JP2000057904A - Multidirectional switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidirectional switch which is inexpensive, easy to change switching direction of contact points, and easy to downside as well. SOLUTION: A multidirectional switch includes a base plate 2, which has a plurality of neighboring pairs of contact patterns 21 at small intervals, and a key top 3, which opposes the contact patterns 21 and is set so as to be inclinable to any directions around a certain point on one side of the base plate 2. A conductive rubber 4 in a form of an endless belt is attached to the base plate side of the key top 3 and when the key top 3 is inclined to a specific direction, a specific pair of contact patterns 21 are electrically connected together by the conductive rubber 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-directional switch, and more particularly to a multi-directional switch. One of the contacts belongs to a multi-directional switch in which the contact is closed and the contact is opened when the key top is replaced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional multidirectional switches are shown in FIGS.
There are the following.

A multidirectional switch 1 shown in FIG. 4 includes a printed circuit board 2, a key top 3 arranged on a top surface of the printed circuit board 2 by a case 6 so as to be tiltable in any direction about a point, and a key top 3. The key top 3 includes a plurality of single switches 11 provided on the printed circuit board 2 so as to face the outer peripheral portion. In this multi-directional switch 1, when the key top 3 is tilted in a specific direction, one of the single switches 11 in that direction is turned on by the key top 3, and when the key top 3 is returned to the original position, the single The switch 11 is turned off.

A multidirectional switch 1 shown in FIG. 5 has a pair of adjacent comb-like patterns (contact patterns) spaced apart from each other by a small distance.
A printed circuit board 2 having a plurality of pairs 21; and a plurality of pairs of comb-shaped patterns 21 arranged on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 2 so that the printed circuit board 2 can be tilted in any direction about one point on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 2. Key top 3 and a circular sheet-shaped contact sheet 12 made of conductive rubber and arranged on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 2 and having a plurality of contact portions 121 opposed to a plurality of pairs of comb-shaped patterns 21 at intervals. Some include. In this multidirectional switch 1,
When the key top 3 is tilted in a specific direction, the contact portion 121 of the contact sheet 12 is pressed by the key top 3,
When the pressed contact portion 121 electrically connects the pair of comb-shaped patterns 21 facing each other to each other and returns the key top 3 to the original position, the electrical connection of the pair of comb-shaped patterns 21 is performed. Is to be unraveled.

[0005]

However, the multidirectional switch of the type shown in FIG. 4 requires a single switch in the number of tilting directions of the key tops for opening and closing the contacts, so that the manufacturing cost is high, and In order to change the contact opening / closing direction, it is necessary to change the arrangement of the single switch. Therefore, it is not possible to easily change the contact opening / closing direction, and it is difficult to reduce the size because the single switch is provided. There's a problem.

Similarly, in a multi-directional switch of the type shown in FIG. 5, contact portions must be formed on the contact sheet by the number of tilting directions of the key tops for opening and closing the contacts. Since the contact sheet must be replaced, the contact opening / closing direction cannot be easily changed, and in order to prepare a plurality of types of contact sheets for changing the contact opening / closing direction, it is necessary to form the contact sheet. Because the cost of the mold is high, the direction of opening and closing the contacts cannot be easily changed in terms of cost. Further, in the multi-directional switch of the type shown in FIG. 5, the contact portion of the contact sheet must be formed in a dome shape. Therefore, it is not easy to reduce the size of the contact sheet. Is also difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a multidirectional switch that can easily and inexpensively change the opening and closing direction of a contact and that can be easily reduced in size.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate having a plurality of pairs of contact patterns adjacent to each other at a slight distance from each other, and a plurality of contact patterns centered on one point on one surface of the substrate. A multi-directional switch that is disposed on one surface of the substrate so as to be capable of tilting in the direction, and includes a key top that faces the plurality of pairs of contact patterns. Is provided, and a specific pair of contact patterns are electrically connected to each other by the conductive rubber when the key top is tilted in a specific direction, thereby obtaining a multidirectional switch.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the multidirectional switch according to the first aspect, wherein the contact pattern is a comb-like pattern.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the key top is substantially disk-shaped, and the conductive rubber is arranged in a circular shape. Switch is obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the dip switch for connecting and disconnecting the pair of contact patterns is connected to the pair of contact patterns. The described multidirectional switch is obtained.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a click plate is interposed between the substrate and the key top. The multidirectional switch described in (1) is obtained.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a multidirectional switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a plan view, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line aa of FIG. FIG. 3A is a bottom view, FIG. 3B is a side view, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a printed circuit board of the multi-directional switch shown in FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a multidirectional switch 1 according to the present embodiment comprises a printed circuit board 2 and a key top 3.
, Conductive rubber 4, click plate 5, and case 6.

On the upper surface of the printed board 2, eight pairs of comb-shaped patterns 21, which are one of the paired contact patterns, are formed. In each pair of comb patterns 21, the comb patterns 21 having the same shape are formed so as to be adjacent to each other with a slight space therebetween so as to mesh with the portions corresponding to the teeth of the comb. These eight pairs of comb-shaped patterns 21 are arranged at equal intervals along a circumference around a point on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 2. Also, a pair of comb patterns 2
One of them is connected to a dip switch (selection switch) 22 formed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 2, and the other is connected to ground (not shown). A click plate 5 is provided at the center of the upper surface of the printed circuit board 2.

The key top 3 is substantially disk-shaped, and has a protruding leg 31 formed at the center of the lower surface thereof, and a pair of projecting stoppers 32 formed on the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the key top 3. 8 pairs are formed. The pair of stoppers 32 are arranged along the radial direction of the key top 3 so as to sandwich the conductive rubber 4. Also, these pairs of stoppers 32
It is arranged so as to be located between a pair of adjacent comb patterns 21. Therefore, these pairs of stoppers 32 prevent simultaneous pressing of adjacent pairs of comb patterns 21. The key top 3 having the above configuration is arranged on a click plate 5 provided at the center of the upper surface of the printed circuit board 2. Also, this key top 3
It is urged by an urging member such as a coil spring (not shown) to maintain neutrality.

The conductive rubber 4 is formed in an endless belt shape.
The key top 3 is fixed in a circular shape on the surface facing the printed circuit board 2. A switch is composed of the conductive rubber 4 and the pair of comb patterns 21 described above. The conductive rubber 4 is
When the key top 3 is tilted in a specific direction, the key top 3 is pressed against a specific pair of comb patterns 21 in that direction, and the pair of comb patterns 21 are connected to each other. That is, the contact of the switch is closed. When the key top 3 returns to the neutral position from this state, the conductive rubber 4 separates from the pair of comb patterns 21 and the pair of comb patterns 21
The connection between them is broken. That is, the contact of the switch is opened.

The click plate 5 gives the operator a click feeling when the key top 3 is pressed, and is disposed at the center of the upper surface of the printed circuit board 2 as described above.

The case 6 has a through hole 61 through which the key top 3 passes, and covers the printed circuit board 2 with the upper portion of the key top 3 protruding through the through hole 61. In addition, the case 6 slidably supports the key top 3 in a peripheral portion of the through hole 61, so that the leg 31 of the key top 3 is not displaced from the click plate 5. As a result, the key top 3 can be tilted in any direction about one point on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 2 (the vertex of the click plate 5).

As described above, in the multidirectional switch 1 of the present embodiment, since the dip switch 22 is connected to the comb pattern 21, the dip switch 22 is set to o.
The contact opening / closing direction can be changed only by n and off.

Of course, even when the dip switch is not provided, the contact opening / closing direction can be changed easily and cheaply by changing the comb pattern 21 of the printed circuit board 2.

Further, since a single switch or a contact sheet is not used as in the prior art, and the endless belt-shaped conductive rubber 4 is provided on the side surface of the printed circuit board of the keyboard 3, the structure is provided.
The miniaturization of the multidirectional switch 1 can be easily performed.

In the present embodiment, the keyboard 3 is formed in a disk shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The keyboard may be formed in a polygonal shape or the like. It may be arranged in a polygon or the like in correspondence.

[0025]

According to the multidirectional switch of the present invention, the opening and closing directions of the contacts can be changed easily and inexpensively.

Further, the multidirectional switch of the present invention can be easily reduced in size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a multi-directional switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a plan view, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in the a line.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a key top of the multi-directional switch shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A is a bottom view and FIG. 2B is a side view.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a printed circuit board of the multi-directional switch shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional multidirectional switch;
(A) is a plan view, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb of (a).

FIG. 5 shows another example of a conventional multidirectional switch;
(A) is a plan view (with the key top removed),
(B) is a sectional view taken along line cc of (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multidirectional switch 2 Printed circuit board (substrate) 21 Comb pattern (contact pattern) 22 Dip switch 3 Key top 31 Leg 32 Stopper 4 Conductive rubber 5 Click plate 6 Case 61 Through hole

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A substrate having a plurality of pairs of contact patterns adjacent to each other at a slight interval, and disposed on one surface of the substrate so that the substrate can be tilted in any direction about one point on the one surface of the substrate. In the multidirectional switch including a key top facing the plurality of pairs of contact patterns, an endless belt-shaped conductive rubber is provided on a side surface of the substrate of the key top, and the key top is tilted in a specific direction. A multidirectional switch, wherein a specific pair of contact patterns are sometimes electrically connected to each other by the conductive rubber. 2. The multidirectional switch according to claim 1, wherein said contact pattern is a comb pattern. 3. The multidirectional switch according to claim 1, wherein the key top has a substantially disk shape, and the conductive rubber is arranged in a circular shape. 4. The multidirectional switch according to claim 1, wherein a dip switch for connecting and disconnecting the pair of contact patterns is connected to the pair of contact patterns. 5. The multidirectional switch according to claim 1, wherein a click plate is interposed between the substrate and the key top.