JP2017174759A - Push button device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for easily realizing a push button which displays characters and the like during its use, but does not display characters and the like during its non-use.SOLUTION: A push button 36 indicates the function of a pressing operation on the upper surface thereof. A cover 34 covers at least the upper surface of the push button 36. When the upper surface of the cover 34 is depressed, the push button 36 moves in the pressing direction. When irradiated with light from the underside, the push button 36 leads the light to pass through the upper surface. The upper surface of the cover 34 is formed of a smoke material, and passes the light from the upper surface of the push button 36. A cavity 90 is formed between the upper surface of the cover 34 and the upper surface of the push button 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a push button device, and more particularly to a push button device operated by an operator.

  With the diversification of the design and color tone of various products, it is expected to realize push buttons having new functions and capable of displaying various designs. For this reason, there has been proposed a push button in which a half mirror layer is formed using an aluminum-deposited foil inside the button to provide a mirror surface when the button is not lit, and to transmit characters on the back of the half mirror layer when the button is lit (for example, patents). Reference 1).

JP 2002-190226 A

  If characters or the like are not displayed on the push button when the electronic device is not used, the appearance quality when not used is improved. However, the addition of aluminum evaporated foil may lead to an increase in material costs.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for easily realizing a push button that displays characters or the like when used and does not display characters or the like when not used.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a push button device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a push button unit whose function by a pressing operation is shown on the top surface, and a cover unit that covers at least the top surface of the push button unit. The push button portion moves in the pressing direction when the upper surface of the cover portion is pressed, and the push button portion guides light so as to transmit the upper surface when light is irradiated from below, and the upper surface of the cover portion is While being formed of smoke material, light from the upper surface of the push button portion is transmitted, and a gap is formed between the upper surface of the cover portion and the upper surface of the push button portion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily realize a push button that displays characters or the like when used and does not display characters or the like when not used.

It is the external view which looked at the vehicle interior in which the electronic device which concerns on the Example of this invention is mounted from back. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of the electronic device in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the pushbutton apparatus of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the external appearance of the pushbutton apparatus of FIG. FIGS. 5A and 5B are a front view and a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the push button device of FIG. 6A to 6D are views showing the display on the upper surface of the cover in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electronic device of FIG.

  Before describing the present invention in detail, an outline will be described. Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic device including a push button device. An example of the electronic device is a vehicle-mounted device such as a car audio device or a car navigation device. The driver inputs an instruction to the electronic device by operating the push button device. On the upper surface of the push button device, functions executed in the electronic device by applying a pressing operation to the push button device are displayed as characters or icons. In order to improve the appearance quality when not in use, it is desirable that characters or icons are displayed only when an electronic device is used, and characters or icons are not displayed when the electronic device is not used. In addition, it is desirable that the increase in material costs for realizing this is small. Therefore, the push button device according to the present embodiment is configured as follows. In the following description, “parallel” and “orthogonal” include not only perfect parallel and orthogonal, but also include cases in which deviation from parallel or orthogonal is within the range of error. Further, “substantially” means that they are the same in an approximate range.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a vehicle interior in which an electronic device 100 is mounted as viewed from the rear. A driver's seat 6 is disposed on the right side, a passenger seat 8 is disposed on the left side, and a handle 4 is disposed in front of the driver's seat 6 in front of the passenger compartment. In FIG. 1, the handle 4 and the driver's seat 6 are arranged on the right side, but these may be arranged on the left side. Further, a windshield 2 is disposed in front of the handle 4. In addition, the electronic device 100 is fitted to the side of the handle 4, for example, the left center console. The electronic device 100 is configured as an in-vehicle device such as a car audio device, for example. The electronic device 100 connects the speaker 16 via a cable (not shown). The speaker 16 is disposed inside the left and right doors.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the electronic device 100. The electronic device 100 includes an electronic device housing 10, a first push button device 20a and a second push button device 20b, which are collectively referred to as a push button device 20. The electronic device casing 10 includes an electronic device main body frame 12 and a display panel 14. As shown in FIG. 2, an orthogonal coordinate system including an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis is defined. The y axis and the z axis are orthogonal to each other in the plane of the display panel 14 provided in the electronic device 100. The x axis is perpendicular to the y axis and the z axis and extends in the thickness direction of the electronic device 100. Further, the positive directions of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are each defined in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, and the negative direction is defined in the direction opposite to the arrow. Here, the positive direction of the x-axis is the direction of the driver's seat 6 and the passenger's seat 8 in FIG. 1 and may be “upper side” or “upper side”, and the negative direction of the x-axis is the direction of the windshield 2 in FIG. Direction, sometimes referred to as “lower side” or “lower side”.

  The electronic device casing 10 of the electronic device 100 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. An electronic device body frame 12 is provided on the positive side of the electronic device housing 10 in the x-axis direction. The electronic device main body frame 12 has a frame shape surrounding the display panel 14 and supports the peripheral edge of the display panel 14 from the positive direction side of the x axis. The display panel 14 displays images, images, menus, and the like. The display panel 14 may be a display capable of touch operation, that is, a display panel including a touch panel. Further, the electronic device main body frame 12 is provided with a first push button device 20a and a second push button device 20b, which are similarly configured. The first pushbutton device 20a and the second pushbutton device 20b are operated by the driver and receive instructions to the electronic device 100. Here, the number of the push button devices 20 is not limited to “2”.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the push button device 20. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the external appearance of the push button device 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the hollow encoder part 30, the push button part 36, the holder part 32, and the cover part 34 are sequentially arranged from the negative direction of the x axis toward the positive direction. In the hollow encoder part 30, the hollow encoder body part 40 has an annular shape. A shaft portion 42 is provided so as to protrude from the surface of the hollow encoder main body 40 on the positive direction side of the x axis toward the direction of the x axis. The shaft portion 42 has a cylindrical shape.

  In the push button portion 36, the push button main body portion 70 has a cylindrical shape extending in the x-axis direction. The outer diameter of the push button main body portion 70 is made smaller than the inner diameter of the shaft portion 42. A push button upper surface 72 extending in the yz plane is provided so as to block the positive side end of the push button main body 70 in the x-axis direction. A first function display 82 a and a second function display 82 b are arranged on the push button upper surface 72. The first function display 82a indicates the characters “MENU”, and the second function display 82b indicates the characters “SELECT”. These indicate functions that are executed by the electronic device 100 when the push button device 20 is pressed in the negative direction of the x-axis, but are not limited to characters and may be icons or the like. Here, the push button upper surface 72 is formed of a material having a low light blocking property such as a clear material. The portion other than the function display 82 on the push button upper surface 72 is displayed in a color having a high light shielding property such as black. Parts other than the function display 82 are provided by painting, printing, or the like. On the other hand, the portion of the function display 82 on the upper surface 72 of the push button is indicated by a color having a low light shielding property such as milky white or clear. The function display 82 is provided by painting, laser cutting, printing, or the like. As described above, the push button upper surface 72 shows a plurality of function displays 82 for indicating functions by the pressing operation.

  In the holder part 32, the first cylinder part 50 has a cylindrical shape extending in the x-axis direction. The inner diameter of the first tube portion 50 is made larger than the outer diameters of the push button main body portion 70 and the shaft portion 42. A second cylinder part 52 is formed at the positive side end of the first cylinder part 50 in the x-axis direction. The second cylinder part 52 has a cylindrical shape extending in the x-axis direction. The inner diameter and outer diameter of the second cylinder portion 52 are made smaller than the inner diameter and outer diameter of the first cylinder portion 50.

  In the cover part 34, the cover side surface 60 has a cylindrical shape extending in the x-axis direction. The inner diameter of the cover side surface 60 is made larger than the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 52. A cover upper surface 62 extending in the yz plane is provided so as to close the positive side end of the x-axis of the cover side surface 60. Here, the cover upper surface 62 is formed of a material having a high light shielding property such as a smoke material. When such a hollow encoder part 30, push button part 36, holder part 32 and cover part 34 are combined, the push button part 36 is stored inside the hollow encoder part 30, holder part 32 and cover part 34 as shown in FIG. And no longer exposed to the outside.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B are a front view and a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the push button device 20. FIG. 5A shows a configuration when the push button device 20 is viewed from the positive direction side of the x-axis, that is, from the upper side. As shown in the figure, the cover upper surface 62 is disposed at the center portion, and the hollow encoder portion 30 is disposed around the cover upper surface 62. FIG.5 (b) shows sectional drawing along the AA axis | shaft of Fig.5 (a). The hollow encoder part 30 includes a hollow encoder body part 40 and a shaft part 42. The push button body portion 70 of the push button portion 36 is inserted into the portion surrounded by the inner wall of the shaft portion 42 from the positive direction side of the x axis. Moreover, the 1st cylinder part 50 of the holder part 32 is arrange | positioned so that the outer side wall of the axial part 42 may be enclosed. Here, the outer wall of the shaft portion 42 faces the inner wall of the first tube portion 50.

  The push button portion 36 includes a push button main body portion 70 and a push button upper surface 72, and also includes a wall portion 74. The shaft part 42 of the hollow encoder part 30, the second cylinder part 52 of the holder part 32, and the cover side face 60 of the cover part 34 are arranged so as to surround the outer wall of the push button body part 70. That is, the outer wall of the push button main body 70 faces these inner walls. A push button upper surface 72 is disposed on the positive direction side of the x-axis of the push button body 70. On the surface of the push button main body 70 on the negative direction side of the x axis, a wall portion 74 is disposed at the center portion in the z axis direction. The wall portion 74 has a plate shape, extends in the x-axis direction, and also extends in the y-axis direction until it is connected to the inner wall of the push button main body portion 70. The space surrounded by the push button main body 70 and the push button upper surface 72 is separated into two spaces by the wall 74. The two spaces are a first light guide part 86a and a second light guide part 86b. The first light guide portion 86a is in contact with the first function display 82a on the push button upper surface 72, and the second light guide portion 86b is in contact with the second function display 82b on the push button upper surface 72.

  The holder part 32 includes a first cylinder part 50 and a second cylinder part 52. The shaft portion 42 of the hollow encoder portion 30 is inserted into the portion surrounded by the inner wall of the first tube portion 50 from the negative direction side of the x axis. Here, the inner wall of the first tube portion 50 faces the outer wall of the shaft portion 42. Further, the push button main body portion 70 of the push button portion 36 is inserted into the portion surrounded by the inner wall of the second cylinder portion 52 from the positive direction side of the x axis. The cover side surface 60 of the cover part 34 is disposed so as to surround the outer wall of the second cylinder part 52. Here, the outer wall of the second cylindrical portion 52 faces the inner wall of the cover side surface 60.

  The cover part 34 includes a cover side surface 60 and a cover upper surface 62. The push button body portion 70 of the push button portion 36 is inserted into the portion surrounded by the inner side wall of the cover side surface 60 from the negative direction side of the x axis. Here, the inner side wall of the cover side surface 60 faces the outer side wall of the push button body 70. A cover upper surface 62 is disposed on the positive side of the cover side surface 60 with respect to the x-axis. The cover upper surface 62 is disposed on the positive side of the x-axis with respect to the push button upper surface 72 of the push button portion 36, so that the cover upper surface 62 covers the push button upper surface 72 from the upper surface. The outer ring portion contacts the push button upper surface 72 on the surface of the cover upper surface 62 on the negative side of the x-axis.

  The push button device 20 configured as described above can accept a pressing operation and a rotating operation from the driver. As the pressing operation, the driver presses the cover upper surface 62 from the positive direction side of the x axis to the negative direction side. In response to this pressing operation, the cover portion 34 itself and the push button upper surface 72 move to the negative direction side of the x axis, whereby the push button portion 36 moves in the pressing direction. As a result, the switch unit 80 is pressed. The switch unit 80 outputs a signal corresponding to the pressing to the inside of the electronic device 100 described later. In addition, since the structure of the switch part 80 is well-known, description is abbreviate | omitted here. Note that, by the pressing operation, the cover portion 34 and the push button portion 36 move to the negative direction side of the x axis, but the hollow encoder portion 30 and the holder portion 32 do not move.

  For the rotation operation, the cover part 34 is a dial-type operation part that can rotate around an axis X extending in the pressing direction. If it demonstrates concretely, the cover part 34 will rotate by making the pushbutton part 36 arrange | positioned inside into a rotating shaft. On the other hand, since the push button portion 36 functions as a rotation shaft, it is not interlocked with the rotation of the cover portion 34. Thereby, even if the cover part 34 rotates, the function display 82 arrange | positioned at the pushbutton upper surface 72 of the pushbutton part 36 does not rotate. A holder part 32 is connected to the cover part 34, and the holder part 32 also rotates in conjunction with a rotation operation of the cover part 34. A rotation detection unit (not shown) is disposed on the outer wall of the shaft portion 42 in the hollow encoder main body 40, and the rotation detection unit detects the state of rotation of the first tube unit 50 in the holder unit 32. That is, the rotation detection unit converts the mechanical displacement amount of the rotation of the first tube unit 50 into an electrical signal, and processes the signal to detect the position / velocity. The rotation detection unit is classified into an incremental type and an absolute type, but any of them may be used here. Note that the hollow encoder main body 40 does not rotate by the rotation operation.

  A first light-emitting portion 84a is arranged on the negative side of the x-axis with respect to the first light guide portion 86a formed on the push button portion 36, and x with respect to the second light guide portion 86b formed on the push button portion 36. A second light emitting unit 84b is disposed on the negative direction side of the shaft. The light emitting unit 84 is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and has a luminous intensity of 2000 mcd. The light emitted from the first light emitting unit 84a travels through the first light guide unit 86a, reaches the push button upper surface 72, and is transmitted through the portion of the first function display 82a. On the other hand, the light is not transmitted in a portion around the first function display 82a. Here, the distance from the light guide 86 to the push button upper surface 72 is, for example, 28.5 mm. Light from the push button upper surface 72 is transmitted through the cover upper surface 62. As a result, the first function display 82a is displayed by turning on the first function display 82a.

  On the other hand, if the first light emitting unit 84a does not irradiate light, light is not transmitted through the first light guide unit 86a, so that the portion of the first function display 82a is not lit. Further, since the gap 90 is formed between the push button upper surface 72 and the cover upper surface 62, and the cover upper surface 62 is a smoke material, the first function display 82a is not displayed. The same applies to the second light emitting unit 84b, the second light guide unit 86b, and the second function display 82b.

  Since the wall 74 blocks light, when the first light emitting unit 84a emits light and the second light emitting unit 84b does not emit light, the first function display 82a is displayed and the second function display 82b is displayed. Not. The same applies to the case where the first light emitting unit 84a does not emit light and the second light emitting unit 84b emits light. As described above, the wall portion 74 of the push button portion 36 extends from the lower side toward the upper surface in order to form the light guide portion 86 that is an optical path for each function display 82 shown on the push button upper surface 72. The light guide part 86 in 36 guides light so as to transmit the push button upper surface 72 when light is irradiated from below.

  Here, the gap 90 and the upper surface 62 of the cover are required to satisfy both the translucency when light is emitted from the light emitting portion 84 and the light shielding property when light is not emitted from the light emitting portion 84. In order to realize this, it is preferable that the light transmittance of the cover upper surface 62 is 10% to 20%, and the length of the gap 90 in the x-axis direction is 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm.

  6A to 6D show the display on the cover upper surface 62. FIG. FIG. 6A shows a display when the first light emitting unit 84a and the second light emitting unit 84b do not emit light. The first function display 82a and the second function display 82b are not displayed. FIG. 6B shows a display when the first light emitting unit 84a and the second light emitting unit 84b emit light. The first function display 82a and the second function display 82b are displayed. FIG. 6C shows a display when the first light emitting unit 84a emits light and the second light emitting unit 84b does not emit light. The first function display 82a is displayed, but the second function display 82b is not displayed. FIG. 6D shows a display when the first light emitting unit 84a does not irradiate light and the second light emitting unit 84b irradiates light. The first function display 82a is not displayed, but the second function display 82b is displayed.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration of the electronic device 100. The electronic device 100 includes a switch unit 80, a rotation detection unit 200, a control unit 202, a storage unit 204, an audio processing unit 206, a display processing unit 208, a light emission processing unit 210, a display panel 14, a first light emitting unit 84a, and a second function. A display 82b is included. The electronic device 100 connects the speaker 16.

  The control unit 202 executes a car audio function or the like in the electronic device 100. For example, in a scene where a song to be played is selected in the car audio function, the control unit 202 generates a menu screen based on the song stored in the storage unit 204. The control unit 202 outputs a menu screen to the display processing unit 208, and the display processing unit 208 causes the display panel 14 to display the menu screen. In such a selection scene, since it is necessary for the driver to select a song from a plurality of songs shown on the menu screen, the second function display 82b should be displayed as shown in FIG. It is. Therefore, the control unit 202 determines whether the second light emitting unit 84b is turned on and the first light emitting unit 84a is turned off, and notifies the light emission processing unit 210 of the determined content. The light emission processing unit 210 turns on the second light emitting unit 84b and turns off the first light emitting unit 84a in accordance with the notification from the control unit 202.

  Under such circumstances, the driver selects a song by rotating the push button device 20 and decides to reproduce the song by pressing the push button device 20. Such an operation is detected by the switch unit 80 and the rotation detection unit 200. The control unit 202 selects and reproduces music from the storage unit 204 based on the detection results of the switch unit 80 and the rotation detection unit 200. In particular, since the control unit 202 determines in advance that the second light-emitting unit 84b is turned on and the first light-emitting unit 84a is turned off, the detection result of the switch unit 80 indicates that the function corresponding to the second function display 82b is executed. It is interpreted as

  The control unit 202 outputs the reproduced music to the audio processing unit 206, and the audio processing unit 206 outputs the music from the speaker 16. In such a scene during reproduction, there is a possibility of returning to the menu screen, so the first function display 82a should be displayed as shown in FIG. Therefore, the control unit 202 determines whether the first light emitting unit 84a is turned on and the second light emitting unit 84b is turned off, and notifies the light emission processing unit 210 of the determined content. The light emission processing unit 210 turns on the first light emitting unit 84a and turns off the second light emitting unit 84b in accordance with the notification from the control unit 202.

  This configuration can be realized in terms of hardware by a CPU, memory, or other LSI of any computer, and in terms of software, it can be realized by a program loaded in the memory, but here it is realized by their cooperation. Draw functional blocks. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms only by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, the cover upper surface 62 is formed of a smoke material, and the air gap 90 is formed between the cover upper surface 62 and the push button upper surface 72. Therefore, when the light is not irradiated, the cover upper surface 62 functions. The display 82 can be not displayed. Further, since the function display 82 is not displayed on the cover upper surface 62, the appearance quality when not in use can be improved. Further, since the cover upper surface 62 is formed of a smoke material and the gap 90 is formed between the cover upper surface 62 and the push button upper surface 72, the function display 82 can be displayed on the cover upper surface 62 when light is irradiated.

  Moreover, since the function display 82 is displayed on the cover upper surface 62, the function received by pressing operation can be clarified. Further, since the function received by the pressing operation is clear, the convenience for the driver can be improved. Further, since the cover upper surface 62 is formed of smoke material and only the gap 90 is formed between the cover upper surface 62 and the push button upper surface 72, a push button that displays characters and the like when used and does not display characters when not used is simplified. Can be realized.

  In addition, since the plurality of function displays 82 are shown and the wall 74 is provided in accordance therewith, any one of the plurality of function displays 82 can be selectively displayed. Moreover, since the cover part 34 rotates and the pushbutton part 36 is non-rotating, it can receive rotation operation. In addition, since the rotation operation is accepted, the convenience of the driver can be improved. Further, since the cover part 34 rotates and the push button part 36 does not rotate, the function display 82 can be non-rotated even if the cover part 34 rotates.

  The outline of one embodiment of the present invention is as follows. A push button device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a push button portion whose function by a push operation is shown on an upper surface, and a cover portion that covers at least the upper surface of the push button portion. The push button portion moves in the pressing direction when the upper surface of the cover portion is pressed, and the push button portion guides light so as to transmit the upper surface when light is irradiated from below, and the upper surface of the cover portion is While being formed of smoke material, light from the upper surface of the push button portion is transmitted, and a gap is formed between the upper surface of the cover portion and the upper surface of the push button portion.

  A plurality of functions are shown on the upper surface of the push button portion, and the push button portion may include a wall portion extending from the lower side toward the upper surface in order to form an optical path for each function shown on the upper surface.

  The cover part may be a dial type operation part that can rotate around an axis extending in the pressing direction, and the push button part may be non-interlocked with the rotation of the cover part.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to each of those constituent elements or combinations of processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. .

  In this embodiment, two function displays 82 are arranged on the push button upper surface 72. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only one function display 82 may be arranged on the push button upper surface 72. In that case, the wall part 74 is unnecessary and the light emission part 84 and the light guide part 86 become one. According to this modification, the degree of freedom of configuration can be improved.

  In this embodiment, two function displays 82 are arranged on the push button upper surface 72. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only three or more function displays 82 may be arranged on the push button upper surface 72. In that case, the some wall part 74 is provided and the light emission part 84 and the light guide part 86 according to the number of the function displays 82 are provided. According to this modification, the degree of freedom of configuration can be improved.

  In this embodiment, the push button device 20 accepts a rotation operation in addition to a pressing operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the push button device 20 may accept only a pressing operation and may not accept a rotating operation. According to this modification, the configuration of the push button device 20 can be simplified.

  In the present embodiment, the electronic device 100 is configured as an in-vehicle device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the electronic device 100 is not limited to an in-vehicle device, and may be configured as a home electronic device or a business electronic device. At that time, functions other than the car audio function may be executed. According to this modification, the application range can be expanded.

  2 Windshield, 4 Handle, 6 Driver's seat, 8 Passenger's seat, 10 Electronic equipment housing, 12 Electronic equipment body frame, 14 Display panel, 16 Speaker, 20 Push button device, 30 Hollow encoder part, 32 Holder part, 34 Cover part 36 Push button part, 40 Hollow encoder body part, 42 Shaft part, 50 1st cylinder part, 52 2nd cylinder part, 60 Cover side face, 62 Cover top face, 70 Push button body part, 72 Push button top face, 74 Wall part, 80 switch Part, 82 function display, 84 light emitting part, 86 light guide part, 90 gap, 100 electronic equipment.

Claims (3)

A push button unit whose function by pressing operation is shown on the upper surface;
A cover portion covering at least the upper surface of the push button portion,
The push button part moves in the pressing direction when the upper surface of the cover part is pressed,
The push button part guides light so as to transmit the upper surface when light is irradiated from below,
The upper surface of the cover part is formed of smoke material and transmits light from the upper surface of the push button part,
An air gap is formed between the upper surface of the cover part and the upper surface of the push button part. A plurality of functions are shown on the upper surface of the push button section,
The push button device according to claim 1, wherein the push button portion includes a wall portion extending from the lower side toward the upper surface in order to form an optical path for each function indicated on the upper surface. The cover part is a dial type operation part that can rotate around an axis extending in the pressing direction,
The push button device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the push button portion is not interlocked with the rotation of the cover portion.

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