JP2007207686A - Key rubber, key operation part, and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent sway and peeling-off of a key top from a key rubber, and prevent break of the key rubber. <P>SOLUTION: This is the key rubber 40 consisting of a button part 41 in which the key top 604 is adhered to a front face, a frame-shaped part 46 installed at the peripheral part of a rear face of the button part 41, and a base part 45 installed outside of the frame shaped part 46. Since stiffness of the frame shaped part 46 is higher than that of the base part 45, a force to act on the key top 604 is dispersible from the frame shape part 46 to the base part 45, thereby preventing the sway and the peeling-off of the key top 604 from the key rubber 40, and the break of the key rubber 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a key rubber, a key operation unit, and an electronic device.

  As a key input device of an electronic device, for example, a mobile phone or a PDA, there is a device in which a key rubber made of a rubber elastic material and a key top made of a hard resin are bonded.

As a key input device for electronic devices, especially for small electronic devices such as mobile phones, a large key top area is used to improve operability, and a cross that partitions adjacent key tops into a case (panel) There are things that are not provided. For example, in Patent Document 1, a key rubber made of a rubber elastic material on a key board and provided with a button portion protruding on the front surface, a reinforcing material provided with an insertion hole through which the button portion is inserted, and a button portion Some have a front surface and a bonded key top.
JP 2005-190849 A

  In the key operation unit having such a structure, the key top cannot be protected by the exterior case of the electronic device. For this reason, a force is applied to the key rubber in the lateral direction when the key is diagonally pressed, or a force in the direction of peeling off the key top when the nail is caught is applied to the key rubber. It is necessary to increase the strength of the key rubber so as to resist the force acting on the key top. On the other hand, when the thickness of the key rubber is increased in order to increase the strength, a large force is required for the key operation to deform the key rubber and press the key top, and the operability is deteriorated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a key rubber, a key operation unit, and an electronic device provided with such a key operation unit that can prevent the key top from shaking, peeling from the key rubber, and breaking the key rubber.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a button part having a key top bonded to the front surface, a frame-like part provided on an outer peripheral part of the rear surface of the button part, and the frame-like part. The frame portion is a key rubber characterized in that the frame portion has higher rigidity than the base portion.

  A second aspect of the present invention is the key rubber according to the first aspect, wherein the frame-shaped part is formed thicker than the button part and the base part.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the key rubber according to claim 1, the key top bonded to the front surface of the button part, and the reinforcing material sandwiched between the base part and the key top. And a key operation unit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising the key operation unit according to the third aspect.

  According to the present invention, the rigidity of the frame-like part provided on the outer peripheral part of the rear surface of the button part with the key top bonded to the front surface is higher than the rigidity of the base part provided on the outside of the frame-like part. The force acting on the key top can be dispersed from the frame-shaped portion to the base portion, and the key top can be prevented from shaking, peeling from the key rubber, and breaking of the key rubber.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mobile phone 1 as an embodiment of the electronic apparatus of the present invention. The cellular phone 1 rotates a main body 2 provided with a key operation unit 5 on the front side, a lid 3 provided with a display unit 6 on the front side, a lower main body 2 and an upper lid 3. It consists of a hinge part 4 that can be connected. Therefore, the cellular phone 1 closes the main body 2 and the lid 3 so that the key operation unit 5 and the display unit 6 face each other, or opens so that both the key operation unit 5 and the display unit 6 face forward. Can be. When opened, the lid 3 is disposed so as to be inclined such that the lower end portion of the main body 2 is forward of the upper end portion when the front surface of the lid 3 is directed forward.

  2 is an exploded perspective view of the main body 2, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. The main body 2 is schematically configured from a front case 7, a rear case 9, a unit assembly 10 including a circuit board and the like, and a keypad 30.

  The front case 7 and the rear case 9 are combined to form the housing of the main body 2. The front case 7 is provided with an opening 8 for exposing the key top 60 of the keypad 30. That is, a key top 601 for cursor keys, a key top 602 for decision keys, a key top 603 for function keys (four), a key top 604 (15) for telephone keys such as off-hook keys, on-hook keys, and numeric keys. All of these are exposed from the opening 8. It should be noted that the frame-shaped member 605 provided so as to surround the key top 601 for the cursor key lifts the opposite corner when the corner of the key top 601 for the cursor key is pressed. It is a floating prevention plate provided in order to prevent.

The unit assembly 10 generally includes a circuit board 11, a main frame 12, and a key board 20.
The circuit board 11 is provided with a main processor, a memory, a modem, a power supply IC, an antenna, a memory card slot, an IF connector, an earphone connector, and the like.

  The main frame 12 is made of, for example, an Mg alloy or the like, and increases the strength of the main body, and also functions as an electrical ground or an electromagnetic wave shield (noise shield). One or more recesses are formed on the rear side of the main frame 12, and the circuit board 11 is provided on the rear side so that the main processor, memory, modem, power supply IC, etc. are stored in the recesses. It has been.

  The front side surface of the main frame 12 is a flat surface. On the flat surface, a key substrate 20 is provided, and a shield form 13 that contacts the key frame 50 of the keypad 30 is provided. The shield foam 13 is obtained by winding a conductive cloth around the outer periphery of the central sponge portion, and this conductive cloth is bonded to the main frame 12 by a conductive adhesive and is electrically connected to the main frame 12.

  The key board 20 is provided with a plurality of thin pressing switches 21 each having a movable contact and a fixed contact such as a dome switch. For example, a flexible wiring board having a plurality of dome plate portions to be movable contacts. And a flexible wiring board having a plurality of fixed contacts formed thereon, or a single flexible wiring board is folded, so that a plurality of dome plate portions to be movable contacts are formed in one area and the other area is formed. A plurality of fixed contacts are formed, and the dome plate portion and the fixed contacts are folded so as to face each other.

  The key board 20 corresponds to five switches 21a corresponding to the cursor key and the decision key of the keypad 30, four switches 21b corresponding to the function keys, and telephone keys such as an off-hook key, an on-hook key, and a numeric keypad. 3 horizontal x 5 vertical switches 21c and illumination LEDs 22 are provided. The LED 22 for illumination is provided between the switches 21, and the key rubber 40 mentioned later is arrange | positioned facing.

  A light-reflective film is formed on the front surface of the key substrate 20 except for the portion where the illumination LEDs 22 are provided. Here, as the light-reflective film, for example, white coating can be cited.

  The keypad 30 includes a key rubber 40 overlaid on the key substrate 20, and a key frame 50 and a key top 60 overlaid thereon.

  The key rubber 40 is made of an elastic material having a translucent light scattering property. The key rubber 40 includes five button portions 41a corresponding to the cursor key and the determination key, four button portions 41b corresponding to the function keys, and horizontal keys corresponding to telephone keys such as an off-hook key, an on-hook key, and a numeric keypad. 3 × 5 buttons 41c and a base 45 are provided. The button part 41 is formed in a shape protruding to the front side, and its front surface is flat. Further, the base portion 45 is formed in a frame shape between the button portions 41 and is formed in a shape protruding to the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pressing portion 42 protruding rearward is provided at the center of the rear surface of the button portion 41. The position of the pressing portion 42 corresponds to the switch 21 on the key board 20.
Further, the frame-like portion 46 that connects the outer peripheral portion of the button portion 41 and the base portion 45 is formed thicker than the button portion 41 and the base portion 45. For this reason, the frame-like portion 46 has higher rigidity than the button portion 41 and the base portion 45 and is not easily deformed.

  The key frame 50 is made of a stainless steel plate having substantially the same shape as the base portion 45 of the key rubber 40 and is provided with insertion holes 51 through which the button portions 41 are inserted. Since the stainless steel plate is thin and has high rigidity, the thickness of the keypad 30 can be reduced.

  The key frame 50 is in contact with the front surface of the base portion 45 and is disposed to face the illumination LED 22. The key frame 50 functions as a light shielding material that prevents direct light emitted from the illumination LED 22 from leaking from the gap between the key tops 60, and also functions as a reflective material that reflects the direct light and irradiates the key substrate 20.

  A contact portion 52 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the key frame 50 at a position corresponding to the shield form 13 provided on the main frame 12. The key frame 50 is conductive, and the abutment portion 52 abuts the conductive cloth of the shield foam 13 so that the main frame 12 and the key frame 50 are electrically connected. Therefore, the potential of the key frame 50 becomes the ground. Therefore, the key frame 50 also functions as an antistatic material.

  The key top 60 is attached by adhering to the front surface of the button part 41 inserted through the insertion hole 51. The key top 60 is made of a transparent material (resin or the like), and its front surface is painted. By this painting, symbols are written on the key tops 60 in blank letters. Here, the symbols include numbers, letters or figures.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal top 3 vertical 5 key tops 604 corresponding to telephone keys such as off-hook keys, on-hook keys, numeric keys, and the like are provided along the lower end portion of the front side. An inclined portion 61 that is inclined rearward and downward from above is provided. The inclined portion 61 is provided so as to be substantially parallel to the display portion 6 of the lid when the main body 2 and the lid 3 are opened.

  The coating on the front surface of the key top 604 is formed as a symbol portion and the inclined portion 61 as a transmission portion 70 that transmits light, and the other portions are formed so as not to transmit light. The illumination light emitted from the illumination LED 22 is scattered in the key rubber 40 and the key top 604, and is emitted from the transmission unit 70 to the front of the key operation unit 5.

In order to form the transmission part 70, for example, first, a coating 62 that transmits light is applied to the front surface of the key top 604. Next, an opaque paint 63 such as metal plating is applied to the symbol portion and the portion excluding the inclined portion 61. Thus, the transmission part 70 is formed.
Note that the coating 62 that transmits light may have a property of transmitting light of a specific wavelength. Further, the coating 62 that transmits light may be omitted.

Next, a procedure for assembling the keypad 30 to the main body 2 will be described.
First, the key frame 50 is superimposed on the front surface of the key rubber 40, and the button part 41 is inserted through the insertion hole 51. Next, the key top 60 is adhered and attached to the front surface of the button portion 41, and the keypad 30 is assembled. The frame-shaped member 605 for preventing the key top 601 for the cursor key from being lifted is engaged with a locking protrusion formed on the lower end side of the outer peripheral surface of the cursor key key top 601 on the upper end side of the opening. A stop projection is provided, and a projection reaching the recess 43 formed in the front surface of the key rubber 40 through the through hole 53 formed in the key frame 50 is provided on the lower surface side. 605 is bonded to the key rubber 40 in the recess 43.

  Thereafter, the assembled keypad 30 is used to form the through hole 54 formed in the corner of the key frame 50 and the through hole 44 formed in the corner of the key rubber 40 to form the opening 8 of the front case 7. It is attached to the inner surface of the front case 7 by being inserted into a positioning pin protruding from the lower surface of the peripheral edge. As a result, the key top 60 is exposed from the opening 8 of the front case 7. Finally, the front case 7 to which the keypad 30 is attached, the unit assembly 10 on which the key substrate 20 is placed on the upper surface, and the rear case 9 are combined.

  As described above, the keypad 30 and the unit assembly 10 are assembled to the main body 2. In this state, the pressing portion 42 of the key rubber 40 is positioned on the front surface of the unit assembly 10 so as to contact the switch 21 of the key substrate 20, and the contact portion 52 formed on the key frame 50 is also a main frame. 12 abuts on the shield form 13 attached to 12.

Next, the operation of the keypad 30 during key operation will be described.
When the key top 604 is pushed backward, as shown in FIG. 4, the button part 41 and the rigid frame-like part 46 bonded to the key top 60 are hardly deformed. Instead, the base portion 45 is deformed and the rear surface of the pressing portion 42 presses the switch 21. At this time, the force pressing the key top 604 in the rearward direction is distributed over a wide range of the base portion 45 outside the frame-like portion 46. That is, the base portion 45 is pressed backward by the frame-like portion 46.

Similarly, when a force for pulling the key top 604 in the forward direction is applied, the frame-shaped portion 46 is thick and has high rigidity, so that the key top 604 is not deformed and the force for pulling the key top 604 in the forward direction is wide in the outer base portion 45. Distributed in range. That is, the base portion 45 is pulled forward by the frame-like portion 46.
At this time, since the key frame 50 suppresses the forward deformation of the base portion 45, the key top 604 can be prevented from being lifted. For this reason, the button part 41 is not peeled off from the key top 604.

  Further, even when force is applied to the key top 604 in the vertical and horizontal directions, the frame-shaped portion 46 is thick and has high rigidity, so that the key top 604 is not deformed, and the force acting on the key top 604 in the vertical and horizontal directions is wide in the outer base portion 45. Distributed in range. That is, the base portion 45 is pulled vertically and horizontally by the frame-like portion 46. For this reason, the button part 41 is less likely to swing vertically and horizontally with respect to the base part 45, and the key top 60 can be prevented from shaking vertically and horizontally.

  In this way, by increasing the thickness of the frame-like portion 46 of the key rubber 40 and increasing the rigidity, the key top 604 can be prevented from shaking, peeling from the key rubber 40, or breaking the key rubber 40 while maintaining the operability of the key operation portion 5. be able to. Further, it is easier to press the key top than in the case where the entire key rubber 40 is thick, and the key operation unit 5 can be provided with good operability. Furthermore, in the key rubber 40 having such a configuration, it is possible to save material and reduce the weight as compared with increasing the strength by increasing the overall thickness.

  In the above embodiment, the cellular phone 1 has been described as an example. However, in addition to this, a notebook personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), an electronic notebook, a portable radio, and other key tops. The present invention may be applied to an electronic device having a key operation unit in which are arranged.

It is a perspective view which shows the mobile telephone 1 as embodiment of the electronic device of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the main body 2 of the mobile telephone 1 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the key top 604 of FIG. 3 is pressed.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile phone (electronic equipment)
5 Key operation part 40 Key rubber 41 Button part 45 Base part 46 Frame-like part 50 Key frame (reinforcing material)
60,601,602,603,604 key top

Claims (4)

A button part with a key top bonded to the front;
A frame-like portion provided on the outer peripheral portion of the rear surface of the button portion;
A base portion provided outside the frame-shaped portion;
The key rubber characterized in that the frame-shaped portion has higher rigidity than the base portion.   The key rubber according to claim 1, wherein the frame-like portion is formed thicker than the button portion and the base portion. Key rubber according to claim 1 or 2,
A key top bonded to the front surface of the button part;
A reinforcing material sandwiched between the base portion and the key top;
A key operation unit comprising: An electronic apparatus comprising the key operation unit according to claim 3.

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