JP2593320Y2 - Illuminated switch device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push-type illuminated switch device in which a light guide is exposed to the front of an operation member so that, for example, an exposed end face of the light guide is illuminated in a switch-on state. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a structure for attaching a light guide to an operation member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of a push-type switch device used in an in-vehicle electronic device or the like, if the ON / OFF state can be visually recognized instantaneously, the usability is improved. Illuminated switch devices are widely used in which a body is fitted and exposed to the front, and an exposed end face of the light guide emits light in a switch-on state.

FIG. 5 is an assembly explanatory view showing an operation member and a light guide of such a conventional illuminated switch device.

In FIG. 1, an operation member denoted by reference numeral 1 has a switch driving portion 1a projecting rearward and a hook-shaped bearing portion 1b projecting upward.
The operation member 1 is rotatably attached to the mounting member by rotatably fitting the bearing portion 1b to a ridge portion or a shaft portion of a mounting member (not shown). The operation member 1 is provided with an opening 1d exposed at a predetermined position on a front surface 1c thereof and minute projections 1e projecting from upper and lower inner wall surfaces. The light guide is made of a transparent material such as acrylic. The body 2 is fitted from the rear of the operation member 1 and can be attached to a predetermined position. That is, the light guide 2 provided with the flange 2a
When the distal end surface 2b is aligned with the opening 1d of the operating member 1 and pushed into the operating member 1 from the rear, the flange 2e slightly deforms the operating member 1 in the vertical direction. At this point, the leading end of the light guide 2 is inserted into the opening 1d, and the minute protrusion 1e functions as a stopper for the flange 2a.
Is held by the operating member 1 in a state of being exposed on the front surface 1c of the operating member 1.

[0005] The operating member 1 into which the light guide 2 has been fitted in this manner.
After being rotatably attached to the mounting member as described above,
The operator is located in front of a printed circuit board on which a push button switch, an LED (light emitting element), etc.
When the switch c is pushed in, the switch driving section 1a presses the push button switch to switch on / off contacts, and the rear end face of the light guide 2 is opposed to the LED. The tip surface 2b emits light when the push button switch is turned on.

[0006]

The above-mentioned conventional illuminated switch device has a structure in which the minute projection 1e receives an external force applied to the light guide 2 from the front. Needs some rigidity, so light guide 2
Since the wall cannot be excessively bent when the light guide 2 is fitted, the height of the minute projection 1e must be kept small. When the light guide 2 is pushed strongly,
May fall off the operation member 1 after getting over the minute projection 1e.

In the above-described conventional illuminated switch device, the light incident on the back side of the operation member 1 from obliquely rear reaches the front end surface 2b through the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 2, so that the light is guided. When a light source used for another purpose is installed near the LED for the light body 2, even if a light shielding wall is devised, light directed toward the back side of the operation member 1 that is rotated is completely blocked. Therefore, there is a possibility that such undesired light leaks to the tip end surface 2b of the light guide 2 to cause light leakage.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated switch device which can prevent a light guide from falling off an operation member during operation and can prevent light leakage. To provide.

[0009]

[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] To achieve the above object
In the present invention, the switch drive unit is provided to project rearward.
Operating member, the front surface of which is pressed, and the operating member
And is pushed behind by the switch drive unit.
And a push button switch to be inserted into the operation member.
A light guide whose end face is exposed on the front surface of the operation member;
A first light source for emitting light from an exposed end surface of the body;
Second light for emitting light other than the exposed end surface of the light body
An illumination switch device comprising:
One end of the opening exposed on the front side of the operating member is
And the light guide is smaller than the other open end located at
At least a cylinder that has an internal shape that is almost equivalent to the external shape of the front part
When the light guide is inserted into this cylindrical part,
In addition, a light shielding wall is arranged between the light guide and the second light source.
This light-shielding wall is partially overlapped with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.
The most important feature is the burlap.

[0010]

The operation member having the tubular portion is inserted into the tubular portion from the front so that the distal end surface of the light guide is exposed to the front surface of the operating member. Since at least the front portion of the light guide can be fitted into the cylindrical portion, the light guide inserted into the operation member in such a manner that the removal direction is opposite to the pressing force at the time of operation, and the light guide is dropped. There is no fear, and the cylindrical portion and the light-shielding wall installed outside thereof
As a result, the light guide is reliably shielded from the second light source, so that the second
The undesired light from the light source can be blocked by the cylindrical portion, and light leakage can be prevented.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the illuminated switch device according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment, and FIG. It is an assembly explanatory view showing an optical body.

In these figures, an operation member denoted by reference numeral 3 includes a switch driving portion 3a and a cylindrical portion 3d facing rearward.
And a hook-shaped bearing portion 3b
The operating member 3 is rotatably mounted on the mounting member 5 by rotatably fitting the bearing portion 3b into a projection (not shown) of the mounting member 5 such as a panel. Be worn. Here, the cylindrical portion 3d is formed so as to have an internal shape substantially equal to the external shape from the front end portion to the central portion of the light guide 4 made of a transparent material such as acrylic. 4, the size of both ends of the cylindrical portion 3d is determined by the operation member 3
The one open end 3e exposed on the front surface 3c is larger than the other open end 3f located rearward. A slot 3g is provided at the rear end of the cylindrical portion 3d.
Therefore, the rear end is given some flexibility.
On the other hand, on the outer peripheral portion of the light guide 4, a locking portion for engaging with the rear end face 3 h of the cylindrical portion 3 d is provided immediately behind a portion fitted into the cylindrical portion 3 d of the operating member 3. A claw 4a is protrudingly provided, and the light guide 4 is held by the operation member 3 by being inserted into the cylindrical portion 3d from the front of the operation member 3 as shown in FIG.

That is, when the light guide 4 is fitted into the operation member 3, the light guide 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 3d from the front of the operation member 3.
If the light guide 4 is inserted from the rear end face side, when the locking claw 4a of the light guide 4 slightly spreads the rear end of the cylindrical portion 3d and passes through the cylindrical portion 3d, The portion from the front end to the center of the light guide 4 is fitted into the cylindrical portion 3d. At this time, the light guide 4 has its front end surface 4b exposed on the front surface 3c of the operation member 3. In addition, the position of the locking claw 4a is restricted by the rear end face 3h of the cylindrical portion 3d, so that the locking claw 4a is prevented from dropping forward.

The operating member 3 into which the light guide 4 has been fitted as described above.
After being rotatably attached to the mounting member 5 such as a panel as described above, it is disposed in front of the printed circuit board 8 on which the push button switch 6 and the LED 7 are mounted. As shown in FIG. The rear end face of the light guide 4 is made to face the LED 7 while the rear end face of the light guide 4 is made to face the push button switch 6. The LED 7 is connected on the printed circuit board 8 so as to be turned on when the push button switch 6 is turned on and turned off when the push button switch 6 is turned off.

When the operator pushes the front surface 3c of the operating member 3 by a predetermined amount, the push button switch 6 is pressed and driven via the switch driving section 3a to turn on and off the contact switch. When the push button switch 6 is turned on, an LED is provided.
7 is turned on and the tip end surface 4b of the light guide 4 emits light, so that the on / off state of the push button switch 6 can be visually recognized instantaneously.

Reference numeral 9 in FIG. 1 denotes a lamp mounted on a printed circuit board 8 for irradiating light to an illuminated area near the operating member 3 on the front surface of the mounting member 5, and Reference numeral 10 in the figure denotes a printed circuit board 8 to prevent light from the LED 7 and the lamp 9 from leaking in an undesired direction.
The light-shielding wall erected above is shown. 1 and 2
As is clear, the light shielding wall 10 projects from the cylindrical portion 3b.
A light shielding wall located between the rear end of the light guide 4 and the lamp 9.
The upper end of 10 partially overlaps the rear end of the cylindrical portion 3b.
I'm up.

As described above, in this embodiment, the light guide 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 3d from the front of the operation member 3 so that the light guide 4 is moved from the front end to the center. The front end surface 4b can be attached to the front surface 3c of the operation member 3 while the front end portion 4b is exposed while fitting the portion to the inside of the cylindrical portion 3d. Unlike the mounting structure in which the light guide 4 is fitted, the pulling direction of the light guide 4 inserted into the operation member 3 is opposite to the pressing force at the time of operation. Therefore, even if the distal end surface 4b of the light guide 4 is strongly pushed in locally during operation, the light guide 4 is
There is no risk of falling off from Even if a force that pushes the light guide 4 forward due to vibration or the like is generated, the force is not so large, so that the locking claw 4a of the light guide 4 is engaged with the rear end face 3h of the cylindrical portion 3d. By simply stopping, falling off to the front can be reliably prevented.

When the lamp 9 is disposed obliquely rearward of the operation member 3 as shown in FIG. 1, the light from the lamp 9 traveling to the back side of the operation member 3 can be completely blocked only by the light shielding wall 10. Is difficult, but if the cylindrical portion 3d covers the light guide 4 from the front end to the center as in this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 3d complements the light shielding wall 10. , The run incident on the back side of the operation member 3
Undesired light from the lamp 9 is blocked by the cylindrical portion 3b and the light shielding wall 10.
And the undesired light enters the outer peripheral surface of the light guide 4
Light leakage such as leakage from the end face 4b can be reliably prevented.

In the above embodiment, the light guide 4 has a tapered shape whose outer diameter gradually increases from the center to the tip. However, by providing a step, the outer diameter at the tip is reduced. The present invention is applicable even if a non-tapered light guide having a large size is used. However, when the tubular member of the operation member is fitted to the step portion of such a light guide, the LED
There is a risk that light from a light source, such as the light source, may form a shadow on the step portion and be visually observed. Therefore, a tapered shape as in the embodiment is preferable.

In the above embodiment, the tip surface 4b of the light guide 4 emits light when the push button switch 6 is in the on state. However, the light is not used for confirming the on / off state of the push button switch, but in a dark place. The exposed end face of the light guide may be made to emit light for confirming the position of the operation member.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a locking claw 4a is provided on the light guide 4 as an engagement means for preventing the light guide 4 inserted into the operation member 3 from dropping forward due to vibration or the like. However, it is also possible to omit such an engagement means by firmly fitting the light guide to the operation member.

[0022]

As described above, in the illuminated switch device according to the present invention, the light guide can be inserted and fitted into the tubular portion from the front of the operating member. The withdrawal direction of the light body is opposite to the pressing force at the time of operation, so that even if the front end face of the light guide is strongly pushed in locally, there is no danger that the light guide will fall out of the operation member. And provided on the cylindrical part and outside thereof.
The light guide is positioned with respect to the second light source by the placed light shielding wall.
Since the light is reliably shielded, undesired light from the second light source that enters the back side of the operation member can be blocked by the cylindrical portion, and light leakage can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an illuminated switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an assembly explanatory view showing an operation member and a light guide of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an assembly explanatory view showing an operation member and a light guide of a conventional illuminated switch device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Operating member 3a Switch drive part 3c Front surface 3d Cylindrical part 3e, 3f Open end 3g Slot 3h Rear end surface 4 Light guide 4a Locking claw 4b Tip surface (exposed end surface) 5 Mounting member 6 Push button switch 7 LED ( first) light source) 8 PCB 9 lamp (second light source) 10 light shielding wall

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] An operation member having a switch driving section protruding rearward and having a front surface pressed; a push button switch disposed behind the operation member and driven to be pressed by the switch driving section; A light guide that is fitted into the operation member and one end surface of which is exposed to the front surface of the operation member; a first light source for emitting light from the exposed end surface of the light guide;
Second light for emitting light other than the exposed end surface of the light body
A light source switch device having a light source , wherein at least one front end of the light guide is formed such that one opening end exposed to the front surface of the operation member is larger than the other opening end located rearward. It is assumed that a cylindrical portion having an internal shape substantially equivalent to the external shape is protruded, and the light guide is inserted into the cylindrical portion.
In addition, a light shielding wall is arranged between the light guide and the second light source.
This light-shielding wall is partially overlapped with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.
Illuminated switch device which is characterized in that is burlap. 2. The tubular member according to claim 1, wherein a slit is provided at a rear end of the tubular portion of the operating member to provide flexibility, and the tubular portion is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the light guide. An illuminated switch device comprising a locking claw for engaging with a rear end surface of the switch.