JP2009252461A - Illuminated switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illuminated switch device having improved illumination efficiency resulting in improved illumination quality. <P>SOLUTION: The illuminated switch device 1 includes a power transmission part for converting light source electric power supplied from a main substrate 2 into a radio signal to be delivered, and a power receiving part provided inside a movable knob 4 for receiving the radio signal and converting it into electric power to be supplied to LEDs 6, 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention belongs to the technical field of illuminated switch devices.

Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an illumination light source provided on a substrate is inserted into an interior of a movable knob from an opening formed on a side surface of the movable knob, and the surface of the movable knob is illuminated.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No.59-43023

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the arrangement of the illumination light source is limited due to component interference or the like, and light leakage occurs from the side opening of the movable knob. There was a problem of being low.

  The objective of this invention is providing the switch apparatus with illumination which can aim at the improvement of illumination quality by improving illumination efficiency.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the illuminated switch device of the present invention, the power transmission means for converting the power for the light source supplied from the substrate into a wireless signal and transmitting it, and the movable knob are provided to receive the wireless signal. Power receiving means for converting into electric power and supplying the illumination light source provided inside the movable knob.

Therefore, in the present invention, since the electric power is supplied to the illumination light source with a radio signal, the illumination light source can be arranged at a position with high illumination efficiency inside the movable knob. Moreover, since the side opening of the movable knob is unnecessary, the illumination efficiency is not lowered due to light leakage.
Thereby, illumination efficiency can be improved and illumination quality can be improved.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for realizing the illuminated switch device of the present invention will be described based on examples.

  1 is a perspective view showing a button 9 of the illuminated switch device 1 of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line S2-S2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line S3-S3 of FIG. The illuminated switch device 1 is applied to a switch (auto switch) of a car air conditioner.

  The switch device with illumination 1 according to the first embodiment includes a main board (board) 2, a rubber dome switch 3, a movable knob 4, a knob side board 5, an illumination LED (illumination light source) 6, and an indicator LED ( Illumination light source) 7.

  The rubber dome switch 3 is erected on the main board 2. The rubber dome switch 3 is configured such that a rubber dome 3a made of rubber is installed on the main board 2, and the movable contact 3b and the fixed contact 3c are brought into contact with and separated from each other by deformation of the rubber dome 3a.

  The movable knob 4 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape having both ends opened using a light-impermeable resin. By providing a partition plate 4a extending in the length direction inside the movable knob 4, the internal space is divided into two rooms 4b and 4c in the width direction.

  A spacer 8 is provided in the lower end opening 4 d of the movable knob 4. The spacer 8 is formed in a U-shaped cross section having an upper opening using a light-impermeable resin, and closes the lower end opening 4d. A rubber dome 3a and a movable contact 3b are fixed to the lower surface 8a of the spacer 8.

  The upper end opening 4e of the movable knob 4 is provided with a button 9 for the operator to press. The button 9 is formed in a U-shaped cross section having a lower opening using a light transmissive resin, and closes the upper end opening 4e. An opening 9a is formed in a portion of the button 9 corresponding to the room 4c, and an indicator window 9b is embedded in the opening 9a from the movable knob 4 side. The outer periphery of the button 9 is painted except for the character portion 9c of the surface 9e. The side surface 9d of the button 9 is supported by a housing (not shown).

  The knob side substrate 5 is fixed between the upper surface 8 b of the spacer 8 and the lower end opening 4 d of the movable knob 4. On the upper surface of the knob side substrate 5, an illumination LED 6 and an indicator LED 7 are mounted. The illumination LED 6 is disposed in the center 4 in the length direction of the button 9 in the room 4 b of the movable knob 4. This position is directly below the center of the character portion 9c. The indicator LED 7 is arranged in the center 4 of the button 9 in the room 4 c of the movable knob 4. This position is directly below the indicator window 9b.

Next, the configuration of the main board 2 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the main board 2 according to the first embodiment. The main board 2 includes a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as FPC) 11 and a main board calculation unit 12 arranged on a rigid board 10. The FPC 11 is a printed circuit board that is flexible and can be greatly deformed. For example, an adhesive layer is formed on a film-like insulator (base film) having a thickness of 12 to 50 μm, and further a thickness of 12 to In this configuration, a conductor foil of about 50 μm is formed.

  On the FPC 11, a switch circuit 11a having the fixed contact 3c of the rubber dome switch 3 described above, an illumination LED-compatible power supply line 11b, an illumination LED-compatible power transmission unit (power transmission means) 11c, and an indicator The LED-compatible power supply line 11d and the indicator LED-compatible power transmission unit (power transmission means) 11e are provided.

  The illumination LED-compatible power transmission unit 11c and the indicator LED-compatible power transmission unit 11e are flat coils, and convert the power supplied from the power supply lines 11b and 11d into a radio signal and send it out. Here, although the FPC 11 is fixed on the rigid substrate 10, notches 11f and 11g are formed in portions corresponding to the power transmitters 11c and 11e, respectively, to be separated from the rigid substrate 10, and the power transmitter 11 c and 11 e are fixed to the lower surface 8 a of the spacer 8.

  The main board computing unit 12 constantly supplies power to the switch circuit 11a, detects the on / off state of the rubber dome switch 3 from the current value of the switch circuit 11a, and controls the air conditioner with a switch signal corresponding to the on / off state. Output to the control unit 13. Further, the main circuit board calculation unit 12 supplies power to the LED power supply line 11b for lighting when the night illumination switch (not shown) is on at all times or when the rubber dome switch 3 is on. Power is supplied to the LED-compatible power supply line 11d.

Next, the configuration of the knob side substrate 5 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the knob-side substrate 5 of the first embodiment. The knob-side substrate 5 includes an illumination LED-compatible power supply line 5a, an illumination LED-compatible power reception unit (power reception means) 5b, An indicator LED-compatible power supply line 5c and an indicator LED-compatible power receiver 5d are provided.

The LED power supply line 5a for illumination is connected to the LED 6 for illumination, and the power supply line 5c for indicator LED is connected to the LED 7 for indicator.
The lighting LED-compatible power receiving unit 5b and the indicator LED-compatible power receiving unit 5d are flat coils, and receive radio signals transmitted from the lighting LED-compatible power transmitting unit 11c and the indicator LED-compatible power transmitting unit 11e. The power is converted to electric power and output to the illumination LED-compatible power supply line 5a and the indicator LED-compatible power supply line 5c.

The lighting LED-compatible power receiving unit 5b is disposed at the same vertical position as the lighting LED-compatible power transmitting unit 11c, and the indicator LED-compatible power receiving unit 5d is positioned at the same vertical position as the indicator LED-compatible power transmitting unit 11e. Is arranged.
Although not shown in FIG. 5, smoothing circuits 6a and 7a for converting electric power into direct current as shown in FIG. 6 are interposed between the power supply lines 5a and 5c and the LEDs 6 and 7, respectively. ing.

Next, the operation will be described.
[Lighting quality improvement effect]
In the initial state shown in FIG. 7, since power is supplied to the illumination LED-compatible power supply line 11b, illumination is performed by the power transmitted from the illumination LED-compatible power transmission unit 11c to the illumination LED-compatible power reception unit 5b. LED 6 is lit.

  When the operator presses the button 9 against the elastic force of the rubber dome 3a, the movable knob 4 moves to the main board 2 side according to the operating force, and the rubber dome 3a is elastically deformed. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the switch is turned on by the contact between the movable contact 3b and the fixed contact 3c of the rubber dome switch 3, power is also supplied to the indicator LED corresponding power supply line 11d. This power is transmitted from the indicator LED-compatible power transmitter 11e to the indicator LED-compatible power receiver 5d, and the indicator LED 7 is also lit.

  In Patent Document 1, a configuration is disclosed in which an illumination light source provided on a substrate is inserted into the movable knob from an opening formed on a side surface of the movable knob and the surface of the movable knob is illuminated. In addition, since the light leakage from the side opening of the movable knob occurs, the illumination efficiency of the movable knob surface is reduced. Furthermore, since a process of inserting the illumination light source into the movable knob from the side opening of the movable knob is required at the time of assembly, problems such as positional accuracy and component interference may occur.

  On the other hand, in the illuminated switch device 1 according to the first embodiment, the LEDs 6 and 7 are arranged on the movable knob 4 side together with the knob-side substrate 5, and power supply to the LEDs 6 and 7 is performed using the electromagnetic induction to the main substrate 2. To the knob side substrate 5 by a wireless signal.

  Therefore, the LEDs 6 and 7 can be arranged at positions where the illumination efficiency inside the movable knob 4 is high (directly below the character portion 9c and directly below the indicator window 9b). Moreover, since an opening for inserting the LED into the movable knob 4 is not necessary, the illumination efficiency is not lowered due to light leakage. Furthermore, in Patent Document 1 in which an illumination light source is provided on the substrate, the distance from the illumination light source to the surface of the movable knob changes according to the stroke amount of the movable knob, whereas in Example 1, the buttons 9 and 9 are used from the LEDs 6 and 7. The distance to the surface 9e is always constant. For this reason, the illumination quality can be improved.

  Further, since there is no need for a power supply line to be routed from the main board 2 to the LEDs 6 and 7, there is no problem of positional accuracy and component interference, and the assembly is easy and the main board 2 and the spacer 8 are not separated. The layout flexibility of the rubber dome switch 3 interposed between the two is high. For example, in the first embodiment, since the rubber dome switch 3 is disposed at the center position of the movable knob 4, it is possible to ensure a good operational feeling.

  Here, in the first embodiment, the power transmission units 11c and 11e provided on the main substrate 2 side are fixed to the lower surface 8a of the spacer 8, so that the power transmission units 11c and 11e are irrespective of the stroke amount of the movable knob 4. And the power receiving units 5b and 5d are unchanged. This is because the brightness of the LEDs 6 and 7 is kept constant regardless of the stroke amount of the movable knob 4 by keeping the power transmission efficiency constant.

  For example, when the power transmission units 11c and 11e are fixed on the main board 2, the power (excitation power) transmitted from the power transmission units 11c and 11e to the power reception units 5b and 5d is the same as that of the power transmission units 11c and 11e. It depends on the distance between the receiving units 5b and 5d, that is, the distance L between the main substrate 2 and the spacer 8.

  The excitation power is generated when the distance L is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and thereafter increases as the distance L decreases. Therefore, when the luminance of the lighting LED 6 that is constantly lit changes according to the stroke amount of the movable knob 4, it looks good. Is bad. Further, during switch operation, a brightness difference occurs between other adjacent switches (for example, a manual switch of an air conditioner).

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, regardless of the distance L between the main board 2 and the spacer 8, the distance between the illumination LED-compatible power transmission unit 11c and the illumination LED-compatible power reception unit 5b is constant (predetermined value l). Therefore, it is possible to avoid a change in brightness during switch operation and a difference in brightness between adjacent switches.

  In the first embodiment, the rubber dome switch 3 is arranged on the main board 2 and the LEDs 6 and 7 are arranged on the knob side board 5, so that the LEDs 6 and 7 are arranged at the highest illumination efficiency regardless of the switch arrangement. it can. Further, the rubber dome switch 3 can be arranged at a position where it can be satisfactorily operated regardless of the arrangement of the LEDs 6 and 7.

Next, the effect will be described.
The illuminated switch device 1 according to the first embodiment has the following effects.

  (1) Illuminated switch device 1 is provided in power transmitters 11c and 11e for converting light source power supplied from main board 2 into a radio signal and transmitting it, and in movable knob 4, and receives a radio signal. Power receiving sections 5b and 5d that convert the power into power and supply it to the LEDs 6 and 7. Thereby, illumination efficiency can be improved and illumination quality can be improved.

  (2) Since the power transmitters 11c and 11e are provided on the movable knob 4, the brightness of the LEDs 6 and 7 is set while supplying power to the LEDs 6 and 7 by transmitting a radio signal from the main board 2 to the knob side board 5. Can be kept constant.

  FIG. 9 is a top view of the main board 21 of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the main board 21 is a rigid board, and the LED-compatible power transmission unit (power transmission means) 21a and the indicator LED are formed into chips. A corresponding power transmission unit (power transmission unit) 21 b is mounted on the main board 21. The main board 21 is equipped with a distance sensor 23 for detecting the distance between the indicator LED-compatible power transmitter 21b and an indicator LED-compatible power receiver 22b described later. As the distance sensor 23, for example, an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor can be used.

  In the main board calculation unit 12 of the second embodiment, power is supplied to the power supply lines 11b and 11d at all times or when the night illumination switch (not shown) is turned on. For this reason, the brightness of the LEDs 6 and 7 changes according to the stroke amount of the operation knob, but the lighting LED 6 is in a state where the button 9 is not pressed in order to keep the brightness constant, that is, for the lighting LED. The power supplied to the illumination LED-compatible power supply line 11b is set so that sufficient luminance can be obtained with the distance between the power transmission unit 21a and the illumination LED-compatible power reception unit 22a being the longest.

  The main board calculation unit (power adjustment means) 12 is supplied to the indicator LED 7 based on the distance between the indicator LED-compatible power transmission unit 21b and the indicator LED-compatible power reception unit 22b detected by the distance sensor 23. The power is estimated, and the power supply amount to the indicator LED corresponding power line 11d is adjusted so that the luminance of the indicator LED 7 becomes constant. Here, since the power supplied to the indicator LED 7 according to the distance can be obtained in advance by experiments or the like, the power to be supplied to the indicator LED corresponding power line 11d from the distance can be mapped. .

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the knob side substrate 22 according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the illumination LED-compatible receiving unit (power receiving unit) 22a and the indicator LED-compatible power receiving unit (power receiving unit) 22b are used. A chip including smoothing circuits 6a and 7a is used.
Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

Next, the operation will be described.
In the second embodiment, the power transmission units 21 a and 21 b are provided on the main board 21. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11, as the stroke amount S of the movable knob 4 increases, the distance between the power transmission units 21a and 21b and the power reception units 22a and 22b decreases, and the indicator LED-compatible power supply line 11d is connected. When the power supply amount is constant, the luminance of the indicator LED 7 increases as the distance decreases.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, the luminance of the indicator LED 7 is determined based on the distance between the indicator LED-compatible power transmission unit 21b and the indicator LED-compatible power reception unit 22b detected by the distance sensor 23 in the main board calculation unit 12. Is adjusted so that the power supply amount to the indicator LED-compatible power supply line 11d becomes constant.

  For this reason, the amount of power supplied to the indicator LED 7 does not depend on the power transmission efficiency corresponding to the stroke amount S of the movable knob 4 and is always constant, so that the luminance of the indicator LED 7 can be kept constant.

Next, the effect will be described.
In addition to the effect (1) of the first embodiment, the illuminated switch device 20 of the second embodiment has the following effects.

  (3) A distance sensor 23 for detecting the distance between the indicator LED-compatible power transmitter 21b and the indicator LED-compatible power receiver 22b, and the power supplied to the indicator LED 7 based on the detected distance, And a main board calculation unit 12 that adjusts the amount of power supplied to the indicator LED-compatible power transmission unit 21b so that the luminance of the indicator LED 7 is constant. Thereby, irrespective of the stroke amount S of the movable knob 4, the brightness of the indicator LED 7 can be maintained constant.

The third embodiment is an example in which the luminance of the indicator LED 7 is increased as the stroke amount S of the movable knob 4 is increased.
The third embodiment is the same as the second embodiment except that the distance sensor 23 is omitted from the main board 21 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9 and the power supply amount to the indicator LED corresponding power line 11d is constant. Therefore, illustration and description of the configuration are omitted.

Next, the operation will be described.
In the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, since the power transmission units 21a and 21b are provided on the main board 21, the luminance of the indicator LED 7 increases as the stroke amount S of the movable knob 4 increases. For this reason, the operator can grasp the current operation status such as how much the button 9 is pressed based on the luminance of the indicator LED 7.

  Further, the intensity of transmission radio waves by the power transmission unit 21b may be adjusted, and the indicator LED 7 may be turned on when the movable knob 4 starts to move. Thereby, the operator can know whether or not the button 9 is pressed, and can grasp the current operation status.

Next, the effect will be described.
The illuminated switch device of the third embodiment has the following effects in addition to the effect (1) of the first embodiment.

  (4) Since the power transmission unit 21 b is provided on the main board 21, the operator can easily recognize the current operation status based on the luminance of the indicator LED 7.

(Other examples)
As described above, the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described based on each embodiment. However, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of each embodiment, and each claim of the claims. Design changes and additions are allowed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the rubber dome switch is used as the switch. However, as the switch, not only a stroke type switch such as a tact switch or a membrane switch but also a hinge type or seesaw type switch can be used. .

In the embodiment, an example in which two illumination light sources (illumination LED 6 and indicator LED 7) are provided in one operation knob 4 is shown, but the number of illumination light sources with respect to the operation knob is arbitrary.
Moreover, you may use illumination light sources other than LED.

It is a perspective view which shows the button 9 of the switch apparatus 1 with illumination of Example 1. FIG. It is S2-S2 sectional drawing of FIG. It is S3-S3 sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 3 is a top view of the main board 2 of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the knob side substrate 5 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram of a main board 2 and a knob side board 5 according to the first embodiment. It is a side view which shows the initial state of the switch apparatus 1 with illumination of Example 1. FIG. It is a side view which shows the switch-on state of the switch apparatus 1 with illumination of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a top view of a main substrate 21 in Example 2. It is a bottom view of the knob side board | substrate 22 of Example 2. FIG. It is the side view (a) which shows the initial state of the switch apparatus 20 with illumination of Example 2, and the side view (b) which shows a switch-on state.

Explanation of symbols

1 Switch device 2 Main board (board)
3 Rubber Dome Switch (Switch)
3b Movable contact 3c Fixed contact 4 Movable knob 5b LED-compatible power receiving unit for illumination (power receiving means)
5d Indicator LED-compatible power receiver (power receiver)
6 LED for illumination (illumination light source)
7 Indicator LED (illumination light source)
11c LED-compatible power transmitter for lighting (power transmission means)
11e LED compatible power transmitter (power transmission means)
12 Main board calculation part (power adjustment means)
21 Main board (board)
21a LED power transmission unit for illumination (power transmission means)
21b LED-compatible power transmitter for indicator (power transmitter)
22a LED power receiver for lighting (power receiver)
22b Indicator LED compatible power receiver (power receiver)
23 Distance sensor (distance detection means)

Claims (4)

A movable knob that can be displaced within a predetermined range;
A switch for moving the movable contact to and from the fixed contact on the substrate according to the operation of the movable knob;
An illumination light source provided inside the movable knob;
In an illuminated switch device having
Power transmission means for converting the power for the light source supplied from the substrate into a wireless signal and sending it,
Power receiving means provided inside the movable knob, receiving the radio signal, converting it to power, and supplying the power to the illumination light source;
A switch device with illumination, comprising: The illuminated switch device according to claim 1,
A switch device with illumination, wherein the power transmission means is provided on the movable knob. The illuminated switch device according to claim 1,
A switch device with illumination, wherein the power transmission means is provided on the substrate. The switch device with illumination according to claim 3,
A distance detecting means for detecting a distance between the power transmitting means and the power receiving means;
Power adjustment means for estimating the power supplied to the illumination light source based on the distance and adjusting the amount of power supplied to the power transmission means so that the power supplied to the illumination light source is constant;
A switch device with illumination, comprising:

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