JP2020074325A - Operation unit and electronic apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to improve operability.SOLUTION: A sheet conveying device (10) includes an operation unit 18, and the operation unit 18 is provided with a touch panel display 50, a home key 52, and a power-saving key 54. The power-saving key includes a display part (54a) that has a first display part 540 having transmissivity and a dark color on its surface, and a second display part 542 having no or almost no transmissivity and formed of two layers of printed materials (542a, 542b). At a front side of the second display part, a figure showing the power-saving key is printed with silver ink (542a), and at a back side, a figure showing the power-saving key is printed with black ink (542b). In a normal state, when backlight is turned on, the surface of the first display part is bright, and a surface of the second display part is darker than a surface of the first display part. On the other hand, in a power-saving state, when a light guide plate does not emit light, the surface of the first display part is dark, and the surface of the second display part is brighter than the surface of the first display part. Thus, the presence of a position of the power-saving key is visibly notified.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation unit and an electronic device including the same, and more particularly to, for example, an operation unit that can be touch-operated and an electronic device including the same.

An example of the background art is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The operation device of Patent Document 1 includes a touch key capable of being touch-operated, and the touch key includes a circuit board on which a light source is mounted, a light transmitting portion that transmits light, an opaque light shielding portion, a light transmitting portion, and a light transmitting portion. And a semitransparent operation panel that covers the upper surface of the light shielding portion. The translucent part accommodates the light source, and the surfaces of the translucent part and the light shielding part that are in contact with each other are in close contact with each other. cover.
JP, 2014-112353, A

  However, in the operating device disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the touch panel is formed of smoke-like polycarbonate, when the light source is turned off in the power saving state, the entire home key becomes dark and the home key It is difficult to see the figure that shows such touch keys. When such a touch key is applied to the key (energy saving key) for setting the image forming apparatus from the normal state to the power saving state and for returning the image forming apparatus from the power saving state to the normal state, Since the figure showing the energy saving key is difficult to see, there is a problem that it is difficult to operate the image forming apparatus when returning from the power saving state to the normal state.

  Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a novel operation unit and an electronic device including the same.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an operation unit capable of improving operability and an electronic device including the operation unit.

  A first invention is an operation including a display unit having a first display unit having transparency and a second display unit laminated on the first display unit, and an illuminant arranged to face a back surface of the display unit. It is an operation unit including a section. In this operation unit, the second display section has non-transparency, and the surface color of the second display section is different from the surface color of the first display section. Is also big.

  According to the first aspect, the second display section can be easily visually recognized. Therefore, operability can be improved.

  A second invention is according to the first invention, and the color of the first display portion is a dark color. For example, the color of the first display portion is black or brown.

  A third invention is according to the first or second invention, and the color of the second display portion is a metal color or a color close to the metal color.

  A fourth invention is according to the third invention, and the color of the second display portion is silver.

  A fifth invention is according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, and the color of the back surface side of the second display portion is black.

  According to the fifth aspect, even when the display section is illuminated by the light emitting body, the second display section does not transmit light or hardly transmits light.

  A sixth invention is according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, and is on the back surface side of the display section, and the light emitted from the light-emitting body is transmitted to the display section side around the display section. A permeation preventive member is provided to prevent the transmission.

  According to the sixth aspect, the permeation preventive member can prevent the periphery of the display unit from becoming bright.

  A seventh invention is according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, wherein the surface portion of the second display portion is the surface of the outer peripheral portion of the second display portion among the operation unit surfaces including the second display portion. It is formed to have a height difference with the portion.

  An eighth invention is according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, and the surface portion of the second display portion has a recessed shape with respect to the surface of the operation unit including the second display portion.

  A ninth invention is an electronic device including the operation unit according to any one of the first to eighth inventions.

  According to the present invention, since the second display portion can be easily visually recognized, operability can be improved.

  The above-mentioned objects, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the external configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from above. FIG. 2 is a side view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 viewed from the left side surface. FIG. 3 is a top view of an example of the configuration of the operation unit as viewed from above. 4A is a top view of the first panel member constituting the panel member of the operation unit shown in FIG. 3 as seen from above, and FIG. 4B is a panel member of the operation unit shown in FIG. It is the top view which looked at the 2nd panel member from the upper surface. FIG. 5 (A) is a perspective view of the external appearance of each of the light guide plate, the substrate, and the LED as seen obliquely from above, and FIG. 5 (B) shows a state where the light guide plate is placed on the substrate shown in FIG. 5 (A). It is an illustration figure which shows. FIG. 6A is a top view of the state where the light guide plate is placed on the substrate, and FIG. 6B is the operation unit cut at a position indicated by line VIB-VIB in FIG. 6A. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the first panel member, the light guide plate, the substrate, and the LED, FIG. 6C is an illustrative view for explaining a printed matter of a graphic portion of the power saving key, and FIG. FIG. 3D is an illustrative view of the display portion of the power saving key of the first panel member as viewed from the back surface side. FIG. 7A is an illustrative view showing the outer appearance of the upper surface of the operation unit in the normal state, and FIG. 7B is an illustrative view showing the outer appearance of the upper surface of the operation unit in the power saving state. FIG. 8 (A) is an illustrative view for explaining the surface of the second operation area of the operation unit in the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 (B) is a portion where the power saving key of the operation unit in the second embodiment is provided. It is sectional drawing which shows a partial cross section. FIG. 9 is an illustrative view for explaining the surface of the second operation area of the operation unit in the third embodiment.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of the external configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 2 is a side view of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 viewed from the left side surface.

  Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an in-body sheet discharge type in which an in-body sheet discharge section 16 is formed between an image forming section 12 and an image reading section 14. The image forming apparatus includes an operation unit 18 provided as a separate unit on the front side of the image reading unit 14. As will be described later, the image forming apparatus 10 forms a multicolored or monochromatic image on a predetermined paper (recording medium) based on the image data read by the image reading unit 14, and the image-formed paper is formed. Is discharged to the in-body discharge unit 16. In the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 is a multi-function peripheral (MFP) having a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like.

  In the present invention, the surface facing the user's standing position, that is, the surface on which the operation unit 18 is provided is defined as the front surface (front surface) to define the front-back direction (depth direction) of the image forming apparatus 10 and its constituent members. The lateral direction (horizontal direction) of the image forming apparatus 10 and its constituent members is defined based on the state in which the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed by the user.

  First, the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming unit 12 and an image reading unit 14 provided above the image forming unit 12.

  The housing of the image forming unit 12 includes a first connection housing 12a formed on the upper right side and a second connection housing 12b formed on the upper rear side. The first connection housing 12a and the second connection housing 12b are connected to each other. The image reading unit 14 is supported by the housing 12b. As a result, on the lower surface side of the image reading unit 14, the in-body discharge unit 16 which is the in-body space in which the image-formed sheets are stored is formed.

  The image forming unit 12 includes an exposure unit, a developing device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer roller, a fixing unit, and the like. The image forming unit 12 forms an image on a sheet conveyed from a sheet feeding cassette 20 or the like arranged below the sheet by an electrophotographic method. That is, the image forming unit 12 forms an electrostatic latent image according to image data on the photoconductor drum by a charging device, an exposure unit, etc., and a developing device develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum by toner. Image. Further, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto a sheet by an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer roller, etc., and the toner image transferred onto the sheet is thermally fixed by a fixing unit. After that, the image-formed sheet is discharged to the in-body discharge section 16 from the discharge port 22 formed in the first connection housing 12a. The image data for forming the image on the paper is image data read by the image reading unit 14, image data transmitted from an external computer, or the like.

  The image reading unit 14 includes a housing 24 having an original placing table formed of a transparent material on its upper surface. A light source, a plurality of mirrors, an imaging lens, a line sensor, and the like are provided in the housing 24. The image reading unit 14 exposes the surface of the document with a light source, and guides the reflected light reflected from the surface of the document to an imaging lens by a plurality of mirrors. Then, the reflected light is imaged on the light receiving element of the line sensor by the imaging lens. The line sensor detects the brightness and chromaticity of the reflected light imaged on the light receiving element, and generates image data based on the image on the document surface. A CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CIS (Contact Image Sensor), or the like is used as the line sensor.

  A bottom surface and a top surface of the in-body discharge unit 16 are partitioned by the housing of the image forming unit 12 and the housing 24 of the image reading unit 14, and the right side surface and the back surface thereof are the first connecting housing 12a and the second connecting housing. It is partitioned by 12b. That is, the front side and the left side of the in-body discharge section 16 are open. Further, the in-body discharge section 16 is provided with a discharge tray 26 for receiving the image-formed sheets discharged from the discharge port 22.

  Further, a document pressing cover 30 is attached to the upper surface of the image reading unit 14 so as to be openable and closable via a hinge or the like arranged on the back side. The document pressing cover 30 is provided with an ADF (automatic document feeder) 34 for automatically feeding the documents placed on the document tray 32 one by one to the image reading position of the image reading unit 14. Be done.

  Further, the housing 24 of the image reading unit 14 has a housing projecting portion 24 a that projects further forward than the front surface of the document pressing cover 30. That is, the front end portion of the housing 24 projects forward from the front surface of the document pressing cover 30. The operation unit 18 is provided on the front side of the housing 24 of the image reading unit 14. A main power button 56 is provided on the upper surface of the case protrusion 24 a (case 24), and at the right end of the case 24. In the first embodiment, the main power button 56 is arranged in a line with a home key 52 and a power saving key 54, which will be described later, when the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the front. The main power button 56 is a push button type hardware key.

  Although not shown, a control unit that controls the operation of each part of the image forming apparatus 10 is provided at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus 10. The control unit includes a CPU, a memory, a communication module, and the like, and transmits a control signal to each part of the image forming apparatus 10 according to a user's input operation to the operation unit 18 to perform various operations on the image forming apparatus 10. Or perform data transmission / reception with a device connected communicatively.

  FIG. 3 is an illustrative view for explaining an operation section provided in the operation unit 18. The operation unit 18 is also called an operation device or an operation panel, and is formed in a horizontally long rectangular plate shape. The operation unit 18 is provided so as to be inclined downward to the front side so that the user can easily see the upper surface (the upper surface of the operation panel). However, the operation unit 18 is attached to the housing of the image reading unit 14 so as to be rotatable about its upper end.

  A touch panel display 50, a home key 52 and a power saving key 54 are provided on the upper surface of the operation unit 18, and the home key 52 and the power saving key 54 are provided vertically to the right of the touch panel display 50. In the first embodiment, an area of the upper surface of the operation unit 18 where the touch panel display 50 is provided is called a first operation area R1 and is an area where the home key 52 and the power saving key 54 are provided. The area other than R1 may be referred to as a second operation area R2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 18 includes a housing 18b that accommodates the electrical components of the operation unit 18 including the panel member 18a forming the upper surface and the touch panel display 50. The panel member 18a is provided so as to close the opening of the housing 18b. However, the display unit and the operation unit (touch operation unit) of the touch panel display 50 are provided so as to be exposed from the openings (1802 and 1822: see FIGS. 4A and 4B) of the panel member 18a.

  The touch panel display 50 is a liquid crystal display device integrated with a touch panel that is formed by stacking a piezoelectric sensor and the like on a liquid crystal display panel, and is provided on substantially the entire surface of the operation unit 18 except for the peripheral portion. On the touch panel display 50, an image of a software key for receiving various settings and print instructions from the user, a scanned image (preview image), an image (input image) received (acquired) from an external computer and a storage medium, And various messages are displayed.

  As the touch panel, not only a surface acoustic wave method using a piezoelectric sensor but also another method such as a capacitance method, a resistance film method, an electromagnetic induction method and an infrared method can be used.

  The home key 52 and the power saving key 54 are hardware keys (operation switches or operation keys) using electrostatic capacity type switches. Home key 52 is a key for displaying a home screen on touch panel display 50. However, the home screen is the screen that displays the main menu (basic screen), and the key images for selecting the copy, print, fax, and scan functions and the setting screen for each function. Image is displayed.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the home key 52 is arranged at the center of the upper surface of the operation unit 18 in the lateral direction. Further, the operation section or display section (hereinafter referred to as “display section”) 52a of the home key 52 is wider (larger) than the operation section or display section (hereinafter referred to as “display section”) 54a of the power saving key 54. .. This is because the home key 52 is operated more frequently than the power saving key 54.

  The power saving key 54 is a key for shifting (setting) the image forming apparatus 10 from a normal state (normal mode) to a power saving state (power saving mode) or for shifting (returning) from the power saving state to a normal state. is there. Here, the power saving state is a state in which power supply to components other than the CPU and the communication module of the image forming apparatus 10 is turned off (stopped), and the power consumption of the image forming apparatus 10 can be suppressed to a predetermined value or less. .. However, when the main power supply is turned off, power supply to all components including the CPU and the communication module is stopped. When the main power supply is turned on, power supply to all components is turned on (started). This state is the normal state (normal mode) of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the power saving key 54 is arranged above the home key 52 on the upper surface of the operation unit 18. The display portion 54a of the power saving key 54 is narrower (smaller) than the display portion 52a of the home key 52. The power-saving key 54 is operated less frequently than the home key 52, and is for preventing an erroneous operation.

  The main power of the image forming apparatus 10 is turned on / off by turning on / off the main power button 56.

  4A is a top view of the first panel member 180 forming the panel member 18a of the operation unit 18 as seen from above, and FIG. 4B is a second panel forming the panel member 18a of the operation unit 18. It is the top view which looked at the member 182 from the upper surface.

  The panel member 18 a is composed of two layers of a first panel member 180 and a second panel member 182, and the first panel member 180 is provided so as to cover the second panel member 182. The surface of the first panel member 180 constitutes the upper surface of the panel member 18a (operation unit 18) and is a smooth surface.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the first panel member 180 includes a frame 1800, which is made of resin such as polycarbonate. However, the frame 1800 may be formed of glass instead of resin such as polycarbonate. In the frame 1800, an opening 1802 having the same or substantially the same size as the display unit and the operation unit of the touch panel display 50 is formed.

  In addition, a colorant is partially dispersed in the frame 1800, and the surface thereof has a dark color (for example, black or brown). That is, the frame 1800 is made semitransparent, which has low transparency to visible light. The part where the colorant is not dispersed is a part for displaying the figure (design) of the home key 52, and is made colorless and transparent or colorless and translucent. However, the frame 1800 has a certain degree of transparency with respect to light having a luminance equal to or higher than a predetermined level.

  A character string indicating the home key 52 and the power saving key 54 is printed in white on the surface of the frame 1800. In the first embodiment, the character string indicating each key is displayed (printed) in the upper left area of each key.

  Further, on the first display unit 540 which constitutes the display unit 54a of the power saving key 54, a second display unit 542 showing a graphic (design) showing the power saving key 54 is provided (printed). As will be described later, the second display portion 542 does not have a light-transmitting property, or has almost no light-transmitting property.

  Although it is difficult to understand in the drawings, the display portion 52a of the home key 52 and the display portion 54a of the power saving key 54 are formed in a recessed mortar shape recessed on the back surface side.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the second panel member 182 includes a frame 1820, which is made of resin such as polycarbonate. In the frame 1820, an opening 1822 having the same or substantially the same size as the display unit and the operation unit of the touch panel display 50 is formed. A colorant is mixed in the frame 1820, and the entire frame 1820 has a dark color such as gray. Therefore, the frame 1820 has no or little transparency for transmitting light. Although it is difficult to understand in the drawing, since the second panel member 182 is fitted so as to overlap the first panel member 180, the frame 1820 is smaller than the frame 1800 by the thickness of the frame 1800.

  In addition, rectangular openings 1824 and 1826 are formed in the frame 1820 vertically to the right of the opening 1822. The openings 1824 and 1826 are formed mainly for illuminating the home key 52 and the power saving key 54 with a backlight.

  Although illustration is omitted, it is on the back surface side of the frame 1820, and near the openings 1824 and 1826, a light guide plate 544 (see FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6B) that functions as a light emitter, and the like. A mechanism for mounting the components of FIG. However, this mechanism may be provided on the housing 18b side.

  FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the external configuration of each of the light guide plate 544, the substrate 546, and the two LEDs 548 seen from diagonally above, and FIG. 5B is a schematic view of the substrate 546 shown in FIG. 5A. It is an illustration figure which shows the state which mounted the optical board 544.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the light guide plate 544 is formed in a flat plate shape having a predetermined thickness. Although illustration is omitted, unevenness is formed on the bottom surface of the light guide plate 544, and the light emitted from the side surface by the LED 548 described later is reflected upward. That is, the substrate 546, the light guide plate 544, and the LED 548 function as a backlight of the home key 52 and the power saving key 54. The substrate 546 is formed in a flat plate shape having a plane slightly larger than that of the light guide plate 544, and an electrode (not shown) forming a capacitance type switch is provided in the area 546a at the center of the upper surface thereof. The electrostatic capacitance type switch is provided with a detection circuit which is turned on / off according to a change in electrostatic capacitance between the electrodes and detects a change in electrostatic capacitance between the electrodes. Further, two LEDs 548 are mounted on the upper surface side of the substrate 546 such that the irradiation surfaces face each other with the region 546a interposed therebetween. The distance (spacing) between the two LEDs 548 is set to be the same as or substantially the same as the width of the light guide plate 544.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the light guide plate 544 is placed on the substrate 546 at the position where the region 546a is provided. At this time, the light guide plate 544 is sandwiched between the two LEDs 548. In this way, with the light guide plate 544 placed on the substrate 546, the light guide plate 544 and the substrate 546 are the back surfaces of the first panel member 180, and the upper surface of the light guide plate 544 is the back surface of the display portion 54a of the power saving key 54. Is attached so as to be close to the base (see FIG. 6B). Similarly, for the home key 52, the light guide plate 544 and the substrate 546 are attached so that they are the back surface of the first panel member 180 and the top surface of the light guide plate 544 is close to the back surface of the display unit 52a.

  FIG. 6A is a top view of the light guide plate 544 placed on the substrate 546 as seen from above, and FIG. 6B is the operation unit 18 at the position indicated by the line VIB-VIB in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the first panel member 180, the light guide plate 544, the substrate 546, and the LED 548 when cut off, and FIG. 6C is an illustration for explaining the second display portion 542 of the power saving key 54. FIG. 6D is an illustrative view of the display portion 54a of the power saving key 54 of the first panel member 180 as viewed from the back surface side. However, in FIG. 6B (the same applies to FIG. 8B), in order to express the second display portion 542 and the printed matter 550, the thickness is shown large.

  As is clear from FIGS. 6A and 6B, the light guide plate 544 is the upper surface of the substrate 546, is placed on the region 546 a where the electrodes are provided, and is disposed between the two LEDs 548. Further, for example, the planar figure (planar shape) of the light guide plate 544 is set to a figure in which a circle showing the shape of the display portion 54a of the power saving key 54 is inscribed. The two LEDs 548 are side-emitting LEDs and emit, for example, white visible light. Further, the region or range where the light is emitted from each LED 548 is fan-shaped when viewed from above. Therefore, at least the display portion 54a of the power saving key 54 can be illuminated from below.

  The display portion 52a of the home key 52 has a larger display portion 54a than the power saving key 54, but only the graphic portion showing the home key 52 is illuminated by the backlight. Since the size of the display unit 54a is almost the same, the figure showing the home key 52 can be illuminated by using the same configuration as the light guide plate 544, the substrate 546, and the LED 548 that function as the backlight of the power saving key 54.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6D, the display portion 54a of the power saving key 54 includes a first display portion 540 and a second display portion 542 stacked on the first display portion 540 and showing a predetermined graphic. In the first embodiment, the second display unit 542 is provided inside the first display unit 540 (within the range) and is provided on the upper surface thereof. As described above, the color of the first display unit 540 is a dark color having a light transmitting property. In the first embodiment, the second display portion 542 is a printed material of a moon mark (graphic) and is formed in a thin film shape. As shown in FIG. 6C, the second display portion 542 is composed of two layers. On the front surface side of the second display portion 542, a moon mark is printed with silver ink (first printed matter) 542a, and on the back surface side of the second display portion 542 (below the ink 542a), the moon mark is formed. It is printed with black ink (second printed matter) 542b. The black ink 542b does not transmit or hardly transmits the light transmitted through the first display portion 540. Therefore, the second display unit 542 has lower light transmissivity than the first display unit 540.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6D, a printed matter (transmission preventing member) 550 is printed on the back surface of the first panel member 180 around the display portion 54a. The printed matter 550 is a black ink that does not transmit or hardly transmits light. Further, the printed matter 550 is formed in the same size as or slightly larger than the opening 1826 formed in the second panel member 182. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the surroundings of the power saving key 54 from being brightened by the light emitted from the light guide plate 544.

  FIG. 7A is an illustrative view showing the outer appearance of the upper surface of the operation unit 18 in a normal state, and FIG. 7B is an illustrative view showing the outer appearance of the upper surface of the operation unit 18 in the power saving state.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, in the normal state, the touch panel display 50 displays various screens according to the user's operation. In the example shown in FIG. 7A, an example of the home screen is displayed. For example, on the home screen, as described above, a plurality of icons for executing each function and setting are displayed.

  At this time, since the backlight of the home key 52 is turned on, the image showing the home key 52 is displayed brightly. On the other hand, since the backlight (LED 548) of the power saving key 54 is turned off, the first display portion 540 of the display portion 54a is dark. However, since the silver ink 542a is printed on the surface side of the second display portion 542, the second display portion 542 is brighter than the first display portion 540. Therefore, the user can easily recognize the power saving key 54 and its position.

  When the second display unit 542 is not provided and the portion of the image showing the power saving key 54 on the first display unit 540 of the first panel member 180 is made colorless and transparent or colorless and translucent like the home key 52. When the backlight is turned off, the display portion 54a of the power saving key 54 becomes almost black as a whole, and is assimilated with the first display portion 540, which is difficult to visually recognize. In other words, it is difficult to operate.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, the backlight of the touch panel display 50 and the home key 52 is turned off in the power saving state. Note that in FIG. 7B, the touch panel display 50 and the home key 52 are shown in gray for easy understanding, but in reality, the display portion of the touch panel display 50 and the image area of the home key 52 are black. The color is close to that of the surface of the first panel member 180. Therefore, when the operation unit 18 is viewed from a slightly distant position, the touch panel display 50 and the home key 52 are assimilated to the surrounding colors and are difficult to visually recognize.

  In the power saving state, the backlight of the power saving key 54 is turned on. Therefore, when light is emitted upward from the light guide plate 544, the first display unit 540 of the display unit 54a transmits light and shines brightly, but the second display unit 542 does not transmit or almost transmits light. Not done. Therefore, the second display unit 542 is darker than the first display unit 540. Therefore, the user can easily recognize the power saving key 54 and its position.

  In this way, when the backlight of the power saving key 54 is turned on and off, the lightness and darkness of the first display portion 540 and the second display portion 542 are reversed, and the figure (month mark) indicating the power saving key 54 becomes conspicuous. Is becoming

  According to the first embodiment, when the backlight of the power saving key 54 is turned on and off, the brightness of the first display section 540 and the second display section 542 is reversed, so that regardless of whether the backlight is turned on or off, The figure showing the power saving key 54 can be easily visually recognized. Therefore, operability can be improved.

  In addition, in the first embodiment, the second display portion 542 of the figure showing the power saving key 54 is printed, and the front surface side thereof is configured by the silver ink 542a. However, the second display portion 542 is configured by the white ink 542a. May be. However, when the silver ink 542a is printed, when the backlight of the power saving key 54 is turned on, it becomes blacker (darker) and easier to visually recognize than when the white ink 542a is printed. Further, when the color is made closer to black than silver, the ink 542a is assimilated to the first display section 540 and is difficult to visually recognize when the backlight is turned off.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the second display portion 542 is composed of two layers of the silver ink 542a and the black ink 542b, but it is composed only of the silver ink 542a so as not to transmit light. You may do it. Even in this case, the effects of the embodiment can be obtained. For example, the second display unit 542 may be configured by printing the silver ink 542a in an overlapping manner.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the second display portion 542 is printed on the upper surface of the first panel member 180, but the second display portion 542 is provided on the back surface (lower surface) of the first panel member 180. May be. In such a case, the portion of the first panel member 180 on which the second display portion 542 is printed is made colorless and transparent.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the second display portion 542 is laminated on the upper surface of the first display portion 540, but a concave portion is provided on the upper surface side of the first display portion 540, and the second display portion is formed in this concave portion. The parts 542 may be provided (embedded) to be stacked. However, a concave portion may be provided on the lower surface side of the first display portion 540, and the second display portion 542 may be provided in this concave portion.

  Further, although the second display portion 542 is printed on the upper surface of the first panel member 180 in the first embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. A seal member having a silver surface and a black back surface may be attached. However, by increasing the thickness of the seal member, the seal member may be configured so as not to transmit light or hardly transmit light, and at least the surface of the seal member may have a silver color. Further, the seal member may be attached to the back surface of the first panel member 180. In such a case, the portion of the first panel member 180 to which the seal member is attached is made colorless and transparent. Further, the seal member may be provided with a concave portion on the upper surface or the lower surface of the first display portion 540 and attached to the concave portion.

[Second Embodiment]
The image forming apparatus 10 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that an uneven surface is provided in a part of the second operation region R2 of the operation unit 18, and thus the duplicate description will be omitted.

  FIG. 8 (A) is an illustrative view for explaining the surface of the second operation region R2 of the operation unit 18 in the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 (B) is a power saving key 54 of the operation unit 18 in the second embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the partial cross section of the part in which is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, in the second embodiment, a part of the second operation area R2 is made uneven. In the example shown in FIG. 8A, of the second operation region R2, with the center of the home key 52 and the power saving key 54 as a reference, the left region R2a remains a smooth surface and the right region R2b is an uneven surface. To be For example, on the surface of the region R2b, irregularities having a quadrangular (square) shape when viewed from the top are formed in a line along the length and width. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the surface of the first panel member 180 is made uneven on the right side of the display portion 54a of the power saving key 54. However, the shape of the concave portion or the convex portion viewed from the upper surface may not be a quadrangle. For example, the shape viewed from the upper surface of the concave portion or the convex portion may be circular.

  As described above, the surface of the right end portion of the operation unit 18 is made to be the uneven surface at the position or area on the surface of the operation unit 18 (panel member 18a) which is considered to be frequently touched by the user. This is to prevent dirt such as hand dust from adhering. For example, when dirt such as hand dust adheres to the surface of the panel member 18a of the operation unit 18, it is unsanitary and looks cloudy in white, so that it does not look good.

  Therefore, when only the prevention of the attachment of dirt is considered, the entire surface of the second operation region R2 may be an uneven surface. In this case, the surface of the first operation region R1 (excluding the display unit of the touch panel display 50) may be an uneven surface. In the second embodiment, only the region R2b is formed into the uneven surface because the boundary between the regions R2a and R2b is sensed by the tactile sensation of the finger to move the finger along the boundary. This is because the home key 52 and the power saving key 54 can be operated without looking at R2. Therefore, the boundary between the region R2a and the region R2b does not need to be set at the center of the home key 52 and the power saving key 54, but is set at a position other than the center as long as it is on the display parts 52a, 54a of the home key 52 and the power saving key 54. May be. That is, it suffices that part of the display portions 52a, 54a of the home key 52 and the power saving key 54 hang on the uneven surface.

  According to the second embodiment, the uneven surface is provided in a part of the second operation region R2 so that the display parts 52a, 54a of the home key 52 and the power saving key 54 are partly hooked on the uneven surface. It is possible to prevent dirt such as hand dust from being attached and further improve operability.

[Third Embodiment]
The image forming apparatus 10 of the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment except that the unevenness of the uneven surface formed on the surface of the operation unit 18 is formed in a curved line. The description is omitted.

  FIG. 9 is an illustrative view for explaining the surface of the second operation region R2 of the operation unit 18 in the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the third embodiment, in the region R2b, the unevenness is formed in a curved line so that the ripples spread around the home key 52. However, in FIG. 9, details of the irregularities are omitted to show ripples. Therefore, even when the backlight of the home key 52 is turned off and the display portion 52a of the home key 52 is dark, the position of the home key 52 can be known by visually observing the ripples formed by the unevenness. be able to.

  According to the third embodiment, since the unevenness is formed in a ripple shape around the home key 52, the home key 52 can be easily recognized not only by the touch due to the unevenness but also by the visual sense.

  In the third embodiment, the unevenness is formed in a ripple shape around the home key 52, but the invention is not limited to this. Instead of the home key 52, irregularities may be formed in a ripple shape around the power saving key 54. Alternatively, the ripple-shaped unevenness centered on the home key 52 and the ripple-shaped unevenness centered on the power saving key 54 may be formed so as not to interfere with each other.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus 10 has been described as an example of the electronic device including the operation unit 18, but the invention is not limited to this. It can also be applied as an operation unit for other electronic devices such as a telephone with a facsimile function, a car navigation system, a car audio, a component audio, a hard disk recorder, a DVD / Blu-ray recorder and a smartphone.

  Moreover, all the specific configurations mentioned in the present specification are merely examples, and can be appropriately changed according to actual product specifications.

10 ... Image forming device 12 ... Device body 14 ... Image reading device 18 ... Operation unit 50 ... Touch panel display 52 ... Home keys 52a, 54a ... Display unit (operation unit)
54 ... Power saving key 550 ... Printed material (transmission preventing member)

Claims (9)

A transmissive first display section, a display section having a second display section stacked on the first display section, and an operation section including a light-emitting body arranged to face the back surface of the display section,
The second display portion has a non-transparent property, and has a surface color different from the surface color of the first display portion,
The first display unit is an operation unit that is larger than the second display unit.   The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein the color of the first display unit is a dark color.   The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein the color of the second display unit is a metal color or a color close to the metal color.   The operation unit according to claim 3, wherein the color of the second display unit is silver.   The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein a color on the back surface side of the second display portion is black.   The back surface side of the display unit, and around the display unit, a transmission preventing member that does not transmit light emitted from the light-emitting body to the display unit side is provided. Operation unit.   7. The surface portion of the second display portion is formed to have a height difference from the surface portion of the outer peripheral portion of the second display portion, of the operation unit surface including the second display portion. Operation unit according to any one of.   The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein a surface portion of the second display portion has a recessed shape with respect to an operation unit surface including the second display portion.   An electronic device comprising the operation unit according to claim 1.