JPH0319138Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] This invention relates to push-button switches used in electronic equipment such as VTRs and cassette decks, and particularly relates to push-button switches equipped with illuminated key tops.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

Generally, an operation panel of a cassette deck or the like is provided with a plurality of push button switches for each function, and is also provided with an illumination section that lights up based on the operation of these push button switches.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional push button switch equipped with such an illumination section. The symbol S in the figure is a switch body (tact switch), in which a fixed contact 2 and a cup-shaped movable contact 3 are disposed facing each other in a switch case body 1, and a stem 4 is disposed on the movable contact 3. ing. 5a and 5b are terminals.

The switch body S is arranged on a printed circuit board 6, and terminals 5a and 5b are inserted into required parts of the printed circuit board 6 and soldered. Further, a key top 8 held by a frame body 7 is disposed on the upper part of the switch main body S, and the back side of the key top 8 is placed on the stem 4. The key top 8 is constantly pushed upward in the drawing by the reciprocating force of the movable contact 3. In the part of the frame body 7 at the side position of the key top 8,
A light-emitting element housing part 7a is formed, a light-emitting diode (light-emitting element) LED (hereinafter simply referred to as LED) is housed in this part, and a transparent member 9 is disposed on the front side thereof. Appropriate characters, numbers, etc. corresponding to the function of the push button switch are written on the transparent member 9.

When the key top 8 is pressed, the movable contact 3 is deflected inward and comes into contact with the fixed contact 2, and the switch body S is turned on. At the same time, the LED lights up, and the characters and the like corresponding to the function of the push button switch are illuminated.

By the way, equipment such as VCRs and cassette decks,
Along with improved performance, miniaturization and compactness have been pursued from the viewpoint of ease of installation, etc., and along with this,
Push button switches attached to these devices are also required to be smaller and thinner.

However, for the push button switch mentioned above,
Frame body 7 in which the illumination part is positioned to the side of key top 8
However, the problem was that the overall installation space including the illumination part increased, making it impossible to meet the demand for miniaturization.

Next, FIG. 4 shows another conventional example, in which the key top 11 is composed of an outer member 11a made of an opaque rubber-like material and an inner member 11b made of a transparent rubber-like material, and a switch An LED is arranged in a notch 4a of a stem 4 in the main body S. Characters or the like corresponding to the function of the push button switch are written on the inner member 11b.

When the key top 11 is pressed, the stem 4 is pressed and the switch body S is turned on. At the same time, the LED lights up to illuminate the inner member 11b of the key top 11, and characters etc. corresponding to the function of the push button switch are displayed. In this state, the LED is fixed to the switch case body 1, so it does not move down.

However, for the push button switch mentioned above,
Although the above problem has been solved in terms of reducing the overall installation space including the lighting section,
There was still a problem in that the overall thickness was increased by the length of the vertically elongated stem 4 to accommodate the LED, so it was impossible to make the device thinner.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an illuminated push button switch that can be made smaller and thinner.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve this purpose, this invention includes a switch body in which a fixed contact and a movable contact are arranged facing each other, a flexible substrate fixed to the fixed contact side of the switch body, and a flexible substrate fixed to the fixed contact side of the switch body. A light emitting element attached to the back side of the
A key top made of a transparent material is disposed on the back side of the fixed contact in the switch body so as to cover the light emitting element, and a protrusion is disposed opposite to the movable contact side of the switch body for driving the movable contact. A fixing member is provided.

[Effect]

When you press the key top, the board bends,
The entire switch body is deviated toward the fixed member, the movable contact is driven by the protrusion, and the switch body is turned on. At the same time, the light emitting element lights up and the key top is illuminated from inside. The light emitting element is attached to the back side of the switch body, and unlike the conventional example, a protective case is not required, so the overall thickness can be reduced.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line -- in FIG. 1. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the same or equivalent members as those in FIGS. 3 and 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

First, to explain the structure, the switch body S is oriented in the opposite direction with respect to the key top 11 compared to the conventional example shown in FIG. 4, and the fixed contact side thereof is
Attached to a flexible printed circuit board 13, the terminal 5
a and 5b are soldered to required parts of the printed circuit board 13. The printed circuit board 13 is made of a sheet member made of a material such as polyimide and has flexibility. Also, the LED is on the switch body S
The terminals 14a and 14b are also attached to the flexible printed circuit board 13.
is soldered to.

An inner member 11b of the key top 11 made of a transparent rubber-like material is hollowed out to a desired size at approximately the center of its lower surface to provide a cavity 11c. The key top 11 is placed in this cavity 11c.
It is arranged on the back side of the switch body S so as to accommodate the LED.

On the other hand, on the movable contact side of the switch main body S, a frame plate (fixed member) 15 is disposed oppositely.
A protrusion 15a provided on the stem 4 is in contact with the stem 4. The frame plate 15 has a thin hinge 15 at one end edge thereof.
b is connected to the frame member 15c, and the other end is connected to the frame member 15c.
The other side of c is caulked 15d.

Next, the effect will be explained.

When the key top 11 is pressed, the flexible printed circuit board 13 is bent, and the entire switch body S is deviated toward the frame plate 15. The protrusion 15a drives the movable contact via the stem 4, and the switch body S turns on. In this ON state, the LED lights up and the inner member 11b is illuminated from inside, and the characters etc. of the function corresponding to the push button switch are clearly displayed on the surface of the key top 11.

[Effect of idea]

As detailed above, according to this invention, an LED is attached to the back side of the switch body, a keytop made of transparent material is placed on the back side of the switch body so as to cover the LED, and the key top of the switch body is movable. Since a fixed member with a protrusion for driving the movable contact is provided on the contact side, the illumination part is placed in the key top part, which reduces the overall installation space including the illumination part, resulting in a more compact design. is planned. Furthermore, since there is no need for a vertically long stem for arranging the LED as in the conventional example, it is possible to achieve the effect of achieving a thinner structure.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of the illuminated push button switch according to this invention, and Fig. 2 is a -
3 is a partially cutaway front view of a conventional push button switch equipped with an illumination section, and FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view of another conventional example. 2... Fixed contact, 3... Movable contact, 4... Stem, 11... Key top, 11a... Outer member,
11b...Inner member made of transparent rubber material, 11c...
...Gap, 13...Flexible printed circuit board, 15
...Frame plate (fixing member), 15a...Protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A switch body in which a fixed contact and a movable contact are arranged facing each other, a flexible substrate fixed to the fixed contact side of the switch body, and a rear side of the fixed contact in the switch body. a light-emitting element attached to the light-emitting element; a key top made of a transparent material arranged on the back side of the fixed contact in the switch body so as to cover the light-emitting element; 1. An illuminated push button switch comprising: a fixing member provided with a protrusion for driving a contact.