JPH0437432B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention provides key tops arranged on a panel surface;
This invention relates to a panel in which characters, etc. are illuminated from behind.

(Prior Art) Many devices have been known that are comprised of a panel equipped with a key operation section, and the ultrasonic diagnostic device shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b is one of them. Figure a is a perspective view of the device, and figure b is a right side view of the device). Panel 1 of the ultrasonic diagnostic device in Figure 3
A large number of keys are arranged, and characters, symbols, etc. representing the functions of the keys are written on the keys themselves and on the surface of the panel near the keys. These keys provide the information necessary for diagnosis and produce the desired image.
Displayed on CRT2.

By the way, during diagnosis using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the surrounding illumination may be turned down in order to make the image on the CRT 2 easier to see. When the lights are turned off, the panel surface naturally becomes dark, making it difficult to see the positions of keys, letters, symbols, etc., reducing operability.

Therefore, the panel 1 usually includes a lamp 3 that illuminates the panel surface. Actually, the lamp 3 is housed in a lamp box 4 provided at the end of the panel, and the lamp box 4 can be opened to provide illumination as needed. In addition, the panels of other ultrasonic diagnostic equipment have LEDs embedded in the key top and text area, and these are driven and illuminated as needed.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in the case of a conventional panel equipped with a key operation section, since the lamp is illuminated from one end of the panel, it is difficult to uniformly brighten the entire panel surface. I have a problem to say. In addition, in the case of a system using LEDs, it is necessary to provide an LED for each key, character, etc., so there is a problem that the cost increases as the number of key characters, etc. increases. Key the LED in reverse,
If the number is smaller than the number of characters, etc. (LEDs are provided for some of the keys, characters, etc.), it becomes difficult to uniformly brighten the panel surface, resulting in a decrease in operability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost panel that can uniformly display the panel surface on which keys, characters, etc. are arranged.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A panel equipped with a key operation section of the present invention that achieves the above object diffuses diverging light given from a light source within a planar expanse formed by opposing surfaces. ,
A group of keys is provided with a diffusion path that transmits a part of the diffused light to the outside of one surface, and a key group is installed with a part of the key top made of a light-transmitting member on the light-transmitting surface and the remaining part inside the diffusion path. The structure is such that a sheet is installed on the light-transmitting surface to diffuse and transmit light from the surface.

(Example) The present invention will be explained in detail below.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a panel 11 is constructed by covering a panel body 13 made of a light-transmissive plate-like member with one side 12 of which is a diffusive surface (diffuse reflection surface) and a transparent sheet 14 . The sheet 14 has the property of diffusing light and partially transmitting light. A printed circuit board 16 (plate-like member) having a reflective surface 15 is integrated with the panel body 13 with the reflective surface 15 facing the diffusion surface 12 of the panel body with a predetermined interval.
The diffusion surface 12 and the reflection surface 15 constitute a diffusion path 17 that diffuses light with a planar spread. Divergent light is applied to the diffusion path 17 from a non-directional light source 18 installed on the printed circuit board 16 (the number of light sources 18 corresponds to the width of the panel 11). Further, key tops 19 _a to 19 _d supported by the panel body 13 are installed in the diffusion path 17 . The key tops _19a to _19d are made of a light-transmitting member, and one end is installed on the surface of the panel body 13 in a predetermined layout, and the other end is a tact switch 20a _{to 20} installed on the printed circuit board 16.
Touch 0 _d . Tact switch _20a to _20d
are electrically connected to a circuit (not shown) on the printed circuit board 16, and are switched by key tops _19a to _19d .

In the above configuration, when the light source 18 is energized,
Divergent light is applied to the diffusion path 17 and directed toward the diffusion surface 12, the reflection surface 15, the key tops _19a to _19d , etc. The light directed toward the diffusing surface 12 is diffusely reflected by the surface and directed toward the reflecting surface 15, or the light directed toward the panel body 13.
Go inside. Light diffusely reflected by the diffusing surface 12 and reaching the reflective surface 15 and light from the light source 18 to the reflective surface 15
The light that directly reaches the key top is reflected by the reflective surface 15 and directed to the diffusing surface 12 again (some of the light directed to this diffusing surface reaches the key top).
The light directed to this diffusing surface 12 is then directed to the reflecting surface 1
5 and the diffusion surface 12, it spreads throughout the diffusion path 17 while repeating reflection (multiple reflection). The light that reaches the key top during this multiple reflection or the light that reaches the key top directly from the light source 18 is
The light exits the surface of the panel body 13 and passes through the sheet 14 using optical paths 9 _a to 19 _d . On the other hand, a part of the light due to multiple reflections enters the panel body 13 from the diffusing surface 12 and is repeatedly internally reflected within the panel body 13 along with the light that is directly from the light source 18 and enters the panel body 13 without being diffusely reflected. It diffuses to the edge of the panel body 13 (a position away from the lamp 18). At this time, a part of the light that is repeatedly internally reflected is transmitted to the panel body 13.
The light passes through to the sheet 14. The light reaching the sheet 14 is diffused along the surface of the sheet 14, and a portion of the light is transmitted. Therefore, the panel 11 is illuminated by light that is diffused through the diffusion path 17 and passes through the key tops _19a to _19d and the panel body 13 as optical paths. In this way, the light transmitted through the sheet 14 is not only diffused by the diffusion path 17 but also
Since it is also diffused in sheet 14 etc., panel 1
1 has no shadow and is uniformly illuminated. As a result, key tops, letters, etc. are illuminated in a uniform manner. The brightness and unevenness of the panel 11 are determined by the panel body 13 and key tops 19 _a to 19 _d.
The transmittance can be adjusted by appropriately selecting the degree of transmittance.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 are used with the same meanings, so a description thereof will be omitted here. A feature of this embodiment is that the diffusion path is constituted by a thick, light-transmitting plate member 21.
The plate-like member 21 is made of a light-transmitting member, and has two opposing surfaces: a surface 23 that reflects the light given into the member from the light source 22, and a surface 24 that diffusely reflects the light and partially transmits it. It is equipped with The reflective surface 23 and the diffused reflective surface 24 constitute a light diffusion path, in which the key tops _19a to _19d are installed.

In such a configuration, the light within the plate member 21 is diffused in a planar spread similar to the case of the diffusion path 17 in FIG. 1, and a portion of the diffused light is transmitted through the sheet 14. That is, the panel surface is shadow-free and uniformly illuminated. Therefore, key tops, letters, etc. are illuminated uniformly and in a raised manner.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the panel of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, but may also be applied to a computer keyboard or the like. Further, the key top does not necessarily need to be inserted in the thickness direction of the light diffusion path (in each of the above embodiments, it is inserted in the vertical direction), but a part of it may be installed in the diffusion path, or Part of it may constitute the wall of the diffusion path (in this case as well, the key top remains within the diffusion path). Of course, in this case, the configuration of the switch and its setting position must be determined depending on the configuration of the key top. Furthermore, when the light diffusion path is formed of a thick plate-like member, an optical fiber element itself may be installed between the opposing reflecting surface and the diffusely reflecting surface.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the panel equipped with the key operation section of the present invention, the diffusion path is configured in the panel body,
The light from the light source is diffused along the panel surface and guided (transmitted) to the panel surface.
(First invention). Alternatively, the light from the light source is diffused and supplied into the panel body in a planar diffusion path configured separately from the panel body, and this light is further diffused within the panel body and guided to the surface (transmission). (second invention). In addition, light is also diffused in the translucent sheet that covers the panel body.
Therefore, the light from the light source is spread out further, ie over the entire panel. Therefore, the entire surface of the panel on which keys, characters, etc. are arranged can be illuminated uniformly without causing glare. This makes it easier to operate keys in the dark. Furthermore, even if the number of keys, characters, etc. increases, there is no need to increase the number of lighting means proportionally, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.
Figures a and b are configuration diagrams showing a panel of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. 1,11...panel, 2...CRT, 3,18,
22...Lamp, 4...Lamp box, 12,
24... Diffuse reflection surface, 13... Panel body, 14...
... Sheet, 15, 23 ... Reflection surface, 16 ... Printed circuit board, 17 ... Light diffusion path, 19 _a to 19 _d
...Key top, 20 _a to 20 _d ... Tact switch, 21 ... Light-transmitting plate member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A diffusion path consisting of a panel body, which is composed of a light-transmissive plate-like member having a thickness in which a group of keys is arranged, and which diffuses light guided into the member and transmits a part of it to the outside. a translucent sheet installed on the surface of the panel body, which diffuses transmitted light from the surface along the sheet surface and transmits a portion of the light; A key operation unit is provided on the surface side of the main body, and includes a group of keys made of a light-transmitting member, the remainder of which is disposed within the diffusion path, and a light source that provides light to the diffusion path. panel. 2. A panel body that is a light-transmissive plate-like member having a thickness in which a group of keys is arranged and that diffuses light guided into the member and transmits a portion of the light to the outside; a back surface of the panel body; and a back surface of the panel body. A space having a planar expanse formed by a surface of a plate-like member disposed opposite to the surface, and diffusing light guided into the space,
a diffusion path that supplies a portion of the light into the panel body; and a sheet installed on the surface of the panel body that diffuses transmitted light from the surface along the sheet surface and transmits a portion of the light. a group of keys comprising a light-sensitive sheet, a light-transmitting member installed with a part of the key top on the front side of the panel body and the rest in the diffusion path; and a light source that supplies light to the diffusion path. A panel equipped with a key operation section.