JPS63129392A - Panel with key operation part - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a panel in which key tops, characters, etc. arranged on the panel surface are illuminated from behind.

(Conventional technique) Many devices have been known in the past that consist of a panel with a key operation section, and the ultrasonic diagnostic device shown in Figures 3 (a) and (b) is one of them. is one ((a)
(The figure is a perspective view of the device, and (b) is a right side view of the device). A large number of keys are arranged on the panel 1 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and characters, symbols, etc. representing the functions of the keys are written on the keys themselves and on the surface of the panel near the keys. Information necessary for diagnosis is given from these keys, and a desired image is displayed on the CRT 2.

By the way, when making a diagnosis using an ultrasound diagnostic device, a CRT
In order to make the video in step 2 easier to see, the surrounding lights may be turned down. When you turn down the light, the panel surface naturally becomes darker,
Operability deteriorates because key positions, characters, symbols, etc. become difficult to see.

Therefore, the panel 1 usually has a lamp 3 that illuminates the panel surface.
It is equipped with Actually, the lamp 3 is housed in a lamp box 4 provided at the end of the panel, and the lamp box 4 can be opened to provide illumination as needed. Furthermore, in the panels of other ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses, LEDs are embedded in the key tops and character parts, and these are driven and illuminated as necessary.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) However, in a panel equipped with a conventional key operation section,
Since the lamp is illuminated from one end of the panel, there is a problem in that it is difficult to uniformly brighten the entire panel surface. In addition, in the case of a method using LEDs, each key, character, etc. has an LED of 1! Since it is necessary to provide i-keys, there is also the problem that an increase in the number of keys, characters, etc. leads to higher costs.

On the other hand, if the number of LEDs is smaller than the number of keys, characters, etc. (LEDs are provided for some of the keys, characters, etc.), it becomes difficult to uniformly brighten the panel surface, resulting in a decrease in operability. .

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and its object is to provide a low-cost panel that can uniformly illuminate the panel surface on which keys, characters, etc. are arranged.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A panel equipped with a key operation section of the present invention that achieves the above object diffuses diverging light given from a light source within a planar expanse formed by opposing surfaces. , a key group comprising a diffusion path that transmits a part of the diffused light to the outside of one surface, with a part of the key top made of a light-transmissive member being on the light-transmitting surface, and the remaining part inside the diffusion path. The structure is such that a sheet is installed on the light-transmitting surface to diffuse and transmit light from the slope.

(Example) The present invention will be explained in detail below.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one implementation of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a panel 11 is constructed by covering a panel body 13 made of a light-transmissive plate-like member with one side 12 of which is a diffusive surface (diffuse reflection surface) and a sheet 14. The sheet 14 has the property of diffusing light and partially transmitting light. A printed circuit board 16 (plate-like member) having a reflective surface 15 is integrated with the panel body 13 with the reflective surface 15 facing the diffusion surface 12 of the panel body with a predetermined interval. Diffusion surface 1
2 and the reflective surface 15 constitute a diffusion path 17 that diffuses light with a planar spread. Divergent light is applied to the diffusion path 17 from a non-directional light source 18 installed on the printed circuit board 16 (the number of light sources 18 corresponds to the width of the panel 11). Furthermore, key tops 19a to 19d supported by the panel body 13 are installed in the diffusion path 17. The key tops a to 19d are made of a light-transmitting member, and one end is installed in a predetermined layout on the surface of the panel body 13, and the other end contacts tact switches 20a to 20d installed on the printed circuit board 16. Tact switch 20. 20d to 20d are electrically connected to a circuit (not shown) on the printed circuit board 16, and the key top 1
9 to 19. Switched by

In the above configuration, when the light source 18 is energized, diverging light is applied to the diffusion path 17 and is directed toward the diffusion surface 12, the reflection surface 15, the key tops 19 to 19d, etc. The light directed toward the diffusing surface 12 is diffusely reflected on the slope and goes toward the reflective surface 15 or enters the panel body 13. Diffusion surface 12
The light reaching the reflecting surface 15 after being diffusely reflected by the light source 18 and the light directly reaching the reflecting surface 15 from the light source 18 are reflected by the reflecting surface 15 and directed again to the diffusing surface 12. some reach the top).

The light directed toward the diffusion surface 12 then spreads over the entire diffusion path 17 while repeatedly being reflected between the reflection surface 15 and the diffusion surface 12 (multiple reflections). The light that reaches the key tops during this multiple reflection or the light that reaches the key tops directly from the light source 18 passes through the sheet 14 after passing through the surface of the panel body 13 using the key tops 198 to 19d as optical paths. on the other hand,
A part of the light due to multiple reflections is transmitted from the diffusing surface 12 to the panel body 1.
3, the light enters the panel body 13 without being diffusely reflected by direct light from the light source 18, and is diffused to the edge of the panel body 13 (a position away from the lamp 18) while repeating internal reflection within the panel body 13. . A portion of the light that repeats this internal reflection passes through the panel body 13 and heads towards the sheet 14. The light reaching the sheet 14 is diffused along the surface of the sheet 14, and a portion of the light is transmitted. Therefore, diffusion path 17
Diffuse the key tops 19 to 19. The panel 11 is illuminated by light having the panel body 13 as an optical path.

In this way, the light passing through the sheet 14 is diffused not only by the diffusion path 17 but also by the panel body 13, the sheet 14, etc., so that the panel 11 is illuminated uniformly without shadows. Therefore, the key tops, characters, etc. are illuminated uniformly and in a raised manner. The brightness and unevenness of the panel 11 are determined by the panel body 13 and key tops 19 to 19d.
The transmittance can be adjusted by appropriately selecting the degree of transmittance.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. Second
In the figure, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 are used with the same meanings, so a description thereof will be omitted here.

A feature of this embodiment is that the diffusion path is constituted by a thick, light-transmitting plate member 21. The plate-like member 21 is made of a light-transmitting member, and has two opposing surfaces: a surface 23 that reflects the light given into the member from the light source 22, and a surface 24 that diffusely reflects the light and partially transmits it. It is equipped with The reflective surface 23 and the diffused reflective surface 24 constitute a light diffusion path, and the key top 19. 19d to 19d are installed.

In such a configuration, the light within the plate member 21 is diffused with a planar spread similar to the case of the diffusion path 17 in FIG. 1, and a portion of the diffused light is transmitted through the sheet 14. That is, the panel surface is shadow-free and uniformly illuminated. Therefore, the key tops, characters, etc. are illuminated uniformly and in a raised manner.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the panel of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, but may also be applied to a computer keyboard or the like. Further, the key top does not necessarily need to be inserted in the thickness direction of the light diffusion path (in each of the above embodiments, it is inserted in the vertical direction), but a part of it may be installed in the diffusion path, or , a part of which may constitute the wall of the diffusion path (in this case as well, the key top remains within the diffusion path). Of course, in this case, the configuration of the switch and its installation position must be determined depending on the configuration of the key top. Furthermore, when the light diffusion path is formed of a thick plate-like member, an optical fiber element itself may be installed between the opposing reflecting surface and the diffusely reflecting surface.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the panel equipped with the key operation section of the present invention, the diverging light given from the light source is diffused in the planar expanse formed by the opposing surfaces. A group of keys is provided with a diffusion path that transmits part of the light to the outside of one surface, and a group of keys is installed with a part of the key top made of a light-transmitting material on the light-transmitting surface and the remaining part inside the diffusion path. Since a sheet that diffuses and transmits light from the slope is installed on the light-transmitting surface, the panel on which keys, letters, etc. are arranged can be illuminated uniformly without causing glare. Therefore, the operability of the keys in the dark is improved. Furthermore, even if the number of keys, characters, etc. increases, there is no need to increase the number of lighting means proportionally, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Configuration diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention, FIGS. 3(a) and (
b) is a configuration diagram showing a panel of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. 1.11...Panel, 2...CRT, 3.18.2
2...Lamp, 4...Lamp box, 12.24
... Diffuse reflective surface, 13... Panel body, 14... Sheet, 15.23... Reflective surface, 16... Printed circuit board, 17... Light diffusion path, a to 19d... Key top, 2O to 20. ...Tact switch, 21
...A light-transmitting plate-like member.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A diffusion path that diffuses light into a planar spread formed by opposing surfaces and transmits a part of the diffused light to the outside of one surface, and a diffusion path on the light transmission surface of the diffusion path. a key group comprising a sheet that is installed to diffuse and transmit light from the surface, and a light-transmissive member that is installed in the diffusion path with a part of the key top arranged on the surface through which the light passes; , and a light source that provides light to the diffusion path. (2) The diffusion path includes a light-transmissive first plate member whose at least one side is a diffused reflection surface, and one side of which is a reflective surface, and the reflective surface is placed opposite to the diffused reflection surface with a space therebetween. 2. A panel equipped with a key operation section according to claim 1, characterized in that the second plate member is configured to diffuse light between the reflecting surface and the diffusely reflecting surface. (3) The diffusion path is composed of a thick, light-transmissive plate-like member that includes a surface that reflects light within the member and a surface that diffusely reflects light within the member and transmits a portion of the light. 2. A panel equipped with a key operation section according to claim 1, wherein the key operation section is configured to diffuse light between the two surfaces.