JP2008140766A - Sheet member for operation switch and operation switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet member for a switch that can perform reliable contact operation, can be thinned easily, prevents light transmitted from the rear side from being attenuated easily, and can radiate sufficient light from a light transmission display section easily. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet member for switches comprises a surface operation section 12 for performing contact operation and press operation; and a capacitance detection section 17 capable of detecting contact operation to the surface operation section 12 as a change in capacitance. The surface operation section 12 has the light transmission display section 16 where light from the back side is transmitted and visually recognized at the surface side, a position corresponding to the light transmission display section 16 in the capacitance detection section 17 can transmit light, and the surface operation section 12 is integrally joined to the capacitance detection section 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation switch sheet member capable of a contact operation and a pressing operation, and an operation switch including the operation switch sheet member.

  Conventionally, there are many operation switches that are configured so that various operations can be performed by inputting the operation into an internal circuit by touching or sliding the finger without pressing the operation unit. To do. In such an operation switch, by pressing the same operation unit where the contact operation is performed, the contact provided inside is conducted by the press operation, and processing different from the contact operation is performed. There is something that is configured.

  For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a flexible touch panel switch is arranged above a membrane switch, and a touch operation can be performed by sliding a finger on the touch panel while pressing the touch panel switch. Thus, there has been proposed an electronic device configured to allow input by a pressing operation.

  Here, the touch panel switch is composed of a pair of insulating bases facing each other apart from each other, and a conductive film laminated on the opposing surface of each conductive substrate, and presses and deforms one insulating base. Thus, input by touch operation of the touch panel switch can be performed.

  In addition, a concave portion is provided on the surface supporting the touch panel switch, and a contact portion of the wiring board is disposed in the concave portion. By pressing and deforming the two insulating substrates of the touch panel switch, an input by a pressing operation can be performed. It can be done.

Further, in this electronic device, the touch panel switch is configured by a light transmissive member, and light from the back side is transmitted and radiated from the front side by illuminating by the illumination means arranged on the back side. An optical display is provided.
JP 2001-76582 A

  However, in such an apparatus, the touch panel switch is formed by arranging a plurality of insulating base materials and conductive films apart from each other, and the conductive films must be reliably separated while the contact operation is not performed. In addition, it is difficult to reduce the thickness, and at the time of the contact operation, the insulating base material must be deformed with an appropriate force to bring the conductive films into contact with each other, which makes it difficult to perform a reliable contact operation.

  In addition, in the translucent display unit, the light illuminated from the back side passes through many insulating base materials and conductive films of the touch panel switch, so that the light is easily attenuated, and the light is transmitted through the gap provided between the conductive films. It was easily attenuated by irregular reflection, and the light emitted to the surface side was likely to be insufficient.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a sheet member for a switch that allows a reliable contact operation and is easy to be thinned, and that light transmitted from the back side is not easily attenuated and that allows sufficient light to be emitted from a translucent display portion. Another object is to provide an operation switch.

  The sheet member for an operation switch according to claim 1, which solves the above problem, includes a surface operation unit that performs a contact operation and a pressing operation, and an electrostatic that can detect the contact operation on the surface operation unit as a change in capacitance. A sheet member for an operation switch including a capacitance detection unit, wherein the surface operation unit includes a translucent display unit configured to transmit light from the back side and be visually recognized on the surface side, A position of the capacitance detection unit corresponding to the translucent display unit is configured to transmit light, and the surface operation unit and the capacitance detection unit are integrally joined.

  In addition to the structure of Claim 1, the operation switch sheet member according to Claim 2 includes the surface operation unit that performs a contact operation and a press operation, and a pressing operation that can be operated by a pressing operation on the surface operation unit. And the capacitance detection unit, the surface operation unit, the pressing operation unit, and the capacitance detection unit are integrally joined together, and the light transmission display unit of the pressing operation unit The corresponding position is configured to transmit light.

  In addition to the structure of Claim 1 or 2, the electrostatic switch sheet member according to claim 3 has a transparent detection part, and the detection part is the translucent display part. It is arrange | positioned in the position corresponding to.

  The operation switch sheet member according to claim 4, in addition to the configuration according to claim 3, the transparent detection site includes a π-conjugated conductive polymer, a polyanion dopant, a thickener, and a leveling agent. And a conductive coating layer formed of a conductive polymer ink containing a crosslinking agent.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the operation switch sheet member, in addition to the configuration according to the first or second aspect, the electrostatic capacitance detection unit is located at a position corresponding to the opaque detection portion and the translucent display unit. The detection part which does not exist in a detection part is provided, The said detection part spaced apart via the said extraction part is connected by the narrow connection part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  6. The operation switch according to claim 6, wherein the operation switch sheet member according to any one of claims 2 to 5 and a base portion disposed at a position facing the operation switch sheet member apart from each other. An elastic dome having a hollow three-dimensional shape capable of elastic deformation and a plunger capable of pressing the elastic dome are provided opposite to each other on the base portion and the pressing operation portion, and the surface operation portion is The plunger is configured to be elastically deformable with respect to the elastic dome when pressed.

  In addition to the structure of Claim 6, the operation switch of Claim 7 is equipped with the light emission part which can illuminate the said translucent display part of the said surface operation part, This light emission part is the said sheet member for operation switches. It is characterized in that the elastic dome and the plunger are arranged at different positions between the base and the base portion.

  An operation switch according to an eighth aspect includes a light emitting unit capable of illuminating the translucent display unit of the surface operation unit in addition to the configuration according to the sixth or seventh aspect, and the light emission unit includes the surface operation unit. Is provided at a position spaced apart in the plane direction, and is provided with a light guide for guiding light from the light emitting portion to a position where the translucent display portion can be illuminated.

  In addition to the structure of Claim 8, the operation switch of Claim 9 is provided with the said translucent display part in multiple positions, and the said light guide is between the positions which can irradiate each said translucent display part. It consists of the transparent resin sheet arrange | positioned continuously.

  According to the operation switch sheet member of the first aspect, since the electrostatic capacitance detection unit is integrally joined to the surface operation unit on which the contact operation and the pressing operation are performed, the electrostatic switch is brought close to the surface operation unit. By disposing the capacitance detection unit, it is possible to easily detect a change in capacitance due to a contact operation to the surface operation unit with high accuracy, and a reliable contact operation is possible. In addition, since there is no need to provide a gap between the parts, the thickness of the operation switch sheet member can be easily reduced.

  In addition, since the surface operation unit is provided with a translucent display unit, and the position corresponding to the translucent display unit of the capacitance detection unit is configured to transmit light, if the light is irradiated from the back side, the translucent display unit Light can be emitted from the surface side of the surface operation unit by the display unit. At this time, since the electrostatic capacity detection unit is joined to the surface operation unit and there is no gap between the respective units, light is hardly diffusely reflected, and light transmitted from the back side is difficult to be attenuated, so that sufficient light is transmitted from the translucent display unit. It is easy to radiate.

  According to the operation switch sheet member according to claim 2, since the surface operation unit, the pressing operation unit, and the capacitance detection unit are integrally joined, the capacitance detection unit is brought close to the surface operation unit. Since there is no gap between the respective parts, the pressing operation part can be surely displaced by the pressing operation to the surface operation part, and the pressing operation can be performed reliably. At the same time, since there are no gaps between the parts, it is easy to reduce the thickness, and at the same time, sufficient durability can be secured even if repeated pressing operations are performed.

  Furthermore, since the position corresponding to the translucent display part of the pressing operation part is configured to transmit light, it is possible to transmit light from the back side and radiate it from the surface side by the translucent display part. In this case, since the pressing operation unit is joined to the surface operation unit and the capacitance detection unit and there is no gap between the units, light is not easily diffusely reflected, and light transmitted from the back side is difficult to be attenuated. It is easy to emit sufficient light from the part.

  According to the operation switch sheet member according to the third aspect, since the transparent detection portion is disposed at a position corresponding to the translucent display portion, the capacitance is also changed at the position corresponding to the translucent display portion. It can be detected, and it is easy to ensure detection accuracy. Even if it is difficult to ensure a high level of conductivity by forming the detection site transparently, the capacitance detection unit is disposed close to the surface operation unit, so that sufficient detection accuracy of the capacitance detection unit can be obtained. It is possible to secure.

  According to the sheet member for an operation switch according to claim 4, since the transparent detection portion of the capacitance detection unit is composed of the conductive coating layer formed of the predetermined conductive polymer ink, the conductivity is ensured. It is easy to improve the detection accuracy of the capacitance detection unit.

  According to the operation switch sheet member according to claim 5, even if the capacitance detection portion is provided with an opaque detection portion, the cut-out shape portion having no detection portion at a position corresponding to the translucent display portion is provided. Because it is provided, the translucent display part can be irradiated from the back side. At this time, even if the detection parts are separated by the cut-out shape part, the detection parts are connected by the narrow connecting part. Therefore, it is easy to secure the area of each detection region, and it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of the capacitance detection unit.

  According to the operation switch of claim 6, the hollow three-dimensional elastic dome capable of elastic deformation and the plunger capable of pressing the elastic dome are provided at positions where the base portion and the pressing operation portion face each other. Since the plunger is configured such that the elastic dome can be elastically deformed by pressing the surface operation portion, it is easy to impart a sufficient click-motion feeling due to the deformation of the elastic dome when the surface operation portion is pressed.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the light emitting part is arranged at a position different from the elastic dome and the plunger between the operation switch sheet member and the base part, the elastic dome and the plunger are arranged. The light emitting unit can be arranged using the thickness, and the thickness of the entire operation switch can be easily reduced.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the light guide is provided at a position spaced apart from the surface operation unit in the surface direction, and guides light from the light emitting unit to an illuminating position where the translucent display unit can be illuminated. Since it is provided, the degree of freedom of the arrangement of the light emitting portions can be improved, and the thickness of the entire operation switch can be easily suppressed.

  According to the invention described in claim 9, since the light guide is made of the transparent resin sheet continuously disposed between a plurality of positions capable of irradiating each of the plurality of light transmissive display portions, the light guide is provided for each light transmissive display portion. It is not necessary to provide a light emitting portion or a light guide, and the number of parts can be reduced. In addition, since the light is guided to each light transmissive display portion by the same light guide, each light transmissive display portion can be easily illuminated uniformly.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
[Embodiment 1]

  1 to 3 show the operation switch of the first embodiment.

  The operation switch according to the first embodiment is used for a mobile phone. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the casing 10 having the opening 10 a and the operation disposed in the opening 10 a of the casing 10 are used. An operation panel 11 serving as a switch sheet member, and a substrate 21 serving as a base portion disposed in the housing 10 so as to face and separate from the operation panel 11 are provided.

  On the operation panel 11, a contact pressing operation unit 12 as a surface operation unit capable of performing a contact operation and a pressing operation is exposed to the outside and arranged in part. The contact pressing operation unit 12 includes a central key 13 and a direction key 14 arranged so as to surround the central key 13. Many parts of the operation panel 11 other than the contact pressing operation part 12 are provided with a number of pressing operation parts 15 that can be pressed. Further, each part of the operation panel 11 including the center key 13 and the direction key 14 is provided with a translucent display unit 16 configured to transmit light from the back side and be visually recognized from the front side.

  On the inner side of the housing 10 of the contact pressing operation unit 12, a sheet-like capacitance detection unit 17 capable of detecting a contact operation with respect to the center key 13 and the direction key 14 as a change in capacitance, the center key 13 and the direction. The key 14 and the elastic sheet 19 as a pressing operation unit that supports the capacitance detection unit 17 are arranged, and the contact pressing operation unit 12, the capacitance detection unit 17, and the elastic sheet 19 are integrally joined. Yes. Here, both the capacitance detection unit 17 and the elastic sheet 19 are continuously provided at positions corresponding to all of the center key 13 and the direction key 14. Further, the center key 13 and the direction key 14 are supported by the electrostatic capacitance detection unit 17 and the elastic sheet 19 in a state where they are separated from each other.

  On the other hand, the substrate 21 is provided with a pressing deformation portion 23 that urges the elastic sheet 19 toward the front surface side of the housing 10, and is connected to a circuit (not shown) on the substrate 21 in the pressing deformation portion 23. A conductive contact portion 25 that can be connected by a pressing operation on the center key 13 and the direction key 14 is provided.

  In the operation switch having such a configuration, first, the center key 13 and the direction key 14 of the operation panel 11 are molded separately from the hard resin, and as shown in FIG. 11 is provided in an opening 11a provided in the top sheet 11b.

  Each surface of the center key 13 and the direction key 14 is a pressing operation surface that can be displaced independently, and a contact operation surface in which the entire surface overlapping with each pressing operation surface of the center key 13 and the direction key 14 is continuous. It has become.

  Each of the keys 13 and 14 is formed so that a contact operation performed on the front side can be detected by a capacitance detection unit 17 arranged on the back side. Each key 13 and 14 is formed so that light from the back side can be transmitted to the front side. As the central key 13 and the direction key 14, those made of polycarbonate are used in the first embodiment.

  A translucent display unit 16 is provided on the back side of the front sheet 11 b of the operation panel 11 and the center key 13 and the direction key 14. This translucent display part 16 is comprised by forming the light-shielding decorative printing layer which has a cut-out shape part in various designs, such as a character and a figure, in these back surfaces.

  Next, the capacitance detection unit 17 of the operation panel 11 is formed in a sheet shape, and the center key 13 and the direction key 14 are joined to the surface. Here, the keys 13 and 14 are bonded by a transparent double-sided tape 18, and the peripheral edges of the keys 13 and 14 are in a non-bonded state for the purpose of preventing the pressing operation of the keys 13 and 14 from being hindered. Yes.

  It is preferable that the electrostatic capacitance detection unit 17 is in close contact with and bonded to at least the part of the translucent display unit 16 of the keys 13 and 14, and it is preferable that there are no gaps or irregularities such as bubbles in the bonding part. This is because, when light is transmitted, if there is a gap, the light radiated to the surface side tends to be attenuated or non-uniform due to irregular reflection at that portion.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the electrostatic capacitance detection unit 17 includes a resin film 17c as a base film, and a large number of detection sites 17a and lead wires 17b connected to the detection sites 17a are formed by a conductive coating layer. It has a formed configuration.

  The plurality of fan-shaped detection parts 17a are each formed in a radial direction with a size from the substantially central part of the center key 13 to the outer peripheral edge of the direction key 14, and are arranged so that all the detection parts 17a are circular. At the same time, the detection parts 17a are not connected to each other. The lead wire 17b extends from the arc-shaped end edge of each detection site 17a, and all the lead wires 17b are converged at one place and extended and connected to a circuit (not shown).

  The resin film 17c constituting the electrostatic capacitance detection unit 17 has transparency capable of transmitting light and has a rigidity capable of forming a conductive coating layer. A film having flexibility that can be deformed without pressing is preferable.

  Examples of the resin constituting the resin film 17c include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyacryl, polycarbonate, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyarylate, polyurethane, Examples thereof include styrene elastomers and polyester elastomers, and polyethylene terephthalate is preferable from the viewpoint of strength.

  The resin film 17c is preferably a thin film as much as possible in order to reduce the thickness of the operation panel 11. As will be described later, in the case where the detection sites 17a adjacent to each other are provided on different surfaces of the resin film 17c, it is further preferable to use a thin film as long as sufficient electrical insulation is obtained.

  Specifically, for example, the thickness of the resin film 17c is preferably 10 to 100 μm. This is because if the thickness of the resin film 17c is 10 μm or more, desired rigidity and electrical insulation can be easily obtained, while if it is 100 μm or less, flexibility can be easily obtained and the thickness can be reduced. In the first embodiment, a PET film of 25 μm or less is used.

  As the conductive coating layer constituting the detection site 17a and the lead wire 17b, the higher the conductivity, the better the detection accuracy during the contact operation. Here, the resistance value of the conductive coating layer is preferably as small as possible. However, in the first embodiment, since the capacitance detection unit 17 is disposed immediately below the center key 13 and the direction key 14, the conductive coating layer Can be used even if the surface resistance value is 500Ω or more, and further 1000Ω or more, and can be used if it is 9000Ω or less.

  Such a conductive coating layer can be formed by screen printing, ink jet printing or the like using a conductive ink. As the conductive ink, a carbon ink, a silver-based ink, or the like may be used, or a transparent ink such as indium tin oxide or a conductive polymer may be used. Use of the ink having transparency is preferable because it does not hinder illumination from the inside, and the degree of freedom in designing the translucent display portion 16 can be improved.

  The conductive polymer ink includes a π-conjugated conductive polymer, a polyanion dopant, a thickener, a leveling agent, and a cross-linking agent. A conductive ink having a content of 0.05 to 5% by mass and a mass ratio of the thickener to the leveling agent (leveling agent / thickener) of 0.1 or more and less than 1.5 is preferably used. Can do.

  The π-conjugated conductive polymer constituting the conductive polymer ink is not particularly limited as long as the main chain is an organic polymer having a π-conjugated system. For example, polypyrroles, polythiophenes, and polyacetylenes. , Polyphenylenes, polyphenylene vinylenes, polyanilines, polyacenes, polythiophene vinylenes, and copolymers thereof. From the viewpoint of stability in the air, polypyrroles, polythiophenes, polyanilines and the like are preferable.

  Even if the π-conjugated conductive polymer remains unsubstituted, sufficient conductivity and compatibility with the binder resin can be obtained, but in order to further improve conductivity and compatibility, an alkyl group, a carboxyl group, It is preferable to introduce a functional group such as a sulfo group, an alkoxy group, or a hydroxy group into the π-conjugated conductive polymer.

  Examples of the π-conjugated conductive polymer include polypyrrole, polythiophene, poly (N-methylpyrrole), poly (3-methylthiophene), poly (3-methoxythiophene), and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxy). Thiophene) and the like, and polyacetylene, polyparaphenylene, polyaniline, polyphenylene vinylene, polyisothianaphthene, and the like.

  Examples of the polyanion dopant constituting the conductive polymer ink include substituted or unsubstituted polyalkylene, substituted or unsubstituted polyalkenylene, substituted or unsubstituted polyimide, substituted or unsubstituted polyamide, substituted or unsubstituted Examples of the polyester include a polymer composed only of a structural unit having an anionic group, and a polymer composed of a structural unit having an anionic group and a structural unit having no anionic group.

As the anion group of the polyanion _{^{dopant, -O-SO 3 - X +}} , -SO 3 - X +, -COO - (. In each formula, ^{X +} is representing a hydrogen ion, an alkali metal ion) X ⁺ include It is done. That is, the polyanion dopant is a polymer acid containing a sulfo group and / or a carboxyl group. From the viewpoint of doping effects on the π-conjugated conductive _{^{polymer, -SO 3 - X +, -COO}} - X + are preferable. Moreover, it is preferable that this anion group is arrange | positioned in the principal chain of a polyanion dopant adjacently or at regular intervals.

  Examples of the polyanion dopant include polyisoprene sulfonic acid, a copolymer containing polyisoprene sulfonic acid, a polysulfoethyl methacrylate, a copolymer containing polysulfoethyl methacrylate, and poly (4- Sulfobutyl methacrylate), copolymers containing poly (4-sulfobutyl methacrylate), copolymers containing polymethallyloxybenzene sulfonic acid, copolymers containing polymethallyloxybenzene sulfonic acid, polystyrene sulfonic acid, copolymers containing polystyrene sulfonic acid Polymers are preferred.

  The content of the polyanion dopant is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10 mol, and more preferably in the range of 1 to 7 mol, with respect to 1 mol of the π-conjugated conductive polymer. When the content of the polyanion dopant is less than 0.1 mol, the doping effect on the π-conjugated conductive polymer tends to be weak, the conductivity may be insufficient, and the dispersibility in the solvent may further decrease. In addition, the solubility becomes low, and it becomes difficult to obtain uniform dispersibility. On the other hand, when the content of the polyanion dopant exceeds 10 mol, the content of the π-conjugated conductive polymer decreases, and it is difficult to obtain sufficient conductivity.

  Such a polyanion dopant may be coordinated to a π-conjugated conductive polymer to form a complex.

  The total content of the π-conjugated conductive polymer and the polyanion dopant in the conductive polymer ink is 0.05 to 5% by mass, and preferably 0.5 to 4.0% by mass. When the total content of the π-conjugated conductive polymer and the polyanion dopant is less than 0.05% by mass, it is difficult to obtain sufficient conductivity, and when it exceeds 5% by mass, gelation and generation of solid particles occur. It becomes easy, printability falls, and it becomes difficult to obtain a uniform transparent conductive film layer.

  The thickening agent constituting the conductive polymer ink contains a glycidyl group and / or a hydroxy group and one selected from a methacryl group, an acrylic group, a methacrylamide group, and an acrylamide group because of its high viscosity. Are preferred.

  As this compound, 2-hydroxyethylacrylamide is particularly suitable. 2-Hydroxyethylacrylamide not only exhibits thickening, but also has high polarity, so an aqueous solution containing a π-conjugated conductive polymer and a polyanion dopant can be replaced without gelation or solid particle formation. . Moreover, since it has a cross-linking point, the coexistence of a cross-linking agent can improve the cross-linking density of the conductive coating layer, and can improve heat resistance and high temperature and high humidity resistance.

  It is preferable that content of a thickener is 1-200 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of total amounts of (pi) conjugated system conductive polymer and a polyanion dopant. If the content of the thickener is less than 1 part by mass, it may be difficult to obtain the desired viscosity, and printability may be insufficient. If it exceeds 200 parts by mass, the viscosity will be too high and printability will be insufficient. There is a tendency that it is difficult to obtain sufficient conductivity.

  The leveling agent constituting the conductive polymer ink is improved in wettability to the resin film 17c when the conductive polymer ink is printed, adjusted in viscosity of the conductive polymer ink, adjusted in thixotropy, and π-conjugated conductive. It is intended to improve the dispersibility of the functional polymer.

  As this leveling agent, a polyhydroxy compound is preferable because of its excellent effect. Specifically, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, glycerin, propylene glycol, polyglycerin, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3- Examples include butanediol. Propylene glycol is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of wettability to the resin film 17c during printing of the conductive polymer ink and continuous printability.

  In the conductive ink, the mass ratio of the thickener to the leveling agent (leveling agent / thickener) is 0.1 or more and less than 1.5, and preferably 0.2 to 1.0. When the mass ratio of the thickener to the leveling agent is less than 0.1, the wettability on the resin film 17c may be lost, and when it is 1.5 or more, the viscosity becomes low and the printability is improved. There may be a shortage.

  The crosslinking agent constituting the conductive polymer ink has two or more unsaturated double bonds, and reacts with heat or light to crosslink the complex of the π-conjugated conductive polymer and the polyanion dopant. It is. A polyfunctional acrylic compound is preferable in that a complex of a π-conjugated conductive polymer and a polyanion dopant is easily cross-linked.

  Examples of polyfunctional acrylic compounds include bifunctional acrylic monomers such as N, N′-methylenebisacrylamide, trifunctional acrylic monomers such as trimethylolpropane ethoxytri (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritol ethoxytetra (meth) acrylate, and pentaerythritol tris. A tetrafunctional or higher functional acrylic monomer such as (meth) acrylate is exemplified.

  The content of the crosslinking agent is preferably in the range of 0.05 to 50 parts by mass, more preferably in the range of 0.03 to 30 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the thickener. When the content of the crosslinking agent is less than 0.05 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the thickener, water resistance, heat resistance, and high temperature and humidity resistance may be insufficient. Moreover, when it exceeds 50 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of thickeners, the abundance of (pi) conjugated system conductive polymer and polyanion dopant in an electroconductive coating layer will decrease, and it will become difficult to obtain sufficient electroconductivity. There is.

  Such a conductive polymer ink may contain various solvents, and may further contain various additives. Any additive can be used as long as it can be mixed with a π-conjugated conductive polymer and a dopant. For example, a polymerization initiator, an alkaline compound, a surfactant for promoting the reaction of the crosslinking agent. , Antifoaming agents, coupling agents, antioxidants, UV absorbers and the like.

  Solvents include water, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, propanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycol acetate, butyrate glycol, methoxypropyl acetate, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, diacetone alcohol, N 2, N-dimethylacetamide N, N-dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, N-methylcaprolactam, toluene, xylene, hexane, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate and the like.

  The polymerization initiator that is an additive is for accelerating the reaction of the cross-linking agent. Examples thereof include cationic polymerization initiators such as salts, diarylalonium salts, triphenylsulfonium salts, silanol / aluminum chelates, and α-sulfonyloxy ketones.

  The conductive polymer ink as described above can be prepared by various methods. For example, a precursor of a π-based conjugated conductive polymer is chemically oxidized in a dopant-containing liquid, and various components are added thereto. It can be prepared by mixing uniformly at a time or sequentially.

  More specifically, for example, a polyanion dopant is chemically oxidatively polymerized with a precursor of a π-based conjugated conductive polymer in an aqueous solution to prepare a conductive polymer aqueous solution, and a thickener, a leveling agent, It can be prepared by adding a crosslinking agent and other components and mixing them uniformly, and then removing water.

  When prepared in this way, in the obtained conductive polymer ink, it is preferable that the residual moisture is preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 10% by mass or less, and particularly preferably no moisture at all. When the residual moisture of the conductive polymer ink exceeds 20% by mass, the printing stability tends to be lowered.

  The viscosity of the conductive polymer ink thus prepared is preferably adjusted according to the method for forming the detection site 17a and the lead wire 17b on the resin film 17c. For example, when it is formed by screen printing, it is preferably 300 to 10000 mPa · s, preferably 500 to 5000 mPa · s. In the case of lithographic printing, it is preferably about 5000 to 10,000 mPa · s. In the case of flexographic printing, the pressure is preferably about 20 to 1000 mPas, and in the case of ink jet printing, it is preferably 3 to 30 mPa · s. These viscosities are values measured at a constant shear rate using a B-type rotational viscosity system at 25 ° C.

  When water is used as the solvent, the residual water content is preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 10% by mass or less, and particularly preferably none at all. This is because as the residual moisture increases, the printing stability decreases.

  In this Embodiment 1, the detection site | part 17a and the lead wire 17b are formed by using the above conductive polymer inks and printing on the resin film 17c, and forming a conductive film.

  In the case of a printing layer using an ink having transparency, such a conductive coating layer preferably has a thickness of 0.1 to 5 μm. If it is 0.1 μm or more, sufficient conductivity can be secured, and it is easy to reliably detect a change in capacitance in the capacitance detection unit 17, and if it is 5 μm or less, the capacitance detection unit 17 is made thin. It is because it is easy to form and it is easy to ensure transparency.

  When a conductive ink such as carbon ink or silver ink is used as the printing layer, it can be used by setting the thickness to 5 μm to 25 μm.

  Further, instead of such a printed layer, for example, a conductive metal layer such as indium tin oxide may be deposited and etched into a predetermined shape, and the conductive coating layer may be formed by other methods.

  Such a conductive coating layer may be formed so that the detection site 17a and the lead wire 17b are all disposed on one surface of the resin film 17c, but the detection site 17a adjacent to each other is different from the resin film 17c. It is also possible to form it to be a surface. If it does in this way, even if it adjoins between mutually adjacent detection parts 17a, it can insulate reliably by arranging via resin film 17c, and simplifies the effort which insulates between detection parts 17a. Is possible.

  The elastic sheet 19 of the operation panel 11 includes a peripheral edge 19a that is fixed between the edge of the opening 10a of the housing 10 and the substrate 21, and an opening in which the contact pressing operation part 12 is disposed from the peripheral edge 19a. 10b, a bulging portion 19b having a top surface 19d as a support surface, a hollow portion 19c formed inside the casing 10 of the bulging portion 19b, and a central key 13 of the hollow portion 19c. And the plunger part 19e as an action | operation part of the press action | operation part formed in the position corresponding to the direction key 14 and projecting toward the press deformation | transformation part 23 side is provided.

  In this elastic sheet 19, the electrostatic capacitance detection part 17 is adhere | attached on the flat top surface 19d of the bulging part 19b. Here, all the detection parts 17a of the electrostatic capacitance detection unit 17 are adhered and adhered to the top surface 19d by a transparent double-sided tape 20 on the entire surface. Further, the top sheet 19d of the bulging part 19b is joined with a transparent double-sided tape 20 other than the top sheet 11b other than the opening part 11a where the contact pressing operation part 12 is disposed.

  Such an elastic sheet 19 enables the center key 13 and the direction key 14 supported by the bulging portion 19b and the capacitance detecting portion 17 to be pressed, and further elastically moves them to the surface side of the housing 10. It is made of a material having elasticity in order to be urged by and to allow repeated pressing deformation.

  Examples of the elastic material constituting the elastic sheet 19 include silicone rubber, polyurethane, and the like. These materials can be used singly or in combination, and in particular, can transmit light. The material which has property is suitable. In the first embodiment, a molded product in which a silicone rubber layer and a polyurethane layer are laminated and integrated is used. Thereby, even if it is formed to be thin, it is difficult for cuts or the like to occur, and it is easy to ensure durability against repeated deformation and the like.

  Next, the board | substrate 21 consists of a board | plate material made from a hard resin, and has a structure which does not deform | transform at the time of pressing operation of the center key 13, each direction key 14, or the press operation part 15. FIG. The substrate 21 is provided with a circuit (not shown), connected to the lead wire 17b of the capacitance detection unit 17, and a change in capacitance detected by the touch operation of the center key 13 and the direction key 14 is input. In addition to being configured to be processable, it is configured to be able to process input by pressing the center key 13 and the direction key 14, and to be able to process input by pressing operation from the pressing operation unit 15.

  In each of the portions of the substrate 21 facing the center key 13 and the direction keys 14, a pressing deformation portion 23 is disposed so as to face each plunger portion 19e of the elastic sheet 19. The pressing deformation portion 23 includes an elastic dome formed in a hollow three-dimensional shape. When the center key 13 and each direction key 14 are pressed, the plunger portion 19e is displaced, so that the plunger portion 19e is pressed. It is configured to be elastically deformed.

  Examples of the elastic dome include a resin dome such as PET and a metal dome. In the first embodiment, a metal dome 27 made of a thin metal that can be elastically deformed is provided, and the metal dome 27 is arranged on the substrate 21 so as to protrude toward the keys 13 and 14. It is fixed to the surface of the substrate 21 by being covered from the convex side by a metal dome fixing sheet 24 made of a flexible resin that can be attached to the substrate.

  In the metal dome 27, there is provided a conduction contact portion 25 for connecting and disconnecting a circuit provided on the substrate 21, and the pressing deformation portion 23 is pressed by the pressing operation of the center key 13 and the direction key 14, whereby the metal The inner surface of the dome 27 is in contact with the conductive contact 25.

  Further, the substrate 21 has a light emitting unit 26 made of LEDs at a non-opposing portion that does not face the central key 13 and each direction key 14, that is, at a position in the housing 10 that is spaced apart from each key 13, 14 in the surface direction. The light guide 22 for guiding the light from the light emitting portion 26 to a portion facing the central key 13 and each direction key 14 is partially fixed on the metal dome fixing sheet 24 with an adhesive or the like.

  The light guide 22 is formed of a resin material having transparency and flexibility, such as silicone rubber, polycarbonate, acrylic, and the like.

  Therefore, in the pressing deformation portion 23, the distal end of each plunger portion 19 e of the elastic sheet 19 is disposed in contact with the convex surface of the metal dome 27 via the metal dome fixing sheet 24 and the light guide 22.

  Next, a method for using the operation switch having such a configuration will be described.

  In order to perform a desired switch operation in the contact pressing operation unit 12, first, an instantaneous contact operation is performed by bringing a finger into contact with the center key 13 or the direction key 14. Then, a change in capacitance is detected at a plurality of adjacent detection portions 17 a of the capacitance detection unit 17. The detection result is transmitted to the circuit on the substrate 21 through the lead wire 17b, and the direction on the contact pressing operation unit 12 is identified. Next, if a further contact operation is performed by moving the finger on the center key 13 or the direction key 14 as necessary, a change in capacitance from the initial value is detected. Changes are implemented.

  Thereafter, when the center key 13 or the direction key 14 is pressed with a finger, the elastic sheet 19 is deformed, so that the capacitance detecting unit 17 and the bulging portion 19b are brought together with the pressed center key 13 or the direction key 14. The pressure deformation part 23 is pressed by the plunger part 19e. Then, by deforming the metal dome 27 together with the light guide 22 and the metal dome fixing sheet 24, the conduction contact portion 25 is conducted in a state where a feeling of clicking operation is obtained. By this pressing operation, various processing and desired processing combined with the above-described contact operation are executed. Note that the distance during this pressing operation is fine, and the pressing operation is performed in a short time. In this way, the desired switch operation is completed.

  Further, the operation switch is provided with a light emitting unit 26 made of an LED, and the light emitting unit 26 emits light at all times or at a predetermined time. The light from the light emitting unit 26 is not directly visible from the outside since the light emitting unit 26 is covered by the housing 10.

  Here, the light from the light emitting portion 26 is guided to the hollow portion 19c of the elastic sheet 19 by the light guide 22 mounted on the substrate 21 and the metal dome fixing sheet 24, and from the surface of the light guide 22 into the hollow portion 19c. The operation panel 11 is irradiated from the back side.

  In the operation panel 11, since the elastic sheet, the resin film 17 c of the capacitance detection unit 17, and the conductive coating layer have transparency, when irradiated from the back side of the operation panel 11 by the light guide 22, the following key 13 14 or other part of the operation panel 11 is irradiated from the back side. Then, light is transmitted by the translucent display portion 16 provided on the back side so as to transmit light in a desired shape, and is emitted from each surface side and visually recognized from the outside.

  According to the operation switch as described above, the operation panel 11 includes the center key 13 and the direction key 14 with the translucent display unit 16, and the position corresponding to the translucent display unit 16 of the capacitance detection unit 17 emits light. Since the position corresponding to the translucent display unit 16 of the elastic sheet 19 is configured to transmit light while being configured to be transmissive, if the light is irradiated from the back side, the translucent display unit 16 performs centering. Light can be emitted from the surface side of the key 13 and the direction key 14.

  At this time, the capacitance detection unit 17 is integrally and closely joined to the center key 13 and the direction key 14, and there is no gap between the respective units. Therefore, when the light passes through the operation panel 11, it is diffusely reflected inside. However, the light transmitted from the back side can be emitted from the translucent display unit 16 without being attenuated.

  In addition, since the capacitance detection unit 17 is integrally and uniformly bonded to the center key 13 and the direction key 14, the capacitance detection unit 17 is brought close to the surface of the center key 13 and the direction key 14. It is possible to arrange them, and it is easy to detect the change in capacitance due to the touch operation to the center key 13 and the direction key 14 with high accuracy. Therefore, reliable contact operation is possible. In addition, since it is not necessary for the electrostatic capacitance detection unit 17 to dispose the conductive film separately as in the prior art, the thickness of the operation panel 11 and the operation switch can be easily reduced.

  Further, since the capacitance detecting unit 17 and the elastic sheet 19 are integrally and closely joined to the center key 13 and the direction key 14, the elastic sheet is surely pressed by the pressing operation on the center key 13 and the direction key 14. 19 can be operated, and a reliable pressing operation is also possible. At the same time, since there is no gap between each part, sufficient durability can be ensured even if repeated pressing operations are performed.

  Further, in this operation panel 11, the detection site 17 a of the capacitance detection unit 17 is transparent, and the detection site 17 a is also present at a position corresponding to the translucent display unit 16. The change in capacitance can be detected even at a position where the detection is performed, and the detection accuracy is easily ensured. Further, even if it is difficult to ensure high conductivity such as a metal coating by forming the detection portion 17a transparent, the capacitance detection unit 16 is close to the center key 13, the direction key 14, and the surface of the top sheet 11b. Since it is disposed, it is easy to detect a change in capacitance, and sufficient detection accuracy of the capacitance detection unit 17 can be ensured.

  Furthermore, in this operation panel 11, since the electrostatic capacitance detection part 17 is formed in the resin film 17c by the printing layer of the conductive ink, by reducing the thickness of the resin film 17c, the electrostatic capacitance detection part 17 is extremely reduced. The operation switch can be made thinner, the operation switch 11 can be made thinner, the flexibility can be easily given to the operation panel 11, and a clear pressing operation can be easily obtained.

  In addition, according to this operation switch, the hollow three-dimensional metal dome 27 that can be elastically deformed and the plunger portion 19e that presses the metal dome 27 are provided at a position where the operation panel 11 and the substrate 21 face each other. When the key 13 and the direction key 14 are pressed, the plunger portion 19e is configured to be able to elastically deform the metal dome 27, so that it is easy to give a sufficient feeling of clicking operation.

  Furthermore, since the light emitting part 26 is provided between the operation panel 11 and the substrate 21 at a position different from the pressing deformation part 23 and the plunger part 19e, the thickness for arranging the metal dome 27 and the plunger part 19e is provided. The light emitting unit 26 can be arranged using the above, and the translucent display unit 16 of the operation panel 11 can emit light while suppressing the thickness of the entire operation switch.

  Further, a light emitting unit 26 is provided at a position separated from the keys 13 and 14 and the capacitance detecting unit 17 in the surface direction, and guides light from the light emitting unit 26 to a position where the translucent display unit 16 can be illuminated. Since the light guide 22 is provided, the degree of freedom in designing the arrangement positions of the translucent display unit 16 and the light emitting unit 26 is large, and the thickness of the entire operation switch can be easily reduced.

  In addition, since the light guide 22 is made of a transparent resin sheet continuously arranged at a plurality of positions where the plurality of light-transmitting display portions 16 can be illuminated, the light emitting portion 26 and the light guide 22 are provided for each light-transmitting display portion 16. There is no need to provide it, and the number of parts can be reduced. Furthermore, since the same light guide 22 guides light to the plurality of translucent display sections 16, it is easy to illuminate each translucent display section 16 uniformly. .

  Next, a method for manufacturing the operation panel 11 as described above will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  First, a positioning hole is formed on one side of a 50 μm-thick polyurethane film (manufactured by Seadam Co., Ltd.) (S101), and transparent urethane ink RUX (manufactured by Seiko Advance Co., Ltd., trade name) can be printed easily. An adhesive layer was formed (S102). Apply liquid adhesive rubber KE-2090-60A / B (trade name, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) with selective adhesion to the easy-adhesion layer side, place in a predetermined mold, and compress at 120 ° C for 5 minutes After molding (S103), it was removed from the mold. Then, an outer shape (S105) for removing unnecessary burrs was removed by punching, and an elastic sheet 19 was produced. Here, the polyurethane layer was molded so as to be the top surface 19d of the bulging portion 19b.

  Next, a hole is made for positioning in HiBon (trade name, manufactured by Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.), which is a double-sided tape 20 having a thickness of 50 μm (S111), and half-cut (S112) into a predetermined shape, The elastic sheet 19 was attached to the top surface 19d of the bulging portion 19b (S113).

  Separately from the production of the elastic sheet 19, positioning holes were made in a PET film having a thickness of 25 μm laminated on the transport film (S 121), and then circuit printing of the detection site 17 a and the lead wire 17 b was performed (S 122). ). This circuit printing was performed by screen printing using a conductive polymer ink having transparency.

  As the conductive polymer ink having transparency, polystyrenesulfonic acid-doped poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) with polystyrenesulfonic acid prepared in advance. -PSS) Add 2-hydroxyethylacrylamide as a thickener and stir and concentrate to prepare a 2-hydroxyethylacrylamide-substituted PEDOT-PSS aqueous solution, propylene glycol as a leveling agent, and penta as a crosslinking agent. What was produced by adding and mixing erythritol triacrylate and a photoinitiator was used.

  In this conductive polymer ink, the total content of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and polystyrenesulfonic acid is 0.77%, and the mass ratio of 2-hydroxyethylacrylamide / propylene glycol is 0. .4. The viscosity was 850 mPa · s.

  The detection site 17a and the lead wire 17b obtained after curing by screen printing on a PET film using this conductive polymer ink had a light transmittance of 85% and a surface resistance of 1215Ω.

  After the circuit printing, half-cut (S123) was performed into a predetermined shape, and the capacitance detection unit 17 was produced while being supported by the transport film. And this electrostatic capacitance detection part 17 is positioned and mounted by the positioning hole on the top surface 19d of the bulging part 19b to which the double-sided tape is attached, and after this is crimped using a crimping jig, The electrostatic capacity detector 17 was joined to the elastic sheet 19 by removing the film for use (S124).

  Further, a high-bonn (trade name, manufactured by Hitachi Chemical Polymer Co., Ltd.), which is a double-sided tape 18 having a thickness of 50 μm, is cut so that a movable part can be formed with a shape smaller than the shape of the back surface of the center key 13 and the direction key 14 At the same time, holes were made for positioning (S131) and half-cut into a predetermined shape (S132). And it affixed on the site | part to which the surface sheet 11b of the operation panel 11 is joined while it affixes on the predetermined position which becomes on the electrostatic capacitance detection part 17 of the top face 19d of the bulging part 19b of the elastic body sheet 19 (S133). ).

  Separately, a decorative layer such as numerals and letters is printed on the back surface of a polycarbonate sheet having a thickness of 0.4 mm (S141), and an opening 11a in which the center key 13 and the direction key 14 are arranged is provided and punched and cut. (S142) A top sheet 11b of the operation panel 11 was produced. Further, a decorative layer such as numerals and letters was printed on the back surface of a polycarbonate sheet having a thickness of 0.4 mm (S151), and punched and cut into a predetermined shape (S152) to obtain the center key 13 and the direction key 14.

  With these decoration layers, a light-transmitting display portion 16 was formed on the top sheet 11 b of the operation panel 11, the center key 13, and the direction key 14.

  Then, the center key 13 and the direction key 14 are joined to the capacitance detecting unit 17 on the top surface 19d of the bulging portion 19b of the elastic sheet 19, and the center key 13 and the direction key 14 are further provided in the opening 11a. The operation switch sheet member provided with the contact pressing operation section 12 by joining the top sheet 11b of the operation panel 11 to the top surface 19d of the bulging section 19b of the elastic sheet 19 in such a manner (S153). An operation panel 11 was obtained. Thereafter, a sponge tape for securing adhesion to the substrate 21 was attached to the periphery of the operation panel 11 (S161), and the manufacture of the operation switch sheet member was completed.

  Thereafter, the operation switch obtained together with the members constituting each part such as the light guide 22, the press deformation part 23, the conduction contact part 25, the light emitting part 26, the metal dome 27, etc. on the case 10 and the substrate 21 formed in advance. An operation switch was obtained by incorporating a sheet member.

  In this way, the operation panel 11 and the operation switch as described above can be easily manufactured.

  The first embodiment can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above description, the capacitance detection unit 17 and the center key 13 and the direction key 14 are joined by the transparent double-sided tape 18, and the elastic sheet 19 and the capacitance detection unit 17 are transparent on both sides. The substrate 21 and the light guide 22 are bonded together by a metal dome fixing sheet 24. For example, instead of the double-sided tapes 18 and 20, an ultraviolet curable adhesive, a visible light curable adhesive, a cyano is used. Various transparent adhesives such as acrylate adhesives and hot melts can be used.

In the above description, an example in which the elastic sheet 19 is integrated with the center key 13, the direction key 14, and the capacitance detection unit 17 has been described. 13 and the direction key 14 can be configured to be pressed.
[Embodiment 2]

  FIG. 5 shows the operation switch of the second embodiment.

  The operation panel 11 according to the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the capacitance detection unit 17 is formed by printing directly on the transparent elastic sheet 19 without using the resin film 17c. It is the same.

In such an operation panel 11, the capacitance detection unit 17 can be formed thinner than that in the first embodiment, and the double-sided tape 20 for joining the resin film 17c to the elastic sheet 19 is not necessary. It is possible to make the entire thickness of the switch sheet member thinner. Moreover, there are few members which the light irradiated from the back side of the operation panel 11 permeate | transmits, and the light radiated | emitted from the surface side can be made stronger.
[Embodiment 3]

  FIG. 6 shows the operation switch of the third embodiment.

  The operation switch of the third embodiment uses an EL sheet 30 instead of the light guide 22 and the light emitting unit 26, and the EL sheet 30 is fixed to the surface of the substrate 21 and the metal dome 27 with a double-sided tape 24 '. Other than that, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment.

Even in such an operation switch, light can be emitted from the surface side by the translucent display portion 16 as in the first embodiment. Moreover, the structure which can perform reliable pressing operation and contact operation can be realized with a small number of parts and a simple structure, the operation switch can be easily thinned, and sufficient durability can be ensured. Further, a sufficient click feeling can be obtained due to the deformation of the metal dome 27, and the degree of freedom in design can be improved.
[Embodiment 4]

  FIG. 7 shows an operation switch according to the fourth embodiment.

  In the operation switch of the fourth embodiment, the operation panel 11 is formed by a single film key 31 in which the contact pressing operation unit 12 and the pressing operation unit 15 are integrally provided. The film key 31 is formed to be deformable by a thin wall, for example, a polycarbonate film having a thickness of 0.1 mm or less.

  A decorative print layer 32 is laminated on the back side of the film key 31, and the contact press operation unit 12 and the press operation unit 15 are displayed by the decorative print layer 32. The center key 13 and the direction key of FIG. A central portion 33 and a direction portion 34 having the same shape as that of FIG. Moreover, the translucent display part 16 is formed of the non-printing site | part 32a in which the decorative printing layer 32 is not laminated | stacked.

  On the other hand, on the surface side of the film key 31, for the purpose of facilitating the pressing operation, protrusions may be provided at the positions of the operation portions 12 and 15, and in this Embodiment 4, the direction portion of the elastic sheet 19 is provided. A projection molded body 41 is attached to 34. The projection molded body 41 is formed from a resin having transparency into a thin wall, and is produced, for example, by transferring or potting an ultraviolet curable resin onto a PET film.

  Here, since the film key 31 is thinner than the top sheet 11b of the operation panel 11 of the first and second embodiments, the shape is held by rigidity as in the operation panel 11 of the first and second embodiments. The structure cannot be easily changed. Therefore, in the third embodiment, a hard base frame 35 made of polycarbonate or the like and not easily deformed is provided, and the operation panel 11 is fixed to the hard base frame 35.

  The hard base frame 35 is continuously provided integrally with a portion where the pressing operation of the film key 31 is not performed, and the film key 31 and the capacitance detection unit 17 are joined to the top. The bulging portion 19 b of the elastic sheet 19 is disposed in the opening 35 a of the hard base frame 35, and the peripheral edge portion 19 a of the elastic sheet 19 is fixed to the bottom side of the hard base frame 35. In the third embodiment, the elastic sheet 19 is formed using a selective adhesive silicone rubber. The hard base frame 35 is fitted and fixed to the housing 10 by a plurality of protrusions at the peripheral edge (not shown).

  Further, in the operation switch of the fourth embodiment, the light emitting part 26 composed of the LED for irradiating the translucent display part 16 is on the substrate 21 facing the film key 31 outside the bulging part 19b of the elastic sheet 19. It is fixed to. The light from the light emitting unit 26 can pass through the hard base frame 35 and the elastic sheet 19 to illuminate the translucent display unit 16 provided in the contact pressing operation unit 12. Here, the sheet-like light guide 22 as shown in the first embodiment is not provided, and the light from the light emitting unit 26 is provided in each part of the operation panel 11 by the hard base frame 35. 16 to be guided to 16.

  Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

  Even an operation switch having such a configuration can be used in the same manner as the operation switch of the first embodiment.

  Then, according to the operation switch as described above, as in the first embodiment, a configuration capable of performing a reliable pressing operation and a contact operation can be realized with a simple configuration, and the operation switch can be easily thinned. Sufficient durability can be ensured. In addition, a sufficient click operation feeling due to the deformation of the metal dome 27 can be obtained, and the degree of freedom in design can be improved.

  In particular, here, since the contact pressing operation unit 12 is made of the film key 31 and is extremely thin, the thickness of the peripheral assembly of the contact pressing operation unit 12 can be further reduced.

Further, according to such an operation switch, since the light emitting part 26 is provided between the substrate 21 and the hard base frame 35, the bulge for arranging the three-dimensional metal dome 27 and the plunger part 19e is provided. The light emitting part 26 can be arranged by utilizing the thickness of the part 19b, and the light transmission display part 16 of the contact pressing operation part 12 can be illuminated while suppressing an increase in the thickness of the entire operation switch.
[Embodiment 5]

  FIG. 8 shows an operation switch according to the fifth embodiment. This Embodiment 5 is an example applied to the site | part in which the press operation part 15 of the operation panel 11 of FIG. 1 was provided.

  Here, a large number of pressing operation sections 15 are provided on the operation panel 11, and a capacitance detection section 17 is joined to the inside of the casing 10 of the operation panel 11, and these are the full width of the operation panel 11 of the resin sheet 19. Are joined to and supported by the top surface 19d of the bulging portion 19b.

  In this operation panel 11, the elastic body sheet 19 is formed from a silicone rubber with a continuous bulging portion 19b so as to spread over the entire operation panel, and the surface of the substrate 21 in the hollow portion 19c of the bulging portion 19b. The metal dome 27 is provided at a position corresponding to each pressing operation portion 15, and the conduction contact portion 25 is provided in each metal dome 27. Therefore, when each pressing operation portion 15 of the operation panel 11 is pressed, the bulging portion 19b at the corresponding position is deformed, and the metal dome 27 is pressed and deformed by the plunger portion 19e of the elastic sheet 19, whereby the conduction contact portion 25 is connected.

  Further, a light emitting unit 26 is mounted on the substrate 21 of the hollow portion 19c, so that the translucent display unit 16 of the operation panel 11 can be illuminated.

  The capacitance detection unit 17 of this embodiment is configured to be able to perform a contact operation independently of the pressing operation of the pressing operation unit 15, and an operation provided with the pressing operation unit 15. By touching or sliding a finger on the panel 11, it is possible to input a position, a distance, a direction, etc. in addition to an input by a pressing operation.

The electrostatic capacitance detection unit 17 is provided at the position of the character “6 _MNO ”, and a carbon film having no transparency as shown in FIG. Opaque detection sites 17a and lead wires 17b are formed using colored ink such as silver or silver. Here, when a pattern is printed with colored ink, the printed layer is extracted corresponding to the shape of the character “6 _MNO ” to form a cut character as a cut shape portion.

  When such a blank character is formed, a blank portion 17g in which the detection site 17a does not exist in the character portion is formed, and a part 17d of the detection site 17a constituting the same electrode at a position spaced apart via the blank portion 17g, 17e is formed. Therefore, a part 17d of these detection parts 17a and another part 17e are connected by a narrow connection part 17f made of the same ink.

  In such a capacitance detection unit 17, even though the portions 17d and 17e of the detection site 17a are separated by the removal portion 17g, they are connected by the narrow connection portion 17f. It is easy to secure the area, and it is possible to detect a change in capacitance due to the contact operation. Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is configured to be able to detect by calculating the area reduced by the blank character in a control unit (not shown). Therefore, it is possible to detect the change in capacitance due to the contact operation with high accuracy, as in the case where no character is provided.

  Further, since the light-extracting portion 17g is provided at the time of illumination, it is possible to irradiate and transmit the light to the translucent display portion 16, and to emit light corresponding to the extracted character and the translucent display portion 16. be able to. At that time, since the narrow connecting portion 17f is formed so as to be much thinner than the portions 17d and 17e of the detection portion 17a within a range in which conductivity can be ensured, the light emitted from the translucent display portion 16 is sufficiently clear. Can be secured.

  Even with such an operation switch, it is possible to obtain the same effect as in the first embodiment.

It is a front view of the operation switch of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 1 of the same Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a front view which shows the electrostatic capacitance detection part of the same Embodiment 1. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process of the sheet | seat member for operation switches of the same Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the operation switch of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the operation switch of Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the operation switch of Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. 1 which shows the operation switch of Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the electrostatic capacitance detection part of the same Embodiment 5.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Housing | casing 10a Opening part 11 Operation panel 11a Opening part 12 Contact pressing operation part 13 Center key 14 Direction key 15 Pressing operation part 16 Translucent display part 17 Electrostatic capacity detection part 19 Elastic body sheet 19b, 29b Bulging part 19c, 29c Hollow portion 19e Plunger portion 21 Substrate 22 Light guide 23 Press deformation portion 25 Conductive contact portion 26 Light emitting portion 27 Metal dome 30 EL sheet 31 Film key 32 Decorated printing layer 35 Hard base

Claims (9)

A sheet member for an operation switch including a surface operation unit that performs a contact operation and a pressing operation, and a capacitance detection unit that can detect a contact operation on the surface operation unit as a change in capacitance,
The surface operation unit includes a translucent display unit configured to transmit light from the back side and be visually recognized on the front side, and a position corresponding to the translucent display unit of the capacitance detection unit Is configured to transmit light, and the surface operation unit and the capacitance detection unit are integrally joined to each other. The surface operation unit that performs a contact operation and a pressing operation, a pressing operation unit that can be operated by a pressing operation on the surface operation unit, and the capacitance detection unit,
The surface operation unit, the pressing operation unit, and the capacitance detection unit are integrally joined, and a position corresponding to the translucent display unit of the pressing operation unit is configured to transmit light. The operation switch sheet member according to claim 1, wherein:   The operation switch according to claim 1, wherein the capacitance detection unit has a transparent detection site, and the detection site is arranged at a position corresponding to the translucent display unit. Sheet member.   The transparent detection site comprises a conductive coating layer formed of a conductive polymer ink containing a π-conjugated conductive polymer, a polyanion dopant, a thickener, a leveling agent, and a crosslinking agent. The operation switch sheet member according to claim 3.   The capacitance detection unit includes an opaque detection site and a cutout shape portion where the detection site does not exist at a position corresponding to the translucent display portion, and the detection site is spaced apart via the cutout shape portion. 3. The operation switch sheet member according to claim 1, wherein the two are connected by a narrow connecting portion. The operation switch sheet member according to any one of claims 2 to 5, and a base portion disposed at a position facing and spaced apart from the operation switch sheet member,
An elastic dome having an elastically deformable hollow three-dimensional shape and a plunger capable of pressing the elastic dome are provided opposite to each other on the base portion and the pressing operation portion, and the surface operation portion is pressed. Thus, the operation switch is configured so that the plunger can elastically deform the elastic dome.   A light emitting unit capable of illuminating the translucent display unit of the surface operation unit is provided, and the light emitting unit is located at a position different from the elastic dome and the plunger between the operation switch sheet member and the base unit. The operation switch according to claim 6, wherein the operation switch is arranged.   A light emitting unit capable of illuminating the translucent display unit of the surface operation unit, the light emitting unit is disposed at a position spaced apart from the surface operation unit in a plane direction, and the translucent display unit is disposed from the light emitting unit. The operation switch according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a light guide for guiding light to a position where illumination is possible.   9. The translucent display unit is provided at a plurality of positions, and the light guide is made of a transparent resin sheet continuously disposed between positions where the translucent display units can be irradiated. The operation switch described in.

Images