JP2011118810A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus changing a projection amount of operation keys in a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus is equipped with: an operation key 2 composed of a bag that elastically deforms and expands by the pressure of fluid supplied inside; a pump 3 connected to the operation key 2 through a communication pipe 22; and a driving mechanism 4 that causes the pump 3 to discharge fluid. The driving mechanism 4 is so connected as to interlock with a movable member and is configured so that the pump 3 is compressed by the movement of the movable member from the storage position to the use position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device having an operation key.

  Electronic devices equipped with keys for operation such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) have been made thinner in order to improve portability. The key provided in this type of electronic device is formed so that the protruding portion is reduced in order to reduce the thickness of the device. For example, the amount of protrusion of a key of a foldable mobile phone is limited so as not to touch the screen when the display unit is folded. The operation surface of this key is formed substantially flat.

On the other hand, in a slide-type mobile phone, the amount of protrusion of the key is limited so that the back surface of the display unit is not touched when the display unit is slid with respect to the phone body having the key. The surface is formed flat.
Such a key with a small protrusion amount (stroke during operation) and a flat operation surface is difficult to push down, and can give the operator a sense of operation that the operator can clearly see that it has been pushed down. Can not.

Such a problem can be solved to some extent by, for example, configuring the key stroke to be changed as shown in Patent Document 1 and increasing the stroke during use.
The device described in Patent Document 1 is used for a keyboard of a portable computer, and includes a key configured to be movable up and down, and a lift mechanism that raises the key when used and lowers the key when not used. Yes.

  The elevating mechanism is configured to raise the key using a magnetic repulsive force or air pressure. A lifting mechanism using air pressure includes an actuator having a pneumatic cylinder, a diaphragm, and the like, and a pump for supplying air to the actuator. The pneumatic cylinder is constituted by a cylinder body provided on an upper surface board of a keyboard and a piston provided on a key rod. The diaphragm type actuator includes an air chamber formed on the upper surface board of the keyboard, and a diaphragm for each key constituting a part of the upper wall of the air chamber. The key is fixed on the diaphragm.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-146741

  However, since the device shown in Patent Document 1 uses a dedicated actuator to raise and lower the key, there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic apparatus capable of changing the protruding amount of a key with a simple structure.

  In order to achieve this object, an electronic device according to the present invention includes a key formed of a bag that is elastically deformed and expanded by a fluid pressure supplied therein, a pump connected to the key via a fluid passage, And a drive mechanism for discharging fluid from the pump.

According to the present invention, since the key also serves as the actuator and the amount of protrusion of the key can be changed with a simple structure, an electronic device with a low manufacturing cost can be provided.
In addition, the electronic device of the present invention has an effect that the actuator can be further thinned as compared with a conventional electronic device having an actuator formed separately from the key. is there.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a front view of a mobile phone. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a mobile telephone, The figure shows the state which closed the display part. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a mobile telephone, The figure shows the state which opened the display. FIG. 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a key, where FIG. 1A shows a state before expansion, and FIG. 2B shows a state after expansion. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of a key, The figure (A) shows the state before expansion | swelling, and the figure (B) shows the state after expansion | swelling. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of a key, The figure (A) shows the state before expansion | swelling, and the figure (B) shows the state after expansion | swelling. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the other example of a pump. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the other example of a pump. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the other example of a pump. It is a front view of the mobile telephone to which this invention was applied to the function key.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a basic configuration of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 1, an electronic device denoted by reference numeral 1 includes an operation key 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as an operation key), a pump 3, and a pump drive mechanism 4. The electronic device 1 is, for example, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a notebook computer, an electronic notebook, a portable game machine, or the like.

  The operation key 2 is formed in a bag shape from a rubber material. As this rubber material, a material that is elastically deformed and expanded by the fluid pressure supplied to the inside of the operation key 2 is used. The pump 3 is for supplying a fluid pressure to the inside of the operation key 2 and is connected to the operation key 2 through a fluid passage 5. As this pump 3, what was formed in the bag shape with the rubber material, for example can be used.

  The drive mechanism 4 discharges fluid from the pump 3 in conjunction with an artificially operated member (not shown) provided in the electronic apparatus 1. In the case where a pump formed of a rubber material is used as the pump 3, the drive mechanism can adopt a configuration in which the pump 3 is compressed or restored.

In the electronic apparatus 1 configured as described above, the operation key 2 expands when fluid pressure is supplied from the pump 3 to the operation key 2, so that the stroke of the operation key 2 can be lengthened. Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the operation key 2 also serves as an actuator, it is possible to provide an electronic apparatus that can change the protruding amount of the operation key 2 with a simple structure.
In addition, the electronic device 1 according to this embodiment can be further reduced in thickness because the actuator is unnecessary compared to a conventional electronic device including an actuator formed separately from the operation key 2. it can.

Next, a specific embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, members that are the same as or equivalent to those described with reference to FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted as appropriate. In this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a foldable mobile phone will be described.
The foldable mobile telephone 11 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is connected to a telephone main body 13 having operation keys 2 and function keys 12 and the telephone main body 13 via a hinge mechanism 14 (see FIG. 3). The display unit 15 is configured. The display unit 15 includes a liquid crystal panel 15a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 15 according to this embodiment is closed so that the liquid crystal panel 15a is exposed so that the liquid crystal panel 15a is exposed, and the liquid crystal panel 15a is opposed to the telephone body 13 as shown in FIG. It can be opened and closed between the storage positions. In this embodiment, the telephone main body 13 constitutes an electronic device main body as defined in the second aspect of the present invention, and the display portion 15 constitutes a movable member according to the second aspect of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the telephone body 13 includes a plurality of operation keys 2, a plurality of function keys 12, and a circuit board (see FIG. And a pump 3 for expanding and contracting the operation key 2. The operation key 2 and the function key 12 are covered by the display unit 15 as shown in FIG. 3 in a state where the display unit 15 is positioned at the storage position, and the display unit 15 is set to the use position. By moving, it is exposed as shown in FIGS.

  The plurality of operation keys 2 are arranged in 5 rows and 3 columns. As shown in FIG. 5A, each operation key 2 is constituted by a prismatic bag formed of a rubber material. The rubber material forming the operation key 2 is a material that expands due to elastic deformation when fluid pressure is supplied to the inside of the operation key 2 from a pump 3 to be described later. The fluid pressure is the pressure of air or liquid.

  Each operation key 2 is formed in a prismatic shape by a key top portion 16 having an operation surface 2 a, a bottom portion 17 facing the key top portion 16, and a side wall portion 18 connecting the key top portion 16 and the bottom portion 17. Is formed. The key top portion 16 is formed in a rectangular shape as shown in FIG.

The bottom portion 17 is formed in the same shape as the key top portion 16 when viewed from the key top portion 16 side. Although not shown, the lower end of the bottom portion 17 (one end opposite to the key top portion 16) is in contact with the input portion of the key switch.
The side wall portion 18 is formed in a rectangular tube shape that connects each side of the rectangular key top portion 16 and each side of the bottom portion 17. Further, the side wall portion 18 is formed so as to easily expand and contract as compared with the key top portion 16 and the bottom portion 17.

  In order to form the side wall portion 18 so as to be easily expanded and contracted, for example, the side wall portion 18 can be formed thinner than the key top portion 16 and the bottom portion 17. Thus, when forming the side wall part 18 to expand and contract relatively easily, it is desirable to adopt a structure that regulates the direction in which the side wall part 18 extends so that the side wall part 18 does not swell laterally. The direction in which the side wall portion 18 is extended is a direction in which the distance between the key top portion 16 and the bottom portion 17 increases.

  In order to restrict the extending direction of the side wall portion 18 to the above-described direction, for example, as shown in FIG. The holding plate 21 can be formed in a lattice shape in plan view so as to surround the side wall portion 18 of each operation key 2, for example. In this embodiment, the structure in which the side wall portion 18 formed relatively thin is surrounded by the holding plate 21 constitutes an “extension direction restricting structure” according to the invention described in claim 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pump 3 is formed in a bag shape from a rubber material and is mounted in the vicinity of the hinge mechanism 14. The shape of the pump 3 can be formed in, for example, a spherical shape or a cylindrical shape. The pump 3 is connected to each operation key 2 by a plurality of communication pipes 22. The inside of the pump 3, the inside of the communication pipe 22, and the inside of the operation key 2 are in communication with each other to form one sealed space. This sealed space is filled with air or liquid.

The hinge mechanism 14 located in the vicinity of the pump 3 includes a pressing member 23 for discharging fluid from the pump 3. The hinge mechanism 14 having the pressing member 23 constitutes a “drive mechanism” in the present invention.
The pressing member 23 is formed in a plate shape, and is provided in the hinge mechanism 14 so as to swing in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the display unit 15.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the position where the pressing member 23 is attached is close to the lower end of the pump 3 (close to the back surface of the telephone body 13) when the display unit 15 is in the storage position. (End). The pressing member 23 moves (swings) in the direction in which the pump 3 is pressed by opening the display unit 15 from a position when the display unit 15 is in the storage position (hereinafter, this position is referred to as an initial position).

  The hinge mechanism 14 moves the pressing member 23 so that the pump 3 is compressed to the maximum compression state as shown in FIG. 4 in the state where the display unit 15 is located at the maximum use position. Configuration is adopted. The maximum compression state refers to a state in which the pump 3 is most compressed without losing the function of restoring the initial shape. By compressing the pump 3 in this way, the fluid in the pump 3 is supplied to each operation key 2 through the communication pipe 22.

  Each operation key 2 supplied with fluid from the pump 3 mainly expands so that the side wall portion 18 extends and the key top portion 16 is separated from the bottom portion 17. As the operation key 2 expands in this way, the key top portion 16 protrudes from the telephone main body 13, so that the operation key 2 can be easily operated. In addition, since the stroke of the operation key 2 becomes long, it is possible to give the operator a sense of operation that clearly indicates that the key top portion 16 has been depressed.

  On the other hand, in the mobile phone according to this embodiment, when the display unit 15 is closed and moved to the storage position, the pressing member 23 returns to the initial position as shown in FIG. At this time, when the compressed pump 3 is restored, the fluid is sucked in, and the side wall portion 18 of the operation key 2 contracts by its own elasticity, so that the key top portion 16 of the operation key 2 is Return to the initial position. For this reason, the liquid crystal panel 15 a does not hit the key top portion 16 when the display portion 15 is closed.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, since the operation key 2 also serves as an actuator for moving the key top portion 16 up and down, it is possible to provide a mobile phone capable of changing the protruding amount of the operation key 2 with a simple structure.
The pressing member 23 according to this embodiment swings in conjunction with the opening and closing of the display unit 15 and compresses the pump 3 when the display unit 15 moves from the storage position to the use position.

  For this reason, according to this embodiment, the key top portion 16 of the operation key 2 can be protruded and returned by a force when the operator operates the display portion 15, and therefore the power for driving the pump 3 It is unnecessary. In addition, since the key top portion 16 always protrudes when the operation key 2 is used, it is possible to provide a mobile phone that is easy to use.

  The operation key 2 according to this embodiment is formed in a prismatic shape having a side wall portion 18 that extends easily. The direction in which the side wall portion 18 extends is regulated by the holding plate 21 in a direction in which the interval between the key top portion 16 and the bottom portion 17 increases. For this reason, according to this embodiment, the stroke of the operation key 2 can be formed sufficiently long by efficiently using the fluid pressure supplied to the operation key 2.

The side wall portion of the operation key can be formed as shown in FIGS. In these drawings, members that are the same as or equivalent to those described with reference to FIG.
The side wall portion 18 of the operation key 2 shown in FIG. 6A is formed in a constricted shape with a central portion in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in FIG. 6) narrower than both end portions. In forming the central portion of the side wall portion 18 to be narrow, the side wall portion having a rectangular tube shape is gradually narrowed from both ends toward the central portion.
When fluid pressure is supplied to the operation key 2 shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 6B, the curved portion of the side wall portion 18 extends linearly, and as a result, the key top portion 16 moves upward. To do.

The side wall portion 18 of the operation key 2 shown in FIG. 7A is formed in a so-called bellows shape. For this reason, when fluid pressure is supplied to the operation key 2, the bellows-shaped side wall portion 18 extends and the key top portion 16 moves upward as shown in FIG.
In the operation key 2 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the “extension direction regulating structure” according to the invention of claim 4 is configured by a structure in which the central portion of the side wall portion 18 is constricted or a bellows structure. When the operation key 2 is formed as shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, the operation key itself is provided with an extension direction restricting structure for restricting the direction in which the side wall 18 extends, so that the operation key 2 as shown in FIG. The holding plate 21 is not necessary.

The pump 3 can be configured as shown in FIG. 8, the same or equivalent members as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate.
The pump 3 shown in FIG. 8 is for supplying air to the operation keys 2. That is, the fluid pressure when using the pump 3 is air pressure.
An air hole 25 is formed in the pump 3 according to this embodiment. The air hole 25 is formed so as to penetrate the wall of the pump 3 made of a rubber material, and communicates the outside and the inside of the pump 3.

  On the other hand, the pressing member 23 according to this embodiment is provided with a plug member 26 for closing the air hole 25. The plug member 26 is fitted into the air hole 25 from the outside of the pump 3 and is formed in a shape and size that closes the air hole 25. Further, the plug member 26 is configured to close the air hole 25 in the middle of the process of the pressing member 23 compressing the pump 3.

That is, the pump 3 is compressed by the pressing member 23 after the plug member 26 blocks the air hole 25 and supplies air to the operation key 2. On the other hand, when the pressing member 23 returns to the initial position, the plug member 26 is separated from the pump 3 and the air hole 25 is opened.
For this reason, since the outside air can flow into the pump 3 by closing the display unit 15, as will be described later, compared with the case where the entire air passage from the pump 3 to the operation key 2 is a sealed space, the operation is performed. The expansion amount of the key 2 can be kept substantially constant over a long period.

  When the entire air passage extending from the pump 3 to the operation key 2 is used as a sealed space, the amount of air inside decreases when used over a long period of time because of the phenomenon of air leaking through the rubber portion. When the amount of air inside decreases, the operation key 2 cannot be inflated greatly, and the stroke becomes relatively short. However, according to this embodiment, air can flow into the pump 3 from the air hole 25, and the pump 3 can be compressed from a state where the pump 3 is filled with air. As a result, air can always be supplied to the operation key 2 with a constant supply amount, and the stroke can be made longer over a long period of time.

  In the embodiment described above, an example in which fluid pressure is supplied from one pump to each operation key has been shown, but a plurality of pumps can be provided as shown in FIG. 9, the same or equivalent members as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  The mobile phone 11 shown in FIG. 9 includes two pumps 3a and 3b and two pressing members 23 and 23 for compressing the pumps 3a and 3b. One pump 3a of the two pumps 3a and 3b is connected to the operation key 2 of about half of the plurality of operation keys 2 by the communication pipe 22, and the other pump 3b is connected to the other operation key 2. Connected by a pipe 22.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the drive mechanism referred to in the present invention is configured by the hinge mechanism having the pressing member is shown, but the drive mechanism can be configured as shown in FIG. 10, the same or equivalent members as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  A mobile phone 11 shown in FIG. 10 includes a pair of rollers 31 and 31 that sandwich the pump 3 from both sides in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the rollers 31 and 31 and the hinge mechanism 14 constitute a “drive mechanism” in the present invention. In the pump 3 according to this embodiment, one end portion close to the hinge mechanism 14 is fixed to the telephone body 13. The pair of rollers 31 and 31 is rotatably supported by a support bracket (not shown), and is connected to the hinge mechanism 14 via the support bracket.

  The hinge mechanism 14 according to this embodiment is configured such that the pair of rollers 31 and 31 move in parallel with the support bracket when the display unit 15 opens and closes. The direction in which the rollers 31 and 31 move is a direction in which the operation key 2 approaches or separates. Specifically, although not shown, the rollers 31 and 31 are provided so as to sandwich the fixed side end (one end close to the hinge mechanism 14) of the pump 3 in a state where the display unit 15 is closed. Yes.

In the state where the rollers 31, 31 sandwich the end portion on the fixed side of the pump 3, the pump 3 swells so that the volume is close to the maximum. The hinge mechanism 14 translates the pair of rollers 31 and 31 in a direction approaching the operation key 2 in conjunction with the opening operation of the display unit 15. As the rollers 31 and 31 move in this manner, the pump 3 is gradually squeezed from the fixed side end, and the fluid in the pump 3 is discharged to the operation key 2 side. On the other hand, when the display unit 15 is closed, the roller moves in a direction away from the operation key 2 (direction approaching the hinge mechanism 14), and the shape of the pump 3 is restored to the initial shape.
Even if the drive mechanism 4 is configured in this manner, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the stroke of the operation key of the mobile phone is increased is shown, but the present invention can be applied to a function key of the mobile phone as shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, the same or equivalent members as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate. The function keys 12a to 12e shown in FIG. 11 are formed in a bag shape by a rubber material and connected to a pump 3 (not shown), like the operation keys 2 shown in the above-described embodiment.

  The present invention can be applied to a slide-type mobile phone in addition to a foldable mobile phone, and in addition to a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a notebook computer, an electronic notebook, a portable game It can also be applied to machines.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic device, 2 ... Operation key, 3 ... Pump, 11 ... Mobile phone, 12, 12a-12e ... Function key, 13 ... Telephone main body, 14 ... Hinge mechanism, 15 ... Display part, 16 ... Key top part, 17 ... bottom part, 18 ... side wall part, 23 ... pressing member.

Claims (4)

A key comprising a bag that is elastically deformed and inflated by the fluid pressure supplied to the inside;
A pump connected to this key via a fluid passage;
An electronic apparatus comprising a drive mechanism for discharging fluid from the pump. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the key is provided on the electronic device main body.
The electronic device body is provided with a movable member that moves between a storage position where the key is covered and a use position where the key is exposed,
The pump is formed in a bag shape by a rubber material and is connected to the key through a fluid passage,
The electronic device is characterized in that the drive mechanism is coupled to be interlocked with the movable member, and the movable member moves from the storage position to the use position to compress the pump. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein an air hole is formed in the pump,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism is provided with a plug member that closes the air hole in a process of compressing the pump. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the key includes a key top portion having an operation surface, a bottom portion facing the key top portion, the key top portion, and the bottom portion. And is formed in a column shape by a side wall portion connecting the
The side wall portion is formed of an elastic material that expands when fluid pressure is supplied into the key,
An electronic apparatus comprising: an extension direction regulating structure that regulates a direction in which the side wall portion extends in a direction in which a gap between the key top portion and the bottom portion increases.

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