JPH07261897A - Self-illumination type key switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the self-illumination type key switch which is surely turned ON wherever of the key top is pressed and light in operating force and whose key top moves linearly by integrally forming the specific key top, a frame part, an arm part, a depression part and leg part in one body. CONSTITUTION:When the key top 1-a is pressed, the arm part 1-c deforms elastically, the key top 1-a moves linearly, and the depression part 1-b turns ON the switch 3. Further, when the opposite side of the key top 1-a from the switch 3 is pressed, the force which causes the arm part 1-c deform elastically is smaller than the force required to turn ON the key 3, so the key top 1-a rotates around the switch 3 downward to the right until the leg part 1-e abuts on a circuit board 4. When the key top 1-a is further pressed, the force required to turn ON the switch 3 is smaller than the force which makes the leg part 1-e deform elastically, so the key top 1-a rotates downward to the left around the leg part 1-e and the depression part 1-b turns ON the switch 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminated key switch used for operating various devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are various devices that use a self-illuminating switch in which a pressed button is illuminated to show the operation state to a user. Many large devices use a switch that has a built-in light emitting means, but there are restrictions on the type of button shape and the size of the switch itself. It is normal to use. 5 and 6
An example is shown in. The figure shows a keyboard used for inputting numerical values. In the figure, numeral 1 is a ten-key pad in which twelve key tops are integrally formed of a transparent or translucent material. 1-a is a key top, on the surface of which numbers, characters, symbols, etc. are displayed. 1-b is a pressing portion for pressing the switch. 1-c is an arm portion, and the key top 1-a and the frame portion 1
-D is connected. The arm portion 1-c is thinner than the other portions so that it can be elastically deformed. Reference numeral 1-d is a frame portion to which twelve key tops 1a are connected in a predetermined arrangement. Reference numeral 2 is a light emitting means arranged almost directly under the key top 1-a, and a lamp or an LED is used, but the LED is advantageous in terms of current consumption. 3 is a switch which is arranged in the vicinity of the LED 2 and is a means for detecting that the key top is pressed, 4 is a circuit board on which the LED 2 and the switch 3 are mounted, and 5 is an exterior of the device. It has a positioning portion 5-a for positioning the frame portion 1-d and a mounting portion 5-b for mounting the circuit board 4.
When the key top 1-a is pressed here, the arm portion 1-c is elastically deformed and the key top 1-a is rotated leftward and downward. At this time, the pressing portion 1-b provided on the key top 1-a pushes the switch 3 to turn on the switch 3, and the key top 1-a stops in a tilted state. Then, the control means (not shown) detects which switch is pressed and turns on the LED 2 corresponding thereto. However, in the above configuration, the arm 1-c
Since the length of the arm 1-c is short, the arm 1-c is not easily elastically deformed, and a force for deforming the arm 1-c is required in addition to the operation force of the switch 3 itself. The operating force to turn it on becomes heavy. Also key top 1-
Since a also makes a rotational movement around the arm 1-c, the feeling of operation is not good. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, by lengthening the arm portion 1-c to facilitate elastic deformation, the key top 1-a can be moved linearly and the operation force can be reduced. However, if the force required for elastically deforming the arm portion 1-c becomes considerably smaller than the operating force of the switch itself, there is no problem in pushing the center of the key top 1-a or the switch 3 side, but the key top 1 When the side opposite to the switch 3 of -a is pushed, especially the end, as shown in FIG.
There is a problem that only −c is deformed and the switch 3 is not turned on.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention is a self-illuminating key switch in which the switch is surely turned on regardless of where the key top is pressed, and the key top can be moved in a substantially straight line, and the operation force is not unnecessarily heavy. Is to realize.

[0004]

According to the present invention, the light emitting means and the switch are arranged adjacent to each other on the circuit board, and the key top arranged substantially directly above the light emitting means and the key top are predetermined. A frame part provided to surround the key top for arranging in a position, an elastically deformable arm part extending from one end of the key top to the opposite frame part for connecting the key top to the frame part, and a switch Since the pressing part provided on the key top for pressing and the foot part extending in the opposite direction from the switch from the key top are integrally molded, the switch surely turns on no matter where you press the key top, Moreover, the operation force is light, and it is possible to realize a self-illuminating key switch in which the key top moves linearly.

[0005]

1 and 2 show a first embodiment, FIG. 1 is a plan view, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a ten-key pad in which 12 key tops are integrally formed.
d, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are the same as in the conventional example. 1-e is a foot extending from the key top 1-a in the opposite direction to the switch 3. The foot portion 1-e is thinner than other portions so as to be elastically deformable, and thicker than the arm portion 1-c, and the force required to elastically deform the foot portion 1-e is the switch 3 The operating force is set to be large. Also, foot 1-
e has a clearance L ₁ between itself and the circuit board 4. When the operation stroke of the switch 3 is S, L ₁ ≈S is set. 1-f is a stopper key top 1-
When a is pressed by an excessive force, it hits the circuit board to limit the movement of the key top 1-a. Stopper 1
-F has a gap L ₂ between the circuit board 4, L ₂
> S is set.

In the above structure, when the key top 1-a is pressed, the arm portion 1-c elastically deforms, the key top 1-a moves linearly, and the pressing portion 1-b turns on the switch 3. Also, considering the case where the side of the key top 1-a opposite to the switch 3 is pressed, the force that elastically deforms the arm 1-c is the switch 3
Key top 1 because it is less than the force required to turn on
-A rotates about the switch 3 to the lower right until the foot 1-e contacts the circuit board 4. Then, when the key top 1-a is further pressed, the force for turning on the switch 3 is smaller than the force for elastically deforming the foot portion 1-e, so that the key top 1-a is located at the lower left of the foot portion 1-e. Then, the pressing portion 1-b turns on the switch 3. Key top 1 at this time
Clearance L between foot 1-e and circuit board 4 before pressing a
_{Since 1} is almost equal to the stroke S of the switch 3, the key top 1-a is hardly tilted when the switch 3 is turned on, and the normally used switch is a tact switch and its stroke is also 0.2 to 0. Since it is as short as about 3 mm, the operator does not notice that the key top is slightly rotated left and right during the operation.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, the arm 1-
c and the foot 1-e each had a pair, but the arm 1-
If either one of c and the foot 1-e is paired, there is no hindrance to rattling or tilting of the key top, and the stopper 1-f is not essential for the function of the switch. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, one having a pair of arms 1-c and a foot 1-e, and one having a pair of feet 1-e and an arm as shown in FIG. However, the object of the present invention can be achieved.

[0008]

As described above, the light emitting means and the switch are arranged adjacent to each other on the circuit board, and the key top arranged almost directly above the light emitting means and the key for placing the key top at a predetermined position. A frame part surrounding the top, an elastically deformable arm extending from one end of the key top to the opposite frame part to connect the key top to the frame part, and a key top to press the switch The pressing part provided and the foot part extending from the key top in the opposite direction to the switch are molded integrally so that the switch can be turned on reliably regardless of where you press the key top, and the operating force is light, and the key top An illuminated key switch that moves linearly can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 numeric keypad 1-a key top 1-b pressing part 1-c arm part 1-d frame part 1-e foot part 1-f stopper 2 LED 3 switch 4 circuit board 5 exterior

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting means and a switch are arranged adjacent to each other on a circuit board, and the key top is arranged almost directly above the light emitting means, and the key top is surrounded so as to arrange the key top at a predetermined position. A frame part provided, an elastically deformable arm part extending from one end of the key top to the opposite frame part for connecting the key top to the frame part, and a pressing part provided on the key top for pressing the switch The illuminated key switch is characterized in that the key top and the foot extending in the opposite direction are integrally molded from the key top. 2. A plurality of light emitting means and a plurality of switches are arranged adjacent to each other on a circuit board, and a plurality of key tops arranged almost directly above the light emitting means and a plurality of key tops are arranged at predetermined positions. For this purpose, a frame part is provided so as to surround the key top, an elastically deformable arm part extending from one end of the key top to the opposite frame part for connecting a plurality of key tops to the frame part, and a switch is pressed. Therefore, the keyboard is characterized in that the pressing portion provided on the key top and the foot portion extending from the key top in the opposite direction to the switch are integrally formed.