JPH0448580Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention is based on the characters displayed on the key top,
Electroluminescent elements (hereinafter referred to as
This invention relates to an illuminated push button device that provides good visibility even in dark places by irradiating light from an EL element (called an EL element).

[Conventional technology]

A light-emitting layer is interposed between a transparent electrode and a counter electrode.
An EL element causes a light-emitting layer to emit light by applying a predetermined alternating current electric field between two electrodes, and an illuminated push button device that incorporates such an EL element as a backlight is suitable for use in automobiles, where there is a high demand for thinness. It has become widely used in industrial instruments, etc.

3 and 4 show a conventional example of this type of illuminated push button device, with FIG. 3 being a sectional view and FIG. 4 being a perspective view of the main parts thereof.

In these figures, an actuator 3 is fixed to the bottom of the key top 2 protruding from the through hole 1a of the decorative cover 1. A through hole 4 having a width of . A long EL sealing body 7, which is made by sealingly covering an EL element 5 with a sealing film 6, is disposed in the through hole 4, and this EL sealing body 7 is as shown in FIG. It passes through each through hole 4 of a plurality of key tops 2. In addition, when not in operation, the EL sealing body 7 is located at the bottom of the through hole 4, as shown in FIG. Since a clearance exceeding the stroke of the key top 2 is secured, when the key top 2 is pressed, the upper wall portion 2a approaches and separates from the EL sealing body 7, but the two do not come into contact with each other. On the other hand, a protrusion 3a protruding from the bottom of the actuator 3 faces a dome-shaped tact spring 8, and an upper electrode 9a and a lower electrode 9b are arranged behind the tact spring 8 (lower side in FIG. 3). A membrane switch 9 is disposed in which the membrane switch 9 is configured to face each other so as to be movable toward and away from each other, and this membrane switch 9 is supported and fixed on a support plate 10.

In the illuminated push button device having the above configuration, when the operator presses down the upper wall portion 2a of the key top 2 by a predetermined stroke, the protrusion 3a of the actuator 3 presses the tact spring 8 and reverses it. The lower electrodes 9a and 9b are electrically connected to turn on the switch, and when the tact spring 8 is reversed, a click sensation is transmitted to the operator's fingers, so that the operating state can be confirmed.
In addition, since the EL element 5 connected to an external power source (not shown) emits light in blue-green, for example, the characters displayed on the upper wall 2a of the key top 2,
Symbols, etc. can be clearly seen even in dark places.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in such a conventional illuminated push button device, with respect to the through hole 4 provided inside the integrated key top 2 and actuator 3,
While ensuring clearance that the upper wall portion 2a of the key top 2 does not come into contact with the EL sealing body 7 during the pressing operation,
Since a height space is required to accommodate the EL sealing body 7, the through hole 4 requires a minimum height space equal to the stroke of the key top 2 plus the thickness of the EL sealing body 7. Therefore, there was a problem that it could not fully meet the demand for thinning of the entire device. Furthermore, since the elongated EL sealing body 7 is passed through each of the through holes 4 of the plurality of key tops 2, the cover 1 between the key tops 2 is exposed to the area where the key tops 2 are not present and does not need to be illuminated. The light of the EL element 5 is also irradiated to the EL element 5, which results in a lot of waste in terms of construction and causes an increase in costs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to provide an illuminated push button device that can be made thinner as desired, eliminate unnecessary construction, and reduce manufacturing costs. There is a particular thing.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention has a built-in EL element and a plurality of key tops arranged as above.
In an illuminated push button device that is illuminated by the light of an EL element, an EL element is incorporated into each key top and integrated with the key top,
The feature lies in that a transparent electrode and a counter electrode are extended from these EL elements to the outside, and a plurality of mutually spaced EL elements are connected via the extensions of both electrodes.

[Effect]

That is, in the present invention, the EL elements incorporated in each key top are connected to each other via the flexible transparent electrode and the extension of the counter electrode, so that when a desired key top is pressed,
The EL element built into the key top is designed to move with the same stroke and independently from other EL elements, eliminating the need to secure a predetermined clearance in front of the EL element as in conventional structures. , the thickness of the entire device can be significantly reduced.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an illuminated push button device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a chain-shaped push button device used therein.
3 is a partially cutaway plan view of the EL, and the same reference numerals are given to the same members as in FIG. 3, and redundant explanation will be omitted as appropriate.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the key top 12 protruding from the through hole 1a of the decorative cover 1 has a recess 12b on its back side, and the top wall 12a is inserted into the recess 12b. An EL element 15 is incorporated to illuminate displayed characters, symbols, etc. This EL element 15 is a chain-like EL element 1 shown in FIG.
4, a transparent electrode 16 formed by forming a thin film of a mixed oxide of indium and tin on a transparent sheet.
and a counter electrode 17 made of aluminum foil, a light-emitting layer 1 containing a phosphor powder such as zinc sulfide is provided.
However, the transparent electrode 16 and the counter electrode 17 are respectively provided with extending portions 16a and 17a outside the EL element 15, and through these extending portions 16a and 17a, Each EL element 15 forming the chain EL 14 is electrically connected. Further, each EL element 15 is incorporated into the key top 12 in a state where it is hermetically covered with a sealing film 19, 20, of which the band-shaped sealing film 20 is transparent and the counter electrode 16, 1
Since it also functions as a base film for reinforcing each of the extending parts 16a and 17a of the sealing film 20, each of the extending parts 16a and 17a provided on this sealing film 20
has sufficient mechanical strength and flexibility.

On the other hand, a plate-shaped actuator 13 is fixed to the bottom of the key top 12 that houses the EL element 15 in the recess 12b.
The protrusion 13a faces the tactile spring 8, and the upper and lower electrodes 9a, 9b of the membrane switch 9 are located behind the tactile spring 8 (lower side in FIG. 1).

The above-mentioned illuminated push button device has each key top 12.
The EL elements 15 are housed in the respective recesses 12b and are integrated with the key top 12.
Adjacent EL elements 15 in EL 14 are
Since they are connected via the flexible extensions 16a and 17a and the sealing film 20, when the operator presses the desired key top 12, the EL element 1 incorporated in the key top 12 is activated.
5 move with the same stroke and independently from other EL elements 15. Then, the key top 12 is pushed down by a predetermined stroke, and the tact spring 8 is pushed down via the projection 13a of the actuator 13.
When pressed and reversed, the upper and lower electrodes 9a and 9b of the membrane switch 9 become conductive, turning on the switch.

In this way, in the above embodiment, the EL element 15 housed in the key top 12 moves together with the key top 12 during a pressing operation, unlike the conventional structure in which the key top approaches and separates from the EL element. There is no need to secure a clearance greater than the stroke in front of the EL element, and the overall device is significantly thinner.

In addition, in the above embodiment, each EL element 15 of the chain EL 14 is electrically and mechanically connected,
In addition, in order to provide flexibility, the extending portions 16a and 17a formed by extending the transparent and opposing electrodes 16 and 17 of the EL element 15 and the sealing film 20 are used, so that this connection portion is connected to the EL element 15. It can be easily manufactured in the same process as above, and since there is no need to provide the EL element 15 in the area where the key top 12 does not exist, there is an advantage that waste in construction can be eliminated and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the transparent and counter electrode 1
The extending portions 16a, 17a of 6, 17 are reinforced with a sealing film 20.
17a may be reinforced with a sealing film 19, or both extending portions 16a, 17a may be overlapped with a flexible insulating layer interposed therebetween.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, the present invention incorporates an EL element in each key top, and separates them from each other through the extension of the transparent electrode and counter electrode.
Since the EL elements are electrically and mechanically connected to each other, there is no need to secure a clearance beyond the stroke length in front of the EL elements, making the entire device significantly thinner.
No special means are required to connect the EL elements, and the EL
Since no elements are provided, there is an effect that waste in construction can be eliminated and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 and 2 are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a sectional view of an illuminated push button device, and Figure 2 is a part of a chain EL used there. The cutaway plan view, FIGS. 3 and 4 are for explaining the conventional example, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the illuminated push button device, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of its main parts. 12... Key top, 12a... Upper wall part, 13
...Actuator, 14... Chain EL, 15...
... EL element, 16 ... Transparent electrode, 17 ... Counter electrode, 16a, 17a ... Extension portion, 18 ... Light emitting layer, 19, 20 ... Sealing film.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an illuminated push button device that includes an electroluminescent element formed by interposing a light emitting layer between a transparent electrode and a counter electrode, and illuminates a plurality of key tops with light from the electroluminescent element, each key top is Each electroluminescent element is incorporated and integrated with the key top, and a transparent electrode and a counter electrode are extended to the outside from these electroluminescent elements. An illuminated push button device, characterized in that the push button device is connected via an exit portion.