JP4566016B2 - Small electronic equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a small electronic device, and more specifically, includes a second selection key having a plurality of selection functions arranged concentrically around the first selection key having a plurality of selection functions. It relates to small electronic devices.

Small electronic devices such as small and lightweight mobile phones and portable game devices have been widely used. In such a small electronic device, since the number of arrangements and the arrangement area of various keys are limited, it is usual to provide a plurality of functions to one key. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a cellular phone in which one operation key having a selection and determination function of a plurality of various menus and a plurality of operation keys are provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the operation key. Is disclosed.

FIG. 7 is an external view showing a foldable mobile phone 100 described in Patent Document 1 below. The telephone 100 has a configuration in which a casing is divided into upper and lower casings 101 and 102 and these upper and lower casings are connected to each other by a hinge portion 103 so as to be rotatable. The upper housing 102 is equipped with a receiving unit having a speaker 104 for generating sound, and a liquid crystal display panel 105 for displaying character data such as telephone numbers and e-mails, various icons, image data, and the like. The housing 102 is equipped with a microphone 106 that detects sound, a plurality of operation keys, an antenna 107, and the like.

The plurality of operation keys of the lower housing 102 are composed of various menu keys 108 and a so-called numeric keypad 109 for inputting a character number and a telephone number. The various menu keys 108 are substantially disk-shaped for selecting and determining a plurality of various menus, and are selected and determined by so-called cross keys having selection functions in the vertical and horizontal directions. It consists of a key 110 and a plurality of menu selection keys 111 arranged around it.

JP 2002-33811 A (FIG. 1, paragraphs [0012] to [0015])

In such a foldable mobile phone 100, all of the plurality of menu selection keys 111 are usually constituted by push switches. This press switch includes a press key and a contact portion that is turned on by pressing the key.

This key is in a state of protruding from the opening of the front cover of the lower housing 102 as seen in the menu selection key 111, for example. Such a key has a structure in which the outer diameter and the opening of the front cover are both small in diameter, and the contact portion is not turned on unless the key is pressed from directly above. The outer diameter of this key is proportional to the increase in the number of menu selection keys 111, and each key decreases in proportion to the distance between the menu selection keys 111 and between the selection / decision keys 110 including cross keys. , And the operator easily presses an adjacent key or erroneously presses a plurality of keys at the same time.

Therefore, when each key is pressed, a pinpoint operation that requires pressing with a toe or the like having a sharp tip is required, and operability has become a problem. In addition, since the symbol display or the like indicating the function of each menu selection key 111 is also minimized, it is difficult for the visually impaired to understand the function of each menu selection key 111, resulting in poor usability. Exists.

On the other hand, mobile phones in recent years have been developed and installed with various software such as e-mail, Internet, navigation, and other functions, and on the other hand, on the other hand, further downsizing, thinness, There is a demand for weight reduction and high design.

As such multi-functionality progresses, the number of various operation keys, especially menu keys, mounted on the lower housing has increased, and many operation keys must be arranged in a limited space. However, in order to provide such a large number of operation keys, the shape of each operation key must be further minimized and densely arranged. Such dense operation keys are not only annoying but also troublesome operations and easily cause malfunctions, which may cause keyboard allergies for some users.

On the other hand, since a large number of ultra-small operation keys are densely arranged in the lower housing, the aesthetic appearance may be remarkably impaired.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a compact electronic device that can provide a good aesthetic appearance by making various operation keys inconspicuous and improve the operability of the operation keys. Is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, a small electronic device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first operation key capable of selecting a plurality of functions by changing a pressing position, and an outer periphery of the first operation key. In a small electronic device comprising a second operation key disposed on the first operation key and a plurality of press switches that are operated by pressing the first and second operation keys.
The second operation key is a substantially flat and rectangular key disposed concentrically around the outer periphery of the first operation key, and has four corners as pressing positions. A plurality of functions are selected by selectively pressing a predetermined pressing switch by changing a key pressing position.
In the present specification, the “substantially flat key” means that the surface is completely flat, the surface is depressed toward the center, or the surface is centered. In the present specification, “substantially rectangular shape” does not necessarily mean a complete rectangle, and each side may have a gentle arc shape. This means that even if each corner is chamfered, it may be anything that looks rectangular.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the small electronic device according to the first aspect, the second operation key is detachably attached to the housing.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the small electronic device according to the first aspect, the second operation key has a sheet with a functional symbol attached to a surface thereof. .
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the small electronic device according to the first aspect, the first operation key is a substantially flat key, and the pressing position of the first operation key is changed. A plurality of functions are selected by selectively pressing a predetermined push switch.

By providing the above-described configuration, the present invention has the following excellent effects. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the second operation key disposed around the outer periphery of the first operation key is a single flat key, and a predetermined one of the plurality of push switches. Since the pressing key can be selectively pressed, there is no need to provide a plurality of operation keys as in the conventional example, and the key operation surface becomes smart and the appearance is improved. Also in the key operation, it becomes possible to press the predetermined press switch by pressing the portion corresponding to the predetermined press switch, and press with the tip of the tip sharpened like the prior art. Since the pinpoint operation is unnecessary, the operability is improved. In addition to this, the size of the four corners, which are the pressing positions of the second operation key, can be increased, so that the operability is further improved.
According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, replacement of the second operation key is facilitated by enabling the second operation key to be detachably attached to the housing. . As a result, it is possible to change to the second operation key according to preference by preparing a large number of second operation keys according to preference, for example, a plurality of second operation keys having different characters, pictograms, designs, colors, etc., or The second operation key can be easily exchanged according to the function change of the device.
According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, the second operation keys of different types can be obtained by attaching the second operation key to a sheet to which a function symbol is attached. Can be easily manufactured, and the second operation key can be changed according to the user's preference by exchanging the sheet with the function symbol.
According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, since the first operation key is also a substantially flat key as well as the second operation key, the key operation surface is entirely covered. It becomes smarter and the appearance is better, and the operability is also better.

Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment shown below exemplifies a mobile phone as a small electronic device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not intended to specify the present invention for this mobile phone. And other embodiments within the scope of the claims are equally applicable.

1 is an overall external view showing a foldable mobile phone according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mobile phone of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a switch board of the mobile phone of FIG. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the foldable mobile phone 1 is divided into an upper housing 2 and a lower housing 10, and the upper and lower housings 2 and 10 are connected to each other by a hinge portion 5 so as to be rotatable. It has a configuration. The upper housing 2 is equipped with a liquid crystal display panel 3 for displaying character data such as a cursor, a telephone number, e-mail, various icons, image data, a speaker 4 for emitting sound, and the like.

The lower housing 10 includes a storage case 11 and a front cover 30 that covers an opening of the storage case 11. In the housing case 11, the control circuit board 12, the support plate 13, the operation switch board 14, the operation key member 20 and the like are housed and fixed by the front cover 30.

In addition to these components, the cellular phone 1 houses an antenna, a battery, and the like, but these members are omitted in FIG.

The control circuit board 12 includes a control circuit for controlling a normal telephone transmission / reception function, a control circuit for controlling an electronic mail function, other control circuits, and a microphone M. Each of these control circuits is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). ). Each of these control circuits is a known one and will not be described in detail.

The support plate 13 separates the control circuit board 12 and the operation switch board 14 and is formed of a plate made of an insulating material having approximately the same size as the switch board 14 so as to support the operation switch board 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation switch board 14 is made of a substantially rectangular thin insulating substrate, and a plurality of pressing switches 15 ₀ to 15 ₈ and 16 _{1 to} 16 ₁₅ are arranged vertically and horizontally on the surface thereof. The mounting holes 15a are provided at the four corners of the substrate.

The plurality of pressing switches 15 ₀ to 15 ₈ and 16 _{1 to} 16 ₁₅ correspond to operation keys 22 to 24 and 26 _{1 to} 26 ₁₅ (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of the operation key member 20 described later when roughly classified. A function key switch unit 15 and a numeric keypad unit 16 are provided.

That is, the function key switch unit 15, as shown in FIG. 5, the push switch 15 ₀ corresponding to the determined key 24 provided in a central portion of the first selection key 22, selection of the first selection key 22 22 ₁ and push switch ₁₅ 1-15 ₄ corresponding to ~ 22 _4, the plurality corresponding to the periphery of the selector ₂₃ 1 to 23 ₄ of the second selection key 23 disposed concentrically with the first selection key 22 The press switches 15 ₅ to 15 ₈ are included.

Further, ten key unit 16, as also shown in FIG. 5, the three selection keys arranged on the side closer to the second selection key 23, i.e. the pressing switch 16 1 corresponding to Peaki 26 _1, the manner key 26 ₂ corresponding push switch 16 _2, the push switch 16 ₃ corresponding to the power key 26 ₃ for turning on and off the power source consists of press switch _{16 4-16 15} corresponding to the numeric key / character input keys _{26 4-26 15.} In addition, since all the press switches 15 ₀ to 15 ₈ and 16 _{1 to} 16 ₁₅ are all known ones, a specific description of the structure is omitted.

Here, the operation key member 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 shows an operation key member, FIG. 4 (a) is a plan view, FIG. 4 (b) is a left side view of FIG. 4 (a), and FIG. 4 (c) is an A- in FIG. A sectional view, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the operation key member of FIG. 4 with symbols of each function, input numbers / characters, etc., FIG. 6 is an operation key corresponding to the enter key, the first selection key, and the second selection key. It is a top view of a member.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation key member 20 includes an operation sheet member 21 made of a thin and flexible material having substantially the same shape as the switch board 14 and having a vertically long rectangular shape, for example, a silicon rubber sheet. On one surface of the sheet member 21, a first selection key 22, a second selection key 23, and an enter key 24 are provided above, and numeric keys 26 _{1 to} 26 ₁₅ are provided below the second selection key 23. ing. Among these, the keys other than the second selection key 23, that is, the first selection key 22, the enter key 24, and the ten keys 26 _{1 to} 26 ₁₅ are all fixed at predetermined positions on one surface of the operation sheet member 21. Further, attachment holes 21 a are formed in the corners of the operation sheet member 21.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the first selection key 22 has a substantially disk-like shape with a hole provided with a hole 22a through which a small diameter determination key 24 (see FIG. 6 (c)) passes at the center. It consists of keys, and the vertical and horizontal directions are selection units. Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the second selection key 23 is composed of a substantially rectangular plate-like key having an opening 23a through which the first selection key 22 penetrates at the center. The four corners are the selection part.

A through hole 22a of the first selection key 22 is fitted into a determination key 24 provided on the surface of the operation sheet member 21, and is fixed to the operation sheet member 21, and a second selection is made to the first selection key 22. A through hole 23a of the key 23 is fitted. Among these, the second selection key 23 is located around the second selection key 23 when the operation key member 20 is housed in the lower housing 10 together with the operation switch board 14 and fixed by the front cover 30. It is fixed so as not to be pulled out by the periphery of 33.

Each of the keys 22 to 24 and 26 _{1 to} 26 ₁₅ protrudes from the surface of the operation sheet member 21 by a predetermined height, as shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c). When the operation switch board 14 and the operation key member 20 are fixed in the housing case 11 by the front cover 30, a part of the protrusions protrudes from the front cover 30 by a predetermined height. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the function of each key, alphanumeric characters, hiragana, alphabets, and the like are attached to the surface of each key other than the enter key 24.

Each key 22 to 24, as shown in FIG. 5, on the push switch 15 ₀ of determination key 24 is operated switchboard 14 of the central portion, first selection keys 22 left and right selection portion ₂₂ 1, 22 ₂ In addition, the upper and lower selection portions 22 ₃ and 22 ₄ are similarly positioned so as to correspond to the push switches 15 ₁ to 15 ₄ , respectively. Further, various menus are provided as selection portions at the four corners on the surface of the second selection key 23. display ₂₃ 1-23 ₄ are denoted representing the display ₂₃ 1-23 ₄ portions representing these various menus are located on the push switch ₁₅ 5-15 ₈ each operation switch board 14.

Then, the function selected by the portions 23 ₁ to 23 ₄ representing the various menus of the second selection key 23 is confirmed by the decision key 24, and the left and right selection portions 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ of the first selection key 22 are The cursor displayed on the liquid crystal display panel is moved left and right, and the upper and lower selection portions 22 ₃ and 22 ₄ are for moving the cursor up and down.

The second selection key 23 is simply placed on the operation sheet member 21 and pressed by the front cover 30 so as not to come off. Accordingly, since the second selection key 23 can be easily replaced by removing the front cover 30, a flat key member that suits the taste, for example, a flat key member with different characters, pictograms, designs, colors, etc. By separately preparing a plurality, it becomes easy to change to the second selection key 23 according to the user's preference or to change to the second selection key 23 according to the function change of the device. Moreover, as the 2nd selection key 23, you may make it use the sheet | seat which attached | subjected the function symbol, and affix this sheet | seat on a flat key member. As a result, it is possible to easily produce different types of sheet members.

Further, the front cover 30 is formed of a synthetic resin material or the like, and the entire shape thereof is large enough to cover the opening of the housing case 11, and the second selection key 23, the numeric keys 26 _{1 to} 26 _{15 and the} like are exposed on the surface. A plurality of openings 33 and 34 _{1 to} 34 ₁₅ having a size are provided, and a cover 32 that covers the hinge portion 5 is provided at the end of the cover adjacent to the opening 33. The front cover 30 is provided with a fixing means that is detachably attached to the housing case 11. Further, the opening 33 is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer shape of the second selection key 23, and when the second selection key 23 is placed on the operation sheet member 21 and covered with the front cover 30, it does not fall out of the opening 33. It is like that.

In assembling the cellular phone 1, the control circuit board 12, the support member 13, the operation switch board 14, the operation key member 20, and the second selection key 23 are sequentially stored in the storage portion of the storage case 11. The housing case 11 is screwed using attachment holes provided in the sheet member, for example, attachment holes 15a and 21a. Thereafter, the front operation cover 30 covers the first operation key member 20 and the second selection key 23, and the cover is fixed to the housing case 11 to complete the operation.

According to the cellular phone 1, the pressing switch ₁₅ 5-15 ₈ disposed on the outer periphery of the push switch ₁₅ 1-15 ₄ corresponding to the first selection key 22 is covered by a single second selection keys 23 Therefore, unlike the prior art, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of keys for pressing these push switches 15 ₅ to 15 ₈ so as to protrude from the surface of the front cover 30. Accordingly, since the cellular phone 1 can operate the plurality of press switches 15 ₅ to 15 ₈ with the second selection key 23, the aesthetic appearance of the key operation surface is improved and the key operation corresponds to each press switch. Since it can be performed by pressing the four corners of the second selection key 23, the second selection key 23 can be easily pressed, and a pinpoint operation such as pressing with a sharp toe as in the prior art is unnecessary. Thus, the operability is greatly improved.

In this embodiment, the first selection key 22 and the decision key 24 are shown separately. However, the decision key can be omitted by providing the first selection key 22 itself with the role of the decision key. . Further, in this embodiment, a folding mobile phone has been described as a small electronic device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a rod-like mobile phone, various portable information terminals, game devices, and the like. is there.

FIG. 1 is an overall external view showing a foldable mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mobile phone shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the switch board of the mobile phone of FIG. FIG. 4 shows an operation sheet member, FIG. 4 (a) is a plan view, FIG. 4 (b) is a left side view of FIG. 4 (a), and FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view in which numerals / characters, function symbols and the like are attached to the operation sheet member of FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the operation sheet member. It is an external view which shows the mobile phone of a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Folding-type mobile phone 2 Upper housing | casing 10 Lower housing | casing 11 Housing case 12 Control circuit board 13 Support plate 14 Operation switch board 20 Operation key member 22 First selection key 23 Second selection key 24 Decision key 30 Front cover

Claims (4)

A first operation key capable of selecting a plurality of functions by changing the pressing position, a second operation key disposed around the outer periphery of the first operation key, and pressing of the first and second operation keys In a small electronic device with a plurality of push switches that operate,
It said second operation key is substantially flat and on the rectangular keys arranged concentrically around the outer periphery of the first operation key, the four corners are the pressing position, the second operation A small electronic device, wherein a plurality of functions are selected by selectively pressing a predetermined pressing switch by changing a pressing position of a key. The small electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second operation key is detachably attached to the housing. The small electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second operation key has a sheet with a functional symbol attached to a surface thereof.   The first operation key is substantially a key on a flat plate, and a plurality of functions are selected by selectively pressing a predetermined push switch by changing a pressing position of the first operation key. The small electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that:

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