JPH09231857A - Illuminated switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illuminated switch giving a clear click feeling and consuming a low power by forming an EL element from a transparent material capable of bending deformation elastically, subjecting the EL element to an emboss processing into a dome shape, and furnishing an electric contact on the internal surface. SOLUTION: A film of ITO etc., is attached to the undersurface of a transparent material 1 capable of bending deformation elastically and subjected to an emboss processing so that a dome shape is formed, and a ring-shaped electroconductive material 2 is printed with a specified width in the position corresponding to the diameter of the dome. On its undersurface, a phosphoric layer 3, dielectric substance layer 4 and lower electrode 5 are laminated in a structure similar to an EL element so that a sheet-form light emitting element is formed. The dome shape having the diameter in the position of the ring-shaped electroconductive material 2 is subjected to an emboss processing so that the configuration as illustrated beside is generated, and an insulation part 6 is provided along the lower electrode 5 on its inner surface, where the symbol 7 shows the upper contact. Under it, a comb/teeth electrode is positioned which is provided on a lower base board with a spacer 8 interposed, and to the over-part an indication rubber piece 10 is fixed by adhesives 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a mobile communication device,
This is an illuminated switch in which the display of a display rubber or a display sheet on an operation panel of various electronic devices such as measuring devices and in-vehicle devices can be visually recognized even in a dark place.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Light emitting diodes and EL elements (electroluminescence) are used as illuminating means in conventional illuminated switches. However, a switch using a light emitting diode as an illumination means is
Since the power consumption is large, there is a limit to the absolute number of light emitting diodes that can be used in one product. Therefore, the light emitting diodes 11 are arranged between the keys 12 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the brightness varies depending on the key. Even if the keys can be arranged numerically in number, especially when they are arranged directly below the keys, the structure becomes complicated and a great cost is required.

On the other hand, in a switch using a planar light-emitting body of an EL element as an illuminating means, in order to give a click feeling that clearly indicates ON / OFF, an opaque metal disc spring 13 or the like is used as shown in FIG. Since something is inserted, the area directly below the key is not illuminated, but the area around the metal disc spring is illuminated.
The performance of the EL device as a planar light-emitting body cannot be fully exhibited.

[0004]

Therefore, the present invention has a structure in which an EL element is used and a click feeling can be easily given without using a light emitting diode which causes high power consumption and variation in brightness. .

Therefore, the upper and lower electrode portions of the EL element are made of a material such as a resin film which can be bent and elastically deformed, and ITO or the like is added in a film shape, and the entire EL element is embossed to form a dome shape. As a result, it has a click feeling equivalent to that of a metal spring. Then, a contact electrode was formed on the inner surface of the top portion of the dome with ink such as silver or carbon to obtain an illuminated switch.

Further, a conductive material of elastic silver ink is added in a strip shape along the circumference at the corner of the rising portion of the dome-shaped EL element to reinforce both the upper and lower electrodes,
The durability of electrode conduction against the keystroke load has been improved.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION ITO or the like is added in the form of a film on the lower surface of a transparent elastic material 1 such as a resin film which can be bent and elastically deformed, and 1 mm is formed by silver ink at a position corresponding to the diameter of a dome shape to be embossed. The conductive material 2 is printed in a ring shape with the above width, and the phosphorescent layer 3 and the dielectric layer 4 are sequentially formed on the lower surface thereof.
And the lower electrode 5 are laminated in the same manner as the structure of a known EL element to form a planar light-emitting body A (FIG. 1), and a dome shape whose diameter is the position of the ring-shaped conductive material 2 is embossed. The shape shown in FIG. 2 is provided, and the insulating portion 6 is provided along the lower electrode 5 on the inner surface. 7 is an upper contact.

Further, a comb-shaped electrode 11 provided on a lower substrate via a spacer 8 is located on the lower portion, and a display rubber 10 is fixed on the upper portion with an adhesive 9 to manufacture an illuminated switch. 3).

The dome shape has a diameter of 10 mm and a height of 2 m.
Fig. 4 shows the relationship between the load and the deflection when m is set. As a result, it was found that the material has a clickable spring property.

When the diameter of the dome is 10 mm and the width of the ring-shaped conductive material 2 is 2 mm, the electroconductivity and light emission of the EL element are shown in Table 1 in the keystroke test of the illuminated switch.

[0011]

[Table 1] As a result, it was confirmed that the durability of the EL element was improved.

[0012]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a planar light-emitting body such as an EL element can be used as a switch which has a click feeling and can illuminate an input portion from directly below, and consumes less power than a light emitting diode. An illuminated switch for electric power was realized. Also, since the light emitter, the spring, and the contact portion are integrated, the number of parts is small, the assembling is excellent, and a thinner switch is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an EL device.

[Figure 2] Embossed cross section

FIG. 3 is a sectional view assembled into a switch.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between load and deflection.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an illuminated switch using a known light emitting diode.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a switch in which a known metal disc spring is inserted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Resin Film 2 Ring-shaped Conductive Material 3 Phosphorescent Layer 4 Dielectric Layer 5 Lower Electrode 6 Insulating Part 7 Upper Contact 8 Spacer 9 Adhesive 10 Display Rubber 11 Light Emitting Diode 12 Display Rubber 13 Metal Disc Spring

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Illumination characterized in that an EL element formed of a transparent elastically deformable material is embossed into a dome shape and an upper contact is provided on the inner surface of the EL element, and that it has a click feeling and emits surface light. Type switch. 2. The illumination according to claim 1, wherein at least a corner of the dome-shaped rising portion of the upper electrode is reinforced with a conductive material in order to improve the reliability of conduction of the EL element by embossing. Type switch. 3. The illuminated switch according to claim 2, wherein the conductive material is a conductive ink such as silver or carbon and is reinforced in a ring shape.