JPH0491540A - Telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently illuminate numerous switch key tops from a small number of light sources to reduce the thickness of a telephone set by using a light leading plate case composed of a transparent material coated with an opaque film on the outer surface side. CONSTITUTION:The light emitted from a light source provided on a printed wiring board 24 is led into a light leading plate case 16 through a translucent sheet member 22. The light led into the case 16 is propagated through the inside or outside (mainly inside) of the case 16 and expands in the lateral direction after the light is reflected by the upper and lower surfaces, etc., of the case 16. Therefore, the light can illuminate plural switch key tops 20. When a thin film is formed between the case 16 and opaque film 18 or on the case 16 side of an insulating film 30, the attenuation of the light from the light source 34 can be minimized.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Summary An object of the present invention is to provide a telephone that can be used at night and has switch key tops that are illuminated, which can illuminate a large number of switch key tops with a small number of light sources, and which is suitable for downsizing. A light guide plate case made of a transparent material, a switch key top that is vertically movable so as to pass through a through hole formed in the light guide plate case, and an upper 8 part that covers the outer surface of the light guide plate case. It is configured to include an opaque film and a light source that introduces light into the interior of the light guide plate case.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a telephone set which can be used at night and whose switch key tops are illuminated.

For phones equipped with a switch with a dialing function, such as a handset for a handset phone or a mobile phone, the top of the switch key can be illuminated in consideration of nighttime use. It is desirable that Generally, a large number of switch key tops (at least 10) are provided, so if these many switch key tops could be uniformly illuminated with a small number of light sources, it would be advantageous in terms of power consumption and downsizing. be.

Conventional technology Conventionally, as a technique for illuminating a large number of switch key tops with a small number of light sources, a transparent light guide plate is used to direct light from a small number of light sources to a large number of switch key tops through this light guide plate. It is known that it is supplied with

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional structure using the above-mentioned light guide plate, it is necessary to provide a transparent light guide plate inside the case separately from the case of the phone, so it is particularly difficult to use the handset of a mobile phone. This will cause problems in cases where thinning is required, such as in the case of.

The present invention was created in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a telephone that can illuminate a large number of switch key tops with a small number of light sources and is suitable for downsizing (thinning).

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned technical problem consists of: a light guide plate case made of a transparent material; a switch key top that is vertically movable so as to pass through a through hole formed in the light guide plate case; The problem is solved by a telephone that includes an opaque film that covers the outer surface of the light guide plate case, and a light source that introduces light into the inside of the light guide plate case.

Function In the configuration of the present invention, the outer surface of the light guide plate case made of a transparent material is covered with an opaque film, and the phone case itself is given the function of a light guide plate, so the case and the light guide plate can be separated. The device can be made smaller (thinner) than in the case where it is formed.

In this case, since the outer surface of the light guide plate case is covered with an opaque film, the appearance of the telephone does not look strange.

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a mobile phone showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view thereof. The upper end of the handset body 2 is provided with a receiver part 4 that houses a speaker, and the middle part of the handset body 2 has a display part 6 such as a liquid crystal display and a switch n8 having a dial function, etc.
is provided. Further, at the left end of the lower end of the handset main body 2, a transmitter section 10 that accommodates a microphone is provided. Reference numeral 12 denotes an antenna rotatably attached to the side of the handset main body 2.

A cover 14 is provided near the lower end of the handset main body 2, and when the cover 14 is closed, the switch section 8
, and functions as a reflective sound collector plate for the transmitter 10 when opened.

Figure 1 shows the switch section 8 along line I-1 in Figure 2.
FIG. 16 is a light guide plate case made of transparent resin, and an opaque film 18 is provided on the outer surface side of this light guide plate case 16.
covered by. The opaque film 18 can be formed by applying a coating resin to the surface layer of the light guide plate case 160 using a normal in-mold method. Reference numeral 20 denotes a switch key top that is vertically movable so as to pass through a through hole 16a formed in the light guide plate case 16. In this embodiment, the switch key top 20 is attached to the light guide plate case 16.
It is formed integrally with a sheet material 22 that is in close contact with the inner surface of the. The switch key top 20 and the sheet material 22 are formed by integrally molding a translucent material such as silicone rubber.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a printed wiring board fixed to the light guide plate case at a position not shown, and switch patterns 26a made of conductors are provided on the top surface of the printed wiring board corresponding to each switch key top 20.
, 26b are formed.

The switch pattern 26a is circular, and the annular switch pattern 26b is provided so as to surround the switch pattern 26a. Reference numeral 28 denotes a click disk made of elastically deformable metal, the outer periphery of which is always in contact with the switch pattern 26b. 32 is an actuator attached to the lower side of the switch key top 20. When the switch key top 20 is pressed downward, a cylindrical protrusion 32a protruding from the lower surface of the actuator 32 connects to the click disc 28 via the insulating film 30. The center portion of the switch pattern 26a is brought into contact with the switch pattern 26a to establish electrical continuity between the switch patterns 26a and 26b. The reason why the actuator 32 is used to press the click disc 28 at a specific position with its protrusion 32a is to prevent undesired plastic deformation of the click disc 28 and extend the life of the click disc. A suitable material for the actuator 32 is relatively hard plastic.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a light source such as an LED (light emitting diode) provided on the printed wiring board 24, and the light emitted from this light source 34 is introduced into the light guide plate case 16 via the translucent sheet material 22. Ru.

The light introduced into the light guide plate case 16 is transmitted through the light guide plate case 1.
The light is reflected by the upper and lower surfaces of the light guide plate case 16, propagates inside or outside (mainly inside) the light guide plate case 16, spreads laterally, and is used to illuminate a plurality of switch key tops 20. By forming a white thin film between the light guide plate case 16 and the opaque film 18 or on the light guide plate case 16 side of the insulating film 30, attenuation of light from the light source can be suppressed to a minimum.

Although not shown, by forming hollow characters on the opaque film 18, the display using the hollow characters can be easily recognized when there is no external illumination, such as at night.

In the embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to a mobile phone, but the present invention may also be applied to a handset of a cordless telephone or the main body of a normal button-type telephone.

As described in detail, the present invention uses a light guide plate case made of a transparent material whose outer surface is covered with an opaque film, so that a large number of switch key tops can be efficiently illuminated with a small number of light sources. This has the effect of making it possible to Another advantage is that the phone can be made thinner than when the light guide plate and the case are formed separately.

22... Sheet material, 34...Light source.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light guide plate case (16) made of a transparent material, and a switch key provided so as to be movable up and down so as to pass through a through hole (16a) formed in the light guide plate case (16). Top (2
0), and an opaque film (1) covering the outer surface side of the light guide plate case (16).
8), and a light source (
34) A telephone set comprising: 2. The switch key top (20) is formed integrally with a sheet material (22) that is in close contact with the inner surface of the light guide plate case (16), and the light from the light source (34) is transmitted through the sheet material (22). The telephone according to claim 1, characterized in that the telephone is introduced into the interior of the light guide plate case (16) through the light guide plate case (16).