JP2008181709A - Sheet member for operating switch and operating switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet member for an operating switch capable of improving both intensity of light visible from an operating face side and detection accuracy of an electrostatic capacity detecting part, and yet easy to be formed thin. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet member 11 for an operating switch is provided with a surface operating part 14 having an operating face 11a, an electrostatic capacity detecting part 17a, and an EL light-emitting part 22a, so structured that light of the EL light-emitting part 22a transmits a translucent display part 16 of the surface operating part 14 and can be visually recognized from an operating face 11a side. The electrostatic capacity detecting part 17a and the EL light-emitting part 22a irradiating the translucent display part 16 are separated from each other positioned at different places in plane view and are jointed with the surface operating part 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation switch sheet member and an operation switch including an electrostatic capacitance detection unit capable of detecting an electrostatic capacity by a contact operation on the operation surface, and an EL light emitting unit capable of emitting light from the operation surface side. .

  Conventionally, there are many known operation switches configured such that a contact operation performed by bringing a finger close, in contact, or sliding is input to an internal circuit and various processes are executed. Yes. As such an operation switch, a switch that detects a contact operation as a change in capacitance has been proposed as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

Further, as an operation switch, there are many known switches configured to be able to emit light from the surface operation unit as in Patent Document 1. In such an operation switch, for example, an operation switch sheet member is provided with a display portion such as a letter, and a light source such as an LED disposed inside the operation switch emits light, and light is emitted from the display portion. Thus, it is easy to visually recognize the display portion of the operation switch.
JP 2006-128019 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, a display mask plate is disposed below the design plate, a light guide member is provided on the lower side, and a light source is provided on the lower side or the lateral side separately from the light guide member. And a detection electrode is provided below the light guide member. For this reason, a thickness and space for arranging a separately grounded light source are required, and the thickness of the operation switch is likely to increase. At the same time, since a large number of thick members are stacked, the detection accuracy of the electrostatic capacitance by the detection electrode is likely to be lowered.

  By the way, in recent years, the use of an EL (electroluminescence) sheet as a light source of such an operation switch has been studied. Since the EL sheet itself emits light evenly, it emits uniform light at a plurality of positions on the surface operation unit without providing a large number of LEDs or providing a light guide member for guiding light from the LEDs. It is possible to make it. Moreover, it is easy to form a thin wall.

  However, with an operation switch that detects a contact operation as a change in capacitance, it is not easy to dispose an EL sheet as a light source inside the operation switch. That is, since the EL sheet is configured to have electrodes provided on the entire surface on both the front and back surfaces, and to apply an alternating voltage between the electrodes, the light emitting layer disposed between the two electrodes emits light. Electrodes are arranged in a plane on the entire surface that emits light. For this reason, the detection accuracy of the capacitance detection unit is likely to be greatly lowered or impossible to detect due to the electrical influence of the EL sheet.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in the operation switch sheet member used for the operation switch in which the capacitance detection unit and the EL light emitting unit are arranged, the light intensity visually recognized from the operation surface side and the detection accuracy of the capacitance detection unit The operation switch is easy to improve at the same time and is easy to be formed thin, and the operation switch can easily improve the pressing feeling at the same time using the operation switch sheet member. Another issue is to provide

  The operation switch sheet member according to claim 1, which solves the above-described problem, is disposed on a surface operation portion having an operation surface on which a contact operation is performed, and on the surface of the surface operation portion opposite to the operation surface. A capacitance detection unit capable of detecting a contact operation on the operation unit as a change in capacitance; and an EL light emission unit disposed on the surface of the surface operation unit opposite to the operation surface. An operation switch sheet member configured such that light is transmitted through the translucent display unit of the surface operation unit and visible from the operation surface side, and irradiates the capacitance detection unit and the translucent display unit. The EL light emitting unit is separated from each other at different positions in plan view and is joined to the surface operation unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the operation switch sheet member, in addition to the configuration according to the first aspect, the surface operation portion includes an elastically deformable key sheet having the operation surface at a plurality of positions. And

  In addition to the structure of Claim 1 or 2, the sheet | seat member for operation switches of Claim 3 is the said EL light emission part which irradiates the said translucent display part of several positions, and / or the said operation of several positions. The capacitance detection unit corresponding to the surface is provided on a continuous base sheet.

  The operation switch sheet member according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration according to claim 3, the EL light emitting unit and the capacitance detection unit are provided on the same base sheet. And

  The operation switch sheet member according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration described in 3 or 4, the base sheet is composed of the key sheet.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the operation switch sheet member, in addition to the configuration according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the capacitance detecting unit and / or the EL light emitting unit is formed of a printing layer. It is characterized by.

  An operation switch according to a seventh aspect includes the operation switch sheet member according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, and a base portion that is spaced apart from the operation switch sheet member, An elastic dome having a hollow three-dimensional shape that can be elastically deformed and a plunger capable of pressing the elastic dome are disposed between the operation switch sheet member and the front base portion so as to face each other. When the is pressed, the elastic dome is configured to be elastically deformable by the plunger.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the capacitance detection unit and the EL light emitting unit that irradiates the translucent display unit are separated from each other in a plan view and joined to the surface operation unit. It is possible to suppress the electromagnetic influence of the EL light emitting unit on the capacitance detecting unit and to dispose the EL light emitting unit and the capacitance detecting unit close to the surface operation unit. For this reason, the EL light emitting unit can emit light at a position close to the surface operation unit, and the light visible from the operation surface side can be made stronger, and the capacitance detection unit can be contacted at a position close to the surface operation unit. The operation can be detected, and the detection accuracy of the capacitance detection unit is easily improved. At the same time, as a result of the EL light emitting portion and the capacitance contact portion being arranged close to the surface operation portion, the operation switch sheet member can be easily formed thin.

  According to the operation switch sheet member of the second aspect, since the surface operation unit is composed of a key sheet having operation surfaces at a plurality of positions, the electrostatic capacity detection unit and the EL light emitting unit are joined to the key sheet. For example, the distance between each operation surface and the capacitance detection unit and the EL light emitting unit can be made uniform, and the light intensity and the capacitance detection accuracy on each operation surface can be easily made uniform. Moreover, since the key sheet can be elastically deformed, it is possible to perform a pressing operation with a simple configuration, and each operation can be performed while uniformly improving the detection accuracy of the capacitance detection unit and the intensity of light emitted from the key sheet. A configuration capable of pressing the surface can be easily obtained.

  According to the operation switch sheet member according to claim 3, the EL light emitting unit that irradiates the translucent display unit at a plurality of positions and / or the capacitance detection unit corresponding to the operation surface at the plurality of positions, Since it is provided on the continuous base material sheet, it is easy to form the EL light emitting portions and the capacitance detecting portions at a plurality of positions uniformly and thinly. In particular, according to claim 4 or 5, the number of layers can be reduced by making the base sheet specific. Therefore, it is easy to reduce the thickness of the operation switch sheet member.

  According to the operation switch sheet member of the sixth aspect, since the capacitance detection unit and / or the EL light emitting unit is formed of the printing layer, the capacitance detection unit and / or the EL light emission unit is formed thinner. This makes it easier to reduce the thickness of the operation switch sheet member.

  According to the operation switch of the seventh aspect, the elastic dome and the plunger are arranged on the base portion side of the operation switch sheet member according to any one of the first to sixth aspects. Even if the operational feeling of the pressing operation is improved by this, the capacitance detection unit and the EL light emitting unit can be arranged close to the surface operation unit, and the intensity of light visually recognized from the surface side and the detection of the capacitance detection unit It is possible to improve accuracy.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Embodiment 1]

  1 to 4 show a part of the operation switch of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation switch according to the first embodiment includes a housing 10 having an opening 10 a and an operation panel 11 as an operation switch sheet member disposed in the opening 10 a of the housing 10. And a substrate 21 as a base portion disposed opposite to the operation panel 11 inside the housing 10.

  The operation panel 11 is provided with a plurality of pressing operation sections 15 that can be pressed and arranged in a vertical and horizontal direction, and a contact operation section 12 that can perform a contact operation is provided in a wide range of the operation panel 11 including the plurality of pressing operation sections 15. It has been. Here, all or part of the pressing operation unit 15 constitutes a part of the contact operation unit 12 and can be pressed and contacted. In addition, another auxiliary operation unit 13 capable of performing a contact operation and a pressing operation is provided at a position different from the contact operation unit 12 and the pressing operation unit 15 of the operation panel 11.

  The substrate 21 is provided with contact terminals 25 connected to a circuit (not shown) and spaced apart from each other at positions facing the full pressing operation unit 15 of the operation panel 11. Between the board | substrate 21, the press deformation | transformation part 23 for providing the operational feeling at the time of pressing operation while separating / contacting between the contact terminals 25 is provided.

  The operation panel 11 has a laminated structure, and a key sheet 14 as a surface operation unit having an operation surface 11 a of the contact operation unit 12 and the pressing operation unit 15, and an EL sheet 22 for illuminating the key sheet 14. A capacitance detection sheet 17 for detecting a contact operation to the contact operation unit 12 as a change in capacitance, and a plunger sheet 19 for pressing the pressing deformation unit 23 by a pressing operation to the pressing operation unit 15. Are laminated in order from the outermost side of the opening 10a of the housing 10 and are joined and integrated.

  Between the key sheet 14 and the EL sheet 22, between the EL sheet 22 and the capacitance detection sheet 17, and between the capacitance detection sheet 17 and the plunger sheet 19, respectively, by double-sided tapes 18 a, 18 b, and 18 c. The entire surface is closely bonded.

  The key sheet 14 of the operation panel 11 is made of a hard resin sheet formed into a flat plate shape using a resin that can transmit light and is elastically deformable, such as polycarbonate and PET. In this embodiment, the key sheet 14 preferably has a strength that can hold the shape of the operation panel 11 and can be pressed, and preferably has a thickness in the range of 0.075 mm to 1 mm, for example. In particular, a range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm is preferable. If it is too thin, the rigidity as the key sheet is not maintained, and the EL sheet 22 and the capacitance detection sheet 17 disposed below are not protected, and there is a risk of causing a functional failure due to damage such as deformation. On the other hand, if it is too thick, it cannot be elastically deformed and the pressing operation becomes difficult.

  The key sheet 14 is provided with the operation surface 11a of the contact operation unit 12 and the pressing operation unit 15 on the surface exposed from the opening 10a of the housing 10, and on the surface opposite to the operation surface 11a, A light shielding layer 14a made of a printing layer capable of blocking light is provided. At a predetermined position of the pressing operation unit 12 or the like, the light-transmitting display unit 16 can transmit light by removing the light-shielding layer 14a in various shapes such as characters and diagrams, that is, without the light-shielding layer 14a. Is formed. Here, the translucent display part 16 is provided with a colored translucent decorative print layer so that the translucent light is colored.

  The EL sheet 22 of the operation panel 11 has a base sheet 22b having a size including the positions of the translucent display sections 16 at a plurality of positions of the key sheet 14, and positions corresponding to the translucent display sections 16 of the base sheet 22b. And an EL light emitting unit 22a provided.

  The base material sheet 22b is formed from a material in which the capacitance detection accuracy by the capacitance detection sheet 17 is difficult to be reduced, and is made thinner with a uniform thickness. In this embodiment, the base sheet 22b is formed to be significantly softer than the key sheet 14 in order to make it difficult to inhibit the elastic deformation of the key sheet 14. As such a base material sheet 22b, various resin films, such as PET, can be used, for example.

  Although the EL light emitting unit 22a is not shown in detail, the EL light emitting unit 22a includes a pair of electrode layers disposed on or inside the base sheet 22b and extending in the plane direction, and a light emitting layer disposed between the pair of electrode layers. It has a multi-layer laminated structure. The electrode layer of each EL light emitting unit 22a is connected to a light emitting circuit (not shown) of the substrate 21, and emits light by applying an alternating voltage between the electrodes, and the translucent display unit 16 can be irradiated.

  The capacitance detection sheet 17 of the operation panel 11 includes a base sheet 17b having a size including the position of the contact operation unit 12 of the key sheet 14 and a range corresponding to the contact operation unit 12 of the base sheet 17b. An EL light emitting unit 22a of the EL sheet 22 and a capacitance detecting unit 17a carried at different positions that do not overlap in plan view are provided.

  In this embodiment, the base sheet 17b is formed thinner to form the operation panel 11 thinner. Further, in order to make it difficult to inhibit the elastic deformation of the key sheet 14, the base sheet 17 b is formed to be significantly softer than the key sheet 14. As such a base material sheet 17b, various resin films, such as polyester films, such as PET, a polyurethane film, a polycarbonate film, can be used, for example.

  The capacitance detection unit 17a is configured by, for example, providing a plurality of detection portions 17c that can detect a change in capacitance close to each other in a non-connected state using a conductive coating layer on the base material sheet 17b. . The shape of the capacitance detection unit 17a can be appropriately set according to the purpose. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, as a shape in which a plurality of fan-shaped detection portions 17c are arranged in a circle around an arbitrary center position. May be. Each detection portion 17c is connected to a capacitance detection circuit by a lead wire 17d.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the electrostatic capacitance detection unit 17 a is not provided at a position overlapping the EL light emitting unit 22 a of the EL sheet 22 in plan view, and the electrostatic capacitance detection sheet 17 is not static. The capacitance detection unit 17a and the EL light emitting unit 22a of the EL sheet 22 are provided at different positions that do not overlap each other.

  In this case, the interval W2 between the electrostatic capacitance detection unit 17a and the EL light emitting unit 22a that are adjacent to each other may be within a range that can secure a distance that can ensure insulation, for example, 0.3 mm or more. In this embodiment, if a highly insulative tape is used as the double-sided tape 18b that joins between the capacitance detection sheet 17 and the EL sheet 22, the capacitance detection unit 17a, the EL light emission unit 22a, Can be easily isolated, and the interval W2 between the capacitance detecting unit 17a and the EL light emitting unit 22a can be easily formed shorter.

  Further, in the case where the capacitance detection unit 17a is not provided in the arrangement portion of the EL light emitting unit 22a as described above, a gap is formed in the capacitance detection unit 17a. At this time, the capacitance detection unit The gap W1 between 17a is preferably narrower than the width of the finger, for example, 10 mm or less.

  Such a conductive coating layer constituting the capacitance detection unit 17a and the lead wire 17d can be formed by a printing layer using a conductive ink such as carbon ink or silver-based ink. A conductive ink having transparency in which indium tin powder is dispersed may be used.

  At this time, all of the detection site 17c and the lead wire 17d of the capacitance detection unit 17a may be printed on one surface of the base sheet 17b, but the detection site 17c and the lead wire adjacent to each other are different surfaces. It is also possible to print such that

  Furthermore, the conductive coating layer can be formed by other methods such as vapor deposition of a conductive metal such as indium tin oxide and etching into a predetermined shape.

  The plunger sheet 19 of the operation panel 11 has a flat sheet-shaped portion 19b having a size including the pressing operation portions 15 at a plurality of positions of the key sheet 14, and a pressing operation on the surface of the sheet-shaped portion 19b facing the pressing deformation portion 23. And a plurality of plunger portions 19a each projecting at a position corresponding to the portion 15. The sheet-shaped part 19 b of the plunger sheet 19 covers the entire surface of the capacitance detection unit 17 a of the capacitance detection sheet 17.

  The plunger sheet 19 is formed from silicone rubber, polyurethane, or the like. Moreover, what provided the plunger parts 19a, such as acrylic, an epoxy, and polyester, on polyester films, such as PET, may be used. The sheet-shaped portion 19b is formed to be thinner in order to form the operation panel 11 to be thin, and is formed to be significantly softer than the key sheet 14 in order to make it difficult to inhibit the elastic deformation of the key sheet 14. is doing.

  A frame-plate-shaped reinforcing plate 28 is joined to the peripheral edge portion of the operation panel 11 having such a configuration from the plunger sheet 19 side by a double-sided tape 29, and the rigidity of the operation panel 11 is improved. In addition, the operation panel 11 is fixed to the housing 10 by fixing the reinforcing plate 28 to the fixed portion 31 provided in the vicinity of the opening 10 a of the housing 10.

  On the other hand, the substrate 21 as the base portion is made of a hard resin plate and is fixedly attached to the housing 10. A large number of circuits (not shown) are provided on the substrate 21, and the contact terminals 25 are provided at positions corresponding to the pressing operation unit 15.

  Further, the pressing deformation portion 23 provided between the substrate 21 and the operation panel 11 includes a metal dome 27 as an elastic dome having a hollow three-dimensional shape that can be elastically deformed at each position corresponding to the pressing operation portion 15. ing. The metal dome 27 is disposed on the substrate 21 so as to protrude toward the operation panel 11, and is covered from the convex surface side by a flexible resin dome fixing sheet 24 that can be attached to the substrate 21. In this way, it is fixed to the surface of the substrate 21.

  The metal dome 27 is always in contact with one of the contact terminals 25 at the peripheral edge, and is disposed in a state of being separated from the other contact terminal 25 at the center, and is pressed by the plunger portion 19 a, whereby the metal dome 27 contacts the contact terminal 25. It is comprised so that between may be connected.

  Next, the operation of the operation switch having such a configuration will be described.

  First, in order to perform a pressing operation, a part of the plurality of pressing operation portions 15 of the operation panel 11 is pressed from the operation surface 11 a side of the key sheet 14. Then, the entire operation panel 11 is elastically deformed by the elasticity of the key sheet 14, the plunger portion 19a of the plunger sheet 19 is lowered, and the pressing deformation portion 23 is pressed by the plunger portion 19e. Then, the metal dome 27 is elastically deformed together with the dome fixing sheet 24, and the contact terminals 25 are electrically connected by the metal dome 27 in a state where a feeling of clicking operation is obtained. Various processes are executed by this pressing operation. In addition, the distance at the time of this pressing operation is fine, and pressing operation is implemented in a short time.

  In order to perform a contact operation, a finger is brought close to, in contact with, or slid on the operation surface 11 a of the key sheet 14 in the contact operation unit 12 of the operation panel 11. Then, a change in capacitance is detected by the capacitance detection unit 17 of the capacitance detection sheet 17 via the key sheet 14 and the base material sheet 22b of the EL sheet 22, and on the substrate 21 via the lead wire 17d. , The contact operation is recognized, and various processes are executed.

  Further, in order to emit light from the translucent display unit 16 of the operation panel 11 at a predetermined time set in advance, a voltage is applied from the light emitting circuit to the EL light emitting unit 22a of the EL sheet 22 at a predetermined time. The EL light emitting part 22a is caused to emit light.

  When the EL light emitting unit 22a emits light just below the key sheet 14, this light is emitted to the outside from the translucent display unit 16 provided in a desired shape so as to be translucent, and the shape and color of the translucent display unit 16 are externally applied. Visible. In the light shielding layer 14 a of the key sheet 14, no light is emitted from the key sheet 14 to the outside. Further, since the portion other than the operation panel 11 is covered with the housing 10, light is not emitted to the outside. Even when the EL light emitting unit 22a emits light, the above-described pressing operation and contact operation can be performed in the same manner.

  According to the operation switch operation panel 11 as described above, the capacitance detection unit 17a of the capacitance detection sheet 17 and the EL light emitting unit 22a of the EL sheet 22 are electrically isolated at different positions in plan view. Since the EL light emitting unit 22a and the electrostatic capacitance detecting unit 17a can be disposed close to the surface operation unit, the EL light emitting unit 22a and the electrostatic capacitance detecting unit 17a can be disposed close to the electrostatic capacity detecting unit 17a. The electromagnetic influence of the EL light emission part 22a can be suppressed.

  Therefore, the EL light emitting unit 22a can emit light at a position close to the key sheet 14, and the light visible from the operation surface 11a side of the key sheet 14 can be easily made stronger. At the same time, the capacitance detecting unit 17a can make the key sheet. The contact operation can be detected at 14 proximity positions, and the detection accuracy of the capacitance detection unit 17a can be easily improved. As a result of the EL light emitting portion 22a and the capacitance contact portion 17a being arranged close to the key sheet 14, the operation panel 11 can be formed thinner.

  Further, according to the operation panel 11, since the key sheet 14 provided with the operation surface 11a is provided at a plurality of continuous positions, compared to the case where the operation surface is provided on each surface by arranging a plurality of keys, If the number of member parts can be reduced and the capacitance detection sheet 17 and the EL sheet 22 are joined to the key sheet 14, the space between the operation surface 11a at a plurality of positions, the capacitance detection unit 17a, and the EL light emission unit 22a can be obtained. The distance between the operation surface 11a at each position and the capacitance detection unit 17a and the EL light emitting unit 22a can be surely uniform, so that the light intensity and electrostatic capacity at each operation surface 11a can be assured. It is easy to improve the capacity detection accuracy.

  Further, according to this operation panel 11, since the key sheet 14 to be contacted is made of hard resin, the EL light emitting unit 22a and the capacitance detection unit 17a are disposed close to the operation surface 11a of the operation panel 11. However, the EL sheet 22a and the capacitance detector 17a can be sufficiently protected by the key sheet 14, and it is easy to ensure durability. Moreover, since the EL light emission part 22a and the electrostatic capacitance detection part 17a do not need to have shape retainability, these can also be formed thinner.

  In addition, since the key sheet 14 can be elastically deformed, it can be fixed with the reinforcing plate 28 while improving the detection accuracy of the capacitance detection unit 17a and the intensity of light emitted from the key sheet 14. The pressing operation of each operation surface 11a can be made possible. Moreover, since the pressing operation is possible even when the key sheet 14 is partially fixed and supported, the support structure of the key sheet 14, the EL light emitting unit 22a, and the capacitance detecting unit 17a can be simplified, and the operation panel can be operated. 11 can be made thinner.

  Furthermore, according to this operation panel 11, since the capacitance detection part 17a is formed by printing, it is easy to make the operation panel 11 thinner by making the capacitance detection sheet 17 thinner.

  In the operation switch having the operation panel 11, the capacitance detection unit 17 a and the EL light emitting unit 22 a are attached to the key sheet 14 even if the metal dome 27 and the plunger unit 19 a improve the operation feeling of the pressing operation. Since they are arranged close to each other, it is possible to simultaneously improve the intensity of light visually recognized from the operation surface 11a side and the detection accuracy of the capacitance.

  The first embodiment can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the first embodiment, the example in which the operation panel 11 includes the contact operation unit 12 and the pressing operation unit 15 has been described. However, the present invention is applied to an operation switch member in which the pressing operation unit 15 is not provided. It is also possible to do.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the operation panel 11 is provided with the plunger sheet 19 and the plunger sheet 19 is provided with the plunger part 19a for pressing the pressing deformation part 23. For example, the plunger part is provided on the pressing deformation part 23. Provided, the plunger sheet of the operation panel is configured in a flat sheet shape, or the plunger sheet is not provided, and when the pressing operation part 15 is pressed, the plunger part provided in the pressing deformation part 23 by the operation panel is provided. The metal dome 27 may be pressed by this plunger portion.

Further, the pressing deformation portion 23 is configured by fixing the metal dome 27 with the dome fixing sheet 24. For example, a metal layer is deposited on the inner surface of the elastic dome formed of an elastically deformable resin. Alternatively, a conductive carbon layer may be printed. Further, when the contact terminal 25 is not provided, it is also possible to form the pressing deformation portion with an elastic dome made of resin without providing the metal dome 27 or the metal vapor deposition layer.
[Embodiment 2]

  FIG. 5 shows the second embodiment.

  The operation switch of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the operation switch of the first embodiment except that the stacking order of the EL sheet 22 and the capacitance detection sheet 17 of the operation panel 11 is different. Here, the capacitance detection sheet 17 is disposed on the substrate 21 side of the key sheet 14, the EL sheet 22 is disposed on the substrate 21 side of the capacitance detection sheet 17, and the plunger sheet 19 is disposed on the substrate 21 side of the EL sheet 22. Is arranged.

  Even with the operation panel 11 and the operation switch having such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the EL light emitting unit 22a of the EL sheet 22 is not provided at a position overlapping the capacitance detecting unit 17a of the capacitance detecting sheet 17 in plan view. By providing a reliable insulating layer between the capacitance detection unit 17a of the sheet 17 and the EL light emission unit 22a of the EL sheet 22, the EL light emission unit 22a is provided at a position overlapping the capacitance detection unit 17a. For example, the EL light emitting part 22 a may be provided on the entire surface of the EL sheet 22.
[Embodiment 3]

  FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment.

  In the operation switch and operation panel 11 according to the third embodiment, instead of laminating the EL sheet 22 provided with the EL light emitting portion 22a on the base sheet 22b, the EL layer 32 made of a printing layer is supported on the key sheet 14. It is composed. Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

  Here, the EL layer 32 is printed on the surface of the key sheet 14 on the substrate 21 side, and the surface of the decorative print layer of the translucent display unit 16 has a multilayer structure in which the EL light emitting unit 32a can emit light. It is printed. Lead wires from the EL light emitting portion 32a to a light emitting circuit (not shown) are printed on the surface of the light shielding layer 14a.

  Further, an insulating printed layer 32b having sufficient insulation is printed on the surface of the light shielding layer 14a where at least the EL light emitting portion 32a is not provided, preferably on the entire surface on the substrate 21 side.

  Even with the operation panel 11 having such a configuration and the operation switch including the operation panel, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

In addition, since the EL light emitting unit 32a is composed of a printing layer, the EL light emitting unit 32a can be easily formed thinner on the key sheet 14, and the operation panel 11 can be made thinner.
[Embodiment 4]

  FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment.

  In the operation switch and operation panel 11 according to the fourth embodiment, instead of laminating the EL sheet 22 and the capacitance detection sheet 17 on the key sheet 14, the composite sheet 34 carrying the EL light emitting unit 34a and the capacitance detection unit 34b. Are stacked on the key sheet 14. Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

  Here, the EL sheet 34a is printed on one surface of the base material sheet 34c made of PET or the like, and the composite sheet 34 is formed by printing the capacitance detecting section 34b on the other surface. .

  Even with the operation panel 11 having such a configuration and the operation switch including the operation panel, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In addition, the EL light emitting unit 34a and the capacitance detecting unit 34b are formed of a print layer and can be easily formed thin, and the EL light emitting unit 34a and the capacitance detecting unit 34b are located at different positions on the same base sheet 34c. Therefore, the operation panel 11 can be formed with a smaller number of layers compared to the case where the EL light emitting unit and the capacitance detecting unit are provided on different base sheets as in the first and second embodiments. It can be formed thin.

  Furthermore, since both the EL light emitting unit 34a and the capacitance detecting unit 34b can be arranged closer to the operation surface 11a of the key sheet 14, the intensity of light and the capacitance that can be seen from the operation surface side of the translucent display unit 16 can be reduced. It is possible to further improve the detection accuracy at the same time.

In the fourth embodiment, the EL light emitting unit 34a and the capacitance detecting unit 34b are provided on different surfaces of the same base material sheet 34c, thereby making it easy to prevent the electrical influence between them. It is also possible to provide the EL light emitting unit 34a and the capacitance detecting unit 34b on the same surface with an interval serving as an insulating unit.
[Embodiment 5]

  8 and 9 show the fifth embodiment.

  In the operation switch and operation panel 11 of the fifth embodiment, instead of laminating the EL sheet 22 and the capacitance detection sheet 17 on the key sheet 14, the EL light emitting unit 35a and the capacitance detection unit 35b made of a printing layer are used as keys. The sheet 14 is carried on the substrate 21 side.

  Further, the operation panel 11 is not provided with a structure that is fixed to the housing 10 by the reinforcing plate 28, and is attached to the substrate 21 by a spacer 37 made of a flexible material such as a foamed material such as urethane, silicone rubber, or thermoplastic elastomer. It is supported.

  Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

  Here, the EL light emitting unit 35a is printed on the surface of the decorative print layer of the translucent display unit 16, and the capacitance detecting unit 35b is printed on the surface of the light shielding layer 14a. The capacitance detection unit 35b is provided at a position different from each other with a gap W2. Further, the entire surface of the key sheet 14 including the surfaces of the EL light emitting part 35a and the capacitance detecting part 35b on the side of the substrate 21 is covered with an insulating print layer 35c having a sufficient insulating property. The insulation detecting layer 35c is securely insulated from the capacitance detecting unit 35b.

  Even with the operation panel 11 having such a configuration and the operation switch including the operation panel, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In addition, since the EL light emitting unit 35a and the capacitance detecting unit 35b are formed of a printing layer and are easily thinned, the EL light emitting unit 35a and the capacitance detecting unit 35b are provided on the key sheet 14, so that fewer layers are stacked. The operation panel 11 can be formed by a number, and can be formed thinner, and at the same time, the intensity of light visually recognized from the operation surface side of the translucent display unit 16 and the detection accuracy of the capacitance are further improved. It is possible.

  In addition, since the EL light emitting unit 22a and the capacitance detecting unit 17a are separated from each other by the insulating print layer 35c, the EL light emitting unit 22a and the capacitance detecting unit 17a can be arranged in close proximity even if the EL light emitting unit 22a and the capacitance detecting unit 17a are arranged close to each other. It is possible to prevent an electrical influence on the capacitance detection unit 17a due to an alternating current applied to the light emitting unit 22a, and to detect a change in capacitance with high accuracy.

It is a front view of the operation switch of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 1 of the same Embodiment 1. FIG. It is an exploded view of the operation switch of the first embodiment. It is a front view of the electrostatic capacitance detection part of the operation panel of the same Embodiment 1. It is an exploded view of the operation switch of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is an exploded view of the operation switch of Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is an exploded view of the operation switch of Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is an AA cross-section equivalent view of Drawing 5 of Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is an exploded view of the operation switch of Embodiment 5 of the invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Housing | casing 11 Operation panel 12 Contact operation part 14 Key sheet 15 Press operation part 16 Translucent display part 17 Electrostatic capacity detection sheet 17a Electrostatic capacity detection part 19 Plunger sheet 19a Plunger part 21 Substrate 22 EL sheet 22a EL light emission part

Claims (7)

A surface operation unit having an operation surface on which a contact operation is performed, and a capacitance that is disposed on the surface of the surface operation unit opposite to the operation surface and that can detect a contact operation on the surface operation unit as a change in capacitance A detection unit; and an EL light-emitting unit disposed on the surface of the surface operation unit opposite to the operation surface, and the light from the EL light-emitting unit transmits the light-transmitting display unit of the surface operation unit and the operation surface. An operation switch seat member configured to be visible from the side,
For the operation switch, wherein the capacitance detection unit and the EL light emitting unit that irradiates the translucent display unit are separated from each other at different positions in plan view and joined to the surface operation unit Sheet member.   The operation switch sheet member according to claim 1, wherein the surface operation unit includes an elastically deformable key sheet having the operation surface at a plurality of positions.   The EL light emitting unit that irradiates the translucent display unit at a plurality of positions and / or the capacitance detection unit corresponding to the operation surface at a plurality of positions is provided on a continuous base sheet. The operation switch sheet member according to claim 1 or 2.   The operation switch sheet member according to claim 3, wherein the EL light emitting unit and the capacitance detecting unit are provided on the same base sheet.   5. The operation switch sheet member according to claim 3, wherein the base sheet is made of the key sheet.   The operation switch sheet member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the capacitance detection unit and / or the EL light emitting unit includes a printing layer. The operation switch sheet member according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and a base portion that is spaced apart from and opposed to the operation switch sheet member,
Between the operation switch sheet member and the base portion, an elastic dome having a hollow three-dimensional shape that can be elastically deformed and a plunger capable of pressing the elastic dome are arranged to face each other,
The operation switch, wherein the elastic dome is configured to be elastically deformable by the plunger when the surface operation unit is pressed.

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