JP2018006264A - Illuminated push button switch member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high durability illuminated push button switch member which allows for high luminance illumination from the inside, and has large discrepancy in the operational feeling of several stages.SOLUTION: An illuminated push button switch member 1 includes light emission means 33, a resin dome member 20 which can cover the light emission means 33, and can pass the light emitted from the light emission means 33, an operation key 13 placed on the projection surface of the dome member 20 and having light transmissivity at least partially, a depression deforming member 12 which can deform as the operation key 13 is depressed and made of a rubber-like elastic body having a deformation resistance smaller than that of the dome member 20, first contacts 31, 32 placed on the inside of the dome member 20 and on the outer circumference side of the light emission means 33, and a second contact 25 fixed to the dome member 20, and when pushing the operation key 13 toward the dome member 20, capable of being connected electrically with the first contacts 31, 32 by deformation of the dome member 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an illuminated pushbutton switch member.

  Some conventionally known push button switch members made of silicone rubber or the like can be pushed in multiple stages, but due to the configuration of the same material, there is a large gap between operation feelings at each stage. Difficult to make a difference. In order to greatly change the operation feeling, for example, it is necessary to change the stroke required for switching at each stage or to change the load necessary for the operation. On the other hand, a two-stage push button in which a metal dome is arranged in a dome such as silicone rubber or below the dome is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By using a metal dome that can draw a metal material and exhibit a high repulsive force, the two stages of operation are greatly different: the deformation of the silicone rubber dome outside the metal dome and the buckling deformation of the metal dome. Can be pressed.

  Further, an illuminating means such as an LED is arranged inside the metal dome, and light is transmitted outward from a translucent operation portion arranged above the metal dome through a through hole formed in the top surface of the metal dome. An illuminated pushbutton switch member having a structure is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). This type of push button switch member is formed with a light shielding layer on the top surface of the operation unit, and a portion penetrating the shape of the character / symbol is provided on the light shielding layer, thereby illuminating the shape of the character / symbol etc. be able to. In addition, since the illumination means can be disposed immediately below the metal dome, a sufficient amount of light can be supplied to the translucent operation unit.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-76959 (FIG. 13) International Publication WO2012 / 153585 (FIG. 5)

  However, the above prior art has the following problems. In the case of a pushbutton switch in which a dome is formed from different materials of rubber and metal as in Patent Document 1, even if an illuminating means is disposed in a metal dome (metal dome), it cannot be illuminated outward. Like the switch disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is possible to illuminate in the outward direction by making a through hole in the metal dome and disposing an illuminating means directly therebelow. However, the durability of the metal dome is lowered, and the operational feeling is lowered by long-term use.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an illuminated pushbutton switch member that enables high-intensity illumination from the inside, is highly durable, and has a large difference in operation feeling in multiple stages. With the goal.

  An illuminated pushbutton switch member according to an embodiment for achieving the above object includes a light emitting means, and a resin dome member that can cover the light emitting means and pass light emitted from the light emitting means. And an operation key that is disposed on the protruding surface side of the dome member and has at least a part of translucency, and is made of a rubber-like elastic body that can be deformed when the operation key is pressed and has a smaller deformation resistance than the dome member. A pressing deformation member, a first contact disposed inside the dome member and disposed on the outer peripheral side of the light emitting means, and a contact fixed to the dome member, and when the operation key is pushed toward the dome member, the dome member And a second contact that can be electrically connected to the first contact by deformation.

  The illuminated pushbutton switch member according to another embodiment is further configured to be electrically connectable in accordance with the deformation of the pressing deformation member prior to the electrical connection between the first contact and the second contact by pressing the operation key. Three contacts and a fourth contact may be provided.

  The illuminated pushbutton switch member according to another embodiment may further include the opening end surface of the dome member separated from the substrate that fixes the light emitting means.

  The illuminated pushbutton switch member according to another embodiment may further include a diameter expansion reduction layer on the opening end surface for reducing the expansion of the dome member in the diameter expansion direction after contacting the substrate.

  The illuminated pushbutton switch member according to another embodiment may also be provided with the opening end face of the dome member fixed to a substrate for fixing the light emitting means.

  The illuminated pushbutton switch member according to another embodiment may further include a protruding portion protruding to the operation key side on the protruding surface side of the dome member, and fix the recessed portion and the protruding portion on the operation key side. .

  The illuminated pushbutton switch member according to another embodiment may further include a light emitting means immediately below the protruding portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the illumination type pushbutton switch member which enables high-intensity illumination from the inside, is highly durable, and has a big difference in the operation feeling of several steps can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of various members constituting the illuminated pushbutton switch member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the illuminated pushbutton switch member after the various members of FIG. 1 are assembled. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA (3A) of the illuminated pushbutton switch member of FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the first stage operation, and AA of the subsequent second stage operation. A line sectional view (3C) is shown respectively. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 in the illuminated pushbutton switch member according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 of the illuminated pushbutton switch member according to the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 of an illuminated pushbutton switch member according to a modification.

  Next, each embodiment of the illuminated pushbutton switch member according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all the elements and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are the means for solving the present invention. It is not always essential.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a plan view of various members constituting the illuminated pushbutton switch member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the illuminated pushbutton switch member after the various members of FIG. 1 are assembled. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA (3A) of the illuminated pushbutton switch member of FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the first stage operation, and AA of the subsequent second stage operation. A line sectional view (3C) is shown respectively.

  In the following, “upper”, “upper” or “upper” means the direction from the top of the dome member to the operation key, and “lower”, “lower” or “lower” means that Each direction is toward the top. Further, “outside in the radial direction” means the diameter increasing direction of the virtual circle when the virtual circle is drawn from the center in the plan view of the specific object. “Inner radial direction” means the direction of diameter reduction of the above-mentioned virtual circle. Furthermore, “in plan view” means a state where the illuminated pushbutton switch member is viewed from the top side of the operation key. Further, “transparent” or “translucent” means a property of transmitting light, regardless of the amount of transmitted light. Therefore, in the present application, “transparent” or “translucent” is used in the opposite sense of the property of not transmitting light at all (opaque). The above definition is the same in the following embodiments.

1. Structure In the illuminated pushbutton switch member 1 according to the first embodiment, a resin-made dome member 20 is arranged on a substrate 30 so that the top portion (protruding surface) faces upward (the arrow X in FIG. (See), the pressing member 10 is disposed on the dome member 20 (see the arrow Y in FIG. 1), and the substantially central region of the dome member 20 that receives the pressing from the top surface of the operation key 13 of the pressing member 10. It is a switch member that is deformed so as to be recessed and turns on the contact on the substrate 30.

  The illuminated pushbutton switch member 1 includes an LED 33 as an example of a light emitting unit, and a resin dome member 20 that can receive the pressure from above and cover the LED 33 and pass light emitted from the LED 33. The operation key 13 disposed on the projecting surface side of the dome member 20 and at least partially translucent, and rubber-like elasticity that is deformable when the operation key 13 is pressed and has a smaller deformation resistance than the dome member 20. The body pressing deformation member 12, the first contacts 31 and 32 disposed on the outer peripheral side of the LED 33 inside the dome member 20, and the contacts fixed to the dome member 20 and the operation key 13 are connected to the dome. And a second contact 25 that can be electrically connected to the first contacts 31 and 32 by deformation of the dome member 20 when pushed toward the member 20. In this embodiment, the operation key 13 and the pressing deformation member 12 are integrated to form the pressing member 10. Hereinafter, the pressing member 10, the dome member 20, and the substrate 30 which are main members constituting the illuminated pushbutton switch member 1 will be described in detail.

(1) Pressing member The pressing member 10 preferably has a dome shape having a substantially circular opening. The pressing member 10 includes an annular flange portion 11, a pressing deformation member 12 which is inside the flange portion 11 and can be elastically deformed by pressing from above the pressing member 10 and releasing the pressing, and pressing deformation The operation key 13 is provided inside the member 12 and protrudes to the front side of the sheet of FIG. A lower surface (also referred to as an opening end surface) of the flange portion 11 is fixed on the substrate 30 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the pressing deformation member 12 is an inverted saddle-shaped dome that expands radially outward, but may be in a form other than the inverted saddle-shaped dome. Further, the operation key 13 may or may not protrude to the front side of the sheet of FIG. 1 as long as it is a part provided on the top surface of the pressing deformation member 12.

  In this embodiment, the operation key 13 includes a light shielding layer 14 on an upper surface thereof. The light shielding layer 14 is formed on the upper surface of the operation key 13 by removing a part of the upper surface and forming a letter shape. The light shielding layer 14 may be a layer formed at a position below the top surface instead of the top surface of the operation key 13. For example, when a scratch-proof layer for the purpose of scratch protection is formed on the light-blocking layer 14, the light-blocking layer 14 is a lower layer of the scratch-proof layer. The light shielding layer 14 may be formed at such a position. In this embodiment, the blank character 15 is a portion in which the outside of the alphabet “A” is circled. The light shielding layer 14 is preferably formed by printing using black ink, but may be formed by a method of attaching a black film in addition to printing. The color of the light shielding layer 14 is not limited to black, and may be a light-reflective color such as dark gray, dark blue, or silver. The extracted character 15 is a part where the light shielding layer 14 is not present, and may be, for example, a part where the top surface portion of the operation key 13 is exposed or a part where a transparent resin is present. The light shielding layer 14 is not necessarily provided in the operation key 13.

  In this embodiment, the pressing member 10 preferably includes a pusher portion 16 immediately below the operation key 13. In this embodiment, the pusher portion 16 is a cylindrical body having a concave portion 17 on the inside thereof. The recess 17 has a form that opens downward and closes the top. The pusher portion 16 is capable of fitting an upward projecting portion (also simply referred to as “projecting portion”) 23 of the dome member 20 to be described later into the concave portion 17.

  The operation key 13 is mainly composed of a light-transmitting material. As a suitable constituent material of the operation key 13, for example, a rubber-like elastic body can be selected. Silicone rubber, urethane rubber, isoprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, natural rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, nitrile rubber (NBR) or styrene butadiene It is preferable to use a thermosetting elastomer such as rubber (SBR); a thermoplastic elastomer such as urethane, ester, styrene, olefin, butadiene, or fluorine, or a composite thereof. In this embodiment, since the operation key 13 is a constituent part of the pressing member 10, the operation key 13 is made of a translucent rubber-like elastic body, and more preferably made of silicone rubber. However, as a constituent material of the operation key 13, for example, a resin that is harder than the rubber-like elastic body may be selected, and polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene, polyacetal, Polyamide 6, polyamide 66, polyamide 610, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, ABS resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), or a composite thereof may be used. When the operation key 13 is made of resin, the resin material is particularly preferably PMMA having excellent translucency. Further, glass can be used as the material of the operation keys 13.

  The pressing deformation member 12 is preferably made of a rubber-like elastic body. For example, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, isoprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, natural rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, nitrile rubber (NBR) or styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). It is preferable to be composed of a thermoplastic elastomer such as urethane, ester, styrene, olefin, butadiene, or fluorine, or a composite thereof. The pressing deformation member 12 is not necessarily required to have translucency as long as the pressing deformation member 12 is pressed downward from above the operation key 13 and can be elastically deformed when the pressing is released. However, in this embodiment, since the pressing deformation member 12 is a constituent part of the pressing member 10, it is preferably made of a translucent rubber-like elastic body, more preferably made of silicone rubber.

  When the pressing member 10 is composed of a rubber-like elastic body such as silicone rubber, it is preferable to supply a curable polysiloxane composition into a mold and then vulcanize to cure the composition. . In the case where only the operation key 13 of the pressing member 10 is manufactured from resin or metal, a mold capable of manufacturing a portion excluding the operation key 13 is prepared, and the curable polysiloxane composition is prepared in the mold. It is preferable to pass through the same process as above.

(2) Dome member The dome member 20 is a substantially circular plate in a plan view, and is a dish-shaped member having a protruding surface on one side and a concave surface on the opposite side. The dome member 20 is disposed on the substrate 30 with the protruding surface facing up. The dome member 20 at least partially covers the LED 33 and can pass light emitted from the LED 33. Here, “at least partially covering” means that the LED 33 is not only a dome member that can form a completely closed space from start to finish but also the LED 33 when not pressed, such as the dome member 20 of this embodiment. This is because a dome member that covers the LED 33 is included only when the dome member 20 is pressed from above. The dome member 20 connects an annular flange portion 21, an inverted saddle-shaped dome 22 formed on the radially inner side of the flange portion 21, and an upper protruding portion 23 formed on the radially inner side of the dome 22. It consists of The upper protruding portion 23 is a portion that protrudes to the front side of the sheet of FIG. The upper projecting portion 23 is on the projecting surface side of the dome member 20 and corresponds to a projecting portion projecting to the operation key 13 side. In this embodiment, the upper protruding portion 23 is a cylindrical body having a concave portion 23a on the inside thereof. The concave portion 23a has a form that opens downward and closes the upper portion. The upper protruding portion 23 is fixed to the concave portion 17 of the pusher portion 16. For example, the upper protrusion 23 is fitted into the recess 17 or is fixed by adhesion. The upper protruding portion 23 is a portion that allows light emitted from the LED 33 to pass therethrough.

  The flange portion 21 is a portion that is formed substantially horizontally on the outermost peripheral edge side of the dome member 20, and is in a state of floating from the substrate 30 in the illuminated pushbutton switch member 1 when the operation key 13 is not pressed. The dome 22 is a part that can be buckled and deformed by receiving pressure from the pusher portion 16. When the pressure from the pusher portion 16 is released, the dome 22 can return to the original inverted bowl shape.

  The first contact points 31, 32 are electrically connected to the inner surface of the dome 22 and in contact with the first contact points 31, 32 on the substrate 30 around the skirt of the upper protrusion 23. An annular second contact 25 is provided. When the dome 22 that receives the pressure from the pusher portion 16 is crushed downward, the second contact 25 comes into contact with the first contacts 31 and 32 that are separately arranged on the substrate 30, and the first contacts 31 and 32. Is made conductive. The second contact 25 may be a contact having any form such as a printed layer, a coating layer, a film, or a plate as long as it has excellent conductivity. Examples of the constituent material of the second contact 25 include metals having high conductivity such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, silver, gold, tungsten, tungsten alloy, iron, and SUS. Further, as the constituent material of the second contact 25, graphite, a conductive polymer, indium-tin oxide (ITO), or the like may be used in addition to the metal. As described above, the shape of the second contact 25 is preferably substantially circular in a plan view, but if the first contact 31 and 32 on the substrate 30 can be electrically connected, the shape of the second contact 25 is substantially It is not limited to an annular shape.

  The constituent material of the dome member 20 can be adopted without particular limitation as long as it is a light-transmitting resin. Preferably, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene, polyacetal, polyamide 6, polyamide 66, Polyamide 610, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, ABS resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), or a composite thereof, and more preferably polyethylene terephthalate.

  The dome member 20 is preferably provided with a fourth contact 24 and a diameter expansion reducing layer 26 on the lower surface of the opening end (in this embodiment, the flange portion 21). The fourth contact 24 is a contact that can contact the third contacts 34 and 35 on the substrate 30 to be described later to electrically connect the third contacts 34 and 35. The third contacts 34 and 35 and the fourth contact 24 follow the deformation of the pressing deformation member 12 prior to the electrical connection between the first contacts 31 and 32 and the second contact 25 by pushing the operation key 13 downward. It can be electrically connected. The fourth contact 24 may be a contact having any form such as a printed layer, a coating layer, a film, or a plate, as long as the second contact 25 is excellent in conductivity. As a constituent material of the fourth contact 24, the same material as that of the second contact 25 can be used. The shape of the fourth contact 24 is preferably substantially annular in plan view, like the second contact 25, but is not limited to a substantially annular shape.

  The diameter expansion reduction layer 26 is a layer having a function of reducing the expansion of the dome member 20 in the diameter expansion direction after the dome member 20 contacts the substrate 30. The diameter expansion reduction layer 26 may be of any material or shape as long as it has a larger friction coefficient with respect to the surface of the substrate 30 than the flange portion 21 of the dome member 20. In this embodiment, the diameter expansion reducing layer 26 is made of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate or polyether ether ketone (PEEK). When the dome member 20 is made of polyethylene terephthalate, the diameter expansion reducing layer 26 is made of polyethylene terephthalate having a larger friction coefficient than that of the dome member 20, or is made of the same kind of polyethylene terephthalate as the dome member 20, and is formed on the lower surface. Fine frictionalities may be formed to increase the friction coefficient. As shown in the enlarged view of part B of FIG. 3 (3A), in this embodiment, preferably, the substantially annular-shaped diameter expansion reduction layer 26 is radially outward of the substantially annular-shaped fourth contact 24. Is arranged. Moreover, as shown in the AA line sectional view, the annular width of the diameter expansion reducing layer 26 is preferably larger than the annular width of the fourth contact 24. This is to effectively prevent the dome member 20 from expanding radially outward. Note that the fourth contact point 24 may be positioned on the radially outer side of the diameter expansion reduction layer 26 in the opposite direction of the above-described positional relationship between the diameter expansion reduction layer 26 and the fourth contact point 24.

  The dome member 20 can be manufactured by drawing into a bowl shape while heating a transparent resin film using a mold. The heating conditions can be appropriately set depending on the type of the resin film. For example, when PET is used for the resin film, the dome member 20 can be manufactured under the condition that the resin film is held at 180 degrees for about 2 minutes. In order to prevent the shape of the dome member 20 from returning, it is preferable to perform an annealing process.

(3) Substrate The substrate 30 has the LED 33 fixed on its upper surface. In FIG. 1 and the subsequent drawings, the energization line for supplying power to the LED 33 is omitted. The substrate 30 includes a first contact 31 and a first contact 32 that are not in contact with each other outside the LED 33. As shown in FIG. 1, the first contact 31 and the first contact 32 have an annular band shape obtained by cutting an annular portion by an acute center angle. The first contact 31 and the first contact 32 are connected to a conduction line 31 a and a conduction line 32 a that extend from the upper surface of the substrate 30 to the back side of the substrate 30. When the second contact 25 of the dome member 20 comes into contact with the first contact 31 and the first contact 32, the first contact 31 and the first contact 32 that are not in contact with each other are electrically connected. Thereby, the switch of the illumination type pushbutton switch member 1 is turned on.

  Further, the substrate 30 includes a third contact 34 and a third contact 35 that are not in contact with each other on the outer side of the first contacts 31 and 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the third contact 34 and the third contact 35 have a quadrangular shape in plan view. The third contact 34 and the third contact 35 are connected to a conduction line 34 a and a conduction line 35 a that extend from the upper surface of the substrate 30 to the back side of the substrate 30. When the fourth contact 24 of the dome member 20 contacts the third contact 34 and the third contact 35, the third contact 34 and the third contact 35 are electrically connected. Thereby, the switch of the illumination type pushbutton switch member 1 is turned on. The third contacts 34 and 35 are preferably smaller in area than the first contacts 31 and 32. This is because the expansion of the dome member 20 to the outside in the radial direction can be effectively reduced by reducing the contact area between the diameter expansion reduction layer 26 and the third contacts 34 and 35.

  The substrate 30 is formed of a material having excellent insulating properties. As an example, a paper phenol substrate in which a paper base material is hardened with a phenol resin, a paper epoxy substrate in which a paper base material is hardened with an epoxy resin, and a glass fiber woven. Glass epoxy board with cloth hardened with epoxy resin, glass composite board with paper and glass base material mixed and hardened, ceramic board formed with highly insulating ceramics such as alumina, tetrafluoroethylene, polyimide, etc. A resin substrate formed of a highly insulating resin can be preferably exemplified.

(4) Overall Structure of Illuminated Pushbutton Switch Member The illuminated pushbutton switch member 1 includes a dome member 20 on the radially inner side of the pressing member 10 fixed on the substrate 30. The dome member 20 is suspended by fixing the upper protruding portion 23 to the pusher portion 16 of the pressing member 10 and is not in contact with the substrate 30. The fourth contact 24 is at a position opposite to the third contact 34, 35 in the vertical direction. The second contact 25 is formed on the inner surface of the dome 22 so that the dome 22 of the dome member 20 is buckled and deformed so as to be able to contact the first contacts 31 and 32 on the substrate 30. The upper protruding portion 23 is located in the vertically upward direction of the LED 33. For this reason, the light from the LED 33 passes through the top surface of the upper protrusion 23, passes through the operation key 13, and exits from the extracted character 15 in the outward direction. Even if the through hole is not formed on the top surface of the dome member 20, the light from the LED 33 can be transmitted to the operation key 13 side by configuring the dome member 20 with a translucent resin. Therefore, buckling deformation similar to that of the metal dome and light transmission that cannot be realized by the metal dome can be realized. Further, when the upper protrusion 23 is formed on the dome member 20 and the recess 23a is formed on the inside thereof, the light emitting means such as the LED 33 and the dome member 20 come into contact when the dome member 20 is crushed to the substrate 30 side. Can be prevented.

(5) Operation of illuminated pushbutton switch member

  In the non-pressed state shown in FIG. 3 (3 </ b> A), the opening end surface of the dome member 20 is separated from the substrate 30. In this state, when the operation key 13 is pressed toward the substrate 30 as indicated by the black arrow F1, the dome-shaped pressing deformation member 12 is deformed and fixed to the pusher portion 16 as shown in FIG. 3 (3B). The open end surface of the dome member 20 (the surface below the flange portion 21) contacts the substrate 30. At this time, when the fourth contact 24 comes into contact with the third contacts 34 and 35, the first-stage switch is turned on. Subsequently, when the operation key 13 is pressed toward the substrate 30 as indicated by the black arrow F2, the dome member 20 is buckled and deformed in the direction of the substrate 30 as shown in FIG. 3 (3C). Thus, the dome 22 located immediately below the lower end surface of the pusher portion 16 contacts the substrate 30. At this time, when the second contact 25 comes into contact with the first contacts 31 and 32, the second-stage switch is turned on.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the illuminated pushbutton switch member of the present invention will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, portions common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted for the description of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 in the illuminated pushbutton switch member according to the second embodiment.

  Unlike the illuminated pushbutton switch member 1 according to the first embodiment, the illuminated pushbutton switch member 1a according to the second embodiment reduces the diameter expansion without providing the fourth contact 24 on the opening end surface of the dome member 20. Only the layer 26 is provided, and the substrate 30 is not provided with the third contacts 34, 35 and related structures. The main structure other than the above-described difference in the illumination type push button switch member 1a is common to the illumination type push button switch member 1. For this reason, the difference will be mainly described below.

  Since the dome member 20 includes only the diameter reduction layer 26 on the lower surface of the flange portion 21 (see an enlarged view of part B), the pressing from the operation key 13 is continuously performed after contact with the substrate 30. However, it is possible to secure a larger contact area between the substrate 30 and the diameter reduction layer 26 and to generate a larger frictional resistance. As a result, the dome member 20 is difficult to expand radially outward after the flange portion 21 contacts the substrate 30. The illuminated pushbutton switch member 1a does not include the fourth contact 24 and the third contacts 34 and 35 provided in the illuminated pushbutton switch member 1 according to the first embodiment. This is performed only by contact between the one contact 31, 32 and the second contact 25. That is, switching is performed only once. However, a total of two operational feelings are obtained until the dome member 20 contacts the substrate 30 and thereafter until the dome 22 is buckled and switching is performed.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the illuminated pushbutton switch member of the present invention will be described. In the description of the third embodiment, portions common to the previous embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted for the description of the previous embodiments.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 of the illuminated pushbutton switch member according to the third embodiment.

  Unlike the illumination type push button switch member 1 according to the first embodiment, the illumination type push button switch member 1b according to the third embodiment does not include the fourth contact 24 on the opening end surface of the dome member 20, and the adhesive layer 27 is provided. The opening end face of the dome member 20 and the substrate 30 are fixed via the adhesive layer 27. Further, the pusher portion 16 and the upward projecting portion 23 of the dome member 20 are not fixed. Further, the pressing member 10 includes a fourth contact 18 in the vicinity of the boundary portion between the flange portion 11 and the pressing deformation member 12. Further, the substrate 30 is provided with third contacts 34 and 35 at a position facing the fourth contact 18 in a non-contact state with the fourth contact 18. The main structure of the illuminated pushbutton switch member 1b other than the above differences is the same as that of the illuminated pushbutton switch member 1. For this reason, the difference will be mainly described below.

  The dome member 20 has an opening end surface fixed to the substrate 30 via an adhesive layer 27. The adhesive layer 27 is, for example, a double-sided tape or a hardened layer of an adhesive, but is not limited thereto. The concave portion 17 formed inward of the pusher portion 16 is inserted into the upward projecting portion 23 of the dome member 20 in an unfixed state. As shown in FIG. 5, when the operation key 13 is not pressed, the upper protruding portion 23 is preferably inserted into the concave portion 17 halfway in the length direction of the cylindrical body. This is because in the non-pressed state, if the concave portion 17 is not inserted into the upper protruding portion 23, the upper protruding portion 23 may not smoothly enter the concave portion 17 when the operation key 13 is pressed downward. . When the operation key 13 is pressed toward the substrate 30, the pressing deformation member 12 is deformed, and the pusher portion 16 moves downward to contact the upper portion of the dome 22. At substantially the same time, the fourth contact 18 comes into contact with the third contacts 34 and 35 on the substrate 30 and the first stage switching is performed. Subsequently, when the pusher portion 16 presses the dome member 20 downward, the dome 22 of the dome member 20 is buckled, and the second contact 25 comes into contact with the first contacts 31 and 32 on the substrate 30 at once. To do. As a result, the second stage switching is performed.

(Other embodiments)
As described above, the preferred embodiments of the illuminated pushbutton switch member of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, the operation key 13 may include a pusher portion 16 that does not include the concave portion 17 immediately below the operation key 13. Further, the dome member 20 may not include the upward projecting portion 23. When the dome member 20 is not provided with the upward projecting portion 23, the LED 33 may come into contact with the top surface of the dome member 20 when the dome 22 is buckled. In order to reduce this risk, it is preferable to arrange the LED 33 so as not to protrude upward from the substrate 30.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 of an illuminated pushbutton switch member according to a modification.

  The illuminated pushbutton switch member 1c according to the modified example fixes a pusher portion 16 that does not include the concave portion 17 and a top surface of the dome member 20 that does not include the upper protruding portion 23 via a transparent adhesive layer 19. The dome member 20 includes an annular fourth contact 24 on an opening end surface thereof (see an enlarged view of part B). The fourth contact 24 is at a position opposite to the third contacts 34 and 35 so that the third contact 34 and 35 can contact the third contacts 34 and 35 on the substrate 30 when the dome member 20 is pressed downward. Thus, the illumination type pushbutton switch member 1c can fix the pressing member 10 and the dome member 20 without including the upward projecting portion 23 and the concave portion 17. Moreover, the dome member 20 does not necessarily need to include the diameter reduction layer 26 provided in the first embodiment, only by providing the fourth contact 24 only on the opening end surface of the dome member 20. The LED 33 does not protrude upward from the substrate 30 but is fitted into a through-hole formed in the substrate 30 and is electrically connected to the back side of the substrate 30. For this reason, even if the dome 22 is buckled and deformed close to the substrate 30, the risk that the LED 33 contacts the dome member 20 can be reduced.

  As a modification, light emitting means other than the LED 33 may be used. As such a light emitting means, for example, a sheet-like organic EL or inorganic EL can be used. The first contacts 31 and 32 are contacts separated into two, but may be contacts separated into three or more. The light emitting means represented by the LED 33 is provided directly below the upper protrusion 23 in each of the first to third embodiments, but it is not necessarily required to be directly below. Here, “directly below” means vertically below the upper protrusion 23.

  The various constituent elements of the illuminated pushbutton switch members 1, 1a, 1b, and 1c can be arbitrarily combined with each other unless they cannot be combined. For example, the fourth structure 18 and the third contacts 34 and 35 may be provided on the illuminated pushbutton switch member 1a by combining the structures of the illuminated pushbutton switch members 1a and 1b. Further, by combining the structures of the illumination type push button switch members 1 and 1c, in the illumination type push button switch member 1, only the fourth contact 24 may be provided on the opening end surface of the dome member 20.

  The illuminated pushbutton switch member according to the present invention can be used in various devices including operation keys such as portable communication devices, PCs, cameras, in-vehicle electronic devices, home audio devices, and home appliances.

1, 1a, 1b, 1c ... Illuminated pushbutton switch member, 10 ... Press member, 12 ... Press deformation member, 13 ... Operation key, 17 ... Recess, 18, 24 ... Fourth contact point, 20 ... Dome member, 21 ... Flange part (part including the opening end face), 23 ... Upper protrusion part (protrusion part), 23a ... Recess part, 25 ... Second contact point , 26 ... Diameter expansion reduction layer, 30 ... Substrate, 31, 32 ... First contact, 33 ... LED (an example of light emitting means), 34, 35 ... Third contact

Claims (7)

Light emitting means;
A resin dome member capable of covering the light emitting means and allowing light emitted from the light emitting means to pass through;
An operation key disposed on the projecting surface side of the dome member and having at least a part of translucency;
A pressing deformation member made of a rubber-like elastic body that is deformable in accordance with the pressing of the operation key and has a smaller deformation resistance than the dome member;
A first contact disposed on the outer peripheral side of the light emitting means inside the dome member;
A second contact that is fixed to the dome member, and is electrically connectable to the first contact by deformation of the dome member when the operation key is pushed toward the dome member;
An illuminated pushbutton switch member.   A third contact and a fourth contact that can be electrically connected in accordance with the deformation of the pressing deformation member prior to electrical connection between the first contact and the second contact by pressing the operation key. Item 2. The illuminated pushbutton switch member according to Item 1.   The illuminated pushbutton switch member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an opening end face of the dome member is provided apart from a substrate on which the light emitting means is fixed.   The illuminated pushbutton switch member according to claim 3, wherein the opening end surface is provided with a diameter expansion reduction layer for reducing expansion of the dome member in a diameter expansion direction after contact with the substrate.   The illumination type pushbutton switch member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an opening end face of the dome member is fixed to a substrate for fixing the light emitting means. On the projecting surface side of the dome member, a projecting portion projecting to the operation key side is provided,
The illumination type pushbutton switch member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the concave portion on the operation key side and the protruding portion are fixed.   The illumination type pushbutton switch member according to claim 6, wherein the light emitting means is provided immediately below the projecting portion.