Switch module

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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a switch module used for key portions of portable devices such as mobile phones and notebook PCs.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]In recent years, it has been often seen that portable devices such as mobile phones and notebook PCs have a configuration in which LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are provided, as light source elements, on a board of a switch module disposed to face the back side of key portions. By thus providing the LEDs on the board of the switch module, light can be suitably irradiated onto a part of the key portions where light irradiation is required, from the switch module side. Furthermore, in recent years, a configuration is proposed in which a light guide plate is provided between key portions and a board of a switch module and light emitted from LEDs is guided to the light guide plate, whereby light is suitably irradiated onto a plurality of key portions. W...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a switch module including a light source element, which is capable of achieving sliming down and a sufficient click feeling and suitably irradiating key portions, while suppressing manufacturing cost.

Problems solved by technology

However, the conventional switch module has the following problems.

However, in the configuration of the above-described conventional switch module, since the light guide plate 104 and the dome sheet 105 are provided between the key portions 110 and the board 100, it is difficult to slim down the switch module.

Hence, user's error operation and a reduction in operability are caused.

In the configuration of the above-described conventional switch module, since the light guide plate 104 for guiding light emitted from the LED 120 is required, the number of components of the switch module increases and also an assembly process becomes complex.

As a result, an increase in manufacturing cost is brought about.

However, in this case, too, since special processing is required to provide the projections, an increase in manufacturing cost is brought about.

Note that although there is disclosed, as one conventional art, a configuration of a membrane switch including a lighting display unit, in this case, since members corresponding to the above-described metal domes are not provided, a sufficient click feeling cannot be obtained.

In addition, since a technique in which electric circuit parts are insert-molded using a transparent resin, etc., is used, it is difficult to slim down a switch module.

In addition, although there is disclosed, as another conventional art, a technique in which a membrane switch having a polydome sheet is formed using a transparent FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) having light transmittance, since a light guide plate is provided below a switch sheet, a switch module cannot be slimed down.