Display device, operating device and image forming apparatus

1. A display device displaying information to a user, the display device comprising:

a first sheet on which a pattern corresponding to the information is provided;

a light source configured to emit light to brighten the pattern; and

a light guide including (1) an incident surface provided at one end portion thereof with respect to a first direction perpendicular to the first sheet and permitting incidence of the light emitted from the light source and (2) an emission surface provided at the other end portion thereof with respect to the first direction and permitting emission of the light incident from the incident surface, wherein the light guide is configured to guide the light emitted from the light source to the first sheet so that the pattern is illuminated,

wherein, as viewed in the first direction, the incident surface is smaller than an area where the pattern is provided on the first sheet,

wherein, as viewed in the first direction, the emission surface includes (1) a first emission surface which overlaps at least a part of the pattern and has a portion overlapping the light source, and (2) a second emission surface which overlaps at least a part of the pattern and does not overlap the light source,

wherein the area where the pattern is provided is smaller than a combined area of the first emission surface and the second emission surface with respect to a plane orthogonal to the first direction, and

wherein the second emission surface is closer to the first sheet than the first emission surface.

2. A display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first emission surface is roughened.

3. A display device according to claim 1 , further comprising a first substrate on which the light source is mounted.

4. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a display device according to claim 1 ; and

an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording material.

5. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a display device according to claim 1 ;

an operating device in which an operation is performed by a user, the operating device comprising: (a) a second sheet on which a pattern corresponding to the operation is provided; (b) a button moving in a moving direction by being pressed via the second sheet; (c) a cover member covering a periphery of the button; and (d) a switch switching an electric signal in interrelation with pressing the button, wherein the button includes a contacting surface contacting the second sheet when the second sheet is pressed so that the button is pressed via the second sheet, wherein the cover member includes a first surface which is configured to contact the second sheet, and a second surface; and wherein the first surface is higher than the second surface, and the second surface is provided at a position closer to the button with respect to a direction perpendicular to the moving direction than the first surface; and

an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording material.

6. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a display device, including a first sheet, according to claim 1 ;

an operating device in which an operation is performed by a user, the operating device comprising: (a) a second sheet on which a pattern corresponding to the operation is provided; (b) a button moving in a moving direction by being pressed via the second sheet; (c) a cover member covering a periphery of the button; and (d) a switch switching an electric signal in interrelation with pressing the button, wherein the button includes a contacting surface contacting the second sheet when the second sheet is pressed so that the button is pressed via the second sheet, wherein the cover member includes a first surface which is configured to contact the second sheet, and a second surface; and wherein the first surface is higher than the second surface, and the second surface is provided at a position closer to the button with respect to a direction perpendicular to the moving direction than the first surface; and

an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording material,

wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are integrated.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a display device, including a first substrate, according to claim 1 ;

an operating device in which an operation is performed by a user, the operating device comprising: (a) a second sheet on which a pattern corresponding to the operation is provided; (b) a button moving in a moving direction by being pressed via the second sheet; (c) a cover member covering a periphery of the button; and (d) a switch switching an electric signal in interrelation with pressing the button, wherein the button includes a contacting surface contacting the second sheet when the second sheet is pressed so that the button is pressed via the second sheet, wherein the cover member includes a first surface which is configured to contact the second sheet, and a second surface; and wherein the first surface is higher than the second surface, and the second surface is provided at a position closer to the button with respect to a direction perpendicular to the moving direction than the first surface, the operating device further including a second substrate; and

an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording material,

wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are integrated.

8. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the pattern is an icon portion including a first portion and a second portion separated from the first portion, and

wherein, as viewed in the first direction, the first emission surface overlaps the first portion and the second emission surface overlaps the second portion.

9. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the pattern includes a first portion and a second portion separated from the first portion, and

wherein, as viewed in the first direction, the first emission surface overlaps the first portion and the second emission surface overlaps the second portion.

10. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the incident surface is provided at one end of the light guide and the emission surface is provided at the other end of the light guide with respect to a longitudinal direction of the light guide.

11. The display device according to claim 9 , wherein the pattern is an icon portion, and

wherein the second portion is a U-shaped portion.

12. The display device according to claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal direction of the light guide is along the first direction.

13. An operating device in which an operation is performed by a user, the operating device comprising:

a sheet on which a pattern corresponding to the operation is provided;

a button moving in a moving direction by being pressed via the sheet;

a cover member covering a periphery of the button; and

a switch switching an electric signal in interrelation with pressing the button,

wherein the button includes a contacting surface contacting the sheet when the sheet is pressed so that the button is pressed via the sheet,

wherein the cover member includes (1) a first surface extending in a direction crossing with respect to the moving direction, the first surface being configured to contact the sheet, and (2) a second surface extending in a direction crossing with respect to the moving direction,

wherein the first surface is higher than the second surface with respect to the moving direction,

wherein the second surface is provided at a position closer to the button with respect to a direction perpendicular to the moving direction than the first surface,

wherein the button is movable to a position in which the contacting surface is lower than the first surface with respect to the moving direction, and

wherein the button is movable to a position at which a position of the contacting surface is equal to a position of the second surface with respect to the moving direction.

14. An operating device according to claim 13 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are connected stepwise.

15. An operating device according to claim 13 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are connected by an inclined surface.

16. An operating device according to claim 13 , wherein the cover member includes a restricting surface extending along the moving direction, and

wherein the restricting surface is configured to prevent the button from collapsing.

17. A display device according to claim 13 , further comprising a substrate on which the switch is mounted.

18. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an operating device according to claim 13 ; and

an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording material.

19. The display device according to claim 13 , wherein the contact surface is away from the sheet in a state before the sheet and the button are pressed.

20. A display device according to claim 17 , further comprising a light source configured to emit light to brighten the pattern,

wherein the button includes an incident surface provided at an end portion of a side opposite to the contacting surface with respect to the moving direction and permitting incidence of the light emitted from the light source,

wherein the contacting surface thereof functions as an emission surface permitting emission of the light incident from the incident surface, and

wherein the button functions as a light guide to guide the light emitted from the light source to the sheet.

21. An operating device according to claim 20 , wherein the light source is mounted on the substrate.