JP7375380B2 - Switch device and key input device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a switch device that switches an electrically connected/disconnected state by pressing down a movable member, and a key input device equipped with such a switch device.

2. Description of the Related Art Keyboards in which a plurality of key switches are arranged side by side have become popular as input devices for electronic devices such as computers. Furthermore, in recent years, there has been a demand for highly palatable keyboards such as key switches that emit light.

Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a display device including an illumination source that selectively illuminates individual images formed on a lenticular medium.

As for keyboards equipped with key switches, studies have begun to consider keyboards equipped with highly palatable key switches to which technology for selectively displaying various images is applied.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-195216

However, when applying technology for selectively displaying various images to keyswitches included in a keyboard, it is necessary to create keyswitches that display different images. Therefore, in the assembly process, each member constituting the key switch must be assembled in an appropriate direction and position. In other words, there is a problem that mistakes may occur, such as mistakes in the mounting direction of optical members for displaying various images, mistakes in the placement position of key switches on the keyboard, etc.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its main purpose is to provide a switch device that can suppress the occurrence of mistakes in the assembly process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a key input device such as a keyboard using such a switch device.

In order to solve the above problems, a switch device described in the present application includes a fixed member and a movable member that is movably supported by the fixed member and moves in the push-down direction in response to a push-down operation, and the movable member moves in the push-down direction. A switch device that switches between electrically connected and disconnected states in the process of moving to, and includes a plurality of light sources that are arranged at different positions on the fixed member and can emit light individually, and that is irradiated with light emitted from the light sources. and a support portion that supports the optical member, the optical member includes a lens array in which a plurality of lenses are arranged to refract the light emitted from the light source, and a lens array that refracts the light emitted from the light source. It has a selectively transmitting layer that selectively transmits light depending on the light source emitting light, and the support portion is formed in a shape that limits the direction in which the optical member is supported.

Further, the switch device includes a support member fixed to the movable member, and the support portion is formed on the support member.

Further, in the switch device, the support portion is formed on the movable member.

Further, in the switch device, the support portion has a frame shape, and the outer shape of the optical member is such that it can be fitted into the support portion only in a predetermined support direction.

Further, in the switch device, the optical member has a shape selected from among a notch, an unevenness, a C surface, and an R surface that fit into the support portion.

Further, the switch device is characterized in that it includes an image display section that indicates an image displayed by selective transmission of the optical member.

Further, the switch device is configured such that it can be placed as a key switch in a key input device in which a plurality of key switches are placed, and has a position marking portion indicating the placement position with respect to the key input device. .

Furthermore, the key input device described in the present application is a key input device in which a plurality of key switches are arranged, and is characterized in that the key switch is provided with the switch device.

The switch device and key input device described in the present application limit the supporting direction of the optical member.

In the switch device and key input device according to the present invention, the support portion that supports the optical member that is irradiated with light emitted from the plurality of light sources is formed in a shape that limits the direction in which the optical member is supported. As a result, the present invention has excellent effects, such as being able to suppress the occurrence of mistakes such as assembling the optical member in the wrong direction or position in the assembly process of assembling the optical member.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of a keyboard to which the key input device described in the present application is applied. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a key switch described in the present application. 1 is a schematic exploded view showing an example of a key switch described in the present application; FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a fixing member included in the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a fixing member included in the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing an example of the internal structure of the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a lens array of optical members included in the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a lens array of optical members included in the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a lens array of optical members included in the key switch described in the present application. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the optical function by the optical member with which the key switch described in this application is equipped. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the optical function by the optical member with which the key switch described in this application is equipped. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the optical function by the optical member with which the key switch described in this application is equipped. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the optical function by the optical member with which the key switch described in this application is equipped. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the optical function by the optical member with which the key switch described in this application is equipped. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the optical function by the optical member with which the key switch described in this application is equipped. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of the shape of a member included in the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of the shape of a member included in the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of the shape of an optical member included in the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of an image marking section included in the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a position marking section included in the key switch described in the present application. 1 is a schematic exploded view showing an example of a key switch described in the present application; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of an optical member included in the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of the shape of a movable member included in the key switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of the shape of a movable member included in the key switch described in the present application.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The key input device described in the present application is used, for example, as a keyboard for inputting data such as letters, numbers, symbols, and various commands to electronic devices such as computers.

<First embodiment>
<Keyboard KB (key input device)>
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of a keyboard KB to which the key input device described in the present application is applied. On the keyboard KB, a plurality of key switches 1 such as character keys, numeric keys, and other function keys are arranged side by side as switch devices. Note that the illustrated keyboard KB has key switches 1 of the same shape arranged side by side for the purpose of simplifying the structure and making the technical content easily recognizable, but the implementation is not limited to this shape. . For example, when applied to a keyboard KB with a QWERTY layout, only the letter keys are made into key switches 1 of the same shape, and the key switches 1 having specific functions such as the space key and enter key arranged around the letter keys are It is possible to design it as appropriate, such as configuring it in a shape different from that of the key.

<Key switch 1>
Next, the key switch 1 arranged on the keyboard KB will be explained. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the key switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view showing an example of the key switch 1 described in the present application. The key switch 1 includes a fixed member 10 fixed to a substrate (not shown) included in the keyboard KB, and a vertically movable movable member 11 that is pushed downward by a user's pressing operation. At the upper end of the key switch 1, a key top 12 (pressed member) is removably attached to the upper part of the movable member 11 for receiving a pressing operation by a user. The key switch 1 also includes an optical member 13 having an optical function and a support member 14 that supports the optical member 13. Fixed.

The fixing member 10 is a box having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is attached with its lower surface in contact with the upper surface of a substantially flat substrate included in the keyboard KB. A substantially square insertion opening 100 is provided on the upper surface of the fixed member 10, and a movable member 11 is inserted into the insertion opening 100 so as to be movable up and down. Further, from the lower surface of the fixing member 10, terminals that are connected to wiring arranged on the board protrude.

Inside the fixed member 10, in addition to a plurality of light sources 15 (see FIGS. 4A, 4B, etc.) that irradiate light to the optical member 13, there are also a plurality of light sources 15 (see FIGS. 4A, 4B, etc.) that irradiate the optical member 13 with light, as well as electrically connected and separated states according to the downward movement of the movable member 11. Various members are incorporated, such as a switch member (not shown) for switching, a biasing member (not shown) for biasing the pressed movable member 11 upward.

The movable member 11 has an approximately rectangular external shape, and is formed with an opening 110 through which light emitted from a light source 15 disposed inside the fixed member 10 passes from below to above. The outer shape of the side surface of the movable member 11 is formed so that it can be inserted into the insertion opening 100 of the fixed member 10. A fitting opening 111 for fixing the support member 14 is formed on the upper surface of the movable member 11 around the opening 110. The fitting openings 111 are formed at four locations in total, one at the upper end of each side surface of the movable member 11.

The support member 14 is a member that has a frame-shaped portion 140 having a substantially square shape when viewed from above as a support portion that supports the optical member 13, and has a fitting at the bottom that is fitted into the fitting opening 111 of the movable member 11. Projections 141 are formed at four locations. Further, the frame-shaped portion 140 of the support member 14 is formed in a shape into which the optical member 13 can be fitted, and by fitting the optical member 13 therein, the optical member 13 can be fixed to the movable member 11. The fitting protrusion 141 formed on the support member 14 has a corresponding fitting opening 111 determined, and the supporting member 14 is fitted into the movable member 11 so that it cannot be fitted in any direction other than the corresponding predetermined direction. The arrangement and shape of the protrusion 141 and the fitting opening 111 are designed.

The key top 12 has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and is tapered so that the outer shape becomes larger from the top to the bottom. The key top 12 is formed so as to be attached to the movable member 11 so as to cover the optical member 13 . The upper surface of the key top 12 is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material so as to pass the light emitted from the light source 15 and transmitted through the optical member 13. Therefore, an image created by light transmitted through the optical member 13 is displayed on the upper surface of the key top 12.

In the key switch 1 configured as described above, when the key top 12 receives a pressing operation from the user, the movable member 11 moves downward, which is the pressing direction, against the biasing force of the biasing member. In the process of moving downward, the movable member 11 acts on a switch member built into the fixed member 10 to change its electrically connected/disconnected state, and connects a personal computer, etc. from the key switch 1 to the keyboard KB. An electrical signal is output to an external electronic device.

Next, the optical structure and optical function of the key switch 1 will be explained. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing an example of the fixing member 10 included in the key switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 4A shows the lower member of the fixing member 10 viewed from above, and FIG. 4B shows a cross section of the lower member constituting the fixing member 10 from the AB direction. Inside the fixing member 10, light sources 15 using light emitting elements such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are disposed near four corners of the inner bottom surface, which has a substantially square shape when viewed from above. Each light source 15 can emit light individually. Further, near the center of the inner bottom surface of the fixing member 10, a mounting portion 101 having a double ring shape is formed for mounting an urging member (not shown) using a compression coil spring.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram schematically showing an example of the internal structure of the key switch 1 described in the present application. 6A, 6B, and 6C are schematic diagrams showing an example of the lens array 130 of the optical member 13 included in the key switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 5 schematically shows the internal structure of the key switch 1 as a sectional view viewed from the side. FIG. 6A shows lens array 130 from a top perspective. 6B and 6C schematically show a plurality of convex lenses 130a such as cylindrical lenses constituting the lens array 130, with FIG. 6B being a perspective view and FIG. 6C being a side view.

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of light sources 15 are disposed on the inner bottom surface of the fixing member 10 included in the key switch 1, and an optical member 13 is located above the light source 15. A key top 12 having a transparent or semi-transparent upper surface that transmits light from the key top 12 is located thereon.

In FIG. 5, the optical member 13 is schematically shown. The optical member 13 includes a lens array 130 in which a plurality of minute convex lenses 130a such as cylindrical lenses formed to have a convex bottom are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and a selective transmission layer that transmits light transmitted through the lens array 130. 131. The lens array 130 refracts the light emitted from the light source 15 below and transmits it upward. The selective transmission layer 131 selectively transmits the light transmitted through the lens array 130 depending on the light source 15 that emits light, and the transmitted light illuminates the key top 12 from below.

As shown in FIG. 6A when viewed from above, the lens array 130 of the optical member 13 is configured by arranging a large number of minute convex lenses 130a in a two-dimensional matrix. For example, the plurality of convex lenses 130a constituting the lens array 130 are arranged such that the distance between adjacent lenses is about 200 μm. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6B, and 6C, each convex lens 130a has a convex lower part. For example, the radius of curvature of the protruding portion of each convex lens 130a is approximately 150 μm, and the maximum thickness in the emission direction is approximately It is configured to have a diameter of 400 μm and a refractive index of 1.5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the optical function of the optical member 13 included in the key switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 7 shows a situation in which the light emitted from the plurality of light sources 15 disposed below is refracted by the lens array 130 from a side perspective. The downward convex curve shown in the lower part of the figure schematically shows each convex lens 130a that constitutes the lens array 130 included in the optical member 13, and the broken line shows the axis of each convex lens 130a. A thin line refracted by the convex lens 130a indicates the optical path of the light emitted from the light source 15. The upper double line indicates the selective transmission layer 131 of the optical member 13. The selective transmission layer 131 is located near the focal point of the convex lens 130a constituting the lens array 130, and has minute transparent holes 131a formed as slits through which light passes. Since the plurality of light sources 15 that irradiate light to each convex lens 130a constituting the lens array 130 are arranged at different positions, the positions of the focal points of each light source 15 and each convex lens 130a are different. Therefore, it is possible to set whether the light refracted by the convex lens 130a is transmitted or not for each light transmitting hole 131a formed in the selectively transmitting layer 131, and thereby, the light refracted by the convex lens 130a from each light source 15 can be transmitted. It is possible to select the light with which the key top 12 is irradiated from among the respective lights.

8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 8C, and FIG. 8D are schematic diagrams showing an example of the optical function of the optical member 13 provided in the key switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 8A schematically shows a transparent hole 131a of a selective transmission layer 131 included in the optical member 13. FIG. 8B schematically shows an outline of an image formed in the transparent holes 131a formed in the selective transmission layer 131 shown in FIG. 8A for each light source 15 that irradiates the transmitted light. FIG. 8C is an enlarged view of the area indicated by a white oval in FIG. 8A, and FIG. 8D is an enlarged view of the area indicated by a white circle in FIG. 8C.

8A to 8D show the light-transmitting holes 131a of the selective transmission layer 131 that selectively transmit the light emitted from each light source 15 and refracted by each convex lens 130a included in the lens array 130. The light transmitting holes 131a of the selective transmission layer 131 illustrated in FIG. 8A are arranged so as to form different images when shown as the light transmitting holes 131a for each light source 15 as illustrated in FIG. 8B. For example, the upper left of FIG. 8B shows an example in which the transparent holes 131a are arranged in the shape of the hiragana "ki". Similarly, the upper right shows an example in which the transparent holes 131a are arranged in the shape of a figure "△", the lower left in the shape of a capital letter "G", and the lower right in the shape of the number "6". . As shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D, the light transmitting holes 131a corresponding to the four light sources 15 are arranged in a square area (white in FIG. 8D). The cells are arranged in square cells. The light transmitting hole 131a arranged in each cell is set to allow or not to transmit light for each light source 15, and an image is formed by the transmitted light.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the optical function of the optical member 13 included in the key switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 9 schematically shows a state in which light emitted from four light sources 15 is refracted by a convex lens 130a forming a lens array 130 and transmitted through a transparent hole 131a of a selective transmission layer 131. Each cell, which is a group of square areas included in the selective transmission layer 131, corresponds one-to-one to each convex lens 130a that constitutes the lens array 130, and has four light-transmitting holes arranged in each cell. 131a corresponds one-to-one to each light source 15 arranged at four locations. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the selective transmission layer 131 selectively transmits the light emitted from each light source 15 and refracted by the convex lens 130a of the lens array 130, depending on whether the light can be transmitted through the light transmission hole 131a. In FIG. 9, among the cells illustrated on the left side of the selective transmission layer 131, the lower right transparent hole 131a is configured to block light, and the other transparent holes 131a are configured to transmit light. The form is illustrated. The selectively transmitted light illuminates the key top 12 from below, and an image is formed by the transmitted light. Each cell of the selective transmission layer 131 corresponds to one pixel constituting an image formed by transmitted light.

As explained in FIGS. 5 to 9, the key switch 1 described in the present application includes a plurality of light sources 15 disposed on the fixed member 10, and each of the disposed light sources 15 can be caused to emit light individually. . Since the light that selectively passes through the selective transmission layer 131 differs depending on the light source 15 that emitted light, the images formed by the transmitted light differ. That is, by causing the plurality of light sources 15 to emit light individually, the key tops 12 can be irradiated with light that forms images of different shapes. Therefore, the user can visually see how the key top 12 emits light in various images. For example, when the selective transmission layer 131 illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8D is used, by switching the light source 15 that emits light, the key switch 1 can be set to "K", "△", "G" as illustrated in FIG. 8B. ” or “6”.

In the key switch 1 according to the present application configured as described above, in order to display an image correctly, the optical member 13 including the selective transmission layer 131 and the lens array 130 is oriented in the correct direction (direction and front and back) during the assembly process. It must be attached to the fixed member 10. Further, when assembling the keyboard KB, each key switch 1 must be placed at the correct position on the keyboard KB. However, when assembling the key switch 1 and the like, it is not easy to recognize the direction of the selective transmission layer 131 of the optical member 13 using human five senses such as visual recognition. In addition, each process to complete the keyboard KB is usually performed in different areas, different offices, or different business entities, so there may be errors in the mounting direction or placement position during the assembly process. This situation makes it easy for mistakes to occur.

10A and 10B are schematic external views showing an example of the shape of members included in the key switch 1 described in the present application. 10A is a top view showing an example of the optical member 13, and FIG. 10B is a top view showing an example of the support member 14 attached to the fixing member 10. The optical member 13 shown in FIG. 10A has a substantially square shape when viewed from above, but the upper left vertex is cut out as a notch. Further, in the support member 14 shown in FIG. 10B, the inner shape of the frame-shaped portion 140 that supports the optical member 13 corresponds to the outer shape of the optical member 13. Then, the optical member 13 is fitted into the frame portion 140 of the support member 14 by aligning the position of the notch of the optical member 13 with the corresponding vertex of the frame portion 140. That is, the support member 14 fixed to the movable member 11 is formed in a shape that limits the direction in which the optical member 13 is supported when the optical member 13 is fitted. More specifically, the support member 14 includes a frame-shaped part 140, and the outer shape of the optical member 13 is such that it can fit into the frame-shaped part 140 only in a predetermined support direction. .

FIG. 11 is a schematic external view showing an example of the shape of the optical member 13 included in the key switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the optical member 13 is formed into another shape. FIG. 11 shows the optical member 13 from above, and the optical member 13 has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from above, and has a convex portion extending from one of the vertices shown in the upper right corner toward the right in the drawing. is formed. When the outer diameter of the optical member 13 is formed as illustrated in FIG. 11, the inner shape of the frame-shaped portion 140 of the support member 14 is also formed into a corresponding shape. When the shape of the optical member 13 is formed into the shape illustrated in FIG. 11, the direction and front and back sides when fitting the optical member 13 into the support member 14 are limited, which prevents mistakes in the assembly process. becomes possible.

As described above, the shape of the optical member 13 is such that it can be fitted into the frame portion 140 only in a predetermined direction so that it can be fitted into the support member 14 in the correct direction. The shape that can be fitted only in a predetermined direction may be a recessed portion in addition to the illustrated shapes such as a notch or a convex portion. Furthermore, among the edges of the optical member 13, the edge that fits into the frame-shaped portion 140 does not necessarily have to be formed as a ridge that combines two surfaces at right angles, but is processed into a shape such as a C surface or an R surface. You may. By forming the edge of the optical member 13 into a shape that can be fitted in a predetermined direction, it is possible to limit the direction and the front and back sides in which the optical member 13 is fitted into the support member 14 . That is, the optical member 13 is formed with a shape such as a notch, an uneven surface, a C surface, an R surface, etc. that fit into the frame-shaped portion 140 of the support member 14, so that the optical member 13 can be fitted into the support member 14 only in a predetermined direction. This makes it possible to prevent mistakes from occurring during the assembly process.

FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of the image marking section 16 included in the key switch 1 described in the present application. The image marking section 16 illustrated in FIG. 12 may, for example, attach a removable seal, a print, a stamp, etc. Attached in a visible way. The image marking section 16 illustrated in FIG. 12 shows four types of codes that can be displayed as images on the key tops 12 by causing the light source 15 to emit light. In the key switch 1 described in the present application, members such as a movable member 11, an optical member 13, a support member 14, etc. are attached to a fixed member 10, and then a key top 12 is attached at a different office, and the key top 12 is attached to a keyboard KB. It may go through an assembly process. When attaching the key tops 12 at different offices and placing them on the keyboard KB, a mistake may occur in which the key tops 12 to be attached or the positions on the keyboard KB are incorrectly placed. By adding an image marking section 16 as illustrated in FIG. 12 to members such as the fixed member 10 and the movable member 11, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of mistakes during the assembly process.

FIG. 13 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of the position marking section 17 included in the key switch 1 described in the present application. The position marking section 17 illustrated in FIG. 13 is provided with a removable seal, printing, engraving, etc. on members such as the fixed member 10, the movable member 11, the optical member 13, and the supporting member 14 that constitute the key switch 1. Attached in a visible way. The square in FIG. 13 exemplifies the outer surface of the fixing member 10, and shows an example in which the position marking section 17 is written on the upper left of the outer surface. The figure is enlarged to illustrate three forms. As illustrated on the right side of FIG. 13, the position marking section 17 is configured in a form in which some of the six vertically extending positions are colored. In FIG. 13, three types of position marking portions 17 having different colored positions are illustrated. The position marking section 17 indicates the stage of arrangement with respect to the keyboard KB. For example, the position marking section 17 illustrated on the left side of the figure, whose top part is colored, is the top row of the keyboard KB (the deepest position for the user). This indicates that the key switch 1 should be placed in the side position). As illustrated in the center of the figure, the position marking section 17 whose fifth row from the bottom is colored is located at the fifth row from the bottom of the keyboard KB (the fifth row from the front side for the user). This indicates that the key switch 1 is the one that should be used. As illustrated on the right side of the figure, the position marking section 17 whose fourth row from the bottom is colored is located at the fourth row from the bottom of the keyboard KB (fourth row from the front for the user). This indicates that the key switch 1 is the one that should be used. By indicating the arrangement position of the key switch 1 as the position marking section 17 in this manner, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a mistake in arranging the key switch 1 in the wrong arrangement position. Note that the description may indicate not only the vertical position but also the horizontal position. It is also possible to combine it with the image notation section 16 described above.

<Second embodiment>
2nd Embodiment is a form which formed the support part 112 in the movable member 11 in 1st Embodiment, and the movable member 11 and the support member 14 are integrated. In the following description, the same components as in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, reference will be made to the first embodiment, and detailed description will be omitted. The configuration of the keyboard KB according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the first embodiment will be referred to and the explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 14 is a schematic exploded view showing an example of the key switch 1 described in the present application. The key switch 1 includes a fixed member 10 and a movable member 11, and a key top 12 is removably attached to the upper part of the movable member 11. Further, the key switch 1 includes an optical member 13 , and the optical member 13 is fixed to the movable member 11 while being supported by a frame-shaped support portion 112 formed on the upper part of the movable member 11 . The optical member 13 has a substantially square shape in a plan view, has a notch formed on each side, and has a step formed on the lower surface so that the thickness is different near each vertex.

FIG. 15 is a schematic external view showing an example of the optical member 13 included in the key switch 1 described in the present application. 16A and 16B are schematic external views showing an example of the shape of the movable member 11 included in the key switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 15 is a schematic top view showing an example of the optical member 13. FIG. 16A is a schematic top view showing an example of the movable member 11, and FIG. 16B is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the movable member 11.

The optical member 13 illustrated in FIG. 15 has a substantially square shape when viewed from above, and cutouts serving as recesses are formed near the center of each of the four sides. The shape of the cutout formed in the optical member 13 is such that opposing sides are formed to have approximately the same depth, but adjacent sides are formed to have different depths. Further, as described above, the optical member 13, which has a substantially square shape when viewed from above, has a step formed on the lower surface so that the thickness is different near each vertex. The upper end of the movable member 11 shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B is formed as a frame-shaped support part 112 supported by the optical member 13, and the inner shape of the support part 112 is shaped like a notch in the optical member 13. It corresponds to an external shape with formed sides. Furthermore, below the frame-shaped support portion 112 of the movable member 11, support legs 112a are formed to support the vicinity of the apex of the optical member 13 from below. The support leg 112a is formed at a height corresponding to a step formed near the apex of the lower surface of the optical member 13. Note that the support leg 112a also functions as a form of the support part 112 that supports the optical member 13.

By aligning the positions of the notches of the optical member 13 with the corresponding sides of the support portion 112, the optical member 13 is fitted into the support portion 112. That is, the support portion 112 of the movable member 11 is formed in a shape that limits the support direction in which the optical member 13 is supported when the optical member 13 is fitted. More specifically, the support portion 112 of the movable member 11 has a frame-shaped portion, and the outer shape of the optical member 13 has a shape that allows it to fit into the support portion 112 only in a predetermined support direction. I am doing it.

The optical structure and optical function of the key switch 1 in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, so the description will be omitted with reference to the first embodiment.

As described above, in the key switch 1 described in the present application, the outer shape of the optical member 13 including the selective transmission layer 131 and the lens array 130 is formed into a shape such as a cutout, an uneven surface, a C surface, an R surface, etc. 140 or the support portion 112 in the correct direction. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the optical member 13 from being assembled in the wrong direction when fitting into the frame-shaped portion 140 of the support member 14 or the support portion 112 of the movable member 11, thereby preventing mistakes during the assembly process. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of

In addition, the key switch 1 described in the present application is provided with an image marking section 16 for displaying a displayable image and a position marking section 17 for indicating the placement position on the key switch 1, thereby preventing errors in the assembly process such as mistakes in placement position. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of mistakes.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various other forms. Therefore, the embodiments described above are merely illustrative in every respect, and should not be interpreted in a limiting manner. The technical scope of the present invention is explained by the claims, and is not restricted in any way by the main text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications and changes that come within the scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the support member 14 or the movable member 11 has the frame-shaped portion 140 or the support portion 112 that supports the optical member 13, but the shape of the portion that supports the optical member 13 is The shape is not limited to a frame shape as long as the shape limits the direction in which the member 13 is supported. For example, it is possible to develop various shapes such as a shape that supports four vertices of the optical member 13 or a shape that supports only two opposing sides.

KB Keyboard (key input device)
1 Key switch (switch device)
10 Fixed member 11 Movable member 112 Support part 112a Support leg (support part)
12 Key top (pressed member)
13 Optical member 130 Lens array 130a Convex lens 131 Selective transmission layer 131a Transparent hole 14 Support member 140 Frame-shaped part (support part)
15 Light source 16 Image marking section 17 Position marking section

Claims (9)

A switch comprising a fixed member and a movable member that is movably supported by the fixed member and moves in a pushing direction in response to a pushing operation, and the electrical contact/disengagement state is switched in the process of the movable member moving in the pushing direction. A device,
a plurality of light sources arranged at different positions on the fixed member and capable of emitting light individually;
an optical member that is irradiated with light emitted from the light source;
a support part that supports the optical member ;
a support member fixed to the movable member;
Equipped with
The optical member is
a lens array including a plurality of lenses that refract light emitted from the light source;
a selective transmission layer that selectively transmits the light refracted by the lens array depending on the light source emitting the light;
The support portion is formed in a shape that limits a direction in which the optical member is supported,
The support portion is formed on the support member,
The support part has a frame shape,
The outer shape of the optical member is such that it can be fitted into the support portion only in a predetermined support direction.
A switch device characterized by: A switch comprising a fixed member and a movable member that is movably supported by the fixed member and moves in a pushing direction in response to a pushing operation, and the electrical contact/disengagement state is switched in the process of the movable member moving in the pushing direction. A device,
a plurality of light sources arranged at different positions on the fixed member and capable of emitting light individually;
an optical member that is irradiated with light emitted from the light source;
a support part that supports the optical member;
Equipped with
The optical member is
a lens array including a plurality of lenses that refract light emitted from the light source;
a selectively transmitting layer that selectively transmits the light refracted by the lens array depending on the light source emitting the light;
has
The support part is
It has a frame shape,
formed on the movable member,
is formed in a shape that limits the support direction of the optical member,
The outer shape of the optical member is such that it can be fitted into the support portion only in a predetermined direction.
A switch device characterized by: A switch that includes a fixed member and a movable member that is movably supported by the fixed member and moves in a pressing direction in response to a pressing operation, and that an electrically connected/disconnected state is switched in the process of the movable member moving in the pressing direction. A device,
a plurality of light sources arranged at different positions on the fixed member and capable of emitting light individually;
an optical member that is irradiated with light emitted from the light source;
a support part that supports the optical member;
Equipped with
The optical member is
a lens array including a plurality of lenses that refract light emitted from the light source;
a selectively transmitting layer that selectively transmits the light refracted by the lens array depending on the light source emitting the light;
has
The support portion is formed in a shape that limits a direction in which the optical member is supported,
It is configured so that it can be placed as a key switch in a key input device where multiple key switches are placed.
It has a position marking section indicating the arrangement position with respect to the key input device.
A switch device characterized by: The switch device according to claim 3 ,
comprising a support member fixed to the movable member,
The said support part is formed in the said support member. The switch device characterized by the above-mentioned. The switch device according to claim 3 ,
The switch device, wherein the support portion is formed on the movable member. The switch device according to claim 4 or 5 ,
The support part has a frame shape,
A switch device characterized in that the outer shape of the optical member is such that it can be fitted into the support portion only in a predetermined support direction. The switch device according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 6 ,
The switch device characterized in that the optical member includes any one of a notch, an unevenness, a C surface, and an R surface that fits into the support portion. The switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A switch device comprising an image display section that indicates an image displayed by selective transmission of the optical member. A key input device in which a plurality of key switches are arranged,
A key input device comprising, as the key switch, the switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 .

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