JP2010027535A - Light guide sheet and movable contact using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light guide sheet used for operation of various electronic devices, which can prevent mixture and leak of light and can attain various illumination, and a movable contact using the light guide sheet. <P>SOLUTION: The light guide sheet 20 can prevent mixture and leak of light, and can attain various illumination since the light leaked from light-emitting sections 2A, 2B to the other light-emitting sections can be almost blocked by forming light-shielding sections 15A, 16A extending in the direction overlapped approximately in parallel with ends of the other notch sections 13, 14 on ends of notch sections 15, 16 formed between a plurality of light-emitting sections 2. The movable contact 22 using the light guide sheet can be also attained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light guide sheet mainly used for operation of various electronic devices and a movable contact body using the same.

  In recent years, various electronic devices, particularly mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones, are operated by emitting light emitting diodes or EL elements so that push buttons and display sheets can be easily identified and operated even when the surroundings are dark. There are an increasing number of parts that illuminate parts, and movable contact bodies and switches used in these devices are also required to be easy to use and capable of various kinds of illumination.

  Such conventional light guide sheet and movable contact body will be described with reference to FIGS.

  These drawings are partially enlarged in size for easy understanding of the configuration.

  4 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional switch, and FIG. 5 is a plan view thereof. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a light-transmitting film-like base material. A plurality of light emitting units 2 are provided.

  And between these light emission parts 2, for example, a substantially band-like and substantially U-shaped notch 3A and 3B are formed on the outer periphery and the left and right sides of the light emission part 2A, and between the light emission parts 2B and 2C, for example. The light guide sheet 4 is formed by providing substantially straight cutout portions 3C.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a light-transmitting film-like base sheet, 6 denotes a substantially dome-shaped movable contact made of a conductive metal thin plate, and a predetermined portion of the outer periphery of the base sheet 5 is guided by an adhesive (not shown). While being affixed to the lower surface, a plurality of movable contacts 6 are affixed to the lower surface of the lower base sheet 5 such as the light emitting portions 2A and 2B to constitute a movable contact body 7.

  Further, reference numeral 8 denotes a wiring board having a plurality of wiring patterns (not shown) formed on the upper and lower surfaces, and a substantially circular central fixed contact 9A on the upper surface and a substantially horseshoe-shaped or substantially ring-shaped outer fixed surrounding it. A plurality of fixed contacts 9 formed from the contacts 9B are provided.

  Further, the movable contact body 7 is placed on the upper surface of the wiring board 8, the outer periphery of each movable contact 6 is placed on the outer fixed contact 9B, and the center of the lower surface of the movable contact 6 is spaced from the central fixed contact 9A by a predetermined gap. , Are affixed to face each other.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of light emitting elements 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B are mounted on the upper surface of the wiring substrate 8 on the side of the light guide sheet 4. It is arranged facing.

  Furthermore, 11 is a light-transmitting film-like display sheet, and a predetermined portion of the light-shielding portion 11A formed by printing or the like on the lower surface is cut out into a shape such as a character or a symbol to form a plurality of display portions 11B. The display unit 11B is arranged above the light emitting units 2A, 2B and the like of the light guide sheet 4 to constitute a switch.

  The switch configured as described above is mounted on the operation surface of the electronic device, and the plurality of central fixed contacts 9A, the outer fixed contacts 9B, and the plurality of light emitting elements 10 are connected to the electronic device via the wiring pattern or the like. Connected to a circuit (not shown).

  In the above configuration, when the predetermined display portion 11B of the display sheet 11 is pressed downward, the light guide sheet 4 and the base sheet 5 are bent and the substantially dome-shaped central portion of the movable contact 6 is pressed, and a predetermined pressing force is applied. Is applied, the movable contact 6 elastically reverses downward with a click feeling, and the center of the lower surface of the movable contact 6 comes into contact with the central fixed contact 9A, so that the central fixed contact 9A and the outer fixed contact 9B become movable contacts 6 It will be in the state electrically connected via.

  Further, when the pressing force to the display sheet 11 is released, the movable contact 6 is elastically reversed upward by the elastic restoring force, the center of the lower surface of the movable contact 6 is separated from the central fixed contact 9A, and the central fixed contact 9A and the outer fixed contact are separated. 9B is in an electrically disconnected state.

  Then, according to the electrical contact and separation of the fixed contact 9, each function of the device is switched, and when power is supplied from the electronic circuit of the device to the light emitting element 10, a plurality of light emitting elements 10 A and For example, when the light emitting element 10A emits orange light and the light emitting element 10B is green, as shown in FIG. 5, the orange light D is guided from the upper end surface and the green light M is guided from the right end surface. The light enters the light sheet 4 and proceeds inward while being reflected in the substrate 1.

  Further, this light is diffused and reflected by the plurality of light emitting units 2A and 2B on the upper surface of the base material 1 to illuminate the display unit 11B of the display sheet 11 from below, and the plurality of display units 11B are, for example, above the light emitting unit 2A. The display unit 11B is illuminated in orange, and the display unit 11B above the light emitting unit 2B is illuminated in green, so that even when the surroundings are dark, the display of characters, symbols, etc. on the display unit 11B can be identified and the operation is facilitated. It has become possible.

  That is, by pressing the display sheet 11, the upper surface of the light guide sheet 4 is pressed, the movable contact 6 is elastically inverted to electrically connect and separate the fixed contact 9, and the light of the light emitting element 10 is guided from the end face. It is configured to illuminate the plurality of display portions 11B of the display sheet 11 by being introduced into the sheet 4 and causing the plurality of light emitting portions 2 to emit light.

  At this time, for example, when the light emitting elements 10A and 10B have different emission colors and the light emitting units 2A and 2B emit light in different colors as described above, the light emitting unit 2A is turned off, and other light emission When the portions 2B and 2C are lit, the light is blocked by the notches 3A, 3B, and 3C formed between the plurality of light emitting portions 2, and light having different emission colors is mixed in the light guide sheet 4. However, the light is not illuminated by the light emitted by the mixed emission colors or the light that illuminates the other part in the part that should have been turned off.

  That is, a plurality of notches 3A, 3B, and 3C are provided between the plurality of light emitting units 2, for example, the orange light D1 leaking outward from the light emitting unit 2A is the notch 3A, and the light emitting unit 2B to the light emitting unit 2A The green light M1 leaking in the direction is cut off at the cutout portions 3B so that illumination in a mixed emission color or illumination of a light-off location is not performed. It was.

As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.
JP 2007-87749 A

  However, in the conventional movable contact body 7 and the switch described above, when the light guide sheet 4 is stuck on the upper surface of the movable contact body 7, the surroundings of the light emitting portions 2 </ b> A and 2 </ b> B are prevented from being bent and easily bent. The plurality of cutout portions 3A, 3B, and 3C are not connected to each other, and a crosspiece is formed between the cutout portions 3A and 3B end portions or between the cutout portions 3B and 3C end portions. As shown, the orange light D2 and the green light M2, for example, leak from these locations to other locations, and there is a problem that it is difficult to completely prevent light mixing and leakage.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide a light guide sheet capable of preventing light mixing and leakage and capable of various illumination, and a movable contact body using the same. .

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

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light-shielding portion that extends in a direction overlapping the end portion of the predetermined notch portion formed between the plurality of light-emitting portions substantially in parallel with the end portion of the other notch portion. The light guide sheet is configured by forming a light guide sheet, and light leaking from a predetermined light emitting part to another light emitting part can be almost completely blocked by the light shielding part extending from the end part of the notch part. It has the effect of preventing light leakage and obtaining a light guide sheet capable of various illuminations.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a movable contact body is configured by mounting a substantially dome-shaped movable contact made of a conductive metal thin plate on the lower surface of the light emitting portion of the light guide sheet according to the first aspect. Mixing and leakage are prevented, and a movable contact body capable of various illuminations can be realized.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that a light guide sheet capable of various illuminations and a movable contact body using the light guide sheet can be realized by preventing mixing and leakage of light.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  These drawings are partially enlarged in size for easy understanding of the configuration.

  Further, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those described in the background art section, and the detailed description will be simplified.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a movable contact body according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof. In the figure, 1 is a film and has flexibility such as polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyurethane, and silicone. A plurality of light emitting portions 2 having a concavo-convex shape such as translucent polyester or epoxy by printing or the like is provided at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the substrate 1.

  Between the plurality of light emitting portions 2, for example, a substantially band-like and substantially U-shaped notch portions 13 and 14 are provided between the notch portions 13 and 14 at the lower end portions on the left and right sides of the light emitting portion 2A. A substantially band-shaped notch 15 is formed, and a substantially band-shaped notch 16 is formed between the light emitting portions 2B and 2C.

  Further, a light shielding portion 15A extending in a direction substantially overlapping with the lower end portion of the notch portion 13 is provided at the left end portion of the notch portion 15 and substantially parallel to the lower end portion of the notch portion 14 and the right end portion of the notch portion 15 at the left end portion of the notch portion 16. The light guide sheet 20 is configured by the light shielding portions 16 </ b> A extending in a direction overlapping with the light shielding portions 16 </ b> A, not in a straight line shape but provided with a gap therebetween.

  These notches 13, 14, 15, and 16 are usually formed with a width of about 0.1 to 1 mm, and the crosspieces provided between the notches 13 and 14 and the notches 15 and the like are It is formed to have a width of about 1 to 5 mm.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a light-transmitting film-like base sheet, 6 is a substantially dome-like movable contact made of a conductive metal thin plate such as copper alloy or steel, and a predetermined portion on the outer periphery of the base sheet 5 is adhesive (not shown) ) And a plurality of movable contacts 6 are affixed to the lower surface of the lower base sheet 5 such as the light emitting portions 2A and 2B.

  Furthermore, 21 is a film-like separator such as polyethylene terephthalate, which is affixed so as to cover the entire lower surface of the base sheet 5, and is movable so that dust or the like does not adhere to the lower surface of the movable contact 6 during storage or transportation. A contact body 22 is configured.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a switch using such a movable contact body 22. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 8 denotes a film wiring such as polyethylene terephthalate or polycarbonate, or a plate wiring such as paper phenol or glass-filled epoxy. A plurality of wiring patterns (not shown) are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate with copper or the like, and a substantially circular central fixed contact 9A and an approximately horseshoe shape surrounding the center fixed contact 9A with copper or carbon on the upper surface. A plurality of fixed contacts 9 formed from a substantially ring-shaped outer fixed contact 9B are provided.

  The movable contact body 22 having the separator 21 peeled off from the upper surface of the wiring board 8 is placed on the outer fixed contact 9B at the outer periphery of each movable contact 6, and the center of the lower surface of the movable contact 6 is predetermined with the central fixed contact 9A. Affixed so as to face each other with a gap in between.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode. A plurality of light-emitting elements 10 are mounted on the upper surface of the wiring board 8 on the side of the light guide sheet 20, and for example, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the light emitting element 10B is arranged on the right side of the light emitting portion 2B with the light emitting surface facing the end surface of the base material 1.

  Furthermore, 11 is a light-transmitting film-like display sheet, and a predetermined portion of the light-shielding portion 11A formed by printing or the like on the lower surface is cut out into a shape such as a character or a symbol to form a plurality of display portions 11B. The display unit 11B is disposed above the light emitting units 2A, 2B, etc. of the light guide sheet 20 to form a switch.

  The switch configured as described above is mounted on the operation surface of the electronic device, and the plurality of central fixed contacts 9A, the outer fixed contacts 9B, and the plurality of light emitting elements 10 are connected to the electronic device via the wiring pattern or the like. Connected to a circuit (not shown).

  In the above configuration, when the predetermined display portion 11B of the display sheet 11 is pressed downward, the light guide sheet 20 and the base sheet 5 are bent and the substantially dome-shaped central portion of the movable contact 6 is pressed, and a predetermined pressing force is applied. Is applied, the movable contact 6 elastically reverses downward with a click feeling, and the center of the lower surface of the movable contact 6 comes into contact with the central fixed contact 9A, so that the central fixed contact 9A and the outer fixed contact 9B become movable contacts 6 It will be in the state electrically connected via.

  Further, when the pressing force to the display sheet 11 is released, the movable contact 6 is elastically reversed upward by the elastic restoring force, the center of the lower surface of the movable contact 6 is separated from the central fixed contact 9A, and the central fixed contact 9A and the outer fixed contact are separated. 9B is in an electrically disconnected state.

  Then, according to the electrical contact / separation of the fixed contact 9, each function of the device is switched, and when power is supplied from the electronic circuit of the device to the light emitting element 10, a plurality of light emitting elements 10 </ b> A, 10B emits light, for example, when the light emitting element 10A emits orange light and the light emitting element 10B is green, the orange light D is guided from the upper end surface and the green light M is guided from the right end surface as shown in FIG. The light enters the light sheet 20 and proceeds inward while being reflected in the substrate 1.

  Further, this light is diffused and reflected by the plurality of light emitting units 2A and 2B on the upper surface of the base material 1 to illuminate the display unit 11B of the display sheet 11 from below, and the plurality of display units 11B are, for example, above the light emitting unit 2A. The display unit 11B is illuminated in orange, and the display unit 11B above the light emitting unit 2B is illuminated in green, so that even when the surroundings are dark, the display of characters, symbols, etc. on the display unit 11B can be identified and the operation is facilitated. It has become possible.

  That is, by pressing the display sheet 11, the upper surface of the light guide sheet 20 is pressed, the movable contact 6 is elastically inverted to electrically connect and separate the fixed contact 9, and the light from the light emitting element 10 is guided from the end face. It is configured to illuminate the plurality of display portions 11 </ b> B of the display sheet 11 by being introduced into the sheet 20 and causing the plurality of light emitting portions 2 to emit light.

  At this time, for example, when the light emitting elements 10A and 10B have different emission colors and the light emitting units 2A and 2B emit light in different colors as described above, or the light emitting unit 2A is turned off, and other light emission When the portions 2B and 2C are lit, the light is blocked by the notches 13, 14, 15, 16 and the like formed between the plurality of light emitting portions 2, and light having different emission colors is emitted from the light guide sheet 20. It is mixed in and illuminated with mixed emission colors, and light that is supposed to be extinguished is lightly lit by other parts, but it is not illuminated slightly Yes.

  That is, when the light guide sheet 20 is pasted on the upper surface of the movable contact body 22 between the notches 15 and 13, 14 and between the notches 14 and 16, the periphery of the light emitting parts 2A and 2B, etc. is curled. In order to prevent it from being easily bent, each crosspiece is formed, and for example, orange light D2 and D3 and green light M2 leak to other places, but these lights are blocked by the light shielding portions 15A and 16A, respectively. The other light emitting units 2 are configured not to leak.

  That is, the left end of the notch 15 has a light shielding portion 15A extending in a direction substantially parallel to the lower end of the notch 13, and the left end of the notch 16 is substantially parallel to the lower end of the notch 14 and the right end of the notch 15. A light shielding portion 16A extending in a direction overlapping with each other is not formed in a straight line but is formed with a gap and a gap, and leaks between the notches 15 and 13 and the crosspiece between the notches 14 and 16. Since the light thus blocked is almost completely blocked by these light shielding portions 15A and 16A, illumination with a mixed emission color and illumination of an unlit portion are not performed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the end portions of the cutout portions 15 and 16 formed between the plurality of light emitting portions 2 extend in a direction substantially overlapping with the end portions of the other cutout portions 13 and 14. By forming the light shielding portions 15A and 16A to be emitted, light leaking from the light emitting portions 2A and 2B to the other light emitting portions can be almost completely blocked, so that mixing and leakage of light can be prevented and various illuminations can be performed. The optical sheet 20 and the movable contact body 22 using the same can be obtained.

  In the above description, the configuration in which the plurality of light emitting units 2 are formed on the upper surface of the base material 1 of the light guide sheet 20 above the movable contact 6 by printing has been described. It is possible to implement the present invention even with a configuration in which the uneven light emitting portion 2 is formed by various methods other than printing, such as sticking, pressing, and molding.

  Furthermore, in the above description, the configuration in which the base sheet 5 with the plurality of movable contacts 6 attached to the lower surface is attached to the lower surface of the light guide sheet 20 has been described. However, the base sheet 5 is eliminated and the lower surface of the light guide sheet 20 is removed. If a plurality of movable contacts 6 are directly pasted, the total number of components can be reduced, and the movable contact body can be made simpler and less expensive.

  The light guide sheet according to the present invention and the movable contact body using the light guide sheet are capable of preventing light mixing and leakage and capable of various illuminations, and are mainly useful for operation of various electronic devices.

Sectional drawing of the movable contact body by one embodiment of this invention Plan view Cross section of the switch Cross section of conventional switch Plan view

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base material 2, 2A, 2B, 2C Light emission part 5 Base sheet 6 Movable contact 8 Wiring board 9 Fixed contact 9A Center fixed contact 9B Outer fixed contact 10, 10A, 10B Light emitting element 11 Display sheet 11A Light shielding part 11B Display part 13, 14, 15, 16 Notch 15A, 16A Light-shielding part 20 Light guide sheet 21 Separator 22 Movable contact body

Claims (2)

An end portion of the predetermined notch portion, comprising a film-like base material, a plurality of uneven light emitting portions formed on the base material, and a plurality of substantially strip-shaped notch portions formed between the light emitting portions. And a light-shielding sheet in which a light-shielding part extending in a direction substantially overlapping with the end of the other notch is formed. A movable contact body having a substantially dome-shaped movable contact made of a conductive metal thin plate attached to the lower surface of the light emitting portion of the light guide sheet according to claim 1.

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