JP2012243711A - Sheet with contact spring, and switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet with a contact spring capable of properly lighting an operation part.SOLUTION: A sheet (12) with a contact spring comprises a holding sheet (121) holding a contact spring (124), and a light guide sheet (122) laminated on the holding sheet (121), having a light incident part (122c), on which light from a light source (2) is incident, and guiding the light from the light source (2). A linear uneven pattern is formed in a region (122f) opposed to the operation part arranged to press the contact spring (124) of the light guide sheet (122) along a traveling direction of the light from the light source (2).

Description

  The present invention relates to a contact spring-equipped seat and a switch device used for an operation switch or the like of a mobile phone.

  2. Description of the Related Art As an input device for a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone, a device that enables illumination of an operation unit by guiding light emitted from a light source to the operation unit by a light guide sheet is known. The input device includes a substrate, a switch unit including a fixed contact and a movable contact disposed on the substrate, a light guide sheet covering the switch unit, and a light source disposed in the vicinity of the end of the light guide sheet on the substrate. And a keypad (key top sheet) that is disposed on the light guide sheet and has a plunger (projection) on the surface of the light guide sheet (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the input device described above, the plunger of the keypad is arranged in a region corresponding to the movable contact of the switch unit, and when the operation unit on the keypad surface is pressed with a finger or the like, the plunger in the pressed region is Move downward to deflect the movable contact. Thereby, a movable contact contacts with a fixed contact and is conducted. When the finger is released from the keypad, the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact by the elastic force of the movable contact, and the conduction is released.

JP 2007-324100 A

  By the way, since the light guide sheet is composed of a flexible member, when the keypad surface constituting the operation unit is pressed with a finger or the like, the plunger in the corresponding region sticks to the light guide sheet, and the finger is moved. Even if they are separated, the protrusion and the light guide sheet may not be separated. In this state where the plunger and the light guide sheet are adhered, the light from the light source leaks from the keypad surface through the plunger, so that only the area where the plunger and the light guide sheet are adhered is abnormally bright. I can see it.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this point, and aims at provision of the switch apparatus using the sheet | seat with a contact spring which can perform suitable illumination of an operation part, and this.

  The sheet with a contact spring of the present invention includes a holding sheet that holds the contact spring, and a light guide sheet that is laminated on the holding sheet and that has a light incident portion that receives light from a light source and guides the light from the light source. A sheet with a contact spring, wherein the light guide sheet has a linear shape along a traveling direction of light from the light source in a region facing the operation portion arranged to be able to press the contact spring. The concavo-convex pattern is formed.

  According to this structure, since the linear uneven | corrugated pattern is formed in the light guide sheet, the contact area of a light guide sheet, a plunger, etc. becomes small, and these sticking can be prevented. Moreover, since the concavo-convex pattern is a linear pattern that follows the traveling direction of light from the light source, light scattering by the concavo-convex pattern does not become excessive, and brightness can be appropriately suppressed. As a result, there is no need to generate a region with abnormal brightness in the surface of the light guide sheet, so that a sheet with a contact spring capable of appropriately illuminating the operation unit is realized.

  In the sheet with a contact spring of the present invention, it is preferable that a dot-shaped uneven pattern for scattering light from the light source is formed around the linear uneven pattern. According to this configuration, the dot-shaped concavo-convex pattern is formed around the linear concavo-convex pattern, so that the operation unit can be appropriately illuminated by the dot-shaped concavo-convex pattern.

  In the sheet with a contact spring of the present invention, the holding sheet holds a plurality of contact springs, and the linear unevenness is formed in a region in the vicinity of the light incident portion and in the region facing the operation portion of the light guide sheet. It is preferable that a pattern is formed, and in other regions, a dot-shaped uneven pattern is formed in a region facing the operation portion of the light guide sheet. According to this configuration, light scattering is suppressed by the linear uneven pattern in a region close to the light incident part, that is, a region where the light amount from the light source is large, and dot-like in other regions where the light amount from the light source is small. The uneven pattern can increase light scattering. Thereby, the brightness of the operation unit can be made uniform in the light guide sheet surface.

  In the sheet with a contact spring of the present invention, it is preferable that a printing pattern capable of absorbing light from the light source is formed in a region facing the operation portion of the holding sheet. According to this configuration, light scattering can be further suppressed by the print pattern.

  A switch device according to the present invention includes the above-described sheet with a contact spring, and a substrate having a fixed contact provided on the sheet with the contact spring so as to be spaced apart from the contact spring. And According to this configuration, it is possible to realize a switch device that can appropriately illuminate the operation unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the sheet | seat with a contact spring which can perform suitable illumination, and a switch apparatus using the same can be provided.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the switch apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the illumination area (area | region close | similar to a light-incidence part) of the light guide sheet which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the illumination area (other area | region) of the light guide sheet which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows a mode that the operation part of the input device containing the switch apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment is illuminated. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram shown about the input device using the switch apparatus which does not have an uneven | corrugated pattern.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a switch device according to an embodiment. 1A shows a planar configuration of the switch device, and FIG. 1B shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1, the switch device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a thin plate-like substrate 11 having a substantially rectangular planar shape, and a contact spring-attached sheet 12 attached to the main surface of the substrate 11. ing. Two LEDs (light sources) 2 are arranged at the corners of the substrate 11 so that light can be applied to the side surfaces of the sheet 12 with the contact spring. In addition, the planar shape of the board | substrate 11 is not restricted to a rectangle, Moreover, the number and arrangement position of LED2 are not specifically limited.

  On one main surface to which the sheet 12 with contact springs of the substrate 11 is attached, a plurality of (here, twelve) fixed contacts 111 serving as one contact of the switch are arranged apart from each other. The fixed contact 111 is constituted by a conductive pattern having a substantially circular planar shape. The number and shape of the fixed contacts 111 are not particularly limited.

  The contact spring-equipped sheet 12 includes a holding sheet 121 attached to the substrate 11 and a light guide sheet 122 disposed so as to overlap the holding sheet 121. The holding sheet 121 and the light guide sheet 122 are bonded via an adhesive layer 123 disposed at the end of the holding sheet 121 so that the mutual positional relationship is substantially fixed. The thickness of the sheet with contact spring 12 (that is, the total thickness of the holding sheet 121, the light guide sheet 122, and the adhesive layer 123) is equal to or smaller than the thickness of the LED2.

  The holding sheet 121 is a white or metal-colored flexible sheet that reflects light, reflects light emitted from the light guide sheet 122 to increase the light utilization efficiency, and is a convex that serves as the other contact of the switch. The movable contact (contact spring) 124 in the form of a dome shape can be held in a region corresponding to the fixed contact 111. An adhesive layer (not shown) is provided on the back surface of the holding sheet 121, thereby holding the movable contact 124. Further, the holding sheet 121 is attached to the substrate 11 by the adhesive force of the adhesive layer. With such a holding sheet 121, the movable contact 124 can be appropriately held. Moreover, since the light emitted from the back surface 122b of the light guide sheet 122 can be reflected and emitted from the surface 122a of the light guide sheet 122, the light utilization efficiency can be sufficiently increased. The holding sheet 121 may be formed with a recess that matches the shape of the movable contact 124. Thereby, the alignment accuracy of the movable contact 124 can be increased.

  The convex dome-shaped movable contact 124 is made of a thin metal plate material having conductivity and elasticity. The back surface side of the movable contact 124 is depressed, and the movable contact 124 is held by the holding sheet 121 so as to cover the upper part of the fixed contact 111, thereby forming an insulating gap between the movable contact 124 and the fixed contact 111. It has come to be. Further, the diameter of the movable contact 123 is larger than the diameter of the fixed contact 111 so that the outer periphery of the fixed contact 111 does not contact the inner periphery of the movable contact 124. The outer periphery of the movable contact 124 is in contact with another fixed contact (not shown) and is conductive.

  The light guide sheet 122 is a highly transparent flexible sheet capable of guiding the light from the LED 2. Specifically, for example, the light guide sheet 122 is made of a material such as urethane resin, polycarbonate resin, or soft acrylic resin. The light guide sheet 122 has a planar shape in which two corners of a substantially rectangular shape are cut out, and an end surface formed by the cutout serves as a light incident portion 122c into which light from the LED 2 enters. However, the configuration of the light incident unit 122c is not limited to this. The light incident part 122c should just be comprised so that the light from LED2 may enter appropriately at least.

  In the illumination areas 122d and 122e surrounded by a broken line on the surface 122a of the light guide sheet 122, a dot-shaped uneven pattern (concave portion) 122h is formed so that light from the LED 2 is scattered and illuminated (FIG. 1). (Not shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A). The areas 122f and 122g near the center of the illumination areas 122d and 122e are areas where a plunger (protrusion) of a keypad (not shown) is in contact, and the areas include linear uneven patterns (grooves) 122i or dots. A concave-convex pattern (concave portion) 122j is formed (see FIGS. 1, 2A, and 3A). Hereinafter, the configuration of the illumination areas 122d and 122e will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the illumination area 122d. 2A shows a planar configuration of the illumination area 122d, and FIG. 2B shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2, in the illumination area 122d adjacent to the light incident portion 122c, a linear uneven pattern 122i is formed in the region 122f. As shown in FIG. 2B, the linear uneven pattern 122i is composed of a plurality of grooves arranged close to each other. In the region 122f, a region having the same height as the surface 122a (the broken line in FIG. 2B). The ratio of the area occupied by the region indicated by the circle is sufficiently small. As described above, in the region 122f where the plunger of the keypad comes into contact, the region having substantially the same height as the surface 122a is sufficiently small, so that the contact area between the plunger and the light guide sheet 122 is reduced. Therefore, the plunger and the light guide sheet 122 are not stuck. Thereby, the abnormality of the illumination resulting from sticking with a plunger and the light guide sheet 122 can be prevented.

  In FIG. 2B, the planar shape of the grooves constituting the linear uneven pattern 122i is a combination of a rectangle and a semicircle (a shape in which a semicircle is added to the end of the rectangle), and the cross section of the groove Although the shape is a semicircular arc, the shape of the groove is not limited to this. In FIG. 2B, the interval between adjacent grooves is substantially zero, and the interval between the center lines of the grooves and the width of the grooves are substantially equal. However, the adjacent grooves may be arranged so as to overlap each other. Adjacent grooves may be arranged at a predetermined interval.

  The linear uneven pattern 122i in the region 122f is formed along the traveling direction of light (the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 2A) when viewed from the surface 122a of the light guide sheet 122. Thus, by forming the linear uneven pattern 122i along the light traveling direction, the light from the LED 2 is less likely to be scattered in the region 122f, so that the amount of illumination light in the region 122f does not become too large. That is, by providing the above-described linear uneven pattern 122i in the illumination area 122d adjacent to the light incident part 122c, light scattering in the illumination area 122d is suppressed, and the brightness of the operation unit corresponding to the illumination area 122d is suppressed. it can.

  Further, by suppressing the scattering in the region 122f by the above-described linear uneven pattern 122i, it is possible to guide a sufficient amount of light to the illumination area 122e far from the light incident part 122c. Thus, by providing the linear concave / convex pattern 122i along the light traveling direction in the illumination area 122d adjacent to the light incident part 122c, the illumination area 122d adjacent to the light incident part 122c is relatively darkened and incident. The illumination area 122e away from the light part 122c can be relatively brightened. Thereby, the brightness of the operation unit can be made uniform.

  When it is necessary to further suppress scattering in the region 122f, a colored ink print pattern is formed on the surface of the holding sheet 121 on the light guide sheet 122 side so as to correspond to the formation region of the linear uneven pattern 122i. It is preferable to do. As the colored ink, for example, an ink that easily absorbs light, such as black ink, may be used. Here, it is preferable to form a print pattern in a region near the LED 2 at the edge of the linear uneven pattern 122i because scattering can be appropriately suppressed and the brightness of the region 122f can be reduced. Specifically, for example, when the linear uneven pattern 122i is provided in the substantially circular area 122f as shown in FIG. 2A, the print pattern may be formed in the arc-shaped area P that is a part of the area 122f. .

  In the illumination area 122d, a dot-shaped uneven pattern 122h is formed in a region other than the region 122f. The dot-shaped concavo-convex pattern 122h is constituted by a plurality of concave portions arranged at a predetermined density as shown in FIG. 2A, and can illuminate the entire illumination area 122d. Note that a linear concavo-convex pattern or the like may be used instead of the dot-shaped concavo-convex pattern 122h or a combination of these may be used as long as illumination is possible with an appropriate amount of light.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the illumination area 122e. 3A shows a plan configuration of the illumination area 122e, and FIG. 3B shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 3, in the illumination area 122e far from the light incident portion 122c, a dot-shaped uneven pattern 122j is formed in the region 122g. As shown in FIG. 3B, the dot-shaped concavo-convex pattern 122j is composed of a plurality of concave portions arranged close to each other. In the region 122g, a region that is substantially the same height as the surface 122a (the broken line in FIG. The ratio of the area occupied by the region indicated by the circle is sufficiently small. As described above, in the region 122g where the plunger of the keypad comes into contact, the region that is substantially the same height as the surface 122a is sufficiently small, so that the contact area between the plunger and the light guide sheet 122 is reduced. Therefore, the plunger and the light guide sheet 122 are not stuck. Thereby, the abnormality of the illumination resulting from sticking with a plunger and the light guide sheet 122 can be prevented.

  In FIG. 3B, the planar shape of the concave portion constituting the dot-shaped uneven pattern 122j is circular and the cross-sectional shape is semicircular, but the shape of the concave portion is not limited to this. In FIG. 3B, the interval between the adjacent recesses is substantially zero, and the interval between the center lines of the recesses and the width of the recesses are substantially equal. However, the adjacent recesses may be arranged so as to overlap each other. Adjacent recesses may be arranged at a predetermined interval.

  In the region 122g, since the uneven pattern is dot-like, the light from the LED 2 is likely to be scattered in the region 122g. For this reason, the amount of illumination light in the region 122g can be sufficiently increased. In other words, by providing the above-described dot-shaped uneven pattern 122j in the illumination area 122g away from the light incident part 122c, the light is sufficiently scattered in the illumination area 122e, and the brightness of the operation unit corresponding to the illumination area 122e is sufficient. Can be secured. In particular, when used in combination with the linear uneven pattern 122i in the region 122f, the light is appropriately guided to the illumination area 122e, and the guided light is sufficiently scattered by the dot-shaped uneven pattern 122j in the region 122g. The brightness of the part can be made uniform.

  When it is necessary to suppress scattering in the region 122g to some extent, a colored ink print pattern is formed on the surface of the holding sheet 121 on the light guide sheet 122 side so as to correspond to the formation region of the dot-shaped uneven pattern 122j. You may do it. As the colored ink, for example, an ink that easily absorbs light, such as black ink, may be used. Here, it is preferable to form a print pattern in a region near the LED 2 at the edge of the dot-shaped uneven pattern 122j because scattering can be appropriately suppressed and the brightness of the region 122g can be reduced.

  In the illumination area 122e, dot-shaped uneven patterns 122h are also formed in regions other than the region 122g. As shown in FIG. 3A, the dot-shaped uneven pattern 122h is composed of a plurality of concave portions arranged at a density lower than that of the region 122g, so that the entire illumination area 122e can be illuminated. Moreover, in the illumination area 122e, the linear uneven | corrugated pattern 122k is used with the dot-shaped uneven | corrugated pattern 122h, and desired brightness is obtained. The uneven pattern may be only the dot-shaped uneven pattern 122h or only the linear uneven pattern 122k.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the operation unit of the input device including the switch device 1 according to the present embodiment is illuminated. 4A shows a state in the vicinity of the region 122f, and FIG. 4B shows a state in the vicinity of the region 122g.

  In the input device shown in FIG. 4, the keypad 3 constituting the operation unit C is disposed on the surface 122 a side of the light guide sheet 122. Plungers (projections) 31 are provided in regions corresponding to the regions 122f and 122g on the back surface of the keypad 3 (surface on the light guide sheet 122 side). When the operation unit C on the surface of the keypad 3 is pressed with a finger or the like, the plunger 31 comes into contact with the light guide sheet 122 and pushes down the light guide sheet 122 and the holding sheet 121. As a result, the movable contact 124 is deformed downward, the movable contact 124 and the fixed contact 111 are brought into contact with each other, and the fixed contact 111 and the fixed contact (not shown) are conducted through the movable contact 124. When the finger is released from the surface of the keypad 3, the shape of the movable contact 124 is restored by the elastic force of the movable contact 124, the movable contact 124 is separated from the fixed contact 111, and the conduction between the fixed contact 111 and the fixed contact (not shown) is released. Is done.

  As shown by the arrows in FIG. 4, the light emitted from the side surface of the LED 2 enters the light guide sheet 122 through the light incident portion 122 c and propagates through the light guide sheet 122. When the light reaches the region 122f of the illumination area 122d, the light is scattered by the linear uneven pattern 122i provided in the region 122f and emitted from the surface 122a of the light guide sheet 122 (FIG. 4A). The light emitted from the surface 122a of the light guide sheet 122 illuminates the operation part C of the keypad 3 through the plunger 31 (FIG. 4A). Note that the light propagated through the light guide sheet 122 is scattered by the dot-shaped uneven pattern 122h (not shown in FIG. 4A) in the area other than the area 122f of the illumination area 122d, and similarly illuminates the operation unit C.

  When the light reaches the region 122g of the illumination area 122e, the light is scattered by the dot-shaped uneven pattern 122j provided in the region 122g and emitted from the surface 122a of the light guide sheet 122 (FIG. 4B). The light emitted from the surface 122a of the light guide sheet 122 illuminates the operation part C of the keypad 3 through the plunger 31 (FIG. 4B). Note that the light propagating through the light guide sheet 122 is scattered by the dot-like uneven pattern 122h and the linear uneven pattern 122k (not shown in FIG. 4B) in the region other than the region 122g of the illumination area 122e, and is operated in the same manner. Illuminate part C.

  As described above, the linear uneven pattern 122i in the region 122f is formed along the traveling direction of light when viewed from the surface 122a of the light guide sheet 122. On the other hand, a dot-shaped uneven pattern 122j is formed in the region 122g. For this reason, the light from the LED 2 is not easily scattered in the region 122f and is easily scattered in the region 122g (FIGS. 4A and 4B). Thus, the brightness of the operation unit can be made uniform by changing the shape of the concavo-convex pattern according to the distance from the LED 2 (or the distance from the light incident part 122c).

  As described above, in the input device using the switch device 1 according to the present embodiment, the regions 122f and 122g of the light guide sheet 122 that are in contact with the plunger 31 are linear at a smaller interval (high density) than the peripheral region. Since the concavo-convex pattern 122i or the dot-shaped concavo-convex pattern 122j is formed, the contact area between the light guide sheet 122 and the plunger 31 is reduced, and sticking thereof can be prevented. In addition, a linear uneven pattern 122i is formed in the region 122f adjacent to the light incident part 122c so as to follow the traveling direction of light from the LED 2, and a dot-shaped uneven pattern is formed in the area 122g away from the light incident part 122c. Since 122j is formed, it is possible to make the brightness of a plurality of operation units C uniform.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an input device using a switch device in which the above-described concave / convex pattern is not formed in a region where the plunger contacts. The configuration of the input device shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the configuration of the input device shown in FIG. 4 except that the above-described uneven pattern is not formed in the region D in which the plunger 31 contacts.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in a state where the operation is not performed, the light from the LED 2 is appropriately guided in the light guide sheet 122 ′, and the operation unit C is appropriately illuminated. When the operation part C on the surface of the keypad 3 is pressed with a finger or the like in this state, the plunger 31 comes into contact with the light guide sheet 122 ′. Here, the switch device 1 ′ shown in FIG. 5 does not have the above-described concave / convex pattern formed in the region D in contact with the plunger 31, so that even if the finger is released from the surface of the keypad 3, the switch device 1 ′ is guided to the plunger 31. There is a case where the optical sheet 122 ′ is stuck and cannot be separated (FIG. 5B).

  In such a state, the light from the LED 2 guided through the light guide sheet 122 ′ is refracted at an undesired angle in the contact region (region D) between the plunger 31 and the light guide sheet 122 ′. Excessive illumination of part C. For this reason, the operation unit C corresponding to the region where such a state occurs appears abnormally bright (FIG. 5B). Further, when such a state occurs in an area close to the LED 2, in the area away from the LED 2, the amount of light guided through the light guide sheet 122 ′ is significantly reduced, and the operation unit C becomes dark.

  On the other hand, in the switch device 1 according to the present embodiment, the concave and convex patterns 122i and 122j having a narrower interval (high density) than the peripheral region are formed in the regions 122f and 122g with which the plunger 31 contacts. Such a problem does not occur. For this reason, appropriate illumination of the operation unit is possible.

  As described above, since the sheet with a contact spring according to the present invention and the switch device using the same have a linear uneven pattern formed in a region close to the light incident portion of the light guide sheet, the light guide sheet. The contact area between the plunger and the plunger is reduced, and sticking of these can be prevented. Moreover, since the concavo-convex pattern is a linear concavo-convex pattern that follows the traveling direction of light from the light source, light scattering by the concavo-convex pattern does not become excessive, and brightness can be appropriately suppressed. As a result, there is no need to generate a region with an abnormal brightness in the light guide sheet surface, so that the operation unit can be appropriately illuminated.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to description of the said embodiment, It can change suitably and implement, without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the uneven pattern is made different between the region close to the light incident part and the region away from the light incident part. However, in the plunger contact region of all illumination areas, the linear shape of the region 122f A linear uneven pattern such as the uneven pattern 122i may be formed. Further, the uneven pattern is not limited to being constituted by grooves (concave portions), and may be constituted by protrusions (convex portions).

  The seat with a contact spring and the switch device of the present invention are useful for an input device of a mobile phone, for example.

1 Switch device 2 LED (light source)
3 Keypad 11 Substrate 12 Contact spring-loaded sheet 111 Fixed contact 121 Holding sheet 122 Light guide sheet 122c Light incident part 122d, 122e Illumination area 122f, 122g area 122h, 122j Dot-shaped uneven pattern (concave part)
122i, 122k Linear uneven pattern (groove)
123 Adhesive layer 124 Movable contact (contact spring)

Claims (5)

A sheet with a contact spring, comprising: a holding sheet that holds the contact spring; and a light guide sheet that is laminated on the holding sheet and has a light incident portion that receives light from the light source and guides the light from the light source. Because
A linear concavo-convex pattern is formed in a region of the light guide sheet facing an operation portion arranged to be able to press the contact spring so as to follow a traveling direction of light from the light source. Seat with contact spring.   The sheet with a contact spring according to claim 1, wherein a dot-shaped uneven pattern for scattering light from the light source is formed around the linear uneven pattern. The holding sheet holds a plurality of contact springs,
In the region close to the light incident portion, the linear uneven pattern is formed in a region facing the operation portion of the light guide sheet,
3. The sheet with contact spring according to claim 1, wherein in other regions, a dot-shaped uneven pattern is formed in a region facing the operation portion of the light guide sheet.   The contact spring attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a printed pattern capable of absorbing light from the light source is formed in a region facing the operation portion of the holding sheet. Sheet.   A sheet with a contact spring according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a substrate having a fixed contact provided on the sheet with the contact spring so as to be opposed to and spaced apart from the contact spring. A switch device characterized by that.

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