JPH11203977A - Push-button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change color tone arbitrarily, realize excellence in functionality, a fine view, and designing property, and further realize space saving and cost reduction, by molding a key-top part out of a high-polymer material containing a photochromic compound and annexingly providing an ultraviolet illuminant behind it. SOLUTION: A key-top part 2 is molded out of a high-polymer material, such as light-transmitting plastics and rubber, containing a photochromic compound. As the photochromic compound, an organic one such as spiropyrane, or an inorganic one such as halogenated photochromic glass, is used. As the content thereof, about 0.01 to 20 wt.% is suitable. A printing layer 3 for characters and symbols is formed on an under surface of the key-top part 2 and attached to a key pad part 1 made of rubber via an adhesive layer 4. Or, the key-top part 2 can be formed by printing it with ink containing the photochromic compound or laminating the compound on it. An ultraviolet illuminant 5, such as a black lamp and an LED, is provided behind this push-button key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push button switch for electric equipment, precision equipment, portable telephones, automobiles and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a push button switch having a specific structure which is provided with a function of arbitrarily changing a color tone by using a photochromic compound and an ultraviolet light source, and is excellent in aesthetic appearance and design.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electric equipment, precision equipment, mobile phones,
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in a push button switch used for an input operation of a car or the like, the keypad portion 1 is made of a material such as resin, rubber, and thermoplastic elastomer. The key top portion 12 of the push button switch has characters or symbols 3
Are often provided by printing or painting ink. A light emitting element 13 such as an LED (light emitting diode), a fluorescent tube, or an EL (electroluminescence) is attached to the back of the key top portion 12 and the key pad portion 1 made of a translucent material and illuminated. The operation and the function of the push button switch are displayed and identified.

[0003] In recent years, pushbutton switches have been provided with a plurality of functions, and on the other hand, the demand for fashion-oriented, specializing in aesthetics and design has been increasing remarkably, and a plurality of light sources such as LEDs of different colors have been used. There is a method of changing the illuminating color according to the purpose by attaching it to the back of the key.

On the other hand, eyeglass lenses, sunglasses, optical recording materials,
It has been studied as a light amount adjusting material, a decorative display device, a photosensitive material protective material, and the like. Recently, car bodies (actually fair
3-9,819), light control material (Jitsuhei 8-2,651),
Applications to various products such as photoreversible color changing fibers (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-118,918) and aqueous coating compositions (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-258,585) have been proposed. According to this, the color tone can be changed by ambient light such as sunlight or fluorescent light.

[0005]

The method of arranging a plurality of different light sources to change the illuminating color requires arranging a plurality of color light sources, resulting in space problems as components and cost reduction. There was a problem.

It is conceivable to simply apply a resin or ink containing a photochromic compound to a push button switch. However, since this compound reacts to ambient light, it cannot exhibit the function of changing to a specific color tone when necessary, so that a new function or aesthetics is required for a push button switch,
It is impossible to provide design.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an ultraviolet light source is attached to a back surface of a key top portion containing a photochromic compound to enable an arbitrary color tone to be changed. An object of the present invention is to provide a push button switch excellent in aesthetics and design. In addition, there is no need to dispose a large number of light sources, thereby solving the problem of space and the problem of cost.

Further, according to the present invention, a character or a symbol is printed on the key top portion with an ink containing a photochromic compound, and an ultraviolet light source is attached to a back portion of the key top portion to change an arbitrary color tone of the character or the symbol. A push button switch characterized in that it is possible.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a photochromic compound layer is laminated on a key top portion, and an ultraviolet light source is provided on the back surface of the key top portion so that the color tone of the key top portion can be arbitrarily changed. This is a push button switch.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, a key top portion is molded from a polymer material containing a photochromic compound, an ultraviolet light source is attached to the back portion, and the color tone of the key top portion is arbitrarily adjusted by turning on and off the light source. It is characterized in that it can be changed.

The photochromic compound used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and known organic photochromic compounds and inorganic photochromic compounds can be used.

The organic photochromic compounds include:
Spiropyrans such as 6-nitroindolinospirobenzopyran, spirooxazines such as spirothionaphthoxazine, thioindigos such as diarylethenes and hemithioindigo, fulgides such as 2,5-dimethyl-3-furylfulgide, cumerones, tri Examples include phenylmethanes, anthracenes, cyclophane derivatives, azobenzenes and the like. Furthermore, the responsiveness, thermal stability, weather resistance,
For the purpose of improving the repeated durability, storage stability, etc., a method of introducing a specific substituent to each compound, a method of increasing the molecular weight, a method of adding or binding various stabilizers such as hindered phenol and hindered amine, An organic photochromic compound whose properties are further improved by applying a known method such as a method of stabilizing by microencapsulation can be used.

The inorganic photochromic compounds include:
Iron oxide is used for halogenated photochromic glass in which fine photosensitive crystals such as silver chloride and thallium chloride are deposited on borosilicate or phosphate glass, reducible molten photochromic glass, and ferroelectric ceramics. Included ones.

The polymer material used for the key top portion and the keypad portion is not limited as long as it is translucent. Usable are ordinary plastics, rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers, thermosetting resins and photocurable resins using liquid or solid raw materials, and the like.

Specifically, ethylene α-olefin copolymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene and ethylene-propylene copolymer, polymethylpentene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl Fluoropolymers such as alcohol, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinylidene fluoride and polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, styrene acrylonitrile copolymer, ABS resin, polyphenylene ether and modified PPE Resins, aliphatic and aromatic polyamides, polyimides, polyamideimides,
Polymethacrylic acid esters such as polymethacrylic acid and its methyl ester, polyacrylic acids, polycarbonate, polyphenylene sulfide, polysulfone,
Thermoplastic resins such as polyethersulfone, polyether nitrile, polyether ketone, polyketone, liquid crystal polymer, silicone resin, ionomer, etc. and their crosslinked products, styrene butadiene or styrene isoprene block copolymers and their hydrogenated polymers and styrene heat Thermoplastic elastomers such as thermoplastic elastomers, olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers, vinyl chloride-based thermoplastic elastomers, polyester-based thermoplastic elastomers, polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomers, and polyamide-based thermoplastic elastomers and their crosslinked products, natural rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene Rubber, styrene butadiene copolymer rubber, nitrile rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, chlorinated polyethylene,
Vulcanized rubbers such as chlorosulfonated polyethylene, butyl rubber and halogenated butyl rubber, fluorine rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, etc., epoxy resins, phenol resins, unsaturated polyester resins, and the like. Further, a polymer alloy composed of a plurality of polymer materials selected from these polymer materials may be used, or a known additive such as a plasticizer or a stabilizer may be blended.

Regarding the molding method and shape, injection molding using a mold, compression molding, vacuum molding, transfer molding, potting molding of a liquid raw material, or compression molding using sheets or films, vacuum molding, pressure molding, etc.
A push button switch manufactured by insert injection molding of a thermoplastic resin with a film placed in a mold is not particularly limited.

Further, the present invention is a push button switch characterized in that characters or symbols are printed on the key top portion with an ink containing a photochromic compound, and an ultraviolet light source is attached to the back of the key top portion.

The composition and type of the base ink used in the ink containing the photochromic compound of the present invention are not limited. The above-mentioned photochromic compound can be blended with a known commercially available urethane-based, acrylic-based, silicone-based, ester-based, or PVC-based media ink, or a commercially available photochromic compound-containing ink can be used. As for the printing method and the coating method, known methods such as screen printing, gravure printing, pad printing, and spray coating can be adopted.

Although the content of the photochromic compound is not limited, the content of the photochromic compound is 0.01 to 20% by weight based on the polymer material to be molded and 0.01 to 20% by weight based on the ink to be printed or coated. It is preferable to contain it in the range. When the content of the photochromic compound is less than 0.01% by weight, the change in color tone is small. If the content is more than 20% by weight, the color tone of the photochromic compound itself is too strong, and it is economically disadvantageous.

The preferred content of the photochromic compound is in the range of 0.1% to 15% by weight, more preferably 1% to 10% by weight.

Further, the present invention is a push button switch in which a photochromic compound layer is laminated on a key top portion, and an ultraviolet light source is provided on the back surface of the key top portion.

The key top portion of the present invention in which the photochromic compound layer is laminated is defined as the polymer material to be molded,
Unlike the configuration in which the ink to be printed and coated contains a photochromic compound, a film-like material containing a photochromic compound or a film in which the ink containing a photochromic compound is printed on the entire surface or partially on the back of the key top part It has a structure in which a substance is sandwiched or laminated by an adhesive or the like, a structure in which a photochromic compound is formed on the back surface of the key top portion by vapor deposition or sputtering, and a structure in which photochromic glass is laminated.

A push button switch is obtained by providing an ultraviolet light source on the back surface of the key top portion on which the photochromic compound layer having such a structure is laminated.

The key top portion and the sheet-like material constituting the photochromic compound and the push button switch using the photochromic compound used in the present invention are not limited to one kind. By configuring a plurality of photochromic compounds, key top portions, film-like materials, and the like, it is possible to achieve a change in color tone of two or more colors.

The ultraviolet light source attached to the back of the push button switch according to the present invention may be an ordinary straight or curved tubular black lamp or cold cathode black lamp which emits an ultraviolet wavelength, a small bean bulb type or mercury lamp type black lamp, Alternatively, an ultraviolet LED or the like can be used.

When the entire push button switch is made compact, for example, an ultra-compact cold cathode black lamp or ultraviolet LED having a tube diameter of 1 to 3 mm is particularly suitable. The color tone change of the photochromic compound can be arbitrarily changed by the on / off operation of the ultraviolet light source.

Further, by using a photochromic compound having a different color tone depending on the wavelength and providing a corresponding light source having a different wavelength, further advanced functions can be provided. A structure in which a light guide plate and the like are combined may be used.

Further, by forming an ultraviolet absorbing layer on the surface of the key top portion, ultraviolet rays from the outside such as sunlight and fluorescent lamps are blocked to prevent the color change of the photochromic compound by the outside light. The color tone can be changed only by turning on and off the ultraviolet light source provided on the back surface. In addition, about this ultraviolet-absorbing layer, as long as the color change of the photochromic compound is not impaired, a known ultraviolet-absorbing agent that absorbs ultraviolet light, a dye,
Inks, paints, films, sheets, molding materials and materials containing pigments may be selected.

The thickness of the layer can be determined according to the actual configuration.

The type of the push button switch of the present invention includes, in addition to a single key push button switch, a connected keyboard switch, sheet switch, panel switch, and the like.

Regarding the shape, a push button switch in which the back surface of the molded key top portion is bonded to a key pad made of rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer, and a sheet-like membrane in which push buttons and click springs are arranged under the sheet. It can also be applied to switches. If the back surface of the molded key top portion is bonded to a rubber or thermoplastic elastomer key pad, there is an advantage that the key top portion does not move or fall off.

As for the application, it is used as a push button switch for home appliances, audio equipment, video equipment, lighting switches, machine tools and measuring instruments, computers, calculators, mobile phones, air conditioners and audio in car cars, car navigation systems, and the like. It can be used in a wide range of fields. Hereinafter, embodiments of the push button switch according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0033]

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows an example of a push button switch according to claims 1 and 4 of the present invention.

The keypad 1 is made of silicone rubber including a movable operation part, and a keytop 2 is formed thereon. The key top 2 is made by injection molding a compound obtained by kneading 97% by weight of a polycarbonate resin (Panlite manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.) and 3% by weight of an organic photochromic compound (Photorome 02 manufactured by Tokyo Intelligent Network Co., Ltd.) as a photochromic compound. Obtained. After providing a printing layer 3 on which characters and symbols are screen-printed with printing ink on the back surface of the key top 2, an adhesive 4
To adhere to the keypad 1. An ultraviolet light source 5 (manufactured by Hibeck Co., Ltd.) is provided on the back of the push button key thus formed.
A push button switch of the present invention was obtained by attaching a 2.7 mm tube diameter and a 30 mm length BLB lamp.

When the ultraviolet light source 5 was turned on, the key top portion 2 changed from colorless to blue.

[0036]

Embodiment 2 FIG. 2 shows an example of a push button switch according to claims 2, 4 and 5 of the present invention.

The keypad 1 is made of silicone rubber including a movable operation part. The key top 6 was injection-molded with polycarbonate (Iupilon, manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Ltd.) containing an ultraviolet absorber. After providing a printing layer 7 on which characters and symbols are screen-printed with a photochromic ink (Photopia Aqualight Ink Purple AQ-R base manufactured by Matsui Dyeing Co., Ltd.) on the back surface of the key top 6, the key pad 1 and the adhesive 4 are used. Glued. An ultraviolet light source 5 (BLB lamp, 2.7 mm in diameter and 30 mm in length, manufactured by Hyvec Co., Ltd.) was attached to the back of the push button key thus formed to obtain a push button switch of the present invention.

When the ultraviolet light source 5 was turned on, the character / symbol printing section 7 changed from colorless to purple. The color tone did not change when the room was irradiated with fluorescent light and sunlight from outside.

[0039]

Third Embodiment FIG. 3 shows an example of a push-button switch according to the second, fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention. A printing layer 7 in which characters and symbols were screen-printed with a photochromic ink containing 96% by weight of a silicone medium ink and 4% by weight of a photochromic compound (T0366 manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) was provided on the key top portion of the silicone rubber keypad 1. . Further, a urethane-based paint containing an ultraviolet absorber was applied on the entire surface to provide a urethane-based coating layer 8. An ultraviolet light source 5 (BLB lamp, 2.7 mm in diameter and 30 mm in length, manufactured by Hyvec Co., Ltd.) was attached to the back of the key top to obtain a push button switch of the present invention. When the ultraviolet light source 5 was turned on, the character / symbol printing section 7 changed from pale pink to purple. Further, the color tone did not change in response to light irradiation from the outside by the indoor fluorescent lamp and sunlight.

[0040]

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 4 shows an example of a push button switch according to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention.

The keypad 9 is made of a polyester elastomer (Gleep manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.).
Injection molding was carried out using a compound containing 96% by weight and 4% by weight of an organic photochromic compound (Photorome 02 manufactured by Tokyo Intelligent Network Co., Ltd.) as a photochromic compound. After printing characters and symbols on the key top portion by screen printing with ordinary urethane-based ink to provide a print layer 3, a urethane-based paint containing an ultraviolet absorber was applied over the entire surface to form a urethane-based coating layer 8. .
An ultraviolet light source 5 is provided on the back of the push button key thus formed.
(Hybeck Co., Ltd., 2.7 mm tube diameter, 30 mm length B
LB lamp) to obtain a push button switch of the present invention.

When the ultraviolet light source 5 was turned on, the entire keypad portion 9 changed from colorless to blue. The color tone did not change when the room was irradiated with fluorescent light and sunlight from outside.

[0043]

Fifth Embodiment FIG. 5 shows an example of the push button switch according to the third, fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention.

The keypad 1 is made of silicone rubber including a movable operation part. The key top 6 was injection-molded with a polycarbonate (manufactured by Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd.) containing an ultraviolet absorber. Polycarbonate film layer 1 in which characters and symbols are screen-printed with a photochromic ink (Photopia Aqualight Ink Purple AQ-R base, manufactured by Matsui Dyeing Co., Ltd.) on the back of key top 6
After punching out and bonding with a double-sided tape, the adhesive was bonded to the keypad 1 with an adhesive 4. An ultraviolet LED light source 11 was attached to the back of the push button key to obtain a push button switch of the present invention.

When the ultraviolet LED light source 11 was turned on, the character / symbol printing section 10 changed from colorless to purple. Then, the color tone did not change with respect to the irradiation of light from the outside with the fluorescent lamp and sunlight.

[0046]

As described above, according to the push button switch of the present invention, when the member composed of the material containing the photochromic compound is irradiated with the ultraviolet light source attached to the back portion of the push button key, the member is changed from the original color tone to another color tone. Arbitrarily. Further, the configuration is simple and there is no problem in space. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a push button switch which is provided with new functionality utilizing a change in color tone, and which is excellent in aesthetic appearance and design.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a push button switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a push button switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a push button switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a push button switch according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a push button switch according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional push button switch.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a conventional push button switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keypad part 2 Key top part 3 Printed layer on which characters and symbols were printed 4 Adhesive layer 5 UV light source 6 Key top part 7 Printed layer on which characters and symbols were printed 8 Urethane coating layer 9 Keypad part 10 Film 11 Ultraviolet rays LED light source 12 Resin key top 13 White LED light source

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A push button switch in which a key top portion is formed of a polymer material containing a photochromic compound and an ultraviolet light source is attached to a back surface of the key top portion so that the color tone of the key top portion can be arbitrarily changed. 2. A character or a symbol is printed on a key top portion with an ink containing a photochromic compound,
A push button switch having an ultraviolet light source attached to the back of the key top to enable the color tone of characters or symbols to be changed arbitrarily. 3. A push button switch in which a photochromic compound layer is laminated on a key top portion and an ultraviolet light source is provided on the back surface of the key top portion so that the color tone of the key top portion can be arbitrarily changed. 4. A push button key is formed by bonding a rubber keypad to the back surface of the key top portion, and an ultraviolet light source is provided on the back portion of the push button key. Push button switch. 5. The push button switch according to claim 1, wherein an ultraviolet absorbing layer is formed on a surface of the key top portion.