JPH0449711Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Field of Application> This invention relates to a key input device for inputting information using keys, such as a scientific calculator or an electronic notebook.

<Conventional Technology> Conventionally, in scientific calculators and electronic notebooks, multiple functions are assigned to one key in order to accommodate the advanced functions in a small device. In this way, since one key has a plurality of functions, a plurality of function names, that is, key names, are written on one key. FIGS. 4A and 4B are a front view and a side view of a conventional key input device, and show key name expressions. In this key input device, the first function name is printed on the top of the keytop, the second function name is printed on the upper left side of the keytop in the cabinet, and the third function name is printed on the right side of the second function name. Printed on the cabinet part.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> As described above, in the method of expressing key names in conventional key input devices, as typified by the key input device shown in Fig. 4, all key names to be selected are displayed at once. Because the keys are displayed, it is not easy for the operator to find the key name that he or she needs, and therefore it takes time to select the key. Also, when the second or third function is required, 2ndF
It is necessary to press an additional key such as a second function key, which increases the number of keys to be pressed, which is cumbersome, and there are also problems such as pressing the wrong key.

Furthermore, for a device with a fashionable design, the display of key names gave a hard impression, which felt strange.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a key input device that can reduce the number of key names displayed at one time, make key selection easier, and also be compatible with a fashionable design. .

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an upper sheet partially provided with a first light deflection section that deflects incident light so as to have a first polarization plane. , the first
A lower part is provided with a second light deflection part in a predetermined character shape for deflecting incident light to have a second polarization plane perpendicular to the polarization plane of the lower part, and is movable in parallel relative to the upper sheet. It is characterized by being equipped with a transparent sheet.

<Example> This invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the illustrated example.

What is shown in FIG. 1 is a key input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a key input section 10 and a calculation display section 20 are housed in a cabinet 30. Cavity 3 provided in the cabinet 30
A partition section 32 that partitions the key input section 10 and the calculation display section 20 is provided on the right side portion 30a of the screen 1 .

A transparent lower sheet 1 is provided in the key input section 10.
3, a transparent upper sheet 12, and a touch key 11 in which a plurality of keys are formed in one sheet shape from a transparent material with no irregularities on the surface are provided in layers. The upper sheet 12 is provided with a plurality of deflection bands 14 having a constant width and arranged vertically at a predetermined pitch to deflect light entering through the touch key 11 so as to have a first plane of polarization. , the lower sheet 13 has a plurality of portions each having polarization so as to have a second polarization plane orthogonal to the first polarization plane, in order to represent the function names of each key of the sheet-like touch key 11. deflection character 15
are provided at the same pitch as the deflection band 14. In addition, the lower sheet 13
A reflective sheet 16 is attached to the slide knob 17 attached to the lower side of one side of the reflective sheet 16.
By moving in the direction of the arrow in the cavity 31, the lower sheet 13 and the reflective sheet 16 can be simultaneously moved parallel to the upper sheet 13. In this embodiment, the center of the deflection band 14 and the center of the deflection character 15 are arranged so that when the slide knob 17 moves to the right in the figure and comes into contact with the cabinet 30, the center of the deflection band 14 and the center of the deflection character 15 overlap.

On the other hand, the arithmetic display unit 20 includes a printed wiring board 21, an arithmetic element 22 mounted on the printed wiring board 21 that executes arithmetic operations, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 23 that displays the result of the calculation, and a printed wiring board 21. A connection sheet 24 is provided to connect 21 and LCD 23.

The key input section 10 and the calculation display section 20 are connected by a connection sheet 25. Furthermore, decorative sheets 40 are attached to the top of this key input device at three locations: at both ends in the vertical direction and at the boundary between the key input section 10 and the calculation display section 20. It's clear. This decorative sheet 40 also serves to improve fashionability.

In the above configuration, as shown in FIG.
When the lower sheet 13 is positioned so that the deflection band 14 and the deflection letters 15 overlap with each other,
is incident on the upper sheet 12 and the deflection band 14
The light passing through the other parts passes through the upper and lower sheets 12 and 13 one after another, reaches the reflective sheet 16, is reflected, returns along the same optical path, and displays that part in white.
Also, it passes through the deflection band 14 and the deflection character 15
The light passing through the other parts is also deflected in one direction, but is reflected by the reflection sheet 16 and returns through the same reflection path as the incident path, so that the parts of the deflection band 14 other than those corresponding to the deflection characters 15 are displayed in white. . On the other hand, the incident light corresponding to the deflection character 15 is deflected by the deflection band 14, and then is blocked and absorbed by the deflection character 15 of the lower sheet 13 whose deflection axis is orthogonal to the deflection band 14. Therefore, the shape of the deflected characters 15 representing the key name appears black. In this way, only the key name is displayed in black.

On the other hand, move the slide knob 17 to the left in the figure until the deflection letters 15 and the deflection band 14 no longer overlap the lower sheet 13 and the reflective sheet 16.
When moved, the polarized light obtained by the polarizing band 14 is not blocked by the polarized letters 15 on the lower sheet 13, so that the key names are no longer visible on the key input section 10. By doing this, it is possible to obtain a change in design and to match it with fashionable equipment.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show the second embodiment. Since this embodiment has almost the same structure as the first embodiment, only the parts that differ from the first embodiment are shown. In the first embodiment the lower sheet 1
3 has only one group of deflected characters 15, with deflected characters 1
5 and the deflection band 14 are not overlapped, the key names are not visible at all, but in this embodiment, the lower sheet 13' is A, A, and A as shown in the figure.
Multiple groups of raised deflection letters consisting of B and C 1
5' in a plane, and the key name can be changed by moving the slide knob 17 and making the letters of one group of A, B, and C face each other on the deflection band 14. . By doing this, only one key name is displayed for one key, and the number of key names that can be seen at one time can be reduced, making it easier to select a key. Furthermore, if the biased character groups A, B, and C are assigned to each functional field, key selection becomes extremely easy.

Although the reflective sheet 16 was provided in the first and second embodiments, a planar light source may be used instead of the reflective sheet 16.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment in which characters are displayed above the touch keys.
In the same figure, 121 is a printed wiring board;
2 is an arithmetic element, 123 is an LCD, and 124 is connected to the arithmetic element 122 via a printed wiring board 121.
This is a connection sheet for connecting the LCD 123, and these sheets constitute the calculation display section 120. on the other hand,
The key input unit 110 is connected to the printed wiring board 12
A touch key 111 consisting of a key contact sheet 116 and a key contact 119 provided on 1 via a key spacer 118;
A lower sheet 113 having deflection characters 115a, 115b consisting of groups A and B alternately, and an upper sheet 112 provided above it and having a deflection band 114.
Arithmetic element 1 corresponds to the key name of each group.
A changeover switch 117 that switches the inside of 22
is installed. In the first and second embodiments described above, the reflective sheet 16 was provided, but here the key contact sheet 116 also serves as the reflective sheet. Also,
The cabinet consists of a lower cabinet 130c and an upper cabinet 130d. This figure shows a state in which the key names of the A group, that is, the function names 115a are visible, and at this time, the changeover switch 117 causes the arithmetic element 122 to function in accordance with the key name of the A group. Then, when the changeover switch 117 is switched, this switch 117
The lower sheet 113 connected to
Since it is located below the character 115b of group B, the character 115b of group B is visible, and the inside of the arithmetic element is switched to function in accordance with the key name of group B. In this way, since the interior of the arithmetic element 122 is also switched at the same time as the key names 115a and 115b are switched, it is not necessary to specify the function of the key by a second function key (2ndF) as in the conventional example shown in FIG. As a result, only one operation is required, the possibility of pressing the wrong key is reduced, and key input becomes extremely easy.

<Effects of the invention> As is clear from the above, according to this invention,
Only the overlapping part of the first light deflection section and the second light deflection section appears as black letters, and by changing the position of the lower sheet, the black letters can be changed and erased, so they can be seen all at once. The number of key names can be reduced, allowing you to easily and quickly select the required key, and it also eliminates the impression that devices with a fashionable design have a rigid image, giving a good impression in terms of design. There are also advantages.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the first embodiment of this invention;
FIGS. 2a and 2b are an enlarged perspective view and a sectional view showing the main parts of the key input device of the second embodiment, respectively, and FIG.
The figure is a side sectional view showing the third embodiment;
b and c are diagrams showing a front view, a side view, and a calculation example of a conventional example, respectively. 11,111...touch key, 12,112...
...Top sheet, 13,13',113...Bottom sheet, 14,114...Deflection band, 15,1
5', 115a, 115b... biased characters.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] An upper sheet partially provided with a first light deflection section that deflects incident light so as to have a first polarization plane; A key input device comprising: a second light deflection section that deflects incident light so as to have a polarization plane; and a lower transparent sheet that is provided in a predetermined character shape and that is movable in parallel relative to the upper sheet. .