JP2002025377A - Pressure-sensitive sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a pressure-sensitive sensor in a simple structure and at the same time, achieve reproducibility of output characteristics and stabilization of hysteresis characteristic of the pressure-sensitive sensor. SOLUTION: A first contact points 25, 26 are provided on a substrate 2, and a second contact point 27 is arranged at intervals from the first contact points 25, 26 and at the same time, a rubber 28 is provided facing the first contact points 25, 26 and the second contact point 27. A contact of the rubber 28 with the first contact points 25, 26 gives out an 'ON' signal, and, in the pressure-sensitive sensor 24 which changes capacitance by an approaching movement or pressure contacting movement of the rubber 28 and the second contact point 27, faces of the first contact points 25, 26 and the second contact point 27 facing the rubber 28 are formed on a same plane, and at the same time, a face of the rubber facing the first contact points 25, 26 and the second contact point 27 is made a plane, and further, the two facing planes are made parallel with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pressure-sensitive sensor, and more particularly, to an "ON" signal generated by contact between a rubber and a first contact, and an approach operation between the rubber and a second contact. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a pressure-sensitive sensor that changes the capacitance by a pressing operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional pressure sensor of this kind is shown in FIGS.
It will be described according to. FIG. 5 shows a case where a pressure-sensitive sensor is used for a game controller switch.
Is a game controller switch. The game controller switch 1 has a pair of first contacts 3 on a substrate 2.
4 is provided, and a second contact 5 having a C-shape in a horizontal plane is disposed apart from the pair of first contacts 3 and 4, while the first contacts 3 and 4 and the second contact 5 are arranged. Is provided with a rubber 6 made of silicon or the like. And the first
The contacts 3 and 4, the second contact 5 and the rubber 6 constitute a pressure-sensitive sensor 7.

Further, the first contacts 3 and 4 and the second contact 5
The surface facing the rubber 6 is formed on the same surface, and the peripheral surface 6 of the rubber 6 facing the second contact point 5 is formed.
a is formed in parallel with the facing surface of the second contact 5, and the center of the facing surface of the rubber 6 facing the first contacts 3, 4 is closer to the first contact 3 than the peripheral surface 6 a. A protrusion 6b is formed to protrude toward the fourth side.

Further, the rubber 6 is fixed to a lower end portion of a click rubber body 10 of a click rubber 9 having a flexible leg 8, and the flexible leg 8 is placed on the substrate 2. A button 11 is fixedly provided at the upper end of the click rubber main body 10. The first contact points 3, 4, the second contact point 5, the rubber 6, and the click rubber 9 are housed in a case 12, and the button 11 is
The lower part 11a of the upper part 1 is housed in the case 12,
1b protrudes upward through the upper part of the case 12.

When the button 11 is depressed, the flexible leg 8 of the click rubber 9 is deformed, and the click rubber body 10 moves downward, and the rubber provided on the click rubber body 10 is moved. The 6 convex portions 6b contact the first contacts 3 and 4 to make the first contacts 3 and 4 conductive, whereby an "ON" signal can be obtained. Further, when the button 11 is depressed, the convex portion 6b is compressed and deformed, and the peripheral edge portion 6b comes into close contact with the second contact point 5 and is pressed.

As a result, a change in the capacitance occurs between the peripheral portion 6a of the rubber 6 and the second contact 5, so-called CV conversion (not shown) for converting the capacitance into a voltage. ), An electric signal corresponding to the pressing operation of the button 11 can be obtained.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing an output with respect to a pressing load of the game controller switch 1. When the switch is depressed, a constant output V1 is obtained from a load 0 to a constant load F1, and "ON" is given by the constant output V1. Is obtained, and when the load becomes equal to or more than the load F1, the output increases in proportion to the increase of the load, and the load-output characteristic at that time is also excellent.

On the other hand, when the switch returns, the output also decreases substantially in proportion to the decrease in the load, but as shown in the figure, the linearity (linearity) characteristics are poor and the hysteresis characteristics are unstable as compared to when the switch is depressed. There is a problem that there is.

FIG. 7 shows another conventional example. In the drawing, reference numeral 13 denotes a game controller switch. The game controller switch 13 is a pressure-sensitive sensor instead of the pressure-sensitive sensor 7 of the game controller switch 1. Sensor 14
Is provided. The pressure-sensitive sensor 14 is provided with first contacts 15 and 16 taller than the first contacts 3 and 4, instead of the first contacts 3 and 4 of the pressure-sensitive sensor 7, and In place of the rubber 6, the first contacts 15, 1
A rubber 17 having a surface facing the second contact 6 and the second contact 5 is formed on the same surface.

When the button 11 is pressed, the rubber 17 first comes into contact with the first contacts 15 and 16, whereby an “ON” signal can be obtained. The contacted portion is compressed and deformed, and then the peripheral portion of the rubber 17 comes into close contact with the second contact 5 and is further pressed against the peripheral portion, whereby the peripheral portion and the second contact 5 are brought into contact with each other. A change in capacitance occurs during
By converting the capacitance to CV, the button 11
It is possible to obtain an electric signal corresponding to the pressing operation of the button.

The game controller switch 1
Similarly to the game controller switch 1, when the switch is depressed, the linearity characteristic of the load-output characteristics is excellent, but the hysteresis characteristic is unstable when the switch is depressed. There is.

FIG. 8 shows another conventional example, in which reference numeral 18 denotes a game controller switch. The game controller switch 18 is connected to the pressure-sensitive sensor 14 of the game controller switch 13. Instead, a pressure sensor 19 is provided. The pressure-sensitive sensor 19 is provided with a pair of first contacts 20 and 21 spaced apart from each other on the substrate 2, and has a U-shaped second contact 22 at the center of the pair of first contacts 20 and 21. Is arranged. The pair of first contacts 20 and 21 are formed higher than the second contacts 22. The same rubber 17 as the pressure-sensitive sensor 14 is provided to face the first contacts 20 and 21 and the second contact 22.

By pressing the button 11, the "ON" signal can be obtained when the peripheral portion of the rubber 17 comes into contact with the first contact points 20, 21. The contacted portion of the rubber 17 is compressed and deformed, and accordingly, the center of the rubber 17 comes close to and contacts the second contact point 22 and is further pressed.
A change in capacitance occurs between the second contact point 22 and the rubber 17, and the capacitance is converted into a CV,
An electric signal corresponding to the pressing operation of the button 11 can be obtained.

The game controller switch 1
Similarly to the game controller switch 1, the switch 8 has an excellent linearity characteristic of the load-output characteristic when the switch is depressed, but the hysteresis characteristic is unstable when the switch is depressed. There is.

[0015]

In the conventional pressure-sensitive sensor, a convex portion is provided on the rubber, and an "ON" signal is obtained by contact between the convex portion and the first contact. By the approaching operation and the press-contact operation between the peripheral portion of the and the second contact point,
An electric signal corresponding to the pressing operation of the button can be obtained by causing a change in the capacitance and performing the CV conversion of the capacitance.

In another conventional pressure-sensitive sensor, the surface of the rubber facing the first contact and the second contact is made flat, and the height of the first contact and the second contact is changed.
By the contact operation of the rubber with the first contact point, "O"
In addition to obtaining the "N" signal, it is possible to obtain an electric signal corresponding to the pressing operation of the button by the approach, contact, and press-contact operation of the rubber to the second contact.

However, in the pressure-sensitive sensor, a time and effort for manufacturing such that a convex portion is provided on the rubber, or a time and effort for manufacturing such that the height of the first contact or the second contact is changed occurs. Further, the conventional pressure-sensitive sensor has excellent output linearity (linearity) characteristics, but has a problem that the reproducibility of output characteristics and the hysteresis characteristics are unstable.

Therefore, there is a technical problem to be solved in order to make the pressure-sensitive sensor simple and to achieve reproducibility of output characteristics and stabilization of hysteresis characteristics of the pressure-sensitive sensor. The invention aims to solve this problem.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above object. A first contact is provided on a substrate, and a second contact is arranged at a distance from the first contact. And a rubber is provided to face the first contact and the second contact, and "O" is contacted by the rubber and the first contact.
N "signal and changes the capacitance by an approaching operation or a press-contact operation between the rubber and the second contact, in a pressure-sensitive sensor facing the rubber at the first contact and the second contact. A pressure-sensitive sensor is provided in which the surfaces facing each other are formed on the same surface, the surfaces of the rubber facing the first contact and the second contact are formed flat, and the surfaces facing each other are parallel. Things.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, the same components as those of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 1 shows a case where the pressure-sensitive sensor of the present invention is used for a game controller switch. However,
The pressure sensor of the present invention is not limited to the game controller switch. In the figure 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a game controller switch. The game controller switch 23 is provided with a pressure-sensitive sensor 24.

The pressure-sensitive sensor 24 includes a pair of first contacts 25 and 26 and a second contact 27 having a C-shape in a horizontal plane, and a pair of first contacts 25 and 26 and a second contact 27.
The first contact 25, 26 and the second contact 27 are formed on the same surface facing the rubber 28, and the first contact 25, 26 and the second contact 27 are formed on the same surface. Contacts 25 and 26 and second contact 2
The surface facing 7 is formed as a plane, and the surfaces facing each other are configured in parallel. Although the rubber 28 is fixed to the lower portion of the click rubber main body 10 in the drawing, it may be formed integrally with the click rubber 9.

FIG. 2 shows the first contacts 25 and 26 and the second contacts 25 and 26.
The arrangement of the contact 27 is shown, and a pair of the first contacts 2 is provided at the center.
C-shaped second contacts 27 are provided outside and separated from the first contacts 25 and 26, and lead wires 29 and 30 are respectively connected to the pair of first contacts 25 and 26. Are connected, and a lead wire 31 is connected to the second contact 27.

When the button 11 is depressed, the flexible leg 8 of the click rubber 9 is deformed, and the click rubber body 10 moves downward.
The rubber 28 provided at the first contact points 25 and 26
And the second contact 27. And the rubber 28
By turning on the first contacts 25 and 26, an "ON" signal can be obtained. Further, the rubber 28 comes into contact with the second contact 27 and comes into pressure contact with it, as shown in FIG. By deforming as indicated by dotted lines 28A and 28B, the contact area between the rubber 28 and the second contact 27 or the area near the second contact 27 increases, and a change in capacitance occurs. Further, the capacitance is converted to CV (not shown).
By doing so, it is possible to obtain an electric signal corresponding to the pressing operation of the button 11.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing an output with respect to a pressing load of the game controller switch 23. When the switch is depressed, a constant output V1 is obtained from a load 0 to a constant load F1, and "ON" is given by the constant output V1. "
A signal is obtained, and when the load exceeds the load F1, the output also increases substantially in proportion to the increase in the load. When the output is increased, the linearity characteristic of the load-output characteristic is slightly inferior to that of the game controller switch 1 of the conventional example, but does not cause any practical problem.

On the other hand, when the switch returns, the output also decreases substantially in proportion to the decrease in the load. However, as shown in the figure, the output decreases along a substantially similar locus as when the switch is depressed, so that the hysteresis characteristic is reduced. stable.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is no need to provide a convex portion on the rubber 28, and the first contacts 25, 26
Also, it is possible to obtain an "ON" signal with a simple configuration using a component having a normal shape without changing the height of the second contact point 27. A signal can be obtained. Also, there is no practical problem with the linearity characteristics.

Further, according to the present invention, the rubber 28 and the second contact 27 are pressed against each other in a wide area as compared with the conventional example, so that the reproducibility of output characteristics and the hysteresis characteristics are stabilized.

The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention extends to the modified ones.

[0029]

As described in detail in the above embodiment, the present invention provides a pressure-sensitive sensor in which the surfaces of the first contact and the second contact facing the rubber are formed on the same surface, and the rubber is provided. The surface facing the first contact and the second contact is formed in a plane, and the surface facing the second contact is configured to be parallel. Therefore, the rubber is not provided with a convex portion. Without changing the height of the contact and the second contact, "ON" with a simple configuration using parts of normal shape
A signal can be obtained, and an electric signal corresponding to a button pressing operation can be obtained. Also, there is no practical problem with the linearity characteristics. Further, since the second contact and the rubber are pressed against each other in a wide area, the reproducibility of output characteristics and the hysteresis characteristics are more stable than in the conventional example.

As described above, the present invention contributes to cost reduction by simplifying the structure of the pressure-sensitive sensor, and can improve the reproducibility of the output characteristic and the stabilization of the hysteresis characteristic of the pressure-sensitive sensor. It is an invention which has a remarkable effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a game controller switch using a pressure-sensitive sensor.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an arrangement of a first contact and a second contact in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a state in which the rubber of FIG. 1 is in contact with or pressed against a first contact and a second contact.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between a load and an output of the game controller switch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a game controller switch showing a conventional example and using a pressure-sensitive sensor having a convex portion on a rubber.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the load and the output of the game controller switch of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows another conventional example, and a game controller using a pressure-sensitive sensor in which the height of a first contact arranged at the center is higher than the height of a second contact arranged at the outer periphery. Sectional drawing of a switch.

FIG. 8 shows another conventional example in which a height of a first contact arranged at an outer peripheral portion is higher than a height of a second contact arranged at a central portion. Sectional view of a controller switch for use.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Board 23 Controller switch for game 24 Pressure sensor 25, 26 First contact 27 Second contact 28 Rubber

Claims (1)

[Claims] A first contact is provided on a substrate, and the first contact is provided on the substrate.
A second contact is disposed apart from the contact, and a rubber is provided to face the first contact and the second contact, and an "ON" signal is generated by the contact operation between the rubber and the first contact. And, in the pressure-sensitive sensor that changes the capacitance by the approaching operation or the press-contact operation of the rubber and the second contact, the surfaces of the first contact and the second contact facing the rubber are flush with each other. And forming a surface of the rubber facing the first contact point and the second contact point into a plane, and
A pressure-sensitive sensor, wherein the surfaces facing each other are parallel.