JPH09180574A - Illuminated switch mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illuminated switch mechanism in which even if an indicating portion of a name plate is provided so as to cross over adjoining key tops, the indicating portion is uniformly illuminated as other indicating portions. SOLUTION: Key tops 20 pressing respective contacts 11 and a frame body 40 surrounding the peripheries of the respective key tops 20 are arranged on a switch board 10 on which switch contacts 11 are provided. The frame body 40 and key tops 20 are composed of translucent material. The top face of the frame body 40 and the like are covered by a name plate 70 which is opaque and in which a transparent indicating portion 71 composed of characters and the like provided. Light emitting elements 17 are disposed on the switch board 10 opposite to the indicating portion 71. Collar portions 27, 45 overlapping mutually are respectively provided on the outer peripheries of the key tops 20 and on the inner periphery portions of key top containing holes 41. Among light, which is emitted from the light emitting elements 17a positioning just under the indicating portion 71a crossing over the adjoining key tops 20 among the light emitting elements 17, the directly avoiding light between the key tops 20 and the frame body 40 passes inside the collar portion 27, 45.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is to mount a nameplate on a keytop and arrange a light emitting element under the keytop, and emit predetermined light to emit light from the light emitting element. The present invention relates to an illumination type switch mechanism having a structure for illuminating.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional illuminated switch mechanism of this type. As shown in the figure, the conventional illuminated switch mechanism is constructed by superposing a key top plate 80 and a name plate 70 on the substrate 10 and integrating them.

A desired circuit pattern (not shown) is formed on the key top plate 10, ten switch contacts 11 are provided at predetermined positions thereof, and 14 light emitting elements 17 are provided at the predetermined positions. It is configured by attaching. The switch contact 11 is formed by attaching a dome-shaped movable contact 12 on a fixed contact with an adhesive tape 13.

The key top plate 80 is constructed by providing key tops 83 inside the frame 81 at positions facing the respective switch contacts 11. Each key top 83
Is connected to the frame 81 via a hinge portion 85. The frame body 81, the key tops 83, and the hinge portion 85 are integrally formed of translucent synthetic resin.

The name plate 70 has a thin synthetic resin sheet on which an opaque film is printed on the entire upper surface (or lower surface), and a display portion 71 is formed of desired characters, symbols, or patterns in which the opaque film is not provided at a predetermined position. Is provided. Note that, in FIG. 5, the display portion 71 is shown in black and the other non-translucent film portions are shown in white for convenience of drawing, but the display portion 7 is actually the opposite.
Characters such as 1 are blank characters.

When the key top 83 is pressed from above the name plate 70, the key top 83 presses the switch contact 11 to turn it on.

On the other hand, when the light emitting element 17 emits light, the light is transmitted through the translucent key top plate 80 to reach the lower surface of the name plate 70, and only the display portion 71 thereof is illuminated brightly.

[0008]

By the way, in the display portion 71 provided on the name plate 70, in addition to the display portion 71 located right above each key top 83, it is necessary to straddle between the adjacent key tops 83. The display unit 71 (71 shown in FIG.
There is also a).

In order to illuminate this display portion 71a evenly like the other display portions 71, the light emitting element 17 (17a shown in FIG. 5) must be arranged directly below it.

However, when the light emitting element 17a is arranged at this position, as shown in FIG.
The key top plate 80 is installed in a position of a gap 87 formed between the frame 81 and the key top 83.

Therefore, when the light emitting element 17a emits light, the lower surface of the nameplate 70 is directly irradiated through the gap 87 without passing through the inside of the key top plate 80, and the amount of light that illuminates the display portion 71a compared to other display portions 71. However, there is a problem in that the brightness of the entire display unit 71 (including 71a) becomes uneven due to an increase in the amount of light.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to make this display portion similar to other display portions even if a display portion of a nameplate is provided between adjacent key tops. An object is to provide an illuminated switch mechanism capable of uniformly illuminating.

[0013]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a plurality of key tops for pressing each switch contact on a switch substrate provided with a plurality of switch contacts.
A frame body for swingably supporting each key top is arranged,
The frame body and the key tops are made of a translucent material, and the frame body and the top surfaces of the key tops are non-translucent and are made of a translucent material that is composed of characters, symbols, figures and patterns at predetermined positions. Cover with a nameplate provided with a display part, and arrange a light emitting element at a position facing the display part of the nameplate below the keytop and the frame body, and through the frame body and the keytop by emitting light from the light emitting element. In the illuminated switch mechanism of the structure for illuminating the display portion of the nameplate, at least the outer periphery of the keytop and the frame body located below the display portion provided between the adjacent keytops in the display portion of the nameplate, respectively. The light emitted from the light emitting element is configured to overlap with each other and pass through at least either the key top or the frame.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an illuminated switch mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the illuminated switch mechanism is composed of a switch substrate 10, a key top 20, a frame body 40 to which the key top 20 is attached, and a name plate 70. Hereinafter, each component will be described. Since the switch board 10 and the name plate 70 are the same as those described in FIG. 5, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The key top 20 is formed by integrally molding a translucent synthetic resin material into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A push rod 21 that presses the switch contact 11 of the switch substrate 10 projects from the lower surface on the front left side of the illustrated key top 20.

Further, substantially cylindrical support shafts 23, 23 (only one of which is shown) project laterally from both sides on the back side of the illustrated key top 20.
Underneath 23, support protrusions 25, 25 (only one of which is shown) project downward.

Further, on the left and right side portions of the key top 20, there are provided brim portions 27, 27 projecting laterally.

The number of the key tops 20 is the same as the number of the key top storage holes 41 provided in the frame body 40 described below, that is, 10 key tops are prepared.

Next, the frame body 40 is formed by integrally molding the same translucent resin material as that of the key top 20, and its outer shape is almost the same as that of the switch board 10, and Inside, five key top storage holes 41 are provided in two rows.

Each key top storage hole 41 has a substantially rectangular shape and is formed to have a size for storing the key top 20.

Further, on both sides of the partition portion 43 for partitioning the key top storage holes 41, the brim portion 2 of the key top 20 is provided.
Collars 45, 45 are formed so as to cover the tops 7, 7. The lengths of the collar portion 27 and the collar portion 45 are substantially the same.

Further, in the vicinity of one end of the lower surface of the partition portion 43,
A support shaft housing recess 47 for housing the support shafts 23 of the key top 20 is provided.

In order to assemble the illuminated switch mechanism, the frame body 40 is housed in each key top housing hole 41 of the frame body 40, and the frame body 40 is fixed on the switch board 10 by a fixing means (not shown). And the nameplate 70 is adhered onto the frame 40.

At this time, the support shafts 23, 2 of the key top 20
3 is inserted into the support shaft accommodating recess 47 of the frame 40, and the flange portions 27, 27 abut on the lower surface side of the flange portions 45, 45.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a state in which the assembled illumination type switch mechanism is cut along the line AA shown in FIG. 1 (however, for convenience of description, a portion where the cross-section does not match). Yes).

As shown in FIG. 2, the push rod 21 of the key top 20 abuts on the movable contact 12 constituting the switch contact 11, and the supporting projections 25, 25 of the key top 20 are directly on the switch substrate 10. The key top 20 is held on the switch substrate 10 by the contact of these three points.

When the key top 20 is pressed from above the name plate 70, the support shafts 23, 23 (the support shaft 2) supported in the support shaft receiving recess 47 (see FIG. 1) of the frame body 40.
As shown in FIG. 2, the support rods 25, 25 that abut on the substrate 10 do not move downwards (3 and 23), and the push rod 21 pushes the switch contact 11 to move it. Turn on.

Next, FIG. 3 shows each light emitting element 1 from the top of the nameplate 70.
It is the figure which showed the position of 7 with the dotted line. Further, FIG. 4 shows a frame 40.
The state where the key top 20 is attached to each of the light emitting elements 17
It is the figure which showed the position of with the dotted line.

As described above with reference to FIG. 6, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the light emitting element 17 illuminates the display portion 71 of the nameplate 70 provided right above the keytop 20 in the center of each keytop 20. In addition to the light emitting device, there is also a light emitting element 17a installed so as to straddle between the adjacent key tops 20 in order to emit light from the display portion 71a positioned so as to straddle between the adjacent key tops 20.

However, in the case of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, between the adjacent key tops 20, the flange portion 27 provided on the key top 20 and the flange portion 45 provided on the frame body 40 overlap each other. Therefore, there is no gap between the adjacent key tops 20 when viewed from above.

Since the light emitting element 17a is located directly below the overlapping portion of the flange portions 27 and 45, the light emitted from the light emitting element 17a is directly applied to the nameplate 70 as shown in FIG. There is no such thing, and it always passes through the inside of the frame 40 or the key top 20 once. Therefore, the entire display portion 71 (including the display portion 71a) can be uniformly illuminated, and unevenness of light intensity can be prevented.

The display portion 71 (including 71a) of the nameplate 70 may be not only characters and symbols but also other figures and patterns.

Further, it is not necessary to provide the collar portions 27 and 45 on all the key tops 20 and the key top storage holes 41 as in the above-mentioned embodiment, and at least the display portion 71 of the nameplate 70 is essential.
Of the key tops 20 located directly below the display part 71a provided so as to straddle between the adjacent key tops 20 and the key top storage hole 41 corresponding to the outer periphery of the key tops 20.
7, 45 may be provided.

[0035]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, even if the display portion of the nameplate is provided so as to straddle the adjacent key tops, this display portion is uneven like other display portions. It has an excellent effect that it can illuminate evenly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an illuminated switch mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the assembled illuminated switch mechanism shown in FIG.
It is a principal part schematic sectional drawing which shows the state cut | disconnected by the A line.

3 is a diagram showing the position of each light emitting element 17 from above the nameplate 70. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the key top 20 is attached to the frame body 40 and the position of each light emitting element 17.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional illuminated switch mechanism.

6 is a diagram showing the position of the light emitting element 17a with respect to the key top plate 80. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Switch Board 11 Switch Contact 17 Light-Emitting Element 20 Key Top 27 Collar 40 Frame 45 Collar 70 Name Plate 71 Display

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A switch board provided with a plurality of switch contacts, and a plurality of key tops for pressing the switch contacts and a frame body for swingably supporting the key tops are arranged. And the key top are made of a light-transmissive material, and the frame and the top surface of the key top are non-light-transmissive and have a light-transmissive display section consisting of characters, symbols, figures, and patterns at predetermined positions. Covering with the name plate provided, a light emitting element is arranged at a position facing the display portion of the name plate below the key top and the frame body, and by emitting the light emitting element, the name plate of the name plate is passed through the frame body and the key top. In an illumination type switch mechanism having a structure for illuminating the display part, at least the outer periphery of the key top located below the display part provided between the adjacent key tops in the display part of the nameplate and the frame body are mutually overlapped. Light emitting element Illuminated switch mechanism al emitted light is characterized in that through at least either the key top or the frame.