EP0117160B1 - Electro-mechanical component and device for visualizing - Google Patents

Electro-mechanical component and device for visualizing Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0117160B1
EP0117160B1 EP84400025A EP84400025A EP0117160B1 EP 0117160 B1 EP0117160 B1 EP 0117160B1 EP 84400025 A EP84400025 A EP 84400025A EP 84400025 A EP84400025 A EP 84400025A EP 0117160 B1 EP0117160 B1 EP 0117160B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wheel
electromechanical component
window
phosphorescent substance
component according
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
Application number
EP84400025A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0117160A1 (en
Inventor
Bernard Fourcaulx
Claude Fourcaulx
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.)
Atelier De Mecanique De Precision Fm (sarl)
Original Assignee
Atelier De Mecanique De Precision Fm (sarl)
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
Application filed by Atelier De Mecanique De Precision Fm (sarl) filed Critical Atelier De Mecanique De Precision Fm (sarl)
Priority to AT84400025T priority Critical patent/ATE29617T1/en
Publication of EP0117160A1 publication Critical patent/EP0117160A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0117160B1 publication Critical patent/EP0117160B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F11/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position
    • G09F11/02—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position the display elements being secured to rotating members, e.g. drums, spindles

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an electromechanical component with display, such as for example a miniaturized switch or potentiometer; it more particularly relates to an improvement of the display system, allowing the use of the component in the dark. without the need for electrical lighting.
  • miniaturized switches are known, the operating member of which essentially consists of a wheel rotatably mounted in a housing and bearing markers (for example numbers) arranged on a circular path passing opposite a window of the housing. . A certain portion of the wheel protrudes outside the housing to allow the component to be maneuvered and adjusted in a selected state.
  • a component is for example described in document US-A-3349211.
  • the lighting of the wheel constitutes the most serious obstacle to miniaturization and considerably complicates the mounting on the front face of an electronic device.
  • an electromechanical device using a luminescent material in its actuating member to facilitate the location of the latter in the dark.
  • Such a device is for example described in document GB-A-1,177,347, but this document does not pose the problem of viewing numbers or letters. This is more particularly the spirit of the invention.
  • the invention therefore relates to an electromechanical component with display, of the type comprising a wheel mounted in rotation in a housing and bearing marks arranged on a circular path passing opposite a window of said housing, characterized in that said wheel is made of transparent material and a luminescent body is placed in the housing opposite the part of said wheel which carries said marks and at least opposite said window, while being separated from it by said wheel.
  • the luminescent material (very friable), is protected by the wheel itself and is not likely to be gradually eliminated during successive manipulations of the operating member.
  • the miniature switch according to the invention consists of a housing 11, substantially in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, of which a small lateral face 12 is intended to appear on the front face of any electronic device.
  • This housing houses a wheel 13 rotatably mounted about its axis 14 and whose cylindrical side wall 13a carries pins, such as figures.
  • the wheel 13 is made of insulating plastic material and carries a contact piece 15 which cooperates with a printed circuit 16, on which circuit elements are defined, in order to achieve a desired switching function.
  • the printed circuit 16 constitutes one of the large faces of the housing 11.
  • the cylindrical wall 13a of the wheel is flush with the outside of the front face 12, thanks to an opening 17 made therein.
  • the operation of the wheel is further facilitated by the presence of radial projections 18 made integrally with the wheel.
  • the window 17 has a special cutout to allow the passage of the projections 18.
  • the latter cooperate, inside the housing, with a leaf spring 19 to define a certain number of predetermined positions of the switch.
  • the wheel 13 is made of transparent material and a luminescent body 20 is placed in the housing 11, facing the part of said wheel which carries said markers, that is to say in the example shown, opposite the internal face of the wall 13a.
  • the luminescent body 20 essentially consists of a friable composition based on tritium, housed in a hollow glass bar 21, itself embedded in a plastic support 22.
  • the support 22 includes a base 23, it is engaged in a rectangular cutout of the bottom wall of the housing 11 and bonded to this wall.
  • the support 22 is preferably white in color, to improve the efficiency of the luminescent body 20.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
  • Lubrication Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
  • Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)

Abstract

1. Electromechanical component with a display, of the type comprising a wheel (13) mounted for rotation in a case (11) and having marks arranged along a circular path passing opposite a window (17) of said case, characterized in that said wheel is made from a transparent material and that a phosphorescent substance (20) is placed in the case opposite the part of said wheel which carries said marks and at least fixing said window, while being separated therefrom by said wheel.

Description

L'invention concerne un composant électromécanique à visualisation, tel que par exemple un commutateur ou potentiomètre miniaturisé ; elle a plus particulièrement pour objet un perfectionnement du système de visualisation, permettant l'utilisation du composant dans la pénombre. sans nécessiter de moyens d'éclairage électrique.The invention relates to an electromechanical component with display, such as for example a miniaturized switch or potentiometer; it more particularly relates to an improvement of the display system, allowing the use of the component in the dark. without the need for electrical lighting.

Dans le domaine de l'électronique, la miniaturisation des composants n'à cessé de progresser au cours des dernières années. Des appareils réalisant des fonctions de plus en plus complexes et nombreuses sont proposés sous des volumes de plus en plus réduits. Ceci n'est pas sans poser parfois des problèmes quant aux composants électromécaniques de commande et de visualisation (potentiomètres, commutateurs) qui doivent être montés sur la face avant d'un tel appareil. La miniaturisation a également fait des progrès dans ce domaine, mais ne peut dépasser certaines limites. En effet, de tels composants doivent rester facilement manipulables et/ou lisibles. Pour certains appareils, il est en outre nécessaire de garantir la lisibilité des réglages affichés, lorsque la luminosité ambiante est faible, voire nulle. On connait par exemple des commutateurs miniaturisés dont l'organe de manoeuvre est essentiellement constitué d'une roue montée en rotation dans un boîtier et portant des repères (par exemple des chiffres) agencés sur un trajet circulaire passant en regard d'une fenêtre du boîtier. Une certaine portion de la roue fait saillie à l'extérieur du boîtier pour permettre la manoeuvre du composant et son réglage dans un état choisi. Un tel composant est par exemple décrit dans le document US-A-3349211. Pour de tels composants électromécaniques, l'éclairage de la roue (nécessitant une lampe à incandescence), constitue l'obstacle le plus sérieux à la miniaturisation et complique considérablement le montage sur la face avant d'un appareil électronique. D'autre part, on connaît un dispositif électromécanique utilisant un matériau luminescent dans son organe d'actionnement pour faciliter le repérage de celui-ci dans la pénombre. Un tel dispositif est par exemple décrit dans le document GB-A-1 177 347, mais ce document ne pose pas le problème de la visualisation de chiffres ou de lettres. C'est plus particulièrement l'esprit de l'invention.In the field of electronics, the miniaturization of components has not stopped progressing in recent years. Devices carrying out increasingly complex and numerous functions are offered in increasingly reduced volumes. This is not without posing sometimes problems as for the electromechanical components of control and display (potentiometers, switches) which must be assembled on the front face of such a device. Miniaturization has also made progress in this area, but cannot exceed certain limits. Indeed, such components must remain easy to handle and / or readable. For some devices, it is also necessary to guarantee the readability of the displayed settings, when the ambient light is low or even zero. For example, miniaturized switches are known, the operating member of which essentially consists of a wheel rotatably mounted in a housing and bearing markers (for example numbers) arranged on a circular path passing opposite a window of the housing. . A certain portion of the wheel protrudes outside the housing to allow the component to be maneuvered and adjusted in a selected state. Such a component is for example described in document US-A-3349211. For such electromechanical components, the lighting of the wheel (requiring an incandescent lamp) constitutes the most serious obstacle to miniaturization and considerably complicates the mounting on the front face of an electronic device. On the other hand, there is known an electromechanical device using a luminescent material in its actuating member to facilitate the location of the latter in the dark. Such a device is for example described in document GB-A-1,177,347, but this document does not pose the problem of viewing numbers or letters. This is more particularly the spirit of the invention.

Dans cet esprit, l'invention concerne donc un composant électromécanique à visualisation, du type comportant une roue montée en rotation dans un boîtier et portant des repères agencés sur un trajet circulaire passant en regard d'une fenêtre dudit boîtier, caractérisé en ce que ladite roue est en matériau transparent et qu'un corps luminescent est placé dans le boîtier en regard de la partie de ladite roue qui porte lesdits repères et au moins en face de ladite fenêtre, tout en étant séparé d'elle par ladite roue.In this spirit, the invention therefore relates to an electromechanical component with display, of the type comprising a wheel mounted in rotation in a housing and bearing marks arranged on a circular path passing opposite a window of said housing, characterized in that said wheel is made of transparent material and a luminescent body is placed in the housing opposite the part of said wheel which carries said marks and at least opposite said window, while being separated from it by said wheel.

Ainsi, le matériau luminescent (très friable), se trouve protégé par la roue elle-même et ne risque pas d'être progressivement éliminé au cours des manipulations successives de l'organe de manoeuvre.Thus, the luminescent material (very friable), is protected by the wheel itself and is not likely to be gradually eliminated during successive manipulations of the operating member.

L'invention sera mieux comprise et d'autres avantages de celle-ci apparaîtront mieux à la lumière de la description qui va suivre d'un commutateur miniature selon l'invention, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple et faite en référence au dessin annexé, dans lequel :

  • la figure 1 est une vue schématique en plan d'un commutateur conformé au principe de l'invention ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue de la face avant de ce commutateur ; et
  • la figure 3 est une vue de détail de ce même commutateur, montrant en perspective le perfectionnement.
The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear better in the light of the following description of a miniature switch according to the invention, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the attached drawing , in which :
  • Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a switch according to the principle of the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a view of the front face of this switch; and
  • Figure 3 is a detail view of the same switch, showing in perspective the improvement.

Le commutateur miniaturisé selon l'invention se compose d'un boîtier 11, sensiblement en forme de parallélépipède rectangle, dont une petite face latérale 12 est destinée à apparaître sur la face avant d'un appareil électronique quelconque. Ce boîtier abrite une roue 13 montée en rotation autour de son axe 14 et dont la paroi latérale cylindrique 13a porte des repères, comme par exemple des chiffres. La roue 13 est en matière plastique isolante et porte une pièce de contact 15 qui coopère avec un circuit imprimé 16, sur lequel sont définis des éléments de circuit, pour réaliser unè fonction de commutation voulue. Le circuit imprimé 16 constitue l'une des grandes faces du boîtier 11. La paroi cylindrique 13a de la roue affleure à l'extérieur de la face avant 12, grâce à une ouverture 17 pratiquée dans celle-ci. La manoeuvre de la roue est d'autre part facilitée par la présence de saillies radiales 18 venues de matière avec la roue. La fenêtre 17 a une découpe spéciale pour permettre le passage des saillies 18. Ces dernières coopèrent, à l'intérieur du boîtier, avec un ressort à lame 19 pour définir un certain nombre de positions prédéterminées du commutateur.The miniature switch according to the invention consists of a housing 11, substantially in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, of which a small lateral face 12 is intended to appear on the front face of any electronic device. This housing houses a wheel 13 rotatably mounted about its axis 14 and whose cylindrical side wall 13a carries pins, such as figures. The wheel 13 is made of insulating plastic material and carries a contact piece 15 which cooperates with a printed circuit 16, on which circuit elements are defined, in order to achieve a desired switching function. The printed circuit 16 constitutes one of the large faces of the housing 11. The cylindrical wall 13a of the wheel is flush with the outside of the front face 12, thanks to an opening 17 made therein. The operation of the wheel is further facilitated by the presence of radial projections 18 made integrally with the wheel. The window 17 has a special cutout to allow the passage of the projections 18. The latter cooperate, inside the housing, with a leaf spring 19 to define a certain number of predetermined positions of the switch.

Selon l'invention, la roue 13 est en matériau transparent et un corps luminescent 20 est placé dans le boîtier 11, en regard de la partie de ladite roue qui porte lesdits repères, c'est-à-dire dans l'exemple représenté, en regard de la face interne de la paroi 13a. Selon l'exemple représenté, il s'agit d'une pastille fixe placée en regard de la fenêtre 17, mais on pourrait aussi imaginer un revêtement luminescent de toute la face interne de la paroi 13a. Selon un mode de réalisation actuellement préféré, le corps luminescent 20 consiste essentiellement en une composition friable à base de tritium, logée dans un barreau de verre creux 21, lui-même encastré dans un support en matière plastique 22. Le support 22 comporte un socle 23, il est engagé dans une découpe rectangulaire de la paroi de fond du boîtier 11 et collé à cette paroi. Le support 22 est de préférence de couleur blanche, pour améliorer l'efficacité du corps luminescent 20.According to the invention, the wheel 13 is made of transparent material and a luminescent body 20 is placed in the housing 11, facing the part of said wheel which carries said markers, that is to say in the example shown, opposite the internal face of the wall 13a. According to the example shown, it is a fixed patch placed opposite the window 17, but one could also imagine a luminescent coating of the entire internal face of the wall 13a. According to a currently preferred embodiment, the luminescent body 20 essentially consists of a friable composition based on tritium, housed in a hollow glass bar 21, itself embedded in a plastic support 22. The support 22 includes a base 23, it is engaged in a rectangular cutout of the bottom wall of the housing 11 and bonded to this wall. The support 22 is preferably white in color, to improve the efficiency of the luminescent body 20.

En particulier, on a représenté et décrit un commutateur miniature équipé du perfectionnement de l'invention, mais il est bien évident que ce même perfectionnement peut équiper d'autres composants électromécaniques, comme notamment des potentiomètres miniaturisés.In particular, there is shown and described a miniature switch equipped with the improvement of the invention, but it is obvious that this same improvement can be fitted to other electromechanical components, such as in particular miniature potentiometers.

Claims (6)

1. Electromechanical component with a display, of the type comprising a wheel (13) mounted for rotation in a case (11) and having marks arranged along a circular path passing opposite a window (17) of said case, characterized in that said wheel is made from a transparent material and that a phosphorescent substance (20) is placed in the case opposite the part of said wheel which carries said marks and at least fixing said window, while being separated therefrom by said wheel.
2. Electromechanical component according to claim 1, characterized in that said phosphorescent substance is in the form of a small fixed disk (20) placed opposite said window (17).
3. Electromechanical component according to claim 1, characterized in that said phosphorescent substance consists of a coating of an internal part of said wheel.
4. Electromechanical component according to claim 2, characterized in that said small disk is housed in a support (22) preferably white in color.
5. Electromechanical component according to claim 4, characterized in that said phosphorescent substance is housed in a hollow glass bar (21), itself embedded in said support.
6. Electromechanical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said phosphorescent substance contains tritium.
EP84400025A 1983-01-07 1984-01-06 Electro-mechanical component and device for visualizing Expired EP0117160B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT84400025T ATE29617T1 (en) 1983-01-07 1984-01-06 ELECTROMECHANICAL PART AND DEVICE FOR VISUALIZATION.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8300167 1983-01-07
FR8300167A FR2539241B1 (en) 1983-01-07 1983-01-07 ELECTROMECHANICAL COMPONENT WITH VISUALIZATION

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0117160A1 EP0117160A1 (en) 1984-08-29
EP0117160B1 true EP0117160B1 (en) 1987-09-09

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ID=9284738

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84400025A Expired EP0117160B1 (en) 1983-01-07 1984-01-06 Electro-mechanical component and device for visualizing

Country Status (4)

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EP (1) EP0117160B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE29617T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3466124D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2539241B1 (en)

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE361604A (en) *
BE348538A (en) *
DE1121359B (en) * 1960-09-23 1962-01-04 Leitz Ernst Gmbh Electric remote control switch for changing projectors
GB1120433A (en) * 1964-10-30 1968-07-17 English Electric Co Ltd Position indicator
US3349211A (en) * 1964-11-10 1967-10-24 B D Equipment Co Inc Thumbwheel switch with illuminated indicating structure
GB1177347A (en) * 1966-11-18 1970-01-07 Gabrielle Maisie Puckert-Money Electric Switches
DE2559850C2 (en) * 1975-10-11 1979-08-02 Preh, Elektrofeinmechanische Werke Jakob Preh Nachf., Gmbh & Co, 8740 Bad Neustadt Multi-step switch with a step switch mechanism that can be switched forwards or backwards
DE2928700A1 (en) * 1979-07-16 1981-02-19 Siemens Ag LAMPLESS SIGNAL ELEMENT

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3466124D1 (en) 1987-10-15
ATE29617T1 (en) 1987-09-15
FR2539241B1 (en) 1985-07-19
EP0117160A1 (en) 1984-08-29
FR2539241A1 (en) 1984-07-13

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