JP5022132B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device that can illuminate an operation key.

  In recent years, electronic devices represented by mobile phones, PHS (Personal Handy phone System), and PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) have been reduced in size and weight, and their functions have been enhanced. For example, a sub liquid crystal capable of confirming information such as time even in a closed state in an openable mobile phone, a camera, an infrared transmitter / receiver, and the like are mounted. Further, in such an electronic device, an illumination unit such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or an EL (Electro Luminescence) light emitter is provided so that the operation key can be confirmed even at night or in a dark place.

FIG. 6 is a front view for explaining the arrangement of illumination units in a conventional electronic device. In the conventional operation unit, the key detection unit 12 and the illumination unit 14 for detecting the pressed state of the operation key 10 are provided inside the casing of the operation key 10. At this time, the illumination unit 14 is generally disposed in a region away from the region where the operation key 10 is projected (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-260294 A

  However, in the conventional technique described above, since the illumination unit is arranged in a region away from the region where the operation key is projected, the brightness of the illumination unit that illuminates the operation key is insufficient.

  At this time, it is conceivable that the illuminating unit is arranged in a region where the operation key is projected, but the region is not considered to be protected from being pressed by the illuminating unit, and it is difficult to simply arrange the region.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to partially illuminate a specific operation key while protecting the illuminating part from being pressed. It is an object to provide an electronic device that can improve convenience.

In order to solve the above-described problem, according to an aspect of the present invention, a housing formed with an opening, an operation key disposed in the housing and exposed to be able to be pressed in the opening, and a center of the operation key A metal switch that is offset in a specific direction and placed under the operation key , detects the pressed state of the operation key by short-circuiting the terminal arranged inside with a substantially hemispherical protrusion, and the operation key is projected An illumination unit that is disposed in a space generated by an offset within the region and that can illuminate the operation key; and a spacer that suppresses the pressing force to the operation key and diffuses the illumination of the illumination unit. A featured electronic device is provided.

  The illumination unit may be arranged in a region where an operation key for performing a specific operation is projected.

  The electronic device includes a call function, and the specific operation is a response start operation in the call function, and further includes an illumination control unit that turns on an illumination unit that illuminates an operation key that performs a response start operation at the time of an incoming call in the call function. May be.

  The specific operation is a response disconnection operation in the call function, and the illumination control unit may further illuminate an operation key for performing the response disconnection operation during a call.

  The spacer may be provided at a position corresponding to a mark indicating a specific operation.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the convenience of operation by partially illuminating a specific operation key while protecting the illumination unit from being pressed.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

  In the electronic device of this embodiment, it is possible to improve the convenience of operation by partially illuminating a specific operation key while protecting the illumination unit from being pressed when the operation key is pressed. Here, in order to facilitate understanding of the present embodiment, a mobile terminal, particularly a mobile phone, is cited as an electronic device. Hereinafter, the overall configuration of the mobile phone will be described first, and then the detailed configuration of the operation unit will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of the mobile phone 100. The mobile phone 100 is a portable electronic device and has a wireless telephone call and communication function. In addition, the mobile phone 100 is configured to include an audio input unit 110, an audio output unit 112, a display unit 114, and an operation unit 116 in appearance.

  The voice input unit 110 is composed of a voice recognition device such as a microphone, and converts a user voice input during a call into an electrical signal that can be processed in the mobile phone 100.

  The voice output unit 112 is constituted by a speaker, and converts the voice signal of the call partner received by the mobile phone into voice and outputs the voice. Further, a ring tone, an operation sound by an operation unit 116 described later, an alarm sound, and the like can be output.

  The display unit 114 is configured with a color or monochrome display, and is stored in a memory in the mobile terminal or provided from an application relay server (not shown) via a communication network. (Graphical User Interface) can be displayed.

  The operation unit 116 includes operation keys such as a keyboard, a cross key, and a joystick, and accepts user operation inputs. In the present embodiment, description will be made with a focus on the illumination of the operation keys in the operation unit 116 in particular.

  FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of the operation unit 116 described above, and FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the position of each unit. The operation unit 116 includes a key panel 150, a detection panel 160, an illumination unit 170, and an illumination control unit (not shown).

  The key panel 150 is made of a resin that is transparent or semi-transparent only in characters and mark portions, and has a plurality of operation keys 156 that are exposed to be pressed in an opening 154 provided in the housing 152. Here, one opening 154 is provided for the plurality of operation keys 156, but a plurality of openings may be formed corresponding to each operation key 156.

  The detection panel 160 is provided side by side with the key panel 150 and has a plurality of key detection units 162 that detect the pressed state of the operation keys 156. Accordingly, the interval between the key detectors 162 is determined according to the interval between the operation keys 156. Here, the key detection unit 162 is formed of a so-called metal switch that has a substantially hemispherical protruding portion that is recessed to short-circuit a terminal disposed inside.

  The illumination unit 170 is composed of an LED, an EL light emitter, and other illuminable electronic components, and is disposed in the region where the operation key 156 is projected on the detection panel 160 and between the operation keys 156. Therefore, the illumination unit 170 in the area where the operation key 156 is projected illuminates the operation key 156 individually, and the illumination unit 170 disposed between the operation keys 156 illuminates the operation unit 116 as a whole. According to this configuration, the operation key 156 can be directly and limitedly illuminated because it is disposed at a position corresponding to the operation key 156, that is, immediately below the operation key 156. Here, “within a region” indicates that the entire illumination unit 170 is included in the region, but the present invention may be applied even when a part of the illumination unit 170 deviates from the region within a range in which the object of the present embodiment can be achieved. It belongs to the technical scope of the embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the key detection unit 162 of the detection panel 160 has the operation key on the surface of the detection panel 160 for the purpose of obtaining an even and sufficient amount of light emission while making the illumination unit 170 as close to the center of the operation key 156 as possible. The illumination unit 170 is offset in a specific direction from the center of 156, and the illumination unit 170 is disposed in a space generated by the offset while maintaining a predetermined distance from the key detection unit 162. Such a predetermined distance is a minimum distance at which the illumination unit 170 is not affected by the fluctuation of the key detection unit 162.

  Here, the size of the key detection unit 162 is made sufficiently smaller than the size of the operation key 156, and the distance d from the center 164 of the key detection unit 162, for example, in one direction of the plane does not affect the operability. Only offset. The illumination unit 170 is disposed in the space generated by the offset. At this time, the illumination unit 170 can be as close to the center as possible by arranging the illumination unit 170 along the arc 166 from the center of the key detection unit 162. Therefore, it appears as if the light emitted from the illumination unit 170 is emitted from the center of the operation key 156. Thus, visibility and aesthetics can be improved while maintaining operability.

  Here, the center of the arc 166 is the key detection unit 162, but the operation key 156 may be the center. In any case, by tilting the longitudinal direction of the illumination unit 170 in the tangential direction of the arc, it is possible to arrange the illumination unit 170 at a position close to the center of the operation key 156 while maintaining the shortest distance from the key detection unit 162. It becomes.

  In the present embodiment, since the two illumination units 170 are arranged for one operation key 156, the operation key 156 is illuminated in a balanced manner without being biased to one of the operation keys 156, and illumination is not required. Sufficient illuminance can be obtained so as to be visible even in a bright environment.

  As described above, the operation keys 156 can be individually recognized in a bright environment by devising the positions of the key detection unit 162 and the illumination unit 170. However, when the above configuration is simply adopted, a load on the illumination unit 170 due to the pressing of the operation key 156 becomes a problem. Therefore, the key panel 150 of the present embodiment is further provided with a spacer that suppresses the pressing force to the illumination unit 170 when the operation key 156 is pressed.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the function of the spacer. Here, in order to press down the key detection part 162 reliably, the protrusion part 180 is provided in the position of the operation key 156 corresponding to the top part. Further, a spacer 182 that protects the illumination unit 170 is provided in the vicinity of both the protrusions 180. The position of the spacer 182 on the plane is in the vicinity of each illumination unit 170 as shown in FIG.

  By providing such a spacer 182, the load on the illumination unit 170 when the operation key 156 is pressed is suppressed, and damage to both can be avoided.

  Further, the spacer 182 can diffuse the illumination of the illumination unit 170. The light from the illumination unit reaches the spacer 182 through the space secured by the spacer 182. Like the key panel 150, the spacer 182 is also made of a transparent or translucent resin. Therefore, the light reaching the spacer 182 is diffused and leaks out of the casing 152, and the operation key 156 is further irradiated.

  Further, the spacer 182 may be configured to intentionally reflect and guide light out of the housing. In the spacer 182, for example, a reflecting mirror tilted at about 45 ° is embedded, and the light from the illumination unit 170 reaches the spacer 182 through the space secured by the spacer 182, and is reflected by the reflecting mirror and reflected by the housing. Leak out of the body. In this way, the irradiation to the operation key 156 can be further enhanced.

  Moreover, the illumination part 170 may be arrange | positioned with respect to the operation key which performs specific operation. With this configuration, it is possible to partially illuminate a specific operation key 156 that requires illumination, and it is possible to make the specific operation key 156 stand out with stronger light that illuminates the entire key panel 150.

  When the illumination unit 170 is arranged with respect to a specific operation key 156, the spacer 182 may be provided at a position corresponding to a mark made up of characters, symbols, figures, etc. indicating a specific operation. For example, when the mark is formed to be transparent or translucent, the spacer 182 is disposed immediately below the mark so as to guide light to the mark. Here, the spacer 182 may be formed so that the cross section is the same type as the mark. With such a configuration, the light to the mark can be made stronger than the other part of the operation key 156, and the visibility of the mark itself can be improved.

  The illumination control unit is included in the control unit of the mobile phone 100, and controls the illumination of the illumination unit 170 of the operation key 156 for performing a specific operation in order to smoothly perform an operation especially on the call function of the mobile phone 100. .

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the operation unit 116. Since the mobile phone 100 has a call function, when an incoming call is received from a third party, a specific operation key 156 of the operation unit 116 is pressed to execute a response start operation. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5A, the illumination control unit turns on the illumination unit 170 corresponding to the operation key 156 for performing a response start operation when receiving an incoming call, and guides the depression of the operation key 156.

  By illuminating the specific operation key 156, the user can easily grasp the occurrence of the incoming call, and can easily recognize which operation key 156 should be pressed when responding to the incoming call. It becomes possible. Thus, for example, the user can respond to an incoming call sensuously without referring to an instruction manual or the like, and can improve usability.

  Further, after the call is started, the illumination control unit turns on the illumination unit 170 corresponding to the operation key 156 for performing the response disconnection operation during the call and presses the operation key 156 as shown in FIG. 5B. To guide you.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to easily recognize which operation key should be pressed when the call is finished. Therefore, the user can smoothly perform the process from the incoming call to the response disconnection only by following the guidance by illumination.

  In the embodiment as described above, it is possible to improve the convenience of operation by partially illuminating a specific operation key 156 while protecting the illumination unit 170 from being pressed. In addition, the guidance function for the user can be expanded by using the illumination of a specific operation key 156, so that necessary operations can be easily grasped and executed sensuously.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which a response start operation and a response disconnection operation are guided has been described. Various applications are possible, such as a mole-tapping game or a different sound assigned to each operation key 156 and played by simply pressing according to the guidance of light.

  The present invention can be used for an electronic device capable of illuminating an operation key.

It is an external appearance perspective view for demonstrating the schematic structure of a mobile telephone. FIG. 3 is an assembly diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of an operation unit. It is the top view which showed the position of each structure of an operation part. It is a cross-sectional view for demonstrating the function of a spacer. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation of an operation part. It is a front view for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of the conventional illumination part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Mobile phone 150 ... Key panel 152 ... Housing | casing 154 ... Opening part 156 ... Operation key 160 ... Detection panel 162 ... Key detection part 170 ... Illumination part 182 ... Spacer

Claims (5)

A housing in which an opening is formed;
An operation key disposed in the housing and exposed to be pressed in the opening;
Metal that is offset in a specific direction from the center of the operation key and is disposed under the operation key, and detects the pressed state of the operation key by short-circuiting a terminal disposed inside by a substantially hemispherical protrusion. A switch ,
An illumination unit that is disposed in a space generated by the offset in a region where the operation key is projected, and can illuminate the operation key;
A spacer that suppresses the pressing force to the operation key and diffuses the illumination of the illumination unit ;
An electronic device comprising: The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit is disposed in a region where an operation key for performing a specific operation is projected. The electronic device has a call function,
The specific operation is a response start operation in the call function,
The electronic apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising an illumination control unit that illuminates an illumination unit that illuminates an operation key that performs the response start operation at the time of an incoming call in the call function. The specific operation is a response disconnection operation in the call function,
The electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein the illumination control unit further illuminates an operation key for performing the response disconnection operation during a call. The spacer is characterized in that it is provided at a position corresponding to the mark indicating the specific operation, the electronic device according to any one of claims 2-4.

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