US Patent 7205494 Switching device

A switching device includes a light emitting unit 11 for applying light to an operational button 1 having a side that is supported by a hinge 3 so that the operational button can shake is arranged in the vicinity of the hinge, and a light diffusion prism member 5 for diffusively reflecting the light emitted out of the light emitting unit 11 toward the operational button 1. As a result, a downsizing of the whole of the switching device can be achieved, and the switching device is suitable for providing uniform brightness over the whole surface of the operational button without any unevenness of the brightness of the operational button.