JPH0389386A - Operating panel device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the high luminance conversion together with the night illumination in a hidden switch by providing a turnable prismatic case. CONSTITUTION:A prismatic case body 21 is formed by the lower case 23, and the upper case joined and set to the lower case 23, and in the case body 21, a light emitting element 32 is set so as to be visible from the outside of the upper case 24, and an indicator substrate 25 to which the light emitting element 32 is attached, and a switch substrate 26 connected through a flexible wiring plate to the substrate 25 are set. Both these substrates are coupled integrally by a positioning holder 28. As for this circuit assembly, the switch substrate 26 is fitted and set so as to be set to the upper case 24 side, in the lower case 23, and a switch knob 35 set to the upper case 24 is coupled to the switch substrate part 26. In such a way, in the operating panel device in which a hidden switch is contained, night illumination can be set easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an operation panel device that is used, for example, as an operation device for an automobile air conditioner and is housed as a hidden switch.

[Prior Art] In home appliances or air conditioners for automobiles, it has been considered to house switches that are not used all the time in the operation panel as hidden switches.

In addition, one of the peculiarities of the operation panel for automobiles is that
As a first step, visibility is very important, and in addition to nighttime illumination, there is a need for high-brightness indicators during the day.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a device equipped with a hidden switch, in which a rotary hidden switch 13 is provided below the front display section 12 of the main body 11 of the device. This hidden switch 1
3 is configured to have a triangular cross-section, and the center of rotation is set at the apex of this triangle, so that it can be freely rotated as shown by arrows A or B, and is installed in the storage layer 4 of the device main body 11. It will be done.

That is, when the hidden switch 13 is rotated in the direction shown by arrow B and set to the state shown in the figure, the panel surface 1 where the switches 151, 152, . . . of the hidden switch 13 are set is
13 protrudes from the storage chamber 14 to the front, is set upward, and can be freely operated. On the contrary,
When the hidden switch 13 is rotated in the direction of arrow A from the state shown in this figure, the hidden switch 13 is stored in the storage chamber 14, and the hidden switch 13
1515152, . . . are hidden from the outside.

When such a hidden switch is applied to an automobile air conditioner, for example, the indicator becomes difficult to see during bright times such as when the car interior is exposed to direct sunlight during the day. ization is required. However, in such a structure, hidden switch 1
It is difficult from a space standpoint to install lighting for the panel surface 18 when the panel 3 is taken out as shown in the figure, and to make the indicator high brightness.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] This invention has been made in view of the above points, and the switch operating section is hidden from the outside by rotating, and selectively exposed to the outside by rotating. By making it possible to easily achieve high brightness along with night lighting in a hidden switch, it can be effectively applied in areas with limited space, such as the operation mechanism of an automobile air conditioner, making it a convenient choice. The present invention aims to provide an operation panel device in which an operation part can be taken out and operated.

[Means for Solving Problem a] The operation panel device according to the present invention includes a lower case forming first and second pieces sandwiching one apex angle, and the apex angle of the lower case. form a piece of j@3 opposite to the part,
A triangular prism-shaped case body is formed by an upper case that is joined to the lower case, and a light emitting element is set within this case body so that it can be seen from the outside of the upper case, and this light emitting element A switch board is connected to this indicator board via a flexible wiring board, and the two boards are joined together by a positioning holder. The circuit assembly is fitted into the lower case of the case body so that the switch board is placed on the upper case side, and the switch knob installed in the upper case is coupled to the switch board part.

[Function] In the operation panel device configured in this manner, a circuit assembly consisting of an indicator board and a switch board is fitted and set within the triangular prism case body. In this case, the indicator board is installed toward the apex corner of the triangular prism, so a large, high-intensity light emitting element can be easily used, and the switch board is installed close to the upper case, so this The width of the board can be easily set larger, and the switch knob can be made larger to improve operability.

[Embodiments of the invention] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The operation panel device shown in FIG.
is configured in the shape of a triangular prism, and has an axis 22 at its isosceles apex corner.
The shaft 22 allows the shaft 22 to be rotatably mounted within the storage chamber of the main body of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3, for example. Then, by rotating it in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1 (B), it will be in the hidden state stored in the storage chamber, and by rotating it in the direction of arrow B, it will be in the state shown in the figure. The display surface of the case body 21 is now exposed to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 2, the case body 21 includes a lower case 23 consisting of first and second pieces 231 and 232 sandwiching a right-angled apex angle. This lower case 23 forms an isosceles part of an isosceles triangle in cross section, and the axis 22 is set close to the right-angled apex portion thereof. Then, the upper case 24 is set so as to constitute the opening part of the lower case 23, that is, the third side opposite to the apex angle, and the upper case 24 is connected to the lower case 23 by an appropriate abutment mechanism,
It is integrally joined with a set screw or the like.

An indicator board 25 and a switch board 2B are installed inside the lower case 23. These boards 25 and 28 are constructed separately, and the indicator board 25 is positioned close to the top corner of the lower case 23, and the switch board 2B is positioned close to the upper case 24. Ru. The indicator board 25 and the switch board 2B are connected by a flexible circuit board 27 that is flexible and bendable.

Here, the indicator board 25 is attached to the positioning holder 2
The switch board 2B is attached to the positioning holder 28, and the switch board 2B is fitted into the case body 21 by the holder 28. That is, this holder 28 is attached to the indicator board 2.
5 and the switch board 2B, and these boards 25 and 26 constitute a circuit assembly 29. This circuit assembly 29 is sandwiched and held between the lower case 23 and the upper case 24.

The upper case 24 constitutes the operation panel surface of this hidden switch, and an opening 30 for displaying an indicator and a switch opening 31 are formed in the surface. Then, an LED light emitting element 32 is attached to the indicator board 25 in correspondence with the position of the indicator opening 30. Further, a space for an illumination lens is formed adjacent to this opening 30, and a lens 33 is provided in this space.
is fitted, and a transparent protective cover 34 is provided to cover the lens 33 portion and the indicator opening 30 portion. This protective cover 34 includes a first
As shown in the figure, for example, a symbol for controlling an air conditioner is appropriately drawn in correspondence with the indicator display, and by appropriately illuminating the lens 33, this symbol is displayed in a raised manner.

A switch knob 35 is fitted into the switch opening 3t of the upper case 24 from inside the case 24.

This switch knob 35 is coupled to a switch mechanism 3B attached to the switch board 2B, and constitutes a push button switch.

In the operation panel constructed in this way, the indicator board 25 and the switch board 2B are constructed separately. In this case, the indicator board 25 is connected to the upper case 24.
Since the lens 33 is set apart from the switch board 2B, a space for setting the lens 33 can be easily set in the upper case 24, and night illumination is made possible. Further, since the switch board 2B is located separately from the indicator board 25 and close to the flat upper case 24, the width of the board 2B can be easily increased, and the switch board 2B can be easily increased in width. The knob 35 can be made larger. Therefore, its operability is improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the operation panel device according to the present invention,
The night illumination can be easily set, a large high-intensity LED light emitting element can be used, and at the same time, the switch knob can be made larger. Therefore, it is possible to construct a hidden switch that can be installed in the passenger compartment of an automobile and used very effectively, and can be applied to a control panel of an automobile air conditioner to great effect, for example.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1(A) is a front view of the panel surface of an operation panel device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1(B) is a side view of the same,
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 1(A), and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a conventionally known hidden switch. 21... Case body, 22... Shaft, 23... Lower case, 24... Upper case, 25... Indicator board, 2B... Switch board, 27... Flexible board, 28... ...Positioning holder, 29...Circuit assembly, 32...LED light emitting element, 33...Lens.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A lower case forming first and second pieces sandwiching one apex angle of a triangular cross section, and a third piece opposing the apex corner of the lower case, A rotatable triangular prism-shaped case body that includes an upper case that is set to be joined to the case; and a case body that is provided within the case body and generates light so that the light is visible from the outside of the upper case. an indicator board to which the light emitting element is attached and set; a switch board connected to the indicator board via a flexible wiring board; and the switch board connects the indicator board and the switch board to the case body. a positioning holder that is integrally coupled so as to be set on the upper case side; and a positioning holder that is coupled to the switch board that is set on the upper case side;
An operation panel device comprising: a switch knob configured to protrude from the upper case;