JP2004281210A - Illumination type push switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illumination type push switch in which deflection timing of a pair of click rubbers arranged at asymmetrical position against a keytop can be nearly accorded with easily, and in which design latitude can be improved without damaging operating feeling. <P>SOLUTION: This illumination type push switch 11 is provided with the keytop 1 having a translucent illumination region, a switch substrate 4 on which a circuit pattern including fixed contact points 8, 9 is installed, a first and a second click rubbers 6, 7 mounted on the switch substrate 4, an LED 10 mounted at the position opposing to the ceiling face of the keytop 1 on the switch substrate 4, and a slider 3 in which a flange part 3a integrated to the keytop 1 is mounted on both click rubbers 6, 7. Although the first click rubber 6 is arranged at a remote position from that of the keytop 1 compared with the second click rubber 7, the first click rubber 6 is elastically deformed more greatly than the second click rubber 7 by a protruding part 3b installed at the bottom face of the flange part 3a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention illuminates a display portion of a keytop with light emitted from a light source such as an LED (light emitting diode), and when the keytop is lowered by a predetermined stroke, a substantially dome-shaped click rubber buckles to generate a click feeling. And an illuminated push switch device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
This type of illuminated push switch device is provided with an illuminated area (display section) on a part of the top surface of the key top by applying a light-blocking paint to a non-illuminated area of the key top made of a translucent material. Since the illuminated area is illuminated by the light from the light source disposed at the rear, the key top can be easily and reliably operated even in a dark place. There are various types of such illuminated push switch devices, but the illuminated push switch device having sufficient brightness at the time of illumination and which can be manufactured at low cost includes a switch board provided with a circuit pattern including fixed contacts. In addition, a light source such as an LED facing the ceiling surface of the keytop and a substantially dome-shaped click rubber having a movable contact and also referred to as a rubber contact are arranged, and the keytop is pushed in to buckle the click rubber. There is widely known a configuration in which a movable contact contacts a fixed contact to switch on when the movable contact is made.
[0003]
However, in the case of the illuminated push switch device having such a configuration, the click rubber cannot be arranged in the region opposed to the central portion of the key top because the light source is arranged facing the illuminated region of the key top. Therefore, conventionally, a pair of click rubbers is disposed at a substantially symmetrical position shifted from directly below (right behind) the center of the key top on the switch board, and a slider that moves up and down integrally with the key top is mounted on both click rubbers. There has been proposed a configuration in which the posture is stabilized by doing so (for example, see Patent Document 1). According to the known illuminated push switch device, the central portion of the keytop can be illuminated, and the operation feel is good because the posture of the keytop when ascending and descending is stabilized.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2001-35312 (pages 4 to 6, FIG. 2)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the illuminated push switch device in which the light source and the pair of click rubbers are disposed on the switch substrate, if the pair of click rubbers are arranged at substantially symmetric positions with respect to the keytop, The timing at which both click rubbers buckle during the pressing operation can be substantially matched. However, if it is not preferable or difficult to dispose the light source in a region facing the center of the keytop on the switch board, a pair of click rubbers are arranged at positions asymmetric with respect to the keytop. There are things that have to be done. That is, depending on the shape of the illuminated area (display section) of the keytop, an area outside the center of the keytop may have to be mainly illuminated. In this case, the light source is shifted from directly below the center of the keytop. It is preferable to arrange them. In addition, in a switch board on which a circuit pattern is formed at high density, restrictions on circuit design are large, so that a routing pattern or the like may have to be arranged directly below the center of the keytop. Inevitably, it is arranged at a position shifted from directly below the center of the key top.
[0006]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a problem of the illuminated push switch device assumed in such a case. In the figure, a light-shielding paint is applied to a top surface of a key top 1 made of a translucent material except for an illumination area (not shown) of a predetermined shape, and the key top 1 is irradiated from behind. Light is transmitted through the illuminated area and can be visually recognized from the front. The key top 1 is arranged in front of the opening 2a of the case member 2, and the slider 3 is integrated with the key top 1 by strong fitting or the like. The slider 3 is supported by the case member 2 so as to be able to ascend and descend through the opening 2a. The flange 3a of the slider 3 is a bulging portion of a translucent rubber sheet 5 laminated on the switch substrate 4. It is mounted on a pair of click rubbers 6,7. These click rubbers 6 and 7 are generally called rubber contacts, and are formed in a thick dome shape at the center, and movable contacts 6a and 7a are provided on the bottom surface of the thick portion. The fixed contacts 8 and 9 are disposed on the switch substrate 4 at positions facing the movable contacts 6a and 7a, respectively. The contacts 6a, 7a come into contact with the corresponding fixed contacts 8,9.
[0007]
Further, an LED 10 is mounted on the switch board 4, and the LED 10 is arranged substantially in the middle between the click rubbers 6 and 7. However, the LED 10 is displaced from directly below the center of the key top 1, and the pair of click rubbers 6 and 7 are disposed at positions asymmetric with respect to the key top 1 due to the influence. That is, one click rubber 6 is arranged at a position farther from the center of the key top 1 than the other click rubber 7, and therefore, the flange 3 a of the slider 3 is closer to the click rubber 6 side than to the click rubber 7 side. Also protrude greatly to the side. A circuit pattern (not shown) electrically connected to the fixed contacts 8 and 9 and the LED 10 is provided on the switch substrate 4, and the case member 2 covers the switch substrate 4 and the rubber sheet 5.
[0008]
In this configuration, when the key top 1 is pressed, the pair of click rubbers 6 and 7 is pushed downward via the flange 3 a of the slider 3. At this time, the pressing operation force applied to the key top 1 is reduced. Since the click rubber 7 closer to the key top 1 is larger than the click rubber 6 farther from the key top 1, one of the click rubbers 7 buckles first and the movable contact 7 a contacts the fixed contact 9. Thereafter, the other click rubber 6 buckles and the movable contact 6a comes into contact with the fixed contact 8, so that the buckling timing of both click rubbers 6 and 7 is largely shifted. As a result, the click of the operator's finger is felt twice during the pressing operation, and the problem that the operation feeling is significantly deteriorated occurs.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the related art, and an object of the present invention is to easily match buckling timings of a pair of click rubbers disposed at asymmetric positions with respect to a key top. An object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated push switch device capable of improving the degree of freedom of design without deteriorating the operational feeling.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an illuminated push switch device according to the present invention provides a circuit pattern including a key top having a translucent illuminated area, disposed in front of an opening of a case member, and a fixed contact. A switch substrate covered with the case member and a substantially dome-shaped rubber member mounted on the switch substrate, and at least one of the second and third movable contacts is provided with a movable contact that can be separated from and connected to the fixed contact. A first click rubber and a second click rubber, a light source mounted on the switch board at a position facing a ceiling surface of the key top to irradiate the illumination area with light, and integrated with the key top. The first and second click rubbers are mounted on the first and second click rubbers and supported by the case member so as to be able to move up and down so as to buckle the first and second click rubbers during a pressing operation. A slider, wherein the first click rubber is disposed at a position farther from the center of the key top than the second click rubber, and the first click rubber is moved to the second click rubber when not operated. Preload means for elastically deforming larger than rubber is provided.
[0011]
In the illuminated push switch device configured as described above, the first and second click rubbers are disposed at positions asymmetrical with respect to the key top, but the first click rubber far from the key top is pressed with the key. Since the second click rubber close to the top is elastically deformed beforehand, the first click rubber having a smaller force component of the pressing operation force applied to the key top than the second click rubber is used as the second click rubber. It can be buckled with a smaller operating force than click rubber. Therefore, the buckling timings of the first and second click rubbers can be easily substantially matched at the time of the pressing operation, and deterioration of the operation feeling can be avoided.
[0012]
In such a configuration, as the preload means for elastically deforming the first click rubber more than the second click rubber during non-operation, for example, a protrusion contacting the top of the first click rubber is provided on the lower surface of the slider. A portion may be formed, and the first click rubber may be pushed and bent in the buckling direction by the protrusion. Alternatively, a spacer plate is interposed between the lower surface of the slider and the top of the first click rubber as the preload means, and the first click rubber is pushed and bent in the buckling direction by the spacer plate. You may leave.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an illuminated push switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and portions corresponding to FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0014]
The illuminated push switch device 11 shown in FIG. 1 has a key top 1 made of a translucent material and arranged in front of an opening 2a of a case member 2 and a flange 3a with a projection 3b. A slider 3 integrated with the key top 1 by a combination or the like, a switch board 4 provided with a circuit member including fixed contacts 8 and 9 and covered with a case member 2, and a transparent board laminated on the switch board 4. Mainly composed of first and second click rubbers 6 and 7 which are bulging portions of the light rubber sheet 5 and LEDs 10 mounted on the switch board 4 at a substantially intermediate position between the both click rubbers 6 and 7. Have been.
[0015]
The top surface of the key top 1 is coated with a light-shielding paint except for an illumination area (not shown) of a predetermined shape, and light applied to the key top 1 from behind is transmitted through the illumination area and from the front. It is visible. The slider 3 is supported by the case member 2 so as to be able to ascend and descend through the opening 2a, and its flange 3a is mounted on the first and second click rubbers 6,7. However, since the first click rubber 6 is disposed at a position farther from the center of the key top 1 than the second click rubber 7, the flange 3 a of the slider 3 has the first click rubber 6 side. The protrusion 3 b is projected more laterally than the second click rubber 7 side, and a protrusion 3 b protruding downward from the flange 3 a is in contact with the top of the first click rubber 6. That is, the top of the first click rubber 6 is pushed down below the top of the second click rubber 7 by the thickness of the projection 3b during the non-operation. These first and second click rubbers 6 and 7 are generally called rubber contacts, and are formed in a thick and substantially dome shape at the center, and movable contacts 6a and 7a are provided on the bottom surface of the thick portion. ing. Since the fixed contacts 8 and 9 are provided on the switch substrate 4 at positions facing the movable contacts 6a and 7a, respectively, when the click rubbers 6 and 7 are pushed in from above in the figure and buckled, the respective movable contacts 6a and 7a come into contact with the corresponding fixed contacts 8 and 9. In consideration of restrictions on circuit design and uneven distribution of the illuminated area, the LED 10 is arranged so as to be shifted from directly below the center of the key top 1, and the first and second click rubbers 6 and 7 are arranged on the key top 1. That is why they are arranged at positions that are asymmetrical with respect to 1.
[0016]
In the illuminated push switch device 11 configured as described above, when the key top 1 is pressed, the first and second click rubbers 6 and 7 are pushed downward via the flange 3 a of the slider 3. At this time, the component force of the pressing operation force applied to the key top 1 is larger in the second click rubber 7 near the key top 1 than in the first click rubber 6 far from the key top 1, Since the first click rubber 6 to which the pretension is given by 3b is elastically deformed in advance by a predetermined amount, the first click rubber 6 can be buckled with a smaller operating force than the second click rubber 7. In the present embodiment, the first click rubber 6, which has a smaller pressing force but a smaller operating force than the second click rubber 7, has substantially the same timing as the second click rubber 7. Since the thickness of the protruding portion 3b is set so as to buckle, even if both click rubbers 6 and 7 are arranged at positions asymmetric with respect to the key top 1, the buckling timing substantially matches and good operation is achieved. The feel is obtained.
[0017]
The illuminated push switch device 11 is designed to be switched on when one of the movable contacts 6a and 7a comes into contact with the corresponding fixed contact 8 or fixed contact 9, so that the key top 1 is used. Even if only one of the first and second click rubbers 6 and 7 is normally buckled due to the end pressing, no malfunction occurs. However, when the key top 1 is designed so that both click rubbers 6 and 7 always buckle normally at the time of the pressing operation by adopting a supporting structure which descends without tilting even if the key top 1 is pressed end, A configuration is also possible in which a movable contact is provided only on one of the first click rubber 6 and the second click rubber 7 and the fixed contact 8 or the fixed contact 9 is omitted.
[0018]
Further, in the present embodiment, a projection 3b is provided on a part of the flange 3a of the slider 3 as a preload means for elastically deforming the first click rubber 6 more than the second click rubber 7 when not operated. Although it is provided, a spacer plate having a predetermined thickness is fixed to a part of the bottom surface of the flange portion 3a or the top surface of the top of the first click rubber 6, or the height of the first click rubber 6 is set to the second size. Even if it is formed larger than the click rubber 7 by a predetermined amount, substantially the same effect can be obtained.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is implemented in the form described above, and has the following effects.
[0020]
In an illuminated push switch device in which a pair of click rubbers must be disposed asymmetrically with respect to the key top due to restrictions on circuit design and uneven distribution of the illuminated area of the key top, a first distant from the key top is required. A preloading means is provided for elastically deforming the click rubber in advance larger than the second click rubber close to the key top, and the first pressing rubber has a smaller pressing force applied to the key top than the second click rubber. The click rubber is buckled with a smaller operating force than the second click rubber, so that the buckling timing of the first and second click rubbers can be easily substantially matched at the time of the pressing operation, Therefore, the degree of freedom in design can be improved without impairing the operation feeling.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an illuminated push switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a conventional problem.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key top 2 Case member 2a Opening 3 Slider 3a Flange 3b Projection (preload means)
4 Switch board 5 Rubber sheet 6 First click rubber 7 Second click rubber 6a, 7a Movable contacts 8, 9 Fixed contacts 10 LED
11 Illuminated push switch device

Claims (3)

A key top having a translucent illuminating region and arranged in front of the opening of the case member; a switch board covered with the case member provided with a circuit pattern including fixed contacts; and A first click rubber and a second click rubber, each of which comprises a substantially dome-shaped rubber member mounted on the switch substrate, and at least one of which is provided with a movable contact that can be brought into contact with and separated from the fixed contact, and the key on the switch board. A light source mounted at a position facing the ceiling surface of the top to irradiate the illuminated area with light; a light source integrated with the key top and mounted on the first and second click rubbers; A slider that is supported so as to be able to move up and down and buckles the first and second click rubbers during a pressing operation;
The first click rubber is arranged at a position farther from the center of the key top than the second click rubber, and the first click rubber is more elastic than the second click rubber when not operated. An illuminated push switch device comprising a preload means for deforming. 2. The slider according to claim 1, wherein a projection is formed on the lower surface of the slider as the preloading means, the projection being in contact with the top of the first click rubber, and the projection deflects the first click rubber in a buckling direction. An illuminated push switch device comprising: 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a spacer plate is provided between the lower surface of the slider and the top of the first click rubber as the preload means, and the first click rubber is buckled by the spacer plate. An illuminated push switch device characterized in that it is configured to bend and bend.

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