JP7050555B2 - Touch panel lighting structure and in-vehicle equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a touch panel lighting structure for illuminating an operation unit of a touch panel and an in-vehicle device including the touch panel lighting structure.

The operation unit of the touch panel is provided with a lighting structure so that it can be easily operated in a dark place (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the conventional lighting structure, a sheet-shaped light guide is arranged on the back surface side of the touch panel in parallel with the touch panel, and a light source is arranged at the end of the light guide. The light emitted by the light source is incident on the light guide body and causes the white printed portion of the light guide body to shine faintly.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-134605

Since the conventional lighting structure is configured as described above, the light guided from the light source arranged at one end of the light guide to the other end of the light guide supports the light guide, the touch panel, and the like. There is a problem that the light leaks to the outside through the gap between the support and the light guide.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent light leakage to the outside.

The touch panel lighting structure according to the present invention is arranged on a touch panel having an operation unit in which a light transmission region is formed in a light shielding region, a cover integrated with the touch panel that covers the front surface of the touch panel, and a back surface side of the touch panel. A light guide that is arranged on the back side of the touch panel and has an introduction passage that introduces the light emitted by the light source and a light guide passage that guides the light of the introduction passage to the operation unit of the touch panel to illuminate the light transmission region. And a support that does not have light-tightness to support the periphery of the touch panel integrated with the cover, the support has a protrusion protruding from the inner surface, and the surface of the protrusion is the touch panel or the cover. The back surface of the light guide is supported, the side surface of the protrusion faces the outlet of the light guide passage, and the introduction passage of the light guide extends in a direction orthogonal to the plane direction of the touch panel .

According to the present invention, since the side surface of the protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the support faces the outlet of the light guide passage, it is possible to prevent light leakage to the outside.

It is an exploded perspective view which shows the structural example of the touch panel lighting structure which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a front view which shows the structural example of the touch panel lighting structure which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a side view which shows the structural example of the light guide body in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a front view which shows the structural example of the support in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 in which the touch panel lighting structure according to the first embodiment is cut. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA explaining the path of light when the support has a protrusion, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA explaining the path of light when there is no protrusion. .. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA showing a modified example of the touch panel lighting structure according to the first embodiment.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration example of the touch panel lighting structure 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration example of the touch panel lighting structure 1 according to the first embodiment. The touch panel lighting structure 1 includes a touch panel 10, a cover 20, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 30, a light guide body 40, and a support 50. Here, the first embodiment will be described by exemplifying a case where the touch panel lighting structure 1 is applied to an in-vehicle device having a navigation function, an audio function, or the like. An in-vehicle device (not shown) includes a touch panel lighting structure 1, a display (not shown) arranged on the back surface side of the touch panel 10, a control board, and the like.

The touch panel 10 has a structure in which a transparent electrode is arranged on a substrate such as transparent glass or resin, and is a member through which light is transmitted. The touch panel 10 has a light shielding region 12 on which a light-shielding paint such as black is printed. The paint is not printed on a part of the light shielding region 12, and a light transmitting region 13 through which light is transmitted is formed. A paint capable of transmitting light may be printed on the light transmitting region 13. The shape of the light transmitting region 13 in the light shielding region 12 is a character or a figure such as "NAVI", "AUDIO", "VOL-", "VOL +", and "POWER", and the user can use light. It represents a function executed when the transparent area 13 is touch-operated. For example, when the user touch-operates the light transmission region 13 called "NAVI", the in-vehicle device executes the navigation function. That is, the light shielding region 12 and the light transmitting region 13 constitute an operation unit 11 that allows the user to perform a touch operation.

The cover 20 is made of a member that transmits light, such as transparent glass or resin. The cover 20 covers the surface of the touch panel 10 and protects the touch panel 10. For example, the cover 20 and the touch panel 10 are integrated by being adhered with an adhesive.

The LED 30 is a light source of the touch panel lighting structure 1. However, the light source is not limited to the LED 30. The LED 30 is arranged on the back surface side of the touch panel 10 in a state of being mounted on the substrate 31.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a configuration example of the light guide body 40 according to the first embodiment.
The light guide body 40 is a member having light guide properties such as transparent glass or resin. The light guide body 40 is arranged on the back surface side of the touch panel 10. The light guide body 40 guides the light emitted by the LED 30 to the introduction passage 42 that introduces the light emitted from the LED 30 into the light guide body 40 and the light introduced into the introduction passage 42 to the operation unit 11 of the touch panel 10 and emits light. It has a light guide passage 43 that illuminates the transmission region 13. The introduction port 41 of the introduction passage 42 is arranged at a position facing the LED 30. The introduction passage 42 has a shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the plane direction of the touch panel 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the in-vehicle device does not have enough space to arrange the LED 30 in the plane direction of the touch panel 10. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the LED 30 is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the plane direction of the touch panel 10, that is, on the back surface side of the touch panel 10, and the introduction passage 42 is extended to the position of the LED 30. The light guide passage 43 has a shape extending parallel to the plane direction of the touch panel 10, and is a light transmission region of each of "NAVI", "AUDIO", "VOL-", "VOL +", and "POWER" in the operation unit 11. Illuminate 13. As a result, the light transmission regions 13 of "NAVI", "AUDIO", "VOL-", "VOL +", and "POWER" in the operation unit 11 illuminate, and the user can easily perform a touch operation in a dark part.

The touch panel lighting structure 1 in the illustrated example has a configuration in which one LED 30 and one light guide body 40 are used to illuminate a plurality of light transmission regions 13, but two or more LEDs 30 and two or more light guides are used. The body 40 may be used to illuminate a plurality of light transmission regions 13. Further, a plurality of light transmission regions 13 may be illuminated by using two or more LEDs 30 and one light guide body 40. In the latter case, the light guide 40 has the same number of introduction passages 42 as the LED 30.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a configuration example of the support 50 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 in which the touch panel lighting structure 1 according to the first embodiment is cut along the line AA.
The support 50 is a member made of a resin or the like that does not transmit light, and does not have a light guide property. The support 50 supports the periphery of the touch panel 10 integrated with the cover 20. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the support 50 has protrusions 51 protruding from each of the four inner surfaces. The front surface of the protrusion 51 is a support surface 52 that supports the back surface of the cover 20 integrated with the touch panel 10. For example, the support surface 52 and the back surface of the cover 20 are adhered to each other by an adhesive. The side surface of the protrusion 51 is a first light shielding surface that prevents light derived from the outlet 44 from leaking to the outside by facing the outlet 44 which is an end surface of the light guide passage 43 of the light guide body 40. 53.

Further, the support body 50 has a second light shielding portion 54 provided in a portion where the light guide body 40 is arranged. The second light shielding unit 54 is a member that prevents light from leaking from the light guide passage 43 of the light guide body 40 to the substrate 31 side. The second light shielding portion 54 is formed with an opening 55 for allowing the introduction passage 42 of the light guide body 40 to pass through to the LED 30 side. Further, the edge portion of the second light shielding portion 54 is formed with a third light shielding portion 56 having a shape protruding toward the touch panel 10. The third light shielding unit 56 prevents light from leaking from the light guide passage 43 of the light guide body 40 toward the center of the touch panel 10.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA illustrating a path of light when the support 50 has a protrusion 51, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA explaining a path of light when the support portion 50 does not have a protrusion 51. It is a figure.
In FIG. 5, the light emitted by the LED 30 enters the introduction passage 42 from the introduction port 41 of the light guide body 40 and is guided to the light guide passage 43. Then, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 6A, the light guided to the light guide passage 43 illuminates the light transmission region 13 of the touch panel 10. Further, the light guided to the light guide passage 43 also reaches the outlet 44 of the light guide passage 43, and therefore illuminates the periphery of the outlet 44. However, since the first light shielding surface 53 of the protrusion 51 is arranged so as to face the outlet 44, it is difficult for light to leak around the outlet 44. Further, the presence of the protrusion 51 increases the distance of the light path from the light guide port 44 to the gap between the cover 20 and the support 50, and makes it difficult for light to leak. Therefore, it is possible to prevent light from leaking to the outside through the gap between the cover 20 and the support surface 52.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the support 50 is not provided with the protrusion 51, there is nothing to block the light reaching the outlet 44 of the light guide passage 43, so that the cover 20 and the support 50 are used. Light leaks to the outside through the gap.

As described above, the touch panel lighting structure 1 according to the first embodiment includes a touch panel 10, a cover 20, an LED 30, a light guide body 40, and a support body 50. The touch panel 10 has an operation unit 11 in which a light transmission region 13 is formed in a light shielding region 12. The cover 20 covers the surface of the touch panel 10 and is integrated with the touch panel 10. The LED 30 is arranged on the back surface side of the touch panel 10. The light guide body 40 is arranged on the back surface side of the touch panel 10, and guides the light of the introduction passage 42 and the introduction passage 42 into which the light emitted by the LED 30 is introduced to the operation unit 11 of the touch panel 10 to illuminate the light transmission region 13. It has a light guide passage 43. The support 50 is a member having no light guide property that supports the periphery of the touch panel 10 integrated with the cover 20. The support 50 has a protrusion 51 protruding from the inner surface, the surface of the protrusion 51 is a support surface 52 that supports the back surface of the cover 20, and the side surface of the protrusion 51 is the outlet 44 of the light guide passage 43. Face to face. As a result, the touch panel lighting structure 1 can prevent light from leaking to the outside through the gap between the touch panel 10 and the support 50. Further, the touch panel lighting structure 1 can illuminate a plurality of light transmission regions 13 by one LED 30.

Further, the introduction passage 42 of the light guide body 40 in the first embodiment extends in a direction orthogonal to the plane direction of the touch panel 10. As a result, the LED 30 can be arranged on the back surface side of the touch panel 10. Therefore, the touch panel lighting structure 1 is suitable for use in an in-vehicle device that does not have enough space to arrange the LED 30 in the plane direction of the touch panel 10.

In the first embodiment, the support surface 52 of the protrusion 51 supports the back surface of the cover 20, but the support surface 52 of the protrusion 51 may support the back surface of the touch panel 10. ..

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line AA showing a modified example of the touch panel lighting structure 1 according to the first embodiment. In the configuration examples of FIGS. 1 to 6, the back surface of the cover 20 is supported by the support surface 52 of the protrusion 51. On the other hand, in the configuration example of FIG. 7, the back surface of the touch panel 10 is supported by the support surface 52 of the protrusion 51. In the case of the configuration example of FIG. 7, since the light shielding region 12 of the touch panel 10 is supported by the support surface 52 of the protrusion 51, light leakage to the outside can be prevented more reliably. Further, by adhering the light shielding region 12 and the support surface 52 and completely closing the gap between them, it is possible to more reliably prevent light leakage to the outside.

In the above description, an example in which the touch panel lighting structure 1 is applied to an in-vehicle device having a navigation function, an audio function, and the like is shown, but it may be applied to an electronic device other than the in-vehicle device.

In the present invention, it is possible to modify any component of the embodiment or omit any component of the embodiment within the scope of the invention.

1 Touch panel lighting structure, 10 touch panel, 11 operation unit, 12 light shielding area, 13 light transmission area, 20 cover, 30 LED (light source), 31 board, 40 light guide, 41 introduction port, 42 introduction passage, 43 light guide Passage, 44 outlet, 50 support, 51 protrusion, 52 support surface, 53 first light shielding surface, 54 second light shielding part, 55 opening, 56 third light shielding part.

Claims (2)

A touch panel having an operation unit in which a light transmitting region is formed in a light shielding region,
A cover integrated with the touch panel that covers the surface of the touch panel,
A light source arranged on the back side of the touch panel and
A guide provided on the back surface side of the touch panel and having an introduction passage for introducing the light emitted by the light source and a light guide passage for guiding the light of the introduction passage to the operation unit of the touch panel to illuminate the light transmission region. Light body and
It is provided with a non-light-guiding support that supports the periphery of the touch panel integrated with the cover.
The support has a protrusion protruding from the inner surface, the surface of the protrusion supports the touch panel or the back surface of the cover, and the side surface of the protrusion faces the outlet of the light guide passage.
The touch panel lighting structure is characterized in that the introduction passage of the light guide extends in a direction orthogonal to the plane direction of the touch panel. An in-vehicle device provided with the touch panel lighting structure according to claim 1 .

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