JPH0437433B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a panel in which the operating states of keys arranged on the panel surface illuminated from behind are displayed on key tops.

(Prior Art) Many devices have been known in the past that are comprised of a panel equipped with a key operation section, and the ultrasonic diagnostic device shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b 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 in the ultrasonic diagnostic device shown in Figure 2
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. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b (figure a is a plan view of the key, and b is a cross-sectional view of the key), certain keys among these keys are different from each other in the operating state of the key 3, for example, when it is in the on state. The key top is provided with a display section 4 that illuminates a predetermined portion of the key top.
The display section 4 is composed of a through hole 5 provided in the key top and an LED 6 that is energized or deenergized according to key operations.

By the way, when making a diagnosis using an ultrasound diagnostic device,
To make the images on the CRT2 easier to see, the surrounding lights may be turned down. 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 7 that illuminates the panel surface. Actually, the lamp 7 is housed in a lamp box 8 provided at the end of the panel, and the lamp box 8 can be opened to provide illumination as needed. Although the panel 1 is illuminated to some extent by such a lamp 7, since the lamp is installed at the edge of the panel,
It is difficult to brighten the entire panel surface uniformly.

In order to solve this problem, the present inventors invented a method of illuminating the panel from behind (back lighting method). Panels using this back lighting method are
A light transmitting member is provided with a diffusion path that diffuses diverging light given from a light source in a planar spread formed by opposing surfaces and transmits a part of the diffused light to the outside of one surface. The key group is installed with a part of the key top on the light transmitting surface and the rest inside the diffusion path, and a sheet that diffuses and transmits the light from the light transmitting surface is installed on the light transmitting surface. ing. When a display section for displaying key operations is provided, the key tops etc. are constructed as shown in FIG.

With the above configuration, the panel 1 on which keys, characters, etc. are arranged is uniformly illuminated without glare, making it easy to operate keys in the dark. Further, since the operating state of the key provided with the display section is displayed on the key top, the operability is further improved.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above configuration in which the panel 1 is illuminated from behind, the light from the back illumination leaks from the through hole 5 of the display section 4 provided in the key top, so that the LED
6, it becomes difficult to distinguish from the light, and there is a problem in that it becomes difficult to accurately determine the operating state of the key. Another problem is that when the LED 6 is energized, its light leaks to the surrounding area, reducing the uniformity of illumination on the panel surface.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a panel that can reliably grasp the operating state of a key without impairing the uniformity of brightness in a panel that is illuminated from behind. It's about doing.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A panel equipped with a key operation section of the present invention that achieves the above object has a sheet and a panel main body layered together,
A light guide comprising a panel whose sheet surface is uniformly illuminated by light from behind the panel body, a key top made of a light-transmitting member installed on the panel body, and one end of which is installed at a predetermined location of the key top. The structure is such that light from a light source controlled in response to the switching operation of the key top is guided through the key top.

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

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one implementation of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a panel 11 is constructed by covering a panel body 13 made of a light-transmitting plate-like member with one side 12 of which is a diffusing surface (diffuse reflection surface) and a light-transmitting 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 . Further, a through hole 21 is provided in the key top _19d , and one end of a light guide 22 made of a material with high light transmittance is installed. Light guide 22
The other end is within the diffusion path 17. The other end of the light guide 22 is provided with light from a light source (LED) 23 whose energization is controlled according to the operation of the sheet _19d .

Generally, the switch is changed by pressing the key top on the panel surface. That is, the key top is slightly displaced in the vertical direction in FIG. 1 in response to the switching. Therefore,
The through hole 21 provided in the key top is configured so that it does not come into contact with the light guide 22 during the vertical displacement. The means consisting of the light guide 22 etc. is the key top 1
There is no particular reason why it is provided on _9d , and it may be provided on other key tops if necessary.

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 diffusion surface 12, enters the panel body 13 without being diffusely reflected by the direct light from the light source 18, and is repeatedly internally reflected within the panel body 13. 13 (a position away from the lamp 18). At this time, a portion of the light that is repeatedly internally reflected passes through the panel body 13 and heads toward 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 diffusion path 17 is diffused,
The panel 11 is illuminated by light whose optical path is through the key tops _19a to _19d and the panel body 13.
In this way, the light transmitted through the sheet 14 is transmitted through the diffusion path 17.
In addition, the panel body 13, sheet 1
Since the light is diffused even by the 4th grade, the panel 11 is illuminated uniformly without shadows. At this time, since one end of the light guide 22 is installed in the through hole 21, the diffused light in the diffusion path 17 will not leak from the through hole 21 (the wall of the light guide does not allow light to pass through). ).
Therefore, the through hole portion 21 in the panel 11 is not illuminated by the diffused light.

On the other hand, by operating key top 19 _d , light source 2
When 3 is energized, the light is guided through the light guide 22 to the surface of the panel 11. During this time, light source 2
The light from 3 does not leak into the diffusion path 17, inside the panel body 13, around the through hole 21 of the key top, etc. Therefore, the light from the light source 23 does not illuminate any area other than the predetermined area (the through hole 21).

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. Of course, in this case, the configuration of the switch, light guide, etc. and its installation position must be determined depending on the configuration of the key top. Furthermore, the means for illuminating the panel body from behind does not need to be limited to the above embodiment.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the panel equipped with the key operation section of the present invention, the light from the light source 18 is diffused in the planar diffusion path configured separately from the panel main body. The light is supplied into the panel body, and the light is further diffused within the panel body and guided (transmitted) to the surface. In addition, light is also diffused in the translucent sheet that covers the panel body. For this reason,
The light of the light source 18 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. On the other hand, a key top made of a light-transmitting member is installed on the panel body, and a light source 2 is controlled in response to the switching operation of the key top via a light guide whose one end is installed at a predetermined location of the key top.
3, the operating status of the keys is clearly displayed without compromising the uniformity of brightness on the panel. Therefore, the operating state of the key can be reliably grasped.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 a and b are block diagrams showing a panel of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and FIGS. 3 a and b are block diagrams showing keys. 1, 11...Panel, 2...CRT, 3...Key, 4...Display section, 5, 21...Through hole, 6...
LED, 7, 18... Lamp, 8... Lamp box, 12, 24... Diffuse reflective surface, 13... Panel body, 14... Sheet, 15... Reflective surface, 16...
... Printed circuit board, 17 ... Light diffusion path, 19 _a to 19 _d ... Key top, 20 _a to 20 _d ... Tact switch, 22 ... Light guide, 23 ... Light source (LED).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A panel body, which is a light-transmitting plate-like member having a thickness in which a group of keys is arranged, and which diffuses the 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 surface side of the panel body and the rest in the diffusion path; and a first key group that provides light to the diffusion path. It is characterized by comprising a light source, a light guide whose one end is installed at a predetermined location of the key top, and a second light source within the light guide that emits light in response to the switching operation of the key top. Panel with key operation section.