GB2324909A

GB2324909A - Hazard switch

Info

Publication number: GB2324909A
Application number: GB9816656A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shunichi Sato
Original assignee: Niles Parts Co Ltd
Current assignee: Niles Parts Co Ltd
Priority date: 1995-02-13
Filing date: 1996-01-25
Publication date: 1998-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2016-01-25
Also published as: GB2324909B; GB9816656D0

Abstract

A hazard switch assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a knob 1 movable together with a movable block 13, a plate 45 mounting a flasher relay Ry1 ,Ry2 of a flasher unit 51 and provided with insert moulded terminals, one end of which project into a connector 40 and the other end of which project from a side of the plate 45 to make an electrical connection with a circuit substrate d carrying other components of the flasher unit 51.

Description

SWITCH The present invention relates to an electrical switch. It particularly relates to a hazard switch, e.g.

an operation switch for controlling flash lamps disposed at the front, back, left and right sides of automobiles for flashing them in order to prevent traffic accidents.

A preferred type of embodiment is a unit structure for a hazard switch used for motor vehicles in which the structure of the operation switch is simplified.

Motor vehicles (e.g. cars) have switches for many purposes, e.g. for controlling interior or exterior lights, a radio, wipers, and windows. Moreover, there have been used several types of switch such as rotary, slide, seesaw, push and toggle switches. The push switch has been frequently used in comparison with other switch devices, because of its quick response.

Japanese Utility Model Publication Laid-Open Nos.

56-70936 and 1-62625 show a push type switch provided with a spring in the central portion of a housing thereof and a knob urged outwardly by the spring. If the knob is pushed, the push switch is closed; it is returned automatically to the open state by the resilient force of the spring when the finger is released from the knob.

Also known is a locking switch having a so-called heart-shaped cam. When its knob is once pushed, the switch is locked, until it is released by a subsequent push. The knob carries at its rear a pin adapted to contact slidably a guide surface of the cam, and to move together with a slider mounted on the knob. The switch is closed when the pin contacts the guide surface of the heart cam, and opened when the pin separates from the projected portion of the heart cam. A switch of this type may be quite thin, and therefore it becomes possible to install it in a device in which many electric parts are installed. The knob of the switch may be automatically restored to its normal positiOn, since the slider mounted at the rear position of the knob is normally activated by the spring.

It is known to provide a motor vehicle with a hazard switch, generally disposed near to the driver's seat, in order to be able to flash lamps disposed at the front, rear, and sides of the vehicle for preventing a traffic accident by giving warning. The hazard switch is typically a locking switch as described above, and is independent from the so-called flasher unit in which another printed wiring substrate and discrete parts are installed. The hazard switch is connected to the terminals of the parts through an intermediate harness.

Because of problems of space, the hazard switch is mounted independently of the flasher unit. A large current flows into the flasher unit. Therefore the intermediate harness must be large, leading to complex wiring and mounting. Moreover, output means for a signal lamp is made as a simple circuit. The use of an intermediate harness for connecting the hazard switch with the flasher unit has cost disadvantages due to the cost of the harness itself and the number of fabrication processes. Moreover, the switch logic of the flasher unit becomes complex and may generate faults. Since the output means to the signal lamp is single, it is difficult to reduce the electric current flow into the flasher unit, and a slide switch for directly disconnecting the current tends to be bulky.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate or solve one or more of the above-mentioned problems. In a preferred embodiment, the hazard switch is made as a unit; the intermediate harness is reduced, as may be the terminals of several parts, the number of the mounting processes and the parts, and the size of the hazard switch and the current. This may be achieved by changing the electric circuit and the switch.

Thus according to the present invention, there is provided a unit structure for a hazard switch provided with a knob which may, in use, be disposed at the near position of a driver's seat, wherein electric parts composing a flasher unit are directly installed in a terminal block, and said terminal block functions as a print wiring substrate.

The terminal block of the present invention is preferably composed of a first terminal block having a connector and a second terminal block having terminals to be inserted into the connector.

Preferably the second terminal block is loaded with a flasher relay on its upper surface and further fixed on the back surface of the first terminal block, and the first terminal block is provided with through holes for inserting the flasher relay.

The second terminal block is preferably provided with electric parts on the back surface thereof and projections are integrally formed therewith, and a back lid has small holes to be fitted to the projections.

The present invention also provides a unit structure for a hazard switch composed of a moving block for moving together with a knob, an upper lid for supporting said moving block, and a pole plate, wherein said pole plate is provided with terminals molded through an insert molding method and has a flasher relay on its upper surface. One end of each of said terminals is projected into a connector and the other end of each of said terminals is projected into the side of said pole plate to make an electrical connection with a circuit substrate composing a flasher unit.

There may be a circuit substrate projecting downwardly from the pole plate, said circuit substrate being connected with terminals projecting from the side of the pole plate.

Some embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a hazard switch unit which is a first embodiment of the present invention, and which is further illustrated in Figs. 2-9; Fig. 2 is a side view of the hazard switch unit; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the hazard switch unit; Fig. 5 is a perspective bottom plan view of a second terminal block; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the hazard switch unit with its bottom lid removed; Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the terminals of the second terminal block; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing an assembled state of a flasher relay; and Fig. 9 is a wiring circuit of a flasher unit; Fig. 10 is a perspective rear view showing a circuit substrate of a hazard switch unit which is a second embodiment of the present invention, which is further illustrated in Figs. 11-13; Fig. 11 is a perspective front view of the circuit substrate; Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the switch unit; and Fig. 13 is a wiring circuit of the electric circuit of a flasher unit.

A first embodiment of a unit structure for hazard switch of the present invention will now be described with reference to figures 1 to 9.

The hazard switch assembly A has a knob (which may in use be adjacent to a driver's seat) with a moving block 2 at its rear position. A terminal block B is composed of a first terminal block B1 mechanically coupled to a second terminal block B2. The upper surface of the second terminal block B2 is provided with discrete type electric parts such as a flasher relay Ry, a shunt resistor R, electrolytic condensers C1, 2, and jumper wire. A hazard switch 5 and a flasher unit 50 are disposed on the second terminal block B2.

The lower surface of the second terminal block B2 is provided with an integrated circuit 11 of the flat package type, tip type resistors, and electrolytic condensers C1, C2. A surface mounted device 60 may be replaced by a discrete device. Moreover, the terminal block B serves also as a print wiring substrate.

Furthermore, the hazard switch 4 is formed integrally with the flasher unit 50.

Fig. 3 shows the internal parts installed within the hazard switch assembly A. A knob 1 is movable by being pushed, and has a heart cam 6. A light emitting diode or an electric lamp 5 is for illuminating the knob 1 from inside, thereby allowing the user to observe the position of the knob 1 even in the dark. The heart cam 6 has a recess surface 25. A pin 7 is mounted in a hole 2b in the centre of the upper surface of a moving piece 2a and engages in the recess surface 25. The pin 7 is adapted to be movable by means of a plate spring 8 supporting the pin 7 in the vertical direction. The pin 7 is slidable together with the moving piece 2a to contact a projected portion 6a of the heart cam 6. The pin 7 is adapted to be thus movable in the vertical direction by being inserted into the hole 2b of the moving piece 2a and supported by the plate spring 8. Therefore when the moving piece 2a moves in the longitudinal direction of the case 14 by being pushed by the knob 1, the heart cam 6 moves. When the pin 7 contacts the projected portion 6a of the heart cam 6, the knob 1 is maintained in the ON state. If the knob 1 is again pushed by an operator, the pin 7 is removed from the projected portion 6a of the heart cam 6, and travels along the periphery of the projecting portion 6a, thereby automatically returning to the OFF stated as urged by spring 10. The plate spring 8 can be fixed by securing its fixing piece 8a on the portion (not shown) formed on an inner-upper surface of the moving block 2. The spring portion 8b of the plate spring 8 urges the pin 7 resiliently. A small coil spring 9 urges a movable member 16 into contact with contacts 18a. An upper lid 14 covers the second terminal block B2 through the first terminal block B1. The second terminal block B2 is fixed on the lower surface of the first terminal block Bl by inserting external connector terminals 20 into a through the hole B12 of a connector B11 of the first terminal block B1.

A plate-shaped slider is formed with an upwardly convex fold. A central portion 15 is fixed to the moving piece 2a by a fixing pin 17 mounted on the bottom surface of the moving piece 2a. When the second terminal block B2 is coupled to the first terminal block B1, the surface of the second terminal block B2 provided with the fixed contacts 18a and 18b is positioned in the same plane as the surface of the first terminal block B1 provided with the fixed contacts 18c.

The knob 1 is coupled to the moving piece 2a by a snap-action. When the knob 1 is pushed and the slider 15 is advanced, the fixed contacts 18b mounted on the second terminal block B2 and the fixed contacts 18c mounted on the first terminal block B1 can contact the slider 15.

By movement of the slider 15, the contact 15a contacts the fixed contact 18b, and the contact 15b contacts the fixed contact lSc. External connector terminals 19 have, respectively, the first terminal block B1 and the switch contact 18c, and the second terminal block B2 and the fixed contacts 18a and 18b, serving as switch contacts.

Fig. 4 shows the knob 1 as designed with a semitransparent plastic sheet la printed with a triangle indication mark 21. If the knob 1 is pressed in the dark, a lamp 5 disposed in its interior is immediately lit so the indication mark 21 can be observed through the semi-transparent plastic sheet la. The moving piece 2a is provided with an opening at its front portion.

Projections 22 at the outer front portion are adapted to engage in recesses 1b formed on the inner surface of the knob 1 thereby coupling the moving block 2 with the knob.

Moreover, the moving piece 2a has a projecting portion 23 formed with a guide portion 24 at the rear side thereof in order to guide the movement of the moving piece 2a.

The first terminal block B1 and the second terminal block B2 are provided with terminals 26a and 26b to be connected to the terminals of the lamp 5 for illuminating the knob 1. Moreover, the first terminal block B1 is provided with a notch portion 27 for receiving the slider 15, and a recess portion 29 defined in a compartment wall 28. The spring 10 for urging the rear surface of the moving piece 2a is received in the recess portion 29. At the inner side of the compartment wall 25, there is provided a through hole B13 for receiving the flasher relay Ry. Moreover, the first terminal block B1 is provided with several fitting portions 30 at the bottom wall surface thereof, and the second terminal block B2, which carries the flasher unit 50, is provided with several fitting members 31 to be fitted to respective fitting portions 30. Moreover, claws 35 mounted on the flasher unit 50 are fitted to holes 37 in the upper lid 14 thereby coupling the flasher unit 50 to the hazard switch 4 integrally.

The second terminal block B2 is loaded with the electric parts such as the flasher relay Ry, electrolytic condensers C1, C2, shunt resistors R and the like, as mentioned above. Moreover, the second terminal block B2 is provided with plural external terminals 20 at the rear portion thereof. Fig. 5 is a perspective bottom plan view of the second terminal block B2. At the rear side of the second terminal block B2, there is. mounted the integrated circuit 11 and other electric circuits and a projection 32 at the central portion thereof. The projection 32 has an enlarged end portion which is adapted to be inserted into a small hole 33 in the central portion of the bottom lid 34 thereby fixing the bottom lid 34 to the second terminal block B2. The second terminal block B2 engages the upper lid 14 by a snapping operation.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the terminals b and the external terminals 20 in the second terminal block B2. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing a partly broken away main portion of the second terminal block B2. The block B2 is formed with a switch contact portion at its upper surface, and bears a surface mounted device 60 on its lower surface.

Fig. 9 is a view for explaining the electric wiring circuit of the flasher unit 50. The flasher unit 50 has seven external connector terminals O to t and the hazard switch 4 has six switch contacts A'-F'. The first connector terminal O is connected to an electric power source (BAT) through a fuse 90 and an ignition switch 70 and further connected to the switch contact A' of the hazard switch 4. The second connector or terminal Q2 is connected to the electric power source (BAT) through a fuse 91, and further directly connected to the switch contact B' of the hazard switch 4.

The third connector terminal b is connected to one terminal of turn signal lamps 80 mounted on the right side (R) of the vehicle. The other terminal of the turn signal lamps 80 is connected to ground, and further connected to the switch contact D' of the hazard switch 4. Similarly, the fourth connector terminal portion 04 is connected to one terminal of the turn signal lamps 80 mounted on left side (L) and the other terminal of the turn signal lamps 80 is connected to ground, and further connected to the switch contact F' of the hazard switch 4.

The fifth connector terminal Os is connected to the electric power source (BAT) through an illumination switch (ILL SW) and a fuse 92, and further connected to one terminal of the illumination lamp 5. The other terminal of the illumination lamp 5 is grounded.

Both ends of the sixth connector terminal OG are connected to ground without any connection to other parts. The seventh connector terminal t is connected to one terminal of the turn signal switch 81 for switching the turn signal lamps 80 for the left side (L) and the turn signal lamps 80 for the right side (R), and further connected to the switch contact F' of the hazard switch 4.

The hazard switch 4 is connected via its switch contact C' to the terminal (5) of the integrated circuit 11 through the electrolytic condenser C1 and the resistor R4, and further to the terminal (6) of the integrated circuit 11 through the resistor R2. The terminal (3) of the integrated circuit 11 is connected to a node between a detection resistor RS and the electrolytic condenser C1. Furthermore, the hazard switch 4 is connected via switch contact E' to the terminal (7) of the integrated circuit 11 through the resistor R1.

The detection resistor RS and the contact I of the flasher relay Ry are connected in series between the terminals (7) and (3) of the integrated circuit 11, and furthermore the joint between the detection resistor RS and the contact I of the flasher relay Ry is connected to the terminal (2) of the integrated circuit 11. The electrolytic condenser C2 is connected between the terminals (2) and (4) of the integrated circuit 11. The terminal (4) of the integrated circuit 11 is grounded through the resistor R3. The flasher relay Ry is connected between the ground and the terminal (1) of the integrated circuit 11. The operation of the electric circuit will be described hereinafter. In the ON state of the hazard switch 4, the terminal (7) of the integrated circuit 11 is at low potential (Lo); the terminal (1) is at high potential. Therefore, the states of Hi and Lo are repeated. When the terminal (1) of the integrated circuit 11 is high level, the contact I of the flasher relay Ry becomes ON state. Furthermore, the turn signal lamps 80 for the right side (R) and the turn signal lamps 80 for the left side (L) are supplied with power from the source (BAT). The current from the electric power source (BAT) flows to the fuse 91 ~ the connection portion O ~ Q2 the switch contact B' the switch contact C' - > the detection switch RS ~ the contact I ~ the switch contact E' ~ the switch contact D' -, the switch contact F' ~ the connection portion O ~ Q3 the connection portion 8.

When the turn signal switch 81 is in ON state, the terminal (7) of the integrated circuit 11 becomes low potential Lo, and therefore when the terminal (1) of the integrated circuit 11 is in the high level Hi, the contact I of the flasher relay Ry becomes in ON state.

Furthermore, the turn signal lamps 80 for the right side (R) and the turn signal lamps 80 for the left side (Lo are supplied with electric power, and the current from the electric power source (BAT) flows into the ignition switch 70 ~ the fuse 90 - > the connection portion switch 0 ~ the switch contact A' ~ the switch contact C' - > the detection resistor RS ~ the contact I - > the switch contact E' ~ the switch contact D' - > the switch contact F' ~ the connection portion 3 ~ Q3 the connection portion .

A second embodiment of the unit structure for the hazard switch of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 10 to 13. Fig. 10 is a perspective back view of the circuit substrate d of the hazard switch assembly A bearing the electric circuits.

The plan view and side view of the hazard switch unit A in the second embodiment are the same as that in Figs. 1 and 2 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the unit structure for the hazard switch, the output means of the turn signal lamps 80 mounted on the right side (R) is independent from the output means of the turn signal lamps 80 mounted on the left side (L).

Thus it is possible to make simple a switching logic and minimize a current by providing two relay contacts.

Therefore, the heart cam switch of so-called push lock type provided with a heart cam 6 is adopted thereby making the unit structure simple.

A tact switch 3 allowing the flow of a small current is mounted on the circuit substrate d in the hazard switch 12. The hazard switch 12 includes the flasher unit 51 composed of the electric parts mounted on the circuit substrate d and the pole plate 45, within the upper lid 14. If the knob 1 is pushed, the moving piece 13a in the moving block 13 pushes the contact switch 3, hereby switching the hazard switch unit A to an open state.

In more detail, the pole plate 45 is directly provided with two flasher relays Ryl, Ry2, and the pole plate 45 and the circuit substrate d provides the electric circuits required for the flasher unit 51.

Moreover, the contact switch 3 is welded on the circuit substrate d. Therefore, if the knob 1 is merely pressed, the moving piece 13a pushes the switch 3 thereby switching the hazard switch 12 from OFF to ON.

Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views showing the circuit substrate d of the hazard switch unit A carrying the electric circuits. The switch 3 is of the surface mounted device type. A lamp 39 such as a light emitting diode serves for illuminating the inside of the knob 1 at night, and the terminals 39a of the lamp 39 are connected to the circuit substrate d. The integrated circuit 41, the other diodes 42, the tip resistors 43, and an electrolytic condenser 44 and the like are mounted on both surfaces of the circuit substrate d.

Fig. 12 is a exploded perspective view of the hazard switch unit A, in which numeral 14 denotes an upper slide formed with the shape as shown in Fig. 12, and upper lid 14 covers the pole plate 45 through the moving piece 13a.

The moving piece 13a has a rectangular opening at the front portion thereof, and a pair of projecting rods 36 at the rear portion thereof. The moving piece 13a has a pair of fitting members 38 at the front and upper surface of the moving piece 13a, and therefore the knob 1 can be coupled with the moving piece 13a by fitting the fitting members 38 to the recess portions (not shown) formed at the inner wall of the knob 1 respectively, thereby fixing them by a snap operation.

The pole plate 45 is provided with two flasher relays Ryl, Ry2, and the terminals of the flasher relays Ryl, Ry2 are welded to the pole plate 45. And the circuit substrate d having the switch 3 is welded to the pole plate 45. There is a connector 40. Fig. 13 is a circuit diagram of the electric circuit of the flasher unit 51. It has a plurality of connecting portions O to Q8 The electric power source (BAT), one end of which is grounded is connected to the connecting portion X of the flasher unit 51 through the fuse 93 and the ignition switch 81, and the connecting portion O is connected to the terminal A of the integrated circuit 41. The connecting portion Q2 is connected to the electric power source (BAT) through the fuse 94, and it is connected to the terminal A4 of the integrated circuit 41, and connected to the integrated circuit 41 through the electrolytic condenser 44 and the resistor R6. The node between the electrolytic condenser 44 and the resistor R6 is connected to the integrated circuit 41.

Furthermore, the connection portion Q2 is connected to the terminal A6 of the integrated circuit 41 through the flasher relay Ryl, and further connected to the terminal A7 of the integrated circuit 41 through the other flasher relay Ry2. By this the normally open contacts 1' and 2' are switched thereby flashing the turn signal lamp 80 of the right side and the left side.

Therefore, the turn signal lamp 80 for the right side (R), one end of which is grounded, is connected to the connecting portion Qs, and further to the terminal A3 of the integrated circuit 41 through the normally open contact 1'.

One end of the turn signal lamp 80 for the left side (L) is grounded, and the other end therefore is connected to the connecting portion , which is connected to the connecting portion Q2 through the normally open contact 2' and the resistor R11. The series of the resistor R8 and the diode D1 is connected between the terminal A4 of the integrated circuit 41 and one end of the hazard switch 12, and similarly the series of the resistor R7 and the diode D2 is connected between the terminal A4 and one end of the hazard switch 12. Another end of the hazard switch 12 is connected to the connecting portion t one end of which is grounded and the other end of which is connected to the integrated circuit 41 through the resistor R9.

The other end of the hazard switch 12 is connected between the resistor R9 and the connecting portion t.

The connecting portion t of the flasher unit 51 is connected to one of the contacts of the turn signal switch 91, and connected to the terminal Al of the integrated circuit 41 through the diode D3. The other contact of the turn signal switch 91 is connected to the connecting portion , and connected to the terminal A2 of the integrated circuit 41 through a diode D4. The light switch 100 is connected to the connecting portion g of the integrated circuit 41, and the connecting portion Qs is grounded through the resistor R10 and the light emitting diode D5.

Referring now to the operation of the electric circuit, when the hazard switch 12 is in the ON state, the outputs of the terminals Al and A2 of the integrated circuit 41 become low level (Lo), and the output at the terminals A6 and A7 becomes high level (Hi) and low level (Lo) repeatedly. Furthermore, when the output of the terminals A6 and A7 of the integrated circuit 41 is Hi, the contacts 1' and 2' of the flasher relays Ryl and Ry2 are in ON state. Therefore, the current flowing from the electric power source (BAT) into the turn signal lamp 80 is as follows. The electric power source (BAT) - fuse 94 the connection portion O ~ Q2 the resistor Rll ~ the contact 1' and the contact 2' the contacts portions t and t.

When the turn signal switch 81 is ON, the terminal Al of the integrated circuit 41 becomes Lo, and the output of the terminal A6 of the integrated circuit 41 becomes Hi and Lo repeatedly. When the output of the terminal A2 of the integrated circuit 41 becomes Lo, the terminal A7 of the integrated circuit 41 becomes Hi and Lo repeatedly. When the output of the terminal A6 of the integrated circuit 41 becomes Lo, the contact 1' of the flasher relay Ry2 becomes ON state, the terminal A7 of the integrated circuit 41 becomes Lo, and the contact 2 of the flasher relay Ryl becomes ON state. Therefore, the current flows from the electric power source (BAT) into the turn signal lamp 80 as that the electric power source (BAT) fuse 94 ~ the connection portion Q2 -, the resister R11 ' the contact 1' or the contact 2' -, the contact portion t or the contact portion t. If the ignition switch 71 is OFF, no output is applied to the turn signal lamp 80. Therefore, the output of the terminal A5 of the integrated circuit 41 monitors the ignition switch 70.

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, the flasher unit can be installed integrally with the hazard switch. The terminal block of the hazard switch directly carries the electric parts of the flasher unit. The terminal block has the function of a print wiring substrate. Preferred embodiments may offer all or some of the following advantageous features: small size, reduced current (due to the circuit modification with relay contacts and usage of heart cam switch and the like), reduced number of harnesses, connector terminals, and fabricating processes, more effective utilization of space, simple switch logic, avoidance of sliding switches, use of contact switch, a simplicity of pushing operation, increased operational ability, thereby reducing the cost of automobiles and parts, and increasing utilization merit.

Claims

1. A hazard switch assembly composed of a moving block for moving together with a knob, a lid or casing for supporting said moving block, and a pole plate, wherein said pole plate is provided with terminals molded through an insert molding method and a flasher relay mounted on a surface of the plate; and wherein one end of each of said terminals projects into a connector and the other end of each of said terminals projects into the side of said pole plate to make an electrical connection with a circuit substrate composing a flasher unit.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said circuit substrate is mounted on said pole plate in a projected formation by connecting said circuit substrate with said terminals projected into the side of said pole plate.

3. A hazard switch assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.