JP7346232B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device equipped with an operation member that emits light to improve visibility in a dark place.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic devices are known in which a light emitting element is arranged inside an operating member such as a button, and the surface of the button is made to emit light by light guided through the transparent button. For example, in Patent Document 1, a base member that slidably holds a plurality of buttons is provided with a reflective surface that splits light rays, and the light rays from a light emitting element reach the buttons while passing through the base member. An electronic device that prevents uneven brightness of buttons is disclosed.

JP2019-75242A

However, since the electronic device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which light rays pass through the base member, there is a possibility that the light rays that have passed through the base member leak into the imaging device, and unnecessary light rays may reach the image sensor, etc. There is. As a result, reflection of light rays on the photographed image becomes a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can cause a plurality of operating members to emit light with uniform brightness using a small number of light sources, and can reduce light leakage.

An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention includes an operating member made of a material that transmits light, a base member that slidably holds the operating member and is made of a material that does not transmit light, and is pressable by the operating member. a switch member and a light emitting element, the base member has a reflective surface that reflects light from the light emitting element in a region facing the light emitting element, and the operating member includes a light emitting element. and an entrance surface having a different angle from the sliding surface, and the entrance surface is a part of a flange for preventing the base member from slipping off and rotating.

Other objects and features of the invention are explained in the following embodiments.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device that can cause a plurality of operation members to emit light with uniform brightness using a small number of light sources, and can reduce light leakage.

It is an external view of the camera in this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the operation button part in this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the operation button part in this embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of light emission characteristics of a light source in this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the operation button part in this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the reflective surface in this embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram of the operation button in this embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, the configuration of a camera (imaging device) having an operation button section in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an external view of the camera 1. Note that although this embodiment will be described with reference to a camera as an electronic device, it is also applicable to electronic devices other than cameras.

The camera 1 can acquire an image of a subject using an image sensor (not shown) and record it as digital data. A display member 3 such as a liquid crystal display, and operation buttons (operation members) 10, 11, 12, and 13 are arranged on a back cover (exterior member) 2 of the camera 1. The back cover 2 has openings corresponding to the operation buttons 10 to 13, respectively. By operating the operation buttons 10 to 13, the user can cause the camera 1 to perform operations such as displaying a photographed image on the display member 3, erasing the displayed image, and changing the display magnification of the image. . Button light emitting sections 103, 113, 123, and 133 are provided on the surfaces of the operation buttons 10 to 13, respectively. By the user operating the light emitting instruction member 4 on the back cover 2, the button light emitting sections 103 to 133 can be caused to emit light. Thereby, even when operating the camera 1 in a dark place, it is possible to perform desired operations such as displaying an image and erasing an image without hesitation.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a configuration (operation button section) for causing the button light emitting sections 103 to 133 of the operation buttons 10 to 13 to emit light will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the operation button section. FIG. 2(a) is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(b) is an exploded perspective view of the operation button section.

The operation buttons 10 to 13 are made of a material having light transmittance and light diffusing properties, such as a translucent resin. For the operation buttons 10 to 13, only the operation surface is painted black, and the central part of the operation surface is not painted. The center portions of the operation surfaces of the operation buttons 10 to 13 correspond to the aforementioned button light emitting sections 103, 113, 123, and 133, respectively. All parts of the operation surface other than the button light-emitting parts are painted black, so no light passes through. Each of the operation buttons 10 to 13 has flanges 101, 111, 121, and 131 that prevent the button base (base member) 20, which will be described later, from coming off and rotating. Each of the flanges 101 to 131 has a convex shape relative to the sliding surface of the operation buttons 10 to 13 on the button base 20. Such a convex shape functions as a retainer to prevent the operation buttons 10 to 13 from coming off from the button base 20. In this embodiment, the button light emitting sections 103 to 133 each have a simple circular shape, but they can also be formed in any shape such as a figure representing the function of the camera 1.

The operation buttons 10 to 13 are held by a button base 20 so as to be slidable in the pressing direction. The button base 20 is made of a material that does not transmit light, such as a light-reflective resin. The button base 20 is provided with base reflective surfaces (reflective surfaces) 201 and 211 in areas facing the light sources (LEDs 50 and 51). As described later, the base reflective surface 201 has a first reflective surface 201a and a second reflective surface 201b (a plurality of reflective surfaces). Similarly, the base reflective surface 211 has a first reflective surface 211a and a second reflective surface 211b.

Rubber switches (switch members) 30, 31, 32, and 33 are provided inside the operation buttons 10 to 13, respectively. Conductive parts 301, 302, 303, and 304 are provided on the opposite side of the operation buttons 10-13 with respect to the rubber switches 30-33. When the conductive parts 301, 302, 303, and 304 come into contact with the detection patterns (operation button detection patterns) 400, 401, 402, and 403 provided on the flexible wiring board 40, it is detected that the operation buttons 10 to 13 have been pressed. Can be detected. Furthermore, LEDs (light emitting elements) 50 and 51 as light sources are mounted on the flexible wiring board 40. The LED 50 is placed between the rubber switches 30 and 31, and the LED 51 is placed between the rubber switches 32 and 33, and serves as a light source when the operation buttons 10 to 13 emit light. Note that details regarding this will be described later.

A holding metal plate (holding member) 60 is arranged on the opposite side of the flexible wiring board 40 to the surface on which the LEDs 50 and 51 are arranged, and is fastened to the back cover 2 with screws (not shown). The holding plate 60 can withstand external force when pressing the operation buttons 10 to 13. Further, the holding metal plate 60 has the role of a light shielding member that blocks light from the LEDs 50 and 51 from leaking to the back side of the operation buttons 10 to 13. The sealing member 70 is arranged between the operation buttons 10 to 13 and the back cover 2, and prevents water droplets and dust from entering from the outer periphery of the operation buttons 10 to 13.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a configuration for guiding the light beam of the LED 50 to the button light emitting sections 103 and 113 will be described. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram (enlarged view) of the operation button section. An LED light emitting section 501 is disposed in the LED 50, and when a predetermined current flows, the LED light emitting section 501 generates light of a predetermined wavelength. As shown in FIG. 3A, the light generated from the LED light emitting section 501 of the LED 50 does not enter the button base 20, but is reflected by the base reflective surface 201 on the surface of the button base 20. The base reflective surface 201 includes a first reflective surface 201a that reflects light toward the operation button 10 side and a second reflective surface 201b that reflects light toward the operation button 11 side. The first reflective surface 201a and the second reflective surface 201b each have a shape such that the light beam of the LED 50 is incident on the flanges 101 and 111 of the operation buttons 10 and 11, that is, a substantially elliptical surface. Note that details of each reflective surface will be described later.

Light rays A and C in FIGS. 3A and 3B indicate light rays that enter the operation button 10 via the first reflective surface 201a. Light rays B and D in FIGS. 3A and 3B indicate light rays that enter the operation button 11 via the first reflective surface 201b. In this way, most (preferably, all) of the light reflected by the base reflecting surface 201 is incident on the flanges 101 and 111 due to the substantially ellipsoidal shape, so that it reaches the button light emitting sections 103 to 113 from the LED light emitting section 501. The light output is efficient.

The light reflected toward the operation button 10 enters the operation button 10 from the flange 101. As described above, the flange 101 has a convex shape with respect to the sliding surface of the operation button 10 with respect to the button base 20. Therefore, the light rays that enter the flange 101 from the LED 50 have a shorter distance to pass through the air than the light rays that enter the button sliding surface that is concave with respect to the flange 101 from the LED 50. Prevents attenuation during As a result, the amount of light reaching the button light emitting section 103 from the LED light emitting section 501 is efficient.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the light emission characteristics of the light source (LED 50) will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the light emission characteristics of the LED 50, and is a graph showing the angle with respect to the LED 50 in the circumferential direction and the light beam intensity in the diametric direction. The left-right direction in FIG. 3 is a 90-degree direction, assuming that the direction facing the button base 20 directly above the LED 50 is 0 degrees. The light intensity is expressed as a relative value between 0 and 1. Dotted line A in FIG. 4 indicates light intensity. As is clear from FIG. 4, the light beam intensity is greatest in the 0 degree direction and becomes approximately zero near 90 degrees. Therefore, as explained with reference to FIG. 3, by providing the base reflecting surface 201 directly above the LED 50, it becomes possible to efficiently make the most intense light beam enter the operation buttons 10 and 11. . Thereby, the button light emitting sections 103 and 113 can be made to emit bright light with less power.

In this embodiment, the operation buttons 10 and 11 are made of transparent resin, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation buttons 10 and 11 may be made of a translucent resin that allows light to pass through. Good too. Depending on the shape of the button light emitting parts 103 and 113, it may be preferable to use a semitransparent resin because the semitransparent resin diffuses light rays appropriately. Furthermore, the base reflecting surface 201 may not be a perfect reflecting surface, but may be a matte surface having a certain degree of light diffusing effect. Furthermore, it is also effective to improve the visibility of the operation buttons 10 and 11 by forming the sealing member 70 from a light-transmitting material so that the light rays leaking from the operation buttons 10 and 11 cause the sealing member 70 to emit light. It is.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a configuration for reducing light leakage into the interior of the camera 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the operation button section of the camera 1. FIG. 5(a) shows a front view of the operation button section. FIG. 5(b) is a partial sectional view of the operation button portion taken along line BB in FIG. 5(a). FIG. 5(c) is an enlarged view of FIG. 5(b). As described above, the button base 20 is made of a material that does not transmit light. As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), the button base 20 has an outer peripheral part 202 surrounding the LED 50, and the outer peripheral part 202 reduces the leakage of light rays generated from the LED 50 into the interior of the camera 1. It functions as a light shielding member. The light rays E and F in FIG. 5(c) are blocked by the outer peripheral portion 202, and it is possible to reduce light ray leakage into the interior of the camera 1.

Next, the shape of the reflective surface 201 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. 6 is a configuration diagram of the reflective surface 201, FIG. 6(a) is a sectional view of the operation button part, and FIG. 6(b) is a region surrounded by a dotted line R in FIG. 101) are respectively shown in enlarged view (main parts only).

As shown in FIG. 6(b), the incident section 104 is located within the incident surface 102 of the flange 101, which faces the LED light emitting section 501. The reflective surface 201 is formed as a part of a substantially elliptical shape 203 having the LED light emitting section 501 and the incident section 104 as focal points, respectively. Here, the term "approximately elliptical shape" is not limited to a strict elliptical shape, but includes a shape (approximate shape) that is evaluated as a substantially elliptical shape. All the light rays emitted from the LED light emitting part 501 (focal point 1) toward the reflective surface 201 are reflected by the reflective surface 201, which is a part of the approximately elliptical shape 203, and reach the incident part 104 (focal point 2). , the amount of light reaching the button light emitting unit 103 from the LED light emitting unit 501 is efficient.

In addition, the entrance surface 102 has a shape that is approximately perpendicular to the center line 204 connecting the entrance section 104 and the LED light emitting section 501 (approximately right-angled shape). Due to the substantially right-angled shape, the light rays enter the incident surface 102 at an angle close to perpendicular. If the light rays are obliquely incident, the reflection will be large and the loss of the amount of transmitted light and refracted light directed toward the button light emitting section 103 will be large. Therefore, the flange surface is approximately perpendicular to the light source (LED 50). Furthermore, with respect to the light emitted from the LED light emitting unit 501, the light ray G directly above the strong intensity and the light ray H that arrives without loss due to reflection reach the incident surface 102 at an angle that is closest to the right angle among all the light rays, so efficiency is improved. good.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the structure where the entrance part 104 is arrange|positioned at the flange 101 was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this, and the entrance part 104 may be arrange|positioned at a button sliding surface. When it is not possible to arrange the flange 101 at a position facing the LED 50 due to layout restrictions, or when it is desired to reduce the brightness of the button light emitting section 103, it is effective to arrange the entrance section 104 on the sliding section.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the effects of changing the shape and surface characteristics of the reflective surface will be described. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of the operation buttons 14, 15, 16, and 17 having different distances from the LED 50. A reflective surface is arranged directly above the LED 50, and reflective surfaces 201a, 201b, 201c, and 201d are provided depending on the operation buttons 14-17. The reflective surfaces 201a to 201d change at least one of diffusion characteristics, reflectance, or reflection shape depending on the distance from the operation buttons 14 to 17.

Diffusion properties represent surface properties. Specifically, if you want to improve the efficiency of light reaching the operation button from the light source (LED 50), it will have a mirror surface shape, and if you want to reduce the efficiency, it will have a matte diffusing surface by applying grain processing or the like. The reflectance is the ratio of the amount of reflected light to the amount of light incident on the reflective surfaces 201a to 201d. Specifically, if you want to improve the reflection efficiency, use a white molding material, and if you want to reduce the efficiency, change to a black molding material. The reflection shape represents the shape of the reflection surfaces 201a to 201d, which are typified by substantially ellipsoidal surfaces, which will be described later. Specifically, if it is desired to improve the reflection efficiency, it is formed by a part of a substantially ellipsoidal surface, and if it is desired to reduce the efficiency, a wall is provided between the LED 50 and the operation buttons 14 to 17.

By changing the diffusion characteristics, reflectance, or reflection shape, it is possible to adjust the amount of light reaching the operation buttons 14 to 17 even when the same LED 50 is used as a light source. That is, according to the configuration of this embodiment, even when it is desired to adjust the light intensity of a plurality of operation buttons, there is no need to provide a separate light source, the number of parts can be reduced, and it is advantageous in terms of cost.

As described above, the electronic device (camera 1) of the present embodiment includes an operation member (operation buttons 10 to 13), a base member (button base 20), a switch member (rubber switch 30 to 33), and a light emitting element (LED 50, 51). The operating member is made of a material that is transparent to light. The base member is made of a material that does not transmit light and slidably holds the operating member. The switch member can be pressed by an operating member. The base member has a reflective surface 201 that reflects light from the light emitting element in a region facing the light emitting element.

Preferably, the operating member has a sliding surface that slides on the base member, and an entrance surface 102 that is at a different angle from the sliding surface. More preferably, the entrance surface is a part of the flange 101 for retaining and rotating the base member. Also preferably, the incident surface faces the light emitting element. Preferably, the reflective surface is a part of an ellipse (approximately elliptical shape 203) whose focal point is the light source of the light emitting element (LED light emitting section 501) and the incident section (104) located on the incident surface (flange surface). (or a shape similar to this).

Preferably, the operating member includes a plurality of operating buttons 10 to 13, and the base member reflects the light beam from the light emitting element on a reflective surface and makes it incident on the plurality of operating buttons. More preferably, the operating member includes a first operating button (operating button 10) and a second operating button (operating button 11), and the reflective surface includes a first reflective surface 201a and a second reflective surface 201b. The base member reflects the light beam from the light emitting element on the first reflective surface and makes it incident on the first operation button, and reflects the light beam from the light emitting element on the second reflection surface and makes it incident on the second operation button.

Preferably, the electronic device has an exterior member (rear cover 2) having an opening corresponding to the operating member, and the base member is disposed inside the exterior member. Preferably, the electronic device includes a holding member (holding sheet metal 60) that holds the switch member. The light emitting element is arranged in a region covered by the base member and the holding member.

With such a configuration, even when a plurality of operation buttons are made to emit light using a small number of light sources, it is possible to suppress variations in the amount of light emitted from each button, reduce leakage of light into the interior, and improve the quality of light emitted. That is, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to cause a plurality of operation buttons to emit light using a small number of light sources, to suppress differences in light emission brightness among the operation buttons, and to reduce leakage of light beams to areas other than desired light emitting sections. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an electronic device that can cause a plurality of operation members to emit light with uniform brightness using a small number of light sources, and can reduce light leakage.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the invention. The present invention is also applicable to, for example, a button configuration that does not move and is operated by touching the surface.

1 Camera (electronic device)
10, 11, 12, 13 Operation buttons (operation members)
20 Button base (base member)
201 Base reflective surface (reflective surface)
30, 31, 32, 33 Rubber switch (switch member)
50, 51 LED (light emitting element)

Claims (7)

an operating member made of a material that transmits light;
a base member made of a material that does not transmit light rays and slidably holds the operating member;
a switch member that can be pressed by the operating member;
having a light emitting element;
The base member has a reflective surface that reflects light from the light emitting element in a region facing the light emitting element,
The operating member has a sliding surface that slides on the base member, and an entrance surface that is at a different angle from the sliding surface,
The electronic device is characterized in that the entrance surface is a part of a flange for preventing the base member from slipping off and rotating . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the incident surface faces the light emitting element. 3. The reflective surface has a shape of a part of an ellipse whose focal point is the light source of the light emitting element and the incident part located on the incident surface. Electronics. The operation member includes a plurality of operation buttons,
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the base member reflects the light beam from the light emitting element on the reflective surface and makes it incident on the plurality of operation buttons. The operation member includes a first operation button and a second operation button,
The reflective surface includes a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface,
The base member reflects the light beam from the light emitting element on the first reflective surface and makes it incident on the first operation button, and reflects the light beam on the second reflection surface and makes it incident on the second operation button. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that: further comprising an exterior member having an opening corresponding to the operating member,
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the base member is arranged inside the exterior member. further comprising a holding member that holds the switch member,
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the light emitting element is arranged in a region covered by the base member and the holding member.