JP2009294272A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device, effectively protecting a liquid crystal display panel from foreign matter and external force. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic device includes a liquid crystal display panel 6, a lighting unit 16 for lighting the liquid crystal display panel 6, and a liquid crystal protective window member 7 which is a transparent window part for protecting a display surface 6a of the liquid crystal display panel 6, wherein the liquid crystal protective window member 7 includes sidewall parts 7<SB>c1</SB>-7<SB>c3</SB>formed in the periphery of the window part, and the sidewall parts 7<SB>c1</SB>-7<SB>c3</SB>perform positioning for the liquid crystal display panel 6 and the lighting unit 16 in the surface direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic apparatus having a liquid crystal display panel (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”), a liquid crystal protection window that protects the LCD with a transparent window portion, and a liquid crystal illumination unit that illuminates the LCD is known. Although the LCD and the liquid crystal protective window are designed to be in close contact with each other, a gap may be generated between the two due to manufacturing errors or warpage, and foreign matter may enter the LCD or the liquid crystal lighting unit. In addition, an external force applied to the liquid crystal protection window may be transmitted to the surface of the LCD to cause malfunction or breakage of the LCD.

In order to solve the former problem, Patent Document 1 provides a leg that abuts against the substrate in the vicinity of the corner of the LCD holding frame, and attaches an urging member to the leg so that the LCD protective window and the LCD are in close contact with each other. . In order to solve the latter problem, in Patent Document 2, the LCD is housed in the LCD holding frame, and the wall of the LCD holding frame is made slightly higher than the thickness of the LCD and is brought into contact with the exterior cover.
JP 2004-120350 A JP 2006-251241 A

  However, the method of Patent Document 1 causes an increase in cost, an increase in the number of parts, and an increase in assembly man-hours. Further, in the method of Patent Document 2, the LCD holding frame becomes large in order to maintain the rigidity of the LCD holding frame, and even if the LCD holding frame is brought into contact with the exterior cover, an external force is applied to the liquid crystal protection window itself. In such a case, there is a concern about bending of the liquid crystal protection window itself.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that effectively protects a liquid crystal display panel from foreign matter and external force.

    An electronic apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel that displays an image, an illumination unit that illuminates the liquid crystal display panel, and a window member that covers a display surface of the liquid crystal display panel with a transparent window portion. In the electronic device, a side wall portion is formed around the window portion in the window member, and the side wall portion determines a position in a surface direction of the liquid crystal display panel and the illumination unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electronic device which protects a liquid crystal display panel effectively from a foreign material or external force can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an electronic imaging apparatus (digital camera) as an example of an electronic apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2 are a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of the electronic image pickup apparatus of the present embodiment, respectively. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the X direction is set to the lateral direction of the electronic imaging device, the Y direction is set to the height direction of the electronic imaging device, and the Z direction is set to the thickness direction of the electronic imaging device. It is set.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of an electronic image pickup apparatus, which is a member that enables photographing, for example, an image pickup device such as a CCD or CMOS image sensor that photoelectrically converts an optical image to generate image data. (Not shown) etc. are mounted on the circuit board. The electronic imaging device main body 1 is mounted with an LCD 6 and a liquid crystal protective window member 7 which will be described later.

  A collapsible optical system photographing lens barrel 3 that forms a subject image on an image sensor is fixed to the subject side (hereinafter referred to as the front surface). In the vicinity of the optical system photographing lens barrel 3, a finder optical system opening 4 is provided above the main body for observing a subject image during a photographing operation and determining a photographing range and the like. A strobe light emission window 5 is provided on the upper right of FIG. 1 to emit light as necessary when the amount of light is insufficient during photographing.

  3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 3. A liquid crystal display panel (LCD) 6 for displaying an image is provided inside the imaging device subject side (hereinafter referred to as the rear surface). Are used for confirming the subject image to be captured and for reproducing and displaying the captured image. As will be described later, the LCD 6 has a display surface 6a for displaying an image. In FIG. 2, the liquid crystal protective window member 7 (window member) that protects the LCD 6 from foreign matters such as scratches and dust is exposed on the back surface of the electronic imaging apparatus main body 1.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a shutter button, which can be pressed in two steps. When the shutter button 8 is half-pressed, a shooting preparation operation (photometry operation, distance measuring operation, etc.) is started. 9 can open and close a storage chamber for storing a main battery 10 (including a rechargeable secondary battery in addition to a single-use primary battery) and a recording medium 11 on which a photographed subject image is recorded. It is a lid member. By opening the lid member 9, the opening of the storage chamber is opened, and the main battery 10 and the recording medium 11 can be inserted and removed.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes a mode setting lever which is supported so as to be slidable with respect to the electronic imaging apparatus main body 1. In the vicinity of the mode setting lever 12, a plurality of marks (not shown) corresponding to various shooting modes are printed. By aligning the index of the mode setting lever 12 with this mark, the shooting mode corresponding to the mark is displayed. Settings can be made.

  13 is a strap attachment ring. Reference numeral 14 denotes a cover member for protecting a power / signal input / output jack. When this cover member is opened, various cables can be inserted into and removed from the power / signal input / output jack. Reference numeral 15 denotes a plurality of operation buttons used when instructing the imaging apparatus function.

  Although not shown, the electronic imaging apparatus includes a main board, an auxiliary board, and two large boards. On the main board, a recording medium slot including a card I / F, an imaging unit, an image processing unit, a system control unit, an LCD display unit, a serial I / F, a serial connection terminal, and the like are mounted. In addition, a power supply switching circuit, a DC / DC converter, an operation SW, a video I / F, a video connection terminal, an external power input terminal, and the like are mounted on the auxiliary board.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic imaging apparatus main body 1 is provided with an opening 2 a corresponding to the outer shape of the LCD 6 in the exterior cover 2 (exterior member) on the back side. A liquid crystal protective window member 7 that protects the LCD 6 from foreign matters such as scratches and dust is fitted into the opening 2 a so that the same level as the exterior cover 2 or a slight level difference is generated.

  The liquid crystal protective window member 7 is usually coated with a surface coating material to improve scratch resistance, low reflection, water repellency and the like. The exterior cover 2 is formed of a resin or metal that has been subjected to surface treatment such as painting or plating, and the thickness (insertion amount) of the liquid crystal protective window member 7 varies depending on the material of the exterior cover 2. The liquid crystal protective window member 7 is formed of a transparent material, and has a transparent window portion through which the LCD 6 can be viewed from the outside.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the liquid crystal protection window member 7 will be described in comparison with the conventional structure.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal protection window, an LCD, and a liquid crystal illumination unit of a conventional electronic imaging apparatus. Between the liquid crystal protection window 31 and the metal frame 33 that fixes the LCD 6 to the liquid crystal lighting unit 32, a cushion material 34 is provided around the display portion of the LCD 6 in order to prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering. A liquid crystal illumination unit 32 is disposed directly below the LCD 6. The liquid crystal illumination unit 32 has a plurality of sheets 32 a that collect and diffuse light from above in the drawing to extend the range of the LCD 6. The liquid crystal illumination unit 32 is made of a member that guides the backlight light source to the display unit of the LCD 6, for example, an acrylic resin, in substantially the same row as the flexible substrate 32 d on which the backlight light source composed of a light emitting diode (LED) or the like is mounted. It has a molded light guide plate 32b. In many cases, the light guide plate 32b has a wedge shape that is slanted for a while from the light incident surface on which light is incident from the backlight source toward the other end. The liquid crystal illumination unit 32 includes a sheet 32c that is disposed below the light guide plate 32b and reflects light toward the LCD 6 side. A resin frame 35 that surrounds and positions the sheets 32a and 32c, the light guide plate 32b, and the periphery of the LCD 6 is disposed. The LCD 6, the liquid crystal illumination unit 32 and the resin frame 35 are sandwiched between metal frames 33 and 36 and fixed to the electronic imaging device body with screws. P is a tightening direction of a screw to an electronic imaging device main body (not shown).

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid crystal protection window member 7, the liquid crystal display panel (LCD) 6, and the liquid crystal illumination unit 16 of the electronic image pickup apparatus of the present embodiment. The liquid crystal protective window member 7 extends perpendicularly (in the Z direction in FIG. 6) to the surface 7a exposed to the outside, the back surface 7b covering the display surface 6a of the LCD 6, and the back surface 7b provided around the back surface 7b. And side wall portions 7c _{1 to} 7c ₃ . Whereas the conventional liquid crystal protective window 31 is a flat plate member, the liquid crystal protective window member 7 of the present embodiment is formed in a case shape (box shape) having side wall portions 7c _{1 to} 7c ₃ , and the liquid crystal protective window member The LCD 6 and the liquid crystal lighting unit 16 are housed in a space formed by the back surface 7b and the side wall portion of the screen.

The liquid crystal protection window member 7 has a pair of parallel side wall portions (first side wall portions) 7c ₁ and a pair of parallel side wall portions (second side wall portions) 7c ₂ and 7c ₃ . The side wall portion 7c ₁ is orthogonal to the side wall portion 7c ₂ or 7c ₃ . Each side wall portion may be formed by bending each side of the liquid crystal protective window member 7, or may be formed by molding, adhesion, or welding. The side wall portions 7c _{1 to} 7c ₃ may be opaque or light shielding members. The pair of parallel side wall portions 7 c ₁ extends in the X direction and is formed along the long side of the liquid crystal protection window member 7. The pair of parallel side wall portions 7 c ₂ and 7 c ₃ extends in the Y direction and is formed along the short side of the liquid crystal protection window member 7. Incidentally, one of the pair of side wall portions 7c ₁ is formed on the lower side of the liquid crystal protective window member 7 in FIG. 6, the other is formed on the upper side. Side wall 7c ₂ is formed on the right side of the LCD protective window member 7 in FIG. The side wall portion 7c ₃ is formed on the left side of the LCD protective window member 7 in FIG. Side wall 7c ₂ and the side wall portion 7c ₃ are parallel.

Each pair of side wall portions 7c ₁ has a plurality of openings (engaged portion) 7d and the opening 7e. Opening 7d is formed between the end portion 7c 1 _a side wall portion 7c ₁ of the rear surface 7b opposite in direction (Z-direction) perpendicular to the back surface 7b and the rear surface 7b of the liquid crystal protective window member 7. As will be described later, a convex portion (liquid crystal protective window member engaging portion) 16aa of the light collecting / diffusing sheet 16a and a convex portion (liquid crystal protective window member engaging portion) 16ca of the reflecting sheet 16c are inserted into the opening 7d. And can be engaged. Although the periphery of the display surface 6a of the conventional LCD 6 shown in FIG. 5 is in contact with the metal frame 33, in FIG. 6, the side walls 7c _{1 to} 7c ₃ surround the periphery of the LCD 6 so that the liquid crystal protective window member 7 is The LCD 6 is positioned in the X direction and the Y direction (plane direction). The periphery of the display surface 6a of the LCD 6 is not in contact with any member. Further, there is a gap between the display surface 6 a of the LCD 6 and the back surface 7 b of the liquid crystal protective window member 7. A part 16da of the flexible substrate 16d is led out from the opening 7e. The openings 7d and 7e also have a function of positioning (or positioning in the X direction) between the liquid crystal protective window member 7 and the liquid crystal lighting unit 16.

Side wall 7c ₂ is formed as a flat plate member. The side wall portion 7c ₃ has a pair of hooks (protrusions) 7f which is not shown in FIG.

  The liquid crystal illumination unit 16 is disposed immediately below the LCD 6 and illuminates the LCD 6. The liquid crystal lighting unit 16 includes a plurality of light collecting / diffusing sheets 16a, a light guide plate 16b, a flexible substrate 16d on which a backlight source is mounted, and a reflective sheet 16c.

  The plurality of condensing / diffusing sheets 16a collect and diffuse light from above in the drawing. Each condensing / diffusing sheet 16a has a pair of convex portions 16aa on the lower side and the upper side in FIG.

The light guide plate 16b guides the backlight light source to the display unit of the LCD 6 in substantially the same row as the flexible substrate 16d on which the backlight light source made of a light emitting diode or the like is mounted, and is formed from, for example, an acrylic resin. The flexible substrate 16d has a part 16da led out to the outside. As shown in FIG. 7, the part 16 da is led out from the opening 7 e of the side wall 7 c ₂ and connected to a power source (not shown) and an image information generation unit provided in the electronic imaging device main body 1. The part 16da has a hole 16db through which a screw fixed in the electronic imaging apparatus main body 1 passes. Here, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a unit including the liquid crystal protection window member 7, the LCD 6, and the liquid crystal illumination unit 16 of the electronic imaging apparatus of the present embodiment. In many cases, the light guide plate 16b has a wedge shape that is slanted for a while from the light incident surface on which light is incident from the backlight source toward the other end.

The reflection sheet 16c is disposed below the light guide plate 16b, reflects light toward the LCD 6, and has a pair of convex portions 16ca on the lower side and the upper side in FIG. A pair of convex portions 16ca formed on each of the upper side and the lower side are formed at positions corresponding to the pair of convex portions 16aa and overlap in the Z direction. The opening 7d of the side wall portion 7c _2, the retaining convex portion 16ca of the reflecting sheet 16c and the convex portion 16aa of the condenser and diffusion sheet 16a is inserted, to form a unit as shown in FIG. The back surface of the reflection sheet 16c and a surface 17d of the main frame 17 described later are separated by a minute distance.

A main frame 17 (frame member) is provided inside the electronic imaging apparatus main body. The main frame 17 has a substantially rectangular shape, and has a bent portion in which each side is bent in the −Z direction and a surface 17d. A pair of bent portions 17a partially cover the side wall 7c _1. A concave portion 17aa is formed in the bent portion 17a to expose the opening 7d. Bent portion 17b partially cover the side wall 7c _2. Bent portion 17c covers the top of the side wall portion 7c ₃ partly has a pair of engaging holes (LCD protective window member engaging portion) 17Ca. It is engageable with the inserted hook formed in the side wall portion 7c ₃ (Mainframe engaging portion) 7f for engagement hole 17Ca. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of FIG. 7 as viewed from the B direction, and is shown together with the inside of the electronic imaging apparatus main body 1. FIG. 8 shows an engaged state of the hook 7f and the engagement hole 17ca. The hook 7f and the engagement hole 17ca also have a function of positioning (or positioning in the Y direction) between the liquid crystal protective window member 7 and the liquid crystal lighting unit 16. Since the main frame 17 which is an internal member of the electronic imaging apparatus main body 1 and the unit shown in FIG. 7 are directly engaged, the positional accuracy is improved. The liquid crystal protective window member 7 is fixed inside the main body of the electronic imaging device by engaging the hook 7f with the engagement hole 17ca. After the unit shown in FIG. 7 is fixed to the main frame 17, the exterior cover 2 is attached. The surface 17d can come into contact with end portions (7c ₁ a, 7c ₂ a, etc.) of the side wall portions 7c _{1 to} 7c ₃ .

Since LCD6 and LCD illumination unit 16 is surrounded by the side wall portion 7c ₂ of the liquid crystal protective window member 7, it is possible to prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering the LCD6 liquid crystal lighting unit 16, a conventional The cushion material 34 becomes unnecessary. For this reason, the number of parts and the cost can be reduced. Further, the space between the LCD 6 and the back surface 7b of the liquid crystal protection window member 7 can be minimized (or closely adhered), and the thickness can be reduced. Further, by assembling the LCD 6 and the liquid crystal lighting unit 16 to the liquid crystal protection window member 7, the conventional metal frame 33 and resin frame 35 can be omitted, so that the number of parts and the cost can be reduced. Contributes to thinning. Since the LCD 6 and the liquid crystal illumination unit 16 are unitized in the liquid crystal protection window member 7, the external cover 2 can be removed, replaced, repaired and repaired integrally. Further, when the liquid crystal protection window member 7 is provided with a lens function, adjustment as a unit of the LCD 6 and the liquid crystal protection window member 7 is easy. Further, by two pairs sidewall portion 7c ₁ and 7c ₂ of the liquid crystal protective window member 7 is close to the main frame 17 in the image pickup apparatus, when an external force is applied to the liquid crystal protective window member 7, the side wall portion 7c ₁ ~ 7c ₃ end portions (7c ₁ a, 7c ₂ a, etc.) are in contact with the surface 17d of the main frame 17. As a result, external force is not transmitted to the LCD 6, and the LCD 6 can be protected from malfunction and damage. The liquid crystal protection window member 7 is prevented from being deformed by contacting the rigid main frame 17 when an external force is applied. Further, since the display surface 6a of the LCD 6 and the back surface 7b of the liquid crystal protection window member 7 are separated by a minute distance (the display surface 6a is not in contact with any member), the display surface 6a is protected from external force.

  The unit shown in FIG. 7 may be fixed to the exterior cover 2. This state is shown in FIG. Thus, the unit shown in FIG. 7 is not limited to fixing on the electronic imaging apparatus main body side, and may be fixed on the exterior cover 2 side. The unit shown in FIG. 7 engages with an engagement portion (not shown) of the exterior cover 2 via an engagement portion (not shown).

Sidewall portions 7c- ₁ ~7c ₃ of the liquid crystal protective window member 7, if the route of entry, such as dust, foreign material could specific transmission point of the external force to the case and LCD protective window has been identified, or the internal mechanical parts The location, the number, and the width of the side wall portions can be changed depending on the restrictions of the above and the aspect ratio of the LCD 6. In addition, the unit illustrated in FIG. 7 can be applied to an electronic device using various display elements such as a video camera, a mobile phone, and a pocket TV.

It is a perspective view of the front side of the electronic imaging device (electronic device) of a present Example. It is a perspective view of the back side of the electronic imaging device shown in FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a partial expanded sectional view of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the liquid crystal protective window, LCD, and liquid crystal illumination unit of the conventional electronic imaging device. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal protection window, an LCD, and a liquid crystal illumination unit of the electronic imaging device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a unit including a liquid crystal protection window member, an LCD, and a liquid crystal illumination unit of the electronic imaging device shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the unit shown in FIG. 7 and the inside of the electronic imaging apparatus main body. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the unit illustrated in FIG. 7 is fixed to the exterior cover of the electronic imaging device illustrated in FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic Imaging Device Body 2 Exterior Cover 6 Liquid Crystal Display Panel (LCD)
7 Liquid crystal protection window member 7c ₁ , 7c ₂ , 7c ₃ Side wall 7d, 7e Opening 7f Hook 16 Liquid crystal lighting unit 17 Main frame 17ca Engagement hole

Claims (5)

An electronic device having a liquid crystal display panel that displays an image, an illumination unit that illuminates the liquid crystal display panel, and a window member that covers a display surface of the liquid crystal display panel with a transparent window,
An electronic apparatus, wherein a side wall portion is formed around the window portion in the window member, and the side wall portion determines a position in a surface direction of the liquid crystal display panel and the illumination unit.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein an engaging portion for positioning is formed in the illumination unit, and an engaged portion with which the engaging portion is engaged is formed on the side wall portion. .   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting unit includes a flexible substrate, and an opening for leading the flexible substrate is formed in the side wall portion.   The electronic device includes a frame member provided inside the electronic device, the frame member and the side wall portion are engageable, and the liquid crystal display panel and the illumination unit are the window member and the frame member. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is housed in a formed space. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus includes an exterior member, and the window member is held by the exterior member.