Button

Abstract

To provide a button which can be used as a non-contact button capable of generating a stereoscopic optical image and can be used as a substantial button even when the non-contact button is deteriorated in detection function or broken, or an abnormality occurs therein.SOLUTION: A button including a substrate, a housing, an optical platen assembly, and an optical trigger switch is provided. The substrate includes a substantial button and a light-emitting element. The housing is attached to the substrate, accommodates the substantial button and the light-emitting element, and has an opening on a side of the housing which is away from the substrate. The optical platen assembly is disposed inside the housing and slides to cover the substantial button and the light-emitting element, moves along an operation direction from the opening to the substrate, can generate a first operation signal in contact with the substantial button, and can convert a light flux provided by the light-emitting element into a stereoscopic optical image to be projected from the opening. The optical trigger switch is attached to the outside of the housing, and can generate a second operation signal when a stereoscopic optical image is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3B

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a button, and particularly to a button capable of generating an optical three-dimensional pattern.

Background Art

[0002] Buttons are currently very common input devices. Well-known buttons are mainly classified into two types: conventional contact push buttons and non-contact buttons. For a push button, when a user presses it, a physical button inside the button conducts, and a signal is generated. On the other hand, for a non-contact button, an infrared device senses a change in the light beam by the user's finger in the space in front of an infrared detection device to generate a signal. Due to hygienic reasons, the market demand for non-contact buttons has increased significantly.

[0003] Currently, non-contact buttons capable of displaying three-dimensional images mainly use an infrared detection method by an infrared sensor (IR Sensor) without a physical button. When the function of the infrared sensor deteriorates, malfunctions, or abnormalities occur, an alternative physical button cannot be used. Also, due to design reasons, an image module for generating a three-dimensional image and a protective cover plate are attached to the button, so it cannot be used as a physical button.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a button that can be used as a non-contact button capable of generating a three-dimensional optical image and can be used as a physical button even when the detection function of the non-contact button deteriorates, malfunctions, or abnormalities occur.

[0005] To achieve the above advantages, an embodiment of the present invention provides a button including a substrate, a housing, an optical platen assembly, and an optical trigger switch. The substrate includes a physical button and a light-emitting element. The housing is attached to the substrate, houses the physical button and the light-emitting element, and has an opening on the side away from the substrate. The optical platen assembly is disposed and slidable within the housing, covers the physical button and the light-emitting element, moves along the operation direction from the opening to the substrate, can contact the physical button to generate a first operation signal, and can convert the light beam provided by the light-emitting element into a three-dimensional optical image projected from the opening. The optical trigger switch is attached to the outside of the housing and can generate a second operation signal when detecting the three-dimensional optical image.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, the optical platen assembly includes a platen and an optical coupling element. A guide portion is provided around the platen. The guide portion includes a slide portion and a protrusion. The slide portion is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the housing. The protrusion protrudes from the surface of the slide portion and is disposed and slidable within a slide groove on the inner wall surface. The optical coupling element is connected to the platen and is located on the side of the platen facing the substrate.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the optical coupling element includes an image sensor and a lens array. The image sensor faces the substrate and has a preset pattern. The lens array is disposed on the side away from the substrate of the image sensor, and a three-dimensional optical image is formed after the light beam passes through the image sensor and the lens array.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the optical coupling element further includes a collimating portion, which is disposed between the substrate and the image sensor and can convert the light beam into a parallel light beam.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the button further includes an intermediate frame, which is connected between the optical coupling element and the substrate. The intermediate frame includes a main body and an elastic arm connected to the main body. The main body can trigger the physical button when pushed in. The elastic arm is connected to the substrate and can create a gap between the main body and the substrate.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the physical button is a tact switch, and when the optical platen assembly is pressed, it can provide a restoring force to the optical platen assembly.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing is provided with an installation groove, the installation groove is installed on the side of the opening, the slot of the installation groove is inclined in the operation direction and faces the opening, and the optical trigger switch is installed in the installation groove.

[0012] From the above description, since the button of the present invention has an optical trigger switch, a physical button, and a movable optical platen assembly installed therein, it can be used not only as a non-physical button capable of generating a three-dimensional optical image through the optical trigger switch and the optical platen assembly, but also an operation signal can be generated by pressing the physical button through the optical platen assembly. Therefore, even when the function of the optical trigger switch deteriorates, fails, or an abnormality occurs, it can be used as a contact button.

[0013] In order to more clearly understand the above-described or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, the following examples will be given and described in detail as follows with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] In the following text, descriptions of terms used in the description based on embodiments of the present invention, such as directions and positional relationships like "upper" and "lower", are based on the directions and positional relationships shown in the drawings. The above terms are merely for convenience in explaining the present invention and do not limit the present invention, nor do they indicate or imply that the elements mentioned must be constructed in a specific direction. Also, terms such as "first", "second", etc. mentioned in this specification or the claims are only used to name elements or to distinguish different embodiments or ranges, and are not used to set an upper or lower limit on the number of elements.

[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a button which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional schematic view of the optical platen assembly in FIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a partial cross-sectional view when the physical button in FIG. 1 is not operating. FIG. 3B is a partial cross-sectional view when the physical button in FIG. 1 is operating. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the operation when the optical platen assembly in FIG. 1 generates a three-dimensional optical image. FIG. 5 is a schematic view when the optical trigger switch in FIG. 1 is operating.

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the button 1 of this embodiment includes a substrate 2, a housing 3, an optical platen assembly 4, and an optical trigger switch 5. The substrate 2 includes a physical button 21 and a light-emitting element 22. The housing 3 is attached to the substrate 2, houses the physical button 21 and the light-emitting element 22, and has an opening 31 on the side away from the substrate 2 of the housing 3. The optical platen assembly 4 is disposed and slidable within the housing 3 to cover the physical button 21 and the light-emitting element 22. The optical platen assembly 4 can move along the operation direction D from the opening 31 to the substrate 2, contact the physical button 21 to generate a first operation signal, and the optical platen assembly 4 can also convert the light beam L1 (see FIG. 4) provided by the light-emitting element 22 into a three-dimensional optical image P (see FIG. 4) projected from the opening 31. The optical trigger switch 5 is attached to the outside of the housing 3 and generates a second operation signal when detecting the three-dimensional optical image P.

[0018] In this embodiment, the button 1 is not limited to, for example, a button for operating an elevator, and the physical button 21 is not limited to, for example, a tactile switch (also called a Tactile Switches). When the user's finger F (see FIG. 5) presses the optical platen assembly 4 along the operation direction D in FIGS. 3A and 3B, mechanical feedback can be provided to the user by the elasticity of the members inside the tactile switch from the other side of the optical platen assembly 4. Also, for example, the first operation signal is generated only when the optical platen assembly 4 is pressed to the bottom. The light-emitting element 22 includes, for example, a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), but its type and quantity are not limited.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, the housing 3 is quadrilateral or the like, and the housing 3 in other embodiments can have different shapes according to different design requirements. The housing 3 includes, for example, a first frame portion 3a and a second frame portion 3b. The first frame portion 3a contacts the substrate 2 when the housing 3 and the substrate 2 are connected, and can accommodate the optical platen assembly 4. The second frame portion 3b is attached to the first frame portion 3a along the operation direction D and can form an opening 31. Along the operation direction D, the cross-sectional area of the opening 31 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the optical platen assembly 4, so that the optical platen assembly 4 can be prevented from fitting into the second frame portion 3b and coming off the first frame portion 3a.

[0020] On the inner wall surface 32 of the first frame portion 3a, a first protrusion 321a and a second protrusion 321b protruding toward the center are provided. The first protrusion 321a and the second protrusion 321b are respectively installed on different inner wall surfaces 32 of the first frame portion 3a. On the inner wall surfaces 32 on both sides of the first protrusion 321a of the first frame portion 3a, a first slide groove 322 and a second slide groove 323 are respectively provided, but no slide grooves are provided on the inner wall surfaces 32 on both sides of the second protrusion 321b. The first slide groove 322 is a groove body penetrating the first frame portion 3a along the operation direction D. The second slide groove 323 is a groove body located at a position close to the connection portion between the housing 3 and the substrate 2. A sealing end is formed at one end of the second slide groove 323 away from the substrate 2 and does not communicate with the second frame portion 3b.

[0021] Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, in this embodiment, the housing 3 further includes an installation groove 33. The installation groove 33 is installed on one side of the periphery of the opening 31 and is formed in the first frame portion 3a. The slot 331 of the installation groove 33 penetrates the second frame portion 3b and is inclined in the operation direction D and faces the opening 31. The optical trigger switch 5 is installed in the installation groove 33 (see Fig. 5).

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the optical platen assembly 4 includes a platen 41 and an optical imaging element 42. The platen 41 is pushed by the user's finger F (see FIG. 5), can protect the optical imaging element 42, and allows the light ray L1 (see FIG. 4) provided by the light-emitting element 22 to pass through. The optical imaging element 42 can generate a three-dimensional optical image P.

[0023] The platen 41 includes, for example, a pressure-receiving portion 411 and a plate-like portion 412 located below the pressure-receiving portion 411. The pressure-receiving portion 411 has a square shape, and the plate-like portion 412 has a polygonal shape corresponding to the shape of the inner wall surface of the first frame portion 3a. A groove 412a recessed inward is formed at the center of each side of the plate-like portion 412, and the position of the groove 412a corresponds to the position of the protrusion 321 of the first frame portion 3a. Around the plate-like portion 412, four guide portions 43 and four connectors 44 extending along the operation direction D toward the position of the substrate 2 are provided, but the number is not limited.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the guide portions 43 are installed, for example, near the four corners of the plate-like portion 412. The guide portions 43 are in combinations of two, and are respectively located on both opposite sides of the platen 41. The connectors 44 are installed near the four corners of the platen 41. The connectors 44 are in combinations of two, and are respectively located on both opposite sides of the platen 41. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, at each corner of the plate-like portion 412, there are a guide portion 43 and a connector 44 located on adjacent but different sides.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the guide portion 43 includes, for example, a slide portion 431 and a protrusion 321. The slide portion 431 is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface 32 of the housing 3. The protrusion 321 protrudes from the surface of the slide portion 431. The optical platen assembly 4 is in sliding contact with the inner wall surface 32 of the housing 3 via the guide portion 43 of the platen 41, preventing the optical platen assembly 4 from tilting and jamming when it is too thin and being pressed.

[0026] The protrusions 432 on the guide portion 43 include, for example, a first protrusion 432a and a second protrusion 432b. The positions of the first protrusion 432a and the second protrusion 432b respectively correspond to the first slide groove 322 and the second slide groove 323 on the housing 3. The first protrusion 432a forms a rib extending along the operation direction D and is located at one end on the guide portion 43 close to the platen 41, which can assist the optical platen assembly 4 to move along the operation direction D in the first slide groove 322 and will not rotate according to the pressing position of the finger F during the movement process. The second protrusion 432b forms a bump and is located at one end on the guide portion 43 away from the platen 41. Thereby, the optical platen assembly 4 can be assisted to move along the operation direction D in the second slide groove 323 and the sealing end can assist the optical platen assembly 4 not to separate from the housing 3.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the coupler 44 can connect the optical coupling element 42 to the platen 41, make the optical coupling element 42 face the side portion of the substrate 2, and includes an extending portion 441 extending along the same direction as the guide portion 43 from the edge of the platen 41. Further, a triangular bump 442 is formed at one end of the extending portion 441 away from the platen 41, and the inclined surface of the bump 442 faces the side away from the platen 41, so that the optical coupling element 42 can be engaged.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, a corner missing portion 45 is formed at one of the four corners of the plate-like portion 412, for example. Thereby, when the platen 41 is connected to the optical coupling element 42, one corner of the optical coupling element 42 is not covered by the platen 41, and during maintenance, the user can separate the optical coupling element 42 from the platen 41 from the corner missing portion 45.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in this embodiment, when the button 1 is not pressed by the user, the stopper 21a on the physical button 21 protrudes from the physical button 21 and presses against the optical imaging element 42 of the optical platen assembly 4. When the button 1 (pressure receiving part 411) is pressed by the user, the optical platen assembly 4 moves toward the substrate 2 along the operation direction D, pushes the stopper 21a in, and moves toward the inside of the physical button 21. Thereby, the physical button 21 generates a first operation signal. When the pressure receiving part 411 is no longer pressed by the user, the physical button 21 pushes out the optical platen assembly 4 via the stopper 21a, and the optical platen assembly 4 moves away from the substrate 2 along the operation direction D and returns to its original position.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the optical imaging element 42 includes, for example, an imaging element 421 and a lens array 422. The imaging element 421 is located on the opposite side of the lens array 422 and faces the substrate 2, and a partially transmissive preset pattern (not shown) is provided on its surface. The light beam L1 of the light emitting element 22 is partially blocked by the preset pattern, and the image content of the stereoscopic optical image P can be determined. The image content of the stereoscopic optical image P is, for example, a pattern such as a number indicating the floor of the elevator or text representing an instruction. The lens array 422 is, for example, a biconvex lens array, and the passed light beam L1 can form a stereoscopic image. In other embodiments, there are also single-sided convex lens arrays, which can be installed as needed. When the light beam L1 emitted from the light emitting element 22 enters the optical platen assembly 4, the light beam L1 sequentially passes through the imaging element 421 and the lens array 422. That is, the optical imaging element 42 first partially blocks the light beam L1 by the preset pattern, and then the light beam L1 that is not blocked forms the stereoscopic optical image P through the lens array 422.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the optical platen assembly 4 further includes, for example, a collimating section 423. The collimating section 423 is disposed between the substrate 2 and the imaging element 421 and the lens array 422 such that the imaging element 421 is located between the lens array 422 and the collimating section 423. The collimating section 423 can convert the light beam L1 into a parallel light beam L1 to improve the luminance of the three-dimensional optical image P. The type of the collimating section 423 is, for example, a Fresnel lens, but is not limited thereto.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the optical trigger switch 5 mounted in the installation groove 33 performs detection forward of the opening 31 along the operation direction D. The light beam L1 emitted from the light emitting element 22 passes through the optical platen assembly 4 and is converted into a light beam L2, and then a three-dimensional optical image P is formed forward of the opening 31 along the operation direction D. At this time, since the imaging direction of the three-dimensional optical image P is different from the direction in which the opening 31 is installed, light does not enter the opening 31 to activate the optical trigger switch 5. When the user's finger F approaches the three-dimensional optical image P, a part of the light beam L2 of the three-dimensional optical image P2 generates reflected light by the user's finger F and is projected toward the optical trigger switch 5. When the optical trigger switch 5 detects the reflected light, a second operation signal is formed. From the above, in the present invention, the light emitting element 22 can function not only as a light source for generating the light beam L1 of the three-dimensional optical image P but also as a light source for generating the light beam L2 detected by the optical trigger switch 5.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an intermediate frame of a button according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial cross-sectional views when the physical button in FIG. 6 is operating. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7A and 7B, in another embodiment of the present invention, the button 1 further includes an intermediate frame 6. The intermediate frame 6 is located in the housing 3 and between the optical coupling element 42 and the substrate 2, and can push the optical coupling element 42 along the operation direction D. Thereby, a reaction force for resisting the force of the user's finger F is provided, and after being pushed into the optical coupling element 42, it can contact the physical button 21.

[0034] In this embodiment, the intermediate frame 6 is, for example, a quadrilateral corresponding to the shape of the housing 3, and includes a main body 61 and four elastic arms 62 connected thereto. One side portion of the main body 61 is adapted to contact the optical imaging element 42, and the other opposite side portion can contact the physical button 21 after being pushed into the optical imaging element 42. In this embodiment, a pressing block 83 is installed on the main body 61 so as to correspond to the position of the physical button 21. Further, a third slide groove 324 (see FIG. 1) is provided at a position corresponding to the second protruding portion 321b of the first frame portion 3a, and a slide block 64 for preventing the rotation of the intermediate frame 6 is arranged and slides in the third slide groove 324.

[0035] Each elastic arm 62 extends obliquely from the main body 61 along the operation direction D toward the substrate 2, contacts and is pushed into the substrate 2, and the elastic arm 62 can create a gap S between the main body 61 and the substrate 2 when the main body 61 is not pushed in. There are no restrictions on the number of elastic arms 62 and the position where the main body 61 is installed, and they can be installed as required.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the optical platen assembly 4 is pushed by a user's finger F (not shown), the intermediate frame 6 is pressed by the optical platen assembly 4, moves toward the substrate 2, the physical button 21 is pushed via the pressing block 63, and the elastic arm 62 is deformed. When the user's finger F leaves the optical platen assembly 4, the elastic arm 62 returns to its original shape, the intermediate frame 6 moves away from the substrate 2, and the optical platen assembly 4 is pushed into the intermediate frame 6 and returns to its original position.

[0037] As described above, since the button of the present invention is provided with an optical trigger switch, a physical button, and a movable optical platen assembly inside the button, it can be used not only as a non-physical button capable of generating a three-dimensional optical image via the optical trigger switch and the optical platen assembly, but also an operation signal can be generated by pressing the physical button via the optical platen assembly. Therefore, even when the function of the optical trigger switch deteriorates, malfunctions, or abnormalities occur, it can be used as a contact button.

[0038] As mentioned above, the present invention has been disclosed using examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can make some modifications without departing from the spirit scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be limited by the appended claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0039] 1: Button 2: Substrate 21: Physical Button 21a: Stopper 22: Light Emitting Element 3: Housing 3a: First Frame Portion 3b: Second Frame Portion 31: Opening 32: Inner Wall Surface 321: Protrusion 321a: First Protrusion 321b: Second Protrusion 322: First Slide Groove 323: Second Slide Groove 33: Installation Groove 331: Slot 4: Optical Platen Assembly 41: Platen 411: Pressure-Receiving Portion 412: Plate-Like Portion 412a: Groove 42: Optical Imaging Element 421: Imaging Element 422: Lens Array 423: Collimating Portion 43: Guide part 431: Slide part 432: Protrusion part 432a: First protrusion 432b: Second protrusion 44: Coupling tool 441: Extension part 442: Bump 45: Corner missing part 5: Optical trigger switch 6: Intermediate frame 61: Body 62: Elastic arm 63: Pressing block 64: Slide block L1, L2: Light beam S: Gap D: Operation direction P: Stereoscopic optical image F: Finger

Claims

1. a substrate comprising a physical button and a light-emitting element, a housing attached to the substrate, accommodating the physical button and the light-emitting element, and having an opening on a side away from the substrate, an optical platen assembly disposed and slidable within the housing, covering the physical button and the light-emitting element, moving along an operation direction from the opening to the substrate, capable of contacting the physical button to generate a first operation signal, and capable of converting a light beam provided by the light-emitting element into a three-dimensional optical image projected from the opening, an optical trigger switch attached to an outer surface of the housing such that a three-dimensional optical image formed in front of the opening along the operation direction can be reflected by a user and reflected light toward a periphery of the opening can be detected, and capable of generating a second operation signal when the reflected light is detected, A button characterized by comprising the above.

2. The optical platen assembly, comprises at least one guide portion around, and the guide portion comprises a slide portion and a protrusion portion, the slide portion is in sliding contact with an inner wall surface of the housing, the protrusion portion protrudes from a surface of the slide portion, and is also disposed and slidable within a slide groove on the inner wall surface, a platen, an optical coupling element connected to the platen and located on a side where the platen faces the substrate, The button according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the above.

3. The optical coupling element, an image sensor facing the substrate and having a preset pattern, a lens array disposed on a side of the image sensor away from the substrate, and forming the three-dimensional optical image after the light beam passes through the image sensor and the lens array, The button according to claim 2, characterized by comprising the above.

4. The optical coupling element further comprises a collimating portion, disposed between the substrate and the image sensor, and capable of converting the light beam into a parallel light beam. The button according to claim 3.

5. The button according to claim 2, further comprising an intermediate frame connected between the optical coupling element and the substrate, the intermediate frame comprising a main body and an elastic arm connected to the main body, the main body being capable of contacting the physical button when pushed in, the elastic arm being connected to the substrate, and capable of creating a gap between the main body and the substrate.

6. The physical button is a tactile switch, and can provide a restoring force to the optical platen assembly when the optical platen assembly is pressed. The button according to claim 1.

7. The housing is provided with an installation groove, the installation groove is installed on the side of the opening, the slot of the installation groove is inclined in the operation direction and faces the opening, and the optical trigger switch is installed in the installation groove. The button according to claim 1, characterized in that.

Images