JP2003297174A - Switch and touch panel therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch and a touch panel therefore which are capable of obtaining crispy click feeling sufficiently as well as detecting a switch button for pushing by an operator's fingertip even the switch is composed of a plurality of miniaturized tact switches. <P>SOLUTION: This switch comprises: a case body; a plurality of tact switches arranged at small spaced intervals in the case body; a touch panel fixed on the case body so as to cover the switch buttons of a plurality of the tact switches; and projections which are formed on the surface of the touch panel at respective positions corresponding to the switch buttons and capable of obtaining crispy click feeling as well as detecting a switch button with a fingertip when pushing it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch using a miniaturized touch panel and a switch touch panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a switch using a miniaturized touch panel has switch buttons of a plurality of tact switches arranged close to each other, and an embossed portion having an area substantially equal to the upper area of the switch button is formed on the touch panel. ing.

[0003]

A conventional switch using a touch panel which is miniaturized is such that when the switch button is pressed and operated, the switch button is close to the switch and the part to be operated by touching with a fingertip is used. Since it cannot be discriminated whether or not it is a switch button, there is a drawback that the adjacent switch button is erroneously pressed. Further, due to the miniaturization, the operation stroke of the switch button is shortened, so that there is a drawback that a click feeling when the switch button is pressed is not sufficiently obtained. Furthermore, when the switch display is formed by embossing on the touch panel,
If the embossed portion is made smaller in order to reduce the size, there is a drawback that the embossed portion cannot be operated unless it is pressed with a large pressing force, and the operation becomes difficult.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention has been made.
Switches and switches that can be downsized and equipped with multiple tactile switches can detect the switch button that is operated by pressing with your fingertips, can be operated reliably, and can provide a sufficient click feeling. The purpose is to provide a touch panel for use.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become more fully apparent when the following description is read in view of the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are only for explanation and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a case body, a plurality of tact switches arranged at a small interval in the case body, and switch buttons of the plurality of tact switches. The touch panel fixed to the case body so as to cover the touch panel, and the touch button formed on the surface of the portion of the touch panel corresponding to the switch button. The switch is composed of the protrusion that is formed.

Further, according to the present invention, at least the switch button portion fixed to the case body is transparent or semi-transparent so as to cover the switch buttons of a plurality of tact switches arranged in the case body at small intervals. And a transparent or semi-transparent hemisphere formed on the surface of the portion corresponding to the switch button of the touch panel body, which is felt by a fingertip when pressing the switch button and provides a click feeling, or The conical and pyramidal protrusions form a switch touch panel.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

In the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, reference numeral 1 denotes a pressure switch with an indicator, which has a small width dimension and can be mounted in parallel in a plurality of width directions. With the switch of the present invention used,
The switch 1 has a small width dimension, and a plurality of case bodies 2 can be mounted in parallel in the width direction, and switch buttons 3, 3, 3 are located in the upper opening 4 at small intervals in the case body 2. , Which are used as decrement switches, mode key switches, and increment switches, and an indicator arranged in the case body 2 between the tact switches 5 and 5A. 6, the light emitting diodes 7 and 7 arranged in the case body 2 on the side of the tact switch 5, the touch panel 8 attached so as to cover the upper opening 4 of the case body 2, and the inside of the case body 2. Connected to the tact switches 5, 5A, 5B, the display 6, and the light emitting diodes 7, 7 installed in the A pressure control circuit 10 connected to the cable 9 and a fixture 13 having a locking portion 12 that is detachably locked to a fitting 11 mounted in a fitted state on the bottom surface of the case body 2. It is configured.

The touch panel 8 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, a flat-panel touch panel body 14 made of a transparent synthetic resin material, and a down symbol ▽ and a mode key symbol M printed on the back surface of the touch panel body 14 corresponding to the tact switches 5, 5A, 5B. , Switch display portions 15, 15A, 15B marked with a raised symbol Δ, and a portion between the switch display portions 15 and 15A except the light emitting diodes 7, 7 on the back surface of the touch panel body 14. Red transparent part 1 printed on
6 and a transparent hemispherical projection 1 formed on the central portion of the surface of the switch display portion 15, 15A, 15B, which is felt by a fingertip and can be clicked when a pressing operation is performed.
7, 17 and 17, and an adhesive 18 applied to a portion of the back surface of the touch panel body 14 except the periphery of the light emitting diodes 7 and 7.

When the switch buttons 3, 3, 3 of the tact switches 5, 5A, 5B are pressed and operated, the switch 1 having the above-described configuration has a switch display section 15 of the touch panel 8 on which the switch buttons 3, 3, 3 are located, The bottom surfaces of 15A and 15B are flat and are in surface contact with the upper surfaces of the switch buttons 3, 3 and 3, and the projections 17 and 17 are formed in the central portion of the surface of the portion.
Since 17 can be felt with the fingertip, the projection 1
It is possible to press only 7, 7, 17 parts, and the switch button 3,
Since the operations of 3 and 3 are reliably transmitted, a sufficient click feeling can be obtained.

[0012]

Different Embodiments of the Invention Next, referring to FIGS.
Different embodiments of the present invention shown in FIG. In the description of these different embodiments of the present invention, the same components as those of the first embodiment of the present invention will be denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

The second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 is mainly different from the first embodiment of the present invention in that the color-coded switch display portions 15 and 15 are used.
A and 15B are formed and the switch display unit 1
The protrusions 17A, 17A, 17A, 17A having the shape of a cone or a truncated cone on the surface of the touch panel body 14 so as to be located at the central portions of the reference numerals 5, 15A, 15B, in the embodiment of the present invention.
In terms of using the touch panel 8A formed with 7A, even with the switch 1A configured using such a touch panel 8A, the same operational effect as that of the first embodiment of the present invention can be obtained.

The third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 17 to 19 is mainly different from the first embodiment of the present invention in that the tact switches 5, 5A and 5B have switch buttons 3, Touch panel body 1 of the parts corresponding to 3 and 3
4, the area of the lower portion is smaller than the area of the upper surface of the switch buttons 3, 3, 3, and the protrusions 17B, 17 are formed by embossing.
In that the touch panel 8B formed with B and 17B is used,
Even with the switch 1B configured by using the touch panel 8B formed in this way, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment of the present invention can be obtained.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 20 to 22 is mainly different from the first embodiment of the present invention in that a plurality of case bodies 2 are provided. In the embodiment, six tact switches 3 are provided, and the switch display parts 15, 15A, 1 of the touch panel body 14 are provided.
The protrusions 17 having a pyramid shape or a truncated pyramid shape, that is, a truncated pyramid shape in the embodiment of the present invention, are located on the surface of the touch panel body 14 so as to be located at the central portions of 5B, 15C, 15D, and 15E.
Even if the switch 1C configured as described above is formed in that C is formed, the same operational effect as that of the first embodiment of the present invention can be obtained.

In each of the embodiments of the present invention, the tact switches 5, 5A, 5B of the switch buttons 3, 3, 3 are directly operated by pressing the switch display portions 15, 15A, 15B of the touch panel. Although described, the present invention is not limited to this, and operates by interposing a spacer between the switch buttons 3, 3, 3 of the tact switches 5, 5A, 5B and the switch display portions 15, 15A, 15B of the touch panel. Similar effects can be obtained even if the structure is used.

[0017]

As is apparent from the above description, the following effects can be obtained in the present invention.

(1) A case body, a plurality of tact switches arranged at a small interval in the case body, and a touch panel fixed to the case body so as to cover the switch buttons of the plurality of tact switches. This touch panel is formed on the surface of the portion corresponding to the switch button, and when pressing the switch button, the user feels it with his fingertips.
Further, since the projection is provided with a click feeling, when the switch button of the site to be operated is pressed, the projection of the site can be felt with the fingertip. Therefore, even if there is a switch button in the proximity state, it is possible to accurately press the portion felt by the fingertip, and it is possible to reliably prevent the problem of accidentally pressing the switch button in the proximity state as in the past. Therefore, it is possible to accurately perform the required pressing operation of the switch button.

(2) According to the above (1), since the pressing operation state of the switch button is transmitted through the protrusion which is felt by the fingertip, a sufficient click feeling can be obtained. Therefore, the pressing operation of the switch button can be reliably sensed, and it can be known that the switch button has been operated reliably.

(3) According to the above (1), it is only necessary to form a protrusion on the surface of the touch panel at the switch button portion, which can be felt with a fingertip and a click feeling, and can be easily manufactured.

(4) According to the above (1), the switch button that can be operated with the fingertip can be downsized because the switch button can be accurately operated with the fingertip even when the switch button is close. You can

(5) Claims 2 and 3 also have the above (1) to (4).
The same effect as can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a usage state of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a switch button portion according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the touch panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the touch panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the touch panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a mounted state according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view of a switch button portion.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a front view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of a switch button portion.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a front view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional view of a switch button portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B, 1C: switch, 2: case body,
3: switch button 4: upper opening 5, 5A, 5
B: Tact switch, 6: Display device, 7: Light emitting diode, 8, 8A, 8B: Touch panel, 9: Cable, 10: Pressure control circuit, 11: Mounting bracket, 12: Locking part, 13: Mounting tool,
14: Touch panel body, 15, 15A, 15B: Switch display part, 16: Red transparent part, 17, 17A, 17
B, 17C: protrusion, 18: adhesive.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A case body, a plurality of tact switches arranged in the case body at small intervals, a touch panel fixed to the case body so as to cover the switch buttons of the plurality of tact switches, and Formed on the surface of the part corresponding to the switch button of the touch panel,
A switch characterized by comprising a protrusion that feels with a fingertip when a pressing operation is performed on the switch button and a click feeling is obtained. 2. A case body, a plurality of tact switches arranged at a small interval on the case body, and at least the switch button fixed to the case body so as to cover the switch buttons of the plurality of tact switches. A touch panel having a transparent or semi-transparent part and a transparent or semi-transparent part formed on the surface of the part corresponding to the switch button of the touch panel, which can be felt with a fingertip when pressing and operating the switch button and a click feeling. A switch consisting of a transparent hemisphere, a cone, or a pyramid-shaped protrusion. 3. A case body which can be mounted in parallel in a width direction in a plurality of small width dimensions, a plurality of tact switches arranged at a small interval in the case body, and a plurality of tact switches of the plurality of tact switches. A touch panel fixed to the case body so as to cover the switch button, at least the switch button portion being transparent or semi-transparent, and the switch button formed on the surface of the portion of the touch panel corresponding to the switch button. A switch comprising a transparent or translucent hemisphere, a cone, or a pyramid-shaped protrusion that allows a user to feel and click with a finger when operating the switch. 4. A touch panel main body fixed to the case body so that at least the switch button portion is transparent or translucent so as to cover the switch buttons of a plurality of tact switches arranged on the case body at small intervals. A transparent or semi-transparent hemisphere, or a cone or a pyramid, formed on the surface of the portion corresponding to the switch button of the touch panel body, which gives a click feeling when the switch button is pressed and operated. A touch panel for a switch, which comprises a protrusion.