JPS63129393A - 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 the operating states of keys arranged on the panel surface illuminated from behind are displayed on key tops.

(Prior Art) Many devices have been known in the past that consist of a panel equipped with a key operation section, and the ultrasonic diagnostic device shown in FIGS. 2(a) and (b) is one of them. ((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 equipment gA shown in FIG. 2, 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. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and (b), certain keys are
) is a plan view of the key, (b) is a sectional view of the key》, key 3
The display unit 4 is provided with a display unit 4 that illuminates a predetermined portion of the key top when the key top is in an operating state, for example, in an on state. The display section 4 is composed of an opening 5 provided in the key top and an LED 6 that is energized or deenergized according to key operations.

By the way, when making a diagnosis using an ultrasound diagnostic device, the CRT2
In order to make the images easier to see, the surrounding lights may be turned down. When the lights are turned off, the panel surface naturally becomes dark, making it difficult to see the positions of keys, letters, symbols, etc., reducing operability.

Therefore, the panel 1 normally has a lamp 7 that illuminates the panel surface.
It is equipped with Actually, the lamp 7 is housed in a lamp box 8 provided at the end of the panel, and the lamp box 8 can be opened to provide illumination if necessary. Although the panel 1 is illuminated to some extent by such a lamp 7, since the lamp is installed at the edge of the panel, it is difficult to illuminate the entire panel surface uniformly.

In order to solve this problem, the present inventors invented a method of illuminating the panel from behind (back lighting method). A panel using this back lighting method diffuses diverging light given from a light source within a planar expanse formed by opposing surfaces, and has a diffusion path that transmits a portion of the diffused light to the outside of one surface. A group of keys is installed with a part of the key top made of a light-transmitting member on the light-transmitting surface and the remaining part inside the diffusion path,
A sheet that diffuses and transmits light from the light-transmitting surface is placed on the light-transmitting surface. When a display section for displaying key operations is provided, key tops and the like are configured as shown in FIG.

With the above configuration, the panel 1 on which keys, characters, etc. are arranged is uniformly illuminated without glare, making it easy to operate keys in the dark. In addition, keys equipped with the above-mentioned display section display their operating status on the key top, so
Operability is further improved.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above configuration in which the panel 1 is illuminated from behind, the light from the back illumination leaks from the through hole 5 of the display section 4 provided in the key top. There is a problem in that it becomes difficult to distinguish from the light, making it difficult to accurately determine the operating state of the key.

Another problem is that when the LED 6 is energized, its light leaks to its surroundings, resulting in poor uniformity of illumination on the panel surface.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a panel that can reliably grasp the operating state of a key without impairing the uniformity of brightness in a panel that is illuminated from behind. It's about doing.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A panel equipped with a key operation section of the present invention that achieves the above object has a sheet and a panel body stacked on top of each other, and the sheet surface is uniformly illuminated by light from behind the panel body. A key top made of a light-transmitting member is installed on the panel body, and the switching operation of the key top is supported through a light guide whose one end is installed at a predetermined location of the key top. The structure is such that it guides light from a light source that is controlled by

(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). Further, within the diffusion path 17 are key tops 19 supported by the panel body 13. 19d to 19d are installed. Key top 19. 19d to 19d are made of light-transmissive members, one end of which is installed in a predetermined layout on the surface of the panel body 13, and the other end of which is a tact switch 20.d that is installed on the printed circuit board 16. to 20d. Tact switch 20. to 20. is electrically connected to a circuit (not shown) on the printed circuit board 16, and the key top 1
9 to 19. Switched by Further, a through hole 21 is provided in the key top 19d, and one end of a light guide 22 made of a material with high light transmittance is installed. The other end of the light guide 22 is within the diffusion path 17 . The other end of the light guide 22 is provided with light from a light source (LED) 23 whose energization is controlled according to the operation of the key top 19d.

Note that, in general, keys are switched by pressing the key top on the panel surface. That is, the key top is slightly displaced in the vertical direction in FIG. 1 in response to the switching. Therefore, the through hole 21 provided in the key top does not come into contact with the light guide 22 during the vertical displacement. There is no particular reason why the light guide 22 or the like is provided on the key top 19d, and it may be provided on other key tops as necessary.

In the above configuration, when the light source 18 is energized, diverging light is applied to the diffusion path 17 and directed toward the diffusion surface 12, the reflection surface 15, the key tops 19 to 194, and the like. 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. Light that reaches the reflective surface 15 after being diffusely reflected by the diffusing surface 12 and light that directly reaches the reflective surface 15 from the light source 18 is reflected by the reflective surface 15 and directed to the diffusing surface 12 again (the light directed toward this diffusing surface Some of them even reach the key tops).

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 reaching the key tops during this multiple reflection and the light reaching the key tops directly from the light source 18 are from the key tops 19 to 19. is used as an optical path to exit the surface of the panel body 13 and pass through the sheet 14. 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 the direct light from [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. do. At this time, a portion of the light that is repeatedly internally reflected passes through the panel body 13 and heads toward 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 top 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. At this time, since one end of the light guide 22 is installed in the through hole 21, the diffusion path 17 is connected to the through hole 21.
There is no possibility that the diffused light inside will leak out (the wall of the light guide does not allow light to pass through). Therefore, the through hole portion 21 in the panel 11 is not illuminated by the diffused light.

On the other hand, when the light source 23 is energized by operating the key top 19d, the light is guided to the surface of the panel 11 via the light guide 22. During this time, the light from the light source 23 is transmitted through the diffusion path 1.
7. There is no leakage inside the panel body 13 or around the through hole 21 of the key top. Therefore, the light from the light source 23 does not illuminate any area other than the predetermined area (the through hole 21).

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.

Of course, in this case, the configuration of switches, light guides, etc. and their installation positions must be determined depending on the configuration of the key top.

Furthermore, the means for illuminating the panel body from behind does not need to be limited to the above embodiment.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the panel equipped with the key operation section of the present invention, the sheet and the panel body are layered, and the sheet surface is uniformly illuminated by light from behind the panel body. A key top made of a light-transmitting member is installed on the panel body, and control is performed in response to the switching operation of the key top via a light guide whose one end is installed at a predetermined location of the key top. The operating state of the key is clearly displayed without compromising the uniformity of brightness on the panel illuminated from behind. Therefore, the operating state of the key can be reliably grasped.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (a
) and (b) are block diagrams showing the panel of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and FIGS. 3(a) and (b) are block diagrams showing the keys. 1.11...Panel, 2...CRT, 3...Key, 4...Display section, 5.21...Through hole, 6...L
ED, 7.18... Lamp, 8... Lamp box, 12.24... Diffuse reflective surface, 13... Panel body, 14... Sheet, 15... Reflective surface, 16...
Printed circuit board, 17... light diffusion path, a to 19
d...Key top, 20 to 20. ... Tact switch, 22 ... Light guide, 23 ... Light source (LED)
.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A panel in which a sheet having both light diffusing and transmitting properties and a panel main body are layered, and the sheet surface is uniformly illuminated by light from behind the panel main body, and a first light source that provides light behind the panel main body. a group of keys having key tops arranged on the panel body and made of a light-transmitting member that transmits light from the first light source; and a light guide having one end installed at a predetermined location of the key top. A panel equipped with a key operation section, characterized in that the light guide includes a second light source that emits light in response to a switching operation of the key top.