EP1182678B1 - Schalter für die Betätigung von mehreren Schaltelementen - Google Patents

Schalter für die Betätigung von mehreren Schaltelementen Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1182678B1
EP1182678B1 EP20010402208 EP01402208A EP1182678B1 EP 1182678 B1 EP1182678 B1 EP 1182678B1 EP 20010402208 EP20010402208 EP 20010402208 EP 01402208 A EP01402208 A EP 01402208A EP 1182678 B1 EP1182678 B1 EP 1182678B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plate
switch
housing
rods
switching elements
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
EP20010402208
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1182678A1 (de
Inventor
Wei Cui
Yat Fung Chan
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.)
THOMSON LICENSING
Original Assignee
Thomson Licensing SAS
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 EP00402340A external-priority patent/EP1182677A1/de
Application filed by Thomson Licensing SAS filed Critical Thomson Licensing SAS
Priority to EP20010402208 priority Critical patent/EP1182678B1/de
Publication of EP1182678A1 publication Critical patent/EP1182678A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1182678B1 publication Critical patent/EP1182678B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H25/00—Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
    • H01H25/04—Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
    • H01H25/041—Operating 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H25/00—Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
    • H01H25/04—Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
    • H01H2025/048—Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick having a separate central push, slide or tumbler button which is not integral with the operating part that surrounds it

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a switch designed for manual actuation of several switching elements according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • PCB printed circuit board
  • the invention proposes according to claim 1, a switch designed for an individual actuation of one of a plurality of switching elements including a housing and manual actuation means mounted in said housing for individually actuating said several switching elements.
  • the manual actuation means comprises an actuating plate with two pins defining a first axis and two pins defining a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
  • the housing comprises slots for cooperation with the pins.
  • Said plate is provided at its rear side with at least one rod abutting against movable parts of the switching elements located at the back side of said housing.
  • Said pins may form an integral part of said rods.
  • the housing of the switch includes between said plate and said switching elements a guiding plate openings provided for the passage of said rods.
  • the guiding plate carries at its first surface a number of rods abutting against said housing member and at its opposite surface a number of rods abutting against said switch panel.
  • Said plate may include a number of slightly curved convex partial areas each area being adapted to pivot the plate in different directions.
  • the plate may have the form of an undivided doughnut shaped button.
  • the rod is extending perpendicular to the plane of said plate into the interior of the housing.
  • the plate has a central opening acting as a guidance for a push-button.
  • said housing member forms an integral part of a cabinet of a device like a CD-player and the switch panel forms an integral part of a printed circuit board located within said cabinet.
  • the undivided plate is pivotable about two perpendicular axes in each case in two different directions so that totally the plate can be pivoted in four different directions it can be used for example to move a cursor on a screen in four perpendicular directions, i.e. to any desired point on the screen, especially for navigation purposes.
  • the arrangement of the plate and the central button according to the invention allows the individual manual actuating of any one of five separate switching elements or tact switches by a single switch.
  • the switch according to the invention offers a number of advantages.
  • a high cost saving is achieved as five switching elements or functions can be actuated individually by one switch only instead of a conventional multidirectional switch.
  • a space saving is achieved as the arrangement according to the invention facilitates the manufacture of more compact and light units.
  • Especially high density mounting on a printed circuit board (PCB) is permitted and low profile and light weight are realized greatly.
  • appearance simplicity with web feeling and stylish high class image are achieved compared with conventional segmental style design.
  • Switch mechanism and contact structure offer the best panel design flexibility. Less fastening means enables an easy assembling. Internal isolated momentary mechanism and contact structure make the structure more tolerant to the warping of a PCB.
  • the switch according to the invention provides a high number of different advantageous applications. For example it can be used for the operation and setting of data input equipments, especially pointing devices such as mouse and micro trackball, and communication equipments. Another application are devices using micro switches as operating switches in different electronic apparatus. It may be applied in car audio systems, car navigation systems, for adjusting the side mirror in an automobile, furthermore for cursor control of a graphic input device and audio devices such as equalizers. Finally it can be used for operating various adjustments for such items, especially for portable electronic equipments. Further possible fields of application may be all types of audio products, business machines, communication equipments, measuring instruments, television receivers, video recorders, in particular in compact version requiring high density mounting such as cellular phones.
  • Fig. 1 shows a housing member 1 of a switch including a rectangular opening 2, four rods 3 at the rear side and four sidewalls 4 at the rear side each provided with a slot 5.
  • a rectangular actuating plate 6 with the dimensions of the opening 2 includes several slightly curved surface areas 7, a central opening 8, four rods 9 extending from the rear side and each provided with a pin 10 directed perpendicular to the rods 9.
  • the actuating plate 6 is inserted into the opening 2 of the housing member 1, the four pins 10 cooperating with the slots 5.
  • the operating plate 6 can pivot within the housing member 1 in both directions about a horizontal axis defined by two opposite pins 10 and about a vertical axis defined by the other two opposite pins 10.
  • a push-button 21 having a foot part 20 is provided which fits into the central opening 8 of the actuating plate 6.
  • a guiding plate 11 including four holes 12 at its upper and lower border aligned with the rods 3, four openings 13 aligned with the rods 9 and a central rectangular opening 14 aligned with the push-button 21.
  • the rods 3 of the housing member 1 are inserted into the holes 12 so that the housing member 1 and the guiding plate 11 are firmly combined and form a rigid structure.
  • Rods 18 of the guiding plate 11 abut against the housing member 1 whereas four rods 19 of the guiding plate 11 are inserted into four holes 28 of a switch panel 15 provided at the right end of the structure.
  • the switch panel 15 carries at its surface five switching elements 16 in the arrangement shown. Between the guiding plate 11 and the switch panel 15 a spring plate 17 is provided with four spring-like members 22 aligned with the rods 9. A hole 23 within the spring plate 17 enables the passage of the foot part 20 of the push-button 21 for actuating the central switching element 16a.
  • the operator pushes or presses the upper part, the right part, the lower part or the left part of the plate 6 or the push-button 21 so that the corresponding switching element 16 on the switch panel 15 is actuated by one of the rods 9 or the foot part 20 of the push-button 21.
  • the separated switching elements 16 can be actuated by an operator individually only by said single plate 6 and the push-button 21.
  • the housing member 1 may be an integral part of the cabinet of a CD player whereas the switch panel 15 may be mounted on a printed circuit board mounted within said cabinet.
  • the other elements like elements 6, 21, 11, 17 are inserted during the assembling of cabinet and printed circuit board.
  • Fig. 2 shows the housing member 1 from the rear side with the four sidewalls 4 each including a slot 5 and the central opening 2 for receiving the rectangular plate 6 of Fig. 1 as well as the four rods 3 being inserted into the holes 12 of the guiding plate 11 according to Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 shows the actuating plate 6 from the rear side including the four rods 9 abutting against the switching elements 16, the four pins 10 forming an integral part with the rods 9 and cooperating with the slots 5 in Fig. 1 and 2 as well as the central opening 8 for receiving the push-button 21.
  • Fig. 4 shows the guiding plate 11 from the right side in Fig. 1 including the four rods 19, the four openings 13 for the passage of the four rods 9 and the central opening 14 acting as a guidance for the push-button 21.
  • Fig. 5 shows the spring plate 17 including four spring elements 22 being interposed between the ends of the rods 9 and the corresponding four switching elements 16 of the switch panel 15 for ensuring a sudden actuation of the switching elements 16 by the rods 9.

Landscapes

  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Schalter, der für eine individuelle Betätigung von einem Einzelnen aus einer Vielzahl von Schaltelementen (16) konzipiert ist, welcher ein Gehäuse (1) einschließt und manuelle Betätigungsmittel, die in dem Gehäuse (1) zum individuellen Betätigen der verschiedenen Schaltelemente (16) angeordnet sind,
    wobei die manuellen Betätigungsmittel eine Betätigungsplatte (6) mit zwei Stiften (10) umfassen, die eine erste Achse definieren, und zwei Stifte (10), die eine zweite Achse definieren, die senkrecht zu der ersten Achse verläuft, wobei das Gehäuse (1) Schlitze (5) zum Zusammenarbeiten mit den Stiften (10) umfasst,
    wobei die Platte (6) an ihrer Rückseite mit mindestens einer Stange (9) versehen ist, die an beweglichen Teilen der Schaltelemente (16) einer Schalttafel (15) anliegt, die an der hinteren Seite des Gehäuses angeordnet sind,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    das Gehäuse des Schalters zwischen der Platte (6) und den Schaltelementen (16) eine Führungsplatte (11) mit Öffnungen (13) einschließt, die für den Durchgang der Stangen (9) zur Verfügung gestellt sind, und dass
    die Führungsplatte (11) an ihrer ersten Oberfläche eine Anzahl von Stangen (18) trägt, die an dem Gehäuse (1) anliegen, und an ihrer gegenüberliegenden Oberfläche eine Anzahl von Stangen (19), die an der Schalttafel (15) anliegen.
  2. Schalter nach Anspruch 1,
    wobei ein Drucktaster (21) innerhalb einer zentralen Öffnung (8) der Platte (6) angeordnet ist.
  3. Schalter nach Anspruch 2,
    wobei die Führungsplatte (11) eine zentrale Öffnung (14) aufweist, die als Führung für den Drucktaster (21) dient.
  4. Schalter nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3,
    wobei die Platte (6) eine Anzahl von leicht gekrümmten, konvexen Teilflächen (7) einschließt.
  5. Schalter nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4,
    wobei die Platte (6) die Gestalt eines ungeteilten, ringröhrenförmigen Tasters aufweist.
  6. Schalter nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4,
    wobei die mindestens eine Stange (9) senkrecht zu der Ebene der Platte (6) in das Innere des Gehäuses des Schalters verläuft.
  7. Schalter nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6,
    wobei die Stifte (10) einen integralen Bestandteil der Stangen (9) bilden.
  8. Schalter nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7,
    wobei die Führungsplatte (11) eine Vielzahl von Öffnungen (12) einschließt, durch welche Stangen (3) des Gehäuses (1) eingeführt werden.
  9. Schalter nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8,
    wobei eine Federplatte (17) zwischen der Führungsplatte (11) und der Schalttafel (15) zur Verfügung gestellt ist.
  10. Schalter nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9,
    wobei das Gehäuse (1) einen integralen Bestandteil eines Gehäuses eines Gerätes bildet, und die Schalttafel (15) einen integralen Bestandteil einer gedruckten Leiterplatte bildet, die innerhalb des Gerätes angeordnet ist.
EP20010402208 2000-08-23 2001-08-22 Schalter für die Betätigung von mehreren Schaltelementen Expired - Lifetime EP1182678B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20010402208 EP1182678B1 (de) 2000-08-23 2001-08-22 Schalter für die Betätigung von mehreren Schaltelementen

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00402340 2000-08-23
EP00402340A EP1182677A1 (de) 2000-08-23 2000-08-23 Schalter für die Handbetätigung von mehreren Schaltelementen
EP20010402208 EP1182678B1 (de) 2000-08-23 2001-08-22 Schalter für die Betätigung von mehreren Schaltelementen

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1182678A1 EP1182678A1 (de) 2002-02-27
EP1182678B1 true EP1182678B1 (de) 2004-11-10

Family

ID=26073566

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20010402208 Expired - Lifetime EP1182678B1 (de) 2000-08-23 2001-08-22 Schalter für die Betätigung von mehreren Schaltelementen

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1182678B1 (de)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO20034167D0 (no) 2003-01-20 2003-09-19 Telenostra As Vippeanordning i forbindelse med multifunksjonelle brytere
DE102004035321A1 (de) * 2004-07-21 2006-02-16 Merten Gmbh & Co. Kg Taster
EP4009344B1 (de) * 2020-12-01 2023-09-13 Simon, S.A.U. Mehrfachschalter

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5086313A (en) * 1988-01-28 1992-02-04 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Operation switch unit for a camera
US4947461A (en) * 1989-03-03 1990-08-07 Murakami Kaimeido Co. Ltd. Multi-position electrical switch
CA2101370C (en) * 1992-07-31 1999-04-27 Hiroshi Matsumiya Control-key mechanism having improved operation feeling
DE9210286U1 (de) * 1992-07-31 1992-09-24 Blaupunkt-Werke Gmbh, 3200 Hildesheim, De
EP0587406B1 (de) * 1992-09-09 1997-11-12 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Kombinations-Druckschalter-Anordnung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1182678A1 (de) 2002-02-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6525280B2 (en) Switch designed for manual actuation of several switching elements
US6162999A (en) Multi-directional operating switch
WO1998029886A1 (en) Virtual touch screen switch
EP1146530B1 (de) Multidirektionelle eingabevorrichtung
JP3010938B2 (ja) 複合プッシュスイッチ
EP1693278A2 (de) Schalter auf Lenkrad
US7176884B2 (en) Displayed viewing area switching device in a computer
EP1182678B1 (de) Schalter für die Betätigung von mehreren Schaltelementen
EP0918344B1 (de) Schalter und elektronisches Gerät das diesen Schalter verwendet
JP4105432B2 (ja) 多方向入力装置
KR20010034347A (ko) 하우징, 붙박이로 설치된 인쇄 회로 기판, 및 하우징 측부벽 내에 키를 구비하는 장치
JP6729849B2 (ja) 操作ユニットの組み付け構造
JP3991491B2 (ja) 回転・押圧操作型電子部品およびそれを用いた電子機器
JP4247312B2 (ja) 電子機器
JP2000149703A (ja) 多回路プッシュオンスイッチおよびこれを用いた電子機器
JPH07288057A (ja) スイッチ装置
KR200172463Y1 (ko) 전자제품의 스위치장치
JP2592161Y2 (ja) タクトスイッチ用ノブ
JPH11213795A (ja) ホールド機能付き押しボタンスイッチ装置
JP3021339B2 (ja) マウス
JPH0793073B2 (ja) シートキーボード用多ユニットキーの構造
JPH10222087A (ja) 表示板ホルダ
JPH0969324A (ja) キーボード
KR19990005566A (ko) 모니터의 화면조정 장치
KR19980086156A (ko) 전자기기의 누름버튼 스위칭구조

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: CUI, WEI

Inventor name: CHAN, YAT FUNG

AKX Designation fees paid
17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20020724

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8566

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20021125

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60107025

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20041216

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 746

Effective date: 20050104

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

RAP2 Party data changed (patent owner data changed or rights of a patent transferred)

Owner name: THOMSON LICENSING

ET Fr: translation filed
26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20050811

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20150901

Year of fee payment: 15

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20150827

Year of fee payment: 15

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 16

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20160822

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160822

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 60107025

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: HOFSTETTER, SCHURACK & PARTNER - PATENT- UND R, DE

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 60107025

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: HOFSTETTER, SCHURACK & PARTNER PATENT- UND REC, DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 17

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160822

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20180829

Year of fee payment: 18

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20180828

Year of fee payment: 18

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 60107025

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200303

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190831