Electronic apparatus

• US 20030137338A1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Yutaka, Yamaguchi, Tsutomu, Hisatsune, Toshiyuki, Okabe, Hirokazu
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/337
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/036 Light emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/052 Phosphorescence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/038 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus

Abstract

Electronic equipment comprises operation means 3, in which a plurality of key buttons 3a, 3a, . . . for inputting operations into the device by the user and a base member 3b connecting the plurality of key buttons 3a, 3a, . . . are formed integrally, containing a luminescent material, and panel means 1 placed above the operation means 3, formed from a member which can transmit light emitted by the operation means 3, in which a plurality of holes 1a, 1a, . . . are provided to enable operation of the plurality of key buttons 3a, 3a, . . . , in order to enable the user to judge the positions and functions of key buttons for operation even in darkness,.

Claims

1. In electronic equipment including a plurality of operation elements, the electronic equipment comprises:

operation means, in which said plurality of operation elements are integrally formed with a base member which emits light through the release of stored optical energy;

switching means, which puts circuits of said electronic equipment into a closed state or an open state accompanied by depression of said operation elements; and

cover means, comprising holes corresponding to each of the operation elements for the purpose of depressing said operation elements, and transmitting at least part of the light emitted by said operation means.

2. The electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein said cover means further comprises displays related to said operation elements.

3. The electronic equipment according to claim 2, wherein said displays are provided on the side, adjacent to said operation means, of said cover means.

4. The electronic equipment according to claim 1, further comprising:

light-transmitting display means provided between said cover means and said operation means, which transmits at least a part of the light emitted by said operation means, comprising;

a plurality of holes corresponding to each of the operation elements for the purpose of depressing said operation elements; and

a display related to said operation elements.

5. The electronic equipment according to claim 1, further comprising:

light emission means, provided adjacent to said operation means; and

,

light emission control means, which controls the emission of light by said light emission means.

6. The electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein said switching means causes at least two circuit patterns, provided on the circuit board, to be conducted in response to depression of said operation elements.