JPH08273474A - Luminous push button switch apparatus, cover member therefor, and manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a luminous push button switch apparatus in which signs are precisely visible even in the night and in the dark, whose electric consumption is low, for which a battery pack can be miniaturized, and furthermore of which signs can be observed clearly even after a long time use, provide a cover member of the luminous push button switch apparatus, and provide a manufacturing method of the cover member. CONSTITUTION: Back side parts 11a of key top parts 11, skirt parts 12, base parts 13 and contact point parts 14 are so made of a rubber member containing a photo- accumulative phosphor body as to be united as a photo-accumulative phosphor layer R and light transmittable layers 11b made of a light transmittable highly hard resin are fixed on the front sides of the back side parts 11a of the key top parts 11 of the photo-accumulative phosphor layer R. Sign formable layers 15 are formed on the surface of the light transmittable layers 11b to compose a cover member 10 and while being attached to a circuit substrate 30 through a transparent photoconductive plate 38 and click plates 39, the cover member 10 is stored in a case 1 and in the case 1, LEDs 33 which are turned on only in a dark place to radiate light-rays to the photo-accumulative phosphor layer R are installed between the circuit board 30 and the photoconductive plate 38.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminated push button switch device used in equipment such as a mobile phone, a car phone, a remote controller or a handy terminal, a cover member used in this illuminated push button switch device, and a manufacturing method thereof. , More specifically, manufacturing of a self-luminous switch device, a cover member, and a cover member configured by incorporating a phosphorescent phosphor into a cover member and the like so as to emit light self, and by assembling this cover member on a circuit board. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a device such as a mobile phone, a cover member is assembled with a circuit board and housed in a case, and the cover member and the circuit board constitute a switch device. In general, such a cover member has a plurality of key top portions on the front side of which symbols such as characters and symbols are formed on the top surface, and a contact portion is bulged on the back surface of these key top portions to form a key. When the top portion is pressed, the contact portion directly or indirectly contacts the circuit board to open or close the circuit.

However, in such a switch device, when the cover member described above is molded of silicone rubber, an appropriate impact resilience may not be obtained depending on the thickness of the skirt portion of the silicone rubber and the like. For this reason, in recent years, for the purpose of obtaining an appropriate pressing feeling, a click plate formed by processing a material having excellent impact resilience such as metal or polyester resin into a dome shape below the contact portion with the circuit board. There is also proposed a switch device in which the impact resilience due to the bending of the click plate is added to the impact resilience of the skirt portion to perform the switching operation by the impact resilience.

Further, in such a cover member, by integrally molding the whole with silicone rubber,
Alternatively, the base portion and the skirt portion are made of silicone rubber and the key top portion is made of hard resin, and the contact portion is made of a conductive material when the circuit is directly opened and closed.

On the other hand, it is desired that such a switch device can clearly recognize the code in a dark place, and it has been proposed that the switch device be configured as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, and also FIG. 18 and FIG. There is. The former illumination type switch device of FIGS. 16 and 17 (referred to as prior art 1 for convenience) has a cover member 9 integrally formed of transparent silicone rubber.
No. 0 key top portion 91 is provided with a light shielding layer on the top surface to form a code 92a (FIG. 16), or the key top portion 9 of the light shielding layer 92 formed on the entire surface of the cover member 90.
A top surface portion is partially removed to form a reference numeral 92a (FIG. 17), and the cover member 90 is assembled to the circuit board 99 via the click plate 98, the spacer and the light guide plate 97, and at the same time, the cover member 90 and the circuit. LE between the board 99
A light-emitting source 96 such as D is provided, and the light-emitting source 96 serves as a reference numeral 9.
Illuminate 2a.

In the latter illumination type switch device of FIGS. 18 and 19 (for convenience, referred to as prior art 2), a cover member 90 made of silicone rubber contains a phosphorescent substance on the top surface of a key top portion 91. Reference numeral 92b is formed as a phosphorescent fluorescent layer by the resin (FIG. 18), or the entire cover member 90 is made of a resin containing a phosphorescent material including the keytop portion 91 and the top surface of the keytop portion 91 is formed. A reference numeral 92a is formed by a light shielding layer (FIG. 19).

[0007]

However, in the illumination type switch device according to the above-mentioned prior art 1, all the key tops 91 of the cover member 90 are uniformly illuminated by the LEDs 96. Difficult,
Uneven illumination and uneven brightness are unavoidable, and a large number of LEDs
There is a problem that the power consumption becomes large because 96 is lit, and further, there is a problem that it is difficult to operate at night or in the dark because the irradiation is performed only at the time of operation. The latter problem may be solved by turning on the LED 96 at all times, but the power consumption is further increased, leading to a problem that the usage time of devices such as mobile phones is shortened, and a large capacity battery pack is used. Is essential and creates a new problem of increasing the weight of the device.

Further, in the illuminated push-button switch device according to the prior art 2, the reference numeral 92b of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer is exposed on the top surface of the keytop portion 91, or the keytop portion 91 itself is the phosphorescent fluorescent material. Since it is configured as a layer, the operator's finger comes into direct contact with the phosphorescent fluorescent layer, and the oil and fat of the fingertip penetrates into the phosphorescent fluorescent layer due to long-term use to impair the light emitting function and impair the clarity of the code. There is a problem. Further, in particular, the push-button switch device of the prior art 2 has an advantage that the power consumption can be reduced because it does not require a light emitting source such as an LED, but when it is left in a dark place for a long time, the fluorescent light is accumulated. There is also a problem that the layer cannot emit light and the visibility is impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the code can be visually recognized accurately even at night or in the dark, the power consumption is small, and the battery pack or the like can be miniaturized. Even if the code is clearly visible, an illuminated push-button switch device, a cover member used for the switch device, and a method for manufacturing the cover member are provided.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a key top portion projecting to the front side, a thin skirt portion continuous to the key top portion, and the thin skirt portion. A base member that supports the key top portion via a cover member and a cover member having a contact portion that bulges from the bottom surface of the key top portion to the back side are attached to a circuit board that has a switch portion corresponding to the contact portion. In the illuminated push-button switch device housed in, a portion excluding the top surface of the key top portion, at least one of the base portion or at least a portion of the skirt portion, as a phosphorescent phosphor layer containing a phosphorescent phosphor, and, An upper part of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer is formed to be transparent, and an optical sensor for detecting the brightness outside the case, and a detection output of the optical sensor are used. Lit when the serial case outside is dark and a light source for illuminating said light storing fluorescent layer provided on the case.

The illuminated push-button switch device according to the first aspect of the present invention has the phosphorescent fluorescent layer on a part of the key top portion excluding the top surface, and a transparent transparent layer or a transparent transparent layer on the phosphorescent fluorescent layer or A transparent hard resin layer is provided, a light-shielding or colored code forming layer is provided on one side of the transparent layer or the transparent hard resin layer, and a code is formed by the code forming layer. A transparent light guide plate may be interposed between the substrate and the base portion to be assembled (Claim 2).

Further, the invention according to claim 3 corresponds to the contact portion, a cover member having at least a key top portion having a code and a contact portion bulging from the bottom surface of the key top portion to the back side. In an illuminated pushbutton switch device assembled on one surface side of a circuit board provided with a switch part and housed in a case, a light-storing phosphor containing at least a part of a phosphorescent phosphor between the cover member and the circuit board. A light guide plate or a spacer or a spacer with a resin click plate made of a fluorescent layer, the light emitted from the phosphorescent fluorescent layer is provided so as to illuminate the code, and an optical sensor for detecting the brightness outside the case, The case is provided with a light source that lights up when the outside of the case is dark based on the detection output of the optical sensor and illuminates the phosphorescent fluorescent layer.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, a key top portion protruding to the front side, a thin skirt portion continuous with the key top portion, a base portion for supporting the key top portion through the thin portion, and the above In a cover member for an illuminated push button switch device having a contact portion that bulges from the bottom surface of the key top portion to the back surface side, at least the back side portion of the key top portion, the skirt portion and the base portion contain a phosphorescent phosphor. It is configured as a phosphorescent fluorescent layer from a rubber material, and a translucent translucent layer or a transparent hard resin layer is provided on the phosphorescent fluorescent layer of the key top portion, and the front side or the back side of the translucent layer or the transparent hard resin layer is provided. A colored or light-shielding code forming layer for forming a code was provided on one side.

Still further, according to the invention of claim 5, a key top portion protruding to the front side, a thin skirt portion continuous with the key top portion, a base portion for supporting the key top portion through the thin portion, and There is a contact portion that bulges from the bottom surface of the key top portion to the back surface side, at least the back surface side portion of the key top portion is a phosphorescent phosphor layer containing a phosphorescent phosphor, and the front side portion of the key top portion is transparent. A method of manufacturing a cover member for an illuminated push-button switch device, which is formed as a light-transmitting transparent layer, wherein a cover base material having a back surface side portion of the key top portion, the skirt portion, the base portion and the contact portion is phosphorescent. While integrally molded as a phosphorescent fluorescent layer from a rubber material containing a fluorescent substance, the front side portion of the key top portion is formed as a transparent layer from a transparent resin material,
After that, the transparent layer and the phosphorescent fluorescent layer of the key top portion were fixed to each other.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that a front side molding die having a key top portion forming engraved portion and a back side molding die having a contact portion forming engraved portion are used. After the translucent resin material is filled in the engraved portion for forming the key top portion of the mold, the front side molding die and the back side molding die in a state where the translucent resin material loses fluidity but retains the adhesiveness. A mode in which the mold is closed to define a backside part of the key top part, a skirt part and a base part forming cavity, and the phosphorescent material-containing material is filled in the cavity (claim 6).
Can be configured to.

[0016]

According to the illuminated push-button switch device of the present invention, the light source emits light to illuminate the phosphorescent fluorescent layer in a dark place, so that the light emitted from the light source or the external light in the bright place. Accumulates energy and emits light. For this reason, the code can be illuminated even when it exists in a dark place for a long time,
Excellent visibility is obtained. In particular, the light source is turned off after the energy is accumulated in the phosphorescent fluorescent layer by causing the light source to emit light for a predetermined time, and the light source is turned on again when the accumulated energy becomes low. In the place, the phosphorescent fluorescent layer can be made to emit light for a long time with a small power consumption. The phosphorescent fluorescent layer is formed in the area excluding the top surface of the key top portion, that is, the area excluding the portion that comes into contact with the user's finger when the user presses it, and thus is contaminated with oil and fat on the user's finger. Also, the visibility of the code does not deteriorate even after long-term use.

In the illuminated push-button switch device according to the second aspect of the invention, a light-transmitting layer or a transparent hard resin layer is provided on the phosphorescent fluorescent layer of the key top portion, and the light-transmitting layer (transparent hard resin layer) is provided. A colored or light-shielding code forming layer is provided on either one of the front and back sides, and since the code is formed by this code forming layer, it is possible to form a clear code and improve the aesthetic appearance, which is excellent in design. The switch device can be obtained, and the finger of the user can be surely prevented from coming into contact with the phosphorescent fluorescent layer, and the deterioration of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer due to use can be effectively prevented.

According to the illuminated push-button switch device of the third aspect of the present invention, a light guide plate containing a phosphorescent phosphor between the cover member and the circuit board, that is, at least a part of the phosphorescent layer. By providing the member formed as, it is possible to irradiate the code of the key top portion with the light emitted from the light guide plate or the click plate, the visibility of the code in a dark place or the like is improved without increasing the power consumption, Further, since it is not necessary to change the cover member, the existing one can be used and the cost can be achieved at a low cost.

Further, according to the cover member for an illuminated push-button switch device according to the invention of claim 4, a part of the key top portion (at least the back surface portion), the skirt portion, the base portion and the contact portion are used as the phosphorescent fluorescent layer. Since they are integrally formed, the light-transmitting layer, the protective layer, and the code forming layer can be easily molded, and can be molded by two-color molding or the like, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, according to the method for manufacturing a cover member for an illuminated push-button switch device according to a fifth aspect, a cover base material integrally including a phosphorescent fluorescent layer of a key top portion, a skirt portion, a base portion and a contact portion is provided. Molded from a rubber material containing a phosphorescent phosphor, the light-transmissive layer molded from a translucent resin is fixed to the phosphorescent phosphor layer of the key top part of this cover substrate, which simplifies the manufacturing process Cost can be reduced.

Further, in the method for manufacturing the cover member for the illuminated push-button switch device according to the sixth aspect, the phosphorescent fluorescent layer and the light-transmissive layer are continuously fixed by molding similar to two-color molding without replacing the mold. Since it can be formed by molding, it can be manufactured more easily, and the manufacturing time can be shortened.

Incidentally, the "phosphorescent phosphor" in the present specification
The term means that when stimulated by irradiating light rays such as ultraviolet rays, afterglow is emitted for several tens of minutes to several hours (self-luminous) even after the stimulation is stopped, and a fluorescent pigment or a phosphorescent pigment is included. It is a waste. That is, "self-luminous" means not the striation that emits light by the energy of the light-emitting substance itself, but receives energy from the outside (external light, light energy of a lamp, LED, etc.) to accumulate energy, and emits light by the accumulated energy. It means the state to do.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an illuminated push-button switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view in which a part of a mobile phone to which the switch device is applied is cut away.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the same switch device.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 is a case of a mobile phone, and a switch device S in which a cover member 10 is assembled to a circuit board 30 in the case 1, a battery pack 2, a timer 3, an optical sensor (FIG. (Not shown), a speaker 4 and the like are housed, and a key top portion, which will be described later, of the cover member 10 projects as a push button B from the front surface of the panel. The circuit board 30 is mounted with a microphone 31 and various electronic elements (components) to form a communication circuit and a control circuit, and
A plurality of fixed contacts (switch sections) 32 and light emitting diodes (light sources) 33 are provided corresponding to each push button B. The fixed contact 32 constitutes a switch that is closed by contact with a contact portion of the cover member 10 which will be described later, and is opened by the separation thereof.

The optical sensor is connected to the control circuit, detects the external brightness, and outputs a detection signal. The light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as LED) 33 is connected to the battery pack 2 through the control circuit and is energized (lit).
Is controlled by the timer 3 and the control circuit based on the detection signal of the optical sensor. As will be described later, these LEDs 33
Is controlled to be turned on for a predetermined time (for example, 15 to 240 minutes) after being turned on for a predetermined time (for example, 5 to 30 minutes) only when it is dark, and to repeat the turning on and off. Needless to say, a normal lamp can be provided as the light source instead of the LED.

The cover member 10 is continuous with a plurality of key tops 11 for pressing and the key tops 11. When the key top 11 is pressed, it bends (clicks), and when the pressing is released, the cover member 10 is in the initial state due to impact resilience. The thin skirt portion 12 that performs a switching operation of returning to the key top portion 1 through the skirt portion 12 on the surface of the circuit board 30.
It has a base portion 13 for supporting 1 and a contact portion 14 bulging from the bottom surface of each key top portion 11. The contact portion 14 opens or closes the fixed contact 32 by directly contacting the circuit board 30 or indirectly through a click plate made of a thin metal plate or a spacer with a resin click plate provided with a conductive pattern print.

The cover member 10 includes a key top portion 11
Back side portion 11a, skirt portion 12 and base portion 1
3 is integrally formed of a rubber material containing a phosphorescent phosphor, and a columnar light-transmitting layer 11b made of a transparent resin is provided on the back surface side portion 11a of each key top portion 11, and the light-transmitting layer 1 is also provided.
A code 15 (code forming layer) formed by molding a colored or light-shielding resin into a planar shape of characters or symbols is provided on the 1b.
Back side portion 11a of the key top portion 11, skirt portion 12
In addition, the base portion 13 (hereinafter, these are generically referred to as the phosphorescent phosphor layer R) is, for example, 5 to 10 parts by weight of the phosphorescent phosphor using silicone rubber as a main raw material (which accounts for 60% or more of the compounding ratio). The compounded material is integrally molded by compression molding or injection molding.

As the phosphorescent phosphor, those having a luminescence effect of fluorescent pigments or phosphorescent pigments, specifically, those described below or in JP-A-7-11250 are used. ZnS: Cu, CaS: Bi, CaSrS: Bi,
Sulfide phosphor powder typified by ZnCdS: Cu, etc. High-purity alumina was used as a raw material, and plural kinds of rare earths such as strontium aluminate, dysprosium, and eurobium were added, and the mixture was baked in a reducing atmosphere and alkyd resin was added as a binder. In addition to the above, fluorescent dyes such as fluorescein and rhodamine that emit fluorescence by spontaneous emission as an element that selectively absorbs visible light are added

The phosphorescent phosphor is appropriately selected from the above-mentioned ones, but the basic color is light yellow or yellow-green, which is the brightest color for humans (wavelength around 530 nm).
It is desirable that it emits light. Further, since the brightness of the phosphorescent phosphor increases as the particle size increases, it is desirable to use one having a large particle size, but a particle size of about 19 to 25 μm is preferred from the viewpoint of brightness efficiency, dispersibility, and workability.

The transparent layer 11b is made of transparent silicone rubber,
Alternatively, it is made of a transparent resin such as an acrylic resin, a urethane resin, or an unsaturated polyester resin. However, the translucent layer 11b has a Shore D hardness of 40 degrees or more 9
It is desirable to use a hard resin having a temperature of less than 0 degree, and by using this hard resin, it is possible to obtain a product having excellent contact feeling and excellent operability. The code forming layer 15 is formed by screen printing or pad printing.

An example of the method of manufacturing the cover member 10 of this embodiment will be described. A two-piece mold including a key top portion side forming die and a contact portion side forming die is used, and is described as follows. Manufactured. First, the molding temperature (150 ~
It is heated to 180 ° C. and silicone rubber or high hardness resin is injected into the engraved portion for molding the key top portion of the die for forming the key top portion. The transparent layer 11b is formed of the silicone rubber or the high hardness resin. Next, the two molds are combined, and when the silicone rubber or the high hardness resin has adhesiveness but loses the fluidity, a rubber material (resin) containing a phosphorescent phosphor is injected to inject the light transmitting layer 11b.
Phosphorescent layer R integrated with, that is, key top portion 1
1, the back side portion 11a, the skirt portion 12, the base portion 13
And the contact portion 14 is molded. Then, when the rubber material in which the phosphorescent phosphor of the phosphorescent phosphor layer R is mixed is cured, the top surface of the key top portion 11, that is, the translucent layer 11b.
The code forming layer 15 is formed on the surface of the substrate by screen printing, pad printing, or the like.

In the switch device of this embodiment, the cover member 10 includes the back surface side portion 11a of the key top portion 11,
The skirt portion 12 and the base portion 13 are formed as a phosphorescent phosphor layer R containing a phosphorescent phosphor.
Since the transparent layer 11b and the code forming layer 15 are provided on the back surface side portion 11a of the key top portion, the code forming layer 15 can be clearly visually recognized by the light emission of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R even in a dark place. In addition, since the operator's finger does not come into direct contact with the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R during operation,
The luminous phosphor layer R is not contaminated by oils and fats of the user's finger, and the luminous function of the phosphorescent phosphor is not impaired even when used for a long period of time, and the visibility of reference numeral 15 in a dark place is improved over a long period of time. Can be maintained.

The switch device of this embodiment is L
Only when the outside of Case 1 is dark based on the output of the optical sensor, ED33 is turned on for 15 to 30 minutes, and then 15
The light is turned off for about 240 minutes, and the timer circuit is controlled to repeat the turning on and off. Therefore, LE
It is possible to reduce the power consumption of D33 and prolong the usage time of the battery pack 2. However, when this lighting control is applied to a mobile phone, etc., it is turned on at the same time as reception (incoming call) in a dark place for a predetermined time or a call (communication).
It is also possible to control so that the light is turned on until the end of, and when it is used as a switch device for OA equipment such as a facsimile, it is possible to prevent people from approaching by an infrared sensor (personal sensor) or the like regardless of the surrounding light and darkness. It is also possible to make it light up when it is detected and continue to light up while a person is present.

Although the above-described first embodiment exemplifies the switch device applied to the portable telephone, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the switch device as shown in FIG. That is, in the first embodiment, the push button B having a columnar shape (circular shape) is provided, and the LEDs 33 are provided on the switch portions of each push button B. However, the square push button B as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to apply the present invention to a switch device having a switch and to arrange a light emitting source such as an LED at a position between push buttons B in the case.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a cover member showing a switch device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this second embodiment and other embodiments described later, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals,
The explanation and part of the illustration are omitted. In this second embodiment,
The light reflection layer 37 is provided on the surface of the circuit board 30, and the base portion 13 of the cover member 10 is in contact with the light reflection layer 37 via the click plate 39, the spacer 40, and the light guide plate 38. The click plate 39 has a storage hole 3 immediately below the base portion 13.
9a is formed, and a recess 38a continuous with the storage hole 39a is formed in the light guide plate 38, and the LED 33 is arranged in a space defined by the recess 38a and the storage hole 39a.

The light-reflecting layer 37 is formed by forming a light-reflecting thin film on the circuit board 30 by vapor deposition or printing, or by attaching a light-reflecting sheet or film. The light reflecting layer 37 diffuses the light emitted by the LED 33 upward, that is, toward the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R. The light guide plate 38 is configured by laminating a transparent thin plate of resin such as silicone rubber or acrylic, or a layer of transparent resin or silicone rubber on the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R of the cover member 10 by two-color molding or the like. As described above, the click plate 39 is formed by partially processing a plate made of a material having excellent impact resilience such as metal or polyester resin into a dome shape.

In the second embodiment, the light guide plate 38 is interposed between the cover member 10 and the circuit board 30, and the LED 33 is arranged in the recess 38a of the light guide plate 38.
The light emitted by 33 is diffused by the light reflecting layer 37 to illuminate the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R, so that L is individually applied to each key top portion 11.
It is possible to illuminate the entire area of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R without providing the ED 33, and it is possible to uniformly illuminate the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R even if the entire device is thinned.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a cover member showing a switch device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This third
In the embodiment, the code forming layer 15 is formed on the entire surface of the cover member 10 with a light shielding layer by painting or the like, and then the key top portion 1 is formed.
The top surface (the upper surface of the transparent layer 11b) of No. 1 is partially removed by a laser marker, that is, it is removed in the shape of a symbol or a letter, and the removed missing portion forms a code.

The switch devices according to the second and third embodiments described above can be used in a dark place as in the first embodiment, but the key top portion 11 has a unique color (green) for the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R. However, since the volume of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R is small and the illuminance is low, it is suitable for devices that are used for a long time in a bright place, such as office telephones and computers.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a switch device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which one key top portion of the cover member is partially cut away. In the fourth embodiment, the prismatic key top portion 11 is formed, and the light transmissive layer 11b is provided on the back surface side portion 11a of the key top portion of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R, and the light transmissive layer 11b is provided on the top. A colored or light-shielding light-shielding layer is formed as the code forming layer 15 on the entire surface, and the light-shielding layer is partially removed by a laser marker into a shape such as a character to form a code (missing portion) 15a. Also in the fourth embodiment, the back surface side portion 11a of the key top portion 11, the skirt portion 12 and the base portion 13 are configured as a phosphorescent fluorescent layer R from a resin containing a phosphorescent phosphor or silicone rubber.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a cover member showing a switch device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, the back surface side portion 11a of the key top portion 11 and the core portion 1 continuous on the back surface side portion 11a.
1c, the skirt portion 12 and the base portion 13 are made of a resin containing a phosphorescent phosphor, silicone rubber, or the like.
As a whole, the code forming layer 15 is formed on the upper surface of the core portion 11c, and the light transmitting layer 11b is formed and covered on the surface (upper surface) and the side surface of the core portion 11c where the code forming layer 15 is formed. The translucent layer 11b is made of a high hardness resin or the like, as in the above-described embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a cover member showing a switch device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the sixth embodiment, almost all of the key top portion 11 (for convenience, the back surface and the intermediate portion 11f) except the top portion is integrally formed with the skirt portion 12, the base portion 13 and the contact portion 14 as the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R. , This key top part 11f
The code forming layer 15 is formed on the top surface of the above and is covered with the light transmitting layer 11b. The transparent layer 11b is also made of a high hardness resin.

In the fifth and sixth embodiments, the case 1
Most of the key top portions 11 protruding from the panel surface (back surface side portion 11a, core portion 11c, back surface and intermediate portion 11)
Since f) is the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R, the code forming layer 15 can be clearly recognized even in a dark place, and its light emission time is long. Therefore, this fifth embodiment is useful for a vehicle-mounted telephone, a personal identification number input device for a night pass door, and the like.

In the fifth and sixth embodiments, the cover member 10 is manufactured as follows. First, a phosphorescent phosphor layer R is molded by compression molding or injection molding using a silicone rubber material containing a phosphorescent phosphor, that is, a key top portion 11c (11f), a skirt portion 12, a base portion 13 and a contact point. The part 14 is integrally formed, and the part 11 of the key top part 11 of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R is formed.
The code forming layer 15 is formed on the top surface of c (11f) by screen printing or pad printing. Next, in the fifth embodiment, masking is applied to the base portion 13 and the skirt portion 12 and a light-transmitting resin or light-transmitting rubber is applied to form the light-transmitting layer 11b. In that case, the transparent layer 11b is formed by screen printing or potting.

In the sixth embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 9, the key top portion 11 is formed in a rectangular shape, and the back surface of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R and the light shielding formed on the entire top surface of the intermediate portion 11f. It is also possible to partially remove the layer 15 with a laser marker or the like to form the code forming layer (code) 15 and to provide the light transmitting layer 11b made of a light transmitting resin or a light transmitting rubber on the code forming layer 15. Is.

FIG. 10 shows a switch device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic sectional view of a cover member.
In the seventh embodiment, the back surface of the key top portion 11 of the luminous phosphor layer R and the top of the intermediate portion 11f are formed into a substantially hemispherical shape, and the light transmitting layer 11b is provided on the hemispherical surface, and the light transmitting layer 11b is formed. The code forming layer 15 is formed on the upper surface (top surface of the key top portion 11). Further, the contact portion 14 has a conductive layer 14a formed on the end surface thereof. In the seventh embodiment, the transparent layer 1 having a concave shape is formed in advance.
1b and phosphorescent fluorescent layer R are separately molded, and the cover member 10 is manufactured by bonding the translucent layer 11b to the hemispherical top surface of the portion 11f of the key top portion 11 of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R with an adhesive. To be done.

The seventh embodiment is based on the above-mentioned fifth and fifth embodiments.
The click plate and the spacer in the sixth embodiment are not provided, and the thin skirt portion 12 is formed into a dome shape so as to obtain a large impact resilience. Needless to say, even in the seventh embodiment, the back surface and the intermediate portion 11f of the key top portion 11, the skirt portion 12, the base portion 13 and the contact portion 14 are rubbers such as silicone rubber in which a phosphorescent phosphor is mixed. The material is integrally formed as the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R, and the light transmitting layer 11b is formed by two-color molding or the like.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a cover member showing a switch device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In the eighth embodiment, the back surface side portion 11A of the key top portion 11 is
The skirt portion 12, the base portion 13, and the contact portion 14 are integrally molded from a rubber material such as translucent silicone rubber (this integrally molded body is referred to as a cover base material Q for convenience), and an upper portion of the rear surface side portion 11A thereof is formed. And a code forming layer 15 is provided on the light storing fluorescent layer Ra, and an upper light transmitting layer 11b is provided so as to cover the code forming layer 15. The member 10 is constructed. The cover base material Q is made of a highly transparent rubber material, and the upper light-transmitting layer 11b is made of a thermoplastic resin such as an acrylic resin, an ABS resin, a polycarbonate resin, a silicone resin, a methacrylic resin, a urethane resin, a phenol resin, or the like. From the above thermosetting resins, it is preferable to select and use a resin having high hardness.

In the eighth embodiment, the cover member 10 is manufactured in the following manner by using the two-piece mold including the above-mentioned key top portion side forming die and the contact portion side forming die.
First, the die for forming the key top portion side is heated to 150 to 180 ° C., and the engraved portion for forming the key top portion of this die is filled with a predetermined amount of a high hardness resin liquid material containing a phosphorescent phosphor. ,
Then, a liquid suction tool such as a dropper is used to suck an arbitrary amount of the liquid just before curing at the center of the engraved portion to form a recess in the center of the liquid. Next, a translucent silicone rubber material is filled in the engraved portion forming the skirt portion 12 and the base portion 13, the mold is closed, and a high-hardness resin containing a phosphorescent phosphor at a predetermined curing time and curing temperature. And silicone rubber are integrated. Then, after the mold release, the code forming layer 15 is formed on the top surface of the light storing fluorescent layer Ra of the key top portion 11 by screen printing or the like, and the light storing fluorescent layer R including the code forming layer 15 is formed.
A liquid material of a transparent resin is arranged on the top surface of a by screen printing or a botting method to form the upper transparent layer 11b.

In the above production, the amount of the phosphorescent phosphor to be mixed with the high hardness resin may be 5 parts by weight or more, but it is not necessary to consider the durability against repeated bending and is 15 parts by weight. The above is preferable, and 60 parts by weight or less is desirable in order to secure the fluidity of the high hardness resin during molding.

In the eighth embodiment, since the phosphorescent fluorescent layer Ra is located relatively above the key top portion 11, the phosphorescent fluorescent layer Ra is easily illuminated by external light, and the key top portion is regularly. This is effective for a switch device used in an environment where 11 is exposed to light, and in an environment where weak light is always emitted.

12A and 12B show a switch device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12A is a schematic sectional view of a cover member, and FIG. 12B is a schematic sectional view of an intermediate molded product in the process of molding the cover member. . In the ninth embodiment, the key top portion 11 and the skirt portion 12 are formed of a translucent silicone rubber, and the base portion 13 is formed of a resin containing a phosphorescent phosphor as a phosphorescent fluorescent layer R. The code forming layer 15 is provided on the top surface of the portion 11.

In the ninth embodiment, the skirt portion 1
Since 2 is composed of silicone rubber or the like containing no phosphorescent phosphor, it has high durability against repeated bending and is suitable for a keyboard switch device of a notebook computer. In addition, in the ninth embodiment, it is not necessary to use all the base portions 13 as the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R, and it is sufficient to use only a part of the base portions 13 as the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R.

Then, the cover member 10 of the ninth embodiment.
Can be manufactured as follows using the above-mentioned two-die mold. First, an uncured translucent silicone rubber Pa and an uncured silicone rubber Pb mixed with a phosphorescent phosphor are prepared, and the translucent silicone rubber Pa and the silicone rubber Pb mixed with a phosphorescent phosphor are illustrated. As shown in FIG. 12b, the key top portion 11, the skirt portion 12, and the base portion 13 are preformed into a rough shape corresponding to the preformed body F.
Molding). The silicone rubber Pb containing phosphorescent phosphor is contained in the phosphorescent phosphor in an amount of 5 parts by weight or more, preferably 20 to 60 parts by weight. The engraved portion for forming the key top portion of the mold is filled with the translucent silicone rubber material in an amount obtained by adding a slight amount (2 g or less) to the total amount of the volume of the key top portion 11 and the volume of the skirt portion 12.

Subsequently, the key top portion side forming die and the contact portion side forming die are closed, the base portion 13 is formed of silicone rubber containing a phosphorescent phosphor, and the filling is cured for a predetermined time to be formed. The body, that is, the cover member 10.
The obtained molded body is released from the mold, and a light shielding layer is formed on the top surface of the key top portion to form the code forming layer 15. If necessary, it is possible to form a coating film on the contact portion 16 with a conductive ink and use this as a movable contact.

FIG. 13 shows a switch device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main part thereof. In the tenth embodiment, the entire cover member 10 is made of a normal translucent silicone rubber or the like, and the light guide plate 38 is used.
Is composed of a resin containing a phosphorescent phosphor. The light guide plate 38 is composed of a translucent resin plate in which the phosphorescent phosphor is unevenly distributed in the surface layer portion, a resin plate coated with a paint containing the phosphorescent phosphor on the surface, or the like. When the light guide plate 38 is configured in the former mode, 5 to 60 parts by weight of a phosphorescent phosphor is preliminarily mixed in a highly transparent resin resin such as polycarbonate which is a molding raw material, and this is used. Mold.

In the tenth embodiment, both the light guide plate 38 and the spacer 39a with a click plate may be made of a resin containing a phosphorescent phosphor, and the light guide plate 38 may not be provided. It is also possible to interpose only the spacer 39a with a click plate made of a resin containing a phosphorescent phosphor between the cover member 10 and the circuit board 30, and in this case, the spacer 39a with a click plate does not store the phosphorescent substance. Polyester TPE containing 5 to 20 parts by weight
Mold with (thermoplastic elastomer). Further, in the tenth embodiment, it is possible to separately interpose a spacer made of a resin containing a phosphorescent phosphor. Further, as in the above-described embodiment, the cover member 10 is provided with the phosphorescent phosphor. In addition to being composed of a compounded resin, the spacer 39a with a click plate and the like can also be composed of a resin containing a phosphorescent phosphor.

According to the tenth embodiment, the visibility of the reference numeral 15 itself is inferior to that of the above-mentioned embodiments, but the device can be operated if the arrangement of the key top portion 11 can be recognized.
For example, it is effective when used as a remote control switch, a computer mouse switch device, a fax power switch, and the like. In the tenth embodiment, since the phosphorescent fluorescent layer R is present in the case 1, it is preferable to increase the panel opening from which the key top portion 11 of the case 1 projects, and the top surface portion of the key top portion 11 is also preferable. It is also possible to partially form the high hardness resin.

FIG. 14 is a schematic sectional view showing a switch device according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention. This first
One embodiment is applied to a membrane type switch device, in which a light reflection layer 37 and a spacer 40 are laminated on a circuit board 30 reinforced by a reinforcement plate 42.
The spacer 40 is covered with the display sheet 41. Spacer 40 or display sheet 41
At least one of them contains a phosphorescent phosphor.

The display sheet 41 has a reference numeral 1 on the upper surface.
5 (corresponding to the key top portion) is formed, and holes (the reference numeral is omitted) are formed in the spacer 40 and the light reflection layer 37 corresponding to the reference numeral 15. And the circuit board 3
0 has the switch portion 32 in the hole on the upper surface, and the display sheet 41 has the switch portion 32 in the hole on the back surface.
Are provided so as to be able to contact the switch section 32 of the circuit board 30.

Further, a plurality of holes 30a are formed in the circuit board 30 around the switch portion 32, a light source 33 is arranged in the hole 30a, and a light reflecting layer 37 is coaxially penetrated with the hole 30a. A hole (reference numeral omitted) is formed. Light source 33
The emitted light illuminates the phosphorescent phosphor such as the spacer 40 through the through hole of the light reflection layer 37.

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view showing a switch device according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. This first
In the second embodiment, the reference numeral 15 on the display sheet 41 is covered with a potting key top 43, the spacer 40 and the light guide plate 38 are cut out, and the light source 33 is arranged on the circuit board 30. The other structure is the same as that of the eleventh embodiment described above.

Also in the eleventh and twelfth embodiments described above, the visibility of the reference numeral 15 is excellent and high durability can be obtained as in each of the above-described embodiments. The optical sensor is also provided in the eleventh and twelfth embodiments described above, but the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a concrete example of the present invention and a comparative example corresponding to a conventional switch device will be described in comparison. -Specific Example 1-Five samples according to the present invention with push-button switch devices having the same key arrangement and two comparative examples (samples A and B) corresponding to conventional switch devices were prepared to compare the required number of light emitting sources. The visibility comparison after 10 hours in the dark, the visibility comparison after 2 hours in the dark after use for 3 months, and the abrasion resistance comparison of the character portion were performed.

Common Specifications of Switch Devices of Each Sample and Comparative Example This switch device has the configuration shown in FIG. Key arrangement: Vertical 2 keys, horizontal 4 keys, total 8 keys Key size: All keys are L9mm × W12mm × H
6 ± 0.2 mm Outer size of cover member: 58 mm x 110 mm, base thickness: 1.5 mm

Sample 1 100 parts by weight of silicone rubber pound KE-961U (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), 2 parts by weight of a cross-linking agent C-8 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), and strontium aluminate containing phosphorescent property. A silicone rubber compound prepared by mixing 10 parts by weight of a phosphor / N night light (manufactured by Nemoto Special Chemical Co., Ltd.) was prepared as a material for forming a thin portion, a base portion and a skirt portion. 3.5 parts by weight of a prepolymer consisting of diethylene glycol bisallyl dicarbonate and alleric carbonate, and neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate / NK ester 1
8 parts by weight of 4G (manufactured by Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.), 40 parts by weight of urethane acrylate / NK oligo U-122A (manufactured by Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.), organic peroxide 1.3-bis (t-) Butyl-peroxy-carboxy) hexene / BH
(Nippon Yushi Co., Ltd.) 2 parts by weight of a high-hardness resin liquid material was prepared as a material for forming a key top portion.

An air dispenser was used for the engraved portion for forming the key top portion of the die for forming the key top portion of the two-piece construction die (described above) heated to 165 ° C. After filling, when this material loses fluidity, the engraved part for forming the skirt and base is filled with the silicone rubber compound, the mold is closed, and the uncured silicone rubber and high hardness resin are cured and integrated. It was A light shielding layer was provided by screen printing on the top surface of the key top portion of the cover substrate thus obtained, and the cover member was completed as a character portion. For the light-shielding layer, a two-component reactive polyester polyol-based ink, Hipet 9301 (manufactured by Jujo Kako Co., Ltd.) was used. The cover member thus obtained is used together with a phosphor bronze click plate, a polycarbonate light guide plate, an LED and the like to form a case 1
By incorporating it into the inside, the illuminated push button switch device shown in FIG. 3 was obtained.

Manufacturing Conditions for Sample 2 The silicone rubber compound used for manufacturing the cover member of Sample 1 was prepared as a material for forming the skirt portion, the base portion, the contact portion, and the key top portion 4 mm above the skirt portion. Further, the high-hardness resin liquid material used for manufacturing the cover member of Sample 1 was prepared. It has the same structure as that used in Sample 1, but the height of the key top is 2 mm by filling the silicone rubber compound into a two-component mold heated to 175 ° C and closing the mold to cure. A low cover substrate was obtained. A light-shielding layer was provided on the temporary top surface portion of the key top portion of this molded body to form a character portion. The light-shielding layer was formed of silicone ink.

A thin layer was first formed with a silane coupling agent on the temporary top surface of the cover substrate thus obtained,
Before this thin layer was cured, the high hardness resin liquid material was potted to obtain a cover member. The cover member thus obtained is assembled into a case together with a phosphor bronze click plate, a polycarbonate light guide plate, an LED, and the like.
The illuminated push button switch device as shown in FIG.

Production conditions of sample 3 Silicone rubber compound KE-961U (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 100 parts by weight of cross-linking agent C-8 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) The blend was prepared as a material for forming the skirt portion, the base contact portion, and the key top portion back surface side portion. The high-hardness resin liquid material used in the production of the cover member of Sample 1 was prepared as the amount of the solvent for forming the surface portion of the key top portion. In addition, N high luminous resin (Nemoto Special Chemical Co., Ltd.)
30% by weight was used as a material for forming the intermediate portion of the key top portion.

The mold used in Sample 2 was heated to 165 ° C., and the engraved portion for forming the key top portion was filled with a high-hardness resin liquid material for forming the intermediate portion of the key top portion with an air dispenser to obtain high hardness. Before the resin liquid material is cured, a dedicated suction jig (a jig that has suction ports corresponding to all the engraving parts for forming key top parts is used to engrave each key top part by energizing the vacuum pump. By removing a predetermined amount of the uncured liquid material from the insertion part), a liquid material having a volume of ⅓ of the filling amount was removed.

The silicone rubber composition was filled into the skirt portion, the base portion, and the contact portion forming engraved portion including the voids formed by removing the uncured liquid material, and the mold was closed and cured to obtain a cover base. It was made of wood. A light-shielding layer was provided on the temporary top surface portion of the key top portion of the cover base material to form a character portion. Light-shielding layer is sample 1
It was formed from the polyester polyurethane-based ink used in. Next, a thin layer is first formed with a silane coupling agent on the temporary top surface portion of the cover substrate thus obtained, and the high hardness resin for forming the key top portion upper layer portion before the thin layer is cured. The liquid material was potted to obtain a cover member.
This cover member was incorporated into a case together with a phosphor bronze click plate, a polycarbonate light guide plate, an LED, and the like to obtain an illuminated push button switch device as shown in FIG.

Method for producing sample 4 Silicone rubber compound KE-961U (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 100 parts by weight and 2 parts by weight of a cross-linking agent C-8 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) The composition was prepared as a material for forming a skirt portion, a key top portion, and a contact portion. In addition, N was added to this silicone rubber compound.
25 parts by weight of night light (manufactured by Nemoto Special Chemical Co., Ltd.) was added to prepare a base portion forming material.

The above two types of silicone rubber compounds are shown in FIG.
As shown in 2b, it was preformed in an uncured state, filled in the engraved part of the above-mentioned two-piece mold, and the mold was closed and cured. Characters of the light-shielding layer were formed on the top surface of the key top portion of the obtained cover substrate with a silicone-based ink to obtain the cover member of FIG. 12a. This cover member was incorporated into a case together with a phosphor bronze click plate, a polycarbonate light guide plate, an LED, etc. to obtain an illuminated push button switch device as shown in FIG. 12a.

Method for producing sample 5 A cover member was obtained using the mold used for producing sample 1 with the silicone rubber compound used for producing the cover member for sample 3. Characters of the light-shielding layer were formed by screen printing on the top surface of the key top portion of this cover member to obtain a cover member. Silicone-based ink was used for the light-shielding layer. The light guide plate was made of an acrylic plate, and the paint of N night light (manufactured by Nemoto Special Chemical Co., Ltd.) was applied to the entire surface of the acrylic plate facing the cover member and the spacer with the click plate made of polyester film. The cover member was assembled in a case together with a light guide plate, a light emitting source, a spacer with a click plate, and the like to obtain an illuminated push button switch device as shown in FIG.

Method of Manufacturing Cover Member of Sample A The cover member used in Sample 5, the light guide plate made of polycarbonate, the click plate made of phosphor bronze, and the light emitting source were incorporated in a case to form a push button switch device. -Production method of sample B A cover base material was previously produced in the same manner as in sample 5, and a phosphorescent ink containing 15 parts by weight of a phosphorescent phosphor in silicone ink was used, and a key top was formed by a screen printing method. Characters were formed on the top surface of the part to provide a cover member. A click button and a spacer are arranged in the case together with this cover member to form a push button switch device.

Evaluation Results When the above Samples 1 to 5 and Samples A and B were compared and evaluated, the results shown in Table 1 below were obtained, and Samples 1 to 5 which are specific examples of the present invention are light emitting sources (LEDs). Since it is possible to maintain the character illumination function for a long time without increasing the number, it has been found to be useful as a switch device for devices such as mobile phones. For visual recognition, an inspector with a visual acuity of 1.5 looked at the characters with the push button switch device separated by 50 cm and confirmed whether all the characters could be visually recognized. As for the abrasion resistance of the character part, a plastic eraser is applied to the top surface of the key top part of the cover member, and it is reciprocated 500 times and 1000 times repeatedly. 1
Those having visibility after 000 round trips were evaluated as extremely good.

[0078]

[Table 1]

-Specific Example 2-A cover member for a push button switch of a mobile phone was manufactured as follows. First, a material for forming a key top portion, which is obtained by mixing 0.4 part by weight of a crosslinking agent (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) with 100 parts by weight of dimethyldiphenyl silicone resin (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), and a silicone rubber. 100 parts by weight of Pound (KE-961U manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 2 parts by weight of a cross-linking agent C-8 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and ZnS: Cu as a main component phosphorescent phosphor GSS (root A silicone rubber composition for forming a skirt portion / base portion was prepared by mixing 15 parts by weight of Tokushu Kagaku Co., Ltd.

Next, the engraved portion for forming the key top portion of the die heated to 175 ° C. was filled with the material for forming the key top portion using an air dispenser, and the filled material lost its fluidity. By the way, the skirt portion and the engraving portion for forming the base portion are filled with the silicone rubber compound, and the key top portion side forming die and the contact portion forming side die are closed and heat-cured for 5 minutes to form a cover base material. Obtained. Characters were formed on the top surface of the key top portion of the cover base material by screen printing using ink (Hipet 9301). Further, a conductive film made of a silicone-based conductive ink (silicone rubber resin mixed with a curing agent or carbon black) was provided on the contact portion by screen printing to form the contact portion, and the cover member was completed.

The cover member thus obtained, a circuit board having a fixed contact and an LED at a position corresponding to each key top portion of the cover member, a speaker, a microphone, a battery pack, and at 60-minute intervals. A timer for turning on the LED for 5 minutes and a broken plan view of FIG. 1 and FIG.
As shown in the vertical sectional view of FIG. Even after using this mobile phone for one year, the visibility of the characters did not deteriorate in the dark.

[0082]

As described above, according to the illuminated push-button switch device of the first aspect of the invention, in a dark place, the phosphorescent phosphor contained in the phosphorescent phosphor layer emits light from the light source or daytime. Since the light is emitted by the energy accumulated by sunlight, even when it is left in the dark for a long time, the phosphorescent fluorescent layer can be made to emit light with a small amount of power consumption, and the code is clearly visible. In addition, it is possible to reduce the capacity of the battery pack and the like to reduce the size thereof. Since the phosphorescent fluorescent layer is formed in a region other than the top surface of the key top portion, that is, a portion other than the portion pressed by the user, it is not contaminated by oil and fat of the user's finger and used for a long time. However, the visibility of the code does not deteriorate.

According to the illuminated push-button switch device of the second aspect of the invention, the key top portion is provided with a transparent light-transmitting layer or a transparent hard resin layer on the phosphorescent fluorescent layer. A colored or light-shielding code forming layer is provided on either the front or back of the resin layer to form the code, and since the light guide plate is interposed between the circuit board and the base portion, a clear code can be formed. Not only that, the aesthetic appearance can be improved, a switch device excellent in design can be obtained, and deterioration of the phosphorescent fluorescent layer due to permeation of oils and fats due to use can be reliably prevented. It is possible to irradiate all the phosphorescent fluorescent layers almost uniformly with the emitted light.

According to the illuminated push-button switch device of the third aspect of the present invention, the light guide plate containing the phosphorescent phosphor is provided between the cover member and the circuit board, that is, at least part of the light guide plate is used as the phosphorescent layer. Since the formed member is provided, the code of the key top portion can be irradiated with the light emitted from the light guide plate or the click plate, and the visibility of the code in a dark place is improved without increasing the power consumption. Since it is not necessary to change the cover member, the existing one can be used and the cost can be achieved at a low cost.

Further, according to the illuminated push button switch device cover member of the present invention, at least the back surface side portion of the key top portion, the skirt portion, the base portion and the contact portion are integrally formed as a phosphorescent fluorescent layer. Therefore, the translucent layer, the protective layer, and the code forming layer can be formed by two-color molding or the like, and the molding can be easily performed.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing a cover member for an illuminated push-button switch device according to a fifth aspect, a cover base material integrally including a luminous phosphor layer of a key top portion, a skirt portion, a base portion and a contact portion is provided. Molded from a rubber material containing a phosphorescent phosphor, the light-transmissive layer molded from a translucent resin is fixed to the phosphorescent phosphor layer of the key top part of this cover substrate, which simplifies the manufacturing process Cost can be reduced.

In the method for manufacturing the cover member for the illuminated push-button switch device according to the sixth aspect, the phosphorescent fluorescent layer and the translucent layer are continuously fixed by molding similar to two-color molding without replacing the mold. Since it can be formed by molding, it can be manufactured more easily, and the manufacturing time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a mobile phone to which an illuminated push button switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of the mobile phone.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another aspect of the illuminated push-button switch device.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of an illuminated push button switch device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of an illuminated push button switch device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one key top portion of a cover member of an illuminated push button switch device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention with a part thereof cut away.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of an illuminated push button switch device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of an illuminated push button switch device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another aspect of the sixth embodiment, in which the key top portion of the cover member is partially broken.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of an illuminated push button switch device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of the illuminated push button switch device according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows an illuminated push-button switch device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention, in which a is a longitudinal sectional view of a part thereof, and b is a schematic sectional view of a preform body.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of the illuminated push button switch device according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of an illuminated push button switch device according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of an illuminated push button switch device according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing an aspect of a conventional illuminated push-button switch device.

FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing another aspect of the conventional illuminated push-button switch device.

FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing still another aspect of the conventional illuminated push-button switch device.

FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing still another aspect of a conventional illuminated push-button switch device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Case 2 Battery Pack 3 Timer 10 Cover Member 11 Key Top Part 11A Back Side Part 11a Back Side Part 11b Transparent Layer 11c Core Part 12 Skirt Part 13 Base Part 14 Contact Part 15 Code Forming Layer 30 Circuit Board 32 Switch Part (Fixed) 33) Light source (LED) 37 Light reflection layer 38 Light guide plate (light guide part) 39a Spacer with click plate 40 Spacer B Push button Q Cover base material R Luminescent phosphor layer Ra Luminescent phosphor layer S switch device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A key top portion projecting to the front side, a thin skirt portion continuous with the key top portion, a base portion supporting the key top portion through the thin skirt portion, and a bottom surface of the key top portion. A cover member having a contact portion that bulges on the back side is assembled in a circuit board having a switch portion corresponding to the contact portion and housed in a case, in which the top surface of the key top portion is Excluding a part, at least one of the base portion or at least a part of the skirt portion is formed as a phosphorescent phosphor layer containing a phosphorescent phosphor, and a portion above the phosphorescent phosphor layer is configured to be translucent, and outside the case. An optical sensor that detects the brightness and a light source that lights up to illuminate the phosphorescent fluorescent layer when the outside of the case is dark based on the detection output of the optical sensor. Illuminated push-button switch device, characterized in that provided in the serial case. 2. The key top portion has the phosphorescent fluorescent layer on a part except the top surface, and a transparent transparent layer or transparent hard resin layer is provided on the phosphorescent fluorescent layer, and the transparent layer or transparent hard layer. A light-shielding or colored code forming layer is provided on either the upper side or the lower side of the resin layer to form a code by the code forming layer, and a transparent light guide plate is provided between the circuit board and the base portion. The illuminated push-button switch device according to claim 1, which is assembled by interposing. 3. A circuit board provided with a cover member having at least a key top portion having a code and a contact portion bulging from the bottom surface of the key top portion to the back side, and a switch portion corresponding to the contact portion. In an illuminated pushbutton switch device assembled on one surface side and housed in a case, a light guide plate or a spacer, at least a part of which includes a phosphorescent fluorescent layer containing a phosphorescent phosphor, between the cover member and the circuit board. Alternatively, a spacer with a resin click plate is provided so that the light emitted from the phosphorescent fluorescent layer is capable of illuminating the code, and an optical sensor for detecting the brightness outside the case, and based on the detection output of the optical sensor, An illuminated push-button switch device, characterized in that a light source that lights up to illuminate the phosphorescent fluorescent layer when the outside of the case is dark is provided in the case. 4. A key top portion protruding to the front side, a thin skirt portion continuous with the key top portion, a base portion supporting the key top portion via the thin portion, and a bottom surface side of the key top portion to a back surface side. In a cover member for an illuminated push-button switch device having a contact portion that bulges in, at least the back side portion of the key top portion, the skirt portion, and the base portion are formed as a phosphorescent fluorescent layer from a rubber material containing a phosphorescent phosphor. A transparent layer or transparent hard resin layer is provided on the phosphorescent fluorescent layer of the key top portion, and a code is formed on one side of the front side or the back side of the transparent layer or transparent hard resin layer. Alternatively, a cover member for an illuminated push-button switch device, which is provided with a light-shielding code forming layer. 5. A key top portion protruding to the front side, a thin skirt portion continuous with the key top portion, a base portion supporting the key top portion via the thin portion, and a bottom surface side of the key top portion from a back surface side. Illumination in which at least the back surface side portion of the key top portion is formed as a phosphorescent phosphor layer containing a phosphorescent phosphor, and the front side portion of the key top portion is formed as a translucent transparent layer. A method of manufacturing a cover member for a push-button switch device, comprising a cover base material having a back surface side portion of the key top portion, the skirt portion, the base portion, and the contact portion from a rubber material containing a phosphorescent phosphor. In addition to being integrally molded as a phosphorescent fluorescent layer, the front side portion of the keytop portion is formed as a translucent layer from a translucent resin material, and thereafter, the translucent layer and the phosphorescent fluorescent layer of the keytop portion are formed. Method for manufacturing illuminated pushbutton switch device cover member, characterized in that to fix the. 6. An engraving for forming a key top portion of the front side molding die, using a front side molding die having a key top portion forming engraving section and a back side molding die having a contact point forming engraving section. After the translucent resin material is filled in the portion, the front side molding die and the back side molding die are closed in a state where the translucent resin material loses fluidity but retains adhesiveness, and the back surface of the key top portion is closed. The method for manufacturing a cover member for an illuminated push-button switch device according to claim 5, wherein a side portion, a skirt portion and a base portion forming cavity are defined, and the cavity is filled with a phosphorescent material-containing material.