EP0102394B1 - Electrical switch with a plurality of operation buttons - Google Patents

Electrical switch with a plurality of operation buttons Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0102394B1
EP0102394B1 EP82903056A EP82903056A EP0102394B1 EP 0102394 B1 EP0102394 B1 EP 0102394B1 EP 82903056 A EP82903056 A EP 82903056A EP 82903056 A EP82903056 A EP 82903056A EP 0102394 B1 EP0102394 B1 EP 0102394B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
switch
operation buttons
elements
switch elements
rubber sheet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP82903056A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0102394A1 (en
EP0102394A4 (en
Inventor
Kiyoshi Nakayama
Tadayoshi Muto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Murakami Kaimeido Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Murakami Kaimeido Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP1981152866U external-priority patent/JPS5859131U/en
Priority claimed from JP2960782U external-priority patent/JPS58133226U/en
Priority claimed from JP6936982U external-priority patent/JPS58173139U/en
Application filed by Murakami Kaimeido Co Ltd filed Critical Murakami Kaimeido Co Ltd
Publication of EP0102394A1 publication Critical patent/EP0102394A1/en
Publication of EP0102394A4 publication Critical patent/EP0102394A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0102394B1 publication Critical patent/EP0102394B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H25/00Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
    • H01H25/04Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
    • H01H25/041Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/72Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard wherein the switch has means for limiting the number of operating members that can concurrently be in the actuated position
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H25/00Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
    • H01H25/04Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2300/00Orthogonal indexing scheme relating to electric switches, relays, selectors or emergency protective devices covered by H01H
    • H01H2300/012Application rear view mirror

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a switch adapted to be used as a remote controlling switch for motor-driven rear view mirrors of a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to a switch which has switch elements composed of a pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber sheet.
  • Each of a pair of motor-driven rear view mirrors mounted on a door, a fender or the like, of a motor vehicle has two electric motors, etc. in its driving section, said electric motors, etc. being controlled by means of a switch inside the vehicle so as to adjust the direction of inclination, horizontal or vertical, of each mirror.
  • the switch for controlling the motor-driven rear view mirrors is required to have the functions of actuating each of said two electric motors of each mirror independently, and changing the polarity of electric power supply thereto. Also, the switch must be easy to fix in the instrument panel, etc.
  • a switch which, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No 56-71428 comprises a plurality of stationary contact elements each formed of a pair of printed circuit electrodes arranged around a specific central position on an insulating board, a pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber sheet forming switch elements together with said stationary contact elements and laminated on said contact elements, two sets of power source polarity changing switches composed of said switch elements, and operation buttons each having a pressing surface tiltably at said specific central position on said rubber sheet and including a constantly resettable trend for driving each switch element.
  • the button is tiltably operated in a desired direction to operate the corresponding switch element, thereby converting and controlling the angle of the mirror in the predetermined amount in elevational and lateral directions.
  • U.S. Patents Nos. 2,748,205 and 4,249,086, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 41-7847 and Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 55-32334 disclose switches comprising a plurality of operation buttons or interceptor means.
  • Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 55-32334 discloses a switch wherein a rotary member and the engaging pawls of operation buttons form a means for preventing simultaneous operation of switch elements.
  • this switch has a common operation button arranged for a plurality of switch elements, individually operates the corresponding switch element by tilting one button in the desired direction, and converts and controls the angle of the motor-driven rear view mirror in elevational or lateral direction. Accordingly, the relationship between the elevational and lateral control directions and the operating positions is not sufficiently established, and it does not provide the good operability and good feeling of use.
  • said multi-position electrical switch comprising an insulating board, a plurality of stationary contact elements each formed of a pair of printed circuit electrodes and arranged around a specific central position on said board, a pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber sheet arranged on said stationary contact elements, said rubber sheet and contact elements forming switch elements, a plurality of operation buttons disposed on said rubber sheet, said buttons having constantly resettable trend, pressing surfaces for driving said switch elements and an engaging pawl projected toward said specific central position on said board, and a crown-shaped interceptor rotatably arranged at said specific central position and having a sawtoothed cam surface with teeth of a number different from that of said buttons which corresponds to said pawls at the end face thereof, wherein when a button is depreseed so that its pawl is introduced into the deepest part of the valley on the cam surface, said switch element is
  • a housing, 2 a printed board (an insulating board) which operates also as the bottom plate of the housing 1 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • a switch S 1 forming a switch for changing the polarity of a power supply and another switch S 2 for changing a motor driven rear view mirror.
  • the switch S 1 comprises, for example, six switch elements illustrated by A to F as shown in Fig. 15.
  • Each pair of printed circuit electrodes 3a and 4a to 3f and 4f, serving as stationary contact elements of the switch elements A to F, are printed around a specific central position 7 on the printed board 2 in a pectinated shape.
  • the printed circuit electrodes 3a and 4a to 3f and 4f are disposed to occupy the substantially square area around the specific central position 7 of the printed board 2 as a whole (Fig. 13).
  • This rubber sheet 5 is common to all the stationary contact elements.
  • the pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber sheet 5 is made of composite material which contains silicone rubber and metal particles. It is a material which is transferred from insulating state to conductive state in response to the pressure stimulus.
  • the six switch elements A to F are disposed planely on the printed board 2 and these switch elements A to F are connected by printed conductors 6 so as to form two sets of power supply polarity changing switches as connected as required. That is, in Fig. 15, the three switch elements A, B and E form one switch means for vertical adjustment to be described later and the three switch elements C, D and F form the other switch means for horizontal adjustment. The two switch elements E and F are commonly used with the switch for changing the polarity of both power supplies.
  • the arrangement of the switch elements Ato F on the printed board 2 is illustrated in Fig. 14.
  • Driving mechanism as follows is disposed over said switch elements A to F formed as described above.
  • a supporting plate. 21 as shown in Fig. 4 is disposed on the rubber sheet 5, and is fixed at its peripheral to the housing 1.
  • the supporting plate 21 is provided at its portions corresponding to the positions of said switch elements A to F with openings 21a into which pressing surfaces (described later) are loosely inserted.
  • the housing 1 is provided at its portion corresponding to said specific central position 7 on the inside with a projecting axial pin leas shown in Fig. 3, said housing 1 further having four trapezoidal openings 1a to 1d disposed with the axial pin 1e as the center of symmetry.
  • Operation buttons 22 to 25 are respectively inserted into the trapezoidal openings la to 1 d so that each of the operation buttons can be pushed in and automatically returns to its original position.
  • buttons 22 to 25 is provided on its side facing the rubber sheet (5) with two pressing surfaces 22a, 22b which project slightly as designated representatively of the buttons 22 in Figs. 5 to 7.
  • One pressing surface 22a of the two pressing surfaces corresponds to the switch element A, while the other pressing surface 22b corresponds to the switch element F.
  • the operation button 22 is provided with an engagement pawl 22c engaged toward the axial pin 1e, having a triangular section with its vertex facing downward (toward the rubber sheet side).
  • the button 22 further has a spring hole 22d at the intermediate between the two pressing surfaces 22a and 22b.
  • a helical spring 26 is disposed within the spring hole 22d and is compressed between the operation button 22 and the supporting plate 21 so as to provide the operation button 22 a tendency to return to its original position.
  • the pressing surfaces 22a and 22b of the operation button 22 are partially inserted into the openings 21a of the supporting plates 21 so that the pressing surfaces 22a and 22b are surely guided by the openings 21a when the operation button 22 is pushed.
  • the construction and arrangement of the other operation buttons 23 to 25 are the same as mentioned above.
  • the operation button 23 corresponds to the switch elements B and E.
  • the operation button 24 corresponds to the switch elements F and C.
  • the operation button 25 corresponds to the switch elements D and E.
  • the operation button 25 corresponds to the switch elements D and E. In this way, each of the operation buttons 22 to 25 corresponds to two switch elements.
  • a crown-shaped interceptor 27 having a sawtoothed cam surface 27a corresponding to the engagement pawls 22cto 25c is rotatably attached to the axial pin 1e in the specific central position 7.
  • the sawtoothed cam surface 27a has teeth, the number of which is different from the number (four) of the operation buttons 22 to 25, that is, the number (four) of the engagement pawls 22cto 25c.
  • the sectional crests forming the respective teeth are not formed at both sides in a symmetrical shape at the edge (crest part), but the crests formed in the range of 72° of the opening angle planely as shown in Fig.
  • the number of the teeth of the sawtoothed cam surface 27a is five in the illustrated example, but it is not limited thereto and may be three, seven, nine or any other number provided that the difference between the number of the teeth and the number of the operation button is an odd number.
  • the switch S 2 is for selectively connecting the above-mentioned switch S 1 with either the right-hand mirror R or the left-hand mirror L and is contructed as follows:
  • the switch S 2 comprises two circuits and six contacts. Contact patterns /, m and 14 a to 14d corresponding to the six contacts, are printed near one end (upper portion in Fig. 13) of the board 2.
  • a slide block 15, slidable right and left in Fig. 11 or 12, is disposed over the contact patterns /, m and 14a to 14d.
  • the slide block 15 is provided with movable contacts 16a and 16b corresponding to the contact patterns l, m and 14a to 14d.
  • a pair of push buttons 17a and 17b respectively corresponding to the right-hand mirror R and the left-hand mirror L are disposed on both sides of the slide block 15 in the direction of its slide.
  • the driving end of each push button is engaged with each of taper portions 15a and 15b formed on both ends of the slide block 15.
  • Numerals 18a and 18b represent balls for positioning the push buttons 17a and 17b.
  • Figs. 1 to 15 is a hybrid switch comprising said switch S 1 including the six switch elements A to F and said changeover switch 5 2 ,
  • Numeral 19 in Fig. 2 represents a connector for externally leading the contacts /, m and 14a to 14d in the changeover switch S 2 to the exterior (the mirrors R and L).
  • symbols M 1 , M 2 represent electric motors for horizontally and vertically driving the right-handed mirror R
  • M 3 , M 4 represent electric motors for vertically and horizontally driving the left-handed mirror L.
  • the engagement pawl 22c of the button 22 enters the deepest portion of a concave on the sawtoothed cam surface 27a (See Fig. 10) and the switch elements A and F are closed. Then, the electric motor M 1 rotates in such a direction to change the angle of the right-hand mirror R upward. Even if any of the other operation buttons 23 to 25 is pushed at this time, the engagement pawl 23c to 25c thereof is not allowed to enter the deepest portion of a concave on the sawtoothed cam surface 27a and therefore no other switch elements are closed.
  • the left-handed mirror L is controlled in the same way as described above.
  • buttons are independently arranged around the specific central position as a center, pressing surfaces and engagement pawls for driving the switch elements are provided at the respective buttons, a crown-shaped interceptor formed with a sawtoothed cam surface made of teeth of the number different from the number of the buttons is rotatably arranged at the specific central position corresponding to the engagement pawls, the buttons are pressed to operate the switch element when the pawl enters the deepest part of the concave on the cam surface, and the switch element is exlusively operated. Therefore, when this is applied as a switch for controlling the motor driven rear view mirror of a vehicle, the control object such as vertical and horizontal controls of the mirror can be clearly corresponded by 1:1 to the buttons. Consequently, the operability and using feeling can be remarkably improved. Since the outer profile can be formed in a flat, thin and small shape, the switch can be readily mounted in a relatively small space such as in an instrument panel of a vehicle.

Landscapes

  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)

Description

  • The present invention relates to a switch adapted to be used as a remote controlling switch for motor-driven rear view mirrors of a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to a switch which has switch elements composed of a pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber sheet.
  • Each of a pair of motor-driven rear view mirrors mounted on a door, a fender or the like, of a motor vehicle has two electric motors, etc. in its driving section, said electric motors, etc. being controlled by means of a switch inside the vehicle so as to adjust the direction of inclination, horizontal or vertical, of each mirror. The switch for controlling the motor-driven rear view mirrors is required to have the functions of actuating each of said two electric motors of each mirror independently, and changing the polarity of electric power supply thereto. Also, the switch must be easy to fix in the instrument panel, etc.
  • To meet such requirements, the inventors have already invented a switch which, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No 56-71428 comprises a plurality of stationary contact elements each formed of a pair of printed circuit electrodes arranged around a specific central position on an insulating board, a pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber sheet forming switch elements together with said stationary contact elements and laminated on said contact elements, two sets of power source polarity changing switches composed of said switch elements, and operation buttons each having a pressing surface tiltably at said specific central position on said rubber sheet and including a constantly resettable trend for driving each switch element.
  • Then, the button is tiltably operated in a desired direction to operate the corresponding switch element, thereby converting and controlling the angle of the mirror in the predetermined amount in elevational and lateral directions.
  • U.S. Patents Nos. 2,748,205 and 4,249,086, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 41-7847 and Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 55-32334 disclose switches comprising a plurality of operation buttons or interceptor means. In particular, Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 55-32334 discloses a switch wherein a rotary member and the engaging pawls of operation buttons form a means for preventing simultaneous operation of switch elements. However, this switch has a common operation button arranged for a plurality of switch elements, individually operates the corresponding switch element by tilting one button in the desired direction, and converts and controls the angle of the motor-driven rear view mirror in elevational or lateral direction. Accordingly, the relationship between the elevational and lateral control directions and the operating positions is not sufficiently established, and it does not provide the good operability and good feeling of use.
  • It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a multi-position electrical switch which obviates all the disadvantages of the prior art, and which eliminates the above drawbacks, said multi-position electrical switch comprising an insulating board, a plurality of stationary contact elements each formed of a pair of printed circuit electrodes and arranged around a specific central position on said board, a pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber sheet arranged on said stationary contact elements, said rubber sheet and contact elements forming switch elements, a plurality of operation buttons disposed on said rubber sheet, said buttons having constantly resettable trend, pressing surfaces for driving said switch elements and an engaging pawl projected toward said specific central position on said board, and a crown-shaped interceptor rotatably arranged at said specific central position and having a sawtoothed cam surface with teeth of a number different from that of said buttons which corresponds to said pawls at the end face thereof, wherein when a button is depreseed so that its pawl is introduced into the deepest part of the valley on the cam surface, said switch element is operated, thereby allowing said respective switch element to exclusively operate.
  • The present invention will now be described in detail, with reference to embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1 to 15 in which the invention is applied to a switch for controlling a motor driven rear view mirrors of a motor vehicle.
  • 3. Brief description of the drawings
    • Fig. 1 is a plan view of a multi-position electrical switch according to the invention.
    • Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1,
    • Fig. 3 is a back view of the housing,
    • Fig. 4 is a plan viewshowing the supporting plate removed from Fig. 2,
    • Fig. 5 is a plan view of the operation button,
    • Fig. 6 is a view as seen from an arrow Y in Fig. 5,
    • Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the button,
    • Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing the interceptor removed from Fig. 2,
    • Fig. 9 is a plan view of the interceptor,
    • Fig. 10 is a view developed at the side surface of the interceptor with the engagement pawl,
    • Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in Fig. 1,
    • Fig. 12 is a bottom view illustrating of the slide block removed from Fig. 11,
    • Fig. 13 is an enlarged plan view showing the printed board removed from Fig. 2,
    • Fig. 14 is a plan view illustrating the model of the relative disposition of the switch elements on the printed board, and
    • Fig. 15 is a circuit diagram showing the relation between the switch elements.
    4. Description of the preferred embodiments
  • The constitution will be described, and numeral in the drawings represents a housing, 2 a printed board (an insulating board) which operates also as the bottom plate of the housing 1 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Disposed within the housing 1 are a switch S1 forming a switch for changing the polarity of a power supply and another switch S2 for changing a motor driven rear view mirror.
  • First, the switch S1 will be described in detail. The switch S1 comprises, for example, six switch elements illustrated by A to F as shown in Fig. 15. Each pair of printed circuit electrodes 3a and 4a to 3f and 4f, serving as stationary contact elements of the switch elements A to F, are printed around a specific central position 7 on the printed board 2 in a pectinated shape. The printed circuit electrodes 3a and 4a to 3f and 4f are disposed to occupy the substantially square area around the specific central position 7 of the printed board 2 as a whole (Fig. 13).
  • A pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber sheet 5, becoming a movable contact of a conventional switch element, is laminated on said stationary contact elements. This rubber sheet 5 is common to all the stationary contact elements. The pressure-sensitive electrically conductive rubber sheet 5 is made of composite material which contains silicone rubber and metal particles. It is a material which is transferred from insulating state to conductive state in response to the pressure stimulus.
  • Thus, according to the present invention, the six switch elements A to F are disposed planely on the printed board 2 and these switch elements A to F are connected by printed conductors 6 so as to form two sets of power supply polarity changing switches as connected as required. That is, in Fig. 15, the three switch elements A, B and E form one switch means for vertical adjustment to be described later and the three switch elements C, D and F form the other switch means for horizontal adjustment. The two switch elements E and F are commonly used with the switch for changing the polarity of both power supplies. The arrangement of the switch elements Ato F on the printed board 2 is illustrated in Fig. 14. Driving mechanism as follows is disposed over said switch elements A to F formed as described above.
  • More particularly, a supporting plate. 21 as shown in Fig. 4 is disposed on the rubber sheet 5, and is fixed at its peripheral to the housing 1. The supporting plate 21 is provided at its portions corresponding to the positions of said switch elements A to F with openings 21a into which pressing surfaces (described later) are loosely inserted. The housing 1 is provided at its portion corresponding to said specific central position 7 on the inside with a projecting axial pin leas shown in Fig. 3, said housing 1 further having four trapezoidal openings 1a to 1d disposed with the axial pin 1e as the center of symmetry. Operation buttons 22 to 25 are respectively inserted into the trapezoidal openings la to 1 d so that each of the operation buttons can be pushed in and automatically returns to its original position. Each of the buttons 22 to 25 is provided on its side facing the rubber sheet (5) with two pressing surfaces 22a, 22b which project slightly as designated representatively of the buttons 22 in Figs. 5 to 7. One pressing surface 22a of the two pressing surfaces corresponds to the switch element A, while the other pressing surface 22b corresponds to the switch element F. The operation button 22 is provided with an engagement pawl 22c engaged toward the axial pin 1e, having a triangular section with its vertex facing downward (toward the rubber sheet side). The button 22 further has a spring hole 22d at the intermediate between the two pressing surfaces 22a and 22b. A helical spring 26 is disposed within the spring hole 22d and is compressed between the operation button 22 and the supporting plate 21 so as to provide the operation button 22 a tendency to return to its original position. Usually the pressing surfaces 22a and 22b of the operation button 22 are partially inserted into the openings 21a of the supporting plates 21 so that the pressing surfaces 22a and 22b are surely guided by the openings 21a when the operation button 22 is pushed.
  • The construction and arrangement of the other operation buttons 23 to 25 are the same as mentioned above. The operation button 23 corresponds to the switch elements B and E. The operation button 24 corresponds to the switch elements F and C. The operation button 25 corresponds to the switch elements D and E. The operation button 25 corresponds to the switch elements D and E. In this way, each of the operation buttons 22 to 25 corresponds to two switch elements.
  • A crown-shaped interceptor 27 having a sawtoothed cam surface 27a corresponding to the engagement pawls 22cto 25c is rotatably attached to the axial pin 1e in the specific central position 7. As shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the sawtoothed cam surface 27a has teeth, the number of which is different from the number (four) of the operation buttons 22 to 25, that is, the number (four) of the engagement pawls 22cto 25c. The sectional crests forming the respective teeth are not formed at both sides in a symmetrical shape at the edge (crest part), but the crests formed in the range of 72° of the opening angle planely as shown in Fig. 9 are formed in an opening angle of 30° at the one around the edge and in an opening angle of 42° at the other. The number of the teeth of the sawtoothed cam surface 27a is five in the illustrated example, but it is not limited thereto and may be three, seven, nine or any other number provided that the difference between the number of the teeth and the number of the operation button is an odd number.
  • As shown in Fig. 10, when one 22c of four engagment pawls is in a position corresponding to the deepest portion of a concave, the other engagement pawls 23c to 25c are in position corresponding to other portions of respective concaves. When any one of the engagement pawls 22c to 25c is pushed into the deepest portion of a concave, only two switch elements corresponding to the operation button pushed are exclusively closed so that the other switch elements are prevented from being closed at the same time.
  • Reference will now be made to the switch S2. The switch S2 is for selectively connecting the above-mentioned switch S1 with either the right-hand mirror R or the left-hand mirror L and is contructed as follows: The switch S2 comprises two circuits and six contacts. Contact patterns /, m and 14 a to 14d corresponding to the six contacts, are printed near one end (upper portion in Fig. 13) of the board 2. A slide block 15, slidable right and left in Fig. 11 or 12, is disposed over the contact patterns /, m and 14a to 14d. The slide block 15 is provided with movable contacts 16a and 16b corresponding to the contact patterns l, m and 14a to 14d. A pair of push buttons 17a and 17b respectively corresponding to the right-hand mirror R and the left-hand mirror L are disposed on both sides of the slide block 15 in the direction of its slide. The driving end of each push button is engaged with each of taper portions 15a and 15b formed on both ends of the slide block 15. Numerals 18a and 18b represent balls for positioning the push buttons 17a and 17b.
  • Thus, the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 15 is a hybrid switch comprising said switch S1 including the six switch elements A to F and said changeover switch 52,
  • Numeral 19 in Fig. 2 represents a connector for externally leading the contacts /, m and 14a to 14d in the changeover switch S2 to the exterior (the mirrors R and L). Referring to Fig. 15, symbols M1, M2 represent electric motors for horizontally and vertically driving the right-handed mirror R, and M3, M4 represent electric motors for vertically and horizontally driving the left-handed mirror L.
  • The operation of the switch will now be described.
  • Reference will be made to the case of controlling the right-handed mirror R by pushing the push button 17a of the changeover switch S2. When the push button 17a is pushed, the slide block 15 is slid toward the left in Fig. 11 and its movable contacts 16a and 16b respectively close the contacts / and 14a together and the contacts m and 14c together so that the switch S1 is connected with the right-hand mirror R. (See the state in Fig. 15).
  • When the operation button 22 is pushed thereafter, the engagement pawl 22c of the button 22 enters the deepest portion of a concave on the sawtoothed cam surface 27a (See Fig. 10) and the switch elements A and F are closed. Then, the electric motor M1 rotates in such a direction to change the angle of the right-hand mirror R upward. Even if any of the other operation buttons 23 to 25 is pushed at this time, the engagement pawl 23c to 25c thereof is not allowed to enter the deepest portion of a concave on the sawtoothed cam surface 27a and therefore no other switch elements are closed.
  • When only the operation button 23 is pushed, the engagement pawl 23c thereof contacts the sawtoothed cam surface 27a and turns the interceptor 27 until it enters the deepest portion of a concave on the sawtoothed cam surface 27a. As a result, the switch elements B and E are closed and the electric motor M1 rotates in a reverse direction so as to change the angle of the right-hand mirror R downward.
  • When only the operation button 24 is pushed, the engagement pawl 24c thereof behaves in the same way as mentioned above. Then, the switch elements C and F are closed and the electric motor M2 rotates in such a direction to change the angle of the right-handed mirror R toward the left.
  • When only the operation button 25 is pushed, the switch elements D and E are closed in the same way as mentioned above. Then, the electric motor M2 rotates in a reverse direction so as to change the angle of the right-hand mirror R toward the right.
  • When the push 17b of the changeover switch S2 is pushed, the left-handed mirror L is controlled in the same way as described above.
  • According to the present invention as described above, a plurality of operation buttons are independently arranged around the specific central position as a center, pressing surfaces and engagement pawls for driving the switch elements are provided at the respective buttons, a crown-shaped interceptor formed with a sawtoothed cam surface made of teeth of the number different from the number of the buttons is rotatably arranged at the specific central position corresponding to the engagement pawls, the buttons are pressed to operate the switch element when the pawl enters the deepest part of the concave on the cam surface, and the switch element is exlusively operated. Therefore, when this is applied as a switch for controlling the motor driven rear view mirror of a vehicle, the control object such as vertical and horizontal controls of the mirror can be clearly corresponded by 1:1 to the buttons. Consequently, the operability and using feeling can be remarkably improved. Since the outer profile can be formed in a flat, thin and small shape, the switch can be readily mounted in a relatively small space such as in an instrument panel of a vehicle.

Claims (2)

1. Electrical switch with a plurality of operation buttons comprising:
an insulating board (2), arranged in a housing (1)
a plurality of stationary contact elements (3a-3f, 4a-4f) each formed of a pair of printed circuit electrodes and arranged around a specific central position (7) on said board (2),
a pressure sensitive electrically conductive rubber sheet (5) arranged on said stationary contact elements, said rubber sheet and contact elements forming switch elements (A-F),
the plurality of operation buttons (22-25) disposed on said rubber sheet (5), said operation buttons having constantly resettable trend, pressing surfaces (22a, 22b-25a, 25b) for driving said switch elements (A-F) and an engaging pawl (22c-25c) projected toward said specific central position (7) on said board, and
a crown-shaped interceptor (27) rotatably arranged at said specific central position and having a sawtoothed cam surface (27a) with teeth of a number different from that of said operation buttons which corresponds to said pawls at the end face thereof,

wherein, when an operation button is depressed so that its pawl is introduced into the deepest part of the valley on the cam surface (27a) of said interceptor (27) said switch element is operated, thereby allowing said respective switch element to exclusively close.
2. A multi-position electrical switch as claimed in claim 1, comprising four operation buttons (22-25) and wherein each pair of said switch elements (A-F) corresponds to one button, and said switch elements form two sets of switch means for changing the polarity of an electric power supply.
EP82903056A 1981-10-16 1982-10-13 Electrical switch with a plurality of operation buttons Expired - Lifetime EP0102394B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP152866/81U 1981-10-16
JP1981152866U JPS5859131U (en) 1981-10-16 1981-10-16 switch device
JP29607/82U 1982-03-04
JP2960782U JPS58133226U (en) 1982-03-04 1982-03-04 switch device
JP69369/82U 1982-05-14
JP6936982U JPS58173139U (en) 1982-05-14 1982-05-14 switch device

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87202081.3 Division-Into 1987-10-27
EP87202080.5 Division-Into 1987-10-27

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0102394A1 EP0102394A1 (en) 1984-03-14
EP0102394A4 EP0102394A4 (en) 1985-11-21
EP0102394B1 true EP0102394B1 (en) 1990-01-03

Family

ID=27286649

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87202081A Expired - Lifetime EP0275570B1 (en) 1981-10-16 1982-10-13 Multi-position electrical switch
EP87202080A Expired - Lifetime EP0269153B1 (en) 1981-10-16 1982-10-13 Multi-position electrical switch
EP82903056A Expired - Lifetime EP0102394B1 (en) 1981-10-16 1982-10-13 Electrical switch with a plurality of operation buttons

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87202081A Expired - Lifetime EP0275570B1 (en) 1981-10-16 1982-10-13 Multi-position electrical switch
EP87202080A Expired - Lifetime EP0269153B1 (en) 1981-10-16 1982-10-13 Multi-position electrical switch

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (3) EP0275570B1 (en)
DE (3) DE3249061C2 (en)
GB (3) GB2128412B (en)
WO (1) WO1983001537A1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4656461A (en) * 1983-12-29 1987-04-07 Bso Steuerungstechnik Gmbh Control handle for remotely controlling a hydraulically operated apparatus
DE3587352T2 (en) * 1984-12-25 1993-08-26 Ichiko Industries Ltd CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE MOTOR REMOTE CONTROL OF A REAR MIRROR IN A VEHICLE.
US4698463A (en) * 1985-12-25 1987-10-06 Ichikoh Industries Limited Remote-control switch for motor-driven automotive mirror
JPH01235112A (en) * 1988-03-15 1989-09-20 Satori Switch Kogyo Kk Switch
EP0337045B1 (en) * 1988-04-12 1994-07-06 Murakami Kaimeido Co., Ltd Multi-position electrical switch
GB2273203B (en) * 1992-10-23 1996-04-24 Trw Transport Elect Ltd Improvements relating to electrical switches
GB2278729A (en) * 1993-06-04 1994-12-07 Txc Corp Direction control key assembly
DE19514539C2 (en) * 1995-04-20 1998-12-10 Priesemuth W Multi-function switch, in particular mirror adjustment switch for a motor vehicle
DE19839698A1 (en) * 1998-09-01 2000-03-02 Abb Patent Gmbh Electrical switching device has four control elements with discrete control surfaces of same size, separated by diagonals, each associated with a corner and able to be operated independently
JP3827882B2 (en) * 1999-04-28 2006-09-27 アルプス電気株式会社 Swing operation type switch device

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1830298A (en) * 1926-04-24 1931-11-03 Leonardo M Tartaglia Circuit closing device
US2748205A (en) * 1951-12-14 1956-05-29 Bryant Electric Co Switch
US3005055A (en) * 1957-10-08 1961-10-17 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Tilting dial circuit selector
FR1398813A (en) * 1963-04-06 1965-05-14 Adjustable exterior mirror for vehicles, cranes
US3399287A (en) * 1964-06-03 1968-08-27 Gen Electric Rockable plate type actuator for a plurality of contacts
DE2341521C3 (en) * 1972-08-18 1978-05-18 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Kadoma, Osaka (Japan) Push button switch
JPS5168726A (en) * 1974-12-12 1976-06-14 Hosiden Electronics Co
FR2368790A1 (en) * 1976-10-22 1978-05-19 Renault Rocker switch having three active positions - has button pressed at either end to make end contacts, or pressed centrally being returned to neutral position by spring
JPS606974Y2 (en) * 1978-05-22 1985-03-07 ナイルス部品株式会社 Car remote control mirror switch
JPS5532334A (en) * 1978-08-30 1980-03-07 Yushin Seiki Kogyo Kk Automotive side mirror adjusting pushhbutton switch
JPS5566840U (en) * 1978-11-02 1980-05-08
JPS561340U (en) * 1979-06-18 1981-01-08
JPS5617635U (en) * 1979-07-19 1981-02-16
JPS5671428A (en) * 1979-11-15 1981-06-15 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Power source for large capacity pulse load
JPH0235153Y2 (en) * 1981-05-19 1990-09-21

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3249955C2 (en) 1992-07-30
GB8504279D0 (en) 1985-03-20
EP0275570A2 (en) 1988-07-27
EP0275570A3 (en) 1988-12-14
DE3249061C2 (en) 1990-06-21
GB2153149B (en) 1986-06-25
GB2128412B (en) 1985-11-13
EP0269153B1 (en) 1992-03-04
WO1983001537A1 (en) 1983-04-28
GB8329069D0 (en) 1983-12-07
GB2153149A (en) 1985-08-14
GB2154801B (en) 1986-08-13
EP0102394A1 (en) 1984-03-14
GB2154801A (en) 1985-09-11
EP0275570B1 (en) 1993-01-07
EP0269153A3 (en) 1988-11-23
DE3249061T1 (en) 1984-04-05
GB2128412A (en) 1984-04-26
EP0102394A4 (en) 1985-11-21
DE3249953C2 (en) 1990-04-05
EP0269153A2 (en) 1988-06-01
GB8504280D0 (en) 1985-03-20

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