INPUT DEVICE WITH ILLUMINATION FUNCTION

• US 20090073724A1
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Koichi, Nagakubo, Hideaki, Hayama, Tsuyoshi
• Application Number:
  US12/268,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20090073724A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/620
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/082 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/06 Reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor

Abstract

An input device having an illumination function includes a wiring board having a predetermined wiring pattern thereon containing a fixed contact point, a light-emitting diode, a planar light-guide plate for guiding emission light from the light-emitting diode in a direction along a surface, a metal dome serving as a movable contact, and a cover sheet having an actuator thereon to be used to press the metal dome. The wiring board is manufactured of a white translucent material. The planar light-guide plate includes a plurality of prism grooves arranged in stripes on the surface thereof, and on a predetermined portion thereof a through-hole for housing the metal dome. An air layer is arranged between the prism bearing surface of the planar light-guide plate and the cover sheet. The metal dome 6 reflects the emission light directed within the through-hole, toward the side of the cover sheet.

Claims

1. An input device having an illumination function comprising a wiring board having a predetermined wiring pattern thereon containing a fixed contact point of a push-button switch, a light-emitting diode, a planar light-guide plate for guiding emission light from the light-emitting diode in a direction along a surface, a metal dome serving as a movable contact of the push-button switch, and a cover sheet having an actuator thereon for pressing the metal dome, wherein the wiring board includes at least a surface thereof, manufactured of a white translucent material, in contact with the light-guide plate,

wherein the planar light-guide plate includes a plurality of prism grooves on either a surface thereof in contact with the wiring board or a surface thereof covered with the cover sheet, each prism groove having a mildly angled slope portion and a steeply angled slope portion steeper in angle than the mildly angled slope portion, and a through-hole for housing the metal dome on a portion corresponding to a formation portion of the fixed contact point,

wherein an air layer is arranged between the prism groove bearing surface of the planar light-guide plate and the wiring board or the cover sheet, and

wherein the metal dome is housed in the through-hole opened in the planar light-guide plate and has a function of reflecting the emission light from the light-emitting diode, guided through the planar light-guide plate and directed within the through-hole, toward the cover sheet.

2. The input device having the illumination function according to claim 1, wherein the through-hole is cone-shaped having a slope angle of from 60°

to 70°

.

3. The input device having the illumination function according to claim 1, comprising a positioning unit of the metal dome at the end of the through-hole.

4. The input device having the illumination function according to claim 1, comprising on the planar light-guide plate a light-path modification unit for modifying a path of light traveling in the planar light-guide plate.

5. The input device having the illumination function according to claim 1, comprising a linear light-guide plate, arranged on a side face of the planar light-guide plate, for guiding the light emitted from the light-emitting diode in the direction of the side face of the planar light-guide plate.