JP5278066B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light emitting device which emits light from a light emitting member having an annular design surface with less luminance unevenness. <P>SOLUTION: The light emitting device 50 includes an annular base part 5k having a ring shaped light emitting surface 5h, light sources 71-74 arranged in an opening part 5k1 in a center of the base part 5k and emitting light to an outer direction of a diameter, and light guide pieces 5a-5d extending from the base part 5k to the light sources 71-74, guiding light from the light sources 71-74 and guiding into the base part 5. The light guide pieces 5a-5b include reflection parts 5a3s-5d3s for reflecting a part of the guided light from the light sources 71-74 to diffuse inside the base part 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an input device provided with a frame body having a light-emission design surface of the input buttons and the annular, in particular, relates to input apparatus unevenness in luminance of the design surface is not low.

In a switch having a knob or an indicator indicating power on / off in an audio device, light from a light source such as an LED is guided and guided into a light guide member formed of a transparent resin and emitted from a predetermined end surface. There is known a light emitting device that emits the emitted light to a knob or an indicator to emit light.
In addition, when the member that emits light does not move, there is a light emitting device in which the end face of the light guide member is the light emitting surface.

Moreover, there exists what made the shape of the design surface which light-emits the shape of a ring or an arc, and there exists a light-emitting device described in patent document 1 as an example which made it cyclic | annular.
The light emitting device described in Patent Document 1 includes a light guide having a ring-shaped design surface and light source means for introducing light into the light guide.

JP 2003-207372 A

In recent years, in an apparatus including an image display unit, an input method in which a plurality of icons are displayed on the screen of the image display unit and a user selects the icons with a cursor or the like is frequently used.
In this case, normally, an input device that can perform input in a procedure of moving the selection position up, down, left, and right and then determining the position is suitable.
In such an input device, it is generally performed that an operation element for performing input in the up, down, left, and right directions is annular, and a determination button is disposed at the center position of the annular operation element.

  The input device is equipped with a light emitting device, and it is effective to arrange, for example, an annular member that emits light with the surface as a design surface in the vicinity of the operation element in order to improve designability and operability in a dark place. The light emitting function is also demanded by the market.

As a method for emitting light on the annular design surface, for example, the method described in Patent Document 1 can be applied.
Specifically, the disc-shaped light guide is disposed so that the outer peripheral surface thereof faces the annular member, and the light from the plurality of LEDs disposed in the circumferential direction inside the annular member is received. , Introduced from the surface of the light guide into the inside and guided to the outer peripheral side, deflected by 90 ° by reflection at the reflecting portion provided on the outer peripheral portion of the light guide plate, and annularly formed from the surface on the outer peripheral side to the outside It is a method of emitting light and irradiating the annular member with the annular emitted light.

  However, in this method, since the light emission luminance of the annular member is high in the angular direction in which the LEDs are disposed and is low in the range between adjacent LEDs, it is easy to recognize luminance unevenness in the circumferential direction.

  In order to suppress this uneven brightness and obtain a more uniform light emission brightness, it is sufficient to arrange many LEDs by narrowing the arrangement angle interval in the circumferential direction of the LEDs, but the number of parts increases and the cost increases. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to realize a small input device due to space limitations.

This problem also occurs in the case where the design surface of the annular member is not a continuous annular shape but is an arc shape such as a C shape or a bow shape in which a part of the ring is missing.
This problem occurs not only in the input device but also in a case where a light-emitting member having a light-emitting design surface is an annular or arc-shaped indicator.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide is to provide a input device that can be made to emit light with less luminance unevenness emitting member having a design surface of the annular.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
1) an annular base having a ring-like light exit surface (5 g), the central opening of the base portion (5k) (
5k1) around the center (5CT) of the base (5k) at a predetermined angular interval, and a plurality of light sources (71 to 74) that emit light toward the outside of the diameter, and the base (5k) Each of the plurality of light sources (71 to 74) extends toward the light source and ends (5a1 to 5d).
A plurality of light guide pieces (5a to 5d) for introducing light from the light sources (71 to 74) from 1) into the base (5k) and the light exiting surface facing the light exit surface (5g) An annular frame (1) having a light incident surface for receiving light from the surface (5g) and an opening range inside the frame (1) and pushed into the base (5k) side Possible input button (2), push switches (81 to 84) that operate by pressing force by pressing the input button (2), push switches (81 to 84), and light sources (71 to 74) ) Mounted board (6)
And the plurality of light guide pieces (5a to 5d) are respectively connected to the introduced light sources (71 to 71).
74) a reflecting portion (5a3) that reflects a part of the light from the base portion (5k) so as to diffuse inside the base portion (5k).
s-5d3s), and the push switches (81-84) include the plurality of light guide pieces (5
an input device (51), which is arranged between a and 5d) .

  According to the present invention, the annular design surface can be made to emit light with little luminance unevenness.

It is a figure which shows the video camera provided with 1st Example of the input device of this invention. It is a figure explaining the visible range in 1st Example of the input device of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view for demonstrating 1st Example of the light-emitting device and input device of this invention. It is a top view for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of LED, a switch, etc. in 1st Example of the light-emitting device and input device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the light-guide plate in 1st Example of the light-emitting device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the buffer board in 1st Example of the input device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the determination button in 1st Example of the input device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the selection button in 1st Example of the input device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the frame in 1st Example of the input device of this invention. It is a half sectional view for explaining the structure of the first embodiment of the light emitting device and the input device of the present invention. It is a top view for demonstrating the principal part in 1st Example of the light-emitting device of this invention. It is a perspective fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the path | route of the light in 1st Example of the light-emitting device of this invention. It is the perspective fragmentary sectional view seen from another angle for demonstrating the path | route of the light in 1st Example of the light-emitting device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the modification of the principal part in 1st Example of the light-emitting device of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view for demonstrating 2nd Example of the light-emitting device and input device of this invention. It is a top view for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of LED, a switch, etc. in 2nd Example of the light-emitting device and input device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the light-guide plate in 2nd Example of the light-emitting device of this invention. It is a half sectional view for explaining a schematic structure of a second embodiment of the light emitting device and the input device of the present invention. It is a top view for demonstrating the principal part in 1st Example of the light-emitting device of this invention. It is a perspective fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the path | route of the light in 1st Example of the light-emitting device of this invention.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
<First embodiment>
As an embodiment of the present invention, an input device 51 including a light emitting device 50 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 50 according to the embodiment is disposed on a side surface of a main body 52 </ b> A of a commercial video camera 52. The video camera 52 includes a lens 52B, a handle 52C, a viewfinder 52D, and the like, and is operated by a user via the input device 50 and the like.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the visible range of the input device 50.
In FIG. 2, an input device 51 includes an annular frame 1, a ring-shaped selection button 2 that is disposed within an opening range inside the ring frame 1 and has an opening 2a at the center, and is disposed within the opening 2a. And a disc-shaped determination button 3.
The input device 50 is attached to the side of the main body of the video camera 52, and the frame 1, the selection button 2, and the decision button 3 are visually recognized from the outside.

The frame 1 has a ring-shaped visible range as a design surface 1a.
The input device 51 includes a light emitting device 50 inside so that the design surface 1a emits light. Details of the light emitting device 50 will be described later.

The selection button 2 can be pushed into the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 2 on the four vertical, left, and right edge portions shown in FIG. 2, and an input selection operation is executed by this pushing.
The selection button 2 has a predetermined range extending from the outer edge to the center side in accordance with the shape of the finger so as to provide a good contact feeling when the user pushes it with the finger. Recesses 2c1 to 2c4 are formed.

  The decision button 3 can be pushed into the back side of the sheet of FIG. 2, and the item selected by the selection button 2 can be decided by this depression.

The user can assign a function to the pressing operation of the selection button 2 and the determination button 3 and select and determine the operation, mode (playback / recording / standby, etc.) of the video camera 51 and the like.
As an example, the pressing of the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the selection button 2 is assigned to the up, down, left, and right movement of the highlight area on the screen, and the desired icon among the displayed icons is aligned. Use to select an icon. Alternatively, it is used for the playback operation of the recorded video, and the right-side depression of the selection button 2 is reproduced, the left-side depression is reversely reproduced, the upper-side depression is fast-forwarded, the lower-side depression is fast-returned, and the decision button 3 is depressed. And assign.

  When the input device 51 is selected and determined by the selection button 2 and the determination button 3, the design surface 1 a of the frame body 1 emits light by the light emitting device 50 in a color corresponding to the determined operation and mode. This light emission control is performed by a control unit mounted on the video camera 52 side.

  Next, a specific configuration of the input device 51 and the light emitting device 50 included in the input device 51 will be described. First, an outline of the configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the input device 51 including the light emitting device 50.

  3, the input device 51 includes a plurality of LEDs 71 to 74 as a light source and a plurality of small push switches (hereinafter simply referred to as switches) 81 to 85, and engages with the engagement square hole 6a at a predetermined position. A substrate 6 provided with four round holes 6b, a light guide plate 5 disposed on the substrate 6, a buffer plate 4 disposed on the light guide plate 5, and a decision placed on the buffer plate 4. A button 3, a selection button 2, and a frame 1.

  In this configuration, the selection button 2 includes four engagement arms 2b protruding downward on the lower surface in FIG. 3, and the selection button 2 is provided at the tip of the engagement arm 2b. When the claw portion 2b1 engages with the engagement angle hole 6a of the substrate 6, the determination button 3, the buffer plate 4, and the light guide plate 5 are mounted on the substrate 6 so as to be sandwiched between them. .

  In addition, the light guide plate 5 includes four protrusions 5f (not shown in FIG. 3, not shown in FIG. 5) protruding downward in FIG. 3 on the lower surface in FIG. The protrusions 5f are engaged with the engagement round holes 6b of the substrate 6 so that the LEDs 71 to 74 disposed on the substrate 6 are positioned.

  Next, each member will be described in detail.

  First, the substrate 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 4A is a plan view of the substrate 4, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the substrate 6.

On the substrate 6, the centers of the other four switches 81 to 84 centering on the switch 85 are arranged in a cross shape so as to be positioned on an arc having a radius R 1 from the center CT of the switch 85.
In other words, the switches 81 to 84 are disposed at a distance R1 from the center CT so as to be separated from each other by 90 ° around the center CT.
If the axis is set in a cross shape and the vertical and horizontal axes are set as shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4A corresponds to the vertical and horizontal directions of the selection button 2 shown in FIG.

On the substrate 6, four LEDs 71 to 74 are arranged around the center CT and shifted by 45 ° in the circumferential direction with respect to the switches 81 to 84.
The outer surfaces of the LEDs 71 to 74 are light emitting surfaces 71a to 74a, and the LEDs 71 to 74 are disposed so that the light emitting surfaces are in contact with a circle having a radius R2 from the center CT. The radius R2 and the radius R1 are set as R2 <R1.

As the LEDs 71 to 74, for example, red, blue, and green three-color LEDs capable of emitting light alone or in combination can be used.
A connector 6c is attached to the substrate 6, and signal exchange with the outside (the control unit side of the video camera 52) is performed via the connector 6c.

  5 shows the light guide plate 5, FIG. 5A is a top view, FIG. 5B is a front (side) view, FIG. 5C is a bottom view, and FIG. 5D is FIG. It is S5-S5 sectional drawing in).

  The light guide plate 5 is formed by injection molding a transparent thermoplastic resin. Examples of the resin used include PMMA resin (polymethyl methacrylate resin) and PC resin (polycarbonate resin).

  The light guide plate 5 projects from a ring-shaped base portion 5k and a central opening 5k1 of the base portion 5k toward the center 5CT from the inner peripheral surface of the base portion 5k and protrudes at a position shifted by 90 ° in the circumferential direction. Pieces 5a to 5d.

The base portion 5k is a chamfered portion 5e in which a corner on the bottom surface side is inclined at a predetermined angle θ. In the embodiment, θ = 45 ° is set.
This angle θ is not limited to 45 °. Further, the surface of the chamfered portion 5e is not limited to the peripheral surface that is a straight line in the cross section, and may be a peripheral surface that is a curve in the cross section.
Further, the height t1 of the chamfered portion 5e is set so that the thickness of the base portion 5k is t0.
A range of 0.7 ≦ t1 / t0 ≦ 1.0 may be set.

  On the bottom side of the light guide pieces 5a to 5d, as described above, four protrusions 5f that are engaged with the engagement round holes 6b of the substrate 6 to be positioned for the light guide plate 5 are formed.

Four cylindrical protrusions 5g are also formed on the top surface side of the light guide pieces 5a to 5d.
The protrusion 5g is engaged with an engagement round hole 4i of the buffer plate 4 described later, and the buffer plate 4 is positioned.

  Here, the light guide pieces 5a to 5d will be described in detail. Since each of the light guide pieces 5a to 5d has the same shape, one of the light guide pieces may be described below as a representative.

  In FIG. 5A, the light guide pieces 5a to 5d are formed with a cylindrical surface having a radius R3 from the central axis 5CTZ of the light guide plate 5 (a line perpendicular to the paper surface passing through the center 5CT). , Intersecting lines PL1 to the plane perpendicular to the paper surface including the central axis 5CTZ and the lines L1 and L2 that intersect at 45 ° with respect to the respective axes when the vertical axis and the horizontal axis are set as shown in FIG. A semi-cylindrical surface having PL4 as a central axis is provided as light introduction surfaces 5a1 to 5d1. As will be described later, light from the LEDs 71 to 74 is introduced into the light guide plate 5 through the introduction surfaces 5a1 to 5d1.

  In addition, the light guide pieces 5a to 5d have a pair of side surfaces 5a2 to 5d2 and 5a2 to 5d2 that are spaced apart from each other toward the outer peripheral side from the LEDs 71 to 74 that are light sources.

Moreover, the light guide pieces 5a to 5d have concave portions 5a3 to 5d3 that are concave inward on the bottom surface side.
The recesses 5a3 to 5d3 are formed in a generally triangular shape whose apex is on the line L1 or line L2 and symmetrical with respect to the lines L1 and L2 in the bottom view of FIG.
In the embodiment, the apex angle is set to 90 °.

The depth t2 of the recesses 5a3 to 5d3 is relative to the height t1 of the chamfered portion 5e.
It is good to set in the range of 0.3 <= t2 / t1 <= 0.7.

  6 shows the buffer plate 4, FIG. 6A is a top view, FIG. 6B is a front (side) view, FIG. 6C is a bottom view, and FIG. 6D is FIG. It is S6-S6 sectional drawing in this.

The buffer plate 4 is made translucent from silicon rubber.
The buffer plate 4 has a disk-like base portion 4k and flanges 4g and 4h which are provided at the edges of the top surface 4t and the bottom surface 4bt of the base portion 4k and rise from the respective surfaces 4k and 4bt.

A protrusion 4e is formed at the center 4CT of the buffer plate 4, and protrusions 4a to 4d are formed at positions corresponding to the switches 81 to 84 when the protrusion 4e is positioned so as to contact the switch 85 of the substrate 6. ing. That is, the protrusions 4a to 4d are arranged in a cross shape on the circumference of the radius R1.
Further, square holes 4f1 to 4f4 are formed so as to penetrate in the vicinity of the center 4CT side of the protrusions 4a to 4d.
Further, in the vicinity of the protrusion 4e, three round holes 4j are formed to penetrate each other at intervals of 90 ° in the circumferential direction.
These square holes 4f1 to 4f4 are holes through which the engaging arms 2b of the selection button 2 are inserted.

  FIG. 7 shows the enter button 3, FIG. 7 (a) is a top view, FIG. 7 (b) is a front (side) view, and FIG. 7 (c) is a bottom view.

The decision button 3 is formed in a substantially flat cylindrical shape by injection molding of a thermoplastic resin. Examples of the resin used include ABS resin (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene resin).
The decision button 3 has a cylindrical base 3k, a flange 3a protruding in a radial shape on the bottom surface side of the base 3k, and three protrusions 3b protruding on the bottom surface side.
The three protrusions 3b are engaged with the circular holes 4j of the buffer plate 4, and the position of the determination button 3 with respect to the buffer plate 4 is determined.

  8 shows the selection button 2. FIG. 8A is a top view, FIG. 8B is a front (side) view, and FIG. 8C is a bottom view.

  The selection button 2 is formed by injection molding of a thermoplastic resin. Examples of the resin used include ABS resin (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene resin).

The selection button 2 is formed in a ring plate shape with an opening 2a formed in the center.
On the top surface side of the selection button 2, four recesses 2c1 to 2c4 are formed at 90 ° angular intervals around the center 2CT.
On the bottom surface side of the selection button 2, four engagement arms 2b are erected at 90 ° angular intervals around the center 2CT. A key-like claw portion 2b1 is formed on the distal end side of the engaging arm 2b.

  9 shows the frame 1, FIG. 1 (a) is a top view, and FIG. 1 (b) is a front (side) view.

  The frame 1 is formed in a ring shape by injection molding a transparent thermoplastic resin. Examples of the resin used include PMMA resin (polymethyl methacrylate resin) and PC resin (polycarbonate resin).

The frame 1 has a base 1k that has an opening 1b and has a ring shape, and a flange 1c that protrudes radially outward on the outer peripheral surface of the base 1k.
The stippling range in FIG. 1A, which is the visible range on the top side of the base 1k, is the design surface 1a.

  Each member mentioned above is assembled as the input device 51 based on FIG. FIG. 10 shows a half sectional view of the input device 51 after assembly.

Here, the engagement arm 2 b of the selection button 2 is engaged with the engagement square hole 6 a of the substrate 6 with a slight margin in the axial direction. Further, since the gap SP is formed between the buffer plate 4 and the light guide plate 5 in the range corresponding to the selection button 2 in the buffer plate 4, the vicinity of the recesses 2c1 to 2c4 of the selection button 2 and the decision button 3 When the finger 4 is pushed into the substrate 4 side, the buffer plate 4 can be elastically deformed toward the substrate 6 side.
Specifically, the protrusions 4a to 4d of the buffer plate 4 at the position corresponding to the recesses 2c1 to 2c4 and the protrusion 4e at the position (center) corresponding to the decision button 3 are elastically deformed so as to move to the substrate side. .

Then, the moved projections 4a to 4e act as switches by pushing in the operating portions of the switches 81 to 85 disposed on the substrate 4 corresponding to the positions of the projections.
When the pushing action of a finger or the like is released, the projections 4a to 4d are restored to their original positions by the elastic repulsive force of the buffer plate 4, and accordingly, the selection button 2 and the decision button 3 are also restored to their original positions. .

  Next, the state where the light guide plate 5 is placed on the substrate 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The light emitting device 50 includes the substrate 6, the LEDs 71 to 74, and the light guide plate 5.

  In FIG. 11, the LEDs 71 to 72 are positioned so as to face the introduction surfaces 5a1 to 5d1 of the light guide pieces 5a to 5d, respectively.

  Here, in the three-color LED, the emission position of each color is usually shifted in the width direction, but since the emission surface is a diffusion surface, the deviation can be ignored in the embodiments described below. is there. Therefore, in the following description, for convenience, it is assumed that light is emitted from the center in the width direction.

  This will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 12, and 13.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the light guide piece 5b as seen from the top surface side in the axial cross section along the line L2.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the light guide piece 5b as viewed from the bottom side in the axial direction of the line L2.

Two typical optical paths K1 and K2 will be described for the light output from the LED 72.
Although the light guide piece 5b will be described as a representative of the light guide pieces 5a to 5d, the same applies to the other light guide pieces 5a, 5c, and 5d.

The first optical path K1 is an optical path that enters the introduction surface 5b1 from the incident point K1a on the top surface side (see FIGS. 10 and 12).
The light incident on the introduction surface 5b1 from the incident point K1a travels through the light guide plate 5 without hitting the recess 5b3, and reaches the point k1b of the chamfered portion 5e to be reflected.
Here, since the chamfered portion 5e is inclined, it is reflected and deflected, passes through the light emitting surface 5h on the top surface side at the point k1c, and exits to the outside. The light exit surface 5h has an annular shape.

The second optical path K2 is an optical path that enters the introduction surface 5b1 from an incident point K2a on the bottom surface side (see FIG. 13).
The light incident on the introduction surface 5b1 from the incident point K2a hits the point K2b on the side surface 5b3s of the recess 5b3 and is reflected in a direction away from the axis L2. The side surface 5b3s is formed at an angle that reflects light from the LED 72.
The light reflected at the point k2b travels in the light guide piece 5b, enters the chamfered portion 5e from an oblique direction, and is reflected at the point K2c.
Here, since the chamfered portion 5e is inclined, the chamfered portion 5e is deflected together with the reflection, passes through the light emitting surface 5h on the top surface side at the point K2d, and is emitted to the outside. The light exit surface 5h has an annular shape.
Depending on the incident angle to the light exit surface 5h, the light is reflected inward and further diffused away from the axis L2.

  As described above, the light emitting device 50 has the recesses 5a3 to 5d3 in the light guide plate 5, and the side surfaces 5a3s to 5d3s of the recesses 5a3 to 5d3 are formed at an angle that reflects the light emitted from the LEDs 71 to 74.

Further, the depth t2 of the recesses 5a3 to 5d3 is formed at the predetermined ratio described above with respect to the thickness t1 of the chamfered portion 5e in the light guide pieces 5a to 5d.
Accordingly, the amount of light emitted from the LEDs 71 to 74 approximately corresponding to a predetermined ratio is reflected by the side surfaces of the recesses 5a3 to 5d3 for 5a3s to 5d3s and diffuses in a direction away from the emission axis of the LEDs 71 to 74.
That is, the light from the LEDs 71 to 74 is diffused well in the ring-shaped base 5k, and light with less luminance unevenness is emitted from the light exit surface 5h.

  When the light exit surface 5h is used as a diffusing surface, the unevenness in brightness is further reduced since the emitted light is diffused even when emitted to the outside.

  As described above, since the light emitting device 50 according to the embodiment emits light with less luminance unevenness in a ring shape from the light exit surface 5h of the light guide plate 5, the input device 51 according to the embodiment uses the ring-shaped light as a frame. 1 is constructed so that the design surface 1a is illuminated.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the light exit surface 5 h of the light guide plate 5 is disposed so as to be located inside the inner wall of the flange 4 h of the buffer plate 4. On the other hand, the frame 1 is disposed so as to be fitted to the inner wall of the flange 4g of the buffer plate 4.
And since the frame 1 is arrange | positioned so that the bottom face may oppose the light emission surface 5h on both sides of the base 4k of the buffer plate 4, the light output from the light emission surface 5h is introduce | transduced in the frame 1 without waste. be able to.

That is, since the shape is set so that the opposing range of the frame body 1 and the light exit surface 5h of the light guide plate 5 is substantially the same, the light output is introduced into the frame body 1 more efficiently.
The light introduced into the frame body 1 from the bottom surface reaches the design surface 1a on the top surface side and exits to the outside. That is, the design surface 1a emits light.

In the embodiment, LEDs are disposed between switches disposed at positions 90 ° apart from each other as input positions of the selection button 2.
The arrangement angle interval of the switches is not limited to 90 °, but the LEDs may be arranged between a plurality of switches arranged in the circumferential direction.

Thus, by arranging the switches 81-85 and the LEDs 71-74 in the circumferential direction so as not to overlap in the circumferential direction,
The light emitting device can be built in without increasing the size of the input device.

The LED arrangement radius R2 is smaller than the switch arrangement radius R1 (see FIG. 4).
Thereby, between each switch on the circumference which is the arrangement | positioning radius R1 of switch 81-84, the light guide provided with recessed part 5a3-5d3 which diffuses the light radiate | emitted toward the outer diameter direction from LED in the circumferential direction. The pieces 5a to 5d can be arranged.

The side surfaces 5a3s to 5d3s of the recesses 5a3 to 5d3 may not be flat surfaces as described above.
As shown in FIG. 14, it may be formed on various surfaces. FIG. 14 is a view of the recesses 5 a 3 to 5 d 3 as seen from the bottom surface side of the light guide plate 5.
FIG. 14A shows an example in which the side surfaces 5a3s to 5d3s are formed as curved surfaces that are recessed inward.
FIG. 14B shows an example in which the side surfaces 5a3s to 5d3s are formed as curved surfaces protruding outward.
FIG. 14C shows an example in which the side surfaces 5a3s to 5d3s are formed as curved surfaces with the apex side formed into a flat surface and the outer peripheral side recessed into the inside.
FIG. 14 (d) is an example in which the side surfaces 5a3s to 5d3s are formed as curved surfaces with the vertex side recessed inward and the outer peripheral side is formed as a curved surface protruding outward.
The shape of the side surfaces 5a3s to 5d3s may be appropriately set according to the position and size of the recesses 5a3 to 5d3 that can be formed and the diameter and width of the design surface 1a to be diffused.

  In addition, the depth t2 of the recesses 5a3 to 5d3 is not limited to a constant one, and may be different between the LEDs 71 to 74 and the outer peripheral side. For example, the LED side (vertex side) is deep and the outer peripheral side is shallow. This is preferable because the directivity specification of the LEDs 71 to 74 is particularly strong in the front, since the reflection ratio in the vicinity of the front can be increased and the light emission luminance of the design surface 1a can be averaged.

  That is, it is desired to optimize the side surface shape of the recesses 5a3 to 5d3 mainly corresponding to the shape of the light emitting device or the input device, and the depth of the recesses 5a3 to 5d3 depends on the directivity characteristics of the LEDs 71 to 74 to be used. It is desirable to optimize.

<Second embodiment>
Next, a second example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As a second embodiment of the present invention, an input device 101 including a light emitting device 100 will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. The description of the same parts as in the first embodiment is omitted.

  A specific configuration of the input device 101 according to the second embodiment and the light emitting device 100 included in the input device 101 will be described. First, an outline of the configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the input device 101 including the light emitting device 100.

In FIG. 15, the input device 101 includes a plurality of LEDs 121 to 124 as light sources and a plurality of small push switches (hereinafter simply referred to as switches) 131 to 135, and engages with the engagement square hole 11 a at a predetermined position. A substrate 11 provided with four round holes 11b, a light guide plate 10 disposed on the substrate 11, a buffer plate 4 disposed on the light guide plate 10, and a determination to be disposed on the buffer plate 4 A button 3, a selection button 2, and a frame 1.
In this embodiment, four LEDs 121 to 124 and four switches 131 to 135 are mounted.

As in the first embodiment, the light guide plate 10 includes four protrusions 10i (not shown in FIG. 15, not shown in FIG. 17) that protrude downward in FIG. ing.
The light guide plate 10 is positioned with respect to the LEDs 121 to 124 disposed on the substrate 11 by engaging the protrusions 10 i with the engagement round holes 11 b of the substrate 11.

Next, each member will be described in detail.
First, the substrate 11 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16A is a plan view of the substrate 11, and FIG. 16B is a side view of the substrate 11.
Similar to the first embodiment, a switch 135 and four switches 131 to 134 are disposed on the substrate 11.

  Further, four LEDs 121 to 124 are disposed on the substrate 11. In FIG. 16, each of the LEDs 121 to 124 is a single LED. However, a plurality of LEDs each having a small size may be arranged, and the light emission positions may be dispersed.

FIG. 17 shows the light guide plate 10. FIG. 17A is a top view, FIG. 17B is a front (side) view, and FIG. 17C is a bottom view.
The light guide plate 10 includes a ring-shaped base portion 10k, positioning portions 10a to 10d that protrude toward the center 10CT at positions spaced 90 ° from each other in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion 10k1 of the base portion 10k, and the base portion 10k. Light guide pieces 10e to 10h projecting in a mountain shape toward the outer side in the radial direction at positions 90 ° apart from each other in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface.
The annular surface on the top surface side of the base 10k is a light exit surface 10sk from which light exits to the outside.

The bottom surface 10m of the base 10k is a rough surface. The light from the LED or the light reflected in the light guide plate 10 is reflected by the rough surface.
As a method of making the bottom surface 10 m rough, a method of performing a blasting process on the bottom surface 10 m after forming the base 10 k, or performing a blasting process or an etching process in a range corresponding to the bottom surface 10 m in the molding die There is a method of performing processing.

In this embodiment, in addition to the bottom surface 10m of the base 10k, the bottom surface 10m1 of the light guide pieces 10e to 10h is a rough surface.
Although the area | region made into a rough surface may be limited to the bottom face 10m of the base 10k, it is good also as the whole bottom face containing the positioning parts 10a-10d and the light guide pieces 10e-10h.

As described above, the protrusions 10 i that are engaged with the engagement round holes 11 b of the substrate 11 and are used for positioning the light guide plate 10 are formed on the bottom surfaces of the positioning portions 10 a to 10 d.
Similarly to the first embodiment, cylindrical projections 10j that engage with the engagement round holes 4i of the buffer plate 4 are formed on the top surfaces of the positioning portions 10a to 10d.

  Next, the light guide pieces 10e to 10h will be described in detail. Since each of the light guide pieces 10e to 10h has the same shape, any one of the light guide pieces may be described below as a representative.

In FIG. 17A, the light guide pieces 10e to 10h have a substantially right triangle shape.
Specifically, when assuming a square SH circumscribed by the annular base portion 10k of the light guide plate 10 (indicated by a one-dot chain line), the long side surfaces 10en to 10hn and the square SH at positions substantially overlapping each side of the square SH. The long side surfaces 10en to 10hn and the short side surfaces 10et to 10ht which are orthogonal to the long side surfaces 10en to 10hn are formed.
The short side surfaces 10et to 10ht are introduction surfaces through which light from the LEDs 121 to 124 is introduced into the light guide pieces 10e to 10h.
In FIG. 17A, positioning portions 10a to 10d protrude from the inner peripheral surface of base 10k toward center 10CT, and side surface portion 10b1 is connected to the inner peripheral surface from arc-shaped portion 10ek and arc-shaped portion 10ek. And an R-shaped portion 10er.
The side surface portion 10b1 is not limited to the curved surface having the arc-shaped portion 10ek, but may be a flat surface as shown in FIG. 20, for example.

  Each member mentioned above is assembled as the input device 101 as shown in FIG. FIG. 18 is a half sectional view of the input device 101 after assembly.

Next, the state where the light guide plate 10 is placed on the substrate 11 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 19 is a plan view of the substrate 11 on which the light guide plate 10 is placed.

In FIG. 19, the light emitting device 10 includes a substrate 11 and LEDs 121 to 124.
The LEDs 121 to 124 are arranged on the substrate 11 so as to face the introduction surfaces 10e1 to 10h1 of the light guide pieces 10e to 10h, respectively.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the light guide piece 10e to 10h as a representative, including the vicinity of the light guide piece 10f, and is a perspective view from the top side. With reference to FIG. The first to fourth optical paths L1, L2, L3, and L4, which are representative four optical paths, will be described.
Moreover, the planar path | route about each optical path is shown using the broken line in FIG.
The four light paths L1 to L4 are similarly applied to the other light guide pieces 10e, 10g, and 10h.
In the following description, for the sake of easy understanding, it is assumed that light emitted from the LED 123 is emitted from a light emitting point PT on the light emitting surface for convenience.

In FIG. 20, the first optical path L1 is an optical path that exits from the exit point PT of the LED 123 and enters the introduction surface 10f1 from the incident point L1a.
In the first optical path L1, the light incident on the introduction surface 10f1 travels through the light guide plate 10, reaches the point L1b on the bottom surface 10m of the light guide piece 10f, and is reflected.
Here, since the bottom surface 10m is a rough surface, the light is irregularly reflected, passes through the top surface of the light guide plate 10 at the light exit points L1c1, L1c2, and L1c3, and exits to the outside.
Actually, the light is emitted as diffused light rather than passing through only three points.
In FIG. 20, three points are shown as representative points. In the following description, representative points may be described in the same manner.
In FIG. 20, among the light exit points L1c1, L1c2, and L1c3, the light exit points L1c2 and L1c3 represent the light exit points on the light exit surface 10sk.

The second optical path L2 is an optical path that emits light from the light exit point PT of the LED 123 and enters the introduction surface 10f1 from the incident point L2a.
In the second optical path L2, the light incident on the introduction surface 10f1 travels in the light guide plate 10, reaches the point L2b on the bottom surface 10m of the light guide piece 10f, and is reflected.
Here, since the bottom surface 10m is a rough surface, the light is irregularly reflected, passes through the light exit surface 10sk of the light guide plate 10 at the light exit points L2c1, L2c2, and L2c3, and exits to the outside.

In FIG. 20, the third optical path L3 is an optical path that exits from the exit point PT of the LED 123 and enters the introduction surface 10f1 from the incident point L3a.
In the third optical path L3, the light incident on the introduction surface 10f1 travels in the light guide plate 10, reaches the point L3b on the bottom surface 10m of the light guide piece 10f, and is reflected.
Here, since the bottom surface 10m is a rough surface, the light is irregularly reflected, passes through the light exit surface 10sk of the light guide plate 10 at the light exit points L3c1, L3c2, and L3c3, and exits to the outside.

  Since the third optical path L3 is a path that emits light at an angle inclined with respect to the front of the LED 123, the amount of light is small due to the light distribution characteristics of the LED, but as will be described later, from the adjacent LED in the upper part of FIG. Since the light from the fourth optical path L4a also reaches, a sufficient amount of light can be secured by combining this light.

The fourth optical path L4 in the LED 123 is an optical path located between the first optical path L1 and the second optical path L2, and is a path through which light enters the base 10k in the extending direction. In other words, it is an optical path that allows light from the LED 123 to enter the tangential direction of the base 10k through the light guide piece 10f.
This is an optical path that emits light from the light exit point PT of the LED 123 and enters the introduction surface 10f1 from the incident point L4a.
In the fourth optical path L4, the light incident on the introduction surface 10f1 travels in the light guide plate 10, reaches the point L4b on the bottom surface 10m of the base 10k, and is reflected toward the top surface side.
Since the fourth optical path is a path that travels almost in front of the LED, the amount of light is large due to the light distribution characteristics, but the distance traveling inside the base 10k is long, and the amount of light when reaching the bottom surface 10m is compared with the case of other optical paths. And it is getting less.
However, in this embodiment, the light traveling on the fourth optical path L4 is combined with the light L3a traveling on the third optical path from the adjacent LED to be used for light output from the light output surface sk, and from the light output surface sk. The light output is sufficient.

The positional relationship in the circumferential direction between the positioning portions 10a to 10d provided on the inner peripheral surface of the base 10k and the light guide pieces 10e to 10h provided on the outer peripheral surface can be arbitrarily set.
When this positional relationship is set as shown in FIG. 17, FIG. 19, and FIG. 20, a fifth optical path is obtained, which will be described below.

In FIG. 20 (see also FIG. 17), the fifth optical path L5 is an optical path that emits light from the light exit point PT of the LED 123 and enters the introduction surface 10f1 from the incident point L5a.
In the fifth optical path L5, the light incident on the introduction surface 10f1 travels through the light guide piece 10f, passes through the base portion 10k, reaches the point 10b1a on the side surface portion 10b1 of the positioning portion 10b, and is reflected.
Here, if the side surface portion 10b1 is a rough surface, the light is irregularly reflected. Further, if the side surface 10b1 is disposed so as to face the LED 123 and the surface is set so that the light from the LED 123 reflects and returns to the light guide piece 10f, the light from the LED 123 is more efficiently designed. The light can be emitted from 1a. That is, the curvature may be set when the side surface portion 10b1 is a curved surface, and the angle may be set as such when the side surface portion 10b1 is a flat surface.

Further, if the side surface 10b1 is formed with a surface such that the light reflected at the point 10b1a proceeds to the upper side of FIG. 20 inside the base 10k, the light emitted from the design surface 1a is converted into luminance. Light with extremely little unevenness can be obtained.
That is, the positioning portion 10b may be disposed so as to have the side surface portion 10b1 facing the LED 123.

Moreover, it is good to form the side part 10b1 so that it may have the surface which reflects so that the light from LED123 may return to the light guide piece 10f.
Moreover, it is good to form the side part 10b1 so that it may have the surface which reflects so that the light from LED123 may go to the LED side which adjoins.

As described above, the light from the LEDs 121 to 124 travels along the optical path represented by the first to fourth optical paths, diffuses and diffuses at the wide bottom surface 10 m, and finally exits from the design surface 1 a to the outside. The light emitted from the design surface 1a is visually recognized as light emission from the outside.
In addition, the relative positions of the light guide pieces 10e to 10h and the positioning portions 10a to 10d are set and the shapes of the positioning portions 10a to 10d are set so that the light from the LEDs 121 to 124 travels along the fifth optical path. By doing so, the utilization efficiency of the light from LED121-124 can be improved, and the emitted light quantity from the design surface 1a can be made more uniform.

As described above, according to each of the embodiments, the light from the LEDs 71 to 74 and 121 to 124 is well diffused in the ring-shaped bases 5k and 10k, and light with little luminance unevenness is emitted from the light exit surfaces 5h and 10h. To exit.
As described above, the light emitting devices 50 and 100 according to the respective embodiments emit light with less luminance unevenness in a ring shape from the light exit surfaces 5h and 10h of the light guide plates 5 and 10, and thus the input devices 51 and 101 according to the respective embodiments. In any case, the ring-shaped light is introduced into the frame 1 so that the design surface 1a is illuminated.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the configuration and procedure described above, and it goes without saying that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  The light source is not limited to LEDs. Other light emitting elements such as a light bulb and an organic EL can be used.

An input device that does not include the determination button 3 may be used as a modification of the input device.
In this case, a light source may be arranged at the position of the switch 85. The light source is preferably a light source having a directivity of 360 ° like a light bulb, but may be a light source capable of emitting light in a plurality of radiation directions.

When the design surface is arc-shaped in the first embodiment, for example, the design surface is disposed between the arc-shaped base portion having an arc-shaped light exit surface and the curvature center of the base portion, or between the base portion and the curvature center. A light source that emits light in a direction, and a light guide piece that extends from the base portion toward the light source, introduces light from the light source from an end portion on the light source side, and guides the light into the base portion,
The light guide piece may be a light emitting device including a reflection portion that reflects a part of the light from the introduced light source so as to diffuse in the extending direction of the base portion.

In the second embodiment, when the design surface is arcuate, for example, an arcuate base portion having an arcuate light exit surface, a light guide piece projecting radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion, and a tangential direction of the base portion And a light emitting device configured to reflect the light from the light source toward the inside of the base portion by using a surface opposite to the light emitting surface of the base portion as a rough surface.
In addition, a positioning portion that protrudes radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the base portion and has a surface facing the light source, reflects a part of the light from the light source on the surface facing the light source and directs it toward the light guide portion. Or what is necessary is just to comprise so that it may advance in the extension direction of a base.

  The positioning portions 10a to 10d in the second embodiment may not have a positioning function. In the description, for convenience, the positioning portion is referred to as a positioning portion, but the positioning portion is a protruding portion that protrudes inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface of the base portion 10k.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Frame 1a Design surface 1b Opening part 1c Flange 1k Base 2 Selection button 2a Opening part 2b Engagement arm 2b1 Claw part 2c1-2c4 Recess 3 Determination button 4 Buffer plate 4CT Center 4a-4e Projection 4f1-4f4, 11a Square hole 4k Base 4g, 4h Flange 4i, 11b Engagement round hole 4j Round hole 5, 10 Light guide plate 5a-5d Light guide piece 5a1-5d1 Introduction surface 5a2-5d2 Side surface 5a3-5d3 Recess 5a3s-5d3s Side surface (reflection surface)
5e Chamfered portion 5f, 5g, 10i, 10j Projection 5h Light exit surface 5k, 10k Base portion 5k1, 10k1 Opening portion 6, 11 Substrate 6a Engagement angle hole 6b Engagement round hole 6c Connector 10a-10d Positioning portion 10b1 Side surface portion 10e-10h Light guide piece 10en to 10hn Long side surface 10et to 10ht End side surface 10f1 Introduction surface 10m, 10m1 Bottom surface 10sk Light emitting surface 11 Substrate 50, 100 Light emitting device 51, 101 Input device 52 Video cameras 71-74, 121-124 LED (light source) )
81-85, 131-135 switch (small push switch)
CT center L1 to L5 Light path L1a Incident point PT Light emitting point

Claims (1)

An annular base having a ring-shaped light exit surface;
A plurality of light sources arranged at predetermined angular intervals around the center of the base within the central opening of the base, and emitting light toward the outer diameter direction;
A plurality of light guide pieces each extending from the base toward the plurality of light sources and introducing light from the light sources into the base, and
An annular frame having a light incident surface that faces the light exit surface and receives light from the light exit surface;
An input button disposed within an opening range on the inner side of the frame and provided so as to be able to be pushed into the base side;
A push switch that operates with a pressing force generated by pressing the input button;
A substrate on which the push switch and the light source are mounted;
With
Each of the plurality of light guide pieces includes a reflection portion that reflects a part of the light from the introduced light source so as to diffuse into the base portion.
The input device, wherein the push switch is disposed between the plurality of light guide pieces.

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