JP2013093154A - Switching apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switching apparatus capable of mechanically performing feed back by illumination on the basis of a conducted operation, without adding a light source or a dedicated control circuit.SOLUTION: A switching apparatus 1 mainly includes: an LED 12 emitting light; a light guide 10 allowing the light emitted from the LED 12 to transmit inside thereof; an optical path changing part 24 which is elastically deformed on the basis of a pushing down operation made on the light guide 10 to increase a contact area with the light guide 10, thereby allowing the light transmitting inside the light guide 10 to transmit inside the optical path changing part, so that the propagation direction of the light is changed in the surface direction of the light guide 10; and a tact SW 30 switched to the on or off state on the basis of the push down operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device.

  As a conventional technique, a touch pad device including a translucent cover, a touch pad provided under the cover, and a light emitting layer provided under the touch pad is known (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  The touch pad device further includes a touch pad sensor controller that controls the touch pad so as to detect an operation performed, and an illumination controller that controls the light emitting layer so as to emit light. The lighting controller is connected to the touch pad controller, and information on the position where the operation is performed is output from the touch pad controller to the lighting controller. The illumination controller causes the light emitting layer to emit light according to the information regarding this position.

JP 2002-312116 A

  However, since the light emission at the operated position is controlled by the electronic control by the lighting controller, the conventional touch pad device has to use a CPU (Central Processing Unit) having a high processing capability, and the manufacturing cost is high. .

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch device that can perform feedback by illumination mechanically based on an operation performed without adding a light source or adding a dedicated control circuit. is there.

  One embodiment of the present invention includes a light source that emits light, a light guide that transmits the light emitted from the light source, and a contact area with the light guide that is elastically deformed based on a pressing operation performed on the light guide. A light path changing unit that transmits light transmitted to the inside of the light guide to change the traveling direction of the light to the surface direction of the light guide, and a switch that is turned on or off based on a push-down operation. And a switch device including the unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform feedback by illumination mechanically based on the performed operation without adding a light source or adding a dedicated control circuit.

FIG. 1A is a top view of the switch device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along line I (b) -I (b) in FIG. FIG. 2A is a top view of the optical path changing unit according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2B is a side view of the optical path changing unit, and FIG. 2C and FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating a mode that the advancing direction of light is changed before and after. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the switch device according to the second embodiment, and FIGS. 3B and 3C illustrate how the light traveling direction is changed before and after the push-down operation. It is a schematic diagram for doing. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the switch device 1 according to the third embodiment.

(Summary of embodiment)
The switch device according to the embodiment includes: a light source that emits light; a light guide that transmits the light emitted from the light source; and a light guide that performs elastic deformation based on a push-down operation performed on the light guide. An optical path changing unit that increases the contact area and transmits the light transmitted to the inside of the light guide to the inside of the light guide to change the traveling direction of the light to the surface direction of the light guide, and is turned on or off based on a push-down operation. And a switch unit for switching.

[First embodiment]
(Configuration of switch device 1)
FIG. 1A is a top view of the switch device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along line I (b) -I (b) in FIG. FIG. In each drawing according to the embodiment, the ratio between parts may differ from the actual ratio.

  As an example, this switch device 1 is mounted on a vehicle, and a feedback mark 19a (to be described later) that was not illuminated before the push-down operation is illuminated after the push-down operation, thereby confirming that the operator has accepted the operation. Feedback is provided, that is, operation feedback is provided to the operator. In addition, although the switch apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment is attached to a vehicle as an example, it is not limited to this. In the following description, “before the push-down operation” refers to the time before the push-down operation is performed, and “after the push-down operation” refers to the time when the optical path changing unit 24 is most crushed by performing the push-down operation.

  The switch device 1 is mainly based on an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 12 as a light source that emits light, a light guide 10 that transmits light emitted from the LED 12 to the inside, and a push-down operation performed on the light guide 10. The optical path that increases the contact area with the light guide 10 by elastically deforming and transmitting the light transmitted to the inside of the light guide 10 to the inside of the light guide 10 to change the traveling direction of the light to the surface direction of the light guide 10. A change unit 24 and a tact SW 30 as a switch unit that is switched on or off based on a push-down operation.

  Further, in the switch device 1, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a sheet 16 is provided on the surface 100 of the light guide 10 via an adhesive 14.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the switch device 1 is disposed on an installation surface 41 that is the bottom of a recess 40 formed in the housing 4.

(Configuration of light guide 10)
The light guide 10 has, for example, a plate shape in which the front surface 100 and the back surface 101 are rectangular. In addition, the light guide 10 has, for example, a semi-cylindrical hinge 102 that protrudes from the back surface 101 and extends in the short-side direction on the LED 12 side (the left side in FIG. 1B). The hinge 102 has an opening that penetrates the light guide 10 in the short direction, and a shaft 21 is inserted into the opening. For example, at least one end of the shaft 21 is attached to the housing 4. The light guide 10 rotates about one end as a center of rotation based on a push-down operation. In other words, the light guide 10 is configured to rotate about the shaft 21 positioned at the end portion on the side surface 103 side by a push-down operation.

  The light guide 10 is formed using, for example, a synthetic resin such as acrylic or polycarbonate that transmits light. The light traveling inside the light guide 10 is scattered by colliding with or interacting with the reflecting member 20 provided on the side surface 104 of the light guide 10 (hereinafter referred to as scattering).

  A part of the scattered light is a boundary between the sheet 16 and the air layer 5 formed between the light guide 10 and the air layer 6 formed between the optical path changing unit 24 and the light guide 10. Reflected at the boundary and the boundary with the air 7 in contact with the side surface 103 and the like. This is because the light guide 10 has a refractive index larger than that of the air layer 5, the air layer 6, and the air 7, so that total reflection tends to occur.

  On the back surface 101 of the light guide 10 corresponding to the mark 19b formed on the sheet 16, a scattering member 22 that scatters light in the direction of the mark 19b is provided. A part of the light is emitted to the outside of the light guide 10 through the mark 19b by the scattering member 22, so that it appears to the operator that the mark 19b is illuminated.

  Here, the reflecting member 20 and the scattering member 22 are formed using, for example, a metal material such as aluminum or silver, a coating using titanium oxide (titanium white), a white sheet that reflects light, or the like.

(Configuration of LED 12)
LED12 is comprised so that it may light, for example, when the power supply of a vehicle is turned on.

  For example, the LED 12 is formed on the side surface 42 of the recess 40 of the housing 4 with a horizontal center line (for example, I (a) -I (a) line) as a center line in the top view of the sheet 16 shown in FIG. Is provided. The position on the side surface 42 of the LED 12 is a position where light can be emitted toward the center of the side surface 103 of the light guide 10 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the light emitted from the LED 12 travels inward from the side surface 103 on the hinge 102 side of the light guide 10 and is scattered by the reflecting member 20 provided on the side surface 104.

  Part of the scattered light is further scattered by the scattering member 22. Since a part of the scattered light is incident on the air layer 5 at an angle smaller than the critical angle, it is not reflected at the boundary between the light guide 10 and the air layer 5 and becomes light that illuminates the mark 19b.

  The LED 12 uses, for example, a light source provided for the purpose of illuminating the switch device 1 as illumination feedback. That is, the switch device 1 does not need to add a light source for illumination feedback other than the LED 12 for illumination.

(Configuration of sheet 16)
The sheet 16 is formed using, for example, a synthetic resin such as a film-shaped PC (polycarbonate). The sheet 16 includes, for example, a printing unit 18 as a shielding unit and feedback marks 19a and 19b as transmission units. When a plurality of switch devices are arranged under one sheet, each optical path changing unit 24 cannot be elastically deformed unless the sheet is locally deformed by the push-down operation. Is preferably a synthetic resin capable of local deformation such as polycarbonate.

  The printing unit 18 is an area where ink by printing is applied and shields light emitted from the light guide 10. On the other hand, since the feedback mark 19a and the mark 19b are regions where ink is not applied, the light emitted from the light guide 10 is transmitted.

  As described above, since the light guide 10 has the scattering member 22 formed on the back surface 101 corresponding to the mark 19b, the mark 19b is illuminated.

  On the other hand, the optical path changing unit 24 is in contact with the back surface 101 corresponding to the feedback mark 19a, but its area is small before the pressing operation. That is, in the region of the light guide 10 corresponding to the optical path changing unit 24, a critical angle (to be described later) is determined by the refractive index of the light guide 10 and the refractive index of the air layer 6, so that most of the light is reflected and the feedback mark 19a is not illuminated.

  The feedback mark 19a and the mark 19b may be formed by printing directly on the surface 100 of the light guide 10. However, for example, when printing is performed in black, the light that reflects inside the light guide 10 and reaches the print portion is absorbed, and the luminance of the illumination decreases. On the other hand, when there is an air layer 5 between the light guide 10 and the sheet 16 as in the present embodiment, reflection occurs at the boundary between the air layer 5 and the sheet 16, and the light traveling to the light guide 10 Since light that repeatedly reflects is generated by the light guide 10 and the sheet 16, the luminance of the illumination is improved as compared with the case where the light is absorbed. In addition, the thickness of the air layer 5 is about 1 micrometer as an example.

(Configuration of the optical path changing unit 24)
2A is a top view of the optical path changing unit according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2B is a side view of the optical path changing unit, and FIG. 2C and FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating a mode that the advancing direction of light is changed before and after.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the optical path changing unit 24 is roughly configured to include a main body 240 and a plurality of convex portions 242. As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, the optical path changing unit 24 has a thickness h ₁ of 1.5 mm, and a thickness h ₂ after a push-down operation of 1.0 mm.

  The optical path changing unit 24 is provided between the light guide 10 and the tact switch 30 as shown in FIG. 1B, for example. The optical path changing unit 24 is formed using, for example, synthetic resin rubber such as silicon rubber or acrylic rubber that transmits light and has elasticity. For example, a light diffusing agent such as magnesium oxide or calcium carbonate is mixed in the optical path changing unit 24. Light is mainly scattered by this light diffusing agent. On the bottom surface of the optical path changing unit 24, for example, a pedestal 26 made of a metal material or a synthetic resin material that is not easily deformed by a load based on an operation performed on the light guide 10 is disposed. Note that the optical path changing unit 24 is preferably formed using a material that is not easily elastically deformed due to the weight of the light guide 10 or the like, for example.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the main body 240 of the optical path changing unit 24 has a plate shape whose surface 241 is a square. The surface 241 is provided with a plurality of convex portions 242 having, for example, a conical shape. Since the tip of the convex portion 242 is in contact with the back surface 101 of the light guide 10, when the operation is not performed, the contact area where the convex portion 242 contacts the light guide 10 is smaller than the area of the front surface 241. . This is because the feedback mark 19a is not illuminated before the operation. Hereinafter, illumination of the feedback mark 19a will be described.

For example, the critical angle θ when the light guide 10 is made of acrylic having a refractive index n ₁ (1.490) and the optical path changing unit 24 is made of acrylic rubber having a refractive index n ₂ (1.465). _C is calculated as follows.

Since the area of the convex part 242 of the optical path changing unit 24 that contacts the light guide 10 is small before the push-down operation is performed, the critical angle θ _C uses the refractive index of the light guide 10 and the air layer 6. Is calculated. Therefore, according to Snell's law, the critical angle θ _C is arcsin (n ₂ / n ₁ ), so the critical angle θ _C is calculated to be about 42 ° (42.155 °). That is, the light traveling while being reflected inside the light guide 10 is not emitted outside the light guide 10 unless the incident angle θ ₁ shown in FIG. 2C is smaller than about 42 °.

On the other hand, after the push-down operation is performed, the convex portion 242 of the optical path changing unit 24 is crushed by elastic deformation, and the contact area between the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit 24 increases. The critical angle θ _{C in} this case is calculated using the refractive indexes of the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit 24. Therefore, from Snell's law, the critical angle θ _C is calculated to be about 80 ° (79.489 °). That is, the light that travels while being reflected inside the light guide 10 travels into the optical path changing unit 24 when the incident angle θ ₂ shown in FIG. 2D is smaller than about 80 °. This means that the light when the push-down operation is performed proceeds more easily into the optical path changing unit 24 than the light before the push-down operation is performed.

From the above results, the refractive index n ₁ and the refractive index n ₂ of the optical path changing unit 24 of the light guide 10, it can be seen it is desirable close. That is, from Snell's law, for example, light when the refractive index n ₁ and the refractive index n ₂ of the optical path changing unit 24 of the guide 10 are equal, most of the critical angle theta _C has reached 90 °, and the on the optical path changing unit 24 The light travels to the optical path changing unit 24. On the other hand, the critical angle θ _C calculated from the refractive index n ₁ of the light guide 10 (1.490 in the case of acrylic) and the refractive index n _{2 of the} air layer (1.000) is about 42 ° as described above. The difference is clear.

  The light traveling to the optical path changing unit 24 is scattered within the optical path changing unit 24 and travels into the light guide 10 as scattered light. Of this scattered light, a part of the light whose incident angle is smaller than the critical angle determined by the light guide 10 and the air layer 5 passes through the feedback mark 19a, so that the operator seems to have illuminated the feedback mark 19a. Looks like. Next, the operation force F necessary for the push-down operation will be described.

In the present embodiment, the operating force F of the switch device 1 requires a force for elastically deforming the optical path changing unit 24 in addition to the operating force for turning on the tact switch 30. As shown in FIG. 1B, the distance from the shaft 21 (fulcrum) to the position (power point) where the push-down operation (operation force F) is performed is L ₁ , and the distance from the shaft 21 to the optical path changing unit 24 (working point). ) and _{L 2,} when the force obtained by the distance _{L 2} is is f, the relationship _{F × L 1 = f × L} 2 is guided. This force f needs to be equal to or greater than the resultant force R of the reaction force received from the optical path changing unit 24 and the operation force necessary to turn on the tact switch 30 (R ≦ f). Therefore, R × L ₂ / L ₁ ≦ F holds from the above two expressions. _Now, because it is _{L 2 <L 1, L 2} / L 1 is smaller than 1. Therefore, the operator can operate with the operation force F sufficiently smaller than the resultant force R without impairing the operational feeling.

(Configuration of Tact SW30)
The tact SW 30 includes, for example, a main body 31 and a distal end portion 32. As one example, the optical path changing unit 24 and the tact switch 30 are provided directly below the feedback mark 19a.

The tact SW 30 is, for example, a switch that is turned on when the distal end portion 32 moves to the main body 31 side. The tact switch 30 is configured to output an operation signal to, for example, an electrically connected electronic device. The tact SW 30 is preloaded so as not to be turned on due to the mass of the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit 24 on the distal end portion 32, for example. Therefore, as an example, the tact SW 30 is configured to turn on when the thickness of the optical path changing unit 24 becomes h ₂ by a push-down operation.

  The switch unit is not limited to the tact SW 30 and may be a load sensor that detects a load.

  Below, operation | movement of the switch apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to each figure.

(Operation of the first embodiment)
-Illumination of the mark 19b The LED 12 lights up when the vehicle is turned on. Light emitted from the LED 12 travels into the light guide 10 from the side surface 103 of the light guide 10 of the switch device 1, and is scattered by the reflecting member 20 provided on the side surface 104 opposite to the side surface 103.

The light scattered by the reflection member 20 is repeatedly reflected at the boundary between the light guide 10 and the air layer 5, the air layer 6, and the air 7, and a part of the light is scattered on the back surface 101 of the light guide 10. It is scattered by. A part of the scattered light has an incident angle smaller than the critical angle θ _C determined by the refractive index of the light guide 10 and the refractive index of the air layer 5, so that the mark 19b is transmitted through the mark 19b.

-Illumination of the feedback mark 19a The operator depresses the mark 19b portion in order to operate the switch device 1.

  By this pressing operation, the switch device 1 rotates about the shaft 21 toward the lower side of the drawing sheet of FIG. 1B, elastically deforms the optical path changing unit 24 via the light guide 10, and the tact switch 30. The tip 32 is moved to the main body 31 side.

When the optical path changing unit 24 is elastically deformed from the thickness h ₁ to the thickness h ₂ by the pressing operation, the convex portion 242 is crushed and the contact area with the light guide 10 is increased.

When the optical path changing unit 24 is elastically deformed, the contact area between the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit 24 is larger than that before the elastic deformation, and the critical angle θ _C is equal to the refractive index of the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit. It is determined by the refractive index of 24. As calculated above, the critical angle θ _C in this case is about 80 °, and light reaching the boundary between the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit 24 and having a critical angle θ _C of 80 ° or less is Proceed to the optical path changing unit 24.

  The light traveling to the optical path changing unit 24 is repeatedly reflected in the optical path changing unit 24. Since a part of the light traveling from the optical path changing unit 24 to the light guide 10 is input to the boundary between the light guide 10 and the air layer 5 so that the incident angle is smaller than the critical angle, it passes through the feedback mark 19a. From the viewpoint of the operator, it appears that the feedback mark 19a is illuminated.

When the operator finishes the operation, the light guide 10 rotates in the direction opposite to the push-down operation direction due to the reaction force of the tact switch 30 and the restoring force of the optical path changing unit 24, and returns to the initial position before the push-down operation is performed. Return. At this time, since the shape of the optical path changing unit 24 returns to the original shape, the contact area between the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit 24 is reduced, and the critical angle θ _C of this region is again the refractive index of the light guide 10. And the refractive index of the air layer 6, it is difficult for the light in the light guide 10 to travel to the optical path changing unit 24. Accordingly, since light passing through the feedback mark 19a is reduced, it appears to the operator that the feedback mark 19a is not illuminated.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
The switch device 1 according to this embodiment, by the optical path changing unit 24 is elastically deformed, it is possible to illuminate the critical angle theta _C is larger it becomes the feedback marks 19a in this region, to illuminate the feedback marks only Compared with the case where a light source and a control circuit are added, operation feedback can be given by a simple and mechanical structure, and the number of parts is reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.

  Since the optical path changing unit 24 disposed between the fulcrum (the shaft 21) and the force point (near the mark 19b) serves as an action point, the switch device 1 is pushed down with an operation force smaller than the reaction force of the optical path changing unit 24 and the like. Can be performed without impairing the operational feeling.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the illumination color of the feedback mark 19a and the mark 19b can be changed without adding a light source.

(Configuration of switch device 1)
FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the switch device according to the second embodiment, and FIGS. 3B and 3C illustrate how the light traveling direction is changed before and after the push-down operation. It is a schematic diagram for doing. In the following embodiments, portions having the same functions and configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the switch device 1 according to the second embodiment mainly includes an LED 12a as a light source that emits light of the first color, and a first color emitted from the LED 12a. A light guide 10 for transmitting the light to the inside, and a first guide for transmitting to the inside of the light guide 10 by increasing the contact area with the light guide 10 by performing elastic deformation based on a push-down operation performed on the light guide 10. As an optical path changing unit 24a that transmits the color light to the inside of the light guide 10 to change the traveling direction of the first color light to the surface direction of the light guide 10, and as a switch unit that is switched on or off based on a push-down operation. The light path changing unit 24a includes a phosphor 243 that emits light of the first color as light of the second color different from the color of the first color, and the light guide 10 The It is schematically configured to emit to the first color light and the light and the light is mixed in the second color.

(Configuration of LED 12a)
The LED 12a is, for example, a light emitting diode that emits blue light (first color light). The color of the light emitted from the LED 12a is not limited to blue, and is changed according to the color of the light that illuminates the feedback marks 19a and 19b.

(Configuration of optical path changing unit 24a)
The optical path changing unit 24a according to the present embodiment is formed by including the phosphor 243 in the optical path changing unit 24 according to the first embodiment. Specifically, the optical path changing unit 24a is schematically configured to include, as an example, white acrylic rubber and a phosphor 243 that emits yellow light.

  The phosphor 243 is, for example, yttrium aluminum oxide (YAG: Ce) doped with cerium. In the phosphor 243, the blue light emitted from the LED 12a is excited by the phosphor 243 and emits yellow light (second color light).

  Below, operation | movement of the switch apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to each figure.

(Operation of Second Embodiment)
-Illumination of mark 19b LED12a lights up when the power supply of a vehicle is turned on. The blue light emitted from the LED 12a travels into the light guide 10 from the side surface 103 of the light guide 10 of the switch device 1 and collides with or interacts with the reflecting member 20 provided on the side surface 104 opposite to the side surface 103. Scattered.

The blue light scattered by the reflecting member 20 is repeatedly reflected at the boundary between the light guide 10 and the air layer 5, the air layer 6 and the air 7, and a part of the blue light is provided on the back surface 101 of the light guide 10. 22 scatters. A part of the scattered blue light has an incident angle smaller than the critical angle θ _C determined by the refractive index of the light guide 10 and the refractive index of the air layer 5, so that the mark 19b is transmitted by the blue light through the mark 19b. Illuminate.

-Illumination of the feedback mark 19a The operator depresses the mark 19b portion in order to operate the switch device 1.

  By this pressing operation, the switch device 1 rotates about the shaft 21 toward the lower side of the drawing sheet of FIG. 1B, elastically deforms the optical path changing unit 24 via the light guide 10, and the tact switch 30. The tip 32 is moved to the main body 31 side.

When the optical path changing unit 24 is elastically deformed from the thickness h ₁ to the thickness h ₂ by this pressing operation as shown in FIG. 3B, the convex portion 242 is crushed and the contact area with the light guide 10 is increased. .

When the optical path changing unit 24 is elastically deformed, the contact area between the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit 24 is larger than that before the elastic deformation, and the critical angle θ _C is equal to the refractive index of the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit. It is determined by the refractive index of 24. As calculated above, the critical angle θ _C in this case is about 80 °, and the blue light that has reached the boundary between the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit 24 has an incident angle with a critical angle θ _C of 80 ° or less. Blue light having θ ₂ travels to the optical path changing unit 24.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3C, the blue light traveling to the optical path changing unit 24 is partly scattered by white acrylic rubber particles, and the other blue light is excited by the phosphor 243. And emitted as yellow light.

  Therefore, the blue light and yellow light traveling from the optical path changing unit 24 to the light guide 10 are input to the boundary between the light guide 10 and the air layer 5 so that the incident angle becomes smaller than the critical angle, and pass through the feedback mark 19a. Therefore, it appears to the operator that the feedback mark 19a is illuminated with blue light and yellow light, that is, illuminated with white light in which two colors are mixed.

When the operator finishes the operation, the light guide 10 rotates in the direction opposite to the push-down operation direction due to the reaction force of the tact switch 30 and the restoring force of the optical path changing unit 24, and returns to the initial position before the push-down operation is performed. Return. At this time, since the shape of the optical path changing unit 24 returns to the original shape, the contact area between the light guide 10 and the optical path changing unit 24 is reduced, and the critical angle θ _C of this region is again the refractive index of the light guide 10. And the refractive index of the air layer 6, it is difficult for the blue light in the light guide 10 to travel to the optical path changing unit 24. Accordingly, since light passing through the feedback mark 19a is reduced, it appears to the operator that the feedback mark 19a is not illuminated.

  As a modification, in order to illuminate the feedback mark 19a in white, for example, the LED 12a that emits blue light, the phosphor 243 that emits red light and green light, or the LED 12a that emits ultraviolet light, and red light are used. Alternatively, a combination of phosphors 243 that emit green light and blue light may be used.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
The switch device 1 according to the present embodiment illuminates the mark 19b with the first color light (blue light) before the push-down operation without adding a light source, and the feedback mark 19a after the push-down operation. And the third light (white light) in which the second light different from the first light (yellow light) is mixed.

  In the switch device 1, since the phosphor 243 emits light, the luminance is improved as compared with the case where the optical path changing unit 24 does not include the phosphor.

Switch device 1, by the optical path changing unit 24 collapses press, since it is the critical angle theta _C in this region to illuminate the feedback marks 19a increases, additional light sources and a control circuit dedicated for illuminating the feedback marks Compared with the case where it does, operation feedback can be given by a simple mechanical structure, and the number of parts is reduced, and the manufacturing cost is suppressed.

  Since the optical path changing unit 24 disposed between the fulcrum (the shaft 21) and the force point (near the mark 19b) serves as an action point, the switch device 1 is pushed down with an operation force smaller than the reaction force of the optical path changing unit 24 and the like. Therefore, the operational feeling is not impaired.

[Third Embodiment]
The third embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that the light guide 10 moves straight in the push-down operation direction instead of the rotational motion.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the switch device 1 according to the third embodiment.

  The light guide 10 of the switch device 1 according to the present embodiment has, for example, at least two legs (for example, a leg 21a and a leg 21b) protruding from the back surface 101, and moves the leg based on a push-down operation. It is schematically configured with a housing 4 having openings (for example, an opening 43 and an opening 44) as at least two guiding portions for guiding.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the leg portion 21 a and the leg portion 21 b according to the present embodiment are formed on each of the side surface 103 side and the side surface 104 side along the short direction of the light guide 10. The leg 21a is inserted into an opening 43 formed in the housing 4, for example. Moreover, the leg part 21b is inserted in the opening 44 formed in the housing | casing 4, for example.

  When the light guide 10 is pushed down, the light guide 10 advances straight in the push-down operation direction while being guided by the openings 43 and 44. By this push-down operation, the optical path changing unit 24 is elastically deformed, and the feedback mark 19a is illuminated.

(Effect of the third embodiment)
In the switch device 1 according to the present embodiment, the movement of the leg portion 21a and the leg portion 21b is guided by the opening 43 and the opening 44, so that a stable push-down operation can be performed.

  Since the light guide 10 moves straight in the push-down operation direction, the switch device 1 can freely arrange the optical path changing unit 24, that is, the arrangement of the feedback marks 19a and the marks 19b without impairing the operational feeling.

  As a modification of each of the above-described embodiments, the switch device 1 is not limited to the configuration in which the tip end portion 32 of the tact SW 30 is pushed via the optical path changing unit 24, and the tact SW 30 is disposed adjacent to the optical path changing unit 24. May be. In the case of having this configuration, the switch device 1 may not include the pedestal 26 under the optical path changing unit 24.

  As mentioned above, although some embodiment and modification of this invention were demonstrated, these embodiment and modification are only examples, and do not limit the invention based on a claim. These novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and modifications are necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. Furthermore, these embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Switch apparatus 4 ... Housing 5 ... Air layer 6 ... Air layer 7 ... Air 10 ... Light guide 12, 12a ... LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Adhesive 16 ... Sheet 18 ... Printing part 19a ... Feedback mark 19b ... Mark 20 ... Reflective member 21 ... Shaft 21a, 21b ... Leg part 22 ... Scattering member 24 ... Optical path changing part 24a ... Optical path changing part 26 ... Base 30 ... Tact SW
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Main body 32 ... Tip part 40 ... Concave 41 ... Installation surface 42 ... Side surface 43, 44 ... Opening 100 ... Front surface 101 ... Back surface 102 ... Hinge 103, 104 ... Side surface 240 ... Main body 241 ... Front surface 242 ... Convex part 243 ... Phosphor

Claims (5)

A light source that emits light;
A light guide for transmitting the light emitted from the light source to the inside;
The light guide is elastically deformed based on a pressing operation performed on the light guide to increase a contact area with the light guide, and the light transmitted to the inside of the light guide is transmitted to the inside of the light guide to advance the light. An optical path changing unit for changing the direction to the surface direction of the light guide;
A switch unit that switches on or off based on the pressing operation;
A switch device comprising:   2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the optical path changing unit has at least one convex portion on a surface in contact with the light guide, wherein an area in contact with the light guide is smaller than an area of the surface.   The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the optical path changing unit is disposed between the light guide and the switch unit. The surface of the light guide is provided with a sheet having a shielding part that shields the light and a transmission part that transmits the light,
4. The switch according to claim 1, wherein the light is emitted out of the light guide through the transmission portion by the elastic deformation of the optical path changing portion based on the push-down operation. 5. apparatus. The light source emits light of a first color;
The optical path changing unit includes a phosphor that emits light of the first color as light of a second color different from the light of the first color,
5. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the switch device emits light in which the light of the first color and the light of the second color are mixed through the light guide. 6.

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