Thin plate with contact spring and switch device

Abstract

The invention discloses a thin plate with a contact spring and a switch device, which can effectively inhibit light leakage among irradiation regions and cannot result in deteriorative operation tactility in the event of separately irradiating a plurality of irradiation regions through different light emitting colours. The thin plate includes a retaining thin plate (3) for retaining a plurality of contact springs (12) in a plurality of storage parts (31) and a light guide thin plate (4) overlapped on the retaining thin plate (3) and for guiding light emitted by a light source unit (7). The device is also provided with a groove (S) for dividing the light guide thin plate (4) into a plurality of irradiation regions (A) and a shading part (33) that the groove (S) reflects or absorbs light emitted by the light source unit (7). A connection path (32) which is overlapped with the groove (S) outside of the irradiation region of the light source unit (7) in the event of looking downwardly is formed on the retaining part (3). The connection path (32) is connected with inner parts of a plurality of storage parts (31) and arranged among irradiation regions (A) adjacently connected with the groove (S) and the shading part (33).

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a thin plate with a contact spring and a switch device, and more particularly to a thin plate with a contact spring and a switch device to be incorporated into an operation panel of an electronic device. Background technique [0002] Generally, as a sheet with a contact spring to be incorporated into an operation panel for various electronic devices, a sheet provided with a light guide sheet for illuminating the operation keys of the operation panel is known. The light guide thin plate is formed of light-transmitting material and installed on the circuit board of the portable terminal. Furthermore, a light source is arranged near the end of the light guide thin plate, and the light emitted by the light source is incident into the thin plate from the end surface of the light guide thin plate. The light incident into the thin plate is diffused in an illumination pattern formed at a position corresponding to an operation ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] However, in the case of the thin plate with contact springs described in Patent Document 1 above, when grooves are formed on the thin plate with contact springs from the side of the light guide sheet, at the portion where the grooves overlap with the communicating passages holding the thin plate, the processing precision varies. It is even possible that the groove and the connecting path run through

In this case, when the light-shielding portion is formed by printing, the inside of the communication path may be clogged by the printing liquid flowing from the groove, thereby deteriorating the handling feeling.

Therefore, in the conventional thin plate with contact spring, no groove is provided on the communication path, and light leakage between the illuminated areas cannot be prevented.

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