JP2003234035A - Contact plate and switch apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contact plate and a switch apparatus using the same, in which a protrusion is easily formed on a contact plate, and a good operation feeling is provided at pressurizing even if dislocation exists relative to a keytop. <P>SOLUTION: There are provided an elastic thin plate 1h comprising an invertible swollen part 1c, a through hole 1d that penetrates the top of the swollen part in inverting direction, and a protruding member 2 which is held in the through hole 1d, with its coming off being prevented, while one end protrudes in the swelling direction of the swollen part. A pressurizing part 2a is so formed as to transmit the pressurizing force from outside at one end of the protruding member 2. <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 a contact plate and a switch device using the same, and more particularly to a contact plate structure suitable for a push button switch of a small electronic device such as a mobile phone and a switch structure using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional contact plate and a switch using the same include a base having a fixed contact and a contact having a dome-shaped inversion portion arranged on the base so as to face the fixed contact. It is composed of a board.

The contact plate is used with a key top for pressing operation arranged on the upper surface side.
By pressing this key top from the decorative panel side of the electronic device, the upper surface of the contact plate is pressed, and the contact plate integrally formed on the lower surface is inverted and comes into contact with the fixed contact, thereby switching the contact. Is what is done.

Further, a projection for pressing the top of the dome-shaped contact plate is integrally formed on the lower surface of the key top for a pressing operation, and when the key top is pressed, the pressing force is the projection. Since it is transmitted to the top of the contact plate via the contact plate, the contact plate inverts with a click feeling and comes into contact with the fixed contact.

In this case, if there is a variation in relative position between the protrusion on the lower surface of the key top and the dome top of the contact plate,
In order to solve this problem, in the conventional configuration, the protrusions are formed on the upper surface of the contact plate with resin instead of the protrusions on the lower surface of the key top. A structure has been proposed in which the pressing force is transmitted to the top of the dome of the contact plate.

[0006]

However, in the structure of the above-mentioned conventional contact plate and the switch device using the same, since the resin is formed on the dome top of the contact plate by printing or the like to form the projection, There is a problem that it is difficult to control the thickness and it cannot be formed accurately.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, makes it possible to easily form a protrusion on a contact plate, and has a good operation feeling during pressing operation, and a switch using the contact plate. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the first means of the present invention is to provide an elastic thin plate having a reversible bulge and a hole penetrating the top of the bulge in the reversing direction. And a protruding member that is retained in the through hole and is retained in the protruding portion and has one end protruding in the bulging direction of the bulging portion, and a pressing portion that transmits a pressing force from the outside is formed at one end of the protruding member. It is characterized by

As a second means, the protruding member is formed of a conductive member, and the contact portion is formed on the back side of the bulging portion at the other end of the pressing portion by penetrating the through hole. And

A third means is characterized in that an uneven portion is formed on the other end surface of the conductive member.

A fourth means is characterized in that the periphery of the through hole is projected in the bulging direction of the bulging portion, and the projecting member is retained and held in the protruding portion.

A fifth means is characterized in that the protruding member is deformed so as to sandwich the bulging portion in the plate thickness direction and is retained and retained.

A sixth means is characterized in that the contact plate is attached to an adhesive layer of an adhesive sheet so as to form an allowance for attaching the contact plate to an outer peripheral portion of the contact plate.

As a seventh means, the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet is provided with an opening having a diameter larger than that of the pressing portion and smaller than the outer shape of the contact plate, and the pressing portion is exposed through the opening, and the contact plate is exposed. Is attached to the adhesive layer.

An eighth means is characterized in that the contact plate and the adhesive sheet are integrally releasably held on a release sheet by an adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet.

As a ninth means, the contact plate comprising any one of the first to the seventh, and a base on which a fixed contact and an external connection terminal connected to the fixed contact are arranged are provided. The contact portion is opposed to the fixed contact, and the pressing portion is arranged on the base so as to be operable from the outside.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
Through FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a contact plate according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a contact plate according to a modification thereof,
3 is a sectional view of a contact plate according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
5 is a plan view of a switch device having a contact plate according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the switch device shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a switch device having a contact plate according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view, and FIG. 7 is a perspective explanatory view of another switch device in which the contact plate according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

In FIG. 1, the contact plate 1 is formed by punching out a conductive thin metal plate 1h made of phosphor bronze or the like, one surface of which has been subjected to surface treatment such as silver plating, into a substantially disc shape, and the surface treatment has been performed. A skirt portion 1b which rises at a predetermined angle from the outer peripheral edge portion 1a toward the center portion with the side as the lower surface, and a dome-shaped bulge portion 1c which is continuous with the skirt portion 1b.
Are accurately and integrally formed by a press die.

A through hole 1d penetrating in the plate thickness direction is formed substantially in the center of the top portion 1c, and a protruding member 2 formed of a conductive material in a columnar shape is formed in the through hole 1d in the vertical direction. The pressing portion 2a and the contact portion 2c are integrally formed by penetrating through and being fixed by retaining.

When the projection-shaped member 2 is fixed to the thin metal plate by caulking, it can be performed by the following steps. (1) A conductive metal column such as brass whose one surface has been surface-treated with silver plating or the like is formed to have a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the through hole 1d. The through holes 1d and the through holes 1d of the metal thin plate punched out are arranged so that their plated surfaces are in the same direction. (2) Next, the conductive metal columns are deformed by a punch for caulking, and the through holes are formed. A stopper for the thin metal plate in the plate thickness direction is formed so as to cover the periphery of 1d from above and below. At this time, the shapes of the pressing portion 2a and the contact portion 2b are simultaneously formed. (3) Then, the metal thin plate in which the projecting member 2 is integrated in this way is drawn by a press die in which the dome-shaped forming portion and the relief portion of the projecting member 2 are formed. The contact plate 1 is formed by forming a dome shape having a skirt portion 1b and a top portion 1c on a thin metal plate. In this way, the protruding member 2 is previously integrated with the metal thin plate, and then the metal thin plate is press-molded to form the dome shape, whereby the reversible bulging portion and the pressing portion are accurately formed. be able to. Furthermore, the protruding member 2
By forming a conductive material, it is possible to accurately form the contact portion with respect to the reversible bulging portion and the pressing portion.

The contact plate 1 formed as described above is
The lower surface of the outer peripheral edge portion 1a is supported on the peripheral fixed contact, which will be described later, and the top portion 1c is inverted by pressing from the outside of the pressing portion 2a to allow contact with the central fixed contact of the contact portion 2b. It is something that can be done. Further, in the contact plate 1, since the thin metal plate and the conductive member are integrated so that the surface-treated side is the lower surface side, the lower surface of the outer peripheral edge portion 1a contacting the fixed contact and the contact are formed. Part 2b
Since and become a surface-treated surface such as silver plating, it is possible to surely establish continuity between the contacts.

When the protruding member 2 is made of a conductive material and is fixed to a thin metal plate, protrusions or recesses such as grooves may be formed on the contact portion 2b. In this case, contact with the fixed contact is made. Can be multi-point contact or line contact, and contact reliability can be further improved. Also, the skirt portion 1b
It is also possible to form an inversion spring having a top by press-molding so as to bulge in a dome shape from the substantially circular outer peripheral edge portion 1a toward the central portion without providing the above.

The contact plate 1 as described above may be carried and stored individually, but as in the modification shown in FIG. 2, the contact plate 1 may be attached to the adhesive sheet 3 and then the release sheet 4 to the adhesive sheet. 3 and the contact plate 1 may be integrally separable. In the contact plate according to the modified example, since the contact portion of the contact plate 1 and the adhesive layer are sealed by the release sheet 4, it is possible to prevent gas and dust from entering from the outside during storage and transportation, and facilitate handling. It can be carried out.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 3 of FIG. 2 is an insulating flexible sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (not shown) applied on its lower surface, and has a predetermined outer diameter so that it has a larger diameter than the outer peripheral edge portion 1a of the contact plate 1. It is formed by punching into a shape. The upper surfaces of the skirt portion 1b and the top portion 1c of the contact plate 1 are attached to the adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet 3 leaving the attachment margin 3a on the outer peripheral side.
Further, the entire lower surface thereof is covered with a release sheet 4 to prevent dust, and the lower surface adhesive layer of the application margin 3a is releasably attached and held to the release sheet 4.

By the pressure sensitive adhesive sheet 3, the pressing portion 2a
The adhesive sheet 3 may be covered and attached and held, but the adhesive sheet 3 is provided with a through hole 3b into which the conductive portion 2 can be inserted.
The pressing portion 2a may be projected on the upper surface of the. In this case, the pressing portion 2a can be directly pressed from the outside without interposing the adhesive sheet 3, the operation feeling can be improved, and no adhered portion is generated between the adhesive sheet 3 and the periphery of the pressing portion 2a. It is possible to reliably hold the contact plate 1 even after long-term use.

Next, a contact plate according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 3, the contact plate 1 has a protruding portion 1e formed by protruding the periphery of the through hole 1d to a higher level in the dome-shaped bulging direction. Then, the projecting member 2 made of an insulating material is penetrated through the through hole 1d, and is fixed inside the height of the projecting portion 1e so as not to come off. In the contact plate 1 thus formed, the top portion 1c is inverted by the pressing of the pressing portion 2a from the outside, and the peripheral edge portion 1 of the protruding portion 1e is reversed.
f serves as the contact portion 2b and comes into contact with the central fixed contact so that conduction between the contacts is performed. Therefore, the through hole 1d
Since the lower end of the protruding member 2 fixed by caulking or the like does not protrude to the lower surface side of the dome-shaped bulging portion, it is possible to secure a large contact step with the fixed contact, so that the operation stroke is set. It is possible to improve the degree of design freedom in setting the operation feeling.

Next, a switch device having a contact plate according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 4 to 5 show
1 shows a switch configuration when the contact plate 1 described above is configured as a single key switch.

A housing 12 as a base of the push button switch 10 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and a standing side wall 11b surrounds an outer periphery of a rectangular bottom plate portion 11a in an annular shape.
A box-shaped storage portion 13 having an open top is formed by. A pair of terminal materials made of a conductive metal material is insert-molded in the bottom plate portion 11a of the housing 12, and one end of the terminal material is bent in the bottom plate portion 11a and protrudes into the storage portion 13 so as to be centered. The fixed contact 16a is formed. In addition, one end of the other terminal material has a bottom plate 1
1a is branched into two branches, and each of them branches into the storage portion 13 with a central fixed contact 16a interposed therebetween to project a pair of peripheral fixed contacts 16a.
b is provided.

The central fixed contact 16a is located substantially at the center of the housing portion 13 of the housing 12, and the bottom plate portion 1 into the housing portion 13 is provided.
The amount of protrusion from 1a is formed such that the peripheral fixed contact 16b is slightly higher than the central fixed contact 16a.
The other end of the terminal material connected to the central fixed contact 16a is led out of the housing 12 and bent along the side wall 11b to form an external connection terminal 15a having a soldering portion for surface mounting. . Similarly, peripheral fixed contact 16b
An external connection terminal 15b having a soldering portion for surface mounting is formed on the other end portion of the terminal material connected to.

Then, the contact plate 1 is housed in the recessed housing portion 13 of the housing 12, and the outer peripheral edge portion 1a thereof is placed on the peripheral fixed contact 16b so as to be in constant contact with it.
The contact portion 2d is arranged on the central fixed contact 16a so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the central fixed contact 16a to form a movable contact.

The contact plate 1 housed in the housing 12 has its upper surface covered with an insulating adhesive sheet 3, and the sticking margin 3a of the adhesive sheet 3 is fixed to the upper surface of the housing 12 by an adhesive layer. To prevent dust from entering from the outside.

Next, the switch switching operation of the push button switch configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the operating portion 2a of the push button switch 10 is not pressed (the initial state shown in FIG. 5), the central fixed contact 16a and the contact portion 2b of the contact plate 1 are separated by the spring force of the contact plate 1. Therefore, the peripheral fixed contact 16b is electrically non-conductive, and the switch is maintained in the off state.

From such a switch-off state, the key top 2 arranged on the decorative panel of the electronic device or the like.
When the operation portion 2a of the contact plate 1 is pressed against the spring force by 0, the contact plate 1 is buckled and inverted while flexing the adhesive sheet 3 to create a click feeling, and the central fixed contact 16a and the contact plate The first contact portion 2b contacts (FIG. 6), and the peripheral fixed contact 16b is electrically switched to the conductive state. That is, the switch is turned on, and a signal is sent to the electronic device through the external connection terminals 15a and 15b.

After that, when the pressing force of the contact plate 1 to the operating portion 2a is released, the stored spring force causes the contact plate 1 to self-return to the state before the reversal, whereby the top position of the contact plate 1 is changed. Ascends and returns to the initial state.

Since the pressing portion 2a is formed on the top portion 1c of the contact plate 1 as described above, the top portion of the contact plate 1 may be different from the top portion of the contact plate 1 due to a mounting error of the key top 20 or an inclination when the key top 20 is pressed. Even if the relative positional deviation occurs, the pressing force from the key top 20 can be reliably applied to the contact plate 1, a good operation feeling can be obtained, and the switch switching operation can be performed reliably. Therefore, it is possible to use a contact plate having a small diameter in which the range of the top 1c that can be pressed is small as a movable contact, and it is possible to reduce the occupied area of the housing 12 in the width direction, so that the external size of the push button switch can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the mounting area of the electronic device on the substrate.

Next, another switch device mounted with the contact plate according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 shows a sheet-shaped switch device in which a large number of the contact plates 1 described above are mounted on a contact substrate on which fixed contacts are formed.

The contact substrate 30 as a base in the sheet-shaped switch device is formed of a laminated plate of an insulating resin or the like, and a plurality of sets of fixed contacts 31 are formed on the surface thereof with copper or carbon. ing. This fixed contact 3
1, a central fixed contact 31a is arranged inside a peripheral fixed contact 31b formed in an annular shape so as to be spaced apart from each other, and each is connected to an external terminal by a connection pattern. The outer peripheral edge portion 1a of the contact plate 1 is placed on the peripheral fixed contact 31b so as to be able to conduct at all times, and the contact portion 2d of the contact plate 1 is arranged on the central fixed contact 31a so as to be contactable and separable. It forms a movable contact.

Further, the contact plate 1 is covered with the insulating flexible adhesive sheet 35 having an adhesive layer formed on the lower surface on the side where the pressing portion 2a is provided. Then, the sheet-like switch device 40 is formed by being adhered to the upper surface of the contact substrate 30 by the adhesive layer formed on the attaching margin 35a of the adhesive sheet 35, and prevents the intrusion of dust from the outside into the contact portion. ing.

In the sheet-like switch device 40 configured as described above, the key top is arranged on the upper surface of the flexible adhesive sheet 35 to be incorporated in an electronic device. Even if the relative position of the key shifts, the pressing force from the key top can be surely applied to the contact plate 1 via the pressing portion 2a, a good operation feeling can be obtained, and the switch switching operation can be surely performed. You can Therefore, it is possible to use a contact plate having a small diameter in which the range of the top portion 1c that can be pressed is small as a movable contact, and it is possible to reduce the occupied area in the width direction, so that the switch device can be downsized.

In the above description of the embodiment, the projecting member 2 is formed of a metal material and is crimped to the contact plate to be integrated, but the present invention is not limited to the above. For example, it is also possible to integrally form a deformable protrusion on the protruding member 2 using conductive rubber or conductive resin, and insert this protrusion into the through hole 1d of the contact plate to integrate it.

In the above description of the embodiment,
The contact plate 1 is previously attached to an adhesive sheet to be integrated and then fixed on a base provided with fixed contacts, but the present invention is not limited to the above, and the base is not limited to the above. The contact plate arranged in the above may be retained by a frame or the like. It is also possible to hold the key top that presses the pressing portion 2a on the base side on which the contact plate 1 is arranged so as to be able to move up and down.

[0043]

As described above, in the push button switch of the present invention, the elastic thin plate having the reversible bulging portion, the hole penetrating the top of the bulging portion in the reversing direction, and the through hole are retained and retained. Since the one end of the protruding member has a protruding portion that projects in the bulging direction of the protruding portion, and the pressing portion that transmits a pressing force from the outside is formed at one end of the protruding member, the pressing portion can be easily attached to the contact plate. It can be formed in the bulging portion, and even if there is a relative displacement with the key top, the pressing force can be reliably transmitted to the top of the bulging portion of the contact plate, and a good operation feeling can be obtained.

Further, since the protruding member is formed of a conductive member and the through hole is penetrated to form the contact portion on the back side of the bulging portion at the other end of the pressing portion, the pressing portion and the contact portion can be accurately and easily formed. Can be formed.

Further, since the protrusion-depression member formed of the conductive member has the uneven portion formed on the other end surface thereof, it is possible to make the contact points of the contact portion multipoints, and even if foreign matter such as dust intrudes, It becomes possible to conduct electricity to the fixed contact.

Further, since the periphery of the through hole is projected in the bulging direction of the bulging portion and the projecting member is retained and held in the bulging, a large contact step to the fixed contact can be secured, and the contact plate It is possible to improve the degree of freedom in designing.

Further, since the protruding member is deformed so as to sandwich the bulging portion in the plate thickness direction and retained and held, the protruding member can be reliably held against the bulging portion and the amount of protrusion of the pressing portion can be increased. It can be formed with high precision.

Further, since the contact plate is attached to the adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet so as to form a margin for attaching the contact plate to the outer periphery of the contact plate, the contact plate can be easily incorporated into the switch device.

Further, the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet has a diameter larger than that of the pressing portion,
In addition, an opening with a diameter smaller than the outer shape of the contact plate is provided, and the pressing portion is exposed from this opening and the contact plate is attached to the adhesive layer, so the pressing portion of the contact plate can be directly pressed from the outside without an adhesive sheet. In addition, the operation feeling can be improved, and the contact plate can be surely held because the part to be adhered to the adhesive sheet does not occur around the pressing part of the contact plate.

Further, since the contact plate and the adhesive sheet are integrally releasably held on the release sheet by the adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet, they can be stored and transported with the contact portion and the adhesive layer protected and handled. It can be done easily.

Further, the present invention is provided with a contact plate made of any one of the first to seventh parts, a fixed contact and a base on which an external connection terminal connected to the fixed contact is arranged, and the contact portion of the contact plate faces the fixed contact. In addition, since the pressing part is arranged on the base so that it can be operated from the outside, even if there is a relative displacement between the key top and the contact plate, the key top is placed on the top of the bulging part of the contact plate. The pressing force of can be reliably transmitted, and a good operation feeling can be obtained.

[0052]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a contact plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a contact plate according to a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a contact plate according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a switch device mounted with a contact plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a switch device mounted with a contact plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of a switch device in which a contact plate according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 7 is a perspective explanatory view of another switch device in which the contact plate according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 contact plate 1d through hole 1c bulge 2 protruding members 2a Pressing part 2b contact part 16a Central fixed contact 16b Peripheral fixed contact

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An elastic thin plate having a reversible bulge portion,
A hole penetrating the top of the bulging portion in the inversion direction, and a projecting member that is retained and retained in the through hole and has one end protruding in the bulging direction of the bulging part. A contact plate having a pressing portion for transmitting a pressing force from the outside. 2. The protruding member is formed of a conductive member, and the contact portion is formed on the back side of the bulging portion at the other end of the pressing portion by penetrating the through hole. Contact plate described in. 3. The contact plate according to claim 2, wherein an uneven portion is formed on the other end surface of the conductive member. 4. The contact plate according to claim 1, wherein a periphery of the through-hole is projected in a bulging direction of the bulging portion, and the protruding member is retained and held in the protrusion. 5. The contact plate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protruding member is deformed so as to sandwich the bulging portion in the plate thickness direction and retained so as to be retained. 6. The contact plate according to claim 1, wherein the contact plate is attached to and integrated with an adhesive layer of an adhesive sheet so that a margin can be formed on an outer peripheral portion of the contact plate. . 7. The adhesive sheet is provided with an opening having a diameter larger than that of the pressing portion and smaller than the outer shape of the contact plate, and the pressing portion is exposed from the opening to attach the contact plate to the adhesive layer. The contact plate according to claim 6, wherein the contact plate is attached. 8. The contact according to claim 6, wherein the contact plate and the adhesive sheet are integrally releasably held on a release sheet by an adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet. Board. 9. The contact plate according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and a base on which a fixed contact and an external connection terminal connected to the fixed contact are arranged. A switch device characterized in that it is arranged on the base so as to oppose the fixed contact and to allow the pressing portion to be operated from the outside.