JPS61203519A - Push switch with illumination - 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 Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an illuminated push button switch that can be used in dark places such as inside a car at night.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, this type of illuminated pushbutton switch includes, for example,
As described in US Pat. No. 4,124,879, a method of guiding light from a single light source to the sides of multiple push buttons using a light guide, and indirectly obtaining an upward beam of light through reflection within the push buttons to illuminate the push buttons. was there.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above conventional illuminated push button switch, the illumination of the push button is indirect, so the light transmission efficiency is poor.
It also had the disadvantage of causing uneven light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a push button switch that eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional example and provides bright and uniform illumination.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a push button having a translucent property, at the lower part of which is provided with a cup part that buckles when pressed down, and a movable contact made of conductive rubber or the like. A switch pattern made of a transparent conductive material is provided at a position corresponding to the contact point, the switch pattern itself is provided on a transparent printed circuit board, and a light beam is incident from below the printed circuit board. In this case, the push button is illuminated by the incident light.

Function Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the push button is directly illuminated through the light passing through from below, so that the illumination can be performed efficiently and with less unevenness of light.

Embodiment FIGS. 1 and 2 show the structure of an embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, 1 is a diamond frame having an insertion hole 9 for a push button 2a, 2 is a push button part, which has a push button 2a and cup parts 2b at the bottom of both sides thereof, and a plurality of push buttons 2a and cup parts 2b are formed into one piece. It is made of a translucent plastic sheet with continuous elasticity. 3 is a dial letter provided on the upper part of the push button 2a by means of printing or the like, and 4 is a film-like flexible printed circuit board which is transparent and has a conductive pattern 4a formed of a transparent material on its surface. 5
is a light guide plate, which has a housing hole 5b for the light source element 7, and has a taper 5b on the lower surface that becomes thinner as the distance from the light guide plate increases. Reference numeral 6 denotes a printed board to which a light source element 7 such as an LED is fixed and connected, and also holds the light guide plate 5.

A movable contact 8 is made of a conductive and elastic material such as conductive rubber, faces the contact of the conductive pattern, and is smaller in shape than the push button 2a.

Next, the operation will be explained. First, when the push button 2a is pressed downward, the cup portion 2b formed integrally with the push button 2a buckles, and as the push button 2a descends, the movable contact 8 embedded in the push button 2a also moves downward. short-circuit between the contacts of the conductive pattern on the flexible printed circuit board 4;
Operates as a switch. Note that when the push button 2a is stopped being pressed, the push button 2a returns to its original state due to the elasticity of the cup portion 2b.

On the other hand, regarding lighting, the light emitted from the light source element is reflected upward by the tapered surface 5b of the light guide plate 5, passes through the flexible printed circuit board, passes through the side of the movable contact 8, and is mounted on the surface of the push button 2a. The dial character 3 is highlighted.

Incidentally, instead of using a conductive pattern made of a transparent material, an opaque pattern (copper foil) made of ultrafine lines may be used so that the light shielding effect is substantially eliminated.

Further, in order to increase the reflection efficiency on the tapered surface 5b as much as possible, fine irregularities may be provided on the tapered surface 5b. Furthermore, when connecting the first flexible printed circuit board 4 and the printed board 6, as shown in FIG. 2, the end 4a of the flexible printed circuit board 4 is bent and soldered to the printed board 6, or as shown in FIG. ), the connection may be made through a connecting portion 10a (FIG. 3(b)) in which a thin conductive rubber wire is embedded in the silicone rubber 10. Note that by forming the push button portion 2 from one continuous sheet, it is possible to obtain the effect of streamlining the configuration and assembly of the push button 2a.

As described in detail, according to the present invention, direct illumination is performed from below the switch using a translucent printed circuit board and a push button that is also translucent, so that it can be efficiently and uniformly illuminated. It has the advantage of realizing high push button illumination.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an illuminated pushbutton switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
Figures (a) and (b) are a sectional view and a perspective view of essential parts for explaining a method of connecting a flexible printed circuit board and a printed board. 1...Dial frame, 2a...Push button, 2b...
・Cup portion, 3...Dial letters, 4...Flexible printed circuit board, 4a...Conductive pattern, 5...
Light guide plate, 6... Printed board, 7... Light source element, 8... Movable contact. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person 2nd
Figure εQ 3 Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] a push button having letters, etc. printed on its surface, having a cup portion at the bottom and made of a material with elasticity and translucency; a movable contact smaller than the push button provided at the bottom of the push button; It consists of a transparent printed circuit board that has conductive patterns facing each other, and when the push button is pressed, the cup part buckles and the movable contact short-circuits the conductive patterns, and the lower part of the printed circuit board A push button switch with illumination, in which letters, etc. on the surface of the push button are illuminated by more incident light.