JPH06260051A - Electronic apparatus with sheet switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To protect a flexible cable connecting both switch means and maintain the appearance of an apparatus by arranging the flexible cable from the principal face to the side face along the surface of the apparatus main body in the electronic apparatus provided with the switch means each constituted of a sheet switch on the principal face and the side face perpendicular to the principal face. CONSTITUTION:An electronic apparatus is provided with a cable guide recess 19 communicated with sheet switch storage recesses 9, 18 storing switch means 20, 25 provided on the principal face of the apparatus and at least one side face perpendicular to the principal face and each constituted of a sheet switch, and both switch means 20, 25 are connected by a flexible cable 21 stored in the cable guide recess 19 and arranged from the principal face to the side face. A blindfold member 30 is assembled to cover the cable guide recess 19, and the flexible cable 21 is blindfolded and protected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device having a sheet switch such as a mobile phone, and more particularly to an electronic device having a switch means formed by a sheet switch on a main surface and a side surface orthogonal to the main surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the case of mobile phones, the number of subscribers has jumped due to improvements in the performance of various constituent parts, improvements in wireless relay stations, improvements in call quality due to maintenance, lower charges, changes in business forms, changes in the social environment, etc. Are increasing. Such a mobile phone is equipped with a handset, a dial switch, a wireless communication circuit, a power supply battery, etc., but there is a great demand for smaller size and lighter weight from the viewpoint of portability, and it is possible to realize a size up to a so-called pocket size. It has been demanded.

In order to realize a compact and lightweight mobile phone,
For example, high integration of electronic parts such as a wireless communication circuit and development of a high performance battery are being promoted. On the other hand, as for the dial switch, a push button type has been conventionally adopted, but by adopting a so-called sheet switch, for example, a contact is formed between the flexible first and second sheet members. , A thinner phone is achieved.

That is, in a mobile phone equipped with a sheet switch, a sheet switch accommodating concave portion is provided in the main surface of the main body of the apparatus, and a 10 key and a "sharp"
A sheet switch member that constitutes a dial switch or local line switch (hook switch) consisting of a "flat" key is housed so as to form the same surface as the main surface, and each switch is installed from the back of the sheet switch member. It is connected to the control unit by a flexible cable that has been pulled out.

Also, like the above-mentioned mobile phone, the data is used in the distribution industry, etc., and is used by a salesperson to record and tabulate sales information of each store visited and send the information to the center. Also in the entry device and the like, for the purpose of downsizing and weight reduction, 10 keys for inputting sales information and the like and function switches are configured by sheet switches. As described above, the seat switch is widely used in various electronic devices.

[0006]

By the way, the portable telephone is equipped with various function switches such as a volume control switch, a redial switch, and a transfer switch in addition to the dial switch described above. If a large number of switches are constructed on a main surface that is as small as the palm of the hand, the operating area of each switch becomes small and the operability deteriorates. For this reason, the function switches that are used less frequently are provided on the side surface side of the device body.

Of course, the various function switches arranged on the side of the main body of the apparatus are also composed of sheet switches. These side switches are connected via flexible cables independent of the switches on the main side. There is a problem in that it must be connected to the control unit, parts such as a flexible cable or a connector are required, and assembly is troublesome.

Therefore, according to the present invention, in the electronic equipment having the switch means constituted by the sheet switch on the main surface and the side surface orthogonal to the main surface, the switch means on the side surface side is routed along the surface of the equipment body. It is proposed for the purpose of providing an electronic device which is connected to a switch means on the main surface side via a flexible cable, protects the flexible cable, and retains the design appearance of the device.

[0009]

An electronic device equipped with a sheet switch according to the present invention which achieves this object is a sheet for accommodating sheet-like switch means on a main surface and at least one side surface orthogonal to the main surface. A device main body having switch receiving concave portions and a cable guide concave portion formed by notching the side surfaces facing each other so as to communicate with both of the sheet switch storing concave portions, and the sheet switch storing portion on the main surface side. First sheet-shaped switch means housed in the recess, second sheet-shaped switch means housed in the side-side sheet switch housing recess, and side surfaces from the main surface of the device body housed in the cable guide recess A switch comprising a flexible cable that connects the first and second sheet-shaped switch means by being drawn around A step, and an elastic member that has a shape that constitutes a part of the main surface of the device body by being capped in the cable guide recess, and that is engaged with an engagement hole formed in the device body on the bottom surface part. With a blind member on which the joint piece is provided,
With this blindfold member, the flexible cable housed in the cable guide concave portion and routed from the main surface to the side surface along the surface of the device body is blinded.

Further, in an electronic device equipped with a sheet switch according to the present invention, a flexible cable insertion hole is formed in a part of a seat switch housing recess formed in the main surface of the device body, and the seat switch housing recess is housed. The flexible cable pulled out from the rear surface of the sheet switch is inserted into the main body of the device to connect to the control unit.

Further, in an electronic device equipped with a sheet switch according to the present invention, a flexible cable insertion hole is formed in a part of a seat switch accommodating recess formed in the main surface of the main body of the device and is accommodated in the seat switch accommodating recess. The flexible cable with the switch means mounted on the tip of the sheet switch is inserted into the inside of the device body, and the switch means is fitted into the switch fitting hole formed on the side surface orthogonal to the main surface. It is characterized by being assembled in this way.

[0012]

According to the electronic device equipped with the sheet switch according to the present invention, the sheet switch is formed in the sheet switch accommodating recess formed in the main surface of the device body and the side surface orthogonal to the main surface. The switch means is housed and arranged. The sheet switch that constitutes the side surface side switch means is a sheet switch that constitutes the main surface side switch means via a flexible cable housed in a cable guide recessed portion that is recessed across the main surface and the side surface of the device body. Connected to.

The flexible cable, which is accommodated in the cable guide recess and is laid out from the main surface to the side surface along the surface of the device body, is protected by covering the blind member with the cable guide recess. Blindfolded from the outside. The blindfold member forms a part of the main surface by engaging the elastic engaging piece formed on the bottom surface part with the engaging hole provided in the sheet switch accommodating concave portion on the main surface side, and is attached to the main body of the device. It can be assembled.

In the seat switch which constitutes the main surface side switch means in which the side surface side switch means is connected via the flexible cable, the flexible cable is pulled out from the rear surface and the flexible cable is bored in the seat switch accommodating concave portion. The flexible cable is not exposed to the outside and is protected by being inserted into the inside of the device main body to be connected to the control unit provided in the device main body.

The switch means provided in the switch fitting hole formed on the third side surface orthogonal to the main surface is also the tip of the flexible cable pulled out from the back surface of the sheet switch constituting the main surface side switch means. When the flexible cable is mounted in the device main body, the flexible cable is inserted into the device main body through the flexible cable insertion hole formed in the sheet switch housing recess, and then fitted into the switch fitting hole.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A mobile phone shown as a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mobile phone 1 of the embodiment has a telephone body 2 formed as an independent member, a transmitter member 3, and a power supply box made of synthetic resin in which a power supply battery (not shown) is loaded. 4 is combined with each other, and the whole shape is so-called a palm size. The telephone main body 2 is constructed by combining an upper case 5 and a lower case 6 formed of a synthetic resin material into a substantially thin box as a whole, and a telephone receiver (speaker) 7, a call circuit component, a dial circuit is provided inside thereof. A control board (not shown) on which components, wireless circuit components, power supply circuits, etc. are mounted is built in.

One side surface portion 2A which constitutes a side surface in the longitudinal direction of the telephone body 2 is formed as a substantially flat surface and serves as an arrangement portion of the transmitter member 3 as described later.
An expandable antenna 8 is provided on one side surface portion 2C which constitutes a side surface in the width direction and is located on the side surface portion 2A side. On the other side surface portion 2B facing the arrangement side surface portion 2A of the transmitter member 3, a region portion extending from a substantially central position in the longitudinal direction to the arrangement side surface portion 2C of the antenna 8 is formed to bulge in an arc shape. In addition, the area 5A of the upper case 5 corresponding to the bulging portion of the side surface portion 2B is also bulged in the thickness direction so as to form a gentle hill surface.

As described above, the transmitter member 3 and the antenna 8
By arranging and on the side face 2A side of the telephone body 2 and forming an arc-shaped bulge on the side face 2B, the mobile phone 1 has the bulge at the base of the thumb. In addition to being located, each of the above parts is located on the fingertip side, and is configured in a shape suitable for being held and used by the left hand. For convenience of explanation, in the following description, from the position where the mobile phone 1 is held by the left hand, the side surface portion 2A on which the transmitter member 3 is disposed is the left side surface portion, and the opposite side surface 2B is the right side surface portion. In addition, the side surface portion 2C on which the antenna 8 is disposed is the upper side surface,
The facing side surface 2D will be referred to as a lower side surface portion.

The bulging area portion 5A of the upper case 5 is an installation portion of the handset 7 mounted on the control board and built in the telephone body 2, and a circular recess 5a is provided on the surface side thereof. In addition, a plurality of sound emission holes are formed. As described above, the bulging area portion 5A in which the handset 7 is arranged
Since the mobile phone 1 is formed in a gentle hill surface shape, it is possible to obtain a good feeling when using the mobile phone 1.

Further, on the surface of the upper case 5, a modified pentagonal area portion 9 other than the bulging area portion 5A is formed as a main surface sheet switch storage concave portion. As will be described later, the main surface sheet switch 20 is jointly housed to form a dial switch section.

On the left side surface 2A of the telephone body 2, a protective cover 10 for the transmitter member 3 is integrally provided so as to project from the lower case 6. That is, the protective cover 10 is projected from the left side surface 2A in the horizontal direction with a width slightly larger than the width dimension of the transmitter member 3 to be described later, and the free end side faces the left side surface 2A in parallel. It is formed in an L-shaped cross section having a side wall portion that rises toward the upper cover 5 side. Of course, the upper edge of the side wall portion of the protective cover 10 is the upper case 4
It has such a height that it does not protrude further than that, and has a length that extends to the small-diameter portion of the transmitter member 3. By including the protective cover 10 configured in this way, when the mobile phone 1 is held by the left hand, the inconvenience that the fingertip interferes with the rotation of the transmitter member 3 described later is eliminated. To be done.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the left side surface 2A of the telephone body 2, the holding pin 11 of the transmitter member holding mechanism, which is located on the side of the upper side surface 2C and whose detailed description is omitted, moves back and forth. An operator 13 of the transmitter member holding mechanism in which a holding pin guide hole 12 is formed and a detailed description of the structure is omitted.
The operator guide groove 14 in which is mounted is opened across the bottom surface side. Although not shown, the left side surface 2A of the telephone body 2 is provided with a shaft hole and a screw hole on the lower side surface 2D side, and the shaft hole is transmitted to the telephone body 2. The support shaft of the transmitter member rotation support mechanism 15 that rotatably supports the transmitter member 3 is penetrated, and the screw hole is used for mounting the transmitter member rotation support mechanism 15.

The transmitter member 3 is entirely covered with a gutter-shaped upper member having a substantially semicircular cross section, which is formed of an elastic material such as rubber, and the open side surface of the upper member is capped. It is composed of a plate-shaped lower member to be assembled, and is configured as a closed member having a semi-circular cross-section which is flexible and hermetically sealed. This transmitter member 3
Is approximately equal to the length of the telephone body 2,
As shown by an arrow in FIG. 3, by being rotated with respect to the telephone body 2, a handset 7 disposed on the telephone body 2 side and a transmitter (microphone) disposed on the transmitter member 3 side. 16 and 16 are set so as to maintain the optimum relative positional relationship.

In the above-mentioned transmitter member rotation supporting mechanism 15, a spring means for giving the transmitter member 3 a turning tendency in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 is incorporated. The transmitter member 3 urged by the spring means is housed between the left side surface portion 2A of the telephone body 2 and the protective cover 10 and is in the engagement hole provided at the free end side thereof. It is held by engaging the holding pin 11 of the device member holding mechanism.

From this state, by pressing the operating element 13, the holding pin 11 is retracted into the telephone body 2, and the transmitter member 3 is moved by the force of the spring means as shown by the arrow in FIG. Rotate counterclockwise.
The rotation of the transmitter member 3 with respect to the telephone body 2 is performed by the action of the transmitter member rotation support mechanism 15.
As shown in FIG. 3, it automatically stops at a position above θ ° with respect to the horizontal plane.

As shown in FIG. 2, a hook is provided between the opposing side surfaces of the telephone body 2 and the transmitter member 3 which is rotatably supported by the transmitter member rotation supporting mechanism 15 on the left side surface 2A thereof. A switch mechanism 17 is provided. The hook switch mechanism 17 is mounted on a tip portion of a flexible member 24 described later and is exposed to a mounting hole 2a formed in a left side surface portion 2A of the telephone body 2 and an inner side surface of the transmitter member 3. And a magnetic plate (not shown) attached to the magnetic switch means.

The Hall IC element 17a constituting the hook switch mechanism 17 and the magnetic plate are normally opposed to each other. In this state, the mobile telephone 1 is held in a call waiting state and the telephone body 2 is transmitted. When the device member 3 is rotated, the holding state is released, and the mobile phone 1 shifts to the call enabled state. The hook switch mechanism 17
In addition to the above-mentioned magnetic switch means, is an optical switch means including, for example, an optical element mounted on the tip of the flexible cable 24 and a reflector attached to the inner surface of the transmitter member 3. Good.

The main surface sheet switch 20 that is jointly housed in the main surface sheet switch housing concave portion 9 and constitutes a dial switch section is composed of ten numeric keys 1 to 0, a "sharp" key, and a "flat" key. A dial key section 20A, a power key 20B arranged along the left side surface 2A side, a clear key 20C, a redial key 20D,
A function key including a transfer key 20E and an office line key 20F is formed.

As is well known, the sheet switch 20 is formed with a first elastic sheet member having a fixed switch and a circuit portion corresponding to each of the above keys printed thereon and a movable switch facing the fixed switch. The second elastic sheet member is combined and joined to form an entire sheet, and the switch is short-circuited by pressing the index portion corresponding to each movable switch.

As shown in FIG. 1, flexible cables 21 to 24 connected to the circuit portion formed on the first elastic sheet member protrude from the back surface of the main surface sheet switch 20 in four directions, respectively. Has been done. A side sheet switch 25, which will be described later, is connected to the first flexible cable 21 drawn out to the right side surface 2B side of the telephone body 2, and the hook switch is connected to the fourth flexible cable 24 drawn out to the left side surface 2A side. The Hall IC element 17a constituting the mechanism is mounted, and the second and third flexible cables 22 and 23 drawn out to the upper and lower side surface portions 2C and 2D are built in the main surface sheet switch 20 and the telephone body 2. It is configured as a connection portion with a connector (not shown) of the control unit.

In this way, by integrating the switch means respectively arranged on the main surface and the side surface of the telephone body 2 via the flexible cable, the number of parts to be handled can be reduced and the connection with the control section can be achieved. The number of processes or the number of connectors is also reduced, and the structure of the board forming the control unit is simplified.

As shown in FIG. 6, the side seat switch 25 connected to the main seat switch 20 via the first flexible cable 21 has a substantially oblong rectangular shape recessed in the right side surface 2B of the telephone body 2. It is joined and stored in the side sheet switch storage recess 18. Side seat switch 25
Similarly to the main surface sheet switch 20, a pair of elastic sheet members are combined and joined together, and the "+" key 25A, the "-" key 25B for adjusting the volume and the function setting of the mobile phone 1 are set. A program setting key 25C used at that time is formed.

By the way, as shown in FIG.
To second to fourth rectangular cables for inserting the fourth to fourth flexible cables 22 to 24 inside the telephone body 2, respectively.
Flexible cable insertion holes 9b to 9d are formed respectively. Therefore, the main surface sheet switch 20
Is the second to fourth flexible cables 22 to 24.
The second to fourth flexible cable insertion holes 9b to 9d so that the telephone main body 2 is bent.
Into the interior of the first flexible cable 21
Along the surface of the blindfold fitting recess 19 the telephone body 2
The first elastic member forming the main surface sheet switch 20 is bonded to the bottom surface of the main surface sheet switch housing recess 9 by being bonded to the bottom surface of the main surface sheet switch accommodating recess 9 in a state where the first elastic member is bent and bent toward the right side surface portion 2B side It can be installed in the stored state.

As described above, the second and third flexible cables 22 and 23 inserted into the telephone body 2 through the second and third flexible cable insertion holes 9b and 9c.
Is connected to a connector of a control unit (not shown). Also,
Fourth flexible cable 24 inserted into telephone body 2 from fourth flexible cable insertion hole 9d
The Hall IC element 17a mounted on the tip of the hook is exposed to the left side surface 2A of the telephone body 2 through the mounting hole 2a and cooperates with the magnetic plate attached to the side surface of the transmitter member 3 to hook switch mechanism 17a. Make up.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a part of the peripheral wall forming the main surface sheet switch accommodating recess 9, that is, a part 19 of the upper edge portion on the right side surface 2B side of the telephone body 2 is the side sheet. It is cut out so as to form a recess communicating with the switch housing recess 18, and is configured as a fitting recess of a blindfold member 30 described later. Further, a part of the blindfold member fitting concave portion 19 is a cable guide for accommodating the first flexible cable 21 which is routed to the side surface sheet switch accommodating concave portion 18 along the surface of the main surface sheet switch accommodating concave portion 9. Acts as a recess.

As shown in FIG. 6, both sides of the blindfold member fitting recess 19 are recessed so as to face each other, and engaging holes 26a and 26b are partially formed in the recesses L, respectively. Character-shaped fitting recesses 26A and 26B are provided. A rectangular engagement hole 27 is formed in the center of the blindfold member fitting recess 19.

The blindfold member 30 is assembled in the blindfold member fitting recess 19 so as to be capped. The blindfold member 30 is formed of the same synthetic resin material as the telephone body 2, and has an outer shape that fits the blindfold member fitting recess 19. Therefore, this blindfold member 3
By assembling 0 into the blindfold member fitting concave portion 19, the main surface sheet switch accommodating concave portion 9 and the side surface sheet switch accommodating concave portion 18 whose peripheral surfaces are partially cut by the blindfold member fitting concave portion 19 are enveloped around the periphery. Configured as a recess.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the blind member 30 has fitting convex portions 31A and 31B fitted in the fitting concave portions 26A and 26B at both ends in the longitudinal direction on the bottom surface side.
Is formed, and an engaging piece 32 is projectingly provided in the central portion. Engaging portions 31a and 31b are provided on one side of the fitting convex portion 31 so as to correspond to the engaging holes 26a and 26b formed in the fitting concave portion 26, respectively. Also,
The engaging piece 32 has elasticity in the thickness direction and has a hook-shaped tip portion.

The blind member 30 constructed as described above.
The fitting convex portions 31A and 31B are positioned corresponding to the fitting concave portions 26A and 26B of the blind member fitting concave portion 19 and the engaging piece 32 is positioned corresponding to the engaging hole 27. 19 and is pushed in strongly in this state, so that the fitting protrusions 31A, 31
The engaging portions 31a, 31b provided in B are engaged with the engaging holes 26a, 26
While being pushed into b, the engaging piece 32 is pushed into the engaging hole 27 while elastically deforming.

As a result, in the blindfold member 30, the tip portions of the engaging portion 31 and the engaging piece 32 are respectively engaged with the engaging holes 2.
One-touch operation on the blindfold member fitting recess 19 by engaging with the inner side hole walls 6 and 27 so as to form a part of the peripheral surface of the main surface sheet switch storage recess 9 and the side sheet switch storage recess 18. Can be assembled with.

Therefore, the blindfold member 30 is capped with the first flexible cable 21 routed from the main surface sheet switch housing recess 9 to the right side surface 2B side along the surface of the blindfold member fitting recess 19. First to blindfold
The inconvenience that the flexible cable 21 is exposed and the appearance of the mobile phone 1 is impaired is eliminated, and the electrical and mechanical protection of the first flexible cable 21 is achieved.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to an example applied to the mobile phone 1, the present invention has sheet switch accommodating recesses provided on the main surface and on at least one side surface orthogonal to the main surface. In addition, it can be widely applied to various electronic devices each having a switch means composed of a sheet switch in the seat switch storage recess, for example, a portable data entry device for collecting and managing sales information of each store. It is possible.

[0043]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the sheet switch accommodating recess formed in the main surface and at least one side surface portion orthogonal to the main surface is flexible along the surface. Since the main sheet switch and the side sheet switch connected by a cable are jointly housed, and the blind member is assembled to the device body so as to cover the flexible cable, the flexible cable is extremely laid out. It's simple, and this flexible cable's electrical,
Mechanical protection is also sufficiently achieved, and the main surface switch means and the side switch means, which are sheet switches, can be connected to the control section at one place, so that the assembly or the number of parts can be reduced. . Further, since the blindfold member forms substantially the same surface as the main body of the device, it does not impair the design appearance of the device and can be easily assembled by one-touch operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the mobile phone.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a usage state of the mobile phone.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the mobile phone.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway right side view of the mobile phone.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective exploded view of a main part of the mobile phone. 1 ... Mobile phone 2 ... Phone body 3 ... Speaker member 9 ... Main surface sheet switch storage recess 17 ... Hook switch mechanism 18 ... Side sheet switch storage recess 19 ... Blind member fitting recess (flexible cable guide recess) 20 ... Main surface sheet switch 21 ... First flexible cable 25 ... Side sheet switch 26 ... Fitting recess 27 ... Engaging hole 30 ... Blinding member 31 ... Fitting convex portion 32 ... Engaging piece

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sheet switch accommodating recess for accommodating a sheet-shaped switch means is provided in the main surface and at least one side surface orthogonal to the main surface, and communicates with both of these sheet switch accommodating recesses. A device main body having a cable guide recess formed by cutting out opposite side surfaces, and a first switch accommodated in the sheet switch storage recess on the main surface side.
The sheet-like switch means, the second sheet-like switch means housed in the side-side sheet switch housing recess, and the sheet-like switch means housed in the cable guide recess and routed from the main surface of the device body to the side surface. A switch means including a flexible cable connecting the first and second sheet-like switch means, and a shape forming a part of a main surface of the device main body by being covered with the cable guide recess. And a blindfolding member having an elastic engaging piece projecting from an engaging hole formed in the main body of the device on the bottom surface thereof. An electronic device comprising a sheet switch, which is configured to blind the flexible cable routed from a main surface to a side surface along a surface. 2. A flexible cable, which is formed by forming a flexible cable insertion hole in a part of a seat switch housing recess formed in the main surface of the main body of the apparatus, and pulling out a flexible cable drawn from the back surface of the seat switch housed in the seat switch housing recess. The electronic device having the seat switch according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to be inserted into the inside of the device body to be connected to the control unit. 3. A flexible cable insertion hole is formed in a part of a seat switch housing recess formed in the main surface of the main body of the apparatus, and the flexible cable insertion hole is pulled out from the bottom surface of the seat switch housed in the seat switch housing recess, and at the tip end. A flexible cable on which a switch means is mounted is inserted into an inside of a device body, and the switch means is assembled so as to be fitted into a switch fitting hole formed in a side surface orthogonal to a main surface. An electronic device including the sheet switch according to Item 1.