Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7026563?dq=5,266,072
Timestamp: 2014-09-02 21:19:28
Document Index: 481623839

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 22', 'arts 5', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'arts 22', 'art 22', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 26']

Patent US7026563 - Switch-device sheet - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA switch-device sheet comprising: a soft and elastic sheet body (5) having operation parts (5 a) for operating contacts of a switch device; and a light guiding member (6) containing an optical fiber and being partially or completely embedded and wired in the sheet body (5), the light guiding member receiving...http://www.google.com/patents/US7026563?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7026563 - Switch-device sheetAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7026563 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/075,751Publication dateApr 11, 2006Filing dateMar 10, 2005Priority dateJun 19, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asEP1376166A2, EP1376166A3, EP1376166B1, US6878892, US7002087, US20030234168, US20050150752, US20050151098Publication number075751, 11075751, US 7026563 B2, US 7026563B2, US-B2-7026563, US7026563 B2, US7026563B2InventorsMamoru Miyako, Keiji NagayaOriginal AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki SeisakushoExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (12), Referenced by (3), Classifications (9), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSwitch-device sheetUS 7026563 B2Abstract A switch-device sheet comprising: a soft and elastic sheet body (5) having operation parts (5 a) for operating contacts of a switch device; and a light guiding member (6) containing an optical fiber and being partially or completely embedded and wired in the sheet body (5), the light guiding member receiving light at one end (6 a) and emitting light at the other end (6 b). Therefore, the whole of the switch-device sheet (4) is flexible, and further the light guiding member (6) may be wired, as desired, outside or in the sheet body (5), while allowing for the size and wiring configuration.
a soft and elastic sheet body including an operation part for operating contact of a switch device; and a light guiding member including an optical fiber and being embedded and wired in the sheet body, the light guiding member receiving light at one end thereof and emitting light at the other end. Aspect 2. The switch-device sheet according to the aspect 1, wherein the optical fibers includes a core coated with a coating, and a part of the coating is removed from the core at the other end of the light guiding member by grinding, and light is emitted from the coating removed part of the light guiding member. Aspect 3. The switch-device sheet according to the aspect 1, wherein the light guiding member includes a plurality of the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are bonded together, except at least one portion of the light guiding member to be bent. Aspect 4. The switch-device sheet according to the aspect 1, wherein the light guiding member is formed so that a plurality of the optical fibers are arranged into a strip form and bonded together, and in this state, is branched out into plural sections by tearing the bonded optical fibers. Aspect 5. The switch-device sheet according to the aspect 1, wherein a surface of the light guiding member is painted white or metallic tone. Aspect 6. The switch -device sheet according to the aspect 1, wherein a light guiding member is partially embedded in the sheet body. Aspect 7. The switch -device sheet according to the aspect 1, wherein a light guiding member is completely embedded in the sheet body. Aspect 8. A light guiding device comprising:
a sheet body being made of a soft and elastic material and including operation parts for operating contacts of a switch device; and a light guiding member made of a soft and elastic material of a high optical transmittance, the light guiding member being integral with the sheet body and forming a light guiding path in the sheet body. Aspect 11. The switch-device sheet according to the aspect 10, wherein the light guiding member is embedded in the sheet body. Aspect 12. The switch-device sheet according to the aspect 10, wherein the light guiding member is exposed to an exterior from the sheet body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an overall switch device which is a first embodiment of the invention.
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a sheet body 22 of a switch-device sheet 21 is made of a soft and elastic material, such as a silicone rubber, as in the case of the sheet body 5. Operation parts 22 a are provided at plural positions (5 positions, for example) dispersedly laid out over the entire surface of the switch-device sheet, as in the case of the operation parts 5 a. An embedding hole 22 b is formed in a right end part of the sheet body 22. A holder part 22 c, shaped like a reversed U, is provided near (on the left side in the figure) the embedding hole 22 b. A semicylinrdical-shape part 22 d is provided at a position in a left end part of the sheet body 22. Holder parts 22 e and 22 f, each shaped like a reversed U, are formed on both sides of the protruded part 22 d. A light guiding member 23, as shown also in FIG. 5, is formed with a plurality of optical fibers 24, which are similar to the optical fibers of the light guiding members 6 already described. In each optical fiber 24, as shown in FIG. 6, a core 24 a is coated with a coating 25. An optical refractive index of the coating 25 is small, while that of the core 24 a is large. Light passing through the core 24 a is totally reflected at an interface between the coating and the core 24 a. The light guiding member 23 is preferably constructed such that the optical fibers 24 are arranged into a strip form shown in FIG. 5, and are bonded together by adhesive. In this case, those optical fibers 24 are gathered into a cylindrical form at the right end (one end) 23 a of the light guiding member 23, and are bonded together there at except a part 23 b. The part 23 b of the light guiding member is bent to have a reversed L shape, as will be described later. Thus, the optical fibers of the light guiding member 23 are bonded together there at except the bent part 23 b. The optical fibers 24 of the light guiding member 23 are not bonded also at a part 23 c near the right end 23 a, and are gently bent in a state that those fibers are arranged to be flat, as will be described later. Accordingly, the optical fibers of the light guiding member 23 are not bonded also at the bent part 23 c. At the left end (the other end) 23 d of the light guiding member 23, only an upper part of the coating 25 of the optical fibers 24 is cut out by grinding as shown in FIG. 7 to thereby form a light emitting part 26.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5975711Jun 9, 1997Nov 2, 1999Lumitex, Inc.Integrated display panel assembliesUS6045233 *Jan 6, 1998Apr 4, 2000Sony CorporationLight guiding deviceUS6084190 *Jan 14, 1998Jul 4, 2000Sunarrow Co., Ltd.Illuminated keypad key and method of manufacture thereofUS6467924 *Apr 16, 2001Oct 22, 2002Michael ShipmanKeyboard having illuminated keysUS6561660 *Jun 26, 2001May 13, 2003Wintek CorporationLight guiding device of a liquid crystal displayUS6789910 *Apr 11, 2001Sep 14, 2004Semiconductor Energy Laboratory, Co., Ltd.Illumination apparatusDE3522717A1Jun 25, 1985Oct 30, 1986Gartner & Co JDevice for illuminating indoor spaces with natural daylightEP0478105A2Apr 2, 1991Apr 1, 1992Poly-Optical Products, Inc.Fiber optic backlighting panelJP2001067145A Title not availableJP2004055396A Title not availableJPH0511117A Title not availableJPH05337674A Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7309856 *Mar 20, 2006Dec 18, 2007Orion Electric Co., Ltd.Electronic apparatus with light-shielding plate interposed between light guidesUS7394034 *Mar 6, 2006Jul 1, 2008Trw Automotive Electronics & Components Gmbh & Co. KgElectric push-button switch with lighting arrangementUS7982149 *Sep 29, 2008Jul 19, 2011Microsoft CorporationMechanical architecture for display keyboard keys* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification200/310, 200/314International ClassificationH01H13/702, H01H9/00Cooperative ClassificationH01H13/702, H01H2219/06, H01H2219/0621, H01H2219/062European ClassificationH01H13/702Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 11, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Sep 9, 2009FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google