JP2002216582A - Moving contact point - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a moving contact point utilized in a control panel constituted of a multiple number of switches such as in a cell phone with little variation in the feeling of the control between the multiple number of moving contact points and providing a light and click feeling. SOLUTION: In the device, cylindrical projections 9 consisting o insulating resin is adhered and fixed by adhesive 9A provided on their bottom surfaces to positions on the top surface of each base sheet 2 corresponding to the center peak points 1A of the moving contact points 1 for the multiple number of moving contact points 1 that are lined up in specified positions on the base sheet 2 with adhesive 2A on the bottom surface of the base sheet 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a movable contact body used for an operation panel including a plurality of switches, such as a portable telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, small and multifunctional mobile communication devices, mainly mobile phones, have been commercialized, but a plurality of movable contacts are held on an insulating resin film as switches for operation panels of these devices. However, so-called movable contact bodies have been widely used.

[0003] In this movable contact body, there is a demand for a movable contact body that has a small variation in operation feeling among a plurality of movable contacts and has a light moderation feeling.

Hereinafter, such a conventional movable contact body will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of a conventional movable contact body, and FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a movable contact made of an elastic metal thin plate formed in a circular dome shape; The contact points 1 are arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the base sheet 2 with their respective central apexes 1A being adhesively held by an adhesive 2A on the lower surface of the base sheet 2.

The lower surface of the base sheet 2 is bonded to the adhesive 2A on the lower surface of the base sheet 2 so as to cover the movable contact 1 by bonding the upper surface of the lower surface of the base sheet 2 to which the protective sheet 5 has been peeled off. In addition, it is configured such that foreign matter such as dust does not adhere to the movable contact 1.

The conventional movable contact body is constructed as described above. When the movable contact body is used, as shown in a partial sectional view of FIG. 10 showing a state where the movable contact body is mounted on a device. The lower surface of the protective sheet 5 is peeled off, and the adhesive 2A of the base sheet 2 is placed on a wiring board 7 having fixed contacts 6 (outside and center fixed contacts 6A and 6B) corresponding to the respective movable contacts 1 on the upper surface. It is used by sticking and mounting.

At this time, each movable contact 1 is positioned such that its central apex 1A faces each central fixed contact 6B.
The lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of each movable contact 1 is placed on each outer fixed contact 6A.

Further, an operation button 8 of a device having a projection 8A on the lower surface is provided at a position corresponding to a position above each movable contact 1 of the base sheet 2.

The projection 8A of the operation button 8 is usually arranged so as to be in contact with the upper surface of the base sheet 2 in order to reduce rattling of the operation button 8.

In the operation panel switch using the conventional movable contact member having the above structure, when the operation button 8 is pressed, the operation button 8 moves downward, and the projection 8A on the lower surface of the operation button 8 is connected to the base 8A. A pressing force is applied to the movable contact 1 via the upper surface of the sheet 2.

When the pressing force is greater than the reversing operation force of the movable contact 1, the dome-shaped portion of the movable contact 1 reverses downward with a sense of moderation, and the lower surface of the central vertex 1A Is in contact with the center fixed contact 6B, so that the center fixed contact 6B and the outer fixed contact 6A of the wiring board 7 conduct through the movable contact 1, that is, the switch is turned on.
State.

When the pressing force is removed, the movable contact 1
The movable contact 1 is restored to its original shape by its own elastic restoring force and separates from the central fixed contact 6B, so that the switch shown in FIG. 10 returns to the OFF state. Thus, a switch for an operation panel having a good operation feeling can be constructed.

[0015]

However, when a switch for an operation panel is formed by using the above-mentioned conventional movable contact member, the conventional movable contact member is attached to the wiring board 7 and the operation button is operated. 8 are often combined in different manufacturing steps, and a positional shift may occur due to the combination of the two in a state in which they are mounted on a device.

In the case where such a displacement has occurred, as shown in FIG. 11 which shows a pressing operation state when a displacement has occurred in the combination, the operation button 8 is moved to the movable contact 1 during operation. Since the movable contact 1 is reversed by pushing down the position shifted from the central vertex 1A,
There has been a problem that the normal contact feeling from the movable contact 1 is not obtained and the operation feeling is deteriorated, and the variation in the operation feeling among the plurality of operation buttons 8 is also large.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and when incorporated in a device, even if a positional shift occurs due to a combination of a wiring board and operation buttons, a change in operation feeling is small. It is an object of the present invention to provide a movable contact body that can constitute a switch for an operation panel that is stable and has little variation in operation feeling.

[0018]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the lower surface of a resin film, and a dome shape projecting upward with a thin metal plate having elasticity, the upper part of which is formed of the base sheet. A movable contact held by an adhesive, and a protective sheet having an upper surface that has been subjected to a peeling process attached to the adhesive of the base sheet so as to sandwich the movable contact between the base sheet and the movable contact. ,
A movable contact body in which a protrusion is disposed at an upper surface position of the base sheet corresponding to the center of the movable contact, wherein the protrusion on the base sheet is disposed corresponding to the center of the movable contact. Therefore, when the operation button is pressed by the operation button incorporated in the device, the operation button can always be brought into contact with the upper end position of the protrusion, and therefore, the movable contact is always pressed at the center, so the operation Including the case where the button is mounted at a position shifted from the center of the movable contact, there is an effect that it is possible to easily configure a device that can obtain a stable feel without lowering the operation feeling.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the protrusion is bonded to an upper surface of the base sheet by an adhesive provided on a lower surface thereof.
Since the projections are configured as separate members, the projections can be formed with the minimum necessary material. In addition, multiple types of projections with different materials and hardness are manufactured and used as needed. Accordingly, it is possible to change the level of the movable contact at one movable contact level even in response to a request for an operational feeling on the device side, and it is possible to easily and flexibly cope with a change in the arrangement of the movable contact with respect to the base sheet.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the protrusion is provided on the upper surface of the base sheet by printing a resin material. It can be firmly fixed to the base sheet, and has an effect that a stable operation feeling can be maintained without displacement of the projections for a long time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the protrusion is covered with a resin fixing sheet having an adhesive on a lower surface, and the displacement of the protrusion is reduced. In addition to this, when a plurality of projections are provided at a plurality of locations, the use of a fixing sheet covering the projections has an effect that the plurality of projections can be collectively and stably adhered and fixed to the base sheet.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of movable contacts are held on a fixed base sheet, and the base corresponding to a central portion of each of the movable contacts. The protrusions are respectively arranged at the upper surface position of the sheet, and each protrusion is individually covered with a small sheet made of a resin film having an adhesive on the lower surface, and each protrusion is fixed with the small sheet. With this configuration, the protrusions can be fixed using the same small sheet even when the base sheet has a different outer shape and a different mounting position of the movable contact, thereby increasing the versatility. Have.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth aspect, the small piece sheet has a slit hole at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the projection. The portion of the small sheet corresponding to the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion is most affected by bending, but since the slit hole is provided in the portion, the operation coming from the bending stress of the small sheet during operation. It has the effect that the influence on the force can be reduced.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the projection is formed of an elastomer, and the elastomer is a material having a high elastic force. The elasticity of the movable contact can be utilized, and the operation feeling including the operation force and the operation stroke can be easily changed without changing the material and the material thickness of the movable contact.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the protrusion has a central portion of the movable contact having a size of approximately one third or less of an outer diameter thereof. By setting the portion to the above-described size, the movable contact can be made to perform the reversing operation in a lighter and more stable state, so that a good operation feeling can be obtained.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The same components as those described in the section of the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1) Using Embodiment 1,
The invention of the present invention, in particular, the first to third and seventh to eighth aspects will be described.

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a movable contact body according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a movable contact made of an elastic metal thin plate formed in a circular dome shape projecting upward;
Reference numeral 2 denotes a flexible base sheet made of an insulative resin film processed into a fixed form and provided with an adhesive 2A on the lower surface. The plurality of movable contacts 1 are respectively formed by the adhesive 2A on the lower surface of the base sheet 2. The central apex 1A is adhesively held and arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the base sheet 2 as in the case of the conventional technique.

On the lower surface of the base sheet 2, a protective sheet 5 having an upper surface subjected to a peeling treatment is adhered, and the movable contact 1 is sandwiched so as to be covered by the base sheet 2 and the protective sheet 5. .

The protection sheet 5 is bonded to protect the movable contacts 1 and the adhesive 2A of the base sheet 2 from foreign substances such as dust, as in the case of the prior art.

On the upper surface of the base sheet 2, columnar projections 9 made of insulating resin are adhered and fixed at respective positions corresponding to the central apexes 1A of the respective movable contacts 1 with an adhesive 9A on the lower surface. Have been.

The outer diameter (diameter) of the columnar projection 9 is set to approximately one third of the diameter of the movable contact 1.

The movable contact body according to the present invention is constructed as described above. When the movable contact body is used, as shown in FIG. Fixed contacts 6 (outside and center fixed contacts 6A
And 6B) on which the protective sheet 5 on the lower surface of the movable contact body according to the present invention is peeled off and used with the adhesive sheet 2A of the base sheet 2 attached thereto. Each movable contact 1 is arranged such that its central apex 1A faces each central fixed contact 6B.
The lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of each movable contact 1 is placed on each outer fixed contact 6A, as in the prior art.

Further, an operation button 10 of a device which can be moved up and down by contacting the upper end of a columnar projection 9 provided corresponding to the position of the central vertex 1A of the movable contact 1 or leaving a slight gap. Are arranged.

The operation button 10 has a projection 10A having a shape sufficiently larger than the outer dimension of the projection 9 at a lower portion, and the lower surface of the projection 10A facing the upper end of the projection 9 has a lower surface.
It has a flat surface.

The operation panel switch using the movable contact body according to the present invention having the above-described structure is an operation button 1
0, the operation button 10 moves downward, applies a pressing force to the upper end of the cylindrical projection 9 on the lower surface of the projection 10A, and the central apex of the movable contact 1 via the base sheet 2. Press 1A.

When the pressing force is larger than the reversing operation force of the movable contact 1, the movable contact 1 is formed in a dome shape as shown in a partial cross-sectional view of the device showing the pressed state in FIG. The inverted portion is turned downward with a sense of moderation, so that the center fixed contact 6B and the outer fixed contact 6A
Is in a conductive state through the movable contact 1, and when the pressing force is removed, the movable contact 1 restores its original shape by its own elastic restoring force and returns to the state of FIG. It returns to the electrically independent state between the outer fixed contact 6A.

At this time, it is the same as in the prior art that a moderation sensation can be obtained by the reversing operation of the movable contact 1 as in the prior art.
0 depresses the upper end of the projection 9 and the projection 9 is disposed so as to correspond to the central vertex 1A of the movable contact 1. It can be made to act on the portion 1A, and the moderation feel can always be obtained clearly.

Further, even if a horizontal displacement occurs between the wiring board 7 on which the movable contact body according to the present invention is attached and mounted and the operation button 10 of the device at the time of assembling the device,
The operation button 10 can always press only the upper surface of the projection 9, and the movable contact 1 can be applied with its force on the central vertex 1A at a certain position where a good moderation feeling can be obtained. The feeling becomes stable, and the variation in the operating force between the plurality of movable contacts 1 arranged on the base sheet 2 can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, since the columnar projection 9 is adhered and fixed to the upper surface of the base sheet 2 with the adhesive 9A on the lower surface thereof, the movable contact 1 is only required to be pressed. It can be formed of a limited material, and the fine adjustment of the fixing position is also possible.

Further, if a plurality of types of materials and hardness different from each other are produced in advance as the projections 9 and are selectively used as needed, the level of one movable contact 1 can be satisfied even if the operation feeling on the device side is required. This makes it possible to quickly and flexibly respond to a request from the device.

That is, for example, in a movable contact body used in a mobile phone, a device switch determines and fixes various functions from a device maker to a first switch constituting a normal numeric keypad and the like. When a request to increase the operating force is received, the protrusions 9 corresponding to the first switch portion and the second switch portion of the movable contact body are mounted with different materials and hardness, respectively, so that the operating force is increased. Can be easily provided even in one movable contact body.

As described above, since the movable contact members having the same shape and different operating forces can be easily configured by selecting and mounting the protrusions 9, variations of the movable contact members can be easily developed.

When the diameter of the columnar projection 9 is 1/10 to 1/3 of the diameter of the circular dome-shaped movable contact 1, a light operation feeling (clear moderation feeling) can be obtained. However, since the movable contact 1 usually has a diameter of 5 mm or less, the size of the protrusion 9 that can be efficiently fixed on the upper surface of the base sheet 2 for a long time is as follows. 1/5 to 1/3 is effective in practical use.

When the material of the projection 9 is made of an elastomer such as synthetic rubber or acrylic resin having elasticity (hereinafter referred to as the projection 11),
When a pressing force is applied to the operation button 10, the protrusion 11 itself elastically deforms first, and then the movable contact 1 can be deformed. Therefore, a switch having a long operation stroke can be easily configured.

Further, since the elasticity of the projection 11 can be easily changed by changing the grade of the elastomer material or the like, the pressing force can be changed, and the desired contact can be obtained without changing the movable contact 1. You can switch the operation feel.

Further, in place of the above-described protrusion 9 or 11 for bonding and fixing, a protrusion is formed by printing an epoxy resin material or the like at a position corresponding to the center of the movable contact 1 on the upper surface of the base sheet 2. In this case, the protrusions can be more firmly fixed than the protrusions 9 or 11 bonded and fixed to the base sheet 2, so that the protrusions can be operated with an operation button using a hinge. Even if a pressing force in an oblique direction, which is likely to occur, is applied, the projections are not deformed or displaced, and a stable operation feeling can be maintained for a long period of time.

(Embodiment 2) Using Embodiment 2,
The invention of the present invention will be described below.

The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a movable contact body according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a movable contact made of an elastic metal thin plate formed in a circular dome shape; Each movable contact 1 is arranged at a predetermined position on the base sheet 2 with its central apex 1A being adhesively held by an adhesive 2A on the lower surface of the base sheet 2 with a base sheet made of an insulating film processed into a fixed form. This is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment in that the protective sheet 5 is attached to the lower surface of the base sheet 2.

Also, at respective positions corresponding to the central vertex 1A of each movable contact 1 on the upper surface of the base sheet 2,
In the first embodiment, the cylindrical projection 9 made of an insulating resin is adhered and fixed by an adhesive 9A on the lower surface thereof.
The configuration is the same as

According to the present embodiment, in addition to the above structure, the entire upper surface of the base sheet 2 on which the protrusions 9 are arranged is covered with a fixing sheet 20 made of a flexible insulating film. Are different.

That is, the fixing sheet 20 is adhered and fixed to the upper surface of the base sheet 2 by the adhesive 20A formed on the lower surface thereof, and each protrusion 9 is provided between the fixing sheet 20 and the base sheet 2. It is in a state of being sandwiched between.

According to the structure of this embodiment, since the entire upper and lower surfaces of the projection 9 can be adhesively fixed so as to be wrapped between the fixing sheet 20 and the base sheet 2, the projection 9 can be more stably fixed. Can be.

Note that the use state of the movable contact body according to the present embodiment and the operation of the used equipment are almost the same as those according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof is omitted.

It should be noted that, instead of the above-mentioned fixed sheet 20, FIG.
As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, a small sheet 2 made of a substantially rectangular insulating film capable of individually covering the projections 9.
1 may be used.

Even in this configuration, the adhesive 21C formed on the lower surface of each of the small piece sheets 21 allows the base sheet 2 at the upper end of each of the projections 9 and the peripheral portion thereof.
By adhering the small piece sheet 21 to the upper surface, the individual protrusions 9 are respectively formed on the small piece sheet 21 and the base sheet 2.
Can be fixed so as to be wrapped between them.

In the above-described method using the small piece sheet 21, it is not necessary to process the small piece sheet 21 into a fixed form according to the base sheet 2 like the fixed sheet 20, and when the shape of the base sheet 2 is changed. In addition, one kind of substantially rectangular small piece sheet 21 can respond flexibly and promptly, stabilizing the adhesive fixation of the projection 9 and increasing versatility.

Further, in the case of the method using the small piece sheet 21, first, the individual protrusions 9 are bonded to the small piece sheet 20 to form a work-in-progress, and then the work-in-progress is combined with the base sheet 2. The projection 9 can be incorporated by the procedure of bonding and fixing at a predetermined position, and the procedure of the combination can be changed as necessary.

Further, as shown in FIG.
1, an arc-shaped slit hole 21A is provided so as to face slightly outside the outer peripheral portion of the projection 9, and the upper end of the projection 9 is constituted by the slit hole 21A. When the bonding is performed so as to correspond to the central circular portion 21B having substantially the same diameter as the projection 9 to be formed, the structure shown in the front sectional view of FIG. 7 can be obtained.

With this configuration, the portion of the side portion of the protruding portion 9 where the small sheet 21 is most affected by the bending of the small sheet 21 during the pushing-down operation is almost completely removed from the slit hole 2.
1A, it is possible to reduce the influence on the operating force due to the stress generated when the small sheet 21 is bent.

Also, the outer end 21D of the slit hole 21A
Also serves to hold the outer peripheral portion of the lower portion of the projection 9, so that even if a pressing force in an oblique direction is applied to the projection 9 during operation or the like, the projection 9 is regulated and is less likely to be displaced. A stable operation feeling can be maintained.

In the above description, the case where the adhesive 9A is applied to the lower surface of the projection 9 has been described. However, in the case of the present embodiment using the fixing sheet 20 or the small piece sheet 21, the adhesive 9A is used. Since the protrusions 9 can be adhesively fixed to the base sheet 2 by the adhesives 20A and 21C on the lower surface, the same effect can be obtained even when the adhesive 9A on the lower surface of the protrusion 9 is not provided.

[0067]

As described above, in the movable contact body according to the present invention, since the projection is disposed at the position on the base sheet corresponding to the center of the movable contact, the movable contact can be operated by the operation button of the device. An advantageous effect is obtained in that a good operation feeling can be stably obtained including the case where the pressing operation is performed while being shifted from the center portion, and further, a switch for an operation panel with little variation in the operation feeling can be easily configured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a movable contact body according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state of attachment to the device.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the device in a state where the pressing operation is performed.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a movable contact body according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a form in which the protrusions are individually covered with a sheet.

FIG. 7 is a front sectional view of the same.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of a conventional movable contact body.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state of being attached to the device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a pressing operation state when a positional shift occurs when combined with the same device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Movable contact 1A Central vertex part 2 Base sheet 2A, 9A, 20A, 21C Adhesive 5 Protective sheet 6 Fixed contact 6A Outside fixed contact 6B Central fixed contact 7 Wiring board 9, 11 Projection 10 Operation button 10A Projection 20 Fixing sheet 21 Small piece sheet 21A Slit hole 21B Circular part 21D Outside end

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A base sheet having an adhesive on a lower surface of a resin film, a movable contact formed by forming an elastic thin metal plate into a dome shape projecting upward, and an upper portion thereof being held by the adhesive of the base sheet. A protective sheet attached to an adhesive of the base sheet so that the movable contact is sandwiched between the movable sheet and the base sheet. A movable contact body in which a projection is disposed at an upper surface position of the base sheet. 2. The movable contact body according to claim 1, wherein the projection is bonded to an upper surface of the base sheet by an adhesive provided on a lower surface thereof. 3. The movable contact body according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed on the upper surface of the base sheet by printing a resin material. 4. The movable contact body according to claim 1, wherein the projection is covered with a resin fixing sheet having an adhesive on a lower surface. 5. A plurality of movable contacts are held on a fixed base sheet, and projections are respectively arranged at upper surface positions of the base sheet corresponding to central portions of the respective movable contacts. The movable contact body according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are individually covered with a small sheet made of a resin film having an adhesive on a lower surface. 6. The movable contact body according to claim 5, wherein the small sheet has a slit hole at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the projection. 7. The movable contact body according to claim 1, wherein the projection is formed of an elastomer. 8. The movable contact body according to claim 1, wherein the projection has a size within about one third of an outer diameter of the movable contact from the center.