SWITCH STRUCTURE

A switch structure provided to an electronic device including a display screen and a frame body includes an input panel, a detector, and a holding portion. The input panel is formed separately from the frame body and installed along an outer edge of the display screen and has an input plane via which an operation on the electronic device is inputted and a back surface on an opposite side to the input plane. The detector is attached to the back surface of the input panel and detects an input to the input plane. The holding portion is formed of the frame body and holds the input panel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present disclosure is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-121116 filed on May 28, 2012, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a switch structure provided to an electronic device and having an input plane via which an operation on the electronic device is inputted.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, an electronic device including a display screen displaying an image and a frame-shaped design panel enclosing the display screen is known as a vehicle operation input device disclosed, for example, in PTL 1. In such an electronic device including the display screen, a switch operation plane to which an operation on the device is inputted is installed to the design panel in a region along an outer edge of the display screen. An input to the switch operation plane is detected by a touch sensor, such as transparent electrodes, attached to a back surface of the design panel on the opposite side to the switch operation plane.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

A demand is increasing for the conventional electronic device to improve designability of the input plane, which corresponds to the switch operation plane of PTL 1, by adding decoration, such as by forming the plane in a three-dimensional shape and providing a plated portion. However, as is disclosed in PTL 1, the design panel is a member enclosing the display screen and is therefore easily increased in size. Moreover, the design panel often takes a complex shape due to ribs used to ensure rigidity. When the input plane is provided to such a design panel, working to add decoration becomes difficult and a design on the input plane is limited. Hence, it is difficult to improve designability of the input plane. Further, it is also difficult to achieve satisfactory workability of a work to attach a detector, such as a touch sensor, to the back surface of the design panel of a large size and a complex shape.

The present disclosure was devised in view of the problems discussed above and has an object to provide a switch structure capable of improving not only designability of an input plane but also workability of detector attachment.

Solution to Problem

A switch structure according to one aspect of the present disclosure is provided to an electronic device including a display screen displaying an image and a frame-shaped frame body enclosing the display screen. The switch structure includes an input panel, a detector, and a holding portion. The input panel is formed separately from the frame body and installed along an outer edge of the display screen and has an input plane via which an operation on the electronic device is inputted and a back surface on an opposite side to the input plane. The detector is attached to the back surface of the input panel and detects an input to the input plane. The holding portion is formed of the frame body and holds the input panel.

According to the switch structure above, the input plane is provided to the input panel, which is a separate body from the frame body. Hence, not only designability of the input plane but also workability of detector attachment can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described according to the drawings. A switch structure10according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is provided to a navigation device100shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The navigation device100includes a display screen80formed integrally with a touch panel82, and an input plane60. The navigation device100provides a guidance on a route to a destination determined by operations inputted into the touch panel82and the input plane60using a map image or the like displayed on the display screen80. The navigation device100is stored in a center console of a vehicle while the display screen80and the input plane60are exposed toward a driver seat. Hereinafter, a direction in which the display screen80is oriented is defined as a display direction SD and an inverse direction to the display direction is defined as a back surface direction BD for ease of description. In addition, a longitudinal direction of the display screen80is defined as a horizontal direction HD and a direction orthogonal to the horizontal direction along the display screen80is defined as a vertical direction VD.

As are shown inFIGS. 2 and 7, the navigation device100is formed of a liquid crystal display instrument81, an escutcheon40, a circuit board50, the switch structure10described above, and so on. The liquid crystal display instrument81includes a liquid crystal display83and the touch panel82that together form the display screen80shown inFIG. 2.

The liquid crystal display83is of a dot matrix type that realizes a color display by controlling a plurality of pixels arrayed in the display screen80. The liquid crystal display83displays a map image or the like relating to a route guidance and drawn by a drawing circuit equipped to the navigation device100on the display screen80. The display screen80is of a horizontally long shape that is longer in the horizontal direction HD than in the vertical direction VD.

The touch panel82is installed along the display screen80in the display direction SD of the display screen80and formed in the shape of a plate from a translucent material to transmit light emitted from the display screen80. The touch panel82detects a position of an operation body, such as a finger, brought in close proximity to or in contact with the display screen80by a driver or the like as an operator.

The escutcheon40is made of a resin material or the like and serves as a member of a rectangular frame shape enclosing the display screen80. The escutcheon40is provided with an opening41(seeFIG. 6) corresponding to an outer shape of the liquid crystal display instrument81. The escutcheon40is externally fit to the liquid crystal display instrument81and thereby stores the liquid crystal display instrument81in the opening41.

The circuit board50shown inFIG. 7is installed in the back surface direction BD of the liquid crystal display instrument81. The circuit board50is held by the escutcheon40in a posture in which a plate surface direction thereof is aligned along the display screen80. Of the both surfaces of the circuit board50, a plurality of micro-computers and electronic parts forming the drawing circuit, a control circuit, and so on of the navigation device100(seeFIG. 1) are mounted on a counter surface51located in the display direction SD (seeFIG. 1). On the other hand, of the both surfaces of the circuit board50, a connector54connected to an electrostatic sheet switch30described below is mounted on a rear surface52located in the back surface direction.

The switch structure10shown inFIGS. 2,3, and6has the input plane60described above via which the driver or the like inputs an operation on the navigation device100, and is formed of an ornament20, the electrostatic sheet switch30, a holding portion42provided to the escutcheon40, and so on.

The ornament20shown inFIGS. 2 and 3is made of a resin material or the like and formed separately from the escutcheon40. The ornament20is fit together with the escutcheon40so as to lie along one of the two outer edges of the display screen80in the vertical direction VD whichever is the closer to the driver seat. The ornament20has an ornament main body portion20a, a plurality of locking claws23and24, and a plurality of ribs25through28.

The ornament main body portion20ashown inFIG. 2is shaped like a rectangular plate. Of both surfaces of the ornament main body portion20a, the input plane60is formed on one surface located in the display direction SD in a longitudinal shape along the outer edge of the display screen80. The input plane60is provided with a plurality of switch plane portions61through64, a decorative plated portion66, and so on. The plurality of switch plane portions61through64are aligned along the vertical direction VD of the display screen80. The respective switch plane portions61through64transmit light and display a design by emitting light. For ease of description, numerals61through64are sequentially assigned to the switch plane portions from top to bottom in the vertical direction VD. The respective switch plane portions61through64are formed so as to be located on substantially a same plane as the touch panel82. The decorative plated portion66is provided in a part of the input plane60by forming a metal thin film by plating or the like. The decorative plated portion66is of an annular shape surrounding the periphery of the switch plane portion63formed in a circular shape.

As is shown inFIG. 3, a back surface21of the ornament main body portion20aon the opposite side to the input surface60is provided with attachment region22ato which the electrostatic sheet switch30is attached and an enclosure region22bthat encloses the attachment region22aand faces the attachment region22a. The attachment region22ais located in the back surface direction BD of the respective switch plane portions61through64(seeFIG. 2). When the electrostatic sheet switch30is attached to the attachment region22a, the enclosure region22bfaces the outer edges of the switch30and is aligned along the outer edges.

The respective locking claws23and24are provided to stand substantially upright toward the holding portion42(seeFIG. 6) in the back surface direction BD from both end portions of the enclosure region22bin the longitudinal direction of the ornament main body portion20a. Convex portions23aand24aprotrude, respectively, from tip ends of the locking claws23and24in the standing direction. The convex portions23aand24aprotrude on the outer peripheral side of the attachment region22aalong a direction crossing the standing direction. Wall surfaces of the respective locking claws23and24facing the inner peripheral side of the enclosure region22bare configured so as to lie along the outer edges of the electrostatic sheet switch30by extending in the horizontal direction HD.

The respective ribs25through28are provided to stand substantially upright in the back surface direction BD from the enclosure region22b. The respective ribs25through28are provided to extend in the vertical direction VD and are therefore configured so as to lie along the outer edges of the electrostatic sheet switch30. The respective ribs25and26are located in closer proximity to the locking claw23than to a center of the ornament main body portion20ain the vertical direction VD. The ribs25and26are slightly displaced with respect to each other in the vertical direction VD. On the other hand, the respective ribs27and28are located in closer proximity to the locking claw24than to the center of the ornament main body portion20ain the vertical direction VD. The ribs27and28oppose each other in the horizontal direction HD.

The electrostatic sheet switch30shown inFIGS. 3 and 4is formed of a sheet-like flexible substrate with flexibility, and located between the ornament20and the circuit board50(seeFIG. 7). The electrostatic sheet switch30has a sheet main body portion31, an extension portion35, and a contact portion38. The sheet main body portion31is formed in a longitudinal shape corresponding to the shape of the input plane60and attached to the attachment region22aprovided to the back surface21of the ornament main body portion20a. The sheet main body portion31is provided with a plurality of detection areas32athrough32d. Each of the detection areas32athrough32dis so-called a capacitance type switch and detects proximity and contact of an operation body, such as a finger, from a change in capacitance stored between the operation body and the self. As is shown inFIG. 5, when the sheet main body portion31is attached to the ornament main body portion20a, the detection areas32athrough32dare installed in the back surface direction BD of the switch plane portions61through64(seeFIG. 2), respectively. Owing to this configuration, the respective detection areas32athrough32ddetect inputs of operations on the corresponding switch plane portions61through64.

The extension portion35shown inFIG. 4extends along the horizontal direction HD crossing the longitudinal direction from one of two sides of the sheet main body portion31along the longitudinal direction whichever is the more distant from the display screen80(seeFIG. 1). The extension portion35is provided to the sheet main body portion31in a center part in the longitudinal direction. As is shown inFIG. 7, a tip end36in the extending direction of the extension portion35extending from the sheet main body portion31comes around to the back surface direction BD of the circuit board50, which is an opposite side to the sheet main body portion31, with the circuit board50in between.

The contact portion38shown inFIGS. 4 and 7is formed at the tip end36of the extension portion35and allows one ends of respective wires33athrough33dto be exposed to the outside. The wires33athrough33dare connected to the detection areas32athrough32d, respectively, and extend toward the contact portion38from the detection areas32athrough32d, respectively. The contact portion38is connected to the connector54mounted on the rear surface52of the circuit board50.

The holding portion42shown inFIG. 6is provided to one of four sides of the escutcheon40along the vertical direction VD and in closest proximity to the driver seat. The holding portion42is provided with a plurality of locking holes43and44, a plurality of fitting holes45through48, and a slit49.

The locking holes43and44are provided to the holding portion42in both end portions in the longitudinal direction so as to correspond to the locations of the locking claws23and24, respectively. The locking holes43and44are provided with concave portions engaged, respectively, with the convex portions23aand24aprovided to the locking claws23and24, respectively. This configuration allows the respective locking holes43and44to lock the locking claws23and24inserted into the locking holes43and44, respectively. The holding portion42holds the ornament20due to the cooperation of the locking holes43and44with the locking claws23and24, respectively, as above.

The fitting holes45through48are through-holes provided to the holding portion42so as to correspond, respectively, to the locations of the ribs25through28(seeFIG. 3for the ribs25and27), respectively. The respective fitting holes45through48are shaped like a long hole extending along the vertical direction VD. The ribs25through28are inserted into the fitting holes45through48, respectively. By externally fitting the fitting holes45through48to the ribs25through28, respectively, in this manner, a relative position of the ornament20with respect to the escutcheon40is regulated.

The slit49is a through-hole provided to the holding portion42in one of the two edge portions along the longitudinal direction whichever is the more distant from the opening41. The slit49is located in a center part of the holding portion42in the vertical direction VD and on the outer peripheral side of the circuit board50(seeFIG. 7) held by the escutcheon40. An internal dimension of the slit49in the vertical direction VD is greater than a width of the extension portion35. In addition, a width of the slit49in the horizontal direction HD is greater than a thickness of the extension portion35. As is shown inFIG. 7, the tip end36of the extension portion35passing through the slit49from the display direction SD to the back surface direction BD can come around to the side of the rear surface52of the circuit board50from the outer peripheral side of the circuit board50.

Steps to assemble the switch structure10of the configuration described above will be described in the following.

In an electrostatic sheet attachment step shown inFIG. 5, the electrostatic sheet switch30is attached to the back surface21of the ornament20from the back surface direction BD. The electrostatic sheet switch30is held in the attachment region22a(seeFIG. 3) in the back surface21of the ornament20with a double-sided adhesive tape or the like. As is shown inFIG. 3, the plurality of locking claws23and24and the plurality of ribs25through28are provided to stand in the enclosure region22bthat lies along the attachment region22aand faces the attachment region22a. This configuration allows a worker to bring the electrostatic sheet switch30in close proximity to the attachment region22aalong any one of the respective locking claws23and24and the respective ribs25through28. A guiding function to guide the electrostatic sheet switch30to the proper attachment region22ais exerted in this manner by the elements23through28. The worker can thus attach the electrostatic sheet switch30at an exact position in the attachment region22a.

In an ornament attachment step following the electrostatic sheet attachment step above, as is shown inFIG. 6, the ornament20is attached to the holding portion42from the display direction SD. The extension portion35of the electrostatic sheet switch30attached to the ornament20is inserted into the slit49from the tip end36as shown inFIG. 7. The tip end36passing through the slit49extends toward the rear surface52of the circuit board50. Also, as is shown inFIG. 6, the locking claws23and24are inserted into the locking holes43and44, respectively, and the ribs25through28are inserted into the fitting holes45through48, respectively. Consequently, by externally fitting the fitting holes45through48to the ribs25through28(seeFIG. 3for the ribs25and27), respectively, a relative position of the ornament20with respect to the escutcheon40is regulated. In addition, by locking the locking claws23and24in the locking holes43and44, respectively, the ornament20is held by the holding portion42.

In a connector connection step following the ornament attachment step above, as is shown inFIG. 7, the contact portion38is connected to the connector54in the back surface direction BD of the circuit board50. The tip end36of the extension portion35is inserted into the connector54along the plate surface direction of the circuit board50and the horizontal direction HD from the side of the slit49toward the liquid crystal display instrument81. Consequently, the respective detection areas32athrough32d(seeFIG. 4) are electrically connected to the control circuit of the navigation device100(seeFIG. 1) provided to the circuit board50.

In the present embodiment described above, because the ornament20provided with the input plane60is a separate body from the escutcheon40, the ornament20can be smaller and of a simpler shape than the escutcheon40. As has been described, by providing the input plane60to the ornament20, working to add decoration, such as the decorative plated portion66, to the input plane60can be easier. Consequently, a degree of freedom of the design of the input plane60can be increased and hence designability of the input plane60can be improved.

In addition, because the input plane60is provided to the ornament20which is a separate body from the escutcheon40, the electrostatic sheet switch30is attached to the ornament20. The ornament20is smaller and of a simpler shape than the escutcheon40. Hence, a work to attach the electrostatic sheet switch30to the ornament20can be easier than a work to attach the electrostatic sheet switch30to the escutcheon40. Consequently, workability in the electrostatic sheet attachment step can be improved.

According to the configuration to provide the input plane60to the ornament20which is a separate body from the escutcheon40as described above, not only the designability of the input plane60but also attachment workability of the electrostatic sheet switch30can be improved.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, by extending the extension portion35from the sheet main body portion31, the tip end36of the extension portion35can be located on the side of the rear surface52of the circuit board50. Accordingly, the worker can perform a work to connect the contact portion38and the connector54on the side of the back surface52of the circuit board50where the worker can readily make a visual confirmation. Hence, high workability can be ensured for the work to connect the contact portion38and the connector54.

Further, electronic parts mounted on the rear surface52of the circuit board50tend to be fewer than electronic parts mounted on the counter surface51of the circuit board50. Hence, by achieving the mounting of the connector54on the rear surface52, a mounting area of the board can be effectively used. In addition, owing to the configuration to bring the tip end36around from the outer peripheral side of the circuit board50, the through-hole to pass the tip end36can be omitted in the circuit board50. Hence, the mounting area of the board can be secured in a more reliable manner.

The extension portion35of the electrostatic sheet switch30in the present embodiment extends in a direction crossing the vertical direction VD in which the respective detection areas32athrough32dare aligned. When configured in this manner, it is easier to lay out the respective wires33athrough33dconnected to the contact portion38from the detection areas32athrough32d, respectively. Hence, for example, a wire connected from one detection area to the contact portion38seldom narrows the areas of the other detection areas. When the areas of the respective detection areas32athrough32dare secured more easily in this manner, limitations can be eased as to shapes of the respective switch surface portions61through64, inputs to which are detected by the detection areas32athrough32d, respectively. Accordingly, because a degree of freedom in shape of the switch surface portions61through64can be ensured, designability of the input plane60can be improved further.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the respective locking claws23and24and the respective ribs25through28exert a guiding function to guide the electrostatic sheet switch30to a proper attachment position in the electrostatic sheet attachment step. As has been described, owing to the locking claws23and24and the ribs25through28that not only exert a capability involved in holding the ornament20but also exert the guiding function, workability in the electrostatic sheet attachment step can be further improved while suppressing an increase in complexity of the switch structure10.

In the present embodiment, the ornament20corresponds to the input panel, the locking claws23and24correspond to the locking claw portions, the ribs25through28correspond to extended wall portions, the electrostatic sheet switch30corresponds to the detector, the sheet main body portion31corresponds to the detection main body portion, the escutcheon40corresponds to the frame body, the connector54corresponds to the board connector, and the navigation device100corresponds to the electronic device.

Other Embodiments

While one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described, the embodiment is not to be construed as limiting the invention thereto and the present disclosure can be implemented in various embodiments and combinations thereof within the scope and sprit of the present disclosure.

In the embodiment above, the switch structure10is provided to a portion adjacent to the display screen80in the horizontal direction HD. However, the position at which to provide the switch structure10can be changed as needed. For example, the switch structure10may be provided on a lower side of the display screen in the vertical direction. Further, it may be configured in such a manner that a plurality of switch structures are provided to the electronic device.

The plurality of switch plane portions61through64are arrayed in the input plane60in the embodiment above. However, an operation plane, via which a tracing operation by an operation body, such as a finger, is inputted and which is furnished with a function of a pointing device, may be provided instead of the plurality of switch plane portions or together with the plurality of switch plane portions. Further, the input plane60is not necessarily of a flat shape as in the embodiment above and can be formed in three dimensions.

In the embodiment above, the contact portion38of the electrostatic sheet switch30is connected to the connector54mounted on the rear surface52of the circuit board50. In a configuration in which the contact portion is connected to the connector on the rear surface side in this manner, the extension portion may pass through a through-hole provided to the circuit board instead of the one provided on the outer peripheral side of the circuit board. Alternatively, the connector on the board side to be connected to the contact portion may be mounted on the counter surface of the circuit board.

The extension portion35of the electrostatic sheet switch30of the embodiment above extends in the horizontal direction HD crossing the longitudinal direction of the sheet main body portion31. It should be appreciated, however, that the configuration of the extension portion35can be changed as needed. For example, the extension portion may extend from one end of the sheet main body portion in the longitudinal direction as long as the wiring does not interfere with formation of the detection area. Further, the extension portion may extend from more than one point of the sheet main body portion.

In the embodiment above, the respective locking claws23and24and the respective ribs25through28are installed and shaped in such a manner that these elements can exert the guiding function in the electrostatic sheet attachment step. It should be appreciated, however, that the locking claws and the ribs may not necessarily be configured so as to exert the guiding function. Further, the respective ribs may be omitted. Furthermore, fastening with screws or the like may be adopted instead of the locking claws and the locking holes described above as the configuration to hold the ornament in the holding portion and fix the former to the latter.

The embodiment above has described an example where the present disclosure is applied to the switch structure10of the navigation device100equipped to a vehicle and providing a guidance of a route to the destination. It should be appreciated, however, that a range of application of the present disclosure is not limited to the switch structure of the navigation device as described above. For example, the present disclosure is applicable to a switch structure provided to various types of electronic devices including a display screen and a frame body enclosing the display screen, such as a portable navigation device and a vehicle audio unit.