JP2005116326A - Push-button structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a push-button structure that can cope with space saving, and has little lighting unevenness of a button, besides allows a driver to get a good operational feeling. <P>SOLUTION: A push-button structure is arranged between a panel and a board, and a switch provided on the board is operated by depressing a button. In a push-button structure in which a button operation surface protrudes from a button hole formed at the panel, and the button operation surface is lit by a light source provided on the panel; the bottom is in a cylindrical shape with a bottom serving as the button operation surface, and the structure has a button having a flange for preventing the button from slipping out of the button hole, a button receiver for placing the flange, an elasticity means for imparting an elastic force so that the button is energized in the direction that the button protrudes from the button hole, and a switch depressing part for operating a switch by depressing. The structure is comprised of an actuator integrally formed of a translucent member, and configured such that the button operation surface and the button receiver are combined with a distance kept from each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a push button structure used for an electronic device or the like, and more particularly, to a push button structure that can cope with space saving, has little illumination unevenness of a button, and obtains a good operation feeling.

Various push buttons are used in various electronic devices. As typical typical push buttons, the outline of push buttons described in JP-A-11-67000 is reprinted in FIGS. This will be described with reference to this drawing.
4A and 4B are schematic views showing a conventional push button, in which FIG. 4A is a plan view, FIG. 4B is a view taken in the direction of arrow X, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part in a state where a conventional push button is attached to an operation panel of an electronic device.

  Reference numeral 70 denotes a push button, and hinge pieces 72 and 73 are symmetrically formed at both ends of a box-like push button main body 71 in an S-shape in the plane in the pressing direction. The free ends 74 and 75 of the hinge pieces 72 and 73 are integrally connected to one ends of fixing portions 76 and 77 arranged in parallel on both sides of the push button main body. The fixing portions 76 and 77 are formed with welding holes. The push button body 71 is inserted into the button insertion hole 85 of the operation panel 80 from below, and the welding holes of the fixing portions 76 and 77 are inserted into the fixing members (welding shafts) 81 and 82 of the operation panel 80 of the electronic device. The tips 83 and 84 of the fixing members 81 and 82 are melted and fixed (welded). The push button main body 71 is integrally formed with the push button main body 71. The switch operating shaft 79 extends in the pressing direction from the back surface of the pressing surface 78 and operates a switch (not shown) mounted on the printed circuit board. Has been.

Prior art documents relating to the invention of this application include the following.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-67000

  However, in the above-described structure of the push button 70, the switch operating shaft 79 is formed from the back side of the pressing surface 78 of the push button main body 71. Therefore, an illuminating portion such as a character or a symbol is formed on the pressing surface 78. In the case of a structure that illuminates the part from below, the shadow of the switch operation shaft 79 may be reflected in the illumination part, resulting in uneven illumination of the button. As a countermeasure against such illumination unevenness, there is a case where the position of the switch operation shaft 79 is shifted to a position away from the center of the push button 70. However, if the position of the switch operation shaft 79 is deviated from the center of the push button 70, there is a possibility that an unbalanced load is applied to the push button 70 when the push button 70 is operated, resulting in poor operation feeling.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a push button structure that can solve the above-mentioned problems, can cope with space saving, has little illumination unevenness of the button, and can obtain a good operation feeling.

  In order to achieve the above object, the push button structure is arranged between a panel and a substrate and presses a switch provided on the substrate, and the button operation surface protrudes from a button hole provided in the panel. In addition, in the push button structure in which the button operation surface is illuminated by the light source provided on the substrate, the bottom portion has a bottomed cylindrical shape that becomes the button operation surface, and the engagement portion is configured to prevent the button operation surface from falling off. A button portion having the button portion, a button receiving portion on which the button portion is mounted, and elastic means for applying an elastic force to the button receiving portion so that the button portion is biased in a direction protruding from the button hole. A switch pressing portion for pressing the switch, and an actuator portion integrally formed of a translucent member. The button operation surface and the button receiving portion are combined at a distance. It is characterized by being.

  Further, the actuator is formed of a light guide resin member.

  Further, the button receiving portion is provided with a convex portion for condensing the light of the light source on the button operation surface.

  Further, the elastic means includes a frame body runner portion fixed between the panel and the substrate and a hinge portion connecting the button receiving portion, and the frame body runner portion is connected to the plurality of button receiving portions. Commonly used, the plurality of button receiving portions are connected.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a push button structure that can cope with space saving, has little illumination unevenness, and provides a good operation feeling.

  A case where the push button structure of the present invention is used in an electronic apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

  1A and 1B are schematic views showing the structure of a push button structure according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 2A and 2B are schematic views showing an actuator having a push button structure according to the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 3A and 3B are schematic views showing an actuator partially different from the actuator of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3A is a plan view, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC, and FIG. 3C is a side cross-sectional view in an assembled state.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a push button structure used for an electronic device or the like, which includes an operation panel 20, a button 30, an actuator 40, a printed board 50, and the like as shown in FIG.

  The operation panel 20 is a design portion such as a front surface of an electronic device, and a plurality of button holes 21 into which operation buttons 30 are inserted are formed at predetermined positions.

  The button 30 has a hat shape that fits into the button hole 21 of the operation panel 20, and is formed with a flange portion 32 (corresponding to an engaging portion) that extends from the opening of the button main body portion 31 toward the outer peripheral edge portion. ing. The member of the button 30 is made of a translucent material, for example, a milky white resin member, and is formed by molding, and then the surface is painted in a predetermined color (for example, black). Then, the button operation surface (top surface) is painted by laser processing or the like to form characters and symbols, and the characters and symbols are illuminated by light from a light source provided below.

  The actuator 40 is a component that elastically supports the button 30 in the pressing operation direction, and includes a button receiving portion 41, a frame runner portion 43, hinge portions 44 and 45, and the like. The button receiving portion 41 is formed with a switch pressing portion 42 for pressing the switch at a substantially central portion on the back side of the button contact surface. The button receiving portion 41 includes a frame runner portion 43 that is parallel to both side surfaces orthogonal to the button contact surface at a predetermined interval, and one hinge portion 44, 45 from the frame runner portion 43, respectively. Extends in a symmetric direction, the free end portion 46 is on the side surface of the button receiving portion 41 in the vicinity of the frame body runner portion 43 side, and the free end portion 47 is in the vicinity of the other frame body runner portion 43 side. Are connected to the side surfaces of the button receiving portion 41. As the member of the actuator 40, a translucent resin member (milky white or transparent resin member) is used and formed by molding.

  On the printed circuit board 50, a sheet switch 51 (not limited to a sheet switch but also other switches such as a tact switch) is mounted at a predetermined position (a position corresponding to the switch pressing portion 42 of the actuator 40). In the vicinity thereof, an LED element 52 serving as a light source for illuminating the button 30 and other electronic components are mounted.

  Next, assembly and operation of the push button structure will be described.

  First, assembly will be described. The button 30 is inserted into the button hole 21 from the back surface of the operation panel 20, and is arranged so that the button receiving portion 41 of the actuator 40 contacts the lower surface of the flange portion of the inserted button 30. Next, the position of the switch pressing portion 42 of the actuator 40 is fixed so that the position of the sheet switch 51 mounted on the printed circuit board 50 coincides. In this state, the frame runner portion 43 of the actuator 40 is sandwiched and fixed between the back surface of the operation panel 20 and the front surface of the printed circuit board 50. Since the button 30 is elastically supported by the two hinge portions 44 and 45 connected to the button receiving portion 41 of the actuator 40, the button 30 operates in the insertion direction.

  Next, the operation will be described. When the button 30 inserted in the button hole 21 of the operation panel 20 is operated (pressed), the button 30 advances while bending the two hinge portions 44 and 45 of the actuator 40 in the pressing direction. Then, when a predetermined position (a stopper portion is formed so that the flange portion 32 of the button 30 and the frame runner portion 43 of the actuator 40 abut on each other and can be positioned. The front end of the pressing portion 42 presses the sheet switch 51 provided on the printed circuit board 50 to perform ON / OFF operations. Thereafter, when the pressed state of the button 30 is released, the button 30 returns to the original state before being pressed by the elastic force of the hinge portions 44 and 45 (repulsive force generated by bending).

  As described above, according to the push button structure 10 according to the present embodiment, the button 30 and the actuator 40 are divided, and the switch push portion 42 is provided in the actuator 40, whereby the length of the switch push portion 42 is shortened. It is possible to eliminate the reflection of the shadow of the switch pressing portion 42 in the 30 illumination portions. Accordingly, the switch pressing portion 42 can be provided so as to be in the center portion of the button 30 (the center of the pressing portion), so that it is possible to prevent an uneven load from being applied to the button 30 when the button 30 is operated. As a result, a good operation feeling can be obtained. Further, by using a light guide resin member as a member of the actuator 40, it plays the role of a light guide plate, and the illumination of the button 30 becomes indirect illumination, so that uneven illumination can be reduced.

  In addition, in the case of a design in which a plurality of push button structures 10 are arranged, a plurality of actuators 40 are connected to and integrally formed with the frame runner 43 of the actuator 40, so that space can be saved. Further, since the button 30 and the actuator 40 are divided, it is easy to change the colors of the plurality of buttons 30 combined with the actuator 40 to different desired colors. Therefore, the design selection range is further expanded by the combination of the colors of the buttons 30.

  In addition, like the actuator 55 shown in FIG. 3, the light guide convex portion 56 formed in a substantially semispherical shape that illuminates from the back side of the button 30 at an appropriate position on the back side of the switch pressing portion 42 of the actuator 40. By providing the light, it is possible to focus on the display position of characters and the like, so that the illumination efficiency is further improved. In this case, the actuator 55 is made of a light-guiding material (transparent resin member), and if necessary (except for the light-guiding convex portion), fine irregularities are provided on the side surface of the button 30 or a semi-transparent coating is applied. For example, it is preferable to diffuse light. The light guide convex portion is not limited to a semispherical shape, and is preferably formed in an appropriate shape depending on the shape of the button, the illumination part, and the like.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the pushbutton structure which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the actuator of the pushbutton structure of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an actuator partially different from the actuator of FIG. 2. It is the schematic which shows the conventional push button. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the principal part of the state which attached the conventional push button to the operation panel of the electronic device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Push button structure 20 ... Operation panel 21 ... Button hole 30 ... Button 31 ... Button main-body part 32 ... Flange part 40, 55 ... Actuator 41 ... Button receiving part 42 ... Switch pressing part 43 ... Frame body runner part 44,45 ... Hinge part 46,47 ... Free end part 50 ... Printed circuit board 51 ... Sheet switch 52 ... LED element 56 ... Light guide plate

Claims (4)

The push button structure is arranged between the panel and the substrate and presses the switch provided on the substrate, and the button operation surface protrudes from the button hole provided on the panel and is provided on the substrate. In a push button structure in which the button operation surface is illuminated by a light source,
A button portion having an engagement portion for preventing the bottom portion from falling out of the button hole in a bottomed cylindrical shape that serves as the button operation surface;
A button receiving portion on which the button portion is mounted; an elastic means for applying an elastic force to the button receiving portion so that the button portion is biased in a direction protruding from the button hole; And an actuator portion integrally formed of a translucent member.
A push button structure characterized in that the button operation surface and the button receiving portion are combined at a distance. The push button structure according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is formed of a light guide resin member. The push button structure according to claim 2, wherein the button receiving portion is provided with a convex portion for condensing light from the light source on the button operation surface. The elastic means is constituted by a hinge portion that connects a frame runner portion fixed between the panel and the substrate and the button receiving portion,
4. The push button structure according to claim 1, wherein the frame body runner portion is commonly used for a plurality of button receiving portions, and connects the plurality of button receiving portions. 5.

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