Illuminated switch

Claim 2

An illuminated switch comprising: an elastic surface illuminant layer; a conductive portion provided on a back surface of said elastic surface illuminant layer through an insulating layer; and a spring provided on a top surface of said elastic surface illuminant layer and having a click type transparent resin dome embossed into a dome shape with a transparent thermoplastic resin, the dome shaped portion of the spring being disposed so as to be positioned just above said conductive portion.

Claim 3

The illuminated switch according to claim 1, wherein said spring has a display portion comprising thermoplastic resin which is partially transparent to the top surface of said elastic surface illuminant layer.

Claim 4

The illuminated switch according to claim 2, wherein said spring has a display portion and said surface illuminant layer and a rear electrode layer underlying the surface illuminant layer are disposed on a portion positioned only just under said display portion.

Claim 5

The illuminated switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein said surface illuminant layer consists of an electro-luminescent element.

Claim 6

The illuminated switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein said surface illuminant layer consists of a surface light emitting diode.

Claim 7

The illuminated switch according to claim 1, wherein said spring has a display portion and said surface illuminant layer and a rear electrode layer underlying the surface illuminant layer are disposed on a portion positioned only just under said display portion.

Claim 8

The illuminated switch as set forth in claim 6, wherein said surface illuminant layer consists of an electro-luminescent element.

Claim 9

The illuminated switch as set forth in claim 6, wherein said surface illuminant layer consists of a surface light emitting diode.

Claim 10

The illuminated switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said surface illuminant layer consists of an electro-luminescent element.

Claim 11

The illuminated switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said surface illuminant layer consists of a surface light emitting diode.

Claim 12

An illuminated switch comprising: a display key; an illumination source comprised of an elastic surface illuminant layer; an insulating frame layer disposed adjacent to said illuminant layer; a conductive portion provided on said insulating layer on a back side of said elastic surface illuminant layer; and spring means including a click type transparent resin dome embossed into a dome shape spring portion with a transparent thermoplastic resin, said dome shaped spring portion being disposed so as to be positioned just above said conductive portion, wherein only said spring portion is disposed between said display key and said illuminant layer.

Claim 13

An illuminated switch comprising: a display key; an illumination source comprised of an elastic surface illuminant layer; an insulating frame layer disposed adjacent to said illuminant layer; a conductive portion provided on said insulating layer on a back side of said elastic surface illuminant layer; and spring means including a click type transparent resin dome embossed into a dome shape spring portion with a transparent thermoplastic resin, said dome shaped spring portion being disposed so as to be positioned just above said conductive portion, wherein only said spring portion is disposed between said display key and said illuminant layer.

Claim 14

The illuminated switch according to claim 11, wherein said spring has a display portion comprising thermoplastic resin which is partially transparent to the top surface of said elastic surface illuminant layer.

Claim 15

The illuminated switch according to claim 11, wherein said spring has a display portion and said surface illuminant layer and a rear electrode layer underlying the surface illuminant layer are disposed on a portion positioned only just under said display portion.

Claim 16

The illuminated switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said surface illuminant layer consists of an electro-luminescent element.

Claim 17

An illuminated switch comprising: a display layer; spring means including a click type transparent resin dome embossed into a dome shaped spring portion with a transparent thermoplastic resin, said dome shaped spring portion being part of a spring layer and being disposed adjacent to said display layer with no structural element disposed between said display key layer and said transparent resin dome; an illumination source consisting of an elastic surface illuminant layer providing substantially uniformly distributed illumination over a surface area, said illuminant layer being disposed adjacent to said dome shape spring portion with no structural element disposed between said spring layer and said illuminant layer; an insulating frame layer in contact with said illuminant layer; and a conductive portion layer provided on said insulating layer on a side of said insulating layer which is opposite said elastic surface illuminant layer, said dome shaped spring portion being disposed just above said conductive portion.

Claim 18

An illuminated switch comprising: a display layer; spring means including a click type transparent resin dome embossed into a dome shaped spring portion with a transparent thermoplastic resin, said dome shaped spring portion being part of a spring layer and being disposed adjacent to said display layer with no structural element disposed between said display key layer and said transparent resin dome; an illumination source consisting of an elastic surface illuminant layer providing substantially uniformly distributed illumination over a surface area, said illuminant layer being disposed adjacent to said dome shape spring portion with no structural element disposed between said spring layer and said illuminant layer; an insulating frame layer in contact with said illuminant layer; and a conductive portion layer provided on said insulating layer on a side of said insulating layer which is opposite said elastic surface illuminant layer, said dome shaped spring portion being disposed just above said conductive portion.

Claim 19

The illuminated switch according to claim 15, wherein said display layer has a display portion comprising thermoplastic resin which is partially transparent to the top surface of said elastic surface illuminant layer.

Claim 20

The illuminated switch according to claim 15, wherein said illuminant layer and conductive portion layer underlying the surface illuminant layer are disposed on a portion positioned under and aligned with said display portion.

Claim 21

The illuminated switch as set forth in claim 15, wherein said surface illuminant layer consists of an electro-luminescent element.