JPH11143410A - Self-illuminated display structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a self-illuminated display structure capable of simultaneously showing two kinds of emitting states on the display part of a control button or the like with the operation of a switch. SOLUTION: A pushbutton 1 is provided having a display part 2 providing emissive display, a direct light emitter 12 causing the display part 2 to emit light, by supplying light directly to the display part 2 from its back, and an indirect light emitter 14 allowing light to pass therethrough from an incidence plane to cause the display part 2 to indirectly emit light through the reflection of the light. A switch 16 for turning on and off at least either one of the indirect light emitter 14 or the direct light emitter 12 is provided, and a boss 8 for pressing the switch and an elastic hinge part 4 are further formed on the pushbutton 1. A letter or mark is printed on the back of the display part 2 and thereby the display 2 is normally made to emit light by the indirect light emitter 14. Further, by causing the boss 8 of the pushbutton 1 to press the switch, the direct light emitter 12 emits light to cause the printed letter or mark to be displayed in the display part 2 which normally emits light.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-illuminated display structure, and more particularly, to a self-illuminated display structure for displaying an operation state on a display surface such as a push button by blinking a light emitting body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional self-illuminated display structure, for example, in order to display a display design such as a plurality of characters or figures to a user, light of a luminous body (eg, an LED) is applied to a light transmitting member on which the display design is printed. The characters and marks are transmitted to transmit the light, and the transmitted light is reflected by a semi-reflector on a display unit to display a display design. Such a structure in which light is indirectly reflected and displayed is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-50192.

[0003] Since this indirect display structure uses a plurality of LEDs, various luminescent colors can be displayed simultaneously. However, there is a problem that the space and the design are suppressed because the structure is enlarged by a plurality of LEDs, semi-reflectors, and the like.

Here, apart from the indirect display structure, there is a structure in which a display portion is directly illuminated by a luminous body to display characters and marks. This is, for example, the ON
In order to display or confirm the operation state of the / OFF switch, a push button formed of a transparent resin or the like is provided, and a luminous body is installed on the back side of the push button, and the switch is turned on / off.
The light-emitting body emits light in conjunction with the FF operation to display characters and marks printed on the push buttons.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional self-illuminated display structure applied to such a push button, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a side surface of the push button shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a conventional self-illuminating display structure applied to a push button is provided in a case (not shown) of an electric device or the like.
A push button 40 mounted on the light emitting device, a light emitter 52 for emitting light from the push button, and a switch 56 for turning on and off the light emitter in conjunction with the ON / OFF operation of the push button are provided.

The push button 40 has a thin plate-shaped light guide 46 through which the light of the light emitter 52 passes.
And a boss 4 protruding from the back surface of the display unit 42 and projecting from the back surface of the display unit 42 to turn on / off the switch 56.
8 are integrally formed.

The light guide 46 has elastic hinges 44 extending in parallel from both sides of the upper end. At the tip of the extending hinge portion 44, a mounting portion (not shown) for fixing to a case such as an electric device is integrally formed. When the mounting portion is fixed to a case such as an electric device, the push button 40 is fixed in a state where the surface of the display portion 42 slightly protrudes from the panel portion 60 (see FIG. 4) of the case. Such a push button 40 is formed of a transparent resin such as PS (polystyrene) or AS (styrene acrylonitrile copolymer). Further, the push button 40 has a diffusion processing section 43 which has been subjected to a processing such as a milky white processing, a medium printing, or a reflector for irregularly reflecting the light of the light emitting body 52 transmitted from the back surface of the display section 42. This makes it possible to prevent light unevenness. Further, an LED is used as the light emitting body 52 for causing the display unit 42 to emit light.

As described above, the light emission of the display section 42 of the push button 40 is activated when the user applies a pressing force to the display section 42 in the direction of the switch 56. When a pressing force is applied to the display unit 42, the push button 40 moves in the direction of the switch 56. At this time, a force opposite to the pressing force is applied to the push button 40 by the elasticity of the hinge portion 44 having a mounting portion (not shown) fixed to the case as a fulcrum. Accordingly, when the pressing force is released, the push button 40 returns to the original position. When the push button 40 is moved in the direction of the switch 56 by the pressing pressure, the switch 5 is moved by the boss 48 provided on the back surface of the push button 40.
6 is pressed to turn ON / OFF. O of this switch 56
The light emitter 52 is turned on and off in conjunction with the N / OFF operation. As described above, the user presses the display section 4 of the push button 40.
When a pressing force is applied to 2 and the light emitting body 52 is turned on, the switch 5
The switch 6 is turned on, and the switch 56 is turned off when the light emitting body 52 is turned off by applying a pressing force again. Thereby, the user can grasp the operation state of the switch 56 at a glance.

[0009]

However, in recent years, the self-illuminated display structure of electrical equipment and the like has become more complicated in display method as the functions of products have been diversified, and the emission color of buttons has become important in design. I have. Therefore, in the conventional self-illuminated display structure shown in FIG. 3, since there is only one LED,
There are only two display patterns, that is, light-on and light-off. For example, there is a problem that it is difficult to always light a button and simultaneously display another luminescent color. Also, 2
It is possible to use a luminous body capable of expressing three types of colors, such as a color LED, and always illuminate the three colors alternately. However, as described above, the desired luminescent color is always illuminated. However, there is a problem that it is not possible to cope with a complicated display method such as displaying different emission colors at the same time. An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem and to provide a self-illuminated display structure capable of simultaneously displaying two types of light emission states on a display unit such as an operation button in conjunction with a switch operation. And

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a case provided with a display window, a display portion fitted in the display window, and a rear side for emitting light from the display portion. A self-illuminated display member provided with a direct light input unit that directly supplies light and an indirect light input unit that supplies light indirectly by reflection in order to cause the display unit to emit light, and to cause the display unit to emit light. An indirect illuminant that supplies light to the indirect light input unit, a direct illuminant that supplies light to the direct light input unit to cause the display unit to emit light, and an indirect illuminant or direct with a predetermined operation of the self-illuminated display member A switch for turning on and off at least one of the luminous bodies;

Here, the self-illuminated display member is an operation button which forms a boss portion for pressing a switch and a hinge portion having elasticity, and the boss portion presses the switch by a predetermined operation of the hinge portion. Is used to prevent light unevenness by applying a diffusion process such as opalescent resin or medium printing that diffuses light.In addition, display designs such as letters or marks are displayed on the display directly on the light entering part. Prints characters. In addition, the indirect light emitter and the direct light emitter have 2
A color LED can be used, and the self-illuminating display member is formed of a transparent resin such as polystyrene or styrene acrylonitrile copolymer.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a self-illuminating display structure according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a self-illuminating display structure according to the present invention applied to a push button of an electric device or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment applied to a push button, a push button 1 to be mounted on a case (not shown) of an electric device or the like, and this push button is indirectly formed by utilizing light reflection. An indirect illuminant 14 for emitting light, a direct illuminant 12 for emitting light directly from the back side of the push button 1 as in the conventional self-illuminated display structure, and a illuminant in conjunction with the ON / OFF operation of the push button 1. A switch 16 for turning on and off the light is provided. The direct light emitter 12, the indirect light emitter 14, and the switch 16 are a printed circuit board 22 (see FIG. 2).
Is mounted at a predetermined position.

Here, the push button 1 is
A light guide section 6 for transmitting and transmitting the light of the indirect luminous body 14 and the direct luminous body 12 to emit light, a rectangular display section 2 protruding from the surface of the light guide section 6, and a back surface of the display section 2 And a boss 8 that protrudes to turn the switch 16 on / off. At the upper end of the light guide section 6, elastic hinge sections 4 extend in parallel from both sides. A mounting portion (not shown) for fixing to a case such as an electric device is integrally formed at the tip of the extending hinge portion 4. When the mounting portion is fixed to a case such as an electric device, the push button 1 is fixed in a state where the surface of the display portion 2 slightly protrudes from the panel portion 20 (see FIG. 2) of the case. Such a push button 1 is made of PS (polystyrene) or AS
(Styrene acrylonitrile copolymer).

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a side surface of the push button shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the light from the indirect light emitter 14 is applied to the light guide 6 of the push button 1.
An incident surface 9 that transmits light is formed. The light guide 6 has an upper reflection surface 5 for reflecting transmitted light in the light guide 6.
And a lower reflecting surface 7. This lower reflective surface 7
Is provided with a processing unit 3 formed of a diffusion plate formed of a milky material or a diffusion sheet printed with a medium to diffusely reflect light directly transmitted from the light emitting body 12. This makes it possible to prevent light unevenness. Further, in the processing unit 3, a display design such as a character or a mark is printed in solid black with a character blank. Thereby, the display design can be displayed on the display unit 2 by directly transmitting the light of the light emitter 12 through the processing unit 3.

The light guide 6 is bent at a predetermined angle with respect to the hinge 4 extending vertically. this is,
The refractive index of light of the transparent resin forming the push button 1 (with respect to air, PS is 1.59 to 1.6, AS is 1.56 to
According to 1.57), the angle r of the incident surface 9 for transmitting the light of the indirect light-emitting body 14 and the angle i of the upper reflecting surface 5 and the lower reflecting surface 7 that can reflect the transmitted light and guide it to the display unit 2. Is set. For example, the critical angle at which light is reflected is that PS is 38.97 ° to 38.68 °,
AS is 39.87 ° to 39.56 °, and by setting the angle of the critical angle to be greater than the angle r of the incident surface 9, the light transmitted through the push button 1 exits from the light guide section 6. The light reaches the display unit 2 without being reflected. Here, when the incident angle r of the incident surface 9 becomes smaller, the reflection angles i of the upper reflecting surface 5 and the lower reflecting surface 7 also become smaller, and the state of the angle formed by the upper reflecting surface 5 and the hinge 4 becomes a right angle. As a result, the distance between the indirect light emitter 14 and the direct light emitter 12 on the printed circuit board 22 is reduced, and it becomes impossible to have two light emitters.

Here, the dotted line in the light guide 6 shown in FIG. 2 is a simulation of light transmitted from the indirect light emitter 14 to the light guide 6 at an incident angle of about 20 °. In addition, since the light from the direct light emitter 12 is transmitted from the low-density air layer to the plastic having a higher density than the air, the lower reflection surface 7 can transmit to the light guide 6 at any angle. .

The light emission of the display unit 2 of the push button 1 is, for example, a first light emission in which the push button 1 is constantly emitted by the indirect light emitter 14 and a pressing force applied by the user to the display unit 2. The second light emission that emits light from the display unit 2 by the direct light emitter 12 can be realized. This light emission is performed by the following operation. First, an indirect luminous body 1 that constantly emits light
The light 4 passes through the light guide 6 of the push button 1 via the incident surface 9. As a result, light is transmitted to the upper reflecting surface 5 in the light guide 6.
And reaches the display unit 2 while reflecting between the lower reflective surface 7. The light reflected in the light guide 6 reaches the display 2 and causes the display 2 to always emit light. In this way, the first light emission in which the indirect light emitter 14 constantly emits light from the push button 1 is executed.

When the user applies a pressing force to the push button 1 which always emits light, the push button 1 moves in the direction of the switch 16. At this time, a force opposite to the pressing force is applied to the push button 1 by the elasticity of the hinge portion 4 having a mounting portion (not shown) fixed to the case as a fulcrum. Accordingly, when the pressing force is released, the push button 1 returns to the original position. When the push button 1 is moved in the direction of the switch 16 by the pressing force of the user, the switch 16 is pressed by a boss 8 provided on the back surface of the push button 1 to be turned ON / OFF.
The light emitter 12 is turned on and off directly in conjunction with the ON / OFF operation of the switch 16. As described above, the user applies a pressing force to the display unit 2 of the push button 1 to directly
When the light 2 is turned on, a display design such as a character or a mark is projected on the display unit 2, and the switch 16 is turned on. When the light emitting body 12 is turned off directly by applying a pressing force again, the display design such as a character or a mark projected on the display unit 2 disappears, and the switch 16 is turned off. As a result, the display unit 2 is changed from a state in which the indirect light emitter 14 is constantly turned on to a state in which the direct light emitter 12 interlocked with the ON / OFF operation of the switch 16 displays characters and marks in the push button 1 which emits light. The second light emission for displaying the display design is executed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the appearance can be clearly seen while always being lit, and characters and marks can be turned on or off by turning on / off the switch from this state. An unprecedented appearance is obtained, and the structure is particularly suitable for use in darkness.
On the other hand, when standby is performed with the POWER key or the like, only the mark is emitted in the push button, and the mark is emitted in the push button as it is.
By pressing the push button (POWER ON), it is also possible to use the device such that the entire device shines. Here, LEDs are used as the direct light emitters 12 and the indirect light emitters 14 for causing the display unit to emit light. If two-color LEDs are used as the light emitters, patterns that can be displayed further increase. Further, the direct light-emitting body 12 and the indirect light-emitting body 14 can be turned on at the same time and displayed in an intermediate color.

Although the embodiment of the self-illuminated display structure according to the present invention has been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. is there. For example, although the embodiment applied to the push button has been described, the present embodiment is not limited to the push button and can be applied to a light emitting surface other than the push button. Further, in the present embodiment, the processing unit that diffuses light with an opalescent material or a medium printing or the like has been described, but is not limited thereto. For example, irregularities may be formed on the surface to diffusely reflect light. .

[0021]

As described above, according to the self-illuminated display structure of the present invention, it is possible to realize a characteristic appearance in which a display design such as a character or a mark emerges in a light-emitting push button. As described above, it is possible to secure a product excellent in appearance that always emits light without the light emission of the push button being extinguished. In addition, since a desired light emission color is always turned on and another light emission color can be simultaneously displayed, various display methods can be supported, and a user can easily determine the operation state of a complicated switch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a self-illuminating display structure according to the present invention applied to a push button.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a side surface of the push button shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional self-illuminated display structure applied to a push button.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a side surface of the push button shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Push button 2 Display part 4 Hinge part 6 Light guide part 8 Boss 12 Direct light emitter 14 Indirect light emitter 16 Switch

Claims (6)

[Claims] A case having a display window; a display unit fitted to the display window; a direct light input unit for directly supplying light from the back side to cause the display unit to emit light;
A self-illuminating display member including an indirect light input unit that indirectly transmits and transmits light by reflection to cause the display unit to emit light; and an indirect supply unit that supplies light to the indirect light input unit to cause the display unit to emit light. A light-emitting body, a direct light-emitting body that supplies light to the direct light-entering unit to cause the display unit to emit light, and at least one of the indirect light-emitting body or the direct light-emitting body in accordance with a predetermined operation of the self-illuminating display member. A self-illuminating display structure comprising a switch for turning on and off the light. 2. The self-illuminating display structure according to claim 1, wherein the self-illuminating display member forms a boss for pressing the switch and an elastic hinge, and the boss is formed by a predetermined operation of the hinge. A self-illuminated display structure, wherein the unit is an operation button for pressing the switch. 3. The self-illuminated display structure according to claim 1, wherein the direct light-entering portion of the self-illuminated display member is subjected to a diffusion process such as a milky resin that diffuses light or a medium printing to prevent light unevenness. A self-illuminating display structure, characterized in that: 4. The self-illuminating display structure according to claim 1, wherein the direct light-entering portion of the self-illuminating display member displays a display design such as a character or a graphic on the display portion by light emission of the direct light emitter. A self-illuminated display structure, characterized in that the display design is printed with letters. 5. The self-illuminated display structure according to claim 1, wherein the indirect light emitter and the direct light emitter are two-color LEDs. 6. The self-illuminated display structure according to claim 1, wherein the self-illuminated display member is formed of a transparent resin such as polystyrene or styrene acrylonitrile copolymer.