JPH1166998A - Membrane switch with illuminating function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a membrane switch having an illuminating function which can improve ease of operation by permitting the operation part of the membrane switch to be illuminated bright even with a simple structure. SOLUTION: This membrane switch is provided with a base 10 formed with a translucent part facing a translucent means 11, a transparent film dorm-shaped movable member which covers the translucent part through a spacer 14, an endless fixed contact 13 formed on the top surface of the end part periphery of the translucent part of the base 10, an endless inward protruding part formed at a position which meets the fixed contact 13, and an endless movable contact 18 formed at the back surface of the endless protruding part, which is covered with a decorative sheet 19, and at least the movable contact 18 is formed by printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a membrane switch, and more particularly to a membrane switch having an illumination function provided with an illumination function so that a target operation portion can be easily visually confirmed.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, a membrane switch has a smooth surface due to its structure. For this reason, especially when a plurality of membrane switches for each application are arranged in parallel, it may be difficult to confirm the position of the operation unit of the target switch, and the operation may be erroneously performed.

Therefore, it is conceivable to solve the above-mentioned problem by adding an illuminating function to this membrane switch. However, as shown in, for example, FIGS. It is difficult to provide an illuminating function, and some of them are poor in practicability.

The structure of the conventional membrane switch shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is such that a cover sheet 3 is superposed on a base 1 via a spacer 2, and a cover 4 is formed on the base 1 in a hollow portion 4 formed by the spacer 2. A fixed contact 5 formed of silver or carbon is provided, and a movable contact 6 is provided on the back surface of the cover sheet 3 facing the fixed contact 5.

In order to provide an illuminating function to the membrane switch having such a configuration, even if a lamp, an LED or other illuminating means 7 is provided in the hollow portion 4 from below the base 1, the fixed contact 5 and the movable Since the contact 6 exists, the light from the illuminating means 7 is blocked by the fixed contact 5 and the movable contact 6, and a sufficient effect cannot be obtained.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a membrane switch with an illumination function that can illuminate the operation section of the membrane switch brightly with a simple structure and that improves usability.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, a membrane switch with an illuminating function according to the present invention comprises a base having a light-transmitting portion opposed to the illuminating means, and a light-transmitting portion having a light-transmitting portion interposed therebetween. And a dome-shaped movable member made of a transparent film that covers the base. The endless fixed contact is provided on the upper surface around the edge of the light-transmitting portion of the base, and the dome-shaped movable member has a position corresponding to the fixed contact. An endless ridge is formed on the inside, and the endless ridge is provided with an endless movable contact on the back surface, and is covered with a decorative sheet.At least the movable contact is printed. Characterized by the following.

[0008]

According to this structure, the light from the illuminating means passes through the inside of the fixed contact and the movable contact, and is irradiated upward without any obstruction. The click feeling is also good, so that it is easy to use even when the surrounding environment when using portable equipment such as telephones, industrial machines, measuring instruments, etc. is dark, and there is no risk of erroneous operation. .

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a membrane switch with an illumination function embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the same use state, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the shape of a contact.

In these figures, reference numeral 10 denotes a base. The base 10 is provided with a circular illuminating through hole 12 which is opposed to the illuminating means 11 and through which light from the illuminating means 11 is transmitted. ing. A ring-shaped fixed contact 13 surrounding the illumination hole 12 is provided on the upper surface of the base 10 near the opening edge of the illumination hole 12. In the present embodiment, the illuminating through hole 12 is formed as a light transmitting portion. However, the base 10 itself may be made transparent, or only the portion facing the illuminating means 11 may be made transparent. it can.

A transparent plastic film material 15 is superposed on the base 10 with a spacer 14 interposed therebetween. Further, a portion of the plastic film material 15 corresponding to the above-described illumination through-hole 12 is processed into a substantially dome shape (embossing process) to form a movable operation unit 16.

A ring-shaped ridge 17 protruding inward is integrally formed on the periphery of the operation portion 16, and a movable contact 18 is formed in a ring shape on the back surface (inner surface) of the ring-shaped ridge 17. Print formed. In the figure, reference numeral 19 denotes a decorative sheet.
Is made transparent or translucent in order to have at least a light transmitting property.

The membrane switch with illumination function according to the present embodiment is configured as described above. Here, the operation will be described. When the operating unit 16 is pressed together with the decorative sheet 19 from above the decorative sheet 19 with, for example, a finger F, the operating unit 16 is recessed at the center and the movable contact 1 is pressed.
8 is brought into contact with the fixed contact 13 and the circuit is closed as a switch. In addition, since the base end portion and the ring-shaped ridge portion 17 perform a resilient hinge action, the operation portion 16 is restored to the original position by releasing the finger F or the like.

[0014]

The membrane switch with illumination function according to the present invention is constructed and operates as described above. As a result, the operating part of the membrane switch can be particularly brightened, and the position of the target switch can be confirmed regardless of the surrounding conditions such as portable equipment such as telephones, various industrial machines, measuring instruments, etc. It can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a membrane switch with an illumination function embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a use state.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a shape of a contact.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional structure.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the shape of a conventional contact.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 base 11 illuminating means 12 illuminating translucent 13 fixed contact 14 spacer 15 plastic film material 16 operating section 17 ring-shaped ridge 18 movable contact 19 decorative sheet F finger

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A light-transmitting portion of the base, comprising: a base having a light-transmitting portion facing the illuminating means; and a dome-shaped movable member made of a transparent film which covers the light-transmitting portion via a spacer. An endless fixed contact is provided on the upper surface around the edge of the dome-shaped movable member, and the dome-shaped movable member is formed with an inward endless ridge at a position corresponding to the fixed contact, and an endless ridge is formed on the back surface of the endless ridge. A membrane switch having an illumination function, comprising a movable contact. 2. The membrane switch with illumination function according to claim 1, wherein the membrane switch is covered with a decorative sheet. 3. The membrane switch with an illuminating function according to claim 1, wherein at least the movable contact is formed by printing.