IP Library Granted Patent US 10,504,669
Granted Patent B2
US 10,504,669 · App. 15/451,488 · Granted Dec 10, 2019

Display device and manipulation switch equipped with it

Inventor: Hiromi Motoi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
H01H13/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,504,669
App. No.
15/451,488
Granted
Dec 10, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A illuminating body, which is part of a display device provided in a vehicle-mounted manipulation switch, is formed by bonding a first illuminating member and a second illuminating member together so as to form a clearance between the first illuminating member and the second illuminating member. The first illuminating member is made of a resin having high light permeability such as, for example, a milky synthetic resin. The second illuminating member is made of a resin having low light permeability. The synthetic resin of the second illuminating member is in a color similar to the color of the manipulation surface of the manipulation button. The color of the synthetic resin is, for example, a dim smoke color. The second illuminating member has a graphic display part fitted into the display window and also has a flange formed at the bottom end of the graphic display part.

Claims (18)

1. A manipulation switch, comprising:

a case;

a manipulation button that is movably fixed to the case, the manipulation button having a display window;

an illuminating body that is affixed to the manipulation button and illuminates the display window of the manipulation button; and

a light source; wherein

the illuminating body has a first illuminating member made of a resin having high light permeability, the first illuminating member being disposed close to the light source, and a second illuminating member made of a resin having low permeability, the second illuminating member being disposed close to the display window,

a light guiding member is incorporated in the optical path between the light source and the illuminating body; and

the first illuminating member and the second illuminating member are integrally formed together so that a first clearance is formed between the first illuminating member and the second illuminating member at least in an optical path extending from the light source, and a second clearance is formed between the light guiding member and the illuminating body so that when the manipulation button is pressed, the illuminating body does not abut the upper end of the light guiding member, and

wherein the first illuminating member and the second illuminating member are formed in double molding and integrally connected to each other by legs integrally formed at position that is not on the optical path,

an inclined surface or a curved surface that is used to diffuse light is formed on a surface of the first illuminating member in the optical path, the surface facing the second illuminating member, and

an inclined surface or a curved surface that is used to condense light is formed on a surface of the second illuminating member in the optical path, the surface facing the first illuminating member.

2. The manipulation switch according to claim 1 , wherein the second illuminating member is made of a resin in a color similar to a color of a surface of the manipulation button.

3. The manipulation switch according to claim 1 , wherein the second illuminating member has

a graphic display part having the same shape as the display window, and

a flange integrally formed at a bottom end of the graphic display part, the flange being attached to a rear surface of the manipulation button of the manipulation switch.

4. The manipulation switch according to claim 1 , wherein:

the manipulation button is swingably incorporated into the case, and

an inclined surface is formed on the upper end surface of the light guiding member.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 31, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 048206/0922 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2017
From: MOTOI, HIROMI
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041480/0557 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-043919 · Mar 7, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170256370A1 · Sep 7, 2017