JP2001185000A - Capacitance-type sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capacitance-type sensor, in which the click feeling of a switch S which is on/off in a direction of Z axis can be ensured, and in which the switch S is not erroneously operated even when applying a force in directions of X and Y axes. SOLUTION: The capacitance type sensor comprises a substrate 1 on which fixed electrodes Dx+, Dx-, Dy+, Dy- are disposed at an interval of 90 deg.; an elastomeric moving plate 2 having a tactile switch TS disposed at a portion defined by the fixed electrodes Dx+, Dx-, Dy+, Dy- on the substrate 1, and a moving electrode formed on a surface opposite to the fixed electrodes Dx+, Dx-, Dy+, Dy- and the tactile switch TS; and a hard member 3 which is provided at a portion of the moving plate 2 opposite to the tactile switch TS and protrudes from the surface of the moving electrode 20. When pushing down the moving plate 2 in the direction of Z axis, the tactile switch ST is on while intervening the hard member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a capacitance type sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Our company has developed a capacitance type sensor to which a switch as shown in FIG. 4 is added, and has already applied for a patent.

As shown in FIG. 4, this sensor has a substrate 90 on which fixed electrodes Dx +, Dx-, Dy +, Dy-, Dz + are formed, and a projection 91a formed on the lower surface of the center by conductive silicon rubber. A movable plate 91 and an operation unit 92 formed of silicon rubber integrally formed with the movable plate 91;
The switch S is constituted by the fixed electrode Dz + and the projection 91a.

[0004] However, this sensor has the merit that less troublesome assembling work is required and that waterproof and dustproof measures can be easily performed without increasing the number of parts. However, the switch S is turned on by pushing the operation unit 92 in the Z-axis direction. "
However, there is a problem that it is difficult to give a click feeling in the case of the above.

[0005] Such a click feeling is very important in the field of game machines and remote controllers in order to bring out an operation feeling.

Therefore, in the field of the game machine and the remote control field, a click feeling of the switch S which is turned ON / OFF by the force in the Z-axis direction can be reliably provided, and even if a force is applied in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. There is a need for a device in which the switch S does not move in error.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a click feeling of the switch S which is turned ON / OFF by a force in the Z-axis direction can be reliably obtained, and a force is applied in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. Another object of the present invention is to provide a capacitive sensor in which the switch S does not move in error.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems (Invention of Claim 1)
The capacitance-type sensor according to the present invention includes a substrate 1 on which fixed electrodes Dx +, Dx−, Dy +, and Dy− arranged at 90 ° intervals are formed, and a fixed electrode Dx on the substrate 1.
+, Dx−, Dy +, Dy−, a tactile switch TS, and the fixed electrode groups Dx +, Dx
A movable plate 2 made of an elastomer having a movable electrode 20 on a surface facing the x-, Dy +, Dy- and tactile switches TS.
And a hard member 3 protruding from the surface of the movable electrode 20 at a portion of the movable plate 2 facing the tactile switch TS. When the movable plate 2 is pushed in the Z-axis direction, the tactile switch TS is It is set to the ON state. (Invention of Claim 2) The capacitive sensor of the present invention relates to the invention of Claim 1, wherein the hard member 3 is a steel ball. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a capacitance type sensor according to the first aspect, wherein the hard member 3 is a rod-like body, and a portion protruding from the surface of the movable electrode 20 is a spherical surface. .

The function of the capacitance type sensor of the present invention will be described in detail in the following embodiments of the present invention.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a capacitance type sensor S according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the capacitance type sensor S includes a substrate 1 and a movable plate 2 provided on the substrate 1.
And a hard member 3 fitted on the lower surface at the center of the movable plate 2
And a fixing member 4 for holding the movable plate 2 against the substrate 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the substrate 1 has fixed electrodes Dx +, Dx +
−, Dy +, Dy−, and a land L surrounding the fixed electrodes Dx +, Dx−, Dy +, Dy−. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tactile switch TS is provided on a portion of the substrate 1 surrounded by the fixed electrodes Dx +, Dx-, Dy +, and Dy-.
Is attached.

As shown in FIG. 1, the movable plate 2 is entirely made of an elastomer, has a push button-shaped operation portion 21 on the upper side, and has a fixed electrode group Dx.
+, Dx-, Dy +, Dy- and tactile switch TS
The movable electrode 20 has a lower surface facing the above.

The movable electrode 20 is formed by imparting conductivity to an elastomer, and has a concave portion 22 into which the hard member 3 is inserted at the center thereof. The movable electrode 20 may be formed by printing conductive ink,
The metal may be formed in close contact by sputtering or the like.

Here, the material of the movable plate 2 may be a polymer material (elastomer) exhibiting a large rubber elasticity at around normal temperature, such as a crosslinked natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic urethane rubber, spandex, or the like. Polycarbonate elastic resin, sponge, etc. can be adopted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hard member 3 is formed of a spherical body (metal sphere), and is arranged so as to slightly project from the lower surface of the movable electrode 20 so as to come into contact with the tactile switch TS. It is.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing member 4 has one end fixed to the substrate 1 and the other end holding the outer peripheral portion of the movable plate 2.

Here, the fixed electrodes Dx +, Dx-, Dy
+, Dy- and the movable electrode 20 are provided with a potential difference, whereby the capacitance portions Cx +, Cx-, Cy +, C
y- is formed. Note that the capacitance portions Cx +, Cx +
The capacitances of x−, Cy +, and Cy− change according to the magnitude and direction of the force applied to the operation unit 21. Therefore, if the magnitude of these capacitances is converted into a voltage by an appropriate method,
The magnitude and direction of the force applied to the operation unit 21 can be detected as a voltage signal.

The tactile switch TS is a switch that can turn on / off the circuit by a force in the Z-axis direction using a dome-shaped electrode. This tactile switch
In TS, when a force in the Z-axis direction is applied to the center of the operation unit 21,
A force is transmitted to the hard member 3 via the movable plate 2 which is an elastomer member. Since the hard member 3 is formed of a metal ball as described above, the operating force is efficiently transmitted to the tactile switch TS via one point of the metal ball, and the tactile switch TS is turned “ON”. It should be noted that there is no hard member 3 and the operating force is only through the elastomer and the tactile switch
If the TS is pressed, the operation force is dispersed and the force for pressing the tactile switch TS is weakened, and it is difficult to reliably turn the tactile switch TS “ON”.

On the other hand, while applying force in the Z-axis direction,
When a combined force acting in the axial direction is applied, the operation unit 21 is slightly inclined with respect to the Z axis, so that the transmission ratio of the operation force to the hard member 3 is reduced, and the tactile switch TS is turned “ON”. (The member that presses the tactile switch TS, that is, the hard member has a spherical surface, which prevents the tactile switch TS from being accidentally turned “ON” even when the combined force acts on the operation unit 21 and the operation unit 21 is tilted. Has the function to further enhance). Therefore, it is easy to selectively use the force applied to the operation unit 21 in a mode in which the tactile switch TS is turned “ON” and a mode in which the force is converted into an electric signal according to the magnitude and direction of the force in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. . (Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a capacitance type sensor S according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In this capacitance type sensor S, as shown in FIG. 3, a cap 5 serving as an operation section 21 and a rod-shaped hard member 3 penetrated through the center of the movable plate 2 are integrally formed of the same material. Then, the spherical lower surface of the hard member 3 is connected to a tactile switch.
Contacting TS. Therefore, it is clear that the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment are obtained.

[0022]

Since the present invention has the above configuration, the following effects are obtained.

As is clear from the description in the section of the embodiment of the present invention, a click feeling of the switch S which is turned ON / OFF by a force in the Z-axis direction can be reliably provided, and the X-axis and Y-axis can be obtained.
It was possible to provide a capacitance type sensor in which the switch S does not move in error even when a force is applied in the axial direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a capacitance type sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a substrate of the capacitance type sensor.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a capacitance type sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art capacitive sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S Capacitive sensor Dx + Fixed electrode Dx- Fixed electrode Dy + Fixed electrode Dy- Fixed electrode Cx + Variable capacitance section Cx- Variable capacitance section Cy + Variable capacitance section Cy- Variable capacitance section TS Tactile switch 1 Substrate 2 Movable plate 3 Hard member 4 Fixed member 20 Movable electrode

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Fixed electrodes Dx arranged at 90 ° intervals
+, Dx-, Dy +, Dy- formed substrate 1
And fixed electrodes Dx +, Dx−, D on the substrate 1
a tactile switch TS disposed in a portion surrounded by y + and Dy-, and the fixed electrode groups Dx +, Dx-, Dy +,
A movable plate 2 made of an elastomer having a movable electrode 20 on a surface facing the Dy- and tactile switch TS, and a hard member 3 protruding from the surface of the movable electrode 20 on a portion of the movable plate 2 facing the tactile switch TS. Equipped, movable plate 2
Wherein the tactile switch TS is turned on via a hard member when is pushed in the Z-axis direction. 2. The capacitance type sensor according to claim 1, wherein the hard member is a metal sphere. 3. A movable electrode, wherein the hard member 3 is a rod-shaped body.
2. The capacitance type sensor according to claim 1, wherein a portion protruding from the twenty surface is a spherical surface.