JP2003115232A - Illuminated switch and keyboard device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an illuminated switch used for an operation unit of various electronic devices and a keyboard device using the same, which can provide clear illumination. SOLUTION: A display unit 11 on an upper surface or a side surface of a push button 11 is provided.
B. An illuminated switch is configured by mounting the EL element 12 on the back surface, and a plurality of the illuminated switches are arranged, and a cross section 12B of the plurality of EL elements 12 is connected to the control means to configure a keyboard device. Accordingly, since the light emission of the EL element 12 directly illuminates the display unit 11B from the back surface, a device capable of clear illumination can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminated switch used in an operating section of various electronic devices such as personal computers and word processors, and a keyboard device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of personal computers, word processors, etc., pushbutton switches and keyboard devices used for these operation parts have become multifunctional,
For example, an increasing number of devices illuminate the display of characters, symbols, pictures, etc. on the push button so that the push button can be identified even when the surroundings are dark.

Such a conventional illuminated switch and a keyboard device using the same will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional keyboard device. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a semi-transparent or milky-white insulating resin push button. Characters, symbols, patterns, etc. are exposed from the paint to form the display unit 1B.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a switch contact disposed below the push button 1. The switch contact 2 has an insulating spacer 5 having a wiring board 3 and a flexible insulating film 4 coated with adhesive on both sides. The wiring board 3 is attached via
The plurality of fixed contacts 3A on the upper surface and the plurality of movable contacts 4A on the lower surface of the insulating film 4 face each other with a predetermined gap, which is a so-called membrane switch.

Further, 6 is an EL in which a light emitting portion 6A is formed by laminating a light transmissive electrode layer, a light emitting layer, a dielectric layer, a back electrode layer and an insulating layer on the entire lower surface of a substrate 7 such as a film. In the element, the EL element 6 is arranged between the push button 1 and the switch contact 2, and the pressing portion 1C protruding below the push button 1
Are inserted through the holes of the EL element 6 to form individual illuminated switches.

A plurality of such illuminated switches are arranged, and the plurality of switch contacts 2 and the light-transmissive electrode layer and the back electrode layer of the EL element 6 are composed of a microcomputer or various electronic parts as a control means (not shown). No.) is connected to the keyboard device.

In the above structure, when a predetermined push button 1 is pressed downward, the insulating film 4 whose upper surface is pressed by the pressing portion 1C bends, and the movable contact 4A on the lower surface becomes the fixed contact 3A on the upper surface of the wiring board 3. Upon contact, electrical contact and separation as a switch contact is performed, and this is detected by the control means.

When voltage is applied from the control means between the light transmissive electrode layer and the back electrode layer of the EL element 6, the light emitting portion 6A emits light, and this light simultaneously illuminates the plurality of push buttons 1 from the rear. Therefore, even when the surroundings are dark, the push button 1 can be easily confirmed in position and the characters on the display unit 1B can be visually recognized.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional illuminated switch and the keyboard device using the same, the EL element 6 is arranged below the push button 1 and a distance is provided between the EL element 6 and the display portion 1B on the upper surface or the side surface. Therefore, there is a problem that the light from the light emitting unit 6A is diffused during this period, and the illumination of the display unit 1B becomes dark.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve such conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an illuminated switch capable of clear illumination and a keyboard device using the illuminated switch.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is one in which an EL element is mounted on the back surface of the display portion on the top surface or side surface of the push button to constitute an illuminated switch, and the light emission of the EL element is directly displayed from the back surface. Since the part is illuminated, there is an effect that an illuminated switch capable of clear illumination can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the EL element is provided with a strip-shaped cross section and is extended from the push button. Since the EL element can be connected by the strip-shaped crosspiece having excellent flexibility, the EL element can be attached without impairing the operation of the push button.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the EL elements on the upper surface and the side surface of the display section are integrally formed, and one EL element forms the upper surface and the side surface of the display section. It is possible to reduce the number of parts to be used and to make it inexpensive because it can be illuminated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the EL element is insert-molded in the push button, and the EL element is not attached to the push button at the time of assembling the switch, and the EL element is easily assembled. It has the effect of being able to perform.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a keyboard device is constructed by arranging a plurality of illuminated switches according to the first or second aspect and connecting the cross sections of a plurality of EL elements to a control means. Thus, the keyboard device capable of clear illumination can be realized.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The same components as those described in the section of the prior art are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the detailed description.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 is a semitransparent or milky white push button made of an insulating resin such as ABS, polycarbonate, acrylic or the like. Then, on the upper surface and the side surface, a display portion 11B is formed in which characters, symbols, patterns and the like are exposed from the dark insulating resin 11A and the paint which cover the surface.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a switch contact arranged below the push button 11. The switch contact 2 has an insulating spacer 5 having a wiring board 3 and a flexible insulating film 4 coated with an adhesive on both sides. And a plurality of fixed contacts 3A on the upper surface of the wiring substrate 3 and a plurality of movable contacts 4A on the lower surface of the insulating film 4 face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, which is a so-called membrane switch.

Numeral 12 is an EL element in which a plurality of light emitting portions 12A are formed on the lower surface of the substrate 13 such as a film or the like, which is the upper surface of the push button 11 or the rear surface of the display portion 11B on the side surface, and is bent to the rear surface of the push button 11. And a strip-shaped cross-section 12B is provided at the end, and the cross-section 12B extends from the lower surface of the push button 11 to form each illuminated switch.

The EL element 12 as described above is shown in FIG.
As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, a light-transmitting synthetic resin in which indium tin oxide or the like is dispersed is printed on the lower surface of the light-transmitting substrate 13 such as polyethylene terephthalate or a polyimide film to form a light-transmitting electrode layer 14. Has been formed.

Then, on the light transmissive electrode layer 14,
A light emitting layer 15 in which zinc sulfide or the like serving as a base material for light emission is dispersed in a high dielectric synthetic resin such as fluororubber or cyano, or a dielectric layer in which barium titanate or the like is dispersed in a high dielectric synthetic resin. 16, back electrode layer 17 made of silver or carbon resin
Are stacked and printed, and each of these layers is covered with an insulating layer 18 such as an epoxy resin or a polyester resin to form a plurality of light emitting portions 12A.

Further, the light-transmissive electrode layer 14 and the back electrode layer 1
7 is connected with a conductive pattern 19 formed by printing with polyester or phenol in which silver or carbon is dispersed. The conductive pattern 19 extends on the cross-section 12B at the end and projects below the push button 11. Pressed part 11C
A through hole 12C through which is inserted is provided.

A plurality of such illuminated switches are arranged, a plurality of switch contacts 2 are connected to a control means (not shown) composed of a microcomputer and various electronic parts, and shown in the plan view of FIG. As described above, the cross section 12B of the EL element 12 attached to each push button 11 is connected to the connection section 12D, and the conductive pattern 19 extending to the connection section 12D is connected to the control means to form the keyboard device. There is.

In the above structure, when a predetermined push button 11 is pressed downward, the insulating film 4 whose upper surface is pressed by the pressing portion 11C bends, and the movable contact 4A on the lower surface becomes the fixed contact 3A on the upper surface of the wiring board 3. Upon contact, electrical contact and separation as a switch contact is performed, and this is detected by the control means.

At this time, since each EL element 12 mounted on the lower surface of the push button 11 is connected to the connecting portion 12D by the flexible strip-shaped cross section 12B, the cross section 12B moves above and below the push button 11. The push button 11 is pressed without sacrificing the feeling of operation by bending with the movement.

Further, when a voltage is applied from the control means from the conductive pattern 19 between the light transmissive electrode layer 14 and the back electrode layer 17 of the EL element 12 via the connecting portion 12D and the crosspiece 12B, a plurality of light emission is generated. The portion 12A emits light, and this light illuminates the display portions 11B on the upper and side surfaces of the push buttons 11 directly from the back surface, so that it is easy to confirm the position of the push buttons 11 and visually recognize the characters on the display portion 11B even when the surroundings are dark. It is configured to be able to.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the push button 1
The EL element 12 is provided on the upper surface or the side surface of the display unit 11B on the back surface of
Is mounted to form an illuminated switch, a plurality of illuminated switches are arranged, and the crossbars 12B of the plurality of EL elements 12 are connected to the control means to form a keyboard device. Since the light emission illuminates the display section 11B directly from the back surface, an illuminated switch capable of clear illumination and a keyboard device using the same can be obtained.

By providing a strip-shaped crosspiece portion 12B on the EL element and extending this from the push button 11, the EL element 12 can be connected to a control means for controlling external light emission with high flexibility. Since it can be performed by the strip-shaped cross section 12B, the EL element can be attached to the push button without impairing the operation of the push button 11.

Further, the EL element 12 has a plurality of light emitting portions 12A.
And the EL elements on the back surface of the display section 11B on the upper and side surfaces are integrally formed, it is possible to illuminate the display section on the upper and side surfaces with one EL element. It can be anything.

Furthermore, if the EL element 12 is insert-molded inside or on the back surface of the push button 11, it is possible to omit the EL element mounting on the push button at the time of assembling the switch and to easily assemble the switch.

In the above description, the switch contact 2
Has been described as a so-called membrane switch in which the fixed contact 3A of the wiring board 3 and the movable contact 4A of the insulating film 4 are made to correspond to each other with a predetermined gap, but other than this, for example, an elastic metal whose center projects in a dome shape. A thin movable contact is placed on the fixed contact of the wiring board, and the movable contact is reversed by the push button 11 to connect and disconnect the fixed contact, or fixed by the dome-shaped movable contact made of rubber or elastomer. The present invention can be implemented with a structure in which contacts are brought into contact with or separated from each other, or as a switch contact having a structure using a single push switch.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that an illuminated switch capable of clear illumination and a keyboard device using the illuminated switch can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the EL device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional keyboard device.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 switch contacts 3 wiring board 3A fixed contact 4 insulating film 4A movable contact 5 Insulating spacer 11 push button 11A insulating resin 11B display 11C pressing part 12 EL element 12A light emitting part 12B cross section 12C through hole 12D connection 13 Base material 14 Light-transmissive electrode layer 15 Luminescent layer 16 Dielectric layer 17 Back electrode layer 18 Insulation layer 19 Conductive pattern

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shigetaka Dozono             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiharu Abe             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C096 AA02 AA22 AA27 BA01 BB02                       BB07 BB28 BB38 BB49 CA02                       CA22 CB01 CB02 CC07 CC26                       CC30 CD05 CD22 CF05 DA03                       EB03 EB07 EB16 FA12 FA18                 5G006 CB05 FB14 JA01 JB06 JD01                       JE03 LB01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A push button having a display portion formed on at least one of an upper surface and a side surface, a switch contact for making electrical contact and separation by pressing operation of the push button, and an EL element mounted on the back surface of the display portion of the push button. The illuminated switch in which the EL element emits light to illuminate the display portion of the push button. 2. The illuminated switch according to claim 1, wherein the EL element is provided with a strip portion in a strip shape, and the strip portion is extended from the push button. 3. The illuminated switch according to claim 1, wherein the EL elements on the upper surface and on the rear surface of the display section are integrally formed. 4. The illuminated switch according to claim 1, wherein the EL element is insert-molded in the push button. 5. A plurality of illuminated switches according to claim 1 or 2 are arranged, and the cross sections of a plurality of EL elements are connected to a control means, and the control means controls light emission of the EL elements, A keyboard device that illuminates a predetermined push button.