as a conventional technique for dealing with these inconveniences, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 below is known.

  The mechanism of this prior art is roughly as follows. In other words, a display device that displays key characters on a switch sheet (in the prior art, electronic paper: an ultra-thin display device made of a soft material that can be used like paper, and how many times data is displayed and erased. The power consumption is small because the power is consumed only when the screen contents are changed, and the display can be maintained even when the power is turned off. A transparent key top is placed on top. According to this, the above-mentioned inconvenience can be solved by appropriately changing the display of the electronic paper (for example, changing the direction of the notation or changing the contents of the notation).

JP 2005-352987 A

  However, the conventional technology has a problem that the durability of the display device is inferior.

  That is, in the prior art, a mechanism of “disposing a display device on a switch sheet and disposing a transparent key top on the display device” is disclosed. It is understood that the switch sheet and the key top are in direct contact with the upper and lower surfaces, respectively. In such a direct contact structure, the key operating force applied to the key top is applied to the display device. Therefore, mechanical stress is applied to the display device every time a key is operated. For this reason, the possibility that the display device may be damaged by frequent key operations cannot be denied.

  Therefore, the present invention is to provide a key input device intended to improve the durability of a display device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the key input device configured to show the key display information of the display device corresponding to the key through the key top, in the space formed in the key top, The display device is loosely inserted.
The invention described in claim 1 described above may be as follows.
The width of the space in the operation direction of the key top is set to be equal to or larger than the key stroke of the key top (the invention according to claim 2).
A key rubber is disposed on the lower surface of the key top, and a switch element is provided corresponding to a protrusion integrally formed on the lower surface of the key rubber.
A switch element is provided corresponding to the protrusion integrally formed on the lower surface of the key top.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising the key input device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

  According to the present invention, since the display device is loosely inserted in the space formed in the key top, the display device does not move when the key operation is performed, and the display device is not deformed, so that the durability of the device is improved. It is possible to provide a key input device that achieves the above.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking application to a mobile phone as an example.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a mobile phone. In this figure, the mobile phone 1 has a foldable structure, although not particularly limited thereto, and the main body 2 and the upper lid 3 are connected by a hinge mechanism 4. The main surface of the upper lid 3 is provided with a liquid crystal display 5 and a loudspeaker speaker hole 6 so that the liquid crystal display 5 and the loudspeaker speaker hole 6 are exposed when the upper lid part 3 is opened (shown). It has become.

  On the other hand, a key input device 7 composed of a large number of keys and a microphone sound collection hole 8 are provided on the main surface of the main body 2, and some side walls of the main body 2 have arbitrary functions. Switches 9 to 13 and an external connection terminal portion 14 are provided.

  FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of the main part of the key input device 7. In this figure, the key input device 7 includes at least a casing portion 18 (in the drawing, n = 3 for convenience) having a long hole 15 to 17 (this casing portion 18 is a part of the main body portion 2). And the key tops 19a to 19c separated into m pieces (for convenience, m = 3 in the figure) inserted into the elongated holes 15 to 17 of the housing portion 18 from below in the drawing. Each of the key top portion 22 having an n-row key group 19 to 21 composed of 20a to 20c and 21a to 21c and the n-row key group 19 to 21 of the key top portion 22 includes the key group 19 to 21. Inserted into the spaces 19d, 20d, and 21d formed along the longitudinal direction (the arrangement directions of the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c) with some play (hereinafter referred to as loose insertion). N display devices 23 to 25, A key rubber 26 made of an elastic material disposed in contact with the lower surface of the key top portion 22, and n × m protrusions 26 a to 26 that are disposed directly below the key rubber 26 and integrally formed on the lower surface of the key rubber 26. And an electronic board 27 having n × m switch elements 27a to 27i corresponding to each of 26i.

  Here, the key top portion 22 refers to a component in which n × m key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c are grouped. That is, in the illustrated example, since n = 3 and m = 3, it indicates a total of nine key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c. The n × m key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c are separable parts, each of which is divided into m pieces (three pieces in the figure), and n The key groups 19 to 21 are arranged in columns (three columns in the figure).

  The first of the functions required for the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c is that individual key operations are possible, that is, the movement of the key tops when any key top is depressed. Accordingly, it is intended to prevent an unnecessary following operation from occurring in adjacent key tops. For this purpose, it is desirable to use a material having a certain degree of hardness for the material of the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, 21a to 21c, and further, a slight gap is secured between the adjacent key tops. Alternatively, if the gap cannot be secured, it is desirable to reduce the frictional resistance of the contact surfaces by processing the contact surfaces between the key tops or forming a required lubricating film.

  The second of the functions required for the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c is that of the display devices 23 to 25 located under the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c. The key display information is made transparent so that it can be seen from the outside. For this purpose, it is desirable to use a transparent material for the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c. In addition, in order to allow selective visibility of key information, i.e., only one key information can be seen through one key top, for example, each key top 19a-19c, 20a-20c, 21a. ˜21c only the upper surface is made transparent, or each key top 19a-19c, 20a-20c, 21a-21c is made permeable and the key tops 19a-19c, 20a-20c are made transparent. , 21a to 21c are desirably light-shielding surfaces (non-transmissive surfaces). Alternatively, a polarization plane may be formed on the upper surfaces of the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c to shield transmitted light from an oblique direction.

  As described above, the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c only have to have the two functions (first and second functions). In the present embodiment, although not particularly limited thereto, a transparent hard resin, such as acrylic or polycarbonate, is used, and the side surfaces of the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c are used. It is assumed that only the upper surfaces of the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c have transparency by forming a light shielding film.

  As described above, since the top surface of the key top portion 22 is made of a transparent material, the display information of the display devices 23 to 25 inserted in the spaces 19d, 20d, and 21d of the key top portion 22 is used as the key top. The key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c of the portion 22 can be seen from the outside. Incidentally, “transparency” of the key top portion 22 does not mean only complete transparency (transmittance close to 100%). It may be translucent. At least the display information of the display devices 23 to 25 may be transparent enough to be seen from the outside through the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c of the key top portion 22.

  FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2) of the key input device 7. In this cross-sectional view, a part of the key top portion 22 (related portion of the key top 19c) is taken out and shown, but this is for convenience of illustration and has no particular meaning. The cross sections of the other key tops 19a, 19b, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c are substantially the same.

  As shown in this figure, a key rubber 26 is in contact with the lower surface of the key top portion 22 where the key top 19c is exposed upward from the elongated hole 15 of the housing portion 18 in the drawing. The integrally formed protrusion 26 c is in contact with the switch element 27 c on the electronic substrate 27.

  Here, although not particularly limited, the switch element 27c (and the other switch elements 27a, 27b, 27d to 27i) are of a type called a “metal dome”, specifically, an elastic elastic material. The edge portion of the dome body 28 made of a body (conductive rubber or the like) is bonded and fixed to the first contact 29 of the electronic board 27, and the second portion is placed at a predetermined position (a position just below the top of the dome body 28) of the electronic board 27. The one provided with the contact 30 is used.

  In such a configuration, when the key input device 7 is not operated, that is, when the operation force P from the top to the bottom of the drawing is not applied to the key top 19c, the key top portion 22 and the key rubber 26 are The key top 19c is projected from the elongated hole 15 of the casing portion 18 in response to the elastic force of the switch element 27c (self-returning force of the dome body 28). In this steady state, the switch element 27c is off because the dome body 28 of the switch element 27c is not deformed.

  On the other hand, when the operating force P is applied to the key top 19c, the key top portion 22 and the key rubber 26 move downward in the drawing in response to the operating force P, and the switch element is formed by the protrusion 26c of the key rubber 26. The dome body 28 of 27c is deformed and crushed. Finally, the top of the dome body 28 and the second contact 30 come into contact with each other, and an electric path of the second contact 30 → the dome body 28 → the first contact 29 is formed. As a result, the switch element 27c is turned on. When the operating force P is removed, the restoring force of the dome body 28 causes the key top portion 22 and the key rubber 26 to move upward in the drawing, the switch element 27c is turned off, and the key top 19c returns to the steady state.

  Thus, in the key input device 7 of the present embodiment, the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, 20a to 20c, depending on the presence or absence of the operation force P to the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, 21a to 21c, In addition to turning on and off the switch elements 27a to 27i provided corresponding to 21a to 21c, it is possible to obtain special effects as described below.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the display devices 23 to 24 are “loosely inserted” in the spaces 19 d, 20 d, and 21 d provided in the key top portion 22. As described above, “free insertion” means a state of being inserted with some play, so that the display devices 23 to 24 are not affected by the operation force P. This is because the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c move downward with the operation force P, or the key tops 19a to 19c and 20a to 20c with the release of the operation force P. This is because even if the devices 21a to 21c move upward, the display devices 23 to 24 do not move due to the above-mentioned “loose insertion”.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the display devices 23 to 24 do not move with the vertical movement of the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c, the deformation of the character display devices 23 to 24 is avoided. It is possible to obtain a special effect that the durability of the character display devices 23 to 24 can be improved.

  In addition, more preferably, the inner dimensions of the spaces 19d, 20d, 21d provided in the key top portion 22 in the vertical direction (see arrow B in the drawing), in other words, the key tops of the spaces 19d, 20d, 21d. 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c in the direction of operation (direction in which the operation force P is applied) are set as key stroke amounts (switch elements 27a to 27a to 21a to 21c, 20a to 20c, 21a to 21c). The maximum deformation amount of the dome body 28 of 27i (see arrow C in the drawing) is preferably equal to or larger than that. That is, it is desirable that B = C or B> C. Even if vertical movement occurs in the key tops 19a to 19c, 20a to 20c, and 21a to 21c, it is possible to reliably avoid the collision between the ceilings and floors of the spaces 19d, 20d, and 21d and the display devices 23 to 24, This is because the durability of the character display devices 23 to 24 can be further improved.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one display device and key group. Here, the key group 19 in the first column is taken as an example, but the same applies to the key groups 20 and 21 in the other columns.

  In this figure, a character display device 23 has a flat display unit 32 such as electronic paper, backlight liquid crystal, organic liquid crystal, or EL panel mounted on a horizontally long flexible substrate 31 and one end of the flexible substrate 31. , The extended portion is used as a flexible line 33, and a connection terminal 34 is formed at the tip of the flexible line 33. The flat display unit 32 is provided with the same number of display areas 32a to 32c as the key tops 19a to 19c corresponding to the character display device 23, and is appropriately input from a display control unit (not shown) via the connection terminal 34. In response to the display signal, key display information such as arbitrary characters and symbols can be displayed.

  Incidentally, in the drawing, the alphabet “A” is displayed in the display area 32a corresponding to the key top 19a, the alphabet “B” is displayed in the display area 32b corresponding to the key top 19b, and corresponds to the key top 19c. The alphabet “C” is displayed in the display area 32c, but this is merely an example. Appropriate key display information (information on the key tops 19a to 19c) at that time may be displayed in a required direction.

  As described above, the important point is that the display device 23 is “freely inserted” in the space 19 d provided in the key top portion 22. It is because the durability of the character display device 23 can be improved without being affected by the vertical movement of the key top portion 22 by loose insertion.

  In order to “freely insert” the display device 23 in the space 19 d, it is necessary to fix the display device 23 to a non-moving member other than the key top portion 22, typically the housing portion 18. As the fixing method, for example, as shown in the figure, the pin 18a formed on the lower surface of the housing portion 18 is inserted into the alignment hole 31a formed in the flexible substrate 31 of the display device 23, and the flexible line 33 is attached. The connecting terminal 34 at the tip of the flexible line 33 may be bent and fixed to a contact (not shown) of the electronic board 27 by soldering.

  FIG. 5 is also a cross-sectional view of one display device and a key group, and here, the key group 19 in the first row is taken as an example. The difference from the sectional view (FIG. 4) is the structure of the character display device 23. That is, in this figure, the character display device 23 has a flat display portion 32 such as electronic paper, backlight liquid crystal, organic liquid crystal, or EL panel mounted on a horizontally long rectangular rigid substrate 35 and the rigid substrate 35. A flexible line 33 is connected to one end of the flexible line 33, and a connection terminal 34 is formed at the tip of the flexible line 33.

  For example, the display device 23 and the casing 18 may be fixed by fitting the edge of the rigid substrate 35 into the grooves 18b and 18c formed in the casing 18 and bending the flexible line 33 to flexibly. The connection terminal 34 at the tip of the line 33 may be soldered and fixed to a contact (not shown) of the electronic substrate 27.

  In the above embodiment, the display devices 23 to 25 are loosely inserted in the spaces 19d, 20d, and 21d of the key top portion 22, the key rubber 26 is disposed in contact with the lower surface of the key top portion 22, and the The protrusions 26a to 26i integrally formed on the lower surface of the key rubber 26 are configured to abut against each of the switch elements 27a to 27i of the electronic board 27. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode, and for example, the following deformation is performed. May be.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a first modification. In this figure, the key top portion 36 has a reverse concave cross section made of a transparent elastic material. The top plate portion of the reverse concave shape is used as a key top 36a, and a display device is provided in the space 36d inside the reverse concave shape. 23, and the tip of one side wall (the left side wall 36b in the figure) continuous to the key top 36a is in contact with the switch element 27a of the electronic board 27, and the other side (in the figure, An elastic member 37 such as a spring is contracted between the tip of the right side wall 36c) and the electronic substrate 27.

  Even in such a configuration, when the operation force P from the top to the bottom of the drawing is not applied to the key top 36a, the key top portion 36 receives the elastic force of the elastic member 37 and the switch element 27a. In other words, that is, the key top 36 a is protruded from the elongated hole 15 of the housing portion 18. In this steady state, the switch element 27a is off.

  On the other hand, when the operating force P is applied to the key top 36a, in response to the operating force P, the key top portion 36 moves downward in the drawing and pushes against the tip of the left side wall 36b of the key top portion 36. Then, the switch element 27a is deformed and crushed. Finally, the switch element 27a is turned on. However, when the operating force P is removed, the key top portion 36 moves upward in the drawing by the restoring force of the elastic member 37 and the switch element 27a, and the switch element 27a is turned off. Thus, the key top 36a returns to the steady state.

  As described above, also in the first modification, the switch element 27a provided corresponding to the key top 36a can be turned on / off according to the presence / absence of the operation force P to the key top 36a. In addition, since the display device 23 does not move as the key top 36a moves up and down, the character display device 23 can be prevented from being deformed, and the durability of the character display device 23 can be improved. An effect can be obtained.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second modification, in which the key rubber 26 among the components shown in FIG. 3 is not required. That is, the key rubber 26 is made unnecessary by integrally forming a projection 26c ′ similar to the projection 26c of the key rubber 26 of FIG. 3 on the lower surface of the key top portion 22 ′. In this way, the number of parts can be reduced, which contributes to cost reduction.

  However, in view of the design flexibility of the key top portion 22 ′, it is desirable to adopt the configuration of FIG. 3, that is, the configuration in which the key top portion 22 and the key rubber 26 are separated. The key top portion 22 is required to have transparency, a certain degree of hardness, and a beautiful design, while the key rubber 26 has “flexibility” in addition to a hardness that allows the switch element 27c to be turned on / off. It is also required. That is, when the protrusion 26c ′ is integrally formed on the lower surface of the key top portion 22 ′, “flexibility” is required in addition to the above three requirements (permeability, hardness, and aesthetic design). This is because certain restrictions are imposed on the material selection of the key top portion 22 'as compared with the case of only the above three requirements (permeability, hardness, and design aesthetics).

  In the above embodiment, application to a mobile phone has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. It can be widely applied to electronic devices having a key input device with many keys, and is used for all electronic devices including portable electronic devices such as cameras, PDAs, notebook computers, wearable computers, calculators, electronic dictionaries, etc. be able to.

It is an external view of a mobile phone. 3 is a structural diagram of a main part of a key input device 7. FIG. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section (a cross-section taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2) of the key input device 7. It is sectional drawing of one display device and a key group (when a display device is comprised with the flexible substrate). It is sectional drawing of one display device and a key group (when a display device is comprised with the rigid board | substrate). It is a figure which shows a 1st modification. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification.

Explanation of symbols

7 Key input device 19a to 19c Key top 19d to 21d Space 20a to 20c Key top 21a to 21c Key top 22 Key top part 23 to 25 Display device 26 Key rubber 26a to 26i Projection 26c 'Projection 27a to 27i Switch element 36 Key top part 36a key top

Claims (5)

In the key input device configured to show the key display information of the display device provided corresponding to the key through the key top,
A key input device, wherein the display device is loosely inserted in a space formed in the key top.   The key input device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the space in the operation direction of the key top is set to be equal to or larger than a key stroke of the key top.   The key input device according to claim 1, wherein a key rubber is disposed on a lower surface of the key top, and a switch element is provided corresponding to a protrusion integrally formed on the lower surface of the key rubber.   The key input device according to claim 1, wherein a switch element is provided corresponding to a protrusion integrally formed on a lower surface of the key top.   An electronic apparatus comprising the key input device according to claim 1.

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