JPS5990331A - Automatic illumination switch unit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a flat light emitting type self-illuminated switch device used in a printer operation panel or the like.

(Prior art) Conventionally, this type of switch device includes a mechanical contact type switch mounted on a board, a board on which multiple light emitting sources such as light emitting diodes are attached, and a reflector that reflects light in one direction. There is a self-illuminated switch in which a switch is mounted so that it moves up and down with the switch, and when the switch is pressed, the light emitting source lights up to obtain planar light emission, but as mentioned above, two boards are required. Since multiple light emitting sources are used in the trench, the number of parts is large, and assembly work is therefore time-consuming, making it difficult to manufacture at a low cost. However, due to its structure, it has the disadvantage that it cannot be applied to panels with thin mounting space.

(Object of the Invention) In order to eliminate the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional example, the present invention arranges a switch and a light emitting source coaxially on a base plate, and covers the upper part with a flat push button part. A low-cost and compact self-illuminating switch device in which when the button part is pressed, a member extending from the push button part presses the switch and the light emitting source lights up, and this light is emitted in a plane through the push button part. It provides: Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a base plate, and 2 is a switch consisting of a switch spring 2a and a contact 2b, which is provided on the base plate 1. In FIG. The switch spring 2a has a hole approximately in the center. Reference numeral 3 denotes a light emitting source that is mounted upright on the base plate 1 and protrudes from the hole of the switch spring 2a, and is composed of a light emitting diode. 3a
is a lead wire of the light emitting source 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a lens cap placed over the light emitting source 3, which is made of a transparent material such as acrylic, and has a large number of hemispherical minute protrusions 4a shaped like a fisheye lens formed on its upper surface to diffuse light. Reference numeral 5 denotes a flapper whose surface on the light source side reflects the light emitted from the light source 3 in the same direction (in the figure), and is made of PBT and has a high reflectance. 6 is a flat push button part made of transparent acrylic, for example, which covers the upper part of the light emitting source 3 and the reflector 5.
A is extended, and its end is hooked to a claw 1a provided on the base plate 1 to prevent it from being pulled out. A diffuser plate 7 is inserted between the push button part 6 and the light source 3 to scatter light and obtain uniform planar light emission.

The reflector 5 has a claw 6 provided on the wall 6a of the push button part.
The lower part of the reflector 5 is in contact with the top of the switch spring 2a. Therefore, in the normal case, the reflector 5 is pushed up by the elasticity of the switch spring 2a, and the push button part 6 is thereby pushed up.
However, the removal is pushed up to the limit 1 where it is stopped by the prevention claw 1a.

In the above configuration, when the push button part 6 is pressed, the lower part of the flapper 5 is locked inside the push button part 6 and the lower part of the flap 5 is pressed against the switch spring 2a.
, the switch spring 2a deforms and contacts the contact 2b, and as a result, the light emitting source 1 is connected to a power source (not shown) and lights up. The light emitted from the light emitting source 1 is diffused by the hemispherical microprotrusions 4a of the lens camp 4, and the emitted light is reflected by the deflector 5 and directed upward. Furthermore, the light is scattered by the diffuser plate 7 and exits through the transparent push button part 6 to the outside.

In this embodiment configured as described above, − group of light emitting sources 3
Since the switch and switch 2 are arranged coaxially on the same base plate, the structure is extremely simple, the number of parts is reduced, and the structure can be made thinner and more compact. (4, 7) can be used to obtain uniform planar light emission. Furthermore, by arbitrarily connecting flat light-emitting type self-illuminated switches configured in this way, it is possible to create a multiple flat key that combines flat light-emitting type self-illuminated switches with only a flat light-emitting display and a flat light-emitting type self-illuminating switch with a switch function. A complete complex operation panel can be easily configured.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention,
The difference from FIG. 1 is that the light emitting source 3 is mounted low into the hole of the switch spring 2a. In this way, the thickness of the switch device can be made even thinner.

In addition to the operation panel of a printer, the self-illuminated switch device of the present invention can be used for operation panels of facsimile machines, copying machines, office computers, word processors, pan controllers, etc.
It can also be applied to operation panels of other elevators and the like.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, a set of light emitting sources and a switch mechanism are arranged coaxially on the same base plate, and planar light emission with a thin and uniform surface can be obtained. It is possible to provide a self-illuminated switch device at low cost. This makes it possible to operate the switch on the flat light emitting surface, and it is possible to configure a flat operation surface. In addition, conventionally, both a selection switch and an indicator lamp were prepared and used depending on the specifications of the operation panel, but by arranging a plurality of self-illuminated switch devices of the present invention, the display part and the switch part can be used separately. There is an advantage that an arbitrary combination of operation panels can be constructed quickly in accordance with the specifications at low cost.

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[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of the invention. 】 ・・−＼−S plate, 2 ・−・Switch, 2a... Switch spring, 2b...
...Contact, 3...°...Light source, 4...
・・・・・・Lens cap, 5 ・・・・・・・・・ Reflector, 6 ・・・・・・Push button part, 7・
・・・・・・・・・Diffusion plate. 7- Sect 167-

Claims (1)

[Claims] A switch is provided on a base plate and includes a switch spring having a hole in the center of the switch, and the switch stands upright on the base plate so as to protrude from the hole of the switch spring, and lights up when the switch is turned on. It consists of a light emitting source, a substantially flat translucent push button portion that covers the light emitting source, and a member extending from the push button portion to the switch spring, and when the push button portion is pressed, the switch spring is pressed. A self-illuminated switch device characterized in that when the switch is turned on, the light emitting source lights up and emits planar light through the push button portion.