JP2012099374A - Control panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high quality control panel which is thin, causes small illumination unevenness, and allows users to obtain excellent operation feeling.SOLUTION: A control panel 1 includes a housing 2, a display panel 3 (control part) provided on a front surface side of the housing 2, a key unit 4 incorporated into the housing 2, and a rear cover 5 covering the rear surface side of the housing 2 and is formed so that the key unit 4 includes a key unit substrate 7 on which an LED 6 and a switch 11 are mounted and a light guide plate 8. In the control panel 1, the LED 6 and the light guide plate 8 are mounted on the front surface side of the key unit substrate 7, and the switch 11 is mounted on the rear surface side. Further, a protrusion 5b for pressing the switch 11 is provided on the rear cover 5.

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation panel used for various electronic devices and the like.

  As an operation panel or button switch used for various electronic devices, a switch is turned on when a key button area or key button is pressed, and a light source such as an LED is turned on to notify the switch on state. ing. The operation panel of this type includes, for example, a housing, an operation portion provided on the front surface side of the housing, a key unit incorporated in the housing, and a rear cover that covers the back side of the housing, and the key unit Is configured to include a light-guide plate and a substrate on which LEDs and switches are mounted.

  By the way, in Patent Document 1, the button unit is configured to include a light guide translucent material and a color filter having a property of passing only light of a specific wavelength, and when the lamp unit is pressed, this rotates around a fulcrum. There has been proposed an illuminated pushbutton switch that moves and presses an actuator that contacts the lower surface of the button unit to close a contact point of a switch mechanism and to light a lamp. According to this, surface illumination is realized and visibility is improved, and the display mode can be changed by changing the color filter.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a push button structure in which a button and an actuator are divided, a switch pressing portion is provided on the actuator, the switch pressing portion is disposed at the center of the button, and a light guide resin member is used for the actuator. Has been proposed. According to this, since the length of the switch pressing part is shortened, the shadow of the switch pressing part in the illumination part of the button is prevented from being reflected, and the addition of an unbalanced load during the operation of the button is prevented. The feeling is enhanced, and further, the illumination of the button becomes indirect illumination and the occurrence of illumination unevenness is suppressed.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-004970 JP-A-2005-116326

  However, in the illuminated pushbutton switch proposed in Patent Document 1, since the lead type lamp is used as the light source, the entire thickness is increased, and the light guide member and the actuator are in direct contact. During use for a long time, the portion of the light guide member that is in contact with the actuator may be shaved, and the illumination of that portion may become dark. Further, when the button unit is pressed, the button unit is rotated about a fulcrum provided on one side, so that the pressing load is changed between a location close to the fulcrum and a location far from the fulcrum, resulting in a poor operation feeling.

  In the push button structure proposed in Patent Document 2, since the LED is arranged immediately below the key button, it is necessary to secure a certain distance between the LED and the key button in order to reduce uneven illumination. As a result, there is a problem that the entire thickness is increased. Further, since a protrusion (switch pressing portion) for pressing the sheet switch is disposed between the LEDs, there is a problem that the shadow of the protrusion is reflected and uneven illumination occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a high-quality operation panel that is thin, has little illumination unevenness, and provides a good operation feeling.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention includes a housing, an operation portion provided on the front surface side of the housing, a key unit incorporated in the housing, and a rear cover that covers the rear surface side of the housing. An operation panel comprising a substrate on which an LED and a switch are mounted and a light guide plate, wherein the LED and the light guide plate are mounted on the front side of the substrate, and the switch is provided on the back side. The rear cover is provided with a projection for mounting and pressing the switch.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a frame-like key frame surrounding the LED and the light guide plate is fixed on the substrate, and flanges are provided on at least two opposite sides of the key frame. Is formed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a reflection sheet is interposed between the light guide plate and the substrate, or a diffusion sheet is interposed between the light guide plate and the operation portion. And

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the LED and the light guide plate are mounted on the front surface side of the substrate and the switch on the back surface side is mounted, the switch can be arranged in the center of the operation portion, and a good operation feeling can be obtained. In addition, since the operation unit is illuminated through the light guide plate, a thin operation panel with little illumination unevenness can be obtained. In addition, since the LED, the light guide plate, and the switch are mounted on the same substrate, an integrated structure is adopted, so that the positional relationship between the LED and the light guide plate does not change even when the operation unit is pressed, and the way of lighting changes depending on how the operation unit is pressed. And a high-quality operation panel can be obtained.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the frame-shaped key frame surrounding the LED and the light guide plate is fixed on the substrate, and the flanges are formed on at least two opposite sides of the key frame. Even when is pressed, the flange on the opposite side serves as a fulcrum to press the switch, and a good and uniform operation feeling can be obtained no matter which part of the operation unit is pressed.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, if a reflection sheet is interposed between the light guide plate and the substrate, the luminance of the illumination can be increased, and if a diffusion sheet is interposed between the light guide plate and the operation unit, the illumination is performed. Uniform illumination with little unevenness can be realized.

It is sectional drawing of the operation panel which concerns on this invention. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from diagonally upward of the operation panel which concerns on this invention. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from diagonally downward of the operation panel which concerns on this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an operation panel according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the operation panel viewed from obliquely above, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the operation panel viewed obliquely from below.

  An operation panel 1 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 2, a display label 3 attached to the front surface side of the housing 2, a key unit 4 incorporated in the housing 2, and a rear cover that covers the back surface side of the housing 2. 5 is provided.

  The display label 3 is provided with a plurality of rectangular key button areas 3a as operation units that function as key buttons. Characters, designs, and the like (not shown) are displayed on each key button area 3a by printing or the like. Has been.

  The housing 2 is formed with a plurality of rectangular openings 2a corresponding to a plurality of key button areas 3a provided on the display label 3, and a plurality of engaging claws 2b are integrally formed on the four circumferences of the bottom surface. Is formed. A plurality of the key units 4 corresponding to the key button areas 3a are incorporated in the housing 2.

  1 to 3 show a representative one of the plurality of key units 4, but the configuration of the other key units 4 is the same, and thus illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  Thus, the key unit 4 includes an LED (light emitting diode) 6 as a light source, a key unit substrate 7 on which the LED 6 is mounted, a light guide plate 8, a reflection sheet 9, a key frame 10, and a switch 11. However, as shown in FIG. 1, the LED 6 and the light guide plate 8 are mounted on the surface side of the key unit substrate 7, and a thin reflective sheet 9 is sandwiched between the light guide plate 8 and the key unit substrate 7. Yes. In addition, the switches 11 are mounted at positions corresponding to substantially the center of the key button areas 3a on the back side of the key unit substrate 7, respectively. In the present embodiment, the reflection sheet 9 is sandwiched between the light guide plate 8 and the key unit substrate 7, but in addition, a diffusion sheet may be sandwiched between the light guide plate 8 and the display label 3.

  On the key unit substrate 7, the LED 6 is arranged to face one side surface of the light guide plate 8, and the LED 6 and the light guide plate 8 are fixed to the key unit substrate 7 by a snap, heat caulking, or the like. The shape of the key frame 10 is surrounded. Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, flanges 10 a are integrally formed on two opposing pieces on the short side of the key frame 10. As shown in FIG. 1, an elongated main board 12 is incorporated in the housing 2, and a cable 13 extending from the main board 12 is electrically connected to the key unit board 7 of each key unit 4. A power source (not shown) supplies power to the LED 6 via the main board 12, the cable 13, and the key unit board 7, and the LED 6 is activated.

  A plurality of rectangular recesses 5a are formed in a straight line on the upper surface (inner surface) of the rear cover 5 so as to correspond to the plurality of key units 4, and a switch 11 of each key unit 4 is placed at the center of each rectangular recess 5a. A cylindrical protrusion 5b is provided so as to protrude from below. In addition, hooks 5A are formed at a plurality of locations on the four sides of the rear cover 4 (locations corresponding to positions where the engaging claws 2b of the housing 2 are formed), and an engagement hole 5c is formed in each hook 5A. ing.

  Thus, with the plurality of key units 4 and the main board 12 incorporated, the plurality of engagement claws 2b formed on the housing 2 are engaged with the engagement holes 5c of the plurality of hooks 5A formed on the rear cover 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 2 and the rear cover 5 are assembled and integrated to form the operation panel 1. However, in the space formed by the housing 2 and the rear cover 5, a plurality of key units 4 and The main board 12 is housed in a compact manner.

  In the operation panel 1 configured as described above, when an arbitrary key button area 3a of the display label 3 is pressed by the operator, the key unit 4 corresponding to the key button area 3a is pressed. Since the switch 11 is pushed by the protrusion 5b of the rear cover 5, the switch 11 is turned on, and the LED 6 is energized to emit light. Then, the light from the LED 6 passes through the light guide plate 8, is reflected by the reflection sheet 9 and is emitted from the surface of the light guide plate 8, and illuminates characters, designs, and the like in the key button area 3 a of the display label 3.

  As described above, in the operation panel 1 according to the present embodiment, the LED 6 and the light guide plate 8 are mounted on the front surface side of the key unit substrate 7 and the switch 11 on the back surface side is mounted. Since the key button area 3a can be disposed in the center of the key button area 3a to obtain a good operation feeling and the key button area 3a is illuminated through the light guide plate 8, a thin operation panel 1 with little illumination unevenness is obtained. be able to.

  Further, since the LED 6, the light guide plate 8 and the switch 11 are mounted on the same key unit substrate 7, there is no change in the positional relationship between the LED 6 and the light guide plate 8 even if the key button area 3 a of the display label 3 is pressed. The lighting method does not change depending on how the key button area 3a is pressed, and a high-quality operation panel 1 can be obtained.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the flange 10a is formed on the two opposite sides of the frame-like key frame 10 surrounding the LED 6 and the light guide plate 8, for example, when the corner of the key button area 3a of the display label 3 is pressed. Even in such a case, the switch 11 is pushed by using the flange 10a on the opposite side as a fulcrum, and a good and uniform operation feeling can be obtained no matter which part of the key button area 3a is pushed.

  And in this Embodiment, since the reflective sheet 9 was inserted | pinched between the light-guide plate 8 and the key unit board | substrate 7, the brightness | luminance of illumination can be raised. Furthermore, if a diffusion sheet is sandwiched between the light guide plate 8 and the display label 3, uniform illumination with little illumination unevenness can be realized.

  In the above embodiment, the key button area of the display label is adopted as the operation unit. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to an operation panel that employs key buttons as the operation unit. In this case, a light transmissive member is used for the key button, and the light guide plate and the key frame are integrated, and characters and designs are formed on the surface by painting, printing, laser etching, or the like. Then, if the key unit is configured by fixing the key button to the key unit board with a reflection sheet or a diffusion sheet in between, and incorporating this key unit into the housing, it is thin and has little illumination unevenness, similar to the display label type. An operation panel with good operation feeling can be obtained.

  If a flexible substrate is used as the substrate, a plurality of key unit substrates and the main substrate can be integrated, and the number of assembling steps can be greatly reduced and the cost can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation panel 2 Housing 2a Housing opening 2b Housing engagement claw 3 Display label 3a Display label key button area (operation section)
4 Key unit 5 Rear cover 5A Rear cover hook 5a Rear cover rectangular recess 5b Rear cover protrusion 5c Rear cover engagement hole 6 LED
7 Key unit board (board)
8 Light guide plate 9 Reflective sheet 10 Key frame 10a Key frame flange 11 Switch 12 Main board 13 Cable

Claims (3)

A housing, an operation portion provided on the front surface side of the housing, a key unit incorporated in the housing, and a rear cover that covers the rear surface side of the housing; and the board on which the LED and the switch are mounted. In an operation panel configured to include a light guide plate,
An operation panel in which the LED and the light guide plate are mounted on the front surface side of the substrate, the switch is mounted on the back surface side, and a protrusion for pressing the switch is provided on the rear cover.   The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein a frame-like key frame surrounding the LED and the light guide plate is fixed on the substrate, and flanges are formed on at least two opposite sides of the key frame. 3. The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein a reflection sheet or a diffusion sheet is interposed between the light guide plate and the operation unit between the light guide plate and the substrate.

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