Portable electronic devices

Abstract

To provide a portable electronic device which reduces a used amount of a rubber component having heavy specific gravity and is made of a resin, and thereby reduces the weight, reduces the number of components and cost since the resin part also has a function of a light guide plate of a key part, and achieves both floating and reduction in cost.SOLUTION: A portable electronic device has a rubber operation key member 6 for pressing and operating a switch element 10, a liquid crystal panel 7, a resin light guide plate 8 for its back light, and a substrate 9 mounted with the liquid crystal panel 7, the light guide plate 8 and the switch element 10, in which the operation key member 6 has a key holding part 63 for movably holding a key action part 62 for pressing and operating the switch element 10; the light guide plate 8 extends to a position with the switch element 10; and is formed into a pedestal shape to the substrate 9 so as to support the key holding part 63, and the pedestal has a hollow structure 87.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable electronic device that floats on the water surface even when dropped into water.

Background Art

[0002] In this type of portable electronic device, there is known a portable communication device having a floating structure that imparts buoyancy even when the electronic device is dropped into water by forming an air layer inside the housing of the electronic device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the portable electronic device as shown in Patent Document 1, since the air layer is merely a provided space, it does not sufficiently meet the demand for reducing the size and weight of the portable electronic device. In this type of portable electronic device, paying attention to the operation key portion of the electronic device in order to further reduce the size and weight, conventionally, the structures of the display portion and the operation portion are configured separately. However, when the operation keys are composed only of rubber keys for reducing the number of parts, the thickness of the rubber keys is made as thin as possible (thinned) for weight reduction, but there is a structural limit for ensuring the necessary mechanical strength, and it has been difficult to significantly reduce the weight.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device that can achieve both floating and cost reduction by reducing the amount of use of heavy rubber parts and resinifying them, and moreover, the resinified portion also has the function of the light guide plate (display portion) of the key portion to reduce the number of parts and cost.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a portable electronic device having a watertight structure inside the housing, a rubber operation key member having an operation portion facing an operation window of the housing and pressing a switch element, a liquid crystal panel adjacent to the operation portion and facing a display window of the housing, a light guide plate made of resin for a backlight of the liquid crystal panel, and a control circuit board (hereinafter referred to as a board) fixed inside the housing and on which the liquid crystal panel, the light guide plate, and the switch element are mounted. The operation key member has a key holding portion that movably holds a key acting portion for pressing the switch element. The light guide plate extends to a position where the switch element is located and has a pedestal shape with respect to the board so as to support the key holding portion. The pedestal shape has a top plate for holding the key holding portion and legs for holding the light guide plate on the substrate. A cavity is formed between the inside of the pedestal and the board, which is a feature of the present invention.

[0007] In the above portable electronic device, it is desirable that the key holding portion of the operation key member is shorter than the key acting portion in the height direction of the operation key member.

[0008] In the above portable electronic device, of the pedestal shape a cylindrical portion for inserting the key acting portion is formed in the top plate, and it is desirable that the light guide plate guides light to the key acting portion of the operation key member through the pedestal-shaped top plate and the cylindrical portion to illuminate the operation portion.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, the light guide plate of the liquid crystal panel extends to the position where the switching element is located, and has a hollow structure as a pedestal shape. Therefore, without increasing the overall shape, a space for imparting buoyancy can be effectively formed, and moreover, the thickness of the operation key member can be reduced, and weight reduction for floating can be achieved. In particular, this effect becomes remarkable when the light guide plate is made of resin and the operation key member is made of rubber with a high specific gravity. Further, by supporting the key holding portion of the operation key member at the extended portion of the light guide plate of the liquid crystal panel, the number of parts and the assembly process can be reduced, and cost reduction is possible.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] (Embodiment) Hereinafter, a handy radio according to an embodiment of the portable electronic device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the external configuration of the handy radio. In these figures, the handy radio 1 has a watertight configuration inside the housing and is lightweight so as to float on the water surface even when dropped into the water. The handy radio 1 has a housing 2 formed of resin or the like as an exterior. The housing 2 consists of a front housing 21 and a rear housing 22, which are fitted and fixed with a seal member sandwiched therebetween. On the front housing 21, a plurality of operation key windows 3, a display window 4 arranged adjacent to these operation key windows 3, a speaker, a microphone unit 5, and the like are provided. In this specification, the direction in which the display window 4 is arranged with respect to the operation key window 3 on the front of the handy radio 1 is referred to as the upward direction.

[0012] A plurality of operation parts 61 of the operation key member 6 face and are exposed in each of the operation key windows 3. A liquid crystal panel 7 is provided facing the display window 4. The plurality of operation parts 61 are for the user to select items in the screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7 and give operation instructions such as scrolling the cursor. An antenna 13 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 2, a power switch and a water immersion detection electrode 11 of the handy radio 1 are provided on the side surface of the rear housing 22, and a battery pack storage lid 23 is provided on the rear surface of the rear housing 22. The water immersion detection electrode 11 is for detecting water immersion when the handy radio 1 is immersed in water, and causing the built-in detection circuit to operate to emit light from the liquid crystal panel 7 and the like.

[0013] (Substrate Block Configuration) FIGS. 3 to 5 show a substrate block on which various components built in the housing 2 are mounted. The substrate block includes a liquid crystal panel 7, a light guide plate 8 for the backlight of the liquid crystal panel 7, and a control circuit board 9 (hereinafter referred to as the substrate) on which the light guide plate 8 is mounted. In FIG. 4, the operation key member 6 appears to be placed on the light guide plate 8, but is fitted from the inner surface side so that the plurality of operation parts 61 face each of the operation key windows 3 of the front housing 21. The operation key member 6 is integrally formed of rubber.

[0014] The liquid crystal panel 7 is mounted on the light guide plate 8 with its periphery surrounded by the frame 82 of the light guide plate 8, and a metal panel frame 71 for shielding and fixing is provided around the frame 82. The liquid crystal panel 7 is electrically connected to a socket provided on the substrate 9 by a flexible cable 72.

[0015] The light guide plate 8 has a planar backlight portion 81 that irradiates the liquid crystal panel 7 from the back side, a frame 82 that surrounds the periphery of the liquid crystal panel 7, and an extension portion 83 that extends to the position where the switch element 10 on the substrate 9 is located. The frame 82 forms a space (hollow) on the back surface of the backlight portion 81, and this space eliminates interference with the components mounted on the substrate 9. The light guide plate 8 is made of resin and integrally formed with a transparent resin. The extension portion 83 is formed in a pedestal shape with respect to the substrate 9 so as to support the operation key member 6, and has a hollow structure 87 inside the pedestal.

[0016] In addition to the control circuit of the electronic device, the substrate 9 is mounted with a plurality of switch elements 10 that are pressed by the operation key member 6, an LED 12 as a light emitting element that causes light to enter the light guide plate 8, a receiving terminal that comes into contact with the water detection electrode 11, and the like. The substrate 9 on which various components are mounted is fixed inside the front housing 21. The LED 12 is provided facing the lower end surface of the frame 82 of the light guide plate 8, and the light emitted by the LED 12 is made to enter the light guide plate 8. The light incident on the light guide plate 8 is guided to the backlight portion 81 and the extension portion 83.

[0017] (Operation and Effect according to the Embodiment) In the handy radio 1 having the above configuration, the light guide plate 8 of the liquid crystal panel 7 extends to the position where the switch element 10 is located and forms a hollow structure 87 in a pedestal shape. Therefore, without increasing the overall shape of the radio, a space for imparting buoyancy can be effectively formed. Furthermore, since the key holding portion 63 of the operation key member 6 is supported on the pedestal-shaped light guide plate 8, the thickness of the key holding portion 63 can be reduced, and weight reduction for floating can be achieved. This effect is remarkable when the light guide plate 8 is made of resin and the operation key member 6 is made of rubber with a heavy specific gravity.

[0018] Furthermore, since the key holding portion 63 of the operation key member 6 is supported by the extension portion 83 integrally provided on the light guide plate 8, the number of parts and the assembly process can be reduced, leading to cost reduction. Furthermore, since the extended base-shaped portion of the light guide plate 8 functions to hold the operation key member 6 and as a light guide plate for the operation key member 6, the LEDs 12 of the liquid crystal panel 7 can be used in common to illuminate the operation portion 61 of the operation key member 6, and reducing the number of LEDs allows for cost reduction.

[0019] (Example configuration of operation key member) An embodiment of the configuration of the operation key member 6 will be described. Figures 6(a) and 6(b) are views of the operation key member 6 as seen from the front and back sides, respectively. The operation key member 6 is integrally formed from a translucent rubber material, and has a plurality of operation sections 61 and a frame section 65 on the front side, and a plurality of key action sections 62, a key holding section 63, and a key bending section 64 on the back side. The front side of the operation key member 6 is colored the same color as the housing 2, and the key display section of the operation section 61 can be illuminated. The frame section 65 is watertightly fitted into a circumferential groove provided on the inner wall surface of the front housing 21.

[0020] The key action portion 62 of the operation key member 6 is provided corresponding to the operation portion 61 and is a convex portion that presses the switch element 10. The key holding portion 63 abuts on the base of the extension portion 83 of the light guide plate 8 to support the operation key member 6, while movably holding the key action portion 62. The thickness (height) of the key holding portion 63 can be made thinner by the height of the base of the extension portion 83 compared to when it is supported on the substrate 9, contributing to weight reduction. The key bending portion 64 is thin-walled (thinned) on the periphery of the key action portion 62 and bends to move the key action portion 62.

[0021] (Example configuration of light guide plate) Describe the exemplary configuration of the light guide plate 8. FIG. 7 is a view of the liquid crystal panel 7 and the light guide plate 8 as seen from the front side. As described above, the light guide plate 8 has a backlight portion 81, a frame body 82 surrounding the periphery of the liquid crystal panel 7, and an extended portion 83. The extended portion 83 has a pedestal shape, and the inside of the pedestal has a hollow structure 87. It has a top plate 84 that supports the key holding portion 63 and legs 85 for holding the light guide plate 8 on the substrate 9. A cylindrical portion 86 for inserting a plurality of key action portions 62 of the operation key member 6 is formed on the top plate 84. Further, the light guide plate 8 has a plurality of locking claws 88 extending downward from the frame body 82, and as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, it is fixed by engaging the locking claws 88 with notches 91 and slits 92 provided on the substrate 9.

[0022] With the above configuration, the light guide plate 8 guides light to the key action portions 62 of the operation key member 6 through the pedestal-shaped top plate 84 and the cylindrical portion 86 to illuminate the operation portion 61. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide an LED for illuminating the operation portion 61 of the operation key member 6. Further, the light guide plate 8 is an integrated resin part for illuminating the keys and the light guide plate of the liquid crystal panel 7. By raising the keys by the integrated resin part (the pedestal shape of the extended portion 83 of the light guide plate 8), it is possible to form an air layer for imparting buoyancy.

[0023] (Exemplary Configuration of a Handheld Wireless Device) FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the handheld wireless device 1. Inside the housing 2, the extended portion 83 of the light guide plate 8 has a pedestal shape with respect to the substrate 9 so as to raise and support the operation key member 6, and the inside of the pedestal has a hollow structure 87 to achieve weight reduction. This hollow structure 87 is provided in a region close to the front side of the handheld wireless device 1, and a pack storage portion 24 for storing a heavy battery pack is provided closer to the lower side on the back side.

[0024] Since it is configured as described above, even if the handy radio 1 drops into water, the handy radio 1 floats on the water surface with the front side facing up and the side with the display window 4 facing upward. For this reason, when water immersion is detected by the water immersion detection electrode 11 at the time of dropping into water, the liquid crystal panel 7 etc. emit light, making it easier to visually recognize the handy radio 1 on the water surface.

[0025] (Comparison of effects) Next, the difference in the effects due to the presence or absence of adopting the configuration according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 9(a) shows the key action part of the operation key member 6 according to this embodiment, and Fig. 9(b) shows the key action part when this embodiment is not adopted. In Fig. 9(a), the key holding part 63 of the operation key member 6 is formed shorter than the key action part 62 in the height direction of the operation key member 6 because of the pedestal-shaped part of the light guide plate 8.

[0026] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 9(b), in the configuration without the pedestal-shaped part of the light guide plate 8, since the key holding part 63 is supported on the substrate 9, it has a thickness in the height direction of the operation key member 6. Thus, according to this embodiment, the operation key member 6 can be raised, and the thickness of the operation key member 6 as a whole can be reduced, achieving weight reduction.

[0027] Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without changing the gist of the invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0028] 1 Handy radio 10 Switch element 11 Water immersion detection electrode 12 LED 13 Antenna 2 Housing 21 Front housing 22 Rear housing 23 Battery pack storage lid 24 Pack storage part 3 Operation key window 4 Display window 5 Speaker and microphone section 6 Operation key member 61 Operation section 62 Key action section 63 Key holding section 64 Key flexure section 65 Frame section 7 Liquid crystal panel 71 Metal panel frame 72 Flexible cable 8 Light guide plate 81 Backlight section 82 Frame body 83 Extension section 84 Top plate 85 Leg portion 86 Cylindrical portion 87 Hollow structure 88 Locking claw 9 Control circuit board 91 Notch 92 Slit

Claims

1. In a portable electronic device having a watertight structure inside the housing, a rubber operation key member having an operation portion facing an operation window of the housing and pressing a switch element to operate, a liquid crystal panel adjacent to the operation portion and facing a display window of the housing, a light guide plate made of resin for the backlight of the liquid crystal panel, a control circuit board (hereinafter referred to as the board) fixed inside the housing and on which the liquid crystal panel, the light guide plate, and the switch element are mounted, and the operation key member has a key holding portion that movably holds a key acting portion that presses the switch element, the light guide plate extends to a position where the switch element is located, and is formed in a pedestal shape with respect to the board so as to support the key holding portion. The pedestal shape has a top plate that holds the key holding portion and legs for holding the light guide plate on the board, and a cavity is formed between the inside of the pedestal and the board. A portable electronic device characterized by this.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the key holding portion of the operation key member is formed shorter in the height direction of the operation key member than the key acting portion.

3. A cylindrical portion for inserting the key acting portion is formed in the top plate of the pedestal shape, The portable electronic device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the light guide plate guides light to the key acting portion of the operation key member through the top plate and the cylindrical portion of the pedestal shape to illuminate the operation portion.

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