Display, operation device, and image forming apparatus
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022027106
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-02-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-21
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-02-24
AI Technical Summary
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving high usability and visibility in their operation and display units due to space constraints and uneven lighting, which affects operability and visibility, especially with the use of LEDs and light guides.
The solution involves a display device with a light guide that directs light to illuminate icons uniformly and an operation device with a button cover design that maintains operability and visibility by managing light distribution and button movement.
This configuration provides a highly visible and operable display and operation section using a light source, ensuring even lighting and reducing mechanical stress on buttons, thus enhancing user experience.
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a display device, an operating device, and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus equipped with an operating unit and a display unit, for example. [Background technology]
[0002] There is a demand for miniaturization and diversification in image forming devices such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles. In conventional image forming devices, a sheet is fed by a paper feed roller and transported by a transport roller. A toner image is then transferred by a transfer roller and a photosensitive drum, and fixed by a fixing device. In the case of single-sided printing, the sheet is discharged by a discharge roller. In the case of double-sided printing, the sheet is inverted by the discharge roller, passes through a double-sided transport path, is transported again by the transport roller, and is discharged in the same manner as in the case of single-sided printing.
[0003] The control and display units of image forming devices are available in a variety of formats, including mechanical buttons, sheets, and electrostatic touch panels, with each operating method tailored to the product's specifications. Among these, the sheet format, in which a sheet with the control and display printed on it is attached to the exterior, is commonly used as an inexpensive configuration with mechanical buttons, electric tactile switches, light guides, and LEDs underneath. When the user operates the sheet, it comes into contact with the mechanical button underneath, and the contact point with the tactile switch on the mechanical button presses the tactile switch, switching it on and off. Furthermore, the sheet format uses a light guide to transmit LED light, illuminating icons printed on the sheet surface to indicate errors and other issues to the user. The sheet format is widely used in image forming devices. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-299444 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0005] However, in recent years, there has been a demand for higher performance than ever before, such as improved usability of the operation unit and display unit, including improved user operability and visibility. In particular, designs that take aesthetics into consideration are required, such as by placing an LED in the center of the button and making the mechanical button itself illuminate to improve visibility. Furthermore, as products become more compact, the space required for the operation unit itself becomes smaller, and as products become more diverse due to changes in the operation unit, restrictions on component placement arise due to constraints imposed by standardization. Meeting these demands while also improving the operability and visibility of buttons is difficult in design, and maintaining usability is a challenge.
[0006] When using an LED and light guide to illuminate an icon, depending on the icon design, the area directly above the LED may shine brightly, resulting in uneven lighting. One way to solve this issue is to use a milky white material for the light guide, but this can cause the light to be diffused too much, reducing the amount of light. Furthermore, if usability is taken into consideration and the icon is normally invisible as it matches the background color of the sheet, and only appears when illuminated, a higher amount of light from the LED is required. However, LEDs with a high light output are expensive, so to create them cheaply, it is necessary to concentrate the light using a light guide made of a clear material, etc., to emit a stronger, more even light.
[0007] Furthermore, when a user presses the sheet, if there is no gap or if the gap is very small (narrow) between the sheet and the mechanical button cover that covers the periphery of the mechanical button, operability may be reduced. On the other hand, if the gap between the sheet and the mechanical button cover is large, parts of the sheet other than the button pressed by the user may also bend, which may result in a poor appearance.
[0008] The present invention has been made under these circumstances, and has an object to provide a display unit or operation unit that uses a light source and has good visibility. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has the following configuration. (1) A display device that displays information to a user, comprising: a first sheet on which a pattern corresponding to the information is printed; a light source that emits light to illuminate the pattern; an incident surface that passes through the light source and is located at one end of the first sheet in a first direction perpendicular to the first sheet, into which the light emitted from the light source is incident; and an exit surface that is located at the other end of the first direction and from which the light incident from the incident surface exits, and a guide member that guides the light emitted from the light source to the first sheet, wherein the incident surface is smaller than an area on the first sheet on which the pattern is printed when viewed from the first direction, and the exit surface has a first exit surface that overlaps with at least a portion of the pattern and includes a portion that overlaps with the light source when viewed from the first direction, and a second exit surface that overlaps with at least a portion of the pattern and does not overlap with the light source, and the second exit surface is closer to the first sheet than the first exit surface. (2) An image forming apparatus comprising the display device according to (1) above and an image forming section for forming an image on a recording material. (3) An operating device operated by a user, comprising: a second sheet on which a pattern corresponding to the operation is printed; a button that moves in a movement direction when pressed through the second sheet; a cover member that covers the periphery of the button; and a switch that switches an electrical signal in conjunction with pressing the button, wherein the button has a contact surface that comes into contact with the second sheet when pressed, and the cover member has a first surface that is approximately the same height as the contact surface in the movement direction when the button is not pressed, and a second surface that is approximately the same height as the contact surface in the movement direction when the button is pressed, and the second surface is located closer to the button than the first surface in a direction approximately perpendicular to the movement direction. (4) An image forming apparatus comprising the operating device according to (3) above and an image forming section for forming an image on a recording material. (5) An image forming apparatus comprising: the display device according to (1), the operation device according to (3), and an image forming section that forms an image on a recording material. [Effects of the Invention]
[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a display unit or an operation unit that uses a light source and has good visibility. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0011] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional view of the laser beam printer of Examples 1 to 3 [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a laser beam printer according to first to third embodiments; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a display / operation sheet and a configuration below the display / operation sheet according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an operation button according to the first embodiment; [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are a top view and a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a display unit according to a first embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of an operation button according to a first embodiment; [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an operation button according to the first embodiment; [Figure 8] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the operation button according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] (Image forming device) 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a laser beam printer, which is an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet P, which is a recording material. The laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as printer 100) includes an image forming unit that forms an image, a sheet feeding device that separates and feeds sheets P one by one to the image forming unit, a laser scanner unit, a fixing device, and an output tray. Here, the image forming unit includes a process cartridge that is detachable from the main body of the printer 100, a transfer roller, etc. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum 114, a charging roller (not shown), a developing unit (not shown), a cleaning unit (not shown), etc.
[0013] The printer 100 also includes a control unit 120 that controls the entire printer 100. The control unit 120 has a CPU, ROM, RAM, a timer, etc., and controls each operation of the printer 100 by the CPU executing programs stored in the ROM while using the RAM as a temporary work area. The printer 100 also includes a display operation unit 20 that enables the user to perform various operations on the printer 100. Information input from the display operation unit 20 is sent to the control unit 120. The control unit 120 also displays information on the status of the printer 100 on the display operation unit 20. The display operation unit 20 will be described later.
[0014] Printer 100 receives image information from an external device such as a personal computer. When the control unit 120 processes the image information and issues a print signal, paper feed roller 111 rotates. As a result, sheet P loaded in a paper feed cassette is transported to transfer roller 113 by transport roller 112. Meanwhile, printer 100 forms an electrostatic latent image on photosensitive drum 114 based on the image information and a print command, and develops the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image. The toner image formed on photosensitive drum 114 is transferred to sheet P by transfer roller 113, forming an unfixed toner image on sheet P. The position where the toner image on photosensitive drum 114 is transferred by transfer roller 113 is referred to as the transfer unit. Sheet P is then fed to fixing device 115, where the unfixed toner image is fixed. The position where the unfixed toner image is fixed by fixing device 115 is referred to as the fixing unit. After this, sheet P is discharged onto discharge tray 118 by discharge roller 116. In the case of double-sided printing, in which images are formed on both sides of the sheet P, the sheet P is sent to a fixing device 115, and then the conveying direction is reversed by discharge rollers 116 and the sheet is conveyed to a double-sided path 117. The sheet P passes through the double-sided path 117 and is conveyed again to the transfer unit and the fixing unit, and after images are formed on both sides, the sheet is discharged to a discharge tray 118. [Example]
[0015] [Display operation section] An example of the display operation unit 20 of the printer 100 will be described. Here, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the exterior of the printer 100. The conveyance direction of the sheet P is defined as the front-rear direction, the direction in which the sheet P is discharged onto the discharge tray 118 is defined as the front side (near side), and the direction opposite to the front side is defined as the rear side (deep side). The direction approximately perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction when the printer 100 is installed in a place of use, etc., is defined as the left-right direction. Note that "approximately perpendicular" does not only include cases where the direction is strictly perpendicular, but also cases where the direction can be considered to be substantially perpendicular.
[0016] As shown in Fig. 2, the display / operation unit 20 is provided, for example, on the front left of the top surface of the printer 100. The display / operation unit 20 has a display unit 21, an operation unit 22, and a display / operation sheet 201. Fig. 3(a) is a perspective view of the display / operation unit 20. The display / operation sheet 201 is attached to the exterior surface of the printer 100 as an integrated part of the display unit 21 and the operation unit 22. The printer 100 also has a button holder 202 and an electric board 203 as integrated parts of the display unit 21 and the operation unit 22 (see Fig. 4).
[0017] [Display] The display unit 21 is a display device that displays information to the user. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the display operation sheet 201 has a paper icon 201a, an alert icon 201b, and a toner icon 201c as the display unit 21. The display operation sheet 201 functions as a first sheet on which a design corresponding to information to be displayed is printed. The printed design is hereinafter referred to as an icon. The paper icon 201a indicates that there is no paper in the paper feed cassette to notify the user that the sheets P stored in the paper feed cassette have been consumed (hereinafter referred to as "out of paper"). The alert icon 201b indicates that a paper jam has occurred in the process of transporting the sheets P to notify the user of a paper jam or a delay in transport (hereinafter referred to as "paper jam"). The toner icon 201c is an icon that notifies the user that a process cartridge is not installed in the printer 100 (hereinafter referred to as "no process cartridge"), that toner has run out (hereinafter referred to as "out of toner"), or the like. The toner icon 201c indicates that there is no process cartridge or no toner.
[0018] The display / operation sheet 201 has a resume button icon 201d, a cancel button icon 201e, and a power button icon 201f as the operation unit 22. The display / operation sheet 201 also functions as a second sheet on which patterns corresponding to user operations are printed, and in the first embodiment, the first sheet and the second sheet are integrated. Note that the display / operation sheet 201 may be configured such that the first sheet corresponding to the display unit 21 and the second sheet corresponding to the operation unit 22 are separate.
[0019] The resume button icon 201d is an icon used to resume operation of the printer 100 that has been temporarily stopped, and pressing the resume button icon 201d prompts the printer 100 to resume printing. The cancel button icon 201e is an icon used to cancel a job that has been sent to the printer 100, and pressing the cancel button icon 201e cancels the job. The power button icon 201f is an icon used to turn the power of the printer 100 main body on or off, and pressing the power button icon 201f turns the power of the printer 100 main body on or off.
[0020] The paper icon 201a, alert icon 201b, toner icon 201c, resume button icon 201d, cancel button icon 201e, and power button icon 201f are printed on the display operation sheet 201. Note that the configuration is not limited to printing the icons on the display operation sheet 201, and for example, a configuration in which a sticker with the icon drawn on it is attached to the display operation sheet 201 may also be used. Hereinafter, the paper icon 201a, alert icon 201b, toner icon 201c, resume button icon 201d, cancel button icon 201e, and power button icon 201f will also be referred to as an icon portion. Each of the icon portions is configured to allow light to pass through.
[0021] FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing a state in which the display / operation sheet 201 has been removed from the state of FIG. 3(a). Under the display / operation sheet 201 are a light guide 211, operation buttons 221, and an operation button cover 222. The operation button cover 222 covers the periphery of the operation button 221. The operation button 221d is pressed via the resume button icon 201d. The operation button 221e is pressed via the cancel button icon 201e. The operation button 221f is pressed via the power button icon 201f. The operation buttons 221d, 221e, and 221f are also referred to as button portions. The first outer peripheral surface 222a, the second outer peripheral surface 222b, the tip-prevention surface 222c, and the wall portion 222d will be described later.
[0022] [Configuration to reduce uneven light] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along the line AA in Fig. 3(a). As shown in Fig. 4, the display unit 21 is made up of, from top to bottom, a display operation sheet 201, a light guide 211, a button holder 202, and a display unit LED 212. The display unit LED 212 is a light source that emits light to illuminate icons, and is mounted on an electric board 203, which is a first board.
[0023] 5(a) is a top view showing the relationship between the toner icon 201c, the light guide 211, and the display unit LED 212, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in (a). The light guide 211, which is a guide member, is provided at one end in a first direction (the up-down direction in the first embodiment, hereinafter referred to as the longitudinal direction) perpendicular to the display operation sheet 201, passing through the display unit LED 212. The light guide 211 has an incident surface 211a onto which light emitted from the display unit LED 212 is incident. The light guide 211 is also provided at the other end in the longitudinal direction, and has an exit surface from which light incident from the incident surface 211a exits. The light guide 211 guides the light emitted from the display unit LED 212 to the display operation sheet 201.
[0024] Here, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the incident surface 211a (broken circle) of the light guide 211 is smaller than the area on the display / operation sheet 201 where the icons are printed when viewed in the longitudinal direction. At least the incident surface 211a side of the light guide 211 is cylindrical, and the cross section is circular as shown in FIG. 5(a). When viewed in the longitudinal direction, the exit surface of the light guide 211 has a directly-up exit surface 211b, which is a first exit surface that overlaps with at least a portion of the icon and includes a portion that overlaps with the display unit LEDs 212, and a directly-up exit surface 211c, which is a second exit surface that overlaps with at least a portion of the icon but does not overlap with the display unit LEDs 212. The directly-up exit surface 211c is closer to the display / operation sheet 201 than the directly-up exit surface 211b.
[0025] The light guide 211 takes in light emitted by the display unit LEDs 212 through the incident surface 211a and emits the light from a direct-upon emission surface 211b located directly above the incident surface 211a and from other direct-upon emission surfaces 211c (excluding the direct-upon emission surface 211b). More specifically, the portion directly above the display unit LEDs 212 is the direct-upon emission surface 211b, and the portion not directly above the display unit LEDs 212 is the direct-upon emission surface 211c. The direct-upon emission surface 211b is disposed at a position closer to the incident surface 211a than the direct-upon emission surface 211c. This allows the direct-upon emission surface 211c to emit light from a position closer to the display operation sheet 201 than the direct-upon emission surface 211b. With regard to the amount of light emitted, the amount of light emitted from the direct-upon emission surface 211b is greater (higher) than the amount of light emitted from the direct-upon emission surface 211c. The arrangement of the direct-upper emission surface 211b and the direct-upper emission surface 211c relative to one icon portion may be determined according to the design of the icon portion.
[0026] For example, the toner icon 201c shown in FIG. 5(a) is composed of a portion consisting of three circles and a U-shaped portion. In the first embodiment, the direct-top emission surface 211b is provided below the portion consisting of the three circles, and the direct-top emission surface 211c is provided below the U-shaped portion, so that the entire toner icon 201c is illuminated uniformly. The height difference Δh between the direct-top emission surface 211b and the direct-top emission surface 211c (see FIG. 5(b)) prevents uneven lighting in the toner icon 201c, making it easy to see. The height difference Δh can be adjusted according to the design of the icon portion.
[0027] In the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 5(b), the length L1 of the incident surface 211a is shorter than the length L3 of the toner icon 201c. Furthermore, the length L1 of the incident surface 211a is shorter than the combined length L2 of the directly-above exit surface 211b and the directly-above exit surface 211c. The lengths L1, L2, and L3 are lengths in the direction in which the operation buttons 221 are lined up (the front-to-back direction in FIG. 2). The same relationship applies to the area, where the area of the incident surface 211a is smaller than the combined area of the directly-above exit surface 211b and the directly-above exit surface 211c. The area is the area of a surface perpendicular to the up-down direction (longitudinal direction). Furthermore, the area of the incident surface 211a, indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 5(a), is smaller than the entire area of the toner icon 201c on the display / operation sheet 201, i.e., the area of the area to be illuminated (light-emitting surface).
[0028] The reason why L1 is shorter than L2 and L3 is that there is a lack of space due to structural issues. Also, even if L1 is made longer, differences in the amount of light reaching the toner icon 201c will occur depending on the positional relationship and angle between the display LED 212 and the incident surface 211a, so it is necessary to devise a way to make the toner icon 201c illuminate evenly.
[0029] Direct-upon emission surface 211b, which has a higher light intensity than direct-upon emission surface 211c, emits light at a position farther from display-operation sheet 201, thereby reducing the light intensity at a position corresponding to direct-upon emission surface 211b on display-operation sheet 201. This makes it possible to make the light intensity from direct-upon emission surface 211b at the position of display-operation sheet 201 approximately the same as the light intensity from direct-upon emission surface 211c, thereby reducing unevenness of light on display-operation sheet 201. Note that there is an air layer between direct-upon emission surface 211b and display-operation sheet 201, and light emitted from direct-upon emission surface 211b is diffused by the air layer.
[0030] [Operation section] The operation unit 22 is an operation device operated by a user. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 22 is configured, from top to bottom, by a display operation sheet 201, operation buttons 221, an operation button cover 222, a button holder 202, three tactile switches 223, and three operation unit LEDs 224. The operation unit LEDs 224 are light sources that emit light to illuminate icons. The operation unit LEDs 224 are mounted on an electric board 203, which is a second board. That is, in the first embodiment, the first board on which the display unit LEDs 212 are mounted and the second board on which the operation unit LEDs 224 are mounted are integrated. The display unit LEDs 212 and the operation unit LEDs 224 may be mounted on different boards.
[0031] The operation button 221 (button) moves in a movement direction (up and down in the first embodiment) when pressed via the display operation sheet 201. The operation button cover 222, which is a cover member, is provided closer to the operation button 221 (button side) than the display operation sheet 201, and covers the periphery of the operation button 221.
[0032] The tactile switch 223 (switch) switches an electric signal in conjunction with pressing the operation button 221. The electric signal is transmitted to the control unit 120. The switch is not limited to a tactile switch, but may be any switch that switches an electric signal in response to an external force. It is also not limited to a mechanical switch. The three tactile switches 223 are tactile switch 223d that moves up and down in conjunction with operation button 221d, tactile switch 223e that moves up and down in conjunction with operation button 221e, and tactile switch 223f that moves up and down in conjunction with operation button 221f. The three tactile switches 223 are mounted on an electric board 203, which is a second board.
[0033] The operation button 221 has a sheet contact surface 221a (contact surface) that comes into contact with the display / operation sheet 201 when pressed (see FIG. 7). Furthermore, the operation button cover 222 has a second outer peripheral surface 222b, which is a first surface, whose height in the movement direction when the operation button 221 is not pressed is approximately the same as that of the sheet contact surface 221a (see FIG. 7). Here, approximately the same height includes not only cases where the heights are exactly the same, but also cases where the heights can be considered to be substantially the same.
[0034] The operation button 221 has an incident surface 221c that is provided at the end opposite to the sheet contact surface 221a in the movement direction and into which light emitted from the operation unit LED 224 is incident (see FIG. 6). In detail, the operation button 221d has an incident surface 221cd, the operation button 221e has an incident surface 221ce, and the operation button 221f has an incident surface 221cf. The operation button 221 has a cylindrical shape. The sheet contact surface 221a of the operation button 221 functions as an exit surface that exits the light that is incident from the incident surface 221c. In other words, the operation button 221 functions as a guide member that guides the light emitted from the operation unit LED 224 to the display operation sheet 201.
[0035] The operation button cover 222 has a first outer peripheral surface 222a, which is a second surface whose height in the movement direction is approximately the same as that of the sheet contact surface 221a when the operation button 221 is pressed (see FIG. 7). The first outer peripheral surface 222a is located closer to the operation button 221 than the second outer peripheral surface 222b in a direction approximately perpendicular to the movement direction (see FIG. 7). The first outer peripheral surface 222a and the second outer peripheral surface 222b are connected in a stepped manner (see FIG. 7). The operation button cover 222 has a tip-prevention surface 222c, which is located approximately parallel to the movement direction and is a restricting surface that does not come into contact with the operation button 221 when the operation button 221 is not pressed (see FIG. 7). Here, "approximately parallel" includes not only the case where the two surfaces are strictly parallel, but also the case where the two surfaces can be considered to be substantially parallel. The following description will be made with reference to the drawings.
[0036] 6(a) is a top perspective view of the button portion of the operation unit 22, and (b) is a bottom perspective view of the button portion of the operation unit 22. The button holder 202 has three button holding portions 202a, three button bending pairs 202b, and three button pressing portions 202c. The button holding portions 202a hold the operation button 221. The button bending pairs 202b bend when the operation button 221 is pressed by the user. The button pressing portions 202c press the tactile switch 223 when the operation button 221 is pressed.
[0037] The three button holding portions 202a are specifically button holding portion 202ad that holds operation button 221d, button holding portion 202ae that holds operation button 221e, and button holding portion 202af that holds operation button 221f. The three button bending pairs 202b are specifically button bending pair 202bd that bends when operation button 221d is pressed, button bending pair 202be that bends when operation button 221e is pressed, and button bending pair 202bf that bends when operation button 221f is pressed. The three button pressing portions 202c are specifically button pressing portion 202cd that operates in conjunction with pressing of operation button 221d, button pressing portion 202ce that operates in conjunction with pressing of operation button 221e, and button pressing portion 202cf that operates in conjunction with pressing of operation button 221f.
[0038] The three operation unit LEDs 224 (see FIG. 4) on the electric board 203 are respectively arranged in the center of the operation button 221 when viewed from above. When viewed from above, the operation unit LEDs 224 are operation unit LED 224d arranged in the center of operation button 221d, operation unit LED 224e arranged in the center of operation button 221e, and operation unit LED 224f arranged in the center of operation button 221f. Furthermore, the operation button 221 has a function of a light guide so that light can pass through. In other words, the light guide also functions as the operation button 221. The operation button 221, which also serves as a light guide, has an incident surface 221c (see FIG. 6(b)) and an exit surface (sheet contact surface 221a), similar to the light guide 211 described above. Furthermore, the area of the incident surface is smaller than the area of the exit surface.
[0039] [Operation button cover] There is a demand for an operating unit that is easy to operate and has good visibility. This paper describes a method for providing an operating unit that is easy to operate and has good visibility.
[0040] Fig. 7 shows a detailed view of the vicinity of the display / operation sheet 201, operation button 221, and operation button cover 222 in a cross section taken along the line AA in Fig. 3(a). Fig. 7(a) shows the state before the operation button 221 is pressed, and Fig. 7(b) shows the state when the operation button 221 is pressed. The operation button 221 is located directly below the resume button icon 201d, the cancel button icon 201e, and the power button icon 201f on the display / operation sheet 201.
[0041] The operation button 221 has a sheet contact surface 221a that comes into contact with the display / operation sheet 201 when a user presses the operation button 221 via the icon portion. The sheet contact surface 221a also serves as an emission surface from which light emitted from the operation unit LED 224 and passing through the operation button 221 as a light guide exits. The operation button cover 222 has a first outer peripheral surface 222a, a second outer peripheral surface 222b, a tip-over prevention surface 222c, and a wall portion 222d. The first outer peripheral surface 222a covers the periphery of the operation button 221. The second outer peripheral surface 222b is one step higher than the first outer peripheral surface 222a and is the surface that comes into contact with the display / operation sheet 201. The tip-over prevention surface 222c prevents the operation button 221 from tipping over. Wall portion 222d extends upward from first outer peripheral surface 222a and connects first outer peripheral surface 222a and second outer peripheral surface 222b. That is, if the distance from the center of operation button 221 to tip-prevention surface 222c is R1 and the distance from the center of operation button 221 to wall portion 222d is R2, distance R2 is greater than distance R1 (R2>R1). Tip-prevention surface 222c is a side surface of first outer peripheral surface 222a and comes into contact with operation button 221 when operated by a user. Second outer peripheral surface 222b may always be in contact with display-operation sheet 201, or may come into contact with display-operation sheet 201 only when a user operates operation button 221.
[0042] 7(a) (when the operation button 221 is not pressed), the height of the second outer peripheral surface 222b is approximately the same as the height of the sheet contact surface 221a of the operation button 221 that comes into contact with the display-operation sheet 201. When the operation button 221 is pressed by a user as shown in FIG. 7(b), the height of the first outer peripheral surface 222a is approximately the same as the height of the sheet contact surface 221a of the operation button 221 when the button pressing portion 202c of the button holder 202 comes into contact with the tactile switch 223 and butts against each other. That is, the movement distance of the operation button 221 from a state in which the operation button 221 is not pressed until the button pressing portion 202c comes into contact with the tactile switch 223 is approximately equal to the height of the wall portion 222d. Note that "approximately equal" does not only mean the case where the heights are strictly equal, but also includes the case where the heights can be considered to be substantially equal.
[0043] 3(b), each of the plurality of operation buttons 221 is provided with a first outer peripheral surface 222a and a second outer peripheral surface 222b. The second outer peripheral surfaces 222b are continuous and form a portion provided between the respective operation buttons 221. When each operation button 221 is pressed via the display / operation sheet 201, the display / operation sheet 201 bends, but as shown in FIG. 7(b), the range in which the display / operation sheet 201 bends is limited to an area S indicated by a dashed line.
[0044] The operation button 221 has a flange portion 221b, which protrudes toward the operation button cover 222. The operation button cover 222 has a protrusion 222e, which is provided below the flange portion 221b of the operation button 221. When the operation button 221 is pressed, the flange portion 221b comes into contact with the protrusion 222e, preventing the operation button 221 from being pushed further downward. When the operation button 221 is not pressed down, the flange portion 221b and the tip-prevention surface 222c do not come into contact with each other, and a gap (space, clearance) of a predetermined distance is provided.
[0045] In this way, by providing a space between the display / operation sheet 201 and the first outer peripheral surface 222a, the operability of the operation unit 22 can be maintained. Furthermore, by providing the second outer peripheral surface 222b, it is possible to restrict the area S in which the display / operation sheet 201 bends to the range approximately directly above the first outer peripheral surface 222a. This makes it possible to reduce the bending of the display / operation sheet 201. With this configuration, it is possible to provide an operation unit 22 that maintains operability and has good visibility.
[0046] As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to provide a display unit or an operation unit using a light source with good visibility. [Example]
[0047] Example 2 differs from Example 1 in that the directly-upon emission surface 211b of the light guide 211 is roughened. In Example 2, the directly-upon emission surface 211b shown in FIG. 5 is roughened (textured), for example, by graining. This roughening enables the directly-upon emission surface 211b to further diffuse light. Such processing of the directly-upon emission surface 211b is effective, for example, when the step (height difference Δh) between the directly-upon emission surface 211b and the directly-upon emission surface 211c is not large, making it difficult to adjust the amount of light, or when it is desired to further reduce unevenness in light. Note that the processing is not limited to texturing, and other processing that roughens the surface of the directly-upon emission surface 211b, such as dimple processing or embossing, may also be used. Furthermore, the configuration is not limited to processing the directly-upon emission surface 211b to diffuse light, and a member having a light-diffusing property may be provided on the directly-upon emission surface 211b.
[0048] As described above, according to the second embodiment, a display unit with good visibility can be provided in a display unit or operation unit using a light source. [Example]
[0049] The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the first outer peripheral surface 222a and the second outer peripheral surface 222b are connected by a slope. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation button cover 222 of the third embodiment, illustrating a state in which the operation button 221 is not pressed. The first outer peripheral surface 222a and the second outer peripheral surface 222b of the operation button cover 222 are connected by a slope 222d'. This differs from the first embodiment in that the first outer peripheral surface 222a and the second outer peripheral surface 222b are connected in a stepped manner via the wall portion 222d. When the user presses the display / operation sheet 201, the display / operation sheet 201 smoothly falls along the slope 222d', thereby reducing scratches and marks on the display / operation sheet 201 that may be caused by a step.
[0050] As described above, according to the third embodiment, it is possible to provide a display unit or an operation unit using a light source with good visibility. [Explanation of symbols]
[0051] 21 Display section 201 Display operation sheet 201c Toner Icon 211 Light Guide 211a Entrance plane 211b Directly above exit surface 211c Directly outgoing exit surface 212 Display LED
Claims
1. A display device for displaying information to a user, comprising: A first sheet having a design corresponding to the information; A light source that emits light to illuminate the pattern; a guide member having an incident surface, which passes through the light source and is provided at one end in a first direction perpendicular to the first sheet, into which the light emitted from the light source is incident, and an exit surface, which is provided at the other end in the first direction, from which the light incident from the incident surface exits, and which guides the light emitted from the light source to the first sheet so that the pattern shines; Equipped with The incident surface is smaller than an area of the first sheet on which the pattern is provided when viewed in the first direction, The exit surface has a first exit surface including a portion overlapping at least a portion of the pattern and overlapping with the light source when viewed in the first direction, and a second exit surface overlapping at least a portion of the pattern and not overlapping with the light source when viewed in the first direction, and in a plane perpendicular to the first direction, an area in which the pattern is provided is smaller than an area including the first exit surface and the second exit surface; A display device, characterized in that the second light exit surface is closer to the first sheet than the first light exit surface.
2. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first light exit surface is roughened.
3. 3. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a first substrate on which the light source is mounted.
4. The pattern is an icon portion including a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion, When viewed in the first direction, the first exit surface overlaps with the first portion, and the second exit surface overlaps with the second portion.
4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction.
5. The display device as described in Claim 4, characterized in that the second part is U-shaped.
6. A display device described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, in the longitudinal direction of the guide member, the incident surface is provided at one end of the guide member, and the exit surface is provided at the other end of the guide member.
7. A display device as described in Claim 6, characterized in that the longitudinal direction is a direction along the first direction.
8. A display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7; an image forming section for forming an image on a recording material; An image forming apparatus comprising:
9. An operation device operated by a user, A second sheet having a pattern corresponding to the operation; a button that moves in a movement direction when pressed via the second sheet; A cover member that covers the periphery of the button; A switch for switching an electrical signal in response to pressing of the button; Equipped with the button has a contact surface, the contact surface being in contact with the second sheet such that the button is pressed through the second sheet when the second sheet is pressed; the cover member extends in a direction intersecting the movement direction and has a first surface in contact with the second sheet and a second surface extending in a direction intersecting the movement direction; the first surface is higher than the second surface in the moving direction, and the second surface is closer to the button than the first surface in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction; An operating device, characterized in that, in the movement direction, the button is movable to a position where the contact surface is lower than the first surface.
10. The operating device according to claim 9 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are connected in a stepped manner.
11. The operating device according to claim 9 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are connected by a slope.
12. The cover member has a restriction surface extending along the movement direction, The operating device according to claim 9 , wherein the restriction surface prevents the button from falling over.
13. 13. The operating device according to claim 9, further comprising a second substrate on which the switch is mounted.
14. A light source is provided for emitting light to illuminate the pattern, The operating device described in claim 13, characterized in that the button has an incident surface on the end opposite the contact surface in the movement direction into which light emitted from the light source is incident, the contact surface functions as an exit surface that emits light incident from the incident surface and functions as a guide member that guides the light emitted from the light source to the second sheet.
15. The operating device according to claim 14 , wherein the light source is mounted on the second substrate.
16. An operating device described in any one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the button is movable to a position such that the position of the contact surface is the same as the position of the second surface in the movement direction.
17. An operating device as described in any one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that in a state before the second sheet and the button are pressed, the contact surface is separated from the second sheet.
18. An operating device according to any one of claims 9 to 17; an image forming section for forming an image on a recording material; An image forming apparatus comprising:
19. A display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7; An operating device according to any one of claims 9 to 17; an image forming section for forming an image on a recording material; An image forming apparatus comprising:
20. A display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a first sheet; The operating device according to any one of claims 9 to 17, further comprising a second sheet; an image forming section for forming an image on a recording material; Equipped with an image forming apparatus, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are integral with each other;
21. The display device according to claim 3 having a first substrate; The operating device according to claim 13, further comprising a second substrate; an image forming section for forming an image on a recording material; Equipped with An image forming apparatus, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are integral with each other.