JP6046841B2 - Switch and keyboard instrument comprising the switch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch for operating a keyboard instrument and other devices, and a keyboard instrument using the switch.

  Conventionally, a switch that can be operated by an operator's touch operation includes a touch sensor that detects the touch operation, a light guide plate stacked on the touch sensor, and an LED that emits backlight light from the side surface of the light guide plate. (Patent document 1).

  In this switch, the operator is notified of whether or not the switch is operated by turning on an LED when the switch is operated.

JP 2007-234484 A

By the way, in the switch mentioned above, in order to display the switch type etc., the pattern (a character, a figure, a symbol, etc.) which shows the type of the switch may be carved on the lower surface of a light-guide plate.
When a pattern is engraved on the light guide plate in this way, when the light guide plate is illuminated with an LED, light is irregularly reflected by the cut portion that becomes the pattern, and the cut portion shines stronger than its surroundings. Looks shining.

  However, in the switch having the structure described above, since the light of the LED is applied from the side surface of the light guide plate, the intensity of the light is uneven in the portion near the LED and the portion away from the LED in the shaved portion. There was a problem.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch whose pattern shines uniformly.

The invention according to claim 1, which has been made to achieve the above object, is a switch that is installed in a casing of a device and operates the device by a touch operation, and is mounted on the substrate and the substrate. a touch sensor for detecting a touch operation of an operator, the Tatchisen stacked on support, together with the cutting unit for forming a pattern is provided, and the surrounding side surface light guide is chamfered plate, while being mounted on the substrate Disposed at a position facing the peripheral side surface of the light guide plate, light emitting means for illuminating the light guide plate, disposed at a position facing the upper surface of the light guide plate and flush with the surface of the housing, between the a housing of the same color as the light-transmitting surface plate, detected according to a result of detecting a touch operation of an operator by the touch sensor, and control means for controlling light emission of said light emitting means, and the ground point and the voltage application point The two light emitting means connected in series, the voltage applying means for applying a voltage between the voltage applying point and the grounding point, the power applying operation from the voltage applying means, and the operation. A control element having an output terminal connected to a midpoint between the light emitting means and the second light emitting means, and the control means is connected to an input terminal of the control element, via the input terminal The control element is controlled, the voltage application means applies a voltage of a single light emission potential that can emit light if the light emission means is one, and the control element is controlled by the control means to control the midpoint. Is switched to the single emission potential, the ground potential, and the intermediate potential between the light emitting means, and when the light emitting plate illuminates the light guide plate, light is irregularly reflected by the shaving portion, and the translucent surface The pattern that emitted light on the faceplate Wherein the indicated.

  In this way, when the light guide plate is illuminated with the light emitting means, the light irradiated from the light emitting means is scattered on the chamfered peripheral side surface, is scattered into the light guide plate and diffused throughout the light guide plate, and the diffused light However, since the reflection and the scattering are repeated by hitting the peripheral side surface of the light guide plate inside the light guide plate, the light hits evenly on the cut portion provided on the light guide plate.

Therefore, when the switch of the present invention is used, the pattern corresponding to the switch can be illuminated uniformly.
Further, when controlled as in the switch according to claim 1, since the light emission of the two light emitting means can be controlled by only one control element, the configuration of the control means can be simplified, and the switch Can be miniaturized.
In addition, although the place which provides a cutting part may be anywhere, for example, the bottom face of a light guide plate may be cut and provided, and you may provide in the inside of a light guide plate using a laser beam.

  Also, any method for chamfering the side surface of the light guide plate may be used. For example, when the light guide plate is viewed from above (when viewed through the translucent surface plate), the light guide plate may be guided. The edge of the bottom surface of the optical plate may be arranged inside the edge of the top surface of the light guide plate, and may be chamfered obliquely linearly into a concentrically arranged shape.

  In this way, when the light guide plate is illuminated by the light emitting means, not only the pattern but also the chamfered portion shines in a square frame shape, and the place that functions as a switch can be accurately displayed like a so-called icon. it can.

  Next, as described in claim 3, in the switch according to any one of claims 1 and 2, a back surface of the translucent surface plate is provided with a portion excluding a portion facing the light guide plate. It is preferable that the covering sheets are laminated.

  In this way, the light of the light emitting means does not leak directly to the outside through the translucent surface plate. Therefore, when the light emitting means is turned on, it is not disturbed by the direct light from the light emitting means, and is not disturbed on the translucent surface plate. The pattern can be displayed clearly.

  Next, as described in claim 4, the switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the touch sensor is a distance not touching the translucent surface plate, and the touch sensor The sensor is configured as a sensor capable of performing a first detection in which an operator's hand is held at a predetermined position and a second detection for detecting a touch operation on the translucent surface plate. The first light emission may be performed by the light emitting unit when the first detection is performed by the sensor, and the second light emission may be performed when the second detection is performed.

  In this case, until the hand is brought close to the switch, the translucent surface plate is colored in the same color as the surrounding casing and is flush with the casing surface. Although it is not conspicuous, the first light emission is made when a hand is brought close to the switch, so that the position of the switch can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the operator, and the second light emission is made when a touch operation is performed. The operation can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the operator.

  The first light emission and the second light emission need only be distinguished from each other. For example, as in the switch according to claim 5, the light emission includes a plurality of light emission means for emitting different colors and is detected by the control means. Depending on the result, the light emitting means of different colors may be controlled to emit light.

  Moreover, not only the color but also the brightness may be changed, the lighting method (flashing, continuous lighting, intensity of brightness, etc.) may be changed, and of course any combination may be changed. is there.

  Next, as described in claim 6, the switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is configured such that the light emitting means emits light after a predetermined time has elapsed since the touch sensor no longer detects the operation of the operator. May be stopped. Such a control may be performed as an energy saving measure.

Note that the above-described switch is preferably used for a keyboard instrument as described in claim 7 , and in particular, is preferably used as a switch for a touch panel portion in which a plurality of these switches are collected.

It is a front view of the keyboard musical instrument of this embodiment. It is a top view of the time signature tree of this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the switch of this embodiment, (a) is a top view of a time signature tree, Comprising: It is the enlarged view which expanded the part enclosed with the code | symbol (alpha) of FIG. 2, The light guide plate and LED which comprise a switch are shown. It is shown in a transmission diagram, and (b) is a β-β ′ sectional view of (a). It is a circuit diagram of the light emission control circuit which controls light emission of each switch of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the light emission control performed with the control apparatus of this embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In addition, since the keyboard instrument of this embodiment makes a player side the front, below, a player side is demonstrated as a front or a front.
[Overall structure]
As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard instrument 1 of the present embodiment is an electronic piano including a keyboard 2 having 88 keys, and a time signature tree 3 arranged on the left side of the keyboard 2 operates the keyboard instrument 1. It is used as an operation panel for

This time tree 3 includes a plurality of switches, and each of these switches is colored in the same color as the surface of the time tree 3 and is configured to be flush with the time tree 3. For this reason, in the keyboard instrument 1 of the present embodiment, it is not known where the switches are located in the time signature tree 3 at normal times.
[Switch structure]
Next, each switch provided in the time signature tree 3 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, each switch 30 provided in the time tree 3 of the present embodiment is operated by operating numbers A to I, I to III, 1 to 3, 〒, *, and 〆, respectively. The pattern and the frame surrounding it are made to shine.

Further, a control device 7 is provided on the back surface side of the time signature tree 3 to control the time signature tree 3 as an operation panel by operating each switch 30.
Next, the structure of the switch 30 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the switch 30 includes a substrate 31, a touch sensor 32 that is mounted on the substrate 31 and detects an operator's touch operation, and a light guide plate 33 stacked on the touch center 32. I have.

  The switch 30 is mounted on the substrate 31 and disposed at positions facing the left and right peripheral side surfaces of the light guide plate 33, respectively, and at positions facing the upper surface of the light guide plate 33. Arranged flush with the surface of the beat tree 3, a smoke acrylic 35 having the same color as the beat tree 3 is provided.

  Further, the switch 30 has a sheet 36 that blocks light emitted from the LEDs 34 a and 34 b on the back surface of the portion that forms the surface of the smoke acrylic 35 and the beat tree 3 except for the portion facing the upper surface of the light guide plate 33. Has been. Light emitted from the LEDs 34 a and 34 b by the sheet 36 is prevented from directly exiting to the outside through the smoke acrylic 35.

  Among the switches 30 configured as described above, the peripheral side surface 33a of the light guide plate 33 has an edge portion 33b on the bottom surface of the light guide plate 33 and an edge portion 33c on the upper surface of the light guide plate 33, as shown in FIG. It is arranged on the inner side and is chamfered obliquely in a straight line in a concentrically arranged shape. Further, on the back surface of the light guide plate 33, a cut portion 33 d is formed by cutting in a pattern (“A” in FIG. 3A) assigned to each switch.

Further, the LED 34a and the LED 34b emit light of yellow and red, respectively, when turned on.
Further, the touch sensor 32 is a distance that the operator does not touch the smoke acrylic 35 and is placed at a predetermined position from the touch sensor 32 (in this embodiment, 2 cm above the surface of the beat tree 3). The operator touches the smoke acrylic 35 and the touched pressure is transmitted through the light guide plate 33 (hereinafter referred to as “second detection”). (A product name "QTouch", manufactured by Atmel Co., Ltd.).

  In the switch 30 configured as described above, when the first detection or the second detection is performed by the touch sensor 32 and any one of the LEDs 34a and 34b is lit, the LED 34a or the LED 34b emits light on the peripheral side surface of the chamfered light guide plate 33. The scattered light is taken into the light guide plate 33 while being scattered and diffused throughout the light guide plate 33, and the diffused light hits the peripheral side surface 33a of the light guide plate 33 inside the light guide plate 33 to repeat reflection and scattering. The light hits the cutting portion 33d provided on the light guide plate 33 evenly, and the light is irregularly reflected by the cutting portion 33d.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the LED 34a or the LED 34b is turned on, the portion provided with the cut portion 33d can be illuminated brighter than the surroundings, and a pattern corresponding to the switch 30 ("A" in FIG. 3). It can be illuminated uniformly.

Further, when the peripheral side surface of the light guide plate 33 is chamfered as in the present embodiment, when the light guide plate 33 is illuminated by the LED 34a or the LED 34b, a place that functions as a switch can be accurately displayed like a so-called icon.
[Light emission control circuit]
Next, a light emission control circuit used in the switch 30 will be described.

In the following description, a description will be given for one switch 30. However, one control device 7 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the light emission control circuit 5 includes a power converter 50 (AC voltage application according to the present invention) that AC-DC converts the power received from the power supply from the outside of the keyboard instrument 1 to a predetermined voltage. Equivalent to “means”).

Hereinafter, the point that receives power supply from the power converter 50 is referred to as a voltage application point, and the side connected to the ground is referred to as a ground point.
As shown in FIG. 4, the light emission control circuit 5 includes the two LEDs 34a and 34b and the adjustment resistors 51a and 51b described above for each switch 30. These adjustment resistors 51a and LEDs 34a are provided from the voltage application point side. The LED 34b and the adjustment resistor 51b are connected in series in this order and connected to the ground point.

In addition, the light emission control circuit 5 includes a three-state buffer 52 that operates by receiving power from the power converter 50.
The three-state buffer 52 has an output terminal connected to the midpoint between the LEDs 34 a and 34 b and a first input terminal connected to the control device 7. A second input terminal that receives the enable signal is connected to the control device 7.

  The three-state buffer 52 is controlled by the control device 7 via the first input terminal, and can adjust the potential of the output terminal to the same potential as the voltage application point or the ground potential. In addition, the output terminal can be adjusted to a high impedance state under the control of the control device 7 via the second input terminal.

  When the output terminal is in a high impedance state, the potential of the output terminal of the three-state buffer 52 is changed by the two LEDs 34a and 34b and the adjusting resistors 51a and 51b in which the voltage between the voltage application point and the ground point is connected in series. The intermediate potential between the LED 34a and the LED 34b when the voltage is stepped down can be set.

And the light emission control circuit 5 of this embodiment is comprised so that the electric power converter 50 mentioned above may supply the electric power of the voltage which can light-emit only any one of LED34a or LED34b connected as mentioned above. Therefore, the control device 7 controls the three-state buffer 52 and sets the output terminal of the three-state buffer 52 to the ground potential so that only the LED 34a emits light, and the output terminal of the three-state buffer 52 is the same as the voltage application point. It is possible to control not to light any LED 34a, 34b by causing only the LED 34b to emit light by setting the potential and setting the output terminal of the three-state buffer 52 to high impedance.
[Flash control]
Next, light emission control performed by the control device 7 will be described.

This light emission control is started when a power switch (not shown) of the keyboard instrument 1 of the present embodiment is turned on, and is repeatedly executed until the power switch is turned off.
When this light emission control is started, as shown in FIG. 5, it is determined in S10 whether or not the operator's hand is held over the time tree 3.

  In this determination (S10), when the operator's hand is held over about 2 cm above the beat tree 3, a first signal indicating that is sent from the touch sensor 32 of any switch 30 to the control device 7. Therefore, the determination is made based on whether or not the first signal is input from any one of the touch sensors 32 to the control device 7.

  If it is not determined in this determination (S10) that the operator's hand is held over the time tree 3 (S10: NO), a standby process is executed, and if it is determined that the hand is held (S10: YES) ) In S11, a process of turning on the LED 34a is executed.

Specifically, in S11, a process is performed in which the control device 7 outputs a signal that instructs the input terminal of the three-state buffer 52 to set the potential of the output terminal to the ground potential. When this processing is performed, in this embodiment, only a voltage that can light any one of the LEDs 34a and 34b is applied to the voltage application point, but the potential on the output terminal side becomes the ground potential. The voltage applied to is a voltage that can be lit, and the switch 30 is lit with yellow light. In S11, an operation of turning on the LEDs 34a of all the switches 30 is executed.

Next, the process of S12 is executed. In S12, it is determined whether or not the operator's finger has touched the smoked acrylic 35 of any of the switches 30.
In this determination (S12), when the operator's finger touches the smoked acrylic 35 of any one of the switches 30, a second signal indicating that is sent from the touch sensor 32 of the touched switch 30 to the control device 7. Therefore, the determination is made based on whether or not the second signal is input from one of the touch sensors 32 to the control device 7.

  If it is not determined in this determination (S12) that the operator's finger is not touching the smoke acrylic 35 of any switch 30 (S12: NO), S16 described later is executed, and any switch 30 If it is determined that the finger has touched (S12: YES), in S13, a process of lighting the LED 34b corresponding to the touched switch 30 is executed.

  Specifically, in S13, the control device 7 sets the potential of the output terminal to the input terminal of the three-state buffer 52 of the switch 30 that has sent a second signal indicating that the finger has touched the smoke acrylic 35. A process of outputting a signal for instructing to be the same potential as the voltage application point is performed.

  When such processing is performed, in the present embodiment, no potential difference is generated between the input and output terminals of the LED 34a of the touched switch 30, so that the LED 34b is turned off. Since the potential is the same as that of the point, the voltage applied to the LED 34b is a voltage that can be turned on, and the touch-operated switch 30 is turned on with red light.

  When the LED 34b is turned on by this S13, the process of S14 is executed next, and it is determined whether or not a first fixed time (0.5 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed since the start of the lighting of the LED 34b. Is done.

If it is determined by this determination (S14) that the first fixed time has not elapsed, the processing from S13 onward is repeated so as to continue lighting the LED 34b.
On the other hand, if it is determined by this determination (S14) that the first fixed time has elapsed, the LED 34b is turned off, and the LED 34a corresponding to the switch 30 that has turned on the LED 34b is turned on (step S14). After that, the process of S12 is executed again.

  Next, in S12, when it is not determined that the operator's finger is not touching the smoked acrylic 35 of any switch 30 (S12: NO), the process of S16 is executed. In S16, It is determined whether or not the second predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of any one of the switches 30 was last performed or the LED 34a was turned on in S11 without the operation of the switch 30.

If it is determined in this determination (S16) that the second predetermined time has elapsed, a process for turning off the LED 34a is executed (S17).
Specifically, in S <b> 17, the control device 7 outputs an enable signal to the three-state buffer 52 to set the output terminal of the three-state buffer 52 to high impedance.

  In this way, since the potential of the output terminal of the three-state buffer 52 is an intermediate potential between the LED 34a and the LED 34b, the LED 34a can be turned off without turning on the LED 34b.

When the process of S17 is completed, the processes after S10 are repeated.
[Characteristic effects of this embodiment]
In the keyboard instrument 1 described above, when a hand is held over the time tree 3, all the LEDs 34a of the switches 30 incorporated in the time tree 3 are turned on, and the position of each switch 30 is clearly indicated.

  At this time, each switch 30 is lit yellow, and a pattern indicating an input character assigned to each switch 30 and a frame surrounding the pattern are displayed so as to float on the beat tree 3.

When one of the switches 30 is touched, the pattern of the switch 30 and the emission color of the frame change to red. Therefore, it can be understood at a glance which switch 30 has been operated.
In addition, when a predetermined time has passed since the hand is held over the beat tree 3 or the switch 30 is last operated, the LEDs 34 a and 34 b are turned off, and the smoke acrylic 35 constituting each switch 30 is the same color as the surface color of the beat tree 3. Therefore, the switch 30 becomes inconspicuous on the time tree 3 and the beauty of the keyboard instrument as a whole can be maintained.

Moreover, the keyboard instrument 1 of this embodiment can display the switch 30 beautifully because the pattern of each switch 30 shines with equal brightness when each switch 30 lights up.
Further, in this embodiment, when the pattern of the switch 30 is displayed, a frame surrounding the switch 30 is displayed, and the frame indicates a place where each switch 30 reacts. Therefore, the operator uses the frame as a mark. Each switch 30 can be operated reliably.
(Correspondence etc.)
The light emitting means described in the claims corresponds to the LEDs 34a and 34b of the present embodiment. Similarly, the projection front surface plate corresponds to the smoke acrylic 35, the control means corresponds to the control device 7, and the control The element corresponds to the three-state buffer 52, and the voltage applying means corresponds to the voltage conversion device 7.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it matches the gist of the invention described in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Keyboard instrument 2 ... Keyboard 3 ... Time signature 5 ... Light emission control circuit 7 ... Control apparatus 30 ... Switch 31 ... Board | substrate 32 ... Touch sensor 33 ... Light guide plate 33a ... Peripheral side surface 33b ... Edge part 33c ... Edge part 33d ... Cutting part 34a 34b ... LED 35 ... Smoked acrylic 36 ... Sheet 50 ... Power converter 51a, 51b ... Adjustment resistor 52 ... Three-state buffer

Claims (7)

A switch installed in the housing of the device for operating the device by touch operation,
A substrate,
A touch sensor mounted on the substrate and detecting an operator's touch operation;
A light guide plate laminated on the touch center and provided with a cutting portion for forming a pattern, and whose peripheral side surface is chamfered;
A light emitting means mounted on the substrate and disposed at a position facing a peripheral side surface of the light guide plate, and illuminates the light guide plate;
Disposed at a position facing the upper surface of the light guide plate and flush with the surface of the housing, and a translucent surface plate of the same color as the housing;
Control means for controlling the light emission of the light emitting means according to the detection result of detecting the touch operation of the operator by the touch sensor;
Two light emitting means connected in series between a voltage application point and a ground point;
Voltage application means for applying a voltage between the voltage application point and the ground point;
The first light emitting unit and the first light emitting unit operate while receiving power from the voltage applying unit.
A control element having an output terminal connected to a midpoint of the light emitting means of 2;
With
The control means includes
Connected to an input terminal of the control element, and controls the control element via the input terminal;
The voltage applying means includes
Applying a voltage of a single light emission potential that can emit light if it is one of the light emitting means,
The control element is
By the control by the control means, the midpoint potential is switched to the single emission potential, the ground potential, and the intermediate potential between the respective emission means,
The switch is characterized in that when the light guide plate is illuminated with the light emitting means, light is irregularly reflected by the shaving portion, and the pattern emitted on the translucent surface plate is displayed. The switch according to claim 1,
The side surface of the light guide plate is
The switch is characterized in that the bottom edge of the light guide plate is arranged inside the edge of the top surface of the light guide plate, and is chamfered obliquely linearly into a concentrically arranged shape. The switch according to any one of claims 1 and 2,
On the back surface of the translucent surface plate,
A switch comprising a sheet that covers a portion excluding a portion facing the light guide plate. The switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The touch sensor is
A distance not touching the translucent surface plates, a first detection for detecting the kite held over the operator's hand at a predetermined position from the touch sensor, and the light-transmitting surface plate A sensor capable of second detection to detect that the operator has touched,
The control means includes
The switch, wherein when the first detection is performed by the touch sensor, the light emitting unit performs first light emission, and when the second detection is performed, the switch performs second light emission. The switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A plurality of the light emitting means for emitting different colors;
The control means controls the light emitting means of different colors to emit light according to the detection result. The switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A switch, characterized in that the light emission of the light emitting means is stopped when a predetermined time elapses after the touch sensor no longer detects the operation of the operator. A keyboard instrument comprising the switch according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .

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