JP2006155995A - Light-shielding structure of operation key inputting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light-shielding structure of an operation key inputting device that can be manufactured inexpensively and can obtain a light-shielding effect more reliably without being affected by poor conditions of each dimension relationship of an operation key and a panel. <P>SOLUTION: In the light-shielding structure of the operation key inputting device 100, having the operation key 2 that is provided so that an opening 11 formed on the surface of the panel 1 is covered and a light source 4 that is provided on a circuit board 3 and irradiates the operation key 2 with light, a rib section 12 that is extended from the periphery of the opening 11 to an upper part and is arranged inside the operation key 2 is formed around the opening 11 of the panel 1, and irregularities 12a, 22a are formed at a part where the outer surface of the rib section 12 opposes the inner surface of the operation key 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a light shielding structure of an operation key input device.

For example, many key switches used for a keyboard or the like are provided on a circuit board and further provided with lighting means such as LEDs (light emitting diodes) and lamps, and the keyboard is formed above the LEDs. Panels and operation keys are arranged. These panels and operation keys are generally configured such that the operation keys are fitted into openings formed in the panel.
By the way, in such a key switch having an LED, in order to shield light emitted from the LED, a light shielding member is provided so as to cover the LED (see, for example, Patent Document 1) or is fitted into the opening of the panel. A technique for preventing the light emission of the LED from leaking to the outside by forming a flange on the operation key (see, for example, Patent Document 2), and a technique for shielding light with a structure in which the operation key is divided into a plurality of parts and assembled with a panel sandwiched therebetween ( For example, see Patent Document 3). In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, in order to reduce light leakage as much as possible, the dimension of the gap X between the panel 1A and the operation key 2A may be narrowed to the limit at which the operation key 2A can slide. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 3A is a circuit board, and reference numeral 4A is an LED.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-199830 JP 2002-182595 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-7220

However, the light shielding structure described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the number of components increases and a space for arranging the electrical components on the circuit board is limited in order to attach the light shielding components. In addition, the cost is increased because the number of parts increases.
Further, in the light shielding structure described in Patent Document 2, light leakage is prevented by forming a flange on the operation key, but the light shielding is insufficient only with the flange.
Further, in the light shielding structure described in Patent Document 3, since the operation key is divided, there is a problem that a mold cost and a part cost of the operation key are increased and an assembling man-hour is increased.
Further, in the light shielding structure shown in FIG. 3, light leakage occurs if the dimensional relationship between the operation key 2A and the panel 1A is poor, so that the light shielding is insufficient.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can be manufactured at a low cost without being affected by adverse conditions related to the dimensions of the operation keys and the panel, and an operation capable of obtaining a light shielding effect more reliably. An object of the present invention is to provide a light shielding structure for a key input device.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 includes an operation key provided so as to cover an opening formed on the surface of the panel, and a light source provided on a circuit board for illuminating the operation key. In the shading structure of the operation key input device provided,
Around the opening of the panel, a rib portion extending upward from the periphery of the opening and disposed inside the operation key is formed,
A concavo-convex portion is formed at a location where the outer surface of the rib portion and the inner surface of the operation key face each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the light shielding structure of the operation key input device according to the first aspect,
A concave groove into which a side portion of the operation key is inserted is formed around the rib portion.

According to the light shielding structure of the operation key input device according to the present invention, the rib portion that extends upward around the opening of the panel and is disposed inside the operation key is formed, and the outer surface of the rib portion and the inner surface of the operation key Since the concavo-convex portions are formed at locations facing each other, the concavo-convex portions can prevent light leakage due to the reflected light irradiated and reflected from the light source. That is, unlike the conventional case, the reflected light is reflected a plurality of times at the concavo-convex portion, so that the amount of the reflected light is reduced, so that light leakage can be prevented, and as a result, a light shielding effect can be reliably obtained. it can.
Further, since the outer side surface of the rib portion of the panel and the inner side surface of the operation key are used, the design is hardly affected without taking up space. Furthermore, it is not affected by adverse conditions related to the dimensions of the operation keys and panels.
Moreover, it is not necessary to increase the number of parts, and it can be manufactured inexpensively and easily.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a light shielding structure of an operation key input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
An operation key input device 100 having a light shielding structure of the present invention includes a panel 1, operation keys 2, a circuit board 3, a light source 4, a tact switch (not shown), and the like.

The panel 1 has an opening 11 formed on the surface thereof, and an operation key 2 is provided so as to cover the opening 11.
The operation key 2 is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the side, and includes a display unit 21 disposed above the opening 11 and an insertion unit (which is formed continuously from the display unit 21 and inserted into a groove 13 described later) Side) 22.

Further, around the opening 11 of the panel 1, a rib portion 12 is formed that extends upward from the periphery of the opening 11 and is disposed inside the operation key 2. And the uneven | corrugated | grooved part 12a, 22a is formed in the location where the outer surface of the rib part 12 and the inner surface of the operation key 2 mutually oppose.
The uneven portions 12a and 22a are formed in a step shape, and the uneven portions 12a and 22a formed on the rib portion 12 and the operation key 2 can be engaged with each other.
Further, the concavo-convex portions 12a and 22a may have one step, or may have a plurality of steps as shown in FIG. 2, but the light shielding effect is obtained when a plurality of steps are formed. It is preferable in that it becomes higher.
A concave groove 13 into which the insertion portion 22 of the operation key 2 is inserted is formed around the rib portion 12, and the insertion portion 22 is inserted into the concave groove 13 so that the display portion 21 is placed on the opening portion 11. The operation keys 2 are held by the panel 1 so as to be arranged.

  On the other hand, a circuit board 3 is arranged below the operation keys 2. On the circuit board 3, a light source 4 such as an LED or a lamp for illuminating the operation key 2 is disposed. A tact switch that can be input by pressing the operation key 2 is disposed on the circuit board 3.

  Therefore, by using such a light shielding structure, when the light emitted from the light source 4 reaches the display unit 21 of the operation key 2, it is reflected by the concave / convex portion 12 a of the rib portion 12, and further the concave / convex portion of the insertion portion 22. The reflection is sequentially repeated toward the portion 22a, and as a result, the amount of reflected light is reduced and light leakage is prevented.

As described above, according to the light shielding structure of the operation key input device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the rib portion 12 that extends upward around the opening portion 11 of the panel 1 and is disposed inside the operation key 2 is formed. Since the concavo-convex portions 12a and 22a are formed at locations where the outer surface of the portion 12 and the inner surface of the operation key 2 face each other, the concavo-convex portions 12a and 22a are reflected by the reflected light irradiated from the light source 4 and reflected. Light leakage can be prevented. That is, unlike the conventional case, the reflected light is reflected a plurality of times by the concavo-convex portions 12a and 22a, so that the amount of the reflected light is reduced, so that light leakage can be prevented. Obtainable.
Further, since the outer side surface of the rib portion 12 of the panel 1 and the inner side surface of the insertion portion 22 of the operation key 2 are used, there is almost no influence on the design without taking up space. Furthermore, it is not affected by adverse conditions related to the dimensions of the operation keys 2 and the panel 1.
Moreover, it is not necessary to increase the number of parts, and it can be manufactured inexpensively and easily.
Furthermore, since a groove 13 into which the insertion portion 22 of the operation key 2 is inserted is formed around the rib portion 12, the insertion key 2 can be inserted by inserting the insertion portion 22 of the operation key 2 into the groove 13. Can be reliably held on the surface of the panel 1.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it can change suitably.
For example, the concavo-convex portions 12a and 22a are stepped. However, the shape is not limited to this shape, and may be a fine groove shape so that light can be reflected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a light shielding structure of an operation key input device for illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. It is for demonstrating other embodiment, and is a sectional side view of the light-shielding structure of an operation key input device. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of a light shielding structure of an operation key input device for showing a conventional example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Panel 2 Operation key 3 Circuit board 4 Light source 11 Opening part 12 Rib part 12a Uneven part 13 Concave groove 22a Uneven part 100 Operation key input device

Claims (2)

In a light shielding structure of an operation key input device including an operation key provided so as to cover an opening formed on the surface of the panel and a light source provided on a circuit board to illuminate the operation key,
Around the opening of the panel, a rib portion extending upward from the periphery of the opening and disposed inside the operation key is formed,
A light-shielding structure for an operation key input device, wherein uneven portions are formed at locations where the outer surface of the rib portion and the inner surface of the operation key face each other.   The light shielding structure of the operation key input device according to claim 1, wherein a concave groove into which a side portion of the operation key is inserted is formed around the rib portion.

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