JPH0793072B2 - Illuminated key - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is a compact type illumination device which is convenient for use as a key for various mobile communications such as a mobile phone or a car phone, or as an electronic notebook or other various terminal keys at night or in a dark place. More specifically, the present invention relates to an illuminated key in which light is positively introduced from a contact portion that is turned on and off so that characters such as characters on the key can be seen more clearly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The inventor of the present invention has previously provided a sheet-like non-acting portion and an actuating portion formed from either the non-actuating portion bulging from the non-acting portion with or without the click operation. An elastomer is used, and a non-translucent light-shielding layer is formed on each surface of the remaining operating and non-operating parts except the flat upper surface of the operating part, and the transparent upper surface is formed on the flat upper surface of the operating part. An illuminated key having a colored light-transmitting printing layer containing a substance that undergoes a thermal crosslinking reaction with a light-emitting elastomer, and a blank character printing layer such as numbers or symbols formed on the upper surface of the color light-transmitting printing layer. -Was developed (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-355557). Further, in this type of illuminated key, the contact portion for turning the key on and off is actually formed of a non-translucent conductive material such as black carbon.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention described in the above-mentioned prior art is intended to improve the illumination of the display portion for the numbers, symbols, characters, etc. displayed on the key. From the viewpoint of illumination, no sufficient improvement has been made yet to the contact part that turns on and off. In particular, when the contact portion is formed of a conductive material such as black carbon, there is a problem that the light is shielded when the light is irradiated. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to take in light from a light source also from a contact portion that is turned on and off, and to efficiently and uniformly display a key top display portion. It is intended to provide an illuminated key which is designed to be compact so that characters, symbols and numbers are illuminated.

[0004]

An illuminated key according to the present invention.
Is a sheet-like non-actuating portion and an actuating portion formed from a non-actuating portion bulging from the non-actuating portion with or without a click action by a light-transmissive elastomer. A non-translucent light-shielding layer is formed on each surface of the remaining operating and non-operating parts except the flat upper surface, and a colored translucent printing layer is formed on the flat upper surface of the operating part, and the colored A transparent character printing layer is formed on the upper surface of the translucent printing layer, and a transparent conductive film is formed on the back surface of the operating portion.
Further, the illuminated key according to the present invention has a sheet-like non-acting portion and an actuating portion which is formed with either a swelling click action or a non-acting one. An elastomer is used, and a non-translucent light-shielding layer is formed on each surface of the remaining operating and non-operating parts except the flat upper surface of the operating part, and a colored transparent layer is formed on the flat upper surface of the operating part. An optical printing layer is formed, a blank character printing layer of numbers, symbols, etc. is formed on the upper surface of the colored translucent printing layer, and a transparent conductive film is formed on the back surface of the operating portion. The light from the light source may be totally reflected on the lower surface of the translucent printed circuit board disposed on the lower surface of the sheet-like non-actuating portion formed of a flexible elastomer, and the light may be emitted toward the corresponding actuating portion. A light guide is installed.

Further, the illuminated key according to the present invention is a
And a flat upper surface of the actuating portion, the actuating portion being formed of a translucent elastomer, and a non-actuating portion and an actuating portion bulging from the non-actuating portion with or without a click action. Except the above, the non-translucent light-shielding layer is formed on each surface of the operating part and the non-operating part, and the colored translucent printing layer is formed on the flat upper surface of the operating part. The operating portion of the upper surface of the printed circuit board formed on the lower surface of the sheet-shaped non-operating portion formed by the translucent elastomer is formed on the upper surface of the layer, and is formed on the upper surface of the layer. On the upper surface of the printed circuit board at a position facing the
A transparent conductive film is formed through a printing portion for a server. Furthermore, the illuminated key according to the present invention has a translucent sheet-like non-acting portion and an actuating portion formed by either swelling from the non-acting portion with or without a click action. Of the elastomer, and a non-translucent light-shielding layer is formed on each of the surfaces of the remaining actuating portion and non-actuating portion except the flat upper surface of the actuating portion, and the flat upper surface of the actuating portion is colored. A transparent printing layer is formed, and a number is formed on the upper surface of the colored transparent printing layer,
A transparent plastic film is formed on a printed circuit board and has a dome portion that bulges so as to come into contact with the back surface of the above-mentioned operating portion. A transparent conductive film is formed on the back surface of the part.

[0006]

The light emitted from the light source for illumination passes through the operating portion and the non-operating portion formed of the light-transmitting elastomer, but is blocked by the light-shielding layer on the surface and a part thereof is reflected. The light that reaches the flat upper surface of the light that has passed through the operating portion is colored into a predetermined colored light when passing through the colored translucent printing layer, and the colored light is the extracted character portion of the extracted character printing layer. Only the letters are visible and colored letters emerge in the eyes. Also,
The light from the light source will also pass through the transparent conductive film formed on the back surface of the operating part, allowing the entire operating part to illuminate, enabling efficient irradiation of the extracted characters and the power consumption of the light source. Can be reduced. In the case of a structure in which the operating part is supported by a thin film that swells from the non-operating part, the thin film part makes a click motion, and when it is not a thin film supporting structure, the operating part makes a click motion when tapped on the upper surface Without doing so, the lower end bulging portion of the operating portion comes into contact with the contact. If the structure is not a thin film support structure, a frame or the like may be required. Therefore, a thin film support structure that performs a click motion is desirable. Light is not leaked to the outside because the flat upper surface of the operating portion excluding the character portion, its peripheral edge, and each surface of the non-operating portion are covered with a non-translucent light-shielding layer.

When the printed circuit board is made of a light-transmissive material and the light guide is installed on the lower surface of the light-transmissive printed circuit board, the light from the light source installed in the light guide is inside the light guide. The light is totally reflected at the position of the corresponding operating part, and the light is emitted upward at the position of the corresponding operating part, and the entire operating part including the transparent conductive film formed on the back surface of the operating part is illuminated. Is irradiated. Furthermore, when a transparent conductive film is formed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board at a position facing the operating section at a predetermined interval on the upper surface of the printed circuit board via the spacer printing section, the light from the light source is not emitted. Not only the light can pass through the entire back surface of the operating portion, but also light can be transmitted without being absorbed by the transparent conductive film on the printed circuit board. And
When the actuating portion is pushed, the back surface of the actuating portion is lowered and hits the transparent conductive film, and further comes into contact with the contact on the printed circuit board through the spacer to perform on / off operation.

Then, a transparent plastic film having a dome portion that bulges so as to come into contact with the back surface of the operating portion is arranged on the printed circuit board, and a transparent conductive film is formed on at least the back surface of the dome portion of the transparent plastic film. If formed,
The light from the light source not only passes through the entire back surface of the working part, but also the light is transmitted through the transparent plastic film having the dome part arranged on the printed circuit board and the transparent conductive film on the back surface of the transparent plastic film to operate. It is possible to illuminate the blank character portion formed on the upper surface of the part more clearly, and it is possible to perform efficient irradiation. Then, when the operating part is pushed, the dome part of the transparent plastic film that is in contact with the back surface of the operating part is recessed downward, and the transparent conductive film on the back surface comes into contact with the contacts on the printed circuit board and separates the operating part. If they are separated, they will be turned on and off.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of an illuminated key showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a key pad in which the non-actuated portion 1a and the actuated portion 1b are integrally formed of a transparent material such as transparent silicone rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, polyester-based or polyimide-based transparent material of thermoplastic elastomer. is there. In this example, the operating portion 1b has a non-operating portion 1a at the top.
The flat bulging portion 1c bulging from the upper surface and the lower portion are formed by the protruding portion 1d, but the invention is not limited to this, and although not shown, a non-operating portion 1a has a structure in which the operating portion 1b is supported by a thin skirt portion that bulges upward from an upper portion, a middle portion, or a lower portion of the side surface of the la la, and the thin skirt portion is clicked when the switch is turned on / off. Both structures with and without exercise are included. Also, the operating portion 1b
The remaining operating part 1 excluding the flat upper surface 1e of the bulging part 1c
A non-light-transmitting light-shielding layer 2 is formed on the side surface 1f of b and each surface of the non-actuating portion 1a. By forming the light shielding layer 2, leakage of light to the outside is prevented.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a colored translucent printing layer formed on the flat upper surface 1e of the operating portion 1b, which is transparent in addition to the case where the translucent elastomer contains a substance that undergoes a thermal crosslinking reaction and is bonded. It may be formed using a different adhesive (not shown). When the colored translucent printing layer 3 is an ink containing an elastomer of the same material as that of the operating portion 1b, the ink is applied to the upper surface 1e, and then a thermal crosslinking reaction with the elastomer of the operating portion 1b is performed by hot pressing. The upper surface 1e is firmly molded and fixed, and dried and solidified. Reference numeral 4 denotes a blank character printing layer formed on the upper surface of the colored translucent printing layer 3 such as numbers and symbols. For example, when the English character "A" is displayed, the character portion of this "A" is depressed by the thickness of the colored translucent printing layer 3.

Reference numeral 5 is a transparent conductive film formed on the back surface of the operating portion 1b, in which metal particles such as indium oxide and tin oxide are dispersed and mixed in transparent silicon rubber, urethane, ethylene propylene rubber, and transparent resin elastomer. And formed into a film or film. It is important that the transparent conductive film 5 is formed at a position corresponding to a fixed contact 8 to be described later and becomes a movable contact, which is turned on / off, has a high light ray transmittance, and has a long keystroke life. In the figure,
6 is a light source such as a light emitting diode, 7 is a printed circuit board, 8
Shows fixed contacts on the printed circuit board 7, respectively.

The light emitted from the light source 6 for illumination passes through the actuating portion 1b and the non-actuating portion 1a formed of a light-transmissive elastomer, but is blocked by the light-shielding layer 2 on the surface and a part thereof. Is reflected. The light that has reached the flat upper surface 1e of the light that has passed through the operating portion 1b is the colored transparent printing layer 3
When passing through, the colored light is colored with a predetermined color, and the colored light is transmitted only through the blank character portion of the blank character printing layer 4, so that the colored character emerges in the eyes. In addition, the light from the light source 6 also passes through the transparent conductive film 5 formed on the back surface of the operating portion 1b, allowing the light from the entire operating portion 1b to be efficiently emitted. Also, the power consumption of the light source can be reduced.

FIG. 2 (a) is an enlarged sectional view of an illuminated key in which a light guide is installed on the lower surface of a printed circuit board, FIG. 2 (b) is a sectional view of the light guide, and FIG. 2 (c) is a light guide. It is a top view of a body. Figure 1
2A is different from that in FIG. 2 in that the printed circuit board 7 itself is formed of a light-transmitting material and that the light guide 9 is provided on the lower surface of the printed circuit board 7. The light guide 9 is formed of a light-transmissive thin plate 9a that totally reflects within the plate thickness, and may have a structure capable of irradiating light to each corresponding key.
In this example, a light-transmissive thin plate 9a for total reflection within the plate thickness having a thickness of several millimeters or less was used. Thin plate 9 for total reflection
The material of a is, for example, a resin having a large refractive index such as methacrylic resin, polycarbonate, ABS resin, glass, or translucent rubber. In particular, when the thin plate 9a is formed of translucent rubber, it can be applied to a curved key board, which is more convenient. Reference numeral 9b denotes a slanted or curved reflective recess formed in a position corresponding to each key on the lower surface of the thin plate 9a (in this example, a slanted reflective recess is shown). The planar shape of the reflection recess 9b may be various shapes such as a rectangle such as a square and a rectangle, a circle, and an ellipse.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a light source such as a light emitting diode installed on one side of the thin plate 9a at a predetermined interval. Each reflection recess 9b formed on the lower surface of the thin plate 9a is formed so as to change the inclination angle and / or the recess depth according to the distance from the light source 6. Each of the reflection concave portions 9b is sequentially increased in inclination angle or deepened in depth as the distance from the light source 6 is increased. Alternatively, the tilt angle is sequentially increased as the distance from the light source 6 is increased, and the depth of the recess is also gradually increased. By changing the tilt angle and / or the depth of the recess in this way, it is possible to send the light farther, and the illuminance of the non-printed characters where characters, symbols, etc. are written for each key is the key top part at any location. Be uniform.

Not only one reflecting recess 9b is formed at a position corresponding to each key, but also a strip-like reflecting recess is formed along the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the thin plate 9a (not shown). You may do it. In the case of a strip-shaped reflective concave portion, since only the group of keys corresponding to each row and the upper surface between the keys are irradiated, light loss is small and efficient irradiation is possible. In either case of the inclined or curved reflection concave portion 9b formed at the position corresponding to each key on the lower surface of the thin plate 9a or the strip-shaped reflection concave portion formed along the width direction of the thin plate 9a, the number is small. With the light source 6, it is possible to send light to the extracted character portion of the necessary irradiation site in which characters, symbols and the like for many keys are described.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing another embodiment of the illuminated key. The basic structure is the same as that of FIG. 1, but the difference is in the mounting position of the movable contact. That is, in FIG. 1, while the transparent conductive film 5 is formed on the back surface of the operating portion 1b,
In FIG. 3, printing is performed at a position facing the back surface of the operating portion 1b at a predetermined interval on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 7 disposed on the lower surface of the sheet-like non-operating portion 1a formed of the light-transmitting elastomer. The transparent conductive film 5 is formed on the upper surface of the substrate 7 via the spacer printing portion 10. Spacer
The printing portion 10 for printing may be adhered to the printed circuit board 7 using either the double-sided tape 11 or an adhesive. Then, the light from the light source 6 not only passes through the entire back surface of the operating portion 1b but also the transparent conductive film 5 on the printed circuit board 7.
The light can also be transmitted without being absorbed. When the operating portion 1b is pushed, the back surface of the operating portion 1b descends and hits the transparent conductive film 5, and further contacts the fixed contact 8 on the printed circuit board 7 through the spacer printing portion 10 to turn on.
It will be turned off.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing another embodiment of the illuminated key. 1 is different from FIG. 1 in that the central portion of the back surface of the operating portion 1b projects downward, and the transparent plastic film 13 having a dome portion 12 that bulges so as to come into contact with the back surface of the operating portion 1b. The transparent conductive film 5 is formed on the transparent plastic film 13 on the back surface of at least the dome portion 12 of the transparent plastic film 13. As a material for the transparent plastic film 13, a transparent resin material such as polyester or polycarbonate is used. Thus, the light from the light source 6 not only passes through the entire back surface of the operating portion 1b, but also the transparent plastic film 13 having the dome portion 12 arranged on the printed circuit board 7 and the transparent conductive film on the back surface of the transparent plastic film 13. Light is also transmitted through the elastic film 5, so that the blank character portion formed on the upper surface of the operating portion 1b can be illuminated more clearly, and efficient illumination is possible. When the operating portion 1b is pressed, the transparent plastic film 13 contacting the back surface of the operating portion 1b is pressed.
When the hollow portion 12 is recessed downward, the transparent conductive film 5 on the back surface of the hollow portion 12 contacts the fixed contact 8 on the printed circuit board 7, and the operating portion 1b is separated, the transparent conductive film 5 is separated to perform on / off operation.

[0018]

As will be understood from the above description, the present invention has the following advantages.
Light from the light source is also taken in from the contact part that is turned on and off, and the letters, symbols, numbers, etc. on the key top display are efficiently and evenly illuminated, and an illuminated key that is compacted as a whole is created. can get. When the printed circuit board is made of a translucent material and the light guide is installed on the lower surface of the translucent printed circuit board, the light from the light source installed in the light guide is totally reflected inside the light guide. , The light is emitted upward at the position of the corresponding operating portion, and is emitted to the entire operating portion including the transparent conductive film formed on the back surface of the operating portion, and the extracted character portion is illuminated even brighter and clearer.

Furthermore, in the case where a transparent conductive film is formed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board at a position facing the operating portion at a predetermined interval on the upper surface of the printed circuit board via the spacer printing portion, the transparent conductive film is formed from the light source. The light can pass not only through the entire back surface of the operating portion but also through the transparent conductive film on the printed circuit board without absorbing the light. Then, when the actuating portion is pushed, the back surface of the actuating portion is lowered and hits the transparent conductive film, and further comes into contact with the contact point on the printed circuit board through the spacer to perform the on / off operation, thereby achieving further miniaturization. Then, a transparent plastic film having a dome portion that bulges so as to come into contact with the back surface of the operating portion is arranged on the printed circuit board, and a transparent conductive film is formed on at least the back surface of the dome portion of the transparent plastic film. In this case, the light from the light source not only passes through the entire back surface of the operating portion, but also the light is transmitted through the transparent plastic film having the dome portion arranged on the printed circuit board and the transparent conductive film on the back surface of the transparent plastic film. Further, it is possible to more clearly irradiate the blank character portion formed on the upper surface of the operating portion, and it is possible to perform efficient irradiation. Then, when the operating part is pushed, the dome part of the transparent plastic film that is in contact with the back surface of the operating part is recessed downward, and the transparent conductive film on the back surface comes into contact with the contacts on the printed circuit board to speak the operating part. If they are separated, they turn on and off.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of an illuminated key showing an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an illuminated key in which a light guide is installed on the lower surface of a printed circuit board, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the light guide, and FIG. It is a top view of a light body.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the illuminated key.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the illuminated key.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a Non-operation part 1b Operation part 2 Light-shielding layer 3 Colored translucent printing layer 4 Character printing layer 5 Transparent conductive film 6 Light source 7 Printed circuit board 8 Fixed contact 9 Light guide 10 Spacer printing part 12 Do- Mu 13 transparent plastic film

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sheet-shaped non-actuating portion and an actuating portion formed from either the non-actuating portion swelling from the non-acting portion or having no click action are formed of a light-transmissive elastomer. A non-translucent light-shielding layer is formed on each surface of the remaining operating part and non-operating part except the flat upper surface of the operating part, and a colored transparent printing layer is formed on the flat upper surface of the operating part. An illuminated key, characterized in that a printed character printing layer such as numbers and symbols is formed on the upper surface of the colored translucent printing layer, and a transparent conductive film is formed on the back surface of the operating portion. 2. A sheet-like non-actuating portion and an actuating portion formed from either the non-actuating portion swelling from the non-actuating portion or having no click action are formed of a light-transmissive elastomer, and A non-translucent light-shielding layer is formed on each surface of the remaining operating part and non-operating part except the flat upper surface of the operating part, and a colored transparent printing layer is formed on the flat upper surface of the operating part. A printed character printing layer such as numbers and symbols is formed on the upper surface of the colored translucent printing layer, and a transparent conductive film is formed on the back surface of the operating portion.
Further, the light from the light source is totally reflected on the lower surface of the light-transmissive printed circuit board disposed on the lower surface of the sheet-shaped non-operation portion formed of the light-transmissive elastomer, and the light is directed to the corresponding operation portion. An illuminated key, which is equipped with a light guide capable of radiating light. 3. A sheet-like non-actuating portion and an actuating portion formed by swelling from the non-actuating portion with or without a click action are formed of a light-transmissive elastomer. A non-translucent light-shielding layer is formed on each surface of the remaining operating part and non-operating part except the flat upper surface of the operating part, and a colored transparent printing layer is formed on the flat upper surface of the operating part. A sheet formed by forming a blank character printing layer such as numbers and symbols on the upper surface of the colored translucent printing layer, and further forming the translucent elastomer.
A transparent conductive film is provided on the upper surface of the printed circuit board, which is disposed on the lower surface of the non-actuated portion facing the operating portion at a predetermined interval, through the spacer printing portion. Illuminated key characterized by being formed. 4. A sheet-shaped non-actuating portion and an actuating portion formed by swelling from the non-actuating portion with or without squeezing action are formed of a light-transmissive elastomer. A non-translucent light-shielding layer is formed on each surface of the remaining operating part and non-operating part except the flat upper surface of the operating part, and a colored transparent printing layer is formed on the flat upper surface of the operating part. A transparent plastic film having a dome portion that bulges so as to come into contact with the back surface of the operating portion, on the printed board And a transparent conductive film formed on at least the back surface of the dome portion of the transparent plastic film.