Decorative member, input device, and display device

Abstract

The present invention is provided with a light-transmissive soft layer (10), a light-shielding layer (20) covering the light-transmissive soft layer (10), and a concealing layer (30) covering the light-shielding layer (20), the light-shielding layer (20) having a light-shielding part (21) for shielding light emitted from the light-transmissive soft layer (10) side to the concealing layer (30) side and an opening part (22) through which the light passes, and the concealing layer (30) having a brightness intermediate the color of the light-transmissive soft layer (10) and the color of the light-shielding part (21). According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique that makes it difficult to see the boundary between the light-shielding part and the opening part of the decorative sheet when the backlight is not illuminated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The disclosure of this application relates to decorative components, input devices, and display devices. Background Technology

[0002] A technique related to an input device is known, which illuminates light from the rear side of a decorative component, such as an interior material of a vehicle or a wall material of a building, to display various information on the surface side, prompting an operator to perform an input operation (e.g., Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-133695 Figure 4 , Figure 5 Summary of the Invention

[0005] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0006] The decorative component, on which the input device is located, has an opening through which light from its rear side passes to the surface side, and a light-shielding portion that blocks light from the rear side. This opening serves as a decorative lighting section for text or graphics, with the lighting pattern formed in a two-dimensional extended manner. Furthermore, by displaying the shape of the lighting pattern illuminating the rear side of the decorative component on the surface side of the decorative component, the operator can visually identify the function of the input device in that area.

[0007] In such "decorative components," there exists a phenomenon known as pattern revealing, where the boundaries between "openings" and "light-blocking areas" become visually discernible. This pattern revealing phenomenon in "decorative components" leads to a reduction in design sophistication.

[0008] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a technique that makes it difficult to observe the boundary between the light-shielding part and the opening of a decorative component when the backlight is off.

[0009] Methods for solving problems

[0010] Some of the technical solutions disclosed in this application are characterized by the following features.

[0011] Specifically, one technical solution disclosed herein relates to a decorative component having a light-transmitting soft layer, a light-shielding layer covering the light-transmitting soft layer, and a concealing layer covering the light-shielding layer. The light-shielding layer has a light-shielding portion and an opening. The light-shielding portion blocks light incident from the side of the light-transmitting soft layer to the side of the concealing layer. The opening is formed through the light-shielding layer to allow light to pass through. The concealing layer has a brightness level between the color of the light-transmitting soft layer and the color of the light-shielding portion.

[0012] For example, the color difference ΔE is large in the low-brightness black area and the high-brightness white opening area, making their boundary easily visually discernible. However, since the decorative component has a medium-brightness masking layer covering both the low-brightness black area and the high-brightness opening area, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value (colorimetric value) of the masking layer covering the black area and the chromaticity value of the masking layer covering the opening area can be reduced. Therefore, the visual discernibility of the boundary between the black area and the opening area as seen from the surface of the masking layer of the decorative component can be suppressed.

[0013] In one aspect of this disclosure, the concealing layer reduces the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the concealing layer covering the light-shielding portion and the chromaticity value of the concealing layer covering the opening. Therefore, visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding portion and the opening, as seen from the surface of the concealing layer of the decorative component, can be suppressed.

[0014] In one technical solution disclosed herein, the decorative component also has a translucent skin layer on the surface side of the concealed layer side.

[0015] One technical solution disclosed herein relates to a decorative component having a light-transmitting soft layer, a light-shielding layer covering the light-transmitting soft layer, a concealing layer covering the light-shielding layer, and a light-transmitting outer skin layer stacked relative to the concealing layer. The light-shielding layer has a light-shielding portion and an opening. The light-shielding portion blocks light incident from the side of the light-transmitting soft layer to the side of the concealing layer. The opening is formed through the light-shielding layer to allow light to pass through. The concealing layer has a brightness intermediate between the color of the light-transmitting soft layer and the color of the light-shielding portion.

[0016] Decorative components that illuminate from the back side to the surface (display surface) are mostly used with a skin layer fixed to their surface. However, when decorative components have a skin layer, compared to those without, there is a tendency for reduced light transmittance and decreased brightness of the display surface. Conversely, if a highly transmittant, light-transmitting skin layer is used, although the brightness of the display surface increases during illumination, the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening is easily visible from the surface of the light-transmitting skin layer.

[0017] However, since the decorative component has a medium-brightness concealing layer that covers both the low-brightness light-blocking portion and the high-brightness opening portion, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the translucent skin layer covering the light-blocking portion and the chromaticity value of the translucent skin layer covering the opening portion can be reduced. Therefore, the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening portion is difficult to see from the surface of the translucent skin layer. Thus, the visual recognition of the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening portion when viewed from the surface of the translucent skin layer of the decorative component can be suppressed.

[0018] On the other hand, in the decorative component disclosed herein, the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening is not easily visible from the surface of the translucent skin layer. Therefore, even when using a translucent skin layer with higher transmittance, the situation where the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening is easily visible from the surface of the translucent skin layer can be suppressed. In other words, in the decorative component disclosed herein, a translucent skin layer with higher transmittance can be used. Therefore, a decorative component that makes the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening difficult to see from the surface of the translucent skin layer and has high brightness of the display surface during illumination can be achieved.

[0019] In one technical solution disclosed herein, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the translucent skin layer covering the light-shielding portion and the chromaticity value of the translucent skin layer covering the opening portion is 9.0 or less. Therefore, the boundary between the light-shielding portion and the opening portion is not easily visible from the surface of the translucent skin layer. Thus, visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding portion and the opening portion when viewed from the surface of the translucent skin layer of the decorative component can be suppressed.

[0020] In one technical solution disclosed herein, the concealment layer is a light diffusion layer.

[0021] Because the concealing layer is a light-diffusing layer, the direction of light travels changes due to reflection and transmission in various directions within the concealing layer. Furthermore, by altering the direction of light travel within the concealing layer, the boundary between the concealing layer covering the light-blocking portion and the concealing layer covering the opening can be blurred. Therefore, decorative components with a light-diffusing concealing layer can suppress visual recognition of the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening, whether viewed from the surface of the concealing layer or the surface of the translucent outer layer.

[0022] In one technical solution disclosed herein, the concealing layer is a color-correcting layer, and the color difference ΔE between the color-correcting layer covering the light-blocking portion and the color-correcting value of the opening portion is less than 15.

[0023] By using a color-matching layer with a small color difference ΔE between the concealing layer and the translucent soft layer, for example, a color-matching layer with a color close to the high-brightness translucent soft layer in the white range can be used to cover the low-brightness black-based light-blocking portion. Thus, for example, the color seen from the surface of the concealing layer in the black-based light-blocking portion can be made close to the color of the white translucent soft layer. Therefore, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the concealing layer covering the light-blocking portion and the chromaticity value of the concealing layer covering the opening can be reduced. Furthermore, by making the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the translucent soft layer and the color-matching layer 15 or less, the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening is not easily visible from either the surface of the concealing layer or the surface of the translucent outer layer. Therefore, the visual recognition of the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening can be suppressed from both the surface of the concealing layer and the surface of the translucent outer layer of the decorative component.

[0024] In one technical solution of this disclosure, the color-tone layer has an end-covered portion that covers the end of the light-shielding portion forming the opening in the layer thickness direction.

[0025] By having an end cover portion that covers the end of the light-blocking portion forming the opening in the thickness direction, the color-matching layer can embed the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening. Therefore, at the end of the light-blocking portion along the thickness direction, where the boundary is easily visually discernible, for example, the color seen from the surface of the black-toned light-blocking portion's concealing layer can be close to the color of the white-toned translucent soft layer. Thus, the visual discernibility of the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening can be suppressed from both the surface of the concealing layer of the decorative component and the surface of the translucent outer layer.

[0026] Furthermore, the light-blocking portion can also be formed by layering light-blocking layers relative to the opening. In this case, a step exists between the light-blocking portion and the opening. That is, it is assumed that the light-blocking portion and the opening are easily visually distinguishable not only because of their different colors but also because of the presence of the step. However, by covering the end of the light-blocking portion with a color-matching layer, the color-matching layer can conceal the step between the light-blocking portion and the opening. Therefore, the visual distinction of the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening can be suppressed from both the surface of the concealing layer of the decorative component and the surface of the translucent skin layer.

[0027] In one technical solution of this disclosure, the concealment layer includes a color-tuning layer covering the light-shielding layer and a light-diffusing layer covering the color-tuning layer, wherein the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light-diffusing layer on the color-tuning layer covering the light-shielding portion and the chromaticity value of the light-diffusing layer covering the opening portion is less than 15.

[0028] By using a color-tuning layer with a small color difference ΔE between the concealing layer and the translucent soft layer, the color difference ΔE between the concealing layer covering the light-blocking portion and the concealing layer covering the opening can be reduced. Furthermore, by using a light-diffusing layer as the concealing layer, the boundary between the concealing layer covering the light-blocking portion and the concealing layer covering the opening can be blurred. Therefore, decorative components with concealing layers that include a color-tuning layer and a light-diffusing layer can further suppress the visual recognition of the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening, whether viewed from the surface of the concealing layer or the surface of the translucent outer skin layer.

[0029] In one technical solution of this disclosure, the color-tone layer has an end-covered portion that covers the end of the light-shielding portion forming the opening in the thickness direction.

[0030] By having an end cover portion that covers the end of the light-blocking portion forming the opening in the thickness direction, the color-matching layer can embed the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening. Therefore, at the end of the light-blocking portion along the thickness direction, where the boundary is easily visually discernible, for example, the surface color of the black-toned light-blocking masking layer can be visually perceived to be close to the color of the white-toned translucent soft layer. Furthermore, the light-diffusing layer covering the color-matching layer can blur the boundary between the masking layer covering the light-blocking portion and the masking layer covering the opening. Therefore, the visual discernibility of the boundary between the light-blocking portion and the opening can be further suppressed from both the surface of the masking layer of the decorative component and the surface of the translucent outer layer.

[0031] In one technical solution disclosed herein, the total light transmittance Tt of the light-transmitting soft layer is above 5% and below 80%.

[0032] Since the total light transmittance Tt of the light-transmitting soft layer is above 5%, it can suppress the decrease in brightness of the display surface of the decorative component during lighting.

[0033] In one technical solution of this disclosure, the light diffusion layer is a glossy coating containing light interference pigments.

[0034] Because the light diffusion layer contains light interference pigments, a glossy coating with substrate concealment can be obtained.

[0035] In one technical solution disclosed herein, the total light transmittance Tt of the light diffusion layer is above 30% and below 99%.

[0036] Since the total light transmittance Tt of the light diffusion layer is over 30%, it can suppress the decrease in brightness of the display surface of the decorative component during illumination.

[0037] One technical solution disclosed herein relates to an input device comprising the aforementioned decorative component and a sensor chip for a touch sensor that detects touch operations on the decorative component.

[0038] Since the input device has the aforementioned decorative component, it is possible to achieve an input device that can suppress visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding part and the opening part as seen from the surface of the concealed layer of the decorative component, and can detect touch operations on the decorative component.

[0039] One technical solution disclosed herein relates to a display device having the aforementioned decorative component and a light source disposed on the back side of the decorative component when the concealed layer side of the decorative component is set as the surface side of the decorative component.

[0040] Because the display device has the aforementioned decorative component, it is possible to achieve a display device that can suppress visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding part and the opening part as seen from the surface of the concealed layer of the decorative component. Attached Figure Description

[0041] Figure 1 This is a top view of a decorative piece in one embodiment.

[0042] Figure 2 The decorative piece is equivalent to the reference method. Figure 1 A sectional view along line VII-VII of A.

[0043] Figure 3 It is equivalent to the decorative piece of the first embodiment. Figure 1 A sectional view along line VII-VII of A.

[0044] Figure 4 It is equivalent to the decorative piece of the second embodiment. Figure 1 A sectional view along line VII-VII of A.

[0045] Figure 5 It is equivalent to the decorative piece of the third embodiment. Figure 1 A sectional view along line VII-VII of A.

[0046] Figure 6 It is equivalent to the decorative piece of the fourth embodiment. Figure 1 A sectional view along line VII-VII of A.

[0047] Figure 7 It is equivalent to the decorative piece of the fifth embodiment. Figure 1 A sectional view along line VII-VII of A.

[0048] Figure 8 The input device of the sixth embodiment is equivalent to Figure 1 A sectional view along line VII-VII of A. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The following is a detailed description of the "decorative component," "input device," and "display device" according to one embodiment of this disclosure. However, the following description is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure, but should be understood as a description of an exemplary embodiment. The following description is not intended to unduly limit the scope of the claims, and not all technical configurations described in this embodiment are necessarily solutions.

[0050] In the following description, the terms "up," "down," "left," and "right" are used for ease of explanation. Unless the context explicitly specifies the direction, they do not indicate a method or manner of use. The terms "first," "second," ... "n (where n is any natural number)" used in this specification and claims are used as identification terms to distinguish different elements and do not indicate a specific order or superiority.

[0051] The terminology used in the following description is intended only to illustrate specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. The constituent elements of a technical solution described in this specification and claims are included in the plural form unless explicitly stated in the context as singular or plural. The term "and / or" refers to any one or more of the related listed elements and all possible combinations thereof, and is included therein. The terms "includes," "including," "comprises," and / or "comprising" used in this specification and claims define the presence of features, actions, elements, or steps. However, these terms do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, actions, elements, steps, and / or combinations thereof.

[0052] There is no particular limitation on the "decorative object" on which the "decorative component" of this disclosure is installed. For example, it can be installed on interior materials of a vehicle such as door trim, dashboard, and armrests, or on wall materials of a building, electrical components, and other objects on which decorative lighting is installed. The "decorative component" does not necessarily have to have an input device. The "decorative component" of this disclosure can be a structure with or without a decorative object.

[0053] The "decorative component" of one technical solution disclosed herein has a light-transmitting soft layer, a light-blocking layer covering the light-transmitting soft layer, and a concealing layer covering the light-blocking layer. The following description uses the case where the light-transmitting soft layer is a light-transmitting foam as an example to illustrate the "decorative component" of one technical solution disclosed herein.

[0054] For convenience, as stated in this specification and claims, Figure 1 , Figure 3As shown, in one embodiment of the decorative piece 1 as a "decorative component," the left-right direction is described as the X direction, the front-back direction as the Y direction, and the height direction (vertical direction) as the Z direction. Furthermore, in Figure 3 In the decorative piece 1 shown, the side with the concealing layer 30 is described as the upper side (outer side, surface side) in the Z direction, and the side with the light source 100 is described as the lower side (inner side, back side) in the Z direction. However, they do not limit the arrangement direction of the decorative piece 1 and the input device 50, or the input operation direction of the decorative piece 1 and the input device 50.

[0055] The structure of decorative piece 1 ( Figure 1 )

[0056] A technique exists where a decorative piece 1 is illuminated from the back side using a backlight, thereby displaying arbitrary illuminated patterns such as text, symbols, line drawings, patterns, and combinations thereof on the surface side of the decorative piece 1. This illuminated pattern P is as follows: Figure 1 As shown in Figure A, when decorative piece 1 is illuminated, it displays, for example, the English letter "S". The illumination pattern P can be one or more, and its size and shape are arbitrary.

[0057] On the other hand, such as Figure 1 As shown in B, when the backlight is off, i.e., when the decorative piece 1 is not illuminated, the illumination pattern P blends into its surroundings and becomes indistinguishable. Therefore, the decorative piece 1 achieves a seamless design where the illumination pattern P and its surrounding boundaries are not visually discernible when not illuminated, thus enhancing the design appeal of objects adorned with this decorative piece.

[0058] Reference method for decorative pieces ( Figure 2 )

[0059] In conventional decorative panels, a structure is formed on the back of the outer skin layer that constitutes the exterior surface, providing a soft-touch polyurethane foam layer. In such conventional decorative panels, it is sometimes necessary to install lighting displays or input switches.

[0060] In other conventional decorative panels, there is a structure in which a backlight is installed on the back of the surface layer that constitutes the appearance, separated by a light-blocking layer. In such conventional decorative panels, since they are rigid, a soft, supple tactile feel is sometimes required.

[0061] Decorative sheet 101, which meets these requirements, is an example of a reference method. Figure 2 As shown, a light-transmitting foam layer 10, a light-shielding layer 20, and a light-transmitting epidermal layer 40 are sequentially stacked above the light source 100. The light-shielding layer 20 has a light-shielding portion 21 that prevents light from the light source 100 from passing upward and an opening portion 22 that allows light from the light source 100 to pass upward.

[0062] However, in the decorative sheet 101, when the light source 100 is turned off, the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening portion 22 can be visually identified through the surface of the translucent skin layer 40, i.e., "pattern development" occurs. At this time, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light-blocking portion 21 measured on the surface of the translucent skin layer 40 and the chromaticity value of the opening portion 22 measured on the surface of the translucent skin layer 40 is 9.2. Similarly, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light-blocking portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the opening portion 22 is 69.0.

[0063] On the other hand, in decorative sheet 101, when illuminated by light source 100, the luminance of translucent skin layer 40 is 173 cd / m². 2 .

[0064] Thus, in decorative panel 101, there is room for improvement in the fact that the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening portion 22 is not easily visually discernible when the backlight is not illuminating. On the other hand, there is also room for improvement in increasing the brightness of the translucent skin layer 40 when the backlight is illuminating.

[0065] Implementation Method 1 ( Figure 1 , Figure 3 )

[0066] Decorative sheet 1 is a laminate. Decorative sheet 1 is a thin sheet (plate, film) shape with an extremely short (thickness, plate thickness, film thickness) length (thickness) in the Z direction relative to the plane (plate surface) extending along the X and Y directions. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the decorative sheet 1 has a light-transmitting foam layer 10, a light-shielding layer 20 covering the light-transmitting foam layer 10, and a concealing layer 30 covering the light-shielding layer 20. That is, the decorative sheet 1 has the light-transmitting foam layer 10, the light-shielding layer 20, and the concealing layer 30 stacked sequentially. The light-transmitting foam layer 10 is located on the back side of the decorative sheet 1, and the concealing layer 30 is located on the surface side of the decorative sheet 1.

[0067] A backlight 100 is provided on the back side of the translucent foam layer 10 to illuminate the decorative sheet 1 from the back side. The light source 100 emits light from the translucent foam layer 10 side toward the shielding layer 30 side. The operator can perceive the light emitted from the light source 100 that passes through the translucent foam layer 10, the light-shielding layer 20, and the shielding layer 30 from the surface side of the decorative sheet 1.

[0068] Figure 3The light source 100 shown is a so-called direct-down type (directly below) disposed on the back side of the translucent foam layer 10. However, the light source 100 can also be disposed on the side of the decorative sheet 1, and the light emitted by the light source 100 can be guided to the back side of the translucent foam layer 10 via a light guide plate (light guide plate type). The light source 100 is preferably an LED (Light Emitting Diode). However, the light source 100 is not limited to LEDs, and can also be a cold cathode fluorescent tube, incandescent lamp, electroluminescent panel, hot cathode fluorescent tube, laser, etc.

[0069] Light source 100, for example, using 20850 cd / m² 2 The white LED. The light source 100 is positioned at a distance of, for example, 5 mm from the decorative piece 1.

[0070] The translucent foam layer 10 is a layer that combines high light transmittance and flexibility. It is a layer of high-brightness material. Furthermore, to enhance flexibility, the translucent foam layer 10 is porous, containing a large amount of air within it. Therefore, the translucent foam layer 10 exhibits light diffusivity. Consequently, in its uncolored state, the translucent foam layer 10 appears white or off-white, or other white-toned colors.

[0071] Here, for example, polyurethane foam, widely used to impart softness to vehicle interior materials, has insufficient light transmittance. In contrast, the light-transmitting foam layer 10 has high light transmittance, allowing light emitted from the light source 100 to pass through to the light-shielding layer 20 side, thus increasing the brightness of the surface side of the decorative panel 1. Therefore, when light is shone from the light source 100, the light-transmitting foam layer 10 allows the operator to perceive necessary information from the surface side of the decorative panel 1. In addition, the light-transmitting foam layer 10 is soft, thus giving the decorative panel 1 a soft tactile feel. Therefore, the light-transmitting foam layer 10 can impart a soft tactile feel to the decorative panel 1 that the operator touches, improving comfort when operating the input device 50 described later.

[0072] The translucent foam layer 10 is formed of resin, preferably a polyolefin-based foam layer. The polyolefin-based foam layer is formed by foaming a foaming resin composition containing a polyolefin resin. Examples of polyolefin resins include polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. From the viewpoint of heat resistance, polypropylene resin is preferred. Two or more resins can be mixed, but it is preferable to use only one. By using only one resin, it is difficult to produce blurring caused by blending, thus improving the light transmittance of the translucent foam layer 10.

[0073] Examples of polyethylene resins include low-density polyethylene (LDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). A preferred example of a low-density polyethylene resin is linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The polyethylene resin can be a homopolymer of ethylene, or a copolymer of ethylene with ethylene as the main component (preferably 75% by mass or more, more preferably 90% by mass of all monomers) and a small amount of α-olefin. Examples of α-olefins include those with 3 or more and 12 or fewer carbon atoms, more preferably 4 or more and 10 or fewer carbon atoms, specifically 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-heptene, and 1-octene. In copolymers, these α-olefins can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The polyethylene resin can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0074] The polypropylene resin can be a homopolymer of propylene, i.e., homopolymer polypropylene, or a copolymer of propylene with propylene as the main component (preferably 75% by mass or more, more preferably 90% by mass or more of all monomers) and a small amount of α-olefins other than ethylene and propylene. Examples of copolymers of propylene with α-olefins other than ethylene and propylene include block copolymers (block polypropylene), random copolymers (random polypropylene), and random block copolymers. The α-olefins other than propylene are the same as those for ethylene. From the viewpoint of moldability and heat resistance, ethylene is preferred. These α-olefins can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The polypropylene resin can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0075] Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers used as polyolefin resins include, for example, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers containing 50% by mass or more structural units derived from ethylene. Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers have high compatibility with polyethylene resins or polypropylene resins, and therefore can be used in combination with ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and one or more resins selected from polyethylene resins and polypropylene resins.

[0076] The polyolefin-based foam layer may consist solely of the aforementioned polyolefin resin, or it may be a mixture of polyolefin resin and elastomer. Examples of elastomers include ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPM), styrene rubber, polyurethane rubber, polyurethane gel, silicone rubber, and silicone gel. Examples of elastomers include thermoplastic elastomers. Examples of thermoplastic elastomers include olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers and styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers. The content of polyolefin resin in the polyolefin-based foam layer, based on the total amount of the foam layer, is preferably 50% by mass or more, more preferably 70% by mass or more, and even more preferably 90% by mass or more.

[0077] The translucent foam layer 10 is formed by foaming a foaming resin composition containing polyolefin resin and a foaming agent. Examples of foaming methods include using a thermally decomposable foaming agent, water, or an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or butane.

[0078] There is no particular limitation on the expansion ratio of the light-transmitting foam layer 10. However, the expansion ratio of the light-transmitting foam layer 10 is preferably 7 times or more and 40 times or less, more preferably 10 times or more and 35 times or less, even more preferably 12 times or more and 33 times or less, and particularly preferably 20 times. If the expansion ratio is 7 times or more, the Asker C hardness of the laminate becomes lower, the touch becomes softer, and the total light transmittance Tt of the decorative sheet 1 as a whole is easily adjusted to an appropriate range. On the other hand, by making the expansion ratio of the light-transmitting foam layer 10 40 times or less, the mechanical strength of the decorative sheet 1 can be made to be above a certain value.

[0079] The thickness of the translucent foam layer 10 is not particularly limited, and is determined within the range where the total light transmittance Tt of the decorative sheet 1 and the Asker C hardness are within the desired range. The thickness of the translucent foam layer 10 is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less, more preferably 0.5 mm or more and 4 mm or less, further preferably 0.6 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less, and particularly preferably 2 mm. By making the thickness of the translucent foam layer 10 0.5 mm or more, the laminate's tactile feel is easily made softer. On the other hand, by making the thickness of the translucent foam layer 10 5 mm or less, the total light transmittance Tt of the laminate can be easily adjusted to an appropriate range.

[0080] The total light transmittance Tt of the light-transmitting foam layer 10 is preferably 5% or more and 80% or less. By ensuring that the total light transmittance Tt of the light-transmitting foam layer 10 is 5% or more, it is possible to suppress the decrease in brightness of the display surface of the decorative sheet 1 during illumination. Furthermore, by ensuring that the total light transmittance Tt of the light-transmitting foam layer 10 is 5% or more, it is easy to adjust the total light transmittance Tt of the decorative sheet 1 to an appropriate range. The total light transmittance Tt of the light-transmitting foam layer 10 is more preferably 20% or more, and even more preferably 30% or more. On the other hand, while a higher total light transmittance Tt of the light-transmitting foam layer 10 is better, it is typically 95% or less. The total light transmittance Tt can be measured using a haze meter according to ASTM D1003.

[0081] The light-shielding layer 20 is a layer covering the surface of the translucent foam layer 10. The light-shielding layer 20 has the function of selectively blocking light incident from the translucent foam layer 10 side to the concealment layer 30 side (light blocking). That is, the light-shielding layer 20 is positioned at a desired location on the XY plane of the decorative piece 1 so that light incident from the translucent foam layer 10 side will not leak to the concealment layer 30 side.

[0082] The light-shielding layer 20 has a light-shielding portion 21 and an opening 22. The light-shielding portion 21 is a layer of low-brightness light-shielding material covering the surface of the light-transmitting foam layer 10. On the other hand, the opening 22 is not provided with light-shielding material. Moreover, the opening 22 is a recess that exposes the surface of the light-transmitting foam layer 10. The light-shielding portion 21 and the opening 22 occupy different areas in the XY plane of the light-shielding layer 20. The light-shielding portion 21 has the function of blocking light incident from the light-transmitting foam layer 10 side to the shielding layer 30 side. On the other hand, the opening 22 has the function of allowing light incident from the light-transmitting foam layer 10 side to the shielding layer 30 side to pass through. Thus, light incident from the light-transmitting foam layer 10 side passes through only the area occupied by the opening 22 in the XY plane of the light-shielding layer 20 to the shielding layer 30 side.

[0083] Either the light-shielding portion 21 or the opening portion 22 is formed as an illumination pattern P such as text or graphics in an XY plane view. Furthermore, when the light-shielding layer 20 is illuminated from the back side of the decorative sheet 1, light passing through the opening portion 22, corresponding to the shape of the illumination pattern P, is displayed on the surface side of the decorative sheet 1, allowing the operator to visually identify the function of this area of ​​the input device 50 (described later). Typically, the opening portion 22 is formed corresponding to the shape of the illumination pattern P such as text or graphics, and the light-shielding portion 21 is formed corresponding to the shape of its background. However, the shape of the illumination pattern P can also be reversed. That is, the light-shielding portion 21 can be formed corresponding to the shape of the illumination pattern P such as text or graphics, and the opening portion 22 can be formed corresponding to the shape of its background.

[0084] The concealing layer 30 is a layer that covers the surface of the light-blocking layer 20. The concealing layer 30 has the function of concealing the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening portion 22. The concealing layer 30 has a brightness that is between the color of the light-transmitting foam layer 10 and the color of the light-blocking portion 21.

[0085] The concealing layer 30 has higher light transmittance than the light-shielding portion 21. Therefore, the concealing layer 30 allows high-intensity light emitted from the light source 100 to pass through. Thus, light emitted from the light source 100 that corresponds to the shape of the lighting pattern P and passes through the opening 22 is transmitted through the concealing layer 30 and displayed on the surface side of the decorative piece 1.

[0086] Here, for example, the color difference ΔE is large in the low-brightness black light-shielding portion 21 and the high-brightness white opening portion 22, making their boundaries easily visually discernible. However, since the decorative sheet 1 has a medium-brightness masking layer 30 covering both the low-brightness light-shielding portion 21 and the high-brightness opening portion 22, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity values ​​of the masking layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the masking layer 30 covering the opening portion 22 can be reduced. Therefore, the visual discernibility of the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening portion 22 when viewed from the surface of the masking layer 30 of the decorative sheet 1 can be suppressed. Thus, in the decorative sheet 1, "pattern development" of the opening portion 22 when the light source 100 is not illuminating it can be prevented.

[0087] As described above, in the decorative sheet 101 of the reference embodiment without the shielding layer 30, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the opening portion 22 when the light source 100 is not illuminating is 69.0. In contrast, the decorative sheet 1 of this embodiment, which has the shielding layer 30, can improve the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the shielding layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the shielding layer 30 covering the opening portion 22 to 32.6.

[0088] The color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the concealing layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the concealing layer 30 covering the opening portion 22 is preferably 35.0 or less. By ensuring that the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the concealing layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the concealing layer 30 covering the opening portion 22 is 35.0 or less, the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening portion 22 is difficult to see from the surface of the concealing layer 30. Therefore, the visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening portion 22 as seen from the surface of the concealing layer 30 of the decorative sheet 1 can be effectively suppressed.

[0089] For example, in the masking layer 30 covering both the black light-blocking portion 21 and the white opening portion 22, a coating material containing colors ranging from silver, silver-white, white to gray is used. By using these colors for the coating of the masking layer 30, the black light-blocking portion 21 appears close to gray when viewed from the surface of the masking layer 30. Similarly, by using these colors for the coating of the masking layer 30, the white opening portion 22 appears close to gray when viewed from the surface of the masking layer 30. This means that the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity values ​​of the masking layer 30 covering the light-blocking portion 21 and the masking layer 30 covering the opening portion 22 is smaller. Therefore, when viewed from the surface of the masking layer 30, both the black light-blocking portion 21 and the white opening portion 22 appear close to gray, making the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening portion 22 less visible from the surface of the masking layer 30.

[0090] The color difference ΔE can be evaluated according to JIS Z 8781-4, based on the index defined as the distance between coordinates in the CIE1976 L*a*b* color space. This color difference ΔE can be obtained, for example, using a handheld colorimeter (Nippon Denshoku Kogyo Co., Ltd. "NR555"), a handheld spectrophotometer (Color Techno Systems Co., Ltd. "JX777"), or a colorimeter (Konica Minolta Co., Ltd. "CR-400"). The color difference ΔE between the chromaticity of the portion with the light-blocking part and the chromaticity of the portion with the opening part is calculated according to the following formula (1). In formula (1), (L0*, a0*, b0*) represent the chromaticity of the opening part, and (L*, a*, b*) represent the chromaticity of the light-blocking part. The light source 100 is, for example, 20850 cd / m². 2 The white LED. The light source 100 is positioned at a distance of, for example, 5 mm from the decorative piece 1.

[0091] ΔE = ((L0* - L*) 2 + (a0*-a*) 2 + (b0*-b*) 2 ) 0.5 ・・・Form (1)

[0092] In this embodiment, the concealment layer 30 is a light diffusion layer 31. Since the concealment layer 30 is a light diffusion layer 31, the direction of light travels changes due to reflection and transmission in various directions within the concealment layer 30. Furthermore, by changing the direction of light travel within the concealment layer 30, the boundary between the concealment layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the concealment layer 30 covering the opening portion 22 can be blurred. Therefore, by using the decorative sheet 1 where the concealment layer 30 is a light diffusion layer 31, visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening portion 22 as seen from the surface of the concealment layer 30 can be suppressed.

[0093] As a coating for forming such a light-diffusing layer 31, silver ink printing is preferably used, for example, silver ink in which aluminum powder is dispersed in the ink carrier. Silver ink printing not only suppresses the visual recognition of the aforementioned boundary by having light reflectivity, but also has light transmittance, so it can also improve the brightness of the illumination pattern P displayed on the surface side of the decorative sheet 1 through the opening 22.

[0094] The total light transmittance Tt of the light diffusion layer 31 is preferably 30% or more and 99% or less. Since the total light transmittance Tt of the light diffusion layer 31 is 30% or more, it can suppress the decrease in brightness of the display surface of the decorative sheet 1 during illumination. The total light transmittance Tt can be measured using a haze meter according to ASTM D1003.

[0095] Decorative sheet 1 can be formed by printing. For opening 22, a light-shielding layer 20 and a masking layer 30 can also be printed on top of a printed mask pattern, and then formed by peeling off the mask. Opening 22 can also be formed by first printing the light-shielding layer 20 and the masking layer 30, and then using laser irradiation to form (remove) the pattern. From the viewpoint of easily preventing "pattern development" of opening 22, it is preferable to form the decorative sheet 1 entirely by printing.

[0096] Implementation Method 2 ( Figure 4 )

[0097] like Figure 4 As shown, the decorative sheet 2 of this embodiment differs from the decorative sheet 1 of the first embodiment in that it has a light diffusion layer 32 containing light interference pigment instead of a light diffusion layer 31. The other than this, the structure and its effects in the decorative sheet 2 are the same as those in the decorative sheet 1.

[0098] In this embodiment, the masking layer 30 is a light-diffusing layer 32 containing light interference pigment. In this embodiment, the light-scattering layer 32 containing light interference pigment, which corresponds to the light-scattering layer 31 in the first embodiment, contains light interference pigment. Since the light-scattering layer 32 containing light interference pigment contains light interference pigment, a glossy coating film with substrate masking properties can be obtained.

[0099] A glossy ink is used in the formation of a light-diffusing layer 32 containing light interference pigments. The glossy ink is an ink formed by dispersing glossy particles in a highly transparent binder. Examples of glossy particles contained in the glossy ink include pearlescent pigments, which are light interference pigments with a pearly luster. The pearlescent pigment is preferably a structure in which a metal oxide with a high refractive index is coated on a substrate with a low refractive index. The substrate is preferably mica, SiO2, Al2O3, etc. The metal oxide is preferably titanium oxide, iron oxide, etc. A transparent resin suitable for dispersing the pearlescent pigment is used as the transparent binder.

[0100] If the content of pearlescent pigment in the solid component of the glossy ink is 85 wt% or less, the film-forming and adhesion properties of the glossy ink become good. If the content of pearlescent pigment in the solid component of the glossy ink is 3 wt% or more, the illumination pattern P displayed on the surface of the decorative piece 2 by light passing through the opening 22 can be clearly and three-dimensionally seen, which is therefore preferred.

[0101] To form the light-diffusing layer 32 containing the light interference pigment, a coating solution is prepared by dissolving or dispersing one or more materials selected from the above-mentioned materials, along with various additives as needed, in a suitable solvent such as water or an organic solvent. Furthermore, the light-diffusing layer 32 containing the light interference pigment can be formed by coating the coating solution onto the light-shielding layer 20 and drying it using methods such as gravure printing, screen printing, or a reverse coating method using a gravure plate.

[0102] When using the aforementioned pearlescent pigment as the light interference pigment, the coating of the light diffusion layer 32 containing the light interference pigment is gray. For example, the light diffusion layer 32 of the masking layer 30 covers both the black light-blocking portion 21 and the white opening portion 22. At this time, because the coating of the light diffusion layer 32 containing the light interference pigment is gray, the black light-blocking portion 21 appears nearly gray when viewed from the surface of the masking layer 30. Similarly, because the coating of the light diffusion layer 32 containing the light interference pigment is gray, the white opening portion 22 appears nearly gray when viewed from the surface of the masking layer 30. This means that the chromaticity value ΔE of the masking layer 30 covering the light-blocking portion 21 and the masking layer 30 covering the opening portion 22 becomes smaller. Therefore, both the black light-blocking portion 21 and the white opening portion 22 appear nearly gray when viewed from the surface of the masking layer 30, making it difficult to see the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening portion 22 from the surface of the masking layer 30.

[0103] As described above, in the decorative sheet 101 of the reference embodiment without the shielding layer 30, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the opening portion 22 when the light source 100 is turned off is 69.0. In contrast, the decorative sheet 2 of this embodiment, which has a light-diffusing layer 32 containing light interference pigment as the shielding layer 30, can improve the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the shielding layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the shielding layer 30 covering the opening portion 22 to 17.4.

[0104] Implementation Method 3 ( Figure 5 )

[0105] The decorative piece 3 in this embodiment differs from the decorative piece 1 in the following ways: Figure 5 As shown, a color-correcting layer 33 replaces the light-diffusing layer 31. The decorative sheet 3, apart from this, has the same structure and effects as the decorative sheet 1.

[0106] In this embodiment, the masking layer 30 is a color-correcting layer 33. The color-correcting layer 33 is a layer whose color is similar to that of the translucent foam layer 10. In other words, the masking layer 30 in this embodiment is a color-correcting layer 33 with a small color difference ΔE from the translucent foam layer 10. The color-correcting layer 33 is, for example, white, similar to the high-brightness translucent foam layer 10. The color-correcting layer 33 can also be a glossy gray.

[0107] By using a color-tuning layer 33 with a small color difference ΔE between the masking layer 30 and the light-transmitting foam layer 10, for example, a color-tuning layer 33 with a color close to the high-brightness white light-transmitting foam layer 10 can cover the low-brightness black light-blocking portion 21. Therefore, for example, the color seen from the surface of the masking layer 30 of the black light-blocking portion 21 can be made close to the color of the white light-transmitting foam layer 10. Thus, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the masking layer 30 covering the light-blocking portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the opening 22 can be reduced.

[0108] The color-matching layer 33 is provided to cover the surface of the light-blocking layer 20. Therefore, at the light-blocking portion 21, a white color-matching layer 33 is superimposed on the low-brightness, for example, black light-blocking layer 20. Therefore, the white color-matching layer 33 can be seen from the surface side of the decorative sheet 3. However, since the color-matching layer 33 is provided on the opposite side of the incident surface for illumination of the light-blocking portion 21, that is, the exit side (the surface on the side of the concealment layer 30), the light-blocking property of the light-blocking portion 21 can be preserved, making the portion of the light-blocking portion 21 approximately white like the light-transmitting foam layer 10.

[0109] Preferably, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the opening 22 on the translucent foam layer 10 and the chromaticity value of the color-toning layer 33 covering the light-shielding portion 21 is 15 or less. Because the color difference ΔE between the opening 22 on the translucent foam layer 10 and the chromaticity value of the color-toning layer 33 is 15 or less, the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening 22 is not easily visible from the surface of the concealing layer 30. Therefore, visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening 22 as seen from the surface of the concealing layer 30 of the decorative sheet 3 can be suppressed.

[0110] Since the end face of the light-shielding portion 21 is visible, it appears as a black frame. Therefore, it is preferable to offset the color-tone layer 33 to conceal the end face of the light-shielding portion 21. Thus, the color-tone layer 33 is configured to have an end cover 34 that covers the end of the light-shielding portion 21 where the opening 22 is formed in the thickness direction (Z direction). By having the end cover 34, the color-tone layer 33 can embed the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening 22. Therefore, at the end of the light-shielding portion 21, which is easily identifiable as a boundary, the color seen from the surface of the black masking layer 30 of the light-shielding portion 21 can be made close to the color of the white translucent foam layer 10. Therefore, visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening 22 as seen from the surface of the masking layer 30 of the decorative sheet 3 can be suppressed.

[0111] Alternatively, the light-blocking portion 21 can also be formed by a light-blocking layer 20 stacked relative to the translucent foam layer 10. In this case, a step exists between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening 22. That is, it is believed that the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening 22 are easily visually distinguishable not only because of their different colors but also because of the presence of the step. However, by covering the end of the light-blocking portion 21 in the thickness direction with a color-matching layer 33, the color-matching layer 33 can conceal the step between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening 22. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the visual recognition of the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening 22 as seen from the surface of the concealing layer 30 of the decorative sheet 3.

[0112] As described above, in the decorative sheet 101 of the reference embodiment without the shielding layer 30, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the opening portion 22 when the light source 100 is turned off is 69.0. In contrast, the decorative sheet 3 of this embodiment, which has a color-tuning layer 33 as the shielding layer 30, can improve the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the shielding layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the opening portion 22 to 7.5.

[0113] Implementation Method 4 ( Figure 6 )

[0114] like Figure 6 As shown, the decorative sheet 4 of this embodiment differs from the decorative sheet 1 of the first embodiment and the decorative sheet 3 of the third embodiment in that the concealing layer 30 has both a light diffusion layer 31 and a color-tone layer 33. The other structures and their effects in the decorative sheet 4 are the same as those in the decorative sheet 1.

[0115] The masking layer 30 in this embodiment includes a color-tone layer 33 and a light-diffusing layer 31. The color-tone layer 33 covers the light-shielding layer 20. The light-diffusing layer 31 covers the color-tone layer 33 and the opening 22.

[0116] In the color-tuning layer 33 of this embodiment, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the opening 22 on the translucent foam layer 10 and the chromaticity value of the light-diffusing layer 31 on the color-tuning layer 33 covering the light-shielding portion 21 is 15 or less. Since the masking layer 30 is a color-tuning layer 33 with a small color difference ΔE compared to the translucent foam layer 10, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the masking layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the masking layer 30 covering the opening 22 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the masking layer 30 is a light-diffusing layer 31, the boundary between the masking layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the masking layer 30 covering the opening 22 can be blurred. Therefore, by having a decorative sheet 4 comprising a color-tuning layer 33 and a light-diffusing layer 31 in the masking layer 30, the visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening 22 as seen from the surface of the masking layer 30 can be further suppressed.

[0117] In this embodiment, the color-matching layer 33 is also provided such that it covers the end of the light-shielding portion 21 forming the opening 22 in the layer thickness direction. By covering the end of the light-shielding portion 21 with the color-matching layer 33, the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening 22 can be embedded. Therefore, at the end of the light-shielding portion 21, which is easily visible as a boundary, the color seen from the surface of the black-toned masking layer 30 of the light-shielding portion 21 can be made close to the color of the white-toned translucent foam layer 10. On this basis, the light-diffusing layer 31 covering the color-matching layer 33 can blur the boundary between the masking layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the masking layer 30 covering the opening 22. Therefore, the visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening 22 as seen from the surface of the masking layer 30 of the decorative sheet 4 can be further suppressed.

[0118] As described above, in the decorative sheet 101 of the reference embodiment without the shielding layer 30, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the opening portion 22 when the light source 100 is turned off is 69.0. In contrast, the decorative sheet 4 of this embodiment, which has a light-diffusing layer 32 containing light interference pigment as the shielding layer 30, can improve the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the shielding layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the shielding layer 30 covering the opening portion 22 to 4.4.

[0119] 5th implementation method ( Figure 7 )

[0120] like Figure 7 As shown, the decorative sheet 5 of this embodiment differs from the decorative sheet 4 of the fourth embodiment in that it has a translucent epidermal layer 40. Other than this, the structure and effects of the decorative sheet 5 are the same as those of the decorative sheet 4.

[0121] Decorative sheet 5 is a laminate. Decorative sheet 5 is a thin sheet (plate, film) with an extremely short (thickness, plate thickness, film thickness) length (thickness) in the Z direction relative to the plane (plate surface) extending along the X and Y directions. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the decorative sheet 5 has a light-transmitting foam layer 10, a light-blocking layer 20 covering the light-transmitting foam layer 10, a concealing layer 30 covering the light-blocking layer 20, and a light-transmitting skin layer 40 stacked relative to the concealing layer 30. That is, the decorative sheet 5 sequentially stacks the light-transmitting foam layer 10, the light-blocking layer 20, the concealing layer 30, and the light-transmitting skin layer 40. The light-transmitting foam layer 10 is located on the back side of the decorative sheet 5, and the light-transmitting skin layer 40 is located on the surface side of the decorative sheet 5.

[0122] A backlight 100 is provided on the back side of the translucent foam layer 10 to illuminate the decorative sheet 5 from the back side. The light source 100 emits light from the translucent foam layer 10 side toward the translucent skin layer 40 side. The operator can perceive the light emitted from the light source 100 that passes through the translucent foam layer 10, the light-shielding layer 20, the concealing layer 30, and the translucent skin layer 40 from the surface side of the decorative sheet 5.

[0123] Because the translucent foam layer 10 has high light transmittance, light emitted from the light source 100 can pass through to the light-shielding layer 20 side, increasing the brightness of the surface side of the decorative sheet 5. Therefore, when light is shone from the light source 100, the translucent foam layer 10 allows the operator to perceive necessary information from the surface side of the decorative sheet 5. Furthermore, because the translucent foam layer 10 is soft, the decorative sheet 5 has a soft tactile feel. Therefore, the translucent foam layer 10 provides a soft tactile feel to the decorative sheet 5 that the operator touches, improving comfort when operating the input device 50 (described later).

[0124] The light-shielding layer 20 has a light-shielding portion 21 and an opening 22. Furthermore, when the light-shielding layer 20 is illuminated from the back side of the decorative piece 5, light passing through the opening 22 corresponding to the shape of the illumination pattern P is displayed on the surface side of the decorative piece 5, thereby allowing the operator to visually identify the function of this area of ​​the input device 50, which will be described later.

[0125] The concealing layer 30 has the function of concealing the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening portion 22. The concealing layer 30 has a brightness that is between the color of the light-transmitting foam layer 10 and the color of the light-blocking portion 21.

[0126] The concealing layer 30 has higher light transmittance than the light-shielding portion 21. Therefore, the concealing layer 30 allows high-intensity light emitted from the light source 100 to pass through. Thus, light emitted from the light source 100 that corresponds to the shape of the lighting pattern P and passes through the opening 22 is displayed on the surface side of the decorative piece 5 through the concealing layer 30 and the translucent outer skin layer 40.

[0127] The translucent outer skin layer 40 is a layer of interior material, such as that of a vehicle, which serves as the "object on which the decorative piece 5 is installed." Furthermore, the outer surface of the translucent outer skin layer 40 becomes the exterior surface. In other words, the translucent outer skin layer 40 is used as a decorative element for the "object on which the decorative piece 5 is installed," serves to protect the surface of the decorative piece 5, and is also a part that comes into contact with the operator's fingers, etc.

[0128] There are no particular limitations on the material constituting the translucent skin layer 40. However, from the viewpoint of easily adjusting the total light transmittance Tt to the desired range, a resin sheet is preferred as the material for the translucent skin layer 40. Examples of resin sheets that can be used as the material for the translucent skin layer 40 include polyurethane sheets (TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer)), polyvinyl chloride sheets, mixed resin sheets of polyvinyl chloride and ABS resin, polypropylene sheets, polyethylene sheets, and olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPO) sheets.

[0129] In addition to resin sheets, materials used for the translucent outer skin layer 40 can include fabrics, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, artificial leather, or synthetic leather made from natural or synthetic fibers. From a design perspective, wrinkled patterns can be formed on the surface of the translucent outer skin layer 40. Textures such as leather grain or wood grain can be applied to the surface of the translucent outer skin layer 40 using silicone embossing devices that transfer textures from genuine leather, stone, or wood. Furthermore, from a damage prevention perspective, various coatings can be applied to the surface of the translucent outer skin layer 40. The translucent outer skin layer 40 can be colored. The coloring of the translucent outer skin layer 40 can be achieved by coloring the sheet itself or by layering colored layers.

[0130] The translucent epidermal layer 40 can be laminated by thermal lamination or bonded with an adhesive.

[0131] The total light transmittance Tt of the translucent outer skin layer 40 is preferably 10% or more. By making the total light transmittance Tt of the translucent foam layer 10 10% or more, the brightness of the decorative sheet 5 during illumination can be improved. The total light transmittance Tt of the translucent foam layer 10 is more preferably 20% or more, and even more preferably 30% or more.

[0132] Here, decorative sheets that emit light from the back side to the surface (display surface) are mostly used with a skin layer fixed to their surface. However, when a decorative sheet has a skin layer, compared to a decorative sheet without a skin layer, there is a tendency for reduced light transmittance and reduced brightness of the display surface. Conversely, if a skin layer with high light transmittance is used, although the brightness of the display surface increases during illumination, the boundary between the light-blocking part and the opening is easily visible from the surface of the skin layer.

[0133] However, the decorative sheet 5 has a medium-brightness concealing layer 30 that covers both the low-brightness light-blocking portion 21 and the high-brightness opening portion 22. This reduces the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the translucent skin layer 40 covering the light-blocking portion 21 and the chromaticity value of the translucent skin layer 40 covering the opening portion 22. The color difference ΔE is preferably 9.0 or less. By ensuring that the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the translucent skin layer 40 covering the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening portion 22 is 9.0 or less, the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening portion 22 is less visible from the surface of the translucent skin layer 40. Therefore, visual recognition of the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening portion 22 as seen from the surface of the translucent skin layer 40 of the decorative sheet 5 can be suppressed.

[0134] On the other hand, in the decorative sheet 5 of this disclosure, the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening portion 22 is not easily visible from the surface of the translucent skin layer 40. Therefore, even if a translucent skin layer 40 with higher transmittance is used, the situation where the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening portion 22 is easily visible from the surface of the translucent skin layer 40 can be suppressed. In other words, in the decorative sheet 5 of this disclosure, a translucent skin layer 40 with higher transmittance can be used. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a decorative sheet 5 in which the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening portion 22 is not easily visible from the surface of the translucent skin layer 40, and the brightness of the display surface is high during illumination.

[0135] The decorative sheet 5 may simultaneously have either a light diffusion layer 31 or a light diffusion layer 32 containing light interference pigments, as well as a color-mixing layer 33, on the concealing layer 30; alternatively, it may have only a light diffusion layer 31 and either a light diffusion layer 32 or a color-mixing layer 33 containing light interference pigments. In this case, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the translucent foam layer 10 and the chromaticity value of the color-mixing layer 33 is less than 15, making it difficult to see the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening 22 from the surface of the translucent skin layer 40. Therefore, visual recognition of the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening 22 as seen from the surface of the translucent skin layer 40 of the decorative sheet 5 can be suppressed.

[0136] When the decorative sheet 5 has a color-matching layer 33, it is preferable that the color-matching layer 33 covers the end of the light-blocking portion 21 that forms the opening 22 in the thickness direction. By covering the end of the light-blocking portion 21 that forms the opening 22 in the thickness direction, the color-matching layer 33 can embed the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening 22. Therefore, at the end of the light-blocking portion 21, which is easily visible as a boundary, for example, the color seen from the surface of the black-toned concealing layer 30 of the light-blocking portion 21 can be close to the color of the white-toned translucent foam layer 10.

[0137] Furthermore, when the decorative sheet 5 also has a light diffusion layer 31, the light diffusion layer 31 covering the color-correcting layer 33 can blur the boundary between the concealed layer 30 covering the light-shielding portion 21 and the concealed layer 30 covering the opening portion 22. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding portion 21 and the opening portion 22 as seen from the surface of the translucent skin layer 40 of the decorative sheet 5.

[0138] As described above, in the decorative sheet 101 of the reference embodiment without the shielding layer 30, the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light-shielding portion 21 measured on the surface of the translucent skin layer 40 and the chromaticity value of the opening portion 22 measured on the surface of the translucent skin layer 40 when the light source 100 is turned off is 9.2. In contrast, the decorative sheet 5 of this embodiment, which has a light-diffusing layer 32 containing light interference pigment and a light-diffusing layer 31 as the shielding layer 30, can improve the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light-shielding portion 21 measured on the surface of the translucent skin layer 40 and the chromaticity value of the opening portion 22 measured on the surface of the translucent skin layer 40 to 1.1.

[0139] On the other hand, in decorative sheet 101, when illuminated by light source 100, the luminance of translucent epidermal layer 40 is 173 cd / m². 2 In contrast, in decorative sheet 5, even if the total light transmittance Tt of the translucent outer layer 40 changes from, for example, 10% to 20%, "pattern development" can be suppressed. Therefore, in decorative sheet 5, when illuminated by light source 100, the brightness of the translucent outer layer 40 can be improved to 331 cd / m². 2 .

[0140] If the total light transmittance Tt of the decorative piece 5 is greater than 0.01%, it has good light transmission, allowing necessary information to be visually recognized from the translucent skin layer 40 side. The total light transmittance Tt of the decorative piece 5 at the opening 22 is preferably 0.02% or more, more preferably 0.5% or more, and even more preferably 1% or more. On the other hand, the decorative piece 5 is preferably such that, when not illuminated, the boundary between the light-blocking portion 21 and the opening 22 is not visible from the translucent skin layer 40 side. From this viewpoint, the total light transmittance Tt of the laminate is preferably 7% or less, more preferably 5% or less, and even more preferably 4% or less.

[0141] The Asker C hardness of the decorative sheet 5 is preferably 70 or less. If the Asker C hardness of the decorative sheet 5 is 70 or less, a soft touch can be maintained. The Asker C hardness of the decorative sheet 5 is preferably 60 or less, more preferably 50 or less, and even more preferably 40 or less. On the other hand, there is no particular limitation on the lower limit of the Asker C hardness of the decorative sheet 5. However, from the viewpoint of maintaining a certain mechanical strength, the Asker C hardness of the decorative sheet 5 is preferably 5 or more, more preferably 10 or more. A frame (sheet, film) made of resin, for example, supporting the light-transmitting foam layer 10, can be provided between the light-transmitting foam layer 10 and the light source 100 for the decorative sheet 5.

[0142] Implementation Method 6 ( Figure 8 )

[0143] This embodiment is an input device 50 equipped with the aforementioned decorative piece 5. The input device 50 includes the decorative piece 5 and a sensor piece 51 for detecting touch operations on the decorative piece 5. Figure 8 As shown, the sensor piece 51 is disposed, for example, on the back side of the decorative piece 5.

[0144] Since the input device 50 has the aforementioned decorative piece 5, the input device 50 can achieve the following: it can suppress the visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding part 21 and the opening part 22 as seen from the surface of the concealment layer 30 of the decorative piece 5, and it can detect touch operations on the decorative piece 5.

[0145] In the "decorative component" and "input device" disclosed herein, the structures shown in the embodiments can be freely combined without causing contradictions. For example, the translucent skin layer 40 in the decorative piece 5 of the fifth embodiment can be combined with any one of the first, second, and third embodiments. In addition, the input device 50 of the sixth embodiment can be combined with any one of the first to fifth embodiments.

[0146] In this disclosure, a touch sensor is described as an "input device". However, the "input device" of this disclosure can also be applied to a push-button switch that physically turns a power circuit on and off.

[0147] A display device according to one embodiment of this disclosure includes decorative sheets of embodiments 1 to 5 and a light source 100. When the concealed layer 20 side of the decorative sheet (1 to 5) is used as the surface side of the decorative sheet (1 to 5), the light source 100 is disposed on the back side of the decorative sheet (1 to 5) (see reference). Figures 3-7 Additionally, the decorative pieces and light sources have already been explained, so their descriptions are omitted here.

[0148] Since the display device has the aforementioned decorative pieces (1-5), it is possible to realize a display device that can suppress visual recognition of the boundary between the light-shielding part 21 and the opening 22 as seen from the surface of the concealment layer 30 of the decorative pieces (1-5).

[0149] One embodiment of the display device disclosed herein may be a display device in which a light source is disposed in an input device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure (see, for example, see...). Figure 8 ).

[0150] The above description uses the case where the translucent soft layer is a translucent foam layer as an example to illustrate a decorative component according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. However, the translucent soft layer of the decorative component according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to a translucent foam layer as long as it can give the decorative component a soft feel. For example, the translucent soft layer may also be a translucent rubber elastomer layer.

[0151] Among the transparent rubbers constituting the transparent rubber elastomer layer, examples include silicone rubber, polyurethane rubber, nitrile rubber, acrylic rubber, fluororubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, styrene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, butyl rubber, polyisobutylene, styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers, olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers, and polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomers. Silicone rubber is preferred.

[0152] Furthermore, in order to make the shielding layer easily possess a brightness intermediate between the color of the translucent rubber elastomer layer and the color of the light-blocking portion, the translucent rubber elastomer layer can be made of a high-brightness material with light transmittance Tt within the aforementioned range. It can be transparent, or appropriately colored as white, milky white, etc. In addition, the thickness and other properties can be as described in the translucent foam layer section.

[0153] Furthermore, as described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, but those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications can be made without substantially departing from the novel aspects and effects of the present invention. Therefore, all such modifications are included within the scope of the present invention.

[0154] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0155] 1 Decorative piece (First embodiment)

[0156] 2. Decorative piece (Second embodiment)

[0157] 3. Decorative piece (third embodiment)

[0158] 4. Decorative sheet (4th embodiment)

[0159] 5. Decorative piece (Fifth embodiment)

[0160] 10 Translucent foam layers

[0161] 20. Light-blocking layer

[0162] 21 shading part

[0163] 22 Opening

[0164] 30 Concealed Layers

[0165] 31 Light diffusion layer

[0166] 32. Light diffusion layer of light interference pigment

[0167] 33 Color Palette Layers

[0168] 34 End Covered Part

[0169] 40 Translucent epidermis

[0170] 50 Input Devices

[0171] 51 sensor chip

[0172] 100 light source

[0173] ΔE color difference

[0174] P Lighting Pattern

Claims

1. A decorative component comprising a light-transmitting soft layer, a light-shielding layer covering the light-transmitting soft layer, and a concealing layer covering the light-shielding layer. The light-shielding layer has a light-shielding portion and an opening. The light-shielding portion blocks light from shining from the translucent soft layer side to the concealed layer side, and the opening is formed through the light-shielding layer to allow light to pass through. The concealing layer has a brightness that is between the color of the translucent soft layer and the color of the light-blocking portion.

2. The decorative component according to claim 1, The concealing layer reduces the color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the concealing layer covering the light-blocking portion and the chromaticity value of the concealing layer covering the opening.

3. The decorative component according to claim 1, The surface side of the concealment layer also has a translucent epidermal layer.

4. A decorative component comprising a light-transmitting soft layer, a light-blocking layer covering the light-transmitting soft layer, a concealing layer covering the light-blocking layer, and a light-transmitting outer skin layer layered relative to the concealing layer. The light-shielding layer has a light-shielding portion and an opening. The light-shielding portion blocks light from shining from the translucent soft layer side to the concealed layer side, and the opening is formed through the light-shielding layer to allow light to pass through. The concealing layer has a brightness that is between the color of the translucent soft layer and the color of the light-blocking portion.

5. The decorative component according to claim 4, The color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light-transmitting epidermal layer of the light-shielding portion covered by the concealing layer and the chromaticity value of the light-transmitting epidermal layer of the opening portion covered by the concealing layer is 9.0 or less.

6. The decorative component according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The concealment layer is a light diffusion layer.

7. The decorative component according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The hidden layer is a color adjustment layer. The color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the color-correcting layer covering the light-blocking portion and the chromaticity value of the opening portion is 15 or less.

8. The decorative component according to claim 7, The color-correcting layer has an end-covered portion that covers the end of the light-blocking portion forming the opening in the layer thickness direction.

9. The decorative component according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The masking layer includes a color-correcting layer covering the light-blocking layer and a light-diffusing layer covering the color-correcting layer. The color difference ΔE between the chromaticity value of the light diffusion layer on the color-tuning layer covering the light-shielding portion and the chromaticity value of the light diffusion layer covering the opening portion is 15 or less.

10. The decorative component according to claim 9, The color-correcting layer has an end-covered portion that covers the end of the light-blocking portion forming the opening in the thickness direction.

11. The decorative component according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The total light transmittance of the light-transmitting soft layer is above 5% and below 80%.

12. The decorative component according to claim 9, The light diffusion layer is a glossy coating containing light interference pigments.

13. The decorative component according to claim 9, The total light transmittance of the light diffusion layer is above 30% and below 99%.

14. An input device comprising a decorative component according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and a sensor chip for a touch sensor for detecting touch operations on said decorative component.

15. A display device comprising a decorative member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and a light source disposed on the back side of the decorative member when the concealed layer side of the decorative member is set as the surface side of the decorative member.

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