JP2013101802A - Movable contact body with light guide function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a movable contact body with a light guide function by structure that feelings to be obtained from movable contacts are satisfactory, and difference between operation feelings to be obtained is hard to be generated even when the movable contact body with the light guide function has a plurality of movable contacts.SOLUTION: A movable contact body with a light guide function is made into structure that a spacer sheet 24 with movable contact storage holes 25, and extension hole parts 26 integrally provided on the sides of the surroundings of the movable contact storage holes 25 is stuck to the bottom face of a base sheet 21 made of an insulation film, which holds a plurality of movable contacts 3, a light guide sheet 27 is stuck to the top face side of the base sheet 21 via a binder 28, and parts of the respective base sheets 21 corresponding to internal areas of the respective extension hole parts 26 are further provided with vent holes 22, the compressed air in the movable contacts 3, which is generated in depression, is made to flow out to an air reservoir part in a gap between the top face of the base sheet 21 and the bottom face of the light guide sheet 27 via the vent holes 22.

Description

  The present invention relates to a movable contact body with a light guide function that is used in an operation unit of various electronic devices and is mounted on a wiring board having a fixed contact to constitute a panel switch.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a variety of movable contact bodies with a light guide function that are mounted on a wiring board having a fixed contact and constitute a panel switch have been adopted in various electronic devices.

  Such a conventional movable contact body with a light guide function will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view of a conventional movable contact body with a light guide function, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of the movable contact body with a light guide function.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a base sheet made of a flexible insulating film whose outer shape in top view is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and an adhesive 1A is applied to the lower surface thereof. 3 (3A to 3C) is an elastic thin sheet metal movable contact formed in an upward convex dome shape, and each of the movable contacts 3A to 3C is bonded to the upper surface of the base sheet 1 by an adhesive 1A. It is held in place.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a spacer sheet made of an insulating film whose outer shape is formed in substantially the same shape as the base sheet 1, and the upper surface thereof is adhered to the base sheet 1 via an adhesive 1A. The spacer sheet 4 is provided with movable contact receiving holes 5 (5A to 5C) that are slightly larger than the outer peripheries of the movable contacts 3A to 3C for each position where the movable contact 3 is arranged. 3C is arrange | positioned by the accommodation state in corresponding movable contact accommodation hole 5A-5C. Here, in the movable contact accommodating hole 5A formed at a position on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the spacer sheet 4, an enlarged hole portion 6A is integrally provided on the peripheral side. The movable contact accommodating hole 5B at the center side and the movable contact accommodating hole 5C at the other end side are connected to the two movable contact accommodating holes 5B and 5C without providing an enlarged hole portion. Thus, a groove 6B cut out with a predetermined width is provided. An adhesive 4 </ b> A is applied to the lower surface of the spacer sheet 4.

  Furthermore, a light guide sheet 7 whose outer shape is formed in substantially the same shape as that of the base sheet 1 is bonded onto the base sheet 1 via an adhesive 8 disposed on the lower surface of the outer edge portion. The light guide sheet 7 includes a base material 7A made of an insulating film having flexibility, and a plurality of protrusions provided in a scattered state on the lower surface portion of the base material 7A corresponding to the positions where the movable contacts 3 are arranged. 7B. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the protrusion 7B has a some fine particle used as a scatterer inside.

  In the base sheet 1, the spacer sheet 4, and the light guide sheet 7 that are arranged to overlap each other, the position between the movable contacts 3 </ b> A and 3 </ b> B passes through the three members in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. The through-hole 9 formed in is provided. The through hole 9 is provided independently without being connected to the movable contact accommodating holes 5A, 5B, the enlarged hole portion 6A and the groove portion 6B of the spacer sheet 4. Note that an adhesive 8 is applied to the lower surface of the light guide sheet 7 constituting the through hole 9 at the peripheral edge position facing the movable contacts 3A and 3B, and is bonded to the upper surface of the base sheet 1.

  The conventional movable contact body with a light guide function is comprised by the above.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the above-described movable contact body with a light guide function is used by being stuck on a wiring board 10 of an electronic device typified by a mobile phone. On the wiring board 10, an outer fixed contact 11 </ b> A corresponding to the outer peripheral portion of the movable contact 3 and a central fixed contact 11 </ b> B corresponding to the central portion of the movable contact 3 are arranged electrically independently. Furthermore, LEDs 12A and 12B are mounted on the wiring board 10 in an adjacent state. The LEDs 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B are mounted such that the light emitting surfaces of the LEDs 12 </ b> A are opposite to each other and irradiate light substantially parallel to the upper surface of the wiring substrate 10.

  Then, the movable contact body with a light guide function is bonded onto the wiring substrate 10 with the adhesive 4 </ b> A of the spacer sheet 4. In the mounted state, the lower end of the outer periphery of the movable contact 3 (3A to 3C) is placed in contact with the corresponding outer fixed contact 11A of the wiring board 10, and the lower surface of the central portion of the movable contact 3 (3A to 3C) The corresponding center fixed contact 11B is opposed to the center fixed contact 11B with a predetermined interval, and is configured as a so-called panel switch.

  Moreover, LED12A, 12B is the accommodation state in the through-hole 9 of the movable contact body with a light guide function in the mounting state. The light emitting surface of the LED 12A is adjacent to the side surface forming the through hole 9 facing the movable contact 3A side. The light emitting surface of the LED 12B is adjacent to the side surface constituting the through hole 9 facing the movable contact 3B side.

  An operation panel including an operation button 14 and a panel case 15 is disposed above the panel switch. Each operation button 14 protrudes the operation portion 14A from the button hole of the panel case 15 so that the lower surface of the substantially cylindrical pressing portion 14B formed to protrude downward corresponds to the guide corresponding to the central portion of the movable contact 3. The light sheet 7 is in contact with the upper surface position.

  Next, the operation will be described. First, when the LEDs 12A and 12B mounted on the wiring substrate 10 emit light, the light is transmitted from the side end surface of the light guide sheet 7 constituting the side surface of the adjacent through hole 9, that is, the side end surface of the base material 7A. Is propagated through the base material 7A. At this time, the light from the LED 12A propagates mainly to the movable contact 3A side, and the light from the LED 12B propagates mainly to the movable contact 3B, 3C side. Then, the light propagating through the base material 7A of the light guide sheet 7 is scattered and reflected by fine particles (not shown) in the plurality of protrusions 7B, so that each operation button 14 disposed above is illuminated. It has come to be.

  Next, when the operation portion 14 </ b> A of the operation button 14 is pressed, the central portion of the lower movable contact 3 is pressed by the pressing portion 14 </ b> B via the light guide sheet 7 and the base sheet 1. When the pressing force exceeds a predetermined force, the dome-shaped central portion of the movable contact 3 is elastically reversed with a click feeling, and the central portion contacts the lower central fixed contact 11B and is switched on. . Then, when the pressing force is released, the movable contact 3 is reversed and returned upward with a click feeling, and the central portion is separated from the central fixed contact 11B to return to the original switch-off state. Return.

  Here, when the movable contact 3 is elastically reversed at the time of pressing, the air in the movable contact 3 is in a compressed state along with the reversing operation, but the movable contact 3 is movable as an air reservoir for releasing the compressed air. The contact hole 3A functions as an enlarged hole 6A of the spacer sheet 4, and the movable contacts 3B and 3C function as the groove 6B connecting the two and the other movable contact side, and the operation feeling due to the compressed air. It was configured to suppress the slowdown.

  As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3 are known.

JP 2003-77368 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-289636 JP 2010-192279 A

  Since the conventional movable contact body with a light guide function has a shape having the through-hole 9 for accommodating the LEDs 12A and 12B, the air reservoir portion of the movable contact 3A is configured by the enlarged hole portion 6A, and the movable contact 3B, The 3C air reservoir was configured to have a shape including the groove 6B connecting the two and the other movable contact side. Here, since each movable contact 3A-3C had a corresponding air reservoir part, the influence of the air compressed at the time of the pressing operation was eased, and a good operation feeling was obtained. Since the volume of the air reservoir is different, for example, the operation feeling obtained when pressing may be felt differently between the movable contacts 3A and 3B.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and has a good operation feeling obtained from a movable contact, and even when it has a plurality of movable contacts, a light guide function that hardly causes a difference in the obtained operation feeling. An object of the present invention is to provide a movable contact body with a pad.

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

  The present invention provides a base sheet made of an insulating film, an upwardly convex dome shape, and a movable contact made of an elastic thin plate metal having a convex upper surface held by an adhesive on the lower surface of the base sheet, and the base sheet. A spacer sheet having a movable contact receiving hole for receiving the movable contact, and a flexible light guide sheet that is arranged with an outer edge bonded to the base sheet. The movable contact body with a light guide function provided with, when the pressing operation to the movable contact, air in the movable contact is in the gap between the base sheet and the light guide sheet The movable contact body with a light guide function is characterized in that a vent hole penetrating a predetermined portion of the base sheet is provided so that the base sheet can flow out.

  If it is this, the compressed air in the movable contact generated by the pressing operation will flow out into the gap between the base sheet and the light guide sheet through the vent hole provided in the base sheet, and this will become the air reservoir The operation feeling obtained from the movable contact is good, and even when it has a plurality of movable contacts, it has an effect that it can be realized in a configuration in which the difference in operation feeling obtained is unlikely to occur.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a movable contact body with a light guide function which has a good operation feeling obtained from a movable contact and hardly causes a difference in operation feeling obtained even when it has a plurality of movable contacts. The advantageous effect of being able to be obtained is obtained.

The top view of the movable contact body with a light guide function by one embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the formation state of the adhesive formed in the light guide sheet lower surface which is the principal part Sectional drawing which shows the mounting state of the movable contact body with the same light guide function Sectional view showing the operating state Plan view of a conventional movable contact with light guide function Sectional drawing which shows the mounting state of the movable contact body with the same light guide function

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part of the structure same as the structure demonstrated in the term of the prior art, and detailed description is simplified.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a movable contact body with a light guide function according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing a state of forming an adhesive formed on the lower surface of a light guide sheet, which is the main part, and FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the mounting state of the movable contact body with the same light guide function, FIG. 4 is sectional drawing which shows the operation state.

  In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a base sheet made of an insulating film (for example, made of PET film) having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above and having a flexible adhesive film 21A applied to the lower surface thereof. The upper surfaces of the three movable contacts 3 (3A to 3C) are respectively held by the adhesive 21A. In addition, since the arrangement position of the movable contact 3 (3A-3C) is the same as that of the past, detailed description is omitted.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes a spacer sheet made of an insulating film (for example, made of PET film) whose outer shape is formed in substantially the same shape as that of the base sheet 21, and is adhered to the lower surface side of the base sheet 21 via an adhesive 21A. An adhesive 24 </ b> A is applied and formed on the lower surface of the spacer sheet 24.

  Here, in the spacer sheet 24, movable contact accommodating holes 25 that are slightly larger than the outer periphery of each movable contact 3 are provided at positions corresponding to the respective movable contacts 3 in an independent state. In the housing hole 25, an enlarged hole portion 26 is continuously provided on the peripheral side. Each of the three movable contact accommodating holes 25 and the enlarged hole portions 26 has the same shape, and in particular, the enlarged hole portion 26 has a projected area from the movable contact accommodating hole 25 in a top view as shown in FIG. It is set to be smaller than the projected area of the enlarged hole portion 6A of the sheet with contact.

  Each enlarged hole portion 26 is extended outward from a part of the inner side surface of the movable contact accommodating hole 25 with a predetermined width dimension, and the end surface at the tip in a direction away from the movable contact accommodating hole 25 is formed on the spacer sheet 24. Each end is located inside the outer peripheral side end, and the tip thereof is formed in an arc shape, and the air holes 22 penetrate vertically in 21 locations of the base sheet corresponding to the inner region on the tip side. Is provided. Note that there is no particular problem even if the pressure-sensitive adhesive 21 </ b> A is formed so as to surround the vicinity of the air hole 22. Further, the shape of the vent hole 22 is not particularly limited, but a circular shape is preferable because processing and the like are facilitated.

  A light guide sheet 27 is placed on the base sheet 21 so that the entire periphery of the lower surface of the outer edge portion is bonded onto the base sheet 21 with an adhesive 28 interposed therebetween. The light guide sheet 27 has substantially the same shape as the base sheet 21 in a top view, and its configuration corresponds to the position of the insulating film base material 27A and the movable contact 3 as in the conventional case. It consists of a plurality of protrusions 27B provided in a scattered state on the lower surface portion of the base material 27A, and has a plurality of fine particles (not shown) serving as scatterers in the protrusions 27B.

  Further, in the base sheet 21, the spacer sheet 24, and the light guide sheet 27 that are arranged so as to overlap each other, the position between the movable contacts 3A and 3B passes through the three members in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. The through-hole 29 formed in is provided. The position and shape of the through hole 29 are the same as those of the conventional one. However, in the structure, the lower surface position of the light guide sheet 27 corresponding to the peripheral edge position of the through hole 29 is also shown in FIG. The point which is made to stick on the upper surface of the base sheet 21 through the adhesive 28 with a predetermined width over the entire circumference is different from the conventional one.

  The movable contact body with a light guide function according to this embodiment is configured as described above, and is used by being attached to a wiring board 10 of an electronic device in the same manner as in the past as shown in FIG.

  On the wiring board 10, an outer fixed contact 11A corresponding to the outer peripheral portion of each movable contact 3 (3A to 3C) and a central fixed contact 11B corresponding to the central portion of each movable contact 3 (3A to 3C) are electrically connected. The LED 12A and the LED 12B are mounted in the adjacent state with the light emitting surfaces directed in opposite directions to each other as in the conventional case.

  And even in the mounting state of the movable contact body with a light guide function, the adhesive sheet 24A of the spacer sheet 24 is bonded and mounted on the wiring board 10, and the mounting state corresponds to the outer fixed contact 11A. The lower end of the outer periphery of the movable contact 3 is placed and abuts, and the center fixed contact 11B and the lower surface of the central portion of the movable contact 3 are configured to be a panel switch facing each other with a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. In the state, the LEDs 12A and 12B are housed in the through hole 29 as in the conventional case. Furthermore, an operation panel including an operation button 14 and a panel case 15 is arranged above the panel switch in the same manner as in the prior art.

  Next, the operation and the like will be described, but since the light from the LEDs 12A and 12B propagates through the light guide sheet 27 and the operation buttons 14 are illuminated, the description is omitted. Hereinafter, the operation when the operation button 14 is pressed will be described in detail.

  When the operation portion 14A of the operation button 14 is pressed, the central portion of the corresponding lower movable contact 3 is pressed by the pressing portion 14B via the light guide sheet 27 and the base sheet 21. When the pressing force exceeds a predetermined force, the dome-shaped central portion of the movable contact 3 is elastically reversed with a click feeling, and the central portion contacts the lower central fixed contact 11B as shown in FIG. Then, the switch is turned on.

  When the pressing is released, the dome-shaped central portion of the movable contact 3 is reversed and returned upward with a click feeling, and the outer fixed contact 11 </ b> A and the central fixed contact 11 </ b> B return to the switch-off state that is electrically insulated.

  At the time of the above pressing, the compressed air in the movable contact 3 moves from the lower end of the outer periphery of the movable contact 3 to the space in the enlarged hole portion 26 and passes through the vent hole 22 as shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. And flows out into the gap between the upper surface of the base sheet 21 and the lower surface of the light guide sheet 27. Since the light guide sheet 27 may rise slightly due to the outflowed air, the peripheral portion of the through hole 29 serving as the light incident position on the light guide sheet 27 is at least the upper surface of the base sheet 21 via the adhesive 28. It is preferable to hold it.

  Thus, in the said structure, all the volume integrals in the clearance gap between the base sheet 21 upper surface and the light guide sheet 27 lower surface function as an air reservoir part for releasing said compressed air, The volume Can be realized so that a better click feeling than that of the conventional product can be obtained when the movable contact 3 is reversed, because it is ensured to be much larger than that of the conventional enlarged hole portion 6A and groove portion 6B.

  In addition, regardless of which of the movable contacts 3A to 3C is operated, the compressed air generated in each moves to the space in the enlarged hole portion 26 having the same shape, passes through the vent hole 22, and guides the upper surface of the base sheet 21. Since it flows out into the gap between the lower surface of the seat 27, the operation state of each of the movable contacts 3A to 3C is good, and there is little difference in operation feeling between them, and an almost uniform feel is obtained. Can be made.

  Further, in this configuration, the enlarged hole portion 26 is provided in order to obtain a range in which the vent hole 22 is provided, and the air reservoir portion is formed in the gap between the upper surface of the base sheet 21 and the lower surface of the light guide sheet 27. Since it is configured, the area of the enlarged hole portion 26 can be reduced, and the pasting area of the spacer sheet 24 is improved compared to the conventional product in which the air reservoir portion is configured in the spacer sheet. It will also be excellent. Further, since the enlarged hole portion 26 can be formed into a small shape, the adhesive area of the adhesive 21A of the base sheet 21 to the spacer sheet 24 is increased, and even if the movable contact 3 is repeatedly operated, the compressed air is compressed. Since the gas enters and exits through the vent hole 22, an additional effect that the occurrence of peeling of the adhesive portions of the adhesives 21A and 24A is prevented can be expected.

  Here, in the movable contact body with a light guide function, the outer periphery of the outer periphery and the periphery of the through hole 29 so that the gap between the upper surface of the base sheet 21 and the lower surface of the light guide sheet 27 is isolated from the outside. The portion is adhered with an adhesive 28. If this is the case, the movable contact 3 can be arranged in a sealed state from the outside while being mounted on the wiring board 10, and the switch contact portion is configured to prevent entry of dust and the like from the outside. be able to. Even if the gap between the upper surface of the base sheet 21 and the lower surface of the light guide sheet 27 is sealed so as to be isolated from the outside, the sealed space is much larger than the internal space of the movable contact 3. Since it becomes a pool part, the influence at the time of the press of the movable contact 3 hardly arises, and each effect mentioned above is obtained. Note that the gap between the upper surface of the base sheet 21 and the lower surface of the light guide sheet 27 is not necessarily sealed.

  As described above, according to the embodiment, the compressed air generated when the movable contact 3 is pressed is used in the gap between the upper surface of the base sheet 21 and the lower surface of the light guide sheet 27, and is used as an air reservoir. Therefore, it is possible to provide a movable contact body with a light guide function that can obtain a good operation feeling and hardly causes a difference in operation feeling between the plurality of movable contacts 3A to 3C.

  In the above description, the structure in which the enlarged hole portion 26 and the vent hole 22 are provided for each movable contact 3 has been described. However, the spaces between the movable contact accommodation holes 25 of the plurality of movable contacts 3 are similar to those in the prior art. As a structure connected by the groove portion, a structure may be adopted in which the air holes 22 are provided in 21 locations of the base sheet corresponding to the inside area of the groove portion.

  Furthermore, even if the outer shape of the movable contact accommodating hole is formed to be similar to that of the movable contact 3 and its peripheral portion is utilized as an enlarged hole portion, the vent hole 22 is provided at the base sheet 21 corresponding thereto. Good. Or it is good also as a structure etc. which provided the ventilation hole 22 in the base sheet 21 location according to the inside of the peripheral part of movable contact accommodation hole 25 itself so that it may not overlap with the movable contact 3. FIG. If it is those structures, the process to a spacer sheet will be easy and a spacer sheet shape will be simple. Even if the vent hole 22 overlaps the movable contact 3, it is only necessary that the vent hole 22 is not blocked by the surrounding adhesive 21 </ b> A or the movable contact 3.

  In the above, a structure has been described in which only one enlarged hole portion 26 is formed so as to protrude from the movable contact accommodating hole 25, and one vent hole 22 is provided in the base sheet 21 corresponding thereto. A small ventilation hole may be provided, and the dustproof property and the like may be improved depending on the size. Furthermore, the shape and quantity of the enlarged hole portion 26 are not limited to those described above. For example, a plurality of enlarged hole portions 26 may be extended in one movable contact accommodating hole 25, and a vent hole may be provided in each base sheet 21 corresponding to each.

  In addition, you may be comprised combining the structural thought demonstrated above.

  In addition to the configuration in which the adhesive 24A is attached to the lower surface of the spacer sheet 24, the adhesive 24A is eliminated and the double-sided tape is applied to the wiring substrate 10 with respect to the mounting state on the wiring substrate 10. Or the adhesive may be formed on the wiring board 10.

  In the above description, the movable contact body with a light guide function having a plurality of movable contacts 3A to 3C has been described. However, the idea according to the present invention is such that there are only one movable contact 3 or few movable contacts 3. Even useful. That is, for example, in the conventional movable contact body with a light guide function in the case where there is one movable contact 3, since the pasting area is small, a sufficient area of the enlarged hole portion cannot be secured, and the air reservoir portion has a small volume. If the idea is according to the present invention, the gap between the upper surface of the base sheet and the lower surface of the light guide sheet is used as an air reservoir. It can be easily configured as a large secured one, and for this reason, it can be easily realized as a click feeling being suppressed and a good click feeling being obtained.

  Further, the shape of the movable contact 3 is not particularly limited, and may be various shapes such as a circular shape, an oval shape, an elliptical shape, a long shape, and a ring shape with legs when viewed from above. The shape of the contact accommodating hole and the enlarged hole portion may be set as appropriate according to the shape of the movable contact.

  Further, the light guide sheet 27 is not limited to the one having the above-described configuration, and a protrusion 27B that scatters and reflects light guided and propagated in the base material 27A is provided on the upper surface side of the base material 27A. The surface of the base material may be roughened instead of the protrusion 27B.

  Further, although the above description has been made with the configuration having the spacer sheet 24, the idea according to the present invention may be applied to a movable contact body with a light guide function having a configuration without the spacer sheet 24.

  The movable contact body with a light guide function according to the present invention has an advantageous effect that the operation feeling obtained from the movable contact is good, and even when the movable contact body has a plurality of movable contacts, it is possible to provide the difference in operation feeling obtained. It is useful for operation parts of various electronic devices.

3, 3A-3C Movable contact 10 Wiring board 11A Outer fixed contact 11B Center fixed contact 12A, 12B LED
14 operation buttons 14A operation part 14B pressing part 15 panel case 21 base sheet 21A, 24A, 28 adhesive 22 vent hole 24 spacer sheet 25 movable contact accommodating hole 26 enlarged hole part 27 light guide sheet 27A base material 27B protrusion 29 through hole

Claims (3)

A base sheet made of insulating film;
A movable contact made of an elastic thin plate metal having an upward convex dome shape, and a convex upper surface of the dome held by the adhesive on the lower surface of the base sheet;
A spacer sheet that is arranged under the base sheet and has a movable contact accommodating hole for accommodating the movable contact;
A movable contact body with a light guide function, comprising: a light guide sheet having an outer edge portion bonded and disposed on the base sheet;
When a pressing operation is performed on the movable contact, air in the movable contact penetrates through a predetermined portion of the base sheet so that air can flow out into the gap between the base sheet and the light guide sheet. A movable contact body with a light guide function, characterized in that a vent hole is provided. The spacer sheet
It has an enlarged hole portion that is continuously provided at the peripheral side position of the movable contact accommodation hole,
The movable contact body with a light guide function according to claim 1, wherein a vent hole penetrating a base sheet portion corresponding to the range of the enlarged hole portion is provided. The movable contact body with a light guide function according to claim 1, wherein the spacer sheet is provided with a groove portion that connects the movable contact accommodation holes, and is provided with a vent hole that penetrates through a base sheet portion corresponding to the range of the groove portion.

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