JPH01159917A - Keyboard switch with illumination - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable mounting of a captioned keyboard switch at a small space by supporting a light emitting element on a printed board at a space backward of a key top made of transparent or semi-transparent rubber material having light introducing property, and providing contacts on the back of the key top at such a position as not to interrupt light. CONSTITUTION:In a contact switch 3, a key top 4, a skirt 5 and a base 6 are integrally made of rubber material having light introducing property. At a space backward of the key top 4, an LED 7 as a light emitting element is mounted on a printed board 1. Furthermore, on the back of the key top 4, contacts 9 mating to contacts 8 on the printed board 1 are disposed on such a side as not to interrupt light emitted by the LED 7. The front side of the key top 4 is covered with a key cap 10. The key cap 10 is supported by the guide 11 of a case 2 in such a way as to be freely advanced and retreated. With the key cap 10 advanced by the recovery force of the skirt 5, an engaging part 12 projected sideward on the base section of the key cap 10 is engaged with the base end of the guide 11 so as to resist slip-off, thereby preventing any looseness.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminated keyboard switch for use in a dark place with a keyboard of an electronic device such as a car radio, a car telephone, or a microcomputer.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a structure shown in FIG. 3 is known as this type of illuminated key fob switch. As shown in FIG. 3, a commercially available self-illuminated keyboard switch 33 having an LED (light emitting diode) 32 is mounted on a printed circuit board 31, and in front of this self-illuminated keyboard switch 33, light guide and light diffusion are performed. The target key top 34 is supported by the case 350 guide part 36 so as to be able to move forward and backward, and the key top 34 is urged forward by a compression spring 37 interposed between it and the self-illuminated keyboard switch 33.
An engaging portion 38 protruding from the side of the base is engaged with the base end of the guide portion 360 to prevent it from coming off and to prevent it from shaking.

In this way, the conventional illuminated keyboard switch described above also uses a commercially available self-illuminated keyboard switch 33, and by providing the key top 34 in front of it, the keyboard of the electronic device can be used in a dark place.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional illuminated keyboard switch described above, a commercially available self-illuminated keyboard switch 33 is mounted, and the shape of this self-illuminated keyboard switch 33 is determined, and the shape is relatively small. Dog 3・\-7 Because it is loud, it is best to use it in small spaces.

Furthermore, when a keyboard has a large number of switches, one keyboard switch is attached to each contact, which is extremely disadvantageous in terms of cost.

The present invention solves the problems of the prior art, and aims to provide an illuminated keyboard switch that can be installed in a small space and at a low cost. This is the purpose.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention forms a key top from a transparent or semi-transparent rubber material having light-guiding properties, and emits light in a space behind the key top. The element is supported on a printed circuit board, and a contact point is provided on the back of the key top at a position that does not block the light emitted from the light emitting element.

Effects The present invention has the following effects due to the above structure. In other words, since it is configured as a contact switch and the light-emitting element is placed in the space behind the key top, it can be mounted in a small space, and costs can be reduced, especially when increasing the number of switches. be able to.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an illuminated keyboard switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a cross-sectional view of the main part, and FIG. 2 being an external perspective view of the main part. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a printed circuit board, 2 is a case, and 3 is a contact switch. A key top 4 is connected to a base 6 supported on the printed circuit board 1 by a skirt portion 6, and these keys are The top 4, skirt portion 5, and base 6 are integrally formed of a rubber material having light guiding properties. In a space behind the key top 4, an LED (light emitting diode) 7 as a light emitting element is attached to the printed circuit board 1 by solder. A contact 9 corresponding to the contact 8 on the printed circuit board 1 is provided on the back of the key top 4 at a position that does not block the light emitted by the LED 7, that is, on the side of the back. Key cap 1 on the front side of key top 4
It is overlaid with 0. This keycap 1o is provided for the purpose of improving the image of the key and printing it.
It is made of a light-guiding plastic material or the like. The keycap 1o advances to the case 20 guide part 11,
When the keycap 100 is supported so that it can be retracted and moved forward by the restoring force of the skirt portion 5, the retaining portion 12 protruding from the side of the base of the keycap 100 is engaged with the base end of the guide portion 110 to prevent it from coming off and prevent it from shaking. is prevented.

In this way, according to the above embodiment, the LED 7 is arranged in the space behind the key top 4, and the contact 9 is attached in a position that does not block the light emitted by the If and BD 7, so that the contact can be used in an illuminated keyboard switch. The use of switches is therefore possible, so that illuminated keyboard switches can be implemented in a small space, and costs can be reduced, especially when increasing the number of switches.

In the above embodiment, a 1° keycap is used, but it may be removed if there is no problem with the design or printing.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the key top is formed from a transparent or semi-transparent rubber material having light-guiding properties, and the light emitting element is attached to the printed circuit board in the space behind the key top. A contact point is provided on the back of the key top at a position that supports the key top and does not block the light emitted from the light emitting element. In this way, it is configured as a contact switch on an illuminated keyboard, and the light-emitting element is placed in the space behind the key top, so it can be installed in a small space, and is especially useful when increasing the number of switches. Cost reduction can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 show an illuminated keyboard switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts;
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the main parts, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the main parts showing a conventional illuminated keyboard switch. 1 Printed circuit board, 2. Case, 3... Contact 7
・−. Tosuinochi, 4...Key top, 7...LED (
Light emitting element), 9... Contact, 10. Key cap. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] A key top is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent rubber material with light-guiding properties, and a light emitting element is supported by a printed circuit board in a space behind the key top, and the light emitting element is positioned at a position that does not block the light emitted from the light emitting element. An illuminated keyboard switch characterized by a contact point on the back of the key top.