JP2016031834A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation key of good depression feeling with less rattling, in an electronic apparatus having a depression switch arranged in a housing for one surface thereof.SOLUTION: An operation key 40 comprises: a pusher 42 to be inserted into a through hole 32 for switch, formed in the front side cabinet 3 corresponding to a depression switch 50; and a key top 41 exposed to the exterior appearance continuously to the pusher 42. The operation key 40 is provided with a plurality of rattling prevention parts 44a-44d which come into contact with the through hole 32 and the peripheral edge thereof thus preventing the rattling thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device having a push-type switch disposed inside a housing with respect to one surface of the housing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic device in which a push switch is built inside one surface of a rectangular plate-like housing such as a smartphone is known. An operation key for operating such a push-type switch needs to be easy to assemble with little backlash.

  Therefore, for example, as in Patent Document 1, a key top having a switch, a first protrusion, a second protrusion for pressing the switch, and an elastic stopper claw, and a fulcrum for the see-saw operation of the key top In addition, there is known an electronic apparatus including a central axis that engages and holds a stopper claw of a key top and a case that extends from the periphery toward the central axis and has a spring that abuts against a first protrusion. Yes.

JP-A-11-96851

  However, the thing of the said patent document 1 is limited to the structure which has a support shaft holding a key top, and the point of making the thickness of an electronic device thin is not considered.

  For example, when the casing has a curved outer surface, in order to provide a press switch that requires a predetermined width on a narrow side surface, the press switch is provided on the far side away from the key top exposed from the side surface. There must be.

  If it does so, the distance from a key top to a press-type switch will become long, the operation key will be easy to incline, there existed a problem that the feeling at the time of press worsened, and operativity deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the object of the present invention is to reduce backlash even in an electronic device having a push-type switch disposed inside a housing with respect to one surface of the housing. It is to provide an operation key with a good touch feeling.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an operation key having a plurality of rattling prevention portions is provided.

Specifically, in the present invention, on the premise of an electronic device having a press switch disposed inside the housing with respect to one surface of the housing,
The electronic device
Provided with an operation key having a pusher portion inserted through a switch through-hole formed corresponding to the push-type switch on one surface of the housing and a key top exposed continuously to the pusher portion.
The operation key includes a plurality of backlash prevention portions that prevent backlash by contacting the inner peripheral surface of the switch through hole or a peripheral edge continuous with the inner peripheral surface.

  According to the above configuration, the operation key is provided with a plurality of rattling prevention portions so as to contact the inner peripheral surface of the switch through-hole or the peripheral edge continuous to the inner peripheral surface. Even if it is provided on the back side, the operation key does not tilt and the pressing feeling does not deteriorate. For this reason, a push-type switch can be arrange | positioned also in the back | inner side of the one surface of the housing | casing thinned.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the operation key is provided with the plurality of rattling prevention portions that prevent the rattling by contacting the inner peripheral surface of the switch through-hole or the peripheral edge continuous to the inner peripheral surface. Even on the back side of one surface of the thinned casing, an operation key with a small pressing feeling and good touch feeling can be provided.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line II in FIG. The mobile phone which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is the perspective view seen from the front side, (b) is the perspective view seen from the back side. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a mobile telephone. It is the IV-IV line expanded sectional view of FIG.2 (b). (A) And (b) is a perspective view which shows the operation key seen from a respectively different direction. It is the expansion perspective view which made the press-type switch and its periphery visible. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment. It is an expansion perspective view which made the waterproof structure concerning Embodiment 3 visible. It is the IX-IX line expanded sectional view of FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the operation key which concerns on Embodiment 4.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
1 to 4 show a mobile phone 1 as an electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone 1 has, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the vertical direction so that it can be easily held by hand, and the display unit 2 is placed in front The front side cabinet 3 as a cabinet accommodated in the side, the back side cabinet 4 which covers the back surface of this front side cabinet 3, and the rear cover 5 which covers the back surface of this back side cabinet 4 are provided. For example, a rechargeable battery 6 and a circuit board 7 are accommodated between the front side cabinet 3 and the back side cabinet 4. The front side cabinet 3, the back side cabinet 4 and the rear cover 5 are curved so that the back side becomes thinner toward the outer peripheral edge for design and operability. In the present embodiment, the casing of the mobile phone 1 is composed of the front side cabinet 3, the back side cabinet 4, and the rear cover 5. Although only the back side is curved as a whole case, only the front side may be curved, and the front and back sides may be curved. The housing may be composed of only the front cabinet 3 and the back cabinet 4.

  The display unit 2 includes, for example, a transparent cover member 20 made of, for example, an acrylic plate or a glass plate, a touch panel 21 attached to the back surface of the cover member 20, a liquid crystal unit 22 attached to the back surface of the touch panel 21, And a backlight 23 for illuminating the liquid crystal unit 22.

  The front-side cabinet 3 has a substantially rectangular plate shape, and a rectangular plate-shaped frame sheet metal 31 is insert-molded in the resin portion 30. In addition, the front side cabinet 3 may not be an insert molded product, and may be shape | molded only by resin. For example, a switch through hole 32 that is long in the vertical direction is formed through the upper left side as viewed from the front of the resin portion 30. A key top receiving recess 32 a having a slightly larger inner dimension than the inner peripheral surface of the switch through hole 32 is recessed at the periphery of the switch through hole 32 so as to be lower than the left side surface of the front cabinet 3. Yes.

  For example, a seesaw type operation key 40 is accommodated in the switch through hole 32. In the present embodiment, two push-type switches 50 are arranged on the back side of the left side surface (one surface of the housing) of the front side cabinet 3 in correspondence with the operation keys 40. The pressing switch 50 is attached to and electrically connected to the switch flexible substrate 51. The size of the pressing switch 50 (vertical length in FIG. 1) is required to some extent in order to maintain the pressing feeling. For this reason, in order to fit in the curved housing | casing, the press-type switch 50 is arrange | positioned from the left side surface to the back | inner side (left side of FIG. 1) rather than before. A reaction force receiving portion 33 is integrally formed on the back side of the switch flexible substrate 51 so that a part of the resin portion 30 protrudes vertically toward the back side. While receiving the reaction force when the pressing switch 50 is pressed, it plays a role of holding the switch flexible substrate 51.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the operation key 40 is made of, for example, a resin molded product having appropriate rigidity and elasticity, and includes a key top 41 that is vertically long and exposed to the exterior. A pair of pusher portions 42 extend from the key top 41 toward the pair of push-type switches 50. The pair of pusher portions 42 are connected to each other by a plate-like connecting portion 43, and the entire pusher portion 42 and the connecting portion 43 are plate-like. The thickness of the pusher portion 42 and the connecting portion 43 is maintained to such an extent that the operation key 40 is rigid enough to be inserted and not damaged when the operation key 40 is inserted into the switch through hole 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the key stroke S between the inner peripheral surface of the key top 41 and the bottom surface of the key top receiving recess 32a is kept larger than the pressing depth to which the pressing switch 50 reacts.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the center position X in the thickness direction of the front cabinet 3 of the key top 41 (the vertical direction in FIG. 1, the direction perpendicular to the pressing direction of the pressing switch 50), and the pressing switch 50. The center portion Y in the thickness direction of the front cabinet 3 of the pressing portion is shifted by a shift amount Z. The value of the shift amount Z is not particularly limited. For example, the depth of the pusher portion 42 (left and right length in FIG. 1) is 3.8 mm, the distance between the pusher portions 42 is 17 mm, and the key top 41 The width (vertical height in FIG. 1) is 1.5 mm, and the shift amount Z is 0.4 mm. In this way, by intentionally maintaining the shift amount Z, the casing is curved. In addition, the width of the key top 41 can be increased to such an extent that the pressing feeling does not deteriorate.

  Further, the operation key 40 includes a plurality of rattling prevention portions 44a to 44d (indicated by hatching in FIG. 5) that prevent rattling by contacting the inner peripheral surface of the switch through-hole 32 and its peripheral edge. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, the first rattling prevention portion 44a extends linearly on the upper side of FIG. 1 (the back side of the mobile phone 1) in the key top 41. Second backlash preventing portions 44b are provided at a distance from each other on the side of the pressure switch 50 of the pair of pusher portions 42 on the same back side. And as shown in FIG.5 (b), the 3rd rattle prevention part 44c is linearly extended in the lower side of FIG. 1 in the keytop 41 (front side of the mobile telephone 1). A fourth backlash preventing portion 44d is provided in a substantially rectangular shape at the upper and lower centers of the connecting portion 43 on the same front side.

  The pair of second backlash prevention portions 44b and the first backlash prevention portion 44a are provided at a distance in the left-right direction in FIG. On the other hand, the distance between the first backlash prevention portion 44a and the third backlash prevention portion 44c and the distance between the second backlash prevention portion 44b and the fourth backlash prevention portion 44d are made as close as possible to reduce the length of the pusher portion 42. Even if it gets longer, it doesn't tilt as much as possible. Further, by providing the rattling prevention portions 44a to 44d discretely, it is possible to prevent the resistance when the operation key 40 is operated from being excessively increased so that the pressing feeling is not deteriorated.

  A hook-shaped retaining portion 45 is formed at a portion of the pusher portion 42 inserted beyond the switch through hole 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the retaining portion 45 is integrally formed on the distal end side in the insertion direction of the pusher portion 42 so as to be hooked on the periphery after passing through the switch through hole 32. By reducing the thickness of the front side (lower side in FIG. 1) of the retaining portion 45, it is easy to bend and insert when inserted into the switch through hole 32. Even if the thickness on the front side of the retaining portion 45 is not reduced as shown in FIG. 1, the height of the retaining portion 45 is higher than the narrowest width A of the switch through-hole 32 as shown in FIG. If the length B is small, the thickness of the pusher portion 42 and the connecting portion 43 is kept thin. Therefore, when the retaining portion 45 passes through the switch through-hole 32, the pusher portion 42 and the connecting portion 43 are appropriately adjusted. Can bend.

  The operation key 40 of the present embodiment is a seesaw type key configured to be able to press two pressing switches 50. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the operation key 40 is switched at the upper and lower central portions. A cushion member 46 that is urged in a direction to push it back out of the through-hole 32 is in contact.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a bulging portion 48 bulging from the linking portion 43 is formed at the upper and lower middles of the corner portions on both sides of the linking portion 43 and the key top 41. 48, the gap with the inner peripheral surface of the switch through-hole 32 is made small so that the pair of push-type switches 50 are not pushed simultaneously as much as possible.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the operation key 40 is provided with the plurality of rattling prevention portions 44a to 44d, and the plurality of rattling prevention portions 44a to 44d are brought into contact with the switch through-hole 32 and the periphery thereof, respectively. Even if the push-type switch 50 is provided on the back side, the operation key 40 does not tilt and the touch feeling does not deteriorate. For this reason, the push type switch 50 can be arrange | positioned also in the back | inner side of the one surface of the housing | casing thinned.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the front side cabinet 3, the back side cabinet 4, and the rear cover 5 are curved toward the outer periphery as a whole, and the thickness is reduced, and the pusher portion 42 is the thickness of the front side cabinet 3. It is formed in a thin plate shape in the vertical direction. For this reason, the operation key 40 can be arranged even in a case where the outer peripheral edge is curved and thin, and the shape of the pusher portion 42 is a thin plate in the thickness direction of the front cabinet 3. Therefore, the touch feeling of the operation key 40 can be maintained without increasing the thickness of the mobile phone 1.

  Further, the housing includes a front side cabinet 3 made of a resin molded product in which the frame sheet metal 31 is insert-molded, and a reaction force receiving portion 33 that receives the reaction force of the pressing switch 50 at the resin portion 30 of the front side cabinet 3. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a bracket for receiving the reaction force of the push switch 50.

  Further, the switch through-hole 32 and the reaction force receiving portion 33 are integrally formed at the time of insert molding, and the operation key 40 is configured to be inserted into the switch through-hole 32 from the outside toward the reaction force receiving portion 33. As a result, it is not necessary to form a conventional bracket for holding the reaction force and holding it as a separate part, and assembling is facilitated. Moreover, since the operation key 40 should just be inserted from the outside, the assembly of the operation key 40 is also very easy. In addition, since the switch through-hole 32 and the reaction force receiving portion 33 are formed only by the front-side cabinet 3, there is no variation in position due to accumulation of tolerances compared to the case where a plurality of components are formed, and the positional accuracy is high. As in the case of a plurality of parts, there is no change in the touch feeling due to the change in the interval between parts when a load is applied. Furthermore, since the number of parts is reduced, the manufacturing cost is reduced in terms of both parts cost and work cost.

  In addition, since the hook-shaped retaining portion 45 is formed in the portion of the pusher portion 42 inserted beyond the switch through hole 32, the operation key 40 is pushed in from the outside rather than the inside of the switch through hole 32. After being pushed in, the stopper 45 is caught on the periphery of the switch through hole 32, so that the operation key 40 cannot be removed.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the rattling prevention parts 44a-44d are provided in several places at intervals in the pressing direction of the pusher part 42. As shown in FIG. As described above, by providing the rattle prevention portions 44a to 44d in a plurality of regions, particularly in positions away from the pushing direction, even if the depth of the pusher portion 42 is increased, the play of the operation key 40 is suppressed. The pressing feeling does not deteriorate.

  Further, since the rattling prevention portions 44a to 44d are provided on the side surfaces on both sides in the thickness direction of the key top 41 and the side surfaces on both sides in the thickness direction of the pusher portion 42 (including the connecting portion 43), the thickness direction of the operation key 40 is provided. The backlash is further suppressed.

  Further, the operation key 40 is a seesaw type key configured to be capable of pressing the two push switches 50, and a cushion member 46 that urges the operation key 40 in a direction to push back the operation key 40 is brought into contact with the central portion thereof. By urging the operation key 40 in the direction of pushing it out of the switch through-hole 32, no sound is generated due to rattling of the operation key 40 when the mobile phone 1 is shaken. In addition, the touch when the operation key 40 is operated is improved, and the repulsive force of the cushion member 46 makes it difficult for both the push-type switches 50 to be pressed simultaneously.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the operation key 40 with a small touch and a good touch feeling even on the back side of one surface of the thinned casing.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 shows a cellular phone 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment in that a waterproof sheet 147 is provided. In the following embodiments, the same portions as those in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, a waterproof sheet 147 is attached to the inner periphery of the switch through-hole 32 so as to cover the entire periphery with, for example, a double-sided tape 147a. Thus, the push switch 50 is configured to be pressed against the pusher portion 42 via the waterproof sheet 147.

  If waterproofing is performed at the switch through-hole 32 in this manner, the waterproof structure can be simplified because the push-type switch 50 and the switch flexible substrate 51 to which it is attached need not be waterproofed.

(Embodiment 3)
8 and 9 show a mobile phone 201 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and the waterproof structure is different from those of the above embodiments.

  Specifically, the push-type switch 50 is integrally provided on the switch flexible substrate 251.

  In the present embodiment, the reaction force receiving portion 233 is formed with a flexible through hole 234 through which the connection portion 251a of the switch flexible substrate 251 is inserted. In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 251a is connected to the sub-board 207 disposed on the back side of the reaction force receiving portion 233, but the connecting portion 251a and the sub-board 207 may be integrated. In this case, the connection part 251a is unnecessary. The switch flexible substrate 251 and the connection portion 251a are integrated, but may be separate.

  The flexible through hole 234 is waterproofed by a grommet 235 as a waterproof member. The grommet 235 is made of, for example, silicon rubber, elastomer, or the like, and is formed integrally with, for example, a waterproof switch flexible substrate 251. If the grommet 235 is not integrated with the switch flexible board 251 and there is a gap between the through hole passage portion of the flexible board 251 and the grommet 235 and the grommet 235 and the inner surface of the flexible through hole 234, the gap is waterproofed. It may be waterproofed by filling with an adhesive or caulking agent as a member. Alternatively, without using the grommet 235, the gap between the through hole passage portion of the flexible substrate 251 and the inner peripheral surface of the flexible through hole 234 may be filled with an adhesive or a caulking agent as a waterproof member for waterproofing.

  In this embodiment, the push-type switch 50 and the switch flexible board 251 itself have a waterproof function, and the reaction force receiving portion 233 has a waterproof region, so that the push-type switch 50, the pusher portion 42, In the meantime, it is not necessary to interpose the waterproof sheet 147 as in the second embodiment, and a direct pressing feeling can be obtained. Further, by sealing the flexible through hole 234 through which the switch flexible substrate 251 passes with the grommet 235, a waterproof structure can be easily achieved.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 10 shows an operation key 340 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and the shape of the connecting portion 343 is different from those of the above embodiments.

  As for the connection part 343 of this embodiment, the notch part 343a is partially cut compared with the connection part 43 of said each embodiment. As described above, the connection portion 343 may cut other portions as long as the area of the fourth backlash prevention portion 44d can be secured.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention may be configured as follows for each of the above embodiments.

  That is, in each of the embodiments described above, the switch through-hole 32 is provided in the front cabinet 3 which is a part of the casing. However, when one surface of the casing is configured by the rear cabinet 4, for example, the rear cabinet 4 May be provided. Alternatively, the front side of the switch through hole 32 may be formed by the front side cabinet 3, and the back side may be formed by the back side cabinet 4 which is a part of the casing. As a result, the assembling property of the operation key 40 is improved, but the waterproof surface, the rigid surface, etc. are inferior to the above embodiments.

  In each of the above embodiments, the operation key 40 is a seesaw switch that presses the two pressing switches 50, but may be a switch that presses a single pressing switch 50.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the deviation amount Z between the center position X in the thickness direction of the front cabinet 3 of the key top 41 and the center position Y in the thickness direction of the front cabinet 3 of the pressing portion of the pressing switch 50 is set. Although this is ensured, the deviation amount Z may be zero.

  In the said embodiment, although the front side cabinet 3 is taken as the resin molded product in which the frame sheet metal 31 was inserted, the resin molded product in which this frame sheet metal 31 is not inserted may be sufficient.

  In the above-described embodiment, the electronic device is the mobile phone 1. However, as long as the push-type switch 50 is built in the thin casing, the electronic device is a tablet terminal, a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System). ), A personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer, a mobile tool, an electronic dictionary, a calculator, a game machine, or the like, or a small liquid crystal display, a liquid crystal television, a Blu-ray disc recorder, a DVD recorder, or the like.

  In addition, the above embodiment is an essentially preferable illustration, Comprising: It does not intend restrict | limiting the range of this invention, its application thing, or a use. The technical features described in each embodiment can be combined with each other, and a new technical feature can be formed by combining them.

1 Mobile phone (electronic equipment)
2 display section
3 Front cabinet (casing, cabinet)
4 Back side cabinet (housing)
5 Rear cover (housing)
6 Rechargeable battery
7 Circuit board
20 Cover member
21 Touch panel
22 LCD unit
23 Backlight
30 Resin part
31 Frame sheet metal
32 Through hole for switch
32a Keytop receiving recess
33 Reaction force receiver
40 operation keys
41 key top
42 Pusher
43 Connecting part
44a First rattle prevention part
44b Second rattle prevention part
44c Third rattle prevention part
44d 4th rattle prevention part
45 Retaining part
46 Cushion material
48 bulge
50 Press switch
51 Flexible substrate for switch 101 Mobile phone (electronic equipment)
147 Waterproof sheet 147a Double-sided tape 201 Mobile phone (electronic equipment)
207 Sub-board 233 Reaction force receiving portion 234 Flexible through hole 235 Grommet (waterproof member)
251 Flexible board for switch 251a Connection part 340 Operation key 343 Connection part 343a Cutting part

Claims (7)

In an electronic device having a push-type switch arranged inside the housing with respect to one surface of the housing,
Provided with an operation key having a pusher portion inserted through a switch through-hole formed corresponding to the push-type switch on one surface of the housing and a key top exposed continuously to the pusher portion.
The electronic device is provided with a plurality of rattle prevention portions that come into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the switch through-hole or a peripheral edge continuous with the inner peripheral surface to prevent rattling. The electronic device according to claim 1,
The electronic device is characterized in that the casing is curved toward the outer peripheral edge and has a small thickness, and the pusher portion is formed in a thin plate shape in the thickness direction of the casing. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2,
An electronic apparatus characterized in that a center position of the key top in a direction perpendicular to the pressing direction of the pressing switch is shifted from a center position of the pressing portion of the pressing switch in the direction perpendicular to the pressing direction. . The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The housing includes a cabinet made of a molded product having at least a resin portion,
An electronic apparatus, wherein a reaction force receiving portion that receives a reaction force of the pressing switch and a through hole for the switch are formed by a resin portion of the cabinet. The electronic device according to claim 4,
The pressing switch is provided integrally on a waterproof flexible substrate,
An electronic apparatus, wherein the reaction force receiving portion is formed with a flexible through hole through which the connecting portion of the flexible substrate is inserted, and the flexible through hole is waterproofed by a waterproof member. In the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A waterproof sheet is affixed to the inner peripheral edge of the through hole for the switch, and the push-type switch is configured to be pressed against the pusher part through the waterproof sheet. machine. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An electronic apparatus, wherein a hook-shaped retaining portion is formed in a portion of the pusher portion inserted beyond the switch through hole.