JP2000276982A - Rubber switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rubber switch making it possible to use one block key for performing complicated operations such as key inputting in adjoining directions and in confronting positions in addition to individual operations in respective directions, in the case of a multidirectional input switch used for measuring apparatuses and the like. SOLUTION: This rubber switch is made up by forming a plurality of contact circuits 12 on a printed circuit board 2 and placing, on the printed circuit board 2, a rubber sheet 1 integrally formed with a multidirectional input key 3 having, on its back surface, movable contacts 13 corresponding to the contact circuits 12. The multidirectional input key 3 is formed so as to have a thin-walled part provided on its periphery for producing an operation feel at the time of depressing, and the key 3 is divided into respective directional input keys by cutting therein a plurality of radial division grooves not connected to each other in the middle part and corresponding to the respective input directions, a key support part 8 projecting beyond all the movable contacts 13 of the directional input keys is suspended from a middle part on the printed circuit board 2 side of the multidirectional input key 3, and a groove part reaching near an upper surface part of the multidirectional input key 3 is cut in the circumference of the key support part 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-directional input type rubber switch used for measuring equipment and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional rubber switch of a multi-directional input type, as shown in FIG. 11, a contact member is disposed around a lower surface of a key top projecting a convex portion downward at the center. In the case of a multi-directional input type, where multiple circuits need to be turned on at the same time, the above-mentioned conventional multi-directional input type cannot be operated. Are arranged separately.

[0003]

In the multi-directional input type switch, complicated and advanced operations such as simultaneous operation of keys in adjacent directions and 180 degrees facing directions may be required in addition to independent operations in each direction. Because the rubber switch cannot respond to such an operation, a plurality of keys are separately arranged as necessary. However, when a plurality of keys are arranged in each direction, the operability may be reduced due to the wide arrangement of the keys, and frequent operation errors may occur particularly in the case where the output form is different due to slight pressing timing. Was. In addition, integrating the same function into one block key is an important element in terms of design, and a rubber switch corresponding to any operation mode with one block key has been required. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems.

[0004]

A printed circuit board on which a plurality of contact circuits are formed, a rubber sheet provided with movable contacts corresponding to the contact circuits, an input key formed on the rubber sheet, and mounted on the printed circuit board In the rubber switch described above, a thin portion is formed on the outer periphery of the rubber sheet to generate a feeling of operation when pressed, and a plurality of radial grooves are formed in a non-connected state at the center of the upper surface of the rubber sheet to form a multi-directional rubber switch. An input key is formed, and movable contacts corresponding to the multi-directional input key are radially arranged, and a key support protruding from the movable contact is provided substantially at the center of the back surface of the rubber sheet. A groove is also made in the rubber sheet around the root of the part.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The rubber switch of the present invention can be widely applied as an operation section of a measuring instrument or a switch requiring a sophisticated and complicated operation form. In addition, since input timings generated by various key operation modes can be combined into one key block, the space required for the device operation panel can be significantly reduced.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present embodiment will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a rubber switch according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing an embodiment, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view seen from a rubber contact side.

In these figures, a rubber sheet 1 made of an elastic member such as silicon rubber or an elastomer resin is used.
Are overlapped on the printed circuit board 2 on which the contact circuit 12 having the opposed contact portion is formed, and the multi-directional input key 3 is integrally formed on the rubber sheet 1.

The periphery of the multi-directional input key 3 is the first
Are formed to form a first thin portion 5,
The large displacement of the first thin portion 5 creates a click operation feeling when pressed.

The multi-directional input key 3 is divided into a required number of keys by a relatively deep second groove 6 whose operation portion surface is not continuous at the center, and is divided by the second groove 6. The key tops are also connected by the second thin portion 7.

On the back side of the multi-directional input key 3, a key support portion 8 is formed at the central portion so as to protrude from any movable contact 13, and a third groove deep surrounding the key support portion 8 is formed. 9, each key top divided by the second groove 6 is formed at the center of the multi-directional input key 3 by the third groove 9.
Are connected by a thin portion 11.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state where a single key of the rubber switch of the present invention is pressed. Around the single key, the first thin portion 5 for creating an operational feeling, the second thin portion 7 for preventing the adjacent keys from being pulled in, and the click feeling of the first thin portion 5 are further clarified. Since it is connected by the third thin portion 10 and the fourth thin portion 11 that absorb the pressing stroke, it has a clear click feeling when operating a single key, prevents the adjacent keys from being pulled in, and provides a light operation. Feeling can be created.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which adjacent keys of the rubber switch of the present invention are simultaneously operated. A contact 14
And the B contact 15 are simultaneously turned on, the second groove 6 is opened to absorb the deformation at the time of pressing, and a clear operation feeling is provided by the thin portions as in the case of the single key operation. It becomes possible to have.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing a state where the opposing keys of the rubber switch of the present invention are simultaneously operated. In this way, even if the single keys opposing each other by 180 degrees are simultaneously pressed, the pull-in of each adjacent key can be prevented, and a clear pressing operation feeling can be maintained. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state in which all keys are operated except one single key. Even when two or more simultaneous operations are performed, the same operational feeling as that of a single key is generated, and the operation characteristics of the remaining single keys remain clear.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state in which all keys of the rubber switch of the present invention are simultaneously pressed. Since the upper portion of the key support portion 8 is connected to each single key by the third thin portion 10, the multi-directional input key 3 is pressed when all keys are pressed.
The central portion of the is raised so that all keys can be simultaneously input without difficulty. Even at this point, the first thin portion 5 can create a click operation feeling, which is an effect not found in other rubber switches.

As described in detail above, in the rubber switch of the present invention, the multi-directional input key 3 and the single keys obtained by dividing the multi-directional input key 3 are connected by thin portions, respectively, and the key support portion is provided at the center. 8 is provided with a degree of freedom, so that it has a feature that a clear click feeling can be generated for any type of operation, and erroneous operation can be prevented.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing another embodiment in which the number of key divisions of the rubber switch of the present invention is increased, and FIG. 10 is an embodiment having a square shape. As described above, the rubber switch of the present invention enables various application developments, but the present invention does not exclude such cases.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) A multi-way input key is formed by forming a thin portion on the outer periphery and forming a plurality of radial grooves corresponding to each input direction in a non-coupled state at a central portion, so that input keys in each direction are clear. The operation direction can be easily recognized, and erroneous operation can be prevented. (2) A multi-directional input key is formed by forming a thin portion on the outer periphery and forming a plurality of radial grooves corresponding to the respective input directions in a non-connected state at the center, so that a malfunction of pulling in an adjacent key is prevented. Can be prevented. (3) A thin portion is provided around the outer periphery, and a key support portion protruding from any movable contact of each input direction key is formed at the center of the multi-directional input key on the printed circuit board side, so that any direction key is pressed. Even with this, a clear operational feeling was obtained, and simultaneous input of multiple adjacent keys became possible. (4) A thin-walled portion is provided around the outer periphery, and a key support protruding from any movable contact of each input direction key is hung down at the center of the multi-directional input key on the printed circuit board side. Since a plurality of corresponding radial division grooves are formed in a non-connected state at the center and each input direction key is divided, simultaneous input of a plurality of opposed keys is possible. (5) A multi-directional input key having a thin portion around the outer periphery that generates an operational feeling when pressed is formed, and a plurality of radial division grooves corresponding to respective input directions are formed in a non-connected state at a central portion. Along with dividing each input direction key, a key support protruding from a movable contact of each input direction key is suspended at a substantially central portion of the multi-directional input key on the printed circuit board side, and around a root of the key support. Since the grooves are provided, it is possible to provide a rubber switch corresponding to various operation modes that enables simultaneous input of all keys as well as input of each individual key, multiple inputs between adjacent and opposing keys.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a first embodiment of a rubber switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a first embodiment of the rubber switch of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a rubber contact side of the rubber switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a single key pressed state of the first embodiment of the rubber switch of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an adjacent key operation state of the rubber switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing an opposing key operation state of the rubber switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating an operation state of the rubber switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention with a single key left.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state in which all keys of the rubber switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention are pressed.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing another embodiment in which the number of key divisions of the rubber switch of the present invention is increased.

FIG. 10 is an external view showing a square-shaped rubber switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a conventional rubber switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 21, 41, 81 Rubber sheet 2, 22, 42, 82 Printed circuit board 3, 23, 43, 83 Multidirectional input key 4, 24, 44 First groove 5, 25 First thin part 6, 26, 46 Second groove part 7, 27, 47 Second thin part 8, 88 Key support part 9 Third groove part 10 Third thin part 11 Fourth thin part 12 Contact circuit 13, 93 Movable contact 14 A contact 15 B contact

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printed circuit board having a plurality of contact circuits formed thereon, a rubber sheet provided with movable contacts corresponding to the contact circuits, and a rubber switch having input keys formed on the rubber sheet and mounted on the printed circuit board. A multi-directional input key is formed by forming a thin portion on the outer periphery of the rubber sheet that generates a feeling of operation when pressed, and forming a plurality of radial grooves that are not connected at the center of the upper surface of the rubber sheet. In addition, a movable contact corresponding to the multi-directional input key is radially arranged, and a key support protruding from the movable contact is provided at a substantially central portion of the back surface of the rubber sheet, and a root portion of the key support is provided. A rubber switch characterized in that a groove is also formed in a rubber sheet around the rubber switch.