JP2003173723A - Inspection device for push button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection device for a push button switch that can measure quantitatively the operation characteristics relating to the push button switch and can perform inspection easily so as to obtain uniform quality and uniform click feeling, and can improve the production efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: A depressing unit is installed on the inspection table and depresses by a driving means a push button switch or its switch element as an inspection object through a pressure sensitive unit and a buffer body that is made to assume physical characteristics such as spring or the like of the human fingertip. A detecting unit for detecting the respective data of depressing amount and depressing force based on the depressing unit and the ON/OFF of the inspection object is provided, and the output data is analyzed by a processing device as a sudden change of the relative characteristics of the depressing amount and the depressing force, and thereby, inspection of the characteristics relating to the click feeling or selection of the inspection object are carried out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inspection of a push button switch, and more particularly to an inspection device having an inspection function of a characteristic related to a click feeling of a switch pressing operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A push button switch that operates a switch element with a push button requires a certain ON / OFF switch operation by pushing down with a finger of a person. Therefore, the push-down movement amount of the push button (hereinafter simply referred to as the push amount)
The push button switch having a sharp change in the relative characteristic between the pushing force and the pushing force, that is, a click feeling is often used. The operator of the push button switch senses the operation by relying on the delicate click feeling of the fingertip. Some devices use a plurality of single pushbutton switches, and there are also cases where a plurality of such pushbutton switches are assembled like a keyboard of a computer or a mobile phone. Each of the above switches has a click feeling,
Or, the uniformity of the operation is important depending on the pressing amount and the pressing force.

[0003]

With the miniaturization of electronic devices, pushbutton switches have also been miniaturized to reduce the amount of depression and the force of depression, and the absolute value of the amount of sudden change in the relative characteristics related to the feeling of click is small. , Its measurement or inspection was difficult. Conventionally, there is no rational means for measuring or inspecting the characteristics related to the above-mentioned operation of a push button switch having a click feeling, and the inspector only confirms the click feeling with a fingertip, and the quality is non-uniform. In that case, the production efficiency was very poor. The present invention has been made in such a background, and it is possible to quantitatively measure the operation characteristics of the push button switch,
An object of the present invention is to provide a push button switch inspection device that can easily perform an inspection for uniform quality and further uniform click feeling and can improve the production efficiency.

[0004]

In view of the above, the present inventor has solved this problem by the following means as a result of earnest experimental research. (1) The present invention is provided with an examination table on which a subject is mounted, the examination table is provided with a push-down device for pushing down the subject via a pressure-sensitive device by a driving means, and a pushing amount and a pushing force based on the pushing device. An apparatus comprising a detector for detecting and outputting each data of ON / OFF of a subject, and a processing device for processing the data of the detection output, wherein the pusher is the subject through a buffer. An apparatus for inspecting a push button switch, characterized by depressing a push button switch or a switch element thereof and analyzing a rapid change in relative characteristics between a pressing amount and a pressing force to inspect characteristics related to a click feeling. .

(2) Here, a feature of the present invention is that the buffer body is based on physical characteristics such as elasticity of a fingertip of a person, and the inspection of the push-button switch according to the item (1). It is a device.

(3) Further, it is characterized by having a function of comparing and judging the pressing force or the pressing amount at the time of the abrupt change of the relative characteristics, and the differential value data of the change and preset setting data (1 ) Or (2), the push button switch inspection device.

(4) Furthermore, the push-down device simultaneously pushes down a plurality of subjects via their respective pressure-sensitive devices and buffers, and the detector is provided with a storage means and relates to the plurality of subjects. It is desirable that the pushbutton switch inspection device according to any one of items (1) to (3) is characterized by storing respective data.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation of a switch element of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining characteristics relating to a click feeling of the embodiment of the present invention. . In the figure, 1 is an examination table, 2 is a pressure sensitive device, 3 is a pressure sensitive device, 4 is a pressing shaft, 5 is a buffer, 6 is a subject, 7 is driving means, 8 is a detector, 9 is a processing device, 10 is a device. Terminals, 11 are contact pieces, and 12 are contact points.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an inspection table 1 on which a subject 6 is mounted, and the inspection table 1 is provided with a driving means 7.
Is provided with a push-down device 2 that pushes down the subject 6 via the pressure-sensitive device 3, and the pushing amount and pushing force based on the push-down device 2 and the O of the subject 6
Detector 8 for detecting and outputting each data of N / OFF
And a processing device 9 for processing the detection output.

Here, the feature of the present invention is that the push-down device 2 pushes down the push-button switch, which is the subject 6, or its switch element via the buffer 5, so that the relative characteristics of the push-down amount and the push-down force are sharp. It has a function to analyze the change and inspect the characteristic related to the click feeling. FIG. 2 shows a cross section of an example of the switch element. The contact piece 11 in the figure is made of a metal spring material or the like, and is deformed into a concave shape when the circular top portion of (A) is pushed down by a push button as shown by an arrow. In this case, the central portion of the contact piece 11 is partially deformed into a concave shape by a certain amount of pressing, and the critical reversal force accompanying this is added to the pressing force, so that the pressing force suddenly decreases and the click feeling is reduced. Occurs. The contact piece 11 is further pushed down to the state of (B) and comes into contact with the contact 12 to turn on the switch element, and when the pushing down is stopped, the shape returns to the shape of (A) and turns off. FIG. 3 shows an example of an abrupt change in the relative characteristics of the pressing amount and the pressing force. The dotted line (a) in the figure shows the transition boundary between OFF and ON.

In FIG. 1, an actuator, a motor or the like can be used as the push-down device 2 and pushes down the subject 6 via the pressure-sensitive device 3 and the buffer 5. The subject 6 can be attached only by the switch element portion of the push button switch. The pusher 2 is provided with, for example, a variable resistor that moves according to the amount of depression, and outputs an electric signal based on the amount of depression. Further, the pressure sensitive device 3 uses, for example, a pressure sensor in which carbon powder is mixed in a rubber material, which changes its electric resistance according to the pressing force and outputs its electric signal.

Here, it is desirable that the cushioning body 5 is assumed to have physical characteristics such as elasticity of the fingertip, on the basis of the same conditions as the push-down operation of the human fingertip. Detector 8
Receives and detects an electric signal of the pressing amount and pressing force, and an ON / OFF signal of the switch element, and detects and outputs.
Further, the processing device 9 using a computer or the like inputs the output data of the detector 8 and performs data processing such as calculation to turn ON / OFF the subject 6 and its timing, or the pressing amount, pressing force, and the like. It is possible to perform the inspection and the inspection of the characteristics related to the click feeling by analyzing the relative characteristics of the pressing amount and the pressing force as shown in FIG.

Further, the processing device 9 has a pressing force or an amount of pressing at the time of the abrupt change of the relative characteristics, and a function of comparing and discriminating the differential value data of the change and preset setting data, The sample 6 can be selected and inspected.
The setting data is a start point of the abrupt change, a maximum change point of the change, an end point of the change, and the like, and is data in which a standard value has an allowable value range. Furthermore, the pusher 2
Simultaneously pushes down the plurality of subjects 6 via the pressure-sensitive devices 3 and the buffers 5, respectively, and the detector 8 is equipped with a storage means to store the respective data relating to the plurality of subjects 6. As a result, the processing device 9 can sequentially perform the processing such as the calculation and the selection.

[0014]

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The pusher 2 provided on the inspection table 1 is driven by the drive means 7 to perform a pressing operation, and through the pressure sensitive device 3, the pressing shaft 4 and the buffer 5 which are connected in series to each other in series, the inspection table 1 is provided. Subject 6 that is freely and manually attached to the subject 6
Push down. The driving means 7 can also be controlled by the processing device 9. The buffer 5 is preferably based on physical characteristics such as elasticity of a human fingertip. The push-down device 2 and the pressure-sensitive device 3 respectively output an electric signal corresponding to a pressing amount and a pressing force, and also output an ON / OFF electric signal of the subject 6. The respective electric signals are input to and detected by the detector 8, and the output data thereof are connected to the processing device 9 to be subjected to calculation or data processing such as analysis of relative characteristics of the pressing amount and the pressing force. As a result, ON / O relating to the subject 6
The timing of the FF signal, the pressing amount and the pressing force, and their relative characteristics can be inspected. Furthermore, the characteristic relating to the click feeling can be inspected by the analysis relating to the abrupt change of the relative characteristic. Further, the processing device 9 can output a signal for control, display or the like via the terminal 10.

In this case, the processing device 9 has a pressing force or pressing amount at the time of the abrupt change of the relative characteristics, and a function of comparing and discriminating the differential value of the change and preset setting data of the subject 6. Can be inspected or sorted. Further, the push-down device 2 simultaneously pushes down a plurality of subjects 6 via the respective pressure-sensitive devices 3, the push-down shaft 4 and the buffer body 5, and the detector 8 is provided with a storage means for each of the plurality of subjects. By storing the data of 1, the processing device 9 can sequentially perform the processing such as the calculation. There may be a plurality of push-down devices 2 involved in the plurality of operations.

[0016]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be exhibited. 1. In the push button switch inspection device, the pusher pushes down the subject through a cushioning body assuming a human fingertip,
By analyzing a rapid change in the relative characteristics of the pressing amount and the pressing force, the characteristics related to the click feeling of the push button switch can be quantitatively tested. As a result, the pushbutton switch is turned ON /
Not only the inspection of OFF and its timing or the measurement / inspection of the pressing amount, the pressing force, etc., but also the feeling of click and the uniformity of quality can be easily performed.

2. In addition to the effect of the preceding paragraph, since the cushioning body is based on a physical characteristic such as elasticity of a human fingertip, the measurement or inspection described in the preceding paragraph, which is close to an operation with a slight click feeling of the fingertip, can be performed. It will be possible.

3. In addition to the effect of the preceding paragraph, by having a pressing force or pressing amount at the time of the abrupt change of the relative characteristics, and a comparison / discrimination function of the differential value data of the change and preset data, It is possible to provide a push button switch inspection device that can easily perform inspection or selection for maintaining uniform quality so that operation characteristics with a click feeling fall within a certain range.

4. In addition to the effects of the preceding paragraph 4, the pusher simultaneously pushes down a plurality of subjects via their respective pressure-sensitive devices and buffers, and the detector is provided with a storage means to enable the plurality of subjects to be examined. The respective data are stored, and the processing device can sequentially process the stored data. Therefore, the efficiency of inspection is increased, and the production efficiency is improved in the case of mass production of push button switches.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the switch element according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining characteristics related to a click feeling according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Inspection table 2: Presser 3: Pressure sensor 4: Push shaft 5: buffer 6: subject 7: Driving means 8: Detector 9: Processor 10: Terminal 11: Resilient plate 12: Contact

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An inspection table for mounting an object to be inspected, wherein the inspection table is provided with a push-down device that pushes down the object via a pressure-sensitive device by a driving means, and the amount of depression and the pressing force based on the presser and the object to be inspected Is a device that includes a detector that detects and outputs each ON / OFF data, and the pressing device is a push button that is the subject through a buffer. An apparatus for inspecting a push button switch, characterized in that a switch or a switch element thereof is pressed down, and a characteristic of a click feeling is inspected by analyzing a rapid change in relative characteristics between a pressing amount and a pressing force. 2. The push button switch inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the buffer body is based on a physical characteristic such as elasticity of a human fingertip. 3. A press-down force or press-down amount at the time of a sudden change in the relative characteristic, and a function of comparing and discriminating differential value data of the change and preset setting data. Inspection device for the push button switch described. 4. The push-down device simultaneously pushes down a plurality of subjects via respective pressure-sensitive devices and buffers, and the detector is provided with a storage means to store respective data relating to the plurality of subjects. The push button switch inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the push button switch inspection device is stored.