JP4104212B2 - Compound switch device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement for improving the visibility of a composite switch device, in particular, a composite switch device in which switches having different operation forms are integrated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the increasing comfort of automobiles, electronic devices to be mounted have been diversified and multifunctional. In particular, an efficient layout of various electronic devices is important around the driver's seat where space is limited, and various arrangement methods have been proposed. One of the items regarded as important when performing this layout is the visibility of a plurality of switches for operating each electronic device, particularly the visibility of the function display of the switches. The most common function display of a switch is to perform a fixed function display on the operation knob surface of the switch. In addition, when it cannot be displayed directly on the operation knob or when the operation knob is small, it may be fixedly displayed around the switch. FIG. 5 is an example showing a switch layout as described above, and shows a front view of a control switch unit 100 of an air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as an air conditioner) installed in an automobile. The control switch unit 100 includes, as push switches, blow mode selection switches 102a to 102e for selecting an air outlet of an air conditioner, a rear window defogger switch 104, an inside air circulation switch 106a, an inside / outside air mixing switch 106b, an air conditioner switch 108a, an economy air conditioner. In addition to the switch 108b, an auto mode switch 110a for automatically selecting an air outlet and an air volume selection and an OFF switch 110b for canceling the auto mode are arranged so as to maintain the vehicle interior at a set temperature. On the other hand, as the dial switch, a temperature setting switch 112 for setting the temperature, an air volume selection switch 114 for selecting the air volume, and the like are arranged.
[0003]
These switches have built-in lighting devices so that good visibility can be provided even during night driving. For example, in the push switch, the design mark 116 indicating the function formed on the surface of the switch knob is illuminated in conjunction with the ON operation of the width lamp, and when each push switch is turned on, the indicator 118 on the switch knob. A light source different from that for illumination of the design mark 116 is incorporated in the push switch so that is lit. The dial switch has a selection scale (temperature, air volume, etc.) 120 around it, and an indicator (pointer) 122 that points to the selection scale on the dial knob. Illuminated.
[0004]
Thus, by illuminating the design mark indicating the function of the switch and the indicator, good visibility is ensured and the operability is improved.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, it is desired that the control switch unit is further configured to save space. What has been proposed for this demand is a composite switch device in which dial switches are arranged around a knob of a push switch and integrated. According to such a composite switch device, the switch arrangement space can be greatly reduced. However, since the operation axis of the push switch and the operation axis of the dial switch are the same, it is difficult to sufficiently and appropriately illuminate the design marks and indicators for indicating the function display and operation state of each switch. In other words, since the dial switch operating shaft (rotating shaft) is present at the center of the switch knob, it is difficult to uniformly illuminate the entire design mark on the switch knob. Become. For this reason, there is a problem that a shadow due to the operation axis is always formed and visibility is lowered. In addition, in order to clearly indicate the operation state of the switch, it is necessary to illuminate the indicator with higher brightness than the design mark, and a separate light source is required. There was a problem.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a composite switch device that can uniformly illuminate a design mark and illuminate an indicator with high luminance.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a composite switch device in which various types of switches having different operation forms are integrated, and a push switch fixed to a substrate and a push switch can be pressed. a hollow switch knob, and the design plate disposed in the switch knob surface, provided in the switch knob, and a push switch unit having a light source to illuminate the design plate, and rotatable around the switch knob a dial knob disposed, a fixed contact fixed to the substrate, and the movable contact fixed to the dial knob, provided on the fixed contact, a first contact portion annular, provided on the movable contact , a second contact portion which is slidably and rotatably connected to the first contact portion, the rotating together with the dial knob rotation degree of the dial knob with respect to the design plate And to indicators, is fixed to the dial knob, the connection between the first contact portion and second contact portion, possess a light source for illuminating the indicator, a dial switch unit for selecting an item by rotation degree of the dial knob It is characterized by including these.
[0008]
According to this configuration, the design plate of the knob of the push switch is illuminated almost uniformly by the light source inside the hollow switch knob without being affected by other members, and the indicator is illuminated by a light source different from the light source. Is done. The dial knob indicator is illuminated by a light source that is built in a dial knob disposed around the switch knob and rotates together with the dial knob. Therefore, the indicator can be illuminated with high brightness separately from the design mark.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of the composite switch device 10 of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are side sectional views cut at different positions. In each figure, ribs and the like are actually formed in order to maintain the strength of each member, but some of them are omitted for simplification of the drawings. As shown in FIG. 4, the composite switch device 10 of the present embodiment is an integrated push type switch and dial rotation type switch. A push switch unit 12 is arranged in the center, and the periphery of the switch unit 12. The dial switch unit 14 is arranged on the front side. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the composite switch device of the present embodiment is applied to a part of operation switches of an automobile air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as an air conditioner).
[0011]
The characteristic matter of this embodiment is that the inside of the switch knob of the push switch portion is hollow, the light source that illuminates the design plate arranged on the surface of the switch knob in the hollow portion, and the indicator that indicates the operation state of the switch knob And an indicator that indicates the degree of rotation of the dial knob relative to the design on the design plate that rotates together with the dial knob inside the dial knob of the dial switch portion arranged around the switch knob. A light source that illuminates the area is arranged.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 2, a push switch body 18 and a dial switch fixed contact 20 are fixed to the substrate 16 of the composite switch device 10. A bulb 26 is fixed on the substrate 16 in the substantially central portion of the composite switch device 10 as a light source for illuminating the design plate 24 fixed to the surface of the switch knob 22 for pressing the push switch body 18 from the back surface. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, the switch knob 22 has a substantially bowl shape with a hollow inside and an opening at one end, and a design plate 24 is supported in the opening. On this design plate, as shown in FIG. 4, a design mark “PUSH-AUTO” indicating the function of the push switch main body 18 and items selectable by the dial switch unit 14, in the case of FIG. A selection item (temperature) or the like when performing the process is formed of a transparent resin or the like, and allows the design mark to shine through the light from the bulb 26.
[0013]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed contact 20 has a cylindrical portion 20b on the inner peripheral portion of the ring-shaped contact portion 20a. A guide groove that can be engaged with a guide key 22 a formed on the side surface of the switch knob 22 is formed on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 20 b. The switch knob 22 is supported by the engagement of the guide key 22a and the guide groove, and the switch knob 22 slides smoothly in the direction of the double arrow A in FIG. The push switch body 18 can be pushed straight down on the bottom surface. In the present embodiment, two pairs of guide keys 22a and guide grooves are shown, but one pair or three or more pairs are appropriately selected according to the size of the switch knob 22.
[0014]
Further, since the switch knob 22 is hollow and is supported by the cylindrical portion 20b of the fixed contact 20, and the valve 26 is disposed on the inner side thereof, the valve 26 has a dial switch portion. The light from the bulb 26 can be evenly applied to the back surface of the design plate 24 without being affected by the components. As a result, the design mark on the design plate 24 is illuminated with a good design mark without a shadow or the like being transferred, thereby improving the visibility of the design mark.
[0015]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, an indicator 28 is formed on the design plate 24 to indicate that the push switch body 18 has been turned ON. The indicator 28 is composed of a light guide lens 30 fixed to the switch knob 22 and movable together with the switch knob 22, and an LED 32 fixed on the substrate 16. In the present embodiment, the switch body 18 is an example using a manual operation automatic return type switch. When the auto mode circuit is closed by a single pressing operation, the LED 32 emits light simultaneously with the switch knob 22 at the position shown in FIG. The light guided by the returned light guide lens 30 causes the indicator 28 to emit light. Thereafter, when the switch knob 22 is pressed again, the auto mode circuit is opened and the LED 32 is turned off. When a residual switch is used for the switch body 18, together with the switch knob 22, the light guide lens 30 comes closest to the LED 32 emitting light when the light guide lens 30 is pushed down, and the light is sent to the indicator 28. A guiding structure may be used. In this case, the light from the LED 32 can be guided to the surface of the indicator 28 more efficiently.
[0016]
On the other hand, a contact portion 36a of a movable contact 36 of the dial switch portion is connected to the contact portion 20a of the fixed contact 20 by a pressing plate 34 having a substantially U-shaped cross section so as to be slidable and rotatable. Similar to the fixed contact 20, the movable contact 36 also has a cylindrical portion 36 b on the ring-shaped inner periphery. A connecting member 40 that supports the dial knob 38 of the dial switch portion is fixed to the cylindrical portion 36b. In the present embodiment, a plurality of ribs 38 a are formed on the inner wall surface of the dial knob 38 and are fixed to the connecting member 40. The connecting member 40 also has a substantially ring shape having a cylindrical portion so that the rotation of the dial knob 38 can be transmitted to the movable contact 36.
[0017]
In the case of the present embodiment, the dial knob 38 rotates around the push switch portion 12 as described above, but the design plate fixed to the switch knob 22 of the push switch portion 12 as shown in FIG. An indicator 42 indicating the degree of rotation with respect to 24 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the indicator 42 includes a light guide lens 44 built in a part of the dial knob 38 and an LED 48 of an LED holder 46 fixed to a part of the connecting member 40. . As described above, since the dial knob 38, the connecting member 40, and the movable contact 36 are fixedly connected to each other, the indicator 42 can accurately indicate the degree of rotation of the movable contact 36. That is, the indicator 42 can accurately indicate the degree of rotation with respect to the design plate 24 fixed to the switch knob 22 connected to the fixed contact 20 by the guide key 22a so as to be manually operable only in the direction of the double arrow A. In the present embodiment, ON / OFF of the automatic control of the air conditioner can be switched by turning ON / OFF the push switch unit 12. Moreover, the set temperature of the automatic control of an air conditioner can be adjusted by rotating the dial switch part 14. Therefore, the operation required for automatic control can be operated with the same operation member, so that the operability is improved. In the present embodiment, the switching of the automatic control state of the air conditioner and the adjustment of the set temperature during the automatic control are combined, but the present invention is not limited to this. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the temperature which is the selection item of the dial switch part 14 is displayed on the design plate 24 of the push switch part 12, when selecting a selection item around a dial knob as shown in FIG. Compared with this, the required space can be reduced, so that more efficient use of the space can be performed.
[0018]
Thus, according to the composite switch device 10 of the present embodiment, a plurality of types of switch operations can be performed in a space-saving manner, and the design plate 24 on the central push switch unit 12 can be illuminated uniformly. it can. Moreover, it becomes possible to make the indicator 42 of the dial switch part 14 light-emit with high brightness | luminance, and it can improve visibility.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 3, the composite switch device 10 configured as described above is arranged with the dial switch unit 14 protruding from the decorative plate 50 (for example, a decorative panel of an air conditioner).
[0020]
In the present embodiment, an example in which the composite switch device 10 is applied to a control switch for an air conditioner of an automobile has been described. The effect of can be obtained.
[0021]
Furthermore, the structure of the composite switch device 10 shown in the present embodiment is an example, and the switch knob of the push switch is hollow and includes a light source for design plate illumination inside, and a dial disposed around the switch knob. The same effect can be obtained if the structure has an indicator that rotates together with the knob.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to illuminate the design mark of the design plate which a composite switch has uniformly, it becomes possible to illuminate an indicator with high brightness | luminance, and it improves visibility, making the composite switch apparatus compact. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a composite switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the composite switch device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken along the other direction of the composite switch device of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the composite switch device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional switch device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Composite switch apparatus, 12 Push switch part, 14 Dial switch part, 16 Board | substrate, 18 Push switch main body, 20 Fixed contact, 20a Contact part, 20b Cylindrical part, 22 Switch knob, 24 Design plate, 26 Valve, 28 Indicator, 30 Light guide lens, 32 LED, 34 pressure plate, 36 movable contact, 36a contact portion, 36b cylindrical portion, 38 dial knob, 40 connecting member, 42 indicator, 44 light guide lens, 46 LED holder, 48 LED, 50 decorative plate.

Claims (1)

A composite switch device that integrates many types of switches having different operation forms,
A push switch which is fixed to the substrate, a hollow switch knob capable presses the push switch, and the design plate disposed in the switch knob surface, provided in the switch knob, a light source to illuminate the design plate, Having a push switch part;
A ring knob disposed around the switch knob, a fixed contact fixed to the board, a movable contact fixed to the dial knob, and a ring-shaped first provided on the fixed contact A contact part, a second contact part provided on the movable contact and connected to the first contact part so as to be slidably rotatable , an indicator that rotates together with the dial knob and indicates the degree of rotation of the dial knob with respect to the design plate ; is fixed to the dial knob, the connection between the first contact portion and second contact portion, possess a light source for illuminating the indicator, and a dial switch unit for selecting an item by rotation degree of the dial knob,
A composite switch device comprising:

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