JP2000340060A - Switch with illumination, and electroluminescent element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch with illumination capable of emitting light from its display surface with multiple colors and of being formed in small thickness. SOLUTION: This switch 11 with illumination is provided with a knob 12. The upper surface of the knob 12 is formed as a display surface 12a, and a light diffusion plate 13 and EL sheets 14, 15 comprising two sheet-like electroluminescent elements are installed in the knob 12. The light diffusion plate 13 and the respective EL sheets 14, 15 are installed in the knob 12 in a form laminated by being spaced at predetermined distances. That is, they are installed in such an order as the light diffusion plate 13, the EL sheet 14 and the EL sheet 15 from the side adjacent to the display surface 12a. Illuminant paints each having a different luminescent color are respectively applied to the respective EL sheets 14, 15. In the EL sheet 14, plural through holes 14a as light passing parts are transparently formed at every predetermined interval throughout the entire sheet 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminated switch capable of emitting a plurality of colors, and an electroluminescent element suitable for the switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, there is known an illuminated switch having a transparent knob having a dark display portion and a light emitting portion disposed on the inner side of the knob and capable of emitting two colors, a so-called color change switch. ing. This type of switch is often used, for example, as a panel switch installed on an inner panel in a vehicle compartment.

Conventionally, in this type of switch, two light emitting diodes (LEDs) having different emission colors are used as light emitting units. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a conventional switch 51 includes a knob 52 made of a light-transmitting resin material and two LEDs 53 and 54 disposed inside the knob 52. These LEDs 53 and 54 are used, for example, in a combination of red and green. Therefore, the red L
When the ED 53 is lit, a red light is emitted and a green LED 5
At the time of turning on 4, green light is emitted. In addition, both LED5
When both 3 and 54 are lit, orange light is emitted.

[0004] When the switch 51 is turned off, the red LED 53 is always lit. That is, at this time, the display surface 52a of the knob 52 is
It glows in three emission colors (red). When the switch 51 is turned on, only the green LED 54 is lit, or both the LEDs 53 and 54 are lit.
The glowing color of the display surface 52a is changed.

[0005]

However, since the switch 51 uses the LEDs 53 and 54, a space corresponding to the thickness (thickness h1 shown in FIG. 6) for accommodating the LEDs 53 and 54 is required. Was difficult to make thinner.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated switch that can emit light in a plurality of colors on a display surface and that can be formed as thin as possible. is there.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a knob made of a light-transmitting material, a plurality of color knobs arranged inside a display surface of the knob and a plurality of colors are provided. A light-emitting switch comprising a light-emitting portion capable of emitting light, wherein the light-emitting portion is formed by laminating a plurality of electroluminescent elements having different emission colors, and a side of the element closer to a display surface of the knob. The gist of the present invention is that a light-transmitting portion is formed in the device arranged in the above.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in the illuminated switch according to claim 1, a light diffusion plate is interposed between the plurality of elements and the display surface. I do.

[0009] The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that a light transmitting portion capable of transmitting light from one side surface to the other side surface of the base material is provided. Hereinafter, the “action” of the present invention will be described.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a laminate of a plurality of electroluminescent elements having different emission colors is applied as the light emitting section. A light-transmitting portion is formed on one of the knobs located closer to the display surface of the knob. Therefore, at the time of light emission of the electroluminescent element located in the lower layer,
The light passes through the light transmitting portion and reaches the display surface. Therefore, the display surface can be illuminated with the emission color of the electroluminescent element. Therefore, the display surface can emit light in a plurality of colors.

In addition, since the electroluminescent element is much thinner than the light emitting diode, the switch itself can be formed thin. According to the second aspect of the present invention, a light diffusing plate is interposed between the electroluminescent element and the display surface.
Therefore, the light emitted from each of the electroluminescence elements reaches the display surface in a state where the light is uniformly diffused by the light diffusion plate. Therefore, the display surface can emit light uniformly without unevenness.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the electroluminescent element has the light transmitting portion, even when a plurality of elements having different emission colors are stacked,
Light emitted from the element located in the lower layer reaches the surface of the uppermost layer. Therefore, when these elements are arranged inside a display or the like, it becomes possible to emit light in a plurality of colors on the display surface of the display or the like.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, an illuminated switch (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “switch”) 11 includes a coverless and bottomless knob 12 made of a light-transmitting resin. The upper surface of the knob 12 is a display surface 12a.
The display portion 12b made of a light-shielding paint is applied to the display surface 12a.

In the knob 12, a light diffusing plate 13 and two electroluminescent elements (hereinafter referred to as "EL
Sheets) 14, 15 are provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light diffusing plate 13 and the respective EL sheets 14 and 15 are
2 are provided. That is, from the side near the display surface 12a, the light diffusion plate 13, the EL sheet 14, the EL sheet 1
They are arranged in the order of 5.

The light diffusing plate 13 is a plate-like material made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin, and is configured so that light incident from one surface is internally diffusely reflected and emitted from the other surface. Each of the EL sheets 14 and 15 is a dispersion-type inorganic EL sheet and has a laminated structure made of various materials.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the EL sheets 14 and 15 has a transparent plate-shaped substrate 21 made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and having a thickness of about 100 to 200 μm. And on the base material 21,
ITO (Indium Tin Oxid)
e) A transparent electrode 22 made of a film is formed. On the transparent electrode 22, a luminous paint 2 having a thickness of about 30 to 50 μm, containing luminous particles mainly containing a phosphor such as zinc sulfide.
3 is applied. On the luminescent coating material 23, a thickness of 10 to 5 made of a mixture of barium titanate and resin or the like is used.
An insulating layer 24 of about 0 μm is formed. Insulating layer 24
An electrode 25 made of a conductive paste containing silver, carbon, or the like and having a thickness of about 5 to 20 μm is formed thereon. On the electrode 25, a thickness of 70 to 100 μ
m overcoat 26 is covered. Each of the EL sheets 14 and 15 has a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm as a whole.

In such EL sheets 14 and 15,
An AC power supply 27 is connected to each of the electrodes 22 and 25. Then, when a voltage is applied between each of the electrodes 22 and 25, each of the luminous paints 23 emits light by an inherent electroluminescence phenomenon.
Since the substrate 21 and the transparent electrode 22 are both transparent, this light is applied to the transparent electrode 22 as shown by the arrow in FIG.
And it can reach the outside through the base material 21. The EL sheets 14 and 15 are coated with a luminous paint 23 having a different luminescent color. In this embodiment, a red light is emitted when the EL sheet 14 is turned on,
When the EL sheet 15 is turned on, green light is emitted. That is, the EL sheet 14 is a red EL sheet, and the EL sheet 15 is a green EL sheet.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the red EL sheet 14 located on the display surface 12a side has a plurality of (24 in this embodiment) through holes 14a as light transmitting portions.
Are provided at predetermined intervals T1 throughout the entire sheet 14. Each through hole 14a has a substantially elliptical shape. In the present embodiment, the area ratio between the light-emitting portion of the red EL sheet 14 and the through hole 14a is
It is set to about 4: 1. That is, the area ratio of the through hole 14a to the light emitting area of the red EL sheet 14 is 2
It is about 0%. Incidentally, it is desirable that the area ratio of the through hole 14a is in the range of 10 to 70%. Further, the area ratio is more preferably in the range of 20 to 50%. This is because both the red light emitted from the red EL sheet 14 and the green light emitted from the green EL sheet 15 reach the display surface 12a.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the switch 11 constructed as described above is connected to an inner panel 31 in the vehicle interior.
Is mounted on the mounting portion 31a provided in the first position. A substrate 32 is provided inside the inner panel 31 (below the inner panel 31 in the drawing). On the upper surface of the substrate 32, there are provided two contacts 33 electrically connected to the AC power supply 27 (not shown in the figure) and an elastic member 34 made of rubber or the like. At a position corresponding to the lower end of the knob 12 in the elastic member 34, two deformed portions 34a which are raised upward are formed. A contact 3 corresponding to each contact 33 is provided on the back side of each of the deformed portions 34a.
5 are provided respectively. Therefore, the arrow F in FIG.
When the knob 12 is pressed from above as shown by,
When the knob 12 moves downward, the deformable portion 34a is elastically deformed,
The contact 35 and the contact 33 come into contact. In this embodiment, when the knob 12 is pressed in the state shown in FIG.
The knob 12 keeps moving downward. When the knob 12 is pressed again, the knob 12
Is returned to the original position (the position shown in the figure) again. That is, each time the knob 12 is pressed, the contact and the non-contact between the contact 35 and the contact 33 are alternately switched.

The electrodes 22 and 25 of the red EL sheet 14 are electrically connected to an AC power supply 27. The electrodes 22, 25 of the green EL sheet 15 are electrically connected to the electrodes 35, respectively. Therefore, when the AC power supply 27 is driven, the red EL sheet 14
Lights up. When the power supply 27 is driven and the contacts 33 and 35 are in contact, the green EL sheet 15 is turned on. These wiring diagrams are omitted.

When the red EL sheet 14 is turned on, the red light emitted from the red EL sheet 14 is uniformly diffused by the light diffusing plate 13 and then the display surface 12 is turned on.
reaches a. Therefore, the display surface 12a shines red in a uniform state as a whole.

Since the plurality of through holes 14a are formed in the red EL sheet 14, the green EL sheet 1
At the time of lighting of 5, green light emitted from the sheet 15 passes through these through holes 14a and reaches the light diffusion plate 13. That is, the green light passes through the red EL sheet 14 and reaches the light diffusion plate 13. And this light diffusion plate 1
3, the green light and the red light are diffused and mixed,
The light reaches the display surface 12a as orange light. Therefore, the display surface 1
2a glows orange.

As a result, the glowing color of the display surface 12a is switched according to the ON / OFF state of the switch 11. Here, when the knob 12 is positioned below, the switch 11 is turned on, and when the knob 12 is positioned above, the switch 11 is turned off.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In the knob 12, two EL sheets 14 and 15 having different emission colors are used as light emission sections. And
Red EL disposed on the side of knob 12 near display surface 12a
The sheet 14 has a plurality of through holes 14a. For this reason, light emitted from the green EL sheet 15 located in the lower layer can pass through each through hole 14a and reach the display surface 12a. Therefore, the switch 11 is turned off.
At times, the display surface 12a can be illuminated in red, which is the emission color of the red EL sheet 14. Also, the switch 11
When the display is ON, the display surface 12a can be illuminated in orange, which is a mixed color of the EL sheets 14 and 15. That is, the emission color of the display surface 12a can be changed depending on the ON / OFF state of the switch 11.

Furthermore, since each of the EL sheets 14 and 15 is formed with a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm, it is much thinner than an LED. Therefore, the height h of the knob 12 shown in FIG.
It becomes lower than 1. That is, the switch 11 itself can be formed thin.

(2) A light diffusing plate 13 is interposed between the display surface 12a of the knob 12 and each of the EL sheets 14 and 15. Therefore, the light emitted from each of the EL sheets 14 and 15 reaches the display surface 12a in a state where the light is uniformly diffused by the light diffusing plate 13. Therefore, the display surface 12a can emit light uniformly without unevenness.

(3) In the red EL sheet 14, a plurality of through-holes 14a as light-transmitting portions are provided at regular intervals throughout the sheet 14. Therefore, the green light emitted from the green EL sheet 15 can reach the display surface 12a without unevenness. Therefore, the display surface 12
a can be illuminated with uniform brightness and color without unevenness.

(4) A plurality of through holes 14a are provided in the red EL sheet 14, and these are used as a light transmitting portion. For this reason,
The light transmitting portion can be easily formed by piercing each through hole 14a by punching. Therefore, the manufacturing process of the switch 11 can be simplified.

The embodiment of the present invention may be modified as follows. -The light diffusion plate 13 may be omitted. By doing so, the number of parts can be reduced, and the switch 11 can be formed thinner.

The knob 12 may be formed of a material having a light diffusing property while the light diffusing plate 13 is omitted. By doing so, in addition to the above-described effects, the display surface 12
a can be uniformly illuminated without unevenness.

The EL sheets 14 and 15 are not limited to red and green, respectively, but may be other luminescent colors such as yellow and blue. In addition to the EL sheets 14 and 15, an EL sheet that shines in a color other than red and green (for example, “yellow” or “blue”) may be further laminated. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, an EL sheet 41 of another color is added, and the light emitting portion is made of three EL sheets.
The seats 14, 15, and 41 may be configured. In this case, the two Es located on the display surface 12a side are used.
It is necessary to penetrate the L sheets 14 and 15 with the through holes 14a and 15a. By doing so, the display surface 12 can be more multicolored.
a can be illuminated.

Instead of turning on both the EL sheets 14 and 15 when the switch 11 is turned on, for example,
Only the EL sheet 15 may be turned on. In the above embodiment, only the red EL sheet 14 emits light when the switch 11 is off, and both the EL sheets 14 and 15 emit light when the switch 11 is on. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode. When the switch 11 is turned off, only the green EL sheet 15 emits light.
Only 4 may emit light. That is, each of the EL sheets 14 and 15 may emit light in another mode.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of through holes 14 a penetrating through the red EL sheet 14 are used as the light transmitting portions. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, at the time of manufacturing the red EL sheet 14, a portion corresponding to each through hole 14a is masked,
The various materials (22 to 26) may not be formed at those locations. Also in this case, the surface 12a can be illuminated by the light emitted from the green EL sheet 15 located in the lower layer.

In the above embodiment, the red EL sheet 1
4 at regular intervals (every interval T1).
a is transparently provided. However, the manner in which the through-holes 14a are provided is not limited to this, and the through-holes 14a may be provided in any positions of the sheet 14.

Each through hole 14a may be changed to another shape such as a circular shape or a polygonal shape instead of the elliptical shape. However,
Depending on the mode of penetration of each through hole 14a, each of the electrodes 22 and 25 constituting the red EL sheet 14 may be divided on the same plane, and a plurality of transparent electrodes 22 and a plurality of electrodes 25 may be formed. In this case, it is necessary to connect each of the divided transparent electrodes 22 to the AC power supply 27 and to connect each of the divided electrodes 25 to the contact 35. For this reason, each through hole 14a is connected to each electrode 2
It is desirable to set the shape, the layout, and the size of the 2 and 25 so as not to be divided.

The display unit 12b may be omitted. -An EL sheet of a type different from the dispersion type inorganic EL sheet may be used. For example, a thin film inorganic EL sheet, an organic EL sheet, or the like may be used. In particular, if a thin film EL sheet is used, the switch 11 can be formed thinner.

The switch 11 is not limited to a vehicle. That is, the switch 11 may be applied to another switch such as a switch of an industrial machine. The EL sheets 14 and 15 may be used not only as a light emitting unit of the switch 11 but also as a general light emitting unit of a display.

Next, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, technical ideas grasped by the above-described embodiment will be listed below. (1) In the illuminated switch according to claim 2,
The light diffusion plate is a resin plate that diffuses light by diffusely reflecting light.

(2) Claims 1 and 2, technical idea (1)
The switch with illumination according to any one of the above, wherein the number of the electroluminescent elements is two. (3) In the illuminated switch according to any one of claims 1 and 2, and technical ideas (1) and (2), the electroluminescent element is a dispersed inorganic EL sheet.

(4) Claims 1 and 2, technical idea (1)
In the illuminated switch according to any one of (1) to (3), a plurality of the light transmitting portions are provided. According to the invention described in the technical concept (4), the display surface can be illuminated with a uniform color without unevenness.

(5) In the illuminated switch according to the technical concept (4), the light-transmitting portion is formed by the electro-optical switch.
Being provided at substantially equal intervals over the entire luminescence element. According to the invention described in the technical concept (5), the display surface can be surely illuminated with a uniform color without unevenness.

(6) In the illuminated switch according to any one of the technical ideas (4) and (5), the light-transmitting portion is a plurality of through holes. According to the invention described in the technical concept (6), the light transmitting portion can be easily formed.

[0043]

As described above in detail, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the display surface can emit light in a plurality of colors. Moreover, since the electroluminescent element is much thinner than the light emitting diode, the switch itself can be formed thinner.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the display surface can emit light uniformly without unevenness. According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when a plurality of elements having different emission colors are stacked, light emitted from the element located in the lower layer reaches the surface of the uppermost layer. Therefore, when these elements are arranged inside a display or the like, it becomes possible to emit light in a plurality of colors on the display surface of the display or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of an illuminated switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary sectional view showing a mounted state of the illuminated switch according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of the electroluminescence element of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the electroluminescent element according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a mounted state of a switch with illumination according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of a conventional switch with illumination;

[Explanation of symbols]

11: switch with illumination, 12: knob, 12a: display surface, 13: light diffusion plate, 14, 15, 41 ...
Luminescence element (EL sheet), 14a: through-hole as a light transmitting portion.

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3K007 AB00 AB04 BA05 CB01 DA04 EA02 5G006 AA01 AB25 AC01 AZ01 AZ08 BA01 BA08 BB03 BB05 BC04 CB05 CB09 CD05 EA04 JA01 JB06 JC01 JD01 5G052 AA24 BB01 JA02 JB08 JC08

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A illuminated switch comprising: a knob made of a light-transmitting material; and a light-emitting unit disposed inside a display surface of the knob and capable of emitting a plurality of colors. A plurality of electroluminescent elements different from each other, and a light-transmitting portion is formed on one of the elements arranged on the side closer to the display surface of the knob. switch. 2. The illuminated switch according to claim 1, wherein a light diffusion plate is interposed between the plurality of elements and the display surface. 3. An electroluminescence device having a light transmitting portion capable of transmitting light from one side surface to the other side surface of a substrate.