JPH0116259Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] The present invention relates to an improvement of a key switch.

Conventionally, a keyboard has a key button 1, a display section 2, a lamp 3, etc. as shown in FIG. A key switch 4 that lights up is used. Such a key switch has a structure as shown in the sectional view of FIG.

This consists of an insulating rubber sheet 9 on which a plurality of key buttons 8 with conductive rubber contacts 7 arranged facing each other on the inner lower surface are formed on a printed board 6 on which a plurality of pairs of contact electrodes 5, 5' are formed. They are stacked one on top of the other, covered and attached with a switch frame 10, and then a front panel 11 is assembled on the front surface.

In such a key switch, the display section 2 is displayed on the surface of the front panel 11 by screen printing, engraving, etc., separately from the display symbol (consisting of numbers, letters, etc.) for displaying functions on the top surface of the key button 1. The problem is that a symbol must be formed, and a separate process for this formation is required, which increases manufacturing time and increases costs.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention solves the inconvenience of forming display symbols on the front panel to display functions corresponding to key buttons, and eliminates the process of forming display symbols on the front panel. A key switch was devised for this purpose, and the above purpose was achieved by integrally forming display symbols on an insulating rubber sheet on which key buttons were formed.

The main structure of the key switch of this invention for this purpose is as follows.
On a printed board with multiple pairs of contact electrodes, conductive rubber contacts that come into contact with the electrodes when pressed are placed facing each other on the lower internal surface of the display. A protrusion is integrally formed with the key button and the lower part of the protrusion, each having an elastic deformable part that is bendable and in an extended state, and display symbols indicating the functions of the key button and the protrusion are integrally formed on the upper surface of the key button and the protrusion. A switch frame is attached to the insulating rubber sheet, which has a hole in which the key button is placed in a protruding position so as to be freely pressed, and the display protrusion engages with the step and is placed in a depressed position. The present invention is characterized in that the key button is placed in a protruding position so that it can be pressed freely, and is combined with a surface panel having a hole through which the top surface of the display protrusion can be seen in a state substantially equal to the surface.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an insulating rubber sheet according to an embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 12 is an insulating rubber sheet, 13 is a plurality of key buttons integrally formed on the insulating rubber sheet 12, and 14 is a plurality of display protrusions integrally formed on the insulating rubber sheet 12. . This projection 14 is integrally formed with a positioning step 15 formed on the external side surface, and a bellows portion 16 which is an elastic deformable portion that is bendable and in an extended state around the lower part of the projection 14, similar to the key button 13. ing. On the top surface, display symbols are integrally formed in advance on the key buttons 13 and display protrusions 14 to display their respective functions by screen printing, molding, etc.

The insulating rubber sheet thus formed is assembled into a key switch as shown in FIG. To explain the diagram, insulating rubber sheet 1
2 is stacked on top of the printed board 17, and is pressed and fixed by a switch frame 18 mounted thereon. At this time, the display protrusion 14 has a step 15
is engaged and pressed by the end of the hole in the switch frame 18, and the bellows portion 16 is deformed to the pressed position. Of course, the key button 13 is guided and held in the protruding position so that it can be pressed freely, but the point that a printed board on which a plurality of pairs of contact electrodes are formed and conductive rubber that comes into contact with the electrodes when pressed are arranged facing each other on the inner lower surface is important. It is similar to FIG.

Further, the switch thus assembled is combined with the front panel 19. Note that the amount of protrusion of the upper surface of the display protrusion 14 from the surface of the front panel 19 can be determined by the position of the step 15, but a state that is approximately equal to the surface of the front panel 19 is standard.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the embodiment of the present invention, in which 13 is a key button, 14 is a display projection, and 20 is a display lamp. Although not shown, the display lamp 20 is supported by the switch frame 18 and electrically connected to the circuit on the printed board 17.

As explained above, the key switch structure of the present invention has a key button and a display projection integrally formed on an insulating rubber sheet, and a display symbol is integrally formed on the upper surface of the key button and the display projection. By engaging the display protrusion with the hole formed in the switch frame and pushing it down, the top surface of the display protrusion is brought closer to the surface of the front panel, making it clear that the large protruding key button is It becomes possible to differentiate. In this way, by integrally forming the display symbol on the top surface of the key button and display protrusion that are integrally formed on the insulating rubber sheet, the display symbol was previously formed on the surface of the front panel. The process can be eliminated, and the surface panel only needs to be provided with a hole to allow the top surface of the display protrusion to be seen, similar to the key button part, so the industrial effect of streamlining the process is significant. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of a conventional key switch.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an example of a conventional key switch, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an insulating rubber sheet of a key switch structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an assembled sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the embodiment. In the figure, 12 is an insulating rubber sheet, 13 is a key button, 14 is a display projection, 15 is a step, 16 is a bellows part, 17 is a printed board, 18 is a switch frame, and 19 is a front panel.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] On a printed board with multiple pairs of contact electrodes, conductive rubber contacts that come into contact with the electrodes when pressed are placed facing each other on the lower internal surface of the display. A protrusion is integrally formed with the key button and the lower part of the protrusion, each having an elastic deformable part that is bendable and in an extended state, and display symbols indicating the functions of the key button and the protrusion are integrally formed on the upper surface of the key button and the protrusion. A switch frame is attached to the insulating rubber sheet, which has a hole in which the key button is placed in a protruding position so as to be freely pressed, and the display protrusion engages with the step and is placed in a depressed position. A key switch structure characterized in that the key button is set in a protruding position so as to be freely pressed and is combined with a surface panel having a hole through which the upper surface of the display protrusion can be seen in a state substantially equal to the surface.