JPH0668258U - Pushbutton switch with thin display - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention provides a touch switch 18 in which the bending of an extremely small seat serves as an operation stroke, in which an insulating member and a conductive member that both serve as an electrical connection and a cushioning material are alternately provided. Another object of the present invention is to provide a push-button switch with a thin display, in which a connector 17 formed by stacking is arranged to absorb a shock at the time of operation and obtain a feeling of pressing. [Structure] The operation button 20 is configured by arranging a touch switch 18 and an LCD 16 below the touch switch 18, and an insulating member and a conductive member are alternately laminated between the LCD 16 and the terminal 14 provided on the switch base 11. Plate-shaped connector 1 formed by
7 is provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a touch switch and a push button switch in which a display device is arranged below the touch switch, and particularly to an elastic body such as a member that also serves as a cushioning material for absorbing a shock at the time of operation in an electrical connection and obtaining a feeling of pressing. The present invention relates to a push-button switch with a thin display device having a simple structure in which a connector formed in (3) is arranged.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, as a switch of this type, as shown in FIG. 7, a touch switch 1 is formed by facing a transparent insulating sheet having a transparent electrode formed on a transparent substrate at a predetermined interval and facing each other. It was arranged on the screen of the CRT2, or the touch switch 3 was arranged on the main body 4 as shown in FIG. 8, and a display device such as an LCD was arranged on the lower surface thereof. As still another conventional technique, an LCD is provided on the upper surface of the operation button 7 so that it can be moved up and down, and a mechanical contact mechanism section is provided in the switch body 5 to provide a space between the operation button 7 and the switch body 5. Was a push-button switch with a display device in which the flexible printed circuit board 9 was connected.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, since the above-described push button switch with a display device is configured by laminating insulating sheets provided with transparent electrodes with dot spacers sandwiched between them, the deflection of the insulating sheet becomes an operation stroke, so that ordinary people do not. It was an extremely small operation stroke that I couldn't feel, and I didn't feel the touch switch operation, and I was a little worried as to whether it was operated. Further, in FIG. 8, the operation stroke is large and the operation feeling is good, but there are drawbacks such as a large number of parts and a complicated structure and assembly. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide a particularly thin push button switch with a display device, which has a simple structure and is easy to assemble.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a push button switch for opening and closing an electric circuit by providing an operation button above a switch base having terminals and touching the operation button. A touch switch formed by providing a transparent electrode on the inner surface of a transparent insulating sheet and an LCD below the touch switch are provided to electrically connect the LCD and the terminal and to provide a cushioning material when operating the operation button. The connector is formed of an elastic body that is a combination of a conductive member that also serves as the insulating member and an insulating member.

[0005]

[Action]

 According to the present invention, the touch switch and the LCD are disposed below the touch switch, and the LCD and the terminal provided on the switch base are electrically connected by the connector formed of an elastic body such as rubber. , The elasticity of the connector absorbs the shock and a pressing feeling is obtained, the electrodes of the touch switch are short-circuited and turned on, and when this pressing force is released, it returns to the original state and turns off.

[0006]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

In these figures, a circuit pattern 15 is formed on the inner bottom surface of a box-shaped switch base 11, and a terminal 14 is projected through the bottom surface. A convex portion 12 is provided on the inner bottom surface of the switch base 11, and a concave portion for accommodating a plate-shaped first connector 17 described later is provided in the convex portion 12. This connector is formed by alternately stacking elastic bodies such as conductive and insulating rubbers and resins, and is usually called a zebra connector. The operation button 20 is formed in a frame shape, and a step is formed at the edge of the inner surface. A touch switch 18, which is formed by stacking transparent electrodes on the inner surfaces of a pair of transparent insulating sheets that are in contact with the stepped portion and are opposed to each other in a rectangular shape, is disposed. An LCD 16 for displaying figures and the like is provided. A plate-shaped first connector 17 formed of an elastic body made of a combination of insulating rubber and conductive rubber is provided between the electrodes near the front and rear ends of the lower surface of the LCD 16 and the circuit pattern 15 provided on the inner bottom surface of the switch base 11. To be done. The first connector 17 is housed in the recess, but the circuit pattern 15 for connecting to the terminal 14 is provided on the inner bottom surface of the recess, and therefore the electrode of the LCD 16 and the terminal 14 are electrically connected. Will be done. Similarly, with respect to the touch switch 18, the second connector 19 formed in the same manner as described above is arranged between the electrode and the circuit pattern 15 provided on the switch base 11, and is electrically connected. The electrodes of the touch switch 18 may form a flexible tail, and the tip of the tail may be inserted into a pinching connector to be connected in a concavo-convex relationship. As described above, the switch base 11 is covered with the frame body 22 while the operation button 20 configured as described above is placed thereon, and the side surface of the switch base body 11 corresponding to the through hole 23 provided on the side surface is provided. It is assembled by engaging with the provided projection 13 due to the concavo-convex relationship.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the essential parts of a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the essential parts thereof. In these figures, the circuit pattern 35 is formed on the inner bottom surface of the box-shaped switch base 31 as in the first embodiment, and the terminal 34 is projected through the bottom surface. A convex portion 32 is provided on the inner bottom surface of the switch base 31, and a concave portion for accommodating a plate-shaped first connector 40 described later is provided in the convex portion 32. The operation button 40 is formed in a frame shape, and a step is formed at the edge of the inner surface. A touch switch 38, which is formed by stacking transparent electrodes on the inner surfaces of a pair of transparent insulating sheets that are in contact with this step and facing each other in a rectangular shape, is provided, and symbols, characters, and drawings are provided below the touch switch 38. An LCD 36 for displaying the shape and the like is provided. Between the electrodes near the front and rear ends of the lower surface of the LCD 36 and the circuit pattern 35 provided on the inner bottom surface of the switch base 31, a plate-shaped first connector 37 formed of an elastic body by combining insulating and conductive rubber or resin is used. Both end faces are arranged in elastic contact. The first connector 37 is housed in the recess, but the circuit pattern 35 connected to the terminal 34 is continued on the inner bottom surface of the recess. Therefore, the electrode of the LCD 36 and the terminal 34 are electrically connected. Will be continued. Further, a substrate 45 on which an IC 44 is mounted is arranged on the lower surface of the LCD 36, and the circuit pattern 35 provided between the lower surface of the substrate 45 and the switch base 31 is also elastic by combining rubber and resin having insulation and conductivity. Both ends of the plate-shaped third connector 46 formed of a body are arranged in elastic contact with each other. Similarly, for the touch switch 38, the second connector 39 formed in the same manner as described above is arranged between the electrode and the circuit pattern 35 provided on the switch base 31, and is electrically connected. The electrodes of the touch switch 38 may form a flexible tail, and the tip of the tail may be inserted into a connector that holds the tail and connected by a concavo-convex relationship. As described above, with the operation button constructed as described above placed on the switch base 31, the frame 42 is covered, and the side surface of the switch base 31 corresponding to the through hole 43 provided on the side surface is attached to the side surface. It is assembled by engaging with the provided projection 33 due to the concavo-convex relationship. The IC 44 for driving the display function of the LCD 36 or the backlight is provided inside the switch body as described above or provided outside the switch body to drive the display function of a plurality of switches. To be FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a usage state of the present invention, which is used for a keyboard 51 of an OA device such as a personal computer or a word processor. (A) shows the state in which the numbers and hiragana are displayed, and the state in which the numbers and alphabets are converted as shown in (B), and various displays can be easily converted. Even when the keyboard 51 is used frequently as described above, since the connector formed of the elastic body is provided, the connector serves as a cushioning material, giving a feeling of pressing and reducing a feeling of fatigue due to impact. In the embodiment of the present invention, no backlight is provided, but a backlight composed of an LED or EL plate may be provided below the LCD. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the spirit of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0009]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) A touch switch and an LCD are provided on the operation button, and the conductive member electrically connects between the LCD and a terminal provided on the switch base and also serves as a cushioning material when the operation button is operated. Since the connector formed of an elastic body is combined with the insulating member, the operation button elastically descends during operation, eliminating the impact and pain of the fingertips during operation, thus significantly reducing fatigue. In addition to the reduction of the pressure, a push button switch with a display device can be obtained which has a sufficient pressing feeling, is extremely ergonomically preferable, and has a sense of security. (2) A touch switch and an LCD are provided on the operation button, and the conductive member electrically connects between the LCD and the terminal provided on the switch base and also serves as a cushioning material when the operation button is operated. Since the connector formed of an elastic body is arranged by combining the insulating members, a good operation feeling can be obtained without using special parts. (3) A touch switch and an LCD are provided on the operation button, and the conductive member electrically connects between the LCD and a terminal provided on the switch base and also serves as a cushioning material when the operation button is operated. Since a connector made of an elastic body is arranged by combining insulating members, a touch feeling can be obtained even though the touch switch using the transparent electrode and the LCD are provided, and the structure is simple. The number of parts can be reduced, and therefore, a thin and inexpensive push button switch, which is about 1/2 of the conventional type, can be provided. (4) A touch switch and an LCD are provided on the operation button, and the conductive rubber that electrically connects the LCD and the terminal provided on the switch base and also serves as a cushioning material when the operation button is operated. Since it is a push button switch with a thin display device that has a connector made of elastic material combined with insulating rubber, it does not need to be manufactured as a special order product corresponding to the size of each device, and it can be vertically and horizontally freely. It is possible to combine arbitrary quantities and it is extremely easy to use according to the design and application of the device. (5) Since characters and symbols are displayed on the surface of the operation button by the LCD, it is not necessary to print or engrave for the purpose of the device, and it is possible to easily change arbitrary characters and symbols. Therefore, like the keyboard switch of a personal computer or word processor, the character display can be easily changed from hiragana to alphabet, and it can be used for extremely convenient purposes. (6) According to the switch of the present invention, it is possible to freely combine any number in vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, unlike a conventional touch switch with transparent electrodes on one large LCD, Since the separation between the operation sections is clear, it is possible to prevent a malfunction that would occur when two adjacent operation sections were operated, and to obtain a good operational feeling.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an essential part of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of essential parts showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a usage state of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part showing a first conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a second conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a third conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 31 Switch base 12, 32 Convex part 13, 33 Protrusion 14, 34 Terminal 15, 35 Circuit pattern 16, 36 LCD 17, 37 First connector 18, 38 Touch switch 19, 39 Second connector 20, 40 Operation button 21 Through hole 22,42 Frame body 23,43 Through hole 44 IC 45 Board 46 Third connector 51 Keyboard

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A push button switch in which an operation button is provided above a switch base body provided with terminals and an electric path is opened and closed by operating the operation button, wherein a transparent electrode is provided on an inner surface of an insulating sheet transparent to the operation button. And a touch switch formed under the touch switch, and an LCD disposed below the touch switch to electrically connect the LCD and the terminal and to insulate from a conductive member that also serves as a cushioning material when the operation button is operated. A push button switch with a thin display device, characterized in that a connector formed of an elastic body in combination with a flexible member is provided. 2. A conductor provided with a substrate provided with an IC below the LCD and a combination of a conductive member and an insulating member between the LCD and the substrate provided with the IC, and further between the terminals of the switch base. 2. The push button switch with a thin display device according to claim 1, wherein the connector formed in 1. is provided.