JPH0132653Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a keyboard switch, and more particularly to an illuminated membrane type keyboard switch having an illumination means for convenient operation.

This type of membrane keyboard switch, as shown in FIG. an insulating spacer 4 to form a switch operating gap 3.
a flexible switch sheet 6 which has other contact patterns 5 disposed through the contact patterns 1 to perform switching operations separately in correspondence with each of the contact patterns 1, and is formed in a form that causes a click action; Another spacer 9 is provided between the operation display panel 8 disposed on the switch sheet 6 and the switch sheet 6 to provide a gap 7 necessary for causing a click action, and between these constituent members. Some are basically composed of a bonding layer 10 made of adhesive or the like.

In such a keyboard switch, when illuminating the key operation position, if the light is illuminated from below the base member 2, it is impossible to illuminate the operation position of the operation display panel 8 because of the contact patterns 1 and 5. It becomes possible.

The present invention provides an illuminated membrane type keyboard switch that improves these points.This will be explained in more detail according to the illustrated embodiment.In FIG. 2, 11 is 1 is a base member; 12 is an insulating spacer; 13 is a switch sheet having a projection that causes a click operation;
4 and 14' are contact patterns provided inside the protrusions of the base member 11 and the switch sheet 13 to turn on and off electrically; 15 is a contact pattern of the switch sheet 13;
Another spacer 16 provided above is a light emitting element such as an LED arranged at a position that matches the top of the projection for click operation on the switch sheet 13. circuit board 2
Power is supplied from the wiring pattern 22 of No. 1. 21'
is a through hole provided in this substrate 21, and the light emitting element 1
6 is arranged so as to face this through hole 21'.
17 is a substrate 2 aligned with the mounting position of the light emitting element 16.
It is a transparent or translucent flexible member provided on the display panel 18, and is preferably mounted so as to fit into the protrusion 18' of the operation display panel 18 as shown. Note that 19 and 20 indicate gaps for switch operation.

According to the illuminated membrane type keyboard switch having the above structure, the light from the light emitting element 16 passes through the light scattering flexible member 17 and uniformly illuminates the operation protrusion 18' of the operation display panel 18. Therefore, it is possible to clearly indicate the operating position of the key. The protrusion 18' of the operation display panel 18 to which the light-scattering flexible member 17 is mounted allows the position of the protrusion 18' to be perceived with a finger or the like when operating a key, and thus contributes to preventing erroneous key operations. do. Furthermore, since the light emitting element 16 is attached to a flexible substrate 21, it does not interfere with the click operation of the switch sheet 13, and the wiring pattern 22 of the substrate 21 that supplies power to this element 16 allows it to be easily operated during key operation. The risk of poor contact or wire breakage due to deformation of the members is suitably eliminated, and it is possible to provide a highly reliable illuminated keyboard switch whose overall structure is as thin and compact as possible.

As described above, the illuminated membrane type keyboard switch of the present invention includes a flexible base member 11 having a required contact pattern and a switch sheet 13 having a projection for click operation, which are arranged opposite to each other to form a switch. A space is provided on the switch sheet 13 for click operation and switch operation.
In a membrane type keyboard switch in which an operation display panel 18 is disposed via a 19,
A flexible circuit board 21 on which a wiring pattern 22 for connecting the LED light emitting element 16 is formed is interposed on the lower surface of the operation display panel 18, and the light emitting element 1
6 is disposed on the top of the click operation protrusion of the switch sheet 13, while the light emitting element 1
A transparent or translucent flexible member 17 for scattering light for the light emitting element 16 is installed in the operation protrusion 18' formed at the operation display panel 18 in the upper part of the display panel 6. The operation protrusion 18' can be clearly illuminated by the small-capacity light emitting element 16 both when the switch is operated and when the switch is not operated, and thereby the pressing operation position of the operation display panel 18 can be easily displayed. can.

Here, the light emitting element 16 is connected and arranged on a flexible circuit board 21, and the light emitting element 16 is connected to the flexible circuit board 21, and the light emitting element 16 is connected to the flexible circuit board 21, and the light emitting device
Since the switch sheet 13 can be moved up and down in a suitable manner, there is no problem with the click operation of the switch sheet 13, and the lighting operation of the light emitting element 16 can be ensured stably.

Furthermore, the flexible circuit board 21 on which the light-emitting element 16 is arranged is attached to the bottom surface of the operation display panel 18, and the entire illuminated membrane-type keyboard switch is constructed in a sealed type, so that the switch mechanism and The durability of the illumination mechanism can be improved satisfactorily.

Therefore, it is possible to construct a membrane-shaped illuminated keyboard switch that is easy to assemble, has a thin overall structure, is easy to mount on equipment, and is highly reliable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a main part of a conventional clickable keyboard switch, and FIG. 2 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a main part of an illuminated keyboard switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11...Base member, 13...Switch sheet, 16...Light emitting element, 17...Transparent flexible member, 18...Operation display panel, 18'...Protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The contact patterns 1 are attached to the upper part of the flexible base member 11 having the required number of contact patterns 14.
A switch sheet 13 having a projection for click operation with another contact pattern 14' is disposed at a position corresponding to 4, and a hole 19 for click operation and switch operation is provided on the switch sheet 13. In a membrane-shaped keyboard switch configured to have an operation display panel 18, a flexible circuit is formed with a wiring pattern 22 for connecting an LED light emitting element 16 on the lower surface of the operation display panel 18. The light emitting element 16 is disposed on the top of the click operation protrusion of the switch sheet 13 with a substrate 21 interposed therebetween. A membrane-type illuminated keyboard switch characterized in that a transparent or translucent flexible member 17 for scattering light for the light emitting element 16 is mounted in the protrusion 18'.