FR2909218A1 - ELECTRIC SWITCHING MODULE WITH ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OF CMS TYPE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical switching module intended to be inserted into an electrical device, for example of the push button or position switch type, comprising: an actuating member (4) movable in translation in a body along a main axis (A), between a rest position and a working position, - a movable permanent magnet (5) mounted integral in translation with the actuating member, - a first magnetic microswitch (6a) controllable between two states under the action of the magnetic field for switching an electrical circuit, characterized in that: - the body comprises a support part (3), - the support part (3) comprises locations determined to accommodate several electronic components of the CMS type, - the first magnetic microswitch (6a) is formed as a SMD component and is positioned at a location of the support member (3).

Description

1 Electrical switch module with electronic components of type

  The present invention relates to an electrical switching module. The invention more particularly relates to an electrical switching module including a permanent magnet and which is for example used in an electrical device of the push button type, position switch, switch, combiner, programmer ...

  It is known from patent application FR 2 849 954 a switching device incorporating a light source. The light source is mounted in the form of a light emitting diode of the SMD (Surface Mounted Component) type on the housing of the device. The use of a CMS component to produce the light source makes it possible to gain compactness and space. However, the device obtained has a very limited use and does not fulfill any other function than that of light without profoundly altering its structure. The object of the invention is therefore to provide an electrical switching module adaptable directly in an electrical device, having a limited size and a very compact design and can perform one or more functions without substantially changing its structure. This object is achieved by an electrical switching module intended to be inserted into an electrical device, comprising: a body, an actuating member movable in translation in the body along a main axis, between a rest position and a working position a movable permanent magnet mounted integral in translation with the actuating member, said movable permanent magnet creating a magnetic field, - a first magnetic microswitch controllable between two states under the action of the magnetic field to switch an electric circuit, characterized in that: the body comprises a support part made of synthetic material, the support part comprises locations determined to accommodate several CMS-type electronic components, the first magnetic microswitch is made in the form of an electronic component of type CMS and is positioned at a location of the support piece, the first microswitch m agnetic has a movable element able to switch between its two states to switch an electric circuit by aligning in the direction of the field lines of the magnetic field created by the permanent magnet, the support piece is traversed by metal pins connected to the components electronic type CMS. According to a particularity, the support piece comprises a location intended to accommodate a second magnetic microswitch identical to the first micro-magnetic switch. According to another feature, the locations of the two magnetic microswitches are formed at different altitudes. According to another particularity, the two magnetic microswitches are oriented with respect to the mobile permanent magnet so that the mobile element of one of the microswitches is subjected to field lines having an inverted curvature. compared to that of the field lines seen by the mobile element of the other microswitch. In another feature, the first microswitch is oriented relative to the field lines so as to be normally closed and in that the second microswitch is positioned relative to the field lines so as to be normally open. According to another feature, the first microswitch is positioned at a higher altitude relative to the second microswitch. In this way, when actuated, the first microswitch is first opened and then the second microswitch is closed.

According to another feature, the movable permanent magnet (5) is of toric form. The magnetic microswitches are for example positioned inside the toroidal shape of the moving permanent magnet. In another feature, the support member has a location 5 for receiving a light emitting diode. The switching module of the invention can therefore have a light indicator function associated with the normally open and / or normally closed functions exerted by the two microswitches. According to another feature, the diode is positioned at the top of a pad.

In another feature, the movable member is a membrane of ferromagnetic material. According to a first variant embodiment, each CMS type electronic component is fixed by brazing or gluing on the tinned metal pins. According to a second variant embodiment, each SMD-type electrical component is keyed on flexible contact blades connected to the metal pins. According to a third embodiment, the support part carries electrical tracks made by 3D MID technology, connected to the metal pins and to which each CMS-type component can be connected.

The invention also relates to an electrical device comprising an electrical switching module as defined above. The electrical device may consist for example of a push button or a position switch.

Other features and advantages will appear in the following detailed description with reference to an embodiment given by way of example and represented by the appended drawings in which: FIGS. 1A and 1B show two different perspectives of the module In FIG. 2, the electrical switching module according to the invention is exploded. FIGS. 3A and 3B show, in two perpendicular axial sections, the electrical switching module according to the invention in position. Figure 4 shows in axial section the electrical switching module of the invention in working position, Figures 5A to 5C respectively show in perspective, in plan view and again in perspective, the support piece of the module. of the invention, FIG. 6 shows a microswitch employed in the switching module of the invention, FIGS. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the operation of the microswitch of Figure 6, Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the operation of the switching module of the invention.

In the remainder of the description, the terms "up", "down", "upper", "lower", "above", "below" or the like should be understood with reference to the main axis (A) vertical direction of the module. The term "altitude" used in the text of the patent application should also be considered with reference to the main axis (A) of the module. According to the invention, the electrical switching module 1 is intended to be inserted into an electrical device to exert a defined function. It can therefore be inserted in a push button, a position switch, a switch, a combiner, a programmer, and more generally in any apparatus or electrical device in which an auxiliary contact function is required. For example, the switching module according to the invention can be dressed in different ways to form different structures of push button or position switch. In this case, the module is for example identical whatever the push button or the position switch in which it is used. By appropriately dressing the module, it is thus possible to obtain pushbuttons 2909218 5 pushers of different diameters (16 mm or 22 mm) or to realize a push button soldered on a printed circuit and intended to be used in a keyboard. This electrical switching module 1 comprises a body, for example of cylindrical shape. This body is composed in particular of a sleeve 2 of circular section and a support piece 3 made of plastic forming a bottom closing the sleeve 2. A washer 90 is positioned between the support member and lugs 20 of the sleeve 2. The module also comprises an actuating member 4 movably mounted in translation in the sleeve 2, along the main axis (A). The actuating member 4 can assume a high rest position (FIGS. 3A and 3B) and a working position (FIG. 4) in which it is pushed into the sleeve 2. The sleeve 2 and the washer 90 are for example in ferromagnetic material so as to ensure the magnetic shielding of the module vis-à-vis the outside. A movable permanent magnet 5 in the form of a torus is mounted integral with the actuating member 4 and axially in the sleeve 2. The toroidal shape of the movable permanent magnet 5 has particular advantages in terms of construction and durability. arrangement. In the rest position of the actuating member 4, the movable permanent magnet 5 is for example glued against a ferromagnetic ring 50 which returns to the operator a tactile effect of rupture during a pressure on the organ 4. According to the invention, the return of the actuating member 4 from its working position to its rest position can be achieved by a return device such as for example a return spring 40 interposed between actuating member 4 and the ferromagnetic ring 50.

The support member 3 is in the form of a disc having a peripheral portion 30 and a central portion 31 forming a support on which SMD (Surface Mounted Component) components are mounted directly. According to the invention, the support piece 3 can for example receive in the form of CMS components, two magnetic microswitches 6a, 6b (referenced 6 generally) arranged on the support piece 3 to form for example a microswitch normally open and a normally closed microswitch, two normally open microswitches or two normally closed microswitches.

A magnetic microswitch 6 used in the invention is for example made in MEMS technology (for "Micro-Electro-Mechanical System"). It is enclosed in a hermetic and sealed housing and has on one of its faces two coplanar connection pads on which are connected for example metal pins 9 passing through the support piece. The microswitch 6 according to the invention has the particularity of being switchable between two states, an open state and a closed state, in alignment with the direction of the field lines L of a magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet. .

An exemplary configuration of a microswitch 6 sensitive to the direction of the field lines L is shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. It comprises a deformable ferromagnetic mobile membrane 60 that can be actuated in rotation about an axis of rotation ( R) under the influence of the permanent magnet. The membrane 60 is for example made of Fer-Nickel.

The membrane 60 has a longitudinal axis (X) and is connected, at one of its ends, via connecting arms 62a, 62b, to one or more anchoring studs 63 integral with a substrate 7 The membrane 60 is pivotable relative to the substrate along its axis (R) of rotation perpendicular to its longitudinal axis (X). The link arms 62a, 62b form an elastic connection between the membrane 60 and the anchor stud 63 and are flexed during the pivoting of the membrane 60. At its distal end with respect to its axis of rotation, the membrane 60 carries a movable contact 61. By pivoting, the membrane 60 can take at least two determined states, an open state, pivoted upwards (FIG. 7) so that two fixed electric tracks 71, 72 deposited on the substrate 7 are disconnected or a closed state (FIG. 8), pivoted downwards, in which the two electric tracks 71, 72 are interconnected by the movable contact 61 carried by the membrane 60. In FIG. the idle state, in a non-pivoted position, parallel to the surface of the substrate 7. The operating principle of such a microswitch 6 is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. One of the operating modes of FIG. the membrane 20 of such a microswitch 6 consis To apply a magnetic field created by a permanent magnet 500. According to this mode of operation, the ferromagnetic membrane 60 moves between its two states by aligning with the field lines L of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 500 With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 500 has field lines L, the orientation of which generates a magnetic component (BP0, BPI) in a ferromagnetic layer of the membrane 60 along its axis. longitudinal (X). This magnetic component (BP0, BPI) generated in the membrane 60 generates a magnetic torque imposing the membrane 60 to take one of its open states 5 (Figure 7) or closed (Figure 8). By moving the permanent magnet 500, it is therefore possible to subject the membrane 60 to two different orientations of the field lines L of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 500 and to tilt the membrane 60 between its two states. The normally open or normally closed configuration of a magnetic microswitch as employed in the invention depends on the position and orientation of its diaphragm 60 with respect to the permanent magnet 500. 180-switch relative to the permanent magnet 500 makes it possible to switch a microswitch 6 from normally open or normally closed to normally closed or normally open respectively.

The support piece can also receive in the form of a SMD component, a light source composed for example of a light emitting diode 8 forming a light indicator. To achieve the light indicator function, the actuating member 4 is for example made of transparent plastic.

From two microswitches 6a, 6b each of which can be normally open or normally closed and a signal light, it is possible from the same module to produce different versions of an electrical device, for example of the pushbutton type or position switch.

In order to fulfill the various functions provided, the support piece 3 of the module defines a particular arrangement comprising, for example, several locations each for receiving a CMS-type component (FIGS. 5A to 5C). The support part 3 defines, for example, three separate locations each intended to receive a component of the CMS type.

The support piece 3 has on its central portion 31 four peripheral studs 310 disposed symmetrically and a central stud 311 whose apex defines a first location receiving the diode 8 in the form of CMS component (Figure 3A).

According to the invention, the support piece 3 comprises two other locations located on either side of the central stud 311, made at different altitudes and intended to receive the two microswitches 6a, 6b magnetic. The surface of the support piece 3 is therefore irregular and follows at least two distinct parallel planes perpendicular to the main axis (A) of the electrical switching module 1. In fact, if it is desired to make an electric device of the push button type or a position switch having a normally open microswitch and a normally closed microswitch, it is necessary to ensure that the normally closed microswitch is open before the normally open microswitch 10 is closed. For this, the normally closed microswitch is placed at a higher altitude than the normally open microswitch. Each of the magnetic microswitches 6a, 6b is brought against a lateral face of the central stud 311 and housed between two peripheral studs 310. According to the invention, the two microswitches 6a, 6b are both arranged in a staggered manner. relative to the main axis (A) of the module (FIG. 3A), inside the torus. The moving permanent magnet 5 comprises a horizontal median plane (P) which is perpendicular to its direction of magnetization, below which the membrane 60 of a microswitch 6a, 6b is in a state and above which the membrane 60 is in its other state. When the actuating member 4 is in the rest position (FIGS. 3A and 3B), the magnetic microswitches 6a, 6b are below the median plane (P) of the magnet and when the actuating member is in the working position (Figure 4), the magnetic microswitches 6a, 6b are above the median plane (P) of the magnet.

The magnetic microswitches 6a, 6b are positioned on either side of the central stud 311 so as to each be under the influence of a different half-portion of the toroidal permanent magnet. Thus the field lines seen by the membrane 60 of one of the microswitches 6a, 6b have an inverted curvature with respect to the field lines seen by the membrane 60 of the other microswitch. If the two microswitches 6a, 6b are oriented in the same direction, one of the microswitches is then normally closed and the other microswitch is normally open. The support part 3 also incorporates several metal pins 9, 80 connected to the CMS-type components and passing through the support part 3. According to different variants, the pins 9, 80 can be integrated into the support part 3 as a function of the number of CMS components used in the module or be permanently integrated to the support part 3 regardless of the number of CMS-type components used. In this case, if for example the electric device does not have the indicator light function, the corresponding pins 80 are not connected. The metal pins 80, 9 are, for example, inserted or overmolded in the support part 3. Each CMS-type component comprises, for example, an input metal pin and an output metal pin. The connected pins 80 on the diode 8 pass through the support piece and each comprise a portion inserted in the central stud 311 to join the diode 8. There are several techniques for the assembly and connection of a CMS type component on its pins: 15 the known technology called "Molded Interconnected Devices" (3D MID) which allows in particular to create electrical tracks on a plastic part regardless of the relief of the part, the metal pins as well as the CMS-type components coming from connect to the electrical tracks thus formed, brazing or gluing the CMS-type components directly to tin-plated metal pins, clamping the CMS-type components to soft contact blades connected to the input / output metal pins.

These assembly and connection technologies have the advantages of allowing: to interconnect components in space (with the 3D MID technology) by producing for example a circuit of electrical tracks on the support part 3, to minimize the number of parts to assemble, to occupy a very limited volume, 2909218 10 manage precisely the different altitudes between the two magnetic microswitches to ensure their activation in a given order when moving the magnet.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a module comprising two stepped magnetic microswitches 6a, 6b operates in the following manner: The direction of magnetization of the mobile permanent magnet O-ring follows a direction parallel to the main axis ( A) and the magnetic field vector parallel to the magnetization direction is oriented conventionally in the South-North direction, for example upwards in FIGS. 9 and 10. When the actuating member 4 is at rest (FIG. 9), the two microswitches 6a, 6b are placed below the horizontal median plane (P) of the permanent magnet 5. The magnetic field created by the magnet 5 has L-shaped field lines whose direction requires the membrane 60 of the upper microswitch 6a is to be in a closed state and the membrane of the lower microswitch 6b to be in an open state (FIG. 9). Depressing the actuating member 4 to its working position (FIG. 10) therefore causes the vertical moving magnet 5 to change its vertical position so that the two microswitches 6a, 6b pass above the median plane (P) of the movable permanent magnet 5. Thus, the direction of magnetic L field lines seen by each of the membranes of the two microswitches 6a, 6b is reversed. With reference to FIG. 10, the magnetic field M therefore has field lines L whose direction requires the membrane of the upper microswitch 6a to switch to its open state and to the membrane of the lower microswitch 6b to switch over. towards its closed state.

Claims (16)

  1. Electrical switching module intended to be inserted into an electrical device, comprising: a body, an actuating member (4) movable in translation in the body along a main axis (A), between a rest position and a position working, a movable permanent magnet (5) mounted integral in translation with the actuating member, said movable permanent magnet (5) creating a magnetic field, a first magnetic microswitch (6a) controllable between two states under the action of the magnetic field for switching an electric circuit, characterized in that: the body comprises a support piece (3) made of synthetic material, the support piece (3) has locations determined to accommodate several electronic components of the CMS type, the first microphone magnetic switch (6a) is formed in the form of an electronic component of the CMS type and is positioned at a location of the support part (3), the first micro-switch r (6a) magnetic has a movable element able to switch between its two states to switch an electric circuit by aligning in the direction of the field lines (L) of the magnetic field created by the permanent magnet (5), the piece support (3) is traversed by metal pins (80, 9) connected to the CMS-type electronic components.   2. Module according to claim 1, characterized in that the support piece (3) comprises a location for receiving a second microswitch (6b) magnetic identical to the first microswitch (6a) magnetic. 15 20 2909218 12   3. Module according to claim 2, characterized in that the locations of the two microswitches (6a, 6b) magnetic are formed at different altitudes.   4. Module according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the two magnetic microswitches (6a, 6b) are oriented relative to the movable permanent magnet (5) so that the mobile element of the one of the microswitches is subjected to field lines having an inverted curvature with respect to that of the field lines seen by the movable element of the other microswitch. 10   5. Module according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the first microswitch (6a) is oriented relative to the field lines (L) so as to be normally closed and in that the second microswitch switch (6b) is positioned relative to the field lines (L) so as to be normally open.   6. Module according to claim 5, characterized in that the first microswitch (6a) is positioned at a higher altitude relative to the second microswitch (6b).   7. Module according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the movable permanent magnet (5) is of toric form.   8. Module according to claim 7, characterized in that the microswitches (6a, 6b) magnetic are positioned within the toroidal form of the movable permanent magnet (5).   9. Module according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the support member (3) has a location for receiving a diode (8) electroluminescent.   10. Module according to claim 9, characterized in that the diode (8) is positioned at the top of a pad (311).   11. Module according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the movable member is a membrane (60) of ferromagnetic material. 2909218 13   12. Module according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that each CMS type electronic component is fixed by soldering or gluing on the tinned metal pins.   13. Module according to claim 1 to 11, characterized in that each SMD-type electrical component is keyed on flexible contact blades connected to the metal pins.   14. Module according to claim 1 to 11, characterized in that the support piece carries electrical tracks made by 3D MID technology, connected to the metal pins and to which each CMS-type component can be connected.   15. Electrical device characterized in that it comprises an electrical switching module as defined in one of claims 1 to 14.   16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that it consists of a push button or a position switch. 15