Switch structure for display screen

• US 6,426,738 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Furuya, Yoshiyuki, Amari, Takeyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, Ralph L.
• Application Number:
  US09/471,110
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156-160, 345/166, 345/170-172
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/012 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/066 Lens
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/026 Car
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/036 Radio; TV

Abstract

A switch structure for a display screen includes a liquid-crystal display (16) that includes a display screen (16a) and is capable of displaying on the display screen (16a) an image that indicates various information comprising switch information, and a switch portion (20) disposed above the liquid-crystal display (16). The switch portion (20) includes a switch body (22) disposed on the liquid-crystal display (16), the switch body (22) being operative to be switched in one of an on state and an off state thereof, and a operation plate (23) disposed above the display screen (16a) of the liquid-crystal display (16), wherein when the operation plate (23) is depressed, the state of the switch body (22) is switched. The operation plate (23) includes an optical portion (24) through which an image indicating the switch information on the display screen (16a) is transmitted. The optical portion (24) forms the transmitted image to enlarge a visible range with which the image is made to be visible. It is preferable that the optical portion (24) of the operation plate has a concave lens.

Claims

1. A switch structure for a display screen, comprising:

a display device that includes a display screen and is capable of displaying on the display screen an image that indicates various information comprising switch information and wherein the display screen comprises an effective display area corresponding to an area over which the image is visible;

a switch body disposed on the display device, the switch body being operative to be switched in one of an on state and an off state thereof; and

an operation plate disposed in front of the display screen of the display device, wherein when the operation plate is depressed, the state of the switch body is switched, the operation plate including an optical portion through which an image indicating the switch information on the effective display area of the display screen is transmitted, the optical portion being shaped to increase the effective display area.

2. The switch structure of claim 1, wherein the optical portion of the operation plate has a concave lens.

3. The switch structure of claim 1, wherein the operation plate further includes:

a switch depressing portion formed on one end of the optical portion, the switch depressing portion being disposed in front of the switch body, and

a pivotally supporting portion provided adjacent to the other end of the optical portion, wherein the optical portion is pivotally supported by the pivotally supporting portion, and

wherein when the optical portion is depressed, the state of the switch body is switched by the switch depressing portion.

4. The switch structure of claim 2, wherein the concave lens has a flat surface on one side thereof and a concave shape on an opposite side thereof facing the display screen.

5. The switch structure of claim 2, wherein the concave lens has a concave shape on one side thereof and also a concave shape on an opposite side thereof facing the display screen.

6. The switch structure of claim 2, wherein the concave lens has a convex shape on one side thereof and a concave shape on an opposite side thereof facing the display screen.

7. The switch structure of claim 3, wherein the operation plate has a structure that only the optical portion is formed of a transparent member, and the switch depressing portion and the pivotally supporting portion are formed of a light absorbing member.

8. The switch structure of claim 1, wherein the optical portion is provided with a non-reflection portion for preventing reflection of incident light, the non-reflection portion facing the display screen.

9. The switch structure of claim 1, wherein the optical portion has a surface provided with a smoke layer.

10. The switch structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a switch portion that includes the switch body and the operation plate, wherein the display screen of the display device has a switch-information display area on which the image indicating the switch information is displayed and the other-information display area on which the other information is displayed, so that at least two kinds of information are displayed on the display screen, and the switch portion is disposed above the switch-information display area of the display screen.