JPH0511239U - Illuminated button mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a self-illuminating button mechanism that can reduce the cost by reducing the number of parts. [Structure] The illuminated button mechanism includes a light emitting diode 12,
13, an on-hook button 9 formed above the light-emitting diodes 12, 13 and formed of a translucent member, and a reflector 21 for reflecting the light from the light-emitting diodes 12, 13 to the on-hook button 9 side. Button holder 10 for holding on-hook button 9, and button holder 10
And a tact switch 11 which is arranged inside and which is switched by the movement of the on-hook button 9.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a button mechanism, and more particularly to a self-illuminating button mechanism that can be illuminated by light from a light emitting section. The self-illuminating button mechanism is a button mechanism capable of irradiating a button made of a translucent member with an internal light emitting section. Products using such mechanisms are widely used in communication equipment, information equipment, electric equipment, electronic equipment, and the like.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In the conventional self-illuminating button mechanism, the button made of a translucent member is arranged on a flexible button holder. Also, one end of the button holder is in contact with the tact switch. Inside the button holder, below the button, the light emitting part is arranged. A mortar-shaped reflector, which is formed separately from the button holder, is arranged around the light emitting portion.

When an operator pushes a button, a part of the button holder bends to push the tact switch and the tact switch is switched. On the other hand, the light from the energized light emitting portion is efficiently condensed on the button side by the reflecting plate to light the button.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the conventional self-illuminating button mechanism, the button holder and the reflector are formed as separate members. Therefore, the number of parts increases, resulting in an increase in die cost and an increase in the number of manufacturing steps, which increases the manufacturing cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated button mechanism which can be manufactured at low cost by reducing the number of parts.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The self-illuminating button mechanism according to the present invention integrally includes a light emitting part, a button made of a translucent material that transmits the light of the light emitting part, and a reflector for condensing light scattered from the light emitting part to the button side. It has a button holder for holding the button and a switch arranged in the button holder and switched by moving the button.

[0007]

[Action]

 In the self-illuminating button mechanism according to the present invention, the button holder integrally has the reflector. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced and the manufacturing can be performed at low cost.

[0008]

【Example】

 FIG. 1 shows a telephone 1 in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted. The telephone 1 is a base unit of a cordless parent-child telephone and is mainly composed of a main body 2 and a handset 3. The handset 3 is connected to the main body 2 via a cord 4. An antenna 5 is attached to the main body 2.

On the surface of the case 6 of the main body 2, a plurality of push buttons 7 for pressing a telephone number, an answering machine function button 8 for displaying various functions, and the like are provided. Further, on the surface of the case 6, a button 9 for instructing an on-hook function that enables conversation without picking up the receiver 3 is arranged.

A self-illuminating button mechanism including the on-hook button 9 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The self-illuminating button mechanism mainly includes an on-hook button 9, a button holder 10, a tact switch 11, a red LED (light emitting section) 12, and a green LED (light emitting section) 13. The self-illuminating button mechanism is mounted on the surface wiring circuit board 14 fixed to the case 6 inside the main body 2.

The on-hook button 9 is composed of a button body 15 and a button support frame 16 arranged around the button body 15. The button body 15 and the button support frame 16 are partially connected. The curved surface of the button body 15 is exposed upward from the case hole 6a of the case 6. The tip protrusion 16a formed at the tip of the button support frame 16 contacts the tact switch 11 (described later) from above. Two window holes 16b are formed at both ends of the button support frame 16 on the side opposite to the side where the tip projection 16a is formed. The locking projection 6b formed on the case 6 is inserted through the window hole 16b, and the rear end of the on-hook button 9 is positioned with respect to the case 6.

The button holder 10 is formed from a box-shaped frame 18 having a lower front wall side (left side in FIG. 2) and an inclined upper surface of the side wall, and hooks 23 formed on both sides of the frame 18. Are engaged with the hook holes 24 of the surface wiring circuit board 14, and the legs 25 formed at the four corners of the frame 18 are inserted into the leg holes 26 formed in the substrate 14. Protrusions 20 are formed at two upper corners of the rear wall of the frame 18. Both ends of the button support frame 16 of the on-hook button 9 are mounted on the protrusion 20.

A mortar-shaped reflector 21 having a bottom hole is arranged in the frame 18 of the button holder 10, and the reflector 21 is integrated with the frame 18 via reflector support portions 22 arranged on both sides thereof. Is formed in. Here, since the button holder 10 integrally has the reflection plate 21, the number of parts is smaller than that of the conventional example. Further, the button holder 10 can be manufactured at one time including the reflection plate 21 using a set of molds. Therefore, the die cost can be saved in the manufacturing process, and the number of working steps can be reduced, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The inner wall of the reflection plate 21 is white and can efficiently reflect light. Further, the reflection plate support portion 22 has elasticity and can bend downward. The button body 15 of the on-hook button 9 is mounted on the reflection plate 21, and a space of height H (FIG. 2) is opened between the reflection plate 21 and the surface wiring circuit board 14. When the button body 15 is pushed, the reflection plate support portion 22 bends downward, and the reflection plate 21 moves downward by the height H.

The red LED 12 and the green LED 13 fixed to the surface wiring circuit board 14 are arranged in the bottom hole of the reflection plate 21. The red LED 12 and the green LED 13 are connected to a control device (not shown).

The tact switch 11 is fixed to the surface wiring circuit board 24 between the reflection plate 21 and the front wall of the frame 18. The upper end of the tact switch 11 is in contact with the tip projection 16a of the on-hook button 9, and when the on-hook button 9 is pressed, a signal is sent to a control device (not shown).

A light diffusion sheet 17 made of a transparent member is arranged between the on-hook button 9 and the button holder 10. A hole 17a is formed in the light diffusion sheet 17 at a position corresponding to the frame hole 16b of the on-hook button 9. The light diffusion sheet 17 is positioned with respect to the case 6 by inserting the locking projection 6b of the case 6 into the hole 17a. The light diffusion sheet 17 is for diffusing the light from the red LED 12 or the green LED 13 to obtain good color development of the button body 15. The light diffusing sheet 17 can be arranged between the on-hook button 9 and the reflection plate 21 because the reflection plate 21 is integrally formed on the button holder 10 so that the on-hook button 9 and the reflection plate 21 can be connected to each other. This is because it has become possible to closely adhere to.

Next, the operation of the self-illuminating button structure of the on-hook button 9 will be described. In the normal conversation state, for example, the green LED 13 is energized and emits light. The light illuminates the button body 15 arranged above. The light scattered obliquely upward is reflected by the white inner wall of the reflector 21 and reaches the upper button body 15 side. In this way, the light is efficiently condensed on the button body 15 side by the reflection plate 21 so that the button body 15 has sufficient brightness. Particularly, in this embodiment, since the on-hook button 9 and the reflecting plate 21 are in close contact with each other, the light collecting condition is improved. Further, since the light diffusing sheet 17 is arranged between the button body 15 and the reflection plate 21, the light diffusing sheet 17 diffuses the light so that the button body 15 can obtain a good color.

When the telephone 1 is changed from the normal conversation state to the on-hook state, the on-hook button 9 is pushed. At this time, the reflection plate support portion 22 bends downward, so that the reflection plate 21 moves together with the on-hook button 9 within the distance of the height H shown in FIG. As a result, the tip protrusion 16a of the on-hook button 9 turns on the tact switch 11. When the hand is released from the on-hook button, the on-hook button 9 and the reflector 21 return to their original positions due to their elasticity.

When the tact switch 11 is turned on, a control device (not shown) puts the telephone 1 into an on-hook conversation state by a signal sent from the tact switch 11. Further, the control device stops energizing the green LED 13 and starts energizing the red LED 12. Other functions are the same as when the green LED 13 emits light. Here, at the same time that the telephone 1 is in the on-hook state, it can be confirmed from the outside that the telephone 1 is in the on-hook state by lighting the on-hook button from green to red.

When the on-hook button 9 is pressed again from the on-hook state, the telephone 1 is in the normal conversation state, and it can be confirmed that the on-hook button 9 is lit from red to green to indicate the normal conversation state.

[Other Embodiments] (a) In the above embodiments, one embodiment of the present invention is adopted as an on-hook button of a telephone, but the present invention may be adopted for other types of buttons. Further, the present invention is not limited to the self-illuminating button mechanism of the telephone, and the present invention may be applied to a self-illuminating button mechanism used for other machines.

(B) Further, although the tact switch is used in the above embodiment, it may be replaced with another switch such as a micro switch or a sensor switch.

[0024]

[Effect of the device]

 In the self-illuminating button mechanism according to the present invention, the button holder integrally has the reflecting plate. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a telephone in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a self-illuminating button mechanism.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a self-illuminating button mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 On-hook button 10 Button holder 11 Tact switch 12 Red LED 13 Green LED 21 Reflector

Claims (1)

[Claims for utility model registration] [Claim 1] A light emitting part, a button made of a translucent member that transmits the light of the light emitting part, and for condensing light scattered from the light emitting part to the button side. A self-illuminating button mechanism, comprising: a button holder for integrally holding the button, and a switch arranged in the button holder and switched by movement of the button.