Illuminated button switch

Details Illuminated button switch Illuminated button switch

2003-05-15

2003-12-30

Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Electric switch details

Indicators

C200S0050EA, C200S310000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06670565

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a illumination type push button switch used in an electronic apparatus, such as a portable telephone or a personal computer.
BACKGROUND ART
Recently, electronic apparatuses including a portable telephone and a personal computer have better functions and cover a broader spectrum. Push button switches used in an operating part of the apparatuses are required to light a push button for illuminating to enable an operation even in dark.
The conventional illumination type push button switch will be described with reference to FIG.
5
.
FIG. 5
is a sectional view of the conventional illumination type push button switch. Dark-colored push button
1
made of insulating resin includes, at its top surface, display part
1
A which is, for example, semitransparent or milk-white and is exposed in the form of a letter, a mark, a design or the like. Switch contact
2
disposed below button
1
includes wiring board
3
, flexible insulating film
4
, insulating spacers
5
each having both surfaces coated with adhesive for bonding wiring board
3
and insulating film
4
together, plural fixed contacts
3
A on a top surface of wiring board
3
, and plural movable contacts
4
A on a bottom surface of insulating film
4
. Fixed and movable contacts
3
A and
4
A face each other at a predetermined space. Switch contact
2
thus functions as a membrane switch. Light-emitting diode (LED)
6
is mounted on the top surface of wiring board
3
near fixed contact
3
A. Insulating film
4
and insulating spacer
5
have respective holes through which LED
6
is inserted. Board
7
is mounted on a bottom surface of wiring board
3
. Case
8
made of insulating resin covers these elements and has, at its top side, a hole through which button
1
projects vertically movably. The illumination type push button switch is thus configured.
When specified push button
1
is pressed downward, insulating film
4
is pressed by push part
1
B and sags, thereby allowing corresponding movable contact
4
A on the bottom surface of this film
4
to contact with corresponding fixed contact
3
A on the top surface of wiring board
3
. This action allows switch contact
2
to establish electrical connection and disconnection.
When LED
6
on the top surface of wiring board
3
emits light, display part
1
A of push button
1
over LED
6
illuminates from behind with the light, which thus facilitates the identification of button
1
even in dark.
In the conventional push button switch described above, since LED
6
has light emission directivity, the light emitted by LED
6
lights display part
1
A of push button
1
weak if display part
1
A is in a position out of alignment with LED
6
. Further, if many push buttons
1
are arranged, the number of LEDs
6
must be equal to the number of buttons
1
. This increases the number of components, and further, it takes time, for example, to make the holes in insulating film
4
and insulating spacers
5
and to mount LEDs
6
to wiring board
3
. This makes the conventional push button switch expensive accordingly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A push button switch includes a push button, a switch contact for establishing electrical connection and disconnection when the push button is pressed and released, a board mounted to the switch contact to face the push button across the switching contact, and an EL element mounted to a substrate to face the switch contact across the substrate. The board has a through-hole formed therein near the switch contact. The EL element includes a light-emitting part including a light-transmitting electrode layer, a luminescent layer, and a back electrode layer overlaid.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4022993 (1977-05-01), Shattuck
patent: 4320268 (1982-03-01), Brown
patent: 4489227 (1984-12-01), Lamarche
patent: 5747756 (1998-05-01), Boedecker
patent: 6590508 (2003-07-01), Howell et al.
patent: 55-171921 (1980-12-01), None
patent: 59-134333 (1984-09-01), None
patent: 62-165615 (1987-10-01), None
patent: 3-106633 (1991-11-01), None
patent: 346240 (1987-11-01), None
International Search Report corresponding to application No. PCT/JP02/04683 dated Jun. 25, 2002.
Translation of form PCT/ISA/210.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Illuminated button switch does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Illuminated button switch, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Illuminated button switch will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3166778