JPH02148632A - Lighting type membrane switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the lighting of the whole key display part of a surface resin sheet at an uniform and sufficient illumination by disposing a light source LED on the side just below the transparent surface resin sheet and keeping the upper part of the light source LED free from materials shielding its light. CONSTITUTION:The switch has a light source electrode resin sheet 38 laminated apart from and in opposition to an upper electrode sheet 32 through a second spacer 37 and a doom form crick plate 36 provided on the upper surface of the upper electrode sheet 32 in a position within a second space 37a and above an electrode contact point 35. It comprises a transparent surface resin sheet 41 laminated apart from and in opposition to the light source electrode resin sheet 38 through a third spacer 39, and a light source 40 situated and fixed within this third space 39a and above the crick plate 36. Thus, as no material shielding the light of the light source is present in the upper part of the light source, the lighting degree of the key display is improved, and the sufficient brightness of the whole key display part can be maintained. Hence, the whole key display part can be lighted at an uniform and sufficient illumination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to an illuminated membrane switch used in a keyboard or the like to open and close an electric circuit.

"Prior Art" Backlight membrane switches shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 have been known as examples of membrane switches used in keyboards and the like to open and close electric circuits. In this device, an upper electrode sheet 1 and a lower electrode sheet 2 made of flexible insulating resin (for example, polyester resin) are laminated with a spacer 3 interposed therebetween, and electrode contacts 4.4 are formed on mutually opposing surfaces of each sheet 1.2. An electrode sheet 5 provided with
A click plate 6 is placed on the top surface of the electrode contact 4.
A spacer 7 having a thickness approximately equal to the height of the click board 6 is arranged around the click board 6, a flexible surface resin sheet 8 is adhered to the surface of the spacer 7, and an electrode contact 4.4 is provided. A light source LED 9 is installed on the side of the
Illumination is enabled by the ED9, and the arrangement of keys (switch operation buttons) 10 is printed on the part of the surface resin sheet 8 facing the click board 6, and by pressing this printed display part, the keys (switch operation buttons) 10 are illuminated through the click board 6. Electrode contact 4.4
The structure is such that when the switch consisting of these electrode contacts is turned on by contacting them, a click sensation can be obtained due to the elasticity of the click plate 6.

Further, as an example of another membrane switch, a backlight membrane switch shown in FIG. 5 is known. This is the surface resin sheet II.

Light guide plate 12. Spacer! 3. Upper electrode sheet! 4 lower electrode) +5. LED electrode electrode resin sheet 16 rick plate +7. II pole contact 18. Consists of 19 LEDs, LED
It has a structure that guides the light of I9 to the surface through the light guide plate 12, and because the electrode position on the plane and the LED mounting position are different, the membrane switch thickness can be maintained almost the same as when there is no LED. It is something that has.

In addition, as an example of still another membrane switch, the sixth
A backlight membrane switch shown in the figure is known. This is a transparent surface resin sheet 21. Spacer 23. Transparent upper electrode sheet 24. Transparent lower electrode sheet 25. LED electrode electrode resin sheet 26 Transparent rick plate 27. Opaque electrode contacts 28. It consists of an LED 29, and by installing the LED 29 below the electrode contact 28, the structure is such that the upper part is illuminated.

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' However, in the conventional backlight membrane switch shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the optical fiLED 9 is located away from the switch part, that is, the electrode contact 4.4, so the key display is It is difficult to uniformly illuminate the entire area, which is inconvenient when used in a dark place, and there are problems in that the overall brightness of the key display area is insufficient.

In addition, the conventional bank light membrane switch shown in FIG. 5 requires a separate light guide plate 12, which is expensive, and the brightness may be lost depending on the installation location of the LED l 9, or it may be difficult to guide the light properly. There is a problem that it is difficult to process and laminate the light guide plate 12.
Since the click plate 17 is pressed via the contact point 2, the click feeling changes depending on the suppressed position and the operation of the electrode contact 18 becomes incomplete, which may result in poor contact of the electrode contact 18.

Furthermore, in the conventional backlight membrane switch shown in FIG.
The light is obstructed by the click board 27 and is attenuated, resulting in a decrease in illuminance and a drawback that brightness cannot be ensured. Therefore, it is possible to make holes in the click plate 27 in order to increase the amount of light passing through, but the problem is that the amount of light decreases, it is not possible to obtain sufficient illuminance, and it is difficult to obtain a sufficient click feeling. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated membrane switch that solves the problems of the conventional switch with six or more horns and can illuminate the entire key display section with uniform and sufficient illuminance.

"Means for Solving the Problem" The first invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. That is, insulating resins are laminated in a spaced-apart manner and facing each other via a first spacer having a first space, and electrode contacts made of a conductive material are provided on opposing surfaces in the first space so as to be able to freely contact each other. An upper electrode sheet and a lower electrode sheet consisting of sheets, an electrode resin sheet for a light source laminated in a spaced manner opposite to the surface-shaped upper electrode sheet via a second spacer having a second space, and the upper electrode sheet of the upper electrode sheet. An embossed dome-shaped click plate provided on the upper surface in the second space and above the electrode contact, and a third spacer forming a third space for the light source. a transparent surface resin sheet laminated to face the electrode resin sheet at a distance; and a light source located in the third space and above the click board and fixed on the light source electrode resin sheet. The structure consists of:

In a second invention, in the first invention, the light source is sealed with a transparent resin filled in the third space.

"Function" In the first invention, since there is nothing above the light source to block the light from the light source, the entire key display portion of the surface resin sheet is illuminated with uniform and sufficient illuminance. In addition, the elasticity of the click plate provides a click sensation when operating keys.

In the second invention, since there is nothing above the light source to block the light from the light source, the entire key display section is illuminated with uniform and sufficient illuminance.

Additionally, since the light source is sealed with transparent resin, durability is improved.

In addition, the elasticity of the click plate provides a click sensation when operating keys.

"Example" An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a backlight membrane switch, and 3! is an electrode sheet, and this electrode sheet 31 is made by laminating an upper electrode sheet 32 and a lower electrode sheet 33 made of a flexible and opaque insulating resin (for example, polyester resin) with a first spacer 34 interposed therebetween. Electrode contacts 35 and 35 made of opaque metal are provided on mutually opposing surfaces of the electrode sheet 32 and the lower electrode sheet 33, respectively. The Ti electrode contact 35.35 is made of an opaque conductive material (e.g. carbon or silver paste) and is located between the upper electrode 1-32 and the lower electrode sheet 33, and is located in the first space formed in the first spacer 34. 3
4a. On the upper surface of the electrode sheet 31,
An opaque elastic click plate 36 is provided, which is a metal plate embossed into a dome shape. The click plate 36 is located above the electrode contact 35.

A second spacer 37 having a thickness approximately equal to the height of the click plate 36 is placed around the click plate 36 to allow the click plate 36 to deform, and is bonded to the upper electrode sheet 32. There is.

The spacer 37 has a second space 37a, and the click plate 36 is provided within this space 37a. A light source electrode resin sheet (LED electrode electrode resin sheet 8 ) made of a flexible and opaque insulating resin (for example, polyester resin) is adhered to the upper surface of the spacer 37 .

A third spacer 39 having a third space 39a is attached and provided on the light source electrode resin sheet 38. In the third space 39a, a light ILED 40 is fixed located above the center of the click board 36 and supported by the light source electrode resin sheet 38.

A flexible and transparent surface resin sheet 41 is provided on the third spacer 39 and is adhered to the third spacer 39 .

On the surface resin sheet 41, a key display (switch operation button display) is printed on the part facing the light source LED 40.
is being done. Then, by pressing this printed display area, the light source L ED 40 is activated.

The electrode contacts 35.35 are brought into contact via the click plate 36, and the switch consisting of these electrode contacts 35.35 is turned on.
N, and at this time, the elasticity of the click plate 36 provides a click feeling.

Therefore, when the light source LED 40 is turned on, this light source LE
The D40 light illuminates the entire key display portion of the surface resin sheet 41 with uniform and sufficient illumination to clearly indicate the key display.

Also, by suppressing the portion of the surface resin sheet 41 directly above the light source LED 40 downward (toward the light source LED 40 side),
The click plate 36 is deformed through the light source LED 40, giving a click feeling to the operator of the illuminated membrane switch, bending the upper electrode sheet 32, and connecting the opposing electrode contacts 35.3.
Turn on 5. When the pressure on the surface resin sheet 4I is released, the light source electrode resin sheet 38. Click board 36. Due to the elastic return of the upper electrode sheet 32, the electrode contacts 35.degree. 35 are turned off.

According to this embodiment, the light source LED 40 is installed immediately below the transparent surface resin sheet 41.
Since there is nothing above the light source 0 to block the light from the light source LED 40, the entire key display section of the surface resin sheet 41 can be illuminated with uniform and sufficient illuminance. Also, click board 3
The elasticity of No. 6 allows you to feel a click when operating the keys.

Furthermore, since a light guide plate is omitted and difficult lamination techniques are not required, manufacturing costs can be reduced.

In addition, in the said Example, the third space 39a was provided in the third spacer 39, but it is not limited to this,
As shown in FIG. 2, silicone (thermosetting resin), acrylic,
It may be filled with a transparent resin 51 such as urethane, and the light source LED 40 may be sealed with the transparent resin 5I.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the previous embodiment, the light source LE
D is transparent resin 5! Since it is sealed, durability is improved.

"Effects of the Invention" According to the first invention, electrode contacts made of a conductive material are laminated to face each other at a distance through a first spacer having a first space, and each electrode contact is made of a conductive material on the opposing surface in the first space. an upper electrode sheet and a lower electrode sheet made of insulating resin sheets, which are provided so as to be able to freely approach and separate from each other; and a second electrode sheet having a second space.
a light source electrode resin sheet laminated to face the upper electrode sheet with a spacer in between; an embossed dome-shaped click plate provided, a transparent surface resin sheet laminated to face the light source electrode resin sheet at a distance via a third spacer having a third space; Since the light source is located in the space above the click plate and is fixed on the light source electrode resin sheet, there is nothing above the light source to block the light from the light source. , the illumination level of the key display has been improved, and the entire key display area can be sufficiently brightened.As a result, the entire key display area can be illuminated with uniform and sufficient illuminance. The elasticity allows you to feel a click when operating the keys.

According to the second invention, since the light source is sealed with the transparent resin filled in the third space in the first invention, in addition to the effect of the first invention, it is possible to achieve the effect of improving durability. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted longitudinal cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially omitted longitudinal cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are conventional keyboards. 3 is a partially omitted vertical sectional view, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the main parts, and FIG. 5 is a partially omitted vertical sectional view showing another example of a conventional keyboard switch. FIG. 6 is a partially omitted vertical sectional view showing still another example of a conventional keyboard switch. 3rd grade...electrode sheet, 32...upper electrode sheet, 33...lower electrode sheet, 34...
...First spacer, 34a...First space, 35...Electrode contact, 36...Click board, 37...Second spacer, 37a...
...Second space, 38...Light source electrode resin sheet 1- (L, EDITI electrode resin notebook) 39...
...Third spacer, 39a...Third space,
40...Light source LED, 41...Surface resin sheet, 51...Transparent resin.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first spacer (34a) having a first space (34a)
4) electrode contacts (35) each made of a conductive material and laminated in a spaced-apart manner and facing each other, and each formed of an electrically conductive material on opposing surfaces within the first space;
an upper electrode sheet (32) and a lower electrode sheet (33) made of insulating resin sheets that are provided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from each other.
and a second spacer (3) having a second space (37a).
7) a light source electrode resin sheet (38) stacked on the upper electrode sheet so as to be spaced apart from each other; an embossed dome-shaped click plate (36) and a third spacer (39) having a third space (39a), which are laminated to face the light source electrode resin sheet at a distance. Transparent surface resin sheet (
41); and a light source (40) located in the third space and above the click plate and fixed on the light source electrode resin sheet. . 2. The illuminated membrane switch according to claim 1, wherein the light source is sealed with a transparent resin (51) filled in the third space.