JP4012400B2 - Movable member for switch and switch device using the movable member - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a switch movable member used for an operation panel of a portable electronic device and a switch device using the switch, and more particularly to a switch movable member that can illuminate the position of a key when operating the key in a dark place. And a switch device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional switch device has a movable member in which a dome-shaped plate spring 53 made of metal is bonded to the back surface of a film-like sheet 51.
[0003]
In the switch device, the leaf spring 53 functions as a movable contact. The sheet 51 is disposed so that the leaf spring 53 faces the fixed contacts 56 and 57 formed on the substrate 55. On the sheet 51, operation keys 60 are arranged so that the top of the leaf spring 53 can be pressed.
[0004]
When the operation key 60 is pressed, the top of the leaf spring 53 is pressed by the operation key 60, and the leaf spring 53 is reversed from the convex state to the concave state to come into contact with the fixed contact 56, and the fixed contacts 56, 57. Is turned on through the leaf spring 53. At this time, a click feeling is transmitted to the operation key 60 by reversing the leaf spring 53. When the pressing of the operation key 60 is released, the top of the leaf spring 53 is again in a convex state.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, such a conventional switch device has a problem that it is difficult to understand the position of the operation key 60 in a dark place, and it is easy to perform an erroneous operation.
[0006]
Further, in some conventional portable terminals, a light source such as an LED is provided in the apparatus, and the operation keys are illuminated with light emitted from the light source. In this type of portable terminal, the LED is turned on for a predetermined time by pressing an operation key. However, after the LED is turned off, the operation key becomes dark and the operation key cannot be visually observed, which is inconvenient. Also, if the LED is lit for a long time, the battery is consumed too quickly.
[0007]
The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a movable member for a switch that can illuminate a key operation portion even when light from a light source is not emitted, and a switch device using the same. It is aimed.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The movable part for a switch according to the present invention includes a leaf spring for a movable contact formed of an elastically deformable conductive plate material and curved in a projecting manner toward the center, and a phosphor layer made of a phosphorescent material or a luminescent pigment. , a sheet and a flexible and made translucent insulating material have been overlapped et al,
On the surface of the convex side of the leaf spring, the light emitter layer are fixed by the adhesive layer, and characterized in that the leaf spring and opposite side surfaces of the light-emitting layer, wherein the sheet are stacked To do.
[0009]
In such a switch movable member, the light emitting layer overlaps the leaf spring, so that the leaf spring position can emit light. As long as the light emitter layer overlaps at least a part of the leaf spring, it does not need to overlap the entire leaf spring, and the light emitter layer may be provided so as to cover the leaf spring.
[0011]
Further, since the light-emitting layer is protected by the adhesive film, the light-emitting layer is not damaged even if the light-emitting layer is deformed with the deformation of the leaf spring.
[0012]
Further, in the movable member for a switch of the present invention, the leaf spring is located in a space formed in the spacer made of an insulating material, and the sheet covers the surface of the spacer from the convex side of the leaf spring, The sheet is fixed to the surface of the spacer.
[0013]
If the spacer is too thick, it is difficult to push the leaf spring from above the sheet, which is not preferable.
[0014]
In the switch movable member of the present invention, an adhesive film is provided on the back surface of the spacer, and the adhesive film is covered with a release sheet.
[0015]
The release sheet is necessary for storage and transportation of the switch movable member, and does not play a functional role.
[0016]
The present invention also includes a substrate, a spacer made of an insulating material provided on a surface of the substrate, a fixed contact portion provided on the substrate and appearing in a space formed in the spacer, and in the space In a switch device having a movable contact provided,
The movable contact is a leaf spring in which a plate material is curved in a projecting manner toward the center, and the concave side of the movable contact is opposed to the fixed contact portion,
On the surface of the convex side of the movable contact, light-emitting layer made of a phosphorescent material or luminous pigment is fixed through an adhesive layer, and the surface of the surface and the spacer of the light emitting layer, an insulating material translucent It is characterized by being covered with the sheet | seat provided with property and flexibility .
[0017]
In such a switch device, since the position of the movable contact is illuminated by the light emitter layer, the movable contact in a dark place can be known. Further, the light emitter layer positioned immediately above the movable contact can efficiently irradiate the position of the movable contact.
[0019]
In such a switch device, since the light emitting layer is protected by the adhesive film, the light emitting layer is not damaged.
[0020]
In the switch device of the present invention, an operation key made of a translucent material faces the convex side of the leaf spring.
[0021]
The material of the operation key may be any material that can guide the light from the light-emitting layer to the outside, such as transparent or milky white synthetic resin.
[0022]
Further, the switch device of the present invention is provided with a light source that gives light to the light emitter. The light source preferably has low power consumption, such as an LED.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 is an exploded perspective view of the movable member of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the movable member of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the switch device of the present invention, and FIG. It is sectional drawing of a switch apparatus.
[0024]
The sheet 1 is a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film having a thickness of about 25 μm to 50 μm, and has flexibility and translucency.
[0025]
On one side of the sheet 1, a plurality of light emitting layers 2 are formed side by side in which a luminous material mainly composed of zinc sulfide or an aluminate compound is applied in a circular shape. The thickness of the light emitting layer 2 is about 50 μm to 120 μm.
[0026]
A pressure-sensitive adhesive film 3 made of an acrylic adhesive is formed on almost the entire surface on one side of the sheet 1 so as to cover the light emitting layer 2. The thickness of the adhesive film 3 is about 25 μm.
[0027]
The spacer 5 is a PET film having a thickness of about 200 μm to 300 μm. The spacer 5 is provided with a plurality of circular through holes 5 a that are slightly larger than the light emitter layer 2, and the arrangement of these through holes 5 a is the same as that of the light emitter layer 2. The spacer 5 is formed with a connecting portion 5b that connects adjacent through holes 5a. An adhesive film 7 made of an adhesive is provided on one side of the spacer 5.
[0028]
The spacer 5 is disposed on the sheet 1 so that the surface opposite to the surface on which the adhesive film 7 is provided is the sheet 1 side, and the luminous body layer 2 is exposed from the through hole 5a. The sheet 1 and the spacer 5 are bonded by an adhesive film 3.
[0029]
The leaf spring 4 is formed by punching a metal plate having elasticity, such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze, into a circular shape and projecting toward the center in a dome shape. The center height of the leaf spring 4 is about 200 μm to 300 μm.
[0030]
In such a leaf spring 4, the convex top 4a can be reversed to a concave state by pressing the dome-shaped top 4a. The leaf spring 4 is configured such that when the pressure is released, the top portion 4a returns to the convex state due to the elasticity of the leaf spring 4.
[0031]
The leaf spring 4 is disposed inside the through hole 5a of the spacer 5 with the top portion 4a facing the seat 1 side. The leaf spring 4 is bonded to the sheet 1 by the adhesive film 3, and the top portion 4 a of the leaf spring 4 substantially coincides with the center of the light emitting layer 2.
[0032]
The release sheet 6 is an insulating film such as paper or synthetic resin. One side of the release sheet 6 is subjected to a peeling process so as to be peeled from the adhesive film 7 provided on the spacer 5.
[0033]
The release sheet 6 is bonded to the spacer 5 in a state where the release sheet 6 can be peeled from the adhesive film 7 with the peeled surface facing the spacer 5 side.
[0034]
A movable member S shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a sheet 1, a light emitting layer 2, an adhesive film 3, a leaf spring 4, a spacer 5, and a release sheet 6. In the vicinity of the leaf spring 4 of the movable member S, a hole Sh that penetrates the sheet 1, the adhesive film 3, and the spacer 5 is provided. Such a movable member S is used for a switch device.
[0035]
The release sheet 6 is necessary for storing and transporting the movable member S and does not play a functional role.
[0036]
In addition, the movable member S is provided with the spacer 5 on the sheet 1. However, when the movable member S is manufactured, the spacer 5 has the leaf spring 4 aligned with the position of the light emitter layer 2 on the sheet 1. It is easy to arrange. The movable member S may be composed of only the sheet 1, the light emitter layer 2, the adhesive film 3, and the leaf spring 4.
[0037]
Such a movable member S is used in a switch device in combination with a substrate on which a fixed contact is formed. The leaf spring 4 of the movable member S becomes a movable contact of the switch device. By providing the movable member S as a single unit, the fixed contact of the switch device can be freely designed.
[0038]
3 and 4, a plurality of fixed contacts 9 made of a carbon film are arranged side by side on a substrate 8. Each of the fixed contacts 9 includes an annular first fixed contact portion 9a and a circular second fixed contact portion 9b disposed in the central portion of the first fixed contact portion 9a. . Further, an LED 13 is attached to the substrate 8 in the vicinity of the fixed contact 9.
[0039]
The movable member S is disposed on the substrate 8 such that the release sheet 6 is peeled off from the spacer 5 and each leaf spring 4 is opposed to each fixed contact 9, and the movable member S is formed by an adhesive film 7 provided on the spacer 5. Bonded to the substrate 8.
[0040]
The leaf spring 4 of the movable member S becomes the movable contact 4 of the switch device. The movable contact 4 is in contact with the first fixed contact portion 9 a of the fixed contact 9 at the periphery. The adhesive film 3, the light emitting layer 2, and the sheet 1 formed on the leaf spring 4 are in a convex state along the shape of the movable contact 4. Further, the LED 13 is inserted into the hole Sh of the movable member S.
[0041]
The operation key 11 of the switch device is made of a synthetic resin such as transparent or milky white that can transmit light and is electrically insulating. The operation key has a base 11a having elasticity, and a columnar operation part 11b on the base 11a. The base 11a has a movable contact accommodating part 11e that is recessed so as to accommodate the movable contact 4, and a movable part. A protrusion 11c that protrudes vertically from the bottom surface of the contact housing portion 11e and an LED housing portion 11d that is recessed to accommodate the LED 13 are provided in the vicinity of the movable contact housing portion 11e.
[0042]
On the sheet 1 of the movable member S bonded to the substrate 8, a plurality of the operation keys 11 are respectively arranged at positions facing the movable contact 4. The movable contact 4 is accommodated in the movable contact accommodating portion 11 e of the operation key 11, and the protrusion 11 of the operation key 11 is located immediately above the top 4 a of the movable contact 4. The LED 13 is accommodated in the second recess 11 d of the operation key 11.
[0043]
The substrate 8 and the movable member S are covered with a cover 12. A through hole 12b is provided in the front surface 12a of the cover 12 at the position of the operation key 11, and an operation portion 11b of the operation key 11 protrudes from the front surface 12a of the cover.
[0044]
Light emitted from the light emitter layer 2 provided on the movable member S is transmitted to the outside through the operation portion 11 b of the operation key 11. In such a switch device, the position of the operation unit 11b can be known even in a dark place by the light emission of the light emitter layer 2.
[0045]
Since the light emitter layer 2 is located directly below the operation unit 11b of the operation key 11, the light emission of the light emitter layer 2 is efficiently emitted from the operation unit 11b to the outside through the shortest path. Therefore, for example, even the thin light-emitting layer 2 of about 50 μm can irradiate the operation unit 11b brightly.
[0046]
Next, the operation of this switch device will be described. When the operation portion 11b of the operation key 11 is pressed, the elastic base portion 11a is bent by the pressing force from the operation portion 11b, and the projection portion 11c presses the top portion 4a of the movable contact 4. At this time, if the spacer 5 is too thick, the sheet 1 around the leaf spring 4 is pulled from the portion bonded to the spacer 5, and it is difficult to press the movable contact 4 due to the tension of the sheet 1.
[0047]
The top 4 a of the movable contact 4 is inverted from the convex state to the concave state by the pressing force of the operation key 11. Since the adhesive film 3, the light emitting layer 2, and the sheet 1 provided on the movable contact 4 are sufficiently thin, they are inverted together with the movable contact 4 to be in a concave state.
[0048]
In the luminous body layer 2 covered with the adhesive film 3, the luminous body layer 2 is adhered onto the movable contact 4 through the adhesive film 3. No damage or damage.
[0049]
The air pushed out from the movable contact 4 in the concave state flows from the through hole 5a of the spacer 5 in which the movable contact 4 is accommodated into the adjacent through hole 5a through the connecting portion 5b. Can prevent the sheet 1 from being lifted.
[0050]
The top 4a of the movable contact 4 in an inverted state contacts the second fixed contact 9b. In the fixed contact 9, the first fixed contact portion 9 a and the second fixed contact portion 9 b are electrically connected by the movable contact 4, and the switch device is turned on. At this time, with the reversal of the movable contact 4, a click feeling is obtained from the operation portion 11 b of the operation key 11, and it can be recognized that the switch device is turned on.
[0051]
As shown in the block diagram schematically shown in FIG. 4, the detection circuit 14 and the control unit 15 are connected to the switch device. When the switch device is turned on, an ON signal is sent from the detection circuit 14 to the control unit 15. Is output.
[0052]
An LED driver 16 is connected to the LED 13, and light emission of the LED 13 is controlled by the LED driver 16. The LED driver 16 is connected to the control unit 15 and causes the LED 13 to emit light for a predetermined time after the switch device is turned on.
[0053]
The luminous body layer 2 accumulates light from the LED 13 and continues to irradiate the operation key 11 by emitting light even after the light emission of the LED 13 is finished. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumption by shortening the light emission time of the LED 13 while maintaining the irradiation time of the operation key 11.
[0054]
For example, while the folding cellular phone is not folded, external light is not applied to the light emitter layer 2, but when used, the LED 13 is caused to emit light immediately after opening and the operation key 11 is operated. The operation key 11 can be illuminated even after the LED 13 is turned off.
[0055]
The switch device not provided with the LED 13 has a structure capable of irradiating the light emitter layer 2 with external light, and the light emitter layer 2 stores external light to emit light.
[0056]
The click feeling obtained from the operation unit 11b becomes dull as the thickness of the member existing on the movable contact 4 of the movable member S increases. Since the adhesive film 3 has both the role of bonding the movable contact 4 to the sheet 1 and the role of protecting the light emitter layer 2, it is not necessary to separately form a film for protecting the light emitter layer 2. Therefore, only the sheet 1, the light emitter layer 2, and the adhesive film 3 are present on the movable contact 4, and the members provided on the movable contact 4 are thin, so that a sufficient click feeling can be obtained from the operation portion 11b. Can do.
[0057]
When the pressing of the operation unit 11b is stopped, the top 4a of the movable contact 4 returns to the original convex state due to the elastic force. The top part 4a of the movable contact 4 is detached from the second fixed contact part 9b, the first contact part 9a and the second contact part 9b of the fixed contact 9 are in an insulated state, and the switch device is turned off. .
[0058]
As described above, in the switch device of the present invention, the operation keys 11 are brightly lit and a sufficient click feeling can be obtained.
[0059]
In the movable member S of the above embodiment, the light emitter layer 2 is formed only on the leaf spring 4, but the light emitter layer 2 may be formed on almost the entire surface of the sheet 1. However, in order to obtain a sufficient click feeling with the switch device, it is preferable to reduce the thickness of the member covering the periphery of the leaf spring 4.
[0060]
In addition, the light emitting layer 2 of the movable member S does not need to overlap the entire plate spring 4, and only needs to overlap a part of the plate spring 4. Moreover, the light emitter layer 2 may be formed of a nocturnal pigment.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
In the movable member of the present invention, since the light emitter layer is stacked on the leaf spring, the light from the light emitter layer can efficiently irradiate the position of the leaf spring. Further, the light emitter layer can be covered with an adhesive film so that the light emitter layer is not damaged when the light emitter layer is deformed as the leaf spring is deformed.
[0062]
Further, in the switch device of the present invention using such a movable member, since the light emitter layer is superimposed on the movable contact portion, the light of the light emitter layer can efficiently irradiate the movable contact portion. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a movable member of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the movable member of the present invention,
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an essential part of the switch device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the switch device of the present invention,
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional switch device;
[Explanation of symbols]
S movable member 1 sheet 2 illuminant layer 3 adhesive film 4 leaf spring (movable contact)
5 Spacer 6 Release sheet 7 Adhesive surface 8 Substrate 9 Fixed contact 9a First fixed contact 9b Second fixed contact 11 Operation key 11a Base 11b Operation 11c Projection 12 Cover 13 LED

Claims (6)

A movable contact leaf spring formed of an elastically deformable conductive plate and projecting toward the center, a phosphor layer made of a phosphorescent material or luminescent pigment, and an insulating material made of translucent light FLEXIBLE and sheets and it has been superimposed et provided with,
The light emitting layer is fixed to the convex surface of the leaf spring by an adhesive film, and the sheet is stacked on the surface of the light emitting layer opposite to the leaf spring. A movable member for a switch. The leaf spring is positioned in a space formed in the spacer made of insulating material, the sheet covers the surface of the spacer convex side of the surface of the leaf spring, the seat of the spacer by the adhesive layer movable member for the switch of claim 1 wherein is affixed to the surface. The switch movable member according to claim 2 , wherein an adhesive film is provided on a back surface of the spacer, and the adhesive film is covered with a release sheet. A substrate, a spacer made of an insulating material provided on a surface of the substrate, a fixed contact portion provided on the substrate and appearing in a space formed in the spacer, and a movable contact provided in the space In a switch device having
The movable contact is a leaf spring in which a plate material is curved in a projecting manner toward the center, and the concave side of the movable contact is opposed to the fixed contact portion,
On the surface of the convex side of the movable contact, light-emitting layer made of a phosphorescent material or luminous pigment is fixed through an adhesive layer, and the surface of the surface and the spacer of the light emitting layer, an insulating material translucent A switch device characterized in that it is covered with a sheet having both flexibility and flexibility. The switch device according to claim 4, wherein an operation key formed of a translucent material is opposed to a convex surface of the movable contact. The switch device according to claim 4, wherein a light source that provides light to the light emitting layer is provided.

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