JP2004045256A

JP2004045256A - Contact structure, and electronic time-piece equipped with contact structure

Info

Publication number: JP2004045256A
Application number: JP2002204025A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Akira Ebi; 海老　明
Original assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
Current assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date: 2002-07-12
Filing date: 2002-07-12
Publication date: 2004-02-12

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure sure electric contact to an electric component, while securing electric insulation between a conductive frame and the electric component. <P>SOLUTION: This contact structure 20 for an electronic time piece 1 has a contact terminal 50 provided with a base part 55 and a plate spring-like contact part 60 folded to the base part, of which the contact part pressure-contacts with the electric component by spring elasticity, and an insulating sheet structure 30 arranged between the conductive frame for specifying an area arranged with the contact terminal and the contact terminal to keep the contact terminal in an insulated condition insulated from the conductive frame. The insulating sheet structure 30 has an electrically insulating sheet-like member 31, and an adhesive layer 33 stuck on an opposed face of the contact terminal, and has further a separation allowing part 37 extended along a boundary between a contact part area and a base part area to move the contact part area overlapped onto the plate spring-like contact part 60 of the contact terminal with respect to the base part area overlapped onto the base part of the contact terminal, together with the plate spring-like contact part of the contact terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は接点構造体及びこれを備えた電子時計に係る。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
電子時計のケースなどがステンレス鋼等の導電性材料からなる場合、ボタン型電池の一対の電極の一対のうちの一方の電極用の接点端子と導電性ケース等との間にポリエステルフィルムのような電気絶縁性フィルムを配設して、該接点端子と導電性ケース等とを電気的に絶縁することは知られている。また、接点端子が配設される導電性ケース等の配設領域に大きな開口部等があったり配設領域に凹凸があって平坦でなかったりする等のように全体として不規則な形状を有する場合には、電気絶縁性フィルムによる接点端子と導電性ケース等との間の電気絶縁を確実に行わせるように、接点端子のうち導電性ケース等に対面する側に電気絶縁性フィルムを付着させておくべく、電気絶縁性フィルムのうち接点端子に対面する側の面に粘着材層を形成してなる絶縁シート構造体を用いることも知られている。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、接点端子は基台部と該基台部に対して折曲げられた板ばね状接点部とを有するので、電気絶縁性フィルムの一方の面に形成した絶縁シート構造体の粘着材層が接点端子の基台部だけでなく板ばね状接点部に付着してしまい、板ばね状接点部のばね力が低下して、電池の電極に対する接触圧が小さくなったり外部からの衝撃や振動に伴なう電池の位置ズレにより接触が不完全になる虞れがある。
【０００４】
本発明は前記諸点に鑑みなされたものであり、その目的とするところは、導電性のある部分を少なくとも一部に含むケースの如き導電性フレームと電池の如き電気部品の電極等との電気的絶縁を確保しつつ該電気部品の所定の電極（接点）等に対して確実な電気的接触を確保し得る接点構造体及びこれを備えた電子時計を提供することにある。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の接点構造体は、前記目的を達成すべく、基台部及び該基台部に対して折曲げられてなる板ばね状接点部を備え該接点部がばね弾性によって電気部品に圧接せしめられる接点端子と、該接点端子が配置される領域を規定する導電性フレームと該接点端子との間に配置されて該接点端子を導電性フレームから電気的に絶縁状態に保つ絶縁シート構造体とを有する接点構造体であって、絶縁シート構造体が、電気絶縁性のシート状部材と該シート状部材のうち接点端子に対面する側に形成され接点端子の対向面に粘着可能な粘着材層とを有し、絶縁シート構造体は、更に、該絶縁シート構造体のうち接点端子の板ばね状接点部に重なる接点部領域が接点端子の基台部に重なる基台部領域に対して接点端子の板ばね状接点部と共に動き得るように接点部領域と基台部領域との境界領域に沿って延びた分離許容部を有する。
【０００６】
本発明の接点構造体では、「接点端子が配置される領域を規定する導電性フレームと該接点端子との間に絶縁シート構造体が配置される」ので、接点端子が導電性フレームから電気的に絶縁される。また、本発明の接点構造体では、「電気絶縁性のシート状部材のうち接点端子に対面する側に接点端子の対向面に粘着可能な粘着材層が形成された絶縁シート構造体を有する」ので絶縁シート構造体の電気絶縁性シート状部材が常に接点端子に粘着せしめられるから電気絶縁性シート状部材による接点端子と導電性フレームとの電気的絶縁が失われる虞れが実際上ないのは勿論のこと、「絶縁シート構造体のうち接点端子の板ばね状接点部に重なる接点部領域が接点端子の基台部に重なる基台部領域に対して接点端子の板ばね状接点部と共に動き得るように接点部領域と基台部領域との境界領域に沿って延びた分離許容部を、絶縁シート構造体が有する」ので、接点部領域が接点端子の板ばね状接点部と共に基台部領域に対して動き得るから、板ばね状接点部のばね力が低下する虞れが少なく、電気部品の電極に対する接触圧が小さくなったり外部からの衝撃や振動に伴って電気部品の位置ズレなどが生じる虞れが少なく、該電気部品に対する電気的接触が不完全になる虞れが少なく、安定な接点動作が確保され得る。
【０００７】
ここで、導電性フレームとは、フレームすなわち接点構造体が配置される領域の周りの領域を規定する枠体やケースや関連部品などであって、導電性がある部分を含むものをいう。また、ここで、導電性フレームは、その導電性のある部分のうちの少なくとも一部が接点端子から電気的に絶縁されるべき部分になっている。導電性フレームは、例えば電子時計の金属製外装ケースの如くその全体が導電性であっても、電子時計の回路ブロック又はその一部をなす回路基板のように接点構造体が配置される領域の一部において導電性部分を含んでいるものであってもよい。
【０００８】
本発明の接点構造体において、分離許容部は、スロット（比較的幅の広い切欠き）でもスリットでもよく、好ましくは、分離許容部がその延在方向を横切る方向に延びた破断可能橋絡部を有する。その場合、絶縁シートの取扱の際、粘着材層が相互に粘着する虞れが少ない。
【０００９】
本発明の接点構造体では、典型的には、接点端子が板金の打抜・折曲体からなり、接点端子の板ばね状接点部が実質的にＵ字状の打抜き領域により規定される舌片部からなり、絶縁シート構造体の分離許容部が該Ｕ字状の打抜き領域の範囲内においてＵ字状に沿って延びる。ここで、「Ｕ字状」とは、板バネ状舌片部を形成するような形状であれば、その形状が通常は「Ｕ」と呼ばれないようなものでもよい。
【００１０】
本発明の接点構造体が配設される配設領域を規定する導電性フレームのうち接点端子に対向する部分が不規則な形状を有する。ここで、不規則な形状とは、例えば、開口部（穴）がある形状や、凹凸などがあって平坦でない形状をいう。このような不規則な形状の場合には、導電性フレームと接点端子との間の短絡等の防止のための絶縁シート構造体を導電性フレームの側に粘着させ難いので接点端子に粘着させることになる。
【００１１】
本発明の接点構造体において、典型的には、電気部品がボタン型電池からなり、接点端子が電池の一方の電極に対する電源用接点端子である。
【００１２】
本発明の接点構造体は、例えば、電子時計に用いられる。この電子時計は、例えば、外装ケースが湾曲面に沿って湾曲し、電気部品としてのボタン型電池が湾曲した外装ケースの一端に位置において、該外装ケースの電池収容領域に配置され、接点端子が該ボタン型電池の中心側電極に圧接されるように構成される。
【００１３】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明の好ましい実施の形態のいくつかを添付図面に示した好ましい実施例に基づいて説明する。
【００１４】
【実施例】
本発明による好ましい一実施例の電子時計１は、図３の断面図で示したように、湾曲した裏側表面２を備えた金属製外装ケース３及び該外装ケース３の室ないし凹部４の開口部を閉じるべく部分円筒状に湾曲した外装ガラス５を有する。この電子時計１では、時計表示を行う表示部も、部分円筒状に湾曲したフィルム液晶パネル６からなる。電子時計１の室４には、更に、電子時計１のムーブメントを構成する回路ブロック７が、配設されている。図３の例では、回路ブロック７は、配線基板に加えてコンデンサや抵抗やＩＣチップなどを含む。
【００１５】
電子時計１では、外装ケース３の裏面２が部分円筒状の湾曲し且つ外装ガラス５及びフィルム液晶パネル６が部分円筒状に湾曲していることから、室４のスペースないし実効容積が小さくなり易い。従って、この例の電子時計１では、外装ケース３の室４の中央部にはボタン型電池８の配設スペースがないことから、ボタン型電池８は、外装ケース３の一端近傍に配設されている。
【００１６】
図３に加えて図２並びに図１の（ａ）及び（ｂ）に示したように、外装ケース３のうち端部９は、電池８の収容ケース１０になっており、収容ケース１０の開口部は、電池蓋１１（図３）で閉じられる。電池収容ケース１０は、その一部に底壁１２を有する。底壁部１２の隣接領域には開口１３が形成され、該開口１３には、回路ブロック７の隣接端部１４や液晶パネル６の隣接部が臨んでいる。従って、電池８の二つの電極１５、１６が短絡されたり、意図しない導電性部分に接触して不測の短絡等が生じる虞れがあることから、ボタン型電池８の中心側にあるマイナス電極１６と底壁部１２との間には、接点構造体２０が、配置されている。なお、ボタン型電池８の周面を含めて外側にあるプラス電極１５には、接点端子１７が圧接される。以上において、金属製外装ケース３やフィルム液晶パネル６の導電性部分や回路ブロック７の導電性部分が導電性フレームを構成する。
【００１７】
接点構造体２０は、図１の（ａ）及び（ｂ）に示したように、二つの絶縁シート構造体３０、４０と、該絶縁シート構造体３０、４０に挟まれた板金状導電性シート５０とを有する。
【００１８】
板金状導電性シート５０は、板金の打抜き体からなり、図１の（ａ）に一部を破線で示したように、円弧状周縁部５１、５２及び直線状周縁部５３、５４により外縁が規定された基台部５５と、基台部５５の中央部において外縁部５６及び内縁部５７により規定された広い幅Ｗ１のＵ字状スロット５８で基台部５５に対して可動に分離された舌片状接点部６０とを有する。スロット５８の外縁部５６及び内縁部５７は、二つの端部５９、５９で滑らかに繋がっており、板バネとして働く舌片状接点部６０は、該舌片部６０の基端６１に対応する「Ｕ」の開口端部６１において、基台部５０に繋がっており、該基端部６１において基台部５０に対して弾性変形可能に折り曲げられている。板金状導電性シート５０は、更に、基台部５０の円弧状周縁部５１の一縁に、回路ブロック７の所定の接続端子部への接続配線部分６２を有し、該配線部分６２の先端部分で回路ブロック７の所定の接続端子部に電気的に接続され且つ機械的に固定される。
【００１９】
図３のように表示領域が上に向く電子時計１の通常の使用状態でみた場合の下側すなわち電池側の絶縁シート構造体ないし粘着層付絶縁テープ４０は、図１の（ａ）及び（ｂ）並びに図２からわかるように、ポリエステルフィルムのような電気絶縁性フィルムからなる絶縁シート４１と、該絶縁シート４１のうち導電性シート５０に対面する側の表面４２上に形成された粘着材層４３とからなり、ボタン型電池８の収容凹部の底部をほぼ覆い電池８のマイナス電極１６の外周縁よりも十分に大きい円形外縁部４４により規定される円形形状を有すると共に、導電性シート５０のＵ字状スロット５８の全体を電池８のマイナス電極１６に対して中央部で露出させるべくマイナス電極１６の外縁部よりも小さくＵ字状スロット５８の外縁部５６よりも大きい周縁部４５を備えた開口部４６を有する。この例の場合、開口部４６は、直線状部分４７、４７と半円状部分４８、４８とからなるトラック状形状を有するけれども、その形状は、異なっていてもよい。
【００２０】
図３のように表示領域が上に向く電子時計１の通常の使用状態でみた場合の上側すなわち回路ブロック側の絶縁シート構造体ないし粘着層付絶縁テープ３０は、図１の（ａ）及び（ｂ）並びに図２からわかるように、絶縁シート構造体４０と同様に、ポリエステルフィルムのような電機絶縁性フィルムからなる絶縁シート３１と、該絶縁シート３１のうち導電性シート５０に対面する側の表面３２上に形成された粘着材層３３とからなり、下側絶縁シート構造体４０と同様に、ボタン型電池８の収容凹部の底部（底壁１２及び開口部１３）をほぼ覆い電池８のマイナス電極１６の外周縁よりも十分に大きい円形外縁部３４により規定される円形の本体部分３５と、導電性シート５０の接続配線部分６２と回路ブロック７の配線基板の端部１４の絶縁分離されるべき導電性部分（配線等）との間を絶縁する延設部分３６とを有する。
【００２１】
上側すなわち回路ブロック側の絶縁シート構造体３０は、また、導電性シート５０のＵ字状スロット５８の範囲内に幅がＷ２（＜Ｗ１）の分離許容部としてのＵ字状スロット３７を有する。すなわち、絶縁シート構造体３０のＵ字状スロット３７の「Ｕ」の外縁３８は導電性シート５０のＵ字状スロット５８の「Ｕ」の外縁５６よりもＵの内側に位置し、Ｕ字状スロット３７の「Ｕ」の内縁３９はＵ字状スロット５８の「Ｕ」の内縁５７よりもＵの外側に位置する。従って、上側絶縁シート構造体３０のＵ字状スロット３７によって規定される上側絶縁シート構造体３０の接点部領域としての舌片部２５の範囲内において該舌片部２５の上（図３では「下」）に導電性シート５０の板ばね状舌片部６０が重なる。なお、絶縁シート構造体３０の円形の本体部３５のうちＵ字状スロット３７の外縁３８よりも外側の領域（実質上、スロット３７と舌片部２５とを除いた領域）が導電性シート５０の基台部５５に重なる基台部領域として働く。
【００２２】
以上のような接点構造体２０の組付けに際しては、予め、板金の打抜きにより形成された導電性シート５０の素体を折曲線６３に沿って折曲げることにより導電性シート５０を形成しておくと共に夫々の平面形状を有する上側及び下側の絶縁シート構造体３０、４０を型による打抜き等で形成しておき、絶縁シート構造体３０のＵ字状スロット３７が導電性シート５０のＵ字状スロット５８内に丁度位置するように且つ導電性シート５０の接続配線部分６２が上側絶縁シート３０の延設部３６の延在方向に丁度沿うように、上側絶縁シート構造体３０のうち粘着材層３３がある側の表面に導電性シート５０を重ねる。これにより、導電性シート５０の上側表面に上側絶縁シート構造体３０が粘着材層３３を介して粘着せしめられる。なお、このとき、例えば、導電性シート５０の板ばね状舌片部６０を上側絶縁シート構造体３０の舌片部２５に押付けることにより、舌片部６０、２５間の粘着も行わせる。
【００２３】
なお、導電性シート５０の板ばね状舌片部６０を予め折り曲げておく代わりに、絶縁シート構造体３０を導電性シート５０に粘着させた後、舌片部６０を基台部５５に対して折り曲げるようにしてもよい。その場合、絶縁シート構造体３０と導電性シート５０とを所定の相対位置で重ねるだけで、両者が粘着材層３３を介して、相互に粘着せしめられ得る。
【００２４】
次に、下側絶縁シート構造体４０の開口部４６内に導電性シート５０のＵ字状スロット５８が位置するように、導電性シート５０と上側絶縁シート構造体３０の積層体とを相互に重ね合わせる。これにより、下側絶縁シート構造体４０は、導電性シート５０の基台部５５及び上側絶縁シート構造体３０の円形の本体部分３５に重なり合い、粘着材層３３または粘着材層３３、４３を介して相互に粘着・固定せしめられる。図１の（ａ）では、見易さのために、下側絶縁シート構造体４０よりも上側絶縁シート構造体３０の本体部分３５の方が僅かに大きいかのごとく示されているけれども、両者は、実質的に同一の大きさでよく、場合によっては、下側絶縁シート構造体４０の方が上側絶縁シート構造体３０の本体部分３５よりも少し大きくてもよい。
【００２５】
また、以上においては、上側絶縁シート構造体３０を下側絶縁シート構造体４０よりも先に導電性シート５０に粘着させる例について説明したけれども、その反対に、下側絶縁シート構造体４０を上側絶縁シート構造体３０よりも先に導電性シート５０に粘着させるようにしても、両方の絶縁シート構造体３０、４０を実際上同時に導電性シート５０に粘着させてもよい。いずれの場合においても、導電性シートの舌片部６０の折曲は、事前に行っておいても、いずれか一方または両方の絶縁シート構造体の粘着後に行ってもよい。
【００２６】
次に、導電性シート５０及び上下の絶縁シート構造体３０、４０からなる接点構造体２０を、ケース３のボタン型電池収容部１０の所定の領域に配設する。接点構造体２０では、導電性シート５０の上面側に絶縁シート構造体３０が配置されているので導電性シート５０とケース３の壁部や回路ブロック７の隣接部分１４との間に不測の短絡などが生じる虞れが少ない。また、接点構造体２０では、導電性シート５０の基台部５５に絶縁シート構造体３０の本体部３５が粘着材層３３を介して粘着されているので、導電性シート５０の基台部５５に対して絶縁シート構造体３０が不測の位置ズレを生じる虞れがなく、絶縁シート構造体３０の本体部３５による絶縁が確保され得る。なお、導電性シート５０の下面側に配置された絶縁シート構造体４０も同様に導電性シート５０とケースの壁部等との不測の短絡等の回避に役立ち得る。更に、接点構造体２０では、導電性シート５０の板ばね状舌片部６０が絶縁シート構造体３０の本体部３５からＵ字状スロット３７で分離され該本体部３５に対して少なくともＡ１、Ａ２方向に（図１の（ｂ））可動に舌片部２５に粘着されているので、導電性シート５０の舌片部６０のばね弾性が粘着材層３２によって規制される虞れが実際上なく、接点構造体２０の導電性シート５０の舌片部６０は、所定の折曲状態を基準として所定のばね弾性を保持し得る。
【００２７】
次に、図１の（ｂ）において想像線で示したように、ボタン型電池８を電池収容部１０の凹部に載置し、更に図３に示したように電池蓋１１を被せて、ケース３に対して蓋１１を固定する。これにより、電池８は、その中央の端面側のマイナス極部１６で接点構造体２０の板ばね状舌片部６０に押付けられる。該電池８の配設や蓋１１の装着に伴う押付けにより、舌片部６０は、ばね弾性に抗してＡ１方向に曲げられ、該曲げの大きさに応じたＡ２方向の押圧力でマイナス極１６に圧接されて接触圧力が確保される。なお、この接点構造体２０では、導電性シート５０の舌片部６０には基台部５５に対して可動な舌片部２５が粘着されているので、舌片部６０のＡ１、Ａ２方向の変形が基台部５５によって規制される虞れがなく、舌片部６０が所定の接触圧で電池８の対応する電極１６に圧接され得る。その結果、不測の衝撃などがかかっても、電池８が位置ズレする虞れが少ない。また、板ばね状舌片部６０の上面側には舌片部２５が粘着されているので、電池８の装着の際におけるＢ１方向の押込みや蓋１１の装着などの際に舌片部２５がＡ１方向に大きく移動されることがあっても、舌片部２５を構成する絶縁シート３１の部分でケース３や回路ブロック７等の他の部品（導電性フレーム）に当接され得るから、該導電性フレームとの間に不測の短絡などが生じる虞れが少ない。
【００２８】
また、接点構造体２０では、導電性シート５０の下面側に絶縁シート構造体４０が配置されているので導電性シート５０と電池８のプラス極部分１５やケース３の壁部等との間で不測の短絡などが生じる虞れも少ない。
【００２９】
以上においては、接点構造体２０をボタン型電池収容部１０に配設する前に導電性シート５０の板ばね状舌片部６０を絶縁シート構造体３０の舌片部２５に粘着させる例について説明したけれども、接点構造体２０のボタン型電池収容部１０への配設の際には舌片部６０を舌片部２５に粘着させておかず、電池８のＢ１方向の装着の際などに、板ばね状舌片部６０が舌片部２５に粘着されるに任せてもよい。
【００３０】
更に、導電性シート５０及び絶縁シート構造体３０、４０からなる接点構造体２０を予め組立てておいて電池収容部１０に配設する代わりに、電池収容部１０に、絶縁シート構造体３０、導電性シート５０及び絶縁シート構造体４０を順に配設し、該電池収容部１０において、結果的に、接点構造体２０が形成されるようにしてもよく、また、中間的な手段として、絶縁シート構造体３０と導電性シート５０とを予め粘着させておき、該粘着積層体を電池収容部１０に配設すると共に接続配線部６２で回路ブロック７の端部１４の近傍にある所定の接続端子に取付け、その後、所定位置に配置された粘着積層体上に、絶縁シート構造体４０を配設・粘着させてもよい。勿論、所望ならば、導電性シート５０に絶縁シート構造体４０を予め粘着させておき、電池収容部１０の所定位置に配置した絶縁シート構造体３０上に、絶縁シート構造体４０付の導電性シート５０を配設するようにしてもよい。
【００３１】
絶縁シート構造体３０のＵ字状スロット３７は、本体部３５に対して舌片部２５を少なくともＡ１、Ａ２方向に可動にし得る限り、その幅Ｗ２はどのように小さくてもよく、例えば実際上「零」であってもよい。すなわち、絶縁シート構造体３０は、幅Ｗ２のＵ字状スロット３７の代わりに、図４の（ａ）に示したように、Ｕ字状に延びたスリット３７ａを備えた絶縁シート構造体３０ａからなっていてもよい。図４の接点構造体２０ａにおいて、図１から図３までの接点構造体２０と実質的に同様な部材乃至要素には同一の符号が付され、対応するけれども異なる特徴を含む部材乃至要素には同一の符号の後に添字「ａ」が付されている。
【００３２】
図４の（ａ）及び（ｂ）の絶縁シート構造体３０ａを備えた接点構造体２０ａにおいても、Ｕ字状スロット５８の開口部内でＵ字状に延びるスリット３７ａが本体部３５ａに対する舌片部２５ａのＡ１、Ａ２方向の可動性を保証し、導電性シート５０の舌片部６０の基台部３５ａに対する変位が妨害される虞れを実際上なくしており、図１から図３に示した接点構造体２０と実質的に働き得ることは、明らかであろう。
【００３３】
図４の（ａ）及び（ｂ）に示した接点構造体２０ａにおいて、絶縁シート構造体３０ａの舌片部２５ａと基台部３５ａとの間には舌片部２５ａの外周に沿ってＵ字状のスリット３７ａが形成されているので、絶縁シート構造体３０ａが導電性シートないし板金状導電体５０に粘着されていない状態では、舌片部２５ａが基台部３５ａに対して折曲がる等の変形が生じる虞れがあり、舌片部２５ａにも基台部３５ａにも粘着材層３３があることから、舌片部２５ａが折曲り等が生じると粘着材層３３が相互に粘着してしまう虞れがある。その場合、絶縁シート構造体３０ａを導電性シート５０に実際に粘着させようとするときには、絶縁シート構造体３０ａの舌片部２５ａが導電性シート５０の板ばね状舌片部６０にうまく対面しない虞れがあることから、結果的に絶縁シート構造体３０ａの舌片部２５ａ等に不測の折曲り等が生じないように絶縁シート構造体３０ａの取扱に注意を要することになる。
【００３４】
このような虞れを避けるためには、図５の（ａ）に示したように、スリット３７ａの代わりに橋絡部を備えたスリット３７ｂを有することが好ましい。図５の接点構造体２０ｂにおいて、図１から図３までの接点構造体２０や図４の接点構造体２０ａと実質的に同様な部材乃至要素には同一の符号が付され、対応するけれども異なる特徴を含む部材乃至要素には同一の符号の後に添字「ｂ」が付されている。
【００３５】
図５の（ａ）では、スリット３７ｂが、該スリット３７ｂにより形成されるべき舌片部２５ｂの頂点７１から少し離れたところの二箇所に容易に切断可能な橋絡部７２、７３を備え、スリット３７ｂが、橋絡部７２、７３により、三つのスリット部分８１、８２、８３に分割されている。従って、絶縁シート構造体３０ｂの通常の取扱の際には、舌片部２５ｂになるべき部分は、基台部３５ｂになるべき部分に橋絡部７２、７３によって結合されているから、舌片部２５ｂになるべき部分が折れ曲ったりする虞れが実際上ない。
【００３６】
一方、例えば、舌片部６０が予め折曲変形された導電性シート５０に絶縁シート構造体３０ｂが粘着材層３３を介して粘着せしめられると、ばね弾性によって導電性シート５０の板ばね状舌片部６０が元の位置にＡ２方向に復帰しようとする際、該舌片部６０の板ばねのばね力によって橋絡部７１、７２が破断されて舌片部２５ａと同様な舌片部２５ｂが形成され、図４に示した接点構造体２０ａと実質的に同様な状態になり、その後は、同様に働き得ることになる。
【００３７】
ここで、橋絡部７２、７３は、導電性シート５０の舌片部６０のばね弾性によって容易に破断され得るように、十分に弱いことが好ましく、ばね弾性によるＡ２方向の変位によりせん断されやすいように直線状部分に沿って短い幅Ｄ１で形成される。橋絡部７２、７３は、典型的には、対称な位置に且つ対象な形状で形成されるけれども、場合によっては、一方の側が他方の側よりも破断され易いような位置または形状でもよい。橋絡部の数は、二つの代わりに、三つ以上でも、一つでもよい。
【００３８】
なお、以上のような絶縁シート構造体３０の舌片部２５の折れ曲りの虞れは、図１の（ａ）に示した接点構造体２０においても同様に生じ得るので、図１の（ｃ）にその一部を拡大して示したように、スロット３７ｃになるべき部分を、容易に破断可能な橋絡部７２ｃ、７３ｃによって三つの部分８１ｃ、８２ｃ、８３ｃに分けてもよい。この場合、橋絡部７２ｃ、７３ｃが比較的長い長さＷ２を有することから、例えば、図１の（ｃ）において符号７４で示したように、橋絡部７２ｃ、７３ｃにＶ字状等の切欠部を形成しておいて、導電性シート５０の板ばね状舌片部６０がばね弾性によりＡ２方向に復帰する際、舌片部６０に粘着し舌片部２５ｃとなるべき部分に該切欠部７４において剪断力が集中してかかるようにしておく。このような橋絡部７２ｃ、７３ｃを備えた開口部２７ｃを有する絶縁シート構造体３０ｃを含む接点構造体２０ｃも同様に働き得ることは明らかであろう。図１の（ｃ）の接点構造体２０ｃにおいて、図１の（ａ）や図４や図５の接点構造体２０、２０ａ、２０ｂと実質的に同様な部材乃至要素には同一の符号が付され、対応するけれども異なる特徴を含む部材乃至要素には同一の符号の後に添字「ｃ」が付されている。
【００３９】
以上において、板ばね状舌片部６０や基台部５５は、夫々、板ばねとして及び支持台部として機能し得る限り、その形状は図示した形状とは異なっていてもよい。また、絶縁シート構造体３０、３０ａ、３０ｂ、３０ｃ、４０も、板ばね状舌片部６０のＡ１、Ａ２方向の弾性的な変位を許容すると共に、導電性シート５０と隣接する導電部分との間に不測の短絡が生じるのを禁止し得る限り、その形状は、図示の形状とは異なっていてもよい。更に、絶縁シート構造体３０、３０ａ、３０ｂ、３０ｃ、４０の粘着材層３３、４３は、絶縁シート３１、４１の前面に亘って拡がる代わりに、導電シート５０に確実に重なる領域（周縁部などを除く領域）にのみ形成されていてもよい。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明による好ましい実施例の接点構造体を電池の接点に適用した例を示したもので、（ａ）は本発明による好ましい一実施例の接点構造体を有する電子時計の一部を背面側から見た平面説明図（但し電池を装着していない状態）、（ｂ）は（ａ）のＩＢ−ＩＢ線断面説明図、（ｃ）は変形例の接点構造体の一部についての（ａ）と同様な平面（裏面）説明図。
【図２】図１の（ａ）及び（ｂ）に示した電子時計の一部を裏（背面）側から見た斜視説明図（但し電池を装着していない状態）。
【図３】図１の（ａ）及び（ｂ）並びに図２の電子時計の断面説明図。
【図４】本発明による別の好ましい一実施例の接点構造体を電池の接点に適用した例を示したもので、（ａ）は本発明による別の好ましい一実施例の接点構造体を有する電子時計の一部についての図１の（ａ）と同様な平面（裏面）説明図、（ｂ）は（ａ）のＩＶＢ−ＩＶＢ線断面説明図。
【図５】本発明による更に別の好ましい一実施例の接点構造体を電池の接点に適用した例を示したもので、（ａ）は本発明による更に別の好ましい一実施例の接点構造体を有する電子時計の一部についての図１の（ａ）と同様な平面（裏面）説明図、（ｂ）は（ａ）のＶＢ−ＶＢ線断面説明図。
【符号の説明】
１　電子時計
３　外装ケース
７　回路ブロック
８　ボタン型電池
１０　電池収容部
２０、２０ａ、２０ｂ、２０ｃ　接点構造体
２５　舌片部
３０、３０ａ、３０ｂ、３０ｃ　絶縁シート構造体
３１　絶縁シート
３３　粘着材層
３５　本体部
３７　Ｕ字状スロット
３７ａ、３７ｂ、３７ｃ　Ｕ字状スリット
４０　絶縁シート構造体
５０　導電性シート
５５　基台部
５８　Ｕ字状スロット
６０　板ばね状舌片部
７２、７２ｃ、７３、７３ｃ　橋絡部[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a contact structure and an electronic timepiece provided with the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When the case of an electronic timepiece or the like is made of a conductive material such as stainless steel, such as a polyester film between a contact terminal for one of a pair of electrodes of a button type battery and the conductive case or the like. It is known that an electrically insulating film is provided to electrically insulate the contact terminal from a conductive case or the like. In addition, it has an irregular shape as a whole, such as a large opening or the like in an arrangement area of a conductive case or the like in which contact terminals are arranged, or an unevenness in the arrangement area, which is not flat. In this case, attach an electrically insulating film to the side of the contact terminals facing the conductive case, etc., so as to ensure electrical insulation between the contact terminals and the conductive case, etc. by the electrically insulating film. It is also known to use an insulating sheet structure in which an adhesive layer is formed on the surface of the electrically insulating film facing the contact terminal in order to keep the electrical insulating film.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the contact terminal has a base portion and a leaf spring-shaped contact portion bent with respect to the base portion, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the insulating sheet structure formed on one surface of the electrically insulating film is not provided. It adheres not only to the base part of the contact terminal but also to the leaf spring-like contact part, and the spring force of the leaf spring-like contact part decreases, reducing the contact pressure against the battery electrode and preventing external shock and vibration. There is a possibility that the contact may be incomplete due to the accompanying displacement of the battery.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object thereof is to provide an electric connection between a conductive frame such as a case including at least a part having a conductive portion and an electrode of an electric component such as a battery. An object of the present invention is to provide a contact structure capable of ensuring reliable electrical contact with a predetermined electrode (contact) of the electric component while ensuring insulation, and an electronic timepiece including the same.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the contact structure of the present invention comprises a base portion and a leaf spring-shaped contact portion bent from the base portion, and the contact portion is pressed against an electric component by spring elasticity. A contact terminal, and an insulating sheet structure disposed between the conductive terminal and the conductive frame that defines an area where the contact terminal is disposed and keeping the contact terminal electrically insulated from the conductive frame. A contact structure comprising: an insulating sheet structure, an electrically insulating sheet member, and an adhesive layer formed on a side of the sheet member facing the contact terminal and capable of adhering to the opposing surface of the contact terminal. The insulating sheet structure further includes: a contact portion region of the insulating sheet structure, the contact portion region overlapping the leaf spring contact portion of the contact terminal overlapping the base portion region of the contact terminal. Can move together with the leaf spring contact of the terminal Having a separation allowance portion extending along the boundary region between the contact region and the base region to.
[0006]
In the contact structure of the present invention, "the insulating sheet structure is disposed between the conductive frame that defines the region where the contact terminal is disposed and the contact terminal", so that the contact terminal is electrically connected to the conductive frame. Insulated. In addition, the contact structure of the present invention “has an insulating sheet structure in which an adhesive material layer that can be adhered to the opposite surface of the contact terminal is formed on the side of the electrically insulating sheet member facing the contact terminal”. Therefore, since the electrically insulating sheet-shaped member of the insulating sheet structure is always adhered to the contact terminal, there is practically no possibility that the electrical insulation between the contact terminal and the conductive frame by the electrically insulating sheet-shaped member is lost. Needless to say, "the contact area of the insulating sheet structure overlapping the leaf spring contact of the contact terminal moves with the leaf spring contact of the contact terminal relative to the base area overlapping the base of the contact terminal. The insulating sheet structure has a separation permitting portion extending along the boundary region between the contact portion region and the base portion region so as to obtain the contact portion region together with the leaf spring-like contact portion of the contact terminal. Because you can move against the area There is little possibility that the spring force of the leaf spring-shaped contact portion is reduced, and there is little possibility that the contact pressure of the electric component with the electrode is reduced or the electric component is displaced due to external shock or vibration. It is less likely that the electrical contact with the electrical component will be incomplete, and a stable contact operation can be ensured.
[0007]
Here, the conductive frame refers to a frame, a case, a related component, or the like that defines a region around the frame, that is, a region where the contact structure is arranged, and includes a conductive portion. Here, the conductive frame is a portion in which at least a part of the conductive portion is to be electrically insulated from the contact terminal. The conductive frame is, for example, a metal outer case of an electronic timepiece, even if the whole is electrically conductive, but a region where the contact structure is arranged, such as a circuit board forming a circuit block of the electronic timepiece or a part thereof. Some of them may include a conductive portion.
[0008]
In the contact structure of the present invention, the separation allowing portion may be a slot (a relatively wide notch) or a slit, and preferably, the breakable bridging portion in which the separation allowing portion extends in a direction transverse to the extending direction. Having. In this case, there is little possibility that the adhesive layers stick to each other when handling the insulating sheet.
[0009]
In the contact structure of the present invention, typically, the contact terminal is formed by stamping and bending a sheet metal, and the leaf spring-like contact portion of the contact terminal is defined by a substantially U-shaped punching region. The separation allowance of the insulating sheet structure extends along the U-shape within the U-shaped punched area. Here, the “U-shape” may be any shape that does not usually call “U” as long as it is a shape that forms a leaf spring-like tongue piece.
[0010]
The portion of the conductive frame that defines the disposition region where the contact structure of the present invention is disposed has an irregular shape in a portion facing the contact terminal. Here, the irregular shape refers to, for example, a shape having openings (holes) or a shape that is uneven and has unevenness. In the case of such an irregular shape, the insulating sheet structure for preventing a short circuit between the conductive frame and the contact terminal is hardly adhered to the conductive frame side. become.
[0011]
In the contact structure of the present invention, typically, the electric component is a button-type battery, and the contact terminal is a power contact terminal for one electrode of the battery.
[0012]
The contact structure of the present invention is used, for example, in an electronic timepiece. In this electronic timepiece, for example, the outer case is curved along a curved surface, and a button-type battery as an electric component is located at one end of the curved outer case, and is arranged in a battery housing area of the outer case, and a contact terminal is provided. The button type battery is configured to be pressed against the center electrode of the button type battery.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0014]
【Example】
As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3, an electronic timepiece 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has a metal outer case 3 having a curved back surface 2 and an opening of a chamber or recess 4 of the outer case 3. Has an exterior glass 5 curved in a partially cylindrical shape so as to be closed. In the electronic timepiece 1, a display unit for displaying a time also includes a film liquid crystal panel 6 curved in a partially cylindrical shape. In the room 4 of the electronic timepiece 1, a circuit block 7 constituting a movement of the electronic timepiece 1 is further provided. In the example of FIG. 3, the circuit block 7 includes a capacitor, a resistor, an IC chip, and the like in addition to the wiring board.
[0015]
In the electronic timepiece 1, since the back surface 2 of the outer case 3 is partially cylindrical and the outer glass 5 and the film liquid crystal panel 6 are partially cylindrical, the space or the effective volume of the chamber 4 is likely to be small. . Therefore, in the electronic timepiece 1 of this example, since there is no space for disposing the button-type battery 8 in the center of the chamber 4 of the outer case 3, the button-type battery 8 is disposed near one end of the outer case 3. ing.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 1A and 1B in addition to FIG. 3, the end 9 of the outer case 3 is a housing case 10 for the battery 8, and the opening of the housing case 10 is opened. The part is closed with a battery lid 11 (FIG. 3). The battery housing case 10 has a bottom wall 12 in a part thereof. An opening 13 is formed in a region adjacent to the bottom wall portion 12, and the adjacent end portion 14 of the circuit block 7 and the adjacent portion of the liquid crystal panel 6 face the opening 13. Therefore, the two electrodes 15 and 16 of the battery 8 may be short-circuited, or an unexpected short-circuit may occur due to contact with an unintended conductive portion. A contact structure 20 is arranged between the bottom wall 12 and the bottom wall 12. The contact terminal 17 is pressed against the positive electrode 15 on the outside including the peripheral surface of the button type battery 8. In the above, the metal outer case 3, the conductive portion of the film liquid crystal panel 6, and the conductive portion of the circuit block 7 constitute a conductive frame.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the contact structure 20 includes two insulating sheet structures 30 and 40 and a sheet-metal conductive sheet sandwiched between the insulating sheet structures 30 and 40. 50.
[0018]
The sheet-metal conductive sheet 50 is made of a punched sheet metal, and has an outer edge formed by arc-shaped peripheral portions 51 and 52 and linear peripheral portions 53 and 54 as partially shown by broken lines in FIG. It is movably separated from the base 55 by a defined base 55 and a U-shaped slot 58 having a wide width W1 defined by an outer edge 56 and an inner edge 57 at the center of the base 55. And a tongue-shaped contact portion 60. The outer edge 56 and the inner edge 57 of the slot 58 are smoothly connected at two ends 59, 59, and the tongue-shaped contact portion 60 serving as a leaf spring corresponds to the base end 61 of the tongue piece 60. The “U” opening end 61 is connected to the base 50, and is bent at the base 61 so as to be elastically deformable with respect to the base 50. The sheet-metal conductive sheet 50 further has a connection wiring portion 62 to a predetermined connection terminal portion of the circuit block 7 on one edge of the arc-shaped peripheral edge portion 51 of the base portion 50. The portion is electrically connected to a predetermined connection terminal portion of the circuit block 7 and is mechanically fixed.
[0019]
When viewed in a normal use state of the electronic timepiece 1 in which the display area faces upward as shown in FIG. 3, the lower side, that is, the battery-side insulating sheet structure or the adhesive tape 40 with the adhesive layer, is shown in FIGS. b) and FIG. 2, an insulating sheet 41 made of an electrically insulating film such as a polyester film, and an adhesive material formed on a surface 42 of the insulating sheet 41 facing the conductive sheet 50. A conductive sheet 50 having a circular shape defined by a circular outer edge 44 which substantially covers the bottom of the housing recess of the button type battery 8 and is sufficiently larger than the outer peripheral edge of the negative electrode 16 of the battery 8. Of the U-shaped slot 58 is smaller than the outer edge of the negative electrode 16 so as to expose the whole of the U-shaped slot 58 to the negative electrode 16 of the battery 8 at the center. It has an opening 46 having a even larger periphery 45. In this example, the opening 46 has a track-like shape composed of linear portions 47, 47 and semi-circular portions 48, 48, but the shape may be different.
[0020]
When viewed in a normal use state of the electronic timepiece 1 in which the display area faces upward as shown in FIG. 3, the insulating sheet structure or the adhesive tape 30 with the adhesive layer on the upper side, that is, the circuit block side, is shown in FIGS. b) and FIG. 2, similarly to the insulating sheet structure 40, an insulating sheet 31 made of an electric insulating film such as a polyester film, and a part of the insulating sheet 31 facing the conductive sheet 50. It comprises an adhesive layer 33 formed on the surface 32, and, like the lower insulating sheet structure 40, substantially covers the bottom (bottom wall 12 and opening 13) of the accommodation recess of the button type battery 8, and A circular main body portion 35 defined by a circular outer edge portion 34 that is sufficiently larger than the outer peripheral edge of the negative electrode 16, the connection wiring portion 62 of the conductive sheet 50, and the end portion 14 of the wiring board of the circuit block 7 And a extended portion 36 to insulate the insulating separated are to conductive portions (wiring, etc.).
[0021]
The insulating sheet structure 30 on the upper side, that is, on the circuit block side, also has a U-shaped slot 37 as a separation allowance having a width of W2 (<W1) within the U-shaped slot 58 of the conductive sheet 50. That is, the outer edge 38 of the “U” of the U-shaped slot 37 of the insulating sheet structure 30 is located inside the U outer edge 56 of the “U” of the U-shaped slot 58 of the conductive sheet 50, and the U-shaped The inner edge 39 of the “U” of the slot 37 is located outside the U edge 57 of the “U” of the U-shaped slot 58. Therefore, the tongue piece 25 (in FIG. 3, “U”) is located within the tongue piece 25 as the contact portion area of the upper insulating sheet structure 30 defined by the U-shaped slot 37 of the upper insulating sheet structure 30. The leaf spring-like tongue piece portion 60 of the conductive sheet 50 overlaps with the “bottom”). In the circular main body 35 of the insulating sheet structure 30, a region outside the outer edge 38 of the U-shaped slot 37 (substantially excluding the slot 37 and the tongue piece 25) is the conductive sheet 50. And serves as a base region overlapping with the base 55 of the second embodiment.
[0022]
When assembling the contact structure 20 as described above, the conductive sheet 50 is formed in advance by bending the element body of the conductive sheet 50 formed by punching a sheet metal along the folding curve 63. In addition, upper and lower insulating sheet structures 30 and 40 having respective planar shapes are formed by punching using a mold or the like, and the U-shaped slot 37 of the insulating sheet structure 30 is The adhesive layer of the upper insulating sheet structure 30 is located just inside the slot 58 and the connection wiring portion 62 of the conductive sheet 50 is just along the extending direction of the extending portion 36 of the upper insulating sheet 30. The conductive sheet 50 is overlaid on the surface on the side where 33 is located. Thereby, the upper insulating sheet structure 30 is adhered to the upper surface of the conductive sheet 50 via the adhesive layer 33. At this time, for example, the leaf spring-shaped tongue piece 60 of the conductive sheet 50 is pressed against the tongue piece 25 of the upper insulating sheet structure 30 so that the tongue pieces 60 and 25 are also adhered to each other.
[0023]
Instead of bending the leaf spring-like tongue piece 60 of the conductive sheet 50 in advance, after adhering the insulating sheet structure 30 to the conductive sheet 50, the tongue piece 60 is attached to the base 55. You may make it bend. In that case, the insulating sheet structure 30 and the conductive sheet 50 can be adhered to each other via the adhesive layer 33 only by overlapping the conductive sheet 50 at a predetermined relative position.
[0024]
Next, the conductive sheet 50 and the laminate of the upper insulating sheet structure 30 are mutually moved so that the U-shaped slot 58 of the conductive sheet 50 is located in the opening 46 of the lower insulating sheet structure 40. Overlap. As a result, the lower insulating sheet structure 40 overlaps the base 55 of the conductive sheet 50 and the circular main body 35 of the upper insulating sheet structure 30, and the adhesive layer 33 or the adhesive layers 33 and 43 are interposed therebetween. And stick to each other. In FIG. 1A, for the sake of clarity, the main body portion 35 of the upper insulating sheet structure 30 is shown as being slightly larger than the lower insulating sheet structure 40. May be substantially the same size, and in some cases, the lower insulating sheet structure 40 may be slightly larger than the main body portion 35 of the upper insulating sheet structure 30.
[0025]
Further, in the above description, the example in which the upper insulating sheet structure 30 is adhered to the conductive sheet 50 before the lower insulating sheet structure 40 is described. The insulating sheet structure 30 may be adhered to the conductive sheet 50 before the insulating sheet structure 30, or both the insulating sheet structures 30 and 40 may be actually adhered to the conductive sheet 50 at the same time. In any case, the bending of the tongue piece portion 60 of the conductive sheet may be performed in advance, or may be performed after adhesion of one or both of the insulating sheet structures.
[0026]
Next, the contact structure 20 including the conductive sheet 50 and the upper and lower insulating sheet structures 30 and 40 is disposed in a predetermined area of the button-type battery housing portion 10 of the case 3. In the contact structure 20, since the insulating sheet structure 30 is disposed on the upper surface side of the conductive sheet 50, an unexpected short circuit occurs between the conductive sheet 50 and the wall of the case 3 or the adjacent portion 14 of the circuit block 7. And the like is less likely to occur. Further, in the contact structure 20, since the main body 35 of the insulating sheet structure 30 is adhered to the base 55 of the conductive sheet 50 via the adhesive material layer 33, the base 55 of the conductive sheet 50. Therefore, there is no possibility that the insulating sheet structure 30 may be unexpectedly displaced, and the insulation of the insulating sheet structure 30 by the main body 35 can be ensured. In addition, the insulating sheet structure 40 disposed on the lower surface side of the conductive sheet 50 can also help prevent an unexpected short circuit between the conductive sheet 50 and the wall of the case or the like. Further, in the contact structure 20, the leaf spring-like tongue piece 60 of the conductive sheet 50 is separated from the main body 35 of the insulating sheet structure 30 by a U-shaped slot 37, and at least A1, A2 Since it is movably adhered to the tongue piece 25 in the direction (FIG. 1B), there is practically no possibility that the spring elasticity of the tongue piece 60 of the conductive sheet 50 is regulated by the adhesive material layer 32. The tongue piece 60 of the conductive sheet 50 of the contact structure 20 can maintain a predetermined spring elasticity based on a predetermined bent state.
[0027]
Next, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 1B, the button-type battery 8 is placed in the recess of the battery accommodating portion 10, and the battery cover 11 is further covered as shown in FIG. The lid 11 is fixed to 3. As a result, the battery 8 is pressed against the leaf spring-like tongue piece 60 of the contact structure 20 at the negative pole portion 16 at the center end face. The tongue piece 60 is bent in the A1 direction against the spring elasticity by the pressing of the battery 8 and the attachment of the lid 11, and the pressing force in the A2 direction according to the size of the bending causes the tongue piece 60 to be negative. 16 to ensure contact pressure. In the contact structure 20, since the tongue piece 25 that is movable with respect to the base 55 is adhered to the tongue piece 60 of the conductive sheet 50, the tongue piece 60 in the A1 and A2 directions is adhered. There is no possibility that the deformation is restricted by the base 55, and the tongue piece 60 can be pressed against the corresponding electrode 16 of the battery 8 with a predetermined contact pressure. As a result, even if an unexpected impact or the like is applied, the battery 8 is less likely to be displaced. Further, since the tongue piece 25 is adhered to the upper surface side of the leaf spring-like tongue piece 60, the tongue piece 25 is pushed in the direction B1 when the battery 8 is mounted or the lid 11 is mounted. Even if it is largely moved in the A1 direction, the portion of the insulating sheet 31 constituting the tongue piece portion 25 can abut on other parts (conductive frame) such as the case 3 and the circuit block 7. There is little possibility that an unexpected short circuit or the like may occur between the conductive frame and the conductive frame.
[0028]
In addition, in the contact structure 20, the insulating sheet structure 40 is disposed on the lower surface side of the conductive sheet 50, so that the contact between the conductive sheet 50 and the positive electrode portion 15 of the battery 8, the wall of the case 3, and the like. There is little possibility that an unexpected short circuit or the like may occur.
[0029]
In the above, an example will be described in which the leaf spring-like tongue piece 60 of the conductive sheet 50 is adhered to the tongue piece 25 of the insulating sheet structure 30 before disposing the contact structure 20 in the button-type battery housing section 10. However, the tongue piece 60 is not adhered to the tongue piece 25 when the contact structure 20 is disposed in the button-type battery accommodating section 10, and when the battery 8 is mounted in the B1 direction, The spring tongue 60 may be left adhered to the tongue 25.
[0030]
Further, instead of assembling the contact structure 20 composed of the conductive sheet 50 and the insulating sheet structures 30 and 40 in advance and disposing the contact structure 20 in the battery housing 10, the insulating sheet structure 30 and the conductive The conductive sheet 50 and the insulating sheet structure 40 may be arranged in this order, so that the contact structure 20 is eventually formed in the battery accommodating portion 10. The structure 30 and the conductive sheet 50 are previously adhered to each other, the adhesive laminate is disposed in the battery accommodating section 10, and a predetermined connection terminal near the end 14 of the circuit block 7 is connected to the connection wiring section 62. After that, the insulating sheet structure 40 may be disposed and adhered on the adhesive laminate disposed at a predetermined position. Of course, if desired, the insulating sheet structure 40 is previously adhered to the conductive sheet 50, and the conductive sheet 50 with the insulating sheet structure 40 is placed on the insulating sheet structure 30 arranged at a predetermined position of the battery accommodating portion 10. The seat 50 may be provided.
[0031]
The width W2 of the U-shaped slot 37 of the insulating sheet structure 30 may be any small as long as the tongue piece 25 can be moved at least in the directions A1 and A2 with respect to the main body 35. It may be “zero”. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the insulating sheet structure 30 is provided with a U-shaped slit 37a instead of the U-shaped slot 37 having a width W2. It may be. In the contact structure 20a of FIG. 4, members or elements substantially similar to those of the contact structure 20 of FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and members or elements including corresponding but different features are denoted by the same reference numerals. Subscripts “a” are added after the same reference numerals.
[0032]
Also in the contact structure 20a having the insulating sheet structure 30a shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the slit 37a extending in a U-shape in the opening of the U-shaped slot 58 has a tongue piece with respect to the main body 35a. The mobility of the conductive sheet 50 in the A1 and A2 directions is guaranteed, and the possibility that the displacement of the tongue piece 60 of the conductive sheet 50 with respect to the base 35a is substantially eliminated is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. It will be clear that it can work substantially with the contact structure 20.
[0033]
In the contact structure 20a shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a U-shaped portion is provided between the tongue piece 25a and the base 35a of the insulating sheet structure 30a along the outer periphery of the tongue piece 25a. Since the slit 37a is formed in a shape, the tongue piece 25a is bent with respect to the base 35a when the insulating sheet structure 30a is not adhered to the conductive sheet or the sheet metal conductor 50. There is a risk of deformation, and the adhesive layer 33 is provided on both the tongue piece 25a and the base 35a. Therefore, when the tongue piece 25a is bent or the like, the adhesive material layers 33 adhere to each other. There is a possibility that it will happen. In this case, when the insulating sheet structure 30a is actually to be adhered to the conductive sheet 50, the tongue piece 25a of the insulating sheet structure 30a does not properly face the leaf spring tongue piece 60 of the conductive sheet 50. Due to the danger, care must be taken in handling the insulating sheet structure 30a so that unexpected bending or the like does not occur on the tongue piece 25a of the insulating sheet structure 30a.
[0034]
In order to avoid such a risk, it is preferable to have a slit 37b provided with a bridging portion instead of the slit 37a as shown in FIG. In the contact structure 20b of FIG. 5, substantially the same members or elements as those of the contact structure 20 of FIGS. 1 to 3 and the contact structure 20a of FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and correspond to but differ from each other. Members or elements that include features have the same reference number followed by a suffix “b”.
[0035]
In FIG. 5 (a), the slit 37b is provided with bridging portions 72, 73 which can be easily cut at two places slightly away from the apex 71 of the tongue piece 25b to be formed by the slit 37b, The slit 37b is divided into three slit portions 81, 82, 83 by bridging portions 72, 73. Therefore, during normal handling of the insulating sheet structure 30b, the portion to be the tongue portion 25b is connected to the portion to be the base portion 35b by the bridging portions 72, 73. There is practically no possibility that the portion to be the portion 25b is bent.
[0036]
On the other hand, for example, when the insulating sheet structure 30b is adhered to the conductive sheet 50 in which the tongue piece portion 60 is bent in advance through the adhesive layer 33, the leaf spring-like tongue of the conductive sheet 50 is spring-elasticized. When the piece 60 attempts to return to the original position in the direction A2, the bridging portions 71 and 72 are broken by the spring force of the leaf spring of the tongue piece 60, and the tongue piece 25b similar to the tongue piece 25a is broken. Is formed, and is in a state substantially similar to the contact structure 20a shown in FIG. 4, and thereafter, it can work similarly.
[0037]
Here, the bridging portions 72 and 73 are preferably sufficiently weak so as to be easily broken by the spring elasticity of the tongue piece portion 60 of the conductive sheet 50, and are easily sheared by displacement in the A2 direction due to the spring elasticity. Is formed with a short width D1 along the linear portion. Although the bridging portions 72, 73 are typically formed in symmetrical positions and in symmetrical shapes, in some cases, the bridging portions 72, 73 may be located or shaped such that one side is more easily broken than the other side. The number of bridge portions may be three or more or one instead of two.
[0038]
Since the tongue piece 25 of the insulating sheet structure 30 may be similarly bent in the contact structure 20 shown in FIG. ), The portion to be the slot 37c may be divided into three portions 81c, 82c, 83c by bridging portions 72c, 73c that can be easily broken. In this case, since the bridging portions 72c and 73c have a relatively long length W2, for example, as shown by reference numeral 74 in FIG. With the notch formed, when the leaf spring-like tongue piece 60 of the conductive sheet 50 returns in the A2 direction due to the elasticity of the spring, the notch is formed in the portion to be adhered to the tongue piece 60 and become the tongue piece 25c. In the portion 74, the shearing force is applied in a concentrated manner. It will be apparent that a contact structure 20c including an insulating sheet structure 30c having an opening 27c with such bridging portions 72c, 73c can work similarly. In the contact structure 20c of FIG. 1C, members or elements substantially the same as those of the contact structures 20a, 20a, and 20b of FIG. 1A and FIGS. Components or elements that correspond but include different features are suffixed with the same reference numeral followed by a "c".
[0039]
In the above description, the shape of the leaf spring-like tongue piece 60 and the base 55 may be different from the illustrated shapes as long as they can function as a leaf spring and a support base, respectively. Also, the insulating sheet structures 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 40 also allow the leaf spring-like tongue portion 60 to elastically displace in the A1 and A2 directions, and also allow the conductive sheet 50 and the adjacent conductive portion to move. The shape may differ from the shape shown, as long as an unexpected short circuit therebetween can be prevented. Further, the adhesive layers 33, 43 of the insulating sheet structures 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, 40 do not extend over the front surfaces of the insulating sheets 31, 41, but instead reliably overlap the conductive sheet 50 (peripheral portions and the like). May be formed only in the region (excluding region).
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an example in which a contact structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied to a contact of a battery. FIG. 1A shows a part of an electronic timepiece having a contact structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IB-IB of (a), and (c) is a part of a contact structure of a modified example. (A) Plane (back surface) explanatory drawing similar to (a).
FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view of a part of the electronic timepiece shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B as viewed from the back (back side) (however, a state where a battery is not mounted).
3A and 3B are explanatory views of the electronic timepiece of FIG. 1 and FIG.
FIG. 4 shows an example in which a contact structure of another preferred embodiment according to the present invention is applied to a contact of a battery, and (a) has a contact structure of another preferred embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is an explanatory plan view (back surface) of a part of the electronic timepiece, similar to FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory sectional view taken along line IVB-IVB of FIG.
FIG. 5 shows an example in which a contact structure of still another preferred embodiment according to the present invention is applied to a contact of a battery, and (a) shows a contact structure of still another preferred embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2B is a plan view (back surface) similar to FIG. 1A for a part of the electronic timepiece having the structure shown in FIG. 1B, and FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 electronic clock
3 outer case
7 Circuit block
8 button type battery
10 Battery compartment
20, 20a, 20b, 20c Contact structure
25 Tongue piece
30, 30a, 30b, 30c Insulating sheet structure
31 Insulation sheet
33 Adhesive layer
35 Main unit
37 U-shaped slot
37a, 37b, 37c U-shaped slit
40 Insulating sheet structure
50 conductive sheet
55 base
58 U-shaped slot
60 leaf spring tongue
72, 72c, 73, 73c Bridge

Claims

A contact terminal comprising a base portion and a leaf spring-shaped contact portion bent with respect to the base portion, wherein the contact portion is pressed against an electric component by spring elasticity;
A contact structure, comprising: a conductive frame defining an area where the contact terminals are arranged; and an insulating sheet structure disposed between the contact terminals and keeping the contact terminals electrically insulated from the conductive frame. Body
The insulating sheet structure has an electrically insulating sheet-shaped member and an adhesive layer formed on a side of the sheet-shaped member facing the contact terminal and capable of adhering to the opposing surface of the contact terminal,
The insulating sheet structure further includes a contact portion of the insulating sheet structure, wherein a contact portion region overlapping the leaf spring contact portion of the contact terminal overlaps with a base portion region of the contact terminal. A contact structure having a separation permitting portion extending along a boundary region between a contact portion region and a base portion region so as to move together with a leaf spring contact portion.

2. The contact structure according to claim 1, wherein the separation permitting portion comprises a slot.

The contact structure according to claim 1, wherein the separation permitting portion includes a slit.

4. The contact structure according to claim 2, wherein the separation permitting portion has a breakable bridging portion extending in a direction crossing the extending direction. 5.

The contact terminal is formed of a punched or bent sheet metal, and the leaf spring-shaped contact portion of the contact terminal is formed of a tongue piece defined by a substantially U-shaped punched region. The contact structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the separation permitting portion extends in a U-shape within a range of the U-shaped punching area.

The contact structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a portion of the conductive frame facing the contact terminal has an irregular shape.

The contact structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electric component is a button-type battery, and the contact terminal is a power supply contact terminal for one electrode of the battery.

An electronic timepiece comprising the contact structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

The outer case is curved along the curved surface, and the button-type battery as the electric component is disposed in the battery housing area of the outer case at one end of the curved outer case, and the contact terminal is pressed against the center electrode of the button-type battery. 9. The electronic timepiece according to claim 8, wherein the electronic timepiece is configured to be operated.