Switch module
AssigneeNippon Mektron, Ltd.
InventorKazuyuki Ozaki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch module including a light source element is provided that obtains slimming down and a sufficient click feeling and suitably irradiates a key portion, while suppressing manufacturing cost. A switch module is disposed to face a key portion. The switch module includes a transparent FPC board, a transparent conductive film, an electrode, a metal dome which is in contact with a part of the transparent conductive film and which is allowed to come into contact with the electrode by being deformed, and an LED. Light emitted from the LED and guided in a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the board in the transparent FPC board is reflected by a reflecting portion provided on the transparent FPC board, in a direction of the key portion.
Claims8
A switch module disposed to face a key portion, the switch module comprising:
- a board disposed to face the key portion;
- a wiring line formed on a side of the board that faces the key portion;
- an electrode provided on the side of the board that faces the key portion;
- a conductive switch member that is in contact with a part of the wiring line on the board and that is allowed to come into contact with the electrode by being deformed;
- and
- a light source element that emits light,
- the electrode and the wiring line being electrically connected to each other by the key portion coming into contact by pressure with the switch member and the switch member being thereby deformed to come into contact with the electrode, wherein
- the board is a flexible printed circuit board that is formed of a transparent material and is operable as a light guide,
- a plurality of reflecting portions are formed on a surface of the board on the opposite side to the side facing the key portions,
- and light emitted from the light source element and guided in a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the board in the board is irregularly reflected by the reflecting portions provided on the board, in a direction of the key portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.