JPH1012085A - Operation apparatus and manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably operate a push button any time by preventing adhesion of the push button and a back part of an operation panel by a paint even in the case the temperature of a vehicle cabin rises. SOLUTION: A plurality of projected parts 1d are formed in the surface of a flange part 1c of a push button 1 and a painting film P of the tip end parts α of the projected parts 1d is removed to expose resin, which is an substrate of the film P. Consequently, since the film P does not exist between the back face of an operation panel 5 and the tip end parts α of the projected parts 1d, the push button 1 is prevented from being stuck to the back side of the operation panel 5. Moreover, removal of the film P of the tip end parts αcan be carried out simultaneously with formation of a display part by irradiating laser light to the display face 1b. As a result, painting can be removed at low cost and operation of the push button 1 can be carried out excellently.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push-button type operating device used for electronic equipment and the like, and in particular, when a painted portion of a push button is melted in a high temperature environment, the painted portion is bonded to an operation panel. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an operating device and a method of manufacturing the operating device that can prevent the operation from being performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a push button used in a conventional on-vehicle electronic device and the like, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state where the push button of FIG. 3 is attached to an operation panel. The push button 1 shown in FIG. 3 has a pressing operation portion 1a formed so as to protrude forward, and a flange portion 1c is integrally formed at a base of the pressing operation portion 1a. The surface of the pressing operation portion 1a is a display surface 1b, and a switch operation is performed by pressing the display surface 1b with a finger. A pressing portion 1e is provided on the rear surface of the flange portion 1c so as to protrude rearward in the drawing, and an end surface thereof is a pressing surface 1f. The flange 1c is provided with a plurality of protrusions 1d facing the back of the operation panel 5.
Each of the projections 1d is formed to protrude from the front surface of the flange 1c by a small dimension.

The push button 1 is injection-molded from a translucent synthetic resin material such as milky white, for example, and has a front surface of the flange portion 1c, a periphery of the pressing operation portion 1a, and a display surface 1a.
b, that is, the entire front surface indicated by dot painting in FIG. 3 is painted to form the coating film P. This coating P
Is, for example, black. Also, on the display surface 1b on the surface of the pressing operation section 1a, the coating film P is removed only from the characters and symbols representing functions such as "SET", and the milky resin of the push button 1 is exposed.

[0004] Reference numeral 5 shown in FIG. 4 is an operation panel of an in-vehicle electronic device or the like. The push button 1 is installed on the back of the operation panel 5, and the pressing operation unit 1 a
, And the flange 1c and the projection 1d face the rear surface of the operation panel 5. Behind push button 1,
A tact switch (operation member) 3 is provided. The tact switch 3 is fixed on the substrate 4 by means such as soldering. The tact switch 3 is provided with a knob 3a that comes into contact with the pressing surface 1f. The knob 3a is urged in the protruding direction by an urging member such as a spring in the tact switch 3, and the urging force causes the protrusion 1d to move.
Is pressed (elastic pressure) against the back surface of the operation panel 5. When the projection 1d is pressed against the back of the operation panel 5, the tact switch 3 is OFF. When the push button 1 is pressed and the knob 3a is pushed, the tact switch 3 is turned ON.

[0005] Between the collar 1c and the tact switch 3,
A light guide member 2 is provided. The light guide member 2 is formed of, for example, a transparent or translucent acrylic plate or a glass material. In a region (not shown) in FIG. 4, a light source that emits light of, for example, green or orange is provided. When light is emitted from the light source in conjunction with the light switch of the automobile, the light propagates in the light guide member 2 and the back surface of the push button 1 is illuminated. Since the back surface of the flange portion 1c and the pressing portion 1e of the push button 1 are not painted, light is guided into the push button 1, and when viewed from the front of the operation panel 5, the coating film P on the display surface 1b is removed. The letter “SET” flashes in green or orange to make it easier to operate at night.

[0006]

In the above operating device,
In a normal state, that is, in a state where the push button 1 is not pressed, an urging member such as a spring in the tact switch 3
The projection 1d of the push button 1 always presses against the back of the operation panel 5. Therefore, in a device placed in an extremely high-temperature environment such as an electronic device mounted on a vehicle, the coating film P on the surface of the projection 1d is softened or melted by heat, and the projection 1d It may stick (adhere) to the back. In such a case, even if the pressing operation section 1a of the push button 1 is lightly pressed, the pressing button 1 does not move, and the operation member such as the internal tact switch 3 cannot be operated, or the pressing operation section 1a is pressed with a strong force. When pressed, the coating film P on the surface of the projection 1d is forcibly peeled off from the operation panel 5, and a loud peeling sound due to this may be generated. This peeling sound not only lowers the operational feeling of the push button 1 but also becomes unpleasant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and can prevent paint from sticking to the push button and the back of the operation panel even when the temperature in the vehicle is high. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operating device capable of always operating a push button reliably and preventing generation of a peeling sound of a sticking portion due to paint.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a push button having an operation panel having a hole formed therein, a contact portion corresponding to the back of the operation panel, and a pressing operation portion projecting forward of the operation panel from the hole. And an urging member for urging the push button so that the contact portion is pressed against the back of the operation panel, wherein a portion of the push button facing the back of the operation panel is painted. In addition, the coating film is removed at the contact portion.

The method of manufacturing an operating device according to the present invention includes a step of coating a surface of the push button made of a light-transmitting material having a pressing operation portion and a contact portion, the surface including the pressing operation portion and the contact portion;
Removing the coating film on the front surface of the pressing operation portion to form a predetermined display portion, and simultaneously removing the coating film of the contact portion;
Placing the push button on the back of the operation panel, projecting the pressing operation unit forward from the hole of the operation panel, and causing the contact portion to face the back of the operation panel; and Incorporating a biasing member for biasing the push button so as to be pressed.

[0010] In the above manufacturing method, it is preferable that the coating film on the front surface and the contact portion of the pressing operation portion is removed by the same laser etching process.

In the operating device of the present invention, a push button is provided on the back of the operation panel, and the contact portion of the push button is elastically biased and pressed against the back of the operation panel. The back of the operation panel is the back of the operation panel, and is not limited to the one in which the contact portion of the push button is in direct contact with the back of the operation panel. A case where a support member different from the operation panel is provided and the contact portion of the push button abuts on the support member is also included.

A projection or a raised portion is provided on the contact portion of the push button, and the projection or the raised portion may be in contact with the back of the operation panel. And a contact portion of the push button may be a flat surface contacting the protrusion or the protrusion.

In the present invention, the portion of the push button facing the operation panel is painted, but only a limited portion of the contact portion of the push button has the coating removed. When the push button has a projection or a ridge, the coating on at least the tip of the projection or the ridge is partially removed. When a projection or a ridge is formed on the back side of the operation panel, a limited portion of the coating film that hits the projection or the ridge of the push button is removed.

As a method of removing the coating film, a method of forming a display portion such as a character or a symbol on a tip end surface (display surface) of a pressing operation portion of a push button by laser etching (laser etching of the display portion). It is preferable to remove the coating film at the contact portion together when removing the coating film). If the coating film in the contact portion is removed simultaneously with the display portion by the same laser etching process, the coating film removing process can be performed efficiently and the manufacturing process of the operating device can be simplified. In the step of removing the coating film at the contact portion of the push button, a masking material may be attached to the contact portion, and after the coating is completed, the masking material may be removed.

If the coating film of the contact portion of the push button is removed, the push button will not be stuck or adhered to the back of the operation panel in a high-temperature environment, and the push button cannot be operated. Or when the push button is pressed, no peeling sound of the coating film is generated.

In an operating device such as an in-vehicle device, the push button is formed of a translucent material, light for illumination is guided into the push button, and the display section of the push button emits light. However, in the part opposite to the back of the operation panel of the push button,
Since the coating film is removed only in a limited area of the contact portion, light for illumination is less likely to leak from the portion where the coating is removed toward the operation panel surface.

The biasing member for biasing the push button toward the back of the operation panel may be a spring built in the switch, or an independent spring member for directly biasing the push button. There may be. Alternatively, a flexible hinge may be formed integrally with the push button, and the push button may be urged by incorporating the hinge into a rear surface or the like of the operation panel while being bent by a predetermined amount.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a push button used in the operation device according to the present invention, FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view of a projection which is a contact portion of the push button, and FIG. 2 is a push button shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the operating device with which was attached. The push button 1 shown in FIG. 1 has almost the same shape as the conventional example shown in FIG. 3, has a pressing operation portion 1a, a flange portion 1c, and a pressing portion 1e, and has a front surface of the flange portion 1c, A plurality of protrusions 1d are formed as protrusions as contact portions to the operation panel.

The push button 1 is integrally formed by injection molding a resin. The injection-molded push button 1 is transparent or milky white which easily transmits light. The front surface of the push button 1 after the injection molding, that is, the side surface and the tip surface (display surface 1b) of the pressing operation portion 1a and the entire surface of the flange portion 1c,
A coating such as black is applied to form a coating film P. After the coating, the display surface 1b at the tip of the pressing operation portion 1a is subjected to laser etching to partially remove the coating film P, and the "SET"
A display portion 1g of characters or symbols such as is formed. By this laser etching step, the coating on the tip portions (heads) α of all the projections 1d is partially removed at the same time. As a result, milky resin or the like is exposed in the display portion 1g of “SET” and the tip portion α. The push button 1 thus formed is installed on the back of an operation panel 5 such as an in-vehicle electronic device, as shown in FIG. To be protruded. At the same time, the projection 1d is made to face the back of the operation panel 5.

Next, the tact switch 3 which is an operation member supported by the substrate 4 is incorporated, and the knob 3a of the tact switch 3 is brought into contact with the pressing surface 1f of the tip of the pressing portion 1e of the push button 1. A spring is built in the tact switch 3, and the knob 3a is pushed out in the X-axis (-) direction by the spring, and the push button 1 is resiliently pressed in the direction of the operation panel 5, so that the tip α of the projection 1d is It is pressed against the back of the operation panel 5. Therefore, in the example of the drawing, a spring built in the tact switch 3 is used as a biasing member for pressing the push button 1.

A light guide member 2 formed of a translucent material such as an acrylic plate is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the pressing portion 1e of the push button 1, and a green or orange light emitted from a light source (not shown) is provided. The light of the color is guided into the light guide member 2. This light is guided from the light guide member 2 to the inside of the unpainted pressing portion 1e of the push button 1 or to the inside from the back surface of the flange portion 1c. Therefore, the character "SET" is illuminated on the display unit 1g, and the push button 1 can be easily operated even at night. Further, the coating film P is removed at the tip portion α of the protrusion 1d serving as a contact portion with the operation panel 5, but the portion of α is limited to an extremely narrow range (within a diameter of 0.5 mm). Since the front surface (the surface facing the operation panel 5) of the flange portion 1c in the other portion is painted, the light leaking from the front end portion α is small, and this light is transmitted to the hole 5a of the operation panel 5.
Does not leak to the outside.

In this operation device, the portion (the tip portion α) of the push button 1 from which the coating film P has been removed is in contact with the back surface of the operation panel 5. Therefore, even when the inside of the vehicle is in a high temperature state, the push button 1 and the operation panel 5 are not stuck or adhered by the softened or melted coating film P.
Therefore, according to the present invention, when the push button 1 is pressed after being left in a high temperature state, the push button 1 can be reliably operated in the X-axis (+) direction to turn on the tact switch 3, and There is no occurrence of a peeling sound of the steel.

As described above, the step of removing the coating film P at the tip portion α of the protrusion 1d of the push button 1 is preferably performed by the same laser etching step as the removal of the coating film of the display section 1g. In the laser etching step, when a laser is applied to a coating having a light absorption color such as black, the coating is excited by the laser, generates heat, melts, and peels off from the resin surface. However, the work of removing the coating film P is not limited to laser etching.
A masking material may be applied to the tip portion α of d, and the masking material may be removed after the coating.

Further, the operating device of the present invention is not limited to the one used for on-vehicle electronic equipment, but can be applied to any equipment installed indoors or outdoors. Further, the push button according to the present invention is not limited to a button that retreats linearly as shown in FIG. 2, but may be a so-called seesaw operation type or the like.

[0025]

According to the present invention described in detail above, even if the temperature in the vehicle is high, the problem of adhesion between the push button and the back surface of the operation panel due to softening or melting of the coating film occurs. Disappears. Therefore, the push button can always be operated reliably, and no noise is generated due to the peeling off of the adhered paint.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show an example of the configuration of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a push button, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view of a protrusion of the push button.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the operating device to which the push button of FIG. 1 is attached;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional push button.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the operating device to which the push button in FIG. 3 is attached;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Push button 1a Pressing operation part 1b Display surface 1c Flange 1d Protrusion 1e Pressing part 1f Pressing surface 1g Display part 2 Light guide member 3 Tact switch 3a Knob 4 Substrate 5 Operation panel 5a Hole P Coating?

Claims (3)

[Claims] A push button having an operation panel having a hole, a contact portion abutting a back portion of the operation panel, and a pressing operation portion protruding forward of the operation panel from the hole; and wherein the contact portion has an operation panel. In an operating device having an urging member for urging the push button so as to be pressed against the back, a portion of the push button opposing the back of the operation panel is painted, and the contact portion is An operating device, wherein the coating film has been removed. 2. A step of coating a surface of the push button made of a light-transmitting material having a pressing operation portion and an abutting portion, the surface including the pressing operation portion and the abutting portion; Removing to form a predetermined display portion, at the same time removing the coating film of the contact portion, installing a push button on the back of the operation panel, and projecting the pressing operation portion forward from the hole of the operation panel And a step of incorporating a biasing member for biasing a push button so that the contact portion is pressed against the back of the operation panel. A method for manufacturing an operating device characterized by the following. 3. The coating film on the front surface and the contact portion of the pressing operation portion is removed by the same laser etching process.
A manufacturing method of the operating device according to the above.