Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Indicators
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-07
2001-03-06
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Indicators
C200S313000, C200S315000, C200S317000, C200S339000, C200S553000, C200S0050EA
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198061
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a switch device, in which information displayed on a screen of a display unit is seen through a transparent key-top, more specifically, to a switch device employing a seesaw-type key-top to be provided on an electronic display unit such as a liquid crystal display and an electro luminescent display.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Many switch devices having transparent key-tops through which information displayed on a screen of a display unit is seen, have hitherto been proposed. Some of these switch devices are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application laid-Open No. H644857, H7-64688, H8-235961 and H9-198176.
For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 7
, a conventional switch device
100
is constructed in a manner such that a transparent key-top
120
is arranged over a screen of a display unit
110
, in which information
111
(for example, a symbol indicating a function allotted to the key-top
120
) displayed on the screen of the display unit
110
can be seen through the key-top
120
.
The key-top
120
is resiliently fitted into a case
130
using a spring and can be pushed downward. An image guide
121
(a block composed of bundled optical fibers), which guides information displayed on the screen of the display unit
110
to the vicinity of the key-top
120
, is provided between the display unit
110
and the key-top
120
.
According to this conventional switch device, when a plurality of functions are allotted to the key-top
120
, the information
111
displayed on the screen of the display unit
110
is changed corresponding to a change of the functions so that the symbol of the key-top
120
can be changed accordingly, allowing a multiple display by the single key-top
120
.
There are two types of general key-tops, a simple push-type (single push-type) as shown in
FIG. 8A and a
seesaw-type (double push-type) as shown in FIG.
8
B. Regarding the conventional switch device, which is constructed in such a manner that a transparent key-top is arranged over a screen of a display unit, every key-top has been a simple push-type. A switch device equipped with a seesaw-type key-top has not been employed.
There are two reasons why a switch device equipped with a seesaw-type key-top has not been employed. One reason is that, as shown in
FIGS. 9A and 9B
, a seesaw-movement of a transparent key-top
140
requires that a center of the key-top
140
should be rotatively supported and, accordingly, that a space L
1
is provided to receive a rotary shaft
141
and a bearing (not shown) between each adjacent key-top
140
. However, it has been impossible to arrange a plurality of the key-tops
140
adjacently within a limited space over the screen of the display unit
110
.
Another reason is that, as shown in
FIG. 10
, a pair of tactile switches
151
and
152
are needed to allow the transparent key-top
140
to be operable in two directions, such that the key-top
140
protrudes excessively from a face of the display unit
110
, since a distance between the key-top
140
and the display unit
110
undesirably increases from L
2
to L
2
+L
3
, where L
2
is a height of the key-top
140
and L
3
a height of the tactile switches
151
and
152
.
Consequently, with vehicle-mounted equipment, in which the key-top
140
is seen from an oblique direction, a visual angle of information displayed on the screen of the display unit
110
cannot be ensured, resulting in a problem that the information displayed on the screen of the display unit
110
cannot be seen by an operator.
Thus, it has been impossible to realize the switch device equipped with a seesaw-type key-top that enables a multiple display and can be used for various purposes such as an equalizer, balancer and fader in a car-audio system, for example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a switch device that provides a seesaw-type key-top enabling a multiple display and improves visibility and operability for the seesaw-type key-top.
In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a switch device, in which a transparent key-top is arranged over a screen of a display unit so that information displayed on the screen of the display unit is seen through the key-top, the switch device comprising a shaft supporter provided in a space formed at both sides of the key-top for allowing the key-top to perform a seesaw-movement, wherein the space is formed by cutting off both sides of the key-top in an oblique direction so as to make an area of a face of the key-top to be larger than an area of a back of the key-top.
The second aspect of the present invention is to provide the switch device, wherein the space is formed by cutting off a portion of both sides of the key-top in an oblique direction, except for an effective displaying portion defined by an angle of vision.
The third aspect of the present invention is to provide the switch device, wherein each hollow receiving a corresponding tactile switch therein is provided at both ends of the back of the key-top so that one of the tactile switches is pushed downward when the key-top is in a seesaw-movement.
The fourth aspect of the present invention is to provide the switch device, wherein a plurality of the key-tops are arranged in parallel over the screen of the display unit and a lattice-shaped covering sheet corresponding to the space at both sides of each key-top is provided between the screen of the display unit and each key-top.
The fifth aspect of the present invention is to provide the switch device, wherein both cut sides of the key-top are treated to be nonpermeable for light.
The sixth aspect of the present invention is to provide the switch device, wherein a portion of both ends of the face of the key-top, except an effective displaying portion defined by an angle of vision, is treated to be nonpermeable for light and used as an operating portion.
The seventh aspect of the present invention is to provide the switch device, wherein information responding to a double operation of the key-top is displayed directly under the key-top over the screen of the display unit.
The eighth aspect of the present invention is to provide the switch device, wherein information showing a function allotted to the key-top is displayed directly under the key-top over the screen of the display unit.
The switch device according to the present invention achieves a seesaw-type key-top enabling a multiple display and, in addition, improves visibility and operability for the seesaw-type key-top.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3222474 (1965-12-01), Fasola, Jr.
patent: 3225156 (1965-12-01), Sahrbacker
patent: 3653136 (1972-04-01), Ruppert
patent: 4543563 (1985-09-01), Wine
patent: 5087798 (1992-02-01), Rohde et al.
patent: 6-44857 (1994-02-01), None
patent: 7-64688 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 8-235961 (1996-09-01), None
patent: 9-198176 (1997-07-01), None
Armstrong, Westerman Hattori, McLeland & Naughton
Friedhofer Michael
Yazaki -Corporation
LandOfFree
Switch device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Switch device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Switch device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2504257