JPH0553071U - Illuminated key switch - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide an illuminated key switch capable of illuminating a large number of keys using a small number of light sources by devising such that the light from the light source can be dispersed and used at multiple locations. .. A light guide body (6) comprising a light guide path section for guiding light incident on an end face and an illuminating section (8) for emitting and illuminating the light guided by the light guide path section is used. The illumination part 8 of No. 6 was made to face the bottom of the key 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial application]

 The present invention relates to an illuminated key switch arranged on a remote controller or the like so that the key can be easily viewed even in a dark place.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In recent years, this type of illuminated key switch has been widely adopted to improve the operability of operation panels such as remote controllers, and a light source behind a key made of a translucent material such as silicone rubber. Conventionally, a configuration in which an LED as described above is incorporated is common. That is, the light of the LED is applied to the bottom of the key to illuminate the key, so that the selection of the key in the dark place and the pressing operation thereof are not disturbed.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By the way, since many keys are usually arranged on the operation surface of the operation panel, if the above-mentioned conventional technique is adopted, a light source such as an LED has to be incorporated behind each key, which is inevitably used. As a result, the number of LEDs used increases and the assembly work becomes complicated and the cost of parts increases, resulting in a significant increase in manufacturing cost. There is also a problem that power consumption increases when the number of LEDs used is large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an illuminated key switch capable of illuminating a large number of keys using a small number of light sources. is there.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated key switch which is equipped with a key made of a translucent material and an illuminating means for irradiating the key with light, and which presses and drives the key to switch contacts. Using a light guide body having a light guide section for guiding light incident on the light guide section and an illuminating section for emitting the light guided by the light guide section to illuminate the light guide section. This is accomplished by facing the bottom of the key.

[0006]

[Action]

 According to the above means, it is possible to disperse the light of the light source that is incident on the light guide body and is guided to the light guide body. Light can be distributed to a large number of keys for irradiation.

[0007]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an illuminated key switch according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall shape of a light guide used in the embodiment.

In the illuminated key switch 1 shown in FIG. 1, a movable contact 3 is provided on a bottom surface 2 a of a rubber key 2 made of translucent silicon rubber, and a fixed contact 5 is provided on a substrate 4 at a position facing the movable contact 3. And a light guide 6 for irradiating the bottom surface 2a of the rubber key 2 with light. Here, the light guide 6 is formed by molding a transparent material such as acrylic resin, and as shown in FIG. 2, a light guide path portion 7 for guiding the light of the LED 10 incident on the end face 7a, It is provided with a large number of illuminating parts 8 for emitting and illuminating the light guided by the light guide path part 7, and each illuminating part 8 exposed in the through hole 4a of the substrate 4 is the bottom surface 2a of the rubber key 2. Is facing. In order to reflect the light guided from the light guide section 7 toward the upper side in FIG. 1 by the illumination section 8, the bottom surface 8a of each illumination section 8 is provided with a large number of fine serrated grooves. It has been subjected to a serration process of forming.

When a large number of illumination type key switches 1 configured as described above are arranged on an operation panel such as a remote controller, each key switch 1 drives the rubber key 2 to press and move the movable contact 3 to the fixed contact 5. By doing so, the contacts can be switched, and the rubber key 2 can be illuminated by the light emitted from each illuminating section 8 of the light guide body 6, so that the selection and the pressing operation of the rubber key 2 in a dark place will be hindered. There is no.

Since the light of the LEDs 10 incident on the light guide path portion 7 of the light guide body 6 is dispersed to the respective illumination portions 8, it is possible to illuminate a large number of rubber keys 2 using a small number of LEDs 10. As a result, the component cost is significantly reduced and the assembling property is improved as compared with the conventional product in which LEDs are incorporated behind the keys. Furthermore, since the number of LEDs used is small, power consumption can be saved.

If the top surface 8b of the illumination unit 8 is formed in a lens shape and the emitted light is condensed toward the rubber key 2, the illumination can be performed efficiently.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the illuminated key switch according to the present invention, and the portions corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

That is, in the illuminated key switch 1 shown in FIG. 3, the respective illumination parts 8 of the light guide 6 have a first reflection surface 8 b and a second reflection surface 8 b for reflecting the light guided from the light guide path part. The point that the reflecting surface 8c is provided is different from the above embodiment.

[0015]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention in which the illumination part of the light guide is opposed to the bottom of the key to illuminate the key, the light of the light source incident on the light guide is illuminated at a plurality of places. Since it can be distributed to different parts, it is possible to illuminate a large number of keys using a small number of light sources, which has an excellent effect of significantly reducing the manufacturing cost and power consumption of the illuminated key switch.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an illuminated key switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall shape of a light guide used in the example.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the illuminated key switch according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Illuminated Key Switch 2 Rubber Key 3 Movable Contact 5 Fixed Contact 6 Light Guide 7 Light Guide Path 7a End Face 8 Illumination 10 LED

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An illuminated key switch, comprising a key made of a translucent material and an illuminating means for irradiating the key with light, wherein the key is pressed and driven to switch contacts, which is incident on an end face. A light guide body having a light guide section for guiding light and an illuminating section for emitting and illuminating the light guided by the light guide section is used, and the illuminating section of the light guide is provided on the bottom of the key. Illuminated key switch characterized by facing each other.