JP2011049900A - Cabinet for electronic apparatus, and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cabinet structure for an electronic apparatus in which the degree of freedom in the design of keys is high while lighting the keys. <P>SOLUTION: A cabinet 2 of a cellular phone 1 is the cabinet 2 for an electronic apparatus guiding light from a light emitting part 27 mounted to a printed-circuit board 21. The cabinet 2 is formed by double-color molding, an outer-side cabinet 38 at the outer side of the cabinet 2 is formed of a light shielding resin member, and a peripheral edge 36b formed at a peripheral edge position of a key opening 35 and an inner-side cabinet 36d at the inner side of the cabinet 2 is formed of a light-permeable resin member. The peripheral edge 36b guides light to the outside of the cabinet 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a casing of a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a portable game machine, a portable television, and a portable radio, and a non-portable electronic device. The present invention also relates to an electronic device in which the casing is used.

  In Patent Document 1, the key arrangement portion on which the surface portions of the illumination keys of the front case are arranged is a laminated structure (two-color molding) of a light-shielding front case body and a transparent component constituting the front case. A mobile phone is described in which an opening serving as an optical path is provided in a front case body at a position corresponding to a character / symbol portion on which characters / symbols are printed.

JP 2004-193891 A

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, in order to illuminate the key top from the back side, it is necessary to make the material constituting the key top light transmissive, and there is a restriction on the design of the key. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide a casing structure of an electronic device that has high degree of freedom in key design while illuminating the key.

  A housing of an electronic device according to the present invention is a housing of an electronic device that guides light from a light emitting unit disposed inside the housing in which an opening is formed to the opening, and the housing is It is formed by two-color molding, and the outer casing outside the casing is formed of a light-shielding resin member, and is connected to the peripheral edge formed at the peripheral edge of the opening and the peripheral edge. The inner housing on the inner side of the housing is formed of a translucent resin member, and the light emitting section emits light toward the inner housing.

  Preferably, a key top for operating the electronic device is disposed in the opening.

  Preferably, the electronic device includes a display unit, and the cover unit that protects the display unit is formed of the translucent resin member.

  Preferably, the cover part, the peripheral edge part, and the inner housing are connected by a connecting part, and the connecting part is formed by the translucent resin member.

  Preferably, the connecting portion has a structure in which light from the inner housing does not pass through the cover portion without being reflected.

  The electronic device of the present invention includes a housing in which an opening is formed, and a light emitting unit disposed inside the housing, and the housing is formed by two-color molding, and the housing The outer casing on the outer side is formed of a light-shielding resin member, and the inner casing on the inner side of the casing connected to the peripheral edge is formed at the peripheral edge of the opening. The light emitting part emits light toward the inner casing.

  Preferably, a key top for operating the electronic device is disposed in the opening.

  Suitably, the cover part which has a display part and protects the said display part is formed of the said translucent resin member.

  Preferably, the cover part, the peripheral edge part, and the inner housing are connected by a connecting part, and the connecting part is formed by the translucent resin member.

  Preferably, the connecting portion has a structure in which light from the inner housing does not pass through the cover portion without being reflected.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a housing structure of an electronic device with a high degree of freedom in key design while illuminating the key.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the mobile telephone 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the cross section in II-II of FIG. It is an external view from the surface side of a front case. It is an external view from the back side of a front case. It is an external view of only the part comprised from the transparent material of a front case. It is an external view of a printed circuit board.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a mobile phone 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The mobile phone 1 is configured as a non-foldable mobile phone 1.
The cellular phone 1 has a front case 6 on which an input unit 10 and a display unit 8 are formed, and a rear case 7 constituting the opposite side portion. Hereinafter, the front case 6 and the rear case 7 are collectively referred to as a housing 2.

The front case 6 and the rear case 7 are fixed to each other with screws or the like, and an accommodation space for accommodating various electronic members is formed in a space formed between the front case 6 and the rear case 7.
The front case 6 and the rear case 7 are made of resin, for example.

  As will be described later, the front case 6 is formed by two-color molding.

The input unit 10 is provided with a plurality of input keys, and the user gives instructions and inputs to the mobile phone 1 by pressing the input keys.
1, the input unit 10 is disposed only on the surface of the front case 6, but includes side keys disposed on the right side surface 11, the left side surface 12, the upper side surface 13, and the lower side surface 14 of the housing 2. It is.

The display unit 8 is for displaying various information such as the state of the mobile phone 1, the user's operation content, the destination telephone number, the content of the e-mail, and the game screen.
The display unit 8 includes an LCD (liquid crystal display), an OLED (Organic light-emitting diode: organic EL), and the like.

  When indicating the direction, the direction from the rear case 7 toward the front case 6 is referred to as the front surface direction (the front side in FIG. 1), and the direction from the front case 6 toward the rear case 7 is the rear surface direction (see FIG. 1 is referred to as “the direction of the back of the page”.

Further, a side surface located in a direction from the input unit 10 toward the display unit 8 is referred to as an upper side surface 13, and a side surface located in a direction from the display unit 8 toward the input unit 10 is referred to as a lower side surface 14.
The direction toward the upper side surface 13 is referred to as the upper side surface direction (the right direction in FIG. 1), and the direction toward the lower side surface 14 is referred to as the lower side surface direction (the left direction in FIG. 1).

Further, when the mobile phone 1 is viewed with the display unit 8 facing up and the input unit 10 facing down, the side surface coming to the right side is referred to as the right side surface 11, and the side surface coming to the left side is referred to as the left side surface 12.
The direction toward the right side surface 11 is referred to as the right side surface direction (the direction below the paper surface in FIG. 1), and the direction toward the left side surface 12 is referred to as the left side surface direction (the direction above the paper surface in FIG. 1). .

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a cross section taken along line II-II in FIG.

The front case 6 and the rear case 7 are joined with their inner surfaces facing each other.
And the internal housing | casing 20 is arrange | positioned in the internal space formed by it. A battery housing portion 28 is formed in the rear surface direction of the internal housing 20.
A detachable battery 22 is disposed in the battery storage unit 28. The battery 22 supplies power to the mobile phone 1.
Furthermore, a battery cover 23 is arranged in the rear surface direction so that the battery 22 can be replaced.

A printed circuit board 21 on which the switch 26 is mounted is disposed in the surface direction of the inner housing 20. The printed circuit board 21 has a light emitting unit 27 mounted thereon.
The light emitting unit 27 is configured by, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

The switch 26 includes, for example, a fixed contact 25 and a metal dome 24 that is a dome-shaped sheet metal. The metal dome 24 covers the fixed contact 25.
When the user presses the key top 30, the rubber base 31 is elastically deformed accordingly. Further, the rubber base 31 presses the top of the metal dome 24 due to the elastic deformation of the rubber base 31.
As a result, the metal dome 24 is also elastically deformed. When the amount of deformation exceeds a certain level, a part of the metal dome 24 is recessed and convex on the opposite side.
As a result, the metal dome 24 comes into contact with the fixed contact 25 while producing a click feeling.
A current flows when the metal dome 24 and the fixed contact 25 come into contact with each other, and the control unit 57 detects this current flow. Thus, the pressing of the key top 30 by the user, that is, the key input operation by the user is detected.
The rubber base 31 is provided with a pusher 37 at a position corresponding to the top of the metal dome 24 and plays a role of intensively pressing the key top 30 by the user on the top of the metal dome 24. Yes.

A key sheet 32 is arranged in the surface direction of the printed circuit board 21. The key sheet 32 includes a plurality of key tops 30 that are parts pressed by a user, and a rubber base 31 to which the plurality of key tops 30 are bonded.
The rubber base 31 is made of, for example, a transparent or translucent silicon resin that can be easily bent.
On the other hand, the key top 30 is made of plastic or the like, and is made of a member that does not transmit light.
The key top 30 is formed (printed or the like) with a key figure or the like that is input by pressing the key top 30.
The key top 30 and the rubber base 31 are not necessarily configured separately, and may be configured integrally.

  The front case 6 has a plurality of key openings 35 into which the key tops 30 are inserted (arranged).

The front case 6 includes an outer casing 38, an inner casing 36d, and a peripheral edge 36b. As will be described later (see FIG. 4), the front case 6 is also composed of a cover portion 36a and a connecting portion 36c.
The outer housing 38 is made of a light shielding resin member. On the other hand, the inner housing 36d, the cover portion 36a, the peripheral edge portion 36b, and the connecting portion 36c are made of a resin member that transmits light.

The peripheral edge 36 b is formed at a portion facing the side surface of the key top 30. That is, it is formed in the key opening 35 portion of the front case 6.
That is, when a plurality of key tops 30 are formed on the front case 6 as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of peripheral portions 36 b are formed around the plurality of key tops 30. An inner housing 36d is formed to connect the plurality of peripheral portions 36b.
The inner housing 36 d is formed on the inner side of the outer housing 38.
The inner housing 36d is configured to be laminated with the rubber base 31.

The light emitting unit 27 mounted on the printed circuit board 21 emits light to the rubber base 31 of the key sheet 32, and the light transmitted through the transparent rubber base 31 passes through the transparent inner casing 36d and the peripheral portion 36b. It passes through sequentially and is emitted to the outside of the housing 2.
The user can recognize this light and recognize the shape of the key top 30 (key).
Note that if the rubber base 31, the transparent inner casing 36d, and the peripheral edge 36b are all completely transparent, the user can see the light emitting unit 27 from the outside. 31, at least one of the transparent inner housing 36d and the peripheral portion 36b is translucent (milky white) and diffuses light.
As described above, the fact that at least one of the rubber base 31, the transparent inner housing 36d, and the peripheral edge 36b is translucent (milky white) not only prevents the light emitting unit 27 from being recognized by the user, It also has a function of diffusing light emitted from the light emitting unit 27 and radiating light from the entire peripheral portion 36b.

  FIG. 3 is an external view from the front side of the front case 6.

The front case 6 includes an outer casing 38 that is opaque (light-shielding) when viewed from the front surface side, and a transparent cover portion 36a that is disposed on the upper side surface 13 side.
Further, when viewed from the front side, the front case 6 has a plurality of key openings 35 disposed on the lower surface 14 side, and a transparent peripheral edge 36b is formed around the key openings 35. Yes.
The front case 6 has a cover portion 36 a that is transparently formed so that light emitted from the display portion 8 can be transmitted and an image can be recognized from the outside of the housing 2.
Further, the cover part 36 a not only transmits the light displayed by the display unit 8, but also serves as a cover for protecting the display unit 8.

  FIG. 4 is an external view from the back side of the front case 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, an inner housing 36 d is arranged on the inner side of the outer housing 38 of the front case 6.
The inner housing 36 d is continuous with a plurality of peripheral portions 36 b formed around the key opening 35.
Further, the inner housing 36d and the cover part 36a are connected via a connecting part 36c.
The connecting portion 36c is also made of a light transmissive material.

  FIG. 5 is an external view of only a portion made of a transparent material of the front case 6.

The front case 6 includes a transparent cover part 36a, a peripheral edge part 36b, a connecting part 36c, an inner casing 36d, and an opaque outer casing 38. Of these, only a transparent portion is taken out. 5.
Hereinafter, these transparent portions are collectively referred to as a transparent portion 36.
The transparent portion 36 shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to a portion that is formed first when two-color molding is performed.
That is, in the case of two-color molding, first, the transparent member shown in FIG. 5 is formed by injection molding.
Originally, only the cover portion 36a and the peripheral edge portion 36b need to be transparent, but if only those portions are formed, the positions of the respective portions may be shifted. A body 36d and a connecting portion 36c are formed.
That is, the inner housing 36d is formed to connect and position a plurality of peripheral portions 36b.
The connecting portion 36c is formed for connecting and positioning the inner housing 36d and the cover portion 36a.
Therefore, as long as the peripheral edge part 36b and the cover part 36a can be accurately positioned and fixed, the connecting part 36c and the inner housing 36d are not essential.

After the transparent part 36 of FIG. 5 is formed of a light-transmitting plastic resin, this time, the transparent part 36 is put into another mold formed in the shape of the front case 6.
Then, a light-shielding plastic resin is poured into the mold.
By doing so, the front case 6 can be formed in two colors, transparent and opaque.

The connecting portion 36c is transparent and connects the cover portion 36a and the inner housing 36d. The display portion 8 that emits light is disposed on the inner side of the cover portion 36a. A light emitting unit 27 is disposed on the inner side of the inner housing 36d.
If it does so, if the light from the cover part 36a leaks to the inner side housing | casing 36d side, the peripheral part 36b will also shine and it is unpreferable.
Conversely, if the light from the inner housing 36d leaks to the cover part 36a, the cover part 36a shines unnecessarily, which is not preferable.
As a countermeasure, this problem can be solved if the connecting part 36c is not provided. However, as described above, the cover part 36a and the inner casing 36d are preferably connected by a transparent casing for production. .
Therefore, the shape of the connecting portion 36c that connects the cover portion 36a and the inner housing 36d is formed in an S shape or a Z shape so that light from the inner housing 36d does not pass directly to the cover portion 36a. Yes.
Here, the S-type and the Z-type are examples of shapes in which light does not pass directly, and other shapes may be used as long as they can prevent light from passing.

  FIG. 6 is an external view of the printed circuit board 21.

As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of light emitting units 27 are arranged on the side surface of the switch 26 arranged immediately below the key top 30.
Further, the switch 26 is disposed at an intermediate position.
Due to such an arrangement, the single light emitting unit 27 can illuminate a plurality of adjacent peripheral edge portions 36b.
However, it is not always necessary for one light emitting unit 27 to illuminate the plurality of peripheral portions 36b, and only one peripheral portion 36b may be illuminated by one or a plurality of light emitting units 27. In this case, it is possible to select a key and illuminate it.

By configuring as described above, the key top 30 does not emit light, so the color of the paint used for the key top 30 can be freely selected.
Further, the color of the key top 30 can be freely selected, and the key top 30 is not illuminated, so that it is not necessary to have a shape necessary for being illuminated. As a result, the color and shape of the key can be freely selected, and the degree of freedom in key design is expanded.
When the shape of the key top 30 becomes free, it is not necessary to make the shape considering illumination as before, and the key top 30 itself can be made into a character shape or a figure shape. .

According to the embodiment described above, the housing 2 of the mobile phone 1 is a portable device that guides light from the light emitting unit 27 disposed inside the housing 2 in which the key opening 35 is formed to the key opening 35. The case 2 of the telephone 1, the case 2 is formed by two-color molding, and the outer side case 38 outside the case 2 is formed by a light-shielding resin member. A peripheral part 36b formed at the peripheral position and an internal casing 36d inside the casing 2 connected to the peripheral part 36b are formed of a translucent resin member.
In addition, the light emitting unit 27 emits light toward the inner casing, so that the shape and position of the opening can be notified to the user by illumination.
This means that the operability of the electronic device can be improved.
In addition, since the portion that is not desired to be illuminated can be formed by the light-shielding external housing 38, the shape to be illuminated can be freely formed.

The key opening 35 is provided with a key top 30 for operating the electronic device.
With this configuration, the position of the key top 30 can be clarified by illumination.

The electronic apparatus includes the display unit 8, and the cover unit 36 a that protects the display unit 8 is formed of a translucent resin member.
By being configured in this way, it is possible to manufacture the housing 2 that can illuminate while forming a protective film that protects the display unit 8.

The cover portion 36a, the peripheral edge portion 36b, and the inner housing 36d are connected by a connecting portion 36c, and the connecting portion 36c is formed of a translucent resin member.
With such a configuration, the cover portion 36a and the peripheral edge portion 36b coupled to the inner housing 36d can be reliably positioned.

The connecting portion 36c has a structure in which light from the inner housing 36d is not reflected and does not pass to the cover portion 36a.
With such a configuration, light from the inner housing 36d can be prevented from leaking to the cover portion 36a.
Further, the light from the cover part 36a can be prevented from leaking to the inner housing 36d.

The cellular phone 1 according to the present invention includes a housing 2 in which a key opening 35 is formed, and a light emitting unit 27 disposed inside the housing 2.
The casing 2 is formed by two-color molding, and the outer casing 38 outside the casing 2 is formed of a light-blocking resin member and is formed at the peripheral position of the key opening 35. The inner housing 36d on the inner side of the housing 2 connected to the 36b and the peripheral edge 36b is formed of a translucent resin member.
The light emitting unit 27 emits light toward the inner housing 36d.
With such a configuration, the shape and position of the opening can be notified to the user by illumination.
This means that the operability of the electronic device can be improved.
In addition, since the portion that is not desired to be illuminated can be formed by the light-shielding external housing 38, the shape to be illuminated can be freely formed.

The key opening 35 is provided with a key top 30 for operating the electronic device.
With this configuration, the position of the key top 30 can be clarified by illumination.

The cover part 36a which has the display part 8 and protects the display part 8 is formed of a translucent resin member.
With such a configuration, the cover portion 36a and the peripheral edge portion 36b coupled to the inner housing 36d can be reliably positioned.

The cover part 36a, the peripheral edge part 36b, and the inner housing 36d are connected by a connecting part 36c, and the connecting part 36c is formed of a translucent resin member.
With such a configuration, the cover portion 36a and the peripheral edge portion 36b coupled to the inner housing 36d can be reliably positioned.

The connecting portion 36c has a structure in which light from the inner housing 36d is not reflected and does not pass through the cover portion.
With such a configuration, light from the inner housing 36d can be prevented from leaking to the cover portion 36a.
Further, the light from the cover part 36a can be prevented from leaking to the inner housing 36d.

  In the above embodiment, the housing 2 is an example of the housing of the present invention. In other words, the casing may be anything as long as it corresponds to a container that houses an electronic device. Furthermore, even a part of the container, for example, the front case 6 and the rear case 7 corresponds to the housing.

  The key sheet 32 is a concept that collectively refers to the key top 30 and the rubber base 31. In addition, the key top 30 does not necessarily need to be configured separately from the key top 30 and the rubber base 31, and may be integrally formed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be implemented in various aspects.

The electronic device is not limited to the mobile phone 1. For example, the portable electronic device may be a notebook computer, a PDA, a game machine, or a camera. The portable electronic device is not limited to a foldable type. The case may be configured integrally (only one case).
Further, the electronic device may be a non-portable device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile phone, 2 ... Housing | casing, 6 ... Front case, 7 ... Rear case, 8 ... Display part, 10 ... Input part, 11 ... Right side surface, 12 ... Left side surface, 13 ... Upper side surface, 14 ... Lower side surface, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Internal housing | casing, 21 ... Printed circuit board (board | substrate), 22 ... Battery, 23 ... Battery cover, 24 ... Metal dome, 25 ... Fixed contact, 26 ... Switch, 27 ... Light emission part, 28 ... Battery storage part, 30 ... Key top, 31 ... Rubber base, 32 ... Key sheet, 33 ... Light guide sheet, 34 ... Decoration sheet, 35 ... Key opening (opening), 36 ... Transparent part, 36a ... Cover part, 36b ... Peripheral part, 36c ... Connecting part, 36d ... Inner casing, 37 ... Pusher, 38 ... External casing,

Claims (10)

A housing of an electronic device that guides light from a light emitting unit disposed inside a housing in which an opening is formed to the opening,
The casing is formed by two-color molding, and the outer casing on the outside of the casing is formed of a light-shielding resin member, and a peripheral portion formed at a peripheral position of the opening and the peripheral portion. The inner casing on the inner side of the casing that is continuously provided is formed of a translucent resin member,
The light emitting unit is a housing of an electronic device that emits light toward the inner casing. The casing of the electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a key top for operating the electronic device is disposed in the opening. The electronic device has a display unit,
The case of the electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion that protects the display portion is formed of the translucent resin member. The cover part, the peripheral edge part and the inner housing are connected by a connecting part,
The case of the electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the connecting portion is formed of the translucent resin member. The case of the electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the connection portion has a structure in which light from the internal case is not reflected and does not pass through the cover. A housing in which an opening is formed;
A light emitting unit disposed inside the housing,
The casing is formed by two-color molding, the outer casing outside the casing is formed of a light-shielding resin member, and a peripheral portion formed at the peripheral position of the opening and the peripheral portion. The inner casing on the inner side of the casing that is continuously provided is formed of a translucent resin member,
The light emitting unit is an electronic device that emits light toward the inner casing. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein a key top for operating the electronic device is disposed in the opening. Having a display,
The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the cover portion that protects the display portion is formed of the translucent resin member. The cover part, the peripheral edge part and the inner housing are connected by a connecting part,
The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the connecting portion is formed of the translucent resin member. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the connecting portion has a structure in which light from the inner housing is not reflected and does not pass to the cover portion.

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