Key switch device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11004628-B2
Application number	US-201716482906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2017
Priority date	Mar 15, 2017
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A key switch device includes a base including an opening in a central part thereof; a light guide including an elastic body receiving portion, the light guide being supported by the base to be disposed in the opening; a button attached capable of approaching and separating from the base to cover the light guide; an elastic body disposed between the elastic body receiving portion and a lower surface of the button, the elastic body biasing the button in a separating direction where the button is separated from the base; a fixed contact piece including a fixed contact, the fixed contact piece being attached to the base; and a movable contact piece, which is attached to the base, including a movable contact to be brought into contact with the fixed contact when the button is moved toward the base in an approaching direction where the button approaches the base.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A key switch device comprising:
a base including an opening in a central part thereof;
a light guide including an elastic body receiving portion, the light guide being supported by the base to be disposed in the opening;
a button attached capable of approaching and separating from the base to cover the light guide;
an elastic body of which a lower end abuts on the elastic body receiving portion of the light guide, the elastic body being disposed between the elastic body receiving portion and a lower surface of the button, and the elastic body biasing the button in a separating direction where the button is separated from the base;
a fixed contact piece including a fixed contact, the fixed contact piece being attached to the base; and
a movable contact piece, which is attached to the base, including a movable contact to be brought into contact with the fixed contact when the button is moved toward the base in an approaching direction where the button approaches the base.

2. The key switch device according to claim 1 , wherein
an upper end of the light guide is disposed below an upper end of the base.

3. The key switch device according to claim 2 , wherein
the light guide includes a light guide main body having a truncated cone shape, and the elastic body receiving portion protruding in a radial direction thereof from the light guide main body.

4. The key switch device according to claim 1 , wherein
a recess where a LED is to be disposed is formed in a lower portion of the light guide.

5. The key switch device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a slider, which is provided in vicinity of the movable contact piece, including a pressing portion, the slider moving in the approaching direction in response to pressing of the button and being supported by the base to be slidable in the separating direction and the approaching direction, wherein
the movable contact piece includes a press receiving portion to be pressed by the pressing portion, and
the slider is configured to be biased by the press receiving portion toward the approaching direction after the slider moves toward the approaching direction and the pressing portion passes over the press receiving portion, so that the slider collides with the base or a part of the button, generating a sound.

6. The key switch device according to claim 2 , wherein
a recess where a LED is to be disposed is formed in a lower portion of the light guide.

7. The key switch device according to claim 3 , wherein
a recess where a LED is to be disposed is formed in a lower portion of the light guide.

8. The key switch device according to claim 2 , further comprising a slider, which is provided in vicinity of the movable contact piece, including a pressing portion, the slider moving in the approaching direction in response to pressing of the button and being supported by the base to be slidable in the separating direction and the approaching direction, wherein
the movable contact piece includes a press receiving portion to be pressed by the pressing portion, and
the slider is configured to be biased by the press receiving portion toward the approaching direction after the slider moves toward the approaching direction and the pressing portion passes over the press receiving portion, so that the slider collides with the base or a part of the button, generating a sound.

9. The key switch device according to claim 3 , further comprising a slider, which is provided in vicinity of the movable contact piece, including a pressing portion, the slider moving in the approaching direction in response to pressing of the button and being supported by the base to be slidable in the separating direction and the approaching direction, wherein
the movable contact piece includes a press receiving portion to be pressed by the pressing portion, and
the slider is configured to be biased by the press receiving portion toward the approaching direction after the slider moves toward the approaching direction and the pressing portion passes over the press receiving portion, so that the slider collides with the base or a part of the button, generating a sound.

10. The key switch device according to claim 4 , further comprising a slider, which is provided in vicinity of the movable contact piece, including a pressing portion, the slider moving in the approaching direction in response to pressing of the button and being supported by the base to be slidable in the separating direction and the approaching direction, wherein
the movable contact piece includes a press receiving portion to be pressed by the pressing portion, and
the slider is configured to be biased by the press receiving portion toward the approaching direction after the slider moves toward the approaching direction and the pressing portion passes over the press receiving portion, so that the slider collides with the base or a part of the button, generating a sound.

11. The key switch device according to claim 6 , further comprising a slider, which is provided in vicinity of the movable contact piece, including a pressing portion, the slider moving in the approaching direction in response to pressing of the button and being supported by the base to be slidable in the separating direction and the approaching direction, wherein
the movable contact piece includes a press receiving portion to be pressed by the pressing portion, and
the slider is configured to be biased by the press receiving portion toward the approaching direction after the slider moves toward the approaching direction and the pressing portion passes over the press receiving portion, so that the slider collides with the base or a part of the button, generating a sound.

12. The key switch device according to claim 7 , further comprising a slider, which is provided in vicinity of the movable contact piece, including a pressing portion, the slider moving in the approaching direction in response to pressing of the button and being supported by the base to be slidable in the separating direction and the approaching direction, wherein
the movable contact piece includes a press receiving portion to be pressed by the pressing portion, and
the slider is configured to be biased by the press receiving portion toward the approaching direction after the slider moves toward the approaching direction and the pressing portion passes over the press receiving portion, so that the slider collides with the base or a part of the button, generating a sound.

13. The key switch device according to claim 5 , wherein
the slider includes the pressing portion in a central part thereof and guided protrusions in both ends thereof, and
the button includes guide grooves each of which accommodates each of the guided protrusions and guides movements of each of the guided protrusions in the separating direction and the approaching direction.

14. The key switch device according to claim 8 , wherein
the slider includes the pressing portion in a central part thereof and guided protrusions in both ends thereof, and
the button includes guide grooves each of which accommodates each of the guided protrusions and guides movements of each of the guided protrusions in the separating direction and the approaching direction.

15. The key switch device according to claim 9 , wherein
the slider includes the pressing portion in a central part thereof and guided protrusions in both ends thereof, and
the button includes guide grooves each of which accommodates each of the guided protrusions and guides movements of each of the guided protrusions in the separating directio

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Izawa Kazuhira
• Naka Mamiko
• Nagata Kenshi
• Kishi Shigenobu

Classifications

• H01H13/83 Primary

  characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements · CPC title

• H01H13/78 Primary

  characterised by the contacts or the contact sites · CPC title

• H01H13/24

  with means for introducing a predetermined time delay · CPC title

• H01H9/16

  Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off" · CPC title

• H01H2219/062

  Light conductor · CPC title