JP2003178650A - Electronic component - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic component capable of smoothly moving a movable body, which can be miniaturized and thinned even if a switch mechanism and a clicking mechanism are provided. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic component is equipped with a base 10 provided with switch contacts 25, 27, an elastic pressing plate 40 having a base part 41 mounted on the base 10 and an arm parts 43, 43 where pressing parts 47, 47 provided in the vicinity of its tip so as to protrude from the base part 41 are positioned on the switch contacts 25, 27 with a prescribed distance parted, and a movable body 60 disposed on the base 10 and provided with an abutting part to push down the arm parts 43, 43 by abutting them on its lower surface. If the movable body 60 rotates, the abutting part abuts on the arm parts 43, 43 and pushes them down so that the pressing parts 47, 47 abut on the switch contacts 25, 27 to switch them on. A clicking mechanism to force a click spring 50 provided on the base 10 elastic contact with a click engagement part provided on the lower surface of the movable body 60 is provided between the base 10 and the movable body 60. A space between the base 10 and the movable body 60 is elastically urged in the same upward direction by the elastic pressing plate 40 and the click spring 50. <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 electronic component suitable for miniaturization and thinning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a switch mechanism having a structure for turning on / off a switch contact on a substrate installed below a rotating body by rotating the rotating body. In general, as a switch mechanism of this type, as shown in FIG. 7, a flexible substrate 210 is placed on a base 200, a rotating body 220 is arranged on the flexible substrate 210 with a predetermined distance therebetween, and the flexible substrate 210 is attached to the lower surface of the rotating body 220. A switch in which the sliding contact portion 231 of the slider 230 is formed on the flexible substrate 210 by elastically contacting the sliding contact portion 231 at the tip of the slider 230 on the flexible substrate 210 and rotating the rotating body 220 in the direction of arrow a. It slides on the pattern 211. Actually, the switch pattern 211 and the sliding contact portion 23
Two 1s are provided on the front side and the back side of the paper, and the sliding contact portions 231 are brought into contact with the two switch patterns 211 to turn on the two switch patterns 211.

However, in this switch mechanism,
For example, when it is attempted to endlessly output a large number of ON / OFF signals by rotating the rotating body 220 endlessly, a large number of switch patterns 211 must be formed in a ring shape, and various other switch patterns 211 are formed in that portion. There is a problem in that it is not possible to attach a pattern or a component, and eventually an electronic component configured by using this switch mechanism cannot be downsized.

In order to solve the above problems, the flexible substrate 2 is mounted on the base 250 like the switch mechanism shown in FIG.
60, the rotary body 270 is arranged on the flexible substrate 260 at a predetermined distance, and the base 28 of the elastic pressing plate 280 made of a metal plate is mounted on the land pattern 263 formed on the flexible substrate 260.
The arm portion 28 extending from the base portion 281 by fixing 1
The pressing portion 285 provided at the tip of No. 3 is arranged at a predetermined distance from the switch pattern 261 formed on the flexible substrate 260 directly below the pressing portion 285, and the rotating body 270 is rotated in the direction of the arrow b, so that The protruding pressing portions 271 provided at predetermined intervals are provided on the arm portion 2 of the elastic pressing plate 280.
This is a structure in which the switch pattern 261 and the land pattern 263 are turned on by contacting 83 and pushing it down, thereby pressing the pressing portion 285 against the switch pattern 261.

According to this structure, only one set of the switch pattern 261 and the land pattern 263 need be provided on the flexible substrate 260, so that other portions of the flexible substrate 260 can be used for mounting other circuit patterns or components. It can be effectively used as a space, and electronic parts using this switch mechanism can be miniaturized.

However, the electronic parts using the switch mechanism shown in FIG. 8 also have the following problems.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side sectional view of a rotary electronic component constituted by using the switch mechanism shown in FIG. In the rotary electronic component shown in the figure, a plurality of ring-shaped pressing portions 271 are provided on the lower surface of the rotating body 270, and a click engaging portion 273 having ring-shaped concavo-convex is provided on the upper surface of the rotating body 270. The base 290 having the flexible substrate 260 and the elastic pressing plate 280 attached thereto is installed in the case, and the click spring 301 provided in the case 300 for accommodating and integrating the rotating body 270 and the base 290 is engaged with the click engaging portion 273. Is configured. When the rotator 270 is rotated, the switch is turned on and off at the flexible substrate 260 and the elastic pressing plate 280, and at the same time, the click engaging portion 2
The click spring 301 elastically contacts 73 to generate a click sensation.

However, in the case of this rotary electronic component,
Providing the click mechanism increases the thickness of the electronic component. The elastic pressing plate 280 pushes the rotating body 270 upward, and the click spring 301 causes the rotating body 27 to rotate.
Any force that pushes down 0 becomes a force to tilt the rotating body 270 in the same direction, and the rotating body 270 tilts, so that an accurate output of an electric signal cannot be obtained.

On the other hand, as a click mechanism for this type of rotary electronic component, a concave-convex click engaging portion is provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the rotating body 270, and the outer peripheral side surface of the rotating body 270 is reinforced by a coil spring from the outside. There is also a click mechanism with a structure in which a ball abuts. With such a configuration, the thickness of the electronic component can be reduced, but instead, the external dimension becomes large, and miniaturization cannot be achieved.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to reduce the size and thickness of an electronic component including a switch mechanism and a click mechanism. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic component that enables smooth and balanced movement of a moving body such as a rotating body.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a base provided with a switch contact, a base made of an elastic body and mounted on the base, and protruding from the base to a predetermined position thereof. An elastic pressing plate having a pressing part provided on the switch contact and spaced apart from the switch contact by a predetermined distance, and an abutting part arranged on the base and abutting the arm part on the lower surface thereof to push down the arm part. An electronic component having a structure in which the contact part abuts against the arm part by moving the mobile part and pushes down the arm part by pressing the switch contact to turn on the switch contact. A click mechanism configured by elastically contacting a click spring provided on the base side with a click engagement portion provided on the lower surface of the mobile body is provided between the base and the mobile body, and the click mechanism is provided between the base and the mobile body. For elastic pressing plate and click spring Characterized in that it emits bullet in the same direction I.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the moving body is a rotating body, and the elastic pressing plate and the click spring are installed at positions facing each other with respect to a rotation center of the moving body.

The present invention further comprises a base having a sliding contact pattern, and a rotary member provided on the base with a slider provided on the lower surface thereof for sliding contact with the sliding contact pattern. In an electronic component having a structure in which a slider slides on a sliding contact pattern to change its output by rotating, a click button provided on the base side or on the rotary body between the base and the rotary body. Provide a click mechanism configured by elastically contacting a click spring provided on the rotating body or the base side at the joint, and install the slider and the click spring at positions facing each other with respect to the rotation center of the rotating body. According to the above, the space between the base and the rotating body is elastically expelled in a direction in which the slider and the click spring both push and spread.

Further, one or a plurality of elastic positions at which the arm portion or the slider of the elastic pressing plate elastically elastically moves between the moving body and the base,
A position where one or a plurality of elastic positions at which the click spring elastically presses between the moving body and the base become a force that pushes up the moving body in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving body as a resultant force of the entire elastic force. Is preferably provided in the.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary electronic component 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the rotary electronic component 1 includes a base 10 provided with two switch contacts 25 and 27, an elastic pressing plate 40 made of an elastic body, a click spring 50, and a moving body (hereinafter referred to as “rotating body”). It comprises a body 60) and a cover 70. Each component will be described below.

The base 10 has a flexible substrate 20 inside.
The synthetic resin is molded into a substantially ring shape with the terminal 35 accommodated therein. Here, FIG. 2 is a view showing the flexible substrate 20 and the terminals 35. As shown in the figure, the flexible substrate 20 is composed of a flexible arc-shaped film, and three terminal connection patterns 21, 22, 23 are provided in the center of the surface thereof, and the terminal connection patterns 2 on both sides are formed.
1 and 23 are connected to patterned switch contacts 25 and 27 provided at both ends of the flexible substrate 20, and the central terminal connection pattern 22 is connected to a patterned land contact 29 provided at the center of the flexible substrate 20. There is. Two through holes 31 are provided at the land contact point 29. The terminal 35 is made of a metal plate, and has a base 37 and a protrusion 39.
It has and.

Then, the base portion 3 of each terminal 35 is attached to each terminal connection pattern 21, 22, 23 of the flexible substrate 20.
The part 7 in contact with the flexible substrate 20 is housed in a mold having a cavity having the shape of the base 10 shown in FIG. 1, and the molten mold resin is filled and solidified in the cavity to form the flexible substrate 20. The base 10 incorporating the terminals 35 is completed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base 10 is substantially ring-shaped and has an opening 11 at the center thereof. The upper surface of the flexible substrate 20 is exposed on the surface of the base 10 and the through holes 31, 31 of the flexible substrate 20 are formed. Projecting fixing portions 13 and 13 are projected from the portions, and protruding fixing portions 15 and 1 are provided from a predetermined position on the surface where the flexible substrate 20 is not installed.
5 is projected, and a side wall 17 is provided on the outer periphery, and the side wall 4
Claw-shaped locking portions 19 are provided at various places (only one of the front side is shown in FIG. 1), and the protruding portion 39 of the terminal 35 is projected outside the side wall 17.

The elastic pressing plate 40 is made of an elastic metal plate (electric conductor), and is provided with arms 43, from both sides of the base 41.
43 is protruding. The arm portion 43 projects obliquely upward from the base portion 41 and is bent in a V shape, and a portion near its tip is configured as a pressing portion 47. Pressing part 47
Is located slightly above the surface of the base portion 41. Base 4
1 is provided with an insertion portion 45 composed of two small holes.

The click spring 50 is formed by forming an elastic metal plate into a substantially arc shape, and fixing portions 51 formed of small holes are provided at both ends thereof. Further, the click spring 50 has a slit 53 formed at the center thereof to bend an inner arc portion so as to project upward to form an arm portion 55, and an elastic contact portion which is curved and projected upward at the center of the arm portion 55. 5
7 is provided.

The rotating body 60 is formed by molding a synthetic resin into a substantially ring shape having a size and shape to be housed inside the base 10. An opening 61 is provided in the center thereof, and a locking portion 6 for mounting a rotary knob or the like (not shown) on the upper surface thereof.
3 is protruding. Here, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rotating body 60 as viewed from the back surface side. As shown in the figure, on the back surface of the rotating body 60, click engaging portions 65 having a large number of ring-shaped irregularities are provided at equal intervals. Further, the click engaging portion 6
On the outer peripheral side of 5, there are provided a number of ring-shaped protruding contact portions 67 at equal intervals so as to be adjacent (adjacent to) the click engaging portion 65.

The cover 70 is made of a metal plate having a shape covering the upper part of the base 10, and the locking portion 6 of the rotating body 60 is provided at the center.
3 is provided with a hole 71, and a locking portion 73 that projects like a tongue and is bent downward is provided on the outer periphery. Inside the locking portion 73, a locking hole 75 that engages with each locking portion 19 of the base 10 is provided.

To assemble the rotary electronic component 1, first, in FIG. 1, the base 41 of the elastic pressing plate 40 is placed on the land contact 29 of the base 10, and at this time, from the insertion portions 45, 45 of the base 41. The protruding fixing portions 13 and 13 are fixed by thermal crimping. On the other hand, the click spring 50 is also the base 10.
Placed on top of the click spring 50, the fixing parts 5 at both ends
The tips of the fixing portions 15 and 15 of the base 10 inserted into the bases 1 and 51 are heat-crimped and fixed on the base 10.

The state at this time is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the base portion 41 of the elastic pressing plate 40 is the flexible substrate 2
0 contacting the land contact 29 and electrically connecting to the central terminal 35, and pressing portions 47 on both sides of the elastic pressing plate 40,
47 is installed so as to face the switch contacts 25 and 27 at a predetermined distance.

The rotating body 60 shown in FIG. 1 is rotatably housed inside the side wall 17 of the base 10, and the cover 7 is placed thereon.
By covering with 0 and locking the locking portions 19 of the base 10 in the locking holes 75 of the cover 70, the rotary electronic component 1 shown in FIG. 5 is completed. As shown in the figure, the locking portion 63 of the rotating body 60 projects from the hole 71 of the cover 70.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the elastic pressing plate 40 which constitutes the switch mechanism and the click spring 50 which constitutes the click mechanism are substantially on the same circumference (rotating member 6).
Since it can be installed in a position (opposite to the center of rotation of 0), compared to a switch mechanism having a structure in which a switch pattern 211 has to be provided in a ring shape on the same circumference as in the conventional example shown in FIG. Can be miniaturized.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the rotary electronic component 1 (AA schematic sectional view of FIG. 5). As shown in the figure, the elastic contact part 57 of the click spring 50 elastically contacts the click engaging part 65 on the lower surface of the rotating body 60, while the elastic part 4 of the elastic pressing plate 40 is in contact.
In FIG. 6, the portion protruding upward in the center of 3 is in contact with the contact portion 67 on the lower surface of the rotating body 60. When the arm portion 43 abuts on the abutting portion 67, the pressing portion 47 on the tip end side of the arm portion 43 abuts on the switch contact 25 (or 27), whereby the space between the terminal connection pattern 22 and the terminal connection pattern 21 (or 23). Is on. In the opening formed in the center, various electronic components (not shown) such as a push button switch mechanism are housed.

When the rotating body 60 is rotated, each time the both arm portions 43, 43 come into contact with the contact portion 67, they are displaced by a predetermined phase difference and are pushed down.
Turning on / off the switch contact 25 of No. 7 and turning on / off the switch contact 27 of the other pressing portion 47 are repeated with a predetermined phase difference. At this time, at the same time, the elastic contact portions 57 of the click spring 50 elastically contact with the click engaging portions 65 provided at equal intervals, so that a click feeling is produced endlessly.

By the way, in the rotary electronic component 1, since the switch mechanism and the click mechanism are both installed between the base 10 and the rotating body 60 as shown in FIG. The thickness can be made thinner and the outer diameter can be made smaller (or the inner diameter can be made larger) as compared with the case of being installed on the side portion. In particular, as in this embodiment, the elastic pressing plate 4
If the 0 and the click spring 50 are installed at positions facing each other with respect to the center of rotation of the rotating body 60, the outer diameter of the rotary electronic component 1 is hardly increased, and the outer diameter is reduced (or the inner diameter is reduced). It is suitable for large size).

Since the base 10 and the moving body 60 are elastically urged in the same direction (both upward) by the elastic pressing plate 40 and the click spring 50, the rotating body 60 has a rotating shaft. Only the pulling force works in the direction of rotation 60
The force for inclining is hard to work, the resistance when rotating the rotating body 60 is small, a well-balanced and smooth rotation can be performed, and since it does not incline, an accurate electric signal output can be obtained.

Particularly, in this embodiment, since the elastic pressing plate 40 and the click spring 50 are installed at the positions facing each other with respect to the rotation center axis L of the rotating body 60, specifically, the elasticity forming the switch mechanism is set. Arm part 43 of pressing plate 40
The two repulsive positions at which the elastic body 60 repels the rotating body 60 and the one repulsive position at which the click spring 50 repels the rotating body 60 pushes up the rotating body 60 in the direction of the central axis of rotation as the total force of the repulsive force. Since it is provided in such a position that the force (that is, the force that pushes up the rotating body 60 in the direction perpendicular to the rotating direction of the rotating body 60), that is, more specifically, the elastic contact of the click spring 50 in FIG. With respect to a line that vertically connects the rotation center axis L of the portion 57 and the rotating body 60, both arm portions 43,
The part of the rotating body 60, which is pressed by the contact portion 67 of the rotating body 60, is installed in a symmetrical position so that the resultant force of the entire elastic force becomes a force that pushes up the rotating body 60 in the rotation center axis L direction. Therefore, the force that tilts the rotating body 60 does not work, and when the rotating body 60 is rotated, there is no resistance due to the inclination of the rotating body 60, balanced smooth rotation can be performed, and since it does not tilt, it is accurate. An electric signal output is obtained.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims and the technical idea described in the specification and drawings. Can be modified. Note that any shape, structure, or material not directly described in the specification and drawings is within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention as long as the functions and effects of the present invention are exhibited. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a rotary electronic component has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to various other electronic components such as a sliding electronic component. In that case, the rotating body may be changed to another moving body such as a slide body.

The elastic position of the elastic pressing plate 40 for elastically urging the rotating body 60 may be one or three or more depending on the number of the arm portions 43, and the click spring 50 may repel the rotating body 60. There may be two or more positions to fire bullets. Further, the substrate may be a hard substrate instead of a flexible substrate. In that case, the base 10 may be substituted for the hard substrate. Alternatively, the flexible substrate 20 may be omitted by integrally molding the metal plate in the base 10 with its surface exposed so that the exposed surface of the metal plate itself serves as a switch contact. Further, the structure of the switch contact can be variously changed, for example, a membrane switch having a structure in which a pair of switch contact patterns are provided on opposite surfaces of two superposed flexible substrates to form a switch contact. Is also good. In this case, since the two switch contact patterns are turned on, the land contact 29 used in the above embodiment is unnecessary, and the elastic pressing plate 40 does not need to be formed of a conductive member.

The present invention can also be applied to electronic parts of the type using a slider. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a rotating body (moving body) 60-2 of this type of electronic component, a click spring 50-2 and a slider 80 attached to the rotating body (moving body) 60-2. As shown in the figure, this electronic component slides on each of the slider mounting portion 68 and the click spring mounting portion 69 on the lower surface of the rotating body 60-2 having an opening 61-2 for accommodating another electronic component in the center. Attach the pendulum 80 and the click spring 50-2,
The rotating body 60-2 is installed on a base (not shown). On the base, a sliding contact pattern (a switch pattern in this embodiment, but a resistor pattern may be used) with which the sliding contact 81 of the slider 80 is in sliding contact, and an elastic contact portion 57 of the click spring 50-2. The concave-convex click engaging portion with which the −2 abuts is provided. When the rotating body 60-2 is rotated, the sliding contact 81 of the slider 80 slides on the sliding contact pattern to change its electrical output, and at the same time, the elastic contact portion 57-2 of the click spring 50-2. Moves on the click engagement portion to generate a click feeling. Click spring 50-2
May be fixed to the base side, and the click engaging portion may be provided on the rotating body 60-2 side.

Also in this embodiment, both the switch mechanism (variable resistance mechanism) and the click mechanism are provided with the base and the rotating body 60.
-2, the thickness can be reduced and the outer diameter can be reduced (or the inner diameter can be increased), and in particular, the slider 80 and the click spring 50-2 can be rotated as in this embodiment. Body 60
If the rotary electronic component 1 is installed at a position facing the center of rotation of -2, the outer diameter of the rotary electronic component 1 hardly increases, which is suitable for reducing the outer diameter (or increasing the inner diameter). Further, since the slider 80 and the click spring 50-2 both push the space between the base and the rotating body 60-2 toward the direction of widening, the force for inclining the rotating body 60-2 is It is hard to work, and accurate output of electric signals can be obtained. Particularly, in this embodiment, the elastic position between the base and the rotary body 60-2 by the slider 80 that constitutes the switch mechanism, and the base and the rotary body 60 by the click spring 50-2.
-2 is provided so as to be a position that pushes up the rotating body 60-2 in the direction of the rotation center axis as a resultant force of the entire elastic force, that is, specifically, as shown in FIG. 1
At 0, the portions pressed by the elastic contact portion 57-2 of the click spring 50-2 and the sliding contact 81 of the slider 80 are installed in symmetrical positions, so that the total elastic force rotates. Since the force that pushes up the body 60-2 in the direction of the rotation center axis is not exerted, the force that tilts the body 60-2 does not work, and the body 60-2 does not tilt, so an accurate electric signal output can be obtained. To be

[0036]

As described in detail above, the present invention has the following excellent effects. Since both the switch mechanism and the click mechanism are installed between the base and the moving body, the thickness can be made thinner and the outer diameter can be made smaller than when the click mechanism is installed on the upper side or the side part of the moving body. .

In particular, when the moving body is a rotating body and the elastic pressing plate and the click spring are installed at positions facing each other with respect to the rotation center of the moving body, the outer diameter of the electronic component hardly increases, and Suitable for downsizing of outer diameter.

Due to the elastic pressing plate (or the slider) and the click spring, only the force for pulling up the moving body acts on the moving body and the force for inclining the moving body is hard to work,
An accurate electric signal output can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rotary electronic component 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flexible substrate 20 and terminals 35.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rotating body 60 as viewed from the back surface side.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a base 10 to which an elastic pressing plate 40 and a click spring 50 are attached.

5 is a perspective view showing a rotary electronic component 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the rotary electronic component 1 (A-A in FIG. 5).
It is a schematic sectional view).

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional switch mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional switch mechanism.

9 is a schematic side sectional view of a rotary electronic component configured by using the switch mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a rotating body 60 of an electronic component used in another embodiment.
-2, a click spring 50-2, and a slider 80 are exploded perspective views.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Rotary electronic components (electronic components) 10 bases 20 Flexible substrate 25, 27 switch contacts 29 Land contact 35 terminals 40 elastic pressing plate 41 base 43 Arm 47 Pressing part 50 click springs 55 Arm 57 bullet contact part 60 Rotating body (moving body) 65 click engaging part 67 Contact part 70 cover 50-2 Click spring 60-2 Rotating body (moving body) 80 Slider

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A base provided with a switch contact, a base made of an elastic body and mounted on the base, and a pressing portion projecting from the base and provided at a predetermined position thereof are separated from the switch contact by a predetermined distance. An elastic pressing plate having an arm portion located therein and a moving body provided on the lower surface of the base with an abutting portion that abuts against the arm portion and pushes down the arm portion, the moving body is moved. By this, in the electronic component of the structure in which the contact portion contacts the arm portion and pushes down the arm portion and the pressing portion pushes the switch contact to turn on, the contact portion is provided on the lower surface of the moving body between the base and the moving body. A click mechanism configured by elastically contacting a click spring provided on the base side to the click engagement portion is provided, and the base and the moving body are elastically moved in the same direction by the elastic pressing plate and the click spring. Characterized by emitting Electronic components. 2. The moving body is a rotating body, and the elastic pressing plate and the click spring are installed at positions facing each other with respect to a center of rotation of the moving body.
Electronic components listed. 3. A rotating body comprising: a base provided with a sliding contact pattern; and a rotary body provided on the base and provided with a slider on the lower surface of the base for sliding contact with the sliding contact pattern. In the electronic component having a structure in which the slider slides on the sliding contact pattern and changes its output, between the base and the rotating body, a click engaging portion provided on the base side or the rotating body is provided. By providing a click mechanism configured by elastically contacting a click spring provided on the rotating body or the base side, and by disposing the slider and the click spring at positions opposed to the rotation center of the rotating body, An electronic component characterized in that a space between a base and a rotating body is elastically urged in a direction in which it is expanded by both the slider and the click spring.