JPH10223084A - Switch fitted with el lighting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve durability by preventing settling of an EL layer and of a switch layer in a long time use and make a shape much thinner. SOLUTION: A click layer 40, an EL layer 42, and a switch layer 46 are placed one on another and an adhesive layer 44 is provided between the EL layer 42 and the switch layer 46. This adhesive layer 44 forms a space between the EL layer 42 and the switch layer 46. Deflection and restitution of an upper electrode elastic sheet 66 are made easier by providing a spatial area 44a while supporting elastically the upper electrode elastic sheet 66 by this adhesive layer 44.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch with an EL illuminator in which a pixel operated by pressing a pixel provided with a display of a function, a number or the like is illuminated by an EL. The present invention relates to a device that ensures settability and prevents settling during long-term use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional switch with EL illumination of this type is disclosed in JP-A-60-86716 and JP-A-62-26716.
There was one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 115616.

As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-86716, as shown in FIG. 4, a moisture-proof sheet 2, a surface electrode 4, a luminescent layer 6, an insulating layer 8, An EL layer 12 composed of a back electrode 10, a spacer 14, a switch lower electrode 16, and a switch substrate 1 provided under the EL layer 12 which share the back electrode 10 as an upper electrode.
And a membrane switch layer 20 composed of the same. In the switch having this structure, the display portion 22 provided on the surface of the moisture-proof sheet 2 is pressed to bend the EL layer 12, and the lower electrode 10 at the bottom of the EL layer 12 contacts the switch lower electrode 16. Then, a current flows through the switch lower electrode 16 and is transmitted as a switch signal. When a voltage is applied from an external circuit in response to the switch signal, the EL layer 12 emits light.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-115616 discloses a key top 24 having a display section, an EL layer 26,
And a switch layer 28. The switch layer 28 is obtained by disposing an embossed elastic metal plate 34 so as to surround the switch electrode 32 formed on the switch substrate 30, further arranging a spacer 36 around the metal plate 34, and sealing with a sheet 38. there were. In this switch, when the key top 24 is pressed, the elastic metal plate 34 pressed via the EL layer 26 and the sheet 38 is inverted and comes into contact with the switch electrode 32, and the switch electrode 32 is connected via the elastic metal plate 34. The switch layer was turned on and a switch signal was emitted. At this time, the EL layer 26 emitted light to illuminate the display section.

[0005]

In the switch shown in FIG. 4, the back electrode 10 as the upper electrode of the membrane switch layer 20 is shared with the EL layer 12, and the moisture-proof sheet 2, the surface electrode 4, Layer 6 and insulating layer 8
The bottom electrode 10 is similarly stacked without gaps at the bottom of the EL layer 12 stacked without gaps in this order. in this way,
The structure is not such that the back electrode 10 is forcibly returned to the original position, but merely relies on the restoring force due to the elasticity of the material of each part. There is a danger that the switch 10 will not return while in contact with the switch lower electrode 16.

Further, as described above, the back electrode 10 has a thick E
Since it is a part of the L layer 12, it is hard to bend and recover, and the EL layer 12 has to be bent forcibly every time it is pressed. Increases, the back electrode 1 is attached to the end of the spacer 14.
0 is forcibly rubbed many times, and there is also a problem that the back electrode 10 is liable to be damaged, such as cracking or peeling. In particular, when the back electrode 10 is peeled off and falls and falls on the switch lower electrode 16, the switch lower electrode 16
, And there is a risk of outputting an erroneous signal.

Further, in this switch, the display unit 2
2 was integrally formed on the moisture-proof sheet 2 of the EL layer 12, so that it directly touched the EL layer 12, causing breakage, moisture-proof and durability problems of equipment. .

On the other hand, in the switch shown in FIG. 5, when the pressing is released, the inverted elastic metal plate 34 returns to its original state, and the key top 24 and the EL layer 26 also return to their original positions. Although the problem relating to settling is eliminated, the peripheral edge of the elastic metal plate 34 may be abruptly moved to cause damage to the surrounding spacers 36 and the switch substrate 30 because the elastic metal plate 34 is used. For this reason, the spacer 36 and the switch substrate 30 need to be made of a hard material and have a large thickness. Therefore, the thickness of the switch layer is increased, and there is a limit to the reduction in thickness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has an improved durability by preventing settling of the EL layer and the switch layer during long-term use while ensuring sufficient clickability, and further reducing the thickness. It is an object of the present invention to provide a switch with EL illumination enabled.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a switch with EL illumination, comprising: a transparent elastic sheet in which an emboss is formed for each pixel; and a click layer comprising a click spacer having a hole in each pixel. Provided below the click layer,
An EL layer that emits light at a portion corresponding to the pressed pixel, an upper electrode elastic sheet provided below the EL layer, and having an upper electrode formed on the back surface for each pixel, and a hole provided at each pixel portion. A switch layer comprising a switching spacer and a circuit sheet on which a circuit electrode is formed so as to face the upper electrode for each pixel; and a switch layer provided between the EL layer and the switch layer. And a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that forms a space in a corresponding portion and adheres the EL layer and the switch layer.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the switch with EL illumination of the present invention, a click layer, an EL layer and a switch layer are superposed, and in particular, an adhesive layer is provided between the EL layer and the switch layer. This adhesive layer not only bonds the EL layer and the switch layer, but also forms a space between them. This adhesive layer provides a space between the EL layer and the upper electrode elastic sheet of the switch layer and elastically supports the upper electrode elastic sheet, so that the upper electrode elastic sheet can be easily bent and restored. This can be assisted.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a switch with EL illumination according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the switch with EL illumination. The switch with EL illumination according to the present embodiment is broadly divided as shown in the drawing, and is configured by overlapping a click layer 40, an EL layer 42, an adhesive layer 44, and a switch layer 46 from above. still,
For the sake of explanation, the thickness of each part shown in the drawing is exaggerated from the actual thickness. The term “pixel” used here means a function,
It shows a section of a switch provided with indications of numbers, symbols and the like.

The click layer 40 in the present embodiment comprises an embossed sheet 48 and a click spacer 50. The embossed sheet 48 is made of a transparent and elastic polyester film, and a dome-shaped or round convex embossed 48 is provided at a portion corresponding to each pixel.
a is formed. Further, the click spacer 50 is made of a polyester film on which an adhesive is stuck on the upper and lower surfaces, and connects the holes 50a of a predetermined size provided in portions corresponding to the respective pixels with the holes 50a to form an inner portion. A slit 50b for allowing air to escape is formed. The click spacer 50 is adhered to the lower surface of the embossed sheet 48 by the adhesive on the upper surface. When a keytop having a display unit or the like is used, the keytop is attached to the upper surface of the embossed sheet 48.

As shown in FIG. 3, the EL layer 42 in the present embodiment includes a transparent moisture-proof sheet 52 provided on the top and a transparent electrode formed on the lower surface of the moisture-proof sheet 52 for each pixel. 54, a light emitting layer 56 formed under the transparent electrode 54, an insulating reflective layer 58 formed under the light emitting layer 56, and a back electrode layer 60 formed under the insulating reflective layer 58. , Is composed of. The moisture-proof sheet 52 is made of a transparent, non-conductive sheet material having excellent moisture resistance and heat resistance. The transparent electrode 54 is formed by vapor-depositing ITO powder obtained by doping indium 2,3 oxide with tin on the moisture-proof sheet 52, or by printing with a paint. Further, the light-emitting layer 56 is formed by screen-printing an activator doped with a trace amount of a metal or a halogen element as a fluorescent substance of zinc sulfide (ZnS) and then performing screen printing. Furthermore, the insulating reflection layer 58 is formed by screen printing with a coating material in which barium titanate is dispersed. The back electrode layer 60 is formed by screen-printing a conductive powder of carbon or silver into a paint. The EL layer 42 having the above-described structure
It is integrated as an L layer 42.

On the other hand, the switch layer 46 in the present embodiment
Is composed of a circuit sheet 62, a switch spacer 64, and an upper electrode sheet 66 in order from the bottom.
This circuit sheet 62 is made of a non-conductive polyester film having excellent heat resistance and moisture resistance, and has a lower electrode circuit pattern 62a for each pixel formed on the upper surface thereof by screen printing or the like. . The switch lower electrode circuit pattern 62a is formed by screen printing with carbon or silver paste having good conductivity. The switch spacer 64 is made of a polyester film coated with an adhesive on the upper and lower surfaces, and a predetermined hole 64a is formed in a portion corresponding to each pixel. In this embodiment, the holes 64a are connected to allow air to escape. Slit 64b is formed. Further, the upper electrode 66 is made of a polyester film, and the upper electrode 66 is formed on a lower surface thereof at a portion corresponding to each pixel.
“a” is printed. This upper electrode 66
a is formed by screen printing or the like with a carbon or silver paste similarly to the switch lower electrode circuit pattern 62a. The circuit sheet 62, the switch spacer 64, and the upper electrode sheet 66 are aligned so that the positions of the corresponding pixels are matched, and are joined and integrated via an adhesive to form the switch layer 46.

The adhesive layer 44 is formed by printing an adhesive on the upper surface of the upper electrode sheet 66 of the switch layer 46 or by sticking a sticker. In the adhesive layer 44, a space area 44a in which an adhesive is not provided in a portion corresponding to each pixel is formed. The thickness of the adhesive layer 44 is thicker than the adhesive applied or printed on the upper and lower surfaces of the click spacer 50 and the switch spacer 64, and is set according to the size of the pixel. Generally thinner is preferable, 50
It is preferable that the distance be set in the range of 200 μm.

The click layer 40 and the EL layer 42 having the above structure are adhered via an adhesive provided on the lower surface of the click spacer 50, and the EL layer 42 and the switch layer 46 are adhered and adhered by the adhesive layer 44. Is done. The EL layer 4
2 transparent electrode 54 and back electrode layer 60 and switch layer 20
In the circuit sheet 62, output and input electrode patterns are collectively provided at the side ends thereof, and are connected to an external circuit or the like via a flexible cable (not shown) or the like.

Next, a description will be given of a state when the switch with EL illumination having the above configuration is operated. When a pixel on the embossed sheet 48 or a key top provided thereon is pressed, the embossed portion 48a of the embossed sheet 48 is inverted, and the center of the embossed sheet 48 is pushed out from the hole 50a of the click spacer 50 to the lower side in FIG. Press. Therefore, the EL layer 42 bends downward in the drawing, and presses the upper electrode sheet 66 from the space area 44 a of the adhesive layer 44. As a result, the upper electrode sheet 66 also bends downward in the drawing, and the upper electrode 66a on the lower surface moves downward and contacts the switch lower electrode circuit pattern 62a on the circuit sheet 62. As a result, the switch lower electrode circuit pattern 62a corresponding to the pressed pixel is conducted through the upper electrode 66a, and a switch signal generated at this time is sent to an external circuit or the like. Then, in response to the switch signal, an AC voltage is applied between the transparent electrode 54 of the EL layer 42 and the back electrode layer 60 corresponding to the pixel pressed by an external circuit or the like in response to the switch signal. Light emitting layer 5 corresponding to
6 emits light to illuminate the operated portion. The EL layer 4
The voltage applied to 2 is generally used in the range of 35 to 150V. When the electric field intensity in the light emitting layer 56 exceeds a certain value due to the application of the voltage, the light emitting atoms in the light emitting layer 56 are excited, and light having a wavelength unique to this atom is obtained.

Thereafter, when the pressing operation is released, the embossed portion 48a of the embossed sheet 48 returns to its original state due to its elasticity, and at the same time, the pressing of the EL layer 42 is released. The EL layer 42 from which the pressure is released is attached to the adhesive layer 4
4, and returns to the original position by the elastic action of the upper electrode sheet 66 thereunder. The elastic action of the upper electrode sheet 66 at this time means that the EL layer 42 and the upper electrode sheet 66
Since the space 44a provided between the upper electrode sheet 66 and the upper electrode sheet 66 returns to its original state due to its elasticity, the space 44a provided between the upper electrode sheet 66 and the upper electrode sheet 66 is kept closed by the adhesive layer 44.
The EL layer 42 is lifted together with a, and returns to the original horizontal position. The upper electrode sheet 66 immediately returns to the original position when the pressure is released by the elastic force. At this time, not only the elasticity of the upper electrode sheet 66 itself, but also the elasticity of the adhesive and the adhesive layer 44 provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the switch spacer 64 work together. Since there is no barrier, the upper electrode sheet 66 is in a state where it is extremely easy to return, and immediately returns to the horizontal state when the pressing is released. As described above, when the upper electrode sheet 66 returns to the original position, the upper electrode 66a separates from the switch lower electrode circuit pattern 62a, and the conductive switch lower electrode circuit pattern 62a returns to the non-conductive state again and switches. Signal generation stops. Along with that, E from external circuit etc.
The application of the voltage to the L layer 42 also stops, and the light emission of the EL layer 42 also stops.

[0020]

According to the present invention, the EL layer and the switch layer are joined by the adhesive layer, and the pixel portion is provided with a hermetically sealed space where no adhesive is provided, and furthermore, the upper electrode sheet is provided with elasticity. Since the upper electrode sheet is formed with a resin film and the upper and lower sides of the upper electrode sheet are further fixed with an adhesive, not only the elasticity of the upper electrode sheet itself but also the elasticity of the adhesive layer and the adhesive, the air pressure in the space area Can be used to improve the returnability to the original state after the pressing is released. For this reason, there is no settling even when used for a long time, and the durability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a switch with EL illumination according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of one pixel after assembling the switch with EL illumination shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the EL layer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional switch with EL illumination.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of another conventional switch with EL illumination.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 40 click layer 42 EL layer 44 adhesive layer 44 a space area 46 switch layer 48 embossed sheet 50 click spacer 52 moistureproof sheet 54 transparent electrode 56 light emitting layer 58 insulating reflective layer 60 back electrode layer 62 circuit sheet 64 switch spacer 66 upper electrode sheet

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Kiyonori Koike 238-2, Yoga, Suwa-shi, Nagano Prefecture Inside Fujiname Plate Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A click layer comprising a transparent elastic sheet in which an emboss is formed for each pixel, a click spacer having a hole in each pixel portion, and a pressed pixel provided below the click layer. An EL layer which emits light at a portion corresponding to the above, an upper electrode elastic sheet provided below the EL layer and having an upper electrode formed on the back surface for each pixel, and a switch spacer provided with a hole at each pixel portion And a switch layer including a circuit sheet on which a circuit electrode is formed so as to face the upper electrode for each pixel; and a switch layer provided between the EL layer and the switch layer, the portion corresponding to each pixel. A switch with EL illumination, comprising: an adhesive layer that forms a space and adheres the EL layer and the switch layer.