Push button

• US 7,193,170 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Sasamoto, Yoshihito, Joichi, Norio, Peng, Youbao, Nara, Takashi, Miyaki, Hiroomi, Katayama, Yoshihiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISHMAN, MARINA
• Application Number:
  US11/166,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20060108210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 200308-314, 200/317
• US Class Current: 200/314
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0622 only an illuminated ring around keys

Abstract

A push button includes a button main body portion which is provided between a packaging substrate placed under it and a casing portion located above it, a light source placed on the packaging substrate, and a light-guide portion which guides light from the light source to an outer periphery of the button main body portion by reflection.

Claims

1. A push button for pushing a switch, comprising:

a button main body portion which is provided over a substrate;

a light source placed on said substrate; and

a light-guide portion which guides light from said light source to an outer periphery of an upper surface of said button main body portion by reflection;

wherein said light-guide portion includes a light-input portion where light from said light source enters, and wherein said light-input portion comprises a curved projection including a curved face projecting toward said light source.

2. The button according to claim 1, wherein said light-guide portion includes a light-emitting portion which emits light from said light source through the outer periphery of said button main body portion, and wherein a surface of the light-emitting portion is embossed so as to substantially eliminate non-uniformities of light emission therefrom.

3. The button according to claim 1, wherein a reflection surface is formed at at least one portion of an outer surface of said light-guide portion.

4. The button according to claim 3, wherein a lower surface of said reflection surface is dyed white.

5. The button according to claim 3, wherein a lower surface of said reflection surface is covered with a white member.

6. The button according to claim 3, wherein said reflection surface is subjected to a specular finish.

7. The button according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional light source.

8. The button according to claim 7, wherein at least two of the light sources emit different light.

9. The button according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional light-input portion.

10. The button according to claim 1, wherein a casing portion is provided at a periphery of the upper surface of the button main body portion, and a shielding member which surrounds said light-guide portion is arranged between said substrate and the casing portion.

11. The button according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said substrate is dyed white.

12. The button according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said substrate is covered with a white member.

13. The button according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said substrate is subjected to a specular finish.

14. An image forming apparatus which comprises the push button according to claim 1.

15. The button according to claim 1, wherein the button main body portion is formed of a non-transparent member.

16. The button according to claim 1, wherein the light-input portion faces the light source.