Input operation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9978540-B2
Application number	US-201515521704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2015
Priority date	Nov 18, 2014
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

An input operation device according to the present disclosure includes first to third light-emitting sections, a first light guide body, and a second light guide body. A lower end of the first light guide body faces the first light-emitting section and the second light-emitting section. The first mark emits light on the first light guide body when light is incident on the first light guide body from the first light-emitting section, and the second mark emits light on the first light guide body when light is incident on the first light guide body from the second light-emitting section. The upper surface section of the second light guide body emits light when light is incident on the second light guide body from the third light-emitting section. At least one of the first light-emitting section, the second light-emitting section, and the third light-emitting section can change light emission luminance.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An input operation device comprising:
a substrate;
a first light-emitting section disposed on an upper surface of the substrate;
a second light-emitting section disposed on the upper surface of the substrate;
a third light-emitting section disposed on the upper surface of the substrate;
a first light guide body which has an upper surface section and a side surface section, and has a first mark and a second mark formed on a lower surface of the upper surface section; and
a second light guide body having an upper surface section and a side surface section,
wherein
an upper end of the side surface section of the first light guide body is connected to the upper surface section of the first light guide body, and a lower end of the side surface section of the first light guide body faces the first light-emitting section and the second light-emitting section,
the first mark emits light on the upper surface section of the first light guide body when light is incident on the first light guide body from the first light-emitting section,
the second mark emits light on the upper surface section of the first light guide body when light is incident on the first light guide body from the second light-emitting section,
the upper surface section of the second light guide body emits light when light is incident on the second light guide body from the third light-emitting section, and
at least one of the first light-emitting section, the second light-emitting section, and the third light-emitting section is capable of changing light emission luminance.

2. The input operation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the side surface section of the first light guide body has a first side surface section and a second side surface section,
an upper end of the first side surface section is connected to the upper surface section of the first light guide body and a lower end of the first side surface section faces the first light-emitting section, and
an upper end of the second side surface section is connected to the upper surface section of the first light guide body and a lower end of the second side surface section faces the second light-emitting section.

3. The input operation device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a knob structure that enables an input operation,
wherein
light emission states of the first light-emitting section, the second light-emitting section, and the third light-emitting section are switched by operating the knob structure.

4. The input operation device according to claim 1 , wherein
on the first light guide body, a region where the first mark is formed and a region where the second mark is formed are at least partially overlapped with each other.

5. An input operation device comprising:
a substrate;
a first light-emitting section disposed on an upper surface of the substrate;
a second light-emitting section disposed on the upper surface of the substrate;
a third light-emitting section disposed on the upper surface of the substrate;
a first light guide body which has an upper surface section and a side surface section, and has a first mark and a second mark formed on a lower surface of the upper surface section; and
a second light guide body having an upper surface section and a side surface section,
wherein
an upper end of the side surface section of the first light guide body is connected to the upper surface section of the first light guide body, and a lower end of the side surface section of the first light guide body faces the first light-emitting section and the second light-emitting section,
the first mark emits light on the upper surface section of the first light guide body when light is incident on the first light guide body from the first light-emitting section,
the second mark emits light on the upper surface section of the first light guide body when light is incident on the first light guide body from the second light-emitting section,
the upper surface section of the second light guide body emits light when light is incident on the second light guide body from the third light-emitting section, and
at least one of the first light guide body and the second light guide body is treated to enable light emission with gradation.

6. The input operation device according to claim 5 , wherein
one of the first light guide body and the second light guide body has a first emission region which is treated to enable light emission with gradation,
one of the first light guide body and the second light guide body has a second emission region which is treated to enable light emission with constant luminance, and
the first emission region and the second emission region are different from each other.

7. The input operation device according to claim 5 , wherein
the side surface section of the first light guide body has a first side surface section and a second side surface section,
an upper end of the first side surface section is connected to the upper surface section of the first light guide body and a lower end of the first side surface section faces the first light-emitting section, and
an upper end of the second side surface section is connected to the upper surface section of the first light guide body and a lower end of the second side surface section faces the second light-emitting section.

8. The input operation device according to claim 5 , further comprising
a knob structure that enables an input operation,
wherein
light emission states of the first light-emitting section, the second light-emitting section, and the third light-emitting section are switched by operating the knob structure.

9. The input operation device according to claim 5 , wherein
on the first light guide body, a region where the first mark is formed and a region where the second mark is formed are at least partially overlapped with each other.

10. The input operation device according to claim 6 , wherein
the second emission region which is treated to enable light emission with constant luminance is formed on the first light guide body, and
at least one of the first mark and the second mark is formed on the second emission region.

11. The input operation device according to claim 6 , wherein
the first emission region which is treated to enable light emission with gradation is formed on the second light guide body,
the second emission region which is treated to enable light emission with constant luminance is formed on the first light guide body, and
the upper surface section of the first light guide body is disposed above the second light guide body.

12. The input operation device according to claim 10 , wherein
the first emission region which is treated to enable light emission with gradation is formed on the second light guide body,
the second emission region which is treated to enable light emission with constant luminance is formed on the first light guide body, and
the upper surface section of the first light guide body is disposed above the second light guide body.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tanaka Tsuyoshi
• Eto Hideaki
• Ito Masami
• Mochida Shohroh
• Kadoriku Shinji

Classifications

• H01H2219/062

  Light conductor · CPC title

• H01H3/08

  Turn knobs · CPC title

• G02B6/0068

  Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources · CPC title

• G02B6/0076

  Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area · CPC title

• H01H9/182 Primary

  Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks (H01H9/181 takes precedence) · CPC title