JP2876570B2 - Keyboard switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard switch operated by a plurality of key tops.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a panel switch catalog (catalog number PSW-001, catalog number) of Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd.
FIG. 1 is a structural cross-sectional view of a conventional switch shown in FIG. 1 (October 1989), where 1 is an external housing provided with a plurality of through holes 1a, 2 is a frame made of a transparent material,
Reference numeral 3 denotes a sheet-like switch having a plurality of switch portions, and each switch portion is disposed at a position facing the through hole 1a of the external housing 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a key top provided corresponding to a switch portion (contact portion) of the sheet-like switch. Each of the key tops is bonded so as to be able to move up and down the through hole 1a of the external housing 1, and is provided on the lower surface. The projection 4a is provided.

[0005] Reference numeral 5 denotes a space between the key top 4 and the sheet-like switch 3 whose circumference is the same as that of the sheet-like switch 3.
A dome-shaped leaf spring is disposed so that its apex is in contact with the protrusion 4a of the key top 4. Reference numeral 6 denotes a printed board on which an electrode pattern (not shown) is formed; A light emitting (LED) element that is electrically connected to the pattern by soldering or the like, penetrates the sheet-like switch 3, and is embedded in the frame 2.

[0004] Next, the operation of the switch configured as described above will be described. First, the switch operation of the sheet-like switch 3 is such that when the keytop 4 is in a steady state, the contact of the switch section of the sheet-like switch 3 facing the keytop 4 is open.
Is in the OFF state. On the other hand, by applying a voltage from the end of the electrode pattern formed on the printed circuit board 6 provided separately from the electric circuit of the switch section of the sheet-like switch 3, the LED element 7 is turned on. Thus, the LED element 7 emits light, and the light passes through the inside of the frame 2 and illuminates the upper surface of the keytop 4, thereby enhancing the visibility of the display on the upper surface of the keytop 4.

[0005] Any illuminated key top 4
, The projection 4a formed at the lower part of the key top 4 starts to push up the leaf spring 5 provided thereon, and the leaf spring 5 has a dome shape with its fulcrum as its circumference. When it is further pushed up, it is reversed and pushes down the movable sheet of the switch section of the sheet-like switch 3 facing the key top 4. As a result, the contacts of the switch section of the sheet switch 3 come into contact, and the switch section of the sheet switch 3 is turned on.

A switch of this type is disclosed in
There is one disclosed in JP-A-235108. FIG. 8 is disclosed in this publication.
Reference numerals 7 to 7 denote the same or corresponding parts as those in the conventional example shown in FIG. 7, and 8 denotes a key-top body integrally formed of rubber, in which a plurality of key-tops are respectively connected by thin portions 8a. It is. Reference numeral 9 denotes a hard projection integrally formed at a lower portion of each of the key tops of the key top body 8, and is provided at a lower end thereof so as to engage with a recess formed at a central portion of the leaf spring 5. .

[0007] Even in the switch configured as described above, the switch section of the sheet-like switch 3 is set to the OFF state when in the steady state, as in the conventional example shown in FIG. By pressing down the key top of the key top body 8, the leaf spring 5 provided with the projection 9 formed at the lower portion of the key top is pressed down and inverted, and the switch portion of the sheet-like switch 3 facing the key top is turned off. By pressing down the movable sheet, the switch section of the sheet-like switch 3 is turned on.

[0008]

In the conventional device as described above, the total thickness of the three components of the printed circuit board 6 in which the LED element 7 also functions as a reinforcing plate is the thickness as a keyboard switch, It was difficult to reduce the thickness. L between the external housing 1 and the sheet switch 3.
The frame 2 which is a light guide for guiding the light from the ED element 7 to the key top 4 is required. In order to reduce the thickness of the keyboard switch, the frame 2 must be thin. Processing accuracy deteriorates, LE
The light from the D element 7 causes irregular reflection at the end face, and the visibility from the upper surface of the key top 4 is reduced. In order to prevent the visibility from being reduced, the processing accuracy of the end face of the frame 2 is increased. Therefore, there is a problem that processing is very difficult and workability is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to obtain a keyboard switch that can be made thinner and has sufficient visibility.

[0010]

In a keyboard switch according to the present invention, a sheet-like switch having a switch portion, and a key-top arranged opposite to the surface of the sheet-like switch and opposed to the switch portion are provided. And a second polymer film having a conductive pattern disposed opposite to the back surface of the first polymer film, wherein the second polymer film has a light emitting element. And a light emitting element housing hole is formed on the back side of the key top, and the light emitting element is positioned in the light emitting element housing hole of the key top through the first polymer film.

The sheet-like switch includes a sheet-like switch having a switch portion, and a polymer film disposed opposite to the surface of the sheet-like switch and having a keytop opposite to the switch portion. In addition to providing a conductive pattern and a light emitting element, a light emitting element housing hole was formed on the back side of the key top, and the light emitting element was located in the light emitting element housing hole of the key top through the polymer film. Things.

[0012]

In the keyboard switch configured as described above, a second polymer film having a conductive pattern is arranged between the front surface of the sheet-like switch and the back surface of the first polymer film having key tops. Then, a light emitting element is provided on the second polymer film, and the light emitting element is positioned through the first polymer film in a light emitting element housing hole formed on the back side of the key top.

Further, a polymer film having a key top is disposed on the surface of the sheet-like switch, a conductive pattern and a light-emitting element are provided, and the light-emitting element provided on the sheet-like switch is formed on the back side of the key-top. The polymer film is positioned so as to penetrate the hole for element storage.

[0014]

【Example】

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes an external housing provided with a plurality of through holes 1a, and 2 denotes a first frame, in which a through hole 2a is formed at a position facing each through hole 1a of the external housing 1. is there. Reference numeral 3 denotes a sheet-like switch which is a plate-like switch having a plurality of switch portions 3a, a movable sheet having a movable contact fixed to the switch portion 3a, a fixed sheet having a fixed contact fixed to the switch portion 3a, and a movable sheet. It is constituted by a plate sandwiched between the sheet and the fixed sheet.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a transparent switch made of a transparent hard material, for example, a hard resin such as an acrylic resin, which is arranged corresponding to the switch portion (contact portion) of the sheet-like switch. Key tops, each of which has a through hole 1a of the outer housing 1 and a through hole 2 of the frame 2
a is mounted so as to be able to move up and down, a projection 4a is provided on the lower surface, and a light emitting element housing hole 4b is formed in the lower portion. Reference numeral 5 denotes a position between the key top and the sheet-like switch 3, the circumference of which is on the sheet-like switch 3, and the vertex is the key-top 4.
A dome-shaped leaf spring 10 is disposed so as to be in contact with the projection 4a of the first switch 3. The first spring 10 is a first polymer film made of a translucent polyester film or the like disposed opposite to the surface of the sheet-like switch 3. The key tops 4 are fixed to the front surface of the sheet-like switch 3 at positions facing the respective switch portions 3a with an adhesive, and are sandwiched between the rear surface of the external housing 1 and the frame 2. The light-emitting element through-hole 10a is disposed, and the projection 4a of the key-top 4 penetrates and the light-emitting element accommodating hole 4b of the key-top 4 is formed.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a reinforcing plate on which the sheet-like switch 3 is mounted, and reference numeral 13 denotes a conductive plate which is disposed so as to face the rear surface of the first polymer film 10 and is in contact with the rear surface of the frame 2. A hole 13a through which the tip of the leaf spring 5 penetrates is formed of a second polymer film made of a patterned polyimide film or the like,
Light-emitting element storage hole 4b of key top 4 on the surface
The light-emitting elements 7 are mounted on the first polymer film 10 at positions facing the light-emitting element through-holes 10a, respectively, and are electrically connected to the conductive patterns, and the mounted light-emitting elements 7 face each other. The front end is housed in the light-emitting element housing hole 4b that penetrates the element through-hole 10a and is opposed to the light-emitting element housing hole 4b.
It is arranged with having.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a second frame which is interposed between the back surface of the second polymer film 13 and the surface of the reinforcing plate 12. The second frame 14 is located at a position facing the leaf spring 5. 5 has a hole 14a formed therethrough.

Next, the operation of the keyboard switch configured as described above will be described. First, the switch operation of the sheet-like switch 3 is such that when the keytop 4 is in a steady state, the contact of the switch portion 3a of the sheet-like switch 3 facing the keytop 4 is open, The switch unit 3a of No. 3 is in an OFF state.
In addition, there is an interval A between the light emitting element housing hole 4 b of the key top 4 and the top of the light emitting element 7, which is equal to or longer than the operating distance of the flat switch 3. On the other hand, by applying a voltage from the end of the conductive pattern formed on the second polymer film 13 provided separately from the electric circuit of the switch portion 3a of the sheet-like switch 3, the LED element 7 is turned on. The LED element 7 emits light, and the light passes directly through the inside of the key top and illuminates the upper surface, and the accuracy of the display transparency of the upper surface of the key top 4 is greatly improved, and the visibility is improved. Is increasing.

Then, any illuminated key top 4
Is pushed up, the first polymer film 10 bends with the end of the frame 2 as a fulcrum, whereby the key top 4 moves downward, and the projection 4a formed at the lower part of the key top 4 abuts. The leaf spring 5 starts to be depressed, and the leaf spring 5 has a dome shape with its fulcrum as its circumference. The movable sheet of the section 3a is pushed down. As a result, the contacts of the switch of the sheet switch 3 come into contact, and the switch of the switch 3 of the sheet switch 3 is turned on.

In assembling the keyboard switch, a plurality of key tops 4 are fixed to the first polymer film 10 with an adhesive and integrated, and the integrated key tops 4 are collectively assembled in the outer casing 1. It can be mounted on the back of the device and has good assembling workability. Further, since the first polymer film 10 is mounted on the entire surface between the outer casing 1 and the frame 2, it is possible to prevent liquid such as water from entering the inside through the through hole 1a of the outer casing 1, thereby preventing the liquid. It has a drop structure.

Moreover, since the key top 4 is made of a hard material, the key top 4 is not deformed and moves straight down, so that the operational feeling is not reduced. Furthermore, the LED element 7 is mounted on the second polymer film 13 on which the conductive pattern is formed. Since the front end portion is housed in the hole 4b, sufficient brightness can be obtained on the upper surface of the key top 4, and the keyboard switch as a whole can be made thin without disturbing the switch operation of the key top 4. Is what it is. Further, since the frame 2 does not need to guide the light from the light emitting element 7 as in the above-described conventional example,
The material does not necessarily need to have a light-transmitting property, and further, the end face does not need to be subjected to a process requiring extremely high processing accuracy, the workability is improved, and the thickness can be further reduced.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In place of the one-piece structure of the key top 4 and the first polymer film 10 of the first embodiment, a key top body integrally molded with a rubber structure is used. 8 is assumed. The key top body 8 has a plurality of key tops 8b and a thin portion 8a for connecting the key tops 8b to each other. The key tops 8b have the same protrusions 4 as in the first embodiment.
a and a light emitting element housing hole 4b. The device according to the second embodiment operates in the same manner as the first embodiment and has the same effect.

In the first embodiment described above,
Although an acrylic resin is shown as the key top 4, another hard resin may be used, and a polyester film is shown as the first polymer film 10, but other polymer films are used. It is a good thing.
Further, in the above-described example 1, the polyimide film is used as the second polymer film 13, but other polymer films may be used.
Although a switch using a sheet-like switch is shown as the switch 3 on the flat plate, any structure may be used as long as pressure and displacement can be sensed. Furthermore, the key top 4 is fixed to the first polymer film 10 with the adhesive 11, but the key top 4 may be fixed to the first film 10 by fusion or the like.

Embodiment 3 4 and 5 show a third embodiment of the present invention.
A conductive pattern is formed on the surface of the movable sheet 3c of the sheet switch 3, which is a flat switch, without using the second polymer film 13 and the frame 14, as compared with the above-described first embodiment. Example 1 on sheet
And the function of the second polymer film.

The third embodiment operates similarly to the first and second embodiments and has the same effects. Further, in the case of the third embodiment,
Since the second polymer film 13 and the frame 14 are not required, there is an effect that the number of parts is reduced and the thickness can be further reduced.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a key top body 8 integrally molded with rubber is used instead of the integral structure of the key top 4 and the polymer film 10 of the third embodiment described above. It is. The key top body 8 has a plurality of key tops 8b and a thin portion 8a that connects between the key tops 8b. The key tops 8b have the same projections 4a and 4a as in the third embodiment. The light emitting element storage hole 4b is formed. The device according to the fourth embodiment operates similarly to the above-described first to third embodiments and has the same effect.

In the above-described third embodiment,
Although the key top 4 is shown using an acrylic resin, other hard resin may be used.
Although the one using a polyester film was shown as
Other polymer films may be used. Also,
In the above-described third and fourth embodiments, a switch using a sheet-like switch as the flat-plate switch 3 has been described, but any structure may be used as long as pressure and displacement can be sensed. Things. Further, the key top 4 is fixed to the polymer film 10 with an adhesive. However, the key top 4 may be fixed to the polymer film 10 by fusion or the like.

[0028]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

A light emitting element is provided on the second polymer film,
Since this light emitting element is positioned so as to penetrate the first polymer film in the light emitting element accommodating hole formed on the back side of the key top, the brightness of the upper surface of the key top is improved, and the overall thickness of the keyboard switch is reduced. Can be planned.

Further, a light emitting element is provided on a sheet-like switch having a conductive pattern, and the light emitting element is positioned through a polymer film in a light emitting element housing hole formed on the back side of the key top. The brightness of the keyboard switch can be improved, and the keyboard switch as a whole can be made thinner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded sectional view of a keyboard switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of a keyboard switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a keyboard switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of a keyboard switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of a keyboard switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of a keyboard switch according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part showing a conventional keyboard switch.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part showing a conventional keyboard switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 3 sheet switch, 4 key top, 4b hole for storing light emitting element, 7 light emitting element, 8 key top body, 10
First polymer film, 12 reinforcing plate, 13 second polymer film.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-78120 (JP, A) JP-A-2-148633 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application No. 63-60225 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application No. 64- 19223 (JP, U) JP-A-1-164622 (JP, U) JP-A-2-52230 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01H 13/00-13 / 76

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet-like switch having a switch section, and a sheet-like switch arranged opposite to a surface of the sheet-like switch,
A first polymer film having a key top facing the switch portion; and a second polymer film having a conductive pattern disposed opposite to a back surface of the first polymer film; A light emitting element is provided on the second polymer film, a light emitting element housing hole is formed on the back side of the key top, and the light emitting element is penetrated through the first polymer film to house the light emitting element of the key top. Keyboard switch characterized by being located in the hole. 2. A sheet-like switch having a switch unit, and a sheet-like switch arranged opposite to a surface of the sheet-like switch,
A polymer film having a key top facing the switch portion, a conductive pattern and a light emitting element provided on the sheet-like switch, and a light emitting element housing hole formed on the back side of the key top; A keyboard switch penetrating through the polymer film and positioned in the light-emitting element housing hole of the key top.