JP4875213B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic device such as a portable computer, a mobile phone, and a remote controller.

  In recent years, an indicator (usually a lot of designs that indicate the meaning of a switch) is provided on the surface to inform an operator of an operation position and an operation state, and a switch (a touch having a capacitive sensor that detects an operation on the indicator part) Sensor switches) are becoming widespread (for example, Patent Document 1). In such a touch sensor switch, an indicator is formed of a light transmitting resin or the like, and the operation state is notified by turning on / off the indicator by lighting control of a light source such as an LED.

  Such touch sensor switches are widely used in electronic devices such as portable computers, mobile phones, and remote controllers.

JP 2007-15490 A

  By the way, according to the touch sensor switch as described above, the operation position indicated by the indicator is indicated by lighting control of a light source such as an LED. However, there is a problem that for an operator who is indicated by the lighting of the LED and operates the desired touch sensor switch, it is not necessary to turn on the LED that indicates the location of the touch sensor switch.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can improve operability and convenience for an operator.

Mark electronic apparatus embodiment includes a housing, which is located in the a detecting unit for detecting an electrostatic capacitance which varies by the operation against the outer surface of the housing, the detection unit can detect the electrostatic capacitance in a detection area A light source unit that is positioned outside the detection unit within the housing and irradiates light toward the outer surface region outside the detection region, and an outer surface region outside the detection region. When the operation is detected , a transmission part through which light from the light source part is transmitted, a non-transmission part that blocks light from the light source part at a position between the mark part and the transmission part, and control means for irradiating light to the light source unit lighting control to, with a.

The electronic apparatus according to the embodiment includes a housing provided with an operation region in which the capacitance is changed by an operation on the outer surface, a detection unit that detects an operation on the operation region in which the capacitance is changed, a mark portion located inside of the operation area, and a light source unit in which the housing at the located outside the detection unit, irradiates the light toward the region of the outer surface outside the mark portion in the operation area, the Provided in a region of the outer surface that is outside the mark portion in the operation region, is positioned between the mark portion and the transmission portion, a transmission portion through which light from the light source portion is transmitted, and from the light source portion The opaque part that blocks light, and the mark part is covered with an operating body from the outside of the housing, and the capacitance in the operating area is changed, and the operating body detects the operating part. If it is, the light source unit Wherein by transmitting light from the area of the transmissive portion lighting control to not covered by the operating body, visually recognized to be capable of controlling means to the operator that the operation in the mark portion is detected and, with.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a notebook portable computer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the vicinity of the operation area. FIG. 3 is a plan view exemplarily showing a stop button. FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system provided on the printed circuit board. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control system provided in the printed circuit board. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a lighting control table. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a lighting control table. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the vicinity of the operation area according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the button. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a lighting control table.

  Exemplary embodiments of an electronic device will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is an example in which a portable computer is applied as an electronic device.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a notebook portable computer according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the portable computer 10 includes a device main body 12 and a display unit 13 supported by the device main body. The device body 12 has a housing 14. The housing 14 has a rectangular base 15 and a substantially rectangular cover 16 fitted thereto, and is formed in a flat box shape.

  The cover 16 constituting the housing 14 is formed of a light-transmitting resin such as acrylic, and the surface thereof is covered with a light-blocking surface layer (light-blocking film) 18. As will be described later, a part of the surface layer 18 is formed to be transparent so as to transmit light.

  A substantially rectangular opening 19 is formed over the center and rear half of the cover 16, and a keyboard 20 is exposed in the opening. On the operator side of the cover 16, a palm rest 22 for placing the operator's hand is formed. An operation area 50 and a click switch 42 for operating a pointing device are provided at the center of the palm rest 22.

  A pair of speakers 24 is provided on the display unit 13 side of the cover 16, and an operation area 26 is provided between these speakers. A pair of legs 28 are provided on the display unit 13 side of the cover 16 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the housing 14.

  The display unit 13 includes a display housing 30 and a liquid crystal panel 32 accommodated in the display housing 30. A display window 31 is formed on the front wall of the display housing 30. The window 31 has a size covering most of the front wall, and the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 32 is exposed to the outside of the display housing 30 through the window 31.

  The display housing 30 has a pair of connecting recesses 33 at one end thereof. These connecting recesses 33 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the display housing 30 and engage with the leg portions 28 of the housing 14. The display housing 30 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing 14 by hinges (not shown) provided in the coupling recess 33 and the leg portion 28.

  As a result, the display unit 13 is closed so that the top surface of the housing 14 including the palm rest 22 and the keyboard 20 is covered from above, and the open position where the top surface of the housing and the liquid crystal panel 32 are exposed. It can be turned over. FIG. 1 shows the portable computer 10 in a state where the display unit 13 is rotated to the open position.

  In addition, a hard disk drive (HDD), an optical disk drive, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like are provided inside the housing 14 and a printed wiring board (none of which is shown) serving as a main control device is disposed. ing.

  Next, the operation button lighting control function in the operation area 26 which is a characteristic function of the portable computer 10 of the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the vicinity of the operation area 26. As described above, the operation area 26 is formed on the display unit 13 side of the cover 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation area 26 includes, for example, a fast forward button 26a, a rewind button 26b, a stop button 26c, a pause button 26d, an application launch button 26e, and a mute button 26f that are used when displaying an image. The operation area 26 is formed in a rectangular shape, and operation buttons 26 a to 26 f that are display units are formed in a band shape extending along one side of the operation area 26.

  Here, the operation buttons 26a to 26f in the operation area 26 have marks having corresponding shapes. For example, FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the stop button 26c. The stop button 26c shown in FIG. 3 has a square mark M representing a design indicating the operation content as a general stop button. Each of such marks is a transmission region 1 (first indicator) that is a mark portion formed by making a part of the surface layer 18 covering the outer surface of the cover 16 transparent and transmitting light. . Each button may be colorless and transparent or colored and transparent. Further, the operation buttons 26a to 26f of the operation area 26 are formed around the transmission area 1 and have a diameter that is about the fingertip of the operator and are non-transmission portions that do not transmit light. A transmission region 2 and a transmission region 3 (second indicator) which is formed around the non-transmission region 2 and is formed by allowing light to pass therethrough are provided. More specifically, the transmissive region 3 (second indicator) is provided at a position where an operating body such as an operator's finger operating on the transmissive region 1 (first indicator) is not covered, and is operated by the operator. It shows the state. The transmissive region 3 is also formed by making part of the surface layer 18 covering the outer surface of the cover 16 transparent so that light can be transmitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a touch sensor 60 that is an input detection unit that detects an input operation of the operation region 26 is provided on the inner surface of the cover 16 and at a position facing the plurality of operation regions 26. The touch sensor 60 includes an elongated rectangular input sheet 60a corresponding to the size of the entire operation area 26, and a printed circuit board 60b constituting a drive unit. The printed circuit board 60b is formed in an elongated rectangular shape having a size corresponding to the input sheet 60a. The input sheet 60a is, for example, a capacitance detection sheet that detects a capacitance, and is attached to one surface of the printed board 60b. The touch sensor 60 is electrically connected to a printed wiring board serving as a main control device.

  In the input sheet 60a and the printed circuit board 60b, circular holes 62 are formed at positions facing the operation buttons 26a to 26f, respectively. Each hole 62 is formed in a diameter smaller than the fingertip of the operator, for example. LEDs 64 functioning as first light sources are respectively disposed in the holes 62 and are electrically connected to the printed circuit board 60b. The LED 64 is provided to face the plurality of operation buttons 26a to 26f, and irradiates and illuminates the transmission region 1 of the operation buttons 26a to 26f from the inner surface side of the cover 16.

  In addition, LEDs 65 functioning as a second light source are respectively disposed at the edge of the long side direction of the touch sensor 60 and in the vicinity of the hole 62, and are electrically connected to the printed board 60b. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, a light guide plate 66 is disposed at a position facing the LED 65 and between the cover 16 and the input sheet 60 a and facing the transmission region 3. . As shown in FIG. 4, also in the light guide plate 66, circular holes 67 are formed at positions facing the operation buttons 26 a to 26 f, respectively. Thus, even if the light guide plate 66 is sandwiched between the cover 16 and the input sheet 60a, the detection sensitivity does not decrease. Accordingly, the LED 65 illuminates the transmissive region 3 of the operation buttons 26a to 26f from the inner surface side of the cover 16 through the light guide plate 66.

  Therefore, the light source device includes the LED 64 that is the first light source and the LED 65 that is the second light source.

  Next, lighting control of the LED 64 and the LED 65 by the control system provided in the printed circuit board 60b will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system provided in the printed circuit board 60b. As shown in FIG. 5, the printed circuit board 60 b includes a control unit 70 that functions as a control unit having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like that is a control subject. The controller 70 is connected to a capacitance detection circuit 71, a first light source driving circuit 72, and a second light source driving circuit 73 via a bus.

  An input sheet 60a is connected to the capacitance detection circuit 71, and the capacitance detected by the input sheet 60a is output. The capacitance detection circuit 71 generates a detection signal whose duty ratio changes according to the capacitance detected by the input sheet 60 a and outputs the detection signal to the control unit 70.

  A plurality of LEDs 64 are connected to the first light source driving circuit 72, and lighting control for each LED 64 is performed according to a control signal input from the control unit 70.

  A plurality of LEDs 65 are connected to the second light source driving circuit 73, and lighting control for each LED 65 is performed according to a control signal input from the control unit 70.

  The operation button lighting control in the operation area 26 configured as described above will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  When the operator touches the operation buttons 26 a to 26 f in the operation area 26 from the outside of the cover 16, this touch is detected by the input sheet 60 a of the touch sensor 60. The control unit 70 of the printed circuit board 60b determines the touched operation button according to the detection signal output from the capacitance detection circuit 71, and notifies the main control device.

  The main control device that has received the notification determines which LED 64 or LED 65 is to be turned on / off according to the lighting control table, and notifies the controller 70 of the printed circuit board 60b. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a lighting control table. In the example shown in FIG. 7, when the operation buttons 26a to 26f are not touched, the LED 64 is controlled to be lit so that the transparent area 1 (that is, the mark) of all the operation buttons 26a to 26f is lit. The LED 65 is controlled to be turned off so that the transmission region 3 of the operation buttons 26a to 26f is turned off. When any one of the operation buttons 26a to 26f is touched, the LED 64 is controlled to be turned off so that the transparent area 1 (that is, the mark) is turned off, and the transparent area 3 is turned on. Lighting control of the LED 65 is performed.

  In this way, the transparent area 3 functions as an indicator indicating a state where the operation button is touched, so that the transparent area 1 (that is, the mark) of the operation buttons 26a to 26f is an operating body such as an operator's finger. Even if it is hidden, it is possible to visually recognize the touched state, so that operability and convenience can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, at least one or more operation areas 26 provided on the outer surface of the casing 14 are provided, and the transmission area 1 representing the design indicating the operation content and the transmission area. The operation buttons 26a to 26f are provided at positions where the operation body of the operator who operates 1 is not covered and the transmission region 3 indicating the operation state by the operator is formed on the surface with a light transmissive member. The transmissive region 3 is controlled to be turned on / off by controlling the lighting of the light source device (LEDs 64, 65) in accordance with the change in capacitance detected by the touch sensor 60, so that the operator can use the fingertip of the operator during actual operation. Even when the transparent area 1 is hidden and the lighting / extinguishing state of the transparent area 1 cannot be determined, the transparent area 3 indicating the operation state by the operator is the transparent area 1. Since the operation body of the operator who operates it is provided at a position that is not covered, the light source device (LEDs 64 and 65) is controlled to be lit according to the change in capacitance detected by the touch sensor 60, thereby transmitting the light. By performing the on / off control of No. 3, it is possible to visually recognize the operating state, so that operability and convenience can be improved.

  The lighting control table is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 7, and an example as shown in FIG. 8 is also conceivable. According to the example shown in FIG. 8, when the operation buttons 26a to 26f are not touched, the LED 64 is controlled to be lit so that the transparent area 1 (that is, the mark) of all the operation buttons 26a to 26f is lit. At the same time, the LED 65 is controlled to be lit so that the transmissive areas 3 of all the operation buttons 26a to 26f are also lit. When any of the operation buttons 26a to 26f is touched, the LED 64 is controlled to be turned on so that the transparent area 1 (that is, the mark) is lit as it is, and the transparent area 3 is turned off. The LED 65 is controlled to be turned off.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is also omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the transmission area 1 is turned on / off by the control of the LED 64, and the transmission area 3 is turned on / off by the control of the LED 65. The present embodiment is different in that the transmissive region 1 and the transmissive region 3 are turned on / off by controlling only one LED.

  FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the vicinity of the operation area 26 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, only the LED 65 is provided as a common light source, and the hole 62 and the LED 64 in the hole 62 as described in the first embodiment do not exist.

  Further, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10, a light guide plate 66 is disposed at a position facing the LED 65 and between the cover 16 and the input sheet 60 a and facing the transmission region 1. . Accordingly, the LED 65 illuminates the transmissive area 1 (that is, the mark) and the transmissive area 3 of the operation buttons 26a to 26f from the inner surface side of the cover 16 via the light guide plate 66.

  Turning on / off of the LED 65 in the operation area 26 configured in this way is determined according to a lighting control table as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 11, when the operation buttons 26a to 26f are not touched, the LED 65 is controlled to turn on so that the transmissive area 1 (that is, the mark) and the transmissive area 3 of all the operation buttons 26a to 26f are lit. . When any of the operation buttons 26a to 26f is touched, the LED 65 is controlled to be turned off so that the transparent region 1 (that is, the mark) and the transparent region 3 are turned off for the touched operation button.

  In this way, the transparent area 3 functions as an indicator indicating a state where the operation button is touched, so that the transparent area 1 (that is, the mark) of the operation buttons 26a to 26f is an operating body such as an operator's finger. Even if it is hidden, it is possible to visually recognize the touched state, so that operability and convenience can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, at least one or more operation areas 26 provided on the outer surface of the casing 14 are provided, and the transmission area 1 representing the design indicating the operation content and the transmission area. The operation buttons 26a to 26f are provided at positions where the operation body of the operator who operates 1 is not covered and the transmission region 3 indicating the operation state by the operator is formed on the surface with a light transmissive member. The transmissive area 3 is controlled to be turned on / off by controlling the lighting of the light source device (LED 65) in accordance with the change in capacitance detected by the touch sensor 60, so that the transmissive area 3 is operated by the fingertip of the operator during actual operation. Even in the case where one part is hidden and the lighting / extinguishing state of the transmissive area 1 cannot be determined, the transmissive area 3 indicating the operation state by the operator is different from the transmissive area 1. Since it is provided at a position where the operating body of the operator to be operated is not covered, the light source device (LED 65) is controlled to be turned on / off according to the change in capacitance detected by the touch sensor 60. By controlling the turn-off, it is possible to visually recognize the operating state, so that operability and convenience can be improved. Moreover, since the light source device is only the LED 65 and the structure is simplified, the cost can be reduced.

  In each embodiment, a portable computer is applied as an electronic device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a remote controller.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mark part 2 Impermeable part 3 Transparent part 10 Electronic device 14 Case 60 Detection part 64,65 Light source part 70 Control means

Claims (9)

A housing,
A detection unit for detecting an electrostatic capacitance which varies by the operation against the outer surface of the housing,
A mark portion located in a detection area where the detection portion can detect capacitance;
A light source unit that is positioned outside the detection unit within the housing and irradiates light toward the region of the outer surface outside the detection region;
A transmission part that is provided in a region of the outer surface outside the detection region and through which light from the light source unit is transmitted;
An opaque portion that blocks light from the light source portion at a position between the mark portion and the transmissive portion;
When the operation is detected, control means for controlling the lighting of the light source unit to emit light, and
Electronic apparatus having a. The impermeable portion is in the transmissive portion and has a shape surrounding the mark portion.
請 Motomeko 1 electronic device according. The detection unit is provided on the inner surface of the housing at a position facing the mark unit.
請 Motomeko 1 electronic device according. The mark portion represents a design that transmits light from the light source portion and indicates the operation content.
請 Motomeko 1 electronic device according. The control means controls the lighting of the light source unit when the capacitance detected by the detection unit changes.
請 Motomeko 1 electronic device according. A housing provided with an operation region in which the capacitance is changed by an operation on the outer surface;
A detection unit for detecting an operation on the operation region in which the capacitance is changed;
A mark portion located inside the operation area ;
A light source unit that is positioned outside the detection unit in the housing and irradiates light toward the region of the outer surface that is out of the mark unit in the operation region ;
A transmission part provided in the outer surface area outside the mark part in the operation area, and transmitting light from the light source part;
An opaque portion that is positioned between the mark portion and the transmissive portion and blocks light from the light source portion;
When the mark portion is covered with an operating body from outside the housing and the capacitance in the operating area is changed, and the operating body is detected by the detecting section, the light source section is Control means for controlling the lighting so that the operator can visually recognize that an operation on the mark portion is detected by transmitting light from the region of the transmission portion that is not covered by the operating body. When,
Electronic apparatus having a. The mark displayed in the mark part is a mark representing a design indicating the operation content,
請 Motomeko 6 electronic device according. The detection unit detects an operation in accordance with a change in capacitance in the mark unit;
請 Motomeko 6 electronic device according. The mark, which is the mark part, is provided at a position covered by an operating body when operated by an operator.
請 Motomeko 7 electronic device according.

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