JP2003168336A - Movable member for switch, and switch device using movable member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a movable member irradiating a blade spring part and obtaining sufficient click feeling, and to provide a switch device using the movable member. <P>SOLUTION: A luminous element layer 2 is installed in the position where a blade spring 4 is arranged on a sheet 1, an adhesion membrane 3 covering the luminous element layer 2 is formed on the sheet 1, the blade spring 4 is arranged on the adhesive membrane 3 so that the light of the luminous element layer 2 efficiently illuminates a position of the blade spring 4, and the adhesion membrane 3 protects the luminous element layer 2, the blade spring 4 is bonded to the sheet 1, and thereby the member covering the blade spring 4 is made thin. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a movable member for a switch used for an operation panel of a portable electronic device and a switch device using the same, and particularly to a position of the key when operating the key in a dark place. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a movable member for a switch and a switch device that can illuminate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional switch device, as shown in FIG. 5, a movable member in which a dome-shaped plate spring 53 made of metal is bonded to the back surface of a film-shaped sheet 51 is provided.

In the switch device, the leaf spring 53 functions as a movable contact. In the sheet 51, the leaf spring 53 is the substrate 55.
It is arranged so as to face the fixed contacts 56 and 57 formed on the. An operation key 60 is arranged on the seat 51 so that the top of the leaf spring 53 can be pressed.

When the operation key 60 is pressed, the operation key 60
The top of the leaf spring 53 is pressed by the
The top is inverted from the convex state to the concave state, contacts the fixed contact 56, and the fixed contacts 56 and 57 are brought into an ON state in which they are conducted through the leaf spring 53. At this time, the click feeling is transmitted to the operation key 60 by reversing the leaf spring 53. When the pressing of the operation key 60 is released, the top of the leaf spring 53 becomes convex again.

[0005]

However, such a conventional switch device has a problem that the position of the operation key 60 is difficult to understand in a dark place and is easily erroneously operated.

Further, in some conventional portable terminals and the like, a light source such as an LED is provided in the device, and the operation key is illuminated with light emitted from the light source. This kind of portable terminal can operate the LED by pressing the operation key.
Is lit for a predetermined time, but after the LED is turned off, the operation key becomes dark and the operation key cannot be seen, which is inconvenient. If the LED is turned on for a long time, the battery will be consumed too quickly.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a switch movable member that can illuminate a key operation portion even when light from a light source is not emitted, and a switch device using the same. The purpose is to do.

[0008]

A movable member for a switch of the present invention is formed of an elastically deformable conductive plate material and is insulated from a plate spring for a movable contact portion which is curved in a protruding shape toward the center. A light-transmitting and flexible sheet made of a material, on the convex side of the leaf spring, a luminescent layer made of a phosphorescent material or a luminescent pigment is superposed, on the surface of the luminescent layer. The sheets are stacked.

In such a switch movable member, since the light emitter layer is overlapped with the leaf spring, the leaf spring position can emit light. The light emitting layer does not need to overlap the entire leaf spring as long as it overlaps at least a part of the leaf spring, and the light emitting layer may be provided so as to cover the leaf spring.

More preferably, in the switch movable member according to the present invention, an adhesive film is provided on the surface of the leaf spring on the convex side, and the adhesive film covers the light emitting layer on the sheet. The luminous body layer is fixed to the surface of the leaf spring by the adhesive film.

In such a switch movable member, the adhesive layer protects the luminous body layer, so that the luminous body layer is not damaged even if the luminous body layer is deformed due to the deformation of the leaf spring.

Further, in the movable member for a switch of the present invention, the leaf spring is located in a space formed in the spacer made of an insulating material, and the sheet covers the surface of the spacer from the convex side of the leaf spring. The sheet is fixed to the surface of the spacer.

If the spacer is too thick, it is difficult to push the leaf spring from above the sheet, which is not preferable.

In the switch movable member of the present invention, an adhesive film is provided on the back surface of the spacer, and the adhesive film is covered with a release sheet.

The release sheet is necessary for storing and transporting the movable member for the switch, and does not play a functional role.

The switch device of the present invention comprises a substrate, a spacer made of an insulating material and provided on the surface of the substrate,
In a switch device having a fixed contact portion provided on the substrate and appearing in a space formed in the spacer, and a movable contact provided in the space, the movable contact has a plate member directed toward the center. It is a leaf spring curved in a protruding shape, the concave side of the movable contact faces the fixed contact portion, and the convex side of the movable contact is provided with a light emitting layer made of a phosphorescent material or a luminescent pigment. The surface of the body layer and the surface of the spacer are covered with a light-transmissive and flexible sheet made of an insulating material.

In such a switch device, since the position of the movable contact is illuminated by the light emitting layer, the movable contact can be seen in a dark place. Further, the luminous body layer located directly above the movable contact can efficiently irradiate the position of the movable contact.

Also, in the switch device of the present invention, an adhesive film is provided on the convex side surface of the movable contact, the adhesive film covers the light emitting layer on the sheet, and the light emitting layer is It is fixed to the surface of the movable contact by the adhesive film.

In such a switch device, since the light emitter layer is protected by the adhesive film, the light emitter layer is not damaged.

Further, in the switch device of the present invention, an operation key made of a translucent material faces the convex side of the leaf spring.

The material of the operation key may be any material that can guide the light from the light emitting layer to the outside, and examples thereof include transparent or milky white synthetic resin.

Further, the switch device of the present invention is provided with a light source for giving light to the light emitting body. The light source preferably has low power consumption, and examples thereof include an LED.

[0023]

1 is an exploded perspective view of a movable member of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the movable member of the present invention, and FIG.
4 is a sectional view of the switch device of the present invention. FIG.

The sheet 1 is a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film having a thickness of about 25 μm to 50 μm, and has flexibility and translucency.

On one side of the sheet 1, a plurality of luminous body layers 2 to which a luminescent material containing zinc sulfide or an aluminate compound as a main component is applied in a circular shape are formed side by side.
The thickness of the light emitting layer 2 is about 50 μm to 120 μm.

An adhesive film 3 made of an acrylic adhesive is formed on the substantially entire surface of one side of the sheet 1 so as to cover the light emitting layer 2. The adhesive film 3 has a thickness of about 25 μm.

The spacer 5 has a thickness of 200 μm to 30 μm.
It is a PET film of about 0 μm. The spacer 5 is provided with a plurality of circular through holes 5 a that are slightly larger than the light emitting layer 2, and the arrangement of these through holes 5 a is the same as that of the light emitting layer 2. Further, the spacer 5 is formed with a connecting portion 5b for connecting the through holes 5a adjacent to each other. An adhesive film 7 made of an adhesive is provided on one side of the spacer 5.

The spacer 5 is arranged on the sheet 1 so that the surface opposite to the surface on which the adhesive film 7 is provided is the sheet 1 side so that the light emitting layer 2 is exposed from the through hole 5a. . The sheet 1 and the spacer 5 are adhered by the adhesive film 3.

The leaf spring 4 is formed by punching out a metal plate having elasticity such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze into a circular shape and forming a dome shape which is curved in a protruding shape toward the center.
The height of the center of the leaf spring 4 is about 200 μm to 300 μm.

Such a leaf spring 4 has a dome-shaped top portion 4.
By pressing a, the convex top part 4a can be inverted to the concave state. When the pressing of the leaf spring 4 is released, the elasticity of the leaf spring 4 causes the top portion 4a to return to the convex state.

The leaf spring 4 is arranged inside the through hole 5a of the spacer 5 with the top portion 4a facing the seat 1. The leaf spring 4 is adhered to the sheet 1 by the adhesive film 3, and the top portion 4a of the leaf spring 4 is substantially aligned with the center of the light emitting layer 2.

The release sheet 6 is an insulating film such as paper or synthetic resin. One side of the release sheet 6 is
A peeling process is performed so that the adhesive film 7 provided on the spacer 5 can be peeled off.

The release sheet 6 is adhered to the spacer 5 in such a manner that the release-treated surface faces the spacer 5 side so that the release sheet 6 can be separated from the adhesive film 7.

The movable member S shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a sheet 1, a light emitting layer 2, an adhesive film 3, a leaf spring 4, a spacer 5,
It is composed of a release sheet 6. In the vicinity of the leaf spring 4 of the movable member S, a hole Sh that penetrates the sheet 1, the adhesive film 3, and the spacer 5 is provided. Such a movable member S
Is used for a switch device.

The release sheet 6 is necessary for storing and transporting the movable member S and does not play a functional role.

In addition, the movable member S is provided with the spacer 5 on the sheet 1. The spacer 5 uses the leaf spring 4 to form the light emitting layer 2 on the sheet 1 when the movable member S is manufactured.
It is to facilitate the arrangement according to the position of. The movable member S may be composed of only the sheet 1, the light emitting layer 2, the adhesive film 3, and the leaf spring 4.

Such a movable member S is used in a switch device in combination with a substrate on which fixed contacts are formed. The leaf spring 4 of the movable member S serves as a movable contact of the switch device. By providing the movable member S alone, the fixed contact of the switch device can be freely designed.

3 and 4 show the switch device of the present invention, a plurality of fixed contacts 9 made of a carbon film are arranged side by side on a substrate 8. The fixed contacts 9 are
It is composed of an annular first fixed contact portion 9a and a circular second fixed contact portion 9b arranged in the central portion of the first fixed contact portion 9a. Further, the LED 13 is attached to the substrate 8 in the vicinity of the fixed contact 9.

In the movable member S, the release sheet 6 is peeled from the spacer 5, and the leaf springs 4 are fixed to the fixed contacts 9 respectively.
The spacer 5 is disposed on the substrate 8 so as to face the spacer 5.
It is adhered to the substrate 8 by the adhesive film 7 provided on the substrate.

The leaf spring 4 of the movable member S serves as the movable contact 4 of the switch device. The movable contact 4 has a fixed contact 9 at the periphery.
Is in contact with the first fixed contact portion 9a. The adhesive film 3, the light emitting layer 2, and the sheet 1 formed on the leaf spring 4 are in a convex state along the shape of the movable contact 4. The LED 13 is inserted into the hole Sh of the movable member S.

The operation keys 11 of the switch device are made of transparent or milky white synthetic resin capable of transmitting light and are electrically insulating. The operation key is an elastic base 11a.
And a cylindrical operation portion 11b on the base portion 11a. The base portion 11a has a movable contact housing portion 11e that is recessed to accommodate the movable contact 4 and a vertical direction from the bottom surface of the movable contact housing portion 11e. Projecting protrusion 11c and movable contact housing 11
An LED accommodating portion 11d that is recessed so as to accommodate the LED 13 is provided near e.

Sheet 1 of movable member S adhered to substrate 8
A plurality of the operation keys 11 are arranged above the movable contacts 4 respectively. The movable contact 4 is
The projection 11 of the operation key 11 is housed in the movable contact housing portion 11e of the operation key 11, and is located directly above the top 4a of the movable contact 4. The LED 13 is housed in the second recess 11d of the operation key 11.

The substrate 8 and the movable member S are covered with a cover 12. The front surface 12a of the cover 12 is provided with a through hole 12b at the position of the operation key 11, and the operation portion 11b of the operation key 11 projects from the front surface 12a of the cover.

The light emitted from the light emitting layer 2 provided on the movable member S passes through the operation portion 11b of the operation key 11 and is emitted to the outside. In such a switch device, the position of the operation unit 11b can be known even in a dark place by the light emission of the light emitting layer 2.

The light emitting layer 2 is provided on the operation section 11 of the operation key 11.
Since it is located directly below b, the light emission of the light emitting layer 2 is efficiently radiated to the outside from the operation unit 11b in the shortest path.
Therefore, even if the light emitting layer 2 is thin, for example, about 50 μm, the operating portion 11b can be illuminated brightly.

Next, the operation of this switch device will be described. When the operation portion 11b of the operation key 11 is pressed, the elastic base portion 11a is bent by the pressing force from the operation portion 11b, and the protrusion 11c presses the top portion 4a of the movable contact 4. At this time, if the spacer 5 is too thick, the sheet 1 around the leaf spring 4 is pulled from the portion bonded to the spacer 5, and the tension of the sheet 1 makes it difficult to press the movable contact 4.

The top portion 4a of the movable contact 4 is inverted from the convex state to the concave state by the pressing force of the operation key 11. Adhesive film 3, light emitting layer 2, and sheet 1 provided on movable contact 4.
Is sufficiently thin, it is inverted together with the movable contact 4 to become a concave state.

In the luminous body layer 2 covered with the adhesive film 3,
Since the light emitting layer 2 is adhered onto the movable contact 4 via the adhesive film 3, the movable contact 4 is not peeled off or damaged by such pressing or reversing.

Further, the air pushed out from the movable contact 4 in the concave state flows from the through hole 5a of the spacer 5 accommodating the movable contact 4 into the adjacent through hole 5a through the connecting portion 5b. It is possible to prevent the sheet 1 from being lifted by the air.

The top portion 4a of the movable contact 4 in the inverted state contacts the second fixed contact portion 9b. In the fixed contact 9, the first fixed contact portion 9a and the second fixed contact portion 9b are electrically connected by the movable contact 4, and the switch device is turned on. At this time, as the movable contact 4 is reversed, the operation key 1
A click feeling is obtained from the first operation unit 11b, and it can be recognized that the switch device is in the ON state.

As shown in the block diagram schematically shown in FIG. 4, the switch device is connected to the detection circuit 14 and the control unit 15. When the switch device is turned on, the detection circuit 14 causes the control unit 15 to operate. An ON signal is output.

The LED driver 16 is connected to the LED 13, and the LED 13 emits light.
Is controlled by. The LED driver 16 is connected to the control unit 15 and causes the LED 13 to emit light for a predetermined time after the switch device is turned on.

The light emitting layer 2 stores the light from the LED 13 and continues to illuminate the operation key 11 by emitting light even after the LED 13 has finished emitting light. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the light emission time of the LED 13 and reduce the power consumption while maintaining the irradiation time of the operation key 11.

For example, in a foldable mobile phone, external light is not emitted to the light emitting layer 2 while it is folded, but when used, the LED 13 is made to emit light immediately after opening and the operation key is pressed. During the operation of 11, the operation key 11 can be made to shine even after the LED 13 is turned off.

The switch device not provided with the LED 13 has a structure in which the light emitting layer 2 can be irradiated with external light, and the light emitting layer 2 stores the external light and emits light.

The click feeling obtained from the operation section 11b is
The thicker the member existing on the movable contact 4 of the movable member S becomes, the slower it becomes. Since the adhesive film 3 has both a role of adhering the movable contact 4 to the sheet 1 and a role of protecting the light emitting layer 2, it is not necessary to separately form a film for protecting the light emitting layer 2. Therefore, since only the sheet 1, the light emitting layer 2, and the adhesive film 3 are present on the movable contact 4, and the member provided on the movable contact 4 is thin, a sufficient click feeling can be obtained from the operation unit 11b. You can

When the pressing of the operating portion 11b is stopped, the movable contact 4 returns to its original convex state at the top 4a due to the elastic force. The top portion 4a of the movable contact 4 is separated from the second fixed contact portion 9b, and the first contact portion 9a and the second contact portion 9b of the fixed contact 9 are separated.
Is in an insulating state, and the switch device is in an OFF state.

As described above, in the switch device of the present invention,
The operation key 11 shines brightly and a sufficient click feeling can be obtained.

In the movable member S of the above embodiment,
Although the luminous body layer 2 is formed only on the leaf spring 4, the luminous body layer 2
May be formed on substantially the entire surface of the sheet 1. However, in order to get a sufficient click feeling with the switch device,
It is preferable to reduce the thickness of the member that covers the periphery of the leaf spring 4.

Further, the light emitting layer 2 of the movable member S does not have to overlap the entire leaf spring 4, but may overlap a part of the leaf spring 4. Further, the light emitting layer 2 may be formed of a luminescent pigment.

[0061]

In the movable member of the present invention, since the light emitting layer is stacked on the leaf spring, the light from the light emitting layer can efficiently irradiate the position of the leaf spring. Further, the luminous body layer can be covered with an adhesive film so that the luminous body layer is not damaged even when the luminous body layer is deformed due to the deformation of the leaf spring.

Further, in the switch device of the present invention using such a movable member, since the light emitting layer is superposed on the movable contact portion, the light of the light emitting layer can efficiently irradiate the movable contact portion. It is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a movable member of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a movable member of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a switch device according to the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the switch device of the present invention,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional switch device,

[Explanation of symbols]

S movable member 1 sheet 2 Luminescent layer 3 Adhesive film 4 leaf spring (moving contact) 5 spacers 6 Release sheet 7 Adhesive surface 8 substrates 9 fixed contacts 9a First fixed contact portion 9b Second fixed contact portion 11 Operation keys 11a base 11b Operation unit 11c protrusion 12 covers 13 LED

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A leaf spring for a movable contact, which is formed of an elastically deformable conductive plate material and curved in a protruding shape toward the center,
A light-transmitting and flexible sheet made of an insulating material is provided, and a light-emitting layer made of a light-storing material or a luminescent pigment is laminated on the convex side of the leaf spring, and the surface of the light-emitting layer is A movable member for a switch, wherein the sheet is superposed on the sheet. 2. An adhesive film is provided on a convex surface of the leaf spring, the adhesive film covers the light emitter layer on the sheet, and the light emitter layer is formed by the adhesive film. The movable member for a switch according to claim 1, which is fixed to the surface of the. 3. The leaf spring is located in a space formed in a spacer made of an insulating material, the sheet covers the surface of the spacer from the convex side of the leaf spring, and the sheet is a spacer of the spacer. The movable member for a switch according to claim 1, which is fixed to the surface. 4. The switch movable member according to claim 3, wherein an adhesive film is provided on the back surface of the spacer, and the adhesive film is covered with a release sheet. 5. A substrate, a spacer made of an insulating material provided on the surface of the substrate, a fixed contact portion provided on the substrate and appearing in a space formed in the spacer, and a fixed contact portion provided in the space. In a switch device having a movable contact provided, the movable contact is a leaf spring in which a plate material is curved in a protruding shape toward the center, and the concave side of the movable contact faces the fixed contact portion, A sheet having a luminous layer made of a phosphorescent material or a luminescent pigment on the convex side of the movable contact, the surface of the luminous layer and the surface of the spacer being made of an insulating material and having translucency and flexibility. Switch device characterized by being covered with. 6. An adhesive film is provided on the convex side surface of the movable contact, the adhesive film covers the light emitting layer on the sheet, and the light emitting layer is formed by the adhesive film. The switch device according to claim 5, which is fixed to the surface of the switch. 7. The switch device according to claim 5, wherein an operation key made of a light-transmissive material faces a convex surface of the movable contact. 8. The switch device according to claim 5, further comprising a light source that gives light to the light emitting layer.